Rare paradoxical adverse event in Crohn's disease: a case report.

An 18-year-old male adolescent diagnosed with ileocolitis-type Crohn's disease received therapy involving an anti-tumor necrosis factor-α (TNF-α) blocker, which resulted in remission for 2 years. The patient presented with fever, stomatitis, and cough with respiratory distress. Chest radiography revealed bilateral hilar lymphadenopathy; bronchoalveolar lavage showed high lymphocyte level: 40.

Assessment of Meniscal Healing Status by Magnetic Resonance Imaging T2 Mapping After Meniscal Repair.

Background: Although the sensitivity and specificity of magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) for the diagnosis of primary meniscal tears are high, these values are lower for the assessment of healing status of repaired menisci.

Purpose: To compare the accuracy of MRI T2 mapping and conventional MRI in assessing meniscal healing after repair.

Study Design: Cohort study (diagnosis); Level of evidence, 2.

[Analysis of Surgical Resection for Elderly Patients with Biliary Tract Cancer].

Although surgical resection is the first-line treatment for biliary tract cancer(BTC), elderly patients often have underlying diseases and decreased cardiopulmonary function that place them at a high risk of undergoing surgery. We examined the safety and efficacy of surgical resection in elderly BTC patients. Among the BTC cases that underwent surgical resection at Kobe University Hospital from 2009 to 2015, the safety and prognosis ofthose aged 75 years or older(Group 1)were compared to those younger than 75 years(Group 2)at the time ofsurgery.

Effect of Diphtheria Toxin-Based Gene Therapy for Hepatocellular Carcinoma.

Hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) is a major global malignancy, responsible for >90% of primary liver cancers. Currently available therapeutic options have poor performances due to the highly heterogeneous nature of the tumor cells; recurrence is highly probable, and some patients develop resistances to the therapies. Accordingly, the development of a novel therapy is essential.

Prostaglandin E and its receptor EP2 trigger signaling that contributes to YAP-mediated cell competition.

Cell competition is a biological process by which unfit cells are eliminated from "cell society." We previously showed that cultured mammalian epithelial Madin-Darby canine kidney (MDCK) cells expressing constitutively active YAP were eliminated by apical extrusion when surrounded by "normal" MDCK cells. However, the molecular mechanism underlying the elimination of active YAP-expressing cells was unknown.

Advanced squamous cell carcinoma in an asymptomatic, large, epiphrenic esophageal diverticulum.

An asymptomatic epiphrenic diverticulum (ED) was diagnosed in a man undergoing annual esophagogastroduodenoscopy (EGD) at another hospital 40 years before he presented to our hospital at age 63 years for his annual EGD. However, because substantial food retention was found in the ED, we could not confirm a lesion. After the retained food was removed endoscopically, a second EGD showed a reddish, flat lesion with an elevated mass within the ED.

Ghrelin-insulin-like growth factor-1 axis is activated via autonomic neural circuits in the non-alcoholic fatty liver disease.

Background: The correlation of the growth hormone (GH) and insulin-like growth factor-1 (IGF-1) with non-alcoholic fatty liver disease (NAFLD) has been reported in epidemiological studies. However, the mechanisms of molecular and inter-organ systems that render these factors to influence on NAFLD have not been elucidated. In this study, we examined the induction of ghrelin which is the GH-releasing hormone and IGF-1, and involvement of autonomic neural circuits, in the pathogenesis of NAFLD.

Percutaneous Gastrojejunostomy Catheter Placement Using a Slow-Leak Balloon through the Reconstructed Gastric Tube after Esophagectomy.

Twelve patients who had undergone esophageal reconstruction because of cancer and in whom conventional percutaneous radiologic or endoscopic gastrostomy was considered difficult are reported. These patients underwent placement of a percutaneous gastrojejunostomy catheter through the reconstructed gastric tube using a slow-leak balloon that had been developed for percutaneous transesophageal gastrotubing. Retrospective evaluation showed successful outcomes without severe complications in all patients.

Usefulness of autotaxin for the complications of liver cirrhosis.

Background: Autotaxin (ATX) has been reported as a direct biomarker for estimating the evaluation of liver fibrosis. But available data on ATX as a useful biomarker for the complications of liver cirrhosis (LC) are scant.

Aim: To assess the clinical usefulness of ATX for assessing the complications of LC.

Pulmonary tumor thrombotic microangiopathy of hepatocellular carcinoma: A case report and review of literature.

Background: Pulmonary tumor thrombotic microangiopathy (PTTM) is a rare condition in patients with hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC); to date, few cases have been reported. While hepatic dysfunction has been focused on the later stages of HCC, the management of symptoms in PTTM is important for supportive care of the cases. For the better understanding of PTTM in HCC, the information of our recent case and reported cases have been summarized.

Loss of autophagy impairs physiological steatosis by accumulation of NCoR1.

Lipid droplets (LDs) are dynamic organelles that store neutral lipids during times of energy excess, such as after a meal. LDs serve as an energy reservoir during fasting and have a buffering capacity that prevents lipotoxicity. Autophagy and the autophagic machinery have been proposed to play a role in LD biogenesis, but the underlying molecular mechanism remains unclear.

Antiprogramed cell death-1 therapy with microspheres for metastatic liver tumors.

Anti-programmed cell death-1 therapy with microspheres is an effective treatment for metastatic liver tumors.

Gene Therapy for Liver Cancers: Current Status from Basic to Clinics.

The liver is a key organ for metabolism, protein synthesis, detoxification, and endocrine function, and among liver diseases, including hepatitis, cirrhosis, malignant tumors, and congenital disease, liver cancer is one of the leading causes of cancer-related deaths worldwide. Conventional therapeutic options such as embolization and chemotherapy are not effective against advanced-stage liver cancer; therefore, continuous efforts focus on the development of novel therapeutic options, including molecular targeted agents and gene therapy. In this review, we will summarize the progress toward the development of gene therapies for liver cancer, with an emphasis on recent clinical trials and preclinical studies.

Methotrexate-related lymphoproliferative disorders in the liver: Case presentation and mini-review.

Background: Immunosuppression is effective in treating a number of diseases, but adverse effects such as bone marrow suppression, infection, and oncogenesis are of concern. Methotrexate is a key immunosuppressant used to treat rheumatoid arthritis. Although it is effective for many patients, various side effects have been reported, one of the most serious being methotrexate-related lymphoproliferative disorder.

Effects of Human Adipose Tissue-Derived and Umbilical Cord Tissue-Derived Mesenchymal Stem Cells in a Dextran Sulfate Sodium-Induced Mouse Model.

Mesenchymal stem cells (MSCs) can be acquired from medical waste. MSCs are easily expanded and have multiple functions, including anti-inflammatory effects. We evaluated the effects of human adipose tissue-derived MSCs (AD-MSCs) and umbilical cord tissue-derived MSCs (UC-MSCs) in a dextran sulfate sodium (DSS)-induced mouse model.

A rare case of peliosis hepatis in a patient with chronic renal failure and renal cell carcinoma.

Peliosis hepatis (PH) is a rare disease characterized by the presence of sinusoidal dilation and blood-filled cysts throughout the hepatic parenchyma. We report a case of PH in a 49-year-old woman with chronic renal failure (CRF) on hemodialysis and with renal cell carcinoma (RCC). Dynamic contrast-enhanced computed tomography (CT) showed a 35-mm-diameter, hypervascular tumor in the liver and RCC in the right renal cyst.

Mesenchymal stem cells cultured under hypoxic conditions had a greater therapeutic effect on mice with liver cirrhosis compared to those cultured under normal oxygen conditions.

Background: Mesenchymal stem cells (MSCs) can be easily expanded. They can be acquired from medical waste such as adipose and umbilical cord tissues, are influenced by culturing conditions, and exert anti-inflammatory, antioxidant, anti-fibrotic, and angiogenic effects. We analyzed the multi-directional effects of MSCs cultured under hypoxic conditions and their underlying mechanisms in the treatment of liver cirrhosis in a mouse model.

Inhibition of sodium-glucose cotransporter 2 ameliorates renal injury in a novel medaka model of nonalcoholic steatohepatitis-related kidney disease.

The effect of sodium-glucose cotransporter 2 inhibitor (SGLT2I) on nonalcoholic steatohepatitis (NASH) has been reported, but there are few studies on its effect on NASH-related renal injury. In this study, we examined the effect of SGLT2I using a novel medaka fish model of NASH-related kidney disease, which was developed by feeding the d-rR/Tokyo strain a high-fat diet. SGLT2I was administered by dissolving it in water of the feeding tank.

Wavy mucosal tear in the sigmoid colon.

Although linear mucosal tears have been reported, we found a relatively rare case of wavy mucosal tear in collagenous colitis. This may be related to the mutual weak adhesiveness between the epithelium and collagen band. This complication necessitates great care to be taken while performing colonoscopy in patients suspected of collagenous colitis.

Treatment of acute cholecystitis after cardiovascular surgery.

Background: Acute cholecystitis (AC) after cardiovascular surgery (CS) tends to have a serious postoperative course; however, there are few reports of AC after CS. In this study, we investigated the clinical features of AC after CS.

Method: Of 26 patients who underwent surgery for AC after CS between 2001 and 2018 were investigated.