"Fine-tuning on AI-driven Video Analysis through Machine Learning; development of an automated evaluation tool of facial palsy.".

Backgrounds: Establishment of quantitative, objective evaluation tool for facial palsy has been a big issue for clinicians and researchers, and in an era of artificial intelligence, AI-driven video analysis can be considered a reasonable solution for this long-discussed issue. We introduced facial keypoint detection, which detects facial landmarks with 68 points, but existing models had been organized almost solely with images of healthy individuals and low accuracy was presumed in the prediction of asymmetric faces of facial palsy patients.The accuracy of existing model was assessed through applying it to the movies of 30 facial palsy patients.

Impact of MUC1 Expression on the Progression of Intraductal Papillary Mucinous Neoplasm With Worrisome Features During Follow-up.

Objectives: The aim of this study was to investigate whether MUC1 expression is associated with progression of intraductal papillary mucinous neoplasms with worrisome features during follow-up.

Methods: Fifteen patients positive for MUC1 and negative for MUC2 (MUC1 group) and 16 patients negative for MUC1 and MUC2 (control group) were followed up and examined for changes in diameters of the main and ectatic branches of pancreatic ducts, enlargement of mural nodules, and appearance of a solid mass, by imaging studies. All of them presented worrisome features, and none had "high-risk stigmata.

Prior minimal endoscopic sphincterotomy to prevent pancreatitis related to endoscopic balloon sphincteroplasty.

Aim: To investigate the efficacy of prior minimal endoscopic sphincterotomy (EST) to prevent pancreatitis related to endoscopic balloon sphincteroplasty (EBS).

Methods: After bile duct access was gained and cholangiogram confirmed the presence of stones < 8 mm in the common bile duct at endoscopic retrograde cholangiography, patients were subjected to minimal EST (up to one-third of the size the papilla) plus 8 mm EBS (EST-EBS group). The incidence of pancreatitis and the difference in serum amylase level after the procedure were examined and compared with those associated with 8-mm EBS alone in 32 patients of historical control (control group).

Safety of immediate endoscopic sphincterotomy in acute suppurative cholangitis caused by choledocholithiasis.

Aim: To examine the safety of immediate endoscopic sphincterotomy (EST) in patients with acute suppurative cholangitis (ASC) caused by choledocholithiasis, as compared with elective EST.

Methods: Patients with ASC due to choledocholithiasis were allocated to two groups: Those who underwent EST immediately and those who underwent EBD followed by EST 1 wk later because they were under anticoagulant therapy, had a coagulopathy (international normalized ratio > 1.3, partial thromboplastin time greater than twice that of control), or had a platelet count < 50000 × 10(3)/μL.

Efficacy of recombinant human soluble thrombomodulin in patients with sepsis and disseminated intravascular coagulation in the gastroenterology field.

Recombinant human soluble thrombomodulin (rTM) was approved recently and has been used for treatment of disseminated intravascular coagulation (DIC). The aim of the present study was to evaluate the efficacy of rTM for DIC. The data of 53 inpatients with sepsis-induced DIC were retrospectively analyzed.

Radiofrequency ablation combined with chemolipiodolization in a porcine liver: Comparison of the pharmacokinetic analysis with cisplatin powder and miriplatin.

Aim: To compare the pharmacokinetics of radiofrequency (RF) ablation with chemolipiodolization using cisplatin (CDDP) powder and miriplatin (MPT) in a porcine liver.

Methods: Twelve pigs were divided equally into four groups. After each CDDP powder-lipiodol suspension (n = 6; groups A and B) or MPT-lipiodol suspension (n = 6; groups C and D) was injected into the lateral left artery, one RF ablation was performed at the lateral left lobe of each pig.