Responsiveness and minimal clinically important difference of the 6-minute walk distance in patients undergoing colorectal cancer surgery.

Purpose: This study aimed to clarify the responsiveness and minimal clinically important difference (MCID) of the 6-minute walk distance (6MWD) from before and 1 week after surgery in patients with colorectal cancer (CRC).

Methods: This retrospective cohort study enrolled 97 patients with primary CRC scheduled for surgery. An anchor-based approach estimated the MCID of the 6MWD, with postoperative physical recovery and EuroQol 5-dimension 5L questionnaire assessments serving as anchors.

A Randomized Controlled Phase 2 Study of Neoadjuvant Eribulin Versus Paclitaxel in Women with Operable Breast Cancer: The JONIE-3 Study.

Objective: Neoadjuvant chemotherapy (NAC) is essential for surgical downstaging of early-stage breast cancer, but taxane administration is associated with neuropathy. We investigated whether eribulin induces less neuropathy than paclitaxel.

Methods: In this multicentre, randomised study (UMIN000012817), patients diagnosed with invasive breast cancer between December 2013 and April 2016 were randomly assigned to group E (eribulin followed by fluorouracil, epirubicin, and cyclophosphamide; FEC) or group P (paclitaxel followed by FEC).

Strontium-89 plus zoledronic acid versus zoledronic acid for patients with painful bone metastatic breast cancer.

Introduction: β-ray strontium-89 (Sr-89) intra-irradiation therapy has been approved and clinically used to reduce bone metastasis pain not alleviated by bone-modifying agents, external radiation, and analgesic agents. We examined the efficacy of zoledronic acid (ZOL) and Sr-89 combination therapy compared with ZOL alone in breast cancer patients with bone metastases.

Materials And Methods: A randomized controlled trial was conducted on breast cancer patients with bone metastasis to compare the efficacy between ZOL monotherapy and ZOL plus Sr-89 combination therapy.

Preoperative Low Physical Activity is a Predictor of Postoperative Delirium in Patients with Gastrointestinal Cancer: A Retrospective Study.

Background: Postoperative delirium (POD) is one of the most common postoperative complications in gastrointestinal surgery patients. POD has been reported to affect long-term activities of daily living, cognitive function decline, and mortality. Previous studies have indicated that preoperative physical activity (PA) predicted POD in patients with other diseases, but we have not found any reports in patients with gastrointestinal cancer.

Preoperative physical activity predicts postoperative functional recovery in gastrointestinal cancer patients.

Purpose: The present study aimed to investigate the association between preoperative physical activity (PA) and postoperative functional recovery in gastrointestinal cancer patients.

Materials And Methods: In this prospective study, we included 101 patients who underwent colorectal or gastric cancer surgery. Primary outcome was 6-minute walk distance (6MWD) decline ratio ((postoperative 6MWD value - preoperative 6MWD value)/preoperative 6MWD value × 100 (%)), which was determined as postoperative functional recovery.

Changes in disease characteristics of primary biliary cholangitis: An observational retrospective study from 1982 to 2016.

Aim: Disease characteristics of primary biliary cholangitis have changed recently. However, detailed studies on the subject have been limited. Therefore, we aimed to clarify disease characteristics of patients with recent primary biliary cholangitis using the cohort from Niigata University and 21 affiliated hospitals.

Risk Analysis for Chemotherapy-induced Nausea and Vomiting (CINV) in Patients Receiving FEC100 Treatment.

Background/aim: Risk factors for chemotherapy-induced nausea and vomiting (CINV) with anthracycline-containing regimen for breast cancer patients remain unknown. The risk factors for CINV with FEC100 were investigated.

Patients And Methods: Data on CINV events and patient backgrounds of 180 patients were collected from the first cycle of FEC100 treatment.

Formulation for Effective Screening and Management of Nonalcoholic Steatohepatitis: Noninvasive NAFLD Management Strategy.

To establish a versatile means for screening and management of nonalcoholic steatohepatitis (NASH), shear wave velocity was measured in 20 normal controls and 138 consecutive nonalcoholic fatty liver disease (NAFLD) cases. Referencing biochemical properties in 679 healthy volunteers, a formula to distinguish NASH suspects was established and validated in another cohort of 138 histologically proven NAFLD cases. NASH and simple steatosis (SS) suspects were selected based on a plot of shear wave velocity against age.

Randomized Controlled Trial of Zoledronic Acid plus Chemotherapy versus Chemotherapy Alone as Neoadjuvant Treatment of HER2-Negative Primary Breast Cancer (JONIE Study).

Purpose: Zoledronic acid (ZOL) is a nitrogen-containing bisphosphonate that induces osteoclast apoptosis and inhibits bone resorption by inhibiting the mevalonate pathway. Its benefit for the prevention of skeletal complications due to bone metastases has been established. However, the antitumor efficacy of ZOL, although suggested by multiple preclinical and clinical studies, has not yet been clinically proven.

Comparison of postural changes and muscle fatigue between two types of lumbar support: a prospective longitudinal study.

Background: Lumbar supports are used in the management of low back pain (LBP). Although various types of lumbar supports are available, insufficient evidence exists regarding their effectiveness. The aim of this study was to investigate the effect of two types of lumbar support on postural change and muscle fatigue in a prospective longitudinal study.

Percutaneous transhepatic portal vein stent placement can improve prognosis for hepatocellular carcinoma patients with portal vein tumor thrombosis.

Background/aims: Hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) with portal vein tumor thrombosis (PVTT) has an extremely poor prognosis. One reason is that portal hypertension may progress rapidly and intractable gastric/esophageal variceal hemorrhage may occur in PVTT cases. We studied whether a percutaneous transhepatic portal vein stent placement could improve the prognosis for HCC with PVTT.

Improved method for transjugular liver biopsy using imaging sheaths developed for balloon-occluded retrograde transvenous obliteration.

Background/aims: Patients with ascites or coagulation abnormalities and requiring a liver biopsy may undergo transjugular liver biopsy (TJLB) rather than percutaneous liver biopsy. Currently, the difficulty in maneuvering the sheath towards the hepatic vein keeps this procedure from being widely used. Therefore, the utility of imaging sheaths, typically used for balloon-occluded retrograde transvenous obliteration, during TJLB was examined.

Branched-chain amino acids to tyrosine ratio (BTR) predicts intrahepatic distant recurrence and survival for early hepatocellular carcinoma.

Background/aims: The Child-Pugh classification system is the most widely used system for assessing hepatic functional reserve in HCC treatment. In the Child-Pugh classification system, serum albumin levels are used to accurately assess the status of protein metabolism and nutrition. To date, a lack of attention has been given to amino acid metabolism.

Concurrent partial splenic embolization with transcatheter arterial chemoembolization for hepatocellular carcinoma can maintain hepatic functional reserve.

Aim: Hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) is frequently complicated with cirrhosis, and it is not unusual for treatment options to be limited as a result of pancytopenia due to hypersplenism. Partial splenic embolization (PSE) has been performed for thrombocytopenia resulting from hypersplenism. We studied the efficacy in terms of hepatic functional reserve and safety in patients who underwent concurrent transcatheter arterial chemoembolization (TACE) with PSE for HCC.

Radiofrequency ablation during continuous saline infusion can extend ablation margins.

Aim: To determine whether fluid injection during radiofrequency ablation (RFA) can increase the coagulation area.

Methods: Bovine liver (1-2 kg) was placed on an aluminum tray with a return electrode affixed to the base, and the liver was punctured by an expandable electrode. During RFA, 5% glucose; 50% glucose; or saline fluid was infused continuously at a rate of 1.

Surfactant protein-D is more useful than Krebs von den Lungen 6 as a marker for the early diagnosis of interstitial pneumonitis during pegylated interferon treatment for chronic hepatitis C.

Background/aims: To examine the usefulness of serum Krebs von den Lungen 6 (KL-6) and surfactant protein-D (SP-D) as markers of interstitial pneumonitis. Many antiviral therapies have become available for chronic hepatitis C, including pegylated interferon (PEGIFN) plus ribavirin. Since interstitial pneumonitis is a serious adverse drug reaction during interferon therapy, interferon treatment requires caution in respiratory disease patients.

Histopathology of the tissue adhering to the multiple tine expandable electrodes used for radiofrequency ablation of hepatocellular carcinoma predicts local recurrence.

Objective: To assess the ability to predict the local recurrence of hepatocellular carcinoma by analyzing tissues adhering to the radiofrequency ablation probe after complete ablation.

Methods: From May 2002 to March 2011, tissue specimens adhering to the radiofrequency ablation probe from 284 radiofrequency ablation sessions performed for hepatocellular carcinomas ≤3 cm in size were analyzed. The specimens were classified as either viable tumor tissue or complete necrosis, and the local recurrence rates were calculated using the Kaplan-Meier method.

Efficacy of the regimen using twice-daily β-interferon followed by the standard of care for chronic hepatitis C genotype 1b with high viral load.

Aim:   In patients with refractory genotype 1b chronic hepatitis C with high viral loads, we retrospectively compared the efficacy of standard of care treatment (SOC: combined PEG-IFN-α-2b/ribavirin for 48 weeks) and a regimen in which 2 weeks of SOC induction was replaced by twice-daily β-interferon alone (IFN-β induction therapy).

Methods:   Seventeen patients received the IFN-β induction therapy plus SOC (IFN-β induction group) and 13 patients received SOC alone (SOC group).

Results:   In the IFN-β induction group and SOC group, early virological response (EVR) rates were 88.

Combination PEG-IFN a-2b/ribavirin therapy following treatment of hepatitis C virus-associated hepatocellular carcinoma is capable of improving hepatic functional reserve and survival.

Background/aims: Hepatitis C virus (HCV) associated HCC shows a high rate of recurrence even after curative treatment. Outcomes of pegylated interferon PEGIFN a-2b/ribavirin (RBV) therapy for HCV-associated HCC have yet to be elucidated. We investigated therapeutic response and hepatic functional reserve improvement in patients receiving PEG-IFN a-2b/RBV after curative HCC treatment.