Risk stratification of synchronous gastric cancers including alcohol-related genetic polymorphisms.

Background And Aim: We previously identified that ever-smoking and severe gastric atrophy in pepsinogen are risk factors for synchronous gastric cancers (SGCs). This study aimed to determine the association of alcohol drinking status or alcohol-related genetic polymorphism with SGCs and also stratify their risk.

Methods: This multi-center prospective cohort study included patients who underwent endoscopic submucosal dissection for the initial early gastric cancers at 22 institutions in Japan.

FAXC interacts with ANXA2 and SRC in mitochondria and promotes tumorigenesis in cholangiocarcinoma.

Cholangiocarcinoma (CCA) is one of the most difficult malignancies to treat as the therapeutic options are limited. Although several driver genes have been identified, most remain unknown. In this study, we identified a failed axon connection homolog (FAXC), whose function is unknown in mammals, by analyzing serially passaged CCA xenograft models.

BEX2 is poor prognostic factor and required for cancer stemness in gastric cancer.

Gastric cancer is the fifth most common malignancy worldwide. However, targeted therapy for advanced gastric cancer is still limited. Here, we report BEX2 (Brain expressed X-linked 2) as a poor prognostic factor in two gastric cancer cohorts.

Blue light imaging and linked color imaging as a screening mode for esophageal squamous cell carcinoma in high-risk patients: Multicenter randomized trial.

Objectives: Blue light imaging (BLI) and linked color imaging (LCI) are superior to conventional white light imaging for detecting esophageal squamous cell carcinoma (ESCC). Hence, we compared their diagnostic performances in ESCC screening.

Methods: This open-labeled, randomized controlled trial was performed at seven hospitals.

Treatment strategy after noncurative endoscopic resection for early gastric cancers in patients aged ≥ 85 years: a multicenter retrospective study in a highly aged area of Japan.

Background: The guidelines recommend additional gastrectomy after noncurative endoscopic resection for early gastric cancers (EGCs). However, no additional treatment might be acceptable in some patients aged ≥ 85 years. We aimed to identify this patient group using the data in a highly aged area.

[A case of anaplastic pancreatic cancer with osteoclast-like giant cells during follow-up of a branch-duct pancreatic intraductal papillary mucinous tumor].

In this study, a 76-year-old man initially diagnosed with branch-duct pancreatic intraductal papillary mucinous tumor is presented. During follow-up, stenosis was discovered in the main pancreatic duct of the tail. A nodular lesion was found in the pancreatic duct consistent with the stenosis.

Prediction model of 3-year survival after endoscopic submucosal dissection for early gastric cancer in elderly patients aged ≥ 85 years: EGC-2 model.

Purpose: Little is known about the prognostic factors for survival after endoscopic submucosal dissection (ESD) in elderly patients with early gastric cancer (EGC). The aim of this study is to determine prognostic factors and a prediction model of 3-year survival after ESD for EGC in patients aged ≥ 85 years.

Methods: We retrospectively evaluated the clinical outcomes of 740 patients with EGC aged ≥ 85 years, who were treated by ESD at 30 institutions in Japan.

BEX2 is required for maintaining dormant cancer stem cell in hepatocellular carcinoma.

Cancer stem cells (CSCs) are responsible for therapy resistance and share several properties with normal stem cells. Here, we show that brain-expressed X-linked gene 2 (BEX2), which is essential for dormant CSCs in cholangiocarcinoma, is highly expressed in human hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) lesions compared with the adjacent normal lesions and that in 41 HCC cases the BEX2 expression group is correlated with a poor prognosis. BEX2 localizes to Ki67-negative (nonproliferative) cancer cells in HCC tissues and is highly expressed in the dormant fraction of HCC cell lines.

BEX2 suppresses mitochondrial activity and is required for dormant cancer stem cell maintenance in intrahepatic cholangiocarcinoma.

Cancer stem cells (CSCs) define a subpopulation of cancer cells that are resistant to therapy. However, little is known of how CSC characteristics are regulated. We previously showed that dormant cancer stem cells are enriched with a CD274 fraction of cholangiocarcinoma cells.

CD109 promotes the tumorigenic ability and metastatic motility of pancreatic ductal adenocarcinoma cells.

Background: Accumulating evidence indicates that CD109, a glycosylphosphatidylinositol-anchored glycoprotein, is highly expressed in human epithelial carcinomas of multiple organs including the pancreas, but its functional role in carcinoma development has not yet been fully clarified. The aim of this study was to investigate the role of CD109 in the malignancy of pancreatic ductal adenocarcinoma (PDAC).

Methods: PDAC specimens of 145 cases were immunostained for CD109, and correlations between CD109 expression and clinicopathological conditions were analyzed.

Self-study of the non-extension sign in an e-learning program improves diagnostic accuracy of invasion depth of early gastric cancer.

 We developed an e-learning program for endoscopic diagnosis of invasion depth of early gastric cancer (EGC) using a simple diagnostic criterion called non-extension sign, and the contribution of self-study quizzes to improvement of diagnostic accuracy was evaluated.  We conducted a prospective randomized controlled study that recruited endoscopists throughout Japan. After completing a pretest, the participants watched video lectures and undertook post-test 1.

Appropriate indices for color rendition and their recommended values for UHDTV production using white LED lighting.

We selected appropriate indices for color rendition and determined their recommended values for ultra-high-definition television (UHDTV) production using white LED lighting. Since the spectral sensitivities of UHDTV cameras can be designed to approximate the ideal spectral sensitivities of UHDTV colorimetry, they have more accurate color reproduction than HDTV cameras, and thus the color-rendering properties of the lighting are critical. Comparing images taken under white LEDs with conventional color rendering indices (R, R) and recently proposed methods for evaluating color rendition of CQS, TM-30, Q, and SSI, we found the combination of R and R appropriate.

Gastric hypochlorhydria is associated with an exacerbation of dyspeptic symptoms in female patients.

Background: Gender and gastric acid have been suggested to be independently involved in the pathophysiology of functional dyspepsia, but the interrelationship among gender, dyspeptic symptoms, and gastric acid secretion remains to be evaluated. We sought to explore this issue in dyspeptic patients.

Methods: A total of 89 outpatients (male, 36; mean age, 55.

Association of gastric acid and mucus secretion level with low-dose aspirin-induced gastropathy.

Background: Low-dose aspirin is known to cause upper gastrointestinal complications. The mechanism by which the aspirin disrupts gastric mucosal integrity remains to be clarified. In this study we investigated the temporal association of gastric secretory parameters (acid and mucus) with aspirin-induced gastropathy.

Signet Ring Cell Gastric Cancer Occurring after Radiation Therapy for Helicobacter pylori-Uninfected Mucosa-Associated Lymphoid Tissue Lymphoma.

Helicobacter pylori infection is the major cause for mucosa-associated lymphoid tissue (MALT) lymphoma and gastric cancers. On the other hand, gastric cancers are known to arise from gastric mucosal atrophy. We here report a case of signet ring cell gastric cancer that developed after radiation therapy for MALT lymphoma in H.

Gastric acid secretion level modulates the association between Helicobacter pylori infection and low-dose aspirin-induced gastropathy.

Background: The relative contribution of gastric acid secretion and Helicobacter pylori infection to low-dose aspirin-induced gastropathy remains to be clarified. This is partly because the capability of the infection to modify gastric acid secretion complicates the interaction. The aim of this study was to estimate the association of aspirin-induced mucosal injury, as well as H.

Deficient aldehyde dehydrogenase 2 is associated with increased risk for esophageal squamous cell carcinoma in the presence of gastric hypochlorhydria.

Objective: In Orientals, deficient aldehyde dehydrogenase 2 (ALDH2) is associated with an increased risk for esophageal squamous cell carcinoma (ESCC). The local metabolism of carcinogenic acetaldehyde in the upper gastrointestinal tract could be involved in the association, but the underlying mechanism has not been fully elucidated. Since an anacidic stomach can promote bacteria-catalyzed local acetaldehyde production, the gastric acid level could also affect acetaldehyde metabolism.