The survival impact of preoperative FOLFOX for resectable locally advanced rectal cancer: the R-NAC-01 study.

Purpose: In this follow-up of the R-NAC-01 study, we assessed the long-term oncological benefit of four courses of modified leucovorin, 5-fluorouracil (FU), and oxaliplatin (mFOLFOX6) chemotherapy before rectal surgery.

Methods: In this prospective, multicenter study (UMIN 000012559) involving 11 hospitals in Japan, patients with lower rectal cancer underwent four cycles of mFOLFOX6 chemotherapy and subsequent surgery within four to six weeks. The 3-year recurrence-free survival and local recurrence rates were then reported.

An increase in the peripheral lymphocyte-to-monocyte ratio after primary site resection is associated with a prolonged survival in unresectable colorectal carcinoma.

Purpose: The prognostic benefits of primary tumor resection in patients with unresectable distant metastatic colorectal cancer remain unclear. A high pre-treatment lymphocyte-to-monocyte ratio (LMR) was previously shown to be associated with a better prognosis. We assessed whether or not primary tumor resection was associated with an improved survival if the peripheral lymphocyte-to-monocyte ratio increased after primary site resection.

Proficiency Level of Novice Technically Qualified Surgeons in Laparoscopic Rectal Resection.

The actual proficiency levels of surgeons after their qualification by the Endoscopic Surgical Skill Qualification System have not been established. This study aimed to investigate whether technically qualified surgeons could safely perform laparoscopic low anterior resection and to evaluate the proficiency level at the time of certification acquisition. A total of 46 patients (mean age, 63.

Retrieval strategy for ruptured balloon with circumferential tear during angioplasty for arteriovenous fistula in hemodialysis patients.

Introduction: Balloon angioplasty is a common endovascular procedure. The balloon for angioplasty sometimes ruptures (incidence, 3.6%-10%), and it is constructed such that it ruptures in a longitudinal direction and complications related to rupture are rare.