Prognostic Significance of Lymphocyte-to-Monocyte Ratio in Patients With Unresectable Biliary Tract Cancer Undergoing Systemic Chemotherapy.

Background/aim: The incidence of biliary tract cancers (BTC), including cholangiocarcinoma and gallbladder cancer, has been increasing worldwide. Approximately 70% of BTC patients have advanced disease at diagnosis, leading to a poor survival rate. Recent clinical trials have demonstrated that the addition of immune checkpoint inhibitors, such as durvalumab or pembrolizumab, to gemcitabine plus cisplatin chemotherapy significantly improves survival rates, making triple therapy the current standard for first-line treatment of BTC.

Diagnostic features of autoimmune hepatitis in SARS‑CoV‑2‑vaccinated vs. unvaccinated individuals.

The global coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) pandemic, caused by severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2), has affected millions of lives, leading to significant morbidity and mortality. With >772 million cases and nearly seven million deaths reported worldwide to date, the development of vaccines has been a critical step in mitigating the impact of COVID-19. However, concerns have arisen regarding the potential for SARS-CoV-2 mRNA vaccination to trigger autoimmune diseases, including autoimmune hepatitis (AIH).

Similar Efficacy Between Atezolizumab Plus Bevacizumab Hepatic Arterial Infusion Chemotherapy For Unresectable Hepatocellular Carcinoma With Portal Vein Tumor Thrombus: A Retrospective Cohort Study.

Background/aim: The landscape of treatments for hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC), including immune checkpoint inhibitors, has expanded significantly. However, unresectable HCC patients with portal vein tumor thrombus (PVTT) continue to face a poor prognosis. This investigation examined the survival outcomes and determinants influencing survival rates in advanced HCC patients with PVTT undergoing treatment with atezolizumab plus bevacizumab (ATZ+BEV) or hepatic arterial infusion chemotherapy (HAIC).

Dynamics of the neutrophil‑to‑lymphocyte ratio during lenvatinib treatment for unresectable hepatocellular carcinoma.

Lenvatinib is an approved therapy for advanced hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC). Recently, immune checkpoint inhibitors have been approved as frontline chemotherapies for HCC, and the tumor immune microenvironment (TIME) has been demonstrated to significantly affect HCC treatment. The neutrophil-to-lymphocyte ratio (NLR) is associated with the TIME, and the dynamics of the NLR are associated with prognosis or treatment efficacy in various cancer types.

High-energy density cellulose nanofibre supercapacitors enabled by pseudo-solid water molecules.

Compared with conventional electrochemical supercapacitors and lithium-ion batteries, the novel amorphous cellulose nanofibre (ACF) supercapacitor demonstrates superior electric storage capacity with a high-power density, owing to its fast-charging capability and high-voltage performance. This study unveils introduces an ACF supercapacitor characterised by a substantial energy density. This is achieved by integrating a singular layer of pseudo-solid water molecules (electrical resistivity of 1.

Systemic Chemotherapy for Advanced Hepatocellular Carcinoma in Patients With Child-Pugh class B.

Background/aim: Numerous agents, including immune checkpoint inhibitors, are now available for hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) treatment. Most trials involving systemic chemotherapy have included patients with Child-Pugh class A, while excluding or minimally enrolling those with Child-Pugh class B, due to liver dysfunction-related mortality. This study aimed to identify prognostic factors for survival in Child-Pugh class B patients receiving sorafenib (SOR), lenvatinib (LEN), atezolizumab plus bevacizumab (ATZ+BEV), or hepatic arterial infusion chemotherapy (HAIC).

Retrospective Analysis of Definitive Chemoradiotherapy With FOLFOX in Patients With Esophageal Cancer Intolerant to Cisplatin.

Background/aim: Definitive chemoradiotherapy with cisplatin (CDDP) plus 5-fluorouracil is the standard treatment for locally advanced esophageal squamous cell carcinoma (LA-ESCC); however, CDDP is unsuitable for patients with cardiac and/or renal dysfunction. Based on the results of the PRODIGE5/ACCORD17 trial, 5-fluorouracil and leucovorin with oxaliplatin plus radiotherapy (FOLFOX-RT) has been recognized as a treatment option. However, the efficacy and safety of FOLFOX-RT is still unclear in Japan.

Cerebral Arteriovenous Malformation With Ipsilateral Middle Cerebral Artery Occlusion: A Case Report.

We report the case of a 29-year-old man who presented with a sudden headache. Computed tomography showed a small intraventricular hemorrhage in the left lateral ventricle. Cerebral angiograms suggested rupture of a coexisting feeder aneurysm in the left temporal cerebral arteriovenous malformation (AVM).

Neutrophil-to-Lymphocyte Ratio Predicts Immune-related Adverse Events in Patients With Hepatocellular Carcinoma Treated With Atezolizumab Plus Bevacizumab.

Background/aim: Atezolizumab in combination with bevacizumab is an approved systemic chemotherapy regimen for advanced hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC). However, immune checkpoint inhibitors (ICIs), such as atezolizumab, frequently lead to immune-related adverse events (irAEs). The identification of biomarkers that can predict the occurrence of irAEs is crucial for the optimal management of patients undergoing ICI treatment.

Combined Ultrasound and Computed Tomography Guidance in Radiofrequency Ablation for Hepatocellular Carcinoma Reduces Local Recurrence Rate.

Background/aim: In radiofrequency ablation (RFA) treatment of hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC), the therapeutic effect depends on the appropriate position of the electrode. To improve the accuracy of the electrode needle position, we currently perform RFA with combined ultrasound sonography (US) and computed tomography (CT) guidance. The purpose of this study was to evaluate the effectiveness of this US/CT-guided RFA method.

Clear and simple detection of asbestos stained with two dyes for building materials collected from disaster and demolition sites using a stereomicroscope.

Whenever houses are demolished or disasters occur, large quantities of building materials are discharged, which may contain asbestos. To prevent the damage caused by asbestos exposure, a rapid asbestos presence confirmation method is required at demolition sites or temporary disaster storage sites. It is difficult to confirm the presence of asbestos in waste building materials by simple observation.

Potential Predictive Biomarkers of Systemic Drug Therapy for Hepatocellular Carcinoma: Anticipated Usefulness in Clinical Practice.

In the systemic drug treatment of hepatocellular carcinoma, only the tyrosine kinase inhibitor (TKI) sorafenib was available for a period. This was followed by the development of regorafenib as a second-line treatment after sorafenib, and then lenvatinib, a new TKI, proved non-inferiority to sorafenib and became available as a first-line treatment. Subsequently, cabozantinib, another TKI, was introduced as a second-line treatment, along with ramucirumab, the only drug proven to be predictive of therapeutic efficacy when AFP levels are >400 ng/mL.

FIB‑4 index and serum α‑fetoprotein are useful predictors of hepatocellular carcinoma occurrence in hepatitis B patients with nucleos(t)ide analogs therapy.

Current antiviral therapies cannot achieve eradication of hepatitis B virus (HBV) and can reduce but not eliminate the risk of hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) in patients with chronic HBV infection. The present study aimed to identify the risk factors for HCC development by analyzing nucleoside analogue (NA)-treated patients as a retrospective cohort using fibrosis-4 index (FIB-4 index) as a non-invasive fibrosis marker. A total of 260 patients with HBV receiving NAs without a history of HCC between January 2001 and January 2021 were included in the present study.

An Imaging Feature Predicts Efficacy of Atezolizumab Plus Bevacizumab in Unresectable Hepatocellular Carcinoma.

Background/aim: Systemic chemotherapy with atezolizumab plus bevacizumab is approved for unresectable hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC). It is necessary to identify probable predictive biomarkers for chemotherapies. HCC with rim arterial-phase enhancement (APHE) has been linked to aggressive tumor activity.

Tumor‑infiltrating CD8 T cells as a biomarker for chemotherapy efficacy in unresectable hepatocellular carcinoma.

Atezolizumab plus bevacizumab and lenvatinib are approved frontline therapies for advanced hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC). Patients with advanced HCC continue to have a poor prognosis despite these therapeutic choices. Previous studies have reported CD8 tumor-infiltrating lymphocytes (TILs) as a biomarker to predict responsiveness to systemic chemotherapy.

Risk factors for loss to follow-up after the start of direct-acting antiviral treatment for hepatitis C virus infection.

Background And Aim: Direct-acting antivirals (DAAs) have recently been developed to treat hepatitis C virus (HCV) infection. Additionally, interferon-free DAA treatment has improved liver function and reduced the risk of hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) following HCV eradication. Previous studies on HCV have focused mainly on the treatment rate and the risk of developing HCC, and less attention has been given to loss to follow-up (LTFU) after DAA treatment.

[A case of multiple osteonecrosis caused by acute-on-chronic pancreatitis].

A 61-year-old man was admitted due to alcoholic liver cirrhosis, portal vein thrombosis, hepatocellular carcinoma, and chronic pancreatitis. The patient's portal vein thrombosis improved with anticoagulant therapy. Serum amylase gradually increased, but there was no abdominal pain.

[Primary cutaneous anaplastic large cell lymphoma with systemic progression responding to low-dose methotrexate therapy].

The standard therapies for primary cutaneous anaplastic large cell lymphoma (pcALCL) in an advanced stage remain undefined. A 71-year-old man presented with multiple erythema and nodules. He was diagnosed with lymphomatoid papulosis (LyP) through a skin biopsy from the left postauricular area.

Therapeutic efficacy of atezolizumab plus bevacizumab for hepatocellular carcinoma with WNT/β-catenin signal activation.

Atezolizumab plus bevacizumab therapy has high response rates in patients with advanced hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC). It has been reported that HCC with immune exclusion associated with the signal activation of WNT/β-catenin is resistant to immune checkpoint inhibitors; however, to the best of our knowledge, the effectiveness of atezolizumab plus bevacizumab for HCC with WNT/β-catenin signal activation has not been reported. The present study aimed to analyze the efficacy of atezolizumab plus bevacizumab for HCC with WNT/β-catenin signal activation.

Hepatitis C virus eradication ameliorates the prognosis of advanced hepatocellular carcinoma treated with sorafenib.

The risk of hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) occurrence following hepatitis C virus (HCV) eradication has been previously reported, but the impact of HCV eradication on advanced HCC patient survival remains unclear. Therefore, the present study aimed to evaluate the effect of HCV eradication on the survival outcome of patients with advanced HCC treated with sorafenib. One hundred and three HCV-related advanced HCC patients who were treated with sorafenib were enrolled in this study.

[Ascending Aorta and Aortic Valve Replacement in Unicuspid Aortic Valve:Report of a Case].

A 53-year-old male was admitted to our hospital due to severe aortic stenosis and mild aortic regurgitation. The patient had no heart failure symptoms, but aortic stenosis progressed year by year. Aortic valve dysfunction caused by unicuspid aortic valve (UAV).

Multicentric recurrence of intraductal papillary neoplasm of bile duct after spontaneous detachment of primary tumor: A case report.

Background: Intraductal papillary neoplasm of the bile duct (IPNB) rarely recurs in a multicentric manner. We encountered a patient with multiple recurrences of the gastric subtype of IPNB one year after spontaneous detachment of the primary tumor during peroral cholangioscopy (POCS).

Case Summary: A 68-year-old woman on maintenance hemodialysis because of lupus nephritis had several cardiovascular diseases and a pancreatic intraductal papillary mucinous neoplasm (IPMN).

A case of primary cardiac angiosarcoma with surgical resection and reconstruction.

We report a 52-year-old man with primary cardiac angiosarcoma. He was referred to our hospital with a 3-month history of facial swelling and peripheral edema. Echocardiography and chest computed tomography revealed massive pericardial effusion and a right atrial tumor with a broad base at atrial septum which was extended into superior vena cava.

Therapeutic efficacy of lenvatinib for hepatocellular carcinoma with iso-high intensity in the hepatobiliary phase of Gd-EOB-DTPA-MRI.

Previous studies have reported that hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) harboring WNT/β-catenin mutations exhibits iso-high intensity by gadolinium ethoxybenzyl diethylenetriaminepentaacetic acid-enhanced magnetic resonance imaging (Gd-EOB-DTPA-MRI, i.e. EOB-MRI) during the hepatobiliary phase (HBP), thus indicating that EOB-MRI may help clinicians identify an immune exclusion class, which might not respond to treatment with immune checkpoint inhibitors.