The Vascular Endothelial Growth Factor-A121/Vascular Endothelial Growth Factor-A165 Ratio as a Predictor of the Therapeutic Response to Immune Checkpoint Inhibitors in Gastric Cancer.

Background/objectives: The response rate to immune checkpoint inhibitor (ICI) therapy is limited. Further, there is a need to discover biomarkers to predict therapeutic efficacy. The vascular endothelial growth factor (VEGF) is strongly associated with intra-tumoral immunity; however, its utility as a marker remains unknown.

A sutureless overlapped anastomosis technique using linear staplers with reinforced bioabsorbable material in robotic right colectomy with intracorporeal anastomosis.

Aim: Creation of an overlapped anastomosis using handsewn sutures for common enterotomy is very popular in robotic right colectomy (RRC) with intracorpareal anastomosis (IA). The aim of this study is to present a simple method for constructing a sutureless overlapped anastomosis using a 60 mm linear stapler with a reinforced bioabsorbable material in RRC with IA.

Method: The distal ileum and proximal colon were put in overlapping positions.

Comparative efficacy and safety of adjunctive drugs to levodopa for fluctuating Parkinson's disease - network meta-analysis.

It remains unclear which adjunctive drug for Parkinson's disease (PD) in combination with levodopa is more effective, tolerable, and safe. We aimed to compare the efficacy, tolerability, and safety among anti-PD drugs from several classes in patients with fluctuating PD who received levodopa through network meta-analysis (NMA). Twelve anti-PD drugs belonging to 4 different drug classes (dopamine agonists, monoamine oxidase type B inhibitors, catechol-O-methyl transferase inhibitors, and an adenosine A2A receptor antagonist) were selected.

Mucosectomy of the anal canal via transanal minimally invasive surgery combined with transanal total mesorectal excision for familial adenomatous polyposis: A technical note.

Aim: Total proctocolectomy with ileal pouch-anal anastomosis (IPAA) is the standard surgical treatment modality for familial adenomatous polyposis (FAP). It is challenging to perform proctectomy and preserve anal sphincter function. In this video, precise mucosectomy of the anal canal via transanal minimally invasive surgery (MAC-TAMIS) is reported.

Vascular endothelial growth factor inhibitors promote antitumor responses via tumor microenvironment immunosuppression in advanced colorectal cancer.

Purpose: This study aims to investigate changes in the tumor immune environment of patients who underwent therapy with a vascular endothelial growth factor (VEGF) inhibitor for advanced colorectal cancer.

Methods: Patients ( = 135) with T3 or T4 colorectal cancer were included in this retrospective study. They were classified as follows: patients who had not received preoperative treatment (UPFRONT group,  = 54), who had received FOLFOX as preoperative chemotherapy (FOLFOX group,  = 55), and who had undergone resection after combination FOLFOX and bevacizumab as unresectable colorectal cancer (B-MAB group,  = 26).

[A Case of Curative Resection Following TNT for Locally Advanced Rectal Cancer with Liver Metastasis].

The standard treatment of locally advanced rectal cancer is preoperative chemoradiotherapy(CRT)in Europe and the United States, while that is surgical excision and lateral pelvic lymph node dissection followed by adjuvant chemotherapy in Japan. Recently, total neoadjuvant therapy(TNT), which combines neoadjuvant chemotherapy and preoperative CRT, have been popular. We performed curative excision for initially locally advanced rectal cancer with liver metastasis after TNT.

Implications of PD-1, Tim-3, and TIGIT Expression for Cancer Immunity and Pancreatic Cancer Prognosis.

Background/aim: The development and application of cancer immunotherapy to pancreatic cancer has not progressed because its efficacy has not been proven in clinical trials. In this study, we aimed to explore potential targets of immune checkpoint inhibitor therapy for pancreatic cancer treatment.

Materials And Methods: We collected resected specimens from 40 patients with pancreatic cancer who underwent resection at our Institution without any preoperative treatment.

A new overlapped delta-shaped anastomosis technique using linear staplers with reinforced bioabsorbable material for intracorporeal anastomosis during laparoscopic colectomy.

Aim: Totally laparoscopic colectomy with intracorporeal anastomosis (IA) is associated with less surgical trauma and wound related complications compared to laparoscopy-assisted colectomy with extracorporeal anastomosis. Delta shaped anastomosis is a widely popular IA technique. In this study, we discuss a construction technique for an overlapped delta-shaped anastomosis using a linear stapler with a reinforced bioabsorbable material.

A comparison of the surgical invasiveness and short-term outcomes between thoracoscopic and pneumatic mediastinoscopic esophagectomy for esophageal cancer.

Purpose: Minimally invasive esophagectomy (MIE) has been widely accepted as a treatment for esophageal cancer. This retrospective study compared the short-term outcomes and surgical invasiveness between thoracoscopic esophagectomy (TE) and mediastinoscopic esophagectomy with pneumomediastinum (pneumatic mediastinoscopic esophagectomy [PME]).

Methods: A total of 72 patients who underwent TE or PME were included and assessed for their surgical findings, postoperative complications, and inflammatory responses on postoperative day (POD) 1, 3, 5, and 7.

A prognostic scoring system for conversion surgery after trastuzumab-based chemotherapy for human epidermal growth factor receptor 2-positive advanced gastric cancer.

Purpose: To investigate the clinical indications and prognostic significance of surgical interventions after chemotherapy using trastuzumab-containing regimens for patients with human epidermal growth factor receptor 2 (HER2)-positive advanced gastric cancer (AGC).

Methods: A total of 146 patients with AGC who underwent chemotherapy were enrolled in this retrospective study. Tumors with an immunohistochemistry (IHC) score of 3 + or an IHC score of 2 + plus fluorescence in situ hybridization positivity were defined as HER2-positive AGC.

Multidisciplinary treatment of advanced or recurrent solid pseudopapillary neoplasm of the pancreas: three case reports.

Background: Solid pseudopapillary neoplasm (SPN) is a rare pancreatic tumor that predominantly affects young females. Prognosis is excellent; however, 10-15% of patients show metastasis at the time of surgery or develop tumor recurrence after pancreatectomy.

Case Presentation: We reviewed the clinical course of three patients with advanced or recurrent SPN and subsequently underwent multidisciplinary treatment at our institution between 2002 and 2019.

Changes in Chemotherapeutic Strategies and Their Prognostic Impact in Patients With Advanced Gastric Cancer.

Background/aim: To investigate changes in post-progression chemotherapy (PPC) before and after nivolumab approval and determine their prognostic impact.

Patients And Methods: A total of 146 patients with unresectable gastric cancer who had at least progressive disease after first- and/or second-line chemotherapy were retrospectively enrolled.

Results: Among the 146 patients, 46 and 23 received ramucirumab and nivolumab, respectively.

Postoperative recurrence with right cervical lymph node metastasis in hepatocellular carcinoma: a case report.

Background: Hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) patients with metastases to the cervical lymph nodes are extremely rare, and its clinical course is characterized by rapidly progressive disease. Hence, there have been no reports of metastatic cervical lymph node recurrence indicated after a long postoperative surveillance period.

Case Presentation: The patient was a 63-year-old male who underwent right hepatectomy for HCC of the right upper lobe.

Successful thoracoscopic resection of an esophageal bronchogenic cyst.

Esophageal bronchogenic cysts are rare, and since a limited number of cases has been reported, the treatment plan for asymptomatic patients is difficult. A 55-year-old man without any symptoms visited our hospital for further examination of an esophageal mass detected on simple computed tomography. Upper endoscopy showed the protruding, submucosal mass covered by normal mucosa, and endoscopic sonography confirmed hypoechoic lesions originating from the muscularis propria.

RNA-Sequencing Based microRNA Expression Signature of Colorectal Cancer: The Impact of Oncogenic Targets Regulated by .

To elucidate novel aspects of the molecular pathogenesis of colorectal cancer (CRC), we have created a new microRNA (miRNA) expression signature based on RNA-sequencing. Analysis of the signature showed that 84 miRNAs were upregulated, and 70 were downregulated in CRC tissues. Interestingly, our signature indicated that both guide and passenger strands of some miRNAs were significantly dysregulated in CRC tissues.

Colorectal Cancer Patients Have Four Specific Bacterial Species in Oral and Gut Microbiota in Common-A Metagenomic Comparison with Healthy Subjects.

Oral microbiota is reportedly associated with gut microbiota and influences colorectal cancer (CRC) progression; however, the details remain unclear. This study aimed to evaluate the role of oral microbiota in CRC progression. Fifty-two patients with CRC and 51 healthy controls were included.

Prognostic impact of surgery after chemotherapy for type 4 gastric cancer.

Purpose: To assess the clinical indications for, and prognostic impact of surgery after, chemotherapy for type 4 gastric cancer.

Methods: The subjects of this retrospective study were 67 patients who received chemotherapy for type 4 gastric cancer. The patients were grouped into those with progressive disease (PD group) and those without PD (non-PD group), according to the tumor response to chemotherapy.

Prognostic Significance of HER2 Expression for Gastric Cancer With Clinically Para-aortic Lymph Node Metastasis.

Background/aim: To determine the prognostic utility of trastuzumab-based chemotherapy based on human epidermal growth factor receptor 2 (HER2) expression in patients with para-aortic lymph node (PAN) metastasis from gastric cancer.

Patients And Methods: A total of 41 patients with clinical PAN metastasis from gastric cancer who underwent chemotherapy were retrospectively enrolled.

Results: Eighteen (43.

Cellular-resolution gene expression profiling in the neonatal marmoset brain reveals dynamic species- and region-specific differences.

Precise spatiotemporal control of gene expression in the developing brain is critical for neural circuit formation, and comprehensive expression mapping in the developing primate brain is crucial to understand brain function in health and disease. Here, we developed an unbiased, automated, large-scale, cellular-resolution in situ hybridization (ISH)-based gene expression profiling system (GePS) and companion analysis to reveal gene expression patterns in the neonatal New World marmoset cortex, thalamus, and striatum that are distinct from those in mice. Gene-ontology analysis of marmoset-specific genes revealed associations with catalytic activity in the visual cortex and neuropsychiatric disorders in the thalamus.

Anatomical study of the inferior mesenteric vein using three-dimensional computed tomography angiography in laparoscopy-assisted surgery for left-sided colorectal cancer.

Purpose: To investigate the drainage patterns of the inferior mesenteric vein (IMV) and measure the distance from the root of the inferior mesenteric artery (IMA) to the IMV using preoperative three-dimensional computed tomography (3D-CT) angiography in patients undergoing surgery for left-sided colorectal cancer.

Methods: In this retrospective study, we analyzed data collected prospectively on 167 consecutive patients who underwent laparoscopic left-sided colorectal cancer surgery between July, 2014 and August, 2019. The drainage pattern of the IMV and the distance from the root of the IMA to the IMV were evaluated using 3D-CT angiography.

[A Case of an Elderly Frail Patient with Unresectable Colorectal Cancer Controlled by Trifluridine/Tipiracil with Bevacizumab Therapy as a First-Line Treatment].

Although the effectiveness of trifluridine/tipiracil(TFTD)with bevacizumab for unresectable colorectal cancer that was refractory to previous standard chemotherapy was reported, its effectiveness as a first-line treatment, especially for elderly frail patients, is unclear. An 85-year-old woman complaining of anorexia was diagnosed with unresectable sigmoid colon cancer with multiple metastases. Her general status was very poor, and her performance status(PS)was 4.

Successful treatment of post chemotherapy esophageal cicatricial atresia in a pediatric patient with anaplastic large cell lymphoma through minimally invasive esophagectomy: a case report.

Background: Anaplastic large cell lymphoma (ALCL) is a CD30-positive T-cell lymphoma, which is a rare type of non-Hodgkin lymphoma. ALCL rarely presents in the gastrointestinal tract, and the esophageal involvement in of ALCL is extremely rare.

Case Presentation: An 11-year-old boy who complained of abdominal pain and cough was diagnosed with ALK-positive ALCL on the basis of systemic lymphadenopathy findings and immunohistochemistry results of pleural effusion.

Modified Delta-shaped Anastomosis via the Overlap Method Using Linear Staplers for Colon Cancer.

Here, we describe the modified delta-shaped anastomosis (DSA) via the overlap method and how it was a beneficial intracorporeal anastomotic technique for four patients who underwent laparoscopic colectomy. After resecting the colon on both sides of the lesion, proximal and distal colon were laid in an overlap fashion and fixed using sutures. The entry hole was created using an ultrasound scalpel at a point 3 cm proximal to right colic stump and 7 cm distal to left colic stump on the anti-mesenteric side.