Real-World Analysis of the Correlation between Overall Survival and Progression-Free Survival in Advanced Pancreatic Cancer: Results of NAPOLEON-1 and 2 Studies.

Introduction: Fluorouracil, leucovorin, irinotecan, and oxaliplatin (FOLFIRINOX) improve overall survival (OS) and progression-free survival (PFS) in patients with pancreatic cancer, compared with gemcitabine (GEM). However, whether PFS is a surrogate marker of OS in pancreatic cancer chemotherapy focusing on FOLFIRINOX or GEM plus nab-paclitaxel remains unknown. We aimed to verify whether PFS can be a surrogate marker of OS in prognosis prediction.

A multicenter retrospective observational NAPOLEON2 study of nanoliposomal irinotecan with fluorouracil and folinic acid in patients with unresectable pancreatic cancer.

Nanoliposomal irinotecan with fluorouracil and folinic acid (NFF) is a standard regimen after gemcitabine-based therapy for patients with unresectable or recurrent pancreatic cancer. However, there are limited clinical data on its efficacy and safety in the real-world. We therefore initiated a retrospective and prospective observational study (NAPOLEON-2).

Associations between ondansetron and the incidence of postoperative nausea and vomiting and food intake in Japanese female undergoing laparoscopic gynecological surgery: a retrospective study.

Purpose: Prevention of postoperative nausea and vomiting (PONV) is important to achieve DREAM (drinking, eating, mobilization). Ondansetron inhibits PONV, but its effects on postoperative food intake have not been investigated. This study aimed to examine associations between ondansetron and PONV incidence, and postoperative food intake.

Analysis of the relationship between the amplitude of aortic wall motion and heart function.

Purpose: Because the posterior wall of the aorta and left atrium are interlocked, the amplitude of motion of the aortic wall (AMAW) may reflect cardiac and vessel functions. This study examined the relationship between cardiac and vessel functions and AMAW.

Methods: Patients with cardiovascular diseases or patients undergoing health examinations who visited a participating hospital and underwent echocardiography and brachial-ankle pulse-wave velocity (baPWV) examinations were registered.

Survival Benefit of Hepatic Arterial Infusion Chemotherapy over Sorafenib in the Treatment of Locally Progressed Hepatocellular Carcinoma.

Backround: Not all patients with hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) benefit from treatment with molecular targeted agents such as sorafenib. We investigated whether New-FP (fine-powder cisplatin and 5-fluorouracil), a hepatic arterial infusion chemotherapy regimen, is more favorable than sorafenib as an initial treatment for locally progressed HCC.

Methods: To avoid selection bias, we corrected the data from different facilities that did or did not perform New-FP therapy.

A multicenter propensity score analysis of FOLFIRINOX vs gemcitabine plus nab-paclitaxel administered to patients with metastatic pancreatic cancer: results from the NAPOLEON study.

Purpose: Fluorouracil, leucovorin, irinotecan, and oxaliplatin (FOLFIRINOX, FFX) and gemcitabine plus nab-paclitaxel (GnP) are considered standard treatments for patients with metastatic pancreatic cancer. Direct comparisons are not available that establish which is optimal.

Methods: We conducted a propensity score-adjusted analysis of patients with metastatic pancreatic cancer to identify the therapeutic advantages of these standard therapies.

Distinct Relevance of Nightly Sleep Duration to Metabolic, Anthropometric, and Lifestyle Factors in Patients with Type 2 Diabetes.

Objective Although a number of studies have shown that both short and long sleep durations were associated with the risk of metabolic disorders related to obesity, the underlying mechanism is still not fully understood. In this study, we analyzed the association of sleep duration with metabolic, anthropometric, and lifestyle factors in patients with type 2 diabetes. Methods The subjects were 279 patients with type 2 diabetes 63 (52-70) years old (median and interquartile range) with a body mass index of 25.

Fulminant Tracheobronchial Aspergillosis in an Apparently Healthy Adult.

A 56-year-old healthy man who was a current smoker died from fulminant tracheobronchial aspergillosis despite a month of treatment with a combination of intravenous anti-fungal agents that had been started immediately after the diagnosis. This case report is important for understanding and managing fulminant Aspergillus infections in healthy subjects, although the pathogenesis and underlying pathways are still unknown.

REFLECT-a phase 3 trial comparing efficacy and safety of lenvatinib to sorafenib for the treatment of unresectable hepatocellular carcinoma: an analysis of Japanese subset.

Background: A phase 3, multinational, randomized, non-inferiority trial (REFLECT) compared the efficacy and safety of lenvatinib (LEN) and sorafenib (SOR) in patients with unresectable hepatocellular carcinoma (uHCC). LEN had an effect on overall survival (OS) compared to SOR, statistically confirmed by non-inferiority [OS: median = 13.6 months vs.

Prasugrel effectively reduces the platelet reactivity units in patients with genetically metabolic dysfunction of cytochrome P450 2C19 who are treated with long-term dual antiplatelet therapy after undergoing drug-eluting stent implantation.

Dual antiplatelet therapy (DAPT) with aspirin and P2Y inhibitor is administered following percutaneous coronary intervention (PCI) with coronary stent implantation. Several studies have reported the effects of switching between P2Y inhibitors on platelet reactivity (P2Y reaction units: PRU), from acute to late phase after PCI. However, the effect of switching at very late phase is unknown.

Bromocriptine as a Potential Glucose-lowering Agent for the Treatment of Prolactinoma with Type 2 Diabetes.

A 22-year-old Japanese woman consulted an endocrinologist due to persistent galactorrhea for the past 10 months. She had hyperprolacinemia and had previously been diagnosed with type 2 diabetes mellitus based on her glycohemoglobin level of 11.6%.

Immune-mediated Drug-induced Liver Injury Caused by Laninamivir Octanoate Hydrate.

We herein report the first case of immune-mediated drug-induced liver injury that may have been caused by laninamivir. A 15-year-old girl was diagnosed with influenza and prescribed 40 mg laninamivir. Six weeks later, she was admitted to our hospital because of jaundice and fatigue.

A High-Fat/High-Sucrose Diet Induces WNT4 Expression in Mouse Pancreatic β-cells.

Unlabelled: Aims/Introduction: Several lines of evidence suggest that dysregulation of the WNT signaling pathway is involved in the pathogenesis of type 2 diabetes. This study was performed to elucidate the effects of a high-fat/high-sucrose (HF/HS) diet on pancreatic islet functions in relation to modulation of WNT ligand expression in β-cells.

Materials And Methods: Mice were fed either standard mouse chow or a HF/HS diet from 8 weeks of age.

Role of Regulatory T cells in Airway Inflammation in Asthma.

Asthma is an allergic disease characterized by chronic airway inflammation, airway hyperresponsiveness (AHR), reversibility and remodeling. Inhaled corticosteroids (ICS) are effective in many patients with asthma. However, ICS are a controlling, but not but curative treatment, and there are still many patients with refractory and difficult-to-treat asthma.

High Detection Rates of Urine Mycobacterium tuberculosis in Patients with Suspected Miliary Tuberculosis.

Objective The utility of detecting Mycobacterium tuberculosis in urine samples from patients with pulmonary tuberculous with diffuse small nodular shadows (suspected miliary tuberculosis (MTB)) is still unclear in Japan. A retrospective cross-sectional study was conducted to investigate the detection rates of M. tuberculosis in urine of patients with suspected MTB.

Wheat-bran autolytic peptides containing a branched-chain amino acid attenuate non-alcoholic steatohepatitis via the suppression of oxidative stress and the upregulation of AMPK/ACC in high-fat diet-fed mice.

Whole-wheat intake is known to reduce the risk of metabolic syndrome. However, the active component remains unclear. Recently, we identified bioactive peptides [leucine-arginine-proline (LRP) and leucine-glutamine‑proline (LQP)] from wheat bran autolytic hydrolysate.

Aerobic vs. resistance exercise in non-alcoholic fatty liver disease: A systematic review.

Background & Aims: Exercise is a first-line therapy for patients with non-alcoholic fatty liver disease (NAFLD). We sought to: 1) summarize effective aerobic and resistance exercise protocols for NAFLD; and 2) compare the effects and energy consumption of aerobic and resistance exercises.

Methods: A literature search was performed using PubMed, Web of Science, and Scopas to January 28, 2016.

Evaluation of Resistance-Associated Substitutions in NS5A Using Direct Sequence and Cycleave Method and Treatment Outcome with Daclatasvir and Asunaprevir for Chronic Hepatitis C Genotype 1.

Background: The aim of this study was to evaluate the efficacy of daclatasvir plus asunaprevir therapy in patients infected with hepatitis C virus and determine its relevance to resistant variants.

Methods: A total of 629 consecutive patients infected with hepatitis C virus genotype 1 were assessed. Daclatasvir (60 mg/day) plus asunaprevir (200 mg/day) was given for 24 weeks.

Antiangiogenic and Antitumor Activities of Aflibercept, a Soluble VEGF Receptor-1 and -2, in a Mouse Model of Hepatocellular Carcinoma.

Background & Aim: Aflibercept known as ziv-aflibercept in the United States is a soluble decoy receptor of both vascular endothelial growth factor (VEGF) receptor-1 and -2 known to inhibit the binding of VEGF and placental growth factor (PlGF) to VEGF receptor-1 and -2. Here, we analyzed the mechanisms of the antitumor effects of aflibercept in mouse hepatoma models.

Methods: In in vitro studies, we determined the effects of aflibercept on human umbilical vein cell (HUVEC) proliferation and bone marrow (BM) cell differentiation to endothelial progenitor cells (EPCs).

Regulation of matrix metalloproteinase-1 and alpha-smooth muscle actin expression by interleukin-1 alpha and tumour necrosis factor alpha in hepatic stellate cells.

Hepatic stellate cells (HSCs) are key players in liver fibrosis and regeneration via collagen degradation and synthesis. These phenomena involve inflammatory cytokines released from non-parenchymal liver cells such as Kupffer cells. Although the effects of individual cytokines on many cell types have been investigated in various conditions, such as inflammation and tissue fibrosis, investigating the effect of combined cytokines would further our understanding of the regulatory mechanisms in tissue fibrosis.

Hepatic arterial infusion chemoembolization therapy for advanced hepatocellular carcinoma: multicenter phase II study.

Purpose: Portal vein tumor thrombosis is a critical complication in patients with hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC). This prospective multicenter trial assessed the efficacy of hepatic arterial infusion chemoembolization therapy with cisplatin suspended in lipiodol combined with 5-fluorouracil for HCC patients with portal vein tumor thrombosis.

Methods: We enrolled 52 HCC patients with portal vein tumor thrombosis.