Hemodynamic Analysis Using 4D Flow MRI in a Case of Aortic Dissection With Aberrant Right Subclavian Artery.

Four-dimensional flow magnetic resonance imaging (4D flow MRI) was utilized to analyze an aortic dissection with an aberrant right subclavian artery, revealing vortex formation and an increased oscillatory shear index (OSI), both indicative of variations in wall shear stress. An elevated OSI has been associated with an elevated risk of aortic dissection.

Numerical, phenotypic and functional differences in human dermal resident memory T cells between reticular dermal layers.

Background: Resident memory T (T) cells and immunosuppressive Foxp3-expressing regulatory T (regT) cells are present in healthy, non-inflamed and inflamed human skin. Both types of cells are found in both the epidermis and dermis with the dermis being much thicker than the epidermis. However, it is unclear if T and regT cells differ between reticular dermal layers in terms of number, function or characteristics.

Inter-prefectural regional disparities in gastric cancer surgery: A Japanese nationwide population-based cohort study from 2014 to 2019.

Aim: This study aimed to investigate the regional disparities in gastric cancer surgery in Japan.

Methods: The annual incidence of gastric cancer and number of gastrectomies, board-certified surgeons in gastroenterology by the Japanese Society of Gastroenterological Surgery, and board-certified surgeons by the Japan Society for Endoscopic Surgery were evaluated by prefecture in Japan during 2014-2019. Medium-sized regional disparities were assessed using the Gini coefficient.

Oligo-like liver metastasis: A novel prognostic indicator to improve survival in pancreatic cancer.

Purpose: Whether surgical intervention for patients with oligometastatic recurrence can improve their post-recurrent prognosis is unclear. In this study, we introduce a novel concept of oligometastasis in post-surgical pancreatic ductal adenocarcinoma (PDAC) patients with hepatic recurrence, which we call "oligo-like liver metastasis (OLLM)." Patients with OLLM have better post-recurrence prognosis and could therefore be eligible for surgical intervention.

Simple algorithm to narrow down the candidates to receive echocardiography in patients with chronic liver disease for suspected pulmonary hypertension.

Aims: Portopulmonary hypertension (PoPH) is a subtype of pulmonary arterial hypertension related to portal hypertension. The definitive diagnosis of PoPH is made by invasive right heart catheterization. Alternatively, pulmonary arterial hypertension may be recognized noninvasively from the tricuspid regurgitant pressure gradient (TRPG), measured by echocardiography.

Spontaneous portosystemic shunt diameter predicts liver function after balloon-occluded retrograde transvenous obliteration.

Background And Aim: Recently, balloon-occluded retrograde transvenous obliteration (BRTO), performed for spontaneous portosystemic shunts (SPSS), has been receiving attention as a measure to improve liver function in cirrhotic patients with portal hypertension. However, it is unclear whether SPSS diameter is associated with changes in hepatic venous pressure gradient (HVPG) and liver function after BRTO.

Methods: In 34 cirrhotic patients receiving BRTO for hepatic encephalopathy/gastric varices, the association of SPSS diameter with liver function at baseline and 6 months after BRTO and the accompanying changes in HVPG were investigated.

Role of magnifying endoscopy with narrow-band imaging in the diagnosis of noninvasive gastric neoplasia.

Background And Aim: There are no globally approved, distinguishing criteria enabling the classification of gastric adenomas and intramucosal carcinomas for differential diagnosis of noninvasive neoplasia (NIN).

Methods: Next-generation sequencing of 50 cancer-related genes was undertaken on 68 pathologically diagnosed microdissected gastric neoplasms (25 adenomas, 27 intramucosal carcinomas, and 16 submucosal carcinomas) obtained during endoscopic submucosal dissection. Findings from magnifying endoscopy with narrow-band imaging (M-NBI) of 52 NINs (the 25 adenomas and 27 intramucosal carcinomas) were compared with these data.

Fractionated small cell-free DNA increases possibility to detect cancer-related gene mutations in advanced colorectal cancer.

Background And Aim: Liquid biopsy is a method that can efficiently detect tumor genetic abnormalities from body fluids such as blood and urine. Detection sensitivity and the available number of mutations in cell-free DNA (cfDNA) are limited. In this study, we develop a highly sensitive and comprehensive method to detect mutations from cfDNA by concentrating tumor fractions of small cfDNA in advanced colorectal cancers.

Dickkopf-4 gene expression is associated with differentiation and lymph node metastasis in colorectal cancer.

Background And Aim: Although high expression of Dickkopf-4 (DKK-4) in colorectal cancer has been reported in previous studies, its impact on clinicopathological features, including the prognosis and mechanism of expression, has not been well clarified to date.

Methods: (i) DKK-4 protein expression was analyzed by immunohistochemical staining with anti-DKK-4 antibody using archived formalin-fixed paraffin-embedded specimens obtained at surgery from 122 patients with colorectal cancer, and its association with clinicopathological findings was also investigated. (ii) The association between intratumoral DKK-4 protein expression and somatic hotspot mutations in cancer-associated genes in 40 patients was investigated using a next-generation sequencer.