Correction: Signal peptidase complex 18, encoded by SEC11A, contributes to progression via TGF-α secretion in gastric cancer.

An amendment to this paper has been published and can be accessed via a link at the top of the paper.

SEC11A Expression Is Associated with Basal-Like Bladder Cancer and Predicts Patient Survival.

Objectives: Bladder cancer (BC) is a common malignancy worldwide. Signal peptidase complex 18 (SPC18) protein, which is encoded by the SEC11A gene, is one of the subunits of the signal peptidase complex and induces transforming growth factor-α secretion. In the present study, we analyzed the expression and function of SPC18 protein in human BC.

The course of elderly patients with persistent hepatitis C virus infection without hepatocellular carcinoma.

Background: Little is known about the course of elderly patients with persistent hepatitis C virus (HCV) infection. We investigated the course of HCV infection in this patient population.

Methods: Among 9,126 HCV antibody-positive patients who visited our hospital between 1995 and 2015, there were 453 patients with continuous follow-up who survived to age 80.

Type 2 diabetes mellitus: A risk factor for progression of liver fibrosis in middle-aged patients with non-alcoholic fatty liver disease.

Background And Aim: The severity of liver fibrosis is strongly associated with prognosis in patients with non-alcoholic fatty liver disease (NAFLD). We evaluated clinical risk factors for progression of liver fibrosis in patients with NAFLD.

Methods: This study included 1562 middle-aged (36-64 years) patients with NAFLD and less severe liver fibrosis (fibrosis-4 index < 1.

Long-term prognosis of liver disease in patients with chronic hepatitis B virus infection receiving nucleos(t)ide analogue therapy: an analysis using a Markov chain model.

Aim: Even during nucleos(t)ide analogue therapy, development of hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) has been observed in patients with chronic hepatitis B virus (HBV) infection. We simulated the long-term prognosis of liver disease in patients with chronic HBV who received nucleos(t)ide analogue therapy.

Patients And Methods: A total of 254 patients with chronic HBV receiving nucleos(t)ide analogue therapy were enrolled.

Fast and accurate tumor segmentation of histology images using persistent homology and deep convolutional features.

Tumor segmentation in whole-slide images of histology slides is an important step towards computer-assisted diagnosis. In this work, we propose a tumor segmentation framework based on the novel concept of persistent homology profiles (PHPs). For a given image patch, the homology profiles are derived by efficient computation of persistent homology, which is an algebraic tool from homology theory.

A Questionnaire Survey on the Sequence of Events Prior to Undergoing Colonoscopy: The Influence of the Behavioral Response after a Fecal Occult Blood Test on the Early Detection of Colorectal Cancer.

Objective The fecal occult blood (FOB) test is commonly used for colorectal cancer screening; however, it is uncertain if further diagnostic interventions, such as a colonoscopy, should be performed based on its results. Method To better understand patient behavior following the FOB test, 6,414 patients (3,807 men and 2,607 women) who underwent colonoscopy between August 2015 and March 2016 at any of the 26 medical institutions throughout Hiroshima Prefecture were invited to participate in the study. All patients provided their written consent, after which they completed a questionnaire, and their colonoscopy results were obtained.

Liver Resection for Multiple Hepatocellular Carcinomas: A Japanese Nationwide Survey.

Objective: The aim of the study was to evaluate the survival benefits of liver resection (LR) compared with transarterial chemoembolization (TACE) for patients with multiple hepatocellular carcinomas (HCCs).

Background: Despite significant improvements in diagnostic imaging and the widespread application of screening programs, some patients with HCC continue to present with multiple tumors. The surgical indications for multiple HCCs remain controversial.

Impact of albumin-bilirubin grade on survival in patients with hepatocellular carcinoma who received sorafenib: An analysis using time-dependent receiver operating characteristic.

Background And Aim: Albumin-bilirubin (ALBI) grade was developed as a new method to assess hepatic function. Sorafenib has been confirmed to be effective in improving survival in patients with advanced hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC). In this study, we investigated the impact of ALBI grade versus Child-Pugh classification on survival in HCC patients who received sorafenib.

The impact of HCV eradication by direct-acting antivirals on the transition of precancerous hepatic nodules to HCC: A prospective observational study.

Background & Aims: It remains controversial whether the eradication of hepatitis C virus (HCV) by interferon (IFN)-free anti-HCV therapy using direct-acting antivirals (DAAs) suppresses or promotes hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) development. We investigated the influence of HCV eradication by DAA therapy on HCC development, by observing changes of non-hypervascular hypointense nodules (NHHNs) by gadolinium-ethoxybenzyl-diethylenetriamine pentaacetic acid-enhanced magnetic resonance imaging (EOB-MRI).

Methods: A total of 401 patients treated with DAA therapy who did not have a history of HCC were enrolled in this prospective cohort study.

Uc.416 + A promotes epithelial-to-mesenchymal transition through miR-153 in renal cell carcinoma.

Background: The transcribed ultraconserved regions (T-UCRs) are a novel class of non-coding RNAs that are absolutely conserved across species and are involved in carcinogenesis in some cancers. However, the expression and biological role of T-UCRs in renal cell carcinoma (RCC) remain poorly understood. This study aimed to examine the expression and functional role of Uc.

TDO2 Overexpression Is Associated with Cancer Stem Cells and Poor Prognosis in Esophageal Squamous Cell Carcinoma.

Objective: Esophageal cancer is one of the deadliest cancers in the world, and the main subtype is esophageal squamous cell carcinoma (ESCC), which comprises 90% of cases. Expression of tryptophan 2,3-dioxygenase (TDO2), an enzyme involved in tryptophan catabolism, has been linked with tumor survival and poor prognosis of brain and breast cancer. However, no studies have investigated the potential role of TDO2 in esophageal cancer.

Preoperative risk classification using neutrophil-lymphocyte ratio and hydronephrosis for upper tract urothelial carcinoma.

Background: To improve the prediction of outcomes in patients who will undergo radical nephroureterectomy (RNU) for upper tract urothelial carcinoma (UTUC), we examined the preoperative prognostic factors and established a risk classification model.

Methods: A total of 148 patients who underwent RNU without history of neo-adjuvant chemotherapy between 1999 and 2016 in Hiroshima University Hospital were retrospectively reviewed. Associations between preoperative/clinicopathological factors and outcomes including cancer-specific survival (CSS) and recurrence-free survival (RFS) were assessed.

Impact of previously cured hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) on new development of HCC after eradication of hepatitis C infection with non-interferon-based treatments.

Background: The incidence of hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) in patients with a history of curatively-treated HCC is higher than in patients with no history of HCC even after sustained virologic response (SVR).

Aim: To investigate differences in the patterns of HCC development after SVR in patients with a history of curatively-treated HCC and those with no history of HCC, based on gadolinium-ethoxybenzyl-diethylenetriamine pentaacetic acid-enhanced magnetic resonance imaging (EOB-MRI) findings.

Methods: EOB-MRI was performed in 164 patients with HCV cirrhosis who achieved SVR by interferon-free direct-acting antiviral (DAA) therapy just before the start of therapy.

Impact of hepatocellular carcinoma aetiology and liver function on the benefit of surveillance: A novel approach for the adjustment of lead-time bias.

Background & Aims: Surveillance reportedly has benefit on survival in patients with hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC), even after adjustment for lead-time bias. However, previous adjustment for lead-time bias using tumour volume doubling time (TVDT) had inherent problem in accuracy. We evaluated survival benefit of HCC surveillance with newly developed approach for adjusting lead-time bias.

Oral hypofunction in the older population: Position paper of the Japanese Society of Gerodontology in 2016.

Background: There is growing international interest in identifying the effects of ageing on oral health and on appropriate strategies for managing oral disorders. The Japanese Society of Gerodontology (JSG), as the official representative of researchers and clinicians interested in geriatric dentistry in Japan, makes several recommendations on the concept of "oral hypofunction."

Aims: This study proposes diagnostic criteria and management strategies to reduce the risk of oral hypofunction among older people.

Long-term natural history of liver disease in patients with chronic hepatitis B virus infection: an analysis using the Markov chain model.

Background: The relationship between the hepatitis B e antigen (HBeAg) seroconversion and the long-term natural history of liver disease has not been sufficiently investigated.

Methods: A total of 408 [4352 person-year (PY) units] patients with chronic hepatitis B virus (HBV) without antiviral therapy were enrolled. The study patients were divided into three groups, as follows: Group A (2666 PY units), seroconverted of HBeAg at age < 40; Group B (413 PY units), seroconverted of HBeAg at age ≥ 40; Group C (1273 PY units), persistently HBeAg positive.

Viral eradication reduces both liver stiffness and steatosis in patients with chronic hepatitis C virus infection who received direct-acting anti-viral therapy.

Background: Whether direct-acting anti-viral therapy can reduce liver fibrosis and steatosis in patients with chronic hepatitis C virus (HCV) infection is unclear.

Aims: To evaluate changes in liver stiffness and steatosis in patients with HCV who received direct-acting anti-viral therapy and achieved sustained virological response (SVR).

Methods: A total of 198 patients infected with HCV genotype 1 or 2 who achieved SVR after direct-acting anti-viral therapy were analysed.

Progression of liver fibrosis is associated with non-liver-related mortality in patients with nonalcoholic fatty liver disease.

In patients with nonalcoholic fatty liver disease (NAFLD), prognosis and outcome, especially non-liver-related mortality, remain incompletely elucidated. We clarified the mortality from all causes in patients with NAFLD. A total of 4,073 patients with NAFLD diagnosed by ultrasonography were enrolled.

Association between histological features of epicardial adipose tissue and coronary plaque characteristics on computed tomography angiography.

The means by which epicardial adipose tissue (EAT) could influence coronary plaque progression biologically remain unclear. We investigated the association between the histological findings of EAT and coronary plaque characteristics assessed by coronary computed tomography angiography (CCTA). We enrolled 34 patients in whom one or more coronary plaques containing non-calcified components were detected on CCTA before cardiac surgery [coronary artery bypass graft (CABG) or non-CABG].

An extremely rare case of Epstein-Barr virus-associated gastric carcinoma with differentiation to neuroendocrine carcinoma.

Epstein-Barr virus (EBV)-associated gastric carcinoma (EBVGC) is defined as a neoplasm comprising monoclonal proliferation of EBV-infected gastric epithelial cells. Although the typical histology is gastric carcinoma with lymphoid stroma (GCLS), the histologic features of the tumor vary. We report herein the case of a 78-year-old man with multiple simultaneous EBVGCs revealing different histopathologic morphologies; one was mixed adenoneuroendocrine carcinoma (MANEC), and the other was GCLS.

Transcribed ultraconserved region Uc.63+ promotes resistance to docetaxel through regulation of androgen receptor signaling in prostate cancer.

Docetaxel is the standard chemotherapy for metastatic castration-resistant prostate cancer (CRPC). However, nearly all patients ultimately become refractory due to the development of docetaxel resistance. The transcribed ultraconserved regions (T-UCRs) are a novel class of non-coding RNAs that are absolutely conserved across species and are involved in carcinogenesis including prostate cancer (PC).

Overexpression of the Transmembrane Protein IQGAP3 Is Associated with Poor Survival of Patients with Gastric Cancer.

Objective: Spheroid colony formation is a useful method of cancer stem cell (CSC) characterization. We previously showed that the IQ motif containing the GTPase-activating protein 3 gene (IQGAP3) is upregulated in spheroid body-forming gastric cancer (GC) cells compared with parental cells. We investigated IQGAP3 expression in GC.

Overexpression of KIFC1 and its association with spheroid formation in esophageal squamous cell carcinoma.

Esophageal squamous cell carcinoma (ESCC) is one of the most common human cancers. We previously reported that KIFC1 is involved in gastric cancer pathogenesis and that KIFC1 plays an important role in gastric cancer spheroid colony formation. However, the significance of KIFC1 in ESCC has not been examined.

Differences in the impact of prognostic factors for hepatocellular carcinoma over time.

The aim of the present study was to evaluate the prognostic significance of serum markers that reflect tumor progression, liver function, or liver fibrosis in patients with hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC), focusing on how their impact changes over time after diagnosis. Alpha-fetoprotein (AFP), des-gamma-carboxy prothrombin (DCP), albumin-bilirubin (ALBI) score, aspartate aminotransferase to platelet ratio index (APRI), and FIB-4 index were measured at the time of initial non-recurrent HCC diagnosis in 1669 patients between 1997 and 2016. Survival rates after diagnosis were compared after stratifying patients by these markers.