Standardization of radiation therapy quality control system through mutual quality control based on failure mode and effects analysis.

The advancement of irradiation technology has increased the demand for quality control of radiation therapy equipment. Consequently, the number of quality control items and required personnel have also increased. However, differences in the proportion of qualified personnel to irradiation techniques have caused bias in quality control systems among institutions.

Long-Term Outcomes of Endovascular Aneurysm Repair in Patients Aged ≤70 Years.

The efficacy of endovascular aneurysm repair (EVAR) against abdominal aortic aneurysm (AAA) in younger patients remains unknown. Hence, the current study aimed to investigate whether the aneurysm-related mortality rate of EVAR is acceptable among patients aged ≤70 years. Among 644 patients, 148 underwent EVAR (EVAR group), and 496 received open surgical repair (OSR group).

Cysts or necrotic components in pancreatic ductal adenocarcinoma is associated with the risk of EUS-FNA/B complications including needle tract seeding.

Background: EUS-FNA/B for pancreatic ductal adenocarcinoma (PDAC) is generally considered to be safe; however, while the incidence is low, there are occurrences of complications. Among these complications, there are serious ones like needle tract seeding (NTS), and it is not known than which types of tumors have the risks of EUS-FNA/B complications. This study aimed to evaluate the risk of EUS-FNA/B complications in patients with PDAC, focusing on morphological features.

[A Case of BRCA2 Mutation-Positive Intraductal Carcinoma of the Prostate].

A 75-year-old man presented with macroscopic hematuria and a high serum prostate-specific antigen (PSA) level. Macroscopic hematuria had subsided by the time of consultation. The PSA level was 38.

Comparison of Bilateral and Trisegment Drainage in Patients with High-Grade Hilar Malignant Biliary Obstruction: A Multicenter Retrospective Study.

Background/aims: Bilateral endoscopic drainage with self-expanding metallic stent (SEMS) can be used to effectively manage hilar malignant biliary obstruction. However, the benefits of using a trisegment drainage method remain unknown.

Methods: This study retrospectively reviewed the data of 125 patients with Bismuth type IIIa or IV unresectable malignant strictures who underwent bilateral endoscopic drainage using SEMSs at four tertiary centers.

Efficacy of intraductal placement of nonflared fully-covered metal stent for refractory perihilar benign biliary strictures: A multicenter prospective study with long-term observation.

Background: Endoscopic fully-covered self-expandable metal stents (FCSEMSs) are used to treat benign biliary strictures (BBSs); however, treatment for perihilar BBSs is technically challenging. The aim of this study was to evaluate the usefulness of an unflared FCSEMS designed for intraductal placement in patients with refractory perihilar BBS.

Methods: Twenty-two consecutive patients with perihilar BBS unresolved by endoscopic plastic stent placement at 13 tertiary medical centers were prospectively enrolled.

Outcomes of lung metastasis from pancreatic cancer: A nationwide multicenter analysis.

Background: Although distant metastasis from pancreatic ductal adenocarcinoma (PDAC) has a dismal prognosis, some single center studies reported that lung metastasis has a favorable prognosis. The aim of this study is to evaluate the prognostic value of site-specific metastasis after pancreatectomy for PDAC, with a focus on lung metastasis.

Methods: Data from 117 cases of lung metastasis after pancreatectomy were collected retrospectively from 23 institutions in Japan.

Pancreatic cancer diagnosed by the detection of gross hematuria due to urinary bladder metastasis: A case report.

Pancreatic cancer is not easy to detect at its early stages due to difficulties in identifying symptoms at these stages. As it progresses, abdominal pain, loss of appetite, abdominal distension, jaundice and pain in the back, especially the lower back, might develop. Moreover, sudden onset or worsening of diabetes mellitus may be seen, which often prompts screening for the detection of pancreatic cancer.

Transtibial pullout repair of medial meniscus posterior root tears: effects on the meniscus healing score and ICRS grade among patients with mild osteoarthritis of the knee.

Purpose: To assess the effects of transtibial pullout repair for medial meniscus posterior root tears (MMPRTs) among patients with early osteoarthritis of the knee as measured by the meniscus healing score and to determine whether the meniscus healing score correlates with the International Cartilage Repair Society (ICRS) grade progression.

Methods: Forty-seven patients with mild osteoarthritic knees (Kellgren-Lawrence grade ≤ 2 and varus alignment < 5°) who underwent transtibial pullout repair less than 3 months after MMPRT onset were assessed. The association between meniscus healing scores at 1 year postoperatively and cartilage damage of the medial compartment (medial femoral condyle [MFC] and medial tibial plateau [MTP]) were evaluated.

Impact of HER2 expression on EGFR-TKI treatment outcomes in lung tumors harboring EGFR mutations: A HER2-CS study subset analysis.

Objectives: Epidermal growth factor receptor (EGFR)-tyrosine kinase inhibitors (TKIs) are standard treatment for EGFR-mutated non-small-cell lung carcinoma (NSCLC); however, a biomarker to predict their efficacy has not been established. Although human epidermal growth factor receptor-2 (HER2) aberrations constitute a potential mechanism for acquired resistance to EGFR-TKIs, the impact of HER2 on EGFR-TKI treatment outcomes has not been systematically evaluated. In this post-hoc subgroup study, we examined the impact of HER2 on the effect of EGFR-TKIs in patients with NSCLC harboring EGFR mutations.

Efficacy of surgical management for recurrent intrahepatic cholangiocarcinoma: A multi-institutional study by the Okayama Study Group of HBP surgery.

Background: The prognosis of intrahepatic cholangiocarcinoma (ICC) has been poor, because of the high recurrence rate even after curative surgery. This study aimed to evaluate the prognostic impact of surgical resection of recurrent ICC.

Patients And Methods: A total of 345 cases of ICC who underwent hepatectomy with curative intent in 17 institutions were retrospectively analyzed, focusing on recurrence patterns and treatment modalities for recurrent ICC.

Medial and Lateral Meniscus Posterior Root Tears with an Intact Anterior Cruciate Ligament.

Background: Medial meniscus (MM) posterior root tear (PRT) is often caused by meniscal degeneration, whereas lateral meniscus (LM) PRT is mainly caused by trauma, especially trauma associated with anterior cruciate ligament (ACL) injuries. Although there are a few reports on PRTs of both menisci with an ACL injury, to our knowledge, there is no report on those with an intact ACL. Thus, the purpose of this study was to describe a rare case of both meniscal PRTs with an intact ACL.

Influence of Type 2 Endoleaks on Long-Term Outcomes after Endovascular Repair for Abdominal Aortic Aneurysms: A National Hospital Organization Network Study for Abdominal Aortic Aneurysms in Japan.

Background: Although endovascular repair (EVAR) is the first-line treatment for abdominal aortic aneurysm, type 2 endoleak (EL), which is associated with late sac enlargement or rupture, remains a concern. The present study aimed to assess the influence of type 2 EL on long-term outcomes after EVAR.

Methods: Among 550 patients who underwent EVAR between 2007 and 2013 at 14 Japanese national hospitals, 135 patients had type 2 EL diagnosed on follow-up computed tomography (CT) within 12 months after EVAR (EL2[+] group) and 415 patients did not have EL within 12 months (EL2[-] group).

Medial meniscus posterior root tear causes swelling of the medial meniscus and expansion of the extruded meniscus: a comparative analysis between 2D and 3D MRI.

Purpose: This study aimed to clarify the advantages of three-dimensional (3D) magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) over two-dimensional (2D) MRI in measuring the size of the medial meniscus (MM) and to analyse the volumes of MM and the extruded meniscus in patients with MM posterior root tear (MMPRT), at 10° and 90° knee flexion.

Methods: This study included 17 patients with MMPRTs and 15 volunteers with uninjured knees. The MMs were manually segmented for 3D reconstruction; thereafter, the extruded part separated from the tibial edge was determined.

A phase I/II trial of weekly nab-paclitaxel for pretreated non-small-cell lung cancer patients without epidermal growth factor receptor mutations and anaplastic lymphoma kinase rearrangement.

Aim: We investigated the efficacy, safety and optimal schedule of nanoparticle albumin-bound paclitaxel monotherapy as second- or third-line treatment for non-small-cell lung cancer patients without epidermal growth factor receptor mutation and anaplastic lymphoma kinase rearrangement.

Methods: Patients with pretreated advanced non-small-cell lung cancer without epidermal growth factor receptor mutation and anaplastic lymphoma kinase rearrangement were included. The patients were administered 100 mg/m of nanoparticle albumin-bound paclitaxel on days 1, 8, 15 and 22 (level 0) or on days 1, 8 and 15 (level -1) every 4 weeks during phase I of the trial.

Decrease in oxidized high-density lipoprotein is associated with slowed progression of coronary artery calcification: Subanalysis of a prospective multicenter study.

Background And Aims: Oxidized high-density lipoprotein (oxHDL) is characterized by reduced anti-inflammatory properties compared with HDL. However, the role of oxHDL in the pathogenesis of coronary artery calcification (CAC), a marker of subclinical atherosclerosis, remains unclear. We prospectively investigated the association between the change in oxHDL and progression of CAC in a substudy of a multicenter study.

Multicenter phase II study on cisplatin, pemetrexed, and bevacizumab followed by maintenance with pemetrexed and bevacizumab for patients with advanced or recurrent nonsquamous non-small cell lung cancer: MAP study.

Background: We evaluated the safety and efficacy of induction chemotherapy with bevacizumab followed by maintenance chemotherapy with bevacizumab for advanced non-small cell lung cancer (NSCLC) in this multicenter phase II study.

Methods: Chemotherapy-naïve patient with stage IIIB-IV or recurrent nonsquamous NSCLC were eligible. We planned approximately four cycles of induction cisplatin (75 mg/m), pemetrexed (500 mg/m), and bevacizumab (15 mg/kg) followed by maintenance with pemetrexed (500 mg/m) and bevacizumab (15 mg/kg) until disease progression.

Description of a surgical technique of medial meniscus root repair: a fixation technique with two simple stiches under an expected initial tension.

The medial meniscus (MM) posterior root has an important role in the maintenance of knee kinematics and articular cartilage. Although transtibial pullout repair of the MM posterior root tear (MMPRT) has become the gold standard, it is associated with several suturing difficulties. The present technical note describes a simple fixation technique using two simple stiches under an expected initial tension.

Antiproteinuric effects of renin-angiotensin inhibitors in lung cancer patients receiving bevacizumab.

Purpose: The objective of this study was to investigate the effect of renin-angiotensin system inhibitors (RASIs) on bevacizumab (BV)-induced proteinuria in non-small cell lung cancer (NSCLC) patients.

Materials And Methods: We retrospectively reviewed the medical records of NSCLC patients receiving BV between 2008 and 2014 at 11 hospitals. The patients were categorized into three groups according to their antihypertensive drug use: RASI user, non-RASI user, and non-user groups.