Short- and Long-term Outcomes After Colonic Stent Insertion as a Bridge to Surgery in Elderly Colorectal Cancer Patients.

Background/aim: Colonic stents have been inserted as a bridge to surgery in patients with resectable colorectal cancer, allowing bowel decompression for systemic assessment and better preparation to avoid stoma construction. However, reports of short- and long-term prognoses for elderly patients remain limited.

Patients And Methods: This retrospective study reviewed 175 consecutive patients who underwent colonic stent insertion for bowel obstruction followed by curative colectomy.

Excess mortality in COVID-19-affected solid organ transplant recipients across the pandemic.

The excess mortality of coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) solid organ transplant recipients (SOTRs) throughout the pandemic remains unclear. This prospective cohort study based on the Japanese nationwide registry included 1632 SOTRs diagnosed with COVID-19 between February 1, 2020, and July 31, 2022, categorized based on dominant phases of variants of concern (VOCs): Waves 1 to 3 (Beta), 4 (Alpha), 5 (Delta), 6 (Omicron BA.1/BA.

Zinc supplementation with polaprezinc was associated with improvements in albumin, prothrombin time activity, and hemoglobin in chronic liver disease.

Zinc deficiency occurs in a variety of diseases, including chronic liver disease (CLD). We investigated the correlation between zinc levels and biochemical and hematological tests in CLD and the effect of zinc supplementation with polaprezinc on these values. The first study (Study 1) was a retrospective observational study of 490 patients with CLD not receiving zinc supplementation, with data available from September 2009 to August 2021.

Colonic intussusception after endoscopic mucosal resection successfully managed by endoscopic procedure.

Adult-onset intussusception, particularly associated with colonoscopy, is extremely rare. A 78-year-old man, referred to our hospital for colonic endoscopic mucosal resection (EMR), experienced subsequent dull abdominal pain, as well as elevated peripheral blood leukocytosis and C-reactive protein levels. Abdominal computed tomography (CT) revealed a colocolonic intussusception at the hepatic flexure.

Impact of institutional volume on short- and long-term outcomes after laparoscopic colectomy.

Introduction: The impact of institutional volume on postoperative outcomes after laparoscopic colectomy is still being debated. This study aimed to investigate whether differences in postoperative outcomes of laparoscopic colon resection exist between high- and low-volume centers.

Methods: Data were reviewed for 1360 patients who underwent laparoscopic colectomy for colon cancer between 2016 and 2022.

Experience and impact of stigma in people with chronic hepatitis B: a qualitative study in Asia, Europe, and the United States.

Background: People with chronic hepatitis B (CHB) commonly experience social and self-stigma. This study sought to understand the impacts of CHB-related stigma and a functional cure on stigma.

Methods: Adults with CHB with a wide range of age and education were recruited from 5 countries and participated in 90-minute qualitative, semi-structured interviews to explore concepts related to CHB-associated stigma and its impact.

Exploring the relationship between plasma substance P and glottal incompetence in the elderly.

We speculated that increased blood-plasma levels of Substance P may serve as an indicator of glottal incompetence, which is usually indicated by reduced maximum phonation time. We performed an initial study to test the plausibility of this hypothesis. Patients with dysphonia caused by glottal incompetence were asked to perform vocal exercises for six months to reduce glottal incompetence and we compared the plasma concentration of Substance P before and after the vocal exercise to detect correlation between maximum phonation time and plasma concentration of Substance P.

Diagnostic performance of shear wave measurement in the detection of hepatic fibrosis: A multicenter prospective study.

Aim: This study aimed to establish the shear wave measurement (SWM) cut-off value for each fibrosis stage using magnetic resonance (MR) elastography values as a reference standard.

Methods: We prospectively analyzed 594 patients with chronic liver disease who underwent SWM and MR elastography. Correlation coefficients (were analyzed, and the diagnostic value was evaluated by the area under the receiver operating characteristic curve.

Safety and effectiveness of SARS-CoV-2 vaccines for patients with intractable hepatobiliary diseases: A multicenter, questionnaire-based, cross-sectional study.

Aim: There are few data regarding the safety and effectiveness of severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2) vaccines in patients with intractable hepatobiliary diseases. We conducted a multicenter, questionnaire-based, cross-sectional study to determine the safety and effectiveness of the SARS-CoV-2 vaccines in Japanese patients with intractable hepatobiliary disease.

Methods: Patients aged ≥18 years with autoimmune hepatitis (AIH), primary biliary cholangitis, primary sclerosing cholangitis, Budd-Chiari syndrome, idiopathic portal hypertension, and extrahepatic portal vein obstruction at each center were consecutively invited to join the study.

Clinical presentation and antimicrobial resistance of invasive Escherichia coli disease in hospitalized older adults: a prospective multinational observational study.

Background: Clinical data characterizing invasive Escherichia coli disease (IED) are limited. We assessed the clinical presentation of IED and antimicrobial resistance (AMR) patterns of causative E. coli isolates in older adults.

Characteristics and immune checkpoint status of radioiodine-refractory recurrent papillary thyroid carcinomas from Ukrainian Chornobyl Tissue Bank donors.

Introduction: The radioiodine-refractory (RAI-R) recurrent papillary thyroid carcinomas (PTCs) are more frequent in elderly patients and have an unfavorable prognosis. Data on the prevalence and characteristics of RAI-R recurrent PTCs in patients of young and middle age with or without a history of radiation exposure in childhood are poorly described. The aim of the current study was: i) to determine the frequency of RAI-R recurrent PTCs among donors of the Chornobyl Tissue Bank (CTB) and analyze the clinicopathological features of primary tumors (PTs), primary metastases (PMTSs), recurrent metastases (RMTSs) and risk factors for RMTS, and ii) to determine the immune checkpoint status (ICS) of the RAI-R recurrent PTCs and to assess the factors associated with ICS positivity.

Organized hematoma of the sphenoid sinus with epistaxis.

Few reports have been made on organized hematoma (OH) originating in the sphenoid sinus. We report the case of a 24-year-old man who presented to the hospital with consistent epistaxis for 1 month. Preoperative computed tomography and magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) detected an expansive heterogeneous mass with minimal bone destruction and hypointense peripheral rim in T2-weighted images of the left sphenoid sinus as a solitary lesion.

Human leucocyte antigens and Japanese patients with polymyalgia rheumatica: the protective effect of .

Objective: The hallmarks of the chronic inflammatory disease polymyalgia rheumatica (PMR) include pain, and morning stiffness in areas of the neck, shoulder and pelvic girdle. The human leucocyte antigen () gene was reported to be an important risk factor for PMR, but it has not been analysed precisely, especially in populations other than Europeans.

Methods: Genotyping of and was performed in Japanese PMR patients (n=270) and controls (n=413).

Development of Innate-Immune-Cell-Based Immunotherapy for Adult T-Cell Leukemia-Lymphoma.

γδ T cells and natural killer (NK) cells have attracted much attention as promising effector cell subsets for adoptive transfer for use in the treatment of malignant and infectious diseases, because they exhibit potent cytotoxic activity against a variety of malignant tumors, as well as virus-infected cells, in a major histocompatibility complex (MHC)-unrestricted manner. In addition, γδ T cells and NK cells express a high level of CD16, a receptor required for antibody-dependent cellular cytotoxicity. Adult T-cell leukemia-lymphoma (ATL) is caused by human T-lymphotropic virus type I (HTLV-1) and is characterized by the proliferation of malignant peripheral CD4 T cells.

Quality-Adjusted Survival in Patients with Recurrence of Breast Cancer Diagnosed by Asymptomatic or Symptomatic Opportunities.

After radical surgery for breast cancer, screening to diagnose recurrence in asymptomatic patients is not recommended. We retrospectively evaluated quality-adjusted survival. Included were fifty-seven recurrent breast cancer patients who died.

Efficacy and safety of add-on mirogabalin to conventional therapy for the treatment of peripheral neuropathic pain after thoracic surgery: the multicenter, randomized, open-label ADMIT-NeP study.

Background: For chronic pain after thoracic surgery, optimal timing of its diagnosis and effective treatment remains unresolved, although several treatment options are currently available. We examined the efficacy and safety of mirogabalin, in combination with conventional pain therapy (nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drugs and/or acetaminophen), for treating peripheral neuropathic pain (NeP) after thoracic surgery.

Methods: In this multicenter, randomized, open-label, parallel-group study, patients with peripheral NeP were randomly assigned 1:1 to mirogabalin as add-on to conventional therapy or conventional treatment alone.

Influence of certified perioperative nurses on the establishment of preoperative outpatient clinic and rate of preoperative assessment in Japan.

This study aimed to investigate the influence of certified perioperative nurses on preoperative outpatient clinic and preoperative assessments. The study was conducted from February 2021 to September 2022; data were collected and analyzed using a questionnaire at 247 hospitals in Japan. To analyze the factors affecting the rate of preoperative assessment with the primary endpoint of preoperative outpatient care and preoperative nursing visits, we performed multiple linear regression analysis of facility characteristics, perioperative nurse background, and the presence or absence of certified perioperative nurses.

Prognostic value of lymph node distribution after laparoscopic colectomy with Japanese D3 dissection.

Purpose: Positive pathologic lymph nodes in colorectal cancer represent an important prognostic indicator. Whether lymph node distribution or the number of metastatic nodes is more strongly associated with survival prediction remains controversial.

Methods: Among 3449 colorectal cancer surgeries performed at Nagasaki University Hospital and five affiliated institutions from April 2016 to March 2022, we investigated 604 patients who underwent laparoscopic radical resection and were diagnosed with pathological stage III cancer.

Short-term outcomes after laparoscopic colorectal cancer surgery in patients over 90 years old: a Japanese multicenter study.

Background: The effect of laparoscopic surgery on short-term outcomes in colorectal cancer patients over 90 years old has remained unclear.

Methods: We reviewed 87 colorectal cancer patients aged over 90 years who underwent surgery between 2016 and 2022. Patients were divided into an open surgery group (n = 22) and a laparoscopic surgery group (n = 65).