Endovascular Treatment Strategy and Clinical Outcomes for Ruptured Blood Blister-Like Aneurysms of the Internal Carotid Artery Using Low-Profile Visualized Intraluminal Support Stent.

Objective: It is challenging to safely treat blood blister-like aneurysms (BBAs) of the internal carotid artery. Endovascular surgery has been reported, but the optimal strategy is yet to be established. We report our endovascular treatment strategy using the Low-profile Visualized Intraluminal Support (LVIS) stent.

Impact of Pemafibrate in Patients with Hypertriglyceridemia and Metabolic Dysfunction-associated Fatty Liver Disease Pathologically Diagnosed with Non-alcoholic Steatohepatitis: A Retrospective, Single-arm Study.

Objective The therapeutic effect of pemafibrate on metabolic dysfunction-associated fatty liver disease (MAFLD) remains unknown. This retrospective, single-arm study investigated the efficacy and safety of pemafibrate in MAFLD patients with hypertriglyceridemia. Methods A total of 10 patients who received pemafibrate (oral, 0.

Imatinib and nutritional support can make successful treatment for a case of huge liver metastasis of duodenal gastrointestinal stromal tumor that initially showed jaundice and cachexia.

It is very difficult to treat patients with liver metastasis presenting with jaundice or cachexia. We herein report a successfully treated case of huge liver metastasis of gastrointestinal stromal tumor (GIST) that initially showed jaundice and cachexia. The patient was a woman in her early 40 s.

Prognosis of late elderly patients with chronic hepatitis C after achieving a sustained viral response by direct-acting antivirals.

Background And Aim: We investigated the prognosis of late elderly patients (≥75 years old) after the achievement of a sustained viral response (SVR) by direct-acting antivirals (DAAs).

Methods: One hundred and four late elderly patients and 251 young patients (≤74 years old) who had achieved an SVR were included. We compared the cumulative hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) incidence rates and survival rates after DAA administration.

Reduced current density, partially rescued by mexiletine, and depolarizing shift in activation of SCN5A W374G channels as a cause of severe form of Brugada syndrome.

Background: SCN5A-related Brugada syndrome (BrS) can be caused by multiple mechanisms including trafficking defects and altered channel gating properties. Most SCN5A mutations at pore region cause trafficking defects, and some of them can be rescued by mexiletine (MEX).

Objective: We recently encountered symptomatic siblings with BrS and sought to identify a responsible mutation and reveal its biophysical defects.

Basilar Artery Dissection Complicated with Infective Endocarditis.

A 14 year-old boy developed infective endocarditis of the mitral valve caused by Methicillin-sensitive Staphylococcus aureus and became comatose. Isolated basilar artery dissection was initially observed on the 3rd day by magnetic resonance imaging (MRI), ie, it did not exist on day 1. He underwent successful urgent mitral valve repair on the 5th day because of highly mobile vegetations and a newly emerged brain infarction under optimal antibiotic administration.

Lenvatinib for Hepatocellular Carcinoma: A Literature Review.

Lenvatinib, which is an oral multikinase inhibitor, showed non-inferiority to the sorafenib in terms of overall survival (OS) and a higher objective response rate (ORR) and better progression-free survival (PFS) in patients with hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC). A good liver function and Barcelona Clinic Liver Cancer (BCLC) intermediate stage were the key factors in achieving therapeutic efficacy. The management of adverse events plays an important role in continuing lenvatinib treatment.

A 2-Year Prospective Study on the Differences in Prognostic Factors for Major Adverse Cardiovascular, Cerebrovascular and Renal Events Between Patients with Mild and Severe Chronic Kidney Disease.

: No studies have reported on prognostic markers in patients with chronic kidney disease (CKD) according to the severity of the disease. Therefore, in this multicenter, prospective trial performed as part of the Gunma CKD SPECT Multicenter Study, we recruited 311 patients with CKD (eGFR < 60 min/mL/1.73 m) including 50 patients on hemodialysis and followed them for 2 years.

Carbon ion radiotherapy for patients with hepatocellular carcinoma in the caudate lobe carbon ion radiotherapy for hepatocellular carcinoma in caudate lobe.

Aim: The treatment of hepatocellular carcinoma in the caudate lobe (HCCCL) is technically challenging. We aimed to investigate the efficacy and toxicity of carbon ion radiotherapy (C-ion RT) for HCCCL.

Methods: Patients with HCCCL treated with C-ion RT at our hospital between January 2011 and December 2018 were evaluated.

The Role of the Albumin-Bilirubin Score for Predicting the Outcomes in Japanese Patients with Advanced Hepatocellular Carcinoma Treated with Ramucirumab: A Real-World Study.

Aim: The aim of this retrospective study was to investigate the efficacy and safety of ramucirumab treatment under real-world conditions and to clarify the role of albumin-bilirubin (ALBI) score in predicting outcomes.

Methods: Between June 2019 and May 2020, a total of 16 patients with advanced hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) treated with ramucirumab in Gunma Saiseikai Maebashi Hospital and its affiliated hospitals was included.

Results: The median age was 71 (interquartile range [IQR] 65-74) years old, and 12 patients (75.

Implications of Topoisomerase (TOP1 and TOP2α) Expression in Patients With Breast Cancer.

Background/aim: We evaluated the usefulness of topoisomerases (TOPs) expression as prognostic predictors in breast cancer.

Patients And Methods: We retrospectively investigated sixty cases with primary breast cancer. We evaluated the tumor and non-tumor mRNA levels of TOP1 and TOP2α using quantitative reverse-transcription polymerase chain reaction.

Molecular detection and clinicopathological characteristics of advanced/recurrent biliary tract carcinomas harboring the FGFR2 rearrangements: a prospective observational study (PRELUDE Study).

Background: Fibroblast growth factor receptor 2 (FGFR2) rearrangement is expected to be a novel therapeutic target in advanced/recurrent biliary tract cancer (BTC). However, efficient detection and the exact frequency of FGFR2 rearrangements among patients with advanced/recurrent BTC have not been determined, and the clinical characteristics of FGFR2 rearrangement-positive patients have not been fully elucidated. We aimed to determine the frequency of FGFR2 rearrangement-positive patients among those with advanced/recurrent BTC and elucidate their clinicopathological characteristics.

Successful basilar artery dilatation in pure bilateral cerebral peduncular infarctions using balloon angioplasty.

•An extremely rare case of bilateral cerebral peduncular infarctions (BCPI) is reported.•The detection of the pure Mickey Mouse ears sign on MRI is an indicator of a need for reperfusion therapy.•Severe stenosis of the basilar artery (BA) and a poor collateral supply from both posterior cerebral arteries were seen.

The development of broncho-biliary fistula after treatment for hepatocellular carcinoma: a report of two cases.

Broncho-biliary fistula (BBF) is a rare but severe disorder defined as abnormal communication between the biliary system and bronchial tree. Cases of BBF have occasionally been reported, but no standard treatment has been established. We report two cases of BBF that developed after the treatment of hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) and reviewed the relevant literature.

Successfully Treated Case of Cholangiolocellular Carcinoma with a Poor Hepatic Functional Reserve Reporting with Various Imaging Findings.

Cholangiolocellular carcinoma (CoCC) is a rare primary liver cancer that is difficult diagnose due to a lack of specific imaging findings. We herein report a case of CoCC accompanied by severe alcoholic cirrhosis. Dynamic computed tomography showed a low-density tumor with a faint surrounding enhancement.

Liver Function Changes in Patients with Hepatocellular Carcinoma Treated with Lenvatinib: Predictive Factors of Progression to Child-Pugh Class B, the Formation of Ascites and the Candidates for the Post-Progression Treatment.

The aim of this multicenter retrospective study was to assess the change in liver function in patients with hepatocellular carcinoma treated with lenvatinib. Among 139 consecutive patients receiving lenvatinib treatment between March 2018 and July 2019, 28 patients with Child-Pugh class B and one patient with inadequate patient information were excluded. Remaining 110 patients with Child-Pugh class A were analyzed.

Prediction of oral intake recovery for inpatients with aspiration pneumonia by videoendoscopic evaluation using the Hyodo-Komagane score in Japan.

Objective: To verify the validity of the prediction of oral intake recovery for inpatients with aspiration pneumonia using the Hyodo-Komagane score.

Background: Patients admitted for treatment of aspiration pneumonia sometimes have difficulty in resuming oral intake due to decreased swallowing function. Predicting whether the swallowing function will recover enough to achieve oral ingestion at discharge is an important factor in developing a treatment strategy.

Real-world efficacy and safety of 12-week sofosbuvir/velpatasvir treatment for patients with decompensated liver cirrhosis caused by hepatitis C virus infection.

Aim: This study aimed to evaluate the real-world efficacy and safety of 12-week sofosbuvir/velpatasvir (SOF/VEL) treatment for patients with decompensated liver cirrhosis caused by hepatitis C virus (HCV) infection.

Methods: A total 72 of patients with Child-Pugh (CP) class B or C were enrolled. We evaluated the sustained virologic response at 12 weeks after the end of treatment (SVR12), adverse events (AEs), and changes in the liver function.

Hepatitis C virus-associated decompensated liver cirrhosis with refractory hepatic encephalopathy successfully treated by balloon-occluded retrograde transvenous obliteration after sofosbuvir/velpatasvir.

Sofosbuvir/velpatasvir (SOF/VEL) is expected to be highly effective, even in patients with decompensated liver cirrhosis. However, portal hypertension can be problematic after achieving a sustained viral response (SVR), especially in patients with hepatic encephalopathy (HE) associated with large portal-systemic shunt. Although balloon-occluded retrograde transvenous obliteration (BRTO) is a useful option, whether BRTO or SOF/VEL therapy should be initially performed in patients with a poor liver function reserve is controversial.

Severe Antithrombin Deficiency May be Associated With a High Risk of Pathological Progression of DIC With Suppressed Fibrinolysis.

The frequency of severe antithrombin deficiency (SAD) was examined in the hematopoietic disorder-, infectious-, and basic-types of the disseminated intravascular coagulation (DIC). A posthoc analysis of 3008 DIC patients (infectious-type, 1794; hematological disorder-type, 813; and basic-type, 401) from post-marketing surveillance data of thrombomodulin alfa was performed. The clinical features of patients and outcomes were compared between patients with and without SAD, using an antithrombin cutoff value of 50%.

Utilization of desktop 3D printer-fabricated "Cost-Effective" 3D models in orthognathic surgery.

Background: In daily practice, three-dimensional patient-specific jawbone models (3D models) are a useful tool in surgical planning and simulation, resident training, patient education, and communication between the physicians in charge. The progressive improvements of the hardware and software have made it easy to obtain 3D models. Recently, in the field of oral and maxillofacial surgery, there are many reports on the benefits of 3D models.

Isolated high-grade splenic injury among pediatric patients in Japan: Nationwide descriptive study.

Background: Limited information exists regarding the clinical characteristics, management practice, and outcomes of pediatric patients with isolated splenic injury in Japan. This study aimed to evaluate the characteristics, management, and outcomes, such as survival and splenic salvage rate of pediatric patients with isolated splenic injury in Japan.

Method: This study was a multicenter retrospective cohort study using patient data from the Japan Trauma Data Bank (JTDB) collected between 2004 and 2018.

Nadir CA-125 serum levels during neoadjuvant chemotherapy and no residual tumor at interval debulking surgery predict prognosis in advanced stage ovarian cancer.

Background: Recent phase III randomized trials have suggested that neoadjuvant chemotherapy followed by interval debulking surgery (NACT-IDS) is a treatment option for patients with advanced epithelial ovarian cancer. This study aimed to use CA-125 and computed tomography (CT) scanning to generate a simple and clinically applicable model of predicting complete cytoreduction by interval debulking surgery (IDS) and the overall survival in patients who receive taxane/platinum-based chemotherapy as neoadjuvant chemotherapy (NACT).

Methods: Patients with stage IIIc or IV epithelial ovarian cancer who underwent taxane/platinum-based NACT followed by IDS in Gunma Prefectural Cancer Center, Takasaki General Medical Center, and Gunma University from April 2009 to March 2015 were included.