Double Negativity of MRI-Detected and Pathologically-Diagnosed Extramural Venous Invasion is a Favorable Prognostic Factor for Rectal Cancer.

BACKGROUND: Extramural venous invasion (EMVI) is a prognostic factor in rectal cancer. There are two types: EMVI detected by magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) (mr-EMVI) and EMVI detected by pathology (p-EMVI). They have been separately evaluated, but they have not yet been concurrently evaluated. We therefore evaluate both mr-EMVI and p-EMVI in rectal cancer at the same time and clarify their association with prognosis. PATIENTS AND METHODS: Included were the 186 consecutive patients who underwent complete radical resection of tumors ≤ stage III at Wakayama Medical University Hospital, Japan, between 2010 and 2018. All underwent preoperative MRI examination, and were reassessed for EMVI by a radiologist. Surgically resected specimens were then reassessed for EMVI by a pathologist. We assessed the correlation between positivity of mr-EMVI and p-EMVI and prognosis, and the clinicopathological background behind them. RESULTS: Patients with double negativity for mr-EMVI and p-EMVI had better prognosis than patients with mr-EMVI or p-EMVI positivity (p < 0.0001). Positivity for mr-EMVI or p-EMVI was a poor independent prognostic factor in multivariate analysis. CONCLUSIONS: Combined analysis of mr-EMVI and p-EMVI may enable prediction of postoperative prognosis of rectal cancer. Patients with double negativity of mr-EMVI and p-EMVI had better prognosis than patients with some form of positivity. Stated differently, patients with positivity of mr-EMVI, p-EMVI, or both had a poorer prognosis than those with double negativity. Postoperative adjuvant chemotherapy may improve poor prognosis. Combined evaluation of mr-EMVI and p-EMVI may be used to predict clinical outcomes and may be an effective prognostic predictor of rectal cancer.

The importance of the palatine bone for endoscopic endonasal skull base surgery.

Endoscopic endonasal skull base surgery is increasingly prevalent, with its scope expanding from pathogens in the midline region to those in the paramedian region. Maximizing anterior sphenoidectomy is important for the median approach, and lateralizing the pterygopalatine fossa is crucial for the paramedian approach. Maximizing the surgical corridor in the nasal cavity and minimizing damage to neurovascular structures are vital for establishing a surgical field with minimal bleeding, ensuring safe, precise, and gentle procedures. However, the relationship between the maxillofacial and skull base bones in endoscopic endonasal skull base surgery is difficult to understand because these bones are intricately articulated, making it challenging to visualize each bone's outline. Understanding important bones and their related neurovascular structures is essential for all skull base surgeons to maximize the surgical corridor and minimize iatrogenic injury to neurovascular structures. This study aimed to elucidate the role of the palatine bone from a microsurgical anatomical perspective. Three dry skulls were used to demonstrate the structure of the palatine bone and its relationship with surrounding bones. A formalin-perfused cadaveric head was dissected to show the related neurovascular structures. The arteries and veins of the cadaveric heads were injected with red- and blue-colored silicon. Dissection was performed using a surgical microscope and endoscope. In addition, the utilization of the palatine bone as a landmark to identify neurovascular structures, which aids in creating a wider surgical field with less bleeding, was shown in two representative cases. The palatine bone consists of unique complex structures, including the sphenoidal process, ethmoidal crest, pterygopalatine canal, and sphenopalatine notch, which are closely related to the sphenopalatine artery, maxillary nerve, and its branches. The ethmoidal crest of the palatine bone is a well-known structure that is useful for identifying the sphenopalatine foramen, controlling the sphenopalatine artery and nerve, and safely opening the pterygopalatine fossa. The sphenoidal process of the palatine bone is a valuable landmark for identifying the palatovaginal artery, which is a landmark used to safely and efficiently expose the vidian canal. The sphenoidal process is easily cracked with an osteotome and removed to expose the palatovaginal artery, which runs along the pharyngeal groove, just medial to the vidian canal. By opening the pterygopalatine canal (also known as the greater palatine canal), further lateralization of the periosteum-covered pterygopalatine fossa contents can be achieved. Overall, the sphenoidal process and ethmoidal crest can be used as important landmarks to maximize the surgical corridor and minimize unnecessary injury to neurovascular structures.

Phase I trial of myeloablative conditioning with 3-day total marrow and lymphoid irradiation for leukemia.

This prospective phase I trial aimed to determine the recommended dose of 3-day total marrow and lymphoid irradiation (TMLI) for a myeloablative conditioning regimen by increasing the dose per fraction. The primary end-point of this single-institution dose escalation study was the recommended TMLI dose based on the frequency of dose-limiting toxicity (DLT) ≤100 days posthematopoietic stem cell transplantation (HSCT); a 3 + 3 design was used to evaluate the safety of TMLI. Three dose levels of TMLI (14/16/18 Gy in six fractions over 3 days) were set. The treatment protocol began at 14 Gy. Dose-limiting toxicities were defined as grade 3 or 4 nonhematological toxicities. Nine patients, with a median age of 42 years (range, 35-48), eight with acute lymphoblastic leukemia and one with chronic myeloblastic leukemia, received TMLI followed by unrelated bone marrow transplant. The median follow-up period after HSCT was 575 days (range, 253-1037). Three patients were enrolled for each dose level. No patient showed DLT within 100 days of HSCT. The recommended dose of 3-day TMLI was 18 Gy in six fractions. All patients achieved neutrophil engraftment at a median of 19 days (range, 14-25). One-year overall and disease-free survival rates were 83.3% and 57.1%, respectively. Three patients experienced relapse, and no nonrelapse mortality was documented during the observation period. One patient died due to disease relapse 306 days post-HSCT. The recommended dose of 3-day TMLI was 18 Gy in six fractions. The efficacy evaluation of this regimen is currently being planned in a phase II study.

Social anxiety disorder in adolescents who stutter: A risk for school refusal.

BACKGROUND: Stuttering is a childhood-onset fluency disorder. Part of the counseling for middle and high school students with persistent stuttering is related to school refusal. Anxiety disorders are known to contribute to school refusal. However, it is not known whether social anxiety disorder (SAD) is a factor in school refusal among adolescents who stutter. METHODS: In our first study, we examined the relationship between school refusal and SAD in 84 middle and high school students who stutter; 26% of the 84 students were in the school refusal group and the remaining 74% were in the school attendance group. The second study examined whether SAD was associated with 10 factors related to speech and stuttering frequency using the Japanese version of the Liebowitz Social Anxiety Scale for Children and Adolescents to determine the presence of SAD. Of the 84 students in the first study, 40 participated in the second study. RESULTS: The school refusal group of adolescents who stutter had significantly higher rates of SAD than the school attendance group. Fifty percent of adolescents who stutter met the criteria for SAD. Moreover, adolescents who stutter with SAD had significantly higher scores on the items "When speaking in public, do you experience tremors in your limbs?" and "After you stutter, do you have negative thoughts about yourself?" than the adolescents who stutter without SAD. CONCLUSIONS: When examining adolescents who stutter, checking for comorbid SAD may lead to better support. Moreover, noticing their repetitive negative thinking, nervousness, and trembling during speech may help to resolve SAD.

Cerebral toxoplasmosis complicating lymphoplasmacytic lymphoma in partial remission.

Toxoplasma gondii can develop toxoplasmic encephalitis (TE) in immunodeficient conditions such as AIDS and after organ transplantation. While some cases of TE with malignant lymphoma were reported, these cases occurred immediately after chemotherapy or when their diseases were active. Here we report the first Case of TE that occurred in patient who was in partial remission (PR) of lymphoplasmacytic lymphoma (LPL) for two years. A 76-year-old man was referred to our institute because of disturbance of consciousness, right arm weakness and paresthesia. A computed tomography (CT) scan detected multiple nodules in his brain. Magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) of the head detected multiple gadolinium-enhancing parenchymal lesions with hyperintense signals on T2-and diffusion-weighted images, located in both cerebral and cerebellar hemispheres. Blood test and cerebrospinal fluid (CSF) findings were unremarkable. His rapidly deteriorating consciousness precluded a chance of brain biopsy. Considering the limited efficacy of antimicrobials and the imaging findings that could be compatible with the diagnosis of malignant lymphoma, we suspected central nerve system (CNS) recurrence of LPL. Although chemotherapy was initiated, he died of respiratory failure just after chemotherapy. A pathological autopsy showed his cause of death was TE. To our knowledge, this is the first case of TE in long-term PR of malignant lymphoma. TE should be suspected when patients with malignant lymphoma present unexplained neurologic symptoms regardless of their treatment efficacy of lymphoma. (226/250 words).

[Haploidentical hematopoietic stem cell transplantation for graft failure in myelodysplastic syndrome/myeloproliferative neoplasm-unclassifiable complicated with Stenotrophomonas maltophilia bacteremia].

A 60-year-old woman with myelodysplastic syndrome/myeloproliferative neoplasm-unclassifiable underwent unrelated bone marrow transplantation from a human leukocyte antigen (HLA) 8/8 allele-matched male donor. Neutrophil engraftment was achieved on day 29. Fluorescence in situ hybridization of sex chromosomes demonstrated complete donor chimerism. The red blood cell and platelet transfusion dependence continued, and the neutrophil count decreased gradually. Despite prolonged administration of broad-spectrum antibiotics for febrile neutropenia, blood cultures on days 46 and 58 returned positive for Stenotrophomonas maltophilia (SM). Contrast-enhanced computed tomography revealed multiple nodules of septic emboli in the lungs and kidneys, suggesting a disseminated SM infection. Antibiotic therapy was conducted based on antimicrobial susceptibility testing. However, the blood cell count failed to normalize and a secondary graft failure was diagnosed. A HLA-haploidentical peripheral-blood stem-cell transplantation from the patient's son was performed on day 134 after the initial transplantation. Neutrophil engraftment was achieved on day 11. Red blood cells and platelets were also engrafted. After the resolution of the SM bacteremia, the patient was discharged on day 63. The prognosis of the SM bacteremia with neutropenia is poor. Antibiotic treatment based on antimicrobial susceptibility testing and a second transplant from an HLA-haploidentical donor likely contributed to the successful outcome in this patient.

[Tisagenlecleucel for relapsed/refractory diffuse large B-cell lymphoma: real-world data from single institute experience].

Chimeric antigen receptor (CAR) T-cell therapy has revolutionized the approach to patients with relapsed or refractory diffuse large B-cell lymphoma (r/r DLBCL). This study retrospectively analyzed patients treated with commercially available tisagenlecleucel at our hospital and evaluated its safety and effectiveness. Of the 21 patients evaluated, any grade and grade ≥3 cytokine release syndrome (CRS) occurred in 85.7% and 9.5% of the patients, respectively. A total of 66.7% received tocilizumab and 28.6% received glucocorticoids for the treatment of CRS. The complete response (CR) rate at 3 months was 61.9% (95% confidence interval [CI] 38.4-81.9). After a median follow-up of 6.3 months following CAR-T infusion, the progression-free survival (PFS) and overall survival rates at 6 months were 53.1% (95%CI 28.3-72.7) and 69.2% (95%CI 43.7-84.9), respectively. Severe cytopenia and hypogammaglobulinemia occurred frequently following CAR-T infusion. Eight patients (38.1%) had comorbidities that would have made them ineligible for leukapheresis in the JULIET trial. However, the presence of comorbidities at the time of leukapheresis had no significant effect on the rates of CR, PFS, and adverse events. Tisagenlecleucel for r/r DLBCL in the real-world setting showed high efficacy and manageable safety profile comparable with the pivotal trial.

Postpolypectomy bleeding of colorectal polyps in patients with continuous warfarin and short-term interruption of direct oral anticoagulants.

BACKGROUND AND AIMS: Postpolypectomy bleeding (PPB) is the most common adverse event after colorectal polypectomy. Use of anticoagulants is an important risk factor for PPB. This study aimed to evaluate PPB in patients receiving treatment with warfarin and direct oral anticoagulants (DOACs). METHODS: Between August 2017 and July 2019, 5449 patients with 12,601 polyps who underwent endoscopic snare resection of colorectal polyps were enrolled. Endoscopic snare resection was performed in patients receiving continuous warfarin (C-warfarin) and in patients who experienced 1 day cessation of (O-) of DOACs in accordance with the Japanese Gastroenterological Endoscopy Society guidelines. RESULTS: The PPB rate in the group receiving anticoagulants was statistically higher than that in the group without anticoagulants (8.5% [33/387] vs 1.2% [63/5,062], respectively; P < .001). By multivariate logistic regression analysis, male gender (odds ratio [OR], 2.17; P = .007), warfarin (OR, 4.64; P < .001), DOACs (OR, 6.59; P < .001), and multipolyp removal (OR, 1.77; P = .007) were significant risk factors for PPB. PPB was observed in 9 and 21 patients in the C-warfarin and O-DOACs groups, respectively: C-warfarin (8.0% [9/113]), O-dabigatran (6.1% [2/33]), O-rivaroxaban (14.8% [9/61]), O-apixaban (9.8% [9/92]), and O-edoxaban (1.8% [1/56]). The PPB rate with the O-edoxaban group was significantly lower than that with the O-rivaroxaban group (P < .05). CONCLUSIONS: Use of anticoagulant therapy was an independent risk factor for PPB. The rates of PPB in patients receiving C-warfarin and O-DOACs were also higher than those in patients not receiving anticoagulants. Edoxaban may be safe through short-term withdrawal in patients undergoing endoscopic snare resection of colorectal polyps.

Awareness of stuttering in Japanese children aged 3-7 years.

BACKGROUND: Boey et al. (2009) devised a questionnaire for measuring children's awareness of stuttering and showed that even very young children were often aware of their stuttering. There has been no replication of studies using Boey et al.'s parent-reported questionnaire. The aim of this study was to test whether using Boey et al.'s seven questions, developed for a Dutch speaking population could be effective for measuring the awareness of stuttering in Japanese children. METHODS: Participants were 54 children who stutter (CWS) aged 3-7 years. Parents answered seven questions about their child's awareness of stuttering according to the questions developed Boey et al. RESULTS: Parental-reported observations of the child responses citing at least one awareness incident were 76%. The percentage of stuttering children with awareness of their own speech difficulties, according to chronological age, were as follows: 70% at age 3 years; 67% at age 4 years; 75% at age 5 years; 81% at age 6 years; and 90% at age 7 years. CONCLUSIONS: We found that even at age 3 years, many CWS were already aware of their stuttering. The similarity of the data with the seminal study by Boey et al. suggests that the question-based assessment is reproducible even in a country with a different spoken language. The seven questions in Boey et al. are useful for evaluating whether children's awareness of stuttering could contribute to a clinical decision as well as stuttering severity.

Relationship between colonic diverticulosis and colon neoplasms in Japanese patients.

BACKGROUND AND AIM: Colonic diverticulosis (CD) has been reported to be associated with presence of colon neoplasms (CNs) in Western patients, since most of the associated risk factors are common between them. However, such correlation has not been fully investigated in Asian patients. In this study, the association of CNs with CD was evaluated in a multicenter investigation. METHODS: We enrolled 5633 patients who underwent both colonoscopy and esophagogastroduodenoscopy due to annual follow-up, screening for positive occult blood testing and abdominal symptoms between January 2016 and December 2017 at three institutions. The relationship between the presence of CNs and CD was investigated, and predictors for presence of CNs were determined by multivariate logistic analysis. RESULTS: The enrolled patients consisted of 1799 (31.9%) with CD (average age 70.0 years, male 64.0%) and 3834 without CD (66.0 years, male 52.9%), with the prevalence of CNs in those groups 46.6% and 44.2%, respectively (P = 0.090). Predictors for early colon cancer were shown to be age (OR 1.02, 95% CI 1.01-1.04, P = 0.010), laxatives use (OR 1.76, 95% CI 1.17-2.64, P = 0.007), gastric neoplasms (OR 2.16, 95% CI 1.23-3.81, P = 0.008), and CD (OR 1.64, 95% CI 1.16-2.31, P = 0.005). Early colon cancer in the distal colon was most frequently detected in patients with right-sided CD (RR 2.50, P = 0.001). CONCLUSION: In Japanese patients, early colon cancer was more frequently found in those with as compared to those without CD. The presence of CD may be an important indicator for an index colonoscopy examination to detect colon cancer. (Clinical-trial-registry: UMIN000038985).

Prevalence of an incompetent lip seal during growth periods throughout Japan: a large-scale, survey-based, cross-sectional study.

BACKGROUND: Systemic and local factors may lead to disruption of craniofacial growth and development, causing an imbalance between the orofacial skeleton, muscle and soft tissue, dental occlusion, and the dental arch during growth periods. We aimed to reveal whether the prevalence of incompetent lip seal (ILS) varies with age and region, as well as to clarify the factors related to an ILS, in a national, large-scale epidemiological study. METHODS: We surveyed 3399 children, from 3 to 12 years of age, visiting 66 pediatric dental clinics throughout Japan. For this survey, we employed a questionnaire consisting of 44 questions regarding daily health conditions and lifestyle habits. We evaluated the differences in ILS prevalence by age and region (using a Cochran-Armitage test for trend and a Kruskal-Wallis test), and the relationship between ILS and factors investigated in the questionnaire (using Spearman's rank correlation coefficient). RESULTS: We observed that 30.7% of Japanese children exhibited an ILS and that the ILS rate increased with age (p < 0.001). There were no regional differences in the rate of ILS in Japanese children (p = 0.506). We revealed that 12 of 44 survey items exhibited a statistically significant correlation with ILS (p < 0.001), using Spearman's rank correlation coefficient. These items involved orofacial morphology, mouth breathing, and possibly, allergic rhinitis. CONCLUSION: The rate of ILS seems to increase with age in children, throughout Japan. Therefore, this disorder may not self-correct during the growth periods in these children. Guidelines are required for pediatric dentists to recognize ILS among children aged 3-12 years.

Adipophilin expression in cutaneous malignant melanoma is associated with high proliferation and poor clinical prognosis.

Adipophilin (ADP) is a primary protein component of lipid droplets (LDs). For more than half a century, certain types of cancer cells have been known to contain LDs in their cytoplasm. However, the pathological significance of ADP or LDs in cancer remains unclear. In the present study, we investigated the association between ADP and other pathological characteristics in cutaneous malignant melanomas to clarify the role of ADP in melanoma cells. We immunostained whole paraffin sections of primary cutaneous melanomas obtained from 90 cases for ADP, after which we analyzed the correlation between ADP immunohistochemistry (IHC) and patient survival data. We also studied the relationship between the ADP IHC score and in situ hybridization (ISH) score of ADP mRNA, and the Ki67-labeling index (Ki67-LI) by using tissue microarrays consisting of 74 primary cutaneous malignant melanomas, 19 metastasizing melanomas, and 29 melanocytic nevi. Finally, we analyzed the relationship between ADP expression and cell proliferation in cutaneous melanoma cell lines. We found that high ADP expression was associated with poor metastasis-free survival, disease-specific survival, and overall survival rates of patients with cutaneous melanomas (P < 0.05). By linear regression analysis, ADP IHC was correlated with increasing ADP mRNA ISH H-scores and Ki67-LI scores in melanocytic lesions (P < 0.01). ADP IHC and ADP ISH H-scores and Ki67-LI scores were greater in pT3-4 melanomas than in pT1-2 melanomas. In cell-based assays, cells with increased ADP expression showed higher proliferation rates compared with those of low-ADP cells. Thus, ADP expression in malignant melanoma was significantly associated with high cell proliferation and poor clinical prognosis. Our results thus indicate a significant association between ADP and melanoma progression, and we propose that ADP may be a novel marker of aggressive cutaneous melanoma with a lipogenic phenotype.

Tumor Sidedness Is Associated with Survival in Patients with Synchronous Colorectal Peritoneal Carcinomatosis.

BACKGROUND: Synchronous colorectal peritoneal carcinomatosis (SCPC) is not a rare entity, and the prognosis is extremely poor compared to other metastatic sites such as the liver and lung. Therefore, optimal treatment based on tumor characteristics is needed. Recently, the tumor sidedness of colorectal cancer has been reported as one of the prognostic factors and also as a key factor for the treatment strategy. The purpose of this study was to assess the clinical impact of tumor sidedness in patients with SCPC. METHODS: A total of 189 cases of SCPC were identified in a retrospective database at Wakayama Medical University Hospital (WMUH) between 1998 and 2014, and were analyzed with a special focus on tumor location. RESULTS: In multivariate analysis, a right-sided location (p = 0.02) and the presence of liver metastases (p < 0.001) were found to be the worst prognostic factors. The median survival time (MST) with right-sided and with left-sided SCPC was 10 and 16 months, respectively. The right-sided SCPC group included more aged patients (p = 0.045) and fewer patients who received postoperative chemotherapy (p = 0.034). When we focused on patients with macroscopically complete resection (n = 39), the MST and disease-free survival in the right-sided SCPC group was significantly shorter than in the left-sided SCPC group (p = 0.030 and p = 0.043, respectively). The MST of the right-sided and the left-sided SCPC patients among the completely resected patients was 24 and 73 months, respectively. CONCLUSION: Tumor sidedness may be a potent prognostic indicator for patients with SCPC. The survival time with right-sided SCPC is dramatically reduced compared to that with left-sided SCPC, especially among completely resected cases. We should change the treatment strategy according to the location of SCPC.

Schizophyllum commune sinusitis after allogeneic bone marrow transplantation for myelodysplastic syndrome: A case report and literature review.

Sinusitis is a serious infectious complication of allogeneic hematopoietic stem cell transplantation. Schizophyllum commune (S commune) is a common basidiomycete fungus that is rarely involved in human disease. We report herein a case of S commune sinusitis after allogeneic bone marrow transplantation. A 66-year-old man with myelodysplastic syndrome underwent allogeneic bone marrow transplantation and developed maxillary and ethmoid sinusitis. The sinusitis did not improve with liposomal amphotericin B after neutrophil engraftment, so we considered that surgical intervention was needed for the recovery of sinusitis. Endoscopic sinus surgery was performed. In the debridement tissue of paranasal mucosa, filamentous fungal elements were observed. Moreover, genetic analysis of the tissue revealed the presence of S commune. Schizophyllum commune should be recognized as a fungal pathogen that causes sinusitis after allogeneic hematopoietic stem cell transplantation. This case suggests the effectiveness of prompt surgical intervention with liposomal amphotericin B treatment for S commune sinusitis and the usefulness of genetic diagnosis for cases under antifungal treatment. (160 words).

The effect of anticoagulants on delayed bleeding after colorectal endoscopic submucosal dissection.

BACKGROUND AND AIMS: The withdrawal of antithrombotic therapy from patients at high risk of thromboembolism is controversial. Previously, treatment with anticoagulants, such as warfarin and dabigatran, was recommended for heparin bridge therapy (HBT) during endoscopic submucosal dissection (ESD). However, HBT is associated with a high risk of bleeding during and after ESD. This study aimed to investigate the clinical outcomes of colorectal ESD in patients treated with warfarin and direct oral anticoagulants (DOAC). METHODS: This study included 412 patients with superficial colorectal neoplasms that were resected by ESD between June 2010 and June 2018. The patients were classified into two groups: without antithrombotics (n = 286) and with anticoagulants (n = 51). The anticoagulants group was further divided into two groups: warfarin (n = 26) and DOAC (n = 25). RESULTS: Among all patients, delayed bleeding occurred in 35 (8.5% [35/412]) patients. The bleeding rate in the anticoagulants group (11.8% [6/51]) was higher than that in the group without antithrombotics (6.6% [19/286]), but the difference was not statistically significant (P = 0.240). The bleeding rate in the DOAC group (16.0% [4/25]) was higher than that in the warfarin group (7.7% [2/26]), but the difference was not statistically significant (P = 0.419). All delayed bleeding was successfully managed with endoscopic hemostasis. Thromboembolic events were not observed in any patients. CONCLUSIONS: The bleeding rate with anticoagulants was relatively high. However, all bleeding events with anticoagulants were minor and clinically controllable. Colorectal ESD with DOAC and warfarin may be feasible and acceptable.

Endoscopic transpapillary gallbladder drainage for acute cholecystitis is feasible for patients receiving antithrombotic therapy.

OBJECTIVES: Patients with acute cholecystitis receiving antithrombotic therapy (ATT) have an increased risk of bleeding complications during surgery and percutaneous drainage. Endoscopic transpapillary gallbladder drainage (ETGBD) is recommended for such cases; however, evidence is limited. To investigate this issue further, we performed a retrospective multicenter study. METHODS: One hundred thirty patients with acute cholecystitis who underwent ETGBD were enrolled. They were divided into an ATT group (continuation of ATT on the day of the procedure and/or heparin substitution) and a Non-ATT group (discontinuation or no use of ATT). The primary outcome was bleeding complication rate, and the secondary outcomes were technical success rate, clinical success rate and total complication rate. RESULTS: Eighty-three patients were enrolled in the ATT group, and 47 were enrolled in the Non-ATT group. In the ATT group, 42.2% continued multi-agent ATT. No bleeding complications occurred in either group. There were no significant differences between the ATT and Non-ATT groups in the technical success rate (84.3% vs 89.4%, P = 0.426 respectively) or the clinical success rate (97.1% vs 100%, P = 0.259, respectively). The overall early complication rate was 3.1% (4/130): mild pancreatitis (n = 3) and cholangitis (n = 1). Stent dysfunction was found in 10.9% of patients (at 196 days on average), and the 12-month stent patency rate was 69.0%. CONCLUSIONS: No significant difference was found in the bleeding complication rate between ETGBD with and without ATT. ETGBD may be an ideal drainage method for patients with acute cholecystitis receiving ATT.

Saline-pocket endoscopic submucosal dissection for superficial colorectal neoplasms: a randomized controlled trial (with video).

BACKGROUND AND AIMS: Colorectal endoscopic submucosal dissection (ESD) is a time-consuming procedure because of the technical difficulty. The newly developed saline-pocket ESD (SP-ESD) provides a clearer view and better traction of the submucosal layer compared with the standard ESD with gas insufflation (S-ESD). This study aimed to prospectively compare the efficacy and safety between S-ESD and SP-ESD in patients with superficial colorectal neoplasms (SCNs). METHODS: From April 2017 to November 2018, 95 patients with SCNs ≥20 mm in diameter were prospectively and randomly enrolled. Four patients were excluded because of an incomplete ESD procedure. Patients were finally allocated to 2 groups, S-ESD with 45 patients and SP-ESD with 46 patients. The primary outcome was dissection speed. Secondary outcomes were ESD procedure time, en bloc and complete resection rates, perforation rate, and adverse effects. RESULTS: Median dissection speed was significantly faster in the SP-ESD than the S-ESD group (20.1 mm2/min [range, 17.3-28.1] vs 16.3 mm2/min [range, 11.4-19.8]; P < .001). Median procedure time was significantly shorter in the SP-ESD than the S-ESD group (29.5 minutes [range, 22.3-44] vs 41 minutes [range, 31-55]; P < .001). The en bloc and complete resection rates were 100% in both groups. No perforations occurred among patients. The volume of saline solution used in the SP-ESD group was significantly greater than that in the S-ESD group (200 mL [range, 120-250] vs 150 mL [range, 100-200]; P = .016). CONCLUSIONS: SP-ESD improved dissection speed and procedure time compared with S-ESD. SP-ESD may be an alternative method for resection of SCNs. (Clinical trial registration number: UMIN 000026317.).

Postprandial Hyperchylomicronemia and Thin-Cap Fibroatheroma in Nonculprit Lesions.

Objective- Although postprandial hypertriglyceridemia can be a risk factor for coronary artery disease, the extent of its significance remains unknown. This study aimed to investigate the correlation between the postprandial lipid profiles rigorously estimated with the meal tolerance test and the presence of lipid-rich plaque, such as thin-cap fibroatheroma (TCFA), in the nonculprit lesion. Approach and Results- A total of 30 patients with stable coronary artery disease who underwent a multivessel examination using optical coherence tomography during catheter intervention for the culprit lesion were enrolled. Patients were divided into 2 groups: patients with TCFA (fibrous cap thickness ≤65 µm) in the nonculprit lesion and those without TCFA. Serum remnant-like particle-cholesterol and ApoB-48 (apolipoprotein B-48) levels were measured during the meal tolerance test. The value of remnant-like particle-cholesterol was significantly greater in the TCFA group than in the non-TCFA group ( P=0.045). Although the baseline ApoB-48 level was similar, the increase in the ApoB-48 level was significantly higher in the TCFA group than in the non-TCFA group ( P=0.028). In addition, the baseline apolipoprotein C-III levels was significantly greater in the TCFA group ( P=0.003). These indexes were independent predictors of the presence of TCFA (ΔApoB-48: odds ratio, 1.608; 95% confidence interval, 1.040-2.486; P=0.032; apolipoprotein C-III: odds ratio, 2.581; 95% confidence interval, 1.177-5.661; P=0.018). Conclusions- Postprandial hyperchylomicronemia correlates with the presence of TCFA in the nonculprit lesion and may be a residual risk factor for coronary artery disease.

Defunctioning loop ileostomy for rectal anastomoses: predictors of stoma outlet obstruction.

PURPOSE: Creation of defunctioning loop ileostomy is a standard procedure in laparoscopic lower rectal surgery. Stoma-related obstruction sometimes occurs, but its cause has not been fully analyzed. This study aims to assess stoma obstructive complications and clarify the risk factors of stoma-related obstructions. METHODS: Two hundred and thirty consecutive patients who underwent laparoscopic rectal cancer surgery with defunctioning loop ileostomy between April 2007 and December 2017 were recruited, numbering 230. We statistically examined the frequency and risk factor of stoma outlet obstruction. RESULTS: Postoperative stoma-related complications developed in 41 patients (17.8%) overall, and there was no 30-day mortality. Stoma outlet obstructions occurred in 16 patients (7.0%) during postoperative course. Thick subcutaneous fat at the stoma-marking site (vertical distance ≥ 20 mm) and body mass index (≥ 22.2) were significantly associated with the risk of stoma outlet obstruction in univariate analysis. Thick subcutaneous fat was a significant predictive factor of stoma outlet obstruction according to multivariate analysis (odds ratio 3.80). CONCLUSIONS: This report investigates significant predictors of stoma outlet obstruction in laparoscopic rectal cancer surgery for the first time. In laparoscopic procedure, stoma outlet obstruction should be particularly considered in obese patients who have especially thick subcutaneous fat of the abdominal wall.

[A Case of Recurrent Small Bowel Cancer That Successfully Responded to Chemoradiation Therapy].

Primary small bowel cancer is a rare entity; thus, it is often found in progress. Therefore, the prognosis is often poor. Because of its low frequency, there are few reports concerning the treatment for small bowel cancer; hence, it is important to examine individual cases in detail. In this study, we present a case of recurrent small bowel cancer that successfully responded to chemoradiation therapy. Case: A 48-year-old woman had anemia. Colonoscopy showed a tumor in the terminal ileum. Because of invasion in the ovaries and uterus, ileocecal resection, hysterectomy, and bilateral adnexectomy were performed. The pathological diagnosis was small bowel cancer with lymph node metastasis, and CapeOX therapy was administered as postoperative adjuvant chemotherapy. Since local recurrence was detected in the right lower quadrant 6 months after the surgery, IRIS plus BV was initiated. Radiation therapy(2Gy×25 times, total 50 Gy)was also administered within the same period(only S-1 administration during radiation). After radiation therapy, the tumor decreased significantly in size and showed CR. Currently, the patient is under observation without treatment, but she has had no recurrence for 6 years after the confirmation of recurrence(6 years and 6 months after surgery). It is extremely rare for chemoradiation therapy to be effective for recurrent small bowel cancer; we report such a case with literatures.