Changes in alcohol intake and serum urate changes: longitudinal analyses of annual medical examination database.

INTRODUCTION: Despite the established cross-sectional association between alcohol intake and serum urate (SU), its longitudinal association remains unknown. This study aimed to determine whether changes in alcohol intake have a clinically relevant association with SU change. METHOD: We conducted retrospective analyses using systematically collected annual medical examination data from October 2012 to October 2022 in a Japanese preventive medicine centre. The exposure was changes in alcohol intake between two consecutive visits. The association of SU changes with alcohol intake changes was estimated by mixed-effect linear regression with adjustment for relevant covariates. RESULTS: We analysed 63 486 participants (median age, 47.0 years; 55% women; 58.6% regular alcohol drinkers with a median of 1.4 drinks/day) with 370 572 visits. The median SU level was 5.3 mg/dL, and 506 (0.8%) participants had diagnoses of gout or hyperuricemia without medication use during the study period. Decreasing one daily alcohol intake had a clinically small association with SU changes (-0.019 (95% CI: -0.021 to -0.017) mg/dL). Beer had the largest association with SU (-0.036 (95% CI: -0.039 to -0.032) mg/dL for one beer decrease). Complete discontinuation of any alcohol from a mean of 0.8 drinks/day was associated with -0.056 mg/dL (95% CI: -0.068 to -0.043) decrease in SU; the association became larger in hyperuricemic participants (-0.110 mg/dL (95% CI: -0.154 to -0.066) for alcohol discontinuation from a mean of 1.0 drinks/day). CONCLUSIONS: This study revealed changes in alcohol intake had small associations with SU change at the general Japanese population level. Complete discontinuation of alcohol in hyperuricemic participants had only modest improvement in SU.

Impact of Tumor Size on Survival Outcome in Esophageal Squamous Cell Carcinoma After Esophagectomy Following Neoadjuvant Chemotherapy.

BACKGROUND: Large tumor size is a prognostic factor in esophageal squamous cell carcinoma (ESCC). However, the effect of tumor size on outcomes following neoadjuvant chemotherapy (NAC) has not been evaluated. This study aimed to assess the influence of tumor size on prognosis of patients undergoing esophagectomy after NAC. PATIENTS AND METHODS: This study was made up of 272 patients who underwent esophagectomy after NAC at Kobe University Hospital. We evaluated the pathological tumor size and determined the cutoff level for tumor size using receiver operating characteristics analysis to the survival status. Cox proportional hazards regression analyses were performed to identify prognostic factors. RESULTS: The patients were categorized into two groups: patients with tumor sizes ≥ 36 mm and < 36 mm. Deep pathological tumor invasion and worse histological response to NAC were associated with tumor size ≥ 36 mm. In patients with pT0-1, pT2, and pT4 ESCC, no significant differences in overall survival (OS) rates were observed between the two groups. In patients with pT3, OS of the tumor size ≥ 36 mm group was significantly worse than that of the tumor size < 36 mm group (p < 0.0001). Multivariate analysis in pT3 patients revealed tumor size ≥ 36 mm was an independent risk factor for OS. The 5-year OS rate was 10% in patients with tumor size ≥ 36 mm pT3 ESCC with pathological lymph node metastasis (p < 0.0001). CONCLUSIONS: Tumor size ≥ 36 mm is an independent risk factor for poorer survival in pT3 patients. Furthermore, tumor size ≥ 36 mm with pathological lymph node metastasis in pT3 patients was associated with very poor survival.

Demonstration of spectrum narrowing mitigation based on recurrent neural networks for ultra-dense WDM networks.

Traversing each WSS in ultra-dense WDM networks narrows the signal spectra. Simulations and experiments demonstrate, for the first time to our knowledge, spectrum narrowing mitigation based on RNN. Numerical simulations show that the RNN-based demodulation with impairment-aware optical path control significantly enlarges the transmission distance. Transmission experiments in the extended C-band successfully confirm an extension of the transmissible distance of 16QAM signals by over 500 km.

Dispersant-enhanced migration of radiocesium among soil size fractions: A novel strategy for volume reduction of radioactively contaminated soil.

In the aftermath of the Fukushima Daiichi Nuclear Power Plant accident, a pioneering large-scale decontamination project was initiated, aiming to enable the return of evacuees. This project, the first of its kind in human history, involved the transportation of soils collected during decontamination to interim storage facilities. Before recycling or disposal, these soils undergo processes like volume reduction. However, there's a need for innovative methods to reduce volume effectively and treat secondary wastes more efficiently. The current study explores the impact of a dispersant, sodium hexametaphosphate (SHMP), on the behavior of radiocesium (r-Cs: 137Cs) dynamics in different size fractions of radioactively contaminated soils from Fukushima. The solid-phase speciation analysis of Fukushima soils validated that at least 50% of the 137Cs or other minerals are associated with difficult-to-extract soil phases. Nonetheless, the low 137Cs/133Cs ratio in corresponding soil phases implies a slower r-Cs fixation mechanism. The wet-sieving of r-Cs contaminated soil fraction, < 2 mm, with SHMP, resulted in different soil subfractions (2000-212, 212-53, and < 53 µm). Following SHMP treatment, dispersion of > 92% of 137Cs associated with < 212 µm soil size fractions was observed. The migration of 137Cs towards smaller soil size fractions can be attributed to either SHMP-induced cation exchange or the formation of polyvalent complexes involving SHMP and soil minerals. The condensation of 137Cs in < 212 µm, as induced by SHMP, enabled the subsequent reuse of the larger soil fraction (> 212 µm), which was less contaminated. This study provides a new perspective on the effects of dispersants and contributes to a better understanding of the complex interactions among organic carbon, 137Cs, monovalent and polyvalent cations, and soil functional groups concerning the volume reduction of soils contaminated with r-Cs.

The number of resected lymph nodes from the upper mediastinal area predicts long-term outcomes of esophageal squamous cell carcinoma after minimally invasive esophagectomy.

BACKGROUND: The total number of resected lymph nodes (LNs) is an important determinant of longer survival after esophagectomy for esophageal squamous cell carcinoma (ESCC). However, the resected LN counts from areas that affect long-term outcomes remain unclear. METHODS: This study included 406 patients who underwent minimally invasive esophagectomies (MIEs) at Kobe University Hospital. Resected LN counts were evaluated in the following areas: upper mediastinal (UM), middle mediastinal (MM), lower mediastinal (LM), and abdominal (Abd). Cut-off values for LN counts from each area were determined using receiver operating characteristics analysis of the survival status. Cox proportional hazards regression analyses were performed to identify prognostic factors. RESULTS: The cut-off values for large or small numbers of resected LN counts in the UM, MM, LM, and Abd areas were 4, 8, 5, and 18, respectively, in patients with upper and middle thoracic (Ut/Mt) ESCC and 7, 6, 5, and 24, respectively, in patients with lower thoracic (Lt) ESCC. Multivariate analysis in patients with Ut/Mt ESCC revealed that tumor invasion depth, LN metastasis, and the resected LN count from the UM area were independent risk factors for overall survival [hazard ratio (HR), 7.04; 95% confidence interval (CI) 4.47-11.1; HR, 4.01; 95% CI 1.96-8.21; HR, 2.18; 95% CI 1.24-3.82, respectively]. In patients with Lt ESCC, tumor invasion depth, LN metastasis, and pulmonary complications were independent risk factors for overall survival (HR, 4.23; 95% CI 2.14-8.35; HR, 3.83; 95% CI 1.75-8.38; HR, 2.80; 95% CI 1.38-5.65, respectively). Resected LN counts from no areas were prognostic factors. CONCLUSION: The number of resected LNs from the UM area influenced the survival outcomes of patients with Ut/Mt ESCC after MIE.

Colostomy-site carcinoma with primitive phenotype in a rectal cancer patient after achieving pathological complete response with neoadjuvant chemoradiotherapy.

Herein, we report a rare case of a carcinoma with primitive phenotype (enteroblastic and/or hepatoid differentiation) occurring at a colostomy site. The patient was an elderly male who underwent neoadjuvant chemoradiotherapy for rectal cancer, followed by abdominoperineal resection. A biopsy specimen for the rectal carcinoma before neoadjuvant chemoradiotherapy was conventional tubular adenocarcinoma. Moreover, a pathological complete response was confirmed in the proctectomy specimen. However, a colostomy-site tumor appeared 6 months after the proctectomy, and it was resected 1 year after the initial proctectomy. The colostomy-site tumor comprised solid to focal glandular growth of atypical polygonal cells with clear to pale eosinophilic cytoplasm and was immunohistochemically positive for cytokeratin, spalt-like transcription factor 4, glypican-3, caudal type homeobox 2, and special AT-rich sequence-binding protein 2. Thus, the tumor was diagnosed as poorly differentiated adenocarcinoma with primitive phenotype, with suggested origin from the colorectal epithelium. Additionally, a multilocular cystic lesion comprising various types of epithelia was found adjacent to the tumor, suggestive of metaplasia or heterotopia. Changes in the histology and immunophenotype, and the findings of an adjacent cystic lesion suggest a metachronous tumor rather than a recurrence of the primary tumor.

Open left diaphragm method enables safe surgery with a good visual field in a laparoscopic transhiatal approach for esophagogastric junction adenocarcinoma laparoscopic transhiatal reconstruction via an open left diaphragm method.

BACKGROUND: Despite being oncologically acceptable for esophagogastric junction adenocarcinoma with an esophageal invasion length of 3-4 cm, the transhiatal approach has not yet become a standard method given the difficulty of reconstruction in a narrow space and the risk of severe anastomotic leakage. This study aimed to clarify the safety and feasibility of the open left diaphragm method during the transhiatal approach for esophagogastric junction adenocarcinoma. METHODS: This retrospective study compared the clinical outcomes of patients who underwent proximal or total gastrectomy with lower esophagectomy for Siewert type II/III adenocarcinomas with esophageal invasion via the laparoscopic transhiatal approach with or without the open left diaphragm method from April 2013 to December 2021. RESULTS: Overall, 42 and 13 patients did and did not undergo surgery with the open left diaphragm method, respectively. The median operative time was only slightly shorter in the open left diaphragm group than in the non-open left diaphragm group (369 vs. 482 min; P = 0.07). Grade ≥ II postoperative respiratory complications were significantly less common in the open left diaphragm group than in the non-open left diaphragm group (17% vs. 46%, P = 0.03). Neither group had grade ≥ IV anastomotic leakage, and two cases of anastomotic leakage requiring reoperation were drained using the left diaphragmatic release technique. CONCLUSIONS: Transhiatal lower esophagectomy with gastrectomy using the open left diaphragm method is safe, highlighting its advantages for Siewert type II/III esophagogastric junction adenocarcinoma with an esophageal invasion length of ≤ 4 cm.

Days of the week and 90-day mortality after esophagectomy: analysis of 33,980 patients from the National Clinical Database.

PURPOSE: The effect of the days of the week on the short-term outcomes after elective surgeries has been suggested; however, such data on esophagectomies remain limited. This study aimed to investigate the association between the day of the week and mortality rates after elective esophagectomy using a large-scale clinical database in Japan. METHODS: The data of elective esophagectomies, registered in the National Clinical Database in Japan, for esophageal cancer treatment between 2012 and 2017 were analyzed. We hypothesized that the later days of the week could have higher odds ratios of death after elective esophagectomy. With 22 relevant clinical variables and days of surgery, 90-day mortality was evaluated using hierarchical logistic regression modeling. RESULTS: Ninety-day mortality rates among 33,980 patients undergoing elective esophagectomy were 1.8% (range, 1.5-2.1%). Surgeries were largely concentrated on earlier days of the week, whereas esophagectomies performed on Fridays accounted for only 11.1% of all cases. Before risk adjustment, lower odds ratios of 90-day mortality were found on Tuesday and a tendency towards lower odds ratios on Thursday. In the hierarchical logistic regression model, 21 independent factors of 90-day mortality were identified. However, the adjusted odds ratios of 90-day mortality for Tuesday, Wednesday, Thursday, and Friday were 0.87, 1.09, 0.85, and 0.88, respectively, revealing no significant difference. CONCLUSION: The results imply that the variation in 90-day mortality rates after esophagectomy on different days of the week may be attributed to differing preoperative risk factors of the patient group rather than the disparity in medical care provided.

Clinical significance of the maximum standardized uptake value on positron emission tomography to predict treatment response and outcomes in patients with rectal cancer undergoing neoadjuvant chemoradiotherapy.

PURPOSES: The association between the reduction rate of the maximum standardized uptake value (SUVmax) on positron emission tomography (PET) during neoadjuvant chemoradiotherapy (NACRT) and the prognosis in patients with locally advanced rectal cancer is unknown. METHODS: We retrospectively analyzed 62 patients with locally advanced rectal cancer who underwent curative surgery after NACRT at Kobe University between 2008 and 2021. The SUVmax reduction rate was calculated from preoperative and postoperative PET scans, and its association with the prognosis was investigated. RESULTS: The cutoff value for SUVmax reduction rate was 61.5%. Twenty patients had an SUVmax reduction rate > 61.5% (SUV responder group) and 38 patients had an SUVmax reduction rate ≤ 61.5% (SUV nonresponder group). Regarding pathological outcomes, the rate of a good histological response was significantly higher in the SUV responder group than in the SUV nonresponder group (80.0% vs. 21.1%, p < 0.001). Both the overall (OS) and relapse-free survival (RFS) rates were significantly better in the SUV responder group than in the SUV nonresponder group (OS, p = 0.035; RFS, p = 0.019). In the SUV responder group, only 1 case of recurrence was observed, with a median follow-up period of 56 months. CONCLUSION: The rate of SUVmax reduction during NACRT might predict the long-term prognosis of patients with locally advanced rectal cancer.

Effectiveness of long-term tube feeding intervention in preventing skeletal muscle loss after minimally invasive esophagectomy.

PURPOSE: Esophageal cancer is a lethal tumor typically treated by neoadjuvant chemotherapy and surgery. For patients undergoing esophagectomy, postoperative enteral nutrition is important in preventing complications. Sarcopenia is associated with poor postoperative outcomes in esophageal cancer. In this study, we evaluated the benefits of tube feeding intervention and compared its short- and long-term outcomes in patients who underwent esophagectomy. METHODS: Propensity score matching was performed in 303 patients who underwent esophagectomy at Kobe University Hospital between 2010 and 2020. Patients were divided into feeding and nonfeeding jejunostomy tube groups (n = 70 each). The feeding jejunostomy tube group was further divided into long-term (≥ 60 days) and short-term (< 60 days) subgroups. The groups were then retrospectively compared regarding postoperative albumin levels, body weight, and psoas muscle area and volume. RESULTS: In the long-term feeding jejunostomy tube group, anastomotic leakage (p = 0.013) and left laryngeal nerve palsy (p = 0.004) occurred frequently. There were no significant between-group differences in postoperative albumin levels, body weight, or psoas muscle area. However, significant psoas muscle volume recovery was confirmed in the long-term jejunostomy tube group at 6 months postoperatively (p = 0.041). CONCLUSIONS: Tube feeding intervention after minimally invasive esophagectomy may attenuate skeletal muscle mass loss and help prevent sarcopenia.

Diverse Phenotypic Manifestations in a Family with a Novel RYR2 E4107A Variant.

Cardiac ryanodine receptor (RyR2) gain-of-function mutations cause catecholaminergic polymorphic ventricular tachycardia (CPVT). Conversely, RyR2 loss-of-function mutations cause a new disease entity, termed calcium release deficiency syndrome (CRDS), which may include RYR2-related long QT syndrome (LQTS). Importantly, unlike CPVT, patients with CRDS do not always exhibit exercise- or epinephrine-induced ventricular arrhythmias, which precludes a diagnosis of CRDS. Here we report a boy and his father, who both experienced exercise-induced cardiac events and harbor the same RYR2 E4107A variant. In the boy, an exercise stress test (EST) and epinephrine provocation test (EPT) did not induce any ventricular arrhythmias. QTc was slightly prolonged (QTc: 474 ms), and an EPT induced QTc prolongation (QTc-baseline: 466 ms, peak: 532 ms, steady-state: 527 ms). In contrast, in his father, QTc was not prolonged (QTc: 417 ms), and neither an EST nor EPT induced QTc prolongation. However, an EST induced multifocal premature ventricular contraction (PVC) bigeminy and bidirectional PVC couplets. Thus, they exhibited distinct clinical phenotypes: the boy exhibited LQTS (or CRDS) phenotype, whereas his father exhibited CPVT phenotype. These findings suggest that, in addition to the altered RyR2 function, other unidentified factors, such as other genetic, epigenetic, and environmental factors, and aging, may be involved in the diverse phenotypic manifestations. Considering that a single RYR2 variant can cause both CPVT and LQTS (or CRDS) phenotypes, in cascade screening of patients with CPVT and CRDS, an EST and EPT are not sufficient and genetic analysis is required to identify individuals who are at increased risk for life-threatening arrhythmias.

Unusually elongated superior thyroid cornu associated with recurrent cerebral embolisms.

The superior thyroid cornu (STC) is a normal anatomic structure that forms part of the thyroid cartilage. Here, we report a patient with unusually elongated and ossified STC that might result in recurrent cerebral embolisms. During a second endovascular therapy for recurrent middle cerebral artery embolism, a segment with an irregular filling defect was noted in the internal carotid artery (ICA), at the C1 level. This defect was unnoticed during the initial endovascular procedure. Three-dimensional computed tomography angiography performed after the second endovascular procedure revealed an ICA segment located between the STC and C1 with a tortuous course and irregular wall of the ICA. Therefore, we assumed that STC compression of the ICA could have resulted in thrombus formation at the site and consequent cerebral embolism. The STC should be considered a structure responsible for cerebral embolism. Careful evaluation of the entire ICA course is imperative prior to performing an endovascular thrombectomy for acute embolic occlusion of the middle cerebral artery.

The Influence of Preoperative Smoking Status on Postoperative Complications and Long-Term Outcome Following Thoracoscopic Esophagectomy in Prone Position for Esophageal Carcinoma.

BACKGROUND: Esophagectomy for esophageal carcinoma is associated with higher morbidity and mortality rates than other gastrointestinal surgeries. Smoking is an established risk factor for postoperative complications after esophagectomy. This study aimed retrospectively to investigate the impact of smoking status on short- and long-term outcomes for patients undergoing thoracoscopic esophagectomy in the prone position (TEP) for esophageal carcinoma. METHODS: In this study, 234 patients with esophageal carcinoma who underwent TEP between 2012 and 2020 were divided into two groups based on smoking status (current or non-current smokers and the Brinkman index) by patients' declarations. Postoperative complications (Clavien-Dindo classification grade ≥2), overall survival (OS), and disease-free survival (DFS) were compared between smoking statuses. RESULTS: The rates of postoperative complications did not differ significantly between the two groups (current smoker vs non-current smoker; Brinkman index ≥800 vs <800). The rate of postoperative pneumonia was higher in the combination group of current and higher Brinkman index (≥800) smokers than in the other group (25.0 % vs 11.8 %; P = 0.036). Multivariate analysis showed that smoking status was an independent risk factor for postoperative pneumonia (hazard ratio, 0.41; 95 % confidence interval, 0.18-0.93; P = 0.037). According to the long-term outcomes, no significant differences in OS and DFS were observed between the smoking statuses. CONCLUSIONS: The combination of current smoking and heavy smoking history is a risk factor for postoperative pneumonia in patients who have esophageal carcinoma treated with TEP, although no correlation was observed between the long-term outcomes and smoking status.

Efficacy and Postoperative Outcomes of Laparoscopic Retrosternal Route Creation for the Gastric Conduit: Propensity Score-Matched Comparison to Posterior Mediastinal Reconstruction.

BACKGROUND: Retrosternal reconstruction has lower risks for severe postoperative morbidities, such as gastro-tracheal fistula or esophageal hiatal hernia. We have previously reported the laparoscopic retrosternal route creation (LRRC) method, but its safety and efficacy remain unclear. METHODS: In total, 374 patients with esophageal carcinoma who underwent minimally invasive McKeown esophagectomy in the prone position between 2010 and 2021 were retrospectively reviewed. We performed a propensity score-matched analysis with the simple, nearest-neighbor method and no calipers to compare postoperative outcomes and reconstructed gastric conduit functionality between patients who underwent LRRC and counterparts who underwent posterior mediastinal reconstruction. RESULTS: After matching, 62 patients were included in the laparoscopic retrosternal group (LR group) or posterior mediastinal group (PM group). No significant differences were observed between the groups, apart from the number of robot-assisted surgeries, the extent of lymph node dissection, and the method of cervical anastomosis. There were no significant differences in the incidence of Clavien-Dindo grade ≥ 2 complications. Gastro-tracheal fistula (n = 1) and esophageal hiatal hernia (n = 2) occurred in the PM group but not in the LR group. There were no differences in the incidence of pulmonary embolism between the groups (5% vs. 5%). The postoperative anastomotic stenosis rate was similar (16% vs. 27%, p = 0.192). Endoscopic findings of reflux esophagitis (modified Los Angeles classification ≥ M) at 1 year after surgery were significantly better in the LR group (p = 0.037). CONCLUSIONS: LRRC for gastric conduit reconstruction is safe and valuable. It is associated with good reconstructed gastric conduit function.

Revisiting the Synthesis of Cellulose Acrylate and Its Modification via Michael Addition Reactions.

The synthesis of cellulose acrylate from cellulose with acryloyl chloride has been problematic due to unexpected gelation of the reaction mixture, but we discovered that the use of bulky amines was crucial for the reproducibility of the synthesis of cellulose acrylate. The solubility of the obtained cellulose acrylate depended on the reaction conditions due to the possible cross-linking oxa-Michael reaction between a remaining hydroxy group and the introduced acrylate group. The synthesized cellulose acrylate worked as a useful precursor of chemically modified cellulose materials because it reacted with various functionalized nucleophiles such as secondary amines and thiols as a Michael donor. This method was applied to the synthesis of N-methyl-d-glucamine-modified cellulose that works as an adsorbent for the removal of B(OH)3 in water.

Patients younger than 40 years with colorectal cancer have a similar prognosis to older patients.

PURPOSE: Colorectal cancer (CRC) is a leading cause of cancer-related deaths worldwide. In recent years, the proportion of patients diagnosed with CRC at younger ages has increased. The clinicopathological features and oncological outcomes in younger patients with CRC remain controversial. We aimed to analyze the clinicopathological features and oncological outcomes in younger patients with CRC. METHODS: We examined 980 patients who underwent surgery for primary colorectal adenocarcinoma between 2006 and 2020. Patients were divided into two cohorts: younger (< 40 years old) and older (≥ 40 years old). RESULTS: Of the 980 patients, 26 (2.7%) were under the age of 40 years. The younger group had more advanced disease (57.7% vs. 36.6%, p = 0.031) and more cases beyond the transverse colon (84.6% vs. 65.3%, p = 0.029) than the older group. Adjuvant chemotherapy was administered more frequently in the younger group (50% vs. 25.8%, p < 0.01). Relapse-free survival and overall survival were similar between the groups at all stages. Moreover, in stages II and III they were also comparable, regardless of the administration of adjuvant chemotherapy. CONCLUSIONS: Younger patients with CRC have a prognosis equivalent to that of older patients. Further studies are needed to establish the optimal treatment strategies for these patients.

Clinical outcomes of antithrombin III-based therapy for patients with portal vein thrombosis: A retrospective, multicenter study.

AIM: The association between thrombolytic therapy and the outcome in patients with portal vein thrombosis (PVT) remains controversial. This study aimed to evaluate the outcome in patients with PVT who received antithrombin III-based therapy. METHODS: This study was a retrospective, multicenter study to investigate the liver-related events and the survival rates in 240 patients with PVT who received the therapy. RESULTS: The patients comprised 151 men and 89 women, with a median age of 69 years. The rate of favorable response, defined as maximum area of PVT changed to ≤75%, was 67.5% (162/240). The cumulative rates of liver-related events at 1, 2, and 3 years were 38.2%, 53.9%, and 68.5%, respectively. The multivariate analysis showed that viable hepatocellular carcinoma, absence of maintenance therapy, non-responder, and PVT progression were significantly associated with liver-related events. The PVT progression was observed in 23.3% (56/240). The multivariate analysis identified older age, absence of maintenance therapy, and non-responder as independent factors associated with PVT progression. The multivariate analysis revealed that younger age, no hepatocellular carcinoma, presence of maintenance therapy, and lower Model for End-stage Liver Disease-Sodium score significantly contributed to 3-year survival. Of the 240 patients, 13 (8.9%) prematurely discontinued treatment due to any adverse events. CONCLUSIONS: This study suggests that maintenance therapy, favorable response, and absence of PVT progression may suppress or control liver-related events in antithrombin III-based therapy for patients with PVT. Specifically, maintenance therapy could suppress not only liver-related events, but also PVT progression and improve the prognosis.

Transanally assisted lateral pelvic lymph node dissection for rectal cancer.

BACKGROUND: Although lateral pelvic lymph node dissection (LLND) might be an effective approach for patients with rectal cancer with lateral lymph node metastasis, it is technically challenging because of the anatomical complexity and location of the deep pelvis. An assistance by transanal approach might be useful for a successful LLND. METHODS: From September 2016 to May 2021, 39 patients with low rectal cancer underwent transanal total mesorectal excision with LLND. Among them, 18 patients underwent LLND using a conventional laparoscopic approach alone, while the remaining 21 underwent LLND using both conventional and transanal approaches. Their clinical outcomes were retrospectively compared. RESULTS: The operation time for LLND on each side was significantly shorter in the transanal group (105 min vs. 54 min, P < 0.001). The intraoperative blood loss was also significantly less in the transanal group (40 g vs. 0 g, P = 0.031). The rate of overall postoperative complications ≥ grade II according to the Clavien-Dindo classification was significantly less in the transanal group (66.7% vs. 28.6%, odds ratio: 5.000, 95% confidence intervals: 1.313-19.047, P = 0.040). The number of harvested lateral lymph nodes in both groups was similar (8.5 vs. 8, P = 0.544). CONCLUSION: The transanal approach for LLND reduced operative time, blood loss, and morbidity compared with the conventional approach alone in a cohort of patients with rectal cancer.

Astrocytic Responses to Binge Alcohol Intake in the Mouse Hindbrain.

Ethanol is the most commonly used toxic chemical in human cultures. Ethanol predominantly damages the brain causing various neurological disorders. Astrocytes are important cellular targets of ethanol in the brain and are involved in alcoholic symptoms. Recent studies have revealed the diversity of astrocyte populations in the brain. However, it is unclear how the different astrocyte populations respond to an excess of ethanol. Here we examined the effect of binge ethanol levels on astrocytes in the mouse brainstem and cerebellum. Ethanol administration for four consecutive days increased the glial fibrillary acidic protein (GFAP)-immunoreactive signals in the spinal tract of the trigeminal nerve (stTN) and reticular nucleus (RN). Another astrocyte marker, aquaporin 4 (AQP4), was also increased in the stTN with a pattern similar to that of GFAP. However, in the RN, the immunoreactive signals of AQP4 were different from that of GFAP and were not changed by ethanol administration. In the cerebellum, GFAP-positive signals were found in all four astrocytic populations, and those in the Bergmann glia were selectively eliminated by ethanol administration. We next examined the effect of estradiol on the ethanol-induced changes in astrocytic immunoreactive signals. The administration of estradiol alone increased the AQP4-immunoreactivity in the stTN with a pattern similar to that of ethanol, whereas the co-administration of estradiol and ethanol suppressed the intensity of the AQP4-positive signals. Thus, binge levels of ethanol intake selectively affect astrocyte populations in the brainstem and cerebellum. Sex hormones can affect the ethanol-induced neurotoxicity via modulation of astrocyte reactivity.

Different Properties of Involuted Thymus upon Nutritional Deficiency in Young and Aged Mice.

Immune suppression in elderly individuals is one of the most important hygienic problems in aged societies. The primary immune organ thymus is histologically and functionally reduced by aging, which is known as thymic involution. The thymus is also involuted by nutritional deficiency, which frequently occurs in elderly individuals. However, there is no information on the thymic changes caused by nutritional deficiency with aging. Therefore, this study was conducted to examine the histological and molecular responses of the thymus to nutritional deficiency in young and aged mice. The thymic size was significantly smaller in 16- or 18-week-old aged mice than in 7-week-old young mice. Dietary restriction for 48 h reduced the thymic size in young mice, but not in aged mice. Immunostaining with anti-keratin 5 antibody revealed that the integrity of the corticomedullary boundary was maintained in the aged thymus, whereas dietary restriction induced its disorganization in both young and aged thymus. The numbers of immunoglobulin G (IgG)-positive cells were increased upon dietary restriction in aged, but not in young, thymus. Dietary restriction, but not aging, upregulated the mRNA levels of T-helper 2 (Th2)-related Il5, Il6, and Il10, whereas aging increased that of Th1-related interferon-γ (Ifng). The dietary restriction-induced upregulation of prostanoid-synthesizing enzymes was clearly observed in the young thymus but attenuated in the aged thymus. Thus, nutritional deficiency and aging cause an involuted thymus with different properties. Moreover, the thymus in aged mice does not show further reduction in size by nutritional deficiency but still responds differently compared with that in young mice.