The relationship of tooth crown dimensions between first molar and central incisor in maxilla.

The purpose of this study was to investigate a correlation between the cusp dimensions of the first molar and mesiodistal crown diameters of the central incisors in the maxilla. The study materials were composed of dental casts from 29 modern Japanese female subjects with a mean age of 20 years and 8 months. The mesiodistal crown diameters of the maxillary central incisors were measured. The mesiodistal and bucco-lingual crown diameters and the cusp diameters of the maxillary first molars, such as the paracone, metacone, protocone, and hypocone, were also measured. The crown areas and indices of the first molars were calculated. The Spearman's single rank correlation coefficients between the mean values for the crown dimensions of the first molars and the mesiodistal crown diameters of the central incisors were calculated. The hypocone cusp diameter and the hypocone index were the largest compared to those of the paracone, protocone, and metacone cusps. The bucco-lingual diameter and hypocone cusp diameter of the first molars positively correlated with the mesiodistal crown diameters of the central incisors on the same sides. There were positive correlations between the hypocone index of the first molars and the mesiodistal crown diameters of the central incisors. Based on the results, if a large hypocone is observed in eruption of the maxillary first molars, it will be predictable that of the mesiodistal crown diameter of the maxillary central incisor large.

Effectiveness of L-Menthol Spray Application on Lesions for the Endoscopic Clarification of Early Gastric Cancer: Evaluation by the Color Difference.

INTRODUCTION: Although L-menthol spray application on lesions has been shown to be effective for the endoscopic clarification of early gastric cancer (EGC), the currently available data are all based on subjective evaluations. OBJECTIVES: This study was aimed to objectively evaluate the effectiveness of L-menthol spray for the endoscopic classification of EGC. METHODS: Patients with EGC treated by endoscopic submucosal dissection were included. Images taken by white light imaging (WLI) and narrow band imaging (NBI) before and after spraying L-menthol directly on a lesion were saved. The primary endpoint was a change in the color difference between the EGC lesion and surrounding mucosa (ΔExy) before and after L-menthol spray application. The secondary endpoints were patient factors related to the change in ΔExy after L-menthol spray application and the pathological findings. RESULTS: Fifty cases of EGC were included in the analysis. The median ΔExy was significantly larger after L-menthol spray application than before, as assessed by either WLI (p <0.001) or NBI (p < 0.001). An increased ΔExy after L-menthol spray application was noted in 76 and 92% of patients by WLI and NBI, respectively. The percentage of patients with a ΔExy ≥5 (a level distinguishable by human eyes) was significantly larger after L-menthol spray application either by WLI (p <0.001) or NBI (p < 0.001). Pathologically, mucosal vasodilatation and stromal edema were noted after L-menthol spray application in the evaluated 2 cases. CONCLUSIONS: These results objectively demonstrate that L-menthol provides benefits in the endoscopic clarification of EGC.

Efficacy of Sodium Carboxymethylcellulose Compared to Sodium Hyaluronate as Submucosal Injectant for Gastric Endoscopic Submucosal Dissection: A Randomized Controlled Trial.

INTRODUCTION: Sodium hyaluronate (SH) is a useful submucosal injectant for gastric endoscopic submucosal dissection (ESD). On the other hand, sodium carboxymethylcellulose (SCMC), which has high viscosity, has also been applied clinically. We evaluated the efficacy of SCMC compared to that of SH in gastric ESD. METHODS: A prospective randomized controlled trial was conducted to assess the efficacy of 1.0% SCMC as the injectant (SCMC group) compared to 0.4% SH (SH group) for ESD of gastric neoplasms. The primary end point was the procedure time of ESD. Secondary end points were treatment outcomes such as en bloc and R0 resection rates, number of hemostases, amount of injectant, ease of treatment (visual analog scale, 1-10 points), adverse events, and rate of ulcer healing 8 weeks after ESD. RESULTS: A total of 60 patients were enrolled between October 2014 and October 2018, and 30 patients were allocated in each group. The procedure time (mean ± SD, minutes) was not significantly different between the SCMC (74.7 ± 54.5) and SH groups (67.1 ± 41.4) (p = 0.547). Furthermore, there were no differences between the 2 groups in terms of en bloc and R0 resection rates, number of hemostases, amount of injectant, ease of treatment, and rate of ulcer healing. No serious adverse events were observed in either group. CONCLUSION: SCMC was comparable to SH in terms of procedure time, treatment outcome, and ease and safety of treatment in gastric ESD. Further studies are needed to demonstrate the differences between the 2 injectants.

Endoscopic Ultrasonography-Guided Fine Needle Aspiration Can Be Used to Rule Out Malignancy in Autoimmune Pancreatitis Patients.

OBJECTIVES: The aim of this study was to review the suitability of endoscopic ultrasonography-guided fine needle aspiration (EUS-FNA) for ruling out malignancy in autoimmune pancreatitis patients. METHODS: We retrospectively reviewed 40 autoimmune pancreatitis patients (type 1:37 patients; type 2: two patients; possible autoimmune pancreatitis: one patient) who received EUS-FNA. Among the 40 autoimmune pancreatitis patients, 34 were not histopathologically diagnosed with autoimmune pancreatitis by EUS-FNA, and they were followed up for more than 6 months in our hospital. Moreover, 14 pancreatic cancer patients who were not diagnosed by EUS-FNA were selected as a control group. These 14 patients constituted 3.9% of the 360 pancreatic cancer patients who received EUS-FNA. We evaluated the prognoses of the 34 autoimmune pancreatitis patients and the clinical differences between these 34 autoimmune pancreatitis patients and the 14 pancreatic cancer patients. RESULTS: All 34 autoimmune pancreatitis patients showed reduced pancreatic swelling. The main pancreatic duct dilation ( > 3 mm), the diameter of the main pancreatic duct, the capsule-like rim sign, and serum CA19-9 levels were significantly different between the autoimmune pancreatitis and pancreatic cancer patients (2.9% versus 69.2%, P < .01; 1.7 ± 1.6 mm versus 6.8 ± 5.0 mm, P < .01; 79.4% versus 0%, P < .01; 41.4 ± 79.0 U/mL versus 2079.1 ± 275.3 U/mL, P = .02). CONCLUSIONS: Almost all pancreatic cancers can be diagnosed by EUS-FNA. Furthermore, other clinical characteristics of pancreatic cancer undiagnosed by EUS-FNA were different from autoimmune pancreatitis undiagnosed by EUS-FNA. Endoscopic ultrasonography-guided FNA can be used to rule out malignancy in autoimmune pancreatitis patients.

Clinical significance of serum Wisteria floribunda agglutinin-positive Mac-2 binding protein in pancreatic ductal adenocarcinoma.

BACKGROUND: Wisteria floribunda agglutinin-positive mac-2 binding protein (WFA+-M2BP) is an excellent biomarker for predicting hepatic fibrosis. We hypothesized WFA+-M2BP might be a serum biomarker for the diagnosis of chronic pancreatitis (CP) and pancreatic ductal adenocarcinoma (PDAC) with dense fibrosis. METHODS: In this study, we included 16 CP and 24 PDAC patients. Serum levels of WFA+-M2BP (cut-off index [COI]) were compared between the 2 groups. To confirm the cellular production of WFA+-M2BP, we investigated the presence of WFA+-M2BP in HEK293 cells, 3 established human PDAC cell lines and a recently generated human PDAC cell line derived from a liver metastasis (MDA-PATC53). The bio-physiological effects of MDA-PATC53 supernatant were evaluated. Finally, the difference in the expression of glycosylation enzymes between MDA-PATC53 and Panc-1 were analyzed by cDNA microarray. RESULTS: We found that the serum WFA+-M2BP level could distinguish the 2 groups. The median serum COI of WFA+-M2BP was 0.98 and 0.51 in PDAC and CP, respectively. Additionally, WFA+-M2BP positive PDACs were more frequently associated with metastatic lesions than the WFA+-M2BP negative PDACs (91.6% vs. 41.7%, P = 0.009). The MDA-PATC53 cells alone produced WFA+-M2BP. However, we found that MDA-PATC53 supernatant containing WFA+-M2BP (1.0 COI) did not alter the biological behavior of cancer cell lines. The results of cDNA microarray revealed that several glycosylation enzymes with pro-oncologic function were highly expressed in MDA-PATC53 compared to Panc-1. CONCLUSIONS: Serum WFA+-M2BP can be a useful biomarker for the diagnosis of PDAC and the prediction of disease progression since it potentially reflects altered pro-oncologic glycosylation enzymes.

Conventional versus contrast-enhanced harmonic endoscopic ultrasonography-guided fine-needle aspiration for diagnosis of solid pancreatic lesions: A prospective randomized trial.

OBJECTIVES: Contrast-enhanced harmonic endoscopic ultrasonography (CEH-EUS) has been used to diagnose solid pancreatic lesions (SPLs). The aim of this study was to investigate the efficacy of CEH-EUS-guided fine-needle aspiration (CEH-EUS-FNA) compared with that of conventional EUS-FNA for the diagnosis of SPLs. METHODS: Forty patients with solid pancreatic lesions who visited Fukushima Medical University between September 2013 and June 2014 were recruited for this prospective study. Twenty patients underwent CEH-EUS-FNA, and 20 patients underwent conventional EUS-FNA. The sampling rate, sensitivity, accuracy, and number of needle passes required to obtain sufficient samples were compared between the two groups. RESULTS: Patient characteristics, sampling rate, accuracy, and sensitivity were not significantly different between the two groups. The final diagnosis of patients who underwent CEH-EUS-FNA was pancreatic cancer in 19 and intraductal papillary mucinous carcinoma in one. Nineteen patients who underwent conventional EUS-FNA were finally diagnosed with pancreatic cancer and one was diagnosed as cancer of the common bile duct. There was a significant difference in the number of needle passes required. A sufficient sample was obtained on one needle pass in 60% (12/20) of CEH-EUS-FNA group compared with 25% (5/20) of the conventional EUS-FNA group. CONCLUSIONS: Fewer needle passes were required to obtain samples from solid pancreatic lesions using CEH-EUS-FNA than those required using conventional EUS-FNA. Therefore, CEH-EUS-FNA may be more efficient and safer than conventional EUS-FNA for the diagnosis of solid pancreatic lesions.

Factors Affecting Dietary Improvements in Elderly Residents of Long-Term Care Institutions Receiving Domiciliary Dental Care.

Background: Oral disabilities occur due to tooth loss. This study aimed to investigate oral and systemic factors related to diet in elderly residents receiving domiciliary dental care. Methods: The subjects were 74 consenting residents. Survey items included whether subjects could eat independently and diet type. Subjects were examined by the dentist for the number of teeth, occlusal support index, and wearing dentures. Contingency table analysis was performed to determine what levels of decline in general and oral functions led to difficulties eating a normal diet. Results: There was a significant difference in the mean number of activities of daily living (ADL) requiring assistance evident between subjects eating a normal diet and those eating fluid boiled rice (p < 0.01). A comparison of occlusal support and diet type showed that most subjects who ate a soft diet or gruel had no occlusal support. Almost all subjects who ate a normal diet wore dentures. However, only 38% of subjects eating a soft diet and 40% of those eating gruel did wear dentures; both group differences were significant (p < 0.01). Conclusions: Future studies need to further investigate oral factors related to the type of diet and their relationships to domiciliary dental care in older adults.

Relationship between the Appearance of Symptoms and Hospital Visits in Childhood Based on Japanese Statistical Data.

BACKGROUND: Childhood health problems affect healthy growth. This study aimed to assess the symptoms and diseases requiring hospital visits commonly found in children in Japan and analyze their effects on health status. METHODS: Anonymized data on 1315 children aged 6-14 years were obtained from a national survey questionnaire. The survey items addressed symptoms, disease names, and hospital visits. Associations between symptoms and other factors were examined by means of a contingency table analysis and logistic regression. RESULTS: The proportions of responses for health status were compared for each question item; significant differences were found in age group (p < 0.01), subjective symptoms (p < 0.01), hospital visits (p < 0.01), and lifestyle (p < 0.01). The proportion of responses indicating "poor" perceived health status was high among those with subjective symptoms (4.8%) and hospital visits (4.7%). From the logistic regression, significant odds ratios were found for subjective symptoms (2.10, 95% confidence interval (C.I.) 1.15-3.83) and age group (1.98, 95% C.I. 1.05-3.72). CONCLUSION: Among measures to improve quality of life from childhood, comprehensive health guidance that emphasizes understanding symptoms and includes age and living conditions is important.

Generic Drug Usage in Dentistry across Japan: Analysis Using a Japanese National Database.

The aim of this study was to identify regional disparities in generic drug usage and to examine related factors. The database used for the analysis was the 2018 national health insurance claims data published on the Japanese Ministry of Health, Labour, and Welfare. The drugs that were targeted were a combination of brand-name and generic tetracycline ointments for periodontal treatment and lidocaine injection solution used for dental anesthesia. The usage of generic drugs was calculated and compared by prefecture based on the number of health insurance claims. The comparison of related factors was conducted using data from other national statistical survey. The results showed that the mean generic drug usage of tetracycline for periodontal treatment in all prefectures was 71.2 ± 8.1%, ranging from 45.8% to 85.3%. The mean generic lidocaine used for dental anesthesia was 47.6 ± 10.0%, ranging from 30.5% to 66.2%. The rank correlation coefficient between the two was 0.359 (p < 0.05), and the tendency of using both generic drugs was low in major metropolitan areas. Generic drug usage in Japan is low; thus, in order to reduce healthcare costs, generic drugs need to be actively used in dentistry.

Dysbiosis of the duodenal microbiota as a diagnostic marker for pancreaticobiliary cancer.

BACKGROUND: Pancreaticobiliary cancer (PB Ca) is a lethal disease, and a useful diagnostic marker is urgently needed. A correlation between the human microbiota and malignant gastrointestinal diseases was recently reported. AIM: To investigate the efficacy of the duodenal microbiota for diagnosing PB Ca. METHODS: We recruited 22 patients with benign pancreaticobiliary diseases (benign group) and 12 patients with PB Ca (malignant group). The duodenal microbiota of each patient was analyzed by the 16S rDNA terminal restriction fragment length polymorphism method. Patient characteristics, tumor markers, and relative abundances of the duodenal microbiota were compared between the benign and malignant groups. RESULTS: Cancer antigen 19-9 (CA19-9), Bifidobacterium, Clostridium cluster XVIII, and Prevotella levels differed significantly between the benign and malignant groups. Clostridium cluster XVIII had the greatest area under the receiver operating characteristic curve (AUC) among the four factors with respect to diagnosing PB Ca (cutoff value: 3.038%; sensitivity: 58.3%; specificity: 95.2%; AUC: 0.81). The combination of Clostridium cluster XVIII (cutoff value: 3.038%) and CA19-9 Levels (cutoff value: 18.8 U/mL) showed 91.7% sensitivity and 71.4% specificity for diagnosing PB Ca. CONCLUSION: The duodenal microbiota may be useful for PB Ca screening.

A Pilot Randomized Crossover Trial of Wet Suction and Conventional Techniques of Endoscopic Ultrasound-Guided Fine-Needle Aspiration for Upper Gastrointestinal Subepithelial Lesions.

METHODS: Twenty-six patients with UGI-SELs indicated for EUS-FNA were randomly assigned to the dry-first arm using the dry technique for the first two passes or the wet-first arm using the wet technique for the first two passes using a cross-over design with a ratio of 1 : 1. The primary endpoint was the cellularity score of the EUS-FNA specimens rated on a 4-point scale (0-3). The secondary endpoints were the factors influencing cellularity in each suction technique. RESULTS: The mean cellularity score was 1.65 ± 1.20 for the wet technique and 2.00 ± 0.98 for the dry technique (p = 0.068). Logistic regression analysis showed that higher cellularity may be related to the final diagnosis of gastrointestinal stromal tumors in the dry technique and the SEL location in the upper stomach in the wet technique. CONCLUSION: The wet EUS-FNA technique failed to show a potential for improved cellularity of specimens compared to the dry technique for UGI-SELs.

Gastric carcinoma with lymphoid stroma diagnosed by endoscopic ultrasound-guided fine-needle aspiration.

A 78-year-old man with a subepithelial lesion (SEL) in the gastric body and two carcinomas in the gastric antrum was referred to our hospital. Following a diagnosis of SEL, the patient was followed-up by esophagogastroduodenoscopy annually for 4 years. Although the SEL had increased in size over the years, histological evaluation of the forceps biopsies did not reveal any significant findings. We detected a hypoechoic mass in the submucosa by endoscopic ultrasonography, and suspected the lesion to be an aberrant pancreas or mesenchymal tumor. The patient first underwent endoscopic submucosal dissection for the 2 gastric cancers. Histological examination of the resected specimens revealed intramucosal well-differentiated tubular adenocarcinomas. Next, endoscopic ultrasound-guided fine-needle aspiration (EUS-FNA) was performed for the gastric SEL. Aspirated specimens revealed an adenocarcinoma with lymphocyte infiltration. The lesion was diagnosed as a gastric carcinoma with lymphoid stroma (GCLS). Subsequently, he underwent distal gastrectomy, and the surgical specimen was confirmed as GCLS corresponding to preoperative diagnosis. In addition, the adenocarcinoma cells were positive for Epstein-Barr (EB) virus-encoded small RNA-1 by in situ hybridization. Finally, the lesion was diagnosed as GCLS associated with EB virus. Thus, EUS-FNA is advantageous for diagnosing GCLS associated with EB virus.

Evaluation of 3-tier and 5-tier FHR pattern classifications using umbilical blood pH and base excess at delivery.

OBJECTIVE: The relevance between time-series fetal heart rate (FHR) pattern changes during labor and outcomes such as arterial blood gas data at delivery has not been studied. Using 3-tier and 5-tier classification systems, we studied the relationship between time-series FHR pattern changes before delivery and umbilical artery blood gas data at delivery. METHODS: The subjects were 1,909 low-risk women with vaginal delivery (age: 29.1 ± 4.4 years, parity: 1.7 ± 0.8). FHR patterns were classified by a skilled obstetrician based on each 10 min-segment of the last 60 min before delivery from continuous CTG records in an obstetric clinic. RESULTS: The relationship between each 10 min-segment FHR pattern classification from 60 minutes before delivery and umbilical artery blood pH and base excess (BE) values at delivery changed with time. In the 3-tier classification, mean pH of Category I group in each 10 min-segment was significantly higher than that of Category II group. For Category I groups in each 10-minute segment, its number decreased and its average pH increased as the delivery time approached. In the 5-tier classification, there was the same tendency. About each level group in 10 min-segment, the higher the level, the lower the blood gas values, and mean pH of higher level groups decreased as the delivery time approached. CONCLUSIONS: The relationship between classifications and outcomes was clear at any time from 60 min before delivery in 3- and 5-tier classifications, and the 5-tier classification was more relevant.

Which scope is appropriate for endoscopic retrograde cholangiopancreatography after Billroth II reconstruction: An esophagogastroduodenoscope or a colonoscope?

BACKGROUND: Recently, with the advent of more advanced devices and endoscopic techniques, endoscopic retrograde cholangiopancreatography (ERCP) in Billroth II (B-II) patients has been increasingly performed. However, the procedures are difficult, and the techniques and strategies have not been defined. AIM: To reveal the appropriate scope for ERCP in B-II patients. METHODS: Sixty ERCP procedures were performed on B-II patients between June 2005 and May 2018 at Fukushima Medical University Hospital, and in 44 cases, this was the first ERCP procedure performed by esophagogastroduodenoscopy (EGDS) or colonoscopy (CS) after B-II gastrectomy. These cases were divided into two groups: 17 cases of ERCP performed by EGDS (EGDS group) and 27 cases of ERCP performed by CS (CS group). The patient characteristics and ERCP procedures were compared between the EGDS and CS groups. RESULTS: The procedural time was significantly shorter in the EGDS group than in the CS group [median (range): 60 (20-100) vs 90 (40-128) min, P value < 0.01]. CS was an independent factor of a longer ERCP procedural time according to the univariate and multivariate analyses (odds ratio: 3.97, 95%CI: 1.05-15.0, P value = 0.04). CONCLUSION: Compared to CS, EGDS shortened the procedural time of ERCP in B-II patients.

Can the wet suction technique change the efficacy of endoscopic ultrasound-guided fine-needle aspiration for diagnosing autoimmune pancreatitis type 1? A prospective single-arm study.

BACKGROUND: Other than surgery, endoscopic ultrasound-guided fine-needle aspiration (EUS-FNA) is the only procedure for histologically diagnosing autoimmune pancreatitis (AIP). However, adequate specimens are difficult to obtain. Recently, more adequate specimens were reported to be obtained with EUS-FNA with a wet suction technique (WEST) than with conventional EUS-FNA. AIM: To histologically diagnose AIP by EUS-FNA with a WEST. METHODS: Eleven patients with possible type 1 AIP between February 2016 and August 2018 underwent EUS-FNA with a WEST (WEST group), with four punctures by 19 or 22 G needles. As a historical control, 23 type 1 AIP patients who underwent no fewer than four punctures with 19 or 22 G needles were enrolled (DRY group). Patient characteristics and histological findings were compared between the two groups. RESULTS: Three histopathological factors according to the International Consensus Diagnostic Criteria were significantly greater in the WEST group than the DRY group [lymphoplasmacytic infiltrate without granulocytic infiltration: 9 (81.8%) vs 6 (26.1%), P = 0.003, storiform fibrosis: 5 (45.5%) vs 1 (4.3%), P = 0.008, abundant (> 10 cells/HPF) IgG4-positive cells: 7 (63.6%) vs 5 (21.7%), P = 0.026]. Level 1 or level 2 histopathological findings were observed more often in the WEST group than in the DRY group [8 (72.7%) vs 3 (13.0%), P = 0.001]. CONCLUSION: EUS-FNA with a WEST was more successful than standard EUS-FNA in histologically diagnosing AIP.

A case of inflammatory fibroid polyp of the stomach with an "erect penis like appearance" successfully removed by endoscopic submucosal dissection.

A 37-year-old woman was diagnosed by esophagogastroduodenoscopy (EGD) as having a 15-mm subepithelial lesion (SEL) in the gastric body. For 2 years, she experienced epigastric pain and anemia; she then underwent emergency EGD, which revealed a significant morphological change of the lesion. The SEL had a disintegrated tip and its submucosal portion was substantially exposed out of the mucosa, showing an "erect penis like appearance". Based on the pathological findings of biopsied samples from the exposed portion and the endoscopic features, an inflammatory fibroid polyp (IFP) was suspected. This lesion was considered responsible for the anemia and was removed by endoscopic submucosal dissection (ESD). The pathological findings confirmed the lesion to be IFP. This report presents a case of gastric IFP that showed a marked morphological change and unique endoscopic features and was successfully removed by ESD.

Appropriate number of biliary biopsies and endoscopic retrograde cholangiopancreatography sessions for diagnosing biliary tract cancer.

BACKGROUND: Biliary ductal cancer (BDC) is a lethal disease; however, diagnosing BDC is challenging. Biliary biopsies are performed to pathologically diagnose BDC, but the appropriate parameters for biliary biopsy [number of biliary biopsies, number of endoscopic retrograde cholangiopancreatography (ERCP) sessions, etc.] are unknown. AIM: To clarify what constitutes an adequate method for biliary biopsy. METHODS: In total, 95 patients who underwent endoscopic biliary biopsy without choledochoscopy and who were pathologically diagnosed with BDC were enrolled in this study. The patients were divided into two groups. Seventy-six patients who were diagnosed by biliary biopsy were defined as the positive group (P group), and nineteen patients who were not diagnosed by biliary biopsy were defined as the negative group (N group). The patient characteristics and ERCP-related procedures were compared between the P and N groups. RESULTS: The numbers of ERCP sessions and biliary biopsies were significantly different between the two groups [ERCP sessions (one/two), P group 72/4 vs N group 15/4, P value = 0.048; number of biliary biopsies, P group 2 (1-6) vs N group 2 (1-7), P value = 0.039]. In a multivariate analysis, fewer than 2 ERCP sessions was an independent factor influencing the positivity of the biliary biopsies. CONCLUSION: This study clarified that ERCP and biliary ductal biopsy should only be performed once. If biliary cancer is not pathologically diagnosed after the first ERCP session, other methods (Endoscopic ultrasonography-guided fine needle aspiration or choledochoscopy-guided biliary ductal biopsy) should be employed.

Clinical Outcomes and Adverse Events of Endoscopic Submucosal Dissection for Gastric Tube Cancer after Esophagectomy.

BACKGROUND AND AIM: The clinical outcomes of endoscopic submucosal dissection (ESD) for gastric tube cancer (GTC) after esophagectomy remain unclear. The aim of this study was to evaluate the clinical outcomes and safety of ESD for GTC. PATIENTS AND METHODS: Twenty GTC lesions in 18 consecutive patients who underwent ESD between February 2008 and June 2018 were included in this retrospective study. The endpoints were the treatment outcomes of ESD (i.e., en bloc resection rate, complete en bloc resection rate, and curative resection rate), the adverse events following ESD, and the long-term outcomes. RESULTS: The en bloc resection rate was 100%, while the complete en bloc resection rate and curative resection rate were 80% each. Adverse events were observed in 16.7% (3/18) of patients: one postoperative bleeding, 1 intraoperative perforation that required emergency surgery, and 1 pyothorax that required chest drainage. The 1-, 3-, and 5-year overall survival rates were 100%, 70.9%, and 70.9%, respectively. Although local recurrence was detected in 1 case of noncurative resection, no GTC- or ESD-related deaths were observed. CONCLUSION: ESD for GTC was feasible and acceptable to enable en bloc resection and to prevent cancer death. However, ESD for GTC should be performed more carefully than common gastric ESD because serious adverse events specific to the gastric tube may occur.

The Effect of Continuous Renal Replacement Therapy with the AN69ST Membrane on Inflammatory Markers and the Level of Consciousness of Hemodialysis Patients with Stroke: Comparison with Hemodialysis with Low Blood Flow Rate.

INTRODUCTION: Hemodialysis (HD) with low blood flow rate, continuous renal replacement therapy (CRRT), and peritoneal dialysis are recommended for patients with stroke complications to prevent intracranial hypertension because of the low diffusion capacity of the brain barrier. However, detailed guidelines are not currently available; thus, there is an urgent need to establish such guidelines. MATERIAL AND METHODS: We developed a novel protocol for performing CRRT with the AN69ST membrane, which has excellent adsorption capacity for various cytokines. The objective of this study was to compare the effect of the novel protocol with that of the current standard protocol, i.e. hemodialysis with low blood flow rate. To compare the effect of hemodialysis with low blood flow (HD group, n=27) and CRRT with AN69ST membrane (CRRT group, n=8), we measured the following consciousness and blood inflammatory parameters in patients with stroke complications at baseline and after 1 week of treatment: Glasgow Coma Scale (GCS) score, C-reactive protein (CRP) levels, and white blood cell (WBC) and platelet count. RESULTS: After 1 week, the total GCS score did not improve in the HD group, but improved significantly in the CRRT group (HD group: 13.1±3.0 to 13.3±3.1, p=0.5508, CRRT group: 8.9±3.9 to 11.5±3.9, p=0.0313). Improvement in the CRRT group was significantly higher than in the HD group (p=0.0039). CRP levels did not change significantly in either the HD (3.8±5.5 to 5.3±4.3 n.s.) or CRRT groups (7.7±10.0 to 3.7±3.2 n.s.); however, they tended to increase in the HD group and decrease in the CRRT group. No significant changes were observed in WBC and platelet counts after 1 week of treatment in either group. CONCLUSION: CRRT with the AN69ST membrane might have a beneficial effect on the consciousness level and inflammation of patients with stroke.

Fibrosis-related miRNAs as serum biomarkers for pancreatic ductal adenocarcinoma.

We investigated whether serum microRNAs (miRNAs) could be diagnostic or prognostic markers in pancreatic ductal adenocarcinoma (PDAC). We first identified miRNAs showing altered expression in human pancreatic stellate cells (hPSCs) co-cultured with PDAC cells (Panc-1 and BxPC-3) as compared to hPSCs cultured alone. Among the miRNAs with altered expression, let-7d exhibited reduced expression in an in silico analysis of The Cancer Genome Atlas data. Inhibition of let-7d resulted in enhanced expression of fibrosis-related genes. We extracted serum miRNA from 45 PDAC patients and 42 healthy controls and quantified expression let-7d using digital PCR. Based on the level of let-7d expression, we were able to distinguish between PDAC patients and controls. Additionally, reduced let-7d expression correlated with poor overall survival. Thus, fibrosis-related miRNAs may be serum biomarkers for PDAC.