Cylindrical abdominoperineal resection for rectal cancer using the Hugo RAS system: The first ever case report for rectal cancer.

In May 2023, the Hugo RAS system obtained pharmaceutical approval for use in gastroenterological surgery in Japan. It is expected to be particularly effective in rectal cancer surgery, which require the manipulation of the deep pelvic cavity and communication with surgeons operating from the intraperitoneal and anal approaches. A 68-year-old woman presented to our hospital with bloody stools and was diagnosed with cStage I (cT2N0M0) rectal cancer and underwent abdominoperineal resection employing the Hugo RAS system. Two arm carts were placed on the left and right lateral sides with an interleg space, and trocars were placed in a straight line between the right superior iliac spine and umbilicus. Herein, we report the first abdominoperineal resection for rectal cancer using the Hugo RAS system.

A first report of right-hemicolectomy for ascending colon cancer in Japan with the da Vinci SP surgical robot system.

BACKGROUND: The da Vinci SP robotic surgical system received regulatory approval for use in colorectal cancer surgery in Japan in April 2023. Given the advantages of the precision of a robot and the postoperative cosmesis of single-site surgery, the system is expected to be further utilized for minimally invasive surgeries, in addition to the curative and safety-assured laparoscopic technique. CASE PRESENTATION: A 73-year-old man presented at our hospital with positive fecal occult blood. He was diagnosed with cT2N0M0 (Stage I) ascending colon cancer and underwent a right hemicolectomy, which was performed with the da Vinci SP system. The operation was performed safely, and the patient was discharged without complications. Pathology findings showed that complete mesocolic excision was achieved. CONCLUSIONS: Herein, we report the first colorectal cancer surgery performed using the da Vinci SP system in Japan. The use of this robotic surgical system with access forms for right hemicolectomy is safe and oncologically appropriate.

World-first report of low anterior resection for rectal cancer with the hinotori™ Surgical Robot System: a case report.

BACKGROUND: The hinotori™ Surgical Robot System was approved for use in colorectal cancer surgery in Japan in 2022. This robot has advantages, such as an operation arm with eight axes, an adjustable arm base, and a flexible three-dimensional viewer, and is expected to be utilized in rectal cancer surgery. Herein, we report the world's first surgery for rectal cancer using the hinotori™ Surgical Robot System. CASE PRESENTATION: A 71-year-old woman presented to our hospital with bloody stools. A colonoscopy revealed type 2 advanced cancer in the rectum, and a histological examination exposed a well-differentiated adenocarcinoma. Abdominal enhanced computed tomography divulged rectal wall thickening without significant swelling of the lymph nodes or distant metastasis. Pelvic magnetic resonance imaging showed tumor invasion beyond the intrinsic rectal muscle layer. The patient was diagnosed with cStage IIa (cT3N0M0) rectal cancer and underwent low anterior resection using the hinotori™ Surgical Robot System. Based on an adequate simulation, surgery was safely performed with appropriate port placement and arm base-angle adjustment. The operating time was 262 min, with a cockpit time of 134 min. Subsequently, the patient was discharged 10 days postoperatively without complications. The pathological diagnosis was pStage IIA (cT3N0M0) and the circumferential resection margin was 6 mm. CONCLUSIONS: We report the first case of low anterior resection for rectal cancer using the hinotori™ Surgical Robot System, in which a safe and appropriate oncological surgery was performed.

Clinical Utility and Characteristics of the LARS Score Compared to the CCIS.

PURPOSE: The low anterior resection syndrome (LARS) score (LS) has been widely validated and has become an international tool for evaluating postoperative bowel dysfunction. However, many physicians still use the conventional incontinence scores in LARS treatment. Moreover, interpretation of LS and its relationship with conventional incontinence scores are not yet well understood. Here we compared the LS with the Cleveland Clinic Incontinence Score (CCIS) to clarify the clinical utility and characteristics of the LARS score. METHODS: We performed a multicentre observational study, recruiting 246 rectal cancer patients following sphincter-preserving surgery. Patients completed the LS, CCIS, and SF36 questionnaires. RESULTS: The response rate was 76.4%, and a total of 180 patients were analysed. The LS was strongly correlated with the CCIS (P < 0.001, rs = 0.727). However, among 116 patients determined to not have incontinence (CCIS 0-5), 51 (44%) were diagnosed with LARS (29 with minor LARS and 22 with major LARS). Among 68 patients without LARS, only 3 were diagnosed as having incontinence (CCIS > 6). In comparison with background factors, aging and elapsed time were associated with only LS. High LS and CCIS both showed significant quality-of-life impairment as assessed by the SF-36. CONCLUSION: This is the first study to determine the difference in the numeric values between the CCIS and LS. The LS can be a convenient tool for LARS screening, identifying a wide range of patients with LARS, including those with incontinence evaluated by CCIS. Assessment using the CCIS may often underestimate LARS.

[Diagnosis of an ileal neuroendocrine tumor based on lymph node metastases: a case report].

A 72-year-old man was diagnosed with tumors outside of the stomach and mesentery of the small intestine on abdominal computed tomography. Histopathological examination of an endoscopic ultrasound-guided fine-needle aspiration biopsy specimen confirmed the diagnosis of lymph node metastasis of a neuroendocrine tumor (NET). Gastroscopy, colonoscopy, small bowel capsule endoscopy, somatostatin receptor scintigraphy, and 18F-fluorodeoxyglucose positron emission tomography were performed. However, the primary lesion could not be diagnosed. The patient underwent surgery, and an ileal submucosal tumor, which was not identified preoperatively in addition to the aforementioned abdominal tumors, was detected. All tumors were diagnosed as NET, and the ileal tumor was considered the primary lesion. The patient has shown no recurrence postoperatively. The current study presents a case of an ileal NET with lymph node metastases in a patient in whom the primary lesion remained preoperatively undiagnosed.

Evaluation of negative-pressure wound therapy for surgical site infections after ileostomy closure in colorectal cancer patients: a prospective multicenter study.

PURPOSE: Surgical site infection (SSI) occurs at a high rate after ileostomy closure. The effect of preventive negative-pressure wound therapy (NPWT) on SSI development in closed wounds remains controversial. We conducted a prospective multicenter study to evaluate the usefulness of preventive NPWT for SSI after ileostomy closure. METHODS: From January 2018 to November 2018, 50 patients who underwent closure of ileostomy created after surgery for colorectal cancer participated in this study. An NPWT device was applied to each wound immediately after surgery and then treatment was continued for 3 days. The primary endpoint was 30-day SSI, and the secondary endpoints were the incidence of seroma, hematoma, and adverse events related to NPWT. RESULTS: No patients developed SSI, seroma, or hematoma. Adverse events that may have been causally linked with NPWT were contact dermatitis in two patients and wound pain in one patient, and there were no cases of discontinuation or decompression of NPWT. CONCLUSION: The use of NPWT following ileostomy closure may be useful for reducing the development of SSI in colorectal cancer patients. This is a prospective multicenter pilot study and we are planning a comparative study based on these successful results. TRAIL REGISTRATION: Registration number: UMIN000032053 ( https://www.umin.ac.jp/ ).

[Mental and Organic Features of Posttraumatic Stress Disorder].

Posttraumatic stress disorder (PTSD) is a mental disorder that can develop following exposure to a traumatic event. Historically, it has been debated whether features of this disorder derive from mental or brain organic changes. Recent developments in neuroimaging and biological studies suggest a biological background of PTSD. In contrast, recent literature shows an impact of psychological context in the traumatic experiences, and concepts such as "moral injury" have been developed. Future studies are needed to better understand the mental and organic mechanisms underlying PTSD.

Changes in the living arrangement and risk of stroke in Japan; does it matter who lives in the household? Who among the family matters?

Previous studies have suggested associations of family composition with morbidity and mortality; however, the evidence of associations with risk of stroke is limited. We sought to examine the impact of changes in the household composition on risk of stroke and its types in Japanese population. Cox proportional hazard modelling was used to assess the risk of incident stroke and stroke types within a cohort of 77,001 Japanese men and women aged 45-74 years who experienced addition and/or loss of family members [spouse, child(ren), parent(s) and others] to their households over a five years interval (between 1990-1993 and 1995-1998). During 1,043,446 person-years of the follow-up for 35,247 men and 41,758 women, a total of 3,858 cases of incident stroke (1485 hemorrhagic and 2373 ischemic) were documented. When compared with a stable family composition, losing at least one family member was associated with 11-15% increased risk of stroke in women and men; hazard ratios (95% confidence interval) were 1.11 (1.01-1.22) and 1.15 (1.05-1.26), respectively. The increased risk was associated with the loss of a spouse, and was evident for ischemic stroke in men and hemorrhagic stroke in women. The addition of any family members to the household was not associated with risk of stroke in men, whereas the addition of a parent (s) to the household was associated with increased risk in women: 1.49 (1.09-2.28). When the loss of a spouse was accompanied by the addition of other family members to the household, the increased risk of stroke disappeared in men: 1.18 (0.85-1.63), but exacerbated in women: 1.58 (1.19-2.10). In conclusion, men who have lost family members, specifically a spouse have higher risk of ischemic stroke, and women who gained family members; specifically a parent (s) had the higher risk of hemorrhagic stroke than those with a stable family composition.

Strongylophorines, meroditerpenoids from the marine sponge Petrosia corticata, function as proteasome inhibitors.

Two new strongylophorine derivatives, along with six known strongylophorines, were isolated from the marine sponge Petrosia corticata as proteasome inhibitors. Of these, a hemiacetal mixture of strongylophorines-13/-14 was the strongest inhibitor of the proteasome with an IC50 of 2.1µM.