When Endoscopic Sedation is Not an Option: Insights From a Multicenter on-site Survey on Tolerance for Japanese Gastric Cancer Screening.

Objectives: Esophagogastroduodenoscopy (EGD) is widely used for gastric cancer (GC) screening in Japan; however, sedation during EGD is not recommended. We aimed to assess the tolerability of unsedated EGD (USEGD) in the Japanese population.

Methods: Participants who underwent GC screening in Japanese urban areas between July 2021 and December 2022 were included in this study.

Medium-Chain Fatty Acids Ameliorate Liver Fibrosis by Phosphorylating Hepatic Stellate Cell Forkhead Box Protein O1.

Background And Aims: Liver fibrosis is a common adverse prognostic factor in various liver conditions. Medium-chain fatty acids (MCFAs), unique fatty acids transported directly to the liver, undergo rapid metabolism, providing energy to hepatocytes and acting as signalling molecules that mediate diverse cellular functions. Nonetheless, the precise impact of MCFAs on the pathogenesis of liver fibrosis remains incompletely understood.

Transvaginal flexible endoscopy for bleeding arteriovenous malformation hemostasis near a vesico-rectovaginal fistula.

Background And Aims: Flexible GI endoscopy has been applied in the field of gynecology. GI endoscopy is useful in diagnosing uterine cervical cancers, because high-resolution imaging using magnification enables targeted biopsies. Moreover, hemostasis for uterine cancer using GI endoscopy and hemostatic forceps, as well as the local treatment of vaginal intraepithelial neoplasia, have been achieved.

Prostate Abscess Associated With Severe Constipation: A Rare Case.

Severe constipation can cause ischemic bowel disease and other complications in older adults. However, its association with the formation of prostate abscesses has rarely been reported. An 80-year-old male recently presented to our center with syncope, dehydration, and constipation.

Robust circulating microRNA signature for the diagnosis and early detection of pancreatobiliary cancer.

Background: A new circulating biomarker superior to carbohydrate antigen 19-9 (CA19-9) is needed for diagnosing pancreatobiliary cancer (PBca). The aim of this study was to identify serum microRNA (miRNA) signatures comprising reproducible and disease-related miRNAs.

Methods: This multicenter study involved patients with treatment-naïve PBca and healthy participants.

Association Between -24C>T and Nab-Paclitaxel-induced Peripheral Neuropathy in Japanese Patients With Pancreatic Cancer.

Background/aim: Nab-paclitaxel is used to treat patients with pancreatic cancer. However, it frequently induces peripheral neuropathy. Notably, pharmacokinetic factors may be associated with neuropathic symptoms as the onset depends on the cumulative dose.

Role of advanced endoscopy in the management of inflammatory digestive diseases (pancreas and biliary tract).

The progress of endoscopic diagnosis and treatment for inflammatory diseases of the biliary tract and pancreas have been remarkable. Endoscopic ultrasonography (EUS) and EUS-elastography are used for the diagnosis of early chronic pancreatitis and evaluation of endocrine and exocrine function in chronic pancreatitis. Notably, extracorporeal shock wave lithotripsy and electrohydraulic shock wave lithotripsy have improved the endoscopic stone removal rate in patients for whom pancreatic stone removal is difficult.

Sustained mitigation of ST-segment elevation in a patient with Brugada syndrome type 1 during sevoflurane and remifentanil anesthesia: a case report.

Background: During general anesthesia, patients with Brugada syndrome are at risk of malignant arrhythmias following worsened ST-segment elevation, potentially leading to sudden cardiac death. The protocol for safe anesthetic management of patients with Brugada syndrome has not yet been established.

Case Presentation: A 63-year-old man, diagnosed with a spontaneous Brugada type 1 pattern, was scheduled for a pleural biopsy using video-assisted thoracoscopic surgery under general anesthesia.

Injury-induced cooperation of InhibinβA and JunB is essential for cell proliferation in Xenopus tadpole tail regeneration.

In animal species that have the capability of regenerating tissues and limbs, cell proliferation is enhanced after wound healing and is essential for the reconstruction of injured tissue. Although the ability to induce cell proliferation is a common feature of such species, the molecular mechanisms that regulate the transition from wound healing to regenerative cell proliferation remain unclear. Here, we show that upon injury, InhibinβA and JunB cooperatively function for this transition during Xenopus tadpole tail regeneration.

P-Glycoprotein-Mediated Interaction Is a Risk Factor for QT Prolongation in Concomitant Use of Antipsychotics and SSRIs as P-Glycoprotein-Mediated Inhibitors: Analysis of the Japanese Adverse Drug Event Report Database.

The inhibition of human ether-a-go-go-related gene (hERG) channels is a known cause of QT prolongation triggered by antipsychotic drugs. Our previous studies suggest that P-glycoprotein (P-gp)-mediated drug interactions may lead to increased gastrointestinal absorption of pimozide and its accumulation in cardiomyocytes, thereby enhancing the inhibitory effect of hERG channels. There is a paucity of epidemiological studies examining the risk of QT prolongation by antipsychotic drugs in terms of P-gp-mediated interactions with concomitant drugs.

Submucosal Injection Using Epinephrine-Added Saline in Cold Snare Polypectomy for Colorectal Polyps Shortens Time Required for Resection: A Randomized Controlled Study.

Aims: Immediate bleeding after cold snare polypectomy (CSP) for colorectal polyps might interfere with confirmation of residuals and prolong the time required for resection. We investigated whether submucosal epinephrine-added saline injection reduces the time required for the CSP procedure.

Methods: We conducted a single-center, prospective, randomized controlled trial (clinical trial registration number: UMIN000046770).

The immunological role of ADAMs in the field of gastroenterological chronic inflammatory diseases and cancers: a review.

Metalloproteinases cleave transmembrane proteins that play critical roles in inflammation and cancers. Metalloproteinases include a disintegrin and metalloprotease (ADAM), which we previously examined using a fluorescence assay system, and described their association with resistance to systemic therapy in cancer patients. There are also many reports on the relation between ADAM expression and the prognosis of patients with gastroenterological chronic inflammatory diseases and cancers.

Mechanisms of EGFR-TKI-Induced Apoptosis and Strategies Targeting Apoptosis in EGFR-Mutated Non-Small Cell Lung Cancer.

Homeostasis is achieved by balancing cell survival and death. In cancer cells, especially those carrying driver mutations, the processes and signals that promote apoptosis are inhibited, facilitating the survival and proliferation of these dysregulated cells. Apoptosis induction is an important mechanism underlying the therapeutic efficacy of epidermal growth factor receptor (EGFR)-tyrosine kinase inhibitors (TKIs) for EGFR-mutated non-small cell lung cancer (NSCLC).

A Case of Hepatocellular Carcinoma Successfully Resumed Atezolizumab and Bevacizumab After Associated Grade 3 Diarrhea and Grade 2 Colitis: Case Report and Literature Review.

Systemic chemotherapy has shown a significant survival benefit in patients with hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC). However, it is associated with various immune-related adverse events (irAEs). We report a case with grade 3 diarrhea and grade 2 colitis following systemic chemotherapy, successfully treated with prednisolone.

Small intestinal bleeding and stricture caused by Meckel's diverticulum.

A 44-year-old man presented to our hospital with lower gastrointestinal bleeding. We performed balloon-assisted enteroscopy, which revealed diverticulum and stricture at the ileum. The patient underwent segmental small bowel resection and diagnosed with Meckel's diverticulum.

Hemostasis using a covered self-expandable metal stent for pseudoaneurysm bleeding from the perihilar bile duct.

Although there are many reports of hemostasis with covered self-expandable metal stent (CSEMS) for bleeding from the papilla of Vater and the intrapapillary and distal bile duct, there are rare reports of its use for hemostasis in the perihilar bile duct. We report the case of a patient undergoing supportive care for perihilar cholangiocarcinoma with acute cholecystitis after side-by-side placement of uncovered SEMS for perihilar bile duct obstruction. Percutaneous transhepatic gallbladder aspiration was performed upon admission, and hematemesis occurred the next day.

Developing immortal cell lines from embryos four novel cell lines derived from .

The diploid anuran has emerged as a key research model in cell and developmental biology. To enhance the usefulness of this species, we developed methods for generating immortal cell lines from Nigerian strain (NXR_1018, RRID:SCR_013731) embryos. We generated 14 cell lines that were propagated for several months.

Baseline soluble MICA levels act as a predictive biomarker for the efficacy of regorafenib treatment in colorectal cancer.

Background: To evaluate the effect of regorafenib on soluble MHC class I polypeptide-related sequence A (MICA) (sMICA) level in vitro. In addition, we clinically examined whether its plasma levels were associated with regorafenib activity in terms of progression-free survival (PFS) in patients with CRC.

Methods: Human CRC cell line HCT116 and HT29 cells were treated with regorafenib and its pharmacologically active metabolites, M2 or M5 at the same concentrations as those in sera of patients.