GLIM Criteria as Prognostic Factor in Patients Undergoing Adjuvant S-1 Chemotherapy for Biliary Tract Cancer.

Background/aim: Biliary tract cancers (BTCs) have poor prognoses, with limited curative options beyond surgical resection. Adjuvant S-1 chemotherapy has shown survival benefits in Japanese patients undergoing resection for BTC. However, prognostic factors influencing survival in these patients remain uncertain.

Multidisciplinary strategies including local treatment to achieve drug-free status after atezolizumab plus bevacizumab treatment in hepatocellular carcinoma.

Atezolizumab plus bevacizumab (AteBev) is used as a first-line treatment for advanced hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC). Combining AteBev with sequential local treatment holds potential; however, optimal timing, modality and continuation of systemic chemotherapy remain undetermined. In the present study, a retrospective analysis of 123 patients with HCC treated with AteBev at two institutions was performed.

Dynamic analysis of lumbar spine cerebrospinal fluid flow during deep respiration using a modified time-spatial labeling inversion pulse: technical feasibility in a healthy volunteer.

Objective: The objective of this study is to investigate the lumbar cerebrospinal fluid (CSF) movement using the modified Time-Spatial Inversion Pulse (Time-SLIP) method.

Materials And Methods: This single-case experimental study was approved by the institutional ethics committee. The participant was a healthy 42-year-old male volunteer who provided written informed consent.

Association Between Postoperative Complications Assessed by the Comprehensive Complication Index (CCI) and Early Recurrence after Pancreaticoduodenectomy for Biliary Tract Cancer.

BackgroundThis study aimed to evaluate the impact of postoperative complications on early recurrence (ER) after pancreaticoduodenectomy (PD) for biliary tract cancer (BTC).MethodsPatients who underwent PD for BTC between 2009 and 2022 were enrolled in this study. Postoperative complications were assessed using the comprehensive complication index (CCI), calculated by summing all the complications.

Preponderant Orbital Polarization in Relativistic Magnetovortical Matter.

We establish thermodynamic stability and gauge invariance in the magnetovortical matter of Dirac fermions under the coexistent rotation and strong magnetic field. The corresponding partition function reveals that the orbital contribution to bulk thermodynamics preponderates over the conventional contribution from anomaly-related spin effects. This orbital preponderance macroscopically manifests itself in the sign inversion of the induced charge and current in the magnetovortical matter, and can be tested experimentally as the flip of the angular momentum polarization of magnetovortical matter when the magnetic field strength is increased.

Usefulness of A Portal Vein Stent for Sinistral Portal Hypertension: A Case Report.

Introduction: Portal vein (PV) and splenic vein (SV) stenosis are known complications of pancreatoduodenectomy (PD) and often lead to portal hypertension. PV stenosis extending to the SV confluence can result in sinistral portal hypertension (SPH), characterized by gastrointestinal varices and splenomegaly in the presence of normal liver function. There is no standardized treatment strategy for SPH following PD.

Emergence of isochorismate-based salicylic acid biosynthesis within Brassicales.

Salicylic acid (SA) is a major defense phytohormone. In , the isochorismate (IC) pathway is the primary route for pathogen-induced SA biosynthesis. First, the IC synthase (ICS) catalyzes the isomerization of chorismate to IC in chloroplasts.

A non-invasive, reference region-based method for quantification of cerebral blood flow and oxygen metabolism using oxygen-15 labeled gases and positron emission tomography.

Objectives: Measurement of cerebral blood flow (CBF), cerebral blood volume (CBV), cerebral oxygen extraction fraction (OEF), and cerebral metabolic rate of oxygen (CMRO) by positron emission tomography (PET) with oxygen-15 labeled gases is widely used for investigation into the pathophysiology of occlusive cerebrovascular disease. However, all methods for quantification of CBF, CBV, OEF, and CMRO by PET with oxygen-15 labeled gases require invasive arterial blood sampling. The present study developed a reference region-based method for quantification of CBF, CBV, OEF, and CMRO using PET and oxygen-15 labeled gases based on the steady-state method without invasive arterial blood sampling.

Laparoscopic Liver Resection for Hepatocellular Adenomas in Pediatric Glycogen Storage Disease Type Ia: A Case With Consideration for Future Transplantation.

A 13-year-old girl presented with enlarging hepatocellular adenomas and a history of glycogen storage disease type Ia. Her liver function was well controlled by nutritional therapy. The options of resection and transplantation were considered, and the patient was successfully treated with laparoscopic liver resection.

Using the comprehensive complication index to assess the impact of Global Leadership Initiative on Malnutrition (GLIM)-defined malnutrition on postoperative complications after resection for biliary tract cancer.

Purpose: The Global Leadership Initiative on Malnutrition (GLIM) criteria, proposed in 2018, provide universal diagnostic standards for malnutrition, a known risk factor for postoperative complications in patients with various cancers. However, its impact on surgery for biliary tract cancer (BTC) remains unclear. This study evaluates the relationship between GLIM-defined malnutrition and postoperative complications after resection for BTC.

Genomic signature and evolutionary history of completely cleistogamous lineages in the non-photosynthetic orchid .

Despite a long-standing interest since Darwin's time, the genomic implications of obligate self-fertilization remain elusive. Complete cleistogamy-the obligate production of closed, self-pollinating flowers-represents an extreme reproductive strategy. Here, we present the genomic profiles and evolutionary history of two lineages of the mycoheterotrophic orchid , both of which independently acquired complete cleistogamy, based on detailed sampling and a combination of simple sequence repeat (SSR), multiplexed ISSR genotyping by sequencing (MIG-seq) and RNA-seq data.

The relationship between chronic expansion of self-expandable valves and paravalvular leakage in transcatheter aortic valve implantation.

Paravalvular leakage (PVL) is a clinical concern in transcatheter aortic valve implantation (TAVI). Although PVL has been reported to gradually decrease after self-expandable valves (SEVs) implantation, the mechanism remains unclear. Furthermore, while gradual expansion of SEVs has been documented, studies assessing their morphological changes during the chronic phase are lacking.

Detection of amyloid deposition in the hip and shoulder joints on CT scans as indicative of ATTR-type cardiac amyloidosis.

BackgroundAmyloid deposition manifests as thickening and calcification of the joints on computed tomography (CT) images.PurposeTo investigate the diagnostic potential of thickening and calcification of the shoulder and hip joints for the detection of transthyretin amyloid cardiomyopathy (ATTR-CM).Material and MethodsWe included 19 patients who had been assessed using Tc-pyrophosphate scintigraphy between January 2019 and December 2022 and diagnosed with ATTR-CM.

Convergent acquisition of disulfide-forming enzymes in malodorous flowers.

Identifying the metabolic and genetic changes that confer evolutionary novelty is essential for understanding the factors facilitating or constraining the occurrence of traits. We show that dimethyl disulfide (DMDS), a volatile compound that attracts saprophilous pollinators, is produced by a disulfide synthase (DSS) in the plant genus (Aristolochiaceae). DSS is derived from methanethiol oxidase (MTOX), an enzyme conserved among animals and plants, and similar DSS enzymes have independently evolved in two other plant genera.

Comparison and cutoff values of two amyloid PET scaling methods: centiloid scale and amyloid-β load.

Objective: To enhance amyloid-β (Aβ) positron emission tomography (PET) diagnostic accuracy and adjust for tracer differences, the amyloid-β load (Aβ) and centiloid (CL) scale were developed. However, the correlation and superiority of these indicators remain unclear. This study aimed to elucidate the correlation and determine cutoff values.

Achieving textbook outcome in liver resection for hepatocellular carcinoma: malnutrition's pivotal role.

Purpose: To investigate the impact of textbook outcome (TO) achievement on survival post-liver resection for hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) and explore the associated factors.

Methods: We retrospectively reviewed 330 patients diagnosed with HCC who underwent initial liver resection at our hospital between January 2011 and December 2019. We also investigated the achievement rates of five TOs and sub-analyzed the relationship between them and malnutrition.

Biomarker-guided strategy for Denver peritoneovenous shunts in refractory ascites: a retrospective single-center study.

Purpose: This study aimed to evaluate the utility of peritoneovenous shunt (PVS) placement for refractory ascites (RA) based on preoperative biomarkers.

Methods: This retrospective cohort study included patients with malignant and cirrhotic RA undergoing PVS placement treated at Sumoto Itsuki Hospital between January 2001 and March 2024. The efficacy of PVSs was defined according to the National Cancer Institute Common Terminology Criteria for Adverse Events (CTCAE).

Impact of a dilated main pancreatic duct in the expected remnant pancreas on the incidence of clinically significant remnant pancreatic lesion after resection of noninvasive and microinvasive intraductal papillary mucinous neoplasms.

Background: Partial pancreatectomies for intraductal papillary mucinous neoplasms (IPMN) often leave a dilated main pancreatic duct (MPD). However, its impact on the development of remnant pancreatic lesions is unknown.

Methods: Medical records of consecutive patients who underwent partial pancreatectomy for noninvasive or microinvasive IPMN with dilated MPD on preoperative imaging between April 2007 and March 2023 at two tertiary referral centers in Japan were retrospectively reviewed.

Non-invasive and quantitative evaluation of myocardial PET imaging: Next step for advanced therapy.

Myocardial positron emission tomography (PET) is superior in detecting ischemia in patients with left main or multivessel disease, conditions that are challenging to assess using single-photon emission computed tomography (SPECT). Additionally, quantitative measurements of myocardial blood flow and myocardial flow reserve (MFR) have been established as significant prognostic indicators for patients with ischemic heart disease. Moreover, N-ammonia PET offers high temporal and spatial resolution, enabling the assessment of both left and right ventricular strain, a quantitative marker of regional myocardial wall motion.

Left ventricular diastolic inflow and myocardial flow reserve in patients with coronary artery disease: simultaneous analysis of 4D-Flow and myocardial perfusion using hybrid PETMR.

Purpose: This study aimed to simultaneously evaluate the association between diastolic left ventricular (LV) inflow and myocardial flow reserve (MFR) using a hybrid PET/MR system in patients with coronary artery disease (CAD).

Methods: Sixty-seven patients (mean 66 ± 15 years, male 55) with CAD who underwent rest-pharmacological stress N-ammonia PET/MR were included. MFR, perfusion defect, and peak filling rate (PFR) were obtained through rest-stress PET.

Comparison of the surgical difficulty between segment 7 and 8 partial liver resection untilizing the laparoscopic and open approaches.

Purpose: We aimed to investigate the differences in surgical difficulty between laparoscopic partial liver resections of segments 7 and 8.

Methods: We analyzed 173 patients who underwent partial liver resections of segments 7 or 8 between 2010 and 2022 at two institutions. We investigated differences in the surgical outcomes of each procedure using propensity score matching.

Construction costs and tradeoffs in carnivorous pitcher plant leaves: towards a pitcher leaf economics spectrum.

Background: Leaf economics theory holds that physiological constraints to photosynthesis have a role in the coordinated evolution of multiple leaf traits, an idea that can be extended to carnivorous plants occupying a particular trait space that is constrained by key costs and benefits. Pitcher traps are modified leaves that may face steep photosynthetic costs: a high-volume, three-dimensional tubular structure may be less efficient than a flat lamina. While past research has investigated the photosynthetic costs of pitchers, the exact suite of constraints shaping pitcher trait variation remain under-explored, including constraints to carnivorous function.

Treatment outcomes of hepatectomy and systemic chemotherapy based on oncological resectability criteria for hepatocellular carcinoma.

Aim: The oncological resectability criteria for hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) have recently been established (R/BR1/BR2), and validating the outcomes is an urgent issue. This study aimed to analyze the outcomes of hepatectomy and systemic chemotherapy based on the oncological resectability criteria.

Methods: A total of 931 patients in the hepatectomy group and 273 in the systemic chemotherapy group who received atezolizumab/bevacizumab, lenvatinib, or durvalumab plus tremelimumab were recruited.

Oral Cornstarch and Glycyrrhizin Improve Severe Liver Injury Caused by Glycogen Storage Disease Type IXa.

A previously healthy 18-month-old boy presented with hepatomegaly, accompanied by liver injury. Imaging and liver biopsy findings suggested a hepatic glycogen storage disease (GSD) but not GSD type I. Genetic testing revealed a partial deletion of the PHKA2 gene, confirming the diagnosis of GSD type IXa.

Comparison of visual interpretation of [I-123] FP-CIT SPECT scans versus reference-based quantitative analysis utilizing a Japanese normal database.

Objective: Dopamine transporter single-photon emission computed tomography (DAT-SPECT) plays an important role in diagnosing parkinsonism. Recently, a reference-based quantitative analysis utilizing a Japanese normal database for DAT-SPECT was developed. This study aimed to investigate the frequency and trends of cases wherein the analysis- and physician-based diagnoses diverged.