Outcomes of gastrectomy in octogenarians and nonagenarians: a comparative analysis in the era of minimally invasive surgery.

Background: As the population of Japan continues to age rapidly, an increasing number of patients aged ≥ 80 years are undergoing surgery for gastric cancer. Although minimally invasive techniques have improved surgical safety, operative risks in the super-elderly population (≥ 85 years) remain a significant concern.

Methods: This retrospective, single-center study analyzed 72 patients aged ≥ 80 years who underwent gastrectomy for gastric cancer at our hospital between January 2014 and August 2024.

A Novel Cardiac Computed Tomography-Based Calcium Scoring System for Predicting the Use of Atherectomy Devices in Severely Calcified Coronary Lesions.

Background: Cardiac computed tomography (CT) is a well-established process used to diagnose coronary artery disease; however, its specific advantages in predicting the use of atherectomy devices during percutaneous coronary intervention (PCI) for moderate to severe calcified lesions remain to be determined. This study aimed to develop a risk scoring system for predicting the use of atherectomy devices in PCI on the basis of morphological findings obtained by preoperative cardiac CT.

Methods: In this retrospective, multicenter, observational study, we screened patients who underwent cardiac CT 6 months before PCI for the target lesion.

Clinical characteristics and outcomes of hospitalized patients with heart failure from the Japanese prospective registry.

Background: Recent studies showed that clinical parameters other than cardiac function, such as physical function, cognitive function, mental status, social status, and quality of life, were associated with heart failure (HF) prognosis. These parameters have not been extensively investigated in large Japanese cohorts. Furthermore, novel biomarkers to predict prognosis or treatment responses are required to provide individualized medicine.

Total Sealing Technique: A Preliminary Study on a Novel Surgical Approach That Significantly Reduces the Incidence of Upper Extremity Lymphedema Following Axillary Dissection in Patients with Breast Cancer.

The primary goal in treating patients with breast cancer who have positive axillary lymph nodes is to achieve optimal tumor control while minimizing side effects that include breast cancer-related lymphedema (BCRL) [...

Different Patterns of Platelet Count Fluctuation in Response to Various Anticancer Chemotherapies among Patient with Bladder Cancer.

Introduction: In general, platelet counts fluctuate in cancer patients receiving anticancer therapy. It may include thrombocytopenia caused by bone marrow suppression due to cytotoxic anticancer agents and thrombocytosis due to rebound during recovery. This should not be the case in the case of administration of immune checkpoint inhibitors, given their mechanism of action.

Acute lower-extremity arterial thrombosis with immune thrombocytopenia.

We describe an acute lower-extremity arterial occlusion in a 30-year-old woman with immune thrombocytopenia and polycystic ovary syndrome. Thrombosis may be a complication of immune thrombocytopenia requiring careful management.

Citral in lemon myrtle, lemongrass, litsea, and melissa essential oils suppress the growth and invasion of breast cancer cells.

Objective: Although cancer therapy suppresses recurrence and prolongs life, it may be accompanied by strong side effects; thus, there is a strong demand for the development effective treatments with fewer side effects. Cancer therapy using plant-derived essential oils is attracting attention as one promising method. This study investigated the antitumor effects of essential oil volatiles on breast cancer cells and identifies four essential oils that display antitumor activity.

[Malignant Melanoma of a Male Breast That Was Difficult to Differentiate from Breast Cancer-A Case Report].

Introduction: Malignant melanoma in the male breast is extremely rare. Here we report a case of malignant melanoma in which a small cystic lesion in the male breast gradually increased during follow-up and was difficult to distinguish from breast cancer.

Case: A 65-year-old male was diagnosed with a tumor in the right breast and was referred to our department for further examination.

[Laparoscopic Tumor Resection for Asymptomatic Paraganglioma-A Case Study].

A 55-year-old man was referred for the close examination of an abdominal mass noted on abdominal ultrasonography during a physical examination. A contrast-enhanced computed tomography(CT)scan of his abdomen revealed a 36-mm heterogeneously contrast-enhanced mass on the left side of the aorta. He was referred for laparoscopic tumor resection without preoperative histological examination.

[Collision Tumor Involving Primary Ascending Colon Cancer and Malignant Lymphoma].

A 78-year-old male was diagnosed with a primary gastric B-cell malignant lymphoma and metastatic lung tumor 10 years ago. He underwent chemotherapy at another hospital, achieved complete remission, and was actively undergoing follow- up. He presented to our hospital with a 1-month history of a bulge in his right lower abdomen.

Transient EDTA-dependent pseudothrombocytopenia and ulcerative colitis recurrence during chemotherapy: A case of misleading platelet count results attributable to a laboratory artifact.

Key Clinical Message: EDTA-dependent pseudothrombocytopenia as well as myelosuppression should be suspected when thrombocytopenia occurs in patients with autoimmune disease during chemotherapy.

Abstract: A patient with pancreatic cancer and ulcerative colitis developed transient ethylenediaminetetraacetic acid (EDTA)-dependent pseudothrombocytopenia with exacerbation of ulcerative colitis during chemotherapy. Unfortunately, pseudothrombocytopenia could not be immediately detected because thrombocytopenia was masked by a reasonable time course of adverse events associated with chemotherapy and ulcerative colitis recurrence.

A super-geriatric patient with gastrostomy underwent life-threatening prothrombin time-international normalized ratio prolongation by warfarin following fasting and antibiotic therapy.

Key Clinical Message: A 97-year-old woman with gastrostomy had a drastic enhancement for PT-INR after starting antibiotic therapy. Possible causes include (1) vitamin K deficiency due to fasting and (2) a combination of warfarin and antibiotics.

Abstract: Geriatric and Asian-descent patients are more sensitive to the effects of warfarin, a key anticoagulant drug.

Dexamethasone to prednisolone rotation relieved hiccups in colorectal cancer patient continuing teleworking during anticancer therapy.

We present a case of chemotherapy-induced hiccups that were alleviated by steroid rotation. Hiccups are often overlooked, but they have an impact on the patient's quality of life. In the COVID-19 era, web-based teleworking has become an important tool, hiccups during a teleconference should be noted as a concern for patients.

Drug Delivery with Hyaluronic Acid-Coated Polymeric Micelles in Liver Fibrosis Therapy.

Developing delivery vehicles that achieve drug accumulation in the liver and transferability into hepatic stellate cells (HSCs) across the liver sinusoidal endothelium is essential to establish a treatment for hepatic fibrosis. We previously developed hyaluronic acid (HA)-coated polymeric micelles that exhibited affinity to liver sinusoidal endothelial cells. HA-coated micelles possess a core-shell structure of self-assembled biodegradable poly(l-lysine)--poly(lactic acid) AB-diblock copolymer (PLys--PLLA), and its exterior is coated with HA through polyion complex formation via electrostatic interaction between anionic HAs and cationic PLys segments.

Mammary Paget's Disease Presenting as an Annular Plaque.

Dear Editor,Mammary Paget's disease (MPD) is an adenocarcinoma localized within the epidermis of the nipple and/or the areola of the breast, and it is as a rule associated with a carcinoma of the underlying lactiferous ducts, where it usually starts. MPD is relatively rare, observed in 0.7-4.

Beneficial Effects of Dipeptidyl Peptidase-4 Inhibitors on Heart Failure With Preserved Ejection Fraction and Diabetes.

Background: Dipeptidyl peptidase-4 (DPP-4) inhibitors have been shown to exert pleiotropic effects on heart failure (HF) in animal experiments.

Objectives: This study sought to investigate the impact of DPP-4 inhibitors on HF patients with diabetes mellitus (DM).

Methods: We analyzed hospitalized patients with HF and DM enrolled in the JROADHF (Japanese Registry Of Acute Decompensated Heart Failure) registry, a nationwide registry of acute decompensated HF.

Intravenous immunoglobulin for acute exacerbation of fibrotic idiopathic interstitial pneumonias.

Background And Aim: Acute exacerbation (AE) of idiopathic pulmonary fibrosis (IPF) is a fatal condition with no established treatment. Intravenous immunoglobulin (IVIG) is a unique therapy with both anti-inflammatory and anti-infective effects. Therefore, we hypothesized that IVIG may have a positive effect on AE of interstitial pneumonia.

A Survey of Near-Miss Dispensing Errors in Hospital Pharmacies in Japan: DEPP-J Study-Multi-Center Prospective Observational Study-.

The aim of this study was to determine the proportion of near-miss dispensing errors in hospital pharmacies in Japan. A prospective multi-center observational study was conducted between December 2018 and March 2019. The primary objective was to determine the proportion of near-miss dispensing errors in hospital pharmacy departments.