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Treatment strategies for preventing liver fibrosis have not yet been established. Letrozole, widely used for breast cancer, has recently been reported to suppress liver fibrosis in murine models. Therefore, we aimed to validate the suppressive effects of letrozole on liver fibrosis in the clinical setting. From 2006 to 2020, 23 consecutive patients who received continuous letrozole treatment for 24 months or more and had a liver fibrosis marker FIB-4 index of ≥ 2.30, were included. Forty-three patients who underwent anastrozole treatment for 24 months or more and had a liver fibrosis marker FIB-4 index of ≥ 2.30, were also included as controls. The Fisher exact, chi-square, unpaired Student t, and paired Student t test were used to analyze the data. The patient characteristics were similar between the letrozole- and anastrozole-treated patient groups. Among the letrozole-treated patients, the mean FIB-4 index tended to decline during letrozole treatment; a significant decrease was observed at 18 and 24 months compared with the baseline values (p = 0.044 and p = 0.013). In addition, the mean aspartate aminotransferase-to-platelet ratio index (APRI) decreased during letrozole treatment; the values at 18 and 24 months were significantly lower than those at baseline (p = 0.024 and p = 0.026). In contrast, among anastrozole-treated patients, the mean FIB-4 index and APRI did not change during anastrozole treatment. When changes in the FIB-4 index were further examined in a limited number of patients with a FIB-4 index ≥ 2.67, a significant reduction in the FIB-4 index at 24 months compared with baseline was also observed in letrozole-treated patients (p = 0.023), but not in anastrozole-treated patients. In conclusion, our findings support a possible suppressive effect of letrozole on liver fibrosis in the clinical setting. Further studies are required to better understand the pharmacological effects of letrozole. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Dysphagia after esophagectomy is a major risk factor for aspiration pneumonia, thus preoperative assessment of swallowing function is important. The maximum phonation time (MPT) is a simple indicator of phonatory function and also correlates with muscle strength associated with swallowing. This study aimed to determine whether preoperative MPT can predict postoperative aspiration pneumonia. The study included 409 consecutive patients who underwent esophagectomy for esophageal cancer between 2017 and 2021. Pneumonia detected by routine computed tomography on postoperative days 5–6 was defined as early-onset pneumonia, and pneumonia that developed later (most often aspiration pneumonia) was defined as late-onset pneumonia. The correlation between late-onset pneumonia and preoperative MPT was investigated. Patients were classified into short MPT (<15 seconds for males and <10 seconds for females, n  = 156) and normal MPT groups (≥15 seconds for males and ≥10 seconds for females, n  = 253). The short MPT group was significantly older, had a lower serum albumin level and vital capacity, and had a significantly higher incidence of late-onset pneumonia (18.6 vs. 6.7%, P  < 0.001). Multivariate analysis showed that short MPT was an independent risk factor for late-onset pneumonia (odds ratio: 2.26, P  = 0.026). The incidence of late-onset pneumonia was significantly higher in the short MPT group (15.6 vs. 4.7%, P  = 0.004), even after propensity score matching adjusted for clinical characteristics. MPT is a useful predictor for late-onset pneumonia after esophagectomy. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Few reports have demonstrated robotic surgery for large tumors in the upper esophagus. We report a case of a 52‐year‐old woman with a giant submucosal tumor in the upper esophagus successfully enucleated using robotic surgery. She presented with odynophagia and dysphagia, with subsequent evaluation revealing a submucosal mass measuring approximately 10 cm in diameter in the upper esophagus. The mass was compressing the trachea and enlarged over 3 years. Endoscopic ultrasound fine needle aspiration of the tumor was non‐diagnostic. Robot‐assisted esophageal submucosal tumor enucleation was performed for diagnosis and treatment. Flexible forceps control allowed for a multi‐directional approach to dissect the tumor and stable forceps handling was critical in this delicate procedure. Subsequent pathological review revealed a well‐differentiated esophageal liposarcoma. While surgical margins were not entirely negative, the local recurrence rate of the tumor is low. At the patient's request, we decided to observe the patient without additional resection. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

We describe a case of gastric lymphangioma coexisting with mucosal gastric cancer. A 76-year-old man was diagnosed with an advanced gastric cancer (cT2N0M0, Stage I) presenting a nodular protruded lesion with irregular central depression. The surgically resected specimen showed a 4 × 3 cm sessile protruded lesion in the anterior wall of the lower stomach. Histopathological examination revealed a mucosal adenocarcinoma was located immediately above the lymphangioma and was elevated by the cystic component of lymphangioma without admixture, which suggested that the two components arose separately. The mucosal adenocarcinoma was masquerading as an advanced gastric cancer due to the protrusion by the lymphangioma. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Effects of changes in body composition during neoadjuvant chemotherapy (NAC) on perioperative complications and prognosis are unknown in patients with esophageal squamous cell carcinoma (ESCC). A total of 175 patients who underwent surgery for ESCC in our hospital between 2016 and 2019 were examined. The psoas muscle index (PMI) was calculated from the total psoas muscle area, and the visceral fat mass (VFM) at the umbilical level was measured. We defined body composition change (BCC) group as those with increased VFM of ≥ 3% and decreased PMI of ≥ 3% during NAC. Sarcopenia (S) was defined as PMI < 5.89 (male) and <4.06 (female). Nutritional assessment using the Subjective Global Assessment tool was performed upon admission. The percentages of BCC group, pre-NAC S, and post-NAC S was 32.5%, 79.4%, and 80.0%, respectively. BCC group had significantly more postoperative complications (p < 0.01) and longer hospital stays (p = 0.03) than groups pre-NAC S and post-NAC S. Overall survival (OS) analysis using the Cox hazard model showed that stage III (p < 0.01) and post-NAC S (p = 0.03) were poor prognostic factors. Changes in body composition during NAC affected perioperative complications and prognosis of patients with ESCC. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The purification of biological macromolecules has remained a severe bottleneck in three-dimensional structure determination in the field of protein crystallography. By the use of the Free Flow Electrophoresis (ProTeam FFE; TECAN Group Ltd) apparatus, target protein samples can be purified in a high yield, while a preparative separation is performed in solution without using solid matrices such as polyacrylamide gel. A novel ampholyte buffer suitable for crystallization in the use of the ProTeam FFE apparatus has been developed. This buffer is able to generate pH gradients owing to the use of low-molecular-weight electrolytes. The effect of the flow rate on the pH gradient using the novel ampholyte buffer has been elucidated. When the flow rate was lowered to 78 ml h-1, the pH gradient in the electrophoretic chambers was generated in an almost linear fashion. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: Preoperative diagnosis of parotid tumor is mainly performed via imaging and cytology to avoid both facial nerve injury and tumor seeding. Synchronous resection of solitary parotid metastasis with esophagectomy for esophageal squamous cell carcinoma is rarely performed., Case Report: This is a case report of a 58-year-old male patient with a left preauricular tumor, which was cytologically diagnosed as squamous cell carcinoma. Esophageal squamous cell carcinoma was pathologically diagnosed following 18 F-fluorodeoxyglucose positron emission tomography with computed tomography. His diagnosis was cT2N0M0 esophageal squamous cell carcinoma with cT3N0M0 parotid carcinoma. Esophagectomy for esophageal cancer, as well as parotidectomy were performed. Pathological diagnosis of pT1bN1M1 (parotid) esophageal squamous cell carcinoma was based on exclusion diagnosis of no primary tumor from several specialists and pathological findings including immunohistochemical staining., Conclusion: Reporting of more cases of rare synchronous metastasectomy and esophagectomy is needed to clarify treatment strategies., (Copyright © 2021 International Institute of Anticancer Research (Dr. George J. Delinasios), All rights reserved.)

Background/aim: The reported incidence of rectovaginal fistula is very low. Although some case reports have described surgical procedures, no systematic approach to the treatment of rectovaginal fistula according to diagnostic image and colonoscopy findings has been proposed. We present a comprehensive surgical strategy for rectovaginal fistula after colorectal anastomosis according to diagnostic image and colonoscopy findings., Patients and Methods: This retrospective study included 11 patients who developed rectovaginal fistula after colorectal anastomosis. Rectovaginal fistula was classified into 4 types according to contrast enema images and colonoscopy findings, i.e., "Alone type", "Dead space type", "Anastomotic stricture type", and "Dead space and Anastomotic stricture type". The surgical strategies were "Diversion (Stoma)", "Percutaneous drainage", "Anastomotic stricture type", "Endoscopic balloon dilation", "Curettage of foreign bodies", "Simple full-thickness closure", "Split-thickness closure", "Pedicled flaps packing", and "Reanastomosis". The surgical strategy appropriate for each rectovaginal fistula type was investigated., Results: Among "Alone type" cases, 5 (71.4%) healed with "only Diversion (Stoma)". "Alone type" cases (n=11) and all other cases (n=4) healed with "only Diversion (Stoma)" (n=5) or any other method (n=6) (p=0.022)., Conclusion: For treatment of rectovaginal fistula after colorectal anastomosis, less invasive treatment approaches should be attempted first., (Copyright© 2019, International Institute of Anticancer Research (Dr. George J. Delinasios), All rights reserved.)

A 62-year-old woman received chemotherapy for breast cancer with bone metastasis and malignant pleural and pericardial effusion. She was examined by imaging for progressive cognitive impairment and headache. Enhanced MRI findings showed multiple solid tumors on brain surface, and brain perfusion scintigraphy showed blood flow decrease in both parietal lobes. She was diagnosed with secondary dementia due to leptomeningeal metastases of breast cancer, and whole brain external irradiation was performed(30 Gy/15 Fr). After treatment, multiple tumors were decreased in size and her cognitive impair- ment was improved.