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Background and Aims: This study aimed to determine the safety and efficacy of atezolizumab + bevacizumab therapy in hepatocellular carcinoma patients receiving anti‐platelet agents or anticoagulants. Methods: Patients were divided into those using (IM out) and those not using (IM in) anti‐platelet agents or anticoagulants, who violated the exclusion criteria of the IMbrave150 trial, and were retrospectively examined. Results: The study included 185 patients (IM in: 157; IM out: 28). For first‐line treatment, progression‐free survival was 184 days for IM in and 266 days for IM out (p =.136). Overall survival was 603 days for IM in and not reached for IM out (p =.265), with no significant between‐group difference. Similarly, there were no significant between‐group differences in progression‐free survival or overall survival for later‐line treatment. Haemorrhagic adverse events of ≥grade 3 were observed in 11 IM in patients and 3 IM out patients. No significant factors associated with haemorrhagic adverse events of ≥grade 3 were identified in the multivariate analysis including IM out classification, whose p value was.547. Regarding thrombotic/embolic adverse events in the IM out group, one case of exacerbation of portal vein thrombosis was observed. No deaths were directly attributable to bleeding events or exacerbations of thrombosis. Conclusion: Atezolizumab + bevacizumab therapy shows similar safety and efficacy in patients receiving and those not receiving anti‐platelet agents or anticoagulants; therefore, it can be considered for patients with hepatocellular carcinoma receiving anti‐platelet agents or anticoagulants. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

A thin-film spatial light modulator that uses an epitaxial film of [Bi.sub.12] [SiO.sub.20] has been developed. By using a thin epitaxial film as a sensing, storing, and modulating layer, we can attain high resolution of 27 line pairs/mm at 50% modulation. In addition, a novel device structure that adopts a low resistivity substrate enables this device to be erased quickly only by bias voltage switching.

Chronic gastritis was assessed serologically, endoscopically and histologically to identify correlations between these methods. Methods. Subjects comprised 319 patients who had provided informed consent. Serological assessment of chronic gastritis was based on the pepsinogen test method. Endoscopic gastritis and histological gastritis were assessed and scored according to the Kimura-Takemoto classification system and the updated Sydney classification system respectively, and correlations between these three methods were studied. Results. Pepsinogen I/II ratio showed a significant correlation to the extent of mononuclear cell infiltration of the gastric corpus. When histological gastritis was divided, on the basis of the distribution of mononuclear cell infiltration, into gastritis limited to the antrum and corpus gastritis, these types were distinguished with high accuracy using a pepsinogen I/II ratio of 3 as the cutoff. A good correlation was also seen between pepsinogen I/II ratio and development of atrophy in endoscopic gastritis, where groups with and without advanced atrophy were also distinguished with high accuracy using a cutoff value of 3. Conclusion. Significant correlations exist between serum pepsinogen levels, endoscopic gastritis, and histological gastritis. Pepsinogen I/II ratio allows prediction of the existence of endoscopic gastritis and histological gastritis, or the extent of their development, with high accuracy. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

We investigated the association between early tumor shrinkage (ETS) and treatment outcome in patients with hepatocellular carcinoma treated with lenvatinib (LEN). A retrospective analysis was performed in 104 patients. ETS was defined as tumor shrinkage at the first evaluation in the sum of target lesions' longest diameters from baseline according to the Response Evaluation Criteria in Solid Tumors (RECIST). The median overall survival (OS) was not reached, whereas the median progression-free survival (PFS) was 5.0 months. The receiver operating characteristic curve analysis in differentiating long-term responders (PFS ≥ 5.0 months) from short-term responders (PFS < 5.0 months) revealed an ETS cut-off value of 10%. ETS ≥ 10% was significantly correlated with better PFS and OS compared with ETS < 10%. Additionally, ETS ≥ 10% showed a better discrimination ability on prognosis compared with modified RECIST-based objective response at the first evaluation. Multivariate analysis confirmed ETS ≥ 10% as an independent predictor of better OS, as well as a Child–Pugh score of 5 and macrovascular invasion. In conclusion, ETS ≥ 10% was strongly associated with outcome in patients treated with LEN. This biomarker could allow earlier assessment of the treatment response and guide treatment decision-making for HCC. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]