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Introduction: Regional disparities in medical practice between urban and rural areas in Japan represent a critical issue, and extend to the field of surgical education. To address these disparities, we evaluated the effectiveness of simultaneous remote coaching across multiple facilities using a standardized laparoscopic training method., Methods: A total of 28 trainees from a university hospital and 3 rural hospitals were categorized into remote and on-site coaching groups. The training curriculum included lectures, practical training, and assessments, conducted for 1 h per week using three sessions. The primary endpoint of the study was the change in time for ligation of one suture between the on-site and remote coaching groups, expressed as the median of the reduction suture time rate (RTR). Secondary endpoints included the RTR categorized by years of graduation and the results of a questionnaire survey of participants., Results: Participants included 19 trainees in postgraduate year (PGY) 1-2 and 9 those in PGY 3-5. The median suture ligation time for the first attempt was 145 s (remote: 136 s vs. on-site: 160 s; p = 0.33) and that for the third attempt was 51 s (remote: 33 s vs. direct: 52 s; p = 0.91). The median RTR was 57%, with no significant difference observed between the remote and on-site coaching groups (43.2% vs. 71.2%, p = 0.26). The trainees' ratings for the training were generally favorable, with median ratings of 4 (range: 3-5) for the content of practical skills and 5 (4, 5) for the distance learning aspect, based on a 5-point Likert scale., Conclusion: Simultaneous remote laparoscopic training could be effective in reducing disparities in surgical education., (© 2024 Asia Endosurgery Task Force and Japan Society of Endoscopic Surgery and John Wiley & Sons Australia, Ltd.)

Background/aim: To develop a recurrence risk score for determining the clinical indication for adjuvant chemotherapy in patients with initially unresectable advanced gastric cancer who underwent conversion surgery after chemotherapy., Patients and Methods: A total of 65 patients with stage IV gastric cancer who underwent conversion surgery after chemotherapy were retrospectively enrolled. We established a risk score based on clinicopathological factors related to recurrence after conversion surgery., Results: Out of 65 patients, 40 (62%) had recurrence after conversion surgery. The 5-year overall survival rates in patients with and without recurrence were 14.4% and 87.1%, respectively (p<0.01). Multivariate logistic regression analysis identified the depth of tumor invasion (pT2-4) and histological tumor response (grade 0-1a) as an independent risk factor for disease recurrence (p=0.033 and p=0.048, respectively). A scoring system determined by these two factors was created; total score ranged from 0 to 2 points, and patients were categorized into three groups (scores of 0 vs. 1 vs. 2 points). This scoring system showed that 12 (18%), 15 (23%), and 38 (58%) patients had recurrence risk scores of 0, 1, and 2 points, respectively. There was a close relationship between a high score and the presence of tumor recurrence (p<0.01). Moreover, our model system had a high sensitivity for the prediction of recurrence, compared with the pathological stage., Conclusion: Recurrence risk score is a promising tool for assessing the need for adjuvant chemotherapy in patients with initially unresectable advanced gastric cancer after conversion surgery., (Copyright © 2023 International Institute of Anticancer Research (Dr. George J. Delinasios), All rights reserved.)

Background: Pancreatic fistula (PF) is one of post-operative complications in pancreatic surgery, but there is no consensus about the optimal treatment for PF. Our group has established a rat model of PF, and we conducted the present investigation to determine the efficacy of the triple-drug therapy (somatostatin analogue, gabexate mesilate, and imipenem/cilastatin) against PF using our rat model., Methods: In the PF rat model, the triple-drug therapy was administered to the treated (T) group (n = 4), and we compared the results with those of a control (C) group (n = 4). The rats were sacrificed on postoperative day 3 (POD 3) and the levels of amylase and lipase in serum and ascites were measured. The intra-abdominal adhesion was scored. Each pancreas was evaluated pathologically, and inflammation was scored., Results: The ascitic amylase levels on POD 3 were 1982 (1738-2249) IU/L in the C group and significantly lower at 136 (101-198) IU/L in the T group (p = 0.02). The ascitic lipase levels on POD 3 were 406 (265-478) U/L in the C group and significantly lower at 13 (7-17) U/L in the T group (p = 0.02). The intra-abdominal adhesion score on POD 3 was 2 (1-2) in the C group and significantly lower at 0 (0-1) in the T group (p = 0.02). The histological evaluation showed that the average of pancreatic inflammatory score was 8.5 (8-9) in the C group and significantly milder at 5 (5-7) in the T group (p = 0.01)., Conclusion: Our findings suggest that the triple-drug therapy could be useful as a treatment for PF in clinical settings., (Copyright © 2016 IAP and EPC. Published by Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved.)

In previous work, we engineered functional cell sheets using bone marrow-derived mesenchymal stem cells (BM-MSCs) to promote islet graft survival. In the present study, we hypothesized that a cell sheet using dermal fibroblasts could be an alternative to MSCs, and then we aimed to evaluate the effects of this cell sheet on the functional viability of human islets. Fibroblast sheets were fabricated using temperature-responsive culture dishes. Human islets were seeded onto fibroblast sheets. The efficacy of the fibroblast sheets was evaluated by dividing islets into three groups: the islets-alone group, the coculture with fibroblasts group, and the islet culture on fibroblast sheet group. The ultrastructure of the islets cultured on each fibroblast sheet was examined by electron microscopy. The fibroblast sheet expression of fibronectin (as a component of the extracellular matrix) was quantified by Western blotting. After 3 days of culture, islet viabilities were 70.2 ± 9.8%, 87.4 ± 5.8%, and 88.6 ± 4.5%, and survival rates were 60.3 ± 6.8%, 65.3 ± 3.0%, and 75.8 ± 5.6%, respectively. Insulin secretions in response to high-glucose stimulation were 5.1 ± 1.6, 9.4 ± 3.8, and 23.5 ± 12.4 µIU/islet, and interleukin-6 (IL-6) secretions were 3.0 ± 0.7, 5.1 ± 1.2, and 7.3 ± 1.0 ng/day, respectively. Islets were found to incorporate into the fibroblast sheets while maintaining a three-dimensional structure and well-preserved extracellular matrix. The fibroblast sheets exhibited a higher expression of fibronectin compared to fibroblasts alone. In conclusion, human dermal fibroblast sheets fabricated by tissue-engineering techniques could provide an optimal substrate for human islets, as a source of cytokines and extracellular matrix.

Background: Intrahepatic cholangiocarcinomas develop through a multi-step carcinogenesis. Precancerous lesions are defined as biliary intraepithelial neoplasia. Sex determining region Y-box9 (Sox9) is required for the normal differentiation of the biliary tract., Aims: To evaluate the Sox9 expression in carcinogenesis and its correlation with clinicopathological features in intrahepatic cholangiocarcinoma., Methods: Sox9 expression in normal epithelium, biliary intraepithelial neoplasia, and intrahepatic cholangiocarcinoma were investigated immunohistochemically using 43 specimens of intrahepatic cholangiocarcinoma. Sox9 expression in intrahepatic cholangiocarcinoma was compared with the clinicopathological features. The molecular effects of Sox9 were investigated by gene transfection to intrahepatic cholangiocarcinoma cell lines., Results: Sox9 expression was decreased from the normal epithelium to the biliary intraepithelial neoplasia in a stepwise fashion. In 51.2% (22/43) of the patients with intrahepatic cholangiocarcinoma, Sox9 expression was positive, and Sox9 expression was significantly associated with the biliary infiltration (P=0.034) and poor overall survival (P=0.039). Upregulation of Sox9 promoted the cell migration and invasion, and decreased the E-cadherin expression and increased the vimentin and α-SMA expression in cell lines., Conclusions: Decreased Sox9 expression may be related to the early stage of the carcinogenesis of intrahepatic cholangiocarcinoma. Sox9 overexpression in intrahepatic cholangiocarcinoma is related to biliary infiltration and poorer prognosis, and it promotes cell migration and invasion, via the epithelial-to-mesenchymal transition., (Copyright © 2015 Editrice Gastroenterologica Italiana S.r.l. Published by Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved.)

We report a rare case of limitation of active flexion and subcutaneous bow-stringing as a result of flexor pulley rupture after repeated corticosteroid injections for trigger thumb. Complete rupture of the A1 and oblique flexor pulleys was confirmed during surgery, and the pulley system was reconstructed with a "three-loop technique" using a free palmaris longus autograft. This technique provided enough strength to allow early mobilization and prompt recovery to full range of motion.

Ten hands in 10 patients with carpal tunnel syndrome were treated by subcutaneous transverse carpal ligament release using the Universal Subcutaneous Endoscope system. We analyzed the morphologic changes of the carpal canal with magnetic resonance imaging (0.064 T) before and after the operation. The axial plane, which includes the beak of the trapezium and the hook of the hamate, was selected for analysis. The soft tissue boundaries of the carpal canal were outlined at the plane. The cross-sectional area of the carpal canal was 232 +/- 49 mm2 before surgery and 320 +/- 108 mm2 after surgery. There was a 33% +/- 15% increase of the carpal canal cross-section after transverse carpal ligament release. The transverse carpal ligament became more outwardly convex after the operation. The endoscopic procedure is effective for increasing the cross-sectional area and volume of the carpal canal.

A new admittance plethysmograph, designed for the observation of finger vasomotor function, was employed to characterize circulation through replanted fingers and to clarify the relationship between the duration of ischemia and the postoperative recovery of finger sensory function. The study was carried out on 13 replanted fingers, 1 replanted arm and 12 contralateral normal fingers of 11 patients who underwent finger or arm replantation. To assess the reliability of this admittance plethysmograph, water-filled plethysmography was simultaneously performed, utilizing a newly devised electric volume sensor. Replanted fingers were divided into three groups based on vasomotor reactions; normal reaction group, vasodilation group and vasoconstriction group. This classification of vasomotor reactions had a high correlation ratio (0.86) with static two-point discrimination (2PD). Total ischemia time (time from amputation to reperfusion) did not correlate with static 2PD, while total warm ischemia time (obtained by subtracting the duration of cold storage of amputated finger from the total ischemia time) correlated well with static 2PD (gamma s = 0.766). The finding of various types of vasomotor reactions in replanted fingers suggests that normal vasomotor function cannot be restored by recovery of vasoconstrictor nerves alone, and that vasodilator nerves are also present in hands and fingers.

Endoscopes are mainly used to study the internal structures of organs and tissues with inherent space. These include the gastrointestinal tract, abdominal space and joint space. The standard endoscope, however, cannot be used to evaluate tissues without such space. We have invented a new type of operation tube to be used with the arthroscope. This combination enables us to study subcutaneous soft tissues without inherent space. Our new device is a powerful tool to be used for evaluation of subcutaneous soft tissues in any part of the body. Surgical procedures can also be carried out with this device. Areas of future applications of our device will be extremely wide including orthopaedic surgery, plastic surgery and general surgery. The presentation will discuss the procedure for utilizing this new instrument.

A three-loop technique of secondary A2 pulley reconstruction has been developed by the authors. This method was applied to six fingers of six patients. The average follow-up period was 21 months and ranged from a minimum of 9 months to a maximum of 3 years. Total active motion of metacarpophalangeal, proximal interphalangeal, and distal interphalangeal joints improved by 30 degrees on the average from the preoperative 175 degrees to the postoperative 205 degrees. Similarly, tip palm distance showed an improvement of 10 mm on the average from the preoperative 32 mm to the postoperative 22 mm. Satisfactory grip functions were restored for all patients after the secondary pulley reconstruction.

Transplanted autogenous muscles were electrophysiologically studied in 2 patients with forearm crush injury. Only fibrillation action potentials and positive sharp waves were seen at 1 month after the operation. Low-amplitude and short-duration muscular unit potentials (MUPs) appeared at 3 months and high-amplitude, long-duration and polyphasic MUPs were frequently seen at 6-7 months after the transplantation. The distal latencies of the evoked motor responses were gradually shortened from time to time and eventually became normal at about 1 year after the grafting. The mean consecutive difference became normal at about 6 months after the normalization of the distal latencies. We conclude that the motor endplate is functionally completed at about half a year after the completion of the myelination of the grafted nerve.