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The patient was a 64-year-old woman who had been diagnosed with amyotrophic lateral sclerosis 8 years ago, and had been under artificial ventilation with tracheotomy for 6 years. Computed tomography indicated a dilated tracheal diameter of 29.6 ‍mm at the cuff, and a high cuff pressure of 80 ‍cmH 2 O. An adjustable flange tracheostomy tube with an optional length setting was used to extend the effective length by 28 ‍mm. A previously evident air leak disappeared with the change in cuff level, and cuff pressure decreased to 25 ‍cmH 2 O. X-ray images indicated a reduction in the size of the previous cuff area. Tracheal dilatation due to improper management of cuff pressure is a contributing factor to air leakage at the cuff area, and using an adjustable flange tracheostomy tube in an effort to resolve such air leaks is a valid option.

The patient, an 83-year-old woman, was diagnosed with ER- and PgR-positive left breast cancer(T2N0M0, Stage ⅡA) at the age of 68. At the time, she underwent preoperative chemotherapy followed by Bp+Ax and postoperative radiotherapy to the conserved breast. She also received endocrine therapy as adjuvant therapy. At the age of 73, she underwent radiotherapy for multiple bone metastases and left axillary lymphadenectomy due to left axillary lymph node recurrence. After surgery, she received 4 regimens of endocrine therapy over a period of 5 years and 1 month for bone metastases. At the age of 79, S-1 was administered for pulmonary metastasis which continued for the next 2 years and 8 months. At the age of 81, palbociclib+letrozole were administered for 1 year and 8 months owing to the progression of bone metastases. At the age of 83, she developed liver metastases and was administered ethinyl estradiol, starting at 1.5 mg/day and continued at a reduced dose of 0.5 mg/day for 9 months. The reduction in tumor markers after treatment initiation was rapid, and there were no serious adverse events. Ethinyl estradiol was useful for maintaining QOL in this elderly patient with recurrent breast cancer.

Metaplastic carcinoma is a rare histological malignancy, often triple-negative, and has a poor prognosis. Here, we report a case of breast cancer in which the primary lesion degenerated into squamous cell carcinoma(triple negative)after drug treatment for invasive ductal carcinoma(Luminal type). The patient was a 41-year-old woman who was diagnosed with Stage Ⅳ left breast cancer T2N2bM1(HEP)(ER 90%, PR 70%, HER2 2+, FISH-)at another hospital and participated in the PATHWAY study(tamoxifen plus goserelin plus palbociclib/placebo). Since the primary lesion and liver metastasis increased in size, the study was discontinued after 8 weeks. She was treated at our hospital thereafter, with capecitabine plus cyclophosphamide, palbociclib plus fulvestrant plus leuprorelin, paclitaxel plus bevacizumab, eribulin, EC therapy, and docetaxel. However, both the primary lesion and liver metastasis increased. In particular, the increase in primary lesion size was remarkable, and the QOL significantly reduced due to bleeding and exudation. Biopsy performed during docetaxel treatment revealed metaplastic/squamous cell carcinoma(ER-, PR-, HER2 0, Ki-67 90-100%)histopathological findings. BRCA and microsatellite instability tests were negative, and PDL1 expression was less than 1%. Although Mohs ointment was used, tumor bleeding, exudate, and stink were poorly controlled, and the patient experienced painful symptoms due to the weight of the tumor. Therefore, left mastectomy plus pectoralis major muscle resection was performed. The patient died one month after the operation.

Purpose: The questionnaire survey investigated whether "Explainer videos about radiation therapy (RT-Video)", "Treatment of breast cancer patients by female radiation therapists (F-RTT)" and "Treating male patients while wearing underwear in pelvic radiation therapy (M-RTT)" can improve patient's satisfaction., Methods: The RT-Video survey included questions regarding the impression of radiation therapy, improving its understanding, and anxiety reduction (102 patients received radiation therapy). Fifty-one breast cancer patients were asked whether they preferred an F-RTT treatment. Subsequently, the patients treated with F-RTT (41 patients) and M-RTT (50 patients) were surveyed about their treatment satisfaction on a five-point scale., Results: RT-Video improved the understanding of radiation therapy for 86 out of 102 patients (84%). In all, 68 out of 102 patients (68%) had a negative impression of radiotherapy; among them, watching the RT-Video reduced anxiety in 63% of patients. A total of 14 out of 51 breast cancer patients (28%) preferred the F-RTT treatment. The percentage of patients who received treatment satisfaction by F-RTT and M-RTT was 95% and 84%, respectively., Conclusion: RT-Video, F-RTT and M-RTT treatments improved patients' satisfaction.

An 83-year-old woman underwent an examination for right lower abdominal pain and was diagnosed with highly advanced cecal cancer. CT showed no metastasis; thus, we attempted resection or bypass surgery. While no liver metastasis or peritoneal dissemination was observed intraoperatively, the circumflex region was highly infiltrated to the peritoneum and retroperitoneum. Considering the patient's age, resection was deemed overly invasive, so an ileum and transverse colon bypass surgery was performed. To downsize and safely remove the primary lesion, capecitabine plus bevacizumab was started. A CT examination performed after 3 courses revealed that the tumor had decreased in size. After the 4th course, surgery was performed. Intraoperative findings showed no obvious peritoneal dissemination, the tumor size was reduced, and the tumor was movable. A laparoscopic right hemicolectomy plus D3 dissection was performed. She was discharged on postoperative day 5. No obvious recurrence has been observed 6 months after surgery.

A patient was 70-year-old female. Because unknown fever following operation of left knee in December 20XX-1, abdominal simple CT was performed, diagnosed as cholecystitis and liver abscesses. However, her unknown fever did not improve with antibiotics therapy. Abdominal enhanced CT and MRI revealed to gallbladder cancer with liver invasion and metastases. These lesions were relatively localized in liver S4a/S5 and gallbladder, hepatoduodenal mesentery. Because unknown fever was exhausting, cholecystectomy, S4a+S5 hepatectomy with extrahepatic bile duct resection and lymph node dissemination were performed in January 20XX+1. In these pathological findings, there were moderate to poorly differentiated adenocarcinoma with squamous cell differentiation in almost area of gallbladder, diagnosed as adeno-squamous carcinoma with liver invasion and metastasis(pT3a[SI][H-inf], int, INF-β, ly1, v3, pn1, pN1, pM1, pStage ⅣB). One months after operation, abdominal CT revealed multiple liver metastatic recurrences. She died 7 months after operation. Although gallbladder adeno-squamous carcinoma has a poor prognosis, these many cases had a tendency to local infiltration accompanied with tumor fever. If curative resection might be obtained and the symptoms might be improved, aggressive resection should be performed.

A 69-year-old female underwent a mesh repair for an abdominal incisional hernia 4 years previously in our hospital. She visited local hospital for abdominal pain and fever. Abdominal CT showed a localizes abscess formation above the mesh, then she was taken to our hospital. We suspected mesh infection and performed emergent mesh removal. After the operation, we examined for her anemia. Her colonoscopy and CT findings pointed to transverse colon cancer. We performed right hemicolectomy, and final diagnosis was transverse colon cancer pT4aN0M0, pStage Ⅱb. She underwent adjuvant chemotherapy, and 9 months after surgery, no recurrence was found.

A 49-year-old woman was admitted to our hospital because of a tumor in her right breast. The tumor was localized to the C area and was approximately 3 cm in size. A right axillary lymphadenopathy was also found. Histopathological examination and needle biopsy of the breast tumor revealed invasive lobular carcinoma, and she was diagnosed with Stage ⅡB triple-negative breast cancer(cT2N1M0). Paclitaxel plus bevacizumab chemotherapy followed by ddAC chemotherapy was administered as neoadjuvant chemotherapy, but the tumor remained stable. Thus, she underwent mastectomy and lymph node dissection. Pathological findings of the resected specimen showed invasive carcinoma with cartilaginous differentiation. She was then treated with capecitabine 15 days after the surgery; however, multiple lung metastases were found on CT after 6 courses. Therefore, she was transferred to another hospital and received other chemotherapies, but died after 5 months.

A 61-year-old woman, who consulted another doctor with chief complaints of epigastric pain, nausea, anorexia, palpitation, and shortness of breath since a month was referred to our hospital for diagnosis and treatment. She was diagnosed with advanced gastric cancer. She was also found to have severe anemia(hemoglobin 1.8 g/dL)and malnutrition. With adequate precautions to prevent development of heart failure and refeeding syndrome, the patient was treated for anemia with blood transfusion and intravenous iron injection; and for malnutrition with intravenous hyperalimentation and enteral nutrition. The patient underwent distal gastrectomy 17 days after admission. Histological examination revealed a type 3 moderately differentiated tubular adenocarcinoma>solid type of poorly differentiated adenocarcinoma>mucinous adenocarcinoma corresponding to pT4a, pN3a, pStage ⅢB, respectively. The postoperative course was good and adjuvant chemotherapy was started 22 days after surgery. However, the patient died approximately 15 months after surgery due to metastases of gastric cancer to the lymph nodes.

Objective　Stool reflect our dietary and nutritional status as well as the characteristics of gut microbiota; thus, stool can be a convenient, noninvasive index for the evaluation of physical health and nutritional intake. However, there are few studies on appropriate tools for comprehensive and easy-to-perform objective assessments of stool. Therefore, there is a need for an effective questionnaire to accurately ascertain daily bowel movement patterns ("usual evacuation") and stool characteristics. Herein, we have created an assessment tool to determine stool characteristics (volume, color, form, etc.). To investigate the validity of this tool, we compared the results with evacuation diary data wherein the participants were asked to record the number of evacuations and stool characteristics.Methods　This study included 35 adult men and women, aged 22-78 years (45.2±17.1years). A questionnaire was administered to the subjects on usual stool characteristics for the most recent month, including the average number of evacuations, stool volume per evacuation, stool color and form, stool float, and abdominal bloating. To confirm the reproducibility of each item of this questionnaire, the survey was performed twice. Thereafter, an evacuation diary was used, wherein the subjects recorded the daily number of evacuations and stool characteristics for one week. Using the evacuation diary as the valid criterion for the number of evacuations and stool characteristics, we compared responses between the diary and the usual stool questionnaire. Additionally, the questionnaire had two types of responses for the number of evacuations, namely, multiple choice for categories indicating the number of evacuations and open answers using numerical values.Results　Assessment of the reproducibility of the questionnaire on usual stool by Spearman rank correlation coefficients showed a significant correlation (ρ=0.431-0.911) for all items. The weighted κ coefficient also showed high coincidence (weighted κ=0.348-0.841). Validity was assessed by comparing the number of evacuations per one-week period between the evacuation diary and the usual stool questionnaire. A higher correlation (ρ=0.855) was observed in the open responses for the number of evacuations per one-week period. Assessment of the correlations between median values for responses to stool characteristics in the one-week evacuation diary and the usual stool questionnaire showed significant correlation (ρ=0.429-0.800) for all items except for "stool float".Conclusion　We confirmed the high reproducibility and validity of the questionnaire created in this study for the assessment of usual bowel movement patterns and stool characteristics.

An 84-year-old woman with a chief complaint of right lower abdominal pain was admitted to our hospital in November 20XX. Abdominal CT scan revealed a 9.6×4.1 cm diameter low density area proximal to the 13 mm diameter appendix, which led to perforated appendicitis with a huge abscess. The patient underwent an open appendectomy with partial cecum resection. The appendix was found to be twisted by 540°. The pathological diagnosis was low-grade appendiceal mucinous neoplasm(LAMN). Recent research has found that the use of laparoscopic surgery for the treatment of LAMN has been increasing. Appropriate surgical intervention should be considered for LAMN because it is a borderline malignancy. Careful treatment with laparoscopic surgery might be considered as one of the treatment options for LAMN. We hope to accumulate more cases of LAMN to confirm our results.

A 60's woman was admitted to our hospital because of palpitations that occurred with exertion. Coronary angiography computed tomography(CT)of suspected angina detected a tumor in the pancreatic head region. Abdominal CT showed a poorly enhanced 40×32 mm solid tumor in the hepatoduodenal ligament that contained a fatty component and calcification. During surgery, the tumor was located in the hepatoduodenal ligament, adhered to the pancreatic head, common hepatic artery, gastroduodenal artery, portal vein and common bile duct. However, the tumor was resected by preserving them. The tumor contained stratified squamous epithelium, a sebaceous gland, nerve, a pancreatic gland, and an adrenal gland. The histological diagnosis was a mature cystic teratoma. The patient showed no recurrence in 2 years and 10 months post-surgery. Mature teratomas in the hepatoduodenal ligament are extremely rare. Some reports showed that combined resection was performed when the tumor was in contact with the common bile duct, portal vein, and arteries. However, in our case, the tumor was removed relatively safely without combined resection.

A 50-year-old woman was admitted to our hospital due to intermittent epigastric pain and vomiting for 2 months. Contrast enhanced CT scan showed stenosis in the upper jejunum. She was diagnosed with small intestinal ileus. A small enteroscopy revealed a peripheral type 2 lesion in the upper jejunum, approximately 10 cm from the Treitz's ligament. Upon biopsy, she was diagnosed with a well-differentiated adenocarcinoma. A laparoscope-assisted extracorporeal operation was performed due to the ease of raising the umbilical wound. Swollen lymph nodes were found in the mesentery. A surgical margin of 5 cm on the oral side and 20 cm on the anal side was secured. We performed partial resection of the small intestine, including the mesentery with the enlarged lymph nodes. The histopathological diagnosis was a Type 2, 3×2 cm, tub2, pT4aN1aM0, pStage Ⅲb small intestinal cancer. Due to the development of small intestinal ileus, the small bowel cancer was diagnosed preoperatively. Hence, it was slightly we will report including the literature consideration of.

A 78-year-old woman had undergone subtotal stomach-preserving pancreatoduodenectomy for acinar cell carcinoma (ACC)of the pancreatic head approximately 2 years before presentation, and the pathological diagnosis had been pT2pN0pM0, fStageⅠB(JPS 7th). Adjuvant chemotherapy was discontinued after 3 months because of side effects. Contrast- enhanced CT and PET-CT 2 years postoperatively revealed a tumor measuring 2 cm with a high concentration of FDG in the minor curvature of the stomach. During laparotomy, a 3 cm large lymph node was palpated in the minor curvature of the stomach, and a small lymph node was found adjacently. We diagnosed the patient with multiple lymph node recurrences and performed gastric lymph node dissection of the minor curvature. The pathological diagnosis was a single 2 cm large ACC lymph node metastasis. The patient did not consent to postoperative adjuvant chemotherapy and showed no recurrence for 1 year and 7 months postoperatively. Pancreatic ACC is a rare pancreatic tumor, and its clinicopathologic features are still largely unknown. In recent years, there have been reports of active resection or long-term survival with anti-cancer drug treatment even in recurrent cases, such as the present case. However, the indication and method of anti-cancer treatment are unclear and might need the accumulation of many more cases.

The patient was a 79-year-old woman. In January 20XX, upper gastrointestinal endoscopy revealed a duodenal tumor with bleeding and ulceration. This tumor was diagnosed as a duodenal neuroendocrine tumor(NET)based on biopsy findings. In March 20XX, the patient underwent pancreatoduodenectomy with lymph node dissemination. Based on these pathological findings, the tumor was diagnosed as a duodenal NET(G2)with a lymph node metastasis(T2, N1, M0, Stage Ⅲ). Twenty months after the operation, abdominal CT revealed multiple liver metastases(S4, S7, and S8). After this recurrence, she underwent the subcutaneous somatostatin analogue injection therapy every 28 days, and transarterial chemoembolization( TACE)when these recurrent tumors showed remarkable regrowth, once a year, accounting for her age. She has maintained good disease control for 5 years.

In December 20XX-1, abdominal enhanced CT of a 73-year-old female patient showed a 28mm-in-diameter pancreatic tail cancer with splenic venous invasion. She underwent neoadjuvant GEM/TS-1 combination chemotherapy but abandoned this chemotherapy due to melena and exanthema. She underwent a distal pancreatectomy with lymph node dissemination. In these pathological findings, the tumor was diagnosed as a pancreatic tail cancer with splenic venous invasion(T3, N0, M0, Stage ⅡA). She underwent adjuvant GEM chemotherapy, but she abandoned this chemotherapy due to exanthema and was managed with observation. In September 20XX, she had a postoperative bowel obstruction and was treated with natural light. However, she had a postoperative bowel obstruction again in July, 20XX+1. Fluoroscopic images revealed stenosis in the intestine located 170 cm from the nasal cavity. She underwent open surgery to manage the bowel obstruction. There was a peritoneal tumor with adhesion to each intestine serosa in 3 areas located 80 cm, 100 cm, and 150 cm from the Treitz ligament. Therefore, she underwent a small intestine resection and anastomosis 70 cm to 110 cm from the Treitz ligament. Pathological findings showed that there was a 3mm-in-diameter adenocarcinoma in this peritoneal tumor. In these findings, this final diagnosis was an adhesive intestinal obstruction caused by peritoneal metastasis. Curative resection for single peritoneal recurrent metastasis might be useful for prognosis prolongation.

A man in his 80s was admitted to our hospital with a chief complaint of bloody stools. He was diagnosed with cT2N0M0, cStage Ⅰ rectal cancer. As the patient was of advanced age and had multiple comorbidities, definitive chemoradiotherapy was administered. Immediately after treatment, the patient achieved a complete clinical response, and recurrence has not been detected for 2 years and 3 months since treatment.

A man in his 60s with a large Type 3 gastric cancer presented with the chief complaint of epicardial discomfort. We decided to perform laparoscopy. The patient was diagnosed with cT4aN2M1(CY1), cStage Ⅳ disease and was treated with XP(capecitabine plus cisplatin[CDDP])plus trastuzumab(HER). After chemotherapy, CY0 was confirmed using laparoscopy. The patient underwent total gastrectomy and D2 lymph node dissection. Histopathological examination revealed ypT4aN3M0, ypStage ⅢC disease. Therefore, adjuvant treatment with XP plus HER was continued. Four months after surgery, liver, lung, and # 16b1latLN metastases were observed on CT. The metastatic foci were observed even after 3 courses of ramucirumab plus paclitaxel. Nivolumab was administered as the third-line treatment; after 3 courses, the liver metastasis increased markedly. Hence, our final diagnosis was hyperprogressive disease(HPD).

A 57-year-old woman was diagnosed with advanced gastric cancer with bone marrow metastasis(cT4aN1pM1[MAR], pStage Ⅳ). After 18 courses of S-1 and cisplatin and 18 courses of ramucirumab and paclitaxel, the chemotherapy was stopped because of stenosis. We performed endoscopic metallic stent placement, but stenosis reappeared after a month. Subsequently, distal gastrectomy was performed as a palliative surgery. She had no complications and improved appetite, therefore, she resumed chemotherapy after 3 postoperative months and continued for 4 years and 9 months from the first visit. In general, gastric cancer with bone marrow metastasis has a poor prognosis, however, in this case, long-term survival was achieved with palliative surgery.

A 67-year-old woman was diagnosed with Stage ⅡA breast cancer(T2N0M0)in 2003. She underwent mastectomy and lymph node dissection. Oral fluoropyrimidine was administered for 3 years as adjuvant chemotherapy. In 2008, the patient was diagnosed with multiple bone metastases and left supraclavicular lymph node metastasis. Radiotherapy was performed on the left first rib and left supraclavicular lymph node. She was treated with chemotherapy and endocrine therapy and bone metastasis therapeutic agent. In 2013, multiple liver metastases were noted and treated with chemotherapy. Liver metastases were well-controlled. Endocrine therapy was continued for bone metastases without visceral metastasis. In 2016, the patient was diagnosed with bone marrow carcinomatosis and died 2 weeks later due to bone marrow carcinomatosis.

A 70's male was admitted to our hospital with complaints of anorexia and abdominal pain. CT showed thickening of the ascending colon. Colonoscopy revealed multiple diverticula of the ascending colon, but no tumor on the mucosa. The patient was diagnosed as a case of diverticulitis of the ascending colon and was advised laparoscopic ileocecal resection. The resected specimen showed wall thickening; however, no remarkable findings were observed, with the exception of multiple diverticula on the mucosal surface. Histological examination showed well-differentiated tubular adenocarcinoma extending into the serosa probably arising from the diverticulum. Chemotherapy was performed after surgery. The patient died due to peritoneal dissemination from the ascending colon cancer 14 months after surgery.

A70s man was admitted to our hospital complaining of chest discomfort. Endoscopic examination showed mucosal erythema and irregularity and an area unstained by iodine in the middle esophagus 21 to 41 cm from the incisors. The biopsy specimen showed moderately differentiated squamous cell carcinoma. An abdominal computed tomographic(CT)scan revealed swelling of the lymph nodes along the celiac artery and abdominal aorta. The patient was diagnosed with unresectable advanced esophageal cancer(cT2N4M0, cStage Ⅳa). Systemic chemotherapy was initiated using a regimen of 5-FU and cisplatin(FP). After 2 courses of chemotherapy, an abdominal CT scan showed reduction of the lymph node swelling along the abdominal aorta, but the lymph node swelling remained along the celiac artery. Therefore, chemoradiotherapy(CRT; FP plus RT 60 Gy/30 Fr at the main tumor and the swelling of lymph nodes along the celiac artery)was administered. An abdominal CT scan showed reduced swelling of the lymph nodes along the abdominal aorta and the celiac artery after CRT. In addition, FP chemotherapy was also administered. APET -CT scan showed no increased FDG up take in the main tumor and swollen lymph nodes after 2 courses of chemotherapy. The complete response(CR)has been maintained for 30 months without therapy.

A 71-year-old woman complained of melena, and laparoscopic right hemicolectomy was performed for advanced colorec- tal cancer. Pathological examination revealed pStage Ⅲa(RAS-positive)disease. After the operation, UFT/LV was administered. However, peritoneal recurrence was confirmed. We changed the chemotherapeutic regimen to CapeOX plus Bmab and capecitabine plus Bmab. After 5 years and 9 months, pulmonary metastasis was observed. Therefore, we again changed the chemotherapeutic regimen to biweekly XELIRI plus Bmab. After 43 courses, the patient had stable disease. During biweekly XELIRI plus Bmab therapy, Grade 4 neutropenia occurred, so we reduced the CPT-11 dose by 20%. After dose reduction the patient experienced no more Grade 3/4 adverse events. We experienced a case of colorectal cancer wherein biweekly XELIRI plus Bmab therapy contributed to disease control as second-line treatment.

The patient was a 65-year-old woman who was diagnosed with Stage III A triple-negative breast cancer(T2N2aM0)at the age of 63. AC chemotherapy(3 months)followed by paclitaxel plus bevacizumab(4 months)was administered as neoadjuvant chemotherapy. After chemotherapy, she underwent mastectomy and lymph node dissection. Pathological examination revealed a partial response. After surgery, radiotherapy with a radiation dose of 50 Gy was applied to the chest wall and supraclavicular lymph node. Multiple pulmonary metastases and mediastinal lymph node metastases were diagnosed 23 months after initial treatment, and she was treated with S-1 administration. Two months after S-1 treatment, the PET-CT showed metastasis in the right atrium. Since there were no cardiac symptoms, S-1 treatment was continued without cardiovascular treatment. However, the mediastinal lymph node metastasis progressed; and therefore, S-1 administration was stopped and chemotherapy with eribulin was initiated. Brain metastasis was diagnosed at the same time and treated with a gamma knife. Although chemotherapy with eribulin was continued, the patient died 33 months after initial treatment owing to the brain metastasis. The cardiac metastasis did not progress during chemotherapy with eribulin. There was no sign of heart failure or arrhythmia during the treatment.

Systemic chemotherapy based on 5-fluorouracil(5-FU)is a standard treatment for unresectable or recurrent colon cancers. Here, we report a case of hyperammonemia induced by chemotherapy using 5-FU for metastatic colon cancer. An 84-yearold male patient with past histories of liver cirrhosis related to hepatitis C virus and renal dysfunction underwent an operation for the rectosigmoid colon cancer 8 years ago. Three years after that operation, a local recurrence of the colon cancer was diagnosed, and chemotherapy using sLV5FU2 was initiated. The recurrence lesion reduced markedly by this chemotherapy, which was ceased 2 years ago. Two years after the cessation the recurrent tumor had been enlarged, and the chemotherapy using the same drugs at the same dose was performed. On the treatment day 3, he was emergently transported to our hospital due to the disturbance of consciousness. Since laboratory tests showed the high concentration of plasma ammonia and the progressed renal dysfunction with no other definite cause of obnubilation, he was diagnosed as the hyperammonemia induced by 5-FU. He was treated by administrating the branched-chain amino acids solutions combined with fluid therapy, which quickly recovered him from the encephalopathy. He is followed up without any chemotherapy because of his high age. When a patient treated with the chemotherapy using 5-FU is sent with the disturbance of consciousness, we should take hyperammonemia into consideration, especially when he or she has the hepatic or renal dysfunction.

A patient was 59-year-old female. She presented our hospital with weight loss, anorexia and lower abdominal bloating. Abdominal computed tomography(CT), gastrointestinal endoscopy, colonoscopy and duodenal fistulagram showed duodenal cancer or colon cancer with duodenocolic fistula and ovary metastasis. She underwent subtotal stomach preserving pancreatoduodenectomy and right hemicolectomy. In these pathological findings, tumor was diagnosed as a duodenal cancer with duodenocolic fistula. She was surviving 12 months after the last surgery. In cases of cancer with duodenocolic fistula, pancreatoduodenectomy with right hemicolectomy would be necessary for nutrition improvement and cancer treatment.

We report a case of chemotherapy with FOLFOXIRI plus cetuximab for liver metastasis of sigmoid colon cancer. The patient was a 40's man who was diagnosed with sigmoid colon cancer with liver metastasis. Colonoscopy revealed a type 2 tumor with stenosis in the sigmoid colon. He underwent sigmoidectomy under laparotomy, and after the operation, received 7 courses of chemotherapy with FOLFOXIRI plus cetuximab. The liver tumor was sufficiently reduced, and laparotomy and liver right lobectomy were performed. Histopathology revealed a modified, Grade 2 tumor regression. He has been followed for 1 year 4months after the operation.

The patient was a 66-year-old man. Total abdominal gastrectomy and D2 dissection were performed for gastric cancer (cT3N0M0P0CYXH0, cStage II A). Pathological examination confirmed a diagnosis of Stage III C mucinous adenocarcinoma (pT4pN3pM0, pStage III C). He underwent adjuvant chemotherapy with TS-1(120mg/body). One year after adjuvant chemotherapy, anastomotic stricture was caused. Although it was not possible to point out recurrent lesions on the CT image, we strongly suspected that extrinsic compression around the anastomotic portion was due to peritoneal dissemination recurrence because of symptoms and marked tumor elevation. Therefore, TS-1(120mg/body)plus cisplatin(CDDP 60mg/m2)were administered as first-line therapy for advanced gastric cancer. TS-1 plus CDDP(SP)chemotherapy resulted in marked tumor reduction and improved symptoms. However, after 33 courses of SP chemotherapy, renal function was worse due to cisplatin; thus, docetaxel(DTX 70mg/m2)was administered as second line therapy. After 8 courses of DTX, peritoneal dissemination recurrence was diagnosed, and the patient was treated with irinotecan(CPT-11 150mg/m / 2), ramucirumab(RAM 8 mg/kg) plus paclitaxel(PTX 80mg/m2 day 1, 8, 15). However, the disease worsened. The side effect of SP therapy was renal dysfunction. Nonetheless, we experienced that long-term disease control could be achieved by administering chemotherapy under strict follow-up.

Endoscopic placement of self-expandable metallic stents is reportedly effective for gastric outlet obstructions due to advanced gastric cancer, and is less invasive than gastrojejunostomy. For patients who have good performance status, we administer chemotherapy after stent placement, although the safety and feasibility of this chemotherapy have not yet been discussed in full. Between 2011 and 2015, 15 patients at our institution underwent endoscopic gastroduodenal stent placement for gastric outlet obstruction due to gastric cancer. Eleven of these patients were administered chemotherapy after stent placement. In our case series, we did not observe any specific adverse event caused by stent placement plus chemotherapy. Adverse events after chemotherapy included anemia of CTCAE Grade 3 in 7 patients. Stent-in-stent placement was needed in 2 patients. Neither stent migration nor perforation was observed. Therefore, chemotherapy after stent placement for gastric outlet obstruction due to gastric cancer was considered safe and feasible. Stent placement is useful not only as palliative care for patients with terminal-stage disease, but also as one of the multimodal therapeutic strategies for gastric cancer.

An 82-year-old man underwent anterior resection for rectal cancer in 2006. Local recurrence was diagnosed 5 years and 4 months after the operation. He could not undergo intensive chemotherapy because of his age and health status(a history of tubercular and pancytopenia due to chronic hepatitis C). sLV5FU2 chemotherapy was initiated. The CEA level decreased immediately after chemotherapy, and a complete response was observed on CT. After 18 courses, chemotherapy was discontinued. A complete response was detected for 1 year after the chemotherapy holiday began. For patients who experience difficulty tolerating intensive chemotherapy, good outcomes have been achieved even if relatively light regimens are used. For elderly patients or those with several complications, we suggest selecting a regimen based on the QOL.

A 65-year-old man had undergone high anterior resection for rectal cancer. Seven years after the surgery, a liver metastasis was identified, and the metastasis was surgically resected. A year after the liver surgery, blood testing showed high carcinoembryonic antigen(CEA). A fluorodeoxyglucose(FDG) / -positron emission tomography(PET)/CT examination showed a high FDG accumulation at the rectal anastomosis site, and we diagnosed local recurrence of rectal cancer and prostate invasion. Because there were no distant metastases, he underwent laparoscopic lower anterior resection, radical prostatectomy, and ileostomy. Histopathological examination of the tumor revealed adenocarcinoma and invasion to the right seminal vesicle, suggesting local recurrence of the primary rectal adenocarcinoma. The surgical margin was free of cancer. Operations for local recurrence of rectal cancer are difficult because of tumor invasion and tissue adhesions. In spite of the extended operation, the patient showed good postoperative recovery. Laparoscopic resection for local recurrence of rectal cancer is less invasive than open abdominal operations, and it may be the treatment of choice for local recurrences of rectal cancer.

Pancreatic metastasis of colorectal cancer is uncommon and is often identified in later stages of cancer, thereby making resection more uncommon. We report a case oflong -term survival after resection of metachronous metastasis to the pancreas from primary sigmoid colon cancer. A 50-year-old female patient underwent a sigmoid colon resection and bilateral salpingo-oophorectomy for sigmoid colon cancer and metastatic ovarian cancer in 2007. She underwent partial lung resection for metastatic lung cancer twice. Four years and 11 months after the first operation, an isolated mass was identified in the pancreatic tail, and a distal pancreatectomy, splenectomy, left adrenal gland removal, and regional lymph node dissection were performed. The tumor stained negatively for cytokeratin 7 and positively for cytokeratin 20, resulting in a diagnosis of pancreatic metastatic cancer from sigmoid colon cancer. The patient is alive 3 years and 4 months after distal pancreatectomy. This suggests that curative resection is effective for metastasis of colorectal cancer to the pancreas, similarly to metastases to the liver and lung.

A 68-year-old man was diagnosed with rectal cancer on colonoscopy and liver metastasis of rectal cancer on abdominal computed tomography(CT). He underwent resection of the primary lesion, and the final diagnosis was A, N1, H1, P0, M0, fStage IV. After resection of the primary lesion, he received chemotherapy with mFOLFOX6 plus cetuximab. After 6 courses of the treatment, CT revealed partial response of the liver metastasis. Then, he underwent resection of the liver metastasis. The pathological finding revealed that the resected specimen had no cancer cells. After resection of the liver metastasis, he received 6 courses of chemotherapy with the same regimen, and relapse-free survival continues until the time of this writing.

The patient was a 48-year-old Japanese woman diagnosed as having systemic lupus erythematosus at the age of 21 years when she presented with fever and an erythematous skin rash on her face and extremities. Prednisolone was initiated at that time. Thirteen days before admission to our hospital, she was referred to us by her family physician. Upon admission, blood tests showed pancytopenia, hypocomplementemia, and renal dysfunction, as well as the presence of lupus anticoagulant. Urinalysis showed abundant proteinuria and heavy microscopic hematuria. After performing a renal biopsy, we initiated immunosuppressive therapy and an anticoagulant. On the 22nd hospital day, microangiopathic hemolytic anemia appeared with the progression of thrombocytopenia and renal failure, and the patient subsequently underwent ten sessions of plasma exchange. After the commencement of the plasma exchange, her general condition improved. Her renal dysfunction, however, continued to progress, and hemodialysis was started on the 36th hospital day. The light microscopy showed severe endo- and extra-capillary proliferative glomerulonephritis with abundant crescents, and massive thrombi in the capillary lumen of the glomeruli. The arterioles contained occlusive hyaline materials. An immunofluorescence study showed granular staining of immunoglobulins and complements along the glomerular capillary wall. An electron microscopy examination revealed the presence of electron-dense deposits in the subepithelial and intramembranous areas of the glomeruli, but subendothelial deposits were absent. For cases with lupus nephritis (LN), immunosuppressive therapy based on corticosteroid remains the mainstay of treatment. However, immunosuppression alone may be insufficient when antiphospholipid antibody syndrome and thrombotic microangiopathy (TMA) are also present, and other treatment modalities including antiplatelet therapy, anticoagulation, and plasma exchange are likely to be necessary, as illustrated by the present case. Although the mechanism responsible for LN remains uncertain, we report a case of LN suggesting that TMA is associated with renal dysfunction.

We report a case of human epidermal growth factor receptor 2 (HER2) -positive advanced gastric cancer effectively treated via capecitabine, cisplatin, and trastuzumab (XPT) chemotherapy followed by curative gastrectomy. The patient was a 66- year-old man with type 2 gastric cancer in the greater curvature of the gastric angle. Biopsy revealed that the tumor was a well or moderately differentiated adenocarcinoma, and immunohistochemistry showed positive expression of HER2(3+). Chest and abdominal computed tomography(CT)showed a liver tumor 21×9 mm in size in the caudate lobe and swollen lymph nodes in the paragastric, para-aortic, and left supraclavicular regions. After 4 courses of XPT, a clinical complete response was obtained. The patient received additional 13 courses of trastuzumab and capecitabine and underwent Billroth I distal gastrectomy with D2 lymph node dissection and resection of the para-aortic and left supraclavicular lymph nodes. Liver metastasis was not detected. No residual cancer cells were found in the stomach or lymph nodes except for the left supraclavicular lymph nodes. Pathological classification according to the Japanese Classification of Gastric Carcinoma, 14 th edition, was ypT0, ypN0, ypM1(LYM), Grade 2, ypStage IV. The patient developed a post-operative anastomotic leakage that required drainage via laparotomy, but was discharged 76 days after surgery in good condition.

A 78-year-old woman was diagnosed with liver and para-aortic lymph node metastasis of colorectal cancer via abdominal computed tomography (CT) during a post-operative follow-up. She and her family declined intensive chemotherapy. Therefore, reduced S-1 (80 mg/body/day) was administered for 2 weeks followed by a 2 week interval. After 5 courses, CT revealed a complete response for the liver metastasis and a partial response for the para-aorticlymph node metastasis. Twenty-four courses of chemotherapy were completed, and only a follow-up CT examination was performed. The paraaorticlymph node grew larger, but the liver metastasis did not reappear. Herein, we report a case that showed a good response to S-1.

A strategy of multidisciplinary therapy is considered necessary for the longer survival of a patient diagnosed with advanced colorectal cancer. We report a successful multi-disciplinary therapy case of a 70's-year-old male who received pulmonary resection for metastatic lung cancer twice after primary resection for rectal cancer. Solitary metastatic liver cancer with portal vein tumor thrombus (PVTT) was diagnosed 5 years and 4 months after primary surgery. Although systemic chemotherapy was started immediately, disease control was poor and local pulmonary recurrence appeared. Although intrahepatic metastasis was considered the most important prognostic factor, radiation therapy against PVTT (50 Gy) was initially performed to control disease. After verifying that no new recurrent lesions had arisen during radiation therapy, a third pulmonary resection (in the left upper remnant lobectomy)was performed. Hepatectomy(in the right lobectomy)was then performed for curative purposes. Pathological efficacy of radiation therapy to PVTT was revealed as GradeIb according to Evans' classification. In accordance with the patient's request, no adjuvant treatment was planned. Seven years after primary resection no sign of recurrence is evident. Radiation therapy is suggested to be most useful for disease control and patient selection.

We previously speculated that anticholinergic activity (AA) endogenously appeared in Alzheimer's disease (AD) and accelerated AD pathology. In this article we introduce manuscripts supporting the endogenous appearance of AA in AD and the acceleration of AD pathology. We speculate that acethylcholine (ACh) not only is related to cognitive functions but also regulates the inflammatory system. Therefore in AD, in which the ACh system is down-regulated, the hyperactivity of the inflammatory system may be caused and among cyctokines, substances having anticholinergic properties may appear. We also refer to a case in which serum anticholinergic activity (SAA) disappeared with the prescription of memantine (an antidementia agent that has the property of the N-methyl-D-aspartate (NMDA) receptor blocker) and speculate that because the hyperactivity of the inflammatory system occurs by way of the hyperactivity of NMDA receptor, memantine could abolish the AA.

Oral streptococci comprise a numerically prominent group of oral bacteria that occur primarily on the human tooth surface as members of the biofilm community, commonly referred to as dental plaque. These streptococci are not only causative of dental caries and are primers for colonization of periodontopathic bacteria, but also well known for their ability to colonize damaged heart valves, identified most frequently as primary etiological agents of infective endocarditis. A number of streptococcal cell surface components are known to contribute to colonization of the tooth surface including putative adhesins recognizing host sialic acid (sialic acid-binding adhesins). Interactions mediated by these adhesins include the attachment of these bacteria to saliva-coated hydroxyapatite and their adhesion to erythrocytes, both of which are abolished or reduced by sialidase pretreatment of the corresponding host sialoglycoconjugate receptors. The sialic acid-binding adhesin on Streptococcus gordonii, an early colonizer on the tooth surface, has been molecularly analyzed. The adhesin, Hsa (203-kDa protein), consists of an N-terminal non repetitive region (NR1) including a signal sequence, a relatively short serine-rich region (SR1), a second non repetitive region (NR2), a long serine-rich region (SR2) containing 113 dodecapeptide repeats accounting for 75% of the whole protein, and a C-terminal cell wall anchoring domain. Therefore, it has been suggested that NR2, the putative sialic acid-binding domain of Hsa, is presented on the bacterial surface at the end of a long molecular stalk formed by SR2. The present review deals with the function and pathogenicity of oral streptococcal adhesins.

A 50-year-old man with chronic renal failure (hemodialysis treatment) and interstitial pneumonia (IP) was referred to our hospital for exacerbation of IP. We immediately administered a mechanical ventilation, broad spectrum antibiotics, steroid pulse therapy, and endoxan pulse therapy in the intensive care unit, but alveolar opacities became worse. Subsequently, an intrapulmonary cavity appeared in the left middle lung field on the chest X-ray and we also administered amphotericin B. However he died of tension pneumothorax on the tenth day of hospitalization. In an autopsy the rupture of the intrapulmonary cavity of the left S3 region was detected and we diagnosed as invasive pulmonary mucormycosis by Grocott stain of the cavitary lesion. We report a rare case that complicated by fatal tension pneumothorax during treatment with a ventilator in invasive pulmonary mucormycosis and review the literature.

Enalaprilat (H2L), which is the active metabolite of the pro-drug enalapril, is an angiotensin-converting enzyme inhibitor. Some side effects such as neurodegeneration and taste disorder can be related to copper or zinc deficiency, which would be caused by the metal complex formation of dianionic elalaprilat (L(2-)). For a better understanding of this phenomenon, we investigated the solution species of enalaprilat in the presence of copper(II) or zinc(II) ions by pH titration analysis with I=0.10 M (NaCl) at 25℃. The 1:1 complex formation constants (KML=[ML]/[M(2+)][L(2-)] M(-1)) of 10(7.4) for CuL and 10(4.4) for ZnL complexes were evaluated, indicating the presence of those complexes at a physiological pH. Furthermore, partition experiments with a two-phase system of 1-butanol/water at 25℃ disclosed that copper(II) and zinc(II) complexes of enalaprilat were partially extracted into the organic layer. In the absence of those metal ions, enalaprilat was not soluble in the 1-butanol phase. The increase in lipophilicity of enalaprilat by metal complexation suggests that the long-term administration of enalapril could be a possible risk factor for the disrupted distribution of those metal ions in biological systems.

We reviewed the importance of measuring serum anticholinergic activity (SAA) in patients with Alzheimer's disease (AD). Since Tune and Coyle reported a simple method for assessing SAA using radioreceptor-binding assay, SAA is assumed to be the cumulative activity of parent medications and their metabolites and its relationship with delirium and cognitive functions has been debated. However, we evaluated the SAA in AD patients and SAA was correlated with prescription of antipsychotic medications, cognitive dysfunctions, severity of AD and psychotic symptoms, especially, with delusion and diurnal rhythm disturbance. From these results, we should not only pay attention to avoiding the prescription of medications with anticholinergic activity but also we speculated that AA appeared endogenously in AD and accelerated AD pathology. Moreover, there might be the possibility that SAA has predictive value for assessing the progressiveness of AD and as a biological marker for AD.

Although the flexible endoscopy has been widely used in the medical field for many years, there is still great potential in improving the endoscopist's capability to perform therapeutic tasks. The application of flexible endoscopy tools for natural orifice translumenal endoscopic surgery (NOTES) is constrained due to limitations in dexterity, instrument insertion, navigation, visualization, and retraction. Miniature endolumenal robots can mitigate these constraints by providing a stable platform for visualization and dexterous manipulation. In this paper, we describe the high-functioned 'intelligent' endoscopic surgery system with navigation. This system has equipped with accurate master-slave manipulation micro arms which can be used in tandem with a conventional flexible endoscope. The system also has an integrated ultrasound probe and high intensity focused ultrasound (HIFU) applicator. With the continued development of the techniques and technology of intelligent endoscopy, innovative minimally invasive personalized therapy may realize.

Objective: To assess the cost-effectiveness of chemotherapy for patients with non-resectable pancreatic cancer, we compared two regimens containing either gemcitabine (GEM) or S-1., Methods: We developed a decision tree that showed the clinical processes of non-resectable pancreatic cancer patients. We calculated the probabilities of endpoint and life months gained (LMG) based on previously reported articles. To estimate the costs, we analyzed medical records of 44 inpatients with non-resectable pancreatic cancer treated with GEM(n=34)or S-1(n=10). Sensitivity analysis was used to check the robustness of the results., Results: In the GEM group and S-1 group, costs were 1,636,393 and 985,042 yen, and LMG was 6. 0 and 9. 0 months, respectively. Thus, the cost-effectiveness ratio(CER)was calculated to be 272,732 and 109,449 yen/LMG, respectively, and the incremental cost effectiveness ratio (ICER) was -217,117 yen/LMG. The sensitivity analysis showed that the result was definitely robust., Conclusion: Our findings suggest that the markedly cost-effective S-1 regimen could prolong LMG with less cost than the GEM regimen.

The first case was a 40-year-old woman who was referred to our hospital with a complaint of left breast tumor. She was diagnosed as invasive ductal carcinoma (T2N0M0, Stage IIA). The tumor was ER-negative, PR-negative and HER2-positive. After primary systemic chemotherapy with 6 courses of 5-fluorouracil+epirubicin+cyclophosphamide(FEC)and 3 courses of weekly paclitaxel (PTX)+trastuzumab, the efficacy of chemotherapy was judged as a complete response (CR). After chemotherapy, radiotherapy for her left breast was performed without surgery. At 21 months after CR, local efficacy was judged as CR, but liver and bone metastases appeared, and were treated by capecitabine and trastuzumab. The efficacy of chemotherapy was judged as a partial response (PR). The second case was a 26-year-old woman referred to our hospital with a complaint of right breast tumor. She was diagnosed as invasive lobular carcinoma (T2N0M0, Stage IIA). The tumor was ER-positive, PR-negative and HER2-positive. After primary systemic chemotherapy with 4 courses of FEC and 6 courses of docetaxel+trastuzumab, the efficacy of chemotherapy was judged as CR. Then, 4 courses of weekly PTX+trastuzumab were performed. After chemotherapy, radiotherapy for her right breast was performed without surgery. The efficacy of treatment was judged as CR for 15 months.

A 33-year-old woman was referred to our hospital with a complaint of left breast tumor. After examinations, she was diagnosed as invasive ductal carcinoma with sternum metastasis (T2N0M1(OSS), Stage IV). The tumor was hormone receptor- positive and HER2-negative. Primary systemic chemotherapy with FEC was performed. After four courses, the efficacy was judged as a partial response (PR). After chemotherapy, endocrine therapy with goserelin and tamoxifen was performed. The efficacy of endocrine therapy was as good as that of chemotherapy. After endocrine therapy for 13 months, breast conserving-surgery was performed. After surgery, radiotherapy for left breast and sternum was performed. She continues to undergo outpatient endocrine therapy with no detectable tumor. It is suggested that neoadjuvant endocrine therapy may be useful with consideration for treatment effectiveness and the patient's quality of life.