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This study aims to evaluate the influence of myosteatosis on survival of patients after radical cystectomy (RC) for bladder cancer. We retrospectively identified 230 patients who underwent RC for bladder cancer at our three institutions between 2009 and 2018. Digitized free-hand outlines of the left and right psoas muscles were made on axial non-contrast computed tomography images at level L3. To assess myosteatosis, average total psoas density (ATPD) in Hounsfield Units (HU) was also calculated as an average of bilateral psoas muscle density. We compared cancer-specific survival (CSS) between high ATPD and low ATPD groups and performed cox regression hazard analyses to identify the predictors of CSS. Median ATPD was 44 HU (quartile: 39–47 Hounsfield Units). Two-year CSS rate in overall patients was 76.6%. Patients with low ATPD (P = 0.01) than patients with high ATPD (≥ 44 HU). According to multivariate analysis, significant independent predictors of poor CSS were: Eastern Cooperative Oncology Group performance status ≥ 1 (P = 0.03), decreasing ATPD (P = 0.03), non-urothelial carcinoma (P = 0.01), pT ≥ 3 (P P

Our objectives were to compare measurements of ureteral wall area, ureteral wall volume and ureteral wall thickness for their use in prediction of shock wave lithotripsy outcomes. We retrospectively identified 218 patients that underwent shock wave lithotripsy for ureteral calculi with pretreatment non-contrast computed tomography. We measured ureteral wall thickness, ureteral wall area and ureteral wall volume by high functional viewer. Ureteral wall thickness was defined as the maximum thickness of ureteral wall, and ureteral wall area as the area of ureteral wall around the stone in the maximal stone diameter on axial computed tomography image. Ureteral wall volume was defined as the volume of ureteral wall from the upper to lower edge of the stone. Treatment success was defined as absence of residual fragments within 3 months after the first session. We compared the outcome predictive power among these parameters and logistic regression analysis to identify factors contributing to treatment failure. The treatment success rate was 47.6%. Ureteral wall thickness, ureteral wall area and ureteral wall volume in successful cases were all significantly smaller than those in unsuccessful cases (all p

We herein present an innovative technique of laparoscopic posterior mesh rectopexy (LPMR) for full-thickness rectal prolapse and report the clinical outcomes in our institution. Ten consecutive patients who were treated with our latest LPMR technique using mesh with an anti-adhesion coating from June 2014 to May 2017 were retrospectively analyzed. All patients were women with a mean age of 63.6 years (range, 39 to 82 y). The median operative time and blood loss volume were 197.5 minutes (range, 156 to 285 min) and 0 mL (range, 0 to 152 mL), respectively. No perioperative complications occurred, including surgical site infection, pneumonia, urinary dysfunction, and intestinal obstruction. The median follow-up duration was 768 days (range, 396 to 1150 d). During the follow-up, the cumulative incidence of full-thickness rectal prolapse and any mesh-related complications was 0. It may be possible to eliminate retroperitoneal closure using a mesh with an anti-adhesion coating. Our LPMR technique appears safe and acceptable.

Objectives The objective of the present study was to investigate the usefulness of three-dimensional images of stones to measure mean stone density for predicting the outcome of shock wave lithotripsy. Methods We retrospectively identified 239 patients who underwent shock wave lithotripsy with pretreatment non-contrast computed tomography. We automatically measured the mean stone density of three-dimensional images of stones using a high-functional viewer. For comparison, mean stone density was also measured by two previously reported techniques using both the abdominal windows and the bone windows on the axial slice at the level of the largest diameter of the stone. We compared the outcome predictive power after the first treatment with outcomes according to measurement by four other methods. We also carried out logistic regression analysis, including mean stone density measured by three-dimensional images. Results The single treatment success rate was 48.5%. The effect size (14.148) of the mean stone density measured by three-dimensional images was higher than those of the other four manual methods. In addition, the area under the curve (0.6330) of the mean stone density measured by three-dimensional images was significantly higher than those of the other methods. Increasing stone volume (P = 0.002) and increasing mean stone density measured by three-dimensional images (P = 0.023) were significant independent predictors of the treatment outcome on multivariate analysis. Conclusions This is the first study to compare the predictive powers for shock wave lithotripsy outcome of various mean stone density measuring methods. There is an indication that mean stone density automatically measured by three-dimensional images of stones is more useful than other measuring methods for predicting outcomes of shock wave lithotripsy.

Objectives To identify biomarkers predicting prognosis in bladder cancer patients undergoing the gemcitabine and cisplatin regimen. Methods We studied 52 patients with metastatic bladder cancer treated with the gemcitabine and cisplatin regimen by evaluating the relationship between the expression of two biomarkers, ribonucleotide reductase subunit M1 and excision repair cross complementing 1, by immunohistochemistry and clinical outcomes. Results The patients with low expression of ribonucleotide reductase subunit M1 showed a higher objective response rate by the gemcitabine and cisplatin regimen than those with high expression of ribonucleotide reductase subunit M1 (80.0% and 45.5%, respectively). No differences were observed according to the expression level of excision repair cross complementing 1. Low expression of ribonucleotide reductase subunit M1 significantly prolonged overall survival and progression-free survival compared with the high expression group. Low expression of excision repair cross complementing 1 tended to prolong overall survival and progression-free survival, but there were no significant differences (P = 0.07 and 0.10, respectively). Multivariate analysis showed that the expression of ribonucleotide reductase subunit M1 was the only independent prognostic factor (P = 0.012). Conclusions The expressions of ribonucleotide reductase subunit M1 seem to be associated with clinical response and survival in patients with metastatic bladder cancer treated with gemcitabine and cisplatin-based chemotherapy.

Background It remains controversial as to whether active stone removal should be performed in patients with poor performance status because of their short life expectancy and perioperative risks. Our objectives were to evaluate treatment outcomes of active stone removal in patients with poor performance status and to compare life prognosis with those managed conservatively. Methods We retrospectively reviewed 74 patients with Eastern Cooperative Oncology Group performance status 3 or 4 treated for upper urinary tract calculi at our four hospitals between January 2009 and March 2016. Patients were classified into either surgical treatment group or conservative management group based on the presence of active stone removal. Stone-free rate and perioperative complications in surgical treatment group were reviewed. In addition, we compared overall survival and stone-specific survival between the two groups. Cox proportional hazards analysis was performed to investigate predictors of overall survival and stone-specific survival. Results Fifty-two patients (70.3%) underwent active stone removal (surgical treatment group) by extracorporeal shock wave lithotripsy (n = 6), ureteroscopy (n = 39), percutaneous nephrolithotomy (n = 6) or nephrectomy (n = 1). The overall stone-free rate was 78.8% and perioperative complication was observed in nine patients (17.3%). Conservative treatment was undergone by 22 patients (29.7%) (conservative management group). Two-year overall survival rates in surgical treatment and conservative management groups were 88.0% and 38.4%, respectively (p

OBJECTIVES To compare various fat parameters based on computed tomography images between recurrent stone-forming patients and patients forming stones for the first time. METHODS Included in the present study were 300 patients with upper urinary tract calculi who had undergone active stone removal in our hospital. Using pretreatment computed tomography images, we measured visceral fat area and volume, subcutaneous fat area and volume, visceral fat area ratio and visceral fat volume ratio. We compared patient backgrounds and these fat parameters between those who recurrently formed stones and those who formed stones for the first time. We also performed logistic regression analysis to identify factors that contribute to severe stones. RESULTS A total of 148 (49.3%) patients were recurrent stone-forming patients. Recurrent stone-forming patients were statistically significantly younger (P < 0.01) and there were more male patients (P < 0.01). In addition, visceral fat area ratio and visceral fat volume ratio in recurrent stone-forming patients were significantly higher than those in first-time stone-forming patients (P = 0.03 and P = 0.01, respectively). On the other hand, there was no significant difference in visceral fat area (P = 0.32), subcutaneous fat area (P = 0.36), visceral fat volume (P = 0.38) or subcutaneous fat volume (P = 0.23). Receiver operating characteristics analysis showed that area under the curve of visceral fat volume ratio (0.583) for recurrent stones was larger than that of visceral fat area ratio (0.571). In multivariate analysis, increasing visceral fat volume ratio was an independent significant predictor of recurrent stones (P = 0.04). CONCLUSIONS Recurrent stone-forming patients have high visceral fat ratios compared to first-time stone-forming patients, shown here for the first time.

Although previous studies have indicated that stone heterogeneity can affect extracorporeal shockwave lithotripsy (SWL) outcomes, there is no established measurement of stone heterogeneity on CT imagery. We investigated whether variation coefficient of stone density (VCSD) can predict shockwave success.We conducted a retrospective review of 245 patients with urinary calculi who had undergone SWL. We compared the predictive powers of treatment success between VCSD and other parameters associated with CT attenuation. In addition, we performed logistic regression analysis to identify the factors contributing to treatment success. Treatment success was determined within 3 months after first treatment using noncontrast CT.The treatment success rate was 47.8% (117/245 cases). From receiver operating characteristic curves for treatment success, area under curve of VCSD (0.7181) was larger than that of mean stone density (MSD) (0.6384, p = 0.09) and standard deviation of stone density (0.5412, p 0.01). Multivariate analysis revealed that MSD (p = 0.028) and VCSD (p 0.001) independently predicted the outcome. Categorized by stone location, VCSD was the independent significant predictor for SWL outcomes in both kidney (p = 0.047) and ureteral calculi (p 0.001).We found that VCSD can be a novel predictor of SWL success. The development of nomograms or scoring systems, including VCSD, can assist in the decision process for patients and minimize unnecessary delay in treatment of urolithiasis.

Objective To validate two prediction models (European Organization for Research and Treatment of Cancer and Spanish Urological Club for Oncological Treatment) for recurrence and progression of non-muscle invasive bladder cancer in Japanese patients who underwent bacillus Calmette–Guerin instillation therapy. Methods From March 1985 to April 2007, data were analyzed from 366 patients who underwent transurethral resection of bladder tumor followed by bacillus Calmette–Guerin instillation therapy. The ability of two scoring models to predict recurrence and progression was assessed by concordance index. Results For recurrence probability, the concordance index of the European Organization for Research and Treatment of Cancer and Spanish Urological Club for Oncological Treatment models was 0.514 and 0.576, respectively, which was lower than that (0.604) of a selected single prognostic factor (age) by our multivariate analysis. For progression probability, the concordance index of European Organization for Research and Treatment of Cancer and Spanish Urological Club for Oncological Treatment models was 0.693 and 0.764, respectively, which was higher than that (0.633) of a selected single factor (T stage) by our multivariate analysis. The Spanish Urological Club for Oncological Treatment scoring system resulted in better stratification of tumor recurrence and progression when compared with the European Organization for Research and Treatment of Cancer model, probably because more patients underwent bacillus Calmette–Guerin treatment in the Spanish Urological Club for Oncological Treatment cohort than in the European Organization for Research and Treatment of Cancer cohort. Conclusions The Spanish Urological Club for Oncological Treatment scoring system is a good predictor of tumor recurrence and progression in Japanese patients who underwent bacillus Calmette–Guerin immunotherapy. A large prospective study is warranted to confirm the efficacy of this system.

Self-expandable metallic stent (EMS) placement has been the first choice for dysphagia because of the certainty over its safety, low invasiveness, and immediate efficacy. However, there still remain some problems in relation to the EMS placement site and anticancer therapies before and after EMS placement. Methods: Consecutive 78 patients in whom EMS was placed due to the unresectable malignant stricture in the esophagus or cardia from July 1995 to August 2003 in our department were studied. Results: Gastroesophageal reflux was found in 5 of 8 patients after placement of conventional EMS for the stricture in the gastroesophageal junction. Meanwhile, acid and bile reflux into the esophagus were not detected by pH and bilirubin monitoring, respectively, in 6 patients after placement of the EMS with an anti-reflux mechanism for the stricture in the gastroesophageal junction. The median survival period of all patients after EMS placement was 123 days. The median survival period of 7 patients with radiotherapy only after EMS placement was 138 days and that of 17 patients with radiotherapy before EMS placement was 60 days, which was shorter than that of the former (p

A 66-year-old woman had a 22 mm right kidney stone accompanied with a horseshoe kidney. The size of this stone had been increasing gradually from 7 mm to 22 mm during the past 5 years. Although apparent pelviuretic junction stenosis could not be identified by intravenous urography, external pelvis was dilated in both kidneys. Complete excretion of fragmented stones by extracorporeal shockwave lithotripsy seemed to be difficult because impaired urinary passage from the renal pelvis to the ureter was suspected. Percutaneous nephrolithotomy was also difficult due to malrotation of the pelvic-caliceal system and possible interposition of bowel loops between kidney and abdominal wall. Therefore, we chose laparoscopic pyelolithotomy. This procedure made it possible to remove the stone completely with minimum invasiveness. We assume that laparoscopic pyelolithotomy is a safe and effective approach for renal pelvic stone in case of horseshoe kidney.

The aim of this study was to investigate the efficacy and toxicity of docetaxel-based chemotherapy, and to investigate pretreatment factors that can predict overall survival (OS) in patients with castration-resistant prostate cancer (CRPC). From June 2005 to July 2010, 70 patients with CRPC underwent docetaxel-based chemotherapy at Wakayama Medical University and related hospitals. Docetaxel was given at a dose of 70 mg/m2 once every 3 weeks or 35 mg/m2 twice every 3 weeks. Oral estramustine 560 mg was given concurrently for five consecutive days during weeks 1 and 2 of each cycle, and prednisolone 10 mg was given every day. Dexamethasone 8 mg was premedicated intravenously before docetaxel administration. The patients received a median of four cycles of treatment (range 1–31). In the serum prostate-specific antigen response, 13 (18.6 %) patients achieved a complete response and 29 (41.4 %) achieved a partial response. Median OS and time to progression were 14 months and 6 months, respectively. Median follow-up period was 9.5 months. Two independent pretreatment risk factors that predicted OS were visceral metastasis including lymph node metastasis and anemia. Grade 3/4 neutropenia and anemia occurred in 25.7 and 8.6 % of the patients, respectively. Four treatment-related deaths were seen during the observation period. The combination of docetaxel, estramustine and prednisolone was effective in Japanese patients with CRPC; however, this combination therapy should be carefully indicated to elderly and/or poor performance status patients due to its toxicity. Visceral metastasis and anemia were identified as independent risk factors which could predict OS.

Objectives: The Japanese Association for the Surgery of Trauma (JAST) classification is widely applied to select strategies in the treatment of blunt renal trauma in Japan. We retrospectively investigated the applicability of the JAST classification. Methods: The JAST classification comprises type I (subcapsular), type II (superficial), type III (deep) and pedicle vessel traumas. According to these criteria, we reviewed 70 patients with blunt renal trauma (types I, II, III and PV; n = 23, 22, 22 and 3, respectively) who were admitted to our institution between 1991 and 2007. Results: All patients with type I trauma were managed conservatively and three patients with PV trauma underwent nephrectomy. Whereas two patients with underlying acquired cystic disease of the kidney underwent nephrectomy among type II trauma, the other patients were treated conservatively. As four patients with type III trauma underwent nephrectomy, injury type subclass and hemorrhage severity were significant prognostic factors indicating the need for nephrectomy in this group. Since we introduced transcatheter arterial embolization in 1999, none of our patients have needed nephrectomy due to a hemorrhage, but one patient underwent nephrectomy because of persistent urine leakage. Conclusion: Injury type and the hemorrhage severity are useful for determining treatment strategy. After the introduction of transcatheter arterial embolization, the proportion of nephrectomies due to exsanguination decreased and urine leakage also seems to be more important as a prognostic factor.

Many patients who undergo distal gastrectomy develop remnant gastritis. The diagnosis of remnant gastritis is commonly established endoscopically. This report describes the correlation between endoscopic and histological findings of inflammatory changes in the remnant gastric mucosa.Ninety-seven patients who underwent curative distal gastrectomy for gastric cancer, with radical lymphadenectomy, were studied. Endoscopy was performed 12 weeks after surgery. Patients with marked redness, erosion, or edema of the gastric remnant, as seen by endoscopy, were judged to have remnant gastritis, and were divided into group P (positive) and group N (negative). Histological remnant gastritis was evaluated with the neutrophil infiltration score based on the updated Sydney System for endoscopically taken biopsies. Cyclooxygenase (COX)-2 expression was evaluated immunohistochemically.There was no difference in neutrophil infiltration or COX-2 expression scores between the patients in groups P and N. There was a significant correlation between neutrophil infiltration score and COX-2 expression score (p0.001).Endoscopic diagnosis of remnant gastritis was not correlated with histological findings. Histological remnant gastritis had significant correlation with COX-2 expression score, which was induced by inflammation. Therefore, proper diagnosis of remnant gastritis should be based on histological examination.

A 67-year-old man was diagnosed as having prostate cancer with bone metastasis by his personal physician in 2002. He received androgen deprivation therapy, and then prostate specific antigen (PSA) declined to an undetectable level over the short term. In 2004, PSA gradually became elevated despite androgen deprivation therapy. Although secondary hormonal therapy was started, PSA continued to increase. With the complaint of back pain, he consulted our clinic. On initial examination at our clinic, PSA was 390.3 ng/ml and alkaline phosphatase (ALP) was 2,338 IU/L. He was administered diethylstilbestrol diphosphate (DES-DP) and zoledronic acid intravenously and then PSA declined to an undetectable value again. In the course of the administration, liver enzymes were elevated and DES-DP administration was discontinued. However, with continued administration of zoledronic acid, PSA remained undetectable despite a 5-month interruption of DES-DP treatment. Thereafter, back pain completely disappeared.

TS-1 is often used as first-line chemotherapy for treatment of advanced or recurrent gastric cancer, but there is no definite therapeutic policy for patients for whom TS-1 is not effective, or to whom it cannot be administered. We have treated 6 patients with low-dose weekly paclitaxel therapy as second-line chemotherapy after initial treatment with TS-1. These patients consisted of 3 males and 3 females with a mean age of 56 years. Four patients had recurrent gastric cancer and two had unresectable advanced gastric cancer. Paclitaxel was administered in doses of 80 or 100 mg weekly. Adverse events more severe than grade 3 were not observed, but there were 2 cases of leukopenia (grade 1) and 2 cases of decreased hemoglobin (grade 2). Mean survival time after the administration of paclitaxel was 139 days. Five patients died of their cancer, and one is still alive 382 days after the paclitaxel administration. The one-year survival rate after administration was 16.7%. Low-dose weekly paclitaxel therapy is therefore safe and effective for patients with advanced and recurrent gastric cancer who previously received TS-1 therapy.

A case of recurrent gastric cancer with metastases to the skin and lung was treated successfully with low-dose paclitaxel after oral TS-1 administration. The patient was a 73-year-old man who underwent total gastrectomy for gastric cancer on April 3, 2000. Two years and four months after the operation, an increasing CA19-9 concentration and metastases to the skin and both lungs were observed. Oral TS-1 was given, but had to be stopped because of diarrhea. The metastatic lesions of the skin were resected, and low-dose paclitaxel (100 mg) was given once a week for 6 weeks. Five months later, the metastatic lesions of the right and left lung had decreased in size by 62% and 100%, respectively. CA19-9 fell to below the cut-off value 2 months after starting therapy. A decrease in the hemoglobin level of grade 1 was observed. Low-dose paclitaxel for recurrent gastric cancer after TS-1 therapy causes few side effects and may well be effective.

This is a report of a case with esophageal cancer in which pathological CR was obtained by neoadjvant chemoradiotherapy using a low-dose of nedaplatin (CDGP)/5-FU. The patient was a male aged 76. A protuberant lesion diagnosed as esophageal cancer was found in the middle thoracic esophagus by esophagography. Since another lesion in the upper thoracic esophagus was revealed by endoscopy, metastasis to the cervical lymph nodes was diagnosed by ultrasonography, and preoperative chemoradiotherapy combining a low dose of CDGP/5-FU with radiotherapy was performed. As side effects of this treatment, grade 2 stomatitis and granulocytopenia were observed. The main lesion of the esophagus was found to have significantly diminished through endoscopy after completion of the treatment, and with no malignant cells obtained by biopsy. No cervical lymph nodes were found. It was diagnosed as partial response (PR) through imaging diagnosis. Radical resection of esophageal cancer under right thoracotomy and laparotomy was performed. Operative findings were Ch x R-T3N0M0 Stage II R0 D2 Cur A. Pathological examination of resected specimens revealed no viable cancer cells in the esophagus or metastasis to the dissected lymph nodes. Neoadjuvant chemoradiotherapy using a low-dose of CDGP/5-FU is an effective treatment for esophageal cancer.

Helicobacter pylori infection is known to induce gastritis, oxidative stress, and cyclooxygenase (COX)-2 expression in the gastric mucosa. However, the effect of H. pylori infection on remnant gastritis has not been studied. We investigated whether the severity of remnant gastritis and COX-2 expression were affected by H. pylori infection after distal gastrectomy.The study included 97 patients with gastric cancer who underwent curative distal gastrectomy with lymphadenectomy in our department between May 1999 and April 2001. All patients underwent endoscopic examination 2 weeks before and 12 weeks after surgery. The presence of H. pylori infection was determined by urease activity, hematoxylin-eosin staining, and immunochemical staining. Histologic remnant gastritis was graded based on the degree of neutrophil infiltration using the updated Sydney System. COX-2 expression was estimated immunohistochemically.Both the degree of neutrophil infiltration and the level of COX-2 expression were significantly higher in patients with than without H. pylori (p0.05). There was a significant correlation between the degree of neutrophil infiltration and the degree of COX-2 expression (p0.001).H. pylori eradication may become a treatment for preventing both remnant gastritis as well as remnant gastric carcinoma after distal gastrectomy.

Patients who undergo distal gastrectomy often develop duodenogastric reflux and preoperative H. pylori infection is eradicated spontaneously after distal gastrectomy in some patients. However, whether a causal relationship exists has not yet been studied. This report examines the correlation between H. pylori eradication and the amount of duodenogastric reflux following distal gastrectomy.Among 72 consecutive patients who underwent curative distal gastrectomy with radical lymphadenectomy for gastric cancer, 37 patients had H. pylori infection preoperatively and were included in this study. The period of bile reflux (percent time) into the gastric remnant was measured with the Bilitec 2000 under standardized conditions on the 14th day after the surgery. Endoscopic examination was performed to determine the presence of H. pylori infection on week 12 after surgery.The percent time was higher in patients whose H. pylori infection had been eradicated after distal gastrectomy (58.1+/-9.2%) than in patients who had H. pylori infection after distal gastrectomy (33.8+/-5.7%).Duodenogastric reflux correlates with spontaneous eradication of H. pylori infection following distal gastrectomy.

5-FU is the most widely used anticancer drug for digestive system cancers, and it has been recently reported that the effect of 5-FU varies with the amount of enzymes that are involved in the drug metabolism in the cancer tissue. In this report, we measured DPD and OPRT activities in the normal mucosa and colorectal cancer tissues and compared them with clinicopathological factors to examine the choice of chemotherapy for colorectal cancers. Forty-six patients with colorectal carcinoma (28 colon and 18 rectal cancers), which were resected in our department from 1999 to March 2003, were examined. There was no significant difference in the DPD activities between the normal and cancer tissues, whereas OPRT showed significantly higher activity in the cancer tissues. Although we did not find a relation between the DPD activity and clinicopathological factors, the OPRT activity showed a significant difference between gender and classification of tumor, and mucinous adenocarcinoma showed significantly lower OPRT activity than differentiated adenocarcinoma. The DPD activity of mucinous adenocarcinoma is related to catabolism of 5-FU is equal to that of adenocarcinoma, however, the OPRT activity is related to a main pathway of 5-FU phosphorylation is significantly lower. Thus, mucinous adenocarcinoma of the colon was more resistant to 5-FU than the differentiated adenocarcinoma. Therefore, for chemotherapy of mucinous adenocarcinoma, anticancer agents other than 5-FU should be selected.

This study was conducted to examine age-related differences in cognitive function, and their relation to higher-level competence of elderly living in an urban community.Participants were 438 individuals (males 168, females 270) aged 70 to 84 years living in an urban community in Tokyo. Three cognitive performance tests, the Wechsler Adult Intelligence Scale-Revised (WAIS-R) Digit Symbol, Word Fluency Test, and the WAIS-R Digit Span, were employed for estimating cognitive function, and the TMIG Index of Competence for measuring higher-level competence. In the Index, three constructions: "Instrumental Self-Maintenance", "Intellectual Activity", and "Social Role" were involved.Age-related differences in the cognitive tests were analyzed using ANCOVA controlling for educational year. Age-related differences between younger elderly (70-79 years old) and older elderly (80-84 years old) were observed with the WAIS-R Digit Symbol, Word Fluency Test and the WAIS-R Digit Span. The results indicate that information processing speed, executive function and primary memory in community-dwelling elderly continue to decline in old age, and this trend is salient in the old-old. We carried out partial correlation analysis and multiple regression analysis for exploring the relationships between cognitive function and the sub-scales in the TMIG Index of Competence, controlling for age and educational year. Cognitive function was significantly and positively related with the sub-scales in the Index, this being especially robust for "Intellectual Activity". The results suggest that higher-level competence can be modestly determined with reference to cognitive function, and "Intellectual Activity" may have a stronger relation with cognitive function than the other two sub-scales in the Index.

A no change (NC) status could be maintained in a patient with remnant gastric cancer for more than 500 days with low-dose TS-1. The patient was a 68-year-old woman who was found to have remnant gastric cancer during an endoscopic examination in follow-up on an outpatient basis after surgery for hepatocellular carcinoma in our department. Surgery was rejected as a treatment option because of severe liver dysfunction, and the patient was started on oral TS-1 80 mg/day. Both AST and ALT levels increased immediately after the start of TS-1, and TS-1 was discontinued until these levels improved. It was resumed at 50 mg/day, and there were no subsequent adverse reactions. Endoscopic examination on day 69 after the start of TS-1 showed that a partial response (PR) had not been achieved, but the lesion had shrunk. Endoscopy on day 454 after the start of TS-1 showed it had been possible to maintain a similar state. This was a rare case in which it was possible to achieve prolonged same status with low-dose TS-1.

A case of esophageal tuberculosis presenting with an appearance similar to that of esophageal cancer is reported. The patient was an 82-year-old man with progressive dysphagia. Barium swallow and esophagoscopy revealed an elevated lesion with deep ulceration in the middle thoracic esophagus. Esophageal carcinoma, in particular, an undermining type of undifferentiated carcinoma, was suspected fluoroscopically and endoscopically. Histological examination of biopsy specimens revealed no malignancy, but there were epithelioid granulomas and a few Langhans' type multinucleated giant cells. Endoscopic ultrasonography clearly demonstrated an extramural lesion with calcification and direct infiltration of enlarged subcarinal lymph nodes into the esophageal wall. Ultrasonographic and histological findings indicated the possibility of esophageal tuberculosis. Although no bacteriological evidence was obtained, a therapeutic trial for tuberculosis, using antituberculous drugs, was started. After 2 weeks, the enlarged subcarinal lymph nodes were markedly reduced in size. The patient's symptoms improved gradually and had disappeared 8 weeks after he started treatment, when tubercle bacilli were isolated from sputum. A connection between the esophageal wall and its adjacent structures was clearly demonstrated by endoscopic ultrasonography. For patients with findings indicative of esophageal tuberculosis on endoscopic ultrasonography, a therapeutic trial for tuberculosis should be considered, even if polymerase chain reaction assay or culture is negative.

The patient was a 69-year-old man who, during a routine health examination, was found to have irregular mucosa in the lower esophagus, which was subsequently diagnosed by endoscopy as Barrett's esophagus. Endoscopic ultrasonography led to the diagnosis of advanced esophageal cancer with a depth of invasion corresponding to T2. While surgery was indicated, it was not considered feasible because of pleural adhesions due to old tuberculosis. Therefore, chemotherapy with TS-1 at the dose of 80 mg/day (4-week therapy followed by a 2-week withdrawal period) and CDDP at the dose of 3 mg/day (4-week of 5-day therapy followed by a 2-day withdrawal period) was instituted, followed 3 weeks later by the addition of radiotherapy with 1.8 Gy/day (5 times/week). Follow-up endoscopy revealed evident reduction in the lesion size 73 days after the start of TS-1 therapy, and complete disappearance of the lesion 185 days after the start of therapy. Grade 1 leukopenia was the only adverse effect of TS-1 noted in the patient. Treatment of Barrett's esophageal cancer is often conducted in accordance with the principles of treatment of esophageal squamous cell carcinoma, and surgical resection represents the most effective treatment. On the other hand, there have been no reports of effective adjuvant therapy. Based on our experience, the therapeutic strategy employed in this patient is considered to offer promise for the treatment of Barrett's esophageal cancer.

We conducted a comprehensive mass health examination for elderly subjects aged 70 or above, living in the community, to assess early deterioration to long-term care conditions and promote healthy and successful aging ("Otasha-Kenshin"). In this study, we clarified characteristic differences between participants and non-participants.A mass health examination was offered in October 2001 to 863 community elderly, including individuals suffering from falls (and fractures), incontinence, malnutrition, depression, mild cognitive impairment and less of functional capacity. Among the total, 438 (50.8%) opted for the "Otasha-Kenshin" examination. Differences in characteristics between the participants and non-participants were examined, parameters including sex and age distribution, self-rated health, functional capacity by the TMIG Index of Competence, depressed status by the General Health Questionnaire (GHQ), subjective well-being by the Philadelphia Geriatric Center Morale Scale: A revision (PGC-MS), frequency of falls, and prevalence of chronic diseases. The comparison was based on the results of measurements from the final survey conducted in 2000.1) The participation rate in the "Otasha-Kenshin" was 49.0% in males and 51.0% in females. The average age was 75.3 year olds in participants and 76.4 in non-participants, the difference being significant (t = 3.97, P0.0001). 2) Non-participants had a significantly lower level of self-rated health than participants. 3) There was no significant difference in hand grip strength between participants and non-participants. 4) Non-participants showed significantly lower level of functional capacity and subjective well-being, and they were more likely to be in a depressed state than participants. 5) There was no significant difference in fall rate between participants and non-participants. 6) The prevalence of hypertension and diabetes (found in more than 5% among the subjects surveyed in 2000) was not significantly different between participants and non-participants.With aging of society, new and specialized health maintenance systems for the elderly are essential, both for the prevention of deterioration to a long-term care condition (a bed-ridden status) and for the promotion of successful aging with autonomy. Participants in "Otasha-Kenshin" appear to be healthier and more independent than non-participants who were more frail and at higher risk group of a long-term care condition and a bed-ridden status. The major reason for non-participation in the health examination found in this study was subjective or mental deterioration rather than the presence of chronic illness or any geriatric syndrome per se. Frail elderly people like the non-participants in this study should be encouraged and mentally supported to avoid aggravation of their health status through intensive or specialized health surveillance system such as home-visit nursing.

The patient was a 78-year-old man. Gastric cancer, type 3, was diagnosed by endoscopy in the subtotal stomach used for posterior mediastinal reconstruction after resection of thoracic esophageal cancer. Surgery was not considered to be feasible in this case because of cerebral infarction and decreased pulmonary functions; instead, the patient received TS-1 chemotherapy. Drug administration was started at the dose of 100 mg/day, one level lower than the standard dose of TS-1. Reduction in tumor size was noted endoscopically during the first course of treatment. At the end of the 4th course of treatment, the ulcerous lesion was found to have disappeared almost completely, and only mild mural irregularity was noted. The incidence of gastric cancer in the stomach tissue used for mediastinal reconstruction after esophagectomy has been reported to be 0.8%. In many of these cases, the cancer is already advanced at the time of diagnosis, precluding surgical resection. In this situation, chemotherapy with TS-1 is expected to be an effective method of treatment that can be administered at home in elderly patients with a variety of complications.