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Naoko Koike,1 Tsuyoshi Otsuji,1 Akiko Tsumura,1 Katsuaki Miki,1 Yukio Sakai,1 Tetsuya Nishimura,1 Kanji Takahashi21Department of Ophthalmology, Kansai Medical University Medical Center, Osaka, Japan; 2Department of Ophthalmology, Kansai Medical University, Osaka, JapanPurpose: Intravitreal injection of anti-VEGF drugs has become standard therapy for patients with exudative age-related macular degeneration (AMD). However, some patients do not exhibit sufficient response to the drugs for suppression of choroidal neovascularization activity. We investigated the efficacy of switchback from ranibizumab to aflibercept in patients with AMD who could not achieve further benefit beyond initial therapy of aflibercept injection.Methods: Eleven eyes of eleven patients were included in this study. Two patients were nonresponders, and nine exhibited tachyphylaxis to aflibercept. All patients received three monthly injections of ranibizumab as an initial phase of switching and received aflibercept as a switchback drug. We investigated changes in injection interval, visual acuity, and central retinal thickness.Results: In four patients (36.4%), injection interval was extended. The interval was 6.73 weeks before switch and 9.27 weeks after switchback (P=0.96). LogMAR visual acuity was 0.22 before switch and 0.24 after switchback (P=0.62). Central retinal thickness was 306.8 μm before switch and 256.1 after switchback (P=0.13). In all patients who were nonresponders to aflibercept, injection interval could not be extended.Conclusion: A switchback from ranibizumab to aflibercept may be beneficial in some patients with AMD who exhibit tachyphylaxis to aflibercept.Keywords: AMD, aflibercept, ranibizumab, switchback, anti-VEGF drugs

Shuji Suzuki,1 Mitsugi Shimoda,1 Jiro Shimazaki,1 Tsunehiko Maruyama,1 Yukio Oshiro,1 Kiyotaka Nishida,1 Jun Kuroda,1 Kenta Miyoshi,1 Nobusada Koike,2 Nobuhiko Harada21Department of Gastroenterological Surgery, Ibaraki Medical Center, Tokyo Medical University, Ibaraki 300-0395, Japan; 2Department of Surgery, Hachioji Digestive Disease Hospital, Tokyo 192-0903, JapanBackground: Early recurrence of distal cholangiocarcinoma (DCC) may result in a poorer prognosis. This study aimed to evaluate the clinicopathological factors that predict survival and recurrence in patients with DCC.Methods: Fifty-five patients with DCC who underwent pancreaticoduodenectomy between 2005 and 2015 were studied retrospectively. The following clinicopathological parameters were analyzed as predictors of disease-free survival (DFS) and overall survival (OS): sex, age, body mass index, presence of biliary tract decompression, macroscopic type, histological type, tumor size, TNM classification, lymph node metastasis ratio, number of positive lymph nodes (PLNs), lymphatic invasion, venous invasion, perineural invasion, proximal bile duct margin, dissected margin, portal system invasion, arterial system invasion, stage, and residual tumor.Results: Univariate analysis showed that contiguous extension of the primary tumor, PLN, lymphatic invasion, venous invasion, perineural invasion, and stage were significant prognostic factors for DFS and OS. Multivariate analysis revealed that PLN and lymphatic invasion were prognostic for DFS and OS (P

Tsuyoshi Otsuji,1 Kenichiro Sho,2 Akiko Tsumura,1 Naoko Koike,1 Tetsuya Nishimura,1 Kanji Takahashi2 1Department of Ophthalmology, Kansai Medical University, Takii Hospital, 2Department of Ophthalmology, Kansai Medical University, Hirakata Hospital, Osaka, Japan Background: To evaluate the effect of photodynamic therapy (PDT) using a modified procedure on exudative age-related macular degeneration having been conventionally difficult to treat. Methods: The medical records of eight consecutive patients (eight eyes) with age-related macular degeneration treated with modified PDT were reviewed retrospectively. Modified PDT was used for the lesions that could not be covered by conventional use of PDT, either because the lesion was too large or too close to the optic disc. A moving PDT laser spot at constant speed, for 83 seconds, was used to cover the entire lesion, and was named “Ironing PDT.” This retrospective study was performed with informed patient consent. It was approved by the Institutional Review Board of Kansai Medical University.Results: No exudation could be found 36 months after treatment in five eyes (62.5%). There was no significant difference between the best-corrected visual acuity before PDT (0.95 logMAR) and after PDT (1.09 logMAR). The logMAR best-corrected visual acuity was improved in one eye, maintained in five eyes, and deteriorated in two eyes. Conclusion: Ironing PDT decreased subfoveal fluid and preserved visual acuity in some patients with age-related macular degeneration difficult to treat with conventional therapy. Keywords: AMD, PCV, PDT, Ironing PDT, modified PDT, large lesions

Tsuyoshi Otsuji,1 Yoshimi Nagai,2 Kenichiro Sho,1 Akiko Tsumura,1 Naoko Koike,1 Mei Tsuda,1 Tetsuya Nishimura,1 Kanji Takahashi2 1Department of Ophthalmology, Kansai Medical University, Takii Hospital, Osaka, Japan; 2Department of Ophthalmology, Kansai Medical University, Hirakata Hospital, Osaka, Japan Background: Patients with exudative age-related macular degeneration (AMD) who did not respond to ranibizumab at the induction phase were assessed and referred to as initial non-responders. Methods: We retrospectively reviewed the medical records of 215 patients (218 eyes) with exudative AMD. For the initial treatments, patients received three intravitreal injections of ranibizumab (IVR) every 4 weeks. Minimum follow-up period was 12 months. We defined patients with no improvement of best corrected logMAR visual acuity (BCVA), and with no decrease of central retinal thickness (CRT) at the end of the initial treatment, as initial non-responders. Patients who had previous treatment history prior to this investigation were included, but patients who had photodynamic therapy (PDT) with IVR were excluded. Results: Twenty-two eyes (10.1%) were identified as initial non-responders. The mean BCVA of initial non-responders before IVR and after induction phase were 0.39 and 0.36, respectively. There was no significant difference between these values, however the mean BCVA decreased significantly to 0.55 at 12 months after the beginning of the induction phase (P = 0.021). The mean greatest linear dimension (GLD) of the lesion before IVR of initial non-responders was 4,121 µm. We found 16 eyes with typical AMD, and six eyes with polypoidal choroidal vasculopathy. One eye had predominantly classic choroidal neovascularization (CNV), and others had occult CNV of typical AMD. As additional treatments, twelve eyes received PDT, and in three of the eyes exudation remained after PDT. Conclusion: Initial non-responders were more prevalent in patients with occult CNV than in patients with other CNV types. Some of the initial non-responders did not respond to PDT. This study suggested possible involvement of other factors, in addition to vascular endothelial growth factor, in the occurrence of CNV in initial non-responder patients. Keywords: AMD, anti-VEGF drug, ranibizumab, initial non-responders

Microscopic properties and structure of osmium (Os) were studied by levitating, melting, deeply undercooling and resolidifying solid samples under vacuum. The findings suggest that better knowledge of the structure of Os along with the control of the undercooling depth offered by electrostatic levitation, could allow metallic viscous melts to be spread into very high resistance and low friction strips.

Magnetic switching field and magnetic domain structures for micron to submicron size SyAF elements are discussed. It is believed that the SyAF is a valid structure for both achieving a single domain structure and reducing the switching field.

SUMMARY: We investigated long-term treatment outcomes and the feasibility of chemoradiotherapy consisting of daily-low-dose 5-fluorouracil and cisplatin (LDFP) chemotherapy plus radiotherapy for Stage I-II squamous cell esophageal cancer. Treatment records from the 2000 through 2008 period were reviewed retrospectively. Fractionated radiotherapy was performed with a total dose of 60 Gy delivered in 2 Gy per fraction. LDFP chemotherapy, as continuous infusion of 200 mg/m2 5-fluorouracil combined with one hour infusion of 4 mg/m2 cisplatin, was administered on the same days as radiotherapy. Survival was calculated by the Kaplan–Meier method. Survival, responses, failure patterns, and toxicities were evaluated. Seventy-six (47 stage I and 29 stage II) patients were analyzed with a median follow-up of 93.6 months. The 8-year overall survival (OS), progression-free survival (PFS) and cause-specific survival (CSS) rates were 63.4%, 49.8%, and 76.7%, respectively. The 8-year OS, PFS, and CSS for stage I and stage II patients were 71.0%/56.1%/82.9% and 45.2%/40.2%/66.6%, respectively. Sixty-eight patients (89.5%) completed the treatment regimen. A complete response (CR) was achieved in 68 patients (89.5%). Twenty-five patients (36.8%) experienced recurrence after CR. The failure patterns were (overlap included): local failure (n = 12), nodal metastasis (n = 12), distant metastasis (n = 3), details unknown (n = 2). Salvage therapy was performed for local failure; endoscopic therapy (n = 7) or surgery (n = 2). Six patients remain alive without relapse after salvage endoscopic therapy. Major Grade 3 or higher acute adverse events were leukopenia (22%), anorexia (17%), and esophagitis (11%). Major late toxicities (Grade 3 or 4) involved pericardial effusion (12%), pleural effusion (4%), and esophageal stenosis (3%). Chemoradiotherapy with LDFP provided favorable long-term survival with acceptable toxicity for Stage I-II squamous cell esophageal cancer. The tumor response was excellent, but close endoscopic follow-up is essential for detecting and treating local recurrence. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]