Colloidal Solutions of Silicon Nanospheres toward All-Dielectric Optical Metafluids.

A colloidal solution of nanophotonic structures exhibiting optical magnetism is dubbed a liquid-phase metamaterial or an optical metafluid. Over the decades, plasmonic nanoclusters have been explored as constituents of a metafluid. However, optical magnetism of plasmonic nanoclusters is usually much weaker than the electric responses; the highest reported intensity ratio of the magnetic-to-electric responses so far is 0.28. Here, we propose an all-dielectric metafluid composed of crystalline silicon nanospheres. First, we address the advantages of silicon as a constituent material of a metafluid among major dielectrics. Next, we experimentally demonstrate for the first time that a silicon nanosphere metafluid exhibits strong electric and magnetic dipolar Mie responses across the visible to near-infrared spectral range. The intensity ratio of the magnetic-to-electric responses reaches unity. Finally, we discuss the perspective to achieve unnaturally high (>3), low, and even near-zero (<1) refractive index in the metafluid.

Feasibility of restorative proctocolectomy in patients with ulcerative colitis-associated lower rectal cancer: A retrospective study.

BACKGROUND/OBJECTIVE: Restorative proctocolectomy (RP) may improve quality of life in patients with ulcerative colitis (UC)-associated lower rectal cancer to a greater extent than total proctocolectomy. However, patients with UC-associated cancer often have flat mucosal lesions that make it extremely difficult to endoscopically delineate the tumor margins. Therefore, there is a potential risk of residual tumor and local recurrence after RP in patients with UC-associated lower rectal cancer. The aim of this study was to assess the feasibility of RP in patients with UC-associated cancer of the lower rectum. METHODS: We retrospectively identified nine patients who had undergone RP for UC-associated lower rectal cancer at the Niigata University Medical and Dental Hospital between January 2000 and December 2016. The incidence of flat mucosal cancer, distal margin status, and oncologic outcomes were evaluated in the nine patients. RESULTS: Eight (89%) of the nine patients had flat mucosal cancer in the lower rectum. The median length of the distal margin was 22 mm (range 0-55 mm). No patient developed local or distant recurrence during follow-up. One patient had a positive distal margin. This patient underwent annual pouchoscopy, but had no local recurrence and died of pancreatic cancer 81 months after RP. The remaining eight patients were alive at the final observation. Five-year and 10-year overall survival rates in the nine patients were 100% and 66.7%, respectively. CONCLUSION: Patients with UC-associated lower rectal cancer often have lesions of the flat mucosal type. However, RP is feasible and not necessarily contraindicated in such patients.

[Staged Laparoscopy-Assisted Surgery Including Hand-Assisted Laparoscopic Surgery for Rectal Cancer with Synchronous Liver Metastases-A Case Report].

Here, we reported a case of a 39-year-old woman having rectal cancer with multiple liver metastases who underwent staged laparoscopic resection. She was diagnosed with low rectal cancer and multiple liver metastases; thus, she underwent low anterior resection and diverting colostomy. Following the neoadjuvant chemotherapy, she underwent colostomy closure and subsequent hand-assisted laparoscopic partial hepatectomy using the operative site during the colostomy closure. The postoperative course was uneventful, and adjuvant chemotherapy with CapeOX was performed 3 weeks post-surgery. Minimally invasive surgery was performed using hand-assisted laparoscopy.

[A Case of Long-Term Survival in a Patient with Ascending Colon Cancer and Synchronous Multiple Liver Metastases after Multimodality Therapy Including Multiple Hepatectomy].

We present a case of long-term survival in a patient with advanced ascending colon cancer and multiple liver metastases after receiving multimodality therapy, which included hepatic atrial infusion(HAI)and 4 hepatectomies. At diagnosis, the 65- year-old woman underwent right hemicolectomy for advanced ascending colon cancer with multiple liver metastases (T3N1M1[H2], Stage Ⅳ). The 11 liver metastatic lesions were treated by weekly HAI of 5-fluorouracil(5-FU). The lesions reduced in size(response rate 28.9%)immediately following treatment, and no new lesions were detected, but 10 months after treatment the size of the S2 tumor had increased. Systemic chemotherapy with irinotecan and S-1 was administered. Continued development of the S2 tumor in the liver prompted a radical lateral segment hepatectomy. Four months later, a computed tomography(CT)scan revealed a S6 tumor of the liver, for which a posterior segment hepatectomy was performed. A CT scan showing a S1 tumor in the liver 9 months later resulted in chemotherapeutic treatment with CapeOX, followed by mFOLFOX6. Despite treatment, the S1 tumor developed further, prompting a S1 partial hepatectomy. A further partial S8 hepatectomy was performed 7 years after surgery for the primary lesion following a CT scan that revealed a S8 tumor in the liver. There has been no recurrence of tumors in the 5 years and 5 months since this last hepatectomy.

[A Case of Resistance to Systemic Therapy in Hypermutation of Colorectal Cancer].

A 78-year-old man was admitted with diarrhea. Colonoscopy and computed tomography(CT)revealed rectal cancer with multiple liver metastases. Low anterior resection was performed for local control. After the operation, 5 courses of mFOLFOX6 plus bevacizumab chemotherapy were administered as first-line systemic therapy, but CT showed progressive disease with liver metastases. After the first-line systemic therapy, 2 courses of FOLFIRI plus bevacizumab chemotherapy were performed as second-line systemic therapy, but CT also revealed progressive disease with liver metastases. We retrospectively performed comprehensive genomic sequencing with a 415-gene panel and found that the patient had a hypermutation subtype. Interestingly, the panel also revealed that he had mismatch-repair(MMR)deficiency with MSH2 mutation, which is reported as a possible cause of resistance to 5-fluorouracil in colorectal cancer.

Isolation and identification of a humanTRPV1 activating compound from soy sauce.

Transient receptor potential vanilloid 1 (TRPV1) was identified as a receptor of capsaicin, which is a pungent ingredient in hot red peppers. Due to its relevance for nociception, a physiological and pharmacological study of TRPV1 has also been developed. Therefore, it is important to enrich scientific knowledge regarding the TRPV1 activating or inhibiting compounds. In this study, we fractionated soy sauce based on the human TRPV1 (hTRPV1) activity using column chromatography and purified 5-(9H-pyrido[3,4-b]indol-1-yl)-2-furanmethanol (perlolyrine) as an hTRPV1-activating compound. Additionally, perlolyrine activates the human transient receptor potential ankyrin 1 (hTRPA1). The EC50 of hTRPV1 and hTRPA1 were 2.87 and 1.67 µmol L-1, respectively. HPLC quantification of soy sauces showed that they contain 2.22-12.13 µmol L-1 of perlolyrine. The sensory evaluation revealed that perlolyrine has taste modification effect. The results of this study, for the first time, suggest that perlolyrine induces the activation of hTRPV1 and hTRPA1.

[Quality of Life of Patients after Colorectal Cancer Surgery as Assessed Using EQ-5D-5L Scores].

This study aimed to evaluate the health-related quality of life(QOL)using EQ-5D-5L scores for patients who underwent surgery for colorectal cancer. A total of 30 consecutive patients(14 men and 16 women; median age: 67.5 years)from the outpatient clinic of our institute in January 2017 were eligible for this study. The primary tumor was located in the colon(n= 18)or rectum/anu(s n=12). Twelve patient(s 40.0%)had cancer recurrence, and 3 patient(s 10.0%)had a stoma. In addition, 11 patients(36.7%)underwent chemotherapy. The median EQ-5D-5L score for all the patients was 0.867(range, 0.324- 1.000). The EQ-5D-5L score of patients with recurrence was significantly lower(0.820)than that of patients without recurrence( 0.948)(p=0.002). Furthermore, the EQ-5D-5L score of women(0.834)was significantly lower than that of men (0.942)(p=0.015). No significant difference was noted between the EQ-5D-5L score and other factors, such as age, cancer stage, location of primary tumor, absence/presence of chemotherapy, and absence/presence of stoma. In conclusion, using EQ-5D-5L scores, female gender and cancer recurrence were found to be associated with low QOL of patients after surgery for colorectal cancer.

[A Case of Ascending Colon Cancer with Synchronous Liver Metastases and Peritoneal Dissemination].

The patient was a 73-year-old man with ascending colon cancer and synchronous liver metastases. A right hemicolectomy with a lymph node dissection was performed for the primary lesion. The resected specimen revealed a KRAS codon 12 mutation. After 6 courses of chemotherapy with capecitabine, oxaliplatin, and bevacizumab(Bv), we performed a partial hepatectomy and resection of the peritoneal dissemination. A computed tomography(CT)scan 5 months later revealed the recurrence of the liver metastases. After 8 courses of chemotherapy with 5-fluorouracil, Leucovorin, irinotecan, and Bv, we performed a partial hepatectomy. CT scan after 13 months revealed a recurrence in the peritoneal dissemination in the Douglas pouch and the right subphrenic space; therefore, we performed a low anterior resection and resection of the peritoneal dissemination with curative intent. CT scan after 19 months revealed a recurrence in the right subphrenic dissemination, a lung metastasis, and pleural dissemination. Chemotherapy with 5-fluorouracil, Leucovorin, and Bv was administered for 2 years and 5 months. After 5 years and 9 months of the primary operation, the patient is alive. Recently, we have focused on the mechanism of multidrug resistance through NAD(P)H: quinone oxidoreductase-1(NQO1)overexpression, which can be used to determine the role of an enzyme in sensitivity to toxicity and carcinogenesis. In this case, the pathological examination of the resected specimen revealed NQO1 negative expression. In conclusion, NQO1 may play a significant role in chemotherapy resistance in colorectal cancer patients.

[A Case of Intussusception Caused by Descending Colon Cancer].

A46 -year-old male presented with bloody stool and a descending colon tumor, as identified using colon fiberscopy. The patient did not complain of any remarkable abdominal symptoms. Computed tomography revealed descending colon tumor intussusception. We performed partial resection of the descending colon and D2 lymphadenectomy without intraoperative reduction. The descending colon was barely attached to the retroperitoneum and was mobile. The underlying tumor was type 1 and measured 8.3×5.8 cm. The pathology report indicated a mucinous adenocarcinoma with extension through the submucosa into the subserosa, and metastasis in 6 nearby lymph nodes(n2). Intussusception is relatively rare in adults, particularly in portions of the colon fixed to the retroperitoneum, such as the descending colon. In contrast to previous reports of descending colon intussusception caused by age-related tissue dysfunction, we report our experience with a young patient and present the results obtained.

[Surgical curative resection after chemotherapy and portal vein embolization for multiple liver metastases of rectal cancer - report of a case].

A 34 -year-old woman presenting with bloody stools was diagnosed with a rectal tumor. Computed tomography (CT) revealed multiple liver masses in Couinaud segments IV, V, and VII. The lesions were diagnosed as multiple liver metastases from rectal cancer. Right trisegmentectomy of the liver was considered the optimal treatment option for curative resection; however, liver volumetric examination using CT estimated that the remnant liver volume after right trisegmentectomy would be only 24.6% of the total liver volume. Therefore, she underwent resection of the primary lesion followed by systemic chemotherapy for multiple liver metastases. She showed a partial response, according to the Response Evaluation Criteria in Solid Tumors, after 5 courses of capecitabine/oxaliplatin plus bevacizumab. Embolization of the right branch of the portal vein was performed to increase liver volume. Asubsequent liver volumetric examination with CT estimated that the remnant liver volume after right trisegmentectomy would be 38.4% of the total liver volume. Therefore, she underwent right trisegmentectomy of the liver for curative resection of the liver metastases. She had had no signs of recurrence at 3 years and 6 months after initial surgery.