The Safety and Clinical Validity of Endoscopic Submucosal Dissection for Early Gastric Cancer in Patients Aged More Than 85 Years.

Endoscopic submucosal dissection (ESD) is a safe and minimally invasive method for the treatment of early gastric cancer (EGC). However, whether ESD for EGC is also safe and feasible in patients aged ≥85 years is unclear. The patients enrolled in this study were divided into three groups: age ≥85 years (44 patients, 49 lesions), age 65−84 years (624 patients, 687 lesions), and age ≤64 years (162 patients, 174 lesions). We evaluated the incidence of adverse events (AEs) and overall survival (OS) and disease-specific survival (DSS). We analyzed the factors that had a significant impact on the prognosis of patients aged ≥85 years. No significant differences were found in the incidence of AEs among the three groups (p = 0.612). The OS was significantly lower in patients aged ≥85 years (p < 0.001). Conversely, DSS was not significantly worse in patients aged ≥85 years (p = 0.100). The poor Geriatric Nutritional Risk Index correlated with poor prognosis in patients aged ≥85 years (p < 0.001). ESD is a safe and valid treatment for EGC in patients aged ≥85 years. However, the indications should be carefully decided because it is difficult to estimate the survival contribution of ESD for EGC in patients aged ≥85 years, especially in those with poor nutritional status.

[Early endoscopic diagnosis can save lives and reduce the extent of colon resection for acute fulminant amebic colitis: a case report with review].

A man in his 50s was referred to the hospital with fever, right lower abdominal pain, and bloody diarrhea. Based on computed tomography images and characteristic varioliform erosions observed during the colonoscopic examination, the patient was diagnosed with fulminant amebic colitis. Intravenous metronidazole was administered immediately. After symptom improvement, a second colonoscopic examination revealed inflammation localized to the right hemicolon. A right colectomy was performed on the 75th hospital day, and the patient was discharged without further problems. Prompt antiamebic therapy based on early endoscopic diagnosis was effective in quelling colonic inflammation in a life-threatening case of acute fulminant amebic colitis. Moreover, colonoscopic reexamination was useful in determining the extent of inflammation and minimizing colon resection.

Electrospinning and Post-Spun Chain Conformations of Synthetic, Hydrophobic Poly(α-amino acid)s.

Electrospinning and post-spun conformations of hydrophobic poly(α-amino acid)s are described in this study. The poly(α-amino acid)s, poly(Gly), poly(L-Ala), poly(L-Val), and poly(L-Leu) were synthesized via corresponding N-carboxy-a-amino acid anhydrides. The average molecular weight and degree of polymerization of these polymers were determined by N-terminus labeling using 2,4-dinitrofluorobenzene and by viscometry in the case of poly(Gly). These poly(α-amino acid)s were electrospun from trifluoroacetic acid or trifluoroacetic acid/dichloromethane solutions. The FT-IR spectroscopy and wide-angle X-ray diffraction indicated that the electrospun poly(L-Ala) and poly(L-Leu) fibers predominantly adopts α-helical structure, whereas poly(L-Val) and poly(Gly) fibers exhibited mainly ß-strand and random coil structures, respectively.