Tissue factor (TF) is a transmembrane glycoprotein that plays roles in the blood coagulation and intracellular signaling pathways, and has also been suggested to modulate the biological behavior of cancer cells. In order to examine the clinicopathologic significance of TF expression in pancreatic ductal adenocarcinoma, TF expression was determined by immunohistochemistry using a newly raised anti-TF monoclonal antibody in 113 patients who had undergone surgical resection of pancreatic ductal adenocarcinoma. According to the incidence of tumor cell immunopositivity, patients were divided into ''negative TF'' (0%), ''weak TF'' (<25%), or ''high TF'' (25% or more) groups, which accounted for 11.6% (n = 13), 44.2% (n = 50), and 44.2% (n = 50) of the total, respectively. Increased TF expression was correlated with the extent of the primary tumor (P = 0.0043), lymph node metastasis (P = 0.0043), lymphatic distant metastasis (P = 0.0039), advanced tumor-node-metastasis stage (P = 0.0002), and high tumor grade (P = 0.0164). Multivariate analysis using the Cox proportional hazards model showed that high TF expression was an independent negative predictor for survival (hazard ratio, 2.014; P = 0.0076). Moreover, patients with TF-negative tumors had a significantly better prognosis even if lymph node metastasis was present (P < 0.0001). We also showed that TF knockdown by RNA interference suppressed the invasiveness of a pancreatic adenocarcinoma cell line in vitro. These results indicate that TF expression may contribute to the aggressiveness of pancreatic ductal adenocarcinoma by stimulating tumor invasiveness, and that evaluation of the primary tumor for TF expression may identify patients with a poor prognosis.

WC is a potentially useful index for the assessment of surgical risk in laparoscopic colorectal surgery.

Non-occlusive mesenteric ischemia (NOMI), leading to intestinal gangrene without a demonstrable occlusion in the mesenteric artery, is a rare condition with extremely high mortality. We report a case of NOMI diagnosed preoperatively by computed tomography and treated successfully with surgery, assisted by indocyanine green (ICG) fluorescence in the HyperEye Medical System (HEMS), a new device that can simultaneously detect color and near-infrared rays under room light. This allowed for precise intraoperative evaluation of the mesenteric and bowel circulation. Although the necrotic bowel wall of the distal ileum and the segmental ischemia of the jejunum were visible, the jejunum was finally preserved because perfusion of ICG fluorescence was confirmed. The patient, an 84-year-old man, had an uneventful postoperative course and is alive without critical illness 8 months after surgery. We report this case to demonstrate the potential effectiveness of HEMS during surgery for NOMI.

A 78-year-old Japanese man with a history of colon cancer was referred to our department of neurosurgery for the management of asymptomatic left chronic subdural hematoma (CSDH). He was receiving bevacizumab therapy for colon cancer, and the size of the CSDH increased or decreased depending on bevacizumab administration. Simple drainage was performed because of the risk of a critical increase in the size of CSDH during bevacizumab therapy, but since the CSDH was organized and firm, the drainage was insufficient. Therefore, neuroendoscope-assisted craniotomy was performed, and the organized CSDH was almost completely removed. The present case indicates the possible involvement of bevacizumab in the occurrence of CSDH and the efficacy of the neuroendoscopic approach in the surgical treatment of organized CSDH.

HighlightsLaparoscopic exploration is important to precise diagnosis of ventral hernia.Laparoscopic totally extra-peritoneal repair is feasible for Spigelian hernia.Laparoscopic exploration is also important after repairing ventral hernia.Abdominal CT in the abdominal position is useful to precise diagnosis of hernia.