A new multidipole estimation method which gives a sparse solution of the biomagnetic inverse problem is proposed. This solution is extracted from the basic feasible solutions of linearly independent data equations. These feasible solutions are obtained by selecting exactly as many dipole-moments as the number of magnetic sensors. By changing the selection, we search for the minimum-norm vector of selected moments. As a result, a practically sparse solution is obtained; computer-simulated solutions for Lp-norm (p = 2, 1, 0.5, 0.2) have a small number of significant moments around the real source-dipoles. In particular, the solution for L1-norm is equivalent to the minimum-L1-norm solution of the original inverse problem. This solution can be uniquely computed by using Linear Programming.

Endoscopic necrosectomy can be an effective technique for infected WOPN and requires a relatively short treatment period. However, serious complications can arise, including death. Therefore, patients should be carefully selected, and knowledgeable, skilled, and experienced operators should perform the procedure. Further research into safer technologies is required in order to reduce the associated morbidity and mortality.

SOCPS with direct visualization and biopsy for diagnosis and SOCPS-directed therapy for biliary and pancreatic diseases can be safely performed with a high success rate. The clinical trial was registered at UMIN CTR (http://www.umin.ac.jp). The registration identification number is UMIN000015155.

Background: Wire-guided cannulation (WGC) with a sphincterotome for selective bile duct cannulation (SBDC) has been reported to have a higher success rate and lower incidence of post-ERCP pancreatitis (PEP) than conventional methods in some randomized controlled trials (RCTs) that were both single-center and limited to only a few endoscopists.Objective: To estimate the difference in SBDC according to the method and catheter used in a multicenter and multi-endoscopist study. Design:A prospective multicenter RCT with a 2-by-2 factorial design. Setting: Fifteen referral endoscopy units.Patients: In total, 400 consecutive patients with naïve papilla who were candidates for ERCP were enrolled and randomized.Interventions: Patients were assigned to 4 groups according to combined catheter (sphincterotome (S) or catheter (C)) and method (with/without guidewire (GW)). Main Outcome Measurements:Success rate of SBDC in 10 min, time for SBDC, fluoroscopic time and incidence of complications. Results:There was no significant difference in SBDC success rate between with-and without-GW, between C and S, or between the 4 groups (C+GW, C, S+GW, and S). WGC had a tendency to significantly shorten cannulation and fluoroscopic times only in approximately 70% of patients in this study in whom SBDC was achieved in 10 min or less (P = 0.036 and 0.00004, respectively). All 4 groups resulted in similar outcomes in PEP (4%, 5.9%, 2%, and 2.1%, respectively).Limitations: Non-double-blinded study. Kawakami-4 4Conclusions: WGC appears to significantly shorten cannulation and fluoroscopic times.However, neither the method nor type of catheter used resulted in significant differences in either SBDC success rate or incidence of PEP in this RCT. Kawakami-5 5 Keywords:Wire-guided cannulation; Selective bile duct cannulation; Post-ERCP pancreatitis; Randomized controlled trial; Cannulation time; Fluoroscopic time; Radiation exposure time Kawakami-6 6 INTRODUCTIONBiliary cannulation is the most basic procedure for performing biliary interventions; however, no standard has been established to date. The success rates are considered to be related to 3 factors: the kind of catheter, cannulation method, and the skill of the endoscopist. The complication rates are also related to 3 factors: patient, procedure factors, and operator expertise. Cannulations using a sphincterotome with wire-guided cannulation (WGC) instead of the conventional catheter, with contrast medium injection, are gradually performed in many countries. These new methods were reported to be superior to conventional techniques in terms of both success rate and the incidence of post-ERCP pancreatitis (PEP) in some randomized studies [1][2][3][4][5]. However, those studies were performed by either a single or, at most, two skilled endoscopists in a single center [1,2,4,5]. Thus, these data cannot be generalized more widely.In these previous studies, 5° backward-oblique angle therapeutic duodenoscopes (BOAD) were used. In Japan, standard duodenoscopes have traditionally been 15° BOAD. Thu...

Insulinoma-associated protein 1 (INSM1) is an important biomarker of Achaete-scute homolog-like 1-driven pathways. For diagnosis of pancreatic neuroendocrine tumors (PanNET), chromogranin A (CGA), synaptophysin (SYP), and neural cell adhesion molecule (NCAM) were also considered as potential biomarkers. However, it is often difficult to diagnose it immunohistochemically. Hence, we examined the expression pattern of INSM1 in pancreatic solid tumors. We detected INSM1, CGA, SYP, and NCAM immunohistochemically, in 27 cases of NET [pure type: 25 cases, mixed adenoneuroendocrine carcinoma (MANEC): 2 cases]. We included 5 cases of solid-pseudopapillary neoplasm (SPN), 7 cases of acinar cell carcinoma (ACC), and 15 cases of pancreatic ductal adenocarcinoma (PDAC) as the control group. Nuclear expression of INSM1 was found in all PanNET pure type cases. However, expression of INSM1 was negative in PDAC, ACC, and SPN in all cases, whereas faint expression was seen in the cytoplasm from SPN. MANEC comprises of two components: neuroendocrine carcinoma and adenocarcinoma components. The NET component was positive for INSM1 expression, whereas the PDAC component does not express INSM1, which aids in distinguishing these components. Our results suggest that INSM1 is a useful immunohistochemical marker for diagnosing pancreatic neuroendocrine tumor.