Distal malignant biliary obstruction (MBO) is often caused by pancreatic cancer, biliary tract cancer, and lymph node metastasis. Endoscopic placement of a self-expandable metal stent (SEMS) is the standard treatment for unresectable distal MBO due to the long stent patency compared to plastic stents. [1][2][3] There are two types of SEMS: uncovered SEMS (UMS) and covered SEMS (CMS). Recent meta-analysis

We previously reported that oral ingestion of polaprezinc, a zinc-L-carnosine, suspended in sodium alginate solution prevents oral mucositis in patients receiving radiotherapy or high-dose chemotherapy. In the present study, we developed a novel preparation of polaprezinc and evaluated clinical effect of the lozenge preparation in patients receiving high-dose chemotherapy for hematopoietic stem cell transplantation. The preparation contained 18.75 mg polaprezinc in a tablet and showed an excellent uniformity and stability up to 24 weeks after storage under room temperature. The incidence rate of grade ≥ 2 oral mucositis was 74 % in patients without premedication, whereas the rate was remarkably reduced in patients receiving the suspension (23 %) or lozenge (13 %) of polaprezinc (P < 0.01). The use of non-opioid analgesic drugs such as anti-inflammatory agents and local anesthetics for oral pain was also greatly reduced by polaprezinc suspension or its lozenge (16 % for suspension and 13 % for lozenge compared with 89 % with no premedication, P < 0.01). These findings suggest that polaprezinc lozenge is simple to apply and highly effective for prevention of oral mucositis associated with high-dose chemotherapy for hematopoietic stem cell transplantation.

Objective: It is widely assumed that there are multiple levels (from individual to policy level) of problems involving disparities in cancer care for people with mental disorders. However, few studies have comprehensively investigated issues as perceived by medical professionals. The purpose of the present study was to identify a wide range of issues in cancer care for people with mental disorders and offer corresponding solutions for both cancer care professionals and psychiatric care professionals. Methods:We distributed open-ended questionnaires to 754 healthcare professionals in various medical facilities, including designated cancer hospitals, psychiatric hospitals, and other local healthcare/welfare facilities. Participants were asked to describe issues in cancer care for people with mental disorders.

We demonstrate the size-dependent separation and permanent immobilization of DNA on plasmonic substrates by means of plasmonic optical tweezers. We found that a gold nanopyramidal dimer array enhanced the optical force exerted on the DNA, leading to permanent immobilization of the DNA on the plasmonic substrate. The immobilization was realized by a combination of the plasmon-enhanced optical force and the thermophoretic force induced by a photothermal effect of the plasmons. In this study, we applied this phenomenon to the separation and fixation of size-different DNA. During plasmon excitation, DNA strands of different sizes became permanently immobilized on the plasmonic substrate forming micro-rings of DNA. The diameter of the ring was larger for longer DNA (in base pairs). When we used plasmonic optical tweezers to trap DNA of two different lengths dissolved in solution (ϕx DNA (5.4 kbp) and λ-DNA (48.5 kbp), or ϕx DNA and T4 DNA (166 kbp)), the DNA were immobilized, creating a double micro-ring pattern. The DNA were optically separated and immobilized in the double ring, with the shorter sized DNA and the larger one forming the smaller and larger rings, respectively. This phenomenon can be quantitatively explained as being due to a combination of the plasmon-enhanced optical force and the thermophoretic force. Our plasmonic optical tweezers open up a new avenue for the separation and immobilization of DNA, foreshadowing the emergence of optical separation and fixation of biomolecules such as proteins and other ncuelic acids. DNA has been the main target for optical trapping and manipulation. This is very important in medical science and biological physics, and numerous studies have been carried out so far. With conventional optical tweezers simply using a focused laser beam (developed by Arthur Ashkin 1-4), it is rather difficult to optically trap DNA in aqueous solutions containing hydrated random coil structures because of their small polarizability 5. In many cases, small dielectric microspheres are connected to the head and end groups of the DNA, and a focused laser beam optically manipulates these microspheres 6-9. This technique for DNA manipulation has stimulated extensive development in DNA biophysics. Recently, a breakthrough was achieved in the research field of optical tweezers 10-15. This is based on surface plasmons localized around metallic nanostructures. The surface plasmons lead to an electric field (E) enhancement effect of the incident light which amplifies the optical force (F g , gradient force) and hence the optical trapping potential (U):