The use of NPs for the discovery of anti-cancer agents has not been fully investigated. New technologies that are currently applied for synthetic compounds may be utilized for anti-cancer drug discovery including NPs for CRC.

Schwannomas are benign tumors originating from Schwann cells, which are the main component of the neural sheath. Biliary schwannomas are extremely rare. We report the case of a 78-year-old man who presented with no abdominal symptoms or jaundice. CT imaging showed a hyperdense mass extending along the extrahepatic bile duct, and the upstream bile ducts were dilated. We performed extrahepatic bile duct resection under a preoperative diagnosis of the extrahepatic bile duct cancer. A histopathological examination of the resected specimen revealed that the tumor consisted of spindle cells which exhibited a palisading arrangement. Immunohistochemical staining was positive for protein S-100 and vimentin. Based on these pathological findings, we diagnosed the patient with schwannoma of the extrahepatic bile duct. Our search of the relevant literature revealed 19 case studies of biliary schwannomas. In our case, the surgical findings showed that the tumor was noninvasive and mobile. During surgery, a fast frozen section analysis was performed, and no malignant findings were observed. These results enabled us to avoid extrahepatic bile duct resection with major hepatectomy. We experienced a case of biliary schwannoma that was difficult to distinguish from bile duct cancer.

Intraductal papillary neoplasms of the bile duct (IPNB) are a tumor derived from bile duct epithelium that tends to spread laterally and non‐invasively. Surgery is the first‐choice treatment for IPNB. It is extremely important to accurately diagnose the extent of lateral tumor extension. Although peroral cholangioscopy (POCS) is a potentially useful modality for detecting tumor range with direct observation, poor image quality is a limitation of POCS. Recently, a new‐generation endoscopy system (EVIS X1) was equipped with functions such as red dichromatic imaging to improve image quality. A 75‐year‐old man with cholangitis was referred to our department. Various imaging studies showed a mass in the middle to lower bile duct and dilatation of the common bile duct and the intrahepatic bile duct. Endoscopic retrograde cholangiopancreatography was performed. A biopsy of the main tumor in the lower common bile duct revealed IPNB. It was difficult to determine the extent of superficial tumor extension with modalities such as contrast‐enhanced computed tomography, magnetic resonance imaging, and endoscopic ultrasonography but the detailed evaluation was possible using POCS with red dichromatic imaging 3. The patient underwent hepatopancreatoduodenectomy. This case suggests the usefulness of direct observation using POCS with red dichromatic imaging 3 to determine the range of IPNB.

To clarify the effect of a kyphotic posture on the measured values of body composition. [Subjects and Methods] The subjects were 50 healthy males. Body compositions were measured and calculated for three postures: normal posture (N); kyphotic posture, index of kyphosis 19.4±2.0, artificially induced by a jig and normal height (KN), and the kyphotic posture and the kyphotic posture height (KH). [Results] No significant differences in any of the measures were found for the N and KN postures. For the KH posture, the somatic fat mass was significantly higher, and the lean body mass, appendicular muscle and skeletal mass, and the skeletal muscle index were significantly lower than those of the other postures. [Conclusion] Decrease in height due to kyphosis affects body composition measurements, and for cases with large kyphotic deformity, estimation of normal height is recommended.

Lymphoepithelioma-like carcinoma (LELC) can occur in many organs such as lung, stomach, skin, breast, bile ducts, esophagus, and other many organs. Esopahageal lymphoepithelioma-like carcinoma is an extremely rare disease. LELC has been reported to be associated with Epstein-Barr virus (EBV) in some organs, although there are many controversies. Here, we report a surgically treated two cases of non-Epstein-Barr virus associated LELC of the esophagus. Case 1was a 46-year-old woman who was presented epigastralgia while eating. Upper gastrointestinal endoscopy showed a submucosal tumor in the lower esophagus. Biopsies were taken, and they identified atypical cells proliferating follicular manner and heavy infiltration of lymphocytes. Case 2 was a 71-year-old man who was pointed out to have a tumor in the esophagus by barium examination and was referred to our hospital. Upper gastrointestinal endoscopy showed submucosal tumor was found 23-26 cm from the cut tooth. Endoscopic Ultrasound-guided Fine Needle Aspiration (EUS-FNA) was performed and diagnosed with LELC. These patients underwent subtotal esophagectomy with lymphadenectomy and reconstruction with gastric tube. Case1 was pathologically diagnosed with LELC, SM3, INFa, ly0, V0, pIM0, pPM0 (100mm), pDM0 (120mm), pRM0, pN0, cM0, pStageI, and case2 was diagnosed with LELC, ly1, V1, pIM0, pPM0, pDM0, pRM0, pN0, cM0, pStageI, according to the 10th edition of Japanese classification of Esophageal cancer. Immunohistochemical staining of the specimen from case 1 was positive for AE1/AE3, P40, p63, and negative for CD56 and chromogranin A. Immunohistochemical staining of the specimen from case 2 was positive for CK, EMA, P40, and negative forαSMA and desmin. EBV was not detected by EBER in situ hybridization in the specimen from both patients. LELC is relatively common in salivary glands, thymus, lungs, stomach, skin, and cervix, and EBV that directly infects epithelial cells or infects lymphocytes infects epithelial cells and infects them. EBV infects epithelial cells and is thought to be associated with carcinogenesis of these organs. However, esophageal LELC is rare and it has been argued that EBV may not be involved. In these two cases, EBV was not detected in situ hybridization.