Japanese National Health Insurance System Research Articles

Application of cultured epidermal autograft, JACE®, improves survival rate in extensive burns: A propensity score matching study using Tokyo registry data.

Cultured epidermal autograft, JACE®, was introduced into the Japanese national health insurance system in 2009 and has been used in more than 1000 cases of extensive burns. The aim of this study was to investigate whether the use of JACE® contributes to survival rate in extensive burns. In this study, 119 cases were selected from 3990 cases in Tokyo Burn Unit Association registry data from 2009 to 2023, excluding cases with less than 40% total body surface area, cases of deaths within 4 weeks and cases with unknown length of hospital stay. In total, 25 patients treated with JACE® were selected and matched with another 25 patients who did not receive JACE® using propensity score matching. The results showed that patients treated with JACE® had a significantly higher survival rate than did those who were not treated with JACE® at all time points between 6 and 9 weeks post-injury. In addition, there was no significant difference in length of hospital stay between the groups. These results suggest that the use of JACE® in patients with extensive burns contributes to patient survival and does not prolong hospital stay.

Abstract PO4-14-03: Results of Comprehensive Genomic Profiling of Metastatic Breast Cancer Patients at a Single Institute in Japan

Abstract BACKGROUND. Comprehensive genomic profiling (CGP) was officially approved by the Japanese National Health Insurance System in June 2019. Currently, three CGP tests are available: FoundationOne CDx (F1CDx), OncoGuide NCC Oncopanel (NCC), and FoundationOne Liquid CDx (F1LCDx). This study examines the clinical significance of CGP testing in patients with metastatic breast cancer (mBC) in Japan. METHODS. The subjects were 105 patients (pts) who underwent CGP testing at our hospital from June 2019 to July 2023. Of these, 64 pts received tissue panels for F1CDx, 25 pts for F1LCDx, and 16 pts for others. Based on the reports from the testing companies and the expert panel committee's review, we evaluated the percentage of patients for whom matched therapy (MT) was recommended, whether MT was performed, and the prognosis of the group of patients for whom MT was performed. Overall survival was analyzed with the log-rank test. RESULTS. Of the 105 patients who underwent CGP testing, 47 pts (44.8%) were recommended MT corresponding to ESCAT(ESMO Scale for Clinical Actionability of molecular Targets) ranking I/II or clinical trials due to genetic alterations, and only 7 pts (6.7%) reached those treatments. Three HER2-negative patients were prescribed anti-HER2 therapy for ERBB2 amplification, one patient was prescribed entrectinib for NTRK fusion, and three patients participated in clinical trial for ERBB2 mutation and FGFR1 rearrangement. If ESCAT ranking beyond I/II and recommended therapy from FoundationOne report (e.g Abemaciclib for CCND1 amplification, Everolimus for PTEN loss)are added, 64 pts (60.1%) were considered these treatments, and 19 pts (18.1%) actually received these treatment. Among these 19 pts, overall survival was significant improved that of patientswho did not reach treatment (21.1 m vs 6.2 m, p=0.0097). CONCLUSIONS. We examined the rate of MT attainment by CGP in mBC at a single institute. We found that the rate of MT attainment with ESCAT ranking I/II, or clinical trials corresponding to genetic mutations, was low. The overall survival of patients who underwent MT, which can be performed by Japanese insurance, was significantly different from that of patients who did not undergo MT. Low accessibility of ESCAT ranking I/II MT may be because, in Japan, CGP testing is available only for patients who have completed or are expected to complete standard therapy. Early use of CGP testing and an increase in clinical trials will be desirable in Japan. Citation Format: Tomomi Kon, Hiroshi Tada, Minoru Miyashita, Akiko Ebata, Narumi Harada-Shoji, Yohei Hamanaka, Miku Sato, Mika Yanagaki, Satoko Tsunokake, Tokiwa Motonari, Asumi Yamazaki, Takanori Ishida. Results of Comprehensive Genomic Profiling of Metastatic Breast Cancer Patients at a Single Institute in Japan [abstract]. In: Proceedings of the 2023 San Antonio Breast Cancer Symposium; 2023 Dec 5-9; San Antonio, TX. Philadelphia (PA): AACR; Cancer Res 2024;84(9 Suppl):Abstract nr PO4-14-03.

Bridging the Language Gap: The Role of Human-Mediated Translation in Japanese Medical Settings.

Introduction Foreign residents in Japan often face challenges accessing healthcare due to language barriers, potentially leading to health inequities. This study aimed to assess the utilization and impact of human-mediated translation services in a specific medical setting in Tokyo. Methods A retrospective investigation was conducted on medical records of foreign patients who utilized human-mediated translation services at Navitas Clinic Tachikawa (Tachikawa, Tokyo, Japan) from November 2017 to December 2021. Data on age, gender, language used, department visited, diagnosis, insurance status, and booking methods were analyzed. Results Out of the 124 foreign patients who utilized the human-mediated translation services during the study period, 69 (56%) were male, and 55 (44%) were female. The median age was 35 years, with a range from 3 to 61 years. English was the predominant language used by 34 patients (59%), followed by Chinese for nine patients (16%) and Spanish for four patients (7%). The majority, 107 patients (86%) visited the internal medicine department, nine patients (7%) consulted dermatology, and six patients (5%) visited pediatrics. Regarding insurance status, 47 patients (81%) were insured, three patients (5%) were uninsured by the Japanese national health insurance system, and eight patients (14%) were self-pay. The primary mode of appointment booking was at the reception desk, with 112 patients (90%) using this method, while 12 patients (10%) made reservations online. Conclusions The findings of this study underscore the importance of human-mediated translation services for improving healthcare accessibility for foreign residents in Japan, emphasizing the need to address language barriers and promote health equity in clinical settings. Future studies should also explore challenges faced in patient-physician interactions from a linguistic perspective and potential technological solutions to enhance these services.

Clinical characteristics, treatments, and outcomes of thrombotic thrombocytopenic purpura treated with plasma exchange in Japan: a nationwide inpatient database study

BackgroundPlasma exchange (PEX) has been the primary treatment for immune-mediated thrombotic thrombocytopenic purpura (iTTP) since the 1990s. Daily PEX is recommended in international guidelines, but PEX was only reimbursed up to three times weekly under the Japanese national health insurance system until March 2018. This study was conducted to analyze practice patterns and outcomes in patients with TTP in Japan.MethodsWe used the Japanese Diagnosis Procedure Combination inpatient database, including data from approximately 1,200 acute care hospitals. We identified all hospitalized adult patients who were diagnosed with TTP on admission from July 2010 to March 2017 and who received at least one PEX during hospitalization, which we defined as TTP treated with PEX. We revealed patient characteristics, treatment patterns, and outcomes.ResultsThere were 1,559 patients with TTP treated with PEX. The median age was 64 (interquartile range [IQR] 46–74) years. There were slightly more women (59%) than men enrolled into this study. The median PEX frequency within 7 days of the initial PEX was three (IQR 2–5) times. The median total PEX number during hospitalization was six (IQR 3–10), while the median PEX duration was 10 (IQR 4–22) days. The median time from admission to the initial PEX was 4 (IQR 2–11) days. Overall, in-hospital mortality was 32%. Thirty-three percent (144/437) of hospitals reported only one case of TTP during the study period.ConclusionsOur data demonstrated that clinical practice in Japan considerably varied and its standardization is warranted.

Treatments for Staple Line Leakage after Laparoscopic Sleeve Gastrectomy.

The number of laparoscopic sleeve gastrectomies (LSGs) performed in patients with obesity who are eligible for bariatric and metabolic surgery is currently much lower in Japan than in other countries. Considering the large number of potential patients with obesity and type 2 diabetes and the unique Japanese national health insurance system that guarantees fair healthcare delivery, there is room to increase the number of LSGs in Japan in the near future. However, strict health insurance regulations may limit access to mandatory devices needed to treat postoperative complications, such as staple line leakage, which can cause severe morbidity and even mortality. Therefore, understanding the pathogenesis and treatment options for this complication is crucial. This article examined the current situation in Japan and its impact on staple line leakage management, including the role of endoscopic treatment in reducing reoperation. The authors suggest increasing education and collaboration between healthcare professionals to optimize management and improve patient outcomes.

Standardization of pure laparoscopic extended cholecystectomy with en-bloc lymphadenectomy of the hepatoduodenal ligament for gallbladder cancers.

Application of laparoscopic liver resection (LLR) for gallbladder cancers (GBC) has been approved by the Japanese national health insurance system since 2022. However, there are few reports describing LLR techniques for GBCs. We herein report pure laparoscopic extended cholecystectomy with en-bloc lymphadenectomy of the hepatoduodenal ligament for clinical T2 GBC patients. We performed this procedure for five clinical T2 GBC patients from September 2019 to September 2022. Under general anesthesia and usual set-up for LLR, the caudal line of the hepatoduodenal ligament is transected and the lesser omentum is opened. The right and left hepatic arteries are skeletonized and taped while dissected lymph nodes being dissected toward the hilar side. Then, the common bile duct is taped and the portal vein dissecting the lymph nodes toward the gallbladder. After completing skeletonization of the hepatoduodenal ligament, the cystic duct and the cystic artery are clipped and divided. Hepatic parenchymal transection is performed employing Pringle's maneuver and crush-clamp technique, the same as usual LLR. We perform gallbladder bed resection with surgical margin of 2-3 cm from the gallbladder bed. The mean operating time and blood loss were 151 minutes and 46.4 mL, respectively. There was one case of bile leakage requiring endoscopic stent placement. We successfully established pure laparoscopic extended cholecystectomy with en-bloc lymphadenectomy of the hepatoduodenal ligament for clinical T2 GBC.

Design of a compact superconducting accelerator for advanced heavy-ion therapy

Radiotherapy using energetic carbon beams from the Heavy Ion Medical Accelerator in Chiba (HIMAC) has been carried out at the National Institutes of Quantum Science and Technology (QST) since June 1994. Based on positive clinical results, carbon-ion radiotherapy was authorized as an Advanced Medical Technology by Japanese government from 2003 and it was subsequently approved for inclusion in the Japanese National Health Insurance system from 2016. For the widespread use of carbon-ion radiotherapy, design studies as well as related research and development projects were conducted to develop a compact accelerator facility from 2004. Based on these studies, five compact facilities were constructed in Japan. However, since the accelerators are large in size, construction of these facilities is currently limited to university hospitals or large medical centers, and hence development of a more compact accelerator is desired. To further promote widespread proliferation of heavy-ion facilities and concurrently to maximize the potential of heavy-ion therapy, a project to develop a compact superconducting accelerator, the Quantum Scalpel project, was proposed. The compact accelerator employs superconducting technology to reduce the footprint of the entire accelerator system and the accelerator can provide various therapeutic beams of helium, carbon, oxygen, and neon ions having the energy of 56-430 MeV/u to advanced heavy-ion therapy. In this article, we report the design of the compact superconducting accelerator for the advanced heavy-ion therapy and describe the progress of related research and development projects.

HTA119 Methodological Issues in Health Technology Assessment (HTA) for Re-Pricing in Japan

Health Technology Assessment (HTA) was introduced to the Japanese National Health Insurance (NHI) system in 2019. It was implemented not for coverage decision-making but for price revision in order to maintain the pre-existing rule of the Japanese NHI, covering almost all medications and avoiding delays to the initial pricing phase. We clarified issues with HTA in Japan from a methodological perspective.

Current status and issues related to secondary findings in the first public insurance covered tumor genomic profiling in Japan: multi-site questionnaire survey.

In June 2019, the Japanese National Health Insurance (NHI) system introduced coverage for two types of tumor genomic profiling (TGP): FoundationOneⓇ CDx (F1) and OncoGuide™ NCC OncoPanel System (NCCOP). TGP sometimes reveals germline variants that are potentially pathogenic as secondary findings (SFs). We conducted a questionnaire-based survey to find out the operational statuses of F1 and NCCOP at institutions where TGP was performed to elucidate issues related to SFs. Responses were received from 97 of 112 institutions (86.6%). As of May 31, 2020, 88 (90.7%) and 78 (80.4%) institutions started performing F1 and NCCOP, respectively. Since F1 only examines tumor samples, germline confirmatory testing is necessary to determine whether they are actually germline pathogenic variants (GPVs). When physicians are obtaining informed consent all but 2.3% of the patients requested SF disclosure. Conversely, when presumed germline pathogenic variants (PGPVs) were detected, 46.2% were not willing to receive confirmatory tests as they wanted to prioritize cancer treatment over SFs investigation, while only 23.3% underwent confirmatory tests. Problems in cancer genomic medicine reported by clinical genetics departments included short-staffing (n = 10), insufficient interdepartmental cooperation (n = 9), inconsistent understanding of genetics among healthcare professionals (n = 8), and low utilization rate of SFs due to lack of insurance coverage for confirmatory tests and post-test health checkups (n = 8). Solutions include; determining the appropriate timing to confirm patient intent on SF disclosure, covering confirmatory tests for PGPVs by the NHI, and establishing cooperation between the oncology and clinical genetics departments.

Bonding of resin luting materials to titanium and titanium alloy.

Recently in Japan, due to the increased prices of palladium and gold, cast titanium restorations have been included in the Japanese national health insurance system. The purpose of this review was to survey the available literature on titanium bonding systems, focusing on the adhesive monomer in the luting agent in order to expand the application of resin-bonded fixed prostheses made of titanium or titanium alloys. It was found that adhesive monomers are effective for bonding to titanium, and provide results equal to the procedures of silanization and tribochemical silica coating. A primer or a luting agent, including 10-methacryloyloxydecyl dihydrogen phosphate (MDP), methacryloyloxyalkyl thiophosphate derivative (MEPS), 6-methacryloxyhexyl phosphonoacetate (6-MHPA), and 4-methacryloyloxyethl trimellitate anhydride (4-META) promotes bonding characteristics between titanium and the resin material.

Current Status of Next-Generation Sequencing-Based Cancer Genome Profiling Tests in Japan and Prospects for Liquid Biopsy.

Next-generation sequencing-based comprehensive genome profiling (CGP) testing, OncoGuide NCC Oncopanel System, and FoundationOne CDx Cancer Genomic Profile have been covered by the Japanese national health insurance system since June 2019. Because CGP was initially developed to enroll patients into an early-phase clinical trial for solid tumors, its approved indications have been limited to patients who have completed the standard chemotherapy treatment. Approximately 14,000 cases have been registered with the Center for Cancer Genomics and Advanced Therapeutics as of March 2021. Measuring the drug access rate is not enough due to patients’ deteriorating condition during CGP analysis and due to the limited number of ongoing clinical trials available, although tumor-agnostic therapies, such as the use of pembrolizumab in high microsatellite-instable solid tumors and in conditions with a high tumor mutational burden (≥10 mut/Mb) as well as the use of entrectinib and larotrectinib in NTRK fusion-positive tumors have been approved in Japan. Moreover, since this analysis is performed using DNA derived from tumor tissue, it is difficult to perform CGP in cases in which an insufficient amount of tissue exists. Thus, noninvasive blood-based assays have been developed, and CGP panels using circulating tumor DNA from blood were approved in March 2021. However, cost, timing, and the number of tests allowed by the health system have not yet been determined. Therefore, in this review, we outline the current status and issues of CGP testing using tumor tissues as well as the expectations and limitations of liquid biopsy for use in Japanese clinical practice.

The incidence of diabetes among the non-diabetic residents in Kawauchi village, Fukushima, who experienced evacuation after the 2011 Fukushima Daiichi nuclear power plant disaster

ObjectivesAfter the Fukushima Daiichi nuclear power plant disaster in 2011, residents of Kawauchi village who experienced evacuation had a high risk of suffering from diabetes and metabolic syndrome compared with non-evacuees. In addition to evacuation, lifestyle characteristics can be important factors influencing the development and prognosis of diabetes or glucose tolerance. The current study aimed to evaluate the effects of evacuation (i.e., lifestyle changes) on the incidence of diabetes among the non-diabetic residents of Kawauchi village.MethodsDesign is retrospective cohort study. Annual health examination data of residents of Kawauchi village and control area (Ono town) in Fukushima prefecture from 2008 to 2017, as available from the Japanese National Health Insurance system. Participants were classified into three groups: “Diabetes (DM)” (FBG ≥ 126 mg/dL or HbA1c ≥ 6.5% or hospital visit for DM or usage of diabetic medication), “Borderline DM” (126 mg/dL > FBG ≥ 110 mg/dL or 6.5% > HbA1c ≥ 6.0%, and without hospital visit, and without diabetic medication), and “Normoglycemic” (FBG < 110 mg/dL and HbA1c < 6.0%, and without hospital visit, and without diabetic medication). New onset of diabetes was evaluated and the events or missing data were occurred at health checkup. For this survival analysis, 339 residents in Kawauchi and 598 residents in Ono were included. Average follow-up periods after 2010 were 3.9 years in Kawauchi village and 3.6 years in Ono town.ResultsCompared with the normoglycemic group, incidence of DM was much greater in the borderline DM group, where DM occurred among 38.2% of the group in 2012 and increased to over 60% cumulatively through 2017 in Kawauchi village. DM had a prevalence of 16.3% in 2012, and below 30% in 2017 in borderline DM group of Ono town. Cox proportional hazard regression analysis was applied to non-DM groups at both study sites separately to evaluate the effects of lifestyle changes at each site. While BMI, BMI change, and the lack of regular exercise (HR = 1.29, 1.72, and 5.04, respectively) showed significant associations with the onset of diabetes in Ono town, only BMI and late-night dinner (HR = 1.21 and 4.86, respectively) showed significant associations with diabetes onset in Kawauchi village.ConclusionsThe current results confirmed that diabetes incidence was increased 6 years after the Daiichi nuclear power plant disaster in Kawauchi. We also found changes in lifestyle habits, suggesting that diabetes prevention with promotion of healthy lifestyle behaviors is an urgent priority.

Particle therapy for prostate cancer: The past, present and future.

Although prostate cancer control using radiotherapy is dose‐dependent, dose–volume effects on late toxicities in organs at risk, such as the rectum and bladder, have been observed. Both protons and carbon ions offer advantageous physical properties for radiotherapy, and create favorable dose distributions using fewer portals compared with photon‐based radiotherapy. Thus, particle beam therapy using protons and carbon ions theoretically seems suitable for dose escalation and reduced risk of toxicity. However, it is difficult to evaluate the superiority of particle beam radiotherapy over photon beam radiotherapy for prostate cancer, as no clinical trials have directly compared the outcomes between the two types of therapy due to the limited number of facilities using particle beam therapy. The Japanese Society for Radiation Oncology organized a joint effort among research groups to establish standardized treatment policies and indications for particle beam therapy according to disease, and multicenter prospective studies have been planned for several common cancers. Clinical trials of proton beam therapy for intermediate‐risk prostate cancer and carbon‐ion therapy for high‐risk prostate cancer have already begun. As particle beam therapy for prostate cancer is covered by the Japanese national health insurance system as of April 2018, and the number of facilities practicing particle beam therapy has increased recently, the number of prostate cancer patients treated with particle beam therapy in Japan is expected to increase drastically. Here, we review the results from studies of particle beam therapy for prostate cancer and discuss future developments in this field.

Exploring the Application of Cost-Effectiveness Evaluation in the Japanese National Health Insurance System.

Advances in health care due to the development and introduction of new drugs and medical devices have brought considerable benefits to people and patients in terms of upgraded quality of life and extended years of survival. However, some are concerned that the very advancement of health care would increase further the inflation of national healthcare costs. In response to these concerns, Japan's Central Social Insurance Medical Council ("Chuikyo") began in 2012 to examine how cost-effectiveness evaluation might be applied to the national health insurance system, and has been working toward establishing a system for its usage. Cost-effectiveness evaluation was adopted on a trial basis in fiscal year (FY) 2016, targeting seven drugs and six medical devices. Analyses and re-analyses were performed by manufacturers and a public expert organization, respectively. Based on these analyses, a cost-effectiveness evaluation expert organization conducted an overall assessment ("appraisal"). Results of the evaluation were used to adjust the prices of the target items. Following the trial adoption of cost-effectiveness evaluation, price adjustments were performed for three items in April 2018. Meanwhile, a decision was also made to examine seven items for which technical requirements were identified due to differences in the understanding of analysis methods between involved parties. The Chuikyo will examine how to meet the newly identified technical requirements and discuss specific details with regard to establishing a system that incorporates cost-effectiveness evaluation. The Chuikyo plans to reach a conclusion by the end of FY 2018.

Anti-endotoxin Properties of Polymyxin B-immobilized Fibers.

Polymyxin B is an antibiotic that shows strong bactericidal activity against Gram-negative bacteria, by binding to and inactivating endotoxin. Systemic administration of polymyxin B in humans is restricted because of its nephrotoxicity and neurotoxicity, and this compound was therefore considered a strong candidate ligand for the extracorporeal selective adsorption of circulating endotoxin in the blood. Toraymyxin® is a direct hemoperfusion column that uses polymyxin B attached to an insoluble carrier to bind endotoxin in the blood. In 1994, the Japanese National Health Insurance system approved the use of Toraymyxin for the treatment of endotoxemia and septic shock.In this chapter, we will review the development, clinical use, and efficacy of Toraymyxin, examine the structure of the Toraymyxin column, and comment on the current position of Toraymyxin in the treatment of severe sepsis and septic shock. We will also highlight some potential new applications of Toraymyxin for pulmonary diseases.

Cost‐effectiveness of aprepitant in Japanese patients treated with cisplatin‐containing highly emetogenic chemotherapy

Chemotherapy‐induced nausea and vomiting (CINV) remains a major adverse event in cancer chemotherapy. Although aprepitant is effective in preventing CINV, an increment in financial burden for uniform use of aprepitant is a concern. The aim of the present study was to define the cost‐effectiveness of aprepitant from the perspective of the Japanese National Health Insurance system. Based on the results of a randomized phase II trial comparing an aprepitant‐containing regimen versus a nonaprepitant regimen in Japanese patients who received cisplatin‐containing highly emetogenic chemotherapy, a decision analytic model was developed. The incremental cost‐effectiveness ratio (ICER) was calculated both in the outpatient care setting (OCS) and in the inpatient care setting (ICS). The use of the aprepitant‐containing regimen was associated with improved quality of life compared with the nonaprepitant regimen, with an increment in quality‐adjusted life years (QALY) of 0.0016. The incremental total medical costs associated with the use of the aprepitant regimen were lower in the OCS than in the ICS, 6192 JPY (56.92 USD) and 9820 JPY (90.27 USD), respectively. The ICER was calculated as 3 906 698 JPY (35 910 USD) per QALY gained in the OCS and 6 195 781 JPY (56 952 USD) per QALY gained in the ICS. Cost‐effectiveness of the aprepitant‐containing antiemetic therapy was limited to the OCS, considering the threshold of willingness‐to‐pay commonly accepted (5 million JPY [45 960 USD] in Japan and 50 000 USD in the USA). The efficacy of aprepitant offsets the costs for revisiting clinics or rehospitalization added with rescue medications in the OCS.

Cost-Benefit Performance Simulation of Robot-Assisted Thoracic Surgery As Required for Financial Viability under the 2016 Revised Reimbursement Paradigm of the Japanese National Health Insurance System.

To discuss the cost-benefit performance (CBP) and establish a medical fee system for robotic-assisted thoracic surgery (RATS) under the Japanese National Health Insurance System (JNHIS), which is a system not yet firmly established. All management steps for RATS are identical, such as preoperative and postoperative management. This study examines the CBP based on medical fees of RATS under the JNHIS introduced in 2016. Robotic-assisted laparoscopic prostatectomy (RALP) and robotic-assisted partial nephrectomy (RAPN) now receive insurance reimbursement under the category of use of support devices for endoscopic surgery ($5420 and $3485, respectively). If the same standard amount were to be applied to RATS, institutions would need to perform at least 150 or 300 procedures thoracic operation per year to show a positive CBP ($317 per procedure as same of RALP and $130 per procedure as same of RAPN, respectively). Robotic surgery in some areas receives insurance reimbursement for its "supportive" use for endoscopic surgery as for RALP and RAPN. However, at present, it is necessary to perform da Vinci Surgical System Si (dVSi) surgery at least 150-300 times in a year in a given institution to prevent a deficit in income.

History and current status of polymyxin B-immobilized fiber column for treatment of severe sepsis and septic shock.

Toraymyxin® (Toray Medical Co., Ltd, Tokyo, Japan) has been developed as a direct hemoperfusion column that contains polymyxin B‐immobilized fiber to bind endotoxins in patients’ blood. Toraymyxin was approved by the Japanese National Health Insurance system for the treatment of endotoxemia and septic shock in 1994. Since then, PMX (defined as direct hemoperfusion with Toraymyxin) has been safely used in more than 100 000 cases in emergency and intensive care units in Japan. Toraymyxin is currently available for use in clinical settings in 12 countries outside of Japan. We reviewed and analyzed the development, clinical use, and efficacy of Toraymyxin, and assessed the current status of Toraymyxin use for the treatment of severe sepsis and septic shock. Our review shows that PMX appeared to be effective in improving hemodynamics and respiratory function in septic shock requiring emergency abdominal surgery. Recent large‐scale ranomized controlled trialscould not demonstrate whether prognosis is improved by PMX. However, the latest meta‐analysis revealed that PMX significantly decreased mortality in patients with severe sepsis and septic shock. Combination of PMX with continuous hemodiafiltration and longer duration of PMX might be an effective strategy to improve survival in such patients.

Laparoscopic endoscopic cooperative surgery (LECS) for the upper gastrointestinal tract.

We developed the laparoscopic and endoscopic cooperative surgery (LECS) technique, which combines endoscopic submucosal dissection (ESD) and laparoscopic gastric resection to resect gastric submucosal tumors (SMTs). Many researchers have reported LECS to be a feasible technique for gastric submucosal tumor resection regardless of tumor location, including the esophagogastric junction (EGJ). Recently, the Japanese National Health Insurance system approved LECS for insurance coverage, and it is now widely applied for gastric submucosal tumor resection. Initially, we applied LECS to gastric SMTs without ulcerative lesions due to concern about the possibility of tumor cells seeding into the peritoneal cavity, in a procedure termed "classical LECS". To expand the indication of LECS for gastric epithelial neoplasms, modified LECS procedures such as inverted LECS, non-exposed endoscopic wall-inversion surgery (NEWS), combination of laparoscopic and endoscopic approaches to neoplasia with non-exposure technique (CLEAN-NET), and closed laparoscopic and endoscopic cooperative surgery (closed-LECS) have been developed and applied to patients with gastric epithelial neoplasms. As a future perspective of LECS, we plan to combine the modified LECS procedure and sentinel node (SN) navigation surgery (SNNS) for clinical (c)Stage IA gastric cancer resection. This strategy could be a minimally invasive surgical technique for cStage IA early gastric cancer.

Structural and Regional Characteristics and Cost Efficiencies in the Local Public Health Insurance System: Empirical Evidence from the Japanese National Health Insurance System

&lt;p&gt;&lt;em&gt;In this study, I use panel data from municipal Japanese National Health Insurance (JNHI) insurers to estimate their financial efficiency scores using nonparametric methods and to estimate the causal effects of structural and regional characteristics on the efficiency scores consistently using econometric methods. The major findings of this study are as follows. First, the estimated efficiency scores imply that many JNHI insurers have serious financial inefficiencies, and that total cost efficiency (economic efficiency) is strongly and positively correlated with allocative efficiency. Second, the empirical results of the effects of various factors on efficiency scores indicate that the two major policy reforms for health care systems for the elderly in 2008 contribute strongly to the improvement of JNHI insurers’ finances. Third, the subsidy from a prefectural government positively affects efficiencies, but subsidies from central and municipal governments have an adverse effect. Fourth, contributions to health care systems for the elderly still have an adverse effect on JNHI finances.&lt;/em&gt;&lt;/p&gt;