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Second Lecture of Internal Medicine

Our department operates a research room specializing in internal medicine, with focuses on treating gastrointestinal diseases and conducting research. To be specific, our major subjects are to conduct research, mainly in cell biology and oncology in the gastrointestinal field, to better understand regulatory mechanism supporting basic structures and functions of the digestive organs, and molecular pathology in the background of gastrointestinal diseases, including malignant tumors. We also aim to consider treatment strategies leading to regenerative medicine.

As for treatments, we collaborate with related facilities to be one of the leading hospitals in Japan, targeting a great number of patients with gastrointestinal malignant tumors, including hepatic cancer and gastric cancer. We focus on providing not only treatments using gastrointestinal endoscopy, but also local therapies of hepatic cancer using radiofrequency ablation (RFA) and cancer chemotherapy. We actively engage in exchanges with universities and research institutions in Japan and overseas to improve treatment skills and to develop treatment devices.

Research Overview

We conduct basic and clinical research on chronic diseases, especially, malignant tumors, primarily in gastrointestinal diseases, which are our area of specialty. The classification of basic and clinical research has become unclear because the development of molecular biology enabled the same approach that has been used in other research fields to be applied in the gastrointestinal field, and because research fields have rapidly become greater and deeper.

In seeking for the most optimal care for each patient, our staff evaluates their own treatment levels for target diseases and patiently pursues issues that they face. During this process, our department conducts research on themes that occur spontaneously, aiming the research results to assist clinicians in improving abilities in some way and to contribute back to the therapies in the end.

The themes of our research room are shown below.

  1. Studies on proliferation, differentiation, and morphogenesis of digestive parenchyma, and regulatory mechanism of apoptosis, with a view of regenerative medicine.
  2. Clarification of molecular mechanisms of proliferation, differentiation, and metastasis in gastrointestinal cancer, and studies on clinical application.
  3. Studies on natural history, basic pathology, and their control of chronic inflammatory diseases in the gastrointestinal field.
  4. Studies on secretion mechanisms of gastric acid and pepsin as environmental determinants of the upper gastrointestinal tract lumen.
  5. Studies on wound healing regulatory mechanisms and improvement in the quality of ulcer healing in the gastrointestinal tract.
  6. Clarification of mechanisms of infection and proliferation of the hepatitis virus, and studies on their control.
  7. Studies on age-related pathology of the gastrointestinal tract.
  8. Clinical-epidemiological studies on chronic gastrointestinal diseases and malignant diseases.
  9. Studies on chemoprevention of gastrointestinal cancer.
  10. Studies on accuracy and efficiency improvement in screening gastrointestinal cancer.
  11. Studies on endoscopic therapy for diseases associated with the gastrointestinal tract, bile duct, and pancreas.
  12. Studies on percutaneous local therapy for neoplastic lesions of the liver.
  13. Consideration to introduce dynamic image in treating gastrointestinal diseases.
  14. Studies on the effects of chemotherapy for gastrointestinal cancer.
  15. Review of pre- and post-graduation medical education in the gastroenterological field.

Treatment Overview

Treatment details (specialized areas), Treatment policies

The Second Department of Internal Medicine provides treatments for internal diseases, especially diseases associated with digestive organs (gastrointestinal tract, liver, and gallbladder/pancreas), which are our area of specialty. To be specific, in collaboration with related facilities, we target a great number of patients with gastrointestinal malignant tumors, including hepatic cancer, gastric cancer, and colon cancer, and divide the department into the following four treatment groups: (1) upper gastrointestinal tract, (2) lower gastrointestinal tract, (3) liver, and (4) gallbladder/pancreas.

We aim to improve the accuracy and efficiency of diagnostic measures, with a focus on endoscopy for gastrointestinal diseases and malignant diseases of the gallbladder/pancreas. While aggressively performing endoscopic submucosal dissection (ESD) on early lesions, we try to refine skills in performing these procedures. Furthermore, our department has the following features: introducing dynamic image to treat gastrointestinal diseases; interferon regimens to remove H. pylori or to treat the hepatitis virus in reducing chronic inflammation to prevent cancer development in each region; prognosis improvement; management of acid peptic disorders, including treatments for acute hemorrhage; treatments for inflammatory bowel disease, especially consideration of therapeutic options, such as leukapheresis in patients who are resistant to therapy; and radiofrequency ablation (RFA) for hepatic cancer.

In addition, we send our staff to the emergency intensive care unit to assist treating emergent and severe diseases of the gastrointestinal field.