Juntendo
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Department of Gastroenterology
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research
 Research themes
Under Prof. Watanabe's idea that becoming a good clinician one must have a scientific and logical mind with practice of research, staff are undergoing their research with which the results can be directly translated to the�@clinics. The research themes in the clinics are (1) The diagnosis, treatment and mechanisms of Helicobacter Pyroli infection
(2) The mechanisms of GERD (gastroesophageal reflux disease)
(3) The diagnosis of early colon cancer by colonoscopy
(4) The diagnosis of GI neoplasms by light-induced fluorescence endoscopy (LIFE-GI)
(5) The usefulness of endoscopic injection sclerotherapy and endoscopic variceal ligation for esophageal varices
(6) The mechanism of ulcerative colitis through bacterial infection and the effectiveness of antibiotic combination therapy
(7) New chemotherapy for cancers in the gastroenterological field
(8) The relationship between liver diseases and life style related diseases
(9) The treatment and prognosis of chronic hepatitis C
(10) The diagnosis of PBC and AIH.

The research themes in the basics are
(1) The mechanism of recognition of bacterial toxins inthe pathogenesis of gastrointestinal diseases.
(2) The modulation of intestinal functions through immune system and pharmacological nutrition support by amino acids.
(3) The role of cell adhesion factors in the progress of gastric mucosal atrophy and carcinogenesis.
(4) The inhibition of the inflammatory process through transcriptional factors in inflammatory bowel diseases.
(5) The role of bacterial infection in the pathogenesis of inflammatory bowel disease.
(6) The role of microcirculation in the gastrointestinal and hepatic diseases.
(7) Sinusoidal endothelial cells as target of gene therapy.
(8) The role of TRAIL system in determining responses to interferon.
(9) Pathogenesis and mechanism in progression of alcoholic liver disease.
(10) The role of leptin in liver fibrogenesis.
(11) The inhibition of activation of stellate cells and fibrogenesis.
(12) The effect of ethanol in liver regeneration.
(13) The role of senescence marker protein-30 (SMP30) in hepatocytes and aging.
(14) Mitochondrial abnormalities in cancers and life style related diseases.
 liver, gall bladder, pancreas
In the field of liver diseases, we are treating various acute and chronic disorders. Also, researches of the mechanisms of the diseases and new therapeutic approaches are in trials. The research themes are mechanisms of alcoholic liver disease and NASH (non-alcoholic steatohepatitis) and our research group is very well approved within the country and also internationally. Many papers are already published in the top journals such as Gastroenterology and Hepatology. We are also aggressively dealing with basic researches in order to acquire new techniques for gene therapy and regerative medicine. The technology of gene transfection in hepatic sinusoidal endothelial cells is Juntendo's original.

In the field of gall bladder and pancreatic disorders, early detections of bile duct and pancreatic cancers are under way by collecting bile duct juice and pancreatic juice in patients with slight radiographic abnormalities.
 Upper GI tract
In the field of upper GI tract, numerous studies about H. pyroli and related disorders as well as endoscopic treatment for early gastric cancer have been done and are ongoing.
We were able to establish the treatment of H.pyroli suitable for the Japanese population because we have more experiences than any other institution. We have also established the re-eradication therapy. Aside from treatment, we have developed new diagnostic methods for H. pyroli such as urine H. pyroli antibody. Also, we are interested in the mechanisms of GERD through basic researches.
As treatment for gastric tumors, endoscopic resections are done twice every week. Also, since 2003, we are dealing with endoscopic submucosal dissection for larger lesions.
 Lower GI tract
In the field of lower GI tract, our main themes are researches in screening examinations through colonoscopy and in early con cancer. In inflammatory bowel diseases, we have developed a novel treatment for ulcerative colitis which we treat patients with antibiotic combination therapy. In the field of endoscpy, we are using the light-induced fluorescence endoscopy for diagnosing tumors.

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