First-line Treatment Modality Research Articles

Transarterial embolization of uterine arteries in emerging dysfunctional uterine bleeding: a single-center case series study

BackgroundUterine artery embolization is proven to be an effective treatment for symptomatic uterine fibroids. Yet, its role in the management of dysfunctional uterine bleeding is still debatable. Patients with dysfunctional uterine bleeding have abnormal bleeding from the uterine vascular bed with variable underlying mechanisms. Uterine artery embolization will reduce/prevent bleeding by occlusion of the vascular bed, with subsequent cutoff of the effect of hormones on the endometrium. The aim of this work is to demonstrate the safety, efficacy and possible short-term complications of uterine artery embolization in the treatment of dysfunctional uterine bleeding (DUB) as a first-line treatment modality rather than the current treatment options (hormonal and surgical treatment).MethodsThirty patients included in the study were clinically and laboratory diagnosed based on FIGO classification system (PALM-COEIN) as DUB, and the diagnosis was confirmed by MRI imaging. All patients were subjected to transcatheter uterine artery embolization with subsequent clinical and radiological follow-up to assess the treatment outcome.ResultsUterine artery embolization was able to control bleeding in patients diagnosed as DUB, with subsequent complete cessation of medical treatment; no surgical interference was needed with much less morbidity. We had 93.3% improvement in the frequency, volume of bleeding and 100% improvement of the presenting anemia. No significant change in uterine volume or in endometrial thickness has been noted.ConclusionsUterine artery embolization is safe, effective procedure to control dysfunctional uterine bleeding with the preservation of the uterus especially in critical age groups.

Endoscopic combined intrarenal surgery versus percutaneuos nephrolithotomy for complex pediatric stone disease: A comparative analysis of efficacy and safety

INTRODUCTIONDecision-making for complex pediatric urinary system stone disease is still a challenge for pediatric urologists. The interest in supine percutaneous nephrolithotomy (PCNL) is increasing among centers to achieve high surgical success rates with less morbidity. Despite advanced retrograde intrarenal surgery armamentarium, percutaneous approaches remain the first-line surgical treatment modality for >2 cm and complex renal stones. There are no comparative studies yet in the literature for pediatric endoscopic combined intrarenal surgery (ECIRS) OBJECTIVEIn this study, we aimed to contribute to the literature by evaluating the safety and efficacy of ECIRS by comparing it with PCNL. STUDY DESIGNPatients under 18 years of age who underwent PCNL and ECIRS for urinary tract stone disease at our Pediatric Urology department between 2012 and 2024 were included. Preoperative (demographic characteristics, stone characteristics, biochemical parameters), perioperative (duration of surgery, number of accesses, lasing and fluoroscopy times, endoscopic and fluoroscopic stone-free rates) and postoperative (hospital stay, urinary tract infection, complication and radiological stone-free rates) parameters were retrospectively evaluated. RESULTSA total of 68 children [28 (41%) girls and 40 (59%) boys] aged 5 (0-17) years were included in the study. ECIRS was performed in 19 (28%), supine in 28 (41%) and prone PCNL in 21 (30%) patients. Age (p = 0.029), Guy's stone score (p<0.001), S.T.O.N.E. (p<0.001), and Seoul National University Renal Stone Complexity (S-ReSC) scores (p=0.001) for preoperative parameters were found to be higher in ECIRS group over both PCNL methods (Summary Table). However, Clinical Research Office of the Endourological Society (CROES) score was seen lower for ECIRS group patients compared to other groups (p=0.028).Surgery time (in favor of supine over prone PCNL), fluoroscopy time (in favor of ECIRS and Supine PCNL over Prone PCNL), preferred laser type (prone PCNL group was mostly performed with holmium laser, whereas other groups were balanced between Holmium and Thulium Fiber Laser) and exit strategy (the preferred exit strategy was DJ Stent in most of the ECIRS patients, whereas nephrostomy tube was used in some of the PCNL group) showed significant difference among the groups as perioperative parameters (p=0.042, <0.001, <0.001, <0.001, respectively). Surgery time was lower for supine PCNL compared to prone PCNL. For postoperative parameters, stone-free rates, complication rates and urinary tract infections were similar between the 3 groups, while a difference was detected in terms of length of hospital stay in favor of ECIRS over both supine and prone PCNL (p = 0.006). DISCUSSIONThe current trial suggests that stone-free and complication rates of ECIRS and supine PCNL were similar in the pediatric complex stone patients. Although, the stones in the ECIRS group we found to be more complex. Also, ECIRS was superior to PCNL in terms of fluoroscopy exposure and hospital stay. CONCLUSIONWith the widespread use of new generation ureteral access sheaths and flexible ureterorenoscopes, ECIRS may have an important role in treatment of complex pediatric kidney stones.

Interventional Treatment of Malignant Biliary Obstruction: Is It Time to Change the Paradigm?

Introduction. Biliary obstruction is a common manifestation of biliopancreatic malignancies, and its relief is an essential part of the treatment algorithm. Currently, there are three techniques to manage malignant biliary obstruction—endoscopic retrograde cholangiopancreatography (ERCP), percutaneous transhepatic biliary drainage (PTBD), and endoscopic ultrasound-guided biliary drainage (EUS-BD). ERCP has been adopted as a first-line treatment modality but EUS-BD is gradually emerging as a viable alternative. The aim of the current article is to assess the clinical outcomes of the three nonsurgical biliary drainage procedures. Materials and methods. A total of 102 consecutive patients with unresectable biliopancreatic malignancy inducing biliary obstruction and subjected to palliative treatment by means of ERCP, EUS-BD, or PTBD were retrospectively included in the study. Results. No difference in clinical and technical success of the procedures was found: ERCP—97.2% technical; 88.9% clinical; PTBD—94.4% technical, 72.2% clinical; EUS-BD—90% technical; 83.3% clinical. Adverse events (AEs) and reinterventions were significantly more common in PTBD (38.9% and 52.8%) and ERCP (27.9% and 25%) compared to EUS-BD (10% and 3.3%). Total duration of hospital stay and number of hospitalizations were lower in the EUS-BD compared to PTBD and ERCP groups. Conclusions. In the presence of adequate expertise, EUS-BD may be superior to PTBD and ERCP in achieving and sustaining biliary drainage in the setting of unresectable malignancy.

Abstract 6465: A population-based analysis of brain metastasis burden and management in 8705 small cell lung cancer patients

Abstract Introduction: Patients with small cell lung cancer (SCLC) have historically been characterized by poor overall survival (OS) and high risk for brain metastases (BM), but large-scale real-world evidence on clinical presentation and treatment in this population is lacking. Methods: The aim of this study was to describe the clinical characteristics and outcomes of patients with SCLC and BM in Ontario, Canada. This retrospective cohort study included all patients in Ontario, Canada, who were diagnosed with SCLC between April 2010 and March 2018. Data were analyzed between June 2022 and July 2023. Kaplan-Meier and multivariable Cox regression analyses were performed to compare overall survival (OS) between patient cohorts stratified by disease stage, BM diagnosis, or first-line intracranial treatment modality. Results: 8705 patients were included. Median age at diagnosis was 68 years (range 18-103). Median OS of all patients was 7.46 months (95% confidence interval, CI, 7.23-7.69). 32% (n=2686) of patients developed BM (synchronous, 43.7%; asynchronous, 56.3%) and had median OS of 9.76 months (95% CI, 9.36-10.22). 102, 1654, and 880 patients received stereotactic radiosurgery (SRS), whole brain radiation therapy (WBRT), and no treatment, respectively, for their BM in the first-line setting or after prophylactic cranial irradiation (PCI). In propensity score-matched analyses, OS was equivocal between SRS- and WBRT-treated cohorts among patients who did not receive PCI (hazard ratio, HR, 1.18, 95% CI, 0.75-1.81) and those who received PCI prior to BM development (HR, 0.77, 95% CI, 0.53-1.13). Conclusions: Survival for patients with SCLC remains poor, and many patients present with BMs. With careful selection, patients with SCLC may benefit from SRS treatment. Citation Format: Karolina Gaebe, Anders W. Erickson, Sarah Chen, Arjun Sahgal, Benjamin H. Lok, Kelvin K. Chan, Sunit Das. A population-based analysis of brain metastasis burden and management in 8705 small cell lung cancer patients [abstract]. In: Proceedings of the American Association for Cancer Research Annual Meeting 2024; Part 1 (Regular Abstracts); 2024 Apr 5-10; San Diego, CA. Philadelphia (PA): AACR; Cancer Res 2024;84(6_Suppl):Abstract nr 6465.

Combined Oral Contraceptives (COCs) Management on symptoms of Polycystic Ovary Syndrom: A Systematic Review

Polycystic Ovary Syndrom (PCOS) has been proved could affect the health of reproductive-aged patients from the physically and emotionally, becoming a major concern of international public health. Meanwhile, PCOS is considered as associated with various severe symptoms, among which infertility is the most of those. The literature argues combined oral contraceptives (COCs) are the first-line treatment modality for PCOS. However, the link between COCs and the symptoms management of PCOS should be bridged. Purpose: This study aims to conduct a systematic review to evaluate the impact of intaking COCs on the management of all relevant symptoms. Method: This review will adhere to the JBI SUMARI guidelines for systematic reviews, and the search method is built to give access to both published and unpublished research. For searching recently released publications, databases like CINAHL plus (EBSCOhost), PubMed, Ovid Emcare, Ovid MEDLINE, and Scopus (Elsevier) are available. Quantitative studies published in English within the last 10 years are intended to be included in the system review. Outcomes: The outcome will present a clear proof between COCs treatment and PCOS symptoms management, including hirsutism, acne, menstrual irregularity and infertility. It could be as the evidence for surgical nurse provide further interventions, which are more tailored and effective, for specific PCOS patients.

Plasmapheresis in the ICU.

Therapeutic plasma exchange (TPE) is a treatment paradigm used to remove harmful molecules from the body. In short, it is a technique that employs a process that functions partially outside the body and involves the replacement of the patient's plasma. It has been used in the ICU for a number of different disease states, for some as a first-line treatment modality and for others as a type of salvage therapy. This paper provides a brief review of the principles, current applications, and potential future directions of TPE in critical care settings.

Endonasal endoscopic nasopharyngectomy for nasopharyngeal malignancies: a survival analysis

IntroductionNasopharyngeal cancer has a global incidence of less than 1.0 per 100,000 person-years. It originates from nasopharyngeal mucosa with the Fossa of Rosenmuller being the most common site. Radiation therapy with or without chemotherapy is an established first-line treatment modality given the sensitivity of the tumor.ObjectivesThe aim of our study was to report survival outcomes amongst patients undergoing endonasal endoscopic nasopharyngectomy at a tertiary care referral center.MethodsWe conducted a retrospective longitudinal cohort study. We collected data on age, gender, prior treatment, histology, extent of surgery, post-operative adjuvant therapy, and recurrence and reported the survival along mean survival time using Kaplan–Meier curves and log-rank test.ResultsA total of six patients, three males and three females with a mean age of 43.7 years were included in our study. Of the six, three patients underwent a salvage procedure whereas three patients received upfront definitive surgical resection. Three patients developed recurrence with a mean survival time of 19.3 months. The disease-free survival at 1 and 2 years of surgery was 88.3% and 66% respectively.ConclusionEndonasal endoscopic nasopharyngectomy is an effective surgical procedure that can be undertaken for both salvage and primary cases. Our survival results are comparable to the literature.

Clinical outcomes of drug coated balloon in coronary lesions: 3-year follow-up of CAGE FREE Registry

Abstract Background Intervention with drug-coated balloons (DCB) is based on a leave-nothing-behind concept and has been recommended as the first-line treatment modality for in-stent restenosis (ISR) and small-vessel disease. However, DCB treated for de novo lesions and comparison between DCB treatment for de novo lesions and ISR has not been fully elucidated. Purpose To report and compare 3-year clinical outcomes between DCB treatment for ISR and de novo disease, and identify the risk factors of adverse events after DCB intervention. Methods The study population was derived from the CAGE FREE Registry, which was a prospective, dedicated DCB treated all-comers registry in ISR and/or de novo lesions. The primary outcome was vessel-oriented composite endpoint (VoCE) at 3 years, defined as a composite of vessel-related cardiac death, vessel-related myocardial infarction (MI), and target vessel revascularization (TVR). Results A total of 2473 consecutive patients with 2804 lesions were enrolled. DCB treated in 1478 patients with 1669 de novo lesions and 995 ISR patients with 1135 lesions. The median duration of follow-up was 2.5 years (IQR 1.8-3.2) overall. At 3 years, the rate of VoCE was 12.1% (vessel-related cardiac death: 3.0%, vessel-related MI: 2.2%, and TVR: 7.8%) in the overall cohort. Patients with ISR treated with DCB had a higher rate of 3-year VoCE than those with de novo lesions (16.8% vs. 8.9%, HR: 2.00, 95%CI: 1.56-2.57, p&amp;lt;0.001), with the HR remaining significant after adjustment (IPTW adjusted HR: 1.79, 95%CI: 1.37-2.35). In terms of procedure-related factors, TIMI flow after PCI less than grade 3 and residual stenosis more than 25% were independent risk factors of 3-year VoCE for patients with de novo lesions. In patients with ISR, residual stenosis more than 25% had a higher risk of 3-year VoCE, whereas TIMI flow after PCI less than grade 3 only had a trend. Conclusion Patients with ISR treated with DCB had a higher rate of 3-year VoCE than those with de novo lesions. DCB appears to be an attractive alternative treatment for de novo coronary lesions. Residual stenosis ≤25% combined with TIMI flow grade 3 should be attempted after DCB angioplasty.Kaplan Meier curve for 3-year VoCE

Local steroid injection in severe idiopathic granulomatous mastitis as a new first-line treatment modality with promising therapeutic efficacy.

Intralesional steroid injection has recently evolved as a novel treatment modality for localized idiopathic granulomatous mastitis (= IGM). We aimed to explore the therapeutic efficacy of local steroid injections (LSI) in patients with severe IGM. Fifty-one patients diagnosed with severe IGM were included in the study and treated with either local steroid injection (LSI) alone (n = 25) or combined LSI with systemic oral steroid treatment (OST) (n = 26). The local steroid injection protocol included an intralesional triamcinolone acetonide injection into the palpable granulomas every 4-week, and topical administration of steroid-containing pomades twice a day on the affected surface of the breast. Patients with a combined LSI and OST received low-dose oral methylprednisolone (<16 mg). Patients with LSI alone required more LSI applications than those in the combined LSI with OST group (LSI: 5 ± 2.9; vs. LSI/OST: 3.5 ± 2.5; p = 0.080) to obtain an effective optimum therapeutic response. At a median of 12 months (range, 4-42), no difference was found in complete response rates between patients in the LSI group and the combined LSI group with OST (52 vs. 53.9%, p = 0.999). However, steroid-related systemic side effects were lower in the LSI alone group (p < 0.008). Local steroid injection could be considered as the first-line treatment in patients with severe IGM until a therapeutic response has been obtained either as the sole treatment modality or combined with oral steroids. Compared with systemic oral steroid therapy, local steroid administration can be considered a new treatment modality with fewer side effects.

Böbrek Taş Lokalizasyonuna Göre Perkütan Nefrolitotomi Operasyonlarının Başarı Ve Komplikasyon Oranlarının Karşılaştırılması

Objective: Percutaneous nephrolithotomy (PNL) is first-line treatment modality for large and complex stones, however it is associated with potential morbidity and severe complications. Therefore, we aimed to evaluate the success and complication rates according to stone localization in large sample group following PNL. Material and Methods: Total number of 782 patients who underwent PNL, were included in this retrospective multicenter study. Patients were divided into two major groups; simple stones group (upper pole, pelvis, lower pole) and complex stones group (partial staghorn, multi-caliceal, pelvis+lower pole, complete staghorn). Surgery time, fluoroscopy time, complications, hospitalization and nephrostomy catheter removal day were recorded. Results: In our study, 525 cases (67.1%) had simple stones, 257 (32.9%) complex stones. The most frequent (34.3%) stone localization was lower pole. Overall blood transfusion rate was 15.1%. Significantly increased in mean number of accesses, surgery time, fluoroscopy time, nephrostomy removal time and hospitalization documented in cases with complex stones (p-values = 0.000, 0.000, 0.009, 0.000 and 0.000, respectively). Overall complication rate was 9.7% (n=76) and the most frequent complication (4.4%) was severe hemorrhage. Overall stone-free rates (SFR) are 74.6% (n=583). Furthermore, complication rate (14.4% vs. 7.4%) was statistically higher and SFR (57.6% vs. 82.9%) was lower in cases with complex stones than simple stones (p-values = 0.002 and 0.000, respectively). Conclusions: Our findings clearly demonstrated that PNL achieved higher success rate and lower complication risk in patients with simple stones than complex stones. PNL is significantly associated with shorter operation duration and hospitalization in simple stones group. Furthermore, PNL provided relatively higher overall SFR and lower complication rates in our large sample group compared to the published data.

Palmoplantar Pustulosis: A Systematic Review of Risk Factors and Therapies.

Palmoplantar pustulosis (PPP) is a chronic, relapsing, inflammatory disease that can occur alone or in association with arthritis. There is still controversy about whether it should be separated from psoriasis or classified as pustular psoriasis. Furthermore, drug-induced paradoxical PPP is a special variant of PPP that differs from classic PPP in several ways. Treatment of PPP is still challenging, and there are a number of treatment-resistant cases. This review summarizes the risk factors for the development of PPP and the currently available treatment modalities. Female sex, smokers or ex-smokers, obesity, thyroid dysfunction, and treatment with a tumor necrosis factor (TNF)-α inhibitor have been identified as risk factors for the disease's development, severity, and course. Topical treatments and phototherapy are effective for some patients and are used as a first-line or adjuvant treatment modality. Conventional treatments including retinoids and fumaric acid show good effects and can increase the efficacy of treatment with psoralen + ultraviolet light therapy (PUVA). Ciclosporin is fast acting, but relapse mostly occurs immediately after cessation. TNF-α inhibitors are efficient, and an even better response can be achieved with IL-17 and IL-23 blockers as well as apremilast. The effect of Janus kinase inhibitors seems to be promising according to case reports, but further investigations with larger cohorts are needed.

Which Treatment Method Is Better in the Treatment of Chronic Plantar Fasciitis: Corticosteroid Injection, Extracorporeal Shock Wave Therapy, or Radiofrequency Thermal Lesioning?

Chronic plantar fasciitis (CPF) is a common disease that has various treatment options. This study aimed to compare the effectiveness of three of these options: corticosteroid injection (CSI), extracorporeal shock wave therapy (ESWT), and radiofrequency thermal lesioning (RTL). The records of 229 patients treated with CSI (n = 81), ESWT (n = 76), or RTL (n = 72) were retrospectively analyzed. Visual analog scale scores, patient satisfaction-related success rates, repeated treatment rates, and initial treatment change rates were compared. Mean ± SD follow-up was 19.0 ± 4.5 months. Baseline clinical characteristics, mean visual analog scale scores (before treatment and at months 3, 6, and 12), patient satisfaction and success rates (at months 6 and 12), and repeated treatment and initial treatment change rates were similar between treatment groups. No complications were observed after the treatments. All three options-CSI, ESWT, and RTL-were found to be safe and effective in treating CPF, with similar outcomes up to 1 year. Use of CSIs is advantageous because it is more accessible than the other treatments. Similarly, the noninvasive nature of ESWT is glaring among other minimally invasive options. Therefore, the first-line treatment modality of CPF can be CSI or ESWT, depending on the patient's and physician's joint preference; RTL treatment should be tried in patients who do not respond to these treatments.

Early outcome of surgery, triamcinolone and silicone gel combination therapy for earlobe keloid: our local experience

Background: Earlobe keloids cause facial disfigurement, physical, emotional and psychological burden to patients, while posing an intriguing treatment challenge to the plastic surgeon. Different options of combination therapy have been used in the treatment of earlobe keloids with varied success rates. Methods: This interventional prospective hospital-based study was carried out in Irrua Specialist Teaching Hospital, Irrua, Edo State, over a 15-month period (October 2017 to December 2018). Forty-two patients with earlobe keloids who met the inclusion criteria were serially recruited into the study. Forty-eight earlobe keloids in 41 patients had the intralesional excision biopsy, intralesional triamcinolone injection and silicone gel combination therapy. A modified Sharquie et al’s scar grading system was applied pre-intervention to record the baseline scores and post-intervention to evaluate the patients’ rate of response. Post treatment complications were identified, and the patients were followed up for six months. Results: Most of the patients with earlobe keloids fell in the age group 21-30 years and the male-female ratio was 1:19.5. Multiple earlobe piercing had significant association with the development of earlobe keloids. 95.8% of treated lesions had complete response to therapy. Two (4.2%) patients had dyschromia following treatment. Conclusions: The triple therapy combination of intralesional excision biopsy, postoperative intralesional triamcinolone injection and topical silicone gel application is a readily available, safe and efficacious treatment modality for earlobe keloids. Thus, it can be used as a first-line treatment modality.

Association of Serum ɣ-Glutamyl Transpeptidase Levels With Overall Survival in Intermediate and Advanced Hepatocellular Carcinoma Treated With Transarterial Chemoembolization

ObjectiveThis article aims to evaluate the prognostic significance of pretreatment serum ɣ-glutamyl transpeptidase (GGT) levels in patients with intermediate (BCLC B) and advanced stage (BCLC C) hepatocellular carcinoma receiving transarterial chemoembolization (TACE) as first-line treatment.Materials and methodsIn this single-center retrospective study, a total of 608 patients with BCLC B and BCLC C class were included who received TACE as first-line treatment modality. Patients were divided into low and high GGT groups based on a cutoff value of pretreatment serum GGT levels calculated by receiver operating curve. Overall survival was evaluated with Kaplan–Meier method, and intergroup significance was calculated by log-rank test for overall patients, each BCLC B and BCLC C group. Univariate and multivariate analysis were used for significance for prognostic factors.ResultsMedian follow-up time was 20, 22, and 9 months for overall patients, BCLC B, and BCLC C group, respectively. Optimal cut value for GGT was calculated at 90.5 U/L. One-year and 3-year survival rates were 84.2% and 27.9% in low GGT, 49.4% and 8.6% in high-GGT group for overall patients. Multivariate analysis in overall patients showed Child–Pugh B (HR,1.801; 95%CI, 1.373–2.362, P < .001), ascites (1.393, 1.070–1.812; P = .014), multiple tumors (1.397, 1.137–1.716; P = .001), AST >40 (1.407, 1.095–1.808; P = .008), albumin <3.2 (.735, .612–.884; P = .001), AFP > 400 (1.648, 1.351–2.011; P < .001), high GGT (2.009, 1.631–2.475; P < .001), or receipt of chemo/ablation (.463, .377–.569; P < .001) as independent risk factors for overall survival. Serum GGT levels and AFP showed significant correlation in between with significance coefficient of .155 (P < .001).ConclusionElevated pretreatment serum GGT level was feasible and promising independent prognostic marker for overall survival in intermediate and advanced stage hepatocellular carcinoma patients treated with TACE. This article aims to evaluate the prognostic significance of pretreatment serum ɣ-glutamyl transpeptidase (GGT) levels in patients with intermediate (BCLC B) and advanced stage (BCLC C) hepatocellular carcinoma receiving transarterial chemoembolization (TACE) as first-line treatment. In this single-center retrospective study, a total of 608 patients with BCLC B and BCLC C class were included who received TACE as first-line treatment modality. Patients were divided into low and high GGT groups based on a cutoff value of pretreatment serum GGT levels calculated by receiver operating curve. Overall survival was evaluated with Kaplan–Meier method, and intergroup significance was calculated by log-rank test for overall patients, each BCLC B and BCLC C group. Univariate and multivariate analysis were used for significance for prognostic factors. Median follow-up time was 20, 22, and 9 months for overall patients, BCLC B, and BCLC C group, respectively. Optimal cut value for GGT was calculated at 90.5 U/L. One-year and 3-year survival rates were 84.2% and 27.9% in low GGT, 49.4% and 8.6% in high-GGT group for overall patients. Multivariate analysis in overall patients showed Child–Pugh B (HR,1.801; 95%CI, 1.373–2.362, P < .001), ascites (1.393, 1.070–1.812; P = .014), multiple tumors (1.397, 1.137–1.716; P = .001), AST >40 (1.407, 1.095–1.808; P = .008), albumin <3.2 (.735, .612–.884; P = .001), AFP > 400 (1.648, 1.351–2.011; P < .001), high GGT (2.009, 1.631–2.475; P < .001), or receipt of chemo/ablation (.463, .377–.569; P < .001) as independent risk factors for overall survival. Serum GGT levels and AFP showed significant correlation in between with significance coefficient of .155 (P < .001). Elevated pretreatment serum GGT level was feasible and promising independent prognostic marker for overall survival in intermediate and advanced stage hepatocellular carcinoma patients treated with TACE.

The Impact of the COVID-19 Pandemic on Hepatocellular Carcinoma Time to Treatment Initiation: A National Cancer Database Study.

The COVID-19 pandemic strained oncologic care access and delivery, yet little is known about how it impacted hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) management. Our study sought to evaluate the annual effect of the COVID-19 pandemic on time to treatment initiation (TTI) for HCC. The National Cancer Database was queried for patients diagnosed with clinical stages I-IV HCC (2017-2020). Patients were categorized based on their year of diagnosis as "Pre-COVID" (2017-2019) and "COVID" (2020). TTI based on stage and type of treatment first received was compared by the Mann-Whitney U test. A logistic regression model was used to evaluate factors of increased TTI and treatment delay (> 90 days). In total, 18,673 patients were diagnosed during Pre-COVID, whereas 5249 were diagnosed during COVID. Median TTI for any first-line treatment modality was slightly shorter during the COVID year compared with Pre-COVID (49 vs. 51 days; p < 0.0001), notably in time to ablation (52 vs. 55 days; p = 0.0238), systemic therapy (42 vs. 47 days; p < 0.0001), and radiation (60 vs. 62 days; p = 0.0177), but not surgery (41 vs. 41 days; p = 0.6887). In a multivariate analysis, patients of Black race, Hispanic ethnicity, and uninsured/Medicaid/Other Government insurance status were associated with increased TTI by factors of 1.057 (95% CI: 1.022-1.093; p = 0.0013), 1.045 (95% CI: 1.010-1.081; p = 0.0104), and 1.088 (95% CI: 1.053-1.123; p < 0.0001), respectively. Similarly, these patient populations were associated with delayed treatment times. For patients diagnosed during COVID, TTI for HCC, while statistically significant, had no clinically significant differences. However, vulnerable patients were more likely to have increased TTI.

Endoscopic luminal stenting: Current applications and future perspectives.

Endoscopic luminal stenting (ELS) represents a minimally invasive option for the management of malignant obstruction along the gastrointestinal tract. Previous studies have shown that ELS can provide rapid relief of symptoms related to esophageal, gastric, small intestinal, colorectal, biliary, and pancreatic neoplastic strictures without compromising cancer patients' overall safety. As a result, in both palliative and neoadjuvant settings, ELS has largely surpassed radiotherapy and surgery as a first-line treatment modality. Following the abovementioned success, the indications for ELS have gradually expanded. To date, ELS is widely used in clinical practice by well-trained endoscopists in managing a wide variety of diseases and complications, such as relieving non-neoplastic obstructions, sealing iatrogenic and non-iatrogenic perforations, closing fistulae and treating post-sphincterotomy bleeding. The abovementioned development would not have been achieved without corresponding advances and innovations in stent technology. However, the technological landscape changes rapidly, making clinicians' adaptation to new technologies a real challenge. In our mini-review article, by systematically reviewing the relevant literature, we discuss current developments in ELS with regard to stent design, accessories, techniques, and applications, expanding the research basis that was set by previous studies and highlighting areas that need to be further investigated.

Surgical Treatment of Prolactinomas: Potential Role as a First-Line Treatment Modality.

Treatment with dopamine agonists (DAs) has been the first-line standard treatment for prolactinoma, and surgery has been reserved for drug intolerance and resistance for several decades. We evaluated whether surgery plays a primary role in prolactinoma management. We conducted a retrospective study of 210 prolactinoma patients who had received surgical treatment at our institution. We analyzed the treatment outcomes according to tumor extent, sex, and preoperative DA medication. Overall hormonal remission was achieved in 164 patients (78.1%), and complete removal was achieved in 194 patients (92.4%). When the tumors were completely removed, the remission rate increased to 84.5%. Anterior pituitary function was normalized or improved in 94.6% of patients, whereas only 4.1% of patients showed worsening of hormone control. Hormonal remission was higher in patients who had not received DA preoperatively than in those who had received preoperative DA treatment. Smaller tumor size (<1 cm), no invasion into the cavernous sinus, and female sex were predictors of good surgical outcomes. Although DAs remain the first-line standard treatment for prolactinomas, surgery can be an excellent option and should be considered as an alternative primary treatment modality when patients are predicted to achieve a good surgical outcome.

PATIENT PERSPECTIVES ON THEIR CREAKY KNEES AND THE ROLE OF EXERCISE IN KNEE HEALTH

https://youtu.be/5FGRE9Cw27Y BACKGROUND Osteoarthritis (OA) is highly prevalent worldwide, carrying a significant disease burden. Evidence-based guidelines recommend exercise as a key first-line treatment modality and has been found to aid in prevention of developing OA. However, people still appear to be unsure about undertaking exercise to improve their knee health and this may occur before they have been diagnosed with OA. Knee crepitus may be cause people to negatively modify their exercise behaviours due to concerns of joint degeneration, though this is yet to be fully explored. Thus, the overarching objective of this study is to identify attitudes and beliefs of individuals with knee crepitus. More specifically, we aim to investigate if people have concerns about their crepitus and if they respond to these concerns through behavioural modification and to identify their beliefs regarding the role of exercise in knee health. METHODS Adult participants who had knee crepitus, with or without OA, took part in either an online individual semi-structured interview or focus groups to explore their beliefs regarding their crepitus and what effect this may have had on their exercise behaviours. Content analysis from interview transcripts was conducted using an inductive approach (NVivo software). RESULTS Twenty-four participants volunteered to be interviewed (mean age 49 years, range 21–69 years, 67% female). Three main themes emerged regarding attitudes and behaviours 1) crepitus, 2) exercise and 3) health professional engagement. A key concern was what crepitus meant and whether it would lead to development of OA. Participants said that crepitus varied in type. Most participants had not ceased exercise but had modified their movement due to crepitus and associated symptoms, with some having increased intentional strength training to try alleviating it. For those already with OA or other symptoms, crepitus was of less concern than symptoms such as pain. Participants agreed that more understanding about the processes causing crepitus and what exercise was safe for knee health would be beneficial. CONCLUSIONS Crepitus does not appear to be a major concern for people who experience it. However, it is a factor that influences exercise behaviours, as is pain. If health professionals could address these concerns by providing greater education and targeted exercise, people with crepitus might be more confident in exercising for the benefit of their joints and overall health.

Incidence and treatment outcomes of Graves’ disease in Thailand: a single-center retrospective observational study

BackgroundTreatment patterns and outcomes of Graves’ disease (GD) are variable around the world. However, studies on treatment outcomes of GD from the Asian populations are limited. We aimed to evaluate treatment outcomes of GD in Thailand.MethodsPatients with new diagnoses of GD in a single center between 2014–2018 were retrospectively reviewed. The diagnosis of GD was based on clinical features, which included diffuse goiter, Graves’ orbitopathy (GO), pretibial myxedema and acropachy.ResultsThe age-adjusted incidence of GD was 26.57 per 100,000 per year. The study included 355 patients aged 15 years or above with a follow-up period of at least 24 months. Antithyroid drug (ATD) was the most popular first-line treatment modality with 98.7% patients receiving the treatment, followed by radioactive iodine (RAI) treatment in 1.3% patients. The most effective treatment modality was surgery with a remission rate of 100%. ATD had a lowest remission rate of 23.8%. Multivariable Cox regression analysis showed GO (HR 1.76, 95% CI 1.08–2.88) and initial TSH < 0.01 uIU/ml (HR 1.61, 95% CI 1.14–2.28) were significant factors associated with an increased treatment failure rate.ConclusionTreatment failure with ATD in patients with GD was frequent in this population. The diagnosis of GD based solely on clinical features may explain the high treatment failure rate in this study. More definitive treatment could be used to prevent relapse and complications of the disease.

Outcomes of Stereotactic Radiosurgery for Brain Metastases in Patients with Small-Cell Lung Cancer

<h3>Purpose/Objective(s)</h3> Several randomized studies have established stereotactic radiosurgery (SRS) as a first-line treatment modality for limited brain metastases. However, these trials frequently excluded patients with primary small cell lung cancer (SCLC). Here, we assess clinical outcomes of patients with primary SCLC who have undergone SRS for brain metastases. <h3>Materials/Methods</h3> We identified patients with histologically-proven SCLC who underwent first-time SRS for brain metastases at our institution. Overall survival, local recurrence, and time to distant CNS failure were estimated with the Kaplan-Meier method. Univariate log-rank test and multivariate Cox regression were used to assess the significance of prognostic factors including age, sex, prior whole brain radiation, number of brain metastases, and extracranial disease control status. <h3>Results</h3> Fifty-nine patients (median age 64) with SCLC completed SRS for brain metastases at our institution from July 2007 to December 2021. 88.1% (n=52) of patients received Gamma Knife SRS, whereas the remainder received LINAC-based SRS. 61.0% (n=36) had received prior whole brain or prophylactic cranial irradiation. The median number of treated brain metastases was 2 (range 1-11) with a median tumor diameter of 1.0 cm and a marginal dose of 18 Gy. Median overall survival was 11 months. On multivariate Cox regression, both increased number of brain metastases (HR 1.22; 95% CI 1.02-1.44) and increased age (HR 1.09; 95% CI 1.03-1.16) were associated with poorer overall survival. 11.9% (n=7) of patients experienced local recurrence at a median of 5 months post-SRS (range 2-9 months). The median time to distant CNS failure was 6 months. Multivariate analysis identified extracranial disease control status as the sole significant predictor of distant failure. Log-rank test demonstrated that the patient cohort with uncontrolled extracranial disease had a lower time to distant failure compared to those with stable or well-controlled disease (4 vs. 22 months; p=0.0001). <h3>Conclusion</h3> SRS provides excellent local control of SCLC-associated brain metastases without compromising overall survival. Our institutional data support the rationale for future prospective studies to establish the role of intracranial SRS in this patient population.