Multidisciplinary Treatment Strategy Research Articles

Recent advances in the treatment of attention deficit hyperactivity disorder in children: A narrative review

Attention deficit hyperactivity disorder (ADHD) is a common neurodevelopmental disorder characterized by age inappropriate levels of inattention, and or impulsivity and hyperactivity. Often arising in childhood, ADHD can also be chronic in nature, frequently continuing through adolescence and beyond, at least at the level of impairment. The early accurate diagnosis of the condition is possible based on clinic settings, clinicians’ expertise; and the context at which screening and evaluation of this population for ADHD is done. ADHD is an etiologically complex neurodevelopmental disorder that begins early in life and has heterogeneous clinical manifestations encompassing a broader spectrum of psychopathology. This underscores the importance of early accurate diagnosis so that effective treatments can be started that significantly reduces immediate and long-term psychosocial burdens. Effective ADHDtreatments are available and cognitive neuroscience is rapidly expanding, however there is a significant gap between empirical evidence and clinical practice. Multimodal and multidisciplinary treatment strategies are the best approach in the treatment, but there is a significant gap between the knowledge and practice, such that evidence-based treatments are often not implemented in the community settings. How we implement such in our clinical practice helps us to advocate and advance towards more effective ADHD treatments. There is growing scientific progress in understanding the causes and treatment of ADHD. Knowledge about the evidence-based recent advances in the treatment helps mental health professionals to advocate for the effective approaches to treat ADHD, with minimal unwanted side effects.

Rare solitary pituitary metastasis of maxillary ameloblastic carcinoma: illustrative case.

Ameloblastic carcinoma (AC) is a rare odontogenic carcinoma with histological features resembling ameloblastoma. Metastasis to distant organs and direct expansion into the skull base structures are associated with a poor clinical outcome. This rare case of AC metastasis to the pituitary gland presented without local recurrence at the primary focus of the maxilla. A 47-year-old man had a 2-year history of AC in the right maxilla. Computed tomography for his regular checkup incidentally demonstrated pituitary tumor, rapidly growing over 2 months. He presented with the recent onset of panhypopituitarism and visual field defect. Magnetic resonance imaging showed a large, irregularly shaped intrasellar and suprasellar lesion with chiasmal compression. Endoscopic endonasal transsphenoidal surgery was performed for decompression of the optic apparatus to avoid intracranial spread. Histopathology confirmed metastatic AC, and a genetic panel test confirmed BRAF V600E mutation. Stereotactic radiotherapy (SRT) with the CyberKnife system was administered to the residual tumor. Remarkable tumor shrinkage was obtained, and panhypopituitarism was resolved 12 months later. A multidisciplinary treatment strategy including maximal safe resection to avoid dissemination in combination with SRT may be crucial for local control with the preservation of pituitary and visual functions in patients with solitary pituitary metastatic AC.

Perioperative management of patients with drug addiction

Background. Patients undergoing surgical or diagnostic procedures, as well as critically ill patients, often suffer from psychoactive substance use disorders. The term “psychoactive substances” here includes both narcotics and psychotropic substances (or their analogs) as well as their precursors. They are strongly associated with drug addiction and such behavioral disorders as addictive behavior and delinquency. People with drug addiction is a high-risk group due to a variety of physical and mental factors. Common comorbidities in this population include human immunodeficiency virus, viral hepatitis, and infections caused by resistant strains of microorganisms. Clinical practice shows that medical professionals often underestimate the likelihood of disorders that occur in such patients before surgery. Generally, disorders related to the abuse of psychoactive substances are treatable, and most pathophysiological changes in organ functions are reversible. Early detection of such disorders and the risks associated with them is crucial for the timely use of the appropriate preventive measures in order to reduce the frequency and severity of these complications. Despite the increased perioperative risk, these patients can be treated safely if multidisciplinary treatment strategies are implemented. Psychoactive substance abuse leads to a wide spectrum of disorders, regardless of whether it is occasional cannabis usage or severe dependence on stimulants or narco­tics. This explains the need for a personalized approach from an anesthesiologist to avoid complications associated with the use of cannabinoids, cocaine, amphetamines, or opioids. Therefore, the need for an individual approach to perioperative anesthesiological management with mandatory monitoring and personalized selection of anesthesia techniques and methods is justified. Conclusions. Drug addiction can be successfully managed if it is detected in time by an anesthesiologist during the preoperative period. Knowledge of the main pharmacological effects and clinical signs of prolonged psychoactive substance use in patients allows anesthesiologists to proactively outline the optimal strategy for anesthetic management of such patients during surgical interventions.

Experience of surgical treatments for abdominal inferior vena cava injuries in a regional trauma center in Korea.

Inferior vena cava (IVC) injuries are a rare type of traumatic abdominal injuries that are challenging to treat and have a very high mortality rate. This study described our experience with the surgical treatment of traumatic IVC injuries, and we investigated the demographics, clinical profiles, and surgical outcomes of cases at a regional trauma center. Among the 16 patients who were treated for a traumatic IVC injury between January 2014 and March 2022, 14 underwent surgery. The surgical outcomes included overall mortality and 24-hour mortality, and we investigated the factors associated with these surgical outcomes. The 14 patients were divided into two groups according to the location of the IVC injury (retrohepatic IVC or higher vs. subhepatic IVC), and differences between the two groups were analyzed. A body mass index (BMI) >23.0 kg/m2 (P=0.046), an elevated serum lactate level (P=0.043), and a shorter operation time (P=0.016) were associated with overall mortality. A higher BMI (P=0.050), higher serum lactate level (P=0.004), shorter operation time (P=0.005), and an injury at the retrohepatic IVC or higher level (P=0.031) were associated with 24-hour mortality. Younger age (P=0.028), higher BMI (P=0.005), more acidic pH, higher lactatemia (P=0.012), a higher hemoglobin level (P=0.012), and shorter door-to-operating room time (P=0.028) were associated with injury at the retrohepatic IVC or higher level. Patients with subhepatic IVC injuries had a high rate of direct repair (75.0%) and a significantly lower 24-hour mortality rate (37.5%, P=0.031). Subhepatic IVC injuries are easy to access and are usually expected to treat with a direct repair method. Injuries at the retrohepatic IVC or higher level are difficult to treat surgically and require a systematic and multidisciplinary treatment strategy.

The Adaptive, Pain Sensitive, and Global Symptoms Clusters: Evidence from a Patient-Based Study.

The largest epidemiologic study conducted about painful temporomandibular disorders (pTMDs) to date identified 3 clusters of individuals with similar symptoms-adaptive, pain sensitive, and global symptoms-which hold promise as a means of personalizing pain care. Our goal was to compare the clinical and psychological characteristics that are consistent with a pTMD clinical examination among patients who are seeking care and assigned to the different clusters. This cross-sectional study used data from the medical records of patients attending Duke Innovative Pain Therapies between August 2017 and April 2021 who received a pTMD diagnosis (i.e., myalgia) and consented to have their data used for research. Data included orofacial and pain-related measures, dental features, and psychological measures. We used the Rapid OPPERA Algorithm to assign clusters to patients and multinomial regression to determine the likelihood (odds ratios [OR] and 95% confidence intervals [CI]) of being assigned to the pain sensitive or global symptoms cluster attributed to each measure. In total, 131 patients were included in this study and assigned a cluster: adaptive (n = 54, 41.2%), pain sensitive (n = 49, 37.4%), and global symptoms (n = 28, 21.4%). The PS cluster displayed greater numbers of temporomandibular joint sites (OR, 1.29; 95% CI, 1.01 to 1.65) and masticatory (1.48; 1.19 to 1.83) and cervical (1.23; 1.09 to 1.39) muscles with pain evoked by palpation. The GS cluster displayed greater scores of pain catastrophizing (1.04; 1.01 to 1.06) and perceived stress (1.23; 1.03 to 1.46) and was more likely to report persistent pain (16.23; 1.92 to 137.1) of higher impact (1.43; 1.14 to 1.80). Our findings support that care-seeking patients with pTMDs who are assigned to the GS cluster display a poorer psychological profile, even though those assigned to the PS cluster display more measures consistent with orofacial pain. Findings also establish the PS cluster as a group that does not display psychological comorbidities despite being hypersensitive. This study informs clinicians that patients seeking care for painful temporomandibular disorders, in specific cases of myalgia, can be classified into 1 of 3 groups that display unique profiles of symptoms. Most importantly, it emphasizes the importance of examining patients with painful temporomandibular disorders in a holistic manner that includes assessing symptoms of psychological distress. Patients with greater psychological distress will likely benefit from multidisciplinary treatment strategies that may include psychological treatments.

Chest wall reconstruction reduces hospital mortality following major chest wall trauma: a retrospective cohort study.

Chest wall reconstruction was introduced for the management of patients with severe chest wall injuries. We undertook a retrospective cohort study to investigate whether the treatment was associated with improved survival compared with conservative treatment. A retrospective single institutional cohort study compared mortality following treatment of major chest wall trauma (Abbreviated Injury Scale ≥3) by chest wall reconstruction (CWR) to conservative management (Non-CWR) between September 2014 and December 2019. Univariable and multivariable associations between demographic and comorbid characteristics and mortality were estimated using Cox proportional hazard analysis and expressed as hazard ratios (HR) and corresponding confidence intervals (CI). Of a cohort of 947, CWR (n=157, 16.6%) had a lower prevalence of polytrauma (35.7 vs 56.3%, p<0.001) and head injury (11.5% vs 26.7%, p<0.001). CWR-treated patients experienced a greater number of fractured ribs, (8.3 vs 5.8, p<0.001), higher incidence of flail chest (84.9% vs 48.9%, p<0.001), higher admission to Critical Care (64.3% vs 44.1%, p<0.001), greater demand for ventilation (36.9% vs 25.6%, p=0.004) and a higher New Injury Severity Scale value (36.9 vs 34.6, p=0.003). Mortality of CWR patients was significantly lower (3.8% vs 8.6%, p=0.04), with adjusted HR 0.30 (95% CI 0.12, 0.72, p=0.008). Chest wall reconstructive surgery, provided as a part of multidisciplinary treatment strategy for major thoracic trauma, reduces risk of mortality. The results validate the UK Government strategy, designed to reduce mortality, by centralising management of serious trauma in Major Trauma Centres.

Avoiding Spinal Implant Failures in Osteoporotic Patients: A Narrative Review

Narrative review. With an aging population, the prevalence of osteoporosis is continuously rising. As osseous integrity is crucial for bony fusion and implant stability, previous studies have shown osteoporosis to be associated with an increased risk for implant failure and higher reoperation rates after spine surgery. Thus, our review's purpose was to provide an update of evidence-based solutions in the surgical treatment of osteoporosis patients. We summarize the existing literature regarding changes associated with decreased bone mineral density (BMD) and resulting biomechanical implications for the spine as well as multidisciplinary treatment strategies to avoid implant failures in osteoporotic patients. Osteoporosis is caused by an uncoupling of the bone remodeling cycle based on an unbalancing of bone resorption and formation and resulting reduced BMD. The reduction in trabecular structure, increased porosity of cancellous bone and decreased cross-linking between trabeculae cause a higher risk of complications after spinal implant-based surgeries. Thus, patients with osteoporosis require special planning considerations, including adequate preoperative evaluation and optimization. Surgical strategies aim towards maximizing screw pull-out strength, toggle resistance, as well as primary and secondary construct stability. As osteoporosis plays a crucial role in the fate of patients undergoing spine surgery, surgeons need to be aware of the specific implications of low BMD. While there still is no consensus on the best course of treatment, multidisciplinary preoperative assessment and adherence to specific surgical principles help reduce the rate of implant-related complications.

Ускоренное выздоровление. предоперационная подготовка и преабилитация.

Fast Track surgery (FTS), as well as ERAS (enhanced recovery after surgery/rapid recovery after surgery programs) or ERP (enhanced recovery program, in russian) is a multimodal and multidisciplinary treatment strategy designed to reduce the duration of disability and improve the quality of medical care. This program includes preparation at the preoperative stage, the use of minimally invasive techniques for performing surgical intervention and active management of the postoperative period to reduce the duration of inpatient treatment, rehabilitation time and the fastest possible return of patients to normal life. In the context of this review, the features of preparation and prehabilitation at the preoperative stage of the enhanced recovery program are considered. The main elements of the strategy are reviewed: correction of eating disorders, carbohydrate loading, preoperative education and problems of multidisciplinary interaction, sarcopenia, lifestyle changes, pharmacogenomics, correction of anemia and preoperative bowels preparation. Prehabilitation and preoperative preparation together help make the patient for surgery and subsequent recovery. The main elements of training are patient and staff training, multidisciplinary interaction, correction of concomitant somatic disorders and diseases, nutrition optimization and lifestyle changes.

MULTIDISCIPLINARY MANAGEMENT, ANTI-TNF THERAPY, AND CLINICAL OUTCOMES OF INTERNALLY PENETRATING CROHN’S DISEASE COMPLICATION IN PEDIATRICS: INTERIM ANALYSES OF A MULTICENTER RETROSPECTIVE COHORT

Abstract BACKGROUND Internally penetrating Crohn’s disease (CD) complications (IPCDC; i.e. abscess and/or inflammatory mass) confer significant morbidity to pediatric patients with CD. Management strategies are heterogenous. Anti-tumor-necrosis-factor-a biologics (anti-TNF) are the mainstay of penetrating CD therapy and are most effective early in the treatment course. However, anti-TNF use among patients with IPCDC is limited by hesitancy concerning infectious risk. Recent studies show that this risk may be overstated. We hypothesized that early anti-TNF following IPCDC diagnosis, in the context of infection control, is 1) safe and 2) effective in pediatric patients. Here, we present interim results of an observational multi-center study. METHODS We performed a retrospective cohort study of pediatric patients with IPCDC, across 12 tertiary children’s hospitals. Patients (age 6+ years) were identified via radiology, ICD-coding, and ImproveCareNow searches. Patients admitted for an IPCDC diagnosed via MRI or CT from 2007-2021, with 1+ year of follow-up were included. Patients were excluded if complications were due to a non-CD-related process, solely perianal, if admission followed outpatient or outside institution treatment failure, or if surgery was required within 7 days of IPCDC (n=7). First, we measured the safety effect of anti-TNF following IPCDC diagnosis, prior to IPCDC resolution, on infectious serious adverse events (SAE) (i.e. new or enlarging IPCDC, or infection, requiring hospitalization or surgery), within 30 days. Next, we measured the effectiveness of anti-TNF within 30 days of IPCDC diagnosis on CD-related SAEs (i.e. non-infectious CD-related hospitalization or surgery), within one year. Kaplan-Meier curves were generated to describe outcomes over time. RESULTS 95 patients were included. Cohort characteristics, multidisciplinary treatment strategies, and outcomes are presented in Table 1. Kaplan-Meier curves are presented in Figure 1. 80% of patients received anti-TNF within one year of IPCDC (median 37 days [IQR 7-68]). Infectious SAEs within 90 days of IPCDC occurred in 37% (median 20 days [IQR 10-26]). Among patients initiating anti-TNF prior to IPCDC resolution, 27% had an infectious SAE within 90 days, compared to 49% of those not initiating anti-TNF prior to IPCDC resolution. Non-infectious CD-related SAEs within one year occurred in 44% (median 51 days [IQR 27, 89]). Among patients initiating anti-TNF within 30 days of IPCDC, 47% had a CD-related SAE, compared to 43% in those not receiving anti-TNF within 30 days. CONCLUSION Among a large multicenter pediatric cohort, IPCDC are associated with high rates of both infectious and CD-related SAE. Further data collection, implementation of causal inference methods, and subgroup analyses will be critical in isolating the relationship between timing of anti-TNF post-IPCDC and SAEs. Values represent Number (Percent) for categorical variables and Median (Interquartile Range) for continuous variables. Kaplan-Meier Survival Analyses for A) Infectious Serious Adverse Events and B) Crohn's Disease-Related Serious Adverse Events, stratified by exposure status. No censoring for lost-to-followup occured, as all patients had at least 1 year of follow-up avaialble.

Immune evasion in esophageal squamous cell cancer: From the perspective of tumor microenvironment.

Esophageal cancer (EC) is one of the most life-threatening malignancies worldwide. Esophageal squamous cell carcinoma (ESCC) is the dominant subtype, accounting for approximately 90% of new incident EC each year. Although multidisciplinary treatment strategies have advanced rapidly, patients with ESCC are often diagnosed at advanced stage and the long-term prognosis remains unsatisfactory. In recent decades, immunotherapy, such as immune checkpoint inhibitors (ICIs), tumor vaccines, and chimeric antigen receptor T-cell (CAR-T) therapy, has been successfully used in clinical practice as a novel therapy for treating tumors, bringing new hope to ESCC patients. However, only a small fraction of patients achieved clinical benefits due to primary or acquired resistance. Immune evasion plays a pivotal role in the initiation and progression of ESCC. Therefore, a thorough understanding of the mechanisms by which ESCC cells escape from anti-tumor immunity is necessary for a more effective multidisciplinary treatment strategy. It has been widely recognized that immune evasion is closely associated with the crosstalk between tumor cells and the tumor microenvironment (TME). TME is a dynamic complex and comprehensive system including not only cellular components but also non-cellular components, which influence hallmarks and fates of tumor cells from the outside. Novel immunotherapy targeting tumor-favorable TME represents a promising strategy to achieve better therapeutic responses for patients with ESCC. In this review, we provide an overview of immune evasion in ESCC, mainly focusing on the molecular mechanisms that underlie the role of TME in immune evasion of ESCC. In addition, we also discuss the challenges and opportunities of precision therapy for ESCC by targeting TME.

Impact of Spina Bifida on Sleep Quality: Current Insights.

Spina bifida (SB) is one of the most common birth defects in children. The care for patients with SB continues to evolve, and there has been notable improvement in survival outcomes, degree of disability and quality of life for these children. However, patients with SB continue to remain at higher risk for sleep-related breathing disorders (SRBD), unexplained sudden death, and potential alterations in their sleep chronotype. Previous studies report on abnormalities in the spinal cord, brainstem function, and dysfunction of upper airway maintenance as the likely mechanisms behind SRBD that is commonly seen in SB. Most studies looking at prevalence of SRBD in SB have been retrospective studies. A recent prospective study identified a prevalence as high as 42% when a polysomnography (PSG) was completed on all patients regardless of symptomatology. Treatment options vary depending on the type and severity of SRBD and can range widely. Despite advances in care for patients with SB and SRBD, a subset of these patients with myelomeningocele (MMC) continue to experience sudden unexplained death. Studies continue to evaluate ways to stratify which of these patients may be at higher risk of this devastating outcome. Given that SRBD is potentially treatable, early assessment and intervention could become an integral part of a multidisciplinary treatment strategy to optimize long-term medical and neurodevelopmental outcomes for this patient population. By understanding the impact that SB may have on a patient's sleep quality, their biological chronotype and their potential of developing SRBD, a provider may help to optimize the care a patient with SB receives from birth into adulthood.

Bambini vittime di maltrattamento e trascuratezza: il contributo dell’odontoiatra

Child maltreatment and neglect are still a major public health problem worldwide. Dentists are in a privileged position to recognize any childabuse and/or neglect because most of the lesions are found precisely in the facial area, involving teeth and oral cavity. Next to the pediatrician, who regularly examines the child as he grows up and occupies a privileged position in recognizing family situations at greater risk and in supporting the family, the dentist has an important diagnostic support function, having a specific competence for the recognition of non-accidental injuries and neglect with oro-facial localization. As indicated in the Ministry of Health’s guidelines for the management of dental trauma, it is desirable that, in the near future, standardized multidisciplinary intervention strategies be promoted, within which both professions, aware of their respective sentinel roles in protecting abused children, can actively collaborate in establishing detection and reporting protocols.

Ускоренное выздоровление. Актуальность, история, патофизиология.

Introduction. The Enhanced Recovery Program (ERP), Fast Track surgery (FTS), and ERAS (enhanced recovery after surgery/rapid recovery after surgery programs) is a multimodal and multidisciplinary treatment strategy designed to reduce the duration of disability and improve the quality of medical care. This program includes preparation at the preoperative stage, the use of minimally invasive techniques for performing surgical intervention and active management of the postoperative period to reduce the duration of inpatient treatment, rehabilitation time and the fastest possible return of patients to normal life. One of the key factors for the success of the ERP is the introduction of multidisciplinary interaction at all stages of examination and treatment. The history of the development of enhanced recovery programs is briefly described, the relevance of the development and application of an optimized treatment strategy, the problems of integration and multidisciplinary are described. The review of the features of the pathophysiology of perioperative stress and practical conclusions justifying the development and application of elements of the enhanced recovery program are presented.

Until the dawn: everyday experiences of people living with COVID-19 during the pandemic in Thailand

Background: This study aims to understand and analyze the complex experiences of people living with COVID-19 to support future cases. Methods: Purposive and snowball sampling techniques were employed to collect data through in-depth interviews; the data were combined with non-aggregated behavioral observations. Lived experiences of 15 individuals were collected through semi-structured interviews and analyzed using a phenomenological-hermeneutic approach. We used the thematic analysis technique to analyze the data. Results: Through analysis, themes of stress, economic impact, social stigma, social support, and unexpected benefits were identified. Participants further expressed economic and social concerns during the interviews. Conclusion: The identified themes can help develop multidisciplinary treatment strategies that would be useful during a healthcare crisis, establish comprehensive support systems that could address economic and social problems, and provide training for employees for post-COVID-19 assistance.

The folate-centric concept of pathogenesis and GBINC personalized multidisciplinary approach to the clinical management of children with neuropsychiatric syndromes. Review

Solving the problem of children’s neuropsychiatric diseases is a priority task of modern medicine. The latest scientific achievements in the field of genetics, molecular biology and immunology, which demonstrate biochemical and immune‑dependent ways of formation of human neuropsychiatric disorders, shed light on the mechanisms of brain damage in children with ASD. These research give reason for optimism about overcoming this severe psychiatric pathology in the future thanks to the implementation of genetic, biochemical and immunodiagnostic approaches, as well as metabolic and immunotherapeutic interventions with neuroprotective effects. Currently, the folate‑centric concept of polygenic inheritance of predisposition to the development of neuropsychiatric syndromes in children with multisystem damage has been established. Biochemical and immune‑dependent (infectious, autoimmune, immunoinflammatory, and allergic) pathways of microbe‑induced autoimmune inflammatory encephalopathy with neuropsychiatric clinical manifestations are discussed in the context of the folate‑centric concept. Taking into account the new data, two personalized multidisciplinary approaches to the management of children with ASD and other neuropsychiatric syndromes are proposed. The first approach of J. J. Bradstreet et al. (2010) is based on the empirical analysis of a large group of laboratory biomarkers, the relevance of which has been demonstrated in clinical studies, and the targeted correction of abnormalities identified by biomarkers (so‑called biomarker‑guided interventions). In 2022, Frye R. developed a multidisciplinary personalized approach called BaS‑BiSTOR (collect Baseline data, search for Symptoms, measure Biomarkers, Select Treatment, Observe for Response), which systematizes and stratifies diagnostic and treatment interventions based on the assessment of biomarkers. In order to improve existing recommendations regarding specific subtypes of neuropsychiatric syndromes in children, this article proposes an improved personalized multidisciplinary approach to the clinical management of patients with autistic spectrum disorders and neuropsychiatric manifestations associated with genetic deficiency of the folate cycle, called GBINS (Genetic‑Biochemical‑Immunological‑Neurological‑Symptomatic evaluation). There are reasons to believe that the successful testing in clinical practice of evidence‑based personalized multidisciplinary diagnostic and treatment strategies will allow making a breakthrough in the clinical management of children with severe mental disorders in the near future, which will provide not only the possibility of recovery from a prognostically unfavorable and currently incurable neuropsychiatric disorder, but also and will contribute to stopping the large‑scale threatening epidemic of neuropsychiatric syndromes in the modern child population.&#x0D;

Current and Emerging Approaches for Spine Tumor Treatment.

Spine tumors represent a significant social and medical problem, affecting the quality of life of thousands of patients and imposing a burden on healthcare systems worldwide. Encompassing a wide range of diseases, spine tumors require prompt multidisciplinary treatment strategies, being mainly approached through chemotherapy, radiotherapy, and surgical interventions, either alone or in various combinations. However, these conventional tactics exhibit a series of drawbacks (e.g., multidrug resistance, tumor recurrence, systemic adverse effects, invasiveness, formation of large bone defects) which limit their application and efficacy. Therefore, recent research focused on finding better treatment alternatives by utilizing modern technologies to overcome the challenges associated with conventional treatments. In this context, the present paper aims to describe the types of spine tumors and the most common current treatment alternatives, further detailing the recent developments in anticancer nanoformulations, personalized implants, and enhanced surgical techniques.

Multidisciplinary Treatment Strategy for Early Colon Cancer: A Review-An English Version.

Treatment for early colon cancer has progressed rapidly, with endoscopic resection and minimally invasive surgery. It is important to select patients without risk of lymph node metastasis before deciding on endoscopic resection for early colon cancer treatment. Pathological risk factors include histologic grade of cancer cell differentiation, lymphovascular invasion, perineural invasion, tumor budding, and deep submucosal invasion. These risk factors for predicting lymph node metastasis are crucial for determining the treatment strategy of endoscopic excision and radical resection for early colon cancer. A multidisciplinary approach is emphasized to establish a treatment strategy for early colon cancer to minimize the risk of complications and obtain excellent oncologic outcomes by selecting an appropriate treatment optimized for the patient's stage and condition. Therefore, we aimed to review the optimal multidisciplinary treatment strategies, including endoscopy and surgery, for early colon cancer.

A Conceptual Classification of Resectability for Hepatocellular Carcinoma

BackgroundsIn the era of multidisciplinary treatment strategy, resectability for hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) should be defined. This study aimed to propose and validate a resectability classification of HCC.MethodsWe proposed following the three groups; resectable-(R), borderline resectable-(BR), and unresectable (UR)-HCCs. Resectable two groups were sub-divided according to the value of indocyanine green clearance of remnant liver (ICG-Krem) and presence of macrovascular invasion (MVI); BR-HCC was defined as resectable HCCs with MVI and/or ICG-Krem≥0.03–<0.05, and R-HCC was the remaining. Consecutive patients with HCC who underwent liver resection (LR) and non-surgical treatment(s) (i.e., UR-HCC) between 2011 and 2017 were retrospectively analyzed to validate the proposed classification.ResultsA total of 361 patients were enrolled in the study. Of these, R-, BR- and UR-HCC were found in 251, 46, and 64 patients, respectively. In patients with resected HCC, ICG-Krem≥0.05 was associated with decreased risk of clinically relevant posthepatectomy liver failure (p=0.013) and the presence of MVI was associated with worse overall survival (OS) (p<0.001). The 3–5-years OS rates according to the proposed classification were 80.3, and 68.3% versus 51.4, and 35.6%, in the R and BR groups, respectively (both p<0.001). Multivariate analysis showed BR-HCC was independently associated with poorer OS (p<0.001) after adjusting for known tumor prognostic factors. Meanwhile, BR-HCC was associated with benefit in terms of OS compared with UR-HCC (p<0.001).ConclusionOur proposal of resectability for HCC allows for stratifying survival outcomes of HCC and may help to determine treatment strategy.

Multidisciplinary treatment strategy for early colon cancer

Background: Treatment for early colon cancer has progressed rapidly with endoscopic resection and minimally invasive surgery. Selection of patients without risk of lymph node metastasis is necessary before deciding on endoscopic resection for early colon cancer treatment. We aimed to review the optimal multidisciplinary treatment strategies for early colon cancer, including endoscopy and surgery.Current Concepts: Pathological risk factors include histologic grade of cancer cell differentiation, lymphovascular invasion, perineural invasion, tumor budding, and deep submucosal invasion. These risk factors for predicting lymph node metastasis are crucial for determining the treatment strategy of endoscopic excision and radical resection for early colon cancer. Prediction of the depth of invasion in early colon cancer using endoscopic optical assessments is vital to determine the appropriate treatment method for endoscopic or surgical resection. Furthermore, optical assessment of pit and vascular patterns is useful for estimating the depth of submucosal invasion using magnifying chromoendoscopy and narrow-band imaging endoscopy. Performing an endoscopic and pathologic evaluation of the risk factors for lymph node metastasis is imperative when selecting endoscopic or surgical resection. Endoscopic treatments include cold snare polypectomy, endoscopic mucosal resection, and endoscopic submucosal dissection. In addition, appropriate surgical treatment should be recommended for patients with early colon cancer with a high risk of lymph node metastasis.Discussion and Conclusion: A multidisciplinary approach should be recommended to establish an optimized treatment strategy, minimize the risk of complications, and obtain excellent oncologic outcomes via patienttailored treatment in patients with early colon cancer.

Implications of Liver-Directed Therapy for Postoperative Hepatic Metastasis from Esophageal Cancer.

BackgroundDistant recurrence of esophageal cancer (EC), even after radical resection, is common, and the most frequent site of EC metastasis is the liver. However, a multidisciplinary treatment strategy for postoperative liver metastasis (LM) from EC has yet to be established; in particular, the role of liver-directed therapy (LDT) remains uncertain. We investigated the clinicopathological features and outcomes of patients undergoing post-esophagectomy LM with versus without LDT to explore its therapeutic implications.MethodsAmong 624 consecutive patients undergoing R0/R1 esophagectomy for EC, 30 were identified in whom LM had developed as the initial recurrence. Their characteristics were retrospectively reviewed.ResultsSix of the 30 subjects underwent LDT for metachronous LM. Five of those 6 also received systemic chemotherapy. A comparison between the 6 LDT and 24 non-LDT cases revealed no significant differences in major clinicopathological and operative factors, except for concurrent metastasis to extrahepatic organs (1/6 vs. 15/24, p=0.044). Twenty-nine of the 30 patients died during the study period, whereas 1 who had received multimodal treatment with LDT remained alive more than 200 months after multiple LM had been detected. Kaplan-Meier analysis for survival after LM demonstrated significantly prolonged survival in LDT cases compared to non-LDT cases treated with systemic chemotherapy alone (p=0.014). Even when the analysis was limited to patients without extrahepatic metastasis, this significant prognostic advantage of LDT was maintained (p=0.047).ConclusionMultimodal treatment combined with LDT might be beneficial for patients with metachronous LM from EC and should therefore be considered a potential treatment option.