Nonsurgical Treatment Of Patients Research Articles

Liver Resection vs Nonsurgical Treatments for Patients With Early Multinodular Hepatocellular Carcinoma

The 2022 Barcelona Clinic Liver Cancer algorithm currently discourages liver resection (LR) for patients with multinodular hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) presenting with 2 or 3 nodules that are each 3 cm or smaller. To compare the efficacy of liver resection (LR), percutaneous radiofrequency ablation (PRFA), and transarterial chemoembolization (TACE) in patients with multinodular HCC. This cohort study is a retrospective analysis conducted using data from the HE.RC.O.LE.S register (n = 5331) for LR patients and the ITA.LI.CA database (n = 7056) for PRFA and TACE patients. A matching-adjusted indirect comparison (MAIC) method was applied to balance data and potential confounding factors between the 3 groups. Included were patients from multiple centers from 2008 to 2020; data were analyzed from January to December 2023. LR, PRFA, or TACE. Survival rates at 1, 3, and 5 years were calculated. Cox MAIC-weighted multivariable analysis and competing risk analysis were used to assess outcomes. A total of 720 patients with early multinodular HCC were included, 543 males (75.4%), 177 females (24.6%), and 350 individuals older than 70 years (48.6%). There were 296 patients in the LR group, 240 who underwent PRFA, and 184 who underwent TACE. After MAIC, LR exhibited 1-, 3-, and 5-year survival rates of 89.11%, 70.98%, and 56.44%, respectively. PRFA showed rates of 94.01%, 65.20%, and 39.93%, while TACE displayed rates of 90.88%, 48.95%, and 29.24%. Multivariable Cox survival analysis in the weighted population showed a survival benefit over alternative treatments (PRFA vs LR: hazard ratio [HR], 1.41; 95% CI, 1.07-1.86; P = .01; TACE vs LR: HR, 1.86; 95% CI, 1.29-2.68; P = .001). Competing risk analysis confirmed a lower risk of cancer-related death in LR compared with PRFA and TACE. For patients with early multinodular HCC who are ineligible for transplant, LR should be prioritized as the primary therapeutic option, followed by PRFA and TACE when LR is not feasible. These findings provide valuable insights for clinical decision-making in this patient population.

Tumor regression and safe distance of distal margin after neoadjuvant therapy for rectal cancer.

Neoadjuvant therapy has been widely employed in the treatment of rectal cancer, demonstrating its utility in reducing tumor volume, downstaging tumors, and improving patient prognosis. It has become the standard preoperative treatment modality for locally advanced rectal cancer. However, the efficacy of neoadjuvant therapy varies significantly among patients, with notable differences in tumor regression outcomes. In some cases, patients exhibit substantial tumor regression, even achieving pathological complete response. The assessment of tumor regression outcomes holds crucial significance for determining surgical approaches and establishing safe margins. Nonetheless, current research on tumor regression patterns remains limited, and there is considerable controversy surrounding the determination of a safe margin after neoadjuvant therapy. In light of these factors, this study aims to summarize the primary patterns of tumor regression observed following neoadjuvant therapy for rectal cancer, categorizing them into three types: tumor shrinkage, tumor fragmentation, and mucinous lake formation. Furthermore, a comparison will be made between gross and microscopic tumor regression, highlighting the asynchronous nature of regression in the two contexts. Additionally, this study will analyze the safety of non-surgical treatment in patients who achieve complete clinical response, elucidating the necessity of surgical intervention. Lastly, the study will investigate the optimal range for safe surgical resection margins and explore the concept of a safe margin distance post-neoadjuvant therapy.

Reverse Shoulder Arthroplasty or Nothing for Patients with Displaced Proximal Humeral Fractures. A Randomized Controlled Trial

Reverse Shoulder Arthroplasty or Nothing for Patients with Displaced Proximal Humeral Fractures. A Randomized Controlled Trial

Benefit in physical function and quality of life to nonsurgical treatment of varicose veins: Pilot study.

Studies on varicose veins have focused its effects on physical function; however, whether nonsurgical treatments alter muscle oxygenation or physical function remains unclear. Moreover, the differences in such functions between individuals with varicose veins and healthy individuals remain unclear. To investigate changes in physical function and the quality of life (QOL) following nonsurgical treatment of patients with varicose veins and determine the changes in their muscle oxygenation during activity. We enrolled 37 participants (those with varicose veins, n = 17; healthy individuals, n = 20). We performed the following measurements pre- and post-nonsurgical treatment in the varicose vein patients and healthy individuals: Calf muscle oxygenation during the two-minute step test, open eyes one-leg stance, 30 s sit-to-stand test, visual analog scale (VAS) for pain, Pittsburgh sleep quality index, physical activity assessment, and QOL assessment. Varicose veins patients and healthy individuals differ in most variables (physical function, sleep quality, and QOL). Varicose veins patients showed significant differences between pre- and post-nonsurgical treatment- results in the 30 sit-to-stand test [14.41 (2.45) to 16.35 (4.11), P = 0.018), two-minute step test [162.29 (25.98) to 170.65 (23.80), P = 0.037], VAS for pain [5.35 (1.90) to 3.88 (1.73), P = 0.004], and QOL [39.34 (19.98) to 26.69 (17.02), P = 0.005]; however, no significant difference was observed for muscle oxygenation. Nonsurgical treatment improved lower extremity function and QOL in varicose veins patients, bringing their condition close to that of healthy individuals. Future studies should include patients with severe varicose veins requiring surgery to confirm our findings.

Arthroscopy with partial meniscectomy for degenerative tear does not increase the risk of total knee arthroplasty at five year follow up; however, this population undergoes total knee arthroplasty with a lower threshold of osteoarthritis.

Degenerative meniscus tears can cause discomfort in some patients, and when medical treatments fail to provide relief, arthroscopy may be considered before resorting to knee prosthesis. However, the benefits of arthroscopy over nonsurgical treatments in patients over 60 years old are limited, and the evidence regarding its overall efficiency and drawbacks remains scarce. Furthermore, there has been no investigation into whether those patients treated with partial meniscectomy, undergo the knee operation at an earlier stage of osteoarthritis. This study focused on data from a single Belgian hospital, involving patients over 60 years old with internal meniscal tears. The participants were categorized into two groups based on the treatment they received: arthroscopic partial meniscectomy (APM) or conservative management. The primary outcome assessed was the occurrence of knee arthroplasty within a fiveyear period. Secondary outcomes included evaluating the ICRS cartilage grade and the time taken until total knee arthroplasty (TKA). A total of 194 patients with internal meniscal tears were included in the study. At the 5-year mark, the overall rate of knee arthroplasty was found to be 16.5%, with 11.9% of cases occurring within two years. After the 5-year follow-up, it was observed that 19.2% (24 patients) of the APM group and 11.6% (8 patients) of the conservative management group underwent knee arthroplasty. Notably, patients over 70 years old who underwent APM had a higher risk of eventually requiring TKA compared to those who received conservative management. Additionally, patients who underwent meniscectomy and later underwent TKA showed less wear in the internal compartment of the knee compared to patients in the conservative treatment group who underwent TKA. The study suggests that patients who underwent arthroscopy faced a similar risk of knee arthroplasty compared to those who underwent conservative management, excepted for patients over 70 years old. Despite this similar risk of arthroplasty for the whole population, they exhibited lower osteoarthritis severity when compared to the conservative group.

Minimal clinically important differences in walking capacity and physical activity after nonsurgical treatment in patients with lumbar spinal stenosis: a secondary analysis of a randomized controlled trial

BACKGROUND CONTEXTLittle information is available about the minimal clinically important differences (MCIDs) for objective physical measurements in people with lumbar spinal stenosis (LSS). PURPOSETo use disorder-specific anchor and, multiple anchor-, and distribution-based approaches to determine the MCIDs for walking capacity and physical activity in patients with LSS receiving nonsurgical treatment. STUDY DESIGN/SETTINGSecondary analysis of a randomized controlled trial. PATIENT SAMPLESixty-nine patients with neurogenic claudication caused by LSS receiving outpatient physical therapy. OUTCOME MEASURESZurich claudication questionnaire (ZCQ), self-paced walking test (SPWT), and number of daily steps measured by pedometry. METHODSAll patients completed the ZCQ, SPWT, and pedometry at the baseline and after 6 weeks. For the anchor-based approach, ZCQ symptom severity, physical function, and satisfaction subscales were used as the external anchors. Using the receiver-operating characteristic (ROC) curve, the MCIDs were determined based on the optimal cutoff points for changes in the SPWT or daily steps. For the distribution-based approach, the MCIDs were estimated from the standard deviations (SDs) of the baseline scores of the SPWT and daily steps. RESULTSIn the anchor-based approach, only the ZCQ satisfaction subscale for the SPWT (0.73), and ZCQ symptom severity subscale for daily steps (0.71) exceeded the area under the ROC curve value of 0.7, which is considered acceptable. When using these subscales as anchors, the ROC curves and optimal cutoff points indicated MCIDs of 151 m for the SPWT and 1,149 steps for daily steps. The distribution-based approach estimated the MCIDs as 280 m for the SPWT and 1,274 steps for daily steps, and had a moderate effect size (0.5 SD). CONCLUSIONSThe anchor-based approach had limited external responsiveness when the ZCQ was used as the anchor. However, this information may be helpful for interpreting walking capacity and physical activity in patients with LSS receiving nonsurgical treatment and for estimating power and sample size when planning new trials.

Utility of Stereotactic Body Radiation Therapy (SBRT) in Establishing Local Control for Invasive Breast Cancer Patients Not Undergoing Definitive Surgery

Breast cancer (BC) treatment involves a multi-modal approach where surgical resection is the backbone of therapy. However, due to medical comorbidities precluding surgery, unresectable disease, or patient preference, some patients do not undergo surgery. In the absence of resection, it is paramount to improve local control (LC) of the primary tumor. To that end, this study explored the role of ablative RT dose delivered with SBRT. Between 2015-2022, 21 patients (10 metastatic, 11 stage IA-IIIC) received 23 SBRT courses to primary BC lesions without planned surgery at our institution. One patient had undergone whole breast RT 20 years prior to SBRT. 7 patients were analyzed retrospectively; 15 are currently enrolled in a prospective study. SBRT dose was 40 Gy/5 fractions delivered every other day. Follow-up imaging (PET, CT, MRI, MMG/US) was reviewed to evaluate the response. CTCAE v.3 was used to document any acute (≤3 months) and late toxicities. Kaplan-Meier curves were used to estimate local control (LC) and overall survival (OS). Median age was 78.4 (45.9-97.3) years. Median follow-up was 14.7 (3.3-70.3) months after RT completion. Initial post-treatment imaging was available for all cases and was performed at a median of 4.0 (0.6-11.9) months after SBRT. The median pre-SBRT index lesion size was 3.1 (0.5-14.5) cm and PTV was 32.4 (11.5-522.4) cc. At a median 4 months post-SBRT, the median decrease in index lesion size was 20.8 (0-100) % and SUV reduction was 65.2 (20.8-100) %. Further improvement was seen on the 2nd follow-up scans at a median 7.8 months post-SBRT, with 62 (0-100) % and 88 (33.3-100) % median reduction in the tumor size and SUV, respectively, compared to pre-SBRT values. The estimated LC rate was 100% at 6 months and 93.3% at 12 months. The sole case of local progression occurred 9.5 months after SBRT, after an initial interval decrease in the primary lesion. Among the patients with available systemic follow-up scans, regional progression occurred in 4 (17.4%) cases at a median 18.6 (5.2-22.7) months post-SBRT. Six (37.5%) patients developed distant progression at a median 4.8 (0.9-16.2) months, all of whom had metastatic disease at diagnosis. The estimated OS was 85.7% at 6 months and 63.8% at 12 months. Most patients tolerated the treatment well. There was no grade 4 toxicity. Complete acute toxicity data is presented in Table 1. Only one patient experienced late grade 2 breast edema. Based on our preliminary results, definitive SBRT to the primary BC appears to have a role in providing LC in the treatment of non-surgical patients and is well-tolerated. Since the disease progression tends to occur outside the treated primary tumor, additional approaches to improve regional and distant control should be investigated.

Surgical vs nonsurgical treatments in patients with anterior open-bite have similar effects in occlusal function: A 2-year follow-up study

This study aimed to investigate changes in bite force (BF) and occlusal contact area after anterior open-bite (AOB) treatment and compare the changes in surgical vs nonsurgical treatment. This retrospective study included patients with AOB compared with normal occlusion. AOB was corrected by either intrusion of the maxillary molars (intrusion group, n= 19) or orthognathic surgery (surgery group, n= 37). The control group (n= 35) had a normal overbite relationship. Records of lateral cephalograms, BF, and occlusal contact area taken before (T0), immediately after (T1), and 2 years after (T2) orthodontic treatment were compared within and among the 3 groups. The open-bite group, including intrusion and surgery groups, had a lower BF and less occlusal contact area than the control group at T0 and T1 (P<0.001). However, there were no significant differences among the 3 groups at T2 (P>0.05). The intrusion and surgery groups showed no significant differences throughout the observation period extending from T0 to T2 (P>0.05). Although BF and occlusal contact area decreased at T1 compared with T0, they increased during retention and showed higher values at T2 than at T0. Treatment of AOB improved BF and occlusal contact area 2 years posttreatment. Orthognathic surgery and molar intrusion using orthodontic miniscrews can improve occlusal function similarly. Orthodontists can select either method depending on malocclusion severity and patient demand.

Exercise-based intervention as a nonsurgical treatment for patients with carpal instability: A case series

BackgroundAlthough the important roles of proprioception and neuromuscular control in carpal instabilities under laboratory conditions have been recognized, only a few studies have translated this knowledge into a routine clinical practice. PurposeThis study aimed to evaluate the results of a personalized rehabilitation in patients with carpal instability on functionality and pain intensity. Study designThis was a case series study. MethodsThis case series included 39 adults (mean age: 38.2 ± 14.0 years; 16/23 females/males) diagnosed with carpal instability (radial or ulnar) with indication for orthopedic treatment. The disabilities of the arm, shoulder, and hand questionnaire was used to assess upper limb functionality. Pain perception was assessed using a visual analog scale. Exercise-based physiotherapy interventions were performed according to the clinical needs of the patients for at least 6 weeks (2-3 sessions per week). For the treatment of radial instability (n = 13), strengthening exercises of the abductor pollicis longus, extensor carpi radialis longus, flexor carpi radialis, and pronator quadratus muscles were prescribed. For the treatment of ulnar instability (n = 24), extensor carpi ulnaris and pronator quadratus were trained. All patients underwent proprioceptive training in open kinetic chain and closed kinetic chain, as well as strengthening of the unaffected hand. Changes before and after treatment were compared using the nonparametric Wilcoxon signed rank test. ResultsA significant improvement with a large effect size in disabilities of the arm, shoulder, and hand (P < .001; d = 2.9) and visual analog scale (P < .001; d = 3.2) scores were obtained after treatment. Moreover, the changes were greater than the minimal clinically important difference of 10.8 and 1.4, respectively. Similar results were found when patients with radial instability and ulnar instability were analyzed separately. ConclusionsPersonalized training with specific proprioception and strengthening exercises produces improvements in functionality and pain perception in our cohort of people with carpal instability. These results highlight the importance of multicomponent exercise in the treatment of wrist instability. Future randomized clinical trials should further investigate the effectiveness of this protocol.

Design of an imaging magnetic microsphere based on photopolymerization for magnetic hyperthermia in tumor therapy.

Magnetic hyperthermia therapy has been widely used in the nonsurgical treatment of patients with advanced stage cancers that cannot be treated by surgery. It is minimally invasive, precise, and highly efficient and has a good curative effect. In this paper, a magnetic microsphere with Fe3O4 was prepared for thermal therapy and imaging based on a photoinitiated suspension polymerization method from biallelic monomers. The preparation method clearly minimized the degradative chain transfer of allyl polymerization reactions. The microspheres were characterized by microscope observation, spectral analysis, thermal analysis, and magnetic testing. The magnetothermal effect was detected by an infrared thermal imager in vitro and in vivo under a high-frequency alternating magnetic field (AMF). The antitumor effect was verified by testing the viability of H22 cells and observing a tumor-bearing mouse model under high-frequency AMF. Biocompatibility was evaluated by cell viability assay, tissue section observation, and blood biochemical analysis. The imaging capacity was tested by X-ray, MRI, and CT imaging experiments. The results show that the product has good dispersibility, thermal stability, superparamagnetism, and biocompatibility. Under the action of an AMF, the magnetic hyperthermia effect in tumor-bearing mice was better, and an antitumor effect could be achieved.

Systematic Review of the Clinical Efficacy of Various Terms of Non-Surgical Treatment in Patients With Acute Adhesive Intestinal Obstruction

BACKGROUND The question of the duration and volume of conservative measures in patients with acute adhesive intestinal obstruction (AAIO) remains the subject of numerous discussions. Aim of study To evaluate the efficacy and safety of various periods of conservative therapy in patients with AAIO using a systematic review. MATERIAL AND METHODS Criteria for inclusion in the systematic review were cohort studies investigating various regimens and duration of conservative therapy in adult patients with AAIO. The search for primary sources was carried out in the CENTRAL, PubMed and eLibrary databases. The assessment of the safety of various terms of AAIO was carried out by comparing the immediate results of treatment. RESULTS The review included 19 papers with a total of 2,570 observations. At the first stage, the effectiveness of various conservative therapy regimens was evaluated by calculating the risk ratio for the success of non-surgical treatment. Taking into account the significant statistical heterogeneity of the participants, the calculation of the final risk ratio was carried out using a random effects model. The hazard ratio for nonoperative success was 1.91 (95% CI 1.2–3.1) in favor of gastrografin and 3.71 (95% CI 1.3–10.6) in favor of preoperative intestinal intubation. Taking into account the multidirectional pathogenetic action of the studied methods of conservative therapy, the obtained results suggested that the probability of success of non-surgical treatment correlates to a greater extent with the total duration of the AAIO episode than with the duration of conservative therapy, which was indirectly confirmed by constructing scattering graphs with approximation lines and calculating the coefficients determination, which amounted to 0.69 and 0.77 for the subgroups of standard therapy and undiluted gastrografin, respectively. Subsequently, the impact of different duration of an episode of AAIO on the immediate outcomes was assessed: mortality, frequency of resection interventions, complications, and total bed-day. There were no statistically significant differences in favor of early interventions (up to 48 hours) for all compared parameters; an increase in the total duration of AAIO up to 89 hours was not associated with worse results. CONCLUSION The total duration of the episode of acute adhesive intestinal obstruction, including both the pre-hospital duration and the duration of non-surgical treatment is prognostically significant. In other words, when calculating the allowable duration of conservative measures, one should proceed from the total duration of intestinal passage disturbance, which should not exceed 89 hours.

Do imaging findings modify the effect of non-surgical treatment in patients with knee and hip osteoarthritis? A systematic literature review

ObjectivesTo review the available evidence on diagnostic imaging findings in knee and hip osteoarthritis (OA) as treatment effect modifiers in non-surgical OA interventions.MethodsMEDLINE, Embase and The Cochrane Central Register of...

Bariatric Surgery and Suicide Risk in Patients With Obesity.

In a large multisite cohort of Veterans who underwent Roux-en-Y gastric bypass or laparoscopic sleeve gastrectomy, we compared the 5-year suicidal ideation and attempt rates with matched nonsurgical controls. Bariatric surgery has significant health benefits but has also been associated with adverse mental health outcomes. Five-year rates of suicidal ideation and suicide attempts of Veterans who underwent Roux-en-Y gastric bypass or laparoscopic sleeve gastrectomy from the fiscal year 2000-2016 to matched nonsurgical controls using sequential stratification using cumulative incidence functions (ideation cohort: n=38,199; attempt cohort: n=38,661 after excluding patients with past-year outcome events). Adjusted differences in suicidal ideation and suicide attempts were estimated using a Cox regression with a robust sandwich variance estimator. In the matched cohorts for suicidal ideation analyses, the mean age was 53.47 years and the majority were males (78.7%) and White (77.7%). Over 40% were treated for depression (41.8%), had a nonrecent depression diagnosis (40.9%), and 4.1% had past suicidal ideation or suicide attempts >1 year before index. Characteristics of the suicide attempt cohort were similar. Regression results found that risk of suicidal ideation was significantly higher for surgical patients (adjusted hazard ratio=1.21, 95% CI: 1.03-1.41), as was risk of suicide attempt (adjusted hazard ratio=1.62, 95% CI: 1.22-2.15). Bariatric surgery appears to be associated with a greater risk of suicidal ideation and attempts than nonsurgical treatment of patients with severe obesity, suggesting that patients need careful monitoring for suicidal ideation and additional psychological support after bariatric surgery.

Update of the Natural History, Pathophysiology, and Treatment Strategies of Degenerative Cervical Myelopathy: A Narrative Review.

Cervical myelopathy is a clinical syndrome resulting in symptoms of neurologic deficits due to prolonged spinal cord compression or ischemia in the cervical spine. Spinal cord compression can be caused by ossification of the posterior longitudinal ligament and hypertrophy of ligamentun flavum in addition to degenerative cervical spondylosis, degenerative disc disease, and progressive cervical kyphosis. Degenerative cervical myelopathy (DCM) is a series of disease entities caused by spinal cord compression by various nontraumatic and non-infectious causes. The pathophysiology of DCM includes spinal cord structure and function abnormalities caused by both static and dynamic factors. Surgical decompression for patients with moderate to severe cervical myelopathy not only inhibits the progression of neurological deterioration, but also improves functional status, pain, and quality of life. However, the role of nonsurgical treatment in patients with mild spinal cord compression is controversial. In general, patients with cervical myelopathies who do not undergo surgery have a poor prognosis. Appropriate surgical treatment is recommended when spinal cord compression is confirmed on image study in patients with reasonable symptoms of cervical myelopathy. The patient's overall health, degree of compression, presence of concurrent cervical radiculopathy, and cervical spine alignment, in addition to lesion location and etiology, should be considered when determining an appropriate surgical procedure. This review covers the updated issues, including pathophysiology, clinical manifestations, differential diagnosis, and available treatments for DCM.

The Outcomes of Surgical and Nonsurgical Treatment in Patients With Spinal Metastases of Lung Cancer: Protocol for a Prospective Cohort Study

Spinal metastases of lung cancer (SMLC) usually have a high degree of malignancy and require multimodality treatment. Patients with SMLC who experience clinical symptoms (eg, local pain, emerging or potential spinal instability, and progressive neurological dysfunction) require surgical treatment. However, there are discrepancies in the comparison of outcomes between surgical treatment and nonsurgical treatment. This paper presents the protocol for a study that aims to compare the clinical outcomes of surgical treatment and nonsurgical treatment for SMLC, explore the prognostic factors of SMLC, and establish a survival prediction model based on these prognostic factors. This is a prospective cohort study, with an anticipated sample size of 240 patients (120 patients in the surgical group and 120 patients in the nonsurgical group). We will collect baseline data, including demographic, clinical, and radiological information, as well as data from patient-reported questionnaires. Patients will be followed up at 3, 6, 12, and 24 months after treatment, and survival status will be assessed every 3 months. The primary outcome is the overall survival period. Prognostic factors associated with overall survival will be analyzed by univariate and multivariate Cox proportional hazards regression. Odds ratios with 95% CIs will be presented. Statistical significance is set at P<.05. This study has been approved by our institute's Medical Science Research Ethics Committee (IRB00006761-M2021085) after a careful audit of the design and content. Patient enrollment began in June 2022 at our hospital. Data collection is expected to be completed by early 2026, and the study results will be published by mid-2027. In this study, we propose to set up a prospective cohort of patients with SMLC to investigate the outcomes between surgical treatment and nonsurgical treatment. We will explore the role of surgical treatment in SMLC and provide guidance to peer surgeons. Chinese Clinical Trial Registry, ChiCTR2100048151; http://www.chictr.org.cn/showproj.aspx?proj=129450. DERR1-10.2196/38273.

Clinical applications of lasers in conventional periodontal care

Periodontal (gum) diseases present one of the main threats to oral and general health; they are very prevalent across the globe and, if left untreated, lead to tooth loss, with a significant impact on the quality of life. In addition, the impact of gum infection and inflammation on diabetes and cardiovascular disease complications has been well documented. Having in mind the key role of bacteria and the host’s immune response in the development of periodontal diseases but also the subgingival niche anatomy that complicates the adequate management of the dental biofilm and post-treatment healing, the field of periodontics is open to new or additional therapeutic methods that would complement the conventional approaches to periodontal care. Lasers were one of the first instruments used for photon therapy in dentistry due to their ability to emit a collimated, coherent light beam with monochromatic and synchronous wavelengths. We reviewed here the possibilities of the application and therapeutic effects of lasers during the initial phase of periodontal therapy using Er:YAG, Nd:YAG, CO2, and diode lasers. Therefore, the aim of this paper is to summarize the use of lasers and their clinical effects as adjuncts to the conventional, nonsurgical treatment of patients with periodontitis and to facilitate a scientific debate on this under-researched and controversial field of dental care.

Clinical Application of the 2021 Korean Thyroid Imaging Reporting and Data System (K-TIRADS)

In patients with thyroid nodules, ultrasonography (US) has been established as a primary diagnostic imaging method and is essential for treatment decision. The Korean Thyroid Imaging Reporting and Data System (K-TIRADS) is a pattern-based, US malignancy risk stratification system that can easily diagnose nodules during real-time ultrasound examinations. The 2021 K-TIRADS clarified the US criteria for nodule classification and revised the size thresholds for nodule biopsy, thereby reducing unnecessary biopsies for benign nodules while maintaining the appropriate sensitivity to detect malignant tumors in patients without feature of high risk thyroid cancer. Thyroid radiology practice has an important clinical role in the diagnosis and non-surgical treatment of patients with thyroid nodules, and should be performed according to standard practice guidelines for proper and effective clinical care.

Contact X-Ray Brachytherapy for Early Rectal Cancer: A Review of Outcomes From a Single UK Centre

AimsColorectal cancer is the fourth most prevalent cancer in the UK. Fortunately, with modern surveillance programmes, more patients are being diagnosed at an earlier stage. Although surgical excision remains the gold standard, many patients have co-morbidities that preclude them from having radical surgery. Additionally, a number of patients do not wish to live with a permanent colostomy. Radiotherapy has an established role in the non-surgical treatment of patients with rectal cancer. Increasing the radiation dose to the tumour increases the chance of local control. Using contact X-ray brachytherapy (CXB) it is possible to escalate the dose to the tumour and minimise the dose received by surrounding normal tissues. The aim of this study was to evaluate the outcomes of patients from our centre who have undergone CXB with or without external beam radiotherapy. Materials and methodsA prospectively maintained and locally managed colorectal database was used to collect clinical details and outcomes for colorectal cancer patients. All patients who were treated with CXB at our institution from the commencement of the service in April 2014 to the end of December 2019 were analysed. There was a minimum of 18 months of follow-up. ResultsOne hundred and ninety-three patients received at least one fraction of CXB. The median age at first treatment was 72 years (range 33–103 years). Seventy-three per cent of patients were male. Of the operable or high surgical risk patients, 105 were treated radically with radiotherapy, 28 were treated radically with radiotherapy after local resection and 22 patients were medically unfit for surgery. Most patients received external beam radiotherapy 45 Gy/25 fractions (87/146) or 25 Gy in five fractions (35/146). Forty-seven patients received CXB as sole treatment (51% had previous radiotherapy). Of those with a response assessment, with a median follow-up of 35 months, 78% of all patients achieved a clinical complete response (cCR) or a near cCR, 6% had a partial response and 16% had persistent disease. Of 154 radically treated patients with a response assessment, 84% achieved cCR or near cCR, 19% (24/129) of these subsequently relapsed. ConclusionThis series shows that CXB is a well-tolerated and effective treatment in a diverse cohort of patients with rectal cancer. Comparable favourable oncological outcomes were seen, in keeping with previously published work.

Surgery for liver metastases from primary melanoma: a systematic review and meta-analysis.

Historically , liver metastases due to melanoma have been associated with dismal prognosis. Moreover, the actual survival benefit from the treatment of melanoma liver metastases is still controversial. Hence, this study aims to evaluate the difference in surgical versus non-surgical options for melanoma liver metastases. Four databases (PubMed, EMBASE, Scopus, and Cochrane Library) were searched from inception to July 17, 2022. Studies were included if they compared outcomes between surgical and non-surgical treatment for patients with liver metastases from resectable melanoma. Meta-analyses were performed for the outcomes of 1-year, 2-year, 3-year and 5-year OS. Sensitivity analyses were performed for outcomes with substantial statistical heterogeneity. To account for possible moderators that might contribute to statistical heterogeneity, univariate meta-regression with mixed-effects models and subgroup analyses were conducted for the outcome of 2-year OS. The search yielded 6610 articles; 13 studies were included in our analysis. Meta-analyses showed that survival outcomes were in favour of patients undergoing surgery as compared to non-surgery: 1-year OS (HR = 0.29, 95%CI 0.19-0.44, p < 0.00001), 2-year OS (HR = 0.19, 95%CI 0.09-0.38, p < 0.00001), 3-year OS (HR = 0.07, 95%CI 0.03-0.19, p < 0.00001) and 5-year OS (HR = 0.07, 95%CI 0.02-0.22, p < 0.00001). All included studies were of high quality. There was moderate-to-high statistical heterogeneity. Findings were robust to sensitivity analyses. Subgroup analyses and univariate meta-regression revealed neoadjuvant therapy and age as statistically significant subgroup and moderator respectively. This study suggests that surgical treatment of melanoma liver metastases could offer better OS outcomes compared with non-surgical treatment.

A multicenter cross-sectional study of quality of life and nonsurgical treatment in patients with knee osteoarthritis

Objective: To explore the influencing factors of health-related quality of life (HRQoL) in patients with knee osteoarthritis, and to analyze the non-surgical treatment of knee osteoarthritis. Methods: Demographic variables, treatment modalities, imaging data, and 12-item short form health survey (SF-12) scores of patients with knee osteoarthritis in orthopedic outpatient departments of five hospitals in Beijing from December 2017 to November 2018 were collected to analyze influencing factors of HRQoL and non-surgical treatment. Results: A total of 2 034 patients were included. There were 530 males (26.1%) and 1 504 females (73.9%), with a mean age of (59.17±10.22) years. In terms of physical quality of life, female patients with knee osteoarthritis had lower physical components summary (PCS) compared with male patients (β=-0.521, P=0.036); patients aged ≥64 years had lower PCS than those aged<55 years (β=-0.636, P=0.026). Patients with an education of more than 12 years had higher PCS than those with less than 10 years (β=1.063, P<0.001). Compared to patients with mild clinical symptoms, the PCS of patients with moderate clinical symptoms was lower (β=-0.860, P=0.002), while the PCS of those with severe clinical symptoms was much lower (β=-1.126, P<0.001). Patients treated with combination therapy had higher PCS than untreated patients (β=0.731, P=0.005). In terms of mental quality of life, compared to patients engaged in sedentary work, the mental components summary (MCS) of patients engaged in mild manual labor jobs was lower (β=-0.712, P=0.015); Compared to patients with a Charson comorbidity index of 0, patients with a Charlson comorbidity index ≥ 2 had lower MCS (β=-1.183, P=0.007). In the past 12 months, 648 (31.9%), 143 (7.0%), 406 (20.0%), 680 (33.4%), 343 (16.9%), 681 (33.5%), 170 (8.4%) patients had used non-steroid anti-inflammatory drugs (NSAIDs), acetaminophen, glucosamine/chondroitin formulations, physical therapy, articular cavity puncture injection, traditional Chinese medicine treatment and exercise therapy, respectively. Total of 451 patients (22.2%) received monotherapy and 889 patients (43.7%) received combination therapy. Conclusions: The major non-surgical treatment methods for patients with knee osteoarthritis in Beijing are NSAIDs, physiotherapy and traditional Chinese medicine. Combination therapy is used more frequently than monotherapy. Physical quality of life is related to gender, age, education, severity of symptoms and treatment, while mental quality of life is related to occupational labor and comorbidities.