Follow-up Strategies For Patients Research Articles

Assessment of ferroptosis as a promising candidate for metastatic uveal melanoma treatment and prognostication.

Uveal melanoma (UM) is the most common primary intraocular tumour in adults. Local resection, radiation therapy, and enucleation are the current first-line, primary UM treatments. However, regardless of the treatment received, around 50% of UM patients will develop metastatic disease within five to 7years. In the largest published series of unselected patients with metastatic UM (mUM), the median survival time after diagnosis of metastasis was 3.6months, with less than 1% of patients surviving beyond 5years. Approved drugs for treatment of mUM include systemic treatment with tebentafusp-tebn or isolated hepatic perfusion (IHP) with melphalan. However, these drugs are only available to a subset of patients and improve survival by only a few months, highlighting the urgent need for new mUM treatments. Accurately predicting which patients are at high risk for metastases is also crucial. Researchers are developing gene expression signatures in primary UM to create reliable prognostic models aimed at improving patient follow-up and treatment strategies. In this review we discuss the evidence supporting ferroptosis, a non-apoptotic form of cell death, as a potential novel treatment target and prognosticator for UM.

Management and follow-up strategies for patients with head and neck paraganglioma.

Head-neck paragangliomas (HNPGLs) are rare tumors with approximately half arising due to germline pathogenic variants (PVs) in succinate dehydrogenase genes (SDHx). Patients with HNPGL have heterogeneous propensity to recur and metastasize. Thus, we aim to assess prevalence and predictors of recurrent (RD) and/or metastatic disease in patients with and without SDHx-related HNPGLs. This cross-sectional study used retrospective data of 214 patients enrolled in six referral centers. Data included sex, age, primary tumor treatment, location, and size, biochemical phenotype, germline PVs, presence of RD (locoregional or new tumor), and/or metastasis. Patients with and without SDHx-related HNPGLs showed 74% and 40% prevalence of RD, respectively. Patients without SDHx-related HNPGLs presented with recurrent tumors only in head-neck regions. The only independent predictor for RD in the entire cohort was presence of SDHx PVs. Metastatic prevalence reached 9%-13%. For patients with SDHx-related HNPGLs, large tumor size (>2.3 cm, OR:50.0, CI:2.6-977.6), young age at initial diagnosis (<42years, OR:27.3, CI:1.8-407.2), and presence of SDHB PV (OR:15.6; CI:1.5-164.8) were independent predictors of metastasis. For patients without SDHx-related HNPGLs, only carotid-body location was an independent predictor of metastasis (OR:18.9, CI:2.0-182.5). Patients without SDHx-related HNPGLs require long-term follow-up due to high prevalence of RD with imaging largely restricted to head-neck regions. As carotid-body HNPGLs have the highest metastatic risk among sporadic tumors, radical treatment with frequent follow-up is suggested until population-based data are available. Importantly, patients with SDHx-related HNPGLs might benefit from early radical treatment when tumors are still small to reduce metastatic risk.

Recurrence Rate and Associated Factors of Primary Fallopian Tube Carcinoma in the South of Vietnam

Abstract Objectives: This study aimed to determine the recurrence rate and related risk factors of primary fallopian tube cancer (PFTC). Materials and Methods: We conducted a retrospective study of 47 patients with histopathological diagnosis of PFTC treated at Tu Du Hospital between January 1, 2015, and July 31, 2022. The cumulative recurrence rate was estimated using the life table method, and recurrence-associated factors were determined using the Log–rank test and Cox proportional hazard model. Results: The median follow-up period was 40 months (range, 7–96 months). Eight patients (17.0%) experienced recurrence. The cumulative recurrence rate of PFTC patients at 12 months was 4.4% (95% confidence interval [95% CI]: 1.12–16.45), at 24 months was 9.1% (95% CI:3.52–22.5), at 36 months was 14.9% (95% CI: 6.92–30.41), at 48 months was 19.3% (95% CI: 9.35–37.24), and at 60 months was 25.7% (95% CI: 12.68–47.88). A higher recurrence rate was significantly associated with elevated pretreatment CA 125 level (&lt;35 U/mL vs. ≥35 U/mL, hazards ratio [HR] = 36.9, 95% CI: 1.47–921.37), advanced FIGO stages (Stage I-II vs. stages III, HR = 6.61, 95% CI: 1.18–36.93), and suboptimal debulking surgery (residual disease ≤1 cm vs. residual disease &gt;1 cm, HR = 7.52, 95% CI: 1.47–38.49). Conclusion: The overall recurrence rate of PFTC patients in Southern Vietnam was 17.0%. Appropriate follow-up strategies for patients with high-risk factors are needed for early detection and management of recurrence.

The role of RNA viruses in human cancers

Many RNA viruses have been reported to be oncogenic (or carcinogenic) in a variety of animal and human cancers. The increase in the incidence and prevalence of cancer-causing viruses in human populations can be known as a key precursor to the development of various cancers. The retrovirus family and Hepatitis C virus (HCV) are also reported to cause cancer. Viral oncoproteins such as Tax of HTLV 1 interacts with cellular ubiquitination complex such as cyclindromatosis tumor suppressor, ubiquitin-specific proteases 7, 11, 15 and 20, A-20 and signal-transducing adaptor molecule binding protein-like-1 in order to improve the cellular signaling pathways. The viral oncoproteins binding to DUB, leading to proliferation of virus-infected cells and cell transformation. Proto-oncogenes (c-onc genes) are the cellular form of v-onc genes. The activation of c-onc genes leads to cell growth. C-onc genes are transformed into an oncogenic form by viral infection. C-onc genes play some roles such as protein kinases, growth factors, growth factor receptors, and DNA binding proteins. The study of transforming retroviruses and their oncogenes and the multiple mechanisms deployed by other RNA viruses to use the growth-suppressive and proapoptotic function of tumor suppressor genes has been added to our current understanding of cancer biology. Oncogenic RNA viruses are important experimental models to study molecular investigation such as cellular networks, including the discovery of oncogenes and tumor suppressors. Understanding of different strategies of RNA viruses as well as the function of their proteins helps to make more extensive plans regarding the adoption of follow-up, prevention and treatment strategies in cancer patients caused by viral origin.

Active follow-up of patients identified with multidrug-resistant Gram-negative bacteria to discontinue contact precautions and isolation measures

It is essential to refrain from unnecessary isolation measures indicated for patients identified with multidrug-resistant Gram-negative bacteria (MDR-GNB). To evaluate whether a pro-active follow-up strategy to discontinue isolation measures of patients identified with MDR-GNB (without carbapenemase production) resulted in reduced isolation days during hospitalization, compared to passive follow-up. A comparison was made between active and passive follow-up strategies over a two-year period after first MDR-GNB identification. Patients could be declared negative after two consecutive negative screening cultures. Active follow-up patients received a questionnaire for screening cultures within six months of MDR-GNB identification. Of the 2208 patients included, 1424 patients (64.5%) underwent passive follow-up and 784 patients (35.5%) underwent active follow-up. A significantly higher proportion of active follow-up patients who had sufficient (at least two) screening cultures were declared MDR-GNB negative compared to those with passive follow-up; 66.9% vs 20.6% (P < 0.001) for adult patients and 76.0% vs 17.1% (P < 0.001) for paediatric patients. A comparison between active follow-up patients with sufficient versus those with active follow-up but insufficient cultures revealed a reduction of isolation days for paediatric patients (median 10.6 vs 1.6 days; P= 0.031). Though this difference was not statistically significant for adults (median 5.3 vs 4.2 isolation days), there was a valuable decrease in the number of isolation days for both adult and paediatric patients under active follow-up with sufficient (≥2) cultures, indicating clinical relevance. We recommend an active follow-up strategy for patients identified with an MDR-GNB, to prevent further unneeded infection prevention measures.

Long-term explantation risk in patients with chronic pain treated with spinal cord or dorsal root ganglion stimulation

ObjectiveTo investigate long-term explantation risks and causes for the explantation of neuromodulation devices for the treatment of chronic pain from different manufacturers.MethodsThis retrospective analysis included patients implanted with a system...

Pleural Solitary Tumors - Long-Term Prognosis Related To Surgery And Clinicopathological Criteria.

Pleural solitary fibrous tumors (SFTs) are indolent mesenchymal neoplasias, generally with good prognosis, for which complete surgical resection is the gold standard. However, local recurrences and distant metastases are reported at variable rates. Risk-assessing criteria and models determining recurrence and metastatic risk have been proposed, and can impact on patient follow-up strategies. We conducted an observational study comprising a 12 years period to characterize a cohort of 20 surgically resected thoracic SFTs, and to retrospectively assess the prognostic value of England's histology criteria and Demicco's 4-tier model. All tumors were pleural-based, 12 patients were women, and the mean age at diagnosis was 62.8 years. The median duration of follow-up was ten years, and at the end of the follow-up, all patients were alive, and no distant metastases were reported. Three cases (15%) had local recurrence at the median time of 89.3 months/7.4 years. The only case with an incomplete surgical resection relapsed. Collectively, tumors with worst prognostic features, specifically a positive margin or tumors with malignant histology or non-low-risk features, according to England's and Demicco's models, respectively, were associated with recurrence. These results confirm the importance of complete surgical resection of SFTs, and show that risk stratification criteria and models can predict important surgical outcomes such as recurrence. Moreover, they support a risk-based follow-up schedule, as patients with higher relapse risk can benefit from close follow-up.

Magnetic resonance imaging-based prognostic model for subsequent distant metastasis in patients with ipsilateral breast tumor recurrence following breast-conserving surgery.

Ipsilateral breast tumor recurrence (IBTR) following breast-conserving surgery (BCS) has been considered a risk factor for distant metastasis (DM). Limited data are available regarding the subsequent outcomes after IBTR. Therefore, this study aimed to determine the clinical course after IBTR and develop a magnetic resonance imaging (MRI)-based predictive model for subsequent DM. We retrospectively extracted quantitative features from MRI to construct a radiomics cohort, with all eligible patients undergoing preoperative MRI at time of primary tumor and IBTR between 2010 and 2018. Multivariate Cox analysis was performed to identify factors associated with DM. Three models were constructed using different sets of clinicopathological, qualitative, and quantitative MRI features and compared. Additionally, Kaplan-Meier analysis was performed to assess the prognostic value of the optimal model. Among the 183 patients who experienced IBTR, 47 who underwent MRI for both primary and recurrent tumors were enrolled. Multivariate analysis demonstrated that the independent prognostic factors were human epidermal growth factor receptor 2 (HER2) status [hazard ratio (HR) =5.40] and background parenchymal enhancement (BPE) (HR =7.94) (all P values <0.01). Furthermore, four quantitative MRI features of recurrent tumors were selected through the least absolute shrinkage and selection operator (LASSO) method. The combined model exhibited superior performance [concordance index (C-index) 0.77] compared to the clinicoradiological model (C-index 0.71; P=0.006) and radiomics model (C-index 0.70; and P=0.01). Furthermore, the combined model successfully categorized patients into low- and high-risk subgroups with distinct prognoses (P<0.001). The clinicopathological and MRI features of IBTR were associated with secondary events following surgery. Additionally, the MRI-based combined model exhibited the highest predictive efficacy. These findings could be helpful in risk stratification and tailoring follow-up strategies in patients with IBTR.

Assessing the risk of reoperation for mild pulmonary vein obstruction post-TAPVC repair: a retrospective cohort study.

This study investigates the impact of mild pulmonary vein obstruction, detected via echocardiography before hospital discharge, on the likelihood of reoperation in patients who have undergone repair for Total Anomalous Pulmonary Venous Connection (TAPVC). Utilizing a single-center, retrospective cohort approach, we analyzed 38 cases from October 2017 to December 2023, excluding patients with functionally univentricular circulations or atrial isomerism. Our primary outcome was the necessity for reoperation within one year due to anatomical issues related to the initial TAPVC repair. Mild obstruction was defined as a pulmonary vein flow velocity ≥1.2 m/s. Our findings revealed that 31.6% of patients exhibited pre-discharge mild obstruction. During the median follow-up of 10 months, reoperations were notably higher in the mild obstruction group compared to the normal group, with a significant association between pre-discharge mild obstruction and increased risk of reoperation. Specifically, in the fully adjusted model, mild obstruction was linked to a 13.9-fold increased risk of reoperation. Our results suggest that a pre-discharge echocardiography Doppler velocity threshold of 1.2 m/s could serve as a critical predictor for reoperation, emphasizing the need for targeted follow-up strategies for at-risk patients.

Gender Differences in Lung Neuroendocrine Tumors: A Single-Center Experience.

Gender difference may affect lung neuroendocrine tumor (L-NET) onset, progression, and outcomes as emerged in other cancers. This study aimed to analyze gender difference in L-NET to identify potential prognostic factors, to improve patient follow-up and therapeutic strategies. Patients with histologically confirmed L-NEN diagnosis referred to the ENETS CoE of the Endocrinology Unit, Federico II University of Naples, from 2013 to 2023, were retrospectively evaluated. Among 48 patients with L-NEN, 38 (79.2%) with sporadic L-NET were enrolled: 22 typical (57.9%) and 16 atypical (42.1%) carcinoids, 22 (57.9%) female and 16 (42.1%) male, mean age at diagnosis 57.3 years (range 16-84). Median follow-up was 70.5 months (range 12-305). No statistical difference resulted regarding smoking habit, BMI, primary site (left/right and central/peripheral), and histological characteristics, between cohorts. Metastasis at diagnosis was found in 20 patients (52.3%), 10 female (10%) and 10 male (10%) (p: 0.20). Progressive disease (PD) was observed in 14 (36.8%) patients, and male sex developed PD more frequently 9/14 (64.3%) than female 5 (35.7%), p: 0.05. Male sex seemed to show more frequently bone metastasis without reaching statistical difference, 7 male/10 (70%), p: 0.06. Among 9 deaths (23.7%), 7 (77.8%) were men and 7 died for PD, p &lt; 0.03. Male had a poorer prognosis than female regarding progression-free survival (PFS) (p: 0.04) and overall survival (p: 0.001), also when sub-groups of patient metastatic at diagnosis were compared (p: 0.02 and p: 0.02). This study showed a worse prognosis in male than female with L-NET, despite similar clinical features, tumor type, stage, and treatment, with regard to PFS, OS, and metastatic spread. These findings may suggest a closer follow-up in men, with potential positive impact on outcomes.

A novel nomogram to predict clinically significant prostate cancer in MR assisted lesion biopsies: Turkish urooncology association nomogram

ObjectiveThis study aimed to develop a novel nomogram to predict clinically significant prostate cancer in patients undergoing multi-parametric prostate MRI-assisted lesion biopsies, addressing the challenges in deciding on biopsy for patients with PI-RADS 3 lesions and follow-up strategies for patients with negative PI-RADS 4 or 5 lesions. Materials and methodsA retrospective case-control study was conducted using the Turkish Urooncology Association Databases (UROCaD). The final dataset included 2428 lesion biopsy data. Univariate analysis, logistic regression, and validation were performed, with 1942 and 486 lesion biopsy data in the training and validation datasets, respectively. ResultsAge, initial total PSA value, PSA density, prostate volume, lesion length, DRE findings, and PI-RADS score were significantly different between benign or non-significant cancer and clinically significant prostate cancer groups. The developed nomogram incorporated PSA density, age, PI-RADS score, lesion length, and DRE findings. The mean area under the curve for the 6-fold cross-validation was 0.836, while the area under the curve values for the training and validation datasets were 0.827 and 0.861, respectively. The nomogram demonstrated a sensitivity of 75.6% and a specificity of 74.8% at a cut-off score of 24.9, with positive and negative predictive values of 42.2% and 92.6%, respectively. ConclusionThe TUA nomogram, based on PSA density, age, PI-RADS score, lesion length, and DRE findings, provides a reliable and accurate prediction tool for detecting clinically significant prostate cancer in patients undergoing multi-parametric prostate MRI-assisted lesion (fusion) biopsies, potentially improving patient management and reducing unnecessary biopsies.

Risk Factors for Relapse of Prostate Cancerafter Radical Prostatectomy in Chinese Population.

To analyze the risk factors for the relapse of prostate cancer (PC) after radical prostatectomy (RP) and build a nomogram as a predictive model. Materials andMethods: The patients who underwent PR from March 2019 to February 2022 were retrospectively enrolled in our hospital's case system. During the follow-up process, two consecutive prostate-specific antigens (PSA) ≥0.2 μg/L were performed. And needle biopsy was performed to further determine whether the patient had prostate cancer recurrence. According to the follow-up results, the patients were divided into non-relapsed and relapsed groups.The related parameters of the two groups were collected. Independent risk factors for postoperative recurrence were determined using a Cox proportional hazards regression model. Statistical software, R, was used to build nomograms. R software was used to construct a nomogram, and the prediction effect of the nomogram was evaluated by the calibration curve and the area under the ROC curve (AUC). Among the 367 patients who underwent RP, 112 (30.52%) had, and 255 (69.48%) did not have relapses after surgery. Cox multivariableregression analysis revealed that preoperative Gleason score, preoperative PSA, pathological staging, positive margin, and seminal vesicle invasion, were the risk factors for postoperative recurrence after RP (all P < 0.05). Verification of the predictive model by ROC curve demonstrated that the AUC of the ROC curves for patients' relapses 3 and 5 years after RP was 0.986 (95%CI0.975-0.998) and 0.974 (95%CI0.961-0.987), respectively. This model validation showed that the results of the predictive model were basically consistent with the actual results, suggesting that the nomogram was able to accurately predict a patient's relapse. The nomogram of this study was a good predictor of postoperative recurrence of PC after RP, which will help doctors provide personalized treatment and follow-up strategies for patients.

Recommended 10-Year Follow-Up Strategy for Small Hepatocellular Carcinoma After Radiofrequency Ablation: A Cost-Effectiveness Evaluation.

An optimal follow-up schedule for small (≤3-cm) hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) after radiofrequency ablation (RFA) remains unclear in clinical guidelines. We aimed to assess the cost-effectiveness of follow-up strategies in patients with small HCC after RFA. In total, 11,243 patients were collected from global institutions to calculate recurrence rates. Subsequently, a Markov model covering a 10-year period was developed to compare 25 surveillance strategies involving different surveillance techniques (computed tomography [CT], magnetic resonance imaging or ultrasonography [US], and α-fetoprotein [AFP]) and intervals (3 or 6 months). The study endpoint was incremental cost-effectiveness ratio (ICER), which represented additional cost per incremental quality-adjusted life year. Sensitivity analysis was conducted by varying the values of input parameters to observe the ICER. In a base case analysis, the dominant strategy was CT every 3 months during an initial 2 years, followed by semiannual CT, and then switch to biannual the combination of US screening and AFP testing after 5 years (m3_CT-m6_CT-m6_USAFP), with an ICER of $68,570.92 compared with the "not followed" strategy. One-way sensitivity analysis showed the ICER consistently remained below the willingness-to-pay threshold of $100,000.00. In a probabilistic sensitivity analysis, m3_CT-m6_CT-m6_USAFP was the most cost-effective approach in 95.6% of simulated scenarios at a willingness-to-pay threshold. For small HCC after RFA, the recommended follow-up strategy is CT, with scans scheduled every 3 months for the first 2 years, every 6 months thereafter, and transition to biannual the combination of US screening and AFP testing after 5 years.

Assessment of Bi-Atrial Mechanical Function in Patients with Isolated Atrial Septal Aneurysm.

Atrial mechanical dysfunction may be an alternative mechanism underlying the increased risk of systemic embolism in patients with atrial septal aneurysm (ASA). This study aimed to evaluate left atrial (LA) and right atrial (RA) function using two-dimensional speckle tracking echocardiography (2D STE) in patients with isolated ASA. Fifty-four patients with ASA (mean age 50.3 ± 12.48, 37% male) and 48 healthy individuals of similar age and gender (mean age 48.3 ± 10.84, 39.6% male) were included in the study. To assess atrial mechanical function, measurements of left and right atrial reservoir strain (RS), peak contraction strain (PCS), and conduit strain (CS) were conducted using 2D STE, in addition to conventional evaluation with transthoracic echocardiography. LA RS and PCS values were significantly lower in the ASA group than in the controls (37.52 ± 2.89 vs. 40.16 ± 2.68%, P < 0.001 and 17.29 ± 2.5 vs. 19.18 ± 2.23%, P < 0.001, respectively). Similarly, RA RS and RA PCS were significantly lower in patients with ASA (36.97 ± 2.19 vs. 39.77 ± 2.36%, P < 0.001 and 16.78 ± 2.10 vs. 18.54 ± 2.43%, P < 0.001, respectively). A multivariate regression analysis revealed a strong independent association between ASA and the measures LA RS, LA PCS, RA RS, and RA PCS. Our findings indicate that bi-atrial function are diminished in patients with isolated ASA. This may be a possible cause for the increased risk of arterial embolism in this patient group, aside from atrial arrhythmias and patent foramen ovale. Validating these results with larger studies may influence the treatment and follow-up strategies for patients with isolated ASA.

Assessment of Ki-67 expression levels in IDH-wildtype glioblastoma using logistic regression modelling of VASARI features.

To investigate the value of using VASARI signs preoperatively to assess Ki-67 proliferation index levels in patients with IDH-wildtype glioblastoma (GB).Pathological and imaging data of 154 patients with GB confirmed by surgical pathology were retrospectively analysed, and the level of Ki-67 proliferative index was assessed in tumour tissue samples from patients using immunohistochemistry (IHC) staining. Patients were divided into a high and low Ki-67 proliferation index expression group. Two radiologists analysed MRI images of patients with IDH-wildtype GB using the VASARI features system. VASARI parameters between the two groups were statistically analysed to identify characteristic parameters with significant differences and their predictive performance was determined using ROC curves.Among the obtained clinical and VASARI features of IDH-wildtype GB patients, the distribution of Maximum diameter, Proportion of necrosis and Hemorrhage was significantly different between the two groups (all p < 0.05). Multivariate logistic regression analysis showed that Maximum diameter and Hemorrhage were independent risk factors distinguishing the group with high and low expression of Ki-67 proliferative index. ROC curve analysis showed that the logistic regression model achieved an AUC value of 0.730 (95% CI: 0.639, 0.822), sensitivity of 0.628 and specificity of 0.756.Logistic regression modelling of preoperative VASARI features can be used as a reliable tool for predicting the level of Ki-67 proliferative index in IDH-wildtype GB patients, which can help in preoperative development of treatment and follow-up strategies for patients.

Multicenter Descriptive Study of Monoclonal Gammopathy of Undetermined Significance in Patients with Heart Failure

Introduction: Monoclonal gammopathy of undetermined significance (MGUS) is the presence of a monoclonal immunoglobulin without concurrent lymphoproliferative disease. It is found in about 5% of people aged 50 and older in the general population. Prevalence rates of MGUS increase with age, especially in men and individuals of Black ethnicity compared to women and White individuals, respectively. The diagnostic criteria for MGUS includes a serum M-protein level &amp;lt;3 g/dL, &amp;lt;10% clonal plasma cells in the bone marrow, and the absence of a myeloma-defining event. Though historically considered benign, emerging evidence suggests that MGUS patients, even without lymphoproliferative disorders, face increased risks of various diseases like bone diseases, recurrent infections, autoimmune disorders, peripheral neuropathy, renal complications, and cardiovascular disease (CVD). This study aims to investigate the prevalence and characteristics of individuals with both MGUS and heart failure (HF) and examine potential racial disparities between Black patients and non-Black patients with MGUS and HF. Methods: This is a retrospective multicenter study that includes patients diagnosed with both MGUS and New York Heart Association grade II or higher HF from January 2010 to January 2023. Patients with potential confounding conditions of MGUS were excluded, such as non-MGUS plasma cell dyscrasias, hematologic malignancies, autoimmune/inflammatory disorders, and viral illnesses. Laboratory data was recorded at the time of MGUS diagnosis, and HF data was derived from imaging studies performed closest to the time of MGUS diagnosis or at the initial diagnosis of HF if it was diagnosed after MGUS. Findings were summarized using descriptive statistics. Results: We analyzed a total of 128 patients with MGUS and HF, excluding 24 patients with potential MGUS confounders. Among the remaining 104 patients, 41 (39.4%) were female, and 63 (60.6%) were male. The cohort consisted of 80 (76.9%) Black patients and 24 patients of non-Black ethnicity. For the overall cohort, the mean age at MGUS diagnosis was 72, and the mean time from HF diagnosis to MGUS diagnosis was 22.5 months with a median of 9.1 months. In 24% of patients, HF and MGUS were diagnosed within less than 1 month of each other. The predominant monoclonal proteins observed were IgG Kappa, IgG Lambda, and IgA Kappa, found in 54 (51.9%), 30 (28.8%), and 13 (12.5%) patients, respectively. The average M spike was 0.7 +/- 0.6 (SD, standard deviation), and the average free light chain ratio was 2.3 +/- 2.3 (SD). The most common type of HF diagnosed was heart failure with reduced ejection fraction (HFrEF, EF &amp;lt;40%), occurring in 63.5% of the cohort. The etiology of HF in the cohort was attributed to ischemic cardiomyopathy in 43.3%, non-ischemic cardiomyopathy in 51%, and a combination of both in 5.7%. Table 1 presents the MGUS variables for the overall cohort and stratification by race. Table 2 displays the characteristics of study subjects based on the type of HF, including HFrEF, mid-range ejection fraction (HFmrEF, EF 40-49%), and preserved ejection fraction (HFpEF, EF &amp;gt;50%). Conclusion: This study did not find a significant association between MGUS variables and HF, likely due to the limited sample size. However, a larger study by Schwartz et al. using a Danish nationwide database with over 8,000 participants suggested that MGUS patients had a higher risk of incident CVD, even after adjusting for other comorbidities. They also noted a higher prevalence of CVD risk factors in patients with MGUS. These findings indicate a possible link between MGUS and CVD, though the true nature of this association remains uncertain - whether it's causal or coincidental. An interesting observation from our study is that MGUS is often incidentally detected in patients already diagnosed with HF. This suggests that physicians may come across MGUS while investigating the underlying causes of HF, raising the possibility of shared underlying factors or pathological processes between both conditions. Considering our findings, it's essential to recognize that MGUS patients may have a higher mortality risk independent of developing plasma cell disorders. Large-scale studies are needed to better understand the association between MGUS and CVD, potentially influencing monitoring and follow-up strategies for MGUS patients, especially concerning potential cardiovascular implications.

An optimized postsurgery follow-up strategy for patients with esophageal cancer: a cohort study.

After radical surgery, patients with esophageal cancer should undergo long-term surveillance of disease relapse. However, the optimal follow-up strategy remains to be explored. A total of 4688 patients were recruited. Recursive partition analysis was applied to develop recurrence risk stratification for patients. The follow-up strategies of each stratification were developed based on monthly recurrence probability and validated by bootstrap validation and an external dataset. A Markov decision-analytic model was constructed to evaluate the cost-effectiveness of the follow-up strategies. Patients were stratified into four groups according to four pathological features. The authors applied a random survival forest to calculate the monthly recurrence probability of each group. Based on the temporal distribution of recurrences, the authors further established surveillance strategies for four groups. The strategies were validated as optimal protocols by bootstrap resampling and another dataset. Markov cost-effective analysis indicated that our recommended strategies outperformed the mainstream protocols from guidelines. Using less than 12 visits across the first 5 years on average, our follow-up strategies were more efficient than the NCCN recommended strategies (14 visits average). Our results also supported the computerized tomography from the neck to the upper abdomen as a routine examination and PETCT of distant metastasis for some groups with high risks. Our study provided data-driven evidence of personalized and economic follow-up strategies for esophageal cancer patients and shed light on follow-up optimization for other cancer types.

Cause of death during nasopharyngeal carcinoma survivorship: a population-based analysis.

Recently, the survival rate of nasopharyngeal carcinoma (NPC) patients has improved greatly due to developments in NPC treatments. But cause-specific mortality in NPC patients remains unclear. This study aims to investigate the common causes of death in NPC patients. Eligible patients with NPC were included from the Surveillance, Epidemiology, and End Results (SEER) database. Standardized mortality ratios(SMRs) were calculated to compare death rates in NPC patients with those in the general population. A total of 3475 patients with NPC were included, of whom 1696 patients died during the follow-up period. 52.83% of deaths were caused by NPC, followed by other cancers (28.13%) and non-cancer causes (18.46%). The proportion of patients who died of NPC decreased over survival time. Moreover, non-cancer causes of death increase from 12.94% to 51.22% over time after 10 years of diagnosis. Heart diseases was the most common non-cancer cause of death in NPC patients. Although NPC remains the leading cause of death after NPC diagnosis, other non-NPC causes of death represent an increased number of death in NPC patients. These findings support the involvement of multidisciplinary care for follow-up strategy in NPC patients.

Retrospective Review of Follow-up Strategies for Patients Receiving Palliative Radiotherapy.

There is no current standard-of-care follow-up strategy for patients who receive palliative radiotherapy (PRT) for bone metastases. Within our institution there is currently a heterogenous practice in which some providers schedule routine follow up 1-3 months after initial PRT while others do follow up only as needed (PRN). Our study aims to compare rates of retreatment based on follow-up strategies (planned vs. PRN), explore factors that potentially affect retreatment, and evaluate whether provider follow-up strategy correlates with measurable differences in quality of care. In a retrospective chart review, PRT courses for bone metastases at our single institution were divided by follow-up strategies (planned vs. PRN). Demographic, clinical, and PRT data were collected and analyzed via descriptive statistics. The relationship between planned follow-up appointment and subsequent retreatment was studied. More patients received retreatment within one year of initial PRT in the planned follow-up group than in the PRN follow-up group (40.4% vs. 14.4%, p<0.001). Retreatment was achieved sooner in the planned follow-up group than in the PRN follow-up group (137 days vs. 156 days). When accounting for other variables, having a planned follow-up appointment remains the most important factor in establishing retreatment (OR=3.32, 2.11-5.29, p<0.001). Having a planned follow-up appointment after the initial course of PRT improves identification of patients who would benefit from additional treatment, thus improving patient experience and quality of care.

Long-term prognostic analysis of children and adolescents with differentiated thyroid carcinoma based on therapeutic response to initial radioiodine therapy.

The clinical features and prognosis of children and adolescents with differentiated thyroid carcinoma (caDTC) are different from that of adults. Postoperative radioiodine therapy (RIT) was recommended for some intermediate and high risk caDTC patients. The objective of this study was to evaluate the long-term prognosis of pediatric caDTC patients with different responses to initial RIT and to explore the related influencing factors. All subjects were assigned to no clinical evidence of disease (NED) group, biochemical persistent disease (BPD) group, or structural/functional persistent disease (S/FPD) group based on the therapeutic response to initial RIT. Then, disease status was evaluated in all three groups at the last follow-up using ATA guidelines. Meanwhile, disease-free survival (DFS) for NED group and the progression-free survival (PFS) for the BPD and S/FPD groups were also assessed. 117 subjects were divided into NED group (n=29), BPD group (n=48) and S/FPD group (n=34) after initial RIT. At the last follow-up, excellent response (ER), indeterminate response (IDR), biochemically incomplete response (BIR) and structurally incomplete response (SIR) rates were 93.10%, 6.90%, 0% and 0% in NED group; 29.17%, 25.00%, 43.75% and 2.08% in BPD group; and 11.77%, 2.94%, 0%, and 85.29% in S/FPD group. The 5-year DFS rate in NED group was 95.5%. The 5-year PFS rates in BPD and S/FPD groups were 79.2% and 48.6%, respectively. For children with structural or functional lesions, longer PFS were found in male children with 131I-avid lesions, and post-operative stimulated serum thyroglobulin (sti-Tg) < 149.80 ng/ml. The response to initial RIT could be helpful for defining subsequent treatment and follow-up strategies for caDTC patients. Post-operative sti-Tg and 131I-avidity of lesions are correlated with PFS.