Role of arterial stiffness and endothelial dysfunction on lower limb performance in older adults with type 2 diabetes: A cross-sectional study

AimTo verify whether arterial stiffness and endothelial dysfunction influence lower limb muscle strength and gait speed in older adults with type 2 diabetes mellitus (T2DM).MethodsCross-sectional study including seventy-eight older adults with T2DM (aged 67 ± 6 years and 42 % male). Arterial stiffness was assessed using pulse wave velocity (PWV), while endothelial function was measured by flow-mediated dilation (FMD). Lower limb muscle strength and gait speed were assessed using the 30-second chair stand test (30s-CST) and 10-Meter Walk Test, respectively.ResultsBoth PWV (m/s) and FMD (%) were univariately associated with number of repetitions in 30s-CST and gait speed (P < 0.05). After control for age, sex and body mass index, PWV remained associated with repetitions in 30s-CST (95 % CI: ?0.494 to ?0.054; P = 0.015) and gait speed (95 % CI: ?0.039 to ?0.002; P = 0.031). After adjustments for control variables, T2DM duration and glycemic control, FMD was associated with repetitions in 30s-CST (95 % CI: 0.008 to 0.324; P = 0.039) and gait speed (95 % CI: 0.011 to 0.038; P = 0.001).ConclusionIn older adults with T2DM, both arterial stiffness and endothelial dysfunction are associated with decreased leg muscle strength and slower gait speed.     

Prognosis Comparison Between Chronic Hepatitis B Patients Receiving a Finite Course of Tenofovir and Entecavir Treatment: A Nationwide Cohort Study in Taiwan

PurposeEntecavir (ETV) and tenofovir disoproxil fumarate (TDF) are both recommended as first-line treatments for patients with chronic hepatitis B virus (CHB) infection according to international HBV treatment guidelines. However, recent studies reported conflicting results regarding the preferred antiviral in the prevention of hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC). This cohort study aimed to investigate this issue by using Taiwan's National Health Insurance Research Database, wherein a “finite” but not life-long treatment policy was applied.MethodsFrom January 2008 to December 2013, a total of 12,388 consecutive adult patients with CHB who received a finite course of TDF treatment (n = 1250) or ETV treatment (n = 11,138) were analyzed through screening for study eligibility followed by the 1:4 propensity score matching method.FindingsIn the entire cohort, the annual incidence and survival between the ETV and TDF groups were not significantly different regarding HCC occurrence (2.05 vs 2.74 per 100 patient-years [PY]; P = 0.055; hazard ratio [HR], 0.975; log-rank, P = 0.966), cirrhosis-related complications (1.9 vs 2.4 per 100 PY; P = 0.149; HR, 0.869; log-rank, P = 0.388), or all-cause mortality (2.16 vs 1.6 per 100 PY; P = 0.119; HR, 0.831; log-rank, P = 0.342), respectively. Propensity score matching analyses yielded similar results regarding HCC occurrence, cirrhosis-related complications, and all-cause mortality. In addition, these findings were consistently reproduced in the subgroups of patients with chronic hepatitis and cirrhosis that developed before antiviral treatment.ImplicationsETV and TDF did not significantly differ in prevention of HCC occurrence or reduction of cirrhosis-related complications and all-cause mortality in patients with CHB receiving a finite period of treatment.     

Comparison of retroperitoneal and transperitoneal surgical routes in laparoscopic nodal staging for locally advanced cervical cancers (FIGO IB3-IVA)

BackgroundThis study compares morbidity and mortality associated with retroperitoneal and transperitoneal para-aortic lymphadenectomy (PAAL) for pretherapeutic nodal staging of locally advanced cervical cancers (FIGO IB3–IVA).MethodsPre-, per- and postoperative data of patients treated for locally advanced stage cervical cancer between 1999 and 2018 in 12 French referral centers (FRANCOGYN Study Group) were retrospectively collected.ResultsThe study was conducted using a sample of 448 patients, of whom 223 (49,8%) underwent retroperitoneal (group 1) and 225 (50,2%) had transperitoneal PAAL (group 2). No differences were noted concerning clinical and histological characteristics between the two groups. Among these 448 patients, 23 (5,1%) had an intraoperative complication (9 (2,0%) in group 1 and 14 (3,1%) in group 2, p = 0.28) and 47 (10,5%) had a postoperative complication (22 (4,9%) in group 1 and 25 (5,6%) in group 2, p = 0.44), only one of which required revision surgery but the patient died. The length of hospital stay was significantly shorter in group 1 than in group 2 (3.97 versus 4.88 days, p < 0.001). There was no significant difference in mortality between the two groups; 34 of 223 patients in group 1 (15.3%) and 40 of 225 patients in group 2 (15.6%) died (HR = 0.968, 95% CI [0.591–1.585]). There was no significant difference in recurrence-free or overall survival between the two groups.ConclusionRetroperitoneal PAAL appears as a valuable and safety surgical route for nodal staging in locally advanced cervical cancer compared with standard transperitoneal PAAL.     

Gender difference in association between diabetes mellitus and all-cause mortality in atrial fibrillation patients

ObjectiveThere may be gender difference in correlation of diabetes mellitus (DM) and cardiovascular events. We attempt to investigate whether there is gender-heterogeneity in one-year outcomes of atrial fibrillation (AF) patients with DM or not.MethodsPatients who were diagnosed with AF admitted to the emergency departments in the Chinese AF Multicenter Registry study were enrolled. Basic demographics information, initial Blood Pressure and heart rate, medical histories, and treatments of each patient were collected. Follow-up was carried out with a mean duration of one year. The primary endpoint was all-cause mortality and systemic embolism.ResultsA total of 2016 patients were selected from September 2008 and April 2011. All-cause mortality was significantly higher in male AF patients with DM than those without (21.8 % & 13.6 %, P = 0.014). Cox regression analysis showed that there was an interaction between gender and DM for one-year all-cause mortality (P = 0.049). DM was significantly associated with one-year all-cause mortality regardless of univariate analysis (HR = 1.436, 95%CI:1.079–1.911, P = 0.013) or multivariate analysis (HR = 1.418, 95%CI: 1.059–1.899, P = 0.019). For male patients with AF, DM was significantly associated with one-year all-cause mortality (P = 0.048), but not for female patients with AF (P = 0.362).ConclusionDM was independently associated with one-year all-cause mortality in the entire cohort of AF patients. This association was found mainly in male patients with AF, but not in female patients. DM management programs may need to reflect gender difference.     

Performance of risk prediction models for post-operative mortality in patients undergoing liver resection

BackgroundLiver resection is commonly performed for hepatic tumors, however preoperative risk stratification remains challenging. We evaluated the performance of contemporary prediction models for short-term mortality after liver resection in patients with and without cirrhosis.MethodsThis retrospective cohort study examined National Surgical Quality Improvement Program data. We included patients who underwent liver resections from 2014 to 2019. VOCAL-Penn, MELD, MELD-Na, ALBI, and Mayo risk scores were evaluated in terms of model discrimination and calibration for 30-day post-operative mortality.ResultsA total 15,198 patients underwent liver resection, of whom 249 (1.6%) experienced 30-day post-operative mortality. The VOCAL-Penn score had the highest discrimination (area under the ROC curve [AUC] 0.74) compared to all other models. The VOCAL-Penn score similarly outperformed other models in patients with (AUC 0.70) and without (AUC 0.74) cirrhosis.ConclusionThe VOCAL-Penn score demonstrated superior predictive performance for 30-day post-operative mortality after liver resection as compared to existing clinical standards.     

Challenges and limitation of MTAP immunohistochemistry in diagnosing desmoplastic mesothelioma/sarcomatoid pleural mesothelioma with desmoplastic features

AimGenomic-based ancillary assays including immunohistochemistry (IHC) for BRCA-1 associated protein-1 (BAP1) and methylthioadenosine phosphorylase (MTAP), and fluorescence in situ hybridization (FISH) for CDKN2A are effective for differentiating pleural mesothelioma (PM) from reactive mesothelial proliferations. We previously reported a combination of MTAP and BAP1 IHC effectively distinguishes sarcomatoid PM from fibrous pleuritis (FP). Nevertheless, cases of sarcomatoid PM with desmoplastic features (desmoPM) are encountered where the IHC assessment is unclear.Methods and resultsWe evaluated assessment of MTAP IHC, BAP1 IHC, and CDKN2A FISH in 20 desmoPM compared to 24 FP. MTAP and BAP1 IHC could not be assessed in 11 (55 %) and 10 (50 %) cases, respectively, due to loss or faint immunoreactivity of internal positive control cells, while CDKN2A FISH could be evaluated in all cases. The sensitivities for MTAP loss, BAP1 loss, and CDKN2A homozygous deletion in desmoPM were 40 %, 10 %, and 100 %. A combination of MTAP loss and BAP1 loss yielded 45 % of sensitivity.ConclusionsMTAP IHC is a useful surrogate diagnostic marker in differentiating ordinary sarcomatoid PM from FP, but its effectiveness is limited in desmoPM. CDKN2A FISH is the most effective diagnostic assays with 100 % sensitivity and specificity in discriminating desmoPM from FP in the facilities where the FISH assay is available.     

The reality of cholangiocarcinoma in India– real world data from a tertiary referral centre

BackgroundCholangiocarcinomas (CCA) are rare tumours originating from bile duct. Due to their asymptomatic nature they are usually diagnosed when the disease is advanced. Little data exists with respect to their incidence and treatment outcomes in low and middle income countries.MethodA retrospective analysis of a prospectively maintained database of all patients with perihilar (pCCA) and intrahepatic (iCCA) CCA registered between January 2012 and December 2018 was performed.ResultsA total of 760 patients, 427 (56.2%) diagnosed with pCCA and 333 (43.8%) of iCCA were included. Patients with localised, locally advanced and metastatic disease in pCCA were 45.5%, 25.9%, 8.5% and that in iCCA were 22.1%, 10.1% and 67.7% respectively. Only 141 (43.9%, 57 - iCCA, 84 -pCCA) of the total 321 patients started on some definitive cancer directed therapy could complete the intended treatment. The overall curative resection rate for all patients of iCCA was 14.5% whereas for patients of pCCA it was only 10.5%.ConclusionMore than half of CCA patients are not able to complete their intended treatment, being worse for pCCA as compared to iCCA. Early referral and centralisation of treatment for this complex disease might be the way forward to achieve optimal outcomes.