Patient-reported Upper Limb Function After Sentinel Lymph Node Biopsy for Breast Cancer: A Prospective Observational Study

IntroductionSentinel lymph node biopsy (SLNB) is the standard procedure for axillary staging in breast cancer. There is a lack of consistency in studies reporting on upper limb morbidity after SLNB. We present a prospective study evaluating upper limb function after SLNB using the validated quickDASH questionnaire.Materials and MethodsConsecutive patients who underwent wide local excision and SLNB were included in the study. Arm function was assessed using the quickDASH questionnaire at 3 time points – prior to surgery and 2 weeks and 3 months after SLNB. The scores obtained were labeled as A, B, and C respectively. The mean and median scores were compared using the paired t test and Wilcoxon signed rank test.ResultsNinety-nine patients met all inclusion criteria and were included in the final analysis. The mean A, B, and C scores were 8.46, 16.05, and 13.36. The median A, B, and C scores were 2.27, 7.5, and 4.54. There was a statistically significant difference between mean and median A and B scores, B and C scores, and A and C scores. A similar trend was observed in patients with better preoperative upper limb function. Patients with a higher body mass index had significantly worse B and C scores.ConclusionThere is a significant deterioration in upper limb function following SLNB. This improves at 3 months but does not reach baseline levels. Larger studies with long-term follow-up are required to establish the extent of upper limb functional morbidity and natural course of functional recovery after SLNB.     

Negative α-synuclein pathology in the submandibular gland of patients carrying PRKN pathogenic variants

IntroductionAlpha-synuclein (AS) pathology in the peripheral nervous tissue is a potential pathological biomarker in Parkinson disease (PD). Several studies reported the excellent specificity of the AS pathology of the submandibular gland (SMG) biopsy in PD. PRKN pathogenic variant is one of the major genetic causes of young-onset PD without Lewy pathology in the brain. In this study, we evaluated peripheral AS pathology in the SMG biopsy of patients with PRKN pathogenic variants.MethodsWe enrolled three young-onset PD patients with PRKN pathogenic variants. Two patients were compound heterozygous for trans-exon 3 and 4 deletions and one patient was heterozygous for an exon 2 duplication. We obtained two submandibular gland tissues with core needle biopsy (18G). The neural structures were identified using neurofilament (NF) immunostaining and the neural tissue in the adjacent section were stained with 129 phophorylated α-synuclein (pAS) antibody.Results: pAS staining in the SMG was negative in all cases with the PRKN pathogenic variants.ConclusionsOur data may support the high specificity of the AS pathology of SMG in α-synuclein associated parkinsonism. Future studies evaluating peripheral neural tissue including the SMG in the elderly healthy population are required to validate the role of peripheral AS pathology as a biomarker in PD.     

乳腺癌新辅助化疗后腋窝淋巴结转移综合预测模型的建立

目的:建立乳腺癌新辅助化疗后淋巴结转移的综合预测模型，评估新辅助化疗后淋巴结转移情况，指导临床手术方案选择。方法:回顾分析2015年1月至2018年12月143例乳腺癌新辅助化疗患者的临床、病理及影像资料，并根据术后淋巴结病理分为转移组与无转移组。采用χ2/t检验对两组指标进行单因素分析；将P<0.05的指标纳入多因素Logistic回归分析。用多因素分析有统计学意义(P<0.05)的指标构建乳腺癌新辅助化疗后淋巴结转移综合预测模型的列线图，并应用受试者工作特征（receiver operation characteristic,ROC)曲线评价此模型的性能。结果:单因素分析表明化疗方案、化疗前淋巴结穿刺病理、术前查体、术前彩超、术前CT/MRI、RECIST分级对腋窝淋巴结转移有预测作用；多因素分析表明，化疗前淋巴结穿刺病理、术前彩超、RECIST分级是新辅助化疗后腋窝淋巴结转移的独立预测因素。乳腺癌新辅助化疗后淋巴结转移的预测模型的曲线下面积为0.785，特异度为85.4%，敏感度为59.8%。结论:乳腺癌新辅助化疗后淋巴结转移的综合预测模型对腋窝淋巴结有较好的预测能力，可为选择合适的手术方式提供临床指导。     

Peroral cholangioscopy: Update on the state-of-the-art

Peroral cholangioscopy (POC) is an endoscopic procedure that allows direct intraductal visualization of the biliary tract. POC has emerged as a vital tool for indeterminate biliary stricture evaluation and treatment of difficult biliary stones. Over several generations of devices, POC has fulfilled additional clinical needs where other diagnostic or therapeutic modalities have been inadequate. With adverse event rates comparable to standard endoscopic retrograde cholangioscopy and unique technical attributes, the role of POC is likely to continue expand. In this frontiers article, we highlight the existing and growing clinical applications of POC as well as areas of ongoing research.     

Utilidad de la criobiopsia en el diagnóstico de la enfermedad pulmonar intersticial difusa: análisis de rentabilidad y coste

BackgroundAssessment of patients with suspected interstitial lung disease (ILD) includes surgical lung biopsy (SLB) when clinical and radiological data are inconclusive. However, cryobiopsy is acquiring an important role in the ILD diagnostic process. The objective of this study was to evaluate the diagnostic yield, safety and economic costs of the systematic use of cryobiopsy in the assessment of patients with suspected ILD.MethodsThis was a retrospective observational study of patients who had undergone transbronchial cryobiopsy for evaluation of ILD from January 2011 to January 2014. The procedures were performed with a video bronchoscope using a cryoprobe for the collection of lung parenchyma specimens, which were analyzed by pathologists. Diagnostic yield, complications and economic costs of this technique were analyzed.ResultsCriobiopsy specimens from a total of 33 patients were included. A specific diagnosis was obtained in 26, producing a diagnostic yield of 79%. In 5 patients, SLB was required for a histopathological confirmation of disease, but the procedure could not be performed in 4, due to severe comorbidities. The most frequent complications were pneumothorax (12%) and grade i (9%) or grade ii (21%) bleeding. There were no life-threatening complications. The systematic use of cryobiopsy saved up to €59,846.ConclusionCryobiopsy is a safe and potentially useful technique in the diagnostic assessment of patients with ILD. Furthermore, the systematic use of cryobiopsy has an important economic impact.