Efficacy and safety of cold snare polypectomy for sessile serrated polyps ≥ 10 mm: A systematic review and meta-analysis

BackgroundCold snare polypectomy (CSP) is a promising technique for the removal of sessile serrated polyps (SSPs) ≥ 10 mm. However, the efficacy and safety of this technique remain undetermined.AimsWe aimed to comprehensively evaluate the efficacy and safety of CSP for SSPs ≥ 10 mm.MethodsPubMed, EMBASE, Web of Science and Cochrane Library were searched up to January 2021.ResultsA total of 10 studies consisting of 1727 SSPs (range, 10–40 mm) from 1021 patients were included. The overall rates of technical success, adverse events (AEs) and residual SSPs were 100%, 0.7% and 2.9%, respectively. Subgroup analysis showed that the rates of technical success and AEs were comparable between CSP and cold endoscopic mucosal resection (EMR) (99.9% vs. 100% and 1.3% vs. 0.5%, respectively), between the proximal and distal colon (100% vs. 99.9% and 0.3% vs. 0, respectively), and between polyps of 10–19 mm and ≥20 mm (99.8% vs. 100% and 0.9% vs. 0, respectively). However, subgroup analysis showed that the rate of residual SSPs was slightly lower in CSP compared with cold EMR (1.3% vs. 3.9%), as well as in polyps of 10–19 mm compared with those ≥20 mm (3.1% vs. 4.7%).ConclusionCSP was an effective and safe technique for removing SSPs ≥ 10 mm.     

Efficacy and safety of transjugular intrahepatic portosystemic shunt (TIPS) created using covered stents of different diameters: A systematic review and meta-analysis

PurposeThe purpose of this study was to make a systematic review and meta-analysis to determine the stent diameter (8 mm vs. 10 mm) that conveys better safety and clinical efficacy for transjugular intrahepatic portosystemic shunt (TIPS).Materials and methodsFour databases were used to identify clinical trials published from inception until March 2020. Data were extracted to estimate and compare one-year and three-year overall survivals, hepatic encephalopathy, variceal rebleeding, and shunt dysfunction rates between patients with 8 mm covered stents and those with 10 mm covered stents.ResultsFive eligible studies were selected, which included 489 patients (316 men, 173 women). The 8 mm covered stent group had higher efficacy regarding one-year or three-year overall survival (odds ratio [OR], 2.88; P = 0.003) and (OR, 1.81; P = 0.04) and lower hepatic encephalopathy (OR, 0.69; P = 0.04) compared with 10 mm covered stent group. There were no significant differences in variceal rebleeding rate (OR 0.80; P = 0.67). However, shunt dysfunction was lower in 10 mm covered stent group (OR, 2.26; P = 0.003).ConclusionsOur results suggest that the use of 8 mm covered stents should be preferred to that of 10 mm covered stents for TIPS placement when portal pressure is frequently monitored.     

Lateral Lymph Nodes in Rectal Cancer: Do we all Think the Same? A Review of Multidisciplinary Obstacles and Treatment Recommendations

Lateral lymph nodes in low, locally advanced, rectal cancer have proven implications for local recurrence rates, which increase drastically in the presence of persistently enlarged lateral lymph nodes. These clinical implications warrant a thorough understanding of lateral nodal disease with awareness and knowledge from all three specialties involved – radiology, radiation oncology, and surgery – to ensure proper treatment. Relevant literature for each specialty, including all current guidelines and perspectives, were examined. Variations in definitions and treatment paradigms were evaluated. There is still no consensus for the standardized treatment of lateral nodal disease. Each discipline works according to their own available evidence, but relevant data are scarce. Current international guidelines and standard recommendations for the diagnostics and treatment of lateral lymph nodes are lacking. This results in differing perspectives and interpretations between the disciplines which can lead to challenging communication in an area where multidisciplinary collaboration is essential. This review addresses this by presenting the current evidence, perspectives and practices of each specialty and makes suggestions for each phase of the diagnostic and treatment process for patients with lateral nodal disease. By doing this, steps are taken toward achieving international consensus, and multidisciplinary collaboration.     

中成药联合普利或沙坦类药物治疗糖尿病肾病的网状Meta分析＊

目的 运用网状Meta分析方法，以单纯ACEI/ARB（angiotensin receptor blockers，ARB；angiotensin-converting enzyme inhibitor，ACE）治疗为共同参照，对比海昆肾喜胶囊、黄葵胶囊、尿毒清颗粒、肾衰宁胶囊、雷公藤多苷片、金水宝胶囊、百令胶囊、火把花根片对糖尿病肾病的临床疗效。方法 计算机检索有关海昆肾喜胶囊、黄葵胶囊，尿毒清颗粒、肾衰宁胶囊、雷公藤多苷片、金水宝胶囊、百令胶囊、火把花根片联合ACEI/ARB治疗糖尿病肾病的随机对照试验。由2名研究人员独立筛选，包括质量、评估，数据采用R、Gemtc、ＲevMan 5.3软件进行网状Meta分析和传统Meta分析。最终纳入86篇RCTs，共7413例患者，涉及9种干预措施。结果 Meta分析结果显示：①在综合疗效方面，金水宝胶囊、雷公藤多苷片、肾衰宁胶囊联合ACEI/ARB排序靠前，其中雷公藤多苷片联合ACEI/ARB降低24 h尿蛋白（24 h UPQ）和尿微量蛋白（UAER）的疗效最佳，肾衰宁胶囊联合ACEI/ARB降低血肌酐（Scr）、糖化血红蛋白（HBA1C）和空腹血糖（FPG）的疗效最佳；②在安全性方面，联合中成药均较单纯ACEI/ARB治疗有一定改善，因临床异质性较大无法定量合并，所有纳入研究未发生严重不良反应。由于纳入文献质量相对偏低，得出的结论尚有待临床验证。结论 结合网状Meta分析结果和文献信息，在治疗有效率方面，金水宝胶囊联合ACEI/ARB疗效最优；在降低24 h尿蛋白（24 hUPQ）和尿微量蛋白（UAER）方面，均为雷公藤多苷片联合ACEI/ARB疗效最优；在降低血肌酐（Scr）、糖化血红蛋白（HBA1C）和空腹血糖（FPG）方面，均为肾衰宁胶囊联合ACEI/ARB疗效最优。     

Perioperative blood transfusion affects oncologic outcomes after nephrectomy for renal cell carcinoma: A systematic review and meta-analysis

Aim: To investigate the association of perioperative blood transfusion (PBT) with oncologic outcomes in patients with renal cell carcinoma (RCC), we conducted a systematic review and meta-analysis of the literature to clarify the long-term oncologic effect of PBT in patients undergoing nephrectomy for RCC. Materials and methods: We searched the MEDLINE, Web of Science, Cochrane Library and Scopus on 15th April 2018 to identify studies that compared patients who received PBT undergoing radical or partial nephrectomy for RCC to patients who did not with the aim of evaluating its impact on overall mortality (OM), cancer-specific mortality (CSM) and disease recurrence using multivariable cox regression analysis. Results: A total of 19,681 patients in 7 studies matched the selection criteria for the systematic review and meta-analysis. All 7 studies were retrospective design and published between 1994 and 2018. Our study included low quality of eligible studies due to their retrospective design and showed a significant heterogeneity. PBT was associated with OM (pooled hazard ratio [HR], 1.49, 1.24–1.78), CSM (pooled HR, 1.46, 1.20–1.77), and disease recurrence (pooled HR, 1.80, 1.03–3.12). In a subgroup analysis of 3,664 patients with nonmetastatic RCC, PBT was remained associated with OM (pooled HR, 1.91; 1.06–3.41), but not anymore with CSM (pooled HR, 1.92, 0.94–3.91) or disease recurrence (pooled HR, 2.18, 0.86–5.55). Conclusions: PBT in patients undergoing nephrectomy for RCC is associated with worse overall survival. While PBT may be reflective of the underlying aggressiveness of the disease, it could be that its detrimental effect on outcomes is caused by its negative effect on the host's resilience.     

Effects of pomegranate on lipid profiles: A systematic review of randomised controlled trials

ObjectiveTo present a systematic review of randomised controlled trials examining the effects of pomegranate (Punica granatum) on lipid profiles.MethodThe Cochrane Central Register of Controlled Trials, MEDLINE, CINAHL, EMBASE, SCOPUS and conference proceedings were searched for relevant trials to June 2019. We included randomized controlled trials comparing pomegranate with placebo. The outcomes examined were effects on lipids level. Two authors screened titles for inclusion, extracted data and assessed the quality of the trials using the revised Cochrane risk of bias tool. We used a random effects model to pool data and stratified trials to examine sources of statistical heterogeneity. To assess the quality of the evidence, we used the Grades of Recommendation, Assessment, Development, and Evaluation (GRADE) approach.ResultsSeventeen trials recruiting 763 subjects met the inclusion criteria. These trials varied in terms of the dosage form of pomegranate used, subjects recruited and trials duration. Meta-analyses of data did not show pomegranate produced a significant effect on the lipids level examined. The quality of evidence for all outcomes was low due to the imprecision of the pooled effect and the inconsistency within the included trials. The limited data on safety suggest only mild, transient and infrequent adverse events with the short-term use of pomegranate.ConclusionCurrent evidence does not show pomegranate has significant effects on serum lipid levels. The quality of evidence is poor to support the increasing use of pomegranate for hyperlipidaemia.     

Phase 2 Study of Daratumumab in Relapsed/Refractory Mantle-Cell Lymphoma,Diffuse Large B-Cell Lymphoma,and Follicular Lymphoma

BackgroundDaratumumab is a CD38 monoclonal antibody approved for treating relapsed/refractory and newly diagnosed multiple myeloma. Preclinical daratumumab studies demonstrated cytotoxic activity and reduced tumor growth in B-cell non-Hodgkin lymphoma (NHL) subtypes, including diffuse large B-cell lymphoma (DLBCL), follicular lymphoma (FL), and mantle-cell lymphoma (MCL).Patients and MethodsThis was a phase 2, open-label, multicenter, 2-stage trial. Patients with relapsed/refractory DLBCL, FL, or MCL with ≥ 50% CD38 expression were eligible for stage 1. Daratumumab (16 mg/kg; 28-day cycles) was administered intravenously weekly for 2 cycles, every 2 weeks for 4 cycles, and every 4 weeks thereafter. Overall response rate was the primary end point. Pharmacokinetic and safety were also evaluated. Stage 2 was planned to further assess daratumumab in larger populations of NHL subtypes if futility criteria were not met. The study was registered with ClinicalTrials.gov (NCT02413489).ResultsThe trial screened 138 patients resulting in accrual of 15 patients with DLBCL, 16 with FL, and 5 with MCL. Median CD38 expression across treated patients was 70%. Overall response rate was 6.7%, 12.5%, and not evaluable in DLBCL, FL, and MCL cohorts, respectively. The most common grade 3/4 treatment-emergent adverse event was thrombocytopenia (11.1%), and 4 (11.1%) patients discontinued treatment because of treatment-emergent adverse events. Infusion-related reactions occurred in 72.2% of patients (3 patients with grade 3; no grade 4).ConclusionIn NHL, the safety and pharmacokinetics of daratumumab were consistent with myeloma studies. Screen-fail rates were high, prespecified futility thresholds were met in 2 cohorts, and the study was terminated. Studies in other hematologic malignancies and amyloidosis are ongoing.