Gastrointestinal cancer characteristics in Lebanon

Background and study aimsGastrointestinal (GI) cancer is one of the top five common cancers in Lebanon. To implement a strategy for screening and early diagnosis through the initiation of prevention programs, a detailed study of GI cancers in Lebanon was conducted by focusing on the frequency and characteristics of each type.Patients and MethodsThis retrospective study was conducted in Lebanon between 2001 and 2015 and included patients diagnosed with different GI cancer types. Data were collected from the registry of the National Institute of Pathology (NIP). The frequency of each type was calculated according to sex, age at diagnosis, anatomic location, histological type, and stage.ResultsThe total number of patients diagnosed with GI cancers who had their histology done at the NIP between 2001 and 2015 was 5239. The sex (male/female) ratio was 1.016, with a mean age of 62.2 years. Colorectal cancer ranked first among GI cancers, with more than half of the cases (53.4%). More than 70% of the cases were located on the left side, followed by gastric (15.5%) and pancreatic (12.7%) cancers. Regarding gastric cancer, cardia became the dominant location. A shift from squamous cell carcinoma to adenocarcinoma in esophageal cancer was found during this period. Also, most GI cancers in Lebanon were diagnosed in the late stages.ConclusionThis study is the first to evaluate GI cancers in Lebanon, which will help in screening strategies and burden studies.     

Social cognitive correlates of device-measured and self-reported physical activity in Black and White individuals with multiple sclerosis

BackgroundThere is increasing research interest regarding physical activity behavior among persons with multiple sclerosis (MS), yet there is little known about physical activity and its correlates in Black persons with MS.ObjectiveThis cross-sectional study assessed associations among social cognitive theory (SCT) variables and device-measured and self-reported physical activity in samples of Black and White persons with MS.MethodsParticipants included 67 Black and 141 White persons with MS who wore an ActiGraph accelerometer on a belt around the waist measuring moderate-to-vigorous physical activity (MVPA) for seven days and completed a battery of questionnaires. Questionnaires included demographic and clinical characteristics, leisure-time exercise, exercise self-efficacy, overcoming barriers self-efficacy, function, social support, exercise outcome expectations, and goal setting and planning.ResultsBlack participants with MS engaged in significantly less MVPA, but not sedentary behavior or light physical activity, than the White participants with MS. Black participants further had significantly lower levels of exercise self-efficacy and outcome expectations than the White sample. All SCT correlates were significantly correlated with self-reported physical activity, but only exercise and barriers self-efficacy, perceived function, and exercise goal setting were associated with device-measured MVPA. The difference in physical activity between Black and White participants with MS was accounted for by differences in exercise self-efficacy and outcome expectations.ConclusionsResearchers should consider developing behavioral interventions that target exercise self-efficacy and outcome expectations as SCT variables for increasing physical activity in Black persons with MS.     

The efficacy of a Persian herbal formulation on functional bloating: A double-blind randomized controlled trial

BackgroundBloating is a common gastrointestinal complaint which is difficult to treat.ObjectiveThis study investigated the efficacy and compliance of a formulation called KAASER comprised of Trachyspermum ammi (L.) Sprague seed, Zingiber officinale Roscoe. rhizome and Piper nigrum L. berry in the treatment of functional bloating.Design, setting, participants and interventionA total of 106 patients with functional bloating, between 20 and 50 years of age, participated in this double-blind randomized controlled trial. Patients were divided into 3 parallel groups that received 500 mg of placebo, dimethicone or KAASER, three times a day for 2 weeks.Main outcome measuresThe frequency and severity of bloating were primary outcomes, while the frequencies of eructation, defecation, borborygmus and early satiation were secondary outcomes. All parameters were evaluated at the beginning (week 0), and also weeks 2, 4 and 10 of the study, through self-report checklists with a scoring system.ResultsAmong the 84 patients who completed the study, the frequency and severity of bloating (P < 0.001), the frequencies of eructation, defecation and borborygmus (P = 0.03) were significantly improved in the group receiving KAASER (36 patients) compared with the dimethicone (35 patients) and placebo (35 patients) groups, during the 3 phases of follow-up. These significant differences persisted through the 2 and 8 weeks of follow-ups after cessation of medication (week 4 and 10). In early satiation, no significant differences were observed among the 3 groups.ConclusionThe results showed that KAASER can be effectively used to treat patients suffering from bloating. Bloating, eructation, defecation and borborygmus in the KAASER group remained significantly improved after 2 and 8 weeks of cessation of medication, making this mechanism an interesting area for further investigation.Trial registrationRegistration trial IRCT2015100324327N on Iranian Registry of Clinical Trials.     

耳穴贴压联合俞募配穴针刺治疗中风后便秘疗效观察

目的观察耳穴贴压联合俞募配穴针刺治疗中风后便秘(虚秘)的临床疗效。方法将80例中风后便秘(虚秘)患者随机分为治疗组40例、对照组40例。在中风常规治疗、护理及康复训练下,治疗组采用耳穴贴压联合俞募配穴针刺,对照组采用普通针刺法。对两组患者临床疗效、便秘症状积分、胃肠激素水平及生存质量进行比较。结果两组治疗后胃肠激素P物质(SP)水平及便秘患者生存质量量表(PAC-QOL)评分均有显著提高(P<0.01),且治疗组治疗后明显高于对照组(P<0.01),两组治疗后便秘症状积分、胃肠激素血管活性肠肽(VIP)水平均显著降低(P<0.01),且治疗组治疗后低于对照组(P<0.01)。治疗组总有效率为87.5%,两组疗效比较差异有统计学意义(P<0.05)。结论耳穴贴压联合俞募配穴针刺治疗中风后便秘(虚秘)具有良好疗效。     

胃肠道钙化性纤维性肿瘤的临床病理分析并文献复习

目的探讨胃肠道钙化性纤维性肿瘤(CFT)的临床病理特点及诊断和鉴别诊断要点。方法回顾性分析2016年1月至2019年6月首都医科大学附属北京友谊医院收治的6例胃肠道CFT患者的病例资料,对其进行病理形态学观察和免疫组织化学染色分析,并进行文献复习。结果6例胃肠道CFT患者中,男性2例,女性4例;年龄20~43岁,平均年龄35岁;5例发生于胃,1例发生于回盲部;胃肠镜表现为黏膜下隆起性病变,黏膜面光滑;组织学表现为大量玻璃样变性的胶原纤维,其内可见稀疏分布的梭形细胞,散在及灶状淋巴细胞、浆细胞浸润,伴营养不良性钙化和砂粒体形成;免疫组化:肿瘤细胞表达Vimentin,不表达CD117、DOG-1、CD34、Actin、Desmin、S-100,ALK、Ig G、Ig G4,Ki-67指数为0~5%;6例患者均采用手术或内镜下肿物切除治疗,随访6~31个月,均未出现复发及转移。结论胃肠道CFT是一种罕见的良性纤维性肿瘤,容易误诊为消化道其他间叶来源性肿瘤,应结合临床资料、组织形态及免疫表型做出综合诊断。手术切除可治愈,预后良好。     

重灸中脘穴对脾胃虚寒型糖尿病胃轻瘫患者胃肠激素、胃动力学的影响

目的观察重灸中脘穴对脾胃虚寒型2型糖尿病胃轻瘫患者胃肠激素、胃动力学的影响。方法选取符合纳入标准的88例脾胃虚寒型糖尿病胃轻瘫患者,按随机数字表法分为治疗组和对照组,每组44例。对照组采用常规药物治疗,治疗组采用重灸中脘穴治疗。疗程结束后记录并对比分析两组临床疗效、胃肠激素[胃泌素(GAS)、胃动素(MTL)]、胃动力学(胃收缩频率、胃排空时间、胃排空率)、主要临床症状评分等变化。结果治疗组临床疗效明显优于对照组,差异具有统计学意义(P<0.05);两组治疗后GAS、MTL均明显优于治疗前(P<0.05),且治疗组明显优于对照组(P<0.05);两组治疗后胃收缩频率、胃排空时间、胃排空率均明显优于治疗前(P<0.05),且治疗组明显优于对照组(P<0.05);两组治疗后主要临床症状评分均明显优于治疗前(P<0.05),且治疗组明显优于对照组(P<0.05)。结论在常规药物治疗基础上重灸中脘穴治疗脾胃虚寒型2型糖尿病胃轻瘫,可调节胃肠激素,改善胃肠动力,促进胃肠功能恢复。     

Cytoreductive surgery for metastatic gastrointestinal stromal tumors followed by sunitinib compared to followed by imatinib-a multi-center cohort study

BackgroundThe progression-free survival (PFS) is not optimal when imatinib was recommended for treatment of gastrointestinal stromal tumor (GIST) undergoing surgery after tumor local or multifocal progression.MethodsWe evaluate PFS of patients undergoing R0 resection or optimal cytoreductive surgery followed by sunitinib therapy compared with imatinib after tumor unifocal or multifocal progression.ResultsFrom January 2006 to June 2017, ninety-seven patients from thirteen medical centers were enrolled. Fifty-six patients continued imatinib therapy and 41 patients switched sunitinib treatment directly after R0 resection or optimal cytoreductive surgery. The PFS of sunitinib group was longer than that of imatinib group (30.0 months vs 12.0 months, p = 0.009). In subgroup analysis, the PFS of the sunitinib and imatinib groups were 25.5 months and 12.0 months in patients with tumor multifocal progression (p = 0.008), and 39.0 months and 13.0 months in patients with unifocal progression (p = 0.156), respectively. PFS of postoperative sunitinib group was also superior to the total PFS of postoperative imatinib group (PFS of postoperative imatinib plus PFS of subsequent sunitinib therapy (30.0 months vs 21.0 months, p = 0.012). The overall survival in the sunitinib and imatinib groups were 37.0 months and 33.0 months, respectively (p = 0.794).ConclusionsSurgery followed by sunitinib in GIST patients with unifocal or multifocal progression on imatinib may improve PFS, compared with surgery followed by imatinib.