Intraabdominal and retroperitoneal soft-tissue sarcomas – Surgical treatment and outcomes

BackgroundIntraabdominal and retroperitoneal sarcomas (IaRS) are malignant connective tissue tumors. Surgical resection is often the only curative treatment. The primary objective was to report the mid-term outcomes following contemporary treatment protocols and identify prognostic factors.MethodsA retrospective review of consecutive patients (n = 107) with IaRS treated at single center from 2013 until 2018 was conducted. Histological diagnosis, tumor grade, perioperative complications, mortality, and long-time survival were registered and retrieved from patient records. Primary and recurrent tumors were analyzed separately.ResultsA total of 107 patients were identified. Median follow-up time was 3.5 years. Thirty-day mortality was 3.4% and 90-day mortality was 5.6% for all tumors. The major complication rate was 18%. The 5-year estimated survival for primary and recurrent tumors was 55.4% and 48.4%, respectively. Multifocal disease was evident in 32% of the patient cohort, and 58% of patients in the recurrent group. Multivariate analysis for survival revealed a hazard ratio (HR) of 3.1 (95% CI 1.68–8.41) for multifocality, HR 2.9 (95% CI 1.28–6.98) for Clavien-Dindo grade, HR 2.3 (95% CI 1.21–4.31) for tumor grades 2 or 3, and HR 1.002 (95% CI 1.001–1.004) for surgical margins.ConclusionsOur study found overall acceptable morbidity and mortality, and identified prognostic markers for overall survival. Recurrent tumors were not associated with worse survival. Multifocality is associated with a worse overall survival. The prognostic factors identified were; tumor grade, multifocality, intralesional margins and postoperative complications.     

Sinonasal tract pathology: an updated review of select entities

The sinonasal tract is host to numerous benign and malignant entities that can pose diagnostic challenges to pathologists as a result of limited exposure in daily practice. This review concentrates on certain key characteristics of select entities with focus on differential diagnosis, novel subtypes and/or molecular distinction. The aim of this review is to summarize current knowledge and shed light on diagnostically challenging and emerging entities in sinonasal tract pathology.     

Proteases and their inhibitors as prognostic factors for high-grade serous ovarian cancer

Ovarian carcinoma is one of the most lethal malignancies, but only very few prognostic biomarkers are known. The degradome, comprising proteases, protease non-proteolytic homologues and inhibitors, have been involved in the prognosis of many cancer types, including ovarian carcinoma. The prognostic significance of the whole degradome family has not been specifically studied in high-grade serous ovarian cancer. A targeted DNA microarray known as the CLIP-CHIP microarray was used to identify potential prognostic factors in ten high-grade serous ovarian cancer women who had early recurrence (<1.6 years) or late/no recurrence after first line surgery and chemotherapy. In women with early recurrence, we identified seven upregulated genes (TMPRSS4, MASP1/3, SPC18, PSMB1, IGFBP2, CFI – encoding Complement Factor I – and MMP9) and one down-regulated gene (ADAM-10). Using immunohistochemistry, we evaluated the prognostic effect of these 8 candidate genes in an independent cohort of 112 high-grade serous ovarian cancer women. Outcomes were progression, defined according to CA-125 criteria, and death. Multivariate Cox proportional hazard regression models were done to estimate the associations between each protein and each outcome. High ADAM-10 expression (intensity of 2–3) was associated with a lower risk of progression (adjusted hazard ratio (HR): 0.51; 95% confidence interval (CI): 0.29-0.87). High complement factor I expression (intensity 2–3) was associated with a higher risk of progression (adjusted HR: 2.30, 95% CI: 1.17–4.53) and death (adjusted HR: 3.42; 95% CI: 1.72–6.79). Overall, we identified the prognostic value of two proteases, ADAM-10 and complement factor I, for high-grade serous ovarian cancer which could have clinical significance.     

The Urological Association of Asia clinical guideline for urinary stone disease

The Urological Association of Asia, consisting of 25 member associations and one affiliated member since its foundation in 1990, has planned to develop Asian guidelines for all urological fields. The field of stone diseases is the third of its guideline projects. Because of the different climates, and social, economic and ethnic environments, the clinical practice for urinary stone diseases widely varies among the Asian countries. The committee members of the Urological Association of Asia on the clinical guidelines for urinary stone disease carried out a surveillance study to better understand the diversity of the treatment strategy among different regions and subsequent systematic literature review through PubMed and MEDLINE database between 1966 and 2017. Levels of evidence and grades of recommendation for each management were decided according to the relevant strategy. Each clinical question and answer were thoroughly reviewed and discussed by all committee members and their colleagues, with suggestions from expert representatives of the American Urological Association and European Association of Urology. However, we focused on the pragmatic care of patients and our own evidence throughout Asia, which included recent surgical trends, such as miniaturized percutaneous nephrolithotomy and endoscopic combined intrarenal surgery. This guideline covers all fields of stone diseases, from etiology to recurrence prevention. Here, we present a short summary of the first version of the guideline – consisting 43 clinical questions – and overview its key practical issues.     

胰腺神经内分泌肿瘤病理学分级诊断

胰腺神经内分泌肿瘤的病理学诊断是临床治疗和判断预后的重要基础。不同阶段的诊断标准存在不同临床意义，日趋完善。总的分级原则，由以往关注肿瘤大小等分期要素，发展为以肿瘤增殖程度作为主要标准，到以分化程度作为先决条件，结合增殖指数进行分级。首先依据形态分为神经内分泌瘤和神经内分泌癌，然后根据核分裂像和Ki67增殖指数把前者分为G1，G2，G3三级。     

扩散峰度成像鉴别诊断高级别胶质瘤与脑转移瘤的临床价值

目的 探讨扩散峰度成像（DKI）鉴别诊断高级别胶质瘤（HGG）和单发脑转移瘤（BM）的临床应用价值。方法 回顾性分析2017年3月至2018年12月收治的23例HGG和19例单发BM的临床资料。所有病人均行MRI扫描及DKI扫描，分析两类肿瘤实质区和瘤周区DKI参数各向异性分数（FA）、平均扩散（MD）及平均峰度（MK）。利用ROC曲线计算敏感度、特异度及曲线下面积（AUC）。结果 HGG和单发BM病人MRI增强均显示不规则环状强化灶。HGG和单发BM实质区DKI参数FA、MD及MK值均无统计学差异（P>0.05）。与单发BM瘤周区相比，HGG瘤周区DKI参数FA和MK值更高（P<0.05），MD值更低（P<0.05）。与DKI参数FA和MD值相比，瘤周区MK值鉴别HGG和单发BM的特异性与灵敏度更高，AUC更大。结论 瘤周区DKI参数FA、MD及MK值在HGG和单发BM鉴别诊断中具有重要的临床价值，且瘤周区MK值的诊断效能更高。     

Perioperative Bevacizumab-based Triplet Chemotherapy in Patients With Potentially Resectable Colorectal Cancer Liver Metastases

Background

In colorectal cancer liver metastases (CRCLM), bevacizumab-based neoadjuvant strategies provide increased pathologic response. We aimed at assessing the activity of perioperative capecitabine, oxaliplatin, irinotecan, and bevacizumab (COI-B regimen) in patients with potentially resectable CRCLM, and investigating biomarkers for early prediction of pathologic response.

黄芪药材性状和化学特征与绝对生长年限的相关性分析研究

目的通过分析黄芪AstragaliRadix药材的性状以及黄酮类化学成分与绝对生长年限的相关性,明确黄芪根的生长年限是引起黄芪药材性状和化学差异性的主要因素。方法收集不同产地、不同等级的黄芪药材,对其外观形态定性描述,长度、直径定量测定,并采用徒手切片法观察不同等级仿野生芪的生长年限分布,观察其分布规律。采用UPLC-UV法,色谱柱为Ultimate C18(250 mm×4.6 mm,5μm),柱温30℃,体积流量为1 mL/min,检测波长230 nm,进样量20μL,乙腈-水梯度洗脱,建立了24批不同产地黄芪药材黄酮类成分HPLC-UV指纹图谱,并对不同等级仿野生芪和栽培芪5种黄酮类成分进行含量测定。结果将不同生长方式的黄芪药材划分为仿野生芪和栽培芪2个规格。特等黄芪主要是5年以上生长年限的根段,一等主要是4～5年生的根段,二等主要是3～4年生的根段,三等主要是2～3年生的根段,四等主要是1～2年生的根段。不同产地、不同等级黄芪指纹图谱中指认出5个共有峰,采用相似度评价软件分析,以仿野生芪图谱为参照,仿野生芪样品相似度为0.892～0.994,栽培芪样品相似度为0.274～0.531,主成分分析和聚类分析均显示仿野生芪和栽培芪可以明显分成2类。仿野生芪5种黄酮类成分含量明显高于栽培芪,仿野生芪(除特等外)总黄酮含量与等级(或直径、年限)呈正相关,栽培芪与等级不相关。结论本研究为黄芪药材商品规格等级标准的制定提供科学依据,为进一步构建黄芪药材质量等级标准奠定基础。