Biobanking for research in surgery: are surgeons in charge for advancing translational research or mere assistants in biomaterial and data preservation?

Background

High-quality biospecimens of human origin with annotated clinical and procedural data are an important tool for biomedical research, not only to map physiology, pathophysiology and aetiology but also to go beyond in translational research. This has opened a new special field of research known as ‘biobanking’, which focuses on how to collect, store and provide these specimens and data, and which is substantially supported by national and European funding.

Purpose

An overview on biobanking is given, with a closer look on a clinical setting, concerning a necessary distinction from clinical trials and studies as well as a comparison of prospective sample collection with secondary use of archived samples from diagnostics. Based on a summary of possible use and scientific impact of human tissue in research, it is shown how surgical expertise boosts the scientific value of specimens and data. Finally, an assessment of legal and ethical issues especially from a surgical perspective is given, followed by a model of interdisciplinary biobanking within a joint ‘centre’ that as synergistic structure merges essential input from surgery as well as laboratory medicine, pathology and biometry.

Conclusion

Within the domain of biobanking, surgeons have to develop a better awareness of their role within translational research, not only on the level of medical faculties but also as nationally and internationally funded initiatives. Therefore, the authors suggest a platform for biobanking within the German association of surgeons in analogy to the existing special interest group for clinical trials.     

Surgery for hydrocele in children-an avoidable excess?

Background

There is little consensus over the optimal timing of ligation of a patent processus vaginalis (PPV) in boys with hydrocele. We hypothesized that a proportion of procedures may be unnecessary because they are performed at an age before which the PPV may be expected to close spontaneously. Such excess may expose the child to unnecessary surgery and have significant cost implications.

Methods

A systematic literature review relating to timing of PPV ligation and a population-based study to define number of PPV ligations performed annually in England and age at surgery were conducted.

Results

Most hydroceles resolve before 2 years of age, but their natural history beyond this age is poorly documented. Current guidelines recommend PPV ligation at 2 years of age. An average of 2878 operations for hydrocele is performed per year in children in England. Commonest age at repair is 2 years. There are no randomized controlled trials comparing PPV ligation with an observational nonoperative approach.

Conclusions

The natural history of hydrocele is poorly documented beyond the age of 2 years. There is no good evidence to support current practice. Delaying surgery may reduce the number of procedures necessary without increasing morbidity. A prospective study to investigate this is warranted.     

Patients’ preferences for information in bariatric surgery

Background

The decision to undergo bariatric surgery is multifactorial and made both by patient and doctor. Information is of the utmost importance for this decision.

Are indications for prostatectomy in octogenarians the same as for younger men?

Prostatectomy for benign hypertrophy of the prostate is usually performed to alleviate lower urinary tract symptoms (LUTS). We assessed indications for and risks of prostatectomy in men 80 years of age and compared them to those for younger men in order to determine whether indications for prostatectomy in octogenarians are different than these for younger men. Medical records of 171 men comprised of 84 patients >80 years of age (mean 84.4) and 87 patients <65 years of age (mean 60.6) who underwent prostatectomy for benign prostate hypertrophy were reviewed. Data regarding indications for surgery, American Society of Anesthesiologists system grade, anesthesia and surgery performed, duration of hospitalization and intrahospital postoperative complications were obtained. The respective indications for surgery in the very elderly and younger patients were: urinary retention with indwelling catheter in 46 (55%) and 34 (39%) (p < 0.04), LUTS in 32 (38%) and 52 (59%) (p < 0.005), and gross hematuria in 6 (7%) and 1 (1.2%). Transurethral prostatectomy was performed in 47 elderly patients (56%) and in 30 young patients (34.5%). The other patients in each group underwent open (suprapubic prostatectomy) surgery. The overall complication rate was significantly higher in the elderly group (39% vs 22%, p < 0.05), with major complications occurring only in this group. Indications for surgery were different for octogenarians than for younger men. Morbidity and mortality rates were significantly higher among the elderly men. Age appears to be an independent risk factor for complications associated with prostatectomy.     

Is there a role for arterial reconstruction in surgery for pancreatic cancer?

Surgery remains the only potentially curative treatment for patients with pancreatic cancer. Locally advanced pancreatic cancer with vascular involvement remains a surgical challenge because high perioperative risk and the uncertainty of a survival benefit. Whilst portal vein resection has started to gather momentum because the perioperative morbidity and long term survival is comparable to standard pancreatectomy, there isn’t yet a consensus on arterial resections. There have been various reports and case series of arterial resections in pancreatic cancer, with mixed survival results. Mollberg et al have appraised the heterogeneous published literature available on arterial resection in pancreatic cancer in an attempt to compare this to standard pancreatectomy. In this article, we discuss the results of this systematic review and meta-analysis, and the limitations associated with analysing results from heterogenous data. We have outlined the important features in surgery for pancreatic cancer and specifically to arterial resections, and compared arterial resections to the published literature on venous resections.     

Enzalutamide in chemo-naTve castration-resistant prostate cancer： effective for most but not for all

Continued research in the treatment of castration-resistant prostate understanding of this disease entity and further treatment advances. In a study recently published by Beer et al.1 in the New England Journal of Medicine, another advance to treatment was demonstrated for the androgen receptor （AR） signaling inhibitor, enzalutamide, in patients with chemotherapy-nalve metastatic CRPC. Although a large majority of patients responded favorably to enzalutamide in the prechemotherapy setting, a small but significant proportion of patients demonstrated no meaningful benefit to this agent. This highlights an important concept in the understanding of this disease： inherent and acquired resistance to AR-targeting therapies.     

Screening for hypercalciuria in schoolchildren: what should be the criteria for diagnosis?

The methodologies to diagnose hypercalciuria have not yet been standardized. The aims of this study were to assess the correlation between urinary calcium/creatinine ratio (UCa/Cr) ≥ 0.21 (mg/mg) and 24 h urinary calcium excretions and to determine the reference values of the UCa/Cr ratio among a large population of schoolchildren in southern Turkey. Non-fasting, second morning urine samples were collected from 2,143 children aged 7–14 years. In children with suspected hypercalciuria [UCa/Cr ≥ 0.21 (mg/mg)], 24 h urine samples were collected. The 95th percentile values of the UCa/Cr ratio for each age were calculated and showed a decrease in value with advancing age. In all, 269 (12.5%) of the children had UCa/Cr ≥ 0.21 (mg/mg), of whom 66 (24.5%) had daily urinary calcium excretion ≥4 mg/kg per day. A weak correlation was found between spot UCa/Cr ratios and daily urinary calcium excretions in children with UCa/Cr ≥ 0.21 (r = 0.27). We conclude that a spot UCa/Cr ratio of 0.21 (mg/mg) as the upper limit of normal cannot be used universally to define hypercalciuria. Age-specific reference values for UCa/Cr should be established for each population, to be used as a screening test for hypercalciuria, and the definite diagnosis should be established with 24 h urinary calcium excretion whenever possible.     

Factors for conversion in laparoscopic cholecystectomy for acute cholecystitis: Is timing important?

Aim: Laparoscopic cholecystectomy is regarded as the gold standard treatment for gallstones. Conversion to open cholecystectomy is still common, and preoperative factors to predict conversion are useful in clinical practice. The aim of this study was to evaluate preoperative factors that could predict conversion in acute cholecystitis. Methods: This is a retrospective review of 83 patients with a diagnosis of acute cholecystitis who had laparoscopic cholecystectomy carried out as an emergency operation. Clinical, biochemical, and operative factors were analyzed for association with conversion. Results: A total of 83 patients were recruited to this study. The overall conversion rate was 33.7% (28/83). A longer duration of symptoms before presentation (P = 0.005) and surgery that was carried out over 48 h after admission (P = 0.022) were associated with a higher conversion rate. Emergency operations that began between 20.00 hours and 08.00 hours were also associated with a higher rate of conversion (P = 0.003). Other factors that were associated with conversion included male sex (P = 0.004), low albumin level upon admission (P = 0.024), prolonged prothrombin time (P = 0.040), and a raised serum total bilirubin level (P = 0.024). ASA scores were found to be similar in both groups (P = 0.509). Multivariate analysis by logistic regression showed that the independent risk factors for conversion in emergency laparoscopic cholecystectomy were surgery >48 h after admission (P = 0.028), emergency operation started between 20.00 hours and 08.00 hours (P = 0.026), and longer duration of symptoms before presentation (P = 0.034). Conclusions: Laparoscopic cholecystectomy should be carried out within 48 h of the patient being admitted for acute cholecystitis. The operation should be carried out during the daytime.