Neutrophil-to-lymphocyte ratio decreases in obstructive sleep apnea treated with mandibular advancement devices

Purpose

Obstructive sleep apnea has been associated with chronic inflammation triggered by nocturnal hypoxemia. The neutrophil-to-lymphocyte ratio (NLR) is a measure of subclinical systemic inflammation. We hypothesize that NLR levels would improve as chronic inflammation diminishes in obstructive sleep apnea (OSA) patients treated with mandibular advancement devices (MADs).

Methods

We studied patients with OSA who were treated with MAD as a first-line treatment or because they could not tolerate CPAP. We obtained pre-treatment and post-treatment complete blood counts. NLR was calculated by dividing the number of neutrophils by the number of lymphocytes obtained from the CBCs. Patients with other conditions known to affect NLR were excluded from the study.

Results

We compared the values of NLR and oxygen desaturation index (ODI) before and after treatment with MAD in 22 patients who met inclusion criteria and completed the study protocol. There was a significant difference in NLR before and after treatment (p?=?0.01). There was also a significant difference in the 3% ODI and 4% ODI before and after treatment with MAD (p?=?0.014, 0.007), respectively. A subgroup analysis compared NLR in two groups of patients, the optimally treated and suboptimally treated. There was a significant decrease in the NLR in the optimally treated group (n?=?10) (p?<?0.01), whereas it did not change in the suboptimally treated group (n?=?12) (p?=?0.349).

Conclusion

The neutrophil-to-lymphocyte ratio may be useful in documenting improvement in inflammation for OSA patients treated with mandibular advancement devices. Our results specifically suggest that the NLR values are associated with the decrease in the ODI.

     

Neutrophil-lymphocyte ratio is associated with arterial stiffness in patients with peritoneal dialysis

Background

Patients with peritoneal dialysis are in the persistent inflammation state and have elevated arterial stiffness. Neutrophil-lymphocyte ratio(NLR) is a new inflammatory marker in renal and cardiac disorders. Brachial-ankle pulse wave velocity (baPWV) is a non-invasive measurement, which is widely used as a surrogate marker of arterial stiffness. However, there is little evidence to show an association between NLR and baPWV in patients with peritoneal dialysis. The aim of this cross-section study was to investigate the relationship between NLR and arterial stiffness measured by baPWV in patients with peritoneal dialysis.

Methods

In this cross-section study, 101 patients with peritoneal dialysis were enrolled from January 2014 to June 2015. According to average baPWV level (1847.54 cm/s), the patients were categorized into two groups, low group and high group. baPWV, which reflects arterial stiffness, was calculated using the single-point method. Clinical data were collected in details. NLR was calculated using complete blood count. Associations between NLR and baPWV were assessed using Pearson’s correlation and linear regression analysis.

Results

The NLR was significantly lower in the low baPWV group than in the high baPWV group (p?=?0.03). There were positive correlations between baPWV and neutrophil count (r?=?0.24, p?=?0.01) and NRL(r?=?0.43, P?<?0.01), and there was a negative correlation between baPWV and lymphocyte count (r?=?-0.23, p?=?0.01). In addition, albumin, phosphorous and intact parathyroid hormone showed negative correlations with baPWV (r?= ?0.32, p?<?0.01; r?= ?0.28, p?<?0.01; r?= ?0.25, p?=?0.01, respectively). Age and hsCRP showed positive correlations with baPWV (r?=?0.47, p?<?0.01; r?=?0.25, p?=?0.01). In multivariate analysis, NLR independently correlated with baPWV in patients with peritoneal dialysis (β?=?0.33, p?<?0.01), even after adjustment for various confounders.

Conclusion

Our study suggests that NLR was an independently associated with arterial stiffness in patients with peritoneal dialysis. However, further prospective studies are needed to confirm cause-and-effect relationship between NLR and baPWV, and to investigate whether anti-inflammatory treatment could improve arterial stiffness in patients with peritoneal dialysis.

     

Time from colorectal cancer diagnosis to laparoscopic curative surgery—is there a safe window for prehabilitation?

Background

There is a growing interest in the adoption of formal prehabilitation programmes prior to elective surgery but regulatory targets mandate prompt treatment following cancer diagnosis. We aimed to investigate if time from diagnosis to surgery is linked to short- and long-term outcomes.

Methods

An exploratory analysis was performed utilising a dedicated, prospectively populated database. Inclusion criteria were biopsy-proven colorectal adenocarcinoma undergoing elective laparoscopic surgery with curative intent. Demographics, date of diagnosis and surgery was captured with patients dichotomised using 4-, 8- and 12-week time points. All patients were followed in a standardised pathway for 5 years. Overall survival was assessed with the Kaplan-Meier log-rank method.

Results

Six hundred sixty-eight consecutive patients met inclusion criteria. Mean time from diagnosis to surgery was 53 days (95% CI 48.3–57.8). Identified risk factors for longer time to surgery were males (OR 1.92 [1.2–3.1], p?=?0.008), age?≤?65 (OR 1.9 [1.2–3], p?=?0.01), higher ASA scores (p?=?0.01) stoma formation (OR 6.9 [4.1–11], p?<?0.001) and neoadjuvant treatment (OR 5.06 [3.1–8.3], p?<?0.001). There was no association between time to surgery and BMI (p?=?0.36), conversion (16.3%, p?=?0.5), length of stay (p?=?0.33) and readmission or reoperation (p?=?0.3). No differences in five-year survival were seen in those operated within 4, 8 and 12 weeks (p?=?0.397, p?=?0.962 and p?=?0.611, respectively). Multivariate analysis showed time from diagnosis to surgery was not associated with five-year overall survival (HR 0.99, p?=?0.52).

Conclusion

Time from colorectal cancer diagnosis to curative laparoscopic surgery did not impact on overall survival. This finding may allow preoperative pathway alteration without compromising safety.

     

Patient–Family Agenda Setting for Primary Care Patients with Cognitive Impairment: the SAME Page Trial

Background

Establishing priorities for discussion during time-limited primary care visits is challenging in the care of patients with cognitive impairment. These patients commonly attend primary care visits with a family companion.

Objective

To examine whether a patient–family agenda setting intervention improves primary care visit communication for patients with cognitive impairment

Design

Two-group pilot randomized controlled study

Participants

Patients aged 65?+ with cognitive impairment and family companions (n?=?93 dyads) and clinicians (n?=?14) from two general and one geriatrics primary care clinic

Intervention

A self-administered paper-pencil checklist to clarify the role of the companion and establish a shared visit agenda

Measurements

Patient-centered communication (primary); verbal activity, information disclosure including discussion of memory, and visit duration (secondary), from audio recordings of visit discussion

Results

Dyads were randomized to usual care (n?=?44) or intervention (n?=?49). Intervention participants endorsed an active communication role for companions to help patients understand what the clinician says or means (90% of dyads), remind patients to ask questions or ask clinicians questions directly (84% of dyads), or listen and take notes (82% of dyads). Intervention dyads identified 4.4 health issues for the agenda on average: patients more often identified memory (59.2 versus 38.8%; p?=?0.012) and mood (42.9 versus 24.5%; p?=?0.013) whereas companions more often identified safety (36.7 versus 18.4%; p?=?0.039) and personality/behavior change (32.7 versus 16.3%; p?=?0.011). Communication was significantly more patient-centered in intervention than in control visits at general clinics (p?<?0.001) and in pooled analyses (ratio of 0.86 versus 0.68; p?=?0.046). At general clinics, intervention (versus control) dyads contributed more lifestyle and psychosocial talk (p?<?0.001) and less biomedical talk (p?<?0.001) and companions were more verbally active (p?<?0.005). No intervention effects were found at the geriatrics clinic. No effect on memory discussions or visit duration was observed.

Conclusion

Patient–family agenda setting may improve primary care visit communication for patients with cognitive impairment.

Trial Registration

ClinicalTrials.gov: NCT02986958

     

Oncologic outcome of colorectal cancer patients over age 80: a propensity score-matched analysis

Purpose

It remains unclear whether old age is a poor prognostic factor in colorectal cancer (CRC). We compared oncologic outcomes in CRC patients according to age, using 80 as the dividing point.

Methods

CRC patients who underwent radical surgery from 2000 to 2011 were evaluated. We performed matched and adjusted analyses comparing oncologic outcomes between patients with ≥?80 and <?80 years old.

Results

Among 9562 patients, 222 were elderly. The median age was 82.0 years in elderly patients and 59.0 years in young patients. Elderly patients received less neoadjuvant or adjuvant therapy compared to young patients (p?<?0.001). After recurrence, significantly fewer elderly patients received additional treatments (p?<?0.001). Before matching, disease-free survival (DFS) and cancer-specific survival (CSS) were significantly lower for elderly patients compared to those for young patients (p?<?0.001 and p?<?0.001, respectively). After matching, DFS and CCS were not significantly different between the two groups (p?=?0.400 and p?=?0.267, respectively). In a multivariate analysis for prognostic factors, old age was not an independent poor prognostic factor of DFS and CCS (p?=?0.619 and p?=?0.137, respectively).

Conclusions

Elderly patients aged ≥?80 years with CRC had similar oncologic outcome to young patients, and age was not an independent prognostic factor.

     

Mindfulness-Based Stress Reduction for Residents: A Randomized Controlled Trial

Background

Burnout is highly prevalent in residents. No randomized controlled trials have been conducted measuring the effects of Mindfulness-Based Stress Reduction (MBSR) on burnout in residents.

Objective

To determine the effectiveness of MBSR in reducing burnout in residents.

Design

A randomized controlled trial comparing MBSR with a waitlist control group.

Participants

Residents from all medical, surgical and primary care disciplines were eligible to participate. Participants were self-referred.

Intervention

The MBSR consisted of eight weekly 2.5-h sessions and one 6-h silent day.

Main Measures

The primary outcome was the emotional exhaustion subscale of the Dutch version of the Maslach Burnout Inventory–Human Service Survey. Secondary outcomes included the depersonalization and reduced personal accomplishment subscales of burnout, worry, work–home interference, mindfulness skills, self-compassion, positive mental health, empathy and medical errors. Assessment took place at baseline and post-intervention approximately 3 months later.

Key Results

Of the 148 residents participating, 138 (93%) completed the post-intervention assessment. No significant difference in emotional exhaustion was found between the two groups. However, the MBSR group reported significantly greater improvements than the control group in personal accomplishment (p?=?0.028, d?=?0.24), worry (p?=?0.036, d?=?0.23), mindfulness skills (p?=?0.010, d?=?0.33), self-compassion (p?=?0.010, d?=?0.35) and perspective-taking (empathy) (p?=?0.025, d?=?0.33). No effects were found for the other measures. Exploratory moderation analysis showed that the intervention outcome was moderated by baseline severity of emotional exhaustion; those with greater emotional exhaustion did seem to benefit.

Conclusions

The results of our primary outcome analysis did not support the effectiveness of MBSR for reducing emotional exhaustion in residents. However, residents with high baseline levels of emotional exhaustion did appear to benefit from MBSR. Furthermore, they demonstrated modest improvements in personal accomplishment, worry, mindfulness skills, self-compassion and perspective-taking. More research is needed to confirm these results.

     

Acute kidney injury in patients with cirrhosis of liver: Clinical profile and predictors of outcome

Background

Acute kidney injury (AKI) is a common complication of liver cirrhosis and is associated with poor survival. We studied the clinical profile and predictors of in-hospital mortality in patients with cirrhosis of the liver with AKI.

Methods

This retrospective cohort study examined patients at a tertiary care hospital. AKI staging was done based on the new 2015 Ascites Club Criteria. Patients were grouped into three types of AKI: pre-renal azotemia (PRA), hepatorenal syndrome (HRS), and acute tubular necrosis (ATN).

Results

Data of 123 patients with cirrhosis and AKI were analyzed. Most patients had AKI stage 3 (57.7%). ATN (42.3%) and HRS (43.9) were the predominant types of AKI followed by PRA (13.8%). The overall in-hospital mortality in our study was 44.7%. The mortality increased with increasing severity of AKI (p?=?0.0001) and was the highest in AKI stage 3 (p?=?0.001) and those who required hemodialysis (p?=?0.001). There was a significant in-hospital mortality in patients with ATN and HRS in comparison to PRA (p?=?0.001). On multivariate analysis, the factors predicting in-hospital mortality were AKI stage 3, and oliguria (p?=?0.0001).

Conclusions

Acute kidney injury in cirrhosis of liver carries high in-hospital mortality. Pre-renal AKI has a better survival compared to ATN and HRS. The higher stage of AKI at presentation and the presence of oliguria are two important predictors of in-hospital mortality.

     

Neuromuscular comorbidity,heart failure,and atrial fibrillation as prognostic factors in left ventricular hypertrabeculation/noncompaction

Background

There is some controversy concerning the prognosis of patients with left ventricular hypertrabeculation/noncompaction (LVHT). LVHT is frequently associated with neuromuscular disorders (NMDs). The aim of this study was to assess cardiac and neurological findings as predictors of mortality in patients with LVHT.

Patients and methods

The study included patients with LVHT diagnosed between June 1995 and January 2014 in one echocardiographic laboratory. They underwent a baseline cardiologic examination and were invited for a neurological examination. Between January and February 2014, their survival status was assessed.

Results

LVHT was diagnosed in 220 patients (68 female, aged 52?±?17 years) with a prevalence of 0.35?%/year. During a follow-up of 72?±?61 months, 65 patients died. The mortality was 5?%/year. A neurological investigation was performed on 173 patients (79?%) and revealed specific NMDs in 31 (14?%), NMD of unknown etiology in 103 (47?%), and normal findings in 39 (18?%) patients. In multivariate analysis, the predictors of mortality were increased age (p?=?0.0001), presence of a specific NMD (p?=?0.0062) or NMD of unknown etiology (p?=?0.0062), heart failure NYHA III (p?=?0.0396), atrial fibrillation (p?=?0.0022), and sinus tachycardia (p?=?0.0395).

Conclusions

LVHT patients should undergo systematic neurological examinations. Whether an optimal therapy of heart failure and atrial fibrillation will improve the prognosis of LVHT patients needs to be addressed in further studies.

     

Macroscopic serosal invasion and small tumor size as independent prognostic factors in stage IIA colon cancer

Background

This study aimed to investigate the prognostic factors of patients with stage IIA (T3N0M0) colon cancer in terms of macroscopic serosal invasion and small tumor size.

Methods

We enrolled 375 stage IIA colon cancer patients who underwent curative resection between January 2004 and December 2011. Macroscopic serosal invasion was defined as tumor nodules or colloid changes protruding the surface of the serosa. The clinicopathologic characteristics were analyzed to identify independent prognostic factors.

Results

The median follow-up was 47 months (range, 1–90 months). On multivariate survival analysis, macroscopic serosal invasion (adjusted hazard ratio [HR]?=?4.750; p?=?0.013), tumor size <?5 cm (adjusted HR?=?3.112, p?=?0.009), perineural invasion (adjusted HR?=?3.528; p?=?0.002), <?12 retrieved lymph nodes (adjusted HR?=?4.257; p?=?0.002), and localized perforation (adjusted HR?=?7.666; p?=?0.008) were independent risk factors for recurrence.

Conclusion

We found novel prognostic factors of stage IIA colon cancer, including macroscopic serosal invasion and small tumor size (<?5 cm). Further studies are needed to evaluate the benefit of adjuvant chemotherapy in patients with these prognostic factors.

     

Repeating of local therapy of distant metastases increases overall survival in patients with synchronous metastasized rectal cancer—a monocentric analysis

Purpose

The aim was to evaluate the outcome of treatment-naive patients with synchronous metastatic rectal cancer after chemotherapy with FOLFOXIRI followed by local therapeutic procedures of all tumor lesions as complete as possible.

Methods

We reviewed data of 30 patients with synchronous distant metastatic rectal cancer who underwent chemotherapy with FOLFOXIRI and subsequent local therapy in our institution.

Results

Median follow-up was 28 months (range: 8; 74). Cumulative overall survival (OS) and progression-free survival (PFS) was 93.3, 76.9, 55.6% and 46.2, 29.7, 29.7% after 1, 2, 4 years. Non-response to chemotherapy with FOLFOXIRI was associated with a highly significant decreased OS (p?<?0.0001). The consistent use of local ablative procedures led to a statistically significant increase in OS (p?<?0.0001), but not in PFS (p?=?0.635). Patients with ≤?4 distant metastases showed a better OS (p?=?0.033).

Conclusions

Response to intensified first-line chemotherapy with FOLFOXIRI, treatment of the primary rectal tumor, and repeated thorough local ablative procedures in patients with synchronous metastasized rectal cancer may lead to long-term survival, even in a subset of patients with unresectable disease at initial diagnosis.

     

Local excision for ypT2 rectal cancer following preoperative chemoradiation therapy: it should not be justified

Purpose

Among individuals who respond well to preoperative chemoradiation therapy (CRT) for ypT0–1, local excision (LE) could provide acceptable oncological outcomes. However, in ypT2 cases, the oncological safety of LE has not been determined. This study aimed to compare oncological outcomes between LE and total mesorectal excision of ypT2-stage rectal cancer after chemoradiation therapy and investigate the oncological safety of LE in these patients.

Methods

We included 351 patients who exhibited ypT2-stage rectal cancer after CRT followed by LE (n?=?16 [5%]) or total mesorectal excision (TME) (n?=?335 [95%]) after preoperative CRT between January 2007 and December 2013. After propensity matching, oncological outcomes between LE group and TME group were compared.

Results

The median follow-up period was 57 months (range, 12–113 months). In the LE group, local recurrence occurred more frequently (18 vs. 4%; p?=?0.034) but not distant metastases (12 vs. 11%; p?=?0.690). The 5-year local recurrence-free (76 vs. 96%; p?=?0.006), disease-free (64 vs. 84%; p?=?0.075), and overall survival (79 vs. 93%; p?=?0.045) rates of the LE group were significantly lower than those of the TME group. After propensity matching, 5-year local recurrence-free survival of the LE group was significantly lower than that of the TME group (76 vs. 97%, p?=?0.029).

Conclusion

The high local failure rate and poor oncological outcomes for ypT2-stage rectal cancer patients who undergo CRT followed by LE cannot be justified as an indication for LE. Salvage surgery should be recommended in these patients.

     

Inflammatory cell ratios predict major septic complications following rectal cancer surgery

Introduction

The inflammatory response is known to have an important role in tumourigenesis and the response to treatment. Previous studies have demonstrated that inflammatory cell ratios such as the neutrophil-to-lymphocyte ratio (NLR) can predict survival and recurrence following surgery for various cancers. The objective of this study was to demonstrate if pre-operative NLR has a role in predicting post-operative septic complications in patients undergoing rectal cancer surgery.

Methodology

Consecutive patients undergoing scheduled resection for rectal cancer in a tertiary centre from July 2007 to Dec 2015 were included. Data was gathered from a prospectively held database of rectal cancer. Normally distributed data were compared with paired t tests (mean?±?standard error in the mean (SEM)), and proportions were compared with Fisher’s exact test. A p value of <?0.05 was considered statistically significant.

Results

Three hundred fourteen patients were identified in this study. Sixty nine (22.0%) patients had a major septic complication following surgery for rectal cancer, which was associated with a poor survival outcome (p?<?0.01) Both pre and post-operative NLR and PLR (platelet lymphocyte ratio) were associated with post-operative septic complications (both p?<?0.01). A pre-operative NLR threshold level of 4 was chosen from ROC analysis, and this provided a relatively specific test to predict post-operative septic complications in these patients (specificity?=?83.7%, negative predictive value (NPV)?=?74.8%).

Discussion

In this study, the pre-operative NLR and PLR were both predictive of major post-operative septic complications. A pre-operative NLR of less than 4 was strongly negative predictor of post-operative complications in rectal cancer surgery. It can be regarded as a predictive and prognostic factor for these patients.

     

Association of cardiac implantable electronic devices with survival in bifascicular block and prolonged PR interval on electrocardiogram

Purpose

Bifascicular block and prolonged PR interval on the electrocardiogram (ECG) have been associated with complete heart block and sudden cardiac death. We sought to determine if cardiac implantable electronic devices (CIED) improve survival in these patients.

Methods

We assessed survival in relation to CIED status among 636 consecutive patients with bifascicular block and prolonged PR interval on the ECG. In survival analyses, CIED was considered as a time-varying covariate.

Results

Average age was 76?±?9 years, and 99% of the patients were men. A total of 167 (26%) underwent CIED (127 pacemaker only) implantation at baseline (n?=?23) or during follow-up (n?=?144). During 5.4?±?3.8 years of follow-up, 83 (13%) patients developed complete or high-degree atrioventricular block and 375 (59%) died. Patients with a CIED had a longer survival compared to those without a CIED in the traditional, static analysis (log-rank p?<?0.0001) but not when CIED was considered as a time-varying covariate (log-rank p?=?0.76). In the multivariable model, patients with a CIED had a 34% lower risk of death (hazard ratio 0.66, 95% confidence interval 0.52–0.83; p?=?0.001) than those without CIED in the traditional analysis but not in the time-varying covariate analysis (hazard ratio 1.05, 95% confidence interval 0.79–1.38; p?=?0.76). Results did not change in the subgroup with a pacemaker only.

Conclusions

Bifascicular block and prolonged PR interval on ECG are associated with a high incidence of complete atrioventricular block and mortality. However, CIED implantation does not have a significant influence on survival when time-varying nature of CIED implantation is considered.

     

The prognostic value of signet ring cell histology in stage I/II colon cancer—a population-based,propensity score-matched analysis

Background

Previous research associated signet ring cell histology in colon cancer patients with poor survival outcomes. The aim of this study was to analyze the prognostic significance of signet ring cell histology on overall and cancer-specific survival in patients with localized colon cancer.

Methods

Stage I and II colon cancer patients treated with surgical resection between 2004 and 2015 were identified in the Surveillance, Epidemiology, and End Results (SEER) database. Overall survival (OS) and cancer-specific survival (CSS) were assessed using risk-adjusted Cox proportional hazards regression models and propensity score methods.

Results

Eighty-eight thousand nine hundred fifty-eight stage I–II colon cancer patients were identified. Overall, 446 (0.5%) showed signet ring cell histology. In unadjusted analyses, the 5-year OS and CSS rates of patients with signet ring cell histology were 65.8 and 83.1%, respectively, compared with 74.3 and 88.7% in patients with non-signet ring cell adenocarcinoma (p values: OS, p?<?0.001; CSS, p?<?0.001). Neither in risk-adjusted Cox proportional hazard regression analysis (OS: hazard ratio (HR), 0.96 (95% CI, 0.82–1.12%) p?=?0.616; CSS: HR, 1.01 (95% CI, 0.79–1.28%) p?=?0.946) nor with propensity score matching (OS: HR, 0.96 (95% CI, 0.82–1.14%) p?=?0.669 and CSS: HR: 1.09 (95% CI: 0.84–1.40%) p?=?0.529), a survival disadvantage was found for signet ring cell histology.

Conclusion

This is the first propensity score-adjusted population-based investigation on exclusively stage I and II colon cancer patients providing compelling evidence that signet ring cell histology does not negatively impact survival in stage I and II colon cancer after risk-adjusting for known prognostic factors. Therefore, standard treatment strategies can be applied in these patients.

     

Preoperative stoma site marking: a simple practice to reduce stoma-related complications

Background

To evaluate the incidence and identify the risk factors of stoma-related complications in a consecutive series of patients treated at a single institution.

Methods

For this retrospective analysis, the medical records of patients followed up at the stoma care centre of our institution over the last 16 years were reviewed. The primary end point was the incidence of stoma-related complications. Risk factors were tested using univariate and multivariate Cox proportional hazards models.

Results

Of a total of 1076 patients, 604 received a colostomy and 472 an ileostomy. In all, 1055 stoma-related complications were recorded in 797 patients. Univariate analysis identified the following risk factors for stoma-related complications: male sex (p?=?0.032), emergency surgery (p?=?0.010), open surgery (p?<?0.001), and ileostomy creation (p?=?0.004). Preoperative stoma site marking was noted to play a protective role (hazard ratio 0.739; 95% confidence interval 0.576–0.947; p?=?0.017). Multivariate analysis confirmed male sex and ileostomy creation as risk factors (p?=?0.030 and p?=?0.013, respectively) and preoperative stoma site marking as an independent protective factor (p?=?0.001).

Conclusions

Stoma-related complications are quite common, especially when an ileostomy is present. Preoperative stoma site marking was noted to play a highly protective role not only in reducing the complication rate but also in improving the patients’ quality of life.

     

The influence of tumour site on prognosis in metastatic colorectal carcinomas with primary tumour resection

Purpose

The aim of our study was to compare the characteristics and prognosis between right- and left-sided metastatic colorectal carcinomas.

Methods

Data from 937 patients with stage IV colorectal carcinomas (synchronous distant metastasis) who had a resection of the primary tumour between 1985 and 2014 were analysed. Carcinomas in the caecum to transverse colon were defined as right-sided (n?=?250; 26.7%). They were compared to tumours located from the splenic flexure to the rectum categorised as left-sided (n?=?687; 73.3%).

Results

In right-sided carcinomas, we observed significantly more female patients (50.8 vs 36.2%; p?<?0.001), more unfavourable histological types (24.0 vs 8.6%; p?<?0.001), more M1c carcinomas (metastases to the peritoneum?±?others; 32.0 vs 14.4%; p?<?0.001) and more emergencies (11.6 vs 7.1%; p?=?0.029), while multimodal treatment was utilised in fewer patients (51.6 vs 63.8%; p?=?0.001) and curative resections were less frequently (24.1 vs 35.4%; p?=?0.002). Prognosis was significantly worse in patients with right-sided carcinomas (2-year-survival 27.2 vs 44.6%, p?<?0.01). This difference was more pronounced after R2 resection (15.3 vs 29.7%; p?<?0.001), than after macroscopic curative resection (2-year-survival 63.9 vs 71.9%; p?=?0.106). In multivariate Cox regression analysis, tumour site was found to be an independent prognostic factor for overall survival (HR 1.2; 95% CI 1.0–1.5; p?=?0.012). During the three 10-year periods, the prognosis improved equally in patients with right- and left-sided carcinomas, while the differences in survival remained identical.

Conclusions

In a surgical patient cohort undergoing primary tumour resection, significant differences in prognosis were observed between patients with metastatic right- and left-sided colorectal carcinomas.

     

Beta-Blockers and ACE Inhibitors Are Associated with Improved Survival Secondary to Ventricular Tachyarrhythmia

Objective

The study sought to assess the impact of treatment with beta-blocker (BB) or ACE inhibitor/angiotensin receptor blocker (ACEi/ARB) on secondary survival in patients presenting with ventricular tachyarrhythmia.

Background

Data regarding outcome of patients presenting with ventricular tachyarrhythmia treated with BB and ACEi/ARB is limited.

Methods

A large retrospective registry was used including consecutive patients presenting with ventricular tachycardia and fibrillation from 2002 to 2016 on admission. Applying propensity-score matching for harmonization, the impact of “BB” and “ACEi/ARB” was comparatively evaluated. The primary prognostic outcome was long-term all-cause death at 3 years.

Results

A total of 972 matched patients were included. Both patients with BB (long-term mortality rate 18 versus 27%; log rank p?=?0.041; HR?=?0.661; 95% CI?=?0.443–0.986; p?=?0.043) and with ACEi/ARB (long-term mortality rate 13 versus 23%; log rank p?=?0.004; HR?=?0.544; 95% CI?=?0.359–0.824; p?=?0.004) revealed better secondary survival compared to patients without after presenting with ventricular tachyarrhythmia on admission. The prognostic benefit of BB was comparable to ACEi/ARB (long-term mortality rate 21 versus 26%; log rank p?=?0.539).

Conclusion

BB and ACEi/ARB were associated with improved secondary survival in patients surviving ventricular tachyarrhythmia on admission.

Trial Registration

ClinicalTrials.gov identifier: NCT02982473

     

Statin Use,Diabetes Incidence and Overall Mortality in Normoglycemic and Impaired Fasting Glucose Patients

BACKGROUND

The association between the use of statins and the risk of diabetes and increased mortality within the same population has been a source of controversy, and may underestimate the value of statins for patients at risk.

OBJECTIVE

We aimed to assess whether statin use increases the risk of developing diabetes or affects overall mortality among normoglycemic patients and patients with impaired fasting glucose (IFG).

DESIGN AND PARTICIPANTS

Observational cohort study of 13,508 normoglycemic patients (n?=?4460; 33 % taking statins) and 4563 IFG patients (n?=?1865; 41 % taking statin) among residents of Olmsted County, Minnesota, with clinical data in the Mayo Clinic electronic medical record and at least one outpatient fasting glucose test between 1999 and 2004. Demographics, vital signs, tobacco use, laboratory results, medications and comorbidities were obtained by electronic search for the period 1999–2004. Results were analyzed by Cox proportional hazards models, and the risk of incident diabetes and mortality were analyzed by survival curves using the Kaplan–Meier method.

MAIN MEASURES

The main endpoints were new clinical diagnosis of diabetes mellitus and total mortality.

KEY RESULTS

After a mean of 6 years of follow-up, statin use was found to be associated with an increased risk of incident diabetes in the normoglycemic (HR 1.19; 95 % CI, 1.05 to 1.35; p?=?0.007) and IFG groups (HR 1.24; 95%CI, 1.11 to 1.38; p?=?0.0001). At the same time, overall mortality decreased in both normoglycemic (HR 0.70; 95 % CI, 0.66 to 0.80; p?<?0.0001) and IFG patients (HR 0.77, 95 % CI, 0.64 to 0.91; p?=?0.0029) with statin use.

CONCLUSION

In general, recommendations for statin use should not be affected by concerns over an increased risk of developing diabetes, since the benefit of reduced mortality clearly outweighs this small (19–24 %) risk.

     

Oncological outcomes of IBD-associated versus sporadic colorectal cancer in modern era: a matched case-control study

Aim

Inflammatory bowel diseases (IBD) are associated with an increased risk for colorectal cancer (CRC). However and despite significant advances in the management of IBD and CRC, the prognosis of IBD-related CRC (IBD-CRC) remains controversial. The aim of the present case-control study was to compare the prognosis of IBD-CRC to sporadic CRC.

Methods

Consecutive patients operated for IBD-CRC from 2004 to 2014 were recruited and matched with sporadic CRC (ratio 3:1) from the same center. Matching was performed on gender, tumor stage, and location and period of surgery. Endpoints were postoperative morbidity (Dindo-Clavien III-V), quality of surgery, and long-term oncological outcomes.

Results

Among 1498 CRC patients operated during the study period, 21 patients were identified with IBD-CRC and matched to 63 patients with sporadic CRC (S-CRC). Patients with IBD-CRC were significantly younger (p?<?0.001), had multifocal lesions more frequently (p?=?0.04), and undergone abdominoperineal excision and coloproctectomy more often (p?=?0.001). Postoperative morbidity was not significantly different between the two groups (25 vs. 14%; p?=?0.309), as well as the rate of R0 resection (86 vs. 95%; p?=?0.162). Five-year disease-free and overall survival were 71 and 81% in patients with IBD-CRC and 69% (p?=?0.801) and 78% (p?=?0.845) in those with S-CRC, respectively.

Conclusion

In a case-control study of patients operated for CRC within the last decade, the prognosis of cancer associated with IBD is similar to sporadic cancer.