A prospective comparison of locally made rapid urease test and histology for the diagnosis of Helicobacter pylori infection

Background: A number of noncommercial preparations of urease test have been described. The present prospective study evaluated the accuracy of one such preparation for the diagnosis of Helicobacter pylori infection. Methods: From February 1996 to November 1996, all patients undergoing elective upper endoscopy in a single endoscopy facility were included. Three antral biopsy specimens were taken. Two specimens were subjected to histologic examination, and one specimen was placed into a “locally made rapid urease test” (LRUT). Results of histologic examinations were taken as standards for comparison. The final result of LRUT was obtained on scrutiny of color changes at 4 hours after the start of the test. Results: Two thousand three hundred sixteen patients (male/female = 1.5:1) with a mean age of 56.7 ± 0.4 years were included. Five hundred sixty-two patients (24.3%) had a history of eradication treatment for H. pylori. Nine hundred fifty-three patients (41.1%) were found to be positive for H. pylori on histologic examination. In patients in whom a history of eradication therapy was absent, the sensitivity, specificity, and positive and negative predictive values of the LRUT were 92.8%, 97.6%, 97.5%, and 93.0%, respectively. In patients with a history of eradication treatment, the corresponding figures were 76.1%, 99.6%, 96.2%, and 96.9%. Conclusions: The locally made rapid urease test provides a simple, safe, rapid, inexpensive, and accurate test for the diagnosis of H. pylori infection. (Gastrointest Endosc 1997;46:503-6.)     

Postablation Stimulated Thyroglobulin Level is an Important Predictor of Biochemical Complete Remission after Reoperative Cervical Neck Dissection in Persistent/Recurrent Papillary Thyroid Carcinoma

Background

The efficacy of reoperative cervical neck dissection (RND) in achieving biochemical complete remission (BCR) (or postreoperation stimulated thyroglobulin [sTg] of <0.5 ng/mL) remains unclear in persistent/recurrent papillary thyroid carcinoma (PTC). We hypothesized that lower postablation sTg levels would indicate a higher rate of BCR after RND. Our study examined the association between postablation sTg and BCR after one or more RNDs.

Methods

Of 199 patients who underwent RND, 81 patients were eligible. The postablation sTg levels (≤2 and >2 ng/mL) were correlated with the postreoperation sTg levels after RNDs. Patients’ clinicopathological characteristics, operative findings, and subsequent RNDs were compared between those with BCR after RNDs and those without.

Results

Those with postablation sTg levels of ≤2 ng/mL had significantly higher BCR rate after the first RND (77.8 vs. 5.6 %, p < 0.001), overall BCR after one or more RNDs (77.8 vs. 9.3 %, p < 0.001), and better 5-year recurrence-free survival after the first RND (80.0 vs. 60.1 %, p = 0.049) than those with postablation sTg levels of >2 ng/mL. Overall BCR gradually decreased after each subsequent RND. Postablation sTg significantly correlated with postreoperation sTg (ρ = 0.509, p < 0.001). After adjusting for the number of metastatic lymph nodes excised at first RND and presence of extranodal extension, postablation sTg of ≤ 0.2 ng/mL was the only independent factor for BCR after one or more RNDs (odds ratio 37.0, 95 % confidence interval 5.68–250.0, p = 0.001).

Conclusions

Only a third of patients who underwent one or more RNDs for persistent/recurrent PTC had BCR afterward. Postablation sTg level was an independent factor for BCR. Completeness of the initial operation is important for the subsequent success of RND.     

Cytoreductive Surgery and Hyperthermic Intraperitoneal Chemotherapy in Asian Patients: 100 Consecutive Patients in a Single Institution

Background

Cytoreductive surgery (CRS) and hyperthermic intraperitoneal chemotherapy (HIPEC) have been shown to improve survival in selected patients with peritoneal carcinomatosis. We review our institutional experience with the procedure and evaluate the overall survival (OS) and disease-free survival (DFS) rates in 100 consecutive patients.

Methods

Data were prospectively collected from 100 consecutive patients with peritoneal carcinomatosis treated by CRS and HIPEC at the National Cancer Centre Singapore between April 2001 and May 2012. Our primary end points were OS and DFS.

Results

Of the 100 patients, 84 were of Chinese ethnicity, 3 were Malay, 6 were Indian, and 7 were of other ethnicities. Primary tumors were ovarian cancer (n = 39), colorectal cancer (n = 28), primary peritoneal (n = 6), appendiceal cancer (n = 20), and mesothelioma (n = 7). Median follow-up duration was 21 months. At 5 years, the DFS was 26.3 % and OS was 50.9 %. Factors influencing OS and DFS were cytoreductive score, primary cancer, and disease-free interval of more than 12 months on univariate analysis. The only factors that remained significant for prognosis after multivariate analysis were primary cancer and cytoreductive score. Thirty-day morbidity was 56 %, and there were no 30-day mortalities.

Conclusions

CRS and HIPEC can be safely carried out in Asian patients with peritoneal carcinomatosis from ovarian, colorectal, appendiceal, mesothelioma, and primary peritoneal origins. Overall, the ovarian, appendiceal, mesothelioma, and primary peritoneal cancer patients tended to do better than the colorectal patients, but careful patient selection ensuring that optimal cytoreduction can be achieved is essential for the success of this procedure.     

Profile and Predictors of Long-term Morbidity in Breast Cancer Survivors

Background

A sound understanding of the benefits of different treatment options and their health-related quality of life (HRQoL) impacts is required for optimal breast cancer care.

Methods

A cross-sectional cohort study was conducted to determine the prevalence and severity of persistent functional decrements and symptoms and identify demographic, clinical and treatment variables associated with poorer outcomes. Four hundred English-speaking women treated for ductal carcinoma-in-situ or stage I to III breast cancer between 1999 and 2009, at least 12 months after surgery and currently disease free, were randomly selected and invited to complete (1) the Breast Cancer Treatment Outcome Scale and (2) the EORTC core Quality of Life Questionnaire, version 3.

Results

The response rate was 85.60 %. Many participants reported moderate to severe decrements in a number of HRQoL domains, including functional well-being (15 %), cosmetic status (32 %) and overall quality of life (21 %). There were significant associations (p < .05) between younger age and poorer HRQoL but none between time since surgery and morbidity (p > .05). Different treatments were associated with different HRQoL impacts. Poorer functional status was predicted by axillary dissection (p = .011), and adjuvant radiotherapy was a significant predictor of breast-specific pain (p < .05).

Conclusions

Many breast cancer survivors report long-term morbidity that is unaffected by time since surgery. The significant associations between the extent of locoregional therapies and poorer HRQoL outcomes emphasize the importance of the safe tailoring of these treatments.