Quality of life after total and subtotal gastrectomy for gastric carcinoma

BackgroundThere remains debate as to whether quality of life (QoL) is better for patients following sub-total gastrectomy (SG) or total gastrectomy (TG) for cancer. Both have similar survival rates provided an R0 resection is performed and in many series the morbidity and mortality after TG is higher than SG. The aim of this study was to evaluate the QoL in patients after TG and SG for cancer.MethodAll surviving patients who had undergone TG or SG between 1994 and 2009 were identified from a prospectively collected database and sent the European Organisation for Research and Treatment of Cancer (EORTC) core questionnaire (QLQ-C30 v.3) and the gastric module (QLQ-STO22).ResultsFrom a total of 261 patients who had undergone TG or SG in the study period, 91 were still alive and 53 responded. There was no significant difference between the QoL between TG and SG based on functional scales and global health status. However dysphagia and eating restrictions were significantly worse in the TG group.ConclusionThis study has demonstrated that there is no difference in overall QoL in patients with TG or SG although eating restrictions and dysphagia are worse after TG.     

Wilson Disease With Giant Splenic Artery Aneurysms Caused by Fibromuscular Dysplasia During Living Donor Liver Transplantation: A Case Report

Liver cirrhosis can cause splenic artery aneurysms (SAA) that pose a threat to patients undergoing liver transplantation. However, liver transplantation with multiple visceral artery aneurysms including giant SAA caused by arterial fragility has never been reported. We describe a 36-year-old man with decompensated liver cirrhosis due to Wilson disease that was complicated by giant SAA and multiple aneurysms in the bilateral renal arteries caused by fibromuscular dysplasia (FMD). The maximal diameter of the triple snowball-shaped SAA was 11 cm. We planned a 2-stage strategy consisting of a splenectomy with distal pancreatectomy to treat the SAA and subsequent living donor liver transplantation (LDLT) to address the liver cirrhosis. This strategy was selected to prevent fatal postoperative infectious complications caused by the potential development of pancreatic fistula during simultaneous procedures and to histopathologically diagnose the arterial lesion before LDLT to promote safe hepatic artery reconstruction. However, a postoperative pancreatic fistula did not develop after a splenectomy with distal pancreatectomy, and the pathologic findings of the artery indicated FMD. The patient underwent ABO-identical LDLT with a right lobe graft donated by his brother. Other than postoperative rupture of the aneurysm in the left renal artery requiring emergency interventional radiology, the patient has remained free of any other arterial complications and continues to do well at 2 years after LDLT.     

中性粒细胞与淋巴细胞比值对三阴性乳腺癌临床预后及与Ki - 67表达的影响

目的 探讨中性粒细胞与淋巴细胞比值（neutrophil to lymphocyte ratio，NLR）对三阴性乳腺癌的临床预后影响及与Ki - 67表达的关系。方法 回顾性分析2006年1月 - 2012年12月于我院乳腺外科住院治疗的134例三阴性乳腺癌患者。NLR最佳临床分界值采用ROC曲线确定，并依此分NLR＜2.64组和NLR≥2.64组。临床独立预后因素采用单因素和多因素Cox回归模型分析。术后生存时间和生存曲线比较采用Kaplan - Meier和log - rank方法。Ki - 67的表达采用免疫组织化学方法检测。结果 NLR是三阴性乳腺癌的独立预后因素，最佳临界值为2.64。NLR＜2.64组术后中位DFS为39.10月，中位OS为52.30月；NLR≥2.64组术后中位DFS为27.35月，中位OS为37.35月。2组术后DFS和OS比较，差异具有统计学意义（P＜0.05）。NLR低组伴Ki - 67表达阴性的三阴性患者术后中位DFS和OS生存时间显著高于其他情况。结论 NLR是三阴性乳腺癌的关键影响预后因素，具有重复性强、非侵袭性、方便实用等特性，可用于预测三阴性乳腺癌临床预后。     

A peripherally inserted central catheter misplacement into lateral thoracic vein: A case report

IntroductionCentral venous catheter applications and complications are closely related to the tip position. Previous studies have reported some rare cases of catheter misplacement. Here, we report a case of misplacement of a peripherally inserted central catheter into the lateral thoracic vein.Case reportA 56-year-old cancer patient underwent placement of a peripherally inserted central catheter through the left basilic vein under ultrasound-guided puncture. The catheterisation procedure was uneventful, so the catheter was believed to be in the superior vena cava. However, the post-anterior chest X-ray image revealed that after the catheter advanced towards the axilla, it turned downwards and outwards in the direction of the left lateral thoracic region, with the projection of the catheter tip giving the appearance of termination in the subcutaneous tissue of the lateral thoracic wall on the two-dimensional image. The catheter was then repositioned in the distal superior vena cava.DiscussionPeripherally inserted central catheters can be potentially misplaced into the lateral thoracic vein because these catheters can pass through the orifice of the lateral thoracic vein which flows into the axillary vein. Some pathological cases and clinical conditions can cause dilatation of the lateral thoracic vein, which increases the probability of catheter misplacement. Three principles were proposed to avoid this rare complication: a comprehensive review of the patients’ medical history, real-time image-guided catheterisation and routine radiographic identification of the tip position.     

New and important changes in breast cancer TNM: incorporation of biologic factors into staging

Introduction: Cancer staging has historically been based solely on the anatomic extent of the tumor (T), spread to lymph nodes (N), and the presence of distant metastases (M). More recently biologic factors have been added to modify TNM stage groups to provide more accurate prognosis for patients.

Areas covered: The American Joint Committee on Cancer (AJCC) updated breast cancer staging in 2016 to include T, N, M, tumor grade and expression of estrogen and progesterone receptors and HER2. Addition of these factors changed the stage group for a large fraction of cases compared to prior TNM stage groupings. This updated ‘prognostic stage’ provides more robust and precise prognosis information.

Expert opinion: Inclusion of biological information in staging changes the meaning and the use of stage in clinical practice. This paper reviews the evidence supporting these changes, limitations affecting staging, and discusses the implications for clinical practice and the future of breast cancer staging.     

Host MyD88 signaling protects against acute graft-versus-host disease after allogeneic bone marrow transplantation

Recent experimental strategies to reduce graft-versus-host disease (GVHD) have focused largely on modifying innate immunity. Toll-like receptor (TLR)-driven myeloid differentiation primary response 88 (MyD88)-dependent signalling pathways that initiate adaptive immune function are also critical for the pathogenesis of GVHD. This study aimed to delineate the role of host MyD88 in the development of acute GVHD following fully major histocompatibility complex-mismatched allogeneic bone marrow transplantation (BMT). When myeloablated BALB/c MyD88 knock-out recipients were transplanted with C57BL/6 (B6) donor cells, they developed significantly more severe GVHD than wild-type (WT) BALB/c hosts. The increased morbidity and mortality in MyD88^–/– mice correlated with increased serum levels of lipopolysaccharide and elevated inflammatory cytokines in GVHD target organs. Additionally, MyD88 deficiency in BMT recipients led to increased donor T cell expansion and more donor CD11c⁺ cell intestinal infiltration with apoptotic cells but reduced proliferation of intestinal epithelial cells compared with that in WT BMT recipients. Decreased expression of tight junction mRNA in epithelial cells of MyD88^–/– mice suggested that MyD88 contributes to intestinal integrity. Cox-2 expression in the GVHD-targeted organs of WT mice is increased upon GVHD induction, but this enhanced expression was obviously inhibited by MyD88 deficiency. The present findings demonstrate an unexpected role for host MyD88 in preventing GVHD after allogeneic BMT.     

Quality of life after single-incision laparoscopic cholecystectomy: A randomized,clinical trial

Background

Controversy continues as to whether single-incision laparoscopic cholecystectomy, with the somewhat larger incision at the umbilicus, may lead to a worse postoperative quality of life and more pain compared with the more classic 4-port laparoscopic cholecystectomy. The aim of this study was to compare single-incision and 4-port laparoscopic cholecystectomy from the perspective of quality of life.