Role of surgical treatments in high-grade or advanced gastroenteropancreatic neuroendocrine neoplasms

Over the last 40 years, the incidence and prevalence of gastroenteropancreatic neuroendocrine neoplasms (GEP-NENs) have continued to increase. Compared to other epithelial neoplasms in the same organ, GEP-NENs exhibit indolent biological behavior, resulting in more chances to undergo surgery. However, the role of surgery in high-grade or advanced GEP-NENs is still controversial. Surgery is associated with survival improvement of well-differentiated high-grade GEP-NENs, whereas poorly differentiated GEP-NENs that may benefit from resection require careful selection based on Ki67 and other tissue biomarkers. Additionally, surgery also plays an important role in locally advanced and metastatic disease. For locally advanced GEP-NENs, isolated major vascular involvement is no longer an absolute contraindication. In the setting of metastatic GEP-NENs, radical intended surgery is recommended for patients with low-grade and resectable metastases. For unresectable metastatic disease, a variety of surgical approaches, including cytoreduction of liver metastasis, liver transplantation, and surgery after neoadjuvant treatment, show survival benefits. Primary tumor resection in GEP-NENs with unresectable metastatic disease is associated with symptom control, prolonged survival, and improved sensitivity toward systemic therapies. Although there is no established neoadjuvant or adjuvant strategy, increasing attention has been given to this emerging research area. Some studies have reported that neoadjuvant therapy effectively reduces tumor burden, improves the effectiveness of subsequent surgery, and decreases surgical complications.     

Variability in non-core vaccination rates of dogs and cats in veterinary clinics across the United States

Vaccination guidelines for dogs and cats indicate that core vaccines (for dogs, rabies, distemper, adenovirus, parvovirus; for cats, feline parvovirus, herpes virus-1, calicivirus) are essential to maintain health, and that non-core vaccines be administered according to a clinician’s assessment of a pet’s risk of exposure and susceptibility to infection. A reliance on individual risk assessment introduces the potential for between-practice inconsistencies in non-core vaccine recommendations. A study was initiated to determine non-core vaccination rates of dogs (Leptospira, Borrelia burgdorferi, Bordetella bronchiseptica, canine influenza virus) and cats (feline leukemia virus) in patients current for core vaccines in veterinary practices across the United States. Transactional data for 5,531,866 dogs (1,670 practices) and 1,914,373 cats (1,661 practices) were retrieved from practice management systems for the period November 1, 2016 through January 1, 2020, deidentified and normalized. Non-core vaccination status was evaluated in 2,798,875 dogs and 788,772 cats that were core-vaccine current. Nationally, median clinic vaccination rates for dogs were highest for leptospirosis (70.5%) and B. bronchiseptica (68.7%), and much lower for canine influenza (4.8%). In Lyme-endemic states, the median clinic borreliosis vaccination rate was 51.8%. Feline leukemia median clinic vaccination rates were low for adult cats (34.6%) and for kittens and 1-year old cats (36.8%). Individual clinic vaccination rates ranged from 0 to 100% for leptospirosis, B. bronchiseptica and feline leukemia, 0–96% for canine influenza, and 0–94% for borreliosis. Wide variation in non-core vaccination rates between clinics in similar geographies indicates that factors other than disease risk are driving the use of non-core vaccines in pet dogs and cats, highlighting a need for veterinary practices to address gaps in patient protection. Failure to implement effective non-core vaccination strategies leaves susceptible dogs and cats unprotected against vaccine-preventable diseases.     

Outcomes of Prostatectomy versus Radiation Therapy in the Management of Clinically Localized Prostate Cancer Patients Within the PLCO Trial

Background

The objective of the study was to evaluate the outcomes of clinically localized prostate cancer treated with prostatectomy versus radiation therapy within the context of a prospective prostate cancer screening study.

单孔胸腔镜手术在结核性脓胸治疗中的应用

目的探讨单孔胸腔镜手术治疗结核性脓胸的应用价值,并总结相关临床经验。方法回顾性分析我院胸外科2015年1月～2017年12月住院手术治疗的120例结核性脓胸患者。依据纳入、排除的相关标准,在知情同意下将纳入患者随机分为研究组(单孔胸腔镜手术组,60例)和对照组(传统开胸手术组,60例),比较两组患者的手术时间、术中出血量、术后引流量、胸腔引流管时间、术后住院时间及术后并发症。结果两组患者围术期均无死亡病例,中转开胸3例,中转开胸率为5%(3/60)。单孔胸腔镜组与传统开胸组相比较,手术时间分别为(88.00±15.77)min、(87.52±15.66)min,术中出血量分别为(236.33±15.16)mL、(443.75±43.69)mL,术后引流量分别为(423.93±41.49)m L、(663.92±16.28)mL,胸腔引流管时间分别为(2.92±0.10)d、(4.35±1.44)d,术后住院时间分别为(11.50±2.51)d、(13.65±2.52)d,两组患者的术中出血量、术后引流量、胸腔引流管时间及术后住院时间相比,差异均有统计学意义(P均0.05)。比较两组的手术时间,差异无统计学意义(P0.05)。单孔胸腔镜组术后并发症的总的发生率为6.67%(4/60),传统开胸组术后并发症的总发生率为13.33%(8/60)。结论单孔胸腔镜手术治疗结核性脓胸创伤小、并发症少、住院时间短,患者恢复快,在临床应用中值得推广。但在临床实际中应根据患者病情合理选择手术方式。