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.     

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。     

Subacute cutaneous lupus erythematosus leukoderma treated with melanocyte‐keratinocyte transplantation procedure

Depigmented lesions may occur as postinflammatory sequelae of subacute cutaneous lupus erythematosus (SCLE), leading to great psychosocial impact. A 53‐year‐old male patient presented with post‐SCLE depigmented facial lesions after five years of disease stability. We proposed surgical treatment with melanocyte‐keratinocyte transplantation procedure (MKTP), and after five months the patient achieved 90% repigmentation, without Koebner phenomenon (KP). In theory, KP is a possible complication of MKTP procedure since the preparation of the receptor area involves the use of dermabrasion. In an attempt to avoid it, we suggest to maintain the treatment of the underlying disease and wait for a minimum period of disease stability before the procedure.     

Attentional selectivity,automaticity, and self-efficacy predict simulator-acquired skill transfer to the clinical environment

Introduction

Several studies demonstrated that simulator-acquired skill transfer to the operating room is incomplete. Our objective was to identify trainee characteristics that predict the transfer of simulator-acquired skill to the operating room.

Simulated versus traditional therapeutic radiography placements: A randomised controlled trial

IntroductionClinical placements provide rich learning environments for health professional pre-registration education but add significant workload pressure to clinical departments. Advances in simulation approaches mean that many aspects of students’ clinical learning can be undertaken in the academic environment. There is, however, little data identifying specific pedagogical gains afforded by simulation compared to clinical placement. This study measured the impact of a comprehensive integrated simulation placement on student clinical skill acquisition.MethodsA virtual department was developed using a range of simulation equipment and software, with actors and service users providing a range of patients for students to engage with. A cohort of 29 first-year undergraduate therapeutic radiography students were randomly assigned to either simulated or conventional clinical placement. Clinical skills assessment scores provided by a blinded assessor were then compared.ResultsMean overall assessment scores for each cohort were within 3% of each other. The simulation cohort had over 10% higher “communication” scores than the traditional group (p = 0.028). The ability to gain both technical and interpersonal skills simultaneously improved learning compared to clinical placement. Students valued the structured approach of the simulated placement and the opportunity to practice techniques in a safe unpressured environment.ConclusionAn integrated simulated placement can help students to achieve clinical learning outcomes and lead to improved interpersonal skills.Implications for practiceUse of blended simulation resources can enable students to acquire technical, procedural and interpersonal skills which in turn may enable reduction of overall clinical placement time and departmental training burden.