Long-term outcomes of Roux-en-Y gastric bypass versus medical therapy for patients with type 2 diabetes: a meta-analysis of randomized controlled trials.

BACKGROUND: Roux-en-Y gastric bypass (RYGB) has been widely used for type 2 diabetes (T2D) patients with overweight or obesity. However, the long-term outcomes of RYGB versus medical therapy have not been well compared. OBJECTIVES: To evaluate the long-term outcomes of RYGB versus medical therapy for patients with T2D. SETTING: University-affiliated hospital, China. METHODS: Four electronic databases-PubMed, EMBASE, the Cochrane Library, and ClinicalTrials.gov-were searched for articles published through February 2021. Eligible studies were randomized controlled trials. RESULTS: Of 7 randomized controlled trials (15 articles), 477 patients were included: 239 were randomly divided into RYGB groups and 238 to medical therapy groups. Statistically higher rates of T2D remission were observed in RYGB groups at 1 year (relative risk [RR], 18.01; 95% confidence interval [CI], 4.53- 71.70; P < .0001), 3 years (RR, 29.58; 95% CI, 5.92-147.82; P < .0001), and 5 years (RR, 16.92; 95% CI, 4.15-69.00; P < .0001). Meanwhile, statistically higher rates of achieving the American Diabetes Association's (ADA's) treatment goal were observed in RYGB groups at 1 year (RR, 3.99; 95% CI, 1.01-15.82; P = .05), 2 years (RR, 2.98; 95% CI, 1.62- 5.48; P = .0004), 3 years (RR, 3.16; 95% CI, 1.33-7.49; P = .009), and 5 years (RR, 6.18; 95% CI, 1.69-22.68; P = .006). CONCLUSION: This meta-analysis indicated that RYGB led to higher rates of T2D remission than medical therapy at 1, 3, and 5 years, as well as higher rates of achieving ADA's composite goal at 1, 2, 3, and 5 years.

Outcomes of laparoscopic gastrectomy for gastric cancer in elderly patients.

PURPOSE: This study aimed to compare the short- and longterm outcomes of elderly and middle-aged patients with gastric cancer who underwent laparoscopic gastrectomy. METHODS: From January 2010 to February 2017, a total of 75 patients with gastric cancer aged ≥70 years (elderly group) underwent laparoscopic gastrectomy, and their short- and long-term outcomes were compared with those of 197 patients with gastric cancer aged 60-69 years (middleaged group) who underwent also laparoscopic gastrectomy during the same period. RESULTS: With respect to the patients' preoperative baseline characteristics, the elderly group had a higher Charlson comorbidity index score, rate of previous abdominal operations, and American Society of Anesthesiologists (ASA) classification score compared to middle-aged patient group. There were no significant differences in the other baseline characteristics. There were no significant between-groups differences in the duration of surgery, intraoperative blood loss, incidence and severity of 30-day postoperative complications, and pathological results. Long-term follow-up results showed that the tumor recurrence rates were similar between groups, as were the overall (OS) and disease-free survival (DFS) rates. Multivariate analysis showed that age was not an independent predictor of OS and DFS. CONCLUSION: In summary, laparoscopic gastrectomy in elderly patients with gastric cancer can achieve similar short- and long-term outcomes as those for middle-aged patients. Age is thus not a contraindication for laparoscopic gastrectomy.

Retraction Note: Effects of Bariatric Surgery on Incidence of Obesity-Related Cancers: A Meta-Analysis.

In the article entitled, "Effects of Bariatric Surgery on Incidence of Obesity-Related Cancers: A Meta-Analysis" which was published in Medical Science Monitor 2015;21: 1350-1357, sections in the text have been directly copied from a previously published article, entitled, "The Effects of Bariatric Surgery on Colorectal Cancer Risk: Systematic Review and Meta-Analysis", Sorena Afshar, Seamus B. Kelly, Keith Seymour, Jose Lara, Sean Woodcock, John C. Mathers  in Obesity Surgery 2014; 24(10):1793-1799. Thus owing to duplicity of text, the article is being retracted. Reference: 1. Xiang-wu Yang, Peng-zhou Li, Li-yong Zhu, Shaihong Zhu Effects of Bariatric Surgery on Incidence of Obesity-Related Cancers: A Meta-Analysis Medical Science Monitor 2015;21: 1350-1357 DOI: 10.12659/MSM.893553.

Effects of bariatric surgery on incidence of obesity-related cancers: a meta-analysis.

BACKGROUND: The aim of this meta-analysis was to investigate possible relationships between bariatric surgery and incidence of obesity-related cancers. Obesity is an established risk factor for obesity-related cancers but the effects of bariatric surgery on incidence of obesity-related cancers are uncertain. MATERIAL/METHODS: We searched 4 electronic databases to identify eligible studies: PubMed, Embase, Web of Science, and Google Scholar. Five observational studies were eligible and included in this meta-analysis. Random-effects or fixed-effects odds ratio (OR) and its corresponding 95% confidence interval (CI) were pooled. RESULTS: Meta-analysis of these 5 observational studies revealed that bariatric surgery was associated with a significantly (p=0.0004) reduced incidence of obesity-related cancers (OR=0.43, 95%CI, 0.27-0.69) when compared with control individuals. Pooled estimated data showed that bariatric surgery is associated with a 24% lower colorectal cancer (CRC) risk. No publication bias was detected by Egger's or Begg's tests. CONCLUSIONS: Although bariatric surgery may significantly reduce incidence of obesity-related cancers, considering the limitations of these included studies, these findings should be confirmed by further well-designed studies.

High-intensity focused ultrasound treatment for patients with unresectable pancreatic cancer.

BACKGROUND: High-intensity focused ultrasound (HIFU) is a non-invasive method of solid tissue ablation therapy. However, only a few studies have reported the effect of HIFU for unresectable pancreatic cancer. This study aimed to evaluate the clinical benefits, survival time and complications associated with the use of HIFU ablation in patients with unresectable pancreatic cancer. METHODS: Twenty-five patients with unresectable pancreatic cancer were enrolled in our study. All patients received HIFU therapy for tumors at least once. The therapeutic effects of HIFU was evaluated in terms of Karnofsky performance status (KPS) scores, pain relief, serum CA19-9, and imaging by B-US and CT before and after the therapy. We also recorded median overall survival time and complications caused by the treatment. RESULTS: In the 25 patients, KPS scores were above 60, and increased KPS was observed in 23 patients after treatment. Pain relief occurred in 23 patients. Serum CA19-9 levels were significantly reduced one month after HIFU treatment and became negative in 5 patients. B-US revealed enhanced tumor echogenicity in 13 patients and decreased tumor blood supply in 9. Tumor necrosis was confirmed by CT in 8 patients one month after HIFU treatment. The median overall survival time was 10 months, and the 1-year survival rate was 42%. No severe complications were observed after HIFU treatment. CONCLUSION: HIFU can effectively relieve pain, increase KPS, decrease tumor growth and prolong the survival time of patients with unresectable pancreatic cancer.

[Mechanism research progress of bariatric surgery for type 2 diabetes mellitus].

Patients with type 2 diabetes mellitus experience a complete and comfirm diabetic remission after bariatric surgery. Although weight-loss, reduction of food intake and other factors may play important roles in diabetic resolution after bariatric surgery, the major mechanism is the change in gastrointestinal hormones. Further research is essential to better understand these mechanisms and bariatric surgery may ultimately become a major tool in the treatment of type 2 diabetes mellitus.