Benchmarks in colorectal surgery: multinational study to define quality thresholds in high and low anterior resection.

BACKGROUND: Benchmark comparisons in surgery allow identification of gaps in the quality of care provided. The aim of this study was to determine quality thresholds for high (HAR) and low (LAR) anterior resections in colorectal cancer surgery by applying the concept of benchmarking. METHODS: This 5-year multinational retrospective study included patients who underwent anterior resection for cancer in 19 high-volume centres on five continents. Benchmarks were defined for 11 relevant postoperative variables at discharge, 3 months, and 6 months (for LAR). Benchmarks were calculated for two separate cohorts: patients without (ideal) and those with (non-ideal) outcome-relevant co-morbidities. Benchmark cut-offs were defined as the 75th percentile of each centre's median value. RESULTS: A total of 3903 patients who underwent HAR and 3726 who had LAR for cancer were analysed. After 3 months' follow-up, the mortality benchmark in HAR for ideal and non-ideal patients was 0.0 versus 3.0 per cent, and in LAR it was 0.0 versus 2.2 per cent. Benchmark results for anastomotic leakage were 5.0 versus 6.9 per cent for HAR, and 13.6 versus 11.8 per cent for LAR. The overall morbidity benchmark in HAR was a Comprehensive Complication Index (CCI®) score of 8.6 versus 14.7, and that for LAR was CCI® score 11.9 versus 18.3. CONCLUSION: Regular comparison of individual-surgeon or -unit outcome data against benchmark thresholds may identify gaps in care quality that can improve patient outcome.

Health locus of control among patients operated on for colorectal cancer.

<b>Introduction:</b> An important factor determining health-oriented behavior is the health locus of control (HLC). Patients with cancer differ in health practices and perception of the disease. <br/><b>Aim:</b> Assessment of the influence of demographic factors and somatic symptoms of the disease on HLC in patients treated for colorectal cancer. <br/><b>Materials and methods:</b> The study included 160 people divided into patients with colorectal cancer (CRC) and healthy people. The Multidimensional Health Locus of Control Scale was used in the adaptation of Z. Juczynski. The scale includes three dimensions of health perception, which depends on internal control, impact of others and random. <br/><b> Results:</b> The study group consisted of 80 patients with CRC (51.2% women), and the control group 80 healthy people (57.7% women). In our analysis, we found that people with CRC were significantly more dependent on their own health control on the influence of external factors, such as doctors and nurses, than healthy people (27.11±5.43 vs. 19.64±7.77; p=<0.001). Similarly, patients with CRC significantly more than healthy people considered random as a dimension responsible for HLC (23.05±5.95 vs 20.36±7.45; p=0.012). Men with CRC more than women conditioned HLC on random influence (24.21±5.94 vs. 21.95±5.91; p=0.044). People with secondary and higher education made the HLC more dependent on internal control (26.98±5.98 vs. 23.14±5.74; p=0.041). <br/><b>Conclusions:</b> Patients with CRC made their sense of health control dependent on external dimensions: influence of others and random. Men with CRC were more likely to condition their health control on random events than women. Secondary and higher education guaranteed greater autonomy in undertaking health behaviors.

Blockade of fructose transporter protein GLUT5 inhibits proliferation of colon cancer cells: proof of concept for a new class of anti-tumor therapeutics.

BACKGROUND: Despite the fact that colorectal cancer (CRC) is one of the most commonly diagnosed cancers in men and women, its current treatment remains unsatisfactory and therefore novel studies proposing new approaches are necessary. A high sugar diet is believed to promote carcinogenesis. Fructose is absorbed from the gastrointestinal tract by members of the glucose transporter family-GLUT. The aim of the study was to characterize the expression of GLUT5 at mRNA level in CRC patients. Moreover, our goal was to elucidate the molecular role of GLUT5 in CRC and assess whether GLUT5 inhibitor may affect the viability of colon cancer cells. METHODS: The expression of GLUT5 at mRNA level was characterized based on 30 samples from resected colorectal cancers and 30 healthy colonic mucosa specimens from surgical margins. The inhibitory effect of N-[4-(methylsulfonyl)-2-nitrophenyl]-1,3-benzodioxol-5-amine (MSBNA) was assessed on a colon cancer cell line, HT-29, and normal colon epithelium cells-CCD 841 CoN Cells. RESULTS: GLUT5 expression was found in 96.7% of cancer specimens and only in 53.3% of healthy mucosa fragments. In cancer tissue, real-time PCR analysis showed almost 2, fivefold (p< 0.001) increase of GLUT5 mRNA expression level compared with the healthy intestinal mucosa. GLUT5 inhibitor, MSNBA (10 µM) significantly decreased the viability of colon cancer cells, while barely affected the viability of normal colon epithelium cells. CONCLUSIONS: Our study suggests that a strong focus should be put on GLUT5 and its inhibitors for both diagnostic and therapeutic purposes in CRC.

Endoscopic management of duodenal fistula in a patient operated after abdominal injury.

Post-traumatic duodenal injuries constitute a relatively rare group among this type of lesions reported in the abdominal structures. In the vast majority of cases, a post-traumatic duodenal injury is accompanied by damage to other important organs. The surgical management of duodenum injuries poses a high risk of life-threatening complications with duodenal fistula among the most common. In some cases, the combination of basic and advanced surgical procedures and intensive conservative treatment is insufficient to treat the complication. The progress in endoscopic techniques and the application of modern instruments have allowed for the use of these procedures to manage gastrointestinal injuries of various aetiology. The aim of the study is to present an effective endoscopic occlusion of post-traumatic duodenal fistula.