Onco-fetal Reprogramming of Endothelial Cells Drives Immunosuppressive Macrophages in Hepatocellular Carcinoma.

We employed scRNA sequencing to extensively characterize the cellular landscape of human liver from development to disease. Analysis of ∼212,000 cells representing human fetal, hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC), and mouse liver revealed remarkable fetal-like reprogramming of the tumor microenvironment. Specifically, the HCC ecosystem displayed features reminiscent of fetal development, including re-emergence of fetal-associated endothelial cells (PLVAP/VEGFR2) and fetal-like (FOLR2) tumor-associated macrophages. In a cross-species comparative analysis, we discovered remarkable similarity between mouse embryonic, fetal-liver, and tumor macrophages. Spatial transcriptomics further revealed a shared onco-fetal ecosystem between fetal liver and HCC. Furthermore, gene regulatory analysis, spatial transcriptomics, and in vitro functional assays implicated VEGF and NOTCH signaling in maintaining onco-fetal ecosystem. Taken together, we report a shared immunosuppressive onco-fetal ecosystem in fetal liver and HCC. Our results unravel a previously unexplored onco-fetal reprogramming of the tumor ecosystem, provide novel targets for therapeutic interventions in HCC, and open avenues for identifying similar paradigms in other cancers and disease.

p53-dependent crosstalk between DNA replication integrity and redox metabolism mediated through a NRF2-PARP1 axis.

Mechanisms underlying p53-mediated protection of the replicating genome remain elusive, despite the quintessential role of p53 in maintaining genomic stability. Here, we uncover an unexpected function of p53 in curbing replication stress by limiting PARP1 activity and preventing the unscheduled degradation of deprotected stalled forks. We searched for p53-dependent factors and elucidated RRM2B as a prime factor. Deficiency in p53/RRM2B results in the activation of an NRF2 antioxidant transcriptional program, with a concomitant elevation in basal PARylation in cells. Dissecting the consequences of p53/RRM2B loss revealed a crosstalk between redox metabolism and genome integrity that is negotiated through a hitherto undescribed NRF2-PARP1 axis, and pinpoint G6PD as a primary oxidative stress-induced NRF2 target and activator of basal PARylation. This study elucidates how loss of p53 could be destabilizing for the replicating genome and, importantly, describes an unanticipated crosstalk between redox metabolism, PARP1 and p53 tumor suppressor pathway that is broadly relevant in cancers and can be leveraged therapeutically.

Surveillance for Presumed BD-IPMN of the Pancreas: Stability, Size, and Age Identify Targets for Discontinuation.

BACKGROUND & AIMS: Currently, most patients with branch duct intraductal papillary mucinous neoplasms (BD-IPMN) are offered indefinite surveillance, resulting in health care costs with questionable benefits regarding cancer prevention. This study sought to identify patients in whom the risk of cancer is equivalent to an age-matched population, thereby justifying discontinuation of surveillance. METHODS: International multicenter study involving presumed BD-IPMN without worrisome features (WFs) or high-risk stigmata (HRS) at diagnosis who underwent surveillance. Clusters of individuals at risk for cancer development were defined according to cyst size and stability for at least 5 years, and age-matched controls were used for comparison using standardized incidence ratios (SIRs) for pancreatic cancer. RESULTS: Of 3844 patients with presumed BD-IPMN, 775 (20.2%) developed WFs and 68 (1.8%) HRS after a median surveillance of 53 (interquartile range 53) months. Some 164 patients (4.3%) underwent surgery. Of the overall cohort, 1617 patients (42%) remained stable without developing WFs or HRS for at least 5 years. In patients 75 years or older, the SIR was 1.12 (95% CI, 0.23-3.39), and in patients 65 years or older with stable lesions smaller than 15 mm in diameter after 5 years, the SIR was 0.95 (95% CI, 0.11-3.42). The all-cause mortality for patients who did not develop WFs or HRS for at least 5 years was 4.9% (n = 79), and the disease-specific mortality was 0.3% (n = 5). CONCLUSIONS: The risk of developing pancreatic malignancy in presumed BD-IPMN without WFs or HRS after 5 years of surveillance is comparable to that of the general population depending on cyst size and patient age. Surveillance discontinuation could be justified after 5 years of stability in patients older than 75 years with cysts <30 mm, and in patients 65 years or older who have cysts ≤15 mm.

Evaluating the economic efficiency of open, laparoscopic, and robotic distal pancreatectomy: an updated systematic review and network meta-analysis.

BACKGROUND: This study compared the cost-effectiveness of open (ODP), laparoscopic (LDP), and robotic (RDP) distal pancreatectomy (DP). METHODS: Studies reporting the costs of DP were included in a literature search until August 2023. Bayesian network meta-analysis was conducted, and surface under cumulative ranking area (SUCRA) values, mean difference (MD), odds ratio (OR), and 95% credible intervals (CrIs) were calculated for outcomes of interest. Cluster analysis was performed to examine the similarity and classification of DP approaches into homogeneous clusters. A decision model-based cost-utility analysis was conducted for the cost-effectiveness analysis of DP strategies. RESULTS: Twenty-six studies with 29,164 patients were included in the analysis. Among the three groups, LDP had the lowest overall costs, while ODP had the highest overall costs (LDP vs. ODP: MD - 3521.36, 95% CrI - 6172.91 to - 1228.59). RDP had the highest procedural costs (ODP vs. RDP: MD - 4311.15, 95% CrI - 6005.40 to - 2599.16; LDP vs. RDP: MD - 3772.25, 95% CrI - 4989.50 to - 2535.16), but incurred the lowest hospitalization costs. Both LDP (MD - 3663.82, 95% CrI - 6906.52 to - 747.69) and RDP (MD - 6678.42, 95% CrI - 11,434.30 to - 2972.89) had significantly reduced hospitalization costs compared to ODP. LDP and RDP demonstrated a superior profile regarding costs-morbidity, costs-mortality, costs-efficacy, and costs-utility compared to ODP. Compared to ODP, LDP and RDP cost $3110 and $817 less per patient, resulting in 0.03 and 0.05 additional quality-adjusted life years (QALYs), respectively, with positive incremental net monetary benefit (NMB). RDP costs $2293 more than LDP with a negative incremental NMB but generates 0.02 additional QALYs with improved postoperative morbidity and spleen preservation. Probabilistic sensitivity analysis suggests that LDP and RDP are more cost-effective options compared to ODP at various willingness-to-pay thresholds. CONCLUSION: LDP and RDP are more cost-effective than ODP, with LDP exhibiting better cost savings and RDP demonstrating superior surgical outcomes and improved QALYs.

Optimal treatment strategies for gallbladder disease in pregnancy: a systematic review with dual network meta-analyses.

BACKGROUND: This study sought to determine the optimal treatment strategy and timing for cholecystectomy in managing gallbladder diseases during pregnancy. It evaluated the effectiveness of conservative management (CM), laparoscopic cholecystectomy (LC), and open cholecystectomy (OC) in pregnancy and compared cholecystectomy outcomes across three trimesters. METHODS: Studies comparing CM, LC, and OC or evaluating cholecystectomy outcomes across trimesters were included in a literature search until February 2024. Studies included were required to have at least 10 cases per treatment group and perform statistical comparisons. Two Bayesian network meta-analyses (NMAs) were conducted, and surface under cumulative ranking area (SUCRA) values, risk ratio (RR), mean difference (MD), and 95% credible intervals (CrIs) were calculated for outcomes of interest. RESULTS: Our study included 17 studies with 63,523 pregnant patients. The first NMA included data from 12 studies involving 29,052 pregnant women, revealing that LC had the lowest risk for preterm delivery, significantly lower than CM (RR: 0.23, 95% CrI: 0.07-0.55). LC also had a significantly reduced risk of fetal complications (RR: 0.42, 95% CrI: 0.16-0.57) and maternal complications (RR: 0.44, 95% CrI: 0.15-0.50) compared to OC. LC was associated with a significantly shorter length of stay than OC (MD: -2.77, 95% CrI: -8.37 to -2.87). The second NMA analyzed data from five population-based studies with 34,471 pregnant patients, finding no significant differences in preterm delivery and abortion rates across the three trimesters following cholecystectomy. Cholecystectomy performed in the third trimester significantly increased the risk of maternal complications, with relative risks compared to first (RR: 0.48, 95% CrI: 0.22-1.00) and second trimesters (RR: 0.42, 95% CrI: 0.21-0.93). CONCLUSIONS: LC is deemed the optimal treatment for gallbladder diseases during pregnancy. While cholecystectomy is safe to be performed across all trimesters, careful deliberation is recommended during the third trimester due to an increased risk of maternal complications.

Evaluation of the American College of Surgeons risk calculator in hepatectomy for metastatic colorectal cancer in a Southeast Asian population.

PURPOSE: This study evaluated the accuracy of the American College of Surgeons National Surgical Quality Improvement Program (ACS-NSQIP) calculator in predicting outcomes after hepatectomy for colorectal cancer (CRC) liver metastasis in a Southeast Asian population. METHODS: Predicted and actual outcomes were compared for 166 patients undergoing hepatectomy for CRC liver metastasis identified between 2017 and 2022, using receiver operating characteristic curves with area under the curve (AUC) and Brier score. RESULTS: The ACS-NSQIP calculator accurately predicted most postoperative complications (AUC > 0.70), except for surgical site infection (AUC = 0.678, Brier score = 0.045). It also exhibited satisfactory performance for readmission (AUC = 0.818, Brier score = 0.011), reoperation (AUC = 0.945, Brier score = 0.002), and length of stay (LOS, AUC = 0.909). The predicted LOS was close to the actual LOS (5.9 vs. 5.0 days, P = 0.985). CONCLUSION: The ACS-NSQIP calculator demonstrated generally accurate predictions for 30-day postoperative outcomes after hepatectomy for CRC liver metastasis in our patient population.

Short-term outcomes of laparoscopic and robotic limited resections of pancreatic neuroendocrine tumours of the uncinate process: Report of six cases and review of the literature.

INTRODUCTION: Minimally invasive surgery (MIS) for limited resections for pancreatic uncinate lesions is not widely performed but can adequately treat benign or low-grade malignant lesions. The aim of this study was to evaluate the short-term outcomes of MIS-limited pancreatic resections for patients with suspected pancreatic neuroendocrine tumours (PNETs). PATIENTS AND METHODS: This was a retrospective study of six consecutive patients who underwent MIS for PNET within a single institution between 2017 and 2022. RESULTS: Six patients underwent limited pancreas-preserving MIS of the uncinate process (uncinectomy or enucleation), of which two were performed through the robotic approach and four through laparoscopic approach. The median operation time was 212.5 (175-338.75) min, and the median blood loss was 50 (50-112.5) ml. The median post-operative hospital length of stay was 5.5 (3.75-11.5) days. Two patients (33.3%) had major post-operative morbidities (Clavien-Dindo ≥Grade 3). There were no open conversions or post-operative mortalities. Five patients had histologically proven Grade 1 neuroendocrine tumours. One was T2 and four were T1. CONCLUSIONS: This study suggests that limited MIS resections of pancreatic uncinate PNETs are a feasible procedure with good patient outcomes. It offers a safe alternative to radical surgical resections like pancreatoduodenectomies in selected patients with low-grade malignant or benign tumours.

Limited liver resections in the posterosuperior segments: international multicentre propensity score-matched and coarsened exact-matched analysis comparing the laparoscopic and robotic approaches.

BACKGROUND: Limited liver resections (LLRs) for tumours located in the posterosuperior segments of the liver are technically demanding procedures. This study compared outcomes of robotic (R) and laparoscopic (L) LLR for tumours located in the posterosuperior liver segments (IV, VII, and VIII). METHODS: This was an international multicentre retrospective analysis of patients who underwent R-LLR or L-LLR at 24 centres between 2010 and 2019. Patient demographics, perioperative parameters, and postoperative outcomes were analysed; 1 : 3 propensity score matching (PSM) and 1 : 1 coarsened exact matching (CEM) were performed. RESULTS: Of 1566 patients undergoing R-LLR and L-LLR, 983 met the study inclusion criteria. Before matching, 159 R-LLRs and 824 L-LLRs were included. After 1 : 3 PSM of 127 R-LLRs and 381 L-LLRs, comparison of perioperative outcomes showed that median blood loss (100 (i.q.r. 40-200) versus 200 (100-500) ml; P = 0.003), blood loss of at least 500 ml (9 (7.4 per cent) versus 94 (27.6 per cent); P < 0.001), intraoperative blood transfusion rate (4 (3.1 per cent) versus 38 (10.0 per cent); P = 0.025), rate of conversion to open surgery (1 (0.8 per cent) versus 30 (7.9 per cent); P = 0.022), median duration of Pringle manoeuvre when applied (30 (20-46) versus 40 (25-58) min; P = 0.012), and median duration of operation (175 (130-255) versus 224 (155-300); P < 0.001) were lower in the R-LLR group compared with the L-LLR group. After 1 : 1 CEM of 104 R-LLRs with 104 L-LLRs, R-LLR was similarly associated with significantly reduced blood loss and a lower rate of conversion to open surgery. CONCLUSION: Based on a matched analysis of well selected patients, both robotic and laparoscopic access could be undertaken safely with good outcomes for tumours in the posterosuperior liver segments.

Genome-wide CRISPR knockout screens identify NCAPG as an essential oncogene for hepatocellular carcinoma tumor growth.

Hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) is a common and deadly cancer with limited treatment options. Through genome-wide growth depletion screens using clustered regularly interspaced short palindromic repeats and expression profiling of primary HCC tumors, we identified 13 clinically relevant target genes with therapeutic potential. Subsequent functional annotation analysis revealed significant enrichment of these 13 genes in the cell cycle, cell death, and survival pathways. Non-structural maintenance of chromosomes condensin I complex subunit G (NCAPG) was ranked the highest among the depletion screens and multiple HCC expression datasets. Transient inhibition of NCAPG using specific small interfering RNAs resulted in a significant reduction in cell growth, migration, and the down-regulation of mitochondrial gene expression in vitro. Small homologous RNA-mediated knockdown of NCAPG significantly impaired cell viability, caused aberrant mitotic division, fragmented the mitochondrial network, and increased cell death in vitro. HCC cells with a reduced expression of NCAPG formed significantly smaller xenograft tumors in vivo. Importantly, high NCAPG expression was significantly associated with poorer overall and disease-free survival in HCC patients. High NCAPG expression is a novel prognostic biomarker to predict HCC early recurrence after surgical resection. In conclusion, NCAPG is an essential gene for HCC tumor cell survival. It represents a promising novel target for treating HCC and a prognostic biomarker for clinical management of HCC.-Wang, Y., Gao, B., Tan, P. Y., Handoko, Y. A., Sekar, K., Deivasigamani, A., Seshachalam, V. P., OuYang, H.-Y., Shi, M., Xie, C., Goh, B. K. P., Ooi, L. L., Hui, K. M. Genome-wide CRISPR knockout screens identify NCAPG as an essential oncogene for hepatocellular carcinoma tumor growth.

NUF2 is a valuable prognostic biomarker to predict early recurrence of hepatocellular carcinoma after surgical resection.

Early tumor recurrence after curative surgical resection poses a great challenge to the clinical management of hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC). We conducted whole genome expression microarrays on 64 primary HCC tumors with clinically defined recurrence status and cross-referenced with RNA-seq data from 18 HCC tumors in the Cancer Genome Atlas project. We identified a 77-gene signature, which is significantly associated with early recurrent (ER) HCC tumors. This ER-associated signature shows significant enrichment in genes involved in cell cycle pathway. We performed receiver operating characteristic (ROC) analysis to evaluate the prognostic biomarker potential of these 77 genes and Pearson correlation analysis to identify 11 close clusters. The one gene with the best area under the ROC curve in each of the 11 clusters was selected for validation using reverse-transcription quantitative PCR in an independent cohort of 24 HCC tumors. NUF2 was identified to be the minimal biomarker sufficient to discriminate ER tumors from LR tumors. NUF2 in combination with liver cirrhosis could significantly improve the detection of ER tumors with an AUROC of 0.82 and 0.85 in the test and validation cohort, respectively. In conclusion, NUF2 in combination with liver cirrhosis is a promising prognostic biomarker for early HCC recurrence.

Clinicopathologic Characteristics and Survival of Patients with Gastroenteropancreatic Neuroendocrine Neoplasm in a Multi-Ethnic Asian Institution.

BACKGROUND: Epidemiological evidence suggests there are differences in gastroenteropancreatic neuroendocrine neoplasm (GEPNEN) among population groups. We aimed to contribute to the current evidence by evaluating the clinicopathological characteristics of GEPNEN in a multi-ethnic Asian group. MATERIALS AND METHODS: This was a retrospective chart review of patients diagnosed with GEPNEN at a tertiary medical institution at Singhealth Outram Campus, Singapore, between 1995 and 2015. RESULTS: Two hundred ninety-five patients were included in the evaluation, comprising Chinese (74.6%), Malay (4.4%), Indian (9.5%) and other (11.5%) ethnic backgrounds. The median age at diagnosis was 59 years; 52.5% were males. Distribution of disease stage at diagnosis was: localised (42.4%), regional (15.3%) and distant (38.0%). The three most common primary tumour sites were located in the pancreas (38.6%), rectum (19.7%) and stomach (9.5%), which varied significantly with ethnic background and age at diagnosis. Malay patients were younger (median 42 years) at diagnosis than Chinese (60 years). Patients with an appendiceal neuroendocrine neoplasm (NEN) (48 years) were younger compared to oesophageal NEN (66 years). Disease stage correlated with primary tumour site and grade (p < 0.001). Median overall survival (OS) for all GEPNEN was 10.2 years. Age at diagnosis, disease stage and grading were prognostic factors of OS in multivariable analyses. CONCLUSION: Our findings correspond with other studies that focus on GEPNEN incidences in Asian countries, with the pancreas, rectum and stomach being the most common primary tumour sites. Our findings suggest racial differences in primary tumour site and age at diagnosis. Further prospective population-based registries are required to understand these epidemiological differences.

A Clinical Scoring System to Predict the Clinical Sequelae of Computed Tomography Diagnosed Intussusception.

INTRODUCTION: Intussusception in adults is increasingly diagnosed on cross-sectional imaging with a lack of clear recommendations on management. The presence of an underlying lead point is a key to guiding management as its absence can predict spontaneous resolution. We studied adult patients with computed tomography (CT) diagnosed intussusception formulate a clinical scoring system to predict the risk of an underlying lead point. METHODOLOGY: We performed a retrospective review of all adult patients who underwent CT scans of the abdomen and pelvis in our institution between 2001 and 2014. Independent associations of an underlying lead point were derived following multivariable analysis, from which a clinical scoring system was developed. RESULTS: We studied 140 patients. In multivariable analysis, six factors were found to be independently associated with the presence of an underlying lead point, namely gender, abdominal pain, CT evidence of colonic involvement, CT evidence of a lead point, distal diameter ≥27 mm and minimum wall thickness ≥3 mm. A nine-point clinical scoring system was developed, with a cutoff score of four or higher yielding a sensitivity and specificity of 0.75 and 0.81, respectively. CONCLUSION: Our clinical scoring system provides a quantitative tool to predict the likelihood of an underlying lead point in CT-diagnosed intussusception in adults to help guide management.

Emergency hand-assisted laparoscopic haemostasis for post-operative haemorrhage following laparoscopic liver resection.

INTRODUCTION: The use of laparoscopic surgery for liver resection and the management of abdominal emergencies has been well established. However, the value of this technique for post-operative haemorrhage in liver resection has not been characterized. CASE DESCRIPTION: We describe a case of post-operative haemorrhage following an elective totally laparoscopic liver resection that was treated with emergency hand-assisted laparoscopic haemostasis. DISCUSSION: Emergency hand-assisted laparoscopic haemostasis in the setting of post-operative haemorrhage after laparoscopic liver resection is feasible and should be considered as a treatment option in suitable patients.

The microtubule-associated protein PRC1 promotes early recurrence of hepatocellular carcinoma in association with the Wnt/ß-catenin signalling pathway.

OBJECTIVES: Hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) is the second leading cause of cancer mortality worldwide. Alterations in microtubule-associated proteins (MAPs) have been observed in HCC. However, the mechanisms underlying these alterations remain poorly understood. Our aim was to study the roles of the MAP protein regulator of cytokinesis 1 (PRC1) in hepatocarcinogenesis and early HCC recurrence. DESIGN: PRC1 expression in HCC samples was evaluated by microarray, immunoblotting and immunohistochemistry analysis. Molecular and cellular techniques including siRNA-mediated and lentiviral vector-mediated knockdown were used to elucidate the functions and mechanisms of PRC1. RESULTS: PRC1 expression was associated with early HCC recurrence and poor patient outcome. In HCC, PRC1 exerted an oncogenic effect by promoting cancer proliferation, stemness, metastasis and tumourigenesis. We further demonstrated that the expression and distribution of PRC1 is dynamically regulated by Wnt3a signalling. PRC1 knockdown impaired transcription factor (TCF) transcriptional activity, decreased Wnt target expression and reduced nuclear ß-catenin levels. Mechanistically, PRC1 interacts with the ß-catenin destruction complex, regulates Wnt3a-induced membrane sequestration of this destruction complex, inhibits adenomatous polyposis coli (APC) stability and promotes ß-catenin release from the APC complex. In vivo, high PRC1 expression correlated with nuclear ß-catenin and Wnt target expression. PRC1 acted as a master regulator of a set of 48 previously identified Wnt-regulated recurrence-associated genes (WRRAGs) in HCC. Thus, PRC1 controlled the expression and function of WRRAGs such as FANCI, SPC25, KIF11 and KIF23 via Wnt signalling. CONCLUSIONS: We identified PRC1 as a novel Wnt target that functions in a positive feedback loop that reinforces Wnt signalling to promote early HCC recurrence.

Single administration of Selective Internal Radiation Therapy versus continuous treatment with sorafeNIB in locally advanced hepatocellular carcinoma (SIRveNIB): study protocol for a phase iii randomized controlled trial.

BACKGROUND: Approximately 20 % of hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) patients diagnosed in the early stages may benefit from potentially curative ablative therapies such as surgical resection, transplantation or radiofrequency ablation. For patients not eligible for such options, prognosis is poor. Sorafenib and Selective Internal Radiation Therapy (SIRT) are clinically proven treatment options in patients with unresectable HCC, and this study aims to assess overall survival following either SIRT or Sorafenib therapy for locally advanced HCC patients. METHODS: This investigator-initiated, multi-centre, open-label, randomized, controlled trial will enrol 360 patients with locally advanced HCC, as defined by Barcelona Clinic Liver Cancer stage B or stage C, without distant metastases, and which is not amenable to immediate curative treatment. Exclusion criteria include previous systemic therapy, metastatic disease, complete occlusion of the main portal vein, or a Child-Pugh score of >7. Eligible patients will be randomised 1:1 and stratified by centre and presence or absence of portal vein thrombosis to receive either a single administration of SIRT using yttrium-90 resin microspheres (SIR-Spheres®, Sirtex Medical Limited, Sydney, Australia) targeted at HCC in the liver by the trans-arterial route or continuous oral Sorafenib (Nexavar®, Bayer Pharma AG, Berlin, Germany) at a dose of 400 mg twice daily until disease progression, no further response, complete regression or unacceptable toxicity. Patients for both the Sorafenib and SIRT arms will be followed-up every 4 weeks for the first 3 months and 12 weekly thereafter. Overall survival is the primary endpoint, assessed for the intention-to-treat population. Secondary endpoints are tumour response rate, time-to-tumour progression, progression free survival, quality of life and down-staging to receive potentially curative therapy. DISCUSSION: Definitive data comparing these two therapies will help to determine clinical practice in the large group of patients with locally advanced HCC and improve outcomes for such patients. TRIAL REGISTRATION: ClinicalTrials.gov identifier, NCT01135056 , first received 24, May 2010.

The impact of hospital volume on liver resection: A systematic review and Bayesian network meta-analysis.

BACKGROUND: This study aims to compare the outcomes of high-volume, medium-volume, and low-volume hospitals performing hepatic resections using a network meta-analysis. METHODS: A literature search until June 2023 was conducted across major databases to identify studies comparing outcomes in high-volume, medium-volume, and low-volume hospitals for liver resection. Bayesian network meta-analysis was conducted, and surface under cumulative ranking area values, odds ratio, and mean difference with 95% credible intervals were reported for postoperative mortality, failure-to-rescue, morbidity, length of stay, and hospital costs. RESULTS: Twenty studies comprising 248,707 patients undergoing liver resection were included. For the primary mortality outcome, overall and subgroup analyses were performed: group I: high-volume = 5 to 20 resections/year; group II: high-volume = 21 to 49 resections/year; group III: high-volume ≥50 resections/year. Results demonstrated a significant association between hospital volume and mortality (overall-high-volume versus medium-volume: odds ratio 0.66, 95% credible interval 0.49-0.87; high-volume versus low-volume: odds ratio 0.52, 95% credible interval 0.41-0.65; group I-high-volume versus low-volume: odds ratio 0.34, 95% credible interval 0.22-0.50; medium-volume versus low-volume: odds ratio 0.56, 95% credible interval 0.33-0.92; group II-high-volume versus low-volume: odds ratio 0.67, 95% credible interval 0.45-0.91), as well as length of stay (high-volume versus low-volume: mean difference -1.24, 95% credible interval -2.07 to -0.41), favoring high-volume hospitals. No significant difference was observed in failure-to-rescue, morbidity, or hospital costs across the 3 groups. CONCLUSION: This study supports a positive relationship between hospital volume and surgical outcomes in liver resection. Patients from high-volume hospitals experience superior outcomes in terms of lower postoperative mortality and shorter lengths of stay than medium-volume and low-volume hospitals.

Comparative cost-effectiveness of open, laparoscopic, and robotic liver resection: A systematic review and network meta-analysis.

BACKGROUND: This study evaluated the cost-effectiveness of open, laparoscopic, and robotic liver resection. METHODS: A comprehensive literature review and Bayesian network meta-analysis were conducted. Surface under cumulative ranking area values, mean difference, odds ratio, and 95% credible intervals were calculated for all outcomes. Cluster analysis was performed to determine the most cost-effective clustering approach. Costs-morbidity, costs-mortality, and costs-efficacy were the primary outcomes assessed, with postoperative overall morbidity, mortality, and length of stay associated with total costs for open, laparoscopic, and robotic liver resection. RESULTS: Laparoscopic liver resection incurred the lowest total costs (laparoscopic liver resection versus open liver resection: mean difference -2,529.84, 95% credible intervals -4,192.69 to -884.83; laparoscopic liver resection versus robotic liver resection: mean difference -3,363.37, 95% credible intervals -5,629.24 to -1,119.38). Open liver resection had the lowest procedural costs but incurred the highest hospitalization costs compared to laparoscopic liver resection and robotic liver resection. Conversely, robotic liver resection had the highest total and procedural costs but the lowest hospitalization costs. Robotic liver resection and laparoscopic liver resection had a significantly reduced length of stay than open liver resection and showed less postoperative morbidity. Laparoscopic liver resection resulted in the lowest readmission and liver-specific complication rates. Laparoscopic liver resection and robotic liver resection demonstrated advantages in costs-morbidity efficiency. While robotic liver resection offered notable benefits in mortality and length of stay, these were balanced against its highest total costs, presenting a nuanced trade-off in the costs-mortality and costs-efficacy analyses. CONCLUSION: Laparoscopic liver resection represents a more cost-effective option for hepatectomy with superior postoperative outcomes and shorter length of stay than open liver resection. Robotic liver resection, though costlier than laparoscopic liver resection, along with laparoscopic liver resection, consistently exceeds open liver resection in surgical performance.

Evaluation of the impact of prospective payment systems on cholecystectomy: A systematic review and meta-analysis.

This systematic review and meta-analysis aimed to evaluate the impact of prospective payment systems (PPSs) on cholecystectomy. A comprehensive literature review was conducted, examining studies published until December 2023. The review process focused on identifying research across major databases that reported critical outcomes such as length of stay (LOS), mortality, complications, admissions, readmissions, and costs following PPS for cholecystectomy. The studies were specifically selected for their relevance to the impact of PPS or the transition from fee-for-service (FFS) to PPS. The study analyzed six papers, with three eligible for meta-analysis, to assess the impact of the shift from FFS to PPS in laparoscopic and open cholecystectomy procedures. Our findings indicated no significant changes in LOS and mortality rates following the transition from FFS to PPS. Complication rates varied and were influenced by the diagnosis-related group categorization and surgeon cost profiles under episode-based payment. There was a slight increase in admissions and readmissions, and mixed effects on hospital costs and financial margins, suggesting varied responses to PPS for cholecystectomy procedures. The impact of PPS on cholecystectomy is nuanced and varies across different aspects of healthcare delivery. Our findings indicate a need for adaptable, patient-centered PPS models that balance economic efficiency with high-quality patient care. The study emphasizes the importance of considering specific surgical procedures and patient demographics in healthcare payment reforms.

ArtiSential® laparoscopic cholecystectomy versus single-fulcrum laparoscopic cholecystectomy: Which minimally invasive surgery is better?

Backgrounds/Aims: In recent years, many minimally invasive techniques have been introduced to reduce the number of ports in laparoscopic cholecystectomy (LC), offering benefits such as reduced postoperative pain and improved cosmetic outcomes. ArtiSential® is a new multi-degree-of-freedom articulating laparoscopic instrument that incorporates the ergonomic features of robotic surgery, potentially overcoming the spatial limitations of laparoscopic surgery. ArtiSential® LC can be performed using only two ports. This study aims to compare the surgical outcomes of ArtiSential® LC with those of single-fulcrum LC. Methods: This retrospective study compared ArtiSential® LC and single-fulcrum LC among LCs performed for gallbladder (GB) stones at the same center, analyzing the basic characteristics of patients; intraoperative outcomes, such as operative time, estimated blood loss, and intraoperative GB rupture; and postoperative outcomes, such as length of hospital stay, incidence of postoperative complications, and postoperative pain. Results: A total of 88 and 63 patients underwent ArtiSential® LC and single-fulcrum LC for GB stones, respectively. Analysis showed that ArtiSential® LC resulted in significantly fewer cases of surgeries longer than 60 minutes (30 vs. 35 min, p = 0.009) and intraoperative GB ruptures (2 vs. 10, p = 0.007). In terms of postoperative outcomes, ArtiSential® LC showed better results in the respective visual analog scale (VAS) scores immediately after surgery (2.59 vs. 3.73, p < 0.001), and before discharge (1.44 vs. 2.02, p = 0.01). Conclusions: ArtiSential® LC showed better results in terms of surgical outcomes, especially postoperative pain. Thus, ArtiSential® LC is considered the better option for patients, compared to single-fulcrum LC.

Histone-lysine N-methyltransferase EHMT2 (G9a) inhibition mitigates tumorigenicity in Myc-driven liver cancer.

Hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) is the third deadliest and sixth most common cancer in the world. Histone-lysine N-methyltransferase EHMT2 (also known as G9a) is a histone methyltransferase frequently overexpressed in many cancer types, including HCC. We showed that Myc-driven liver tumours have a unique H3K9 methylation pattern with corresponding G9a overexpression. This phenomenon of increased G9a was further observed in our c-Myc-positive HCC patient-derived xenografts. More importantly, we showed that HCC patients with higher c-Myc and G9a expression levels portend a poorer survival with lower median survival months. We demonstrated that c-Myc interacts with G9a in HCC and cooperates to regulate c-Myc-dependent gene repression. In addition, G9a stabilises c-Myc to promote cancer development, contributing to the growth and invasive capacity in HCC. Furthermore, combination therapy between G9a and synthetic-lethal target of c-Myc, CDK9, demonstrates strong efficacy in patient-derived avatars of Myc-driven HCC. Our work suggests that targeting G9a could prove to be a potential therapeutic avenue for Myc-driven liver cancer. This will increase our understanding of the underlying epigenetic mechanisms of aggressive tumour initiation and lead to improved therapeutic and diagnostic options for Myc-driven hepatic tumours.