EUS-Guided Choledocho-duodenostomy Using Lumen Apposing Stent Versus ERCP With Covered Metallic Stents in Patients With Unresectable Malignant Distal Biliary Obstruction: A Multicenter Randomized Controlled Trial (DRA-MBO Trial).

BACKGROUND & AIMS: Several studies have compared primary endoscopic ultrasound (EUS)-guided biliary drainage to endoscopic retrograde cholangiopancreatography (ERCP) with insertion of metal stents in unresectable malignant distal biliary obstruction (MDBO) and the results were conflicting. The aim of the current study was to compare the outcomes of the procedures in a large-scale study. METHODS: This was a multicenter international randomized controlled study. Consecutive patients admitted for obstructive jaundice due to unresectable MDBO were recruited. Patients were randomly allocated to receive EUS-guided choledocho-duodenostomy (ECDS) or ERCP for drainage. The primary outcome was the 1-year stent patency rate. Other outcomes included technical success, clinical success, adverse events, time to stent dysfunction, reintervention rates, and overall survival. RESULTS: Between January 2017 and February 2021, 155 patients were recruited (ECDS 79, ERCP 76). There were no significant differences in 1-year stent patency rates (ECDS 91.1% vs ERCP 88.1%, P = .52). The ECDS group had significantly higher technical success (ECDS 96.2% vs ERCP 76.3%, P < .001), whereas clinical success was similar (ECDS 93.7% vs ERCP 90.8%, P = .559). The median (interquartile range) procedural time was significantly shorter in the ECDS group (ECDS 10 [5.75-18] vs ERCP 25 [14-40] minutes, P < .001). The rate of 30-day adverse events (P = 1) and 30-day mortality (P = .53) were similar. CONCLUSION: Both procedures could be options for primary biliary drainage in unresectable MDBO. ECDS was associated with higher technical success and shorter procedural time then ERCP. Primary ECDS may be preferred when difficult ERCPs are anticipated. This study was registered to Clinicaltrials.gov NCT03000855.

TP53 R249S mutation in hepatic organoids captures the predisposing cancer risk.

BACKGROUND AND AIMS: Major genomic drivers of hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) are nowadays well recognized, although models to establish their roles in human HCC initiation remain scarce. Here, we used human liver organoids in experimental systems to mimic the early stages of human liver carcinogenesis from the genetic lesions of TP53 loss and L3 loop R249S mutation. In addition, chromatin immunoprecipitation sequencing (ChIP-seq) of HCC cell lines shed important functional insights into the initiation of HCC consequential to the loss of tumor-suppressive function from TP53 deficiency and gain-of-function activities from mutant p53. APPROACH AND RESULTS: Human liver organoids were generated from surgical nontumor liver tissues. CRISPR knockout of TP53 in liver organoids consistently demonstrated tumor-like morphological changes, increased in stemness and unrestricted in vitro propagation. To recapitulate TP53 status in human HCC, we overexpressed mutant R249S in TP53 knockout organoids. A spontaneous increase in tumorigenic potentials and bona fide HCC histology in xenotransplantations were observed. ChIP-seq analysis of HCC cell lines underscored gain-of-function properties from L3 loop p53 mutants in chromatin remodeling and overcoming extrinsic stress. More importantly, direct transcriptional activation of PSMF1 by mutant R249S could increase organoid resistance to endoplasmic reticulum stress, which was readily abrogated by PSMF1 knockdown in rescue experiments. In a patient cohort of primary HCC tumors and genome-edited liver organoids, quantitative polymerase chain reaction corroborated ChIP-seq findings and verified preferential genes modulated by L3 mutants, especially those enriched by R249S. CONCLUSIONS: We showed differential tumorigenic effects from TP53 loss and L3 mutations, which together confer normal hepatocytes with early clonal advantages and prosurvival functions.

AI-powered prediction of HCC recurrence after surgical resection: Personalised intervention opportunities using patient-specific risk factors.

BACKGROUND: Hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) recurrence following surgical resection remains a significant clinical challenge, necessitating reliable predictive models to guide personalised interventions. In this study, we sought to harness the power of artificial intelligence (AI) to develop a robust predictive model for HCC recurrence using comprehensive clinical datasets. METHODS: Leveraging data from 958 patients across multiple centres in Australia and Hong Kong, we employed a multilayer perceptron (MLP) as the optimal classifier for model generation. RESULTS: Through rigorous internal cross-validation, including a cohort from the Chinese University of Hong Kong (CUHK), our AI model successfully identified specific pre-surgical risk factors associated with HCC recurrence. These factors encompassed hepatic synthetic function, liver disease aetiology, ethnicity and modifiable metabolic risk factors, collectively contributing to the predictive synergy of our model. Notably, our model exhibited high accuracy during cross-validation (.857 ± .023) and testing on the CUHK cohort (.835), with a notable degree of confidence in predicting HCC recurrence within accurately classified patient cohorts. To facilitate clinical application, we developed an online AI digital tool capable of real-time prediction of HCC recurrence risk, demonstrating acceptable accuracy at the individual patient level. CONCLUSION: Our findings underscore the potential of AI-driven predictive models in facilitating personalised risk stratification and targeted interventions to mitigate HCC recurrence by identifying modifiable risk factors unique to each patient. This model aims to aid clinicians in devising strategies to disrupt the underlying carcinogenic network driving recurrence.

Comparison of clinical outcome between laparoscopic and open hepatectomy of high difficulty score for hepatocellular carcinoma: a propensity score analysis.

BACKGROUND: Laparoscopic liver resection (LLR) of high difficulty score is technically challenging. There is a lack of clinical evidence to support its applicability in terms of the long-term survival benefits. This study aims to compare clinical outcomes between LLR and the open liver resection of high difficulty score for hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC). MATERIALS AND METHODS: From 2010 to 2020, using Iwate criteria, 424 patients underwent liver resection of high difficulty score by the laparoscopic (n = 65) or open (n = 359) approach. Propensity score (PS) matching was performed between the two groups. Short-term and long-term outcomes were compared between PS-matched groups. Univariate and multivariate analyses were performed to identify prognostic factors affecting survival. RESULTS: The laparoscopic group had significantly fewer severe complications (3% vs. 10.8%), and shorter median hospital stays (6 days vs. 8 days) than the open group. Meanwhile, the long-term oncological outcomes were comparable between the two groups, in terms of the tumor recurrence rate (40% vs. 46.1%), the 5-year overall survival rate (75.4% vs. 76.2%), and the 5-year recurrence-free survival rate (50.3% vs. 53.5%). The high preoperative serum alpha-fetoprotein level, multiple tumors, and severe postoperative complications were the independent poor prognostic factors associated with worse overall survival. The surgical approach (Laparoscopic vs. Open) did not influence the survival. CONCLUSION: LLR of high difficulty score for selected patients with HCC has better short-term outcomes than the open approach. More importantly, it can achieve similar long-term survival outcomes as the open approach.

Comparison of post-hepatectomy long-term survival outcome between non-colorectal non-neuroendocrine and colorectal liver metastases: A population-based propensity-score matching analysis.

BACKGROUND: Hepatectomy is an established treatment for colorectal liver metastasis (CLM) or neuroendocrine liver metastasis. However, its role in non-colorectal non-neuroendocrine liver metastasis (NCNNLM) is controversial. This study aims to compare long-term survival outcomes after hepatectomy between NCNNLM and CLM in a population-based cohort. METHODS: From 2009 to 2018, curative hepatectomy were performed in 964 patients with NCNNLM (n â€‹= â€‹133) or CLM (n â€‹= â€‹831). Propensity score (PS) matching was performed. Short-term and long-term outcomes were compared between PS-matched groups. Univariate and multivariate analyses were performed to identify prognostic factors affecting survival. RESULTS: There were 133 patients in the NCNNLM group and 266 patients in the CLM group. The mortality (1.5 â€‹% vs 1.5 â€‹%) and morbidity (19.5 â€‹% vs 20.3 â€‹%) rates were comparable between the two groups. There was no statistically significant difference in 5-year overall (48.9 â€‹% vs 39.8 â€‹%) and recurrence-free (25.1 â€‹% vs 23.4 â€‹%) survival rates between NCNNLM and CLM groups. A high pre-operative serum bilirubin level, severe postoperative complications and multiple tumors were independent prognostic factors for poor survival. CONCLUSION: Hepatectomy for selected patients with NCNNLM can achieve similar long-term oncological outcomes as those with CLM. High serum bilirubin, severe postoperative complication and multiple tumors are poor prognostic factors for survival.

Eliminating rote postoperative radiographs for surgically managed pediatric supracondylar humerus fractures.

BACKGROUND: Use of postoperative radiographs after surgical management of supracondylar humerus (SCH) fractures is often based on rote practice rather than evidence. The purpose of this study was to determine the frequency with which 3-week postoperative radiographs at the time of pin removal altered management plans in pediatric SCH fractures that were intraoperatively stable after closed reduction and percutaneous pinning (CRPP). METHODS: We prospectively recruited pediatric patients with SCH fractures managed by CRPP at our institution from June 2020 until June 2022, and reviewed retrospective data on pediatric SCH fractures managed surgically at our institution between April 2008 and March 2015. Patients were assessed for post-CRPP fracture alignment and stability. For prospective patients, we asked clinicians to document their management decision at the 3-week follow-up visit before evaluating the postoperative radiographs. Our primary outcome was change in management because of radiographic findings. RESULTS: Overall, 1066 patients in the retrospective data and 446 prospectively recruited patients met the inclusion criteria. In the prospective group, radiographic findings altered management for 2 patients (0.4%). One patient had slow callus formation and 1 patient was identified as having cubitus varus. Altered management included prolonged immobilization or additional radiographic follow-up. Radiographic findings altered management in 0 (0%) of 175 type II fractures, in 2 (0.9%) of 221 type III fractures, and in 0 (0%) of 44 type IV fractures. We obtained similar findings from retrospective data. CONCLUSION: Rote use of 3-week postoperative radiographs after surgical management of SCH fractures that are intraoperatively stable has minimal utility. Eliminating rote postoperative radiographs for SCH fractures can decrease the time and financial burdens on families and health care systems without affecting patient outcomes.

Temporal evolution and thematic shifts in sustainable construction and demolition waste management through building information modeling technologies: A text-mining analysis.

Construction and demolition activities are significant contributors to waste generation worldwide. As population growth accelerates worldwide, the amount of construction and demolition waste (C&DW) will increase proportionally unless proactive measures are implemented. This study analyzes the evolving research landscape on utilizing Building Information Modeling (BIM) technologies to advance sustainable C&DW management practices. A comprehensive text-mining analysis is conducted on 493 scholarly publications covering evolutions from January 2009 to February 2024 using the PRISMA framework. The research objectives are: (i) to identify key themes in domain of BIM technology in C&DW management using VOSviewer, (ii) to map the temporal evolution of research focus using SciMAT, and (iii) to identify emerging thematic trends.Co-occurrence analysis reveals three major research themes: (i) the use of digital twins and prefabrication for waste reduction, (ii) integrating environmental impact assessments, and (iii) data-driven decision-making. Strategic diagrams produced by SciMAT software uncover shifting priorities over the study period, with "reuse and recycling" emerging as motor themes, and "Prefabrication" (CIT = 481), "Decision Making" (CIT = 66), "Material Passport" (CIT = 92), and "Digital Twin" (CIT = 44) emerging as high-centrality and transversal themes. Temporal evolution mapping unveiled progressive integration of BIM tools such as (i) digital twins (TLS = 34, OCC = 9) and (ii) prefabrication (TLS = 40, OCC = 14), presenting opportunities to optimize waste reduction. This study offers a robust overview of the field, aiming to inform a diverse audience, including researchers from various disciplines, policymakers and industry professionals interested in advancing sustainable practices in C&DW management through innovative digital solutions.

Influence of Canadian provincial stewardship model attributes on the cost effectiveness of e-waste management.

This paper presents a comprehensive analysis of e-waste collection and management trends across six Canadian provinces, focusing on e-waste collection rates, provincial stewardship model attributes, program strategies and budget allocations from 2013 to 2020. Temporal and regression analyses were conducted using data from Electronic Product Recycling Association reports. A group characterization based on geographical proximity is proposed, aiming to explore the potential outcomes of fostering collaboration among neighboring provinces. The analysis emphasizes the significant impact of stewardship model attributes on e-waste collection rates, with Quebec emerging as a standout case, showcasing a remarkable 61.5% surge in collection rates. Findings from group analysis reveal a positive correlation between per capita e-waste collection rate and the growth of businesses and collection sites in Western Canada (Group A - British Columbia, Saskatchewan, and Manitoba). This highlights the potential benefits of a coordinated waste management approach, emphasizing the importance of shared resources and collaborative policies. Saskatchewan and Manitoba allocated only 6.6% and 7.0% of their respective budgets to e-waste transfer and storage. British Columbia's observed steady decrease of e-waste collection rate. In Group A, stewards handled 2.18-13.95 tonnes of e-waste during the study period. The cost per tonne of e-waste tended to be lower when more e-waste is managed per steward, suggesting the potential benefits of an integrated e-waste collection and management system.

The degradation of polylactic acid face mask components in different environments.

The disposal of fossil fuel-based plastics poses a huge environmental challenge, leading to increased interest in biodegradable alternatives such as polylactic acid (PLA). This study focuses on the environmental impact and degradation of PLA face mask components under various conditions (UV (Ultraviolet) radiation, DI water, landfill leachate of various ages, seawater, and enzyme). Under UV exposure, notable changes in physicochemical properties were observed in the PLA masks, including increased oxidation over time. Degradation rates varied across environments, with old landfill leachate and enzyme degradation having a notable impact, especially on meltblown layers. Furthermore, it was found that seawater conditions hampered the degradation of PLA masks, likely due to the inhibitory effect of high salt concentrations. The pathways of chemical group changes during degradation were elucidated using 2D-COS (Two-Dimensional Correlation Spectroscopy) maps. The investigation into the release of microparticles and oligomers further revealed the degradation mechanism. Moreover, PLA masks were found to release fewer microparticles when degraded in studied environments when compared to traditional polypropylene masks. Furthermore, correlation analysis highlighted the influence of factors such as carbonyl index and contact angle on degradation rates, underscoring the complex interplay between environmental conditions and PLA degradation. This comprehensive investigation advances the understanding of PLA degradation pathways, which are crucial for mitigating plastic pollution and promoting the development of sustainable products.

Lysyl hydroxylase LH1 promotes confined migration and metastasis of cancer cells by stabilizing Septin2 to enhance actin network.

BACKGROUND: Excessive extracellular matrix deposition and increased stiffness are typical features of solid tumors such as hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) and pancreatic ductal adenocarcinoma (PDAC). These conditions create confined spaces for tumor cell migration and metastasis. The regulatory mechanism of confined migration remains unclear. METHODS: LC-MS was applied to determine the differentially expressed proteins between HCC tissues and corresponding adjacent tissue. Collective migration and single cell migration microfluidic devices with 6 µm-high confined channels were designed and fabricated to mimic the in vivo confined space. 3D invasion assay was created by Matrigel and Collagen I mixture treat to adherent cells. 3D spheroid formation under various stiffness environment was developed by different substitution percentage GelMA. Immunoprecipitation was performed to pull down the LH1-binding proteins, which were identified by LC-MS. Immunofluorescent staining, FRET, RT-PCR, Western blotting, FRAP, CCK-8, transwell cell migration, wound healing, orthotopic liver injection mouse model and in vivo imaging were used to evaluate the target expression and cellular phenotype. RESULTS: Lysyl hydroxylase 1 (LH1) promoted the confined migration of cancer cells at both collective and single cell levels. In addition, LH1 enhanced cell invasion in a 3D biomimetic model and spheroid formation in stiffer environments. High LH1 expression correlated with poor prognosis of both HCC and PDAC patients, while it also promoted in vivo metastasis. Mechanistically, LH1 bound and stabilized Septin2 (SEPT2) to enhance actin polymerization, depending on the hydroxylase domain. Finally, the subpopulation with high expression of both LH1 and SEPT2 had the poorest prognosis. CONCLUSIONS: LH1 promotes the confined migration and metastasis of cancer cells by stabilizing SEPT2 and thus facilitating actin polymerization.

Baveno VII criteria identify varices needing treatment in patients with hepatocellular carcinoma of different Barcelona Clinic Liver Cancer stages.

BACKGROUND: Baveno VII criteria for predicting varices needing treatment (VNT) have not been tested in hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) population. We evaluated Baveno VII consensus for VNT in HCC patients of different stages according to Barcelona Clinic Liver Cancer (BCLC) stages undergoing curative hepatectomy. METHODS: This was a prospective cohort study of patients with HCC. Patients underwent transient elastography examination before HCC treatment and received at least one upper endoscopic examination afterwards. Patients were prospectively followed for clinical events including VNT. RESULTS: Six hundred and seventy-three patients (83.1% male, median age 62 years) with HCC of BCLC stage 0 (10%), A (57%), B (17%) and C (15%) were recruited and followed for 47 months. The median (range) LSM was 10.5 (6.9-20.4) kPa; 74% had LSM ≤ 20 kPa and 58% had platelet count ≥150 × 10/L, respectively. VNT occurred in 51 (7.6%) patients. In patients who fulfilled Baveno VII criteria, that is, LSM ≤ 20 kPa and platelet count above 150 × 10/L, only 11 (1.6%) patients had VNT. In all BCLC stages of HCC, the proportion of patients with VNT was below 5%, which support the validity and applicability of Baveno VII criteria in all BCLC stages of HCC. CONCLUSIONS: The Baveno VII criteria are valid and applicable in HCC patients undergoing curative hepatectomy for selecting patients to undergo screening endoscopy for VNT. The validity was consistent across different BCLC stages of HCC.

Acute Hyperglycemia and In-Hospital Mortality in Spontaneous Intracerebral Hemorrhage.

Hyperglycemia is reported to predict worse outcome in patients with stroke, including intracerebral hemorrhage (ICH). In 83 consecutive cases of ICH at a tertiary stroke center, hyperglycemia (serum glucose >7 mmol/L) compared to normoglycemia at presentation was associated with higher rates of in-hospital mortality (51.2% vs. 26.2%, OR 2.3, CI 1.2-7.6, p = 0.02). The association with in-hospital mortality withstood adjustment for age, ICH volume, intraventricular hemorrhage, and infratentorial ICH location, but not baseline Glasgow Coma Scale. Acute hyperglycemia is associated with in-hospital mortality in spontaneous ICH patients, though this may be an indirect, rather than a causal relationship.

The Impact of Involved Resection Margin on Recurrence and Survival After Pancreaticoduodenectomy for Periampullary Carcinoma, with Emphasis on Pancreatic Head Carcinoma.

BACKGROUND: The supposed adverse effect of involved resection margin during pancreaticoduodenectomy (PD) for periampullary carcinoma or pancreatic head carcinoma (CaP) on long-term oncological outcomes is still inconclusive. METHODS: This is a retrospective study on periampullary carcinoma undergoing PD. Patients with R0 (margin clear) resection were compared to patients with R1 (microscopically directly involved margin) resection. Patients with gross involved margin (R2 resection) were excluded. Long-term oncological outcomes measured included incidence and site of recurrent disease, overall survival (OS) and disease-free survival (DFS). A subgroup analysis was made on patients with CaP. RESULTS: Between January 2003 and December 2019, 203 PD were identified for present study. The incidence of R1 resection was common (12% in periampullary carcinoma and 20% in CaP). In periampullary carcinoma, R1 resection had greater proportion of CaP, lesser proportion of carcinoma of ampulla (CaA), more perineural invasion, more lymph node (LN) metastasis. R1 group had a shorter OS and DFS, but no difference in the incidence and site of recurrent disease. In the subgroup of CaP (91 patients), R1 group did not differ from R0 group except for more LN metastasis. There was no difference in incidence and site of recurrent disease, OS and DFS. On multivariable analysis, R1 resection was not an independent factor for OS and DFS for periampullary carcinoma or for CaP only. CONCLUSION: Involved resection margin was not uncommon. It was not associated with higher incidence of recurrent disease including local recurrence, and was not an independent prognosticator for OS and DFS.

Minimally invasive versus open liver resection for hepatocellular carcinoma: a propensity score matching analysis of 224 patients.

PURPOSE: To compare the peri-operative and long-term survival outcomes of minimally invasive liver resection (MILR) (robotic or laparoscopic) with open liver resection (OLR) in patients with hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC). METHODS: Data of patients who underwent liver resection for HCC were reviewed from a prospectively collected database. Outcomes of MILR were compared with those of OLR. A propensity score matching analysis with a ratio of 1:1 was performed to minimise the potential bias in clinical pathological factors. RESULTS: From January 2003 to December 2017, a total of 705 patients underwent liver resection for HCC. Amongst them, 112 patients received MILR and 593 patients received OLR. After propensity score matching, there were 112 patients in each of the MILR and OLR groups. Patients were matched by age, sex, hepatitis status, presence of cirrhosis, platelet count, albumin level, bilirubin level, alkaline phosphatase (ALP) level, alanine transferase (ALT) level, creatinine level, tumour differentiation, tumour size, tumour number, presence of tumour rupture, presence of vascular invasion, extent of liver resection (minor/major) and difficulty score. The 1-, 3- and 5-year overall survival rates were 94.4%, 90.4% and 82.3% in the MILR group vs 95.4%, 80.5% and 71.8% in the open group (p = 0.240). The 1-, 3- and 5-year disease-free survival rates were 81.0%, 63.1% and 55.8% in the MILR group vs 79.1%, 58.1% and 45.7 in the open group (p = 0.449). The MILR group demonstrated significantly less blood loss (p < 0.001), less blood transfusion (p = 0.004), lower post-operative complications (p < 0.001) and shorter hospital stay (p < 0.001) when compared with the OLR group. CONCLUSIONS: Our data shows MILR yielded superior post-operative outcomes to OLR, with comparable survival outcomes.

Is hepatic resection justified for non-colorectal non-neuroendocrine liver metastases? A systematic review and meta-analysis.

BACKGROUND: Hepatic resection (HR) is effective for colorectal or neuroendocrine liver metastases. However, the role of HR for non-colorectal non-neuroendocrine liver metastases (NCNNLM) is unknown. This study aims to perform a systematic review and meta-analysis on long-term clinical outcomes after HR for NCNNLM. METHODS: electronic search was performed to identify relevant publications using PRISMA and MOOSE guidelines. Primary outcomes were 3- and 5-year overall survival (OS) and disease-free survival (DFS). Secondary outcomes were post-operative morbidity and 30-day mortality. RESULTS: There were 40 selected studies involving 5696 patients with NCNNLM undergone HR. Pooled data analyses showed that the 3- and 5-year OS were 40% (95% CI 0.35-0.46) and 32% (95% CI 0.29-0.36), whereas the 3- and 5-year DFS were 28% (95% CI 0.21-0.36) and 24% (95% CI 0.20-0.30), respectively. The postoperative morbidity rate was 28%, while the 30-day mortality was 2%. Subgroup analysis on HR for gastric cancer liver metastasis revealed the 3-year and 5-year OS of 39% and 25%, respectively. CONCLUSIONS: HR for NCNNLM may achieve satisfactory survival outcome in selected patients with low morbidities and mortalities. However, more concrete evidence from prospective study is warrant in future.

Outcomes of paediatric septic arthritis patients: rates of re-admission, re-operation, and unplanned emergency room visits after discharge.

PURPOSE: This study is aimed at determining the rates and predictors of re-operation and re-admission in children with septic arthritis treated at an institution without routine clinical practice guidelines. METHODS: This is a retrospective cohort study of patients less than 18 years old who underwent surgery for septic arthritis between January 1, 2009, and January 1, 2019, at a single tertiary-care paediatric institution. Uni- and multivariate analysis was performed to identify any risk factors associated with re-operation or unplanned visits to the emergency department after hospital admission compared to patients who had an uncomplicated post-operative course. RESULTS: One hundred and forty-four patients were included. The mean age was five years (range 1 month-17 years), and the most commonly affected joint was the hip. The re-admission rate was 1% (n = 2), and the re-operation rate was 8% (n = 12). Twenty percent of patients (n = 29) had unplanned presentations to the emergency department (ED) after discharge. Discharge CRP level was not significantly higher in patients with unplanned presentations to the ED or re-operation. Positive joint fluid culture and infection of any other joint than the hip increased the likelihood of re-operation. Patients who had septic arthritis of the hip were more likely to have an unplanned ED presentation. CONCLUSIONS: Rates of re-admission and re-operation were similar to literature despite lack of a standardized treatment pathway or discharge protocol. Outcomes of pediatric septic arthritis did not correlate with discharge CRP level. There was a high rate of unplanned ED visits after discharge.

Worldwide Burden of, Risk Factors for, and Trends in Pancreatic Cancer.

BACKGROUND & AIMS: We evaluated global and regional burdens of, risk factors for, and epidemiologic trends in pancreatic cancer among groups of different sexes and ages. METHODS: We used data from the GLOBOCAN database to estimate pancreatic cancer incidence and mortality in 184 countries. We examined the association between lifestyle and metabolic risk factors, extracted from the World Health Organization Global Health Observatory database, and pancreatic cancer incidence and mortality by univariable and multivariable linear regression. We retrieved country-specific age-standardized rates (ASRs) of incidence and mortalities from cancer registries from 48 countries through 2017 for trend analysis by joinpoint regression analysis. RESULTS: The highest incidence and mortality of pancreatic cancer were in regions with very high (ASRs, 7.7 and 4.9) and high human development indexes (ASRs, 6.9 and 4.6) in 2018. Countries with higher incidence and mortality were more likely to have higher prevalence of smoking, alcohol drinking, physical inactivity, obesity, hypertension, and high cholesterol. From 2008 to 2017, 2007 to 2016, or 2003 to 2012, depending on the availability of the data, there were increases in incidence among men and women in 14 (average annual percent changes [AAPCs], 8.85 to 0.41) and 17 (AAPCs, 6.04 to 0.87) countries, respectively. For mortality, the increase was observed in 8 (AAPCs, 4.20 to 0.55) countries among men and 14 (AAPCs, 5.83 to 0.78) countries among women. Although the incidence increased in 18 countries (AAPCs, 7.83 to 0.91) among individuals 50 years or older, an increasing trend in pancreatic cancer was also identified among individuals younger than 50 years and 40 years in 8 (AAPCs, 8.75 to 2.82) and 4 (AAPCs, 11.07 to 8.31) countries, respectively. CONCLUSIONS: In an analysis of data from 48 countries, we found increasing incidence and mortality trends in pancreatic cancer, especially among women and populations 50 years or older, but also among younger individuals. More preventive efforts are recommended for these populations.

Liver stiffness measurement predicts short-term and long-term outcomes in patients with hepatocellular carcinoma after curative liver resection.

BACKGROUND AND AIM: Hepatocellular carcinoma is one of the commonest cancer in the world. Despite curative resection, recurrence remains the largest challenge. Many risk factors were identified for predicting recurrence, including liver fibrosis and cirrhosis. Transient elastography (Fibroscan) is an accurate tool in measuring liver fibrosis. This study aimed to evaluate the use of preoperative liver stiffness measurement (LSM), with Fibroscan in predicting long-term recurrence of hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) after curative resection. METHOD: A prospective cohort study was conducted from February 2010 - June 2017 in Prince of Wales hospital. All consecutive patients with HCC undergone hepatectomy were included. Demographic factors, preoperative LSM, tumor characteristics and operative details were assessed. Primary outcome and secondary outcome were overall survival and disease free survival at 1 year, 3 year and 5 year respectively. RESULTS: A total of 401 cases were included. Patients with LSM ≥12kPa had significantly lower 5-year overall survival rate (75.1% vs 57.3%, p < 0.001) and disease free survival rate (45.8% vs. 26.7%, p < 0.001). On multivariate analysis, pre-operative creatinine and vascular invasion of tumor were significant factors in predicting early recurrence (p = 0.012 and p = 0.004). LSM ≥12kPa were the only significant factor in predicting late recurrence (p = 0.048). CONCLUSION: Pre-operative liver stiffness measurement could predict the late recurrence of hepatocellular carcinoma after curative resection.

Analysis of input set characteristics and variances on k-fold cross validation for a Recurrent Neural Network model on waste disposal rate estimation.

The use of machine learning techniques in waste management studies is increasingly popular. Recent literature suggests k-fold cross validation may reduce input dataset partition uncertainties and minimize overfitting issues. The objectives are to quantify the benefits of k-fold cross validation for municipal waste disposal prediction and to identify the relationship of testing dataset variance on predictive neural network model performance. It is hypothesized that the dataset characteristics and variances may dictate the necessity of k-fold cross validation on neural network waste model construction. Seven RNN-LSTM predictive models were developed using historical landfill waste records and climatic and socio-economic data. The performance of all trials was acceptable in the training and validation stages, with MAPE all less than 10%. In this study, the 7-fold cross validation reduced the bias in selection of testing sets as it helps to reduce MAPE by up to 44.57%, MSE by up to 54.15%, and increased R value by up to 8.33%. Correlation analysis suggests that fewer outliers and less variance of the testing dataset correlated well with lower modeling error. The length of the continuous high waste season and length of total high waste period appear not important to the model performance. The result suggests that k-fold cross validation should be applied to testing datasets with higher variances. The use of MSE as an evaluation index is recommended.

Virtual Methodology for Household Waste Characterization During The Pandemic in An Urban District of Peru: Citizen Science for Waste Management.

The Covid-19 pandemic has caused the alteration of many aspects of the solid waste management chain, such as variations in the waste composition, generation and disposal. Various studies have examined these changes with analysis of integrated waste management strategies; qualitative studies on perceived variations and statistical evaluations based on waste collected or disposed in landfills. Despite this information there is a need for updated data on waste generation and composition, especially in developing countries. The objective of this article is to develop a data sampling and analytical approach for the collection of data on household waste generation and composition during the pandemic; and, in addition, estimate the daily generation of masks in the study area. The proposed methodology is based on the principles of citizen science and utilizes virtual tools to contact participants, and for the training and collection of information. The study participants collected the information, installed segregation bins in their homes and trained their relatives in waste segregation. The article presents the results of the application of the methodology in an urban district of Lima (Peru) in August 2020. The results suggest an apparent decrease in household waste per capita and a slight increase in plastics composition in the study area. It is estimated that each participant generates 0.124 masks per day and 0.085 pairs of gloves per day. The method developed and results presented can be used as a tool for public awareness and training on household waste characterization and segregation. Furthermore it can provide the necessary evidence to inform policy directives in response household waste issues and Covid-19 restrictions.