Clinical validation of a ctDNA-Based Assay for Multi-Cancer Detection: An Interim Report from a Vietnamese Longitudinal Prospective Cohort Study of 2795 Participants.

The SPOT-MAS assay "Screening for the Presence Of Tumor by Methylation And Size" detects the five most common cancers in Vietnam by evaluating circulating tumor DNA in the blood. Here, we validated its performance in a prospective multi-center clinical trial, K-DETEK. Our analysis of 2795 participants from 14 sites across Vietnam demonstrates its ability to detect cancers in asymptomatic individuals with a positive predictive value of 60%, with 83.3% accuracy in detecting tumor location. We present a case report to support further using SPOT-MAS as a complementary method to achieve early cancer detection and provide the opportunity for early treatment.

The prevalence of perceived stigma and self-blame and their associations with depression, emotional well-being and social well-being among advanced cancer patients: evidence from the APPROACH cross-sectional study in Vietnam.

BACKGROUND: There is very limited evidence on the existence of cancer-related perceived stigma and self-blame among patients with advanced cancer in Asia, and how they are associated with psychosocial outcomes. This study aimed to address the gap in the current literature by (1) assessing perceived stigma, behavioural self-blame and characterological self-blame among Vietnamese patients with advanced cancer, and (2) investigating the associations of perceived stigma and self-blame (behavioural and characterological) with depression, emotional well-being and social well-being. METHODS: This cross-sectional study involved 200 Vietnamese patients with stage IV solid cancer. Depression was measured using the Center for Epidemiologic Studies Depression (CES-D) Scale. Emotional well-being and social well-being were measured with the relevant domains of the Functional Assessment of Cancer Therapy-General (FACT-G) scale. Perceived stigma was assessed using the sense of stigma subscale of Kissane's Shame and Stigma Scale. Behavioural self-blame and characterological self-blame were measured by the patients' answers to the questions on whether their cancer was due to patient's behaviour or character. Multivariable linear regressions were used to investigate the associations while controlling for patient characteristics. RESULTS: Approximately three-fourths (79.0%, n = 158) of the participants reported perceived stigma with an average score of 20.5 ± 18.0 (out of 100). More than half of the participants reported behavioural self-blame (56.3%, n = 112) or characterological self-blame (62.3%, n = 124). Higher perceived stigma was associated with lower emotional well-being (ß = -0.0; p = 0.024). Behavioural self-blame was not significantly associated with depressive symptoms, emotional well-being or social well-being. Patients who reported characterological self-blame reported greater depressive symptoms (ß = 3.0; p = 0.020) and lower emotional well-being (ß = -1.6; p = 0.038). CONCLUSION: Perceived stigma and self-blame were common amongst Vietnamese advanced cancer patients. Perceived stigma was associated with lower emotional well-being while characterological self-blame were associated with greater depressive symptoms and lower emotional well-being. Interventions should address perceived stigma and self-blame among this population.

Three-dimensional laparoscopic surgery for colorectal cancer: A 2-year follow-up study at Hue Central Hospital.

Background: Laparoscopic surgery has brought about a revolution in clinical practice since its inception. Using a new generation three-dimensional (3D) HD laparoscopic system can be seen as a beneficial "hybrid" created by fusing two different elements: increased vision quality and the viability and diffusion of laparoscopy. This study aims to determine the surgical outcomes and two-year survival of colorectal cancer patients after 3D laparoscopic surgery. Methods: A prospective study was conducted on 60 patients with a definitive diagnosis of primary colorectal cancer. All patients underwent 3D laparoscopic colorectal resection from January 2020 to December 2021 by a single surgical team. Data were prospectively collected from Hue Central Hospital, including operative parameters and survival time. Results: The mean age was 62.0 ± 10.6 years old. D3 lymphadenectomy accounted for most cases (96.7 %). There were no intraoperative complications or conversion to open surgery. The mean operation time was 162.3 ± 25.8 min. Postoperative complications included incisional fluid collection (5 %), wound infection (3.3 %), and drainage site bleeding (1.7 %). The average length of hospital stay was 10.4 ± 4.6 days. Overall survival rate after two years was 93 %. Conclusions: 3D laparoscopic surgery for radical treatment of colorectal cancer is feasible, effective, and safe. This surgical technique offers a positive prognosis for patients.

Helicobacter pylori-Negative Gastric Mucosa-Associated Lymphoid Tissue Lymphoma in a Girl.

Introduction: Extranodal marginal zone lymphoma (MZL) arises in a number of epithelial tissues, including the stomach, salivary gland, lung, small bowel, thyroid, ocular adnexa, skin, and elsewhere. It has also been called low-grade B-cell lymphoma of mucosa-associated lymphoid tissue (MALT). MALT lymphoma predominantly occurs in adults and is rare in children. Case Presentation: We report a case of MALT lymphoma involving the stomach, which is the most common subtype, in a 12-year-old girl. Initially, the patient relapsed after antibiotic therapy but achieved successful treatment subsequently through irradiation. Conclusion: Helicobacter pylori eradication therapy should be given to all patients with gastric MZL, irrespective of stage. In patients who do not respond to antibiotic therapy, treatment options such as irradiation and systemic cancer therapies should be considered, depending on the disease stage.

Hepatectomy with Takasaki's Technique Using SonaStar Ultrasonic Aspiration System: An Experience from 58 Cases.

OBJECTIVE: This study aims to explore the short-term results of hepatectomy with Takasaki's technique using Sonastar ultrasonic aspiration system. MATERIALS AND METHODS: We retrospectively examined data of 58 patients who underwent hepatectomy with Takasaki's technique using Sonastar ultrasonic aspiration system at Hue Central Hospital from 01/2018 to 02/2021. RESULTS: The mean age was 60.7 ± 10.5 years (25-80) and the male/female ratio was 6:1. Patients with solitary tumor accounted for 79%; 68.4% had tumor size greater than 5 cm. Pringle maneuver was used in 57.9%, while selective right or left Glissonean pedicle occlusion was used in 69.0% and 32.8%, respectively. Final transection surface reinforcement was achieved by Surgicel and BioGlue in 78.9% and 21.5% of cases, respectively. Major liver resection accounted for 73.7%. The mean parenchymal transection time was 50 (45-110) minutes, while mean total operative time was 125 (90-280) minutes. Mean operative blood loss was 250 (150-650) mL. Mean post-operative hospital stay was 8 days (7-23). Post-operative complication rate was 15.9% and mortality rate was 1.7%. CONCLUSION: Hepatectomy using Takasaki technique with Sonastar ultrasonic aspiration system is safe, effective, allowing an anatomical resection with sufficient safety margin and resulting in low complication rates (liver failure, biliary leakage) and good survival outcomes.

Stereotactic Radiosurgery for Treatment of Operculoinsular Refractory Epilepsy After Incomplete Resection in a Child.

A 13-year-old right-handed girl had operculoinsular refractory epilepsy with several seizures per week after temporal lobe epilepsy surgery despite appropriate anticonvulsant therapy. Instead of reoperation, she underwent stereotactic radiosurgery (SRS), which was performed using a linac-based Elekta Axesse SRS machine with a marginal dose of 24 Gy (gross target volume: 6.67 cm3) in one fraction. Post-radiosurgery, she had no clinical or radiological complications. She was maintained on two anti-seizure medications following treatment (valproate and levetiracetam) and was seizure free at the time of this report (during four weeks after SRS). Monthly follow-up was planned for the evaluation of long-term outcomes. SRS may be a safe option for treating intractable focal epilepsy or recurrent epilepsy after surgery failure in children.

Preoperative embolization of high-flow peripheral AVMs using plug and push technique with low-density NBCA/Lipiodol.

Arteriovenous malformations (AVMs) embolization is considered as a promising option either its single treatment or in combination with surgery, and the use of low-density N-butyl cyanoacrylate (NBCA)/Lipiodol is acceptable mixture agents but its application should be performed by experienced endovascular teams. We describe a successful case preoperative embolization of high-flow AVMs with low-density NBCA/Lipiodol. A 26-year-old male patient was hospitalized with a big pulsatile mass at the right thigh. Doppler ultrasound showed a mass with high systolic, and diastolic velocities coming from the right superficial femoral artery. Angiogram showed a large and high-flow AVM type IV, according to Yakes classification. Low-density NBCA/Lipiodol 12.5% were performed to obstruct all the nidus and feeding arteries. Extirpation surgery was implemented 4 days after the complete embolization procedure.

Measurement of Health-Related Quality of Life Among Colorectal Cancer Patients Using the Vietnamese Value Set of the EQ-5D-5L.

PURPOSE: Health-related quality of life (HRQoL) is an important construct in clinical settings, and it is crucial that it should be properly measured. As the EuroQol-5-dimensions-5 levels (EQ-5D-5L) is more effective for such measurement than the 3-level model, data on economic models, clinical studies, and public health evaluations previously collected through the EQ-5D-3L need to be revaluated using the EQ-5D-5L. This study evaluated colorectal cancer (CRC) patients' HRQoL scores using the Vietnamese EQ-5D-5L value set. PATIENTS AND METHODS: The cross-sectional study included CRC patients treated at a tertiary public hospital. HRQoL was assessed using the EQ-5D-5L, and HRQoL utility scores were calculated using the Vietnamese value set. Tobit regression examined factors associated with HRQoL. RESULTS: The analysis included 197 CRC patients. Ages ranged from 20 to 87 years (M = 57.64, SD = 13.5); 42.2% and 57.8% were diagnosed with cancer of the colon or rectum/anus, respectively. Mean EQ-5D-5L was 0.561 (range, -0.5115 to 1). Most participants experienced anxiety/depression (88%), followed by pain/discomfort (87%), mobility (71%), usual activity (69%), and self-care (67%). Advanced CRC stage (stage II: ß -0.303, se 0.08; stage III: ß -0.305, se 0.07; stage IV: ß -0.456, se 0.07) and surgery (ß -0.113, se 0.05) were negatively associated with EQ-5D-5L scores. Advanced education (high school: ß 0.273, se 0.07); college/vocational: ß 0.134se 0.05; university/higher: Coef 0.213, se 0.08;) and older age (age group 35-44: ß 0.253, se 0.10; 45-54: ß 0.327, se 0.09; 55-64: ß 0.355 se 0.09; 65+ ß 0.204, se 0.09) were positively associated with EQ-5D-5L scores. CONCLUSION: Patients in advanced CRC stages or undergoing surgery experienced lower HRQoL and higher prevalence of anxiety/depression and pain/discomfort. Older age and high educational attainment predicted high HRQoL. This study provides information on CRC patients' health utility based on various patient characteristics, which can be used in future economic evaluations.