Single anastomosis or mini-gastric bypass: long-term results and quality of life after a 5-year follow-up.

BACKGROUND: Laparoscopic mini-gastric bypass (LMGB) is an alternative to the laparoscopic Roux-en-Y gastric bypass (LRYGB), which is considered to be the gold standard in the treatment of morbid obesity. OBJECTIVES: Present 5-year results of 175 patients who had undergone a LMGB between October 2006 and October 2008. SETTING: University public hospital, France. METHODS: Complete follow-up was available in 126 of 175 patients (72%) who had LMGB. Mortality, morbidity, weight loss, co-morbidities, and quality of life were assessed. Weight loss was determined as a change in body mass index (BMI) and percent excess BMI loss (%EBMIL). Quality of life in the treatment group was analyzed using the Gastrointestinal Quality of Life Index (GIQLI) and was compared with a retrospectively case matched preoperative control group. RESULTS: There were no deaths. Thirteen patients (10.3%) developed major complications. Marginal ulcers occurred in 4% of patients. Incapacitating biliary reflux developed in 2 (1.6%) who required conversion into RYGB. Gastric pouch dilation occurred in 4 patients (3.2%) and inadequate weight loss with severe malnutrition in 2 (1.6%). At 5 years, mean BMI was 31±6 kg/m(2) and mean %EBMIL was 71.5%±26.5%. Postoperative GIQLI score of the treatment group was significantly higher than preoperative score of the control group (110.3±17.4 versus 92.5±15.9, P<.001). Social, psychological, and physical functions were increased significantly. No significant differences were found in gastroesophageal reflux or diarrhea symptoms between the 2 groups. Long-term follow-up showed an improvement in all co-morbidities. CONCLUSIONS: At 5 years, LMGB was safe, effective, and provided interesting quality of life results.

[Immunology and personalized medicine in oncology]. / Place de l'immunologie dans la médecine personnalisée en cancérologie.

The comprehension of "what cancer is" was bespoke these two last decades, switching from the traditional centro-cellular vision of cancer to a new holistic vision which integrates the tumor microenvironment and its immune component. Although in both visions, the result is, in fine, the emergence of a clone of cancer cells whose genome is modified, the genesis of the emergence of this clone and of its expansion is quite different offering a new explanatory framework and allowing the design of new predictive bio-markers as well as the development of innovative therapies. Recent data demonstrate that the immune infiltrate of the tumor is determinant for the outcome of patients bearing a solid cancer. For the first time, patient' prognosis can be estimated, not only by the assessment of tumor criteria (TNM classification, genetic disorders) but also by the evaluation of the immune component of the tumor microenvironment, using novel methodologies such as the 'Immunoscore'. Taking account of parameters derived from the reaction of the host against his tumor is an additional step towards a so-called Personalized Medicine in patients with cancer.

Thymidylate synthase gene polymorphism predicts toxicity in colorectal cancer patients receiving 5-fluorouracil-based chemotherapy.

PURPOSE: The target enzyme for 5-fluorouracil (5-FU) is thymidylate synthase (TS). The TYMS gene encoding this enzyme is polymorphic, having either double (2R) or tri-tandem (3R) repeats of a 28-bp sequence in the promoter region and a 6-bp variation in the 3'-untranslated region (3'-UTR). TS expression predicts response to 5-FU-based chemotherapy, and the expression seems to be determined by the TYMS gene promoter. The aim of this study was to investigate the utility of determining these two TYMS gene polymorphisms to predict the toxicity and efficacy of 5-FU treatment in patients with colorectal cancer. EXPERIMENTAL DESIGN: The determination of TYMS genotypes was performed in tumor and normal tissues by PCR amplification from 90 patients with colorectal cancer who were treated with adjuvant or palliative 5-FU-based chemotherapy. Associations between polymorphisms in the TYMS promoter and in the 3'-UTR gene and clinical outcome of these 90 patients treated with 5-FU based chemotherapy were evaluated individually. The linkage between TYMS promoter and TYMS 3'-UTR region polymorphisms was evaluated and a haplotype analysis was performed. RESULTS: Individuals who were homozygous for the double repeat in the TYMS promoter region had more severe side effects to 5-FU. Patients with a 2R/2R, a 2R/3R, or a 3R/3R genotype had a grade 3 or 4 toxicity rate of 43, 18, and 3% respectively (P < 0.01). The TYMS promoter and TYMS 3'-UTR polymorphisms were in linkage disequilibrium, and the haplotype 2R/ins 6-bp was significantly associated with a high risk of severe side effects to 5-FU. The TYMS promoter and TYMS 3'-UTR polymorphisms were not associated with a response to 5-FU and survival of patients who received palliative 5-FU-based chemotherapy. CONCLUSIONS: This study demonstrated that TYMS genotyping could be of help in predicting toxicity to 5-FU-based chemotherapy. TYMS genotyping might make it possible to individualize treatment for patients with colorectal cancer.

Mesenteric ischaemia in haemodialysis patients: a case/control study.

BACKGROUND: Mesenteric ischaemia is not uncommon in dialysis patients and seems to have been increasing in the last decade. However, the risk factors for mesenteric ischaemia are unclear and prognosis of patients after this type of ischaemic accident is not well defined. METHODS: From January 1988 to June 1999, 15 haemodialysis patients (0.3% per patient-year) from a single institution presented with mesenteric ischaemia and the clinical, biological and radiological aspects of the ischaemia were described. To identify risk factors for mesenteric ischaemia, each ischaemic patient (case) was matched with two other haemodialysis patients not having ischaemia (controls). Survival curves were then established for the two groups. RESULTS: A marked hypotensive episode was present in seven out of 15 case patients (47%) during dialysis sessions that preceded mesenteric ischaemia. Abdominal pain, guarding, fever and hyperleucocytosis were all present in 13 out of 15 patients (87%). An abdominal computerized tomography scan with opaque enema enabled a rapid diagnosis for six patients. The caecum was the most frequently (47%) affected segment. Twelve patients were surgically treated and the remaining three were given medical support. The two groups (case and control) were not different in cardiovascular risk factors, comorbidity, administered drugs or main haemodialysis characteristics. The median survival of the case group was 600 days, whereas 80% of the control group survived beyond this period (P=0.0132). Eleven case patients survived >3 months after mesenteric ischaemia and had a median survival of 1500 days, which was identical to their matched control patients. CONCLUSIONS: Mesenteric ischaemia should be systematically suspected in patients experiencing abdominal pain during or after dialysis sessions. Prompt diagnosis and treatment usually allow for a favourable prognosis.