Incidence and Impact of Non-alcoholic Fatty Liver Disease (NAFLD) in Patients with Adenocarcinoma of the Esophagus Treated with Curative Intent.

BACKGROUND AND AIMS: Esophageal adenocarcinoma (EAC) is associated with visceral obesity (VO). Non-alcoholic fatty liver disease (NAFLD) is common within this phenotype; however, its incidence and clinical significance in EAC have not been studied. STUDY DESIGN: A total of 559 patients with hepatic stetatosis (HS) defined by unenhanced CT were enrolled. In a sub-study, in 140 consecutive patients a liver biopsy was taken intraoperatively to study HS and non-alcoholic steatohepatitis (NASH). Postoperative complications were defined as per the Esophageal Complications Consensus Group (ECCG). Liver biochemistry was measured peri-operatively, with an ALT > 5 defined as acute liver injury (ALI). Mann-Whitney U test or Fisher's exact test was utilized and the Kaplan-Meier method for survival. RESULTS: 42% (n = 234/559) of patients had CT-defined HS. HS was associated with VO in 56% of cases, metabolic syndrome (Met S) in 37% and type 2 diabetes in 25%, compared with 44, 21, and 15% in non-HS patients (p < 0.01). Pathologic HS was present in 32% (45/140) and graded as mild, moderate, and severe in 73, 24, and 3%, respectively, with NASH reported in 16% and indefinite/borderline NASH in 42% of HS cases. Postoperative ALI was similar (p = 0.88) in both HS (10%) and non-HS cohorts (11%). Operative complication severity was similar in both cohorts. 5-yr survival was 53% (HS) vs 50% (p = 0.890). CONCLUSION: This study establishes for the first time the incidence and clinical impact of NAFLD in EAC patients undergoing surgery and highlights no major impact on oncologic outcomes, nor in the severity of complications.

Adverse Biology in Adenocarcinoma of the Esophagus and Esophagogastric Junction Impacts Survival and Response to Neoadjuvant Therapy Independent of Anatomic Subtype.

OBJECTIVE: The aim of this study was to propose and test a novel adverse pathology classification in AEG. BACKGROUND: Recent scientific advances show genomic and molecular concordance across all AEG types, suggesting a rationale for a biologic classification. We tested a 3-dimension adverse pathology classification across the entire junction and per Siewert anatomic subtype. METHODS: Of 1625 patients with AEG, 650 underwent radical surgery, 55% post-neoadjuvant therapy (NeoT). Adverse features defined a priori were poor differentiation (PD), lymphatic invasion (LI), vascular invasion (VI), and perineural invasion (PN), with 3 groupings: 0 (no adverse feature), 1 to 2, and 3 to 4. Multivariable logistic and Cox proportional hazards regression were applied. RESULTS: For adverse pathology, 31%, 46%, and 23% had 0, 1 to 2, and 3 to 4, respectively. Fifty percent of cases were AEG I, 25% AEG II, and 25% AEG III. Median survival was not reached, 49 and 17 months for 0, 1 to 2, and 3 to 4 adverse pathology, respectively (P < 0.001), and 76, 51, and 34 months for AEG I, II, and III, respectively (P < 0.001); AEG I was significantly (P< 0.001) associated with lower c (y)pT and c (y)pN stages, and LI, VI, PN, and PD (poor vs other). The pathology model was significant for survival along with (y)pT and (y)pN, and predicted response to chemotherapy and chemoradiation irrespective of anatomic subtype (P < 0.001). CONCLUSION: A novel classification using standard pathology as proxy for poor biology is associated with survival and response to therapy. This effect is observed across the entire AEG spectrum, highlighting how biology should be aligned with anatomy in the modern paradigm of AEG management and design of clinical trials.

Scalable web services for the PSIPRED Protein Analysis Workbench.

Here, we present the new UCL Bioinformatics Group's PSIPRED Protein Analysis Workbench. The Workbench unites all of our previously available analysis methods into a single web-based framework. The new web portal provides a greatly streamlined user interface with a number of new features to allow users to better explore their results. We offer a number of additional services to enable computationally scalable execution of our prediction methods; these include SOAP and XML-RPC web server access and new HADOOP packages. All software and services are available via the UCL Bioinformatics Group website at http://bioinf.cs.ucl.ac.uk/.

Robotic versus laparoscopic anterior resections for rectal and rectosigmoid cancer: an institutional experience.

INTRODUCTION: Colorectal surgery has evolved with the advent of laparoscopic techniques and now robotic-assisted surgery. There is significant literature supporting the use of laparoscopic techniques over open surgery with evidence of enhanced post-operative recovery, reduced use of opioids, smaller incisions and equivalent oncological outcomes. Robotic minimally invasive surgery addresses some of the limitations of laparoscopic surgery, providing surgical precision and improvements in perception and dexterity with a resulting decrease in tissue damage. METHODS: We retrospectively reviewed the medical records of patients who underwent robotic-assisted anterior resection for cancer of the rectum or rectosigmoid junction in our institution since our robotic programme began in 2017. Patient demographics were identified via electronic databases and patient charts. A matched cohort of laparoscopic cases was identified. RESULTS: A total of 51 consecutive robotic-assisted anterior resections were identified and case matched with laparoscopic resections for comparison. Robotic-assisted surgery was associated with a shorter length of stay (p = 0.04), reduced initial post-operative analgesia requirements (p < 0.01) and no significant difference in time to bowel movement or stoma functioning (p = 0.84). All patients had an R0 resection, and there was no statistical difference in lymph node yield between the groups (p = 0.14). Robotic surgery was associated with a longer operative duration (p < 0.001). CONCLUSION: In this early experience, robotic surgery has proven feasible and safe and is comparable to laparoscopic surgery in terms of completeness of resection and recovery. As costs and operating times decline and as technology progresses, robotic surgery may one day replace traditional laparoscopic techniques.

Negative appendicectomy rates as a quality measure in a regional surgical unit: a retrospective review.

INTRODUCTION: Historically, high negative appendicectomy rates (NAR) were acceptable to offset the risks of perforation, previously exceeding 20%. With improved imaging and clinical scoring algorithms, there is growing demand for lower negative appendicectomy rates. The objectives were to (1) establish the NAR in our institution and (2) correlate clinical parameters and imaging modalities with histological findings. METHODS: Patients undergoing an appendicectomy between January 2012 and June 2018 were identified using a prospectively maintained pathology database. Histology findings were cross referenced against our radiology system, and anonymised data was collected for gender, age, WCC, Neutrophil and CRP level. RESULTS: One thousand one hundred fifty-three patients met the inclusion criteria. Fifty-three percent were males (n = 610), with 81% (n = 933) of histology reports classified as appendicitis. Sixty patients had a histologically normal appendix equating to a 5.2% NAR. If lymphoid hyperplasia, fibrosis and atrophy are included, it equates to a NAR of 14.57%. (p < 0.0001). Sixty-six percent of patients had no pre-operative imaging. CT imaging demonstrated a higher sensitivity (93.33%) and positive predictive value (99.60%) compared to ultrasonography. WCC and CRP are statistically significant in predicting appendicitis (p < 0.0001). CONCLUSION: There is no consensus on defining a negative appendicectomy or for imaging modality utilisation. CT imaging is the most sensitive and should be used in cases of diagnostic uncertainty. A standardised algorithm regarding the workup of patients with RIF pain along with a consensus on the use of imaging will further reduce negative appendicectomy rates.

Embolization or disruption of thoracic duct and cisterna chyli leaks post oesophageal cancer surgery should be first line management for ECCG-defined type III chyle fistulae.

Chyle leakage from the thoracic duct or cisterna chyli is a relatively rare complication of oesophageal cancer surgery. The majority of cases settle with conservative measures, but high volume leaks may be refractory and result in significant morbidity and require intervention with reoperation or embolization. In the experience of this high-volume centre over the last decade, 3 (0.5%) patients required reoperation and ligation of the thoracic duct; for the so-called type III leaks, interventional radiological approaches were not considered. This article is built around two recent cases, where interventional radiology to embolize and disrupt complex fistulae was successfully performed. The lessons from this experience will change practice at this centre to initial lymphangiography with a view to embolization or disruption of thoracic duct and cisterna chyli leaks as first line therapy for type III chyle leaks, with surgery reserved for where this fails.

Modern oncological and operative outcomes in oesophageal cancer: the St. James's hospital experience.

BACKGROUND: Oesophageal cancer has a reputation for poor survival, and a relatively high risk of major postoperative morbidity and mortality. Encouragingly, a recent international cancer registry study reports a doubling of survival outcomes in Ireland over the last 20 years. This study focused on both oncologic and operative outcomes in patients treated with curative intent requiring surgery at a high-volume center. METHODS: All patients undergoing surgery or multimodal therapy with curative intent from 2009 to 2018 were studied. All data was recorded prospectively and maintained internally. The period 2009-2013 was compared with 2014-2018 to monitor any change in trends. RESULTS: Four hundred and seventy-five patients (adenocarcinoma 77%, mean age 65; 76% male; 64% neoadjuvant therapy) underwent open surgical resection, 54% via en bloc 2-stage, 19.8% en bloc 3-stage, and 26.5% by a transhiatal approach. New onset atrial fibrillation was the commonest index complication, in 108 (22.7%), 80 (18%) developed suspected pneumonia/respiratory tract infection, 20 (4.2%) an anastomotic leak, and 25 (5.2%) a chyle leak. The 90-day mortality rate was 1.2% and 0.8% at 30 days. The median survival was 77.17 months, with a 5-year survival of 56%. CONCLUSION: Consistent with registry data on population survival for oesophageal cancer, this study highlights markedly improved survival outcomes in patients treated curatively, reflecting international trends, as well as low mortality rates; however, cardiorespiratory complications remain significant.