Spatial control of sensory adaptation modulates mechanosensing in Pseudomonas aeruginosa.

Sensory signaling pathways use adaptation to dynamically respond to changes in their environment. Here, we report the mechanism of sensory adaptation in the Pil-Chp mechanosensory system, which the important human pathogen Pseudomonas aeruginosa uses to sense mechanical stimuli during surface exploration. Using biochemistry, genetics, and cell biology, we discovered that the enzymes responsible for adaptation, a methyltransferase and a methylesterase, are segregated to opposing cell poles as P. aeruginosa explore surfaces. By coordinating the localization of both enzymes, we found that the Pil-Chp response regulators influence local receptor methylation, the molecular basis of bacterial sensory adaptation. We propose a model in which adaptation during mechanosensing spatially resets local receptor methylation, and thus Pil-Chp signaling, to modulate the pathway outputs, which are involved in P. aeruginosa virulence. Despite decades of bacterial sensory adaptation studies, our work has uncovered an unrecognized mechanism that bacteria use to achieve adaptation to sensory stimuli.

Digital Tool-Assisted Hospitalization Detection in the Tailored Antiplatelet Initiation to Lessen Outcomes due to Decreased Clopidogrel Response After Percutaneous Coronary Intervention Study Compared to Traditional Site-Coordinator Ascertainment: Intervention Study.

BACKGROUND: Accurate, timely ascertainment of clinical end points, particularly hospitalizations, is crucial for clinical trials. The Tailored Antiplatelet Initiation to Lessen Outcomes Due to Decreased Clopidogrel Response after Percutaneous Coronary Intervention (TAILOR-PCI) Digital Study extended the main TAILOR-PCI trial's follow-up to 2 years, using a smartphone-based research app featuring geofencing-triggered surveys and routine monthly mobile phone surveys to detect cardiovascular (CV) hospitalizations. This pilot study compared these digital tools to conventional site-coordinator ascertainment of CV hospitalizations. OBJECTIVE: The objectives were to evaluate geofencing-triggered notifications and routine monthly mobile phone surveys' performance in detecting CV hospitalizations compared to telephone visits and health record reviews by study coordinators at each site. METHODS: US and Canadian participants from the TAILOR-PCI Digital Follow-Up Study were invited to download the Eureka Research Platform mobile app, opting in for location tracking using geofencing, triggering a smartphone-based survey if near a hospital for ≥4 hours. Participants were sent monthly notifications for CV hospitalization surveys. RESULTS: From 85 participants who consented to the Digital Study, downloaded the mobile app, and had not previously completed their final follow-up visit, 73 (85.8%) initially opted in and consented to geofencing. There were 9 CV hospitalizations ascertained by study coordinators among 5 patients, whereas 8 out of 9 (88.9%) were detected by routine monthly hospitalization surveys. One CV hospitalization went undetected by the survey as it occurred within two weeks of the previous event, and the survey only allowed reporting of a single hospitalization. Among these, 3 were also detected by the geofencing algorithm, but 6 out of 9 (66.7%) were missed by geofencing: 1 occurred in a participant who never consented to geofencing, while 5 hospitalizations occurred among participants who had subsequently turned off geofencing prior to their hospitalization. Geofencing-detected hospitalizations were ascertained within a median of 2 (IQR 1-3) days, monthly surveys within 11 (IQR 6.5-25) days, and site coordinator methods within 38 (IQR 9-105) days. The geofencing algorithm triggered 245 notifications among 39 participants, with 128 (52.2%) from true hospital presence and 117 (47.8%) from nonhospital health care facility visits. Additional geofencing iterative improvements to reduce hospital misidentification were made to the algorithm at months 7 and 12, elevating the rate of true alerts from 35.4% (55 true alerts/155 total alerts before month 7) to 78.7% (59 true alerts/75 total alerts in months 7-12) and ultimately to 93.3% (14 true alerts/5 total alerts in months 13-21), respectively. CONCLUSIONS: The monthly digital survey detected most CV hospitalizations, while the geofencing survey enabled earlier detection but did not offer incremental value beyond traditional tools. Digital tools could potentially reduce the burden on study coordinators in ascertaining CV hospitalizations. The advantages of timely reporting via geofencing should be weighed against the issue of false notifications, which can be mitigated through algorithmic refinements.

Incidence, treatment and outcomes of coronary artery dissection during percutaneous coronary intervention.

BACKGROUND: Coronary artery dissection is a feared and potentially life-threatening complication of percutaneous coronary intervention (PCI). METHODS: We examined the clinical, angiographic, and procedural characteristics, and outcomes of coronary dissection at a tertiary care institution. RESULTS: Between 2014 and 2019, unplanned coronary dissection occurred in 141 of 10,278 PCIs (1.4%). Median patient age was 68 (60, 78) years, 68% were men, and 83% had hypertension. The prevalence of diabetes (29%), and prior PCI (37%) was high. Most target vessels were significantly diseased: 48% had moderate/severe tortuosity and 62% had moderate/severe calcification. The most common cause of dissection was guidewire advancement (30%), followed by stenting (22%), balloon angioplasty (20%), and guide-catheter engagement (18%). TIMI flow was 0 in 33% and 1-2 in 41% of cases. Intravascular imaging was used in 17% of the cases. Stenting was used to treat the dissection in 73% of patients. There was no consequence of dissection in 43% of patients. Technical and procedural success was 65% and 55%, respectively. In-hospital major adverse cardiovascular events occurred in 23% of patients: 13 (9%) had an acute myocardial infarction (MI), 3 (2%) had emergency coronary artery bypass graft surgery, and 10 (7%) died. During a mean follow up of 1612 days, 28 (20%) patients died, and the rate of target lesion revascularization was 11.3% (n=16). CONCLUSION: Coronary artery dissection is an infrequent complication of PCI, but is associated with adverse clinical outcomes, such as death and acute MI.

Predictive factors of lymphatic metastasis and evaluation of the Japanese treatment guidelines for endoscopic resection of early gastric cancer in a high-volume center in Perú.

Purpose: This study aimed to identify the predictive factors of lymph node metastasis (LNM) in patients with early gastric cancer (EGC) and to evaluate the applicability of the Japanese treatment guidelines for endoscopic resection in the western population. Methods: Five hundred-one patients with pathological diagnoses of EGC were included. Univariate and multivariate analyses were conducted to identify the predictive factors of LNM. EGC patients were distributed according to the indications for endoscopic resection of the Eastern guidelines. The incidence of LNM was evaluated in each group. Results: From 501 patients with EGC, 96 (19.2%) presented LNM. In 279 patients with tumors with submucosal infiltration (T1b), 83 (30%) patients had LNM. Among 219 patients who presented tumors > 3 cm, 63 (29%) patients had LNM. Thirty-one percent of patients with ulcerated tumors presented LMN (33 out of 105). In 76 patients and 24 patients with lymphovascular and perineural invasion, the percentage of LMN was 84% and 87%, respectively. In the multivariate analysis, a tumor diameter >3 cm, submucosal invasion, lymphovascular, and perineural invasion were independent predictors of LMN in EGC. No patient with differentiated, non-ulcerated mucosal tumors presented LNM regardless of tumor size. Three of 17 patients (18%) with differentiated, ulcerated mucosal tumors and ≤ 3 cm presented LNM. No LNM was evidenced in patients with undifferentiated mucosal tumors and ≤ 2 cm. Conclusions: The presence of LNM in Western EGC patients was independently related to larger tumors (>3 cm), submucosal invasion, lymphovascular and perineural invasion. The Japanese absolute indications for EMR are safe in the Western population. Likewise, Western patients with differentiated, non-ulcerated mucosal tumors, and larger than 2 cm are susceptible to endoscopic resection. Patients with undifferentiated mucosal tumors smaller than 2 cm presented encouraging results and ESD could be recommended only for selected cases.

Outcomes and challenges of the provisional stenting technique: Insights from the PROGRESS-BIFURCATION registry.

BACKGROUND: Provisional stenting is the most commonly used coronary bifurcation stenting strategy. METHODS: We examined the clinical and angiographic characteristics, challenges encountered, and procedural outcomes with the provisional bifurcation stenting strategy in the Prospective Global Registry of Percutaneous Coronary Intervention (PCI) in Bifurcation Lesions (PROGRESS-BIFURCATION, NCT05100992). RESULTS: Provisional stenting was used in 334 of 430 bifurcation interventions (78%). Technical success was lower (95% vs. 100%, p = 0.017) in provisional, but procedural success (90% vs. 95%, p = 0.095) and incidence of in-hospital major adverse cardiovascular events were similar (5% vs. 5%, p = 0.945) compared with two-stent strategies. Provisional was less often preferred in left main/left anterior descending involvement (47% vs. 73%, p < 0.001). Provisional stenting cases had smaller side branch (SB) diameter (2.4 ± 0.5 vs. 2.7 ± 0.6 mm, p < 0.001), shorter SB lesion length (5 [3-8] vs. 10 [5-10] mm, p < 0.001), less SB diameter stenosis (46 ± 35 vs. 81 ± 20%, p < 0.001), and were less likely to be Medina 1,1,1 (34% vs. 73%, p < 0.001). PCI challenges were less common (30% vs. 58%, p < 0.001) with provisional stenting: (1) rewiring difficulty (43%) that was overcome with use of a different wire (74%) or microcatheter (46%); (2) inability to deliver a stent (22%) or balloon (9%) that was overcome with use of a smaller balloon (88%), rewiring (25%), or increased support/microcatheter (25%). CONCLUSIONS: Provisional bifurcation stenting was more often performed in distal lesions with less SB involvement and had lower technical success, but similar procedural success and complications compared with two-stent strategies.

Adjuvant chemotherapy after curative D2 gastrectomy in Latin American patients with gastric cancer.

Background: Gastric cancer (GC) is the fourth most common cause of cancer deaths around the world and the first cause of cancer deaths in Peru; however, there are no prospective trials for adjuvant chemotherapy in GC after curative gastrectomy in this country. The objective of this study was to evaluate the effectiveness of adjuvant chemotherapy in stage II-III gastric cancer patients who underwent D2 gastrectomy. Methods: We included patients with stage II-III gastric cancer who underwent radical gastrectomy and D2 dissection between 2014 and 2016 at our institution. Patients received 3-week cycles of capecitabine (1,000 mg/m2 twice daily on days 1-14) plus oxaliplatin (130 mg/m2 on day 1) for 6 months. Survival curves were estimated with the Kaplan-Meier method, and the Cox proportional hazards model was used to identify prognostic factors for survival. Results: In total, 173 patients were included: 100 (57.8%) patients received adjuvant chemotherapy and surgery (AChS) and 73 (42.2%) surgery alone (SA). Three-year disease-free survival (DFS) was higher in the AChS groups (69%) than in the SA group (52.6%) (p = 0.034). Regarding overall survival (OS), 31 patients (31%) died in the AChS group compared with 34 (46.6%) in the SA group (p = 0.027). In the multivariate analysis, adjuvant chemotherapy was an independent prognostic factor for DFS (HR = 0.60; 95% CI = 0.37-0.97; p = 0.036) and OS (HR = 0.58; 95% CI = 0.36-0.95; p = 0.029). ACh showed consistent benefit in DFS and OS for patients with albumin >3.5 g/dL, lymphovascular and perineural invasion, pT4, pN2-3, pathologic stage (PS) IIIA and IIIB and lymph node ratio (LNR) > 13.1. Conclusion: These data suggest that adjuvant capecitabine and oxaliplatin reduce the recurrence and mortality in patients with stage II-III gastric cancer who underwent D2 gastrectomy. PS IIIA and IIIB and LNR > 13.1 benefited more from receiving adjuvant chemotherapy and poorly cohesive gastric carcinoma did not significantly reduce the rates of survival.

Open versus minimally invasive sphincter-sparing surgery for rectal cancer: a single-center retrospective cohort study in Peru.

OBJECTIVE: The study aimed to describe and compare minimally invasive surgery (MIS) and open surgery for rectal cancer in Peru. MATERIAL AND METHODS: A retrospective single-center analysis was performed for all patients who underwent sphinctersparing surgery for non-metastatic rectal cancer at Instituto Nacional de Enfermedades Neoplásicas in Peru between January 2016 and December 2020. Clinical, perioperative, pathological, and survival outcomes were compared between both groups. A propensity score matching method was used to minimize bias. RESULTS: 162 patients were included in the final analysis. 124 had open surgery and 38 had MIS. Patients, clinical tumour, pathological characteristics, and perioperative were similar between groups after matching. Similar circumferential resection margin (CRM) with optimal quality of the mesorectum (p=1.000) but higher number of lymph nodes resected in open surgery group (p=0.741) was described. The leakage rate was slightly higher in the MIS group (p=0.358) with 10.5%, while the postoperative hospital stay was longer in the open surgery group after matching (p=0.001; OR 95% 5.2 CI: 1.8-15.6). The estimated recurrence-free survival (RFS) and overall survival (OS) at 3 years in open surgery and MIS was 71.8% (95% CI; 0.58-0.89) and 70% (95% CI; 0.56-0.88) (p=0.431) and 77.7% (95% CI; 0.64-0.94) and 88.9% (95% CI; 0.79-0.99) (p=0.5), respectively. CONCLUSIONS: Shorter postoperative hospital stay in the minimally invasive surgery group was reported. RFS, OS, and recurrence rates were similar between both groups. This approach is for non-metastatic rectal cancer in referral centers in Peru.

The relationship between tumour infiltrating lymphocytes, Epstein-Barr virus and Helicobacter pylori infection in gastric cancer.

Objective: Epstein-Barr virus (EBV) and Helicobacter pylori (HP) infections have been extensively recognised as gastric cancer (GC) triggers, and recent publications suggest they could behave as predictive markers for immune-modulating therapies. Tumour-infiltrating lymphocytes (TILs) have also been identified as a predictive biomarker for immunotherapy in different malignancies. This study aimed to investigate the association between EBV and HP infection with TIL levels in GC. Methods: TIL evaluation in haematoxylin-eosin was performed by a pathologist and density of CD3, CD8 and CD163 positive (immunohistochemistry staining) immune cells was calculated with the use of digital pathology software. EBV infection was detected by in situ hybridisation (ISH) and by quantitative polymerase chain reaction (qPCR). Methylation status of EBV-related genes was detected by PCR and a methylome analysis was performed by the Illumina Infinium MethylationEPIC BeadChip. HP status was detected by qPCR. Results: We included 98 resected GC Peruvian cases in our evaluation. Median TIL percentage was 30. The proportion of EBV+ detected by ISH was 24.1%, of EBV+ detected by qPCR was 41.8%, while 70% showed methylation of EBV-related genes, and 58.21% of cases were HP+. Younger age (p = 0.024), early stages (p = 0.001), HP+ (p = 0.036) and low CD8 density (p = 0.046) were associated with longer overall survival (OS). High TIL level was associated with intestinal subtype (p < 0.001), with grade 2 (p < 0.001), with EBV qPCR+ (p = 0.001), and with methylation of EBV-related genes (p = 0.007). Cases with high TIL level and cases that are EBV positive share eight genes with similarly methylated status in the metabolomic analysis. High CD8 density was associated with EBV PCR+ (p = 0.012) and HP- (0.005). Conclusion: Lower CD8 density and HP+ predict longer OS. High TIL level is associated with EBV+ and methylation of EBV-related genes, while lower CD8 density is associated with HP+ GC.

Incidence, Treatment, and Outcomes of Coronary Artery Perforation During Percutaneous Coronary Intervention.

OBJECTIVES: To examine the incidence, treatment and outcomes of perforation during percutaneous coronary intervention (PCI). BACKGROUND: Coronary perforation is a potentially life-threatening PCI complication. METHODS: We examined the clinical, angiographic, and procedural characteristics, management, and outcomes of coronary perforation at a tertiary care institution. RESULTS: Between 2014 and 2019, perforation occurred in 70 of 10,278 PCIs (0.7%). Patient age was 71 ± 12 years, 66% were men, and 30% had prior coronary artery bypass graft surgery. Among perforation cases, the prevalence of chronic total occlusions was 33%, moderate/severe calcification was 66% and moderate/severe tortuosity was 41%. The frequency of Ellis class 1, 2, and 3 perforations was 14%, 50%, and 36%, respectively. Most (n = 51; 73%) were large vessel perforations, 16 (23%) were distal vessel perforations and 3 (4%) were collateral vessel perforations (1 septal and 2 epicardial). Hypotension occurred in 26%, pericardial effusion in 36% and tamponade in 13%; 47% of perforations did not have clinical consequences. Perforations were most often treated with prolonged balloon inflation (63%), reversal of anticoagulation (39%), and covered stent implantation (33%). Technical and procedural success were 73% and 60%, respectively, and major periprocedural adverse cardiac events occurred in 21% of the patients. Three patients (4%) required emergent CABG surgery and four (6%) died. CONCLUSIONS: Coronary perforation is an infrequent complication of PCI. Most perforations are large vessel perforations and often require further intervention. The incidence of death or emergent cardiac surgery is low.

Patient Onboarding and Engagement to Build a Digital Study After Enrollment in a Clinical Trial (TAILOR-PCI Digital Study): Intervention Study.

BACKGROUND: The Tailored Antiplatelet Initiation to Lessen Outcomes Due to Decreased Clopidogrel Response After Percutaneous Coronary Intervention (TAILOR-PCI) Digital Study is a novel proof-of-concept study that evaluated the feasibility of extending the TAILOR-PCI randomized controlled trial (RCT) follow-up period by using a remote digital platform. OBJECTIVE: The aim of this study is to describe patients' onboarding, engagement, and results in a digital study after enrollment in an RCT. METHODS: In this intervention study, previously enrolled TAILOR-PCI patients in the United States and Canada within 24 months of randomization were invited by letter to download the study app. Those who did not respond to the letter were contacted by phone to survey the reasons for nonparticipation. A direct-to-patient digital research platform (the Eureka Research Platform) was used to onboard patients, obtain consent, and administer activities in the digital study. The patients were asked to complete health-related surveys and digitally provide follow-up data. Our primary end points were the consent rate, the duration of participation, and the monthly activity completion rate in the digital study. The hypothesis being tested was formulated before data collection began. RESULTS: After the parent trial was completed, letters were mailed to 907 eligible patients (representing 18.8% [907/4837] of total enrolled in the RCT) within 15.6 (SD 5.2) months of randomization across 24 sites. Among the 907 patients invited, 290 (32%) visited the study website and 110 (12.1%) consented-40.9% (45/110) after the letter, 33.6% (37/110) after the first phone call, and 25.5% (28/110) after the second call. Among the 47.4% (409/862) of patients who responded, 41.8% (171/409) declined to participate because of a lack of time, 31.2% (128/409) declined because of the lack of a smartphone, and 11.5% (47/409) declined because of difficulty understanding what was expected of them in the study. Patients who consented were older (aged 65.3 vs 62.5 years; P=.006) and had a lower prevalence of diabetes (19% vs 30%; P=.02) or tobacco use (6.4% vs 24.8%; P<.001). A greater proportion had bachelor's degrees (47.2% vs 25.7%; P<.001) and were more computer literate (90.5% vs 62.3% of daily internet use; P<.001) than those who did not consent. The average completion rate of the 920 available monthly electronic visits was 64.9% (SD 7.6%); there was no decrease in this rate throughout the study duration. CONCLUSIONS: Extended follow-up after enrollment in an RCT by using a digital study was technically feasible but was limited because of the inability to contact most eligible patients or a lack of time or access to a smartphone. Among the enrolled patients, most completed the required electronic visits. Enhanced recruitment methods, such as the introduction of a digital study at the time of RCT consent, smartphone provision, and robust study support for onboarding, should be explored further. TRIAL REGISTRATION: Clinicaltrails.gov NCT01742117; https://clinicaltrials.gov/ct2/show/NCT01742117.

Outcomes of Intravascular Ultrasound-Guided Versus Angiography-Guided Percutaneous Coronary Interventions in Chronic Total Occlusions: A Systematic Review and Meta-Analysis.

BACKGROUND: Percutaneous coronary interventions (PCI) with intravascular ultrasound (IVUS) guidance have been associated with better long-term outcomes, but adoption remains limited. There are limited data on the impact of IVUS on chronic total occlusion (CTO)-PCI. OBJECTIVES: To examine the impact of IVUS guidance on the outcomes of CTO-PCI. METHODS: We performed a systematic review and study-level meta-analysis of IVUS vs angiography-guided CTO-PCI. Electronic databases were systematically searched for all pertinent studies from inception through January 2021. Randomized controlled trials (RCT), registry data, and abstracts published in peer-reviewed indexed journals were included. We examined the following in-hospital and long-term outcomes: major adverse cardiac events; all-cause mortality; cardiovascular mortality; myocardial infarction (MI); target-vessel revascularization (TVR); target-lesion revascularization (TLR); and stent thrombosis (ST). We also evaluated the following procedural metrics: procedure time; fluoroscopy time; contrast volume; total stent length; and total number of stents. Random-effects models were used to pool individual study results. RESULTS: Four (2 observational, 2 randomized) studies including 1975 patients (IVUS-guided PCI, 861 patients; angiography-guided PCI, 1114 patients) were included in the analysis. IVUS-guided CTO-PCI had similar all-cause mortality, major adverse cardiac events, cardiovascular mortality, MI, TVR, and TLR compared with angiography-guided CTO-PCI, but lower risk of stent thrombosis (odds ratio, 0.24; 95% confidence interval, 0.08-0.76; P=.02; I²=0%), shorter procedure time (P<.001; I²=88%), shorter fluoroscopy time (P<.001; I²=63%), and less contrast volume use (P<.001; I²=59%). Total stent length (P<.001; I²=39%) and total number of stents (P<.001; I²=72%) were lower with IVUS-guided CTO-PCI. CONCLUSION: IVUS-guided CTO-PCI is associated with lower risk of ST.

Challenges and outcomes of the double kissing crush stenting technique: Insights from the PROGRESS-BIFURCATION registry.

BACKGROUND: Although the double kissing (DK) crush stenting technique can provide excellent outcomes in percutaneous coronary intervention (PCI) of bifurcation lesions, it can be challenging to perform. METHODS: We examined the clinical and angiographic characteristics, challenges encountered, and procedural outcomes of bifurcation PCI with DK crush in Prospective Global Registry of Percutaneous Coronary Intervention in Bifurcation Lesions (PROGRESS-BIFURCATION, NCT05100992). RESULTS: DK crush was used in 48 of 435 bifurcation lesions (11%). Technical success was 100%, procedural success was 96%, and the incidence of in-hospital major adverse cardiovascular events was 4%. Challenges while performing DK crush were encountered in 26 lesions (54%): (1) difficulty in side branch (SB) first rewiring (38%) that was overcome with the use of a new guidewire (30%) or a microcatheter (15%); (2) inability to deliver balloon to an SB for the first kiss (54%) that was overcome with the use of a smaller balloon (86%), rewiring (29%), microcatheter (14%), and increased support 7%; (3) difficulty in SB second rewiring (19%) that was overcome with the use of a new guidewire (80%) and/or microcatheter (60%). DK crush was more often performed in left main and proximal left anterior descending artery lesions (70% vs. 50%, p = 0.014). DK crush cases required more contrast (198 ± 84 ml vs. 163 ± 70 ml, p = 0.003), fluoroscopy time (35 ± 20 min vs. 25 ± 21 min, p = 0.004), and lasted longer (137 ± 69 min vs. 99 ± 66 min, p = 0.001) compared with non-DK crush techniques. CONCLUSIONS: While challenges are common when performing DK crush bifurcation stenting, success rates are high and complication rates are low.

Open versus minimally invasive sphincter-sparing surgery for rectal cancer: a single-center retrospective cohort study in Peru / Cirugía abierta versus mínimamente invasiva con preservación del esfínter para el cáncer de recto: un estudio de cohorte retrospectivo de un solo centro en Perú

ABSTRACT Objective : The study aimed to describe and compare minimally invasive surgery (MIS) and open surgery for rectal cancer in Peru. Material and methods : A retrospective single-center analysis was performed for all patients who underwent sphinctersparing surgery for non-metastatic rectal cancer at Instituto Nacional de Enfermedades Neoplásicas in Peru between January 2016 and December 2020. Clinical, perioperative, pathological, and survival outcomes were compared between both groups. A propensity score matching method was used to minimize bias. Results : 162 patients were included in the final analysis. 124 had open surgery and 38 had MIS. Patients, clinical tumour, pathological characteristics, and perioperative were similar between groups after matching. Similar circumferential resection margin (CRM) with optimal quality of the mesorectum (p=1.000) but higher number of lymph nodes resected in open surgery group (p=0.741) was described. The leakage rate was slightly higher in the MIS group (p=0.358) with 10.5%, while the postoperative hospital stay was longer in the open surgery group after matching (p=0.001; OR 95% 5.2 CI: 1.8-15.6). The estimated recurrence-free survival (RFS) and overall survival (OS) at 3 years in open surgery and MIS was 71.8% (95% CI; 0.58-0.89) and 70% (95% CI; 0.56-0.88) (p=0.431) and 77.7% (95% CI; 0.64-0.94) and 88.9% (95% CI; 0.79-0.99) (p=0.5), respectively. Conclusions: Shorter postoperative hospital stay in the minimally invasive surgery group was reported. RFS, OS, and recurrence rates were similar between both groups. This approach is for non-metastatic rectal cancer in referral centers in Peru.

RESUMEN Objetivo : El estudio tuvo como objetivo describir y comparar la cirugía mínimamente invasiva (CMI) y la cirugía abierta para el cáncer de recto en el Perú. Material y métodos : Se realizó un análisis retrospectivo unicéntrico de todos los pacientes que se sometieron a cirugía conservadora de esfínter por cáncer de recto no metastásico en el Instituto Nacional de Enfermedades Neoplásicas de Perú entre enero de 2016 y diciembre de 2020. Clínica, perioperatoria, patológica y supervivencia se compararon los resultados entre ambos grupos. Se utilizó un método de emparejamiento por puntaje de propensión para minimizar el sesgo. Resultados : 162 pacientes fueron incluidos en el análisis final. 124 tuvieron cirugía abierta y 38 CMI. Los pacientes, el tumor clínico, las características patológicas y el perioperatorio fueron similares entre los grupos después del emparejamiento. Se describió un margen de resección circunferencial (MRC) similar con calidad óptima del mesorrecto (p=1,000) pero mayor número de ganglios linfáticos resecados en el grupo de cirugía abierta (p=0,741). La tasa de fuga fue ligeramente superior en el grupo CMI (p=0,358) con un 10,5%, mientras que la estancia hospitalaria postoperatoria fue mayor en el grupo de cirugía abierta tras el emparejamiento (p=0,001; OR 95% 5,2 IC: 1,8-15,6). La supervivencia libre de recidiva (SLR) estimada y la supervivencia global (SG) a los 3 años en cirugía abierta y CMI fue del 71,8% (IC 95%; 0,58-0,89) y del 70% (IC 95%; 0,56-0,88) (p=0,431) y 77,7% (IC 95%; 0,64-0,94) y 88,9% (IC 95%; 0,79-0,99) (p=0,5), respectivamente. Conclusiones : Se reportó menor estancia hospitalaria postoperatoria en el grupo de cirugía mínimamente invasiva. Las tasas de SLR, SG y recurrencia fueron similares entre ambos grupos. Este abordaje es para cáncer de recto no metastásico en centros de referencia en Perú.

Peak troponin predicts successful weaning from VA ECMO in patients with acute myocardial infarction complicated by cardiogenic shock.

BACKGROUND: In patients treated for refractory cardiogenic shock (RCS) following acute myocardial infarction (AMI), predicting successful weaning from veno-arterial extracorporeal membrane oxygenation (VA ECMO) has important implications for decision-making and prognosis. METHODS: We performed a retrospective review of adult VA ECMO patients with RCS complicating AMI at our institution from 2010 to 2019. We evaluated use of peak troponin I as a predictor of successful decannulation. RESULTS: Sixty-two patients were analyzed; mean age 61.1 ± 9.8 years, 73% males, 62% presented with STEMI. Forty-five patients were successfully weaned (group I). Seventeen patients did not wean (group II); seven patients received a durable LVAD, 10 died. Patients from group I had significantly lower peak troponin I (89 vs 434 ng/mL, p = 0.0001). Receiver operating characteristic curves showed a peak troponin I cutoff of 400 ng/mL correctly classified patients by weaning status 90% of the time, with associated sensitivity of 71% and specificity of 98%. With each 50 ng/mL increase in troponin I, the likelihood of weaning decreased by 33%. CONCLUSIONS: Peak troponin I above 400 ng/mL may be helpful in predicting unsuccessful weaning from VA ECMO support for refractory cardiogenic shock following myocardial infarction and facilitate triage decisions regarding need for advanced therapies.

A preoperative nomogram for predicting long-term survival after resection of large hepatocellular carcinoma (>10 cm).

BACKGROUND: It has previously been demonstrated that a fraction of patients with hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) > 10 cm can benefit from liver resection. However, there is still a lack of effective decision-making tools to inform intervention in these patients. METHODS: We analysed a comprehensive set of clinical data from 234 patients who underwent liver resection for HCC >10 cm at the National Cancer Institute of Peru between 1990 and 2015, monitored their survival, and constructed a nomogram to predict the surgical outcome based on preoperative variables. RESULTS: We identified cirrhosis, multifocality, macroscopic vascular invasion, and spontaneous tumour rupture as independent predictors of survival and integrated them into a nomogram model. The nomogram's ability to forecast survival at 1, 3, and 5 years was subsequently confirmed with high concordance using an internal validation. Through applying this nomogram, we stratified three groups of patients with different survival probabilities. CONCLUSION: We constructed a preoperative nomogram to predict long-term survival in patients with HCC >10 cm. This nomogram is useful in determining whether a patient with large HCC might truly benefit from liver resection, which is paramount in low- and middle-income countries where HCC is often diagnosed at advanced stages.

Self-perceived knowledge level of epidemic management in medical residents prior to the start of the COVID-19 pandemic in Mexico.

INTRODUCTION: COVID-19 was declared a pandemic in March 2020, requiring a comprehensive response from all healthcare systems, including Mexico's. As medical residents' training did not involve epidemic response, we decided to evaluate their level of training on this subject, specifically self-perceived knowledge level and capacity to respond to epidemiological crises. METHODOLOGY: Medical residents from two hospitals belonging to PEMEX (Mexico's state-owned petroleum company) were included in a cross-sectional study. All participants answered a modified version of the survey developed by the University of Lovaina's Center for Research and Education in Emergency Care. Participants were analyzed according to their relevant "clinical" or "surgical" residency tracks. Data were analyzed using through Chi-square tests, t-tests, Mann-Whitney U tests, Kruskal-Wallis tests, and Pearson and Spearman correlation coefficients with significance established at p < 0.05. RESULTS: Of a total of 94 resident participants in this study, 56.7% self-perceived themselves as being poorly prepared to confront the pandemic. Only 25.5% of the participants referred previous experience in medical responses to public health emergencies, and only 35.1% reported ever receiving education on this topic. CONCLUSIONS: Medical residents-who have been involved with caring for victims of the pandemic-are under the general perception that they are not prepared, experienced, or educated enough to respond to such a widespread massive public health emergency.

Skin-penetrating nematodes exhibit life-stage-specific interactions with host-associated and environmental bacteria.

BACKGROUND: Skin-penetrating nematodes of the genus Strongyloides infect over 600 million people, posing a major global health burden. Their life cycle includes both a parasitic and free-living generation. During the parasitic generation, infective third-stage larvae (iL3s) actively engage in host seeking. During the free-living generation, the nematodes develop and reproduce on host feces. At different points during their life cycle, Strongyloides species encounter a wide variety of host-associated and environmental bacteria. However, the microbiome associated with Strongyloides species, and the behavioral and physiological interactions between Strongyloides species and bacteria, remain unclear. RESULTS: We first investigated the microbiome of the human parasite Strongyloides stercoralis using 16S-based amplicon sequencing. We found that S. stercoralis free-living adults have an associated microbiome consisting of specific fecal bacteria. We then investigated the behavioral responses of S. stercoralis and the closely related rat parasite Strongyloides ratti to an ecologically diverse panel of bacteria. We found that S. stercoralis and S. ratti showed similar responses to bacteria. The responses of both nematodes to bacteria varied dramatically across life stages: free-living adults were strongly attracted to most of the bacteria tested, while iL3s were attracted specifically to a narrow range of environmental bacteria. The behavioral responses to bacteria were dynamic, consisting of distinct short- and long-term behaviors. Finally, a comparison of the growth and reproduction of S. stercoralis free-living adults on different bacteria revealed that the bacterium Proteus mirabilis inhibits S. stercoralis egg hatching, and thereby greatly decreases parasite viability. CONCLUSIONS: Skin-penetrating nematodes encounter bacteria from various ecological niches throughout their life cycle. Our results demonstrate that bacteria function as key chemosensory cues for directing parasite movement in a life-stage-specific manner. Some bacterial genera may form essential associations with the nematodes, while others are detrimental and serve as a potential source of novel nematicides.