Short- and long-term outcomes of laparoscopic radical gallbladder resection for gallbladder carcinoma: A multi-institutional retrospective study in Japan.

BACKGROUND/PURPOSE: Laparoscopic resection of gallbladder carcinomas remains controversial. This study aimed to evaluate the surgical and oncological outcomes of laparoscopic procedures for suspected gallbladder carcinoma (GBC). METHODS: In this retrospective study, data regarding suspected GBC treated with laparoscopic radical cholecystectomy before 2020 in Japan, was included. Patient characteristics, surgical procedure details, surgical outcomes, and long-term outcomes were analyzed. RESULTS: Data of 129 patients with suspected GBC who underwent laparoscopic radical cholecystectomy were retrospectively collected from 11 institutions in Japan. Among them, 82 patients with pathological GBC were included in the study. Laparoscopic gallbladder bed resection was performed in 114 patients and laparoscopic resection of segments IVb and V was performed in 15 patients. The median operation time was 269 min (range: 83-725 min), and the median intraoperative blood loss was 30 mL (range: 0-950 mL). The conversion and postoperative complication rates were 8% and 2%, respectively. During the follow-up period, the 5-year overall survival rate was 79% and the 5-year disease-free survival rate was 87%. Recurrence was detected in the liver, lymph nodes, and other local tissues. CONCLUSION: Laparoscopic radical cholecystectomy is a treatment option with potential favorable outcomes in selected patients with suspected GBC.

Cost-effectiveness analysis of pembrolizumab in patients with treatment-refractory metastatic colorectal cancer in Japan.

OBJECTIVE: The immune checkpoint inhibitor pembrolizumab has recently been recognized as a standard treatment regimen for patients with metastatic colorectal cancer and the microsatellite-instability-high/mismatch repair-deficient mutation. However, its cost-effectiveness in late-line treatment remains unclear. The aim of this study was to assess the cost-effectiveness of pembrolizumab for patients with microsatellite-instability-high/mismatch repair-deficient metastatic colorectal cancer. METHODS: Markov decision modeling using treatment costs, disease-free survival and overall survival was performed to examine the cost-effectiveness of pembrolizumab monotherapy compared with chemotherapy, and best supportive care. The Japanese healthcare payer's perspective was adopted. The outcomes were modeled on the basis of published literature. The primary outcome was the incremental cost-effectiveness ratio between the strategies. Sensitivity analyses were performed and the effects of uncertainty on the model parameters were investigated. RESULTS: Pembrolizumab monotherapy had incremental cost-effectiveness ratios of $408204.3 per quality-adjusted life-year gained compared with best supportive care and $489123.4 per quality-adjusted life-year gained compared with chemotherapy. Given a Japanese willingness-to-pay threshold of $69560.38 per quality-adjusted life-year, the base case results suggested that pembrolizumab monotherapy was not cost-effective. The sensitivity analysis results were in line with the base case results. CONCLUSION: Pembrolizumab monotherapy is not a cost-effective option in late-line treatment for patients with metastatic colorectal cancer and microsatellite-instability-high/mismatch repair-deficient mutation in the Japanese healthcare system. Further studies on its cost-effectiveness in first-line treatment are warranted.

Diagnostic Utility of Presepsin in Infections After Liver Transplantation: A Preliminary Study.

BACKGROUND Infectious complications after solid organ transplantation can be fatal, and early diagnosis and intervention are important. To the best of our knowledge, no study has examined the diagnostic utility of presepsin, a known accurate biomarker, for infectious complications after liver transplantation. This study aimed to evaluate the utility of presepsin for detecting infection and perioperative kinetics of presepsin after liver transplantation. MATERIAL AND METHODS This single-institutional prospective, observational study included 13 patients who underwent living-donor or deceased-donor liver transplantation. Perioperative serum presepsin level was measured 6 times within a week to evaluate its association with infectious complications and compare it with procalcitonin and C-reactive protein levels and leukocyte count. Postoperatively, patients were followed up for 15 days for infectious complications. RESULTS Five of the 13 patients developed infectious complications after liver transplantation. The median time for infection diagnosis was 9 postoperative days (25th-75th percentile, 7-10). Presepsin levels on 5 and 7 postoperative days were significantly higher in patients with infection than in those without (P=0.019 and P=0.011, respectively). In receiver operating characteristic analysis, area under the curve values of presepsin on 5 and 7 postoperative days (0.881 and 0.905, respectively) were higher than those of other biomarkers. The optimal cut-off value of presepsin was 1361 pg/mL on postoperative day 5 and 1375 pg/mL on postoperative day 7. CONCLUSIONS Although this study included a small number of patients, presepsin levels on postoperative days 5 and 7 may be useful indicators for infectious complications after liver transplantation.

Fecalith in the Proximal Area of the Appendix is a Predictor of Failure of Nonoperative Treatment for Complicated Appendicitis in Adults.

BACKGROUND: The management of complicated appendicitis remains controversial, since this disease has various clinical presentations and is associated with high rates of adverse events. Although initial nonoperative treatment is generally employed for complicated appendicitis, its clinical presentation and the predictors of nonoperative treatment failure are unclear. METHODS: Patients diagnosed with complicated appendicitis in our hospital between April 2015 and March 2020 were enrolled. In total, 113 patients were classified into three categories: emergency appendectomy, failure of nonoperative treatment and successful nonoperative treatment. The primary outcome was the rate of failure of nonoperative treatment, as assessed by logistic regression analysis. The secondary outcomes were the operative procedures and postoperative courses of the three groups. RESULTS: Of 113 patients, 45 (40%) underwent emergency appendectomy, 25 (22%) failed nonoperative treatment, and 43 (38%) had successful nonoperative treatment. Among these successful cases, 38 patients (88%) underwent interval appendectomy. In multivariate analyses, the presence of a fecalith in the proximal area of the appendix was an independent risk factor for failure of nonoperative treatment (odds ratio, 20.5; 95% confidence interval, 4.37-95.7, P < 0.001). Postoperative outcomes were more unfavorable in cases of failed nonoperative treatment than in cases of emergency and interval appendectomy. CONCLUSIONS: The presence of a fecalith in the proximal area of the appendix is an independent predictor for failure of nonoperative treatment for complicated appendicitis in adults. Patients with this risk factor should be considered candidates for surgical treatment.

Gamma-synuclein is a novel prognostic marker that promotes tumor cell migration in biliary tract carcinoma.

Gamma-synuclein (SNCG) promotes invasive behavior and is reportedly a prognostic factor in a range of cancers. However, its role in biliary tract carcinoma (BTC) remains unknown. Consequently, we investigated the clinicopathological significance and function of SNCG in BTC. Using resected BTC specimens from 147 patients with adenocarcinoma (extrahepatic cholangiocarcinoma [ECC, n = 96]; intrahepatic cholangiocarcinoma [ICC, n = 51]), we immunohistochemically evaluated SNCG expression and investigated its correlation with clinicopathological factors and outcomes. Furthermore, cell lines with high SNCG expression were selected from 16 BTC cell lines and these underwent cell proliferation and migration assays by siRNAs. In the results, SNCG expression was present in 22 of 96 (22.9%) ECC patients and in 10 of 51 (19.6%) ICC patients. SNCG expression was significantly correlated with poorly differentiated tumor in both ECC and ICC (p = 0.01 and 0.03, respectively) and with perineural invasion and lymph node metastases in ECC (p = 0.04 and 0.003, respectively). Multivariate analyses revealed that SNCG expression was an independent poor prognostic factor in both OS and RFS in both ECC and ICC. In vitro analyses showed high SNCG expression in three BTC cell lines (NCC-BD1, NCC-BD3, and NCC-CC6-1). Functional analysis revealed that SNCG silencing could suppress cell migration in NCC-BD1 and NCC-CC6-1 and downregulate cell proliferation in NCC-CC6-1 significantly. In conclusion, SNCG may promote tumor cell activity and is potentially a novel prognostic marker in BTC.

Clinical Impact of Portal Vein Distance on Computed Tomography for Postoperative Pancreatic Fistula after Pancreatoduodenectomy.

BACKGROUND: Pancreatic fistulas remain a significant concern after pancreatectomy owing to the associated high risk of mortality and high costs. It is not possible to perform preoperative risk stratification for all patients. This study aimed to evaluate the usefulness of the measurement of portal vein (PV) distance as a predictive indicator of pancreatic fistula development after pancreatoduodenectomy and compare it with the usefulness of other indicators such as body mass index (BMI), and abdominal fat area. METHODS: Patient characteristics, preoperative laboratory data, radiographic findings, and their association with pancreatic fistula development after pancreatoduodenectomy were analyzed for 157 patients who underwent resection during 2011-2017. Clinically relevant postoperative pancreatic fistulas (CR-POPF) were defined as Grade B or C fistulas based on the International Study Group of Pancreatic Surgery (ISGPS) 2016 consensus. RESULTS: CR-POPF developed in 38 patients (24.2%). Multivariate logistic regression indicated that PV distance and BMI were potential candidates for predictive models for pancreatic fistula development, and small pancreatic duct diameter, diabetes mellitus development, and pathology of non-pancreatic cancers were independent factors for CR-POPF. When comparing the two risk models (PV distance- and BMI-based models), the PV distance-derived risk model was compatible to the BMI-based stratification models (area under the curve 0.831 vs. 0.830). CONCLUSIONS: PV distance was confirmed to be a useful risk predictor for CR-POPF. This research highlighted the efficacy of abdominal thickness measurement, which is simple and easily applicable in the clinical setting.

Usefulness of selective arterial calcium injection tests for functional pancreatic neuroendocrine tumors.

The selective arterial calcium injection (SACI) test is useful for patients with functional pancreatic neuroendocrine tumors (F-PNETs). This study evaluated which patients with F-PNETs would benefit from the SACI test. We retrospectively analyzed the preoperative findings of patients on computed tomography (CT), magnetic resonance imaging (MRI), CT angiography (CTA), and the SACI test. Fourteen patients who underwent pancreatectomy between January 1997 and September 2016 for F-PNETs were evaluated. We classified these patients into groups A, B, and C; group A, one tumor detected by either CT or MRI; group B, multiple tumors detected; and group C, the tumor location was accordant on CT, MRI, and CTA, but the SACI test revealed another tumor. In group A, the tumor was also detected by CTA and the SACI test was positive on calcium injection. In group B, the focus tumor among the multiple tumors was detected by the SACI test. In group C, another tumor was identified by the SACI test, whose location was different from that detected using CT and MRI. The SACI test is more useful for multiple F-PNETs on CT or MRI. If CT or MRI detects a single tumor, the SACI test or CTA may be unnecessary.

Clinical impact of intraoperative bile leakage during laparoscopic liver resection.

BACKGROUND: Despite the increasing number of laparoscopic liver resection (LLR) procedures, postoperative bile leakage (POBL) remains a major complication. We occasionally experienced intraoperative bile leakage (IOBL) during LLR and managed it within the restrictions of laparoscopic surgery. However, there have been no reports about IOBL in LLR. We therefore investigated the impact of IOBL on postoperative outcomes and its predictive factors. METHODS: We reviewed 137 patients who underwent LLR from April 2016 to March 2019 at our institute and assigned them to IOBL-positive or IOBL-negative groups. We compared clinicopathological characteristics and perioperative outcomes. Patients were further divided into four groups according to IOBL pattern, and the frequency of POBL in each was calculated. Predictors of IOBL were identified using multivariate logistic regression analysis. RESULTS: There were 30 and 107 patients in the IOBL-positive and IOBL-negative groups, respectively. In the IOBL-positive group, operative time and postoperative hospital stays were significantly longer (P < 0.001). The frequency of POBL was significantly higher in the IOBL-positive group (P = 0.006). The IOBL-positive group was divided into two subgroups: IOBL from the transected parenchyma (IOBL-TP, n = 18) and from the main Glissonean pedicle (IOBL-mGP, n = 12). The IOBL-negative group was divided into two subgroups: bile staining in the mGP (BS-mGP, n = 9) and no change (NC, n = 98). POBL occurred in 11% (n = 2/18) of patients with IOBL-TP, 25% (n = 3/12) of those with IOBL-mGP, 11% (n = 1/9) of those with BS-mGP, and 1% (n = 1/98) of those with NC. Age, diabetes mellitus, indocyanine green retention rate, and Glissonean approach were predictors of IOBL (P < 0.05). CONCLUSIONS: IOBL was relatively common during LLR and resulted in a higher incidence of POBL. Depending on the predictive factors, IOBL must be promptly identified and appropriately managed.

O-Glycan-Altered Extracellular Vesicles: A Specific Serum Marker Elevated in Pancreatic Cancer.

Pancreatic cancer (PC) is among the most lethal malignancies due to an often delayed and difficult initial diagnosis. Therefore, the development of a novel, early stage, diagnostic PC marker in liquid biopsies is of great significance. In this study, we analyzed the differential glycomic profiling of extracellular vesicles (EVs) derived from serum (two cohorts including 117 PC patients and 98 normal controls) using lectin microarray. The glyco-candidates of PC-specific EVs were quantified using a high-sensitive exosome-counting system, ExoCounter. An absolute quantification system for altered glycan-containing EVs elevated in PC serum was established. EVs recognized by O-glycan-binding lectins ABA or ACA were identified as candidate markers by lectin microarray. Quantitative analyses using ExoCounter revealed that the ABA- or ACA-positive EVs were significantly increased in the culture of PC cell lines or in the serum of PC patients including carbohydrate antigen 19-9 negative patients with high area under curve values. The elevated numbers of EVs in PC serum returned to normal levels after pancreatectomy. Histological examination confirmed that the tumors stained with ABA/ACA. These specific EVs with O-glycans recognized by ABA/ACA are elevated in PC sera and can act as potential biomarkers in a liquid biopsy for PC patients screening.

Urgent distal pancreatectomy for intraperitoneal hemorrhage due to the spontaneous rupture of a pancreatic metastatic tumor from synovial sarcoma: a case report.

BACKGROUND: Synovial sarcoma is a soft tissue malignancy that frequently affects the extremities, adjacent to the large joints. Synovial sarcoma has a high rate of distant metastasis; however, pancreatic metastasis is extremely rare, and to our knowledge, there has been no report of bleeding due to spontaneous tumor rupture. This study reports the case of a patient with synovial sarcoma pancreatic metastasis causing tumor rupture and bleeding, which was successfully managed with emergent distal pancreatectomy. CASE PRESENTATION: A 27-year-old woman underwent extensive resection of the primary tumor and partial lung resection after chemotherapy for left femoral synovial sarcoma and multiple lung metastases 4 years prior. During the follow-up, a 35-mm tumor was noted in the pancreatic tail on abdominal computed tomography (CT), and no other distant metastases were detected via positron emission tomography CT. Laparoscopic distal pancreatectomy was scheduled for pancreatic metastasis of synovial sarcoma. However, before the scheduled pancreatectomy could be conducted, the patient visited the emergency department because of abdominal pain that occurred after consuming a small amount of alcohol, and CT showed ascites with high CT values and leakage of contrast media. She was diagnosed with intra-abdominal hemorrhage due to a ruptured metastatic pancreatic tumor, and an emergency operation was performed. In total, 1500 mL of blood was evacuated from the abdomen, and the bleeding pancreatic tail tumor was resected. Histopathological findings revealed synovial sarcoma metastasis and a ruptured tumor capsule, and tumor cells were observed in the hematoma. After discharge on postoperative day 18, the patient was carefully monitored and confirmed to be in relapse-free survival, without chemotherapy, at 6 months post-surgery. CONCLUSIONS: While the rate of tumor growth varies depending on the grade of the tumor, the possibility of rupture should be considered even in metastatic pancreatic tumors. In the case of pancreatic tumor rupture with stable circulation, radiological evaluation for oncology is necessary, and primary resection may be compatible with resectable cases.

High risk pathogens and risk factors for postoperative pancreatic fistula after pancreatectomy; a retrospective case-controlled study.

BACKGROUND: Although the rates of surgical site infection are decreasing, surgical site infection after pancreatectomy remains frequent because of postoperative pancreatic fistula. Recent studies suggested a relationship between postoperative pancreatic fistula and pathogens cultured from drainage fluids after pancreatectomy. This study aimed to assess and evaluate high-risk pathogens cultured from postoperative drainage fluids for postoperative pancreatic fistulas or severe postoperative complications after pancreatectomy. MATERIALS AND METHODS: We retrospectively enrolled patients who underwent pancreaticoduodenectomy or distal pancreatectomy between 2012 and 2019. We assessed clinical characteristics and microbiological results of drainage cultures of pancreaticoduodenectomy or distal pancreatectomy patients, and we investigated the risk factors for clinically relevant postoperative pancreatic fistulas and Clavien-Dindo status using univariate and multivariate analyses. Finally, we detected high-risk pathogens from drainage cultures and analyzed the correlation between these pathogens and the severity of clinically relevant postoperative pancreatic fistula or Clavien-Dindo status. RESULTS: Four hundred and twenty-nine patients were enrolled: 257 underwent pancreaticoduodenectomy and 172 underwent distal pancreatectomy. Clinically relevant postoperative pancreatic fistulas and Clavien-Dindo status ≥ III were more frequently seen in pancreaticoduodenectomy patients than in distal pancreatectomy patients, namely grade C postoperative pancreatic fistula, which was observed in 19 pancreaticoduodenectomy patients. The most common pathogen found from drainage cultures was Enterococcus species, followed by Enterobacter species and Candida species. All pathogens were associated with clinically relevant postoperative pancreatic fistulas; however, Candida species was a dominant microorganism of clinically relevant postoperative pancreatic fistulas grade C, Clavien-Dindo status ≥ IV, and hemorrhage due to pseudoaneurysm. CONCLUSION: The presence of Candida species in the drainage fluid culture after pancreaticoduodenectomy can be a predictive factor of severe infectious complications, including postoperative pancreatic fistulas; thus, we should regularly collect cultures from drainage fluids and monitor for Candida infection.

A prospective feasibility study of one-year administration of adjuvant S-1 therapy for resected biliary tract cancer in a multi-institutional trial (Tokyo Study Group for Biliary Cancer: TOSBIC01).

BACKGROUND: Although surgery is the definitive curative treatment for biliary tract cancer (BTC), outcomes after surgery alone have not been satisfactory. Adjuvant therapy with S-1 may improve survival in patients with BTC. This study examined the safety and efficacy of 1 year adjuvant S-1 therapy for BTC in a multi-institutional trial. METHODS: The inclusion criteria were as follows: histologically proven BTC, Eastern Cooperative Oncology Group (ECOG) performance status 0 or 1, R0 or R1 surgery performed, cancer classified as Stage IB to III. Within 10 weeks post-surgery, a 42-day cycle of treatment with S-1 (80 mg/m2/day orally twice daily on days 1-28 of each cycle) was initiated and continued up to 1 year post surgery. The primary endpoint was adjuvant therapy completion rate. The secondary endpoints were toxicities, disease-free survival (DFS), and overall survival (OS). RESULTS: Forty-six patients met the inclusion criteria of whom 19 had extrahepatic cholangiocarcinoma, 10 had gallbladder carcinoma, 9 had ampullary carcinoma, and 8 had intrahepatic cholangiocarcinoma. Overall, 25 patients completed adjuvant chemotherapy, with a 54.3% completion rate while the completion rate without recurrence during the 1 year administration was 62.5%. Seven patients (15%) experienced adverse events (grade 3/4). The median number of courses administered was 7.5. Thirteen patients needed dose reduction or temporary therapy withdrawal. OS and DFS rates at 1/2 years were 91.2/80.0% and 84.3/77.2%, respectively. Among patients who were administered more than 3 courses of S-1, only one patient discontinued because of adverse events. CONCLUSIONS: One-year administration of adjuvant S-1 therapy for resected BTC was feasible and may be a promising treatment for those with resected BTC. Now, a randomized trial to determine the optimal duration of S-1 is ongoing. TRIAL REGISTRATION: UMIN-CTR, UMIN000009029. Registered 5 October 2012-Retrospectively registered, https://upload.umin.ac.jp/cgi-open-bin/ctr_e/ctr_view.cgi?recptno=R000009347.

Combination of KRAS and SMAD4 mutations in formalin-fixed paraffin-embedded tissues as a biomarker for pancreatic cancer.

Formalin-fixed paraffin-embedded (FFPE) tissues used for routine pathological diagnosis are valuable for cancer genomic analysis; however, the association between mutation status derived from these specimens and prognosis in pancreatic ductal adenocarcinoma (PDAC) remains unclear. We analyzed 50 cancer-related gene mutations including driver genes in PDAC, using next-generation sequencing (NGS) to clarify the association between gene mutations and prognosis. DNA was extracted from FFPE tissues obtained from 74 patients with untreated resectable PDAC who underwent surgery at our institution between 2013 and 2018. Fifty of the 74 patients with DNA extracts from FFPE samples suitable for NGS were analyzed. The prevalence of driver gene mutations was as follows: 84% for KRAS, 62% for TP53, 32% for SMAD4, and 18% for CDKN2A. There were no cases of single SMAD4 mutations; its rate of coincidence with KRAS or TP53 mutations was 30% and 2%, respectively. The combination of KRAS and SMAD4 mutations resulted in significantly shorter relapse-free survival (RFS; median survival time [MST], 12.3 vs. 28.9 months, P = .014) and overall survival (OS; MST, 22.3 months vs. not reached, P = .048). On multivariate analysis, the combination of KRAS and SMAD4 mutations was an independent prognostic factor for RFS (hazard ratio [HR] 4.218; 95% confidence interval [CI], 1.77-10.08; P = .001) and OS (HR 6.730; 95% CI, 1.93-23.43; P = .003). The combination of KRAS and SMAD4 mutations in DNA obtained from FFPE tissues is an independent poor prognostic factor in PDAC.

Usefulness of 18 F-fluorodeoxyglucose positron emission tomography/computed tomography for predicting the prognosis and treatment response of neoadjuvant therapy for pancreatic ductal adenocarcinoma.

BACKGROUND: The Response Evaluation Criteria in Solid Tumors (RECIST) for computed tomography (CT) is preoperatively used to evaluate therapeutic effects. However, it does not reflect the pathological treatment response (PTR) of pancreatic ductal adenocarcinoma (PDAC). The Positron Emission Tomography Response Criteria in Solid Tumors (PERCIST) for positron emission tomography (PET)/CT is effective in other cancers. This study aimed to confirm the usefulness of PERCIST and the prognostic utility of PET/CT for PDAC. METHODS: Forty-two consecutive patients with PDAC who underwent neoadjuvant therapy (NAT) and pancreatectomy at our institution between 2014 and 2018 were retrospectively analyzed. We evaluated the treatment response and prognostic significance of PET/CT parameters and other clinicopathological factors. RESULTS: Twenty-two patients who underwent PET/CT both before and after NAT with the same protocol were included. RECIST revealed stable disease and partial response in 20 and 2 cases, respectively. PERCIST revealed stable metabolic disease, partial metabolic response, and complete metabolic response in 8, 9, and 5 cases, respectively. The PTR was G3, G2, and G1 in 8, 12, and 2 cases, respectively. For comparing the concordance rates between PTR and each parameter, PERCIST (72.7% [16/22]) was significantly superior to RECIST (36.4% [8/22]) (P = .017). The area under the curve survival values of PET/CT parameters were 0.777 for metabolic tumor volume (MTV), 0.500 for maximum standardized uptake value, 0.554 for peak standardized uptake value corrected for lean body mass, and 0.634 for total lesion glycolysis. A 50% cut-off value for the MTV reduction rate yielded the largest difference in survival between responders and nonresponders. On multivariate analysis, MTV reduction rates < 50% were independent predictors for relapse-free survival (hazard ratio [HR], 3.92; P = .044) and overall survival (HR, 14.08; P = .023). CONCLUSIONS: PERCIST was more accurate in determining NAT's therapeutic effects for PDAC than RECIST. MTV reduction rates were independent prognostic factors for PDAC.

Laparoscopic repeat liver resection after open liver resection: A comparative study from a single-centre.

BACKGROUND: Technological innovations have made it possible to use laparoscopic liver resection in cases with pre-existing adhesions or cicatricial changes. However, laparoscopic repeat liver resection (LRLR) still represents a challenge for surgeons, especially in case of previous open liver surgery. This study evaluated the outcomes of LRLR after open liver resection (OLR) in cases of recurrent liver cancer. MATERIALS AND METHODS: A total of 62 patients who underwent laparoscopic minor liver resection at our institution between September 2012 and September 2016 were retrospectively divided into an LRLR group (n = 13) and a laparoscopic primary liver resection group (LPLR; n = 49). The two groups were compared in terms of patient demographics, surgical procedures and short-term outcomes. Recurrence-free survival (RFS) and overall survival (OS) were compared for patients with hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) or colorectal liver metastases (CRLMs). RESULTS: There was a significant intergroup difference in the hepatitis virus background, although the two groups' primary histology and pre-operative liver function were comparable. The two groups had statistically similar values for extent of resection, operative time, estimated blood loss, transfusion requirement, conversion to laparotomy, post-operative complications, surgical margins, time to oral intake and hospital stay. No significant differences were detected when we stratified the cases according to low and intermediate difficulty. Furthermore, there were no intergroup differences in RFS or OS in the two groups for patients with HCC and CRLM. CONCLUSIONS: The findings suggest that minor LRLR after OLR is safe and comparable with minor LPLR in the present study.

Methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus carriers are vulnerable to bloodstream infection after living donor liver transplantation.

BACKGROUND: Bloodstream infection (BSI) is a life-threatening complication after living donor liver transplantation (LDLT). We aimed to explore the incidence and predisposing factors of BSI at our institution. METHODS: We conducted a retrospective cohort analysis on all consecutive adults with BSI within 6 months after LDLT performed between 2005 and 2016. For antimicrobial prophylaxis, ampicillin/sulbactam, cefotaxime, and micafungin were administered. From 2011, methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus (MRSA) carriers were decolonized using mupirocin ointment and chlorhexidine gluconate soap. Risk factors for BSI were identified by uni- and multivariate logistic regression. RESULTS: Of a total of 106 LDLTs, 42 recipients (40%) suffered BSI. The BSI group demonstrated significantly higher in-hospital mortality rates compared with the non-BSI group (24% vs. 7%, P = .01). We identified MRSA carrier (odds ratio [OR], 19.1; P < .001), ABO incompatibility (OR, 2.9; P = .03), and estimated glomerular filtration rate <30 mL/min/1.73m2 (OR, 15.8; P = .02) as independent risk factors for BSI. Decolonization treatment for MRSA carriers did not reduce the incidence of all-cause BSI but reduced the frequency of BSI caused by MRSA. CONCLUSION: To our knowledge, for the first time, MRSA carriers were revealed to be highly vulnerable to BSI after LDLT.

Prognostic significance of the postoperative level and recovery rate of serum albumin in patients with curatively resected pancreatic ductal adenocarcinoma.

The aim of the present study was to investigate the clinicopathological features and prognostic factors associated with pre- and postoperative serum albumin levels in patients with curatively resected pancreatic ductal adenocarcinoma (PDAC). To achieve this, the data of patients who underwent pancreatectomy for PDAC between January 1995 and March 2016 were retrospectively reviewed, and the pre- and postoperative serum albumin levels at postoperative months (POMs) 3, 6, and 12 were evaluated. The serum albumin recovery rate was also investigated. A total of 196 patients were enrolled in the present study. In the multivariate Cox regression analysis, lymph node metastasis [hazard ratio (HR): 1.65; P=0.022], serum albumin level at POM 12 (≥3.9 g/dl; HR: 0.60; P=0.017), and serum albumin recovery rate at POM 12 (≥1.00; HR: 0.60; P=0.017) were independent prognostic factors for disease-free survival. Lymph node metastasis (HR: 1.79; P=0.013) and serum albumin level at POM 12 (≥3.9 g/dl) (HR: 0.60; P=0.033) were independent prognostic factors for overall survival. These results indicated that the postoperative level and recovery rate of serum albumin are potential biomarkers for predicting the prognosis of patients with curatively resected PDAC. However, further studies are required in order to investigate the survival benefit of increasing postoperative serum albumin levels in these patients.

Efficacy and safety of preoperative 5-fluorouracil, cisplatin, and mitomycin C in combination with radiotherapy in patients with resectable and borderline resectable pancreatic cancer: a long-term follow-up study.

BACKGROUND: We aimed to evaluate the efficacy and safety of 5-fluorouracil-based neoadjuvant chemoradiotherapy (NACRT) in patients with resectable/borderline resectable pancreatic ductal adenocarcinoma (PDAC). METHODS: This retrospective study investigated the clinicopathological features and > 5-year survival of patients with T3/T4 PDAC who underwent NACRT at our institute between 2003 and 2012. RESULTS: Seventeen resectable and eight borderline resectable patients were included. The protocol treatment completion and resection rates were 92.0% and 68.0%, respectively. Two patients failed to complete chemotherapy owing to cholangitis or anorexia. Common grade 3 toxicities included anorexia (12%), neutropenia (4%), thrombocytopenia (4%), anemia (4%), and leukopenia (12%). Pathologically negative margins were achieved in 94.1% of patients who underwent pancreatectomy. Pathological response according to Evans' classification was grade IIA in 10 patients (58.8%), IIB in 5 patients (29.4%), and IV in 2 patients (11.8%). Postoperative pancreatic fistulas were observed in four patients (23.5%), delayed gastric emptying in one patient (5.9%), and other operative morbidities in four patients (23.5%). The 1-, 2-, 5-, and 10-year overall survival rates were 73.9%, 60.9%, 60.9%, and 39.1%, respectively (median follow-up period, 80.3 months). CONCLUSIONS: NACRT is tolerable and beneficial for resectable/borderline resectable PDAC, even in the long-term.

Efficacy of Enteral Nutrition by Double Elementary Diet Tube after Pylorus-Preserving Pancreatoduodenectomy.

Nutritional support after pylorus-preserving pancreaticoduodenectomy (PpPD) is still controversial. This study aimed to evaluate the efficacy of enteral nutrition (EN) via the double elementary diet (W-ED) tube after PpPD. One hundred two patients who received EN by the W-ED tube were compared with 52 patients who received total parental nutrition (TPN) previously. Clinicopathological and postoperative features were analyzed among the two groups. Patients with EN by the W-ED tube after PpPD had a lower incidence of postoperative pancreatic fistula than those with TPN. The total protein and albumin levels on discharge in the EN group were significantly higher than those in the TPN group. In the case without complication, decreasing rate of the third lumbar vertebra skeletal muscle area was significantly lower in the EN group. In the cases of soft pancreas, drainage volume by the W-ED tube until four postoperative day was significantly larger in the case without postoperative pancreatic fistula. The W-ED tube offers the advantages of reducing gastrointestinal pressure and enabling reduction of complications after PpPD surgery.