MiR-146a reduces fibrosis after glaucoma filtration surgery in rats.

PURPOSE: To explore the impact of microRNA 146a (miR-146a) and the underlying mechanisms in profibrotic changes following glaucoma filtering surgery (GFS) in rats and stimulation by transforming growth factor (TGF)-ß1 in rat Tenon's capsule fibroblasts. METHODS: Cultured rat Tenon's capsule fibroblasts were treated with TGF-ß1 and analyzed with microarrays for mRNA profiling to validate miR-146a as the target. The Tenon's capsule fibroblasts were then respectively treated with lentivirus-mediated transfection of miR-146a mimic or inhibitor following TGF-ß1 stimulation in vitro, while GFS was performed in rat eyes with respective intraoperative administration of miR-146a, mitomycin C (MMC), or 5-fluorouracil (5-FU) in vivo. Profibrotic genes expression levels (fibronectin, collagen Iα, NF-KB, IL-1ß, TNF-α, SMAD4, and α-smooth muscle actin) were determined through qPCR, Western blotting, immunofluorescence staining and/or histochemical analysis in vitro and in vivo. SMAD4 targeting siRNA was further used to treat the fibroblasts in combination with miR-146a intervention to confirm its role in underlying mechanisms. RESULTS: Upregulation of miR-146a reduced the proliferation rate and profibrotic changes of rat Tenon's capsule fibroblasts induced by TGF-ß1 in vitro, and mitigated subconjunctival fibrosis to extend filtering blebs survival after GFS in vivo, where miR-146a decreased expression levels of NF-KB-SMAD4-related genes, such as fibronectin, collagen Iα, NF-KB, IL-1ß, TNF-α, SMAD4, and α-smooth muscle actin(α-SMA). Additionally, SMAD4 is a key target gene in the process of miR-146a inhibiting fibrosis. CONCLUSIONS: MiR-146a effectively reduced TGF-ß1-induced fibrosis in rat Tenon's capsule fibroblasts in vitro and in vivo, potentially through the NF-KB-SMAD4 signaling pathway. MiR-146a shows promise as a novel therapeutic target for preventing fibrosis and improving the success rate of GFS.

Hyperthermic intraperitoneal chemotherapy in colorectal cancer.

BACKGROUND: This study evaluated the efficacy of hyperthermic intraperitoneal chemotherapy (HIPEC) in colorectal cancer with peritoneal metastases (pmCRC) in a large international data set of patients. PATIENTS AND METHODS: Patients with pmCRC from 39 centres who underwent cytoreductive surgery with HIPEC between 1991 and 2018 were selected and compared for the HIPEC protocols received-oxaliplatin-HIPEC versus mitomycin-HIPEC. Following analysis of crude data, propensity-score matching (PSM) and Cox-proportional hazard modelling were performed. Outcomes of interest were overall survival (OS), recurrence-free survival (RFS) and the HIPEC dose-response effects (high versus low dose, dose intensification and double drug protocols) on OS, RFS and 90-day morbidity. Furthermore, the impact of the treatment time period was assessed. RESULTS: Of 2760 patients, 2093 patients were included. Median OS was 43 months (95% c.i. 41 to 46 months) with a median RFS of 12 months (95% c.i. 12 to 13 months). The oxaliplatin-HIPEC group had an OS of 47 months (95% c.i. 42 to 53 months) versus 39 months (95% c.i. 36 to 43 months) in the mitomycin-HIPEC group (P = 0.002), aHR 0.77, 95% c.i. 0.67 to 0.90, P < 0.001. The OS benefit persisted after PSM of the oxaliplatin-HIPEC group and mitomycin-HIPEC group (48 months (95% c.i. 42 to 59 months) versus 40 months (95% c.i. 37 to 44 months)), P < 0.001, aHR 0.78 (95% c.i. 0.65 to 0.94), P = 0.009. Similarly, matched RFS was significantly higher for oxaliplatin-HIPEC versus others (13 months (95% c.i. 12 to 15 months) versus 11 months (95% c.i. 10 to 12 months, P = 0.02)). High-dose mitomycin-HIPEC protocols had similar OS compared to oxaliplatin-HIPEC. HIPEC dose intensification within each protocol resulted in improved survival. Oxaliplatin + irinotecan-HIPEC resulted in the most improved OS (61 months (95% c.i. 51 to 101 months)). Ninety-day mortality in both crude and PSM analysis was worse for mitomycin-HIPEC. There was no change in treatment effect depending on the analysed time period. CONCLUSIONS: Oxaliplatin-based HIPEC provided better outcomes compared to mitomycin-based HIPEC. High-dose mitomycin-HIPEC was similar to oxaliplatin-HIPEC. The 90-day mortality difference favours the oxaliplatin-HIPEC group. A trend for dose-response between low- and high-dose HIPEC was reported.

45 years of tetracycline post exposure prophylaxis for STIs and the risk of tetracycline resistance: a systematic review and meta-analysis.

There is considerable interest in the use of doxycycline post exposure prophylaxis (PEP) to reduce the incidence of bacterial sexually transmitted infections (STIs). An important concern is that this could select for tetracycline resistance in these STIs and other species. We searched PubMed and Google Scholar, (1948-2023) for randomized controlled trials comparing tetracycline PEP with non-tetracycline controls. The primary outcome was antimicrobial resistance (AMR) to tetracyclines in all bacterial species with available data. Our search yielded 140 studies, of which three met the inclusion criteria. Tetracycline PEP was associated with an increasedprevalence of tetracycline resistance in Neisseria gonorrhoeae, but this effect was not statistically significant (Pooled OR 2.3, 95% CI 0.9-3.4). PEP had a marked effect on the N. gonorrhoeae tetracycline MIC distribution in the one study where this was assessed. Prophylactic efficacy was 100% at low MICs and 0% at high MICs. In the one study where this was assessed, PEP resulted in a significant increase in tetracycline resistance in commensal Neisseria species compared to the control group (OR 2.9, 95% CI 1.5-5.5) but no significant effect on the prevalence of tetracycline resistance in Staphylococcus aureus. The available evidence suggests that PEP with tetracyclines could be associated with selecting tetracycline resistance in N. gonorrhoeae and commensal Neisseria species.

Anterior chamber proliferative membrane interception (AC-PMI)-enhanced trabeculectomy versus trabeculectomy for treating neovascular glaucoma: protocol for a randomized controlled trial.

BACKGROUND: Neovascular glaucoma (NVG) is an irreversible blinding eye disease worldwide and is classified as one of the refractory glaucoma conditions, severely impacting visual function and vision. Unfortunately, effective surgical interventions to improve the prognosis of NVG patients are currently lacking. The study aims to evaluate the efficacy and safety of anterior chamber proliferative membrane interception (AC-PMI)-enhanced trabeculectomy compared to the traditional trabeculectomy. METHODS: AC-PMI enhanced trabeculectomy versus trabeculectomy for the treatment of NVG is a single-center, prospective, double-arms, and randomized controlled trial of superior efficacy, which will involve 100 NVG inpatients. Patients will be randomly assigned into two groups using the random number table method. One group will undergo trabeculectomy using anti-vascular endothelial growth factor (Anti-VEGF) preoperatively and mitomycin C intraoperatively, while the other group will undergo AC-PMI enhanced trabeculectomy with the same medications (Anti-VEGF and mitomycin C). The patients will be followed up at the baseline and 1 day, 1 week, 1 month, 3 months, 6 months, 12 months, 18 months, and 24 months postoperatively. Meanwhile, we will collect the demographics, characteristics, and examination results and monitor any occurrences of adverse events at each follow-up time. DISCUSSION: This is an efficacy study of a novel surgical approach for treating neovascular glaucoma. Building upon conventional filtering surgeries, this approach introduces an additional step involving the interception of the proliferative membrane to effectively halt the growth of fibrovascular tissue. This study aims to explore a promising new surgical approach for managing NVG and contribute to the advancement of glaucoma treatment strategies. TRIAL REGISTRATION: ChiCTR ChiCTR2200055138. Registered on 01 January 2022. https://www.chictr.org.cn/showproj.html?proj=145255.

Patterns of treatment of high-risk BCG-unresponsive non-muscle invasive bladder cancer (NMIBC) patients among Arab urologists.

PURPOSE: To understand the treatment plans suggested for BCG-unresponsive non-muscle invasive disease (NMIBC) patients in the Arab countries and therapeutic decisions applied for BCG-naive patients during BCG shortage time. METHODS: A 10-minute online survey was distributed through the Arab Association of Urology (AAU) office to urologists in the Arab countries who treat patients with NMIBC. RESULTS: One hundred six urologists responded to the survey. The majority of urologists had treated, in the past 6 months, > 10 patients with NMIBC who were considered BCG-unresponsive (55% of respondents). Radical cystectomy (RC) was the most popular treatment option (recommended by 50%) for these patients. This was followed by intravesical chemotherapy (30%), repeat BCG therapy (12%), resection with ongoing surveillance (8%). Clinical trials and intravenous checkpoint inhibitors were never selected. The most preferred intravesical chemotherapy was by ranking: 60% gemcitabine, 19% mitomycin C, 8% docetaxel, 8% gemcitabine/docetaxel, 4% sequential gemcitabine/mitomycin C, and 1% valrubicin. The use of intravesical chemotherapy appears limited by Arab urologists due to concerns regarding clinical efficacy (fear of progression) and the lack of clear recommendations by urology societies. Given the BCG shortage, which may vary per Arab country, Arab urologists have adjusted by prioritizing BCG for T1 and carcinoma in situ (CIS) patients over Ta, adapting intravesical chemotherapy, and reducing the dose/strength of BCG administered. Most physicians report an eagerness to utilize novel therapies to address the BCG deficit, especially to try intravesical chemotherapy. CONCLUSIONS: Even though Arab urologists are in the majority of cases selecting RC for BCG-unresponsive cases, one-third of them are most recently initiating intravesical chemotherapy as an alternative option. To further assist Arab urologists in the appropriate selection of BCG unresponsive high risk NMIBC patient treatments, enhanced education and pathway protocols are needed.

[Modified mini-SLET for treatment of complex cases in pterygium surgery]. / Modifizierte Mini-SLET zur Behandlung von komplexen Fällen in der Pterygiumchirurgie.

BACKGROUND: The major problem associated with the benign but destructive growing pterygium is the high recurrence rate. A new surgical technique to lower recurrence rates is minor ipsilateral simple limbal epithelial transplantation (mini-SLET), where the regeneration potential of limbal stem cells is used in combination with amniotic membrane transplantation (AMT) for surgical reconstruction. The aim of this study is to assess the surgical outcome of the mini-SLET technique with tenonectomy, mitomycin C, and AMT as used in the authors' hospital. MATERIALS AND METHODS: A total of 16 eyes from 15 patients undergoing mini-SLET after surgical pterygium removal with tenonectomy, mitomycin C, and AMT were analyzed retrospectively. Two different groups of pterygia were enrolled: group 1 included recurrent pterygia (n = 10) and group 2 comprised primary large pterygia such as double-head pterygia (n = 6). In addition to assessment of best corrected visual acuity and compete ophthalmological examination, preoperative slip-lamp examination with photo documentation served to calculate the corneal size of the pterygium head using VISUPAC software (Zeiss, Oberkochen, Germany). Postoperatively, best corrected visual acuity and slit-lamp examination were routinely evaluated. The surgical outcome was defined by the postoperatively achieved best corrected visual acuity, restoration of the ocular surface, recurrence rate, and rate of postoperative complications. RESULTS: Median follow-up in all patients was 27 months; in groups 1 and 2 it was 30.7 and 25.3 months, respectively. No recurrence developed in 15 eyes (93.75%). Only one group 1 patient (6.25%) suffered a recurrent lesion after 10 months. Postoperatively, logMAR visual acuity did not change significantly. During follow-up, complications were limited to one case of early wound dehiscence. CONCLUSION: Mini-SLET in combination with tenonectomy, mitomycin C, and AMT enables good surgical reconstruction of the ocular surface, and almost complete healing in the sense of restitutio ad integrum is possible. The results of the present study have shown the technique's effectiveness for recurrence prevention.

Capecitabine/cisplatin combined with concurrent intensity-modulated radiation therapy: a feasible therapeutic strategy for anal squamous cell carcinoma

Purpose To evaluate the efficacy and safety of capecitabine/cisplatin (XP) combined with intensity-modulated radiation therapy (IMRT) in patients with non-metastatic anal squamous cell carcinoma (ASCC). Method and materials All patients with ASCC who received radical concurrent chemoradiotherapy in the past 8 years were screened. Patients who received XP or mitomycin/5-fluorouracil (MF) were selected and analyzed retrospectively. Results ASCC is an uncommon cancer, there were 36 patients were included in our study. The XP group and MF group included 18 patients each. The clinical complete response (cCR) rates in the XP group and the MF group were 94.4% and 88.9%, respectively (P = 1). The 2-year local control (LC), disease-free survival (DFS), and colostomy-free survival (CFS) rates were higher in the XP group than in the MF group (100% vs 93.3%, P = 0.32). Hematologic toxicities, especially grade ≥ 3 leukopenia (11.1% vs 44.4%, P = 0.06) and neutropenia (5.6% vs 61.1%, P = 0.001), were lower in the XP group than MF group. As a result of fewer side effects, fewer patients in the XP group demanded the dose reduction of chemotherapy (11.1% vs 50%, P = 0.03) and radiation interruption (55.6% vs 77.8%, P = 0.289). Delayed radiotherapy was shorter in the XP group (2.5 vs 6.5 days, P = 0.042) than in the MF group. Conclusion The XP regimen was as effective as the MF regimen in non-metastatic ASCC. Compared with the standard MF regimen, XP combined with IMRT showed higher treatment completion and lower toxicities. It could be considered a feasible alternative for patients with non-metastatic ASCC (AU)

Use of In Vivo Corneal Confocal Microscopy to Guide Excimer Laser With Adjunctive Mitomycin C for Treatment of Recalcitrant Acanthamoeba Keratitis.

PURPOSE: The aim of this study was to describe 3 cases of recalcitrant Acanthamoeba keratitis (AK) that were successfully treated using in vivo corneal confocal microscopy (IVCM) to guide excimer laser ablation depth with adjunctive mitomycin C 0.02%. METHODS: Three patients diagnosed with AK did not respond to several weeks of intensive topical therapy with antiamoebic agents. The patient underwent phototherapeutic keratectomy with topical mitomycin C 0.02% application. The maximum stromal depth of cysts measured by IVCM was 80 µm, 100 µm, and 240 µm, and the stromal ablation depths were 80 µm, 100 µm, and 100 µm, respectively. RESULTS: In all 3 eyes, AK resolved after a single excimer laser application, and topical treatment was gradually discontinued within 6 weeks afterward. In 1 eye, penetrating corneal transplantation was performed 6 weeks after phototherapeutic keratectomy because of ongoing severe corneal pain. IVCM and histology of the corneal transplant did not reveal any Acanthamoeba cysts within the excised corneal button. No recurrence was observed during the follow-up period of 19 to 34 months. CONCLUSIONS: IVCM-guided phototherapeutic keratectomy with mitomycin C 0.02% seems to be a safe and successful approach for the treatment of AK, especially in cases of resistance to topical treatment. Corneal IVCM should be performed before laser application to measure cyst depth, determine ablation depth, and assess postoperative treatment success.

Combination intravesical chemotherapy for non-muscle invasive bladder cancer (NMIBC) as first-line or rescue therapy: where do we stand now?

INTRODUCTION: The combination of intravesical gemcitabine (Gem) with docetaxel (Doce) or with mitomycin C (MMC) has been used in the primary setting as an alternative to Bacillus Calmette-Guerin (BCG) to treat high-risk (HR) and intermediate-risk (IR) non-muscle invasive bladder cancer (NMIBC), as well in the rescue setting for patients in whom BCG has failed. AREA COVERED: Efficacy and safety of Gem/Doce and Gem/MMC to treat NMIBC in BCG-naive and failure settings. EXPERT OPINION: In the BCG-naive setting, Gem/Doce was the primary alternative combination therapy reported, with a weighted mean of 12- and 24-month recurrence-free survival (RFS) of 79% and 77% for HR disease and 84% and 76% for IR disease, respectively. In the HR BCG-failure setting, the weighted mean of 12- and 24-month RFS was 60% and 42% for Gem/Doce and 63% and 40% for Gem/MMC. While patients without BCG exposure and papillary disease only benefit the most from Gem/Doce, there is also reasonable efficacy in BCG refractory disease and CIS. Combination therapy is well tolerated, with grade III toxicity reported in less than 1% of patients. Unlike single-agent chemotherapy, intravesical Gem/Doce is considered effective and safe regardless of risk-stratification.

Efficacy of anti-vascular endothelial growth factor and mitomycin C on wound healing after trabeculectomy in glaucoma patients: A meta-analysis.

Trabeculectomy is the main surgical treatment for glaucoma, but scar formation during wound healing may lead to surgical failure. In this study, we evaluated the efficacy of anti-vascular endothelial growth factor (anti-VEGF) and mitomycin C (MMC) on wound healing after glaucoma surgery. We have been looking for Pubmed, Embase and other databases. The last time we looked at an electronic database was August 2023. A case control study was conducted to compare the use of anti-VEGF and mitomycin C for the treatment of glaucoma. We used the Cochrane standard methodology for collecting and analysing the data. Based on the criteria of inclusion, we have determined 369 related papers and selected seven eligible trials for data analysis. Three hundred and twenty-six cases were treated with trabeculectomy, of which 166 were injected with anti-VEGF and 160 were given MMC for trabeculectomy. In six trials, anti-VEGF and MMC were not found to have any statistical significance on postoperative wound leakage after surgery (OR, 1.55; 95% CI, 0.71, 3.35 p = 0.27). The three trials showed that anti-VEGF and MMC did not differ in terms of reducing postoperative wound hypotony after surgery (OR, 0.78; 95% CI, 0.20, 3.11 p = 0.73). Five trials demonstrated that anti-VEGF and MMC were not associated with a lower incidence of shallow anterior chamber (OR, 1.17; 95% CI, 0.5, 2.76 p = 0.71). There is no significant difference in the effect of anti-VEGF and MMC on wound healing after glaucoma surgery. A multicentre randomized controlled trial with a larger sample size is needed to confirm this study.

Short-term outcomes of Mitomycin-C augmented phaco-trabeculectomy using subconjunctival injections versus soaked sponges: a randomized controlled trial.

OBJECTIVES: To determine whether subconjunctival Mitomycin-C (MMC) injections are as safe and effective as sponge-soaked MMC in phaco-trabeculectomy. METHODS: This prospective, randomized, interventional study was conducted on consecutive patients with visually significant cataract and an uncontrolled primary open-angle glaucoma. One hundred thirty-nine patients were recruited but 15 were ineligible for analysis. The patients were randomized into a sponge/injection group. All participants received a twin-site phaco-trabeculectomy. They were followed up on days 1, 15, 30, 3 months and 6 months post-operatively. A p-value < 0.05 was considered significant. INTERVENTIONS: Participants in the sponge group received an augmentation of their phaco-trabeculectomy with sponges soaked in a mixture of 0.04% MMC and 2% preservative-free Lignocaine in a 1:1 ratio, placed in the subconjunctival space for four minutes. Participants in the injection group received the same mixture as a subconjunctival injection, after surgical draping. RESULTS: There were 62 patients in each group. The groups had no significant differences in their baseline characteristics. The mean IOP at 6 months was significantly lower in the injection group (14.8 ± 3.7 mm Hg) than in the sponge group (17.1 ± 6.4 mm Hg) (p = 0.02). There was no notable difference in the complications or the final post-operative visual outcome but a significantly greater number of patients in the sponge arm required removal of the releasable suture (p = 0.001) and additional anti-glaucoma medications (p = 0.04) at six months post-operatively. CONCLUSIONS: Subconjunctival MMC achieves a lower IOP with fewer anti-glaucoma medications than sponge-soaked MMC at six months for twin-site phaco-trabeculectomy in primary open-angle glaucoma with no additional risks.

Capecitabine/cisplatin combined with concurrent intensity-modulated radiation therapy: a feasible therapeutic strategy for anal squamous cell carcinoma.

PURPOSE: To evaluate the efficacy and safety of capecitabine/cisplatin (XP) combined with intensity-modulated radiation therapy (IMRT) in patients with non-metastatic anal squamous cell carcinoma (ASCC). METHOD AND MATERIALS: All patients with ASCC who received radical concurrent chemoradiotherapy in the past 8 years were screened. Patients who received XP or mitomycin/5-fluorouracil (MF) were selected and analyzed retrospectively. RESULTS: ASCC is an uncommon cancer, there were 36 patients were included in our study. The XP group and MF group included 18 patients each. The clinical complete response (cCR) rates in the XP group and the MF group were 94.4% and 88.9%, respectively (P = 1). The 2-year local control (LC), disease-free survival (DFS), and colostomy-free survival (CFS) rates were higher in the XP group than in the MF group (100% vs 93.3%, P = 0.32). Hematologic toxicities, especially grade ≥ 3 leukopenia (11.1% vs 44.4%, P = 0.06) and neutropenia (5.6% vs 61.1%, P = 0.001), were lower in the XP group than MF group. As a result of fewer side effects, fewer patients in the XP group demanded the dose reduction of chemotherapy (11.1% vs 50%, P = 0.03) and radiation interruption (55.6% vs 77.8%, P = 0.289). Delayed radiotherapy was shorter in the XP group (2.5 vs 6.5 days, P = 0.042) than in the MF group. CONCLUSION: The XP regimen was as effective as the MF regimen in non-metastatic ASCC. Compared with the standard MF regimen, XP combined with IMRT showed higher treatment completion and lower toxicities. It could be considered a feasible alternative for patients with non-metastatic ASCC.

Analysis of Risk Factors for Recurrence after Transurethral Resection of Bladder Tumor in Patients with Non-Muscle Invasive Bladder Cancer: 2-Year Follow-Up Outcomes.

INTRODUCTION: The aim was to investigate the risk factors for recurrence after transurethral resection of bladder tumor (TURBT) in patients with non-muscle invasive bladder cancer (NMIBC) and to provide a basis for clinical prevention of recurrence of NMIBC. METHODS: From January 2012 to December 2020, 592 patients with NMIBC who underwent TURBT attending the Second Affiliated Hospital of Xi'an Jiaotong University were retrospectively included in this study. Patients were divided into relapse and relapse-free groups according to whether relapse occurred within 2 years. Ultimately, 72 patients were included in the relapse group and 350 patients were included in the relapse-free group. Observation indicators included age, sex, smoking, underlying disease (hypertension, diabetes, coronary heart disease), two or more lesions, tumor size, hematuria, pathology grading (low, medium, high), staging (Ta, T1), muscular invasion in initial pathology, tumor base (sessile, pedunculated), use of intravesical drug (pirarubicin, bacillus Calmette-Guerin [BCG], mitomycin, hydroxycamptothecin, gemcitabine). RESULTS: In this study, the 2-year recurrence rate of NMIBC patients after TURBT was 17.06%. There were significant differences in comparison of pirarubicin, BCG, and mitomycin treatment between the two groups (p < 0.05). To avoid missing risk factors for recurrence, factors with p < 0.1 were analyzed. The results of univariate logistic regression analysis showed that NMIBC patients with BCG treatment (OR = 5.088, 95% CI = 1.444-17.73, p = 0.012), high pathology grading (OR = 0.415, 95% CI = 0.197-0.880, p = 0.023), T1 stage (OR = 2.097, 95% CI = 0.996-4.618, p = 0.059), mitomycin treatment (OR = 5.029, 95% CI = 1.149-21.77, p = 0.031), and pirarubicin treatment (OR = 1.794, 95% CI = 1.079-3.030, p = 0.024) had significantly higher risk of recurrence within 2 years after TURBT. The results of multivariate logistic regression analysis showed that NMIBC patients with high pathology grading (OR = 0.4030, 95% CI = 0.1702-0.8426, p = 0.0241), pirarubicin treatment (OR = 1.961, 95% CI = 1.159-3.348, p = 0.0125), and BCG treatment (OR = 6.201, 95% CI = 1.275-29.73, p = 0.0190) had significantly higher risk of recurrence within 2 years after TURBT. CONCLUSION: Our study highlights the importance of postoperative surveillance and individualized treatment for patients with NMIBC. Our findings show that high pathology grading, pirarubicin treatment, and BCG treatment are independent risk factors for recurrence after TURBT in patients with NMIBC. However, caution is warranted when interpreting our findings due to the small sample size and the need for further research to confirm the negative impact of mitomycin and BCG on recurrence rates.

Periocular and ocular surface nonmelanoma skin cancer.

Periocular and ocular surface nonmelanoma malignancies, including basal cell carcinoma (BCC), squamous cell carcinomas (SCC), and ocular surface squamous neoplasia (OSSN), are rare, but their management requires special considerations. The most common periocular malignancy is BCC, which constitutes 80% to 96% of tumors, followed by SCC, which represents 5% to 10% of tumors. OSSN represents a spectrum of diseases that encompass dysplastic alteration to the squamous epithelium of the eye. OSSN ranges from squamous dysplasia to conjunctival intraepithelial neoplasia/carcinoma in situ to invasive SCC, which is the most common ocular malignancy. These tumors can be staged using the eighth edition of the American Joint Committee on Cancer categorization system. The standard of care for periocular malignancies is Mohs micrographic surgery, while medical management with 5-fluorouracil (5-FU), interferon alfa-2b (INF), and mitomycin C (MMC) or "no touch" surgical excision are options for OSSN. Systemic therapies, including sonic hedgehog inhibitors for BCC and epidermal growth factor inhibitors and immune-checkpoint inhibitors for SCC, can be utilized for advanced disease. Recurrence rates are higher for periorbital and ocular malignancies than their respective cutaneous counterparts. These carcinomas and their respective treatments have unique side effects and considerations in an effort to preserve visual function.

US Clinical Practice Patterns of Intravesical Chemotherapy for Bacillus Calmette-Guérin-Unresponsive and Bacillus Calmette-Guérin-Exposed Nonmuscle-Invasive Bladder Cancer.

INTRODUCTION: The goal of this survey was to evaluate the treatment and practice pattern of patients with high-grade papillary Ta, T1 nonmuscle-invasive bladder cancer (NMIBC), and carcinoma in situ (CIS) in bacillus Calmette-Guérin (BCG)-unresponsive (with adequate BCG exposure = adequate BCG) and those with less than adequate BCG exposure (BCG-exposed). METHODS: An internet-based survey with a target duration of 5 minutes was sent to US urologists who manage patients with NMIBC. Respondents were recruited from the Sesen Bio target list based upon BCG utilization. RESULTS: In 2022, 100 urologists who manage patients with papillary tumors and 159 urologists who manage patients with CIS tumors filled out the survey. Most (78%) were community-based urologists. Study respondents managed an average of 33 (range: 6-158) CIS patients and 44 (range: 10-200) high-grade patients with papillary disease (without CIS) over the past 6 months. Approximately 70% of physicians identified either gemcitabine (∼40%) or mitomycin C (∼30%) as the most often used intravesical chemotherapies for BCG unresponsive and BCG exposed groups. Most physicians reported the use of gemcitabine 2 g or mitomycin C 40 mg in a specific regimen for induction (once a week × 6 weeks) and maintenance (once a month × 12 months). Responses were consistent across groups of BCG therapy (adequate vs BCG-exposed). Physicians were slightly more likely to use a maintenance regimen for the adequate BCG patient. CONCLUSIONS: The most common treatments received by patients with BCG-unresponsive and BCG-exposed NMIBC were intravesical chemotherapy (single-agent gemcitabine or mitomycin C), regardless of whether CIS or papillary disease was present.

Long-term outcomes of Mitomycin-C augmented trabeculectomy using subconjunctival injections versus soaked sponges: a randomised controlled trial.

PURPOSE: To compare the safety and efficacy of subconjunctival injection of Mitomycin C(MMC) with sponge-applied MMC during trabeculectomy. METHODS: This prospective, randomised, interventional study was conducted on consecutive patients with uncontrolled glaucoma. 137 patients were randomised into an Injection group (Group 1, n = 66) and a sponge group (Group 2, n = 71). Trabeculectomy was performed in all patients who were followed up on days 1, 15, 30, 3 months, 6 months, 1 year, 2 years & 3 years postoperatively. Baseline & follow-up visits were compared to find out difference in the number of antiglaucoma medications (AGM), Intraocular pressure (IOP), and Best Corrected Visual Acuity (BCVA). In Group 1, the surgeon used MMC 0.2 mg/ml as subconjunctival injection and two separate semicircular surgical sponges soaked with MMC solution of 0.2 mg/mL were inserted subconjunctivally in Group 2. RESULTS: Mean preop IOP was 34.21 ± 13.3 mmHg & 34.17 ± 10.6 mmHg in group 1 & 2 respectively, which reduced to 11.34 ± 3.7& 12.57 ± 4.7 mmHg(6 months),11.97 ± 4.2 & 13.60 ± 5.3 mmHg(1 year),12.42 ± 4.4 & 11.77 ± 2.8 mmHg (2 years) &11.25 ± 3.2 & 11.81 ± 3.2 mmHg at final visit(P < 0.001 in both groups)with no significant difference between the groups. The mean number of preoperative AGM was 2.32 ± 0.7 & 2.32 ± 0.8 in group1 & 2 respectively which reduced to 0.78 ± 0.9 (P < 0.001) & 1.13 ± 1.1(P = 0.930) at 3 years. Overall success rates were 75.3% in group 1 and 70.7% in group 2 at 3 years(p = 0.512). Postoperative complications and the final post-operative visual outcomes were similar between the groups. CONCLUSION: Subconjunctival Injection of MMC is as safe and effective as sponge application with comparable surgical outcomes and complications in the long term.

2022 Peritoneal Surface Oncology Group International Consensus on HIPEC Regimens for Peritoneal Malignancies: Colorectal Cancer.

BACKGROUND: Selected patients with peritoneal metastases of colorectal cancer (PM-CRC) can benefit from potentially curative cytoreductive surgery (CRS) ± hyperthermic intraperitoneal chemotherapy (HIPEC), with a median overall survival (OS) of more than 40 months. OBJECTIVE: The aims of this evidence-based consensus were to define the indications for HIPEC, to select the preferred HIPEC regimens, and to define research priorities regarding the use of HIPEC for PM-CRC. METHODS: The consensus steering committee elaborated and formulated pertinent clinical questions according to the PICO (patient, intervention, comparator, outcome) method and assessed the evidence according to the Grading of Recommendation, Assessment, Development, and Evaluation (GRADE) framework. Standardized evidence tables were presented to an international expert panel to reach a consensus (4-point, weak and strong positive/negative) on HIPEC regimens and research priorities through a two-round Delphi process. The consensus was defined as ≥ 50% agreement for the 4-point consensus grading or ≥ 70% for either of the two combinations. RESULTS: Evidence was weak or very weak for 9/10 clinical questions. In total, 70/90 eligible panelists replied to both Delphi rounds (78%), with a consensus for 10/10 questions on HIPEC regimens. There was strong negative consensus concerning the short duration, high-dose oxaliplatin (OX) protocol (55.7%), and a weak positive vote (53.8-64.3%) in favor of mitomycin-C (MMC)-based HIPEC (preferred choice: Dutch protocol: 35 mg/m2, 90 min, three fractions), both for primary cytoreduction and recurrence. Determining the role of HIPEC after CRS was considered the most important research question, regarded as essential by 85.7% of the panelists. Furthermore, over 90% of experts suggest performing HIPEC after primary and secondary CRS for recurrence > 1 year after the index surgery. CONCLUSIONS: Based on the available evidence, despite the negative results of PRODIGE 7, HIPEC could be conditionally recommended to patients with PM-CRC after CRS. While more preclinical and clinical data are eagerly awaited to harmonize the procedure further, the MMC-based Dutch protocol remains the preferred regimen after primary and secondary CRS.

Surgical outcomes of trabeculectomy augmented with sub-Tenon injected mitomycin C.

BACKGROUND: Recently, trabeculectomy with mitomycin C (MMC) where MMC is applied by injection into the Tenon layer has attracted close attention. However, the data on efficacy and safety of this technique is still limited and more clinical studies are needed. Therefore, the work is aimed at comprehensive evaluation of the effectiveness of trabeculectomy using MMC applied by intra-Tenon injection. METHODS: A set of 50 eyes in 50 patients underwent trabeculectomy using MMC at concentration of 0.4 mg/ml in a total volume of 0.05 ml. The primary end point was to control intraocular pressure (IOP) on postoperative days 1, 8, 30 and 90 and subsequently at 6 and 12 months after surgery. The secondary end point was to evaluate the changes in various corneal parameters prior to and 90 days after surgical procedure. RESULTS: The mean preoperative IOP was 32.34 ± 9.45 mmHg. After surgery, the mean IOP significantly decreased to 17.52 ± 4.58 mmHg at the 90-day follow-up, and to 18.14 ± 3.74 and 19.30 ± 3.82 mmHg at 6 and 12 months after the procedure, respectively. The mean BCVA values remained unchanged compared to baseline (0.77 ± 0.23) to the 90-day follow-up (0.80 ± 0.23).  The mean number of anti-glaucoma medications significantly reduced from 3.50 ± 0.74 to 0.58 ± 1.03 postoperatively. Similarly, the mean corneal hysteresis and ACD of the eye as well as CECD were significantly changed postoperatively. CONCLUSIONS: Trabeculectomy using MMC applied by injection is a safe and effective surgical method for the treatment of primary and secondary forms of open-angle glaucoma. It has a significant hypotonising effect and allows a complete discontinuation of antiglaucoma drugs (Tab. 3, Fig. 3, Ref. 58).

Delayed presentation of surgically induced scleral necrosis after I-BRITE procedure treated with immunosuppressive therapy.

Surgically induced scleral necrosis (SISN) is an uncommon complication of ocular procedures. Cosmetic eye-whitening surgery involves conjunctival and Tenon's capsule dissection, cautery, and mitomycin C application. We report the case of a 36-year-old white woman referred to our clinic for severe pain, scleral inflammation, and necrosis in both eyes 9 years after I-BRITE, an elective eye-whitening procedure. An extensive workup yielded negative results. The patient improved with aggressive lubrication and topical and high-dose systemic prednisone (60 mg), with recurrence upon steroid tapering. Concomitant weekly methotrexate was added, resulting in inflammatory control and allowing discontinuance of topical and oral steroids.

Comparison between primary Ahmed valve implantation and primary trabeculectomy with mitomycin C in pseudophakic patients with exfoliative glaucoma.

PURPOSE: To compare the efficacy and safety of primary Ahmed valve implantation (AVI) and primary trabeculectomy with mitomycin C (MMC) in patients with pseudophakic exfoliative glaucoma (XFG). METHODS: All enrolled patients were divided into two groups: the TRAB group, comprising patients who underwent trabeculectomy with MMC, and the AVI group, comprising patients who underwent AVI. Intraocular pressure (IOP), mean deviation (MD), endothelial cell density of cornea (ECD), and the number of topical anti-glaucoma agents used during study period were retrospectively analyzed. Surgical success rates were compared between two groups using Kaplan-Meier survival analysis. Three levels of surgical success were defined as follows: (1) IOP ≤ 18 mmHg and an IOP reduction of 20% without medication; (2) IOP ≤ 15 mmHg and an IOP reduction of 25% without medication; and (3) IOP ≤ 18 mmHg and an IOP reduction of 20%, irrespective of medication. RESULTS: The TRAB and AVI groups comprised 40 and 36 patients, respectively. At 36 months postoperatively, IOP was 15.7 ± 2.8 mmHg in the TRAB group and 16.9 ± 3.3 mmHg in the AVI group (p = 0.140). Surgical success rates in the TRAB group were 47.5, 37.5, and 77.5% and those in the AVI group were 41.6, 33.3, and 75.0% at 36 months for surgical criteria 1, 2, and 3, respectively. There were no statistically significant differences in the success rates between the two groups. However, regarding surgical criteria 2, the success rate of the AVI group at 1 year was significantly better than that of the TRAB group (p = 0.030). CONCLUSIONS: Primary AVI was not inferior to primary trabeculectomy with MMC in medically uncontrolled patients with XFG.