Comparison of surgical outcomes between primary and secondary brain abscess.

Brain abscess (BA) constitutes 1-8% of intra-cerebral tumors, and thus the present study aimed to compare the surgical outcomes of patients with primary and secondary BA. The present retrospective study examined 32 of cases BA who underwent surgery in a local institution between February, 2013 and December, 2023. All patients received intravenous antibiotic therapy according to the antibiogram for antimicrobial susceptibility. In total, 32 patients were separated into two groups as follows: Group A (16 patients, 50%) with primary abscess and group B (16 patients, 50%) with secondary abscess. Of the 32 patients included in the study, 23 (71.8%) were males, and the median age was 55.3 years. On the whole, the present study demonstrates that a multidisciplinary approach involving a combination of often multiple surgical procedures and prolonged antibiotic medication may improve the functional outcome if the underlying pathology allows for a functional outcome.

Double role of depression in gastric cancer: As a causative factor and as consequence.

In this editorial we comment on the article "Hotspots and frontiers of the relationship between gastric cancer and depression: A bibliometric study". Gastric cancer (GC) is a common malignancy in the digestive system with increased mortality and morbidity rates globally. Standard treatments, such as gastrectomy, negatively impact patients' quality of life and beyond the physical strain, GC patients face psychological challenges, including anxiety and depression. The prevalence of depression can be as high as 57%, among gastrointestinal cancer patients. Due to the advancements in treatment effectiveness and increased 5-year overall survival rates, attention has shifted to managing psychological effects. However, the significance of managing the depression doesn't lie solely in the need for a better psychological status. Depression leads to chronic stress activating the sympathetic nervous system and the hypothalamus-pituitary-adrenal axis, leading release of catecholamines inducing tumor proliferation, migration, and metastasis, contributing to GC progression. The dysregulation of neurotransmitters and the involvement of various signaling pathways underscore the complex interplay between depression and GC. Comprehensive strategies are required to address the psychological aspects of GC, including region-specific interventions and increased monitoring for depression. Understanding the intricate relationship between depression and GC progression is essential for developing effective therapeutic strategies and improving overall outcomes for patients facing this complex disease. In this Editorial we delve into double role of depression in the pathogenesis of GC and as a complication of it.

Pivotal role of exosomes in diagnosis and treatment of esophageal cancer in a new era of precision medicine.

In this editorial we comment on the article published by Ning et al, "Role of exosomes in metastasis and therapeutic resistance in esophageal cancer". Esophageal cancer (EC) represents a significant global health concern, being the seventh most common and sixth in terms of mortality worldwide. Despite the advances in therapeutic modalities, the management of patients with EC remains challenging, with a 5-year survival rate of only 25% and a limited eligibility for curative surgery due to its late diagnosis. Conventional screening methods are impractical for the early detection of EC, given their either invasive or insensitive nature. The advent of liquid biopsy, with a focus on circulating tumor cells, circulating tumor DNA, and exosomes, heralds a non-invasive avenue for cancer detection. Exosomes, small vesicles involved in intercellular communication, are highlighted as potential biomarkers for EC diagnosis and prognosis. Along with a diverse cargo encompassing various types of RNA, DNA molecules, proteins, and metabolites, exosomes emerge as key players in tumorigenesis, tumor development, and metastasis. Their significance extends to carrying distinctive biomarkers, including microRNAs (miRNAs), long non-coding RNAs, and circular RNAs, underscoring their potential diagnostic and prognostic value. Furthermore, exosomes may be utilized for therapeutic purposes in the context of EC treatment, serving as efficient delivery vehicles for therapeutic agents such as chemotherapeutic medicines and miRNAs. In this editorial we delve into the applications of exosomes for the early detection and treatment of EC, as well as the future perspectives.

Billroth II anastomosis combined with brown anastomosis reduce reflux gastritis in gastric cancer patients.

BACKGROUND: The surgeon performing a distal gastrectomy, has an arsenal of reconstruction techniques at his disposal, Billroth II among them. Braun anastomosis performed during a Billroth II procedure has shown evidence of superiority over typical Billroth II, in terms of survival, with no impact on postoperative morbidity and mortality. AIM: To compare Billroth II vs Billroth II and Braun following distal gastrectomy, regarding their postoperative course. METHODS: Patients who underwent distal gastrectomy during 2002-2021, were separated into two groups, depending on the surgical technique used (Billroth II: 74 patients and Billroth II and Braun: 28 patients). The daily output of the nasogastric tube (NGT), the postoperative day that NGT was removed and the day the patient started per os feeding were recorded. Postoperative complications were at the same time noted. Data were then statistically analyzed. RESULTS: There was difference in the mean NGT removal day and the mean start feeding day. Mean total postoperative NGT output was lower in Braun group (399.17 mL vs 1102.78 mL) and it was statistically significant (P < 0.0001). Mean daily postoperative NGT output was also statistically significantly lower in Braun group. According to the postoperative follow up 40 patient experienced bile reflux and alkaline gastritis from the Billroth II group, while 9 patients who underwent Billroth II and Braun anastomosis were presented with the same conditions (P < 0.05). CONCLUSION: There was evidence of superiority of Billroth II and Braun vs typical Billroth II in terms of bile reflux, alkaline gastritis and NGT output.

Understanding autoimmune pancreatitis: Clinical features, management challenges, and association with malignancies.

In this editorial we comment on the article by Jaber et al. Autoimmune pancreatitis (AIP) represents a distinct form of pancreatitis, categorized into AIP-1 and AIP-2, characterized by obstructive jaundice, lymphoplasmacytic infiltrate, and fibrosis. AIP-1, associated with elevated immunoglobulin G4 (IgG4) levels, exhibits higher relapse rates, affecting older males, while AIP-2 is less common and linked to inflammatory bowel disease. AIP is considered a manifestation of IgG4-related systemic disease, sharing characteristic histological findings. Steroids are the primary treatment, with emerging biomarkers like interferon alpha and interleukin-33. AIP poses an increased risk of various malignancies, and the association with pancreatic cancer is debated. Surgery is reserved for severe cases, necessitating careful evaluation due to diagnostic challenges. AIP patients may have concurrent PanINs but display favorable long-term outcomes compared to pancreatic cancer patients. Thorough diagnostic assessment, including biopsy and steroid response, is crucial for informed surgical decisions in AIP.

Immune signature of small bowel adenocarcinoma and the role of tumor microenvironment.

In this editorial we comment on the article published "Clinical significance of programmed cell death-ligand expression in small bowel adenocarcinoma is determined by the tumor microenvironment". Small bowel adenocarcinoma (SBA) is a rare gastrointestinal neoplasm and despite the small intestine's significant surface area, SBA accounts for less than 3% of such tumors. Early detection is challenging and the reason arises from its asymptomatic nature, often leading to late-stage discovery and poor prognosis. Treatment involves platinum-based chemotherapy with a 5-fluorouracil combination, but the lack of effective chemotherapy contributes to a generally poor prognosis. SBAs are linked to genetic disorders and risk factors, including chronic inflammatory conditions. The unique characteristics of the small bowel, such as rapid cell renewal and an active immune system, contributes to the rarity of these tumors as well as the high intratumoral infiltration of immune cells is associated with a favorable prognosis. Programmed cell death-ligand 1 (PD-L1) expression varies across different cancers, with potential discrepancies in its prognostic value. Microsatellite instability (MSI) in SBA is associated with a high tumor mutational burden, affecting the prognosis and response to immunotherapy. The presence of PD-L1 and programmed cell death 1, along with tumor-infiltrating lymphocytes, plays a crucial role in the complex microenvironment of SBA and contributes to a more favorable prognosis, especially in the context of high MSI tumors. Stromal tumor-infiltrating lymphocytes are identified as independent prognostic indicators and the association between MSI status and a favorable prognosis, emphasizes the importance of evaluating the immune status of tumors for treatment decisions.

Prognostic nutritional index in predicting survival of patients with gastric or gastroesophageal junction adenocarcinoma: A systematic review.

BACKGROUND: Gastric cancer is the third most common cause of cancer related death worldwide. Surgery with or without chemotherapy is the most common approach with curative intent; however, the prognosis is poor as mortality rates remain high. Several indexes have been proposed in the past few years in order to estimate the survival of patients undergoing gastrectomy. The preoperative nutritional status of gastric cancer patients has recently gained attention as a factor that could affect the postoperative course and various indexes have been developed. The aim of this systematic review was to assess the role of the prognostic nutritional index (PNI) in predicting the survival of patients with gastric or gastroesophageal adenocarcinoma who underwent gastrectomy with curative intent. AIM: To investigate the role of PNI in predicting the survival of patients with gastric or gastroesophageal junction adenocarcinoma. METHODS: A thorough literature search of PubMed and the Cochrane library was performed for studies comparing the overall survival (OS) of patients with gastric or gastroesophageal cancer after surgical resection depending on the preoperative PNI value. The PRISMA algorithm was used in the screening process and finally 16 studies were included in this systematic review. The review protocol was registered in the International Prospective Register of Systematic Reviews (PROSPERO). RESULTS: Sixteen studies involving 14551 patients with gastric or esophagogastric junction adenocarcinoma undergoing open or laparoscopic or robotic gastrectomy with or without adjuvant chemotherapy were included in this systematic review. The patients were divided into high- and low-PNI groups according to cut-off values that were set according to previous reports or by using receiver operating characteristic curve analysis in each individual study. The 5-year OS of patients in the low-PNI groups ranged between 39% and 70.6%, while in the high-PNI groups, it ranged between 54.9% and 95.8%. In most of the included studies, patients with high preoperative PNI showed statistically significant better OS than the low PNI groups. In multivariate analyses, low PNI was repeatedly recognised as an independent prognostic factor for poor survival. CONCLUSION: According to the present study, low preoperative PNI seems to be an indicator of poor OS of patients undergoing gastrectomy for gastric or gastroesophageal cancer.

Gastric Cancer in the Era of Epigenetics.

Gastric cancer (GC) remains a significant contributor to cancer-related mortality. Novel high-throughput techniques have enlightened the epigenetic mechanisms governing gene-expression regulation. Epigenetic characteristics contribute to molecular taxonomy and give rise to cancer-specific epigenetic patterns. Helicobacter pylori (Hp) infection has an impact on aberrant DNA methylation either through its pathogenic CagA protein or by inducing chronic inflammation. The hypomethylation of specific repetitive elements generates an epigenetic field effect early in tumorigenesis. Epstein-Barr virus (EBV) infection triggers DNA methylation by dysregulating DNA methyltransferases (DNMT) enzyme activity, while persistent Hp-EBV co-infection leads to aggressive tumor behavior. Distinct histone modifications are also responsible for oncogene upregulation and tumor-suppressor gene silencing in gastric carcinomas. While histone methylation and acetylation processes have been extensively studied, other less prevalent alterations contribute to the development and migration of gastric cancer via a complex network of interactions. Enzymes, such as Nicotinamide N-methyltransferase (NNMT), which is involved in tumor's metabolic reprogramming, interact with methyltransferases and modify gene expression. Non-coding RNA molecules, including long non-coding RNAs, circular RNAs, and miRNAs serve as epigenetic regulators contributing to GC development, metastasis, poor outcomes and therapy resistance. Serum RNA molecules hold the potential to serve as non-invasive biomarkers for diagnostic, prognostic or therapeutic applications. Gastric fluids represent a valuable source to identify potential biomarkers with diagnostic use in terms of liquid biopsy. Ongoing clinical trials are currently evaluating the efficacy of next-generation epigenetic drugs, displaying promising outcomes. Various approaches including multiple miRNA inhibitors or targeted nanoparticles carrying epigenetic drugs are being designed to enhance existing treatment efficacy and overcome treatment resistance.

Revolutionizing gastric cancer treatment: The potential of immunotherapy.

Gastric cancer, a prevalent malignancy worldwide, ranks sixth in terms of frequency and third in fatality, causing over a million new cases and 769000 annual deaths. Predominant in Eastern Europe and Eastern Asia, risk factors include family medical history, dietary habits, tobacco use, Helicobacter pylori, and Epstein-Barr virus infections. Unfortunately, gastric cancer is often diagnosed at an advanced stage, leading to a grim prognosis, with a 5-year overall survival rate below 5%. Surgical intervention, particularly with D2 Lymphadenectomy, is the mainstay for early-stage cases but offers limited success. For advanced cases, the National Comprehensive Cancer Network recommends chemotherapy, radiation, and targeted therapy. Emerging immunotherapy presents promise, especially for unresectable or metastatic cases, with strategies like immune checkpoint inhi-bitors, tumor vaccines, adoptive immunotherapy, and nonspecific immunomodulators. In this Editorial, with regards to the article "Advances and key focus areas in gastric cancer immunotherapy: A comprehensive scientometric and clinical trial review", we address the advances in the field of immunotherapy in gastric cancer and its future prospects.

The Genomic Signatures of Linitis Plastica Signal the Entrance into a New Era: Novel Approaches for Diagnosis and Treatment.

Linitis Plastica (LP) is a rare and aggressive tumor with a distinctive development pattern, leading to the infiltration of the gastric wall, the thickening of the gastric folds and a "leather bottle appearance". LP is an extremely heterogeneous tumor caused by mutations in oncogenic and tumor suppressive genes, as well as molecular pathways, along with mutations in stromal cells and proteins related to tight junctions. Elucidating the molecular background of tumorigenesis and clarifying the correlation between cancerous cells and stromal cells are crucial steps toward discovering novel diagnostic methods, biomarkers and therapeutic targets/agents. Surgery plays a pivotal role in LP management, serving both as a palliative and curative procedure. In this comprehensive review, we aim to present all recent data on the molecular background of LP and the novel approaches to its management.

Quality of Life in Patients Undergoing Surgery for Upper GI Malignancies.

Upper gastrointestinal (GI) conditions vastly affect each individual's physical, social, and emotional status. The decision-making process by the medical personnel about these patients is currently based on a patient's life quality evaluation scale, HRQL scales. By utilizing HRQL scales, a better understanding of the various surgical and non-surgical treatment options, as well as their long-term consequences, can be achieved. In our study, an organ-based approach is used in an attempt to examine and characterized the effect of upper GI surgery on HRQL. Therefore, HRQL scales' function as a prognostic tool is useful, and the need for future research, the creation of valid training programs, and modern guidelines is highlighted.

Demystifying the Value of Minimal Clinically Important Difference in the Cardiothoracic Surgery Context.

The aim of this review is to describe the different statistical methods used in estimating the minimal clinically important difference (MCID) for the assessment of quality of life (QOL)-related and clinical improvement interventions, along with their implementation in cardiothoracic surgery. A thorough literature search was performed in three databases (PubMed/Medline, Scopus, Google Scholar) for relevant articles from 1980 to 2022. We included articles that implemented and assessed statistical methods used to estimate the concept of MCID in cardiothoracic surgery. MCID has been successfully implemented in several medical specialties. Anchor-based and distribution-based methods are the most common approaches when evaluating the MCID. Nonetheless, we found only five studies investigating the MCID in the context of cardiothoracic surgery. Four of them used anchor-based approaches, and one used both anchor-based and distribution-based methods. MCID values were very variable depending on the methods applied, as was the clinical context of the study. The variables of interest were certain QOL measuring questionnaires, used as anchors. Multiple anchors and methods were applied, leading to different estimations of MCID. Since cardiothoracic surgery is related to important perioperative morbidity, MCID might represent an important and efficient adjunct tool to interpret clinical outcomes. The need for MCID methodology implementation is even higher in patients with heart failure undergoing cardiac surgery. More studies are needed to validate different MCID methods in this context.

Personalized Prehabilitation Improves Tolerance to Chemotherapy in Patients with Oesophageal Cancer.

BACKGROUND: Prehabilitation programmes aim to optimise patients before and after cancer treatment including surgery. Previous studies in surgical patients demonstrate that prehabilitation improves pre-operative fitness and overcomes the negative impact of neoadjuvant chemotherapy on fitness. The aim of this study was to assess the impact of prehabilitation on the tolerance of neoadjuvant chemotherapy in patients with oesophageal cancer. METHODS: Patients with oesophageal or gastroesophageal junction (GOJ) cancer from two oncology centres were retrospectively included in the present comparative cohort study; one provided a multimodal prehabilitation programme and one did not offer any prehabilitation. Tolerance of chemotherapy, defined as completion of the full chemotherapy regime as per protocol, was compared between the two groups. RESULTS: In terms of participants, 92 patients were included in this study, 47 patients in the prehabilitation cohort and 45 in the control cohort. Compared with the control group, the prehabilitation group demonstrated an improved rate of chemotherapy completion (p = 0.029). In multivariate analysis, participation in prehabilitation was significantly associated with an improved rate of chemotherapy completion. CONCLUSION: The findings of this exploratory study suggest that prehabilitation is associated with better tolerance for chemotherapy. Further research is needed to establish the long-term impact of prehabilitation on oncological outcomes.

The impact of COVID-19 pandemic on gastrointestinal diseases: a single-center cross-sectional study in central Greece.

BACKGROUND: The current COVID-19 pandemic induced a suppressive environment for healthcare professionals and patients, especially during the lockdown period. Except for the direct burden of the COVID-19, collateral damage has been identified concerning other diseases. The aim of this study was to evaluate the potential impact of the lockdown on the non-COVID-19 patients' outcome in a tertiary gastroenterology department. METHODS: Patients admitted to our department during the lockdown period (23 March- 4 May 2020) and during the respective previous year's timeframe were recruited. Sex, age, comorbidities, presenting symptoms, final diagnosis, therapeutic management, duration of hospitalization, and outcome were evaluated. A direct comparison was performed to investigate the potential impact of the lockdown on the duration of hospitalization and the final outcome. RESULTS: A total of 161 patients were included to our analysis with 1:1 male:female ratio and mean age 70.86 years. Most of the cases experienced gastrointestinal tract bleeding, biliary stone disease manifestations, or gastrointestinal malignancy complications, and 85.1% were discharged. Fewer patients were hospitalized during the lockdown period (40%), whereas the duration of hospitalization was significantly longer (7.69±4.55 vs. 5.76±4.36 days). Binary logistic regression analysis and sensitivity analysis demonstrated that the quarantine was associated with increased prevalence of negative outcomes (odds ratio 5.21, 95% confidence interval 1.66-16.34; P=0.005), especially in cases with gastrointestinal malignancy and acute pancreatitis (P=0.045 and P=0.041, respectively). CONCLUSION: The increase in the negative outcomes of common gastrointestinal diseases and the duration of hospitalization during the lockdown raise reasonable concerns regarding healthcare policies against further outbreaks.

Closure of Mesenteric Defects in Laparoscopic Gastric Bypass: a Meta-Analysis.

INTRODUCTION: The purpose of the current study was to review the available literature on morbidly obese patients treated with laparoscopic Roux-en-Y gastric bypass (LRYGB) in order to assess the clinical outcomes of the routine closure of the mesenteric defects. METHODS: A literature search was performed in PubMed, Cochrane library, and Scopus, in accordance with the PRISMA guidelines. RESULTS: Nine studies met the inclusion criteria. A total of 16,520 patients were incorporated with a mean follow-up ranging from 34 to 120 months. The closure of the mesenteric defects was associated with a lower incidence of internal hernias (odds ratio, 0.25 [95% confidence interval 0.20, 0.31]; p < 0.01), small bowel obstruction (SBO) (0.30 [0.17, 0.52]; p < 0.0001) and reoperations (0.28 [0.15, 0.52]; p < 0.001). Both approaches presented similar complication rates and % excess weight loss (%EWL). CONCLUSION: The present meta-analysis is the best currently available evidence on the topic and supports the routine closure of the mesenteric defects.

Evidence of functional deficits at the single muscle fiber level in experimentally-induced renal insufficiency.

Chronic kidney disease patients present with metabolic and functional muscle abnormalities, called uremic myopathy, whose mechanisms have not yet been fully elucidated. We investigated whether chronic renal insufficiency (CRI) affects skeletal muscle contractile properties at the cellular level. CRI was induced surgically in New Zealand rabbits (UREM), with sham-operation for controls (CON), and samples were collected at 3 months post-surgery, following euthanasia. All protocols had University Ethics approval following national and European guidelines. Sample treatments and evaluations were blinded. Maximal isometric force was assessed in 382 permeabilized psoas fibers (CON, n = 142, UREM, n = 240) initially at pH7, 10 °C ('standard' conditions), in subsets of fibers in acidic conditions (pH6.2, 10 °C) but also at near physiological temperature (pH7, 30 °C and pH6.2, 30 °C). CRI resulted in significant smaller average cross sectional areas (CSAs) by ∼11% for UREM muscle fibers (vs CON, P < 0.01). At standard conditions, UREM fibers produced lower absolute and specific forces (i.e. normalized force per fiber CSA) (vs CON, P < 0.01); force increased in 30 °C for both groups (P < 0.01), but the disparity between UREM and CON remained significant. Acidosis significantly reduced force (vs pH7, 10 °C P < 0.01), similarly in both groups (in UREM by -48% and in CON by -43%, P > 0.05). For the first time, we give evidence that CRI can induce significant impairments in single psoas muscle fibers force generation, only partly explained by fiber atrophy, thus affecting muscle mechanics at the cellular level.

Gastrointestinal stromal tumors and synchronous intra-abdominal malignancies: Review of the literature.

PURPOSE: Gastrointestinal stromal tumors (GISTs) are the most frequent neoplasms of mesenchymal origin affecting the gastrointestinal tract. GISTs quite frequently co-exist with other primary tumors in up to 33% of the cases. Such occurrence has been mainly described in the literature in the form of case reports and rarely of case series which hasn't been sufficient to prove if there is any association between these two entities. METHODS: We conducted a review of the current literature regarding the synchronous occurrence of GISTs and other intra-abdominal malignancies. An electronic search of the literature was undertaken using MEDLINE (database provider PubMed). A primary selection of relevant studies was based on the title and abstract, whereas a secondary selection was performed according to the full text of publications. RESULTS: Ten retrospective case series were considered and overall 1108 GISTs patients were included. Synchronous intra-abdominal malignancies were found in 18% of all GISTs patients studied. The mean age was 70,5 years, affecting more the male gender (65%). The mean size of the concurrent GISTs were 18mm while the most common GIST-associated malignancy were gastric adenocarcinomas. CONCLUSION: The synchronous occurrence of GISTs and other intra-abdominal primary tumors is more common that it has been considered and while it is not yet clear if there is a causal association for the concomitant occurrence of GIST with other malignancies a closer surveillance of GIST patients is needed due to their proved increased prevalence of a second primary tumor especially during the first year after diagnosis.

Giant abdominal osteosarcoma causing intestinal obstruction treated with resection and adjuvant chemotherapy.

Extraskeletal osteosarcoma (ESOS) is an uncommon tumor that accounts for 1% of all soft tissue sarcomas and 4% of all osteosarcomas. Its presentation may be atypical, while pain has been described as the most common symptom. Radiological findings include a large mass in the soft-tissues with massive calcifications, but no attachment to the adjacent bone or periosteum. We present the case of a 73-year-old gentle man who presented with a palpable, tender abdominal mass and symptoms of bowel obstruction. Computer tomography images revealed a large space-occupying heterogeneous, hyper dense soft tissue mass involving the small intestine. Explorative laparotomy revealed a large mass in the upper mesenteric root of the small intestine, measuring 22 cm × 12 cm × 10 cm in close proximity with the cecum, which was the cause of the bowel obstruction. Pathology confirmed the diagnosis of an ESOS. ESOS is an uncommon malignant soft tissue tumor with poor prognosis and a 5-year survival rate of less than 37%. Regional recurrence and distant metastasis to lungs, regional lymph nodes and liver can occur within the first three years of diagnosis in a high rate (45% and 65% respectively). Wide surgical resection of the mass followed by adjuvant chemotherapy or radiotherapy has been the treatment of choice.