Preoperative Predictors of Biochemical Recurrence-Free Survival in High-Risk Prostate Cancer Following Radical Prostatectomy.

Background: D'Amico high-risk prostate cancer (Pca) patients experience poor and heterogeneous oncological outcomes. This heterogeneity highlights a need to extensively explore factors associated with poor outcomes to guide decision-making. Objective: To assess predictors of biochemical recurrence (BCR)-free survival in high-risk patients following radical prostatectomy (RP), and subsequently establish a model predicting outcomes. Methods: We retrospectively identified D'Amico high-risk non-metastatic Pca patients who underwent RP between 2013 and 2019 in our hospital. We collected data including PSA level, clinical stage, biopsy Gleason score (GS), number of D'Amico high-risk factors (RF), the inflammatory status (Neutrophil-to-lymphocyte ratio [NLR], derived NLR [dNLR], platelet-to-lymphocyte ratio [PLR] and LDH). Kaplan-Meier methods were used to analyze BCR-free survival. Univariate and multivariate analyses were performed using Cox proportional hazards model to evaluate the association between clinicopathological parameters and BCR-free survival. Results: The median follow-up time for the 101 patients' cohort was 26 months (range: 3-81 months). The number of RF (1RF vs. ≥2RF), biopsy GS (<8 vs. ≥8), clinical stage (≤cT2c vs. >cT2c), pathological stage, and the presence of adverse pathological features were significant predictors of BCR (P < 0.05). Other parameters including inflammatory status (dNLR, NLR, PLR, and LDH) were not of predictive value. On multivariable analysis, biopsy GS (<8 vs. ≥8; HR 2.439) and clinical stage (≤cT2c vs. >cT2c; HR 3.271) were the independent predictors of BCR. Based on these two independent predictors, patients were stratified into three risk subgroups: favorable (0 risk factor; 47% of patients), intermediate (1 risk factor; 42 %), unfavorable (2 risk factors; 11%). The intermediate and unfavorable subgroups have a significantly shorter median BCR-free survival compared to the favorable subgroup (P < 0.001). Conclusion: Several factors are associated with BCR. Clinical stage (≤cT2c vs. >cT2c) and biopsy GS (<8 vs. ≥8) are the independent predictors of BCR. The stratification of high-risk patients into risk subgroups based on these two predictors shows that the intermediate and unfavorable subgroups have a significantly shorter median BCR-free survival compared to the favorable subgroup. The preoperative stratification model may help urologists and patients during decision-making. In non-metastatic high-risk patients, preoperative inflammatory markers (NLR, dNLR, PLR, and LDH) are not of prognostic value.

China's model to combat the COVID-19 epidemic: a public health emergency governance approach.

The outbreak of Coronavirus Disease 2019 (COVID-19) is of global health concern. It is a serious public health emergency for the entire world, threatening human life and public health security. To address the epidemic, it is necessary not only to take good prevention and treatment measures, but also to have effective and targeted public health emergency governance. That said, reports focusing on governance are scant. In this commentary, we summarize China's model to combat the COVID-19 epidemic from a public health emergency governance approach. Stemmed from goals and values, a number of mechanisms are put forward, which include: a whole-of-government response and accountability, setting up a multi-sectoral cooperation platform, swiftly scaling up epidemic emergency capacity, whole-of-society actions with engagement of social organizations, and engaging citizens in the epidemic prevention and control. As the epidemic continues to evolve, other countries might learn from China to build their own, context-specific models for better outcomes.

Renal Cell Carcinoma Metastasizing to Left Atrium With Coronary Sinus Invasion: A Rare Site of Metastasis Mimicking Myxoma.

Renal cell carcinoma (RCC) metastasizing to the heart with inferior vena cava (IVC) involvement is well-documented. However, its metastasis to the right heart without venous involvement is very rare. To the left atrium, metastasis is even rarer with only a few cases reported in medical literature. Herein, we report a case of a 56-year-old man who presented to our department for the treatment of a right renal mass and a right adrenal mass discovered on a follow-up plain computed tomography (CT) 13 years after left laparoscopic radical nephrectomy. During the workup, a transthoracic echocardiography (TTE) revealed a left atrial mass with a suspicion of a myxoma. This finding prompted a cardiac surgery consult which proposed a surgical removal of the mass. Intraoperatively, the tumor was found to invade the coronary sinus as well. The entire tumor was successfully removed and surgical repair of the unroofed coronary sinus was performed. Pathological examination of the tumor along with immunohistochemistry-showing positivity for CAIX, CD10, Vimentin, and PAX-8-pointed to a diagnosis of metastatic clear cell RCC. Eight months postoperatively, he was free of any symptom. In conclusion, RCC metastasizing to the left atrium is extremely rare. A comprehensive search revealed only nine reports in the literature. We report, to our knowledge, the first case of RCC metastasizing to the left atrium with concomitant invasion of coronary sinus. Surgical resection combined with unroofed coronary sinus repair allowed a complete removal of the tumor. In patients with a history of RCC, a metastasis should be thought of when a left atrial mass is present.