Immunoenhancing enteral and parenteral nutrition for gastrointestinal surgery: a multiple-treatments meta-analysis.

OBJECTIVE: Frequentist meta-analyses have demonstrated that immunoenhancing parenteral nutrition (IMPN) and enteral nutrition (IMEN) reduce the incidence of infection and shorten the length of hospital stays compared with standard parenteral nutrition (SPN) and enteral nutrition (SEN). The aim of this study was to evaluate which kind of nutrition-SPN, SEN, IMPN, and IMEN-is most efficacious for reducing the incidence of complications after gastrointestinal surgery. METHODS: An English literature search was carried out for randomized controlled trials published from January 1990 to February 2013 that evaluated the clinical efficacy of 4 kinds of nutrition after gastrointestinal surgery. A Bayesian framework was used to calculate the odds ratio between each treatment and the rank order. RESULTS: Seventy-four studies (7572 participants) were included. According to the surface below the cumulative ranking curve (SUCRA) ordering from the best to the worst, IMEN was ranked first for reducing the incidence of 7 complications-any infection (SUCRA = 0.86), overall complication (SUCRA = 0.88), mortality (SUCRA = 0.81), wound infection (SUCRA = 0.79), intra-abdominal abscess (SUCRA = 0.98), anastomotic leak (SUCRA = 0.79), and sepsis (SUCRA = 0.92). Also, IMEN was ranked second for pneumonia and urinary tract infection. IMPN was ranked first for pneumonia (SUCRA = 0.81) and urinary tract infection (SUCRA = 0.86), third for mortality, and fourth for both intra-abdominal abscess and anastomotic leak. SPN showed an inferior efficacy for almost all outcomes. CONCLUSIONS: This study suggests that IMEN outperformed other nutrition types for reducing complications and IMEN should be considered the best available option.

A randomized trial of antibiotic prophylaxis for the prevention of surgical site infection after open mesh-plug hernia repair.

BACKGROUND: The efficacy of antibiotic prophylaxis for the prevention of surgical-site infection (SSI) after open tension-free inguinal hernia repair remains controversial. METHODS: A double-blind, randomized, placebo-controlled trial was conducted. Patients who underwent elective open mesh-plug hernia repair were eligible for randomization. In the antibiotic prophylaxis group, 1.0 g cefazolin was intravenously administrated 30 minutes before the incision. In the placebo group, an equal volume of sterile saline was administered. The primary end point was the incidence of SSI. RESULTS: A total of 200 patients were enrolled. SSI developed in 2 of 100 patients (2%) in the antibiotic prophylaxis group and 13 of 100 patients (13%) in the placebo group, indicating a significant difference between the 2 groups (relative risk ratio, 0.25; 95% confidence interval, 0.070 to 0.92; P = .003). Other complications occurred in 23 patients: 7 (7%) in the antibiotic prophylaxis group and 16 (16%) in the placebo group (P = .046). CONCLUSIONS: This study indicates that antibiotic prophylaxis is effective for the prevention of SSI after open mesh-plug hernia repair.

Prophylactic pancreatic stent placement and post-ERCP pancreatitis: an updated meta-analysis.

BACKGROUND AND AIM: Pancreatitis is one of the most frequent post-endoscopic retrograde cholangiopancreatography (ERCP) complications. Previous meta-analyses show that prophylactic pancreatic stent (PS) placement after ERCP is beneficial for the prevention of post-ERCP pancreatitis (PEP). However, the results of these meta-analyses are controversial due to the limited sample size of the eligible studies, in which six additional randomized controlled trials (RCTs) are not included. Our aim is, therefore, to update the current meta-analyses regarding PS placement for prevention of PEP. METHODS: We conducted a meta-analysis to identify RCTs comparing PS placement and the subsequent incidence of PEP. The primary outcome was the incidence of PEP. RESULTS: Fourteen studies were enrolled in this meta-analysis. Of the 1,541 patients, 760 patients received a PS and 781 patients were allocated to the control group. PS placement was associated with a statistically significant reduction of PEP [relative risk (RR) 0.39; 95 % confidence interval (CI) 0.29-0.53; P < 0.001]. Subgroup analysis stratified according to the severity of PEP showed that a PS was beneficial in patients with mild to moderate PEP (RR 0.45; 95 % CI 0.32-0.62; P < 0.001) and in patients with severe PEP (RR 0.26; 95 %CI 0.09-0.76; P = 0.01). In addition, subgroup analysis performed according to patient selection demonstrated that PS placement was effective for both high-risk and mixed case groups. CONCLUSIONS: This meta-analysis showed that PS placement prevented PEP after ERCP as compared with no PS placement. We therefore recommend PS placement after ERCP for the prevention of PEP.

Antibiotic prophylaxis for the prevention of surgical site infection after tension-free hernia repair: a Bayesian and frequentist meta-analysis.

BACKGROUND: Efficacy of antibiotic prophylaxis for the prevention of surgical site infection (SSI) after open tension-free hernia repair remains controversial. In light of additional data, the aim of this study was to determine whether antibiotic prophylaxis reduces SSI after hernia repair. STUDY DESIGN: We conducted a systematic review and meta-analysis to identify randomized controlled trials comparing antibiotic prophylaxis and the subsequent incidence of SSI after inguinal or femoral hernia repair. The primary outcomes measure was the incidence of SSI. Subgroup analysis was evaluated by stratifying the categories of SSI. The meta-analysis was performed using Bayesian and frequentist methods. RESULTS: Twelve studies were included in this meta-analysis; 1,902 patients received antibiotic prophylaxis and the other 1,936 patients were allocated to the control group. Incidence of SSI was 47 (pooled rate 3.0%) in the antibiotic group and 91 (6.0%) in the control group. The number needed to treat to prevent 1 episode of SSI is 41. The Bayesian meta-analysis yielded a significant reduction of SSI in the antibiotic group (odds ratio = 0.49; 95% credible interval 0.25-0.81). Subgroup analysis showed that an antibiotic prophylaxis was beneficial for the prevention of superficial SSI (odds ratio = 0.40; 95% credible interval 0.12-0.98), but not beneficial for prevention of deep SSI (odds ratio = 0.59; 95% credible interval 0.11-3.20). Also, the results were similar to those with frequentist methods. CONCLUSIONS: This meta-analysis suggests that antibiotic prophylaxis is efficacious for the prevention of SSI after open mesh hernia repair.

Xanthogranulomatous appendicitis.

A 78-years-old man presented with right lower quadrant pain for 2 months. Computed tomography revealed an irregular and multicystic mass near the cecum like as appedeceal mucocle. The lesion was diagnosed xanthogranulomatous appendicitis by histopathological findings of surgical specimen. Xanthogranuloma is uncommon disease, especially in the appendix. We report an interesting case of xanthogranulomatous appendicitis mimicking appendiceal mucocele in radiological images.

Polymorphisms and pancreatic cancer risk: a meta-analysis.

Increasing evidence suggests that variants of common and low-penetrance genes are involved in pancreatic cancer (PC) carcinogenesis. We undertook a meta-analysis of published studies to assess evidence regarding the risk associated with these genes. Medline, Web of Science, ProQuest, Google Scholar, and international conference proceedings were searched and citations in relevant primary and review articles were collected. The studies that we considered eligible included all reports that investigated an association between genetic polymorphisms and PC. We identified 23 studies that evaluated the risk effects on PC of common alleles for 13 gene polymorphisms. A significant association was recognized between ALDH 2*1*2 polymorphisms and PC [odds ratio (OR) = 1.37, 95% confidence interval (CI) = 1.07-1.75, P = 0.01] based on only two studies. Although the overall results for MTHFR T677T are negative, sensitivity analysis stratified by ethnic background showed a significant association between Caucasian and MTHFR T677T polymorphisms and PC (OR = 1.66, 95% CI = 1.10-2.52, P = 0.02). The risk for PC was higher in individuals with MTHFR C677T or TT polymorphisms and a smoking habit (OR = 2.52, 95% CI = 1.05-6.09, P = 0.04). These findings lead us to support the hypothesis that MTHFR T677T and ALDH 2*1*2 polymorphisms may play a carcinogenetic role in PC and represent the candidates for low-penetrance susceptibility alleles identified to date. Although their genetic risks are modest, the high frequency in the population shows that they may have a considerable impact on the incidence of PC. Definite conclusions will be contingent on studies with a larger sample size that determine the risk estimates associated with other variants, gene-gene, and gene-environment interactions.

[Three cases with liver metastasis from gastric or colon cancer successfully treated with S-1 combined with CPT- 11].

We report three cases with liver metastasis from gastric or colon cancer successfully treated with S-1 with CPT-11. Case 1: A total gastrectomy was performed for a gastric cancer located in the lower to upper body of the stomach (T3 (SE), N2, H0, P0, por 2, stage III B). Abdominal computed-tomography (CT) revealed a solitary liver metastasis in the S8 subsegment of the liver. We treated the patient with S-1 combined with CPT-11. Abdominal CT revealed a complete response (CR) after 5 courses. Case 2: Sigmoidectomy and partial resection of small intestine and abdominal wall were performed for sigmoid colon cancer. The intraoperative findings revealed liver metastases in left lobe of the liver (Si, N1, H1, P0, M0, tub 1, stage IV). After surgery, the patient was treated with S-1 combined with CPT-11. Abdominal CT demonstrated CR after 5 courses. Case 3: Laparoscopic right hemicolectomy was performed for ascending colon cancer (SE, N1, H0, P0, M0, tub 1, stage III a). Abdominal CT showed a solitary liver metastasis in the S6 subsegment of the liver 3 months after surgery. We treated the patient with S-1 combined with CPT-11. Abdominal CT revealed CR after 3 courses. The three cases are alive without any signs of recurrence.

Enteral versus parenteral nutrition after gastrointestinal surgery: a systematic review and meta-analysis of randomized controlled trials in the English literature.

BACKGROUND: Although previous studies recommend the use of enteral nutrition (EN), the benefit of EN after elective gastrointestinal surgery has not been comprehensively demonstrated as through a meta-analysis. Our aim is to determine whether enteral nutrition is more beneficial than parenteral nutrition. METHODS: A search was conducted on Medline, Web of Science, the Cochrane Library electronic databases, and bibliographic reviews. The trials were based on randomization, gastrointestinal surgery, and the reporting of at least one of the following end points: any complication, any infectious complication, mortality, wound infection and dehiscence, anastomotic leak, intraabdominal abscess, pneumonia, respiratory failure, urinary tract infection, renal failure, any adverse effect, and duration of hospital stay. RESULTS: Twenty-nine trials, which included 2,552 patients, met the criteria. EN was beneficial in the reduction of any complication (relative risk (RR), 0.85; 95% confidence interval (CI), 0.74-0.99; P = 0.04), any infectious complication (RR, 0.69; 95% CI, 0.56-0.86; P = 0.001), anastomotic leak (RR, 0.67; 95% CI, 0.47-0.95; P = 0.03), intraabdominal abscess (RR, 0.63; 95% CI, 0.41-0.95; P = 0.03), and duration of hospital stay (weighted mean difference, -0.81; 95% CI, -1.25-0.38; P = 0.02). There were no clear benefits in any of the other complications. CONCLUSION: The present findings would lead us to recommend the use of EN rather than PN when possible and indicated.

A case of bone metastasis of colon cancer that markedly responded to S-1/CPT-11 combination chemotherapy and became curable by resection.

BACKGROUND: An oral combined fluoropyrimidine anticancer drug, tegafur/gimeracil/oteracil potassium (S-1), has recently been used alone or in combination for colon cancer. CASE PRESENTATION: The patient was a 42-year-old man with sigmoid colon cancer with direct invasion of the urinary bladder and multiple costal metastases. A diagnosis of T4, M1, stage IV sigmoid colon cancer was made, and curative resection was considered impossible. S-1 at 50 mg/m2 was administered by oral route from day 1 to day 14. Irinotecan (CPT-11) at 40 mg/m2 was administered by intravenous day 1 and 15. This treatment was followed by 2 weeks absent period, and repeated every 4 weeks. Six cycles of administration were performed in total. Following this treatment, the multiple costal metastases resolved. Down-staging to T3, M0, stage IIA was achieved, and curative resection was judged to be possible. CONCLUSION: Occasional cases in which S-1/CPT-11 therapy was effective have been recently reported. The patient's tumor became resectable despite the discovery of colon cancer associated with bone metastasis at the initial examination, offering hope for cancer patients.

Liposarcoma of the breast: a case report and review of the literature.

Sarcoma of the breast constitutes <1% of all malignant breast tumors, and liposarcoma of the breast represents 3-24% of the primary breast sarcomas. We report a case of a 74-year-old woman presenting with liposarcoma of the left breast. The patient presented with a fibrous and hard mass measuring approximately 10 x 5 cm in diameter in the upper part of the left breast. Aspiration breast cytology showed inflammatory changes and had no malignant element. Differential diagnosis with sonography, computed tomography, and magnetic resonance imaging was not successful. A wide excision was performed with a 2-cm margin of healthy tissue. The tumor was diagnosed histologically as a well-differentiated liposarcoma (sclerosing type). The patient was discharged and her recovery was uneventful. We report a case of liposarcoma of the breast and discuss this rare malignant tumor and other types of sarcoma of the breast in light of the previously published literature.

Pheochromocytoma presenting as an abdominal emergency: association with perforation of the colon.

A pheochromocytoma is a rare tumor derived from the adrenal medulla (or from chromaffin cells of sympathetic ganglia). Its symptoms derive mostly from the excessive release of catecholamines (adrenaline and noradrenaline). Hypertension is the most recognized feature of this disease, but gastrointestinal manifestations can on rare occasions be just as serious and life threatening. This report describes a rare case of a 70-year-old woman with pheochromocytoma who developed an acute abdominal emergency with shock and panperitonitis as a result of perforation of the descending colon which was effectively treated by surgical removal of the tumor and the perforated colon. There have been 2 such cases in the English literature in whom a pheochromocytoma was associated with perforation of the colon. Successful surgical removal of such a pheochromocytoma has been not reported previously. Our case demonstrates the importance of recognizing that a pheochromocytoma presents with a wide spectrum of manifestations, and rapid treatment brings improvement to the patient.