The impact of inflammation and acute phase activation in cancer cachexia.

The development of cachexia in the setting of cancer or other chronic diseases is a significant detriment for patients. Cachexia is associated with a decreased ability to tolerate therapies, reduction in ambulation, reduced quality of life, and increased mortality. Cachexia appears intricately linked to the activation of the acute phase response and is a drain on metabolic resources. Work has begun to focus on the important inflammatory factors associated with the acute phase response and their role in the immune activation of cachexia. Furthermore, data supporting the liver, lung, skeletal muscle, and tumor as all playing a role in activation of the acute phase are emerging. Although the acute phase is increasingly being recognized as being involved in cachexia, work in understanding underlying mechanisms of cachexia associated with the acute phase response remains an active area of investigation and still lack a holistic understanding and a clear causal link. Studies to date are largely correlative in nature, nonetheless suggesting the possibility for a role for various acute phase reactants. Herein, we examine the current literature regarding the acute phase response proteins, the evidence these proteins play in the promotion and exacerbation of cachexia, and current evidence of a therapeutic potential for patients.

Bilateral Renal Auto-Transplantation for Retroperitoneal Sarcomas: Is It Underutilized?

Sarcomas are a rare tumor of mesenchymal origin. The liposarcoma is the most common sarcoma of the retroperitoneum. Liposarcomas are typically low grade, and present at an advanced stage and a large size. We report a case of a large retroperitoneal liposarcoma, approximately 50 kg, encasing both kidneys, which was managed via a two-stage resection and staged renal auto-transplantation into the intra-peritoneal pelvis. The patient maintained normal renal function throughout, and remains disease free two years post-resection. Renal auto-transplantation with pelvic placement may facilitate improved margin-free resection. Renal relocation may allow the use of curative-intent ablative therapies such as radiofrequency ablation and radiation in cases of retroperitoneal recurrence.

Ablative Therapy in Non-HCC Liver Malignancy.

Surgical extirpation of liver tumors remains a proven approach in the management of metastatic tumors to the liver, particularly those of colorectal origin. Ablative, non-resective therapies are an increasingly attractive primary therapy for liver tumors as they are generally better tolerated and result in far less morbidity and mortality. Ablative therapies preserve greater normal liver parenchyma allowing better post-treatment liver function and are particularly appropriate for treating subsequent liver-specific tumor recurrence. This article reviews the current status of ablative therapies for non-hepatocellular liver tumors with a discussion of many of the clinically available approaches.

The demographics of patients presenting for sexual assault to US emergency departments.

BACKGROUND: Few studies address the demographics/epidemiology of patients presenting to emergency departments (ED) for evaluation of sexual assault across an entire nation. It was the purpose of this study to analyze the demographics of sexual assault using a national data base. METHODS: This was a retrospective study of prospectively collected data from National Electronic Injury Surveillance System - All Injury Program for years 2005-2013. Patients presenting for sexual assault were analyzed. Descriptive and logistic regression statistical analyses were performed with SUDAAN 11.0.01™ software. A p < 0.05 was considered statistically significant. RESULTS: Sexual assault accounted for an estimated 657,719 ED visits (0.24% of all injuries, and 3.4% of injuries due to violence). When an assault victim presented to the ED, a sexual assault was most likely when the patient was 0-14 years old (OR = 19.48 [12.02, 31.57]), White (OR = 2.12 [1.30, 3.47]), the perpetrator being a stranger (OR = 10.51 [8.21, 13.46]), and occurring at home (OR = 10.05 [6.61, 15.27]). The average annual incidence of ED visits for sexual assault per 10,000 US population was 2.39; 0.47 for males and 4.92 for females. The average was 19.6 years; 90.3% were female. Assaults occurred in the home in 45.6%, and were more common in the summer. The perpetrator was unknown in 37.5%, a friend/acquaintance in 24.8%, other relative in 9.4%, multiple perpetrators in 9.3%, spouse/partner in 6.8%, with the remaining 12.7% from other groups. Racial composition was White in 60.9%, Black in 25.9%, Amerindian in 12.5%, and Asian in 0.5%. The perpetrator was a close relative nearly twice as frequently for male victims compared to female victims. Hospital admission overall was 2.7%: 7.1% when the assault occurred on the street, 1.8% when at school or sporting locations, 4.9% for males and 1.5% for females. Nearly all (98.2%) extremity injuries occurred in females. CONCLUSIONS: Sexual assaults account for 4.4% of ED visits for violence. There was a decrease in the number of sexual assaults occurring on the street and at school/sporting locations over time while the number of assaults by strangers increased. For males, 54.1% occurred in those <10 years of age. The differences between patients by demographic and event characteristics is important information for health care providers.