Acute appendicitis: What is the gold standard of treatment?

McBurney’s procedure represented the gold-standard for acute appendicitis until 1981,but nowadays the number of laparoscopic appendectomies has progressively increased since it has been demonstrated to be a safe procedure,with excellent cosmetic results and it also allows a shorter hospitalization,a quicker and less painful postoperative recovery.The aim of this editorial was to perform a review of the literature in order to address controversial issues in the treatment of acute appendicitis.

Multiple malignant extragastrointestinal stromal tumors of the greater omentum and results of immunohistochemistry and mutation analysis:A case report

To report an extragastrointestinal stromal tumor （EGIST） that occurs outside the gastrointestinal tract and shows unique clinicopathologic and immunohistochemical features. In our case, we experienced multiple soft tissue tumors that originate primarily in the greater omentum, and in immunohistochemical analysis, the tumors showed features that correspond to malignant EGIST. Two large omental masses measured 15 cm×10 cm and 5 cm×4 cm sized and several small ovoid fragments were attached to small intestine, mesentery and peritoneum. On histologic findings, the masses were separated from small bowel serosa and had high mitotic count （115/50 HPFs）. In the results of immunohistochemical stains, the tumor showed CDl17 （c-kit） positive reactivity and high Ki-67 labeling index. On mutation analysis, the c-kit gene mutation was found in the juxtamembrane domain （exon 11）and it was heterozygote. Platelet-derived growth factor receptor （PDGFR） gene mutation was also found in the juxtamemembrane （exon 12） and it was polymorphism. From above findings, we proposed that there may be several mutational pathways to malignant EGIST, so further investigations could be needed to approach this unfavorable disease entity.

From diagnosis to treatment of hepatocellular carcinoma: An epidemic problem for both developed and developing world

Hepatocellular carcinoma(HCC) is the most frequent primary liver malignancy and the third cause of cancer-related death in the Western Countries. The well-established causes of HCC are chronic liver infections such as hepatitis B virus or chronic hepatitis C virus, nonalcoholic fatty liver disease, consumption of aflatoxins and tobacco smocking. Clinical presentation varies widely; patients can be asymptomatic while symptomatology extends from right upper abdominal quadrant paint and weight loss to obstructive jaundice and lethargy. Imaging is the first key and one of the most important aspects at all stages of diagnosis, therapy and follow-up of patients with HCC. The Barcelona Clinic Liver Cancer Staging System remains the most widely classification system used for HCC management guidelines. Up until now, HCC remains a challenge to early diagnose, and treat effectively; treating management is focused on hepatic resection, orthotopic liver transplantation, ablative therapies, chemoembolization and systemic therapies with cytotocix drugs, and targeted agents. This review article describes the current evidence on epidemiology, symptomatology, diagnosis and treatment of hepatocellular carcinoma.

High morbidity in myocardial infarction and heart failure patients after gastric cancer surgery

AIM:To evaluate to morbidity and mortality differences between 4 underlying heart diseases,myocardial infarction(MI),angina pectoris(Angina),heart failure(HF),and atrial fibrillation(AF),after radical surgery for gastric cancer.METHODS:We retrospectively collected data from 221 patients of a total of 15167 patients who underwent radical gastrectomy and were preoperatively diagnosed with a history of Angina,MI,HF,or AF in 8 hospitals.RESULTS:We find that the total morbidity rate is significantly higher in the MI group(44%) than the Angina(15.7%),AF(18.8%),and HF(23.1%) groups(P < 0.01).Moreover,we note that the risk for postoperative cardiac problems is higher in patients with a history of HF(23.1%) than patients with a historyof Angina(2.2%),AF(4.3%),or MI(6%; P = 0.01).The HF and MI groups each have 1 case of cardiogenic mortality.CONCLUSION:We conclude that MI patients have a higher risk of morbidity,and HF patients have a higher risk of postoperative cardiac problems than Angina or AF.

Female gender in the setting of liver transplantation

The evolution of liver diseases to end-stage liver disease or to acute hepatic failure, the evaluation process for liver transplantation, the organ allocation decisionmaking, as well as the post-transplant outcomes are different between female and male genders. Women's access to liver transplantation is hampered by the use of model for end-stage liver disease(MELD) score, in which creatinine values exert a systematic bias against women due to their lower values even in the presence of variable degrees of renal dysfunction. Furthermore, even when correcting MELD score for gender-appropriate creatinine determination, a quantifiable uneven access to transplant prevails, demonstrating that other factors are also involved. While some of the differences can be explained from the epidemiological point of view, hormonal status plays an important role. Moreover, the pre-menopausal and post-menopausal stages imply profound differences in a woman's physiology, including not only the passage from the fertile age to the non-fertile stage, but also the loss of estrogens and their potentially protective role in delaying liver fibrosis progression, amongst others. With menopause, the tendency to gain weight may contribute to the development of or worsening of pre-existing metabolic syndrome. As an increasing number of patients are transplanted for non-alcoholic steatohepatitis, and as the average age at transplant increases, clinicians must be prepared for the management of this particular condition, especially in post-menopausal women, who are at particular risk of developing metabolic complications after menopause.

Dynamics of the coronavirus disease 2019(COVID-19)epidemic in Wuhan City,Hubei Province and China:a second derivative analysis of the cumulative daily diagnosed cases during the first 85 days

Background:Controlling the coronavirus disease 2019(COVID-19)epidemic requires information beyond new and cumulative cases.This study aims to conduct an in-depth analysis by geographic strata:Wuhan City(hereafter referred to as Wuhan)only,Hubei Province(hereafter referred to as Hubei)excluding Wuhan,and China excluding Hubei.Methods:Daily cumulative confirmed COVID-19 cases between December 8,2019(the date of symptom onset based on patients'recall during the investigation),and March 1,2020,from official sources and published studies were analyzed.The second derivative model was used for information extraction.Data analysis was conducted separately for the three strata.Results:A total of 80026 diagnosed COVID-19 cases were reported during the first 85 days of the epidemic,with 49315 cases from Wuhan,17788 from Hubei excluding Wuhan,and 12923 from China excluding Hubei.Analytical results indicate that the COVID-19 epidemic consists of an Acceleration,a Deceleration,and a Stabilization Phase in all three geographic strata,plus a Silent Attack Phase for Wuhan only.Given the reported incubation period of 14 days,effects of the massive anti-epidemic actions were revealed by both the Acceleration and Deceleration Phases.The Acceleration Phase signaled the effect of the intervention to detect the infected;the Deceleration Phase signaled the declines in new infections after the infected were detected,treated and quarantined.Conclusion:Findings of the study provide new evidence to better monitor the epidemic,evaluate its response to intervention,and predict the trend long.In addition to re-evaluating the control of the COVID-19 epidemic in China,this study provided a model for monitoring outbreaks of COVID-19 in different countries across the world.

Dietary polyphenols and colorectal cancer risk:The Fukuoka colorectal cancer study

AIM:To investigate the associations between dietary intake of polyphenols and colorectal cancer. METHODS:The study subjects were derived from the Fukuoka colorectal cancer study, a community-based case-control study. The study subjects were 816 cases of colorectal cancer and 815 community-based controls. The consumption of 148 food items was assessed by a computer-assisted interview. We used the consumption of 97 food items to estimate dietary intakes of total, tea and coffee polyphenols. The Phenol-Explorer database was used for 92 food items. Of the 5 foods which were not listed in the Phenol-Explorer Database, polyphenol contents of 3 foods (sweet potatoes, satoimo and daikon) were based on a Japanese study and 2 foods (soybeans and fried potatoes) were estimated by ORAC-based polyphenol contents in the United States Department of Agriculture Database. Odds ratios (OR) and 95%CI of colorectal cancer risk according to quintile categories of intake were obtained by using logistic regression models with adjustment for age, sex, residential area, parental history of colorectal cancer, smoking, alcohol consumption, body mass index 10 years before, type of job, leisure-time physical activity and dietary intakes of calcium and n-3 polyunsaturated fatty acids.RESULTS:There was no measurable difference in total or tea polyphenol intake between cases and controls, but intake of coffee polyphenols was lower in cases than in controls. The multivariate-adjusted OR of colorectal cancer according to quintile categories of coffee polyphenols (from the first to top quintile) were 1.00 (referent), 0.81 (95%CI:0.60-1.10), 0.65 (95%CI:0.47-0.89), 0.65 (95%CI:0.46-0.89) and 0.82 (95%CI:0.60-1.10), respectively (P trend = 0.07). Similar, but less pronounced, decreases in the OR were also noted for the third and fourth quintiles of total polyphenol intake. Tea polyphenols and non-coffee polyphenols showed no association with colorectal cancer risk. The sitespecific analysis, based on 463 colon cancer cases and 340 rectal cancer cases, showed an inverse association between coffee polyphenols and colon cancer. The multivariate-adjusted OR of colon cancer for the first to top quintiles of coffee polyphenols were 1.00 (referent), 0.92 (95%CI:0.64-1.31), 0.75 (95%CI:0.52-1.08), 0.69 (95%CI:0.47-1.01), and 0.68 (95%CI:0.46-1.00), respectively (P trend = 0.02). Distal colon cancer showed a more evident inverse association with coffee polyphenols than proximal colon cancer. The association between coffee polyphenols and rectal cancer risk was U -shaped, with significant decreases in the OR at the second to fourth quintile categories. There was also a tendency that the OR of colon and rectal cancer decreased in the intermediate categories of total polyphenols. The decrease in the OR in the intermediate categories of total polyphenols was most pronounced for distal colon cancer. Intake of tea polyphenols was not associated with either colon or rectal cancer. The associations of coffee consumption with colorectal, colon and rectal cancers were almost the same as observed for coffee polyphenols. The trend of the association between coffee consumption and colorectal cancer was statistically significant. CONCLUSION:The present findings suggest a decreased risk of colorectal cancer associated with coffee consumption.

Pancreatic Neuroendocrine Tumors in the 21^stCentury—An Update

Pancreatic neuroendocrine tumors (PNETs) are rare, reported to account for less than 1% - 2% of all pancreatic tumors. This, however, is likely an underestimation, as improved radiologic techniques and heightened awareness have resulted in an increase in the detection of incidentalomas, with estimations of true prevalence as high as 10%. The term “PNET” is an umbrella name that encompasses a heterogeneous group of neoplasms each with distinct clinical presentations, diagnostic radiographic features, management principles, and tumor/patient outcomes. In this context, accurate diagnosis is challenging, and management guidelines remain unclear. A high degree of clinical suspicion is required for best patient management. This manuscript provides an update on PNETs in the 21st century, in which we re-examine the terminology, epidemiology, classification, etiopathogenesis, radiographic and histopathologic diagnostic features, management for localized and metastatic disease, as well as a review of features defining functional and non-functional PNETS, and finally deliberates on the prognosis and predictive features of this unpredictable and largely unfathomable neoplasm.

Are there any disbenefits to patients in choosing laparoscopic gastrectomy by an expert in open gastrectomy？ Aspects of surgical outcome and radicality of lymphadenectomy

Background There may be concerns over disbenefits to patients who have chosen to undergo laparoscopic gastrectomy by experts in open gastrectomy, considering the disparity between the level of proficiency in open gastrectomy, at which they are already experts, and that in laparoscopic gastrectomy, at which they are beginners. The aim of this study was to compare surgical radicality and outcomes between laparoscopic gastrectomy and open gastrectomy during the learning period of laparoscopic gastrectomy for a senior surgeon who was already an expert in open gastrectomy. Methods Data of short-term surgical outcomes were obtained from patients following laparoscopy assisted distal gastrectomy （LADG） by a surgeon. The initial and following 30 experiences were grouped into LADG-I and LADG-II, respectively. Patients who underwent open distal subtotal gastrectomy （ODSG） and yet could have been candidates for LADG were grouped into ODSG. Known indicators of proficiency levels and the postoperative hospital course were compared. The consequences of extended lymphadenectomy, and the radicality of surgery by completing D2 lymphadenectomy were analyzed. Results The LADG group revealed longer operation time and less bleeding compared to the ODSG group （P 〈0.001）. The number of retrieved lymph nodes and the rate of complications were not significantly different. In the LADG-I group, the DI＋：D2 ratio was 4：1, showing significant differences from those in the LADG-II （0.36：1） and ODSG （0.16：1） groups （P 〈0.001）. The surgeon was able to complete D2 lymphadenectomy during LADG without significant change in the amount of bleeding and the rate of complications, but with a longer operation time （P=0.009）. The number of lymph nodes from the 12a station was not significantly different between the LADG and ODSG groups with D2 lymphadenectomy. Conclusions The surgical outcomes were comparable between LADG and ODSG even during the learning period of LADG, and the equivalence of radicality in lymphadenectomy was soon achieved. As long as the surgeon can accept a long operation time, an expert in open gastrectomy should not refrain from performing laparoscopic gastrectomy in well selected patients because of concerns about disbenefits to patients from choosing laparoscopic gastrectomy over open gastrectomy.

Features and clinical nursing of heart failure in elderly patients during perioperative period

Heart failure is a common condition in elderly patients.With further population aging,incidence of heart failure is constantly increasing.When heart failure occurs in this group of patients,clinical symptoms may vary vastly,rendering difficulty for the treatment process and leading to poor efficacy and prognosis.To gain better under-standing on clinical symptoms and signs of heart failure in elderly patients,to provide prevention and treatment against heart failure for elderly patients in terms of nursing care and to improve success rate of salvage treatment as well as nurs-ing quality.Methods Retrospective analysis was performed in 141 patients with heart failure who were treated in our hospital during January 2005 and December 2009.Those aged > 60 years were assigned to elderly group while those aged < 60 years were assigned to non elderly group.These two groups were compared in terms of clinical symptoms, signs and physical and laboratory examinations.Results Clinical symptoms and signs of heart failure tended to be a-typical in elderly patients.Symptoms including cough,sputum,increased heart rate and mental disorder were frequent, and a substantial proportion of patients had pulmonary congestion and edema.Conclusions Prevention and specific nursing measures should be aggressively taken based on the features of heart failure in elderly patients.Frequency of in-spection particularly observation on atypical symptoms should be increased to provide intensive monitoring.

International consensus on natural orifice specimen extraction surgery(NOSES)for gastric cancer(2019)

At present,natural orifice specimen extraction surgery(NOSES)has attracted more and more attention worldwide,because of its great advantages including minimal cutaneous trauma and post-operative pain,fast post-operative recovery,short hospital stay,and positive psychological impact.However,NOSES for the treatment of gastric cancer(GC)is still in its infancy,and there is great potential to improve its theoretical system and clinical practice.Especially,several key points including oncological outcomes,bacteriological concerns,indication selection,and standardized surgical procedures are raised with this innovative technique.Therefore,it is necessary to achieve an international consensus to regulate the implementation of GC-NOSES,which is of great significance for healthy and orderly development of NOSES worldwide.

谷氨酰胺和肠道(摘要)

谷氨酰胺是体内最丰富的氨基酸,但在多数肠内和肠外营养的配方中阙如。在与创伤、感染或手术有关的分解状态下,骨骼肌蛋白分解,并约有1/3的氨基酸氮转归为谷氨酰胺。大部分谷氨酰胺通过血流输送到胃肠道。在胃肠道谷氨酰胺是提供能源的主要物质。