A Multi-Center International Survey Related to the Nutritional Support after Hematopoietic Stem Cell Transplantation Endorsed by the ASIA Pacific Blood and Marrow Transplantation (APBMT)

Background: The nutritional support after hematopoietic stem cell transplantation (HSCT) has not been well established due to the scarcity of clinical trials. To conduct international clinical trials in Asia, we performed the questionnaire survey to investigate the current standard of nutritional support after HSCT. Method: We sent the questionnaire to the physicians nominated by the Asia Pacific Blood and Marrow Transplantation (APBMT) members of each country/ region. Result: We received 15 responses from 7 different countries/regions. The target calorie amount is 1.0 - 1.3 × basal energy expenditure (BEE) in 11 institutes when partial parenteral nutrition is used. When total parenteral nutrition (TPN) is used, the target calorie amount is 1.0 - 1.3 × BEE in 9 institutes and 1.3 - 1.5 × BEE in 4 institutes. Lipid emulsion is routinely used in 12 institutes. Multivitamins and trace elements are routinely added to TPN used in most institutes. It is still uncommon to use the immunonutrition. Blood glucose levels are routinely monitored in all institutes, but the target range varies (<110 in 2 institutes, <150 in 4 institutes, and <200 in 8 institutes). Conclusions: Basic nutritional support is similar in participating institutes. However, the target glucose level varies and the use of immunonutrition is rather rare. These points can be the theme of future clinical trials.

Implications of recent neoadjuvant clinical trials on the future practice of radiotherapy in locally advanced rectal cancer

Over the last two decades, the standard treatment for locally advanced rectal cancer(LARC) has been neoadjuvant chemoradiotherapy plus total mesorectal excision followed by adjuvant chemotherapy. Total neoadjuvant treatment(TNT) and immunotherapy are two major issues in the treatment of LARC. In the two latest phase Ⅲ randomized controlled trials(RAPIDO and PRODIGE23), the TNT approach achieved higher rates of pathologic complete response and distant metastasis-free survival than conventional chemoradiotherapy. Phase I/II clinical trials have reported promising response rates to neoadjuvant(chemo)-radiotherapy combined with immunotherapy. Accordingly, the treatment paradigm for LARC is shifting toward methods that increase the oncologic outcomes and organ preservation rate. However, despite the progress of these combined modality treatment strategies for LARC, the radiotherapy details in clinical trials have not changed significantly. To guide future radiotherapy for LARC with clinical and radiobiological evidence, this study reviewed recent neoadjuvant clinical trials evaluating TNT and immunotherapy from a radiation oncologist’s perspective.

Comparative effectiveness of adipose-derived mesenchymal stromal cells in the management of knee osteoarthritis:A meta-analysis

BACKGROUND Osteoarthritis(OA)is the most common joint disorder,is associated with an increasing socioeconomic impact owing to the ageing population.AIM To analyze and compare the efficacy and safety of bone-marrow-derived mesenchymal stromal cells(BM-MSCs)and adipose tissue-derived MSCs(AD-MSCs)in knee OA management from published randomized controlled trials(RCTs).METHODS Independent and duplicate electronic database searches were performed,including PubMed,EMBASE,Web of Science,and Cochrane Library,until August 2021 for RCTs that analyzed the efficacy and safety of AD-MSCs and BM-MSCs in the management of knee OA.The visual analog scale(VAS)score for pain,Western Ontario McMaster Universities Osteoarthritis Index(WOMAC),Lysholm score,Tegner score,magnetic resonance observation of cartilage repair tissue score,knee osteoarthritis outcome score(KOOS),and adverse events were analyzed.Analysis was performed on the R-platform using OpenMeta(Analyst)software.Twenty-one studies,involving 936 patients,were included.Only one study compared the two MSC sources without patient randomization;hence,the results of all included studies from both sources were pooled,and a comparative critical analysis was performed.RESULTS At six months,both AD-MSCs and BM-MSCs showed significant VAS improvement(P=0.015,P=0.012);this was inconsistent at 1 year for BM-MSCs(P<0.001,P=0.539),and AD-MSCs outperformed BM-MSCs compared to controls in measures such as WOMAC(P<0.001,P=0.541),Lysholm scores(P=0.006;P=0.933),and KOOS(P=0.002;P=0.012).BM-MSC-related procedures caused significant adverse events(P=0.003)compared to AD-MSCs(P=0.673).CONCLUSION Adipose tissue is superior to bone marrow because of its safety and consistent efficacy in improving pain and functional outcomes.Future trials are urgently warranted to validate our findings and reach a consensus on the ideal source of MSCs for managing knee OA.

Traumatic pancreatic ductal injury treated by endoscopic stenting in a 9-year-old boy:A case report

BACKGROUND Traumatic pancreatic injury is relatively rare in children,accounting for approximately 3%-12%of blunt abdominal trauma cases.Most traumatic pancreatic injuries in boys are related to bicycle handlebars.Traumatic pancreatic injuries often result in delayed presentation and treatment,leading to high morbidity and mortality.The management of children with traumatic main pancreatic duct injuries is still under debate.CASE SUMMARY We report the case of a 9-year-old boy who was presented at our institution with epigastric pain after being stuck with his bicycle handlebar at the upper abdomen and then treated with endoscopic stenting because of a pancreatic ductal injury.CONCLUSION We believe that endoscopic stenting of pancreatic ductal injuries may be a feasible technique in certain cases of children with traumatic pancreatic duct injuries to avoid unnecessary operations.

Post-laparotomy heterotopic ossification of the xiphoid process: A case report

BACKGROUND Heterotopic ossification(HO)represents all types of extraskeletal ossification in the body.It occurs in various areas,including the skin,subcutaneous tissue,muscle,and joints.Surgical excision is recommended for symptomatic HO.Postoperative radiotherapy,oral nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drugs,and topical sealants,such as bone wax,have been recommended as preventive measures.As HO is rare in occurrence,these recommendations are based on personal experiences,and there is a lack of information on individualized treatments depending on its location.CASE SUMMARY A 62-year-old male was admitted for symptomatic HO along a laparotomy scar.Surgical excision was performed for an 11 cm-sized ossification originating from the xiphoid process,and bone wax was applied to the excisional margin.However,the surgical wound failed to heal.After several weeks of saline-soaked gauze dressing,delayed wound closure was performed.The patient was finally discharged eight weeks after the excision.Because HO can occur in various areas of the body,a treatment strategy that may be effective for some may not be for others.Bone wax has been used as a topical sealant over excisional margins in the shoulder,elbow,and temporomandibular joints.However,in our case,its application on an abdominal surgical wound delayed its primary healing intention.The valuable lesson was that,when choosing a treatment method for HO based on available research data,its location must be considered.CONCLUSION Complete excision should be the priority treatment option for symptomatic HO along the laparotomy scar.Bone wax application is not recommended.Core Tip:Heterotopic ossification(HO)represents all types of extraskeletal ossification,and occurs in various areas,including the skin,muscle,and joints.There are some suggested treatment and preventive approaches for symptomatic HO,which include surgical excision and preventive measures such as postoperative radiotherapy,oral nonsteroidal anti-inflam-matory drugs,and topical sealants(bone wax).However,these recommendations are based on personal experiences limited to HO in certain locations.It is important to individualize our treatment approaches depending on its location.For symptomatic HO along the laparotomy scar,complete surgical excision should be the priority treatment option,and bone wax application is not recommended.

Surgical strategy of the treatment of atypical femoral fractures

The atypical femoral fracture(AFF)has been attracting significant attention because of its increasing incidence;additionally,its treatment is challenging from biological and mechanical aspects.Although surgery is often required to manage complete AFFs,clear guidelines for the surgical treatment of AFFs are currently sparse.We reviewed and described the surgical treatment of AFFs and the surveillance of the contralateral femur.For complete AFFs,cephalomedullary intramedullary nailing spanning the entire length of the femur can be used.Various surgical techniques to overcome the femoral bowing common in AFFs include a lateral entry point,external rotation of the nail,and the use of a nail with a small radius of curvature,or a contralateral nail.In the case of a narrow medullary canal,severe femoral bowing,or pre-existing implants,plate fixation may be considered as an alternative.For incomplete AFFs,prophylactic fixation depends on several risk factors,such as a subtrochanteric location,presence of a radiolucent line,functional pain,and condition of the contralateral femur;the same surgical principles as those in complete AFFs can be applied.Finally,once AFF is diagnosed,clinicians should recognize the increased risk of contralateral AFFs,and close surveillance of the contralateral femur is recommended.

Superior laryngeal nerve block for treatment of throat pain and cough following laryngeal herpes zoster:A case report

BACKGROUND Herpes zoster is caused by reactivation of latent varicella-zoster virus infection within the sensory nerve ganglion of the spinal or cranial nerves.Laryngeal herpes zoster is rare and involves superior laryngeal nerve,which leads to several complications such as throat pain,and cough.CASE SUMMARY Patient concerns:A 52-year old woman presented with a 70 d history of throat pain and a 67 d history of non-productive cough.Three days after onset of pain,she was diagnosed with laryngeal herpes zoster.Flexible nasolaryngoscopy revealed multiple white ulcerated lesions on the left hemi epiglottis and the left supraglottic area.She was prescribed with 750 mg famciclovir a day for 7 d,and 150 mg pregabalin,100 mg tramadol and 10 mg nortriptyline a day for 67 d.However,despite of these medications,she complained of pain and persistent cough.Therefore,superior laryngeal nerve block under ultrasound guidance was performed.Three days after the intervention,the throat pain and cough disappeared.The patient remained symptom-free at 3 mo follow-up.CONCLUSION A superior laryngeal nerve block can be an effective option for treatment of pain and cough following laryngeal herpes zoster.

Single omental metastasis of renal cell carcinoma after radical nephrectomy:A case report

BACKGROUND Renal cell carcinoma(RCC)is the third most common malignancy in the genitourinary tract.The lungs,bone,lymph nodes,liver,and brain are common metastatic sites of RCC.However,there is limited literature on single omental metastasis of RCC.CASE SUMMARY We present the case of a 44-year-old man with single omental metastasis of RCC after laparoscopic radical nephrectomy.Pathological diagnosis of the resected left kidney revealed pT3a clear cell RCC(Fuhrman grade III).At 6 mo postoperatively,abdominal computed tomography revealed a 12-mm enhancing nodule in the left lower peritoneum.At 7 mo after initial operation,laparoscopic removal of the left omental nodule was performed.The pathological results indicated metastatic clear cell RCC.Currently,the patient is being treated with adjuvant pembrolizumab.CONCLUSION Omental metastasis of RCC owing to laparoscopic radical nephrectomy is rare.Urologists should be aware of the diverse nature of RCC.

Changing trends and characteristics of peptic ulcer disease:A multicenter study from 2010 to 2019 in Korea

BACKGROUND The clinical trend and characteristics of peptic ulcer disease(PUD)have not fully been investigated in the past decade.AIM To evaluate the changing trends and characteristics of PUD according to age and METHODS We analyzed seven hospital databases converted into the Observational Medical Outcomes Partnership-Common Data Model between 2010 and 2019.We classified patients with PUD who underwent rapid urease tests or Helicobacter pylori(H.pylori)serology into three groups:H.pylori-related,drug[nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drugs(NSAIDs)or aspirin]-related,and idiopathic(H.pylori/NSAID/aspirin-negative)PUD and compared the yearly trends and characteristics among the three groups.RESULTS We included 26785 patients in 7 databases,and the proportion of old age(≥65 years)was 38.8%.The overall number of PUD exhibited no decrease,whereas PUD in old age revealed an increasing trend(P=0.01 for trend).Of the 19601 patients,41.8%had H.pylori-related,36.1%had drug-related,and 22.1%had idiopathic PUD.H.pylorirelated PUD exhibited a decreasing trend after 2014(P=0.01),drug-related PUD demonstrated an increasing trend(P=0.04),and idiopathic PUD showed an increasing trend in the old-age group(P=0.01)during 10 years.Patients with drug-related PUD had significantly more comorbidities and concomitant ulcerogenic drugs.The idiopathic PUD group had a significantly higher number of patients with chronic liver disease.CONCLUSION With the aging population increase,the effects of concomitant ulcerogenic drugs and preventive strategies should be investigated in drug-induced PUD.Further studies are required to clarify the relationship between idiopathic PUD and chronic liver disease.

腹腔镜下右半结肠癌D3根治术

目的：探讨遵循非接触分离原则右半结肠癌腹腔镜下D3根治术的方法。方法：1996年6月～2004年8月对87例右半结肠癌腹腔镜下行D3根治术，按照沿外科干游离肠系膜上血管根部淋巴结、游离右半横结肠与升结肠、体外肿瘤肠管切除并吻合的手术路径进行手术。结果：手术时间120～397min，平均212min。淋巴结清扫总数9～91枚，平均35枚；其中结肠上旁淋巴结0～50枚，平均17．5枚；系膜间淋巴结0～20枚，平均10．4枚；血管根部淋巴结0～39枚，平均7．5枚。术后并发症发生率16．1％（14／87），其中切口感染8例（9．2％），术后肠梗阻2例（2．3％），术后吻合口周围炎2例（2．3％），腹腔脓肿与局限性积液2例（2．3％）。84例随访12～113个月，平均45个月，生存3年以上30例，期间失访36例。结论：在遵循肿瘤完整切除原则下，选择合适的手术入路，术中操作路线明确、出血少、视野清晰，是完成腹腔镜下右半结肠痛切除术的关键。

Gastric dysplasia may be an independent risk factor of an advanced colorectal neoplasm

AIM: To evaluate the relationship between gastric dysplasia and Helicobacter pylori (H pylori) and the occurrence of colorectal adenoma, and to defi ne the necessity for colonoscopy in patients with gastric dysplasia or H pylori infection.METHODS: From May 2005 to February 2008, 133 patients with established gastric dysplasia by gastroduo-denoscopy (EGD) were additionally investigated by colonoscopy. The authors compared results with those of 213 subjects who underwent both EGD and colonoscopy during the same period at the author’s Health Promotion Center as a control group. H pylori infection was evaluated in both the gastric dysplasia and control groups.RESULTS: The mean age of all 346 study subjects was 54.1 ± 10.5 years, and there were 258 (73%) men and 87 (27%) women. No signif icant difference was found between the H pylori positive and negative subjects in terms of the prevalence of colorectal adenoma and advanced colorectal adenoma (P = 0.261). Patients with gastric dysplasia showed no elevated risk of colorectal adenoma (OR = 0.910, 95% CI: 0.587-1.411, P = 0.738), but had a signif icantly higher risk of having advanced colorectal adenoma (OR = 3.382, 95% CI: 1.700-6.342, P = 0.000).CONCLUSION: The study emphasizes the need for colon surveillance in patients with gastric dysplasia, regardless of H pylori infection.

Optimal treatment strategy for Helicobacter pylori:Era of antibiotic resistance

Standard triple therapy,consisting of a proton pump inhibitor,plus amoxicillin and clarithromycin,has been the most commonly used first-line treatment regimen for Helicobacter pylori(H.pylori)eradication for many years worldwide.However,as a result of increased resistance to antibiotics,H.pylori eradication rates with use of standard triple therapy have been declining and recently reached<80%in many countries.Several new strategies to enhance the eradication rate of H.pylori have been studied.Currently,among the alternative first-line eradication regimens,concomitant and hybrid regimens have shown excellent results and could be the optimal treatment option.Although clinical usefulness of rescue therapy for patients in whom eradication of H.pylori with non-bismuth quadruple regimen has failed is unclear,levofloxacin-based quadruple therapy has shown promise as a rescue treatment.The choice of third-line therapy depends on factors such as the local pattern of antibiotic resistance,drug availability,and previous treatment.We hope that a simple method for detection of antibiotic susceptibility using polymerase chain reaction would be a possible alternative to administration of"tailored treatment"in the era of increasing prevalence of antimicrobial resistance.

Simultaneous laparoscopic multi-organ resection combined with colorectal cancer:Comparison with non-combined surgery

AIM: To access the short-term outcomes of simultaneous laparoscopic surgery combined with resection for synchronous lesions in patients with colorectal cancer. METHODS: Between March 1996 and April 2010 prospectively collected data were reviewed from 93 consecutive patients who had colorectal cancer and underwent simultaneous multiple organ resection (combined group) and 1090 patients who underwent conventional laparoscopic right hemicolectomy or laparoscopic low/ anterior resection for colorectal cancer (non-combined group). In the combined group, there were nine gastric resections, three nephrectomies, nine adrenalectomies, 56 cholecystectomies, and 21 gynecologic resections. In addition, f ive patients underwent simultaneous laparoscopic resection for three organs. The patient demographics, intra-operative outcomes, surgical morbidity, and short-term outcomes were compared between thetwo groups (the combined and non-combined groups). RESULTS: There were no signifi cant differences in the clinicopathological variables between the two groups. The operating time was signifi cantly longer in the combined group than in the non-combined group, regardless of tumor location (laparoscopic right hemicolectomy and laparoscopic low/anterior resection groups; P = 0.048 and P < 0.001, respectively). The other intraoperative outcomes, such as the complications and open conversion rate, were similar in both groups. The rate of post-operative morbidity in the combined group was similar to the non-combined group (combined vs non-combined, 15.1% vs 13.5%, P = 0.667). Oncological safety for the colon and synchronous lesions were obtained in the combined group. CONCLUSION: Simultaneous laparoscopic multiple organ resection combined with colorectal cancer is a safe and feasible option in selected patients.

Successful treatment of multiple hepatocellular adenomas with percutaneous radiofrequency ablation

Hepatocellular adenoma(HCA)is one of the important complications of glycogen storage disease typeⅠa(GSD-Ⅰa)because it can be transformed into hepatocellular carcinoma.Although surgical resection is a standard treatment of choice for solitary HCA,multiple HCAs in GSD-Ⅰa patients present as therapeutic challenges for curative treatment.Therefore,treatment strategy according to malignant potential is important in management of HCAs in GSD-Ⅰa.The authors present a case of histologically proven multiple HCAs withoutβ-catenin mutations occurred in a GSD-Ⅰa patient treated successfully with percutaneous radiofrequency ablation as a minimally invasive therapy.

Recent advances in chemotherapy for advanced gastric cancer

Although medical treatment has been shown to improve quality of life and prolong survival,no significant progress has been made in the treatment of advanced gastric cancer(AGC)within the last two decades.Thus,the choice of optimum standard first-line chemotherapy regimen for AGC remains debatable,and most responses to chemotherapy are partial and of short duration,with a median survival of approximately 7-11 mo and survival at 2 years rarely more than 10%.Recently,remarkable progress in tumor biology has led to the development of new agents that target critical aspects of oncogenic pathways.For AGC,several molecular targeting agents are now under evaluation in international randomized studies,and trastuzumab,an anti-HER2 monoclonal antibody,has shown antitumor activity against HER-2 positive AGC.However, this benefit is limited to only about 20%of patients with AGC(patients with HER-2 positive AGC).Therefore,there remains a critical need for both the development of more effective agents and the identification of predictive and prognostic molecular markers to select those patients who will benefit most from specific chemotherapeutic regimens and targeted therapies.

Technical advances in external radiotherapy for hepatocellular carcinoma

Radiotherapy techniques have substantially improved in the last two decades. After the introduction of 3-dimensional conformal radiotherapy, radiotherapy has been increasingly used for the treatment of hepatocellular carcinoma(HCC). Currently, more advanced techniques, including intensity-modulated radiotherapy(IMRT), stereotactic ablative body radiotherapy(SABR), and charged particle therapy, are used for the treatment of HCC. IMRT can escalate the tumor dose while sparing the normal tissue even though the tumor is large or located near critical organs. SABR can deliver a very high radiation dose to small HCCs in a few fractions, leading to high local control rates of 84%-100%. Various advanced imaging modalities are used for radiotherapy planning and delivery to improve the precision of radiotherapy. These advanced techniques enable the delivery of high dose radiotherapy for early to advanced HCCs without increasing the radiation-induced toxicities. However, as there have been no effective tools for the prediction of the response to radiotherapy or recurrences within or outside the radiation field, future studies should focus on selecting the patients who will benefit from radiotherapy.

Long-term follow up of endoscopic resection for type 3 gastric NET

AIM:To clarify the short and long-term results and to prove the usefulness of endoscopic resection in type 3gastric neuroendocrine tumors(NETs).METHODS:Of the 119 type 3 gastric NETs diagnosed from January 1996 to September 2011,50 patients treated with endoscopic resection were enrolled in this study.For endoscopic resection,endoscopic mucosal resection(EMR)or endoscopic submucosal dissection(ESD)was used.Therapeutic efficacy,complications,and follow-up results were evaluated retrospectively.RESULTS:EMR was performed in 41 cases and ESD in 9 cases.Pathologically complete resection was performed in 40 cases(80.0%)and incomplete resection specimens were observed in 10 cases(7 vs 3 patients in the EMR vs ESD group,P=0.249).Upon analysis of the incomplete resection group,lateral or vertical margin invasion was found in six cases(14.6%)in the EMR group and in one case in the ESD group(11.1%).Lymphovascular invasions were observed in two cases(22.2%)in the ESD group and in one case(2.4%)in the EMR group(P=0.080).During the follow-up period(43.73;13-60 mo),there was no evidence of tumor recurrence in either the pathologically complete resection group or the incomplete resection group.No recurrence was reported during follow-up.In addition,no mortality was reported in either the complete resection group or the incomplete resection group for the duration of the follow-up period.CONCLUSION:Less than 2 cm sized confined submucosal layer type 3 gastric NET with no evidence of lymphovascular invasion,endoscopic treatment could be considered at initial treatment.

Identification and preoperative optimization of risk factors to prevent periprosthetic joint infection

Despite significant improvements over the past several decades in diagnosis,treatment and prevention of periprosthetic joint infection(PJI),it still remains a major challenge following total joint arthroplasty.Given the devastating nature and accelerated incidence of PJI,prevention is the most important strategy to deal with this challenging problem and should start from identifying risk factors.Understanding and well-organized optimization of these risk factors in individuals before elective arthroplasty are essential to the ultimate success in reducing the incidence of PJI.Even though some risk factors such as demographic characteristics are seldom changeable,they allow more accurate expectation regarding individual risks of PJI and thus,make proper counseling for shared preoperative decision-making possible.Others that increase the risk of PJI,but are potentially modifiable should be optimized prior to elective arthroplasty.Although remarkable advances have been achieved in past decades,many questions regarding standardized practice to prevent this catastrophic complication remain unanswered.The current study provide a comprehensive knowledge regarding risk factors based on general principles to control surgical siteinfection by the review of current literature and also share own practice at our institution to provide practical and better understandings.

Endoscopic resection of co-existing severe dysplasia and a small esophageal leiomyoma

Leiomyoma is the most common benign mesenchymal tumor of the esophagus.A small leiomyoma covered with endoscopically normal mucosa has a characteristic endoscopic ultrasonographic appearance,slow growth rate,and negligible risk of malignant transformation;therefore the histology does not need to be proven.Synchronous tumors such as an epithelial tumor and small subepithelial tumor in the upper gastrointestinal tract are uncommon.We describe a case with a coexisting small leiomyoma and severe dysplasia in the esophagus which were completely resected by endoscopic mucosal resection.

Safety and efficacy of a partially covered self-expandable metal stent in benign pyloric obstruction

AIM:To evaluate the safety and efficacy of partially covered self-expandable metallic stents(SEMSs)in benign pyloric obstruction.METHODS:We retrospectively analyzed data from 10consecutive patients with peptic ulcer-related pyloric obstructive symptoms(gastric outlet obstruction scoring system(GOOSS)score of 1)between March 2012and September 2013.The patients were referred to and managed by partially covered SEMS insertion in our tertiary academic center.We assessed the technical success,symptom improvement,and adverse events after stenting.RESULTS:Early symptoms were improved just 3 d after SEMS placement in all 10 patients.The GOOSS score of all patients improved from 1 to 3.There were no serious immediate adverse events.The overall rate of being symptom free was 90%at a median of 11mo of follow-up(range:4-43 mo).Five patients were managed by a rescue SEMS because of failure of previous endoscopic balloon dilatation.Among them,four patients had sustained symptom improvement after the SEMS procedure.During the follow-up period,migration of the SEMS was observed in two patients(20.0%),both of whom had previous endoscopic balloon dilatation before SEMS insertion.CONCLUSION:Despite the small number in this study,partially covered SEMSs showed a favorable and safe outcome in the treatment of na?ve benign pyloric obstruction and in salvage treatment after balloon dilatation failure.