Shortness of breath in clinical practice: A case for left atrial function and exercise stress testing for a comprehensive diastolic heart failure workup

The symptom cluster of shortness of breath(SOB) contributes significantly to the outpatient workload of cardiology services. The workup of these patients includes blood chemistry and biomarkers, imaging and functional testing of the heart and lungs. A diagnosis of diastolic heart failure is inferred through the exclusion of systolic abnormalities, a normal pulmonary function test and normal hemoglobin, coupled with diastolic abnormalities on echocardiography. Differentiating confounders such as obesity or deconditioning in a patient with diastolic abnormalities is difficult. While the most recent guidelines provide more avenues for diagnosis, such as incorporating the left atrial size, little emphasis is given to understanding left atrial function, which contributes to at least 25% of diastolic left ventricular filling; additionally, exercise stress testing to elicit symptoms and test the dynamics of diastolic parameters, especially when access to the "gold standard" invasive tests is lacking, presents clinical translational gaps. It is thus important in diastolic heart failure work up to understand left atrial mechanics and the role of exercise testing to build a comprehensive argument for the diagnosis of diastolic heart failure in a patient presenting with SOB.

Pathogenesis of liver cirrhosis

Liver cirrhosis is the final pathological result of various chronic liver diseases,and fibrosis is the precursor of cirrhosis.Many types of cells,cytokines and miRNAs are involved in the initiation and progression of liver fibrosis and cirrhosis.Activation of hepatic stellate cells(HSCs)is a pivotal event in fibrosis.Defenestration and capillarization of liver sinusoidal endothelial cells are major contributing factors to hepatic dysfunction in liver cirrhosis.Activated Kupffer cells destroy hepatocytes and stimulate the activation of HSCs.Repeated cycles of apoptosis and regeneration of hepatocytes contribute to pathogenesis of cirrhosis.At the molecular level,many cytokines are involved in mediation of signaling pathways that regulate activation of HSCs and fibrogenesis.Recently,miRNAs as a post-transcriptional regulator have been found to play a key role in fibrosis and cirrhosis.Robust animal models of liver fibrosis and cirrhosis,as well as the recently identified critical cellular and molecular factors involved in the development of liver fibrosis and cirrhosis will facilitate the development of more effective therapeutic approaches for these conditions.

Advances in non-surgical management of primary liver cancer

Hepatocellular carcinoma(HCC) is the fifth most common cancer and the third most common cause of cancer-related death worldwide. There have been great improvements in the diagnosis and treatment of HCC in recent years, but the problems, including difficult diagnosis at early stage, quick progression, and poor prognosis remain unsolved. Surgical resection is the mainstay of the treatment for HCC. However, 70%-80% of HCC patients are diagnosed at an advanced stage when most are ineligible for potentially curative therapies such as surgical resection and liver transplantation. In recent years, non-surgical management for unrespectable HCC, such as percutaneous ethanol injection, percutaneous microwave coagulation therapy, percutaneous radiofrequency ablation, transcatheter arterial chemoembolization, radiotherapy, chemotherapy, biotherapy, and hormonal therapy have been developed. These therapeutic options, either alone or in combination, have been shown to control tumor growth, prolong survival time, and improve quality of life to some extent. This review covers the current status and progress of non-surgical management for HCC.

Surgical management of hepatocellular carcinoma

Hepatocellular carcinoma(HCC) is the second most common cause of death from cancer worldwide. Standard potentially curative treatments are either resection or transplantation. The aim of this paper is to provide an overview of the surgical management of HCC, as well as highlight current issues in hepatic resection and transplantation. In summary, due to the relationship between HCC and chronic liver disease, the management of HCC depends both on tumourrelated and hepatic function-related considerations. As such, HCC is currently managed largely through nonsurgical means as the criteria, in relation to the above considerations, for surgical management is still largelyrestrictive. For early stage tumours, both resection and transplantation offer fairly good survival outcomes(5 years overall survival of around 50%). Selection therefore would depend on the level of hepatic function derangement, organ availability and local expertise. Patients with intermediate stage cancers have limited options, with resection being the only potential for cure. Otherwise, locoregional therapy with transarterial chemoembolization or radiofrequency ablation are viable options. Current issues in resection and transplantation are also briefly discussed such as laparoscopic resection, ablation vs resection, anatomical vs non-anatomical resection, transplantation vs resection, living donor liver transplantation and salvage liver transplantation.

Gestational diabetes mellitus: Challenges for different ethnic groups

Ethnicity is defined as"belonging to a social groupthat has a common national or cultural tradition".Membership of certain ethnic groups has long been associated with increased risk of gestational diabetes mellitus(GDM).Studies that examined ethnic differences amongst women with GDM were often conducted in western countries where women from various ethnic backgrounds were represented.The prevalence of GDM appears to be particularly high among women from South Asia and South East Asia,compared to Caucasian,African-American and Hispanic communities.For some,but not all ethnic groups,the body mass index is a risk factor for the development of GDM.Even within a particular ethnic group,those who were born in their native countries have a different risk profile for GDM compared to those born in western countries.In terms of treatment,medical nutrition therapy(MNT)plays a key role in the management of GDM and the prescription of MNT should be culturally sensitive.Limited studies have shown that women who live in an English-speaking country but predominantly speak a language other than English,have lower rates of dietary understanding compared with their English speaking counterparts,and this may affect compliance to therapy.Insulin therapy also plays an important role and there appears to be variation as to the progression of women who progress to requiring insulin among different ethnicities.As for peri-natal outcomes,women from Pacific Islander countries have higher rates of macrosomia,while women from Chinese backgrounds had lower adverse pregnancy outcomes.From a maternal outcome point of view,pregnant women from Asia with GDM have a higher incidence of abnormal glucose tolerance test results post-partum and hence a higher risk of future development of type2 diabetes mellitus.On the other hand,women from Hispanic or African-American backgrounds with GDM are more likely to develop hypertension post-partum.This review highlights the fact that management needs to be individualised and the clinician should be mindful of the impact that differences in ethnicity may have on the clinical characteristics and pregnancy outcomes inwomen affected by GDM,particularly those living in Western countries.Understanding these differences is critical in the delivery of optimal antenatal care for women from diverse ethnic backgrounds.

Interaction between cyclooxygenase-2,Snail,and E-cadherin in gastric cancer cells

AIM:To investigate the mechanisms of how cyclooxygenase-2(COX-2)regulates E-cadherin in gastric cancer cells.METHODS:COX-2 expression in human gastric cancer cell lines SGC-7901,BGC-823,MGC-803 and AGS were measured at the mRNA and protein level.COX-2 rich cell line SGC-7901 was chosen for subsequent experiments.siRNA mediated gene knockdown was used to investigate the impact of COX-2 on nuclear factor-κB (NF-κB),Snail,and E-cadherin in gastric cancer cells.Gene expression was determined by Western blot and real-time polymerase chain reaction.To analyze whether NF-κB inhibition could interrupt the modulatory effect of COX-2 or prostaglandin E2(PGE2)on E-cadherin,gastric cancer cells were treated with celecoxib or PGE2,in the presence of NF-κB specific siRNA.RESULTS:Highest expression level of COX-2 was found in SGC-7901 cells,both at mRNA and protein levels.siRNA mediated down-regulation of COX-2 led to a reduced expression of NF-κB and Snail,but an increased expression of E-cadherin in SGC-7901 cells.siRNA mediated down-regulation of NF-κB also led to a reduced expression of E-cadherin and Snail in SGC-7901 cells.However,COX-2 expression did not alter after cells were treated with NF-κB specific siRNA in SGC-7901 cells.Treatment of SGC-7901 cells with celecoxib led to a reduced expression of Snail but an increased expression of E-cadherin.In contrast,treatment of SGC-7901 cells with PGE2 led to an increased Snail and a decreased E-cadherin.However,siRNAmediated knockdown of NF-κB partially abolished the effect of celecoxib and PGE2 on the regulation of E-cadherin and Snail in SGC-7901 cells.CONCLUSION:COX-2 likely functions upstream of NF-κB and regulates the expression of E-cadherin via NF-κB/Snail signaling pathway in gastric cancer cells.

Pancreatic cancer and its stroma: A conspiracy theory

Pancreatic cancer is characterised by a prominent desmoplastic/stromal reaction that has received little attention until recent times. Given that treatments focusing on pancreatic cancer cells alone have failed to significantly improve patient outcome over many decades, research efforts have now moved to understanding the pathophysiology of the stromal reaction and its role in cancer progression. In this regard, our Group was the first to identify the cells(pancreatic stellate cells, PSCs) that produced the collagenous stroma of pancreatic cancer and to demonstrate that these cells interacted closely with cancer cells to facilitate local tumour growth and distant metastasis. Evidence is accumulating to indicate that stromal PSCs may also mediate angiogenesis, immune evasion and the well known resistance of pancreatic cancer to chemotherapy and radiotherapy. This review will summarise current knowledge regarding the critical role of pancreatic stellate cells and the stroma in pancreatic cancer biologyand the therapeutic approaches being developed to target the stroma in a bid to improve the outcome of this devastating disease.

Anemia and iron deficiency in gastrointestinal and liver conditions

Iron deficiency anemia(IDA) is associated with a number of pathological gastrointestinal conditions other than inflammatory bowel disease, and also with liver disorders. Different factors such as chronic bleeding, malabsorption and inflammation may contribute to IDA. Although patients with symptoms of anemia are frequently referred to gastroenterologists, the approach to diagnosis and selection of treatment as well as follow-up measures is not standardized and suboptimal. Iron deficiency, even without anemia, can substantially impact physical and cognitive function and reduce quality of life. Therefore, regular iron status assessment and awareness of the clinical consequences of impaired iron status are critical. While the range of options for treatment of IDA is increasing due to the availability of effective and well-tolerated parenteral iron preparations, a comprehensive overview of IDA and its therapy in patients with gastrointestinal conditions is currently lacking. Furthermore, definitions and assessment of iron status lack harmonization and there is a paucity of expert guidelines on this topic. This review summarizes current thinking concerning IDA as a common co-morbidity in specific gastrointestinal and liver disorders, and thus encourages a more unified treatment approach to anemia and iron deficiency, while offering gastroenterologists guidance on treatment options for IDA in everyday clinical practice.

Cirrhotic portal hypertension: From pathophysiology to novel therapeutics

Portal hypertension and bleeding from gastroesophageal varices is the major cause of morbidity and mortality in patients with cirrhosis. Portal hypertension is initiated by increased intrahepatic vascular resistance and a hyperdynamic circulatory state. The latter is characterized by a high cardiac output, increased total blood volume and splanchnic vasodilatation, resulting in increased mesenteric blood flow. Pharmacological manipulation of cirrhotic portal hypertension targets both the splanchnic and hepatic vascular beds. Drugs such as angiotensin converting enzyme inhibitors and angiotensin Ⅱ type receptor 1 blockers, which target the components of the classical renin angiotensin system(RAS), are expected to reduce intrahepatic vascular tone by reducing extracellular matrix deposition and vasoactivity of contractile cells and thereby improve portal hypertension. However, these drugs have been shown to produce significant offtarget effects such as systemic hypotension and renal failure. Therefore, the current pharmacological mainstay in clinical practice to prevent variceal bleeding and improving patient survival by reducing portal pressure is non-selective-blockers(NSBBs). These NSBBs work by reducing cardiac output and splanchnic vasodilatation but most patients do not achieve an optimal therapeutic response and a significant proportion of patients are unable to tolerate these drugs.Although statins, used alone or in combination with NSBBs, have been shown to improve portal pressure and overall mortality in cirrhotic patients, further randomized clinical trials are warranted involving larger patient populations with clear clinical end points. On the other hand, recent findings from studies that have investigated the potential use of the blockers of the components of the alternate RAS provided compelling evidence that could lead to the development of drugs targeting the splanchnic vascular bed to inhibit splanchnic vasodilatation in portal hypertension. This review outlines the mechanisms related to the pathogenesis of portal hypertension and attempts to provide an update on currently available therapeutic approaches in the management of portal hypertension with special emphasis on how the alternate RAS could be manipulated in our search for development of safe, specific and effective novel therapies to treat portal hypertension in cirrhosis.

Hepatocellular carcinoma incidence post direct-acting antivirals in hepatitis C-related advanced fibrosis/cirrhosis patients in Australia

Background:Despite efficacy in HCV eradication,direct-acting antiviral(DAA)therapy has raised controversies around their impact on hepatocellular carcinoma(HCC)incidence.Herein we reported the first Australian data on HCC incidence in DAA-treated HCV patients with advanced fibrosis/cirrhosis.Methods:We conducted a retrospective single center study of DAA-treated HCV patients with advanced fibrosis/cirrhosis from April 2015 to December 2017.Patients with prior HCC were included if they had complete response to HCC treatment.Results:Among 138 patients who completed DAA therapy,133(96.4%)achieved sustained virologic response(median follow-up 23.8 months).Ten had prior HCC and 5/10(50.0%)developed recurrence,while de novo HCC developed in 7/128(5.5%).Median time from DAA to HCC diagnosis was 34 weeks in recurrent HCC vs.de novo 52 weeks(P=0.159).In patients with prior HCC,those with recurrence(vs.without)had shorter median time between last HCC treatment and DAA(12 vs.164 weeks,P<0.001).On bivariate analysis,failed sustained virologic response at 12 weeks(SVR12)(P=0.011),platelets(P=0.005),model for end-stage liver disease(MELD)score(P=0.029),alpha fetoprotein(AFP)(P=0.013),and prior HCC(P<0.001)were associated with HCC post-DAA.On multivariate analysis,significant factors were prior HCC(OR=4.80;95%CI:1.47–48.50;P=0.010),failed SVR12(OR=2.83;95%CI:1.71–16.30;P=0.016)and platelets(OR=0.97;95%CI:0.95–0.99;P=0.009).Conclusions:Our study demonstrates a high incidence of recurrent HCC in HCV patients with advanced fibrosis/cirrhosis treated with DAA.Factors associated with HCC development post-DAA were more advanced liver disease,failed SVR12 and prior HCC,with higher rates of recurrence in those who started DAA earlier.

Polymethylmethacrylate bone cements and additives: A review of the literature

Polymethylmethacrylate(PMMA) bone cement technology has progressed from industrial Plexiglass administration in the 1950 s to the recent advent of nanoparticle additives. Additives have been trialed to address problems with modern bone cements such as the loosening of prosthesis, high post-operative infection rates, and inflammatory reduction in interface integrity. This review aims to assess current additives used in PMMA bone cements and offer an insight regarding future directions for this biomaterial. Low index(< 15%) vitamin E and low index(< 5 g) antibiotic impregnated additives significantly address infection and inflammatory problems, with only modest reductions in mechanical strength. Chitosan(15% w/w PMMA) and silver(1% w/w PMMA) nanoparticles have strong antibacterial activity with no significant reduction in mechanical strength. Future work on PMMA bone cements should focus on trialing combinations of these additives as this may enhance favourable properties.

Indications and surgical options for small bowel, large bowel and perianal Crohn's disease

Despite advancements in medical therapy of Crohn's disease(CD), majority of patients with CD will eventually require surgical intervention, with at least a third of patients requiring multiple surgeries. It is important to understand the role and timing of surgery, with the goals of therapy to reduce the need for surgery without increasing the odds of emergency surgery and its associated morbidity, as well as to limit surgical recurrence and avoid intestinal failure. The profile of CD patients requiring surgical intervention has changed over the decades with improvements in medical therapy with immunomodulators and biological agents. The most common indication for surgery is obstruction from stricturing disease, followed by abscesses and fistulae. The risk of gastrointestinal bleeding in CD is high but the likelihood of needing surgery for bleeding is low. Most major gastrointestinal bleeding episodes resolve spontaneously, albeit the risk of re-bleeding is high. The risk of colorectal cancer associated with CD is low. While current surgical guidelines recommend a total proctocolectomy for colorectal cancer associated with CD, subtotal colectomy or segmental colectomy with endoscopic surveillance may be a reasonable option. Approximately 20%-40% of CD patients will need perianal surgery during their lifetime. This review assesses the practice parameters and guidelines in the surgical management of CD, with a focus on the indications for surgery in CD(and when not to operate), and a critical evaluation of the timing and surgical options available to improve outcomes and reduce recurrence rates.

Alcoholic pancreatitis:A tale of spirits and bacteria

Alcohol is a major cause of chronic pancreatitis.About5%of alcoholics will ever suffer from pancreatitis,suggesting that additional co-factors are required to trigger an overt disease.Experimental work has implicated lipopolysaccharide,from gut-derived bacteria,as a potential co-factor of alcoholic pancreatitis.This review discusses the effects of alcohol on the gut flora,the gut barrier,the liver-and the pancreas and proposes potential interventional strategies.A better understanding of the interaction between the gut,the liver and the pancreas may provide valuable insight into the pathophysiology of alcoholic pancreatitis.

Cytotoxic CD8+ T cells and tissue resident memory cells in colorectal cancer based on microsatellite instability and BRAF status

BACKGROUND Recent studies in non-colorectal malignancy have associated T resident memory(T_(RM)) cells with improved patient survival. It is unknown if T_(RM) plays a role in colorectal cancer(CRC).AIM To examine the potential role of T_(RM) cells in providing immunogenicity in CRC stratified by microsatellite instability(MSI) and BRAF status.METHODS Patients with known MSI and BRAF mutation status were eligible for inclusion in this study. CRC tumour sections stained with haematoxylin and eosin were microscopically reviewed and the images scanned prior to assessment for location of invading edge and core of tumour. Sequential sections were prepared for quantitative multiplex immunohistochemistry(IHC) staining. Opal Multiplex IHC staining was performed with appropriate positive and negative controls and imaged using a standard fluorescent microscope fitted with a spectral scanning camera(Mantra) in conjunction with Mantra snap software. Images were unmixed and annotated in in Form 2.2.0. Statistical analysis was performed using Graphpad Prism Version 7 and Stata Version 15.RESULTS Seventy-two patients with known MSI and BRAF status were included in the study. All patients were assessed for MSI by IHC and high resolution capillary electrophoresis testing and 44 of these patients successfully underwent quantitative multiplex IHC staining. Overall, there was a statistically significant increase in CD8+ T_(RM) cells in the MSI(BRAF mutant and wild type) group over the microsatellite stable(MSS) group. There was a statistically significant difference in CD8+ T_(RM) between high level MSI(MSI-H):BRAF mutant [22.57, 95% confidence interval(CI): 14.31-30.84] vs MSS [8.031(95%CI: 4.698-11.36)], P = 0.0076 and MSI-H:BRAF wild type [16.18(95%CI: 10.44-21.93)] vs MSS [8.031(95%CI: 4.698-11.36)], P = 0.0279. There was no statistically significant difference in CD8 T cells(both CD8+CD103-and CD8+CD103+T_(RM)) between MSI-H: BRAF mutant and wild type CRC.CONCLUSION This study has shown that CD8+ T_(RM) are found in greater abundance in MSI-H CRC, both BRAF mutant and MSI-H:BRAF wild type, when compared with their MSS counterpart. CD8+ T_(RM) may play a role in the immunogenicity in MSI-H CRC(BRAF mutant and BRAF wild type). Further studies should focus on the potential immunogenic qualities of T_(RM) cells and investigate potential immunotherapeutic approaches to improve treatment and survival associated with CRC.

Serum 25-hydroxyvitamin D deficiency and hepatic encephalopathy in chronic liver disease

To investigate the relationship between 25-hydroxyvitamin D (25-OHD) deficiency and hepatic encephalopathy (HE) in patients with chronic liver disease (CLD). METHODSA retrospective analysis of the results of 392 adult patients with chronic liver disease who were assessed for liver transplantation between 2006 and 2010 was undertaken. HE, severity of CLD, nutritional status and 25-OHD were analysed in patients assessed for liver transplantation between 2006 and 2010. Patients who presented with acute, fulminant or subacute disease, with a primary diagnosis of liver cancer, were assessed for re-transplantation or who did not have a 25-OHD measurement were excluded from the analysis. RESULTSOne hundred and sixty-five patients were included in this analysis. The mean age of all patients was 53 ± 8 years. Moderate to severe 25-OHD deficiency was identified in 49 patients of whom 36 had grade 2-3 HE compared with 13 patients who were not encephalopathic (P ≤ 0.0001). Mild 25-OHD deficiency was not associated with HE. There was a significant correlation between the severity of 25-OHD deficiency and the severity of liver disease (r = 0.39, P ≤ 0.0001) and disease severity and the presence of HE (P ≤ 0.0001). Importantly, individuals with 25-OHD deficiency were more likely to have a diagnosis of overt HE (OHE) at a significantly lower model for end stage liver disease (MELD) score than individuals without OHE (P ≤ 0.0001). This significant difference was observed with MELD scores from 10 to 38. CONCLUSION25-OHD deficiency was observed in the majority of patients with CLD and for the first time was found to be significantly worse in patients with OHE.

Importance of investigating high-risk human papillomavirus in lymph node metastasis of esophageal adenocarcinoma

High-risk human papillomavirus has been suggested as a risk factor for esophageal adenocarcinoma.Tumor human papillomavirus status has been reported to confer a favorable prognosis in esophageal adenocarcinoma.The size of the primary tumor and degree of lymphatic spread determines the prognosis of esophageal carcinomas.Lymph node status has been found to be a predictor of recurrent disease as well as 5-year survival in esophageal malignancies.In human papillomavirus driven cancers,e.g.cervical,anogenital,head and neck cancers,associated lymph nodes with a high viral load suggest metastatic lymph node involvement.Thus,human papillomavirus could potentially be useful as a marker of micro-metastases.To date,there have been no reported studies regarding human papillomavirus involvement in lymph nodes of metastatic esophageal adenocarcinoma.This review highlights the importance of investigating human papillomavirus in lymph node metastasis of esophageal adenocarcinoma based on data derived from other human papillomavirus driven cancers.

Higher infliximab and adalimumab trough levels are associated with fistula healing in patients with fistulising perianal Crohn’s disease

BACKGROUND Tumor necrosis factor-alpha inhibitors,including infliximab and adalimumab,are effective medical treatments for perianal fistulising Crohn’s disease(CD),but not all patients achieve fistula healing.AIM To determine the correlation between perianal fistula healing and closure with infliximab and adalimumab trough levels.METHODS In this multicentre retrospective study conducted across four tertiary inflammatory bowel disease centres in Australia,we identified CD patients with perianal fistulae on maintenance infliximab or adalimumab who had a trough level within twelve weeks of clinical assessment.Data collected included demographics,serum infliximab and adalimumab trough levels(mg/L)within 12 wk before or after their most recent clinical assessment and concomitant medical or surgical therapy.The primary outcome was fistula healing,defined as cessation in fistula drainage.The secondary outcome was fistula closure,defined as healing and closure of all external fistula openings.Differences between patients who did or did not achieve fistula healing were compared using the chi-square test,t test or Mann-Whitney U test.RESULTS One hundred and fourteen patients(66 infliximab,48 adalimumab)were included.Forty-eight(72.7%)patients on maintenance infliximab achieved fistula healing and 18(27.3%)achieved fistula closure.Thirty-seven(77%)patients on maintenance adalimumab achieved fistula healing and 17(35.4%)achieved fistula closure.Patients who achieved fistula healing had significantly higher infliximab and adalimumab trough levels than patients who did not[infliximab:6.4(3.8-9.5)vs 3.0(0.3-6.2)mg/L,P=0.003;adalimumab:9.2(6.5-12.0)vs 5.4(2.5-8.3)mg/L,P=0.004].For patients on infliximab,fistula healing was associated with lower rates of detectable anti-infliximab antibodies and younger age.For patients on adalimumab,fistula healing was associated with higher rates of combination therapy with an immunomodulator.Serum trough levels for patients with and without fistula closure were not significantly different for infliximab[6.9(4.3-10.2)vs 5.5(2.5-8.3)mg/L,P=0.105]or adalimumab[10.0(6.6-12.0)vs 7.8(4.2-10.0)mg/L,P=0.083].CONCLUSION Higher maintenance infliximab and adalimumab trough levels are associated with perianal fistula healing in CD.

Personalising pancreas cancer treatment:When tissue is the issue

The treatment of advanced pancreatic cancer has not moved much beyond single agent gemcitabine until recently when protocols such as FOLFIRINOX(fluorouracil,leucovorin,irinotecan and oxaliplatin)and nab-paclitaxelgemcitabine have demonstrated some improved outcomes.Advances in technology especially in massively parallel genome sequencing has progressed our understanding of the biology of pancreatic cancer especially the candidate signalling pathways that are involved in tumourogenesis and disease course.This has allowed identification of potentially actionable mutations that may be targeted by new biological agents.The heterogeneity of pancreatic cancer makes tumour tissue collection important with the aim of being able to personalise therapies for the individual as opposed to a one size fits all approach to treatment of the condition.This paper reviews the developments in this area of translational research and the ongoing clinical studies that will attempt to move this into the everyday oncology practice.

The Effect of a Single Passive Intervention to Improve Patient Satisfaction in an Orthopaedic Service

Patient satisfaction is a goal of effective health care delivery and its assessment is important to the improvement of health care, especially in the context of a more consumerist culture. Patient education and information has been shown to improve patient satisfaction with care. Lack of sufficient patient information (specifically related to post-discharge care) was identified in our patient population by means of a broad ranging post-discharge satisfaction survey. Targeted intervention, in the form of a discharge information sheet for patients, was trialled with the aim of improving specific satisfaction parameters related to post-discharge care, and overall patient satisfaction. Patient satisfaction was measured for six months before and after the intervention, and data from both groups compared. There was no statistically significant difference in patient satisfaction directly related to the provision of the additional discharge information or overall patient satisfaction between the two groups. Providing patients with specific information alone at discharge is not sufficient to improve overall or discharge-specific patient satisfaction. More active interventions may be required.

Exploration of Mutation and DNA Methylation of Polo-Like Kinase 1 (PLK1) in Colorectal Cancer

Polo-like kinase 1 (PLK1) is a serine/threonine kinase that plays critical roles in cell cycling and DNA damage response. Overexpression of PLK1 is associated with the poorer prognosis of cancers, including colorectal cancer (CRC). Although the downstream pathways of the overexpression that lead to oncogenesis have been extensively studied, little is known about the factors that cause the overexpression of PLK1 in CRC. DNA methylation was reported to be affecting the expression of PLK1 in some cancers. The study aims to investigate the contribution of genetic mutation and DNA methylation of the PLK1 gene to the overexpression of PLK1 in CRC. The study involves data mining from Catalogue of Somatic Mutations in Cancer (COSMIC) and UniProtKB, Sanger sequencing on DNA from the cell lines HCT116, SW48, Colo320DM and T84 to analyse the possible mutation of PLK1. Other than that methylation status of the PLK1 promoter in CRC are also analysed by using mass spectrometry (MS) and pyrosequencing. Data from the COSMIC show the low incidences of PLK1 mutation for CRC (3.02%) with 46 mutations identified. One of the mutation p.R337Q (c.1010G > A) is located in the D-box which is an important motif for protein ubiquitination and eventually proteasomal degradation. Hence this mutation may potentially result in stabilisation of the PLK1 protein. Mutations are detected at the upstream silencer region, the promoter region and Exon1 in HCT116 but are not located at the protein binding or functioning site. Similarly, the same mutation at promoter region is detected in SW48. Differential trends of changes in methylation status of PLK1 in the IR treated CRC cell lines detected by MS reveal the possible association between the methylation and the radiosensitivity. Furthermore, pyrosequencing shows that PLK1 methylation status in tumour tissues with high expression of PLK1 is not significantly different from those with no PLK1 expression. In conclusion, mutation of PLK1 gene is infrequent in CRC and the expression of PLK1 is unlikely to be dependent on DNA methylation in the promoter region of PLK1 in the CRC.