Impact of primary endoscopic resection on oncological outcomes after esophagectomy for cancer: a retrospective propensity score-based cohort study.

BACKGROUND: Esophageal cancer posed significant global health challenges, particularly due to poor survival rates, especially in advanced stages. Primary endoscopic resection had emerged as an alternative treatment for early esophageal cancer, aiming to preserve organ function and reduce surgical morbidity. METHODS: This retrospective multicenter cohort study included 334 patients with early esophageal cancer (T1a-b, N0) from 30 French-speaking European centers between 2000 and 2010. Patients underwent either primary endoscopic resection followed by esophagectomy (E group, n = 36) or esophagectomy alone (S group, n = 298). Cox proportional hazards models adjusted for TNM stage and propensity score weighting were used to assess the impact of primary endoscopic resection on recurrence-free survival (RFS), overall survival (OS), and postoperative complications. RESULTS: Primary endoscopic resection did not significantly influence RFS (adjusted HR 0.92, 95% CI 0.31 to 2.68, p = 0.88) or OS (adjusted HR 1.06, 95% CI 0.35 to 3.13, p = 0.92) compared to esophagectomy alone. Initial higher thromboembolic complications in the endoscopic resection group were not significant after adjustment (adjusted OR 4.73, 95% CI 0.34 to 64.27, p = 0.24). CONCLUSIONS: Primary endoscopic resection followed by esophagectomy for early esophageal cancer did not alter oncological outcomes or overall survival in this retrospective cohort. These findings supported the role of primary endoscopic resection as a safe initial treatment strategy, warranting validation in larger prospective studies. REGISTRATION: Our study was registered retrospectively on the Clinicaltrials.com website under the identifier NCT01927016. We acknowledge the importance of prospective registration and regret that this was not done before the commencement of the study.

One Anastomosis Gastric Bypass with a Biliopancreatic Limb of 150 cm: Weight Loss, Nutritional Outcomes, Endoscopic Results, and Quality of Life at 8-Year Follow-Up.

PURPOSE: One anastomosis gastric bypass (OAGB) is now recognized as a mainstream bariatric procedure, nonetheless concerns about the risk of nutritional deficiencies and biliary reflux persist, and the ideal length of the biliopancreatic limb (BPL) is debated. MATERIALS AND METHODS: Data of patients who underwent OAGB between May 2010 and December 2010 were collected prospectively and analyzed retrospectively. At an 8-year follow-up, a complete evaluation included clinical examination, blood tests, upper gastrointestinal endoscopy, and quality of life (QoL) assessed through the BAROS score. RESULTS: Overall, 115 patients underwent OAGB with a BPL of 150 cm. Thirty-six (31%) were lost at the 8-year follow-up. Mean preoperative weight was 117 ± 20.8 kg and mean BMI 43.2 ± 5.8 kg/m2. At 8 years, weight was 76.5 ± 17.3 kg, BMI 28.3 ± 5.8, %TWL 34.8 ± 10.7, and %EWL 84.8 ± 27.1. No patients were readmitted for nutritional complications or underwent revisional surgery for malnutrition; 6 patients were converted to Roux-en-Y gastric bypass for intractable reflux. High rates of vitamin D and A deficiencies and secondary hyperparathyroidism were found at 8 years. The BAROS score was > 3 at 8 years for 93% of patients. Upper gastrointestinal endoscopy was available for 46 patients and found esophagitis in 6.5% of cases but no cases of Barrett's esophagus. CONCLUSION: OAGB performed with a 150-cm BPL is an effective bariatric procedure, associated with good long-term outcomes in relation to weight loss, QoL, resolution of comorbidities, and a very low rate of protein-calorie malnutrition. Fat-soluble vitamin deficiencies represent the main long-term concern. Endoscopic findings at 8 years are reassuring.

Long-term nutritional follow-up post bariatric surgery.

PURPOSE OF REVIEW: Bariatric surgery is an effective treatment for classes II and III obesity and its associated diseases. However, many important long-term outcomes of bariatric surgery are still poorly understood, such as neurological and psychological complications, bone health, and so on. This review summarizes the current evidence and expert opinions on nutritional care in the long-term postoperative period. RECENT FINDINGS: In the first section, we will provide an update of the main long-term complications: risk of anaemia, risk of bone fracture, neurological and psychological complications, and risk of developing Barrett's oesophagus after sleeve gastrectomy. We will also examine the current strategies used to increase weight loss or reduce weight regain. As adherence to long-term follow-up has been shown to decrease over time, the second section aims to identify all measures that improve follow-up rates, to get the maximum benefit from bariatric surgery, while minimizing long-term adverse effects and complications. SUMMARY: There is still a significant level of uncertainty regarding the best clinical practices for maintaining the health benefits provided by bariatric surgery. The role of family physician in postsurgery care needs to be clearly defined. More effort is needed to improve psychological care, behaviour management, and therapeutic patient education after bariatric surgery. A more patient-centred approach should probably be considered.

ß-cell pancreatic dysfunction plays a role in hyperglycemic peaks observed after gastric bypass surgery of obese patients.

BACKGROUND: Early and intense hyperglycemic peaks are observed after Roux-en-Y gastric bypass (RYGB). OBJECTIVES: The aim of this observational study was to compare the ß-cell pancreatic function of patients with (PEAK) and without hyperglycemic peaks (NOPEAK). SETTING: Referral bariatric surgery center. METHODS: Insulin secretion rate, clearance, and sensitivity and ß-cell and rate sensitivities were computed after a 75-g oral glucose tolerance test in 42 patients who underwent RYGB. RESULTS: PEAK patients (n = 18; 30-min glycemia>10.4 mmol/L) did not differ from NOPEAK patients (n = 24) in their presurgery or weight loss characteristics. PEAK patients had significantly higher plasma concentrations of glucose and C-peptide than did NOPEAK patients, whereas insulin and glucagon-like peptide-1 concentrations did not differ. The insulin secretion rate and whole-body insulin clearance (208%) were significantly greater, but insulin sensitivity was significantly less (48%) in PEAK patients. Insulin secretion normalized to plasma glucose was significantly lower in PEAK patients, and the disposition index was reduced (35% to 41% of the values in NOPEAK patients). CONCLUSION: We conclude that RYGB reveals a series of dysfunctions leading to hyperglycemia in a subset of patients. In PEAK patients, an insufficient adaptation of ß-cell function to glycemia, an increased insulin clearance, and a decreased insulin sensitivity cumulated to contribute to hyperglycemic peaks.

Significance of Microscopically Incomplete Resection Margin After Esophagectomy for Esophageal Cancer.

OBJECTIVE: The objectives of this study were to establish if R1 resection margin after esophagectomy was (i) a poor prognostic factor independent of patient and tumor characteristics, (ii) a marker of tumor aggressiveness and (iii) to look at the impact of adjuvant treatment in this subpopulation. METHODS: Data were collected from 30 European centers from 2000 to 2010. Patients with an R1 resection margin (n = 242) were compared with those with an R0 margin (n = 2573) in terms of short- and long-term outcomes. Propensity score matching and multivariable analyses were used to compensate for differences in baseline characteristics. RESULTS: Independent factors significantly associated with an R1 resection margin included an upper third esophageal tumor location, preoperative malnutrition, and pathological stage III. There were significant differences between the groups in postoperative histology, with an increase in pathological stage III and TRG 4-5 in the R1 group. Total average lymph node harvests were similar between the groups; however, there was an increase in the number of positive lymph nodes seen in the R1 group. Propensity matched analysis confirmed that R1 resection margin was significantly associated with reduced overall survival and increased overall, locoregional, and mixed tumor recurrence. Similar observations were seen in the subgroup that received neoadjuvant chemoradiation. In R1 patients adjuvant therapy improved survival and reduced distant recurrence however failed to affect locoregional recurrence. CONCLUSIONS: This large multicenter European study provides evidence to support the notion that R1 resection margin is a prognostic indication of aggressive tumor biology with a poor long-term prognosis.

MicroRNAs as emerging biomarkers and therapeutic targets for pancreatic cancer.

Despite tremendous efforts from scientists and clinicians worldwide, pancreatic adenocarcinoma (PDAC) remains a deadly disease due to the lack of early diagnostic tools and reliable therapeutic approaches. Consequently, a majority of patients (80%) display an advanced disease that results in a low resection rate leading to an overall median survival of less than 6 months. Accordingly, robust markers for the early diagnosis and prognosis of pancreatic cancer, or markers indicative of survival and/or metastatic disease are desperately needed to help alleviate the dismal prognosis of this cancer. In addition, the discovery of new therapeutic targets is mandatory to design effective treatments. In this review, we will highlight the translational studies demonstrating that microRNAs may soon translate into clinical applications as long-awaited screening tools and therapeutic targets for PDAC.