Clinical usefulness of the SARC-F questionnaire to assess sarcopenia in patients with Parkinson's disease.

OBJECTIVE: To investigate the accuracy of the SARC-F questionnaire to identify sarcopenia in patients with Parkinson's disease (PD). METHODS: We prospectively recruited patients with PD who had a score of 3 or lower on the Hoehn and Yahr (H&Y) scale. Appendicular skeletal muscle mass (ASM), hand grip strength, and the SARC-F were used to assess sarcopenia. The cutoffs for the ASM index and hand grip strength to diagnose sarcopenia were based on the Asian Working Group for Sarcopenia 2019 consensus. A score ≥4 on the SARC-F was considered at risk for sarcopenia. RESULTS: A total of 365 patients with PD were included (mean age, 71.1 years; men, 53.2 %), and 73 (20.0 %) were diagnosed with sarcopenia. The area under the receiver operating characteristic curve of the SARC-F was 0.702 (95 % confidence interval, 0.634-0.770). Using the recommended cutoff score of ≥4, the SARC-F showed a sensitivity of 38.4 %, specificity of 85.6 %, positive predictive value (PPV) of 40.0 %, and negative predictive value (NPV) of 84.7 %. The Youden's index was the highest at a cutoff score of ≥2, in which the SARC-F showed a sensitivity of 67.1 %, specificity of 65.4 %, PPV of 32.7 %, and NPV of 88.8 %. These predictive values were similar to those obtained using a cutoff score of ≥2.5 or 3 on the H&Y scale. CONCLUSION: The application of the SARC-F to the mild-to moderate PD population is not appropriate as a first-step screening tool to diagnose sarcopenia. Given the comparable predictive values of the SARC-F and H&Y scale, this questionnaire may be considered only for ruling out sarcopenia in patients with similar disease severity.

NOX4 and its association with myeloperoxidase and osteopontin in regulating endochondral ossification.

IMPORTANCE: Endochondral ossification plays an important role in skeletal development. Recent studies have suggested a link between increased intracellular reactive oxygen species (ROS) and skeletal disorders. Moreover, previous studies have revealed that increasing the levels of myeloperoxidase (MPO) and osteopontin (OPN) while inhibiting NADPH oxidase 4 (NOX4) can enhance bone growth. This investigation provides further evidence by showing a direct link between NOX4 and MPO, OPN in bone function. OBJECTIVE: This study investigates NOX4, an enzyme producing hydrogen peroxide, in endochondral ossification and bone remodeling. NOX4's role in osteoblast formation and osteogenic signaling pathways is explored. METHODS: Using NOX4-deficient (NOX4-/-) and ovariectomized (OVX) mice, we identify NOX4's potential mediators in bone maturation. RESULTS: NOX4-/- mice displayed significant differences in bone mass and structure. Compared to the normal Control and OVX groups. Hematoxylin and eosin staining showed NOX4-/- mice had the highest trabecular bone volume, while OVX had the lowest. Proteomic analysis revealed significantly elevated MPO and OPN levels in bone marrow-derived cells in NOX4-/- mice. Immunohistochemistry confirmed increased MPO, OPN, and collagen II (COLII) near the epiphyseal plate. Collagen and chondrogenesis analysis supported enhanced bone development in NOX4-/- mice. CONCLUSIONS AND RELEVANCE: Our results emphasize NOX4's significance in bone morphology, mesenchymal stem cell proteomics, immunohistochemistry, collagen levels, and chondrogenesis. NOX4 deficiency enhances bone development and endochondral ossification, potentially through increased MPO, OPN, and COLII expression. These findings suggest therapeutic implications for skeletal disorders.

Effects of Saffron Extract (Affron®) with 100 mg/kg and 200 mg/kg on Hypothalamic-Pituitary-Adrenal Axis and Stress Resilience in Chronic Mild Stress-Induced Depression in Wistar Rats.

Stress-related symptoms are a global concern, impacting millions of individuals, yet effective and safe treatments remain scarce. Although multiple studies have highlighted the stress- alleviating properties of saffron extract, the underlying mechanisms remain unclear. This study employs the unpredictable chronic mild stress (CMS) animal model to investigate the impact of a standardized saffron extract, Affron® (AFN), on hypothalamic-pituitary-adrenal (HPA) axis regulation and neuroplasticity in Wistar rats following repeated oral administration. The research evaluates AFN's effects on various stress-related parameters, including hypothalamic gene expression, stress hormone levels, and the sucrose preference test. In animals subjected to continuous unpredictable CMS, repetitive administration of AFN at doses of 100 mg/kg and 200 mg/kg effectively normalized HPA axis dysregulation and enhanced neuroplasticity. Increased concentrations of AFN demonstrated greater efficacy. Following AFN oral administration, adrenocorticotropic and corticosterone hormone levels exhibited significant or nearly significant reductions in comparison to subjects exposed to stress only. These changes align with the alleviation of stress and the normalization of the HPA axis. These findings elucidate AFN's role in stress mitigation, affirm its health benefits, validate its potential as a treatment for stress-related symptoms, confirm its physiological effectiveness, and emphasize its therapeutic promise.

Associations of Orthostatic Hypotension and Orthostatic Intolerance with Domain-Specific Cognitive Decline in Patients with Early Parkinson Disease: An 8-Year Follow-up.

OBJECTIVE: Although orthostatic hypotension (OH) and orthostatic intolerance (OI) are prevalent in patients with Parkinson disease (PD), it remains unclear how these conditions primarily affect the trajectory of decline in specific cognitive domains. This study aimed to explore the effects of OH and OI on longitudinal domain-specific cognitive changes in patients with PD. DESIGN: An 8-year follow-up of the Parkinson Progression Markers Initiative cohort study. SETTING AND PARTICIPANTS: A total of 403 patients with early, untreated PD and 195 matched healthy controls were included. They were classified into OH, OI, and normal groups. OH was defined according to the international consensus, and OI was defined as the presence of orthostatic symptoms without meeting the criteria for OH. METHODS: The patients underwent detailed neuropsychological testing annually for up to 8 years of follow-up. Linear mixed effects models were used to investigate the associations between OH, OI, and longitudinal cognitive changes. RESULTS: The prevalence of both OH and OI in patients with PD was significantly higher than that in controls (13.4% vs 7.2%, P = .002, for OH, and 29.3% vs 14.4%, P < .001, for OI). The OH group in patients with PD showed a faster decline in Letter-Number Sequencing (LNS) (ß = -0.11, 95% CI -0.20 to -0.02, t = -2.44, P = .015) and Semantic Fluency Test (SFT) (ß = -0.44, 95% CI -0.81 to -0.08, t = -2.42, P = .016) scores than the normal group. Similarly, the OI group showed a steeper decline in LNS (ß = -0.08, 95% CI -0.14 to -0.01, t = -2.20, P = .028) and SFT (ß = -0.36, 95% CI -0.63 to -0.08, t = -2.55, P = .011) scores compared to the normal group. There were no significant longitudinal changes in the other neuropsychological test scores between the groups. CONCLUSIONS AND IMPLICATIONS: Both OH and OI may be associated with a faster decline in executive function among cognitive domains of patients with PD. These findings may highlight the potential importance of orthostatic blood pressure control in PD patients with OH and even those with orthostatic symptoms without OH.

Effects of high-intensity interval training and moderate-intensity continuous training on sarcopenia-related parameters in participants with Parkinson's disease: A 24-week randomized pilot trial substudy.

OBJECTIVE: To evaluate the potential efficacy of two different supervised exercise regimens, namely high-intensity interval training (HIIT) and moderate-intensity continuous training (MICT), on sarcopenia-related parameters in participants with Parkinson's disease (PD). METHODS: We analyzed data from a randomized controlled pilot trial (CRIS identifier: KCT0007130). An aerobic exercise intervention using a cycle ergometer (40-60 min) in combination with calisthenics (5 min) was performed in three sessions/week for 24 weeks for HIIT (60% maximum aerobic power for 30-50 s with 1-min rest intervals) and MICT (50% peak oxygen consumption) groups. Changes in sarcopenia-related parameters, including appendicular skeletal muscle mass (ASM), ASM index (ASM/height2), handgrip strength, 6-min walking distance, and 30-s chair-stand test (30CST) score, were compared among the HIIT (n = 9), MICT (n = 10), and usual care (n = 11) groups. RESULTS: The HIIT group showed greater increases in leg lean mass (p = 0.011), ASM (p = 0.035), and ASM index (p = 0.025), and greater improvements in 6-min walking distance (p = 0.024) and 30CST scores (p = 0.026) compared with the usual care group. However, among these parameters, only the 30CST score significantly improved in the MICT group compared to the usual care group (p = 0.002). Three of the four (75%) sarcopenic patients who underwent HIIT showed improved sarcopenia after the 24-week exercise intervention, whereas it did not improve in the sarcopenic patients included in the MICT (n = 2) and usual care (n = 2) groups. CONCLUSION: This study suggests that HIIT may be superior to MICT in improving sarcopenia in patients with PD. Further large-scale investigations are required to confirm our findings.

Fluorescence-guided Two-port Robotic Gastrectomy Versus Conventional Laparoscopic Gastrectomy: A Nonrandomized Controlled Trial.

Objective: To compare the number of retrieved lymph nodes between conventional laparoscopic gastrectomy (CLG) and robotic gastrectomy integrated with fluorescence guidance and a two-port system (integrated robotic gastrectomy, IRG). Background: The benefits of robotic surgery over laparoscopic surgery for gastric cancer have not yet been established. Using built-in features of robotic system, further benefit can be provided to the patients with effective lymphadenectomy and enhanced recovery. Methods: A nonrandomized controlled trial was performed by a single surgeon at single-center, tertiary referral hospital between January 2018 and October 2021. Overall, 140 patients scheduled to undergo minimally invasive subtotal gastrectomy for early gastric cancer were enrolled. The primary endpoint was the number of retrieved lymph nodes. Secondary endpoints were complications, hospital stay, pain score, body image, and operative cost. Results: This study analyzed 124 patients in the per-protocol group (IRG, 64; CLG, 60). The number of retrieved lymph nodes was higher in the IRG group than those in the CLG group (IRG vs CLG; 42.1 ± 17.9 vs 35.1 ± 14.6, P = 0.019). Moreover, other surgical parameters, such as hospital stay (4.1 ± 1.0 vs 5.2 ± 1.8, P < 0.001) and body image scale (better in 4 of the 10 questions), were significantly better in the IRG than in the CLG. Conclusions: Robotic surgical procedures integrated with fluorescence guidance and a reduced-port system yielded more retrieved lymph nodes. In addition, the IRG group showed better perioperative surgical outcomes, particularly regarding the length of hospital stay and postoperative body image. Trial registration: NCT03396354.

Association between prediabetes and cognitive function in Parkinson's disease.

INTRODUCTION: It remains largely unknown whether prediabetes is related to cognitive impairment in Parkinson's disease (PD). This study aimed to assess the association between prediabetes and cognitive function in PD patients. METHODS: In this cross-sectional study, 262 PD patients (age, 69.8 ± 10.3 years; Hoehn-Yahr stage, 2.3 ± 0.8) were classified into diabetes (glycated hemoglobin [HbA1c] ≥6.5% or previously diagnosed, n = 76), prediabetes (5.7%-6.4%, n = 90), or diabetes free (≤5.6%, n = 96) groups. Cognitive function was measured using the Montreal Cognitive Assessment (MoCA) test. RESULTS: Both the diabetes and prediabetes groups had significantly lower MoCA scores (17.0 ± 6.6 and 18.0 ± 6.1, respectively) than the diabetes free group (20.0 ± 5.7), even after adjusting for potential confounders (p = .002 and p = .008, respectively). In the combined group of prediabetes and diabetes free patients, higher HbA1c levels significantly correlated with lower MoCA scores (p = .031). There was a significant interaction of diabetes status with age, but not with the duration of PD, on cognitive function. CONCLUSION: In addition to diabetes, prediabetes may negatively affect cognitive function in PD patients. Further prospective longitudinal studies are necessary to clarify the impact of prediabetes on the cognitive trajectory of these patients.

Association of Early Weight Change With Cognitive Decline in Patients With Parkinson Disease.

BACKGROUND AND OBJECTIVE: To examine whether early weight change is associated with subsequent deterioration in cognitive function, including overall performance and specific domains, in Parkinson disease (PD). METHODS: This observational study used data from the Parkinson Progression Markers Initiative cohort. The patients underwent annual nonmotor assessments covering neuropsychiatric, sleep-related, and autonomic symptoms for up to 8 years of follow-up. Cognitive function was measured using the Montreal Cognitive Assessment (MoCA) and detailed neuropsychological testing. Linear mixed-effects models were applied to investigate the association of early weight change with longitudinal evolution of cognitive and other nonmotor symptoms. RESULTS: A total of 358 patients with early PD were classified into weight loss (decrease of >3% body weight during the first year; n = 98), weight maintenance (within ±3%; n = 201), and weight gain (increase of >3%; n = 59) groups. The weight loss group showed a significantly faster decline in MoCA scores than the weight maintenance group (ß = -0.19, 95% CI -0.28 to -0.10). With respect to specific cognitive domains, the weight loss group showed a steeper decline in sematic fluency test scores (ß = -0.37, 95% CI -0.66 to -0.08) and MoCA phonemic fluency scores (ß = -0.18, 95% CI -0.31 to -0.05) and, to a lesser extent, Letter-Number Sequencing scores (ß = -0.07, 95% CI -0.14 to 0.01) compared with the weight maintenance group. Conversely, the weight gain group showed a slower decline in the Symbol Digit Modalities Test scores (ß = 0.34, 95% CI 0.05 to 0.63), although no association was found with longitudinal changes in MoCA scores. We did not find any significant effects of weight change on the progression of other nonmotor symptoms. DISCUSSION: Early weight loss was associated with a faster progression of decline in global cognitive function and executive function in patients with PD, whereas early weight gain was associated with a slower progression of decline in processing speed and attention. The impact of early weight change on nonmotor symptoms seemed to be specific to cognition.

Modern surgical therapy for gastric cancer-Robotics and beyond.

The surgical paradigm for gastric cancer has been changed from extended surgery to minimally invasive surgery. Laparoscopic surgery is a practical method for minimally invasive surgery for early gastric cancer, and the indication is expanding to advanced gastric cancer. In recent years, robotic gastrectomy has been highlighted as a breakthrough to overcome the drawbacks of laparoscopic gastrectomy. Here, we discuss the recent updates of modern surgical therapy for gastric cancer-robotics and beyond.

Long-Term Survival Outcomes of Elderly Patients Treated With S-1 or Capecitabine Plus Oxaliplatin for Stage II or III Gastric Cancer: A Multicenter Cohort Study.

Purpose: Tegafur/gimeracil/oteracil (S-1) and capecitabine plus oxaliplatin (CAPOX) are standard adjuvant chemotherapies (ACs) administered after gastrectomy to patients with stage II or III gastric cancer. However, the efficacy of AC in elderly patients remains unclear. The objective of this retrospective multicenter cohort study was to compare the efficacies of S-1 and CAPOX AC in patients aged ≥70 years. Materials and Methods: Nine hundred eighty-three patients who were treated with AC using S-1 (768 patients) or CAPOX (215 patients) were enrolled in this study. Each patient underwent AC after curative gastrectomy for stage II or III gastric cancer at one of 27 hospitals in the Republic of Korea between January 2012 and December 2013. Relapse-free survival (RFS) and overall survival (OS) were analyzed according to AC regimen and age group. Results: Of the 983 patients, 254 (25.8%) were elderly. This group had a similar RFS (P=0.099) but significantly poorer OS (p=0.003) compared with the non-elderly group. Subgroup analysis of the non-elderly group revealed no AC-associated differences in survival. Subgroup analysis of the elderly group revealed significantly better survival in the S-1 group than in the CAPOX group (RFS, P<0.001; OS, P<0.001). Multivariate analysis revealed that the CAPOX regimen was an independent poor prognostic factor for RFS (hazard ratio [HR], 1.891; 95% confidence interval [CI], 1.072-3.333; P=0.028) and OS (HR, 2.970; 95% CI, 1.550-5.692; P=0.001). Conclusions: This multicenter observational cohort study found significant differences in RFS and OS between S-1 and CAPOX AC among patients with gastric cancer aged ≥70 years.

Fluorescent lymphography during minimally invasive total gastrectomy for gastric cancer: an effective technique for splenic hilar lymph node dissection.

BACKGROUND: Fluorescent lymphography is an excellent technique for complete lymph node dissection during minimally invasive surgery for gastric cancer. This study aimed to evaluate the role of fluorescent lymphography in splenic hilar lymph node dissection during minimally invasive total gastrectomy. METHODS: We retrospectively analyzed 168 gastric cancer patients who underwent minimally invasive total gastrectomy with D2 + No. 10 lymph node dissection from 2013 to 2018. Fluorescent lymphography was used whenever it is possible. However, when near-infrared imaging system and endoscopic indocyanine green injection were not available, we performed surgery without fluorescent lymphography. A total of 74 patients underwent surgery with fluorescent lymphography (FL group) and 94 underwent surgery without it (non-FL group). Perioperative and long-term outcomes including the number of retrieved lymph nodes at each nodal station were compared between groups. RESULTS: The median number of retrieved lymph nodes at the splenic hilum was larger in the FL group {2.5 [Interquartile range (IQR), 1-5]} than in the non-FL group [1 (IQR, 1-3); P = 0.012]. The negative predictive value of fluorescent lymphography for lymph node metastasis at the splenic hilum was 97.1%, although the sensitivity was 66.7%. The overall survival (FL: 96.9% vs. non-FL: 88.9%; P = 0.334) and relapse-free survival (FL: 90.5% vs. non-FL: 65.5%; P = 0.054) were higher in the FL group, although there were no statistical differences. However, among the patients without lymph node metastasis, the relapse-free survival was significantly higher in the FL group (100%) than in the non-FL group (67.1%; P = 0.017). CONCLUSIONS: Fluorescent lymphography is an effective tool for complete lymph node dissection at the splenic hilum. Moreover, it may help select patients who do not need splenic hilar lymph node dissection during a total gastrectomy.

Trends in clinical outcomes and long-term survival after robotic gastrectomy for gastric cancer: a single high-volume center experience of consecutive 2000 patients.

BACKGROUND: Minimally invasive surgery is now a standard treatment for gastric cancer. Many retrospective studies have reported that robotic gastrectomy is safe and feasible, with similar short- and long-term outcomes as laparoscopic gastrectomy. However, no studies have reported the details of surgical and survival outcomes for robotic gastrectomy. This study aimed to evaluate the surgical trends and techniques of robotic gastrectomy and analyze the surgical outcomes of 2000 consecutive patients with gastric cancer who underwent robotic gastrectomy over 14 years. METHODS: Between July 2005 and January 2019, 2000 consecutive robotic gastrectomies were performed. We evaluated short- and long-term outcomes as well as surgical trends after robotic gastrectomy. RESULTS: There were 1,560 subtotal gastrectomies (78%), 324 total gastrectomies (16.2%), 83 proximal gastrectomies (4.2%), and 33 completion total gastrectomies (1.7%). The rates of major complications and mortality were 3.1% and 0.3%, respectively. In a subgroup analysis, there were no significant differences in the rate of complications over time (P = 0.696). Five-year overall survival rates were 97.6% for stage I, 91.9% for stage II, and 69.2% for stage III, with a total recurrence rate of 5.3%. Since its adoption in 2005, the proportion of robotic gastrectomies, as well as technically demanding procedures have increased over time. CONCLUSIONS: Our 14 years' experience of 2000 robotic gastrectomies has shown the proportion, as well as the number of robotic gastrectomies, have tended to increase and trends toward to technically demanding procedures. Outcomes of robotic gastrectomy appear safe and feasible with acceptable short- and long-term outcomes.

Intracorporeal Esophagojejunostomy during Reduced-port Totally Robotic Gastrectomy for Proximal Gastric Cancer: a Novel Application of the Single-Site® Plus 2-port System.

PURPOSE: Intracorporeal esophagojejunostomy during reduced-port gastrectomy for proximal gastric cancer is a technically challenging technique. No study has yet reported a robotic technique for anastomosis. Therefore, to address this gap, we describe our reduced-port technique and the short-term outcomes of intracorporeal esophagojejunostomy. MATERIALS AND METHODS: We conducted a retrospective review of patients who underwent a totally robotic reduced-port total or proximal gastrectomy between August 2016 and March 2020. We used an infra-umbilical Single-Site® port with two additional ports on both sides of the abdomen. To transect the esophagus, a 45-mm endolinear stapler was inserted via the right abdominal port. The common channel of the esophagojejunostomy was created between the apertures in the esophagus and proximal jejunum using a 45-mm linear stapler. The entry hole was closed with a 45-mm linear stapler or robot-sewn continuous suture. All anastomoses were performed without the aid of an assistant or placement of stay sutures. RESULTS: Among the 40 patients, there were no conversions to open, laparoscopic, or conventional 5-port robotic surgery. The median operation time and blood loss were 254 min and 50 mL, respectively. The median number of retrieved lymph nodes was 40.5. The median time to first flatus, soft diet intake, and length of hospital stay were 3, 5, and 7 days, respectively. Three (7.5%) major complications, including two anastomosis-related complications and a case of small bowel obstruction, were treated with an endoscopic procedure and re-operation, respectively. No mortality occurred during the study period. CONCLUSIONS: Intracorporeal esophagojejunostomy during reduced-port gastrectomy can be safely performed and is feasible with acceptable surgical outcomes.

Lymphovascular Invasion: Traditional but Vital and Sensible Prognostic Factor in Early Gastric Cancer.

BACKGROUND: Although patients with early gastric cancer have good prognosis, recurrence after treatment may occur. Lymphovascular invasion (LVI) in gastric cancer has long been suggested as a poor prognostic indicator. This study sought to evaluate the prognostic effect of LVI in patients with early gastric cancer. METHODS: From 2005 to 2016, 6516 patients with early gastric cancer who underwent radical gastrectomy were analyzed. The patients were categorized according to LVI and lymph node (LN) status. RESULTS: LVI was present in 853 patients (13.1%). Patients with LVI or LN metastasis had more aggressive tumor characteristics than patients without both LVI and LN metastasis. The overall and relapse-free survival in patients with LVI were significantly worse than in patients without LVI. When we compared the survival rate of patients stratified by LVI and LN status, there was a significant overall and relapse-free survival difference between patients without both LVI and LN metastasis compared with those with LVI but without LN metastasis (p < 0.001). The overall and relapse-free survival of patients with LVI but without LN metastasis were similar to those without LVI but with LN metastasis (p = 0.818). Patients with LVI or LN metastasis showed a high frequency of recurrence (p < 0.001). Multivariate analysis showed that LVI and LN status were independent risk factors for relapse-free survival of early gastric cancer patients. CONCLUSIONS: Early gastric cancer with LVI is associated with poor prognosis and frequent recurrence. When predicting the prognosis of patients with early gastric cancer, LVI should be considered.

Adverse Prognostic Impact of Postoperative Complications After Gastrectomy for Patients With Stage II/III Gastric Cancer: Analysis of Prospectively Collected Real-World Data.

BACKGROUND: The impact of postoperative complications on the prognosis of gastric cancer remains controversial. This study aimed to evaluate the relationship between postoperative complications and long-term survival in patients undergoing gastrectomy for stage II/III gastric cancer. METHODS: Some 939 patients underwent curative gastrectomy for stage II/III gastric cancer were identified from real-world data prospectively collected between 2013 and 2015. We divided patients according to the presence of serious complications, specifically, Clavien-Dindo grade III or higher complications or those causing a hospital stay of 15 days or longer. RESULTS: Serious complications occurred in 125 (13.3%) patients. Patients without serious complications (64.3%) completed adjuvant chemotherapy significantly more than patients with serious complications (37.6%; p<0.001). The 5-year overall survival(OS) rate was 58.1% and recurrence-free survival(RFS) rate was 58.1% in patients with serious complications, which were significantly worse than those of patients without serious complications (73.4% and 74.7%, respectively; p<0.001 for both). In stage II, once patients completed adjuvant chemotherapy adequately, the OS and RFS of patients with serious complications did not differ from those without serious complications. However, in stage III, the patients with serious complications showed a worse OS even after completion of adequate adjuvant chemotherapy. CONCLUSION: Serious complications after gastrectomy had a negative impact on the prognosis of stage II/III gastric cancer patients. Serious complications worsen the survival in association with inadequate adjuvant chemotherapy. Efforts to reduce serious complications, as well as support adequate chemotherapy through proper management of serious complications, would improve the prognosis of stage II/III gastric cancer patients.

Adverse Effects of Ligation of an Aberrant Left Hepatic Artery Arising from the Left Gastric Artery during Radical Gastrectomy for Gastric Cancer: a Propensity Score Matching Analysis.

PURPOSE: No consensus exists on whether to preserve or ligate an aberrant left hepatic artery (ALHA), which is the most commonly encountered hepatic arterial variation during gastric surgery. Therefore, we aimed to evaluate the clinical effects of ALHA ligation by analyzing the perioperative outcomes. MATERIALS AND METHODS: We retrospectively reviewed the data of 5,310 patients who underwent subtotal/total gastrectomy for gastric cancer. Patients in whom the ALHA was ligated (n=486) were categorized into 2 groups according to peak aspartate aminotransferase (AST) or alanine aminotransferase (ALT) levels: moderate-to-severe (MS) elevation (≥5 times the upper limit of normal [ULN]; MS group, n=42) and no-to-mild (NM) elevation (<5 times the ULN; NM group, n=444). The groups were matched 1:3 using propensity score-matching analysis to minimize confounding factors that can affect the perioperative outcomes. RESULTS: The mean operation time (P=0.646) and blood loss amount (P=0.937) were similar between the 2 groups. The length of hospital stay was longer in the MS group (13.0 vs. 7.8 days, P=0.022). No postoperative mortality occurred. The incidence of grade ≥ IIIa postoperative complications (19.0% vs. 5.1%, P=0.001), especially pulmonary complications (11.9% vs. 2.5%, P=0.003), was significantly higher in the MS group. This group also showed a higher Comprehensive Complication Index (29.0 vs. 13.9, P<0.001). CONCLUSIONS: Among patients with a ligated ALHA, those with peak AST/ALT ≥5 times the ULN showed worse perioperative outcomes in terms of hospital stay and severity of complications. More precise perioperative decision-making tools are needed to better determine whether to preserve or ligate an ALHA.

Surgical Merits of Open, Laparoscopic, and Robotic Gastrectomy Techniques with D2 Lymphadenectomy in Obese Patients with Gastric Cancer.

BACKGROUND: Robotic surgery has been widely adopted for complex procedures to overcome technical limitations of open or laparoscopic methods. However, evidence of any subsequent benefit is lacking. This study was undertaken to compare open, laparoscopic, and robotic gastrectomy in technically demanding procedure-D2 dissection in obese patients with gastric cancer. METHODS: Data collected between 2010 and 2018 on D2 gastrectomy in obese patients with gastric cancer were used to conduct retrospective analysis, comparing short- and long-term outcomes of open, laparoscopic, and robotic techniques. RESULTS: In a total of 185 patients, there were 69 open, 62 laparoscopic, and 54 robotic gastrectomy procedures. Median ages for respective surgical groups were 66 (interquartile range [IQR]: 61-64 years), 63 (IQR: 59-63), and 59 years (IQR: 56-60 years) (p = 0.009). Early-stage gastric cancer ranked proportionately higher in the laparoscopic group (p = 0.005), but operative times were similar among groups. Estimated blood loss (p < 0.001) and drainage volumes (p = 0.001) were higher in the open group, relative to others. Although a robotic approach performed best in overall compliance and in mean number of retrieved lymph node, observed rates of early or late complications did not differ by technique. The open group experienced significantly poorer overall (p = 0.039) and relapse-free (p < 0.001) survival compared with the laparoscopic or robotic group. Robotic surgery emerged from multivariable Cox regression as a protective factor for relapse-free survival (HR = 0.314, 95% CI 0.116-0.851). CONCLUSIONS: In obese patients with gastric cancer, robotic gastrectomy with D2 lymphadenectomy proved comparable to open or laparoscopic technique short-term, yielding better long-term outcomes.