A systematic review and meta-analysis revealed that 25.7% of gastric cancer patients experience severe postoperative skeletal muscle loss, which significantly correlates with poorer overall survival (OS), recurrence-free survival (RFS), disease-free survival (DFS), and disease-specific survival (DSS). Results indicate a hazard ratio of 2.27 for OS and 4.12 for DSS, highlighting the urgency for nutritional and […]
Category: Upper Gastrointestinal Tract
Plasma metabolites show causal links to gastric cancer development
A bidirectional Mendelian randomization study investigated 1400 plasma metabolites and their relationship with gastric cancer (GC). The study identified metabolites such as 3R-dihydroxybutyrate and methyl indole-3-acetate positively associated with GC, while asparagine and glucose to maltose ratio were negatively linked. Additionally, 18 significant metabolic pathways were highlighted, including arginine and proline metabolism. These findings provide […]
Endoscopic Submucosal Tunneling Techniques outperform Flexible Endoscopic Septotomy
A systematic review and meta-analysis involving 759 patients revealed that endoscopic submucosal tunneling techniques (ESTT) provide a higher probability of clinical success for treating Zenker’s diverticulum compared to flexible endoscopic septotomy (FES). While both methods showed similar rates of technical success, operative time, and hospital stay, ESTT had a tendency toward lower recurrence rates. These […]
Laparoscopic fundoplication normalizes esophageal motility in GERD patients
Laparoscopic fundoplication (LF) significantly enhances esophageal motility in gastroesophageal reflux disease (GERD) patients, despite varying motility statuses. An analysis of 124 patients revealed favorable outcomes in 103 cases post-surgery, linking successful LF to improved motility. This study, which included laparoscopic Nissen and Toupet fundoplications, demonstrated nil 90-day mortality, underscoring LF’s effectiveness as a treatment option […]
Endoscopic stenting shows comparable outcomes with lower costs for gastric outlet obstruction
Endoscopic stenting (ES) and gastrojejunostomy (GJ) result in similar short-term morbidity and mortality rates for malignant gastric outlet obstruction. However, patients who underwent GJ faced higher costs exceeding $15,800 and longer hospital stays by over 6.9 days. Analysis revealed that while GJ increased the likelihood of blood transfusions and postoperative total parenteral nutrition usage, the […]
New algorithm effectively identifies gastric cancer cases in Japan
A validated claims-based algorithm successfully identifies incident gastric cancer cases and determines progression phases in Japan. It demonstrated a positive predictive value of up to 95.9% and sensitivity rates reaching 98.9% in validation cohorts. This advancement enables better analysis of real-world gastric cancer scenarios, facilitating improved decision-making in treatment options. By addressing issues associated with […]
Anastomotic doughnut width predicts leakage risk in surgeries
A study examining anastomotic doughnuts from 102 patients found that minimal width of the oral and aboral doughnuts notably correlated with anastomotic leakage (AL) rates, which were 15.7%. The oral and aboral minimal widths were significantly lower in AL cases compared to non-Leakage cases. In fact, the minimal width of the esophageal doughnut emerged as […]
Prehabilitation is deemed essential but access varies significantly.
A national survey revealed that 96% of oesophagogastric cancer centers support prehabilitation as standard care, yet only 75% currently offer it. The majority of respondents advocate for its initiation at diagnosis, highlighting its role in enhancing quality of life, physical fitness, and reducing surgical complications. Despite these benefits, access to clinical psychologists remains limited, with […]
Minimally invasive surgery improves outcomes for distal gastric cancer.
A large retrospective analysis revealed that minimally invasive surgery (laparoscopic and robotic) for distal gastric cancer results in significantly lower 30-day readmission rates, mortality, and enhanced overall survival compared to open gastrectomy. While robotic techniques yielded superior lymph node yields and shortened hospital stays, the benefits for proximal and gastroesophageal junction tumors were less pronounced. […]
Neoadjuvant therapy shows high efficacy in advanced gastric cancer
Neoadjuvant chemotherapy combining a PD-1 inhibitor, apatinib, S-1, and oxaliplatin demonstrates significant efficacy for locally advanced gastric cancer (LAGC). In a study involving 130 patients, clinical complete response was achieved in 4.6%, with a total response rate of 71.5%. Notably, 96.1% underwent R0 resection, while 21.6% attained pathological complete response. The treatment was deemed safe, […]