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Myopenia Predicts Poor Survival Outcomes After Radical Gastrectomy in Gastric Cancer Patients

Myopenia significantly reduces both overall and disease-free survival in gastric cancer patients post-radical gastrectomy. In a cohort of 943 patients, those with myopenia had a five-year overall survival rate of 45.5%, compared to 69.3% for those without. A new nomogram integrating myopenia risk assessments outperformed traditional staging systems, offering improved predictive accuracy for three- and five-year outcomes and allowing for better patient stratification.

Journal Article by Zheng CY, Huang XL (…) Lin W et 6 al. in Eur J Surg Oncol

Copyright © 2025. Published by Elsevier Ltd.

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Machine Learning Enhances Decision-Making in Hepatocellular Carcinoma Treatment

A machine learning model accurately predicts optimal treatment choices for hepatocellular carcinoma, comparing liver transplantation to surgical resection. The model stratifies patients into high- and low-risk groups, estimating potential survival improvements from tailored decisions. In a nationwide study of over 4,500 patients, machine learning outperformed traditional clinical decision-making approaches, suggesting enhanced outcomes. These findings underscore the model’s potential role in supplementing current treatment guidelines.

Journal Article by Kim HU, Han JW (…) You YK et 4 al. in JAMA Netw Open

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Robotic Hepatectomy Outcomes Improve with ERAS Protocol Implementation

Implementing the Enhanced Recovery After Surgery (ERAS) protocol significantly enhances perioperative outcomes in robotic hepatectomy. A study of 544 patients revealed reduced estimated blood loss—from 214.7 to 141.7 mL—and a drop in 90-day readmission rates from 22.6% to 13.4%. Notably, post-ERAS patients presented higher rates of coronary artery disease and hypertension, yet experienced better overall recovery metrics compared to their pre-ERAS counterparts.

Journal Article by Milivojev Covilo K, Pagano SJ (…) Sucandy I et 3 al. in Updates Surg

© 2025. Italian Society of Surgery (SIC).

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Key Operating Room Factors Elevate Surgical Site Infection Risks

A retrospective analysis of 479 general surgery patients revealed that 12.5% developed surgical site infections (SSIs). Independent risk factors for SSIs included elevated body mass index, diabetes mellitus, emergency surgeries, prolonged operative times, conventional operating room settings, changes in surgical personnel, and poor adherence to infection control measures like instrument sterilization and hand hygiene. Addressing these modifiable factors could inform future prevention strategies, but prospective studies are needed to confirm clinical impact.

Observational Study by Zhu S, Yang X, Zhang P and Chen C in Medicine (Baltimore)

Copyright © 2025 the Author(s). Published by Wolters Kluwer Health, Inc.

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Endosonography-guided Coloenterostomy Offers Major Survival Benefits in Palliative Care

Endosonography-guided coloenterostomy (CE) significantly enhances outcomes for patients with small-bowel ileus due to peritoneal carcinomatosis. In a cohort of 17 patients, CE achieved a 94% technical success rate, with most experiencing symptom relief and improved quality of life. Notably, overall survival spanned 86 days compared to 14 days with conventional gastrostomy. Moreover, over half had resumed systemic cancer treatment, signaling a shift in effective palliative strategies for advanced cancer management.

Journal Article by Weich A, Retzbach L (…) Meining A et 6 al. in Gastrointest Endosc

Copyright © 2025 American Society for Gastrointestinal Endoscopy. Published by Elsevier Inc. All rights reserved.

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Lower Radiation Dose Linked to Better Survival in Esophageal Cancer

Patients with resected esophageal cancer receiving 41.4 Gy of neoadjuvant radiation saw improved overall survival compared to those treated with higher doses of 50-50.4 Gy. At a median follow-up of 61.6 months, median survival was 59.9 months for the lower dose vs. 45.5 months for the higher dose (p < 0.001). This advantage was particularly notable among patients with complete pathologic response, supporting a reevaluation of radiation dosing protocols.

Journal Article by Sutton TL, Patel RK (…) Wood SG et 6 al. in Ann Surg Oncol

© 2025. Society of Surgical Oncology.

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High Geriatric Patient Volume Linked to Increased Mortality Risks for All Trauma Patients

A rising proportion of geriatric patients in trauma centers significantly influences outcomes. While mortality for geriatric patients improves with increased numbers, a threshold of 65% total volume results in a plateau. Alarmingly, when the geriatric share exceeds 61%, mortality rates among nongeriatric adults start to climb. This study underscores the need for trauma systems to adapt care strategies, as an influx of medically complex geriatric patients may overwhelm resources, adversely affecting all trauma outcomes.

Journal Article by Boland S, Lu L (…) Brown JB et 2 al. in BMC Surg

Copyright © 2025 The Author(s). Published by Elsevier Inc. All rights reserved.

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Hepatectomy Enhances Survival in Colorectal Cancer with Multiple Liver Metastases

Patients with unresectable colorectal cancer and 10+ liver metastases experience notable survival benefits from hepatic resection combined with radiofrequency ablation (RFA) and systemic therapy. Three-year survival rates soar to 39.2% for surgery approaches, compared to just 18.6% and 8.2% for RFA plus systemic therapy and systemic therapy alone, respectively. This retrospective cohort study analyzes 373 patients, emphasizing the importance of assessing surgical options in this high-risk group.

Journal Article by Lu P, Li Y (…) Peng J et 2 al. in J Gastrointest Oncol

Copyright © 2025 AME Publishing Company. All rights reserved.

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Percutaneous Catheter Drainage Outperforms Aspiration for Liver Abscesses

Percutaneous catheter drainage (PCD) significantly outperformed percutaneous aspiration (PA) in treating liver abscesses. PCD demonstrated higher treatment success rates and led to quicker clinical improvements, reducing recovery time by nearly two days. Additionally, PCD lowered the six-month recurrence rate by 56%. Both methods displayed comparable complication rates. These findings underscore PCD’s effectiveness and safety, calling for further randomized controlled trials to refine treatment guidelines.

Comparative Study by Li XF and Pan DM in Medicine (Baltimore)

Copyright © 2025 the Author(s). Published by Wolters Kluwer Health, Inc.

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Methylene Blue Reduces Postoperative Pain After Hemorrhoid Surgery

Methylene blue effectively alleviates postoperative pain and decreases analgesic use in hemorrhoid surgery patients. A meta-analysis of six studies with 598 participants revealed significant pain reduction within 12 hours post-surgery, along with lower analgesic requirements. Importantly, methylene blue demonstrated a safety profile without increasing complications. These results underscore the potential of methylene blue as a key adjunct in managing postoperative pain, prompting a call for detailed usage guidelines and specialized formulations for colorectal treatments.

Journal Article by Zhu YJ, Shi YT, Shi SY and Xu L in Ann Med

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