BACKGROUND: Current guidelines recommend hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) screening in high-risk populations. However, the ideal HCC screening interval and screening modality have not been determined. This study aimed to compare the screening efficacy among different modalities with various intervals. METHODS: PubMed and other nine databases were searched through June 30, 2021. Binary outcomes were pooled using risk ratio (RR) with 95% confidence intervals (CIs). Survival rates were also pooled using RR with 95% CIs because most eligible studies only provided the number of survival patients instead of hazard ratio. RESULTS: In all, 13 studies were included. Two random controlled trials (RCTs) and six cohort studies compared screening intervals for ultrasonography (US) screening and found no significant differences between shorter (3- or 4-month) and longer (6- or 12-month) screening intervals in terms of early HCC proportion, HCC significant mortality, 1-year survival rate; screening at 6-month interval significantly increased the proportion of early HCC (RR = 1.17, 95% confidence interval [CI]: 1.08-1.26) and prolonged the 5-year survival rate (RR = 1.39, 95% CI: 1.07-1.82) relative to the 12-month interval results. Three other RCTs and two cohort studies compared different screening modalities in cirrhosis or chronic hepatitis B, which indicated no statistical differences in the proportion of early HCC (RR = 0.89, 95% CI: 0.40-1.96) and HCC mortality (RR = 0.69, 95% CI: 0.23-2.09) between the biannual US and annual computed tomography (CT screening). Biannual US screening showed a lower proportion of early HCC than biannual magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) (RR = 0.60, 95% CI: 0.37-0.97) and biannual US combined with annual CT (RR = 1.31, 95% CI: 1.13-1.51) screening. The proportion of early HCC in the contrast-enhanced US group was slightly higher than that in the B-mode US (RR = 1.08, 95% CI: 1.00-1.23) group. CONCLUSIONS: The evidence suggests that 6 months may be the best HCC screening interval for US screening. The effectiveness of CT and MRI is better than US during same screening intervals. However, MRI and CT are more expensive than US, and CT also can increase the risk of radiation exposure. The selection of CT or MRI instead of US should be carefully considered. REGISTRATION No. CRD42020148258 at PROSPERO website ( https://www.crd.york.ac.uk/PROSPERO/ ).
Humans ; Carcinoma, Hepatocellular/pathology* ; Liver Neoplasms/pathology* ; Liver Cirrhosis/complications* ; Risk Factors ; Cohort Studies

BACKGROUND: The results of studies comparing Billroth-I (B-I) with Roux-en-Y (R-Y) reconstruction on the quality of life (QoL) are still inconsistent. The aim of this trial was to compare the long-term QoL of B-I with R-Y anastomosis after curative distal gastrectomy for gastric cancer. METHODS: A total of 140 patients undergoing curative distal gastrectomy with D2 lymphadenectomy in West China Hospital, Sichuan University from May 2011 to May 2014 were randomly assigned to the B-I group ( N  = 70) and R-Y group ( N  = 70). The follow-up time points were 1, 3, 6, 9, 12, 24, 36, 48, and 60 months after the operation. The final follow-up time was May 2019. The clinicopathological features, operative safety, postoperative recovery, long-term survival as well as QoL were compared, among which QoL score was the primary outcome. An intention-to-treat analysis was applied. RESULTS: The baseline characteristics were comparable between the two groups. There were no statistically significant differences in terms of postoperative morbidity and mortality rates, and postoperative recovery between the two groups. Less estimated blood loss and shorter surgical duration were found in the B-I group. There were no statistically significant differences in 5-year overall survival (79% [55/70] of the B-I group vs. 80% [56/70] of the R-Y group, P  = 0.966) and recurrence-free survival rates (79% [55/70] of the B-I group vs. 78% [55/70] of the R-Y group, P  = 0.979) between the two groups. The scores of the global health status of the R-Y group were higher than those of the B-I group with statistically significant differences (postoperative 1 year: 85.4 ± 13.1 vs . 88.8 ± 16.1, P  = 0.033; postoperative 3 year: 87.3 ± 15.2 vs . 92.8 ± 11.3, P  = 0.028; postoperative 5 year: 90.9 ± 13.7 vs . 96.4 ± 5.6, P  = 0.010), and the reflux (postoperative 3 year: 8.8 ± 12.9 vs . 2.8 ± 5.3, P  = 0.001; postoperative 5 year: 5.1 ± 9.8 vs . 1.8 ± 4.7, P  = 0.033) and epigastric pain (postoperative 1 year: 11.8 ± 12.7 vs. 6.1 ± 8.8, P  = 0.008; postoperative 3 year: 9.4 ± 10.6 vs. 4.6 ± 7.9, P  = 0.006; postoperative 5 year: 6.0 ± 8.9 vs . 2.7 ± 4.6, P  = 0.022) were milder in the R-Y group than those of the B-I group at the postoperative 1, 3, and 5-year time points. CONCLUSIONS: Compared with B-I group, R-Y reconstruction was associated with better long-term QoL by reducing reflux and epigastric pain, without changing survival outcomes. TRIAL REGISTRATION ChiCTR.org.cn, ChiCTR-TRC-10001434.
Humans ; Stomach Neoplasms/pathology* ; Anastomosis, Roux-en-Y/methods* ; Quality of Life ; Treatment Outcome ; Gastrectomy/methods* ; Postoperative Complications ; Gastroenterostomy/methods* ; Pain

BACKGROUND: Cholecystectomy is a standard surgery for patients suffering from gallbladder diseases, while the causal effects of cholecystectomy on colorectal cancer (CRC) and other complications are still unknown. METHODS: We obtained genetic variants associated with cholecystectomy at a genome-wide significant level ( P value <5 × 10 -8 ) as instrumental variables (IVs) and performed Mendelian randomization (MR) to identify the complications of cholecystectomy. Furthermore, the cholelithiasis was also treated as the exposure to compare its causal effects to those of cholecystectomy, and multivariable MR analysis was carried out to judge whether the effect of cholecystectomy was independent of cholelithiasis. The study was reported based on Strengthening the Reporting of Observational Studies in Epidemiology Using Mendelian Randomization guidelines. RESULTS: The selected IVs explained 1.76% variance of cholecystectomy. Our MR analysis suggested that cholecystectomy cannot elevate the risk of CRC (odds ratio [OR] =1.543, 95% confidence interval [CI]: 0.607-3.924). Also, it was not significant in either colon or rectum cancer. Intriguingly, cholecystectomy might decrease the risk of Crohn's disease (OR = 0.078, 95% CI: 0.016-0.368) and coronary heart disease (OR = 0.352, 95% CI: 0.164-0.756). However, it might increase the risk of irritable bowel syndrome (IBS) (OR = 7.573, 95% CI: 1.096-52.318). Cholelithiasis could increase the risk of CRC in the largest population (OR = 1.041, 95% CI: 1.010-1.073). The multivariable MR analysis suggested that genetic liability to cholelithiasis could increase the risk of CRC in the largest population (OR = 1.061, 95% CI: 1.002-1.125) after adjustment of cholecystectomy. CONCLUSIONS The study indicated that cholecystectomy might not increase the risk of CRC, but such a conclusion needs further proving by clinical equivalence. Additionally, it might increase the risk of IBS, which should be paid attention to in clinical practice.
Humans ; Mendelian Randomization Analysis ; Irritable Bowel Syndrome ; Colorectal Neoplasms/genetics* ; Cholelithiasis/complications* ; Cholecystectomy/adverse effects* ; Genome-Wide Association Study ; Polymorphism, Single Nucleotide

BACKGROUND: Previous studies have revealed that the number of cancer survivors developing a second primary malignancy is increasing, especially among thyroid cancer patients, and lung cancer is still the main cause of cancer death. Therefore, we aimed to investigate the risk of second primary lung cancer (SPLC) in patients with thyroid cancer. METHODS: We searched the PubMed, Web of Science, Embase, and Scopus databases up to November 24, 2021, for relevant research and merged the standardized incidence ratios (SIRs) and 95% confidence intervals (95% CIs) to evaluate the risk of developing SPLC in patients with thyroid cancer. RESULTS: Fourteen studies involving 1,480,816 cases were included in our meta-analysis. The pooled result demonstrated that thyroid cancer patients may have a higher risk of SPLC than the general population (SIR = 1.21, 95% CI: 1.07-1.36, P  < 0.01, I2  = 81%, P  < 0.01). Subgroup analysis stratified by sex indicated that female patients may have a markedly higher risk of SPLC than male patients (SIR = 1.65, 95% CI: 1.40-1.94, P  < 0.01, I2  = 75%, P  < 0.01). CONCLUSIONS: Thyroid cancer patients are more likely to develop SPLC than the general population, especially women. However, other risk factors must be investigated, and more prospective studies are needed to confirm our results. REGISTRATION International Prospective Register of Systematic Reviews: No. CRD42021285399.
Humans ; Male ; Female ; Neoplasms, Second Primary/pathology* ; Systematic Reviews as Topic ; Lung Neoplasms/pathology* ; Risk Factors ; Thyroid Neoplasms/complications* ; Incidence

BACKGROUND: Large disparities exist in liver cancer burden trends across countries but are poorly understood. We aimed to investigate the global trajectories of liver cancer burden, explore the driving forces, and predict future trends. METHODS: Data on the liver cancer burden in 204 countries and territories from 1990 to 2019 were extracted from the Global Burden of Disease Study. The age-standardized incidence rate (ASIR) and age-standardized mortality rate (ASMR) trajectories were defined using growth mixture models. Five major risk factors contributing to changes in the ASIR or ASMR and socioeconomic determinants were explored using the identified trajectories. A Bayesian age-period-cohort model was used to predict future trends through 2035. RESULTS: Three trajectories of liver cancer burden were identified: increasing, stable, and decreasing groups. Almost half of the American countries were classified in the decreasing group (48.6% for ASIR and ASMR), and the increasing group was the most common in the European region (ASIR, 49.1%; ASMR, 37.7%). In the decreasing group, the decrease of liver cancer due to hepatitis B contributed 63.4% and 60.4% of the total decreases in ASIR and ASMR, respectively. The increase of liver cancer due to alcohol use, hepatitis C, and hepatitis B contributed the most to the increase in the increasing group (30.8%, 31.1%, and 24.2% for ASIR; 33.7%, 30.2%, and 22.2% for ASMR, respectively). The increasing group was associated with a higher sociodemographic index, gross domestic product per capita, health expenditure per capita, and universal health coverage (all P <0.05). Significant variations in disease burden are predicted to continue through 2035, with a disproportionate burden in the decreasing group. CONCLUSION Global disparities were observed in liver cancer burden trajectories. Hepatitis B, alcohol use, and hepatitis C were identified as driving forces in different regions.
Humans ; Bayes Theorem ; Liver Neoplasms ; Risk Factors ; Hepatitis C/complications* ; Hepatitis B ; Hepacivirus ; Incidence

Humans ; Stroke Volume ; Incidence ; Goals ; Meningioma/complications* ; Postoperative Complications/epidemiology* ; Fluid Therapy/adverse effects* ; Meningeal Neoplasms/complications*

Humans ; Hospital Mortality ; Pulmonary Embolism ; Comorbidity ; Registries ; Neoplasms/complications*

Male ; Humans ; Urinary Bladder/diagnostic imaging* ; Prostate/diagnostic imaging* ; Multiparametric Magnetic Resonance Imaging ; Cystitis/diagnostic imaging* ; Hemorrhage/etiology* ; Urinary Bladder Neoplasms/complications*

OBJECTIVES: To study the correlation between 25-hydroxyvitamin D [25-(OH)D] and nephroblastoma in children and its value in assessing the prognosis of the disease. METHODS: A total of 50 children with nephroblastoma who were admitted from January 2018 to December 2022 were included as the nephroblastoma group, and according to the postoperative pathological type, they were divided into a good prognosis group with 38 children and a poor prognosis group with 12 children. A total of 50 healthy children who underwent physical examination during the same period of time served as the healthy control group. The above groups were compared in terms of serum creatinine and 25-(OH)D level. A Spearman correlation analysis was used to investigate the correlation between serum 25-(OH)D level and therapeutic effect reaction. A multivariate logistic regression analysis was used to identify the risk factors affecting the prognosis of nephroblastoma in children. RESULTS: The nephroblastoma group had significantly lower levels of serum creatinine and 25-(OH)D than the healthy control group (P<0.05). Compared with the good prognosis group, the poor prognosis group had a significantly larger tumor diameter, a significantly higher proportion of children with stage III-IV tumors, a significantly higher rate of tumor metastasis, and significantly lower serum levels of creatinine and 25-(OH)D (P<0.05). The Spearman correlation analysis showed that serum 25-(OH)D level was negatively correlated with therapeutic effect reaction (r_s=-0.685, P<0.001). The multivariate logistic regression analysis showed that tumor diameter ≥10 cm, stage III-IV tumors, presence of tumor metastasis, and 25-(OH)D <19 ng/mL were closely associated with the poor prognosis of nephroblastoma in children (P<0.05). Serum 25-(OH)D level had an area under the curve of 0.805 (95%CI: 0.706-0.903, P<0.001) in evaluating the prognosis of nephroblastoma in children, with a Youden index of 0.512, a sensitivity of 0.938, and a specificity of 0.575 at the optimal cut-off value of 1.764 ng/mL. CONCLUSIONS There is a significant correlation between 25-(OH)D level and the prognosis of nephroblastoma in children, and 25-(OH)D can be used for prognosis prediction.
Humans ; Child ; Creatinine ; Vitamin D Deficiency/complications* ; Vitamin D ; Calcifediol ; Prognosis ; Wilms Tumor ; Kidney Neoplasms/complications*

OBJECTIVES: To explore the value of metagenomic next-generation sequencing (mNGS) in the pathogen identification in children with hematological malignancies complicated with infections. METHODS: A retrospective analysis was conducted on clinical data and pathogenic test results of 43 children with hematological malignancies who underwent microbial culture and mNGS due to infections in the Third Xiangya Hospital of Central South University between June 2020 and July 2022. Differences in detection rates and characteristics of pathogenic microorganisms detected by mNGS and microbial culture were compared. RESULTS: A total of 54 specimens were examined, and the overall detection rate of pathogen by mNGS (80%, 43/54) was significantly higher than that by microbial culture (30%, 16/54) (P<0.001). The most commonly detected infection type by mNGS was viral infection, followed by fungal infection combined viral infection, while that by microbial culture was bacterial infection, followed by fungal infection. The detection rate of fungi by mNGS (33%, 18/54) was higher than that by microbial culture (6%, 3/54) (P<0.001). The detection rate of two or more pathogenic microorganisms by mNGS was higher at 48% compared to microbial culture at 9% (P<0.05). The detection rate of two or more types of pathogenic microorganisms by mNGS was also significantly higher at 33% compared to microbial culture at 2% (P<0.05). The most commonly detected bacteria and fungi by mNGS were Pseudomonas aeruginosa and Candida tropicalis, respectively, in peripheral blood, while Streptococcus pneumoniae and Pneumocystis jirovecii were most commonly detected in bronchoalveolar lavage fluid. Treatment adjustments based on mNGS results were beneficial for 35% (15/43) of the cases. CONCLUSIONS mNGS has a higher detection rate than microbial culture and has obvious advantages in diagnosing mixed and fungal infections, making it a useful supplementary diagnostic method to microbial culture.
Humans ; Child ; Retrospective Studies ; Hematologic Neoplasms/complications* ; High-Throughput Nucleotide Sequencing ; Bronchoalveolar Lavage Fluid ; Hospitals ; Sensitivity and Specificity