Assessment of Patient-Reported Outcomes in Patients With Anal Squamous-Cell Cancer Undergoing Combined Modality Therapy.

Background: There is limited knowledge on long-term bowel, sexual, and urinary function after combined modality therapy for anal squamous-cell cancer.

Objective: This study aimed to evaluate long-term changes in patients treated with combined modality.

Design: This was a retrospective study of prospectively collected patient-reported outcome surveys.

Preoperative Opioid Dose and Surgical Outcomes in Colorectal Surgery.

Background: The worsening opioid epidemic has led to an increased number of surgical patients with chronic preoperative opioid use. However, the impact of opioids on perioperative outcomes has yet to be fully elucidated. The purpose of this study was to assess the association between preoperative opioid dose and surgical outcomes among colectomy patients.

History of depression is associated with worsened postoperative outcomes following colectomy.

Aim: Depression is a prevalent disorder that is associated with adverse health outcomes, but an understanding of its effect in colorectal surgery remains limited. The purpose of this study was to examine the impact of history of depression among patients undergoing colectomy.

Method: United States patients from Marketscan (2010-2017) who underwent colectomy were included and stratified by whether they had a history of depression within the past year, defined as (1) a diagnosis of depression during the index admission, (2) a diagnosis of depression during any inpatient or (3) outpatient admission within the year, and/or (4) a pharmacy claim for an antidepressant within the year.

Minimally Invasive Proctectomy for Rectal Cancer: A National Perspective on Short-term Outcomes and Morbidity.

Background: Prior randomized trials showed comparable short-term outcomes between open and minimally invasive proctectomy (MIP) for rectal cancer. We hypothesize that short-term outcomes for MIP have improved as surgeons have become more experienced with this technique.

Methods: Rectal cancer patients who underwent elective abdominoperineal resection (APR) or low anterior resection (LAR) were included from the American College of Surgeons National Surgical Quality Improvement Program database (2016-2018).

Aggressive Multimodal Treatment and Metastatic Colorectal Cancer Survival.

Background: We aimed to assess patient and demographic factors, treatment trends, and survival outcomes of patients with colorectal cancer with metastasis to the liver, lung, or both sites. Differences remain among national guidelines about the optimal management strategy.

Methods: Adults from the National Cancer Database (2010 to 2015) with a primary diagnosis of colorectal liver, lung, or liver and lung metastases were included and stratified by metastasis site.

Anal Squamous Cell Carcinoma: Radiation Therapy Alone Must Be Avoided.

Background: Anal squamous cell carcinoma (ASCC) is the most common histological subtype of anal cancer. Rates have been observed to increase in recent years. Combined chemoradiotherapy (CCRT) is currently the gold standard of treatment.

The Impact of Imatinib on Survival and Treatment Trends for Small Bowel and Colorectal Gastrointestinal Stromal Tumors.

Background: The aim of this study is to assess treatment trends and overall survival (OS) in small bowel (SB) and colorectal (CR) gastrointestinal stromal tumors (GIST) with respect to the introduction of imatinib in 2008.

Methods: Patients diagnosed with SB and CR GIST were identified from the National Cancer Database (2004-2015). The primary outcome was 5- and 10-year OS.

Treatment Strategies and Survival Trends for Anorectal Melanoma: Is it Time for a Change?

Background: Immunotherapy advances for the treatment of cutaneous melanoma question its efficacy in treating anorectal mucosal melanoma (ARMM). We aimed to identify the prevalence, current management, and overall survival (OS) for ARMM.

Methods: Review of patients with ARMM from 2004 to 2015 National Cancer Database.

The Safety of Outpatient Stoma Closure: on the Verge of a Paradigm Shift?

Background: An area of contention among colorectal surgeons is when it is safe to discharge patients who have undergone closure of diverting ostomies. This study aimed to review the trends in outpatient stoma closure (OSC), to assess the safety of this practice, and to identify appropriate surgical candidates for the outpatient procedure.

Methods: Patients were queried from the ACS National Surgical Quality Improvement Program database (2005-2016).

Meet your surgical team: The impact of a resident-led quality improvement project on patient satisfaction.

Background: Patients often have an incomplete understanding of the levels of training and roles of the various surgical providers in teaching hospitals, leading to patient confusion and dissatisfaction.

Methods: Pre-intervention discharge surveys were administered to gastrointestinal surgery inpatients (10/2016-02/2017) to evaluate sentiments regarding their surgical team. During the intervention period (02/2017-05/2017), patients at admission received "facesheets" containing team member profiles, photos, training level, and roles.

Control of early HIV-1 infection associates with plasmacytoid dendritic cell-reactive opsonophagocytic IgG antibodies to HIV-1 p24.

Objectives: We have previously demonstrated that HIV-1 p24-specific plasmacytoid dendritic cell-reactive opsonophagocytic antibody (PROAb) responses associate with control of chronic HIV infection. Here, we examined whether HIV-1 p24-specific PROAbs associate with control of early HIV infection and their relationship with HIV-1 p24-specific IgG subclasses.

Methods: Plasma collected at 8 and 52 weeks following primary HIV-1 infection was obtained from antiretroviral therapy-naïve patients who were classified as 'good' (plasma HIV-1 RNA < 5000 copies/ml; n = 17) or 'poor' (HIV-1 RNA > 50 000 copies/ml; n = 15) controllers at week 52.

Viremic HIV Controllers Exhibit High Plasmacytoid Dendritic Cell-Reactive Opsonophagocytic IgG Antibody Responses against HIV-1 p24 Associated with Greater Antibody Isotype Diversification.

Identifying the mechanisms of natural control of HIV-1 infection could lead to novel approaches to prevent or cure HIV infection. Several studies have associated natural control of HIV-1 infection with IgG Abs against HIV-1 Gag proteins (e.g.

The postauricular fascia: classification, anatomy, and potential surgical applications.

In recent times, there has been evolving interest in the fascial structure of the ear, especially in relation to otoplasty techniques. Although the fascial tissues used in these procedures are referred to as "postauricular/retroauricular fascia," the sparse anatomical studies that exist use this terminology to describe what is the adjacent thicker and more fibrous structure of the superficial temporal area continuous with the mastoid region, rather than the tissue actually used in these procedures which is adherent to the posterior surface of the ear. There are clear clinical differences in the properties of these two structures, and this study set out to identify the anatomical nature of these differences, looking in detail at the anatomy and vascularity of the fascia directly posterior and adherent to the ear itself, highlighting its unique properties, and how it interfaces with the rest of the fascia.

Rhes expression in pancreatic beta-cells is regulated by efaroxan in a calcium-dependent process.

The monomeric G-protein Rhes has been described to be present in pancreatic beta-cells, and a putative role in the control of insulin release has been proposed. Here, we show that treatment of beta-cells with the imidazoline insulin secretagogue efaroxan resulted in a concentration- and time-dependent increase in the expression of Rhes, which peaked after 4h of efaroxan exposure; thereafter, Rhes mRNA levels decreased. Marked stereoselectivity was displayed, with (-)-efaroxan (the selectively insulinotropic enantiomer) being much more effective than (+)-efaroxan at raising Rhes transcript levels.

Preliminary pharmacokinetic and bioanalytical studies of SJG-136 (NSC 694501), a sequence-selective pyrrolobenzodiazepine dimer DNA-cross-linking agent.

SJG-136 is a synthetic pyrrolobenzodiazepine (PBD) dimer in which two DNA-alkylating subunits are linked through an inert propanedioxy tether. Biophysical and biochemical studies of SJG-136 have shown a remarkable affinity for DNA and potent cytotoxicity in vitro. On this basis, together with its unique sequence selectivity and interstrand DNA cross-linking activity, SJG-136 has been selected for clinical trials.