Improving survival models in healthcare: a novel matching approach.

We present, to our knowledge, the first methodological study aimed at enhancing the prognostic power of Cox regression models, widely used in survival analysis, through optimized data selection. Our approach employs a novel two-stage mechanism: by framing the prognostic stratum matching problem intuitively, we select prognostically representative patient observations to create a more balanced training set. This enables the model to assign equal attention to distinct prognostic subgroups.

Hepatectomy versus systemic therapy for liver-limited BRAF V600E-mutated colorectal liver metastases: multicentre retrospective study.

Background: To date, only two studies have compared the outcomes of patients with liver-limited BRAF V600E-mutated colorectal liver metastases (CRLMs) managed with resection versus systemic therapy alone, and these have reported contradictory findings.

Methods: In this observational, international, multicentre study, patients with liver-limited BRAF V600E-mutated CRLMs treated with resection or systemic therapy alone were identified from institutional databases. Patterns of recurrence/progression and overall survival were compared using multivariable analyses of the entire cohort and a propensity score-matched cohort.

Interpretable artificial intelligence to optimise use of imatinib after resection in patients with localised gastrointestinal stromal tumours: an observational cohort study.

Background: Current guidelines recommend use of adjuvant imatinib therapy for many patients with gastrointestinal stromal tumours (GISTs); however, its optimal treatment duration is unknown and some patient groups do not benefit from the therapy. We aimed to apply state-of-the-art, interpretable artificial intelligence (ie, predictions or prescription logic that can be easily understood) methods on real-world data to establish which groups of patients with GISTs should receive adjuvant imatinib, its optimal treatment duration, and the benefits conferred by this therapy.

Methods: In this observational cohort study, we considered for inclusion all patients who underwent resection of primary, non-metastatic GISTs at the Memorial Sloan Kettering Cancer Center (MSKCC; New York, NY, USA) between Oct 1, 1982, and Dec 31, 2017, and who were classified as intermediate or high risk according to the Armed Forces Institute of Pathology Miettinen criteria and had complete follow-up data with no missing entries.

A critical appraisal of the current landscape of resectable BRAF mutated colorectal liver metastases: a systematic review.

Background: Patients with surgically resectable BRAF-mutated colorectal liver metastases (CRLM) or limited extrahepatic disease constitute a highly selective subgroup among BRAF-mutated patients, characterized by a more indolent disease biology. This is evident in their suitability for surgical resection. However, initial studies from a decade ago presented a discouraging outlook for these patients, citing early, frequent, multifocal recurrences and a very limited median overall survival (OS) of less than two years.

Somatic Mutations in Surgically Treated Colorectal Liver Metastases: An Overview.

Colorectal cancer is the second most common cause of cancer death in the United States, and up to half of patients develop colorectal liver metastases (CRLMs). Notably, somatic genetic mutations, such as mutations in , , mismatch repair (MMR) genes, , and , have been shown to play a prognostic role in patients with CRLM. This review summarizes and appraises the current literature regarding the most relevant somatic mutations in surgically treated CRLM by not only reviewing representative studies, but also providing recommendations for areas of future research.

Role of visceral fat on postoperative complications and relapse in patients with Crohn's disease after ileocecal resection: Is it overrated?

Introduction: The role of visceral fat in disease development, particularly in Crohn´s disease (CD), is significant. However, its preoperative prognostic value for postoperative complications and CD relapse after ileocecal resection (ICR) remains unknown. This study aims to assess the predictive potential of preoperatively measured visceral and subcutaneous fat in postoperative complications and CD recurrence using magnetic resonance imaging (MRI).

[Effectiveness of Mucosal Advancement Flaps in Surgery of Perianal Fistulas from Crohn´s Disease and Cryptoglandular Fistulas - a Long-term Follow-up Study].

Aim: Surgical treatment of perianal fistulae originating from Crohn's Disease (CD) or cryptoglandular abscess (CGA) remains a challenge. Data on long-term healing rates are scarce. We aimed to evaluate the long-term success rate of mucosal advancement flap (MAF) operations.

German guideline diverticular disease/diverticulitis: Part II: Conservative, interventional and surgical management.

Diverticulosis and diverticular disease are ranked among the most common gastroenterological diseases and conditions. While for many years diverticulitis was found to be mainly an event occurring in the elder population, more recent work in epidemiology demonstrates increasing frequency in younger subjects. In addition, there is a noticeable trend towards more complicated disease.

German guideline diverticular disease/diverticulitis: Part I: Methods, pathogenesis, epidemiology, clinical characteristics (definitions), natural course, diagnosis and classification.

Diverticulosis and diverticular disease are ranked among the most common gastroenterological diseases and conditions. While for many years diverticulitis was found to be mainly an event occurring in the elder population, more recent work in epidemiology demonstrates increasing frequency in younger subjects. In addition, there is a noticeable trend towards more complicated disease.

Prognostic value of primary tumor sidedness in patients with non-metastatic IBD related CRC - Is it the exception to the rule?

Background: Although primary tumor sidedness (PTS) has a known prognostic role in sporadic colorectal cancer (CRC), its role in Inflammatory Bowel Disease related CRC (IBD-CRC) is largely unknown. Thus, we aimed to evaluate the prognostic role of PTS in patients with IBD-CRC.

Methods: All eligible patients with surgically treated, non-metastatic IBD-CRC were retrospectively identified from institutional databases at ten European and Asian academic centers.

Inflammation of the rectal remnant endangers the outcome of ileal pouch-anal anastomosis: a case-control study.

Background: Inflammation of the rectal remnant may affect the postoperative outcome of ileal pouch-anal anastomosis (IPAA) in patients with ulcerative colitis (UC). We aimed to determine the extent of inflammation in the anastomotic area during IPAA and to investigate the impact of proctitis on postoperative complications and long-term outcomes.

Methods: Three hundred thirty-four UC patients with primary IPAA were included in this retrospective case-control study.

Using Artificial Intelligence to Find the Optimal Margin Width in Hepatectomy for Colorectal Cancer Liver Metastases.

Importance: In patients with resectable colorectal cancer liver metastases (CRLM), the choice of surgical technique and resection margin are the only variables that are under the surgeon's direct control and may influence oncologic outcomes. There is currently no consensus on the optimal margin width.

Objective: To determine the optimal margin width in CRLM by using artificial intelligence-based techniques developed by the Massachusetts Institute of Technology and to assess whether optimal margin width should be individualized based on patient characteristics.

Nontumor related risk score: A new tool to improve prediction of prognosis after hepatectomy for colorectal liver metastases.

Background: Prognostic stratification of patients with colorectal cancer liver metastasis based solely on tumor-related factors has only moderate discriminatory ability. We hypothesized that the inclusion of nontumor related factors can improve prediction of long-term prognosis of patients with colorectal cancer liver metastasis.

Methods: Nontumor related laboratory markers were assessed utilizing a training cohort from 2 U.