Hybrid argon plasma coagulation in Barrett's esophagus: a systematic review and meta-analysis.

Background/aims: Patients with Barrett's esophagus are at increased risk of developing esophageal adenocarcinoma. Endoscopic therapies aim to eradicate dysplastic and metaplastic tissues. Hybrid argon plasma coagulation (hybrid-APC) utilizes submucosal fluid injection to create a protective cushion prior to ablation that shields the submucosa from injury.

Effect of computer-aided colonoscopy on adenoma miss rates and polyp detection: A systematic review and meta-analysis.

Background And Aim: Multiple computer-aided techniques utilizing artificial intelligence (AI) have been created to improve the detection of polyps during colonoscopy and thereby reduce the incidence of colorectal cancer. While adenoma detection rates (ADR) and polyp detection rates (PDR) are important colonoscopy quality indicators, adenoma miss rates (AMR) may better quantify missed lesions, which can ultimately lead to interval colorectal cancer. The purpose of this systematic review and meta-analysis was to determine the efficacy of computer-aided colonoscopy (CAC) with respect to AMR, ADR, and PDR in randomized controlled trials.

On the Front (Phone) Lines: Results of a COVID-19 Hotline.

Background: Severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus (SARS-CoV-2) and the associated coronavirus disease of 2019 (COVID-19) have presented immense challenges for health care systems. Many regions have struggled to adapt to disruptions to health care practice and use systems that effectively manage the demand for services.

Methods: This was a cohort study using electronic health records at a health care system in northeast Ohio that examined the effectiveness of the first 5 weeks of a 24/7 physician-staffed COVID-19 hotline including social care referrals for patients required to self-isolate.

Full-thickness resection device (FTRD) for treatment of upper gastrointestinal tract lesions: the first international experience.

The Full-Thickness Resection Device (FTRD) provides a novel treatment option for lesions not amenable to conventional endoscopic resection techniques. There are limited data on the efficacy and safety of FTRD for resection of upper gastrointestinal tract (GIT) lesions. This was an international multicenter retrospective study, including patients who had an endoscopic resection of an upper GIT lesion using the FTRD between January 2017 and February 2019.

Efficacy of Endoscopic Submucosal Dissection for Superficial Gastric Neoplasia in a Large Cohort in North America.

Background & Aims: Endoscopic submucosal dissection (ESD) is a widely accepted treatment option for superficial gastric neoplasia in Asia, but there are few data on outcomes of gastric ESD from North America. We aimed to evaluate the safety and efficacy of gastric ESD in North America.

Methods: We analyzed data from 347 patients who underwent gastric ESD at 25 centers, from 2010 through 2019.

Endoscopic ultrasound-through-the-needle biopsy in pancreatic cystic lesions: A large single center experience.

Background: Establishing a diagnosis of pancreatic cystic lesions (PCLs) preoperatively still remains challenging. Recently, endoscopic ultrasound (EUS)-through-the-needle biopsy (EUS-TTNB) using microforceps in PCLs has been made available.

Aim: To assess the efficacy and safety of EUS-TTNB in the diagnosis of PCLs.

Long-term (10-year) gastrointestinal and genitourinary toxicity after treatment with external beam radiotherapy, radical prostatectomy, or brachytherapy for prostate cancer.

Objective.To examine gastrointestinal (GI) and genitourinary (GU) toxicity profiles of patients treated in 1999 with external beam radiotherapy (RT), prostate interstitial brachytherapy (PI) or radical prostatectomy (RP). Methods.

PSA bounce and biochemical failure after brachytherapy for prostate cancer: a study of 820 patients with a minimum of 3 years of follow-up.

Purpose: To determine clinical or dosimetric factors associated with a prostate-specific antigen (PSA) bounce, as well as an association between a PSA bounce and biochemical relapse-free survival (bRFS), in patients treated with iodine-125 brachytherapy.

Methods And Materials: A variety of clinical and treatment factors were examined in 820 patients who had a minimum of 3 years of PSA follow-up with T1-T2cN0M0 prostate cancer. Four different PSA threshold values were used for defining a PSA bounce: a PSA rise of ≥ 0.

Five year biochemical recurrence free survival for intermediate risk prostate cancer after radical prostatectomy, external beam radiation therapy or permanent seed implantation.

Objective: To compare biochemical recurrence-free survival (bRFS) for patients with intermediate-risk prostate cancer treated by retropubic radical prostatectomy (RRP), laparoscopic radical prostatectomy (LRP), external beam radiation therapy (RT), or permanent seed implantation (PI).

Methods: Patients treated for intermediate-risk prostate cancer per National Comprehensive Cancer Network guidelines from 1996 to 2005 were studied. Variables potentially affecting bRFS were examined using univariate and multivariate Cox regression analysis.

The importance of serum prostate-specific antigen testing frequency in assessing biochemical and clinical failure after prostate cancer treatment.

Objectives: To assess the relationship between prostate-specific antigen (PSA) testing frequency and biochemical failure (bF) and clinical failure (cF).

Methods: The records of 5616 patients with low-, intermediate-, or high-risk prostate cancer treated (brachytherapy, external beam radiotherapy, or surgery) between 1996 and 2007 were reviewed. Factors influencing bF and cF were recorded including age, initial PSA, androgen deprivation, race, clinical stage, biopsy Gleason score, and the frequency of follow-up PSA testing.

Comparison of biochemical relapse-free survival between primary Gleason score 3 and primary Gleason score 4 for biopsy Gleason score 7 prostate cancer.

Purpose: To determine whether the primary grade (PG) of biopsy Gleason score (GS) 7 prostate cancer (CaP) was predictive for biochemical relapse-free survival (bRFS). Most of the present data regarding the PG of GS7 CaP refer to surgical specimens. Our goal was to determine whether the biopsy GS used at the time of medical decision making predicted for the biochemical outcome.

Improved biochemical relapse-free survival for patients with large/wide glands treated with prostate seed implantation for localized adenocarcinoma of prostate.

Objectives: To analyze whether prostate size affects biochemical relapse-free survival (bRFS).

Methods: The bRFS outcomes for 390 patients with a minimum of 2 years of follow-up were determined from a review of a prospectively maintained database. All patients were treated with iodine-125 alone as the radiotherapeutic modality and had a minimum of four posttreatment prostate-specific antigen values.

PSA kinetics after prostate brachytherapy: PSA bounce phenomenon and its implications for PSA doubling time.

Purpose: To analyze prostate-specific antigen (PSA) kinetics in patients treated with prostate brachytherapy (PI) with a minimum of 5 years of PSA follow-up.

Methods And Materials: The records of 162 patients treated with PI for localized prostate cancer with a minimum of 5 years of PSA follow-up were reviewed. A variety of pretreatment and posttreatment variables were examined.

Prophylactic tamsulosin (Flomax) in patients undergoing prostate 125I brachytherapy for prostate carcinoma: final report of a double-blind placebo-controlled randomized study.

Purpose: To evaluate the effectiveness of prophylactic tamsulosin (Flomax) in reducing the urinary symptoms in patients undergoing 125I prostate implantation (PI) for prostate adenocarcinoma.

Methods And Materials: This is a single-institution, double-blind, placebo-controlled, randomized trial for patients undergoing PI for prostate adenocarcinoma comparing prophylactic tamsulosin versus placebo. Eligibility criteria included patients not taking tamsulosin or other alpha-blockers treated with PI.

A retrospective comparison of androgen deprivation (AD) vs. no AD among low-risk and intermediate-risk prostate cancer patients treated with brachytherapy, external beam radiotherapy, or radical prostatectomy.

Purpose: To examine the value of androgen deprivation (AD) in the curative treatment of low- and intermediate-risk prostate cancer treated with the three major modalities: radical retropubic prostatectomy (RRP), external beam radiotherapy (EBRT), and permanent prostate implantation (PI).

Methods And Materials: During 1996-2001, 1668 patients with low- and intermediate-risk prostate cancer were treated at The Cleveland Clinic Foundation. Only patients with a minimum of 2 years of prostate-specific antigen follow-up were included in the analysis, and biochemical relapse-free survival (bRFS) was used as the endpoint.

PSA bounce predicts early success in patients with permanent iodine-125 prostate implant.

Objectives: To determine the clinical and dosimetric factors that predict prostate-specific antigen (PSA) bounce after iodine-125 prostate brachytherapy and to determine the predictive value of PSA bounce relative to biochemical relapse-free survival (bRFS).

Methods: A multivariate analysis of factors thought to predict for PSA bounce was performed in 295 consecutive patients with T1-T2 prostate cancer treated by prostate brachytherapy as the sole radiotherapeutic modality and a minimum follow-up of 2 years. The variables examined included age, initial PSA level, biopsy Gleason score, use of androgen deprivation, occurrence of PSA bounce, dose received by 90% of the prostate gland, and volume of gland receiving 100% of the prescribed dose.