Morbidity and mortality according to age following gastrectomy for gastric cancer.

Background: This study investigated age-related differences in surgically treated patients with gastric cancer, and aimed to identify factors associated with outcome.

Methods: Data from the Dutch Upper Gastrointestinal Cancer Audit were used. All patients with non-cardia gastric cancer registered between 2011 and 2015 who underwent surgery were selected.

Tumor response after long interval comparing 5x5Gy radiation therapy with chemoradiation therapy in rectal cancer patients.

Background: In the era of organ preserving strategies in rectal cancer, insight into the efficacy of preoperative therapies is crucial. The goal of the current study was to evaluate and compare tumor response in rectal cancer patients according to their type of preoperative therapy.

Methods: All rectal cancer patients diagnosed between 2005 and 2014, receiving radiation therapy (RT, 5 × 5Gy; N = 764) or chemoradiation therapy (CRT; N = 5070) followed by total mesorectal excision after an interval of 5-15 weeks were retrieved from the nationwide Netherlands Cancer registry.

Treatment of Isolated Peritoneal Recurrences in Patients with Colorectal Peritoneal Metastases Previously Treated with Cytoreductive Surgery and Hyperthermic Intraperitoneal Chemotherapy.

Background: Colorectal peritoneal carcinomatosis (PC) is preferably treated with cytoreductive surgery (CRS) and hyperthermic intraperitoneal chemotherapy (HIPEC). Peritoneal recurrence of disease after treatment can occur without distant metastases, with a variety of treatment options.

Objective: This study aimed to evaluate the management of isolated peritoneal recurrence after primary CRS-HIPEC.

Nationwide trends in the incidence and outcome of patients with gastrointestinal stromal tumour in the imatinib era.

Background: The incidence, treatment and outcome of patients with newly diagnosed gastrointestinal stromal tumour (GIST) were studied in an era known for advances in diagnosis and treatment.

Methods: Nationwide population-based data were retrieved from the Netherlands Cancer Registry. All patients with GIST diagnosed between 2001 and 2012 were included.

Dietary Intake of Magnesium or Calcium and Chemotherapy-Induced Peripheral Neuropathy in Colorectal Cancer Patients.

Chemotherapy-induced peripheral neuropathy (CIPN) is a common and severe side-effect in colorectal cancer (CRC) patients. This study assessed the association between habitual dietary intake of magnesium or calcium and prevalence and severity of chronic CIPN in CRC patients receiving adjuvant chemotherapy. For this prospective cohort study, 196 CRC patients were considered.

Acute cardiorenal syndrome: Mechanisms and clinical implications.

Cardiac and renal dysfunction often coexist, and one begets the other. The association is referred to as cardiorenal syndrome. One subtype, acute cardiorenal syndrome, is often described as a clinical scenario in which acute worsening of cardiac function leads to acute kidney injury.

Assessment of HER2 status in breast cancer biopsies is not affected by accelerated tissue processing.

Aims: To establish whether core needle biopsy (CNB) specimens processed with an accelerated processing method with short fixation time can be used to determine accurately the human epidermal growth factor receptor 2 (HER2) status of breast cancer.

Methods And Results: A consecutive case-series from two high-volume breast clinics was created. We compared routine HER2 immunohistochemistry (IHC) assessment between accelerated processing CNB specimens and routinely processed postoperative excision specimens.

Balancing silicon/aluminum oxide junctions for super-plasmonic emission enhancement of quantum dots via plasmonic metafilms.

We study the impact of structural features of Si/Al oxide junctions on metal-oxide plasmonic metafilms formed via placing such junctions in close vicinity of an Au/Si Schottky barrier. The emission intensity and dynamics of colloidal semiconductor quantum dots deposited on such metafilms are investigated, while the surface morphology and structural compositions of the Si/Al oxide junction are controlled. The results show the conditions wherein the Si/Al oxide junction can reshape the impact of plasmonic effects, allowing it to increase the lifetimes of excitons.

Liver resection surgery versus thermal ablation for colorectal LiVer MetAstases (LAVA): study protocol for a randomised controlled trial.

Background: Although surgical resection has been considered the only curative option for colorectal liver metastases (CLM), thermal ablation has recently been suggested as an alternative curative treatment. A prospective randomised trial is required to define the efficacy of resection vs ablation for the treatment of colorectal liver metastases.

Methods: Design and setting: This is a multicentre, open, randomised controlled non-inferiority trial design with internal pilot and will be performed in tertiary liver centres in UK and The Netherlands.

Probing the Dielectric Properties of Ultrathin Al/AlO/Al Trilayers Fabricated Using in Situ Sputtering and Atomic Layer Deposition.

Dielectric properties of ultrathin AlO (1.1-4.4 nm) in metal-insulator-metal (M-I-M) Al/AlO/Al trilayers fabricated in situ using an integrated sputtering and atomic layer deposition (ALD) system were investigated.

Can we ave the rectum by watchful waiting or ransnal microsurgery following (chemo) adiotherapy versus otal mesorectal excision for early ctal ancer (STAR-TREC study)?: protocol for a multicentre, randomised feasibility study.

Introduction: Total mesorectal excision (TME) is the highly effective standard treatment for rectal cancer but is associated with significant morbidity and may be overtreatment for low-risk cancers. This study is designed to determine the feasibility of international recruitment in a study comparing organ-saving approaches versus standard TME surgery.

Methods And Analysis: STAR-TREC trial is a multicentre international randomised, three-arm parallel, phase II feasibility study in patients with biopsy-proven adenocarcinoma of the rectum.

Advances in organ preserving strategies in rectal cancer patients.

Treatment of rectal cancer patients has been subjected to change over the past thirty years. Total mesorectal excision is considered the cornerstone of rectal cancer treatment, but is also associated with significant morbidity resulting in an impaired quality of life. The addition of neoadjuvant chemoradiotherapy to surgery has shown to improve survival and local control and may lead to a partial or even complete response (CR).

Does portal vein embolization prior to liver resection influence the oncological outcomes - A propensity score matched comparison.

Introduction: There is an ongoing controversy surrounding portal vein embolization (PVE) regarding the short-term safety of PVE and long-term oncological benefit. This study aims to compare survival outcomes of patients subjected to major liver resection for colorectal liver metastases (CRLM) with or without PVE.

Methods: All consecutive patients who underwent major liver resection for CRLM in four high volume liver centres between January 2000 and December 2015 were included.

Optimal extent of completion lymphadenectomy for patients with melanoma and a positive sentinel node in the groin.

Background: The optimal extent of groin completion lymph node dissection (CLND) (inguinal or ilioinguinal dissection) in patients with melanoma is controversial. The aim of this study was to evaluate whether the extent of groin CLND after a positive sentinel node biopsy (SNB) is associated with improved outcome.

Methods: Data from all sentinel node-positive patients who underwent groin CLND at four tertiary melanoma referral centres were retrieved retrospectively.

Dynamic Contrast-Enhanced Magnetic Resonance Imaging in the Assessment of Inflammatory Breast Cancer Prior to and After Neoadjuvant Treatment.

Background: The aim of this study was to describe the dynamic contrast-enhanced magnetic resonance imaging (DCE-MRI) features of inflammatory breast cancer (IBC) and to assess the value of DCE-MRI for the prediction of pathological complete response (pCR).

Methods: Image analysis was performed in 15 patients with IBC (cT4d) and 12 patients with non-IBC (cT2), and included the assessment of BIRADS characteristics, skin alterations, enhancement characteristics, and changes post chemotherapy. Sensitivity and specificity of DCE-MRI for the presence of residual disease were obtained.

Effect of an Interfacial Layer on Electron Tunneling through Atomically Thin AlO Tunnel Barriers.

Electron tunneling through high-quality, atomically thin dielectric films can provide a critical enabling technology for future microelectronics, bringing enhanced quantum coherent transport, fast speed, small size, and high energy efficiency. A fundamental challenge is in controlling the interface between the dielectric and device electrodes. An interfacial layer (IL) will contain defects and introduce defects in the dielectric film grown atop, preventing electron tunneling through the formation of shorts.

Velocity Explains the Links between Personality States and Affect.

The present research examined whether perceived rate of progress toward a goal (velocity) mediated the relationships between personality states and affective states. Drawing from control theories of self-regulation, we hypothesized (i) that increased velocity would mediate the association between state extraversion and state positive affect, and (ii) that decreased velocity would mediate the association between state neuroticism and state negative affect. We tested these hypotheses in 2 experience sampling methodology studies that each spanned 2 weeks.

Modest heterologous protection after Plasmodium falciparum sporozoite immunization: a double-blind randomized controlled clinical trial.

Background: A highly efficacious vaccine is needed for malaria control and eradication. Immunization with Plasmodium falciparum NF54 parasites under chemoprophylaxis (chemoprophylaxis and sporozoite (CPS)-immunization) induces the most efficient long-lasting protection against a homologous parasite. However, parasite genetic diversity is a major hurdle for protection against heterologous strains.

Impact of Centralizing Gastric Cancer Surgery on Treatment, Morbidity, and Mortality.

Introduction: Centralization of gastric cancer surgery is thought to improve outcome and has been imposed in the Netherlands since 2012. This study analyzes the effect of centralization in terms of treatment outcome and survival in the Eastern part of the Netherlands.

Methods: All gastric cancer patients without distant metastases who underwent a gastrectomy in six hospitals in the Eastern part of the Netherlands between 2008 and 2011 (pre-centralization) and 2013-2016 (post-centralization) were selected from the Netherlands Cancer Registry.

Effect of age on rates of palliative surgery and chemotherapy use in patients with locally advanced or metastatic gastric cancer.

Background: This study assessed trends in the treatment and survival of palliatively treated patients with gastric cancer, with a focus on age-related differences.

Methods: For this retrospective, population-based, nationwide cohort study, all patients diagnosed between 1989 and 2013 with non-cardia gastric cancer with metastasized disease or invasion into adjacent structures were selected from the Netherlands Cancer Registry. Trends in treatment and 2-year overall survival were analysed and compared between younger (age less than 70 years) and older (aged 70 years or more) patients.

Radiofrequency ablation compared to surgical resection for curative treatment of patients with colorectal liver metastases - a meta-analysis.

Background: Hepatic resection and ablative treatments, such as RFA are available treatment options for liver tumors. Advantages and disadvantages of these treatment options in patients with colorectal liver metastases need further evaluation. The purpose of this study was to systematically evaluate the role of radiofrequency ablation (RFA) compared to surgery in the curative treatment of patients with colorectal liver metastases (CRLM).

Clinically node negative breast cancer patients undergoing breast conserving therapy, sentinel lymph node procedure versus follow-up: a Dutch randomized controlled multicentre trial (BOOG 2013-08).

Background: Studies showed that axillary lymph node dissection can be safely omitted in presence of positive sentinel lymph node(s) in breast cancer patients treated with breast conserving therapy. Since the outcome of the sentinel lymph node biopsy has no clinical consequence, the value of the procedure itself is being questioned. The aim of the BOOG 2013-08 trial is to investigate whether the sentinel lymph node biopsy can be safely omitted in clinically node negative breast cancer patients treated with breast conserving therapy.