Somatostatin and Intestinal Inflammation

Since Dr Smethurst in 1859 was prosecuted for poisoning Mrs Ballks, who apparently suffered from Crohn's disease, there have been many different theories about the nature of inflammatory bowel disease (IBD). The concept of idiopathic ulcerative colitis in the late 19th century and its differentiation from idiopathic regional ileitis, later known as Crohn's disease, only appeared in the last hundred years. Much has still to be learned about the etiology and pathogenesis of these diseases. Before 1970, genetic factors or hypersensitivity to certain unknown micro-organisms or toxic agents were poshdated, and these concepts have not as yet been refuted. In the last two decades, research has concentrated on elements of the intestinal immune system in the pathogenesis ofIBD

Endoscopic mucosal resection (EMR) versus endoscopic submucosal dissection (ESD) for resection of large distal non-pedunculated colorectal adenomas (MATILDA-trial): Rationale and design of a multicenter randomized clinical trial

Background: Endoscopic mucosal resection (EMR) is currently the most used technique for resection of large distal colorectal polyps. However, in large lesions EMR can often only be performed in a piecemeal fashion resulting in relatively low radical (R0)-resection rates and high recurrence rates. Endoscopic submucosal dissection (ESD) is a newer procedure that is more difficult resulting in a longer procedural time, but is promising due to the high en-bloc resection rates and the very low recurrence rates. We aim to evaluate the (cost-)effectiveness of ESD against EMR on both short (i.e. 6 months) and long-term (i.e. 36 months). We hypothesize that in the short-run ESD is more time consuming resulting in higher healthcare costs, but is (cost-) effective on the long-term due to lower patients burden, a higher number of R0-resections and lower recurrence rates with less need for repeated procedures. Methods: This is a multicenter randomized clinical trial in patients with a non-pedunculated polyp larger than 20 mm in the rectum, sigmoid, or descending colon suspected to be an adenoma by means of endoscopic assessment. Primary endpoint is recurrence rate at follow-up colonoscopy at 6 months. Secondary endpoints are R0-resection rate, perceived burden and quality of life, healthcare resources utilization and costs, surgical referral rate, complication rate and recurrence rate at 36 months. Quality-adjusted-life-year (QALY) will be estimated taking an area under the curve approach and using EQ-5D-indexes. Healthcare costs will be calculated by multiplying used healthcare services with unit prices. The cost-effectiveness of ESD against EMR will be expressed as incremental cost-effectiveness ratios (ICER) showing additional costs per recurrence free patient and as ICER showing additional costs per QALY. Discussion: If this trial confirms ESD to be favorable on the long-term, the burden of extra colonoscopies and repeated procedures can be prevented for future patients. Trial registration:NCT02657044(Clinicaltrials.gov), registered January 8, 2016

Incidence of Interval Colorectal Cancer After Negative Results From First-Round Fecal Immunochemical Screening Tests, by Cutoff Value and Participant Sex and Age

Background & Aims: We evaluated the incidence of interval cancers between the first and second rounds of colorectal cancer (CRC) screening with the FOB-Gold fecal immunochemical test (FIT), and the effects of different cutoff values and patient sex and age. Methods: We collected data from participants in a population-based

Diagnostic value of radiological staging and surveillance for T1 colorectal carcinomas: a multicenter cohort study

Background: The role of radiological staging and surveillance imaging is under debate for T1 colorectal cancer (CRC) as the risk of distant metastases is low and imaging may lead to the detection of incidental findings. Objective: The aim of this study was to evaluate the yield of radiological staging and surveillance imaging for T1 CRC. Methods: In this retrospective multicenter cohort study, all patients of 10 Dutch hospitals with histologically proven T1 CRC who underwent radiological staging in the period 2000-2014 were included. Clinical characteristics, pathological, endoscopic, surgical and imaging reports at baseline and during follow-up were recorded and analyzed. Patients were classified as high-risk T1 CRC if at least one of the histological risk factors (lymphovascular invasion, poor tumor differentiation, deep submucosal invasion or positive resection margins) was present and as low-risk when all risk factors were absent. Results: Of the 628 included patients, 3 (0.5%) had synchronous distant metastases, 13 (2.1%) malignant incidental findings and 129 (20.5%) benign incidental findings at baseline staging. Radiological surveillance was performed among 336 (53.5%) patients. The 5-year cumulative incidence of distant recurrence, malignant and benign incidental findings were 2.4% (95% confidence interval (CI): 1.1%-5.4%), 2.5% (95% CI: 0.6%-10.4%) and 18.3% (95% CI: 13.4%-24.7%), respectively. No distant metastatic events occurred among low-risk T1 CRC patients. Conclusion: The risk of synchronous distant metastases and distant recurrence in T1 CRC is low, while there is a substantial risk of detecting incidental findings. Radiological staging seems unnecessary prior to local excision of suspected T1 CRC and after local excision of low-risk T1 CRC. Radiological surveillance should not be performed in patients with low-risk T1 CRC.Cellular mechanisms in basic and clinical gastroenterology and hepatolog

Pedunculated Morphology of T1 Colorectal Tumors Associates With Reduced Risk of Adverse Outcome

Cellular mechanisms in basic and clinical gastroenterology and hepatolog

Colonoscopic-Assisted Laparoscopic Wedge Resection for Colonic Lesions A Prospective Multicenter Cohort Study (LIMERIC-Study)

Objective: The aim of this study was to evaluate the safety and efficacy of a modified CAL-WR. Summary Background Data: The use of segmental colectomy in patients with endoscopically unresectable colonic lesions results in significant morbidity and mortality. CAL-WR is an alternative procedure that may reduce morbidity. Methods: This prospective multicenter study was performed in 13 Dutch hospitals between January 2017 and December 2019. Inclusion criteria were (1) colonic lesions inaccessible using current endoscopic resection techniques (judged by an expert panel), (2) non-lifting residual/recurrent adenomatous tissue after previous polypectomy or (3) an undetermined resection margin after endoscopic removal of a low-risk pathological T1 (pT1) colon carcinoma. Thirty-day morbidity, technical success rate and radicality were evaluated. Results: Of the 118 patients included (56% male, mean age 66 years, standard deviation +/- 8 years), 66 (56%) had complex lesions unsuitable for endoscopic removal, 34 (29%) had non-lifting residual/recurrent adenoma after previous polypectomy and 18 (15%) had uncertain resection margins after polypectomy of a pT1 colon carcinoma. CAL-WR was technically successful in 93% and R-0 resection was achieved in 91% of patients. Minor complications (Clavien-Dindo i-ii) were noted in 7 patients (6%) and an additional oncologic segmental resection was performed in 12 cases (11%). Residual tissue at the scar was observed in 5% of patients during endoscopic follow-up. Conclusions: CAL-WR is an effective, organ-preserving approach that results in minor complications and circumvents the need for major surgery. CAL-WR, therefore, deserves consideration when endoscopic excision of circumscribed lesions is impossible or incomplete.Cellular mechanisms in basic and clinical gastroenterology and hepatolog

Patient's needs and preferences in routine follow-up after treatment for colorectal cancer

Item does not contain fulltextBackground: Routine follow-up is a part of the standard medical care after treatment for colorectal cancer (CRC) with curative intent. Medical opinions of the clinical value of oncological follow-up are not uniform. There are no studies on the needs and expectations of Dutch patients treated for colorectal cancer towards the follow-up process. Aim: To investigate the needs and preferences of patients treated for CRC with curative intent, to explore the effect of length of follow-up after treatment on this needs and preferences and to make recommendations to optimize care. Methods: A total of 127 asymptomatic and disease-free patients treated for CRC in the period 1 January 2001 till 31 December 2003 or in the period 1 January 2006 till 31 August 2006 were identified and were sent a standardized questionnaire about needs and preferences towards follow-up. 118 completed questionnaires could be used for analyses. Results: Participants had high expectations for follow-up care concerning detection of recurrences and metastases and with that the life expectancy. Most of them reported a positive attitude towards follow-up: it reassured them and they appreciated the communication with the physician. Visits were not anticipated negatively with nervous distress. The investigations (colonoscopy, ultrasonography, blood tests) were not found burdensome, but a majority of the patients extremely disliked being reminded to the initial disease as a result of follow-up. Most patients were content with the investigation intervals (blood tests, colonoscopy and ultrasonography). One fifth to one third of all participants would appreciate contact with a social worker or a pastoral care provider or wanted information about self-help groups. During the follow-up visits patients would like to talk about: effects of treatment, prognosis, lifestyle after treatment, heredity factors, prevention, nutrition, fatigue, pain, changed stools, stoma and fear. Nearly all patients would be distressed when follow-up would stop after several years. Length of follow-up was not related to the subjects mentioned above. Length of follow-up seemed to lower fear of recurrence. The preference of the frequency of follow-up visits was also related to length of follow-up. A majority would prefer follow-up by a surgeon or a gastroenterologist. The latter was mostly preferred by patients with longer follow-up. A majority would like additional investigations be part of the follow-up visits, especially in the group with longer follow-up. Conclusions: Patients treated for CRC reported a strong preference for follow-up, which could provide reassurance, information and psychological support. There are high expectations concerning prevention of disease recurrence in follow-up care, by which the advantages of invasive investigations outweigh the disadvantages. Length of follow-up has only effect on fear of recurrence, the preference of visit frequency and additional investigations.3 p

Political science, analysis of book reviews 1977

Content analysis of reviews of books on political science in journal 'Acta Politica'

Tumour-stroma ratio has poor prognostic value in nonpedunculated T1 colorectal cancer: a multicentre case-cohort study

Background Current risk stratification models for early invasive (T1) colorectal cancer are not able to discriminate accurately between prognostic favourable and unfavourable tumours, resulting in over-treatment of a large (>80%) proportion of T1 colorectal cancer patients. The tumour-stroma ratio (TSR), which is a measure for the relative amount of desmoplastic tumour stroma, is reported to be a strong independent prognostic factor in advanced-stage colorectal cancer, with a high stromal content being associated with worse prognosis and survival. We aimed to investigate whether the TSR predicts clinical outcome in patients with non-pedunculated T1 colorectal cancer.Methods Haematoxylin and eosin (H&E)-stained tumour tissue slides from a retrospective multicentre case cohort of patients with nonpedunculated surgically treated T1 colorectal cancer were assessed for TSR by two independent observers who were blinded for clinical outcomes. The primary end point was adverse outcome, which was defined as the presence of lymph node metastasis in the resection specimen or colorectal cancer recurrence during follow-up.Results All 261 patients in the case cohort had H&E slides available for TSR scoring. Of these, 183 were scored as stroma-low, and 78 were scored as stroma-high. There was moderate inter-observer agreement kappa = 0.42). In total, 41 patients had lymph node metastasis, 17 patients had recurrent cancer and five had both. Stroma-high tumours were not associated with an increased risk for an adverse outcome (adjusted hazard ratio = 0.66, 95% confidence interval 0.37-1.18; p = 0.163).Conclusions Our study emphasises that existing prognosticators may not be simply extrapolated to T1 colorectal cancers, even though their prognostic value has been widely validated in more advanced-stage tumours.Surgical oncolog