Effects of hospital facilities on patient outcomes after cancer surgery: an international, prospective, observational study

Background Early death after cancer surgery is higher in low-income and middle-income countries (LMICs) compared with in high-income countries, yet the impact of facility characteristics on early postoperative outcomes is unknown. The aim of this study was to examine the association between hospital infrastructure, resource availability, and processes on early outcomes after cancer surgery worldwide.Methods A multimethods analysis was performed as part of the GlobalSurg 3 study-a multicentre, international, prospective cohort study of patients who had surgery for breast, colorectal, or gastric cancer. The primary outcomes were 30-day mortality and 30-day major complication rates. Potentially beneficial hospital facilities were identified by variable selection to select those associated with 30-day mortality. Adjusted outcomes were determined using generalised estimating equations to account for patient characteristics and country-income group, with population stratification by hospital.Findings Between April 1, 2018, and April 23, 2019, facility-level data were collected for 9685 patients across 238 hospitals in 66 countries (91 hospitals in 20 high-income countries; 57 hospitals in 19 upper-middle-income countries; and 90 hospitals in 27 low-income to lower-middle-income countries). The availability of five hospital facilities was inversely associated with mortality: ultrasound, CT scanner, critical care unit, opioid analgesia, and oncologist. After adjustment for case-mix and country income group, hospitals with three or fewer of these facilities (62 hospitals, 1294 patients) had higher mortality compared with those with four or five (adjusted odds ratio [OR] 3.85 [95% CI 2.58-5.75]; p<0.0001), with excess mortality predominantly explained by a limited capacity to rescue following the development of major complications (63.0% vs 82.7%; OR 0.35 [0.23-0.53]; p<0.0001). Across LMICs, improvements in hospital facilities would prevent one to three deaths for every 100 patients undergoing surgery for cancer.Interpretation Hospitals with higher levels of infrastructure and resources have better outcomes after cancer surgery, independent of country income. Without urgent strengthening of hospital infrastructure and resources, the reductions in cancer-associated mortality associated with improved access will not be realised

Prognostic Significance of Programmed Cell Death Ligand 1 (PD-L1), CD8+ Tumor-Infiltrating Lymphocytes and p53 in Non-Small Cell Lung Cancer: An Immunohistochemical Study

Objective: Programmed cell death ligand-1 interacts with the immune receptors on the surface of CD8+ tumor infiltrating lymphocytes and PD-1, thereby blocking its anti-tumor activity. Therapeutics suppression of this interaction will show a promise in the treatment of non-small cell lung cancer by restoring the functional anti-tumor T-cell activity. We aimed to evaluate the association between the immunohistochemical expression of PD-L1, stromal CD8+ tumor infiltrating lymphocytes and p53 with the clinicopathological characteristics, response to chemotherapy, progression-free-survival, and overall survival. Material and Method: We examined the immunohistochemical expression of PD-L1, stromal CD8+ TILs, and p53 expression in 50 patients with advanced stage (III&IV) non-small cell lung cancer. Results: PD-L1 was expressed in 56% of the studied cases. PD-L1 expression was related to unfavorable response to the therapy without significant difference. PD-L1 expression was significantly associated with disease progression, poor progression-free-survival & overall survival. CD8+ TILs were high in 32% of the cases. Tumors with high CD8+ TILs showed a partial response to therapy and had a better progression-free-survival and overall survival. p53 expressed in 82% of the studied cases. There was a significant negative association between PD-L1 and CD8+ TILs (p=0.009), while a non-significant association was found between p53 and PD-L1 (p=0.183). Conclusion: PD-L1 overexpression is an unfavorable prognostic marker, while the high CD8 + TILs is a good prognostic marker in non-small cell lung cancer. PD-L1 immunohistochemical assessment may be used for the selection of patients legible for treatment with anti-PD-L1 therapy

Effect of angiotensin converting enzyme gene polymorphism on patients with in-stent restenosis after percutaneous coronary intervention

Purpose: To evaluate the association between common single nucleotide polymorphisms (SNPs) in angiotensin converting enzyme (ACE) gene and the risk of in-stent restenosis (ISR) and/or the response to angiotensin converting enzyme inhibitor ACEI in individuals with stable coronary artery disease (CAD) after stent implantation. Methods: The total population of this study consisted of 200 Egyptian individuals divided into 2 groups - in-stent restenosis (ISR) and non ISR group). Genomic DNA was withdrawn from EDTA whole blood applying a spin column approach and ACE gene insertion/deletion (I/D) polymorphisms were determined by polymerase chain reaction (PCR). Results: Carriers of allele D of ACE gene were significantly more liable to ISR occurrence. However, carriers of allele I were significantly more liable to ISR occurrence after administration of ACEI. There is a negative interaction between DD genotype of ACE gene and ACEI administration on ISR after percutaneous coronary intervention (PCI). However, there is a positive interaction between II and ID genotype of ACE gene and ACEI administration on ISR after PCI with bare metal stents (BMS). Conclusion: It is beneficial to implement ACEI in therapeutic regimen in individuals with ID or II genotypes of ACE gene, especially with BMS implementation

Utility of anti-carbamylated protein antibodies in the diagnosis of early rheumatoid arthritis

Background: Anti-carbamylated protein (anti-CarP) antibodies are present in patients with Rheumatoid arthritis (RA) and may present before disease onset. Our aim is to investigate the diagnostic value of anti-CarP antibody in Egyptian RA patients. Methods: This cross-sectional study included 96 RA patients (56 patients with early disease and 40 patients with established disease) and 60 healthy controls. Demographic and clinical data, smoking status, and disease activity score were recorded. Laboratory tests included erythrocyte sedimentation rate, C-reactive protein, rheumatoid factor, anti-citrullinated protein antibodies, and anti-CarP antibody. Results: Anti-CarP antibody levels in RA patients were significantly higher than in controls (8.80 ± 5.95 vs. 2.19 ± 1.01, P < 0.0001). Out of 96 RA patients; 74 (77.1%) were positive for anti -CarP anti body including 47patients with early RA while only 5 subjects (8.3%) in control group were positive. Receiver-operating characteristic curve study for diagnostic efficacy of anti-CarP antibody in early RA diagnosis demonstrated a significant area under the curve, 0.950 (95% confidence interval, 0.912–0.987, P < 0.0001) and yielded a sensitivity of 85.4%, a specificity of 93.3%, a positive predictive value of 0.90, and a negative predictive value of 0.86. Conclusion: Anti-CarP antibody is a useful biomarker for early RA diagnosis

Clinical effects of cognitive behavioral therapy in heart failure patients: a meta-analysis of randomized controlled trials

Abstract Background About 20–40% of people with Heart failure (HF) suffer from some depression, which is 4–5% greater than the overall population. This depression can lead to undesirable outcomes, including elevated mortality rate and frequent hospitalization. Purpose The current study aims to evaluate the impact of cognitive behavioural therapy (CBT) on self-care and the symptoms of depression and anxiety in HF patients. Methods We searched PubMed, Web of Science (WOS), Scopus, and Cochrane Library till 15 October 2022. All relevant randomized controlled trials (RCTs) were included. The data were extracted and pooled using Review Manager software (RevMan 5.4). Continuous data were pooled as mean difference and 95% confidence interval (CI). Results Our search retrieved 1146 records, and 7 studies (611 patients) were finally included. We assessed the Beck Depression Inventory-II (BDI-II) as the primary outcome of the study. Hamilton Rating Scale for Depression (HRSD-17), Change in Beck Anxiety Inventory, Kansas City Cardiomyopathy Questionnaire (KCCQ), and Self-Care of Heart Failure Index (SCHFI) were also assessed as secondary outcomes. With CBT, BDI-II showed a significant reduction after 4 to 6 months follow-up (MD = -4.87, 95% CI: [-8.06; -1.69], P = 0.003) as well as 8 to 9 months follow-up (MD = -5.71, 95% CI: [-8.95; -2.46], P = 0.0006). But no significant difference was shown with 3 months follow-up (M.D=-4.34; 95%CI: [-10.70; 2.03], P = 0.18). Conclusions CBT has long-term (4–9 months) significant favorable outcomes decreasing anxiety and depression compared to non-CBT groups. No significant short-term (less than 3 months) impact on HF patients’ self-care, depression, or anxiety were shown