Patients' acceptability and implementation outcomes of a case management approach to encourage participation in colorectal cancer screening for people with schizophrenia: a qualitative secondary analysis of a mixed-method randomised clinical trial

Objectives We examined the efficacy of case management (CM) interventions to encourage participation in colorectal cancer screening for patients with schizophrenia. This study aimed to clarify patients' acceptability of the intervention and the helpful components of the intervention. Simultaneously, the study aimed to determine the acceptability, appropriateness and feasibility of the intervention from the perspective of psychiatric care providers. Study design and setting This study was a secondary qualitative analysis of a mixed-method randomised controlled trial that evaluated the efficacy of the CM approach to encourage participation in cancer screening for people with schizophrenia. The intervention comprised education and patient navigation for colorectal cancer screening. Interviews were conducted with patients who received the intervention and staff from two psychiatric hospitals in Japan who delivered the intervention. Participants Of the 172 patients with schizophrenia who participated in the trial, 153 were included. In addition, three out of six providers were included. Data collection and analysis Using a structured interview, the case manager asked participants about patient acceptability and the helpful components of the intervention. Content analysis was conducted for the responses obtained, and the number of responses was tabulated by two researchers. For the interviews with the providers, opinions obtained from verbatim transcripts were extracted and summarised. Results Forty-three of the 56 patients perceived that the intervention was acceptable. For the intervention component, inperson counselling with an explanation of the screening process by psychiatric care providers was most frequently reported by the patients as helpful (48 of the 68 respondents). Psychiatric care providers evaluated the intervention as acceptable, appropriate and easy to understand and administer. However, providing the intervention to all patients simultaneously was considered difficult with the current human resources. Conclusions This study showed that the CM intervention was perceived as acceptable by patients and acceptable and appropriate by psychiatric care providers

Poor Prognosis of Advanced Gastric Cancer with Metastatic Suprapancreatic Lymph Nodes

BACKGROUND: Whether gastrectomy with D2 lymphadenectomy improves survival of patients with advanced gastric cancer (AGC) remains controversial. Few studies have described the pathological features of AGC with metastatic suprapancreatic lymph nodes (LN), which are the target of D2 lymphadenectomy. This study therefore aims to clarify the prognosis and clinical pathological features including the number and location of metastatic LN in AGC with metastatic suprapancreatic LN. METHODS: 406 patients with AGC, who underwent gastrectomy with D2 lymphadenectomy from 1982 to 2007 at Oita University, were reviewed retrospectively with regard to presence or absence of metastatic suprapancreatic LN. The pathological factors associated with AGC with metastatic suprapancreatic LN were examined by univariate and multivariate analysis. RESULTS: Of 362 patients with AGC, 78 had suprapancreatic LN metastasis (21.5 %), differing significantly in terms of presence of vascular invasion and having a larger number of metastatic perigastric LN in comparison with only metastatic perigastric LN on univariate analysis. According to multivariate analysis, they were associated with presence of vascular invasion and a large number of total metastatic LN (more than two; N2≤). The overall 5-year survival rate of the AGC with perigastric LN metastasis (station 1–7) group was 37.9 % and of the AGC with suprapancreatic LN metastasis group was 12.8 %. There were significant differences in each group (P < 0.05). CONCLUSIONS: Patients with AGC with metastatic suprapancreatic LN had a large number of total metastatic LN and poor prognosis, suggesting that it may be a systemic disease

A case of sigmoid colon perforation due to segmental absence of intestinal musculature (SAIM) accompanied by vascular Ehlers–Danlos syndrome: a case report

Abstract Background Segmental absence of intestinal musculature (SAIM) is a partial defect of the intrinsic muscular layer of the intestinal tract. In this report, we describe a case of perforation of the sigmoid colon due to SAIM accompanied by vascular Ehlers–Danlos syndrome (vEDS), which was successfully treated by surgical therapy. Case presentation A male in his 30 s was being followed up for vEDS diagnosed by genetic testing. He had undergone two major vascular surgeries, abdominal aortic artery revascularization and thoracic endovascular aortic repair for a residual dissection and enlarging abdominal aortic aneurysm. On postoperative day 11, the patient developed perforation of the sigmoid colon for which intraperitoneal lavage and drainage, Hartmann surgery, and transverse colostomy were performed. Histological findings showed no disturbance of blood flow or diverticulum but did show a defect in the intrinsic muscular layer around the perforation site, leading to the pathological diagnosis of SAIM and associated perforation of the sigmoid colon. Postoperatively, the patient had no complications and was discharged on postoperative day 18. The patient is being followed as an outpatient and has experienced no relapse. Conclusions Both SAIM and vEDS, which may be related diseases, are associated with the presence of tissue fragility and have a high potential to cause intestinal perforation Caution should be exercised during surveillance in patients with constipation and examinations that cause increased intestinal pressure

Current status of gastrectomy and reconstruction types for patients with proximal gastric cancer in Japan

Background: Surgical procedures for proximal gastric cancer remain a highly debated topic. Total gastrectomy (TG) is widely accepted as a standard radical surgery. However, subtotal esophagectomy, proximal gastrectomy (PG) or even subtotal gastrectomy, when a small upper portion of the stomach can technically be preserved, are alternatives in current clinical practice. Methods: Using a cohort of the PGSAS NEXT trial, consisting of 1909 patients responding to a questionnaire sent to 70 institutions between July 2018 and December 2019, gastrectomy type, reconstruction method, and furthermore the remnant stomach size and the anti-reflux procedures for PG were evaluated. Results: TG was the procedure most commonly performed (63.0%), followed by PG (33.4%). Roux-en-Y was preferentially employed following TG irrespective of esophageal tumor invasion, while jejunal pouch was adopted in 8.5% of cases with an abdominal esophageal stump. Esophagogastrostomy was most commonly selected after PG, followed by the double-tract method. The former was preferentially employed for larger remnant stomachs (≧3/4), while being used slightly less often for tumors with as compared to those without esophageal invasion in cases with a remnant stomach 2/3 the size of the original stomach. Application of the double-tract method gradually increased as the remnant stomach size decreased. Anti-reflux procedures following esophagogastrostomy varied markedly. Conclusions: TG is the mainstream and PG remains an alternative in current Japanese clinical practice for proximal gastric cancer. Remnant stomach size and esophageal stump location appear to influence the choice of reconstruction method following PG

Long-term outcomes of neoadjuvant-synchronous S-1 plus radiotherapy for locally advanced rectal cancer: a multi-institutional prospective phase II study

Objectives: This study aimed to evaluate the long-term outcomes of neoadjuvant chemoradiotherapy with S-1 in patients with locally advanced rectal cancer. Methods: A multi-institutional, prospective, phase II trial was conducted between April 2009 and August 2011. The study enrolled 37 patients with histologically proven rectal carcinoma (T3-4 N0-3 M0) who underwent neoadjuvant chemoradiotherapy with S-1. Total mesorectal excision with D3 lymphadenectomy was performed 4-8 weeks after completion of neoadjuvant chemoradiotherapy with S-1 in 36 patients. We then analyzed late adverse events, overall survival, and disease-free survival. Results: The median patient age was 59 years (range: 32-79 years); there were 24 men and 13 women. Ten patients had Stage II disease, and 27 had Stage III disease. Severe late adverse events occurred in 7 patients (18.9%). The 5-year disease-free survival was 66.7%, and the 5-year overall survival was 74.7%. The median follow-up period was 57 months. Local recurrences developed in 5 patients (13.5%), and distant metastases developed in 8 (21.6%). Conclusion: Neoadjuvant-synchronous chemoradiotherapy with S-1 for locally advanced rectal cancer is feasible in terms of adverse events and long-term outcomes. (UMIN Clinical Trial Registry: UMIN000003396

A 17-molecule set as a predictor of complete response to neoadjuvant chemotherapy with docetaxel, cisplatin, and 5-fluorouracil in esophageal cancer

<div><p>Background</p><p>Recently, neoadjuvant chemotherapy with docetaxel/cisplatin/5-fluorouracil (NAC-DCF) was identified as a novel strong regimen with a high rate of pathological complete response (pCR) in advanced esophageal cancer in Japan. Predicting pCR will contribute to the therapeutic strategy and the prevention of surgical invasion. However, a predictor of pCR after NAC-DCF has not yet been developed. The aim of this study was to identify a novel predictor of pCR in locally advanced esophageal cancer treated with NAC-DCF.</p><p>Patients and methods</p><p>A total of 32 patients who received NAC-DCF followed by esophagectomy between June 2013 and March 2016 were enrolled in this study. We divided the patients into the following 2 groups: pCR group (9 cases) and non-pCR group (23 cases), and compared gene expressions between these groups using DNA microarray data and KeyMolnet. Subsequently, a validation study of candidate molecular expression was performed in 7 additional cases.</p><p>Results</p><p>Seventeen molecules, including transcription factor E2F, T-cell-specific transcription factor, Src (known as “proto-oncogene tyrosine-protein kinase of sarcoma”), interferon regulatory factor 1, thymidylate synthase, cyclin B, cyclin-dependent kinase (CDK) 4, CDK, caspase-1, vitamin D receptor, histone deacetylase, MAPK/ERK kinase, bcl-2-associated X protein, runt-related transcription factor 1, PR domain zinc finger protein 1, platelet-derived growth factor receptor, and interleukin 1, were identified as candidate molecules. The molecules were mainly associated with pathways, such as transcriptional regulation by SMAD, RB/E2F, and STAT. The validation study indicated that 12 of the 17 molecules (71%) matched the trends of molecular expression.</p><p>Conclusions</p><p>A 17-molecule set that predicts pCR after NAC-DCF for locally advanced esophageal cancer was identified.</p></div