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Background: Appendix adenocarcinomas (AAs) are rare tumours that often present late, with a propensity for peritoneal metastases (PMs). This study aimed to evaluate outcomes of AA patients undergoing cytoreductive surgery (CRS) with curative intent and determine the role of systemic chemotherapy., Materials and Methods: Data were collected from a prospective database and classified according to World Health Organization (WHO) 2019 classification. Tumour clearance from CRS was described using a completeness of cytoreduction (CC) score ranging from 0 [no residual disease (RD)] to 3 (>2.5 cm RD). Patients with CC0-2 CRS received hyperthermic intraperitoneal chemotherapy (HIPEC). Systemic chemotherapy was categorised as 'prior' (>6 months before), 'neoadjuvant' (<6 months before), 'adjuvant' (<6 months after CC0-1 CRS) or 'palliative' (after CC2-3 CRS). Analyses used Kaplan-Meier and Cox regression methods., Results: Between January 2005 and August 2021, 216 AA patients were identified for inclusion. Median age was 59 years (21-81 years). CRS/HIPEC was carried out in 182 (84%) patients, of whom 164/182 (76%) had mitomycin C HIPEC. CC0-1 was achieved in 172 (80%) patients. Systemic chemotherapy was given to 97 (45%) patients from the whole cohort and to 37/46 (80%) patients with positive nodes. Median overall survival (OS) was 122 months (95% confidence interval 61-182 months). After multivariate analysis, patients with acellular and lower-grade PM had similar OS to those with localised (M0) disease (P = 0.59 and P = 0.19). For patients with positive nodes, systemic chemotherapy was associated with reduced risk of death compared to no chemotherapy (P < 0.0019)., Conclusion: This study identifies AA patients with positive lymph nodes derive the most benefit from systemic chemotherapy. We confirm the prognostic importance of stage and peritoneal grade, with excellent outcomes in patients with acellular mucin and lower-grade PM., (Copyright © 2023 The Authors. Published by Elsevier Ltd.. All rights reserved.)

Background and Aims: Cytoreductive Surgery (CRS) and Hyperthermic Intraperitoneal Chemotherapy (HIPEC) is an established treatment in selected patients with peritoneal metastases, delivered in the UK in specialist centres. HIPEC can be administered via the open coliseum technique as first described by Sugarbaker (O-HIPEC) or using a closed technique (C-HIPEC). Data comparing the safety and outcomes of these different approaches is limited. This study aims to compare morbidity and mortality rates of O-HIPEC and C-HIPEC following CRS for peritoneal metastases from colorectal cancer and appendiceal tumours., Methods: Consecutive patients undergoing CRS with open (05/2019-04/2020) and closed (05/2020-04/2021) HIPEC were identified from a prospectively maintained database. Baseline data including primary pathology, HIPEC agent and major operative procedures were analysed using Chi-squared and Fishers exact tests to ensure comparability of groups. Primary outcomes were 30- and 60-day postoperative mortality and morbidity (Common Terminology Criteria for Adverse Events, CTCAE). Secondary outcomes were length of critical care and overall hospital stay. In addition, morbidity and mortality were compared between HIPEC agents (mitomycin and oxaliplatin/5-fluorouracil)., Results: 99 patients (39.3%) and 153 patients (60.7%) underwent O-HIPEC, C-HIPEC respectively. Groups were well matched for baseline demographics, pathology, and HIPEC agent. In the O-HIPEC and C-HIPEC groups respectively, the incidence of 60-day complications (CTCAE 1-4) was 40.4% vs 39.3% (chi squared 0.94) and severe complications (CTCAE 3-4) 14% vs 13% (Fisher's exact p = 1) There was no perioperative mortality but one death in each group within the follow up period. There was no difference in morbidity or mortality between those receiving mitomycin or oxaliplatin., Conclusion: Closed administration of HIPEC is safe with no difference in post-operative morbidity or mortality compared to open HIPEC administration. Differences in longer term oncological outcomes including overall survival and disease-free survival between open and closed HIPEC techniques are yet to be determined., (Copyright © 2023 Elsevier Ltd, BASO ~ The Association for Cancer Surgery, and the European Society of Surgical Oncology. All rights reserved.)

Introduction: Low grade appendiceal mucinous neoplasms (LAMN) are known to metastasise to the peritoneum resulting in pseudomyxoma peritonei (PMP). Literature suggests that the long-term outcome is dependent on the cellular grade of the peritoneal histology, less is known about the risk to patients with acellular mucinosis (AM) alone. This study aims to review long-term outcomes in patients with PMP treated with Cytoreductive Surgery and Hyperthermic Intraperitoneal Chemotherapy (CRS/HIPEC), whose peritoneal histology was AM secondary to LAMN., Methods: Pathological and treatment outcomes were collected from a prospectively maintained database between 2005 and 2019. Data was collected on patients with LAMN and AM diagnosed following CRS/HIPEC. A single institution performed the surgery and pathology reporting, samples reported by three different pathologists., Results: Of the 2079 patients with any appendiceal neoplasm referred between 2005 and 2019, 809 underwent CRS/HIPEC, 67 (8%) of those had PMP with purely AM secondary to a LAMN. In the AM group the median age was 59, 37 (55%) were female, follow up was for a median 39 (2-145) months. Inpatient mortality occurred in 1 patient (1.5%), disease specific mortality in 2 (3%), recurrence in 2 (3%) and disease progression in 1 (1.5%)., Conclusion: This study has identified AM secondary to LAMN as a low risk group for recurrence following CRS/HIPEC compared with epithelial pathology. Given such a low rate of recurrence we would recommend low intensity surveillance post CRS/HIPEC. Agreed standardised pathological assessment is required to exclude cellular material in specimens and diagnose AM., Competing Interests: Declaration of competing interest We have no conflicts of interest to disclose., (Crown Copyright © 2020. Published by Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved.)

Objectives: To examine the within-trial costs and cost-effectiveness of using PARO, compared with a plush toy and usual care, for reducing agitation and medication use in people with dementia in long-term care., Design: An economic evaluation, nested within a cluster-randomized controlled trial., Setting: Twenty-eight facilities in South-East Queensland, Australia., Participants: A total of 415 residents, all aged 60 years or older, with documented diagnoses of dementia., Intervention: Facilities were randomized to 1 of 3 groups: PARO (individual, nonfacilitated 15-minute sessions, 3 afternoons per week for 10 weeks); plush toy (as per PARO but with artificial intelligence disabled); and usual care., Measurements: The incremental cost per Cohen-Mansfield Agitation Inventory-Short Form (CMAI-SF) point averted from a provider's perspective. Australian New Zealand Clinical Trials Registry (BLINDED FOR REVIEW)., Results: For the within-trial costs, the PARO group was $50.47 more expensive per resident compared with usual care, whereas the plush toy group was $37.26 more expensive than usual care. There were no statistically significant between-group differences in agitation levels after the 10-week intervention. The point estimates of the incremental cost-effectiveness ratios were $13.01 for PARO and $12.85 for plush toy per CMAI-SF point averted relative to usual care., Conclusion: The plush toy used in this study offered marginally greater value for money than PARO in improving agitation. However, these costs are much lower than values estimated for psychosocial group activities and sensory interventions, suggesting that both a plush toy and the PARO are cost-effective psychosocial treatment options for agitation., (Copyright © 2017 AMDA – The Society for Post-Acute and Long-Term Care Medicine. Published by Elsevier Inc. All rights reserved.)

Objectives: To investigate the effects of Swedish massage with aromatic ginger oil (SMGO) on chronic low back pain and disability in older adults compared with traditional Thai massage (TTM)., Design: Randomized controlled trial., Setting: Massage clinic in Ratchaburi province, Thailand., Participants: 164 patients were screened; 140 were eligible, and randomized to either SMGO (n=70) or TTM (n=70)., Intervention: Trained staff provided participants with a 30-min SMGO or TTM twice a week for five weeks., Measurement: The Visual Analogue Scale (VAS) assessed immediate effect (after each massage) and the short form McGill Pain Questionnaire (MPQ) assessed effectiveness of massage in short-term (six weeks) and long-term (15 weeks). Disability improvement was measured by the Owestry Disability Questionnaire (ODQ) at baseline, short- and long-term., Results: Both SMGO and TTM led to significant improvements in pain intensity (p<0.05) and disability (p<0.05) across the period of assessments, indicating immediate, short- and long-term effectiveness. SMGO was more effective than TTM in reducing pain (p=0.04) and improving disability at short- and long-term assessments (p=0.04)., Conclusions: These findings suggest that the integration of either SMGO or TTM therapy as additional options to provide holistic care to older people with chronic low back pain could be considered by health professionals. Further research into the use of ginger as an adjunct to massage therapy, particularly TTM, is recommended., (Copyright © 2013 Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved.)