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Ameloblastoma is a rare, benign, but locally aggressive odontogenic tumor that originates from the epithelial cells involved in tooth development. The surgical approach to treating an ameloblastoma depends on the type, size, location, and extent of the tumor, as well as the patient's age and overall health. This umbrella review's aim is to summarize the findings from systematic reviews (SRs) and meta-analyses on the effect of radical or conservative treatment of ameloblastoma on the recurrence rate and quality of life, to evaluate the methodological quality of the included SRs and discuss the clinical management. Three electronic databases (PubMed, Scopus, The Cochrane Library) were checked. The primary outcome was the recurrence rate after surgical treatment, while the secondary outcomes were the post-operative complications, quality of life, esthetic, and functional impairment. The methodological quality of the included SRs was assessed using the updated version of "A Measurement Tool to Assess Systematic Review" (AMSTAR-2). Eighteen SRs were included. The quality of the included reviews ranged from critically low (three studies) to high (eight studies). Four studies were included in meta-analysis, and they revealed that the recurrence rate is about three-times more likely in the conservative treatment group compared to the radical treatment group, and this result is statistically significant. Despite the high recurrence rate, the latter was more appropriate in the case of smaller lesions and younger patients, due to better post-operative quality of life and reduced functional and esthetic impairments. Based on the results of this overview, conservative treatment may be recommended as the first-line approach for intraosseous ameloblastoma not involving soft tissue. However, given the expectation of a higher recurrence rate, it is advisable to reduce the interval between follow-up visits. However, further prospective studies are needed to establish the best treatment choice and follow-up period. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Objectives: To describe the health‐related quality of life (HRQoL) of patients in a prospective 12‐month observational cohort study of new bladder cancer diagnoses and compare with national cancer and general population surveys. Patients and Methods: A prospective UK study in patients with new bladder cancer diagnoses at 13 NHS Trusts. The HRQoL data were collected at 3, 6, 9 and 12 months. Questionnaires used included: the EuroQoL five Dimensions (EQ‐5D), European Organisation for Research and Treatment of Cancer quality of life questionnaire (EORTC QLQ)‐30‐item core, EORTC QLQ‐24‐item non‐muscle‐invasive bladder cancer, and EORTC QLQ‐30‐item muscle‐invasive bladder cancer. Results were compared with the Cancer Quality of Life Survey and Health Survey for England. Results: A total of 349 patients were recruited, 296 (85%) completed the first (baseline) and 233 (67%) the final survey. The patients underwent transurethral resection of bladder tumour (TURBT) ± intravesical therapy (238 patients, 80%), radical cystectomy/radiotherapy (51, 17%) or palliation (seven, 2%). At baseline, patients needing radical treatment reported worse HRQoL including lower social function (74.2 vs 83.8, P = 0.002), increased fatigue (31.5 vs 26.1, P = 0.03) and more future worries (39.2 vs 29.4, P = 0.005) than patients who underwent TURBT. Post‐treatment surveys showed no change/improvements for patients who underwent TURBT but deterioration for the radically treated cohort. At final survey, reports were similar to baseline, regardless of treatment. Radically treated patients continued to report poorer HRQoL including issues with body image (23.4 vs 12.5, P = 0.007) and male sexual function (75.8 vs 40.4, P < 0.001) compared to those who underwent TURBT. Radically treated patients reported lower EQ‐5D utility scores and more problems with usual activities than the general population. Discussion: Patients undergoing TURBT can be reassured regarding HRQoL following treatment. However, those requiring radical treatment report greater changes in HRQoL with the need for appropriate clinical and supportive care to minimise the impact of treatments. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Objective To analyze the epidemiological characteristics of imported vivax malaria, ovale malaria and glucose-6-phosphate dehydrogenase（G6PD) deficiency in Shanglin County, and to provide a scientific basis for malaria prevention and control. Methods The data of patients with imported malaria admitted to the People′s Hospital of Shanglin from June 18, 2017 to March 29, 2023 were collected and analyzed. Results A total of 578 patients with imported malaria were admitted, of which 40. 48%（234/578) were falciparum malaria patients, and 37. 54%（217/578) were vivax malaria, oval malaria and mixed infection patients who needed primaquine for radical treatment. Among them, G6PD deficiency patients accounted for 10. 90%（63/578), and G6PD deficiency patients requiring radical treatment accounted for 9. 68%（21/217). Conclusion There are more patients with imported vivax malaria and ovale malaria who need to be cured in Shanglin County, especially for patients with G6PD deficiency who need to be cured, management should be strengthened to prevent the occurrence of second-generation cases. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The selection of postoperative antiviral therapy for hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) patients with HBV infection undergoing radical treatments (HPHR) is a topic of ongoing debate and controversy. The primary aim of this study was to compare the prognostic impact of selecting entecavir (ETV) or tenofovir disoproxil fumarate (TDF) as antiviral therapy options in HPHR. All the studies included in this analysis were implemented propensity score matching (PSM) methodology. Meta-analysis was performed using R statistical software (version 4.3.0). The primary outcome measures, overall survival (OS) and recurrence-free survival (RFS), were quantified using hazard ratios (HR) and 95% confidence intervals (CI). This study analyzed 13 studies involving 6961 patients (2394 in the TDF group and 4567 in the ETV group). We conducted a meta-analysis of 8 studies that included a total of 5289 patients using the PSM analysis method. In comparison to the ETV group, the TDF group demonstrated significantly better RFS (HR = 0.81; 95% CI, 0.70–0.93; p = 0.0034) and OS (HR = 0.61; 95% CI, 0.42–0.88; p = 0.0085). Furthermore, the disparity between the two drugs was particularly evident in the prognosis of patients undergoing hepatectomy. Regional disparities were observed, with mainland China studies favoring RFS benefits and Taiwan or Korea studies favoring OS benefits. In conclusion, TDF has demonstrated significant superiority over ETV in terms of RFS and OS outcomes for HPHR. The findings hold significant implications for informing clinical decision-making and guiding the selection of postoperative antiviral therapy drugs in HCC patients. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Fibromyalgia (FM) is a chronic pain condition characterized by widespread musculoskeletal pain and other frequent symptoms such as fatigue, sleep disturbance, cognitive impairment, and mood disorder. Based on the view that intermittent stress would be the most probable etiology for FM, intermittent cold- and intermittent psychological stress-induced generalized pain (ICGP and IPGP) models in mice have been developed and validated as FM-like pain models in terms of the patho-physiological and pharmacotherapeutic features that are shared with clinical versions. Both models show long-lasting and generalized pain and female-predominant sex differences after gonadectomy. Like many other neuropathic pain models, ICGP and IPGP were abolished in lysophosphatidic acid receptor 1 (LPAR1) knock-out mice or by LPAR1 antagonist treatments, although deciding the clinical importance of this mechanism depends on waiting for the development of a clinically available LPAR1 antagonist. On the other hand, the nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drug diclofenac with morphine did not suppress hyperalgesia in these models, and this is consistent with the clinical findings. Pharmacological studies suggest that the lack of morphine analgesia is associated with opioid tolerance upon the stress-induced release of endorphins and subsequent counterbalance through anti-opioid NMDA receptor mechanisms. Regarding pharmacotherapy, hyperalgesia in both models was suppressed by pregabalin and duloxetine, which have been approved for FM treatment in clinic. Notably, repeated treatments with mirtazapine, an α2 adrenergic receptor antagonist-type antidepressant, and donepezil, a drug for treating Alzheimer's disease, showed potent therapeutic actions in these models. However, the pharmacotherapeutic treatment should be carried out 3 months after stress, which is stated in the FM guideline, and many preclinical studies, such as those analyzing molecular and cellular mechanisms, as well as additional evidence using different animal models, are required. Thus, the ICGP and IPGP models have the potential to help discover and characterize new therapeutic medicines that might be used for the radical treatment of FM, although there are several limitations to be overcome. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background/aim: Oligometastatic disease for nonsmall cell lung cancer (NSCLC) patients is generally thought to represent a better prognosis with a quieter biology, limited number of disease sites and long-term disease control. In this study, we aimed to determine the efficacy of radical treatment options for patients with oligometastatic NSCLC. Materials and methods: This retrospective trial included totally 134 patients with oligometastatic NSCLC. The presence of oncodriver mutation, tumor stages and nodal status, the number of metastases and involved metastatic site, treatment of primary tumor and oligometastasis, response rate, overall survival (OS) and progression-free survival (PFS) were evaluated. Results: Of 134 patients 66.4% were defined as adenocarcinoma, 26.1% were squamous cell carcinoma and 7.5% of patients were in other histology. Based on the treatment of primary tumor, in 36 patients (26.9%) curative surgery has undergone, in addition, 19 (14.2%) patients were received chemotherapy, 73 (54.5%) were treated with chemoradiotherapy, while immunotherapy and targeted therapy were used in 1 (0.7%) and 2 (1.4%), respectively. The preferred treatment for oligometastatic lesions were SBRT in 72.4% of patients, surgery in 10.5%, and both SBRT and surgery in 17.1% of patients. At the median follow up of 31.3 months (range: 9.5-48.5), the median PFS and OS times were 17 and 24.4 months, respectively. Moreover, OS-2 after progression was also 7.2 months. Conclusion: Based on our real-life experience, we demonstrated a significant correlation between good response to first treatment and survival in oligometastatic disease, we also understand that local ablative treatment modalities prolong and also delay both OS and PFS in oligometastatic NSCLC patients OS-2. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Introduction. Currently, various methods and modifications of radical prostatectomy (RP) have been developed and tested, aimed at preventing and minimizing the development of urinary incontinence (UI). However, UI remains an urgent problem in patients who undergo RP, especially at the early follow-up stages.Objective. To evaluate and compare the effectiveness of modified reconstructive techniques for vesicourethral anastomosis in radical prostatectomy for the prevention of urinary incontinence with respect to the standard technique at different follow-up periods.Materials and methods. Design: single-centre, clinical, simple, comparative, parallel-group study with retrospective and prospective material evaluation, conducted in 2017 – 2022. Patients: men with verified prostate cancer cT1a – 2cN0 – xM0 without decompensated comorbidities. Age: 45 – 78 years. Retrospective part — group (G) 1: 90 patients who underwent non-nerve-sparing open retropubic RP with a "classic" vesicourethral anastomosis (VUA). Prospective part — G2: 46 patients who underwent similar surgery with modified VUA in two variations: without and with prostatic urethra-sparing — G2a (n = 25) and G2b (n = 21), respectively. Initial examination: standard preoperative laboratory and instrumental examination, assessment of lower urinary tract symptoms (LUTS) using the IPSS-QoL questionnaire. Follow-up examination: objective evaluation of UI according to established criteria and subjective assessment using the ICIQ-SF questionnaire, tracking the dynamics of LUTS using IPSS-QoL. Follow-up periods: 0-point (after catheter removal), 1, 3, 6, and 12 months (exit-point); the dynamics of recovery of urinary continence (UC) was determined monthly. Statistical analysis: Statistica ver.10.0 (StatSoft Inc., Tulsa, OK, USA) using non-parametric methods (CL p < 0.05 at a = 0.05)Results. Preoperative demographic, questionnaire and instrumental statistics did not differ (p > 0.05) between the groups, confirming the homogeneity of the samples. After RP, the urethral catheter was removed in a period of 7 to 21 days. There was no difference (p > 0.05) in the duration of drainage between the groups. Total urinary continence (TUC) immediately after catheter removal was detected in G1, G2a and G2b in 20.0%, 44.0% and 57.1% of cases, respectively. Subsequent objective monitoring of UC recovery from 1 month showed differences (p < 0.001) between the groups in the dynamics of rehabilitation during the year. The improvement in UC over the one-year follow-up period was cumulatively achieved in G1, G2a and G2b in 48.9%, 44.0% and 33.3% of cases, respectively. Total UI persisted in G1 and G2a by month 12 in 22.2% and 8.0% of patients, respectively, and was not detected in G2b. The severity of UI by the end of the follow-up according to the ICIQ-SF data was the most pronounced (p < 0.001) in patients from G1. TUC-patients in all groups from 1 month showed a marked decrease in the severity of obstructive and irritative LUTS and improved quality of life, with no differences (0.157 < p < 0.390) in IPSS-QoL values between groups.Conclusions. The use of modified VUA reconstruction techniques made it possible, compared with the standard one, to achieve high continence rates in patients both immediately after the removal of the urethral catheter and at subsequent follow-up periods, without the formation of severe iatrogenic obstruction. Prostatic urethra-sparing modification is the most effective technique that provided the rehabilitation of UI to a complete and/or social level in all patients within a year after surgery.

Abstract Background The effect of enzalutamide in patients with non-metastatic castration-resistant prostate cancer after combined androgen blockade, which represents a patient profile similar to real-world clinical practice in Japan, remains unknown. Therefore, we investigate the efficacy and safety of enzalutamide after combined androgen blockade for recurrence following radical treatment in Japanese patients with non-metastatic castration-resistant prostate cancer. Methods We analyzed 66 patients with non-metastatic castration-resistant prostate cancer after combined androgen blockade for recurrence following radical prostatectomy or radiation therapy who were prospectively enrolled from October 2015 to March 2018. They received enzalutamide 160 mg orally once daily until the protocol treatment discontinuation criteria were met. The primary endpoint was prostate-specific antigen-progression-free survival, defined as the time from enrollment to prostate-specific antigen-based progression or death from any cause. The secondary endpoints included overall survival, progression-free survival, metastasis-free survival, time to prostate-specific antigen progression, prostate-specific antigen response rate, chemotherapy-free survival, and safety assessment. Results The median observation period was 27.3 months. The median prostate-specific antigen-progression-free survival was 35.0 months (95% confidence interval, 17.5 to not reached). The median overall survival, median progression-free survival, median metastasis-free survival, and chemotherapy-free survival were not reached, with the corresponding 2-year rates being 91.6%, 67.1%, 72.4%, and 85.8%, respectively. The 50% prostate-specific antigen response rate was 88.9%, with the median time being 2.8 months. In total, 42.2% of the patients experienced adverse events, with malaise being the most common. Conclusions Enzalutamide effectively manages non-metastatic castration-resistant prostate cancer after combined androgen blockade for recurrence following radical treatment. Trial registration: UMIN000018964, CRB6180007.

In the treatment of localized prostate cancer, active surveillance is selected for clinically insignificant cancer, and radical therapy is selected for significant cancer. However, there is a group of patients for whom neither treatment is sufficient in terms of both cancer control and quality of life maintenance. Focal therapy is expected to be a treatment for such cases. Reports from various authors on focal therapy have shown good short- to mid-term oncological results and excellent urinary control and sexual function. In Japan, the Japanese Urological Association issued "Guidelines for Clinical Evaluation of Medical Devices for Localized Treatment of Prostate Cancer" in April 2021, and it is expected that evidence for focal therapy will be accumulated in the future. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Fibromyalgia (FM) is a chronic pain condition characterized by widespread musculoskeletal pain and other frequent symptoms such as fatigue, sleep disturbance, cognitive impairment, and mood disorder. Based on the view that intermittent stress would be the most probable etiology for FM, intermittent cold- and intermittent psychological stress-induced generalized pain (ICGP and IPGP) models in mice have been developed and validated as FM-like pain models in terms of the patho-physiological and pharmacotherapeutic features that are shared with clinical versions. Both models show long-lasting and generalized pain and female-predominant sex differences after gonadectomy. Like many other neuropathic pain models, ICGP and IPGP were abolished in lysophosphatidic acid receptor 1 (LPAR1) knock-out mice or by LPAR1 antagonist treatments, although deciding the clinical importance of this mechanism depends on waiting for the development of a clinically available LPAR1 antagonist. On the other hand, the nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drug diclofenac with morphine did not suppress hyperalgesia in these models, and this is consistent with the clinical findings. Pharmacological studies suggest that the lack of morphine analgesia is associated with opioid tolerance upon the stress-induced release of endorphins and subsequent counterbalance through anti-opioid NMDA receptor mechanisms. Regarding pharmacotherapy, hyperalgesia in both models was suppressed by pregabalin and duloxetine, which have been approved for FM treatment in clinic. Notably, repeated treatments with mirtazapine, an α2 adrenergic receptor antagonist-type antidepressant, and donepezil, a drug for treating Alzheimer’s disease, showed potent therapeutic actions in these models. However, the pharmacotherapeutic treatment should be carried out 3 months after stress, which is stated in the FM guideline, and many preclinical studies, such as those analyzing molecular and cellular mechanisms, as well as additional evidence using different animal models, are required. Thus, the ICGP and IPGP models have the potential to help discover and characterize new therapeutic medicines that might be used for the radical treatment of FM, although there are several limitations to be overcome.

Objectives: To compare the medical costs of active surveillance with those of robot‐assisted laparoscopic prostatectomy, brachytherapy, intensity‐modulated radiation therapy, and hormone therapy for low‐risk prostate cancer. Methods: The costs of protocol biopsies performed in the first year of surveillance (between January 2010 and June 2020) and those of brachytherapy and radiation therapy performed between May 2019 and June 2020 at the Kagawa University Hospital were analyzed. Hormone therapy costs were assumed to be the costs of luteinizing hormone‐releasing hormone analogs for over 5 years. Active surveillance‐eligible patients were defined based on the following: age <74 years, ≤T2, Gleason score ≤6, prostate‐specific antigen level ≤10 ng/ml, and 1–2 positive cores. We estimated the total number of active surveillance‐eligible patients in Japan based on the Japan Study Group of Prostate Cancer (J‐CAP) study and the 2017 cancer statistical data. We then calculated the 5‐year treatment costs of active surveillance‐eligible patients using the J‐CAP and PRIAS‐JAPAN study data. Results: In 2017, number of active surveillance‐eligible patients in Japan was estimated to be 2808. The 5‐year total costs of surveillance, prostatectomy, brachytherapy, radiation therapy, and hormone therapy were 1.65, 14.0, 4.61, 4.04, and 5.87 million United States dollar (USD), respectively. If 50% and 100% of the patients in each treatment group had opted for active surveillance as the initial treatment, the total treatment cost would have been reduced by USD 6.89 million (JPY 889 million) and USD 13.8 million (JPY 1.78 billion), respectively. Conclusion: Expanding active surveillance to eligible patients with prostate cancer helps save medical costs. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The aim of this study was to evaluate the current role of local treatment in prostate cancer with a low metastatic burden (or oligometastatic) in relation to survival and safety. We performed a meta-analysis of studies published in the MEDLINE, EMBASE, and Cochrane databases until December 2021. Studies comparing local and nonlocal treatment in patients with metastatic prostate cancer were included. The risk of bias within studies was assessed using the Newcastle–Ottawa and Cochrane risk of bias tool. Oligo-metastasis was defined as low-volume metastasis with up to five lesions. The local treatment used was radical prostatectomy or external beam radiation therapy associated with systemic therapy (i.e., androgen deprivation therapy ± abiraterone, docetaxel, enzalutamide, or apalutamide). The endpoints evaluated were overall survival, cancer-specific survival, failure-free survival, and complication rates. Thirteen studies including 46,541 patients were included. The 5-year overall survival (16.0% vs. 6.5%, respectively; odds ratio (OR) 2.74; 95% confidence interval (CI), 2.18, 3.44; I2 = 0%; p <.00001) and 3-year cancer-specific survival (48.2% vs. 26.3%, respectively; OR 1.87; 95% CI: 1.44, 2.44; I2 = 0%; p <.00001) were higher in the local treatment group than that of the nonlocal treatment group. In addition, failure-free survival at 3 years was higher in the local treatment group than that of the nonlocal treatment group (40.5% vs. 28.4%, respectively; OR 1.72; 95% CI, 1.38, 2.14; I2 = 0%; p <.00001). The low complication rate of Clavien–Dindo grade ≥3 indicated that local treatment is feasible and safe in this setting. Recent data have shown that local treatment combined with systematic therapy, might improve the overall, cancer-specific, and failure-free survivals of patients diagnosed with metastatic prostate cancer. Furthermore, local treatment is both feasible and safe. Further studies evaluating the quality of life of these patients are needed. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: The effect of enzalutamide in patients with non-metastatic castration-resistant prostate cancer after combined androgen blockade, which represents a patient profile similar to real-world clinical practice in Japan, remains unknown. Therefore, we investigate the efficacy and safety of enzalutamide after combined androgen blockade for recurrence following radical treatment in Japanese patients with non-metastatic castration-resistant prostate cancer.Methods: We analyzed 66 patients with non-metastatic castration-resistant prostate cancer after combined androgen blockade for recurrence following radical prostatectomy or radiation therapy who were prospectively enrolled from October 2015 to March 2018. They received enzalutamide 160 mg orally once daily until the protocol treatment discontinuation criteria were met. The primary endpoint was prostate-specific antigen-progression-free survival, defined as the time from enrollment to prostate-specific antigen-based progression or death from any cause. The secondary endpoints included overall survival, progression-free survival, metastasis-free survival, time to prostate-specific antigen progression, prostate-specific antigen response rate, chemotherapy-free survival, and safety assessment.Results: The median observation period was 27.3 months. The median prostate-specific antigen-progression-free survival was 35.0 months (95% confidence interval, 17.5 to not reached). The median overall survival, median progression-free survival, median metastasis-free survival, and chemotherapy-free survival were not reached, with the corresponding 2-year rates being 91.6%, 67.1%, 72.4%, and 85.8%, respectively. The 50% prostate-specific antigen response rate was 88.9%, with the median time being 2.8 months. In total, 42.2% of the patients experienced adverse events, with malaise being the most common.Conclusions: Enzalutamide effectively manages non-metastatic castration-resistant prostate cancer after combined androgen blockade for recurrence following radical treatment.Trial Registration:  UMIN000018964, CRB6180007. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Simple Summary: Radical treatment combined with synchronous splenectomy has recently emerged as an effective therapy for patients with hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC), in the setting of portal hypertension secondary to liver cirrhosis, but its survival benefits remain to be elucidated. We retrospectively analyzed a longitudinal cohort of 96 patients receiving HCC radical treatment combined with splenectomy and a control group comprising 42 patients receiving radical treatment alone, comparing the oncological outcomes of the synchronous splenectomy for the two subgroups. Our analysis highlighted better recurrence-free survival (RFS), particularly in stage T1 patients. Cox multivariate analysis showed that preoperative irregular anti-viral therapy, Child-Pugh grade B liver function, vascular invasion, and microvascular invasion (MVI) were independent risk factors for early postoperative RFS (within 2 years), and preoperative irregular anti-viral therapy and vascular invasion were independent risk factors for 5-year overall survival (OS). Background: The survival benefits of radical treatment (resection or radiofrequency ablation) combined with splenectomy for primary hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) in patients with liver-cirrhosis-associated portal hypertension (PH) remain to be clarified. Methods: 96 patients undertaking HCC radical treatment combined with splenectomy (HS group) were retrospectively analyzed, 48 of whom belonged to HCC stage T1 (HSS group). Another 42 patients at stage T1 with PH who received hepatectomy (or radiofrequency ablation) alone (HA group) during the same period served as the control group. Recurrence-free survival (RFS) and overall survival (OS) were compared at each time point between the HSS and HA group. The risk factors affecting early RFS and OS were confirmed through COX multivariate analysis. Results: The median RFS was 22.3 months and the mean median OS was 46 months in the HS group. As such, 1-year, 2-year, 3-year, and 5-year RFS rates in the HSS and HA group were 95% and 81% (p = 0.041), 81% and 67% (p = 0.05), 64% and 62% (p = 1.00), and 29% and 45% (p = 0.10), respectively. Further, 1-year, 3-year, and 5-year OS rates in the HSS and HA group were 98% and 98% (p = 1.00), 79% and 88% (p = 0.50), and 60% and 64% (p = 0.61), respectively. Cox multivariate analysis showed that preoperative irregular anti-viral therapy, Child-Pugh grade B liver function, vascular invasion, and microvascular invasion (MVI) were independent risk factors for early postoperative RFS (within 2 years), and preoperative irregular anti-viral therapy and vascular invasion were independent risk factors for 5-year OS. Conclusions: Radical treatment of HCC combined with synchronous splenectomy, especially applicable to patients with Child-Pugh grade A liver function, can significantly improve early postoperative RFS in patients with stage T1 HCC and liver-cirrhosis-associated portal hypertension, but fail to improve OS. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background. Focal infection (FI) are important trigger factors for the development of psoriasis, which means they can aggravate the course of dermatosis, including due to an increase in certain pro-inflammatory cytokines in the blood. Aim. To study the cytokine profile of patients with psoriasis in the progressive period of the disease, as well as to assess the effect radical treatment of focal infection on the course of dermatosis. Material and methods. Prospective comparative non-randomized study included 52 patients with psoriasis vulgaris, aged 18 to 65 years, who signed a informed consent. The first group consisted of patients who underwent radical treatment FI (16 people), the second those who did not treat FI (16 people), and the third group consisted of patients in whom FI was not detected (20 people). Cytokine concentrations were measured in the progressive stage of the disease in 52 patients with psoriasis and 20 individuals in the control group (healthy individuals).The spectrum of detected cytokines included: IL-1, IL-2, IL-4, IL-6, IL-8, IL-10, IL-17A, as well as INF- and INF-. For the detection of all cytokines, except for IL-17A, reagents from Vector-Best, Russia were used. The Human ELISA MAX Deluxe Set (BioLegend, USA) was used to determine the concentration of IL-17A. During the main course of treatment (0, 2 and 4 weeks), as well as the follow-up of patients (12, 24 and 52 weeks), the severity of psoriasis was assessed with the calculation of the PASI index. At the end of the study (week 52), the number of relapses and the total duration of remission were recorded. Results. The level of IL-8 was increased in 90,6% of psoriasis patients with FI. In this case, significant differences were obtained in comparison with the group of patients with psoriasis without diagnosed FI and with the control group, in which an increase in the concentration of IL-8 was noted, respectively, in 65% and 30% of cases. A moderate positive correlation was found between the IL-8 level and the PASI index (rs = 0,48; p = 3,6 104). The levels of INF- and IL-6 in psoriasis patients with FI were increased, respectively, in 15,6% and 21,9% of cases and significantly differed from the group of practically healthy individuals (p 0,05), differences from the group of patients with psoriasis without FI was not identified. The concentration of TNF- did not differ in all three groups. The level of IL-17A was significantly increased in comparison with practically healthy individuals both in the group of psoriasis patients with FI and in the group of patients without FI (Me = 3,3 and 4,3 pg/ml versus 0,2 pg/ml). The concentrations of five interleukin cytokines, namely IL-1, IL-2, IL-4, IL-10 and INF-, did not exceed the upper limit of the reference range in all patients of the experimental (patients with psoriasis) and control groups. Evaluation of the PASI index during the observation of patients in the first and second groups showed significantly lower values of this indicator for weeks 24 and 52 in the first group (0,2 vs. 7,0; p = 0,02 and 0,1 vs. 7,2; p = 0,002). The relative risk of disease recurrence in the absence of radical treatment for FI was 2,6 (CI 1,1 to 5,2). Conclusion. Data were obtained showing the role of IL-8 and focal infection, with the presence of which its increased production is associated, in the worsening of the course of psoriasis with the frequent development of relapses. Important preventive measures leading to a decrease in the number of relapses of psoriasis are timely diagnosis and radical treatment of focal infection.

Chemolipiodolization (CL) is less invasive than transarterial chemoembolization (TACE) for managing hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) because it helps avoid embolization. However, the treatment outcomes of percutaneous radiofrequency ablation (PRFA) with or without CL for HCC remain unclear. Herein, we compared the prognostic factors for overall survival (OS) following PRFA with or without CL for HCC using propensity-score-matched analysis. A total of 221 patients with HCC treated with PRFA at Saga Central Hospital between April 2004 and October 2020, with or without CL, were enrolled. No significant difference was observed in OS between PRFA with and without CL cohorts (median survival time (MST): 4.5 vs. 5.4 years; p = 0.0806). To reduce the confounding effects of 12 variables, we performed propensity-score-matched analysis to match patients treated with PRFA with or without CL. No significant difference was observed in OS between PRFA with and without CL cohorts (MST: 4.0 vs. 3.6 years; p = 0.5474). After stratification according to tumor size, no significant difference was observed in OS for patients with tumor size ≥20 mm between PRFA with and without CL cohorts (MST: 3.5 vs. 3.4 years; p = 0.8236). PRFA with CL was not a significant prognostic factor in both univariate and multivariate analyses (p = 0.5477 and 0.9600, respectively). Our findings suggest that PRFA with CL does not demonstrate more favorable prognosis than PRFA without CL for HCC, regardless of tumor size. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

OBJECTIVE: Eccrine porocarcinoma (EPC) is a malignant adnexal tumor accounting for about 0.005% of skin tumors. The standard treatment of EPC is the complete surgical excision of the primary lesion and of the clinically involved lymph nodes. There is limited evidence regarding the role of radiotherapy (RT) in managing EPC after surgery. Therefore, the aim of this multidisciplinary systematic review is to analyze the available evidence about postoperative RT in the curative treatment of EPC. MATERIALS AND METHODS: A systematic search strategy was launched trough the main scientific databases including PubMed, Scopus and Cochrane. An additional manual search and a chain citation were performed about potentially relevant papers. The key words used for the search included "eccrine porocarcinoma", "porocarcinoma", "radiotherapy", "radiation therapy", "adjuvant radiotherapy" and "postoperative radiotherapy". RESULTS: A total of 104 publications were identified and 14 papers were included in the final analysis. The only articles found on adjuvant RT in EPC were case reports published between 1996 and 2019. There was a slight female prevalence (57% female/43% male) with a mean age of 65 years (range 37-85). Head-andneck region was the most frequently involved anatomical site followed by legs. CONCLUSIONS: Adjuvant radiotherapy after surgical removal of EPC could be considered in cases with positive or close margins and in cases with unfavorable histological features. In view of limited literature data and the rarity of EPC the best treatment sequence should always be discussed within the frame of a multidisciplinary setting. Advances in knowledge: adjuvant radiotherapy after surgical removal of EPC could be considered in cases with positive or close margins and in cases with unfavorable histological features. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Abstract Background Globally, malaria is still a major public health challenge. Drug-based treatment is the primary intervention in malaria control and elimination. However, optimal use of mass or targeted treatments remains unclear. A variety of radical, preventive and presumptive treatment regimens have been administrated in China and a systematic review was conducted to evaluate effectiveness, and discuss experiences, limitations, and lessons learnt in relation to the use of these regimens. Methods The search for information includes both paper documents, such as books, malaria control annals and guidelines for malaria prevention and treatment, as well as three computer-based databases in Chinese (CNKI, WanFangdata and Xueshu.baidu) and two databases in English (PubMed and Google Scholar), to identify original articles and reports associated with drug administration for malaria in China. Results Starting from hyperendemicity to elimination of malaria in China, a large number of radical, preventive and presumptive treatment regimens had been tried. Those effective regimens were scaled up for malaria control and elimination programmes in China. Between 1949 and 1959, presumptive treatment with available anti-malarial drugs was given to people with enlarged spleens and those who had symptoms suggestive of malaria within the last 6 months. Between 1960 and 1999, mass drug administration (MDA) was given for preventive and radical treatment. Between 2000 and 2009, the approach was more targeted, and drugs were administed only to prevent malaria infection in those at high risk of exposure and those who needed radical treatment for suspected malaria. Presumptive therapy was only given to febrile patients. From 2010, the malaria programme changed into elimination phase, radical treatment changed to target individuals with confirmed either Plasmodium vivax or Plasmodium ovale within the last year. Preventive treatment was given to those who will travel to other endemic countries. Presumptive treatment was normally not given during this elimination phase. All cases of suspected were confirmed by either microscopy or rapid diagnosis tests for malaria antigens before drugs were administered. The engagement of the broader community ensured high coverage of these drug-based interventions, and the directly-observed therapy improved patient safety during drug administration. Conclusion A large number of radical, preventive and presumptive treatment regimens for malaria had been tried in China with reported success, but the impact of drug-based interventions has been difficult to quantify because they are just a part of an integrated malaria control strategy. The historical experiences of China suggest that intervention trials should be done by the local health facilities with community involvement, and a local decision is made according to their own trial results.

Introduction: Surgical treatment of neoplastic lung metastases is a big therapeutic problem, at the stage of qualifying for the procedure, in the surgical technique itself, and in the tactics of managing subsequent disease relapses. The most doubtful aspect is determining which factors influence the prolongation of survival in patients with such a diagnosis. Aim: To determine which factors influence the effectiveness of surgical treatment of neoplastic metastases to the lungs. Material and methods: A group of 577 patients was subjected to the study. An analysis of all performed operations (1009) was also carried out according to the set goals. Statistical analysis was performed using the estimates of the c2 test, Kaplan-Meier estimator, and log-rank test. Results: It was established what statistically significant factors may improve the treatment effectiveness. It was found that the lack of radicalism was influenced by: the number of lung metastases, the presence of changes in the lymph nodes, age, histology of the primary tumor and its location, and the number of treatments. Nodal metastases are more common in non-radical procedures, depend on the patient's age, are more often found in unilateral procedures, and depend on the location and histology of the primary tumor. Conclusions: It was found that the radical nature of the procedure did not affect the progression of the disease, but it did have an impact on survival. Relapses are more common in bilateral procedures, reducing survival. Lymph node metastases worsen the prognosis. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: Globally, malaria is still a major public health challenge. Drug-based treatment is the primary intervention in malaria control and elimination. However, optimal use of mass or targeted treatments remains unclear. A variety of radical, preventive and presumptive treatment regimens have been administrated in China and a systematic review was conducted to evaluate effectiveness, and discuss experiences, limitations, and lessons learnt in relation to the use of these regimens. Methods: The search for information includes both paper documents, such as books, malaria control annals and guidelines for malaria prevention and treatment, as well as three computer-based databases in Chinese (CNKI, WanFangdata and Xueshu.baidu) and two databases in English (PubMed and Google Scholar), to identify original articles and reports associated with drug administration for malaria in China. Results: Starting from hyperendemicity to elimination of malaria in China, a large number of radical, preventive and presumptive treatment regimens had been tried. Those effective regimens were scaled up for malaria control and elimination programmes in China. Between 1949 and 1959, presumptive treatment with available anti-malarial drugs was given to people with enlarged spleens and those who had symptoms suggestive of malaria within the last 6 months. Between 1960 and 1999, mass drug administration (MDA) was given for preventive and radical treatment. Between 2000 and 2009, the approach was more targeted, and drugs were administed only to prevent malaria infection in those at high risk of exposure and those who needed radical treatment for suspected malaria. Presumptive therapy was only given to febrile patients. From 2010, the malaria programme changed into elimination phase, radical treatment changed to target individuals with confirmed either Plasmodium vivax or Plasmodium ovale within the last year. Preventive treatment was given to those who will travel to other endemic countries. Presumptive treatment was normally not given during this elimination phase. All cases of suspected were confirmed by either microscopy or rapid diagnosis tests for malaria antigens before drugs were administered. The engagement of the broader community ensured high coverage of these drug-based interventions, and the directly-observed therapy improved patient safety during drug administration. Conclusion: A large number of radical, preventive and presumptive treatment regimens for malaria had been tried in China with reported success, but the impact of drug-based interventions has been difficult to quantify because they are just a part of an integrated malaria control strategy. The historical experiences of China suggest that intervention trials should be done by the local health facilities with community involvement, and a local decision is made according to their own trial results. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: Prostate cancer is the most common cancer among men in the UK. Prostate-specific antigen testing followed by biopsy leads to overdetection, overtreatment as well as undertreatment of the disease. Evidence of treatment effectiveness has lacked because of the paucity of randomised controlled trials comparing conventional treatments. Objectives: To evaluate the effectiveness of conventional treatments for localised prostate cancer (active monitoring, radical prostatectomy and radical radiotherapy) in men aged 50–69 years. Design: A prospective, multicentre prostate-specific antigen testing programme followed by a randomised trial of treatment, with a comprehensive cohort follow-up. Setting: Prostate-specific antigen testing in primary care and treatment in nine urology departments in the UK. Participants: Between 2001 and 2009, 228,966 men aged 50–69 years received an invitation to attend an appointment for information about the Prostate testing for cancer and Treatment (ProtecT) study and a prostate-specific antigen test; 82,429 men were tested, 2664 were diagnosed with localised prostate cancer, 1643 agreed to randomisation to active monitoring (n = 545), radical prostatectomy (n = 553) or radical radiotherapy (n = 545) and 997 chose a treatment. Interventions: The interventions were active monitoring, radical prostatectomy and radical radiotherapy. Trial primary outcome measure: Definite or probable disease-specific mortality at the 10-year median follow-up in randomised participants. Secondary outcome measures: Overall mortality, metastases, disease progression, treatment complications, resource utilisation and patient-reported outcomes. Results: There were no statistically significant differences between the groups for 17 prostate cancer-specific (p = 0.48) and 169 all-cause (p = 0.87) deaths. Eight men died of prostate cancer in the active monitoring group (1.5 per 1000 person-years, 95% confidence interval 0.7 to 3.0); five died of prostate cancer in the radical prostatectomy group (0.9 per 1000 person-years, 95% confidence interval 0.4 to 2.2 per 1000 person years) and four died of prostate cancer in the radical radiotherapy group (0.7 per 1000 person-years, 95% confidence interval 0.3 to 2.0 per 1000 person years). More men developed metastases in the active monitoring group than in the radical prostatectomy and radical radiotherapy groups: active monitoring, n = 33 (6.3 per 1000 person-years, 95% confidence interval 4.5 to 8.8); radical prostatectomy, n = 13 (2.4 per 1000 person-years, 95% confidence interval 1.4 to 4.2 per 1000 person years); and radical radiotherapy, n = 16 (3.0 per 1000 person-years, 95% confidence interval 1.9 to 4.9 per 1000 person-years; p = 0.004). There were higher rates of disease progression in the active monitoring group than in the radical prostatectomy and radical radiotherapy groups: active monitoring (n = 112; 22.9 per 1000 person-years, 95% confidence interval 19.0 to 27.5 per 1000 person years); radical prostatectomy (n = 46; 8.9 per 1000 person-years, 95% confidence interval 6.7 to 11.9 per 1000 person-years); and radical radiotherapy (n = 46; 9.0 per 1000 person-years, 95% confidence interval 6.7 to 12.0 per 1000 person years; p

Summary: Background: The aim of this study was to compare the postoperative outcome and long-term results after management of liver hydatid cyst by radical and non-radical surgeries. Methods: From January 2015 to December 2017, 86 patients were treated with various surgical interventions for liver hydatid cyst. These patients were retrospectively divided into two groups according to the surgical method for treatment: radical methods (e.g., liver resection and pericystectomy) and non-radical methods (e.g., echinococcectomy). Of the 86 patients, 50 (58%) underwent radical treatment and 36 (42%) underwent non-radical treatment. Clinical data and outcomes were retrospectively analyzed. Results: Eighty (93%) patients were considered to have been completely cured of their hydatid disease. Surgery duration in the non-radical treatment group was significantly shorter than in the radical treatment group (p < 0.01). There were no cases of biliary leakage in the liver resection patients during the postoperative period. In contrast, among the echinococcectomy patients, biliary leakage occurred in 6 (16.7%), which was significantly higher than with other modalities (p < 0.05). Recurrence occurred at a median of 32 months after surgery. Recurrent liver hydatid disease occurred in 6 cases (7%): radical group, 1 (2%); non-radical group, 5 (13.9%). There were no mortalities in either group in the postoperative period. Postoperative hospital stay was significantly shorter in the liver resection patients than in the other patients (p < 0.01). Conclusion: Radical surgical treatment of liver hydatid cyst is more effective than non-radical surgery, resulting in a reduced recurrence rate, reduced postoperative complication rate, and early recovery of patients. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

OBJECTIVES Patients with oligometastatic non-small-cell lung cancer (NSCLC) may benefit from therapy with curative intent. Our goal was to identify prognostic factors related to better prognosis in a multicentre analysis of patients who underwent surgery of primary tumours in combination with radical treatment of all metastatic sites. METHODS We retrospectively reviewed the records of oligometastatic patients who underwent resection of primary tumours at 4 centres (August 2001–February 2018). Oligometastasis was defined as ≤5 synchronous metastases in ≤2 organs. Radical metastatic treatment was surgery, radiotherapy or a combination. The Cox proportional hazards model was used for identification of prognostic factors on overall survival. RESULTS We treated 124 patients; 72 (58%) were men, mean age 60 ± 9.8 years, with 87 (70%) adenocarcinoma. Sixty-seven (54%) patients had positive pathologic-N stage (pN). Brain metastases were most common (n  = 76; 61%) followed by adrenal (n  = 13; 10%) and bone (n  = 12; 10%). Systemic therapy was administered in 101 (82%) patients. Median follow-up was 60 months [95% confidence interval (CI) 41–86]. Thirty- and 90-day mortality rates were 0 and 2.4%, respectively. One-, 2-, and 5-year overall survival were 80%, 58% and 36%, respectively. Cox regression analysis showed that patients ≤60 years [hazard ratio (HR) 0.41, 95% CI 0.24, 0.69; P  = 0.001] and patients with pN0 (HR 0.38, 95% CI 0.21–0.69; P  = 0.002) had a significant survival benefit. The presence of bone metastases negatively affected survival (HR 2.53, 95% CI 1.05–6.09; P  = 0.04). CONCLUSIONS Treatment with curative intent of selected oligometastatic NSCLC, including resection of the primary tumour, can be performed safely and with excellent 5-year survival rates, especially in younger patients with pN0 disease. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: Despite the numerous treatments available for acne vulgaris, not all are efficacious, and many patients experience psychological distress and various side effects from medications used to treat this condition. The objective of this study was to develop a new surgical technique for the treatment of acne. Methods: This surgical technique utilizes tweezers to widen the hair follicle to discharge comedo and pus completely and quickly from the acne. Results: Complete healing of acne was observed. Patients whose acne were cured within the range of 1–10, 1–20, and 1–50 treatments accounted for approximately 85%, 93%, and 99% of the 4566 patients, respectively. Conclusions: This newly developed surgical technique can be used as a basic treatment option for acne vulgaris. The implications of these findings include the prevention of patient psychological distress and avoidance of side effects of medications. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Fibromyalgia (FM) is a chronic pain condition characterized by widespread musculoskeletal pain and other frequent symptoms such as fatigue, sleep disturbance, cognitive impairment, and mood disorder. Based on the view that intermittent stress would be the most probable etiology for FM, intermittent cold- and intermittent psychological stress-induced generalized pain (ICGP and IPGP) models in mice have been developed and validated as FM-like pain models in terms of the patho-physiological and pharmacotherapeutic features that are shared with clinical versions. Both models show long-lasting and generalized pain and female-predominant sex differences after gonadectomy. Like many other neuropathic pain models, ICGP and IPGP were abolished in lysophosphatidic acid receptor 1 (LPAR 1 ) knock-out mice or by LPAR 1 antagonist treatments, although deciding the clinical importance of this mechanism depends on waiting for the development of a clinically available LPAR 1 antagonist. On the other hand, the nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drug diclofenac with morphine did not suppress hyperalgesia in these models, and this is consistent with the clinical findings. Pharmacological studies suggest that the lack of morphine analgesia is associated with opioid tolerance upon the stress-induced release of endorphins and subsequent counterbalance through anti-opioid NMDA receptor mechanisms. Regarding pharmacotherapy, hyperalgesia in both models was suppressed by pregabalin and duloxetine, which have been approved for FM treatment in clinic. Notably, repeated treatments with mirtazapine, an α2 adrenergic receptor antagonist-type antidepressant, and donepezil, a drug for treating Alzheimer's disease, showed potent therapeutic actions in these models. However, the pharmacotherapeutic treatment should be carried out 3 months after stress, which is stated in the FM guideline, and many preclinical studies, such as those analyzing molecular and cellular mechanisms, as well as additional evidence using different animal models, are required. Thus, the ICGP and IPGP models have the potential to help discover and characterize new therapeutic medicines that might be used for the radical treatment of FM, although there are several limitations to be overcome.

The treatment of cervical intraepithelial neoplasia aims at removing the junction area, including abnormal tissues. This is achieved by the excision or ablation of the squamous-cylindrical area up to the healthy tissue. In the case of persistence of high-grade lesions after repeated excision and if the patient does not want to preserve fertility, hysterectomy may be indicated. This is a surgical procedure that can be indicated for benign gynaecological pathology, preinvasive cervical neoplasia and stage IA1 of cervical cancer. The objective of the study was to select patients regarding the management of cervical intraepithelial neoplasia, taking into account the grade of cervical lesion, the extension area, patients' age and maternal desire, as well as the pathology associated with cervical lesions. Conization was the surgical choice in patients with cervical intraepithelial neoplasia, under 35 years of age, who wanted to conserve fertility and did not have other gynaecological lesions. Hysterectomy was the surgical treatment in patients over 35 years of age, with finished pregnancy planning and associated uterine pathology to intraepithelial cervical neoplasia. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Aim: The aim of this study is to evaluate whether omission of parametrial removal in low risk patients with early stage cervical cancer is safe, taking into account the favorable prognostic characteristics that are usually used in recent studies debating a more conservative treatment in such patients. Methods: A comprehensive search conducted in PubMed and MEDLINE databases. Results: In low risk patients with favorable prognostic factors such as tumor size ≤2 cm, depth of stromal invasion ≤10 mm and no LVSI, there are 5% of patients having positive pelvic lymph nodes. Although parametrial involvement is associated with positive pelvic lymph node metastasis, there are studies which report patients with negative pelvic lymph node involvement with parametrial metastases. This indicates that although negative pelvic lymph nodes in low risk patients is a favorable criterion among of those previously reported for conservative treatment, does not eliminate the possibility of parametrial involvement. Conclusions: Although specific favorable prognostic characteristics may indicate less radical treatment for low risk patients with early stage cervical cancer, more research is needed to estimate the risk of parametrial involvement in low risk patients without pelvic node involvement. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Summary Background The optimal management after the resection of mandibular ameloblastoma has been very challenging to surgeons. The aim of this study is to evaluate the functional, aesthetic, and quality of life outcomes of patients who had a segmental mandibular resection and immediate reconstruction with or without osseointegrated implants. Method Patients' demographics, tumor characteristics, treatment, and complications were retrieved. Patients were divided into two groups: dental rehabilitated vs. nondental rehabilitated depending on the placement of osseointegrated implants followed by an implanted-retained prosthesis. Functional outcomes and quality of life were assessed using the Performance Status Scale, the University of Washington Quality of Life (UW-QOL) scale, and the 14-item Oral Health Impact Profile (OHIP-14). Aesthetic outcome was evaluated by patients using a Visual Analog Scale. Results Thirty-four patients were reviewed. Twenty-two patients were included in the dental rehabilitated group and 12 in the nondental rehabilitated group. No recurrence of the tumor was found during the average follow-up period of 7.4 years. Although both groups reported a similar satisfaction in appearance, patients in the dental rehabilitated group scored significantly higher in masticatory function and “eating in public” (p < 0.01). There were significant differences (p < 0.05) regarding “chewing,” “activity,” and “anxiety” when assessed using the UW-QOL scale. Indeed, patients in the dental rehabilitated group showed a definitively better outcome in “physical disability” and “psychological discomfort” dimensions when assessed using the OHIP-14. Conclusion Vascularized bone graft reconstruction followed by immediate or delayed placement of osseointegrated implants showed as an ideal and predictable treatment modality for patients with ameloblastoma. The results suggested that patients with osseointegrated implants had a significantly better masticatory function, improved quality of life, and less psychological consequences. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]