We hypothesized that diagnostic laparoscopy (DL) was feasible for the evaluation of patients with peritoneal carcinomatosis (PC) undergoing cytoreductive surgery and hyperthermic intraperitoneal chemotherapy (CRS + HIPEC). A retrospective review of PC patients treated from January 2010 to April 2013 was conducted. Data on tumor characteristics, treatment details and survival outcomes were extracted and analyzed. Of the 101 PC patients (mean age 52.9 ± 14.1 years), 73 diagnostic laparoscopies DL (61 concurrent with CRS + HIPEC) were performed in 70 patients whereas 31 patients underwent direct exploratory laparotomy (EL). Complete laparoscopic assessment was possible in 63 cases (86.3%), resulting in 18 exclusions (27.7%) while 10 cases were converted to open due to inadequate laparoscopic visualization. Subsequently, CRS + HIPEC was performed in 85.4% (of 55 selected for HIPEC, DL) versus 74.2% (EL, P value = 0.20). Among those excluded from HIPEC at the initial operation, delayed HIPEC after conversion chemotherapy was achieved in 6 (of 11 with extensive disease, DL). The incidence of grade 3 to 5 complications was 0% DL versus 10% EL (P value = 0.2). There were no port site recurrences at mean follow up of 9.1 ± 8 months. Laparoscopy is a feasible technique for selecting patients with PC for CRS + HIPEC, and can help select patients for conversion chemotherapy in the setting of high peritoneal carcinomatosis index (PCI) score.

Background: Police force constitutes a special occupational group. They have been shown to be at high risk for the development of cardiovascular diseases. A multitude of factors may be responsible for this. There is very limited documentation of their health status and health surveillance activities are inadequate. Aim: The present study was designed to measure the prevalence of metabolic syndrome and other cardiovascular risk factors among police officers. Materials and Methods: The design was cross-sectional and spanned 900 policemen ( n = 900). A pre-tested questionnaire was used for collecting historical data. Anthropometric and biochemical measurements were carried out using standard techniques. MS was diagnosed using the National Cholesterol Education Program-Adult Treatment Panel III criteria. Statistical analysis was performed using the SPSS 16.0 software. Results: MS was observed in 16.8% of the study population. High blood pressure and hyper-triglyceridemia were the commonest abnormalities. The prevalence of other cardiovascular risk factors were high body mass index (65.6%), hypertension (37.7%), diabetes (7%), smoking (10%), and alcohol use (48%). Conclusion: Our study identified police officers as a high-risk group for developing CVDs. The findings underscore the need for regular surveillance and lifestyle interventions in this important occupational group.

The incidence of early-onset colorectal cancer (eoCRC) is rising, and its pathogenesis is not completely understood. We hypothesized that machine learning utilizing paired tissue microbiome and plasma metabolome features could uncover distinct host-microbiome associations between eoCRC and average-onset CRC (aoCRC). Individuals with stages I–IV CRC (n = 64) were categorized as eoCRC (age ≤ 50, n = 20) or aoCRC (age ≥ 60, n = 44). Untargeted plasma metabolomics and 16S rRNA amplicon sequencing (microbiome analysis) of tumor tissue were performed. We fit DIABLO (Data Integration Analysis for Biomarker Discovery using Latent variable approaches for Omics studies) to construct a supervised machine-learning classifier using paired multi-omics (microbiome and metabolomics) data and identify associations unique to eoCRC. A differential association network analysis was also performed. Distinct clustering patterns emerged in multi-omic dimension reduction analysis. The metabolomics classifier achieved an AUC of 0.98, compared to AUC 0.61 for microbiome-based classifier. Circular correlation technique highlighted several key associations. Metabolites glycerol and pseudouridine (higher abundance in individuals with aoCRC) had negative correlations with Parasutterella, and Ruminococcaceae (higher abundance in individuals with eoCRC). Cholesterol and xylitol correlated negatively with Erysipelatoclostridium and Eubacterium, and showed a positive correlation with Acidovorax with higher abundance in individuals with eoCRC. Network analysis revealed different clustering patterns and associations for several metabolites e.g.: urea cycle metabolites and microbes such as Akkermansia. We show that multi-omics analysis can be utilized to study host-microbiome correlations in eoCRC and demonstrates promising biomarker potential of a metabolomics classifier. The distinct host-microbiome correlations for urea cycle in eoCRC may offer opportunities for therapeutic interventions.

Solitary fibrous tumors (SFT) of the retroperitoneum are rare spindle cell neoplasms, with a paucity of data on treatment outcomes. We hypothesized that surgical excision offered acceptable outcomes in SFTs. The National Cancer Database (NCDB) was used to identify patients with SFT from 2004 to 2011. Primary outcome measures were 30 day mortality and overall survival. Descriptive analyses were performed. Furthermore, a systematic review of published literature was conducted after creating a pre-specified search strategy. Of 51 patients in the NCDB, 58.8 % (n = 30) were males, with a median age 60 years (IQR 49–72 years). Median tumor size was 16 cm (IQR 11–21 cm). Surgical resection was performed in 92.2 % (n = 47) with 63.8 % (n = 30) having a margin negative resection. Peri-operative mortality was 2.1 % (n = 1). Of survival outcomes available for 18 patients, the median OS was 51.1 months. From the systematic review, we identified 8 studies, with 24 patients. Median age and tumor size was similar to the NCDB [47.5 years (IQR 39–66.5 years), 12 cm (IQR 7–17 cm)]. Majority [91.7 % (n = 22)] underwent surgical excision alone while one received adjuvant chemotherapy and none received radiation. After median follow up of 54 months (IQR 28–144 months), 79.2 % (n = 19) were alive without disease. Three patients (12.5 %) died of disease, one was alive with disease and one was lost to follow up. Recurrence was reported in 16.7 % (n = 4) of patients. Complete surgical excision is a viable treatment modality for retroperitoneal SFT leading to long term survival. Low recurrence rates would argue against the need for routine adjuvant radiation or chemotherapy.

Traditionally, the role of gut dysbiosis was thought to be limited to pathologies like Clostridioides difficile infection, but studies have shown its role in other intestinal and extraintestinal pathologies. Similarly, recent studies have surfaced showing the strong potential role of the gut microbiome in colorectal cancer, which was traditionally attributed mainly to sporadic or germline mutations. Given that it is the third most common cancer and the second most common cause of cancer-related mortality, 78 grants totaling more than USD 28 million have been granted to improve colon cancer management since 2019. Concerted efforts by several of these studies have identified specific bacterial consortia inducing a proinflammatory environment and promoting genotoxin production, causing the induction or progression of colorectal cancer. In addition, changes in the gut microbiome have also been shown to alter the response to cancer chemotherapy and immunotherapy, thus changing cancer prognosis. Certain bacteria have been identified as biomarkers to predict the efficacy of antineoplastic medications. Given these discoveries, efforts have been made to alter the gut microbiome to promote a favorable diversity to improve cancer progression and the response to therapy. In this review, we expand on the gut microbiome, its association with colorectal cancer, and antineoplastic medications. We also discuss the evolving paradigm of fecal microbiota transplantation in the context of colorectal cancer management.