Background: Many researchers believe that cardia (CGC) and non-cardia (NCGC) are two different types of tumors, having different features like incidence rate, risk factors, geographical location, and socioeconomic status. This study aims to investigate the causes of death (COD) survival rates among early gastric cancer patients with a focus on differences between CGC and NCGC. Methods: This retrospective study employed SEER*stat software (version 8.3.92) to analyze the SEER 17 plus dataset (2000–2019). Standardized mortality ratios (SMR) were computed. Relative survival and conditional survival post-diagnosis were calculated using R software (version 4.1.0) among the different subgroups. Results: Within the follow-up period, 55.4% (5381) died, predominantly within the initial year post-diagnosis. Esophageal cancer was the leading non-gastric cancer cause in CGC, while miscellaneous tumors dominated in NCGC. The 1-year and 5-year relative survival for CGC patients were 76.4% and 48.9% respectively, while for NCGC were 80.4% and 63.9%. The 3-year conditional survival after 1 year and 5e years of survival for CGC were 68.7% and 88.8%, respectively, while for NCGC were 82.2% and 93.5%, respectively. This means that the longer a person has survived after diagnosis with cancer, the greater the likelihood that person will survive for another 3 years. Conclusions: This study sheds light on the substantial impact of non-cancer COD in GC patients, underscoring the necessity of considering comorbidities in their comprehensive management and follow-up. Impact: This study contributes valuable insights for clinical decision-making and informs future research directions regarding CGC and NCGC.

Hyperhidrosis affects approximately 4.8% of the US population, impairing quality of life with excessive sweating. Glycopyrronium tosylate (GT), a topical anticholinergic, treats primary axillary hyperhidrosis in adults and pediatric patients. Despite its use, comprehensive evaluation of GT’s long-term safety and efficacy has been lacking. This systematic review and meta-analysis aimed to assess GT’s effectiveness and safety profiles. Following Cochrane and PRISMA guidelines, we conducted a thorough search of electronic databases for clinical trials on GT. Studies underwent quality assessment and data extraction based on predefined criteria. Primary outcomes included changes in the Dermatology Life Quality Index (DLQI), Hyperhidrosis Disease Severity Scale (HDSS), and Axillary Sweating Daily Diary (ASDD) or its change score (ASDD-C). Secondary outcomes evaluated safety concerns like mydriasis, dry mouth, urinary hesitation, and treatment-emergent adverse events. Our analysis, integrating data from three randomized controlled trials, highlights GT’s efficacy in improving quality of life and reducing sweating severity. Although minor adverse effects were reported, no significant increase in serious adverse events was observed. These findings suggest GT as a promising treatment for primary axillary hyperhidrosis, with benefits outweighing minimal side effects.

Study Design: Systematic review and Meta-analysis. Objectives: This study aims to evaluate the efficacy, postoperative outcomes, and potential complications of using expandable cages in cervical spine surgery. Methods: A comprehensive search was performed across Medline, Scopus, Web of Science, Cochrane, and Embase up to May 22, 2023. Meta-analyses and subgrouping analyses were performed using “OpenMetaAnalyst” and R software to analyze efficacy outcomes and complications. The assessment of heterogeneity utilized the i ² and chi-squared tests, applying the random effect model. Results: Thirty studies were included, with 22 eligible for meta-analysis. The pooled data showed a significant improvement in the Cobb angle, Nurick’s score and modified Japanese Orthopedic Association (mJOA) score. The pooled stability rate post-surgery was 0.94 based on 7 studies, but the stand-alone cages showed a lower stability rate (0.83). Fusion rate showed high success at 0.94 across 14 studies but also the fusion rate in the stand-alone group was lower (0.89) with substantial heterogeneity (I ² = 91.81%) suggests that stand-alone cages may not consistently achieve the same level of fusion as cages with anterior plating (fusion rate of 0.98, I ² = 0%). Dysphagia was observed in 16% of patients, and hardware-related issues were reported in 9% of cases. Conclusions: expandable cages offer significant advantages in terms of fusion, stability, and neurological recovery. In particular, stand-alone expandable cages were associated with higher rates of complications, including dysphagia, subsidence, and hardware failure, compared to cages with anterior plating.

Introduction: Irritable bowel syndrome (IBS) is a prevalent gastrointestinal disorder with unclear pathogenesis, characterized by diverse symptoms such as bloating, abdominal pain, and altered bowel habits. Medical imaging, particularly ultrasound, has gained importance in diagnosing and managing IBS due to its non-invasiveness and affordability. We aim to evaluate the utility of ultrasound (US) in diagnosing and monitoring IBS by assessing various aspects such as intestinal motility, gallbladder function, urinary bladder, gastric function, autonomic dysfunction, and vagus nerve assessment. Methods: Studies were collected from PubMed, Scopus, Cochrane, Embase, and the Web of Science. Eligible studies were selected based on the inclusion criteria. Data extraction covered study characteristics (such as country, US device type, patients, age, site of US evaluation, and dyspepsia) and the role of the US in bowel-wall thickness, sigmoid colon motility, gallbladder function, gastric function, autonomic dysfunction, and vagus nerve assessment. Results: Twenty studies were included, encompassing diverse ultrasound modalities and patient populations. Ultrasound showed promise in assessing bowel-wall thickness, sigmoid colon motility, gallbladder function, gastric function, autonomic dysfunction, and vagus nerve assessment in IBS patients. Notably, ultrasound demonstrated potential for distinguishing between IBS and inflammatory bowel disease (IBD) and aiding in disease prediction and severity assessment. Conclusion: This comprehensive review underscores the value of ultrasound in diagnosing and managing IBS, offering insights into its diverse applications and diagnostic accuracies across various aspects of gastrointestinal function. However, further research is warranted to address the limitations and optimize the diagnostic accuracy of ultrasound in IBS management.

Background: Hyperhidrosis, a condition characterized by excessive sweating, affects ≈ 4.8% of the US population. (1) Glycopyrronium tosylate (GT) is a topical anticholinergic drug approved for primary axillary hyperhidrosis (PAH) treatment. (2) However, no meta-analysis exists on GT’s long-term safety and efficacy. Aim: To evaluate the long-term safety and efficacy of GT as a treatment for PAH. Methods: We systematically searched PubMed, Scopus, and ClinicalTrials.gov. Study selection, quality assessment, and data extraction followed the eligibility criteria. The primary endpoints were changes in the Dermatology Life Quality Index (DLQI), Hyperhidrosis Disease Severity Scale (HDSS), and Axillary Sweating Daily Diary (ASDD) or Axillary Sweating Daily Diary – Change (ASDD-C). Safety endpoints included mydriasis, dry mouth, urinary hesitation, and treatment-emergent adverse events (TEAEs). Statistical analysis was conducted using RevMan 5.1. Results: Our meta-analysis demonstrated that topical GT is clinically effective in treating PAH. GT significantly improves the quality of life of patients, as measured by the DLQI (MD = -2.81, 95% CI = [-4.04, -1.59],P = 0.001), HDSS (OR = 3.72, 95% CI = [2.92, 4.74], P = 0.001), and ASDD/ASDD-C (OR = 4.91, 95%CI = [3.75, 6.44], P = 0.001). Adverse effects such as mydriasis, dry mouth, and urinary hesitation were observed; however, no difference was found between GT and control groups in serious TEAEs, deaths, and severe TEAEs. Conclusion: Topical GT is effective with minimal side effects, providing a valuable option for patients unresponsive to or experiencing significant side effects from other treatments.