Introduction Computed tomography (CT)-guided percutaneous drainage is an established method for the treatment of abdominal abscesses. The purpose of this study is to evaluate the effectiveness and safety of drainage of abdominal abscesses with small-bore (6F and 9F) drains. Material and...

Aim: The aim of the study was to investigate the role of genetic variants in young patients (aged <50 years) with myocardial infarction (MI) and a family history of premature atherosclerosis. Methods and Results: The studied group consisted of 70 patients aged 26-49 (mean 43.1, SD ±4.3), 17 women and 53 men, with MI and with a family history of premature atherosclerosis, defined as MI or ischaemic stroke in first-degree relatives at age <65 years in women or <55 years in men. The total DNA was extracted from the peripheral blood samples. The targeted enrichment library was prepared and analyzed using the Next-Generation Sequencing method. Statistical analyses were performed using the R software package ( http://www.r-project.org/ ). The results of sequencing were compared to data from the reference control population consisting of 597 people with no history of MI (418 women, 179 men) aged 18-83 (mean 40.5, SD ± 12.4) as a whole and after matching with a studied group by age and gender in a proportion 1:3 (210 people, 51 women, 159 men, aged 18-77, mean 42.1, SD ±10.6) using Propensity Score Matching. Risks associated with detected variants were evaluated using Fisher’s exact test based on the allelic frequencies of variants in both groups. SYNE1 gene variant rs36215567 (NM_182961.4: c.20396+22A>G) occurs with a significantly higher incidence in the studied group when compared to the control population with OR 4.80 95%CI 1.43-14.45 (p=0.005) as well as when compared to the control population matched by age and gender OR 9.31 95%CI 1.64-95.41 (p=0.004). There were no statistically significant differences in the incidence of variants related to familial hypercholesterolemia such as LDLR c.667G>A, PCSK9 c.658-36G>A, and APOB c.12382G>A between both cohorts. Conclusion: A novel variant of the SYNE1 gene is associated with myocardial infarction in young patients with a family history of premature atherosclerosis. Lay summary: The wide use of genetic information to predict coronary artery disease (CAD) development and incidence, particularly important in young people, still requires investigation before clinical implementation. A novel variant of the SYNE1 gene is associated with myocardial infarction (MI) in young patients with a family history of premature atherosclerosis. Although, the role of SYNE1 in the maintenance of proper function of the cardiac muscles and coronary arteries remains still under examination the result of this study open a new opportunity to use the SYNE1 gene variant in genetic risks MI scores.

DOI: 10.20452/pamw.16727, Published online: April 12, 2024, Authors: Grzegorz Rosiak, Jakub Franke, Krzysztof Milczarek, Dariusz Konecki, Dennis K. Bielecki, Magdalena Januszewicz

Background/Objectives: To evaluate the prognostic value of easily obtainable biomarkers for patients undergoing percutaneous microwave ablation (MWA) for colorectal liver metastases (CLMs). Prior studies showed that simple biomarkers, such as the lymphocyte-to-monocyte ratio (LMR), albumin-to-globulin ratio (AGR), platelet-to-lymphocyte ratio (PLR), and neutrophil-to-lymphocyte ratio (NLR), as well as cancer-specific markers, like carcinoembryonic antigen (CEA), might have a prognostic role in various malignancies; however, none of these were assessed in patients undergoing MWA for CLMs. Methods: Based on the simple laboratory results, which were determined prior to the ablation, several biomarkers, including the LMR, AGR, PLR, and NLR, were calculated. The log-rank test’s optimal cutoff points for continuous variables were determined. Subsequently, univariable and multivariable Cox regression models were utilized to determine the association between various features and overall survival (OS). Results: This study included 57 CLM patients with a mean age of 63 ± 12.5 years at the time of ablation with a mean follow up of 30.9 months. The univariable model demonstrated that a high level of CEA (cutoff: 29.1 ng/mL; HR: 3.70) and a high LMR (cutoff: 5.32; HR: 4.05) were related to worse OS, whereas a high NLR (cutoff: 2.05; HR: 0.31) and primary left-sided colon cancer (HR: 0.36) were positive prognostic factors. The multivariable regression model confirmed these findings, with the exception of the LMR, which was no longer significantly associated with OS. Conclusions: This study demonstrates the feasibility of overall survival prediction and thus patient stratification based on easily obtainable biomarkers and clinicopathological features in CLM patients undergoing MWA.

Purpose: Cryoablation is one of the methods of treating patients with renal cancer with curative intent. This procedure is not widely available in Poland due to the lack of reimbursement until April 2023. The purpose of this study is to present the results of the first experiences in cryoablation of renal cell carcinoma in Poland.Material and methods: Patients with renal cell carcinoma in T1a stage (up to 4 cm in diameter) were treated with percutaneous cryoablation between December 2020 and December 2023. All patients were disqualified from surgical treatment due to age, comorbidities, or history of nephrectomy. Diagnosis was confirmed by computed tomography (CT)-guided core needle biopsy that was performed 2-4 weeks before cryoablation.Results: Twenty-five patients underwent CT-guided cryoablation of T1a renal cancer. The mean age of the patients was 77 years (43-91 years). The mean diameter of lesions was 27 mm (15-40 mm). None of the patients presented with local or distant recurrence within the mean 12-months of follow-up period (100% progression-free survival). Urine leak treated with a stent was detected in one patient. Four patients died within the follow-up period, but none of the deaths was directly related to the procedure.Conclusions: Cryoablation is an effective and safe procedure and should be available to more patients in Poland.

Colorectal cancer is a prevalent malignancy, with colorectal liver metastases (CLM) being a common and challenging clinical issue. Traditionally, surgical resection was the only curative treatment; however, percutaneous ablation (radio­frequency, microwave, and irreversible electroporation) has emerged as a treatment option for select patients. Early trials demonstrated the efficacy of thermal ablation, leading to its inclusion in international guidelines. Currently, for small tumours, it is considered a viable alternative to resection. Recent studies demonstrate the non-inferiority of thermal ablation compared to resection in select cases and emphasize the importance of achieving an adequate ablation margin. Advancements in imaging techniques, ablative modalities, the use of image fusion, as well as abla­tion confirmation software, allow for a more patient-tailored approach. Additionally, tumour biology, including genetic mutations, influences both overall survival and local control, highlighting the need for personalised treatment strategies. As randomised trials continue to provide more data, the role of ablation in CLM management is evolving. This paper aims to provide a narrative review of factors predicting local control and overall survival in patients treated with ablation. Future research focusing on molecular markers, advanced imaging, and ablation verification techniques may further refine patient selection, and optimise treatment outcomes and follow-up imaging.