Multiple Gastrointestinal Cancers in a Single Patient-a Rare Clinical Entity

Quality assessment for systematic reviews and meta-analyses of cohort studies

BACKGROUND AND AIMS

There is a growing need for valid, efficient, and easy scoring scales to rate the quality of cohort studies. We aimed to develop and validate a quality assessment score to be used for cohort studies.

METHODS

We followed a rigorous process to establish content, face, and construct validity. Most questions were scored at 0 or 1. Inter-rater reliability and test-retest reliability were assessed using the Spearman correlation coefficient (r_s) and Cohen's κ statistic. Internal consistency was measured using the Kuder-Richardson formula 20 (KR20).

RESULTS

The final tool consists of 9 questions with a maximum score of 10. The inter-rater reliability was high with the Spearman correlation coefficient (r_s = .66). Agreement for inclusion was 90%. Test-retest reliability was high. For rater 1, r_s = .91, κ = .38 for scores, and κ = 1 for inclusion. For rater 2, r = .94, 80% agreement for scores, and 100% agreement for inclusion. Internal consistency was reasonable based on 2 studies: KR20 = .21 and KR20 = .65. The novel scale rated highest in efficiency, understandably, ease of use, and ease of interpretation when compared with 3 other scales.

CONCLUSIONS

This novel scale has favorable performance characteristics, is efficient to conduct, and is easy to interpret and will be very helpful for physicians and researchers conducting systematic reviews and meta-analyses.

Diet-Derived Phytochemicals Targeting Colon Cancer Stem Cells and Microbiota in Colorectal Cancer

Colorectal cancer (CRC) is a fatal disease caused by the uncontrolled propagation and endurance of atypical colon cells. A person's lifestyle and eating pattern have significant impacts on the CRC in a positive and/or negative way. Diet-derived phytochemicals modulate the microbiome as well as targeting colon cancer stem cells (CSCs) that are found to offer significant protective effects against CRC, which were organized in an appropriate spot on the paper. All information on dietary phytochemicals, gut microbiome, CSCs, and their influence on CRC were accessed from the various databases and electronic search engines. The effectiveness of CRC can be reduced using various dietary phytochemicals or modulating microbiome that reduces or inverses the progression of a tumor as well as CSCs, which could be a promising and efficient way to reduce the burden of CRC. Phytochemicals with modulation of gut microbiome continue to be auspicious investigations in CRC through noticeable anti-tumorigenic effects and goals to CSCs, which provides new openings for cancer inhibition and treatment.