Improved long-term outcomes after innovative preoperative evaluation and conception of precise surgery for gallbladder cancer

BACKGROUND

Three-dimensional visualization preoperative evaluation (3D-VPE) and enhanced recovery after surgery (ERAS) have been suggested to improve outcomes of cancer surgery in patients, yet little is known regarding their clinical benefit in patients with gallbladder cancer (GBC). We hypothesized that the combination of 3D-VPE and ERAS would improve the outcome of patients undergoing surgery for GBC.

OBJECTIVE

This study aimed to determine if 3D-VPE and ERAS can improve the outcomes and overall survival in patients with GBC, establishing a novel patient management strategy for GBC.

METHODS

A total of 227 patients with GBC were recruited and divided into two groups: those who received traditional treatment between January 2000 and December 2010 (n = 86; the control group) and those who underwent 3D-VPE and ERAS between January 2011 and December 2017 (n = 141). Univariate and multivariate analyses were employed to assess the relationship among disease stages, lymph node invasion, and cell differentiation between the two groups. Cox regression analysis was used to investigate patient survival in these groups.

RESULTS

Patients who underwent 3D-VPE and ERAS showed a significantly higher R0 resection rate (67.4% vs. 20.9%, p < 0.001) and dissected lymph node number (26.6 ± 12.6 vs. 16.3 ± 7.6 p < 0.001) compared to the control group. The median survival was 27.4 months, and the 1- and 3-year survival rates were 84.4% and 29.8%, respectively, in patients who received combined management; in the control cohort, the median survival was 12.7 months, and the 1- and 3-year survival rates were 53.5% and 15.1%, respectively. In addition, some postoperative complications and risk factors were diminished relative to the traditionally treated patients.

CONCLUSION

The implementation of 3D-VPE and ERAS can significantly improve the prognosis and outcomes of patients with GBC and should be considered for wide use in clinical practice.

Diosgenin, a steroidal saponin, and its analogs: Effective therapies against different chronic diseases

BACKGROUND

Chronic diseases are a major cause of mortality worldwide, and despite the recent development in treatment modalities, synthetic drugs have continued to show toxic side effects and development of chemoresistance, thereby limiting their application. The use of phytochemicals has gained attention as they show minimal side effects. Diosgenin is one such phytochemical which has gained importance for its efficacy against the life-threatening diseases, such as cardiovascular diseases, cancer, nervous system disorders, asthma, arthritis, diabetes, and many more.

AIM

To evaluate the literature available on the potential of diosgenin and its analogs in modulating different molecular targets leading to the prevention and treatment of chronic diseases.

METHOD

A detailed literature search has been carried out on PubMed for gathering information related to the sources, biosynthesis, physicochemical properties, biological activities, pharmacokinetics, bioavailability and toxicity of diosgenin and its analogs.

KEY FINDINGS

The literature search resulted in many in vitro, in vivo and clinical trials that reported the efficacy of diosgenin and its analogs in modulating important molecular targets and signaling pathways such as PI3K/AKT/mTOR, JAK/STAT, NF-κB, MAPK, etc., which play a crucial role in the development of most of the diseases. Reports have also revealed the safety of the compound and the adaptation of nanotechnological approaches for enhancing its bioavailability and pharmacokinetic properties.

SIGNIFICANCE

Thus, the review summarizes the efficacy of diosgenin and its analogs for developing as a potent drug against several chronic diseases.

Incidental finding of adenocarcinoma in a gallbladder lumen with no wall involvement

Gallbladder cancer (GBC) is a rare disease characterized by its aggressiveness. Resection with free tumour margins is the sole curative treatment and, in incidental findings, surgical reapproach is recommended for segmentectomy IVb and V or wedge resection of the gallbladder fossa and lymphadenectomy. Here we report a case of gallbladder adenocarcinoma as an incidental finding in a fragment in its lumen with no wall involvement evidentiated. The patient was reoperated for resection of the gallbladder bed with hepatic hilum and cystic duct lymphadenectomy, later evidentiated as free of residual disease. The normality of the bile ducts evidenced by imaging studies, in addition to signs of chronic cholecystitis corroborate to GBC diagnosis. We suspect that the fragment was detached gallbladder polypoid neoplastic lesion. Despite the lack of clinical manifestations, the fast surgical interventions and the histopathological analysis of the material was probably a prognostic determinant for the patient.