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Background: Inflammation influences cancer progression by increasing catabolism and impairing nutrient absorption. We compared the prognostic ability of three inflammation-based prognostic scoring systems—the Glasgow prognostic score (GPS), modified GPS (mGPS), and high-sensitivity mGPS (HS-mGPS)—in gastric cancer patients. Materials and Methods: We retrospectively examined 434 curatively resected gastric cancer patients to evaluate the prognostic ability of scoring systems for overall survival (OS) and cancer-specific survival (CSS). Results: OS analysis identified the following independent prognostic factors: GPS model: pathological stage (pStage, p < 0.001), carcinoembryonic antigen (CEA, p = 0.004), and GPS 1 (hazard ratio [HR], 1.929; 95% confidence interval [CI], 1.152-3.228; p = 0.013); mGPS model: body mass index (BMI, p = 0.027), pStage (p < 0.001), and CEA (p < 0.001); HS-mGPS model: BMI (p = 0.029), pStage (p < 0.001), and CEA (p = 0.003). mGPS and HS-mGPS were not independent prognostic factors for OS. CSS analysis of the GPS model identified pStage (p < 0.001), CEA (p = 0.015), and GPS 1 (HR; 2.095, 95% CI; 1.025–4.283; p = 0.043) and 2 (HR, 2.812; 95% CI, 1.111–7.116; p = 0.029) as independent prognostic factors; however, mGPS and HS-mGPS were not independent prognostic factors for CSS. Log-rank tests demonstrated significant differences in OS among patients with GPS 0 vs. 1 (p < 0.001) and 0 vs. 2 (p < 0.001) and in CSS among the three GPS (0 vs. 1; p = 0.005, 0 vs. 2; p < 0.001, 1 vs. 2; p = 0.009). Conclusions: GPS most reliably predicts long-term survival of gastric cancer patients.

BACKGROUND/PURPOSE Few reports have evaluated the differences in the predictive accuracy between the physiological and operative severity score for the enumeration of mortality and morbidity (POSSUM) and estimation of physiologic ability and surgical stress (E-PASS) in pancreatic surgery. Thus, we evaluated the accuracy and similarity of POSSUM and E-PASS for the prediction of severe postoperative complications (PCs) after pancreatic surgery. METHODS We enrolled 343 consecutive patients who underwent pancreatic surgery in our department between April 2006 and September 2017. The difference in predictive values of POSSUM and E-PASS for the occurrence of PCs ≥ Clavien-Dindo grade IIIa (PCs-CD ≥ IIIa) was nonparametrically compared. The predictive accuracy and similarity of each tool was examined using the receiver operating characteristic (ROC) curve and linear regression analyses. RESULTS Forty-five patients developed PCs-CD ≥ IIIa. E-PASS had a significantly higher predictive value for estimating PCs-CD ≥ IIIa occurrence (P = .002) than did POSSUM. The area under the curve value in ROC analysis was significantly higher in E-PASS than in POSSUM (0.643 vs 0.543, P = .014), with a weak positive correlation in the predictive value between E-PASS and POSSUM (R2 = .333, P

The geriatric nutritional risk index (GNRI) is associated with mortality in several malignancies. We retrospectively analyzed whether the GNRI can predict long-term outcomes in 191 patients with esophageal squamous cell carcinoma (ESCC) after curative esophagectomies by evaluating their cancer-specific survival (CSS). In multivariate analyses, serum albumin (hazard ratio [HR], 2.498; p = 0.0043), GNRI (HR, 1.941; p = 0.0181), pathological tumor-node-metastasis (pTNM) stage (HR, 3.884; p < 0.0001), and tumor differentiation (HR, 2.307; p = 0.0066) were independent prognostic factors for CSS. In pTNM stage I, multivariate analysis identified C-reactive protein (HR, 7.172; p = 0.0483) and GNRI (HR, 5.579; p = 0.0291) as independent prognostic factors for CSS. In univariate analyses in pTNM stages II and III, only low GNRI (p = 0.0095) and low serum albumin levels (p = 0.0119), respectively, were significantly associated with worse CSS. In patients with low GNRI, CSS was significantly worse than in those with normal GNRI (p = 0.0011), especially in pTNM stages I (p = 0.0044) and II (p = 0.0036) groups, but not in stage III group (p = 0.5099). Preoperative GNRI may sort patients into low- or high-risk groups for shorter CSS, especially in those with pTNM stage I and II ESCC.

Background: Systemic immune-inflammation index (SII)—comprising platelet, neutrophil, and lymphocyte count—is an objective and reliable biomarker for predicting the prognosis in cancer patients because it comprehensively reflects the balance between host inflammatory and immune responses. In this study, we clarified the prognostic impact of immunoinflammation-based indices, i. e. SII, neutrophil/lymphocyte ratio (NLR), and platelet/lymphocyte ratio (PLR), in gastric cancer patients. Results: In multivariate analysis, the American Society of Anesthesiologists physical status (ASA-PS) (hazard ratio [HR]: 3.366, p < 0.001), tumor differentiation (HR: 1.705, p = 0.020), pathological Tumor, Node, Metastasis (pTNM) stage (HR: 2.160, p = 0.008), and carcinoembryonic antigen (CEA) (HR: 1.964, p = 0.003) were independent prognostic factors for OS in all patients. Further, multivariate analysis revealed that age (HR: 2.088, p = 0.040), ASA-PS (HR: 2.339, p = 0.043), tumor differentiation (HR: 1.748, p = 0.044), and pTNM stage (HR: 2.114, p = 0.024) were independent prognostic factors for OS among patients without inflammation; SII was not a prognostic factor for OS. Meanwhile, body mass index (HR: 5.055, p = 0.011), ASA-PS (HR: 3.403, p = 0.007), and SII (HR: 4.208, p = 0.026) were independent prognostic factors for OS among patients with inflammation. Materials and Methods: We performed a retrospective review of 412 patients who underwent curative laparoscopic gastrectomy. The prognostic value of SII was compared between a low SII group (SII

Background The systemic immune-inflammation index (SII), integrated by peripheral lymphocyte, neutrophil, and platelet counts, is used as an objective biomarker that reflects the balance between host inflammatory and immune response status in cancer patients. Herein, we examined the prognostic significance of SII in gastric cancer patients. Methods We retrospectively reviewed data of 415 patients who underwent curative laparoscopic gastrectomy using propensity score–matched (PSM) analysis. The prognostic value of SII was compared between two groups based on SII values: low SII group (SII

Background The geriatric nutritional risk index (GNRI) was developed to evaluate the prognosis in elderly hospitalized patients at risk of malnutrition and related morbidity and mortality. This study aimed to evaluate the relationship between preoperative GNRI and long-term outcomes in elderly gastric cancer patients. Materials and methods We retrospectively reviewed 297 consecutive patients aged ≥ 65 years who underwent laparoscopic gastrectomy with R0 resection and evaluated their overall survival (OS) and cancer-specific survival (CSS). Results In the univariate analyses, OS was significantly associated with the American Society of Anesthesiologists Physical Status (ASA-PS), tumor size, tumor differentiation, pathological stage, carcinoembryonic antigen (CEA), C-reactive protein, postoperative complications, and GNRI, whereas in the univariate analyses of CSS, ASA-PS, tumor size, tumor differentiation, pathological stage, CEA, postoperative adjuvant chemotherapy, and GNRI were significantly associated with poor prognosis. In the multivariate analysis, ASA-PS, tumor differentiation, pathological stage, and GNRI were significant independent prognostic factors of OS, whereas ASA-PS, pathological stage, and CEA were significant independent prognostic factors of CSS. Conclusions GNRI is significantly associated with OS and CSS in elderly gastric cancer patients and is an independent predictor of OS. It is a simple, cost-effective, and promising nutritional index for predicting OS in elderly patients.

Background Preoperative nutritional assessment of cancer patients is important to reduce postoperative complications. Several studies have reported the Geriatric Nutritional Risk Index (GNRI) to be useful in assessing underlying diseases and long-term outcomes of hospitalized patients. The present study aimed to evaluate the impact of preoperative GNRI on short- and long-term outcomes in elderly gastric cancer patients who underwent laparoscopic gastrectomy. Methods We retrospectively reviewed consecutive patients aged ≥ 65 years who underwent laparoscopy-assisted gastrectomy and had R0 resection for histologically confirmed gastric adenocarcinoma. The cutoff value for preoperative GNRI was determined to be 85.7 based on the incidence of postoperative complications. Patients were categorized into two groups: low GNRI group and normal GNRI group. Results Univariate analyses of the 303 patients revealed that the incidence of postoperative complications was significantly associated with the American Society of Anesthesiologists Physical Status classification (ASA-PS), C-reactive protein (CRP), GNRI (p

Background: In clinical practice, it is not unusual to treat oncologic patients whose tumor markers are within normal range, even with advanced cancer. The Controlling Nutritional Status (CONUT) score could provide a useful nutritional and immunological prognostic biomarker for cancer patients. In this study, we assessed the prognostic value of the CONUT score for patients with gastric cancer, including a subgroup analysis with stratification based on serum carcinoembryonic antigen (CEA) level. Methods: We retrospectively reviewed the medical records of 368 consecutive patients who underwent curative laparoscopy-assisted gastrectomy. The prognostic value of the CONUT score was compared between patients with a low (≤2) and high (≥3) score, with propensity score-matching (PSM) used to control for biasing covariates (Depth of tumor, Lymph node metastasis, pathological TNM (pTNM) stage). Results: Overall survival (OS) among all patients was independently predicted by the tumor stage (hazard ratio (HR): 2.231, p = 0.001), the CONUT score (HR: 2.254, p = 0.001), and serum CEA level (HR: 1.821, p = 0.025). Among patients with a normal preoperative serum CEA level, tumor stage (HR: 2.350, p = 0.007), and the CONUT score (HR: 1.990, p = 0.028) were independent prognostic factors of OS. In the high serum CEA level group, tumor size (HR: 2.930, p = 0.015) and the CONUT score (HR: 3.707, p = 0.004) were independent prognostic factors of OS. Conclusions: It is advantageous to use both CEA level and the CONUT score to assess the prognosis of patients with gastric cancer, which reflect both tumor-related factors and host-related factors, respectively.

Persistent gastric mucosal damage caused by Helicobacter pylori infection is a major risk factor for gastric cancer (GC). The Epstein&ndash, Barr virus (EBV) is also associated with GC. Most patients with EBV-associated GC are infected with H. pylori in East Asia. However, very few reports have described where and when both H. pylori and EBV infect the gastric mucosa. To clarify this, old biopsy samples used for the rapid urease test (RUT) were applied to count EBV genomic DNA (gDNA) copies using DNA probe quantitative polymerase chain reaction. DNA extracted from the gastric biopsy samples of 58 patients with atrophic gastritis was used to analyze the correlation between the degree of atrophic gastritis and the copy number of EBV gDNA. EBV was detected in 44 cases (75.9%), with viral copy numbers ranging from 12.6 to 4754.6. A significant correlation was found between patients with more than 900 copies of EBV gDNA and those with a more severe grade of atrophic gastritis (p = 0.041). This study shows that EBV can be detected in RUT samples in a manner that reduces patient burden.

Background/aim Recent evidence suggests that preoperative malnutrition may lead to poor survival in cancer patients. This study aimed to determine the ability of the prognostic nutritional index (PNI) to predict survival in gastric cancer patients. Patients and methods Two hundred and eighteen patients who had undergone laparoscopic gastrectomy were retrospectively reviewed via propensity score-matched analysis. Results In multivariate analysis of overall patients, pTNM stage, carcinoembryonic antigen, and PNI were independent predictors of overall survival (OS), and pTNM stage and PNI were independent predictors of cancer-specific survival (CSS). Among the 92 non-elderly patients, pTNM stage and PNI were independent predictors of OS, and pTNM stage, PNI, and adjuvant chemotherapy were independent predictors of CSS in multivariate analysis. On the other hand, among the 126 elderly patients, low PNI value was identified as a significant predictor of shorter OS in univariate analysis. Conclusion PNI is associated with OS and CSS in gastric cancer patients, especially non-elderly patients.

Background/aim The aim of the current study was to investigate the impact of the preoperative red cell distribution width (RDW) value on the overall survival (OS) and cancer-specific survival (CSS) of gastric cancer patients. Patients and methods A total of 366 gastric cancer patients who underwent curative gastrectomy were retrospectively reviewed. Among them, RDW was evaluated in 165 non-elderly and 201 elderly patients. Results Multivariate analysis revealed that pathological stage (pStage), RDW, and carcinoembryonic antigen (CEA), were independent prognostic factors of OS, while pStage and RDW were independent prognostic factors of CSS. In non-elderly patients, based on the multivariate analysis, pStage, adjuvant chemotherapy, and RDW were identified as independent prognostic factors of OS. In elderly patients, RDW was identified as independent prognostic factors of OS and CSS. Conclusion Preoperative RDW is a promising independent prognostic factor in gastric cancer.

Background Negative pressure wound therapy (NPWT) is a widely accepted technique to treat local infectious wounds of the skin, subcutaneous tissue, fascia, or muscle. Recently, several reports describing the efficacy of NPWT for various types of fistulas and anastomotic leaks have been published. We herein describe a patient with an open abdominal wound due to colonic anastomotic leakage and diffuse peritonitis, in whom abdominal vacuum sealing (AVS) as a modified NPWT was useful for the management of this complex wound. Case presentation A 32-year-old man was admitted to our hospital with late presenting traumatic diaphragmatic hernia and strangulated ileum complicated by necrosis of the ileum and transverse colon. He had a history of cervical spinal cord injury due to suicide attempt 14 years earlier and, as a result of cervical spinal cord injury, he was paralyzed in the lower body. The patient underwent an urgent hernia repair and bowel resection. Postoperatively, he developed severe septic shock. On postoperative day (POD) 6, wound dehiscence due to colonic anastomotic leakage with diffuse peritonitis was diagnosed, but he was unable to undergo re-operation because of refractory severe septic shock combined with neurogenic shock due to the cervical cord injury. The patient was treated with AVS therapy. He gradually recovered from septic shock, and the anastomotic leakage healed after a 2-month period. The wound dehiscence was also reduced. The patient resumed oral intake on POD 112 and was discharged on POD 190. Conclusions Although surgical repair would be the best method for the treatment of diffuse peritonitis due to gastrointestinal perforation or anastomotic leakage, our case suggests that AVS with ‘conventional’ drainage is a treatment of choice for open abdominal wounds even in the presence of diffuse peritonitis caused by intestinal anastomotic leakage, especially in patients with poor general medical condition.

Background An ideal tumor marker should be capable of being detected at any stage of the disease. However, gastric cancer patients do not always have elevated serum carcinoembryonic antigen (CEA) levels, even in advanced cases. Recently, several studies have investigated the associations between preoperative PNI and postoperative long-term outcomes. In this study, we focused on the significance of the prognostic nutritional index (PNI) as a potential predictor of survival in resectable gastric cancer patients with normal preoperative serum CEA levels. Methods We retrospectively conducted cohort study to evaluate the PNI as a predictor of survival in 368 resectable gastric cancer patients who underwent potentially curative gastrectomy at our institute between January 2010 and December 2016. We selected 218 patients by propensity score matching to reduce biases due to the different distributions of co-variables among the comparable groups. Results In the multivariate analysis, pStage (hazard ratio [HR]: 14.003, 95% confidence interval [CI]: 5.033–44.487; p