Pre-treatment Eckardt score could be a predictive factor for failed POEM. Eckardt score ≥9 was associated with high sensitivity and specificity for predicting POEM failure.

The purpose of this study was to explore the changes in blood pressure in patients with concurrent gastric cancer and hypertension after gastrectomy, and to identify the factors that affect the changes in blood pressure. Materials and Methods: Patients with concurrent gastric cancer and hypertension who underwent gastrectomy were retrospectively analyzed from January 2013 to December 2018. The pre-and 6-month postoperative medical records were compared. Predictors for the remission of hypertension were analyzed. Results: A total of 143 patients with concurrent gastric cancer and hypertension were included in this study. The number of patients with complete remission, partial remission and no remission were 67 (46.9%), 12 (8.4%) and 64 (44.7%), respectively. The average of weight and BMI (body mass index) before gastrectomy were 63.0 ± 9.7 kg and 23.4 ± 2.9 kg/ m 2 , respectively, which were significantly higher than those 6-month postgastrectomy: 54.8 ± 9.8 kg and 20.4 ± 3.1 kg/m 2 , respectively (p<0.001). The average number of antihypertensive medications before gastrectomy was 1.5 ± 0.6, while it was 0.8 ± 0.8 6-month postgastrectomy (p<0.001). Age (p<0.05) and the surgical techniques used (p<0.05) were significantly different between partial remission and no remission patients. Furthermore, age (p<0.05) and the surgical techniques used (p<0.05) were significantly different between complete remission and no remission patients. Age (p<0.05, odds ratio =0.933, 95% CI=0.890-0.978) and the surgical techniques used (p<0.05, odds ratio =2.749, 95% CI=1.132-6.677) are predictors for remission of hypertension. Conclusion: Total gastrectomy is an onco-metabolic surgery that can cure younger patients with concurrent gastric cancer and hypertension. Age and the surgical techniques used can predict the remission of hypertension 6 months after gastrectomy.

The purpose of the present study was to evaluate the effect of time (season, surgical starting time in the daytime, preoperative waiting time) on patients with gastric cancer. Methods: A retrospective collection of medical records of patients who underwent gastrectomy at a single clinical center from January 2013 to December 2018 was performed. Medical records were collected, and short-term outcomes and long-term survival were analyzed by different time groups. Results: A total of 586 patients were included in this study. In terms of surgical starting time, the midday group had a shorter operation time (p=0.017) but more complications (p=0.048) than the non-midday group. No significant difference was found based on the season of gastrectomy. The long preoperative waiting group had a shorter postoperative hospital stay than the short waiting group (p=0.026). No significant difference was found between the short-waiting group and long-waiting group in overall survival for all clinical stages. Age (p=0.040, HR=1.017, 95% CI=1.001-1.033), BMI (p<0.001, HR=0.879, 95% CI=0.844-0.953) and clinical stage (p<0.001, HR=2.053, 95% CI=1.619-2.603) were independent prognostic factors predicting overall survival; however, season of gastrectomy, surgical starting time and preoperative waiting time were not identified as independent prognostic factors. Conclusion: Surgical starting time at the midday could cause more complications, and surgeons should be careful when the surgical starting time is midday.

INTRODUCTION:Although recent guidelines recommend endoscopic resection of rectal neuroendocrine tumors (NET) ≤10 mm, there is no consensus on which endoscopic modality should be performed. We aimed to compare the safety and efficacy of modified cap-assisted endoscopic mucosal resection (mEMR-C) and endoscopic submucosal dissection (ESD) methods for the treatment of rectal NET ≤10 mm.METHODS:A randomized noninferiority trial comparing mEMR-C and ESD was conducted. The primary outcome was the histological complete resection rate; the secondary outcomes included en bloc resection rate, operation time, complications, and so on. Subgroup analyses and follow-up were also performed.RESULTS:Ninety patients were enrolled, and 79 patients with pathologically confirmed rectal NET were finally analyzed, including 38 cases of mEMR-C and 41 cases of ESD. Histological complete resection rate was 97.4% in the mEMR-C group and 92.7% in the ESD group. The noninferiority of mEMR-C compared with that of ESD was confirmed because the absolute difference was 4.7% (2-sided 90% confidence interval, −3.3% to 12.2%; P = 0.616). En bloc resection and successful removal of rectal NET were achieved in all patients. Advantages of mEMR-C over ESD included shorter operation time (8.89 ± 4.58 vs 24.8 ± 9.14 minutes, P < 0.05) and lower hospitalization cost ($2,233.76 ± $717.70 vs $2,987.27 ± $871.81, P < 0.05). Postoperative complications were recorded in 4 patients who received mEMR-C and 2 patients in the ESD group (11.5% vs 4.9%, P = 0.509), which were all well managed using endoscopy. Similar findings were observed when subgroup analysis was performed.DISCUSSION:mEMR-C is noninferior to ESD with a similar complete resection rate. In addition, mEMR-C had shorter procedure duration time and lower hospitalization costs.TRIAL REGISTRATION:ClinicalTrials.gov Identifier: NCT03982264.