1.
Alcohol, Alcoholic Beverages and Risk of Esophageal Cancer by Histological Type: A Dose-Response Meta-Analysis of Observational Studies.
Yu, X, Chen, J, Jiang, W, Zhang, D
Alcohol and alcoholism (Oxford, Oxfordshire). 2020;(5):457-467
Abstract
AIMS: We conducted a dose-response meta-analysis to explore the association between alcohol and particular alcoholic beverages with risk of esophageal cancer (EC) by histological type [esophageal squamous cell carcinoma (ESCC) and esophageal adenocarcinoma (EAC)] and whether the association differs according to gender. METHODS PubMed and Web of Science databases were searched for relevant articles published between January 1960 and December 2019. The pooled relative ratios (RRs) and 95% confidence interval (CI) were calculated with the fixed or random effect model. The dose-response relationship was assessed by restricted cubic spline. RESULTS A total of 74 published articles involving 31,105 cases among 3,369,024 participants were included in this meta-analysis. The pooled RRs of the highest versus lowest alcohol intake were 3.67 (95% CI, 2.89,4.67) for EC, 5.11 (95% CI, 3.60,7.25) for ESCC and 0.96 (95% CI, 0.79,1.16) for EAC. The above-mentioned associations were observed in cohort design, for different alcoholic beverages (beer, wine and liquor/spirits) and gender. Evidence of a nonlinear dose-response relationship for EC risk with alcohol intake was found (Pnon-linearity < 0.001), and a linear relationship (Pnon-linearity = 0.216) suggested that the risk of ESCC increased by 33% for every 12.5 g/day increment of alcohol intake. CONCLUSIONS This meta-analysis suggests that alcohol intake might significantly increase the incidence of EC, especially for ESCC.
2.
Iodine-125 brachytherapy for localized prostate cancer and urinary morbidity: a prospective comparison of two seed implant methods-preplanning and intraoperative planning.
Matzkin, H, Kaver, I, Stenger, A, Agai, R, Esna, N, Chen, J
Urology. 2003;(3):497-502
Abstract
OBJECTIVES To compare morbidity between two currently used iodine-125 seed implantation techniques for the treatment of localized prostate cancer. METHODS Iodine-125 brachytherapy was used in 300 consecutive men with localized prostate cancer. Two seed implant techniques were used: preplanning, using preloaded needles, and intraoperative planning, using a Mick applicator. A comparison was made between the groups for urinary morbidity. The International Prostate Symptom Score was assessed prospectively among all patients. Computed tomography-based implant quality parameters were correlated with lower urinary system morbidity. RESULTS The median follow-up was 30 months. In both treatment groups, the International Prostate Symptom Score increased significantly for about 9 to 12 months and returned to baseline thereafter. The International Prostate Symptom Scores reached a higher level and remained at a higher level for a longer period in the intraoperative group. Although the differences were statistically significant, they were of mild clinical importance. Overall, the incidence of acute retention and the need for surgery was very low in both groups (2% and 1%, respectively). No differences were noted between the two groups. Significantly better computed tomography-based implant dosimetry parameters were noted with the intraoperative method. A positive correlation (P < 0.001) was found between the dosimetry parameters and symptom severity. CONCLUSIONS This prospective study reports the first large-scale comparison of urologic outcomes after two different seed implant techniques. Both were associated with very low urinary retention rates or other grade 3 or greater urologic morbidity. Almost all men had worse urinary symptoms for the first 6 to 9 months, regardless of the seed implant technique used. Patients treated with the intraoperative method demonstrated toxicity for a longer duration. Because of the much better gland isodose coverage and greater doses delivered in the intraoperative seed implantation, we favor this method.