ObjectiveTo investigate the effect of natural hirudin combined with hyperbaric oxygen therapy on the survival of transplanted random-pattern skin flap in rats.MethodsA random-pattern skin flap in size of 10.0 cm×2.5 cm was elevated on the dorsum of 72 Sprague Dawley rats. Then the 72 rats were randomly divided into 4 groups (n=18) according to the therapy method. At immediate and within 4 days after operation, the rats were treated with normal saline injection in control group, normal saline injection combined with hyperbaric oxygen treatment in hyperbaric oxygen group, the natural hirudin injection in natural hirudin group, and the natural hirudin injection combined with hyperbaric oxygen treatment in combined group. The flap survival was observed after operation, and survival rate was evaluated at 6 days after operation. The skin samples were collected for histological analysis, microvessel density (MVD) measurement, and evaluation of tumor necrosis factor α (TNF-α) expression level by the immunohistochemical staining at 2 and 4 days after operation.ResultsPartial necrosis occurred in each group after operation, and the flap in combined group had the best survival. The survival rate of flap was significantly higher in hyperbaric oxygen group, natural hirudin group, and combined group than that in control group, and in combined group than in hyperbaric oxygen group and natural hirudin group (P<0.05). There was no significant difference between hyperbaric oxygen group and natural hirudin group (P>0.05). At 2 days, more microvascular structure was observed in hyperbaric oxygen group, natural hirudin group, and combined group in comparison with control group; while plenty of inflammatory cells infiltration in all groups. At 4 days, the hyperbaric oxygen group, natural hirudin group, and the combined group still showed more angiogenesis. Meanwhile, there was still infiltration of inflammatory cells in control group, inflammatory cells in the other groups were significantly reduced when compared with at 2 days. At 2 days, the MVD was significantly higher in hyperbaric oxygen group, natural hirudin group, and combined group than that in control group (P<0.05); the expression of TNF-α was significantly lower in hyperbaric oxygen group, natural hirudin group, and combined group than that in control group (P<0.05). There was no significant difference in above indexes between hyperbaric oxygen group, natural hirudin group, and combined group (P>0.05). At 4 days, the MVD was significantly higher in hyperbaric oxygen group, natural hirudin group, and combined group than that in control group, in natural hirudin group and combined group than in hyperbaric oxygen group (P<0.05). The expression of TNF-α was significantly lower in hyperbaric oxygen group, natural hirudin group, and combined group than that in control group, in combined group than in natural hirudin group and hyperbaric oxygen group (P<0.05).ConclusionHyperbaric oxygen and natural hirudin therapy after random-pattern skin flap transplantation can improve the survival of flaps. Moreover, combined therapy is seen to exhibit significant synergistic effect. This effect maybe related to promotion of angiogenesis and the reduction of inflammation response.
Survival data were widely used in oncology clinical trials. The methods used, such as the log-rank test and Cox regression model, should meet the assumption of proportional hazards. However, the survival data with non-proportional hazard (NPH) are also quite usual, which will decrease the power of these methods and conceal the true treatment effect. Therefore, during the trial design, we need to test the proportional hazard assumption and plan different analysis methods for different testing results. This paper introduces some methods that are widely used for proportional hazard testing, and summarizes the application condition, advantages and disadvantages of analysis methods for non-proportional hazard survival data. When the non-proportional hazard occurs, we need to choose the suitable method case by case and to be cautious in the interpretation of the results.
ObjectiveTo investigate the prognostic value of preoperative serum albumin-to-globulin ratio (AGR) and neutrophil-lymphocyte ratio (NLR) in the overall survival (OS) of patients with esophageal squamous cell carcinoma (ESCC), and to establish an individualized nomogram model and evaluate its efficacy, in order to provide a possible evaluation basis for the clinical treatment and postoperative follow-up of ESCC patients. MethodsAGR, NLR, clinicopathological and follow-up data of ESCC patients diagnosed via pathology in the Department of Thoracic Surgery, The First Affiliated Hospital of Xinjiang Medical University from 2010 to 2017 were collected. The correlation between NLR/AGR and clinicopathological data were analyzed. Kaplan-Meier analysis and log-rank test were used for survival analysis. The optimal cut-off values of AGR and NLR were determined by X-tile software, and the patients were accordingly divided into a high-level group and a low-level group. At the same time, univariate and multivariate Cox regression analyses were used to identify independent risk factors affecting OS in the ESCC patients, and a nomogram prediction model was constructed and internally verified. The diagnostic efficacy of the model was evaluated by receiver operating characteristic (ROC) curve and calibration curve, and the clinical application value was evaluated by decision curve analysis. ResultsA total of 150 patients were included in this study, including 105 males and 45 females with a mean age of 62.3±9.3 years, and the follow-up time was 1-5 years. The 5-year OS rate of patients in the high-level AGR group was significantly higher than that in the low-level group (χ2=6.339, P=0.012), and the median OS of the two groups was 25 months and 12.5 months, respectively. The 5-year OS rate of patients in the high-level NLR group was significantly lower than that in the low-level NLR group (χ2=5.603, P=0.018), and the median OS of the two groups was 18 months and 39 months, respectively. Multivariate Cox analysis showed that AGR, NLR, T stage, lymph node metastasis, N stage, and differentiation were independent risk factors for the OS of ESCC patients. The C-index of the nomogram model was 0.689 [95%CI (0.640, 0.740)] after internal validation. The area under the ROC curve of predicting 1-, 3-, and 5-year OS rate was 0.773, 0.724 and 0.725, respectively. At the same time, the calibration curve and the decision curve suggest that the model had certain efficacy in predicting survival and prognosis. ConclusionPreoperative AGR and NLR are independent risk factors for ESCC patients. High level of AGR and low level of NLR may be associated with longer OS in the patients; the nomogram model based on AGR, NLR and clinicopathological features may be used as a method to predict the survival and prognosis of ESCC patients, which is expected to provide a reference for the development of personalized treatment for patients.
ObjectiveTo analyze the effects of preoperative protein level on the survival prognosis of patients underwent colorectal cancer (CRC) surgery in the current Database from Colorectal Cancer (DACCA). MethodsAccording to the established screening criteria, the patient information was extracted from the updated version of DACCA on April, 2024. The survival curves of the patients with and without preoperative hypoproteinemia were plotted by Kaplan-Meier method and the log-rank test was used to compare. The univariate and multivariate Cox proportional hazards regression model were used to analyze the preoperative hypoproteinemia affecting postoperative survival (overall survival and disease-specific survival) of patients with CRC. The test level was α=0.05. ResultsA total of 1 217 patients with CRC were included, and 252 of 1 217 patients with preoperative hypoproteinemia, with an incidence of 20.7%. The survival curves showed that the overall survival and disease-specific survival of the patients with preoperative hypoproteinemia were worse than those without preoperative hypoproteinemia (χ2=43.411, P<0.001; χ2=41.171, P<0.001). However, the multivariate Cox proportional hazards regression model analysis did not find that the preoperative hypoproteinemia was a risk factor for postoperative survival (overall survival and disease-specific survival as observed indicators) in the patients with CRC [overall survival: HR (95%CI)=1.013 (0.741, 1.385), P=0.938; disease-specific survival: HR (95%CI)=1.003 (0.719, 1.399), P=0.987].ConclusionThe results of this study suggest that the incidence rate of preoperative hypoproteinemia in patients with CRC is higher and its survival prognosis is worse than that in patients without preoperative hypoproteinemia.
ObjectiveTo investigate the expression and clinical significance of cytochromes b561 (CYB561) in hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC). MethodsThe expression of CYB561 mRNA in HCC tissues and its relationship with prognosis were analyzed by database data. Immunohistochemistry (IHC) was used to detect the expression of CYB561 protein in 61 matched HCC tissues and their adjacent tissues, and the relationship between CYB561 protein expression and clinicopathological features and prognosis of HCC was analyzed. Kaplan-Meier method was used to draw the survival curve and Cox proportional hazard regression model was used to analyze the correlation between the expression of CYB561 protein and the prognosis of HCC. ResultsThe analysis of database data showed that the relative expression of CYB561 mRNA in HCC tissues was higher than that in adjacent tissues (P<0.001). Compared with HCC patients with negative expression of CYB561 mRNA, HCC patients with positive expression of CYB561 mRNA had worse overall survival (OS), relapse-free survival, progression-free survival and disease-free survival (all P<0.05). The results of IHC showed that the positive rates of CYB561 protein in HCC tissues and adjacent tissues were 57.38% (35/61) and 21.31%(13/61), respectively. The former was higher than the latter, with statistical significance (χ2=16.624, P<0.001). Survival analysis showed that the OS of patients with positive expression of CYB561 protein was worse than that of patients with negative expression (P<0.05). Multivariate Cox proportional hazard regression analysis showed that the positive expression of CYB561 protein was a risk factor for postoperative OS in HCC patients [HR=3.308, 95%CI (1.344, 8.144), P=0.009]. ConclusionCYB561 is positively expressed in HCC and suggests a worse survival, and may serve as a potential prognostic biomarker for HCC.
ObjectiveTo summarize the procedures of the shoulder arthroplasty and the evolution of the shoulder prosthesis, and to discuss the indications and contraindications of the several common shoulder arthroplastis. MethodsThe related literature on shoulder arthroplasty was extensively reviewed, summarized, and analyzed. ResultsAt present, shoulder arthroplasties can be classified into shoulder hemiarthroplasty, total shoulder arthroplasty, resurfacing shoulder arthroplasty, stemless shoulder arthroplasty, and reserve shoulder arthroplasty, etc. Each type of the prosthesis has several special indications and contraindications. Mostly, the shoulder arthroplasties achieved the satisfied results, such as pain-relief and restoration of the elevation and adduction of shoulder. The survival rate of the most shoulder prostheses may reach 10 years or more. ConclusionMost shoulder arthroplasties are effective and satisfied to treat the shoulder traumas and diseases in pain-free and functional restoration of shoulders.
ObjectiveTo investigate the clinical characteristics and prognosis of resectable esophageal small cell carcinoma after surgical resection.MethodsA retrospective study of patients with resectable esophageal small cell carcinoma undergoing surgical resection from January 2009 to June 2015 in the Department of Thoracic Surgery, Sichuan Provincial Fourth People's Hospital and Department of Thoracic Surgery, West China Hospital of Sichuan University was performed. Survival analysis was conducted by Kaplan-Meier analysis and log-rank test. Cox regression model was used for identifying independent prognostic factors.ResultsA total of 53 patients with resectable esophageal small cell carcinoma were included for analysis. The mean age was 58.4 ± 8.3 years and there were 42 male patients and 11 female patients. Forty-two patients were diagnosed as pure esophageal small cell carcinoma while 11 patients were diagnosed with mixed esophageal small cell carcinoma, who were all mixed with squamous cell carcinoma. Most of the esophageal small cell carcinomas were located in the middle (58.5%) and lower (32.1%) segments of the esophagus. Thirty patients (56.6%) were found to have lymph node metastasis, and 7 patients (13.2%) were found to have lymphovascular invasion. According to the 2009 TNM staging criteria for esophageal squamous cell carcinoma, there were 12 patients with stage Ⅰ disease, 19 patients with stage Ⅱ disease, and 22 patients with stage Ⅲ disease. Most of the patients underwent left thoracotomy with two-field lymphadenectomy. Postoperatively, only twenty-two patients (41.5%) received adjuvant chemoradiotherapy. The median survival time of these patients was 20.1 months, and the 1- and 3-year survival rate was 75.5% and 33.1%, respectively. For prognosis, age, gender, pathological type, tumor location, and lymphovascular invasion had no significant impact on long-term survival of these patients. However, TNM stage (1 year survival rate: stage Ⅰ: 91.7%; stage Ⅱ: 78.9%; stage Ⅲ: 63.6%; P=0.004) and postoperative adjuvant therapy (1 year survival rate: 81.8% vs. 71.0%; P=0.005) had significant impact on the survival of patients with esophageal small cell carcinoma. In multivariate analysis, TNM stage and postoperative adjuvant therapy were independent prognostic factors for long-term prognosis of patients with esophageal small cell carcinoma.ConclusionEsophageal small cell carcinoma is very rare, with high malignancy and poor prognosis. For patients with resectable esophageal small cell carcinoma, the TNM staging system of esophageal squamous cell carcinoma can be used to direct the choice of treatment options. For early stage esophageal small cell carcinoma (stage Ⅰ/Ⅱ), surgery plus postoperative adjuvant chemoradiotherapy can be the prior therapeutic choice, while for locally advanced esophageal small cell carcinoma (stage Ⅲ), chemoradiotherapy should be the preferred treatment.
Objective To investigate the prognostic value of ERBB2 Exon20ins (Exon20ins) in advanced non-small cell lung cancer (NSCLC) patients receiving first-line chemotherapy combined with immunotherapy. Methods A retrospective analysis was conducted on clinical data from ERBB2-mutant stage IV NSCLC patients who received first-line chemotherapy combined with immunotherapy at West China Hospital of Sichuan University between 2020 and 2024. ERBB2 wild-type patients were matched using propensity score matching. Clinical pathological characteristics, distant metastatic sites, and treatment outcomes were compared among patients with different mutation statuses. The primary endpoint was progression-free survival (PFS), and Kaplan-Meier method was used to plot survival curves. Cox regression analysis was performed to adjust for confounding factors. Results This study included 41 ERBB2-mutant stage IV NSCLC patients, of whom 22 had Exon20ins mutations, and 19 had other ERBB2 mutations. Forty-one ERBB2 wild-type patients were matched for comparison. The mean age of all patients was 60.0±9.3 years, with 61 males (74.4%). A total of 67 patients (81.7%) received chemotherapy combined with immunotherapy, and 15 patients (18.3%) received chemotherapy combined with immunotherapy and anti-angiogenesis therapy. The Exon20ins group showed a higher incidence of lymph node metastasis compared with the ERBB2 other mutation group and the wild-type group (36.4% vs. 15.8% vs. 9.8%, P=0.045). The median PFS in the Exon20ins group was significantly shorter than in the other mutation group (5.8 months vs. 10.3 months, P=0.025) and the wild-type group (5.8 months vs. 8.3 months, P=0.023). Univariate Cox regression analysis indicated that the ERBB2 Exon20ins mutation was an adverse prognostic factor (Exon20ins vs. other ERBB2 mutations, HR=2.9, 95%CI 1.18 - 7.1, P=0.014; Exon20ins vs. wild-type, HR=2.6, 95%CI 1.25 - 5.6, P=0.014). The combination with anti-angiogenesis therapy did not significantly affect the prognosis of PFS (HR=0.66, 95%CI 0.28 - 1.6, P=0.363). Multivariate Cox regression analysis revealed that the ERBB2 Exon20ins mutation was an independent adverse prognostic factor for PFS (Exon20ins vs. other ERBB2 mutations, HR=3.3, 95%CI 1.27 - 8.3, P=0.015; Exon20ins vs. wild-type, HR=2.7, 95%CI 1.2 - 5.88, P=0.014). For the 67 patients receiving chemotherapy combined with immunotherapy, Cox regression analysis showed that the ERBB2 Exon20ins mutation was still associated with poor prognosis in advanced NSCLC (Exon20ins vs. other ERBB2 mutations, HR=3.2, 95%CI 1.12 - 9.1, P=0.030; Exon20ins vs. wild-type, HR=2.5, 95%CI 1 - 5.88, P=0.040). Conclusions Advanced NSCLC patients with ERBB2 Exon20ins mutation have a worse prognosis compared with those with other ERBB2 mutation subtypes or ERBB2 wild-type when treated with first-line chemotherapy combined with immunotherapy. This suggests that ERBB2 Exon20ins mutation, as a particularly refractory mutation, requires the exploration of new combination strategies based on molecular subtyping to improve survival outcomes.
ObjectiveTo evaluate the effectiveness of preoperative immunosuppressive therapy combined with surgical intervention. MethodsA retrospective study was conducted on Behçet's disease patients who underwent cardiac surgery at Guangdong Provincial People's Hospital from 2012 to 2021. Patients were divided into immunosuppressive group and non-immunosuppressive group based on whether they received immunosuppressive therapy before surgery. The complications and long-term survival rates of the two groups were analyzed. ResultsA total of 28 patients were included, among which 2 patients underwent reoperation, a total of 30 surgeries were performed, including 16 males (53.3%), and the confirmed age was 37 (31, 45) years old. There were 15 surgeries in the immunosuppressive group and 15 surgeries in the non-immunosuppressive group. Compared with the non-immunosuppressive group, the incidence of complications during hospitalization in the immunosuppressive group was lower (13.3% vs. 53.3%, P=0.008). One patient died in hospital, and the rest were discharged and followed up, with a median follow-up time of 38.7 (15.1, 57.3) months, and there was no statistically significant difference in long-term survival rate between the two groups (26.7% vs. 6.7%, P=0.158). There was no statistically significant difference in the cumulative incidence of complications one month (20% vs. 53%, P=0.058) and one year (27% vs. 60%, P=0.065) after surgery between the immunosuppressive group and the non-immunosuppressive group, but there was a statistically significant difference in the cumulative incidence of complications three years after surgery (47% vs. 92%, P=0.002). ConclusionSurgical treatment can save lives in Behçet's disease patients with cardiovascular diseases, but the incidence of postoperative complications is high. Timely use of immunosuppressants before cardiovascular surgery can reduce the incidence of postoperative complications.
【Abstract】Objective To investigate the effect of donor blood transfusion on inducing pancreatic allograft tolerance in outbred rat model. Methods Wistar male rats were used as blood and pancreas donor, and diabetic recipients. One ml of donor blood injected into abdomen of diabetic recipients on the day of transplantation and azathioprine given 2 days pretransplant and continued for three days. Results Pancreas allograft survival was significantly prolonged (28 to 112 days, media survival time 64.2 days). One ml of donor blood alone injected into the abdomen and azathioprine given alone 2 days pretransplant did not improve allograft survival (media survival time 9.8 vs 10.2 days). Conclusion Donor blood injected on the day of transplantation and a 3 days course of azathioprine started 2 days pretransplant have b synergism in inducing long term graft survival in this rat model.