1.Guidelines for the diagnosis and treatment of inguinal hernia(2024 edition)
Chinese Journal of General Surgery 2025;34(3):409-417
In recent years,the diagnosis and treatment of inguinal hernia have become increasingly refined,with individualized treatment plans gaining greater standardization.Building on the"Guidelines for the Diagnosis and Treatment of Adult Inguinal Hernias(2018 Edition),"over 70 experts from related fields conducted extensive discussions and revised the guidelines based on evidence-based medical evaluation standards.This updated edition focuses on advancements in the diagnosis and treatment of adolescent inguinal hernias,scrotal hernias,management of hernia-related complications,and postoperative education and follow-up.It aims to provide a scientific and standardized reference for domestic medical institutions and healthcare professionals,further enhancing the quality and consistency of inguinal hernia management.
2.Ulinastatin Inhibits TLR4/NF-κB pathway-mediated inflammatory response to improve acute pancreatitis-associated intestinal dysfunction
Siqi ZHANG ; Ming GAO ; Qi WANG
Chinese Journal of General Surgery 2025;34(3):506-515
Background and Aims:Acute pancreatitis(AP)accompanied by intestinal injury and intestinal barrier dysfunction can significantly worsen AP prognosis.Currently,there is no effective clinical treatment for AP-related intestinal dysfunction.Ulinastatin(UTI)is a conventional drug used for AP treatment due to its ability to inhibit trypsin activity and exert anti-inflammatory effects.However,whether UTI directly improves AP-related intestinal injury remains unclear.Therefore,this study was conducted to investigate the therapeutic effects and potential mechanisms of UTI in AP-related intestinal dysfunction.Methods:Thirty rats were equally randomized into three groups and received intraperitoneal injections of PBS(control group),20%L-arginine(AP group),or 20%L-arginine+UTI(UTI group).Tail vein blood samples were collected at 0,24,and 48 h after the initial injection of L-arginine(or PBS),and the rats were euthanized after the final blood collection to obtain pancreatic and terminal ileum tissues.Serum levels of amylase,lipase,intestinal fatty acid-binding protein(I-FABP),and diamine oxidase(DAO)were measured using ELISA.Histopathological examinations of the pancreas and terminal ileum were conducted.Western blot was used to detect the protein expression levels of tumor necrosis factor α(TNF-α),interleukin 6(IL-6),interleukin 1β(IL-1β),and interleukin 10(IL-10)in terminal ileum tissue.Western blot and qRT-PCR were used to assess the protein and mRNA expression levels of Toll-like receptor 4(TLR4)and nuclear factor κB(NF-κB)p-p65 in the terminal ileum.Results:Compared with the control group,both the AP and UTI groups exhibited significant AP changes(elevated serum amylase and lipase levels,pancreatic histopathological damage)and AP-related intestinal injury(decreased I-FABP and DAO levels,ileal histopathological damage).However,these alterations were significantly less severe in the UTI group compared to the AP group(all P<0.01).Compared with the control group,both the AP and UTI groups showed significantly increased protein expression of pro-inflammatory factors(TNF-α,IL-1β,IL-6)and the anti-inflammatory factor IL-10 in the ileal tissue;however,the UTI group exhibited significantly lower levels of pro-inflammatory factors and higher levels of IL-10 compared to the AP group(all P<0.01).Additionally,compared with the control group,both the AP and UTI groups displayed significant upregulation of TLR4 and NF-κB p-p65 protein and mRNA expressions in ileal tissue,but the upregulations were significantly lower in the UTI group compared to the AP group(all P<0.01).Conclusion:UTI can inhibit the activation of the TLR4/NF-κB signaling pathway in the ileal tissue of AP rats,thereby reducing pro-inflammatory cytokine levels and increasing anti-inflammatory cytokine levels.Therefore,in addition to its anti-pancreatitis effects,UTI may have a direct therapeutic effect on AP-related intestinal dysfunction.
3.Expression of coactivator-associated arginine methyltransferase 1 and its correlation with pan-cancer prognosis and immune microenvironment
Miaomiao PING ; Guangyao LI ; Qijiao LI ; Xingxing WANG ; Jizheng GUO
Chinese Journal of General Surgery 2025;34(3):516-527
Background and Aims:Coactivator-associated arginine methyltransferase 1(CARM1)is involved in the regulation of RNA and protein processing.Recent studies have revealed its crucial role in tumorigenesis and cancer progression.However,the correlation between CARM1 expression,pan-cancer prognosis,and the immune microenvironment remains unclear.This study was conducted to investigate the relationship between CARM1 expression and pan-cancer prognosis,immune microenvironment,and its potential biological mechanisms using bioinformatics approaches.Methods:Using the TCGA,GTEx,and HPA databases,the expression pattern of CARM1 in various cancers and its prognostic relevance were analyzed.The correlation between CARM1 expression and the tumor microenvironment,as well as immune checkpoint genes,were analyzed using TCGA data.The PPI network of CARM1-interacting genes was constructed using the STRING database.GSEA was performed to investigate the potential biological mechanisms of CARM1 in pan-cancer.Results:Compared to normal tissues,CARM1 was upregulated in most tumor tissues,and its expression was associated with prognosis in multiple cancers.CARM1 expression was correlated with immune cell infiltration and immune checkpoint gene expression.Enrichment analysis suggested that CARM1 might alter the biological function of urinary system tumors by affecting ribosome biogenesis.Additionally,it may influence the biological functions of digestive system tumors by modulating arginine biosynthesis,DNA replication,and the cell cycle.Conclusion:CARM1 is aberrantly expressed in tumor tissues and may serve as a prognostic biomarker for multiple cancers.It is associated with the tumor microenvironment and immune checkpoint gene expression in pan-cancer and may contribute to tumorigenesis through multiple biological pathways,making it a potential therapeutic target for pan-cancer treatment.
4.The role and mechanisms of the RhoA/ROCK signaling pathway in acute pancreatitis:research progress
Huan LEI ; Xin XIA ; Zhiyu LIN ; Tao WANG
Chinese Journal of General Surgery 2025;34(3):563-571
Acute pancreatitis(AP)is a severe digestive system emergency characterized by high morbidity and mortality,with a complex pathogenesis involving multiple signaling pathways.Among them,the RhoA/ROCK signaling pathway plays a crucial role in the onset and progression of AP,influencing pancreatic inflammation,fibrosis,microcirculatory regulation,and interactions with other signaling pathways.Studies have shown that inhibiting the RhoA/ROCK signaling pathway can effectively alleviate AP severity,reduce inflammatory cytokine levels,and improve pancreatic microcirculation,offering new therapeutic insights and potential strategies for AP treatment.Therefore,this review systematically summarizes the structure and function of the RhoA/ROCK signaling pathway,explores its mechanistic role in AP progression,and further discusses its potential clinical applications.By integrating existing research findings,this paper aims to provide new perspectives on the role of this signaling pathway in AP and offer a theoretical foundation for future basic research and clinical applications.
5.Progress in neoadjuvant/conversion therapy combined with radiotherapy for pancreatic cancer
Chinese Journal of General Surgery 2025;34(3):428-438
Pancreatic cancer is a highly aggressive malignancy with a poor prognosis,and surgical resection remains the only potentially curative treatment.However,since most patients are diagnosed at a locally advanced or metastatic stage,the feasibility of upfront surgery is limited.In recent years,neoadjuvant and conversion therapy have emerged as crucial strategies for borderline resectable and locally advanced pancreatic cancer,aiming to increase the R0 resection rate and improve survival outcomes.Studies have shown that FOLFIRINOX and gemcitabine plus nab-paclitaxel are commonly used neoadjuvant chemotherapy regimens,with the former being more suitable for patients with good performance status,while the latter is better tolerated across a broader patient population due to its lower toxicity.Additionally,radiotherapy,such as stereotactic body radiotherapy(SBRT),can enhance local tumor control,increase tumor cell eradication,and minimize damage to normal tissues,thereby optimizing overall treatment efficacy.Despite the significant advantages of this approach,challenges remain,including the management of toxic side effects and the optimization of treatment protocols.Future research will focus on personalized precision medicine,integrating genomic sequencing and radiomics to refine neoadjuvant/conversion therapy strategies and exploring the combination of chemotherapy,radiotherapy,immunotherapy,and targeted therapy to improve long-term survival in pancreatic cancer patients.This paper summarizes recent advancements in neoadjuvant/conversion therapy combined with radiotherapy for pancreatic cancer and discusses its potential role in modulating tumor biology and optimizing treatment strategies.
6.Mendelian randomization reveals the effect of plasma lipidomics on pan-creatitis
Qi-rong JIANG ; Zhe-yu NIU ; Fa-ji YANG ; Yi-jie HAO ; Shi-zhe ZHANG ; Jun LU
Chinese Journal of Current Advances in General Surgery 2025;28(6):436-443
Objective:To investigate the causal effects of plasma lipidomics on pancreatitis using Mendelian ran-domization(MR)and evaluate the roles of intra-pancreatic fat deposition(IPFD)and gallstone disease in this relation-ship.Methods:A bidirectional MR analysis was conducted,with 179 plasma lipids as exposures and acute pancreati-tis(AP)and chronic pancreatitis(CP)as outcomes.Data were sourced from genome-wide association studies(GWAS),the UK Biobank,and the FinnGen project.Two-step Mendelian randomization(TSMR)and multivariable Mendelian ran-domization(MVMR)analyses were applied to assess the mediating roles of IPFD and gallstone disease in the associa-tion between plasma lipids and pancreatitis.Results:MR analysis identified two sterols negatively associated with AP(P<0.05)and seven sterols negatively associated with CP(P<0.05).One phospholipid showed a positive association with CP(P<0.05).IPFD was positively associated with both AP and CP.Gallstone disease was confirmed as a risk fac-tor for AP.However,TSMR analysis indicated that neither IPFD nor gallstone disease mediated the relationship be-tween plasma lipids and pancreatitis.Conclusion:The causal relationship exists among plasma lipomics and AP/CP,also between IPFD,cholelithiasis and pancreatitis.These findings highlight novel risk factors and potential biomarkers to support early diagnosis and intervention for pancreatitis.
7.Analysis of immune checkpoints,prognostic related molecules,and po-tential sensitive drugs in colorectal cancer based on TCGA database and bioinformatics methods
Yue WU ; Yi-jun ZHANG ; Yin-zhong WANG ; Yan-yan ZHANG
Chinese Journal of Current Advances in General Surgery 2025;28(6):444-450
Objective:To investigate biomarkers that are significantly associated with the immune checkpoint(ICs)genes of colorectal cancer(CRC)and have a key impact on the prognosis of patients,and to search for related sensitive drugs by using bioinformatics methods.Methods:Genes with up-regulated expression in TCGA database and associated with poor prognosis of patients were screened,and molecules with high correlation with immune checkpoint were extracted to verify their impact on the prognosis of patients with colorectal cancer.Finally,their im-pact on immune cell infiltration and correlation were detected,and sensitive drugs that act on target genes were ana-lyzed and searched.Results:Colorectal cancer patients with up-regulated expression of tissue inhibitor of metallo-proteinase 1(TIMP1)had poor prognosis.Different TIMP1 expression levels showed significant differences in the infil-tration levels of various immune cells.Further drug sensitivity analysis predicted that bleomycin and middotolin could be highly sensitive to samples with high TIMP1 expression.Conclusion:TIMP1 is expected to be a new predictive biomarker to identify the benefits of cancer immunotherapy,and bleomycin and middotolin may be potential individualized treatment options for patients with high expression of TIMP1.
8.Longitudinal trajectory of perioperative changes in thyroid-stimulating hormone and recovery after microwave ablation of benign thyroid nodules
Chinese Journal of Current Advances in General Surgery 2025;28(6):421-428
Objective:To investigate the relationship between the longitudinal trajectory of perioperative changes in TSH and recovery after microwave ablation of benign thyroid nodules.Methods:251 BTN patients admitted to our hospital from October 2021 to October 2024 were selected as the study subjects,and the group-based trajectory mod-eling(GBTM)model grouping principle was applied to determine the development trajectory of TSH levels.Multiple lin-ear regression was used to analyze the relationship between thyroid function and serum inflammatory factors before and after surgery in patients with different TSH level development trajectories;Cox regression was used to analyze the relationship between TSH level change trajectories and therapeutic efficacy and trend test was performed;binary log-binomial regression model was applied to calculate the relative risk(RR)of postoperative complication rates in different groups of patients.Results:In patients with BTN,four different trajectories of TSH level development were identified:low-stable(90 cases),low-growth(47 cases),medium-growth(63 cases),and high-growth(51 cases).There was a sta-tistically significant difference in surgical efficacy between the developmental trajectories of different TSH levels(P<0.05),and the low-stable type had the highest apparent and overall efficacy rates,followed by the low-growth type.The postoperative and preoperative thyroid function indexes and serum inflammatory factors of patients with different TSH level development trajectories showed statistical differences(P<0.05),the postoperative index levels of FT3 and FT4 were lower than preoperative,and the postoperative index levels of IL-8,hs-CRP,and TNF-α were higher than the preoperative ones,and the postoperative indexes of thyroid function(FT3,FT4)and serum inflammatory factors of the four groups of patients(IL-8,hs-CRP,TNF-α)showed statistically significant differences(P<0.05).The results of multiple linear regression showed that TSH levels were negatively correlated(P<0.05)with thyroid function indices(FT3,FT4)and positively correlated(P<0.05)with serum inflammatory factors(IL-8,hs-CRP,TNF-α).The results of COX re-gression analysis showed that the difference in trend test was statistically significant(P<0.001)among low-growth,medium-growth,and high-growth types,using low-stable type as a reference.The difference in the total postopera-tive complication rate among the four groups was statistically significant(P<0.05),and the risk of total postoperative complications was elevated in patients with low-growth,medium-growth,and high-growth types compared with low-stable types(RR>1,P<0.05).Conclusion:TSH levels were closely associated with recovery after microwave ablation of benign thyroid nodules,TSH levels were negatively correlated with FT3 and FT4,and positively correlated with IL-8,hs-CRP,and TNF-α.The low-stabilized type had the highest apparent and total efficiency,followed by the low-growth type.
9.Clinical and ultrasonographic feature-based nomogram for predicting cervical lymph node metastasis in papillary thyroid carcinoma
Wen-hui LIU ; Meng GAO ; Xiu-liang WEI ; Chao TENG
Chinese Journal of Current Advances in General Surgery 2025;28(6):429-435
Objective:To analyze the clinical and ultrasonographic characteristics of papillary thyroid carcinoma(PTC)and explore their correlation with cervical lymph node metastasis(CLNM),thereby constructing a nomogram pre-diction model for assessing the risk of CLNM in PTC.Methods:A total of 553 patients(corresponding to 553 nod-ules)with papillary thyroid carcinoma(PTC),confirmed by postoperative pathology,who underwent ultrasonography and had complete clinical data at the Second Hospital of Shandong University between December 2019 and December 2022,were included.228 patients(228 nodules)hadcervical lymph node metastasis,and 325 patients(325 nodules)were without cervical lymph node metastasis.All patients were categorized into metastasis and non-metastasis groups based on the presence or absence of cervical lymph node metastasis.These groups were then randomly di-vided into training and validation sets in a 7:3 ratio.Differences in clinical and ultrasonographic characteristics between the two groups were compared,and a nomogram was constructed.Results:Univariate analysis revealed statistically significant differences between the metastasis group and the non-metastasis group in terms of age,presence of Hashimoto's thyroiditis,multifocality,taller-than-wide shape,calcification,capsular contact,and blood flow(P<0.05).Logistic regression analysis in the training set indicated that age,presence of Hashimoto's thyroiditis,multifocality,taller-than-wide shape,calcification,and blood flow were associated with lymph node metastasis in papillary thyroid carcinoma(PTC)(P<0.05).These indicators were incorporated into a nomogram model,which demonstrated high predictive performance,good calibration,and significant clinical utility in both the training and validation sets.Conclu-sion:The nomogram prediction model,constructed based on clinical and ultrasonographic features,effectively predicts the risk of cervical lymph node metastasis(CLNM)in patients with papillary thyroid carcinoma(PTC).Patients who were older,had concomitant Hashimoto's thyroiditis,or exhibited a nodule aspect ratio≥1 were less likely to have concurrent CLNM.Conversely,patients presenting with multiple nodules,nodules with microcalcifications,or nodules demonstrating central or rich/peripheral vascularity were more likely to have concurrent CLNM.
10.Impact of KRAS,NRAS,and BRAF gene mutations on the efficacy of neoadjuvant therapy and postoperative hepatic metastasis occurrence in patients with stage Ⅱ-Ⅲ mid-low rectal cancer
Li-dan LUO ; Ping-ping LIU ; Xian-yin CHEN ; Da-chao CHEN
Chinese Journal of Current Advances in General Surgery 2025;28(6):451-456
Objective:To investigate the effect of KRAS,NRAS and BRAF gene mutations on the efficacy of pre-operative short-course radiotherapy combined with chemotherapy and postoperative liver metastasis in patients with stage Ⅱ~Ⅲ mid-low rectal cancer.Methods:The clinical data of 149 patients with stage Ⅱ~Ⅲ low rectal cancer admitted to Dongnan Hospital of Xiamen University from January 2017 to June 2020 were retrospectively analyzed.All patients received neoadjuvant therapy with preoperative short-course radiotherapy combined with chemotherapy and radical surgery,and were followed up until June 30,2023.The mutations of KRAS,NRAS and BRAF genes were de-tected by pathological tissue before surgery.The effect of neoadjuvant therapy was evaluated according to tumor re-gression grade(TRG).The risk factors of postoperative liver metastasis were analyzed by Logistic multivariate analysis.Results:There were 44 cases of KRAS,10 cases of NRAS and 12 cases of BRAF gene mutation in 149 patients with stage Ⅱ~Ⅲ low rectal cancer,and the mutation rates were 29.53%,6.71%and 8.05%.The incidence of positive vas-cular invasion in patients with KRAS gene mutation was higher than negative(P<0.05).In NRAS mutation patients,the incidence of positive lymph node metastasis was higher than negative(P<0.05),and the incidence of maximum tumor diameter≥5 cm was higher than that of maximum tumor diameter<5 cm(P<0.05).The clinical stage of BRAF muta-tion was higher in stage Ⅲ than in stage Ⅱ(P<0.05),and the incidence of positive lymph node metastasis was higher than negative(P<0.05).During the follow-up period,liver metastasis occurred in 42 patients,and the liver metastasis rate was 28.18%.The KRAS,NRAS and BRAF gene mutations in the effective group were 25.81%,2.15%and 3.23%,lower than those in the ineffective group(35.71%,14.29%and 17.07%,P<0.05).Multiple factors found clinical stage Ⅲ(OR=10.620,95%CI:2.645~22.575),lymph node metastasis was positive(OR=8.774,95%CI:1.878~19.645),neoadju-vant therapy failed(OR=3.373,95%CI:1.014~11.218),KRAS gene mutation(OR=6.245,95%CI:1.876~20.789),BRAF gene mutation(OR=9.497,95%CI:1.754~19.335)were independent risk factors for postoperative liver metastasis of stage Ⅱ~Ⅲ mid-low rectal cancer.Conclusion:Mutations in the KRAS and BRAF genes of middle are associated with poorer efficacy of neoadjuvant therapy in patients with stage Ⅱ~Ⅲ mid-low rectal cancer and are also indepen-dent risk factors for postoperative liver metastasis.

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