Objective To evaluate the response and toxicity of the chemo-radiotherapy assisted with Shenqi Fuzheng injection(SFI)in non-small-cell lung cancer(NSCLC).Methods 58 cases of NSCLC(from Jun.2004 to Dec.2006)were divided at random into two groups.30 cases(trial group)were given chemo-radiotherapy with Shenqi Fuzheng injection while another 28 cases(control group)only chemo-radiotherapy.The radiotherapy was carried out between two cycles of induction chemotherapy with NVB 25 mg/m2 d1,8,DDP 30 mg/m2 d1-3.The radiation dose was 60 Gy/30 f/6 W.Shenqi Fuzheng injection was used in 250 ml/d,for 21days as one cycle and after 7 day intervals, given another one cycle.The cycles of same regimen chemotherapy were given again after one week when the radiotherapy had been completed.Results Shortterm therapeutic effectiveness.the rates of complete remission and partial remission as well as the overall effective rates in patients of the trial group and control group were 16.7%,60.0%and 76.7%,and 10.7%,50.0%and 60.7%,respectively,the differences between two groups be not significant(P＞0.05).The 0.5,1,2year survival rates in patients of the trial group and control group were 96.7%,65.2%,45.0%and 89.3%,48.0%,35.0%,respectively,the differences between two groups were not significant(P＞0.05).Shenqi Fuzheng injection was shown to have changes in chemo-radiotherapy effects on clinical symptom,quality of life (QOL)and immune function and toxicity in the treatment of patients with NSCLC(P＜0.05).Conclusion Shenqi Fuzheng injection is shown to have changes in ehemo-radiotherapy effects on clinical symptom,QOL and immune function and toxicity in the treatment of patients with NSCLC,but it could not increase survival rate of the patients.

Objective To investigate the success rate of fluoroscopy-guided subclavian vein catheter implantation (SVCI) in children with hematologic diseases,to improve the visualization of the position of the catheter head,and to reduce the incidence of procedure-related complications.Methods Fluoroscopyguided SVCI was performed in 183 sick children (aged 1-16 years) with confirmed hematologic disease.The success rate of the catheter implantation,the number of needle puncturing,the operation time,the fluoroscopy time and the occurrence of procedure-related complications were recorded.Results Successful fluoroscopy-guided SVCI was accomplished in all 183 sick children,with a success rate being 100％.Successful SVCI was obtained with ＜3 times of puncturing in 151 sick children (82.5％),with 4-6 times of puncturing in 25 sick children,and with 7-10 times of puncturing in 7 sick children.The catheter tip was successfully positioned at the junction of the superior vena cava with the right atrium in all sick children.The operation time ranged from 5 min to 25 min with a mean of (10.38±4.04) min.The fluoroscopy time varied from 16 seconds to 607 seconds with a mean of (65.46±55.86) seconds.During the procedure,artery was wrongly punctured two times in two sick children.The mean follow-up time was 35 days.Cather-related infection occurred in 2 sick children.No local hematoma at puncture point,nor hemopneumothorax or catheter-related thrombosis occurred.Conclusion Fluoroscopy-guided SVCI has high technical success rate in children with hematologic diseases.For a successful procedure of SVCI,less number of needle puncturing is needed by using this technique.The satisfaction rate for the placement of catheter tip is high and the incidence of complications is low.Therefore,fluoroscopy-guided SVCI is a safe and effective method.

Objective To evaluate the effect of edaravone on moderate and severe brain injury patients by observing the change of the serum neuron-specific enolase ( NSE) and S100β protein. Methods A total of 90 patients with acute moderate and severe brain injury were selected and randomly divided into three groups, ie, control group (Group A), postoperative edaravone treatment group (Group B) and preoperative edaravone treatment group (Group C), 30 patients per group. In the meantime, 20 normal persons were set as the healthy control group. The concentrations of serum NSE and S100β protein of each group was measured by using the enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay ( ELISA) on admission and at days 1,3,5 and 7 after operation. Results The serum NSE and S100β protein levels in the Group A, B and C was higher than that in the healthy group on admission and at days 1,3,5 and 7 postoperatively and reached the peak at day 1 after operation (P ＜0.05). The level of serum NSE and S100β protein in the Group C was lower than that in the healthy group, Group A and Group B at day 1 postoperatively (P＜0.05), with no statistical difference between Group B and Group A at day 1 postoperatively (P ＞0.05). The serum NSE and S100β protein levels in the Group C was lower than that in the Group A at days 3, 5 and 7 postoperatively (P ＜0.05). The serum NSE and S100β protein levels in the Group C with severe brain injury was lower than that in the Group B at days 3, 5 and 7 postoperatively (P ＜ 0.05), but there was no statistical difference in moderate injury group between Croup C and Group B. The serum NSE and S100β levels in the Group B was lower than that in the Group A at days 3, 5 and 7 postoperatively ( P ＜ 0. 05). Conclusions Edaravone can effectively reduce the serum NSE and S100β levels in the moderate and severe brain injury patients after operation. The earlier use of edaravone may beget the more significant effect, especially in patients with severe brain injury. The application of edaravone before operation can more effectively reduce the concentration of serum NSE and S100β protein.

Objective To investigate the effects of transcatheter arterial chemoembolization(TACE) on the expression of nm23, tissue inhibitor of metalloproteinase-2 (TIMP-2) and extrahepatic metastasis in hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC). Methods The specimens were collected from resectable HCC in 72 patients. Patients were divided into two groups. In one group, TACE was performed before tumor resection (Group A, n=36). In another group, the tumors were resected directly without preoperative TACE (Group B, n=36). The expression and distribution of nm23, TIMP-2 in the tumor tissue and liver parenchyma in the two groups were compared. All patients were followed up for 24 months,and the incidence of extrahepatic metastasis was compared between the two groups. Chi-square test was applied to compare the expression levels of nm23-H1 and TIMP-2. Results The number of cases of strong, moderate and no expression of nm23 were 24, 6 and 6 cases in group A respectively, and were 9, 6 and 21 cases in group B. Statistical differences were found between the two groups(X~2=15.52, P<0.01). The number of cases of strong, moderate and no expression of TIMP-2 were 21,3 and 12 cases in group A respectively, and were 9, 9 and 18 cases in group B. Statistical differences were demonstrated between them (X~2=9.00, P<0.05). There were 13 cases in group A and 15 cases in group B being diagnosed to have extrahepatic metastasis within 24- month period of follow up, but there was no significant difference between the two groups(X~2= 0.23, P>0.05). Conclusions TACE could enhance the expression of nm23-H1 and TIMP-2 in tumor tissues. Therefore, the potential of metastasis of tumor cells might be prohibited by TACE.

Objective To compare the therapeutic efficacy of preventive transcatheter arterial chemoembolization (TACE) with that of preventive transhepatic arterial infusion (TAI) for patients with primary hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) after hepatectomy. Methods During the period from June 2011 to June 2012 at authors’ hospital, preventive transhepatic interventional therapy was employed in 79 HCC patients within three months after hepatectomy. The followed-up endpoint was in June 2013. The clinical data were retrospectively analyzed. The patients were divided into TACE group (n=41) and TAI group (n=38). No significant differences in age, sex, preoperative liver function, Child-Pugh scores, tumor size and AFP level existed between the two groups. During interventional procedure , catheterization of proper hepatic artery was performed first, which was followed by angiography in order to clarify that there were no newly-developed tumor vessels or tumor lesions in the residual liver, then the chemotherapeutic agents were infused through the catheter. The emulsion of iodized oil with chemotherapeutic agent was used in the patients of TACE group, while only chemotherapeutic agent was adopted in the patients of TAI group. By using Chi-square test the one-year recurrence rate was determined. Kaplan-Meier estimation method was used to calculate the disease-free survival time, and t test was adopted to estimate the mean hospitalization days. The results were compared between the two groups. Results Of the 79 patients, postoperative recurrence was confirmed in 11, and the overall one-year recurrence rate was 13.9%. The one-year recurrence rate of TACE group and TAI group was 12.20% and 15.79% respectively , and no significant difference in one- year recurrence rate existed between TACE group and TAI group (χ2= 0.213, P = 0.645). The average disease-free survival time of TACE group and TAI group was (21.60 ± 1.52) months and (17.38 ± 3.01) months respectively, the difference between the two groups was of statistical significance (P = 0.038). The mean hospitalization days of TACE group and TAI group were (6.30 ± 1.84) days and (5.89 ± 2.08) days respectively, and the difference between the two groups was not statistically significant (P = 0.522). Conclusion No significant difference in one-year recurrence rate exists between the patients receiving preventive TACE and the patients receiving preventive TAI after hepatectomy for HCC. Nevertheless , preventive TACE can probably improve the disease-free survival time after hepatectomy.

Objective:To compare the postoperative liver function injury condition in patients with intermediate-and advanced-stage hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) treated with hepatic artery infusion chemotherapy (HAIC) and hepatic artery chemoembolization (TACE) combined with immune checkpoint inhibitors (ICIs) and multi-target tyrosine kinase inhibitors (TKIs).Methods:Patients with intermediate-and advanced-stage HCC who were admitted and treated with HAIC/TACE+ICIs+TKIs therapy at Nanfang Hospital of Southern Medical University from January 2019 to November 2021, with follow-up up to July 2023, were retrospectively enrolled. The results of liver function tests within one week before interventional surgery and on the first day after surgery were recorded. The degree of postoperative liver injury was graded according to the common terminology criteria for adverse events 5.0 (CTCAE 5.0). The treatment efficacy was evaluated according to RECIST 1.1 criteria. Measurement data were compared between groups using a t-test or a non-parametric rank sum test. Enumeration data were compared between the groups using the χ2 test or Fisher's exact probability method. The survival condition differences were analyzed by the log-rank method. Results:This study included 82 and 77 cases in the HAIC and TACE groups. There were no statistically significant differences between the two groups of patients in terms of gender, age, physical condition score, number of tumors, presence or absence of liver cirrhosis, Child-Pugh grade, albumin-bilirubin (ALBI) grade, and combined ICIs and TKIs . The HAIC group had later tumor staging, a greater tumor burden, poorer liver reserve function, and a larger proportion of patients in stage C (81.7% vs. 63.6%), χ2=6.573, P = 0.01). There were 53 cases (64.6% vs. 32.5%) with a maximum tumor diameter of ≥ 10cm, χ2=16.441, P < 0.001), and more patients had a retention rate of ≥ 10% for indocyanine green (ICG) at 15 minutes (68.3% vs. 51.9%, P = 0.035). The postoperative incidence rate of increased levels of alanine aminotransferase, aspartate aminotransferase, and total bilirubin was significantly lower in the HAIC group than that in the TACE group (28.0% vs. 63.6%, χ2=20.298, P < 0.001, 54.9% vs. 85.7%, χ2=17.917, P < 0.001;40.2% vs. 55.8%, χ2=3.873, P = 0.049). The number of patients with postoperative ALBI grade 3 was significantly lower in the HAIC group than that in the TACE group (6.1% vs. 16.9%, χ2=4.601, P = 0.032). There was no statistically significant difference in the incidence rate of postoperative hypoalbuminemia, activated partial thromboplastin time, or increased international standardized ratio between the two groups of patients. There was no statistically significant difference in median progression-free survival (7.3 months vs. 8.2 months, P = 0.296) or median overall survival (16.5 months vs. 21.9 months, P = 0.678) between the two groups of patients. Conclusion:The incidence rate of postoperative liver injury is higher in patients with intermediate-and advanced-stage HCC treated with TACE combined with ICIs and TKIs than in patients with HAIC combined with ICIs and TKIs.

Objective To investigate the value of the quantitative analysis of digital subtraction angiography(DSA)and dynamic contrast-enhanced CT in evaluating the efficacy of hepatic artery infusion chemotherapy(HAIC)for liver cancer.Methods Fifty patients who were clinically diagnosed with primary liver cancer and treated with HAIC at least 3 times were enrolled in the study.Based on the enhanced CT scans taken within 1 week before the 1st and 3rd HAIC,patients were divided into good response group(CR+PR)and poor response group(SD+PD)according to the modified response evaluation criteria in solid tumor.The hemodynamic parameters[time to peak(TP),peak density(PV),and slope of the rising edge of the time-density curve(SU)]of liver cancer on DSA before treatment and after two HAIC,as well as the changes in the CT values of liver cancer in each phase of CT enhancement were compared,and then sensitivity analysis was conducted.Significant indicators were further analyzed with Logistic regression and ROC curve to assess their efficacies in evaluating HAIC response in liver cancer.Results The differences in pre-treatment CT values and DSA indicators between two groups were trivial(P>0.05).All patients successfully completed HAIC twice.The enhanced CT taken 1 week before the 3rd HAIC showed reductions in the arterial-and venous-phase CT values in good response group(P<0.05),while no significant difference was found in the delayed-phase CT value(P>0.05).At the 3rd HAIC,DSA angiography demonstrated significant reductions in PV and SU,and a significant prolongation of TP in good response group(P<0.05);while there were no significant differences in various indicators in poor response group.Regression analysis showed that arterial-phase CT values and DSA angiography SU were significantly correlated with therapeutic efficacy.ROC curve results indicated that arterial-phase CT values and SU were effective indicators for evaluating therapeutic efficacy.Conclusion The SU from DSA angiography and the CT values from dynamic contrast-enhanced CT which can objectively reflect the changes in blood supply of liver cancer after HAIC and are associated with HAIC efficacy can serve as radiological evidence for evaluating HAIC response.

Objective:To investigate the efficacy and safety of different transcatheter arterial chemoembolization(TACE)-based regimens in patients with unresectable hepatocellular carcinoma(uHCC)and explore the optimal timing for combining TACE with tyrosine kinase inhibit-ors(TKIs)and immune checkpoint inhibitors(ICIs).Methods:A retrospective analysis was conducted on data from 555 patients with uHCC who underwent TACE-based treatment between April 2016 and December 2021 in Nanfang Hospital,Southern Medical University.The pa-tients were assigned into the following four groups according to different treatment regimens:TACE group(n=317),TACE combined with TKIs group(TACE+TKIs,n=66),TACE combined with ICIs group(TACE+ICIs,n=33),and TACE combined with TKIs+ICIs group(TACE+TKIs+ICIs,n=139).Subgroup analysis was performed within the TACE+TKIs+ICIs group,with patients being assigned into"pre-TACE"and"post-TACE"groups based on the timing of the combination therapy.Univariate and multivariate Cox regression analyses were conducted to identify pro-gnostic factors influencing overall survival(OS).Results:The TACE+TKIs+ICIs group showed the longest OS(21.9 months,95%confidence in-terval[CI]:17.2-26.6,P=0.030)and progression-free survival(PFS)(8.3 months,95%CI:7.3-9.3,P=0.004)compared to those in the other three groups.In the subgroup analysis,the"post-TACE"group had longer OS than the"pre-TACE"group(26.8 months vs.19.2 months,P = 0.011).The objective response rate(ORR)was 32.8%,41.1%,42.4%,and 52.5%(P=0.001)and the disease control rate(DCR)was 59.6%,71.2%,69.7%,and 82.7%(P<0.001)in the TACE,TACE+TKIs,TACE+ICIs,and TACE+TKIs+ICIs groups,respectively.The adverse events were similar to those reported in previous studies.Cox regression analysis revealed that tumor number,extrahepatic metastasis,and treatment regimen were independent factors influencing OS in patients(all P<0.05).Conclusions:TKIs or ICIs can improve OS and PFS in patients with uHCC receiving TACE,and the combination of TKIs+ICIs with TACE achieves better beneficial outcomes.The greatest OS was observed when the combination therapy TKIs+ICIs was initiated within 3 months after the first TACE procedure.