Objective To investigate the relationships between vascular factors and plaque morphology in the patients with acute coronary syndrome(ACS). Methods lntravascular ultrasound(IVUS) was performed on 56 consecutively enrolled patients with ACS. Cytometric bead array for seven vascular factors(sPE,t-PA, MCP-I, IL-8,IL-6,sVCAM-1, and sCD40L) was measured by cytometry. The others biomarkers were tested by ELISA or biochemistry. Differences in bio-factors were compared between vulnerable plaque and non- vulnerable plaque groups, accte myocardial infarction (AMI) and ustable angina (UA) patients, and occurring plaque rupture. The relationship between the parameters of morphology and vascular factors was analyzed. Results There were positive correlations between sVCAM-1sPE, sVCAM-1-sCD40L, sCD40L-sPE, IL-6-IL8,IL8-MCP4, and MCPI-sVCAM-1; CRP (18.868±4.907mg/L vs 5.806±3.553 mg/L)and IL-6 (19.5 pg/ml [9.2±44.6 pg/ml]vs 5.3 pg/ml [2.3～ 13.4 pg/ml])were elevated in the vulnerable plaque group(P <0.05). sCD40L(473.82±126.11 vs 237.94±34.78 pg/mi),sPE (107.214±39.90 vs 49.06±5.61 μg/L) and MCP-1(132.42±17.85 vs 127.174±13.27 pg/ml) were increased in the plaque rupture group(P < 0.05);There was correlation between tPA and plaque morphology(P < 0.05). Increases in sCD40L, MCP-1, sPE, and TC were independent factors for plaque rupture. Conclusions IL-6 and CRP may be biomarkers for vulnerable plaque and for diagnosis ofAMI, sCD40L, MCP-1 and sPE are potential markers when for plaque rupture patient present with severe ACS.

Objective:To investigate the safety and efficacy of laminectomy combined with vertebroplasty in spinal metastases from rapid-growth tumors. Methods:Clinical data of 23 patients with spinal metastases of lung cancer, who were admitted to the Cancer Hospital from July 2008 to May 2012, were retrospectively analyzed. Thirteen male and ten female patients, with an age range from 40 years to 65 years and a mean age of 51.5, were examined. All patients received posterior laminectomy to relieve spinal cord compression. Afterward, vertebroplasty combined with radiofrequency ablation was conducted, followed by the internal fixation of vertebrae (instrumental fixation). Operation time, blood loss, and bone cement leakage rate were analyzed. One month before and after the operation, pain measurement was conducted using visual analog scale (VAS) and neurologic deficit (spinal cord injury) by Frankel Grade. Functional impairment was classified by Karnofsky performance status (KPS) score. Quality of life was assessed by the European Organization for Research and Treatment questionnaire (EORTC QLQ-C30). Results:The mean operation time was 163±87.36 min. Blood boss was 430±130.35 mL. Bone cement leakage rate was 21.7%. One month before and after surgery, the VAS showed statistical significance (t=25.6, P<0.01). After surgery, 78.3%of all patients exhibited functionally satisfactory Frankel Grade D or E, compared with 43.5%of patients before the operation. KPS score (80 to 100) percentage was 69.6%after surgery compared with 34.8%before surgery. One month after the operation, remission of various degrees was seen in 10 of 18 patients who had sphincteric dysfunction before surgery (55.6%). The EORTC QLQ-C30 score was 85.39±8.99 before and 52.78±15.17 after operation. The quality of life improved significantly (t=11.6, P<0.01). Conclusion:Posterior laminectomy and vertebroplasty combined with radiofrequency ablation for spinal metastases from lung cancer is safe and effective. The treatment can improve pain, function, and life quality of patients with lung cancer spinal metastases.

Objective To investigate the clinical efficacy of hepatic artery ringed and restriction operation-associating liver partition and portal vein ligation for staged hepatectomy (HARO-ALPPS) in the treatment of giant hepatocellular carcinoma.Methods The retrospective and descriptive study was conducted.Clinical data of a 45-year-old male patient with giant hepatocellular carcinoma who was admitted to the First Affiliated Hospital of Guangxi Medical University in July 2018 were collected.In the first stage operation,right portal vein ligation+ in situ liver partition + right hepatic artery ringed operation was performed on the patient.In the second stage operation,right hemihepatectomy was performed on the patient.Observation indicators:(1) surgical and postoperative situations of the first stage operation;(2) surgical and postoperative situations of the second stage operation;(3) postoperative pathological examination;(4) changes in future liver remnant (FLR) and tumor volume;(5) perioperative hemodynamic changes of right hepatic artery,proper hepatic artery and left hepatic artery;(6) perioperative hemodynamic changes of left-portal vein and main portal vein;(7) follow-up.Follow-up using outpatient examination was performed to detect the prognosis of patients up to February 2019.Count data were described as absolute number.Results (1) Surgical and postoperative situations of the first stage operation:the patient underwent right portal vein ligation+ in situ liver partition+ right hepatic artery ringed operation successfully.The operation time and volume of intraoperative blood loss were 376 minutes and 400 mL.Inflammatory indicators including body temperature,white blood cells (WBC),C-reactive protein,procalcitonin,and liver function indices including total bilirubin (TBil),albumin (Alb),alanine aminotransferase (ALT),aspartate aminotransferase (AST),ascites,indocyanine green retention rate at15 min (ICG R15),score of model for end-stage liver disease (MELD) before the second stage operation were improved after symptomatic supportive treatment.Prothrombin time (PT) was in the normal range after the first stage operation.There was no complication of Clavien-Dindo classification Ⅱ or above.(2) Surgical and postoperative situations of the second stage operation:the patient underwent right hemihepatectomy successfully.The operation time and volume of intraoperative blood loss were 322 minutes and 900 mL.The patient received 300 mL of fresh frozen plasma infusion.Inflammatory indicators including body temperature,C-reactive protein,and liver function indices including Alb,ALT,AST,ascites,were recoved to normal level after symptomatic supportive treatment.WBC,procalcitonin,TBil,and PT were in the normal range.There was no complication of Clavien-Dindo classification Ⅱ or above.(3) Postoperative pathological examination:① Ⅱ stage hepatocellular carcinoma was confirmed,mass-like type,with tissue necrosis and microvascluar invasion.There was no distal metastasis and tumor did not invade liver capsule or surgical margin.Ishak score of surrounding tissues was 3 in the inflammation and 2 in the fibrosis.② Chronic inflammation was detected in the gallbladder mucosa.③ Reactive hyperplasia was found in the 2 lymph nodes of the group 8.④ One in the group 12 lymph nodes showed reactive hyperplasia.Immunohistochemistry showed positive Glypican-3,Hepatocyte,Arginase-1,NM23,weakly positive vascular endothelial growth factor,and negative Ki-67,vascular endothelial cell marker CD34,biliary epithelial marker CK19 and CK 7,tumor suppressor gene P21 and P23.(4) Changes in FLR and tumor volume:FLR was 565 mL and 580 mL at the 5th and 14th day after the first stage operation respectively,accounting for 54％ and 57％ of total liver volume.The FLR to body weight ratio was 0.96 and 0.98,and the growth rate of FLR was 194％ and 202％.Tumor volume was 1 210 mL and 1 297 mL at the 5th and 14th day after the first stage operation respectively.Tumor necrosis volume was 635 mL and 500 mL at the 5th and 14th day after the first stage operation respectively.At the 5th and 14th day after the first stage operation,the liver CT examination showed that HARO was successfully underwent and the blood supply of remnant liver was good.Preoperative CT aothgraphy (CTA) examination showed that the right hepatic tumor had rich arterial blood supply.At the 5th day after the first stage operation,the CTA examination confirmed the ringed site of right hepatic artery,and the blood supply of the tumor gradually decreased.At the 14th day after the first stage operation,CTA examination showed significant decrease in the blood supply of liver tumors.Liver CT examination showed rich supply of the remnant liver and the liver volume of 829 mL at the 7th day after the second stage operation.(5) Perioperative hemodynamic changes of the right hepatic artery,proper hepatic artery and left hepatic artery.① Blood flow of right hepatic artery was 224.3,574.7,827.5,222.7,153.0,282.5,279.1,247.9 and 150.2 mL/min before the first stage operation,before right portal vein ligation,after right portal vein ligation and before right hepatic artery ringed and restriction,after right portal vein ligation and right hepatic artery ringed and restriction,at the 1st,3th,5th and 7th day after the first stage operation.Blood flow of right hepatic artery in the second stage operation was 505.0 mL/min.② Blood flow of proper hepatic artery was 399.7,793.5,830.5,1 075.4,784.7.5,821.2,722.8,467.4 and 555.4 mL/min before the first stage operation,before right portal vein ligation,after right portal vein ligation and before right hepatic artery ringed and restriction,after right portal vein ligation and right hepatic artery ringed and restriction,at the 1st,3th,5th and 7th day after the first stage operation.Blood flow of proper hepatic artery was 505.0,473.3,158.5,627.0,103.8 and 139.8 mL/min before right hepatectomy in the second stage operation,after right hepatectomy,at the 1st,3th and 5th day after the second operation,respectively.③ Blood flow of left hepatic artery was 147.5,13.8,19.4,16.2,62.1,93.9,67.1,30.8 and 106.1 mL/min before the first stage operation,before right portal vein ligation,after right portal vein ligation and before right hepatic artery ringed and restriction,after right portal vein ligation and right hepatic artery ringed and restriction,at the 1st,3th,5th,7th and 10th day after the first stage operation.Blood flow ot left hepatic artery was 52.0,43.2,112.4,103.6,80.7 and 56.1 mL/min before right hepatectomy in the second stage operation,after right hepatectomy,at the 1st,3th and 5th day after the second operation,respectively.(6) Perioperative hemodynamic changes of left-portal vein and main portal vein.① Blood flow of left portal vein was 552.6,181.2,412.2,320.0,1 777.7,1 284.7,749.5 and 484.2 mL/min before the first stage operation,before right portal vein ligation,after right portal vein ligation and right hepatic artery ringed and restriction,at the 1st,3th,5th,7th and 10th day after the first stage operation,respectively.Blood flow of left portal vein was 793.3,979.0,485.2,1 042.5,803.5 and 548.3 mL/min before right hepatectomy in the second stage operation,after right hepatectomy,at the 1st,3th,5th and 7th day after the second operation respectively.② Blood flow of main portal vein was 1 186.0,696.7,833.7,431.7,1 319.1,668.4,890.7,550.8 mL/min before the first stage operation,before right portal vein ligation,after right portal vein ligation and right hepatic artery ringed and restriction,at the 1st,3th,5th,7th and 10th day after the first stage operation,respectively.Blood flow of main portal vein was 846.4,937.4,891.2,1 671.0,2 697.8,and 1 230.0 mL/min before right hepatotectomy in the second stage operation,after right hepatectomy,at the 1st,3th,5th and 7th day after the second stage operation,respectively.(7) Follow up:the patient was followed up for 6 months and survived well,with Child A of liver function and normal alpha fetoprotein level.Liver contrast CT examination showed increase in the remnant liver,good blood supply,and no tumor recurrence.The FLR was 727 mL at the 2 months after operation.Conclusion For patients with giant hepatocellular carcinoma,HARO-ALPPS can be performed to decrease blood supply of tumor,increase tumor necrosis area,and reduce the incidence of intrahepatic arteriovenous fistula,which ensure blood supply of remnant liver hyperplasia.

Objective:To investigate the application value of three-dimensional visualization technology in management of middle hepatic vein (MHV) processing in associating liver partition and portal vein ligation for staged hepatectomy(ALPPS).Methods:The retrospective and descriptive study was conducted. The clinical data of 40 patients with right massive liver cancer or multiple right liver lesions who underwent ALPPS in the First Affiliated Hospital of Guangxi Medical University from November 2017 to August 2019 were collected. There were 34 males and 6 females, aged (44±9)years, with a range from 26 to 64 years. All patients underwent multi-slice computed tomography (CT) plain and enhanced scan of superior abdominal region before operation, and the data were transmitted to the liver visualization analysis software IQQA system with 1.5 mm thin-layer images to complete the three-dimensional reconstruction of the liver and its blood vessels. Patients were performed ALPPS based on results of three-dimensional reconstruction and intraoperative findings. Observation indicators: (1) results of preoperative three-dimensional reconstruction; (2) surgical situations; (3) follow-up. Follow-up was conducted using outpatient examinations and telephone interview to detect postopeartive survival of patients up to March 2020. Measurement data with normal distribution were represented as Mean± SD, and measurement data with skewed distribution were described as M (range). Count data were represented as absolute numbers. Results:(1) Results of preoperative three-dimensional reconstruction: 40 patients underwent three-dimensional reconstruction successfully, of which 37 clearly showed MHV, tumor location and relationship between them, 3 patients showed unclearly MHV and were classified based on two-dimensional images. Of the 40 patients, 12 had MHV classified as type A, 13 as type B, 9 as type C, and 6 as type D. Three-dimensional reconstruction of vessels showed 22 with umbilical veins and 9 with anterior veins. Of the 40 patients, 35 were predicted to preserve MHV, and 5 were predicted to resect MHV. Total estimated liver volume, tumor volume, and reserved liver volume were (1 012±119)cm 3, 600 cm 3(8-2 055 cm 3), (346±80)cm 3. The ratio of future liver remnant to standard liver volume was 34%±8%. (2) Surgical situations : 40 patients underwent the first-stage ALPPS, including 35 with preservation of MHV and 5 with resection of MHV, which was accorded with preoperative prediction. Thirty-four patients underwent the second-stage ALPPS, and 6 patients had failure to receive the second-stage ALPPS due to undificiency future liver remnant. The operation time and volume of intraoperative blood loss for 40 patients undergoing first-stage ALPPS were (350±79)minutes and 300 mL(range, 100-2 600 mL). Three patients received blood transfusion and no perioperative death occurred. There were 24 patients with grade A heptic insufficiency according to criteria of International StudyGroup of Liver Surgery (ISGLS) and 16 patients with grade B heptic insufficiency after the first-stage ALPPS. Twenty-eight patients had grade Ⅰ complications of Clavien-Dindo classification, including 17 with a small pleural effusion, 10 with a small pleural and abdominal effusion, 1 with hypoproteinemia; 8 patients had grade Ⅱ complications of Clavien-Dindo classification, including 5 with pneumonia, 1 with pneumonia combined with pleural and abdominal effusion, 1 with coagulation disorders, 1 with biliary fistula; 3 patients had grade Ⅲ complications of Clavien-Dindo classification, including 2 with pneumothorax and pneumonia, 1 with pneumothorax, pneumonia and coagulation disorders; 1 patient had grade Ⅳ complications of Clavien-Dindo classification as systemic inflammatory response syndrome. All patients with complications were improved after symptomatic treatment, anti infection, transfusion of fresh frozen plasma or drainage. For the 34 patients undergoing the second-stage ALPPS, the operation time and volume of intraoperative blood loss were (320±83)minutes and 500 mL(range, 200-6 000 mL). Twelve patients received blood transfusion. There were 12 patients with grade A heptic insufficiency according to criteria of ISGLS and 22 with grade B heptic insufficiency after the second-stage ALPPS. Eighteen patients had grade Ⅰ complications of Clavien-Dindo classification, including 11 with a small pleural effusion, 7 with a small pleural and abdominal effusion; 12 patients had grade Ⅱ complications of Clavien-Dindo classification, including 4 with pneumonia, 4 with coagulation disorders, 3 with massive abdominal effusion, 1 with biliary fistula; 3 patients had grade Ⅲ complications of Clavien-Dindo classification, including 1 with pneumothorax and pneumonia, 1 with massive pleural effusion, 1 with obstructive jaundice; 1 patient had grade Ⅳ complications of Clavien-Dindo classification as pneumonia and anemia. All patients with complications were improved after symptomatic treatment, anti infection, transfusion of fresh frozen plasma or drainage. (3) Follow-up: 40 patients were followed up for 2-35 months, with a median follow-up time of 17 months. The 6-month, 1-, and 2-year survival cases were 35, 26, 21 cases. Conclusion:Three-dimensional visualization technology can clearly show the MHV classification and its relationship with tumor location, which has an important guiding significance in the decision-making of MHV management in ALPPS.

Objective:To establish a postoperative thirst management strategy for liver cancer patients to improve patient comfort.Methods:A total of 100 patients with liver cancer resection in the First Affiliated Hospital of Guangxi Medical University from July to December 2020 were chosen as the research objects by convenient sampling method. They were divided into observantion group and control group by random number table method, 50 cases in each group. The control group received routing nursing, and the observation group adopted the thirst management strategy. The thirst score, salivary flow rate, salivary pH value, lip mucosa moistening degree and oral comfort score of the two groups were compared.Results:The scores of thirst at 2 h, 4 h and 6 h after operation in the observation group were (7.09 ± 1.01), (5.24 ± 0.94), (3.24 ± 1.03) points, which were significantly lower than (7.97 ± 1.26), (7.00 ± 1.25), (5.67 ± 1.34) points in the control group, the differences were statistically significant ( t=-3.12, -6.46, -8.24, all P<0.05); the salivary flow rate at 2 h, 4 h and 6 h after operation in the observation group were 0.18 (0.15, 0.20), 0.23 (0.20, 0.26), 0.30 (0.25, 0.33) ml/min, which were significantly higher than 0.13 (0.13, 0.18), 0.18 (0.15, 0.20), 0.23 (0.18, 0.25) ml/min in the control group. The differences were statistically significant ( Z=-3.94, -5.81, -6.85, all P<0.05); there was no significant difference in salivary pH between the observation group and the control group after intervention ( P>0.05). The scores of oral mucosa moistening degree at 2 h, 4 h and 6 h after operation in the observation group were 3 (2, 3), 3 (3, 3), 4 (4, 4), which were significantly higher than 2 (2, 2), 3 (2, 3), 3 (3, 3) in the control group, the difference was statistically significant ( Z=-4.04, -5.02, -8.70, all P<0.05); the oral comfort of the observation group after the intervention was (5.73 ± 1.04) points, significantly higher than (4.42 ± 0.61) points, the difference was statistically significant ( t=6.20, P<0.05). Conclusion:The symptom management strategy can effectively improve the thirst of patients after liver cancer resection and improve the comfort of patients.

OBJECTIVETo explore the temporal pattern of postmortem color changes in the pupil region of the cornea for noninvasive estimation of the postmortem interval (PMI).

METHODSTwo rabbit models of air embolism and drowning were established in a dark room at a temperature of 20 ℃ with a relative humidity of 30%. The corneal images of the rabbits were acquired using a digital camera at two-hour intervals within 72 h after death. The pupil region on the corneal images was segmented using computer image processing technique (MATLAB), and the parameters of 6 image color features (RGBHSV) were extracted. Regression analysis was used to analyze the relationship between these parameters and the PMI, and the effects of different death causes on the changes of the corneal color features were also assessed.

RESULTSWithin 72 h after death from different causes, the R, G and B values of the pupil region on the corneal images all tended to increase with the PMI, showing a good fitting with the PMI ( < 0.01). No significant correlation was found between the values of H, S and V and the PMI (>0.05). The R, G and B values in the pupil region on the corneal images showed consistent variation trends after death from the two causes, and their correlations with PMI were also similar. The measured values of R, G and B in air embolism group were greater than those in the drowning group.

CONCLUSIONSThe postmortem color changes of the pupil region on corneal images follow an identifiable temporal pattern and can vary across different causes of death. The regression equations established in this study provide references for non-invasive and objective estimation of the PMI.