Objective To explore the skills and summarize the experience in the establishment of orthotopic liver transplantation rat models from donation after cardiac death (DCD). Methods According to the time of warm ischemia, 120 rats were divided into 3 groups: group A (warm ischemia for 0 min, n=40 pairs), group B (warm ischemia for 10 min, n=40 pairs) and group C (warm ischemia for 20 min, n=40 pairs). Orthotopic liver transplantation was performed by the modified two-cuff technique in 3 groups. The time of each stage of surgery was recorded in 3 groups. The survival rate at the end of surgery, 24 h, 72 h and 7 d after surgery was recorded in 3 groups. The dead rats were immediately subject to anatomical examination to identify the cause of death. Results The cold ischemia time of donor liver, anhepatic phase and operation time of the recipients did not significantly differ among three groups (all P>0.05). In groups A, B and C, the survival rate at the end of surgery was 97%, 97%, and 100% respectively. The survival rate at postoperative 24 h was 92%, 90% and 92% respectively. The survival rate at postoperative 72 h was 90%, 80% and 77% respectively. The survival rate at postoperative 7 d was 85%, 70% and 57% respectively. The survival rate at the end of surgery, postoperative 24 h and 72 h did not significantly differ among 3 groups (all P>0.05). At postoperative 7 d, the survival rate in group C was significantly lower than that in group A (P<0.05). Surgical operation was the major cause of intraoperative and postoperative 24 h death. Bile leakage and ischemic hepatic failure were the causes of death at postoperative 72 h. Biliary duct complications were the main causes of death at postoperative 7 d. The quantity of rats developing with biliary duct complications was increased along with the prolongation of warm ischemic time. Conclusions The success of stable establishment of rat models with orthotopic liver transplantation from DCD depends upon the protection of the liver and biliary function. The difficulty lies in the anastomosis of the suprahepatic inferior vena cava and the shortening of anhepatic phase.

The bioelectrical impedance measurement is a detection technique that uses the electrical characteristics and changes in human tissues and organs to detect biomedical information related to human physiological and pathological conditions. This article makes a comprehensive introduction from the aspects of impedance cardiography, electrical impedance respiratory monitoring, electrical impedance tomography, electrical impedance gastric dynamics detection technique, contact impedance and so on, as well as comprehensively introduces the progress and application status of bioelectrical impedance measurement methods.
Electric Impedance ; Humans ; Monitoring, Physiologic ; Tomography

Objective     To identify the potential factors for psychological burdens and to better understand how the patients’ psychological status affect their treatment preferences. Methods     A questionnaire survey was conducted among 996 patients with pulmonary nodules who visited the Thoracic Surgery Clinic of Guangdong Provincial People's Hospital from January to November 2021, including 381 males and 615 females, aged 47.26±11.53 years. A self-administrated questionnaire was used to investigate the sociodemographic and clinical characteristics of the patients, and the Hospital Anxiety and Depression Scale (HADS) was used to evaluate the psychological status of the patients, with a score>7 points of each subscale indicating potential anxiety or depression. Results     Among the 996 patients with pulmonary nodules, the incidence of anxiety was 42.4% and the incidence of depression was 26.4%, while the incidence of both anxiety and depression was 24.7%. There was a significant correlation between anxiety and depression (ρ=0.834, P<0.05). Age, purpose of CT examination, number of pulmonary nodules and symptoms were independent factors for anxiety, while symptoms and number of pulmonary nodules were independent factors for depression (P<0.05). For treatment preferences, there was a statistical difference in educational level, symptoms, nodule size and anxiety level (P<0.05). Conclusion     Anxiety and depression are common in patients with pulmonary nodules. Symptoms are associated with anxiety and depression, which also make an impact on treatment preferences.

Objective    To explore the distribution pattern of respiratory symptoms and relevant factors in patients with pulmonary nodules. Methods    Demographic and clinical information were collected from patients who visited the Thoracic Surgery Outpatient Clinic of Guangdong Provincial People’s Hospital from January 2021 to January 2022. Hospital Anxiety and Depression Scale (HADS) was used to assess their anxiety and depression level. Results    A total of 1 173 patients were enrolled, including 449 males and 724 females, with an average age of 46.94±11.43 years. Among the patients with pulmonary nodules, 37.7% of them had at least one respiratory symptom; 24.4% had cough, 14.0% had expectoration, 1.3% had hemoptysis and 14.9% had chest pain. Old age, male, exposure to second-hand smoking or environmental smoke, hair coloring and history of tuberculosis were major risk factors for respiratory symptoms (P<0.05). Middle age, old age, male, exposure to environmental smoke were major risk factors for cough (P<0.05); old age, smoking, larger maximum nodules diameters, exposure to environmental smoke and history of pneumonia were major risk factors for expectoration (P<0.05); male, multiple nodules, hair coloring, exposure to second-hand smoking and history of tuberculosis were major risk factors for chest pain (P<0.05). Symptomatic patients showed generally higher HADS scores than asymptomatic patients (P<0.001). Conclusion    Cough, expectoration and chest pain are the predominant respiratory symptoms for patients with pulmonary nodules. The presentation of respiratory symptoms increases patients' anxiety and depression.

Objective     To explore the timing and safety of limited-period lung cancer surgery in patients with severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2) infection. Methods     Clinical data of of patients infected with COVID-19 undergoing lung cancer surgery (an observation group) in the Department of Thoracic Surgery of Guangdong Provincial People's Hospital, the Department of Thoracic Surgery of General Hospital of Southern Theater Command of PLA, and the Department of Cardiothoracic Surgery of the First Affiliated Hospital of Guangdong Pharmaceutical University from December 2022 to January 2023 were retrospectively analyzed and compared with patients who underwent surgery during the same period but were not infected with COVID-19 (a control group), to explore the impact of COVID-19 infection on lung cancer surgery. Results     We finally included 110 patients with 73 patients in the observation group (28 males and 45 females at age of 52.62±12.80 years) and 37 patients in the control group (22 males and 15 females at age of 56.84±11.14 years). The average operation time of the observation group was longer than that of the control group, and the incidence of anhelation was higher than that of the control group (P<0.05). There were no statistcal differences in blood loss, length of hospital stay, moderate or above fever rate, degree of cough and chest pain, or blood routine between the two groups. Conclusion    It is safe and feasible to perform lung cancer surgery early after recovery for COVID-19 patients with lung cancer.