Objective To investigate the efficacy of TACE combined with radiofrequency ablation (RFA) in treatment of advanced hepatocellular carcinoma.Methods A total of 72 patients with advanced hepatocellular carcinomas were analyzed retrospectively,including 35 patients underwent TACE combined with RFA (combined group),37 patients underwent single TACE (control group).After the operation,the short-term effect,the changes of liver function,serum alpha-fetoprotein (AFP) level,the complication and the long-term survival rates of the two groups were compared.Results The total effective rate of the combined group (29/35,82.86％) was significantly higher than that of control group (20/37,54.05％;P=0.009).In the combined group,the AFP reduced to (102.19±32.13)μg/L,and the control group reduced to (218.46±49.87)μg/L,which had statistical difference (P＜0.001).The survival rates of 1-year,2-year and 3-year in the combined group were 82.86 ％,54.29 ％,34.29 ％ with a median survival time of 25 months;while in the control group those were 54.05％,32.43％,13.51％ with a median survival time of 16 months;there were statistically significant differences in the survival rate between two groups (P=0.009).After treatment,the hepatic functions of both group had a transient change,and 2 weeks after the operation,there was no significant difference between the two groups (all P＞0.05).Conclusion The combination of TACE and RFA is an effective method for the treatment of advanced hepatocellular carcinoma.

Objective To study the clinical features and prognosis of patients with primary BuddChiari syndrome (BCS) caused by hepatic vein thrombosis.Method 16 patients with primary BCS caused by hepatic vein thrombosis treated in our hospital between June 2010 to December 2012 were used as the study group while 132 patients with primary BCS caused by other causes were used as the control group.A retrospective study was then employed to analyze the clinical data of the two groups of patients during hospitalization and on follow-up.The study was censored in June 2013.The median follow-up was 24 months (range,6 months to 36 months).The difference in quantitative data between the 2 groups were analyzed using the independent-samples t test and the Wilcoxon W rank sum test,and the difference in qualitative data were analyzed using the Chi-square test and the Fisher's exact test.The survival rates and recurrence rates were calculated using the Kaplan-Meier method.Result The study group was significantly lower than the control group in age,duration of symptoms,albumin level,diameter of spleen and survival rate,but it was significantly higher in the proportion of patients with ascites,average hospitalization time,alanine transaminase,aspartate aminotransferase,total bilirubin,carbohydrate antigen-125 and recurrence rate after percutaneous transluminal angioplasty.The differences were significant (P ＜ 0.05).The Rotterdam BCS prognosis grades of the study group were:9 patients grade Ⅱ and 7 patients grade Ⅲ.In the control group,there were 65 patients with grade Ⅰ,51 patients with grade Ⅱ,and 16 patients with grade Ⅲ.The prognosis grade of the study group was significantly higher than the control group (P ＜ 0.05).Conclusion When compared to the patients with BCS due to other causes,patients with BCS caused by hepatic vein thrombosis were more common in the young,most of them were diagnosed in the acute period,they had worse clinical outcomes and had more severe clinical symptoms and liver damage.

Objective To investigated the serum level of carcinoma antigen 125 (CA-125) and its clinical significance in patients with Budd-Chiari syndrome.Methods We reviewed medical records and laboratory tests of patients with BCS first diagnosed in our hospital between August 2011 and April 2013.235 patients were included as experiment group,while 120 healthy adult volunteers were randomly selected as control group.The serum level of CA-125 were detected by electrochemilumescence immunization assay in this single-center retrospective control study.Results The average serum level of CA-125 in experiment group is higher than that of control group [(147.9 ±246.6) kU/L vs (16.0 ±7.2) kU/L,P ＜0.001].In experiment group,the relative coefficient for serum CA-125 with ascites,alanine aminotransferase,aspartate aminotransferase,albumin and Rotterdam BCS scores was 0.79,0.45,0.29,-0.393 and 0.71,respec tively,P ＜0.001.As of October 2013,we found that the 68 BCS patients with serum CA-125 level 5-fold higher than the upper limit of normal (＞ 175 kU/L) presented much lower survival rates and asymptomatic survival rates than the rest 167 BCS patients after intervention therapy:(95.6％ and 79.8％) vs (98.8％ and 92.0％),P ＜ 0.05.Conclusions The serum level of CA-125 in BCS patients have positive correlation with ascites volume,liver injury degree and Rotterdam BCS scores.Serum CA-125 evaluation appears to be a valuable examination option in BCS as CA-125 levels negatively correlate with worse prognosis,thus could be applied as an efficient tool for prognostication.

Objective:To discuss the effect of sarcopenia (Sa) on the prognosis of transjugular intrahepatic portosystemic shunt (TIPS) in patients with portal hypertension (PHT).Methods:Totally 131 PHT patients treated with TIPS were retrospectively collected from August 2013 to December 2017 in the First Affiliated Hospital of USTC, and were divided into the Sa group [maximum transverse diameter of the psoas major muscle/height (TPMT/H) ≤16.8 mm/m, n=60] and the control group (TPMT/H>16.8 mm/m, n=71). The patients were followed up with a median time of 42 months. The Kaplan-Meier method was used to calculate the incidence of hepatic encephalopathy, recurrence rate of PHT-related complications and survival rate of PHT patients after TIPS, and the differences were compared by Log-rank test. Results:The incidences of hepatic encephalopathy within 6 months after TIPS and severe hepatic encephalopathy requiring hospitalization in the Sa group [36.7% (95%CI 24.5%-48.8%) and 15.0% (95%CI 6.0%-24.0%)] were higher than those of the control group [15.7% (95%CI 7.3%-24.1%) and 2.8% (95%CI 0-6.7%)], with statistically significant differences (χ2=7.843, 16.442, P=0.005, 0.001). The 5-year overall recurrence rate of PHT-related complications of the Sa group after TIPS [15.8% (95%CI 6.4%-25.2%)] was higher than that of the control group [5.7% (95%CI 0.2%-11.2%)], with a statistically significant difference (χ2=4.431, P =0.035. The 1, 3 and 5-year survival rates in the Sa group were 88.3% (95%CI 80.3%-96.3%), 86.7% (95%CI 78.1%-95.3%) and 77.8% (95%CI 65.1%-90.5%) respectively, which were all lower than those of the control group [97.2% (95%CI 93.3%-100%), 95.8% (95%CI 91.1%-100.0%) and 93.7% (95%CI 87.6%-99.87%) respectively], and the difference was statistically significant (χ2=5.055, P=0.025). Conclusion:Sa has a higher incidence in PHT patients, which can increase the incidence of hepatic encephalopathy and recurrence rate of PHT-related complications, and can decrease the survival rate in PHT patients after TIPS. Hence, the Sa is an indicator of the poor prognosis in PHT patients with TIPS.

Objective To explore the expression of vascular endothelial growth factor (VEGF) and apoptosis of the tumor cells in the different regions of rabbit liver VX2 tumor after radiofrequency ablation (RFA).Methods Forty-eight experimental rabbits were implanted with VX2 tumor.After successfully established the model,the rabbits were randomly divided into control group (n=6) and RFA group (n=42).In the RFA group,7 rabbits at each time point were killed at immediately,1 day,2 days,1 week,2 weeks,3 weeks after RFA,and the tumor specimens were retained and performed with HE staining,VEGF,Annexin V-FITC/PI labeling,flow cytometry analysis.The changes of VEGF and apoptosis of the cells in different periods and different zones after RFA were observed.Results After the operation,the difference of the VEGF value of the needle zone,coagulation necrotic zone and junction zone had statistically significant (all P＜0.05).The difference of the VEGF value in each zone between immediately and the other time points after operation by pairwise comparisons were significantly different (all P＜0.05).The VEGF value of the needle zone and coagulation necrotic zone reached the peak after operation immediately,which declined from 1 day to 3 weeks after operative.And VEGF of the junction zone increased from immediately to 1 week after operation,and declined 2 weeks after operation.There were significant differences in the apoptosis rate of the three zones after RFA compared with control group (all P＜0.05).The apoptosis rate in all zones were at the peak on the 1 day after operation,and then showed a downward trend.Conclusion The reduction of VEGF and apoptosis of tumor cells in the needle zone and coagulation necrotic zone are significant,but tumor remnant remains visible in the junction zone.In the third week after RFA,the proliferation of the remaining tumor cells can be recurrent to preoperative levels,which suggests that the further treatment should be performed at this period.

Objective To explore the incidence and risk factors of acute kidney injury (AKI) following hepatic arterial chemoembolization inpatients with hepatocellular carcinoma(HCC),Child class A. Methods Retrospective analysis was performed on patients with HCC,Child Class A who were admitted from January 2008 to October 2016.The inclusion criteria:(1) patients were diagnosed with pathologically confirmed hepatocellular carcinoma based on the standards of primary liver cancer diagnosis and treatment (2011 edition);(2) patients have complete laboratory parameters and imaging data within the 7 days before the TACE treatment;(3) the Child-pugh score was 5 to 6;(4) patients have no acute or chronic renalfailure before the treatment of TACE.The morbidity of AKI after TACE was investigated.Twenty-six factors such as age,sexy,contrast dose,hemoglobin were included as independent variable, so as to investigate the risk factors for postoperative AKI. Results A total of 818 patients were included in the study, including 38 experiencing postoperative AKI(4.64%).Multivariate logistic regression analysis identified elevated preoperative uric acid as the independent risk factor for postoperative AKI(OR=1.005,95% CI 1.000 to 1.009,P=0.037), and elevated preoperative hemoglobin as the protective factor for postoperative AKI(OR=0.974,95% CI 0.952 to 0.997,P=0.028).Conclusions AKI is not uncommon following hepatic arterial chemoembolization inpatients with HCC,Child Class A,and is correlated with elevated uric acid and anemia.Preoperative risk assessment and anemia correction might be effective for reducing the incidence of AKI following hepatic arterial chemoembolization.

Objective To investigate the expression and significance of malonaldehyde (MDA), superoxide dismutase (SOD) and endotoxin (ET) in liver injury model of Budd-Chiari syndrome (BCS) in rats. Methods The animal model of BCS was established by partially ligating the inferior vena cava of the posterior segment of liver in rats. The experimental animals were divided into three groups: control group (12 rats), model group (48 rats) and sham operation group (48 rats). The model group and sham operation group were divided into four subgroups (1, 3, 6, 12 weeks) of 12 rats each. After the success of modeling,being confirmed by digital subtraction angiography (DSA), nine rats in each group were sacrificed at random respectively, where their serums and liver tissues was collected. The levels of MDA, SOD and ET in both liver homogenate and serum were examined respectively. ANOVA was used to compare the total difference between groups and within group of each measurement data. The LSD method was used to do multiple comparison within group and between groups. Pearson method was used to do correlation analysis of hypoxia markers. Results The levels of MDA, SOD and ET in liver homogenate and serum at different time points in model group were significantly different from those in control group and sham operation group (MDA: liver homogenate (F=52.906, 219.016), serum (F=21.573, 43.878); SOD: liver homogenate (F=22.927, 19.317), serum (F=10.841, 31.643);ET: liver homogenate (F=33.588, 105.515), serum (F=40.832, 46.323);P＜0.05). The total difference of the MDA level in serum at each time point after the operation was not statistically significant in model group(F=1.965,P=0.139), but that of liver homogenate in the model group was statistically significant (F=7.716, P=0.001). The SOD and ET levels in both liver homogenate and serum of model group were compared within groups at different time points after operation respectively, and the overall difference was statistically significant (SOD: F=17.053, 7.903; ET: F=19.870, 39.372; P＜0.05). The time-varying curves of MDA and ET in liver homogenate and serum in model group were similar, which both increased from 1 week after operation,peaked at 6th week and slightly decreased at 12th week. The increase levels of MDA and ET in liver homogenate were significantly higher than those in serum. There was a negative correlation between MDA and SOD in liver homogenate and serum (r=－0.814,－0.591;P=0.001, 0.001), a positive correlation between MDA and ET (r=0.761, 0.422; P=0.004, 0.001), and a negative correlation between SOD and ET (r=－0.726,－0.490;P=0.001, 0.001). Conclusions The levels of hypoxia related markers, such as MDA, SOD and ET in liver and serum of BCS animal model, change to varying degrees in the early stage, and will be aggravated as the disease continues to advance. In the later stage, with the establishment of collateral circulation, hypoxia will be slightly eased, but is still significantly higher than normal, which indicates that congestion and hypoxia run through the whole process of BCS, and could be the key and initiating factors.

Objective To assess the therapeutic effect and influencing factors of TACE for hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) with portal vein tumor thrombosis (PVTT).Methods Data of 685 patients with HCC and PVTT were retrospectively analyzed.There were 475 patients treated with TACE (TACE group) and 210 patients treated with supportive treatment (supportive treatment group).The survival time of two groups were observed and compared.The multivariate Cox regression analysis was used to analyze the prognostic factors.Results The median survival time of all 685 patients was 6.3 months.The median survival time of patients in TACE group and supportive treatment group was 7.1 months and 5.2 months,respectively (P=0.002).The 6-,12-and 24-month survival rates were 57.30％,27.30％ and 12.10％ in TACE group,and 37.90％,12.20％ and 3.10％ in supportive treatment group,respectively.Univariate analysis showed that the Child-Pugh classification,the diameter of lesion,gamma-glutamyl transferase level and type of PVTT might be significant prognostic factors for overall survival.Multivariate Cox proportional hazard model analysis showed the Child-Pugh classification and type of PVTT were independent prognostic factors for overall survival.Further analysis showed that the median survival time of patients with type Ⅰ or Ⅱ PVTT in TACE group was 7.8 months,and that in supportive treatment group was 5.5 months.There were statistical differences of 6-,12-and 24-month cumulative survival rate between the 2 groups (P =0.001).The median survival time of patients with type Ⅲ or Ⅳ PVTT in TACE group was 5.3 months,and that in supportive treatment group was 4.5 months.There was no statistical difference of the 6-,12-and 24-month cumulative survival rate between the 2 groups (P=0.662).Conclusion TACE is effective in the treatment of HCC with PVTT.The major influencing factors for survival time of patients with HCC and PVTT are Child-Pugh classification and type of PVTT.The effect of TACE for HCC patients with type Ⅲ or Ⅳ PVTT is unsatisfied.

Objective To investigate the efficacy of implantation of radioactive iodine-125 (125I) seeds combined with chemotherapy in treatment of stage Ⅲb and Ⅳ non-small cell lung cancer (NSCLC).Methods Ninety patients with stage Ⅲb and Ⅳ NSCLC were divided into two groups.The combined group (n=43) received chemotherapy with TP (paclitaxe plus cispla tin) or GP (gemcitabine plus cisplatin) 3 days after 125I particles implantation,and the control group (n=47) only received TP or GP chemotherapy.The effective rate,1-year and 2-year survival rate,the median survival time were compared between the 2 groups.Results The total effective rates of the combined group and the control group of stage Ⅲ b NSCLC were 84.00％ and 48.28％,and the effective rates of stage Ⅵ NSCLC were 72.22％ and 33.33％ (both P＜0.05).The 1-year and 2-year survival rate of the combined group and control group of stage Ⅲb NSCLC were 67.80％,36.00％ and 37.90％,13.83％,respectively (both P＜0.05).The median survival time was 15.7 months and 8.6 months.However,the survival rates of the combined group and the control group of stage Ⅳ NSCLC were 44.44％,16.70％ and 22.22％,11.10％,respectively,while the difference was not statistically significant (P＞0.05).The median survival time was 8.9 and 6.0 months.Conclusion The implantation of radioactive 125I seeds combined with chemotherapy can obtain a significant efficacy in the treatment of stage Ⅲb and stage Ⅳ NSCLC.For patients with stage Ⅲb NSCLC,combined therapy can improve the survival rate.

Objective:To investigate the current situation of the use of transjugular intrahepatic portosystemic shunt (TIPS) for portal hypertension, which should aid the development of TIPS in China.Methods:The China Portal Hypertension Alliance (CHESS) initiated this study that comprehensively investigated the basic situation of TIPS for portal hypertension in China through network research. The survey included the following: the number of surgical cases, main indications, the development of Early-TIPS, TIPS for portal vein cavernous transformation, collateral circulation embolization, intraoperative portal pressure gradient measurement, commonly used stent types, conventional anticoagulation and time, postoperative follow-up, obstacles, and the application of domestic instruments.Results:According to the survey, a total of 13 527 TIPS operations were carried out in 545 hospitals participating in the survey in 2021, and 94.1% of the hospital had the habit of routine follow-up after TIPS. Most hospitals believed that the main indications of TIPS were the control of acute bleeding (42.6%) and the prevention of rebleeding (40.7%). 48.1% of the teams carried out early or priority TIPS, 53.0% of the teams carried out TIPS for the cavernous transformation of the portal vein, and 81.0% chose routine embolization of collateral circulation during operation. Most of them used coils and biological glue as embolic materials, and 78.5% of the team routinely performed intraoperative portal pressure gradient measurements. In selecting TIPS stents, 57.1% of the hospitals woulel choose Viator-specific stents, 57.2% woulel choose conventional anticoagulation after TIPS, and the duration of anticoagulation was between 3-6 months (55.4%). The limitation of TIPS surgery was mainly due to cost (72.3%) and insufficient understanding of doctors in related departments (77.4%). Most teams accepted the domestic instruments used in TIPS (92.7%).Conclusions:This survey shows that TIPS treatment is an essential part of treating portal hypertension in China. The total number of TIPS cases is far from that of patients with portal hypertension. In the future, it is still necessary to popularize TIPS technology and further standardize surgical indications, routine operations, and instrument application.