AIM:To explore the effect of Delta-like ligand 4 (Dll4)-Notch signaling pathway blockade on the development of Thelper 17(Th17) cells in the asthmatic mice.METHODS:Male BALB/c mice were randomly divided into 5 groups:control group, asthma group, normal saline group, anti-Dll4 antibody group, and immunoglobulin G group.The protein expression of Dll4 was detected by immunohistochemical staining.The proportion of Th17 cells in mouse spleen isolated CD4+ T cells was measured by flow cytometry.The protein expression of Th17 transcription factor retinoid-related orphan receptor γt (RORγt) was determined by Western blot.The serum level of interleukin (IL)-17 was measured by enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA).RESULTS:The expression of Dll4 in the lung tissues from asthma group significantly increased as compared with anti-Dll4 antibody group.The proportion of Th17 cells in CD4+ T cells was significantly down-regulated, and the protein expression of RORγt in the lung tissues was significantly reduced in anti-Dll4 antibody group compared with asthma group (P<0.05).Moreover, the serum level of IL-17 in anti-Dll4 antibody group was significantly reduced compared with asthma group (P<0.01).CONCLUSION:The blockade of Dll4-Notch signaling pathway inhibits the differentiation of Th17 cells in asthmatic mice.

Purpose: This study explored the performance of prenatal ultrasonography in the differential diagnosis of cystic biliary atresia (CBA) and choledochal cyst (CC). Methods: Fetuses diagnosed with hepatic hilar cyst in the second trimester were included in this study. A series of prenatal ultrasound examinations were performed in the second and third trimesters. The diameter of the gallbladder (GB) and hepatic cyst were measured, as well as the wall thickness of the GB. The GB-cyst connection, visibility of the right hepatic artery (RHA), and other concomitant abnormalities were carefully evaluated. A neonatal transabdominal ultrasound examination was performed within 1 week after birth, and clinical data were followed up to 6 months after birth. Results: Between January 1, 2016 and January 31, 2020, 53 fetuses diagnosed with hepatic hilar cyst were recruited. Eight were excluded because they were lost to follow-up. Among the 45 cases included in this study, 10 were diagnosed with CBA and 35 with CC after birth. Statistically significant differences were found in GB width, wall thickness, change in GB width, change in cyst length, GB-cyst connection, and RHA visibility between the CBA and CC groups. GB width showed the best diagnostic performance with an area under the curve (AUC) of 0.899. The combination of GB width, GB wall thickness, and GB-cyst connection yielded a comparable AUC of 0.971. Conclusion The GB should be carefully evaluated in fetuses with hepatic hilar cyst. Prenatal ultrasound findings could provide suggestive parameters for the differential diagnosis of CBA from CC.

Immune checkpoint inhibitors(ICIs)have become the most widely used drugs in tumor immunotherapy, with ipilimumab and nivolumab as their representatives.However, the use of immune checkpoint inhibitors has brought about many immune-related adverse events, of which myocarditis is one of the most fatal adverse reactions.The pathogenesis of immune checkpoint inhibitor-associated myocarditis is not fully understood, mainly involving autoimmune T lymphocyte infiltration, regulatory T-cell dysfunction, cytokines, autoantibody production, genetic factors, the gut microbiome, etc.The treatment and management of immune checkpoint inhibitor-associated myocarditis require concerted efforts of multidisciplinary experts.

OBJECTIVETo analyze the impact of platelet count on the prognosis of stage II-III colorectal cancer receiving adjuvant chemotherapy.

METHODSClinical and follow-up data of 286 patients with stage II-III colorectal cancer receiving adjuvant FOLFOX chemotherapy from March 2003 to October 2011 were analyzed retrospectively. Associations of baseline blood platelet count before chemotherapy and nadir blood platelet count during chemotherapy with relapse and death after adjuvant chemotherapy were analyzed by ROC curve and the optimal cutoff was selected. The association of the blood platelet count and the prognosis was analyzed by Kaplan-Meier and Cox regression model.

RESULTSROC curve showed the baseline blood platelet count was associated with recurrence (AUC=0.588, P=0.034). The optimal cutoff affecting recurrence was 276×10(9)/L. Kaplan-Meier showed those with baseline platelet count >276×10(9)/L receiving adjuvant chemotherapy had worse disease free survival (DFS) than those with baseline platelet count ≤276×10(9)/L, whose 5-year disease free survival(DFS) was 66% and 80% respectively (P=0.013). Cox regression analysis revealed baseline platelet count >276×10(9)/L was an independent unfavorable factor for DFS of adjuvant chemotherapy in colorectal cancer (HR=1.865, 95% CI: 1.108-3.141, P=0.019).

CONCLUSIONColorectal cancer patients receiving adjuvant chemotherapy with baseline platelet count >276×10(9)/L have worse prognosis.

Antineoplastic Combined Chemotherapy Protocols ; Chemotherapy, Adjuvant ; Colonic Neoplasms ; Colorectal Neoplasms ; Disease-Free Survival ; Fluorouracil ; Humans ; Leucovorin ; Neoplasm Staging ; Organoplatinum Compounds ; Platelet Count ; Prognosis ; Recurrence ; Retrospective Studies

Objective:To investigate the learning curve for a five-step procedure, namely, a transthoracic single-port assisted laparoscopic transabdominal diaphragmatic approach, for Siewert type II adenocarcinoma of the esophagogastric junction.Methods:In this retrospective cohort study, we analyzed relevant clinical data of 66 patients with Siewert type II adenocarcinoma of the esophagogastric junction who had undergone the five-step procedure performed by the same surgeon in the Gastrointestinal Surgery Department of Guangdong Provincial Hospital of Chinese Medicine from May 2017 to April 2023. The learning curve were plotted using cumulative summation analysis and selected indicators, including intraoperative blood loss, duration of surgery, time to first flatus, time to first tolerance of liquid food, length of hospital stay, and incidence of perioperative complications at different stages were compared. The data were analyzed using SPSS 24.0 statistical software. Numerical data are presented as cases (%) and data were analyzed using the χ 2 test or Fisher's exact test. Normally distributed measurement data are presented as x±s, and independent sample t-testing was performed for inter group comparison. Non-normally distributed measurement data are presented as M( Q1, Q3) and the Mann–Whitney U test was used for inter group comparison. Results:The five-step procedure had been successfully completed without switching to open surgery in all 66 study patients. There were no perioperative deaths, blood loss was 100 (50, 200) mL and duration of surgery 329.4±87.3 minutes. The equation of optimal fit for the duration of surgery was y=0.031x 3-4.4757x 2+164.97x-264.4 ( P<0.001, R2=0.9797). The cumulative summation learning curve reached a vertex when 25 surgical procedures had accumulated. Using 25 cases as the cut-off, we divided the learning curves into learning and proficiency periods and patients into learning (25) and proficiency period groups (41). There were no statistically significant differences between the two groups of patients in sex, age, body mass index, American Society of Anesthesiologists score, history of abdominal surgery, comorbidities, preoperative neoadjuvant therapy, maximum tumor diameter, surgical procedure, or T and N stage of tumor ( P>0.05). The following factors differed significantly (all P<0.05) between the learning and proficiency stages: in the latter there was less intraoperative blood loss (100 [50, 100] ml vs. 200 [100, 200] ml, U=-3.940, P<0.001), shorter duration of surgery ([289.8±50.7] minutes vs. [394.4±96.0] minutes, t=5.034, P<0.001), more mediastinal lymph nodes removed (5 [2, 8] vs. 2 [1, 5], U=-2.518, P=0.012), earlier time to first flatus (2 [2, 3] days vs. 4 [3, 6] days, U=-4.016, P<0.001), earlier time to first tolerance of liquid food (5 [4, 6] days vs. 7 [6, 8] days, U=-2.922, P=0.003), shorter duration of hospital stay (8 [8, 10] vs. 10 [9, 12] days, U=-2.028, P=0.043). The incidence of surgical complications did not differ significantly between the two groups ( P=0.238). Conclusion:Satisfactory results can be achieved with the five-step procedure for patients with Siewert type II adenocarcinoma of the esophagogastric junction once 25 procedures have been performed.

Objective:To investigate the learning curve for a five-step procedure, namely, a transthoracic single-port assisted laparoscopic transabdominal diaphragmatic approach, for Siewert type II adenocarcinoma of the esophagogastric junction.Methods:In this retrospective cohort study, we analyzed relevant clinical data of 66 patients with Siewert type II adenocarcinoma of the esophagogastric junction who had undergone the five-step procedure performed by the same surgeon in the Gastrointestinal Surgery Department of Guangdong Provincial Hospital of Chinese Medicine from May 2017 to April 2023. The learning curve were plotted using cumulative summation analysis and selected indicators, including intraoperative blood loss, duration of surgery, time to first flatus, time to first tolerance of liquid food, length of hospital stay, and incidence of perioperative complications at different stages were compared. The data were analyzed using SPSS 24.0 statistical software. Numerical data are presented as cases (%) and data were analyzed using the χ 2 test or Fisher's exact test. Normally distributed measurement data are presented as x±s, and independent sample t-testing was performed for inter group comparison. Non-normally distributed measurement data are presented as M( Q1, Q3) and the Mann–Whitney U test was used for inter group comparison. Results:The five-step procedure had been successfully completed without switching to open surgery in all 66 study patients. There were no perioperative deaths, blood loss was 100 (50, 200) mL and duration of surgery 329.4±87.3 minutes. The equation of optimal fit for the duration of surgery was y=0.031x 3-4.4757x 2+164.97x-264.4 ( P<0.001, R2=0.9797). The cumulative summation learning curve reached a vertex when 25 surgical procedures had accumulated. Using 25 cases as the cut-off, we divided the learning curves into learning and proficiency periods and patients into learning (25) and proficiency period groups (41). There were no statistically significant differences between the two groups of patients in sex, age, body mass index, American Society of Anesthesiologists score, history of abdominal surgery, comorbidities, preoperative neoadjuvant therapy, maximum tumor diameter, surgical procedure, or T and N stage of tumor ( P>0.05). The following factors differed significantly (all P<0.05) between the learning and proficiency stages: in the latter there was less intraoperative blood loss (100 [50, 100] ml vs. 200 [100, 200] ml, U=-3.940, P<0.001), shorter duration of surgery ([289.8±50.7] minutes vs. [394.4±96.0] minutes, t=5.034, P<0.001), more mediastinal lymph nodes removed (5 [2, 8] vs. 2 [1, 5], U=-2.518, P=0.012), earlier time to first flatus (2 [2, 3] days vs. 4 [3, 6] days, U=-4.016, P<0.001), earlier time to first tolerance of liquid food (5 [4, 6] days vs. 7 [6, 8] days, U=-2.922, P=0.003), shorter duration of hospital stay (8 [8, 10] vs. 10 [9, 12] days, U=-2.028, P=0.043). The incidence of surgical complications did not differ significantly between the two groups ( P=0.238). Conclusion:Satisfactory results can be achieved with the five-step procedure for patients with Siewert type II adenocarcinoma of the esophagogastric junction once 25 procedures have been performed.

Objective To investigate the inhibitory effect and mechanism of arsenic trioxide on hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) cells migration induced by low dose of sorafenib. Methods Human HCC cells MHCC97H in logarithmic phase were treated with 2μmol/L arsenic trioxide (arsenic trioxide group), 3μmol/L sorafenib (sorafenib group), 2μmol/L arsenic trioxide+3μmol/L sorafenib (combination group), 50 μmol/L LY294002(LY group) and 3 μmol/L sorafenib + 50 μmol/L LY294002 (LY+ sorafenib group) respectively. Dimethyl sulfoxide (DMSO) was used in the control group. Wound healing assay and Transwell migration assay were used to detect the ability of horizontal and vertical cell migration. The expression of p-Akt, E-cadherin, Vimentin and Snail proteins was measured by Western blot. The experiment data were compared using one-way ANOVA and Bonferroni test. Results Wound healing assay revealed that the horizontal migration speed in the sorafenib, arsenic trioxide and combination groups was (1.59±0.14), (0.39±0.08) and (0.58±0.12) times of that in the control group (t=7.20,-12.58,-6.62;P<0.05). Transwell migration assay revealed that the number of cells in the sorafenib, arsenic trioxide, combination and control groups was 285±26, 169±18, 194±19 and 228±9 respectively. Compared with the control group, the number of cells was signiifcantly increased in the sorafenib group (t=3.48, P<0.05), whereas signiifcantly decreased in the arsenic trioxide group (t=-3.80, P<0.05). The number of cells in the combination group was signiifcantly decreased than that in the sorafenib group (t=-5.67, P<0.05). Western blot revealed that the expression of p-Akt, Snail and Vimentin proteins was up-regulated, whereas the expression of E-cadherin protein was down-regulated in the sorafenib group compared with those in the control group. Compared with the control group, the expression of p-Akt, Snail and Vimentin proteins was down-regulated whereas the expression of E-cadherin protein was up-regulated in the arsenic trioxide, combination, LY and LY+sorafenib groups. Conclusion Arsenic trioxide can inhibit the epithelial-mesenchymal transition and reverse the promoting effect of low-dose sorafenib upon MHCC97H cell migration through suppressing the activation of PI3K/Akt/Snail signaling pathway.

Objective:To investigate the efficacy and safety of kidney sparing treatment based on Thulium laser ablation and systematic therapy in localized high-risk upper urinary tract urothelial carcinoma (UTUC).Methods:The data of 10 patients with UTUC who received combined treatment based on Thulium laser and systematic treatment from January 2020 to December 2021 in West China Hospital were retrospectively analysed. There were 5 males and 5 females with a median age of 76 (range 52 to 87)years old. Three cases were renal pelvis tumor and 7 cases were ureter tumor including 5 cases in lower ureter and 2 cases in upper and middle ureter. Five cases were with positive urine cytology and 6 cases were with hydronephrosis. One case was muscular invasion UTUC confirmed by biopsy(cT 2+), 7 cases were high-grade invasive urothelial carcinoma (cT 1+), and 2 cases were high-grade papillary urothelial carcinoma (cT a). Among 10 cases, 5 patients refused radical nephroureterectomy(RUN), among whom 3 patients were too old or in poor general condition to tolerate RNU. One case had a solitary kidney and 1 case had bilateral tumours. Patients were treated with Thulium laser tumor ablation under ureteroscopy combined with systemic therapy. The perioperative systemic treatment included platinum-based chemotherapy±immunotherapy, RC48+ immunotherapy, and immunotherapy alone. The postoperative treatment was immunotherapy maintenance±local radiotherapy. Strict follow-up was conducted after the completion of treatment. Results:Nine patients received systemic therapy before ablation. Four cycles of platinum-based chemotherapy (cisplatin in 2 cases, carboplatin in 1 case) were used in 3 cases, and platinum-based chemotherapy + immunotherapy (6 cycles of cisplatin + toripalimab in 1 case, 4 cycles of cisplatin + toripalimab in 1 case, 4 cycles of carboplatin+ trelizumab in 1 case) was used in 3 cases, four cycle of RC48 + immunotherapy (toripalimab or trelizumab) were used in 2 cases, and four cycles of immunotherapy (toripalimab) were used in 1 case. The operations of 10 cases were successfully completed without serious complications during the perioperative period and the laser working time (42.4 ± 15.2) min. Of the 10 cases, 4 achieved complete ablation at the first ablation, and 6 patients had incomplete ablation. Among them, 2 patients achieved clinical complete remission after 1-2 cycles of systemic therapy, and 4 patients achieved complete ablation after Thulium laser ablation again.All the 10 patients were treated with immunotherapy for 1 year, and 2 of them received additional adjuvant radiotherapy. The patients were followed-up for median 40 months(range 26 to 53 months). Recurrence occurred in 5 cases, of which 3 cases underwent salvage nephroureterectomy and 2 cases underwent Thulium laser ablation under ureteroscopy again. Five patients had no tumor recurrence. None of the 10 patients had distant metastasis. At the last follow-up, 1 patient died of complications and 6 patients kept the affected kidney alive. Perioperative complications including macroscopic hematuria (8 cases), fever (3 cases), the long-term complications of ureter stenosis (4 cases).Conclusions:For localized high-risk UTUC, local Thulium laser ablation combined with systemic therapy can achieve good tumor control while preserving the affected kidney in selected patients, and its potential application value should be further evaluated.