ObjectiveTo assess the clinical value of procalcitonin (PCT) in the diagnosis of sepsis in adults.Methods An extensive search for related literature from the Wanfang data, CNKI, VIP, Medline/PubMed, Embase/OvidSP and the Cochrane Library up to December 2014 was performed. The articles, including prospective observational studies or randomized controlled trials, regarding PCT for the diagnosing of sepsis were enrolled. Only patients older than 18 years were included. Patients with sepsis, severe sepsis, or septic shock served as the experimental group, and those with a systemic inflammatory response syndrome (SIRS) of non-infectious origin as control group. The language of literature included was English or Chinese. The quality of the studies was assessed using the Quality Assessment of Diagnostic Accuracy Studies (QUADAS-2) tool. Heterogeneity, pooled diagnostic odds ratio (DOR), pooled sensitivity, pooled specificity, pooled positive likelihood ratio, pooled negative likelihood ratio, the area under the summary receiver operating characteristic curve (SROC) and subgroup analysis were analyzed with the software of Metadisc 1.4.Results A total of 6 385 published reports were collected, and among them 24 met the inclusion criteria, including a total of 3 107 patients. The studies showed substantial heterogeneity (I2 = 69.4%), and random effect model was used for Meta analysis, showing that the pooledDOR was 10.37 [95% confidence interval (95%CI) = 7.10-15.17]. No evidence of a threshold effect was found (Spearman correlation coefficient = 0.27, calculated by logarithm of sensitivity and logarithm of 1-specificity,P = 0.20). TheDOR values of pooled and each study were not distributed along the same line in forest plots, and Cochran-Q = 78.33,P = 0.000 0, showing that there was heterogeneity in result from non threshold effect. Except for partial heterogeneity caused by non threshold effect, the result of Meta regression analysis including PCT detection method, categories of disease, research location and so on showedP values were all higher than 0.05. Thus, the heterogeneity could not be explained by Meta regression analysis. The pooled sensitivity was 74% (95%CI = 72%-76%), the pooled specificity was 70% (95%CI = 67%-72%), the pooled positive likelihood ratio was 2.79 (95%CI = 2.31-3.38), the pooled negative likelihood ratio was 0.34 (95%CI = 0.28-0.41), and the pooled AUC was 0.83 (95%CI = 0.79-0.87). AUC in medical patients was 0.80 (95%CI = 0.75-0.85), which was higher than that in surgical patients [0.71 (95%CI = 0.65-0.81)].Conclusions Our results indicate a moderate degree of value of PCT for diagnosis of sepsis in adult patients. The diagnostic accuracy in medical patients is higher than that in surgical patients. PCT is a good auxiliary biomarker for diagnosis of sepsis.

Objective To observe the efficacy ofvitrectomy combined with internal limiting membrane (ILM) peeling and scleral shortening for myopic foveoschisis (MF).Methods Prospective and non-randomized concurrent control study.A total of 35 MF patients (35 eyes) were enrolled in this study.The patients were divided into 2 groups according to surgery,including group A (18 eyes) and group B (17 eyes),all received vitrectomy combined with ILM peeling,but group A also received scleral shortening.The best corrective visual acuity (BCVA) examination using the Snellen vision chart was converted to the minimum resolution logarithm (logMAR).Ocular axis length (AL) was measured by Zeiss IOL-Master or A-scan ultrasound (Quantel Medical,France).The maximal value of retinal foveoschisis (MxFT) was measured by frequency-domain optical coherence tomography (Heidelberg,Germany).Multifocal electroretinogram (mfERG) responses were obtained with the RETIscan system (Roland Consult,Gemany).There was no statistically significant difference between the two groups (P＞0.05) in age (t=0.460),AL (t=1.520),diopter (t=0.020),logMAR BCVA (t=-2.280),MxFT (Z=-4.179) and b-wave ERG amplitude (Z=-0.198).The changes of BCVA,AL,MxFT and b wave amplitude were followed-up for 3-12 months.Results At the last follow-up,the height of MF was decreased in 18 eyes of group A,and MF was completely disappeared in 4 eyes.The logMAR BCVA (t=7.272,5.951),MxFT (Z=-3.724,-3.622) and b-wave ERG amplitude (Z=-3.223,-3.243) in both groups A and B were statistically improved (P=0.000,0.000,0.000,0.000,0.001,0.001) compared to pre-operational results.There was significant difference of logMAR BCVA (t=-2.280) and MxFT (Z=-4.179) between the two groups (P=0.029,0.000).But there was no significant difference in the amplitude of b-wave (Z=-0.198,P=0.843).The AL in group A was shortened after surgery,the difference was statistically significant (t=10.017,P=0.000).During the follow-up,there was no ocular hemorrhage,endophthalmitis and other complications.Conclusion PPV combined with ILM peeling and scleral shortening can shorten AL significantly for MF patients,and gain relative normal anatomical structure of the fovea,thus improve the vision.

Objective To investigate the significance of monitoring P(c-a)CO2 (the gradients between transcutaneous PCO2 and arterial PCO2) in patients with septic shock.Method 31 patients with early septic shock were enrolled as the study group and 20 patients with stable hemodynamics as the control group from Fab.2013 to Sept.2014 in our Intensive Care Unit (ICU).The patients with septic shock were treated guided by early goal directed therapy (EGDT) within 6 hours since hospitalization.The differences of baseline P(c-a) CO2 levels and other index as arterial lactate (LAC) concentration between two groups and the variations of these indexes after EGDT in the study group were compared respectively.Results The baseline levels of P(c-a)CO2 and LAC in patients with septic shock were significantly higher than in patients of control group: (21.2 ± 10.1) mmHg vs.(7.5 ±4.6), P =0.000, and (4.0±2.4) mmol/ Lvs.(1.6 ± 0.5), P =0.000.The areas under receiver operator characteristic (ROC) curve (AUC) for baselineP(c-a)CO2 and LAC were 0.918 (95％ CI: 0.843-0.992) and 0.840 (95％ CI: 0.719-0.962) respectively.A threshold of 14.0 mmHg for P(c-a)CO2 and 2.1 mmol/L for LAC discriminated patients with septic shock from without shock with the same sensibility of 83.9％ and the same specificity of 90.0％, respectively.With regard to prognosis (Day 28), AUC for baseline P(c-a)CO2 and LAC were 0.739 (95％ CI: 0.562-0.917) and0.702 (95％ CI: 0.514-0.889) respectively.A threshold of 21.5 mmHg for P(c-a) CO2 and 3.9 mmol/L for LAC discriminated survivors from nonsurvivors with the same sensibility of 71.4％ and the same specificity of 70.6％ respectively.31 patients in the study group completed EGDT within 6 hours after the admission, 16 (51.6％) passed EGDT and 13 (81.3％) survived, 15 (48.4％) failed EGDT and 4 (26.7％) survived, and survival rates were significantly different, F =9.314, P =0.004.After EGDT, P(c-a) CO2 (18.8 ± 9.4) mmHg and LAC (3.3 ± 2.4) mmol/Lreduced significantly compared with the baselines, all P =0.000.AUC then for P(c-a) CO2 and LAC were 0.742 (95％ CI: 0.562-0.921) and 0.769 (95％ CI: 0.593-0.945), respectively.A threshold of 18.3 mmHg for P(c-a)CO2 and 3.1 mmol/L for LAC discriminated survivors from nonsurvivors with the same sensibility of 71.4％ and the specificity of 71.4％ and of 76.5％ respectively.P(c-a) CO2 and LAC of patients passed EGDT reduced significantly compared with those failed EGDT: (14.8 ± 7.5) mmHgvs.(23.6±9.6) mmHg (P=0.012)、 (2.5±1.5) mmol/L vs.(4.3±2.9) mmol/L (P=0.038), and so did with their baseline : (14.8±7.5) mmHgvs.(18.0±8.1) mmHg, (P=0.042)、 (2.5±1.5) mmol/Lvs.(3.2±1.8) mmol/L, P=0.043.In patients failed EGDT, P(c-a)CO2 and LAC changed little after EGDT, from (24.6 ± 9.2) to (23.6 ± 9.6) mmHg (P =0.238) and from (4.8 ± 2.5) mmol/L to (4.3 ± 2.9) mmol/L (P =0.629).When baseline levels were compared between patients passed EGDT with those failed EGDT, P(c-a) CO2 was (18.0 ±8.1) mmHg vs.(24.6 ± 9.2) mmHg (P =0.042), LAC was (3.2 ± 1.8) mmol/L vs.(4.8 ± 2.5) mmol/L (P =0.050).Conclusions P(c-a) CO2 ＞ 14.0 mmHg could play a role in recognizing early septic shock.EGDT was an effective therapy for the disease and P(c-a)CO2 level could reflect the efficacy of EGDT.P(c-a)CO2 ＞ 21.5mmHg before EGDT and P(c-a) CO2 ＞ 19.3 mmHg after EGDT both could predict the prognosis of patients with septic shock.All above correlated well with LAC and represented a new efficient technique to assess tissue microperfusion.

Objective To investigate the effect of different appropriate modes of weaning from mechanical ventilation (MV) in patients with acute exacerbation of chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (AECOPD). Methods Patients with AECOPD and mechanically ventilated by orotracheal intubation, suitable for continuous positive airway pressure+proportional pressure support (CPAP+PPS) and CPAP+assisted spontaneous breath (ASB) ventilation mode for weaning from MV, admitted to intensive care unit (ICU) of Tianjin Third Central Hospital form January 1st, 2016 to December 31st, 2017 were enrolled. When the patients recovered to spontaneous respiration and down regulation of ventilator support frequency to 10 bpm, they were taken ventilator weaning in CPAP+PPS and CPAP+ASB mode according to the random number table method, respectively. Basic characteristics, ventilator parameters, the incidence of high man-machine confrontation (man-machine confrontation index > 10%) and clinical outcomes (ventilator weaning time, which was defined as the time from randomization to successful weaning from MV, ventilator weaning failure times, the duration of MV, the length of ICU stay and the length of hospital stay) were compared between the two groups. Results Eighty-seven AECOPD patients were selected, 44 in CPAP+ASB group and 43 in CPAP+PPS group. There was no significant difference in gender, age, acute physiology and chronic health evaluation Ⅱ(APACHEⅡ), sequential organ failure score (SOFA), Glasgow coma score (GCS), Charsen index and the highest arterial blood carbon dioxide partial pressure (PaCO2), the lowest arterial oxygen partial pressure (PaO2) and tidal volume (VT) at the time of onset between the two groups. Compared with CPAP+ASB group, incidence of high man-machine confrontation was significantly decreased in CPAP+PPS group [9.30% (4/43) vs. 27.27% (12/44), P =0.027], and the airway occlusion pressure (P0.1) was significantly decreased [cmH2O (1 cmH2O = 0.098 kPa): 2.21±0.83 vs. 2.63±0.94, P = 0.032], and the failure rate of the first spontaneous breathing trial (SBT) was significantly decreased [6.98% (3/43) vs. 22.73% (10/44), P = 0.039], ventilator weaning time, the length of ICU stay and the length of hospital stay were significantly shortened [ventilator weaning time (hours): 12.73±14.23 vs. 50.64±38.11, the length of ICU stay (hours): 254.53±108.06 vs. 344.93±124.95, the length of hospital stay (days): 18.53±7.59 vs. 26.64±11.22, all P < 0.05]. However, there was no significant difference in PaCO2, duration of MV, ICU mortality and hospital mortality between the two groups. Conclusion Compared with CPAP+ASB ventilation mode, CPAP+PPS ventilation mode can reduce respiratory muscle load, promote respiratory function recovery, and reduce the occurrence of man-machine confrontation, which is beneficial to AECOPD patients taking ventilator weaning, and can significantly shorten the ventilator weaning time of patients and further shorten the hospitalization time.

We constructed the CS1-targeted second- and third-generation CAR-T cells with genetic engineered 4-1BB or/and ICOS as a costimulatory signaling molecule by use of lentiviral platform. The CS1-targeted second-generation CAR-T cells with ICOS or 4-1BB had similar anti-neoplastic activity. When effector/target ratio was 1:1, the CAR-T cells with ICOS showed better killing effect on IM9-lucgfp cells than those with 4-1BB. However, The CS1-targeted third-generation CAR-T cells exihibited lower cytolytic capacity against IM9-lucgfp cells than the CS1-targeted second-generation CAR-T cells when the ratio of effector/target was 1:1, 2:1 or 5:1. When the ratio of effector/target was 10:1, the killing efficacy of both the second- and third-generation CAR-T cells against IM9-lucgfp cells was more than 85%, significantly higher than that of the control T cells. Taken together, both the CS1-targeted second- and third-generation CAR-T cells with ICOS or/and 4-1BB could efficiently kill CS1-positive multiple myeloma cells, but the CS1-targeted second-generation CAR-T cells had more potent killing effect on CS1-positive multiple myeloma cells than the CS1-targeted third-generation CAR-T cells.
4-1BB Ligand/metabolism* ; Cell Line, Tumor ; Genetic Engineering ; Humans ; Inducible T-Cell Co-Stimulator Protein/metabolism* ; Multiple Myeloma/therapy* ; Signal Transduction ; T-Lymphocytes/chemistry* ; Xenograft Model Antitumor Assays

Objective:To investigate the safety of minimally invasive liver resection for resectable hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) complicated with portal hypertension.Methods:The propensity score matching and retrospective cohort study was conducted. The clinicopathological data of 807 patients with resectable HCC who underwent minimally invasive liver resection in 8 medical centers, including Sir Run Run Shaw Hospital, Affiliated with the Zhejiang University School of Medicine et al, from June 2011 to November 2022 were collected. There were 670 males and 137 females, aged 58(50,66)years. Of the 807 patients, 173 cases with portal hypertension were divided into the portal hypertension group, and 634 cases without portal hypertension were divided into the non-portal hypertension group. Observation indicators: (1) propensity score matching and comparison of general data of patients between the two groups after matching; (2) intraoperative and post-operative situations; (3) subgroup analysis. Propensity score matching was done by the 1:1 nearest neighbor matching method, with the caliper setting as 0.001. Measurement data with skewed distribution were represented as M( Q1, Q3), and comparison between groups was conducted using the rank sum test. Count data were described as absolute numbers, and comparison between groups was conducted using the chi-square test or Fisher exact probability. Comparison of ordinal data was constructed using the non-parameter rank sun test. Results:(1) Propensity score matching and comparison of general data of patients between the two groups after matching. Of the 807 patients, 268 cases were successfully matched, including 134 cases in the portal hypertension group and 134 cases in the non-portal hypertension group. The elimination of the tumor diameter and robot-assisted surgery confounding bias ensured comparability between the two groups after propensity score matching. (2) Intraoperative and postoperative situations. The occlusion time of porta hepatis, cases with intraoperative blood transfusion, cases with postoperative complication, cases with complication >Ⅱ grade of Clavien-Dindo classification, cases of Clavien-Dindo classification as Ⅰ grade, Ⅱ grade, Ⅲ grade, Ⅳ grade, cases with liver related complication were 27.0(15.0,43.0)minutes, 33, 55, 15, 13, 29, 14, 1, 37 in the portal hypertension group, versus 35.0(22.0,60.0)minutes, 17, 25, 5, 14, 9, 4, 1, 13 in the non-portal hypertension group, showing significant differences in the above indicators between the two groups ( Z=-2.15, χ2=6.30, 16.39, 4.38, 20.72, 14.16, P<0.05). (3) Subgroup analysis. Results of subgroups analysis showed that in cases with major live resection, the operation time, volume of intraoperative blood loss, duration of postoperative hospital stay were 243.5(174.6,296.3)minutes, 200.0(150.0,600.0)mL, 7.5(6.0,13.0)days in the portal hypertension group, versus 270.0(180.0,314.5)minutes, 200.0 (75.0,450.0)mL, 7.0(5.5,10.0)days in the non-portal hypertension group, showing no significant difference in the above indicators between the two groups ( Z=-0.54, -1.73, -0.92, P>0.05). In cases with non-major live resection, the operation time, volume of intraoperative blood loss, duration of postoperative hospital stay were 170.0(120.0,227.5)minutes, 100.0(50.0,200.0)mL, 8.0(5.0,10.0)days in the portal hypertension group, versus 170.0(120.0,227.5)minutes, 100.0(50.0,200.0)mL, 7.0(5.5,9.0)days in the non-portal hypertension group, showing no significant difference in the above indicators between the two groups ( Z=-1.39, -0.10, 1.05, P>0.05). In cases with anatomical liver resection, the operation time, volume of intraoperative blood loss, duration of postoperative hospital stay were 210.0(150.0,285.0)minutes, 150.0(50.0,200.0)mL, 8.0(6.0,9.3)days in the portal hypertension group, versus 225.5(146.3,306.8)minutes, 100.0(50.0,250.0)mL, 7.0(6.0,9.0)days in the non-portal hypertension group, showing no significant difference in the above indica-tors between the two groups ( Z=-0.75, -0.26, -0.91, P>0.05). In cases with non-anatomical liver resection, the operation time, volume of intraoperative blood loss, duration of postoperative hospital stay were 173.5(120.0,231.5)minutes, 175.0(50.0,300.0)mL, 7.0(5.0,11.0)days in the portal hyper-tension group, versus 186.0(123.0,262.5)minutes, 100.0(50.0,200.0)mL, 7.0(5.0,9.5)days in the non-portal hypertension group, showing no significant difference in the above indicators between the two groups ( Z=-0.97, -1.12, -0.98, P>0.05). Conclusion:Minimally invasive liver resection or even major liver resection is safe and feasible for screened HCC patients complicated with portal hyper-tension, but attention should be paid to the prevention and treatment of postoperative complications.

Objective To evaluate the therapeutic efficacy and safety of HIFU ablation for uterine fibroids in patients with abdominal surgical scars in acoustic pathway causing acoustic attenuation width ＜10 mm.Methods Totally 861 patients with uterine fibroids were referred for HIFU treatment and underwent contrast-enhanced MR scans before and after HIFU ablation.Among all patients,202 had abdominal surgical scars causing width ＜10 mm acoustic attenuation (abdominal scars group) and 659 had no abdominal surgical scars (without abdominal scars group).The outcomes,intra-operative adverse reactions and post-operative complications between the two groups were compared.Results HIFU ablation was successfully performed in all patients.The volume ablation rate was (80.31 ± 18.16)％ in abdominal scars group and (79.60±17.57)％ in without abdominal scars group (P＝0.620).The rate of ‘hot'skin sensation during HIFU procedure in abdominal scars group (52.97％ [107/202]) was higher than that in without abdominal scars group (41.58％ [274/ 659];P＝0.004).Anterior abdominal wall edema was found in 40 cases (40/202,19.80％) in abdominal scars group and 98 cases (98/659,14.87％) in without abdominal scars group on post-operation MRI (P＝ 0.095).Conclusion Prior abdominal surgical scars in acoustic pathway causing width ＜10 mm acoustic attenuation has not significantly influence on the efficacy and safety of HIFU treatment for uterine fibroid.