Objective To investigate the local-regional recurrence in thoracic esophageal cancer after radical surgery including two-field lymph node dissection and provide evidence for postoperative radiotherapy. Methods We reviewed local-regional recurrence for 134 cases with esophageal squamous cell carcinoma after radical surgery from 2004 to 2009. Results In 134 cases, lymph node metastasis rate,anastomosis recurrence rate and tumor bed recurrence rate was 94. 0%, 9. 7% and 3.7%, respectively. As to the 126 cases with lymph node metastasis, significant difference was detected between mediastinal metastasis, supraclavicular metastasis and abdominal lymph node metastasis (80. 2%, 43.7% and 13.5%,respectively, χ2= 113. 15, P = 0. 000). Furthermore, the relative metastasis rate in upper mediastinum,middle mediastinum and the lower mediastinum was 73.8%, 39.7% and 1.6%, respectively, the difference was statistically significant ( χ2 = 139. 11, P = 0. 000 ). Significant difference was identified between right and left supraclavicular lymph node metastasis (31.7% vs 16. 7%, χ2= 7. 81, P = 0. 005 ).To confirm the analysis above,lymph node metastasis rate of left recurrent laryngeal nerve nodes, (including region 1L, 2L, 4L and 5) ,right recurrent laryngeal nerve nodes, azygos nodes, subcarinal nodes, and 2R region was 38.9%, 43.7%, 15.1%, 34.1% and 25.4%, respectively. Conclusions The main characteristics of local-regional recurrence may be lymph node metastasis for esophageal squamous cell carcinoma after radical surgery. On the contrary, tumor bed recurrence is rare. Dangerous regions include supraclavicular nodes, recurrent laryngeal nerve nodes, azygos nodes as well as subcarinal nodes.

Objective: To explore the relationship between NLRP3 inflammasome and atrial fibrillation (AF) by examining peripheral blood level of NLRP3 inlfammasome and other inlfammatory factors in relevant patients.
Method: A total of 60 AF patients were enrolled and divided into 2 groups: Paroxysmal AF (PAF) group and Non-paroxysmal atrial fibrillation (nPAF) group, n=30 in each group;in addition, there was a Control group including 26 healthy subjects from physical examination. NLRP3 expression in peripheral blood mononuclear cells (PBMCs) was measured by lfow cytometry;blood levels of IL-1β, IL-6, CRP and NT-proBNP were detected by ELISA. The correlations among different factors were studied by liner regression analysis and the differences were compared among groups.
Result:①Compared with Control group, PAF and nPAF groups had increased PBMCs level of NLRP3 and blood levels of IL-1β, IL-6, CRP, NT-proBNP, P<0.05, while NLRP3 level was similar between PAF group and nPAF group, P>0.05.②PAF and nPAF groups showed elevated blood level of NT-proBNP than Control group, P<0.05. ③PBMCs level of NLRP3 was positively related to left atrial diameter (r=0.579, P<0.05) and negatively related to left ventricular ejection fraction (r=-0.490, P<0.05) in both AF groups.
Conclusion: ① NLRP3 inflammasome was closely related to AF, which may provide a therapeutic target for AF treatment. ② AF was closely related to inflammatory response. ③ Downstream product of NLRP3 may cause the inlfammatory response which could induce the occurrence, development and maintenance of AF in relevant patients.

Enteral nutrition plays an irreplaceable role in the nutritional treatment of critically ill patients. In order to help clinical medical staff to manage the common complications during the implementations of enteral nutrition for critically ill patients, the consensus writing team carried out literature retrieval, literature quality evaluation, evidence synthesis. Several topics such as diarrhea, aspiration, high gastric residual volume, abdominal distension, etc. were assessed by evidence-based methodology and Delphi method. After two rounds of expert investigations, Expert consensus on prevention and management of enteral nutrition therapy complications for critically ill patients in China (2021 edition) developed, and provided guidance for clinical medical staff.

Objective:To evaluate the diagnostic value of serum prostate-specific antigen (PSA) levels and multi-parameter magnetic resonance imaging (mpMRI) in patients with granulomatous prostatitis after intravesical Bacillus Calmette-Guérin (BCG) therapy.Methods:The medical records of eight patients with pathologically proven granulomatous prostatitis in Shandong Provincial Hospital Affiliated to Shandong University from January, 2015 to June, 2020, were enrolled and analyzed in this retrospective study. All 8 patients (ages 47-76, mean 63.6) underwent pelvic mpMRI and serum tPSA levels before TURBT, which showed the results of tPSA, f/t and mpMRI were normal before TURBT (0.45-3.62 ng/ml, 0.20-0.51 and normal signal intensities on T1WI and T2WI, respectively). All patients underwent intravesical BCG therapy after post-TURBT 4-6-weeks’ intravesical gemcitabine therapy as a result of pathologically proven middle and high risk NMIBC via cystoscopy.Results:The results of tPSA levels in all 8 patients were elevated after intravesical BCG therapy after 9-15 months (mean 10.5 months), with 4 patients above 4 (6.77-12.89)ng/ml and 4 patients within the normal ranges(2.02-2.68)ng/ml, and f/t levels decreased to lower than 0.16 (0.09-0.15)in all patients. The mpMRI abnormal signals in all patients were all located in the peripheral zone of prostate. All nodular lesions of prostate mpMRI showed lower signal intensity (SI) on T2WI, higher SI on DWI and lower SI on ADC after BCG therapy. All patients underwent prostate biopsy for abnormal signal on prostate mpMRI. The biopsy pathologic results of all patients were granulomatous prostatitis.Conclusions:When elevated PSA and abnormal signals on prostate mpMRI after intravesical BCG therapy occurred, prostate biopsy may not be required for secondary granulomatous prostatitis patients with non-muscle invasive bladder cancer in combination of clinical history.

Objective:To investigate the difference between the concentration of the peripheral ionized calcium (iCa) monitored at different blood collection points and the target concentration of anticoagulant efficacy in patients with continuous renal replacement therapy (CRRT), so as to provide scientific basis for the best blood collection point in clinical practice.Methods:Taking patients of department of critical care medicine, Union Hospital, Tongji Medical College, Huazhong University of Science and Technology receiving CRRT therapy with 4% citrate anticoagulation as research objects. Type of Prisma-FlexV8CRRT as well as department self-made substituate and dialyzate were adopted for all patients receiving CRRT therapy. Patients were divided into continuous veno- venous hemofiltration (CVVH) group ( n=10) and continuous veno- venous hemodialysis (CVVHD) group ( n=30) depending on their actual conditions and treatment needs. Blood collection was conducted at specific sites for extracorporeal peripheral ionized calcium concentration determination before and after the filter at the time of 2, 4, 8, 14, 20 hours following CRRT therapy for patients from both groups. Target concentration of extracorporeal peripheral ionized calcium was set as 0.2-0.4mmol/L for ensuring the efficacy of extracorporeal citrate anticoagulation. Results:Totally 400 testing results were obtained from 40 included patients during their treatment. In CVVH group, 100 testing results were obtained at the time of 2, 4, 8, 14, 20 hours following CRRT therapy and no significant statistical difference was shown ( P>0.05). In CVVHD group, 300 testing results were obtained at the time of 2, 4, 8, 14, 20 hours following CRRT therapy. The iCa concentration before the filter were (0.53±0.01), (0.50±0.01), (0.52±0.01), (0.53±0.01), (0.53±0.02) mmol/L while the iCa concentration after the filter were (0.41±0.01), (0.40±0.01), (0.39±0.02), (0.41±0.01), (0.40±0.01) mmol/L accordingly, and the difference was statistically significant ( t values were 75.24-103.41, P<0.01). Conclusions:For patients receiving CRRT treatment with citrate anticoagulation in different CRRT mode, testing results obtained from blood collection sites before and after the filter could not reflect the efficacy of citrate anticoagulation correctly and simultaneously to ensure the secure use of the extracorporeal pipelines and filter. In CVVH mode, iCa concentration determined from blood samples collected from sites before and after the filter could refelct the efficacy of citrate anticoagulation equally, while in CVVHD mode, blood collection and determination are suggested to conduct at the site before the filter to faciliate the assessment of the citrate anticoagulation efficacy.

Objective To prepare human pneumococcal reference serum and assign IgG antibody concentrations for its 24 serotypes. Methods Fifty healthy male and non-pregnant female volunteers were vaccinated once with 23-valent pneumococcal polysaccharide vaccine. Plasma samples were collected follow-ing immunization and used to prepare reference serum BW09. IgG antibody concentrations of BW09 against the capsular polysaccharides of 24 serotypes (1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6A, 6B, 7F, 8, 9N, 9V, 10A, 11A, 12F, 14, 15B, 17F, 18C, 19A, 19F, 20, 22F, 23F, 33F) were assigned by WHO recommended standardized Pn PS ELISA using 09CS (supplied by Lanzhou Institute of Biological Products Co. , Ltd) as a reference se-rum. Finally, 09CS, two quality control sera and eight serum samples had concentrations reassigned for 24 pneumococcal serotypes using BW09 as the reference, and the results were compared with those using 09CS as the reference serum. Results Glycerol-contained human pneumococcal reference serum BW09 was pre-pared and the IgG antibody concentrations for its 24 serotypes were assigned. 09CS had concentrations reas-signed for 24 pneumococcal serotypes using BW09 as the reference, and the newly assigned concentrations were similar to the original values (with percentage error less than 10％ in all serotypes). IgG antibodies against capsular polysaccharides of 24 serotypes of two quality control sera and eight serum samples were as-signed by BW09 and 09CS, and the results showed a linear correlation. Conclusions The human pneumo-coccal reference serum BW09 was successfully prepared and IgG antibody concentrations for its 24 serotypes were accurately assigned.

Objective:To study the feasibility of using bedside ultrasound in evaluating gastric residual volume in critical ill patients with enteral nutrition support.Methods:From May 2019 to August 2019, 60 patients were selected to receive enteral nutrition via gastric tube in ICU of Union Hospital, Tongji Medical College, Huazhong University of Science and Technology. Patients were divided into the experimental group and the control group according to the odd and even number of beds, 30 patients in the experimental group with odd number of beds and 30 patients in the control group with even number of beds. Gastric residual volume was evaluated at 0, 4, 8, 12, 16, 20, 24 h of enteral nutrition. In the experimental group, the gastric residual volume was evaluated by bedside ultrasound and syringe suction at each time point. In the control group, only bedside ultrasound was used to evaluate gastric residual volume. The results of operation time, monitoring results at different time points, diarrhea and the utilization rate of gastrointestinal motility drugs target feeding time, vomiting, were compared between the two groups.Results:There was no statistical difference between the gastric residual amount monitored by ultrasound and the gastric residual amount monitored by suction ( P>0.05). The operating time of bedside ultrasound monitoring was (62.40 ± 4.00) s, the operating time of suction monitoring was (78.39 ± 12.15) s, and the operating time of bedside ultrasound monitoring was less than that of suction ( t value was 6.633, P<0.01). There was no significant difference in the rate of vomiting, diarrhea and gastrointestinal motility drugs between the two groups( P>0.05). The time to reach the target feeding amount in the control group was (3.04 ± 0.31) d, and the time to reach the target feeding amount in the experimental group was (4.19 ± 0.33) d. The time to reach the target feeding amount in the control group was less than that in the experimental group ( t value was 13.42, P<0.01). Conclusions:Bedside ultrasound can be used to evaluate the residual gastric volume of enteral nutrition support patients, guide the implementation of enteral nutrition, shorten the operation time, reduce the workload of nurses, and avoid the contamination of enteral nutrition preparation.

Objective:To summarize the patient profiles and therapeutic efficacies of ABO-incompatible living-related kidney transplantations at 19 domestic transplant centers and provide rationales for clinical application of ABOi-KT.Methods:Clinical cases of ABO-incompatible/compatible kidney transplantation (ABOi-KT/ABOc-KT) from December 2006 to December 2009 were collected. Then, statistical analyses were conducted from the aspects of tissue matching, perioperative managements, complications and survival rates of renal allograft or recipients.Results:Clinical data of 342 ABOi-KT and 779 ABOc-KT indicated that (1) no inter-group differences existed in age, body mass index (BMI), donor-recipient relationship or waiting time of pre-operative dialysis; (2) ABO blood type: blood type O recipients had the longest waiting list and transplantations from blood type A to blood type O accounted for the largest proportion; (3) HLA matching: no statistical significance existed in mismatch rate or positive rate of PRA I/II between two types of surgery; (4) CD20 should be properly used on the basis of different phrases; (5) hemorrhage was a common complication during an early postoperative period and microthrombosis appeared later; (6) no difference existed in postoperative incidence of complications or survival rate of renal allograft and recipients at 1/3/5/10 years between ABOi-KT and ABOc-KT. The acute rejection rate and serum creatinine levels of ABOi-KT recipients were comparable to those of ABOc-KT recipients within 1 year.Conclusions:ABOi-KT is both safe and effective so that it may be applied at all transplant centers as needed.