Objective To evaluate the feasibility, safety, and efficacy of Y-shaped jogged stent in patients with malignant hilar biliary obstruction. Methods During the period of January 2010 to June 2015,We retrospectively reviewed 98 cases of malignant hilar biliary obstruction who were received implantation of biliary tract stent. 17 consecutive patients who were treated with Y-shaped jogged stent were identified (group A) during January 2012 to June 2015. Group A was carefully matched according to patients' age, sex, type of tumor, stage, type of biliary obstruction, level of bilirubin at diagnosis, presence of metastasis and treatment, and 17 patients who were underwent unilateral stent placement alone with PTCD were chosen as control group (group B). Patients' baseline characteristics, stenting strategy, complications, stent patency time and survival rates were analyzed, and continuous variables of the two groups were compared using Student's t-test. Categorical variables were analyzed using the Fisher exact test. Results Y-shaped jogged stent implantation group and control groups were closely matched in terms of patients' age, sex, type of tumor, stage, type of biliary obstruction, level of bilirubin at diagnosis, presence of metastasis and treatment ( P>0.05). The bilirubin decreased rate in the two groups was 88.2%and 53.0%respectively (P<0.05). The median time of stent patency after stent implantation was(7.3 ± 1.0)months and(5.7 ± 0.9) months respectively (χ2=4.04,P=0.044), and the median survival time was(9.1 ± 1.5)months and(7.2 ± 1.1)months (χ2=4.60,P=0.032), with significant difference according to Kaplan-Meier analysis. There were no severe complications such as massive hemorrhage, perforation, biliary fistula and severe pancreatitis, which were associated with stent implantation. Conclusions The application of Y-shaped jogged stent is safe, feasible and effective in patients with malignant hilar biliary obstruction. It can relieve the clinical symptoms of biliary obstruction effectively with prolongation of stent patency time and survival rate significantly.

Objective:To investigate the efficacy and safety of programmed death-1 (PD1) inhibitor combined with transcatheter arterial chemoembolization (TACE) in the treatment of huge primary liver cancer.Methods:From June 2016 to December 2019, the clinical data of 31 patients with huge primary liver cancer enrolled in the Central Hospital of Lishui were retrospectively collected and analyzed. The tumor size ranged from 10.1 to 18.8 cm, with an average of (14.2±2.3) cm. The patients were divided into TACE group (TACE treatment, 18 cases) and combined group (one week after TACE, patients receiving a dose of 200 mg PD1 inhibitor administration every 21 days, 13 cases), according to whether patients receiving PD1 inhibitors. The patients were followed up. The disease control rate (DCR) were compared between the two groups using Mann-Whitney U test. The median overall survival (OS) and progression free survival (PFS) were calculated by Kaplan-Meier method. Results:The DCR in combined group (53.8%, 7/13) was higher than that in TACE group (22.2%, 4/18), and the difference was statistically significant ( Z=-2.13, P=0.04). The median PFS (5.0 months) in combined group was longer than that in TACE group (3.0 months), the difference was statistically significant (χ2=4.39, P=0.04). The median OS (15 months) in combined group was longer than that in control group (9 months), and the difference was statistically significant (χ2=5.51, P=0.02). Conclusion:The combine PD1 inhibitors with TACE is an effective and safe therapy for huge primary liver cancer.

Objective To evaluate the clinical efficacy and safety of transcatheter arterial chemoembolization (TACE) combined with radiofrequency ablation (RFA) in treating hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) under liver capsular. Methods Forty three patients with 62 lesions of HCC under liver capsular received TACE followed by CT?guided percutaneous RFA after 1 to 2 weeks were analyzed retrospectively. The subjects were observed and follow?up imaging with enhanced MRI was performed to evaluate the therapeutic efficacy after combined treatment. The patients were followed up for 10 to 69 months. The patients with residual lesions received a second RFA, the patients with recurrence or new lesions received another TACE combined with RFA. The overall survival rates, median survival time and median time to progression were calculated by using Kaplan?Meier. Results A total of 55 TACE and 68 ablations were performed in 43 patients with 62 lesions. The procedure was successfully accomplished in all patients. The complete ablation rate after the first ablation was 90.3%(56/62). The 1, 3, 5?year overall survival rates were 95.3%, 78.1%and 43.9%, the median survival time was 58 months and the median time to progression was 32 months. Conclution For the treatment of hepatocellular carcinoma under liver capsular, TACE combined with RFA is safe and effective.

Objective To investigate the reasons and the methods of prevention and cure for serious complications of radiofrequency ablations in the treatments of hepatocellular carcinomas. Methods A total of 410 patients with BCLC at A or B stage of hepatocellular carcinomas in our hospital were enrolled between November 2014 and June 2009. These patients underwent a total of 504 times radiofrequency ablations for the treatments of liver lesions. This retrospective study analysed the reasons and the strategies of prevention and cure for the serious complications. Results In the patients with a total of 504 times radiofrequency ablations, 2 patients had massive hemorrhage caused by puncture injuries, 2 patients had the tumors which were close to the liver capsules and 1 patient had bile peritonitis caused by the injury of thermal ablation on the gallbladder. The maximum diameter of tumor was 5 cm. That tumor was close to the gallbladder. 2 patients had needle tract metastases caused by incompletely needle path ablations. 1 of the 2 patients had a tumor near the liver capsule, and the other patient had un-enough temperature for needle path ablation. Tumor outbreaks were happened in 2 patients. 1 of the 2 patients had a tumor which was located in the liver capsule and close to the portal vein. The other patient had a 12 cm diameter tumor with rich blood supplement. 2 patients had liver abscesses. 1 of the 2 patients had a tumor near the ascending colon, and the other patient had diabetes. 1 patient had colonic perforation caused by thermal ablation. The tumor in that patient was located in the right hepatic lobe segment and adjacent to the ascending colon. The incidence of serious complications was 1.98% (10/504). Conclusions The incidence of the serious complications of radiofrequency ablations for the treatments of hepatocellular carcinomas is relatively low. The main reasons for the serious complications were direct injuries caused by punctures, heat radiation injuries, tumors adjacent to large blood vessels, gallbladders and intestines, tumors with abundant blood supplement, needle paths fail to cross normal liver tissues, low scores of liver function, weak immune system and diabetes. The key points for avoiding and reducing the serious complications are preoperative evaluations of patients' basic situations, choices of appropriate puncture channels and control ranges of ablations when tumors are close to important blood vessels, intestines and gallbladders.

Objective:To investigate the efficacy and safety of short-term transcatheter arterial chemoembolization （TACE）-radiofrequency ablation （RFA） sequential therapy for advanced hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC).Methods:The clinical data of 117 patients with advanced HCC enrolled in the Central Hospital of Lishui from March 2010 to January 2019 were retrospectively analyzed. All patients received TACE and RFA sequential therapy. The patients were divided into 2 groups including short interval group (interval≤7 d, 61 cases) and long interval group (interval>7 d, 56 cases) according to interval between TACE and RFA. The difference of response rate was analyzed by Wilcoxon test. Kaplan-Meier survival curve was used to calculate the overall survival (OS) time and progression free survival (PFS) time.The risk factors of TACE-RFA sequential therapy were tested using Cox multivariate analysis. The complications in the two groups were compared using χ 2 test. Results:The response rate in the short interval group (72.1%, 43/61) was significantly higher than that in the long interval group (41.1%，23/56) with significant difference ( Z=-2.50, P=0.01). The median PFS in the short interval group (14.9 months) was longer than that in the long interval group (9.1 months). The difference of PFS survival curve between the 2 groups was statistically significant (χ2 =5.90, P=0.01).The median OS in the short interval group (34.7 months) was longer than that in the long interval group (20.3 months). The difference of OS survival curve between the 2 groups was statistically significant (χ2 =6.60, P=0.01). Cox multivariate analysis showed that tumor size [hazard ratio (HR)=2.42, P<0.01], cirrhosis (HR=2.04, P<0.01), interval (HR=0.44, P<0.01), aspartate aminotransferase (HR=1.71, P=0.03) were the independent risk factors for advanced HCC.There were no significant differences in the complication incidence between the 2 groups ( P>0.05). Conclusion:Short-term interval TACE-RFA sequential therapy as a protective factor is efficient and safe for advanced HCC treatment.

Objective:Evaluation of ultrasound-guided radiofrequency of hyperthermia combined with recombinant human adenovirus H101 for the treatment of hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC).Methods:In vitro cell therapy experiments, luciferase/red fluorescent protein/lentivirus mediated McA-RH7777 cells were conducted and divided into 4 groups. Each group was repeatedly treated for 6 times: (1) recombinant human adenovirus type 5 H101 [(multiplicity of infection, MOI)=0.2]+ RFH group, heated at 42℃ for 30 min; (2) recombinant human adenovirus type 5 H101 alone (MOI=0.2); (3) RFH alone, heated at 42℃ for 30 min; (4) control group: physiological saline group. Twenty-four nude rats weighing 180-220 g were selected to establish a nude rat model of orthotopic HCC. They were divided into 4 groups with 6 rats in each group: (1) H101+ RFH combined treatment group: RFH electrode needles were punctured to the center of the tumor in the liver of nude rats under ultrasound guidance, and H101 was directly injected through the electrode injection end. RFH was delivered to the tumor at a temperature of 42℃ for 30 min; (2) H101 treatment group: MOI=0.2; (3) RFH treatment group; (4) sham surgery group. Fluorescence microscopy imaging was used to evaluate the viability of cells in vitro experiments. For in vivo validation, ultrasound imaging was used to follow up the tumor size. Tumor gross specimens and pathological changes were also evaluated.Results:Twenty-four hours after treatment, the survival rate of cells in the H101+ RFH group was the lowest under fluorescence microscopy. The results of MTS quantitative analysis showed that the relative absorbance of mezzanine in the H101+ RFH group cells was lower than that in the H101 group alone [(25.00±2.27)% vs. (69.50±4.53)%], the RFH group alone [(25.00±2.27)% vs. (92.83±1.66)%], and the control group [(25.00±2.27)% vs. 100%], with statistical significance (all P<0.001). The number of apoptotic cells in the H101+ RFH group was higher than that in the H101 group alone [(54.5±3.1)% vs. (25.2±1.4)%], the RFH group alone [(54.5±3.1)% vs. (5.7±0.6)%], and the control group [(54.5±3.1)% vs. (3.9±0.5)%], all of which showed statistically significant differences (all P<0.001). The relative tumor volume of nude rats in the H101+ RFH combination treatment group was smaller than that in the H101 treatment group (0.776±0.127 vs. 1.312±0.188), RFH treatment group (0.776±0.127 vs. 1.893±0.571), and sham surgery group (0.776±0.127 vs. 1.977±0.590), all of which had statistical significance (all P<0.001). The number of apoptotic cells in nude rats in the H101+ RFH combination treatment group was higher than that in the H101 treatment group [(49.85±4.00%)% vs. (22.70±0.65)%], the RFH treatment group [(49.85±4.00% vs. (5.36±0.84)%], and the sham surgery group [(49.85±4.00)% vs. (5.96±0.78)%], all of which showed statistically significant differences (all P<0.001). Conclusion:Ultrasound guided RFH combined with recombinant human adenovirus H101 has a promoting effect on the treatment of HCC.

Objective:The transjugular or transfemoral approach is used as a common method for hepatic venous pressure gradient (HVPG) measurement in current practice. This study aims to confirm the safety and effectiveness of measuring HVPG via the forearm venous approach.Methods:Prospective recruitment was conducted for patients with cirrhosis who underwent HVPG measurement via the forearm venous approach at six hospitals in China and Japan from September 2020 to December 2020. Patients' clinical baseline information and HVPG measurement data were collected. The right median cubital vein or basilic vein approach for all enrolled patients was selected. The HVPG standard process was used to measure pressure. Research data were analyzed using SPSS 22.0 statistical software. Quantitative data were used to represent medians (interquartile ranges), while qualitative data were used to represent frequency and rates. The correlation between two sets of data was analyzed using Pearson correlation analysis.Results:A total of 43 cases were enrolled in this study. Of these, 41 (95.3%) successfully underwent HVPG measurement via the forearm venous approach. None of the patients had any serious complications. The median operation time for HVPG detection via forearm vein was 18.0 minutes (12.3~38.8 minutes). This study confirmed that HVPG was positively closely related to Child-Pugh score ( r = 0.47, P = 0.002), albumin-bilirubin score ( r = 0.37, P = 0.001), Lok index ( r = 0.36, P = 0.02), liver stiffness ( r = 0.58, P = 0.01), and spleen stiffness ( r = 0.77, P = 0.01), while negatively correlated with albumin ( r = -0.42, P = 0.006). Conclusion:The results of this multi-centre retrospective study suggest that HVPG measurement via the forearm venous approach is safe and feasible.