Zinc-α2-glycoprotein (ZAG), a new adipokine, plays an important role in the development of cancer cachexia by decreasing lipid content in body via promoting lipid mobilization and utilization. The lipolytic effect of ZAG is achieved by increasing the activity of hormone sensitive lipase, activating β3 adrenergic receptors,and up-regulating cyclic adenosine monophosphate. In addition, ZAG increases adiponectin expression and decreases leptin expression in adipocytes and adipose tissue. The ZAG expression is regulated by glucocorticoid, peroxisome proliferator-activated receptor gamma agonist rosiglitazone, tumor necrosis factor-α and many other factors.ZAG can potentially be applied as a tumor marker, and may become a new target in the treatment of cancer cachexia.

Objective:To explore and evaluate the accuracy, conformity, and clinical application value of digital surgical techniques in guiding 125I seed implantation in the brachytherapy of deep head and neck tumors. Methods:Twelve patients with deep head and neck tumors who received brachytherapy of radioactive 125I seed implantation were selected for the study.The locations of the implantation needles and seeds were designed based on CT images before the operation.A digital positioning model was built according to the treatment plan to accurately import the planned locations of implantation needles into the surgical navigation system.Meanwhile, an individualized puncture guidance template was designed and printed according to the patients′ facial profiles as well as the locations and directions of the implantation needles.During the operation, the template was put in place under the guidance of the navigation system and meanwhile, the implantation needle puncture and radioactive seed implantation were conducted under the joint guidance of the visual needle path and real-time implantation needle locations in the navigation system and template guidance holes.The locations of the implantation needle and the seeds were validated by CT scan and the dose distribution in target areas was calculated.Adverse reactions such as hematoma, pain, infection, nonunion of puncture sites, and tumor cell implantation were observed during and after the operation. Results:All 12 patients successfully received implantation needle puncture and radioactive seed implantation under the guidance of the digital surgical techniques, achieving excellent effects of real-time visualization guidance.Meanwhile, the locations and number of the implantation needles and seeds were consistent with the treatment plan and were distributed evenly.Furthermore, according to postoperative verification, D90 ranged from 83.7 Gy to 131.0 Gy, with an average of 107.5 Gy; V100 was 89.6%-99.3%, with an average of 94.6%, and V150 ranged from 40.2% to 58.9%, averaging 47.8%.No serious adverse reactions were observed during and after the operation. Conclusions:With digital surgical techniques, the surgical navigation system and 3D-printed individualized puncture guidance template jointly guided the implantation needle puncture and 125I seed implantation, improving the accuracy and conformity of the brachytherapy.Therefore, they have clinical application value in head and neck brachytherapy, especially in deep areas with complex anatomical structures.

Objective To investigate the correlation between gene polymorphism within human β defensin 1 (DEFB1) and fungal susceptibility to severe sepsis through case-control association study.Methods A total of211 patients with severe sepsis in ICU were enrolled in the present case control study. Sepsis in this study was diagnosed according to the definition of American College of Chest Physicians/Society of Critical Care Medicine Consensus Conference in 1992 and 2002. Based on the development of fungal infection during ICU stay, all 211 patients were divided into fungal infection group (Group Ⅰ) and control group (Group C). Alleles and genotypes of-1816A/G, -390A/T, -52A/G, -44C/G and-20A/G within DEFB1 gene were assayed in all 211 patients by means of DNA direct sequencing, Allele-specific PCR amplifications or high-throughput site-specific TaqMan assay. Genetic analysis was employed to calculate the distribution frequency of haplotypes. The correlation between the genomic variations (allele,genotype and haplotype) and fungal infection was analyzed by Chi-square test or Fisher's exact test.Odds ratio (OR) was employed to reflect the correlation degree of genetic factor with fungal susceptibility to severe sepsis. Results Group Ⅰ enrolled 80 patients, of whom 43 pstients were male, at age of (60.81 ± 18.30) years. Group C enrolled 131 patients, of whom 80 patients were male, at mean age of (60.42 ± 17.03) years. No significant difference was found between two groups in aspect of gender and age (P＞0.05). The genetic locus of -1816A/G, -390A/T, -52A/G, -44C/G and -20A/G of both groups were in agreement with Hardy Weinberg equilibrium. No significant difference was found between two groups in the distribution of allelic frequencies and genotype frequencies (P ＞0.05). No significant difference was found in the distribution frequency of four common haplotypes of the above five genetic locus such as AAACG, ATGCA, GTGGG and ATACG (all P ＞ 0.05). Conclusions Genetic locus of -1816A/G, -390A/T, -52A/G, -44C/G and-20A/G within DEFB1 gene have no correction with fungal infections in severe sepsis, suggesting that DEFB1 gene polymorphism may not serve as a key genetic marker for the predisposition to fungal infection in severe sepsis.

Objective: To evaluate the application of frontal flap in reconstructing the defect of nose, the clinical data of 12 cases were reported. Methods: Twelve patients with nasal skin cancers undertaking radical dissection of tumor accompanied frontal flap reconstructing one stage were reviewed retrospectively.Results: The overall following\|up rate was 100%, 10 of these patients curled slightly after reconstructing the nose, but influence of the nasal outline was little. Two cases were recurrent locally, one occurred 24 months after operation, the other occurred 38 months. Both of them received radiotherapy. Malformation arised after radiotherapy. The total successful rate of reconstruct nasal outlook was 83.33%, the 3\|year locally recurrent rate was 8.33%,5\|year survival rate ws 100%, 5\|year survival rate without tumor was 83.33%.Conclusion:The blood supply of frontal flap is abundance;healing up soon after reconstruction; the manipulation of surgery is simple and safe. It is worth applying this operation generally in clinical practice.

Objective To discuss the influence of different antitumor treatments on the survival time of patients with obstructive jaundice caused by cholangiocarcinoma located at middle-low segment of common bile duct after receiving PTCD. Methods During the period from Jan. 2012 to March 2013, a total of 60 patients with pathologically-proved cholangiocarcinoma located at the middle-low segment of common bile duct were admitted to authors’ hospital. According to tumor TNM staging, stage Ⅱ was seen in 9 cases, stage Ⅲ in 39 cases and stage Ⅳ in 12 cases. Based on the degree of cell differentiation, highly differentiated cancer was observed in 9 cases, moderately differentiated cancer in 37 cases, and poorly differentiated cancer in 14 cases. The 60 patients were enrolled in this study. Drainage tube placement and stent implantation were performed in all patients so as to relieve the symptoms of jaundice. According to the antitumor treatment used, the 60 patients were randomly and equally divided into three groups with 20 patients in each group. Draining procedure with subsequent regular arterial infusion chemotherapy was employed in the patients of group A; draining procedure with subsequent particle chain placement in biliary tract was performed in the patients of group B; and draining procedure with subsequent regular arterial infusion chemotherapy together with particle chain placement in biliary tract was carried out in the patients of group C. The results were analyzed using SPSS17.0 statistical software. The death factors of patients were statistically evaluated by using multivariate Cox proportional hazards regression analysis method, P<0.05 was considered that the difference had statistical significance. Results The median survival periods of group A, B and C were (186.0±36.4) days, (183.0±26.5) days and (252.0±43.6) days respectively. The death factors of cancer patients were analyzed by using multivariate Cox proportional hazards regression analysis method, which indicated that tumor stage was a risk factor for death (HR=8.434, 95%CI 3.41-20.090);the treatment mode was a protection factor of death (HR=0.616, 95%CI 0.429-0.884); while the degree of tumor differentiation was unrelated to death(score test,字2=0.197, P=0.657>0.05). The risk of death in group B was not significantly different from that in group A (HR=1.012, 95%CI 0.558-2.179); while the treatment mode of group C was a protection factor of death (HR=0.334, 95%CI 0.148-0.075). Conclusion The TNM stage and treatment mode can influence the survival time of patients with cholangiocarcinoma located at the middle-low segment of common bile duct. Therefore, for the treatment of obstructive jaundice caused by cholangiocarcinoma, combination use of regular arterial infusion chemotherapy and particle chain placement in biliary tract should be employed immediately after draining procedure as this therapeutic mode can effectively prolong patient’s survival time.

Bile Ducts, Intrahepatic ; Dilatation, Pathologic ; Humans ; Synchrotrons

Objective: Non-small-cell lung cancer (NSCLC) patients with epidermal growth factor receptor (EGFR)-activating mutations have higher response rate and more prolonged survival following treatment with single-agent EGFR tyrosine kinase inhibitor (EGFR-TKI) compared with patients with wild-type EGFR. However, all patients treated with reversible inhibitors develop acquired re-sistance over time. The mechanisms of resistance are complicated. The lack of established therapeutic options for patients after a failed EGFR-TKI treatment poses a great challenge to physicians in managing this group of lung cancer patients. This study evaluates the in-fluence of EGFR-TKI retreatment following chemotherapy after failure of initial EGFR-TKI within at least six months on NSCLC pa-tients. Methods:The data of 27 patients who experienced treatment failure from their initial use of EGFR-TKI within at least 6 months were analyzed. After chemotherapy, the patients were retreated with EGFR-TKI (gefitinib 250 mg qd or erlotinib 150 mg qd), and the tumor progression was observed. The patients were assessed for adverse events and response to therapy. Targeted tumor lesions were as-sessed with CT scan. Results:Of the 27 patients who received EGFR–TKI retreatment, 1 (3.7%) patient was observed in complete re-sponse (CR), 8 (29.6%) patients in partial response (PR), 14 (51.9%) patients in stable disease (SD), and 4 (14.8%) patients in progres-sive disease (PD). The disease control rate (DCR) was 85.2%(95%CI=62%-94%). The median progression-free survival (mPFS) was 6 months (95%CI=1-29). Of the 13 patients who received the same EGFR-TKI, 1 patient in CR, 3 patients in PR, 8 patients in SD, and 2 patients in PD were observed. The DCR was 84.6%, and the mPFS was 5 months. Of the 14 patients who received another EG-FR-TKI, 0 patient in CR, 6 patients in PR, 6 patients in SD, and 2 patients in PD were observed. The DCR was 85.7%, and the mPFS was 9.5 months. Significant difference was found between the 2 groups in progression-free survival but not in response rate or disease control rate. Conclusion:Retreatment of EGFR-TKIs can be considered an option after failure of chemotherapy for patients who were
previously controlled by EGFR-TKI treatment.

Embolization, Therapeutic ; Hemorrhage ; Humans ; Liver Cirrhosis

Objective To investigate the efficacy and safety of capecitabine in the treatment of colorectal cancer. Methods Totally 160 elderly patients with stageⅣcolorectal cancer were enrolled in this study. After first-line combined chemotherapy,80 patients were treated with capecitabine monotherapy(maintenance group)and another 80 cases were not(control group). The survival rate was analyzed by Kaplan-Meier curve and the efficiency and incidence of adverse events were compared. Results (1) The Kaplan-Meier curve suggested that the difference between two groups was statistically significant(P<0.05).(2)The response rate of maintenance group was significantly higher than that of control group (P < 0.05). (3)The incidence of adverse events during capecitabine monotherapy was lower than that during combined chemotherapy(P < 0.05).(4)The incidence of adverse reactions during capecitabine monotherapy was similar to that of control group(P > 0.05). Conclusion Capecitabine monotherapy in patients with stage Ⅳ colorectal cancer after combined chemotherapy has a longer median PFS than those without maintenance but similar adverse reactions ,which was worthy of clinical promotion.

Objective:To evaluate the relationship between early postoperative recovery and frailty after digestive endoscopy-assisted minimally invasive surgery under intravenous anesthesia in the elderly.Methods:This study retrospectively selected hospitalized patients, aged ≥65 yr, scheduled for elective gastrointestinal endoscopic treatment.Early postoperative recovery time was defined as the period from the end of propofol administration to the achievement of a modified Aldrete score of 9.All the patients were divided into 2 groups according to whether the early recovery time after operation was less than 75%: normal early postoperative recovery time group and delayed early postoperative recovery time group.Frailty was assessed using the frailty phenotype (FP score 0-5), and the patient was diagnosed as frail (FP ≥3) or non-frail (FP 0-2). The age, sex, height, weight, smoking history, American Society of Anesthesiologists (ASA) Physical Status classification, type of operation, and baseline mean arterial pressure and heart rate were recorded.Logistic regression analysis was used to identify the risk factors for delayed early postoperative recovery time after minimally invasive digestive endoscopy under intravenous anesthesia in elderly patients.Results:A total of 214 patients were enrolled and divided into normal early postoperative recovery time group ( n=169) and delayed early postoperative recovery time group ( n=45). There were significant differences in frailty, age, drinking history of more than 10 yr, preoperative ASA Physical Status classification and propofol administration time between delayed early postoperative recovery time group and normal early postoperative recovery time group ( P<0.05). The results of logistic regression analysis indicated that frailty, age, ASA Physical Status classification Ⅲ, and propofol administration time were independent risk factors for the occurrence of delayed early postoperative recovery ( P<0.05). Conclusions:Frailty, age, ASA Physical Status classification Ⅲ and propofol administration time are independent risk factors for delayed early postoperative recovery time following digestive endoscopy-assisted minimally invasive surgery under intravenous anesthesia in elderly patients.