Objective:To investigate the application value of transanal endoscopic partial intersphincteric resection for ultra-low rectal cancer.Methods:The retrospective and descriptive study was conducted. The clinicopathological data of 9 ultra-low rectal cancer patients undergoing transanal endoscopic partial intersphincteric resection at the First Affiliated Hospital of Xiamen University from December 2017 to August 2020 were collected. There were 8 males and 1 female, aged from 39 to 62 years, with a median age of 58 years. Observation indicators: (1) surgical and postoperative situations; (2) postoperative pathological examination; (3) follow-up. Follow-up was conducted using outpatient examination and telephone interview to detect postoperative tumor local recurrence and distant metastasis, survival of patients, ileostomy closure, anus function at 3 months after ileostomy closure, male urinary and sexual function and female sexual function at 6 months after rectal surgery. The follow-up was up to February 2021. Measurement data with normal distribution were represented as Mean± SD, and measurement data with skewed distribution were represented as M(range). Count data were described as absolute numbers. Results:(1)Surgical and postoperative situations: all 9 patients underwent surgery successfully, without conversion to open surgery. Seven of the 9 patients underwent transanal endoscopic partial intersphincteric resection and the rest of 2 patients with tumor close to the dentate line underwent transanal endoscopic modified partial intersphincteric resection. The operation time and volume of intraoperative blood loss of 9 patients were (267±48)minutes and 50 mL(range, 30?60 mL), respectively. Five of the 9 patients underwent transanal specimen extraction, and 4 patients underwent specimen extraction by an abdominal incision. All 9 patients underwent transanal hand-sewn coloanal anastomosis and protective ileostomy, and two pelvic drainage tubes were indwelled. Transanal drainage tube was placed after anastomosis in 3 of 9 patients. Three cases had intraoperative adverse events and there were no intraoperative adverse event reported in the remaining 6 cases. The time to postoperative initial stoma exhausting and time to postoperative first semi-liquid food intake of 9 patients were 3 days(range, 2?4 days) and 5 days(range, 4?7 days), respectively. One case had Clavien-Dindo grade Ⅰ complication and 2 cases had Clavien-Dindo grade Ⅱ complication during postoperative 30 days and the rest of 6 cases had no postoperative complication. No anastomotic stricture, hemorrhage or urinary retention occurred in 9 patients. The duration of postoperative hospital stay and cost of hospitalization of 9 patients were 11 days(range, 9?23 days) and (6.8±1.3)×10 4 yuan, respectively. (2) Postoperative pathological examination: the diameter of tumor, the distance of distal resection margin, the number of lymph node dissected and the number of positive lymph node of 9 patients were (3.2±1.4)cm, 0.6 cm(range, 0.5?1.5 cm), 17±7 and 0(range, 0?7), respectively. The tumor histopathological type was adenocarcinoma with negative tumor nodule and nerve infiltration in all 9 patients. Only 1 case of 9 patients was found vascular tumor thrombus. The surgical specimens of all 9 patients showed negative for distal and circumferential margins and complete mesorectum. Results of postoperative pathological TNM staging showed that of 6 cases with preoperative T1-T2 staging tumors, 3 cases were classified as pT2N0M0 stage, and 3 cases were classified as pT2N1M0 stage, pT2N2M0 stage or pT3N1M0 stage, respectively. Three cases with preoperative T3 staging tumors were classified as ypT0N0M0 stage, ypT2N0M0 stage or ypT3N0M0 stage, respectively. (3) Follow-up: all 9 patients were followed up for 6 to 13 months, with a median follow-up time of 9 months. No local recurrence, distant metastasis or tumor-related death was found during follow-up. Of the 9 patients, only 1 case did not receive stoma closure and undergo anus function assessment, and the rest of 8 cases underwent stoma closure. Results of postoperative anus function assessment showed 5 cases of accessibility, 2 cases of mild impairment and 1 case of severe impairment. Results of urogenital function assessment showed 6 cases of the 8 male patients of mild impairment, 1 case of moderate impairment and 1 case of severe impairment in micturition function, respectively, and 3 cases of accessibility, 2 cases of mild impairment and 3 cases of moderate impairment in sexual function, respectively. The female patient underwent accessibility of sexual function and the six-item version of the female sexual function index was 25. Conclusion:Transanal endoscopic partial intersphincteric resection can be used for the treatment of ultra-low rectal cancer.

Objective:To investigate the application value of intrathoracic double-flap tech-nique (Kamikawa anastomosis) in combined thoracoscopic and laparoscopic radical resection for esophagogastric junction cancer.Methods:The retrospective and descriptive study was conducted. The clinicopathological data of 10 patients with esophagogastric junction cancer who were admitted to the First Affiliated Hospital of Xiamen University between July 2022 and April 2023 were collec-ted. There were 7 males and 3 females, aged 62(range, 53-71)years. All the 10 patients underwent combined thoracoscopic and laparoscopic radical resection for esophagogastric junction cancer. Reconstruction was performed with an intrathoracic Kamikawa anastomosis. Observation indicators: (1) intraoperative and postoperative situations; (2) postoperative pathological examination; (3) follow-up and survival. Measurement data with normal distribution were represented as Mean± SD, and measurement data with skewed distribution were represented as M(range). Count data were described as absolute numbers. Results:(1) Intraoperative and postoperative situations. All the 10 patients underwent surgery successfully. The operation time and volume of intraoperative blood loss were (347±41)minutes and (91±41)mL. The time to postoperative fluid diet intake, time to removal of postoperative abdominal drainage tube, time to removal of postoperative chest drainage tube, duration of postoperative hospital stay were (4.3±1.1)days, (5.0±1.6)days, (10.5±3.9)days, (13.3±3.8)days. Six patients had postoperative complications, including 1 case of Clavien-Dindo grade ⅢB, 3 cases of Clavien Dindo grade Ⅱ, 2 cases of Clavien Dindo grade Ⅰ. An upper gastrointestinal contrast at postoperative day 7 showed no anastomotic leak or anastomotic stricture in the 10 patients. (2) Postoperative pathological examination. Results of postoperative pathological examination in the 10 patients showed negative surgical margin. The number of lymph node dissected was 22±6. There were 3 patients with 5 positive lymph nodes. The tumor diameter and distance from center of tumor to squamocolumnar mucosal junction were (3.3±0.5)cm and (1.9±1.4)cm. One patient had tumor differentiation degree as high and moderate differentiation, 5 cases as moderate differentiation, 3 cases as moderate and low differentiation, 1 case as low differentiation. There were 5 patients with squamous cell carcinoma of the esophagogastric junction and 5 patients with adenocarcinoma of the esophagogastric junction. (3) Follow-up and survival. All the 10 patients were followed up for 7(range, 3?12)months, achieving disease-free survival. The visick quality of life grade Ⅰ, Ⅱ, Ⅲ, Ⅳ were observed in 7, 3, 0, 0 patients. Postoperative gastroscopy was completed in 7 patients, in which mild anastomotic strictures were noted in 2 patients, but no treatment was required. There was no reflux esophagitis.Conclusion:Intrathoracic Kamikawa anastomosis in combined thoracoscopic and laparoscopic radical resection for esophagogastric junction cancer is safe and feasible, with satisfactory short-term efficacy.

Objective To investigate the risk factors of perioperative complications of laparoscopic radical distal gastrectomy and influence of body shape on the short-term therapeutic effects.Methods The retrospective case-control study was conducted.The clinicopathological data of 506 patients (328 males and 178 females,average age 60 years with the range of 24-85 years) who underwent laparoscopic radical distal gastrectomy+D2 lymph nodes dissection in the 8 clinical centers between March 2016 and November 2018 were collected,including 143 in the First Affiliated Hospital of Xiamen University,66 in the Affiliated Hospital of Qinghai University,66 in the Second Affiliated Hospital of Wenzhou Medical University,64 in the Zhongshan Hospital of Xiamen University,54 in the Affiliated Hangzhou First people's Hospital of Zhejiang University School of Medicine,48 in the Zhangzhou Affiliated Hospital of Fujian Medical University,35 in the Affiliated Quanzhou First Hospital of Fujian Medical University,30 in the Second Affiliated Hospital of Xiamen Medical College.The maximum thickness of subcutaneous fat at the level of umbilicus (USCF),the maximum vertical distance between the anterior abdominal skin and the back skin at the level of the umbilicus (UAPD),the maximum horizontal distance between the anterior abdominal skin and the back skin at the level of the umbilicus (UTD),the maximum verticaldistance between the anterior abdominal skin and the back skin at the level of the xiphoid bone (XAPD),the maximum horizontal distance between the.anterior abdominal skin and the back skin at the level of the xiphoid bone (XTD),the distance between the anterior abdominal skin and the root of celiac artery (CAD) and the maximum horizontal distance at a right angle to CAD (CATD) were measured using preoperative imaging examinations.Observation indicators:(1) intraoperative and postoperative situations;(2) follow-up situations;(3) risk factors analysis of perioperative complications;(4) influence of body shape related indexes on intraoperative situations and postoperative recovery:① Pearson univariate correlation analysis,② liner regression model analysis.Followup using outpatient examination and telephone interview was performed to detect the postoperative survival and tumor recurrence or metastasis up to December 2018.Measurement data with normal distribution were represented as Mean±SD.Measurement data with skewed distribution were described as M (range).Comparisons of count data were analyzed using the chi-square test.Comparisons of ordinal data were analyzed by Mann-Whitney U nonparametric test.Risk factors of perioperative complications of laparoscopic distal gastrectomy were analyzed by Logistic regression model.Influence of body shape related indexes on intraoperative situations and postoperative recovery was analyzed by Pearson univariate correlation analysis and liner regression model.Results (1) Intraoperative and postoperative situations:all the 506 patients underwent successful laparoscopic distal gastrectomy,including 103 with Billroth Ⅰ anastomosis,140 with Billroth Ⅱ anastomosis,201 with Billroth Ⅱ + Braun anastomosis,62 with Roux-en-Y anastomosis.The operation time,volume of intraoperative blood loss,number of lymph nodes dissected,time to postoperative anal exsufflation,time for initial fluid diet intake,time for initial semi-fluid diet intake and duration of postoperative hospital stay were (233±44)minutes,(102±86)mL,34±13,(3.6±1.5)days,(5.8±3.3)days,(8.3±3.8)days,(12.2±5.7)days respectively in the 506 patients.Of 506 patients,196 were defined as pathological stage Ⅰ,122 were defined as pathological stage Ⅱ and 188 were defined as pathological stage Ⅲ postoperatively.Of 506 patients,93 had 106 times of perioperative complications,including 33 times of pulmonary and upper respiratory infection,12 times of incisional infection,11 times of anastomotic leakage,11 times of abdominal infection,8 times of intestinal obstruction,8 times of gastroplegia,6 times of abdominal hemorrhage,5 times of bacteremia,3 times of anastomotic hemorrhage,3 times of lymph fluid leakage,2 times of pancreatic leakage,1 time of urinary infection,1 time of anatomotic stenosis,1 time of deep venous thrombosis and 1 time of pulmonary embolism;the same patient can merge multiple complications.Eleven patients were in the Clavien-Dindo classification ≥ Ⅲ.(2) Follow-up situations:465 of 506 patients were followed up for 1-32 months with a median time of 12 months.During the follow-up,451 had postoperative survival and 38 had tumor recurrence or metastasis.(3) Risk factors analysis of perioperative complications.① Results of univariate analysis showed that age,body mass index (BMI),preoperative hemoglobin,preoperative serum albumin and XAPD were related factors affecting perioperative complications of laparoscopic distal gastrectomy (x2 =10.289,7.427,5.269,5.481,4.285,P＜ 0.05).② Results of multivariate analysis showed that age,BMI,preoperative serum albumin were independent related factors affecting perioperative complications of laparoscopic distal gastrectomy (odds ratio =1.033,1.118,0.937,95％ interval confidence:1.011-1.057,1.025-1.219,0.887-0.990,P＜0.05).(4) Influence of body shape related indexes on intraoperative situations and postoperative recovery.① Results of Pearson univariate correlation analysis showed correlations between UAPD,XAPD,CAD,CATD and volume of intraoperative blood loss (r=0.107,0.169,0.179,0.106,P＜0.05),between UAPD,XAPD,CAD and the number of lymph nodes dissected (r=-0.137,-0.143,-0.173,P＜0.05),between USCF,XAPD and time to postoperative anal exsufflation (r =0.122,0.109,P＜0.05),between USCF,XAPD,CAD and time for initial fluid diet intake (r=0.132,0.108,0.132,P＜0.05),between USCF,XAPD and duration of postoperative hospital stay (r=0.116,0.100,P＜0.05).② Results of liner regression model analysis showed a positive correlation between CAD and volume of intraoperative blood loss (r =6.776),a negative correlation between CAD and the number of lymph nodes dissected (r =-0.841),with statistically significant differences (t =2.410,-1.992,P＜ 0.05);a positive correlation between USCF and time to postoperative anal exsufflation (r=0.170),between USCF and time for initial fluid diet intake (r=0.365),between USCF and duration of postoperative hospital stay (r=0.636) respectively,with statisticallysignificant differences (t =2.188,1.981,2.107,P＜ 0.05).Conclusions Abdominal shape can influence intraoperative situations and postoperative recovery of laparoscopic distal gastrectomy,but cannot increase risks ofperioperative complications.Age,BMI and preoperative serum albumin are independent related factors affecting perioperative complications of laparoscopic distal gastrectomy.

Objective To investigate the short-term clinical effects of selecting duodenal transection timing on laparoscopic-assisted distal gastrectomy (LADG).Methods The retrospective cohort study was conducted.The clinicopathological data of 239 gastric cancer (GC) patients undergoing LADG in the 5 medical centers between March 2016 and March 2018 were collected,including 104 in the First Affiliated Hospital of Xiamen University,45 in Zhangzhou Affiliated Hospital of Fujian Medical University,35 in Quanzhou Affiliated Hospital of Fujian Medical University,30 in the Second Affiliated Hospital of Xiamen Medical College,25 in Zhongshan Hospital of Xiamen University.Of 239 patients undergoing LADG + D2 lymph node dissection,107 receiving duodenal transection and then lymph node dissection in the upper region of pancreas after lymph node dissection in the lower region of pylorus and 132 receiving lymph node dissection in the upper region of pancreas and then duodenal transection were respectively divided into anterior approach group and posterior approach group.Sixty-four,8,16,14 and 5 patients in the anterior approach group and 40,37,19,16 and 20 patients in the posterior group respectively came from the First Affiliated Hospital of Xiamen University,Zhangzhou Affiliated Hospital of Fujian Medical University,Quanzhou Affiliated Hospital of Fujian Medical University,Second Affiliated Hospital of Xiamen Medical College and Zhongshan Hospital of Xiamen University.Observation indicators:(1) surgical and postoperative situations;(2) postoperative complications;(3) stratified analyses of surgical and postoperative situations in patients with different TNM staging,body mass index (BMI) and maximum tumor dimension;(4) follow-up and survival.Follow-up using outpatient examination and telephone interview was performed to detect postoperative overall survival and tumor recurrence or metastasis up to April 2018.Measurement data with normal distribution were represented as (-x)±s,and comparison between groups was analyzed using the independent-samples t test.Measurement data with skewed distribution were described as M (Q),and comparison between groups was analyzed using the nonparametric test.Comparisons of count data were analyzed using chi-square test or Fisher exact probability.Comparison of ordinal data was done by the rank-sum test.Results (1) Surgical and postoperative situations:all the patients underwent successful operation,without perioperative death.Number of lymph node dissection in the upper region of pylorus in the anterior and posterior approach groups were respectively 3.9±2.6 and 3.0±2.5,with a statistically significant difference between groups (t=2.778,P＜0.05).Cases with Billroth Ⅰ,Billroth Ⅱ,Billroth Ⅱ +Bruan and Roux-en-Y of digestive tract reconstruction,operation time,dissected times of lymph nodes in greater curvature of stomach,lower region of pylorus,upper region of pancreas and lesser curvature of stomach,cases with visible port vein,volume of intraoperative blood loss,number of overall lymph node dissection,numbers of lymph node dissection in greater curvature of stomach,lower region of pylorus,upper region of pancreas and lesser curvature of stomach,time to postoperative anal exsufflation,time for postoperative fluid diet intake,time for postoperative semi-fluid diet intake,intraperitoneal drainage-tube removal time and duration of postoperative hospital stay were respectively 16,32,47,12,(233.0±41.0)minutes,(14.6±5.4)tninutes,(21.9±6.3)nminutes,(32.7±6.8) minutes,(7.4±2.9)minutes,74,(87±73)mL,35.0±10.0,8.5±4.1,4.8±4.2,13.3±5.2,4.3± 3.3,(4.1±2.6)days,(5.4±2.8) days,(7.9± 3.5) days,(8.9± 2.9) days,(11.7± 4.5) days in the anterior approach group and 17,47,61,7,(243.0±44.0) minutes,(15.7±5.2) minutes,(23.1±8.0) minutes,(34.2±7.1) minutes,(7.9±2.8)minutes,79,(93±57)mL,33.0±10.0,8.1±4.8,5.3±4.9,12.5±5.6,3.8±2.4,(3.8±3.3)days,(5.0±3.6)days,(7.5±4.0) days,(8.5±3.8)days,(11.3±5.7) days in the posterior approach group,with no statistically significant difference between groups (x2 =3.431,t =-1.836,-1.546,-1.324,-1.634,-1.228,x2=2.552,t=-0.684,1.630,0.797,-0.871,1.148,1.314,0.954,0.951,0.884,1.065,0.694,P＞0.05).(2) Postoperative complications:cases with overall complications,anastomotic leakage,anastomotic stenosis,anastomotic bleeding,pancreatic fistula,postoperative gastroparesis,intra-abdominal hemorrhage,incision infection,pneumonia,intra-abdominal infection,bacteremia,intestinal obstruction,endolymphatic leakage,Clavien-Dindo grade Ⅰ,Ⅱ,Ⅲa,Ⅲb and Ⅳa of postoperative complications were respectively 15,1,1,1,0,3,1,2,3,0,1,3,0,3,9,1,2,0 in the anterior approach group and 25,3,0,1,2,2,2,5,7,3,2,3,1,6,14,1,2,2 in the posterior approach group,with no statistically significant difference between groups (x2=1.027,0.643,0.022,0.479,0.161,0.765,0.921,0.161,0.063,Z=-1.055,P＞0.05).Patients in 2 groups with complications were cured by symptomatic treatment.(3) Stratified analyses of surgical and postoperative situations in patients with different TNM staging,BMI and maximum tumor dimension:operation time,dissected times of lymph nodes in upper region of pancreas,cases with visible port vein,number of overall lymph node dissection,numbers of lymph node dissection in upper region of pylorus and upper region of pancreas were respectively (236.0±41.0)minutes,(33.9±6.2) minutes,32,36.0±12.0,3.8±3.0,13.4±5.5 in patients of the anterior approach group with Ⅲ stage of TNM staging and (253.0± 45.0) minutes,(36.5 ±7.0) minutes,29,31.0±t9.0,2.5±2.0,11.4±4.6 in patients of the posterior approach group with Ⅲ stage of TNM staging,with statistically significant differences between groups (t =-1.988,-2.066,x2 =4.686,t =2.472,2.757,2.016,P＜0.05).Numbers of overall lymph node dissection and number of lymph node dissection in upper region of pylorus were respectively 37.0± 12.0,3.6±3.1 in patients of the anterior approach group with BMI ≥ 25 kg/m2 and 30.0±7.0,2.0± 1.3 in patients of the posterior approach group with BMI ≥ 25 kg/m2,with statistically significant differences between groups (t =2.211,2.205,P＜0.05).Volume of intraoperative blood loss and number of lymph node dissection in upper region of pylorus were respectively (80±45) mL,4.0±2.6 in patients of the anterior approach group with maximum tumor dimension ≥ 3.3 cm and (110±67)mL,2.8± 1.8 in patients of the posterior approach group with maximum tumor dimension ≥ 3.3 cm,with statistically significant differences between groups (t =-2.320,2.589,P ＜ 0.05).(4) Follow-up and survival:of 239 patients,202 were followed up for 2-24 months,with a median time of 12 months,including 89 in the anterior approach group and 113 in the posterior approach group.During the follow-up,cases with overall survival,tumor recurrence and metastasis were respectively 85,3,8 in the anterior approach group and 109,3,11 in the posterior approach group,with no statistically significant difference between groups (x2=0.032,0.089,0.119,P＞0.05).Conclusions Both of anterior approach and posterior approach are safe and feasible in LADG,with equivalent short-term efficacies.The anterior approach in LADG has an advantage of the lymph node dissection in the upper region of pylorus compared with posterior approach,and it also is better for patients with later tumor staging,higher BMI and bigger tumor.

The epidermal cell differentiation regulator zinc finger protein 750 (ZNF750) is a transcription factor containing the Cys2His2 (C2H2) domain, the zinc finger structure of which is located at the N-terminal 25‍‍-‍46 amino acids of ZNF750. It can promote the expression of differentiation-related factors while inhibiting the expression of progenitor cell-related genes. ZNF750 is directly regulated by p63 (encoded by the TP63 gene, belonging to the TP53 superfamily). The Krüppel-like factor 4 (KLF4), repressor element-1 (RE-1)‍-silencing transcription factor (REST) corepressor 1 (RCOR1), lysine demethylase 1A (KDM1A), and C-terminal-binding protein 1/2 (CTBP1/2) chromatin regulators cooperate with ZNF750 to repress epidermal progenitor genes and activate the expression of epidermal terminal differentiation genes (Sen et al., 2012; Boxer et al., 2014). Besides, ZNF750 and the regulatory network composed of bone morphogenetic protein (BMP) signaling pathway, long non-coding RNAs (lncRNAs) (anti-differentiation non-coding RNA (ANCR) and tissue differentiation-inducing non-protein coding RNA (TINCR)), musculoaponeurotic fibrosarcoma oncogene (MAF)/MAF family B (MAFB), grainy head-like 3 (GRHL3), and positive regulatory domain zinc finger protein 1 (PRDM1) jointly promote epidermal cell differentiation (Sen et al., 2012).
Adenocarcinoma/metabolism* ; Carcinogenesis/genetics* ; Colonic Neoplasms/metabolism* ; Histone Demethylases/metabolism* ; Humans ; RNA, Long Noncoding/genetics* ; Transcription Factors/metabolism* ; Tumor Suppressor Proteins/metabolism*

Objective:To investigate the effect of immune checkpoint inhibitors on reducing residual lymph node metastasis in patients with gastric cancer.Methods:The cohort of this retrospective study comprised patients from Nanfang Hospital of Southern Medical University and the First Affiliated Hospital of Xiamen University who had undergone systemic treatment prior to gastrectomy with D2 lymphadenectomy and had achieved Grade 1 primary tumor regression (TRG1) from January 2014 to December 2023. After exclusion of patients who had undergone preoperative radiotherapy, data of 58 patients (Nanfang Hospital: 46; First Affiliated Hospital of Xiamen University: 12) were analyzed. These patients were allocated to preoperative chemotherapy (Chemotherapy group, N=36 cases) and preoperative immunotherapy plus chemotherapy groups (Immunotherapy group, N=22 cases). There were no significant differences between these groups in sex, age, body mass index, diabetes, tumor location, pathological type, Lauren classification, tumor differentiation, pretreatment depth of invasion by primary tumor, pretreatment lymph node stage, pretreatment clinical stage, mismatch repair protein status, number of preoperative treatment cycles, or duration of preoperative treatment (all P>0.05). The primary outcome measure was postoperative lymph node downstaging. Secondary outcomes included postoperative depth of invasion by tumor, number of lymph nodes examined, and factors affecting residual lymph node metastasis status. Results:Lymph node downstaging was achieved significantly more often in the Immunotherapy group than the Chemotherapy group (pN0: 90.9% [20/22] vs. 61.1% [22/36]; pN1: 4.5% [1/22] vs. 36.1% [13/36]; pN2: 4.5% [1/22) vs. 0; pN3: 0 vs. 2.8% [1/36], Z=-2.315, P=0.021). There were no significant difference between the two groups in number of lymph nodes examined (40.5±16.3 vs. 40.8±17.5, t=0.076, P=0.940) or postoperative depth of invasion by primary tumor (pT1a: 50.0% [11/22] vs. 30.6% [11/36]; pT1b: 13.6% [3/22] vs. 19.4% [7/36]; pT2: 13.6% [3/22] vs. 13.9% [5/36]; pT3: 13.6% [3/22] vs. 25.0% [9/36]; pT4a: 9.1% [2/22] vs. 11.1% [4/36], Z=-1.331, P=0.183). Univariate analysis revealed that both preoperative treatment regimens were associated with residual lymph node metastasis status in patients whose primary tumor regression was TRG1 (χ 2=6.070, P=0.014). Multivariate analysis incorporated the following factors: pretreatment depth of invasion by primary tumor, pretreatment lymph node stage, pretreatment clinical stage, number of preoperative treatment cycles, and preoperative treatment duration. We found that a combination of immunotherapy and chemotherapy administered preoperatively was an independent protective factor for reducing residual lymph node metastases in study patients whose primary tumor regression was TRG1 (OR=0.147, 95%CI: 0.026–0.828, P=0.030). Conclusion:Compared with preoperative chemotherapy alone, a combination of preoperative immunotherapy and chemotherapy achieved greater reduction of residual lymph node metastases in the study patients who achieved TRG1 tumor regression in their primary lesions.

Objective:To investigate the effect of immune checkpoint inhibitors on reducing residual lymph node metastasis in patients with gastric cancer.Methods:The cohort of this retrospective study comprised patients from Nanfang Hospital of Southern Medical University and the First Affiliated Hospital of Xiamen University who had undergone systemic treatment prior to gastrectomy with D2 lymphadenectomy and had achieved Grade 1 primary tumor regression (TRG1) from January 2014 to December 2023. After exclusion of patients who had undergone preoperative radiotherapy, data of 58 patients (Nanfang Hospital: 46; First Affiliated Hospital of Xiamen University: 12) were analyzed. These patients were allocated to preoperative chemotherapy (Chemotherapy group, N=36 cases) and preoperative immunotherapy plus chemotherapy groups (Immunotherapy group, N=22 cases). There were no significant differences between these groups in sex, age, body mass index, diabetes, tumor location, pathological type, Lauren classification, tumor differentiation, pretreatment depth of invasion by primary tumor, pretreatment lymph node stage, pretreatment clinical stage, mismatch repair protein status, number of preoperative treatment cycles, or duration of preoperative treatment (all P>0.05). The primary outcome measure was postoperative lymph node downstaging. Secondary outcomes included postoperative depth of invasion by tumor, number of lymph nodes examined, and factors affecting residual lymph node metastasis status. Results:Lymph node downstaging was achieved significantly more often in the Immunotherapy group than the Chemotherapy group (pN0: 90.9% [20/22] vs. 61.1% [22/36]; pN1: 4.5% [1/22] vs. 36.1% [13/36]; pN2: 4.5% [1/22) vs. 0; pN3: 0 vs. 2.8% [1/36], Z=-2.315, P=0.021). There were no significant difference between the two groups in number of lymph nodes examined (40.5±16.3 vs. 40.8±17.5, t=0.076, P=0.940) or postoperative depth of invasion by primary tumor (pT1a: 50.0% [11/22] vs. 30.6% [11/36]; pT1b: 13.6% [3/22] vs. 19.4% [7/36]; pT2: 13.6% [3/22] vs. 13.9% [5/36]; pT3: 13.6% [3/22] vs. 25.0% [9/36]; pT4a: 9.1% [2/22] vs. 11.1% [4/36], Z=-1.331, P=0.183). Univariate analysis revealed that both preoperative treatment regimens were associated with residual lymph node metastasis status in patients whose primary tumor regression was TRG1 (χ 2=6.070, P=0.014). Multivariate analysis incorporated the following factors: pretreatment depth of invasion by primary tumor, pretreatment lymph node stage, pretreatment clinical stage, number of preoperative treatment cycles, and preoperative treatment duration. We found that a combination of immunotherapy and chemotherapy administered preoperatively was an independent protective factor for reducing residual lymph node metastases in study patients whose primary tumor regression was TRG1 (OR=0.147, 95%CI: 0.026–0.828, P=0.030). Conclusion:Compared with preoperative chemotherapy alone, a combination of preoperative immunotherapy and chemotherapy achieved greater reduction of residual lymph node metastases in the study patients who achieved TRG1 tumor regression in their primary lesions.

Objective:To understand the research progress and quality of lung cancer screening guidelines and consensus in China and abroad, and to provide reference for the formulation of high-quality lung cancer screening guidelines in China.Methods:Databases including PubMed, Medline, Embase, Cochrane Library, Web of Science, China National Knowledge Infrastructure, SinoMed, VIP and Wanfang Data were searched, websites and important references were also searched by hand retrieval. The Appraisal of Guidelines for Research & Evaluation Ⅱ(AGREE Ⅱ) and Reporting Items for Practice Guidelines in Healthcare (RIGHT) were used to assess the quality of newly published or updated guidelines and consensus.Results:A total of 9 guidelines and consensus published between 2015 and 2020 were included in this study, with countries including the United States, China, Canada, Saudi Arabia and South Africa. The field of scope and purpose and clarity of presentation scored relatively high but the rigor of development and applicability scored low. Five guidelines were judged to be A-level, all of which were published abroad, and the remaining four were B-level, including three guidelines and consensus issued by China and 1 guideline issued by South Africa. The report rate of RIGHT were higher in basic information and background, lower in review and quality assurance, funding and declaration and management of interests. There were 5 guidelines with a good level and 4 guidelines and consensus with a moderate level. The best overall quality guidelines were those published by the American College of Chest Physicians in 2018 and by the Canadian Task Force on Preventive Health Care in 2016.Conclusions:The number of countries and institutions that issue lung cancer screening guidelines and consensus had been increasing gradually, but the quality in China remained low. It is necessary to develop high-quality lung cancer screening guidelines suitable for China's national conditions in combination with evidence-based methods to guide practice.

The pathological mechanism of allergic rhinitis (AR) involves hierarchically acute and chronic reactions among antigens, immunocytes, immunoglobulins and inflammatory factors. AR, which is characterized by heterogeneity, reacts differently to the current treatment on diverse individuals. Some patients receive unsatisfying clinical outcomes after the treatment. Chinese herbal medicine has become a frequent option to treat AR because it can improve clinical symptoms with excellent safety. The description of Biqiu in ancient Chinese medical literatures is very similar to the clinical manifestation of AR. The major pathogeneses of Biqiu included infection of wind-cold pathogens, deficiency and cold in the lung, and evil depression into heat and wind. Therefore, in modern traditional Chinese medicine （TCM）, Biqiu is considered as an integration of AR, allergic sinusitis and vasomotor rhinitis. According to the pathogenesis and clinical manifestations of Biqiu (including AR), this disease belongs to wind disease in TCM. But modern TCM focuses on deficiency of internal organs and ignores wind evil in syndrome differentiation, contrary to the fact that wind medicine is always used in treating AR. This even leads to an abnormal phenomenon that clinical studies attach little importance to syndrome differentiation. In this paper, we started from the phenomenon that wind medicine is always used in TCM for AR, considering TCM literatures and the study results of modern therapy for wind diseases, and put forward the ideas as follows: AR belongs to exogenous wind disease in TCM, and wind pathogen is the major pathogen, in clinical syndrome differentiation, we should attach more importance to wind evil, and dispelling wind and eliminating dampness is the key to treatment. Meanwhile, based on the fact that most of the classical prescriptions with good effectiveness for AR originated from Treatise on Febrile Disease, mainly including the wind medicines for treating exogenous diseases, it can be inferred that the wind-dispelling and itch-arresting effects of wind medicines are helpful to alleviate or block the allergic reaction of nasal mucus and achieve the goal of relieving itching and sneezing, and the wind-dispelling and dampness-eliminating effects are helpful to alleviate the edema of nasal mucus and achieve the goal of relieving running nose and nasal obstruction. In modern researches, it is also found that classical prescriptions which take wind medicine as a principle component and wind medicine used in AR treatment have good anti-inflammatory, anti-allergic and immune function adjusting effects. This indicates that dispelling wind and eliminating dampness and the wind medicine treatment under its instruction not only correspond to TCM theory, but also have modern science evidences.