Objective To evaluate the efficacy of interventional catheter drainage combined with ozone therapy for the management of postoperative enterocutaneous fistula. Method A total of 70 patients with postoperative enterocutaneous fistula were enrolled and divided into group A (35, conventional surgical treatment) and group B (35, interventional catheter drainage and ozone therapy). Clinical efficiency, hospital stays, hospital expenses and complications were compared. Follow-up observations of the infection score in 2 groups before and after treatment (3 days, 1 week, 2 weeks and 1 month) were also compared. Results 30 cases in group A recovered (85.7%), and 28 cases in group B recovered (80.0%), the result of which shows no statistic significance. The hospital stays and expense in group B were significantly lower than those in group A. 4 cases of group A suffered from incision complications , 2 intra-abdominal hemorrhage , 1 severe pneumonia and 1 septic shock. 2 cases in group B suffered from stomachache. The differences can be shown significantly. The infection score between the two groups shows no significant difference, but the score was found to be obviously lower after treatment than before. The infection score decreased by an average of 19.9 in group A and 23.5 in group B,indicating a better anti-infective effect in group B. Conclusion Interventional catheter drainage combined with ozone therapy for the management of postoperative enterocutaneous fistula is safe and effective, with lower hospital stays and expense.

Objective To investigate the success rate of fluoroscopy-guided subclavian vein catheter implantation (SVCI) in children with hematologic diseases,to improve the visualization of the position of the catheter head,and to reduce the incidence of procedure-related complications.Methods Fluoroscopyguided SVCI was performed in 183 sick children (aged 1-16 years) with confirmed hematologic disease.The success rate of the catheter implantation,the number of needle puncturing,the operation time,the fluoroscopy time and the occurrence of procedure-related complications were recorded.Results Successful fluoroscopy-guided SVCI was accomplished in all 183 sick children,with a success rate being 100％.Successful SVCI was obtained with ＜3 times of puncturing in 151 sick children (82.5％),with 4-6 times of puncturing in 25 sick children,and with 7-10 times of puncturing in 7 sick children.The catheter tip was successfully positioned at the junction of the superior vena cava with the right atrium in all sick children.The operation time ranged from 5 min to 25 min with a mean of (10.38±4.04) min.The fluoroscopy time varied from 16 seconds to 607 seconds with a mean of (65.46±55.86) seconds.During the procedure,artery was wrongly punctured two times in two sick children.The mean follow-up time was 35 days.Cather-related infection occurred in 2 sick children.No local hematoma at puncture point,nor hemopneumothorax or catheter-related thrombosis occurred.Conclusion Fluoroscopy-guided SVCI has high technical success rate in children with hematologic diseases.For a successful procedure of SVCI,less number of needle puncturing is needed by using this technique.The satisfaction rate for the placement of catheter tip is high and the incidence of complications is low.Therefore,fluoroscopy-guided SVCI is a safe and effective method.

Objective To investigate the effects of transcatheter arterial chemoembolization(TACE) on the expression of nm23, tissue inhibitor of metalloproteinase-2 (TIMP-2) and extrahepatic metastasis in hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC). Methods The specimens were collected from resectable HCC in 72 patients. Patients were divided into two groups. In one group, TACE was performed before tumor resection (Group A, n=36). In another group, the tumors were resected directly without preoperative TACE (Group B, n=36). The expression and distribution of nm23, TIMP-2 in the tumor tissue and liver parenchyma in the two groups were compared. All patients were followed up for 24 months,and the incidence of extrahepatic metastasis was compared between the two groups. Chi-square test was applied to compare the expression levels of nm23-H1 and TIMP-2. Results The number of cases of strong, moderate and no expression of nm23 were 24, 6 and 6 cases in group A respectively, and were 9, 6 and 21 cases in group B. Statistical differences were found between the two groups(X~2=15.52, P<0.01). The number of cases of strong, moderate and no expression of TIMP-2 were 21,3 and 12 cases in group A respectively, and were 9, 9 and 18 cases in group B. Statistical differences were demonstrated between them (X~2=9.00, P<0.05). There were 13 cases in group A and 15 cases in group B being diagnosed to have extrahepatic metastasis within 24- month period of follow up, but there was no significant difference between the two groups(X~2= 0.23, P>0.05). Conclusions TACE could enhance the expression of nm23-H1 and TIMP-2 in tumor tissues. Therefore, the potential of metastasis of tumor cells might be prohibited by TACE.

Objective To discuss the safety and efficacy of using ExoSealTM vascular closure device to obtain rapid hemostasis of puncture site in interventional procedure via retrograde femoral artery access.Methods The clinical data of 124 patients,who were admitted to authors' hospital during the period from March 2016 to April 2016 to receive interventional procedure via retrograde femoral artery access,were retrospectively analyzed.During the performance of intervention,ExoSealTM vascular closure device (ExoSealTM group,n=52) or manual compression (MC group,n=72) was employed to make femoral artery puncture point hemostasis.The time spent for hemostasis,the manual compression time,the limb immobilization time,the amount of blood loss during compression process,and the procedure-related complications were recorded and the results were compared between the two groups.Results Technical success rate in ExoSealTM group was 98.1％(51/52).In ExoSealTM group and MC group,the time spent for hemostasis was (0.28±0.08) min and (5.83±1.46) min respectively,the manual compression time was (2.65 ±0.57) min and (7.70± 1.88) min respectively,the limb immobilization time was (2.72±0.43) h and (6.15±0.69) h respectively;all the differences between the two groups were statistically significant (P＜0.01).In ExoSealTM group subcutaneous hemotoma occurred in one patient,while in MC group subcutaneous hemotoma occurred in 3 patients and pseudoaneurysm in one patient;the complication rates were 1.92％ (1/52) and 5.56％ (4/72) respectively,but the difference was not statistically significant (P＞0.05).In MC group the amount of blood loss during compression process was (1.11±0.86) ml,which was remarkably less than (7.83±2.08) ml in ExoSealTM group,the difference between the two groups was statistically significant (P＜0.01).Conclusion For hemostasis of puncture site in interventional management via retrograde femoral artery access,the use of ExoSealTM vascular closure device is safe and effective.

Objective To compare the therapeutic efficacy of preventive transcatheter arterial chemoembolization (TACE) with that of preventive transhepatic arterial infusion (TAI) for patients with primary hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) after hepatectomy. Methods During the period from June 2011 to June 2012 at authors’ hospital, preventive transhepatic interventional therapy was employed in 79 HCC patients within three months after hepatectomy. The followed-up endpoint was in June 2013. The clinical data were retrospectively analyzed. The patients were divided into TACE group (n=41) and TAI group (n=38). No significant differences in age, sex, preoperative liver function, Child-Pugh scores, tumor size and AFP level existed between the two groups. During interventional procedure , catheterization of proper hepatic artery was performed first, which was followed by angiography in order to clarify that there were no newly-developed tumor vessels or tumor lesions in the residual liver, then the chemotherapeutic agents were infused through the catheter. The emulsion of iodized oil with chemotherapeutic agent was used in the patients of TACE group, while only chemotherapeutic agent was adopted in the patients of TAI group. By using Chi-square test the one-year recurrence rate was determined. Kaplan-Meier estimation method was used to calculate the disease-free survival time, and t test was adopted to estimate the mean hospitalization days. The results were compared between the two groups. Results Of the 79 patients, postoperative recurrence was confirmed in 11, and the overall one-year recurrence rate was 13.9%. The one-year recurrence rate of TACE group and TAI group was 12.20% and 15.79% respectively , and no significant difference in one- year recurrence rate existed between TACE group and TAI group (χ2= 0.213, P = 0.645). The average disease-free survival time of TACE group and TAI group was (21.60 ± 1.52) months and (17.38 ± 3.01) months respectively, the difference between the two groups was of statistical significance (P = 0.038). The mean hospitalization days of TACE group and TAI group were (6.30 ± 1.84) days and (5.89 ± 2.08) days respectively, and the difference between the two groups was not statistically significant (P = 0.522). Conclusion No significant difference in one-year recurrence rate exists between the patients receiving preventive TACE and the patients receiving preventive TAI after hepatectomy for HCC. Nevertheless , preventive TACE can probably improve the disease-free survival time after hepatectomy.

OBJECTIVETo explore the role of transforming growth factor-β1 (TGF-β1) in intervertebral disc degeneration and its association with the pathological grading of disc degeneration.

METHODSNormal and degenerative intervertebral disc tissues were collected were classified into 5 grades of increasing degenerative changes. HE staining, immunohistochemistry, TUNEL staining and RT-PCR were used to detect the expression of TGF-β1 in the disc tissues.

RESULTSImmunohistochemistry and RT-PCR showed positive expressions of TGF-β1 and Bcl-2 in normal disc tissues, where Bax was expressed at have a trace level. In the degenerative disc tissues, TGF-β1 expression increased with the pathological grades; the expression levels of TGF-β1 showed significant differences between degenerative and normal tissues and between grade IV and grade I disc tissues (P<0.01).

CONCLUSIONTGF-β1 is an important factor participating in the disc degeneration and its expression level is closely related to the pathological grade of degenerative discs.

Adult ; Aged ; Female ; Humans ; Intervertebral Disc ; pathology ; Intervertebral Disc Degeneration ; classification ; metabolism ; pathology ; Male ; Middle Aged ; Transforming Growth Factor beta1 ; metabolism

Objective To investigate the clinical effect of polyvinyl alcohol (PVA) particles combined with chemoembolization using chemotherapeutic agents or chemotherapeutic agents lipiodol emulsion (CALE)in the treatment of hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) complicated by hepatic arteriovenous shunt (HAVS) and related prognostic factors.Methods A retrospective analysis was performed for the clinical data of 133 patients with HCC complicated by HAVS.HAVS was classified into slow-flow HAVS,intermediate-flow HAVS,and high-flow HAVS,which were treated with 300-500 μm,500-710 μm,and 710-1000 μm PVA particles,respectively.The patients with slow-flow and intermediate-flow HAVS underwent embolization with PVA combined with chemotherapeutic agents followed by CALE,while those with high-flow HAVS underwent the treatment with PVA combined with chemotherapeutic agents alone.The survival time,progression-free survival time,and postoperative complications were followed up and analyzed.The Kaplan-Meier method was used to calculate cumulative survival rate and the Cox proportional hazards model was used to determine prognostic factors.Results The median overall survival (OS) of 133 patients was 9.1 months,and the 6-,12-,and 24-month survival rates were 73.7％,36.2％,and 10.2％,respectively.The median OS of slow-flow group (36 patients),intermediate-flow group (58 patients),and high-flow group (39 patients) were 7.3,9.1,and 10.8 months,respectively.And the 6-and 12-month survival rates were 69.2％/19.0％,72.4％/39.2％,and 77.8％/42.7％,respectively.There was no significant difference in survival time between the patients with different types of HAVS (x 2 =2.865,P =0.239).The incidence rates of postoperative gastroesophageal variceal bleeding and acute liver failure were 1.1％ and 0.4％,respectively.The results of Cox regression analysis showed that preoperative alpha-fetoprotein level ≥ 400 ng/ml (HR =2.105,P =0.006) was an independent risk factor,while multiple embolizations (H7 =0.482,P =0.011),tumor remission (HR =0.431,P =0.041),and multimodality therapy (HR =0.416,P =0.004) were independent protective factors.Conclusion PVA particles combined with chemotherapeutic agents or CALE is safe and effective in the treatment of HCC complicated by HAVS.Patients with multiple embolizations,tumor remission,and multimodality therapy tend to have good prognosis,while those with a high level of alpha-fetoprotein before embolization often have poor prognosis.

Objective:To compare the postoperative liver function injury condition in patients with intermediate-and advanced-stage hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) treated with hepatic artery infusion chemotherapy (HAIC) and hepatic artery chemoembolization (TACE) combined with immune checkpoint inhibitors (ICIs) and multi-target tyrosine kinase inhibitors (TKIs).Methods:Patients with intermediate-and advanced-stage HCC who were admitted and treated with HAIC/TACE+ICIs+TKIs therapy at Nanfang Hospital of Southern Medical University from January 2019 to November 2021, with follow-up up to July 2023, were retrospectively enrolled. The results of liver function tests within one week before interventional surgery and on the first day after surgery were recorded. The degree of postoperative liver injury was graded according to the common terminology criteria for adverse events 5.0 (CTCAE 5.0). The treatment efficacy was evaluated according to RECIST 1.1 criteria. Measurement data were compared between groups using a t-test or a non-parametric rank sum test. Enumeration data were compared between the groups using the χ2 test or Fisher's exact probability method. The survival condition differences were analyzed by the log-rank method. Results:This study included 82 and 77 cases in the HAIC and TACE groups. There were no statistically significant differences between the two groups of patients in terms of gender, age, physical condition score, number of tumors, presence or absence of liver cirrhosis, Child-Pugh grade, albumin-bilirubin (ALBI) grade, and combined ICIs and TKIs . The HAIC group had later tumor staging, a greater tumor burden, poorer liver reserve function, and a larger proportion of patients in stage C (81.7% vs. 63.6%), χ2=6.573, P = 0.01). There were 53 cases (64.6% vs. 32.5%) with a maximum tumor diameter of ≥ 10cm, χ2=16.441, P < 0.001), and more patients had a retention rate of ≥ 10% for indocyanine green (ICG) at 15 minutes (68.3% vs. 51.9%, P = 0.035). The postoperative incidence rate of increased levels of alanine aminotransferase, aspartate aminotransferase, and total bilirubin was significantly lower in the HAIC group than that in the TACE group (28.0% vs. 63.6%, χ2=20.298, P < 0.001, 54.9% vs. 85.7%, χ2=17.917, P < 0.001;40.2% vs. 55.8%, χ2=3.873, P = 0.049). The number of patients with postoperative ALBI grade 3 was significantly lower in the HAIC group than that in the TACE group (6.1% vs. 16.9%, χ2=4.601, P = 0.032). There was no statistically significant difference in the incidence rate of postoperative hypoalbuminemia, activated partial thromboplastin time, or increased international standardized ratio between the two groups of patients. There was no statistically significant difference in median progression-free survival (7.3 months vs. 8.2 months, P = 0.296) or median overall survival (16.5 months vs. 21.9 months, P = 0.678) between the two groups of patients. Conclusion:The incidence rate of postoperative liver injury is higher in patients with intermediate-and advanced-stage HCC treated with TACE combined with ICIs and TKIs than in patients with HAIC combined with ICIs and TKIs.

Objective To investigate the value of the quantitative analysis of digital subtraction angiography(DSA)and dynamic contrast-enhanced CT in evaluating the efficacy of hepatic artery infusion chemotherapy(HAIC)for liver cancer.Methods Fifty patients who were clinically diagnosed with primary liver cancer and treated with HAIC at least 3 times were enrolled in the study.Based on the enhanced CT scans taken within 1 week before the 1st and 3rd HAIC,patients were divided into good response group(CR+PR)and poor response group(SD+PD)according to the modified response evaluation criteria in solid tumor.The hemodynamic parameters[time to peak(TP),peak density(PV),and slope of the rising edge of the time-density curve(SU)]of liver cancer on DSA before treatment and after two HAIC,as well as the changes in the CT values of liver cancer in each phase of CT enhancement were compared,and then sensitivity analysis was conducted.Significant indicators were further analyzed with Logistic regression and ROC curve to assess their efficacies in evaluating HAIC response in liver cancer.Results The differences in pre-treatment CT values and DSA indicators between two groups were trivial(P>0.05).All patients successfully completed HAIC twice.The enhanced CT taken 1 week before the 3rd HAIC showed reductions in the arterial-and venous-phase CT values in good response group(P<0.05),while no significant difference was found in the delayed-phase CT value(P>0.05).At the 3rd HAIC,DSA angiography demonstrated significant reductions in PV and SU,and a significant prolongation of TP in good response group(P<0.05);while there were no significant differences in various indicators in poor response group.Regression analysis showed that arterial-phase CT values and DSA angiography SU were significantly correlated with therapeutic efficacy.ROC curve results indicated that arterial-phase CT values and SU were effective indicators for evaluating therapeutic efficacy.Conclusion The SU from DSA angiography and the CT values from dynamic contrast-enhanced CT which can objectively reflect the changes in blood supply of liver cancer after HAIC and are associated with HAIC efficacy can serve as radiological evidence for evaluating HAIC response.

Objective:To investigate the efficacy and safety of different transcatheter arterial chemoembolization(TACE)-based regimens in patients with unresectable hepatocellular carcinoma(uHCC)and explore the optimal timing for combining TACE with tyrosine kinase inhibit-ors(TKIs)and immune checkpoint inhibitors(ICIs).Methods:A retrospective analysis was conducted on data from 555 patients with uHCC who underwent TACE-based treatment between April 2016 and December 2021 in Nanfang Hospital,Southern Medical University.The pa-tients were assigned into the following four groups according to different treatment regimens:TACE group(n=317),TACE combined with TKIs group(TACE+TKIs,n=66),TACE combined with ICIs group(TACE+ICIs,n=33),and TACE combined with TKIs+ICIs group(TACE+TKIs+ICIs,n=139).Subgroup analysis was performed within the TACE+TKIs+ICIs group,with patients being assigned into"pre-TACE"and"post-TACE"groups based on the timing of the combination therapy.Univariate and multivariate Cox regression analyses were conducted to identify pro-gnostic factors influencing overall survival(OS).Results:The TACE+TKIs+ICIs group showed the longest OS(21.9 months,95%confidence in-terval[CI]:17.2-26.6,P=0.030)and progression-free survival(PFS)(8.3 months,95%CI:7.3-9.3,P=0.004)compared to those in the other three groups.In the subgroup analysis,the"post-TACE"group had longer OS than the"pre-TACE"group(26.8 months vs.19.2 months,P = 0.011).The objective response rate(ORR)was 32.8%,41.1%,42.4%,and 52.5%(P=0.001)and the disease control rate(DCR)was 59.6%,71.2%,69.7%,and 82.7%(P<0.001)in the TACE,TACE+TKIs,TACE+ICIs,and TACE+TKIs+ICIs groups,respectively.The adverse events were similar to those reported in previous studies.Cox regression analysis revealed that tumor number,extrahepatic metastasis,and treatment regimen were independent factors influencing OS in patients(all P<0.05).Conclusions:TKIs or ICIs can improve OS and PFS in patients with uHCC receiving TACE,and the combination of TKIs+ICIs with TACE achieves better beneficial outcomes.The greatest OS was observed when the combination therapy TKIs+ICIs was initiated within 3 months after the first TACE procedure.