Objective To evaluate the effect and safety of small dose ketamine combined with morphine for postoperative analgesia in elderly patients undergoing total knee replacement.Methods Sixty-two elderly (≥ 65 years old) patients undergoing total knee replacement under combined spinal-epidural anesthesia were randomly divided into two groups.In group MK,morphine (0.4 mg/ml) and ketamine (0.4 mg/ml) were used for postoperative analgesia.While in group MO,only morphine (0.4 mg/ml) was used for postoperative analgesia.Visual analogue scale (VAS) pain score,comfort level,Ramsay sedation level,cumulative morphine consumption,changes in vital signs (blood pressure,heart rate,respiration,blood oxygen saturation,etc) and occurrence of side-effects (pruritus,nausea and vomiting,psychiatric symptoms,etc) were recorded up to 48 h after surgery.Results The VAS pain scores were significantly lower in group MK than in group MO at time points of 4,8,12,24,36,48 h (Wald x2=16.713,P＜0.05),while the comfort levels were significantly higher in group MK than in group MO after surgery (Wald x2 11.238,P＜0.05).The total morphine consumption after 48 h was significantly lower in group MK than in group MO (t=3.807,P＜0.001).The incidence of postoperative nausea and vomiting was significantly lower in group MK than in group MO (x2 =4.356,P＝0.036).There were no significant differences in sedation level (Wald x2＝ 3.303,P＞0.05) and changes in vital signs (P＞0.05) between the two groups.No case with psychiatric symptoms was found in both groups.Conclusions When used for postoperative intravenous analgesia in elderly patients after total knee replacement,small-dose ketamine combined with morphine can provide better analgesic effects,decrease total consumption of morphine and the incidence of side-effects.

Objective To evaluate the risk of locoregional recurrence ( LRR ) and role of radiotherapy for patients with estrogen receptor?negative and human epidermal growth factor receptor 2?overexpressed ( Rec?/HER?2+) locally advanced breast cancer ( LABC ) . Methods A retrospective analysis was performed on the clinical data of 294 patients with Rec?/HER?2+LABC from 1999 to 2011. All patients were treated with modified radical mastectomy ( MRM ) . Of them, 239 patients received postmastectomy radiotherapy and 55 patients did not. Locoregional recurrence?free survival ( LRRFS) and overall survival ( OS) , as well as LRR, were compared between the two groups. The Kaplan?Meier method was used to estimate survival and recurrence rates, and the log?rank test was used for survival difference analysis and univariate prognostic analysis. Multivariate prognostic analysis was performed using the Cox regression model. Results The 5?year sample size was 162. Fifty?six patients developed LRR. The 5?year LRRFS and OS rates were 79. 7% and 70. 0%, respectively. Postmastectomy radiotherapy significantly increased the 5?year LRRFS rate ( 85. 1% vs. 56. 0%, P=0. 000) , but did not significantly increase the 5?year OS rate ( 71. 3% vs. 64. 2%, P= 0. 441 ) . Multivariate analysis indicated that postmastectomy radiotherapy was the only independent prognostic factor associated with increased LRRFS ( RR=0. 303, 95% CI:0. 166?0. 554, P=0. 000). Conclusions Patients with Rec?/HER?2+ LABC treated with MRM alone appear to be at a significantly increased risk of LRR compared with those treated with MRM followed by radiotherapy.

ObjectiveTo observe the effects of different suture techniques on complications after choledochojejunostomy. MethodsA retrospective analysis was performed on the clinical data of 162 patients who underwent choledochojejunostomy from January 2005 to December 2014 in our hospital. The patients were divided into group A undergoing simple interrupted suture (n=68), group B undergoing simple continuous suture (n=45), and group C undergoing parachute type continuous suture (n=49). The intraoperative conditions and postoperative complications were compared between the three groups. Comparison of continuous data between the three groups was made by ANOVA and pairwise comparison between any two groups was made by LSD t-tests; comparison of categorical data between the groups was made by chi-square test. ResultsThe anastomosis time and the rate of T-tube insertion showed significant differences between the three groups (P＜0.05). Groups B and C had significantly shorter anastomosis time than group A(P＜0.001), but there was no significant difference in the anastomosis time between groups B and C (P＞0.05). Among the three groups, group A had the highest rate of T-tube insertion; group B had the second highest rate; group C had the lowest rate. Significant differences were found between any two groups in the rate of T-tube insertion by pairwise comparison (P＜0.05). However, there were no significant differences between the three groups in the incidence rates of postoperative bile leakage and choleperitonitis (P＞0.05). There was significant difference in biliary stricture between the three groups in the follow-up examination 6 months after surgery (P＜0.001) and the differences analyzed by pairwise comparison were also significant (P＜0.05). Among the three groups, the degree of biliary stricture in the group A was the highest and that in the group C was the lowest. ConclusionParachute-type continuous suture is a fine suture technique for choledochojejunostomy, which can reduce the anastomosis time, the rate of T-tube insertion, and the degree of biliary stricture.

ObjectiveTo investigate the incidence rate and risk factors for the complications after laparoscopic splenectomy in patients with portal hypertension. MethodsThe clinical data of 83 patients with portal hypertension, who were admitted to our hospital and underwent laparoscopic splenectomy from June 2009 to December 2014, were analyzed retrospectively. The incidence rate of the complications was analyzed using the Clavien-Dindo classification system and the risk factors for the complications were analyzed using chi-square test and logistic regression method. ResultsThe incidence rate of postoperative complications was 24.10% (20/83). According to the Clavien-Dindo classification system, the numbers of patients with grade Ⅰ, Ⅱ, Ⅲ, Ⅳ, and Ⅴ complications were 5, 3, 10, 2, and 0, respectively. The patients undergoing total laparoscopic splenectomy had a significantly higher incidence rate of postoperative complications than those undergoing hand-assisted laparoscopic splenectomy (32.59% vs 15.00%, χ2=3.966, P=0.046). According to the univariate analysis, the Child-Pugh class, application of the hand-assisted device, gastroesophageal vein ligation, and American Society of Anesthesiologists (ASA) grade were all risks factors for the postoperative complications (all P＜0.05). Further analysis using multiple logistic regression illustrated that Child-Pugh class B and ASA grade Ⅲ were independent risk factors for the postoperative complications (OR=0.328, 95%CI: 0.129~0.834, P＜0.05; OR=0.294, 95%CI: 0.150~0.573, P＜0.05). ConclusionPatients with portal hypertension undergoing laparoscopic splenectomy have a high incidence of postoperative complications and the occurrence of the complications is closely associated with the Child-Pugh class and the ASA grade.

ObjectiveTo evaluate the current practice of breast-conserving radiotherapy (BCR) in mainland China.MethodsA questionnaire on the details of treatment pattern of BCR for early breast cancer was mailed twice to all radiotherapy centers in mainland China in 2009.The responding data were collected and analyzed.ResultsOf the 952 surveyed centers,396 responded (41.6％) and 328 performed BCR.The median interval between surgery and radiotherapy was 9 weeks.Of the 328 centers with BCR,whole breast was the most common irradiation target (319 centers,97.3％ ),followed by supraclavicular region (273 centers,83.2％ ),axilla (138 centers,43.3％ ),and internal mammary chain (85 centers,26.8％ ).In 97.5％ of centers (310/319),whole breast was irradiated in all candidates.Supraclavicular region and axilla irradiation was performed for lymph-node positive patients in 41.8％ (114/273) and 26.8％(37/138) centers,and for ≥4 positive lymph-nodes in 31.5％ (86/273) and 29.0％ (/138)centers,respectively. Internal mammary chain was irradiated for tumors located in the center or inner quadrant in 72.9％ ( 56/85 ) centers.Conformal radiotherapy for the whole breast was used in 51.8％centers.The median total dose was 50 Gy,all using conventional fractionations.ConclusionsA consensus has been reached that radiotherapy is needed for patients receiving breast-conserving surgery and that irradiation to whole breast is necessary.However,establishment and widespread use of guidelines for BCR should be strengthened.

ObjectiveTo assess the current practice of postmastectomy radiotherapy (PMRT) in mainland China and to evaluate the improvement in the past six years.MethodsA questionnaire on the indications and techniques for PMRT for breast cancer was delivered to all radiotherapy centers of mainland China in 2010 survey,and the results were analyzed and compared with those in 2004 survey.The Fisher's exact test was used.ResultsCompared to 29.4％ (210/275) in 2004,396 of the 952 (41.6％) surveyed centers had performed PMRT.The median interval between surgery and PMRT was increased from 6 weeks to 12 weeks during the past 6 years.Adjuvant chemotherapy followed by PMRT was the most common combination in 73.5％ of the responding centers in 2010 other than Sandwich (71.7％) sequence of chemotherapy and PMRT in 2004.PMRT was only performed for T3 or Stage Ⅲ tumors and/or ≥ 4 positive lymph nodes (LN + ) in 7.1％ centers in 2004 and in 29.5％ centers in 2010 surveys,respectively.The use of PMRT for T1-2 N0 breast cancer,T1-2 N0 with tumors located in the center or inner quadrant,and stage T1-T2 and one to three LN + was decreased from 11.9％,63.8％,and 87.6％ in 2004 to 1.5％,19.7％,and 62.1％ in 2010,respectively (all P =0.000).The chest wall and the supraclavicular region were the most common radiation targets,which were used in 97.0％ and 97.0％ in 2010,similar to 97.1％and 96.2％ in 2004.Irradiation to the inner mammary area and axillary fossa decreased from 85.2％ and 74.8％ in 2004 to 39.1％ and 50.5％ in 2010.The boost to the chest wall was more based on the scar,increasingfrom9.0％ in004to75.0％ in 2010.Conclusions There are a high level of compliance of the practices with current guideline and continuing improvement of PMRT for breast cancer in mainland China.But it needs further improvement.

Objective:To evaluate the application of visual feedback coaching method, which is embedded in an optical surface monitoring system, in deep inspiration breath holding during the radiotherapy in left breast cancer patients after breast-conserving surgery.Methods:Thirty patients with left breast cancer, who were scheduled to receive the whole breast radiotherapy after breast-conserving surgery, met the requirements of deep inspiration breath holding after respiratory coaching with the visual feedback coaching module in the optical surface monitoring system. Active breathing control equipment was used to control breath-holding state and CT simulation was performed. During treatment, optical surface monitoring system was used to guide radiotherapy. All patients were randomly divided into two groups. In group A ( n=15), visual feedback respiratory training method was utilized and not employed in group B ( n=15). In group A, the visual feedback coaching bar of the optical surface monitoring system was implemented, while audio interactive method was employed to guide patients to hold their breath. Real-time data of optical body surface monitoring were used to compare the interfraction reproducibility and intrafraction stability of breath holding fraction between two groups. Besides, the number of breath holding and treatment time per fraction were also compared. GraphPad prism 6.0 software was used for data processing and mapping, and SPSS 21.0 software was used for analyzing mean value and normality testing. Results:Compared with the control group, the reproducibility in the experiment group was reduced from 1.5 mm to 0.7 mm, the stability was reduced from 1.1 mm to 0.8 mm, the mean number of breath holding required per fraction was decreased from 4.6 to 2.4, the mean beam-on time per fraction from 336 s to 235 s, and the treatment time per fraction was shortened from 847 s to 602 s (all P<0.05), respectively. Conclusions:The application of visual feedback coaching method can improve the reproducibility and stability of breath holding during radiotherapy for left breast cancer, and it can also effectively reduce the number of breath holding and shorten the treatment time per fraction.

Objective To evaluate the risk of locoregional recurrence (LRR) and the influencing factors for long-term survival in patients with epithelial-myoepithelial carcinoma (EMCa).Methods A retrospective analysis was performed for 18 EMCa patients, who received initial therapy or initial adjuvant therapy in our hospital from 1999 to 2015, to investigate their survival.Among these patients, 8(44%) underwent surgery alone, 9(50%) received adjuvant radiotherapy, and 1(6%) received radical concurrent chemoradiotherapy.Locoregional recurrence-free survival (LRFS) and overall survival (OS) rates were compared between these groups.The Kaplan-Meier mtthod was used to calculated survival rates and log-rank test was used to compare the LRFS.Results With a median follow-up time of 46 months, 5 patients developed LRR, and the 5-year LRFS and OS rates were 69% and 93%, respectively.The patients treated with radiotherapy had a significantly higher 5-year LRRFS rate than those not treated with radiotherapy (71% vs.57%, P=0.569).Conclusions LRR is the main failure mode of EMCa treatment, and further improving local control is the key to improved survival.

Objective To evaluate the risk of locoregional recurrence (LRR) and the influencing factors for long-term survival in patients with inflammatory myofibroblastic tumor (IMT).Methods A retrospective analysis was performed for 58 IMT patients who completed initial therapy or initial adjuvant therapy in our hospital from January 2002 to January 2017 to evaluate their failure patterns and survival.The LRR and survival rates were compared between groups.The Kaplan-Meier method was used to calculate survival rates,and the log-rank test was used for survival difference analysis and univariate prognostic analysis.Results The median follow-up time was 34 months.Among the 58 patients,50 underwent surgery alone,and 8 underwent surgery and adjuvant therapy.Seventeen patients experienced treatment failure,16 patients developed LRR,3 patients developed distant metastasis,including 2 patients with local failure,and 5 patients died of tumor recurrence or metastasis.The 5-year LRRFS was 75%,and the 5-year OS rate was 90%.The univariate analysis showed that resection margin and local staging were influencing factors for LRRFS (P=0.018,0).Conclusions Radical resection combined with adjuvant therapy is the key to improving the treatment outcome of IMT.

Objective:To prospectively observe the changes of tumor-related symptoms in patients with nasopharyngeal carcinoma following the administration of nimotuzumab one week before radiotherapy.Methods:Non-metastatic nasopharyngeal carcinoma patients with positive epidermal growth factor receptor (EGFR) expression and symptoms caused by the primary lesion or metastatic cervical lymph nodes admitted to Cancer Hospital of Chinese Academy of Medical Sciences were prospectively recruited. Investigators recorded tumor-related symptoms in recruited patients one day before the first administration of nimotuzumab (D0) and conducted follow-up visits from day 2 to day 7 after the first administration (D2-D7) to document symptom changes. All recruited patients were asked to assess tumor-related symptoms on D0 and D7 by visual analogue scale (VAS) scores. VAS scores were analyzed by paired t-test. Results:From June 2020 to April 2023, a total of 21 patients met the inclusion criteria. The median age was 49 years (range: 27-69 years), with a male-to-female ratio of 1.3:1. Among the patients, 17 patients (81%) received concurrent nimotuzumab for 8 cycles, 7 cycles for 3 cases (14%), and 6 cycles for 1 case (5%), respectively. All patients completed symptom assessments as required. The overall response rate of symptoms after the first administration of nimotuzumab was 62%, with response rates of 4/6、5/8、4/10、4/10、4/11、3/11 for tinnitus, headache, aural fullness, secondary pain caused by neck mass, nasal bleeding, and nasal obstruction, respectively. The VAS scores for overall symptoms were significantly decreased after the administration of nimotuzumab one week before radiotherapy ( P<0.001), with the most significant decrease in VAS scores for tinnitus, aural fullness, and headache. Conclusion:The administration of nimotuzumab one week before radiotherapy significantly alleviates tumor-related symptoms in patients with nasopharyngeal carcinoma, particularly in alleviating tinnitus, aural fullness, and headache.