Objective To evaluate the feasibility and outcomes of different surgical approaches on the basis of sentinel lymph node biopsy (SLNB) in treating early-stage vulvar cancer, and discuss the proper strategy for individualized treatment. Methods The medical charts of patients with early-stage vulvar cancer treated in Sun Yat-sen University between January 2004 and December 2013 were retrospectively collected. A total of 74 patients who received sentinel lymph node(SLN)detection in primary surgery were enrolled (average age 55). The surgical approaches contained SLNB, inguinal lymphadenectomy (IL), and extensive vulvectomy. The SLN were examed on intraoperative frozen sections. The treatment protocols, lymphatic metastasis, postoperative recovery condition, recurrence and survival data were collected and analyzed. Results At least one SLN was successfully detected in 68 (92%,68/74) patients. SLN were positive in 21 patients, of whom 12 (group A) underwent bilateral IL, and 9 (group B) received radiotherapy without performed IL. SLN were negative in 47 patients, of whom 26 (group C) underwent bilateral IL and one of them had a non-SLN metastasis, and 21 (group D) were advised to follow-up. The coincidence of pathological results between frozen and paraffin sections was 100%. The sensitivity and specificity of SLNB for diagnosis of lymph node metastasis were 95% and 100%, respectively. A total of 44 complications happened in patients underwent SLNB and IL (group A and C), including 16 poor wound healing, 14 lymphedema, 8 lymphatic fistulas, 3 phlebothrombosis and 3 infections. There were no complications happened in patients underwent SLNB alone (group B and D), among whom the operation time, bleeding amount, and hospital stay were also significantly less than those in patients underwent SLNB and IL. The median follow-up time was 41 months and the 3-year overall survival rate was 85% in the whole series. Recurrences were observed in 11 patients and 9 of them died of the tumor with the median survival time of 15 months. In patients with positive SLN (group A and B), the 3-year overall survival rate was 58% with 8 patients died of the disease, including 4 in group A and 4 in group B. In patients with negative SLN (group C and D), the 3-years overall survival rate was 97% with one patient in group D died of the tumor, and significantly higher than that of patients with positive SLN (P=0.003). The 3-year overall survival rate was significantly difference. In univariate analysis by log-rank test showed that, neither in patients with nor without SLN metastasis the prognosis differed with respect to surgical approaches (group A vs B, P=0.709;group C vs D, P=0.253). Univariate analysis by log-rank test showed that, lymph node metastasis, pathological grade, depth of invasion, and tumor location could significantly affected survival (P<0.05), whereas age, tumor diameter, and surgical approach didn′t (P>0.05). Multivariate analysis showed that lymph node metastasis (RR=21.57, 95%CI:2.68-173.10, P=0.002) and tumor location (RR=7.85, 95%CI:1.79-34.50, P=0.024) were the independent factors for overall survival. Conclusions Lymph node metastasis is an independent prognosis factor for patients with early-stage vulvar cancer. SLNB could accurately diagnose the status of lymph nodes and help to decide subsequent treatment. The omissions of IL in patients with negative SLN avoid surgical morbidity and shorten postoperative recovery period without an increased risk of recurrence.

Prostaglandin E2 (PGE2) is a bioactive polyunsaturated fatty acid produced by arachidonic acid, and it is mainly metabolized in the liver and has an important regulatory effect on various liver diseases. Prostaglandin E synthases (PGESs) are important terminal rate-limiting enzymes in the PGE2 synthesis pathway and are involved in the development and progression of liver disease. This article mainly summarizes the role of PGESs in liver injury, hepatitis, and liver cancer in existing studies, hoping to provide a reference for further research on the role of PGESs in liver diseases.

OBJECTIVE: To investigate the clinical characteristics of and prognostic factors for primary malignant melanoma of the vagina. METHODS: Clinical data from 31 patients treated for primary malignant melanoma of the vagina at the Sun Yat-sen University Cancer Center between March 1970 and June 2005 were retrospectively analyzed. RESULTS: The median age was 58 years (range, 18 to 73 years), and the main symptoms reported were vaginal bleeding and vaginal discharge. Most tumors were of the nodular type and classified as stage I according to International Federation of Gynecology and Obstetrics staging criteria. Surgery was performed on 22 patients, chemotherapy was administered to 7 patients, and immunotherapy was administered to 19 patients. Recurrent tumors developed in 11 patients (35.5%) during a median follow-up period of 20.2 months (range, 1 month to 18 years). The 5-year overall survival rate was 32.3%. Univariate analysis revealed that macroscopic tumor growth and the treatment method significantly affected survival outcome (p=0.039 and p<0.001, respectively), whereas the radicality of surgery did not (p=0.296). Multivariate analysis revealed that macroscopic tumor growth (hazard ratio [HR], 4.1; 95% confidence interval [CI], 1.4 to 12.1; p=0.010) and treatment method (HR, 0.3; 95% CI, 0.1 to 0.9; p=0.025) were independent prognostic factors for overall survival. CONCLUSION: Patients with primary vaginal melanoma have a poor prognosis. Macroscopic tumor growth and treatment method are prognostic factors for primary malignant melanoma of the vagina.
Follow-Up Studies ; Gynecology ; Humans ; Immunotherapy ; Melanoma ; Multivariate Analysis ; Obstetrics ; Prognosis ; Retrospective Studies ; Solar System ; Survival Rate ; Uterine Hemorrhage ; Vagina ; Vaginal Discharge

Objective: To estimate the impact of lymph node dissection on survival in patients with apparent early-stage epithelial ovarian cancer (EOC). Methods: We conducted a retrospective review of patients with clinical stage I–II EOC. All patients underwent primary surgery at Sun Yat-sen University Cancer Center between January 2003 and December 2015. Demographic features and clinicopathological information as well as perioperative adverse events were investigated, and survival analyses were performed. Results: A total of 400 ovarian cancer patients were enrolled, and patients were divided into 2 groups: 81 patients did not undergo lymph node resection (group A), and 319 patients underwent lymph node dissection (group B). In group B, the median number of removed nodes per patient was 25 (21 pelvic and 4 para-aortic nodes). In groups A and B, respectively, the 5-year progression-free survival (PFS) rates were 83.3% and 82.1% (p=0.305), and the 5-year overall survival (OS) rates were 93.1% and 90.9% (p=0.645). The recurrence rate in the retroperitoneal lymph nodes was not associated with lymph node dissection (p=0.121).The median operating time was markedly longer in group B than in group A (220 minutes vs. 155 minutes, p<0.001), and group B had a significantly higher incidence of lymph cysts at discharge (32.9% vs. 0.0%, p<0.001). Conclusion In patients with early-stage ovarian cancer, lymph node dissection was not associated with a gain in OS or PFS and was associated with an increased incidence of perioperative adverse events.

【Objective】 To investigate the feasibility of allogeneic platelet-rich plasma (PRP) for the treatment of herpes zoster wounds secondary to systemic lupus erythematosus (SLE), especially large ulcer wounds. 【Methods】 The treatment process of a patient with massive herpes zoster wounds in perineum and hip accompanied by extensive soft tissue necrosis secondary to SLE was retrospectively analyzed. The clinical efficacy of allogeneic PRP was explored combined with treatment key points and literature review. 【Results】 The patient′s wound bed was prepared until the wound was fresh, then treated externally with allogeneic PRP 3 times a week. The wound was healed completely after 42 days. 【Conclusion】 In the case of autologous PRP unavailable or unsuitable, allogeneic PRP is a safe alternative, which can effectively promote tissue regeneration, and this patient achieved curative effect in a short period of time.

Alcoholic liver disease (ALD) is a growing global health concern, and its early pathogenesis includes steatosis and steatohepatitis. Inhibiting lipid accumulation and inflammation is a crucial step in relieving ALD. Evidence shows that puerarin (Pue), an isoflavone isolated from Pueraria lobata, exerts cardio-protective, neuroprotective, anti-inflammatory, antioxidant activities. However, the therapeutic potential of Pue on ALD remains unknown. In the study, both the NIAAA model and ethanol (EtOH)-induced AML-12 cell were used to explore the protective effect of Pue on alcoholic liver injury in vivo and in vitro and related mechanism. The results showed that Pue (100 mg·kg^-1) attenuated EtOH-induced liver injury and inhibited the levels of SREBP-1c, TNF-α, IL-6 and IL-1β, compared with silymarin (Sil, 100 mg·kg^-1). In vitro results were consistent within vivo results. Mechanistically, Pue might suppress liver lipid accumulation and inflammation by regulating MMP8. In conclusion, Pue might be a promising clinical candidate for ALD treatment.