Objective To investigate the effects of absorbable gelatin sponge, chitosan and sodium hyaluronate(HA) on inhibition of postoperatively epidural scar formation in animal models with posterior discectomy and the concentrations of HA in the cerebral spinal fluid was also determined. Methods 96 Wistar rats older than 12 months were equally allocated into four groups. Each animal underwent a unilateral hemi-laminectomy and discectomy. Absorbable gelatin sponge, chitosan and HA were placed at the sites of surgery in three groups respectively. The fourth group undergone laminectomy and discectomy only, was served as control. At the time of 2,4, 8, 12 weeks postoperatively, 6 rats in each group were sacrificed for gross evaluation, histology and transmission electron microscope studies. The areas of epidural scar and spinal canal were measured by a computer image processor, and were compared statistically. The concentrations of HA in the cerebral spinal fluid in the HA groups and control groups were tested. Results The epidural scar areas in the chitosan and HA groups were significantly less than those in the control and absorbable gelatin sponge groups; no significant difference was found among the spinal canal areas of all the groups at different time phase; the compression and dislocation of the dura and spinal nerve roots and the discontinuity of the annulus fiber were observed in every group and time phase. The two cases with highest concentrations of HA were in the HA group at 2-week. Conclusion Chitosan and HA are able to inhibit the epidural scar formation after posterior discectomy. The healing of the annulus must be considered when evaluating the scar inhibition effects of materials. When the materials are placed in the epidural space, their effects on the central nervous system should be considered.

Background:Non-alcoholic liver disease is of increased concern and contributing to economic burdens not only in developing countries but in developed countries as well.Identifying the biomarker of early diagnosis and early intervention approaches for non-alcoholic liver disease is unmet and required further investigation.Although the alpha-ketoglutarate(α-KG)is recently proposed to be a potential biomarker in differentiating patients with obesity from those with non-alcoholic liver disease,how α-ketoglutatate is involved in the fatty liver progression is not clear. Methods:A high-fat diet(HFD)feeding animal model,liver functional assays,and molecular approaches were adopted to clarify the impact of α-KG in fatty liver progression. Results:In the current study,it was found that dietary α-KG would inhibit weight gain in male and female mice fed with a normal chew or HFD.HFD feeding caused fatty liver in male mice,but α-KG treatment could substantially inhibit hepatic steatosis progression.Biochemical studies revealed the possible linkage of α-KG protective functions to lipid metabolism.Further analysis identified the important role of peroxisome proliferator-activated receptors in beneficial α-KG-mediated effects on fatty liver progression. Conclusions:The current study demonstrates the therapeutic potential of α-KG and how it may be used,via dietary supplementation,as a preventive intervention for non-alcoholic liver disease in obese patients.

Objective:To investigate the impact of lifestyle index (LSI) on serum uric acid levels in young and middle-aged men.Methods:This was a cross sectional study. A total of 8 067 subjects underwent check-up in Taihu Sanatorium of Jiangsu Province from March 2020 to June 2021 were enrolled, average age were(46.46±8.81) years. According to age, subjects were divided into young male group (18-44 years old, n=3 269) and middle-aged male group (45-60 years old, n=4 798). Height, weight, body mass index, alcohol drinking, smoking, diet, exercise, fasting blood glucose, total cholesterol, triglycerides, high density lipoprotein-cholesterol (HDL-C), low density lipoprotein-cholesterol(LDL-C), serum uric acid and other data in all cases were measured and recorded. Results:The serum uric acid level in allsubjects was (376.80±74.43)μmol/L and the prevalence of hyperuricemia was 25.7%.The serum uric acid level in the young male group was higher than that in the middle-aged male group [(381.86±74.32)μmol/L vs (373.34±74.32)μmol/L, P<0.001]. The prevalence of hyperuricemia in the young male group was higher than that in the middle-aged male group (27.4% vs 24.5%), and the difference was statistically significant ( P<0.001). With the improvement of LSI scores, the serum uric acid levels in young and middle-aged men showed a decreasing trend ( P<0.01). Logistic regression analysis showed that after adjusting for age, fasting blood glucose, total cholesterol, triglyceride, HDL-C, LDL-C, hypertension, and diabetes, LSI was an independent factor for serum uric acid levels in young and middle-aged men. The risk of hyperuricemia in young and middle-aged male decreased ( OR 0.83 and 0.84, respectively, P<0.01) for every 1-point increase in LSI. Exercise and body mass index were independently associated with hyperuricemia in the young male group ( OR 0.83 and 0.54, respectively, P<0.05). Exercise, body mass index, and alcohol drinking were independently associated with hyperuricemia in the middle-aged male group ( OR 0.85, 0.51 and 0.65, respectively, P<0.05). Conclusion:LSI is an independent factor associated with hyperuricemia in young and middle-aged men and a healthy lifestyle has a protective effect on serum uric acid levels in young and middle-aged men.

BACKGROUND: Bronchopleural fistula (BPF) is one of the most serious and rare postoperative complications, especially the bronchial stump fistula after lobectomy/pneumonectomy. Common treatment options include conservative medical treatment combined with surgery. However, due to the delayed healing of the fistula, the chest cavity continues to communicate with the outside world, and the patient is prone to complicated with severe thoracic infection and respiratory failure, so that the physical condition can hardly tolerate the second surgical procedure. Endoscopic treatment provides a new option for the treatment of this complication. METHODS: A case of right pulmonary squamous cell carcinoma was admitted to the Department of Thoracic Surgery II, Peking University Cancer Hospital in June 2016. The diagnosis and treatment was retrospectively analyzed, and the literature was reviewed. RESULTS: A 65 year old male patient was admitted to hospital because of "cough with blood in sputum for 3 months". Chest computed tomography (CT) showed soft tissue density mass shadow in the right lower lobe. A tumor could be seen in the opening of the right middle lobe and basal segment of lower lobe. Biopsy confirmed squamous cell carcinoma. Diagnosis consideration: squamous cell carcinoma of the middle and lower lobe of the right lung (cT2aN2, IIIa). Patients received gemcitabine plus cisplatin neoadjuvant chemotherapy for 2 cycles, and the effect of chemotherapy showed stable disease (SD). Four weeks after chemotherapy, the patient underwent video-assisted thoracic surgery (VATS) assisted right middle and lower lobectomy and mediastinal lymph node dissection. On the 5th day after operation, the patient developed acute respiratory distress syndrome (ARDS) and was transferred to intensive care unit (ICU) again after endotracheal intubation. On the 7th day after operation, the patient developed a right intermediate trunk bronchial stump fistula, but due to ARDS, the patient's physical condition could not tolerate the second operation. Under the support of extracorporeal membrane oxygenation (ECMO), a membrane covered, expandable, hinged stent was inserted into the intermediate trunk bronchial stump through rigid bronchoscope, and was successfully blocked. Due to no improvement in ARDS and irreversible pulmonary interstitial fibrosis, the patient received double lung transplantation successfully after systemic anti-infection treatment. CONCLUSIONS Endoscopic implantation of covered stent is a simple, safe and effective method for closure of bronchial stump fistula. When the patient's clinical situation is not suitable for immediate surgery, endoscopic stent implantation can be used as a preferred treatment method to create opportunities for follow-up treatment.

Objective    To evaluate the prognosis of different node status on the basis of the eighth TNM classification for lung cancer. Methods    We retrospectively reviewed the clinical data of 1 851 non-small cell lung cancer (NSCLC) patients who underwent radical resection between January 2005 and December 2014. There were 1 078 males and 773 females at age of 16–86 (59.7±9.7) years. Survival probability was estimated by the Kaplan-Meier method and significance was assessed by the log-rank test. Results    This cohort study was consisted of 1 209 patients with N0, 305 with N1 and 337 with N2. N0 patients were divided into a N0a group and a N0b group according to whether the 13 and 14 level of lymph nodes were examined. The survival rate of the N0a group was significantly higher than that of the N0b group, and the 5-year survival rate was 88.9% and 81.3% (P<0.001), respectively. According to the number of lymph node metastasis stations, N1 was divided into a N1a (single) group and a N1b (multiple) group. And no significant difference was observed between the two groups in survival rate (P=0.562). Based on the presence of lymph nodes of 10–12 level, N1 was divided into a negative group and a positive group. And the negative group was found with significantly higher survival rate than the positive group (5-year survival rate of 78.4% vs. 64.3%, P=0.007). The N2 patients were divided into a single station metastasis group (a N2a1 group), a single station with N1 positive group (a N2a2 group) and a multiple station group (a N2b group), and the percentage was accounted for 22.0% (74/337), 37.7% (127/337) and 40.3% (136/337), respectively. There was a statistical difference in 5-year survival rate (62.2% vs. 56.5% vs. 37.3%) among the three groups (P=0.001). Conclusion    Subgroup analysis of N staging in NSCLC patients shows significant survival differences which may be more consistent with multidisciplinary therapy under precise staging patterns.

To investigate whether postoperative therapy can bring survival benefits to patients with locally advanced esophageal squamous cell carcinoma who have received neoadjuvant chemotherapy with TP regimen. Methods     We retrospectively reviewed clinical data of 115 patients with locally advanced esophageal squamous cell carcinoma who received neoadjuvant chemotherapy with TP regimen and underwent esophagectomy in our hospital from January 2007 through December 2016. Patients were divided into two groups including a non-receiving treatment group (54 patients with 47 males and 7 females) and a receiving treatment group (61 patients with 52 males and 9 females). There were 31 patients with postoperative chemotherapy, 14 with postoperative radiotherapy, and 16 with postoperative chemotherapy and radiotherapy in the receiving treatment group. Results     In the non-receiving treatment group, the 5-year median disease free survival (DFS) rate was 54.7%, and the 5-year overall survival (OS) rate was 55.3%. In the receiving treatment group, the median DFS was 46.0 months (95% CI 22.9–69.1), the 5-year DFS rate was 42.3%; and the   median OS was 68.0 months (95% CI 33.0–103.0), the 5-year OS rate was 51.3%. Furthermore, there was no statistical difference between the two groups with regards to DFS (P=0.641) or OS (P=0.757) using Kaplan-Meier method. Besides, in each subgroup, the results of Cox proportional hazard model analysis showed postoperative treatment did not improve survival (P>0.05, respectively). Conclusion     Postoperative treatment does not bring survival benefits to patients with esophageal squamous cell carcinoma who have received neoadjuvant chemotherapy with TP regimen.

BACKGROUND: Perioperative treatment has become an increasingly important aspect of the management of patients with non-small cell lung cancer (NSCLC). Small-scale clinical studies performed in recent years have shown improvements in the major pathological remission rate after neoadjuvant therapy, suggesting that it will soon become an important part of NSCLC treatment. Nevertheless, neoadjuvant immunotherapy may be accompanied by serious adverse reactions that lead to delay or cancelation of surgery, additional illness, and even death, and have therefore attracted much attention. The purpose of the clinical recommendations is to form a diagnosis and treatment plan suitable for the current domestic medical situation for the immune-related adverse event (irAE). METHODS: This recommendation is composed of experts in thoracic surgery, oncologists, thoracic medicine and irAE related departments (gastroenterology, respirology, cardiology, infectious medicine, hematology, endocrinology, rheumatology, neurology, dermatology, emergency section) to jointly complete the formulation. Experts make full reference to the irAE guidelines, large-scale clinical research data published by thoracic surgery, and the clinical experience of domestic doctors and publicly published cases, and repeated discussions in multiple disciplines to form this recommendation for perioperative irAE. RESULTS: This clinical recommendation covers the whole process of prevention, evaluation, examination, treatment and monitoring related to irAE, so as to guide the clinical work comprehensively and effectively. CONCLUSIONS Perioperative irAE management is an important part of immune perioperative treatment of lung cancer. With the continuous development of immune perioperative treatment, more research is needed in the future to optimize the diagnosis and treatment of perioperative irAE.