OBJECTIVETo explore the impact of previous abdominal operations on the outcome of laparoscopy-assisted radical total gastrectomy (LATG).

METHODSClinical data of 328 patients with gastric cancer who underwent LATG from January 2008 to December 2010 were analyzed retrospectively. Among the patients, 57 cases had previous abdominal surgeries (PAS group) and 271 cases had no previous abdominal surgeries (NPAS group). The intraoperative and postoperative parameters were compared, and risk factors associated with postoperative complications were analyzed using univariate and multivariate analysis.

RESULTSThere was no significant difference between the two groups in the mean number of lymph nodes harvested (30.2±10.5 vs. 31.1±9.4, P>0.05). The operative time [(247.0±60.5) min vs. (214.7±57.0) min, P<0.01] and the postoperative complication rate [21.1%(12/57) vs. 11.1%(30/271), P<0.05] were significantly different between the two groups. However, there were no differences in intraoperative blood loss, transfused patients, conversion, postoperative ambulation time, postoperative flatus passage time, resumption of liquid diet, removal of gastric tube, and postoperative hospital stay (all P>0.05). Multivariate logistic regression analysis showed that previous abdominal surgeries was not an independent risk factor associated with postoperative complication morbidity (P>0.05).

CONCLUSIONSLATG is feasible for gastric cancer patients who has previous abdominal surgeries. Previous abdominal surgery may prolong operative time but is not an independent risk factor associated with postoperative complication.

Abdomen ; surgery ; Aged ; Female ; Gastrectomy ; methods ; Humans ; Laparoscopy ; methods ; Logistic Models ; Male ; Middle Aged ; Multivariate Analysis ; Postoperative Complications ; Retrospective Studies ; Risk Factors ; Stomach Neoplasms ; surgery ; Treatment Outcome

OBJECTIVETo evaluate the predictive value of portal vein flow rate preoperative for portal vein thrombosis (PVT) after periesophagastric devascularization in hepatitis B cirrhosis-related portal hypertension.

METHODSFrom January 2007 to July 2008, 45 patients with portal hypertension caused by hepatitis B cirrhosis were performed splenectomy with peri-esophagogastric devascularization in the same medical group in West China Hospital of Sichuan University. The portal vein flow rate and the diameter of portal vein were measured with doppler sonography respectively before and after the operation. At the same time, the level of PT and PLT were detected. The weight of spleens were measured after operation.

RESULTSThirteen cases suffered from PVT postoperatively. Portal vein flow rate was significantly lower in patients with PVT postoperation than that in patients without PVT (P < 0.01). In patients with PVT (n = 13) postoperation, the preoperative portal vein flow rate was (19.5 +/- 5.3) cm/s. Among the 13 cases, there were 12 cases whose flow rate were lower than 25 cm/s, and 1 case whose flow rate was 32. 3 cm/s; In patients without PVT (n = 32), the preoperative portal vein flow rate was (9.6 +/- 8.0) cm/s. In patients with lower rate (n = 17), the incidence rate of PVT was 70.6%; in patients with higher rate (n = 28), the incidence rate of PVT was 3.6%. The incidence rate of PVT in patients with lower rate was significantly lower than patients with higher rate (P < 0.01). The diameter of portal vein in patients with PVT was significantly wider than patients without PVT. The diameter of portal vein was negative correlative with the portal vein flow rate. The value 25 cm/s was of diagnostic efficiency, the sensitivity was 92.3%, and specificity was 70.6%.

CONCLUSIONSThe portal vein flow rate preoperative can be used as an early predictor of portal vein thrombosis after periesophagastric devascularization in hepatitis B cirrhosis-related portal hypertension to give a guide to clinical work.

Adult ; Aged ; Blood Flow Velocity ; Female ; Humans ; Hypertension, Portal ; etiology ; physiopathology ; surgery ; Liver Cirrhosis ; complications ; Male ; Middle Aged ; Portal Vein ; diagnostic imaging ; physiopathology ; Postoperative Complications ; diagnosis ; etiology ; Preoperative Care ; Risk Factors ; Splenectomy ; Ultrasonography ; Venous Thrombosis ; diagnosis ; etiology

OBJECTIVETo investigate the value of multiparameter flow cytometry (MFC) and flow cytometric scoring system (FCSS) in the diagnosis and prognostic evaluation of childhood myelodysplastic syndrome (MDS).

METHODSA retrospective analysis was performed for the clinical data of 42 children who were diagnosed with MDS. MFC was performed to investigate the phenotype and proportion of each lineage of bone marrow cells. The correlations of FCSS score with MDS type, International Prognostic Scoring System (IPSS) score, and revised IPSS (IPSS-R) score were analyzed.

RESULTSOf all the 42 children, 20 (48%) had an increase in abnormal marrow blasts, 19 (45%) had a lymphoid/myeloid ratio of >1, 14 (33%) had abnormal cross-lineage expression of lymphoid antigens in myeloid cells, 8 (19%) had abnormal CD13/CD16 differentiation antigens, 5 (12%) had abnormal expression of CD56, 3 (7%) had reduced or increased side scatter of granulocytes, 3 (7%) had reduced expression of CD36 in nucleated red blood cells, 2 (5%) had reduced expression of CD71 in nucleated red blood cells, 1 (2%) had absent expression of CD33 in myeloid cells, 1 (2%) had reduced or absent expression of CD11b in granulocytes, and 1 (2%) had absent expression of CD56 and CD14 in monocytes. There were significant differences in the median overall survival time and event-free survival time among the low-, medium-, and high-risk FCSS groups (P<0.05). Among the low-, medium-, and high-risk FCSS groups, the low-risk FCSS group had the highest 2-year overall survival rate, while there was no significant difference between the medium- and high-risk FCSS groups (P>0.05). The three groups had a 2-year event-free survival rate of 95%, 60%, and 46% respectively (P<0.05). FCSS score was positively correlated with MDS type, IPSS score, and IPSS-R score (P<0.05).

CONCLUSIONSMFC and FCSS help with the diagnosis and prognostic evaluation of childhood MDS.

Rhei Radix et Rhizoma is a kind of commonly used Chinese medicinal materials. Due to the overharvesting, the wild resource is endangering. Large market demand caused severely adulterant of commercial Rhei Radix et Rhizoma medicinal materials and decoction pieces. This manuscript reviewed the advances of the original species authentication in the industrial chain of Rhei Radix et Rhizoma during the latest decade, including characteristics and microscopic features, phytochemical analysis on anthraquinones, and molecular authentication based on DNA barcoding. Accordingly, an original species authentication route for the industrial chain of Rhei Radix et Rhizoma was summarized:(1)the identification of seeds and seedlings by DNA barcoding;(2) the selection of high variable sites based on the chloroplast genome;(3)biomonitoring of the Rhei Radix et Rhizoma medicinal materials and decoction pieces by two-dimensional DNA barcode;(4)traceability of Chinese patent medicines by third-generation sequencing. In conclusion, the combination of molecular identification and traditional identification methods provides a new idea for the identification of the original species of Rhei Radix et Rhizoma in the industrial chain and a essential guidance for the research of drug safety and efficacy of Rhei Radix et Rhizoma.
Animals ; Anthraquinones ; Drugs, Chinese Herbal ; Plant Roots ; Rheum ; Rhizome

Rhei Radix et Rhizoma is one of the most used medicinal materials in China. Its original species are Rheum palmatum, Rh. tanguticum, and Rh. officinale. Rhei Radix et Rhizoma derived from different original species are significantly different in their active ingredients and pharmacological effects. To develop an accurate, rapid, and specific identification method, we obtained the chloroplast genomes of the three original species by Illumina Novaseq sequencing. We designed specific DNA barcodes from the hypervariable regions, which can accurately identify the three original species. The experimental results showed that the total length of the chloroplast genomes of Rh. tanguticum, Rh. officinale and Rh. palmatum were 161 039 bp, 161 093 bp, and 161 136 bp, respectively. All the three genomes were represented as typical quadripartite structures. A total of 131 genes, including 86 protein-coding genes, 37 transfer RNA (tRNA) genes, and eight ribosomal RNA (rRNA) genes were identified from each chloroplast genome. Five pairs of primers based on the hypervariable regions were designed to efficiently amplify 42 samples. Results confirmed that five hypervariable regions, rps16-trnQ, psaA-ycf3, psbE-petL, ndhF-rpl32, and trnT-trnL, can be used as specific DNA barcodes for the identification of Rh. tanguticum, Rh. officinale, and Rh. palmatum. These results provided genetic information for further species identification of Rhei Radix et Rhizoma, and improve the safety of this clinical medication as well as standardize the market for Rhei Radix et Rhizoma.

Adulterants and counterfeits were found in some of the commercial traditional Chinese medicine (TCM) decoctions in Hongjin Xiaojie Jiaonang, Hongjin Xiaojie Pian, and Chaihuang Keli during the national drug sampling inspection. However, it was difficult to determine the species of the adulterants and counterfeits by conventional testing methods. Therefore, a total of 184 samples of the TCM decoctions and raw materials belong to the prescriptions of above mentioned traditional Chinese patent medicines, including Bupleuri Radix, Bajiaolian, Heimayi, and Shufuchong, were collected and authenticated by DNA barcoding technology. 111 ITS2 sequences were obtained from 115 commercial TCM decoctions and raw materials of Bupleuri Radix, among which 71 were Bupleurum chinense, three were B. scorzonerifolium, and 31 were closely related species in the same genus. In addition, counterfeits derived from different genera, such as Ailanthus altissima (one sample), Saposhnikovia divaricate (two samples), and Solidago decurrens (three samples), were also detected. 21 ITS2 sequences were obtained from 22 commercial TCM raw materials of Bajiaolian, among which 15 were Diphylleia sinensis and six were Dysosma versipellis and other species in genus Dysosma. For 22 Heimayi samples, PCR amplification of COI sequence was failed due to genomic DNA degradation. Among 38 Shufuchong samples, 24 COI sequences were obtained and only nine of them were the genuine species (Armadillidium vulgare) recorded in the Chinese Pharmacopoeia, 11 were Porcellio laevis, two were Mongoloniscus sinensis, and two samples could not be identified due to the limitation of database. This study demonstrates that DNA barcoding technology is suitable for the species authentication of the decoctions of traditional Chinese patent medicine prescription. It is a conductive way for the establishment of traceability system for the whole TCM industrial chain.