Objective To evaluate the safety and feasibility of totally thoracoscopic anatomic pulmonary segmentectomy (TTAS) for the treatment of the peripheral stage ⅠA non small cell lung cancer(NSCLC).Methods The study involved 50 consecutive patients undergoing totally thoracoscopic anatomic segmentectomy (TTAS) from September 2010 to November 2012 in the First People's Hospital affiliatied to Nanjing Medical University.The diameter of the tumors were less than 2 cm [(mean diameter(1.35 ±0.48) cm].All lymph node sampling of N1 and N2 were neglive,All patients received symtematic lymph node dissection.The pulmonary vessels were individually ligated,and the bronchi were closed using an endoscopic stapler.The intersegmental plane was identified using the demarcation between the resected(inflated) and preserved(collapsed) lungs.Staplers were used for intersegmental dissection.Results The mean operative time and intraoperative bleeding were (191.5 ± 50.4) min and (49.2 ± 54.6) ml respectively.The chest tube drainage duration was (3 ± 1) days.The number of stapler cartridges used for intersegmental division was 3.9 ±0.8.The mean number of lymph nodes and nodal stations dissected were 12.6 ± 2.8 and 6.0 ± 1.5 respectively.No mortality and complications were observed 30 days after the surgery.Further,no local recurrence or metastases were observed during follow-up.Conclusion Totally thoracoscopic anatomic segmentectomy(TTAS) is a feasible and safe technique.With systematic lymph node dissection,TTAS can be a reasonable therapeutic option for stage ⅠA NSCLC.

Background and purpose:The involvement of estrogen signaling in lung cancer is controversial. But the findings showed that ERβ might play an important role in neoplastic lung biology. Several studies have evaluated expression of ERβin both normal and neoplastic human lung tissues with variable conclusions. We aimed to evaluate the expressive of estrogen receptors (ER)α,βin non-smoking non-small cell lung cancer (NSCLC) and investigate the relationships between the survival and expressions of ERα,β. Methods:Immunohistochemical assay was used to detect the expression ERαand ERβin 144 NSCLC patients, and analyzed the expressions status of ERα,βand survival. Results:The positive rate of ERαwas 7.6%, only in adenocarcinoma cancer. The positive rate of ERβwas 52.1%, and the expressions of stageⅠandⅡwas signiifcantly higher than that of stageⅢandⅣ(P=0.020). The median survival time (MST) of ERβpositive expression was better than that of negative expression (43 months vs 38 months, P=0.028). The MST of ERβpositive expression of female patients was better than that of negative expression (45 months vs 37 months, P=0.033). The MST of ERβpositive expression of adenocarcinoma were 46 months and better than negative 38 months (P=0.021). Conclusion:The expression of ERβwas signiifcantly higher in early-stage non-smoking NSCLC. It indicated that the positive expression of ERβwas related to the better MST, especially in female adenocarcinoma patients.

Objective To evaluate the clinical application of CT-guided localization with combination of methylene blue and a Hookwire system for small pulmonary nodules (SPNs) before video-assisted thoracoscopic resection.Methods CTguided localization the SPNs before resection in 56 patients and 60 nodules,then underwent video-assisted thoracic surgery (VATS) resection.Among 56 patients,19 males and 37 females,aged from 35 to 81 years,mean age was (61.1 ±8.9)years.Results SPNs diameter (6.80 ±4.12) mm,distance from the parietal pleura (15.38 ±4.63) mm.CT-guided localization success rate was 100％,positioning time (10.76 ± 8.17) min,8.9％ (5/56) had micro pneumothorax aftet positioning,7.1％ (4/56) occurrence of needle tract bleeding,no conservative treatment.VATS resection rate was 100％.The pathology of 60 lesions were shown:Bronchiolo-alveolar carcinoma(BAC) were 33 lesions(55.0％),BAC and adenocarcinoma were 11 lesions(18.3％),Atypicaladenomatous hyperplasia (AAH) were 7 lesions (11.8％),Inflammation were 4 lesions (6.7％),Harmatoma were 3 lesions(5.0％),Tuberculoses were 2 lesions(3.3％).Conclusion CT-guided localization with combination of methylene blue and a Hookwire system before video-assisted thoracoscopic resection is a promising technique for small solitary pulmonary nodules.It could play an important role in accurate localization of small pulmonary nodules,and it is a safe technique with clinical application.

BACKGROUND:When immunological rejection occurs following liver transplantation,liver cells are destroyed by infiltrated T lymphocytes,leading to progressive deterioration of hepatic function owing to reduction of liver cells.Induction of immunological tolerance of liver transplantation remains a challenge.OBJECTIVE:To observe the influences of pretransplant intraportal infusion of recipient blood into donor on the apoptosis of hepatic allograft-infiltrating T lymphocytes in rats.DESIGN,TIME AND SETTING:A randomized,controlled,animal experiment was performed at the Organ Transplant Unit,China University between May 2002 and May 2004.MATERIALS:Inbred rats were developed into models of orthotopic liver transplantation.Twenty-four female ACI rats(RT1a)served as donors,and an additional twenty-four male LEW rats(RT11)served as recipients.METHODS:A modification of cuff method was employed for orthotopic liver transplantation in rats.Twenty-four recipient rats recipient blood was infused into each donor rat via the portal vein.All blood infusions were performed 7 days prior to liver transplantation.MAIN OUTCOME MEASURES:Rat survival time,serum content of γ- interferon,histological changes of hepatic allograft,number of dendritic cells in the hepatic allograft,and T lymphocyte apoptosis following liver transplantation.RESULTS:Rat survival time was significantly longer in the intraportal infusion of non-recipient blood group than in the control group(P＜0.01).At 3 and 5 days after liver transplantation,the intraportal infusion of non-recipient blood group exhibited significantly higher serum content of y- interferon than the control group(P＜0.05).No significant differences in rat survival time and serum content of γ- interferon were found between intraportal infusion of non-recipient blood and intraportal infusion of non-recipient blood groups and control group(P＞0.05).In the intraportal infusion of non-recipient blood group,infiltrated T lymphocytes in the hepatic allograft were significantly reduced,and a large number of donor-sourced dendritic cells were detected.The number of apoptotic cells per square millimeter of hepatic tissue was significantly higher in the intraportal infusion of non-recipient blood group than in the control group(P＜0.01).CONCLUSION:Pretransplant intraportal infusion of recipient blood into donor can prolong the survival time of hepatic allograft and promote the apoptosis of hepatic allograft-infiltrating T lymphocytes.

Objective To explore the effect of dexmedetomidine on blood coagulation following radical gastrectomy.Methods ASA Ⅰ or Ⅱ patients aged 51-70 years weighing 53-75 kg scheduled for radical gastrectomy were randomly allocated to two groups:dexmedetomidine group (group D)and control group (group C).Dexmedetomidine 0.5 μg/kg was intravenously infused over 10 minutes before anesthesia induction,followed by a rate of 0.5 μg·kg-1 ·h-1 until peritoneal closure in group D and volume-matched normal saline was administrated in group C.Radical gastrectomy was performed under total intravenous anesthesia with propofol and remffentanil.A series of warming measures were implemented and artificial colloid and heparin flushing fluid were not used.Postoperative patient-controlled intravenous analgesia was performed to maintain visual analogue scale≤3.The blood samples were collected for TEG and standard coagulation monitoring before dexmedetomidine and saline administration and 3 h after surgery.Results The temperature and hematocrit in the postoperative period were significantly less than the preoperative period in two groups (P＜0.01).In both groups,the activity of plasma antithrombin Ⅲ was significantly decreased and the concentration of plasma FDP was significantly increased in the postoperative period when compared with the preoperative period (P ＜0.01).In group D,the R time was significantly shortened and MA value was significantly increased in the postoperative period when compared with the preoperative period (P＜0.05) and there were no significant differences in the K time and α angle between the preoperative and postoperative period.In group C,the R and K time were significantly shortened and the value for MA and α angle were significantly increased in the postoperative period compared with the preoperative period (P＜0.01).The platelet counts,PT,APTT,and plasma fibrinogen concentration were comparable between the preoperative and postoperative period in both groups.The requirements of propofol and remifentanil in group D were significantly less than group C (P＜0.05).In the preoperative period,the plasma antithrombin Ⅲ activity,FDP concentration,and the values for all TEG variables were similar in both groups.In the postoperative period,the value for MA and the concentration of plasma FDP in group D were less than that in group C and the value for R and the activity of plasma AT Ⅲ in group D were more than group C (P＜0.05 or P＜0.01) and there were no significant differences in the K time and α angle in both groups.There were no significant differences in the temperature,hematocrit,platelet counts,PT,APTT,and plasma fibrinogen concentration in the preoperative and postoperative periods between the two study groups.Conclusion Adjunctive dexmedetomidine in general anesthesia could inhibit the decrease of R time and raise of the value for MA,inhibit the decrease of plasma an tithrombin Ⅲ activity and raise of FDP concentration,which indicated that dexmedetomidine can improve blood coagulation state after radical gastrectomy.

Objective To summarize the efficacy of extracorporeal membrane oxygenation (ECMO)utilization in Emergency Department (ED),as well as the establishment of emergency ECMO team.Methods A retrospective analysis was carried out in 16 patients treated with ECMO between April 2015 to December 2016 in ED.The clinical data including demographics,diagnosis,initiating ECMO timing,place of ECMO establishment,intubation approaches,duration of ECMO,complications and outcomes were collected and analyzed.Results Eight patients were successfully weaned from ECMO,and 7 of them survived to discharge from hospital.The duration of ECMO support was 4 to 384 hours.The emergency ECMO team was set up.Conclusions Emergency medical team can successfully operate the ECMO process.The emergency medical team-initiated ECMO can provide effectively adjuvant measures to support patients with respiratory failure,circulatory failure and cardiac arrest.

Objective To evaluate the role of calcineurin ( CaN)/nuclear factor of activated T cell cytoplasmic 4 protein ( NFATc4) signaling pathway in inflammatory responses in lung tissues of rats with ventilator-induced lung injury ( VILI) . Methods Twenty-four clean-grade healthy male Wistar rats, aged 5-8 weeks, weighing 220-250 g, were divided into 3 groups ( n=8 each) using a random number table method: control C (group C), VILI group and cyclosporine A plus VILI group (group CsA+VILI). The animals were anesthetized with pentobarbital and tracheostomized. The rats were mechanically ventilated for 6 h with the tidal volume set at 40 ml/kg and respiratory rate at 40 breaths/min to establish the model of VI-LI. The rats kept spontaneous breathing in group C. CaN specific inhibitor cyclosporine A 10 mg/kg was in-traperitoneally injected at 1 h before ventilation in group CsA+VILI. Rats were sacrificed immediately after ventilation, lung tissues were obtained and stained with hematoxylin and eosin to evaluate lung injury, broncho-alveolar lavage fluid was collected for determination of tumor necrosis factor-alpha ( TNF-α) , inter-leukin-1beta ( IL-1β) and IL-6 concentrations by enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay, and the lungs were removed for determination of the wet to dry weight ratio ( W/D ratio) , expression of intercellular adhesion molecule-1 ( ICAM-1) and vascular cell adhesion molecule-1 ( VCAM-1) ( by real-time polymerase chain reaction) , and expression of calcineurin and NFATc4 in lung tissues ( using Western blot ) . Results Compared with group C, the W/D ratio, lung injury scores and concentrations of IL-1β, IL-6 and TNF-αin BALF were significantly increased, and the expression of CaN, NFATc4, ICAM-1 mRNA and VCAM-1 mRNA was up-regulated in group VILI ( P＜0. 05) . Compared with group VILI, the W/D ratio, lung injury scores and concentrations of IL-1β, IL-6 and TNF-αin BALF were significantly decreased, and the expres-sion of CaN, NFATc4, ICAM-1 mRNA and VCAM-1 mRNA was down-regulated in group CsA+VILI ( P＜0. 05) . Conclusion CaN/NFATc4 signaling pathway mediates inflammatory responses in lung tissues of rats with VILI.

Objective:To analyze and evaluate the safety and efficacy of a Chinese domestically manufactured Heart Con-type implantable third-generation magnetic and hydrodynamic levitation left ventricular assist device(LVAD) for the treatment of end-stage heart failure(ESHF), by reporting the results of eleven-center clinical trial on 50 cases.Methods:This study was a multicenter clinical trial, designed by means of prospective, multicenter and single-group target value. 50 subjects with ESHF were competitively enrolled and treated with HeartCon as the LVAD in eleven centers. The primary efficacy measure was survival, defined as either the subjects experiencing the transition to heart transplantation(HT) or myocardial recovery assisted by the device within 90 days, or as successfully assisted by the LVAD for full 90 days after implantation. The target survival rate was 60%, other observations included implantation success rate, mortality, pump failure needing replacement or emergency heart transplantation.Results:All enrolled 50 patients received LVAD implantation successfully, 46 survived with the pump for 90 days, 1 patient transitioned to heart transplantation, and 3 patients experienced pump thrombosis, within which 2 patients underwent pump replacement and continued to live with the pump for 90 days, and the other one received emergency heart transplantation. There were no dropout subjects. The survival rate at full 90 days after HeartCon implantation was 100%. The survival rates with pump in the full set analysis and the protocol set analysis were 96.00% and 95.92% respectively, which were higher than the target value of 60%. The differences were both statistically significant( P<0.05). Conclusion:The results of the multicenter clinical trial with the largest sample size in China using domestically manufactured third-generation LVAD has demonstrated that, HeartCon is a safe and effective LVAD to treat ESHF patients.

Objective:A case-control association analysis was performed to investigate if the single nucleotide polymorphisms (SNPs) of N-cadherin(CDH2) gene is implicated in schizophrenia in a Han Chinese population.Methods:A total of 528 patients with paranoid schizophrenia and 528 healthy controls were recruited from northern Henan province to analyze 25 SNPs located in CDH2 gene.The clinical symptoms of 267 first-episode schizophrenia patients were evaluated with positive and negative syndrome scale (PANSS), and the correlation between CDH2 gene and clinical symptoms was analyzed by SNPStats software online.Results:Allele frequencies of rs9951577 and rs1231268 were significantly correlated with schizophrenia( P<0.05), genotype frequency of rs1639387 was significantly correlated with schizophrenia( P=0.044). After gender classification, SNPs rs1789470 and rs28365328 were found to be significantly correlated with schizophrenia in female patients ( P=0.044, 0.019). In addition, the study found that CDH2 was correlated with the clinical characteristics of schizophrenia( P<0.05), and the negative factor score of patients between GG type rs1231268 and the other two genotypes (AG+ AA) ((21.12±8.41) vs (18.87±7.52)) was statistically significant ( P<0.05). Conclusion:CDH2 gene may be one of the susceptibility genes to SZ, and has definite correlation with clinical negative symptoms.

A long-held belief is that pituitary hormones bind to their cognate receptors in classical target glands to actuate their manifold functions. However, a number of studies have shown that multiple types of pituitary hormone receptors are widely expressed in non-classical target organs. Each pituitary gland-derived hormone exhibits a wide range of nonconventional biological effects in these non-classical target organs. Herein, the extra biological functions of pituitary hormones, thyroid-stimulating hormone, follicle-stimulating hormone, luteinizing hormone, adrenocorticotrophic hormone, and prolactin when they act on non-classical organs were summarized, defined by the novel concept of an "atypical pituitary hormone-target tissue axis." This novel proposal explains the pathomechanisms of abnormal glucose and lipid metabolism, obesity, hypertension, fatty liver, and atherosclerosis while offering a more comprehensive and systematic insights into the coordinated regulation of environmental factors, genetic factors, and neuroendocrine hormones on human biological functions. The continued exploration of the physiology of the "atypical pituitary hormone-target tissue axis" could enable the identification of novel therapeutic targets for metabolic diseases.
Humans ; Pituitary Hormones/metabolism* ; Luteinizing Hormone ; Follicle Stimulating Hormone ; Prolactin ; Pituitary Gland/metabolism*