Objective:To discuss the occurrence, treatment and prevention of benign anastomotic stenosis after radical resection for rectal cancer.Methods:The clinical data of 63 patients with benign anastomotic stenosis from Jan. 2016 to Dec.2020 at Department of Gastrointestinal Surgery, Renji Hospital Shanghai Jiaotong University School of Medicine, were retrospectively analyzed, including general conditions, intraoperative conditions, postoperative complications, anastomotic stenosis, treatment process and outcome. The relationship between stenosis type and treatment and outcome were analyzed.The measurement data obeying normal distribution was expressed by ( Mean± SD), and the t test was used comparison between groups. The chi-square test was used comparison between enumeration data. Results:Of all the 63 patients, 22 (34.9%) cases presented with membranous stenosis, 30 (47.6%) cases with tubular stenosis, and 11 (17.5%) cases with diffused stenosis. Three of the 9 patients with high stenosis underwent balloon dilatation through endoscopy, 3 were placed with self-expandable metal stent and the rest 3 patients underwent resection and reconstruction of the anastomosis. All the 54 patients with low stenosis underwent digital anal expansion, and finally the effective rate was 53.7% (29/54). Endoscopic balloon dilatation was successfully performed in 8 cases, including 4 cases were placed metal stent throngh endoscopy. Eight patients underwent trans-anal stricturotomy. In 5 patients with low diffused stenosis, either ileostomy was preserved or permanent colostomy was performed due to failure to treatment. There were more male patients, protective ileostomy, anastomotic leakage and low stenosis in patients failed to treatment than in the cured patients ( P>0.05). However, all the 5 patients who failed to treatment were suffered from diffused stenosis, and the difference was statistically significant compared with those who were cured ( P<0.05). Conclusions:Postoperative anastomotic stricture after anterior rectectomy requires different treatment strategies according to the location and types of stricture. Endoscopic balloon dilatation is preferred for high stenosis, and metal stents can be placed optionally. Digital anal expansion is preferred for low anastomotic stenosis, and endoscopic or minimally invasive transanal surgery is feasible if digital anal expansion fails.

OBJECTIVETo obtain 1-4 IgG-like domains of mouse vascular endothelial growth factor receptor 2 (VEGFR2) fusion protein (mVEGFR2D1-4/GST) and identify its antiginicity and biological activity.

METHODSThe gene of mVEGFR2D1-4 was amplified by RT-PCR from 14-days embryos of Balb/c mice. The PCR product was cloned into pET-42a prokaryotic expression vector to construct the recombinant plasmid pET-42a-mVEGFR2D1-4, which was transformed into E. coli BL21 (DE3) strain for mVEGFR2D1-4/GST expression. The fusion protein was identified by SDS-PAGE and Western blotting, and the antigenicity of the protein purified by affinity chromatography was characterized by ELISA. The VEGF blocking effect of the purified protein in human umbilical vein endothelial cells (HUVECs) were evaluated in in vitro cell cultures.

RESULTSThe mVEGFR2D1-4 gene was obtained, which had an identical sequence to that retrieved in GenBank. The prokaryotic expression vector for mVEGFR2D1-4 was successfully constructed as confirmed by enzyme digestion and DNA sequencing. Both Western blotting and ELISA demonstrated the antigenicity of the purified mVEGFR2D1-4 fusion protein, which obviously blocked the effect of VEGF in promoting HUVEC proliferation in vitro.

CONCLUSIONThe mVEGFR2D1-4/GST fusion protein obtained shows a strong antigenicity and biological activity to facilitate further study of active anti-tumor immunotherapy targeting VEGFR2.

Animals ; Cell Proliferation ; Escherichia coli ; genetics ; metabolism ; Female ; Gene Expression ; Genetic Vectors ; Human Umbilical Vein Endothelial Cells ; Humans ; Mice ; Mice, Inbred BALB C ; Plasmids ; Recombinant Fusion Proteins ; genetics ; immunology ; isolation & purification ; Reverse Transcriptase Polymerase Chain Reaction ; Vascular Endothelial Growth Factor Receptor-2 ; genetics ; immunology ; isolation & purification

Background:Esophagogastric variceal bleeding is a severe and commonly seen complication of portal hypertension in patients with liver cirrhosis. Prevention of rebleeding remains an important issue in the management of patients suffered from the disease. Aims:To evaluate the efficacy and safety of percutaneous transhepatic variceal embolization(PTVE) combined with partial splenic embolization(PSE)for treatment of esophagogastric variceal bleeding in patients with liver cirrhosis. Methods:Ten liver cirrhosis patients with esophagogastric variceal bleeding were prospectively selected and treated by PTVE combined with PSE. The blood flow of portal system was measured by Doppler ultrasonography pre- and post-operatively;meanwhile peripheral blood cells were counted. A 1-2-year follow-up was carried out and the rebleeding and procedure-related complications were recorded. Results:The postoperative inner diameter of main portal vein,as well as the blood flow velocity of main portal vein and splenic vein were significantly reduced as compared with those before operation(P < 0. 05). Three months after operation,the peripheral white blood cell and platelet were still significantly higher than those before operation(P < 0. 05). During 1-year follow-up,rebleeding appeared in 2 patients,one of them was found having main portal vein thrombosis developed,and was treated by endoscopic esophageal variceal ligation because the gastric varices was not as evident as ever. The rebleeding rate and incidence of portal system thrombosis after the PTVE-PSE procedure was 20. 0% and 10. 0%,respectively. Conclusions:PTVE combined with PSE seemed efficient for alleviating portal hypertension,and might be recommended as a safe and effective interventional therapy for liver cirrhosis patients with esophagogastric variceal bleeding.

Objective To validate a cell infection-based quantitative RT-PCR for evaluating the potency of rotavirus vaccine. Methods According to the ICH ( the International Council for Harmonization) Harmonised Tripartite Guideline, the method was validated for its specificity, accuracy, precision, linearity and robustness. Results The method had good specificity as it could only amplify and detect the corre-sponding type of rotavirus strain. The recovery rates for determining the potency against rotaviruses of G2, G3 and G4 types were 97％ to 108％. The percent coefficient of variation ( CV) of both intra-plate and in-ter-plate precision was≤2. 62％, while the intraday and interday CV was≤1. 76％ and≤2. 27％, respec-tively. The CV between the two experimenters was≤7. 68％. The linearity range of the method was 4. 4-6. 5 UI for G2 type rotavirus, 3. 9-8. 3 UI for G3 type and 3. 5-8. 1 UI for G4 type. Good robustness was observed using the cells of 140 to 160 generations. Conclusions The cell infection-based quantitative RT-PCR was shown to have satisfactory specificity, accuracy, precision, linearity and robustness, suggesting that it was a suitable method for evaluating the potency of multivalent rotavirus live vaccines.

Objective To summarize the CT characteristics of tumor deposition adjacent to colorectal cancer (CRC),and provide the evidences for differential diagnosis.Methods The retrospective cross-sectional study was conducted.The clinicopathological data of 26 CRC patients who were admitted to the Wuxi Second People's Hospital of Nanjing Medical University from May 2015 to April 2017 were collected.Patients underwent preoperative multi-slice spiral CT scan and double-phase enhanced scan,and then received open surgery.Observation indicators:(1) characteristics of multi-slice spiral CT scan;(2) differential comparisons;(3) follow-up.Follow-up using telephone interview was performed to detect patients' prognosis once every 3 months up to May 2017.Measurement data with normal distribution were represented as (x)±s.Comparisons between groups and among groups were respectively analyzed using the t test and the one-way ANOVA.Pairwise comparison was done using the SNK method.Results (1) Characteristics of multi-slice spiral CT scan:of 26 patients,17 underwent double contrast enhanced scans of chest,abdomen and pelvic and 9 underwent double contrast scans of abdomen and pelvic.Primary tumors of 18 and 8 patients respectively located in the colon and rectum.Forty-one tumor deposits of 26 patients were collected,with number of tumor deposits of 1.6±0.9 per case,and number of tumor deposits ＜ 3 and ≥3 respectively were found in 20 and 6 patients.Tumor deposits were often isolated in the fat spaces around the rectum or colon and unconnected with the surrounding primary tumor or lymph node.Distance to the center of primary tumor was (2.6±l.0)cm (range,0.2-5.0 cm),the distance ＜2.6 cm and ≥2.6 cm were respectively detected in 22 and 19 patients.Thirty-three tumors showed signs of lobulation,22 showed signs of burr and 7 showed liquefaction necrosis,and there was a combination of multiple imaging characteristics in the same tumor deposit.The maximum width,minimum width,maximum diameter,plain scan value of CT,CT enhancement values in the arterial phase and venous phase in 41 tumor deposits were respectively (1.15 ± 0.60)cm,(1.11±0.44)cm,(1.13±0.49)cm,(27±13)HU,(28±14)HU and (49±19)HU.Of 41 tumor deposits,34 demonstrated homogeneous density in the plain scan,and obviously enhancement in early enhanced scan,with homogeneous enhancement;7 demonstrated heterogeneous density in the plain scan,with internal liquefaction necrosis,and enhanced scans showed no enhancement in the areas of necrosis and obviously early enhancement in the areas of non-necrosis.(2) Differential comparisons:26 patients underwent open surgery,including 8 with right hemectomy,2 with transverse colon resection,4 with left semicolon resection,2 with simple sigmoid resection,2 with abdominoperineal resection of rectal cancer and 8 with low anterior rectal resection,and all patients received postoperatively individualized treatment.Fifty-two lymph nodes with distance to center of primary tumor ＜ 5.0 cm that were confirmed by pathological examination were collected,including 19 metastatic lymph nodes.Of 41 tumor deposits,33 were irregular,and 8 were regular and round-like or oval-like shape.Of 19 metastatic lymph nodes,16 were regularly round-like shape,1 showed irregular shape and edge blur,and 2 were irregular with a mutual integration.The maximum width,minimum width and maximum diameter of 19 metastatic lymph nodes were respectively (1.09± 0.33) cm,(1.01 ± 0.23) cm and (1.05 ± 0.20) cm,with statistically significant differences in the above indicators between metastatic lymph nodes and tumor deposits (t =5.48,4.80,7.75,P＜0.05).The plain scan value of CT,CT enhancement values in the arterial phase and venous phase were respectively (12±7) HU,(18± 12) HU,(42± 15) HU in 19 metastatic lymph nodes and (33±6) HU,(31 ±15) HU,(53± 14)HU in 26 primary tumors,showing statistically significant differences in the plain scan value of CT and CT enhancement values in the arterial phase among tumor deposits,metastatic lymph nodes and primary tumors (F=24.43,4.46,P＜0.05),and no statistically significant difference in CT enhancement value in the venous phase (F=2.41,P＞0.05).There were statistically significant differences in the plain scan value of CT and CT enhancement values in the arterial phase between tumor deposits and metastatic lymph nodes (q =5.48,2.50,P＜0.05) and between metastatic lymph nodes and primary tumors (q =6.82,2.84,P＜0.05),and no statistically significant difference between tumor deposits and primary tumors (q =2.15,0.65,P＞0.05).Of 19 metastatic lymph nodes,11 demonstrated homogeneous density in plain scan,with a lower density compared with tumor deposits and primary tumors,and relatively homogeneous enhancement in the arterial phase of enhanced scan;8 demonstrated heterogeneous density with internal liquefaction necrosis,and ring-shaped enhancement in enhanced scan with no enhancement in the areas of necrosis.The density and enhancement range in the arterial phase and venous phase of tumor deposits were similar to primary tumors.(3) Follow-up:24 patients were followed up for 1-25 months,with a follow-up rate of 92.3％(24/26) and a median time of 17 months.Of 24 patients,2 were dead,and survival time were respectively 9 months and 21 months;22 had good survival.Conclusions Multislice spiral CT examination of tumor deposits demonstrates larger and irregular shape,with the signs of lobulation and burr,and the density in plain scan is similar to the primary tumor,with obviously enhancement in early enhanced scan.The metastatic lymph nodes are mostly round-like shape,diameter is smaller than that of tumor deposits,density in the plain scan and CT enhancement values in the arterial phase are lower than that of tumor deposits.

Objective:To evaluate the early predictive value of serum procalcitonin (PCT) , C-reactive protein (CRP) , and white blood cell count (WBC) levels for pancreatic fistula after pancreaticoduodenectomy (PD) .Methods:Data of 93 patients undergoing PD in Department of Pancreatic Surgery at the First Affiliated Hospital of Xinjiang Medical University from Jan. 2017 to Nov. 2019 were retrospectively analyzed. The general information of patients before surgery and postoperative pancreatic fistula were recorded. The levels of serum PCT, CRP, and WBC before surgery and 1st, 3rd, and 5th days after operation were recorded. Patients were divided into pancreatic fistula group (63 cases) and non-pancreatic fistula group (30 cases) . The preoperative data were compared between the two groups. Box plot and the receiver operating characteristic curve (ROC) were drawn. The area under the ROC curve (AUC) was calculated. The sensitivity and specificity of PCT, CRP, and WBC levels in predicting pancreatic fistula alone and jointly were calculated.Results:There were no statistically significant differences in the age, gender, presence or absence of diabetes, total bilirubin, preoperative albumin, surgical time, or intraoperative bleeding in the general information of the pancreatic fistula group and the non-pancreatic fistula group. The difference in index (BMI) was statistically significant. The value of PCT, CRP, and WBC before operation and the value of PCT on the first day after operation were not statistically significant between the two groups ( P=0.424, 0.819, 0.484, and 0.072, respectively) . The PCT values on the 3rd and 5th days after surgery, the values of CRP and WBC on the 1st, 3rd, and 5th days after surgery were all statistically significant (all P values were<0.05) . The area under the ROC curve was jointly predicted by the three at the 3rd and 5th days after operation (AUC=0.792, 0.812) , and the sensitivity (62.9%, 71.4%) and specificity (83.3%, 80%) were better than the three alone. Conclusion:PCT, CRP, and WBC values on the 1st, 3rd, and 5th days after surgery alone have certain limitations in predicting pancreatic fistula, and the combined prediction of the three is more valuable.

Objective To design and verify the reliability of a shoelace tensile test system. Methods Incremental loads of 0-196 N were applied to three tension sensors, each load was repeated nine times, with the load removed and interval of 30 s during the repeated tests. Then output voltage of the sensors under each load was collected. Linear regression analysis was used to explore linear relationship between the collected voltage signal and the incremental load. Accuracy, precision and consistency intervals were used to verify consistency of the measured values with the true load. Bland-Altman analysis and intra-group correlation coefficient (ICC) analysis were used to verify the repeatability and reliability of the tensile sensor. Results There was a significant linear correlation between output voltage signal of the sensors and the load (P< 0. 000 1, R2= 0. 999 9), and ICC of three sensors was above 0. 999 (P<0. 000 1). The mean values of the coefficients of variation of the measured values for three tensile sensors under different loads were 0. 003 8, 0. 002 2 and 0. 003 5, respectively. Conclusions The shoelace tensile test system has high reliability and can be used for real-time acquisition of shoelace tension.

Image registration is of great clinical importance in computer aided diagnosis and surgical planning of liver diseases. Deep learning-based registration methods endow liver computed tomography (CT) image registration with characteristics of real-time and high accuracy. However, existing methods in registering images with large displacement and deformation are faced with the challenge of the texture information variation of the registered image, resulting in subsequent erroneous image processing and clinical diagnosis. To this end, a novel unsupervised registration method based on the texture filtering is proposed in this paper to realize liver CT image registration. Firstly, the texture filtering algorithm based on L0 gradient minimization eliminates the texture information of liver surface in CT images, so that the registration process can only refer to the spatial structure information of two images for registration, thus solving the problem of texture variation. Then, we adopt the cascaded network to register images with large displacement and large deformation, and progressively align the fixed image with the moving one in the spatial structure. In addition, a new registration metric, the histogram correlation coefficient, is proposed to measure the degree of texture variation after registration. Experimental results show that our proposed method achieves high registration accuracy, effectively solves the problem of texture variation in the cascaded network, and improves the registration performance in terms of spatial structure correspondence and anti-folding capability. Therefore, our method helps to improve the performance of medical image registration, and make the registration safely and reliably applied in the computer-aided diagnosis and surgical planning of liver diseases.
Algorithms ; Humans ; Image Processing, Computer-Assisted ; Liver Diseases ; Tomography, X-Ray Computed