Objective To evaluate the accuracy of ultrasonographic measurement of the transverse diameter of the cricoid cartilage in selecting the cuffed endotracheal tube (ETT) size for pediatric patients.Methods A total of 120 pediatric patients of both sexes,of American Society of Anesthesiologists physical status Ⅰ or Ⅱ,aged 1 month-6 yr,with body mass index of 10.9-31.2 kg/m2,undergoing endotracheal intubation and general anesthesia,were divided into group A and group B,with 60 pediatric patients in each group.The pediatric patients were intubated with a cuffed ETT in two groups.The ETT size was selected based on the transverse diameter of the cricoid cartilage measured by ultrasonography in group A.The ETT size was selected according to the age-based formula in group B.A tracheal leak was detected after intubation to determine whether or not the ETT size selected was appropriate.ETTs were replaced when the actually selected ones were not appropriate,and the number of replacement was recorded.The development of intubation-related complications was also recorded.Results The accurate rate of cuffed ETT size selected at the first time was 95％ in group A,and it was significantly higher than that in group B (60％) (P＜ 0.05).There was no significant difference in the incidence of intubation-related complications between the two groups (P＞0.05).Conclusion Uhrasonographic measurement of the transverse diameter of the cricoid cartilage produces higher accuracy in selecting the cuffed ETT size for pediatric patients and is worthy of clinical application.

Objective To improve the diagnosis and treatment ot adrenocorticotropin-independent macornodular adrenal hyperplasia (AIMAH).Methods The clinical data of 17 cases with AIMAH from 2000 to 2011 were analyzed retrospectively,including 3 subclinical AIMAH,10 clinical AIMAH and 4 highrisk AIMAH patient,with common radiological characteristic of bilaterally enlarged adrenal glands with multiple nodules like ginger.The 3 cases of subclinical AIMAH patients presented with decreased serum ACTH,normal or slightly elevated plasma cortisol and urinary free cortisol level,no suppression following 1 mg overnight dexamethasone suppression test and absence of clinical signs of Cushing syndrome (CS).While clinical AIMAH and high-risk AIMAH presented with clinical signs of CS,elevated plasma cortisol and urinary free cortisol level,suppressed serum ACTH,loss of normal circadian rhythm in cortisol secretion and no suppression following the low-dose and high-dose overnight dexamethasone suppression test.Among the 4 cases of high-risk AIMAH,2 cases presented with osteoporosis,2 cases with hepatic dysfunction,3 cases with cardiopulmonary dysfunction,and 4 cases with severe hypertension.Three cases of subclinical AIMAH were treated with symptomatic treatment,10 cases of clinical AIMAH patients with surgical operation,4 cases of high-risk AIMAH patients with ketoconazole and surgical operation.Results Three subclinical AIMAH patients received symptomatic treatment and discharged from hospital with normal blood pressure and blood glucose.During the period of follow-up from 3 months to 3 years,endocrine results were normal.Seven clinical AIM AH patients underwent unilateral adrenal tumor resection plus ipsilateral partial adrenalectomy or total adrenalectomy.CS disappeared completely after 6 to 9 months.Two clinical AIMAH patients underwent simultaneous bilateral adrenalectomy.One case died of adrenal crisis after operation,and the other case presented with adrenal insufficiency but returned to normal after glucocorticoid replacement therapy,no Nelson's syndrome happened during the follow-up for 5 years.One clinical AIMAH patient undertook unilateral adrenalectomy twice by interval,followed by routine corticosteroid replacement therapy.Followed up for 10 years,no Nelson's syndrome happened.Four high-risk AIMAH patients received ketoconazole and then underwent right total adrenalectomy.Cortisol levels returned to normal after 1 to 2 months and during the follow-up for 1 to 3 years,the laboratory examinations maintained normal.Conclusions Different treatment methods should be adapted to different subtypes of AIMAH.For subclinical AIMAH,the principal treatment is symptomatic,and close follow-up with regular adrenal imaging and endocrine examination is required.Surgical operation should be performed when clinical symptoms of AIMAH appear.Medical management is essential for high-risk AIMAH to inhibit the production of cortisol at first.Once these patients could stand the stimulation caused by operation,the adrenal glands should be resected as soon as possible.The unilateral adrenalectomy is an effective treatment for clinical AIMAH.

Neuromyelitis optica spectrum disorders (NMOSD) are a severe autoimmune inflammatory demyelinating disease of the central nervous system. NMOSD complicated with immune thrombocytopenia (ITP) is rare. This paper reports a case of NMOSD who was misdiagnosed as multiple sclerosis for many years, and then developed thrombocytopenia. ITP was diagnosed by perfect examination. After immunosuppression and thrombopoiesis therapy, the platelets returned to normal. The review of the case and literatures can help to improve the understanding of this kind of disease, timely diagnose and treat patients, and avoid serious complications.

Objective:To investigate the clinical efficacy of lenalidomide combined with bortezomib and dexamethasone (RVd) regimen in treatment of newly diagnosed multiple myeloma (NDMM) patients and its effect on the levels of regulatory T cells (Treg cells) and natural killer (NK) cells.Methods:Thirty-eight NDMM patients who were admitted to the Second Affiliated Hospital of Bengbu Medical College from September 2019 to May 2022 were selected for a prospective study, and were divided into control group (18 cases) and observation group (20 cases) according to random number table method. The control group was treated with bortezomib+epirubicin+dexamethasone (VAd) regimen, and the observation group was treated with RVd regimen. The efficacy and safety were compared between the two groups. The levels of Treg cells (CD4 + CD25 + FOXP3 +) and NK cells (CD3 - CD56 + CD16 +) before and after treatment in the two groups were detected by flow cytometry, and the results were compared. Results:After 4 courses of treatment, the objective response rate (ORR) of the observation group was 95.0% (19/20), which was higher than that of the control group [77.8% (14/18)], and the difference was statistically significant ( P = 0.016). Before treatment, there was no statistical difference in the levels of Treg cells and NK cells between the two groups ( P values were 0.381 and 0.650). After treatment, the level of Treg cells in the control group increased from (1.5±0.5)% before treatment to (4.7±1.3)% ( P = 0.008), while the level of Treg cells in the observation group increased from (1.4±0.5)% before treatment to (6.8±1.5)% ( P = 0.001), and the level in the observation group was higher than that in the control group ( P = 0.027); the level of NK cells in the control group increased from (16±6)% before treatment to (20±5)% ( P = 0.004), while the level of NK cells in the observation group increased from (16±6)% before treatment to (24±6)% ( P = 0.006), and the level in the observation group was higher than that in the control group ( P = 0.032). The incidence rates of thrombocytopenia and neutropenia in the observation group were higher than those in the control group, and the differences were statistically significant ( P values were 0.012 and 0.027), which was reversible after active treatment. There was no statistical difference in the incidence rates of other adverse reactions (all P>0.05). Conclusions:RVd regimen for NDMM is clinically effective, safe and reliable, and the patients' levels of Treg cells and NK cells elevate after treatment.

Objective:To investigate the value of the decrease rate of parathyroid hormone (PTH) in predicting permanent hypoparathyroidism (PHP) in one month after operation of papillary thyroid carcinoma (PTC) .Methods:The clinical data of 322 patients with PTC who underwent at least total thyroidectomy and unilateral central lymph node dissection in the Thyroid Surgery Center of West China Hospital of Sichuan University from Jan. 2013 to Jun. 2018 were retrospectively analyzed. There were 257 women and 65 men. According to the time when PTH returned to normal, they were divided into 307 cases in the temporary hypoparathyroidism (THP) group and 15 cases in the PHP group. The decrease rate of PTH and the incidence of hypoparathyroidism in one month after operation were counted, the clinical characteristics and operation information were observed, and the risk factors of PHP were analyzed. SPSS 23.0 statistical software was used for data processing. χ 2 test and t test were used for comparison between THP and PHP. The related factors were analyzed by multivariate logistic regression. Results:307 cases of THP and 15 cases of PHP were included. Multivariate logistic analysis showed that age ≥ 55 years old ( OR, 35.193; 95% CI, 2.936 - 421.870; P=0.005) and PTH before operation closer to normal lower limit ( OR, 2.349; 95% CI, 1.161 - 4.755; P = 0.018) were independent risk factors for PHP. Patients with PHP had a higher rate of PTH decline in 1 month after operation ( OR, 373.439; 95% CI, 26.568 - 5248.983; P=0.000) . The ROC curve showed that the sensitivity and specificity of predicting PHP were 86.7% and 94.8% respectively. Conclusions:The age of patients with PTC ≥ 55 years old and PTH before operation closer to normal lower limit are independent risk factors for the occurrence of PHP. The decline rate of PTH in one month after operation which more than 73.2% can predict PHP.

Objective To evaluate the feasibility,efficacy and tolerability of ultrasound-guided percutaneous radiofrequency ablation(RFA) for treating malignant tumor in the caudate lobe.Methods A retrospective analysis was performed in the patients with malignant tumor in the caudate lobe treated by percutaneous radiofrequency ablation (RFA) from January 2009 to July 2016.The epigastric approach (EA),the intercostal approach (IA) and an approach combining EA and IA were used as the paths of puncture.Intraprocedural contrast enhanced ultrasound (CEUS) was used to evaluate the ablation effect.The enhancement of CT/MR was used as the gold standard to evaluate the ablation effect within 1 to 3 months after surgery.Technical success (TS),technique efficacy (TE),local tumor progression (LTP) and complications were documented.Results A total of 14 patients with 14 malignant tumors in the caudate lobe of the liver were included in this study.The EA,IA,and the approach combining EA and IA were used in 7,6,and 1 patient,respectively.Intraprocedural CEUS showed complete ablation in all cases.CT / MRI evaluation within 1 to 3 months after surgery showed that the complete ablation rate was 100％ (14/14).After a median follow-up of 15.5 months (interquartile range,3 55 months),2 patients had recurrence in other regions of the liver,there was no local tumor progression and no serious complications occurred in 14 patients.Conclusions Ultrasound guided RFA is a safe,effective and important mean for the treatment of malignant tumors in caudate lobe of liver.

Objective:To investigate the prognosis of robotic pancreatoduodenectomy after the learning curve and open pancreatoduodenectomy for pancreatic cancer.Methods:The propensity score matching and retrospective cohort study was conducted. The clinicopathological data of 396 patients who underwent curative pancreatoduodenectomy for pancreatic duct adenocar-cinoma in Ruijin Hospital of Shanghai Jiaotong University School of Medicine from January 2017 to December 2018 were collected. There were 244 males and 152 females, aged 64(range, 36?92)years. Of 396 patients, 86 cases undergoing robotic pancreatoduodenectomy were divided into robotic group, 310 cases undergoing open pancreatoduodenectomy were divided into open group. Observa-tion indicators: (1) propensity score matching and comparison of general data between the two groups after matching; (2) follow-up and survival analysis. Follow-up was conducted by telephone interview or outpatient examinations including tumor markers and abdominal imaging examina-tions to detect survival of patients up to March 2022. Overall survival was defined as the time from the surgery date to death or the last follow-up. Disease-free survival was defined as the time from the surgery date to tumor recurrence or the last follow-up. The propensity score matching was conducted by 1∶1 matching using the nearest neighbor method. Normality of measurement data was examined using the Shapiro-Wilk test. Measurement data with skewed distribution were described as M(range), and comparison between groups was analyzed using the Mann-Whitney rank-sum test. Count data were represented as absolute numbers, and comparison between groups was analyzed using the chi-square test. Kaplan-Meier method was used to calculate survival rates and draw survival curves, and Log-Rank test was used for survival analysis. An intent-to-treat analysis was performed in this study, patients who were converted to laparotomy from robotic surgery were still divided into the robotic group. Results:(1) Propensity score matching and comparison of general data between the two groups after matching: 164 of 396 patients had successful matching, including 82 cases in robotic group and open group, respectively. Before propensity score matching, the body mass index, cases in stage T1, T2, T3, T4, cases in N0, N1, N2 were 23.4(range, 21.4?25.3)kg/m 2,24, 41, 10, 11, 52, 27, 7 for the robotic group, versus 22.4(range,20.3?23.9)kg/m 2,57, 144, 22, 87, 131, 132, 47 for the open group, showing significant differences in the above indicators between the two groups ( Z=3.01, 2.63, 3.03, P<0.05). After propensity score matching, cases of males, age, body mass index, cases with American Society of Anesthesiologists (ASA) score as 1, 2, 3, CA19-9, cases with preoperative biliary drainage, cases with portal vein resection, cases with pancreatic resection margin <1 mm, cases in stage T1, T2, T3, T4, cases in stage N0, N1, N2, cases with nerve invasion, cases with tumor differentiation as high-medium differentiation, medium-low differentiation, low differentiation, cases with adjuvant chemotherapy were 51, 65(range, 59?69)years, 23.0(range, 21.0?25.2)kg/m 2, 32, 41, 9, 160.4(range, 46.7?377.2)U/mL, 21, 9, 8, 21, 40, 10, 11, 48, 27, 7, 76, 26, 47, 9, 53 for the robotic group, versus 58, 65(range, 58?69)years, 23.3(range, 21.4?25.3)kg/m 2, 35, 39, 8, 172.0(range, 69.7?402.9)U/mL, 26, 9, 10, 24, 40, 7, 11, 49, 28, 5, 76, 22, 49, 11, 57 for the open group, showing no significant difference in the above indicators between the two groups ( χ2=1.34, Z=0.18, 0.34, 0.49, 0.51, χ2=0.75, 0.00,0.25, Z=0.59, 0.27, χ2=0.00, Z=0.76, χ2=0.44, P>0.05). (2) Follow-up and survival analysis: after propensity score matching, 164 patients were followed up for 54(range, 1?67)months. The follow-up time of patients was 55(range, 51?59)months for the robotic group, versus 54(range, 50?58)months for the open group, respectively, showing no significant difference between the two groups ( Z=0.48, P>0.05). During the follow-up, the 1-year overall survival rate, 3-year overall survival rate, the median survival time, 1-year disease-free survival rate, 3-year disease-free survival rate, the median disease-free survival time, tumor recurrence rate, cases with recurrence pattern as local recurrence, liver recurrence, other distant recurrence, local and distant recurrence were 81.7%, 39.0%, 27 months(95% confidence interval as 19?33 months), 61.0%, 34.2%, 15 months(95% confidence interval as 12?18 months), 54.9%(45/82), 12, 16, 9, 8 for the robotic group. The above indicators were 79.3%, 36.0%, 24 months(95% confidence interval as 19?31 months), 59.8%, 27.5%, 15 months(95% confidence interval as 10?20 months), 58.5% (48/82), 10, 22, 6, 10 for the open group. There was no significant difference in overall survival or disease-free survival between the two groups ( χ2=0.39, 0.47, P>0.05). There was no significant difference in tumor recurrence rate or tumor recurrence site between the two groups either ( χ2=0.22, 1.86, P>0.05). Conclusion:After the learning curve, robotic pancreato-duodenectomy has non-inferior prognosis compared with open pancreatoduodenectomy.

The proteolysis targeting chimeras (PROTACs) technology has been rapidly developed since its birth in 2001, attracting rapidly growing attention of scientific institutes and pharmaceutical companies. At present, a variety of small molecule PROTACs have entered the clinical trial. However, as small molecule PROTACs flourish, non-small molecule PROTACs (NSM-PROTACs) such as peptide PROTACs, nucleic acid PROTACs and antibody PROTACs have also advanced considerably over recent years, exhibiting the unique characters beyond the small molecule PROTACs. Here, we briefly introduce the types of NSM-PROTACs, describe the advantages of NSM-PROTACs, and summarize the development of NSM-PROTACs so far in detail. We hope this article could not only provide useful insights into NSM-PROTACs, but also expand the research interest of NSM-PROTACs.