Objective To investigate the high mobility group box chromosomal protein-1 (HMGB1) levels in patients with acute pancreatitis (AP); and to study the relationship between the serum level of HMGB1 and the severity of AP. Methods The patients' serum HMGB1 concentrations were determined right after admission, 24, 48 hour after admission. The levels of HMGB1 were measured by ELASA kit and its relationship with the severity of AP was analyzed. 20 healthy adults were treated as the control group. Results At the time of admission, and 24, 48 hours after admission, the serum HMGB1 levels in AP patients were (8.05 + 1.60 ), ( 8.04 ± 1.39 ), ( 8.25 ± 1.56) ng/ml, respectively, which were significantly higher than that in the healthy control [ ( 2.20 + 0.57 ) ng/ml, P ＜ 0. 01]. There were 35 patients with severe acute pancreatitis (SAP) and 27 patients with mild acute pancreatitis (MAP). The HMBG1 levels in patients with SAP were (7.99 + 1.69) ,(8.12 ± 1.40), (8.13 ± 1.34) ng/ml, and they were (8.12 + 1.52), (7.92 +1.40), (8.39 ± 1.81 )ng/ml in patients with MAP, and the difference between the two groups was not statistically significant. Conclusions The serum HMGB1 level in AP patients was significantly higher than that in healthy controls, but it was not related with the severity of AP.

Objective To evaluate the feasibility,safety and efficacy of surgical treatment of the thoracic and thoracolumbar disc herniations through the posterior far lateral approach,Methods From April 2005 to June 2010,24 consecutive patients with thoracic or thoracolumbar disc herniations were treated surgically,using the posterior far lateral approach.There were 15 males and 9 females with the mean age of 53.6 years old(range,25-69 years).The levels of herniated discs were located in T4-s,T5-6,T6-7 for 1 case,in T9-10 for 1 case,in T10-11 for 2 cases,in T10-11,T11-12,T12L1 for 1 case,in T11-12 for 3 eases,in T11-12,T12L1 for 3 cases,in T12L1 for 4 cases,in T12L1,L1-2 for 3 cases,and in L1-2 for 6 eases.There were one level disc herniation in 16 cases,two levels disc herniation in 6 cases and three levels disc herniation in 2 cases.16 out of 24 cases had "bony protrusions",including bony separation of the endplate,bony spur,disc calcification or OPLL.The average preoperative Cobb angle of localized kyphosis was 10.5°.According to the Frankel grading system,5 cases were classified as C,16 as D,and 3 as E,preoperatively.Results Average operation time was 3.5 h(2.0-4.5 h),and mean blood loss was 800 ml(300-4000 ml).Postoperative localized kyphosis was an average of 4.6°,with average correction rate of 56.2%.24 cases were followed up for 1 to 62 months,with an average of 18 months.According to Japanese Orthopaedic Association(JOA)criteria system,there were 12 cases(50.0%)with excellent outcome,9 cases(37.5%)with good outcome,and 3 cases(12.5%)with fair outcome.The postoperative Frankel grading were C for 1 case,D for 2 cases,and E for 21 cases.There were no complications intraoperatively and postoperatively.The symptoms were improved in all patients.Conclusion By using "safe triangular zone" and dekyphosis stabilization,the posterior far lateral approach was a relatively safe,reliable,effective and better view surgical procedure for the treatment of the thoracic and thoracolumbar disc herniations.

Objective To evaluate the clinical efficacy of early enteral nutrition combined with additional parenteral nutrition (EEN + PN) versus TPN (total parenteral nutrition) in patients after conventional pancreaticoduodenectomy (PD).Methods From January 2009 to January 2013, 340 consecutive patients who underwent conventional PD with Child's reconstruction at the First Affiliated Hospital of Xi'an Jiaotong University were enrolled into this single-center retrospective comparative study.There were 87 patients in the EEN + PN group and 253 patients in the TPN group.The preoperative baseline characteristics,histopathological types, intraoperative parameters and postoperative outcomes were recorded and compared between the two groups.Results There were no significant differences in the preoperative general characteristics data, pathological patterns, and intraoperative details.There were significantly higher rates in delayed gastric emptying (DGE), morbidity (15.9％ vs 6.7％, P ＜ 0.05), and pneumonia (10.3％ vs 3.6％, P ＜ 0.05);significantly prolonged nasogastric tube removal time (5.6 ± 0.2 days vs 3.9 ± 0.1 days, P＜0.05), and increase in hospitalization expenses (65 397.0 ± 861.2) Yuan vs (50 663.9 ± 239.2) Yuan, P ＜ 0.05) in the EEN + PN group when compared with the TPN group.Conclusions EEN + PN after conventional PD was associated with increased rates of DGE and pneumonia, prolonged nasogastric tube removal time, longer EN duration and increase in hospitalization expenses.Hence, EEN should only be performed prudently and selectively.

Objective:To compare clinical features of patients with pyogenic liver abscesses with and without septated lobulations.Methods:Patients diagnosed to have pyogenic liver abscesses who were treated in our hospital from January 2011 to March 2021 were enrolled into this retrospective study. There were 203 males and 132 females, with age of (56±14) years old. The patients were divided into two groups by findings on computed tomography and ultrasound into the septated lobulation group ( n=68) and the non-septated lobulation group ( n=267). The clinical data of these patients were compared. Results:In the septated lobulation group, the neutrophil count was 9.17(5.97, 12.33)×10 9/L and the TBil was 17.65(11.92, 27.84) μmol/L. These were significantly higher than the corresponding figures of 7.81(5.42, 10.81)×10 9/L, 12.90(9.00, 19.68) μmol/L, respectively in the non-septated lobulation group ( P<0.05). The difference in the maximum diameters of the septated lobulation group was also significantly larger than the non-septated lobulation group ( P=0.032). Additionally, pus culture showed the proportion of Klebsiella pneumoniae positive patients in the septated lobulation group was significantly higher than that in the non-septated lobulation group [41.18% (28/68) vs. 25.84% (69/267), P=0.013]. The use of fluoroquinolones in patients in the septated lobulation group was higher than that in the non-septated lobulation group [20.59% (14/68) vs. 10.11% (27/267), χ 2=5.54, P=0.019]. Conclusion:Compared to patients without septated lobulations, those with septated lobulations had a larger diameter of abscesses, a higher positive rate of Klebsiella pneumoniae on pus culture and a higher proportion of patients receiving fluoroquinolones.

Objective:To investigate the risk factors for liver cancer after splenectomy in patients with cirrhosis.Methods:The clinical data of 150 patients diagnosed with hepatitis B associated cirrhosis, portal hypertension, and hypersplenism who underwent splenectomy at Shaanxi Provincial People's Hospital and the First Affiliated Hospital of Xi'an Jiaotong University from March 2000 to November 2012 were retrospectively analyzed. There were a total of 150 patients included, 114 males and 36 females, aged (44±10) years old. General information, intraoperative conditions, and postoperative complications of the patients were documented. The postoperative progress of patients was monitored by telephone or outpatient follow-up. Based on the follow-up results regarding liver cancer presence, all patients were categorized into two groups: liver cancer group ( n=42) and non-liver cancer group ( n=108). Multivariate analysis was employed to identify factors influencing the liver cancer occurrence after splenectomy. Kaplan-Meier survival analysis along with log-rank test was utilized to assess overall survival and survival rate comparison. Results:Compared to the non-liver cancer group, the liver cancer group exhibited an increased prevalence of hypertension, direct bilirubin levels, prothrombin time, maximum spleen diameter, and postoperative thrombosis (all P<0.05). However, there was a significant reduction in the number of patients receiving long-term regular antiviral therapy and postoperative bleeding (all P<0.05). The multivariate analysis revealed that preoperative hypertension ( OR=6.310, 95% CI: 1.729-23.024, P=0.005), spleen diameter exceeding 12 cm ( OR=5.338, 95% CI: 1.234-23.094, P=0.025), and occurrence of postoperative thrombosis ( OR=8.652, 95% CI: 2.700-27.729, P<0.001) in patients with hepatitis B-related liver cirrhosis and portal hypertension were associated with an increased risk of developing liver cancer following splenectomy. Patients who receive long-term regular antiviral treatment after surgery ( OR=0.143, 95% CI: 0.038-0.545, P=0.004) have a lower risk of developing liver cancer. There was no statistically significant difference observed in the cumulative survival rate between the liver cancer group and the non-liver cancer group ( χ2=1.74, P=0.187). Conclusion:Preoperative hypertension, spleen diameter exceeding 12 cm, and postoperative thrombosis are independent risk factors for liver cancer in patients with hepatitis B-related cirrhosis and portal hypertension after splenectomy. Additionally, postoperative long-term antiviral therapy serves as an independent protective factor.

Objective To investigate the efficacy and safety of camrelizumab monoclonal antibody combined with molecular-targeted therapy in elderly patients with unresectable or advanced hepatocellular carcinoma(HCC).Methods A retrospective analysis was performed for the patients with unresectable/advanced HCC who attended six hospitals from January 1,2019 to March 31,2021,and all patients received camrelizumab monoclonal antibody treatment,among whom 84.8%also received targeted therapy.According to the age of the patients,they were divided into elderly group(≥65 years)and non-elderly group(＜65 years).The two groups were assessed in terms of overall survival(OS),progression-free survival(PFS),objective response rate(ORR),disease control rate(DCR),and immune-related adverse events(irAE).The chi-square test or the Fisher's exact test was used for comparison of categorical data between groups;the independent samples t-test was used for comparison of normally distributed continuous data,and the Mann-Whitney U test was used for comparison of non-normally distributed continuous data between two groups.The Kaplan-Meier method was used for survival analysis,and the log-rank test was used for comparison of survival curves.Univariate and multivariate Cox proportional hazards regression analyses were used to determine the independent influencing factors for PFS and DCR at 6 months.Results A total of 99 HCC patients were enrolled,with 27 in the elderly group and 72 in the non-elderly group.The elderly group had an OS rate of 67.8%,an ORR of 44.4%,and a DCR of 74.1%at 12 months and a median PFS of 6.4(95%confidence interval[CI]:3.0-12.4)months,with no significant differences compared with the non-elderly group(all P＞0.05).The median OS was unavailable for the elderly group,while the non-elderly group had an OS of 18.9(95%CI:13.0-24.8)months;there was no significant difference between the two groups(P=0.485).The univariate and multivariate Cox regression analyses showed that major vascular invasion(MVI)was an independent risk factor for PFS(hazard ratio[HR]=2.603,95%CI:1.136-5.964,P=0.024)and DCR(HR=3.963,95%CI:1.671-9.397,P=0.002)at 6 months,while age,sex,etiology of HBV infection,presence of extrahepatic metastasis,Child-Pugh class B,and alpha-fetoprotein＞400 ng/mL were not associated with PFS or DCR at 6 months.For the elderly group,the incidence rates of any irAE and grade 3/4 irAE were 51.9%and 25.9%,respectively,with no significant differences compared with the non-elderly group(P＞0.05),and skin disease was the most common irAE in both groups(39.4%).Conclusion Camrelizumab monoclonal antibody combined with molecular-targeted therapy has similar efficacy and safety in patients with unresectable/advanced HCC aged≥65 years and those aged＜65 years.MVI is associated with suboptimal response to immunotherapy and poor prognosis.

Background::Oral anti-coagulants (OAC) are the intervention for the prevention of stroke, which consistently improve clinical outcomes and survival among patients with atrial fibrillation (AF). The main purpose of this study is to identify problems in OAC utilization among hospitalized patients with AF in China.Methods::Using data from the Improving Care for Cardiovascular Disease in China-Atrial Fibrillation (CCC-AF) registry, guideline-recommended OAC use in eligible patients was assessed.Results::A total of 52,530 patients with non-valvular AF were enrolled from February 2015 to December 2019, of whom 38,203 were at a high risk of stroke, 9717 were at a moderate risk, and 4610 were at a low risk. On admission, only 20.0% (6075/30,420) of patients with a diagnosed AF and a high risk of stroke were taking OAC. The use of pre-hospital OAC on admission was associated with a lower risk of new-onset ischemic stroke/transient ischemic attack among the diagnosed AF population (adjusted odds ratio: 0.54, 95% confidence interval: 0.43–0.68; P <0.001). At discharge, the prescription rate of OAC was 45.2% (16,757/37,087) in eligible patients with high stroke risk and 60.7% (2778/4578) in eligible patients with low stroke risk. OAC utilization in patients with high stroke risk on admission or at discharge both increased largely over time (all P <0.001). Multivariate analysis showed that OAC utilization at discharge was positively associated with in-hospital rhythm control strategies, including catheter ablation (adjusted odds ratio [OR] 11.63, 95% confidence interval [CI] 10.04–13.47; P <0.001), electronic cardioversion (adjusted OR 2.41, 95% CI 1.65–3.51; P <0.001), and anti-arrhythmic drug use (adjusted OR 1.45, 95% CI 1.38–1.53; P <0.001). Conclusions::In hospitals participated in the CCC-AF project, >70% of AF patients were at a high risk of stroke. Although poor performance on guideline-recommended OAC use was found in this study, over time the CCC-AF project has made progress in stroke prevention in the Chinese AF population.Registration::ClinicalTrials.gov, NCT02309398.