Objective To investigate an effective method of treating primary hepatic cancer(PHC) with portal venous tumor thrombosis (PVTT). Methods The clinical data Of 23 patients with PHC and PVTT were retrospectivly analysed. Results Of the 23 patieats after hepatoma resection and PVTT extraction, continuous micro dose infusion chemotherapy or perfusion chemotherapy by DDS was adopted. In 8 patients with main portal vein tumor thrombus, 2 died, 4 recured in 6 months. In 8 patients with the first class branch of portal vein tumor thrombus, 2 recurrd in 6 months and 6 recurred in 12 months. In 4 patients with secondary class branch of portal vein tumor thrombus, l recurred in 12 months (P

Objective To summanrize the operative method and follow-up data of total aortic arch replacement combined with transaortic stented graft implantation into the descending aorta (Sun's procedure) for acute Stanford type A aortic dissection.Methods Between August 2004 and March 2012,73 patients with acute type A aortic dissection underwent this procedure.60 males and 13 females ranging in age from 26 to 79 years (mean age,49,6 years).Right axillary or femoral artery cannulation was routinely used for cardiopulmonary bypass.Cerebral protection was achieved by bilatero-antegrade or selected hrain perfusion.The stented elephant trunk was implanted throuugh the aortic arch under hypothermic circulatory arrest.The stented elephant trunk was a 10cmlong self expandable graft.Patent false lumina were evaluated using computed tomography 3 months and once each year after discharge to evaluate the postoperative time course of the residual false lumen.Results Mean cardiopulmonary bypass time was (248.1±69.8)min,and selected cerebral perfusion time was (38.2±10.5)min.Hospital morality was 6.85 ％ (5/73).Thrombus obliteration of the residual false lumen in the descending thoracic aorta was observed in 9 1.7％ of the aortic dissections 3 months postoperatively.The mean follow-up time was(36.4 ± 31.6)months (range,2 to91 months).Survival at 1,5,7 years was 97％,87％ and 81％,respectively.Conclusion Total aortic arch replacement combined with transaortic stented paft implantation into the descending aorta is an effective treatment and n more promising choice for acute type A aortic dissection.

Objective To compare early outcomes of the minimally invasive aortic valve surgery (MIAVS) through right parasternal mini-thoracotomy with conventional mitral valve surgery (AVS),and evaluate feasibility and safety of MIAVS.Methods From January 2017 to December 2017,60 patients undergoing elective AVS in Nanjing First Hospital were prospectively enrolled in this study.There were 32 male and 28 female patients with their age of 28-72 (46.5 ± 10.2)years.Using a random number table,all the patients were randomly divided into a port-access MIAVS group (MIAVS group,n =20) and a conventional AVS group (conventional group,n =60).MIAVS group patients received port-access cardiopulmonary bypass (CPB) establishment via femoral artery,femoral vein and right internal jugular vein cannulation through right the 3rd in tercostal space with 5-6 cm right parasternal incision in length.Special MIAVS operative instruments were used for mitral valve repair or replacement.Conventional group patients received mitral valve repair or replacement under conventional CPB through median sternotomy.Perioperative clinical data,morbidity and mortality were compared between the 2 groups.Results There was no death in-hospital or shortly after discharge in this study.CPB time [(106.0 ± 21.0) minutes vs (73.0 ± 15.0) minutes] and aortic cross-clamping time [(78.0 ± 10.0) minutes vs (47.0 ± 7.0) minutes] of MIAVS group were significantly longer than those of conventional group (P ≤ 0.05).Postoperative mechanical ventilation time [(7.0 ±4.2) hours vs (10.2 ±5.3)hours],length of intensive care unit (ICU) stay [(19.0 ± 4.0) hours vs (27.5 ± 8.0) hours] and postoperative hospital stay [(8.5 ± 2.5) days vs (13.0 ± 3.0) days] of MIAVS group were significantly shorter than those of conventional group (P ≤ 0.05).Chest drainage volume within postoperative 12 hours [(100.0 ±40.0)ml vs (410.0 ±80.0)ml] and the percentage of patients receiving blood transfusion (15.0％ vs 55.0％) of MIAVS group were significantly lower than those of conventional group (P ≤0.05).Patients were followed up for 1-12 months,and the follow-up rate was 96.7％.There was no statistical difference in postoperative morbidity or mortality between the 2 groups (P ＞ 0.05).Conclusions Minimally invasive aortic valve surgery through right right parasternal mini-thoracotomy is a safe and feasible procedure for surgical treatment of mitral valve diseases.MIAVS can achieve similar clinical outcomes as conventional AVS,with more quickly recovery and less blood transfusion,and is a good alternative to conventional AVS.

Objective:To study the clinical value of blood neutrophil gelatinase-associated lipocalin (NGAL) in the early diagnosis and prognostic evaluation of late-onset sepsis in very/extremely low birth weight infants (VLBWI/ELBWI).Method:From January 2017 to December 2019, VLBWI/ELBWI older than 3 days admitted to NICU of our hospital were prospectively enrolled in the study. The infants were assigned into suspected-sepsis group and non-infection (control) group according to their clinical symptoms and laboratory indicators. In the suspected-sepsis group, complete blood count, C-reactive protein (CRP), procalcitonin (PCT) and blood culture were examined on the 1st day of disease onset and blood NGAL was examined on the 1st day of disease onset, 3rd day of treatment and 2nd week of treatment. In the control group, blood NGAL was examined at the time of enrollment. The suspected-sepsis group was later assigned into sepsis group and non-sepsis infection group and the sepsis group was further assigned into mild sepsis group and severe sepsis group according to the severity of the disease. Blood NGAL levels between the sepsis group and the non-sepsis infection group on the 1st day of onset and the control group were compared. The dynamic changes of NGAL in the sepsis group and the non-sepsis infection group at different time points were compared and analyzed. ROC curve of NGAL level on the first day of onset predicting sepsis was drawn.Result:(1) On the 1st day of disease, the sepsis group (n=106) had higher level of NGAL compared with non-sepsis infection group (n=121) and the control group (n=84). Non-sepsis infection group had significantly higher level of NGAL compared with the control group ( P<0.05). (2) A gradual decrease of NGAL was found in both sepsis and non-sepsis infection group. Significantly higher level of NGAL in sepsis group was found comparing with non-sepsis infection group at different time points ( P<0.05). (3) For blood culture positive and negative patients in the sepsis group, no statistically significant differences existed in NGAL,CRP, PCT levels on the 1st day of disease onset ( P>0.05).(4) The NGAL level in the severe sepsis group was significantly higher than the mild sepsis group on the 1st day of disease onset ( P<0.05). However,CRP and PCT showed no differences between the two groups. (5) On the 1st day of disease onset, to establish the diagnosis of sepsis, the area under the ROC curve of NGAL level was 0.852. The sensitivity and specificity of cut-off value 205.25 ng/ml were 84.0% and 66.9%, respectively. Conclusion:The serum NGAL level is elevated in VLBWI/ELBWI with late-onset sepsis. The more severe the sepsis,the more elevated the NGAL level. NGAL has certain predictive value for late onset sepsis in VLBWI/ELBWI.

Objective To study the clinical significance of globus pallidus signal intensity and the intensity ratio of globus pallidus and putamen (G/P ratio) on magnetic resonance T1WI for the early recognition of neonatal bilirubin encephalopathy.Method From January to December 2017,full-term neonates with hyperbilirubinemia admitted to the neonatology department of our hospital were enrolled in the case group,and full-term neonates without hyperbilirubinemia in the control group.The clinical data,globus pallidus T1WI signal intensity,G/P ratio and the follow-up data were collected.According to the level of hyperbilirubinemia,the neonates in the case group were further assigned into mild hyperbilirubinemia group (serum bilirubin:222 to ＜256 μmol/L),moderate hyperbilirubinemia group (serum bilirubin:256 to ＜342 μmol/L),and severe hyperbilirubinemia group (serum bilirubin:≥ 342 μmol/L).According to the injury score of ABE,the neonates with ABE were assigned into mild ABE group,moderate ABE group and severe ABE group.The correlation of globus pallidus T1WI and T2WI signal values,G/P ratio and the serum bilirubin level and ABE degree were analyzed;receiver operating characteristic (ROC) curve was drawn to explore the predictive value of the T1WI signal value and G/P ratio for the diagnosis of ABE;the changes of globus pallidus T1WI and T2WI signal values during the first 6 months after birth and the results of follow-up to 1 year after discharge were also analyzed.Result A total of 175 neonates were included in the case group (65 in the mild hyperbilirubinemia group,71 in the moderate hyperbilirubinemia group and 39 in the severe hyperbilirubinemia group) and 43 neonates in the control group.39 neonates were diagnosed as ABE (21 mild ABE,12 moderate ABE,and 6 severe ABE).The first T1WI signal value and G/P ratio of neonates in the severe hyperbilirubinemia group was higher than the moderate hyperbilirubinemia group,the mild hyperbilirubinemia group and the control group;the T1WI signal value and G/P ratio in the moderate hyperbilirubinemia group was higher than the mild hyperbilirubinemia group and the control group (P ＜ 0.05).No significant difference existed between the mild group and the control group(P ＞ 0.05).T2WI values showed no differences among neonates with different bilirubin levels (P ＞ 0.05).The first T1WI signal value and G/P ratio in the severe ABE group were significantly higher than the moderate and mild ABE group,and the moderate ABE group higher than the mild ABE group (P ＜ 0.05).The ROC curve indicated the optimal cut-off value of T1WI signal and G/P ratio were 628 and 1.38,respectively.Among all the 175 neonates,9 had a decrease in T1WI signal value and an increase in T2WI signal value at 6 months after birth.After 1 year of follow-up visits,7 children were finally diagnosed as chronic bilirubin encephalopathy.All these children had increased signal intensity on T1WI in the acute phase,plus a decreased T1WI signal and an increased T2WI signal in 1 ～ 6 months after birth.Conclusion The globus pallidus T1WI signal and G/P ratio are closely related to the serum bilirubin level and ABE severity.If T1WI signal value ＞ 628 or G/P value ＞ 1.38,ABE should be considered.The T1WI signal value and G/P ratio play important roles as indicators for the early recognition of neonatal bilirubin encephalopathy.

Objective: To summarize the experience of reoperations on patients who had late complications related to previous aortic surgery for Stanford type A dissection. Methods: From August 2008 to October 2016, 14 patients (10 male and 4 female patients) who underwent previous cardiac surgery for Stanford type A aortic dissection accepted reoperations on the late complications at Department of Thoracic and Cardiovascular Surgery, Nanjing Hospital Affiliated to Nanjing Medical University. The range of age was from 41 to 76 years, the mean age was (57±12) years. In these patients, first time operations were ascending aorta replacement procedure in 3 patients, ascending aorta combined with partial aortic arch replacement in 4 patients, aortic root replacement (Bentall) associated with Marfan syndrome in 3 patients, aortic valve combined with ascending aorta replacement (Wheat) in 1 patient, ascending aorta combined with Sun′s procedure in 1 patient, Wheat combined with Sun′s procedure in 1 patient, Bentall combined with Sun′s procedure in 1 patient. The interval between two operations averaged 0.3 to 10.0 years with a mean of (4.8±3.1) years. The reasons for reoperations included part anastomotic split, aortic valve insufficiency, false aneurysm formation, enlargement of remant aortal and false cavity. The selection of reoperation included anastomotic repair, aortic valve replacement, total arch replacement and Sun′s procedure. Results: Of the 14 patients, the cardiopulmonary bypass times were 107 to 409 minutes with a mean of (204±51) minutes, cross clamp times were 60 to 212 minutes with a mean of (108±35) minutes, selective cerebral perfusion times were 16 to 38 minutes with a mean of (21±11) minutes. All patients survived from the operation, one patient died from severe pulmonary infection 50 days after operation. Three patients had postoperative complications, including acute renal failure of 2 patients and pulmonary infection of 1 patient, and these patients were recovered after treatment. Thirteen patients were finally recovered from hospital. The patients were followed up for 16 to 45 months, and no aortic rupture, paraplegia and death were observed in the follow-up. Conclusions Patients for residual aortic dissection after initial operations on Stanford type A aortic dissection should be attached great importance and always need emergency surgery, but the technique is demanding and risk is great for surgeons and patients, which need enough specification and accurate on aortic operation. More importantly, the Sun′s procedure also should be performed on the treatment of residual aortic dissection or distal arch expansion, and obtains the short- and long-term results in the future.

BACKGROUNDEarly detection of pulmonary tuberculosis (PTB) is a big challenge in smear negative and sputum scarce patients in China. Simultaneous amplification and testing methods for detection of the Mycobacterium tuberculosis (MTB) complex (SAT-TB assay) is a novel molecular technique established in our hospital. This method has a high sensitivity and specificity in the lab. In this study, the clinical diagnostic performance of this method in smear-negative or sputum-scarce PTB suspects was investigated and evaluated.

METHODSTwo hundred smear negative and 80 sputum-scarce patients were recruited in this study. Samples that included sputum or bronchial washing fluid were collected and sent for both bacteria culture and SAT-TB assay. Diagnosis for these patients was based on the comprehensive evaluation of chestX- ray/CT study, histology examination, lab results, and treatment response. Sensitivity, specificity, positive predictive value (PPV) and negative predictive value (NPV) for each diagnostic test were investigated and calculated using confirmed tuberculosis (TB) and non-TB cases. The time required for detection of MTB was also measured for each method.

RESULTSNinety-two patients (33%) were diagnosed as definitive TB, 112 patients (40%) were probable PTB, and 76 (27%) were non-TB. The sensitivity, specificity, PPV, and NPV of SAT-TB in smear-negative PTB suspects were 93% (95% CI, 84%-98%), 98% (95% CI, 90%-100%), 98% (95% CI, 91%-100%), and 93% (95% CI, 83%-98%). In sputum scarce PTB suspects, the sensitivity, specificity, PPV, and NPV of the SAT-TB assay on bronchial washing fluids were 90% (95% CI, 74%-98%), 100% (95% CI, 85%-100%), 100% (95% CI, 88%-100%), and 88% (95% CI, 69%-97%). The accuracy of the SAT-TB assay is consistent with the bacteria culture assay. The median time required for detecting MTB in the SAT-TB assay was 0.5 day, which was much faster than bacteria culture (28 days).

CONCLUSIONSThe SAT-TB assay is a fast and accurate method for the detection of MTB. It can be widely applied in the clinic and be an asset in early detection and management of PTB suspects, especially in those patients who are smear negative or sputum scarce.

Adult ; China ; Female ; Humans ; Male ; Middle Aged ; Mycobacterium tuberculosis ; genetics ; pathogenicity ; Nucleic Acid Amplification Techniques ; methods ; Sputum ; microbiology ; Tuberculosis, Pulmonary ; diagnosis ; Young Adult

Various c-mesenchymal-to-epithelial transition (c-MET) inhibitors are effective in the treatment of non-small cell lung cancer; however, the inevitable drug resistance remains a challenge, limiting their clinical efficacy. Therefore, novel strategies targeting c-MET are urgently required. Herein, through rational structure optimization, we obtained novel exceptionally potent and orally active c-MET proteolysis targeting chimeras (PROTACs) namely D10 and D15 based on thalidomide and tepotinib. D10 and D15 inhibited cell growth with low nanomolar IC₅₀ values and achieved picomolar DC₅₀ values and >99% of maximum degradation (D_max) in EBC-1 and Hs746T cells. Mechanistically, D10 and D15 dramatically induced cell apoptosis, G1 cell cycle arrest and inhibited cell migration and invasion. Notably, intraperitoneal administration of D10 and D15 significantly inhibited tumor growth in the EBC-1 xenograft model and oral administration of D15 induced approximately complete tumor suppression in the Hs746T xenograft model with well-tolerated dose-schedules. Furthermore, D10 and D15 exerted significant anti-tumor effect in cells with c-MET^Y1230H and c-MET^D1228N mutations, which are resistant to tepotinib in clinic. These findings demonstrated that D10 and D15 could serve as candidates for the treatment of tumors with MET alterations.