Esophageal cancer is one of the malignant tumors that poses a threat to human health, with both high incidence and malignancy. Currently, surgery following neoadjuvant chemoradiotherapy is the standard treatment for locally advanced esophageal cancer; however, the long-term prognosis remains unsatisfactory. In recent years, inhibitors of programmed death protein-1 (PD-1) and its ligand (programmed death ligand-1, PD-L1) have achieved breakthrough progress in other solid tumors, and research on esophageal cancer is gradually being conducted. With the demonstration of good efficacy of PD-1/PD-L1 inhibitors in the first-line and second-line treatment of advanced unresectable esophageal cancer, their incorporation into neoadjuvant treatment regimens has become a hot topic. Therefore, this article reviews the mechanism of action of PD-1/PD-L1 inhibitors and their application in the neoadjuvant treatment of esophageal cancer.

Surgery is the preferred treatment for resectable esophageal cancer, but in locally advanced esophageal cancer, the effect of surgery alone is not ideal, so surgery-based comprehensive treatment is the best option. Neoadjuvant therapy has become a standard treatment in the treatment of locally advanced resectable esophageal cancer. Neoadjuvant therapy includes neoadjuvant chemotherapy, radiochemotherapy, immunotherapy, targeted therapy, etc. With the significant efficacy and acceptable toxicity of immunotherapy in the first-line and second-line treatment of advanced esophageal cancer, neoadjuvant immunotherapy has become a research hotspot of locally advanced resectable esophageal cancer. This article reviews the latest research progress and some limitations of neoadjuvant immunotherapy in locally advanced resectable esophageal cancer.

Objective:To evaluate the effect of propofol and remifentanil in different target-controlled infusion(TCI) sequences on hypotension during induction of general anesthesia in hypertensive patients.Methods:A total of 132 patients with hypertension of both sexes, aged 50-75 yr, of American Society of Anesthesiologists Physical Status classificationⅡ or Ⅲ, with body mass index of 18-30 kg/m 2, scheduled for elective tracheal intubation under general anesthesia, were divided into 3 groups( n=44 each) using a random number table method: group C, PR group and RP group. In group C, propofol(target effect-site concentration 5 μg/ml) and remifentanil(target effect-site concentration 5 ng/ml) were simultaneously given by TCI. Propofol was given by TCI followed by TCI of remifentanil in PR group. Remifentanil was given by TCI followed by TCI of propofol in RP group. The development of hypotension was observed within 10 min after induction of general anesthesia, and the consumption of propofol, remifentanil and ephedrine, time of loss of consciousness, time of tracheal intubation and adverse reactions during the perioperative period were recorded. Results:Compared with group C, the incidence of hypotension during induction was significantly decreased, the consumption of propofol and ephedrine was decreased, and the BIS value was increased when consciousness disappeared, the time of loss of consciousness and time of tracheal intubation were prolonged, the BIS value was increased at loss of consciousness in PR group, and the consumption of ephedrine was significantly decreased, and the time of loss of consciousness and time of tracheal intubation were prolonged in RP group( P<0.05). Compared with PR group, the consumption of ephedrine was significantly decreased, and the time of loss of consciousness was prolonged in RP group( P<0.05). There was no significant difference in the incidence of responses to tracheal intubation, injection pain, bucking, inhibition ratio, postoperative delirium, postoperative nausea and vomiting, and intraoperative awareness during induction among the three groups( P>0.05). Conclusions:TCI of remifentanil followed by TCI of propofol can decrease the development of hypotension during induction of general anesthesia in hypertensive patients.

Pancytopenia is one of the serious complications of Graves disease, and its clinical treatment is quite challenging. Based on traditional Chinese medicine theory and combining with literature reports and clinical practice in China, we discuss the etiology, pathogenesis, and syndromes-based treatment of pancytopenia, hoping to open up new treatment approaches, guide clinical practice, and improve treatment effectiveness.

Type 2 diabetes mellitus （T2DM），as a chronic disease with an increasing prevalence，has greatly affected the quality of life of patients， and aroused widespread concern in society. Previous studies have shown that inflammation is closely related to the occurrence and development of T2DM. The role of inflammatory response and its signaling pathway in the pathogenesis of T2DM has become a research hotspot，and the intervention of inflammatory response to control the progression of T2DM has become a new approach for treatment. With the deepening in the research field of traditional Chinese medicine （TCM），the generation of inflammation is attributed to turbid phlegm and blood stasis， whose mutual transformation results in the impairment of body functions. However，the monomers and compounds of Chinese medicine in the treatment of T2DM based on inflammatory signaling pathways are advantageous in multiple targets，multiple pathways， and few side effects，which can significantly relieve the symptoms of T2DM. In recent years，there has been an increasing number of studies on TCM intervention in T2DM. The present article elaborated the understanding of the relationship between T2DM and inflammation in TCM and the seven signaling pathways related to the regulation of inflammation in T2DM by TCM， including nuclear transcription factor-κB （NF-κB） signaling pathway，mitogen-activated protein kinase （MAPK）-dependent signaling pathway，phosphatidylinositol 3-kinase （PI3K）/protein kinase B （Akt） signaling pathway，protein kinase C （PKC） signaling pathway，adenosine 5′-monophosphate （AMP）-activated kinase （AMPK） signaling pathway，Wnt signaling pathway，and transforming growth factor-β （TGF-β） signaling pathway.

Objective To investigate the radiation induced pulmonary fibrosis with a dose-response mouse model, based on the CT image changes of pulmonary fibrosis.Methods Female C57BL6 mice aged 8-10 weeks were randomly divided into 20 Gy or escalated doses of X-ray whole thoracic irradiation ( WTI) groups. CT scan was performed at different time points before and after radiation. The average lung density and lung volume changes were obtained by three-dimensional segmentation algorithm. After gene chip and pathological validation, the parameters of CT scan were subject to the establishment of logistic regression model. Results At the endpoint of 24 weeks post-irradiation, the lung density in the 20 Gy irradiation group was (-289.81± 12.06) HU, significantly increased compared with (-377.97± 6.24) HU in the control group ( P<0.001) . The lung volume was ( 0.66±0.01) cm3 in the control group, significantly larger than ( 0.44±0.03) cm3 in the irradiated mice ( P<0.001) . The results of quantitative imaging analysis were in accordance with the findings of HE and Mason staining, which were positively correlated with the fibrosis-related biomarkers at the transcriptional level ( all R2=0.75, all P<0.001) . The ED50 for increased lung density was found to be ( 13.64± 0.14) Gy ( R2=0.99, P<0.001) and ( 16.17± 4.36) Gy ( R2=0.89, P<0.001) for decreased lung volume according to the logistic regression model. Conclusions Quantitative CT measurement of lung density and volume are reliable imaging parameters to evaluate the degree of radiation-induced pulmonary fibrosis in mouse models. The dose-response mouse models with pulmonary fibrosis changes can provide experimental basis for comparative analysis of high-dose hypofractioned irradiation-and half-lung irradiation-induced pulmonary fibrosis.

Objective To approach the changes of cytosol phospholipase A2α(cPLA2α)and nitric oxide (NO)in patients with chronic obstructive pulmonary disease(COPD)and its significance. Methods One hundred patients with COPD admitted into Department of Critical Care Medicine of Affiliated Wuqing Traditional Chinese Medicine(TCM)Hospital of Tianjin University of TCM were enrolled,and according to the COPD severity grading standards,they were divided into mild group(25 cases),moderate group(25 cases),severe group(26 cases) and extremely severe group(24 cases);simultaneously,90 cases with normal pulmonary function who had taken health examination were chosen and assigned to the healthy control group. The cPLA2α level was detected by enzyme linked immunosorbent assay(ELISA),the level of uric acid(UA),total cholesterol(TC),triacylglycerol (TG)were detected by enzymatic method,and serum NO metabolites(NOx)level was detected by nitrate reductase method. Results Compared with the healthy control group,the serum levels of cPLA2α and UA in patients with different severity of COPD were significantly increased;along with the increase of patient's COPD grade of severity,the cPLA2α,UA levels were gradually increased,while NOx level was gradually decreased in mild, moderate, severe, extremely severe groups〔cPLA2α(ng/L):125.60±8.17, 155.20±6.42, 190.20±9.32, 255.80±11.28 vs. 88.50±7.99;UA(μmol/L):381.23±32.22,434.95±87.71,464.81±52.65,487.45±82.61 vs. 241.95±52.33;NOx(μmol/L):59.90±17.52,45.60±6.17,38.20±4.08,25.70±3.04 vs. 74.90±18.31,all P<0.05〕. The differences in blood cPLA2αand serum NOx level among groups with different severity of COPD were of statistical significance(P<0.05). The levels of TC,TG among these different severity groups had no statistical significance(all P>0.05). The cPLA2αand NOx levels presented significant negative correlation(rs=-0.798,P=0.013). Conclusion The combined examination of blood cPLA2αand serum NOx levels can evaluate the severity degree of COPD patients,and cPLA2αcan be used as a new target index for COPD grading.

Objective To prepare poly (lactic-co-glycolic acid) (PLGA) microspheres that contain recombinant epidermal growth factor and then evaluate the effect of these sustained release in vitro.Methods Human serum albumin (HAS) microspheres were prepared with a double-emulsification solvent evaporation method.Experiment was designed to optimize the preparation condition of recombinant human epidermal growth factor (rhEGF)-loaded microspheres.Characters of optimal rhEGF-loaded microspheres were analyzed.In-vitro dissolution tests were performed on the microsperes.Results The speed of first emulsification,the concentration of PLGA,the concentration of polyvinyl alcohol (PVA),and the ratio of inner water to organic phase affected the particle size and the encapsulation ratio.The polymer's individual specificities especially density,molecular weight,polymerization,the diameter of microsphere,and the encapsulation efficiency were the crucial factors to influence the speed and time of drug release from microspheres in vitro.The optimal microspheres possessed a smooth and round appearance.It also showed good lente liberantes effect in vitro.Conclusions The optimal microspheres possessed a smooth and round stable appearance and showed good lente liberantes effect in vitro.This technique was simple and had a good reproducibility.

Objective To provide a scientific basis for early clinical diagnosis and treatment as well as secondary and tertiary protection through 10 years inquiry of multiple organ failure in the elderly(MOFE).Results Among 153 MOFE cases,the first inducement of 89.5%(137/153) patients was infection,among which 93.4% (128/137) was pulmonary infection.The vertical percentage of the first failure organ was as follows: pulmonary (39.0%,60/154),heart (19.5%,30/154),brain (14.9%,23/154),kidney (10.4%,16/154),alimentary canal (8.4%,13/154),liver (6.5%,10/154);while the horizontal percentage was as follows: pulmonary (42.9%,60/140),heart (40.9%,56/137),kidney (32.6%,30/92),brain (21.9%,23/105),alimentary canal ( 14.5%,9/62).The survival time of the first organ failure from shortness to length was as follows: pulmonary,brain,heart,kidney.Conclusions Most MOFE cases have pulmonary failure at first.The organs failure sequence is pulmonary,heart,brain and kidney in order.