Objective:To investigate the overall recurrence rate and the pattern of treatment failure in thoracic esophageal cancer (TEC) patients after minimally invasive esophagectomy (MIE), and to evaluate the significance of adjuvant therapy after MIE.Methods:Clinical data of TEC patients who underwent MIE with or without neoadjuvant chemotherapy in the Fourth Hospital of Hebei Medical University between 2016 and 2018 were retrospectively analyzed. The pathology-based lymph node metastasis (LNM) rate, overall recurrence rate, and pattern of treatment failure following MIE were analyzed by SPSS 26.0 statistical software. Cox regression model was used to identify the high-risk factors for recurrent disease. Propensity score matching was performed to compare the survival of patients between the postoperative radiotherapy group and non-radiotherapy group.Results:A total of 443 eligible patients were enrolled in this study, and the pathology-based LNM rate in all groups was 42.0%. The overall recurrence rate was 34.8%. Regional lymphatic metastasis was the most frequent pattern of recurrence (24.2%), followed by distant metastasis (19.4%). Multivariate Cox regression analysis identified pT 3-4 stage and pN + stage as the independent risk factors for recurrence. At the same time, the total number of lymph nodes dissected ≥12 and the number of lymph nodes dissected ≥7 in the neck clavicle and upper mediastinum could reduce the risk of tumor recurrence. The 1-, 3-, and 5-year disease-free survival (DFS) rates in the postoperative radiotherapy group and non-radiotherapy group were 83.5%, 66.8%, 60.7%, and 79.2%, 61.6%, 57.2%, respectively ( χ2=0.13, P=0.715). The 1-, 3-, and 5-year overall survival (OS) rates in two groups were 92.0%, 72.0%, 67.5% and 84.0%, 68.0%, 55.4% , respectively ( χ2=0.43, P=0.513). Conclusions:Regional lymphatic and distant metastases are the main patterns of recurrence for TEC patients after MIE with or without neoadjuvant chemotherapy. pT 3-4 stage, pN + stage, insufficient total number of lymph node dissection and insufficient number of lymph nodes in neck supraclavicular and upper mediastinal dissection are high-risk factors for postoperative recurrence. The survival rate in the postoperative radiotherapy group tends to be higher than that in the non-radiotherapy group. Adjuvant therapy, including postoperative radiotherapy, may remain necessary.

A 56-year male patient was implanted with a third generation magnetic levitation HeartCon left ventricular assist device (LVAD) for refractory heart failure through a left antero-lateral thoracotomy. Inflow cannula of the HeartCon blood pump was inserted via the left apex and outflow tract with the artificial blood vessel was sutured to the descending aorta. The operation process was smooth, the LVAD worked stably, and results of left ventricular assist was good. Implantation of HeartCon LVAD through the left antero-lateral thoracotomy is an alternative technique with less surgical complications, less trauma and satisfactory results.

The current recommendation for postoperative radiotherapy for esophageal cancer in China is mainly based on the data of incomplete two-field dissection of open left thoracotomy. At present, the type of surgery for esophageal cancer gradually transitions from open left thoracotomy to open right thoracotomy and from open esophagectomy to minimally invasive esophagectomy (MIE). Patients with early-stage esophageal cancer are selected as candidates for MIE. MIE is less invasive than open esophagectomy, and the right thoracic approach is conducive to more thorough lymph node dissection. However, few data and related studies are available on the patterns of failure after MIE in esophageal cancer, and guiding an adjuvant therapy is difficult. The feasibility of an adjuvant therapy for selective high-risk patients and the optimized treatment after MIE remains to be explored in clinical practice. In this regard, this article aims to review the safety of MIE, long-term survival outcomes, postoperative recurrence patterns, and recurrence rates of patients to discuss the value of postoperative adjuvant therapy and guide clinical treatment.

Objective:To evaluate the clinical value of intraoperative transesophageal echocardiography (TEE) in monitoring left ventricular assist device (LVAD) implantation.Methods:Between March 2019 and November 2021, 23 consecutive patients from TEDA International Cardiovascular Hospital, including 21 cases with dilated cardiomyopathy, 1 case with myocardial noncompaction and 1 case with ischemic cardiomyopathy, underwent HeartCon blood pump, a type of third generation LVAD implantation for severe heart failure. TEE was preformed in all cases before and after cardiopulmonary bypass. The dimensions of left-sided and right-sided cardiac chamber, ventricular function, de-airing, interventricular septal position, inlet cannulae position and the function of device were observed and recorded during LVAD implantation. Paired t test was used for statistical analysis of left-sided and right-sided heart parameters in pre- and post-operative measurements. Results:The left heart was dilated significantly and coexistent with right heart enlargement in some degree before LVAD implantation in total 23 cases. More than moderate mitral regurgitation (MR) in 16 cases and less than moderate MR in 7 cases were present. Mild or trace aortic regurgitation (AR) existed in 13 cases. More than moderate tricuspid regurgitation (TR) in 4 cases and less than moderate TR in 16 cases were observed. Left atrial appendage thrombosis was detected in 2 cases. After LVAD implantation, TEE revealed that the left ventricular end-diastolic diameter reduced significantly (42 mm/m 2 vs 32.8 mm/m 2, P<0.05) and left ventricular ejection fraction increased accordingly (22.2% vs 34.0%, P<0.05). There were no significant differences in right ventricular diameter and fractional area change between pre- and post-operative findings(all P>0.05). The ratio of left ventricular inner diameter to right ventricular inner diameter (2.09 vs 1.69, P<0.05) decreased in total 23 cases after LVAD implantation.Interventricular septal position became neutral position instead of pre-oprative rightward position. The severity of MR decreased in varying degrees in total 23 cases after LVAD implantation. All patients underwent tricuspid valvuloplasty with residual mild regurgitation in 8 cases. Conclusions:HeartCon blood pump can effectively unload the left ventricle with sufficient cardiac output in patients with severe congestive heart failure. TEE plays a major role in the clinical decision making during LVAD implantation, which can evaluate pre-operative cardiac abnormalities, intra-operative air embolism, inlet cannulae position, cannulas patency and cardiac function, especially blood volume status and the balance between double ventricles, which is critical for optimal functioning of the device.

In recent years, unconventional fractionated radiotherapy has shown increasing advantages in the treatment of multiple system tumors. Simultaneous integrated boost intensity-modulated radiotherapy (SIB-IMRT) involves the delivery of standard-fraction doses of radiotherapy to different areas, achieving the delivery of higher doses of radiotherapy per fraction to the high-risk gross tumor volume (GTV) without sacrificing the irradiation dose to the normal tissues. The dosimetric advantages of SIB-IMRT have been widely recognized. At present, the local control, survival advantage, indication population and the optimal upper limit of single fraction of SIB-IMRT for esophageal carcinoma are still unclear. This article reviews the application of SIB-IMRT in esophageal carcinoma.

Objective:To compare the efficacy and safety of triamcinolone acetonide (TA) alone and in combination with 5-fluorouracil (5-FU) for treating keloids using meta-analysis.Methods:Databases including PubMed, Embase, and Cochrane Library were retrieved with the search terms of " triamcinolone acetonide, 5-fluorouracil, glucocorticoid, fluorouracil, keloid, scar, TAC, 5-FU, hypertrophic scar " and databases including Chinese Journal Full- Text Database, Chinese Biomedical Database, and Wanfang Data were retrieved with the search terms of "曲安奈德,瘢痕疙瘩, 5-氟尿嘧啶,糖皮质激素,增生性瘢痕" in Chinese to obtain the publicly published randomized controlled trials about the effects of TA alone and in combination with 5-fluorouracil for treating keloids from the establishment of each database to august 2019. The outcome indexes included effective proportion of treatment, incidence proportion of adverse reactions, and recurrence proportion of keloids. RevMan 5.3 and Stata 14.0 statistical software were used to conduct a meta-analysis of eligible studies. Results:A total of 1 326 patients with keloids were included in 14 studies, including 668 patients in TA+ 5-fluorouracil group whose keloids were injected with TA and 5-fluorouracil and 658 patients in TA alone group whose keloids were injected with TA alone. A total of 7 articles achieved 1 to 3 points in modified Jadad score, while 7 articles achieved 4 to 7 points in modified Jadad score. Patients in TA+ 5-fluorouracil group had a higher effective proportion of treatment than that of TA alone group (relative risk=1.28, 95% confidence interval=1.16-1.41, P<0.01). Subgroup analysis showed that the quality of the included literature and ethnic factors might be the source of heterogeneity in effective proportion of treatment. Patients in TA+ 5-fluorouracil group had a lower incidence proportion of adverse reactions than that of TA alone group (relative risk=0.44, 95% confidence interval=0.25-0.75, P<0.01). Patients in TA+ 5-fluorouracil group had a lower recurrence proportion of keloids than that of TA alone group (relative risk=0.25, 95% confidence interval=0.14-0.44, P<0.01). There was no publication bias in incidence proportion of adverse reactions ( P>0.05), while the effective proportion of treatment and recurrence proportion of keloids had publication bias ( P<0.05). Conclusions:TA combined with 5-fluorouracil is more effective than TA alone for treating keloids, with less incidence of adverse reactions and recurrence.

OBJECTIVE:To screen the optimal micronization technology of Alitretinoin crude drug. METHODS:Using characteristic value of particle size distribution [d(0.9)] and the content of impurity A of crude drug after crushed as indexes, crushing method(universal pulverizer,ball crusher,airslide disintegrating mill),crushing gas source(compressed air,high pressure nitrogen)and crushing pressure(0.2,0.4,0.6 MPa)of Alitretinoin crude drug were screened,and validation test was also conducted. RESULTS:The optimal technology was as follows as airslide disintegrating mill,high pressure nitrogen as gas source,at 0.4 MPa.In validation test,particle sizes for 3 batches of crude drug after crushed were 8.57,8.55,8.54 μm(<10 μm, RSD=0.15%,n=3). The content of impurity A was not increased compared with before crushed(0.07%). CONCLUSIONS:Screened micronization technology of Alitretinoin crude drug is feasible and stable in quality.

Objective To determine the efficacy of primary tumor of esophageal cancer,according to the result of magnetic resonance imaging before and after chemoradiotherapy of esophageal cancer,combined with clinical efficacy evaluation,and to verify the reliable evaluation of the short-term curative effect of magnetic resonance on esophageal cancer,combined with the original CT and esophagogram evaluation criteria.Methods From May 2010 to March 2014,totally 83 patients with esophageal carcinoma treated with 3D-CRT or IMRT were enrolled.The prescribed doses were ranged from 50-64 Gy with median dose of 60 Gy and 1.8-2.0 Gy per fraction,of which 34 of the patients received concurrent chemotherapy of FP or TP.All the patients performed the examinations of DWI,CT scan and esophagogram before and after radiotherapy.The treatment efficacy was evaluated by short-term therapeutic effect evaluation criterion of versions 1989 and 2013 and the hyperintense expression on DWI sequence.Results According to the short-term therapeutic effect evaluation criterion of versions 1989 and 2013 based on the examination of esophagogram and CT scan,45 patients achieved complete remission (CR) after treatment(54.2％) and 38 achieved partly remission(PR) (45.8％) version 1989,while 35 patients achieved CR (42.2％) and 48 achieved PR (57.8％) version vesion 2013.In the two differentcriterions,the local control rate and survival rate of the complete remission group in 1 to 5 years were better than those in the partial remission group.According to the examination of DWI,48 patients' hyperintense disappeared completely at the end of treatment (which was defined to CR),25 patients had a slightly hyperintense expression and 10 patients still had hyperintense expression on DWI sequence (which two defined to PR),the local control and survival rates of the former group were superior to the latter groups (x2 =6.125,11.652,P ＜0.05).The TE results evaluated by DWI and TE evaluation criterion of version 2013 were compared according to Kappa test,as a result,the Kappa coefficient 0.478.According to the examination of esophagogram,CT scan and DW1,25 patients achieved CR and 58 achieved PR in all exams,and the local control and survival rates of the former group were superior to the latter group (x2 =5.559,10.014,P ＜0.05).Conclusions The esophagogram and CT based TE evaluation criterion could well indicate local control status of esophageal cancer,and the examination of DWI could afford visualized and quantifying reference information about the TE of esophageal cancer.The expression of hyperintense at the end of treatment may indicate a high risk of recurrence and metastasis.The therapeutic effect evaluated by esophagogram,CT scan and DWI maybe more objective and more accurate.

Objective To explore and improve the feasibility and prognostic value of barium radiography and computed tomography (CT)-based evaluation criteria in evaluation of the short-term efficacy of radiotherapy for esophageal cancer,and to provide a basis for clinical application.Methods The short-term treatment outcomes of 529 patients with esophageal carcinoma receiving three-dimensional radiotherapy from 2004 to 2015 were evaluated by the 2013 version of barium radiography and CT-based evaluation criteria.The local control (LC) and survival rates were calculated using the Kaplan-Meier method.The log-rank test was used for data analysis and univariate prognostic analysis.The agreement between two evaluation criteria was measured by the Kappa coefficient.Results According to the results of the survival analysis in all the patients using the evaluation criteria for short-term treatment outcomes,the 3-,5-,7-,and 9-year LC rates were 78.6％,69.8％,69.8％,and 63.4％ in the complete response (CR) group (n=52),and 56.4％,47.9％,46.2％,and 42.4％ in the partial response (PR) group (n=409),respectively;the 3-,5-,7-,and 9-year overall survival (OS) rates were 62.7％,49.1％,39.8％,and 39.8％ in the CR group,and 29.5％,21.6％,20.6％,and 19.5％ in the PR group,respectively;the median OS time was 50,17,and 5 months in the CR group,PR group,and non-response group (n=12),respectively (P=0.000).According to CT measurements,the short diameter of residual metastatic lymph node after radiotherapy was between 0.37-3.40 cm (median value=0.82 em).All patients were divided into groups based on the short diameter of residual metastatic lymph node after radiotherapy with a gradient of 0.5 cm.Patients with short diameters of residual metastatic lymph node of ≤ 1.00 cm had a significantly higher OS rate than those with short diameters of residual metastatic lymph node of＞ 1.00 cm (P =0.000).The lymph node volume of 1.00 cm3 in the original criteria was replaced by the short diameter of residual metastatic lymph node of 1.00 cm after radiotherapy and treatment outcomes were re-evaluated using the new criteria.The CR group still had significantly higher LC and OS rates than the PR group (P=0.000).There was a good agreement between the two evaluation criteria (Kappa =0.863).Conclusions The barium radiography and CT-based evaluation criteria for short-term treatment outcomes can accurately evaluate the short-term outcomes and predict prognosis in patients with esophageal carcinoma.Replacing the volume in the original criteria with the short diameter of residual metastatic lymph node after radiotherapy achieves similar results in prognostic prediction.

Objective To investigate the survival benefits of simultaneous integrated boost intensity-modulated radiotherapy ( SIB-IMRT ) in the treatment of esophageal squamous cell carcinoma ( ESCC ) . Methods From July 2003 to March 2014,1748 patients with ESCC received 3DCRT or IMRT in a single institution were enrolled in this retrospective study. Among them, 809 patients received conventional fractionated radiotherapy with the standard prescription dose and 110 patients received SIB-IMRT ( SIB-IMRT group).Survival analysis was performed and propensity score matching (PSM 1vs1) was conducted to evaluate and compare the survival benefits between SIB-IMRT and conventional fractionated radiotherapy. Results The baseline characteristics significantly differed between two groups. In the SIB group,the age was significantly younger ( 64 years vs. 66 years, P=0. 001 ) , the percentage of patients with cervical/upper thoracic tumors was considerably higher (53. 6％ vs. 31. 0％,P=0. 000) and the proportion of N2 patients was significantly higher ( 21. 8％ vs. 13. 7％,P=0. 027) compared with those in the other group. Accordingto the PSM of 1:1, 218 patients were successfully matched. After matching, the clinical data did not significantly differ between two groups. Prior to matching,the median survival time in the standard dose and SIB-IMRT groups were 23 and 21 months (P=0. 638).After matching,the median survival time in the SIB-IMRT group was 22 months,significantly longer than 18 months in the standard dose group (P=0. 000). Subgroup analysis demonstrated that patients with large tumors ( GTV volume>40 cm3 ) and middle/lower thoracic tumors obtained more survival benefits from SIB-IMRT. The median survival time of patients in the standard dose group was 14 months, significantly shorter than 21 months in the SIB-IMRT group ( P=0. 001).The median survival time of patients with middle/lower thoracic tumors in the SIB-IMRT group was 17 months,significantly longer than 9 months in the standard dose group (P=0. 000).Multivariate analysis using Cox regression model indicated that age, tumor site and radiotherapy modality were the independent prognostic factors. The HR of SIB-IMRT was 0. 551(P=0. 000),which was a factor for survival benefits. Conclusions SIB-IMRT possesses potential survival benefits for ESCC compared with conventional fractionated radiotherapy. Patients with large tumors and middle/lower thoracic tumors are more prone to obtaining benefits from SIB-IMRT than their counterparts.