OBJECTIVE: To explore the diagnosis, treatment and genetic characteristics of a neonate with severe pulmonary hypertension and respiratory failure. METHODS: Perinatal history, clinical manifestations, laboratory finding and diagnosis and treatment data of the child were collected. Whole exome sequencing was carried out for the child, and Sanger sequencing was used to verify the candidate variants. RESULTS: The female neonate has developed progressive respiratory failure and refractory pulmonary hypertension shortly after birth. Conventional treatment such as mechanical ventilation, vasoactive drugs, and inhaled nitric oxide were ineffective. She has developed sustained pulmonary hypertension after weaning from extracorporeal membrane oxygenation therapy, and had died after the treatment had ceased. Whole exome sequencing revealed that she has harbored a heterozygous de novo variant of c.682_683insGCGGCGGC (p.G234Rfs*148) of the FOXF1 gene, which was predicted as pathogenic based on guidelines from the American College of Medical Genetics and Genomics (ACMG), with evidence items of PVS1_Strong+PM2_Supporting+PS2. Based on her clinical manifestations and result of genetic testing, the child was diagnosed with alveolar capillary dysplasia with misalignment of the pulmonary veins (ACD/MPV). CONCLUSION Discovery of the c.682_683insGCGGCGGC (p.G234 Rfs*148) variant of the FOXF1 gene has expanded the mutational spectrum of the FOXF1 gene, which has facilitated implementation of specific treatment and provided a basis for clinical diagnosis and genetic counseling.
Female ; Humans ; Child ; Infant, Newborn ; Pregnancy ; Persistent Fetal Circulation Syndrome/therapy* ; Hypertension, Pulmonary ; Pulmonary Veins ; Forkhead Transcription Factors/genetics*

Objective:To investigate the clinical characteristics of patients with acquired aplastic anemia (AA) accompanied by abnormal antinuclear antibody (ANA) and autoantibodies and their effects on the efficacy of immunosuppressive therapy (IST).Method:A retrospective case-control study was conducted, analyzing the clinical data of 291 patients with AA who underwent IST and were screened for autoantibodies at initial diagnosis between January 2018 and December 2019 at Blood Diseases Hospital, Chinese Academy of Medical Sciences. According to the titer of ANA at the initial diagnosis, extracted nuclear antigen antibodies (ENAs) abnormality and the change of ANA titer after treatment, the treatment responses of 3 months and 6 months after IST were compared. The correlation between clinical features and ANA abnormality was analyzed by univariate and multivariate logistic regression analysis. The parameters of univariate analysis P<0.1 were included in multivariate analysis, stepwise regression analysis and subgroup analysis. Results:A total of 291 patients were included in the study, of which 145 (49.83%) were male. Among all patients, 147 (50.52%) tested positive for ANA at initial diagnosis, with titers of 1∶100, 1∶320, and 1∶1 000 observed in 94, 47, and 6 cases, respectively. Female gender, older age, presence of paroxysmal nocturnal hemoglobinuria (PNH) clone, and higher levels of IgG, IgA, and thyroid hormone were significantly associated with ANA positivity at initial diagnosis, while white cell counts, reticulocytes, and free triiodothyronine were significantly lower than that of ANA-negatively patients (all P<0.05). Furthermore, logistic regression analyses revealed that female gender ( OR=1.980, 95% CI 1.206-3.277), older age ( OR=1.017, 95% CI 1.003-1.032), and presence of PNH clone ( OR=1.875, 95% CI 1.049-3.408) were independent risk factors for ANA positivity at initial diagnosis. Subgroup analysis indicated that the risk of ANA positivity at initial diagnosis was even higher in PNH clone-positive patients in the subgroups of females ( OR=1.24, 95% CI 1.02-1.51), severe AA ( OR=1.26, 95% CI 1.07-1.47), and age≥40 years ( OR=1.26, 95% CI 1.05-1.52) (all P<0.05). However, ANA titers at initial diagnosis, presence of other abnormal ENAs, and changes in ANA titers after treatment with IST were not correlated with treatment response (all P>0.05). Conclusions:Approximately 50% of patients with AA had abnormal ANA, and their presence was significantly associated with female gender, older age, and presence of PNH clone at initial diagnosis. However, the presence of abnormal ANA and changes in ANA titers after treatment did not affect the efficacy of IST in patients with AA.

Objective:To improve the understanding of adult primary hemophagocytic syndrome (HPS) with aggressive natural killer cell leukemia (ANKL).Methods:The clinicopathological data of one adult patient with suspected primary HPS complicated with ANKL in Huiqiao Medical Center, Nanfang Hospital of Southern Medical University in October 2017 were retrospectively analyzed, and literatures were reviewed.Results:A 21-year-old male patient presented with persistent fever, hemocytopenia, splenomegaly, low fibrinogen, a significant increase in ferritin, hemophagocytes in bone marrow, decreased natural killer (NK) cell activity, and increased soluble CD25. Flow cytometry detection showed that the expression of NK cells was abnormal, and there were familial lysosomal trafficking regulator (LYST) and UNC13D gene defects. He was suspected of primary HPS complicated with ANKL. The patient was given 4 courses of EPOCH+PEG-Asp (etoposide, dexamethasone, vindesine, cyclophosphamide, doxorubicin hydrochloride liposome, pegaspargase) regimen chemotherapy, 20 mg of citalopidine twice a week maintenance therapy and matched unrelated hematopoietic stem cell transplantation. After 35 months of follow-up, he got sustained remission.Conclusions:Even if there are secondary causes of adult HPS, it is necessary to screen out related genes to avoid misdiagnosis. HPS patients with ANKL progress rapidly, and the early mortality is high. EPOCH+ PEG-Asp regimen induction therapy and allogeneic hematopoietic stem cell transplantation should be used as early as possible after diagnosis.

Diagnostics is one of the most important bridge courses for medical students from basic to clinical. Doctor-patient communication runs through the whole process of patient diagnosis and treatment. How to improve medical students' ability of doctor-patient communication? Our teaching team has carried out continuous reform and explored the scientific effective teaching mode. Recently, through the construction of "doctor-patient communication skills" quality online course, efforts have made to build an online and offline blended learning mode, which has gradually realize the integration with diagnostics teaching, and has achieved remarkable results. It also provides a scientific practical basis for the integration of doctor-patient communication and other clinical courses, which is worthy of promotion.

【Objective】 To compare and analyze clinical efficacy and safety of subxiphoid vs. intercostal video-assisted thoracoscopic surgery (VATS) thymic tumor resection. 【Methods】 We selected 124 patients from January 2015 to March 2019, who received VATS thymic tumor resection in the Thoracic Department of The First Affiliated Hospital of Xi'an Jiaotong University. We divided them into the subxiphoid VATS group with 47 cases and intercostal VATS group with 77 cases to analyze clinical characteristics, postoperation outcomes, complications, pain score, and short-term quality of life. 【Results】 There were no significant differences in operation time, blood loss, the rate of postoperative pneumonia, arrhythmia, phrenic nerve paralysis or myasthenia crisis between the two groups (P>0.05). Average hospital stay: It was shorter in subxiphoid VATS group than intercostal VATS group (P<0.05). Pain score: It was lower the first day and the third day after operation in subxiphoid VATS group than in intercostal VATS group (P<0.05). SF-36 health scale score: 3-month and 12-month postoperation score was higher in subxiphoid VATS group than in intercostal VATS group (P<0.05). 【Conclusion】 Subxiphoid VATS thymic tumor resection is safe and feasible; compared with intercostal approach, it can significantly reduce wound pain and improve short-term quality of life.

Objective:To determine national trends for breast conserving surgery and to explore the factors affecting the scale of breast conserving surgery in China.Methods:A questionnaire survey was mailed to 110 hospitals with an year′s volume of more than 200 breast cancer surgeries in each center in China concerning hospital variations and percentage of breast conserving surgery.Results:The overall proportion of breast conserving surgery is 21.9% for operable breast cancer in China. There is a significant positive correlation between local Gross Domestic Product (GDP) and the rate of breast conserving surgery ( P=0.001). Hospitals with higher annual operation volume have higher breast-conserving ratios( P=0.042). Compared with non-teaching hospitals, more patients with stage I breast cancer underwent breast conserving surgery in teaching hospitals ( P=0.021). After breast-conserving surgery, the proportion of positive margins needing reoperation had a lower percentage and in cancer hospitals it was the lowest ( P=0.023). The method of pathological evaluation and the remedy strategy for positive margin was not related to per capita GDP and hospital category ( P>0.05). Conclusions:This survey demonstrates the current practices of breast conserving surgery in China. Local GDP, hospital category and tumor stage were factors influencing breast conserving surgery. Breast conserving surgery in China is still at a low level compared with developed countries.

Objective    To compare and analyze the short-term efficacy of different surgical methods for Siewert type Ⅰ and type Ⅱ esophagogastric junction carcinoma. Methods    We selected 82 patients who accepted radical resection of esophagogastric junction carcinoma from March 2015 to March 2018 in our department, including 53 males and 29 females, aged 48-72 (61±6) years. The patients were divided into four groups according to the surgical method: a left thoracotomy group (n=14), a laparoscopic left small thoracotomy group (n=33), a thoracoscopic Ivor-Lewis group (n=17), and a thoracoscopic McKeown group (n=18). Their clinical characteristics, operative situations, postoperative complications and survival rate were analyzed. Results    Among the four groups, the left thoracotomy group cost the shortest operation time, followed by laparoscopic left small thoracotomy group, thoracoscopic McKeown group and thoracoscopic Ivor-Lewis group. The thoracoscopic McKeown group/laparoscopic left small thoracotomy group had the least bleeding. The fewest lymph nodes were dissected in the left thoracotomy group and the most in the thoracoscopic McKeown group. The laparoscopic left small thoracotomy group had the lowest total complication rate and the incidence of pneumonia and arrhythmia among the four groups (P<0.05). There was no significant difference in survival rate among the four groups (P>0.05). Conclusion    For Siewert type Ⅰ and type Ⅱ esophagogastric junction carcinoma, thoracoscopy combined with laparoscopic radical resection is safe and reliable. Laparoscopic left small thoracotomy has the advantages of minimal invasiveness and complete lymph node dissection, especially for the patients with poor cardiopulmonary function, which will significantly shorten operation time and reduce postoperative complications, so it is worth to be popularized.

Objective:To investigate the current trend of breast cancer neoadjuvant therapy and provide reference for the improvement of breast cancer clinical guideline in the future.Methods:Questionnaires of cross-sectional survey were sent to 110 hospitals (breast cancer surgery quantity surpassing 200) between July 2018 and September 2018. The stages and subtypes, therapeutic regimen, treatment assession, operation choice and preforming of patients underwent neoadjuvant therapy were recorded.Results:Neoadjuvant treatment has been performed in all of the 110 hospitals. The total number of breast patients underwent neoadjuvant therapy was about 14 550 (17.0% in surgical patients) in 2017. For all of the neoadjuvant patients, the proportion of stageⅡ patients was less than 30% in 81 hospitals, and the proportion of stage Ⅲ was more than 50% in 84 hospitals. The numbers of estrogen receptor (ER) (+ )/human epidermal growth factor receptor-2 (HER-2) (-), ER (-)/HER-2 (+ ) and triple negative subtype breast cancer patients were 3 550 (24.4%), 6 024 (41.4%) and 4 991 (34.3%), respectively. Patient′s scruples of relatively delayed operation and weak will of breast conservation after neoadjuvant therapy were the majority reasons for neoadjuvant therapy restriction. Anthracycline followed by taxane was the most usual neoadjuvant therapeutic regimens in 53.6% hospitals, and anthracycline plus taxane was the first choice in 42.7% hospitals. Chemotherapy with targeting therapy was recommended to HER-2 positive neoadjuvant patients in 80.9% hospitals. To assess treatment outcome of neoadjuvant treatment, 42.7% hospitals used MRI in more than 50% patients while the usage rate of MRI was less than 20% in 37.3% hospitals. The proportions of hospital using repeat-marking, tattoo and metal clip as the first method to identify the primary tumor region and lymph nodes were 60.0%, 29.1% and 10.9%, respectively. Breast-conservation rate after neoadjuvant therapy was less than 20% in 87.3% hospitals.Conclusions:Neoadjuvant therapy for breast cancer is widely performed in most hospitals in China, while the proportion of neoadjuvant treatment in patients with operable breast cancer is still low. Meanwhile, the idea of achieving de-escalation operation through neoadjuvant treatment is not promoted and the therapeutic evaluation method of neoadjuvant treatment needs further studies to improve.

Objective:To investigate the current trend of breast cancer neoadjuvant therapy and provide reference for the improvement of breast cancer clinical guideline in the future.Methods:Questionnaires of cross-sectional survey were sent to 110 hospitals (breast cancer surgery quantity surpassing 200) between July 2018 and September 2018. The stages and subtypes, therapeutic regimen, treatment assession, operation choice and preforming of patients underwent neoadjuvant therapy were recorded.Results:Neoadjuvant treatment has been performed in all of the 110 hospitals. The total number of breast patients underwent neoadjuvant therapy was about 14 550 (17.0% in surgical patients) in 2017. For all of the neoadjuvant patients, the proportion of stageⅡ patients was less than 30% in 81 hospitals, and the proportion of stage Ⅲ was more than 50% in 84 hospitals. The numbers of estrogen receptor (ER) (+ )/human epidermal growth factor receptor-2 (HER-2) (-), ER (-)/HER-2 (+ ) and triple negative subtype breast cancer patients were 3 550 (24.4%), 6 024 (41.4%) and 4 991 (34.3%), respectively. Patient′s scruples of relatively delayed operation and weak will of breast conservation after neoadjuvant therapy were the majority reasons for neoadjuvant therapy restriction. Anthracycline followed by taxane was the most usual neoadjuvant therapeutic regimens in 53.6% hospitals, and anthracycline plus taxane was the first choice in 42.7% hospitals. Chemotherapy with targeting therapy was recommended to HER-2 positive neoadjuvant patients in 80.9% hospitals. To assess treatment outcome of neoadjuvant treatment, 42.7% hospitals used MRI in more than 50% patients while the usage rate of MRI was less than 20% in 37.3% hospitals. The proportions of hospital using repeat-marking, tattoo and metal clip as the first method to identify the primary tumor region and lymph nodes were 60.0%, 29.1% and 10.9%, respectively. Breast-conservation rate after neoadjuvant therapy was less than 20% in 87.3% hospitals.Conclusions:Neoadjuvant therapy for breast cancer is widely performed in most hospitals in China, while the proportion of neoadjuvant treatment in patients with operable breast cancer is still low. Meanwhile, the idea of achieving de-escalation operation through neoadjuvant treatment is not promoted and the therapeutic evaluation method of neoadjuvant treatment needs further studies to improve.

Objective: To investigate the current status of breast reconstruction surgery in China and analyze the specific views of Chinese doctors on the relationship between radiotherapy and breast reconstruction surgery. Methods: A total of 110 medical institutions nationwide with more than 200 cases of breast cancer surgery yearly were selected into this questionnaire survey. The questionnaire survey included basic information of the surgeons and their hospitals, information of breast cancer surgeries in 2017, types of reconstruction surgery and specific views on the relationship between radiotherapy and reconstruction surgery. Results: In total, 110 hospitals participated in the survey, 96(87.3%) had undergone breast reconstruction surgery. Reconstruction with implants accounted for 65.7% of the total reconstruction surgery and the proportion of autologous reconstruction was 20.1%. For patients who probably required postoperative radiotherapy, the preferred surgical procedure in the surveyed hospitals was implant based reconstruction surgery. For those who were confirmed to receive postoperative radiotherapy or had undergone radiotherapy after total mastectomy, autologous tissue reconstruction was recommended. Postoperative radiotherapy was a negative factor for immediate breast reconstruction, and most hospitals believed that radiotherapy exerted slight effect on surgery. The proportion of delay-immediate breast reconstruction reached 66% and 86% of hospitals preferred to replace with the prosthesis at 6 months after radiotherapy. Patients with local recurrence after breast-conserving surgery could also receive immediate reconstruction and implant reconstruction was the preferred surgical procedure. Conclusions The proportion of breast reconstruction in China is relatively low and Chinese doctors still lack of technical mastery. In the face of conflict with radiotherapy, the regime selected by Chinese doctors is not in accordance with those recommended by the guideline and consensus, prompting that more professional training should be delivered for Chinese doctors to further promote the development of breast reconstruction in China.