Acute Kidney Injury (AKI) is a common and severe complication after cardiac surgery. The pathogenesis of cardiac surgery-associated AKI (CSA-AKI) is complex, and it is associated with increased patient mortality and poor renal prognosis. To identify high-risk patients as early as possible, numerous clinical studies have explored perioperative risk factors and developed a variety of biomarkers with good diagnostic capabilities. Currently, multiple prediction models for AKI after cardiac surgery have been developed internationally; however, there is no effective treatment for CSA-AKI. Therefore, implementing reasonable and comprehensive preventive strategies is crucial. In addition, the clinical application of some interventions is controversial, which means more research and exploration are needed to make more informed decisions regarding the prevention and treatment of CSA-AKI.

Objective:To evaluate the survival benefit of surgical treatment for intrahepatic cholangiocarcinoma.Methods:This study is conducted based on the hepatobiliary tumor registry database. From May 2009 to December 2022,a total of 704 patients who were initially diagnosed with intrahepatic cholangiocarcinoma and underwent liver resection were consecutively enrolled at the Hepatobiliary Center of the First Affiliated Hospital of Nanjing Medical University. Among them,there were 380 males and 324 females,aged ( M(IQR)) 61(15) years(range:27 to 88 years). Twenty-six (3.7%) patients received neoadjuvant therapy before surgery. The overall survival(OS) and disease-free survival(DFS) rates were estimated by life table method, and Kaplan-Meier survival curves were plotted. Log-rank test was used to compare the survival difference among tumor-node-metastasis(TNM) staging or three periods. The OS and DFS differences among lymph node groups or adjuvant treatment groups were quantified as HR with 95% CI estimated using Cox proportional-hazards model with adjustment for prognostic factors. Results:Among the 704 patients,349 cases(49.6%) underwent major hepatectomy (≥3 segments),331(47.0%) had lymph node resection during surgery,and 524 cases(74.4%) achieved R0 resection. The morbidity of Clavien-Dindo grade Ⅲ or higher complications was 16.5%(116/704),with a mortality rate of 3.0%(21/704) within 30 days post-surgery. The median OS time was 27.1 months, and the OS rates at 1-,3-,5- and 10-year were 69.1%, 42.4%,34.1% and 24.5%,respectively. The median DFS time was 10.5 months,and the corresponding DFS rates were 46.0%,25.4%,21.9% and 16.9%,respectively. According to the 8 th edition of AJCC staging system, the 5-year survival rates for ⅠA,ⅠB,Ⅱ,ⅢA,ⅢB and Ⅳ were 68.4%, 43.2%, 30.3%,32.2%,14.0% and 0,respectively. The corresponding DFS rates were 55.8%, 28.1%,13.8%,21.2%,3.3% and 0,respectively. There were no statistically significant differences of OS or DFS between stage ⅠB and Ⅱ, stage ⅠB and ⅢA, or between stage Ⅱ and ⅢA(Log-rank test:all P>0.05),while there were significant differences of OS and DFS among other stages(Log-rank test:all P<0.05). Using Cox model with adjustment for prognostic factors, there were no statistically significant differences of OS and DFS between non-lymphadenectomy group or the biopsy-N0 group and dissection-N0 group(both P>0.05). However,the overall and disease-free survival of the biopsy-N1 group or dissection-N1 group were worse than those of dissection-N0 group(both P<0.05),with overall survival being better in dissection-N1 group than biopsy-N1 group( P=0.017). Overall survival in the period from 2019 to 2022 were significantly superior to that during the periods from 2009 to 2013 and 2014 to 2018(both P<0.01). Adjusting for prognostic factors, the disease-free and overall survival of the postoperative adjuvant therapy group were significantly better than those of the observation group in the period 2019 to 2022(both P<0.01). Conclusions:Surgery remains a milestone for achieving long-term survival for patients with intrahepatic cholangiocarcinoma. Regional lymph node dissection is required for patients with lymph node metastasis. Adjuvant therapy can significantly reduce tumor recurrence and prolong overall survival.

Objective:To evaluate the clinical outcomes of radical resection and perioperative management strategies in hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) patients with major vascular invasion and tumor thrombus.Methods:This is a retrospective case series study. From January 2010 to December 2022,clinicopathological data of 387 HCC patients who underwent liver resection at the Hepatobiliary Center of the First Affiliated Hospital of Nanjing Medical University were retrospectively analyzed. In the cohort,there were 326 males (84.2%) and 61 females (15.8%),with an age ( M(IQR)) of 54(16) years (range: 16 to 82 years). One hundred and nineteen patients (30.7%) had macrovascular invasion without thrombus and 268 patients(69.3%) had macrovascular thrombus. Categorical variables were presented as frequencies (percentages). Survival rates were calculated using life-table analysis,and Kaplan-Meier curves were employed to depict overall survival(OS) and recurrence-free survival (RFS). Independent prognostic factors were identified by univariate and multivariate Cox regression. Results:Among 387 patients,R0 resection was achieved in 359 cases (92.8%),with R1 or R2 resection in 28 cases (7.2%). Excluding in-hospital deaths,the 354 R0-resected patients had a median OS of 19.8 months, with 1-, 3-, and 5-year OS rates were 63.3%, 35.1%, and 22.4%, respectively; median RFS was 5.6 months,and 1-, 3-, and 5-year RFS was 34.0%,18.0%,and 14.4%, respectively. Patients receiving preoperative therapy showed a median OS of 26.0 months,1-, 3-, and 5-year OS rates were 75.5%, 48.4%, and 32.5%, respectively. There was no significant difference in the OS of patients with or without preoperative therapy ( P>0.05). The median OS time of patients who received postoperative adjuvant therapy was 53.0 months, and the 1-, 3-, and 5-year OS rates were 87.9%, 59.2%, and 34.8%, respectively. The median OS time of patients who did not receive postoperative adjuvant therapy was 13.7 months, and 1-, 3-, and 5-year OS rates were 56.7%, 31.7%, and 22.4%, respectively ( P<0.01). The median RFS of patients who received postoperative adjuvant therapy was 11.6 months, and the 1-, 3-, and 5-year RFS rates were 49.6%, 29.8%, and 26.8%, respectively. The median RFS of patients who did not receive postoperative adjuvant therapy was 4.2 months, and the 1-,3-,and 5-year RFS rates were 29.2%, 16.1%, and 12.5%, respectively ( P<0.01). Multivariate analysis identified that maximum tumor diameter,postoperative adjuvant therapy,and treatment after recurrence were the independent predictors of the OS of patients with major vascular invasion and tumor thrombus (all P<0.05),while age,surgical approach,and postoperative adjuvant therapy independently influenced the RFS of patients with major vascular invasion and tumor thrombus(all P<0.05). Conclusions:HCC patients with vascular invasion/thrombus could benefit from surgery-based multimodal therapy after careful evaluation. Postoperative adjuvant therapy significantly reduces recurrence and prolongs patients′ survival.

Acute kidney injury (AKI) usually requires renal replacement therapy (RRT). Common RRT modes include peritoneal dialysis, continuous renal replacement therapy, intermittent hemodialysis and continuous low-efficiency hemodialysis. In clinical practice, there is still controversy over how to select the appropriate RRT mode for AKI patients and when initiating RRT is more beneficial for AKI patients. This article summarizes previous studies on the impact of RRT mode and initiation timing on the prognosis of AKI patients, with the aim of providing assistance for clinical decision-making.

Acute kidney injury(AKI)is a clinical syndrome characterized by a rapid decline in renal function within a short period.Its pathogenesis involves multiple processes,including oxidative stress,inflammatory responses,and programmed cell death,while effective pharmacological interventions remain lacking.Current studies have indicated that asiaticoside,a natural active compound,exhibits nephroprotective potential in the intervention of AKI.The potential mechanisms include the activation of antioxidant signaling such as nuclear factor-erythroid 2-related factor 2/heme oxygenase-1 to mitigate oxidative injury,the regulation of key inflammatory pathways including nuclear factor-κB/NOD-like receptor thermal protein domain associated protein 3,and Janus kinase 2/signal transducer and activator of transcription 3 to suppress inflammation and modulate macrophage polarization;it promotes mitophagy by influencing the expression of apoptosis-related proteins and activating the recombinant sirtuin 1-forkhead box-O3-phosphatase and tensin homolog-induced kinase 1-Parkin pathway so as to maintain cellular homeostasis.As a multi-target natural compound,asiaticoside holds promise for providing novel intervention strategies in the clinical treatment of AKI,yet its efficacy and safety still require validation through large-sample clinical trials.

Acute kidney injury (AKI) usually requires renal replacement therapy (RRT). Common RRT modes include peritoneal dialysis, continuous renal replacement therapy, intermittent hemodialysis and continuous low-efficiency hemodialysis. In clinical practice, there is still controversy over how to select the appropriate RRT mode for AKI patients and when initiating RRT is more beneficial for AKI patients. This article summarizes previous studies on the impact of RRT mode and initiation timing on the prognosis of AKI patients, with the aim of providing assistance for clinical decision-making.

Acute Kidney Injury (AKI) is a common and severe complication after cardiac surgery. The pathogenesis of cardiac surgery-associated AKI (CSA-AKI) is complex, and it is associated with increased patient mortality and poor renal prognosis. To identify high-risk patients as early as possible, numerous clinical studies have explored perioperative risk factors and developed a variety of biomarkers with good diagnostic capabilities. Currently, multiple prediction models for AKI after cardiac surgery have been developed internationally; however, there is no effective treatment for CSA-AKI. Therefore, implementing reasonable and comprehensive preventive strategies is crucial. In addition, the clinical application of some interventions is controversial, which means more research and exploration are needed to make more informed decisions regarding the prevention and treatment of CSA-AKI.

Objective:To evaluate the survival benefit of surgical treatment for intrahepatic cholangiocarcinoma.Methods:This study is conducted based on the hepatobiliary tumor registry database. From May 2009 to December 2022,a total of 704 patients who were initially diagnosed with intrahepatic cholangiocarcinoma and underwent liver resection were consecutively enrolled at the Hepatobiliary Center of the First Affiliated Hospital of Nanjing Medical University. Among them,there were 380 males and 324 females,aged ( M(IQR)) 61(15) years(range:27 to 88 years). Twenty-six (3.7%) patients received neoadjuvant therapy before surgery. The overall survival(OS) and disease-free survival(DFS) rates were estimated by life table method, and Kaplan-Meier survival curves were plotted. Log-rank test was used to compare the survival difference among tumor-node-metastasis(TNM) staging or three periods. The OS and DFS differences among lymph node groups or adjuvant treatment groups were quantified as HR with 95% CI estimated using Cox proportional-hazards model with adjustment for prognostic factors. Results:Among the 704 patients,349 cases(49.6%) underwent major hepatectomy (≥3 segments),331(47.0%) had lymph node resection during surgery,and 524 cases(74.4%) achieved R0 resection. The morbidity of Clavien-Dindo grade Ⅲ or higher complications was 16.5%(116/704),with a mortality rate of 3.0%(21/704) within 30 days post-surgery. The median OS time was 27.1 months, and the OS rates at 1-,3-,5- and 10-year were 69.1%, 42.4%,34.1% and 24.5%,respectively. The median DFS time was 10.5 months,and the corresponding DFS rates were 46.0%,25.4%,21.9% and 16.9%,respectively. According to the 8 th edition of AJCC staging system, the 5-year survival rates for ⅠA,ⅠB,Ⅱ,ⅢA,ⅢB and Ⅳ were 68.4%, 43.2%, 30.3%,32.2%,14.0% and 0,respectively. The corresponding DFS rates were 55.8%, 28.1%,13.8%,21.2%,3.3% and 0,respectively. There were no statistically significant differences of OS or DFS between stage ⅠB and Ⅱ, stage ⅠB and ⅢA, or between stage Ⅱ and ⅢA(Log-rank test:all P>0.05),while there were significant differences of OS and DFS among other stages(Log-rank test:all P<0.05). Using Cox model with adjustment for prognostic factors, there were no statistically significant differences of OS and DFS between non-lymphadenectomy group or the biopsy-N0 group and dissection-N0 group(both P>0.05). However,the overall and disease-free survival of the biopsy-N1 group or dissection-N1 group were worse than those of dissection-N0 group(both P<0.05),with overall survival being better in dissection-N1 group than biopsy-N1 group( P=0.017). Overall survival in the period from 2019 to 2022 were significantly superior to that during the periods from 2009 to 2013 and 2014 to 2018(both P<0.01). Adjusting for prognostic factors, the disease-free and overall survival of the postoperative adjuvant therapy group were significantly better than those of the observation group in the period 2019 to 2022(both P<0.01). Conclusions:Surgery remains a milestone for achieving long-term survival for patients with intrahepatic cholangiocarcinoma. Regional lymph node dissection is required for patients with lymph node metastasis. Adjuvant therapy can significantly reduce tumor recurrence and prolong overall survival.

Objective:To evaluate the clinical outcomes of radical resection and perioperative management strategies in hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) patients with major vascular invasion and tumor thrombus.Methods:This is a retrospective case series study. From January 2010 to December 2022,clinicopathological data of 387 HCC patients who underwent liver resection at the Hepatobiliary Center of the First Affiliated Hospital of Nanjing Medical University were retrospectively analyzed. In the cohort,there were 326 males (84.2%) and 61 females (15.8%),with an age ( M(IQR)) of 54(16) years (range: 16 to 82 years). One hundred and nineteen patients (30.7%) had macrovascular invasion without thrombus and 268 patients(69.3%) had macrovascular thrombus. Categorical variables were presented as frequencies (percentages). Survival rates were calculated using life-table analysis,and Kaplan-Meier curves were employed to depict overall survival(OS) and recurrence-free survival (RFS). Independent prognostic factors were identified by univariate and multivariate Cox regression. Results:Among 387 patients,R0 resection was achieved in 359 cases (92.8%),with R1 or R2 resection in 28 cases (7.2%). Excluding in-hospital deaths,the 354 R0-resected patients had a median OS of 19.8 months, with 1-, 3-, and 5-year OS rates were 63.3%, 35.1%, and 22.4%, respectively; median RFS was 5.6 months,and 1-, 3-, and 5-year RFS was 34.0%,18.0%,and 14.4%, respectively. Patients receiving preoperative therapy showed a median OS of 26.0 months,1-, 3-, and 5-year OS rates were 75.5%, 48.4%, and 32.5%, respectively. There was no significant difference in the OS of patients with or without preoperative therapy ( P>0.05). The median OS time of patients who received postoperative adjuvant therapy was 53.0 months, and the 1-, 3-, and 5-year OS rates were 87.9%, 59.2%, and 34.8%, respectively. The median OS time of patients who did not receive postoperative adjuvant therapy was 13.7 months, and 1-, 3-, and 5-year OS rates were 56.7%, 31.7%, and 22.4%, respectively ( P<0.01). The median RFS of patients who received postoperative adjuvant therapy was 11.6 months, and the 1-, 3-, and 5-year RFS rates were 49.6%, 29.8%, and 26.8%, respectively. The median RFS of patients who did not receive postoperative adjuvant therapy was 4.2 months, and the 1-,3-,and 5-year RFS rates were 29.2%, 16.1%, and 12.5%, respectively ( P<0.01). Multivariate analysis identified that maximum tumor diameter,postoperative adjuvant therapy,and treatment after recurrence were the independent predictors of the OS of patients with major vascular invasion and tumor thrombus (all P<0.05),while age,surgical approach,and postoperative adjuvant therapy independently influenced the RFS of patients with major vascular invasion and tumor thrombus(all P<0.05). Conclusions:HCC patients with vascular invasion/thrombus could benefit from surgery-based multimodal therapy after careful evaluation. Postoperative adjuvant therapy significantly reduces recurrence and prolongs patients′ survival.