Objective To assess the clinical value of a novel surgical technique—Tubeless subxiphoid uniportal video-assisted thoracoscopic surgery with percutaneous suspension technique via balance-shaped sternal elevation device in the resection of anterior mediastinal masses. Methods Patients who underwent tubeless subxiphoid uniportal video-assisted thoracoscopic surgery via balance-shaped sternal elevation device in anterior mediastinal masses process at the Department of Thoracic Surgery, West China Hospital, Sichuan University from March to April 2025 were included, and their clinical data were analyzed. Results A total of 4 patients were included, with 2 males and 2 females, aged 58-75 years. The diameter of the tumor was 2.5-3.0 cm. The operation time was 60.0-150.0 min, intraoperative blood loss was 5-10 mL, pain score on the 3rd day after surgery was 0 points, and postoperative hospital stay was 2-3 days. All patients achieved complete resection of the masses and thymus without perioperative complications. Conclusion The tubeless subxiphoid uniportal video-assisted thoracoscopic surgery with percutaneous suspension technique via balance-shaped sternal elevation device technique optimizes surgical visualization and instrument maneuverability while avoiding complications related to conventional anesthesia and tubing, thereby markedly enhancing the minimally invasive profile of anterior mediastinal masses resections. In addition to maintaining procedural safety, this approach effectively reduces postoperative pain and accelerates patient recovery, highlighting its potential for widespread clinical adoption.

Background and aims:Kehuang(KH)capsule is an herbal medical product approved for the treatment of liver diseases,including liver injury,in China.However,the mechanism is still unclear.This study aimed to elucidate the protective effects of KH capsule against carbon tetrachloride(CCl4)-induced acute liver injury(ALI)in a murine model.Methods:Mice were randomly divided into control,model(CCl4),CCl4+KH_Low and CCl4+KH_High group.Liver enzyme levels and histological changes were assessed to evaluate liver injury.Oxidative stress markers and inflammatory cell infiltration in liver tissues were measured.Additionally,network pharmacology was employed to explore the potential mechanisms of KH capsule.Results:KH capsule significantly reduced serum alanine aminotransferase(ALT)and aspartate amino-transferase(AST)levels,as well as the necrotic area in liver tissue.KH capsule also decreased the infil-tration of macrophages and neutrophils,thereby inhibiting the expression of interleukin-6(IL-6),tumor necrosis factor-alpha(TNF-α),and interleukin-1 beta(IL-1β).Furthermore,KH capsule decreased liver malondialdehyde(MDA)levels and increased superoxide dismutase(SOD)activity.The number of ter-minal deoxynucleotidyl transferase(TdT)-mediated dUTP nick-end labeling(TUNEL)-positive cells in liver tissue was also reduced.The expression of nuclear factor erythroid 2 related factor 2(Nrf2)and heme oxygenase-1(HO-1)proteins was significantly elevated,while the protein expression of cyto-chrome P450 2E1(CYP2E1)was significantly reduced.Mass spectrometry identified genistein,galangin,wogonin,skullcapflavone Ⅱ,and hispidulin as potential active ingredients of KH capsule.Network pharmacology analysis revealed enrichment in the mitogen-activated protein kinase(MAPK)and phosphatidylinositol 3-kinase(PI3K)-protein kinase B(AKT)signaling pathways.Western blot analysis confirmed that KH capsule suppressed AKT,extracellular signal-regulated kinase(ERK),and p38 signaling.Conclusions:These findings suggest that KH capsule could exert protective effects against CCl4-induced ALI,with the inhibition of MAPK and PI3K-AKT signaling pathways playing a crucial role in its mecha-nism of action.

Objective : To observe the effect of hydrogen sulfide( H2 S) on the expression of transforming growth factor⁃β1(TGF⁃ β1) , E ⁃cadherin (E⁃CAD) , Vimentin (VIM) , alpha⁃smooth muscle actin ( α ⁃SMA) during epithelial⁃mesenchymal transformation(EMT) , and to explore the anti⁃fibrosis mechanism of it. Methods : Sixty rats ( male SD) were randomly divided into control group, bleomycin group, NaHS + bleomycin group and prednisolone + bleomycin group , 15 rats per group. 5 rats of each group were sacrificed at random in 7th , 14th and 28th day. The degree of alveolitis and pulmonary fibrosis was observed . The expression of protein and mRNA of TGF⁃ β1 , E ⁃cad , VIM , α ⁃SMA were determined by Immunohistochemi stry and RT⁃PCR. Results : ① HE and Masson staining showed that the lung tissue of fibrosis had the lowest degree in control group. and the most severe in bleomycin group. The lung tissue of NaHS + bleomycin group and prednisolone + bleomycin group also had alveolitis and fibrosis changes , but the degree Were significantly less than bleomycin group. ② The mRNA and protein expression levels of TGF⁃ β1 , VIM and α ⁃SMA in bleomycin group, NaHS + bleomycin group and prednisolone + bleomycin group were all higher than that in control group at 7th , 14th and 28th day ( P < 0. 05 ) , while the expression levels of them in NaHS + bleomycin group and prednisolone + bleomycin group were all lower than that in bleomycin groupat each time (P < 0. 05) , which was significant at 28th day in NaHS + bleomycin. ③ The mRNA and protein expression levels of E ⁃Cad in bleomycin group, NaHS + bleomycin group and prednisolone + bleomycin group were all lower than that in control group at 7th , 14th and 28th day(P < 0. 05) , but the expression levels of E ⁃Cad in⁃NaHS + bleomycin group and prednisolone + bleomycin group were higher than that in bleomycin group at each time(P < 0. 05) , which was significant at 28th day in NaHS + bleomycin. Conclusion H2 S can reduce the degree of pulmonary fibrosis in rats , its mechanism may be related to the down⁃regulation of TGF⁃ β1and the inhibition of the EMT , which can enhance the expression of E ⁃cad and reduce the expression of TGF⁃ β1 , VIM and α ⁃SMA.

Objective To evaluate the advantages about video-assisted thoracoscopic surgery (VATS) lobectomy with optimized management of surgical instruments package. Methods A total of 200 patients with lung cancer were enrolled, which included 78 males and 122 females, aged 24-83 years at median age of 56.8 years. All of them were divided into 2 groups including a routine group (n=100) and an optimized management of surgical instruments group (n=100). The total operation time, bleeding, instrument weights, utilization rate of instruments, counted and cleaning time in 2 groups were recorded and analyzed. Results The average operation time and average lost blood of the routine group was 117.62±42.52 min and 53.14±50.69 ml, respectively, and the one of the optimized instruments group was 120.48±40.62 min, 56.10±49.87 ml, respectively, with no significant difference between the two groups (P=0.112, P=0.231, respectively). The utilization rate of instruments in the routine group (58.02%±2.39%) was significantly lower than that of the optimized instruments group (94.00%±1.48%, P=0.014). The counted time, the loading and unloading time and the cleaning time of instruments in the routine group was 112.00±26.00 s, 70.00±15.00 s, 1 010.00±130.00 s, respectively, much longer than the time of the optimized instruments group, which was 65.00±23.00 s, 20.00±4.00 s, 665.00±69.00 s, respectively. There was a statistical difference between the two groups (P=0.028, P=0.011, P=0.039, respectively). The value of instruments in the routine group (177 574.00±14 438.00 yuan) was apparently higher than that of the optimized instruments group(132 027.00±10 311.00 yuan), with a statistical difference (P=0.032). Conclusion It is demonstrated that optimized management of surgical instruments package in VATS lobectomy can greatly improve the utilization rate of instruments and work efficiency, with no effects on the operation time and amount of bleeding in lobectomy.
Thoracoscopic surgery ; surgical instruments package ; lung cancer