Objective:Based on a propensity score matchied analysis, the impact of neoadjuvant therapy, namely the transcatheter arterial chemoembolization (TACE) combined with the targeted and immunotherapy, on the prognosis of patients undergoing liver resection for hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC).Methods:Clinical data of 226 patients who underwent surgical resection for HCC of China Liver Cancer (CNLC) stage Ib, IIa, IIb, and IIIa at the Second Affiliated Hospital of Anhui Medical University from February 2020 to December 2024 were retrospectively analyzed, including 201 males and 25 females, aged 64.6±9.4 years. Patients were divided into the neoadjuvant therapy group ( n=25) and the direct surgery group ( n=201). Propensity score matching was used to analyze the liver fibrosis-4 score, platelet count, prothrombin time, activated partial thromboplastin time, and tumor number of the two groups. Postoperative pathological assessment of liver resection was performed. The Kaplan-Meier method was used to analyze the prognosis, and the log-rank test was used to compare the survival rates of the two groups. Results:After propensity score 1: 3 matching, there were no statistically significant differences (all P>0.05) regarding the baseline characteristics of the two groups. Pathological assessment after hepatectomy: the complete pathological response rate was 8% (2/25), and the major pathological response rate was 36% (9/25). The recurrence-free survival rates at 1, 2, and 3 years after surgery in the direct surgery group and the neoadjuvant therapy group were 52.0%, 48.0%, and 42.7% versus 76.0%, 72.0%, and 68.0%, respectively ( χ2=4.76, P=0.029). The overall survival rates at 1, 2, and 3 years after surgery in the direct surgery group and the neoadjuvant therapy group were 80.0%, 78.7%, and 77.3% versus 100.0%, 96.0%, and 96.0%, respectively ( χ2=4.31, P=0.038). Conclusion:Neoadjuvant therapy could reduce the risk of postoperative recurrence and prolong patients survival

Objective:The aims of this study were to compare the clinical effectiveness of an immunosuppressant(sintilimab)combined with different chemotherapy regimens(two-and three-drug regimens)in the neoadjuvant treatment of advanced gastric cancer and to explore the efficacy-associated clinical features.Methods:A retrospective analysis was conducted on patients with advanced gastric cancer who re-ceived treatment at Lanzhou University Second Hospital between August 2020 and February 2024.Overall,133 patients were included in the study and assigned into groups A(three-drug regimens)and B(two-drug regimens),according to the treatment regimen received.Recent ef-ficacy outcomes,including the pathological complete response rate(pCR),major pathological response rate(MPR),objective response rate(ORR),and disease control rate(DCR),as well as long-term efficacy outcomes,including overall survival(OS)and disease-free survival(DFS),were compared.Subgroup analyses were performed to identify clinical features associated with treatment efficacy.Results:The recent effic-acy outcomes were similar between groups A(two-drug regimen)and B(three-drug regimen),with pCRs of 18.46%and 27.94%,MPRs of 52.31%and 58.82%,ORRs of 76.92%and 76.47%,and DCRs of 87.69%and 95.59%,respectively.However,the three-drug regimen led to significantly improved OS and DFS,compared with the two-drug regimen(P<0.05).Subgroup analysis revealed that male patients and those with gastric antrum cancer,an ECOG score of 0,a T4 stage tumor,and no vascular or nerve invasion benefited more from the three-drug re-gimen.Conclusions:Sintilimab combined with the three-drug chemotherapy regimen demonstrated superior long-term efficacy in the neo-adjuvant treatment of advanced gastric cancer,compared with the combination with the two-drug regimen.Certain clinical features may predict greater benefit from the three-drug regimen.

BACKGROUND: The available evidence regarding the benefits of percutaneous coronary intervention (PCI) on patients receiving dialysis with coronary artery disease (CAD) is limited and inconsistent. This study aimed to evaluate the association between PCI and clinical outcomes as compared with medical therapy alone in patients undergoing dialysis with CAD in China. METHODS: This multicenter, retrospective study was conducted in 30 tertiary medical centers across 12 provinces in China from January 2015 to June 2021 to include patients on dialysis with CAD. The primary outcome was major adverse cardiovascular events (MACE), defined as a composite of cardiovascular death, non-fatal myocardial infarction, and non-fatal stroke. Secondary outcomes included all-cause death, the individual components of MACE, and Bleeding Academic Research Consortium criteria types 2, 3, or 5 bleeding. Multivariable Cox proportional hazard models were used to assess the association between PCI and outcomes. Inverse probability of treatment weighting (IPTW) and propensity score matching (PSM) were performed to account for potential between-group differences. RESULTS: Of the 1146 patients on dialysis with significant CAD, 821 (71.6%) underwent PCI. After a median follow-up of 23.0 months, PCI was associated with a 43.0% significantly lower risk for MACE (33.9% [ n  = 278] vs . 43.7% [ n  = 142]; adjusted hazards ratio 0.57, 95% confidence interval 0.45-0.71), along with a slightly increased risk for bleeding outcomes that did not reach statistical significance (11.1% vs . 8.3%; adjusted hazards ratio 1.31, 95% confidence interval, 0.82-2.11). Furthermore, PCI was associated with a significant reduction in all-cause and cardiovascular mortalities. Subgroup analysis did not modify the association of PCI with patient outcomes. These primary findings were consistent across IPTW, PSM, and competing risk analyses. CONCLUSION This study indicated that PCI in patients on dialysis with CAD was significantly associated with lower MACE and mortality when comparing with those with medical therapy alone, albeit with a slightly increased risk for bleeding events that did not reach statistical significance.
Humans ; Percutaneous Coronary Intervention/methods* ; Male ; Female ; Coronary Artery Disease/drug therapy* ; Retrospective Studies ; Renal Dialysis/methods* ; Middle Aged ; Aged ; China ; Proportional Hazards Models ; Treatment Outcome

Cognitive impairment is the main clinical manifestation of many nervous system diseases such as stroke,multiple sclerosis,and neurodegeneration,and neuroinflammation is one of the key mechanisms for the onset of cognitive disorders.Chemokines are a class of highly conserved small-molecule secretory proteins that bind to the corresponding chemokine receptors located on cell mem-brane,activating downstream signaling pathways and playing an important role in cell migration,proliferation,differentiation,and sur-vival.In the central nervous system,chemokines and their receptors are involved in immune response and can exert a certain regulatory effect on neuroinflammation.This article reviews the research advances in chemokines and their receptors in cognitive disorders,in or-der to provide new insights and targets for the early diagnosis and treatment of related diseases.

Objective: To compare peritoneal indexes between transperitoneal approach and retroperitioneal approach of robot-assisted partial nephrectomy (RAPN) for dorsal renal tumors via transperitoneal and retroperitoneal approaches，thereby providing reference for clinical decision-making in managing such neoplasms. Methods: The clinical data of renal cancer patients undergoing RAPN performed by the same surgeon at our hospital during 2017 and 2021 were retrospectively analyzed.A total of 80 patients with complete data of dorsal renal tumors were screened and divided into two groups based on the surgical approaches：50 cases in the transperitoneal group and 30 in the retroperitoneal group.The general information，intraoperative data，positive rate of pathological margins，recovery time of gastrointestinal functions，and incidence of complications were compared between the two groups. Results: All operations were successfully completed, and the surgical margins were negative.There were no statistically significant differences in warm ischemia time [17 (15，18) min vs.16 (14，19) min，P=0.772]，operation time [120 (105，149) min vs.124 (108，152) min，P=0.584]，intraoperative blood loss [100 (50，100) mL vs.100 (50，100) mL，P=0.814]，and incidence of postoperative complications (17% vs.24%，P=0.504) between the two groups (P>0.05).The postoperative recovery time of gastrointestinal functions in the retroperitoneal group was significantly shorter than that in the transperitoneal group [2.0 (2.0，3.0) d vs.3.5 (3.0，4.0) d，P<0.001]. Conclusion: The perioperative outcomes of patients undergoing RAPN via the retroperitoneal approach are similar to those via the transperitoneal approach.However，the retroperitoneal approach has an advantage of faster recovery of gastrointestinal functions.

Objective:To investigate the efficacy of a predictive model for differentiating benign and malignant renal tumors based on CT radiomic features and clinical features.Methods:A retrospective study was conducted on 1 395 patients with renal tumors admitted to the First Affiliated Hospital of Zhengzhou University from December 2011 to December 2021, including 842 males and 553 females. The median age was 55 (44, 59) years, and the median tumor diameter was 3.6 (2.7, 4.6) cm. All patients underwent contrast-enhanced CT scaning before surgery, and radiomic features were extracted from non-contrast, arterial, and venous phase images. Prediction models for distinguishing benign and malignant renal tumors were constructed using five machine learning algorithms (logistic regression, support vector machine, neural network, random forest, and extreme gradient boosting), and these models were then ensembled to construct a stacking classifier. All patients underwent partial nephrectomy, and they were divided into a training group (941 cases, December 2011 to June 2020) and a validation group (454 cases, July 2020 to December 2021) based on the date of surgery. A clinical-radiomic model was developed by combining the result of stacking classifier, clinical features and CT report results, and its predictive performance was evaluated in the validation group.Results:The radiomic signature based on the combined features and five machine learning algorithms(AUC 0.835-0.844) showed higher accuracy in predicting benign and malignant renal tumors compared to single phases (AUC 0.744-0.831). After integrating the five machine learning algorithms, the AUC of the three-phase combined radiomic model in the validation group improved to 0.847(95% CI 0.802-0.892). The clinical-radiomic model, incorporating radiomic features, clinical features, and CT report results, achieved a significantly higher AUC in the validation group compared to radiologists [0.919(95% CI 0.889-0.950)vs. 0.835(95% CI 0.786-0.883), P<0.01]. Conclusions:The predictive model integrating CT radiomics features, clinical characteristics, and CT report results demonstrates excellent discriminative ability in distinguishing benign and malignant renal tumors.

Objective:To analyze the clinical features associated with pelvic lymph node metastasis(PLNM)in prostate cancer and to construct a preoperative prediction model for PLNM,thereby reducing unnecessary extended pelvic lymph node dissection(ePLND).Methods:Based on predefined inclusion and exclusion criteria,344 patients who underwent radical prostatectomy and ePLND at the First Affilia-ted Hospital of Zhengzhou University between 2014 and 2024 were retrospectively enrolled,among whom,77 patients(22.4％)were pathologically confirmed to have lymph node-positive disease.The clinical characteristics,MRI reports,and pathological results were collected.The data were then randomly divi-ded into a training cohort(241 cases,70％)and a validation cohort(103 cases,30％).Univariate and multivariate Logistic regression analysis were employed to construct a preoperative prediction model for PLNM.Results:Univariate Logistic regression analysis revealed that total prostate specific antigen(tPSA)(P=0.021),free prostate specific antigen(fPSA)(P=0.002),fPSA to tPSA ratio(fPSA/tPSA)(P=0.011),percentage of positive biopsy cores(P＜0.001),prostate imaging reporting and data system(PI-RADS)score(P=0.004),biopsy Gleason score ≥8(P=0.005),clinical T stage(P＜0.001),and MRI-indicated lymph node involvement(MRI-LNI)(P＜0.001)were significant predictors of PLNM.Multivariate Logistic regression analysis demonstrated that the percentage of positive biopsy cores(OR=91.24,95％CI:13.34-968.68),PI-RADS score(OR=7.64,95％ CI:1.78-138.06),and MRI-LNI(OR=4.67,95％ CI:1.74-13.24)were independent risk factors for PLNM.And a novel nomogram for predicting PLNM was developed by integrating all these three variables.Com-pared with the individual predictors:percentage of positive biopsy cores[area under curve(AUC)=0.806],PI-RADS score(AUC=0.679),and MRI-LNI(AUC=0.768),the multivariate model incor-porating all three variables demonstrated significantly superior predictive performance(AUC=0.883).Consistently,calibration curves and decision curve analyses confirmed that the multivariable model had high predictive accuracy and provided significant net clinical benefit relative to single-variable models.And using a cutoff of 6％,the multiparameter model missed only approximately 5.2％of PLNM cases(4/77),while reducing approximately 53％of ePLND procedures(139/267),demonstrating favorable predictive efficacy.Conclusion:Percentage of positive biopsy cores,PI-RADS score and MRI-LNI are independent risk factors for PLNM.The constructed multivariate model significantly improves predictive efficacy,offering a valuable tool to guide clinical decisions on ePLND.

Objective:To analyze the clinical features associated with pelvic lymph node metastasis(PLNM)in prostate cancer and to construct a preoperative prediction model for PLNM,thereby reducing unnecessary extended pelvic lymph node dissection(ePLND).Methods:Based on predefined inclusion and exclusion criteria,344 patients who underwent radical prostatectomy and ePLND at the First Affilia-ted Hospital of Zhengzhou University between 2014 and 2024 were retrospectively enrolled,among whom,77 patients(22.4％)were pathologically confirmed to have lymph node-positive disease.The clinical characteristics,MRI reports,and pathological results were collected.The data were then randomly divi-ded into a training cohort(241 cases,70％)and a validation cohort(103 cases,30％).Univariate and multivariate Logistic regression analysis were employed to construct a preoperative prediction model for PLNM.Results:Univariate Logistic regression analysis revealed that total prostate specific antigen(tPSA)(P=0.021),free prostate specific antigen(fPSA)(P=0.002),fPSA to tPSA ratio(fPSA/tPSA)(P=0.011),percentage of positive biopsy cores(P＜0.001),prostate imaging reporting and data system(PI-RADS)score(P=0.004),biopsy Gleason score ≥8(P=0.005),clinical T stage(P＜0.001),and MRI-indicated lymph node involvement(MRI-LNI)(P＜0.001)were significant predictors of PLNM.Multivariate Logistic regression analysis demonstrated that the percentage of positive biopsy cores(OR=91.24,95％CI:13.34-968.68),PI-RADS score(OR=7.64,95％ CI:1.78-138.06),and MRI-LNI(OR=4.67,95％ CI:1.74-13.24)were independent risk factors for PLNM.And a novel nomogram for predicting PLNM was developed by integrating all these three variables.Com-pared with the individual predictors:percentage of positive biopsy cores[area under curve(AUC)=0.806],PI-RADS score(AUC=0.679),and MRI-LNI(AUC=0.768),the multivariate model incor-porating all three variables demonstrated significantly superior predictive performance(AUC=0.883).Consistently,calibration curves and decision curve analyses confirmed that the multivariable model had high predictive accuracy and provided significant net clinical benefit relative to single-variable models.And using a cutoff of 6％,the multiparameter model missed only approximately 5.2％of PLNM cases(4/77),while reducing approximately 53％of ePLND procedures(139/267),demonstrating favorable predictive efficacy.Conclusion:Percentage of positive biopsy cores,PI-RADS score and MRI-LNI are independent risk factors for PLNM.The constructed multivariate model significantly improves predictive efficacy,offering a valuable tool to guide clinical decisions on ePLND.

Objective:Based on a propensity score matchied analysis, the impact of neoadjuvant therapy, namely the transcatheter arterial chemoembolization (TACE) combined with the targeted and immunotherapy, on the prognosis of patients undergoing liver resection for hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC).Methods:Clinical data of 226 patients who underwent surgical resection for HCC of China Liver Cancer (CNLC) stage Ib, IIa, IIb, and IIIa at the Second Affiliated Hospital of Anhui Medical University from February 2020 to December 2024 were retrospectively analyzed, including 201 males and 25 females, aged 64.6±9.4 years. Patients were divided into the neoadjuvant therapy group ( n=25) and the direct surgery group ( n=201). Propensity score matching was used to analyze the liver fibrosis-4 score, platelet count, prothrombin time, activated partial thromboplastin time, and tumor number of the two groups. Postoperative pathological assessment of liver resection was performed. The Kaplan-Meier method was used to analyze the prognosis, and the log-rank test was used to compare the survival rates of the two groups. Results:After propensity score 1: 3 matching, there were no statistically significant differences (all P>0.05) regarding the baseline characteristics of the two groups. Pathological assessment after hepatectomy: the complete pathological response rate was 8% (2/25), and the major pathological response rate was 36% (9/25). The recurrence-free survival rates at 1, 2, and 3 years after surgery in the direct surgery group and the neoadjuvant therapy group were 52.0%, 48.0%, and 42.7% versus 76.0%, 72.0%, and 68.0%, respectively ( χ2=4.76, P=0.029). The overall survival rates at 1, 2, and 3 years after surgery in the direct surgery group and the neoadjuvant therapy group were 80.0%, 78.7%, and 77.3% versus 100.0%, 96.0%, and 96.0%, respectively ( χ2=4.31, P=0.038). Conclusion:Neoadjuvant therapy could reduce the risk of postoperative recurrence and prolong patients survival

Objective:The aims of this study were to compare the clinical effectiveness of an immunosuppressant(sintilimab)combined with different chemotherapy regimens(two-and three-drug regimens)in the neoadjuvant treatment of advanced gastric cancer and to explore the efficacy-associated clinical features.Methods:A retrospective analysis was conducted on patients with advanced gastric cancer who re-ceived treatment at Lanzhou University Second Hospital between August 2020 and February 2024.Overall,133 patients were included in the study and assigned into groups A(three-drug regimens)and B(two-drug regimens),according to the treatment regimen received.Recent ef-ficacy outcomes,including the pathological complete response rate(pCR),major pathological response rate(MPR),objective response rate(ORR),and disease control rate(DCR),as well as long-term efficacy outcomes,including overall survival(OS)and disease-free survival(DFS),were compared.Subgroup analyses were performed to identify clinical features associated with treatment efficacy.Results:The recent effic-acy outcomes were similar between groups A(two-drug regimen)and B(three-drug regimen),with pCRs of 18.46%and 27.94%,MPRs of 52.31%and 58.82%,ORRs of 76.92%and 76.47%,and DCRs of 87.69%and 95.59%,respectively.However,the three-drug regimen led to significantly improved OS and DFS,compared with the two-drug regimen(P<0.05).Subgroup analysis revealed that male patients and those with gastric antrum cancer,an ECOG score of 0,a T4 stage tumor,and no vascular or nerve invasion benefited more from the three-drug re-gimen.Conclusions:Sintilimab combined with the three-drug chemotherapy regimen demonstrated superior long-term efficacy in the neo-adjuvant treatment of advanced gastric cancer,compared with the combination with the two-drug regimen.Certain clinical features may predict greater benefit from the three-drug regimen.