BACKGROUND: This study aimed to investigate programmed death-ligand 1 tumor proportion score in predicting the safety and efficacy of PD-1/PD-L1 antibody-based therapy in treating patients with advanced non-small cell lung cancer (NSCLC) in a real-world setting. METHODS: This retrospective, multicenter, observational study enrolled adult patients who received PD-1/PD-L1 antibody-based therapy in China and met the following criteria: (1) had pathologically confirmed, unresectable stage III-IV NSCLC; (2) had a baseline PD-L1 tumor proportion score (TPS); and (3) had confirmed efficacy evaluation results after PD-1/PD-L1 treatment. Logistic regression, Kaplan-Meier analysis, and Cox regression were used to assess the progression-free survival (PFS), overall survival (OS), and immune-related adverse events (irAEs) as appropriate. RESULTS: A total of 409 patients, 65.0% ( n = 266) with a positive PD-L1 TPS (≥1%) and 32.8% ( n = 134) with PD-L1 TPS ≥50%, were included in this study. Cox regression confirmed that patients with a PD-L1 TPS ≥1% had significantly improved PFS (hazard ratio [HR] 0.747, 95% confidence interval [CI] 0.573-0.975, P = 0.032). A total of 160 (39.1%) patients experienced 206 irAEs, and 27 (6.6%) patients experienced 31 grade 3-5 irAEs. The organs most frequently associated with irAEs were the skin (52/409, 12.7%), thyroid (40/409, 9.8%), and lung (34/409, 8.3%). Multivariate logistic regression revealed that a PD-L1 TPS ≥1% (odds ratio [OR] 1.713, 95% CI 1.054-2.784, P = 0.030) was an independent risk factor for irAEs. Other risk factors for irAEs included pretreatment absolute lymphocyte count >2.5 × 10 9 /L (OR 3.772, 95% CI 1.377-10.329, P = 0.010) and pretreatment absolute eosinophil count >0.2 × 10 9 /L (OR 2.006, 95% CI 1.219-3.302, P = 0.006). Moreover, patients who developed irAEs demonstrated improved PFS (13.7 months vs. 8.4 months, P <0.001) and OS (28.0 months vs. 18.0 months, P = 0.007) compared with patients without irAEs. CONCLUSIONS A positive PD-L1 TPS (≥1%) was associated with improved PFS and an increased risk of irAEs in a real-world setting. The onset of irAEs was associated with improved PFS and OS in patients with advanced NSCLC receiving PD-1/PD-L1-based therapy.
Humans ; Carcinoma, Non-Small-Cell Lung/metabolism* ; Male ; Female ; Retrospective Studies ; Middle Aged ; Lung Neoplasms/metabolism* ; Aged ; B7-H1 Antigen/metabolism* ; Programmed Cell Death 1 Receptor/metabolism* ; Adult ; Aged, 80 and over ; Immune Checkpoint Inhibitors/therapeutic use*

In this paper, the differences between air probe and filled probe for measuring high-frequency dielectric properties of biological tissues are investigated based on the equivalent circuit model to provide a reference for the methodology of high-frequency measurement of biological tissue dielectric properties. Two types of probes were used to measure different concentrations of NaCl solution in the frequency band of 100 MHz-2 GHz. The results showed that the accuracy and reliability of the calculated results of the air probe were lower than that of the filled probe, especially the dielectric coefficient of the measured material, and the higher the concentration of NaCl solution, the higher the error. By laminating the probe terminal, liquid intrusion could be prevented, to a certain extent, to improve the accuracy of measurement. However, as the frequency decreased, the influence of the film on the measurement increased and the measurement accuracy decreased. The results of the study show that the air probe, despite its simple dimensional design and easy calibration, differs from the conventional equivalent circuit model in actual measurements, and the model needs to be re-corrected for actual use. The filled probe matches the equivalent circuit model better, and therefore has better measurement accuracy and reliability.
Reproducibility of Results ; Sodium Chloride ; Calibration

Objective To evaluate the effect of video- assisted thoracoscopic pulmonary segmentectomy in patients with isolated pulmonary arteriovenous fistula (PAVF). Methods A retrospective analysis was performed on 10 patients with PAVF in the department of thoracic surgery of the first affiliated hospital of Nanjing Medical University between January 2010 and December 2016. Computed tomography angiography (CTA) and three-dimensional reconstruction were performed before operation, and all patients accepted video-assisted thoracoscopic pulmonary segmentectomy. Results The diagnosis of PAVF was identified by CTA, with maximum diameter of tumor of 3.0- 5.0 cm. No perioperative mortality or postoperative complications were observed including bleeding, hemoptysis, serious air leakage, and bronchopleural fistula. The lesions were completely removed in all 10 patients, and no patients converted to open surgery intraoperatively. Blood gas analysis showed that oxygen partial pressure before operation, in the first day after operation and the third month after operation was (62.5 ± 6.7), (70.2 ± 4.8) and (75.4 ± 4.8) mmHg (1 mmHg = 0.133kPa) respectively; which was significantly increased successively (P<0.05). After a follow-up time of 3-30 months, no recurrences were observed. Conclusions Video- assisted thoracoscopic pulmonary segmentectomy guided by preoperative CTA and three-dimensional reconstruction is a very effective method for the treatment of isolated PAVF.

Objective To investigate the clinicopathological characteristics and postoperative prognosis analysis of intra-thoracic localized Castleman disease (LCD).Methods The clinical data of 9 patients with intra-thoracic LCD who accepted surgical treatment were retrospectively analyzed.There were 5 males and 4 females,with age of (32.8 ± 10.9) years.Two patients complained of chest pain,1 patient suffered from paraneoplastic pemphigus,and the rest were diagnosed by physical examination.Four cases were diagnosed with LCD by preoperative CT examination.Results All patients underwent surgical resection.Four patients were performed open surgery and 5 patients had video assisted thoracic surgery.All patients accepted radical surgery.But 2 of these patients had postoperative complications.One patient was the injury of phrenic nerve and another was pericardial effusion.Patho-histological showed hyaline vascular type of Catleman disease in all patients.All patients survived without recurrence during the follow-up for 2-53 months.Conclusions Intra-thoracic is rare and liable to misdiagnosed.For increasing the preoperative diagnosis rate of LCD,the combined application of imaging tests is important,and clinicians and radiologists should also enhance the awareness of this disease.Complete surgical resection of the tumor is the best therapeutic alternative for intra-thoracic LCD.

Objective To reveal the distribution characteristics of serum lipids,lipoproteins,and apolipoproteins levels in different nationalities.Methods Quantitative levels of those traits mentioned above were determined and body height(H),weight(W)and body mass index(BMI=W/H2)were assessed in 773 Kazaks(men 360 and women 413)and 911 Han nationality(men 466 and women 445)from the Xinjiang Autonomous Region of China.Results Kazaks men and women,respectively,had significantly higher serum levels of HDL-c and ApoA1 (all P ＜ 0.001)and significantly lower serum levels of TG(men P ＜ 0.01,women P ＜ 0.001),Lp(a)(allP＜0.005),ApoB(men P＜0.005,women P＜0.001)and ApoB/A1(men P＜0.01,women P＜0.001)than their Han nationality controls.The threshold points of ApoA1(＜ 1.2 g/L)and ApoB(＞ 1.2 g/L)are higher in Hans than in Kazaks for ApoA1(20.7 vs 9.8%)and ApoB(18.6 vs 14.3%);the serum levels of TG,HDL-c,Lp(a),ApoA1 and ApoB/A1 are all closely correlated with nationality(P ＜ 0.001,P = 0.001,and P ＜ 0.05,respectively).Conclusion The results suggest that the nationality differences exist in serum levels of lipids,lipoproteins,and apolipoproteins,and Kazaks have a superior serum lipid pedigree to Hans.This differences may come from genetic differences,which affect the serum levels of lipids,lipoproteins,and apolipoproteins by controlling lipid metabolism pattems.Future study will be needed to dissect to the role of genetic factors on serum lipids.