Objective:To explore the predictive and prognostic value of prognostic nutritional index(PNI)for patients with locally advanced esophageal squamous cell carcinoma(ESCC)undergoing induction chemotherapy combined with immune sequential radiotherapy.Methods:A retrospective analysis was conducted on clinical data from 126 locally advanced ESCC patients who had undergone induction chemotherapy combined with immune sequential radiotherapy at Zhejiang Cancer Hospital between May 2019 and August 2023.Receiver operating characteristic(ROC)curves were used to determine optimal PNI cutoff values within 1 week before induction chemoimmunotherapy,within 1 week before radiotherapy,and at 4±1 weeks after radiotherapy initiation,with subsequent patient stratification.The Kaplan-Meier method was used to generate survival curves and the log-rank test was used to compare overall survival(OS)and progression-free survival(PFS)between groups.Cox regression analysis was employed to identify factors affecting the prognosis of locally advanced ESCC patients undergoing induction chemoimmunotherapy combined with sequential radiotherapy.Results:A total of 126 locally advanced ESCC patients,118 males and 8 females,with a median age of 65 years(44-78 years)were included.The optimal critical values of PNI before induction chemoimmunotherapy,before radiotherapy and during radiotherapy identified using ROC curves were 46.2,48.3 and 37.9.The median OS and PFS were 47.3 and 28.2 months in the group with PNI≥48.3 before radiotherapy,and 18.7 and 15.2 months in the group with PNI<48.3 before radiotherapy,respectively(P<0.01,P<0.05).The median OS was not reached and the median PFS was 25.7 months in the group with PNI≥37.9 in radiotherapy,and the median OS and PFS were 17.0 and 12.5 months in the group with PNI<37.9 in radiotherapy,respectively(P<0.01,P<0.05).The median OS was not reached and the median PFS was 28.4 months in the group with elevated PNI after induction chemoimmunization;the median OS and PFS were 20.4 and 16.0 months in the group with reduced PNI(P<0.01,P<0.05).Multifactorial analysis showed that PNI in radiotherapy[HR=2.292,95%CI(1.264,4.159),P<0.05],and change in PNI after induction of chemoimmunization[HR=2.120,95%CI(1.007,4.463),P<0.05]were factors affecting OS.Conclusion:PNI during radiotherapy and changes in PNI after induction chemoimmunity correlate with patients'treatment efficacy and prognosis,and can be used as important indicators to predict the benefits of induction chemoimmunization combined with sequential radiotherapy for ESCC.

Sepsis presents challenges in clinical treatment due to its high incidence,difficult treatment,and high fatality rate.The intestine has long been considered the"motor"of multiple organ dysfunction syndrome(MODS).Intestinal dysfunction is one of the common complications of sepsis,which is often neglected due to its hidden occurrence and poor clinical efficacy,leading to poor prognosis.Therefore,it is of great significance to explore the pathogenesis and treatment of intestinal dysfunction in sepsis.As an effective supplement for the clinical treatment of intestinal dysfunction in sepsis,Traditional Chinese medicine has been paid more and more attention by clinicians.This article summarizes the research progress on the pathogenesis of sepsis-induced intestinal dysfunction and the clinical application of traditional Chinese medicine(TCM),aiming to provide more ideas and references for the clinical treatment of sepsis.

ObjectiveTo observe right ventricle (RV) structure and function of New Zealand rabbits with chronic intermittent hypoxia (CIH) for short-term (0-8 weeks) by echocardiography. MethodsTwenty-four healthy male New Zealand rabbits were set up CIH animal model for 8 weeks. RV structure?s systolic and diastolic function were measured by conventional and tissue Doppler echocardiography at 0, 1, 2, 4, 6 and 8 week and one rabbit was sacriifced randomly for RV myocytes and pulmonary tissue pathology examination. RV structure and function parameters at 0, 1, 2, 4, 6 and 8 week were analyzed by mixed effects model analysis.ResultsRV structure variables: RV, RA at 8 week increased compared with those at 0 week, but had no signiifcant difference (P>0.05); RV systolic function variables:RVFAC at 8 week increased compared with those at 0 week (F=3.45, P<0.05), TAPSE at 4, 6, 8 week increased compared with that at 0 week (F=3.11, 3.41 and 3.86, all P<0.05), RVMPI at 4 week decreased compared with that at 0 week (F=3.46, P<0.05), recovered to baseline at 6, 8 week. Isovolumetric relaxation time (IRTc) corrected by heart rate at 1, 2, 4 week decreased compared with that at 0 week (F=3.15, 3.31 and 3.17, all P<0.05), recovered to baseline at 8 week, ET of PA at 1, 2 week decreased compared with that at 0 week (F=3.01 and 3.15, both P<0.05), recovered to baseline at 4, 6, 8 week, AT of PA at 1, 2, 4 week decreased compared with that at 0 week (F=3.13, 3.15 and 3.32, all P<0.05), recovered to baseline at 6, 8 week. RV diastolic function variables: isovolumetric contraction time (ICTc) corrected by heart rate at 2, 4 week decreased compared with that at 0 week (F=3.13 and 3.33,both P<0.05), E/E? at 1, 2 week decreased compared with that at 0 week (F=3.13 and 3.44,bothP<0.05), recovered to baseline at 4, 6, 8 week, E/A at 4, 6, 8 week increased compared with that at 0 week (F=4.01, 3.82 and 3.37, all P<0.05), E?/A? at 8 week increased compared with that at 0 week (F=3.81, P<0.05). The myocardial pathology showed that RV myocardial cell structure was normal at 4 week. Nuclei enlarged, stain darkened and some cytoplasms loosed when exposed to CIH for 8 weeks. The structure of lung tissues was normal when exposed to CIH for 4 weeks. Inflammatory cell inifltrated, capillary engorged as well as the wall of pulmonary arterioles thickened slightly at 8 week.ConclusionsRV diastolic and systolic function showed compensatory and structure was normal in early CIH (0-8 week). RV diastolic function compensated earlier than systolic function. IRT and ICT were sensitive indicators of RV systolic and diastolic function compensation.

Objective To observe the response of left ventricular (LV)function and structure to chronic intermittent hypoxia (CIH)early stage in New Zealand white rabbits by echocardiography.Methods The New Zealand white rabbits were placed in the CIH chamber and exposed to hypoxia for 8 weeks (6 hours/day,6 days/week).The flow of nitrogen and oxygen were regulated into the customized chambers by the gas control delivery system.The fraction of inspired oxygen was changed from 21 % to 8% for 25 s of every 1 70 s.LV structure and function was assessed by echocardiography at CIH 0,1 ,2,4,6,8 weeks and histopathology was done by HE staining simultaneously.Results ①LV structural variables:compared with 0 week,LV posterior wall and interventricular septum thickness thickened at 6 week.LV end diastolic increased at 8 week (P < 0.05 ).② LV systolic function variables:compared with 0 week,LV ejection fraction increased at 2 week and 4 week,decreased at 6 week and 8 week,but it was higher than 0 week (P < 0.05).Isovolumic contraction time (IVCT)decreased at 1 week,2 week,4 week (P <0.05 ).③LV diastolic function variables:compared with 0 week,Peak velocity of early diastolic period increased at 2 week and 4 week,decreased at 6 week and 8 week with E/A>1 .Isovolumic relaxation time (IVRT)decreased at 1 week and 2 week,but increased at 8 week (P < 0.05 ).④ The myocardial pathology showed that myocardial fibers disordered slightly,cardiomyocytes swelled,nuclei increased and intracellular edema when exposed to CIH for 2 week and 4 week.Vacuolar degeneration,edema and congestion were found in intercellular substance at 6 week and 8 week.Conclusions ① LV systolic and diastolic function compensation started at CIH early stage then LV structure abnormality advent later.②IVCT and IVRT are sensitive indicators of LV systolic and diastolic function compensation.