Objective:To evaluate the efficacy and safety of immunotherapy combined with chemotherapy as conversion therapy for initially unresectable locally advanced esophageal squamous cell carcinoma.Methods:This retrospective case series study analyzed clinical and pathological data of 32 patients with initially unresectable locally advanced esophageal squamous cell carcinoma who received immunotherapy combined with chemotherapy at the Department of Thoracic Surgery, the Fourth Hospital of Hebei Medical University, from June 2020 to December 2024. The cohort included 27 males and 5 females, with an age ( M(IQR)) of 61(9)years (range:46 to 73 years). Five patients were diagnosed with stage Ⅲ, 27 with stage ⅣA. All patients received PD-1 inhibitor sintilimab combined with nedaplatin and albumin-bound paclitaxel. Radiological evaluations were performed every two cycles, the multidisciplinary team evaluation was conducted to determine conversion to resectable status, and patients with successful conversion underwent radical esophagectomy. Follow-up was conducted via telephone or outpatient visits every 3 to 6 months after the last treatment. The primary endpoint was R0 resection rate, secondary endpoints included objective response rate (ORR), pathological complete response (pCR) rate, major pathological response (MPR) rate, event-free survival (EFS), disease-free survival (DFS) in patients with R0 resection, overall survival (OS) and safety. Kaplan-Meier method was used to plot survival curves and estimate median EFS, DFS, OS rates and their 95% CI. The 95% CI for ORR, pCR rate, MPR rate, and downstaging rate were calculated using the Clopper-Pearson method. Results:The median treatment cycle of 2(1) (range:2 to 8). As of June 2025, the median follow-up was 32.5(13.5)months (range:6.4 to 59.1 months). Among the 32 patients, 9 experienced progression or recurrence, including 2 with liver and lymph node metastases, 2 with lung metastases, 2 with thoracic vertebral metastases, and 3 with mediastinal lymph node metastases. After conversion therapy, 29 patients underwent surgery, achieving an R0 resection rate of 84.4% (95% CI:67.2% to 94.7%), a pCR rate of 27.6% (95% CI:12.7% to 47.2%), and an MPR rate of 55.2% (95% CI:35.7% to 73.6%). Grade 3 or higher surgical complications occurred in 6.9%(2/29) of patients, and grade 3 or higher treatment-related adverse events were observed in 15.6%(5/29). Among the 32 patients, the ORR was 56.3% (95% CI:37.7% to 73.6%),the 3-year EFS rate and OS rate was 59.4% (95% CI:40.8% to 86.4%) and 59.7% (95% CI:40.0% to 89.0%) respectively. Conclusion:Immunotherapy combined with chemotherapy demonstrates high conversion rates and favorable safety in the conversion therapy of initially unresectable locally advanced esophageal squamous cell carcinoma, representing a promising treatment strategy.

Objective:To evaluate the short-term efficacy of minimally invasive treatment of Sanders Ⅱ and Ⅲ calcaneal fractures in diabetes patients using subtalar arthroscopy assisted by preoperative musculoskeletal ultrasound to localize the lateral calcaneal branch of the sural nerve and a medial calcanetalar distractor.Methods:The clinical data of the 52 patients with diabetes mellitus were retrospectively analyzed who had been treated for Sanders Ⅱ and Ⅲ calcaneal fractures from March 2016 to August 2020 at Department of Traumatic Orthopedics, The Third Affiliated Hospital of Soochow University. There were 34 males and 18 females with an age of (61.7±14.5) years. According to the Sanders' classification, there were 23 cases of type Ⅱ and 29 cases of type Ⅲ. Preoperative musculoskeletal ultrasonography was routinely performed to locate the lateral calcaneal branch of the sural nerve in all patients. The surgical procedures were subtalar arthroscopy combined with percutaneous prying reduction and screw fixation assisted by a calcanetalar joint distractor. Incision healing, local skin paraesthesia and other conditions were observed regularly in all patients. The short-term efficacy was assessed by comparing calcaneal lengths, calcaneal widths, calcaneal heights, B?hler angles and Gissane angles at pre-surgery, 3 days, 12 months and the last follow-up after surgery, as well as by comparing visual analogue scale (VAS) pain scores, American Orthopedic Foot and Ankle Society (AOFAS) ankle-hindfoot scores and Maryland scores at pre-surgery, 12 months and the last follow-up after surgery.Results:All the 52 patients were followed up for (23.7±3.2) months after successful surgery. No incision-related complications were reported. The calcaneal radiographic parameters (calcaneal lengths, calcaneal widths, calcaneal heights, B?hler angles and Gissane angles) at 3 days, 12 months and the last follow-up after surgery were significantly improved compared with the values before surgery ( P<0.05), but there were no significant differences regarding the calcaneal radiographic parameters between 3 days, 12 months and the last follow-up after surgery ( P>0.05). The VAS pain scores, AOFAS ankle-hindfoot scores and Maryland scores at 12 months and the last follow-up after surgery were significantly improved compared with those before surgery ( P<0.05). Conclusion:In the minimally invasive treatment of Sanders Ⅱ and Ⅲ calcaneal fractures in diabetes patients, preoperative musculoskeletal ultrasonography to locate the lateral calcaneal branch of the sural nerve, followed by subtalar arthroscopy combined with percutaneous prying reduction and screw fixation assisted by a calcanetalar joint distractor can lead to good short-term efficacy.

Objective:To explore the related risk factors of diaphragmatic hernia after thoraco-laparoscopic minimally invasive Mckeown esophagectomy (MIME).Methods:This is a retrospective controlled study. A retrospective analysis was conducted on the clinical data of patients who underwent MIME at the Department of Thoracic Surgery, Fourth Hospital of Hebei Medical University, from January 2016 to December 2023. A total of 619 patients were included. There were 423 males and 196 females, aged (63.7±7.6) years (range: 37 to 87 years). The diagnosis of diaphragmatic hernia after MIME was made based on clinical symptoms and CT scans. Patients were divided into two groups: the diaphragmatic hernia group ( n=16) and the non-diaphragmatic hernia group ( n=603). Clinical data, including age, gender, body mass index (BMI), smoking history, tumor location (upper, middle, and lower thoracic esophagus), preoperative neoadjuvant therapy history, and tumor staging, were collected and analyzed. A BMI of 25 kg/m2 and age of 65 years were used as cutoff values. The χ2 test and Fisher′s exact test were used to compare the data between the two groups, and Logistic regression was employed for risk factor analysis. The diaphragmatic hernia group and non-diaphragmatic hernia group were matched in a 1∶3 ratio with a caliper value of 0.02 by propensity score matching. Kaplan-Meier method was used for survival analysis and compared using the log-rank test for between-group differences. Results:The proportion of patients with diaphragmatic hernia after MIME who underwent surgical treatment was 6/16. Statistically significant differences were observed between the diaphragmatic hernia group and the non-diaphragmatic hernia group in terms of age ( χ2=16.057, P<0.01), BMI ( χ2=16.057, P<0.01), and tumor location ( χ2=12.048, P=0.002). Multivariate logistic regression analysis revealed that age ≥65 years ( OR=1.236, P=0.023) and BMI<25 kg/m2 ( OR=0.810, P<0.01) were independent risk factors for the development of diaphragmatic hernia after MIME. Survival analysis showed no significant difference in long-term survival between patients with and without diaphragmatic hernia after MIME ( P=0.187), and whether patients with diaphragmatic hernia underwent surgery was not associated with long-term prognosis ( P=0.560). Conclusion:Patients with BMI<25 kg/m 2 and age ≥65 years are independent risk factors for diaphragmatic hernia after MIME. The occurrence of diaphragmatic hernia is not associated with prognosis, and whether patients with diaphragmatic hernia undergo surgery does not affect the prognosis.

Objective:To evaluate the efficacy and safety of immunotherapy combined with chemotherapy as conversion therapy for initially unresectable locally advanced esophageal squamous cell carcinoma.Methods:This retrospective case series study analyzed clinical and pathological data of 32 patients with initially unresectable locally advanced esophageal squamous cell carcinoma who received immunotherapy combined with chemotherapy at the Department of Thoracic Surgery, the Fourth Hospital of Hebei Medical University, from June 2020 to December 2024. The cohort included 27 males and 5 females, with an age ( M(IQR)) of 61(9)years (range:46 to 73 years). Five patients were diagnosed with stage Ⅲ, 27 with stage ⅣA. All patients received PD-1 inhibitor sintilimab combined with nedaplatin and albumin-bound paclitaxel. Radiological evaluations were performed every two cycles, the multidisciplinary team evaluation was conducted to determine conversion to resectable status, and patients with successful conversion underwent radical esophagectomy. Follow-up was conducted via telephone or outpatient visits every 3 to 6 months after the last treatment. The primary endpoint was R0 resection rate, secondary endpoints included objective response rate (ORR), pathological complete response (pCR) rate, major pathological response (MPR) rate, event-free survival (EFS), disease-free survival (DFS) in patients with R0 resection, overall survival (OS) and safety. Kaplan-Meier method was used to plot survival curves and estimate median EFS, DFS, OS rates and their 95% CI. The 95% CI for ORR, pCR rate, MPR rate, and downstaging rate were calculated using the Clopper-Pearson method. Results:The median treatment cycle of 2(1) (range:2 to 8). As of June 2025, the median follow-up was 32.5(13.5)months (range:6.4 to 59.1 months). Among the 32 patients, 9 experienced progression or recurrence, including 2 with liver and lymph node metastases, 2 with lung metastases, 2 with thoracic vertebral metastases, and 3 with mediastinal lymph node metastases. After conversion therapy, 29 patients underwent surgery, achieving an R0 resection rate of 84.4% (95% CI:67.2% to 94.7%), a pCR rate of 27.6% (95% CI:12.7% to 47.2%), and an MPR rate of 55.2% (95% CI:35.7% to 73.6%). Grade 3 or higher surgical complications occurred in 6.9%(2/29) of patients, and grade 3 or higher treatment-related adverse events were observed in 15.6%(5/29). Among the 32 patients, the ORR was 56.3% (95% CI:37.7% to 73.6%),the 3-year EFS rate and OS rate was 59.4% (95% CI:40.8% to 86.4%) and 59.7% (95% CI:40.0% to 89.0%) respectively. Conclusion:Immunotherapy combined with chemotherapy demonstrates high conversion rates and favorable safety in the conversion therapy of initially unresectable locally advanced esophageal squamous cell carcinoma, representing a promising treatment strategy.

Objective:To evaluate the short-term efficacy of minimally invasive treatment of Sanders Ⅱ and Ⅲ calcaneal fractures in diabetes patients using subtalar arthroscopy assisted by preoperative musculoskeletal ultrasound to localize the lateral calcaneal branch of the sural nerve and a medial calcanetalar distractor.Methods:The clinical data of the 52 patients with diabetes mellitus were retrospectively analyzed who had been treated for Sanders Ⅱ and Ⅲ calcaneal fractures from March 2016 to August 2020 at Department of Traumatic Orthopedics, The Third Affiliated Hospital of Soochow University. There were 34 males and 18 females with an age of (61.7±14.5) years. According to the Sanders' classification, there were 23 cases of type Ⅱ and 29 cases of type Ⅲ. Preoperative musculoskeletal ultrasonography was routinely performed to locate the lateral calcaneal branch of the sural nerve in all patients. The surgical procedures were subtalar arthroscopy combined with percutaneous prying reduction and screw fixation assisted by a calcanetalar joint distractor. Incision healing, local skin paraesthesia and other conditions were observed regularly in all patients. The short-term efficacy was assessed by comparing calcaneal lengths, calcaneal widths, calcaneal heights, B?hler angles and Gissane angles at pre-surgery, 3 days, 12 months and the last follow-up after surgery, as well as by comparing visual analogue scale (VAS) pain scores, American Orthopedic Foot and Ankle Society (AOFAS) ankle-hindfoot scores and Maryland scores at pre-surgery, 12 months and the last follow-up after surgery.Results:All the 52 patients were followed up for (23.7±3.2) months after successful surgery. No incision-related complications were reported. The calcaneal radiographic parameters (calcaneal lengths, calcaneal widths, calcaneal heights, B?hler angles and Gissane angles) at 3 days, 12 months and the last follow-up after surgery were significantly improved compared with the values before surgery ( P<0.05), but there were no significant differences regarding the calcaneal radiographic parameters between 3 days, 12 months and the last follow-up after surgery ( P>0.05). The VAS pain scores, AOFAS ankle-hindfoot scores and Maryland scores at 12 months and the last follow-up after surgery were significantly improved compared with those before surgery ( P<0.05). Conclusion:In the minimally invasive treatment of Sanders Ⅱ and Ⅲ calcaneal fractures in diabetes patients, preoperative musculoskeletal ultrasonography to locate the lateral calcaneal branch of the sural nerve, followed by subtalar arthroscopy combined with percutaneous prying reduction and screw fixation assisted by a calcanetalar joint distractor can lead to good short-term efficacy.

Objective:To explore the related risk factors of diaphragmatic hernia after thoraco-laparoscopic minimally invasive Mckeown esophagectomy (MIME).Methods:This is a retrospective controlled study. A retrospective analysis was conducted on the clinical data of patients who underwent MIME at the Department of Thoracic Surgery, Fourth Hospital of Hebei Medical University, from January 2016 to December 2023. A total of 619 patients were included. There were 423 males and 196 females, aged (63.7±7.6) years (range: 37 to 87 years). The diagnosis of diaphragmatic hernia after MIME was made based on clinical symptoms and CT scans. Patients were divided into two groups: the diaphragmatic hernia group ( n=16) and the non-diaphragmatic hernia group ( n=603). Clinical data, including age, gender, body mass index (BMI), smoking history, tumor location (upper, middle, and lower thoracic esophagus), preoperative neoadjuvant therapy history, and tumor staging, were collected and analyzed. A BMI of 25 kg/m2 and age of 65 years were used as cutoff values. The χ2 test and Fisher′s exact test were used to compare the data between the two groups, and Logistic regression was employed for risk factor analysis. The diaphragmatic hernia group and non-diaphragmatic hernia group were matched in a 1∶3 ratio with a caliper value of 0.02 by propensity score matching. Kaplan-Meier method was used for survival analysis and compared using the log-rank test for between-group differences. Results:The proportion of patients with diaphragmatic hernia after MIME who underwent surgical treatment was 6/16. Statistically significant differences were observed between the diaphragmatic hernia group and the non-diaphragmatic hernia group in terms of age ( χ2=16.057, P<0.01), BMI ( χ2=16.057, P<0.01), and tumor location ( χ2=12.048, P=0.002). Multivariate logistic regression analysis revealed that age ≥65 years ( OR=1.236, P=0.023) and BMI<25 kg/m2 ( OR=0.810, P<0.01) were independent risk factors for the development of diaphragmatic hernia after MIME. Survival analysis showed no significant difference in long-term survival between patients with and without diaphragmatic hernia after MIME ( P=0.187), and whether patients with diaphragmatic hernia underwent surgery was not associated with long-term prognosis ( P=0.560). Conclusion:Patients with BMI<25 kg/m 2 and age ≥65 years are independent risk factors for diaphragmatic hernia after MIME. The occurrence of diaphragmatic hernia is not associated with prognosis, and whether patients with diaphragmatic hernia undergo surgery does not affect the prognosis.

Surgery-based multidisciplinary comprehensive treatment is the preferred treatment strategy for local advanced esophageal cancer. Neoadjuvant chemotherapy and neoadjuvant chemoradiotherapy have been recommended by the Chinese Society of Clinical Oncology (CSCO) guideline. With the advent of immunotherapy, neoadjuvant immunotherapy combined with chemotherapy has received much attention, and the first phase Ⅲ study has also confirmed that neoadjuvant immunotherapy combined chemotherapy is a promising treatment option. This article will review the recent advances and hot spots of neoadjuvant immunotherapy combined with chemotherapy.

Objective To investigate the influence of early growth response gene-1 (EGR1) on the autophagy of host cells following infection with human T cell leukemia virus type 1 (HTLV-1).MethodsA HTLV-1-positive cell line MT2 was co-cultured with HeLa cells for 24 h to construct the virus early infection model.Immunoblotting assay was used to detect the expression of HTLV-1 core protein p19 and EGR1.Luciferase reporter gene analysis was used to detect the transcriptional activity of 5′-regulatory sequence of EGR1 at different time points after co-culturing.An effective small interfering RNA (siRNA) targeting EGR1 was screened out and transfected into HeLa cells by Lipofectamine 2000.Then the transfected HeLa cells were co-cultured with the HTLV-1-positive cell line MT2 for 24 h.Immunoblotting assay was used to detect HTLV-1 core protein p19, EGR1 and autophagy-related protein LC3.Real-time PCR was performed to detect viral load.Autophagosome was analyzed by immunofluorescence after co-culturing.Results The expression of EGR1 and the transcriptional activity of pEGR1-luc gradually increased after co-culturing HeLa cells with MT2 cells for 8 h (P<0.01).The expression of EGR1 was positively correlated with host cell autophagy following HTLV-1 infection.The effective siRNA for silencing the expression of EGR1 was obtained and named as siE2.The viral load, the expression of HTLV-1 core protein p19 and the proportion of LC3B/LC3A in the co-culture model were markedly down-regulated by RNA interference with siE2, which was concomitant with a persistent decrease of intracellular autophagosome (P<0.01).Conclusion EGR1 is associated with host cell autophagy and viral replication in HTLV-1 infection.

Platelet-activating factor(PAF) at different concentrations were added to in vitro cultured bovine=pulmonary artery endothelial cells(BPAEC) when lactate dehydrogenase(LDH) release rate, angiotensin converting enzyme(ACE) activity and malondialdehyde (MDA) content were determined. The influences of specific PAF receptor antagonist on PAF effects and the stimulating effect of PAF on leukocyte-endothelial cell adhesion were also observed. The results showed that when PAF were added to BPAECs, there were no significant change in LDH release rate, ACE activities were only slightly increased. No obvious changes in cellbound MDA, but supernatant MDA content was increased in cells treated with high concentration of PAF (10~(-6)). The PAF receptor antagonist, SRI 63-441 made the cell-bound MDA content higher than that of PAF treated cells, whereas the supernatant MDA became lower. PAF may promote endothelial-leukocyte adhesion either through its effects on endothelial cells or on leukocytes, suggesting that PAF has no obvious damaging effect on endothelial cells but may activate endothelial cells thus promoting endothelialleukocyte adhesion.

Software for quantitative analysis of endothelial cell (EC) area, form fac-tor, intercell-plasma-membrane distance and percentage of intercellular gap area in the cellmonolayer was established in a computer image analysing system with great capacity, highspeed and high resolution. The effects of platelet activating factor (PAF) on EC morpho-logical parameters were studied. The results showed that the untreated EC monolayer hadclose contact and narrow gap among cells. After 60 min treatment with 10~(-8)mol/L PAF,the cells showed obvious retraction, with procession of different size from the plasma mem-brane and increased intercellular gap. Computerized quantitative analysis revealed thatthe treatment with PAF for 10 min increased intercellular distance and percentage of inter-cellular gap area in cell monolayer. Thirty minutes treatment decreased cell area butincreased form factor ascertaining to the retraction of EC. This is probably an importantmechanism of increased vascular permeability induced by PAF It is also suggested thatcomputerized image analysis is helpful in rapid, precise and quantitative measurement ofEC morphological changes. It provides a new method for studying the effects of endothe-lial cells in increased vascular permeability.