Objective:To assess the long-term outcome of sequential radical surgery after immune combined with targeted therapy for patients with initially unresectable hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC).Methods:Clinical data of 100 patients with initially unresectable HCC undergoing sequential radical surgery after immune combined with targeted therapy at the Faculty of Hepato-Pancreato-Biliary Surgery of Chinese PLA General Hospital from December 2018 to August 2023 were prospectively collected, including 87 males and 13 females, with a median age of 55 (24-73) years. The pre-treatment tumor staging was determined using the China liver cancer staging (CNLC). The efficacy of immune combined with targeted therapy was accessed using the modified response evaluation criteria in solid tumor (mRECIST). The cycles of immune combined with targeted therapy were analyzed. The tumor residual of resected tissue was analyzed through a standard pathological protocol. The prognosis was analyzed using the Kaplan-Meier method.Results:Upon initial diagnosis, there were 46 cases (46.0%) staged CNLC-Ⅲa and 40 (40.0%) staged CNLC-Ⅲb. There were also 14 cases (14.0%) staged CNLC-Ⅰb, Ⅱa, and Ⅱb who underwent immune combined with targeted therapy due to rupture of tumor or insufficient liver remnant. All patients received a median of 5 (3-28) cycles of immune combined with targeted therapy and underwent radical surgery after successful conversion. According to mRECIST, 14 (14.0%) were determined as complete remission, 63 (63.0%) as partial remission, 18 (18.0%) as stable disease, and 5 (5.0%) as disease progression. Of 24 (24.0%) were defined as pathologically complete remission by postoperative pathology. Furthermore, pathological tumor residue was less than 10% in 61 (61.0%) cases and less than 50% in 82 (82.0%) cases. The 1, 3, and 5 year-overall survival rates of patients were 98.0%, 83.1%, and 74.5%, respectively. The 1, 2 and 3 year-recurrence-free survival rates were 67.5%, 54.8%, and 49.6%, respectively.Conclusion:Sequential radical surgery after immune combined with targeted therapy benefits the long-term survival of patients with initially unresectable HCC.

Objective A wearable wireless chest patch monitoring terminal is designed to realize the acquisition,processing,and wireless transmission of ECG,respiration,and body temperature signals.Methods The analog front-end ADS1292R,which integrates respiratory impedance and ECG front-end,is utilized to collect human ECG and respiratory signals.The body temperature is collected using a low-power,high-precision digital temperature sensor MAX30208.A filter algorithm for signal processing and wireless transmission is designed through a low-power nRF52840 Bluetooth SoC with an Arm Cortex-M4F kernel.Results The experimental results show that the designed monitoring terminal can monitor the ECG,respiration,and body temperature parameters of the human body in real-time and send the monitoring results via Bluetooth,with a continuous working time of more than 13 hours.Conclusion The wearable wireless chest patch monitoring terminal features good portability,long standby time,and high measurement accuracy,and it has promising application prospects in the fields of family health monitoring,mobile medical treatment,and smart healthcare.

Objective:To assess the clinical efficacy of sequential radical surgery after immune and targeted therapy in downstaging patients with initially unresectable hepatocellular carcinoma.Methods:Data were prospectively collected from December 2018 to July 2022 on patients with initially unresectable hepatocellular carcinoma which were downstaged to undergo sequential surgery after treatment with immune and targeted therapy at the Faculty of Hepato-Pancreato-Biliary Surgery, Chinese PLA General Hospital. There were 79 patients, with 69 men and 10 women, aged (53.0±10.9) years, being enrolled into this study. The Kaplan-Meier method was used to calculate the survival rate, and the log-rank test was used for survival rate comparison. Univariate and multivariate Cox regression were used to analyze factors influencing patient prognosis.Results:There were 7 patients (8.9%) with China Liver Cancer Staging (CNLC) Ⅰb, Ⅱa, Ⅱb who had insufficient residual liver volume or tumor rupture before the downstaging therapy, and 38 patients (48.1%) with CNLC Ⅲa and 34 patients (43.0%) with CNLC Ⅲb. These 79 patients underwent R 0 resection after 3-20 cycles (median 5 cycles) of immune and targeted therapy. Based on the modified response evaluation criteria in solid tumor, the results of preoperative imaging assessment were: complete remission in 12 patients (15.2%), partial remission in 50 patients (63.3%), stable disease in 15 patients (19.0%), and disease progression in 2 patients (2.5%). The overall survival rates of patients at 1, 2, and 3 years after diagnosis were 96.1%, 83.5%, and 76.6%; and the recurrence-free survival rates at 1, 2, and 3 years after surgery were 62.1%, 52.9%, and 34.7%, respectively. On multivariate Cox regression analysis, patients with a preoperative alpha-fetoprotein >20 μg/L ( HR=2.816, 95% CI: 1.232-6.432, P=0.014) and a high proportion of pathological residual tumors ( HR=1.015, 95% CI: 1.004-1.026, P=0.006) had a higher risk of postoperative recurrence; and patients with a high proportion of pathological residual tumors ( HR=1.028, 95% CI: 1.007-1.049, P=0.007) and preoperative alpha-fetoprotein >400 μg/L ( HR=4.099, 95% CI: 1.193-14.076, P=0.025) had a higher risk of death. Conclusion:Immunotherapy combined with targeted therapy and sequential surgery for patients with initially unresectable hepatocellular carcinoma provided long-term survival benefits. Elevated preoperative alpha-fetoprotein and a high proportion of pathological residual tumor were independent risk factors for recurrence-free survival and overall survival in this group of patients.

Humans ; Adult ; Serum Albumin, Human ; Consensus ; Cardiac Surgical Procedures ; Thoracic Surgery

Objective:To analyze the relationship between killer cell immunoglobulin-like receptor ( KIR) genes and immune reconstitution failure in human immunodeficiency virus infection/acquired immunodeficiency syndrome (HIV/AIDS) patients after anti-retroviral therapy (ART). Methods:HIV/AIDS patients receiving ART for ≥1 year who attended the AIDS outpatient clinics of Wuming Hospital of Guangxi Medical University and People′s Hospital of Mashan from May 2007 to December 2019 were included. Patients were divided into immune reconstitution failure group and full immune reconstitution group. Polymerase chain reaction with sequence specific primers (PCR-SSP) was used to detect KIR genotypes in all subjects, and the genotype frequency (PF) of 16 KIR genotypes was calculated. Statistical analysis was conducted using chi-square test. Multivariate logistic regression was used to analyze the relationship between KIR genotypes and immune reconstitution failure.Results:There were 102 patients with HIV/AIDS, including 44 immunological non-responders and 58 immunological responders. The PF of KIR2 DL5 in immune reconstitution failure group was 59.09%(26/44), which was higher than 36.21%(21/58) in full immune reconstitution group, and the difference was statistically significant ( χ2=5.27, P=0.022). Multivariate logistics regression analysis showed that KIR2 DL5 was associated with immune reconstitution failure when adjusted for age and baseline CD4 + T cell count. Positive expression of KIR2 DL5 may be a risk factor for immune reconstitution failure (adjusted odds ratio (a OR)=2.431, 95% confidence interval 1.012 to 5.844, P=0.047). Conclusions:Positive expression of KIR2 DL5 may be related to immune reconstitution failure in HIV/AIDS patients after ART.

Background Paraquat (PQ), one of the environmental poisons associated with sporadic Parkinson's disease (PD), can cause abnormal aggregation of alpha-synuclein (α-syn), but the research on its conformational changes and subcellular localization is limited. Objective To investigate the effect of PQ on α-syn conformation and subcellular localization in dopaminergic neurons. Methods Forty-eight SPF C57BL/6 male mice were selected and randomly divided into a control group and a model group. The model group was intraperitoneally injected with PQ (15 mg·kg⁻¹), and the control group was intraperitoneally injected with 0.9% normal saline, twice a week for eight weeks to construct a PD-like mouse model. The changes of neurobehavior (by open field test and pole climbing test) were observed to evaluate motor ability of mice. Immunohistochemical staining (IHC) was used to detect the expression levels of tyrosine hydroxylase (TH) and α-syn in the midbrain. Western blotting (WB) was used to measure the protein expression levels of TH and α-syn in midbrain. Human neuroblastoma SH-SY5Y cells were used as dopaminergic neuron in vitro models. After the cells were treated with PQ (100 μmol·L⁻¹) for 0, 12, 24, 36 and 48 h, the expressions of α-syn in whole cell, cytoplasm, and nucleus were detected by WB; the expression level of extracellular α-syn was detected by enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA); the change of α-syn location was observed by immunofluorescence assay (IFA). Results The neurobehavioral tests' results showed that compared with the control group, the residence time in peripheral area of mice in the PQ model group increased with the increase of exposure time (P<0.05), the residence time and moving distance in the central region decreased (P<0.05), and the pole climbing time increased (P<0.05). The mouse IHC results showed that compared with the control group, the number of TH positive cells in the midbrain decreased in the model group at week 6 and 8 (P<0.05), while the expression level of α-syn increased at week 4, 6, and 8 (P<0.05). The WB results of mouse showed that the relative expression of TH decreased significantly after 6 and 8 weeks of PQ exposure (P<0.05), and the relative expression of oligomer α-syn increased after 4, 6, and 8 weeks of PQ exposure (P<0.05). The WB of in vitro models results showed that the relative expression of α-syn in cells increased with time (R²=0.7440, P<0.05); the relative expression of α-syn in cytoplasm increased firstly and then decreased with time (P<0.05); the relative expression of α-syn in nucleus increased with time (R²=0.7913, P<0.05). The IFA results of in vitro models showed that the expression of oligomerized α-syn increased and translocated to the nucleus (P<0.05). The ELISA results of in vitro models showed that α-syn increased with the increase of PQ exposure time (P<0.05). Conclusion PQ can increase the expression of α-syn in dopaminergic neurons, induce oligomerization and translocation to the nucleus.

Objective    To explore the safety and feasibility of the establishment method and management strategy of prolonged support model with veno-venous extracorporeal membrane oxygenation (V-V ECMO) under dual lumen cannula (DLC) in conscious sheep. Methods    Three adult male sheep were selected. An Avalon Elite DLC was inserted into the superior vena cava, right atrium, and inferior vena cava through the right jugular vein and was connected with centrifugal pump and oxygenator to establish the extracorporeal membrane oxygenation circuit. All the 3 sheep were transferred into the monitoring cage after operation and were ambulatory after anesthesia recovery. Hemodynamic parameters and extracorporeal membrane oxygenation performance were measured every day. Results    All three sheep survived to the end of the experiment (7 days). In the whole process of the experiment, the basic vital signs of the experimental sheep were stable, and no serious bleeding or thrombotic events occurred. During the experiment, hemoglobin concentration and platelet count were relatively stable, plasma free hemoglobin was maintained at a low level, extracorporeal membrane oxygenation flow rate was stable, and oxygenation performance of oxygenator was good. Conclusion    Prolonged V-V ECMO model in conscious sheep under DLC is feasible and stable.

Objective:To study the safety and efficacy of a treatment protocol using immune checkpoint inhibitors (ICIs) and antiangiogenic targeted drugs (AATDs) in converting 41 patients with initially unresectable to resectable hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC).Methods:The data of 41 patients with initially unresectable HCC treated with immunotherapy combined with targeted therapy from December 2018 to April 2021 in Chinese PLA General Hospital were analysed. There were 34 males and 7 females, aged (51.8±10.7) years. The clinical characteristics, conversion to resectable HCC, adverse drug reactions, surgical data and postoperative complications were analysed. Patients were followed-up by outpatients clinics or telephone calls.Results:There were 5 patients with Chinese Liver Cancer Staging (CNLC)-Ⅰb, 4 with CNLC-Ⅱ, 28 with CNLC-Ⅲa and 4 with CNLC-Ⅲb before the treatment protocol. Among them, 28 patients had portal vein tumor thrombosis (PVTT) and 4 had retroperitoneal lymph node metastases. All patients had a mean tumor diameter of (9.16±4.43) cm before and (6.49±4.69) cm after the treatment protocol. The latter was based on the last assessment before hepatectomy. The efficacy of the treatment protocol in converting unresectable to resectable HCC was assessed by the modified Response Evaluation Criteria in Solid Tumors after 3-15 cycles (median dose cycles, 5) of protocal therapy: 15 patients achieved a complete response; 15 patients achieved a partial response; 6 patients had a stable disease, and 5 patients had a progressive disease. 21 patients (51.2%) experienced adverse reactions associated with drug treatment, which resolved with symptomatic treatment or brief discontinuation of the therapy. All patients underwent successful hepatectomy. Postoperative complications of grade Ⅱ or higher occurred in 9 patients (22.0%). The cumulative overall survival rates at 6 months, 1 year and 2 years from diagnosis were 100.0%, 92.6% and 64.7% respectively. The cumulative overall survival rates at 6 months, 1 year and 2 years after surgery were 95.1%, 74.7% and 60.8%, and the recurrence-free survival rates at 6 months, 1 year and 2 years after surgery were 87.8%, 56.7% and 48.6%, respectively.Conclusions:This study provided preliminary evidences that surgical resection after immunotherapy combined with targeted therapy in patients with initially unresectable HCC was safe and efficacious.

Objective:To investigate the safety and efficacy of combining programmed death-1 (PD-1) with tyrosine kinase inhibitors (TKIs) in patients with advanced hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) before liver transplantation(LT).Methods:The data of six males with a mean ± s. d. age of (57.5±4.3) years who were treated with PD-1 inhibitors combined with TKIs for advanced HCC before LT at Beijing You'an Hospital, Capital Medical University and the First Medical Center of Chinese PLA General Hospital were retrospectively analysed. The tumor stagings, the use of PD-1 inhibitors and TKIs with their discontinuation in pre-LT/post-LT liver function recovery durations, incidences of complication. The tumor recurrence and disease-free survival rates were determined on follow-up of these patients at outpatients clinics.Results:For the 6 patients included in this study, four patients were classified by the Barcelona Clinic Liver Cancer Staging (BCLC) as C and the China Liver Cancer Staging (CNLC) as Ⅲa, and two patients were classified by the BCLC staging as B and the CNLC asⅡb. The mean cycle of PD-1 inhibitor used was 5.5 (1-20), and the mean duration of PD-1 inhibitor discontinuation was 19.5 (12-45) days pre-LT. All patients who were treated with PD-1 inhibitors combined with TKIs reached the liver transplantation standard, and all successfully underwent orthotopic liver transplantation. The liver function recovered well without any serious complications post-LT. All the patients survived without developing any acute rejection or other complications. The follow-up time ranged from 8.2 to 27.3 months, with a median of 11.9 months. No patients had died, and 2 patients developed tumor recurrence. The median (range) tumor-free survival time was 10.9 (2.9-27.3) months.Conclusion:Patients with advanced HCC could benefit from combined PD-1 inhibitors with TKIs therapy pre-LT. There were no increased incidences of acute rejection and other complications post-LT.

Objective:The study aimed to study the efficacy and safety of combined dual therapy using anti-programmed death (PD)-1 and tyrosine kinase inhibitor (TKI) with combined triple therapy using anti-PD-1, TKI and locoregional intervention triple therapy in patients with postoperative refractory recurrent liver cancer.Methods:Patients with postoperative refractory recurrent liver cancer who had undergone either anti-PD-1 and TKI dual therapy or anti-PD-1, TKI and locoregional intervention triple therapy between July 2016 and March 2019 at the First Medical Center, Chinese PLA General Hospital were retrospectively studied. Tumor responses were assessed by the modified response evaluation criteria in solid tumors and overall survival and progression free survival were compared. Adverse events were evaluated according to the National Cancer Institute Common Terminology Criteria for Adverse Events.Results:Of 63 patients who were included in this study, there were 25 patients in the dual therapy group (16 males and 9 females, aged 54.3±8.8 years) and 38 patients in the triple therapy group (31 males and 7 females, aged 55.5±8.4 years). The 1-year survival rate of the triple therapy group was significantly higher than the dual therapy group (94.5%vs 54.9%) ( P<0.01). The disease control rate was 64.0% (16/25) in the dual therapy group and 84.2% (32/38) in the triple therapy group, and the difference was not significant ( P>0.05). The incidence of treatment-related adverse events in the triple therapy group and the dual therapy group were 78.9% (30/38) and 80% (20/25), respectively. There was no treatment-related death in the 2 groups. Conclusions:Anti-PD-1 and TKI dual therapy and anti-PD-1, TKI and locoregional intervention triple therapy were effective and tolerable treatments for postoperative refractory recurrent liver cancer. The latter treatment had a significantly better clinical benefit on survival outcomes.