Objective To analyze the main causes and risk factors of unplanned reoperation after liver transplantation. Methods The clinical data of 242 liver transplant recipients in the First Affiliated Hospital of Anhui Medical University from January 2015 to December 2024 were retrospectively analyzed. According to whether unplanned reoperation was performed during the same hospitalization after surgery, the recipients were divided into the reoperation group (n=36) and the non-reoperation group (n=206). The preoperative, intraoperative and postoperative data of the two groups, as well as donor and graft-related data, were compared to analyze the risk factors of unplanned reoperation after liver transplantation and the survival status of the two groups. Results Among the 242 liver transplant recipients, 36 underwent unplanned reoperations, with a total of 54 procedures including various laparotomies, endoscopic and interventional surgeries, among which there were 20 laparotomies, 18 endoscopic surgeries and 16 interventional surgeries. The most common cause of unplanned reoperation was biliary complications (20 times), followed by vascular complications (17 times). Compared with the non-reoperation group, the reoperation group had longer graft cold ischemia time, higher postoperative fatality rate of recipients, longer length of stay in the intensive care unit and postoperative hospital stay, and higher total hospitalization costs (all P<0.05). The incidence of unplanned reoperation was higher in recipients who underwent split liver transplantation (P<0.05). Multivariate analysis showed that intraoperative blood loss ≥1 000 mL, positive culture of graft perfusate and split liver transplantation were independent risk factors for unplanned reoperation (all P<0.05). The postoperative 7-day, 1-month, 3-month and 6-month survival rates of recipients in the reoperation group and the non-reoperation group were 100% vs. 98.1%, 88.9% vs. 94.2%, 69.4% vs. 90.8% and 66.7% vs. 90.8%, respectively, and the postoperative survival rate of recipients in the reoperation group was lower than that in the non-reoperation group (P<0.05). Conclusions The main causes of unplanned reoperation after liver transplantation are biliary complications, vascular complications, abdominal incision infection and intra-abdominal hemorrhage. Intraoperative massive blood loss, positive culture of graft perfusate and split liver transplantation are the risk factors associated with unplanned reoperation after liver transplantation.

ObjectiveCerebrospinal fluid (CSF) plays a crucial role in maintaining the homeostasis of the central nervous system (CNS). CSF rapidly exchanges with interstitial fluid (ISF) via the glymphatic system within the brain parenchyma. CSF-ISF circulation and its associated mechanisms are often referred to as the brain lymphatic system. This system is connected directly to meningeal lymphatic vessels (mLVs), jointly performing the function of clearing metabolic waste from the CNS. Emerging evidence indicates that this system is closely associated with the onset and progression of neurodegenerative diseases (NDs) such as Alzheimer’s disease (AD). Importantly, abnormal CSF circulation is not only a downstream consequence of AD pathology, but also a risk factor. In AD, the dynamics of CSF flow within the CNS are diminished, immune dysregulation occurs, and this may increase the risk of AD by exacerbating the burden of amyloid β-protein (Aβ). In the mouse model of AD, impaired CSF flow compromises this clearance function, leading to cognitive deficits. Clinically, acupuncture at cognition-related acupoints is commonly used for the prevention and treatment of AD. However, whether its therapeutic effects are mediated through the modulation of CSF dynamics remains unclear. This study aimed to evaluate the impact of acupuncture on CSF flow and investigate its acupoint specificity. MethodsMice were randomly assigned to experimental groups for the different electroacupuncture groups with the following acupoints: Baihui point (GV 20), Ear point, Neiguan point (PC 6), and Tianshu point (ST 25). Wild-type mice on a C57BL/6J background were used as controls. Fluorescent tracer was injected into the cisterna magna to label CSF flow. Fluorescence imaging was employed to assess the distribution of CSF within the brain before and after acupuncture stimulation. ResultsFollowing tracer injection into the cisterna magna, fluorescence signals rapidly reached the cerebellum and medulla—the regions closest to the injection site. Fluorescence intensity was higher in ventral brain regions compared to dorsal regions, likely due to greater vascular density in ventral areas facilitating CSF-ISF exchange. Electroacupuncture at the GV 20 produced the most pronounced enhancement of CSF across the whole brain, while stimulation at the ST 25 primarily augmented flow within subcortical regions. In contrast, electroacupuncture at the Ear point or the PC 6 had no observable effect on CSF in mice. ConclusionElectroacupuncture promotes CSF flow into the brain parenchyma in an acupoint-specific manner, with GV 20 exhibiting the most pronounced enhancement of CSF dynamics. These findings suggest that acupuncture-mediated facilitation of CSF flow may represent a potential therapeutic strategy for preventing or delaying age-related cognitive decline.

ObjectiveCerebrospinal fluid (CSF) plays a crucial role in maintaining the homeostasis of the central nervous system (CNS). CSF rapidly exchanges with interstitial fluid (ISF) via the glymphatic system within the brain parenchyma. CSF-ISF circulation and its associated mechanisms are often referred to as the brain lymphatic system. This system is connected directly to meningeal lymphatic vessels (mLVs), jointly performing the function of clearing metabolic waste from the CNS. Emerging evidence indicates that this system is closely associated with the onset and progression of neurodegenerative diseases (NDs) such as Alzheimer’s disease (AD). Importantly, abnormal CSF circulation is not only a downstream consequence of AD pathology, but also a risk factor. In AD, the dynamics of CSF flow within the CNS are diminished, immune dysregulation occurs, and this may increase the risk of AD by exacerbating the burden of amyloid β-protein (Aβ). In the mouse model of AD, impaired CSF flow compromises this clearance function, leading to cognitive deficits. Clinically, acupuncture at cognition-related acupoints is commonly used for the prevention and treatment of AD. However, whether its therapeutic effects are mediated through the modulation of CSF dynamics remains unclear. This study aimed to evaluate the impact of acupuncture on CSF flow and investigate its acupoint specificity. MethodsMice were randomly assigned to experimental groups for the different electroacupuncture groups with the following acupoints: Baihui point (GV 20), Ear point, Neiguan point (PC 6), and Tianshu point (ST 25). Wild-type mice on a C57BL/6J background were used as controls. Fluorescent tracer was injected into the cisterna magna to label CSF flow. Fluorescence imaging was employed to assess the distribution of CSF within the brain before and after acupuncture stimulation. ResultsFollowing tracer injection into the cisterna magna, fluorescence signals rapidly reached the cerebellum and medulla—the regions closest to the injection site. Fluorescence intensity was higher in ventral brain regions compared to dorsal regions, likely due to greater vascular density in ventral areas facilitating CSF-ISF exchange. Electroacupuncture at the GV 20 produced the most pronounced enhancement of CSF across the whole brain, while stimulation at the ST 25 primarily augmented flow within subcortical regions. In contrast, electroacupuncture at the Ear point or the PC 6 had no observable effect on CSF in mice. ConclusionElectroacupuncture promotes CSF flow into the brain parenchyma in an acupoint-specific manner, with GV 20 exhibiting the most pronounced enhancement of CSF dynamics. These findings suggest that acupuncture-mediated facilitation of CSF flow may represent a potential therapeutic strategy for preventing or delaying age-related cognitive decline.

Background: and Purpose Vertebrobasilar fusiform aneurysms (VBFAs) carry substantial morbidity and mortality, but optimal management for unruptured VBFAs remains unclear. We compared the safety and efficacy of conservative management (CM), stent-assisted coiling (SAC), and flow diverters (FDs) in patients with unruptured VBFAs, focusing on long-term prognosis. Methods: This study included data from a nationwide Chinese cohort of patients with vertebrobasilar dissecting aneurysms. Inverse probability of treatment weighting (IPTW) balanced confounders across groups. The primary outcome was poor prognosis (modified Rankin Scale score >2). Secondary outcomes included aneurysm rupture, ischemic stroke, compression symptoms, and VBFA-related deaths. Logistic regression estimated odds ratios (ORs) and 95% confidence intervals (CIs). Subgroup and sensitivity analyses were performed. Results: Among 1,115 patients with unruptured VBFAs, 838 (median age, 54 years; 655 men) were included. After IPTW, baseline characteristics were balanced. Median follow-up was 54 months. FD was associated with a lower risk of poor prognosis than CM (OR, 0.48 [95% CI, 0.30 to 0.77]; p=0.002), with no difference between CM and SAC. FD also reduced aneurysm rupture (OR, 0.20 [95% CI, 0.07 to 0.60]; p=0.004) and compression symptoms (OR, 0.30 [95% CI, 0.13 to 0.68]; p=0.004) versus CM. Time-to-event analyses further revealed significant differences in vertebral artery lesions and Type I–II VBFAs, whereas no significant differences were observed in basilar or vertebrobasilar junction lesions or in Type III–IV VBFAs. Conclusions Compared with CM, FD was associated with improved long-term outcomes in unruptured VBFAs, particularly in vertebral artery lesions and Type I–II VBFAs, although residual confounding cannot be excluded.

Objective: To explore the independent risk factors of allogeneic blood transfusion during perioperative period of cytoreductive surgery in patients with ovarian cancer, and to construct a predictive model to facilitate clinical risk assessment and optimize perioperative blood management. Methods: Clinical data of 156 patients who underwent cytoreductive surgery for ovarian cancer in our hospital from January 2020 to December 2025 were retrospectively collected. The patients were divided into transfusion group (n=51) and non-transfusion group (n=105) according to whether they received allogeneic blood transfusion during perioperative period. The 1∶1 propensity score matching (PSM) was used to correct the confounding factors. Independent sample t test or Mann-Whitney U test was used for measurement data, and chisquare test was used for enumeration data. Variables with P<0.05 in univariate analysis were included in binary logistic regression for multivariate analysis to determine independent risk factors. A nomogram model for perioperative allogeneic blood transfusion risk prediction was constructed based on independent risk factors. Bootstrap method (100 samples) was used for internal calibration verification. ROC curve was used to evaluate the discrimination efficiency, and decision curve analysis (DCA) was used to evaluate the clinical net benefit of the model. Results: After propensity matching, the baseline data of the two groups were balanced and comparable. Multivariate logistic regression analysis showed that preoperative prothrombin time (PT) (OR=2.666, 95%CI 1.249~5.693, P=0.011), preoperative hemoglobin (Hb) (OR=0.953, 95%CI 0.923~0.984, P=0.003), intraoperative blood loss (OR=1.004, 95%CI 1.001-1.006, P=0.004), preoperative anemia grade (OR=3.052, 95%CI 1.007-9.252, P=0.049) were independent influencing factors of perioperative allogeneic blood transfusion. The nomogram model based on the above four factors was significant (LR χ =58.617, P<0.001), and the internal calibration curve showed that the predicted probability of the model was in good agreement with the actual probability (mean absolute error=0.042). The area under the ROC curve (AUC) was 0.890, indicating good discrimination efficiency. DCA showed that the clinical net benefit of the model was better than that of the unified transfusion/non-transfusion strategy in the 0-0.45 risk threshold range. Conclusion: Intraoperative blood loss, preoperative PT, preoperative Hb and preoperative anemia grade are independent risk factors for perioperative allogeneic blood transfusion in patients undergoing cytoreductive surgery for ovarian cancer. The nomogram model based on the above factors has good predictive efficacy and clinical hierarchical decision-making value, which can provide reference for clinical implementation of individualized blood management for high-risk patients and reduction of unnecessary blood transfusion rate.

Background and purpose:Accurately locating pulmonary nodules is the key to the success of thoracoscopic surgery.This study aimed to investigate the strategy and evaluate the feasibility,safety,and clinical value of thoracoscopic surgical treatment for pulmonary nodules located beneath the interlobar pleura and close to the pulmonary hilum.Methods:The patients who underwent pulmonary nodule surgery at Liaocheng Tumor Hospital from May 2023 to November 2024 were enrolled,and the patients who did not meet the inclusion criteria were excluded.This study was approved by the Ethics Committee of Liaocheng Tumor Hospital(EC-20240112-1020)and informed consent was obtained from the patients.The research was designed as a prospective single-arm study.The patients were treated with wedge resection,which was performed following CT-guided localization,where the location needle was inserted through the interlobar pleura.The feasibility of the procedure was evaluated by analyzing the success rate of preoperative localization and perioperative complications.Results:A total of 28 patients who met the inclusion criteria were included in this study.There were 5 male and 23 female patients with an average age of(56.0±8.5)years(range 38-69 years).In all,28 patients with 28 nodules underwent thoracoscopic wedge resection,and the preoperative CT-guided localization was successfully performed in all patients,without urgent complications.The mean operation time of thoracoscopic surgery was(15.6±4.0)min,intraoperative bleeding was(20.9±14.3)mL,and postoperative drainage was(214.3±62.2)mL.No cases of postoperative air leaks or conversion to thoracotomy were observed.The average length of hospital stay was(5.4±0.9)days.The postoperative histological diagnosis revealed 3 benign lesions(pulmonary fibrosis in 2 cases,atypical adenomatous hyperplasia in 1 case)and 25 malignant lesions(adenocarcinoma in situ in 5 cases,minimally invasive adenocarcinoma in 16 cases,and invasive adenocarcinoma in 4 cases).Conclusion:Thoracoscopic wedge resection following CT-guided nodule localization through the interlobar pleura is a feasible approach for nodules located beneath the interlobar pleura and close to the pulmonary hilum.The method ensures precise tumor localization,adequate margin,and minimal loss of normal lung tissue,with a low incidence of postoperative complication,which has important guiding significance for the surgical treatment of pulmonary nodules in such special locations.

Objective:To explore the safety and efficacy of intraosseous regional administration (IORA) of vancomycin for preventing infection in primary total knee arthroplasty (TKA).Methods:A total of 124 patients with knee osteoarthritis undergoing TKA between February 2024 and May 2024 at nine hospitals were enrolled. Preoperative infection prophylaxis involved either IORA (0.5 g vancomycin administered via intraosseous regional infusion before incision) or intravenous infusion (1 g vancomycin via peripheral vein). The IORA group included 15 males and 47 females with a median age of 66.5 years (range, 60.0-70.0 years), while the intravenous group included 14 males and 48 females with a median age of 66.0 years (range, 61.8-70.3 years) years. Intraoperative samples were collected including fat and synovium tissues after incision, before prosthesis placement, and after tourniquet release; distal femoral cancellous bone during femoral osteotomy; proximal tibial cancellous bone during tibial osteotomy; proximal intercondylar cancellous bone before prosthesis placement; and peripheral blood from non-infused arms at surgery initiation and after tourniquet release. Vancomycin concentrations were measured using liquid chromatography-tandem mass spectrometry. Vital sign changes were recorded from admission to 5~10 minutes post-IORA (IORA group) or post-incision (intravenous group). Follow-ups were conducted on postoperative day 1 and 3, and at 1 and 3 months, to document complications including IORA-related adverse events, periprosthetic joint infections, surgical site infections, red man syndrome, acute kidney injury, deep vein thrombosis and so on.Results:Vancomycin concentrations in bone, fat, and synovial tissue samples were significantly higher in the IORA group than in the intravenous group ( P<0.05), while vancomycin concentrations in blood samples were significantly lower in the IORA group than in the intravenous group ( P<0.05). Only 7.3%(41/558) of tissue samples in the IORA group had vancomycin concentrations below 2.0 μg/g (the minimum inhibitory concentration of vancomycin against coagulase-negative staphylococcus), compared to 59.3%(331/558) in the intravenous group (χ 2=11.285, P<0.001). In the intravenous group, 16.9%(21/124) of blood samples had vancomycin concentrations exceeding 15.0 mg/L (the threshold associated with a significantly increased risk of nephrotoxicity), while all concentrations in the IORA group were below this threshold, the difference was statistically significant (χ 2=22.943, P<0.001). There were no statistically significant difference ( P>0.05) in vital signs changes before and after vancomycin administration between the two groups. Two patients in the intravenous group experienced incision exudate, while no other related complications occurred in either group. Conclusions:Compared to the traditional intravenous infusion of 1 g vancomycin, intraosseous injection of a low dose (0.5 g) of vancomycin achieves higher local tissue concentrations in the knee joint with a lower incidence of adverse reactions and is safe for infection prophylaxis. Despite guidelines not recommending the routine use of vancomycin for preventing infection after primary TKA, intraosseous injection of 0.5 g vancomycin may be considered intraoperatively for primary TKA in the following scenarios: patients in medical institutions with a high prevalence of methicillin-resistant staphylococcus aureus (MRSA) infections, patients with potential preoperative MRSA colonization, or patients with cephalosporin allergy.

Ferroptosis is an emerging form of regulated cell death characterized by iron-dependent lipid peroxidation and the failure of the antioxidant system，which results in iron-dependent oxidative damage to the cell membrane. Ferroptosis is implicated in various biological processes，including cell proliferation，aging，and differentiation. The regulation of oxidative stress by ferroptosis is closely associated with the inactivation of glutathione peroxidase 4（Gpx4），dysfunction of the cysteine/glutamate antiporter System Xc-，the production of reactive oxygen species derived from oxidized polyunsaturated fatty acids，and alterations in lipid metabolism. Oxidative stress is a critical mechanism underlying the onset and progression of benign prostatic hyperplasia（BPH）and plays a pivotal role in its pathogenesis. Ferroptosis may regulate the occurrence and development of BPH by mediating lipid oxidative stress response.

AIM:To explore the relationship be-tween the level of myeloid-derived suppressor cell(MDSC)infiltration in tumor tissues and the clinical efficacy and prognosis of combined PD-1 inhibitor and chemotherapy in the treatment of advanced non-small cell lung cancer(NSCLC).METHODS:A retrospective analysis was conducted on 92 NSCLC patients who received PD-1 inhibitor combined with chemotherapy at the First Affiliated Hospital of Anhui Medical University from June 2019 to June 2024.Tumor tissue samples were examined using immunohistochemistry to detect the level of MDSC infiltration,dividing the patients into high-in-filtration group(MDSC≥2)and low-infiltration group(MDSC＜2).The objective response rate(iORR),disease control rate(iDCR),progression-free survival(PFS),and overall survival(OS)were compared between the two groups.Kaplan-Meier survival analysis and Log-rank test were used to plot PFS and OS survival curves,and Cox regression analysis was applied to identify factors influencing prognosis.RESULTS:Among the 92 patients,53 were in the low MDSC infiltration group,and 39 were in the high MDSC infiltration group.The low MDSC infiltration group showed significantly better treatment responses compared to the high MDSC infiltration group.The objective response rate(iORR)was 77.3％in the low MDSC infiltration group,higher than the 56.4％in the high MDSC in-filtration group(P=0.033).The disease control rate(iDCR)was 94.3％,also significantly higher than the 66.7％in the high MDSC infiltration group(P=0.001).Moreover,the median progression-free sur-vival(PFS)and overall survival(OS)in the low MD-SC infiltration group were 16.9 months and 27.6 months,respectively,which were significantly lon-ger than those in the high MDSC infiltration group(PFS 12.6 months,OS 22.3 months).Kaplan-Meier analysis revealed that both PFS and OS in the low MDSC infiltration group were significantly longer than those in the high MDSC infiltration group.Cox univariate analysis showed that smoking,PD-L1 ex-pression levels,tumor stage,and MDSC infiltration level were closely associated with PFS and OS.Mul-tivariate Cox regression analysis further indicated that high MDSC infiltration was an independent risk factor for both PFS(HR=2.678,P=0.013)and OS(HR=2.254,P=0.022).CONCLUSION:The level of MDSC infiltration in tumor tissues is closely related to the efficacy and prognosis of PD-1 inhibitor com-bined with chemotherapy in NSCLC patients.High MDSC infiltration suggests reduced treatment sen-sitivity and poor prognosis.MDSC infiltration level may serve as a predictive biomarker for the effica-cy and prognosis of PD-1 inhibitor combined with chemotherapy in advanced NSCLC.

Objective:To investigate the impact of the interval between neoadjuvant immunotherapy combined with chemotherapy(nICT) and surgery on pathological outcomes and prognosis in patients.Methods:This is a retrospective cohort study. A total of 115 patients with locally advanced esophageal squamous cell carcinoma who underwent nICT followed by sequential surgery at Department of Thoracic Surgery, Peking University People′s Hospital or Department of Thoracic Surgery, the First Affiliated Hospital of Zhengzhou University from January 2020 to April 2024 were included. Among them, 99 were male and 16 were female, with an age of ( M(IQR)) 65 (11) years (range:45 to 81 years). All patients received 2 to 6 cycles of paclitaxel plus platinum-based doublet chemotherapy combined with PD-1 immune checkpoint inhibitors. The resectability of tumors was assessed based on CT scans of the chest and abdomen, and surgical approaches included Sweet surgery, Mckeown surgery, and Ivor-Lewis surgery. Patients were divided into a short-interval group (4 to <6 weeks) and a long-interval group (6 to 12 weeks) based on the interval between neoadjuvant immunochemotherapy and surgery. General patient data, surgical details, pathological response, and prognosis were collected and analyzed. Data comparisons were performed using independent sample t-test, Mann-Whitney U test, χ 2 test, or Fisher′s exact test. Multivariate logistic regression analysis was used to identify independent factors influencing pathological complete response (pCR). Survival analysis was conducted using the Kaplan-Meier method and Log-rank test. Results:There were no significant differences in baseline characteristics, neoadjuvant treatment details, surgical outcomes, or postoperative complications between the long-interval group and the short-interval group (all P>0.05). Multivariate Logistic regression analysis revealed that, among clinical factors, interval between neoadjuvant immunochemotherapy and surgery was significantly associated with pCR (long-interval group vs. short-interval group: OR=4.14, 95% CI:1.63 to 10.50, P=0.003). The pCR rate was higher in the long-interval group (43.6% vs. 17.1%, χ2=6.48, P=0.011). Survival analysis showed no significant differences in overall survival ( P=0.094) or disease-free survival ( P=0.840) between the two groups. Conclusion:Appropriately extending the surgical interval after neoadjuvant immunochemotherapy maybe lead to a higher pCR rate, without increasing surgical difficulty or damaging prognosis.