Objective To compare the long-term survival of elderly patients with esophageal squamous cell carcinoma (ESCC) treated with surgical versus non-surgical treatment. Methods A retrospective analysis was conducted on the clinical data of elderly patients aged ≥70 years with ESCC who underwent esophagectomy or radiotherapy/chemotherapy at Sichuan Cancer Hospital from January 2009 to September 2017. Patients were divided into a surgical group (S group) and a non-surgical group (NS group) according to the treatment method. The propensity score matching method was used to match the two groups of patients at a ratio of 1∶1, and the survival of the two groups before and after matching was analyzed. Results A total of 726 elderly patients with ESCC were included, including 552 males and 174 females, with 651 patients aged ≥70-80 years and 75 patients aged ≥80-90 years. There were 515 patients in the S group and 211 patients in the NS group. The median follow-up time was 60.8 months, and the median overall survival of the S group was 41.9 months [95%CI (35.2, 48.5)], while that of the NS group was only 24.0 months [95%CI (19.8, 28.3)]. The 1-, 3-, and 5-year overall survival rates of the S group were 84%, 54%, and 40%, respectively, while those of the NS group were 72%, 40%, and 30%, respectively [HR=0.689, 95%CI (0.559, 0.849), P<0.001]. After matching, 138 patients were included in each group, and there was no statistical difference in the overall survival between the two groups [HR=0.871, 95%CI (0.649, 1.167), P=0.352]. Conclusion Compared with conservative treatment, there is no significant difference in the long-term survival of elderly patients aged ≥70 years who undergo esophagectomy for ESCC. Neoadjuvant therapy combined with surgery is still an important choice to potentially improve the survival of elderly patients with ESCC.

BACKGROUND:Ischemic stroke is a serious threat to human health.After ischemia and hypoxia,astrocyte expresses lipocalin-2 in large amounts to aggravate brain injury,but the specific mechanism is not clear.Hydroxysafflor yellow A has anti-ischemia,anti-oxidation,anti-thrombosis and anti-inflammatory effects.However,whether hydroxysafflor yellow A affects the expression of lipocalin-2 in astrocytes after cerebral ischemia and hypoxia and its mechanism are not clear. OBJECTIVE:To investigate the effect and mechanism of hydroxysafflor yellow A on the expression of lipocalin-2 in astrocytes after cerebral ischemia and reperfusion. METHODS:(1)Thirty adult SD rats were randomly divided into three groups:sham operation group,middle cerebral artery occlusion and reperfusion group,and hydroxysafflor yellow A group.The middle cerebral artery occlusion and reperfusion model was established in the latter two groups,and hydroxysafflor yellow A group was intraperitoneally injected with 12 mg/kg hydroxysafflor yellow A after reperfusion.Longa score was used to evaluate the degree of neurological impairment.Infarct volume was determined by TTC staining.JAK2/STAT3 pathway and lipocalin-2 expression were detected by western blot assay and immunofluorescence.Levels of interleukin 1β,interleukin 6 and tumor necrosis factor α were detected by ELISA.(2)Astrocytes were divided into four groups:Normal group,glucose-oxygen deprivation group,hydroxysafflor yellow A group and AG490 group.In the latter three groups,glucose-oxygen deprivation and glucose-oxygen recovery models were established.Astrocytes were treated with 75 μmol/L hydroxysafflor yellow A and 10 μmol/L tyrosine phosphorylation inhibitor AG490 for 8 hours during glucose-oxygen deprivation,respectively.The mechanism of hydroxysafflor yellow A on lipocalin-2 was further verified. RESULTS AND CONCLUSION:(1)Compared with the sham operation group,cerebral infarction was significantly increased in the middle cerebral artery occlusion and reperfusion group,accompanied by aggravated neurological impairment(P<0.01).Hydroxysafflor yellow A treatment could reduce cerebral infarction volume and improve neurological function(P<0.01).(2)The expressions of p-JAK2,p-STAT3 and lipocalin-2 in the middle cerebral artery occlusion and reperfusion group were higher than those in the sham operation group(P<0.01).Hydroxysafflor yellow A treatment reduced the expressions of JAK2,STAT3 and lipocalin-2(P<0.01).(3)The expression levels of interleukin 1β,interleukin-6 and tumor necrosis factor α in the middle cerebral artery occlusion and reperfusion group were higher than those in the sham operation group(P<0.01).Hydroxysafflor yellow A inhibited the expressions of interleukin 1β,interleukin-6 and tumor necrosis factor α(P<0.01).(4)In vitro,the expressions of p-JAK2,p-STAT3 and lipocalin-2 in the glucose-oxygen deprivation group were significantly higher than those in the normal group(P<0.01).After adding AG490,the phosphorylation of JAK2 and STAT3 decreased,and the expression of lipocalin-2 was inhibited(P<0.01).The results suggest that hydroxysafflor yellow A may inhibit the expression of lipocalin-2 in astrocytes after ischemia and hypoxia by regulating the JAK2/STAT3 signaling pathway,thereby reducing brain injury.

Objective:To investigate the incidence of venous thromboembolism (VTE) in patients with esophageal cancer (EC).Methods:The retrospective cohort study was conducted. The clinicopathological data of 8 458 EC patients who were admitted to Sichuan Cancer Hospital from January 2017 to December 2021 were collected. There were 6 923 males and 1 535 females, aged (64±9)years. There were 3 187 patients undergoing surgical treatment, and 5 271 cases undergoing non-surgical treatment. Observation indicators: (1) incidence of VTE in EC patients; (2) treatment and outcomes of patients with VTE. Measurement data with normal distribution were represented as Mean± SD, and comparison between groups was analyzed using the t test. Measurement data with skewed distribution were represented as M(range), and comparison between groups was analyzed using the nonparameter rank sum test. Count data were expressed as absolute numbers or percentages, and comparison between groups was analyzed using the chi-square test or Fisher exact probability. Comparison of ordinal data was analyzed using the nonparameter rank sum test. Results:(1) Incidence of VTE in EC patients. Of 8 458 EC patients, 175 cases developed VTE, with an incidence rate of 2.069%(175/8 458). Among 175 VTE patients, there were 164 cases of deep venous thrombosis (DVT), 4 cases of pulmonary embolism (PE), 7 cases of DVT and PE. There were 59 surgical patients and 116 non-surgical patients. There was no significant difference in thrombus type between surgical and non-surgical EC patients with VTE ( χ2=1.95, P>0.05). Of 3 187 surgical patients, the incidence of VTE was 1.851%(59/3 187), including an incidence of 0.157%(5/3 187) of PE. PE accounted for 8.475%(5/59) of surgical patients with VTE. Of 5 271 non-surgical patients, the incidence of VTE was 2.201%(116/5 271), including an incidence of 0.114%(6/5 271) of PE. PE accounted for 5.172%(6/116) of non-surgical patients with VTE. There was no significant difference in the incidence of VTE or PE between surgical patients and non-surgical patients ( χ2=1.20, 0.05, P>0.05). (2) Treatment and outcomes of patients with VTE. Among 175 EC patients with VTE, 163 cases underwent drug treatment, and 12 cases did not receive treatment. Among 163 cases with drug therapy, 158 cases underwent anticoagulant therapy, 5 cases were treated with thrombolysis. All the 163 patients were improved and discharged from hospital. Conclusions:The incidence of VTE in patients with EC is relatively low, as 2.069%. There is no significant difference in the incidence of VTE or thrombus type between surgical EC patients and non-surgical EC patients.

Tumor-associated macrophages(TAMs)are the predominant cell group in the tumor microenvironment(TME)and are the most important regulatory cells of immune system suppression and tumor cell proliferation in TIME.Src homology-2 domain-containing protein tyrosine phosphatase 2(SHP-2)is a non-receptor protein tyrosine phosphatase that plays an important role in the transmission of signals from the cell surface to the nucleus.SHP-2 is a key intracellular regulatory factor mediating cell proliferation and differentiation and is involved in a variety of growth factor and cytokine signaling pathways linking the cell surface to the nucleus.Recent studies have shown that SHP-2 is a key enzyme in determining the function of TAMs,but because of its variable function,it plays different or even opposite roles in different solid TMEs.This paper reviews the function of SHP-2 in TAMs and related solid tumors to provide a comprehensive reference for tumor immunity and targeted therapy research.

Ischemic stroke,with a high disability and mortality rate,seriously endangers human health.Pathological process of ischemic stoke involves participations of various cells such as microglia and astrocytes.Among them,microglia,as innate immune cells in central nervous system(CNS),play an important role whether in physiological or pathological states.Triggering receptor expressed on myeloid cells 2(TREM2)is an immunoglobulin like receptor mainly existing on microglia in CNS,and can bind to a variety of ligands,which can negatively regulate autoimmunity and inflammation.In addition,TREM2 can mainly play an important role in process of proliferation,phagocytosis,survival and expressions of inflammatory factors.This article focused on biological characteristics of TREM2 on microglia,corresponding ligands and its signaling pathways,discussing regulation of TREM2 in ischemic stroke and its potential therapeutic effects,in order to provide an new target for prevention and treatment of ischemic stroke.

Objective To analyze the sensitivity of ARHGAP8 in predicting the efficacy of neoadjuvant chemotherapy in the patients with locally advanced mid-low colorectal cancer and provide accurate evidence for the treatment of advanced colorectal cancer.Methods The differentially expressed gene ARHGAP8 was screened out by bioinformatics analysis.Cancer tissue and rectal tissue of 68 patients with primary rectal cancer were select-ed.The rectal cancer tissue samples and the rectal tissue samples were collected for clinical validation of ARH-GAP8 expression by quantitative real-time PCR,Western blotting,and immunohistochemistry.The clinical and pathological features such as gender,age,tumor stage,differentiation degree,and pathological type of the pa-tients were collected for functional validation.Forty-four patients with locally advanced mid-low rectal cancer who received neoadjuvant chemotherapy were selected for immunohistochemical examination of ARHGAP8 expres-sion.The expression level of ARHGAP8 was compared between before and after chemotherapy and among different efficacy groups.Results The bioinformatics analysis revealed differences in the expression level of ARHGAP8 between the cancer tissue and rectal tissue(P＜0.001).The expression level of ARHGAP8 was correlated with tumor stage(P=0.024),lymph node metastasis(P=0.007),and age(P=0.005).Quantitative real-time PCR results showed that the mRNA level of ARHGAP8 in the cancer tissue was higher than that in the rectal tis-sue(P＜0.001).Western blotting and immunohistochemistry results demonstrated that the protein level of ARH-GAP8 in the cancer tissue was higher than that in the rectal tissue(P=0.011).The expression of ARHGAP8 was correlated with tumor size(P=0.010)and pathological stage(P=0.005),while it showed no significant association with tumor differentiation degree,lymph node metastasis,liver metastasis,Ki-67,or microsatellite instability expression level.The 44 patients receiving neoadjuvant chemotherapy included 13,8,8,and 15 pa-tients of tumor regression grades 0,1,2,and 3,respectively.Among them,65.91％(29/44)patients showed responses to the treatment.After neoadjuvant chemotherapy,the expression of ARHGAP8 in the cancer tissue was down-regulated in the patients who responded to the chemotherapy(P＜0.001).The response rate in the patients with low protein level of ARHGAP8 was 92.86％,which was higher than that(53.33％)in the patients with high pro-tein level of ARHGAP8(P=0.033).Conclusions ARHGAP8 is highly expressed in the rectal cancer tissue.The pa-tients with locally advanced mid-low rectal cancer and low ARHGAP8 expression are more sensitive to neoadjuvant chemotherapy with the XELOX protocol.ARHGAP8 can serve as a potential biomarker for the occurrence and develop-ment of rectal cancer and an important index for evaluating the efficacy of neoadjuvant chemotherapy with the XELOX protocol in the patients with locally advanced mid-low rectal cancer.

Objective:To investigate the diagnostic value of urine pH, serum uric acid and related clinical indicators in the diagnosis of urinary infection stones, and to construct a prediction nomogram.Methods:The clinical data of 432 patients with urinary calculi admitted to Xuzhou Central Hospital from August 2018 to November 2023 were retrospectively analyzed. The study included 289 males and 143 females, with an average age of (52.72±13.46) years old. Among the patients, there were 98 cases of hypertension, 67 cases of diabetes, and 100 cases of recurrent calculi. Kidney stones were present in 152 cases, ureteral stones in 242 cases, and bladder stones in 38 cases. Urine bacterial culture yielded positive results in 97 cases. According to the results of postoperative stone composition analysis, the two groups were categorized as infection and no-infection stone groups, and the differences in general data between the two groups were compared. Univariate and multivariate logistic regression analysis were conducted to assess the diagnostic value of urine pH, serum uric acid, and related clinical indicators for urinary infection stones. Receiver operating characteristic (ROC) curve and area under curve (AUC) were utilized to evaluate the clinical significance of urine pH, serum uric acid, and combined indexes in preoperatively diagnosing urinary infection stones, as well as constructing a nomogram prediction model.Results:There were 127 cases of infection stones and 305 cases of no-infection stones. The infection stone group exhibited a higher urine pH value [7.0(6.5, 7.5) vs. 6.0(5.5, 6.5), P<0.001], lower serum uric acid levels [(301.38±70.12) vs. (358.88±88.99) μmol/L, P<0.001], a higher proportion of females [55.1%(70/127) vs. 23.9%(73/305), P<0.001], younger age [(48.36±14.83)vs. (53.12±12.61)years old, P<0.001], a higher proportion of recurrence stones [34.6 %(44/127) vs. 18.4%(56/305), P<0.001], and a higher rate of positive urine bacteria culture[29.9%(38/127)vs. 19.3%(59/305), P=0.016]and nitrite test results [18.9%(24/127)vs. 6.3%(19/305), P <0.001]. Univariate logistic regression analysis revealed that urine pH value, serum uric acid levels, gender, age, recurrent stones, urine bacterial culture, and urine nitrite were associated with urinary infection stones ( P< 0.05). Multivariate logistic regression analysis revealed that urine pH value ( OR= 4.836, 95% CI 3.342-6.997), female gender( OR=2.320, 95% CI 1.286-4.186), recurrent stones ( OR=2.225, 95% CI 1.208-4.101), positive urine bacterial culture ( OR=2.061, 95% CI 1.094-3.883), serum uric acid ( OR=0.992, 95% CI 0.949-0.989), age ( OR=0.969, 95% CI 0.949-0.990) were independent risk factors for urinary infection stones ( P<0.05). The combined diagnostic value of six indicators was the highest, with an AUC of 0.874 (95% CI 0.837-0.911). Following this, urine pH exhibited an AUC of 0.818 (95% CI 0.778-0.858), while serum uric acid had an AUC of 0.704 (95% CI 0.652-0.756). The nomogram model was successfully constructed based on the six indicators. The mean AUC of the ROC curve after 1 000 resamples of the Bootstrap method was 0.864 (95% CI 0.828-0.900), and the calibration curve showed that the predicted curve fit the ideal curve well, with a mean absolute error of 0.005 and a Hosmer-Lemeshow test of P>0.05. Clinical decision curve analysis (DCA) showed that the model had a higher net clinical benefit when the model had a threshold probability value≥0.01. Conclusions:Urine pH and serum uric acid are closely related to urinary infection stones. A nomogram model combining these factors with gender, age, recurrent stones, and urine culture results can effectively predict the probability of infection-related stones, providing significant clinical value.

Objective:To investigate the diagnostic value of urine pH, serum uric acid and related clinical indicators in the diagnosis of urinary infection stones, and to construct a prediction nomogram.Methods:The clinical data of 432 patients with urinary calculi admitted to Xuzhou Central Hospital from August 2018 to November 2023 were retrospectively analyzed. The study included 289 males and 143 females, with an average age of (52.72±13.46) years old. Among the patients, there were 98 cases of hypertension, 67 cases of diabetes, and 100 cases of recurrent calculi. Kidney stones were present in 152 cases, ureteral stones in 242 cases, and bladder stones in 38 cases. Urine bacterial culture yielded positive results in 97 cases. According to the results of postoperative stone composition analysis, the two groups were categorized as infection and no-infection stone groups, and the differences in general data between the two groups were compared. Univariate and multivariate logistic regression analysis were conducted to assess the diagnostic value of urine pH, serum uric acid, and related clinical indicators for urinary infection stones. Receiver operating characteristic (ROC) curve and area under curve (AUC) were utilized to evaluate the clinical significance of urine pH, serum uric acid, and combined indexes in preoperatively diagnosing urinary infection stones, as well as constructing a nomogram prediction model.Results:There were 127 cases of infection stones and 305 cases of no-infection stones. The infection stone group exhibited a higher urine pH value [7.0(6.5, 7.5) vs. 6.0(5.5, 6.5), P<0.001], lower serum uric acid levels [(301.38±70.12) vs. (358.88±88.99) μmol/L, P<0.001], a higher proportion of females [55.1%(70/127) vs. 23.9%(73/305), P<0.001], younger age [(48.36±14.83)vs. (53.12±12.61)years old, P<0.001], a higher proportion of recurrence stones [34.6 %(44/127) vs. 18.4%(56/305), P<0.001], and a higher rate of positive urine bacteria culture[29.9%(38/127)vs. 19.3%(59/305), P=0.016]and nitrite test results [18.9%(24/127)vs. 6.3%(19/305), P <0.001]. Univariate logistic regression analysis revealed that urine pH value, serum uric acid levels, gender, age, recurrent stones, urine bacterial culture, and urine nitrite were associated with urinary infection stones ( P< 0.05). Multivariate logistic regression analysis revealed that urine pH value ( OR= 4.836, 95% CI 3.342-6.997), female gender( OR=2.320, 95% CI 1.286-4.186), recurrent stones ( OR=2.225, 95% CI 1.208-4.101), positive urine bacterial culture ( OR=2.061, 95% CI 1.094-3.883), serum uric acid ( OR=0.992, 95% CI 0.949-0.989), age ( OR=0.969, 95% CI 0.949-0.990) were independent risk factors for urinary infection stones ( P<0.05). The combined diagnostic value of six indicators was the highest, with an AUC of 0.874 (95% CI 0.837-0.911). Following this, urine pH exhibited an AUC of 0.818 (95% CI 0.778-0.858), while serum uric acid had an AUC of 0.704 (95% CI 0.652-0.756). The nomogram model was successfully constructed based on the six indicators. The mean AUC of the ROC curve after 1 000 resamples of the Bootstrap method was 0.864 (95% CI 0.828-0.900), and the calibration curve showed that the predicted curve fit the ideal curve well, with a mean absolute error of 0.005 and a Hosmer-Lemeshow test of P>0.05. Clinical decision curve analysis (DCA) showed that the model had a higher net clinical benefit when the model had a threshold probability value≥0.01. Conclusions:Urine pH and serum uric acid are closely related to urinary infection stones. A nomogram model combining these factors with gender, age, recurrent stones, and urine culture results can effectively predict the probability of infection-related stones, providing significant clinical value.

Objective:To investigate the surgical treatment and prognosis of thoracic esophageal squamous cell carcinoma (ESCC).Methods:The retrospective cohort study was conducted. The clinicopathological data of 2 766 patients with thoracic ESCC who were admitted to Sichuan Cancer Hospital & Institute from January 2010 to December 2017 were collected. There were 2 256 males and 510 females, aged (62±8)years. All patients underwent surgical treatment. Observation indicators: (1) treatment; (2) postoperative complications; (3) postoperative survival. Measurement data with normal distribution were represented as Mean± SD. Measurement data with skewed distribution were represented as M( Q1, Q3). Count data were described as absolute numbers or percentages. The Kaplan-Meier method was used to draw survival curve and calculate survival rate, and the Log-Rank test was used for survival analysis. Result:(1) Treatment. Fifty-two of the 2 766 patients underwent neoadjuvant therapy. There were 1 444 patients undergoing open surgery, including 44 cases conversion to thoracotomy, and there were 1 322 patients undergoing minimally invasive esophagectomy. There were 1 991, 729 and 46 cases with McKeown, Ivor-Lewis and Sweet esophagectomy, respectively. One thousand two hundred and seventy-one of the 2 766 patients underwent postoperative adjuvant therapy. The number of lymph node metastases, the number of lymph node dissected, rate of R 0 resection, operation time of 2 766 patients were 2.1(0,3.0), 22±12, 94.722%(2 620/2 766), (237±66)minutes. (2) Postoperative complications. The overall incidence of postoperative complications was 25.850%(715/2 766). The top two postoperative complications were pneumonia and anastomotic fistula, with incidence rates of 8.604%(238/2766) and 7.484%(207/2766), respectively. One patient may have more than two kinds of postoperative complications. (3) Postoperative survival. The 1-, 3-and 5-year overall survival rates of 2 766 patients were 86.2%, 57.5% and 46.8%, respectively. Further analysis indicated that the 5-year overall survival rates of 510 female patients and 2 256 male patients were 62.0% and 43.3%, respectively, showing a significant difference between them ( χ2=48.94, P<0.05). The 5-year overall survival rates of 693 cases with upper thoracic ESCC, 1 479 cases with middle thoracic ESCC and 594 cases with lower thoracic ESCC were 49.5%, 46.7% and 44.1%, respectively, showing no significant difference among them ( χ2=3.21, P>0.05). The 5-year overall survival rates of 68 cases with stage 0 thoracic ESCC, 259 cases with stage Ⅰ esophageal ESCC, 885 cases with stage Ⅱ thoracic ESCC, 1 222 cases with stage Ⅲ thoracic ESCC, and 332 cases with stage Ⅳ thoracic ESCC were 95.6%, 76.4%, 61.4%, 35.6%, and 14.5%, respectively, showing a significant difference among them ( χ2=500.40, P<0.05). The 5-year overall survival rates of 1 444 patients undergoing open esophagectomy and 1 322 patients undergoing minimally invasive esophagectomy were 42.5% and 51.8%, respectively, showing a significant difference between them ( χ2=31.29, P<0.05). The 5-year overall survival rates of 1 991 cases undergoing McKeown esophagectomy, 729 cases undergoing Ivor-Lewis esophagectomy, and 46 cases undergoing Sweet esophagectomy were 49.5%, 41.2%, and 32.3%, respectively, showing a significant difference among them ( χ2=19.19, P<0.05). Conclusions:Compared with open esophagectomy, minimally invasive esophagectomy brings survival benefits to patients with thoracic esophageal ESCC. Among different esophagectomy methods, the McKeown esophagectomy has also brought survival benefits to patients with esophageal ESCC compared to the Ivor-Lewis esophagectomy and the Sweet esophagectomy.

Objective:To study the protective effect of Ophiopogonin D on lipopolysaccharide (LPS)-induced mouse macrophage RAW264.7 and its related mechanism.Methods:Mouse macrophage RAW264.7 cells were cultured and divided into normal control group, model group and Ophiopogonin D pretreatment group according to random number table method. The activity of Ophiopogonin D on RAW264.7 cells was detected by CCK-8 method; the protein levels of TNF-α, IL-1β, IL-6, reactive oxygen species (ROS), MDA and SOD were detected by ELISA; the protein expression of NF-κB, TLR4, NF-E2-related factor2 (Nrf2) and heme oxygenase-1 (HO-1) were detected by Western Blot.Results:Compared with model group, the levels of TNF-α, IL-1β, IL-6, ROS and MDA in cell supernatant of Ophiopogonin D group were decreased ( P<0.05), and the level of SOD was increased ( P<0.05). The protein expressions of NF-κB (0.76±0.10 vs. 2.26±0.17) and TLR4 (0.98±0.09 vs. 1.74±0.19) significantly decreased ( P<0.05). The protein expressions of Nrf2 (0.85±0.03 vs. 0.54±0.03) and HO-1 (0.97±0.11 vs. 0.37±0.04) significantly increased ( P<0.05). Conclusion:Ophiopogonin D may reduce inflammatory response by reducing TLR4/NF-κB pathway, and activate Nrf2/HO-1 pathway to reduce oxidative damage and play a protective role.