Objective:To analyze the differences in clinicopathological features of colon cancers and survival between patients with right- versus left-sided colon cancers.Methods:This was a retrospective cohort study. Information on patients with colon cancer from January 2016 to August 2020 was collected from the prospective registry database at Peking Union Medical College Hospital . Primary tumors located in the cecum, ascending colon, and proximal two‐thirds of the transverse colon were defined as right-sided colon cancers (RCCs), whereas primary tumors located in the distal third of the transverse colon, descending colon, or sigmoid colon were defined as left‐sided colon cancers (LCCs). Clinicopathological features were compared using the χ 2 test or Mann‐Whitney U test. Survival was estimated by Kaplan‐Meier curves and the log‐rank test. Factors that differed significantly between the two groups were identified by multivariate survival analyses performed with the Cox proportional hazards function. One propensity score matching was performed to eliminate the effects of confounding factors. Results:The study cohort comprised 856 patients, with TNM Stage I disease, 391 (45.7%) with Stage II, and 336 (39.3%) with Stage III, including 442 (51.6%) with LCC and 414 (48.4%) with RCC and 129 (15.1%). Defective mismatch repair (dMMR) was identified in 139 patients (16.2%). Compared with RCC, the proportion of men (274/442 [62.0%] vs. 224/414 [54.1%], χ 2=5.462, P=0.019), body mass index (24.2 [21.9, 26.6] kg/m 2 vs. 23.2 [21.3, 25.5] kg/m 2, U=78,789.0, P<0.001), and well/moderately differentiated cancer (412/442 [93.2%] vs. 344/414 [83.1%], χ 2=22.266, P<0.001) were higher in the LCC than the RCC group. In contrast, the proportion of dMMR (40/442 [9.0%] vs. 99/414 [23.9%], χ 2=34.721, P<0.001) and combined vascular invasion (106/442[24.0%] vs. 125/414[30.2%], χ 2=4.186, P=0.041) were lower in the LCC than RCC group. The median follow‐up time for all patients was 48 (range 33, 59) months. The log‐rank test revealed no significant differences in disease-free survival (DFS) ( P=0.668) or overall survival (OS) ( P=0.828) between patients with LCC versus RCC. Cox proportional hazards model showed that dMMR was significantly associated with a longer DFS (HR=0.419, 95%CI: 0.204?0.862, P=0.018), whereas a higher proportion of T3‐4 (HR=2.178, 95%CI: 1.089?4.359, P=0.028), N+ (HR=2.126, 95%CI: 1.443?3.133, P<0.001), and perineural invasion (HR=1.835, 95%CI: 1.115?3.020, P=0.017) were associated with poor DFS. Tumor location was not associated with DFS or OS (all P>0.05). Subsequent analysis showed that RCC patients with dMMR had longer DFS than did RCC patients with pMMR (HR=0.338, 95%CI: 0.146?0.786, P=0.012). However, the difference in OS between the two groups was not statistically significant (HR=0.340, 95%CI:0.103?1.119, P=0.076). After propensity score matching for independent risk factors for DFS, the log‐rank test revealed no significant differences in DFS ( P=0.343) or OS ( P=0.658) between patients with LCC versus RCC, whereas patient with dMMR had better DFS ( P=0.047) and OS ( P=0.040) than did patients with pMMR. Conclusions:Tumor location is associated with differences in clinicopathological features; however, this has no impact on survival. dMMR status is significantly associated with longer survival: this association may be stronger in RCC patients.

Objective:To explore the impact on safety and prognosis in patients with right-sided colon cancer participating in surgical clinical research.Methods:This retrospective cohort study utilized data from a randomized controlled trial (RELARC study) conducted by the colorectal surgery group at Peking Union Medical College Hospital in which laparoscopic complete mesocolic excision (CME) was compared with D2 radical resection for the management of right-sided colon cancer. The eligibility criteria were age 18–75 years, biopsy-proven colon adenocarcinoma, tumor located between the cecum and right 1/3 of the transverse colon, enhanced chest, abdomen, and pelvic CT scans suggesting tumor stage T2–T4N0M0 or TanyN+ M0, and having undergone radical surgical treatment from January 2016 to December 2019. Exclusion factors included multiple primary colorectal cancers, preoperative stage T1N0 or enlarged central lymph nodes, tumor involving surrounding organs requiring their resection, definite distant metastasis or otherwise unable to undergo R0 resection, history of any other malignant tumors within previous 5 years, intestinal obstruction, perforation, or gastrointestinal bleeding requiring emergency surgery, and assessed as unsuitable for laparoscopic surgery. Patients who had participated in the RELARC study were included in the RELARC group, whereas those who met the inclusion criteria but refused to participate in the RELAEC study were included in the control group. The main indicators studied were the patient's baseline data, surgery and perioperative conditions, pathological characteristics, adjuvant treatment, and postoperative follow-up (including average frequency of follow-up within the first 3 years) and survival (including 3-year disease-free survival rate (DFS) and 3-year overall survival rate (OS). Differences in these indicators between the RELARC and control groups were compared.Results:The study cohort comprised 290 patients, 173 in the RELARC group (RELARC-CME group, 82; RELARC-D2 group, 91) and 117 in the control group (CME control group, 72; D2 control group, 45). There was a significantly higher proportion of overweight patients (BMI ≥24 kg/m 2) in the RELARC-CME than in the CME control group (67.1% [55/82] vs. 33.3% [24/72], χ 2=17.469, P<0.001). There were no other statistically significant differences in baseline characteristics (all P>0.05). No significant disparities were found between the CME and D2 groups in terms of operation duration, intraoperative blood loss, rate of conversion to open surgery, combined organ resection, intraoperative blood transfusion, or intraoperative complications (all P>0.05). There was a trend toward Clavien–Dindo grade II or higher postoperative complications in the RELARC-CME group (24.4% [20/82]) than in the CME control group (18.1% [13/72]); however, this difference was not statistically significant (χ 2=0.914, P=0.339). Similarly, the difference in this rate did not differ significantly between the RELARC-D2 group (25.3% [23/91]) and D2 control group (24.4% [11/45], χ 2=0.011, P=0.916). The median duration of postoperative follow-up was significantly shorter in the RELARC groups than in the corresponding control groups. Specifically, the median duration of follow-up was 4.5 (4.5, 4.5) months in the RELARC-CME and 7.2 (6.0, 9.0) months in the CME control group ( Z=-10.608, P<0.001). Similarly, the median duration of follow-up was 4.5 (4.5, 4.5) months in the RELARC-D2 group as opposed to 8.3 (6.6, 9.0) months in the D2 control group ( Z=-10.595, P<0.001). The 3-year DFS rate (91.5%) and OS rate (96.3%) tended to be higher in the RELARC-CME group than in the CME control group (84.7% and 90.3%, respectively). The 3-year DFS rate (87.9%) and OS rate (96.7%) tended to be higher in the RELARC-D2 group than in the D2 control group (81.8% and 88.6%, respectively); however, these differences were not statistically significant (all P>0.05). Subgroup analysis according to pathological stage revealed that patients in the RELARC-D2 group with pN0 stage achieved a significantly superior 3-year OS rate than did those in the D2 control group (100% vs. 88.9%, P=0.008). We identified no statistically significant differences in survival rates between the remaining subgroups (all P>0.05). Conclusions:A high-quality surgical clinical trial with close follow-up can achieve perioperative safety and a trend toward improved survival outcomes.

Objective:To investigate the clinical characteristics of brain metastases after radical surgery for locally advanced rectal cancer (LARC).Methods:The clinical characteristics of LARC with brain metastases treated in the Department of General Surgery, Peking Union Medical College Hospital from 2013 to 2023 were retrospectively analyzed. The inclusion criteria were rectal adenocarcinoma within 15 cm of the anal verge and having undergone radical surgery, and the exclusion criterion was primary malignant tumor of the brain. The main outcomes were overall survival (OS), disease-free survival (DFS), and disease-specific overall survival (determined as the interval between occurrence of brain metastasis to death from any causes). The Kaplan–Meier method was used for survival analysis.Results:We identified 4500 patients with LARC, 20 (0.4%) of whom had brain metastases. The mean age of patients with brain metastases was 63.8±9.3 years. They comprised five women and 15 men. The brain was the first site of metastasis in four patients (20%) whereas 18 patients had heterochronous extracranial metastases before brain metastasis. Two patients also had multi-organ metastases. The most common manifestations of brain metastases were dizziness and headache (five patients, 25%), sudden onset of limb weakness (four, 20%), sudden speech impairment (two, 10%), and polyopia (two, 10%). The metastases were diagnosed during follow-up in three patients (15%). Four of the patients were asymptomatic (20%). Treatment approaches included surgical resection (six patients, 30%), chemoradiotherapy (nine, 45%), and palliative (five, 25%). The median follow-up time was 45.5 (4–112) months until October 2023. 1y-OS, 3y-OS, and 5y-OS were 95.0%, 62.9%, and 43.3%, respectively. 1y-DFS, 3y-DFS, and 5y-DFS were 55.0%, 25.0%, and 5.0%, respectively. With brain metastasis as the starting point, the median duration of survival was 16 (10.2–21.8) months.Conclusion:The incidence of brain metastasis is relatively low in patients with LARC, who often have multiple synchronous extracranial metastases. Brain metastases lack specific manifestations and more often occur in male patients. Surgical intervention or combined radiotherapy and chemotherapy may improve disease-specific survival to a certain extent. However, the overall prognosis remains poor.

Objective:To analyze the differences in clinicopathological features of colon cancers and survival between patients with right- versus left-sided colon cancers.Methods:This was a retrospective cohort study. Information on patients with colon cancer from January 2016 to August 2020 was collected from the prospective registry database at Peking Union Medical College Hospital . Primary tumors located in the cecum, ascending colon, and proximal two‐thirds of the transverse colon were defined as right-sided colon cancers (RCCs), whereas primary tumors located in the distal third of the transverse colon, descending colon, or sigmoid colon were defined as left‐sided colon cancers (LCCs). Clinicopathological features were compared using the χ 2 test or Mann‐Whitney U test. Survival was estimated by Kaplan‐Meier curves and the log‐rank test. Factors that differed significantly between the two groups were identified by multivariate survival analyses performed with the Cox proportional hazards function. One propensity score matching was performed to eliminate the effects of confounding factors. Results:The study cohort comprised 856 patients, with TNM Stage I disease, 391 (45.7%) with Stage II, and 336 (39.3%) with Stage III, including 442 (51.6%) with LCC and 414 (48.4%) with RCC and 129 (15.1%). Defective mismatch repair (dMMR) was identified in 139 patients (16.2%). Compared with RCC, the proportion of men (274/442 [62.0%] vs. 224/414 [54.1%], χ 2=5.462, P=0.019), body mass index (24.2 [21.9, 26.6] kg/m 2 vs. 23.2 [21.3, 25.5] kg/m 2, U=78,789.0, P<0.001), and well/moderately differentiated cancer (412/442 [93.2%] vs. 344/414 [83.1%], χ 2=22.266, P<0.001) were higher in the LCC than the RCC group. In contrast, the proportion of dMMR (40/442 [9.0%] vs. 99/414 [23.9%], χ 2=34.721, P<0.001) and combined vascular invasion (106/442[24.0%] vs. 125/414[30.2%], χ 2=4.186, P=0.041) were lower in the LCC than RCC group. The median follow‐up time for all patients was 48 (range 33, 59) months. The log‐rank test revealed no significant differences in disease-free survival (DFS) ( P=0.668) or overall survival (OS) ( P=0.828) between patients with LCC versus RCC. Cox proportional hazards model showed that dMMR was significantly associated with a longer DFS (HR=0.419, 95%CI: 0.204?0.862, P=0.018), whereas a higher proportion of T3‐4 (HR=2.178, 95%CI: 1.089?4.359, P=0.028), N+ (HR=2.126, 95%CI: 1.443?3.133, P<0.001), and perineural invasion (HR=1.835, 95%CI: 1.115?3.020, P=0.017) were associated with poor DFS. Tumor location was not associated with DFS or OS (all P>0.05). Subsequent analysis showed that RCC patients with dMMR had longer DFS than did RCC patients with pMMR (HR=0.338, 95%CI: 0.146?0.786, P=0.012). However, the difference in OS between the two groups was not statistically significant (HR=0.340, 95%CI:0.103?1.119, P=0.076). After propensity score matching for independent risk factors for DFS, the log‐rank test revealed no significant differences in DFS ( P=0.343) or OS ( P=0.658) between patients with LCC versus RCC, whereas patient with dMMR had better DFS ( P=0.047) and OS ( P=0.040) than did patients with pMMR. Conclusions:Tumor location is associated with differences in clinicopathological features; however, this has no impact on survival. dMMR status is significantly associated with longer survival: this association may be stronger in RCC patients.

Objective:To explore the impact on safety and prognosis in patients with right-sided colon cancer participating in surgical clinical research.Methods:This retrospective cohort study utilized data from a randomized controlled trial (RELARC study) conducted by the colorectal surgery group at Peking Union Medical College Hospital in which laparoscopic complete mesocolic excision (CME) was compared with D2 radical resection for the management of right-sided colon cancer. The eligibility criteria were age 18–75 years, biopsy-proven colon adenocarcinoma, tumor located between the cecum and right 1/3 of the transverse colon, enhanced chest, abdomen, and pelvic CT scans suggesting tumor stage T2–T4N0M0 or TanyN+ M0, and having undergone radical surgical treatment from January 2016 to December 2019. Exclusion factors included multiple primary colorectal cancers, preoperative stage T1N0 or enlarged central lymph nodes, tumor involving surrounding organs requiring their resection, definite distant metastasis or otherwise unable to undergo R0 resection, history of any other malignant tumors within previous 5 years, intestinal obstruction, perforation, or gastrointestinal bleeding requiring emergency surgery, and assessed as unsuitable for laparoscopic surgery. Patients who had participated in the RELARC study were included in the RELARC group, whereas those who met the inclusion criteria but refused to participate in the RELAEC study were included in the control group. The main indicators studied were the patient's baseline data, surgery and perioperative conditions, pathological characteristics, adjuvant treatment, and postoperative follow-up (including average frequency of follow-up within the first 3 years) and survival (including 3-year disease-free survival rate (DFS) and 3-year overall survival rate (OS). Differences in these indicators between the RELARC and control groups were compared.Results:The study cohort comprised 290 patients, 173 in the RELARC group (RELARC-CME group, 82; RELARC-D2 group, 91) and 117 in the control group (CME control group, 72; D2 control group, 45). There was a significantly higher proportion of overweight patients (BMI ≥24 kg/m 2) in the RELARC-CME than in the CME control group (67.1% [55/82] vs. 33.3% [24/72], χ 2=17.469, P<0.001). There were no other statistically significant differences in baseline characteristics (all P>0.05). No significant disparities were found between the CME and D2 groups in terms of operation duration, intraoperative blood loss, rate of conversion to open surgery, combined organ resection, intraoperative blood transfusion, or intraoperative complications (all P>0.05). There was a trend toward Clavien–Dindo grade II or higher postoperative complications in the RELARC-CME group (24.4% [20/82]) than in the CME control group (18.1% [13/72]); however, this difference was not statistically significant (χ 2=0.914, P=0.339). Similarly, the difference in this rate did not differ significantly between the RELARC-D2 group (25.3% [23/91]) and D2 control group (24.4% [11/45], χ 2=0.011, P=0.916). The median duration of postoperative follow-up was significantly shorter in the RELARC groups than in the corresponding control groups. Specifically, the median duration of follow-up was 4.5 (4.5, 4.5) months in the RELARC-CME and 7.2 (6.0, 9.0) months in the CME control group ( Z=-10.608, P<0.001). Similarly, the median duration of follow-up was 4.5 (4.5, 4.5) months in the RELARC-D2 group as opposed to 8.3 (6.6, 9.0) months in the D2 control group ( Z=-10.595, P<0.001). The 3-year DFS rate (91.5%) and OS rate (96.3%) tended to be higher in the RELARC-CME group than in the CME control group (84.7% and 90.3%, respectively). The 3-year DFS rate (87.9%) and OS rate (96.7%) tended to be higher in the RELARC-D2 group than in the D2 control group (81.8% and 88.6%, respectively); however, these differences were not statistically significant (all P>0.05). Subgroup analysis according to pathological stage revealed that patients in the RELARC-D2 group with pN0 stage achieved a significantly superior 3-year OS rate than did those in the D2 control group (100% vs. 88.9%, P=0.008). We identified no statistically significant differences in survival rates between the remaining subgroups (all P>0.05). Conclusions:A high-quality surgical clinical trial with close follow-up can achieve perioperative safety and a trend toward improved survival outcomes.

Objective:To investigate the clinical characteristics of brain metastases after radical surgery for locally advanced rectal cancer (LARC).Methods:The clinical characteristics of LARC with brain metastases treated in the Department of General Surgery, Peking Union Medical College Hospital from 2013 to 2023 were retrospectively analyzed. The inclusion criteria were rectal adenocarcinoma within 15 cm of the anal verge and having undergone radical surgery, and the exclusion criterion was primary malignant tumor of the brain. The main outcomes were overall survival (OS), disease-free survival (DFS), and disease-specific overall survival (determined as the interval between occurrence of brain metastasis to death from any causes). The Kaplan–Meier method was used for survival analysis.Results:We identified 4500 patients with LARC, 20 (0.4%) of whom had brain metastases. The mean age of patients with brain metastases was 63.8±9.3 years. They comprised five women and 15 men. The brain was the first site of metastasis in four patients (20%) whereas 18 patients had heterochronous extracranial metastases before brain metastasis. Two patients also had multi-organ metastases. The most common manifestations of brain metastases were dizziness and headache (five patients, 25%), sudden onset of limb weakness (four, 20%), sudden speech impairment (two, 10%), and polyopia (two, 10%). The metastases were diagnosed during follow-up in three patients (15%). Four of the patients were asymptomatic (20%). Treatment approaches included surgical resection (six patients, 30%), chemoradiotherapy (nine, 45%), and palliative (five, 25%). The median follow-up time was 45.5 (4–112) months until October 2023. 1y-OS, 3y-OS, and 5y-OS were 95.0%, 62.9%, and 43.3%, respectively. 1y-DFS, 3y-DFS, and 5y-DFS were 55.0%, 25.0%, and 5.0%, respectively. With brain metastasis as the starting point, the median duration of survival was 16 (10.2–21.8) months.Conclusion:The incidence of brain metastasis is relatively low in patients with LARC, who often have multiple synchronous extracranial metastases. Brain metastases lack specific manifestations and more often occur in male patients. Surgical intervention or combined radiotherapy and chemotherapy may improve disease-specific survival to a certain extent. However, the overall prognosis remains poor.

Objective:To investigate the interactive effect of mismatch repair (MMR) protein status and adverse clinicopathological features on prognosis of stage Ⅰ-Ⅲ colon cancer.Methods:The retrospective cohort study was conducted. The clinicopathological data of 1 650 patients with colon cancer of stage Ⅰ-Ⅲ who were admitted to 7 hospitals in China from January 2016 to December 2017 were collected. There were 963 males and 687 females, aged 62(53,71)years. Patients were classified as 230 cases of MMR deficiency (dMMR) and 1 420 cases of MMR proficiency (pMMR) based on their MMR protein status. Observation indicators: (1) comparison of clinicopathological characteristics between patients of different MMR protein status; (2) analysis of factors affecting the survival outcomes of patients of dMMR; (3) analysis of factors affecting the survival outcomes of patients of pMMR; (4) interaction analysis of MMR and adverse clinicopathological features on survival outcomes. Measurement data with normal distribution were represented as Mean± SD, and comparison between groups was conducted using the independent t test. Measurement data with skewed distribution were represented as M( Q1, Q3), and comparison between groups was conducted using the Mann-Whitney U test. Count data were described as absolute numbers, and comparison between groups was conducted using the chi-square test or Fisher exact probability. Comparison of ordinal data was conducted using the Mann-Whitney U test. The random forest interpolation method was used for missing values in data interpolation. Univariate analysis was conducted using the COX proportional risk regression model, and multivariate analysis was conducted using the COX stepwise regression with forward method. The coefficient of multiplication interaction effect was obtained using the interaction term coefficient of COX proportional risk regression model. Evaluation of additive interaction effects was conducted using the relative excess risk due to interaction ( RERI). Results:(1) Comparison of clinicopathological characteristics between patients of different MMR protein status. There were significant differences in age, T staging, the number of lymph node harvest, the number of lymph node harvest <12, high grade tumor between patients of dMMR and pMMR ( P<0.05). (2) Analysis of factors affecting the survival outcomes of patients of dMMR. Results of multivariate analysis showed that T staging, N staging, the number of lymph node harvest <12 were independent factors affecting the disease-free survival (DFS) of colon cancer patients of dMMR ( hazard ratio=3.548, 2.589, 6.702, 95% confidence interval as 1.460-8.620, 1.064-6.301, 1.886-23.813, P<0.05). Age and N staging were independent factors affecting the overall survival (OS) of colon cancer patients of dMMR ( hazard ratio=1.073, 10.684, 95% confidence interval as 1.021-1.126, 2.311-49.404, P<0.05). (3) Analysis of factors affecting the survival outcomes of patients of pMMR. Results of multivariate analysis showed that age, T staging, N staging, vascular tumor thrombus were independent factors affecting the DFS of colon cancer patients of pMMR ( hazard ratio=1.018, 2.214, 2.598, 1.549, 95% confidence interval as 1.006-1.030, 1.618-3.030, 1.921-3.513, 1.118-2.147, P<0.05). Age, T staging, N staging, high grade tumor were independent factors affecting the OS of colon cancer patients of pMMR ( hazard ratio=1.036, 2.080, 2.591, 1.615, 95% confidence interval as 1.020-1.052, 1.407-3.075, 1.791-3.748, 1.114-2.341, P<0.05). (4) Interaction analysis of MMR and adverse clinicopathological features on survival outcomes. Results of interaction analysis showed that the multiplication interaction effect between the number of lymph node harvest <12 and MMR protein status was significant on DFS of colon cancer patients ( hazard ratio=3.923, 95% confidence interval as 1.057-14.555, P<0.05). The additive interaction effects between age and MMR protein status, between high grade tumor and MMR protein status were significant on OS of colon cancer patients ( RERI=-0.033, -1.304, 95% confidence interval as -0.049 to -0.018, -2.462 to -0.146). Conclusions:There is an interaction between the MMR protein status and the adverse clinicopathological features (the number of lymph node harvest <12, high grade tumor) on prognosis of colon cancer patients of stage Ⅰ-Ⅲ. In patients of dMMR, the number of lymph node harvest <12 has a stronger predictive effect on poor prognosis. In patients of pMMR, the high grade tumor has a stronger predictive effect on poor prognosis.

Objective:To investigate the incidence and influencing factors of anastomotic leakage after laparoscopic anterior resection for rectal cancer.Methods:The retrospective case-control study was conducted. The clinicopathological data of 804 patients with rectal cancer who were admitted to Peking Union Medical College Hospital of Chinese Academy of Medical Sciences from January 2017 to December 2019 were collected. There were 521 male and 283 female, aged 63(range, 27-94)years. All 804 patients underwent laparoscopic anterior resection for rectal cancer. Observation indicators: (1) surgical situations; (2) incidence of postoperative anastomotic leakage; (3) follow-up; (4) influencing factors of postoperative anastomotic leakage; (5) subgroup analysis. Measurement data with normal distribution were represented as Mean± SD, and comparison between groups was conducted using the independent sample t test. Measurement data with skewed distribu-tion were represented as M(range), and comparison between groups was conducted using the Mann-Whitney U test. Count data were described as absolute numbers or percentages, and comparison between groups was conducted using the chi-square test or Fisher exact probability. Univariate analysis was conducted using the chi-square test or independent sample t test. Factors with P≤0.2 in univariate analysis were included in multivariate Logistic regression analysis. Results:(1) Surgical situations. All 804 patients underwent laparoscopic radical resection of upper and middle rectal cancer successfully, with the operation time and volume of intraoperative blood loss as 135(range, 118-256)minutes and 30(range, 5-350)mL. All 804 patients completed end-to-end colon rectal anastomosis, including 287 patients with reinforced sutures at the anastomotic site, and 517 patients with routine anastomosis. (2) Incidence of postoperative anastomotic leakage. Of the 804 patients, 40 patients had postoperative anastomotic leakage, with the incidence rate as 4.98%(40/804). (3) Follow-up. All 804 patients were followed up for 32(range, 6-49)months. None of patient died during the perioperative period. (4) Influencing factors of postoperative anastomotic leakage. Results of multivariate analysis showed that unreinforced suture at the anastomotic site was an independent risk factor for postoperative anastomotic leakage ( odds ratio=2.78, 95% confidence interval as 1.21-6.37, P<0.05). (5) Subgroup analysis. Of the 804 patients, 202 patients received neoadjuvant therapy and 602 patients did not receive neoadjuvant therapy. Of the 602 patients who did not receive neo-adjuvant therapy, cases with postoperative anastomotic leakage was 6 in the 253 patients with reinforced sutures, versus 21 in the 349 patients with routine sutures, showing a significant difference between them ( χ2=4.56, P<0.05). Conclusion:Unreinforced anastomosis at the anasto-motic site is an independent risk factor for anastomotic leakage after laparoscopic anterior rectal resection, especially for rectal cancer patients without neoadjuvant radiochemotherapy.

Since the establishment of the Chinese Journal of Digestive Surgery, progress has been made by generations of experts together with the journal. In November 2017, Chinese Journal of Digestive Surgery established the first session 'Elite Group of Chinese Digestive Surgery', and the author was fortunate to become one member of the Colorectal Surgery Group. Under the leadership of the group leader, Professor Yao Hongwei, heated academic discussions was carried out on the topics of colorectal surgery. Time flies, in the last few years, the author took part in the review work of the Chinese Journal of Digestive Surgery. In the process of reviewing articles, the author saw splendid researches and new outlook in the digestive surgery field with a lot of harvest, and was awarded twice with the title of excellent reviewing experts. With the rapid development of the Chinese Journal of Digestive Surgery, the author have gradually opened up new orientation in media and education. The author not only opened accounts on we-media platforms, but also actively participated in TV programs, striving to popularize health science knowledge to the general public. In July 2021, the second inaugural conference and the first plenary meeting of the 'Elite Group of Chinese Digestive Surgery' was successfully held in Chongqing. The author was honored to be the leader of the Media and Education Group. Together with all the other members, the author summari-zed experience in science popularization and media and share it with the fellow gastroenterology colleagues. At the first working meeting of the Media and Education Group of the 'Elite Groups of Chinese Digestive Surgery', members shared their practical experience and future work plans, and gained a lot of new inspiration. Now, The Chinese Journal of Digestive Surgery has celebrated its 20 th anniversary. The author sincerely wishes the Chinese Journal of Digestive Surgery with a marvelous future and popularization of health science promoting the development of colorectal surgery.

Objective:To investigate the status of We-Media platforms opened and opera-ted by surgeons in tertiary first-class hospitals nationwide and analyze its influence on patients and surgeons.Methods:The retrospective cross-sectional investigation study was conducted. The investigation was conducted on the surgeons who had opened We-Media platforms in their units or associations through the contact of all members of the second Elite Committee of Chinese Digestive Surgery of the Chinese Journal of Digestive Surgery from November 5 to 30, 2021. Questionnaires were distributed through wechat, and the software platform was Questionnaire Star. Observation indicators: (1) results of questionnaire survey; (2) basic information of surgeons running We-Media platforms; (3) daily workload and research background of surgeons running We-Media platforms; (4) information related to We-Media platforms; (5) influence of running We-Media platforms on patients; (6) influence of running We-Media platforms on surgeons; (7) feelings and suggestion of surgeons after running We-Media platforms. Measurement data with normal distribution were expressed as Mean± SD, and count data were expressed as absolute numbers and percentages. Results:(1) Results of questionnaire survey: a total of 229 complete and valid questionnaires were collected in this survey. (2) Basic information of surgeons running We-Media platforms: of 229 surgeons, there were 195 males and 34 females, aged (40±8)years. There were 120 surgeons aged from 36-45 years, 80 surgeons aged <35 years and 29 surgeons aged >45 years. There were 86.46% (198/229) of surgeons from teaching hospitals and 74.67%(171/229) of surgeons from provincial cities. Of 229 surgeons, junior, intermediate, deputy senior and senior titles accounted for 17.90%(41/229), 27.51%(63/229), 37.12%(85/229) and 17.47%(40/229), respectively. Surgeons with working years ≤5 years, 6-10 years, 11-15 years and ≥16 years accounted for 19.21%(44/229), 22.27%(51/229), 26.64%(61/229) and 31.88%(73/229), respectively. Hepatobiliary and pancreatic surgeons, esophageal and gastrointestinal surgeons were the main specialties, accounting for 48.03%(110/229) and 14.41%(33/229), respectively. The original intentions of opening We-Media platforms (multiple choice) included increasing patient population and improving the income, accumulating cases to facilitate clinical research projects, increasing the popularity of the industry and gain peer recognition, increasing social awareness and improving spiritual satisfaction, passive assignments form units or hospitals, which accounted for 52.84% (121/229), 54.15%(124/229), 64.19%(147/229), 58.08%(133/229), 17.90%(41/229), respectively. (3) Daily workload and research background of surgeons running We-Media platforms: 60.26%(138/229) of surgeons participated in offline social welfare activities 1-3 times per year and 26.64%(61/229) of surgeons participated >3 times per year. There were 47.60% (109/229) of surgeons performing 5-10 operations per week and 33.19%(76/229) of surgeons performing >10 operations per week. In terms of scientific researches, 38.43%(88/229) of surgeons had not published high-quality English articles as the first author or co-first author, 24.89%(57/229) of surgeons had published 1-3 articles and 36.68%(84/229) of surgeons had published >3 articles. There were 51.09%(117/229) of surgeons without any longitu-dinal projects, 13.54%(31/229) of surgeons with national projects, 35.37%(81/229) of surgeons with provincial and ministerial projects. (4) Information related to We-Media platforms: there were 65.50%(150/229) of surgeons running wechat public account, 55.02%(126/229) of surgeons running consultation platform, 31.44%(72/229) of surgeons running TikTok, 21.40%(49/229) of surgeons running wechat video account (some surgeons operated multiple We-Media platforms). The time of operating the platform was <1 year in 35.81%(82/229) of surgeons, 1-3 years in 42.79%(98/229) of surgeons, >3 years in 21.40%(49/229) of surgeons, respectively. The contents of We-Media platforms were updated >2 weeks in 45.85%(105/229) of surgeons. There were 63.32%(145/229) of surgeons with We-Media platforms win-ning emotional support from their department or hospital, 12.66%(29/229) of surgeons with We-Media platforms winning financial support. There were 82.53%(189/229) of surgeons operating We-Media platforms by theirselves. The We-Media plat-form operation was smooth in 47.16%(108/229) of surgeons, unsustainable in 50.22%(115/229) of surgeons and suspended in 2.62%(6/229) of surgeons. On average, it took less than 30 minutes for 60.70%(139/229) of surgeons and 30-60 minutes for 27.07%(62/229) of surgeons to operate the We-Media platforms of surgeons every times, respec-tively. The background message or consulta-tion was allowed in 89.08%(204/229) of surgeons. The number of leaving messages was <5 times in 52.84%(121/229) of surgeons and >50 times in 6.99%(16/229) of surgeons. On average, each content in 59.39%(136/229) of surgeons were "liked" or "viewed" <100 times, and each content in 29.26%(67/229) of surgeons were "liked" or "viewed" 100-300 times. There were 60.26%(138/229) of surgeons having content with the highest "liked" or "viewed" clicks <1 000 times and 6.99%(16/229) of surgeons having content with the highest "liked" or "viewed" clicks >10 million times. On average, each content in 74.67%(171/229) of surgeons were "forwarded" <100 times, and each content in 6.55%(15/229) of surgeons were "forwarded" >300 times, respectively. The number of followers was <1 million in 87.34%(200/229) of surgeons. The We-Media audiences (multiple choices) included related professional peers, related health care professionals, patients of surgeons, general public, accounting for 42.36%(97/229), 31.00%(71/229), 52.40%(120/229), 53.71%(123/229), respectively. (5) Influence of running We-Media platforms on patients: 34.93%(80/229) of surgeons believed that the operation of We-Media platform significantly increased the number of outpatient and inpatient patients of themselves, 29.69%(68/229) of surgeons believed that the operation of We-Media platform significantly increased the number of outpatient and inpatient patients in their departments, respectively. In the view of 75.98%(174/229) of surgeons, the percent of outpatient and inpatient patients by We-Media platforms was <10%. After 6 months of We-Media operation, 39.74%(91/229) and 25.33%(58/229) of surgeons believed that inpatient and outpatient compliance was significantly improved, respectively, and 46.29% (106/229) of surgeons believed that preopera-tive and pre-chemotherapy or pre-radiotherapy conversations saved more time. (6) Influence of running We-Media platforms on surgeons: 20.09%(46/229) and 6.55%(15/229) of surgeons attributed the success to "long-term, sustainable, absorbed operation" and "important contents of We-Media platforms and wide audiences". There were 72.49%(166/229) of surgeons yet to be successful. There were 26.64% (61/229) and 22.27%(51/229) of surgeons believing that opening We-Media platforms was conducive to the association's employment and multicenter clinical research. Operating We-Media platforms was conducive to professional knowledge improvement, clinical research ability enhancement and teaching level of students, which was believed by 54.59%(125/229), 40.17%(92/229) and 48.91%(112/229) of surgeons, respectively. Although the total income in 88.65%(203/229) of surgeons increased less than 20% after 6 months of operation, 47.60%(109/229) of surgeons believed that "the sense of achievement or pleasure in work has been significantly improved", and 48.91%(112/229) of surgeons did not have the idea of quitting. There were 7.42%(17/229) of surgeons with the idea of quitting the operation of We-Media platforms. (7) Feelings and suggestions of surgeons after running We-Media platforms: the proportion of surgeons who hoped to get help from departments, hospitals, associations and the society were 61.57%(141/229), 72.05%(165/229), 47.16%(108/229) and 53.28%(122/229), respectively. Only 9.61%(22/229) of surgeons did not require help. Commercial advertisement was allowed by 40.17%(92/229) of surgeons and forbidden by 59.83%(137/229) of surgeons. In terms of alternative suggestion, 70.74%(162/229) of surgeons believed that it was necessary for the We-Media platforms to involve more doctors of different specialties, but 40.61%(93/229) of surgeons believed that relevant departments or associations should strengthen supervision under the current situation. In addition, 32.75%(75/229) of surgeons believed that the operation of We-Media platform requires more investment. The were 27.95%(64/229) of surgeons giving specific suggestions on running We-Media platforms, 7.81%(5/64) of which did not suggest a blind try.Conclusions:Most surgeons who open and operate We-Media platforms in China are faced with problems such as busy work, limited time and energy, low-income increase, and lack of professional promotion and maintenance teams and external support. Even so, there are still many surgeons who have achieved success through long-term persistence and high-quality content output, thus increasing the number of patient visits, improving their own ability and industry influence, and bringing a greater sense of professional achievement.