Objective:To analyze the clinical characteristics of elderly patients with papillary thyroid cancer(PTC)by age grouping.Methods:The patients were divided into three groups according to age at diagnosis: old(≥60 years, 90 cases), middle(40-59 years, 359 cases)and young patients(<40 years, 203 cases). The clinical data of 652 patients with PTC who were admitted to the Department of Thyroid Surgery of Beijing Hospital from December 2019 to December 2021 were retrospectively analyzed.The patients were divided into elderly group(≥60 years old, 90 cases), middle-aged group(40-59 years old, 359 cases)and young group(<40 years old, 203 cases). The clinical characteristics, ultrasound characteristics and invasion-related factors of patients in different groups were analyzed by statistical methods.Results:Compared with the young and middle-aged group, the elderly patients with PTC had a higher proportion of microcarcinoma(75.6%, 75.2%, 61.4%, χ2=13.054, P=0.001), less cervical lymph node metastasis(24.4%, 34.3%, 58.1%, χ2=41.650, P<0.001), and lower proportion of metastatic lymph nodes(0.08, 0.14, 0.24, χ2=40.618, P<0.001). There was no significant difference in tumor location and extra glandular invasion among the three age groups(35.56%, 36.2%, 38.4%, χ2=0.959, P=0.545). Conclusions:Compared with the young and middle-aged groups, PTC showed low invasiveness in the elderly population.In addition to surgical treatment, for elderly patients with low-risk clinical characteristics, it is worth performing a further study on whether careful observation or palliative treatment can be selected after comprehensive evaluation.

IDEAL framework and recommendations provide a scientific and integrated evaluation pathway for surgical innovations and other complex therapeutic interventions, and underline that the preliminary studies are needed to prepare for a successful randomized controlled trial. IDEAL framework provides a series of recommendations in terms of nature stages of surgical innovation. We have reported the introduction and reporting guidelines of the IDEAL framework and recommendations in our IDEAL series paper. This paper aimed to provide some empirical evidence, focusing specifically on stages 2a and 2b, to help surgeons and researchers to understand how to imply IDEAL framework and recommendations into their clinical practice.

Objective: To compare the effect of scalp acupuncture and scalp acupuncture plus acupuncture exercise therapy (AET) on walking ability in children with spastic cerebral palsy (CP). Methods: A total of 60 spastic CP children with gross motor function classification system (GMFCS) grades Ⅰ-Ⅲ were divided into a control group and an observation group by the random number table method, with 30 cases in each group. Both groups were treated with the same conventional rehabilitation and scalp acupuncture therapy for CP. The control group received conventional rehabilitation first and then scalp acupuncture. The observation group received AET, which was to receive the conventional rehabilitation and scalp acupuncture simultaneously. Before and after treatment, the clinical efficacy was evaluated by the modified Ashworth scale (MAS) score, scores of dimensions D and E of the gross motor function measure (GMFM) scale, walking speed, and walking distance. Results: During treatment, there were 2 dropouts in the observation group. After 3 courses of treatment, the MAS scores in both the control group and observation group decreased compared with the same group before treatment (P<0.05), and the scores of dimensions D and E of the GMFM, walking speed, and walking distance were increased (P<0.05); the between-group comparison showed that the MAS score in the observation group was lower than that in the control group (P<0.05), and the scores of dimensions D and E of the GMFM, walking speed, and walking distance in the observation group were higher or longer than those in the control group (P<0.05). Conclusion: W ith the same treatments, scalp acupuncture combined with AET is superior to the conventional scalp acupuncture method in reducing lower-limb muscle tone, improving standing balance ability, and walking stability in children with spastic CP.

Objective:To investigate the 10-year outcome and prognostic factors of laparo-scopic D 2 radical distal gastrectomy for locally advanced gastric cancer. Methods:The retrospec-tive cohort study was conducted. The clinicopathological data of 652 patients with locally advanced gastric cancer who were admitted to 16 hospitals from the multicenter database of laparoscopic gastric cancer surgery in the Chinese Laparoscopic Gastrointestinal Surgery Study (CLASS) Group, including 214 cases in the First Affiliated Hospital of Army Medical University, 191 cases in Fujian Medical University Union Hospital, 52 cases in Nanfang Hospital of Southern Medical University, 49 cases in West China Hospital of Sichuan University, 43 cases in Xijing Hospital of Air Force Medical University, 25 cases in Jiangsu Province Hospital of Chinese Medicine, 14 cases in the First Medical Center of the Chinese PLA General Hospital, 12 cases in No.989 Hospital of PLA, 12 cases in the Third Affiliated Hospital of Sun Yat-Sen University, 10 cases in the First Affiliated Hospital of Nanchang University, 9 cases in the First People's Hospital of Foshan, 7 cases in Zhujiang Hospital of Southern Medical University, 7 cases in Fujian Medical University Cancer Hospital, 3 cases in Zhongshan Hospital of Fudan University, 2 cases in Union Hospital, Tongji Medical College, Huazhong University of Science and Technology, 2 cases in Peking University Cancer Hospital & Institute, from February 2004 to December 2010 were collected. There were 442 males and 210 females, aged (57±12)years. All patients underwent laparoscopic D 2 radical distal gastrectomy. Observation indicators: (1) surgical situations; (2) postoperative pathological examination; (3) postoperative recovery and complications; (4) follow-up; (5) prognostic factors analysis. Follow-up was conducted by outpatient examination and telephone interview to detect the tumor recurrence and metastasis, postoperative survival of patients up to March 2020. Measurement data with normal distribution were represented as Mean± SD, and measurement data with skewed distribution were represented as M( Q1, Q3) or M(range). Count data were described as absolute numbers or percen-tages, and comparison between groups was conducted using the chi-square test. Comparison of ordinal data was analyzed using the rank sum test. The life table method was used to calculate survival rates and the Kaplan-Meier method was used to draw survival curves. Log-Rank test was used for survival analysis. Univariate and multivariate analyses were analyzed using the COX hazard regression model. Results:(1) Surgical situations: among 652 patients, 617 cases underwent D 2 lymph node dissection and 35 cases underwent D 2+ lymph node dissection. There were 348 cases with Billroth Ⅱ anastomosis, 218 cases with Billroth Ⅰ anastomosis, 25 cases with Roux-en-Y anastomosis and 61 cases with other digestive tract reconstruction methods. Twelve patients had combined visceral resection. There were 569 patients with intraoperative blood transfusion and 83 cases without blood transfusion. The operation time of 652 patients was 187(155,240)minutes and volume of intraoperative blood loss was 100(50,150)mL. (2) Postoperative pathological examina-tion: the maximum diameter of tumor was (4.5±2.0)cm of 652 patients. The number of lymph node dissected of 652 patients was 26(19,35), in which the number of lymph node dissected was >15 of 570 cases and ≤15 of 82 cases. The number of metastatic lymph node was 4(1,9). The proximal tumor margin was (4.8±1.6)cm and the distal tumor margin was (4.5±1.5)cm. Among 652 patients, 255 cases were classified as Borrmann type Ⅰ-Ⅱ, 334 cases were classified as Borrmann type Ⅲ-Ⅳ, and 63 cases had missing Borrmann classification data. The degree of tumor differentiation was high or medium in 171 cases, low or undifferentiated in 430 cases, and the tumor differentiation data was missing in 51 cases. There were 123, 253 and 276 cases in pathological stage T2, T3 and T4a, respectively. There were 116, 131, 214 and 191 cases in pathological stage N0, N1, N2 and N3, respectively. There were 260 and 392 cases in pathological TNM stage Ⅱ and Ⅲ, respectively. (3) Postoperative recovery and complications: the time to postoperative first out-of-bed activities, time to postoperative first flatus, time to the initial liquid food intake, duration of postoperative hospital stay of 652 patients were 3(2,4)days, 4(3,5)days, 5(4,6)days, 10(9,13)days, respectively. Among 652 patients, 69 cases had postoperative complications. Clavien-Dindo grade Ⅰ-Ⅱ, grade Ⅲa, grade Ⅲb, and grade Ⅳa complications occurred in 60, 3, 5 and 1 cases, respectively (some patients could have multiple complications). The duodenal stump leakage was the most common surgical complication, with the incidence of 3.07%(20/652). Respiratory complication was the most common systemic complication, with the incidence of 2.91%(19/652). All the 69 patients were recovered and discharged successfully after treatment. (4) Follow-up: 652 patients were followed up for 110-193 months, with a median follow-up time of 124 months. There were 298 cases with postoperative recurrence and metastasis. Of the 255 patients with the time to postoperative recurrence and metastasis ≤5 years, there were 21 cases with distant metastasis, 69 cases with peritoneal metastasis, 37 cases with local recurrence, 52 cases with multiple recurrence and metastasis, 76 cases with recurrence and metastasis at other locations. The above indicators were 5, 9, 10, 4, 15 of the 43 patients with the time to postoperative recurrence and metastasis >5 years. There was no significant difference in the type of recurrence and metastasis between them ( χ2=5.52, P>0.05). Cases in pathological TNM stage Ⅱ and Ⅲ were 62 and 193 of the patients with the time to postoperative recurrence and metastasis ≤5 years, versus 23 and 20 of the patients with the time to postoperative recurrence and metastasis >5 years, showing a significant difference in pathological TNM staging between them ( χ2=15.36, P<0.05). Cases in pathological stage T2, T3, T4a were 42, 95, 118 of the patients with the time to postoperative recurrence and metastasis ≤5 years, versus 9, 21, 13 of the patients with the time to postoperative recurrence and metastasis >5 years, showing no significant difference in pathological T staging between them ( Z=-1.80, P>0.05). Further analysis showed no significant difference in cases in pathological stage T2 or T3 ( χ2=0.52, 2.08, P>0.05) but a significant difference in cases in pathological stage T4a between them ( χ2=3.84, P<0.05). Cases in pathological stage N0, N1, N2, N3 were 19, 44, 85, 107 of the patients with the time to postoperative recurrence and metastasis ≤5 years, versus 12, 5, 18, 8 of the patients with the time to postoperative recurrence and metastasis >5 years, showing a significant difference in pathological N staging between them ( Z=-3.34, P<0.05). Further analysis showed significant differences in cases in pathological stage N0 and N3 ( χ2=16.52, 8.47, P<0.05) but no significant difference in cases in pathological stage N1 or N2 ( χ2=0.85, 1.18, P>0.05). The median overall survival time was 81 months after surgery and 10-year overall survival rate was 46.1% of 652 patients. The 10-year overall survival rates of patients in TNM stage Ⅱ and Ⅲ were 59.6% and 37.5%, respectively, showing a significant difference between them ( χ2=35.29, P<0.05). In further analysis, the 10-year overall survival rates of patients in pathological TNM stage ⅡA, ⅡB, ⅢA, ⅢB and ⅢC were 65.6%, 55.8%, 46.9%, 37.1% and 24.0%, respectively, showing a significant difference between them ( χ2=55.06, P<0.05). The 10-year overall survival rates of patients in patholo-gical stage T2, T3 and T4a were 55.2%, 46.5% and 41.5%, respectively, showing a significant difference between them ( χ2=8.39, P<0.05). The 10-year overall survival rates of patients in patholo-gical stage N0, N1, N2 and N3 were 63.7%, 56.2%, 48.5% and 26.4%, respectively, showing a signifi-cant difference between them ( χ2=54.89, P<0.05). (5) Prognostic factors analysis: results of univariate analysis showed that age, maximum diameter of tumor, degree of tumor differentiation as low or undifferentiated, pathological TNM staging, pathological T staging, pathological stage N2 or N3, post-operative chemotherapy were related factors for the 10-year overall survival rate of locally advanced gastric cancer patients undergoing laparoscopic D 2 radical distal gastrectomy ( hazard ratio=1.45, 1.64, 1.37, 2.05, 1.30, 1.68, 3.08, 0.56, 95% confidence interval as 1.15-1.84, 1.32-2.03, 1.05-1.77, 1.62-2.59, 1.05-1.61, 1.17-2.42, 2.15-4.41, 0.44-0.70, P<0.05). Results of multivariate analysis showed that maximum diameter of tumor >4 cm, low-differentiated or undifferentiated tumor, pathological TNM stage Ⅲ were independent risk factors for the 10-year overall survival rate of locally advanced gastric cancer patients undergoing laparoscopic D 2 radical distal gastrectomy ( hazard ratio=1.48,1.44, 1.81, 95% confidence interval as 1.19-1.84, 1.11-1.88, 1.42-2.30, P<0.05) and postoperative chemotherapy was a independent protective factor for the 10-year overall survi-val rate of locally advanced gastric cancer patients undergoing laparoscopic D 2 radical distal gastrec-tomy ( hazard ratio=0.57, 95% confidence interval as 045-0.73, P<0.05). Conclusions:Laparoscopic assisted D 2 radical distal gastrectomy for locally advanced gastric cancer has satisfactory 10-year oncologic outcomes. A high proportion of patients in pathological TNM stage Ⅲ, pathological stage T4a, pathological stage N3 have the time to postoperative recurrence and metastasis ≤5 years, whereas a high proportion of patients in pathological TNM stage Ⅱ or pathological stage N0 have the time to postoperative recurrence and metastasis >5 years. Maximum diameter of tumor >4 cm, low-differentiated or undifferentiated tumor, pathological TNM stage Ⅲ are independent risk factors for the 10-year overall survival rate of locally advanced gastric cancer patients undergoing laparos-copic D 2 radical distal gastrectomy. Postoperative chemotherapy is a independent protective factor for the 10-year overall survival rate of locally advanced gastric cancer patients undergoing laparos-copic D 2 radical distal gastrectomy.

Objective:To investigate the influences of age-adjusted Charlson comorbidity index (ACCI) on prognosis of patients undergoing laparoscopic radical gastrectomy.Methods:The retrospective cohort study was conducted. The clinicopathological data of 242 gastric cancer patients who underwent laparoscopic radical gastrectomy in 19 hospitals of the Chinese Laparoscopic Gastrointestinal Surgery Study Group-04 study, including 54 patients in Fujian Medical University Union Hospital, 32 patients in the First Hospital of Putian City, 32 patients in Renji Hospital Affiliated to Shanghai Jiaotong University School of Medicine, 31 patients in Zhangzhou Affiliated Hospital of Fujian Medical University, 17 patients in Nanfang Hospital of Southern Medical University, 11 patients in the First Affiliated Hospital with Nanjing Medical University, 8 patients in Qinghai University Affiliated Hospital, 8 patients in Meizhou People′s Hospital, 7 patients in Fujian Provincial Hospital, 6 patients in Zhongshan Hospital of Fudan University, 6 patients in Longyan First Hospital, 5 patients in the First Affiliated Hospital of Xinjiang Medical University, 5 patients in the First Hospital Affiliated to Army Medical University, 4 patients in the Second Affiliated Hospital of Guangzhou University of Traditional Chinese Medicine, 4 patients in West China Hospital of Sichuan University, 4 patients in Beijing University Cancer Hospital, 3 patients in the First Affiliated Hospital of Xiamen University, 3 patients in Guangdong Provincial People′s Hospital, 2 patients in the First Affiliated Hospital of Xi′an Jiaotong University, from September 2016 to October 2017 were collected. There were 193 males and 49 females, aged 62(range, 23?74)years. Observation indicators: (1) age distribution, comorbidities and ACCI status of patients; (2) the grouping of ACCI and comparison of clinicopathological characteristics of patients in each group; (3) incidence of postoperative early complications and analysis of factors affecting postoperative early complications; (4) follow-up; (5) analysis of factors affecting the 3-year recurrence-free survival rate of patients. Follow-up was conducted using outpatient examination or telephone interview to detect postoperative survival of patients up to December 2020. Measurement data with normal distribution were represented as Mean± SD, and comparison between groups was conducted using the t test. Measurement data with skewed distribution were represented as M( Q1, Q3) or 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. Comparison of ordinal data was conducted using the nonparametric rank sum test. The X-Tile software (version 3.6.1) was used to analyze the best ACCI grouping threshold. The Kaplan-Meier method was used to calculate survival rates and draw survival curves. The Log-Rank test was used for survival analysis. The Logistic regression model was used to analyze the factors affecting postoperative early complications. The COX proportional hazard model was used for univariate and multivariate analyses of factors affecting the 3-year recurrence-free survival rate of patients. Multivariate analysis used stepwise regression to include variables with P<0.05 in univariate analysis and variables clinically closely related to prognosis. Results:(1) Age distribution, comor-bidities and ACCI status of patients. Of the 242 patients, there were 28 cases with age <50 years, 68 cases with age of 50 to 59 years, 113 cases with age of 60 to 69 years, 33 cases with age of 70 to 79 years. There was 1 patient combined with mild liver disease, 1 patient combined with diabetes of end-organ damage, 2 patients combined with peripheral vascular diseases, 2 patients combined with peptic ulcer, 6 patients combined with congestive heart failure, 8 patients combined with chronic pulmonary diseases, 9 patients with diabetes without end-organ damage. The ACCI of 242 patients was 2 (range, 0-4). (2) The grouping of ACCI and comparison of clinicopathological characteristics of patients in each group. Results of X-Tile software analysis showed that ACCI=3 was the best grouping threshold. Of the 242 patients, 194 cases with ACCI <3 were set as the low ACCI group and 48 cases with ACCI ≥3 were set as the high ACCI group, respectively. Age, body mass index, cases with preoperative comorbidities, cases of American Society of Anesthesiologists classification as stage Ⅰ, stage Ⅱ, stage Ⅲ, tumor diameter, cases with tumor histological type as signet ring cell or poorly differentiated adenocarcinoma and cases with tumor type as moderately or well differentiated adenocarcinoma, cases with tumor pathological T staging as stage T1, stage T2, stage T3, stage T4, chemotherapy cycles were (58±9)years, (22.6±2.9)kg/m 2, 31, 106, 85, 3, (4.0±1.9)cm, 104, 90, 16, 29, 72, 77, 6(4,6) in the low ACCI group, versus (70±4) years, (21.7±2.7)kg/m 2, 23, 14, 33, 1, (5.4±3.1)cm, 36, 12, 3, 4, 13, 28, 4(2,5) in the high ACCI group, showing significant differences in the above indicators between the two groups ( t=-14.37, 1.98, χ2=22.64, Z=-3.11, t=-2.91, χ2=7.22, Z=-2.21, -3.61, P<0.05). (3) Incidence of postoperative early complications and analysis of factors affecting postoperative early complications. Of the 242 patients, 33 cases had postoperative early complications, including 20 cases with local complications and 16 cases with systemic complica-tions. Some patients had multiple complications at the same time. Of the 20 patients with local complications, 12 cases had abdominal infection, 7 cases had anastomotic leakage, 2 cases had incision infection, 2 cases had abdominal hemorrhage, 2 cases had anastomotic hemorrhage and 1 case had lymphatic leakage. Of the 16 patients with systemic complications, 11 cases had pulmonary infection, 2 cases had arrhythmias, 2 cases had sepsis, 1 case had liver failure, 1 case had renal failure, 1 case had pulmonary embolism, 1 case had deep vein thrombosis, 1 case had urinary infection and 1 case had urine retention. Of the 33 cases with postoperative early complications, there were 3 cases with grade Ⅰ complications, 22 cases with grade Ⅱ complications, 5 cases with grade Ⅲa complications, 2 cases with grade Ⅲb complications and 1 case with grade Ⅳ complica-tions of Clavien-Dindo classification. Cases with postoperative early complications, cases with local complications, cases with systemic complications were 22, 13, 9 in the low ACCI group, versus 11, 7, 7 in the high ACCI group, respectively. There were significant differences in cases with postoperative early complications and cases with systemic complications between the two groups ( χ2=4.38, 4.66, P<0.05), and there was no significant difference in cases with local complications between the two groups ( χ2=2.20, P>0.05). Results of Logistic regression analysis showed that ACCI was a related factor for postoperative early complications of gastric cancer patients undergoing laparoscopic radical gastrectomy [ odds ratio=2.32, 95% confidence interval ( CI) as 1.04-5.21, P<0.05]. (4) Follow-up. All the 242 patients were followed up for 36(range,1?46)months. During the follow-up, 53 patients died and 13 patients survived with tumor. The 3-year recurrence-free survival rate of the 242 patients was 73.5%. The follow-up time, cases died and cases survived with tumor during follow-up, the 3-year recurrence-free survival rate were 36(range, 2-46)months, 29, 10, 80.0% for the low ACCI group, versus 35(range, 1-42)months, 24, 3, 47.4% for the high ACCI group. There was a significant difference in the 3-year recurrence-free survival rate between the two groups ( χ2=30.49, P<0.05). (5) Analysis of factors affecting the 3-year recurrence-free survival rate of patients. Results of univariate analysis showed that preoperative comorbidities, ACCI, tumor diameter, histological type, vascular invasion, lymphatic invasion, neural invasion, tumor pathological TNM staging, postoperative early complications were related factors for postoperative 3-year recurrence-free survival rate of gastric cancer patients undergoing laparoscopic radical gastrectomy [ hazard ratio ( HR)=2.52, 3.64, 2.62, 0.47, 2.87, 1.90, 1.86, 21.77, 1.97, 95% CI as 1.52-4.17, 2.22-5.95, 1.54-4.46, 0.27-0.80, 1.76-4.70, 1.15-3.12, 1.10-3.14, 3.01-157.52, 1.11-3.50, P<0.05]. Results of multivariate analysis showed that ACCI, tumor pathological TNM staging, adjuvant chemotherapy were indepen-dent influencing factors for postoperative 3-year recurrence-free survival rate of gastric cancer patients undergoing laparoscopic radical gastrectomy ( HR=3.65, 11.00, 40.66, 0.39, 95% CI as 2.21-6.02, 1.40-86.73, 5.41-305.69, 0.22-0.68, P<0.05). Conclusions:ACCI is a related factor for post-operative early complications of gastric cancer patients undergoing laparos-copic radical gastrectomy. ACCI, tumor pathological TNM staging, adjuvant chemotherapy are indepen-dent influencing factors for postoperative 3-year recurrence-free survival rate of gastric cancer patients undergoing laparoscopic radical gastrectomy.

【Objective】 To study the annual financial expenditure in blood stations with different scales, and to establish the regression equation between blood collection units and total expenditure. 【Methods】 The annual total expenditure, the per capita cost of serving population, as well as the collection units of whole blood and apheresis platelet of 24 blood stations were collected. The financial expenditure required for collecting 10 000U blood was calculated.The statistical analysis was carried out with SPSS statistical software. 【Results】 From 2017 to 2020, the total annual financial expenditure of 24 blood stations showed an upward trend. The total expenditure among blood stations was different. The per capita cost of servicing population in the areas where the 24 blood stations were located had been increasing year by year. The 24 blood stations were divided into two grades according to the blood collection volume as 50 000 U, and the relationship equation between the blood collection volume and the annual total expenditure had been established. After testing, each equation was effective(P<0.05); There was no difference in the financial expenditure required for collecting 10 000U blood among blood stations with different scales. 【Conclusion】 From 2017 to 2020, the blood stations with an annual collection volume more than 50 000 U demonstrated a higher financial expenditure and the per capita cost of serving population than those <50 000 U. The blood collection volume of blood stations is significantly correlated with the annual total expenditure and the per capita cost of serving population.

Surgical innovation is an important part of surgical research and practice. The evaluation of surgical innovation through the stages is similar to those for drug development, but with important differences. The Idea, Development, Exploration, Assessment, and Long-term follow-up (IDEAL) Framework and Recommendations represent a new paradigm for the evaluation of surgical intervention and devices which was developed in 2009. The IDEAL is a five-stage framework involving the nature stages of surgical innovation, together with recommendations for surgical research pathway. The Framework and Recommendations were updated and published in 2019, which added a pre-IDEAL stage if necessary. The updated IDEAL also underlines the purpose, key question and ethical issues for each stage. In the first paper of IDEAL Framework and Recommendations series, we conducted a comprehensive introduction of IDEAL (e.g. the development, updates and application of IDEAL) to promote the dissemination and application of IDEAL in China.

Adherence to reporting guidelines contributes to report methodology and outcomes of research distinctly and transparently. There are some checklists with specific study types related to surgery on the EQUATOR Network’s website. However, the IDEAL framework focuses on stepwise evaluation of surgical innovation through all stages with some key elements, which those existing guidelines may not mention. This likely results in the inaccuracy in reporting in studies attempting to follow the IDEAL recommendations and suggests a pressing need for IDEAL reporting guidelines. Considering these limitations, the IDEAL developed the IDEAL reporting guidelines between October 2018 and May 2019. The paper aimed to provide interpretation of IDEAL reporting guideline, and promote its understanding and use among Chinese researchers.

Many breakthroughs in the field of surgical clinical researches have been achieved in China, but the overall quality is relatively limited, largely because of the insufficiency in standardization, rationality and scientificity of methodology. In consideration of the nature of surgical procedures and equipments, it is necessary to establish a set of methodological system, suitable for the high-quality clinical research in the surgical field. IDEAL collaboration has put forward a systematic methodological framework for innovation in surgical procedure and equipment. For the clinical research on surgical innovation, the IDEAL framework can be divided into five sequential stages, namely, Idea, Development, Exploration, Assessment and Long-term follow-up. In different stages, the difficulties to be faced, the problems to be solved, and the research design to be adopted are diverse and progressive. Although the IDEAL framework is not perfect, it is currently the best framework for surgical clinical research. While performing surgical clinical research, we should continue to think about how to improve the surgical clinical research methodology.

Objective:To retrospectively analyze the impact of adjuvant iodine-125( 125I)brachytherapy on postoperative recurrence and survival for patients with hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) treated with partial hepatectomy with narrow resection margins. Methods:The data of 72 HCC patients who underwent partial hepatectomy with narrow resection margins from January 2011 to June 2015 at Weihai Municipal Hospital were analyzed retrospectively. The patients were divided into the adjuvant 125I brachytherapy group ( 125I group) ( n=36) and the control group ( n=36). The data of the two groups of patients were compared to study the factors influencing long-term survival outcomes and recurrence. Results:The follow-up time was (45.0±18.4) months. There were no deaths relating to 125I brachytherapy. The median recurrent free survival (RFS) was significantly longer in the 125I group than the control group (41.0 months vs 21.5 months, P<0.05). The 1-, 3- and 5-year RFS rates of the 125I group and the control group were 94.4%, 58.3%, 41.6% versus 86.1%, 33.3%, 25.0%, respectively ( P<0.05). The 1-, 3- and 5-year overall survival (OS) rates of the 125I group versus the control group were 97.2%, 69.4%, 52.8% versus 94.4%, 52.8%, 27.8%, respectively ( P<0.05). On multivariate analysis, 125I implantation was an independent factor affecting RFS and OS ( HR=2.112, 95% CI: 1.155-3.860, P<0.05; HR=2.492, 95% CI: 1.272-4.693, P<0.05). Conclusion:Adjuvant 125I brachytherapy was safe and effective for HCC patients with narrow resection margins after hepatectomy. It obviously reduced the tumor recurrence rate and prolonged the long-term RFS and OS.