Objective:To investigate the association of serum/body fluid heparin-binding protein (HBP) and blood lactate levels with disease severity and their impact on prognosis in intensive care unit (ICU) patients with sepsis.Methods:Clinical data from 100 sepsis patients admitted to Ma'anshan Shiqiye Hospital ICU (January 2023-September 2024) were retrospectively analyzed. According to Sepsis-3.0 criteria, patients were divided into: uncomplicated sepsis (general group, n=28), sepsis with organ failure/hypotension (severe group, n=61), and septic shock (shock group, n=11). Comparisons included serum/body fluid HBP, lactate, APACHE Ⅱ scores, and mortality across severity groups and laboratory parameters between survivors and non-survivors. Logistic regression was used to identify prognostic predictors. Non-normally distributed data were presented as M(Q1,Q3), comparison between groups were completed by Kruskal-Wallis H test and Mann-Whitney U tests. Spearman correlation was used to analyze relationships between biomarkers and APACHE Ⅱ scores. Categorical data were presented as n(%), and comparison between groups were completed by χ2 test or Fisher's exact tests. ROC curves was used to evaluate predictive value. Results:Shock group demonstrated significantly higher serum HBP [13.3 (12.6-16.4) μg/L], infection-site HBP [230.3 (226.3-241.1) μg/L], lactate [5.4 (4.9-5.6) mmol/L], and APACHE Ⅱ[22.0 (21.0-24.0)] than severe group [9.6 (8.9-10.5) μg/L; 208.9 (200.5-216.1) μg/L; 2.7 (2.6-2.8) mmol/L; 18.0 (17.0-19.0)] and general group [7.4 (6.3-8.1) μg/L; 190.6 (180.5-202.1) μg/L; 1.5 (1.4-1.7) mmol/L; 13.0 (12.0-14.0)] (all P<0.001). There was statistically significant difference in the mortality rate during hospita lization among three groups of patients ( χ2=30.49, P<0.001). Mortality was higher in shock group than severe group than general group [72.7% (8/11) vs. 11.5% (7/61) vs. 3.6% (1/28), all P<0.001]. Non-survivors exhibited elevated lactate [4.8 (2.7-5.5) vs. 2.6 (1.7-2.8) mmol/L, Z=-4.13, P=0.001], serum HBP [12.2 (9.2-13.3) vs. 9.3 (7.8-10.4) μg/L, Z=-3.12, P=0.002], and infection-site HBP [226.8 (209.9-237.6) vs. 203.6 (194.0-212.8) μg/L, Z=-4.32, P<0.001] vs. survivors. Serum HBP ( r=0.74), infection-site HBP ( r=0.64), and lactate ( r=0.86) were all positively correlated with APACHE Ⅱ (all P<0.001). After adjusting for age and APACHE Ⅱ, elevated serum HBP ( OR=3.743, 95% CI:1.834-7.640), infection-site HBP ( OR=3.540, 95% CI:1.932-6.486), and lactate ( OR=5.155, 95% CI:1.868-14.229) independently predicted mortality (all P<0.001). Combined biomarker detection showed superior predictive value (AUC=0.909) versus individual markers (serum HBP:0.747, infection-site HBP:0.842, lactate:0.827, all P<0.001). Conclusion:Elevated blood lactate and serum/infection-site HBP levels correlate with sepsis severity and independently predict mortality. The biomarker combination provides optimal prognostic stratification.

The surgical management of gastroesophageal reflux disease began in the mid-20 th century and has undergone a revolutionary shift from open procedures to laparoscopic techniques. Its core objective remains focused on reconstructing an effective anti-reflux barrier while minimizing surgical complications. With technological advancements and the accumulation of follow-up data, controversies surrounding key technical aspects have emerged, significantly affecting clinical decision-making. This article systematically reviews the evolution of surgical anti-reflux techniques, focuses on current critical controversies, and explores future directions by integrating evidence-based medicine with clinical experience.

The surgical management of gastroesophageal reflux disease began in the mid-20 th century and has undergone a revolutionary shift from open procedures to laparoscopic techniques. Its core objective remains focused on reconstructing an effective anti-reflux barrier while minimizing surgical complications. With technological advancements and the accumulation of follow-up data, controversies surrounding key technical aspects have emerged, significantly affecting clinical decision-making. This article systematically reviews the evolution of surgical anti-reflux techniques, focuses on current critical controversies, and explores future directions by integrating evidence-based medicine with clinical experience.

Objective:To investigate the association of serum/body fluid heparin-binding protein (HBP) and blood lactate levels with disease severity and their impact on prognosis in intensive care unit (ICU) patients with sepsis.Methods:Clinical data from 100 sepsis patients admitted to Ma'anshan Shiqiye Hospital ICU (January 2023-September 2024) were retrospectively analyzed. According to Sepsis-3.0 criteria, patients were divided into: uncomplicated sepsis (general group, n=28), sepsis with organ failure/hypotension (severe group, n=61), and septic shock (shock group, n=11). Comparisons included serum/body fluid HBP, lactate, APACHE Ⅱ scores, and mortality across severity groups and laboratory parameters between survivors and non-survivors. Logistic regression was used to identify prognostic predictors. Non-normally distributed data were presented as M(Q1,Q3), comparison between groups were completed by Kruskal-Wallis H test and Mann-Whitney U tests. Spearman correlation was used to analyze relationships between biomarkers and APACHE Ⅱ scores. Categorical data were presented as n(%), and comparison between groups were completed by χ2 test or Fisher's exact tests. ROC curves was used to evaluate predictive value. Results:Shock group demonstrated significantly higher serum HBP [13.3 (12.6-16.4) μg/L], infection-site HBP [230.3 (226.3-241.1) μg/L], lactate [5.4 (4.9-5.6) mmol/L], and APACHE Ⅱ[22.0 (21.0-24.0)] than severe group [9.6 (8.9-10.5) μg/L; 208.9 (200.5-216.1) μg/L; 2.7 (2.6-2.8) mmol/L; 18.0 (17.0-19.0)] and general group [7.4 (6.3-8.1) μg/L; 190.6 (180.5-202.1) μg/L; 1.5 (1.4-1.7) mmol/L; 13.0 (12.0-14.0)] (all P<0.001). There was statistically significant difference in the mortality rate during hospita lization among three groups of patients ( χ2=30.49, P<0.001). Mortality was higher in shock group than severe group than general group [72.7% (8/11) vs. 11.5% (7/61) vs. 3.6% (1/28), all P<0.001]. Non-survivors exhibited elevated lactate [4.8 (2.7-5.5) vs. 2.6 (1.7-2.8) mmol/L, Z=-4.13, P=0.001], serum HBP [12.2 (9.2-13.3) vs. 9.3 (7.8-10.4) μg/L, Z=-3.12, P=0.002], and infection-site HBP [226.8 (209.9-237.6) vs. 203.6 (194.0-212.8) μg/L, Z=-4.32, P<0.001] vs. survivors. Serum HBP ( r=0.74), infection-site HBP ( r=0.64), and lactate ( r=0.86) were all positively correlated with APACHE Ⅱ (all P<0.001). After adjusting for age and APACHE Ⅱ, elevated serum HBP ( OR=3.743, 95% CI:1.834-7.640), infection-site HBP ( OR=3.540, 95% CI:1.932-6.486), and lactate ( OR=5.155, 95% CI:1.868-14.229) independently predicted mortality (all P<0.001). Combined biomarker detection showed superior predictive value (AUC=0.909) versus individual markers (serum HBP:0.747, infection-site HBP:0.842, lactate:0.827, all P<0.001). Conclusion:Elevated blood lactate and serum/infection-site HBP levels correlate with sepsis severity and independently predict mortality. The biomarker combination provides optimal prognostic stratification.

Objective:To evaluate the safety and efficacy of domestically produced magnetic sphincter augmentation (MSA) for gastroesophageal reflux disease.Method:This study is a prospective cohort study. Patients with typical heartburn and reflux symptoms (at least partial response to proton pump inhibitors), abnormal esophageal acid exposure and normal esophageal peristalsis were included, prospectively in the Department of Gastroesophageal Surgery, Rocket Force Characteristic Medical Center from June 2019 to September 2022. Patients with hiatal hernia >2 cm and severe esophagitis were excluded. The MSA was wrapped around the distal esophagus after esophageal hiatus repair by laparoscopy. A postoperative questionnaire survey was conducted to assess the relief of symptom, complications, the discontinuation rate of proton pump inhibitor, and surgical satisfaction. Gastroscopy, high-resolution esophageal pressure measurement, and pH value impedance monitoring were also reviewed. The pre- and postoperative rates were compared using the McNeinar χ2 test. Result:Currently, 23 patients with gastroesophageal reflux disease were enrolled and underwent MSA surgery. There were 20 males and 3 females, aged ( M (IQR)) 48 (14) years (range: 25 to 64 years). All cases were successfully implanted with MSA. Subjective indicators were followed for 17 (18) months (range: 14 to 53 months), while objective indicators were followed for 17 (1) months (range: 12 to 23 months). The postoperative gastrointestinal and extraesophageal symptom scores showed a significant decrease compared to preoperative levels as follows: the degree of subjective relief of overall digestive symptoms was 90 (20)% (range:0~100%), the degree of subjective relief of overall respiratory symptoms was 100(10)% (range: 10%~100%), the overall satisfaction rate was 83% (19/23), the proton pump inhibitor discontinuation rate was 70% (16/23). The proportion of esophagitis has decreased from 44% (10/23) to 9% (2/23) ( κ=0.169, P=0.039), The Hill grade of gastroesophageal valve morphology improved from 1 case of grade Ⅰ, 5 cases of grade Ⅱ, 10 cases of grade Ⅲ, and 7 cases of grade Ⅲ preoperative to 22, 1, 0, and 0 cases postoperative. The proportion of lower esophageal sphincter pressure below normal has decreased from 70% (16/23) to 35% (8/23) ( κ=0.170, P=0.012). There were 21 patients who restored normal esophageal acid exposure. Eleven patients had mild long-term dysphagia, but it didn′t affect their daily life. No postoperative device migration, erosion, or secondary surgical removal occurred. Conclusions:Laparoscopic implantation of the MSA device was safe and well tolerated. It can effectively control the symptoms of gastroesophageal reflux disease, reduce medication, restore normal cardia morphology and function, and esophageal acid exposure. The main postoperative complication was dysphagia, but it was relatively mild.

Objective:To evaluate the safety and efficacy of domestically produced magnetic sphincter augmentation (MSA) for gastroesophageal reflux disease.Method:This study is a prospective cohort study. Patients with typical heartburn and reflux symptoms (at least partial response to proton pump inhibitors), abnormal esophageal acid exposure and normal esophageal peristalsis were included, prospectively in the Department of Gastroesophageal Surgery, Rocket Force Characteristic Medical Center from June 2019 to September 2022. Patients with hiatal hernia >2 cm and severe esophagitis were excluded. The MSA was wrapped around the distal esophagus after esophageal hiatus repair by laparoscopy. A postoperative questionnaire survey was conducted to assess the relief of symptom, complications, the discontinuation rate of proton pump inhibitor, and surgical satisfaction. Gastroscopy, high-resolution esophageal pressure measurement, and pH value impedance monitoring were also reviewed. The pre- and postoperative rates were compared using the McNeinar χ2 test. Result:Currently, 23 patients with gastroesophageal reflux disease were enrolled and underwent MSA surgery. There were 20 males and 3 females, aged ( M (IQR)) 48 (14) years (range: 25 to 64 years). All cases were successfully implanted with MSA. Subjective indicators were followed for 17 (18) months (range: 14 to 53 months), while objective indicators were followed for 17 (1) months (range: 12 to 23 months). The postoperative gastrointestinal and extraesophageal symptom scores showed a significant decrease compared to preoperative levels as follows: the degree of subjective relief of overall digestive symptoms was 90 (20)% (range:0~100%), the degree of subjective relief of overall respiratory symptoms was 100(10)% (range: 10%~100%), the overall satisfaction rate was 83% (19/23), the proton pump inhibitor discontinuation rate was 70% (16/23). The proportion of esophagitis has decreased from 44% (10/23) to 9% (2/23) ( κ=0.169, P=0.039), The Hill grade of gastroesophageal valve morphology improved from 1 case of grade Ⅰ, 5 cases of grade Ⅱ, 10 cases of grade Ⅲ, and 7 cases of grade Ⅲ preoperative to 22, 1, 0, and 0 cases postoperative. The proportion of lower esophageal sphincter pressure below normal has decreased from 70% (16/23) to 35% (8/23) ( κ=0.170, P=0.012). There were 21 patients who restored normal esophageal acid exposure. Eleven patients had mild long-term dysphagia, but it didn′t affect their daily life. No postoperative device migration, erosion, or secondary surgical removal occurred. Conclusions:Laparoscopic implantation of the MSA device was safe and well tolerated. It can effectively control the symptoms of gastroesophageal reflux disease, reduce medication, restore normal cardia morphology and function, and esophageal acid exposure. The main postoperative complication was dysphagia, but it was relatively mild.

Objective:To investigate the value of systemic inflammatory response syndrome (SIRS), pediatric sequential organ failure assessment (pSOFA) and pediatric critical illness score (PCIS) in predicting mortality of pediatric sepsis in pediatric intensive care units (PICU) from Southwest China.Methods:This was a prospective multicenter observational study. A total of 447 children with sepsis admitted to 12 PICU in Southwest China from April 2022 to March 2023 were enrolled. Based on the prognosis, the patients were divided into survival group and non-survival group. The physiological parameters of SIRS, pSOFA and PCIS were recorded and scored within 24 h after PICU admission. The general clinical data and some laboratory results were recorded. The area under the curve (AUC) of the receiver operating characteristic curve was used to compare the predictive value of SIRS, pSOFA and PCIS in mortality of pediatric sepsis.Results:Amongst 447 children with sepsis, 260 patients were male and 187 patients were female, aged 2.5 (0.8, 7.0) years, 405 patients were in the survival group and 42 patients were in the non-survival group. 418 patients (93.5%) met the criteria of SIRS, and 440 patients (98.4%) met the criteria of pSOFA≥2. There was no significant difference in the number of items meeting the SIRS criteria between the survival group and the non-survival group (3(2, 4) vs. 3(3, 4) points, Z=1.30, P=0.192). The pSOFA score of the non-survival group was significantly higher than that of the survival group (9(6, 12) vs. 4(3, 7) points, Z=6.56, P<0.001), and the PCIS score was significantly lower than that of the survival group (72(68, 81) vs. 82(76, 88) points, Z=5.90, P<0.001). The predictive value of pSOFA (AUC=0.82) and PCIS (AUC=0.78) for sepsis mortality was significantly higher than that of SIRS (AUC=0.56) ( Z=6.59, 4.23, both P<0.001). There was no significant difference between pSOFA and PCIS ( Z=1.35, P=0.176). Platelet count, procalcitonin, lactic acid, albumin, creatinine, total bilirubin, activated partial thromboplastin time, prothrombin time and international normalized ratio were all able to predict mortality of sepsis to a certain degree (AUC=0.64, 0.68, 0.80, 0.64, 0.68, 0.60, 0.77, 0.75, 0.76, all P<0.05). Conclusion:Compared with SIRS, both pSOFA and PCIS had better predictive value in the mortality of pediatric sepsis in PICU.

As an emerging field, foregut surgery has gained increasing attention internationally, focusing currently on benign foregut diseases such as gastroesophageal reflux disease (GERD), achalasia, and obesity. Ever since 2018, the establishment of independent foregut societies in the United States, Europe, and Japan has significantly propelled the advancement of foregut surgery as a distinct specialty. In China, foregut surgery has developed relatively late and the concept has not been widely promoted domestically. As the spectrum of diseases changes among the Chinese population, the number of physicians and surgeons involved in the diagnosis and treatment of foregut disease is steadily increasing. There is an urgent need to unite relevant forces to promote the development of foregut surgery as an independent discipline, so as to provide optimal care for patients with foregut diseases.

Objective:To explore the long-term efficacy of laparoscopic fundoplication for proton pump inhibitor dependent gastroesophageal reflux disease (GERD).Method:Clinical data of proton pump inhibitor dependent GERD patients who underwent fundoplication at the Rocket Force Characteristic Medical Center from Jan to Jun 2012 were analyzed, including GERD symptom score, subjective symptom relief rate, PPI discontinuation rate and surgical satisfaction, as well as recurrence and complications.Result:A total of 160 GERD patients were included in this study, with 64% of patients having respiratory symptoms. Nissen and Toupet fundoplication were performed in 43 and 117 cases, respectively, with a follow-up time of (127±3) months. The postoperative GERD symptom scores of the patients were significantly lower than before treatment (all P<0.001); The subjective relief of overall symptoms in the digestive tract and airway problem was 90% (80%, 100%) and 100%, respectively. The PPI discontinuation rate was 86%, and the overall satisfaction rate of the treatment was 92%, and the satisfaction rate of patients with respiratory symptoms was 89%. 7% of patients experienced varying degrees of symptomatic recurrence, 4% of patients re-underwent endoscopic treatment and/or laparoscopic fundoplication due to symptom recurrence. The incidence of long-term postoperative dysphagia, bloating, belching, increased exhaust, abdominal pain, diarrhea, and constipation were 11.3%, 16.9%, 0, 1.3%, 0, 2.5%, and 5.6%, respectively. Conclusions:Laparoscopic fundoplication has good long-term efficacy in the treatment of GERD. A small number of patients may experience postoperative recurrence, as well as complications such as dysphagia and gas-bloat syndrome. Most recurrent patients can achieve good therapeutic effect by redoing endoscopic treatment or redoing surgery.

Background: In Korea, during the early phase of the coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) pandemic, we responded to the uncertainty of treatments under various conditions, consistently playing catch up with the speed of evidence updates. Therefore, there was high demand for national-level evidence-based clinical practice guidelines for clinicians in a timely manner. We developed evidence-based and updated living recommendations for clinicians through a transparent development process and multidisciplinary expert collaboration. Methods: The National Evidence-based Healthcare Collaborating Agency (NECA) and the Korean Academy of Medical Sciences (KAMS) collaborated to develop trustworthy Korean living guidelines. The NECA-supported methodological sections and 8 professional medical societies of the KAMS worked with clinical experts, and 31 clinicians were involved annually. We developed a total of 35 clinical questions, including medications, respiratory/critical care, pediatric care, emergency care, diagnostic tests, and radiological examinations. Results: An evidence-based search for treatments began in March 2021 and monthly updates were performed. It was expanded to other areas, and the search interval was organized by a steering committee owing to priority changes. Evidence synthesis and recommendation review was performed by researchers, and living recommendations were updated within 3–4 months. Conclusion We provided timely recommendations on living schemes and disseminated them to the public, policymakers and various stakeholders using webpages and social media.Although the output was successful, there were some limitations. The rigor of development issues, urgent timelines for public dissemination, education for new developers, and spread of several new COVID-19 variants have worked as barriers. Therefore, we must prepare systematic processes and funding for future pandemics.