Immune checkpoint inhibitors (ICIs) combined with chemotherapy has become the first-line standard treatment for advanced biliary tract cancers (BTC). However, the application of ICIs comes with its risks of immune-related adverse events (irAEs). BTC patients often face greater challenges in the diagnosis and management of irAEs, especially in the differential diagnosis of immune related hepatitis, due to the presence of special conditions such as underlying liver dysfunction and biliary obstruction. We aimed to systematically review the current status of BTC immunotherapy, the spectrum of irAEs, clinical characteristics, prevention strategies, and management principles. We focused to investigate the specificity and response measures of irAEs management in BTC patients, optimizing immunotherapy management for BTC patients, maximizing treatment benefits and ensuring patient safety, and exploring the future research directions.

Intrahepatic bile duct stones, as a prevalent disease in the field of hepatobiliary surgery in China, present multiple challenges in clinical management. The core factors contributing to stone retention and recurrence lie in the practical difficulties of implementing traditional anatomic hepatectomy and the limited efficacy in correcting biliary strictures. In response to this clinical dilemma, the specialty of biliary surgery has progressively developed a precise and minimally invasive resection concept guided by three-dimensional hepatic venous anatomy combined with lesioned bile duct tree distribution patterns. At the technical implementation level, it is imperative to establish a standardized operative system encompassing laparoscopic precision parenchymal transection, hilar bile duct plastic reconstruction, along with auxiliary techniques such as intraoperative ultrasound, indocyanine green fluorescence staining guidance, and multi-endoscopic combined stone extraction approaches.

Objective To evaluate the clinical efficacy and application value of digital subtraction angiography (DSA) in the management of delayed pancreaticoduodenectomy(PD) hemorrhage(PPH).Methods A retrospective analysis was conducted on the clinical data of 38 patients who underwent DSA for delayed PPH at Zhongshan Hospital, Fudan University, between January 2019 and December 2024. The technical success rate and clinical outcomes of interventional treatment were the primary focus of the evaluation.Results Among 726 patients who underwent PD, 38 (5.2%) experienced delayed bleeding. Of these, 30 (78.9%) showed positive findings on DSA. The distribution of bleeding sites was as follows: gastroduodenal artery (18 cases), common hepatic artery (1 case), the first branch of the jejunal artery (2 cases), proper hepatic artery (2 cases), right hepatic artery (1 case), middle hepatic artery (1 case), left hepatic artery (3 cases), origin of the splenic artery (1 case), and right gastroepiploic artery (1 case). Interventional treatments included microcoil embolization (17 cases), microcoil combined with gelatin sponge embolization (4 cases), covered stent implantation (7 cases), and gelatin sponge embolization alone and microspheres embolization (1 case each). Successful hemostasis was achieved in 28 (93.3%) patients through DSA-guided interventional treatment, while 2 patients required surgical hemostasis due to recurrent bleeding.Conclusions DSA-guided interventional embolization offers advantages such as minimal invasiveness, precise localization, and effective hemostasis, making it the preferred treatment strategy for delayed PPH.

Objective To explore the effectiveness of an integrated laparoscopic simulation training course (best essential surgical technique training, BEST) in enhancing laparoscopic peritoneal suturing techniques in surgical residents.Methods As an integrated two-stage program, the BEST course applied basic laparoscopic training system with simple molds in phase Ⅰ training, and then adopted advanced laparoscopic training system, 3D Laparoscope and ex-vivo animal models in phase Ⅱ training. The laparoscopic suturing techniques were practiced in phase Ⅱ training. From August 2021 to July 2024, surgical residents in the second year of the national standardized training program were divided into pilot and control groups based on whether they had undergone the BEST course. Two cases of laparoscopic peritoneal suture were performed by the surgical residents under supervision in the department of gastrointestinal surgery. The operative time, quality of suture, and independent completion rate were compared between the two groups.Results A total of 33 surgical residents (19 in pilot group and 14 in control group) were included in this study, and a total of 66 cases of laparoscopic peritoneal suture were performed (38 in pilot group and 28 in control group). The operative time was significantly shorter in pilot group than that in control group (15.7 min vs. 17.5 min, P=0.025). The quality of suture was significantly better in pilot group compared to control group (P=0.023). In pilot group, all peritoneal sutures were performed by residents independently, whereas in control group, 3 cases (10.7%) were assisted by the supervisor, and the independent completion rate was different significantly (P=0.039).Conclusions The BEST course can help improve surgical residents′ laparoscopic peritoneal suturing techniques and could be promoted in the national standardized training program for surgical residents.

Objective To investigate the autophagy activation effect of hernandezine (HER) on hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) cells and its role in inducing autophagic cell death. Methods The inhibitory effects of HER on the proliferation of HCC cell lines Hep 3B and Huh-7 were assessed using CCK-8 assay. HCC cells were treated with HER at different concentrations and time points gradient. Western blot analysis was performed to evaluate the conversion of autophagy marker LC3 from type Ⅰ to type Ⅱ and the levels of SQSTM1/p62. Stable red fluorescent protein(RFP)-LC3-expressing cell lines were established through lentiviral infection, and the accumulation of RFP-LC3 puncta following HER treatment was observed under confocal microscope. Autophagosomes in HER-treated cells were visualized using transmission electron microscopy. The effects of autophagy inhibitors, bafilomycin A1 (BafA1) or hydroxychloroquine (HCQ), in combination with HER were investigated by analyzing cell death rates via flow cytometry. The phosphorylation levels of adenosine 5′-monophosphate(AMP)-activated protein kinase(AMPK) and mammalian target of rapamycin(mTOR) were assessed by Western blot.Results HER inhibited the proliferation of HCC cells Hep 3B and Huh-7, promoted the conversion of LC3-Ⅰ to LC3-Ⅱ, and activated autophagy in a dose- and time-dependent manner. Confocal microscopy and transmission electron microscopy revealed a significant increase in autophagic vesicles in HER-treated cells. HER-induced cell death was attenuated by the autophagy inhibitors BafA1 or HCQ. HER treatment increased AMPK phosphorylation levels while decreasing mTOR phosphorylation levels.Conclusions HER induces autophagy and promotes autophagic cell death in HCC cells via the AMPK/mTOR signaling pathway.

Objective To explore the changes in trace elements and amino acid profiles in serum of patients with hepatocellular carcinoma(HCC) providing a reference for clinical diagnosis and treatment.Methods A total of 104 patients with HCC who underwent surgical treatment in the Department of Hepatobiliary Surgery of our hospital from January 2024 to April 2024 were selected as the study group, and 139 patients with benign biliary diseases during the same period were selected as the control group. Atomic absorption spectrometry was used to detect the levels of six trace elements (copper, zinc, calcium, magnesium, iron, and lead) in the serum of both groups, and liquid chromatography-tandem mass spectrometry was used to measure the concentrations of 21 amino acids.Results Compared with the control group, the serum copper level in the HCC group was significantly increased (P<0.05), while the levels of zinc and iron were significantly decreased (P<0.05). Amino acid profile analysis revealed that, compared with the control group, the concentrations of tyrosine, methionine, and phenylalanine in the HCC group were increased (P<0.05), while the concentrations of valine, leucine, isoleucine, glutamine, and arginine were decreased (P<0.05). Further analysis of the correlation between trace elements and amino acids with statistical differences between the groups showed that copper was negatively correlated with valine and leucine (P<0.05), while zinc and iron were positively correlated with valine, leucine, and isoleucine (P<0.01).Conclusions Imbalances in trace elements and amino acid metabolism changes are common in patients with HCC, and there may be an intrinsic connection between the two.

Objective To systematically evaluate the comparative efficacy of primary closure versus T-tube drainage following laparoscopic common bile duct exploration (LCBDE) and extraction combined with cholecystectomy in the management of choledocholithiasis with concomitant cholecystolithiasis.Methods A comprehensive search of databases including PubMed, CNKI, Wanfang, and VIP was conducted from January 1, 2012, to December 31, 2021. Eligible studies were screened based on predefined inclusion/exclusion criteria, and meta-analysis was performed using Review Manager 5.4 software.Results Ten studies involving 1 589 patients (783 primary closure vs. 806 T-tube drainage) were included. Meta-analysis demonstrated that primary closure significantly reduced operation time [MD = -15.59, 95% CI: (-23.74, -7.45), P = 0.000 2], intraoperative blood loss [MD = -6.49, 95% CI: (-12.74, -0.24), P = 0.04], postoperative gastrointestinal recovery time [MD = -0.39, 95% CI: (-0.60, -0.19), P= 0.000 2], postoperative hospital stay [MD = -1.41, 95% CI: (-2.19, -0.62), P = 0.000 4], and hospitalization costs [SMD = -0.66, 95% CI: (-1.21, -0.12), P = 0.02].Conclusions Both closure methods are safe and effective for choledocholithiasis with cholecystolithiasis. However, primary closure offers advantages including shorter operative duration, reduced blood loss, decreased hospital stay, and lower costs, warranting broader clinical adoption.

Objective To investigate the stent location and effectiveness in different types of iliac vein compression.Methods A retrospective analysis was conducted on patients with left iliac vein compression who underwent stent implantation at our department from June 2021 to December 2023. Based on the location of compression, patients were categorized into high, classical, and low types. The patients’ general information, lesion characteristics, stent details, stent patency, and clinical outcomes were analyzed and followed up.Results A total of 242 patients were included in this study. And 90. 9% (220 cases) were the classical type, 5.4% (13 cases) were the high type, and 3.7% (9 cases) were the low type. There was no significant difference in age distribution, gender ratio and comorbidities among the three groups. The length of inferior vena cava protruding from the high type was significantly longer than that of the classical type[(3.1±0.8) cm vs. (1.6±1.0) cm, P<0.001), but significantly shorter in the low type[(-0.7±2.4) cm vs. (1.6±1.0) cm, P<0.001). The mean follow-up time was (18.0±7.0) months. The stent patency rate was 97.0% at 1 year and 92.8% at 2 years postoperation. The clinical symptoms of the three groups were significantly relieved. No thrombosis was found in right limbs.Conclusions There is a significant difference in the location of the stent tip between classical and non-classical compression types. Complete coverage of lesion by the stent should be the prerequisite for stent placement in treatment of all three types. Small sample, short-term follow-up data suggested that stents can also relieve clinical symptoms and have good patency rate in the high compression type and the low compression type.

Thyroid cancer is the most common endocrine malignancy. Although most patients achieve good prognosis through surgery and conventional treatments, approximately 15%-20% of patients with papillary thyroid cancer and the anaplastic and medullary thyroid cancers still lack effective treatment options. The tumor immune microenvironment plays a critical role in the occurrence, progression, and drug resistance of thyroid cancer. This review focused on the key immune cells in thyroid cancer, including tumor-associated macrophages, myeloid-derived suppressor cells, mast cells, natural killer cells, and T lymphocytes, and explored their roles and mechanisms in tumor immune evasion. Immunotherapy has become an emerging treatment strategy for advanced thyroid cancer, we summarized the attempts and advances in immune checkpoint inhibitors, targeted macrophage therapy and tumor vaccines.

Pancreatic ductal adenocarcinoma (PDAC) is a highly malignant solid tumor of digestive system, which can affect the immune system. The abnormalities of distribution, percentage, function, and activity of immune cells in both peripheral circulation and tumor microenvironment (TME) are detected in patients with PDAC. T cells are the main lymphocytes that participate in cell-mediated immunity and exert anti-tumor effects. According to the function and the cluster of differentiation, T cells can be divided into different subsets, such as CD4+, CD8+, CD4+ CD25+, etc. The abnormalities of T cell subsets in the circulating immunity and TME of patients with PDAC may play an important role in cancer progress.