BACKGROUND: The STAR (Scientific, Transparent, and Applicable Rankings) working group conducts regular evaluations of Chinese guidelines and consensus statements. This study gathered insights from STAR working group members using qualitative interviews. METHODS: From March to August 2023, members of the STAR specialist committees were interviewed using semi-structured interview outline. The interviewees were selected through purpose-based sampling. Subject analysis was employed to summarize the findings. RESULTS: We conducted interviews with 37 members from 36 committees and summarized the contents into four main themes and 16 specific topics. The value of STAR in enhancing the development and selection of high-quality guidelines in China was commonly mentioned. Challenges identified included the lack of resources and suboptimal organizational structures, collaboration, and evaluation efficiency. Suggestions for the STAR tool included developing extensions for different guideline types, adjusting certain items, and better covering guideline applicability. The promotion of STAR and the consideration of an international committee for global outreach were also highlighted. CONCLUSION STAR has exerted a substantial influence on the evaluation of Chinese guidelines, and the insights gained from interviews offer valuable directions for its further enhancement.
Humans ; China ; Qualitative Research ; Practice Guidelines as Topic ; Interviews as Topic

Objective To assess the clinical value of a novel surgical technique—Tubeless subxiphoid uniportal video-assisted thoracoscopic surgery with percutaneous suspension technique via balance-shaped sternal elevation device in the resection of anterior mediastinal masses. Methods Patients who underwent tubeless subxiphoid uniportal video-assisted thoracoscopic surgery via balance-shaped sternal elevation device in anterior mediastinal masses process at the Department of Thoracic Surgery, West China Hospital, Sichuan University from March to April 2025 were included, and their clinical data were analyzed. Results A total of 4 patients were included, with 2 males and 2 females, aged 58-75 years. The diameter of the tumor was 2.5-3.0 cm. The operation time was 60.0-150.0 min, intraoperative blood loss was 5-10 mL, pain score on the 3rd day after surgery was 0 points, and postoperative hospital stay was 2-3 days. All patients achieved complete resection of the masses and thymus without perioperative complications. Conclusion The tubeless subxiphoid uniportal video-assisted thoracoscopic surgery with percutaneous suspension technique via balance-shaped sternal elevation device technique optimizes surgical visualization and instrument maneuverability while avoiding complications related to conventional anesthesia and tubing, thereby markedly enhancing the minimally invasive profile of anterior mediastinal masses resections. In addition to maintaining procedural safety, this approach effectively reduces postoperative pain and accelerates patient recovery, highlighting its potential for widespread clinical adoption.

The biosynthesis and maturation of proteins are primarily regulated by the endoplasmic reticulum in its physiological state. Thus, the disruption of physiological homeostasis initiates the buildup of unfolded and misfolded proteins in the endoplasmic reticulum, resulting in endoplasmic reticulum stress (ERS) and unfolded protein response (UPR). One of the important pathways by which UPR maintains intracellular homeostasis under ERS is activating protein kinase R-like endoplasmic reticulum kinase (PERK). The activation of the PERK pathway stimulates eukaryotic translation initiation factor 2 subunit-α (eIF2α) phosphorylation and the selective translation of active transcription factor 4 (ATF4), and PERK induces cell apoptosis by directly binding to the promoter of pro-apoptotic transcription factor C/EBP homologous protein (CHOP). This signaling pathway is also one of the important mechanisms by which UPR participates in the regulation of hematological malignancies and immune cells in a tumor microenvironment. This article provides an overview of advancements in research into the PERK-eIF2α-ATF4-CHOP signaling pathway in hematological malignancies and the potential therapeutic benefits of targeting this signaling pathway.

Objective:To systematically review and evaluate the effect of intraoperative regional cerebral oxygen saturation (rSO 2) monitoring on perioperative neurocognitive disorders (PNDs) in elderly patients undergoing non-cardiac surgery. Methods:China National Knowledge Infrastructure, Wanfang Database, China Biomedical Literature Database, China Science and Technology Journal Database, PubMed, Cochrane Library, Embase and Web of Science databases were searched from inception to October 2022 for randomized controlled trials involving the effects of intraoperative rSO 2 monitoring on PND in elderly patients underwent non-cardiac surgery. The primary outcome measure was the incidence of PND (1-7 days after surgery), and secondary outcome measures were intraoperative minimum rSO 2 (rSO 2min), intraoperative mean rSO 2 (rSO 2mean), maximum percentage of decrease (rSO 2% max) in rSO 2 from baseline (rSO 2baseline), and the Montreal Cognitive Assessment Scale was used to evaluate the quality of references that met the inclusion criteria, and data were extracted for meta-analysis using RevMan5.4 software. Results:Thirteen randomized controlled trials were enrolled, involving 1 134 patients with 557 patients in experimental group (anesthesia under rSO 2 monitoring) and 577 patients in control group. The results of meta-analysis showed that the incidence of PND was significantly lower in experimental group than in control group ( RR=0.32, 95% confidence interval [ CI] 0.25-0.41, P<0.001), the intraoperative rSO 2min was significantly higher in experimental group than in control group ( MD=7.46, 95% CI 5.05-9.86, P<0.001), and the intraoperative rSO 2mean was significantly higher in experimental group than in control group ( MD=5.49, 95% CI 3.97-7.02, P<0.001), the intraoperative rSO 2% max was significantly lower in experimental group than in control group ( MD=-6.55, 95% CI-9.03--4.07, P<0.001), and the postoperative Montreal Cognitive Assessment Scale score was significantly higher in experimental group than in control group ( MD=1.37, 95% CI 0.74-1.99, P<0.001). Conclusions:Intraoperative application of rSO 2 monitoring can reduce the occurrence of PND in elderly patients undergoing non-cardiac surgery.

Objective:To investigate the risk factors of postpartum embryo residues associated with uterine arteriovenous fistula.Methods:From January 2000 to December 2020, 26 cases of postpartum embryo residue complicated with uterine arteriovenous fistula in Tangshan Maternal and Child Health Hospital were selected as the case group, and 32 cases of postpartum embryo residue without uterine arteriovenous fistula were selected as control group.Both the case group and the control group had embryo residue in cesarean scar.Univariate and multivariate logistic analysis were used to screen the risk factors of postpartum embryo residue combined with uterine arteriovenous fistula.Results:There were 26 patients in the case group, including 3 patients after medical abortion, 17 patients after artificial abortion, 2 patients after cesarean section, and 4 patients after mid-term induced labor.There were 32 patients in the control group, including 7 patients after medical abortion, 11 patients after induced abortion, 8 patients after cesarean section, and 6 patients after mid-term induced labor.There were 11 patients in the case group and 3 patients in the control group.Univariate analysis showed that: the occurrence of postpartum embryo residue combined with uterine arteriovenous fistula was related to the time of vaginal bleeding, HCG value before and after treatment, hemoglobin value before treatment, platelet count and residual embryo area(all P<0.05). Multivariate regression analysis showed that the increase of hCG before treatment ( OR 20.319, 95% CI 1.348-306.187) and the decrease of hemoglobin before treatment ( OR 0.870, 95% CI 0.788-0.960) were the independent risk factors of postpartum embryo residue combined with uterine arteriovenous fistula (all P<0.05). Conclusion:The risk factors of uterine arteriovenous fistula in postpartum embryo residue patients with elevated hCG value and decreased hemoglobin value before treatment should be highly vigilant to reduce the rate of clinical missed diagnosis.

Objective:To evaluate the perioperative safety of pancreaticoduodenectomy(PD)in elderly patients.Methods:Clinical data of 152 patients undergoing PD in Beijing Hospital between 2016 and 2019 were retrospectively analyzed.According to the age, patients were divided into the elderly group(age≥65 years)and the non-elderly group(age<65 years). The perioperative and postoperative parameters were compared between the two groups.Results:There was no significant difference in the operative time, intraoperative blood loss and intraoperative urine output between the elderly group and the non-elderly group(352.7±69.5)min vs.(359.0±94.4)min, (708.7±672.7) vs.(662.6±896.7)ml and(875.8±497.3)ml vs.(1010.6±568.2)ml, all P>0.05). The perioperative mortality, postoperative complications(Clavien-Dindo classification ≥ grade Ⅲ)and reoperation rate had no significant difference between elderly group and the non-elderly group(6.1% vs.1.2%, 21.2% vs.19.8%, 10.6% vs.8.1%, respectively, χ2=1.487, 0.048 and 0.272, all P>0.05). The incidences of operation-related complications, cardiovascular or cerebrovascular adverse events in elderly group were comparable to non-elderly group( P>0.05). The postoperative hospital stay had no significant difference between the elderly group and the non-elderly group[(28±19)d vs.(27±18)d, P>0.05]. Conclusions:PD is safe in elderly patients.Age is not a contraindication to pancreaticoduodenectomy.The comprehensive systemic evaluation, intraoperative delicate operation and enhanced perioperative management are necessary in the elderly patients undergoing PD.

Objective To investigate the diagnosis and treatment of retroperitoneal cysts.Methods Data of 7 patients with retroperitoneal cysts undergoing laparoscopy surgery in Beijing Hospital were analyzed.Result All the seven patients received laparoscopy surgery without the residual of cyst wall,and recovered successfully.The blood loss was from 50 ml to 400 ml.The average operation time was (151 ± 113) min.The average post-op hospital stay was(5.9 ± 5.4) d.There was no major post-op complication,nor recurrence.Conclusion Laparoscopy for retroperitoneal cyst is safe and effective Comparing to laparotomy.

Objective: Abstract: Objective: To investigate the expression and significance of miR-138 and programmed cell death protein 1 (PD-1) in the patients with hepatitis B virus (HBV)-related hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC). Methods: A total of 30 patients with HBV-related HCC, 20 with HBV-related cirrhosis (LC) and 30 with chronic hepatitis B (CHB) were recruited from Jiaozuo People′s Hospital. The blood samples from all patients and the peritoneal effusion samples from HCC and LC patients were collected. The levels of miR-138 and soluble PD-1 (sPD-1) in blood and peritoneal effusion samples were detected by real-time PCR and ELISA, respectively. The expressions of PD-1 in T lymphocytes were measured with flow cytometry and western blot. The targeting effect of miR-138 on the 3′-non-coding region (3′-UTR) of PD-1 gene was verified by the dual-luciferase reporter gene system. Results: The relative expression levels of miR-138 in the peritoneal effusion and plasma of HBV-related HCC patients were significantly lower than those in LC and CHB patients (P＜0.05). The serum sPD-1 levels and the expression levels of PD-1 in CD3 + T lymphocytes of HBV-related HCC patients were significantly higher than those in LC and CHB patients (P＜0.05). The relative expression levels of miR-138 were negatively correlated with serum sPD-1 levels and the expression levels of PD-1 in CD3 + T lymphocytes (P＜0.05). The dual-luciferase reporter gene system and western blot results demonstrated that there was a targeting relationship between miR-138 and the 3′-UTR of PD-1 gene. After miR-138 was transfected, the expression level of PD-1 was significantly down-regulated. Conclusion miR-138 participates in the development and progression of HBV-related HCC probably by targeting PD-1.

Objective: To examine the effect of standardized lymphectomy and sampling of resected lymph nodes (LN) on TNM staging of resectable pancreatic head cancer. Methods: Consecutive patients with resectable pancreatic head cancer who received standard pancreatoduodenctomy at Department of General Surgery in Beijing Hospital from December 2017 to November 2018 were recruited as study group. After operation, the surgeon sampled lymph nodes from the fresh specimen following the Japanese Gastric Cancer Guidelines.Thirty-three cases were recruited in the study group and the mean age was (59.8±15.2) years.Pathologic reports from December 2015 to November 2016 were taken as control group, containing 29 cases with age of (57.0±13.0) years. Number of lymph nodes, standard-reaching ratio and positive nodes ratio were compared between two groups. According to the seventh edition and eighth edition of TNM staging, the changes of N staging and TNM staging were analysed. The quantitative data conforming to normal distribution were tested by independent sample t test, the quantitative data not conforming to normal distribution were tested by rank sum test, and the enumeration data were analysed by χ² test. Results: The basal data of the two groups were comparable (all P>0.05) . The number of lymph nodes sampled in the study group was 23.27±8.87, significantly more than in control group (12.86±5.90, t=0.653, P=0.000) .Ratio of cases with more than 15 nodes was 81.8% (27/33) in the study group and 34.5% (10/29) in the control group with statistical significance (χ²=14.373, P=0.000) . In the study group, the positive lymph node ratios of No. 17a+17b, 14a+14b, 8a+8p LN were 36.4% (12/33) , 30.3% (10/33) and 9.1% (3/33) respectively. The positive lymph node ratio in No.14a+14b LN was higher than in No.8 LN (χ²=4.694, P=0.030) . According to the change in N staging system in the AJCC eighth edition, 2 cases (6.1%, 2/33) changed from ⅠB to ⅡA, 7 cases (21.2%, 7/33) from ⅡA to ⅠB and 5 cases (15.2%, 5/33) changed from ⅡB to Ⅲ (25.0%, 5/20) . Conclusions No.14 LN should be treated as the first station rather than second station because of the anatomic character and higher metastatic ratio. Standardised lymphectomy and sampling may increase the number of LN resected and improve the TNM staging of resectable pancreatic head cancer.