Objective:To investigate the effect of luteinizing hormone (LH) levels on the clinical outcome and cumulative live birth rate of in vitro fertilization/intracytoplasmic sperm injection (IVF/ICSI) fresh embryo transfer in patients with normal ovarian reserve function after application of a flexible protocol of gonadotropin-releasing hormone antagonist (GnRH-A) to promote ovulation with the addition of GnRH-A. Methods:A retrospective cohort study was conducted to analyze the data of 685 patients with normal ovarian reserve function who underwent IVF/ICSI after ovulation induction with antagonist flexible regimen between January 2016 and June 2021 at the Reproductive Medicine Center of the Third Affiliated Hospital of Zhengzhou University. The quartile method was used to group patients after the addition of the antagonist by the mean value of serum LH each time they were monitored (usually twice, depending on the rate of follicular growth and patients' need) until the day of the trigger, and were divided into group A (smaller than the 25th percentile of the mean LH level of the included population, LH<1.25 U/L, n=166), group B (in the 25th to 50th percentile of the mean LH level of the included population, 1.25 U/L≤LH<1.91 U/L, n=174), group C (in the 50th to 75th percentile of the mean LH level of the included population, 1.91 U/L≤LH<2.85 U/L, n=171), and group D (greater than the 75th percentile of the mean LH level of the included population, 2.85 U/L≤LH≤7.55 U/L, n=174). The general condition, clinical data, embryo laboratory indices, clinical outcome indices of fresh embryo transfer cycle and cumulative live birth rate were compared among the 4 groups. Results:After correcting for confounding factors by multifactorial linear regression, the number of high-quality embryos and the rate of blastocyst formation of patients in group C were significantly higher than those in group A, and the differences were statistically significant ( B=0.600, 95% CI: 0.086-1.114, P=0.022; B=0.134, 95% CI: 0.052-0.216, P=0.001). The number of high-quality embryos, the number of available embryos, and the rate of blastocyst formation of patients in group D were significantly higher than those in group A, and the differences were statistically significant ( B=0.771, 95% CI: 0.259-1.284, P=0.003; B=0.730, 95% CI: 0.205-1.255, P=0.007; B=0.085, 95% CI: 0.003-0.167, P=0.042).After multifactorial logistic regression, there was no statistically significant difference in live birth rate between group A and groups B, C and D ( P>0.05). The cumulative live birth rate of patients in group D was significantly higher than that in group A, and the difference was statistically significant ( aOR=2.439, 95% CI: 1.169-4.974, P=0.014). Conclusion:In patients with normal ovarian reserve function, a flexible protocol of antagonists was applied to promote ovulation, and the addition of antagonists had no significant effect on the clinical outcome of the fresh embryo transfer cycle in terms of mean LH levels, but the quality of the embryos was significantly reduced when the mean LH level was <1.25 U/L, and this may consequently reduce the developmental potential of the embryos and the cumulative live birth rate.

Objective:To investigate the effect of luteinizing hormone (LH) levels on the clinical outcome and cumulative live birth rate of in vitro fertilization/intracytoplasmic sperm injection (IVF/ICSI) fresh embryo transfer in patients with normal ovarian reserve function after application of a flexible protocol of gonadotropin-releasing hormone antagonist (GnRH-A) to promote ovulation with the addition of GnRH-A. Methods:A retrospective cohort study was conducted to analyze the data of 685 patients with normal ovarian reserve function who underwent IVF/ICSI after ovulation induction with antagonist flexible regimen between January 2016 and June 2021 at the Reproductive Medicine Center of the Third Affiliated Hospital of Zhengzhou University. The quartile method was used to group patients after the addition of the antagonist by the mean value of serum LH each time they were monitored (usually twice, depending on the rate of follicular growth and patients' need) until the day of the trigger, and were divided into group A (smaller than the 25th percentile of the mean LH level of the included population, LH<1.25 U/L, n=166), group B (in the 25th to 50th percentile of the mean LH level of the included population, 1.25 U/L≤LH<1.91 U/L, n=174), group C (in the 50th to 75th percentile of the mean LH level of the included population, 1.91 U/L≤LH<2.85 U/L, n=171), and group D (greater than the 75th percentile of the mean LH level of the included population, 2.85 U/L≤LH≤7.55 U/L, n=174). The general condition, clinical data, embryo laboratory indices, clinical outcome indices of fresh embryo transfer cycle and cumulative live birth rate were compared among the 4 groups. Results:After correcting for confounding factors by multifactorial linear regression, the number of high-quality embryos and the rate of blastocyst formation of patients in group C were significantly higher than those in group A, and the differences were statistically significant ( B=0.600, 95% CI: 0.086-1.114, P=0.022; B=0.134, 95% CI: 0.052-0.216, P=0.001). The number of high-quality embryos, the number of available embryos, and the rate of blastocyst formation of patients in group D were significantly higher than those in group A, and the differences were statistically significant ( B=0.771, 95% CI: 0.259-1.284, P=0.003; B=0.730, 95% CI: 0.205-1.255, P=0.007; B=0.085, 95% CI: 0.003-0.167, P=0.042).After multifactorial logistic regression, there was no statistically significant difference in live birth rate between group A and groups B, C and D ( P>0.05). The cumulative live birth rate of patients in group D was significantly higher than that in group A, and the difference was statistically significant ( aOR=2.439, 95% CI: 1.169-4.974, P=0.014). Conclusion:In patients with normal ovarian reserve function, a flexible protocol of antagonists was applied to promote ovulation, and the addition of antagonists had no significant effect on the clinical outcome of the fresh embryo transfer cycle in terms of mean LH levels, but the quality of the embryos was significantly reduced when the mean LH level was <1.25 U/L, and this may consequently reduce the developmental potential of the embryos and the cumulative live birth rate.

ObjectiveTo explore the association between dietary retinol intake and prognosis of patients with esophageal squamous cell carcinoma. MethodsThe study enrolled 388 cases with primary esophageal squamous cell carcinoma that was pathologically diagnosed in the first affiliated hospital of Fujian medical university and the cancer hospital of Fujian medical university from July 2014 to August 2019. Chi-square test was used to determine the relationship between retinol and patients' characteristics. Kruskal-Wallis rank sum test was used to analyze the relationship between retinol and multiple nutrients. Cox proportional hazards regression model was used to explore the association between dietary retinol and esophageal squamous cell carcinoma. ResultsPatients with esophageal squamous cell carcinoma did not significantly differ in gender， age， TNM stage， tumor length or nutrient intake by different retinol intakes （P>0.05）. Multivariate Cox regression analysis showed that the high retinol intake group had a better prognosis （overal survial：HR=0.279，95%CI：0.150‒0.520，P<0.001；disease-free survival：HR=0.306，95%CI：0.181‒0.516，P<0.001）. ConclusionHigh dietary retinol intake may improve the prognosis of patients with esophageal squamous cell carcinoma.

Objective To compare the advantages and disadvantages of 3D BRAVO and TRICKS for detecting cerebral venous sinus thrombosis (CVST) and to explore the MR scanning methods on CVST.Methods A retrospective analysis was conducted on 40 patients who were diagnosed with CVST in the Fourth Affiliated Hospital of Kunming Medical University from January 2011 to June,2014.All the patients underwent TRICKS scan and 3D BRAVO examination and were classified into 3 groups based on dural venous sinuses,deep cerebral vein and superficial cerebral vein.Detection rates of TRICKS and BRAVO were evaluated and the results were analyzed.Result Detection rates of dural venous sinuses by TRICKS and BRAVO were 98.0％ and 100％ respectively.Detection rates of deep cerebral vein were 92.9％ and 100％ respectively.No significant difference was found (P＞0.05).Detection rates of superficial cerebral vein were 66.7％ and 100％ respectively.Significant difference was found between the two (P＜0.05) Conclusion BRAVO technology can clearly demonstrate the details of CVST,especially in superficial cerebral vein.With the combination use of TRICKS sequences,it will be of higher diagnostic value.

OBJECTIVETo explore the relationship between the lymph node metastasis and clinicopathological features in patients with clinical stage T1a non-small cell lung cancer (NSCLC).

METHODSClinicopathological data of a total of 418 patients who underwent lobectomy and systematic lymph node dissection were retrospectively analyzed. Logistic regression was used to analyze the relationship between lymph node metastasis and clinicopathological features.

RESULTSLymph node metastasis was observed in 25 patients. There were 122 patients who were diagnosed as ground glass opacity with no lymph node metastasis. 399 patients had subcarinal dissection, among them 7 patients were found to have lymph node metastasis. Univariate analysis showed that gender, smoking history, diameter of lymph node, ground glass opacity (GGO), differentiation of the tumor and tumor site were the factors affecting lymph node metastasis (all P < 0.05). Logistic regression analysis showed that diameter of lymph node, differentiation of the tumor and the site of lesion were independent risk factors for lymph node metastasis of NSCLC.

CONCLUSIONSTumor in the left lung, poor differentiation, and diameter of lymph nodes ≥ 1 cm on the preoperative CT image are independent risk factors for lymph node metastasis of NSCLC, hence we should pay attention before surgery and systematic lymph node dissection should be done. For patients with poor differentiation and lymph nodes ≥ 1 cm, subcarinal lymph nodes dissection is recommended for the sake of higher possibility of lymph node metastasis. For patients with ground glass opacity ≤ 2 cm, the lymph node metastasis is extremely rare, therefore, selective lymph node dissection is reconmmended.

Analysis of Variance ; Carcinoma, Non-Small-Cell Lung ; pathology ; secondary ; surgery ; Cell Differentiation ; Humans ; Logistic Models ; Lung Neoplasms ; pathology ; surgery ; Lymph Node Excision ; Lymph Nodes ; pathology ; Lymphatic Metastasis ; Neoplasm Staging ; Retrospective Studies ; Risk Factors ; Sex Factors ; Smoking

OBJECTIVEVideo-assisted thoracoscopic (VATS) esophagectomy has been performed for more than 10 years in China. However, compared with the conventional esophagectomy via right thoracotomy, whether VATS esophagectomy has more advantages or not in the lymph node (LN) dissection and prevention of perioperative complications is still controversial and deserves to be further investigated. The aim of this study was to explore whether there are significant differences in this issue between the two surgical modalities or not.

METHODSThe results of lymph node dissection and perioperative complications as well as other parameters in the patients treated by VATS esophagectomy and those by conventional esophagectomy via right thoracotomy at our department from May 1, 2009 to July 30, 2013 were compared using SPSS 16.0 in order to investigate whether there was any significant difference between these two treatment modalities in the learning curve stage of VATS esophagectomy.

RESULTSOne hundred and twenty-nine cases underwent VATS esophagectomy between May 1, 2009 and July 30, 2013, and another part 129 cases with the same preoperative cTNM stage treated by conventional esopahgectomy via right thoracotomy were selected in order to compare the results of lymph node dissection and perioperative complications as well as other parameters between those two groups of patients. There were no significant differences in the sex, age, lesion locations and cTNM stage between these two groups. The total LN metastatic rate in the VATS esophagectomy group was 35.7% and that of the conventional esophagectomy group was 37.2% (P > 0.05). The total average number of dissected lymph nodes was 12.1 vs. 16.2 (P < 0.001). The average dissected LN stations was 3.2 vs. 3.6 (P = 0.038). The total average number of dissected LN along the left recurrent laryngeal nerve was 2.0 vs. 3.7 (P = 0.012). The total average number of dissected LN along the right recurrent laryngeal nerve was 2.9 vs. 3.4 (P = 0.231). However, there was no significant difference in the total average number of dissected LN in the other thoracic LN stations, and in the perioperative complications between the two groups. The total postoperative complication rate was 41.1% in the VATS group versus 42.6% in the conventional group (P = 0.801). The cardiopulmonary complication rate was 25.6% vs. 27.1% (P = 0.777). The death rate was the same in the two groups (0.8%). The VATS group had less blood infusion (23.2% vs. 41.8%, P = 0.001) and shorter hospital stay (15.9 days vs. 19.2 days, P = 0.049) but longer operating time (161.3 min vs. 127.8 min, P < 0.01).

CONCLUSIONSIn the learning curve stage of VATS esophagectomy, compared with the conventional esophagectomy, less LN number and stations can be dissected in the VATS group due to un-skillful VATS manipulation, especially it is more difficult in the LN dissection along the left recurrent laryngeal nerve. Therefore, it is more suitable to select patients with early esophageal cancer without obvious enlarged lymph nodes for VATS esophagectomy in the learning curve stage.

China ; Esophageal Neoplasms ; pathology ; surgery ; Esophagectomy ; adverse effects ; methods ; Humans ; Learning Curve ; Length of Stay ; Lymph Node Excision ; adverse effects ; methods ; statistics & numerical data ; Lymph Nodes ; Operative Time ; Postoperative Complications ; epidemiology ; Recurrent Laryngeal Nerve ; Thoracic Surgery, Video-Assisted ; adverse effects ; Thoracotomy

Objective To explore the relationship between the lymph node metastasis and clinicopathological features in patients with clinical stage T1a non-small cell lung cancer ( NSCLC ) . Methods Clinicopathological data of a total of 418 patients who underwent lobectomy and systematic lymph node dissection were retrospectively analyzed.Logistic regression was used to analyze the relationship between lymph node metastasis and clinicopathological features.Resulst Lymph node metastasis was observed in 25 patients.There were 122 patients who were diagnosed as ground glass opacity with no lymph node metastasis.399 patients had subcarinal dissection, among them 7 patients were found to have lymph node metastasis.Univariate analysis showed that gender, smoking history, diameter of lymph node, ground glass opacity ( GGO ) , differentiation of the tumor and tumor site were the factors affecting lymph node metastasis ( all P<0.05) .Logistic regression analysis showed that diameter of lymph node, differentiation of the tumor and the site of lesion were independent risk factors for lymph node metastasis of NSCLC. Conclusions Tumor in the left lung, poor differentiation, and diameter of lymph nodes ≥1 cm on the preoperative CT image are independent risk factors for lymph node metastasis of NSCLC, hence we should pay attention before surgery and systematic lymph node dissection should be done.For patients with poor differentiation and lymph nodes≥1 cm, subcarinal lymph nodes dissection is recommended for the sake of higher possibility of lymph node metastasis.For patients with ground glass opacity≤2 cm, the lymph node metastasis is extremely rare, therefore, selective lymph node dissection is reconmmended.

Objective Video?assisted thoracoscopic ( VATS ) esophagectomy has been performed for more than 10 years in China. However, compared with the conventional esophagectomy via right thoracotomy, whether VATS esophagectomy has more advantages or not in the lymph node ( LN) dissection and prevention of perioperative complications is still controversial and deserves to be further investigated. The aim of this study was to explore whether there are significant differences in this issue between the two surgical modalities or not. Methods The results of lymph node dissection and perioperative complications as well as other parameters in the patients treated by VATS esophagectomy and those by conventional esophagectomy via right thoracotomy at our department from May 1,2009 to July 30,2013 were compared using SPSS 16.0 in order to investigate whether there was any significant difference between these two treatment modalities in the learning curve stage of VATS esophagectomy. Results One hundred and twenty?nine cases underwent VATS esophagectomy between May 1, 2009 and July 30, 2013, and another pared 129 cases with the same preoperative cTNM stage treated by conventional esopahgectomy via right thoracotomy were selected in order to compare the results of lymph node dissection and perioperative complications as well as other parameters between those two groups of patients. There were no significant differences in the sex, age, lesion locations and cTNM stage between these two groups. The total LN metastatic rate in the VATS esophagectomy group was 35.7% and that of the conventional esophagectomy group was 37.2% (P>0.05). The total average number of dissected lymph nodes was 12.1 vs. 16.2 ( P<0.001) . The average dissected LN stations was 3.2 vs. 3.6 ( P=0.038) . The total average number of dissected LN along the left recurrent laryngeal nerve was 2.0 vs. 3.7 ( P=0.012) . The total average number of dissected LN along the right recurrent laryngeal nerve was 2.9 vs. 3.4 (P=0.231). However, there was no significant difference in the total average number of dissected LN in the other thoracic LN stations, and in the perioperative complications between the two groups. The total postoperative complication rate was 41. 1% in the VATS group versus 42. 6% in the conventional group ( P=0.801) . The cardiopulmonary complication rate was 25.6% vs. 27.1% ( P=0.777) . The death rate was the same in the two groups (0.8%). The VATS group had less blood infusion (23.2% vs. 41.8%, P=0.001) and shorter hospital stay (15.9 days vs. 19.2 days, P=0.049) but longer operating time (161.3 min vs. 127.8 min, P<0.01). Conclusions In the learning curve stage of VATS esophagectomy, compared with the conventional esophagectomy, less LN number and stations can be dissected in the VATS group due to unskillful VATS manipulation, especially it is more difficult in the LN dissection along the left recurrent laryngeal nerve. Therefore, it is more suitable to select patients with early esophageal cancer without obvious enlarged lymph nodes for VATS esophagectomy in the learning curve stage.

Objective To explore the relationship between the lymph node metastasis and clinicopathological features in patients with clinical stage T1a non-small cell lung cancer ( NSCLC ) . Methods Clinicopathological data of a total of 418 patients who underwent lobectomy and systematic lymph node dissection were retrospectively analyzed.Logistic regression was used to analyze the relationship between lymph node metastasis and clinicopathological features.Resulst Lymph node metastasis was observed in 25 patients.There were 122 patients who were diagnosed as ground glass opacity with no lymph node metastasis.399 patients had subcarinal dissection, among them 7 patients were found to have lymph node metastasis.Univariate analysis showed that gender, smoking history, diameter of lymph node, ground glass opacity ( GGO ) , differentiation of the tumor and tumor site were the factors affecting lymph node metastasis ( all P<0.05) .Logistic regression analysis showed that diameter of lymph node, differentiation of the tumor and the site of lesion were independent risk factors for lymph node metastasis of NSCLC. Conclusions Tumor in the left lung, poor differentiation, and diameter of lymph nodes ≥1 cm on the preoperative CT image are independent risk factors for lymph node metastasis of NSCLC, hence we should pay attention before surgery and systematic lymph node dissection should be done.For patients with poor differentiation and lymph nodes≥1 cm, subcarinal lymph nodes dissection is recommended for the sake of higher possibility of lymph node metastasis.For patients with ground glass opacity≤2 cm, the lymph node metastasis is extremely rare, therefore, selective lymph node dissection is reconmmended.