Objective To explore the impact of number of positive regional lymph nodes (nPRLN) in N1 stage on the prognosis of non-small cell lung cancer (NSCLC) patients. Methods Patients with TxN1M0 stage NSCLC who underwent lobectomy and mediastinal lymph node dissection from 2010 to 2015 were screened from SEER database (17 Regs, 2022nov sub). The optimal cutoff value of nPRLN was determined using X-tile software, and patients were divided into 2 groups according to the cutoff value: a nPRLN≤optimal cutoff group and a nPRLN>optimal cutoff group. The influence of confounding factors was minimized by propensity score matching (PSM) at a ratio of 1 : 1. Kaplan-Meier curves and Cox proportional hazards models were used to evaluate overall survival (OS) and lung cancer-specific survival (LCSS) of patients. Results A total of 1316 patients with TxN1M0 stage NSCLC were included, including 662 males and 654 females, with a median age of 67 (60, 73) years. The optimal cutoff value of nPRLN was 3, with 1165 patients in the nPRLN≤3 group and 151 patients in the nPRLN>3 group. After PSM, there were 138 patients in each group. Regardless of before or after PSM, OS and LCSS of patients in the nPRLN≤3 group were superior to those in the nPRLN>3 group (P<0.001). N1 stage nPRLN>3 was an independent prognostic risk factor for OS [HR=1.52, 95%CI (1.22, 1.89), P<0.001] and LCSS [HR=1.72, 95%CI (1.36, 2.18), P<0.001]. Conclusion N1 stage nPRLN>3 is an independent prognostic risk factor for NSCLC patients in TxN1M0 stage, which may provide new evidence for future revision of TNM staging N1 stage subclassification.

Objective To establish an individualized nomogram model and evaluate its efficacy to provide a possible evaluation basis for the prognosis of lower third and abdominal part of oesophageal adenocarcinoma (EAC). Methods Lower third and abdominal part of EAC patients from 2010 to 2015 were chosen from the SEER Research Plus Database (17 Regs, 2022nov sub). The patients were randomly allocated to the training cohort and the internal validation cohort with a ratio of 7∶3 using bootstrap resampling. The Cox proportional hazards regression analysis was used to determine significant contributors to overall survival (OS) in EAC patients, which would be elected to construct the nomogram prediction model. C-index, calibration curve and receiver operating characteristic (ROC) curve were performed to evaluate its efficacy. Finally, the efficacy to evaluate the OS of EAC patients was compared between the nomogram prediction model and TNM staging system. Results In total, 3945 patients with lower third and abdominal part of EAC were enrolled, including 3475 males and 470 females with a median age of 65 (57-72) years. The 2761 patients were allocated to the training cohort and the remaining 1184 patients to the internal validation cohort. In the training and the internal validation cohorts, the C-index of the nomogram model was 0.705 and 0.713, respectively. Meanwhile, the calibration curve also suggested that the nomogram model had a strong capability of predicting 1-, 3-, and 5-year OS rates of EAC patients. The nomogram also had a higher efficacy than the TNM staging system in predicting 1-, 3-, and 5-year OS rates of EAC patients. Conclusion This nomogram prediction model has a high efficiency for predicting OS in the patients with lower third and abdominal part of EAC, which is higher than that of the current TNM staging system.

Objective To evaluate the value of postoperative radiotherapy (PORT) in patients with stage ⅢA-N2 non-small cell lung cancer who received complete resection and chemotherapy. Methods Patients with stage ⅢA-N2 non-small cell lung cancer who received complete resection and chemotherapy were chosen from the SEER Research Plus Database [17 Registries, November 2012 Submission (2000-2019)]. The patients were divided into a PORT group and a non-PORT group according to whether the PORT was used. To balance baseline characteristics between non-PORT and PORT groups, R software was used to conduct a propensity score matching (PSM) with a ratio of 1 : 1 and a matching tolerance of 0.01. Both the Cox regression analysis and Kaplan-Meier survival analysis were conducted to evaluate the value of PORT in terms of overall survival (OS) and disease-specific survival (DSS). Results In total, 2468 patients with stage ⅢA-N2 non-small cell lung cancer were enrolled, including 1078 males and 1390 females with a median age of 65 (58-71) years. There were 1336 patients in the PORT group, and 1132 patients in the non-PORT group. Cox regression analysis showed that PORT was not significantly associated with OS (multivariate analysis: HR=1.051, 95%CI 0.949-1.164, P=0.338) and DSS (multivariate analysis: HR=1.094, 95%CI 0.976-1.225, P=0.123). No statistical difference was found in the OS or DSS between non-PORT group and PORT group after PSM analysis (P＞0.05). Conclusion PORT does not have a survival benefit for patients with stage ⅢA-N2 non-small cell lung cancer who received complete resection and chemotherapy.

Objective To investigate the incidence and influencing factors of postoperative infection in patients with hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) after transcatheter arterial chemoembolization (TACE). Methods A retrospective study was conducted on the HCC patients who received TACE during the period from January 2016 to December 2016. The possible risk factors that might induce postoperative infection after TACE were evaluated by using univariate analysis and multivariate logistic regression analysis. The risk factors were further stratified into very high risk factors, high risk factors, moderate risk factors and low risk factors. Results Among 386 HCC patients who showed effective response to TACE, postoperative infection occurred in 17 patients, the incidence rate was 4.4％. Ascites, history of hepatobiliary resection surgery or preoperative liver cancer rupture with bleeding, history of liver abscess or previous postoperative infection after TACE were the very high risk factors of infection after TACE. Preoperative serum total protein value <60 g/L was a high risk factor. The presence of tumor thrombus in portal vein or in vena cava was a moderate risk factor. Conclusion Ascites, previous hepatobiliary surgery, preoperative liver cancer rupture with bleeding, history of liver abscess and history of infection after TACE are significantly correlated with the occurrence of infection after TACE.

Objective To improve the processing protocol of the frozen erythrocyte ( RBC) washing machine of the dialysis type to enhance its efficiency of treating the 2 U frozen RBCs .Methods The frozen RBC washing machine for dialysis was used to deglycerolize the 2 U frozen RBCs after thawing .Measures including adjustment of the Pump speed , washing buffer adding and solution osmolarity were taken to decrease the processing time .Hemoglobin(Hb) content, Hb recovery, residual glycerol, free Hb content, deforming ability, and apoptosis of the deglycerolized RBCs were assessed to evaluate the efficiency of the improved protocol .Results As for the cells processed respectively by the previous and improved protocols, contents of Hb were (35.03 ±4.20) g and (53.82 ±2.08) g, respectively; Hb recoveries were (61.10 ±8.46)% and (80.22 ±3.73)%,respectively.Osmolarities representing residual glycerol were (307.00 ± 14.50)mOsm and (322.00 ±29.00)mOsm.Free Hb values were (0.74 ±0.04) and (0.80 ±0.08)g/L.The processing time was (1.64 ±0.31) and (1.04 ±0.16) h,respectively.There were significant differences in Hb content , Hb recovery, and deforming ability between the cells processed by the two protocols respectively .However , there were no significant changes in glycerol contents , free Hb, and apoptosis extent between the cells processed by the two protocols .Conclusion The innovated protocol can improve the quality of washed frozen RBCs , decrease the processing time and enhance the efficiency of the machine.

Objective To Optimize the mandibular CT scanning methods with changing the scanning position,to reduce the radiation dosage.Methods Totally 50 consecutive patients with mandibular CT examination were enrolled in the study and divided into position-optimized group and routine group (n =25,respectively) randomly.The image quality,volume CT-dose index (CTDIvol),scanning length,and dose length product (DLP) were compared.Results There was no significant difference in subjective image quality and CTDIvol between two groups.But the scanning length and DLP in positionoptimized group were significantly reduced by about 20 ％ (t =4.986,P ＜ 0.05) and 16％ (t =3.682,P ＜0.05) compared with routine group.The lens were out of scanning field with the position-optimized protocol.Conclusions The scanning length would be efficiently reduced and the lens avoided with the position-optimized protocol,which would subsequently reduce the effective radiation dose.

Objective To explore factors affecting long-term compliance to weight management (WM) of patients with congestive heart failure (CHF)and to provide evidence for improving patients' compliance.Methods In-depth semi-structured interviews based on reinforcement theory were conducted among 18 CHF patients who received WM intervention over 6 months.The data were analyzed by Colaizzi analysis program.Results Three themes were found:precipitating factors such as the correct perception of disease and self-efficacy,the factors of positive reinforcement such as early gains from WM,readmission,follow-up,family and social support,as well as the factors of negative reinforcement such as gaining nothing during long period,physical and mental disorders.These above factors made long-term compliance to WM of 50％ of the participants dynamic and fluctuant.Conclusions Medical staff should identify patients'compliance at different stages in time during follow-up,analyze the factors that affect their compliance,and then grasp the optimal timing of intervention to perform targeted,multiform and multiple health education to improve compliance.