ObjectiveThis paper aims to investigate the effects and mechanism of Mimenghua prescription in modulating the mitogen-activated protein kinase kinase （MEK）/rat sarcoma viral oncogene homolog （Ras）/rapidly accelerated fibrosarcoma kinase （Raf）/extracellular signal-regulated kinase （ERK） signaling pathway to inhibit inflammatory responses in a dry eye animal model. MethodsA total of 60 C57BL/6J mice （eight weeks old， half male and half female） were used in the experiment. Ten mice were randomly selected as the blank control group， while the remaining 50 were exposed to a controlled dry system and received instillation of 0.2% benzalkonium chloride （BAC） into the eyes for four weeks to establish a dry eye mouse model. After successful modeling， the mice were randomly divided into five groups： Model group， sodium hyaluronate group， and Mimenghua prescription groups with low dose （4.83 g·kg^-1）， medium dose （9.67 g·kg^-1）， and high dose （19.34 g·kg^-1）. The mice in the model group received an equal volume of normal saline via gavage for four weeks. The mice in the sodium hyaluronate group received instillation of sodium hyaluronate eye drops twice daily for 14 consecutive days. The tear secretion volume， tear film break-up time （TBUT）， and corneal fluorescein staining were evaluated once every two weeks. After four weeks of administration， mice were euthanized， and their lacrimal gland tissues and corneas were harvested. Hematoxylin-eosin （HE） staining was used to assess histopathological morphology. Western blot was performed to detect the protein expression levels of MEK， Ras， Raf， and ERK. Enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay （ELISA） was used to measure the contents and expressions of MEK， Ras， Raf， ERK， and interleukin （IL）-1β in lacrimal gland and corneal tissues of the mice in each group. Quantitative real-time polymerase chain reaction （Real-time PCR） was employed to determine mRNA expression levels of MEK， Ras， Raf， and ERK. ResultsThe Mimenghua prescription groups and the sodium hyaluronate group exhibited significantly increased tear secretion volume （P<0.05） and prolonged TBUT （P<0.05） after treatment. Ocular surface damage of mice was visibly recovered. Western blot results indicated that protein expression levels of MEK， Ras， Raf， and ERK in the lacrimal gland and corneal tissues were significantly downregulated in the sodium hyaluronate group and Mimenghua prescription group with high dose （P<0.05）. ELISA results showed that IL-1β levels were highest in the model group but significantly reduced in the sodium hyaluronate group and Mimenghua prescription groups （P<0.05）. Both ELISA and Real-time PCR results demonstrated that the expression levels of MEK， Ras， Raf， and ERK in the lacrimal glands and corneal tissues were significantly elevated in the model group （P<0.05）， but markedly downregulated in the sodium hyaluronate group and Mimenghua prescription groups （P<0.05）， suggesting that Mimenghua prescription can decrease the expressions of MEK， Ras， Raf， and ERK in the lacrimal glands and corneal tissues. ConclusionMimenghua prescription can reduce inflammatory responses， increase tear secretion， prolong TBUT， and promote corneal recovery by inhibiting the MEK， Ras， Raf， and ERK signaling pathways in lacrimal gland and corneal tissues.

[摘 要] 目的：观察白细胞介素-37（IL-37）在乳腺癌患者的表达变化对CD8+ T细胞活性的影响。方法：纳入2020年7月至2022年9月在新乡医学院第一附属医院就诊的46例乳腺癌患者、24例乳腺良性肿瘤患者、20例对照者。采集外周血，分离血浆和外周血单个核细胞（PBMC），收集接受手术治疗的乳腺癌患者肿瘤组织和癌旁组织，分离组织中肿瘤浸润淋巴细胞（TIL），纯化CD8+ T细胞。ELISA法检测IL-37、可溶型单免疫球蛋白IL-1受体相关蛋白（SIGIRR）表达，实时定量PCR法检测组织中IL-37 mRNA，流式细胞术检测CD8+ T细胞中IL-18受体α链（IL-18Rα）和SIGIRR表达。外源性IL-37刺激纯化的CD8+ T细胞，与乳腺癌细胞系MCF-7共培养，通过测定乳酸脱氢酶水平计算靶细胞死亡比例，ELISA法检测上清中穿孔素、颗粒酶B、干扰素-γ（IFN-γ）、肿瘤坏死因子-α（TNF-α）水平。结果：乳腺癌患者血浆IL-37水平高于乳腺良性肿瘤患者[（554.17 ± 96.63）pg/mL vs （499.52 ± 78.66）pg/mL，P = 0.020]和对照者[（483.97 ± 47.23）pg/mL，P = 0.003]。乳腺癌患者肿瘤组织中IL-37 mRNA相对表达量高于癌旁组织[（1.88 ± 0.21） vs （1.00 ± 0.53）pg/mL，P < 0.001]。外周血IL-18Rα+ CD8+细胞比例、SIGIRR+ CD8+细胞比例、血浆可溶型SIGIRR水平在乳腺癌患者、乳腺良性肿瘤患者、对照者之间的差异无统计学意义（均P > 0.05）。CD8+ TIL表达IL-18Rα和SIGIRR的比例在肿瘤组织和癌旁组织之间的差异无统计学意义（P > 0.05）。重组人IL-37刺激后，CD8+ T细胞诱导靶细胞死亡比例、上清中IFN-γ和TNF-α水平在直接接触和间接接触共培养系统中均低于无刺激（均P < 0.05）。在直接接触共培养系统中，IL-37刺激后上清中穿孔素和颗粒酶B水平均低于无刺激（均P < 0.001），但在间接接触共培养系统中，上清中穿孔素和颗粒酶B水平在无刺激和IL-37刺激之间的差异无统计学意义（均P > 0.05）。结论：乳腺癌患者中IL-37水平升高可能参与诱导外周血和肿瘤微环境中CD8+ T细胞功能衰竭。

Objective : To develop and to validate a combined model integrating18F-FDG PET/CT radiomics with clinical features to distinguish between lymphoma and lymphoid inflammatory hyperplasia. Methods : A retrospective study was conducted on a cohort of 232 patients diagnosed with lymphoma or lymphoid inflammatory hyperplasia. Comparative analyses of clinical and traditional imaging indicators were performed to identify inter-group differences. The clinical features were delineated and extracted using medical software including 3D-Slicer and Lifex. Selection of the features was performed to construct a PET/CT-based radiomics Logistic model, with a combined model integrating PET/CT with clinical features then used to evaluate the discriminative efficacy of these models. Results: Analysis of inter-group differences indicated that age, CTmean, and metabolic tumor volume(MTV)were effective for differentiating between lymphoma and lymphoid inflammatory hyperplasia(P<0.05). The PET/CT-based radiomics Logistic model differentiated between lymphoma and lymphoid inflammatory hyperplasia, with an area under curve(AUC) of 0.924(95%CI: 0.884-0.960) and 0.863(95%CI: 0.774-0.939) in the training and testing cohorts, respectively. The integrated Logistic model that combined PET/CT-based radiomics with clinical features to distinguish between lymphoma and lymphoid inflammatory hyperplasia achieved an AUC of 0.933(95%CI: 0.889-0.969) in the training cohort and 0.884(95%CI: 0.792-0.964) in the testing cohort. Decision curve analysis(DCA) demonstrated that the integrated model provided the greatest clinical net benefit. Conclusion The hybrid model integrating18F-FDG PET/CT radiomics with clinical features shows robust diagnostic efficacy to distinguish between lymphoma and lymphoid inflammatory hyperplasia.

Objective:To develop a modified University of Wisconsin preservation solution (UW solution) containing α 2-adrenergic receptor agonists (dexmedetomidine) and noble gases (argon) and investigate its protective effect on the isolated amputated skeletal muscle of rats. Methods:Sixty male SD rats were selected to establish a hindlimb cold preservation/perfusion model and were divided into blank control group, hypothermic storage group, UW solution perfusion group, and modified UW solution perfusion group using a random number table, with 15 rats in each group. Simultaneously, a cold preservation model of rat skeletal muscle myoblasts (L6 cells) was established and the rats were also divided into four groups in the same way. Animal models were prepared in different ways: In the blank control group, the hindlimbs received no special treatment; In the hypothermic storage group, the amputated hindlimbs were stored in a dry centrifuge tube at 4℃ for 18 hours; In the UW solution perfusion group, the amputated hindlimbs were perfused with UW solution and then stored in a centrifuge tube containing UW solution at 4℃ for 18 hours; In the modified UW solution perfusion group, the amputated hindlimbs were perfused with modified UW solution (containing 0.1 nmol/L dexmedetomidine and 50% volume fraction of argon) and then stored in a centrifuge tube containing the modified UW solution at 4℃ for 18 hours. Cell models were treated as follows: In the blank control group, L6 cells were cultured under standard conditions; In the hypothermic storage group and UW solution group, L6 cells were treated with conventional culture medium or UW solution, stored in argon-filled sealed bags at 4℃ for 8 hours, and then rewarmed and cultured for 6 hours; In the modified UW solution group, L6 cells were treated with the modified solution, stored in argon-filled sealed bags at 4℃ for 8 hours, and then rewarmed and cultured for 6 hours. After sample collection, skeletal muscle morphology, tissue edema and ultrastructure features were assessed by HE staining, wet-to-dry weight ratio, and transmission electron microscopy, respectively. Additionally, L6 cell morphology was examined by light microscopy. L6 cell viability was determined by cell counting kit-8 (CCK-8) assay (expressed as absorbance A value). Expression levels of glutathione peroxidase 4 (GPX4) protein in both skeletal muscle tissue and L6 cells were evaluated by immunofluorescence staining and Western blot, respectively.Results:After 18 hours of in vitro preservation of rat isolated amputated limbs, the following results were obtained: (1) HE staining results showed that the muscle fiber morphology of the modified UW solution perfusion group was close to that of the blank control group. Moreover, the area ratio of skeletal muscle cells in the modified UW solution perfusion group was significantly higher than that in the hypothermic storage group and UW solution perfusion group ( P<0.05). (2) The wet-dry weight ratio results showed that there was no statistically significant difference among the modified UW solution perfusion group, the blank control group and UW solution group ( P>0.05), with significantly lower ratios in all three groups than that in the hypothermic storage group ( P<0.05). (3) Transmission electron microscopy results revealed that the modified UW solution perfusion group showed no statistically significant differences in ultrastructural metrics, including myofiber diameter, sarcomere length, mitochondrial short-axis/long-axis ratio, and mitochondrial cristae count, compared with those in the blank control group ( P>0.05), and performed significantly better than both the hypothermic storage group and UW solution perfusion group ( P<0.05). (4) Morphological observation of L6 cells showed that the cellular morphology was regular in the modified UW solution perfusion group, close to that in the blank control group, while it was severely damaged in the hypothermic storage group. Moreover, the cells were reduced in number and partially damaged in the UW solution group. The sequence of cell viability expressed as absorbance A value was blank control group >modified UW solution perfusion group > UW solution perfusion group > hypothermic storage group, with statistically significant differences among the four groups ( P<0.05). (5) Immunofluorescence staining showed that there was no statistically significant difference in fluorescence intensity of GPX4 protein expression between the modified UW solution perfusion group and blank control group ( P>0.05), while the fluorescence intensity was higher in the modified UW solution perfusion group than that in the hypothermic storage group and UW solution perfusion group ( P<0.05). Western blot analysis showed that the relative expression level of GPX4 in the modified UW solution group was significantly lower than that in the blank control group ( P<0.05), but higher than that in the hypothermic storage group and UW solution perfusion group ( P<0.05). Conclusion:The modified UW solution can stabilize the expression level of GPX4 protein, thereby inhibiting ferroptosis and alleviating cold preservation injury in both rat amputated isolated limb skeletal muscle tissue and L6 cells.

Objective To investigate the impact of continuous nebulization therapy after lung transplantation on pulmonary function and related complications in lung transplant recipients. Methods A retrospective analysis was conducted on the general data of 71 recipients who underwent allogeneic lung transplantation at the Department of Thoracic Surgery, the First Affiliated Hospital of Zhengzhou University, from June 2013 to December 2024. Recipients were divided into observation group (those who continued nebulization therapy for more than 3 months after discharge) and control group (those who discontinued nebulization therapy on their own). The main observation indicators were pulmonary function indicators at 6 months after surgery, including forced expiratory volume in the first second as a percentage of predicted value (FEV₁% pred), forced vital capacity as a percentage of predicted value (FVC% pred), ratio of forced expiratory volume in the first second to forced vital capacity as a percentage of predicted value (FEV₁/FVC% pred), forced expiratory flow at 25%, 50% and 75% of forced vital capacity as a percentage of predicted value, and the percentage of predicted value of corrected carbon monoxide diffusion capacity measured by single-breath method, as well as the ratio of corrected carbon monoxide diffusion capacity to alveolar volume as a percentage of predicted value. Additionally, the annual incidence of postoperative pulmonary infections, survival rate and the rate of no severe airway complications were analyzed. Results At 6 months after lung transplantation, the FEV₁% pred and FVC% pred of the observation group were better than those of the control group [FEV₁% pred was 76% (60%, 91%) vs. 67% (62%, 78%), FVC% pred was (75 ± 13)% vs. (69 ± 11)%, both P<0.05]. The observation group had a lower annual incidence of pulmonary infections compared to the control group (P = 0.023), with a risk of 0.485 times that of the control group. There were no statistically significant differences between the two groups in median survival time and the rate of no severe airway complications (both P>0.05). Conclusions Continuous nebulization therapy after lung transplantation may effectively improve pulmonary function, reduce the annual incidence of pulmonary infections, and play a positive role in the long-term maintenance of pulmonary function.

To screen potential drugs for the treatment of acute Liver Injury(ALI)through network pharmacology and mitochondrial dynamics,and to investigate their actions and mechanisms.Based on the commonly utilized Liver Pure Tablets and Liver-Protecting Capsules in the market,a com-ponent library of liver disease drugs was screened and established.Pharmacological anchoring anal-ysis was carried out.Potential liver disease therapeutic drugs were screened out through molecular docking,and feedback verification was performed using animal experiments.Acute liver injury mouse models were established through excessive induction with acetaminophen(APAP),and the histopathological changes of liver tissues were examined.The protective effect of the drug on ALI was evaluated by detecting alanine aminotransferase(ALT),aspartate aminotransferase(AST),superoxide dismutase(SOD),catalase(CAT),glutathione(GSH),and malondialdehyde(MDA)using enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay(ELISA).qRT-PCR was employed to detect peroxi-some proliferator-activated receptor gamma coactivator 1-alpha(PPARG1A),mitofusin 1(MFN1),mitofusin 2(MFN2),dynamin-related protein 1(DRP1),optic atrophy 1 protein(OP A1),Steroid receptor coactivator(SRC),and advanced glycosylation end-product specific re-ceptor(AGER)to explore the protective mechanism of the drug on ALI.The result showed that Network pharmacology identified a total of 662 intersection targets of three types of prescription drugs and ALI.Eventually,72 core targets were screened out.Pathway enrichment analysis indi-cates that the potential mechanism might be associated with the lipid and atherosclerosis signaling pathways.The results of the relevant molecular docking indicate that the most likely optimal drug might be emodin(EMO).EMO ameliorated the pathological damage in mice with acute liver inju-ry,significantly decreased the contents of transferase factors ALT and AST,simultaneously in-creased the contents of antioxidant enzymes CAT,GSH and SOD,and reduced the content of oxi-dative metabolic end product MDA.It also upregulated the mRNA expression levels of MFN1、MFN2,OPA1,DRP1,SRC and PPARGC1A proteins in liver tissue,and inhibited the mRNA ex-pression level of AGER protein.The drug EMO,jointly screened out by network pharmacology through anchoring and molecular docking,might promote mitochondrial fusion metabolism,allevi-ate liver oxidative stress,and improve liver injury in ALI mice via the Lipid and atherosclerosis pathway.

To screen potential drugs for the treatment of acute Liver Injury(ALI)through network pharmacology and mitochondrial dynamics,and to investigate their actions and mechanisms.Based on the commonly utilized Liver Pure Tablets and Liver-Protecting Capsules in the market,a com-ponent library of liver disease drugs was screened and established.Pharmacological anchoring anal-ysis was carried out.Potential liver disease therapeutic drugs were screened out through molecular docking,and feedback verification was performed using animal experiments.Acute liver injury mouse models were established through excessive induction with acetaminophen(APAP),and the histopathological changes of liver tissues were examined.The protective effect of the drug on ALI was evaluated by detecting alanine aminotransferase(ALT),aspartate aminotransferase(AST),superoxide dismutase(SOD),catalase(CAT),glutathione(GSH),and malondialdehyde(MDA)using enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay(ELISA).qRT-PCR was employed to detect peroxi-some proliferator-activated receptor gamma coactivator 1-alpha(PPARG1A),mitofusin 1(MFN1),mitofusin 2(MFN2),dynamin-related protein 1(DRP1),optic atrophy 1 protein(OP A1),Steroid receptor coactivator(SRC),and advanced glycosylation end-product specific re-ceptor(AGER)to explore the protective mechanism of the drug on ALI.The result showed that Network pharmacology identified a total of 662 intersection targets of three types of prescription drugs and ALI.Eventually,72 core targets were screened out.Pathway enrichment analysis indi-cates that the potential mechanism might be associated with the lipid and atherosclerosis signaling pathways.The results of the relevant molecular docking indicate that the most likely optimal drug might be emodin(EMO).EMO ameliorated the pathological damage in mice with acute liver inju-ry,significantly decreased the contents of transferase factors ALT and AST,simultaneously in-creased the contents of antioxidant enzymes CAT,GSH and SOD,and reduced the content of oxi-dative metabolic end product MDA.It also upregulated the mRNA expression levels of MFN1、MFN2,OPA1,DRP1,SRC and PPARGC1A proteins in liver tissue,and inhibited the mRNA ex-pression level of AGER protein.The drug EMO,jointly screened out by network pharmacology through anchoring and molecular docking,might promote mitochondrial fusion metabolism,allevi-ate liver oxidative stress,and improve liver injury in ALI mice via the Lipid and atherosclerosis pathway.

Objective:To develop a modified University of Wisconsin preservation solution (UW solution) containing α 2-adrenergic receptor agonists (dexmedetomidine) and noble gases (argon) and investigate its protective effect on the isolated amputated skeletal muscle of rats. Methods:Sixty male SD rats were selected to establish a hindlimb cold preservation/perfusion model and were divided into blank control group, hypothermic storage group, UW solution perfusion group, and modified UW solution perfusion group using a random number table, with 15 rats in each group. Simultaneously, a cold preservation model of rat skeletal muscle myoblasts (L6 cells) was established and the rats were also divided into four groups in the same way. Animal models were prepared in different ways: In the blank control group, the hindlimbs received no special treatment; In the hypothermic storage group, the amputated hindlimbs were stored in a dry centrifuge tube at 4℃ for 18 hours; In the UW solution perfusion group, the amputated hindlimbs were perfused with UW solution and then stored in a centrifuge tube containing UW solution at 4℃ for 18 hours; In the modified UW solution perfusion group, the amputated hindlimbs were perfused with modified UW solution (containing 0.1 nmol/L dexmedetomidine and 50% volume fraction of argon) and then stored in a centrifuge tube containing the modified UW solution at 4℃ for 18 hours. Cell models were treated as follows: In the blank control group, L6 cells were cultured under standard conditions; In the hypothermic storage group and UW solution group, L6 cells were treated with conventional culture medium or UW solution, stored in argon-filled sealed bags at 4℃ for 8 hours, and then rewarmed and cultured for 6 hours; In the modified UW solution group, L6 cells were treated with the modified solution, stored in argon-filled sealed bags at 4℃ for 8 hours, and then rewarmed and cultured for 6 hours. After sample collection, skeletal muscle morphology, tissue edema and ultrastructure features were assessed by HE staining, wet-to-dry weight ratio, and transmission electron microscopy, respectively. Additionally, L6 cell morphology was examined by light microscopy. L6 cell viability was determined by cell counting kit-8 (CCK-8) assay (expressed as absorbance A value). Expression levels of glutathione peroxidase 4 (GPX4) protein in both skeletal muscle tissue and L6 cells were evaluated by immunofluorescence staining and Western blot, respectively.Results:After 18 hours of in vitro preservation of rat isolated amputated limbs, the following results were obtained: (1) HE staining results showed that the muscle fiber morphology of the modified UW solution perfusion group was close to that of the blank control group. Moreover, the area ratio of skeletal muscle cells in the modified UW solution perfusion group was significantly higher than that in the hypothermic storage group and UW solution perfusion group ( P<0.05). (2) The wet-dry weight ratio results showed that there was no statistically significant difference among the modified UW solution perfusion group, the blank control group and UW solution group ( P>0.05), with significantly lower ratios in all three groups than that in the hypothermic storage group ( P<0.05). (3) Transmission electron microscopy results revealed that the modified UW solution perfusion group showed no statistically significant differences in ultrastructural metrics, including myofiber diameter, sarcomere length, mitochondrial short-axis/long-axis ratio, and mitochondrial cristae count, compared with those in the blank control group ( P>0.05), and performed significantly better than both the hypothermic storage group and UW solution perfusion group ( P<0.05). (4) Morphological observation of L6 cells showed that the cellular morphology was regular in the modified UW solution perfusion group, close to that in the blank control group, while it was severely damaged in the hypothermic storage group. Moreover, the cells were reduced in number and partially damaged in the UW solution group. The sequence of cell viability expressed as absorbance A value was blank control group >modified UW solution perfusion group > UW solution perfusion group > hypothermic storage group, with statistically significant differences among the four groups ( P<0.05). (5) Immunofluorescence staining showed that there was no statistically significant difference in fluorescence intensity of GPX4 protein expression between the modified UW solution perfusion group and blank control group ( P>0.05), while the fluorescence intensity was higher in the modified UW solution perfusion group than that in the hypothermic storage group and UW solution perfusion group ( P<0.05). Western blot analysis showed that the relative expression level of GPX4 in the modified UW solution group was significantly lower than that in the blank control group ( P<0.05), but higher than that in the hypothermic storage group and UW solution perfusion group ( P<0.05). Conclusion:The modified UW solution can stabilize the expression level of GPX4 protein, thereby inhibiting ferroptosis and alleviating cold preservation injury in both rat amputated isolated limb skeletal muscle tissue and L6 cells.

Objective:To evaluate the efficacy and safety of first-line immune checkpoint inhibitors (ICIs) combined with chemotherapy in the treatment of extensive-stage small cell lung cancer (ESCLC).Methods:Clinical data of 109 ESCLC patients admitted to the First People′s Hospital of Lianyungang from January 2019 to December 2023 were retrospectively collected. According to different treatment methods, patients were divided into the immunochemotherapy group (first-line treatment with ICIs combined with chemotherapy) and the chemotherapy group (chemotherapy alone). Kaplan-Meier method was used for survival analysis of patients with different treatment methods, and a Cox regression model was established to analyze the factors affecting the prognosis of ESCLC patients.Results:A total of 109 patients were included, with 43 cases (39.4%) in the immunochemotherapy group and 66 cases (60.6%) in the chemotherapy group. At the first efficacy evaluation, there were no significant differences in objective response rate (ORR) and disease control rate (DCR) between the two groups (all P>0.05). There were no significant differences in the proportions of grade 3-4 myelosuppression and radiation pneumonia between the two groups (all P> 0.05), and only 2 cases (4.7%) in the immunochemotherapy group had severe immune-related adverse events (irAE). The overall survival (OS) of the immunochemotherapy group was longer than that of the chemotherapy group (13.6 months vs 11.5 months, P=0.024), but the median progression-free survival (PFS) showed no significant difference compared to the chemotherapy group (8.4 months vs 6.0 months, P=0.068). Among patients without liver or brain metastasis, the OS of the immunochemotherapy group was longer than that of the chemotherapy group (19.3 months vs 12.1 months, P=0.017), while among patients with liver or brain metastasis, there was no significant difference in OS between the two groups ( P>0.05). Multivariate Cox regression analysis showed that male gender ( HR=0.284, 95% CI: 0.133-0.605, P=0.001), first-line ICIs treatment ( HR=0.607, 95% CI: 0.372-0.988, P=0.045), and chest radiotherapy ( HR=0.538, 95% CI: 0.307-0.942, P=0.030) were independent protective factors for the prognosis of ESCLC patients, and liver metastasis ( HR=1.907, 95% CI: 1.191-3.053, P=0.007) was an independent risk factor. Conclusions:First-line ICIs combined with chemotherapy can significantly prolong the OS of ESCLC patients with good safety. Patients without liver or brain metastasis benefit more significantly from immunotherapy.

Objective:To evaluate the efficacy and safety of first-line immune checkpoint inhibitors (ICIs) combined with chemotherapy in the treatment of extensive-stage small cell lung cancer (ESCLC).Methods:Clinical data of 109 ESCLC patients admitted to the First People′s Hospital of Lianyungang from January 2019 to December 2023 were retrospectively collected. According to different treatment methods, patients were divided into the immunochemotherapy group (first-line treatment with ICIs combined with chemotherapy) and the chemotherapy group (chemotherapy alone). Kaplan-Meier method was used for survival analysis of patients with different treatment methods, and a Cox regression model was established to analyze the factors affecting the prognosis of ESCLC patients.Results:A total of 109 patients were included, with 43 cases (39.4%) in the immunochemotherapy group and 66 cases (60.6%) in the chemotherapy group. At the first efficacy evaluation, there were no significant differences in objective response rate (ORR) and disease control rate (DCR) between the two groups (all P>0.05). There were no significant differences in the proportions of grade 3-4 myelosuppression and radiation pneumonia between the two groups (all P> 0.05), and only 2 cases (4.7%) in the immunochemotherapy group had severe immune-related adverse events (irAE). The overall survival (OS) of the immunochemotherapy group was longer than that of the chemotherapy group (13.6 months vs 11.5 months, P=0.024), but the median progression-free survival (PFS) showed no significant difference compared to the chemotherapy group (8.4 months vs 6.0 months, P=0.068). Among patients without liver or brain metastasis, the OS of the immunochemotherapy group was longer than that of the chemotherapy group (19.3 months vs 12.1 months, P=0.017), while among patients with liver or brain metastasis, there was no significant difference in OS between the two groups ( P>0.05). Multivariate Cox regression analysis showed that male gender ( HR=0.284, 95% CI: 0.133-0.605, P=0.001), first-line ICIs treatment ( HR=0.607, 95% CI: 0.372-0.988, P=0.045), and chest radiotherapy ( HR=0.538, 95% CI: 0.307-0.942, P=0.030) were independent protective factors for the prognosis of ESCLC patients, and liver metastasis ( HR=1.907, 95% CI: 1.191-3.053, P=0.007) was an independent risk factor. Conclusions:First-line ICIs combined with chemotherapy can significantly prolong the OS of ESCLC patients with good safety. Patients without liver or brain metastasis benefit more significantly from immunotherapy.