Background and Aims:Biliary tract cancers(BTCs)are highly aggressive malignancies with dismal prognosis,for which radical resection remains the only potentially curative treatment.Laparoscopic surgery has demonstrated superiority over open surgery in perioperative safety and recovery,yet it is technically limited in complex operations.Robot-assisted laparoscopy,with its high-definition three-dimensional vision and enhanced instrument dexterity,may overcome these limitations.However,comparative evidence balancing baseline differences between laparoscopic and robot-assisted laparoscopic radical resections for BTCs is still lacking.This study aimed to evaluate and compare their short-term safety using propensity score matching(PSM).Methods:A total of 151 patients with biliary tract cancers who underwent radical resection were retrospectively enrolled from the Chinese Biliary Tract Tumor Collaborative Group database,including 128 in the laparoscopic group and 23 in the robotic-assisted laparoscopic group.To balance baseline differences,an initial 1∶1 PSM was performed,yielding 19 laparoscopic and 19 robotic cases.Subsequently,using the robotic group as the reference,a 1∶2 PSM was conducted,resulting in 36 laparoscopic and 18 robotic cases.Primary outcomes(conversion to open surgery,ICU admission,and postoperative complications)and secondary outcomes(operative time,intraoperative blood loss,transfusion,postoperative hospital stay,reoperation,readmission,and hospitalization costs)were compared between the two groups.Multivariate regression analyses were performed to explore factors associated with conversion to open surgery and postoperative hospital stay.Results:After matching,baseline characteristics were well balanced between groups.For primary outcomes,the conversion rate to open surgery was significantly higher in the laparoscopic group than in the robotic group(41.7％vs.0,P=0.001),while ICU admission,overall postoperative complications,and Clavien-Dindo graded complications showed no significant differences(all P＞0.05).For secondary outcomes,the postoperative hospital stay was significantly more extended in the laparoscopic group compared with the robotic group(18.5 d vs.8.0 d,P=0.005),whereas operative time,intraoperative blood loss,transfusion,reoperation,readmission,and hospitalization costs were comparable(all P＞0.05).Logistic regression for conversion did not identify statistically significant predictors,but moderately differentiated tumors,elevated preoperative CA19-9,and higher harvested lymph node counts showed trends toward increased risk.Multivariate linear regression revealed that robotic-assisted surgery was an independent factor for reduced postoperative hospital stay(P=0.024),while preoperative total bilirubin(P=0.020),longer operative time(P=0.000),postoperative complications(P=0.006),and reoperation(P=0.005)were found to be associated with a prolonged hospital stay.Conclusion:Robot-assisted laparoscopic radical resection for BTCs is not inferior to conventional laparoscopy in short-term safety and may further reduce conversion rates and hospital stay.Its technical advantages may be particularly valuable in anatomically complex or challenging cases.Nonetheless,cost-effectiveness and resource allocation should be considered for wider adoption.

Background and Aims:Biliary tract cancers(BTCs)are highly aggressive malignancies with dismal prognosis,for which radical resection remains the only potentially curative treatment.Laparoscopic surgery has demonstrated superiority over open surgery in perioperative safety and recovery,yet it is technically limited in complex operations.Robot-assisted laparoscopy,with its high-definition three-dimensional vision and enhanced instrument dexterity,may overcome these limitations.However,comparative evidence balancing baseline differences between laparoscopic and robot-assisted laparoscopic radical resections for BTCs is still lacking.This study aimed to evaluate and compare their short-term safety using propensity score matching(PSM).Methods:A total of 151 patients with biliary tract cancers who underwent radical resection were retrospectively enrolled from the Chinese Biliary Tract Tumor Collaborative Group database,including 128 in the laparoscopic group and 23 in the robotic-assisted laparoscopic group.To balance baseline differences,an initial 1∶1 PSM was performed,yielding 19 laparoscopic and 19 robotic cases.Subsequently,using the robotic group as the reference,a 1∶2 PSM was conducted,resulting in 36 laparoscopic and 18 robotic cases.Primary outcomes(conversion to open surgery,ICU admission,and postoperative complications)and secondary outcomes(operative time,intraoperative blood loss,transfusion,postoperative hospital stay,reoperation,readmission,and hospitalization costs)were compared between the two groups.Multivariate regression analyses were performed to explore factors associated with conversion to open surgery and postoperative hospital stay.Results:After matching,baseline characteristics were well balanced between groups.For primary outcomes,the conversion rate to open surgery was significantly higher in the laparoscopic group than in the robotic group(41.7％vs.0,P=0.001),while ICU admission,overall postoperative complications,and Clavien-Dindo graded complications showed no significant differences(all P＞0.05).For secondary outcomes,the postoperative hospital stay was significantly more extended in the laparoscopic group compared with the robotic group(18.5 d vs.8.0 d,P=0.005),whereas operative time,intraoperative blood loss,transfusion,reoperation,readmission,and hospitalization costs were comparable(all P＞0.05).Logistic regression for conversion did not identify statistically significant predictors,but moderately differentiated tumors,elevated preoperative CA19-9,and higher harvested lymph node counts showed trends toward increased risk.Multivariate linear regression revealed that robotic-assisted surgery was an independent factor for reduced postoperative hospital stay(P=0.024),while preoperative total bilirubin(P=0.020),longer operative time(P=0.000),postoperative complications(P=0.006),and reoperation(P=0.005)were found to be associated with a prolonged hospital stay.Conclusion:Robot-assisted laparoscopic radical resection for BTCs is not inferior to conventional laparoscopy in short-term safety and may further reduce conversion rates and hospital stay.Its technical advantages may be particularly valuable in anatomically complex or challenging cases.Nonetheless,cost-effectiveness and resource allocation should be considered for wider adoption.

OBJECTIVE Cognitive deficit is a com-mon comorbidity in temporal lobe epilepsy(TLE)and that is not well controlled by current therapeutics.Currently,how epileptic seizure affects cognitive performance remains largely unclear.The subiculum is the major out-put of the hippocampus,which projects to entorhinal cor-tex and other more distinct brain regions.Physiologically,the subiculum codes spatial working memory and naviga-tion information including place,speed,and trajectory.Importantly,prior studies have noted the importance of the subiculum in the beginning,spreading,and generaliz-ing process of hippocampal seizure.How seizure-activated neurons in subiculum participate in cognitive impairment remains largely elusive.METHODS In this study,we sought to label the subicular seizure-activated c-fos+ neu-rons with a special promoter with enhanced synaptic activity-responsive element E-SARE in the subiculum,combined with chemogenetics and designer receptors exclusively activated by designer drugs(DREADDs),Ca2+ fiber photometry approaches,and behavioral tasks,to reveal the role of these neurons in cognitive impairment in epilepsy.RESULTS We found that chemogenetic inhibi-tion of subicular seizure-tagged c-fos+ neurons(mainly CaMK Ⅱ α+ glutamatergic neurons)alleviates seizure generalization and improves cognitive performance in the hippocampal CA3 kindling TLE model.While inhibition of seizure-labeled c-fos+ GABAergic interneuron shows no effect on seizure and cognition.As a comparison,che-mogenetic inhibition of the whole subicular CaMK Ⅱ α+ neuron impairs cognitive function in na?ve mice in basal condition.Notably,inhibition of subicular seizure-tagged c-fos+ neurons enhances the recruitment of cognition-responsive c-fos+ neurons via increasing neural excitability during cognition tasks.CONCLUSION Our results dem-onstrate that subicular seizure-activated c-fos+ neurons contribute to cognitive impairment in TLE,suggesting sei-zure-tagged c-fos+ neurons as the potential therapeutic target to alleviate cognitive impairment in TLE.

Background With the change of the national energy development layout, Qingyang has seen a situation where oil exploitation and agriculture go hand in hand, which may lead to local soil pollution if not taken seriously. Objective To evaluate the distribution characteristics, possible sources, and ecological risks of heavy metals in farmland soils around the main production areas of Changqing Oilfield. Methods A total of 60 farmland soil samples were collected from Zhengning County, Zhenyuan County, and Qingcheng County of Qingyang City, and the contents of heavy metals such lead (Pb), mercury (Hg), chromium (Cr), cadmium (Cd), and arsenic (As) in farmland soil were detected according to GB 15618-2018 Soil environmental quality—Risk control standard for soil contamination of agricultural land (on trial). The soil background value of Gansu Province was used as the denominator in the calculation of pollution index, and the pollution characteristics and ecological characteristics of selected five heavy metals in farmland soil were evaluated by single-factor pollution index (P_i), Nemerow comprehensive pollution index (P_N), and potential ecological risk index. Results The levels of Pb, As, and Hg in farmland soils around Changqing Oilfield, the levels of Cr and Cd in Qingcheng County, and the level of Cd in Zhengning County were higher than the corresponding soil background values of Gansu Province, but lower than the national soil environmental quality standard. The single-factor pollution indexes (P_i) were: Hg, 2.14; Pb, 1.24; As, 1.13; Cr, 0.78; Cd, 0.67, which indicated that Hg were graded as moderate pollution, Pb and As were slight pollution, and Cd and Cr were not polluted. The Nemerow comprehensive pollution indexes (P_N) were: Cr, 0.92; Cd, 1.08; As, 1.20; Pb, 1.68; Hg, 3.85, which indicated that Cr was graded as no pollution, Cd, Pb and As were mild pollution, and Hg was severe pollution. The variation coefficients of Hg and Cd in Zhenyuan County and that of Hg in Qingcheng County were 60.00%, 50.00%, and 50.00%, respectively, which were all greater than 50%, indicating that the pollution of above heavy metals in the location was subject to human activities. The potential ecological risk indexes (E_r) of Pb, Cr, Cd, As, and Hg were 6.20, 1.55, 20.05, 11.28, and 81.64, respectively, indicating that Hg was graded as strong ecological risk, and the other four heavy metals were mild ecological risk. The comprehensive potential ecological risk index (R_RI) was 124.48. Combined with the potential ecological risk index of Hg, the comprehensive potential ecological risk of the five heavy metals in local farmland soils was considered to be at a strong ecological risk level. Conclusion Although the average values of selected five heavy metals in farmland soils surrounding the main production areas of Changqing Oilfield are qualified with the national soil environmental quality standards, they exceed corresponding soil background values of Gansu Province, and there are signs of human influence and potential ecological risks of different degrees.