1.Disease burden and changing trend in tracheal, bronchus, and lung cancer attributable to air pollution globally and in China and the United States from 1990 to 2021
Shoucai HU ; Chenglong YANG ; Lingling ZHANG ; Fu LI ; Yanan ZHANG ; Bin LIU ; Qingxin LI
Chinese Journal of Clinical Thoracic and Cardiovascular Surgery 2026;33(01):97-104
Objective To systematically analyze the spatiotemporal distribution characteristics and epidemiological trends of tracheal, bronchus, and lung cancer (TBL) disease burden attributed to air pollution globally and in China and the United States from 1990 to 2021, and to assess the patterns of disease burden changes from 2022 to 2031 based on predictive models, providing a scientific basis for formulating targeted TBL prevention and control strategies. Methods Based on the Global Burden of Disease (GBD) 2021 database, we analyzed the disease burden data of TBL attributed to air pollution globally and in China and the United States from 1990 to 2021. R Studio 4.3.2 software was used to analyze the corresponding trends and the Bayesian age-period-cohort (BAPC) prediction model was used to predict the status of the disease burden of TBL attributed to air pollution in the world and in China and the United States from 2022 to 2031. Results In 2021, China had the highest number of deaths and disability-adjusted life years attributed to air pollution (211 400 patients and 4.8947 million person-years), followed by the United States (6 000 patients and 124 300 person-years). The age-standardized mortality rate (ASMR) and age-standardized disability-adjusted life years rate (ASDR) of TBL due to air pollution in the world and in China and the United States showed a decreasing trend. From 1990 to 2021, the ASMR and ASDR of TBL in China due to air pollution were much higher than those in the United States and the global average. In terms of gender, from 1990 to 2021, the disease burden of male patients with TBL attributed to air pollution was much higher than that of female patients. The BAPC prediction model showed that from 2022 to 2031, the ASMR and ASDR of TBL attributed to air pollution showed an upward trend globally, while they showed a downward trend in China and the United States. Conclusion Over the past 30 years, the air pollution-related TBL disease burden in the world and in China and the United States has continued to decline, but China's disease burden is still significantly higher than the global average. The disease burden in men far exceeds that in women, with men and the population aged ≥50 years being high-risk groups. In the future, the global disease trend may reverse and rise, while China and the United States are expected to continuously decline. However, precise prevention and control for high-risk groups remains a key challenge.
2.Advances in perioperative nutritional management for patients with esophageal cancer
Zuyu ZHANG ; Bo YANG ; Rong NIU ; Jijun XUE ; Jian CHEN ; Dong LI ; Wentao ZHAO ; Wenfeng HAN ; Yue BAI
Chinese Journal of Clinical Thoracic and Cardiovascular Surgery 2026;33(01):157-162
Esophageal cancer is a prevalent malignant tumor of the digestive tract in China, and radical surgery remains the cornerstone of its comprehensive treatment. However, multifactorial challenges such as postoperative gastrointestinal tract reconstruction, traumatic stress, and tumor-related metabolic disturbances render esophageal cancer patients highly susceptible to malnutrition. Perioperative nutritional support therapy plays a crucial role in enhancing surgical safety, improving clinical outcomes, and elevating patients' quality of life by regulating metabolic homeostasis, preserving organ function, and optimizing the immune microenvironment. This article reviews the mechanisms underlying malnutrition in esophageal cancer, methods for nutritional status assessment, and precision intervention pathways based on multi-omics evaluations. The aim is to strengthen clinicians' awareness of standardized perioperative nutritional management for esophageal cancer patients and promote its clinical implementation, thereby facilitating postoperative recovery and improving long-term quality of life.
3.Transcatheter aortic valve replacement for aortic regurgitation complicated by Takayasu arteritis: A case report
Jianbin GAO ; Jian LI ; Yu YANG ; Mier MA ; Kairui YANG ; Wei LUO ; Ning WANG ; Da ZHU ; Wenbin OUYANG ; Xiangbin PAN
Chinese Journal of Clinical Thoracic and Cardiovascular Surgery 2026;33(01):163-166
Patients with Takayasu arteritis combined with aortic valve disease often have a poor prognosis following surgical valve replacement, frequently encountering complications such as perivalvular leakage, valve detachment, and anastomotic aneurysm. This article presents a high-risk case wherein severe aortic valve insufficiency associated with Takayasu arteritis was successfully managed through transcatheter aortic valve implantation via the transapical approach. The patient had satisfactory valve function with no complications observed during the six-month postoperative follow-up. This case provides a minimally invasive and feasible alternative for the clinical management of such high-risk patients.
4.Guidelines for endoscopic and robotic breast surgery in China (2026 edition): Part one
Zhenggui DU ; Qing LÜ ; ; Pengwei LÜ ; ; Dajiang SONG ; Zihan WANG ; Benlong YANG ; Shicheng SU
Chinese Journal of Clinical Thoracic and Cardiovascular Surgery 2026;33(02):167-203
Recent research from the International Agency for Research on Cancer (IARC) of the World Health Organization (WHO) indicates that breast cancer is the most prevalent malignant tumor among women, posing a significant threat to women's health. Surgery remains the primary therapeutic modality for breast cancer. Recently, endoscopic and robotic breast surgical techniques have gained acceptance among both surgeons and patients. However, considerable variation exists in surgical approaches and outcomes. To standardize these techniques, facilitate their broader clinical adoption, and ultimately improve patient care, the Endoscopic-robotic Breast Surgery Clinical Trials Consortium (ErBSCTC) of China has developed this guideline. This document encompasses the technologies and instrumentation utilized in endoscopic and robotic breast surgery, surgical techniques, perioperative management, complication handling, long-term follow-up, and oncologic outcomes, aiming to provide evidence-based guidance for healthcare professionals involved in the prevention, diagnosis, and treatment of breast diseases.
5.Interpretive radiology reports for lung cancer generated by GPT-4 large language model to enhance doctor–patient communication efficiency
Chinese Journal of Clinical Thoracic and Cardiovascular Surgery 2026;33(02):231-240
Objective To explore the application of the GPT-4 large language model in simplifying lung cancer radiology reports to enhance patient comprehension and doctor–patient communication efficiency. Methods A total of 362 radiology reports of non-small cell lung cancer (NSCLC) patients were collected from two hospitals between September and December 2024. Interpretive radiology reports (IRRs) were generated using GPT-4. Original reports (ORRs) and IRRs were compared through radiologist consistency evaluation and volunteer-based assessments of reading time, comprehension scores, and simulated communication duration. Results The average word count of ORRs was (459.83±55.76) words, compared with (625.42±41.59) words for IRRs (P<0.001). No significant differences were observed in expert consistency scores between ORRs and IRRs across dimensions of image interpretation accuracy, report detail completeness, explanatory depth and insight, and clinical practicality. Compared with reading ORRs, volunteers (simulated patient) read IRRs with shorter time [(346.88±29.15) s versus (409.01 ±102.40) s], with higher comprehension scores [(7.83±1.04) points versus (5.53±0.94) points] and shorter doctor-patient communication times [(317.31±57.81) s versus (714.20±56.67) s]. All differences were statistically significant (all P<0.001). Conclusion GPT-4 generated IRRs significantly improve patient comprehension and shorten communication time while maintaining medical accuracy. These findings suggest a new approach to optimizing radiology report management and enhancing healthcare service quality.
6.Artificial intelligence-based quality control of hand hygiene for hospital-acquired infection
Xuchen YANG ; Jingwen LI ; Wan ZHANG ; Shasha FENG ; Min ZENG ; Jianan SHI ; Youqiong CHEN ; Tao ZHENG ; Xun YAO
Chinese Journal of Clinical Thoracic and Cardiovascular Surgery 2026;33(02):241-247
Objective To explore an artificial intelligence (AI)-based method for automated hand hygiene monitoring and to compare the effectiveness of three algorithms (UniFormerV2, TDN, C3D) in recognizing hand hygiene steps in surgical settings, thereby aiding hospital infection control. Methods From April to October 2024, we non-invasively collected 641 video recordings of healthcare staff performing hand hygiene at four-bay scrub sinks in two tertiary hospitals using overhead HD cameras. The dataset was annotated by five trained experts for model training and validation. Results Following training on 385 samples, internal validation (n=119) showed the C3D model achieved 81% accuracy, 87% recall, and an 83% F1-score. The TDN model achieved 93%, 91%, and 92% for the same metrics. The UniFormerV2 model outperformed both, with an accuracy, recall, and F1-score of 93%—an improvement of over 10 percentage points compared to traditional CNNs (TDN, C3D). It also achieved an 84% accuracy in external validation, demonstrating strong generalization. Conclusion The UniFormerV2 model is more accurate than CNN-based models for hand hygiene step recognition and shows robust performance in external validation. It presents a viable tool for healthcare facilities to enhance hand hygiene management, ultimately improving medical quality and patient safety.
7.The effect of body mass index and inferior pulmonary ligament division on the residual lung expansion after right upper lobectomy: A retrospective cohort study in a single center
Guang MU ; Wenhao ZHANG ; Hongchang WANG ; Yan GU ; Chenghao FU ; Wentao XUE ; Shiyuan XIE ; Tong WANG ; Ke WEI ; Yang XIA ; Liang CHEN ; Jun WANG
Chinese Journal of Clinical Thoracic and Cardiovascular Surgery 2026;33(02):261-266
Objective To analyze the effect of releasing the lower pulmonary ligament on right residual lung expansion after right upper lobe resection under different body mass index (BMI) levels. Methods The clinical data of patients who underwent thoracoscopic right upper lobe resection in the First Affiliated Hospital with Nanjing Medical University from 2021 to 2022 were retrospectively analyzed. Patients were divided into a group A (17 kg/m2<BMI≤23 kg/m2), a group B (23 kg/m2<BMI≤29 kg/m2) and a group C (BMI>29 kg/m2) according to BMI. The presence of residual cavity was judged by chest X-ray at 7-10 days after operation, the degree of compensation change of the right main bronchus angle was measured, and the changes in lung volume were determined by CT three-dimensional reconstruction. Results A total of 157 patients who underwent thoracoscopic right upper lobe resection were included, including 71 males and 86 females, with an average age of (59.7±11.2) years. There were 50 patients in the group A, 75 patients in the group B, and 32 patients in the group C. In the group A, compared with those without releasing the lower pulmonary ligament, patients with releasing had a lower incidence of postoperative residual cavity (P=0.016), greater changes in bronchus angle (P<0.001), and smaller changes in lung volume (P<0.001). In the group B and C, there was no significant effect of releasing the lower pulmonary ligament on postoperative residual cavity, bronchus angle, and lung volume changes (P>0.05). Conclusion For patients with thin and long body shape and low BMI, releasing the lower pulmonary ligament is helpful to promote the expansion of the residual lung after right upper lobe resection and reduce the occurrence of postoperative residual cavity in patients.
8.Characteristics and influencing factors of postoperative weight change in patients with esophageal cancer: A prospective longitudinal study
Chengxiang LI ; Yang YANG ; Tian ZHANG ; Ruonan XIE ; Xin JIANG ; Yingjie LENG ; Zhuomiao NIE ; Guorong WANG
Chinese Journal of Clinical Thoracic and Cardiovascular Surgery 2026;33(02):267-274
Objective To longitudinally investigate the characteristics of postoperative weight changes in patients with esophageal cancer and analyze its influencing factors, which can provide certain guidance for nutritional intervention in patients with esophageal cancer. Methods Patients with esophageal cancer who underwent surgical treatment at the Sichuan Cancer Hospital from December 2020 to February 2022 were prospectively included. The general information questionnaire and body composition analyzer were used to longitudinally investigate the patients’ weight and body composition before surgery (T0), 1 month after surgery (T1), 3 months after surgery (T2) and 6 months after surgery (T3), and the change characteristics were analyzed. The generalized estimating equation was used to analyze the influencing factors for postoperative weight changes in patients with esophageal cancer. Results A total of 130 patients were enrolled, including 110 males and 20 females, aged 42-79 (63.33±8.16) years. The weight and body composition of patients with esophageal cancer showed a continuous slow downward trend within 6 months after surgery. The weight loss rate of patients at 1, 3, and 6 months after surgery was 5.10%, 7.76%, and 9.86%, respectively. The analysis results of the influencing factors for postoperative weight showed that patients with the following characteristics had more weight loss: female (β=−7.703, P=0.001), ≥60 years (β=−3.657, P=0.010), smoking (β=4.622, P=0.010), low tumor differentiation degree (β=4.314, P=0.039), and high frequency of eating (β=−3.400, P=0.008). Conclusion Weight loss is an important health problem for patients with esophageal cancer after surgery, and patients have a continuous downward trend in weight within 6 months after surgery. Medical staff should pay special attention to the patients who are female, ≥60 years, having smoking history and low tumor differentiation degree.
9.Protocol for China endoscopic and robotic breast surgery guidelines (2026 edition)
Zhenggui DU ; Qing LÜ ; ; Pengwei LÜ ; ; Dajiang SONG ; Zihan WANG ; Benlong YANG ; Shicheng SU
Chinese Journal of Clinical Thoracic and Cardiovascular Surgery 2026;33(03):333-338
Breast cancer is the most common malignant tumor among women in China, with surgery being one of the primary treatment modalities. Endoscopic/robotic breast surgery (ErBS) is gaining widespread acceptance among patients and surgeons alike due to its advantages of minimal invasiveness, superior cosmetic outcomes, and accelerated recovery. However, substantial heterogeneity currently exists across China regarding patient selection, standardized operative techniques, perioperative management, and complication handling, underscoring the urgent need for evidence-based consensus guidelines. To promote standardization and ensure consistent quality of ErBS, the Chinese Endoscopic-Robotic Breast Surgery Clinical Trials Consortium (CErBSCTC) has systematically reviewed the latest high-quality evidence and formulated the "Protocol for China Endoscopic and Robotic Breast Surgery Guidelines (2026 edition)", which outlines a comprehensive methodology for guideline development.
10.From CROSS to SANO: Evidence-based breakthroughs and clinical practice challenges in organ-preservation strategies for esophageal cancer in the era of neoadjuvant therapy
Chinese Journal of Clinical Thoracic and Cardiovascular Surgery 2026;33(03):347-352
Organ preservation after neoadjuvant therapy for esophageal cancer has gained significant attention. While the CROSS trial established neoadjuvant chemoradiotherapy (nCRT) followed by surgery as standard care, approximately 30% of patients achieve pathological complete response (pCR), prompting exploration of active surveillance (AS). The landmark SANO phase Ⅲ trial (2025) demonstrated non-inferior 2-year overall survival (74% AS vs. 71% surgery), with 31% of patients avoiding surgery. Multimodal assessment (endoscopic deep biopsy+endoscopic ultrasound+PET-CT) reduced residual disease misdiagnosis to 10%. The Asian-led NEEDS trial is evaluating definitive chemoradiotherapy with salvage surgery. Although immunotherapy boosts pCR rates to 40%-55%, challenges persist, including 8%-12% false-negative cCR assessments, limited long-term data, and East-West histological disparities. The 2024 NCCN guidelines conditionally recommend AS (Category 2B, prioritized for squamous cell carcinoma), emphasizing centralized implementation. Future directions involve circulating tumor DNA and radiomics for risk stratification to advance precise organ-preserving strategies.
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