Objective To compare the long-term survival of elderly patients with esophageal squamous cell carcinoma (ESCC) treated with surgical versus non-surgical treatment. Methods A retrospective analysis was conducted on the clinical data of elderly patients aged ≥70 years with ESCC who underwent esophagectomy or radiotherapy/chemotherapy at Sichuan Cancer Hospital from January 2009 to September 2017. Patients were divided into a surgical group (S group) and a non-surgical group (NS group) according to the treatment method. The propensity score matching method was used to match the two groups of patients at a ratio of 1∶1, and the survival of the two groups before and after matching was analyzed. Results A total of 726 elderly patients with ESCC were included, including 552 males and 174 females, with 651 patients aged ≥70-80 years and 75 patients aged ≥80-90 years. There were 515 patients in the S group and 211 patients in the NS group. The median follow-up time was 60.8 months, and the median overall survival of the S group was 41.9 months [95%CI (35.2, 48.5)], while that of the NS group was only 24.0 months [95%CI (19.8, 28.3)]. The 1-, 3-, and 5-year overall survival rates of the S group were 84%, 54%, and 40%, respectively, while those of the NS group were 72%, 40%, and 30%, respectively [HR=0.689, 95%CI (0.559, 0.849), P<0.001]. After matching, 138 patients were included in each group, and there was no statistical difference in the overall survival between the two groups [HR=0.871, 95%CI (0.649, 1.167), P=0.352]. Conclusion Compared with conservative treatment, there is no significant difference in the long-term survival of elderly patients aged ≥70 years who undergo esophagectomy for ESCC. Neoadjuvant therapy combined with surgery is still an important choice to potentially improve the survival of elderly patients with ESCC.

Objective:To investigate the clinical and genetic features of the patient with neurodevelopmental disorders characterized by thickened corpus callosum caused by MAST1 gene mutation. Methods:Clinical data and auxiliary examination of a child with neurodevelopmental disorders caused by MAST1 gene mutation who was admitted to Henan Children′s Hospital in September 2022 were collected, and whole exome sequencing technology was applied to analyze the genetics of the child. Results:The patient was a 2 years and 8 months old male, with a clinical phenotype including intellectual, motor, and speech development disorders. Brain magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) showed thickened corpus callosum, nodular heterotopia of the left ventricle body.Whole exome sequencing showed the MAST1 gene with c.578T>G(p.Met193Arg) heterozygous missense variant, which was a unreported de novo pathogenic variant and both of his parents were wild-type. Conclusions:Diseases caused by MAST1 gene mutations are relatively rare, the main clinical features are neurodevelopmental disorders and brain structural abnormalities, and MRI shows an enlarged corpus callosum.The heterozygous missense variant c.578T>G(p.Met193Arg) of the MAST1 gene is the genetic cause of this case.

Objective:To investigate the efficacy and safety of neoadjuvant therapy with trastuzumab and pertuzumab combined with taxane and platinum drugs (TCbHP) regimen for human epidermal growth factor receptor 2 (HER2)-positive breast cancer.Methods:A retrospective case series study was conducted. The clinical data of HER2-positive breast cancer patients who received neoadjuvant therapy with 21-day TCbHP regimen and completed subsequent surgery in 11 tertiary-level hospitals in Hebei Province from June 2019 to December 2021 were retrospectively analyzed, and the total pathological complete remission (tpCR) rate, the incidence of grade ≥3 adverse events, and the completion rate of the established regimen were statistically analyzed.Results:A total of 78 female patients were included and the median age [ M ( Q1, Q3)] was 54.0 years (48.5 years, 57.5 years). The tpCR rate was 64.1% (50/78). Subgroup analysis showed that the tpCR rate in the HER2 immunohistochemistry (IHC)+++ group was higher than that in the HER2 IHC++ and fluorescence in situ hybridization-positive group [68.6% (48/70) vs. 25.0% (2/8)], and the difference was statistically significant ( χ2 = 4.18, P = 0.041); the tpCR rate in the hormone-receptor negative group was higher than that in the hormone-receptor positive group [81.8% (27/33) vs. 51.1% (23/45)], and the difference was statistically significant ( χ2 = 7.80, P = 0.005); the tpCR rate in the albumin-bound paclitaxel group was higher than that in the docetaxel group [72.3% (34/47) vs. 48.3% (14/29)], and the difference was statistically significant ( χ2 = 4.46, P = 0.035). The incidence of ≥ grade 3 adverse reactions was 12.8% (10/78) in 78 patients, and the completion rate of the established regimen was 92.3% (72/78). Conclusions:Neoadjuvant therapy with TCbHP regimen for HER2-positive breast cancer shows a definite efficacy, good safety and tolerance.

Objective:To introduce the application of highly selective arterial indocyanine green angiography (hereinafter referred to as highly selective arterial angiography) in the design of anterolateral thigh free flap.Methods:This study was a retrospective observational study. From November 2023 to April 2024, 29 patients with wounds in extremities which were repaired by anterolateral thigh free flaps designed under the assistance of highly selective arterial angiography and met the inclusion criteria were admitted to the Department of Hand Surgery and Department of Wound Repair Surgery of Suzhou Ruihua Orthopedic Hospital, including 26 males and 3 females, aged 16 to 71 years. The wound area after debridement ranged from 8.0 cm×4.5 cm to 27.0 cm×16.0 cm. During the surgery, highly selective arterial angiography was used to assist in flap design. The fluorescence development range of the source arteries or perforators of flaps was observed. The blood supply range of the source arteries or perforators of flaps was determined based on the fluorescence development of the skin, and the excision position of the flap was adjusted. The flap incision area ranged from 9.0 cm×6.0 cm to 29.0 cm×16.0 cm. During the surgery, the number of highly selective arterial angiography, the type of source artery of perforators for puncture, and changes in the excision position of flaps were observed and recorded. After surgery, the blood supply and survival of flaps, the healing of wounds and the survival of skin grafts in the flap donor sites, and the angiography-related complications were observed.Results:All the 32 flaps of 29 patients were successfully excised. The highly selective arterial angiography was performed 37 times, including 13 cases of puncture of the oblique branch of the lateral circumflex femoral artery, 6 cases of puncture of the descending branch, 8 cases of double puncture of the oblique and descending branches, and 2 cases of puncture of arteries from other branches. During the surgery, the excision position of 28 flaps did not change, the excision position of 3 flaps moved towards proximal extremity of the thigh, and the excision position of 1 flap moved towards distal extremity of the thigh. All the flaps survived successfully after the surgery, and there was no partial necrosis of the flaps at the proximal or distal ends. The wounds in the flap donor sites healed, and all skin grafts survived. No angiography-related complications occurred.Conclusions:Highly selective arterial angiography can be used to determine the blood supply range of the source artery and perforators of the anterolateral thigh free flaps during the surgery. It can evaluate the blood supply of flaps more intuitively and objectively. Its application in assisting flap design can avoid partial flap necrosis caused by unreasonable preoperative design to a certain extent, and it is safe and reliable.

Objective To develop and evaluate the equivalence of the Mandarin test material for tracking of noise tolerance(TNT)test.Methods Six different speech materials were developed(themes including daily life,entertainment,family,festivals,outdoors,and school).Four-minute TNT tests were measured in 21 normal hear-ing subjects using six different test materials.For each session,the tolerable noise level(TNL)and TNT scores were acquired and calculated for 3 time windows(31～240 s,31～120 s,151～240 s).Results Statistic analysis showed significant differences in the TNL(F=43.611,P＜0.05)among the normal hearing listeners.There were statistically significant differences in standardize z-scored TNT scores of the six different materials in the three time windows(P＜0.05).Post-hoc comparisons revealed that all significant differences involved the family and daily life themes.Conclusion Entertainment,festival,outdoors and school themed test materials can serve as the materials of Mandarin tracking of noise tolerance test and can be appied in research and clinical testing.

Objective To evaluate the Mandarin tracking of noise tolerance(TNT)test material and compare the differences between the average tolerable noise level(aTNL)value obtained from assessment and the program-estimated tolerable noise level(eTNL).Methods A total of 25 subjects with normal hearing and aural communica-tional ability were selected to undergo two of the mandarin TNT tests successively(respectively test 1,C1;test 2,C2),and 13 of them completed the third test(C3)under the same test condition as test 2 at least 1 week later.The stimulus for the three test conditions was presented with"speech 0°,continuous noise 180°".Results The aTNL of 25 participants for C1 and C2 was 83.42±3.09 dB SPL and 83.50±3.18 dB SPL,respectively.The eTNL of 25 participants for C1 and C2 were 84.08±3.53 dB SPL and 83.95±3.85 dB SPL,respectively.The aTNL and eT-NL for 13 subjects who participated in C3 was 83.16±2.13 dB SPL and 83.18±2.64 dB SPL,respectively.The intra-session(C1 vs C2)and inter-session(C2 vs C3)test-retest reliability were 2.36 dB and 2.75 dB,respectively.Pearson correlation analysis showed that intra-session(r=0.837,P＜0.001)and inter-session(r=0.867,P＜0.001)test-retest reliability was good.There was no statistical difference between aTNL and eTNL in the other TNT tests(P＞0.05 for both)except that aTNL and eTNL were statistically different in C1(P＜0.01),and more than 90％of the subjects could obtain eTNL within 1 minute.Conclusion The test-retest reliability of Mandarin tracking of noise tolerance test is good,with advantages of high reliability and efficiency.

Objective To observe value of echocardiographic evaluation on infants with pulmonary atresia and intact ventricular septum(PA/IVS)for surgical decision and post operation right ventricle(RV)development.Methods Forty-six PA/IVS infants who underwent pulmonary valve(PV)annuloplasty(group A,n=25),PV annuloplasty and RV outflow tract reconstruction with/without additional systemic-to-pulmonary artery shunt(group B,n=15),and systemic-to-pulmonary artery shunt and atrial septal enlargement(group C,n=6)were retrospectively enrolled.Status of RV developments were compared among groups before operation as well as 1 and 6 months after operation.Results The presentation age in group B was younger than,while in group C was older than that in group A(both P＜0.05).Before operation,tricuspid valve(TV)annulus diameter,TV annulus Z-score and TV/mitral valve(MV)annulus ratio in groups B and C were both smaller than those in group A(all P＜0.05),whereas RV/left ventricle(LV)longitudinal diameter ratio in group B was larger and PV annulus Z-score in group C was smaller than those in group A(both P＜0.05).Meanwhile,preoperative PV annulus Z-score and RV/LV longitudinal diameter ratio in group B were both larger than those in group C(both P＜0.05).One month after operations,TV annulus diameter,TV annulus Z-score and TV/MV annulus ratio in group B and C,as well as PV annulus diameter,PV annulus Z-score and RV/LV longitudinal diameter ratio in group C were all smaller than those in group A(all P＜0.05),while PV annulus diameter,PV annulus Z-score and RV/LV longitudinal diameter ratio in group C were all smaller than those in group B(all P＜0.05).Six months after operations,no significant difference of TV annulus diameter,PV annulus diameter,PV annulus Z-score,TV/MV annulus ratio nor RV/LV longitudinal diameter ratio was found between group A and B(all P＞0.05),but the above indexes in group C were all lower than those in group A and B(all P＜0.05).Besides,no significant difference of TV annulus Z-score was found between group A and B(P＞0.05),which were lower in group C than in group A(P＜0.05).Conclusion Echocardiographic evaluation on PA/IVS infants was helpful to establishment of forward blood flow from RV to pulmonary arteries in time,hence promoting RV development.

Professor Li Candong puts forward the"five differentiation"thinking in TCM:symptom differentiation,syndrome differentiation,disease differentiation,person differentiation and mechanism differentiation.This article discussed the thinking and method of application of classical prescriptions based on the mode of"five differentiation".Treatment based on symptom differentiation is a quick method of application of classic prescriptions,which includes searching for specific symptoms or symptom groups and according to special tongue images.Treatment based on syndrome differentiation is a commonly used method in classic prescriptions,distinguishing between primary and secondary syndromes and the authenticity of cold and heat.Treatment based on disease differentiation is the inherent meaning of classic prescriptions,which is mainly to distinguish six meridian diseases and special prescriptions for specific diseases.Treatment based on person differentiation embodies the individual differences in the use of classic prescriptions,which include age,gender,constitution and abdominal syndrome.Treatment based on mechanism differentiation is an ingenious method used by classic prescriptions.When practicing clinical medicine,we should adhere to the integrated mode of"five differentiation"in the application of classic prescriptions,comprehensively considering the five dimensions,in order to improve the accuracy and effectiveness of the application of classic prescriptions,reveal and improve the academic system of classic prescriptions,and better guide their clinical application.

Objective: To investigate the epidemiological characteristics of varicella outbreaks in primary and middle schools, and to establish a risk predictive model, so as to provide scientific guidance for the prevention of varicella outbreaks in schools. Methods: Based on a nested case-control study, primary and middle schools in 4 districts of Shanghai (Yangpu District and Jingan District) and Hangzhou (Xiaoshan District and Linping District) from January to December 2023 were selected to observe the status of varicella outbreaks. Associated factors of varicella outbreaks were investigated and used for establishing the predictive model, which was evaluated by the Hosmer-Lemeshow(H-L) goodness of fit test, receiver operating characteristic (ROC) curve, Calibration curve, decision curve analysis (DCA). Results: A total of 98 varicella outbreaks were included, with 195 schools without varicella outbreaks during the same period as controls. Eight factors, including the availability of warm water in restroom, availability of hand soap in restroom, average class size, duration of student attendance at school per day, presence of a fulltime school doctor, hesitancy of the school principal towards varicella vaccination, and rates of first and second doses of varicella vaccination, were identified as potential factors for school varicella outbreaks, with statistically significant differences (χ2/Z=10.01, 20.49, 17.43, 9.74, 32.17, 6.60, 2.20, 3.39, P<0.05). The 8 variables above were employed to construct a risk predictive model, and Hosmer-Lemeshow goodness of fit test yielded a χ2 value of 5.863 (P>0.05); the area under the ROC curve (AUC) was 0.846 (95%CI=0.799-0.893); Calibration curve analysis indicated good consistency between predicted and actual values of the model. DCA demonstrated favorable predictive performance of the model over a wide range. Conclusions The predictive model for school varicella outbreaks demonstrates satisfactory accuracy and efficacy. It suggested to make good use of this prediction model and take relevant measures to reduce the risk of varicella transmission in schools.

Objective To mine the adverse drug events(ADE)signal of avatrombopag,an effective drug for thrombocytopenia treatment,based on real world data in order to provide reference for its clinical safety application.Methods The OpenVigil2.1 pharmacovigilance platform was used to obtain the ADE report data of avatrombopag from May 2018 to March 2023 in the database of FDA adverse event reporting system(FAERS).The ADE signals were classified and described by the system organ class(SOC)and preferred term(PT)of the ADE terminology set in the Medical Dictionary for Regulatory Activities(MedDRA),and reporting odds ratio(ROR)and UK Medicines and Healthcare Products Regulatory Agency(MHRA)comprehensive standard were used to detect the positive ADE signals.Results A total of 1 879 ADE reports related to avatrombopag were obtained,24 SOCs were involved,and 28 positive ADE signals were detected at PT level.Among these signals,the strongest ones were renal vein thrombosis,portal vein thrombosis and graft versus host disease,while the reports accounting for the largest numbers were headache,fatigue and asthenia.There were 8 ADE signals discovered newly,that is,seasonal allergy,back disorder,musculoskeletal discomfort,flatulence,hypersomnia,rash macular,emotional disorder,and rhinorrhoea.Conclusion For clinical use of avatrombopag,clinicians should not only concern the risk of thrombosis,but also pay close attention to ADE signals such as seasonal allergy,back disorder,musculoskeletal discomfort,flatulence,hypersomnia,rash macular,emotional disorder,and rhinorrhoea that are not documented in the instructions.