ObjectiveTo explore the incidence of major low anterior resection syndrome （LARS） within six months after sphincter-preserving surgery for rectal cancer and to analyze its associated factors. MethodsClinical records， postoperative rehabilitation data and LARS scores were collected from 889 patients at 3 months postoperatively and from 844 patients at 6 months postoperatively. Patients were divided into a major LARS group and a non-major LARS group. Multivariable Logistic regression was used to analyze factors associated with major LARS at 3 and 6 months postoperatively， and the predictive value of the models was assessed using the Hosmer-Lemeshow goodness-of-fit test and the receiver operating characteristic （ROC）. ResultsAmong patients undergoing sphincter-preserving surgery for rectal cancer， 247 patients （27.8%） had major LARS at 3 months postoperatively and 181 patients （21.4%） at 6 months postoperatively. Multivariable Logistic regression showed that Kegel exercises， preoperative radiotherapy， anastomotic leakage， a tumor distance from the anal verge of ≤5 cm， and an anastomotic distance from the anal verge of ≤5 cm were independent factors for major LARS at 3 months postoperatively （P<0.05）. At 6 months postoperatively， occasional Kegel exercises during 0~3 months， Kegel exercises during 4~6 months， hydrotherapy during 4~6 months， preoperative chemotherapy， a tumor distance from the anal verge of ≤5 cm， and an anastomotic distance from the anal verge of ≤5 cm were independent factors （P<0.05）. The models at 3 and 6 months postoperatively showed goodness-of-fit test P values of 0.986 and 0.517 and area under the curve （AUCs） of 0.843 and 0.870， indicating good predictive value. ConclusionThe incidence of major LARS within six months after sphincter-preserving surgery for rectal cancer is relatively high， and greater attention should be paid to patients who receive preoperative chemoradiotherapy， develop anastomotic leakage， or have tumor and anastomotic distances from the anal verge of ≤5 cm. Patients should also be advised that early postoperative Kegel exercises and hydrotherapy may reduce the incidence of major LARS.

Objective:The aim of this study was to assess the frailty status of patients with heart failure undergoing CRT-D and then explore the predictive value of frailty for all-cause mortality and heart failure-related readmissions in these patients.Methods:We retrospectively included 374 patients with chronic heart failure who underwent CRT-D treatment at the First Affiliated Hospital of Xinjiang Medical University between June 2020 and June 2024. Based on the Tilburg Debilitation Assessment Scale, 175 patients (46.8%) were classified as frail while 199 (53.2%) were classified as non-frail. The baseline data between the two groups was compared using Cox regression analysis and Kaplan-Meier curves were used for survival analysis. P-values of <0.05 indicated statistically significant differences. Results:A total of 374 patients aged 25-93 (68±11) years were enrolled in this study, 101 (27.0%) of which were female. Among these, 175 (46.8%) were categorized as frail, and 199 (53.2%) were classified as non-frail. Over a median follow-up time of 23 (5, 45) months, 35 (9.4%) patients experienced all-cause mortality, with 30 (17.1%) deaths occurring in the frail group and 5 (2.5%) in the non-frail group; meanwhile, readmission events due to heart failure occurred in a total of 174 (46.5%) patients, including 122 (70.1%) in the frail group, and 52 (29.9%) in the non-frail group. Cox analysis showed that frailty was a significant determinant of all-cause mortality ( HR=21.25, 95% CI 3.99-113.30, P<0.001) and readmission among heart failure patients receiving CRT-D ( HR=2.52, 95% CI 1.73-3.68, P<0.001). Log-rank tests showed that the survival rate of patients in the frail group was significantly lower than that of patients in the non-frail group ( HR=7.22, 95% CI 2.80-18.60, P<0.001) and the risk of readmission events due to heart failure was significantly higher among patients in the frail group than among those in the non-frail group ( HR=2.75, 95% CI 1.98-3.81, P<0.001). Conclusions:Frailty is an independent predictor of postoperative all-cause mortality and the occurrence of heart failure-related readmissions in patients with heart failure treated receiving CRT-D.

Objective:To evaluate the clinical outcomes of radical resection and perioperative management strategies in hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) patients with major vascular invasion and tumor thrombus.Methods:This is a retrospective case series study. From January 2010 to December 2022,clinicopathological data of 387 HCC patients who underwent liver resection at the Hepatobiliary Center of the First Affiliated Hospital of Nanjing Medical University were retrospectively analyzed. In the cohort,there were 326 males (84.2%) and 61 females (15.8%),with an age ( M(IQR)) of 54(16) years (range: 16 to 82 years). One hundred and nineteen patients (30.7%) had macrovascular invasion without thrombus and 268 patients(69.3%) had macrovascular thrombus. Categorical variables were presented as frequencies (percentages). Survival rates were calculated using life-table analysis,and Kaplan-Meier curves were employed to depict overall survival(OS) and recurrence-free survival (RFS). Independent prognostic factors were identified by univariate and multivariate Cox regression. Results:Among 387 patients,R0 resection was achieved in 359 cases (92.8%),with R1 or R2 resection in 28 cases (7.2%). Excluding in-hospital deaths,the 354 R0-resected patients had a median OS of 19.8 months, with 1-, 3-, and 5-year OS rates were 63.3%, 35.1%, and 22.4%, respectively; median RFS was 5.6 months,and 1-, 3-, and 5-year RFS was 34.0%,18.0%,and 14.4%, respectively. Patients receiving preoperative therapy showed a median OS of 26.0 months,1-, 3-, and 5-year OS rates were 75.5%, 48.4%, and 32.5%, respectively. There was no significant difference in the OS of patients with or without preoperative therapy ( P>0.05). The median OS time of patients who received postoperative adjuvant therapy was 53.0 months, and the 1-, 3-, and 5-year OS rates were 87.9%, 59.2%, and 34.8%, respectively. The median OS time of patients who did not receive postoperative adjuvant therapy was 13.7 months, and 1-, 3-, and 5-year OS rates were 56.7%, 31.7%, and 22.4%, respectively ( P<0.01). The median RFS of patients who received postoperative adjuvant therapy was 11.6 months, and the 1-, 3-, and 5-year RFS rates were 49.6%, 29.8%, and 26.8%, respectively. The median RFS of patients who did not receive postoperative adjuvant therapy was 4.2 months, and the 1-,3-,and 5-year RFS rates were 29.2%, 16.1%, and 12.5%, respectively ( P<0.01). Multivariate analysis identified that maximum tumor diameter,postoperative adjuvant therapy,and treatment after recurrence were the independent predictors of the OS of patients with major vascular invasion and tumor thrombus (all P<0.05),while age,surgical approach,and postoperative adjuvant therapy independently influenced the RFS of patients with major vascular invasion and tumor thrombus(all P<0.05). Conclusions:HCC patients with vascular invasion/thrombus could benefit from surgery-based multimodal therapy after careful evaluation. Postoperative adjuvant therapy significantly reduces recurrence and prolongs patients′ survival.

Objective:The aim of this study was to assess the frailty status of patients with heart failure undergoing CRT-D and then explore the predictive value of frailty for all-cause mortality and heart failure-related readmissions in these patients.Methods:We retrospectively included 374 patients with chronic heart failure who underwent CRT-D treatment at the First Affiliated Hospital of Xinjiang Medical University between June 2020 and June 2024. Based on the Tilburg Debilitation Assessment Scale, 175 patients (46.8%) were classified as frail while 199 (53.2%) were classified as non-frail. The baseline data between the two groups was compared using Cox regression analysis and Kaplan-Meier curves were used for survival analysis. P-values of <0.05 indicated statistically significant differences. Results:A total of 374 patients aged 25-93 (68±11) years were enrolled in this study, 101 (27.0%) of which were female. Among these, 175 (46.8%) were categorized as frail, and 199 (53.2%) were classified as non-frail. Over a median follow-up time of 23 (5, 45) months, 35 (9.4%) patients experienced all-cause mortality, with 30 (17.1%) deaths occurring in the frail group and 5 (2.5%) in the non-frail group; meanwhile, readmission events due to heart failure occurred in a total of 174 (46.5%) patients, including 122 (70.1%) in the frail group, and 52 (29.9%) in the non-frail group. Cox analysis showed that frailty was a significant determinant of all-cause mortality ( HR=21.25, 95% CI 3.99-113.30, P<0.001) and readmission among heart failure patients receiving CRT-D ( HR=2.52, 95% CI 1.73-3.68, P<0.001). Log-rank tests showed that the survival rate of patients in the frail group was significantly lower than that of patients in the non-frail group ( HR=7.22, 95% CI 2.80-18.60, P<0.001) and the risk of readmission events due to heart failure was significantly higher among patients in the frail group than among those in the non-frail group ( HR=2.75, 95% CI 1.98-3.81, P<0.001). Conclusions:Frailty is an independent predictor of postoperative all-cause mortality and the occurrence of heart failure-related readmissions in patients with heart failure treated receiving CRT-D.

Objective:To evaluate the clinical outcomes of radical resection and perioperative management strategies in hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) patients with major vascular invasion and tumor thrombus.Methods:This is a retrospective case series study. From January 2010 to December 2022,clinicopathological data of 387 HCC patients who underwent liver resection at the Hepatobiliary Center of the First Affiliated Hospital of Nanjing Medical University were retrospectively analyzed. In the cohort,there were 326 males (84.2%) and 61 females (15.8%),with an age ( M(IQR)) of 54(16) years (range: 16 to 82 years). One hundred and nineteen patients (30.7%) had macrovascular invasion without thrombus and 268 patients(69.3%) had macrovascular thrombus. Categorical variables were presented as frequencies (percentages). Survival rates were calculated using life-table analysis,and Kaplan-Meier curves were employed to depict overall survival(OS) and recurrence-free survival (RFS). Independent prognostic factors were identified by univariate and multivariate Cox regression. Results:Among 387 patients,R0 resection was achieved in 359 cases (92.8%),with R1 or R2 resection in 28 cases (7.2%). Excluding in-hospital deaths,the 354 R0-resected patients had a median OS of 19.8 months, with 1-, 3-, and 5-year OS rates were 63.3%, 35.1%, and 22.4%, respectively; median RFS was 5.6 months,and 1-, 3-, and 5-year RFS was 34.0%,18.0%,and 14.4%, respectively. Patients receiving preoperative therapy showed a median OS of 26.0 months,1-, 3-, and 5-year OS rates were 75.5%, 48.4%, and 32.5%, respectively. There was no significant difference in the OS of patients with or without preoperative therapy ( P>0.05). The median OS time of patients who received postoperative adjuvant therapy was 53.0 months, and the 1-, 3-, and 5-year OS rates were 87.9%, 59.2%, and 34.8%, respectively. The median OS time of patients who did not receive postoperative adjuvant therapy was 13.7 months, and 1-, 3-, and 5-year OS rates were 56.7%, 31.7%, and 22.4%, respectively ( P<0.01). The median RFS of patients who received postoperative adjuvant therapy was 11.6 months, and the 1-, 3-, and 5-year RFS rates were 49.6%, 29.8%, and 26.8%, respectively. The median RFS of patients who did not receive postoperative adjuvant therapy was 4.2 months, and the 1-,3-,and 5-year RFS rates were 29.2%, 16.1%, and 12.5%, respectively ( P<0.01). Multivariate analysis identified that maximum tumor diameter,postoperative adjuvant therapy,and treatment after recurrence were the independent predictors of the OS of patients with major vascular invasion and tumor thrombus (all P<0.05),while age,surgical approach,and postoperative adjuvant therapy independently influenced the RFS of patients with major vascular invasion and tumor thrombus(all P<0.05). Conclusions:HCC patients with vascular invasion/thrombus could benefit from surgery-based multimodal therapy after careful evaluation. Postoperative adjuvant therapy significantly reduces recurrence and prolongs patients′ survival.

Objective To investigate the expression of miR-6768-5p in lung cancer tissue and its effect on the proliferation and invasion of lung cancer cells through targeted regulation of carboxypeptidase A4(CPA4).Methods The expression of miR-6768-5p in lung cancer tissues and adjacent tissues was analyzed u-sing the TCGA database.Quantitative real-time PCR(qPCR)was used to detect the expression of miR-6768-5p in human lung cancer cell lines(HCC1588,H1650,H1299,A549,HCC827)and normal alveolar epithelial cells(HPAEpiC cells).Lung cancer cells were transfected with NC mimics and miR-6768-5p mimics,respec-tively,and divided into NC group and miR-6768-5p group.The MTS assay and Matrigel invasion assay were used to detect the cell proliferation and invasion ability of each group,respectively.The putative binding sites of miR-6768-5p and CPA4 were verified using RNAhybrid software and dual-luciferase reporter gene experi-ment.The expression of CPA4 mRNA in each group of cells was detected by qPCR.The expression of AKT/c-MYC signaling pathway proteins in the cells of each group was analyzed by Western blot.Results Com-pared with the adjacent tissues,the relative expression level of miR-6768-5p in lung cancer tissues was signifi-cantly decreased,and the difference was statistically significant(P＜0.05).Compared with HPAEpiC cells,the relative expression level of miR-6768-5p was significantly decreased in lung cancer cell lines,and the differ-ence was statistically significant(P＜0.05).Compared with the NC group,the cell proliferation rate of miR-6768-5p group was significantly decreased(P＜0.05).The number of invasive cells in NC group and miR-6768-5p group was(131.30±12.55)and(37.45±7.77),respectively,and the number of invasive cells in miR-6768-5p group was significantly lower than that in NC group(P＜0.05).The relative expression level of CPA4 mRNA in H1299 cells of miR-6768-5p group was significantly lower than that in NC group(t=4.93,P＜0.05).Compared with the NC group,the expressions of AKT/c-myC signaling pathway proteins p-AKT,p-mTORC1,XIAP,MDM2 and C-myC proteins in miR-6768-5p group were significantly decreased.Conclusion The expression of miR-6768-5p is decreased in lung cancer tissues,and miR-6768-5p may inhibit the activation of AKT/c-MYC signaling pathway by targeting CPA4,and reduce the proliferation and invasion ability of lung cancer H1299 cells.

Objective:To investigate the short-term efficacy and safety of cardiac contractility modulation (CCM) in patients with heart failure.Methods:This was a cross-sectional study of patients with heart failure who underwent CCM placement at the First Affiliated Hospital of Xinjiang Medical University from February to June 2022. With a follow-up of 3 months, CCM sensation, impedance, percent output, and work time were monitored, and patients were compared with pre-and 3-month postoperative left ventricular ejection fraction (LVEF) values, and 6-minute walk test distance and New York Heart Association (NYHA) cardiac function classification, and the occurrence of complications was recorded.Results:CCM was successfully implanted in all 9 patients. Seven(7/9) of them were male, aged (56±14) years, 3 patients had ischaemic cardiomyopathy and 6 patients had dilated cardiomyopathy. At 3-month postoperative follow-up, threshold was stable, sense was significantly lower at follow-up than before (right ventricle: (16.3±7.0) mV vs. (8.2±1.1) mV, P<0.05; local sense: (15.7±4.9) mV vs. (6.7±2.5) mV, P<0.05), and impedance was significantly lower at follow-up than before (right ventricle (846±179) Ω vs. (470±65) Ω, P<0.05, local sense: (832±246) Ω vs. (464±63) Ω, P<0.05). The CCM output percentage was (86.9±10.7) %, the output amplitude was (6.7±0.4) V, and the daily operating time was (8.6±1.0) h. LVEF was elevated compared to preoperative ((29.4±5.2) % vs. (38.3±4.3) %, P<0.05), the 6-minute walk test was significantly longer than before ((96.8±66.7)m vs. (289.3±121.7)m, P<0.05). No significant increase in the number of NYHA Class Ⅲ-Ⅳ patients was seen (7/9 vs. 2/9, P>0.05). The patient was not re-hospitalised for worsening heart failure symptoms, had no malignant arrhythmic events and experienced significant relief of symptoms such as chest tightness and shortness of breath. No postoperative complications related to pocket hematoma, pocket infection and rupture, electrode detachment, valve function impairment, pericardial effusion, or cardiac perforation were found. Conclusions:CCM has better short-term safety and efficacy in patients with heart failure.

Objective:To investigate the correlation between serum visfatin level and the risk of relapse after radiofrequency ablation in patients with atrial fibrillation(AF).Methods:The clinical data of 1 120 patients with AF who were admitted to the First Affiliated Hospital of Xinjiang Medical University and treated with radiofrequency ablation from June 2020 to December 2021 were retrospectively analyzed, and the general data as well as the results of preoperative and postoperative 12 months 24 h echocardiography and laboratory test index were collected. Followed up for 12 months, the patients′recurrence of AF was observed, and the changes of preoperative and postoperative 12 months echocardiography and laboratory test index were compared between the patients with and without recurrence of AF; the risk factors affecting the recurrence of AF after radiofrequency ablation were analyzed by Logistic regression analysis, the correlation of visfatin level and the recurrence of radiofrequency ablation was analyzed by Pearson test.Results:The results of Logistic regression analysis showed that the patients′ age ( OR = 2.344), body mass index ( OR = 2.090), persistent AF ( OR = 3.655), hypertension ( OR = 3.529 ), coronary artery disease ( OR = 4.035), preoperative left atrial diameter (LAD) ( OR = 3.644 ), visfatin level ( OR = 2.136 ) and postoperative 12 months LAD ( OR = 2.046), left atrial volume index(LAVI) ( OR = 2.237), atrial natriuretic polypeptide (ANP) ( OR = 3.600), visfatin ( OR = 3.699), and highly sensitive C-reactive protein (hs-CRP) ( OR = 3.586) levels at 12 months postoperatively were risk factors for recurrence in AF patients ( P<0.05). In the recurrence group, there were no statistical differences in LAD, LAVI, ANP, visfatin, and hs-CRP levels at 12 months postoperatively compared with preoperative levels ( P>0.05). The results of Pearson test showed that there was a positive correlation between AF recurrence and visfatin level after radiofrequency ablation ( r = 0.420, P = 0.013). Conclusions:There are many factors affecting AF recurrence after radiofrequency ablation in patients with AF, the common ones are age, left heart enlargement, hs-CRP level, etc. Meanwhile, high level of visfatin before and after surgery is also an important factor of AF recurrence.

Objective:To explore the related risk factors for systemic embolism (SE) in patients aged≥75 years with non-valvular atrial fibrillation (NVAF).Methods:A case-control study. NVAF patients aged≥75 years who were hospitalized at the First Affiliated Hospital of Xinjiang Medical University from October 2018 to October 2020 were divided into no SE ( n=1 127) and SE ( n=433) groups according to the occurrence of SE after NVAF. Multivariate logistic regression was used to analyze SE-related factors in patients with NVAF without anticoagulation treatment. Results:In the multivariate model, the following factors were associated with an increased risk of SE in patients with NVAF: history of AF≥5 years [odds ratio ( OR)=2.75, 95% confidence interval ( CI) 1.98-3.82, P<0.01], lipoprotein(a)>300 g/L ( OR=2.07, 95% CI 1.50-2.84, P<0.01), apolipoprotein (Apo)B>1.2 g/L ( OR=1.91, 95% CI 1.25-2.93, P=0.003), left ventricular ejection fraction (LVEF) of 30%-49% ( OR=2.45, 95% CI 1.63-3.69, P<0.01), left atrial diameter>40 mm ( OR=1.54, 95% CI 1.16-2.07, P=0.003), and CHA 2DS 2-VASc score≥3 ( OR=15.14, 95% CI 2.05-112.13, P=0.01). ApoAI>1.6 g/L was negatively correlated with the occurrence of SE ( OR=0.28, 95% CI 0.15-0.51, P<0.01). Conclusions:History of AF≥5 years, lipoprotein(a)>300 g/L, elevated ApoB, left atrial diameter>40 mm, LVEF of 30%-49%, and CHA 2DS 2-VASC score≥3 are independent risk factors for SE whereas ApoAI>1.6 g/L is a protective factor against SE in patients with NVAF.

Objective:To investigate the expression and mechanism of hepatocyte growth factor (HGF) in multiple myeloma (MM) based on the gene information in Oncomine database.Methods:Information about HGF study in Oncomine database was collected, and the changes in HGF expression level in MM were analyzed. Genecards database was used to collect HGF gene-related proteins, and STRING software was used to draw HGF-related protein network map. The physiological process of protein function enrichment was analyzed by using DAVID online tools. The relationship between HGF expression level and survival of MM patients was analyzed by using DRUGSURV database and its online tools to explore its clinical significance.Results:A total of 445 studies on HGF in different tumors were collected in Oncomine database. In 23 studies, the difference in HGF expression level between tumor tissues and normal tissues was statistically significant ( P < 0.05), including 10 items of increased HGF expression in tumor tissues and 13 items of decreased HGF expression in tumor tissues. In 4 datasets of 3 studies on the differential expression of HGF gene in MM and normal tissues in Oncomine database, the expression of HGF in MM tissues was higher than that in normal tissues (all P < 0.05). Twenty-five HGF-related proteins were collected in Genecards database, including SDC1, YWHAG, RAF1, etc. Protein function enrichment analysis showed that these proteins were mainly enriched in the negative regulation of hydrogen peroxide-mediated programmed cell death, the regulation of synaptic plasticity, the negative regulation of death domain receptors on extrinsic apoptotic signaling pathways, etc., and they were related to PI3K-AKT and tumor-related pathways. Survival analysis based on DRUGSURV database showed that there was no significant difference in overall survival rate between MM patients with high and low HGF expression ( P > 0.05). Conclusions:HGF gene may regulate the apoptosis of MM cells through PI3K-AKT pathway and play a role in the occurrence and development of MM. HGF may be a potential marker of MM, but its value in prognostic judgment needs further research.