Objective:To analyze the risk factors of bacterial infection in patients with liver cirrhosis complicated with gastroesophageal varices after gastroscopy, and to construct a prediction model.Methods:Patients with gastroesophageal varices due to cirrhosis who underwent gastroscopy in the Third Hospital of Hebei Medical University from January 2021 to May 2023 were enrolled. All patients were divided into infection group and non-infection group according to whether bacterial infection occurred after gastroscopy. The detection of pathogens in the infection group and the source of specimens were analyzed. Multivariate binary logistic regression was used to analyze the risk factors of postoperative bacterial infection in patients with cirrhosis and gastroesophageal varices. The nomogram was drawn by R language to construct a risk prediction model. Receiver operator characteristic curve (ROC curve), calibration curve, Hosmer-Lemeshow test and decision curve were used to evaluate the model.Results:Among the 480 patients, 57 had postoperative bacterial infection and 423 had no infection. The incidence of infection was 11.88%(57/480). Seventy bacterial culture positive samples were obtained, mainly from blood and respiratory tract (30 samples (42.86%) and 25 samples (35.71%), respectively). A total of 82 strains of pathogenic bacteria were isolated, including 16 strains of Escherichia coli and 14 strains of Staphylococcus aureus. Multivariate binary regression analysis showed that length of hospital stay (odds ratio ( OR)=1.13, 95% confidence interval ( CI) 1.06 to 1.20, P<0.001), age ( OR=1.06, 95% CI 1.02 to 1.10, P=0.006), model for end-stage liver disease combined with sodium (MELD-Na) score ( OR=1.10, 95% CI 1.02 to 1.18, P=0.014), diabetes ( OR=1.25, 95% CI 1.07 to 1.96, P=0.043) and emergency gastroscopy ( OR=2.95, 95% CI 1.20 to 7.25, P=0.019) were independent risk factors for bacterial infection after gastroscopy in patients with cirrhosis and gastroesophageal varices. Based on the above risk factors, a nomogram prediction model was constructed. The results of ROC curve analysis showed that the area under the curve of the nomogram model for predicting bacterial infection after gastroscopy of gastroesophageal varices in cirrhosis was 0.82 (95% CI 0.73 to 0.90). The slope of the calibration curve was 0.98(95% CI 0.92 to 1.04), indicating that the predicted probability of the model was in good agreement with the actual probability. The results of Hosmer-Lemeshow test showed that the nomogram model fitted well ( χ2=6.35, P=0.415). The decision curve analysis showed that the clinical net benefit rate of the nomogram model was >0 when the threshold probability was 0.039 to 0.410. Conclusions:Older age, length of hospital stay, MELD-Na score, history of diabetes, and emergency gastroscopy are independent risk factors for bacterial infection after gastroscopy in patients with cirrhosis and gastroesophageal varices. The prediction model constructed in this study has a good predictive value for bacterial infection in such patients.

Objective To explore the feasibility of video-assisted thoracoscopic surgery(VATS)in the treatment of congenital pulmonary airway malformation(CPAM)or pulmonary isolation complicated with ipsilateral mediastinal bronchogenic cyst in children.Methods From July 2019 to July 2024,VATS was carried out to treat CPAM or pulmonary isolation with ipsilateral mediastinal bronchogenic cyst in 7 children.A three-hole thoracoscopic surgery via lateral thoracic approach was performed.The patients were placed in a healthy lateral position.The observation hole was located at the intersection of the subscapular line and the 5th intercostal space,and the operating hole was established according to the surgical requirements in combination with the lumboscopic diamond rule.A 5 mm trocar was used for all three holes.The pressure of CO2 pneumothorax was 4 mm Hg and the flow rate was 2 L/min,which was adjusted at any time according to the intraoperative conditions of the children.The operation was mainly designed for lung operation.The pulmonary operation was conducted firstly,and then the bronchogenic cyst was treated.If necessary,block resection was applied to avoid serious complications of trachea.Results All the operations were performed under thoracoscopy without conversion to open surgery.The operation time was 37-191 min(median,101 min).The intraoperative bleeding volume was 1-15 ml(median,5 ml).One case was not given a closed chest drainage tube placed,and the other 6 cases were placed a closed chest drainage for 1-5 d(median,3d).Postoperative pathology showed 5 cases of CPAM combined with bronchogenic cysts,including 4 cases of type 2(bronchiole type)and 1 case of type 3(bronchiole/alveolar type),and 2 cases of extralobular pulmonary isolation combined with bronchogenic cysts.All the 7 cases were followed up for 6-57 months(median,27 months),and chest CT showed no recurrence of lesions.Conclusions CPAM or pulmonary isolation may be accompanied by bronchogenic cysts.Preoperative imaging examination should correspond to surgical observation,and careful exploration should be conducted to avoid missed diagnosis.VATS is safe and feasible for treating CPAM or pulmonary isolation with ipsilateral mediastinal bronchogenic cysts.

Objective:To evaluate the predictive value of an aMAP score for the occurrence risk of hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) in patients with chronic hepatitis B (CHB) receiving antiviral therapy.Methods:The medical records of 508 CHB patients who started receiving antiviral treatment in the Third Hospital of Hebei Medical University and the Fifth Hospital of Shijiazhuang from January 2001 to November 2021 were retrospectively analyzed. They were divided into low-, intermediate-, and high-risk groups according to the aMAP, AASL-HCC, PAGE-B, mPAGE-B, and CAMD scoring criteria. At the end of follow-up, they were divided into HCC (33 cases) and non-HCC group (475 cases) according to whether HCC occurred. The occurrence risk factors for HCC were analyzed by univariate and multivariate Cox regression analysis. The cumulative incidence of HCC at different time points was estimated by the Kaplan-Meier method and compared by the log-rank method. The HCC prediction performance of the aMAP score was evaluated by the receiver operating characteristic (ROC) curve and compared with other scores. The Mann-Whitney U test, or Fisher test, was used to compare the non-normally distributed quantitative data between groups. The χ2 test was used to compare the count data between groups. Results:A total of 33 cases (6.5%) developed HCC during the median follow-up period of 8.7 (6.8-8.9) years. Multivariate analysis showed that age＞50 years ( HR=2.804, 95% CI 1.332-5.902; P=0.007) and liver cirrhosis ( HR=11.808, 95% CI 4.360-31.976; P<0.001) were independent risk factors for HCC occurrence. The cumulative incidence of HCC defined by the aMAP score at 3 and 5 years was significantly lower in the low-risk group (0, 0) than that in the intermediate-risk group (4.4%, 5.4%) and the high-risk group (10.8%, 18.5%), P<0.001. The aMAP score performed similarly to the AASL-HCC score, mPAGE-B score, and CAMD score [area under the ROC curve (AUC) was 0.863, 0.900, 0.851, and 0.886, respectively], with P＞0.05 in terms of the 3-year HCC prediction performance; and was equally superior with the PAGE-B score (AUC was 0.732), with P<0.05. The aMAP score was not worse than the AASL-HCC score and CAMD score (AUC was 0.890, 0.894, and 0.882, respectively), with P＞0.05 in terms of the 5-year HCC prediction performance; however, it was significantly superior to the PAGE-B score and mPAGE-B score (AUC was 0.795 and 0.875, respectively), with P<0.05. In addition, the AUC of the aMAP score for predicting HCC occurrence at baseline, 1 year, 2 years, and 3 years of antiviral treatment was＞0.9. Conclusions:The aMAP score can accurately assess the risk of HCC in CHB patients receiving antiviral therapy.

Objective:To explore the predictive value of ferritin combined with the COSSH-ACLF Ⅱ score for the prognosis of patients with hepatitis B virus (HBV)-related acute-on-chronic liver failure (HBV-ACLF).Methods:The clinical data of 419 cases with HBV-ACLF hospitalized at the Third Hospital of Hebei Medical University were retrospectively analyzed between January 1, 2013 and September 30, 2022, and were divided into the death ( n=127) and survival group ( n=292) according to the survival status of 28 days of follow-up. The Mann-Whitney U test was used to compare confirmation of non-normally distributed continuous data between two groups. The chi-square test was used for the comparison of numerical data between the two groups. Binary logistic regression analysis was used to analyze the independent risk factors affecting the prognosis of HBV-ACLF patients. The predictive value of ferritin combined with the COSSH-ACLF Ⅱ score on the prognosis of HBV-ACLF was evaluated by the receiver operating characteristic curve (ROC curve) and area under the curve (AUC), net reclassification index (NRI), and comprehensive discriminant improvement index (IDI). Results:There were statistically significant differences in age, neutrophil count (NEUT), alanine aminotransferase (ALT), aspartate aminotransferase (AST), total bilirubin (TBil), serum creatinine (Scr), serum urea, prothrombin time (PT), prothrombin activity (PTA), international normalized ratio (INR), serum ferritin (SF), hepatic encephalopathy, and COSSH-ACLF Ⅱ scores between the two groups ( P<0.05). Ferritin ( OR=1.001, 95% CI:1.001-1.002, P<0.001) and COSSH-ACLF Ⅱ score ( OR=2.898, 95% CI:1.560-5.384, P<0.001) were independent factors for predicting short-term prognosis for patients with HBV-ACLF. Ferritin combined with COSSH-ACLF II score had a higher prognostic predictive value than ferritin (AUC=0.697, 95% CI: 0.651-0.741) and COSSH-ACLF II score (AUC=0.819, 95% CI: 0.779-0.855) for patients with HBV-ACLF (AUC=0.857, 95% CI: 0.819-0.889), with a statistically significant difference ( Z=6.287 and 2.666, respectively, P <0.05). The predictive effect was significantly improved following the addition of ferritin to the COSSH-ACLF Ⅱ score ( P<0.001), and the NRI and IDI were both >0 (NRI=0.144, 95% CI: 0.064-0.225; IDI=0.080, 95% CI: 0.052-0.108). Conclusion:Ferritin and COSSH-ACLF Ⅱ scores are independent factors that can predict short-term prognosis for patients with HBV-ACLF, and combing both has a higher predictive value.

Objective:To analyze the risk factors of bacterial infection in patients with liver cirrhosis complicated with gastroesophageal varices after gastroscopy, and to construct a prediction model.Methods:Patients with gastroesophageal varices due to cirrhosis who underwent gastroscopy in the Third Hospital of Hebei Medical University from January 2021 to May 2023 were enrolled. All patients were divided into infection group and non-infection group according to whether bacterial infection occurred after gastroscopy. The detection of pathogens in the infection group and the source of specimens were analyzed. Multivariate binary logistic regression was used to analyze the risk factors of postoperative bacterial infection in patients with cirrhosis and gastroesophageal varices. The nomogram was drawn by R language to construct a risk prediction model. Receiver operator characteristic curve (ROC curve), calibration curve, Hosmer-Lemeshow test and decision curve were used to evaluate the model.Results:Among the 480 patients, 57 had postoperative bacterial infection and 423 had no infection. The incidence of infection was 11.88%(57/480). Seventy bacterial culture positive samples were obtained, mainly from blood and respiratory tract (30 samples (42.86%) and 25 samples (35.71%), respectively). A total of 82 strains of pathogenic bacteria were isolated, including 16 strains of Escherichia coli and 14 strains of Staphylococcus aureus. Multivariate binary regression analysis showed that length of hospital stay (odds ratio ( OR)=1.13, 95% confidence interval ( CI) 1.06 to 1.20, P<0.001), age ( OR=1.06, 95% CI 1.02 to 1.10, P=0.006), model for end-stage liver disease combined with sodium (MELD-Na) score ( OR=1.10, 95% CI 1.02 to 1.18, P=0.014), diabetes ( OR=1.25, 95% CI 1.07 to 1.96, P=0.043) and emergency gastroscopy ( OR=2.95, 95% CI 1.20 to 7.25, P=0.019) were independent risk factors for bacterial infection after gastroscopy in patients with cirrhosis and gastroesophageal varices. Based on the above risk factors, a nomogram prediction model was constructed. The results of ROC curve analysis showed that the area under the curve of the nomogram model for predicting bacterial infection after gastroscopy of gastroesophageal varices in cirrhosis was 0.82 (95% CI 0.73 to 0.90). The slope of the calibration curve was 0.98(95% CI 0.92 to 1.04), indicating that the predicted probability of the model was in good agreement with the actual probability. The results of Hosmer-Lemeshow test showed that the nomogram model fitted well ( χ2=6.35, P=0.415). The decision curve analysis showed that the clinical net benefit rate of the nomogram model was >0 when the threshold probability was 0.039 to 0.410. Conclusions:Older age, length of hospital stay, MELD-Na score, history of diabetes, and emergency gastroscopy are independent risk factors for bacterial infection after gastroscopy in patients with cirrhosis and gastroesophageal varices. The prediction model constructed in this study has a good predictive value for bacterial infection in such patients.

Objective To explore the feasibility of video-assisted thoracoscopic surgery(VATS)in the treatment of congenital pulmonary airway malformation(CPAM)or pulmonary isolation complicated with ipsilateral mediastinal bronchogenic cyst in children.Methods From July 2019 to July 2024,VATS was carried out to treat CPAM or pulmonary isolation with ipsilateral mediastinal bronchogenic cyst in 7 children.A three-hole thoracoscopic surgery via lateral thoracic approach was performed.The patients were placed in a healthy lateral position.The observation hole was located at the intersection of the subscapular line and the 5th intercostal space,and the operating hole was established according to the surgical requirements in combination with the lumboscopic diamond rule.A 5 mm trocar was used for all three holes.The pressure of CO2 pneumothorax was 4 mm Hg and the flow rate was 2 L/min,which was adjusted at any time according to the intraoperative conditions of the children.The operation was mainly designed for lung operation.The pulmonary operation was conducted firstly,and then the bronchogenic cyst was treated.If necessary,block resection was applied to avoid serious complications of trachea.Results All the operations were performed under thoracoscopy without conversion to open surgery.The operation time was 37-191 min(median,101 min).The intraoperative bleeding volume was 1-15 ml(median,5 ml).One case was not given a closed chest drainage tube placed,and the other 6 cases were placed a closed chest drainage for 1-5 d(median,3d).Postoperative pathology showed 5 cases of CPAM combined with bronchogenic cysts,including 4 cases of type 2(bronchiole type)and 1 case of type 3(bronchiole/alveolar type),and 2 cases of extralobular pulmonary isolation combined with bronchogenic cysts.All the 7 cases were followed up for 6-57 months(median,27 months),and chest CT showed no recurrence of lesions.Conclusions CPAM or pulmonary isolation may be accompanied by bronchogenic cysts.Preoperative imaging examination should correspond to surgical observation,and careful exploration should be conducted to avoid missed diagnosis.VATS is safe and feasible for treating CPAM or pulmonary isolation with ipsilateral mediastinal bronchogenic cysts.

Objective:To evaluate the predictive value of an aMAP score for the occurrence risk of hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) in patients with chronic hepatitis B (CHB) receiving antiviral therapy.Methods:The medical records of 508 CHB patients who started receiving antiviral treatment in the Third Hospital of Hebei Medical University and the Fifth Hospital of Shijiazhuang from January 2001 to November 2021 were retrospectively analyzed. They were divided into low-, intermediate-, and high-risk groups according to the aMAP, AASL-HCC, PAGE-B, mPAGE-B, and CAMD scoring criteria. At the end of follow-up, they were divided into HCC (33 cases) and non-HCC group (475 cases) according to whether HCC occurred. The occurrence risk factors for HCC were analyzed by univariate and multivariate Cox regression analysis. The cumulative incidence of HCC at different time points was estimated by the Kaplan-Meier method and compared by the log-rank method. The HCC prediction performance of the aMAP score was evaluated by the receiver operating characteristic (ROC) curve and compared with other scores. The Mann-Whitney U test, or Fisher test, was used to compare the non-normally distributed quantitative data between groups. The χ2 test was used to compare the count data between groups. Results:A total of 33 cases (6.5%) developed HCC during the median follow-up period of 8.7 (6.8-8.9) years. Multivariate analysis showed that age＞50 years ( HR=2.804, 95% CI 1.332-5.902; P=0.007) and liver cirrhosis ( HR=11.808, 95% CI 4.360-31.976; P<0.001) were independent risk factors for HCC occurrence. The cumulative incidence of HCC defined by the aMAP score at 3 and 5 years was significantly lower in the low-risk group (0, 0) than that in the intermediate-risk group (4.4%, 5.4%) and the high-risk group (10.8%, 18.5%), P<0.001. The aMAP score performed similarly to the AASL-HCC score, mPAGE-B score, and CAMD score [area under the ROC curve (AUC) was 0.863, 0.900, 0.851, and 0.886, respectively], with P＞0.05 in terms of the 3-year HCC prediction performance; and was equally superior with the PAGE-B score (AUC was 0.732), with P<0.05. The aMAP score was not worse than the AASL-HCC score and CAMD score (AUC was 0.890, 0.894, and 0.882, respectively), with P＞0.05 in terms of the 5-year HCC prediction performance; however, it was significantly superior to the PAGE-B score and mPAGE-B score (AUC was 0.795 and 0.875, respectively), with P<0.05. In addition, the AUC of the aMAP score for predicting HCC occurrence at baseline, 1 year, 2 years, and 3 years of antiviral treatment was＞0.9. Conclusions:The aMAP score can accurately assess the risk of HCC in CHB patients receiving antiviral therapy.

Objective:To explore the predictive value of ferritin combined with the COSSH-ACLF Ⅱ score for the prognosis of patients with hepatitis B virus (HBV)-related acute-on-chronic liver failure (HBV-ACLF).Methods:The clinical data of 419 cases with HBV-ACLF hospitalized at the Third Hospital of Hebei Medical University were retrospectively analyzed between January 1, 2013 and September 30, 2022, and were divided into the death ( n=127) and survival group ( n=292) according to the survival status of 28 days of follow-up. The Mann-Whitney U test was used to compare confirmation of non-normally distributed continuous data between two groups. The chi-square test was used for the comparison of numerical data between the two groups. Binary logistic regression analysis was used to analyze the independent risk factors affecting the prognosis of HBV-ACLF patients. The predictive value of ferritin combined with the COSSH-ACLF Ⅱ score on the prognosis of HBV-ACLF was evaluated by the receiver operating characteristic curve (ROC curve) and area under the curve (AUC), net reclassification index (NRI), and comprehensive discriminant improvement index (IDI). Results:There were statistically significant differences in age, neutrophil count (NEUT), alanine aminotransferase (ALT), aspartate aminotransferase (AST), total bilirubin (TBil), serum creatinine (Scr), serum urea, prothrombin time (PT), prothrombin activity (PTA), international normalized ratio (INR), serum ferritin (SF), hepatic encephalopathy, and COSSH-ACLF Ⅱ scores between the two groups ( P<0.05). Ferritin ( OR=1.001, 95% CI:1.001-1.002, P<0.001) and COSSH-ACLF Ⅱ score ( OR=2.898, 95% CI:1.560-5.384, P<0.001) were independent factors for predicting short-term prognosis for patients with HBV-ACLF. Ferritin combined with COSSH-ACLF II score had a higher prognostic predictive value than ferritin (AUC=0.697, 95% CI: 0.651-0.741) and COSSH-ACLF II score (AUC=0.819, 95% CI: 0.779-0.855) for patients with HBV-ACLF (AUC=0.857, 95% CI: 0.819-0.889), with a statistically significant difference ( Z=6.287 and 2.666, respectively, P <0.05). The predictive effect was significantly improved following the addition of ferritin to the COSSH-ACLF Ⅱ score ( P<0.001), and the NRI and IDI were both >0 (NRI=0.144, 95% CI: 0.064-0.225; IDI=0.080, 95% CI: 0.052-0.108). Conclusion:Ferritin and COSSH-ACLF Ⅱ scores are independent factors that can predict short-term prognosis for patients with HBV-ACLF, and combing both has a higher predictive value.

Objective To investigate the regulatory effect and molecular mechanism of solute carrier family 1 member 5 (SLC1A5) -tetraspanin superfamily member 1 (TM4SF1) complex on cisplatin resistance in esophageal squamous cell carcinoma (ESCC) cells. Methods SLC1A5-overexpressing Eca109 cells were constructed using lentiviral vectors, and the effect of SLC1A5 on cisplatin sensitivity was assessed through cell viability assays. Western blotting (WB) was employed to detect SLC1A5 expression in Eca109 cells and cisplatin-resistant Eca109 cells (Eca109-R). SLC1A5 expression was knocked down in Eca109-R cells using lentiviral vectors, and cisplatin sensitivity was examined thereafter. Quantitative real-time polymerase chain reaction (qRT-PCR) was utilized to analyze the influence of SLC1A5 knockdown on the expression of key genes involved in DNA damage repair in Eca109-R cells. In SLC1A5-knockdown Eca109-R cells, cell viability assays were performed to evaluate the sensitivity to cisplatin after RAD50 overexpression. Additionally, Eca109 cells were separately or co-overexpressed with SLC1A5 and TM4SF1 using lentiviral vectors, and the effect of the SLC1A5-TM4SF1complex on RAD50 expression and cisplatin resistance was examined through cell viability assays. Results Compared with control cells, Eca109 cells overexpressing SLC1A5 exhibited enhanced cisplatin resistance (P < 0.05). Eca109-R cells showed increased SLC1A5 protein expression, and knockdown of SLC1A5 cells were more sensitivity to cisplatin (P < 0.05). RAD50 gene expression was significantly downregulated upon SLC1A5 knockdown under cisplatin treatment (P < 0.05). Knockdown of SLC1A5 inhibited RAD50 protein expression, and overexpression of RAD50 in SLC1A5-knockdown cells significantly restored cisplatin resistance (P < 0.05). Co-overexpression of SLC1A5 and TM4SF1 can further up-regulate the expression of RAD50, and the drug resistance of the cells to cisplatin was enhanced compared with the control cells(P < 0.05). Conclusion The SLC1A5-TM4SF1 complex promotes cisplatin resistance in ESCC cells by upregulating RAD50 expression.

Objective:To investigate whether the lung specific X protein(LUNX)gene can serve as a prognostic biomarker for non-small cell lung cancer related to immune cell infiltration.Methods:A total of 280 non-small cell lung cancer patients admitted to Hengshui People's Hospital from January 2020 to January 2023 were selected to detect the expression of LUNX gene in cancer tissue and adjacent tissues,and to analyze the relationship between LUNX gene and immune cell infiltration and prognosis survival status in the tumor microenvironment.Results:Compared with adjacent tissues,the expression level and positive rate of LUNX gene in non-small cell lung cancer tissue were increased,which were related to differentiation degree,lymph node metastasis and tumor staging(P<0.05).GEPIA database analysis showed that the LUNX gene was only slightly expressed or not expressed in other tissues,while its expression was elevated in LUAD and LUSC(P<0.05).The copy number of LUNX gene and LUNX gene were related to the level of immune cell infiltration(P<0.05).Survival analysis showed that high expression of the LUNX gene was associated with patient survival prognosis(P<0.05).Conclusion:The LUNX gene is specifically expressed in non-small cell lung cancer tissue,affecting the level of immune cell infiltration in non-small cell lung cancer,leading to an imbalance in the immune microenvironment,and is an important mechanism for causing patients prognostic death,which can be used as a prognostic biomarker for evaluating immune cell infiltration.