Radiation induced lung injury is a common complication of radiation therapy, typically characterized by the involvement of lung parenchyma.The radiation sensitivity of the trachea and bronchi is lower than that of the lung parenchyma, and the damage to the airways is usually not apparent for most patients using the standard radiation dose. The escalation of radiotherapy dose and the utilization of stereotactic body radiotherapy (SBRT) have been shown to enhance local tumor control. However, there is a growing concern regarding the development of radiation-induced airway disease (RIAD), which encompasses central airway stenosis, atelectasis, obstructive pneumonia, airway-wall necrosis, severe airway toxicity, and potentially life-threatening complications. This article presents the latest research advancements regarding the incidence, pathophysiological alterations, injury classification, preventive strategies, and treatment approaches of RIAD.

Background::An evidence gap still exists regarding the efficacy and safety of tegoprazan in patients with erosive esophagitis (EE) in China. This study aimed to verify the efficacy and safety of tegoprazan vs. esomeprazole in patients with EE in China. Methods::This study was a multicenter, randomized, double-blind, parallel, active-controlled, non-inferiority phase III trial of patients with EE randomized 1:1 to tegoprazan 50 mg/day vs. esomeprazole 40 mg/day. This study was conducted in 32 sites between October 24, 2018 and October 18, 2019. The primary endpoint was the cumulative endoscopic healing rate at week 8. The secondary endpoint included endoscopic healing rate at week 4, changes in the reflux disease questionnaire (RDQ) and gastroesophageal reflux disease health-related quality of life (GERD-HRQL) scores, and symptom improvement. Results::A total of 261 patients were randomized: 132 to the tegoprazan group and 129 to the esomeprazole group. The cumulative endoscopic healing rate at 8 weeks in the tegoprazan group was non-inferior to that of the esomeprazole group (91.1% vs. 92.8%, difference: -1.7%, 95% confidence interval [CI]: -8.5%, 5.0%, P = 0.008). There were no statistically significant differences in the changes in RDQ (total, severity, and frequency) and GERD-HRQL scores between the two groups (all P >0.05). The percentages of days without symptoms, including daytime and nighttime symptoms based on patients' diaries, were similar between the two groups (all P >0.05). In the tegoprazan and esomeprazole groups, 71.5% (93/130) and 61.7% (79/128) of the participants reported adverse events (AEs), 2.3% and 0 experienced serious AEs, while 70.0% and 60.2% had treatment-emergent AEs, respectively. Conclusion::Tegoprazan 50 mg/day demonstrated non-inferior efficacy in healing EE, symptom improvement, and quality of life, and it has similar tolerability compared with esomeprazole 40 mg/day.

Objective To observe the value of 68Ga-DOTA-NOC PET/CT for diagnosing pheochromocytoma(PCC)and paraganglioma(PGL).Methods Thirty-eight patients with suspected or confirmed PCC/PGL who underwent 68 Ga-DOTA-NOC PET/CT were retrospectively enrolled,among them 20 cases underwent 131I-metaiodobenzylguanidine(MIBG)SPECT/CT during the same period.The value of 68Ga-DOTA-NOC PET/CT for diagnosing PCC/PGL at individual and lesion levels were analyzed and compared to the results of 131I-MIBG SPECT/CT.Results Among 38 cases,there were 20 cases of PCC,14 cases of PGL,1 case of adrenocortical carcinoma and 3 cases of benign adrenal hyperplasia.The sensitivity,specificity,positive predictive value,negative predictive value and accuracy of 68 Ga-DOTA-NOC PET/CT for diagnosing PCC/PGL in all 38 cases was 87.88％(29/33),60.00％(3/5),93.55％(29/31),42.86％(3/7)and 84.21％(32/38),respectively.Totally 188 lesions were detected in 34 cases,with detection rate of 89.95％(188/209).For 20 patients who underwent both 2 kinds examinations,the detection rate of bone,lymph node,liver,lung metastases and the overall lesions of 68Ga-DOTA-NOC PET/CT were all higher than those of 131I-MIBG SPECT/CT(all P＜0.05).No significant difference of diagnostic accuracy of PCC/PGL was found between 68 Ga-DOTA-NOC PET/CT and 131I-MIBG SPECT/CT(P＞0.05).Conclusion The value of 68 Ga-DOTA-NOC PET/CT for diagnosing PCC/PGL was comparable to that of 131I-MIBG SPECT/CT,but the former showed higher detection rate of metastases,hence being helpful to staging and risk stratification of PCC/PGL.

OBJECTIVE To establish the HPLC fingerprint of Xintong granules and the quantitative analysis of multi-components by single-marker method(QAMS)to determine the contents of 7 components,so as to provide a scientific basis for their quality control.METHODS HPLC method was used to establish the fingerprints for 10 batches of Xintong granules(No.S1-S10),and similarity evaluation,cluster analysis(CA)and partial least squares-discriminant analysis(PLS-DA)were performed.At the same time,the contents of seven components,including puerarin,daidzin,calycosin-7-O-β-D-glucoside,stilbene glycoside,naringin,icariin and tanshinone ⅡA,were determined by QAMS method,and were compared with the results of external standard method.RESULTS A total of 18 common peaks were marked and 7 peaks were identified in the HPLC fingerprints for 10 batches of Xintong granules,namely puerarin(peak 4),daidzin(peak 7),calycosin-7-O-β-D-glucoside(peak 9),stilbene glycoside(peak 10),naringin(peak 12),icariin(peak 17),and tanshinone ⅡA(peak 18);the similarities among them were more than 0.990,and CA and PLS-DA results showed that S4-S5,S8-S10,S1-S3 and S6-S7 were clustered into three categories,respectively.Using naringin as the internal standard,the contents of puerarin,daidzin,calycosin-7-O-β-D-glucoside,stilbene glycoside,icariin and tanshinone ⅡA were determined to be 7.868 1-10.181 2,1.709 2-2.374 1,0.285 2-0.326 3,1.024 1-1.523 9,0.140 2-0.290 4,and 0.077 1-0.219 4 mg/g,respectively,by the QAMS.These results showed no significant differences compared to those obtained by the external standard method.CONCLUSIONS Established HPLC fingerprint and QAMS method are convenient,stable and accurate,which can provide a basis for the quality evaluation of Xintong granules.

Objective To observe the value of 68Ga-DOTA-NOC PET/CT for diagnosing pheochromocytoma(PCC)and paraganglioma(PGL).Methods Thirty-eight patients with suspected or confirmed PCC/PGL who underwent 68 Ga-DOTA-NOC PET/CT were retrospectively enrolled,among them 20 cases underwent 131I-metaiodobenzylguanidine(MIBG)SPECT/CT during the same period.The value of 68Ga-DOTA-NOC PET/CT for diagnosing PCC/PGL at individual and lesion levels were analyzed and compared to the results of 131I-MIBG SPECT/CT.Results Among 38 cases,there were 20 cases of PCC,14 cases of PGL,1 case of adrenocortical carcinoma and 3 cases of benign adrenal hyperplasia.The sensitivity,specificity,positive predictive value,negative predictive value and accuracy of 68 Ga-DOTA-NOC PET/CT for diagnosing PCC/PGL in all 38 cases was 87.88％(29/33),60.00％(3/5),93.55％(29/31),42.86％(3/7)and 84.21％(32/38),respectively.Totally 188 lesions were detected in 34 cases,with detection rate of 89.95％(188/209).For 20 patients who underwent both 2 kinds examinations,the detection rate of bone,lymph node,liver,lung metastases and the overall lesions of 68Ga-DOTA-NOC PET/CT were all higher than those of 131I-MIBG SPECT/CT(all P＜0.05).No significant difference of diagnostic accuracy of PCC/PGL was found between 68 Ga-DOTA-NOC PET/CT and 131I-MIBG SPECT/CT(P＞0.05).Conclusion The value of 68 Ga-DOTA-NOC PET/CT for diagnosing PCC/PGL was comparable to that of 131I-MIBG SPECT/CT,but the former showed higher detection rate of metastases,hence being helpful to staging and risk stratification of PCC/PGL.

Radiation induced lung injury is a common complication of radiation therapy, typically characterized by the involvement of lung parenchyma.The radiation sensitivity of the trachea and bronchi is lower than that of the lung parenchyma, and the damage to the airways is usually not apparent for most patients using the standard radiation dose. The escalation of radiotherapy dose and the utilization of stereotactic body radiotherapy (SBRT) have been shown to enhance local tumor control. However, there is a growing concern regarding the development of radiation-induced airway disease (RIAD), which encompasses central airway stenosis, atelectasis, obstructive pneumonia, airway-wall necrosis, severe airway toxicity, and potentially life-threatening complications. This article presents the latest research advancements regarding the incidence, pathophysiological alterations, injury classification, preventive strategies, and treatment approaches of RIAD.

Background::An evidence gap still exists regarding the efficacy and safety of tegoprazan in patients with erosive esophagitis (EE) in China. This study aimed to verify the efficacy and safety of tegoprazan vs. esomeprazole in patients with EE in China. Methods::This study was a multicenter, randomized, double-blind, parallel, active-controlled, non-inferiority phase III trial of patients with EE randomized 1:1 to tegoprazan 50 mg/day vs. esomeprazole 40 mg/day. This study was conducted in 32 sites between October 24, 2018 and October 18, 2019. The primary endpoint was the cumulative endoscopic healing rate at week 8. The secondary endpoint included endoscopic healing rate at week 4, changes in the reflux disease questionnaire (RDQ) and gastroesophageal reflux disease health-related quality of life (GERD-HRQL) scores, and symptom improvement. Results::A total of 261 patients were randomized: 132 to the tegoprazan group and 129 to the esomeprazole group. The cumulative endoscopic healing rate at 8 weeks in the tegoprazan group was non-inferior to that of the esomeprazole group (91.1% vs. 92.8%, difference: -1.7%, 95% confidence interval [CI]: -8.5%, 5.0%, P = 0.008). There were no statistically significant differences in the changes in RDQ (total, severity, and frequency) and GERD-HRQL scores between the two groups (all P >0.05). The percentages of days without symptoms, including daytime and nighttime symptoms based on patients' diaries, were similar between the two groups (all P >0.05). In the tegoprazan and esomeprazole groups, 71.5% (93/130) and 61.7% (79/128) of the participants reported adverse events (AEs), 2.3% and 0 experienced serious AEs, while 70.0% and 60.2% had treatment-emergent AEs, respectively. Conclusion::Tegoprazan 50 mg/day demonstrated non-inferior efficacy in healing EE, symptom improvement, and quality of life, and it has similar tolerability compared with esomeprazole 40 mg/day.

Objective:To develop a prediction model for postoperative prognosis in patients with cholangiocarcinoma(CCA)based on the expression of silence information regulator 2(SIRT2).Methods:The differential expression of SIRT2 between CCA and normal tissues was analyzed using TCGA and GEO databases.Gene set enrichment analysis(GSEA)was used to explore potential mechanisms of SIRT2 in CCA.The expression of SIRT2 protein in CCA tissues and normal tissues(including 44 pairs of specimens)was also detected by immunohistochemistry(IHC)in 89 resectable CCA patients who underwent surgical treatment in the First Affiliated Hospital of Bengbu Medical College between January 2016 and December 2021.The relationship between SIRT2 expression and clinicopathological characteristics and prognosis of CCA patients was analyzed.A survival prediction model for patients with resectable CCA was constructed with COX regression results,the calibration curve and the time-dependent receiver operating characteristic curve(ROC)were used to evaluate the performance of the constructed model,and the predictive power between this model and the American Joint Committee on Cancer(AJCC)/TNM staging system(8th edition)was compared.Results:SIRT2 mRNA was overexpressed in CCA tissues as shown in TCGA and GEO databases.IHC staining showed that SIRT2 protein expression in CCA tissues was significantly higher than that in adjacent non-tumor tissues.GSEA results showed that elevated SIRT2 expression may be involved in multiple metabolism-related signaling pathway,such as fatty acid metabolism,oxidative phosphorylation and amino acid metabolism.SIRT2 expression was related to serum triglycerides level,tumor size and lymph node metastasis(all P<0.05).The survival analysis results showed that patients with higher SIRT2 expression had a significantly lower overall survival(OS)than patients with lower SIRT2 expression(P<0.05).Univariate COX regression analysis suggested that pathological differentiation,clinical stage,postoperative treatment and SIRT2 expression level were associated with the prognosis of CCA patients(all P<0.05).Multivariate regression analysis confirmed that clinical stage and SIRT2 expression level were independent predictors of OS in postoperative CCA patients(both P<0.05).A nomogram based on SIRT2 for prediction of survival in postoperative CCA patients was constructed.The C-index of the model was 0.675,and the area under the time-dependent ROC curve(AUC)for predicting survival in the first,second,and third years was 0.879,0.778,and 0.953,respectively,which were superior to those of AJCC/TNM staging system(8th Edition).Conclusions:SIRT2 is highly expressed in CCA tissues,which is associated with poor prognosis in patients with resectable CCA.The nomogram developed based on SIRT2 may have better predictive power than the AJCC/TNM staging system(8th edition)in prediction of survival of postoperative CCA patients.

Background::Although overnight fasting is recommended prior to endoscopic retrograde cholangiopancreatography (ERCP), the benefits and safety of high-carbohydrate fluid diet (CFD) intake 2 h before ERCP remain unclear. This study aimed to analyze whether high-CFD intake 2 h before ERCP can be safe and accelerate patients’ recovery.Methods::This prospective, multicenter, randomized controlled trial involved 15 tertiary ERCP centers. A total of 1330 patients were randomized into CFD group ( n = 665) and fasting group ( n = 665). The CFD group received 400 mL of maltodextrin orally 2 h before ERCP, while the control group abstained from food/water overnight (>6 h) before ERCP. All ERCP procedures were performed using deep sedation with intravenous propofol. The investigators were blinded but not the patients. The primary outcomes included postoperative fatigue and abdominal pain score, and the secondary outcomes included complications and changes in metabolic indicators. The outcomes were analyzed according to a modified intention-to-treat principle. Results::The post-ERCP fatigue scores were significantly lower at 4 h (4.1 ± 2.6 vs. 4.8 ± 2.8, t = 4.23, P <0.001) and 20 h (2.4 ± 2.1 vs. 3.4 ± 2.4, t= 7.94, P <0.001) in the CFD group, with least-squares mean differences of 0.48 (95% confidence interval [CI]: 0.26–0.71, P <0.001) and 0.76 (95% CI: 0.57–0.95, P <0.001), respectively. The 4-h pain scores (2.1 ± 1.7 vs. 2.2 ± 1.7, t = 2.60, P = 0.009, with a least-squares mean difference of 0.21 [95% CI: 0.05–0.37]) and positive urine ketone levels (7.7% [39/509] vs. 15.4% [82/533], χ2 = 15.13, P <0.001) were lower in the CFD group. The CFD group had significantly less cholangitis (2.1% [13/634] vs. 4.0% [26/658], χ2 = 3.99, P = 0.046) but not pancreatitis (5.5% [35/634] vs. 6.5% [43/658], χ2 = 0.59, P = 0.444). Subgroup analysis revealed that CFD reduced the incidence of complications in patients with native papilla (odds ratio [OR]: 0.61, 95% CI: 0.39–0.95, P = 0.028) in the multivariable models. Conclusion::Ingesting 400 mL of CFD 2 h before ERCP is safe, with a reduction in post-ERCP fatigue, abdominal pain, and cholangitis during recovery.Trail Registration::ClinicalTrials.gov, No. NCT03075280.

Objective:To develop a prediction model for postoperative prognosis in patients with cholangiocarcinoma(CCA)based on the expression of silence information regulator 2(SIRT2).Methods:The differential expression of SIRT2 between CCA and normal tissues was analyzed using TCGA and GEO databases.Gene set enrichment analysis(GSEA)was used to explore potential mechanisms of SIRT2 in CCA.The expression of SIRT2 protein in CCA tissues and normal tissues(including 44 pairs of specimens)was also detected by immunohistochemistry(IHC)in 89 resectable CCA patients who underwent surgical treatment in the First Affiliated Hospital of Bengbu Medical College between January 2016 and December 2021.The relationship between SIRT2 expression and clinicopathological characteristics and prognosis of CCA patients was analyzed.A survival prediction model for patients with resectable CCA was constructed with COX regression results,the calibration curve and the time-dependent receiver operating characteristic curve(ROC)were used to evaluate the performance of the constructed model,and the predictive power between this model and the American Joint Committee on Cancer(AJCC)/TNM staging system(8th edition)was compared.Results:SIRT2 mRNA was overexpressed in CCA tissues as shown in TCGA and GEO databases.IHC staining showed that SIRT2 protein expression in CCA tissues was significantly higher than that in adjacent non-tumor tissues.GSEA results showed that elevated SIRT2 expression may be involved in multiple metabolism-related signaling pathway,such as fatty acid metabolism,oxidative phosphorylation and amino acid metabolism.SIRT2 expression was related to serum triglycerides level,tumor size and lymph node metastasis(all P<0.05).The survival analysis results showed that patients with higher SIRT2 expression had a significantly lower overall survival(OS)than patients with lower SIRT2 expression(P<0.05).Univariate COX regression analysis suggested that pathological differentiation,clinical stage,postoperative treatment and SIRT2 expression level were associated with the prognosis of CCA patients(all P<0.05).Multivariate regression analysis confirmed that clinical stage and SIRT2 expression level were independent predictors of OS in postoperative CCA patients(both P<0.05).A nomogram based on SIRT2 for prediction of survival in postoperative CCA patients was constructed.The C-index of the model was 0.675,and the area under the time-dependent ROC curve(AUC)for predicting survival in the first,second,and third years was 0.879,0.778,and 0.953,respectively,which were superior to those of AJCC/TNM staging system(8th Edition).Conclusions:SIRT2 is highly expressed in CCA tissues,which is associated with poor prognosis in patients with resectable CCA.The nomogram developed based on SIRT2 may have better predictive power than the AJCC/TNM staging system(8th edition)in prediction of survival of postoperative CCA patients.