Objective To investigate the impact of continuous nebulization therapy after lung transplantation on pulmonary function and related complications in lung transplant recipients. Methods A retrospective analysis was conducted on the general data of 71 recipients who underwent allogeneic lung transplantation at the Department of Thoracic Surgery, the First Affiliated Hospital of Zhengzhou University, from June 2013 to December 2024. Recipients were divided into observation group (those who continued nebulization therapy for more than 3 months after discharge) and control group (those who discontinued nebulization therapy on their own). The main observation indicators were pulmonary function indicators at 6 months after surgery, including forced expiratory volume in the first second as a percentage of predicted value (FEV₁% pred), forced vital capacity as a percentage of predicted value (FVC% pred), ratio of forced expiratory volume in the first second to forced vital capacity as a percentage of predicted value (FEV₁/FVC% pred), forced expiratory flow at 25%, 50% and 75% of forced vital capacity as a percentage of predicted value, and the percentage of predicted value of corrected carbon monoxide diffusion capacity measured by single-breath method, as well as the ratio of corrected carbon monoxide diffusion capacity to alveolar volume as a percentage of predicted value. Additionally, the annual incidence of postoperative pulmonary infections, survival rate and the rate of no severe airway complications were analyzed. Results At 6 months after lung transplantation, the FEV₁% pred and FVC% pred of the observation group were better than those of the control group [FEV₁% pred was 76% (60%, 91%) vs. 67% (62%, 78%), FVC% pred was (75 ± 13)% vs. (69 ± 11)%, both P<0.05]. The observation group had a lower annual incidence of pulmonary infections compared to the control group (P = 0.023), with a risk of 0.485 times that of the control group. There were no statistically significant differences between the two groups in median survival time and the rate of no severe airway complications (both P>0.05). Conclusions Continuous nebulization therapy after lung transplantation may effectively improve pulmonary function, reduce the annual incidence of pulmonary infections, and play a positive role in the long-term maintenance of pulmonary function.

Objective:To explore the current status of surgery for portal hypertension to grasp current status and future development of surgery in China.Methods:This study is jointly sponsored by China Hepatobiliary & Pancreatic Specialist Alliance & Portal Hypertension Alliance in China (CHESS).Comprehensive surveying is conducted for basic domestic situations of surgery for portal hypertension, including case load, surgical approaches, management of postoperative complications, primary effects, existing confusion and obstacles, liver transplantation(LT), laparoscopic procedures and transjugular intrahepatic portosystemic shunt(TIPS), etc.Results:A total of 8 512 cases of portal hypertension surgery are performed at 378 hospitals nationwide in 2021.Splenectomy plus devascularization predominated(53.0%)and laparoscopy accounted for 76.1%.Primary goal is preventing rebleeding(67.0%) and 72.8% of hospitals used preventive anticoagulants after conventional surgery.And 80.7% of teams believe that the formation of postoperative portal vein thrombosis is a surgical dilemma and 65.3% of hospitals practiced both laparoscopy and TIPS.The major reasons for patients with portal hypertension not receiving LT are due to a lack of qualifications for LT(69.3%)and economic factors(69.0%).Conclusions:Surgery is an integral part of management of portal hypertension in China.However, it is imperative to further standardize the grasp of surgical indications, the handling of surgical operation and the management of postoperative complications.Moreover, prospective, multi-center randomized controlled clinical studies should be performed.

Objective To explore the feasibility of extracorporeal membrane oxygenation (ECMO) in protecting the donor liver in donation after citizen's death. Methods Clinical data of 16 donors and recipients undergoing liver transplantation using ECMO to protect the donor liver were retrospectively analyzed. The effect of ECMO on different indicators of the donors was evaluated. The liver function and clinical prognosis of the recipients after liver transplantation were observed. Results Compared with the time before ECMO, the heart rate, total bilirubin (TB), alanine transaminase (ALT) and aspartate transaminase (AST) of the donors after ECMO were significantly reduced, whereas the systolic blood pressure, diastolic blood pressure and partial pressure of arterial oxygen (PaO₂) were remarkably increased (all P < 0.05). The liver function of the recipients was properly recovered after liver transplantation, and gradually restored normal at postoperative 7 to 28 d. Postoperative complications occurred in 3 recipients, including delayed liver function recovery in 1 case, biliary tract stenosis in 1 case and portal vein thrombosis in 1 case. Among them, the patient with portal vein thrombosis died after secondary operation, and the other 2 patients were recovered and discharged after symptomatic treatment. Conclusions The hemodynamics, liver function and other indicators of donors from donation after citizen's death are significantly improved after ECMO, and the liver function of the recipients also recover well.

Objective To evaluate the clinical efficacy of video-assisted thoracoscopic lobectomy in the treatment of primary lung cancer in elderly patients.Methods Clinical data of 50 elderly patients with primary non-small cell lung cancer undergoing lobectomy at our hospital from July 2016 to July 2017 were retrospectively analyzed.The patients were divided into video-assisted thoracoscopic surgery(VATS) group(n =30) and conventional thoracotomy group (n =20).General data of surgery including operating time,intraoperative bleeding volume,the total volume of intraoperative drainage,the group number of lymph node dissection and the number of dissected lymph nodes,and postoperative data including duration of chest tube drainage,the first 24 h post-operative pain numeric rating scale(NRS)score,postoperative hospitalization time and 30-day postoperative complication were analyzed and compared between the two groups.Results All operations were successfully completed in all patients of both groups,and no patient died during the perioperative period.The differences were statistically significant between VATS and traditional thoracotomy groups in operating time[(96.8 ± 10.2)min vs.(126.3±16.1)min,t =6.211,P=0.036],in transoperative bleeding[(101.3±12.7)ml vs.(128.3±14.6)ml,t =4.310,P =0.027]and in total volume of intraoperative draining[(231.7±31.6)ml vs.(295.6 ± 39.8) ml,t =5.610,P =0.018].VATS showed superiority over traditional thoracotomy.In VATS groups vs.the traditional thoracotomy group,the duration of chest tube drainage was[(3.0±0.6)d vs.(3.9±0.8)d,t =5.317,P=0.022],postoperative pain NRS score was [(3.61± 1.09)vs.(5.3 ± 1.3) score,t =6.290,P =0.016]and postoperative hospitalization time was [(5.9 ±1.6) d vs.(8.9 ± 1.9) d,t =3.069,P =0.031].In addition,the incidences of postoperative complications were lower in the VATS group than in the traditional thoracotomy group(1/30 or 3.3 ％ vs.5/20 or 25.0％,x2 =5.335,P=0.021).Conclusions Video-assisted thoracoscopic lobectomy is safe and effective in treating primary lung cancer in elderly patients and can promote postoperative recovery,which is more suitable for elderly patients with primary lung cancer.

Objective To explore whether Rho kinase inhibitor protects endotoxemia mice from kidney injury,and to investigate the mechanism underlying this effect. Methods Adult male C57BL/6 mice were randomly divided into three groups (n = 8 for each group): control,lipopolysaccharide (LPS),and LPS+ Y-27632 (Rho kinase inhibitor). For induction of acute kidney injury,mice were administered 30 mg/kg LPS intraperitoneally. Y-27632 (10 mg/kg body weight) was injected intraperitoneally 18 h and 1 h before injection of LPS,and an equal volume of sterile saline was administered at the corresponding time point in each group. The mice were killed 8 h after LPS administration. Blood samples and kidney tissues were taken and preserved for subsequent analysis. Results Pretreatment with Y-27632 significantly attenuated LPS-induced kidney injury;pretreatment with Y-27632 markedly reduced renal expression of inflammatory cytokines (TNF-α and IL-1β) in endotoxemia mouse,and also significantly inhibited LPS-induced caspase-3 expression in the kidney; and Y-27632 pretreatment dramatically reduced TLR4 protein expression and NF-κBp65 phosphorylation in kidney tissues of endotoxemia mouse. Conclusion Rho kinase inhibitor may inhibit TLR4 and NF-κB signaling pathway to reduce the inflammatory response in the kidneys of endotoxemia mice and alleviate acute renal injury induced by LPS.

Objective To explore the clinical application of renal replacement therapy in renal transplan-tation from donation after citizen's death(DCD).Methods A total of 41 cases of the patients with renal replace-ment therapy after renal transplantation from DCD from January 2013 to December 2016 were involved,of which 14 cases received peritoneal dialysis,21 intermittent hemodialysis(IHD)and 6 continuous renal replacement ther-apy(CRRT).The therapeutic effect and complications of three renal replacement therapies were retrospectively ana-lyzed. Results After dialysis treatment,the concentration of blood BUN,Crea,and potassium was significantly lower than that before the treatment(P<0.05);the difference of Crea and BUN before and after the treatment in IHD and CRRT group was higher than that in peritoneal dialysis group(P<0.05)but there was no statistically sig-nificant difference between IHD and CRRT group(P > 0. 05). Conclusion The renal replacement after kidney transplantation from DCD should be based on the patient's condition,which is the key to protect their kidneys even to save patients'lives.

BACKGROUND:Angiotensin II receptor antagonists have been found to exerct a stronger protective effect on bone than angiotensin converting enzyme inhibitors. OBJECTIVE:To investigate the effect of different concentrations of irbesartan (angiotensin II receptor antagonist) on the differentiation and mineralization of mouse preosteoblasts. METHODS:Mouse preosteoblast cel lines MC3T3-E1 in logarithmic phase were selected and cultured in the osteogenic induction medium containing 0 (control group), 0.001, 0.01, 0.1 mmol/L irbesartan, respectively. Ten days later, the cel differentiation was observed by alkaline phosphatase staining. The mineralization was observed by alizarin red staining after 21 days of culture. mRNA expressions of osteocalcin, alkaline phosphatase and Runt-associated transcription factor 2 in osteoblasts were detected by real-time PCR at 1, 4, 7, 14 and 21 days of culture. RESULTS AND CONCLUSION:The activity of alkaline phosphatase in al the irbesartan groups (0, 0.001, 0.01, 0.1) was higher than that in the control group (P<0.05), which was the most obvious in 0.01 mmol/L. The number and area of calcium nodules in each irbesartan group were significantly higher than those in the control group (P<0.05), especial y in 0.01 mmol/L. Compared with the control group, 0.01 mmol/L irbesartan significantly upregulated the mRNA expressions of osteocalcin, alkaline phosphatase and Runt-associated transcription factor 2 (P<0.05). These results suggest that 0.01 mmol/L irbesartan significantly promotes the differentiation and mineralization of osteoblasts.

Objective To analyze the value of conventional T2WI combining with breath-hold Cartesian VIBE sequence, and compared with Blade combining with breath-free radial VIBE sequences in pre-operative T staging of potentiallly resectable esophageal carcinoma. Methods Sixty-five cases of esophageal carcinoma were concluded prospectively. All patients had received pathological examination of gastroscope biopsy before MRI. Patients received MR examination, including T2WI, breath-hold VIBE, Blade, and breath-free radial VIBE sequences. Two radiologists with more than five years experiences in the diagnosis of chest, performed T staging in MRIby referring to the the 7th edition of UICC-AJCC TNM classification. The results of MRI T staging and the postoperative pathological T staging were analyzed byχ2 test. Results Sixty-five patients were included. Diagnostic coincidence rates of the preoperative T staging by using conventional T2WI combining with breath-hold Cartesian VIBE sequences and Blade combining with breath-free radial VIBE sequences were 51%(33/65) and 88%(57/65) ,with 32 and 8 cases overstaging or understaging respectively, and the statistical differences were significant(χ2=20.80, P<0.05). The former diagnostic accuracy of esophageal carcinoma in situ, muscularis violation and esophageal fiber membrane were 42%(8/19), 54%(14/26), 55%(11/20), and the latter were 89%(17/19), 88%(23/26), and 85%(17/20). Conclusions Diagnostic coincidence rate of the preoperative T staging by using Blade combining with breath-free radial VIBE sequences is much higher than conventional T2WI combining with breath-hold Cartesian VIBE sequences. Blade combining with breath-free radial VIBE sequences could be used as non-invasive imaging method in preoperative T staging of potentially resectable esophageal carcinoma.

Objective To summarize the preliminary experience of donor liver protection and function evaluation for organ donation after citizen's death. Methods Clinical data of 35 donors from organ donation after citizen's death and 33 recipients were retrospectively analyzed. Donor liver procurement and clinical prognosis of the recipients were summarized. According to serum level of sodium ion (serum sodium) before organ procurement, all recipients were divided into the serum sodium <155 mmol/L, 155-160 mmol/L and 161-180 mmol/L groups. The incidence of liver graft dysfunction early after liver transplantation was statistically compared among three groups. Results In 35 donors,27 cases were Chinese type Ⅱ and 8 cases were Chinese type Ⅲ. Thirty-three donor livers were used for liver transplantation, and the remaining 2 cases of donor livers were excluded due to congestive cirrhosis. In 33 liver transplantation recipients, 30 cases were successfully recovered. The liver function was gradually restored at postoperative 7-14 d, and normal liver function was obtained during long-term follow-up. Postoperatively, 3 recipients died including 2 cases dying from portal vein thrombosis and 1 case from pulmonary infection complicated with multiple organ failure. The incidence of early liver graft dysfunction of the recipients after liver transplantation was 18%, 23% and 4/5 in the serum sodium <155 mmol/L, 155-160 mmol/L and 161-180 mmol/L groups, respectively. Statistical significance was observed between the 161-180 mmol/L and <155 mmol/L groups (P<0.05). Conclusions Timely protection of donor liver, accurate evaluation and maintenance of liver function play a pivotal role in enhancing the utilization rate of donor liver, maintaining liver function and yielding good efficacy for transplantation.

Background and objective The aim of this study is to determine the effcacy and feasibility of a novel folate receptor (FR)-based circulating tumor cell (CTC) detection method in the diagnosis of lung cancer. CTCs were col-lected from 3 mL of blood based on negative enrichment by immunomagnetic beads and then labeled by a conjugate of a tumor-speciifc ligand folate and an oligonucleotide.Methods Atfer washing off redundant conjugates, the bound conjugates were removed and analyzed by quantitative polymerase chain reaction.Results The CTC levels of 97 patients with lung cancer were signiifcantly higher than that of the controls (18 patients with benign lung diseases;P<0.001). With a threshold of 8.7 Folate units, the method showed a sensitivity of 82.5% and a speciifcity of 72.2% in the diagnosis of lung cancer, especially a sensitivity of 86.8% in stage I disease. Compared with the existing clinical biomarkers such as neuron-speciifc enolase (NSE), carcinoembryonic antigen (CEA), and CYFAR21-1, the method showed the highest diagnostic effciency in lung cancer (area under the curve, 0.859; 95%CI: 0.779-0.939) and stage I lung cancer (area under the curve, 0.912; 95%CI: 0.829-0.994). For future work, the CTC levels of 5 lung cancer patients higher than 8.7 Folate units/3 mL in their postoperation.Conclusion FR-positive CTCs were feasible diagnostic biomarkers in patients with lung cancer, as well as in early-stage tumors.