Objective:To compare the effects of drug-loaded microsphere TACE (D-TACE) and iodinated oil emulsion TACE (cTACE) on liver fibrosis in the treatment of advanced hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC).Methods:Clinical data of 113 patients with HCC treated with D-TACE or cTACE at the First Affiliated Hospital of Zhengzhou University from October 2019 to September 2020 were retrospectively analyzed, including 96 males and 17 females, aged (56.8±9.8) years old. According to treatment protocol, patients were divided into two groups: the D-TACE group ( n=57) and the cTACE group ( n=56). Liver fibrosis panel, fibrosis index (FIB-4), aspartate aminotransferase to platelet ratio index (APRI), and liver stiffness measurement (LSM) were compared between the groups at four timepoints: pre-treatment, one month after the first TACE, one month after the second TACE, and 12 months after the first TACE. Follow-ups were conducted through outpatient visits or telephone reviews to assess patient survivals. Data including the progression-free survival (PFS) and number of TACE sessions were compared between the two groups. Results:The D-TACE group received 2.84±1.12 sessions of treatment during the observation period, compared to 4.05±1.44 sessions of cTACE group ( t=4.94, P<0.001). The median PFS in D-TACE and cTACE groups were 10.0 and 5.0 months, respectively ( P<0.001). At one month after the second TACE and at 12 months after the first TACE, patients in cTACE group had a higher serum levels of fibrosis markers including hyaluronic acid, type IV collagen, type III procollagen N peptide and laminin than those in D-TACE group (all P<0.05). At the same timepoints, patients in cTACE group also had higher APRI, FIB-4 and LSM than those in D-TACE group (all P<0.05). Conclusion:Compared to cTACE, patients in D-TACE group received fewer sessions of treatment during the first year after initial TACE, and the degree of liver fibrosis was also lower in D-TACE group.

Objective:To investigate the risk factors for nonunion after surgery for femoral shaft fractures in order to reduce them.Methods:The clinical data were retrospectively analyzed of the 804 patients with femoral shaft fracture who had been treated from January 2014 to December 2020 at Department of Orthopaedics, Xijing Hospital. There were 575 males and 229 females, aged from 18 to 96 years (average, 43.7 years). The patients were divided into 2 groups according to whether nonunion had occurred after surgery: a nonunion group of 112 cases and a fracture healing group of 692 cases. The preoperative general data, such as age, gender and fracture type, as well as intraoperative and postoperative data, such as operation time, internal fixation method, reduction method and internal fixation failure, were compared between the 2 groups. Items with P<0.05 were included in the multivariate logistic regression analysis to identify the risk factors for nonunion. Results:There were statistically significant differences between the nonunion group and the fracture healing group in smoking history, drinking history, injury mechanism, injury type, multiple injuries, fracture AO classification, fixation method, internal fixation failure, postoperative infection and use of non-steroid anti-inflammtory drugs ( P<0.05). Multivariate logistic regression analysis showed that smoking ( OR=3.261, 95% CI: 2.072 to 5.133, P<0.001), high energy injury ( OR=2.010, 95% CI: 1.085 to 3.722, P=0.026), multiple injuries ( OR=3.354, 95% CI: 1.985 to 5.669, P<0.001), AO type 32-C fracture (type 32-C fracture used as a reference, P=0.034), internal fixation failure ( OR=3.517, 95% CI: 1.806 to 6.849, P<0.001), external stent fixation (external stent fixation used as a reference, P=0.009) were the risk factors for nonunion after femoral shaft fractures. Conclusions:After surgery for patients with femoral shaft fracture, special attention should be paid to those with a smoking habit, high-energy injury, multiple injuries, AO type 32-C fracture, external stent fixation or a failed internal fixation, because they are high-risk groups prone to postoperative nonunion.

Objective:To summarize the experience of diagnosis and treatment of primary thyroid lymphoma (PTL) and improve the level of diagnosis and treatment.Methods:The clinical and pathological data of 19 patients with PTL admitted to the Department of Breast and Thyroid Surgery, Daping Hospital, Army Medical University From Mar. 2000 to Jul. 2019 were retrospectively reviewed.Results:among the 19 PTL patients, 4 were male and 15 were female, with an average age of 69 years (51-88 years) . 15 cases showed rapid enlargement of neck mass, 9 cases with swallowing obstruction, 7 cases with hoarseness and 5 cases with dyspnea. 13 cases were diagnosed by intervention, the other 6 cases were diagnosed by biopsy. There were 1 case of Hodgkin’s lymphoma and 18 cases of non Hodgkin’s lymphoma, including 13 cases of diffuse large B cell lymphoma and 4 cases of mucosa associated lymphoid tissue lymphoma. 12 cases received chemotherapy and 1 case received radiotherapy. The median follow-up period was 28 months (0-88 months) , 5 cases were lost, 6 cases died, 3 cases died of recurrence and spread of lymphoma, 3 cases died of others.Conclusions:PTL is more likely to occur in the elderly women, which is characterized by sudden enlargement of cervical mass and its related compression symptoms. The diagnosis can be confirmed by coarse needle biopsy or surgical intervention. PTL needs comprehensive treatment including surgery, chemotherapy and targeted treatment.

We report a case of primary thyroid leiomyosarcoma and review the progression, treatment and outcome of the case. Clinicopathological features of primary thyroid leiomyosarcoma combined with a review of literature were discussed, in the hope of providing reference to the clinical work.

Purpose: Real-time detection and intervention can be used as potential measures to markedly decrease breast cancer mortality. Assessment of circulating tumor DNA (ctDNA) may offer great benefits for the management of breast cancer over time. However, the use of ctDNA to predict the effectiveness of neoadjuvant treatment and recurrence of breast cancer has rarely been studied. Methods: We prospectively recruited 31 breast cancer patients with 4 subtypes. Three time points were set in this study, including before any therapy (C1), during surgery (T), and six months after surgery (C2). We collected peripheral blood samples from all 31 patients at C1, tumor tissue from all 31 patients at T, and peripheral blood samples from 25 patients at C2. Targeted 727-gene panel sequencing was performed on ctDNA from all blood samples and tissue DNA from all tissue samples. Somatic mutations were detected and analyzed using a reference standard pipeline. Statistical analysis was performed to identify possible associations between ctDNA profiles and clinical outcomes. Results: In total, we detected 159, 271, and 70 somatic mutations in 30 C1 samples, 31 T samples, and 12 C2 samples, respectively. We identified specific genes, such as PIK3CA, TP53, and KMT2C, which were highly mutated in the tissue samples. Furthermore, mutated KMT2C observed in ctDNA of the C2 samples may be an indicator of breast cancer recurrence. Conclusion Our study highlights the potential of ctDNA analysis at different timepoints for assessing tumor progression and treatment effectiveness, as well as prediction of breast cancer recurrence.

Male breast cancer (MBC) is rare and accounts for approximately 1% of all breast cancer cases worldwide. Previous studies have suggested that several factors significantly increase the risk of MBC. Prolactinoma has the highest incidence rate among patients with functional pituitary tumors. However, whether prolactinoma is involved in the onset and progression of breast cancer remains unclear. To date, there are only five case reports globally on MBC with concurrent prolactinoma. We hereby describe the first case of MBC with prolactinoma in China. We also explored the patient's genetic profile using whole exome sequencing. Our findings may help advance our understanding of the molecular pathogenesis of MBC. Further molecular analyses of such cases are warranted to improve auxiliary molecular diagnostic methods and targeted therapy for MBC.

Objective To systematically evaluate the biomechanical recovery of drilled holes in the femur in SD rats.Methods Eighteen female SD rats were randomized into 3 even groups (n =6).Models of 2-mm drilled holes in bilateral femurs were established in groups A and B with 2 holes on each side while no drilling was performed in group C.Samples were harvested in group A at postoperative 4 weeks,in group B at postoperative 8 weeks while at both 4 and 8 weeks in group C.The samples were evaluated in terms of linear elasticity (compression test),viscoelasticity (relaxation and creep tests) and durability (fatigue failure test).Micro-CT scan was performed to measure the bone volume fraction (BV/TV) and bone mineral density (BMD) of new bone.Sirus red staining was performed to measure regeneration of type Ⅰ collagen of new bone.Results The elasticity modulus,maximum load,compression strength and conditional yield limit in groups A were significantly lower than those in group B which were also significantly lower than those in group C (P ＜ 0.05).At 7,200 s,the relaxation (14.56 ±0.69 MPa) and creep variation (11.37％ ± 0.70％) in group A were significantly higher than those in group B (11.06 0.63 MPa and 8.98％ ± 0.40％) which were also significantly higher than those in group C (6.99 ±0.56 MPa and 5.10％ ±0.23％) (P ＜ 0.05).At the constant amplitude loads from 20 N to 200 N,from 20 N to 300 N and from 20 N to 400 N,the recycling numbers in group A (6,044.3 ±879.7,4,093.3 ±628.5 and 1,919.3 ±847.5) were significantly lower than those in group B (10,192.3 ± 1,109.1,6,750.6 ± 818.0 and 3,376.6 ± 671.3) which were also significantly lower than those in group C (28,068.3 ±2,702.6,11,788.3 ± 1,141.6 and 5,296.3 ± 735.0) (P ＜ 0.05).By micro-CT scan,the BVT and BMD in group A were significantly lower than those in group B which were also significantly lower than those in group C (P ＜ 0.05).The sirus red staining showed the type Ⅰ collagen in the bone defect area was completely regenerated in group B.Conclusion Systematic biomechanical measurements may actually detect the characteristics of biomechanical recovery of bone holes in SD rats,enriching the basic research on the bone damage repairing progress.

Objective To summarize the experience ofmultidisciplinary team (MDT) in diagnosis and treatment of complicated and refractory thyroid tumors.Methods A retrospective review was performed on clinical data of 46 cases with complicated and refractory large thyroid tumors admitted to our hospital from Jan.2010 to Dec.2016.There were 23 cases in MDT group and 23 cases in the control group,respectively.The MDT group received diagnosis and treatment provided by multidisciplinary team during perioperative period whereas the control group received conventional surgery.Results Short-term complications such as trouble breathing and thyroid crisis were not observed in 46 patients after surgery.In the control group,the mean durations were (52±11.5)minutes for anesthesia,(159±38.1) minutes for surgery and (11 ±3.5) days for hospital stay,respectively.After surgery,bleeding occurred in 5 cases,hoarseness in 5 cases,irritating cough when drinking in 7 cases,transient hypocalcemia in 8 cases,permanent hypocalcemia in 6 cases,and neck tracheotomy due to tracheomalacia during surgery in 2 cases.In MDT group,the mean durations were (37±8.5) minutes for anesthesia,(134±28.5) minutes for surgery and (7±1.5) days,respectively.After surgery,bleeding occurred in 0 case,hoarseness in 0 case,irritating cough when drinking in 1 case,transient hypocalcemia in 2 cases,permanent hypocalcemia in 0 case,and neck tracheotomy due to tracheomalacia during surgery in 4 cases.Conclusion Application of multidisciplinary team in diagnosis and treatment of complicated and refractory thyroid tumors can reduce duration of preoperative endotracheal anesthesia as well as surgery,decrease postoperative complications,shorten duration of hospitalization and improve life quality after surgery.

Objective To investigate effects of combined clopidogrel-aspirin treatment for acute cerebral ischemie infarction on a correlation between cerebral microbleeds (CMBs)and hemorrhagic transformation(HT),so as to provide a new evidence for acute phase treatment of ischemic stroke with CMBs.Methods One hundred and forty-eighty patients with acute cerebral infarction meeting the inclusion criteria were consecutively admitted to our hospitals.All patients underwent susceptibility weighted imaging(SWI) to detect CMBs.Patients were classed into two groups:with and without CMBs and subdivided into brain lobe group,deep group and mixed group.The influence of CMBs or not and CMBs different positions on the post-infarction HT was compared.Logistic regression analysis was used to assess the relationship between HT and the related risk factors.Results The 142 patients finally were included in the study,with 64 patients without CMBs and 78 with CMBs.The detection rates of CMBs were 54.9％.Hypertensive prevalence rate(x2 =6.96,P =0.010)and the levels of uric acid (t =2.04,P =0.040) were higher in CMBs group than group without CMBs.The incidence rate of HT was 12.5 ％ (8 cases)in no CMBs group,and 21.8％(17 cases)in the CMBs group(x2 =2.09,P=0.150).6 in 15 patients(40.0％)patients experienced HT in lobar CMBs group;6 patients (12.5 ％)experienced HT in 48 patients with deep CMBs group;5 patients(33.3％)experienced HT in 15 patients with mixed CMBs group.There was statistically significant difference in HT incidence rate(x2 =6.52,P=0.038)among the 3 groups.Lobar CMBs are more vulnerable for HT.Logistic regression analysis showed that atrial fibrillation(OR=6.48,95 ％ CI:2.45-17.19,P =0.000) and hyperglycemia (OR =1.02,95 ％ CI:1.43 1.94,P =0.020) were risk factors for HT,instead of CMBs(OR=1.95,95％CI:0.78-4.87,P=0.150).Conclusions CMBs do not increase the risk of hemorrhage transformation in cerebral ischemic infarction patients at acute stage with combined antithrombotic treatment.While,the double antithrombotic treatment used in patients with the lobar CMBs should be careful.