Superficial esophageal carcinoma(SEC)has traditionally been treated with endoscopic therapy and surgery.Surgical procedures have always been the standard approach for the management of esophageal tumors,but they are associated with high perioperative morbidity and mortality.In recent years,endoscopic submucosal dissection(ESD)has made significant advancements,offering an effective diagnostic and therapeutic modality for SEC.This article reviewed the comparison of therapeutic efficacy between ESD and surgery for SEC,and discussed the treatment strategies for SEC that extended beyond the indications for ESD,with the aim of enhancing clinicians'understanding of SEC management.

Objective:To investigate the current status of diagnosis and treatment of Helicobacter pylori ( H. pylori) infection in primary hospitals in Jiangsu Province, and to evaluate the capability of comprehensive prevention and management of H. pylori infection in the primary hospitals. Methods:From 2020 to 2022, a questionnaire survey was conducted among 430 primary hospitals, which participated in the Incubation Center Project of Primary Gastroenterology Specialty Department in Jiangsu Province. The questionnaire survey includedthe establishmment of endoscopy and department of gastroenterology, items of H. pylori detection, H. pylori treatment, eradication plans and treatment course. The questionnaire was filled by the director of the primary hospital. Descriptive analysis was used for statistical analysis. Results:A total of 413 valid questionnaires were received. Among the 413 primary hospitals, 286 (69.2%) were equipped with endoscopy centers, and 202 (48.9%) had departments of gastroenterology. In terms of diagnostic methods for H. pylori, 35.8% (148/413) of the primary hospitals did not have urea breath test equipment, of which 84 hospitals did not carry out any H. pylori testing items, 8 hospitals only had rapid urease test, 45 hospitals only had serum H. pylori antibody test, 7 hospitals had both rapid urease test and serum H. pylori antibody test, and 4 hospitals had fecal H. pylori antigen test. In terms of therapeutic drugs, all the hospitals could provide proton pump inhibitors, and 82.8% (342/413) of the hospitals had bismuth agents. According to diagnosis and treatment guideline for H. pylori infection at the primary care, 7 combinations of two antibiotics were recommended. A total of 14 (3.4%) hospitals could provide all the combinations, 369 (89.3%)hospitals could provide 2 to 6 combinations, 20(4.8%)hospitals could provide only one combination, and 10 (2.4%) hospitals could not provide any combination. For the selection of the eradication scheme and treatment course, the bismuth-based quadruple scheme was chosen in 248 (60.0%) hospitals, 14-day course was selected in 363(87.9%) hospitals, and 14-day course of bismuth-based quadruple scheme was selected in 232 (56.2%) hospitals. Conclusion:Improving the H. pylori testing equipment in primary hospitals, preparing all types of therapeutic drugs, and improving doctors′ knowledge of diagnosis and treatment of H. pylori in are of great significance for improving the prevention and treatment efficacy of H. pylori infection at the primary hospitals.

Objective:To evaluate left ventricular structural and functional abnormalities and vascular calcification in kidney transplant (KT) recipients, explore their influencing factors and examine the effects of mineral and bone disorders.Methods:From January 2017 to December 2019, retrospective analysis was performed for 292 KT recipients. Biochemical markers of bone metabolism, bone mineral density (BMD), left ventricular hypertrophy (LVH), left ventricular ejection fraction (LVEF), left ventricular diastolic function, coronary artery calcification (CAC) score and thoracic aortic calcification (TAC) score were assessed. Linear regression and binary Logistic regression analyses were employed for evaluating the influencing factors of cardiovascular parameters and the influence of abnormal mineral and bone metabolism.Results:Postoperative abnormalities in mineral and bone disorders were manifested mostly as hypercalcemia (8.9%, 26/292), hypophosphatemia (27.1%, 79/292), low 25-hydroxyvitamin D (25(OH)vitD) (67.0%, 196/292), hyperparathyroidismhigh parathyroid hormone (PTH) (50.6%, 148/292), elevated bone turnover markers and bone loss rate of 25%-30%. The prevalence of LVH, LVEF<50%, left ventricular diastolic dysfunction, high CAC score and high TAC score were 39.9%(116/292), 0%, 13.1%(38/292), 17.3%(50/292) and 39.9%(116/292) respectively. The results of multivariate analysis indicated that LVH was correlated positively with hypertension and serum calcium (Ca) (95% CI: 1.242-28.080, P=0.026; 95% CI: 1.714-277.584, P=0.018); LVEF was correlated positively with lumbar vertebrae BMD (95% CI: 0.000 1-0.005 5, P=0.041); Left ventricular diastolic dysfunction was correlated positively with age, diabetes and parathyroid hyperplasia/nodules (95% CI: 1.050-1.176, P<0.001; 95% CI: 2.118-43.813, P=0.003 and 95% CI: 1.419-9.103, P=0.007); High CAC score was correlated positively with recipient age and dialysis time (95% CI: 1.036-1.160, P=0.001; 95% CI: 1.009-1.041, P=0.002); High TAC score was correlated positively with age (95% CI: 1.095-1.215, P<0.001). Correlation analysis indicated that TAC was correlated positively with serum Ca ( r=0.233, P=0.003), bone-specific alkaline phosphatase (BALP)( r=0.325, P<0.001) and type Ⅰ collagen cross-linked N-terminal peptide (NTX)( r=0.204, P=0.011) and negatively with femoral neck BMD ( r=0.194, P=0.017). Conclusions:There is a high prevalence of left ventricular structural and functional abnormalities and vascular calcification. It is closely correlated with mineral and bone disorders.

Objective:To establish the quality evaluation method of Perillae caulis formula granules based on the three kind of quality indexes of standard decoction. Methods:Eighteen batches of Perillae caulis were collected from different habitats according to different technical requirements, eighteen batches of standard decoction and three batches of formula granules were prepared and the paste-forming rates were calculated. The content of Caffeic acid and Rosmarinic acid were determined and calculated by Ultra High Performance Liquid Chromatography (UPLC). Then the fingerprints of standard decoction of and formula granules of Perillae caulis were established by UPLC . The similarity values of fingerprints between formula granules and standard decoction were calculated. Results:The average paste-forming rate of standard decoction was (7.16±1.97)%. The paste-forming rates of three batches of formula granules were 5.52%, 5.25% and 5.34%, respectively. The average content of Caffeic acid and Rosmarinic acid in standard decoction was (12.06±3.37)mg/g. The contents of three batches of formula granules were 5.52, 5.82, 5.77 mg/g, respectively. Seven common fingerprint peaks were identified in the fingerprints of standard decoction and formula granules, three of which were identified as Caffeic acid, N-Feruloyl Octopus amine and Rosmarinic acid by comparison of reference substance. The fingerprints similarity of Perillae caulis dispensing granules and standard decoction were 1.000, 0.995 and 0.997, respectively. Conclusions:The quality indexes of three batches of formulation granules are consistent with standard decoction. This method can provide basis for the establishment of quality standard of Perillae caulis dispensing granules.

OBJECTIVES: Pulmonary alveolar proteinosis (PAP) is a rare disease with non-specific and various clinical manifestations, often leading to misdiagnosis. This study aims to raise the awareness of this disease via summarizing the clinical characteristics, diagnosis, and therapy of PAP. METHODS: We retrospectively analyzed clinical data of 25 hospitalized cases of PAP during 2008 and 2019 in the Department of Respiratory and Critical Care Medicine of the Second Xiangya Hospital of Central South University. RESULTS: Cough with unkown reason and dyspnea were common clinical manifastations of PAP. Five patients had a history of occupational inhalational exposure. Sixteen patients had typical image features including ground-glass opacification of alveolar spaces and thickening of the interlobular and intralobular septa, in typical shapes called crazy-paving and geographic pattern. Fourteen patients underwent pulmonary function tests, revealing a reduction in the diffusing capacity for carbon monoxide. The positive rate of transbronchial biopsy was 95%. Five patients received the whole lung lavage and the symptoms and imaging fcauters significantly relieved after five-years follow-up. CONCLUSIONS PAP is characterized by radiographic pattern and pathology. Transbronchial lung biopsy is effective to make diagnosis of PAP. The whole lung lavage remains a efficient therapy.
Biopsy ; Bronchoalveolar Lavage ; Cough ; Dyspnea ; Humans ; Pulmonary Alveolar Proteinosis/therapy* ; Retrospective Studies

Objective:To observe the efficacy and safety of Iguratimod in reducing the level of panel reactive antibodies in renal transplant recipients.Methods:The clinical data of 35 patients with PRA-positive renal transplant recipients were retrospectively analyzed. All recipients were treated with Iguratimod for PRA-positive. The changes in PRA levels before and after treatment and the adverse events were observed.Results:Of the 35 recipients, 4 of them were discontinued due to pulmonary infection, and 2 patients were discontinued during the observation period. 3 patients were lost to follow-up. A total of 26 recipients were included. When Iguratimod was taken to 9 months, the PRA was reviewed. 71.5 % of the 207 sites showed a downward trend, 69.9 % of the 107 class I sites and 75.9 % of the 41 class II site showed a downward trend, and there was no difference in renal function before and after treatment. There were no significant changes in blood routine, liver function, blood lipids, and blood glucose. There were no other adverse events.Conclusions:Iguratimod can effectively reduce the level of PRA in renal transplant recipients with less adverse events.

Objective:To evaluate the values of bone mineral density(BMD)of renal transplant recipients and analyze the influencing factors so as to provide rationales for preventing and treating osteoporosis after renal transplantation.Methods:A retrospective study was conducted for clinical data of 254 renal transplant recipients hospitalized from January 2017 to May 2019. The values of BMD of right femoral neck and lumbar vertebrae were detected by dual-energy X-ray absorptiometry(DEXA)and their relationships with other clinical parameters analyzed.Results:The average age was(40.5±9.8)years. Males accounted for 66.1 %, and menopausal women 5.9 %. The prevalence of osteopenia/osteoporosis of right femoral neck bone mass and lumbar vertebrae was 20.1 %, 2.8 % and 26.1 %, 3.6 % respectively. Chi-square test showed that recipients with lower BMD of femoral neck and lumbar spine were elders, menopausal women and those with longer postoperative time( P<0.05). Multivariate linear regression analysis indicated that BMD of right femoral neck was positively correlated with BMI and negatively correlated with acute rejection( P<0.05). The BMD of lumbar vertebrae was positively correlated with BMI and negatively correlated with PTH level ( P<0.05). Conclusions:There is a high prevalence of bone loss in kidney transplant recipients. Regular monitoring of BMD, active control of hyperparathyroidism, maintaining an excellent nutritional status, tapering of glucocorticoid dose and using immunosuppressants with less effect on bone metabolism may prevent osteoporosis.

Objective:To observe the efficacy and safety of quadruple low-dose immunosuppressant maintenance therapy of sirolimus(SRL), calcineurin inhibitors(CNIs), mycophenolate mofetil(MMF)and glucocorticoid in recipients switched within three months after renal transplantation.Methods:This retrospective study recruited 61 recipients on quadruple immunosuppressive therapy within three months after renal transplantation from 2013 to 2018. The changes of serum creatinine(SCr), blood urea nitrogen(BUN), hemoglobin(HGB), white blood cell(WBC), platelet(PLT), liver function, fasting blood-glucose(FBG), serum lipid, electrolyte and urine protein before and after using this protocol were recorded.Results:No significant difference existed between before and after protocol switching in WBC or serum sodium. But after protocol switching, significant differences could be observed in SCr, BUN, serum calcium, serum potassium, aspartate transaminase(AST), PLT, alanine transaminase(ALT), HGB, FBG, triglycerides(TG)and cholesterol(TC, P<0.05). Urine protein negative rate was 44.26 % before switching. However, it was 81.97 % after protocol switching. After switching during a 1-year follow-up period, the incidence of pulmonary infection rate was 24.59 %, the incidence of BKV infection rate 4.92 %, the incidence of transplant renal artery stenosis 3.28 % and the incidence of acute rejection 6.56 %. Conclusions:Quadruple low-dose immunosuppression maintenance therapy of SRL, CNIs, MMF and glucocorticoid switched within 3 months after renal transplantation may be an effective and safe protocol of improving renal allograft function and enhancing recipient prognosis.

A viable spermatozoon is a prerequisite for fertilization in intracytoplasmic sperm injection (ICSI). Thus, it is crucial to select viable but immotile spermatozoa on the day of ICSI. We report conflicting results in the identification of viable but immotile spermatozoa between the eosin-nigrosin staining and the laser test, which resulted in confusion for embryologists during assisted reproductive technology (ART). Three patients’ semen samples that showed no motile spermatozoa are described in this report. To identify viable spermatozoa, we used both the eosin-nigrosin test and the laser test for each sample, and repeated the semen analysis twice in each patient. Viable but immotile spermatozoa selected by the laser test were used for ICSI. Viable spermatozoa were detected by both the eosin-nigrosin and laser tests in two patients (case 1, 95.00% vs. 24.21% and 92.68% vs. 22.22%; case 2, 41.18% vs. 23.48% and 39.81% vs. 22.52%), indicating consistent results between the two methods. In the third patient, the eosin-nigrosin test yielded viability rates of 20.75% and 19.14%, while the result of the laser test was 0%. Thus, testicular aspiration was performed to collect viable sperm from this patient. Normal fertilization was achieved after the injection of viable but immotile spermatozoa selected from these patients by the laser test, resulting in the birth of two healthy babies. Our study documents a case where the eosin-nigrosin test showed a limitation in identifying viable but immotile spermatozoa for ART, while the laser test may overcome this limitation. Larger samples may be required to corroborate the clinical value of the laser test.
Fertilization ; Humans ; Parturition ; Reproductive Techniques, Assisted ; Semen ; Semen Analysis ; Sperm Injections, Intracytoplasmic ; Spermatozoa

Objective:To investigate the clinical characteristics of a patient with motor neuron disease,which caused sleep-disordered breathing (SDB) and alveolar hypoventilation syndrome,and to improve the diagnosis rate for this disease.Methods:Retrospectively analyze the diagnosis and treatment process for a 52 year-old male patient,who was accepted by the Second Xiangya Hospital,Central South University because of dyspnea,shortness of breath and malaise for 4 months,and eventually was diagnosed as motor neuron disease associated with obstructive sleep apnea hypopnea syndrome and alveolar hypoventilation syndrome.In addition,we searched CNKI,Wanfang and PubMed databases to review relevant literature with keywords (motor neuron disease or amyotrophic lateral sclerosis or progressive bulbar palsy or progressive muscular atrophy or primary lateral sclerosis) AND (sleep apnea or sleep disordered breathing) from January 1990 to May 2017.Results:The major clinical manifestation of motor neuron disease induded impaired upper and lower motor neuron displayed with proximal musde weakness,musde tremor,amyotrophy,bulbar symptoms and pyramidal sign.It was a chronic,progressive disease with worse prognosis,low survival and difficult in diagnosis.Electroneuromyography was a vital way for diagnosis.Furthermore,sleep disordered breathing was common in patients with motor neuron disease,which was featured as decreased rapid eye movement sleep,increased awaking time,apnea and hypopnea.The main mechanism for sleep disordered breathing in motor neuron disease might be due to the disturbed central nervous system and paralysis of diaphragm and respiratory muscle.Moreover,the patient suffered from restrictive ventilatory dysfunction,alveolar hypoventilation and subsequent partial pressure of carbon dioxide and hypoxernia.Therefore,respiratory failure was the most frequent cause of death for patients with motor neuron disease.Non-invasive positive pressure ventilation was suggested to apply to such patients,whose forced vital capability was less than 75 percent of predicted value.Conclusion:Sleep disordered breathing is common in patients with motor neuron disease.Hence,polysomnography is suggested as a routine examination to confirm the potential complications and give timely therapy.Treatment with non-invasive positive pressure ventilation is important for patients to improve life qualit,survival rate and prognosis.