Female ; Humans ; Pregnancy ; Septate Uterus ; Uterus/surgery* ; Hysteroscopy/methods* ; Estrogens ; Tissue Adhesions/surgery* ; Randomized Controlled Trials as Topic ; Multicenter Studies as Topic

Objective    To investigate the effect of optimized arterial perfusion strategy on total arch replacement for acute type A aortic dissection (AAAD) with malperfusion syndrome (MPS). Methods    From 2017 to 2019, 51 patients with AAAD and MPS who had received total arch replacement with optimized arterial perfusion strategy in our hospital were included in the optimized perfusion group, including 40 males and 11 females, with an average age of 47.43±13.39 years. A total of 40 patients with AAAD and MPS who had been treated with traditional Sun's surgery were taken as the traditional control group, including 31 males and 9 females, with an average age of 50.66±12.05 years. The perioperative clinical data of the two groups were compared. Results    The preoperative baseline data of the two groups were basically consistent (P>0.05). The comparison of operative data between the optimized perfusion group and the traditional control group showed that in the optimized perfusion group, the extracorporeal circulation time, aortic occlusion time, and circulation-out cerebral perfusion time were significantly less than those in the traditional control group (223.64±65.13 min  vs. 266.77±87.04 min, 114.48±27.28 min vs. 138.20±39.89 min, 8.28±3.81 min vs. 50.53±23.60 min, all P≤0.05). The lowest intraoperative nasopharyngeal temperature in the optimized perfusion group was significantly higher than that in the traditional control group (27.10±1.18℃ vs. 23.6±3.30℃, P=0.000). Postoperative wakefulness time of the optimized perfusion group was earlier than that of the traditional control group (4.50±1.35 h vs. 5.27±1.15 h, P=0.019). The volume of blood transfusions in the optimized perfusion group was significantly less than that in the traditional control group (13.25±9.06 U vs. 16.95±7.53 U, P=0.046). There was no significant difference in ICU time and invasive ventilation time between the two groups (P>0.05). Postoperative complications of the two groups showed that the incidence of postoperative continuous renal replacement therapy in the optimized perfusion group was significantly lower than that in the traditional control group, with a statistically significant difference (21.6% vs. 42.5% P=0.003). The incidence of postoperative delirium, coma, low cardiac row syndrome and limb ischemia in the optimized perfusion group was lower than that in the traditional control group, but the difference was not statistically significant (P>0.05). The incidence of postoperative hemiplegia, sepsis, and secondary thoracotomy in the optimized perfusion group was higher than that in the traditional control group, and the difference was not statistically significant (P>0.05). Postoperative mortality in the optimized perfusion group was significantly lower than that in the traditional control group (13.7% vs. 27.5%), but the difference was not statistically significant (P=0.102). Conclusion    Optimized arterial perfusion strategy and its related comprehensive surgical technique reduce surgical trauma, shorten the operation time, reduce perioperative consumption of blood products. Postoperative wakefulness is rapid and the incidence of complications of nervous system, kidney and limb ischemia is low. Optimized arterial perfusion strategy is suitable for operation of AAAD with MPS by inhibiting the related potential death risk factors to reduce operation mortality.

BACKGROUND: To determine the prevalence and prognostic impact of hepatopulmonary syndrome (HPS) in patients with unresectable hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) undergoing transarterial chemoembolization (TACE). METHODS: Fifty-four patients with unresectable HCC undergoing TACE between December 2014 and December 2015 were prospectively screened for HPS and were followed up for a maximum of 2 years or until the end of this prospective study. RESULTS: Nineteen of the 54 (35.2%) patients were considered to have HPS, including one (5.3%) with severe HPS, nine (47.4%) with moderate HPS, and nine (47.4%) with mild HPS. The median overall survival (OS) was 10.1 (95% confidence interval [CI], 3.9-16.3) months for patients with HPS and 15.1 (95% CI, 7.3-22.9) months for patients without HPS, which is not a significant difference ( P  = 0.100). The median progression-free survival was also not significantly different between patients with and without HPS (5.2 [95% CI, 0-12.8] vs. 8.4 [95% CI, 3.6-13.1] months; P  = 0.537). In the multivariable Cox regression analyses, carbon monoxide diffusing capacity (hazard ratio [HR] = 1.033 [95% CI, 1.003-1.064]; P  = 0.028) and Child-Pugh class (HR = 1.815 [95% CI, 1.011-3.260]; P  = 0.046) were identified to be the independent prognostic factors of OS. CONCLUSION Mild or moderate HPS is common in patients with unresectable HCC undergoing TACE, but it does not seem to have a significant prognostic impact.
Humans ; Carcinoma, Hepatocellular/pathology* ; Chemoembolization, Therapeutic ; Prospective Studies ; Liver Neoplasms/pathology* ; Prognosis ; Hepatopulmonary Syndrome/therapy* ; Prevalence ; Treatment Outcome ; Retrospective Studies

PURPOSE: Our aim was to detect the potential role of interleukin 11 (IL-11) in the development of chemo-resistance in gastric cancer and to reveal the mechanism involved in the process. MATERIALS AND METHODS: Here, we used flow cytometry to examine the percentage of cancer-associated-fibroblasts in tumor samples from chemo-resistant and -sensitive gastric cancer patients. Using MTT assay, we detected the cell viability under different conditions. Using quantitative real-time polymerase chain reaction and Western blotting, we determined the target expressions in mRNA and protein levels. We also performed immunohistochemistry and immunofluorescence to detect the target proteins under different conditions. Animal models were constructed to verify the potential role of IL-11 in chemo-resistant develop in vivo. RESULTS: Herein, we observed enriched cancer associated fibroblasts in drug resistant tumor tissues from gastric patients. Those fibroblasts facilitate the chemotherapeutic drugs resistance development through the secretion of IL-11, which activates the IL-11/IL-11R/gp130/JAK/STAT3 anti-apoptosis signaling pathway in gastric cancer cells. We found that the combination of chemotherapeutic drugs and JAK inhibitor overcomes the resistance and increases the survival of mice with gastric cancer xenografts. CONCLUSION: Ourresults demonstrated that IL-11 contributed to the obtain ofresistance to chemotherapy drugs through gp130/JAK/STAT3/Bcl2 pathway, and targeting the IL-11 signaling pathway induced by fibroblasts might be a promising strategy to overcome the multi-drugs resistant cancer in clinic.
Animals ; Blotting, Western ; Cell Survival ; Drug Resistance ; Drug Therapy ; Fibroblasts* ; Flow Cytometry ; Fluorescent Antibody Technique ; Heterografts ; Humans ; Immunohistochemistry ; Interleukin-11* ; Mice ; Models, Animal ; Real-Time Polymerase Chain Reaction ; RNA, Messenger ; Stomach Neoplasms*

OBJECTIVETo evaluate the changes in the mechanical properties of the right ventricular myocardium (RVM) after chemotherapy using three-dimensional speckle tracking echocardiography (3D-STI).

METHODSThirty-six breast cancer patients receiving chemotherapy with pirarubicin underwent examinations with 3D-STI to test the mechanical properties of the RVM before chemotherapy and at the end of the second, fourth, and sixth cycles of chemotherapy (C2, C4, and C6, respectively). Blood levels of hs-cTnI and NT-proBNP were also examined at the same time points. Thirty-one of these patients also underwent Tc-MIBI and F-FDG myocardial perfusion/metabolism imaging at C6. Myocardial perfusion abnormalities and survival outcomes of the patients were analyzed according to radionuclide imaging results.

RESULTSCompared with that before chemotherapy, RVGLS at C2 was significantly lowered, and both RVGLS and RVGAS were significantly decreased at C4 and further decreased at C6 ( < 0.05) in relation with the cumulative drug dose. The RVGLS and RVGAS differed significantly among patients with different levels of TAPSE, hs-cTnI, and RV-FAC decline after chemotherapy. RVGLS and RVGAS were found to significantly correlate with FAC (=0.37, 0.26), TAPSE (=0.43, 0.51), and S' (=0.21, 0.36) ( < 0.01), and showed a high sensitivity and specificity for identifying RV-FAC decline by > 5%. Myocardial perfusion/metabolic imaging showed normal myocardial perfusion in 17 patients, and abnormal myocardial segments of the RVM were detected in 14 patients, but F-FDG imaging showed that these myocardial segments were all viable; these 14 patients showed significantly decreased RVGLS and RVGAS and significantly increased hs-cTnI level compared with the patients with normal ventricular myocardial perfusion ( < 0.05). ROC curve analysis showed that an absolute value of RVGLS less than 18.2% had a sensitivity of 92.9% for diagnosis of RV impairment with a diagnostic specificity of 88.2% and an area under the curve of 0.87. RVGAS less than 26.8% had a sensitivity of 94.8% and a specificity of 86.6% for diagnosis of RV damage with an area under the curve of 0.86.

CONCLUSIONS3D-STI can provide a reliable new approach to early diagnosis of changes in the mechanical properties of the RVM related with chemotherapy with pirarubicin in breast cancer patients.

Objective To investigate the physics technique and quality assurance (QA) during radiotherapy in the institutions from the East Guangdong province,aiming to provide reference for the construction of radiotherapy discipline and rational allocation of resources in the primary hospitals from the eastern Guangdong province.Methods From March 15 to May 20,2016,the general conditions,radiotherapy equipment,available technique and quality assurance (QA) in the medical institutions from eastern Guangdong were investigated and analyzed by online combined with on-spot surgery.Results There were 8 institutions which provided radiotherapy with 966 ward beds,a daily capacity of 632 patients and 222 radiotherapy practitioners.Radiotherapy equipment included 12 linear accelerators,5 after-loading devices,1γ-knife,8 CT simulators and 9 radiotherapy planning systems.Five institutions performed IMRT/VMAT,IGRT and ART.Dose verification was performed before precision radiotherapy delivery in all institutions except for 1 center.QA procedures were missing for the linear accelerators,CT simulators and after-loading devices.Short-term advanced studies and hand-by-hand teaching were the main approaches for staff professional training.Conclusions The resource allocation for radiotherapy in the medical centers from the eastern Guangdong province is scarce.The technique and QC levels greatly differ among different institutions.Standard QA protocols are urgently to be established and implemented.Extensive attentions should be paid to the the professional training for technicians.

Objective To study the pulmonary valve replacement(PVR) operation indications and timing,the choice of prosthetic valve,and the anticoagulation methods.Methods Between June 2006 and April 2017,10 patients(median age 22.5 years,range 10 to 46) underwent PVR at our hospital.These issues above were discussed by analysing data from the patients and literature review.Results The 10 patients were all diagnosed with congenital heart disease(CHD),6 with CHD and infective endocarditis and 4 with postoperation of complex CHD like tetralogy of Fallot or pulmonary artery atresia.Five patients had prior cardiac operations.Bioprosthesis valve was implanted in 2 cases,while mechanical valve in 8.The international normalized ratio(INR) was maintained between 1.8 and 2.5 for patients with mechanical valve.There was one in-hospital death,and the other 9 patients were all followed up.The median follow-up was 65 months(range,3-110 months).During follow-up,there was no death,and reoperation was undertaken in one patient who had ceased anticoagulation for 2 years with a mechanical valve,and bioprosthesis valve was chosed in reoperation,Except of this patient,no valve thrombus or severe bleeding complication happened.All prosthetic valves demonstrated normal function by cardiac color ultrasound.The mean peak transvalvular pressure gradient for the mechanical valves was 12.0 mmHg(range,8.7-14.0 mmHg),while for the bioprosthesis valves was 24.7 mmHg(1 mmHg =0.133 kPa) (range,22-27 mmHg) (P ＜ 0.01).Overall actuarial survival at 7 years for patients receiving bioprosthesis valve PVR was 100％,while for mechanical valve was 85 ％ (P =0.617);Overall actuarial freedom from reoperation at 7 years for patients receiving bioprosthesis valve PVR was 100％,while for mechanical valve was 71％ (P =0.414).The findings of literature review were as follows:the risk of valve thrombus or severe bleeding complication for mechanical pulmonary valve was not higher than bioprosthesis pulmonary valve under standard anticoagulant therapy;the durability of bioprosthesis pulmonary valves was unsatisfactory,while the medium and long term effects of mechanical valves were good;the hemodynamic properties of mechanical pulmonary valve were better than bioprosthesis pulmonary valve;the lowintensity anticoagulation method was safe and effective for Chinese people.Conclusion PVR is a safe and effective treatment for patients with severe pulmonary valve regurgitation or stenosis,and the medium and long term effects of mechanical valve are satisfactory.PVR is recommended as early as meeting the operation indications.The choice of a prosthetic valve should be careful and individual.At present,the bioprosthesis valves are implanted in pulmonery valve position more than mechanical valves.However,in select patients and by standard anticoagulant therapy,mechanical pulmonry valves will bring better benefit.The low-intensity anticoagulation method(INR 1.8-2.5) is safe and effective,and recommened for Chinese people.

Objective To evaluate left ventricular myocardial function altemation by three-dimensional speckle tracking imaging (3D-STI) after surgical aortic valve replacement (AVR) in severe aortic stenosis (AS) patients with preserved left ventricular ejection fraction (LVEF),and discuss its clinical value.Methods Forty patients with severe aortic stenosis who were hospitalized or outpatient in Nanjing First Hospital Affiliated to Nanjing Medical University during the period of October 2014 to October 2016 (AS group),and forty healthy volunteers (normal control group) were enrolled in this study.Normal control group underwent conventional echocardiography and 3D-STI measurement,while the AS group underwent conventional echocardiography and 3D-STI measurement at preoperative,1 week postoperative and 3 months postoperative,then we obtained left ventricular end-diastolic diameter (LVEDD),left ventricular end-systolic diameter (LVESD),interventricular septum thickness diameter (IVSd),left ventricular posterior wall thickness diameter (LVPWd),left ventricular ejection fraction (LVEF),global longitudinal strain (GLS),global circumferential strain (GCS),global radial strain (GRS),global area strain (GAS) strain and 3D-strain.The independent sample t test was used to compare the difference of conventional ultrasound parameters and 3D-STI parameters between AS preoperative patients and healthy controls,AS patients at 3 months postoperative and healthy controls.The single factor analysis of variance was used to compare the difference of conventional ultrasound parameters and 3D-STI parameters in severe patients at preoperative,1 week postoperative and 3 months postoperative.LSD-t test was used to compare in different AS groups.Results Compared with normal control group,IVSD,LVPWD and GCS of severe AS patients increased significantly (t=13.824,11.298 and-6.584,all P ＜ 0.001),GLS,GRS and 3D-Strain decreased significantly (t=10.221,-6.237 and-5.674,all P ＜ 0.001),LVEDD,LVESDand GAS had no significant difference.Compared with preoperative AS patients,LVEF,GLS,GAS and GCS decreased significantly (t=-2.205,-2.093,-2.034 and-3.152,all P ＜ 0.05 or 0.01) at 1 week postoperative,LVEDD,LVESD,IVSD,LVPWD,GRS and 3D-strain had no significant difference at 1 week postoperative;GLS,GRS and 3D-strain increased significantly (t=5.446,-4.923 and-4.388,all P ＜ 0.05 or 0.01) at 3 months postoperative,GCS,IVSD and LVPWD decreased significantly (t=-3.988,4.794 and 4.211,all P ＜ 0.05 or 0.01) at 3 months postoperative,LVEDD,LVESD,LVEF and GAS had no significant difference at 3 months postoperative.Compared with AS patients at 1 week postoperative,LVEF,GLS,GRS,GAS and 3D-strain increased significantly (t=-2.631,7.383,-4.719,2.923 and-4.154,all P ＜ 0.05 or 0.01) at 3 months postoperative,GCS,IVSD and LVPWD decreased significantly (t=-2.109,4.747 and 4.323,all P ＜ 0.05 or0.01) at 3 months postoperative.But in AS patients at 3 months postoperative,IVSD,LVPWD,GLS and GCS were still higher than those of normal control group (t=9.809,7.066,4.752 and-2.553,all P ＜ 0.001 or ＜ 0.05),LVEDD,LVESD,LVEF,GRS,GAS and 3D-strain had no significant difference.Conclusion The alternation of left ventricular myocardial function have a certain characteristic before and after aortic valve replacement in severe aortic stenosis patients with preserved LVEF,and 3D-STI can evaluate it more accurately.

Objective To investigate the risk factors resulting in the perioperative liver failure and death for the HBV-associated hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) patients with or without cirrhosis.Methods The method of retrospective case-control study was performed.The clinicopathological data of 1 083 HCC patients with positive HBsAg who received curative liver resection at the Southwest Hospital from January 2008 to December 2012 were collected.According to the absence or presence of cirrhosis,the HCC patients with positive HBsAg were divided into the 2 groups,including the cirrhosis group (633 patients) and the non-cirrhosis group (450patients).The intraoperative conditions (operation time,volume of intraoperative blood loss,rate of blood transfusion,rate of pringle maneuver) and postoperative conditions (incidence of perioperative complications,duration of postoperative hospital stay,perioperative mortality) of HCC patients were observed.The gender,age,alanine transaminase (ALT),aspartate transaminase (AST),albumin (Alb),total bilirubin (TBil),platelet (PLT),Child-Pugh classification,operation time,volume of intraoperative blood loss,blood transfusion,pringle maneuver,extent of liver resection,number of tumors,tumor diameter,tumor thrombus and liver cirrhosis were enrolled and prognostic factors resulting in perioperative liver failure and death for the HCC patients were explored.Measurement data with skewed distribution were presented as M (range) and comparison between the 2 groups was analyzed using Mann-Whitney U test.Count data were presented as counts (percentage) and comparison between the 2 groups was analyzed using chi-square test or Fisher exact probability.Univariate analysis was performed by chi-square test and multivariate analysis was performed by Logistic regression model (forward).Results (1) The intraoperative conditions:the volume of intraoperative blood loss were 500 mL (range,30-7 000 mL) in the cirrhosis group and 400 mL (range,50-8 000 mL) in the non-cirrhosis group,with a statistically significant difference between the 2 groups (Z =-2.209,P ＜ 0.05).The operation time,rate of blood transfusion and rate of pringle maneuver were 250 minutes (range,82-715 minutes),29.86％ (189/633),62.24％ (394/633) in the cirrhosis group and 242 minutes (range,85-738 minutes),27.11％ (122/450),66.67％ (300/450) in the non-cirrhosis group,respectively,with no statistical differences between the 2 groups (Z =-1.212,x2 =0.969,2.236,P ＞0.05).(2) The postoperative conditions:the incidence of perioperative complications was 30.49％(193/633) in the cirrhosis group and 21.11％ (95/450) in the non-cirrhosis group,with a statistically significant difference between the 2 groups (x2 =11.851,P ＜ 0.05).The incidence of lung infection,abdominal infection and liver failure were 6.48％ (41/633),2.69％ (17/633),5.53％ (35/633) in the cirrhosis group and 3.56％ (16/450),0.89％ (4/450),1.33％ (6/450) in the non-cirrhosis group,respectively,with statistically significant differences between the 2 groups (x2 =4.502,4.465,12.713,P ＜ 0.05).The duration of postoperative hospital stay was 15 days (range,0-70 days) in the cirrhosis group and 14 days (range,0-71 days) in the non-cirrhosis group,with a statistically significant difference between the 2 groups (Z =-3.448,P ＜ 0.05).The perioperative mortality was 5.85％ (37/633) in the cirrhosis group and 2.44％ (11/450) in the non-cirrhosis group,with a statistically significant difference between the 2 groups (x2=7.181,P ＜ 0.05).(3)Results of risk factors affecting perioperative liver failure:①results of univariate analysis showed that age,AST,Alb,Child-Pugh classification,operation time,volume of intraoperative blood loss,blood transfusion,extent of liver resection,tumor diameter,liver cirrhosis with positive HBsAg were associated with perioperative liver failure in HCC patients (x2=5.013,7.979,8.855,16.968,14.148,9.764,18.511,11.749,5.534,12.713,P＜0.05);age,AST,Alb,Child-Pugh classification,operation time,blood transfusion,extent of liver resection and tumor diameter were associated with perioperative liver failure in the cirrhosis group (x2=5.877,5.380,11.087,13.672,8.849,13.170,12.418,5.805,P ＜ 0.05);volume of intraoperative blood loss was associated with perioperative liver failure in the non-cirrhosis group (P ＜ 0.05).②Results of multivariate analysis showed that age≥60 years,Child-Pugh class B,operation time ＞ 360 minutes,blood transfusion,extent of liver resection ≥3 segments and liver cirrhosis were independent risk factors affecting perioperative liver failure in HCC patients with positive HBsAg [OR =2.285,2.716,2.315,2.159,2.459,4.322;95％ confidence interval (CI):1.081-4.831,1.100-6.706,1.064-5.038,1.068-4.362,1.264-9.786,1.763-10.598,P＜0.05];Alb ＜38 g/L,Child-Pugh class B,blood transfusion and extent of liver resection ≥ 3 segments were independent risk factors affecting perioperative liver failure in the cirrhosis group (OR =2.231,2.857,2.186,2.927,95％ CI:1.038-4.795,1.095-7.451,1.045-4.576,1.426-6.008,P ＜ 0.05);volume of intraoperative blood loss ＞ 1 200 mL was an independent risk factor affecting perioperative liver failure in the non-cirrhosis group (OR =15.077,95％CI:2.695-84.353,P ＜ 0.05).(4) Risk factors affecting perioperative death:①results of univariate analysis showed that gender,Alb,TBil,Child-Pugh classification,blood transfusion,extent of liver resection,tumor diameter,tumor thrombus and liver cirrhosis were associated with perioperative death in HCC patients with positive H BsAg (x2=4.462,8.783,4.212,4.869,7.189,11.745,6.837,4.323,7.181,P ＜0.05);Alb,extent of liver resection and tumor diameter were associated with perioperative death in the cirrhosis group (x2=12.173,12.793,10.981,P ＜ 0.05);blood transfusion and tumor thrombus were associated with perioperative death in the non-cirrhosis group (x2 =5.836,6.417,P ＜ 0.05).② Results of multivariate analysis showed that Alb ＜38 g/L,extent of liver resection ≥ 3 segments and liver cirrhosis were independent risk factors affecting perioperative death in HCC patients with positive HBsAg (OR =2.560,2.657,2.567,95％ CI:1.382-4.742,1.471-4.800,1.283-5.134,P ＜ 0.05);Alb ＜ 38 g/L,extent of liver resection ≥ 3 segments and tumor diameter≥5 cm were independent risk factors affecting perioperative death in the cirrhosis group (OR =3.003,2.533,3.060,95％ CI:1.495-6.034,1.251-5.128,1.135-8.251,P＜0.05);blood transfusion and tumor thrombus were independent risk factors affecting perioperative death in the non-cirrhosis group (OR =3.755,4.036,95％ CI:1.047-13.467,1.126-14.469,P ＜ 0.05).Conclusions Liver cirrhosis is an independent risk factor for perioperative liver failure and death in HCC patients with positive HBsAg.The risk of perioperative liver failure and death in HCC patients with cirrhosis is significantly higher than that in HCC patients without cirrhosis,and there is a difference in the risk factors for perioperative liver failure and death.

Objective To investigate the impact of planning parameter settings on plan quality and delivery efficiency of VMAT for nasopharyngeal carcinoma with two treatment planning systems (TPS),as references for clinic plan optimization. Methods 25 patients with nasopharyngeal carcinoma were selected and planned for SIB?VMAT treatment. The same planning aims were used in the two kinds of TPS ( TPS?1 and TPS?2). Multiple planning parameters were set for plan optimization. Dose distribution to the target volumes and organs at risk,monitor unit ( MU) and delivery time were compared. Paired t?test or one?way ANOVA was used for the data which was in accordance to normal distribution;otherwise, nonparametric Wilcoxon signed rank test or nonparametric Friedman test was used. Results More segments lead to better plan quality and less MU but longer delivery time ( Minor impact was observed when segment number was larger than 120) in TPS?1,while it had little impact on both plan quality and delivery efficiency in TPS?2. Comparing to single?arc plans,dual?arc VMAT achieved no significant benefit in plan quality but had more MU and longer delivery time in TPS?1 ( P= 0?000 ) . However, dual?arc VMAT plans had better dose distribution in TPS?2, decreased the maximum and mean dose for spinal cord in 3?9% and 13?7%respectively (P=0?000,0?000).Changing the settings of maximum or minimum dose rate did not affect the plan quality in both of the tested TPSs. Increasing the maximum or minimum dose rate reduced the delivery time but the latter increased the number of MU ( P=0?000,0?000) . Conclusions VMAT plan quality and delivery efficiency is affected significantly and differently by planning parameter settings for two TPSs. Trial test should be conducted for different TPS to determine the optimal parameter settings.