Objective:To investigate the effect of immune checkpoint inhibitors on reducing residual lymph node metastasis in patients with gastric cancer.Methods:The cohort of this retrospective study comprised patients from Nanfang Hospital of Southern Medical University and the First Affiliated Hospital of Xiamen University who had undergone systemic treatment prior to gastrectomy with D2 lymphadenectomy and had achieved Grade 1 primary tumor regression (TRG1) from January 2014 to December 2023. After exclusion of patients who had undergone preoperative radiotherapy, data of 58 patients (Nanfang Hospital: 46; First Affiliated Hospital of Xiamen University: 12) were analyzed. These patients were allocated to preoperative chemotherapy (Chemotherapy group, N=36 cases) and preoperative immunotherapy plus chemotherapy groups (Immunotherapy group, N=22 cases). There were no significant differences between these groups in sex, age, body mass index, diabetes, tumor location, pathological type, Lauren classification, tumor differentiation, pretreatment depth of invasion by primary tumor, pretreatment lymph node stage, pretreatment clinical stage, mismatch repair protein status, number of preoperative treatment cycles, or duration of preoperative treatment (all P>0.05). The primary outcome measure was postoperative lymph node downstaging. Secondary outcomes included postoperative depth of invasion by tumor, number of lymph nodes examined, and factors affecting residual lymph node metastasis status. Results:Lymph node downstaging was achieved significantly more often in the Immunotherapy group than the Chemotherapy group (pN0: 90.9% [20/22] vs. 61.1% [22/36]; pN1: 4.5% [1/22] vs. 36.1% [13/36]; pN2: 4.5% [1/22) vs. 0; pN3: 0 vs. 2.8% [1/36], Z=-2.315, P=0.021). There were no significant difference between the two groups in number of lymph nodes examined (40.5±16.3 vs. 40.8±17.5, t=0.076, P=0.940) or postoperative depth of invasion by primary tumor (pT1a: 50.0% [11/22] vs. 30.6% [11/36]; pT1b: 13.6% [3/22] vs. 19.4% [7/36]; pT2: 13.6% [3/22] vs. 13.9% [5/36]; pT3: 13.6% [3/22] vs. 25.0% [9/36]; pT4a: 9.1% [2/22] vs. 11.1% [4/36], Z=-1.331, P=0.183). Univariate analysis revealed that both preoperative treatment regimens were associated with residual lymph node metastasis status in patients whose primary tumor regression was TRG1 (χ 2=6.070, P=0.014). Multivariate analysis incorporated the following factors: pretreatment depth of invasion by primary tumor, pretreatment lymph node stage, pretreatment clinical stage, number of preoperative treatment cycles, and preoperative treatment duration. We found that a combination of immunotherapy and chemotherapy administered preoperatively was an independent protective factor for reducing residual lymph node metastases in study patients whose primary tumor regression was TRG1 (OR=0.147, 95%CI: 0.026–0.828, P=0.030). Conclusion:Compared with preoperative chemotherapy alone, a combination of preoperative immunotherapy and chemotherapy achieved greater reduction of residual lymph node metastases in the study patients who achieved TRG1 tumor regression in their primary lesions.

Objective To explore the application of nurse-performed point-of-care ultrasound in abdominal distension of ICU patients with enteral nutrition.Methods Purposive sampling method was used to select 108 patients with enteral nutrition abdominal distension admitted to the ICU of a tertiary A general hospital in Hefei City from January to December 2022,and they were divided into an experimental group and a control group according to random number table method.The experimental group used bedside ultrasound to evaluate the stomach,intestine and abdominal cavity of patients with abdominal distension,and implemented targeted treatment measures according to the evaluation results.The control group was given corresponding treatment measures according to the abdominal sight,touch,tapping,listening and traditional syringe withdrawal method.Intra-abdominal pressure,abdominal circumference,feeding compliance rate and feeding interruption rate,ICU stay time and mechanical ventilation time were compared at the 1st,3rd and 5th day.Results 11 cases dropped out of the study due to transfer,automatic discharge,death,etc.,and 97 cases were included 51 cases in the experimental group and 46 cases in the control group.Repeated measurement ANOVA showed that intra-abdominal pressure and abdominal circumference time in the 2 groups had interaction with each other(F=41.724,P＜0.001;F=17.762,P＜0.001).Generalised estimating equations showed that there was only a between-group effect for the rates of feeding compliance and feeding disruption in 2 groups(Wald y2=18.033,P＜0.001;Wald x2=6.567,P＜0.001).Simple effect analysis showed that on the 3rd and 5th day after intervention.The experimental group had lower abdominal depression and the feeding interruption rate was lower than the control group(P＜0.05).On the 5th day after interven-tion,the abdominal circumference of the experimental group was lower than that of the control group,the feeding compliance rate was higher than that of control group(P＜0.05).After intervention,in the experimental group,the mechanical ventilation time was shorter than that of the control group(P＜0.05).There was no significant difference in ICU stay time between the 2 groups(P=0.095).Conclusion The application of nurse-performed point-of-care ultrasound in the management of abdominal distension in patients with enteral nutrition in ICU is feasible and scientific,which is helpful for the management of patients with enteral nutrition abdominal distension in ICU,reducing internal abdominal pressure,shortening mechanical ventilation time,and avoiding the occurrence of feeding intolerance.

Objective:To investigate the effect of immune checkpoint inhibitors on reducing residual lymph node metastasis in patients with gastric cancer.Methods:The cohort of this retrospective study comprised patients from Nanfang Hospital of Southern Medical University and the First Affiliated Hospital of Xiamen University who had undergone systemic treatment prior to gastrectomy with D2 lymphadenectomy and had achieved Grade 1 primary tumor regression (TRG1) from January 2014 to December 2023. After exclusion of patients who had undergone preoperative radiotherapy, data of 58 patients (Nanfang Hospital: 46; First Affiliated Hospital of Xiamen University: 12) were analyzed. These patients were allocated to preoperative chemotherapy (Chemotherapy group, N=36 cases) and preoperative immunotherapy plus chemotherapy groups (Immunotherapy group, N=22 cases). There were no significant differences between these groups in sex, age, body mass index, diabetes, tumor location, pathological type, Lauren classification, tumor differentiation, pretreatment depth of invasion by primary tumor, pretreatment lymph node stage, pretreatment clinical stage, mismatch repair protein status, number of preoperative treatment cycles, or duration of preoperative treatment (all P>0.05). The primary outcome measure was postoperative lymph node downstaging. Secondary outcomes included postoperative depth of invasion by tumor, number of lymph nodes examined, and factors affecting residual lymph node metastasis status. Results:Lymph node downstaging was achieved significantly more often in the Immunotherapy group than the Chemotherapy group (pN0: 90.9% [20/22] vs. 61.1% [22/36]; pN1: 4.5% [1/22] vs. 36.1% [13/36]; pN2: 4.5% [1/22) vs. 0; pN3: 0 vs. 2.8% [1/36], Z=-2.315, P=0.021). There were no significant difference between the two groups in number of lymph nodes examined (40.5±16.3 vs. 40.8±17.5, t=0.076, P=0.940) or postoperative depth of invasion by primary tumor (pT1a: 50.0% [11/22] vs. 30.6% [11/36]; pT1b: 13.6% [3/22] vs. 19.4% [7/36]; pT2: 13.6% [3/22] vs. 13.9% [5/36]; pT3: 13.6% [3/22] vs. 25.0% [9/36]; pT4a: 9.1% [2/22] vs. 11.1% [4/36], Z=-1.331, P=0.183). Univariate analysis revealed that both preoperative treatment regimens were associated with residual lymph node metastasis status in patients whose primary tumor regression was TRG1 (χ 2=6.070, P=0.014). Multivariate analysis incorporated the following factors: pretreatment depth of invasion by primary tumor, pretreatment lymph node stage, pretreatment clinical stage, number of preoperative treatment cycles, and preoperative treatment duration. We found that a combination of immunotherapy and chemotherapy administered preoperatively was an independent protective factor for reducing residual lymph node metastases in study patients whose primary tumor regression was TRG1 (OR=0.147, 95%CI: 0.026–0.828, P=0.030). Conclusion:Compared with preoperative chemotherapy alone, a combination of preoperative immunotherapy and chemotherapy achieved greater reduction of residual lymph node metastases in the study patients who achieved TRG1 tumor regression in their primary lesions.

Objective:To investigate the clinical and imaging features of basal ganglia germinoma in children and adolescents, so as to improve the accuracy of early diagnosis.Methods:The clinical symptoms and imaging findings of 10 cases of basal ganglia germinoma diagnosed by surgical examination or diagnostic radiotherapy in Xinhua Hospital Affiliated to Medical College of Shanghai Jiaotong University from January 2010 to December 2019 were analyzed retrospectively.Results:There were 9 males and 1 female, aged from 5 to 15 years, with an average age of 9.7 years.There were 10 cases of limb weakness or mild hemiplegia, 1 case of headache and vomiting, and 1 case of extrapyramidal tract sign. There were 9 cases of computed tomography (CT) examination, 5 cases of high density, 4 cases of mixed density, and 3 cases of intrafocal calcification. 10 cases of routine magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) examination, MR T1-weighted imaging (T1WI): 5 cases of low signal, 3 cases of slightly low signal, 1 case of equal low signal, 1 case of equal slightly low signal; MR T2-weighted imaging (T2WI): 3 cases of high signal, 5 cases of slightly high signal, 2 cases of high and low mixed signal; T2 fluid attenuated inversion recovery (T2FLAIR): 1 case of low signal, 2 cases of slightly high signal, 1 case of iso-high signal, 5 cases of high signal, 1 case of high and low mixed signal; Diffusion weighted imaging (DWI): 2 cases of low signal, 1 case of equal signal, 1 case of equal slightly high signal, 4 cases of slightly high signal, 2 cases of high signal; 1 case of functional imaging susceptibility-weighted imaging (SWI): 1 case of low signal; 10 cases of MRI enhancement: 2 cases of no enhancement, 5 cases of mild enhancement, 3 cases of moderate/obvious enhancement, and the enhancement methods can be seen in spot, patch, mass and ring enhancement; Functional imaging magnetic resonance angiography (MRA) in 2 cases: 1 case had slender middle cerebral artery, fewer branch arteries than the opposite side, and 1 case showed no obvious abnormality; 2 cases of positron emission (PET)-CT: the metabolism of methionine (MET) on the affected side was significantly increased in 2 cases.Conclusions:Germinoma in the basal ganglia of children and adolescents are more common in men, with weakness or mild hemiplegia as the main symptom. The imaging findings have certain characteristics. Imaging findings combined with relevant clinical data can improve the accuracy of early diagnosis of germinoma in the basal ganglia.

Background::Previous studies have revealed that diabetes mellitus (DM) promotes disease progress of gastric cancer (GC). This study aimed to further investigating whether DM advanced lymph nodes (LNs) metastasis in GC.Methods::The clinicopathologic data of GC patients with >15 examined LN (ELN) between October 2004 and December 2019 from a prospectively maintained database were included. The observational outcomes included the number (N3b status) and anatomical distribution (N3 stations) of metastatic LN (MLN).Results::A total of 2142 eligible patients were included in the study between October 2004 and December 2019. N3 stations metastasis (26.8% in DM vs. 19.3% in non-DM, P = 0.026) and N3b status (18.8% in DM vs. 12.8% in non-DM, P = 0.039) were more advanced in the DM group, and multivariate logistic regression analyses confirmed that DM was an independent factor of developing N3 stations metastasis (odds ratio [OR] = 1.771, P= 0.011) and N3b status (OR= 1.752, P= 0.028). Also, multivariate analyses determined DM was independently associated with more MLN (β = 1.424, P = 0.047). The preponderance of N3 stations metastasis (DM vs. non-DM, T1-2: 2.2% vs. 4.9%, T3: 29.0% vs. 20.3%, T4a: 38.9% vs. 25.8%, T4b: 50.0% vs. 36.6%; ELN16-29: 8.6% vs. 10.4%, ELN30-44: 27.9% vs. 20.5%, ELN ≥ 45: 37.7% vs. 25.3%), N3b status (DM vs. non-DM, T1-2: 0% vs. 1.7%, T3: 16.1% vs. 5.1%, T4a: 27.8% vs. 19.1%, T4b: 44.0% vs. 28.0%; ELN16-29: 8.6% vs. 7.9%, ELN30-44: 18.0% vs. 11.8%, ELN ≥ 45: 26.4% vs. 17.3%), and the number of MLN (DM vs. non-DM, T1-2: 0.4 vs. 1.1, T3: 8.6 vs. 5.2, T4a: 9.7 vs. 8.6, T4b: 17.0 vs. 12.8; ELN16-29: 3.6 vs. 4.6, ELN30-44: 5.8 vs. 5.5, ELN ≥ 45: 12.0 vs. 7.7) of DM group increased with the advancement of primary tumor depth stage and raising of ELN. Conclusions::DM was an independent risk factor for promoting LN metastasis. The preponderance of LN involvement in the DM group was aggravated with the advancement of tumor depth.

Advanced gastric cancer (AGC) has a high recurrence rate (especially peritoneal relapse) and a poor prognosis. Systematic chemotherapy or targeted therapy have not been able to significantly reduce the major cause of an unfavorable prognosis, namely the high peritoneal AGC recurrence rate post-surgery. Further studies concerning the application of hyperthermic intraperitoneal chemotherapy (HIPEC) post curative surgery for AGC patients, namely the prophylactic HIPEC (P-HIPEC), have involved a prophylactic approach to prevent peritoneal relapse following curative gastrectomy in high-risk patients. Theoretically, breaking the "plasma-peritoneal barrier" increases cytotoxic chemotherapy activity via a synergistic hyperthermic effect; therefore, HIPEC can eradicate free cancer cells and micro-metastasis within the peritoneal cavity intraoperatively or soon after curative gastrectomy to reduce peritoneal recurrence. Many clinical trials have shown that P-HIPEC can reduce peritoneal recurrence and improve prognosis of AGC patients. However, some studies applying HIPEC at an early stage have revealed a high rate of complications that limited generalizability. This procedure has been increasingly adopted, given the complication rate has now been reduced and safety has been proven. Recently, for assessing the important role of HIPEC, many high-quality prospective randomized controlled clinical trials have been conducted to further investigate the best guidance for P-HIPEC and to demonstrate its effectiveness and safety with a higher grade of evidence. With theory development, the technique, equipment, and management of HIPEC and the role of P-HIPEC for AGC continues to evolve. This study summarizes the progress of P-HIPEC for high-risk AGC patients.
Antineoplastic Combined Chemotherapy Protocols ; therapeutic use ; Chemotherapy, Cancer, Regional Perfusion ; Combined Modality Therapy ; Humans ; Hyperthermia, Induced ; Neoplasm Recurrence, Local ; Peritoneal Neoplasms ; drug therapy ; Randomized Controlled Trials as Topic ; Stomach Neoplasms ; drug therapy

OBJECTIVETo evaluate the feasibility and safety of intracorporeal Roux-en-Y esophagojejunostomy via the transoral anvil(OrVil) by mini-laparotomy anastomosis during laparoscopic total gastrectomy (LTG) for gastric cancer.

METHODSFrom March 2010 to December 2016, 414 consecutive gastric adenocarcinoma patients underwent either intracorporeal Roux-en-Y esophagojejunostomy (n=43) via the OrVil or extracorporeal circular anastomosis (n=371) via auxiliary incision during LTG. After generating propensity scores with six covariates, including gender, age, body mass index (BMI), neoadjuvant chemotherapy, tumor location, and tumor size, 43 patients undergoing OrVil method (OrVil group) were matched with 43 patients undergoing extracorporeal circular anastomosis approach (extracorporeal anastomosis group). Operation-associated parameters and safety were compared between the two groups.

RESULTSBoth groups were balanced regarding baseline variables (all P > 0.05). The total operative time [(235.6±49.8) minutes vs. (221.1±46.5) minutes, t=1.397, P=0.166] and anvil insertion time [(10.0±3.2) minutes vs. (10.6±4.5) minutes, t=-0.671, P=0.504] were not significantly different between the two group, whereas the duration of reconstruction and the mean length of minilaparotomy [(48.3±12.0) minutes vs. (55.9±12.3) minutes, t=-2.899, P=0.005; (5.6±0.6) cm vs. (8.1±2.2) cm, t=-7.118, P=0.001] in the OrVil group were significantly shorter. The number of retrieved lymph nodes, mean blood loss and proximal resection margin were not significantly different between two groups (all P > 0.05). As a whole, OrVil group had advantages over extracorporeal anastomosis group during the postoperative recovery course. The time to liquid intake [(3.7±1.8) days vs. (6.2±7.2) days, t=-2.236, P=0.030], time to fluid diet [(4.8±2.3) days vs. (7.2±7.1) days, t=-2.013, P=0.048], and time to semi-fluid diet [(6.7±2.9) days vs. (10.2±9.6) days, t=-2.245, P=0.029] were significantly shorter in the OrVil group. The first ambulatory time, time to first flatus and length of hospital stay were not significantly different between two groups(all P>0.05). The morbidity of intraoperative complication [7.0%(3/43) vs. 4.7%(2/43), χ²=0.000, P=1.000] and postoperative complication [30.2%(13/43) vs. 20.9%(9/43), χ²=1.484, P=0.223], and even the distribution of severity (χ²=0.013, P=0.990) between the two groups were not significantly different. The incidence of anastomotic leakage (AL) was 9.3% (4/43) and 18.6% (8/43) in the OrVil group and extracorporeal anastomosis group respectively without significant difference (χ²=1.550, P=0.213). Multivariate analysis showed that the OrVil anastomosis was not a risk factor of AL(HR=0.663, 95%CI:0.120-3.674, P=0.638).

CONCLUSIONSIntracorporeal esophagojejunostomy using the OrVil system is more minimally invasive and convenient to operate without increasing the risk of operation-related complication. Thus it may be a potential safe approach to optimize the reconstruction for LTG.

Anastomosis, Surgical ; Gastrectomy ; methods ; Humans ; Laparoscopy ; Laparotomy ; Postoperative Complications ; Propensity Score ; Retrospective Studies ; Stomach Neoplasms ; surgery ; Treatment Outcome

Objective To investigate the feasibility and effect of synchronization imaging technology of 64-slice spiral CT on urography and angiography(CTUA).Methods 36 adult patients with urinary symptoms that apply for the conventional CTU were selected. Exclusion of iodine allergy,serious heart,liver and renal insufficiency,multiple myeloma,long-term diabetes,hyperthyroidism,etc.All patients were placed intravenous tube.100 mL iohexol(300 mg I/mL),divided into 40-60 mL and 35-40 mL,shall be injected respectively by interval about 25-45 min,and the corresponding injection rate was 2-2.5 mL/s and 3.5-4.0 mL/s.About 20-30 s after the second injection,scan urinary tract for a quick CTUA source image,then scan urinary tract again for a quick source image of CTU with 5 min delay.Two groups of data with reconstruction technique(including MPR,MIP,VR etc.)should be read and diagnosed independently and double-blinded by two doctors with many years'experience in CTU.They also need to evaluate the image quality of the kidneys,urinary tracts and renal vessels,and make a statistical analysis to judge whether the CTUA inspection technique was feasible and effective.Results CTUA was good at showing renal parenchyma,ureters,urinary bladder and renal vessels,and the display rate was respectively:0.83,0.916,1,0.806,by contrast,the conventional CTU was 0,0.972,1,0,accordingly.Compared with the conventional CTU,CTUA was obviously different from the CTU,especial in displaying the distinction between renal cortex and medulla,renal vessels,and CTUA was better than the conventional CTU.While in display of ureters and urinary bladder,they had no difference,both show good.Conclusion CTUA inspection technology is superior to the conventional CTU technique,and using a routine dose contrast medium with twice bolus injection and one scanning can provide information such as the kidneys,urinary tract and renal vessels.

Objective To investigate the therapeutic effect of oxiracetam combined with dexamethasone for treatment of patients with severe acute carbon monoxide poisoning (ACOP).Methods Eighty-seven patients with severe ACOP admitted to Affiliated Hospital of Xuzhou Medical University from January 2013 to July 2016 were enrolled, and they were divided into observation group (47 cases) and control group (30 cases) according to random number table method. The two groups were given conventional nerve nutrition, hyperbaric oxygen and symptomatic treatment, while in the observationgroup, on the basis of conventional treatment the patients received intravenous drip of dexamethasone 5 mg (with addition of normal saline 100 mL), once a day for consecutive 3 days, and intravenous drip of oxiracetam 3.0 g plus 100 mL normal saline, once a day for consecutive 7 days. The changes of mini-mental state examination (MMSE), Barthel index and Glasgow coma scale (GCS) were observed after discharge for 30 days, and the differences of the incidence of delayed encephalopathy after acute carbon monoxide poisoning (DEACMP) and hospitalization time between the two groups were compared.Results After treatment the MMSE and GCS scores of the two groups were higher than those before treatment, and the Barthel score was lower than that before onset. After discharge for 30 days, MMSE score (26.93±2.92 vs. 24.20±6.82), GCS (14.41±1.32 vs. 13.98±2.13), Barthel (94.78±12.62 vs. 85.25±19.57) of the observation group were significantly higher than those of control group, and the incidence of DEACMP was obviously lower than that in the control group [8.5% (4/47) to 17.5% (7/40)], the differences between the two groups being statistically significant (allP < 0.05); the hospitalizationtime of the observation group was shorter than that of the control group (days: 10.81±5.49 vs. 13.05±6.84), but there was no significant difference between the two groups (P > 0.05).Conclusion Early combined application of oxiracetam and dexamethasone can significantly improve the cognition and self-care abilities and reduce the incidence of DEACMP in patients with severe ACOP after discharge for 30 days.

This paper introduces the individual design of oral radiotherapy stent based on 3D printing technology, and expounds its design principle. The modeling of the device is based on CT images and Mimics software, which builds a set of 3D printing oral stent technology. The instrument has more advantage in high precision, fast modeling, individualized production and digital storage. The results show that the construction of 3D printed dental stent is feasible, which provides a new idea and method for the production of oral stents.