Objective:To develop a prognostic prediction model for patients with colorectal cancer based on a peripheral blood cell composite score (PBCS) system.Methods:This retrospective observational study included patients who had primary colorectal cancer without distant metastasis, who did not undergo radiotherapy or chemotherapy before surgery, who did not receive leukocyte or platelet-raising therapy within 1 month before surgery, and whose postoperative pathology confirmed colorectal adenocarcinoma with complete tumor resection. Patients with severe anemia, infection, or hematologic diseases before surgery, as well as those with severe heart, lung, or other important organ diseases or concurrent malignant tumors, were excluded. In total, 1021 patients with colorectal cancer who underwent surgical treatment in the Department of Gastrointestinal Surgery of the Fourth Hospital of Hebei Medical University from April 2018 to April 2020 were retrospectively included as the training set (766 patients) and the internal validation set (255 patients). Additionally, using the same criteria, 215 patients with colorectal cancer who underwent surgical treatment in another treatment group from March 2015 to December 2020 were selected as the external validation set. The "surv_cutpoint" function in R software was used to analyze the optimal cut-off values of neutrophils, lymphocytes, and platelets, and a PBCS system was established based on the optimal cut-off values. The scoring rules of the PBCS system were as follows: Neutrophils and platelets below the optimal cut-off value = 1 point, otherwise 0 points; Lymphocytes above the optimal cut-off value = 1 point, otherwise 0 points. The scores of the three cell types were added together to obtain the PBCS. Univariate and multivariate Cox regression analyses were performed to explore the correlation between patients' clinicopathological features and prognosis, and a nomogram was constructed based on the Cox regression analysis to predict patients' prognosis. The accuracy of the nomogram prediction model was validated using the C-index, calibration curve, and decision curve analysis.Results:The optimal cut-off values for neutrophils, lymphocytes, and platelets were 4.40×10 9/L, 1.41×10 9/L, and 355×10 9/L, respectively. The patients were divided into high and low groups according to the optimal cut-off values of these cells. Survival curve analysis showed that a high lymphocyte count (training set: P=0.042, internal validation: P=0.010, external validation: P=0.029), low neutrophil count (training set: P=0.035, internal validation: P=0.001, external validation: P=0.024), and low platelet count (training set: P=0.041, internal validation: P=0.030, external validation: P=0.024) were associated with prolonged overall survival (OS), with statistically significant differences in all cases. Survival analysis of different PBCS groups showed that patients with a high PBCS had longer OS than those with a low PBCS ( P<0.05). Univariate and multivariate Cox regression analysis results showed that aspirin use history, vascular thrombus, neural invasion, CA19-9, N stage, operation time, M stage, and PBCS were independent factors affecting OS (all P<0.05). The PBCS was also an independent factor affecting disease-specific survival ( P<0.05), but not progression-free survival ( P>0.05). The above independent risk or protective factors were included in R software to construct a nomogram for predicting OS. The C-index (0.873), calibration curve, and decision curve analysis (threshold probability: 0.0%–75.2%) all indicated that the nomogram prediction model had good predictive performance for OS. Conclusion:This study demonstrates that the PBCS constructed based on preoperative peripheral blood levels of neutrophils, lymphocytes, and platelets is an independent factor associated with the prognosis of patients with colorectal cancer. The nomogram model constructed based on this score system exhibits good predictive efficacy for the prognosis of these patients.

Objective:To develop a prognostic prediction model for patients with colorectal cancer based on a peripheral blood cell composite score (PBCS) system.Methods:This retrospective observational study included patients who had primary colorectal cancer without distant metastasis, who did not undergo radiotherapy or chemotherapy before surgery, who did not receive leukocyte or platelet-raising therapy within 1 month before surgery, and whose postoperative pathology confirmed colorectal adenocarcinoma with complete tumor resection. Patients with severe anemia, infection, or hematologic diseases before surgery, as well as those with severe heart, lung, or other important organ diseases or concurrent malignant tumors, were excluded. In total, 1021 patients with colorectal cancer who underwent surgical treatment in the Department of Gastrointestinal Surgery of the Fourth Hospital of Hebei Medical University from April 2018 to April 2020 were retrospectively included as the training set (766 patients) and the internal validation set (255 patients). Additionally, using the same criteria, 215 patients with colorectal cancer who underwent surgical treatment in another treatment group from March 2015 to December 2020 were selected as the external validation set. The "surv_cutpoint" function in R software was used to analyze the optimal cut-off values of neutrophils, lymphocytes, and platelets, and a PBCS system was established based on the optimal cut-off values. The scoring rules of the PBCS system were as follows: Neutrophils and platelets below the optimal cut-off value = 1 point, otherwise 0 points; Lymphocytes above the optimal cut-off value = 1 point, otherwise 0 points. The scores of the three cell types were added together to obtain the PBCS. Univariate and multivariate Cox regression analyses were performed to explore the correlation between patients' clinicopathological features and prognosis, and a nomogram was constructed based on the Cox regression analysis to predict patients' prognosis. The accuracy of the nomogram prediction model was validated using the C-index, calibration curve, and decision curve analysis.Results:The optimal cut-off values for neutrophils, lymphocytes, and platelets were 4.40×10 9/L, 1.41×10 9/L, and 355×10 9/L, respectively. The patients were divided into high and low groups according to the optimal cut-off values of these cells. Survival curve analysis showed that a high lymphocyte count (training set: P=0.042, internal validation: P=0.010, external validation: P=0.029), low neutrophil count (training set: P=0.035, internal validation: P=0.001, external validation: P=0.024), and low platelet count (training set: P=0.041, internal validation: P=0.030, external validation: P=0.024) were associated with prolonged overall survival (OS), with statistically significant differences in all cases. Survival analysis of different PBCS groups showed that patients with a high PBCS had longer OS than those with a low PBCS ( P<0.05). Univariate and multivariate Cox regression analysis results showed that aspirin use history, vascular thrombus, neural invasion, CA19-9, N stage, operation time, M stage, and PBCS were independent factors affecting OS (all P<0.05). The PBCS was also an independent factor affecting disease-specific survival ( P<0.05), but not progression-free survival ( P>0.05). The above independent risk or protective factors were included in R software to construct a nomogram for predicting OS. The C-index (0.873), calibration curve, and decision curve analysis (threshold probability: 0.0%–75.2%) all indicated that the nomogram prediction model had good predictive performance for OS. Conclusion:This study demonstrates that the PBCS constructed based on preoperative peripheral blood levels of neutrophils, lymphocytes, and platelets is an independent factor associated with the prognosis of patients with colorectal cancer. The nomogram model constructed based on this score system exhibits good predictive efficacy for the prognosis of these patients.

BACKGROUND: The effect of intra-operative chemotherapy (IOC) on the long-term survival of patients with colorectal cancer (CRC) remains unclear. In this study, we evaluated the independent effect of intra-operative infusion of 5-fluorouracil in combination with calcium folinate on the survival of CRC patients following radical resection. METHODS: 1820 patients were recruited, and 1263 received IOC and 557 did not. Clinical and demographic data were collected, including overall survival (OS), clinicopathological features, and treatment strategies. Risk factors for IOC-related deaths were identified using multivariate Cox proportional hazards models. A regression model was developed to analyze the independent effects of IOC. RESULTS: Proportional hazard regression analysis showed that IOC (hazard ratio [HR]=0.53, 95% confidence intervals [CI] [0.43, 0.65], P  < 0.001) was a protective factor for the survival of patients. The mean overall survival time in IOC group was 82.50 (95% CI [80.52, 84.49]) months, and 71.21 (95% CI [67.92, 74.50]) months in non-IOC group. The OS in IOC-treated patients were significantly higher than non-IOC-treated patients ( P  < 0.001, log-rank test). Further analysis revealed that IOC decreased the risk of death in patients with CRC in a non-adjusted model (HR=0.53, 95% CI [0.43, 0.65], P  < 0.001), model 2 (adjusted for age and gender, HR=0.52, 95% CI [0.43, 0.64], P  < 0.001), and model 3 (adjusted for all factors, 95% CI 0.71 [0.55, 0.90], P  = 0.006). The subgroup analysis showed that the HR for the effect of IOC on survival was lower in patients with stage II (HR = 0.46, 95% CI [0.31, 0.67]) or III disease (HR=0.59, 95% CI [0.45, 0.76]), regardless of pre-operative radiotherapy (HR=0.55, 95% CI [0.45, 0.68]) or pre-operative chemotherapy (HR=0.54, 95% CI [0.44, 0.66]). CONCLUSIONS: IOC is an independent factor that influences the survival of CRC patients. It improved the OS of patients with stages II and III CRC after radical surgery. TRIAL REGISTRATION chictr.org.cn, ChiCTR 2100043775.
Humans ; Fluorouracil/therapeutic use* ; Leucovorin/therapeutic use* ; Colorectal Neoplasms/pathology* ; Retrospective Studies ; Antineoplastic Combined Chemotherapy Protocols/therapeutic use* ; Proportional Hazards Models ; Prognosis

Objective:To investigate the application value of domestic robotic surgical system in radical resection of hilar cholangiocarcinoma (hCCA).Methods:The retrospective and descriptive study was constructed. The clinicopathological data of a 66-year-old male patient with hCCA who was admitted to the Second Hospital of Shandong University in November 2022 were collected. Radical resection of hCCA was performed using the Toumai? laparoscopic surgical robot system. Observation indicators: (1) intraoperative conditions; (2) postoperative conditions; (3) follow-up. Count data were represented as absolute numbers and (or) percentages.Results:(1) Intraoperative conditions. The patient underwent radical resection of hCCA successfully using robotic surgical system, including tumor resection, lymph node dissection, and gastrointestinal reconstruc-tion. The operation time and volume of intraoperative blood loss were 400 minutes and 100 mL, respectively, and no intraoperative blood transfusion was required. (2) Postoperative conditions. The patient began ambulation on postoperative day 1 and began taking liquid food on postoperative day 4. Liver function examination and abdominal computed tomograph (CT) on postoperative day 5 showed a decrease in serum bilirubin, no biliary or intestinal leakage, and no edema or necrosis at the anastomotic site. The abdominal pre-anastomotic and post-anastomotic drainage tubes were removed on the 7th and 9th day after the surgery respectively, and the patient was discharged on the 10th day after surgery. Results of postoperative pathological examination showed moderately to poorly differentiated adenocarcinoma of the bile duct. Immunostaining was positive for CK7 and CK19. The Ki-67 proliferation index was 35%. The proximal and distal resection margin of bile duct were negative. The tumor diameter was 30 mm. Perineural invasion was positive. The surgical specimen margin was negative. Two lymph nodes were identified containing tumor cells positive for malignancy. No tumor cell metastasis was detected in the No.8, No.12 or gastric lesser curvature lymph nodes submitted for pathological examination. (3) Follow-up. The patient was followed up at postoperative 1-, 3-, 5-month after discharge. During follow-up period, results of liver function examination and abdominal CT showed liver function restore to normal levels, no complication such as biliary fistula, intestinal fistula, gastroparesis or tumor metastasis.Conclusion:The Domestic Toumai ? laparoscopic surgical robot system can be applied to radical resection of hCCA.

Severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2(SARS-CoV-2)-induced cytokine storms constitute the primary cause of coronavirus disease 19(COVID-19)progression,severity,criticality,and death.Gluco-corticoid and anti-cytokine therapies are frequently administered to treat COVID-19,but have limited clinical efficacy in severe and critical cases.Nevertheless,the weaknesses of these treatment modalities have prompted the development of anti-inflammatory therapy against this infection.We found that the broad-spectrum anti-inflammatory agent inosine downregulated proinflammatory interleukin(IL)-6,upregulated anti-inflammatory IL-10,and ameliorated acute inflammatory lung injury caused by mul-tiple infectious agents.Inosine significantly improved survival in mice infected with SARS-CoV-2.It indirectly impeded TANK-binding kinase 1(TBK1)phosphorylation by binding stimulator of interferon genes(STING)and glycogen synthase kinase-3β(GSK3β),inhibited the activation and nuclear trans-location of the downstream transcription factors interferon regulatory factor(IRF3)and nuclear factor kappa B(NF-κB),and downregulated IL-6 in the sera and lung tissues of mice infected with lipopoly-saccharide(LPS),H1N1,or SARS-CoV-2.Thus,inosine administration is feasible for clinical anti-inflammatory therapy against severe and critical COVID-19.Moreover,targeting TBK1 is a promising strategy for inhibiting cytokine storms and mitigating acute inflammatory lung injury induced by SARS-CoV-2 and other infectious agents.

Objective:To explore the predictive value of serum betatrophin and ficolin-3 during early pregnancy for gestational diabetes mellitus (GDM).Methods:Using a prospective research method, from June 2018 to June 2019, 7 to 13 weeks pregnant women were selected in Yan′an Hospital of Kunming City, and their fasting peripheral venous blood samples were reserved. At 24 to 28 weeks of pregnancy, oral glucose tolerance test (OGGT) was performed. Sixty-five cases were diagnosed as GDM (GDM group), and 60 pregnant women with normal OGGT result and matched age and gestational weeks were selected as normal group. In addition, 60 non-pregnant healthy women with matched age were selected as control group. The serum levels of betatrophin and ficolin-3 were measured in GDM group, normal control group (during 7 to 13 weeks of gestation) and control group were measured by enzyme linked immunosorbent assay method. Pearson test was used to analyze the correlation between serum betatrophin, ficolin-3 and glycolipid metabolism indexes during 24 to 28 weeks of gestation. The receiver operating characteristic (ROC) curve was used to analyze the predictive value of serum betatrophin and ficolin-3 during early pregnancy for GDM.Results:The serum betatrophin and ficolin-3 in GDM group were significantly higher than those in normal group and control group: (35.69 ± 6.15) ng/L vs. (23.90 ± 7.68) and (19.68 ± 6.33) ng/L, (31.75 ± 10.30) μg/L vs. (22.88 ± 12.71) and (18.47 ± 9.54) μg/L, the betatrophin and ficolin-3 in normal group were significantly higher than those in control group, and there were statistical differences ( P<0.05). The correlation analysis result showed that serum betatrophin was positive correlation with total cholesterol (TC), glycosylated hemoglobin (HbA 1c) and homeostatic model assessment insulin resistance index (HOMA-IR) ( r = 0.585, 0.440 and 0.735; P<0.01); the serum ficolin-3 was positively correlated with HbA1c ( r = 0.673, P<0.01), and negatively correlated with high-density lipoprotein cholesterol (HDL-C) ( r = - 0.520, P<0.01). ROC curve analysis result showed that the areas under curve of betatrophin and ficolin-3 for predicting GDM were 0.829 and 0.795, 95% CI 0.753 to 0.905 and 0.718 to 0.872, and the optimum critical values were 27.69 ng/L and 29.72 μg/L, with a sensitivity of 89.36% and 84.58%, a specificity of 72.14% and 79.64% and Yorden index of 0.62 and 0.59. The areas under curve of betatrophin combined with ficolin-3 for predicting GDM was 0.923, 95% CI 0.868 to 0.978, with a sensitivity of 91.25%, a specificity of 87.24% and Yorden index of 0.86. Conclusions:GDM pregnant women have abnormal expression of serum betatrophin and ficolin-3 during early pregnancy, and the indexes are related to glycolipid metabolism. Serum betatrophin and ficolin-3 during early pregnancy have certain predictive value for GDM.

COVID-19, caused by SARS-COV-2, has the characteristics of world epidemic, highly infectious and large base of death. In China, transmission route of SARS-COV-2 has been contained so effectively that COVID-19 has been well controlled due to the proactive national prevention and control strategy. However, not only does it bring a huge impact on the existing medical structure model, but also an objective impact on the treatment of patients with chronic diseases such as malignant tumors. Based on the progress reported in the domestic and international literatures and the actual management experience of our team, this paper reflects on the treatment strategies for patients with gastrointestinal stromal tumor (GIST) during the epidemic period of COVID-19. We focus on risk stratification for primary GIST and forming treatment strategies accordingly. Major considerations include the impact of delayed operation, the burden of medical resources, the waiting time for elective operation, and the principle of emergency operation. In addition, we focus on the level of evidence for non-surgical approaches with a view to developing a holistic strategy of "priority management principles" to guide clinical treatment in the context of limited resources and different GIST priorities.
COVID-19 ; China ; Gastrointestinal Stromal Tumors ; Humans ; SARS-CoV-2

Objective:To observe the therapeutic effect of blood purification with oXiris on cytokine storm in severe COVID-19 patients.Methods:In February to April, 2020 in the intensive care unit (ICU) of a hospital in Wuhan, 7 cases with severe COVID-19 as the study participant, treated with oXiris for blood purification. The general information of patients, the basic information of the blood purification treatment, blood purification treatment before and after treatment for 24 hours, 48 hours, 72 hours of routine blood, liver and kidney function and inflammatory markers were collected to understand the trend of change.Results:The number of blood purification treatment of 7 patients were 2.13±1.64 times, and the duration of blood purification was 66.31±48.73 hours. Treatment was interrupted twice due to hypothermia. After treatment, the level of interleukin 6 (IL-6) of the patients decreased from (1342.20±1822.01) pg/ml before treatment to (202.69±276.24) pg/ml in 4 cases decreased by more than 90% and in 2 cases decreased by 63% and 77%. The level of TNF decreased from 51.94±59.64 pg/ml before treatment to 18.93±9.84 pg/ml, and TNF decreased by 28%~78% in 4 patients. The hypersensitive C-reactive protein (HS-CRP) of the patients decreased from 147.81±100.54 mg/L before treatment to 89.43±108.31 mg/L after treatment, in 4 cases decreased by 63% to 91%.Conclusions:oXiris blood purification treatment can effectively reduce inflammatory markers in patients with severe COVID-19. Correct use of oXiris filter during treatment can prolong the life of the filter. During the treatment, the pressure monitoring value and whether there is thrombosis in the pipeline should be closely observed and recorded. Meanwhile, it is necessary to keep patients warm to prevent hypothermia in. The application of ultrasound to monitor blood coagulation and venous thrombosis plays a positive role in preventing the occurrence of pulmonary embolism.

In December 2019, a new outbreak of coronavirus pneumonia began to occur. Its pathogen is 2019-nCoV, which has the characteristics of strong infectivity and general susceptibility. The current situation of prevention and control of new coronavirus pneumonia is severe. In this context, as front-line medical workers bearing important responsibilities and pressure, while through strict management strategy, we can minimize the risk of infection exposure. By summarizing the research progress and guidelines in recent years in the fields of colorectal cancer disease screening, treatment strategies(including early colorectal cancer, locally advanced colorectal cancer, obstructive colorectal cancer, metastatic colorectal cancer and the treatment of patients after neoadjuvant therapy), the choice of medication and time limit for adjuvant therapy, the protective measures for patients undergoing emergency surgery, the re-examination of postoperative patients and the protection of medical staff, etc., authors improve treatment strategies in order to provide more choices for patients to obtain the best treatment under the severe epidemic situation of new coronavirus pneumonia. Meanwhile we hope that it can also provide more timely treatment modeling schemes for colleagues.

In December 2019, a new outbreak of corona virus disease 2019 began to occur. Its pathogen is 2019-nCoV, which has the characteristics of strong infectivity and general susceptibility. The current situation of prevention and control of new coronavirus pneumonia is severe. In this context, as front-line medical workers bearing important responsibilities and pressure, while through strict management strategy, we can minimize the risk of infection exposure. By summarizing the research progress and guidelines in recent years in the fields of colorectal cancer disease screening, treatment strategies (including early colorectal cancer, locally advanced colorectal cancer, obstructive colorectal cancer, metastatic colorectal cancer and the treatment of patients after neoadjuvant therapy), the choice of medication and time limit for adjuvant therapy, the protective measures for patients undergoing emergency surgery, the re-examination of postoperative patients and the protection of medical staff, etc., authors improve treatment strategies in order to provide more choices for patients to obtain the best treatment under the severe epidemic situation of new coronavirus pneumonia. Meanwhile we hope that it can also provide more timely treatment modeling schemes for colleagues.