Objective:To evaluate the safety and efficacy of combination of transjugular intrahepatic portosystemic shunt (TIPS) combined with interventional therapy for primary hepatic carcinoma complicated with portal hypertension.Methods:From October 2013 to December 2017, medical records of 141 patients with primary hepatic carcinoma complicated with portal hypertension hospitalized and treated in Anhui Provincial Cancer Hospital were collected. According to the inclusion and exclusion criteria, 32 cases were in the TIPS combined with interventional treatment group and 29 cases were included in the intervention-only group after age, gender, mean tumor diameter and Child-Pugh classification matched with TIPS combined with intervention treatment group. The efficacy of TIPS was obsented, and the related complications and prognosis of the two groups at six, 12 and 24 months after treatment were compared. Independent sample t test, Mann-Whitney U test and Chi-square test were used for statistical analysis, and Kaplan-Merier method was used for survival analysis. Results:There were no statistically significant differences between TIPS combined with intervention group and intervention-only group in age, gender, mean tumor diameter, Child-Pugh classification, Child-Turcotte-Pugh (CTP) score, Barcelona staging, interventional treatment, causes of liver cirrhosis, portal hypertension related symptoms , portal vein tumor thrombus, alanine aminotransferase (ALT), and total bilirubin (TBil) (all P>0.05). The success rate of TIPS of patients in TIPS combined with intervention group was 100% (32/32). All the portal hypertension related symptoms after TIPS were relieved, and the remission rate was 100% (32/32). Compared with that before TIPS, after TIPS, the portal vein pressure decreased ((36.5±6.9) cmH 2O vs. (25.5±5.6) cmH 2O (1 cmH 2O=0.098 kPa)), the diameter of portal vein decreased ((15.9±3.5) mm vs. (13.7±2.7) mm), and ascites volume decreased (abdominal circumference ((105.6±13.9) cm vs. (88.0±9.8) cm), red blood cell count ((2.6±0.8)×10 12/L vs. (3.3±1.3)×10 12 /L) and hemoglobin level ((78.9±15.5) g/L vs. (108.4±14.6) g/L) both increased, and the differences were statistically significant ( t=2.866, 3.105, 10.769, -3.548 and -3.869, all P<0.01). The stent patency rate six months after TIPS was 100% (32/32), the 12-month patency rate was 94% (30/32), and the 24-month patency rate was 84% (27/32). Six months, 12 months and 24 months after treatment, the incidence of ascites of patients in the TIPS combined with interventional treatment group was 0, 3.1% (1/32) and 9.4% (3/32), respectively, and the incidence of bleeding was 3.1% (1/32), 9.4% (3/32) and 15. 6% (5/32), respectively, which were all lower than those of the intervention-only group (13.8%, 4/29; 27.6%, 8/29; 65.5%, 19/29; 20.7%, 6/29; 34.5%, 10/29 and 62.1%, 18/29), and the differences were statistically significant ( χ2=4.72, 7.24, 20.80; and 4.62, 5.72, 13.97; all P<0.05). There were no statistically significant differences in the incidence rates of hepatic encephalopathy 6 and 12 months after treatment between the two groups (both P>0.05). The incidence of hepatic encephalopathy of intervention-only group (48.3%, 14/29) 24 months after treatment was higher than that of TIPS combined with intervention group (21.9%, 7/32), and the difference was statistically significant ( χ2=4.70, P=0.030). The results of Kaplan-Merier analysis indicated that 12 and 24 months after treatment the cumulative survival rates of TIPS combined with intervention group (84.4%, 27/32 and 53.1%, 17/32) were both higher than those of the intervention-only group (41.4%, 12/29 and 13.8%, 4/29), and the differences were statistically significant ( χ2=12.20 and 5.06, both P<0.05). The median survival time of TIPS combined with intervention group was 25 months, which was longer than that of the intervention-only group (12 months), and the difference was statistically significant ( Z=3.341, P=0.001). Conclusions:TIPS combined with interventional therapy is safe and effective in the treatment of primary hepatic carcinoma complicated with portal hypertension, which can improve the quality of life and increase the survival rate.

Objective To discuss the technical method,safety and clinical efficacy of CT-guided 125I radioactive seed implantation for the treatment of mediastinal lymph node metastases.Methods CT-guided 125I radioactive seed implantation was carried out in 11 patients with mediastinal lymph node metastases.Before 125I seed implantation,the interstitial brachytherapy treatment planning system (TPS) was employed to formulate a treatment plan.The particles with radioactivity of (1.11-2.96) × 107Bq (0.3-0.8 mCi) were used for the implantation.Postoperative complications were recorded.The local lesion control rate and the effective rate of pain relief were evaluated at one,3,6 and 12 months after 125I seed implantation.Results After 125I seed implantation,pneumothorax occurred in 3 patients,tracheal fistula in one patient,and pulmonary infection in one patient.The local lesion control rates at one,3,6 and 12 months were 81.8％,90.9％,72.7％ and 72.7％ respectively;the effective rate of pain relief at one week,one,3,6 and 12 months were 100％,90.9％,90.9％,81.8％ and 72.7％ respectively.Conclusion For the treatment of mediastinal lymph node metastases,CT-guided radioactive 125I seed implantation is less-invasive with less complications,and it carries reliable local lesion control rate.Therefore,this technique is a safe therapeutic means.

Objective To explore the expression of vascular endothelial growth factor (VEGF) and apoptosis of the tumor cells in the different regions of rabbit liver VX2 tumor after radiofrequency ablation (RFA).Methods Forty-eight experimental rabbits were implanted with VX2 tumor.After successfully established the model,the rabbits were randomly divided into control group (n=6) and RFA group (n=42).In the RFA group,7 rabbits at each time point were killed at immediately,1 day,2 days,1 week,2 weeks,3 weeks after RFA,and the tumor specimens were retained and performed with HE staining,VEGF,Annexin V-FITC/PI labeling,flow cytometry analysis.The changes of VEGF and apoptosis of the cells in different periods and different zones after RFA were observed.Results After the operation,the difference of the VEGF value of the needle zone,coagulation necrotic zone and junction zone had statistically significant (all P＜0.05).The difference of the VEGF value in each zone between immediately and the other time points after operation by pairwise comparisons were significantly different (all P＜0.05).The VEGF value of the needle zone and coagulation necrotic zone reached the peak after operation immediately,which declined from 1 day to 3 weeks after operative.And VEGF of the junction zone increased from immediately to 1 week after operation,and declined 2 weeks after operation.There were significant differences in the apoptosis rate of the three zones after RFA compared with control group (all P＜0.05).The apoptosis rate in all zones were at the peak on the 1 day after operation,and then showed a downward trend.Conclusion The reduction of VEGF and apoptosis of tumor cells in the needle zone and coagulation necrotic zone are significant,but tumor remnant remains visible in the junction zone.In the third week after RFA,the proliferation of the remaining tumor cells can be recurrent to preoperative levels,which suggests that the further treatment should be performed at this period.