Objective:To explore the clinical value of 18F-fluoromisonidazole (FMISO) PET/CT hypoxia imaging in early response to heavy ion radiotherapy in patients with non-small cell lung cancer(NSCLC). Methods:From April 2018 to January 2021, the 18F-FMISO PET/CT images of 23 NSCLC patients (19 males, 4 females; age (64.9±10.3) years) who received heavy ion radiotherapy in Shanghai Proton and Heavy Ion Center were retrospectively analyzed. The evaluation parameters included tumor volume (TV), tumor to background ratio (TBR) before and after radiotherapy. Patients were divided into hypoxia group and non-hypoxia group with the baseline TBR value≥1.4 as hypoxia threshold. Wilcoxon signed rank test was used to compare the differences of TV and TBR before and after radiotherapy in 2 groups. Results:Of 23 NSCLC patients, 17 were hypoxia and 6 were non-hypoxia. Compared with the baseline, TV after the radiotherapy (59.44(22.86, 99.43) and 33.78(8.68, 54.44) cm 3; z=-3.05, P=0.002) and TBR after the radiotherapy (2.25(2.09, 2.82) and 1.42(1.24, 1.67); z=-3.39, P=0.001) of the hypoxia group were significantly lower, while TV (16.19(6.74, 36.52) and 8.59(4.38, 25.47) cm 3; z=-1.57, P=0.120) and TBR (1.19(1.05, 1.27) and 1.10 (0.97, 1.14); z=-1.89, P=0.060) of the non-hypoxia group decreased with no significant differences. Conclusions:Hypoxic NSCLC tumors are sensitive to heavy ion radiation. Compared with non-hypoxic tumors, hypoxic tumors respond more quickly, and a significant reduction in TV can be observed early after radiotherapy. Heavy ion radiation can significantly improve tumor hypoxia.

Esophagogastric variceal bleeding (EGVB) is one of the main complications of decompensated portal hypertension, especially in patients with liver cirrhosis, and it often has a high mortality rate. Medication combined with endoscopy is the main prevention and treatment method for EGVB, while transjugular intrahepatic portosystemic shunt (TIPS) combined with variceal embolization can also be selected for some high-risk patients, and individualized diagnosis and treatment of portal hypertension based on hepatic venous pressure gradient should become the latest consensus and the main strategy. This article mainly reviews endoscopic therapy and TIPS for the prevention and treatment of EGVB patients with decompensated portal hypertension in terms of selection of indications, incidence rate of complications, and respective advantages and disadvantages.

Objective:To determine the regional boundary of para-aortic lymph node (PAN) metastasis in cervical cancer, and to explore the clinical target volume (CTV) margin.Methods:Eight-six patients with cervical cancer metastasis to PAN below and above left renal vein (LRV) were retrospectively included in this study. The anatomical relationship of the metastatic PANs and surrounding structures were analyzed according tocontrast-enhanced computed tomography (CT) and three dimensional reconstruction images.Results:Eight-six patients had metastatic PANs belowLRV: metastatic nodes were located onthe medial side of ovarian vessels and ureters, behind the renal veins, duodenum, mesenteric vessels, in front of the anterior border of lumbar vertebra and psoas. The inferior mesenteric vein was close to the left anterior side of PANs. Where the duodenum appeared, no node was presenton the anterolateral side of the inferior vena cava (IVC).Above the LRV, 27 patients had retrocrural node involvement along the azygos and hemiazgos vein, and 25/27 cases were located below the junction level of cardia and oesophagus, and 5/27 patients had metastatic lymph nodes between IVC and the right crura of diaphragm, all below the level of coeliac trunk artery.Conclusions:CTV margin delineation of PAN below and above LRV is recommended:superiorly, the junction level of cardia and oesophagus; laterally, crura and the medial side of ovarian vessels and ureters and inferior mesenteric vein; anteriorly, the posterior side of the coeliac trunk artery and renal veins and duodenum, mesenteric vessels; posteriorly, the anterior border of lumbar vertebra and psoas.

Objective:The investigation and research on the application status of Hepatic Venous Pressure Gradient (HVPG) is very important to understand the real situation and future development of this technology in China.Methods:This study comprehensively investigated the basic situation of HVPG technology in China, including hospital distribution, hospital level, annual number of cases, catheters used, average cost, indications and existing problems.Results:According to the survey, there were 70 hospitals in China carrying out HVPG technology in 2021, distributed in 28 provinces (autonomous regions and municipalities directly under the central Government). A total of 4 398 cases of HVPG were performed in all the surveyed hospitals in 2021, of which 2 291 cases (52.1%) were tested by HVPG alone. The average cost of HVPG detection was (5 617.2±2 079.4) yuan. 96.3% of the teams completed HVPG detection with balloon method, and most of the teams used thrombectomy balloon catheter (80.3%).Conclusion:Through this investigation, the status of domestic clinical application of HVPG has been clarified, and it has been confirmed that many domestic medical institutions have mastered this technology, but it still needs to continue to promote and popularize HVPG technology in the future.

Objective:To investigate the impact of a reduced portacaval shunt on hepatic myelopathy (HM) in patients with cirrhosis after a transjugular intrahepatic portosystemic shunt (TIPS).Methods:Patients who developed HM after receiving TIPS at the First Affiliated Hospital of Xi'an Jiaotong University from January 2013 to June 2018 were retrospectively analyzed. HM severity was quantified by clinical spasticity index (CSI) and Fugl-Meyer Assessment (FMA) of the lower extremity. Clinical manifestations were combined with grades Ⅰ-Ⅳ. HM patients were divided into drug treatment (group A) and flow restriction group (group B) according to different treatment methods. The changes in CSI and FMA of the lower extremity after treatment were statistically analyzed in the two groups. P<0.05 was considered a statistically significant difference. Results:A total of 421 cases of cirrhosis who underwent TIPS were enrolled. Among them, 30 developed HM, with 22 in group A and 8 in group B. The incidence of HM after TIPS surgery was about 7.13%. After treatment, CSI was gradually increased and FMA of lower extremity was gradually decreased in group A, while vice-versa in group B. CSI in the two groups were differed significantly at 6, 12, 18, and 24 months after treatment ( P<0.05), while the difference in FMA of the lower extremity was statistically significant at 12, 18, and 24 months after treatment ( P<0.05). CSI was decreased and FMA of lower extremity was increased after treatment in patients with group A HM grade I. CSI, and FMA of lower extremity changes were statistically significant ( P<0.05) when compared with patients with HM grades Ⅱ-Ⅳ. The incidence of hepatic encephalopathy was significantly lower in group B than that in group A ( P=0.034), but there was no statistically significant difference between the two groups in the incidence of gastrointestinal bleeding, ascites, infection, MELD score and mortality. Conclusion:A reduced portacaval shunt can improve HM in patients with liver cirrhosis after TIPS, and drug therapy alone is effective for patients with early HM grade I.

Objective:To investigate the clinical efficacy and prognosis of transjugular intrahepatic portosystemic shunt (TIPS) and drug combined with endoscopic treatment in patients with liver cirrhosis and esophagogastric variceal bleeding (EGVB).Methods:From January 2012 to December 2013, at the First Affiliated Hospital of Xi′an Jiaotong University, the data of 147 patients with liver cirrhosis and EGVB undergoing TIPS or drug combined with endoscopic treatment were retrospectively collected, with 87 cases in TIPS treatment group and 60 in drug combined with endoscopic treatment group.The 5 years follow-up data were analyzed, and the overall survival rates, rebleeding-free survival rates and hepatic encephalopathy-free survival rates at 6 weeks, 1 year, 2 years and 5 years after treatment of two groups were compared. Independent sample t test, Mann-Whitney U test, chi-square test, Fisher exact test, Z test, log-rank test and trend test were used for statistical analysis. Results:There were no significant differences in age, gender, etiology, Child-Pugh classification, initial liver function, coagulation function, liver ascites, previous history of hepatic encephalopathy, blood pressure and preoperative blood transfusion history between the TIPS treatment group and combination of drugs and endoscopy treatment group (all P>0.05). Forty-one patients died within 5 years, of which 20 (48.8%) died of rebleeding and 6 (14.6%) died of hepatic encephalopathy. There were no significant differences in 6-week, 1-year and 2-year overall survival rates between the TIPS group and drug combined with endoscopic treatment group (all P>0.05), however the 5-year overall survival rate of the TIPS treatment group was higher than that of the drug combined with endoscopic treatment group (78.4% vs. 63.2%), and the difference was statistically significant ( Z=2.06, P=0.048). The 6-week, 1-year, 2-year, 5-year rebleeding-free survival rates of the TIPS group were 97.7%, 96.5%, 88.9% and 70.9%, respectively, which were all higher than those of the drug combined with endoscopic treatment group (86.7%, 53.3%, 43.3% and 27.1%), and the differences were statistically significant ( Z=2.35, 6.39, 6.26 and 4.80, all P<0.05). There were no significant differences in hepatic encephalopathy-free survival rates at 6 weeks, 1 year and 2 years after treatment between the TIPS group and drug combined with endoscopic treatment group (all P>0.05), however the 5-year hepatic encephalopathy-free survival rate of the TIPS treatment group was lower than that of the drug combined with endoscopic treatment group (67.7% vs. 86.7%), and the difference was statistically significant ( Z=2.28, P=0.030). The lower the Child-Pugh classification, the higher the cumulative 5-year survival rate ( χ2=6.75, P<0.01). There was no statistically significant difference in the 5-year overall survival rate in patients with the same Child-Pugh classification between the TIPS group and the drug combined with endoscopic treatment group (all P>0.05). Conclusions:The efficacy of TIPS is better than that of the drug combined with endoscopic treatment in treating EGVB. Even the long-term risk of hepatic encephalopathy of TIPS is higher, the short-term, middle-term and long-term rebleeding rate are decreased. Patients with Child-Pugh grade C do not need to avoid TIPS when choosing the treatment, the earlier the TIPS used, the better survival benefit will be obtained.

OBJECTIVE: To compare patient survival outcomes between completion hysterectomy and conventional surveillance in locally advanced adenocarcinoma of the cervix after concurrent chemoradiotherapy (CCRT).METHODS: Patients with adenocarcinoma of the cervix after CCRT were identified in a tertiary academic center database from 2004 to 2018. Patients received completion hysterectomy or surveillance after CCRT. We compared the progression-free survival (PFS) and overall survival (OS) between the patients with or without adjuvant hysterectomy. Surgery features, operative complications, and pathologic characteristics were documented. Patient outcomes were also analyzed according to clinicopathologic factors.RESULTS: A total of 78 patients were assigned to completion surgery and 97 to surveillance after CCRT. The PFS was better in the surgery group compared to the CCRT only group, at 3 years the PFS rates were 68.1% and 45.2%, respectively (hazard ratio [HR]=0.46; 95% confidence interval [CI]=0.282–0.749; p=0.002). Adjuvant surgery was also associated with a higher rate of OS (HR=0.361; 95% CI=0.189–0.689; p=0.002), at 3 years, 87.9% and 67%, respectively. Tumor stage, size, lymph-vascular space invasion (LVSI), lymphadenopathy were associated with PFS but not with OS. Hysterectomy specimens revealed 64.1% (50/78) of the patients had pathologic residual tumor. Patients age less than 60, tumor size over 4 cm, stage IIB and persistent residual disease after CCRT were most likely to benefit from hysterectomy. Hysterectomy was associated with a lower rate of locoregional recurrence but did not reach statistical significance (5.13% vs. 13.5%, p=0.067).CONCLUSION: Completion hysterectomy after CCRT was associated with better survival outcome compared with the current standard of care.
Adenocarcinoma ; Cervix Uteri ; Chemoradiotherapy ; Disease-Free Survival ; Female ; Humans ; Hysterectomy ; Lymphatic Diseases ; Neoplasm, Residual ; Recurrence ; Standard of Care ; Uterine Cervical Neoplasms

Objective:To investigate the anxiety and depression of cancer patients undergoing radiotherapy during the epidemic of COVID-19.Methods:By using self-rating anxiety scale and self-rating depression scale, a cross-sectional survey was conducted during the COVID-19 epidemic period.Results:During the COVID-19 epidemic period, the incidence of anxiety and depression in cancer patients undergoing radiotherapy was 15.8% and 27.7% respectively, of which 12.9% suffered from both anxiety and depression. The average scores of anxiety and depression were 49.4(25/76) and 46.4(25/83), respectively, which were higher than those of the domestic norm. Age is a contributing factor for anxiety, and patients living in urban are more likely to experience depression.Conclusions:The prevalence of anxiety and depression of cancer patients undergoing radiotherapy are higher than healthy people during the COVID-19 outbreak. We should pay more attention to the psychological states of the cancer patients.

Objective:To evaluate the clinical efficacy of concurrent chemoradiotherapy for cervical adenocarcinoma, and to analyze the treatment and evaluate the prognosis of patients with residual lesions after definitive radiotherapy.Methods:Clinical data of 109 patients with locally advanced cervical adenocarcinoma treated from January 2005 to February 2016 were analyzed retrospectively. The prescription dose of external irradiation was 50.4 Gy, 28 fractions, and the point A dose of brachytherapy was 30-36 Gy, 5-7 fractions. Cisplatin or paclitaxel was used as concurrent chemotherapy regimen. Clinical efficacy was evaluated after concurrent chemoradiotherapy. Patients with clinical partial remission (PR) after treatment might receive salvage surgery and/or chemotherapy and/or radiotherapy. The survival analysis was performed with Kaplan Meier method.Results:The median follow-up period was 48 months, and the 3-year and 5-year overall survival rates were 74.1% and 58.5%, respectively. After concurrent chemoradiotherapy, 72 patients (66.1%) achieved clinical complete remission, and 31 patients (28.4%) obtained PR. After receiving salvage treatment, the 3-year overall survival rate and progression-free survival rate of PR patients were 53.1% and 40.5%, respectively. Only 4 patients (3.7%) and 2 patients (1.8%) had grade 3 or greater urinary and gastrointestinal toxicity after definitive treatment.Conclusion:For patients with cervical adenocarcinoma who have clinical residual lesions after primary treatment, salvage treatment should be actively taken in order to improve survival outcomes.

Gegen Qinlian Decoction (GQD), a traditional Chinese medicine (TCM) formula, has long been used for the treatment of common metabolic diseases, including type 2 diabetes mellitus. However, the main limitation of its wider application is ingredient complexity of this formula. Thus, it is critically important to identify the major active ingredients of GQD and to illustrate mecha-nisms underlying its action. Here, we compared the effects of GQD and berberine, a hypothetical key active pharmaceutical ingredient of GQD, on a diabetic rat model by comprehensive analyses of gut microbiota, short-chain fatty acids, proinflammatory cytokines, and ileum transcriptomics. Our results show that berberine and GQD had similar effects on lowering blood glucose levels, modulating gut microbiota, inducing ileal gene expression, as well as relieving systemic and local inflammation. As expected, both berberine and GQD treatment significantly altered the overall gut microbiota structure and enriched many butyrate-producing bacteria, including Faecalibacterium and Roseburia, thereby attenuating intestinal inflammation and lowering glucose. Levels of short-chain fatty acids in rat feces were also significantly elevated after treatment with ber-berine or GQD. Moreover, concentration of serum proinflammatory cytokines and expression of immune-related genes, including Nfkb1, Stat1, and Ifnrg1, in pancreatic islets were significantly reduced after treatment. Our study demonstrates that the main effects of GQD can be attributed to berberine via modulating gut microbiota. The strategy employed would facilitate further stan-dardization and widespread application of TCM in many diseases.