Objective To compare the benefits and drawbacks of primary patch expansion versus pericardial tube right ventricular-pulmonary artery connection in patients diagnosed with pulmonary atresia with ventricular septal defect (PA/VSD). Methods A retrospective study was conducted on patients diagnosed with PA/VSD who underwent primary right ventricular-pulmonary artery connection surgery at our center between 2010 and 2020. Patients were categorized into two groups based on the type of right ventricular-pulmonary artery connection: a pericardial tube group and a patch expansion group. Clinical data and imaging findings were compared between the two groups. Results A total of 51 patients were included in the study, comprising 31 males and 20 females, with a median age of 12.57 (4.57, 49.67) months. The pericardial tube group included 19 patients with a median age of 17.17 (7.33, 49.67) months, while the patch expansion group consisted of 32 patients with a median age of 8.58 (3.57, 52.72) months. In both groups, the diameter of pulmonary artery, McGoon index, and Nakata index significantly increased after treatment (P<0.001). However, the pericardial tube group exhibited a longer extracorporeal circulation time (P<0.001). The reoperation rate was notably high, with 74.51% of patients requiring further surgical intervention, including 26 (81.25%) patients in the patch expansion group and 12 (63.16%) patients in the pericardial tube group. No statistical differences were observed in long-term cure rates or mortality between the two groups (P＞0.005). Conclusion In patients with PA/VSD, both patch expansion and pericardial tube right ventricular-pulmonary artery connection serve as effective initial palliative treatment strategies that promote pulmonary vessel development and provide a favorable foundation for subsequent radical operations. However, compared to the pericardial tube approach, the patch expansion technique is simpler to perform and preserves some intrinsic potential for pulmonary artery development, making it the preferred procedure.

Objective:To analyze the effectiveness of radioactive iodine (RAI) treatment for papillary thyroid cancer (PTC) with an intermediate and high risk of recurrence.Methods:The clinical data of 709 cases of PTC, comprising 226 men and 483 women, who underwent surgical treatment for thyroid cancer at Xiangya Hospital of Central South University from Oct. 2010 to Jan. 2020 were retrospectively analyzed. According to whether RAI treatment was performed after initial surgery or not, they were divided into a RAI group (253 cases with intermediate risk and 209 cases with high risk) and a non-RAI group (147 cases with intermediate risk and 100 cases with high risk), and the relationship between RAI treatment and clinicopathological characteristics such as sex, age, and tumor size for intermediate- and high-risk PTC was analyzed by χ2 test or Fisher’s exact test and Logistic regression analysis. The Kaplan-Meier method was used to calculate the recurrence-free survival rate. Results:The treatment rate of intermediate-risk PTC RAI was 63.25% (253/400) and that of high-risk PTC RAI was 67.64% (209/309). Univariate analysis of intermediate-risk PTC showed that age, bilateral tumors, lymph node metastasis stage, number of lymph node metastases, and intermediate-risk PTC RAI treatment were closely related (all P values <0.05). Multi-factor regression analysis of intermediate-risk PTC showed that age ≥ 55 ( OR=0.282, P=0.005), lymph node metastasis stage N1b ( OR=19.245, P<0.001), and the number of lymph node metastases ≤ 5 ( OR=0.322, P<0.001) were independent predictors of RAI treatment for intermediate-risk PTC (all P values < 0.05). The recurrence-free survival curve for intermediate-risk PTC showed a lower recurrence-free survival rate in the RAI group than in the non-RAI group, but the difference was borderline significant ( P=0.049). Univariate analysis of high-risk PTC showed that age, multifocal tumors, bilateral tumors, lymph node metastasis stage, number of lymph node metastases and high-risk PTC RAI treatment were strongly associated (all P values <0.05). Multifactorial regression analysis for high-risk PTC showed that age ≥ 55 ( OR=0.382, P=0.020), bilateral tumors ( OR=2.173, P=0.030), lymph node metastasis stage N1b ( OR=11.215, P<0.001), and the number of lymph node metastases ≤5 ( OR=0.389, P=0.004) were independent predictors of RAI treatment for high-risk PTC patients (all P values <0.05). The recurrence-free survival curve for high-risk PTC showed a lower recurrence-free survival rate in the RAI group than in the non-RAI group, however, the difference was not statistically significant ( P=0.07) . Conclusions:No significant benefit was observed with RAI treatment for intermediate- and high-risk PTC and rigorous screening of eligible patients is recommended.

Objective To compare the efficacy of additional tricuspid valve annuloplasty (TVP) and isolated closure for atrial septal defect (ASD) with moderate to severe tricuspid regurgitation (TR). Methods Clinical data of the patients diagnosed with ASD combined with secondary moderate to severe TR and treated in our hospital from January 2009 to June 2020 were retrospectively analyzed. Patients were divided into a TVP group and a non-TVP group based on whether TVP was performed simultaneously. The baseline data of two groups were matched with a ratio of 1∶1 propensity score. Results A total of 32 pairs from 257 patients were successfully matched. In the TVP group, there were 24 females and 8 males with an average age of 44.0±13.1 years. In the non-TVP group, there were 28 females and 4 males with an average age of 44.5±11.6 years. The TR area and estimated pulmonary artery pressure in the two groups were significantly decreased compared with preoperation (all P<0.001). The TR area (P=0.001) and the estimated pulmonary artery pressure (P=0.002) were decreased more significantly in the TVP group than those in the non-TVP group. Linear regression analysis showed that age and preoperative TR area had a positive correlation with TR area at follow-up (β=0.045 and 0.259, respectively, both P<0.05), while additional TVP had a negative correlation (β=–1.542, P=0.001). Conclusion Additional TVP can significantly reduce the TR area and pulmonary artery pressure, and elderly patients with severe TR before surgery should actively receive TVP.

Objective: To compare the clinical efficacy of anterior column reconstruction using single or double titanium mesh cage (TMC) after total en bloc spondylectomy (TES) of thoracic and lumbar spinal tumors. Methods: A retrospective cohort study was performed involving 39 patients with thoracic or lumbar spinal tumors. All patients underwent TES, followed by anterior reconstruction and screw-rod instrumentation via a posterior-only procedure. Twenty-two patients in group A were treated with a single TMC to reconstruct the anterior column, whereas 17 patients in group B were reconstructed with double TMCs. Results: The overall follow-up is 20.5 ± 4.6 months. There is no significant difference between the 2 groups regarding age, sex, body mass index, tumor location, operative time, and intraoperative blood loss. The time for TMC placement was significantly shortened in the double TMCs group (5.2 ± 1.3 minutes vs. 15.6 ± 3.3 minutes, p = 0.004). Additionally, postoperative neural complications were significantly reduced with double TMCs (5/22 vs. 0/17, p = 0.046). The kyphotic Cobb angle and mean intervertebral height were significantly corrected in both groups (p ≤ 0.001), without obvious loss of correction at the last follow-up in either group. The bone fusion rates for single TMC and double TMCs were 77.3% and 76.5%, respectively. Conclusion Using 2 smaller TMCs instead of a single large one eases the placement of TMC by shortening the time and avoiding nerve impingement. Anterior column reconstruction with double TMC is a clinically feasible, and safe alternative following TES for thoracic and lumbar tumors.

Objective:To explore the efficacy of adjuvant chemotherapy and adjuvant immunotherapy combined chemotherapy after radical cystectomy for muscle-invasive bladder cancer (MIBC) with high recurrence risk (pT 2 with positive lymph nodes, and pT 3-4a with or without positive lymph nodes). Methods:A retrospective analysis was conducted on clinical data of 217 patients with bladder cancer admitted to Tianjin Medical University Second Hospital from August 2016 to January 2022. Among them, 183 were male (84.3%) and 34 were female (15.7%), with an average age of (67.3±8.6) years old. All 217 patients underwent radical cystectomy with pelvic lymph node dissection. Based on postoperative adjuvant treatment, the patients were divided into an observation group (147 cases, 67.7%) and a treatment group (70 cases, 32.3%). The observation group and treatment group had similar demographic and pathological characteristics. The age of the observation group and treatment group was (67.4±9.0) years and (66.3±7.6) years, respectively ( P=0.14). The postoperative pathological stages T 2 with lymph node positivity were observed in 8 cases (5.4%) in the observation group and 6 cases (8.6%) in the treatment group. For stages T 3-4awith lymph node positivity, there were 34 cases (23.1%) in the observation group and 18 cases (25.7%) in the treatment group. And there were 105 cases (71.5%) in the observation group and 46 cases (65.7%) in the treatment group of stages T 3-4a without lymph node positivity, respectively( P>0.05). Tumor diameter ≥3 cm was found in 118 cases (80.3%) in the observation group and 54 cases (77.1%) in the treatment group ( P>0.05), while tumor diameter <3 cm was observed in 29 cases (19.7%) in the observation group and 16 cases (22.9%) in the treatment group ( P>0.05).In the treatment group, 36 patients (16.6%) received postoperative chemotherapy with gemcitabine (1 000 mg/m 2, days 1 and 8) and cisplatin (75 mg/m 2, days 2 to 4) (chemotherapy group), while 34 patients (15.7%) received postoperative immunotherapy with checkpoint inhibitors (intravenous infusion of sintilimab 200 mg, terlizumab 200 mg, or toripalimab 240 mg on day 1) in combination with albumin-bound paclitaxel (200 mg on day 2)(immunotherapy combined chemotherapy group). The age of the chemotherapy group and immunotherapy combined chemotherapy group was (66.8±8.4) years and (65.8±6.8) years, respectively ( P>0.05). Postoperative pathological stages T 2 with lymph node positivity were observed in 3 cases (8.3%) in the chemotherapy group and 3 cases (8.8%) in the immunotherapy combined chemotherapy group ( P>0.05). For stages T 3-4awith lymph node positivity, there were 6 cases (16.7%) in the chemotherapy group and 12 cases (35.3%) in the immunotherapy combined chemotherapy group. And there were 27 cases (75.0%) in the observation group and 19 cases (55.9%) in the treatment group of stages T 3-4a without lymph node positivity, respectively( P>0.05). Lymph node involvement was seen in 9 cases (25.0%) in the chemotherapy group and 15 cases (44.1%) in the immunotherapy combined chemotherapy group ( P>0.05). Tumor diameter ≥3 cm was found in 30 cases (83.3%) in the chemotherapy group and 10 cases (29.4%) in the immunotherapy combined chemotherapy group ( P>0.05), while tumor diameter <3 cm was observed in 6 cases (16.7%) in the chemotherapy group and 24 cases (70.6%) in the immunotherapy combined chemotherapy group ( P>0.05). Kaplan-Meier method and multivariate Cox regression test were used to analyze the overall survival (OS) at 1 and 3 years in the observation group and treatment group, as well as the disease-free survival (DFS) at 1 and 3 years in the chemotherapy group and immunotherapy combined chemotherapy group. Additionally, common adverse events were evaluated and compared between the chemotherapy group and immunotherapy combined chemotherapy group based on the criteria published by the U. S. Department of Health and Human Services. Results:The median follow-up time in this study was 18.4 (8.2, 34.7) months. The median follow-up time in the observation group and treatment group was 19.0 (8.3, 35.2) months and 17.5 (7.9, 33.2) months, respectively. The 1-year survival rate was significantly higher in the treatment group compared to the observation group (90.0% vs. 76.2%, χ2=6.92, P=0.009). Similarly, the 3-year survival rate was significantly higher in the treatment group compared to the observation group (82.9% vs. 57.8%, χ2=13.22, P<0.01). The median OS was 35.9 months in the observation group and was not reached in the treatment group, with a statistically significant difference ( HR=2.51, 95% CI 1.36-4.65, P=0.003).In the chemotherapy group and immunotherapy combined chemotherapy group, the median follow-up time was 10.7 (7.4, 22.1) months and 14.4 (6.3, 40.7) months, respectively. The 1-year disease-free survival rate was significantly higher in the immunotherapy combined chemotherapy group compared to the chemotherapy group (91.2% vs. 67.6%, χ2=4.60, P=0.032). The 3-year disease-free survival rate was significantly higher in the chemotherapy group compared to the immunotherapy combined chemotherapy group (88.2% vs. 55.6%, χ2=8.37, P=0.004). The median DFS was 27.7 months in the chemotherapy group and was not reached in the immunotherapy combined chemotherapy group, with a statistically significant difference ( HR=3.39, 95% CI 1.46-7.89, P=0.016).The treatment group had complications classified as follows: 140 cases of grade 1, 39 cases of grade 2, 8 cases of grade 3, 2 cases of grade 4, and 0 case of grade 5 adverse reactions. In the chemotherapy group and the immunotherapy combined chemotherapy group, there were both 5 cases with adverse reactions of grade 3 or higher. Specifically, in the chemotherapy group, there were 2 cases of anemia, 2 cases of decreased platelet count, and 1 case of decreased neutrophil count. In the immunotherapy combined chemotherapy group, there was 1 case of anemia, 1 case of decreased platelet count, and 2 cases of decreased neutrophil count. Additionally, there was 1 case with elevated gamma-glutamyltransferase (γ-GT) in the immunotherapy combined chemotherapy group. The incidence of adverse events of grade 3 or higher in the chemotherapy group and immunotherapy combined chemotherapy group was 13.9% and 14.7%, respectively, with no statistically significant difference( χ2=0.01, P=0.922). Conclusions:Adjuvant therapy significantly prolongs the overall survival in high risk of recurrence for MIBC patients after radical cystectomy. For patients intolerant to platinum-based chemotherapy or refusing platinum-based adjuvant chemotherapy, immunotherapy with checkpoint inhibitors combined with albumin-bound paclitaxel can be considered as an effective and well-tolerated adjuvant treatment after radical cystectomy.

Objective·To analyze the expression of cancer-testis antigen(CTA)family member SPANXB(sperm protein associated with the nucleus on the X chromosome B)in liver cancer and its correlation with the prognosis of liver cancer patients,and to explore the impact of SPANXB on liver cancer cell proliferation and its potential mechanism.Methods·By using liver cancer sample data from the cancer genome atlas(TCGA)database,the expression of SPANXB in liver cancer tissue and its correlation with patient survival were analyzed.By constructing stable knockdown of SPANXB and stable overexpression of SPANXB in liver cancer cell lines,the effects of SPANXB on liver cancer cell proliferation were evaluated with live cell imaging experiments,EdU cell proliferation experiments and plate clone formation experiments.The regulatory pathways of SPANXB in liver cancer cell proliferation were explored through RNA-sequence(RNA-seq),and the effect of SPANXB on liver cancer cell cycle was validated through cell cycle experiments.Immunoprecipitation-mass spectrometry(IP-MS)was used to explore the proteins that interacted with SPANXB,and co-immunoprecipitation(Co-IP)was used to verify their interaction.Results·The expression of SPANXB mRNA in liver cancer tissues was higher than that in normal tissues(P=0.003),and was negatively correlated with the survival of liver cancer patients.Stable knockdown of SPANXB could reduce the proliferation and clone formation ability of liver cancer cells,while stable overexpression of SPANXB could promote these processes.The analysis results of RNA-seq showed that knockdown of SPANXB could lead to downregulation of DNA replication and G1/S cell cycle transition-related pathways.The results of cell cycle experiments showed that knockdown of SPANXB could result in changes in the liver cancer cell cycle.The results of IP-MS and Co-IP showed that SPAXNB interacted with cell cycle-related proteins such as mitotic arrest defect 2-like protein 1(MAD2L1)and WD repeat domain 5(WDR5).Conclusion·The high expression of SPANXB is negatively correlated with the prognosis of liver cancer.SPANXB may regulate the cell cycle and enhance the proliferation activity of liver cancer cells by interacting with MAD2L1 and WDR5.

Sepsis-associated liver injury (SALI) is a common complication of sepsis, which is characterized by systemic immune disorders induced by sepsis leading to liver damage. Currently, there are no effective treatments for SALI, which is related to its complex pathophysiological mechanisms. In recent years, the disorder of intestinal environment after sepsis has been considered as an important factor for SALI, but the specific molecular mechanism of the above process is still unclear. This article will review the pathological role and molecular mechanisms between intestinal environmental disturbance and SALI, aiming to analyze the potential research direction of SALI and identify potential therapeutic targets for its treatment.

Objective: To compare the clinical efficacy of anterior column reconstruction using single or double titanium mesh cage (TMC) after total en bloc spondylectomy (TES) of thoracic and lumbar spinal tumors. Methods: A retrospective cohort study was performed involving 39 patients with thoracic or lumbar spinal tumors. All patients underwent TES, followed by anterior reconstruction and screw-rod instrumentation via a posterior-only procedure. Twenty-two patients in group A were treated with a single TMC to reconstruct the anterior column, whereas 17 patients in group B were reconstructed with double TMCs. Results: The overall follow-up is 20.5 ± 4.6 months. There is no significant difference between the 2 groups regarding age, sex, body mass index, tumor location, operative time, and intraoperative blood loss. The time for TMC placement was significantly shortened in the double TMCs group (5.2 ± 1.3 minutes vs. 15.6 ± 3.3 minutes, p = 0.004). Additionally, postoperative neural complications were significantly reduced with double TMCs (5/22 vs. 0/17, p = 0.046). The kyphotic Cobb angle and mean intervertebral height were significantly corrected in both groups (p ≤ 0.001), without obvious loss of correction at the last follow-up in either group. The bone fusion rates for single TMC and double TMCs were 77.3% and 76.5%, respectively. Conclusion Using 2 smaller TMCs instead of a single large one eases the placement of TMC by shortening the time and avoiding nerve impingement. Anterior column reconstruction with double TMC is a clinically feasible, and safe alternative following TES for thoracic and lumbar tumors.

Objective: To compare the clinical efficacy of anterior column reconstruction using single or double titanium mesh cage (TMC) after total en bloc spondylectomy (TES) of thoracic and lumbar spinal tumors. Methods: A retrospective cohort study was performed involving 39 patients with thoracic or lumbar spinal tumors. All patients underwent TES, followed by anterior reconstruction and screw-rod instrumentation via a posterior-only procedure. Twenty-two patients in group A were treated with a single TMC to reconstruct the anterior column, whereas 17 patients in group B were reconstructed with double TMCs. Results: The overall follow-up is 20.5 ± 4.6 months. There is no significant difference between the 2 groups regarding age, sex, body mass index, tumor location, operative time, and intraoperative blood loss. The time for TMC placement was significantly shortened in the double TMCs group (5.2 ± 1.3 minutes vs. 15.6 ± 3.3 minutes, p = 0.004). Additionally, postoperative neural complications were significantly reduced with double TMCs (5/22 vs. 0/17, p = 0.046). The kyphotic Cobb angle and mean intervertebral height were significantly corrected in both groups (p ≤ 0.001), without obvious loss of correction at the last follow-up in either group. The bone fusion rates for single TMC and double TMCs were 77.3% and 76.5%, respectively. Conclusion Using 2 smaller TMCs instead of a single large one eases the placement of TMC by shortening the time and avoiding nerve impingement. Anterior column reconstruction with double TMC is a clinically feasible, and safe alternative following TES for thoracic and lumbar tumors.

Objective: To compare the clinical efficacy of anterior column reconstruction using single or double titanium mesh cage (TMC) after total en bloc spondylectomy (TES) of thoracic and lumbar spinal tumors. Methods: A retrospective cohort study was performed involving 39 patients with thoracic or lumbar spinal tumors. All patients underwent TES, followed by anterior reconstruction and screw-rod instrumentation via a posterior-only procedure. Twenty-two patients in group A were treated with a single TMC to reconstruct the anterior column, whereas 17 patients in group B were reconstructed with double TMCs. Results: The overall follow-up is 20.5 ± 4.6 months. There is no significant difference between the 2 groups regarding age, sex, body mass index, tumor location, operative time, and intraoperative blood loss. The time for TMC placement was significantly shortened in the double TMCs group (5.2 ± 1.3 minutes vs. 15.6 ± 3.3 minutes, p = 0.004). Additionally, postoperative neural complications were significantly reduced with double TMCs (5/22 vs. 0/17, p = 0.046). The kyphotic Cobb angle and mean intervertebral height were significantly corrected in both groups (p ≤ 0.001), without obvious loss of correction at the last follow-up in either group. The bone fusion rates for single TMC and double TMCs were 77.3% and 76.5%, respectively. Conclusion Using 2 smaller TMCs instead of a single large one eases the placement of TMC by shortening the time and avoiding nerve impingement. Anterior column reconstruction with double TMC is a clinically feasible, and safe alternative following TES for thoracic and lumbar tumors.