The 2024 World Conference on Lung Cancer (WCLC) and the European Society for Medical Oncology (ESMO) Annual Meeting, two of the most prestigious events in oncology, have concluded sequentially. As the most authoritative annual gatherings in lung cancer and the entire oncology field, the WCLC and ESMO conferences brought together top oncology experts and scientists from around the world to share, discuss, and publish the latest cutting-edge advancements in oncology. In both conferences, lung cancer immunotherapy remained a hot topic of considerable interest. This article aims to summarize and discuss the important research progress on perioperative immunotherapy for non-small cell lung cancer reported at the two conferences.

The occurrence of benign prostate hyperplasia(BPH)was related to disrupted sex steroid hormones,and metformin(Met)had a clinical response to sex steroid hormone-related gynaecological disease.How-ever,whether Met exerts an antiproliferative effect on BPH via sex steroid hormones remains unclear.Here,our clinical study showed that along with prostatic epithelial cell(PEC)proliferation,sex steroid hormones were dysregulated in the serum and prostate of BPH patients.As the major contributor to dysregulated sex steroid hormones,elevated dihydrotestosterone(DHT)had a significant positive rela-tionship with the clinical characteristics of BPH patients.Activation of adenosine 5'-monophosphate(AMP)-activated protein kinase(AMPK)by Met restored dysregulated sex steroid hormone homeostasis and exerted antiproliferative effects against DHT-induced proliferation by inhibiting the formation of androgen receptor(AR)-mediated Yes-associated protein(YAP1)-TEA domain transcription factor(TEAD4)heterodimers.Met's anti-proliferative effects were blocked by AMPK inhibitor or YAP1 over-expression in DHT-cultured BPH-1 cells.Our findings indicated that Met would be a promising clinical therapeutic approach for BPH by inhibiting dysregulated steroid hormone-induced PEC proliferation.

Objective:To explore the mechanism of Jianpi Qingchang Decoction in the treatment of UC by integrating network pharmacology, bioinformatics, molecular docking and experimental verification.Methods:The effective components and targets of Jianpi Qingchang Decoction were obtained from TCMSP database, and UC data sets GSE16879, GSE48958 and GSE75214 were obtained from GEO database, and differentially expressed genes were screened; intersection targets were obtained through Venn diagram, and GO function and KEGG pathway enrichment analysis was performed. An intersection target PPI network was constructed using STRING database and topology analysis was performed; hub genes were screened through lasso regression and the expression consistency of core targets in the dataset was verified through logistic regression. A UC mouse model was established and hub genes were validated.Results:A total of 213 drug targets of Jianpi Qingchang Decoction were obtained, and 499 common intersection targets of GSE16879, GSE48958 and GSE75214 were obtained by differential gene expression analysis. Thirty intersection targets of Jianpi Qingchang Decoction and UC were obtained, mainly acting on IL-17 signaling pathway, TNF signaling pathway, AGE-RAGE signaling pathway in diabetic complications, etc. PPI network topology analysis obtained 7 common intersection targets, including PTGS2, IL-1B, IL-6, MMP9, CXCL8, CCL2 and MMP2. IL-6 and MMP2 were selected as hub genes by lasso regression. Logistics regression analysis showed that IL-6 and MMP2 were risk factors for the disease. Compared with the model group, the expressions of IL-6 and MMP2 mRNA and protein in the colon tissue of the TCM group decreased ( P<0.05), and the morphology of colon tissue was improved compared with the model group. Conclusion:IL-6 and MMP2 are risk factors for UC, the therapeutic effect of Jianpi Qingchang Decoction is to mediate Il-17 signal pathway, TNF signal pathway and AGE-RAGE signal pathway in diabetic complications through the targets of IL-6, and MMP2, thereby treating UC.

OBJECTIVE To study the pharmacokinetic changes in the plasma and cerebrospinal fluid of bronchial asthma model rats after the complication of Ephedra sinica and Prunus armeniaca. METHODS SD male rats were randomly divided into blank group， model group， E. sinica group （12 g/kg， calculated by raw drug， similarly hereinafter）， P. armeniaca group （6 g/kg） and E. sinica-P. armeniaca drug-pair group （12 g/kg of E. sinica+6 g/kg of P. armeniaca）， with 6 rats in each group. Except for the blank group， the bronchial asthma model was induced by spraying rats in each group with an equal volume mixture of 2% acetylcholine chloride and 0.4% histamine phosphate， once a day， for 7 d. One hour before modeling every time， rats in each group were gavaged with the corresponding drug/normal saline， once a day， for 7 d. After the final administration and provocation of asthma， blood and cerebrospinal fluid collection were performed at different time points. The plasma and cerebrospinal fluid samples were pre-treated （with geranylgeranyl as the internal standard）， and the mass concentrations of ephedrine/pseudoephedrine， methyl ephedrine and amygdalin in both samples were determined by liquid chromatography-tandem mass spectrometry. DAS 2.0 pharmacokinetic software was used to determine the main pharmacokinetic parameters through the non-atrial chamber model and to compare the changes of the pharmacokinetic parameters before and after the combination of the two drugs. RESULTS Compared with E. sinica group， cmax and AUC0-21.33 h （or AUC0-10.67 h） of ephedrine/pseudoephedrine and methyl ephedrine in the plasma and cerebrospinal fluid of rats were significantly reduced in E. sinica-P. armeniaca drug-pair group， while CLZ/F and VZ/F were significantly increased （P＜0.05 or P＜0.01）； tmax of methyl ephedrine in the cerebrospinal fluid was significantly shortened （P＜ 0.05）.Compared with P. armeniaca group， the t1/2 of amygdalin in the plasma of rats in E. sinica-P. armeniaca drug-pair group was significantly shortened， and CLZ/F was significantly increased （P＜0.01）； the tmax of bitter amygdalin in the cerebrospinal fluid was significantly shortened， and the AUC0-10.67 h， CLZ/F， and VZ/F were significantly increased （P＜0.01）. CONCLUSIONS The combination of E. sinica and P. armeniaca accelerates the absorption and elimination of ephedra alkaloids， thus reducing the accumulation of ephedra alkaloids in the bronchial asthma model rats.

Objective:To preliminarily evaluate the safety and efficacy of shunt-related interventional therapy accompanied with spontaneous portosystemic shunts (SPSS) in patients with hepatic encephalopathy (HE).Methods:Case data on six patients who underwent interventional therapy accompanied by SPSS for HE from January 2017 to March 2021 were collected to evaluate the efficacy and postoperative complications.Results:All six patients underwent SPSS. Four patients had hepatitis B cirrhosis; one had alcoholic cirrhosis; and one had hepatic arterioportal fistula-induced portal hypertension. Child-Pugh liver function scores were C and B in three and three cases, respectively. The SPSS type was gastrorenal shunt in two cases; portal-thoracic-azygos venous in two cases; portal-umbilical-iliac venous in one case; and portal-splenic venous - inferior vena cava in one case. Two of them had previously had a transjugular intrahepatic portosystemic shunt (TIPS), and there were SPSS prior to TIPS. Five cases (5/6) successfully underwent shunt embolization, and one case (1/6) underwent stent implantation for flow restriction (portal-umbilical-iliac vein). The technical success rate was 100%. HE did not recur during hospitalization or the three-month follow-up period. However, one case had a recurrence of HE within a year after surgery and was treated symptomatically, while another experienced gastrointestinal bleeding a year after surgery..Conclusion:SPSS embolization or flow restriction is effective and safe for improving HE patients' symptoms.

Idiopathic pulmonary fibrosis (IPF) is a progressive disease with unknown etiology and limited therapeutic options. Activation of fibroblasts is a prominent feature of pulmonary fibrosis. Here we report that lncRNA DACH1 (dachshund homolog 1) is downregulated in the lungs of IPF patients and in an experimental mouse model of lung fibrosis. LncDACH1 knockout mice develop spontaneous pulmonary fibrosis, whereas overexpression of LncDACH1 attenuated TGF-β1-induced aberrant activation, collagen deposition and differentiation of mouse lung fibroblasts. Similarly, forced expression of LncDACH1 not only prevented bleomycin (BLM)-induced lung fibrosis, but also reversed established lung fibrosis in a BLM model. Mechanistically, LncDACH1 binding to the serine/arginine-rich splicing factor 1 (SRSF1) protein decreases its activity and inhibits the accumulation of Ctnnb1. Enhanced expression of SRSF1 blocked the anti-fibrotic effect of LncDACH1 in lung fibroblasts. Furthermore, loss of LncDACH1 promoted proliferation, differentiation, and extracellular matrix (ECM) deposition in mouse lung fibroblasts, whereas such effects were abolished by silencing of Ctnnb1. In addition, a conserved fragment of LncDACH1 alleviated hyperproliferation, ECM deposition and differentiation of MRC-5 cells driven by TGF-β1. Collectively, LncDACH1 inhibits lung fibrosis by interacting with SRSF1 to suppress CTNNB1 accumulation, suggesting that LncDACH1 might be a potential therapeutic target for pulmonary fibrosis.

Objective:To investigate the clinical and genetic characteristics of cerebellar ataxia, neuropathy, vestibular areflexia syndrome (CANVAS) with replication factor C subunit 1 (RFC1) gene mutation to improve the understanding of this disease.Methods:A case of CANVAS diagnosed in the Peking University Third Hospital in January 2021 was reported. Detailed genetic analyses of ataxia were performed with DNA extracted from the peripheral blood of the patient. Studies including pathogenic variants of RFC1 gene causing CANVAS were reviewed and the clinical and genetic characteristics of the disease were summarized.Results:The patient was a 51-year-old female with the prominent manifestation of progressive walking instability. And the clinical data met the diagnostic criteria of CANVAS. The genetic tests excluded other hereditary ataxia mutations and identified the biallelic expansion of the pathogenic variant structure (AAGGG)exp repeat amplification in RFC1 gene. A total of 14 studies on CANVAS with RFC1 gene mutation were reviewed. The overall mutation rate of RFC1 gene in CANVAS was 68%-100%, and it varied in sporadic and familial CANVAS. And the mutation had ethnic differences.Conclusions:Among adult patients with late-onset ataxia, the combination of brain magnetic resonance imaging, electrophysiology tests and vestibular function examination is beneficial to the identification of CANVAS. And the genetic test of RFC1 gene has significant value in the diagnosis of this disease. This patient with CANVAS expands the disease spectrum of ataxia in China, and confirms that RFC1 gene mutation is of great significance in the screening of ataxia disorders in the Chinese population.

Patient satisfaction is one of the core indicators to measure the service quality of medical institutions. To this end, a multi-campus public hospital in Shanghai constructed a management system of patient satisfaction evaluation. Since 2021, its call center has conducted a full coverage satisfaction assessment for discharged patients from its three campuses and collected dissatisfaction information feedback. The hospital organized relevant clinical departments and functional departments to fully communicate with the dissatisfied patients according to the feedback information, followed by a joint rectification. The hospital regularly conducts in-depth analysis of all complaints for timely discovery of common problems in different campuses for continuous improvement. This practice can provide reference for multi-campus hospitals to promote homogeneous management, to improve management efficiency, service quality and patient satisfaction.

In recent years, the medical insurance coverage of China has been increased significantly, and the medical insurance policies have been launched continuously, so the traditional manual audit method is unable to support medical institutions to effectively supervise the medical insurance fund. In view of this situation, a tertiary hospital in Beijing had successfully built an intelligent medical insurance audit system for drugs, diagnosis and treatment projects under key supervision, realized the prior audit and in-process control of the illegal use of medical insurance funds, through the establishment of intelligent audit rules, the design of audit trigger points and the interception level of illegal medical orders, and the establishment of a pre-operational preparation system and continuous improvement mechanism. In March 2021, the hospital officially launched the system. After the application of the system, the amount and quantity of outpatient medical insurance refusal from April to September 2021 were 10 587 yuan and 72 respectively, which decreased by 79.21% and 77.50% compared with the same period in 2020. This system effectively improved the quality and efficiency of medical insurance fund supervision.

Objective:To compare the efficacy and safety of retroperitoneal laparoscopic adrenalectomy (RLA) and transperitoneal laparoscopic adrenalectomy (TLA) in the treatment of localized adrenocortical carcinoma (ACC).Methods:The data of 22 patients with stage Ⅰ/Ⅱ ACC underwent laparoscopic adrenalectomy in our institution from January 2009 to December 2018 were retrospectively analyzed. According to the different surgical approaches, these patients were divided into RLA and TLA groups. Eleven patients underwent RLA and 11 patients underwent TLA. There were no significant differences between the RLA group and the TLA group in terms of age at first diagnosis[44 (35, 54) vs. 46(41, 55) years, P= 0.793], sex (male/female: 3/8 vs. 4/7, P = 1.00), secreting tumor ratio (3/11 vs. 4/11, P = 1.00), tumor location (left/right: 6/6 vs. 7/4, P = 1.00), with hypertension or diabetes mellitus (4/11 vs. 3/11, P = 1.00). However, RLA has significantly smaller tumor size [3.0(2.5, 8.4) cm vs. 7.7(5.2, 8.4)cm, P= 0.001], and more stage Ⅰ patients [90.9%(10/11) vs. 18.2%(2/11), P=0.002], compared with those in TLA group. The perioperative indicators and oncology prognosis outcomes were collected and compared between the two groups. The Kaplan-Meier method was performed to calculate the overall survival (OS) and disease-free survival (DFS). Results:Compared with TLA, RLA had shorter operation time[90(70, 100) vs. 110 (90, 120) min, P = 0.005] and postoperative drainage tube removal time [2 (2, 3) vs. 3 (2, 6) day, P = 0.002), and the difference was statistically significant. In the TLA group, one patient was converted to open operation due to intraoperative tumor capsule rupture. For postoperative complications, one patient in the TLA group suffered with wound infection. There were no perioperative deaths in either group. All postoperative pathological examinations confirmed ACC, and there was no significant difference in Ki-67 index between the two groups [10%(3%, 35%) vs. 10%(9%, 25%), P = 0.484]. The median follow-up was similar in the two groups [48(26, 98) vs. 31(18, 49) months, P=0.237]. The local recurrence and metastasis rates were 36.4% for RLA group and 63.6% for TLA group ( P = 0.395). Survival analysis showed no statistically significant difference in DFS [5-year DFS rate: 33.6% vs. 73.2%, P = 0.118] between the two groups. The 5-year OS rates for RLA group versus TLA group were 58.3% vs. 45.5% ( P=0.485). Conclusions:For localized (stage Ⅰ/Ⅱ) ACC, both RLA and TLA seem safe and feasible, based on the similar long-term oncological prognosis. However, compared with TLA, RLA has the advantage of shorter operation time and postoperative drainage tube removal time. Due to the small number of cases included in this study, further multi-center, large-sample studies are required to demonstrate clear benefit of one surgical approach in the future.