Objective    To systematically review the clinical utilization of robotic bronchoscopes in diagnosis of pulmonary nodules, including MonarchTM and IonTM platforms, and then evaluate the efficacy and safety of the procedure. Methods    PubMed, EMbase, Web of Science and Cochrane Central Register of Controlled Trials databases were searched by computer for literature about the biopsy of pulmonary nodules with robotic bronchoscope from January 2018 to February 14, 2022. The quality of research was evaluated with Newcastle-Ottawa Scale. RevMan 5.4 software was used to conduct the meta-analysis. Results    Finally, 19 clinical studies with 1 542 patients and 1 697 targeted pulmonary nodules were included, of which 13 studies used the IonTM platform and 6 studies used the MonarchTM platform. The overall diagnostic rate of the two systems was 84.96% (95%CI 62.00%-95.00%), sensitivity for malignancy was 81.79%(95%CI 43.00%-96.00%), the mean maximum diameter of the nodules was 16.22 mm (95%CI 10.98-21.47), the mean procedure time was 61.86 min (95%CI 46.18-77.54) and the rate of complications occurred was 4.76% (95%CI 2.00%-15.00%). There was no statistical difference in the outcomes between the two systems. Conclusion     Robotic bronchoscope provides a high efficacy and safety in biopsy of pulmonary nodules, and has a broad application prospect for pulmonary nodules diagnosis.

Objective     To assess the safety and clinical outcomes of segmentectomy in one- or two-staged video-assisted thoracoscopic surgery (VATS) for bilateral lung cancer. Methods    We retrospectively enrolled 100 patients who underwent VATS segmentectomy for bilateral lung cancer at the Department of Thoracic Surgery of Peking Union Medical College Hospital from December 2013 to May 2022. We divided the patients into two groups: a one-stage group (52 patients), including 17 males and 35 females with a mean age of 55.17±11.09 years, and a two-stage group (48 patients), including 16 males and 32 females with a mean age of 59.88±11.48 years. We analyzed multiple intraoperative variables and postoperative outcomes. Results     All 100 patients successfully completed bilateral VATS, and at least unilateral lung received anatomical segmentectomy. Patients in the one-stage group were younger (P=0.040), had lower rate of comorbidities (P=0.030), were less likely to have a family history of lung cancer (P=0.018), and had a shorter interval between diagnosis and surgery (P=0.000) compared with patients in the two-stage group. Wedge resection on the opposite side was more common in the one-stage group (P=0.000), while lobectomy was more common in the two-stage   group. The time to emerge from anesthesia in the one-stage group was longer than that in the first and second operations of the two-stage group (P=0.000, P=0.002). Duration of surgery and anesthesia were similar between two groups (P>0.05). Total number of lymph node stations for sampling and dissection (P=0.041) and lymph nodes involved (P=0.026) were less in the one-stage group. Intraoperative airway management was similar between two groups (P>0.05). The one-stage group was associated with lower activities of daily living (ADL) scores. Conclusion     Segmentectomy is safe in one- or two-staged VATS for bilateral lung cancer, including contralateral sublobectomy and lobectomy. Duration of surgery and perioperative complications are similar between two groups, but the one-stage group is associated with lower ADL scores. On the basis of comprehensive consideration in psychological factors, physical conditions and personal wishes of patients, one-staged sequential bilateral VATS can be the first choice.

Objective    To analyze the research hotspots and progress of surgical treatment of myasthenia gravis. Methods    The top 100 most cited articles on surgical treatment of myasthenia gravis were identified by searching the Web of Science database, and a bibliometric analysis was conducted. Results    The publication year of the top 100 most cited articles ranged from 1939 to 2021, and the number of citations ranged from 55 to 850 per article. Most of the included articles were original research articles (75/100), which were mainly retrospective studies (64/75). The United States was the country with the most published articles and most citations, and Annals of Thoracic Surgery was the most sourced journal (n=20). Through VOSviewer analysis, high-density keywords were thymectomy, maximal thymectomy, extended thymectomy, transcervical thymectomy, thymoma, and autoantibodies. Conclusion    The scope of surgical resection, surgical approach and pathogenesis are the current hotspots in the field of surgical treatment of myasthenia gravis. It is hoped that this paper can provide references for future researches in this field.

Objective    To investigate the clinical characteristics and treatment of primary mediastinal yolk sac tumor (PMYST). Methods    We collected the clinical data of PMYST patients who were admitted to the Department of Thoracic Surgery of Peking Union Medical College Hospital from September 2000 to September 2020. The clinical and pathological characteristics, treatment and prognosis of PMYST patients were retrospectively analyzed. Results     Finally 18 patients were enrolled, including 17 males and 1 female with a median age of 22.0 (16.6, 26.2) years. Patients had increased level of alpha fetoprotein (AFP). The pathological type can be single yolk sac tumor or combined with other mediastinal germ cell tumors. Chemotherapy and radical surgery were the main treatment methods. Extensive resection was feasible for patients with tumor invasion of other organs. Seven patients developed lung or pleural metastasis after operation, and 3 of them had extrapleural metastasis. One patient recurred within 1 year after surgery. All patients were followed up by telephone or outpatient department. At the last follow-up, 5 patients survived, 9 died, and 4 were lost to follow up, with a median survival of 16.8 months. The median disease-free survival was 14.9 months. The survival rates at 1, 3 and 5 years were 73.3%, 28.6% and 11.8%, respectively. Conclusion    PMYST often occurs in young-middle aged male patients. Preoperative puncture can provide an effective diagnostic basis. R0 resection, AFP returning to normal after treatment and no metastasis may be potential indicators of good prognosis. The overall prognosis of PMYST is poor, and some patients can achieve long-term survival after treatment.

Objective:To evaluate the efficacy of arthroscopic minimally invasive reduction in the treatment of talus posterior process fractures.Methods:The clinical data were retrospectively studied of the 42 patients with talus posterior process fracture who had been admitted to Department of Orthopedics, The Fourth Hospital of Wuhan from January 2010 to June 2021. There were 25 males and 17 females, aged from 21 to 60 years (average, 40.5 years). They were assigned into 2 groups according to their different treatments. In the arthroscopic group of 15 cases, arthroscopic reduction and internal fixation (ARIF) were conducted via the posteromedial and posterolateral approaches; in the open reduction group of 27 cases, open reduction and internal fixation (ORIF) were conducted via the posteromedial para-Achilles approach. The 2 groups were compared in terms of operation time, blood loss, hospital stay, fracture clinical healing time, postoperative complications, and the American Society for Foot and Ankle Surgery (AOFAS) ankle-hindfoot score at one year postoperation.Results:There was no significant difference in the preoperative general data between the 2 groups, showing comparability ( P> 0.05). The arthroscopic group incurred significantly less blood loss [(32.0±11.5) mL], hospital stay [(5.3±1.8) d], and fracture clinical healing time [(4.6±1.0) months], and a significantly lower incidence of postoperative complications [20.0% (3/15)] than the open reduction group did [(80.0±15.2) mL, (8.4±2.4) d, (6.3±2.2) months, and 29.6% (8/27)], but significantly longer operation time [(74.0±8.9) min] than the open reduction group [(62.9±5.1) min] ( P<0.05). The AOFAS ankle-hindfoot scores at one year postoperation in both groups were higher than those before operation. The AOFAS ankle-hindfoot scores in the arthroscopic group [(83.0±13.0) points] were significantly higher than those in the open reduction group [(72.3±16.0) points] ( P<0.05). Conclusion:ARIF is a preferred minimally invasive treatment for talus posterior process fractures, because it leads to a smaller incision, less blood loss, shorter hospital stay, quicker clinical healing, a lower incidence of postoperative complications, and better functional improvement of the ankle and hindfoot than ORIF.

Pulmonary inflammatory myofibroblastic tumor (PIMT) is a rare lung tumor that is poorly understood by clinicians. Based on the data of patients with PIMT in our center, a comprehensive search and a brief summary analysis of previous reports of the disease were carried out in this article. PIMTs were more likely to be present in male patients and in the right lung, and their clinical and radiographic findings were heterogeneous. Surgery is the most important treatment method, and complete resection is of great significance to the prognosis of patients. Targeted therapy represented by crizotinib may be helpful for patients with positive ALK mutations.

Thymic neuroendocrine tumors (TNETs) are a series of rare diseases with aggressive biology and poor prognosis. Clinical manifestations of TNETs are atypical, and ectopic secretion of adrenocorticotropic hormone can be found in some cases, resulting in associated endocrine symptoms. Due to the low morbidity and strong heterogeneity, it’s difficult to diagnose, treat and obtain new treatment regimen. Early complete surgical resection is an effective treatment. For advanced cancer, clinical trials of new drugs are expected to improve the survival of patients.

Small cell lung cancer is a kind of malignant tumor with strong invasiveness and poor prognosis, and the classic therapeutic modality of the disease remains multidisciplinary and comprehensive treatment. Treatment options for small cell lung cancer have been stalled for a long time, and new opportunities have emerged in recent years due to the development and initial experience of immunotherapeutic drugs. Clinical trials of some selected immune checkpoint inhibitors have confirmed the efficacy and safety in small cell lung cancer. Based on the results of phase III clinical trials (Impower133 and CASPIAN), Atezolizumab or Durvalumab in combination with chemotherapy has been approved by the U.S. Food and Drug Administration for the first-line treatment of extensive-stage small cell lung cancer. Clinical trials involving immune checkpoint inhibitors are being actively carried out and provide different perspectives for the management of small cell lung cancer. This article aimed to review the clinical progress in immunotherapy of small cell lung cancer.
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Clinical Trials, Phase III as Topic ; Humans ; Immune Checkpoint Inhibitors ; Immunologic Factors/therapeutic use* ; Immunotherapy/methods* ; Lung Neoplasms/pathology* ; Small Cell Lung Carcinoma/pathology*

Neoadjuvant immunotherapy, including neoadjuvant single- or dual-drug immunotherapy or combined immunotherapy with chemotherapy or radiotherapy, has witnessed a rapid development in non-small cell lung cancer. Clinical trials exhibited the encouraging pathological responses and certain clinical benefits in selected patients, with tolerable toxicity. Nivolumab with chemotherapy has been approved by Food and Drug Administration (FDA) as the first immunotherapy-based treatment for non-small cell lung cancer in the neoadjuvant treatment setting. There is the need for further evaluation of long-term efficacy, side effects or surgical issues for neoadjuvant immunotherapy in non-small cell lung cancer.
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Antineoplastic Agents, Immunological/therapeutic use* ; Carcinoma, Non-Small-Cell Lung/pathology* ; Humans ; Immunotherapy/methods* ; Lung Neoplasms/pathology* ; Neoadjuvant Therapy ; Nivolumab/therapeutic use*

Lung cancer ranks the first cancer-related morbidity and mortality in China. With the development and penetration of imaging technology, increasing small pulmonary peripheral Nodules (SPPNs) have been detected. However, precise location and diagnosis of SPPNs is still a tough problem for clinical diagnosis and treatment in department of thoracic surgery. With the development of electromagnetic navigation bronchoscopy (ENB), it provides a novel minimally invasive method for the diagnosis and treatment of SPPNs. In this review, we summarized the application and progress of ENB in preoperative positioning, diagnosis, and local treatment, then, discussed the clinical application of ENB in the hybrid operating room.
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Bronchoscopy/methods* ; Electromagnetic Phenomena ; Humans ; Lung Neoplasms/surgery* ; Multiple Pulmonary Nodules/diagnosis* ; Thoracic Surgery