S-1 for treatment of advanced hepatocellular carcinoma: a systematic review of the literature.

Hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) is the most common liver neoplasm worldwide. Based on its potent inhibition of dihydropyrimidine dehydrogenase (DPD), S-1 is expected to be more active than other fluoropyrimidines against HCC with DPD activity. This systematic review was aimed to assess the efficacy and safety of S-1 for treatment of advanced HCC. PubMed, the Cochrane Library, EMBA-SE, and ClinicalTrials.gov were searched using the terms "Hepatocellular Carcinoma" or "HCC" or "Hepatoma" or "Liver cancer" and ''S-1''. Outcomes of main interest included overall survival (OS) and toxicities. We identified four studies of S-1 treatment alone from 1059 references, including a total of 272 patients. There were two original articles and two conference abstracts. The percentage of male patients ranged from 88 to 91.3% and median age ranged from 59 to 70 years. Median OS ranged from 8.6 to 16.5 months. The incidences of toxicity of more than 50% were thrombocytopaenia and fatigue. According to the original description, toxicities were acceptable. The current evidence from the available clinical studies suggests that S-1 may be an effective and tolerable treatment for advanced HCC. Further clinical studies are warranted to further investigate this treatment option.

Transcatheter arterial chemoembolisation (TACE) plus S-1 for the treatment of BCLC stage B hepatocellular carcinoma refractory to TACE.

AIM OF THE STUDY: To assess the efficacy and safety of transcatheter arterial chemoembolization (TACE) plus S-1 for the treatment of Barcelona Clinic Liver Cancer (BCLC) Stage B HCC refractory to TACE. MATERIAL AND METHODS: 26 patients meeting the eligibility criteria were enrolled. TACE was given on day 1, and S-1 on days 2-15. Tumor assessment was performed one month later according to mRECIST. The primary endpoints were TTP and OS. RESULTS: Twenty-six patients received 176 TACE interventions in all. Fifteen patients of TACE plus S-1 received a total of 55 cycles of treatment of S-1, with a median of 4 cycles (range, 2-6). The total dose of S-1 was 6165 mg per day, while average was 120 mg (range, 100-125 mg) for 15 patients of TACE plus S-1. Median TTP and OS of TACE plus S-1 were 6 months (95% CI: 4.7-7.3) and 18 months (95% CI: 15.3-24.7), respectively, while TACE monotherapy was 4 months (95% CI: 2.4-5.6) and 13 months (95% CI: 9.8-16.2), respectively, and significant differences were detected. Though there were higher DCRs in patients of TACE plus S-1, no significant differences were detected. A total of 612 adverse events occurred during the course of the treatment, 367 in TACE plus S-1 and 245 in TACE mono-therapy. There were significant differences to anorexia and nausea, but they were tolerable. CONCLUSIONS: TACE plus S-1 in the present analysis was tolerable and associated with an interesting TTP and OS. TACE plus S-1 may be used as a new treatment method to BCLC Stage B HCC refractory to TACE.

Significance of laparoscopic cytoreductive surgery for appendiceal pseudomyxoma peritonei with limited disease and low tumor burden.

OBJECTIVE: To investigate the clinical value of laparoscopic cytoreductive surgery (CRS) in treating of appendiceal pseudomyxoma peritonei with limited disease and low tumor burden. METHODS: The clinical data of patients with appendiceal pseudomyxoma peritonei treated by surgery with CRS at the Aerospace Center Hospital from January 2018 to December 2021 were retrospectively analyzed. The patients were divided into laparoscopic or open CRS groups according to the operation method. A propensity score-matched (PSM) analysis (1:1) was performed, the related clinical variables were compared between the two groups, and the effect on progression-free survival (PFS) was also analyzed. RESULTS: One hundred and eight patients were included in this study. After PSM, 33 patients were selected from each group and the age and peritoneal cancer index were matched between the two groups. There were significant differences in operation time (P < 0.001), intraoperative bleeding (P < 0.001), intraoperative blood transfusion (P = 0.007), hospital stay (P < 0.001). The analysis of PFS showed that there was no significant difference between the two operation methods. After multivariate analysis, the pathologic subtype (P = 0.012) was identified as an independent prognostic factor for PFS. CONCLUSION: The curative effect of laparoscopic CRS is like that of open operation, which can significantly shorten the operation time and hospital stay and reduce intraoperative bleeding and blood transfusion event. The laparoscopic CRS is safe and feasible in strictly selected patients. The pathologic subtype is an independent factor affecting the prognosis for PFS.

Repair of Delayed Meningeal Cyst after Spinal Surgery with Paraspinal Muscle Flap under Microscope.

BACKGROUND: Delayed meningeal cyst (DMC) is a rare complication after spinal surgery that is often ignored by clinicians, and its in-depth research is infrequent. In particular, no consensus has been reached about its surgical treatment. We found that patients with a DMC failed after conservative treatment, epidural blood patch, subarachnoid drainage, and initial attempts to eliminate the meningeal cyst. Therefore, we introduce the application of a paraspinal muscle flap repair under a microscope for the treatment of DMC. METHODS: In this study, 13 patients who were repaired by a paraspinal muscle flap under a microscope for DMC from January 2007 to January 2017 were retrospectively reviewed. Their ages were 18-68 years old (mean age 48.7 years). The course of the disease ranged from 3 weeks to 28 months after the operation for the primary disease, with an average of 10.6 months. Length >5 cm was called a large DMC and length >8 was called a giant DMC. By analyzing the effect of surgical treatment, we summarized the treatment experience of DMC and evaluated the risk factors for the formation of DMC. RESULTS: All patients were treated with paraspinal muscle flap repair under a microscope, and they healed well after the operation. There was no cerebrospinal fluid leakage or other operation-related complication. The mean follow-up was 16.5 months. Reexamination of the spine MRI showed no recurrence of the DMC. CONCLUSIONS: The application of paraspinal muscle flap under a microscope combined with glue, bedrest, and CSF drain, was an effective option for the patients with DMC.

Influence of SCA on clinical outcomes and cervical alignment after laminoplasty in patients with multilevel cervical spondylotic myelopathy.

BACKGROUND: To study the impact of changes in spino-cranial angle (SCA) on sagittal alignment and to investigate the relationship between SCA and Neck Disability Index (NDI) scores after laminoplasty (LP) MATERIAL AND METHODS: In total, 72 patients with multilevel cervical spondylotic myelopathy (MCSM) after laminoplasty (LP) were retrospectively enrolled. Based on the optimal cut-off values of preoperative SCA, patients were classified into low SCA and high SCA groups. Radiographic data were measured, including spino-cranial angle (SCA), T1-slope (T1s), C2-7 lordosis (CA), T1s minus CA (T1sCA), and C2-7 sagittal vertical axis (cSVA). JOA and NDI scores were both applied to assess postoperative and follow-up clinical efficacy. Pearson correlation coefficient and linear regression analysis were respectively calculated between radiographic data and between SCA and NDI. RESULTS: The preoperative SCA was significantly correlated with T1s (r = - 0.795), CA (r = - 0.857), and cSVA (r = 0.915). A receiver operating characteristic (ROC) curve model predicted a threshold of SCA (value of 85.2°). At the follow-up period, patients with lower SCA had a higher T1s and CA and a lower cSVA, simultaneously accompanied by greater △T1s, △CA, and △cSVA. The linear regression model demonstrated that SCA in the higher group was positively correlated with NDI, and patients with higher SCA had worse NDI scores (pre: p < 0.001; post: p < 0.001; F/U: p = 0.003) and greater changes of NDI (post: p < 0.010; F/U: p = 0.002). CONCLUSION: SCA may be a good predictor of evaluating sagittal balance and planning surgery. Changes in sagittal alignment in the low SCA group were affected more easily, and a higher SCA was associated with worse quality of life. Laminoplasty could be a good choice for patients with lower SCA.

Assessment of spino cranial angle of cervical spine sagittal balance system after multi-level anterior cervical discectomy and fusion.

BACKGROUND: To analyze the impact of spino cranial angle (SCA) on alteration of cervical alignment after multi-level anterior cervical discectomy fusion (ACDF) and explore the relationship between SCA and health-related quality of life (HRQOL) scores. MATERIAL AND METHODS: In total, 49 patients following multi-level ACDF for multi-level cervical spondylotic myelopathy (MCSM) with more than 2 years follow-up period were enrolled. Radiographic data including SCA were measured. Receiver operating characteristics (ROC) curve analysis was applied to confirm the optimal cut-off values of SCA for predicting sagittal balance. Patients were divided into two groups on the basis of the cut-off value of preoperative SCA. Correlation coefficients were analyzed between SCA and HRQOL scores. RESULTS: Optimal cut-off values for predicting sagittal balance was SCA of 88.6°. Patients with higher SCA, no matter preoperatively, postoperatively and at follow-up, got lower T1-Slope (T1s), C2-C7 lordosis angle (CA) and higher △SCA (pre vs post: p = 0.036, pre vs F/U: p = 0.022). Simultaneously, pre-SCA, post-SCA, and F/U-SCA in the high SCA group were positively correlated with the pre-NDI, post-NDI, and F/U-NDI scores respectively (pre: p < 0.001, post: p = 0.015, F/U: p = 0.003). However, no correlation was performed in the low SCA group. CONCLUSION: An excessive SCA can be considered to cause poorer clinical outcomes at preoperative and better correction after surgery. The SCA could be used as a new reference value to determine sagittal balance parameters of the cervical spine and to assess the quality of life.

[Efficacy and safety of chemotherapy combined with interstitial (125)I seed implantation brachytherapy in unresectable stage IIIa/IIIb non-small cell lung cancer].

OBJECTIVE: To compare the efficacy and toxicity of chemotherapy combined with insterstitial (125)I seed implantation brachytherapy in unresectable staged IIIa/IIIb non-small cell lung cancer. METHODS: Seventy six patients with staged IIIa/IIIb non-small cell lung cancer were included in this study. Among them 37 cases were of the study group, treated with NP/GP scheme synchronization chemotherapy combined with (125)I seed implantation brachytherapy, while 39 cases in the control group were given NP/GP scheme chemotherapy. The cumulative survival time and median survival time of the two groups were compared by Kaplan-Meier analysis. The difference of mean survival time between the two groups was analyzed by log-rank method. RESULTS: The study group and the control group achieved a total response rate of 56.8% and 30.8%, local control rate of 78.4% and 56.4%, respectively, showing a statistically significant difference (P < 0.05). The 1-year survival rates of the study group and control group were 66.7% and 45.3%, and the median survival times 15.4 and 11.5 months, respectively, with a significant difference between the 2 groups (P < 0.05). The total chemotherapy toxicity rate of the two groups showed no significant difference (P > 0.05). CONCLUSION: The (125)I seed implantation brachytherapy combined with concurrent chemotherapy shows a low complication rate, acceptable toxicity, and good therapeutic effectiveness, and is an effective and satisfactory therapeutic modality in the management of locally advanced non-small cell lung cancer.

Precise Surgical Treatment of Thoracic Ossification of Ligamentum Flavum Assisted by O-Arm Computer Navigation: A Retrospective Study.

OBJECTIVE: O-arm computer navigation-assisted technology (OACNAT) has been widely used in the treatment of thoracic ossification of ligamentum flavum (TOLF) in recent years, but there are few in-depth studies on the safety and effectiveness of this approach. The purpose of this study was to investigate the clinical effect of accurate surgical treatment for TOLF with OACNAT. METHODS: From January 2010 to January 2018, the clinical data of 64 patients with TOLF who underwent laminectomy and internal fixation in the Third Hospital of Hebei Medical University were retrospectively reviewed. The patients were divided into group A (with OACNAT, n = 33) and group B (without OACNAT, n = 31) according to the application of OACNAT during the operation. The possible operation-related variables, imaging results, and clinical effects were compared between the 2 groups. RESULTS: In terms of demographics, there were no significant differences between group A and group B in age, sex, body mass index, smoking, drinking, heart disease, hypertension and diabetes (P > 0.05). In terms of operation-related variables, imaging results, and clinical efficacy, there were significant differences in operation time, wound length, postoperative modified Japanese Orthopaedic Association (JOA) score, JOA score improvement rate, accuracy of screw placement, number of intraoperative fluoroscopy procedures, and cerebrospinal fluid leakage between group A and group B (P < 0.05). There were no significant differences in other variables between the 2 groups (P > 0.05). In contrast to group A, in group B, 2 patients had incorrect segmental localization, 3 patients had residual ossified ligamentum flavum after the operation, and 1 patient had postoperative neurologic impairment. On further analysis, compared with group B, group A had a shorter operation time, more accurate screw placement, fewer fluoroscopy procedures, higher JOA score improvement rate, and lower incidence of complications. CONCLUSIONS: The use of OACNAT accurately located the position, size, shape, and boundary of ossification of the ligamentum flavum during the operation, which could guide accurate decompression and improve the accuracy of pedicle screw placement. This approach not only reduced the incidence of incorrect segmental localization and incomplete or excessive decompression but also reduced the risk of related complications and improved the accuracy, safety, and effectiveness of the operation.

The change of cervical sagittal parameters plays an important role in clinical outcomes of cervical spondylotic myelopathy after multi-level anterior cervical discectomy and fusion.

BACKGROUND: Cervical sagittal parameters were closely related with clinical outcomes after multi-level ACDF. Our purpose was to evaluate the clinical outcomes and cervical sagittal parameters in patients with MCSM after ACDF and to identify the risk factors of poor clinical outcomes. MATERIAL AND METHODS: ACDF was performed in 89 patients with MCSM. Based on average JOA recovery rate, patients were divided good-outcome group (group GO) and poor-outcome group (group PO). The cervical sagittal parameters including Cobb angle, SVA, T1S, cranial tilt and cervical tilt were measured. Multivariate logistic regression was used to identify risk factors. RESULTS: Fifty-four patients (60.67%) were divided into group GO, while 35 patients (39.33%) were divided into group PO. Cobb angle, SVA and T1S was corrected from preoperative average 11.80° ± 9.63°, 23.69 mm ± 11.69 mm and 24.43° ± 11.78° to postoperative average 15.08° ± 9.05°, 18.79 mm ± 10.78 mm and 26.92° ± 11.94° respectively (p < 0.001). △Cobb angle (p = 0.008) and △SVA (p = 0.009) showed significantly statistical differences between two groups. Longer symptom duration, lower preoperative JOA score, smaller △Cobb angle and larger △SVA were identified as risk factors of poor clinical outcomes. CONCLUSION: Multi-level ACDF is an effective surgical method to treat patients with MCSM. However, long duration of preoperative symptoms, lower preoperative JOA score, smaller △Cobb angle and larger △SVA are risk factors for poor outcomes in patients with MCSM after ACDF. Sagittal parameters should be paid attention to in surgery.

Analyses of effect factors associated with the postoperative dissatisfaction of patients undergoing open-door laminoplasty for cervical OPLL: a retrospective cohort study.

OBJECTIVES: This study aimed to investigate the effect factors associated with the postoperative dissatisfaction of patients undergoing open-door laminoplasty for cervical OPLL. METHODS: In this study, 194 patients, who underwent open-door laminoplasty for cervical OPLL from January 2009 to January 2016, were retrospectively reviewed. The Patient Satisfaction Index (PSI) was collected at discharge, 6 months, 1 year, and the last follow-up. According to the PSI, patients were divided into satisfied group and dissatisfied group. The possible effect factors included demographic variables and surgery-related variables. RESULTS: At discharge, 42 (21.6%) patients were in the dissatisfied group, as compared to the satisfied group, the hospitalization cost, hospital stay, postoperative depression, the axial neck pain, delayed wound healing, and VAS-neck had significant statistical differences. At 6-month follow-up, 25 (12.9%) patients were in the dissatisfied group. The axial neck pain and JOA score had significant statistical differences between the two groups, and no significant differences were found between the two groups in other items. At 1 year with 18 (9.3%) dissatisfied patients and last follow-up with 14 (7.2%) dissatisfied patients, the JOA score and symptom recurrence had significant statistical differences. For further analysis, the dissatisfied patients with axial neck pain at 6 months were significantly higher than that at other terms and the JOA score of the two groups increased gradually with prolonging of restoration years but compared with the dissatisfied group, the JOA scores were obviously better in the satisfied group at the last follow-up. CONCLUSIONS: Overall, to patients undergoing open-door laminoplasty for cervical OPLL, hospitalization cost and neck pain might be mainly associated with patient dissatisfaction at the early and middle recovery. Patient dissatisfaction at the long-term treatment outcome might be mainly associated with the low improvement rate of JOA score and symptom recurrence.

[Magnetic resonance imaging findings in children with cerebral palsy].

OBJECTIVE: To study the clinical and neurological abnormalities in children with cerebral palsy (CP) and to attempt to correlate the types of CP and the gestational age at birth with radiological abnormalities detected by magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) of the brain. METHODS: This is a hospital-based study, the subjects included 104 children with cerebral palsy who were hospitalized in the Qingdao Rehibilitation Center For Disabled Children. All the 104 hospitalized CP cases (47 with spastic diplegia, 9 with tetraplegia, 15 with hemiplegia, 22 with athetosis, and 11 with ataxia) were examined neurologically and their perinatal history was reviewed. Their cranial MRI findings were studied. The association between the gestational ages, CP types, and the radiological findings were studied. RESULTS: The type distribution was significantly different between term- and preterm- infants. Spastic diplegia was the main type in preterm infants while hemiplegia and ataxia were mainly seen in term infants. MRI abnormalities were found in 88 of the 104 cases and abnormal rates of spastic diplegia, tetraplegia, hemiplegia, athetosis, and ataxia were 89.4%, 100%, 100%, 54.5% and 90.9%, respectively. There was no significant difference in abnormal rates between term and preterm groups. Thirty-one of 42 (73.8%) children with spastic diplegia had significant periventricular leukomalacia (PVL), which was more common among preterm-born children (90%). Of the 15 children with hemiplegia, 13 had unilateral lesions on neuroimaging. Spastic tetraplegia was associated with extensive, bilateral, diffuse brain damage. The abnormalities in term-born infants with athetoid cerebral palsy were mainly located in the basal ganglia region whereas the major abnormality in premature infants was PVL. Of the 11 children with ataxic cerebral palsy, 8 cases showed congenital cerebellum dysplasia on brain imaging. CONCLUSIONS: Radiological abnormalities of the brain were correlated with CP types and the gestational age at birth; MRI scan was useful in revealing underlying brain abnormalities and speculating on the etiology of cerebral palsy.

[Analysis of 187 children with enteroviral central nervous system infection in Shandong area].

OBJECTIVE: To evaluate the diagnostic potential of previously published enterovirus (EV) reverse transcription polymerase chain reaction (RT-PCR) assay in detection of EV in CSF samples from children with a diagnosis of aseptic meningitis and to investigate the clinical characteristics of the patients seen in Shandong. METHODS: EV RNA was detected in 187 CSF samples and serum and/or urine samples of a part of patients by RT-PCR and viral culture technique. RESULTS: RT-PCR was positive in all 62 CSF specimens which were positive by cell culture (100%). In addition, 93 of 125 (74.4%) CSF samples negative by cell culture were RT-PCR positive. In 4 of these 93 (4.3%) patients, viral culture of specimens from other sites (serum or urine) was also positive. The sensitivity of CSF RT-PCR based on clinical diagnosis in patients with meningitis of negative bacterial culture results was 82.9% (155/187), which was considerably higher than the sensitivity of CSF virus culture 33.2% (62/187). The results of RT-PCR can be reported within 4 hours, whereas the viral culture of CSF requires 4.6 days for a cytopathic effect to develop. EV meningitis occurred in a sporadic form and in some areas there were outbreaks. The clinical characteristics of 155 patients with EV meningitis were different in different age groups. CONCLUSION: EV was one of the most common causes of aseptic meningitis in Shandong area. The RT-PCR assay was rapid, sensitive and specific for the diagnosis of EV meningitis and may be a potential tests to shorten hospital stay and reduce the use of antibiotics.