Oseltamivir compared with the Chinese traditional therapy maxingshigan-yinqiaosan in the treatment of H1N1 influenza: a randomized trial.

BACKGROUND: Observational studies from Asia suggest that maxingshigan-yinqiaosan may be effective in the treatment of acute H1N1 influenza. OBJECTIVE: To compare the efficacy and safety of oseltamivir and maxingshigan-yinqiaosan in treating uncomplicated H1N1 influenza. DESIGN: Prospective, nonblinded, randomized, controlled trial. (ClinicalTrials.gov registration number: NCT00935194) SETTING: Eleven hospitals from 4 provinces in China. PATIENTS: 410 persons [corrected] aged 15 to 69 [corrected] years with laboratory-confirmed H1N1 influenza. INTERVENTION: Oseltamivir, 75 mg twice daily; maxingshigan-yinqiaosan decoction (composed of 12 Chinese herbal medicines, including honey-fried Herba Ephedrae), 200 mL 4 times daily; oseltamivir plus maxingshigan-yinqiaosan; or no intervention (control). Interventions and control were given for 5 days. MEASUREMENTS: Primary outcome was time to fever resolution. Secondary outcomes included symptom scores and viral shedding determined by using real-time reverse transcriptase polymerase chain reaction. RESULTS: Significant reductions in the estimated median time to fever resolution compared with the control group (26.0 hours [95% CI, 24.0 to 33.0 hours]) were seen with oseltamivir (34% [95% CI, 20% to 46%]; P < 0.001), maxingshigan-yinqiaosan (37% [CI, 23% to 49%]; P < 0.001), and oseltamivir plus maxingshigan-yinqiaosan (47% [CI, 35% to 56%]; P < 0.001). Time to fever resolution was reduced by 19% (CI, 0.3% to 34%; P = 0.05) with oseltamivir plus maxingshigan-yinqiaosan compared with oseltamivir. The interventions and control did not differ in terms of decrease in symptom scores (P = 0.38). Two patients who received maxingshigan-yinqiaosan reported nausea and vomiting. LIMITATIONS: Participants were young and had mild H1N1 influenza virus infection. Missing viral data precluded definitive conclusions about viral shedding. CONCLUSION: Oseltamivir and maxingshigan-yinqiaosan, alone and in combination, reduced time to fever resolution in patients with H1N1 influenza virus infection. These data suggest that maxingshigan-yinqiaosan may be used as an alternative treatment of H1N1 influenza virus infection. PRIMARY FUNDING SOURCE: Beijing Science and Technology Project and Beijing Nova Program.

CT psoas calculations on the prognosis prediction of emergency laparotomy: a single-center, retrospective cohort study in eastern Asian population.

BACKGROUND: Emergency laparotomy (EL) has a high mortality rate. Clinically, frail patients have a poor tolerance for EL. In recent years, sarcopenia has been used as an important indicator of frailty and has received much attention. There have been five different calculation methods of psoas for computed tomography (CT) to measure sarcopenia, but lack of assessment of these calculation methods in Eastern Asian EL patients. METHODS: We conducted a 2-year retrospective cohort study of patients over 18 years of age who underwent EL in our institution. Five CT measurement values (PMI: psoas muscle index, PML3: psoas muscle to L3 vertebral body ratio, PMD: psoas muscle density, TPG: total psoas gauge, PBSA: psoas muscle to body face area ratio) were calculated to define sarcopenia. Patients with sarcopenia defined by the sex-specific lowest quartile of each measurement were compared with the rest of the cohort. The primary outcome was "ideal outcome", defined as: (1) No postoperative complications of Clavien-Dindo Grade ≥ 4; (2) No mortality within 30 days; (3) When discharged, no need for fluid resuscitation and assisted ventilation, semi-liquid diet tolerated, and able to mobilize independently. The second outcome was mortality at 30-days. Multivariate logistic regression and receiver operating characteristic (ROC) analysis were used. RESULTS: Two hundred and twenty-eight patients underwent EL met the inclusion criteria, 192 (84.2%) patients had an ideal outcome after surgery; 32 (14%) patients died within 30 days. Multivariate analysis showed that, except PMD, each calculation method of psoas was independently related to clinical outcome (ideal outcome: PML3, P < 0.001; PMI, P = 0.001; PMD, P = 0.157; TPG, P = 0.006; PBSA, P < 0.001; mortality at 30-days: PML3, P < 0.001; PMI, P = 0.002; PMD, P = 0.088; TPG, P = 0.002; PBSA, P = 0.001). In ROC analysis, the prediction model containing PML3 had the largest area under the curve (AUC) value (AUC value = 0.922 and 0.920, respectively). CONCLUSION: The sarcopenia determined by CT psoas measurements is significantly related to the clinical outcome of EL. The calculation of CT psoas measurement is suitable for application in outcome prediction of EL. In the future, it is necessary to develop a scoring tool that includes sarcopenia to evaluate the risk of EL better.

Immunoglobulin G4-related disease in the sigmoid colon in patient with severe colonic fibrosis and obstruction: A case report.

BACKGROUND: Immunoglobulin G4-related disease (IgG4-RD) is an immune-mediated condition characterized by abundant IgG4 positive plasma cells and fibrosis in the affected tissues. It affects most parts of the body; however, there are not many reports on IgG4-RD involving the colon. CASE SUMMARY: A 50-year-old man complaining of intermittent fever for more than two years was referred to our hospital. Based on various investigations before surgery, we diagnosed him with chronic perforation of the sigmoid colon caused by inflammatory change or tumor. IgG blood tests before the operation suggested IgG4-RD, and postoperative pathology confirmed this prediction. CONCLUSION: We present a patient with IgG4-RD with colon involvement, which is an uncommon site. This report will expand the understanding of IgG4-RD in unknown tissues.

Succinate dehydrogenase deficient gastrointestinal stromal tumor in a three month old boy with a fatal clinical course: a case report and review of literature.

BACKGROUND: Succinate dehydrogenase deficient gastrointestinal stromal tumors (SDH-deficient GISTs), which lack KIT or PDGFRA mutations demonstrate unique clinical and pathological features, and they respond poorly to standard targeted therapy. We herein present a novel case of SDH-deficient GIST in a three-month-old infant's colon mesentery, and he is the youngest patientto date. CASE PRESENTATION: The infantpresented with complaints of blood in the stool. CT showed a 6.3 × 4.6 cm mass in the left lower retroperitoneal. Complete resection of tumor and segmental bowel resection was performed without regional lymphadenectomy. Histologically, tumor cells were distinctive in their multinodular colon wall involvement with interspersed tracts of colon wall smooth muscle. The tumor was composed mainly of epithelioid cells. Immunohistochemically, the tumor cells were positive for Vim, CD117, PDGFR, while negative for SDHB. Mutational analysis showed a synonymous mutation for SDHB and wild-type for KIT and PDGFRA. Two months after surgery, metastases were found and Imatinib was administered. Unfortunately, the disease continued to progress, and the infant died 5 months after surgery. CONCLUSIONS: SDH-deficient GISTs comprise a subgroup of a relatively rare tumor type and show a number of clinically and biologically unique features, especially for infants. It is of great importance to developing new therapeutic targets and novel specific drugs.

Comparison of Multi-Gene Testing Data Between Fresh and Formalin-Fixed Specimens From Core Needle Biopsy in Patients With NSCLC.

Purpose: Currently, formalin-fixed paraffin-embedded (FFPE) tissue specimens are the conventional material for gene testing for non-small cell lung cancer (NSCLC) patients. In our study, we aimed to develop a quick gene testing procedure using fresh core needle biopsy samples from NSCLC patients. Methods: In total, 77 fresh NSCLC samples obtained from core needle biopsy were evaluated by frozen section examination. If the NSCLC diagnosis and adequate tumor cell counts were confirmed by histopathology, the fresh tissues were used to extract DNA and subsequent gene testing by ARMS-PCR. Meanwhile, the paired FFPE core needle biopsy samples from 30 NSCLC patients also underwent gene testing. Results: In total, 77 fresh samples showed an EGFR mutation rate of 61.0%, higher than the levels in the Asian. Following a comparison of gene testing results with fresh tissues and paired FFPE tissues from the 30 patients, no significant difference in the DNA concentration extracted from fresh tissues and FFPE tissues was found. However, DNA purity was significantly higher in fresh tissues than that in FFPE tissues. Gene testing detected the same gene mutations in 93.3% of cases in fresh tissues and paired FFPE tissues. The gene testing procedure using fresh biopsy samples greatly shortens the waiting time of patients. Conclusion: The multi-gene mutation testing using fresh core needle biopsy samples from NSCLC patients is a reasonable, achievable, and quick approach. Fresh tissues may serve as a potential alternative to FFPE tissues for gene testing in NSCLC patients.

[Hemodynamic effects of synchronous and asynchronous independent lung ventilation with different levels of positive end-expiratory pressure and tidal volumes on unilateral lung injury in dogs].

OBJECTIVE: To investigate the effects of asynchronous independent lung ventilation and synchronous independent lung ventilation with different levels of positive end-expiratory pressure (PEEP) and tidal volumes on hemodynamics and gas exchange in dogs with a hydrochloric acid induced acute lung injury. METHODS: Twelve dogs with hydrochloric acid induced acute lung injury (left lung) were ventilated with volume controlled ventilation (VCV). The animals were randomly divided by random digit table into 2 groups. The first group (group NS, n = 6) received asynchronous independent lung ventilation with the left lung PEEP 10 cm H2O (1 cm H2O = 0.098 kPa), VT 3.5 ml/kg and the right lung PEEP 0 cm H2O, VT 5 ml/kg. The second group (group S, n = 6) received synchronous independent lung ventilation with the parameters as same as group NS. HR, mABP, mPAP, PAWP, CO and blood gas levels were measured during ventilation with different levels of PEEP (15, 20, 25 cm H2O) and VT (5, 7.5, 10 ml/kg) for 30 min. RESULTS: (1) After 30 min ventilation, no significant differences for hemodynamics and gas exchange were found between group NS and group S when Left lung PEEP was 15 or 20 cm H2O and VT was 5 or 7.5 ml/kg. (2) After 30 min ventilation, HR, mABP, CO, PaO2/FiO2, SvO2 in group NS [(98 ± 8) beats/min, (84 ± 6) mm Hg (1 mm Hg = 0.133 kPa), (1.10 ± 0.13) L/min, (199 ± 14) mm Hg and (55 ± 6)%, respectively] were significantly lower than those in group S [(124 ± 9) beats/min, (103 ± 7) mm Hg, (1.52 ± 0.28) L/min, (221 ± 15) mm Hg and (62 ± 4)%, respectively] when PEEP was 25 cm H2O (all P < 0.01). (3) After 30 min ventilation, HR, mABP, CO, PaO2/FiO2, SvO2 in group NS [(92 ± 6) beats/min, (83 ± 9) mm Hg, (1.23 ± 0.08) L/min, (196 ± 8) mm Hg and (57 ± 2)%, respectively] were significantly lower than those in group S [(122 ± 10) beats/min, (104 ± 4) mm Hg, (1.56 ± 0.12) L/min, (216 ± 14) mm Hg and (63 ± 4)%, respectively] when VT was 10 ml/kg (all P < 0.01). CONCLUSIONS: In this animal model, the hemodynamics kept stable when the difference between the left lung PEEP and the right lung PEEP was less than 20 cm H2O. Synchronous independent lung ventilation caused less hemodynamic compromise when higher PEEP (> 25 cm H2O) was used because of the marked asymmetry in the mechanics of the 2 lungs.

[The effects of auto-triggering on patient-ventilator interaction in noninvasive mechanical ventilation during air leak].

OBJECTIVE: To study the relationship between air leak and auto-triggering in noninvasive positive pressure ventilation (NIPPV), and the effects of auto-triggering on patient-ventilators interaction. METHODS: Five different types of noninvasive ventilators, a lung simulator and 14 healthy volunteers were studied by using a quantificational air leak model and a spirometer which monitoring the pressure, flow and volume curve in the tube continuously. SPSS version 10.0 was used for statistical analysis. Data were presented as x +/- s, and means were compared with analysis of variance. RESULTS: In the study of lung simulator, the percentage of times of auto triggering in total testing times was from 24% -90% in the BiPAP mode in various ventilators. Air leaking capacity was the most crucial factor related to auto triggering (beta = 0.709, OR = 2.032). With increased air leak level, 14 volunteers all presented with auto triggering. All the volunteers' respiratory rate increased and tidal volume decreased with the increasing level of air leak. CONCLUSION: Auto-triggering occurred when air leak increased in NIPPV. The insufficient compensation of flow base line may be the cause for auto-triggering. Auto-triggering can impair patients ventilation.

[The impact of antibiotic treatment in patients with influenza-like illness].

OBJECTIVE: To study the etiology of influenza-like illness (ILI) in Beijing, and to investigate the impact of antibiotic treatment on outcomes. METHODS: This was a prospective cohort study. Patients with diagnosis of influenza-like illness were prospectively enrolled for study of bacterial and viral pathogens. Demographic characteristics, underlying diseases, respiratory and extrapulmonary symptoms, laboratory tests were also collected for analysis of relationship between drug therapy and outcomes. RESULTS: A total of 476 cases were enrolled between Dec. 2006 and Apr. 2007, of whom 454 cases were used for analysis. Influenza virus was the most common pathogen( n = 197, 43.4%), with other pathogens rarely seen. The mean age of the patients was (33 +/- 13) years, and the ratio of male to female was 1.1:1. Twenty four patients (5.3% ) received influenza vaccine. The rate of antibiotic prescription after onset of illness was 63.4%, but none received antiviral drugs such as Oseltamivir and amantadine. Compared with influenza-negative patients, patients with influenza were older, had more underlying diseases and had greater severity of symptoms such as cough, sore throat, headache and myalgia (but with no statistical differences). The influenza syndrome (T > or = 39 degrees C plus cough, sore throat and headache or myalgia) was more common in the influenza group compared to the influenza-negative patients (P < 0.05). The ratio of antibiotic prescription was 67% in the influenza group, and the total white blood cell and platelet count, percentage of neutrophils were higher in antibiotic treatment patients compared with non-antibiotic treatment patients (P < 0.01). The cost in patients who received antibiotics was twice as much as non-antibiotic treatment patients (P < 0.05), but the defervescence time and respiratory symptom alleviation time did not differ. Cox regression analysis showed that the total white blood count and the differentials (OR value 1.049 and 1.014, respectively), but not antibiotic use were the independent risk factors for longer defervescence time. CONCLUSION: Influenza virus was the most common pathogen for adult patients with ILI in Beijing city during the winter and the spring seasons. Antibiotic treatment of adult patients with ILI did not improve illness resolution, while the cost was increased significantly.

Detection of metastatic cancer cells in mesentery of colorectal cancer patients.

AIM: To detect the existence of isolated cancer cells in the mesentery of colorectum (named as Metastasis V), and investigate its clinical significance in colorectal cancer (CRC) patients. METHODS: Sixty-three CRC patients who received radical excision between January 2012 and September 2015 were included. All the patients underwent laparoscopy-assisted radical colorectomy or proctectomy [with complete mesocolic excision (CME) or total mesorectal excision (TME)] with R0 dissections at the Department of Gastrointestinal Surgery, Tongji Hospital, Tongji Medical College, Huazhong University of Science and Technology. The location and size of the primary lesions were recorded immediately after the tumor was removed, with the surrounding mesenterium completely separated along the intestinal wall. Each dissected mesentery sample was analyzed for hematoxylin-eosin staining and immunohistochemistry using cytokeratin 19 antibody. Image Pro Plus Software 6.0 (Media Cybernetics, CA, United States) was used to semi-quantitatively measure the concentration of the cytokeratin 19 immunohistochemistry. The correlation between metastasis found in mesentery and clinicopathological characteristics was examined. The prognosis of patients was also evaluated by preoperative serum CEA level. RESULTS: Metastasis V was detected in 14 of 63 (22.2%) CRC patients who underwent laparoscopy-assisted radical colorectomy or proctectomy (with CME or TME) with R0 dissection in our hospital between January 2012 and September 2015. There was no significant difference in age, gender, tumor size, and tumor location in patients with Metastasis V (P > 0.05). Metastasis V was more likely to occur in poorly differentiated tumor (5/11; 45.5%) than moderately (8/46; 17.4%) and well- differentiated one (1/6; 16.7%). The Metastasis V in N2 stage (9/14; 64.3%) was more frequent that in the N0 stage (3/35; 8.6%) or N1 stages (2/14; 14.3%). In addition, Metastasis V was positively related to the tumor invasive depth (T1:0/1, 0%; T2:1/12, 8.3%; T3:7/39, 17.9%; T4:6/11, 54.5%). Furthermore, preoperative serum CEA level in Metastasis V-positive patients was significantly higher than in Metastasis V-negative patients (4.27 ng/mL vs 3.00 ng/mL). CONCLUSION: Metastasis V might be associated with a poor prognosis of CRC patients.

[Effects of butyrylchitosan on expression of proliferating cell nuclear antigen in fibroblast proliferation of rabbit eyes after filtering operation].

OBJECTIVE: To investigate the effect of butyrylchitosan on the expression of proliferating cell nuclear antigen ( PCNA) in fibroblast proliferation of rabbit eyes after filtering operation. METHODS: Twenty-four New Zealand rabbits were randomly divided into 2 groups, with 12 rabbits in each group. Rabbits in one group received butyrylchitosan under scleral patch of trabeculectomy in right eyes and trabeculectomy in left eyes (trabeculectomy group). Rabbits in the other group received mitomycin C (MMC) in trabeculectomy in right eyes (MMC group) and without operation in left eyes. Rabbits were killed 1, 4, and 12 weeks after operations. Immunohistochemical staining was used to detected PCNA expression in fibroblast. RESULTS: After use of butyrylchitosan, the PCNA expression significantly decreased compared with trabeculectomy group (P < 0. 001). PCNA expression in MMC group was significantly lower than in trabeculectomy group (P <0. 001). CONCLUSION: Using butyrylchitosan under scleral patch of trabeculectomy decreases PCNA expression in proliferating cell and inhibits the scarring at filtering site.

[Effects of lateral position and independent lung ventilation on unilateral acute lung injury in dogs].

OBJECTIVE: To investigate the effects of conventional ventilation, lateral position, asynchronous independent lung ventilation and synchronous independent lung ventilation on gas exchange, lung mechanics, hemodynamics, pulmonary perfusion and inflammatory mediators in dogs with a hydrochloric acid induced unilateral acute lung injury (ALI). METHODS: Twenty-eight dogs with hydrochloric acid induced unilateral ALI (the left lung) were ventilated with volume controlled ventilation. The animals were divided into four groups. The first group (group A, n = 7) received conventional ventilation in a supine position. The second group (group B, n = 7) received conventional ventilation in the healthy lung dependent position with the parameters as same as group A. The third group (group C, n = 7) received asynchronous independent lung ventilation. The fourth group (group D, n = 7) received synchronous independent lung ventilation with the parameters as same as group C. All the animals were observed for 4 h under the above described ventilation. Oxygenation, lung mechanics, hemodynamics and lung injury score were measured during the ventilation. The right and left pulmonary arterial blood flows were measured after 4 h ventilation. RESULTS: (1) After 30 min ventilation, PaO2/FiO2 in group A [(180 +/- 25) mm Hg, 1 mm Hg = 0.133 kPa] was significantly lower than those in group B, group C and group D [(277 +/- 23), (296 +/- 31), (299 +/- 22) mm Hg respectively, all P < 0.01]. PaO2/FiO2 in group C [(348 +/- 34) mm Hg] and group D [(343 +/- 29) mm Hg] was significantly increased when compared with that of group B [(314 +/- 33) mm Hg] after 60 min ventilation (P < 0.05), but there was no significant difference between group C and group D. (2) After 120 min ventilation, C(st) in group B [(23 +/- 4) ml/cm H2O] significantly increased when compared with that of group A [(19 +/- 2) ml/cm H2O, P < 0.05]. After 60 min ventilation, C(st)-L in group C and group D increased significantly as compared to the beginning of the ventilation. (3) The left lung pulmonary arterial flow in group B, group C and group D [(31.3 +/- 4.6)%, (27.5 +/- 1.3)% and (27.3 +/- 2.8)%, respectively] significantly decreased when compared with that of group A (38.3 +/- 2.2)% after 4 h ventilation (P < 0.05 and P < 0.01). CONCLUSIONS: Both lateral position and independent lung ventilation can improve gas exchange, while independent lung ventilation is better than lateral position ventilation. The improvement of oxygenation may be related to the effect on the distribution of pulmonary arterial flow.

Intercellular adhesion molecule 1 is a sensitive and diagnostically useful immunohistochemical marker of papillary thyroid cancer (PTC) and of PTC-like nuclear alterations in Hashimoto's thyroiditis.

Intercellular adhesion molecule 1 (ICAM-1) is important in the progression of inflammatory responses. Recently, increased levels of ICAM-1 have been reported in a number of types of malignancy. The present study aimed to investigate ICAM-1 expression in papillary thyroid cancer (PTC) and in Hashimoto's thyroiditis (HT) with PTC-like nuclear alterations, and to assess the predictive value of ICAM-1 in thyroid lesions. ICAM-1 expression was retrospectively investigated in 132 consecutive cases of PTC, 72 cases of HT, 10 of follicular cancer, 15 of follicular adenoma, 16 of nodular goiter and 8 samples of normal thyroid tissue using immunohistochemical analyses, and in 42 PTC patients using western blotting. ICAM-1 expression was not detected in normal follicular cells, follicular lesions (adenoma and cancer) and benign nodular hyperplasia, but was frequently overexpressed in PTC cells. ICAM-1 overexpression was associated with extra-thyroidal invasion and lymph node metastasis; no association was found with age, gender, tumor size, multifocality, pathological stage, recurrence or distant metastasis. ICAM-1 expression in HT patients with PTC-like nuclear alterations was significantly higher than that in HT cases with non-PTC-like features. Compared with antibodies against cytokeratin 19, galectin-3 and Hector Battifora mesothelial-1, ICAM-1 was the most sensitive marker for the detection of PTC-like features in HT. These findings demonstrate that ICAM-1 expression is upregulated in PTC and in HT with PTC-like nuclear alterations. This feature may be an important factor in the progression of cancer of the thyroid gland.

Semaphorin 4D and hypoxia-inducible factor-1α overexpression is related to prognosis in colorectal carcinoma.

AIM: To investigate semaphorin 4D (Sema4D) and hypoxia-inducible factor-1α (HIF-1α) expression in colorectal carcinoma and evaluate their clinicopathological and prognostic significance. METHODS: Eighty-six curatively resected colorectal carcinoma patients at different stages of disease were randomly selected from the group of patients who underwent surgery, and none of them received preoperative radiochemotherapy. Normal proximal adjacent bowel tissue, which served as an internal control, was obtained from 52 randomly selected patients. Immunohistochemistry was performed to analyze the expression of Sema4D and the tumor angiogenesis-related protein HIF-1α in normal colorectal tissues and colorectal carcinoma tissues. The relationships between the expression and clinical characters and prognosis were analyzed. RESULTS: HIF-1α and Sema4D were positively expressed in 58% and 60% of colorectal carcinoma tissues, respectively. Significantly lower expression levels were observed in normal mucosa (8% and 12%, respectively). HIF-1α and Sema4D expression was closely correlated with histological tumor type, tumor-node-metastasis (TNM) stage, and lymphatic metastasis (P<0.05), but not with age or tumor size (P>0.05). HIF-1α and Sema4D protein expression was significantly correlated with prognosis of colorectal carcinoma, as determined by Spearman rank correlation analysis (r=0.567; P<0.01). Multivariate Cox analysis revealed that only Sema4D expression played a significant role in predicting patient prognosis (P<0.05). CONCLUSION: These findings suggest that HIF-1α and Sema4D expression correlates with histological tumor type, TNM stage, and lymphatic metastasis in colorectal carcinoma and that Sema4D is a prognostic indicator of colorectal carcinoma.

Effects of splenectomy in patients with cirrhosis undergoing hepatic resection for hepatocellular carcinoma.

AIM: To study the effects of splenectomy in patients with cirrhosis undergoing hepatic resection for hepatocellular carcinoma. METHODS: Twenty-six patients with HCC associated with cirrhosis were divided into hepatectomy with splenectomy group (splenectomy group, n=11) and hepatectomy without splenectomy group (non-splenectomy group, n=15). T lymphocyte subsets such as CD4, CD8, CD4/CD8, helper T (Th) lymphocyte cytokines such as interferon gamma (IFN-gamma), interleukin 2 (IL-2), interleukin 10 (IL-10) and white blood cell (WBC), platelet (PLT), total bilirubin (T-Bil) were measured and used as parameters to evaluate the effects of splenectomy. RESULTS: There was no significant difference in CD4, CD8, CD4/CD8, IL2, IFN-gamma, IL10, WBC, PLT, T-Bil levels between two groups before surgery. Two months after operation, the levels of CD4 (41.2%+/-4.2% vs 34.7%+/-3.8%), CD4/CD8 (1.7+/-0.2 vs 1.0+/-0.2), IFN-gamma (102.3+/-15.9 pg/ml vs 86.5+/-14.8 pg/ml), IL-2(97.2+/-15.6 pg/ml vs 77.6+/-14.5 pg/ml) were increased and those of CD8 (25.6+/-3.9 vs 32.8%+/-4.1%), IL-10 (56.9+/-10.4 pg/ml vs 72.6+/-15.3 pg/ml) were decreased in splenectomy groups as compared with those in non-splenectomy group (P<0.05). WBC and PLT counts in the splenectomy group were 8.9+/-1.6 X 10(9) and 310+/-32 X 10(9), respectively, which were significantly higher than those in non-splenectomy group (3.7+/-1.4 X 10(9) and 104+/-41 X 10(9)) respectively on the 14th post-operative day. T-Bil concentration in the splenectomy group (24+/-7 micromol/L) was significantly lower than that in the non-splenectomy group (37+/-13 micromol/L) on the 7th post-operative day (P<0.05). CONCLUSION: Splenectomy combined with hepatectomy for HCC associated with cirrhosis is helpful for the recovery of T-lymphocyte subsets and the maintenance of Th1/Th2 cytokine balance.

Changes of immune function in patients with liver cirrhosis after splenectomy combined with resection of hepatocellular carcinoma.

OBJECTIVE: To study the changes of immune function in liver cirrhosis patients after splenectomy combined with resection of hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC). METHODS: Sixteen patients with HCC associated with liver cirrhosis were divided into two groups: splenectomy combined with hepatectomy (splenectomy group n=7) and hepatectomy (non-splenectomy group, n=9). T lymphocyte subsets such as CD4, CD8, CD4/CD8 and Th lymphocyte cytokines such as interferon gamma (IFN-gamma), IL-2, IL-10 in 7 ml peripheral venous blood before operation and 2 months after operation were examined and compared between the two groups. RESULTS: There was no significant difference in pre-operative CD4, CD8, CD4/CD8, IL-2, IFN-gamma, IL-10 levels in the two groups. Two months after operation, the levels of CD4 (38.2%+/-3.7%), CD4/CD8 (1.7+/-0.3), IFN-gamma (104.4+/-14.9 pg/ml), IL-2 (98.6+/-18.6 pg/ml) were increased and those of CD8 (23.7+/-3.7 pg/ml), IL-10 (55.5+/-11.2 pg/ml) levels were decreased in the splenectomy group. The levels of CD4 (32.5%+/-4.0%), CD4/CD8 (1.1+/-0.1), IFN-gamma (70.5+/-12.6 pg/ml), IL-2 (80.9+/-13.5 pg/ml) in the non-splenectomy group were much lower than those in the splenectomy group, but the levels of CD8 (29.4%+/-4.0%), IL-10 (89.4+/-10.0 pg/ml) in the non-splenectomy group were significantly higher than those in the splenectomy group (P<0.05). CONCLUSIONS: Splenectomy combined with hepatectomy for HCC patients associated with liver cirrhosis does not decrease but promote the recovery of T lymphocyte subsets and Th1/Th2 cytokines from imbalance and improve anti-tumor immune function of the patients.

[Effect of closed high-pressure suction drainage on primary healing of perineal wound after abdominoperineal resection for rectal cancer].

OBJECTIVE: To evaluate the impact of closed high-pressure suction drainage on the healing of the perineal wound after abdominoperineal resection. METHODS: Patients undergoing rectal abdominoperineal resection in the Wuhan Tongji Hospital from January 2009 to January 2011 were randomized into two groups including the study group(n=61, closed high-pressure suction drainage) and the control group(n=59, presacral drainage). The drainage volume, primary healing rate, and the healing time of perineal wounds were compared. RESULTS: The total volume of the drainage in the first 3 days was (448.1±142.9) ml in the study group and (548.3±190.6) ml in the control group, the volume of the drainage on the third day was (28.1±12.7) ml and (125.9±84.3) ml respectively. The primary healing rate was 93.4%(57/61) in the study group and 74.6% (44/59) in the control group, the healing time was (13.5±3.5) days and (20.1±5.1) days respectively. CONCLUSION: Closed high-pressure suction drainage may promote perineal wound healing following rectal abdominoperineal resection.

Antiviral therapy and outcomes of patients with pneumonia caused by influenza A pandemic (H1N1) virus.

BACKGROUND: There is limited data on the clinical outcome of patients with pandemic H1N1 (pH1N1) pneumonia who received oseltamivir treatment, especially when the treatment was administered more than 48 hours after symptom onset. METHODS: During the pandemic in 2009, a cohort of pH1N1 influenza pneumonia was built in China, and their clinical information was collected systematically, and analyzed with Cox models. RESULTS: 920 adults and 541 children with pneumonia who didn't receive corticosteroids were analyzed. In-hospital mortality was higher in adults who did not receive antiviral therapy (18.2%) than those with who received oseltamivir ≤ 2 days (2.9%), between 2-5 days (4.6%) and >5 days after illness onset (4.9%), p<0.01. A similar trend was observed in pediatric patients. Cox regression showed that at 60 days after symptoms onset, 11 patients (10.8%) who did not receive antivirals died versus 4 (1.8%), 18 (3.3%), and 23 (3.7%) patients whose oseltamivir treatment was started ≤ 2 days, between 2-5 days, and >5 days, respectively. For males patients, aged ≥ 14 years and baseline PaO(2)/FiO(2)<200, oseltamivir administration reduced the mortality risk by 92.1%, 88% and 83.5%, respectively. Higher doses of oseltamivir (>3.8 mg/kg/d) did not improve clinical outcome (mortality, higher dose 2.5% vs standard dose 2.8%, p>0.05). CONCLUSIONS: Antiviral therapy might reduce mortality of patients with pH1N1 pneumonia, even when initiated more than 48 hours after onset of illness. Greater protective effects might be in males, patients aged 14-60 years, and patients with PaO(2)/FiO(2)<200.