Transarterial Chemoembolization Combined with Apatinib for Treatment of Advanced Hepatocellular Carcinoma: Analysis of Survival and Prognostic Factors.

OBJECTIVE: Apatinib is a novel inhibitor of vascular endothelial growth factor receptor-2. The goal of this study was to evaluate overall survival (OS) after a combination of transarterial chemoembolization (TACE) and apatinib in patients with advanced hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) and to identify the factors affecting patient survival. METHODS: Fifty-one patients with advanced HCC who received TACE in combination with apatinib in our hospital from June 2015 to May 2017 were enrolled. The OS and progression-free survival (PFS) were calculated using the Kaplan-Meier method. The log-rank test and Cox regression model were used to determine the factors affecting OS. RESULTS: The median OS and PFS of the patients were 15 months and 10 months, respectively. The 1-, 2-, and 3-year survival rates were 64.7%, 23.5%, and 1.8%, respectively. Univariate survival analysis showed that patients with Child-Pugh A (P=0.006), reduction rate of proper hepatic artery (P=0.016), hand-foot syndrome (P=0.005), secondary hypertension (P=0.050), and without ascites (P=0.010) had a better OS. Multivariate analysis showed that hand-foot syndrome (P=0.014), secondary hypertension (P=0.017), and reduction rate of proper hepatic artery (P=0.025) were independent predictors of better OS. CONCLUSION: TACE combined with apatinib is a promising treatment for advanced HCC. Hand-foot syndrome, secondary hypertension, and the reduction rate of proper hepatic artery were associated with a better OS.

Sequential sagittal alignment changes in the cervical spine after occipitocervical fusion.

BACKGROUND: There are few studies regarding sequential changes in the sagittal alignment of the upper and lower cervical regions of the spine after occipitocervical fusion (OCF). In addition, no comparisons of cervical sagittal alignment (CSA) between patients with craniocervical junction disorders (CJDs) and normal populations have been reported. AIM: To compare the CSA of patients with CJDs with that of normal controls and investigate the sequential changes in the CSA of the upper and lower cervical spine after OCF. METHODS: Eighty-four patients who underwent OCF (OCF group) and 42 asymptomatic volunteers (control group) were included. Radiographic parameters, including the occipital to C2 angle (O-C2a), occipital and external acoustic meatus to axis angle (O-EAa), C2-7 angle (C2-7a), and pharyngeal inlet angle (PIA), were measured and compared pre- and postoperatively. The correlations among the parameters were analyzed using Pearson's correlation test. RESULTS: The O-C2a and PIA of the OCF group were smaller than those of the control group, while their O-EAa and C2-7a values were larger than those of the normal controls. There were no significant differences in O-C2a, C2-7a, or PIA in the OCF group at baseline, 1 mo, or the final follow-up after surgery. The Pearson's correlation results showed that there were significant correlations between the O-C2a and C2Ta, C2-7a, C2-7 sagittal vertical axis (SVA), and PIA at 1 mo after OCF surgery and between O-C2a and O-EAa, C2Ta, C2-7a, C2-7 SVA, and PIA at the final follow-up. CONCLUSION: Patients with CJDs have a more kyphotic upper CSA and a more lordotic lower CSA than normal controls. The effectiveness of OCF surgery in restoring CSA may be limited by the realignment of the craniocervical junction being neglected. The reduction in O-C2a after OCF surgery may increase C2-7a and decrease PIA.

Case report: Thoracolumbar spinal stenosis associated with alkaptonuria.

Background: Alkaptonuria is a rare autosomal genetic disorder with an incidence of about 1 in 1 million per year. Spinal involvement often manifests in the later stages of the disease. However, this is the first report of the presentation of thoracolumbar spinal stenosis. Case presentation: We report the case of a 61-year-old female patient with significant thoracolumbar stenosis symptoms. The patient had obvious kyphosis with preoperative lower extremity muscle strength grade 2/5. Symptoms and imaging signs initially suggested ankylosing spondylitis. This patient was classified into motor incomplete injury (ASIA C). However, the patient was found to have melanin deposits on the sclera and skin, and the urine was darkened at rest. CT and MRI both suggested no bone bridge connection between vertebrae, which was the key difference between ankylosing spondylitis and alkaptonuria in imaging. Most importantly, urine specimen testing and intraoperative pathology demonstrated alkaptonuria. The patient underwent spinal decompression and vertebral body fixation. Postoperative recovery was good: the patient had significantly relieved pain and could stand and walk. Conclusion: This case is the first report of thoracolumbar spinal stenosis associated with alkaptonuria involving the spine.

Establishment of finite element model of anterior cervical transpedicular system for reconstruction of cervical stability after subtotal resection of two segments of lower cervical spine / 中国骨伤

OBJECTIVE@#To establish the fixation model of anterior cervical transpedicular system (ACTPS) after subtotal resection of two segments of lower cervical spine(C3-C7) in order to provide a finite element modeling method for anterior cervical reconstruction.@*METHODS@#The CT data of the cervical segment (C1-T1) of a 30-year-old adult healthy male volunteer was collected. Used Mimics 10.0, Rapidform XOR3, HyperMesh 10.0, CATIA5V19 and ANSYS 14.0 to establish the three-dimensional nonlinear complete model of lower cervical spine(C3-C7) as the intact group. The number of units and nodes of the complete model were recorded. After the effectiveness of the complete model was verified, the C5 and C6 vertebral subtotal resection was performed, and the ACTPS model was established as the ACTPS group. The axial force of 75 N and moment couple of 1N·m was loaded on the upper surface of C3 in intact group and ACTPS group, the range of motion(ROM)and stress distribution in states of flexion extension, lateral flexion, rotation was compared between two groups.@*RESULTS@#There were 85 832 elements and 23 612 nodes in the complete model of lower cervical spine(C3-C7) which was established in this experiment. The stress distribution of ACTPS internal fixation model was relatively uniform. Comparing with the intact group, the overall range of motion in ACTPS group was decreased in flexion extension, lateral flexion and rotation directions, and the corresponding compensation of adjacent C3,4 segment was increased slightly.@*CONCLUSION@#The stress distribution of ACTPS fixation system is uniform, there is no stress concentration area at the joint of screw and titanium plate, and the fracture risk of internal fixation is low. It is suitable for stability reconstruction after anterior decompression of two or more cervical segments.

Serum syndecan-4 is associated with nonalcoholic fatty liver disease.

OBJECTIVES: The accelerated shedding of extracellular domains of syndecan-4 (SDC4) is associated with central obesity and insulin resistance, while the association between serum SDC4 and nonalcoholic fatty liver disease (NAFLD) is unknown. We aimed to examine the association between SDC4 and NAFLD. METHODS: Adults undergoing a health examination from 1 June 2019 to 31 December 2019 were enrolled. A diagnosis of NAFLD was made with an abdominal ultrasound. Logistic regression models and the receiver operating characteristic (ROC) curves were used to evaluate the role of SDC4 in predicting NAFLD. RESULTS: In total, 533 eligible participants were finally enrolled, among them 157 (29.46%) had NAFLD. The proportion of patients with NAFLD increased with the increasing quartiles of serum SDC4. With the increase of serum SDC4 levels, metabolic features including waist circumference, serum triglyceride, total cholesterol, fasting blood glucose, fasting insulin and homeostasis model assessment of insulin resistance were significantly increased. SDC4 was an independent factor for NAFLD (odds ratio 1.963, 95% confidence interval [CI] 1.628-2.367, P < 0.001). The area under the ROC curve of SDC4 for predicting NAFLD was 0.934 (95% CI 0.910-0.959). The optimal cut-off value was 6.575 ng/mL at Youden's index of 0.767. SDC4 had the highest diagnostic sensitivity (84.1%), positive predictive value (82.5%), negative predictive value (93.3%) and positive likelihood ratio (11.356) among all the variables. CONCLUSIONS: Elevated serum SDC4 level is associated with metabolic disorders and the prevalence of NAFLD among general population. Serum SDC4 may serve as a biomarker of NAFLD.

Comparative study between 3D guide plate assisted and free-hand insertion of anterior cervical transpedicular screw / 中国骨伤

OBJECTIVE@#To compare accuracy of anterior cervical pedicle screws between assist of rapid prototyping 3D guide plate and free-hand insertion, and evaluate the safety of two methods.@*METHODS@#Eight adult cervical cadaver specimens after formaldehyde immersion, including 4 males and 4 females, aged 32 to 65(40.3±5.6) years old. After X-ray examination to exclude bone damage and deformity, 4 of them (3D guide plate group) randomly selected were for CT scan to obtain DICOM format data, and the data was imported into Mimics software for model, designed the ideal entry point and nail path for anterior cervicaltranspedicular screw (ATPS). After obtaining the personalized guide plate of the nail channel, it was exported as STL data, and the individual guide plate was printed by rapid prototyping and 3D printing technology. In turn, with the assistance of 3D guide plates, one-to-one personalized ATPS screws were placed on the four lower cervical cadaver specimens. Another 4 (free-hand group) lower cervical cadaver specimens were implanted with ATPS screws using free-hand technique. All specimens were performed CT thin-layer scanning and three-dimensional reconstruction after operation. The Tomasino method was used to evaluate the safety of the screws on the CT cross-sectional and sagittal images, to determine whether there was a cortical puncture of the lower and inner edges of the pedicle. According to the CT rating results, gradeⅠandⅡwere safe, and grade Ⅲ- Ⅴ were dangerous.And the accuracy of screws was recorded and analyzed between two groups.@*RESULTS@#Two screws were inserted in each segment from C@*CONCLUSION@#The 3D printing rapid prototyping guide plate assisted insertion of the anterior cervical pedicle screw can significantly improve the accuracy and safety, and provide a theoretical basis for further clinical application.

Prevalence and transmission of antimicrobial-resistant Staphylococci and Enterococci from shared bicycles in Chengdu, China.

Shared bicycles are prevailing in China but the extent to which they contribute to maintaining and transmitting pathogens and antibiotic-resistant bacteria remain largely unknown. To fill the knowledge gap, herein, swab samples (n = 963) were collected from handlebars of shared bicycles in areas of hospital, school, metro station (n = 887) and riders (n = 76) in Chengdu, China. Staphylococci (n = 241) and Enterococci (n = 69) were widely distributed across sampling locations at a frequency of 2.3%-12.9%, and 0.08%-5.5%, respectively. Bicycle or rider-borne Gram-positive bacteria were frequently resistant to clinically important antibiotics including linezolid, fosfomycin, and vancomycin, and a significant portion of these isolates (3.4%-16.6% for Staphylococci and 0.1%-13.8% for Enterococci) indicated multidrug resistance. Nineteen Staphylococcus aureus isolates were identified in this collection and 52.6% of which were considered as methicillin-resistant S. aureus. Whole genome sequencing further characterized 26 antimicrobial resistance genes (ARGs) including fosB, fusB, and lnu(G) in S. aureus and 21 ARGs including optrA in Enterococci. Leveraging a complementary approach with conventional MLST, whole genome SNP and MLST analyses, we present that genetically closely-related bacteria were found in bicycles and riders across geographical-distinct locations suggesting bacterial transmission. Further, five new ST types 5697-5701 were firstly characterized in S. aureus. ST 942 and ST 1640 are new ST types observed in E. faecalis, and E. faecium, respectively. Our results highlighted the risk of shared bicycle system in disseminating pathogens and antibiotic resistance which warrants effective disinfections.

Fracture failure of granite after varied durations of thermal treatment: an experimental study.

Energy extraction from nuclear materials produces high-level radioactive waste. In geological nuclear waste storage repositories, the decay of radioactive elements generates heat, exposing the reservoir rocks to high-temperature conditions for long periods. To explore the effects of these conditions, this study examines the ability of granite to resist fracturing after thermal treatment for 10 h, 10 days, 30 days and 60 days. The results show that the fracture toughness of the granite remained basically unchanged for up to 10 days of thermal treatment. After thermal treatment for 60 days, the mode I, mode II and mixed-mode (I + II) fracture toughness decreased by 15.39%, 18.09% and 15.17%, respectively, compared with samples heated for 10 h. The change trends of the ability of granite to resist tensile, shear and mixed (tensile + shear) failure with an increased thermal treatment duration were basically consistent. Moreover, there was little change in its brittle fracturing characteristics with an increase in heating duration. Changes caused to the internal microstructure of the granite by high temperature were ongoing even up to 60 days.

Electrochemical Characterization and Inhibiting Mechanism on Calcium Leaching of Graphene Oxide Reinforced Cement Composites.

Calcium leaching is a degradation progress inside hardened cement composites, where Ca2+ ions in cement pore solution can migrate into the aggressive solution. In this work, calcium leaching of graphene oxide (GO) reinforced cement composites was effectively characterized by combined techniques of electrochemical impedance spectroscopy (EIS) and scanning electron microscope (SEM). Inhibiting mechanism of GO on calcium leaching of the composites was also examined. The obtained results show that the diameter of the semi-circle of the Nyquist curves of leached samples with GO addition decreased less than that of controlled samples. After leaching for 35 days, loss rate of model impedance RCCP of leached samples with 0, 0.05, 0.1, 0.15, and 0.2 wt.% GO addition was 94.85%, 84.07%, 79.66%, 75.34%, and 68.75%, respectively. Therefore, GO addition can significantly mitigate calcium leaching of cement composites, since it can absorb Ca2+ ions in cement pore solution, as well as improve the microstructure of the composites. In addition, coupling leaching depth and compressive strength loss were accurately predicted by using the impedance RCCP.

Embolic effects of Bletilla striata microspheres in renal artery and transplanted VX2 liver tumor model in rabbits.

OBJECTIVES: To evaluate the characteristics of Bletilla striata microspheres (BSMs) and its effects as an embolic agent in a rabbit model. METHODS: BSMs were prepared with an emulsification-cool condensation-chemical cross-linking method. The characteristics of BSMs in vitro were observed. Embolization experiments were performed in renal artery of rabbit and in a rabbit liver VX2 carcinoma model. Seventy-two New Zealand rabbits were divided into 2 groups, and the right renal artery was embolized with BSMs (200 µm in diameter) in the experimental group and with polyvinyl alcohol (PVA) of the same size in the control group. The pathological findings were examined with hematoxylin-eosin and Masson stainings. Liver and renal functions were tested before and after embolization. VX2 tumor was transplanted in 15 New Zealand rabbits, which were randomly divided into 3 groups (n=5). Group A were treated with saline, group B with a mixture of doxorubicin and lipiodol, and group C with hepatic arterial infusion of BSMs (200 µm in diameter). Tumor growth rate was evaluated by magnetic resonance imaging scan. Apoptosis-related factors (bax, bcl-2) and tumor vascular endothelial cell growth factor (VEGF) were evaluated through immunohistochemical staining. RESULTS: The characteristics of BSMs in vitro were in full compliance with the requirements for use in interventional procedures. In the renal artery embolization experiment, after BSMs intervention, it was more difficult to form collateral circulation than that with PVAs, and the kidney manifested atrophy and calcification. There were no significant difference of liver and renal functions in rabbits between groups. In the liver VX2 carcinoma embolization experiment, compared with group A, the growth rate of VX2 liver tumor and Bcl-2 levels was reduced, while apoptosis index, Bax, and VEGF were increased in group B (P<0.05). There were no significant difference between groups B and C (P>0.05). CONCLUSIONS: The characteristics of BSMs in vitro and in vivo meet the requirements for its use as an embolic agent in interventional approaches.

Study on content of polysaccharide during processing of Polygonatum sibiricum by RSM and PMP-HPLC characteristic map technology / 中草药

Objective: To investigate the best extracting conditions of Polygonatum sibiricum polysaccharides by single and compound enzymatic methods, and to study on the change content of polysaccharide in processing of P. sibiricum by steamed and shined for nine times, which provide theoretical basis for processing of P. sibiricum and other Chinese herbal medicines. Methods: Response surface method (RSM) was used to optimize the extraction of polysaccharides in P. sibiricum. PMP precolumn derivatization and HPLC characteristic map technology were used to identify and analyze the changes of polysaccharide of P. sibiricum being steamed and shined for nine times and establish polysaccharide characteristic map of P. sibiricum by ancient processing and distillate. The effect of different enzymes on the extraction efficacy of P. sibiricum polysaccharides was also compared. Results: The extracting effect of cellulase in single enzyme was the best. Moreover, cellulose and pectinase were also the most significant factor for extracting polysaccharides from P. sibiricum in four complex enzymes. The best extracting conditions for polysaccharide obtaining by RSM as follows: Cellulase temperature was 51 ℃, cellulase dosage was 2%, and the total polysaccharide content was (675.34 ± 0.10) mg/g when the pH value of enzymolysis was 5.40. PMP-HPLC was used to detect four processed P. sibiricum, which contained mannose, ribose, rhamnose, glucose, and galactose. Glucose had a high proportion in P. odoratum, P. cyrtonema, and P. sibiricum polysaccharide, and P. filipes polysaccharide mainly composed of mannose. With the increase of processed times, the content of each monosaccharide increased first, then decreased, then increased and then tended to be stable. The content of mannose and galactose varied greatly. The content of monosaccharides in the distillate increased first and then stabilized, and the content changes of mannose and glucose were obvious. Conclusion: The extraction efficiency and purity of P. sibiricum polysaccharides can be improved by single and compound enzymatic extraction with cellulase, and the extraction yield of polysaccharide in P. sibiricum could be affected by steamed and shined for nine times. PMP-HPLC characteristic map technology can be used to determine the content of the polysaccharide in processing of P. sibiricum accurately and reproducibly, which can be used for the quality evaluation of P. sibiricum and other Chinese herbal medicines.

Protection Effect of Exogenous Fibroblast Growth Factor 21 on the Kidney Injury in Vascular Calcification Rats / 中华医学杂志(英文版)

<p><b>Background</b>Chronic kidney disease (CKD) is closely related to the cardiovascular events in vascular calcification (VC). However, little has known about the characteristics of kidney injury caused by VC. Fibroblast growth factor 21 (FGF21) is an endocrine factor, which takes part in various metabolic actions with the potential to alleviate metabolic disorder diseases. Even FGF21 has been regarded as a biomarker in CKD, the role of FGF21 in CKD remains unclear. Therefore, in this study, we evaluate the FGF21 on the kidney injury in VC rats.</p><p><b>Methods</b>The male Sprague-Dawley rats were divided into three groups: (1) control group, (2) Vitamin D3 plus nicotine (VDN)-induced VC group, (3) FGF21-treated VDN group. After 4 weeks, the rats were killed and the blood was collected for serum creatinine, urea nitrogen, calcium, and phosphate measurement. Moreover, the renal tissues were homogenized for alkaline phosphatases (ALPs) activity and calcium content. The levels of FGF21 protein were measured by radioimmunoassay. The levels of β-Klotho and FGF receptor 1 (FGFR1) protein were measured by enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA). The structural damage and calcifications in aortas were stained by Alizarin-red S. Moreover, the structure of kidney was observed by hematoxylin and eosin staining.</p><p><b>Results</b>The renal function impairment caused by VDN modeling was ameliorated by FGF21 treatment, inhibited the elevated serum creatinine and urea level by 20.5% (34.750 ± 4.334 μmol/L vs. 27.630 ± 2.387 μmol/L) and 4.0% (7.038 ± 0.590 mmol/L vs. 6.763 ± 0.374 mmol/L; P < 0.01), respectively, together with the structural damages of glomerular atrophy and renal interstitial fibrosis. FGF21 treatment downregulated the ALP activity, calcium content in the kidney of VC rats by 42.1% (P < 0.01) and 11.7% (P < 0.05) as well as ameliorated the aortic injury and calcification as compared with VDN treatment alone group, indicating an ameliorative effect on VC. ELISA assays showed that the expression of β-Klotho, a component of FGF21 receptor system, was increased in VDN-treated VC rats by 37.4% (6.588 ± 0.957 pg/mg vs. 9.054 ± 0.963 pg/mg; P < 0.01), indicating an FGF21-resistant state. Moreover, FGF21 treatment downregulated the level of β-Klotho in renal tissue by 16.7% (9.054 ± 0.963 pg/mg vs. 7.544 ± 1.362 pg/mg; P < 0.05). However, the level of FGFR1, the receptor of FGF21, kept unchanged under VDN and VDN plus FGF21 administration (0.191 ± 0.0376 ng/mg vs. 0.189 ± 0.032 ng/mg vs. 0.181 ± 0.034 ng/mg; P > 0.05).</p><p><b>Conclusions</b>In the present study, FGF21 was observed to ameliorate the kidney injury in VDN-induced VC rats. FGF21 might be a potential therapeutic factor in CKD by cutting off the vicious circle between VC and kidney injury.</p>

Fine particulate matter aggravates allergic airway inflammation through thymic stromal lymphopoietin activation in mice.

Fine particulate matter (PM2.5) has been linked to exacerbation of allergic airway inflammation in mice. However, the mechanism underlying exposure to PM2.5 and subsequent and adverse effects remains to be fully elucidated. Therefore, the present study aimed to investigate the effects of PM2.5 by different levels on airway inflammation in mouse models of in allergic and steroid­resistant asthma. BALB/c mice were nasally instilled with PBS (control) or 10, 31.6 or 100 µg PM2.5, and randomly assigned into nine groups. The acute asthma model was previously induced to investigate the change of inflammatory cells in bronchoalveolar lavage fluid (BALF). Histopathological changes of the lung were assessed, in addition to levels of interleukin (IL)­4 and IL­13 in BALF and immunoglobulin Ein serum. Thymic stromal lymphopoietin (TSLP) proteinexpression levels were assessed by western blotting. The present study demonstrated that medium­ and high­dose PM2.5 is linked to acute exacerbation of allergic airway inflammation in mice. In conclusion, the pathological mechanisms of PM2.5 may be associated with allergic/steroid­resistant airway inflammation, T­cell helper (Th)1/Th2 cytokine production and upregulation of TSLP expression in a murine model of allergic and steroid-resistant asthma.

Effect of ABO-Incompatibility on Outcome of Allogeneic Hematopoietic Stem Cell Transplantation / 中国实验血液学杂志

<p><b>OBJECTIVE</b>To investigate the effect of ABO-incompatibility on the efficacy and complications of allogeneic hematopoietic stem cell transplantation(HSCT).</p><p><b>METHODS</b>The clinical data of 54 recipients who received ABO-incompatible allo-HSCT were retrospectively analyzed and were compared with 54 ABO-identical recipients as controls. Hematopoietic reconstruction and the blood type conversion time were dynamically observed and compared between 2 groups.</p><p><b>RESULTS</b>The time of erythrocyte reconstitution was prolonged to 24 d in ABO-incompatible group, compared with that of 19 d in ABO-compatible group (P<0.01). The difference of neutrophil and platelet reconstruction was not statistically significant (P>0.05). Major mismatch group and bidirectional mismatch group required more erythrocyte transfusions than that of ABO-compatible group. The surface antigen of erythrocyte change in major mismatch group was earlier than that of minor mismatch group (P<0.05). The incidence of cytomegalovirus (CMV) infection, acute graft versus host disease (aGVHD) and survival were not significantly different between 2 groups.</p><p><b>CONCLUSION</b>ABO-incompatibility can not influence the effect of allo-HSCT, but ABO-incompatibility delayed erythrocyte recovery, and required more RBC and platelet transfusions.</p>

Transcatheter arterial embolization combined with radiofrequency ablation activates CD8(+) T-cell infiltration surrounding residual tumors in the rabbit VX2 liver tumors.

PURPOSE: To evaluate the effect of transcatheter arterial embolization (TAE) combined with radiofrequency ablation (RFA) treatment (TAE + RFA) on the expression of heat shock protein 70 (HSP70) in residual tumors and explore the relationship between the HSP70 and CD8(+) T-cell infiltrate surrounding residual tumors in the rabbit VX2 liver tumor model. MATERIALS AND METHODS: Animals with VX2 liver tumors were randomized into four groups (control, TAE, RFA, and TAE + RFA) with 15 rabbits in each group. Five rabbits in each group were sacrificed on days 1, 3, and 7 after treatment. HSP70 expression and infiltration of CD8(+) T-cells in the liver and residual tumors surrounding the necrosis zone were detected by immunohistochemistry staining. The maximal diameters of tumor necrosis, numbers of metastases, and tumor growth rate were compared on day 7 after treatment. RESULTS: TAE + RFA achieved larger maximal diameter of tumor necrosis, lower tumor growth rate, and fewer metastatic lesions, compared with other treatments on day 7. The number of CD8(+) T-cells in the TAE + RFA group was significantly higher than in other groups on days 1, 3, and 7. There was a positive correlation between HSP70 expression level and infiltration of CD8(+) T-cells surrounding the residual tumor on day 1 (r=0.9782, P=0.012), day 3 (r=0.93, P=0.021), and day 7 (r=0.8934, P=0.034). CONCLUSION: In the rabbit VX2 liver tumor model, TAE + RFA activated the highest number of CD8(+) T-cells surrounding residual tumors. TAE + RFA appears to be a beneficial therapeutic modality for tumor control and antitumor immune response in this model.

Radiofrequency ablation combined with transarterial chemoembolization for liver metastases from gastrointestinal cancers.

Transarterial chemoembolization (TACE) combined with radiofrequency ablation (RFA) has been reported to be effective for local control of different-sized hepatocellular carcinomas. However, it is unclear if these benefits could also be applicable to different-sized liver metastases from gastrointestinal cancers. The aim of this study was to evaluate the outcomes of TACE combined with RFA for liver metastases from gastrointestinal cancers. In this study, we retrospectively analyzed clinical data of 19 consecutive patients who had a total of 26 liver metastatic lesions from gastrointestinal cancers and underwent RFA followed by first-time TACE treatment. The tumor recurrence, overall survival rate and procedure-related complications were evaluated. Moreover, patients' demographics and tumor characteristics were analyzed to determine their impact on the outcomes. The technical success of TACE plus RFA was achieved with 2 major procedure-related complications found. The mean follow-up was 21.3 months. The total 1-, 2-, and 3-year survival rate was 89.4%, 52.6%, and 35.1%, respectively. It was found that the tumor size and the ratio of enhancement area were significant factors that influenced the overall survival. In conclusion, patients with gastrointestinal cancer-derived liver metastatic lesions of smaller size and larger enhancement area are considered appropriate candidates for TACE plus RFA.

HPLC specific chromatograms of Xingnaojing injection / 中国中药杂志

To establish and analyze the HPLC specific chromatograms of Xingnaojing injection manufactured by different factories. The separation was performed on a Thermo BDS Hypersil C₁₈ column (4.6 mm×250 mm, 5 μm), with the mobile phase consisting of acetonitrile-0.02% formic acid aqueous solution for gradient elution. The flow rate was 1.0 mL•min⁻¹, and the column temperature was 35 ℃. The detection wavelength was set at 254 nm, and the sample size was 20 μL. Eleven chromatographic peaks were identified as characteristic peaks of HPLC specific chromatograms of Xingnaojing injection, after analyzing 29 batches of Xingnaojing injection samples. Compared with the reference substances, seven of them were identified as eucarvone, camphor, curcumenone, curcumenol, curdione, curzerenone and germacrone, respectively. HPLC specific chromatograms of Xingnaojing injection manufactured by three factories could be easily classified into three categories after investigation with computer-aided similarity evaluation system combined with principal component analysis. The established HPLC specific chromatograms provide a basis for scientific evaluation and effective control of the quality of Xingnaojing injection.

Research on clinical application of navigation bronchoscopy system / 中国医学装备

Objective:To analyze the clinical application of navigation bronchoscopy system, and improve the accuracy during routine use.Methods:Through discussing ENB, System composition, clinical application and environment, the paper presents the clinical application standard and working environment standard of the navigation bronchoscopy system.Results:Electromagnetic navigation bronchoscopy(ENB) combined with the advantages of electromagnetic technology, virtual bronchoscopy and 3D CT reconstruction, which can perform the accurate localization of peripheral pulmonary lesion and mediastinal lymph node to acquire tissue samples for pathological diagnosis. ENB-guided localization can be used in interventional therapy(local injection or radioactive seed implantation).Conclusion:Navigation bronchoscopy system shows the merit of minimally invasive technique and medical visualization. It is a great progress in interventional pulmonology history.

The research and application on management system of cold chain facilities temperature control in the hospital / 中国医学装备

Objective:To have a research and application on management system of cold chain facilities temperature control in the hospital and real-time monitor the temperature and humidity changes of cold-chain facilities.Methods: Based on RFID radio frequency, Internet of things and computer technology to realize the construction of the system hardware and software platform, through commissioning and case analysis for system improvement, the system was popularized and applied comprehensively.Results: After one year’s trial run, it showed that the system could accurately and effectively monitor the abnormal temperature and humidity of the hospital’s cold chain facilities and give the acousto-optic hint and remote alarm in time, effectively improving the management level of cold chain temperature control.Conclusion: The system could guarantee the fine management of the cold chain facilities temperature control, provide safe and traceable historical data, and put forward a new solution for building the quality and safety of cold chain facilities temperature control system.