Influence of perioperative probiotics supplement on short-term clinical outcomes in gastric cancer patients receiving neoadjuvant chemotherapy combined with radical gastrectomy: a prospective study / 中华消化外科杂志

Objective:To investigate the influence of perioperative probiotics supplement on short-term clinical outcomes in gastric cancer patients receiving neoadjuvant chemotherapy combined with radical gastrectomy.Methods:The prospective randomized controlled study was conducted. The clinicopathological data of 80 patients who underwent neoadjuvant chemotherapy combined with radical gastrectomy in the Affiliated Hospital of Qingdao University from July 2020 to September 2021 were selected. Based on random number table, patients were allocated into two groups. Patients undergoing perioperative probiotics supplement were allocated into the experiment group, and patients undergoing perioperative conventional treatment were allocated into the control group, respectively. Observation indicators: (1) grouping situations of the enrolled patients; (2) intraoperative situations; (3) follow-up and postoperative situations; (4) inflammation related hematological indexes. Follow-up was conducted using telephone interview and outpatient examina-tion to detect postoperative complications and startup of adjuvant chemotherapy up to October 31,2021. Measurement data with normal distribution were represented as Mean± SD, and comparison between groups was conducted using the independent sample t test. Measurement data with skewed distribution were represented as M(range), and comparison between groups was conducted using the Mann-Whitney U test. Count data were described as absolute numbers, and comparison between groups was performed using the chi-square test or Fisher exact probability. Comparison of ordinal data was analyzed using the Mann-Whitney U test. Repeated measurement data were analyzed by the repeated ANOVA or generalized estimating equation. Results:(1) Grouping situations of the enrolled patients. A total of 80 patients were selected for eligibility. There were 51 males and 29 females, aged 64(42-80)years. Of the 80 patients, there were 40 patients in the experiment group and 40 patients in the control group, respectively. (2) Intraoperative situations. All patients in the experiment group and the control group underwent radical gastrectomy successfully. Cases with yield pathologic TNM (ypTNM) stage 0, stage Ⅰ, stage Ⅱ, stage Ⅲ after neoadjuvant chemotherapy, cases undergoing laparoscopic radical gastrectomy or Da Vinci robotic radical gastrectomy, the operation time, the volume of intraoperative blood loss, cases undergoing digestive tract recons-truction as Billroth Ⅱ anastomosis or Roux-en-Y anastomosis were 2, 7, 15, 13, 19, 21,205(180-240)minutes, 50(30-60)mL, 6, 34 in the experiment group, versus 4, 6, 12, 16, 23, 17, 218(190-251)minutes, 50(43-60)mL, 11, 29 in the control group, showing no significant difference in the above indicators between the two groups ( U=683.00, χ2=0.80, U=668.00, 681.00, χ2=1.87, P>0.05). (3) Follow-up and postoperative situations. All the 80 patients were followed up for 1 month after surgery. Cases with postoperative infectious complications were 6 in the experiment group, versus 15 in the control group, showing a significant difference between the two groups ( χ2=5.23, P<0.05). The application of antimicrobial agent, time to postoperative first flatus, time to postoperative first defecation, time to tolerance of solid food, duration of postoperative hospital stay, time to postopera-tive startup of adjuvant chemotherapy were 3(3-6)doses, 53(49-66)hours, 72(62-82)hours, (72±18)hours, 6.0(5.5-7.0)days, 26.0(25.0-28.0)days in the experiment group, versus 6(3-10)doses, 66(60-88)hours, 94(82-112)hours, (107±23)hours, 7.0(6.4-8.3)days, 30.0(28.0-33.0)days in the control group, showing significant differences in the above indicators between the two groups ( U=471.50, 432.00, 343.50, t=-7.62, U=411.50, 319.50, P<0.05). (4) Inflam-mation related hematological indexes. ① The white blood cell counts before surgery and at postoperative day 1, 3, 5 were (5.6±1.4)×10 9/L, (9.9±3.2)×10 9/L, (7.7±2.6)×10 9/L, (6.8±1.8)×10 9/L in the experiment group, versus (6.1±1.9)×10 9/L, (12.3±2.9)×10 9/L, (9.7±3.6)×10 9/L, (7.8±2.7)×10 9/L in the control group, meeting the mauchly′s test of sphericity ( χ2=4.17, P>0.05). Results of intrasubject effect test showed that there were significant differences in the time effect, intervention effect and interaction effect of white blood cell counts between the two groups ( F=106.61, 10.45, 4.56, P<0.05). ② The neutrophilic granulocyte percentages before surgery and at postoperative day 1, 3, 5 were 55%±10%, 76%±11%, 73%±9%, 69%±9% in the experiment group, versus 56%±9%, 84%±5%, 79%±8%, 74%±9% in the control group, not meeting the mauchly′s test of sphericity ( χ2=16.63, P<0.05). Results of multi-variate test showed that there were significant differences in the time effect, intervention effect and interaction effect of neutrophilic granulocyte percentages between the two groups ( F=92.42, 11.46, 5.55, P<0.05). ③ The levels of C-reactive protein before surgery and at postoperative day 1, 3, 5 were 1.35(1.15-1.97)mg/L, 14.94(8.24-21.22)mg/L, 33.39(13.02-66.02)mg/L, 18.36(8.27-60.43)mg/L in the experiment group, versus 1.62(0.97-2.27)mg/L, 24.03(10.42-36.52)mg/L, 81.66(31.20-116.76)mg/L, 46.84(28.30-80.26)mg/L in the control group, not meeting the normal distribution. Results of generalized estimation equation test showed that there were significant differences in the time effect, intervention effect and interaction effect of levels of C-reactive protein between the two groups ( Waldχ2=145.74, 9.48, 9.90, P<0.05). ④ The levels of procalcitonin before surgery and at postoperative day 1, 3, 5 were 0.02(0.02-0.04)μg/L, 0.08(0.06-0.12)μg/L, 0.12(0.07-0.21)μg/L, 0.09(0.06-0.15)μg/L in the experiment group, versus 0.02(0.02-0.04)μg/L, 0.14(0.07-0.71)μg/L, 0.35(0.14-0.71)μg/L, 0.24(0.10-0.48)μg/L in the control group, not meeting the normal distribution. Results of generalized estimation equation test showed that there were signifi-cant differences in the time effect, intervention effect and interaction effect of levels of procalcitonin between the two groups ( Waldχ2=62.88, 14.71, 18.33, P<0.05). Conclusion:Perioperative supple-ment of probiotics can reduce the incidence of postoperative infectious com-plications and the application of antimicrobial agent, promote recovery of gastrointestinal function, reduce the level of inflammation related indexes, shorten the duration of postoperative hospital stay and the time to postoperative startup of chemotherapy in patients undergoing neoadjuvant chemotherapy combined with radical gastrectomy.

Effects of robotic and laparoscopic-assisted surgery on lymph node dissection and short-term outcomes in patients with Siewert II adenocarcinoma of esophagogastric junction / 中华胃肠外科杂志

OBJECTIVE@#To compare the effects of robotic and laparoscopic-assisted radical total gastrectomy on lymph node dissection and short-term outcomes in patients with Siewert type II adenocarcinoma of esophagogastric junction (AEG).@*METHODS@#Inclusion criteria: the tumor center was located between 2 cm above and below the esophagogastric junction and was confirmed as adenocarcinoma by endoscopic biopsy.@*EXCLUSION CRITERIA@#tumor with local invasion of the liver,spleen, pancreas or other organs; intraoperative finding of tumor dissemination or distant metastasis; patients undergoing palliative surgical treatment or preoperative neoadjuvant chemotherapy; patients with serious heart diseases, lung diseases, liver diseases, kidney diseases and other comorbidities; patients with multiple primary cancers;patients receiving emergency surgery. According to the above criteria, 82 patients with Siewert type II AEG who underwent gastrointestinal surgery at the Affiliated Hospital of Qingdao University from October 2014 to October 2018 were enrolled in the study. They were randomly divided into robotic surgery groups (41 cases) and laparoscopic group (41 cases) according to a computer-generated randomized allocation table. Both groups underwent radical total gastrectomy plus D2 lymph node dissection through the transabdominal esophageal hiatus approach. The intraoperative conditions and postoperative short-term outcomes were compared between two groups, including surgery time, intraoperative blood loss, length of esophagectomy, postoperative complications, postoperative gastrointestinal recovery time, length of hospital stay, postoperative unplanned reoperation rate and rehospitalization rate. Mean±SD is used for the measurement data that conforms to the normal distribution, and two independent sample t-tests are used to compare the two groups; the comparison of the count data is performed by the χ² test.@*RESULTS@#There were 35 males (85.4%) with age of (62.3±10.0) years and body mass index of (24.4±3.2) kg/m² in the robotic surgery group. There were 37 males (90.2%) with age of (62.5±10.0) years and body mass index of (23.8±2.6) kg/m² in the laparoscopic group. No significant differences in the baseline data between two groups were found (all P>0.05). All the patients of both groups completed R0 resection successfully without conversion to laparotomy or perioperative death. Compared with the laparoscopic group, the robotic group had less intraoperative blood loss [(70.7±39.9) ml vs. (110.2±70.6) ml, t=3.118, P=0.003], longer resected esophagus [(3.0±0.7) cm vs. (1.9±0.5) cm, t=8.759, P0.05). The highest lymph node metastasis rate was approximately 20% and observed in No.1, No.2, No.3, and No.7, followed by No.8a, No.9, No.11p, and No.110 with around 5%. The lymph node metastasis rate in other stations (No.4sa, No.4sb, No.4d, No.5, No.6, No.11d, No.12a, No.19, No.20 and No.111) was less than 5%.There were no significant differences in postoperative complication rate, postoperative fever time, postoperative exhaust and defecation time, fluid diet time, and postoperative hospital stay (all P>0.05). There were 2 patients(4.9%) with unplanned reoperation and 1 patient (2.4%) with unplanned re-admission in the laparoscopic group,while 3 patients (7.3%)with unplanned reoperation and 2 patients (4.9%)with unplanned re-admission in the robotic surgery group, whose differences were also not statistically significant (χ²=0.240,P=0.675;χ²=0.346,P=1.000).@*CONCLUSION@#Robot-assisted radical total gastrectomy for Siewert II AEG is safe and feasible, which is characterized by more sophisticated operation, less blood loss and higher quality of lymph node dissection, especially for subphrenic and inferior mediastinal lymph nodes.

Prognostic influencing factors of posterior communicating aneurysm associated with oculomotor nerve palsy / 中国医师进修杂志

Objective To investigate the prognosis of patients with posterior communicating aneurysm associated with oculomotor nerve palsy in 12 months, and analyze the possible prognostic influencing factors.Methods A prospective clinical study was conducted in 39 patients with posterior communicating aneurysm associated with oculomotor palsy.The patients were followed up for 12 months after surgery,and the prognosis of oculomotor palsy symptoms was evaluated.Results In 39 patients,16 cases were treated by craniotomy clipping, and 23 cases were treated by intravascular embolization. Univariate Logistic analysis result showed that the prognosis of oculomotor palsy symptoms in patient with age ≤ 60 years was significantly better than that in patient with age >60 years, the prognosis of the patients with operation timing≤14 d was significantly better than that of patients with operation timing>14 d, and there were statistical differences (P<0.05 or <0.01); the aneurysm hemorrhage, aneurysm orientation, aneurysm size, surgical procedure and preoperative oculomotor nerve palsy degree were unrelated to the prognosis of oculomotor palsy symptoms (P>0.05). Multifactor Logistic analysis result showed that age and operation timing were the independent prognostic influencing factors of oculomotor palsy symptoms(OR=6.574 and 32.510,95% CI 1.119-38.640 and 2.869-368.363,P<0.05 or<0.01). Conclusions Surgical treatment of aneurysms can improve the prognosis in patients with posterior communicating aneurysm associated with oculomotor nerve palsy,and the prognosis of patients with young age and early surgical treatment is relatively better.

The clinical significance and underlying correlation of pStat-3 and integrin αvß6 expression in gallbladder cancer.

BACKGROUND: Both phosphorylated signal transducer and activator of transcription 3(pStat-3) and integrin αvß6 can play vital role in the development and progression of cancer. However, little is known about their expression correlation and clinical significance in gallbladder cancer(GBC). OBJECTIVE: The aim of our present study was to investigate the expression of pStat-3 and integrin αvß6, two proteins' correlation and their clinical significance in GBC tissues. RESULTS: The expression of pStat-3 and integrin αvß6 were both significantly associated with T stage, lymph node metastasis status, TNM stage (P=0.008, P=0.000, P=0.000 and P=0.036, P=0.001,P=0.000,respectively). IHC and Western blot showed their expressions in GBC tissues were higher than that in paraneoplastic tissues. Moderate positive correlation existed between the two proteins (r =0.349, P <0.001). The survival analysis by Kaplan-Meier and Cox regression model showed that GBC patients with pStat-3 or integrin αvß6 positive expression had a significantly poorer 2-year survival rate (P = 0.002 and 0.000, the log-rank test, respectively), and either marker could act as unfavorable independent prognostic factors(RR=1.907, P=0.021 and RR=2.046, P=0.038). MATERIALS AND METHODS: The expression levels of pStat-3 and integrin αvß6 were analyzed in GBC cancerous and paraneoplastic tissues of 97 cases via immunohistochemistry(IHC) and further validated by western blot method. Besides, SPSS software was used to observe their clinical significance as well as the two proteins' correlation. CONCLUSION: pStat-3 and integrin αvß6 were indicators of tumor's progression and poor prognosis of patients with GBC. And the further study involving them may provide a helpful therapeutic target in prevention and treatment of GBC patients.

Tumor specific delivery and therapy mediate by integrin ß6-target immunoliposomes for ß6-siRNA in colon carcinoma.

Adjuvant chemotherapy does not achieve the desired therapeutic efficacy in colon cancer as a result of the deficient reaction. Gene therapy using small interfering RNAs (siRNAs) delivered by target delivering system represents a potent and specific strategy in tumor therapy. Integrinß6 is exclusively expressed in malignant colonic epithelia, associated with the progression, metastasis, and chemotherapeutic resistance of colon cancer. Accordingly, designing an efficient and targeted delivery system for ß6-siRNA could be a potential approach to improve therapeutic efficacy of colon cancer. Here, we designed the Integrinß6 target immunoliposomes for highly efficient and selective delivery of ß6-siRNA in colon cancer, which consequently resulted in greatly growth suppression, invasion and metastasis of colon cancer cells. Moreover, it was able to greatly inhibit the tumor growing in vivo.

Surgical treatment and clinical outcome of patients with intracranial posterior circulation poor-grade aneurysms / 中国医师进修杂志

Objective To investigate the surgical treatment and clinical outcome of patients with intracranial posterior circulation poor-grade aneurysms. Methods The clinical data of 35 patients with intracranial posterior circulation poor-grade aneurysms were collected. Seventeen patients were World Federation of Neurosurgical Societies (WFNS) grade IV and 18 patients were WFNS grade V. Twenty- nine patients were definitively treated with open microsurgery treatment(2 patients) and endovascular treatment (27 patients). Six patients received conservative treatment, including 4 patients only receiving external ventricular drainage to decrease intracranial pressure and 2 patients only receiving medical treatment. The nerve function were evaluated by Glasgow outcome scale (GOS) at discharge from hospital and 1 and 12 months after operation. Results In the patients who received conservative treatment, 5 patients were dead in hospital, and 1 patient got good outcome after 12 months. In the patients who received surgical treatment, at discharge from hospital good outcome were achieved in 15 patients (51.7%), poor outcome in 9 patients (31.0%), and death happened in 5 patients (17.2%). At 1 month after operation, good outcomes were achieved in 14 patients (48.3%), poor outcome in 9 patients (31.0%), and death happened in 6 patients (20.7%). At 12 months after operation, good outcome were achieved in 18 patients (62.1%), poor outcome in 5 patients (17.2%), and death happened in 6 patients (20.7%). Conclusions Patients with posterior circulation poor-grade aneurysms have better prognosis after positive surgical treatment.

Application of three-dimensional digital subtraction angiography in the evaluation of ruptured intracranial aneurysm after clipping / 实用医学杂志

Objective To assess the application of three-dimensional digital subtraction angiography (3D-DSA) in evaluation of ruptured intracranial aneurysm after clipping and to discuss the different variable use of vol-ume rendering(VR), gradient rendering (GR) and maximum intensity projection (MIP). Methods From January 2011 to December 2012 , 88 patients with 92 ruptured intracranial aneurysms were treated with clipping using titani-um clips in our hospital and followed up by both 2D-DSA and 3D-DSA. Residual aneurysms , Clips place, clips and parent arteries and stenosis of parent arteries were evaluated by volume rendering (VR), gradient rendering (GR) and maximum intensity projection (MIP). Results Among 92 clipped aneurysms, 23 residual aneurysms were found by 3D-DSA. Residual aneurysms were recorded according to the Sindou grade: 15 of gradeⅠ, 3 of gradeⅡ, 4 of grade Ⅲand 1 of grade Ⅳ. Three patients of grade Ⅲand 1 of grade Ⅳwith residual aneurysms were retreated by clipping or coiling, and 1 patient of grade Ⅲ was dead with rupture of residual aneurysm. The clips and number of clips were clearly visualized , and relationship between the clips and the aneurysms was well demonstrated by VR, GR and MIP images. VR, GR images showed the remnants clearly. Three-dimensional digital subtraction angiography did not showed accurate details of the stenosis of parent arties which required an analysis of 2D-DSA. Conclusion Three-dimensional digital subtraction angiography can be used for definite evaluation of resid-ual aneurysms after clipping, especially by VR, GR images. It is helpful to manage the residual ruptured aneurysms.

Endovascular embolization treatment for Hunt-Hess poor-grade intracranial aneurysms / 中国医师进修杂志

Objective To explore the clinical therapeutic efficacy and value of endovascular embolization treatment for Hunt-Hess poor-grade intracranial aneurysms. Methods Eighty-seven patients with Hunt-Hess grade Ⅳ - Ⅴ intracranial aneurysrns were treated with endovascular embolization from May 2001 to February 2010,77 patients were grade Ⅳ and 10 patients were grade Ⅴ. Outcomes were assessed by using the Glasgow outcome scale (GOS). Results Follow-up time was from 3 months to 9 years. The therapeutic efficacy was as following according to GOS: 25 patients were grade Ⅰ , 5 patients were grade Ⅱ , 9 patients were grade Ⅲ , 12 patients were grade Ⅳ ,and 36 patients were grade Ⅴ. There were 55.17%(48/87) favorable outcome rate and 28.74% (25/87) mortality rate in all patients. There were 61.70%(29/47) favorable outcome rate and 25.53%(12/47) mortality rate in early stage treatment patients (diseased within 3 d), otherwise there were 47.50% (19/40) favorable outcome rate and 32.50%(13/40) mortality rate in medium and late stage treatment patients (diseased 3 d or later). There were no statistically significance in favorable outcome rate and mortality rate between them (P > 0.05). All the patients were embolized successfully ,technical complications occurred in 8 patients, 10 patients were found angiographic evidence of vasospasm. Conclusions Endovascular embolization is an effective method for treating Hunt-Hess poorgrade intracranial aneurysms. Early stage treatment is a feasible option because it can improve prognosis by reducing rebleeding and vasospasm.

Endovascular treatment of traumatic carotid artery pseudoaneurysm / 中华创伤杂志

Objective To investigate the indication and result of parental artery occlusion, embolization with coils, stents in treatment of the traumatic carotid artery pseudoaneurysm. Methods There were six patients with traumatic carotid artery pseudoaneurysm including three patients of cavernous pseudoaneurysm combined with carotid-cavernous fistula (CCF), two with simple traumatic carotid artery pseudoaneurysm and one with traumatic carotid artery pseudoaneurysm that was found after CCF embolization with detachable balloon. The treatment included balloon occlusion for CCF and traumatic carotid pseudoaneurysm in one patient, coil embolization in three and intenal carotid artery balloon occlusion in two. The Clinical manifestations, imaging data, choice of treatment, clinical efficacy, follow-up data and literatures were analyzed to discuss the indications for three treatments. Results There was no cerebral ischemia or surgically-related complication. No epistaxis occurred. The eyeball protrusion restoration was found in three patients and intracranial bruit vanishing in three. Vision was improved one patient after half a year follow-up. The pupils shrank in three patients during follow - up. Digital subtraction angiography (DSA) showed no recurrence of pseudoaneurysm. Conclusions Endovascular treatment is the preferred choice of treatment for traumatic carotid artery pseudoaneurysm. The occlusion or parent artery balloon occlusion can be used when the pseudoaneurysm is combined with CCF. Coil embolization can be used for shoes with narrow neck, stent technology combined with coil embolization for those with wide neck and the covered stent for the rock section of the internal carotid artery.