Prognostic value of pre-treatment advanced lung cancer inflammation index in non-small cell lung cancer: a meta-analysis.

PURPOSE: To identify the prognostic value of pre-treatment advanced lung cancer inflammation index (ALI) in non-small cell lung cancer (NSCLC) including surgical patients who were diagnosed with early stage. METHODS: The PubMed, EMBASE and Web of Science electronic databases were searched up to January 12, 2022 for relevant studies. The hazard ratios (HRs) with 95% confidence intervals (CIs) were combined to assess the association between pre-treatment ALI and overall survival (OS) or progression-free survival (PFS) of NSCLC patients. All statistical analyses were conducted by STATA 12.0 software. RESULTS: A total of 14 studies involving 3607 participants were included. The pooled results indicated that lower pre-treatment ALI was significantly related to poorer OS (HR = 2.20, 95% CI: 1.46-3.33, P < 0.001) and PFS (HR = 1.78, 95% CI: 1.49-2.13, P < 0.001). Besides, subgroup analysis also demonstrated that lower pre-treatment ALI was associated with worse OS in surgical (P < 0.001) and non-metastatic (P < 0.001) patients and worse PFS of surgical (P < 0.001) NSCLC patients. CONCLUSION: Pre-treatment ALI was a novel and reliable prognostic indicator in NSCLC and lower pre-treatment ALI predicted worse survival including patients diagnosed with early stage. However, more prospective high-quality studies are still needed to verify the above findings.

Flexible and Antifreezing Fiber-Shaped Solid-State Zinc-Ion Batteries with an Integrated Bonding Structure.

Fiber-shaped solid-state zinc-ion battery (FZIB) is a promising candidate for wearable electronic devices, but challenges remain in terms of mechanical stability and low temperature tolerance. Herein, we design and fabricate a FZIB with an integrated device structure through effective incorporation of the active electrode materials with a carbon fiber rope (CFR) and a gel polymer electrolyte. The gel polymer electrolyte incorporated with ethylene glycol (EG) and graphene oxide (GO) endows the FZIB with a high Zn stripping/plating efficiency under extreme low temperature conditions. A high power density of 1.25 mW cm-1 and large energy density of 0.1752 mWh cm-1 are obtained. In addition, a high capacity retention of 91% after 2000 continuous bending cycles is achieved. Furthermore, the discharge capacity is fairly retained at more than 22% even at the low temperature of -20 °C. Toward practical applications, the FZIB integrated into textiles to power electronic products is demonstrated.

Uniportal video-assisted thoracic surgery basal segmentectomy: a single-center retrospective cohort study.

Background: Uniportal video-assisted thoracic surgery (VATS) basal segmentectomy is technically challenging and requires a deep understanding of the segmental anatomy of the lung. This report describes the uniportal VATS segmentectomy of basal segments using a single-direction approach. Methods: A total of 49 patients who underwent uniportal VATS basal segmentectomy between April 2019 and April 2021 were included in this retrospective study. All the surgeries were conducted using a single-direction approach. The resections of segments 7-8 were mainly performed using the interlobar fissure approach, while the resections of segments 9-10 were performed using the inferior pulmonary ligament approach. Results: A total of 33 patients underwent a single basal segmentectomy and 16 patients underwent combined basal segmentectomy/sub-segmentectomy. The median operative time was 120 min (range, 60-180 min), and the median blood loss was 20 mL (range, 10-100 mL). The median chest tube duration was 2 days (range, 1-5 days), and the median hospital stay after surgery was 4 days (range, 2-15 days). The morbidity rate after surgery was 6.1% (3/49). There were no perioperative deaths. The pathological examinations revealed 3 cases of adenocarcinoma in situ (AIS), 33 cases of minimally invasive adenocarcinoma, and 13 cases of lepidic-predominant invasive adenocarcinoma. No recrudescence or mortality was reported during the median follow-up time of 7 months (range, 2-25 months). Conclusions: Uniportal VATS basal segmentectomy is a feasible and reliable technique based on our experience. This single-direction method allows the uniportal VATS basal segmentectomy to be performed in an easy manner with the targeted segmental bronchi and vessels exposed from superficial to deep in order of their appearance while avoiding the repeated turnover of the lung.

Impact of thymosin α1 as an immunomodulatory therapy on long-term survival of non-small cell lung cancer patients after R0 resection: a propensity score-matched analysis.

BACKGROUND: There is limited information about thymosin α1 (Tα1) as adjuvant immunomodulatory therapy, either used alone or combined with other treatments, in patients with non-small cell lung cancer (NSCLC). This study aimed to evaluate the effect of adjuvant Tα1 treatment on long-term survival in margin-free (R0)-resected stage IA-IIIA NSCLC patients. METHODS: A total of 5746 patients with pathologic stage IA-IIIA NSCLC who underwent R0 resection were included. The patients were divided into the Tα1 group and the control group according to whether they received Tα1 or not. A propensity score matching (PSM) analysis was performed to reduce bias, resulting in 1027 pairs of patients. RESULTS: After PSM, the baseline clinicopathological characteristics were similar between the two groups. The 5-year disease-free survival (DFS) and overall survival (OS) rates were significantly higher in the Tα1 group compared with the control group. The multivariable analysis showed that Tα1 treatment was independently associated with an improved prognosis. A longer duration of Tα1 treatment was associated with improved OS and DFS. The subgroup analyses showed that Tα1 therapy could improve the DFS and/or OS in all subgroups of age, sex, Charlson Comorbidity Index (CCI), smoking status, and pathological tumor-node-metastasis (TNM) stage, especially for patients with non-squamous cell NSCLC and without targeted therapy. CONCLUSION: Tα1 as adjuvant immunomodulatory therapy can significantly improve DFS and OS in patients with NSCLC after R0 resection, except for patients with squamous cell carcinoma and those receiving targeted therapy. The duration of Tα1 treatment is recommended to be >24 months.

[Current Status of Prevention and Nursing on Venous Thromboembolism among Perioperative Patients with Lung Cancer].

BACKGROUND: The purpose of this study was to explore the status of prevention and nursing on venous thromboembolism (VTE) among perioperative patients with lung cancer in Chinese hospital. METHODS: A self-designed questionnaire was used to investigate 108 head nurses from tertiary hospitals during the first West China Forum on Chest Enhanced Recovery After Surgery (ERAS). RESULTS: (1) Current status of assessment tools and prevention guidelines: 97.22% of the hospitals have carried out VTE risk assessments for surgical patients with lung cancer, 67.59% of the hospitals have established the nursing prevention specifications of VTE. (2) Current status of screening, precaution and follow-up: 56.48% of the hospitals have taken different approach to screen VTE for lung cancer patients in pre-operative period. 90.74% of the hospitals and 52.78% of the hospitals had VTE prophylaxis for hospitalized and discharged patients, but only 17.59% of hospitals were followed up on the incidence of VTE for discharged patients. (3) There was no statistically significant difference in VTE prevention between different type hospitals (P>0.05). But, all patients in the specialist hospital have been fully implemented on VTE risk assessment and VTE prevention (100.00%). CONCLUSIONS: The clinical staff have already realized the importance of VTE prevention, and the VTE prevention in perioperative patients with lung cancer has received extensive attention. But there is still lack of effective risk assessment tools and standardized guidelines of VTE prevention.