Analysis of the clinicopathological characteristics of thymoma patients and the influencing factors for prognosis / 中国胸心血管外科临床杂志

@#Objective     To analyze the clinicopathological characteristics of thymoma patients and the influencing factors for prognosis. Methods     Thymoma patients who received treatment in Sichuan Cancer Hospital from March 2015 to March 2021 were collected. Clinical data of the patients were analyzed using Kaplan-Meier and Cox regression analyses. Results     A total of 177 patients were included. There were 89 males and 88 females aged 17-88 (52.3±13.0) years, including 160 surgical patients and 17 non-surgical patients. There were 160 patients survived, 17 died of thymoma, and 5 had recurrence and metastasis. Overall, the 1-year, 3-year and 5-year progression-free survival rates were 94.4%, 88.7%, 88.1%, respectively; the 1-year, 3-year and 5-year overall survival rates were 94.9%, 91.5%, 91.0%, respectively. The Kaplan-Meier analysis showed that World Health Organization classification, clinical symptoms, Masaoka-Koga staging, treatment methods and surgery were statistically associated with progression-free survival; clinical symptoms, age, treatment methods and surgery were statistically associated with overall survival (P<0.05). Patients with younger age (P=0.018), without clinical symptoms (P=0.039), and with surgical treatment (P=0.004) had higher overall survival rates; those patients undergoing surgery had a higher progression-free survival rate (P=0.002). Conclusion     Age, clinical symptoms and surgical treatment are independent factors influencing the prognosis of patients with thymoma.

Risk factors for postoperative complications Clavien-Dindo classification≥gradeⅡ after lung cancer surgery / 中国胸心血管外科临床杂志

@#Objective     To investigate the risk factors for postoperative complications Clavien-Dindo classification≥grade Ⅱ after lung cancer surgery. Methods     The patients who underwent lung cancer surgery in a multicenter observational study from November 2017 to January 2020 were included. The Clavien-Dindo classification of postoperative complications was analyzed. Logistic regression was used to identify the risk factors for complications≥ gradeⅡ. Results     A total of 388 patients were enrolled, including 203 males and 185 females with a mean age of 56.14±10.36 years. The incidence of postoperative complications was 25.52% (99/388) after lung cancer surgery and the incidence of complications≥gradeⅡ was 20.10% (78/388). The five most common postoperative complications were pneumonia (6.96%), prolonged pulmonary air leak (>7 days, 5.67%), incision dehiscence (4.64%), arrhythmia (3.87%), and postoperative pleural effusion (3.35%). Multivariate analysis showed that open surgery [reference: uniportal thoracoscopic surgery, OR=2.18, 95%CI (1.01, 4.70), P=0.047], extended resection [reference: sublobar resection, OR=2.86, 95%CI (1.11, 7.19), P=0.030; reference: lobectomy, OR=2.20, 95%CI (1.10, 4.40), P=0.026] and operative time≥3 h [OR=2.07, 95%CI (1.12, 3.85), P=0.021] were independent risk factors for postoperative complications≥gradeⅡ after lung cancer surgery. Conclusion     Surgical approach, extent of resection and operative time are independent influencing factors for postoperative complications≥gradeⅡ after lung cancer surgery.

Discussion of the process of conducting an investigator-initiated research / 中国胸心血管外科临床杂志

@#The number of investigator initiated research (IIR) is increasing. But the recognition and management of IIR in China is still in its infancy, and there is a lack of specific and operable guidance for the implementation process. Based on our practical experiences, previous literature reports, and current policy regulations, the authors took prospective IIR as an example to summarize the implementation process of IIR into 14 steps, which are as the following: study initiation, ethical review, study registration, study filing, case report form design, database establishment, standard operating procedure making, investigator training, informed consent, data collection, data entry, data verification, data locking and data archiving.

Exhaled breath detection is expected to become a new method for non-invasive screening of lung cancer— Project initiation of "research on the application of human exhaled breath detection technology based on quantum cascade laser in the diagnosis of lung cancer and other diseases" / 中国胸心血管外科临床杂志

@#Being a non-invasive diagnostic technique for molecular biological markers, exhaled breath detection has the most latent capacity and future in the diagnosis and treatment of tumors. The National Key Research and Development Plan named "Strategic Advanced Electronic Materials" in 2020 has laid out the application of exhaled breath detection technology in the medical field, and the scientific research project led by Sichuan Cancer Hospital has been successfully launched. For the moment, as a novel strategy for early detection of lung cancer, exhaled breath detection is being perfected further and popularized or put in clinical practice step by step to reduce the mortality of lung cancer patients.

Identification and diagnostic value of characteristic volatile organic compounds in exhaled breath of patients with early stage lung cancer / 中国胸心血管外科临床杂志

@#Objective    To investigate the characteristic volatile organic compounds (VOCs) in exhaled breath and their diagnostic value in patients with early stage lung cancer. Methods    Solid-phase micro-extraction combined with gas chromatography mass spectrometry was used to analyze exhaled breath VOCs of 117 patients with early stage lung cancer (54 males and 63 females, with an average age of 61.9±6.8 years) and 130 healthy subjects (79 males and 51 females, with an average age of 63.3±6.6 years. The characteristic VOCs of early stage lung cancer were identified, and a diagnostic model was established. Results    Ten characteristic VOCs of early stage lung cancer were identified, including acetic acid, n-butanol, dimethylsilanol, toluene, 2,3,4-trimethylheptane, 3,4-dimethylbenzoic acid, 5-methyl-3-hexene-2-ketone, n-hexanol, methyl 2-oxoglutarate and 4-methoxyphenol. Gender and the 10 characteristic VOCs were included in the diagnostic model, with a sensitivity of 83.8% and a specificity of 96.2%. Conclusion    Analysis of exhaled breath VOCs is expected to be one of the potential methods used for early stage lung cancer diagnosis.

Predictive value of volatile organic compounds in exhaled breath on pulmonary nodule in people aged less than 50 years / 中国胸心血管外科临床杂志

@#Objective    To investigate the predictive value of volatile organic compounds (VOCs) on pulmonary nodules in people aged less than 50 years. Methods    The 147 patients with pulmonary nodules and aged less than 50 years who were treated in the Department of Thoracic Surgery of Sichuan Cancer Hospital from August 1, 2019 to January 15, 2020 were divided into a lung cancer group and a lung benign disease group. The lung cancer group included 36 males and 68 females, with the age of 27-49 (43.54±5.73) years. The benign lung disease group included 23 males and 20 females, with the age of 22-49 (42.49±6.83) years. Clinical data and exhaled breath samples were collected prospectively from the two groups. Exhaled breath VOCs were analyzed by gas chromatography mass spectrometry. Binary logistic regression analysis was used to select variables and establish a prediction model. The sensitivity, specificity, and area under the receiver operating characteristic (ROC) curve of the prediction model were calculated. Results    There were statistically significant differences in sex (P=0.034), smoking history (P=0.047), cyclopentane (P=0.002), 3-methyl pentane (P=0.043) and ethylbenzene (P=0.009) between the two groups. The sensitivity, specificity and area under the ROC curve of the prediction model with gender, cyclopentane, 3-methyl pentane, ethylbenzene and N,N-dimethylformamide as variables were 80.8%, 60.5% and 0.781, respectively. Conclusion    The combination of VOCs and clinical characteristics has a certain predictive value for the benign and malignant pulmonary nodules in people aged less than 50 years.

Effect of Proanthocyanidin on Expression of Nuclear Factor kappa B and Interleukin-6 in Rats after Spinal Cord Injury / 中国康复理论与实践

Objective To observe the effect of proanthocyanidin on the expression of nuclear factor kappa B (NF-кB) and interleukin-6 (IL-6) in rats with spinal cord injury (SCI). Methods 36 healthy adult Sprague-Dawley rats were randomly divided into proanthocyanidin treatment group (group A, n=12), methylprednisolone (MP) treatment group (group B, n=12) and model control group (group C, n=12). Al-len's method was used to establish the model of acute spinal cord injury in T9. On the 1st, 3rd and 7th days after operation, 4 rats in each group were assessed with Basso-Beattie-Bresnahan (BBB) scale and Slanting Board Test (SBT), and the expression of NF-кB and IL-6 of the spinal cord were detected with immunohistochemistry. Results The scores of BBB and SBT were better in groups A and B than in the group C 3 and 7 days after SCI (P<0.05). Compared with group C, the expression of NF-кB in group A decreased all the time after SCI (P<0.01), and 3 and 7 days after SCI in group B (P<0.01);while the expression of IL-6 decreased all the time after SCI in groups A and B (P<0.05). Conclusion Proanthocyanidin may inhibit the expression of NF-кB and IL-6 in spinal cord after SCI in order to reduce inflammation and improve the hindlimb motor function in rats after SCI.

Effect of Electroacupuncture Combined with Edaravone on Conduction Velocity of Sciatic Nerve and Oxidative Stress in Rats with Diabetic Peripheral Neuropathy / 中国康复理论与实践

@#Objective To observe the effects of electroacupuncture combined with edaravone on the conduction velocity of sciatic nerve and oxidative stress in rats with diabetic peripheral neuropathy. Methods 60 Sprague Dawley (SD) rats were included. 10 of them were selected as normal group. The other rats were modeled as diabetic peripheral neuropathy with streptozotocin. 48 of them were randomly selected and divided into electroacupuncture group (n=12), edaravone group (n=12), electroacupuncture + edaravone group (n=12), and model group (n=12). The threshold temperature for wave tail was tested, the levels of superoxidase dismutase (SOD) and malonaldehyde (MDA) were determined, and the conduction velocity of sciatic nerve were measured, before, and 4 and 8 weeks after modeling. Results 8 weeks after modeling, the conduction velocity and SOD increased in the electroacupuncture group, edaravone group and electroacupuncture+edaravone group compared with the model group (P<0.01), with the MDA decrease (P<0.01), while it was improved more in the electroacupuncture+edaravone group than in the electroacupuncture group or the edaravone group (P<0.01). Conclusion Both electroacupuncture and edaravone can inhibit oxidative stress and improve nerve conduction velocity of the sciatic nerve in rats with diabetic peripheral neuropathy, and it is more effective of combination.

Effect of Proanthocyanidin on Motor after Spinal Cord Injury in Rats / 中国康复理论与实践

@# Objective To observe the effect of Proanthocyanidin on motor after spinal cord injury (SCI) in rats. Methods 36 healthy adult SD rats were divided into groups A, B and C (n=12), and SCI was induced with Allen's mode (250 g·mm) on T9. Proanthocyanidin 40 mg/kg was injected intraperitoneally for group A, methylprednisolone (MP) 30 mg/kg for group B and the same volume of saline for group C 30 min after SCI. 1 d, 3 d and 7 d after operation, all the rats were assessed with Basso-Beattie-Bresnahan (BBB) scale and slanting board test, and their serumal malondialdehyde (MDA) and superoxide dismutase (SOD) were detected. Results The scores of BBB and the slanting board test imporoved more in group A and group B than in group C (P<0.05). The SOD increased and MDA decreased in groups A and B significantly 1 d and 3 d after operation compared with those of group C (P<0.05), and only in group A 7 d after operation (P<0.05). Conclusion Proanthocyanidin may inhibit the lipid peroxidation and promote the recovery of motor after spinal cord injury in rats.

Effects of bilirubin on hepatic stellate cells in vitro / 中华普通外科杂志

Objective To investigate the influence of low bilirubin level on hepatic stellate cells (HSCs) in vitro. Methods HSCs were isolated and cultured from the liver of SD rats. The effect of bilirubin in different concentration on reactive oxygen in HSCs was determined by DCFH-DA kit. The proliferation of HSCs was tested by CCK-8 test kit.Smoothmuscle α-actin (α-SMA) expression of HSCs was tested by Western blot.The apoptosis of HSCs was tested by flow cytometry.The fibrosis-related genes were tested by PCR. Results HSCs were isolated and cultured successfully.Bilirubin in low concentration (0,1,10,20 mg/L) inhibited the generation of the reactive oxygen.Proliferation and α-SMA expression of HSCs was inhibited by bilirubin (0.624 ± 0.092,0.536 ± 0.127,0.407 ± 0.033,0.399 ± 0.022,F =13.454,P ＜0.05 ; 339 ± 2,336 ± 10,246 ± 7,242 ± 5,3.7 ± 0.3,F =191.107,P ＜ 0.05 ) and the apoptosis of HSCs was promoted by bilirubin(2.69 ±0.07％,2.95 ±0.10％,4.41 ±0.22％,4.91 ±0.86％,F =34.731,P ＜0.05 ).Bilirubin in low concentration changed the expression of fibrosis-related genes in HSCs.The ratio of TIMP-1mRNA/MMP-2mRNA decreased (54 ± 2,65 ± 2,47 ± 2,44 ± 2,F =73.400,P ＜ 0.05).Conclusions Bilirubin in low concentration inhibits the proliferation and activation of hepatic stellate cells,orobablv bv a mechanism in which bilirubin promoted antioxidative function.

Effects of Livin antisense ologonucleotide on the proliferation and apoptosis of K562 cells / 肿瘤研究与临床

Objective To investigate the effects of Livin antisense oligonucleotide (ASODN) on the proliferation and apoptosis of human leukemia (K562) cells. Methods Specific phosphorothioate ASODN and missense oligonucleotide (MSODN) target Livin mRNA were synthesized and transfected into K562 cells following cationic liposome. The proliferation inhibition of K562 cells was assessed by MTT. The apoptosis rate of each group was detected by Annexin V-FITC. The expression of Livin mRNA was detected by reverse transcription polymerase chain reaction (RT-PCR). Results ASODN at a final concentration of 600 nmol/Lcould inhibit the K562 cells proliferation (IR) was (52.99t2.67) % and the expressions of Livin mRNA (ODR)was (59.75±3.24) %, the apoptosis rate was apparently increased [(36.89±1.08) %] (P ＜0.01); but the difference between Lip-MSODN group, Lip control group and cell control group was not statistically significant (P ＞0.05).Conclusion Livin ASODN may decrease Livin gene expression, suppress K562 cells proliferation effectively, and induce significant apoptosis of K562 cells.

Progress in relationship between inhibitor of apoptosis protein Livin and tumors / 国际儿科学杂志

Livin is a newly discovered member of the inhibitor of apoptosis protein family. Its antd-apoptosis function is mainly by inhibiting of casepases protein. So far, the over expression of Iivin has been detected in many malignant tumors.Research showed that Iivin may play a role in the progress of carcinogenesis of tumors and also be related with the resistance and the prognosis.Livin may serve as a new target for tumros diagnosis and treatment.In this review, we will summarize the new development in the relationship of Iivin and tumors in recent years.