Laparoscopic Versus Open Surgery for Early-Stage Intrahepatic Cholangiocarcinoma After Mastering the Learning Curve: A Multicenter Data-Based Matched Study.

BACKGROUND: Surgical resection is the only widely accepted curative method for intrahepatic cholangiocarcinoma (ICC). However, little is known about the efficacy of laparoscopic liver resection for ICC, especially in patients with early-stage disease. The aim of this study was to compare the short-term and long-term effects of laparoscopy and open surgery for the treatment of ICC. METHODS: Data from 1,084 patients treated at three hospitals from January 2011 to December 2018 were selected and analyzed. Propensity score matching was performed to compare the long-term outcomes (overall survival and recurrence-free survival) and short-term outcomes (perioperative outcomes) of all-stage and early-stage patients. RESULTS: After matching, 244 patients (122 vs. 122) in the all-stage group and 65 patients (27 vs. 38) in the early-stage group were included. The baseline of the two groups was balanced, and no significant differences were found in sex or age. The short-term results of the laparoscopic group were better than those of the open group, including less blood loss [blood loss ≥400 ml 27 (22.1%) vs. 6 (4.92%), p<0.001 for all-stage, 12 (31.6%) vs. 2 (7.41%), p=0.042 for early stage), shorter surgery [200 (141; 249) min vs. 125 (115; 222) min, p=0.025 for early stage] and shorter hospital stay [11.0 (9.00; 16.0) days vs. 9.00 (7.00; 12.0) days, p=0.001 for all stage, 11.0 (8.50; 17.8) days vs. 9.00 (6.50; 11.0) days, p=0.011 for early stage]. Regarding long-term outcomes, no significant differences were found for all-stage patients, while there were significant differences observed for the early-stage group (p=0.013 for OS, p=0.014 for RFS). For the early-stage patients, the 1-, 3-, and 5-year OS rates of the OLR group were 84.2, 65.8, and 41.1%, respectively, and those of the LLR group were 100, 90.9, and 90.9%, respectively. The RFS rates of the OLR group were 84.2, 66.7, and 41.7%, respectively, and those of the LLR group were and 92.3, 92.3, and 92.3%, respectively. CONCLUSION: Patients treated with laparoscopy seemed to have better short-term outcomes, such as less blood loss, shorter operation duration, and shorter hospital stay, than patients undergoing open surgery. Based on the long-term results, laparoscopic treatment for early ICC may have certain advantages.

Target of rapamycin signaling inhibits autophagy in sea cucumber Apostichopus japonicus.

Autophagy mediated by mTOR pathway is a particularly important immune defense mechanism in the pathogens infected mammals. However, the role of TOR in echinoderm autophagy is largely unknown. Here, a cDNA encoding TOR protein was cloned and characterized from sea cucumber Apostichopus japonicus (designated as AjTOR) and its biological functions were also investigated. The AjTOR gene encoded a peptide of 2499 amino acids with the representative domains of DUF3385, FAT, FRB, PI3Kc, and FATC, which exhibited highly conservation with vertebrate orthologs. Phylogenetic analysis supported that AjTOR belonged to a new member of TOR family. Moreover, tissues distribution analysis indicated that AjTOR was ubiquitously expressed in all the tested tissues, with the highest transcription in muscle. Vibrio splendidus infection in vivo and LPS challenge in vitro could both significantly down-regulate the mRNA expression of AjTOR. What's more, transmission electron microscopy observations showed that rapamycin treatment resulted in rapid formation of autophagosomes in coelomocytes both at 3 and 6 h, however, injection with mTOR activator of MHY1485 showed an inhibitory effect on autophagosomes formation compared to the control, suggesting blocking the expression of AjTOR could accelerates autophagy signals. Our findings supported that AjTOR served as a negative regulator in sea cucumber authophay.

Laparoscopic vs conventional appendectomy for appendicitis / 中华普通外科杂志

Objective To compare laparoscopic appendectomy to conventional operation for the treatment of appendicitis.Methods In this study 1558 patients diagnosed as appendicitis were divided into group A(laparoscopic appendectomy)and group B(conventional operation)according to the random numbers.In group A,779 patients were treated with laparoscopic appendectomy.In group B,779 patients were treated with conventional open appendectomy.The inhospital data and that of followed-up were compared.Statistical analysis was carried out using SPSS11.5 for Windows.Comparisons between categorical variables and continuous variables were analyzed using the X~2 test and t test.Results The operation was successfully performed in all 1558 patients.The operating time in group A and B were(30±2.2)min versus(30±1.6)min(t=0.00,P>0.05),the blood loss were(15±2.9)ml versus(29±5.2)ml(t=65.62,P<0.05),the bed off activity time were(26±3.1)h versus(51±2.1)h(t=69.95,P<0.05),the bowels'move time were(29±1.6)h versus(52±4.6)h(t=10.92,P<0.05),the hospital stay were(3±0.9)d versus(7±1.2)d(t=74.42,P<0.05),the inhospital cost was (6591±41)yuan versus(4860±32)yuan(t=-12.19,P<0.05),the incision infection rate was 0 and 2.8%(X~2=25.40,P<0.05).Postoperative analgesics were needed in 3.8% and 31.4% (X~2=30.63,P<0.05).All the patients were followed-up from 4.5 years to 9.8 years(average 6.8 years).The development of incision hernia in group A and B was 0 versus 0.64% (X~2=5.01,P<0.05).Conclusions Laparoscopic appendectomy is a therapy of choice for patients with acute appendicitis with advantages of minimal invasion,early recovery,few complications and short hospital stay.