Short-term efficacy of surgical treatment for multiple pulmonary nodules: A retrospective study in a single center / 中国胸心血管外科临床杂志

@#Objective To summarize and analyze the clinical diagnosis, surgical treatment and prognosis of multiple pulmonary nodules (MPNs). Methods The clinical data of lung cancer patients who received surgical treatment in our hospital from 2018 to 2020 were collected. The short-term efficacy of surgical treatment for MPNs was analyzed. Results A total of 97 patients were enrolled, including 30 males and 67 females with an average age of 56.1±10.0 years at onset ill. There were 62 patients with double lesions, 22 patients with three lesions, 4 patients with four lesions, and 9 patients with more than four lesions. A total of 213 lesions were surgically treated, including 88 pure ground-glass nodules, 81 partially solid nodules, and 7 solid nodules. There were 87 simultaneous surgeries and 10 staged surgeries, with an average operation interval of 5.2 months. The pathological combination type included adenocarcinoma-adenocarcinoma in 96 (99.0%) patients, squamous cell carcinoma-squamous cell carcinoma in 1 (1.0%) patient, and no lymph node metastasis was found. The 2-year disease-free survival (DFS) rate was 92.1%, and the overall survival (OS) rate was 100.0%. Univariate analysis showed that high-risk lesion size>2 cm (P=0.316), residual lesions (P=0.782) and pathological combination type (P=0.913) had statistical effect on the 2-year DFS rate. Conclusion MPNs are mainly diagnosed with multiple primary lung cancers, and the pathological combination is mostly adenocarcinoma-adenocarcinoma combination. Imaging examination is of great help to the surgical approach selection, diagnosis and differential diagnosis of MPNs. During the operation, maximal preservation of lung function and complete resection of high-risk nodules should be taken as the principle, and the prognosis is satisfactory.

Carbon Dots-Based Fluorescence Assay for the Facile and Reliable Detection of Ag+ in Natural Water and Serum Samples.

In this report, red-emissive carbon dots (C-dots) were facilely prepared from o-phenylenediamine via microwave-assisted hydrothermal treatment. The C-dots demonstrated excitation wavelength-independent emission with maximums at 621 nm that could be effectively quenched by Ag+ via static quenching. This phenomenon was exploited to establish a sensitive fluorescence assay with a low detection limit (0.37 µM) and wide linear range (0-50 µM). In addition, this assay demonstrated excellent selectivity toward Ag+, free from the interference of 16 commonly seen metal ions. Most importantly, the assay demonstrated high reliability toward samples in deionized water, mineral water, lake water, and serum, which could indicate potential applications for Ag+ monitoring in complicated natural and biological environments.

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.

Sensitive, Selective and Reliable Detection of Fe3+ in Lake Water via Carbon Dots-Based Fluorescence Assay.

In this study, C-dots were facilely synthesized via microwave irradiation using citric acid and ethylenediamine as carbon precursors. The fluorescence emissions of the C-dots could be selectively quenched by Fe3+, and the degree of quenching was linearly related to the concentrations of Fe3+ presented. This phenomenon was utilized to develop a sensitive fluorescence assay for Fe3+ detection with broad linear range (0-250, 250-1200 µmol/L) and low detection limit (1.68 µmol/L). Most importantly, the assay demonstrated high reliability towards samples in deionized water, tap water and lake water, which should find potential applications for Fe3+ monitoring in complicated environments.

Several suggestions on the classification management process and countermeasures of pulmonary surgery during the COVID-19 / 中华胸心血管外科杂志

Since the outbreak of corona virus disease 2019(COVID 19), the epidemic has spread rapidly, which brings great challenge to the surgical diagnosis, treatment and management of lung neoplasm Sichuan International Medical Exchange &Promotion Association organized thoracic surgery experts to sum up experiences from experts in major hospital, and formulated the Guidance suggestion on surgical diagnosis, treatment and management of lung neoplasm during the outbreak of COVID-19 to provide references for thoracic surgeons.

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.

Acupuncture combined with cinesiotherapy cupping for knee osteoarthritis with stagnation and blood stasis syndrome: a randomized controlled trial / 中国针灸

OBJECTIVE@#To compare the clinical efficacy between acupuncture combined with cinesiotherapy cupping and acupuncture combined with conventional cupping for knee osteoarthritis (KOA) with stagnation and blood stasis syndrome, and to seek a better solution for KOA.@*METHODS@#A total of 78 patients of KOA with stagnation and blood stasis syndrome were randomly divided into an observation group and a control group, 39 cases in each group (3 cases in the observation group and 2 cases in the control group lost contact). Both groups were treated with acupuncture at Neixiyan (EX-LE 4), Dubi (ST 35), Xuehai (SP 10), Liangqiu (ST 34), Heding (EX-LE 2), Zusanli (ST 36), Yinlingquan (SP 9), Yanglingquan (GB 34) and Xuanzhong (GB 39). Based on the acupuncture treatment, the control group was treated with conventional cupping. The No. 4 cupping glass was used for Xuehai (SP 10), Liangqiu (ST 34) and Fengshi (GB 31), while the No. 3 cupping glass was used for Yinlingquan (SP 9), while the cupping with appropriate size was used for points; the cupping glass was retained for 5 min. Based on the acupuncture treatment, the observation group was treated with cinesiotherapy cupping. The selection of acupoint and cupping glass was identical as the control group. The patients were instructed to perform knee flexion-extension, hip abduction-adduction, weight-bearing and other active exercise while cupping; the treatment was given once a day, 10 times as a course of treatment; totally three courses were given with an interval of 2 days between the courses. The patient's symptom scores, pain scores and knee function scores were recorded before and after treatment. The amount of joint effusion was measured by ultrasound; the level of interleukin-1 (IL-1), interleukin-6 (IL-6), tumor necrosis factor-α (TNF-α) in joint effusion were measured by ELISA.@*RESULTS@#After treatment, the total effective rate in the observation group was 94.4% (34/36), which was significantly higher than 86.5% (32/37) in the control group (0.05).@*CONCLUSION@#The acupuncture combined with cinesiotherapy cupping could alleviate pain, improve joint function and reduce joint effusion, which is superior to acupuncture combined with conventional cupping.

Personality and depression: A review of theory model and behavior and neural mechanism / 生理学报

The analysis of the relationship between personality and depression can facilitate the development of subclinical preventive measures and clinical treatment schemes. Moreover, the personality is associated with a variety of mental diseases, and there is substantial comorbidity between depression and some other mental diseases. So, to reveal pathological relationships between personality and depression is helpful to understand the etiology of the comorbidity between depression and multiple mental disorders. In this review, we first summarize the empirical researches on the relationship between personality and depression from the aspects of behavior and neural mechanisms, and then discuss the hypothetical model to explain the relationship between personality and depression. In a word, high neuroticism, low extroversion and conscientiousness, and other related traits (rumination, self-criticism, dependency, etc.) have a moderate to strong correlation with depression. Among them, neuroticism is the most concerned. To a certain extent, it can predict the onset of depression and affect the duration and treatment outcome of depression. Other traits, such as positive emotionality/ extroversion and effortful control/responsibility, can moderate the relationship between negative emotionality/neuroticism and depression. And after the onset of depression, the neuroticism may change, but the extroversion does not seem to change.

Surgical management of mediastinal lymph node metastasis of thyroid carcinoma / 中华内分泌外科杂志

Objective To explore the surgical technique for mediastinal lymph node metastasis of thyroid cancer.Methods We retrospectively reviewed clinical records of 46 patients with metastatic thyroid cancer in mediastinal lymph nodes and having received surgical treatment in Department of Head Neck Surgery and Thoracic Surgery of Sichuan Cancer Hospital from Feb.2004 to Apr.2015.We analyzed the diagnosis,surgical treatment methods,operative approach,and postoperative complications of these patients.Results The main metastatic region was superior mediastinum especially level 2 (2R/2L,lower parathymic lymph nodes) according to AJCC-UICC standard in 31 patients (67.39％);16 patients (34.78％) had level 3 and level 4 (4R/4L lower parathymic) lymph node netastasis and 4 patients (8.696％) had level 5 (subaortic lymph node) and level 6 (para-aortic lymph node) metastasis.39 patients were pathologically diagnosed with papillary carcinoma,6 patients were diagnosed with medullary carcinoma,and 1 patient was diagnosed with follicular carcinoma.There were 14 patients with stage Ⅰ disease,5 patients with stage Ⅱ disease,3 patients with stage Ⅲ disease,22 patients with stage Ⅳa disease,and 2 patients with stage Ⅳc disease.The most common complications were hoarseness,chylous fistula,hypocalcaemia,and airway obstruction.Patients were followed-up from 1 to 8 years.During the follow-up period,4 cases were lost to follow-up and 2 patients died.Conclusions The main treatment approach for mediastinal lymph node metastasis of thyroid cancer is surgical operation.Pre-operative CT or MRI is needed to evaluate the metastatic region of the lymph nodes and to choose appropriate operative approach.

Comparison of perioperative outcomes and lymphadenectomy after thoracoscopic esophagectomy in semi prone position and open esophagectomy / 中华肿瘤杂志

<p><b>OBJECTIVE</b>Thoracoscopic esophagectomy has gained worldwide popularity. This study compared the perioperative outcomes and lymphadenectomy after thoracoscopic esophagectomy in semi prone position and open esophagectomy.</p><p><b>METHODS</b>Sixty-two consecutive patients after thoracoscopic esophagectomy were compared with 62 patients who underwent open esophagectomy. Outcomes included surgical time, blood loss, length of hospital stay, 30-day mortality, complications and gained lymph nodes.</p><p><b>RESULTS</b>The mean length of hospital stay of the thoracoscopic group was 12.4 ± 7.4 days, and 13.6 ± 6.7 days in the open esophagectomy group (P > 0.05). The median total operation time and median thoracic operation time were 270 and 130 min, the median total blood loss and median thoracic blood loss were 300 and 180 ml in the thoracoscopic group, while the results in open esophagectomy group were 290, 150 min and 300, 180 ml. The median total operation time and median thoracic operation time were of statistically significant difference (P < 0.01). But there were no significant differences between the two groups in total blood loss and thoracic blood loss (P > 0.05) . The numbers of obtained lymph nodes in the thoracoscopic group and open esophagectomy group were 20.5 and 16.9 (P < 0.01). Among them, the median numbers of mediastinal lymph nodes in the thoracoscopic group and open esophagectomy group were 12.4 and 8.8, the left recurrent laryngeal nerve lymph nodes were 1.8 and 1.0, and the right recurrent laryngeal nerve lymph nodes were 2.9 and 1.2 (P < 0.01 for all). There were 8 positive recurrent laryngeal nerve lymph nodes (12.9%) in the thoracoscopic group, while 5 in the open esophagectomy group (8.1%, P > 0.05). There were no peri-operative period death, heavy bleeding, or thoracic gastric fistula in both groups.</p><p><b>CONCLUSIONS</b>Thoracoscopic esophagectomy in semi prone position may achieve good surgical field exposure, therefore, to make esophagectomy, lymph node dissection and digestive tract reconstruction possible. These findings suggest that with further technical refinement, thoracoscopic esophagectomy may have the upper hand on reducing postoperative complications and performing mediastinal lymph node dissection.</p>