Early identification of hepatocellular carcinoma patients at high-risk of recurrence using the ADV score: a multicenter retrospective study.

BACKGROUND: Postoperative recurrence is a vital reason for poor 5-year overall survival in hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) patients. The ADV score is considered a parameter that can quantify HCC aggressiveness. This study aimed to identify HCC patients at high-risk of recurrence early using the ADV score. METHODS: The medical data of consecutive HCC patients undergoing hepatectomy from The First Affiliated Hospital of Nanjing Medical University (TFAHNJMU) and Nanjing Drum Tower Hospital (NJDTH) were retrospectively reviewed. Based on the status of microvascular invasion and the Edmondson-Steiner grade, HCC patients were divided into three groups: low-risk group (group 1: no risk factor exists), medium-risk group (group 2: one risk factor exists), and high-risk group (group 3: coexistence of two risk factors). In the training cohort (TFAHNJMU), the R package nnet was used to establish a multi-categorical unordered logistic regression model based on the ADV score to predict three risk groups. The Welch's T-test was used to compare differences in clinical variables in three predicted risk groups. NJDTH served as an external validation center. At last, the confusion matrix was developed using the R package caret to evaluate the diagnostic performance of the model. RESULTS: 350 and 405 patients from TFAHNJMU and NJDTH were included. HCC patients in different risk groups had significantly different liver function and inflammation levels. Density maps demonstrated that the ADV score could best differentiate between the three risk groups. The probability curve was plotted according to the predicted results of the multi-categorical unordered logistic regression model, and the best cut-off values of the ADV score were as follows: low-risk ≤ 3.4 log, 3.4 log < medium-risk ≤ 5.7 log, and high-risk > 5.7 log. The sensitivities of the ADV score predicting the high-risk group (group 3) were 70.2% (99/141) and 78.8% (63/80) in the training and external validation cohort, respectively. CONCLUSION: The ADV score might become a valuable marker for screening patients at high-risk of HCC recurrence with a cut-off value of 5.7 log, which might help surgeons, pathologists, and HCC patients make appropriate clinical decisions.

Characteristics of regional lymph node metastasis in breast cancer and construction of a nomogram model based on ultrasonographic analysis: a retrospective study.

OBJECTIVE: The ultrasonographic characteristics of lymph node metastasis in breast cancer patients were retrospectively analyzed, and a predictive nomogram model was constructed to provide an imaging basis for better clinical evaluation. METHODS: B-mode ultrasound was used to retrospectively analyze the imaging characteristics of regional lymph nodes and tumors. Pathological examination confirmed the presence of lymph node metastasis in breast cancer patients. Univariable and multivariable logistic regression analyses were performed to analyze the risk factors for lymph node metastasis. LASSO regression analysis was performed to screen noninvasive indicators, and a nomogram prediction model was constructed for breast cancer patients with lymph node metastasis. RESULTS: A total of 187 breast cancer patients were enrolled, including 74 patients with lymph node metastasis in the positive group and 113 patients without lymph node metastasis in the negative group. Multivariate analysis revealed that pathological type (OR = 4.58, 95% CI: 1.44-14.6, p = 0.01), tumor diameter (OR = 1.37, 95% CI: 1.07-1.74, p = 0.012), spiculated margins (OR = 7.92, 95% CI: 3.03-20.67, p < 0.001), mixed echo of the breast tumor (OR = 37.09, 95% CI: 3.49-394.1, p = 0.003), and unclear lymphatic hilum structure (OR = 16.07, 95% CI: 2.41-107.02, p = 0.004) were independent risk factors for lymph node metastasis. A nomogram model was constructed for predicting breast cancer with lymph node metastasis, incorporating three significantly correlated indicators identified through LASSO regression analysis, namely, tumor spiculated margins, cortical thickness of lymph nodes, and unclear lymphatic hilum structure. The receiver operating characteristic (ROC) curve revealed that the area under the curve (AUC) was 0.717 (95% CI, 0.614-0.820) for the training set and 0.817 (95% CI, 0.738-0.890) for the validation set. The Hosmer-Lemeshow test results for the training set and the validation set were p = 0.9148 and p = 0.1648, respectively. The prediction nomogram has good diagnostic performance. CONCLUSIONS: B-mode ultrasound is helpful in the preoperative assessment of breast cancer patients with lymph node metastasis. The predictive nomogram model, which is based on logistic regression and LASSO regression analysis, is clinically safe, reliable, and highly practical.

T cell-related ubiquitination genes as prognostic indicators in hepatocellular carcinoma.

Background: T lymphocytes, integral to the adaptive immune system, wield pivotal influence in bolstering anti-tumor responses, and are strictly regulated by ubiquitination modification. The objective of this investigation was to devise a novel prognostic and immunotherapeutic efficacy predictor for hepatocellular carcinoma patients utilizing T cell-related ubiquitination genes (TCRUG). Method: The single-cell RNA sequencing (scRNA-seq) data and bulk RNA data of HCC patients are derived from the GEO database and TCGA database. Based on the processing of scRNA-seq, T cell marker genes are obtained and TCRUG is obtained. Further combined with WGCNA, differential analysis, univariate Cox regression analysis, LASSO analysis, and multivariate Cox regression analysis to filter and screen TCRUG. Finally construct a riskscore for predicting the prognosis of HCC patients, the predictive effect of which is validated in the GEO dataset. In addition, we also studied the correlation between riskscore and immunotherapy efficacy. Finally, the oncogenic role of UBE2E1 in HCC was explored through various in vitro experiments. Result: Based on patients' scRNA-seq data, we finally obtained 3050 T cell marker genes. Combined with bulk RNA data and clinical data from the TCGA database, we constructed a riskscore that accurately predicts the prognosis of HCC patients. This riskscore is an independent prognostic factor for HCC and is used to construct a convenient column chart. In addition, we found that the high-risk group is more suitable for immunotherapy. Finally, the proliferation, migration, and invasion abilities of HCC cells significantly decreased after UBE2E1 expression reduction. Conclusion: This study developed a riskscore based on TCRUG that can accurately and stably predict the prognosis of HCC patients. This riskscore is also effective in predicting the immune therapy response of HCC patients.

EYA4 reduces chemosensitivity of osteosarcoma to doxorubicin through DNA damage repair.

Previous studies have demonstrated that Eyes Absent 4 (EYA4) influences the proliferation and migration of tumor cells. Notably, studies have established that EYA4 can also limit tumor sensitivity to chemotherapeutic agents. The objective of this study was to investigate the effect of EYA4 in conferring drug resistance in osteosarcoma (OS). Bioinformatics, histological, and cellular analyses revealed that the expression level of EYA4 was higher in OS tissues than in healthy tissues/cells and in resistant tissues/cells compared with sensitive tissues/cells. In vitro and in vivo experiments demonstrated that EYA4 knockdown increased the sensitivity of OS to doxorubicin (DOX). Conversely, overexpression of EYA4 decreased the sensitivity of OS to DOX. Exploration of the resistance mechanism exposed that EYA4 facilitates DNA double-strand break (DSB) repair, a typical mode of DNA damage repair (DDR). Subsequently, our findings indicated that EYA4 could directly interact with histone H2AX to activate the DDR pathway. Taken together, our observations indicated that EYA4 may serve as a target molecule for reversing drug resistance in OS patients.

Research progress of protein induced by vitamin K absence or antagonist II in liver transplantation for hepatocellular carcinoma.

Hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) is the most common pathologic type of primary liver cancer. Liver transplantation (LT) is a radical strategy for treating patients with early-stage HCC, which may lead to a better prognosis compared to hepatectomy and ablation. However, survival of patients who develop HCC recurrence after LT is short, and early recurrence is the most common cause of death. Thus, efficient biomarkers are also needed in LT to guide precision therapy to improve patient prognosis and 5-year survival. Protein induced by vitamin K absence or antagonist II (PIVKA-II) is an abnormal prothrombin that cannot activate coagulation, and it is significantly increased in patients with HCC, obstructive jaundice, and those taking vitamin K antagonists. Over the past decades, substantial progress has been made in the study of PIVKA-II in diagnosing, surveilling, and treating HCC, but its role in LT still needs to be elaborated. In this review, we focused on the role of PIVKA-II as a biomarker in LT for HCC, especially its relationship with clinicopathologic features, early recurrence, long-term survival, and donor-recipient selection.

Physical Regimes and Mechanisms of Picosecond Laser Fragmentation of Gold Nanoparticles in Water from X-ray Probing and Atomistic Simulations.

Laser fragmentation in liquids has emerged as a promising green chemistry technique for changing the size, shape, structure, and phase composition of colloidal nanoparticles, thus tuning their properties to the needs of practical applications. The advancement of this technique requires a solid understanding of the mechanisms of laser-nanoparticle interactions that lead to the fragmentation. While theoretical studies have made impressive practical and mechanistic predictions, their experimental validation is required. Hence, using the picosecond laser fragmentation of Au nanoparticles in water as a model system, the transient melting and fragmentation processes are investigated with a combination of time-resolved X-ray probing and atomistic simulations. The direct comparison of the diffraction profiles predicted in the simulations and measured in experiments has revealed a sequence of several nonequilibrium processes triggered by the laser irradiation. At low laser fluences, in the regime of nanoparticle melting and resolidification, the results provide evidence of a transient superheating of crystalline nanoparticles above the melting temperature. At fluences about three times the melting threshold, the fragmentation starts with evaporation of Au atoms and their condensation into small satellite nanoparticles. As fluence increases above five times the melting threshold, a transition to a rapid (explosive) phase decomposition of superheated nanoparticles into small liquid droplets and vapor phase atoms is observed. The transition to the phase explosion fragmentation regime is signified by prominent changes in the small-angle X-ray scattering profiles measured in experiments and calculated in simulations. The good match between the experimental and computational diffraction profiles gives credence to the physical picture of the cascade of thermal fragmentation regimes revealed in the simulations and demonstrates the high promise of the joint tightly integrated computational and experimental efforts.

Time-varying gain extended state observer-based adaptive optimal control for disturbed unmanned helicopter.

In this paper, the robust adaptive optimal tracking control problem is addressed for the disturbed unmanned helicopter based on the time-varying gain extended state observer (TVGESO) and adaptive dynamic programming (ADP) methods. Firstly, a novel TVGESO is developed to tackle the unknown disturbance, which can overcome the drawback of initial peaking phenomenon in the traditional linear ESO method. Meanwhile, compared with the nonlinear ESO, the proposed TVGESO possesses easier and rigorous stability analysis process. Subsequently, the optimal tracking control issue for the original unmanned helicopter system is transformed into an optimization stabilization problem. By means of the ADP and neural network techniques, the feedforward controller and optimal feedback controller are skillfully designed. Compared with the conventional backstepping approach, the designed anti-disturbance optimal controller can make the unmanned helicopter accomplish the tracking task with less energy. Finally, simulation comparisons demonstrate the validity of the developed control scheme.

A Novel Nomogram for the Preoperative Prediction of Edmondson-Steiner Grade III-IV in Hepatocellular Carcinoma Patients.

Background: Edmondson-Steiner (E-S) grade is a pathological indicator of the degree of hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) differentiation, and E-S grade III-IV is a poor prognostic factor for HCC patients. Predicting poorly differentiated HCC has essential significance for clinical decision-making. Although some studies have developed predictive models based on magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) and radiomics, radiomic features that require specific software for analysis are impractical for clinical work. This study aims to develop a novel and user-friendly nomogram model to predict E-S grade III-IV. Patients and Methods: Medical data on patients meeting the inclusion criteria were obtained from the Nanjing Drum Tower Hospital HCC database (January 2020 to December 2022). Univariate analysis was used to screen for risk factors associated with E-S grade III-IV. A novel nomogram was established based on the subsequent multivariate logistic regression analysis. The performance of the established model was evaluated through diagnostic ability, calibration, and clinical benefits. Results: Overall, 240 HCC patients were included in this study. Among them, 103 were highly differentiated (E-S grade I-II) HCC and 137 were poorly differentiated (E-S grade III-IV) HCC. A nomogram model that integrated alpha-fetoprotein (AFP), des-γ-carboxy prothrombin (DCP), hepatitis B virus surface antigen (HBsAg), hepatitis C virus antibodies (HCVAb), aspartate aminotransferase to lymphocyte ratio index (ALRI), and macrovascular invasion was established. The novel model had a good diagnostic performance with an area under the curve (AUC) value of 0.763. Meanwhile, the model had a diagnostic accuracy of 72.5%, a sensitivity of 78.1%, and a specificity of 65.1%. The calibration curve showed good calibration of the nomogram model (mean absolute error = 0.043), and the decision curve analysis (DCA) demonstrated that the clinical benefit was provided. Conclusion: Our developed nomogram model could successfully predict E-S grade III-IV in HCC patients, which may be helpful in clinical decision-making.

A decision tree model to predict liver cirrhosis in hepatocellular carcinoma patients: a retrospective study.

Background: The severity of liver cirrhosis in hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) patients is essential for determining the scope of surgical resection. It also affects the long-term efficacy of systemic anti-tumor therapy and transcatheter arterial chemoembolization (TACE). Non-invasive tools, including aspartate aminotransferase to platelet ratio index (APRI), fibrosis-4 (FIB-4), and γ-glutamyl transferase to platelet ratio (GPR), are less accurate in predicting cirrhosis in HCC patients. We aimed to build a novel decision tree model to improve diagnostic accuracy of liver cirrhosis. Patients and Methods: The Mann-Whitney U test, χ2 test, and multivariate logistic regression analysis were used to identify independent cirrhosis predictors. A decision tree model was developed using machine learning algorithms in a training cohort of 141 HCC patients. Internal validation was conducted in 99 HCC patients. The diagnostic accuracy and calibration of the established model were evaluated using receiver operating characteristic (ROC) and calibration curves, respectively. Results: Sex and platelet count were identified as independent cirrhosis predictors. A decision tree model integrating imaging-reported cirrhosis, APRI, FIB-4, and GPR was established. The novel model had an excellent diagnostic performance in the training and validation cohorts, with area under the curve (AUC) values of 0.853 and 0.817, respectively. Calibration curves and the Hosmer-Lemeshow test showed good calibration of the novel model. The decision curve analysis (DCA) indicated that the decision tree model could provide a larger net benefit to predict liver cirrhosis. Conclusion: Our developed decision tree model could successfully predict liver cirrhosis in HCC patients, which may be helpful in clinical decision-making.

Circular RNA in cholangiocarcinoma: A systematic review and bibliometric analysis.

BACKGROUND: Cholangiocarcinoma (CCA) is a common primary liver malignancy with a poor prognosis. Many studies have demonstrated the involvement of circular RNAs (circRNAs) in tumorigenesis and progression. METHODS: Four online databases (PubMed, Web of Science, Embase, and Scopus) were searched on May 04, 2023, for original papers regarding CCA and circRNAs. Bibliometric analysis of included studies was performed on R Studio and GraphPad Prism. RESULTS: Thirty studies were included in the systematic review and bibliometric analysis. The systematic review showed that circRNAs were involved in CCA proliferation, invasion, metastasis, chemotherapy resistance, and other biological processes and were related to the prognosis of patients and many clinicopathological features. Exosomal circRNAs provide a new idea for the early diagnosis of CCA. The bibliometric analysis showed a significant upward trend in the number of studies on CCA and circRNAs. The 30 included papers had 201 authors and were published in 22 English journals. The first paper was published in 2018, and the second paper was the most cited (148 citations). CONCLUSION: This systematic review and bibliometric analysis demonstrates that circRNAs in CCA have not been studied enough. CircRNAs play an important role in the occurrence and progression of CCA. They may become new targets for the diagnosis, treatment, and prognostic monitoring of CCA.

Laparoscopic versus Open Inguinal Hernia Repair in Aging Patients: A Propensity Score Matching-Based Retrospective Study.

Objective: Although laparoscopic repair has been widely carried out and promoted due to its minimally invasive advantages, open surgery is still popular compared to elderly patients. This study aims to compare the outcomes of laparoscopic (LIHR) vs open repair of inguinal hernias (OIHR) in elderly patients. Methods: A retrospective analysis of the database was performed to identify elderly patients, from January 2021 through December 2022, who underwent surgery for an inguinal hernia. After a 1:1 propensity score matching (PSM) with a caliper of 0.1 was conducted to balance potential bias, binary logistic regressions were used for categorical and continuous outcomes. Results: After PSM, 78 pairs of elderly patients were enrolled in this study, and there were no significant differences in baseline between LIHR and OIHR groups. Compared to OIHR, univariable and multivariable logistic regression analysis showed that LIHR was independently affected for reducing intraoperative hemorrhage (OR = 0.06, 95% CI: 0.02-0.18, P < 0.001) and shortening postoperative hospitalization time (OR = 0.29, 95% CI: 0.15-0.57, P < 0.001) in elderly patients. Furthermore, LIHR (OR = 0.28, 95% CI: 0.14-0.57, P < 0.001) and age (OR = 0.89, 95% CI: 0.82-0.96, P = 0.002) were independent affecting factors for relieving postoperative pain. Meanwhile, no obvious differences were detected in postoperative complications [LIHR 7.7% (6/78) vs OIHR 14.1% (11/78), P = 0.199]. Conclusion: LIHR was closely associated with reducing intraoperative hemorrhage and shortening postoperative hospitalization time. Whilst LIHR and age were independently affecting factors for relieving postoperative pain.

A Retrospective Study on the Three-Port Technique of Laparoscopic Common Bile Duct Exploration for the Management of Cholelithiasis and Choledocholithiasis.

Background: Laparoscopic cholecystectomy (LC) with laparoscopic common bile duct exploration (LCBDE) is convenient in treating cholelithiasis and choledocholithiasis due to its advantage of accelerated recovery. This retrospective study aimed to summarize the experience of cholelithiasis and choledocholithiasis treatment via three-port approach of LCBDE in Eastern China. Methods: Patients diagnosed with cholelithiasis and choledocholithiasis between July 2019 and October 2021 were included. Patients who received LC+LCBDE+primary suturing of the common bile duct (CBD) via a three-port approach were assigned to the LCBDE-P group, and those who received LC+LCBDE+T-tube drainage of CBD comprised the LCBDE-T group. The measurement data were compared between the two groups. P-values <0.05 indicated statistical significance. Results: A total of 88 patients were divided into two groups: LCBDE-P (n=50) and LCBDE-T (n=38). Multiple logistic regression analysis showed that LCBDE-P is associated with a shorter length of stay (OR=0.115, 95% CI: 0.040-0.329, P<0.001) and lower hospitalization costs (OR=0.120, 95% CI: 0.041-0.357, P<0.001). No significant differences between the two groups were detected in the operation time, intraoperative hemorrhage, clearance rate of CBD stones, postoperative liver function, and postoperative complications (P>0.05). Conclusion: The three-port approach of LCBDE is a safe and feasible strategy for managing cholelithiasis and choledocholithiasis. Compared to LCBDE-T, LCBDE-P reduces the length of hospital stay and medical costs during hospitalization.

Neuroblastoma RAS viral oncogene homolog (N-RAS) deficiency aggravates liver injury and fibrosis.

Progressive hepatic damage and fibrosis are major features of chronic liver diseases of different etiology, yet the underlying molecular mechanisms remain to be fully defined. N-RAS, a member of the RAS family of small guanine nucleotide-binding proteins also encompassing the highly homologous H-RAS and K-RAS isoforms, was previously reported to modulate cell death and renal fibrosis; however, its role in liver damage and fibrogenesis remains unknown. Here, we approached this question by using N-RAS deficient (N-RAS-/-) mice and two experimental models of liver injury and fibrosis, namely carbon tetrachloride (CCl4) intoxication and bile duct ligation (BDL). In wild-type (N-RAS+/+) mice both hepatotoxic procedures augmented N-RAS expression in the liver. Compared to N-RAS+/+ counterparts, N-RAS-/- mice subjected to either CCl4 or BDL showed exacerbated liver injury and fibrosis, which was associated with enhanced hepatic stellate cell (HSC) activation and leukocyte infiltration in the damaged liver. At the molecular level, after CCl4 or BDL, N-RAS-/- livers exhibited augmented expression of necroptotic death markers along with JNK1/2 hyperactivation. In line with this, N-RAS ablation in a human hepatocytic cell line resulted in enhanced activation of JNK and necroptosis mediators in response to cell death stimuli. Of note, loss of hepatic N-RAS expression was characteristic of chronic liver disease patients with fibrosis. Collectively, our study unveils a novel role for N-RAS as a negative controller of the progression of liver injury and fibrogenesis, by critically downregulating signaling pathways leading to hepatocyte necroptosis. Furthermore, it suggests that N-RAS may be of potential clinical value as prognostic biomarker of progressive fibrotic liver damage, or as a novel therapeutic target for the treatment of chronic liver disease.

Optimal Control Algorithm for Stochastic Systems with Parameter Drift.

A novel optimal control problem is considered for multiple input multiple output (MIMO) stochastic systems with mixed parameter drift, external disturbance and observation noise. The proposed controller can not only track and identify the drift parameters in finite time but, furthermore, drive the system to move towards the desired trajectory. However, there is a conflict between control and estimation, which makes the analytic solution unattainable in most situations. A dual control algorithm based on weight factor and innovation is, therefore, proposed. First, the innovation is added to the control goal by the appropriate weight and the Kalman filter is introduced to estimate and track the transformed drift parameters. The weight factor is used to adjust the degree of drift parameter estimation in order to achieve a balance between control and estimation. Then, the optimal control is derived by solving the modified optimization problem. In this strategy, the analytic solution of the control law can be obtained. The control law obtained in this paper is optimal because the estimation of drift parameters is integrated into the objective function rather than the suboptimal control law, which includes two parts of control and estimation in other studies. The proposed algorithm can achieve the best compromise between optimization and estatimation. Finally, the effectiveness of the algorithm is verified by numerical experiments in two different cases.

Conversion therapy for massive hepatocellular carcinoma: A case report and literature review.

Key Clinical Message: For potentially resectable HCC, a more aggressive conversion therapy strategy (high-intensity combined with multiple treatment modalities) can be used. Abstract: Hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) is the sixth most common malignancy worldwide. The best treatment for HCC is radical surgical resection, but 70%-80% of patients are ineligible for surgery. Although conversion therapy is an established treatment strategy for various solid tumors, there is no uniform protocol for treating HCC. In this case, we present a 69-year-old male patient diagnosed with massive HCC with Barcelona clinical liver cancer (BCLC) stage B. Because of the insufficient volume of the future liver remnant, we believed radical surgical resection was temporarily impossible. Therefore, the patient received conversion therapy, including four cycles of transcatheter arterial embolization (TAE) and hepatic arterial infusion chemotherapy (HAIC-Folfox), lenvatinib (8 mg orally once a day), and tislelizumab (an anti-PD-1 antibody, 200 mg intravenously once every 3 weeks). Fortunately, the patient achieved a good treatment response (smaller lesions and improved liver function) and underwent radical surgery finally. There was no clinical evidence of recurrence at 6 months of follow-up. For potentially resectable HCC, this case reveals that a more aggressive conversion therapy strategy (high-intensity combined with multiple treatment modalities) can be used.

Comprehensive treatment for ROS1-overexpressed pulmonary sarcomatoid carcinoma: A case report.

Key Clinical Message: In conclusion author highlights the tumor cell genetic testing or molecular pathological diagnosis plays a key role in the individualized treatment of PSC, which could benefit patients with advanced PSC. Abstract: An uncommon form of non-small-cell lung cancer (NSCLC) with a poor prognosis is pulmonary sarcomatoid carcinoma (PSC). Surgical resection is currently the preferred treatment, but guidelines for adjuvant chemotherapy have not yet been established, especially for the advanced stage. The development of molecular subgroups in the field of tumors may be advantageous to advanced PSC patients with the ongoing progress of genomics and immunology. A 54-year-old man presented to Xishan People's Hospital of Wuxi City with recurrent intermittent dry cough with fever for 1 month. Further examinations suggested the diagnosis of PSC occupying almost the entire right interlobar fissure area combined with malignant pleural effusion (Stage IVa). Pathological examination confirmed the diagnosis of PSC with ROS1 overexpressing via genetic testing. However, after three cycles of chemo-, antiangiogenetic- and immunochemical therapy, the lesion was localized, and pleural effusion disappeared, the patient subsequently received an operation which was performed as R0 resection. Unfortunately, the patient became deteriorated quickly followed by extensive metastatic nodules in the thoracic cavity. Although the patient continued to receive chemo- and immunochemical-therapy, it did not limit the progress of the tumor, leading to widespread metastasis, and eventually died of multiple organ failure. For PSC patients with Stage IVa, chemo-, antiangiogenetic- and immunochemical-therapy performs well in clinical efficacy, and comprehensive panel-based genetic testing may offer PSC patients a somewhat better prognosis. However, blindly implementing surgical treatment may bring harm to the patient and affect long-term survival. It's essential to know the surgical indications precisely by NSCLC guidelines.

The impact of laparoscopic versus open inguinal hernia repair for inguinal hernia treatment: A retrospective cohort study.

Objectives: Although laparoscopic inguinal hernia repair (LIHR) has been widely accepted for treating inguinal hernia, the procedure remains very technical and challenging. The present study aimed to assess the effect of LIHR in relation to operation time, intraoperative hemorrhage and postoperative hospitalization. Methods: A total of 503 patients with inguinal hernia admitted at the Wuxi Rehabilitation Hospital between June 2019 and July 2021 were included in this retrospective cohort study. Binary logistic and linear regressions were used for categorical and continuous outcomes, respectively. The learning curve was drawn by cumulative sum analysis. Results: Multivariate logistic regression analysis identified LIHR as an independent factor associated with prolonging operation time (odd ratio [OR] = 1.750, 95% confidence interval [CI]: 1.215-2.520, p = 0.003) and decreasing intraoperative hemorrhage levels (OR = 0.079, 95 CI: 0.044-0.142, p < 0.001). Multivariate linear regression identified LIHR (Coefficient = -0.702, 95% CI: [-1.050] to [-0.354], p < 0.001) as an independent factor for shortening postoperative hospitalization time. After learning curve, LIHR (OR = 1.409, 95% CI: 0.948 to 2.094, p = 0.090) no longer resulted as a risk factor prolonging operation time. Conclusions: LIHR is an important independent predictive factor for decreasing intraoperative hemorrhage levels and shortening postoperative hospitalization time. Additionally, LIHR does not prolong operation time after the learning curve.

Application of cardiovascular interventions to decrease blood loss during hepatectomy: a systematic review and meta-analysis.

BACKGROUND: Perioperative bleeding and allogeneic blood transfusion are generally thought to affect the outcomes of patients. This meta-analysis aimed to determine the benefits and risks of several cardiovascular interventions in patients undergoing hepatectomy. METHODS: In this systematic review and meta-analysis, randomised controlled trials (RCTs) were searched in the Cochrane Library, Medline, Embase, and Web of Science to February 02, 2023. RCTs focused on cardiovascular interventions aimed at reducing blood loss or blood transfusion requirements during hepatectomy were included. The primary outcomes were perioperative blood loss amount, number of patients requiring allogeneic blood transfusion and overall occurrence of postoperative complications. The secondary outcomes were operating time, perioperative mortality rate, postoperative liver and kidney function and length of hospital stay. RESULTS: Seventeen RCTs were included in the analysis. A total of 841 patients who underwent hepatectomy in 10 trials were included in the comparative analysis between low central venous pressure (CVP) and control groups. The forest plots showed a low operative bleeding volume [(mean difference (MD): -409.75 mL, 95% confidence intervals (CI) -616.56 to -202.94, P < 0.001], reduced blood transfusion rate [risk ratio (RR): 0.47, 95% CI 0.34 to 0.65, P < 0.001], shortened operating time (MD: -13.42 min, 95% CI -22.59 to -4.26, P = 0.004), and fewer postoperative complications (RR: 0.76, 95% CI 0.58 to 0.99, P = 0.04) in the low CVP group than in the control group. Five and two trials compared the following interventions, respectively: 'acute normovolaemic haemodilution (ANH) vs control' and 'autologous blood donation vs control'. ANH and autologous blood donation could not reduce the blood loss amount but greatly decreased the number of patients requiring allogeneic blood transfusion. No benefits were found in the rate of mortality and length of postoperative hospital stay in any of the comparisons. CONCLUSION: Lowering the CVP seems to be effective and safe in adult patients undergoing hepatectomy. ANH and autologous blood donation should be used as a part of blood management for suitable patients in certain circumstances. TRIAL REGISTRATION: PROSPERO, CRD42022314061.

Postoperative complications and short-term prognosis of laparoscopic pancreaticoduodenectomy vs. open pancreaticoduodenectomy for treating pancreatic ductal adenocarcinoma: a retrospective cohort study.

BACKGROUND: Although laparoscopic pancreaticoduodenectomy (LPD) has been accepted worldwide for treating pancreatic ductal adenocarcinoma (PDA), it is a very technical and challenging procedure. Also, it is unclear whether LPD is superior to open pancreaticoduodenectomy (OPD). This study summarized the experience and efficacy of LPD for treating PDA in our medical center. METHODS: This retrospective cohort study included patients with PDA admitted at the Affiliated Hospital of Jiangnan University from October 2019 and January 2021. Patients received either LPD or OPD. Clinical outcomes (operation time, duration of anesthesia, intraoperative hemorrhage), postoperative complications, and short-term outcomes were compared. Cox proportional hazard model and Kaplan-Meier method were used to analyze overall survival (OS) and progression-free survival (PFS). RESULTS: Among the PDA patients, 101 patients underwent surgical treatment, 4 patients converted from LPD to OPD, and 7 of them received conservative treatment. Forty-six patients were cured of LPD, and 1 of them died shortly after the operation. Moreover, 44 patients received OPD, and there were 2 postoperative deaths. There were significant differences in the location of the operation time, duration of anesthesia, postoperative hemorrhage, abdominal infections, and postoperative pneumonia between the two groups (all p < 0.05). Multivariate analysis showed that LPD was an independent factor negatively correlated with the incidence of pneumonia (relative risk (RR) = 0.072, 95%CI: 0.016-0.326, p = 0.001) and abdominal infection (RR = 0.182, 95%CI: 0.047-0.709, p = 0.014). Also, there were no differences in OS (hazard ratio (HR) = 1.46, 95%CI: 0.60-3.53, p = 0.40) and PFS (HR = 1.46, 95%CI: 0.64-3.32, p = 0.37) at 12 months between the two groups. CONCLUSIONS: LPD could be efficacy and feasible for managing selected PDA patients. Also, LPD has a better effect in reducing postoperative pneumonia and abdominal infection compared to OPD.

Ultrashort pulse laser ablation in liquids: probing the first nanoseconds of underwater phase explosion.

The ultrafast pump-probe microscopy has shed new light on the complex dynamics of laser-induced explosive phase transformations and highlighted the importance of close integration of experimental, computational, and theoretical efforts.