Current prevalence of perioperative early venous thromboembolism and risk factors in Chinese adult patients with inguinal hernia (CHAT-1).

Venous thromboembolism (VTE) is an important postoperative complication. We investigated and analyzed the current inguinal hernia treatment methods and occurrence of early postoperative VTE in Chinese adults. This study involved data for patients with inguinal hernia hospitalized in 58 general hospitals in mainland China from January 1st, 2017 to December 31st, 2017.

Prognosis of combined pulmonary fibrosis and emphysema: comparison with idiopathic pulmonary fibrosis alone.

Background: Combined pulmonary fibrosis and emphysema (CPFE) is a syndrome characterized by the coexistence of upper lobe emphysema and lower lobe fibrosis. However, whether CPFE has a higher or lower mortality than idiopathic pulmonary fibrosis (IPF) alone is still not clear. In this study we conducted a meta-analysis to assess the survival rate (SR) of CPFE IPF alone in clinical trials.

Recurrent primary spontaneous pneumothorax in a large Chinese family: a clinical and genetic investigation.

Background: Primary spontaneous pneumothorax (PSP) is a common manifestation of Birt-Hogg-Dubé (BHD) syndrome, which is an autosomal dominant disorder caused by mutation of the folliculin (FLCN) gene. This study was established to investigate the mutation of the FLCN gene and the phenotype in a family with PSP.

Methods: We investigated the clinical and genetic characteristics of a large Chinese family with recurrent spontaneous pneumothorax.

Predictive value of respiratory symptoms for the diagnosis of pollen-induced seasonal asthma among children and adults in Inner Mongolia.

Background: The diagnosis of asthma is made on the basis of variable respiratory symptoms and supported by objective evidence of variable airflow limitation. However, spirometry and bronchoprovocation tests may not be routinely available in resource-scarce settings or in the context of large-scale epidemiological studies. There is a gap in knowledge about the predictive value of respiratory symptoms for the diagnosis of pollen-induced asthma.

Clinical Value of Tumor Markers for Determining Cause of Pleural Effusion.

Background: It is often challenging to distinguish tuberculous pleural effusion (TPE) from malignant pleural effusion (MPE); thoracoscopy is among the techniques with the highest diagnostic ability in this regard. However, such invasive examinations cannot be performed on the elderly, or on those in poor physical condition. The aim of this study was to explore the differential diagnostic value of carbohydrate antigen 125 (CA125), carbohydrate antigen 199 (CA199), carcinoembryonic antigen (CEA), neuron-specific enolase (NSE), and squamous cell carcinoma (SCC) associated antigen in patients with TPE and MPE.

Optimal Scan Time of 18F-FDG PET in Identifying Therapeutic Efficacy Secondary to Radiofrequency Ablation of Lung Cancer: Case Report.

Positron emission tomography (PET)/computed tomography (CT)-guided radiofrequency ablation (RFA) has become a major treatment approach for small tumors. Identifying this quantitative dynamic 18F-2-fluoro-2-deoxy-d-glucose (18F-FDG) activity at the primary lesion can minimize misdiagnosis and allow an opportunity to reintervene. Here, we report 3 patients with nonsmall cell lung cancer (NSCLC) who underwent the ablative therapy with split-dose 18F-FDG fused PET/CT scans for early identification of residual tumors and follow-up evaluation of treatment.

Efficacy of EGFR tyrosine kinase inhibitors in non-small-cell lung cancer patients with/without EGFR-mutation: evidence based on recent phase III randomized trials.

Background: EGFR mutation might be a predictive factor for applying EGFR-tyrosine kinase inhibitors (EGFR-TKIs, including gefitinib, erlotinib and afatinib) in non-small-cell lung cancer (NSCLS) patients. Thus, it is necessary to pool previous trials to compare the effect of EGFR-TKIs versus cytotoxic chemotherapy in EGFR mutation positive (mut+) and negative (mut-) patients.

Material And Methods: This study identified 8 first-line and 9 second-line phase III trials in databases.

PD-1/PD-Ls pathways between CD4(+) T cells and pleural mesothelial cells in human tuberculous pleurisy.

Programmed death 1 (PD-1), PD-ligand 1 (PD-L1), and PD-L2 have been demonstrated to be involved in tuberculosis immunity, however, the expression and regulation of PD-1/PD-Ls pathways in pleural mesothelial cells (PMCs) and CD4(+) T cells in tuberculous pleural effusion (TPE) have not been investigated. Expression of PD-1 on CD4(+) T cells and expressions of PD-L1 and PD-L2 on PMCs in TPE were determined. The impacts of PD-1/PD-Ls pathways on proliferation, apoptosis, adhesion, and migration of CD4(+) T cells were explored.

[Association between the erythrocyte sedimentation rate, serum C-reactive protein and risk of lung cancer].

Objective: To explore the association between the erythrocyte sedimentation rate, serum C-reactive protein (CRP) and the risk of lung cancer.

Methods: One hundred and three patients with newly diagnosed lung cancer and 85 homochronous hospitalized patients with chronic respiratory diseases (including chronic obstructive pulmonary disease, asthma, bronchiectasis and pulmonary fibrosis) were included in this study. ESR, serum levels of CRP, CEA, CA19-9 and CA125 were analyzed in the two groups before the initiation of any therapy after hospitalization.

[A hospital-wide intervention program to optimize the utilization quality of carbapenems and glycopeptides].

Objective: To investigate the impact of intervention program upon improvement of utilization quality of carbapenems and glycopeptides.

Methods: Multifaceted intervention program of carbapenems and glycopeptides was conducted at our hospital. It involved written justification forms, expert consultation committee meetings, audit, feedback and re-feedback.

[Association of ENA-78, IP-10 and VEGF gene polymorphism with idiopathic pulmonary fibrosis].

Objective: To examine whether there was an association between epithelial neutrophil activating peptide 78 (ENA-78), interferon-inducible protein 10 (IP-10), vascular endothelial growth factor (VEGF) polymorphism and Chinese patients with idiopathic pulmonary fibrosis (IPF).

Methods: Polymerase chain reaction (PCR) and restriction fragment length polymorphism (RFLP) were performed to analyze the gene polymorphisms of ENA-78 (-156G/C), IP-10 (-1596C/T) and VEGF (+405G/C) in 60 IPF patients and 60 controls with trauma or bone fracture matched in age, gender and smoking status.

Results: The distribution of carrying GC + CC genotype frequency (20.

[The acute effects of inhaled iloprost on hemodynamics and oxygenation in chronic thromboembolic pulmonary hypertension].

Objective: To evaluate the acute effects of inhaled iloprost on hemodynamics and oxygenation in chronic thromboembolic pulmonary hypertension (CTEPH).

Methods: A prospective study was made. Eighteen patients with CTEPH were enrolled.

Semi-rigid thoracoscopy for undiagnosed exudative pleural effusions: a comparative study.

Background: Thoracoscopy is highly sensitive and accurate for detecting pleural effusions. However, most respiratory physicians are not familiar with the use of the more common rigid thoracoscope or the flexible bronchoscope, which is difficult to manipulate within the pleural cavity. The semi-rigid thoracoscope combines the best features of the flexible and rigid instruments.