Abstract:

Objective

To investigate the relationship between intestinal flora characteristics and inflammation, immune function and intestinal function in patients with postoperative infection of liver cancer.

Methods

The medical records of 126 patients with liver cancer treated in Shandong Provincial Third Hospital from January 2022 to December 2023 were retrospectively analyzed, and the patients were divided into infection group (n=25) and control group (n=101) according to whether they had infection after surgery.Intestinal flora, inflammatory indicators [interleukin (IL)-6, IL-8, procalcitonin (PCT),C-reactive protein (CRP)], immune function indicators (CD3⁺, CD4⁺, CD4⁺/CD8⁺), intestinal function indicators [diamine oxidase (DAO), D-lactic acid] of the two groups were compared.In addition, Pearson correlation analysis was used to analyze the correlation between intestinal flora characteristics and body inflammation, immune function and intestinal function in postoperative infected patients with liver cancer.

Results

The level of Enterococcus in the infected group was significantly higher than that in the control group, while the levels of Bacteroides, Lactobacillus and Bifidobacterium were significantly lower than those in the control group, with statistically significant differences (P<0.05).The levels of IL-6, IL-8, PCT and CRP in the infected group were significantly higher than those in the control group, and the levels of CD₃⁺, CD₄⁺ and CD₄⁺/CD₈⁺ were significantly lower than those in the control group, with statistically significant differences (P<0.05).The levels of DAO and D-lactate in the infected group were significantly higher than those in the control group, with statistically significant differences (P<0.05).Pearson correlation analysis showed that Enterococcus in patients with postoperative infection of liver cancer was positively correlated with the levels of IL-6, IL-8, PCT, CRP, DAO, and D-lactic acid, and negatively correlated with the levels of CD3⁺, CD4⁺, and CD4⁺/CD8⁺ (P<0.05).Bacteroides, Lactobacillus and Bifidobacterium were negatively correlated with the levels of IL-6, IL-8, PCT, CRP, DAO and D-lactic acid, and positively correlated with the levels of CD3⁺, CD4⁺ and CD4⁺/CD8⁺ (P<0.05).

Conclusion

The proliferation of Enterococcus, the decrease of Bacteroides, and the decrease of Lactobacillus and Bifidobacterium in the intestinal flora of patients with postoperative infection of liver cancer are closely related to the increase of inflammatory factors, the decrease of immune function and the impairment of intestinal function.By regulating the balance of these flora, inflammatory responses can be reduced,immune function can be improved, intestinal barrier can be strengthened, and the risk of postoperative complications can be reduced.

Key words: Liver cancer, Postoperative infection, Intestinal flora, Inflammatory factors, Immune function, Intestinal function