Objective To investigate the feasibility of video-assisted thoracoscopic surgery for anterior mediastinal modules. Methods Thoracoscopic surgery was performed with the patients in supine position and the thoracoscope set at 30?. Three trocars were used during the procedure. One of the trocars was inserted through the fifth or sixth intercostal space at the midaxillary line for direct observation. And the other two were placed at the second or third intercostal space at the midclavicular line,and the fifth intercostal space at the anterior axillary line. The nodules were removed directly during the operation. For inseparable nodules,the whole thymus and the fat tissues in the anterior mediastinum were removed all together. Results The procedure was completed under a thoracoscope in all of the 32 cases. Small assistant incision was made in 3 cases because of hemorrhage in the chest cavity. Postoperative pathological examination showed thymus tumor in 14 cases,hyperplasia of the thymus in 3,thymic cyst in 5,bronchial cyst in 3,pericardial cyst in 2,neurilemmoma in 2,lymph node in 2,and angioma in 1. The accordance rate of pre-and post-operative diagnosis was 68.8% (22/32). Postoperative complications were found in two patients,including one case of pericardial effusion,and one case of lung infection. Both the cases were cured afterwards. Conclusions Thoracoscopic surgery is a minimally invasive procedure for the treatment of anterior mediastinal nodules. It is optimal for young patients and cases with low lung function,as it causes less pain,quicker recovery,and satisfying cosmetic outcomes.

Objective To explore the feasibility and safety of combination of thoracoscopy and laparoscopy for the treatment of esophageal carcinoma.Methods Combining thoracoscopic and laparoscopic esophagectomy was attempted in 23 patients with esophageal cancer between August 2007 and July 2008.Being placed at a left lateral decubitus position,the patients received right thoracoscopic mobilization of the intrathoracic esophagus as well as lymph node dissection;then with lithotomy position,laparoscopic mobilization of the stomach and lymph node dissection were carried out,followed by creation of a gastric tube through a small incision under the xiphoid;finally we pulled out the gastric tube from the esophageal bed to the neck and made an intermittent gastroesophageal anastomosis.Results One of the patients was converted to open abdominal surgery,whereas no one was converted to open thoracic operation.The total operation time ranged from 240 to 330 minutes with a mean of 270 minutes,the operation time for laparoscopy was 38-90 minutes(mean,65 minutes),and for thoracoscopy was 55-100 minutes(mean,70 minutes).No massive hemorrhage occurred during the operation,the total blood loss ranged from 100 to 300 ml(mean,225 ml),of which 10 to 50 ml were intra-abdominal blood loss(mean,20.4 ml).Totally 225 lymph nods were removed(9.8 per patient in average).Of the resected lymph nodes,65 were para-left gastric arterial or pericardial lymph nodes(2.8 per case).The mean hospital stay in this series was 9.2 days(range:8-12 days).During the hospitalization,no patient died;postoperative complications included pulmonary infection(3 cases),cervical anastomotic leak(one case,occurred in 8 days after the surgery),chylothorax(1 patient,cured by ligation via open thoracic surgery),and hoarseness(3 cases).Of the patient,23 received an follow-up for 1 to 11 months(mean,7.7 months),during which,1 patient died and 1 patient showed extensive metastasis to the mediastinal lymph node.Conclusion Combination of thoracoscopy and laparoscopy with cervical anastomosis is feasible and safe for the treatment of esophageal carcinoma.

OBJECTIVETo investigate the relationship between (GT)n polymorphism and esophageal cancer by analyzing the connection between microsatellite polymorphisms in the promoter of heme oxygenase-1 and the clinicopathological characteristics of esophageal squamous cell carcinoma (ESCC) in Han chinese population.

METHODSThe (GT)n repeats in HO-1 gene in 83 male and 43 female hospital-based patients with ESCC (aged between 40 and 79 years with a mean of (61 ± 8) years) and 134 healthy control individuals were obtained by DNA sequencing. Polymorphisms of the (GT)n repeats were generally grouped into three classes based on allele frequencies: class S alleles (<25 repeats), class M alleles (25 to 29 repeats), and class L alleles (≥30 repeats). The correlation between susceptibility and clinicopathological characteristics of ESCC were analyzed by χ2 test. For in vitro experiments, the transient-transfection assay was performed to explore the correlation between different lengths of (GT)n repeats and promoter activity by assessing the promoter activities of HO-1 gene in cultured Ecal09 cells treated with H2O2 by analysis of cariance.

RESULTSHigher frequencies of L-allele (25. 8% vs. 14. 9%, χ2 = 9. 520, P = 0. 002), L-allele carrier (41. 3% vs. 27. 6%, χ2 = 5. 381 , P = 0. 020) were found in patients with ESCC. Furthermore, the lymphatic metastasis rate (63. 5% vs. 41. 8%, χ = 5. 685, P = 0. 017) and the detection rate of poorly differentiated ESCC cell (53. 8% vs. 28. 4%, χ2 = 8. 335, P = 0. 004) was significantly higher in L-allele carriers compared to non-L-allele carriers. In transfection experiments, promoter activities of 5'-flanking regions of the HO-1 gene in Eca109 cells transfected with the recombinant gene carrying (GT)16 repeat after treatment with H2O2 increased (F = 23. 615,P = 0. 008). In H2O treated control group, compared to (GT)26 and (GT)36, the basal promoter activities of HO-1 gene carrying (GT)16 repeat increased (F =41. 376, P = 0. 003; F = 50. 761, P = 0. 002).

CONCLUSIONThe long (GT)n repeats of HO-1 gene promoter can increase the susceptibility of esophageal squamous cell carcinoma and the risk of lymphatic metastasis.

Alleles ; Asian Continental Ancestry Group ; Carcinoma, Squamous Cell ; etiology ; pathology ; Esophageal Neoplasms ; etiology ; pathology ; Female ; Gene Frequency ; Heme Oxygenase-1 ; genetics ; Humans ; Hydrogen Peroxide ; Lymphatic Metastasis ; Male ; Microsatellite Repeats ; Polymorphism, Genetic ; Promoter Regions, Genetic ; Risk Factors ; Transfection

Objective To explore the HO-1 expression levels with 5-FU chemosensitivity in esophageal squamous cell carcinoma.Methods Eca109 cells used in all experiments,MTT assay was used in cell growth curve and inhibit rate.RT-PCR and Western blot was used to detect HO-1 in cells treated with different concentrations of ZnppⅨ (0,20,80,100 μmol/L).Results The inhibitory rate of cells was significantly increased when the concentrition of ZnppⅨ increased.The inhibitory rate of cells in 80 μmol/L ZnppⅨ was higher than 20 μmol/L ZnppⅨ group(P＜0.05).The expression of HO-1 mRNA in each group was 0.50± 0.17,0.55±0.15,0.58 ± 0.09 and 0.55 ± 0.16,respectively,there was no significant difference between the two groups (P＞ 0.05).The expression of HO-1 was 0,85±0.07,0.63±0.11,0.43±0.12 and 0.25±0.10,respectively.The expression of HO-1 had significant difference (F=20.01,P＜0.01).Conclusion Eca109 cells inhibition rate positive correlated with ZnppⅨ concentrations,and ZnppⅨ were inhibited the expression of HO-1.not from gene level,but after the translation level.

ObjectiveTo assess the feasibility and clinical efficacy of minimally invasive esophagectomy for esophageal cancer.MethodsFrom July 2007 to December 2009,eighty-one patients with esophageal cancer received combined thoracoscopic and laparoscopic esophagectomy with anastomosis in the neck.All clinical data were retrospectively reviewed.ResultsThe median operative time was 270.5 min (range 196-315 min).The median time of gastric mobilization and abdominal lymph node dissection was 64.5 min,and the median time of esophageal dissection and mediastinall lymph node dissection was 81.2 min.The median blood loss was 121.5 ml for the thoracic phase and 42.4 ml for abdomen phase.The mean number of disected lymph nodes was 20.4 (range 5-41) with metastastic rate of 30.9% (25/81).The mean harvest lymph node was 12.5 in chest and 7.3 in abdomen.Perioperative complications rate was 27.2%,including respiratory failure in 1 case,pulmonary infection in 10,anastomotic leak in 3,chylothorax in 2,gastric tube dilatation in 1,gastric tube leak in 1.And recurrent laryneal nerve injury in 5 .Seventy-nine patients were followed up withmMean follow up time of 14.2 months( range 2-31 months).The overall one-year survival rate was 91.1%.Postoperative complications included anastomotic stenosis in 5 cases (6.3%),reflux esophagitis in 12 (15.2%) and recurrence or metastasis in 6 (7.6%).ConclusionMinimally invasive esophagectomy for esophageal cancer can mimimus trauma,reduce post-operative complications,improve the quality of life,which is feasible and effective from the point of the clinical efficacy and the purpose of tumor therapy.

A lean management practice had been in place in Taizhou Enze Medical Center during the COVID-19 epidemic period, featuring the " principle-system-tool" theory of the Shingo model, in an effort to build a new model of COVID-19 prevention and control. The center upheld such five principles of lean management as overall planning, total involvement, system collaboration, concern with process and continuous improvement, and people-oriented practice. Under such principles, the center set up five supportive systems of lean management tools, namely risk identification, rapid screening, homogeneous treatment, customized follow-up and employee care. Integrated use of multiple tools of lean management, had improved the hospital′s crisis response ability, achieving desirable outcomes in stages in combating COVID-19 epidemic.

OBJECTIVETo investigate the effect and mechanism of recombinant human erythropoietin (rhEPO) on angiogenesis in chronic ischemic porcine myocardium.

METHODSA ameroid constrictor was placed around the proximal circumflex branch of the left coronary artery in 12 Bama miniatures' swine artery by thoracoscopy. Electrocardiogram and coronary angiography were used to confirm the establishment of myocardial ischemia. The animals were divided into rhEPO treatment group (n = 6) and negative control group (n = 6). Treatment group received subcutaneous injection of rhEPO at 1, 3, 7, 14, 21 days, control group received saline. The expression of vascular endothelial growth factor (VEGF) in serum was assessed by ELISA. Ultrasonography and coronary angiography were assessed 28 days after therapy. Western blot was used to detect the expression of VEGF, phosphorylated protein kinase B (p-Akt) and phosphorylated extracellular signal regulated kinases (p-Erk). The degree of angiogenesis was assessed by immunohistochemical analysis.

RESULTSSerum VEGF rose significantly in both control and treatment groups, peaking at 3 days and then returning to the near-baseline level at 28 days, but the two groups showed no significant difference at each time point (P > 0.05). Echocardiographic measurements showed that the left ventricular systolic function of animals in treatment group increase significantly after rhEPO therapy. the expression levels of VEGF, p-Akt and p-Erk had markedly increased, which resulted in a 2.5-fold increased of VEGF, 1.1-fold increased of p-Akt, 1.5-fold increased of p-Erk (t = 37.721, 10.907, 12.957, all P = 0.000). there were significant increase in capillary density and arteriole density in the two groups ((944 ± 98) %/mm² vs. (569 ± 102) %/mm², (73 ± 13) %/mm² vs. (45 ± 10) %/mm², t = 4.214, 2.869, P = 0.016, 0.023).

CONCLUSIONSrhEPO can promote angiogenesis and arteriogenesis and improve the left ventricular systolic function in porcine model of chronic myocardial ischemia. The potential mechanism is to up-regulated the expression of p-Akt and p-Erk.

Animals ; Disease Models, Animal ; Epoetin Alfa ; Erythropoietin ; pharmacology ; Extracellular Signal-Regulated MAP Kinases ; metabolism ; Humans ; Male ; Myocardial Ischemia ; drug therapy ; metabolism ; pathology ; Neovascularization, Physiologic ; drug effects ; Proto-Oncogene Proteins c-akt ; metabolism ; Recombinant Proteins ; pharmacology ; Swine ; Swine, Miniature ; Vascular Endothelial Growth Factor A ; metabolism

Objective:To analyze the prognostic factors for survival in elderly patients with glioma.Methods:We performed a retrospective analysis of prognostic factors for elderly patients with glioma,who were treated by the same attending doctor during June 2014 and June 2016,to investigate the correlations of the age,dimension of pathology,histological grade,extent of resection,adjuvant therapy,preoperative Karnofsky Performance Scale (KPS) score,postoperative KPS score,molecular markers [isocitrate dehydrogenase-1 (IDHH-1),O6-methylguanine DNA-transferase (MGMT),epidermal growth factor receptor (EGFR),Ki-67] with the prognosis.Results:A total of 45 patients were included in the study.The median overall survival (OS) was 11 months.The median progression-free survival (PFS) was 6 months.Univariate analysis revealed that the age,gender,dimension ofpathology,histological grade and preoperative KPS score had no significant correlation with survival (P＞0.05).The gross total resection,higher postoperative KPS score,adjuvant therapy,lower Ki-67 index were significantly correlated with survival.The expressions of MGMT and EGFR were significant factors for survival.High postoperative KPS score (P=0.019),adjuvant therapy (P=0.024),and the expression of MGMT (P=0.026) were independent predictors for increased median OS in a multivariate regression model.Conclusion:The extent of resection,adjuvant therapy,postoperative KPS score and molecular markers are the influential factors for survival.Larger prospective studies are needed to confirm these findings.

OBJECTIVETo analyze the percutaneous kyphoplasty (PKP) data statistically to predict the bone cement volume (CV).

METHODSRetrospective analysis of 93 patients with 154 vertebrae of osteoporotic vertebra compressed fracture, who received PKP from January 2012 to December 2013 in Beijing Tian Tan Hospital, Capital Medical University. All procedures were bilateral and non-high-pressure polymethyl methacrylate injection. The balloon volume (BV), balloon peak pressure (Pmax), CV and the ratio of Pmax to BV (P/BV) were documented. The data was analyzed by correlation analysis and linear regression analysis to reveal the correlation between BV and CV.

RESULTSSeven vertebrae had bone cement leakage, no intraspinal leakage, no neuro-deficit. Visual analogue scale was 0-2 of all patients on 3 d postoperation. The data of 147 vertebrae without leakage: BV was 2.1-6.3 ml, Pmax was 130-359 psi, CV was 2.8-8.5 ml, and the ratio of Pmax to BV (P/BV) was 25-263 psi/ml. The data analysis showed there was no high correlation between BV and CV as one group (R<0.75). However if divided the data into three groups by the value of P/BV, group A (P/BV<100), group B (100≤P/BV<200), group C (P/BV≥200), there was high correlation and linear relationship between BV and CV in each group (R>0.75, P<0.01). CV was 0.9-1.1 times of BV in group A; CV was 1.4-1.6 times of BV in group B; and CV was 2.0-2.2 times of BV in group C.

CONCLUSIONCV is predictable by the BV and the ratio of Pmax to BV. It can reduce the rate of the leakage, and also can prevent the unsatisfactory results by insufficient bone cement volume.

Beijing ; Bone Cements ; Fractures, Compression ; surgery ; Humans ; Injections ; Kyphoplasty ; Pain Measurement ; Postoperative Period ; Pressure ; Retrospective Studies ; Spinal Fractures ; surgery