Gastrointestinal neuroendocrine tumor is a group of heterogeneous tumors and was considered as a rare tumor.According to the data of recent years,its incidence has been increased significantly.The clinical manifestations of gastrointestinal neuroendocrine tumors are varied,and serum chromogranin-A is considered the most important biomarker of both non-functioning and functioning neuroendocrine tumors.The traditional imaging examination and somatostatin receptor scintigraphy are helpful to diagnosis.Its treatments include surgery,biological treatment,radionuclide therapy and chemical therapy.The aim of this paper is to summarize briefly the clinical symptoms,diagnostic methods and treatment options of gastrointestinal neuroendocrine tumors.

Objective To explore the clinical significances of total antioxidation (TAO) and nitric oxide synthase (NOS) expression in patients with liver diseases.Methods The concentrations of TAO,NOS and nitric oxide(NO) were determined and the mechanism of their changes were analyzed in sera of patients with acute hepatitis(AH),chronic hepatitis(CH),liver cirrhosis(LC) and hepatocellular carcinoma(HCC).Results The abnormal rate of TAO was 80% in AH or in CH,and 50% in LC or in HCC,respectively.The sera NOS activity over normal reference value was 70% in patients with liver diseases.The abnormal rate of NO level was 70% in AH,CH and LC groups,and 48% in HCC,respectively.The average level of serum TAO was significantly higher in AH group or in CH group,but not in both HCC and LC groups than that in normal subjects.The average levels of NO and NOS were significantly higher in patients with liver diseases than those in normal subjects.However,the two markers were lower in HCC patients than those in AH,CH and LC groups,respectively.Conclusions The data suggest that the activity of NOS is close relation to serum NO level in patients with liver diseases,the increase of NO concentration may play a role in protection of hepatocytes.

Objective To investigate the protective effects and the mechanisms of anisodamine on experimental liver damage. Methods The experimental liver injury model was established by ANIT and CCl 4.Studies were made after ANIT or CCl 4 administration,and the control group compared with the experimental groups which were treated by anisodamine on the pathologic morphology, biochemical indices and the contents of Ca 2+ ,MDA and the ability of total antioxidation in the liver.Effects of anisodamine on sleeping time of the mice toxicated by given sodium phenobarbital were also determined.Results The elevation of ALT, ALP, BiL, CHE and the decrease of serum protein in ANIT or CCl 4 liver damage were significantly improved by treatment with anisodamine .It also remarkably diminished the hepato-cellular and chole-epthelial-cellular degeneration and necrosis induced by ANIT or CCl 4.The contents of Ca 2+ ,MDA and the ability of total antioxidation in the liver were all decreased by treatment with anisodamine. The sleeping time induced by sodium phenobarbital in the toxicated mice was reduced by anisodamine. Conclusion Anisodamine have significant protective effects on liver injury of intrahepatic cholestasis and chemical hepatitis and the mechanism may be associated with blocking M-receptor and enhancing antioxidation and antitoxic activity in liver.

Objective To explore the roles of vascular endothelial growth factor (VEGF) in microvessel angiogennesis, development and metastasis of hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC). Methods The expression and cellular distributions of VEGF in HCCs were investigated by immunohistochemical method, and the levels of total RNA and VEGF also were quantitatively analysed in HCCs and paracancerous tissues. Results The positive rates of VEGF were 63 9% in all HCCs, 78 3% in non-encapsuled HCCs, and 90 9% in HCCs with extra-hepatic metastasis, respectively. VEGF expression was not associated with tumor size and differentiation degree. The total RNA level in HCCs was significantly lower than that in paracancerous and distal paracancerous tissues (P

Aim To investigate the effects of anisodamine on the pressure of portal vein of experimental liver fibrosis and its mechanisms of action. Methods The experimental liver fibrosis model was produced by CCl_4. The preventive group was treated ten weeks with anisodamine 7.0 mg?kg~(-1) ip once everyday. All therapeutic groups were treated six weeks with anisodamine 7.0 mg?kg~(-1) or 14.0mg?kg~(-1) ip once everyday. After CCl_4 injection for ten weeks, the pressure of portal vein,the content of NO in livers, and liver iNOS and eNOS mRNA expressions were detected with different methods.Results The pressure of portal vein was significantly reduced in anisodamine preventive group and anisodamine therapeutic groups. The liver content of NO and the expression of iNOS and eNOS were all inhibited by the treatment of anisodamine.Conclusion Anisodamine reduced the expressions of iNOS and eNOS to synthesis of NO in liver. As a result, the pressure of portal vein of fibrosis rats decreased. So Portal hypertension of liver fibrosis may be improved by anisodamine in patients.

Objective To evaluate postoperative complications of laparoscopy-assisted D2 radical total gastrectomy for gastric cancer as compared with open procedures. Methods In this study,358 patients of gastric cancer undergoing laparoscopy-assisted D2 total gastrectomy or open D2 total gastrectomy between January 2011 and December 2012 were retrospectively reviewed and analyzed.Patients were non-randomly divided into laparoscopic group ( LAP,n =165 ) and open surgery group ( OPEN,n =193 ).Operative time,intraoperative blood loss,postoperative hospital stay and complications were compared between the two groups. Results Operative time [ 225 ( 195 - 340 ) min vs.230 ( 195 - 300 ) min,P ＞0.05 ] and number of lymph nodes dissected [ (26 ± 4) vs.(27 ± 4 ),P ＞ 0.05] between the LAP group and the OPEN group were not significantly different.Compared with OPEN group,blood loss in the LAP group was less [ 160 ( 80 - 600 ) ml vs.270 ( 150 - 600) ml,P ＜ 0.01 ] and postoperative hospital stay was shorter [ ( 11.4 ± 2.6) d vs.( 13.7 ± 2.4) d,P ＜ 0.01 ].Postoperative complications developed in 18 patients in the LAP group and in 30 patients in the OPEN group,the difference was not statistically significant between the two groups. Conclusions In the hands of experienced surgeons laparoscopy-assisted D2 radical total gastrectomy for gastric cancer is safe,effective and miniinvasive.

Objective To investigate the application and clinical effect of uncut Roux-en-Y (uncut RY) anastomosis in laparoscopic distal radical gastrectomy of gastric cancer.Methods The retrospective crosssectional study was adopted.The clinical data of 23 patients with gastric cancer who were admitted to the Northern Jiangsu People's Hospital from December 2014 to July 2015 were collected.All the 23 patients underwent laparoscopy-assisted distal gastrectomy (LADG) and total laparoscopic distal gastrectomy (TLDG) according to the individual situations.The indexes of observation were collected,including (1) intraoperative indexes:operation time,uncut RY anastomosis time and volume of inraoperative blood loss,(2) postoperative indexes:time to anal exsufflation,time for initial water intake,time for semi-fluid diet intake,time for out-off-bed activity,duration of hospital stay,occurrence of complications and results of pathological examination,(3) results of follow-up.The follow-up was performed by outpatient examination and telephone interview up to November 2015,including postoperative discomfort after diet intake,barium meal examination of gastrointestinal tract at postoperative month 1 (anas-tomotic stenosis,recanalization and dehiscence of occlusion),detecting situations of gastric remnant and anas-tomotic stoma at postoperative month 3 by gastroscopy and occurrence of gastrointestinal obstruction.Measurement data with normal distribution were presented as x ± s.Results (1) Intraoperative situations:all the 23 patients underwent successful uncut RY anastomosis,including 18 receiving LADG and 5 receiving TLDG.The operation time,uncut RY anastomosis time and volume of intraoperative blood loss were (165.9 ± 11.6) minutes,(18.2 ± 2.2) minutes,(48 ± 6) mL in all the 23 patients and (172.0 ± 8.5) minutes,(26.6 ± 1.5) minutes,(46 ± 4) mL in 5 patients with TLDG,respectively.Two patients received hemostatic treatment using suture and hemostatic forceps due to anastomotic bleeding.(2) Postoperative situations:time to anal exsufflation,time for initial water intake,time for semi-fluid diet intake,time for out-off-bed activity,duration of hospital stay and incidence of complications in all the 23 patients were (2.2 ± 0.4) days,(2.7 ± 0.4) days,(3.5 ± 0.4) days,(2.7 ± 0.3) days,(10.6 ± 1.4) days and 8.7％ (2/23),respectively.No patient was dead in the perioperative period.Two patients complicated with incisional infection and high fever were cured by symptomatic treatment,without occurrence of anastomotic leakage,bleeding and anastomotic-related complications.All the patients received postoperative barium meal examination of upper gastrointestinal tract,with unblocked anastomotic stoma and without leakage of barium meal.Diameter of tumor and number of lymph node dissected were (3.2 ± 1.2) cm and 30 ± 4,with negative upper and lower resection margins.Numbers of patients with tumor differentiation,T stage,N stage and TNM stage were 12 and 11 in differentiated and undifferentiated tumors,1,9 and 13 in T1,T2 and T3 stages,9,11 and 3 in N0,N1and N2 stages,1,4,9,6 and 3 in Ⅰ a,Ⅰ b,Ⅱ,Ⅲ a and Ⅲ b stages,respectively.(3) All the 23 patients were followed up by outpatient examination for 3-11 months.One patient had discomfort in upper abdomen with vomiting at postoperative week 3,and no anastomotic leakage,bleeding and anastomotic-related complications were occurred in other patients.Conclusion As a modified anastomotic method,uncut RY anastomosis is safe and feasible,and it is also an ideal method of digestive tract reconstruction after laparoscopic distal radical gastrectomy.

ObjectiveTo analyze the reasons of complications after laparoscopic gastrectomy with D2.MethodsThe clinical courses of 150 cases who suffered from gastric cancer treated by laparoscopy in the First Affiliated Hospital of Yangzhou University from March 2007 to December 2010 were retrospectively analyzed.ResultsFourteen cases showed complications after operation,the rate being 9.33％ (14/150).The remaining patients with postoperative complications were discharged after treatment,no death occurred during the perioperation.ConclusionEnhancing the refinement of surgical operations,the postoperative observation and the management of drainage tube are the key to the prevention and treatment of complications after laparoscopic gastrectomy.

Objective To explore the differential level of hypermethylated SFRP2 gene in colorectal cancers andadjacent nontumorous tissues,to analyze the relation of SFRP2 gene promoter hypermethylation status and its clinicopathologic significance in colorectal carcinoma,and to study the relationship between the level of hypermethylated SFRP2 and the invasion and metastasis of colorectal carcinoma.Methods Real-time quantitative PCR technique was performed to analyze the level of hypermethylated SFRP2 gene promoter in colorectal cancers and adjacent nontumorous tissues taken from 30 colorectal cancer patients.The relation of the level of hypermethylated SFRP2 gene promoter and its clinicopathologic features of colorectal cancers was analyzed.Results SFRP2 gene promoter hypermethylation occurred in both the tumor tissues and the adjacent tissues.The level of SFRP2 gene promoter hypermethylation was significantly higher in the patients with TNM Ⅲ and Ⅳ (7.24 ± 1.13)than in patients with TNM Ⅰ and Ⅱ ( 5.92 ± 0.97 ) ( P ＜ 0.05 ).The level of SFRP2 gene promoter hypermethylation was significantly higher in the patients with lower differentiation(7.31 ± 1.11 ) than in patients with higher differentiation (6.23 ± 1.03) ( P ＜ 0.05 ).No significant association was found between the level of SFRP2 gene promoter hypermethylation and the status of gender,age.tumor location and tumor size ( P ＞ 0.05 ).Conclusions SFRP2 gene hypermethylation in tissues may be a useful objective parameter for the malignant level,invasion,metastasis,recurrence and prognosis of the colorectal cancer.

Background/Aims: This study aimed to investigate the biological function and regulatory mechanism of TCN1 in colorectal cancer (CRC). Methods: We studied the biological function of TCN1 by performing gain-of-function and loss-offunction analyses in HCT116 cell lines; examined the effects of TCN1 on the proliferation, apoptosis, and invasion of CRC cells; and determined potential molecular mechanisms using HCT116 and SW480 CRC lines and mouse xenotransplantation models. Tumor xenograft and colonization assays were performed to detect the tumorigenicity and metastatic foci of cells in vivo. Results: TCN1 knockdown attenuated CRC cell proliferation and invasion and promoted cell apoptosis. Overexpression of TCN1 yielded the opposite effects. In addition, TCN1-knockdown HCT116 cells failed to form metastatic foci in the peritoneum after intravenous injection. Molecular mechanism analyses showed that TCN1 interacted with integrin subunit β4 (ITGB4) to positively regulate the expression of ITGB4. TCN1 knockdown promoted the degradation of ITGB4 and increased the instability of ITGB4 and filamin A. Downregulation of ITGB4 at the protein level resulted in the disassociation of the ITGB4/plectin complex, leading to cytoskeletal damage. Conclusions TCN1 might play an oncogenic role in CRC by regulating the ITGB4 signaling pathway.