Objective To compare the number of lymph node dissected by intraoperative lymphatic mapping guided D2 gastrectomy and that by standard D2 gastrectomy plus lymphadenectomy in patients of advanced gastric cancer. Methods In this study 20 advanced gastric cancer cases received intraoperative peritumor injection of carbon nanoparticles suspension ( group 1 ) and D2 lymphadenectomy was guided by the black-stained lymph nodes. 21 cases undergoing standard D2 lymphadenectomy served as controls (group 2). The number of lymph nodes removed and the condition of lymphatic metastasis in two groups, blackstained lymph nodes in group 1, and postoperative complications were compared. Results The average lymph nodes dissected in group 1 (35. 1 ± 13.4) were higher than in control group (26.2 ±7.8). The differences were statistically significant (t =2. 126, P =0. 034). The number of removed N2 and N3 lymph nodes in group 1 were more than that in control group. The total black-stained ration of lymph nodes was 52. 7% in group 1. The positive rate of lymph nodes was higher in black-stained lymph nodes (27.6%) than in unstained lymph nodes ( 10. 8% ) in group 1 and in control group ( 16. 9% ). The differences were also statistically significant ( x2 = 6. 034, P = 0. 016; x2 = 5. 142, P = 0. 023 ). Postoperative afferent loop obstruction developed in one case in group 1. Conclusions Lymphatic mapping guided D2 radical gastrectomy plus lymphadenectomy increases the number of lymph nodes dessected and improves the efficiency of positive lymph nodes excision for patients of advanced gastric cancer.

BACKGROUND/AIMS: Patients with irritable bowel syndrome (IBS) are characterized by abnormal central processing with altered brain activation in response to visceral nociceptive signals. The effect of electroacupuncture (EA) on IBS patients is unclear. The study is set to study the effect of EA on brain activation during noxious rectal distension in IBS patients using a randomized sham-controlled model. METHODS: Thirty IBS-diarrhea patients were randomized to true electroacupuncture or sham acupuncture. Functional MRI was performed to evaluate cerebral activation at the following time points: (1) baseline when there was rectal distension only, (2) rectal distension during application of EA, (3) rectal distension after cessation of EA and (4) EA alone with no rectal distension. Group comparison was made under each condition using SPM5 program. RESULTS: Rectal distension induced significant activation of the anterior cingulated cortex, prefrontal cortex, thalamus, temporal regions and cerebellum at baseline. During and immediately after EA, increased cerebral activation from baseline was observed in the anterior cingulated cortex, bilateral prefrontal cortex, thalamus, temporal regions and right insula in both groups. However, true electroacupuncture led to significantly higher activation at right insula, as well as pulvinar and medial nucleus of the thalamus when compared to sham acupuncture. CONCLUSIONS: We postulate that acupuncture might have the potential effect of pain modulation in IBS by 2 actions: (1) modulation of serotonin pathway at insula and (2) modulation of mood and affection in higher cortical center via ascending pathway at the pulvinar and medial nucleus of the thalamus.
Acupuncture ; Acupuncture Therapy ; Brain ; Cerebellum ; Electroacupuncture ; Humans ; Irritable Bowel Syndrome ; Magnetic Resonance Imaging ; Magnetic Resonance Spectroscopy ; Magnetics ; Magnets ; Neural Pathways ; Pain Perception ; Prefrontal Cortex ; Pulvinar ; Salicylamides ; Serotonin ; Thalamus