Objective: To evaluate the impact of esophagectomy and palliative treatment on short term and long term quality of life (QL) in patients with esophageal cancer. Methods: 88 consective patients treated with radical esophagectomy or palliative treatment were scored by European organization of cancer research and treatment (EORTC), QLQ C30 measurement of QL before treatment and at regular intervals until death or 3 years after operation. The cases were divided into 3 groups and mean scores were obtained from each group. Patients surviving more than 2 years were classified as group 1, with group 2 surviving less than 2 years, and group 3 undergoing palliative treatment. Results: Baseline functional and symptomatic QL scores were similar before treatment in the first and second group, which were higher than scores from the third group. Six weeks after esophagectomy, patients reported worse functional, symptom and global QL scores than before treatment. In the first group, QL scores returned to preoperative level within 9 months. However, improved symptom of dysphagia the second group never regained their former QL scores apart from dysphagia improved after surgery. QL scores of the third group were similar to those of the second group after treatment. Conclusion: Esophagectomy might have a negative impact on patients QL. This effect was found to be transient in the first group but inreversible in the second group. It might seem reasonable for patients in late stage to be treated palliatively.

Objective To investigate the clinical outcomes of the surgical management for spinal tuberculosis with paraplegia retrospectively.Methods From March 2008 to April 2012,we retrospectively analyzed 78 patients with spinal tuberculosis combined with paraplegia.Among them,45 patients were male and 33 were female.The average age was 39.5(13 to 71) years.69 patients had focus-active paraplegia.41 patients had received chemotherapy before admissed to our hospital.They also received further standard chemotherapy for an average period of 2.3 (0 to 4) weeks after the admission.22 patients with complex complications (6 patients with active pulmonary tuberculosis,5 with tuberculous meningitis,7 with drug hepatitis,3 with kidney failure and 1 with unstable angina) received preoperative treatment for an average period of 4.5(3 to 8) weeks after the admission.6patients were managed with chemotherapy only.All 9 patients who had focus-healed paraplegia received surgical treatment after the admission immediately.Results All the patients were followed up clinically and radiologically for an average period of 31.4 (12 to 48) months.There was no recurrence of patients.At the final follow-up,all the patients had achieved rigid bony fusion.Both the VAS score and the Cobb angle had satisfactory improvement postoperatively and at the final follow-up.The neurological status began to improve 1-21 days after the operation.From 3 months postoperatively to the final follow-up,65 patients achieved complete recovery,7 partial recovery and 6 no recovery.The clinical outcomes for focus-active paraplegia were similar,while focushealed paraplegia had slower recovery and worse outcomes.Conclusion Patients with focus-active paraplegia combined with mild destruction and relative favourable neurological status could be treated conservatively.For patients with severe bony destruction and neurologic deficits (Frankel A-C,or combined with kyphosis),surgical treatment as early as possible is crucial to improve the neurologic status.If patients had contraindications,operation could be performed after the complications had been cured.However,the neurologic status improvement in focus-healed paraplegia is worse than focus-active paraplegia,suggesting that the reconstruction of spinal stability is important for initial treatment of spinal tuberculosis and children.

Objective:To explore the ability of training on a three-dimensional motion platform to improve the walking ability and skill in the activities of daily living of hemiplegic stroke survivors.Methods:A total of 70 stroke survivors with hemiplegia were randomly divided into a control group ( n=35) and an intervention group ( n=35). In addition to routine rehabilitation, the control group received 40 minutes of ground balance training, while the intervention group received 40 minutes of training on a three-dimensional motion platform 6 times a week for 4 weeks. Before and after the intervention, step length, speed and frequency were evaluated in both groups using the Gait Watch 3D gait analysis system. Walking ability and ability in the activities of daily living were assessed using the de Morton mobility index (DEMMI) and the modified Barthel index (MBI). Results:Before the treatment, there was no significant difference in average step length, speed or frequency between the two groups. The average standing phase percentage on the affected side, percentage of double support period, DEMMI score, and MBI score also were not significantly different. After the treatment those indicators had improved significantly in both groups. The intervention group′s averages were then all significantly better than those of the control group.Conclusions:Three-dimensional motion platform training can improve the walking ability and skill in the activities of daily living of hemiplegic stroke survivors.