Objective To investigate the relationship of the serum level of IL-23 and MMP-9 with the clinicopathologic features in patients with esophageal squamous cell carcinoma (ESCC). Methods 48 pathologically confirmed ESCC patients and 30 Endoscopic biopsy of benign were included in this study. The serum levels of IL-23 and MMP-9 were examined by enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA). Results Serum IL-23 level in patients with ESCC was significantly higher than that in controls (t = 26.66, 16.89, P<0.05). Furthermore, Pearson′s correlation analysis revealed that serum IL-23 was positively correlated with the serum MMP-9 level in ESCC patients (r = 0.790, P < 0.05). Statistical analysis showed that enhanced serum IL-23 significantly correlated with the degree of differentiation and lymph node metastasis. Conclusion Overexpression of IL-23 may involve in the occurrence and development of ESCC. IL-23 may contribute to tumorinvasion and metastasis by stimulating the expression of MMP-9.

BACKGROUND:Elderly patients with degenerative lumbar degeneration often appear insufficient holding power of pedicle screw in spine surgery, which is prone to occur de-pinning and leads to insecure fixation. How to increase the holding power of screws has become a hot research. OBJECTIVE:To observe the early clinical effect of pedicle screws with cement augmentation for treating lumbar degenerative diseases in elderly patients. METHODS:A total of 65 old patients with lumbar degenerative diseases received a treatment between August 2012 and April 2014, and were divided into two groups according to the treatment strategy:treatment group (n=24;internal fixation of pedicle screws with cement augmentation) and control group (n=41;routine internal fixation of pedicle screws). General conditions of patients in two groups were observed and compared. Visual analog scale (VAS) and Japanese Orthopaedic Association (JOA) score system were used for evaluating the lumbar and back pain, and restoration of neurological function in lower limbs respectively. RESULTS AND CONCLUSION:Al of the patients successful y received the surgery and then were fol owed up from 3 to 20 months. The anterioposterior and lateral X-ray film revealed no loosening, loss, fracture of the screws, and no loss of intervetebral space height was found. There was no significant difference in the blood loss and hospital stay between two groups (P>0.05). JOA at postoperative 3 and 6 months, and VAS score at postoperative 3 months were significantly improved after the treatment of pedicle screws with cement augmentation, when compared to control group (P<0.05). VAS scores showed no difference at 6 months postoperatively in two groups (P>0.05). Pedicle screws with cement augmentation for treating lumbar degenerative diseases have the advantages of improving the screws holding strength, reconstructing the stability of lumbar vertebra and obtaining clinical efficacy on degenerative spine.

Objective To retrospectively analyze the treatment results and side effects of postoperative chemoradiotherapy and postoperative radiotherapy of thoracic esophageal squamous cell carcinoma (EPC) with positive lymph nodes.Methods Three hundred and four patients of thoracic EPC were initially treated with three-field lymphadenectomy, with pathological positive lymph nodes and without distant metastases;and randomly divided into two groups:140 patients of the simple postoperative radiotherapy (RT) and 164 patients of postoperative chemoradiotherapy (CRT).The median total dose was 50 Gy.The regimen of concurrent chemotherapy included cisplatin and taxol, and the intermission was 21 days;the median cycles were 2.35.Results The 3-year overall survival rates were 65.7% of CRT and 52.8% of RT (χ2=6.90,P=0.009), and The 3-year disease-free survival rates were 62.5% of CRT and 52.8% of RT (χ2=4.75,P=0.029).The incidences of the supraclavicular lymph-node metastases were 1.8% and 7.1%(χ2=5.21,P=0.022), respectively;and the incidences of distant metastases were 18.3% and 27.9%(χ2=3.94,P=0.047), respectively;and the incidences of overall metastases and recurrences were 27.4% and 39.3%(χ2=4.80,P=0.028), respectively.Early side effects included granulopenia (96.3% and 32.1%,χ2=140.31,P=0.000), radiation-induced esophagitis (37.2% and 26.4%,χ2=4.01,P=0.045),and gastrointestinal toxicity (23.2% and 5.0%,χ2=19.77,P=0.000).Late side effects were 6.1% and 5.0%(χ2=0.17,P=0.678), respectively.Conclusions Postoperative chemoradiotherapy of thoracic EPC with positive lymph nodes can improve the overall survival and disease-free survival, decrease the incidence of the supraclavicular metastases, the distant metastases, the total metastases and recurrences.More severe early side effects were observed in chemoradiotherapy than in the radiotherapy group,but well tolerated.