Objective To report our experience on video-assisted thoracoscopic surgery(VATS)and perioperative management for patients over 70 years old.Methods From May 1998 to May 2008,78 patients over 70 years old were treated by VATS.Operative risk was evaluated by measuring forced expiratory volume in first second(FEV1),diffuse capacity of carbon monoxide(DLCO),and left ventricular ejection fraction(LVEF),and artery blood gas analysis and exercise test before the operation.VATS(n=46)or video-assisted minithoracotmy(n=32)was carried out under general anesthesia with a double-lumen tube.Extubation was delayed in 11 patients after the procedures and mechanical ventilation was employed to smooth anesthesia recovery.Results Postoperative pathological examination showed primary lung cancer in 20 cases,benign pulmonary lesions in 26,pleural mesothelioma in 3,malignant pleural metastasis in 5,empyema in 5,benign mediastinal tumor in 15,hiatal hernia in 3,and esophageal leiomyoma in 1.Postoperative morbidity was 33.3%(26/78)in this series,none of the patients died during the operation;the perioperative mortality was 2.6%(2/78).Conclusions VATS is safe for elderly patients.Satisfying outcomes can be achieved through strict preoperative evaluation,proper operative method and active management for postoperative complications.

Objective To evaluate the feasibility of keeping the consistency of bladder filing by a Bladderscan ( BS ) device during radiotherapy for rectal cancer. Methods The bladder volume was measured using a BS device and recorded. To verify the reliability of the BS measurement, the urinary output was determined by a measuring glass after complete urinary discharge. The bladder volume of 42 patients determined by the planning computed tomography ( CT) scans was used as the standard urinary volume. The bladder volume was measured using the BS device before radiotherapy every day. The chief complaint urinary volume was determined as the bladder volume when a patient felt a strong urge to urinate. The controlled urinary volume was determined as the urinary output intervened by the BS device to reach the standard urinary volume. Comparison was made by t test and data was assessed by Pearson correlation analysis. Results There was no significant difference in obtained urinary volume between the BS device and the planning CT scan ( P=0?84) . The urinary volume measured by the measuring glass was correlated with that measured by the BS device ( P=0?00 ) . The ability to hold urine in all patients was gradually weakened during treatment. The controlled urinary volume had a significantly smaller decrease after 1, 2, 3, 4, and 5 weeks of treatment than the chief complaint urinary volume ( 5% vs. 21%;6% vs. 20%;6% vs. 20%, 4% vs. 21%;11% vs. 26%;all P=0?00) . Conclusions Patients have a gradually decreased urinary volume during treatment. The intervention by the BS device gives a bladder volume close to that in the planning system, which results in a consistent bladder filling.

Objective To study the effect of flupentioxl melitracen and pinaverium bromide treatment on the changes of anorectal motility and rectal sensation in the patients of diarrhea-predominant irritable bowel syndrome (IBS-D) accompanying with depression and/or anxiety status. Methods Forty-four patients with IBS-D accompanying with depression and/or anxiety status were divided into group A (flupentioxl melitracen and pinaverium bromide) and group B (pinaverium bromide) by random digits table,and treated for 4 weeks. Twenty-five healthy subjects were included as control group. The anorectal motility and rectal sensation before and after taking medicines were compared. Results When abdominal pressure was increased, the net increased pressure of anal sphincter was (3.0 ± 1.2 ) kPa in group A and (2.9 ± 1.2)kPa in group B. They were lower than that in control group [(3.6 ± 1.6) kPa](P＜ 0.05). The rectal lowest volume of sensory threshold, the maximal volume of tolerance and maximal compliance were (55 ± 20) ml,( 145 ± 78 ) ml, ( 21.9 ± 12.9 ) ml/kPa in group A, ( 56 ± 38 ) ml, ( 150 ± 50 ) ml, (20.8 ± 11.2) ml/kPa in group B. They were lower than those in control group [(80 ± 38 ) ml, ( 190 ± 50 ) ml, (30.8 ± 15.2 ) ml/kPa](P ＜ 0.01 ). The rectal lowest volume of sensory threshold, the maximal volume of tolerance and maximal compliance were higher than those before taking medicines. Only the rectal lowest volume of sensory threshold in group B was higher than that before taking medicines. The rectal lowest volume of sensory threshold, the maximal volume of tolerance and maximal compliance in group A after taking medicines were higher than those in group B (P ＜ 0.05 or ＜ 0.01 ). Conclusions Higher sensitivity, lower tolerance,lower compliance of rectum and weakened anal automatic control function in IBS-D may be associated with diarrhea and frequent defecation. Treatment combining flupentioxl melitracen with pinaverium bromide may preferably improve the aperception functions of rectum in the patients of IBS-D accompanying with depression and/or anxiety status.

Objective: To explore the effect of hepatitis C virus (HCV) on the expression of serine protease inhibitor Kazal1 (SPINK1) and its clinical implication. Methods: mRNA and protein expression of SPINK1 in Huh7.5.1 cells infected by HCV JFH-1 and the control cells were measured by RT-PCR and western blotting, SPINK1 levels in the cell supernatants and sera of HCV patients were measured by enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA), the difference of SPINK1 levels between healthy controls and HCV patients was analyzed. Results: Expression of SPINK1 mRNA and protein was higher in Huh7.5.1 cells infected by HCV JFH-1 than in the control cells, serum SPINK1 levels was much higher in HCV patients than in healthy controls (P=0.016). Conclusions HCV can upregulate the expression of SPINK1.