Objective To understand the characteristics of indoor PM2.5 pollution in residential houses in Guangzhou. Methods Indoor PM2.5 samples were collected in nine residential sites using mini-volume sampler in Guangzhou in summer (June to July, 2003). Mass concentration of PM2.5 and the organic carbon (OC) and elemental carbon (EC) levels in PM2.5 were measured. Results The average concentration of PM2.5 was (47.4?17.7) mg /m3, a relatively high concentration compared to the previous studies in other cities. The OC and EC concentrations in PM2.5 were (12.5?8.7) and (4.4?2.3) mg /m3 respectively. OC and EC counted for 24.6%?5.6% and 9.9%?4.8% in indoor PM2.5. However, it was estimated that OC mainly came from indoor sources and EC related well with outdoor sources, which conformed to the source investigation. Conclusion Cooking, smoking and outdoor sources are the prominent contributors to the indoor PM2.5 pollution. Housing conditions such as decoration and ventilation may affect the indoor PM2.5 level.

One hundred and thirty patients with esophageal carcinoma were randomly asigned into two groups:62 cases received thoracoscopic esophagectomy (TE group) and 68 cases received open thoracic esophagectomy group (OE group).All patients underwent lymph nodes dissection along bilateral recurrent laryngeal nerve.Compared with OE group,TE group had a less blood loss during the lymph nodes dissection (P ＜ 0.05) and a lower incidence of pulmonary infection (P ＜ 0.05).There were no significant differences in the number of dissected lymph nodes,dissection time,incidence of temporary hoarseness,permanent hoarseness and mechanical ventilation for respiratory failure between two groups (P ＞ 0.05).The study suggests that lymph nodes dissection along bilateral recurrent laryngeal nerve can be succesfully completed by thoracoscopic esophagestomy,and it has the advantage of less intraoperative blood loss and lower incidence of pulmonary infection,compared to open thoracic surgery.

Esophageal cancer (EC) is the eighth dangerous cancer in the world. As the global population ages, the management of elderly patients with EC poses a challenge as they have many aging-associated diseases and physiological changes. In addition, the data on the tolerability of cancer treatment and the use of combined therapies in the patients to guide their treatment are limited. In this paper, we reviewed the literatures and discussed the effect of surgical resection and the potential complications of elderly patients. We reviewed the basic principles of combined therapy and the potential benefits of chemotherapy or chemoradiotherapy for patients and focused on the management of elderly patients with EC as well as the role of comprehensive assessment for aging to provide treatment options for elderly patients.