ObjectiveTo investigate the clinical value of transvaginal elastography in diagnosing cervical cancers.MethodsTotally,124 patients of cervical lesions with definite pathological results were enrolled.Elastograms were collected and the strain ratios of the benign and malignant lesions were record and compared.ROC curve was used to find the best cut-off point.ResultsElastography was useful in differentiating benign and malignant lesions by different color.Values of strain ratio of different pathological lesions were statistically different ( P ＜0.01).The mean value of strain ratio was 2.71 ± 1.56 for benign lesions and 8.32 ± 4.11 for malignant ones.The best cut-off point was 4.99 basing on the ROC curve.The sensitivity and specificity were 80.7％ and 89.6％,respectively.ConclusionsReal-time transvaginal elastography was a new way in differential diagnosing cervical cancers from benign lesions of the cervix.

Objective To evaluate the clinical value of three-dimensional power Doppler ultrasound (3D PDUS) in diagnosing cervical cancers.Methods 162 patients with cervical lesions were enrolled.All the cases were confirmed by autopsy or surgery.Vascularization index (VI),flow index (FI) and vascularization flow index(VFI) were all measured and compared.The pathological findings was taken as golden standard.ROC curve was used to find the best cut-off value.Results 3D PDUS indices of benign and malignant lesions were statistically different (P ＜0.0001).The best cut-off value of VI was 4.63 using ROC curves,the area under the curve (AUC) was 0.94,the sensitivity and specificity were 89.10％ and 86.30％,respectively.The best cut-off value of FI was 34.39 using ROC curves,AUC was 0.76,the sensitivity and specificity were 73.40％ and 76.70％,respectively.The best cut-off value of VFI was 1.60 using ROC curves,AUC was 0.93,the sensitivity and specificity were 87.50 ％ and 86.30 ％,respectively.Conclusions 3D PDUS was a new and noninvasive way for the clinical to differentiate benign and malignant cervical lesions.

Objective To explore the clinical value of real‐time elastography in evaluating rabbit carotid vulnerable plaque . Methods Thirty male New Zealand rabbits ( weighted from 2 .0 to 3 .0 kg) were all fed with high cholesterol diet for one week before balloon injury of their right common carotid arteries . Then they were categorized randomly into two groups which were continued fed by high cholesterol diet for 6 and 12 weeks ,respectively . Ultrasound and real‐time elastography of their right common carotid arteries were applied after their anesthesia by ear marginal vein . Strains of the carotid plaques were measured and analyzed statistically by two independent experienced sonographers . All the rabbits were sacrificed by air embolism method after all the examinations . The atherosclerotic rabbit common carotid lesions were dissected ,fixed for pathologic examination , and graded according to the standard of American Heart Association ( AHA) ,which were compared with the real‐time elastography findings . Results Real‐time elastography had well repeatability between different operators . Consistency between elastography and the AHA pathology was quite good ,with the Cohen′s kappa= 0 .803 (95% CI 0 .669 to 0 .938) . Strains of different regions in a plaque had statistically significant difference ( P <0 .000 1) . By using strain higher than 0 .37% ,the sensitivity and specificity of detecting a lipid core were 88 .0% and 81 .6% ,and area under ROC curve was 0 .902 (95% CI 0 .810 -0 .959 , P < 0 .0001) . Conclusions Real‐time elastography can display the inner elastic characteristics of the rabbit carotid plaques ,and may help evaluate the grading of a plaque . The strain value may help detect a necrotic core ,thereby help evaluate the stability of a plaque .

Chronic gastritis has varied clinical symptoms and prolonged course,and seriously affects the life quality of patients.Studies have shown that mood disorders might affect the pathogenesis of chronic gastritis.Aims:To investigate the incidence of anxiety and depression and its relationship with digestive symptoms,Helicobacter pylori (Hp) infection,degree and activity of inflammation in patients with chronic gastritis.Methods:A total of 235 patients with chronic non-atrophic gastritis were enrolled.Anxiety,depression,gastrointestinal symptoms,gastric mucosal inflammation and activity were evaluated,and infection of Hp was detected.Results:In the 235 patients,144 (61.3%)were accompanied by anxiety and/or depression:108 patients (46.0%)were accompanied by anxiety,129 patients (54.9%) were accompanied by depression,93 patients (39.6%)were accompanied by anxiety and depression.Incidence of abdominal pain,abdominal distention and early satiety,scores of digestive symptoms,positive rate of Hp infection and incidence of severe inflammation in patients accompanied by anxiety and/or depression were significantly higher than those in patients without anxiety and depression (P<0.05 ),but no significant difference in inflammation activity was seen between the two groups (P>0.05).Conclusions:Incidence of anxiety and depression in patients with chronic gastritis is high.Anxiety and depression are associated with abdominal pain,abdominal distention and early satiety,and can affect the inflammatory degree of gastric mucosa.Patients with anxiety and depression are susceptible to Hp infection.

Objective To investigate the dynamic abnormality of anorectum in elderly patients with chronic constipation.Methods Anorectal perfusion manometry was performed to detect the change of anal canal pressure and the rectal sensation capacity in 58 elderly patients and 36 non-elderly adults with chronic constipation.The results were compared retrospectively.Results Anal resting pressure in a chronic constipation was significantly lower in elderly patients than in non-elderly adults,with statistically significant difference [(59.74 ± 2.31) mmHg vs.(68.22 ± 2.37) mmHg,t =2.430,P =0.017].The incidence of paradoxical motility of anal sphincter was significantly higher in elderly patients with three abnormalities(incomplete defecation,Bristol stool scale type 3-5 and straining at defecation) than in elderly patients without above three abnormalities (x2 =8.880、11.540、6.070,P =0.003、0.001、0.014).Maximal tolerable volume was significant lower in elderly patients with straining at defecation and abdominal pain than in control group (t =2.140,2.260,both P ＜ 0.05).No correlation was observed between sex and anorectal motility in elderly patients with chronic constipation.Conclusions Anorectal motility in elderly patients with chronic constipation is different from that in non-elderly patients with chronic constipation.The dynamic abnormalities of anorectum in chronic constipation are different in elderly patients with different symptoms.

Helicobacter pylori (HP) infection is one of the most prevalent chronic bacterial infections in the world, which is closely related to the development of gastrointestinal diseases, such as chronic gastritis, gastroduodenal ulcer and gastric cancer. Empirical treatment of HP infection may lead to antibiotic resistance, adverse reactions and poor compliance. The decreased HP eradication rate is related to antibiotic resistance, HP converting to coccoid form and admission of proton pump inhibitors (PPI). The implementation of precise therapy can effectively enhance the HP eradication rate, through antibiotics selecting based on detection of drug sensitivity phenotype and drug resistance genes, reducing adverse drug reactions, increasing patient compliance, and rationally administrating PPI, etc. This article reviews the research progress of precision therapy for HP infection to provide reference for clinicians.

OBJECTIVETo explore the risk factors contributing to the progression-free survival rate of patients undergoing endoscopic non-curative resection.

METHODSClinicopathological data of patients with early colorectal carcinoma and intraepithelial neoplasia undergoing endoscopic resection in our department from January 2009 to January 2015 were collected. Associated factors affecting the progression-free survival rate of the early colorectal carcinoma after endoscopic non-curative resection were analyzed. Any of the following conditions was defined as endoscopic non-curative resection: (1) positive lateral or vertical cutting margin; (2) submucosa invasion depth ≥1 000 μm; (3) vascular or lymphatic invasion; (4) low differentiation, including signet ring cell carcinoma or mucinous adenocarcinoma; (5) high grade tumor budding.

RESULTSClinicopathological data of 840 cases were collected. According to China's Endoscopic Screening, Diagnosis and Treatment Guidelines for Early Colorectal Cancer, 56(56/840, 6.7%) cases were defined as the non-curative resection, the metastasis or recurrence rate was 14.3%(8/56), 3-year progression-free survival rate was 85.7%(48/56), and 3-year overall survival rate was 94.6%(53/56). Univariate prognostic analysis showed that 3-year progression-free survival rate in low and moderate-high differentiation adenocarcinoma was 25.0% and 90.4%(χ=6.711, P=0.010), in patients with submucosa invasion depth ≥2 000 μm and <2 000 μm was 75.0% and 93.8%(χ=6.745, P=0.009), and in patients with and without vascular or lymphatic invasion was 60.0% and 88.2%(χ=7.708, P=0.005), whose differences were all significant. Multivariate Cox regression analysis revealed that low differentiation adencarcinoma (P=0.015, HR=8.021, 95%CI: 1.499-42.921), invasion depth ≥2 000 μm (HR=6.823, 95%CI: 1.299-35.848) and vascular or lymphatic invasion (HR=18.143, 95%CI: 2.079-158.358) were independent risk factors for the progression-free survival rate of the early colorectal carcinoma after endoscopic non-curative resection.

CONCLUSIONPathology after endoscopic non-curative resection for early colorectal carcinoma indicates that low differentiation adenocarcinoma, submucosa invasion depth ≥2 000 μm and vascular or lymphatic invasion are independent risk factors of poor prognosis.

OBJECTIVETo investigate the security and efficacy of a new endoscopic closure method of large defects after endoscopic full-thickness resection (EFTR) double purse-string suture using two endoloops and metallic clips via single-channel endoscopy.

METHODSClinical data of 23 cases with submucosal tumors (SMT) who received endoscopic resection from June 2015 to July 2016 in our National Cancer Center were collected. For gastric and esophageal SMTs or the mucosa layer injured during submucosal tunneling endoscopic resection (STER), double purse-string suture was conducted after EFTR. The key steps of closure were as follows: the endoloop was installed onto the delivery system and inserted into the gastric cavity to the defect location with endoscopy and then opened; the clips were transported into the gastric cavity from the biopsy channel; the endoloop was fixed onto the full thickness of gastric wall along the edge of the defect by clips one by one between the interval of about 5 mm; the endoloop was tightened slowly till the entire circumference of the defect was sutured, thus, one purse-string suture was done; in accordance with the operation above, another endoloop was released, and the second endoloop was fixed at 5-10 mm to the outer edge of the original one, and tied the endoloop gently; this sequence was continued till there was no gap, thus, the double-purse string suture was finished. A total of 23 patients were enrolled in the study, including 18 with gastric tumor and 5 with esophageal tumor, 15 males and 8 females, with the average age of 56 (19 to 76) years.

RESULTSEighteen cases of gastric SMT were successfully treated by endoscopic EFTR and double purse-string suture. The esophageal mucosa layer of all the 5 cases of esophageal SMT, including tumors of 3 cases located in cervical esophagus at 15-20 cm from the fore-tooth, 1 esophageal leiomyoma case complicated with squamous cell carcinoma in situ, and 1 case of mucosal layer injury during submucosal tunneling endoscopic resection (STER), was successfully repaired by using double purse-string suture. The mean maximum diameter of tumor was 2.3 cm, and the average suture time was 22.8 min. Postoperative pathology showed that 13 cases were gastrointestinal stromal tumors (GIST), 7 cases were leiomyoma, 2 cases were neurilemmoma, and 1 case was leiomyoma complicated with early squamous cell carcinoma in situ. No severe complications occurred during or after the operation.

CONCLUSIONSThe double purse-string suture by using metallic clips and endoloops with single channel endoscope is a relatively safe, easy, and reliable technique for repairing large gastric defect after EFTR. For cervical esophageal SMT, or the SMT combined with superficial mucosal lesions, and for the mucosa layer injury during submucosal tunneling endoscopic resection(STER), double purse-string suture is helpful to perform the closure.

Objective To compare the efficacy, safety, and the life quality of patients with early gastric cancer ( EGC) between endoscopic submucosal dissection ( ESD) and surgical treatment. Methods A total of 460 cases with EGC receiving endoscopic therapy or surgical treatment were collected from October 2009 to January 2015 in the Cancer Hospital, Chinese Academy of Medical Sciences. The clinical efficacy and life quality of ESD and surgical treatment for EGC patients were retrospectively analyzed. Results There were 434 cases collected in the study, including 208 cases ( 229 lesions) in the ESD group and 226 cases in the surgery group. For the short-term clinical outcomes of the ESD group, the hospitalization time ( 7. 85 ± 3. 18 d VS 16. 68±5. 89 d, P<0. 001), hospitalization cost (3782. 30±1898. 84 CNY VS 9685. 60± 3643. 97 CNY, P<0. 001 ) and complications [ 0 ( 0/208 ) VS 6. 2% ( 14/226 ) , P<0. 001 ] were statistically different compared with those of the surgery group. For the long-term clinical outcomes, there was no statistical significance on recurrence rate[0. 4%(1/229) VS 0. 9% (2/226), P=0. 622] between the two groups. The cumulative multiple hazard probability curve showed that the ESD group had a significantly higher risk of multiple primary lesions than the surgery group ( P=0. 004) after the same follow-up period. In order to exclude the influence of confounding factors, COX regression model was used to control the age and other factors, and multiple primary risks of the two groups were also statistically significant ( P=0. 013) . The health score of self-evaluation and life quality between the two groups were statistically significant ( P<0. 001) . Conclusion For the short-term clinical outcomes, the ESD group was better than the surgery group. For the long-term clinical outcomes, multiple primary risks were higher in the ESD group than those in the surgery group, but most of the multiple primary cases were successfully treated with a second ESD. The health score of self-evaluation and life quality were better in the ESD group than those in the surgery group.