Objective To discuss the value of laparoscopic biopsy of retroperitoneal lymph nodes in the diagnosis of diseases.Methods Six consecutive patients with enlargement of retroperitoneal lymph nodes underwent laparoscopic exploration and retroperitoneal lymph node biopsy between June 2000 and December 2002. One of the patients also underwent enterolysis. Results A total of 1～3 lymph nodes were removed respectively in the 6 patients, with a diameter of 0 5～1 2 cm. Pathological diagnosis included 1 case of primary peritonitis, 1 case of tuberculous peritonitis accompanying lymphoid tuberculosis, 3 cases of lymphoma, and 1 case of chronic lymphocytic leukemia. There were no postoperative complications, but 1 case died of MSOF originated from primary disease on the 13th postoperative day. Conclusions Laparoscopic biopsy of retroperitoneal lymph nodes offers a safe and effective alternative in the diagnosis of enlargement of retroperitoneal lymph nodes.

Objective To investigate the relationship between EphA2, EphrinAl and E-cadherin expressions and tumor stage and prognosis in pancreatic cancer. Method EphA2, EphrinAl and Ecadherin expressions were detected by immunohistochemistry in the tumor tissue and normal tissue specimens from 48 patients with primary pancreatic cancer. Results The expressions of EphA2 and EphrinAl were higher in the pancreatic carcinoma tissues than in the normal pancreatic tissues (P<0. 05). The E-cadherin expression was lower in the pancreatic cancer tissues than in the normal pancreatic tissues (P<0. 05). With decreasing histological differentiation, the expressions of EphA2 and EphrinAl in carcinoma tissues increased significantly (P<0. 05), while the E-cadherin expression decreased significantly (P<0. 05). The positive expressions of EphA2 and EphrinAl in the primary tumor significantly increased in stageⅢ and Ⅳ than in stage Ⅰ and Ⅱ (47. 9%vs 6. 25% , P<0. 05;47. 9% vs 8. 3%, P<0. 05), while the negative expression of E-cadherin was reversely correlated with these tumor stages (14. 6% vs 64. 6%, P<0. 05). Cox multivariate analysis showed that the clinical stage, EphA2 positive expression and E-cadherin negative expression were significantly associated with survival. Conclusion Abnormal expressions of EphA2, EphrinAl and E-cadherin were involved in the progression of pancreatic cancer and they were useful in predicting prognosis.

Objective To investigate the prognostic value of vascular endothelial growth factor C (VEGF-C) and clinicopathologic indexes in predicting recurrence following curative resection of pancreatic cancer. Methods The expressions of VEGF-C of 47 patients who underwent curative resection for curative pancreatic cancer resection were detected by Envision immunohistochemical methods. The effects of VEGF-C and clinicopathologic indexes on recurrence were assessed by the Kaplan-Meier and Cox proportional hazards model. Results The positive rates of VEGF-C were 61. 7% in = 29) and 14. 9%(n = 7), respectively, in pancreatic cancer and normal pancreatic tissues. The positive expression of VEGF-C in pancreatic carcinoma was obviously higher than the normal pancreatic tissues (P = 0. 018). The median disease-free survival time was 11. 9 months, the average disease-free survival time was 18. 4 + 2. 4 months, and the cumulative 1-year, 2-year and 3-year actuarial recurrence free survival rates were 46. 8%, 23. 4%, 14. 4%, respectively. There was a significant correlation between the VEGF-C expression and lymph node metastasis in pancreatic cancer (P = 0. 036). On Kaplan-Meier analysis, VEGF-C (P = 0. 020), tumor diameter (P = 0. 013), age (P = 0. 057) and adjuvant chemotherapy (P=0. 017) were associated with disease-free survival time. Multivariate analysis showed VEGF-C (P = 0. 009), tumor diameter (P = 0. 010) and adjuvant chemotherapy (P = 0. 017)were independent prognostic factors of disease-free survival after surgery for pancreatic cancer.Conclusion The expression of VEGF-C was higher in pancreatic cancer, and VEGF-C was correlated with lymph node metastasis. VEGF-C was the biomarker that independently predicted disease-free survival after surgery for pancreatic cancer.

Objective To block the bio function of TGF ? by the application of anti TGF ? polyclonal antibody, and observe its efficacy of prevention of abdominal adhesion. Methods The postoperative abdominal adhesion model was established in SD rats. The drugs were administrated by abdominal injection with saline (control group), sodium hyaluronate( HA group), and varied dosage of anti TGF? (anti TGF? groups) respectively. The adhesion was scored 21days later, while 30 of them were executed on the day 3 and day 10 after operation respectively. The expression of TGF ? was checked by immunohistochemistry in the samples obtained from the adhesion sites. Results The score of adhesion in anti TGF ? group (2.4?0.99) was significantly lower than that in control group (6.0?1.25) and HA group (3.4?1.03); in different dosage of anti TGF, the 50?g group showed its economical efficacy; in the control and HA groups the expression of TGF ? had a time dependent manner, which reachs to maximum in the day 3, and could be reduced by antibody. Conclusions The polyclonal antibody of TGF ? shows the power to prevent the postoperative abdominal adhesion in animal model, the mechanism of which is due to inhibition of TGF ? expression.

Objective To study the feasibility,safety,indications and possible advantages of minimally invasive surgery over traditional open surgery in treating pancreatic body or tail lesions.Methods From December 2009 to December 2014,the clinical data of 71 patients with lesions in pancreatic body or tail who underwent minimally invasive distal pancreatectomy (MIDP) or open distal pancreatectomy (ODP) at the General Surgery of Huadong Hospital were retrospectively analyzed.There were 22 patients in the MIDP group and 49 patients in the ODP group.The operations in 15 patients in the MIDP group were performed by the Da Vinci robot-assisted surgical system and 7 patients by laparoscopic distal pancreatectomy.Results The MIDP group had a shorter time to pass first flatus [(MIDP (2.5 ± 1.0) d vs ODP (3.5 ±1.0)d,P ＜ 0.05],and shorter postoperative hospital stay [(MIDP (15.2 ± 7.9) d vs ODP (23.4 ±21.2) d,P ＜ 0.05] than the ODP group.There were no significant differences on total pancreatic fistula rate [MIDP 45.5％ (10/22) vs ODP 55.1％ (27/49),P ＞ 0.05] and symptomatic postoperative pancreatic fistula rate [MIDP 18.2％ (4/22) vs ODP 18.4％ (9/49),P ＞ 0.05] between the two groups.The MIDP group had a significant longer operative time [MIDP (246.3 ±75.3)min vs ODP (168.1 ±33.7)min,P＜0.05] than the ODP group.Conclusions Minimally invasive surgery is safe and feasible in treatment of lesions in pancreatic body or tail with less trauma and faster recovery.The application of robotic surgery has expanded the treatment options for lesions in pancreatic body or tail.