[Summary] Benign esophageal strictures can arise from various causes and mainly induce dysphagia .Commonly , the majority of benign esophageal strictures can achieve long-term relief through about three dilation sessions .However, some refractory benign esophageal strictures require other treatments , such as endoscopic stent placement and intralesional drug injection , but these treatments just attain short-time satisfactory results with a disappointingly low rate of long-term improvement.Recently, biodegradable stents and drug-eluting stents are developing and have obtained the positive effects .In this paper , we performed a review about the treatment of benign esophageal strictures .

By introducing an electro-withdrawing antipyrine group, N-(p-toluenesulfonyl)-N-(4-antipyrine)-10-methylacridinium-9-carboxamide triflate was prepared. The UV, FL and CL properties of the target compound and of its precursor were investigated by comparing with those of the model compound N-(p-toluenesulfonyl)-N-phenyl-10-methylacridinium-9-carboxamide triflate and the corresponding precursor respectively. The results show that acridine sulfonamide with a heterocyclic antipyrine group exhibits blue shift of both UV absorption and of maximum excitation wavelength(λex) and emission wavelength(λem) in FL spectra, comparing with the corresponding model compound. The λex of the final target and its precursor are 268 and 274 nm, respectively; and the λem are 321 and 327 nm, respectively, while λex of the model compound and its unmethylated precursor are 365 and 359 nm, respectively; and the λem are 504 and 440 nm, respectively. Moreover, the chemiluminescence of the final target compound triggered by H2O2 could finish within 1.1 s; and the quantum yield is similar to that of the model compound, being 5.6 times high as that of luminol.

Objective To investigate the relationship of radiation dose with the volume and late toxicity of the sternocleidomastoid muscle ( SM) in patients with nasopharyngeal carcinoma. Methods SM was divided into upper part and lower part based on the lower edge of cricoid cartilage. Patients were divided into three groups according to the prescribed dose for clinical target volume at the lower neck ( CTV2 ) ( 0, 54,60 Gy) . The dosimetric parameters included Dmean , V66 , and V60 for the upper, lower, and whole SM. SM was delineated and the volume was calculated on computed tomography images in the treatment planning system before and at 6, 12, and 18 months after treatment. The anteroposterior and transversal diameters of SM at C3?C4 , C4?C5 , C5?C6 , and C6?C7 levels were measured and recorded. Late toxicity of neck skin and SM was evaluated according to the Common Terminology Criteria for Adverse Events V4 .0 criteria. Between?group comparison was made by t?test or Kruskal?Wallis non?parametric test. Between?group comparison of the sample rate was made by one?way analysis of variance. The correlation analysis was made by Spearman correlation. Results There were significant difference in SM volume between the three time points after treatment ( P=0. 000) . At 12 or 18 months after treatment, the volume of SM wasignificantly reduced ( P=0. 000,0. 000);the reduction in SM volume was significantly correlated with V66 of the SM and the upper SM ( P=0. 015,0. 020) . At 18 months after treatment, SM fibrosis was significantly correlated with V60 of the upper SM ( P=0. 030);the fibrosis of neck skin was significantly correlated with the Dmean and V60 of the upper SM ( P=0. 029,0. 005) . Conclusions In order to prevent the incidence of the fibrosis of neck skin and SM, the dose homogeneity should be as high as possible, while the number of hot spots should be as small as possible.

Objective To investigate the effect and the potential mechanism of splenic artery coarctation on the expression of iNOS and Th1/Th2 cytokines in spleen of cirrhotic rats with portal hypertension (PHT). Methods Cirrhotic rats were randomized into 3 groups (n= 10):sham operation group (SOG), splenic artery coarctation group (SAC) and splenic artery ligation group (SAL). Ten normal rats treated with sham operation were employed to serve as normal control group (NCG). Immunohistochemial staining was used to observe iNOS. RT-PCR was used to detect IFN-γ and IL-4mRNA. The Pearson's correlation analysis was used to investigate the relationship between iNOS and IFN-γ or IL-4. Results The expression of iNOS was increased significantly in spleen of cirrhotic rats as compared with NCG(P＜0. 01). It was decreased after SAC and SAL compared with SOG (P＜0. 01). The expression of IFN-γmRNA and IFN-γ/IL-4 of SOG were decreased but IL-4mRNA increased significantly than that of NCG(P＜0.01). IFN-γmRNA was increased after SAC compared with SOG (P＜0.05). IL-4mRNA was decreased and IFN-γ/IL-4 increased after SAC and SAL compared with SOG (P＜0. 05). The expression of iNOS was negatively correlated with the expression of IFN-γmRNA(r=-0.672, P＜ 0.01 ) and positively correlated with the expression of IL-4 mRNA (r=0.634,P＜0. 01). Conclusion The expression of iNOS is decreased and IFN-γ/IL-4 increased after SAC in spleen of cirrhotic rats with PHT and it may improve Th1/Th2 polarization by reducing the expression of iNOS.

Objective To evaluate the safety and efficacy of an endoscopic dilation in association with the intramuscular injection of either mitomycin C for benign esophageal strictures. Methods A total of 89 patients with benign esophageal strictures were retrospectively divided into 3 groups, including 30 cases of dilation combined with mitomycin C injection (mitomycin C group) , 29 of dilation combined with dexamethasone injection (dexamethasone group) and 30 of dilation with saline injection (dilation group). The successful rate, complications and the clinical effect in the 3 groups were compared. Results The 89 patients all successfully received the procedure, with the endoscopic and clinical release. No massive hemorrhage occurred. In mitomycin C group, 1 case with major complication (perforation) and 7 minor complication occurred;9 and 7 cases with minor complication occurred in dexamethasone group and dilation group, respectively. There were no significant difference of the complications in the 3 groups (P<0. 05). The mean dysphagia-free period was 5. 25±1. 18 months in the mitomycin C group, 4. 46±1. 53 months in the dexamethasone group, and 3. 03±1. 62 months in the dilation group (P<0. 05). Conclusion Endo-scopic dilation with or without the intramuscular injection of either mitomycin C or dexamethasone are safe and effective. Dilation combined with drug injection may prolong the esophageal dysphagia-free period. Furthermore, mitomycin C injection may have the dominant effect.

ObjectiveTo assess the effectiveness and safety of target-controlled infusion (TCI) of remifentanil during remedial endoscopic retrograde cholangiopancreatography (ERCP) in the elderly patients.Methods390 patients (aged 65 years and over) undergoing ERCP were divided into two groups: remifentanil group (n =175) and lidocaine group (n =215). Remifentanil group were anaesthetized by TCI with remifentanil as method of sensible analgesia,while lidocaine group were anaesthetized by lidocaine as conventional local anesthesia.Arterial blood pressure,heart rate and oxygen saturation (SpO2) were monitored during ERCP.The memory and feeling of pain during operation and side effects after operation were followed up. ResultsThe statistical differences in changes of blood pressure,heart rate and SpO2 were not found between the two groups.There were 165 cases(94.3 ％) with satisfactory anaesthetization,10 cases (5.7 ％ ) with mild and endurable pain and 7 cases(6.7％) with side effects of circulation and respiration during operation,while these symptoms improved after symptomatic treatment in remifentanil group.In lidocaine group,there were 25 cases(8.6 ％ ) with side effects of circulation and respiration during operation,most of patients were obviously uncomfortable,2 cases (1.8％) were intolerant of operation. Conclusions Targetcontrolled infusion of remifentanil during ERCP in the elderly is safe,effective and worthy of clinical popularization.

Objective To evaluate the efficacy and safety of endoscopic retrograde cholangiopancreatography (ERCP) in elderly patients over 80 years old with biliary-pancreatic diseases. Methods One hundred and twenty patients over 80 years old who underwent ERCP between January 2004 and April 2008 were retrospectively analyzed. The clinical efficacy, safety and complication were observed and followed up. Results One hundred and seventeen patients successfully underwent therapeutic ERCP and the success rate was 97.5%. All diseases of the patients included cholangiocarcinoma in 22 cases, duodenal papilla carcinoma in 3 cases, pancreatic carcinoma in 8 cases, acute pancreatitis in 15 cases, chronic pancreatitis in 5 cases, acute suppurative cholangitis in 9 cases and choledocholithiasis in 58 cases. During the procedure of ERCP, 3 cases failed to insert the duodenoscope, 3 cases were found hemobilia and 2 cases were found acute pancreatitis. Conclusions Therapeutic ERCP is effective and safe in elderly patients over 80 years. Age is not the contraindication of therapeutic ERCP.

Objective To study the safety and feasibility of endobiliary intraductal radiofrequency ablation (RFA) to reopen occluded self-expandable metal stents in patients with malignant biliary obstruction.Methods 11 patients with malignant biliary obstruction and blocked metal stents were prospectively studied.During ERCP, after biliary cannulation, the blocked metal stents underwent RFA using a bipolar radiofrequency probe which was introduced into the stenotic bile duct via a guide wire.This was followed by a balloon to repeatedly remove debris and then endoscopic nasobiliary drainage.The patients were closely observed and followed up.Results RFA was successfully carried out in all the patients and patencies were achieved when compared with pre-RFA.The median post-RFA luminal diameter of the strictures showed significant improvement: 6 (4 ～ 10) mm versus 2 (0 ～ 5) mm, and the mean post-RFA total bilirubin level decreased sharply : (39.4 ± 8.7) μ mol/L versus (130.1 ± 38.2) μmol/L.Following this intervention, 3 patients developed fever, which were controlled with conservative therapy.There was no mortality, haemorrhage, bile duct perforation or bile leak.Of the 11 patients, 3 were dead and 6 were alive at a median follow-up of 187 (75 ～ 304) days.The median stent patency was 135 (75 ～ 203) days and the median survival was 278 (75 ～ 304) days.Four patients had their stents patent at the time of the last follow-up or death.Seven patients had their stents blocked on 113, 124, 154, 203, 96, 135 and 112 days post-procedure.Condusions Endobiliary intraductal RFA is technically feasible and safe to reopen occluded metal stents in malignant biliary obstruction.This efficacy needs to be confirmed by future randomized studies.

Objective To research expression changes of COX-2 gene in Barrett′s esophageal mucosa before and after argon plasma coagulation (APC)operation and to explore it′s clinical curative effect and possible mechanism .Methods 66 barrett′s e-sophageal diagnosed with gastroscope and pathology were randomly divided into normal esophageal group (the negative control group ,group A) ,the APC with acid suppression therapy group(group B) ,Acid antimicrobial drug treatment group(group C) .Ob-serve symptom relief condition ,barrett esophagus epithelium ablation under gastroscope before and after treatment ,esophageal mu-cosa tissue samples was detected by real-time fluorescent quantitative PCR technique .Expression of COX-2 gene in barrett′s esoph-ageal mucosa were compared among groups .Results Compared with group A ,both Group B and group C could effectively relieve symptoms (P<0 .05) .Symptom remission rate had no no statistically significant difference in Group B and group C .Barrett esopha-gus epithelium was not significantly narrowed under gastroscope follow-up Group A and group C ,while Barrett esophageal mucosal occurred ablation with pink mucous covered in Group B .The expression of Cox-2 mRNA in group B decreased ,which was similar to group A .The expression of Cox-2 mRNA in group C also decrease ,but there was no significant differences before and after treat-ment .Conclusion APC with acid suppression therapy could effectively relieve symptoms ,melting Barrett esophagus epithelium ,and is of a safe and effective treatment on Barrett′s esophagus .

Objective To investigate the correlation of clinicopathological parameters and prognosis with serum and pancreatic cancer tissue klotho. Methods Immunohistochemistry EnVision two step method was used to assess klotho protein expression of a tissue microarray ( TMA) of 79 pairs of pancreatic tissue and normal surrounding tissue. The serum klotho levels in 39 pancreatic cancer patients and 39 healthy controls who had matched clinical data were measured by ELISA. The relationships between the expression of klotho and the clinicopathological features and survival were analyzed. Results Klotho expression positivity in pancreatic cancer tissue was significantly higher than that in adjacent normal tissues (59. 5％ vs 96. 3％);serum level of klotho was markedly higher in pancreatic cancer patients than that in control group [(670. 30 ± 82. 24)pg/ml vs (310.35 ± 34.65) pg/ml], and both the difference was statistically significant (P<0.001). Klotho expression was negatively associated with tumor clinical stage and lymph node metastasis (P<0. 05), and the expression of klotho did not correlate with patients' gender, age, tumor size, location, local invasion depth and the like. The median survival time in pancreatic cancer patients with positive klotho expression were longer than that in in pancreatic cancer patients with negative klotho expression [(48. 31 ± 6. 94) months vs (19. 50 ±6. 78)months], and the difference was statistically significant (P<0. 01). ROC analysis on serum klotho gave a cutoff value of 376. 51 pg/ml to diagnosis pancreatic cancer with a sensitivity of 84. 6％ and specificity of 87. 2％. Conclusions Klotho level in serum and tissue of pancreatic cancer patients was closely correlated with clinicopathological parameters and prognosis, which may be a potential biomarker for pancreatic cancer.