AIM: To study apoptosis and the involved genes in malignant transformation of gastric carcinoma. METHODS: Apoptotic cell and apoptotic regulating gene p53,bcl-2,c-myc were detected in 46 cases with gastric carcinomas, 20 cases with precancerous lesions and 24 cases with normal mucosa in situ using TdT-mediated dUTP-biotin nick end labeling (TUNEL) technique and immunohistochemical stain. RESULTS: Apoptotic index in precancerous lesion(intestinal metaplasia and dysplasia) and gastric carcinoma were significantly higher than that in normal mucosa( P

Objective To investigate the diagnostic value of the modified esophageal capsule endoscopy (stringed esophageal capsule endoscopy,SCE) for esophageal diseases.Methods A total of 80 patients with esophageal related symptoms underwent SCE followed by esophagogastroduodenoscopy (EGD).The examination time,detection rate of esophageal lesions,complications and adverse effects were compared.Results All patients completed the study.The mean examination time of SCE and EGD was 226.18 ± 1 10.30 seconds and 21.28 ± 8.01 seconds respectively (t =-16.665,P =0.000).A total of 119 lesions were detected by SCE and EGD,and the diagnostic accordance rate of SCE and EGD was 82.4％ (98/119).Ten lesions of advanced squamous carcinoma,5 lesions of high grade intraepithelial neoplasia and 3 lesions of early squamous carcinoma were detected by both examinations,all of which were confirmed by histopathologic examination.The overall rate of complication in SCE (1.3％,1/80) was significantly lower than that of EGD (8.8％,7/80,x2 =4.238,P =0.040) and the rates of swallow difficulty (P =0.022),throat discomfort (P =0.007) and vomiting (P =0.000) of SCE were significantly lower than those of EGD.Conclusion SCE is a feasible,easy-to-operate,safe,well tolerated and accurate method for detection of esophageal diseases,and could be a non-invasive alternative for conventional EGD.