Forty one patients with esophageal carcinoma (T3N1 M0 or less) underwent video-assisted thoracoscopic surgery (VATS) in prone position for esophagectomy from September 2006 to September 2010.The postoperative outcome and survival of patients were retrospectively analyzed.The results confirmed the feasibility and safety of this minimally invasive esophagectomy performed by thoracoscopy in the prone position for patients with esophageal carcinoma.

Exploring the genetic basis of human infertility is currently under intensive investigation.However,only a handful of genes have been validated in animal models as disease-causing genes in infertile men.Thus,to better understand the genetic basis of human spermatogenesis and bridge the knowledge gap between humans and other animal species,we construct the FertilityOnline,a data-base integrating the literature-curated functional genes during spermatogenesis into an existing sper-matogenic database,SpermatogenesisOnline 1.0.Additional features,including the functional annotation and genetic variants of human genes,are also incorporated into FertilityOnline.By searching this database,users can browse the functional genes involved in spermatogenesis and instantly narrow down the number of candidates of genetic mutations underlying male infertility in a user-friendly web interface.Clinical application of this database was exampled by the identifi-cation of novel causative mutations in synaptonemal complex central element protein 1(SYCE1)and stromal antigen 3(STAG3)in azoospermic men.In conclusion,FertilityOnline is not only an integrated resource for spermatogenic genes but also a useful tool facilitating the exploration of the genetic basis of male infertility.