Mediastinal tissue is a very common predilection site for both benign and malignant diseases .It is not only lo-cated at many different origins within human body but the anatomical structure of mediastinal tissue is often very complicated . In addition to its location and structure , mediastinal tissue lacks a cavity channel , which communicates with outside environ-ment.The combination of all these factors cause extreme difficulty in terms of diagnosis .Because of the distinct treatments for different diagnosis results, the efficiency of treatment largely relies on the completion of diagnosis in a timely fashion , any delay often cause severe results.

Complete video-assisted thoracic surgery (cVATS) for lung cancer has the advantages of significantly minimal trauma, markedly light postoperative pain and rapid post-operative recovery, which has been increasingly applied in clinic.Its main operation methods consist of lobectomy, segmentectomy, pneumonectomy and sleeve lobectomy.cVATS for lung cancer can achieve the same radical tumor resection and lymph node dissection as the open thoracotomy, which contributes to a satisfactory long-term outcome.

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Background and purpose: The incidence rate of elderly esophageal carcinoma patients is increasing year by year. In this study, the clinicopathologic factors, operational factors and postoperative complications were compared between the older and the younger elderly patients with thoracic esophageal squamous cell carcinoma (ESCC), and the influence of different surgical approaches to older elderly patients were analyzed. Methods: A retrospective review of 371 cases of elderly patients with thoracic esophageal squamous cell carcinoma (≥60 years) between Jan. 2006 and Dec. 2008 were performed. The patients were divided into two age groups. The patients over 75 years old named the older elderly group including 53 patients, and the patients between 60-74 years named the younger elderly group including 318 patients, the clinicopathological factors, operational factors, postoperative hospital mortality and average length of stay were compared. Meanwhile, according to different surgical approaches, the comparison of the left chest and right chest approach of operative time, blood loss and postoperative complication rate, and so on and so forth. Results: The older elderly group compared with the younger elderly group had more preoperative complications. Preoperative ASA classiifcation and postoperative complications, length of stay and hospital mortality rates were signiifcantly higher. The older elderly group over the right chest approach had less postoperative complications, especially pulmonary complications, the results were statistically signiifcant.(13.0%vs 40.0%,P<0.05) Conclusion: The patients over 75 years old with thoracic esophageal squamous cell carcinoma have a higher risk during the operation, we can choose relatively simpler operation approach to reduce the incidence of postoperative complications, especially pulmonary complications.

Objective To compare the results and safety between video-assisted thoracoscopic surgery ( VATS ) and conventional radical operation in patients with stage Ⅰ , Ⅱ esophageal cancer. Methods Retrospectively reviewed 43 patients with stage Ⅰ , Ⅱ esophageal cancer,underwent either VATS radical operation (VATS group,16 cases) or conventional radical operation (control group,27 cases ) from September 2007 to September 2009. Patient's operative characteristics and postoperative courses were compared between two groups. Results In VATS group the operation time was ( 115.6 ± 48.0) min,the peri-operative blood loss was ( 131 ± 71 ) ml,the first postoperative day chest lead quantity was (331 ± 170)ml, the time of postoperative chest tube was (7.25 ± 2.35) d,the postoperative 36 h visual analogue scale (VAS) was (3.4 ± 1.2) scores,the postoperative drainage of chest was ( 1281 ± 534) ml,the 72 h postoperative locomotor activity of right upper extremity was (5.1 ± 1.5) cm. While in control group was ( 145.6 ± 20.6)min, (292 ± 111 ) ml, (494 ± 194) ml, ( 10.00 ± 2.79 )d, (7.3 ± 1.4) scores, ( 1780 ± 731 ) ml, ( 15.6 ± 3.1 )cm respectively (P ＜ 0.01 or ＜ 0.05 ). The lymph node dissection number,the total cost of hospital between were no statistically significant differences in two groups (P ＞0.05). Conclusion Comparing with conventional radical operation, VATS radical operation for patients with stage Ⅰ , Ⅱ esophageal cancer appears to be as effective but less morbid.

Objective The aim of this retrospective study was to analyze the role of surgery in the management of limited-stage-Ⅱ small cell lung cancer.Methods A retrospective review of 82 patients with limited-stage Ⅱ small cell lung cancer between January 2001 and December 2009 was performed.The prognostic impact of different therapy and the clinicopathologic factors were analyzed.Using SPSS 16.0 statistical software for data analysis.Log-rank test for the difference of survivale rate.Using the Cox model for muliti-factor survival analysis.Chi-square test for local recurrence and distant metastasis rate.Results The overall median survival time and the 1-,3-,and 5-year overall survival rates were 27.0 months,62.1％,35.9％,and 21.0％,respectively.Median survival was 34.0 months in surgical patients vs 16.0 months in nonsurgical patients (P =0.000).Median survival after lobectomy or pneumonectomy was significantly longer than after wedge resection (P =0.048).However,survival after wedge resection was still significantly longer than survival in nonsurgical patients(P =0.024).Survival analysis confirmed that the operation,chemotherapy and radiotherapy were showed to be independent prognostic factors.The local-regional recurrencer rates of lobectomy or pneumonectomy group was lower than wedge resection group(P =0.030).The distant metastasis rates of lobectomy or pneumonectomy group was lower than nonsurgical grou (P =0.021).Conclusion This study suggests that lobectomy or pneumonectomy combined with adjuvant radio-chemotherapy should be recommended for patients with limited-stage Ⅱ small cell lung cancer.

Objective:To identify the immune characteristics elicited by immunogen prepared in two different ways against a 36AA-peptide. Methods：Rabbits were immunized by a 36-AA-hapten coupled with carrier proteins or recombinant fusion protein separately. The kinetics and specificities of antibody responses were compared. Results：After about 3 months of primary immunity, the antisera elicited by two kinds of immunogen reached the peak titer. The highest titer elicited by the immunogen prepared with coupled-hapten method reached 1∶12 000, while the highest titer elicited by the immunogen prepared with gene engineering method was 1∶6 000. But the immune response produced by the recombinant fusion protein was more long-lasting. Conclusion：Both kinds of immunogen can successfully elicit 36-AA specific antibody response in rabbits, which have different immune characteristics. To couple the hapten with vector proteins is a quicker and more effective way to prepare the immunogen.

Objective:This study aims to investigate the correlation between the number of resected lymph nodes (LNs) and the prognosis of patients with node-negative non-small cell lung cancer (NSCLC). Methods:A retrospective review of 305 patients with NSCLC, who received curative resection between January 2004 and December 2009, was conducted. All patients were proved without lymph node involvement histopathologically. The prognostic impact of the number of negative LNs and the clinicopathologic factors were analyzed. Results:The overall median survival time and the 1-, 3-, and 5-year overall survival rates were 60.0 months, 76.1%, 59.3%, and 47.1%, respectively. Survival analysis confirmed that the number of negative LNs, T staging and the stations of the mediasti-nal lymph nodes dissected were showed to be independent prognostic factors. Patients with a high number of negative LNs had better overall survival than patients with a low number of negative LNs (P<0.05). The patients with dissected LNs counts of more than 11 for cases with pTl~2 tumor (P<0.05) and more than 16 for cases with pT3 tumor (P<0.05) had better long-term survival outcomes. The post-operative complication rate was 12.1%, which was not significantly correlated with the number of dissected lymph nodes (P>0.05). Conclusion:The number of negative lymph nodes is an independent prognostic predicting factor for node-negative NSCLC. Sufficient dissection of LNs is recommended to improve the survival of the patients with node-negative NSCLC.

Objective To investigate the correlation between the number of resected lymph nodes(LNs) and the prognosis of patients with node-negative esophageal carcinoma.Methods A retrospective review of 429 patients receiving esophagectomy with morden two-field lymphadenectomy for cancer between January 1998 and December 2008 was performed.All patients were proved without lymph node involvement histopathologically.The prognostic impact of the number of negative LNs and the clinicopathologic factors were analyzed.Results The overall median survival time was 63.0 months,and the 1-,3-,and 5-year overall survival rates were 78.5％,64.0％ and 51.2％,respectively.Survival analysis confirmed that the number of negative LNs and the depth of tumor invasion were showed to be independent prognostic factors.Patients with a high number of negative LNs had better overall survival than patients with a low number of negative LNs(P ＜ 0.05).The patients had better long-term survival outcomes with dissected LNs counts of more than 15 for cases with pT1 tumor(P ＜ 0.05),and more than 20 for cases with pT2-3 tumor(P ＜ 0.05).Conclusion The number of negative lymph nodes is an independent prognostic predicting factor for node-negative esophageal carcinoma.Sufficient dissection of LNs is recommended to improve the survival of patients with node-negative esophageal carcinoma.

Objective:To construct suitable vectors for the secretory expression of hirudin in Pichia pastoris.Methods:The α-facor-hirudin gene was amplified from pPIC9-hirudin by PCR and sub-cloned into PA0815.The multi-copy recombinant plasmid pA0815-(α-Hirudin)n was constructed.The recombinant was transformed into P.pastoris strain GS115 for induction expression and then the activity of secreted products was identified.Results:A new multi-copy vector pA0815-(αHirudin)n was successfully constructed and was capable of secreting recombinant hirudin efficiently,which was confirmed respectively by PCR and SDS-PAGE.The products possessed the activity of thrombin inhibitor.Conclusion:This result offers efficient P.pastoris stains for mass production of biological active hirudin.