Objective:To determine whether alpha-fetoprotein(AFP) messenger RNA(mRNA),a specifically hepatocyte-expressed gene,could be a marker of metastasis in hepatocellular carcinoma. Methods:Peripheral blood samples were obtained from 30 patients with hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC).A sensitive reverse transcription polymerase chain reaction( RT-PCR) technique was used to detect the human AFP mRNA in the blood.Results:Of the 30 HCC patients,14(46.7%) patients had positive AFP mRNA.The presence of AFP mRNA correlated with the TNM clinical stages,the size of tumor,extrahepatic metastasis or with portal vein carcinothrombosis(P0.05).Conclusion:The positive of AFP mRNA in the peripheral blood can indicate the presence of hematogenous metastasis in patients with HCC.

Objectives To determine maximal tolerated dose(MTD)and dose-limiting toxicity (DLT) of oxaliplatin(L-OHP)when combined with constant dosing of 5-Fu、Lv and concurrent radiotherapy in postoperative patients with rectal cancer.Methods A total of 21 patients with stage Ⅱ or Ⅲ rectal adenocarcinoma after curative surgery were treated with radiotherapy to a total dose of 50 Gy in 5 weeks.L-OHP was administered at a dosge of 45 mg/m2(n=3),55 mg/m2(n=3),65 mg/m2(n=3),75 mg/m2(n=6),and 85 mg/m2(n=6)once a week for 2 weeks(first cycle)followed by a second cycle after a 14-day break.5-Fu and LV at a fixed dose of 5-Fu 300 mg/m2 ivdrip for 2 h,then 500 mg/m2 ivdrip within 22 h,d1,d2.LV 200 mg/m2 ivdrip 2 h d1,d2.DLT was defined as grade Ⅲ or Ⅳ hematologic and nonhenmologic toxicity. Results Grade Ⅰ-Ⅲ leukopenia,diarrhea,and nausea/vomiting were the most common toxic side effects.and most were of grade 1-2.DLT was first observed in 2 of 3 patients at 75 mg/m2(1 of grade Ⅲ diarrhea and 1 of grade Ⅲ leukopenia).L-OHP at dosage of 85 mg/m2 caused DLT in 4 of 6 patients(2 of grade Ⅲ leukopenia and 1 of grade Ⅲ diarrhea and 1 of grade Ⅲ diarrhea).Conclusions Diarrhea was the most common dose-limiting toxicity(DLT).Tlle maximal tolerated dose(MTD)of L-OHP in this setting was 75 mg/m2 which was comparable to the maximal tolerated dose of L-OHP seen in the neoadjuvant setting.

Background and purpose:A non-recurrent course is a rare anatomic variation of the recurrent laryngeal nerve, which is highly predisposed to injury in thyroidectomy. The study was to summarize preoperative judgment and injury prevention of non-recurrent laryngeal nerve (NRLN) during thyroidectomy.Methods:Preoperative diagnosis and precautions during thyroidectomy were investigated, clinical data from eleven cases of NRLN were analyzed and related literature was reviewed as well.Results:All eleven cases were NRLN of type 1. Among those, the right subclavian artery was found posteriorly to the trachea and esophagus shown by preoperative CT in seven cases. One case who had NRLN injury underwent nerve anastomosis.Conclusion:NRLN is a rare anatomical variation. Preoperative neck CT scan identifies presence of a NRLN, which may reduce the incidence of nerve injures by using intraoperative capsular dissection.

Objective To compare the esophageal acid and alkaline exposure characteristics of patients with cardia carcinoma after proximal gastrectomy or total gastrectomy.Method A total of 77 patients of cardia carcinoma who underwent radical resection from Sep 2007 to Sep 2011 in our hospital were retrospectively reviewed.24 hour esophageal pH monitoring were performed in all patients.Result Patients were divided into three groups:group TG had total gastrectomy (n =25),group PP had proximal gastrectomy with pyloroplasty (n =33),group NP had proximal gastrectomy (n =19).It revealed that indicators of acid reflux including the overall time length of acid episodes,＞ 5 min times of acid episodes,duration of longest acid episodes,time length of pH ＜ 4.00 and the DeMeester Scores in group NP were significantly higher than in group PP(U =32,P ＜ 0.01 ; U =35,P ＜ 0.01 ; U =23,P ＜ 0.01 ; U =39,P ＜0.01 ;U =49,P ＜0.01 respectively).Only alkline reflux was observed in group TG.The total times of alkaline episodes in PP group was significantly lower than in group TG(U =52,P ＜0.01) and group NP (U =182,P ＜0.01).＞5 min times of alkaline episodes in group TG was larger than in group PP,and that in group PP was larger than in group NP(P ＜0.01).Duration of longest alkaline episodes and total period of pH ＞7.00 in group PP was significantly higher than in group TG(U =125,P ＜ 0.01 ; U =143.5,P ＜ 0.01),and that in group TG was higher than in group NP(U =23.5,P ＜ 0.01 ; U =14,P ＜ 0.01).Conclusions Alkaline reflux deserves more attention in evaluating esophageal reflux in patients with cardia carcinoma after resection.Pyloroplasty is not helpful to relieving esophageal acid episodes while causing severe alkaline reflux.

Objective:To investigate the related factors and clinical significance of peritoneal micrometastasis in patients with gastric carcinoma,providing theoretical basis for resection range。Methods:CK19,CK20 immunohistochemistry were performed on 62 patients' tissues taken from anterior lobe of transverse mesocolon,posterior wall of omental bursa,pancreatic capsule and rectovesical pouch or Douglas pouch during the operations,compared with HE staining and peritoneal lavage cytology(PLC).Results:No metastasis was found by HE staining.Peritoneal micrometastasis were found in 27 cases out of 62 by immunohistochemistry,and its positive rate was 43.55%,obviously higher than PLC(14.52%).The peritoneal micrometastasis of gastric carcinoma had relations with diameter of tumor,depth of infiltration,clinical stage,lymph node metastasis(P0.05).Conclusion:Immunohistochemistric measure of CK 19 and CK20 can be effective to detect the micrometastasis of gastric carcinoma,which is helpful to guide clinical staging and useful to provide evidence for accurate selection of operation and postoperative treatment.Routine detection of peritoneal micrometastasis should be taken in patients of advanced gastric carcinoma,especially with a large size of serosa invasion.Multiple spots sampling is helpful to improve the detection rate.Anterior lobe of transverse mesocolon and pancreatic capsule should be peeled,and radical resection of omental bursa should be considered as routine operation in these patients.

Objective To study retrospectively the relation of the number of all dissected and negative lymph nodes (LNs) to the prognosis of patients with stage Ⅲ rectal carcinoma after radical resection.Methods From 2002 to 2007,412 sage Ⅲ rectal carcinoma patients undergoing radical resection were enrolled.Patients were divided into five groups according to the number of dissected LNs as follows:1 to 6 lymph nodes,7 to 12 lymph nodes,13 to 18 lymph nodes,19 to 24 lymph nodes,and more than 24 lymph nodes.The association with the survival was analyzed.The Kaplan-Meier method was used to estimate survival as a function of time,and survival differences were analyzed with the log-rank test.The correlation between all dissected and negative lymph nodes was analyzed.The Cox proportional hazard model were used to investigate the risk factors for stage Ⅲ rectal carcinoma.Results The 1,3 and 5 years survival rates were respectively 79.9％,59.2％ and 43.0％.The 5-year survival rates increased with the increasing number of the examined LNs and the negative LNs,the differences were significant (20.0％、26.5％ 、43.9％ 、54.2％ 、53.5％,P =0.001 ; 10.3％ 、34.8％ 、51.9％ 、56.8％ 、70.8％,P =0.000).There were 7301 LNs dissected among which 5698 were pathology negative.The dissected LNs were correlated positively with negative LNs on the Pearson's correlation test(correlation coefficients r =0.899).The total number of dissected LNs and negative LNs were independent prognostic predictors.Conclusions The total number of dissected lymph node and negative lymph nodes are significantly correlated to prognosis of staged Ⅲ rectal carcinoma patient.On premise of standard procedure,we see all dissected and negative lymph nodes as a prognostic auxiliary index.

Objective:To investigate the effect of pidotimod in reducing pulmonary infection in patients with lung cancer undergoing chemotherapy.Methods:One hundred and twenty patients with lung cancer in the Fifth People′s Hospital of Dalian City from July 2017 to July 2018 were selected. The patients were divided into control group and pidotimod group by random digits table method with 60 cases each. The patients were treated with standard two drugs chemotherapy containing platinum drug according to the pathological type, and the patients in pidotimod group were combined with pidotimod. The number of pulmonary infections during chemotherapy, number of completed scheduled chemotherapy and adverse reaction were observed. The correlation between pulmonary infection and pidotimod was analyzed by multivariate orderly Logistic regression.Results:The incidence of pulmonary infection in pidotimod group was significantly lower than that in control group: 18.33% (11/60) vs. 40.00% (24/60), and there was statistical difference ( χ2 = 6.845, P<0.01). The rate of completed scheduled chemotherapy in pidotimod group was significantly higher than that in control group: 55.00% (33/60) vs. 36.67% (22/60), and there was statistical difference ( χ2 = 4.062, P<0.05). Multivariate orderly Logistic regression analysis result showed that pidotimod could reduce the risk of pulmonary infection ( OR = 0.210, 95% CI 0.072 to 0.606, P = 0.004), and help to complete the scheduled chemotherapy ( OR = 2.323, 95% CI 1.080 to 5.003, P = 0.031). In pidotimod group, no obvious adverse reaction related to pidotimod application was detected, and chemotherapy was not affected. Conclusions:Application of pidotimod can reduce the chance of pulmonary infection in patients with lung cancer undergoing chemotherapy and help patients complete scheduled chemotherapy.

Objective To investigate the clinicopathological characteristics and prognosis of serumb alpha-fetoprotein(AFP)-producing gastric cancer.Methods A total of 1396 cases of gastric cancer in our hospital from 2002 to 2007 were retrospectively reviewed.The relationship between serum AFP with clinicopathological factors,survival rate,prognosis and liver metastasis were analyzed.Results There were 90 AFP-producing gastric cancer patients accounting for 6.45％ of all the gastric cancer cases during the time period.In those patients there was bigger tumor size,more T3 and T4 invasion (82.2％ vs.69.2％),higher incidence of lymph node metastasis (80.0％ vs.60.2％)and liver metastasis(6.67％ vs.1.68％),and later clinical stage than that in the AFP-negative group.The 1,3,5 year-overall survival (OS) rate in AFP-positive group were 52.2％,31.1％,20％ while those in AFP-negative group were 82.5％,59.9％,48.8％.The 1,3,5 year-disease free survival(DFS) rate in AFP-positive group were 47.8％,24.4％,15.6％ while those in AFP-negative group were 77.5％,54.8％,44.3％.The AFP-positive group had a shorter median time period than the AFP-negative group when liver metastasis happened (5 months vs.11 months).Conclusions Serum AFP-producing gastric cancer was higher malignancy,it was deeper in invasion and later in clinical stage,more patients with lymph nodes and liver metastasis,low survival rate and poorer prognosis.

Concurrent Graves' disease and primary hyperparathyroidism in the same patient is rare, probably accounts for hypercalcemia in no more than 1 percent of thyrotoxic patients. Hypercalcemia may be noted during the course of hyperthyroidism in as many as 22 percent of cases. The cause of hypercalcemia in a thyrotoxic patient might be due to the activation of osteoclastic bone resorption by the excess thyroid hormone, as the severity of hyperthyroidism correlates positively with osteoclastic activity in trabecular and cortical bone. In 1936, Noble JF et al reported the first case in the world. To our knowledge, only 49 such cases have been described in the literature until the year of 1989. No case has been reported again afterward. The occurrence of hypercalcemia in a patient with hyperthyroidism may present a challenging diagnostic problem. In this communication, we described the first case in mainland of China with hypercalcemia caused by concurrent hyperthyroidism and primary hyperparathyroidism, and the clinical and laboratory characteristics were studied before and after therapy with anti-thyroid medication.
Female ; Graves Disease ; complications ; pathology ; Humans ; Hyperparathyroidism ; complications ; pathology ; Middle Aged

OBJECTIVETo investigate the predictive value of serum CA125 in peritoneal metastasis, and to examine the association of CA125 with the prognosis.

METHODSClinical data of 1285 gastric cancer patients admitted to the Qilu Hospital from March 2003 to September 2008 were retrospectively reviewed. The sensitivity, specificity and accuracy of serum CA125 for peritoneal metastasis were analyzed. Clinicopathological characteristics and survival were compared between patients with normal serum CA125 level(≤35 μg/L) and patients with elevated serum CA125 level(>35 μg/L).

RESULTSThe specificity, sensitivity and accuracy of serum CA125 for peritoneal metastasis were 96.0%, 13.8% and 81.2%, respectively. A significantly higher incidence of peritoneal metastasis was observed in the patients with elevated serum CA125 level as compared to those with normal serum CA125 level(43.2% vs. 16.5%). CA125 was an independent predictor of peritoneal metastasis(RR=3.475, 95% CI:2.124-5.685). The 5-year overall survival rate in patients with elevated serum CA125 level was 13.5%, which was significantly lower than that of patients with normal serum CA125 level (49.8%, P<0.01). CA125 was an independent prognostic factor of gastric cancers(HR=2.049, 95%CI:1.355-2.873).

CONCLUSIONSerum CA125 is useful in predicting peritoneal metastasis and prognosis of gastric cancer, which should be used as a routine examination of gastric cancer patients.

CA-125 Antigen ; blood ; Humans ; Neoplasm Staging ; Peritoneal Neoplasms ; blood ; secondary ; Prognosis ; Retrospective Studies ; Stomach Neoplasms ; blood ; pathology ; Survival Rate