Background: Ergothioneine (EGT) is a natural amino acid derivative in various animal organs and is a bioactive compound recognized as a food and medicine. Objectives: This study examined the effects of EGT supplementation during the in vitro maturation (IVM) period on porcine oocyte maturation and subsequent embryonic development competence after in vitro fertilization (IVF). Methods: Each EGT concentration (0, 10, 50, and 100 µM) was supplemented in the maturation medium during IVM. After IVM, nuclear maturation, intracellular glutathione (GSH), and reactive oxygen species (ROS) levels of oocytes were investigated. In addition, the genes related to cumulus function and antioxidant pathways in oocytes or cumulus cells were investigated. Finally, this study examined whether EGT could affect embryonic development after IVF. Results: After IVM, the EGT supplementation group showed significantly higher intracellular GSH levels and significantly lower intracellular ROS levels than the control group. Moreover, the expression levels of hyaluronan synthase 2 and Connexin 43 were significantly higher in the 10 µM EGT group than in the control group. The expression levels of nuclear factor erythroid 2-related factor 2 (Nrf2) and NAD(P)H quinone dehydrogenase 1 (NQO1) were significantly higher in the oocytes of the 10 µM EGT group than in the control group. In the assessment of subsequent embryonic development after IVF, the 10 µM EGT treatment group improved the cleavage and blastocyst rate significantly than the control group. Conclusions Supplementation of EGT improved oocyte maturation and embryonic development by reducing oxidative stress in IVM oocytes.

OBJECTIVEWe analyzed the lymph node (MLNs) metastasis of thoracic esophageal squamous cell carcinoma (ESCC) to explore the patterns of lymphatic spread and the rational surgical procedure and extent of lymph node dissection for ESCC.

METHODSWe retrospectively evaluated 313 consecutive patients treated in our hospital between January 2010 and May 2014 who underwent minimally invasive esophagectomy (MIE) for ESCC. The information of lymph node status was obtained and the features of lymph node metastasis were analyzed.

RESULTSOf the 313 cases, 122 (39.0%) were found to have lymph node metastasis. In the 4461 dissected lymph nodes, metastasis was identified in 294 (6.6%) lymph nodes. The recurrent laryngeal nerve lymph nodes were the most frequent metastatic nodes with a metastasis rate of 25.2%, followed by the paracardiac and left gastric artery lymph nodes (18.2%). Chi-square test showed that the lymph node metastasis is associated with tumor invasion and tumor differentiation (P<0.001 for both). Metastases were more frequently found in the recurrent laryngeal nerve lymph nodes in patients with tumors in the upper third esophagus and with histologically poor differentiation (P<0.05 for both). The metastasis rate of para-cardiac and left gastric artery lymph nodes was associated with tumor in the lower third of esophagus, T stage and differentiation (all P<0.05). Logistic regression analysis showed that tumor differentiation and location are independent factors affecting the metastasis of recurrent laryngeal nerve lymph nodes (P<0.05 for all). T stage, tumor differentiation and location were independent factors associated with metastasis of para-cardiac and left gastric artery lymph nodes (P<0.05 for all).

CONCLUSIONS(1) Metastases of thoracic esophageal carcinoma are often found in the recurrent laryngeal nerve lymph nodes, para-cardiac and left gastric artery lymph nodes. (2) Extensive lymph node dissection should be performed for ESCC with poor differentiation and deep tumor invasion.

Carcinoma, Squamous Cell ; secondary ; surgery ; Esophageal Neoplasms ; pathology ; surgery ; Esophagectomy ; Humans ; Lymph Node Excision ; Lymph Nodes ; pathology ; Lymphatic Metastasis ; Lymphatic Vessels ; Recurrent Laryngeal Nerve ; Retrospective Studies