ObjectiveTo investigate the expression of TM6SF2 in hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) tissue and its biological functions by data mining in tumor databases. MethodsThe GEPIA database was applied to measure the change in the mRNA expression level of TM6SF2 in HCC tissue, and OncoLnc was used to analyze the association of TM6SF2 expression with the survival time of HCC patients. The cBioPortal and LinkedOmics databases were used to analyze the genes associated with the expression of TM6SF2 in HCC tissue, and the DAVID6.8 and STRING databases were used to perform a bioinformatics analysis of TM6SF2 and the genes associated with its expression. The t-test was used to investigate the difference in the mRNA expression of TM6SF2 between HCC tissue and adjacent tissue. The Spearman correlation coefficient was used to analyze the correlation of gene expression. The Kaplan-Meier method was used to calculate survival percentage, and the log-rank test was used to analyze the difference in survival percentage. ResultsCompared with the normal liver tissue, the HCC tissue had low mRNA expression of TM6SF2 (｜log2FC｜cut-off = 0.5, P＜0.01). Compared with those with high expression of TM6SF2, the patients with low expression had a significant reduction in overall survival time (χ2=9.897，P＜0.01). Data analysis showed that a total of 49 genes were associated with the expression of TM6SF2 in HCC tissue, and the gene ontology analysis showed that these genes were enriched in the biological processes and functions including fatty acid synthesis, fatty acid ligase activation, and thrombin regulation (P＜0.05). The Kyoto Encyclopedia of Genes and Genome pathway analysis showed that these genes were mainly involved in the signaling pathways of alanine metabolism, peroxisome proliferator-activated receptor signaling pathway, and bile secretion (P＜0.05). The protein-protein interaction network analysis showed that the genes of SERPINC1, NR1I2, SERPINA10, and SLC10A1 had marked or potential interaction with TM6SF2 (P＜0.01). ConclusionTumor data mining can quickly obtain the information on the expression of TM6SF2 in HCC tissue and provide a bioinformatics basis for exploring the role of TM6SF2 in the development and progression of HCC.

OBJECTIVETo explore the methods and results of surgical management for refractory dysphagia and aspiration.

METHODSThe clinical data of 24 refractory dysphagia and aspiration patients who accepted surgical management were retrospectively analysed.

RESULTSTwenty-four refractory dysphagia and aspiration patients accepted 26 operations between 2001 and 2014. Of the 26 operations, 17 were cricopharyngeal myectomy (CPM), 6 were scarectomy, 3 were laryngeal-tracheal separation. No severe complications occurred. Assessments of dysphagia were completed in 18 operations before and after operation. Aspiration scores of videofluoroscopic swallowing study (VFSS) were 4.50 [4.00;7.00] vs 2.00 [1.00; 3.25], P = 0.000; swallow dysfunction scroes of VFSS were 5.00 [4.00; 12.00] vs 1.00 [1.50; 10.00], P = 0.001; aspiration scores of fibroptic endoscopic evaluation of swallowing (FEES) were 4.00 [5.00; 7.00] vs 2.00 [1.75; 3.00], P = 0.000. But the surgical results for post radiotherapy dysphagia were not successful (n = 5): aspiration scores of VFSS were 7.00 [6.50; 8.00] vs 6.00 [2.00; 7.50], P = 0.109;swallow dysfunction scroes of VFSS were 12.00 [10.50; 12.00] vs 12.00 [7.50; 12.00], P = 0.180;aspiration scores of FEES were 7.00 [6.50; 8.00] vs 6.00 [2.00; 7.50], P = 0.109.

CONCLUSIONSurgical management was effective for refractory dysphagia and aspiration, but the surgical indication selection should be strict.

Deglutition Disorders ; surgery ; Endoscopy ; Fluoroscopy ; Humans ; Larynx ; Larynx, Artificial ; Retrospective Studies ; Trachea

Objective: To introduce the method of transoral coblation-assisted endoscopic minimally invasive surgery for superficial tongue base tumour. Methods: A total of 15 patients treated with transoral coblation-assisted endoscopic minimally invasive surgery from Mar. 2006 to Aug. 2016 were retrospectively reviewed. There were 9 patients with malignant tumors, 6 patients with benign neoplasms. Adjuvant postoperative radiation therapy was applied in three cases of squamous cell carcinoma, neck was performed in four cases of cancer. One case of non-Hodgkin lymphoma received postoperative chemotherapy. Results: One case with ectopic thyroid gland was treated by subtotal resection and one case with squamous cell carcinoma changed into open surgery because of major lingual artery bleeding. The En bloc resection under edoscope was achieved in 92.86%(13/14)of patients. Fifteen cases of neoplasms were followed-up for 8-50 months(median 20 months), one patient with Cowden syndrome was lost to follow-up because of appendical carcinoid combined pulmonary metastasis, one patient with non-Hodgkin lymphoma died of recurrence in other head neck areas 2 years after chemotherapy. Conclusion Transoral coblation-assisted endoscopic surgery can successfully treat for the patients with superficial tongue base tumours.