Objective To explore the clinical outcomes of laparoscopic appendectomy in acute and chronic appendicitis,and sum up the surgical experiences of lapaproscopic appendectomy.Method In this study 129 cases of appendicitis at the Department of Gastroentrological Surgery,Peking University People's Hosptial were collected retrospectively from June 2008 to December 2009.The clinical results of laparoscopic and open procedures for acute appendicitis and the outcomes of laparoscopic operation for acute and chronic appendicitis were compared.Results For acute appendicitis,the length of hospitalization [(4.8 ± 2.6) d vs.(7.0 ± 1.3) d,t =0.679,P =0.006] was significantly shorter in laparoscopic group than that in open surgery group.In addition,the mean length of operation time [(77 ± 33) min vs.(55 ± 23) min,t =3.431,P ＜0.01] were longer,postoperative first passing flatus [(2.3 ± 1.2) d vs.(1.4 ±0.9) d,t =4.665,P ＜0.01] and oral intake [(2.3 ± 1.4) d vs.(1.2 ±0.6) d,t =4.517,P＜0.01] were later for acute appendicitis patients than for chronic appendicitis in laparoscopic group.Conclusions Laparoscopic appendectomy for acute appendicitis is a safe and effective procedure,though it might cause more postoperative complications such as intra-abdominal abscess and small intestinal obstruction in patients with acute appendicitis.

Objective To explore the early predictive factors of intestinal necrosis in patients with acute superior mesenteric arterial occlusive disease and its significance for the decision of exploratory laparotomy.Methods This retrospective study enrolled 29 patients diagnosed with acute superior mesenteric artery embolism or thrombosis in Peking University People's Hospital between July 1995 and June 2015.Results 12 patients developed intestinal necrosis.Patients with intestinal necrosis had a poorer prognosis than those who did not develop intestinal necrosis (x2 =14.867,P =0.000).In univariate analysis,the early predictive factors for intestinal necrosis were D-Dimer ≥ 600 μg/L (x2 =11.455,P =0.002),INR≥1.2 (x2 =3.948,P =0.047),pH values ＜7.4 (x2 =8.191,P =0.004),BE ＜ -1.0 mmol/L (x2 =8.191,P =0.004),blood lactate ≥ 2.2 mmol/L(x2 =7.535,P =0.006),BUN ≥ 6 mmol/L (x2 =10.076,P =0.002),CK ≥ 80 U/L (x2 =8.191,P =0.004),LDH ≥ 210 U/L (x2 =13.079,P=0.000),AST ≥25 U/L (x2 =10.076,P =0.002),SIRS (x2 =10.076,P =0.002).Multivariate logistic regression analysis found no independent predictive factors of intestinal necrosis in patients with acute superior mesenteric arterial occlusive diseases.Conclusion Intestinal necrosis in acute mesenteric arterial occlusive diseases indicates a poor prognosis.Coagulation abnormalities,liver or kidney dysfunction,metabolic acidosis and SIRS necessitates an immediate exploration.

Objective To compare the surgical outcomes of RAC versus LAC for the surgery of sigmoid-rectal cancer.Methods In this study,19 patients received robotic assisted colectomy (RAC)and 37 patients received laparoscopic assisted colectomy (LAC).Results The duration of surgery was longer in the RAC group (240 ± 76) min vs.(177 ± 74) min,t =3.006,P =0.004.The blood loss was less in the RAC group (67 ±40) vs.(153 ±151) ml,t =-2.422,P=0.019.The time to tolerate solid food was shorter in the RAC group (6.1 ±2.2)d vs.(7.4 ±4.4)d,t =-1.329,P =0.189 and the postoperative hospital stay was shorter in the RAC group (8.5 ± 2.6) d vs.(10.0 ± 3.6) d,t =-1.577,P =0.121.Mobidity and number of lymph nodes harvested were similar in both groups.7 cases were converted to open surgery in LAC group but none in RAC group.Conclusion Compared to laparoscopic surgery,Robotic-assisted colorectomy was safe and associated with less blood losses,lower conversion rate to open surgery and faster recovery of bowel function.

Objective:To determine the diagnostic value of tumor markers in peritoneal lavage fluid from colorectal cancer patients for tumor peritoneal metastasis.Methods:A total of 227 colorectal cancer patients who undergoing surgical treatment were included. 300 ml of peritoneal lavage fluid was irrigated immediately upon laparotomy for traditional cytology (PLC) testing, 134 patients were tested for tumor marker of peritoneal lavage fluid (pTM). Univariate analysis was performed to determine the risk factors for peritoneal metastasis; pTM ROC curve was used to determine the best cutoff value; paired chi-square test was used to compare the difference between PLC and pTM detection.Results:The positive rate of PLC was 12.3% (28/227). Age>65, stage T3 + , lymph node metastasis, mucinous adenocarcinoma and increased serum CA125, CA19-9 are related to peritoneal metastasis; The best cutoff value of pTM for peritoneal metastasis : pCEA 17.095 ng/dl, sensitivity 58.3%, specificity 93.9%; pCA19-9 4.515 U/ml, sensitivity 83.3%, specificity 80.0%; pCA125 303.2 U/ml, sensitivity 58.3%, specificity 95.7%; pCA-724 3.01 U/ml, sensitivity 66.7%, specificity 95.7%; The best cutoff value of pTM for peritoneal micrometastasis: pCA19-9 3.43 U/ml, sensitivity 100%, specificity 72.2%. The positive rate of pCA19-9 was 29.85%, which was higher than that of PLC (χ 2=2.00, P<0.05). Conclusion:Peritoneal metastasis of colorectal cancer is related to tumor T stage, lymph node metastasis, tumor pathological type, and increased serum CA125 and CA19-9; pTM has diagnostic value for peritoneal metastasis of colorectal cancer.

Objective:To observe the clinical characteristics of esophageal reflux after total gastrectomy (ERATG), and to explore the mechanism of occurrence.Methods:Fourteen gastric cancer patients who underwent total gastrectomy were prospectively enrolled in this study. The postoperative symptoms were observed and recorded and 24 h MII-pH with pH monitoring was performed to investigate the characteristics of postoperative reflux.Results:After total gastrectomy patients were with different degrees of ERATG as heartburn, appetite loss, chest tightness and belching. The overall nature of ERATG is mainly weak acid, with a pH between 4 and 7. ERATG involved esophageal-jejunal anastomosis and a length of esophagus 7 cm above the anastomosis. Patients with typical reflux symptoms had a lower pH minimum in the upright position than those without typical symptoms[(4.76±0.71) vs.(5.68±0.37), t=2.866, P<0.05]. Patients with typical reflux symptoms had a higher frequency of reflux of mixed liquid and liquid-air reflux than those without typical symptoms[liquid(31.25±29.76) vs.(4.50±9.14), t=0.011, P<0.05; liquid-air(19.50±12.99) vs.(2.00±2.61), t=0.004, P<0.05]. Conclusion:ERATG is mainly a upward reflux of weakly acidic gas, with typical symptoms of heartburn, appetite loss, chest tightness and belching. Patients with typical symptoms usually have lower pH in the upright position.

Objective To evaluate different methods in detecting intraperitontal free cancer cells (IFCCs) in patients with gastric cancer and to clarify the relationship between positive IFCCs and short-term prognosis.Methods A total of 119 gastric cancer patients who underwent surgical treatment were enrolled.Peritoneal lavage was performed with 300-400 ml saline respectively at three points of time:immediately after abdominal cavity entry;when surgical operation was completed;when extensive intraoperative peritoneal lavage was done.The IFCCs were detected with methods of traditional centrifugal cytology,membrane cytology,ICC and RT-PCR.The survival curve of patients with gastric cancer was drawn using Kaplan-Meier method.Results The positive rate of PLC was 16.8％,20.7％ and 11.2％ respectively at 3 timepoints (P ＜ 0.05).The positive rates of ICC were 28.6％,38.8％ and 20.7％ respectively at 3 timepoints.The positive rates of RT-PCR were 39.3％,69.5％ and 50.8％ respectively at 3 time points.The positive rate of IFCCs detected through RT-PCR was higher than that of PLC and ICC (P ＜ 0.05).The short-term prognosis of patients with positive IFCCs was worse than those with negative results detected with any three method at the timg point immediately after opening the abdomen (P ＜ 0.05).At the timg point immediately after removing the tumors,the short-term prognosis of patients with positive IFCCs detected with PLC was worse (P ＜ 0.05).Conclusion The short-term prognosis was poor in patients with positive IFCCs.It is the best time to detect IFCCs before radical resection.Surgical procedures increase the risk of shedding of IFCCs.

Mesenchymal stem cells (MSCs) are multipotent stem cells that exist widely in the human body, which can self-renewal and differentiate into different types of cell. Due to its advantages of tumor tissue tropism and easy to be engineered, it has been widely used in cancer treatment research recently. However, the tumor-promoting or anti-tumor effect of MSCs is controversial, especially for unmodified MSCs. Therefore, researchers are more inclined to use MSCs as carriers to engineer them. With the deepening in understanding of vesicles, it is found that the vesicles derived from MSCs seem to have greater advantages as carriers. Although the current research of MSCs in the treatment of tumors has been initiated in the clinic, there are still many problems to be solved in the pre-clinical application.
Humans ; Mesenchymal Stem Cell Transplantation ; Mesenchymal Stem Cells

OBJECTIVETo explore the predictive factors of intestinal necrosis in acute mesenteric vascular occlusive diseases and its significance for the timing of exploratory laparotomy.

METHODSThis retrospective study enrolled 63 patients diagnosed as acute mesenteric vascular occlusive diseases at Peking University People's Hospital between July 1995 and June 2015. Univariate analysis and multivariate logistic regression analysis were used to identify predictive factors for intestinal necrosis.

RESULTSOf 63 patients, 39 were male and 24 were female, with a mean age of (58.8±12.7)(31 to 82) years. The overall rate of intestinal necrosis was 46.0%(29/63). Patients with intestinal necrosis had a poorer prognosis than those who did not develop intestinal necrosis (χ=5.908, P=0.015). In univariate analysis, the predictive factors of intestinal necrosis were systemic inflammatory reactive syndrome (SIRS) (χ=18.535, P=0.000), shock (χ=7.775, P=0.007), peritoneal irritation sign (χ=11.533, P=0.001), changes of intestinal wall and blood signals on ultrasound or CT scans (χ=14.344, P=0.000), international normalized ratio(INR) (prothrombin time) ≥1.2 (χ=4.498, P=0.034), D-dimer ≥1 000 g/L(χ=6.680, P=0.010), low-density lipoprotein ≥270 U/L (χ=6.513, P=0.011), serum albumin <35 g/L (χ=3.914, P=0.048), blood urea nitrogen ≥6.2 mmol/L (χ=11.377, P=0.000), pH values <7.35 (χ=15.887, P=0.000), blood lactate ≥2 mmol/L(χ=17.134, P=0.000), base excess <-1.0 mmol/L (χ=6.674, P=0.010). According to multivariate logistic regression analysis, SIRS(OR=28.945, 95%CI:2.294 to 365.199, P=0.009), pH values <7.35(OR=13.174, 95%CI:1.157 to 150.027, P=0.038), changes of intestinal wall and blood signals on ultrasound or CT scans(OR=4.857, 95%CI:1.110 to 21.253, P=0.036) were independent predictive factors of intestinal necrosis in patients with acute mesenteric vascular occlusive diseases.

CONCLUSIONSIntestinal necrosis in acute mesenteric vascular occlusive diseases prompts a poor prognosis. When patients with acute mesenteric vascular occlusive diseases are found to have acidosis, SIRS and changes of intestinal wall and blood signals on ultrasound or CT scans, surgeons should be alert to the occurrence of intestinal necrosis and should perform laparotomy promptly in order to take suitable management.

OBJECTIVE: To investigate the protective effects of dexmedetomidine (DEX) against cerebral ischemia/reperfusion (I/R) injury in mice and its relation with mitochondrial fusion and fission. METHODS: Male ICR mice were randomly divided into sham-operated group, I/R group, I/R+DEX group and I/R+DEX+dorsomorphin group. Mouse models of cerebral I/R injury were established by modified thread occlusion of the middle cerebral artery. DEX (50 μg/kg) was injected intraperitoneally at 30 min before cerebral ischemia, which lasted for 1 h followed by reperfusion for 24 h. The neurobehavioral deficits of the mice were evaluated based on Longa's scores. The volume of cerebral infarction was detected by TTC staining. The changes in mitochondrial morphology of the brain cells were observed with transmission electron microscopy. Western blotting was performed to detect the expressions of phosphorylated AMP-activated protein kinase (p-AMPK), mitochondrial fusion protein (Mfn2) and mitochondrial fission protein (p-Drp1) in the brain tissues. RESULTS: DEX pretreatment significantly reduced the neurobehavioral score and the percent volume of cerebral infarction in mice with cerebral I/R injury. Treatment with dorsomorphin (an AMPK inhibitor) in addition to DEX significantly increased the neurobehavioral score and the percent volume of cerebral infarction in the mouse models. Transmission electron microscopy showed that DEX obviously reduced mitochondrial damage caused by cerebral I/R injury and restored mitochondrial morphology of the brain cells, and such effects were abolished by dorsomorphin treatment. Western blotting showed that DEX pretreatment significantly increased the expressions of p-AMPK and Mfn2 protein and decreased the expression of p-Drp1 protein in the brain tissue of the mice, and these changes were also reversed by dorsomorphin treatment. CONCLUSIONS Preconditioning with DEX produces protective effects against cerebral I/R injury in mice possibly by activating AMPK signaling to regulate mitochondrial fusion and fission in the brain cells.
Animals ; Brain Ischemia ; Dexmedetomidine ; Male ; Mice ; Mice, Inbred ICR ; Mitochondrial Dynamics ; Reperfusion Injury