Objective To evaluate the efficacy and safety of ligation-assisted endoscopic dissection (ED-L) technique for the removal of gastric tumors originating from muscularis propria.Methods A total of 33 patients with gastric tumors originating from muscularis propria less than 10 mm were treated with ED-L procedures.The tumor was ligated by elastic bands.Endoscopic dissection was performed until the tumor was partially or completely dissected from muscularis propria by using Hook knife and/or IT-knife.The wound was closed with metallic clips and medical adhesive.The patients were followed up 1 week,1 month,3 months,6 months and 12 months thereafter with endoscopy,respectively.Results Of the 33 gastric tumors,there were 25 partial dissections and 8 complete dissections.All of the tumors sloughed completely.Pathological diagnoses of all the patients were acquired.No complications like perforation occurred except for one self-limiting and non-life-threatening hemorrhage.There was no recurrent case during the 3-18 months of follow-up period.Conclusion ED-L is a safe,effective and relatively simple technique for excision of small gastrointestinal tumors originating from muscularis propria,providing a histopathological diagnosis as well.

Abstract: Due to the continued emergence of multiple variants of SARS-CoV-2, the ongoing pandemic has resulted in severe mortality over the past two years. After the Alpha, Beta, Gamma and Delta variants, the most recent new variant of concern (VOC) strain to emerge is Omicron (B.1.1.529), which evolved as a result of the accumulation of a large number of mutations. The Omicron variant, which has a much higher transmission rate than the Delta variant, soon replaced the Delta variant and others, is now the dominant variant worldwide. The emergence of Omicron poses new challenges for the prevention and control of COVID-19 and has raised a number of concerns worldwide. Recently, cases of Omicron infection have been reported in several parts of China, and therefore this paper provides a comprehensive analysis and summary of the epidemiology and immune escape mechanisms of the Omicron variant. We also suggest some therapeutic strategies against the Omicron variant, including rapid diagnosis, genome analysis of emerging variants, ramping up of vaccination drives and receiving booster doses, updating the available vaccines, designing of multivalent vaccines able to generate hybrid immunity, up-gradation of medical facilities and strict implementation of adequate prevention and control measures need to be given high priority to handle the on-going COVID-19 pandemic successfully.

Objective: To analyze the effectiveness, safety and factors influencing the clinical prognosis of patients with hypopharyngeal carcinoma in T4b by nonsurgical treatments. Methods: The clinical data of 77 patients with T4b hypopharyngeal cancer treated in the College of Otolaryngology Head and Neck Surgery of the Chinese People's Liberation Army General Hospital from January 2010 to June 2021 were analyzed retrospectively. All were males, aged(57.0±8.0)years old. Patients were treated with induction chemotherapy plus concurrent chemoradiotherapy. Kaplan Meier survival analysis was used to compare the effects of different factors on prognosis. Adverse reactions during treatments and the causes of death were analyzed. Results: 98.7% of 77 patients with T4b hypopharyngeal cancer completed the chemotherapy plan and 94.8% completed the radiotherapy plan. The most common adverse reactions were grade 2 radiation oral mucositis (50/77, 64.9%) and grade 2 leukopenia (50/77, 64.9%). The incidence of grade 3 severe hoarseness was 7.8% (6/77), one patient (1.3%) underwent gastrostomy due to dysphagia, and pronunciation and swallowing function were effectively preserved in other patients. The overall survival rate was 71.9% at 1 year, 45.6% at 3 years and 29.7% at 5 years. The location of tumor, the presence of liquefaction necrosis in tumor, the use of molecular targeted drugs and the approach of radiotherapy were independent factors,each of which that affected the prognosis of T4b patients with advanced hypopharyngeal cancer [HR (95%CI) were 1.867(1.085-3.213), 3.018 (1.437-6.335), 0.372 (0.181-0.764) and 2.158 (1.015-4.588), respectively, P<0.05]. The two leading causes of death with high incidence were disease recurrence (12/32, 37.5%) and cervical large vessel rupture and hemorrhage (11/32, 34.4%). Conclusions: Non-surgical comprehensive treatment offers a high laryngeal preservation rate in patients with T4b hypopharyngeal cancer. The location of tumor, the liquefaction necrosis within tumor, the use of molecular targeted drugs, and the approach of radiotherapy are independent prognostic factors.
Aged ; Carcinoma, Squamous Cell ; Chemoradiotherapy ; Humans ; Hypopharyngeal Neoplasms/drug therapy* ; Male ; Middle Aged ; Retrospective Studies ; Treatment Outcome

Heart Neoplasms/genetics* ; Hemangiosarcoma/genetics* ; Humans ; Mediastinal Neoplasms ; Thymus Neoplasms

Humans ; Granuloma, Pyogenic/pathology* ; Hemangioma, Capillary