In contrast to the decreasing prevalence of gastric cancer and esophageal cancer,there has been an alarm rise in the incidence and prevalence of adenocarcinoma of esophagogastric junction during recent literatures.Many discrepancies exists in the current literature,however,regarding the etiology,classification and surgical treatment of the tumor.This confusion is due to a lack of clear current UICC recommendation for the classification and staging.Consequently,the selection of the surgical procedure for tumor is controversial.A clear definition and classification is,therefore,the prerequisite for a discussion of the optimal surgical approach.This review give a detailed description of the related concept and recent advances in treatment of adenocarcinoma of the esophagogastric junction.

Objective To assess the reliability and validity of summary of diabetes self-care activities for type 2 diabetes patients in China.Methods We selected 80 patients with type 2 diabetes to carry out our investigation and chose 10 of them to retest 2 weeks later.Results The general Cronbach's α was 0.62 with a reliability coefficient of 0.83(P<0.01).We got 8 factors with an accumulation contribution of 0.92 by main-ingredient and variance analysis.The factor loading was more than 0.80. Conclusion The Chinese version of SDSCA had good reliability and validity to evaluate the self-care activities of type 2 diabetes patients.

Objective To explore the significance of combined detection of D-Dimer,cardic troponin I(cTnI)and N-terminal pro-brain natriuretic peptide(NT-ProBNP)in acute coronary syndrome and the correlation between them.Methods 143 patients with acute coronary syndrome were selected as the observation group,and 40 CAG negative people as the control group.The difference between the two groups was compared and the correlation was analyzed.According to different diagnostics,patients in the observa-tion group were separated into 3 groups,unstable angina pectoris,non ST segment elevation myocardial infarction and ST segment elevation myocardial infarction.The correlation of D-Dimer,cTnI and NT-ProBNP with the severity of coronary artery disease was analyzed.Results The levels of D-Dimer,cTnI and NT-ProBNP in the observation group were higher than those in the control group,and the difference was statistically significant(P < 0.05 ).The severity of coronary artery disease had positive correlation with the test results (P <0.05).Conclusion The combined detection of D-Dimer,cTnI and NT-ProBNP could help to diagnose the acute coronary syndrome and the test result has a positive correlation with the severity of acute coronary syndrome.

Esophagectomy and lymph node dissection are the cornerstones for the treatment of esophageal cancer. Upper mediastinal lymph node dissection is of great value for accurate staging and improving the prognosis of patients. Lymph node dissection along the left recurrent laryngeal nerve is the most challenging procedures in esophageal surgery, and there has been no relevant consensus on the scope and boundary of lymph node dissection. In recent years, with the application of endoscopic technology, especially robotic surgery system in esophagectomy, and the introduction of the concept of superior mediastinal microdissection, the authors have proposed the border of lymph node dissection along the left recurrent laryngeal nerve, so as to achieve precise, radical and standardized dissection. Combined with their own experiences, the authors elaborate on the anatomic boundary, extent and technique of lymph node dissection along the left recurrent laryngeal nerve.

Objective: To evaluate the prognostic value of the preoperative Geriatric Nutritional Risk Index (GNRI) in patients with esophageal squamous cell carcinoma after radical resection. Methods: Clinicopathological and laboratory data of 315 elderly patients with esophageal squamous cell carcinoma who were older than 60 years and underwent radical resection in Tianjin Medical University Cancer Institute and Hospital from January 2008 to December 2012 were retrospectively analyzed. The GNRI formula was as follows:1.489×serum albumin (g/L)+41.7×(current body weight/ideal body weight). According to the GNRI, patients were divided into the normal and abnormal GNRI groups. The χ2 test was used to analyze the relationship between the GNRI and the clinicopathological char-acteristics of patients. The Kaplan-Meier method was used to analyze the survival rate, and survival analysis was conducted using the Log-rank test. Multivariate survival analysis was conducted using the Cox proportional risk regression model. Results: There were 259 patients in the normal GNRI group (GNRI>98) and 56 patients in the abnormal GNRI group (GNRI≤98). The GNRI was closely correlated with age, tumor location, tumor diameter, serum albumin level, body mass index (BMI), and lymph node metastasis (all P<0.05). The 5-year survival rates in the normal and abnormal GNRI groups were 41.2% and 27.0%, respectively, with statistical significance (P=0.002). Univariate analysis showed that age, tumor diameter, serum albumin level, BMI, GNRI, platelet-lymphocyte ratio, tumor invasion depth, and lymph node metastasis were risk factors for the prognosis of patients with esophageal squamous cell carcinoma (all P<0.05). Multivariate analysis showed that the preoperative GNRI (hazard ratio=0.687, 95% confidence interval: 0.487-0.968, P=0.032) was an independent factor affecting the prognosis of patients with esophageal squamous cell carcinoma. Subgroup analysis showed that the survival rates in the normal GNRI group were significantly higher than those in the abnormal GNRI group (P=0.036 and 0.010, respectively), regardless of lymph node metastasis. Conclusions: The preoperative GNRI is associated with malignant biological behav-ior in elderly patients with esophageal squamous cell carcinoma and can be used as a useful indicator for predicting survival after radi-cal resection.

OBJECTIVETo compare the perioperative complications and the stress response between thoracoscopic esophagectomy and open esophagectomy in patients with esophageal cancer.

METHODSClinicopathologic data of 154 patients with esophageal cancer undergoing thoracoscopic esophagectomy (thoracoscope group) and 113 undergoing open procedure(open group) in the Tianjin Medical University Cancer Institute and Hospital from October 2012 to September 2014 were analyzed retrospectively. The incidence of perioperative complications and the change of stress response index in patients without complications were compared between two groups.

RESULTSThe total complication rate in thoracoscope and open group was 33.8% and 38.1%(P = 0.470) respectively. Compared with open group, incidence of ligation of thoracic duct(2.6% vs. 14.2%), recurrent laryngeal nerve paralysis (16.9% vs. 28.3%), chylothorax (0 vs. 4.4%), atelectasis (1.3% vs. 7.1%), pleural effusion (0.6% vs. 6.2%) and acute respiratory distress(0.6% vs. 6.2%) were obviously decreased in thoracoscope group(all P<0.05). No significant differences were observed in other complications (all P>0.05). Thirty-two cases and 24 cases without complication and with complete test data in thoracoscope and open group were selected for the detection of stress response index. There were no significant differences in white blood cell count, and the levels of cortisol, thyroxine (FT3 and FT4) and C-reactive protein between two groups at the same time points (before operation, 1, 3 and 6 days after operation) (all P>0.05).

CONCLUSIONThoracoscopic esophagectomy has some obvious advantages associated with less pulmonary complications, lower morbidity of injury in thoracic duct and recurrent laryngeal nerve, while no significant difference of stress response is found in patients without complication between thoracoscope group and open group.

Esophageal Neoplasms ; surgery ; Esophagectomy ; Humans ; Ligation ; Postoperative Complications ; Retrospective Studies ; Thoracoscopy

OBJECTIVETo study the impact of preoperative fasting plasma glucose(FPG) on postoperative morbidity and outcome following surgical resection of esophageal squamous cell carcinoma (ESCC), and to analyze the risk factor of postoperative complication in ESCC.

METHODSClinicopathological data of 314 ESCC patients undergoing esophagectomy in our center between January 2011 and December 2012 were retrospectively collected. Patients were divided into two groups according to their preoperative FBG: normal FPG group (FPG<6.1 mmol/L, 252 cases) and high FBG group (FPG≥6.1 mmol/L, 62 cases, including 14 diabetes cases). Clinicopathological data and postoperative morbidity were analyzed and compared between two groups. Multivariate logistic regression analysis was used to evaluate risk factors for postoperative complications.

RESULTSThere were 278 male and 36 female patients with a median age of 59 years (range 42-83 years). As compared to normal FPG group, high FBG group had higher ratio of female [22.6%(14/62) vs. 8.7%(22/252), P=0.000], older median age (66 years vs. 59 years, P=0.010), lower ratio of smoking and alcohol drinking [48.4%(30/62) vs. 73.8%(186/252), 38.7%(24/62) vs. 69.0%(174/252), both P=0.000], higher ratio of comorbid diabetes and hypertension [51.6%(32/62) vs. 15.1%(38/252), 16.1%(10/62) vs. 1.6%(4/252), both P=0.000]. Pathology results showed 206 patients in normal FPG group (81.7%, 206/252) were moderate-poor differentiation, which was obviously lower than 93.5%(58/62) in high FPG group(P=0.023). Patients of two groups completed their operations successfully. Perioperative overall complication morbidity was 24.2%(76/314), and the most common was lung lesions (24 cases of pneumonia, 10 cases of respiratory failure), then was anastomotic leakage (28 cases) and incision infection (18 cases). Differences in overall and other complication morbidity were not significant between two groups (all P>0.05). Multivariate logistic regression analysis revealed that operation time was an independent risk factor of postoperative complications (P=0.047), anastomosis site was an independent risk factor of anastomotic leakage (P=0.036), and FPG was not a risk factor of postoperative complications(respectively, P=0.683, P=0.836, P=0.784, P=0.637).

CONCLUSIONSPreoperative control of FBG does not increase the postoperative complication morbidity. Shortening operation time and choosing appropriate surgical procedure are important to decrease postoperative complications.

Adult ; Aged ; Aged, 80 and over ; Alcohol Drinking ; adverse effects ; Anastomotic Leak ; etiology ; Blood Glucose ; physiology ; Carcinoma, Squamous Cell ; complications ; surgery ; Comorbidity ; Diabetes Complications ; epidemiology ; Diabetes Mellitus ; Esophageal Neoplasms ; complications ; surgery ; Esophagectomy ; adverse effects ; Female ; Humans ; Hypertension ; complications ; Male ; Middle Aged ; Operative Time ; Pneumonia ; epidemiology ; etiology ; Postoperative Complications ; epidemiology ; Respiratory Insufficiency ; epidemiology ; etiology ; Retrospective Studies ; Risk Factors ; Smoking ; adverse effects ; Surgical Wound Infection ; epidemiology ; Treatment Outcome

Objective: To evaluate the lymph node metastasis (LNM) pattern and related prognostic factors for T1 esophageal cancer. Methods: Clinical data of 143 cases of pT1 esophageal cancer patients (120 male and 23 female patients with median age of 60 years) who underwent esophagectomy and lymph node resection during January 2011 and July 2016 at the Department of Esophageal Cancer of Tianjin Medical University Cancer Institute and Hospital were reviewed, including 50 cases of T1a patients and 93 cases of T1b patients. The LNM pattern was analyzed and the prognostic factors related to LNM were assessed by χ² test and Logistic regression analysis. Results: Of 143 patients, 25 patients had LNM. The LNM rates were 17.5% for pT1 tumors, 16.0%(8/50) for pT1a tumors, and 22.6%(21/93) for T1b tumors. Of 25 patients with LNM, one patient had cervical metastasis, 15 patients with thoracic metastasis, and 17 patients with abdominal metastasis. The relatively highest LNM sites were laryngeal recurrent nerve (8 cases), left gastric artery (8 cases), right and left cardiac (6 cases) and thoracic paraesophageal (5 cases). Logistic regression analysis showed that the depth of tumor infiltration (OR=4.641, 95%CI: 1.279 to 16.836, P=0.020), tumor size (OR=5.301, 95%CI: 1.779 to 15.792, P=0.003), tumor location (OR=3.238, 95% CI: 1.248 to 8.401, P=0.016), and tumor differentiation (OR=5.301, 95%CI: 1.719 to 16.347, P=0.004) were independent prognostic factors related to LNM for T1 esophageal cancer. Tumor size (OR=4.117, 95% CI: 1.228 to 13.806, P=0.022) was an independent risk factor related to thoracic LNM, and the vessel invasion (OR=6.058, 95% CI: 1.228 to 29.876, P=0.027) and tumor location (OR=8.113, 95% CI: 1.785-36.872, P=0.007) were independent prognostic factors related to abdominal LNM. Conclusions T1 esophageal cancer has a relatively high LNM rate, and the depth of tumor infiltration, tumor size, tumor location and tumor differentiation are correlated with LNM. The LNM risk and extent must be considered comprehensively in decision-making of a better surgical treatment and lymph node resection strategy.

Objective The surgical approaches and extent of lymph node dissection for Siewert type Ⅱ adenocarcinoma of the esophagogastric junction(AEG) are controversial.The present study was aimed to investigate the application of right thansthoracic Ivor-Lewis(IL),left transthoracic(LTT),and left thoracoabdominal(LTA) approach in Siewert type Ⅱ AEG.Methods The data of 196 patients with Siewert type Ⅱ AEG received surgical resection in our cancer center between January 2014 and April 2016 was retrospectively analyzed.Finally,136 patients met the inclusion criteria were enrolled in the study and divided into the IL(47 cases),LTT(51 cases),and LTA group(38 cases).Clinical and short-term treatment effects were compared among the three groups.Results The patients with weight loss,diabetes,and heart disease increased in the LTT group (P =0.054,P =0.075,and P =0.063,respectively).Operation time was significantly longest in the IL group (P =0.000),but the amount of bleeding and tumor size did not significantly differ among the three groups (P =0.176 and P =0.228,respectively).The IL group had the significantly longest proximal surgical margin (P =0.000) and most number of total (P =0.000) and thoracic lymph nodes(P =0.000) dissected.Both the IL and LTA groups had more abdominal lymph nodes dissected than the LTT group(P =0.000).In general,the IL and LTT group had the highest dissection rates of every station of thoracic (P ＜ 0.05) and lower mediastinal lymph nodes (P ＜ 0.05),respectively.The dissection rate of the paracardial,left gastric artery,and gastric lesser curvature lymph nodes did not differ significantly among the three groups(P ＞ 0.05),but the dissection rate of the hepatic artery,splenic artery,and celiac trunk lymph nodes was significantly highest in the IL group (P ＜0.05).Postoperative hospital stay,perioperative complications,and mortality did not differ significantly among the three groups(P ＞ 0.05).Conclusion Compared with the traditional left transthoracic approach,the Ivor-Lewis approach did not increase the perioperative mortality and complication rates in Siewert type Ⅱ AEG,but obtained satisfactory length of the proximal surgical margin,and was better than left transthoracic approach in thoracic and abdominal lymph node dissection.However,the advantages of Ivor-Lewis procedure requires further follow-up and validation through prospective randomized controlled trials.

Objective To investigate the clinical efficacy of minimally invasive esophagectomy and open triple-incision esophagectomy for esophageal cancer (EC).Methods The retrospective cohort study was conducted.The clinicopathological data of 454 EC patients who were admitted to the Tianjin Medical University Cancer Institute and Hospital from January 2012 to September 2016 were collected.Of 454 patients,229 undergoing thoracoscopic esophagectomy (194) or combined thoracoscopic + laparoscopic esophagectomy (35) were allocated into the minimally invasive group,and 225 undergoing open triple-incision esophagectomy in the left cervical,right chest and epigastric regions were allocated into the open group.Observation indicators:(1) intraoperative situations;(2) postoperative recovery situations;(3) stratified analysis;(4) follow-up and survival situations.Follow-up using outpatient examination and telephone interview was performed to detect the postoperative survival up to October 2017.Measurement data with normal distribution were represented as-x±s,and t test was used for comparison between groups.Measurement data with skewed distribution were described as M (range),non-parametric test was used for comparison between groups.Count data were expressed as percentage,and the chi-square test or fisher exact probability method were used to test comparison between groups.KaplanMeier method was used to calculate survival rate and draw survival curve.Log-rank test was used for survival analysis.Results (1) Intraoperative situations:operation time,numbers of upper mediastina lymph node dissected and right laryngeal nerve lymph node dissected in stage 0-Ⅱ of TNM staging and numbers of neck lymph nodes dissected in stage Ⅲ of TNM staging were respectively (307±70)minutes,4 (range,0-18),2 (range,0-10),0 (range,0-24) in the minimally invasive group and (267±49)minutes,3 (range,0-15),1 (range,0-7),0 (range,0-46) in the open group,with statistically significant differences between groups (t =7.071,Z=-2.207,-2.717,-1.969,P＜0.05).(2) Postoperative recovery situations:thoracic drainage-tube removal time and volume of drainage fluid were respectively 5 days (range,2-88 days),280 mL (range,0-7 792 mL)in the minimally invasive group and 8 days (range,1-72 days),1 650 mL (range,225-7 970 mL),with statistically significant differences between groups (Z =-9.618,-15.443,P ＜ 0.05).The cases with total postoperative complications,arrhythmia and recurrent laryngeal nerve paralysis were 72,20,35 in the minimally invasive group and 100,36,56 in the open group,with statistically significant differences between groups (x2=8.155,5.542,6.533,P＜0.05).Patients may be combined with multiple complications.Two patients died within 30 days postoperatively,including 1 with respiratory failure and 1 with pulmonary embolism.Patients with other complications were improved after symptomatic and supportive treatments.(3) Stratified analysis:of 229 patients in the minimally invasive group,93 underwent surgery within the physician's learning curve and 136 underwent surgery after physician's learning curve.Operation time,volume of intraoperative blood loss,dissected numbers of upper mediastina lymph node,right laryngeal nerve lymph node,left laryngeal nerve lymph node,middle mediastinal lymph node and lower mediastinal lymph node,cases with pneumonia,recurrent laryngeal nerve paralysis,chylothorax,anastomotic stenosis,anastomotic fistula,respiratory failure and pulmonary embolism in 93 patients were respectively (306±68)minutes,(217± 178)mL,3 (range,0-20),2 (range,0-8),0 (range,0-10),6(range,0-17),1 (range,0-6),5,16,1,5,3,2,2 in the minimally invasive group and (308±72)minutes,(200±112)mL,4 (range,0-37),2 (range,0-10),0 (range,0-8),7 (range,0-20),1 (range,0-10),4,19,3,3,4,4,0 in the open group,with a statistically significant difference in number of upper mediastina lymph node dissected between groups (Z=-2.472,P＜0.05) and no statistically significant difference in other indicators between groups (t =-0.160,0.917,Z =-0.113,-1.698,-0.950,-0.510,x2 =0.342,0.446,P＞0.05).(4) Follow-up and survival situations:of 454 patients,415 were followed up for 1-62 months,with a median time of 28 months.Among the 415 patients,operation time ≥ 3 years was detected in 162 patients,(77 in the minimally invasive group and 85 in the open group),and 3-year cumulative survival rates of the minimally invasive and open groups were 68.1％ and 53.8％,showing no statistically significant difference between groups (x2=3.293,P＞0.05).Further subgroup analysis showed that postoperative 3-year cumulative survival rates of patients with the stage Ⅰ-Ⅱ and Ⅲ of TNM staging were respectively 82.1％,53.7％ in the minimally invasive group and 62.6％,48.6％ in the open group,showing no statistically significant difference between groups (x2=2.664,0.382,P＞ 0.05).Conclusion Minimally invasive esophagectomy has some characteristics of less surgical trauma postoperative complications,and its resection effect is comparable to open esophagectomy.