Obesity has rapidly become a pandemic and is associated with increased carcinogenesis, especially esophageal adeno-carcinoma (EA). Adipose tissue is considered an endocrine organ because of its capacity to secrete a variety of adipokines, such as leptin, adiponectin, and resistin. Adipokines have recently been found to be associated with different types of chronic esophageal diseas-es, including gastro-esophageal reflux diseases, Barrett esophagus, and carcinogenesis. First-hand evidence supporting the inhibitory and/or active function of adipokines has been collected on human EA. This review aims to provide important insights into the potential mechanisms of adipokines in EA progression.

Objective To investigate the expression of Krüppel-like factor 4 (KLF4) protein in esophageal squamous cell carcinoma (ESCC) tissues and to explore its correlation with clinical pathological features as well as prognosis.Methods The expression of KLF4 protein in cancer tissues and normal esophageal tissues from surgical paraffin specimens of 98 thoracic ESCC cases with complete clinical,pathological and follow-up date were detected by immunohistochemistry.The expression of KLF4 at protein level in 20 freshly surgical esophageal cancer tissues and normal esophageal mucous tissues were examined by Western blot.The relation between the expression of KLF4 protein,clinicopathological characteristics and prognosis was analyzed,t-test was used for measurement data analysis.Chi-square test was performed to analyze the correlation between KLF4 protein expression and clinicopathological features.Survival analysis was analyzed by the Kaplan-Meier method.The comparisons of survival rates were analyzed by Log-rank test.Results The positive rate of KLF4 protein expression in normal esophageal tissues and ESCC tissues was 82.7％ (81/98) and 43.9％ (43/98),respectively,the difference was statistically significant (x2=31.701,P＜0.01).The expression of KLF4 at protein level in 20 cases of fresh esophageal cancer tissues and normal esophageal mucosa tissues was 0.576±0.050 and 0.684 ± 0.095,respectively,the difference was statistically significant (t =4.932,P＜0.01).The expression of KLF4 at protein level was correlated with lymph node metastasis and TNM stage (x2 =10.871 and 6.482,P=0.001 and 0.039),however not correlated with gender,age,location,tumor size,degree of differentiation and the depth of invasion (x2=0.214,3.442,5.748,0.891,0.013 and 1.479,P=0.644,0.064,0.056,0.345,0.911 and 0.477).In 98 patients,the 5-year survival rate of cases with KLF4 protein positive expression and negative expression was 48.8％ and 25.5％ and the median survival period was 55 months and 26 months,the differences were statistically significant (x2 =5.747 and 4.493,P=0.017 and 0.034).Conclusion KLF4 as a tumor suppressor gene may play an important role in the genesis,development and metastasis of ESCC,and may become a biological indicator of the severity and prognosis in ESCC.

Objective To investigate the correlation between different clinicopathological factors and the recurrence and metastasis of advanced adenocarcinoma of the esophagogastric junction after curative resection,and to analyze the effects of the factors on the prognosis of these patients.Methods The clinical data of 385 patients with advanced adenocarcinoma of the esophagogastric junction who received curative resection at the Affiliated Hospital of Tianjin Medical University from January 2000 to January 2007 were retrospectively analyzed.There were 228 patients did not have tumor recurrence and metastasis (non-recurrence and metastasis group) and 157 patients had tumor recurrence and metastasis (recurrence and metastasis group).Risk factors which might influence postoperative recurrence and metastasis were analyzed using univariate analysis (chi-square test) and multivariate analysis (Logistic regression model).All patients were followed up via out-patient examination or phone call.The survival curve was drawn by Kaplan-Meier method,and the survival analysis was done by Log-rank test.Results The median time for follow-up was 36 months (range,3-108 months).A total of 157 patients had postoperative tumor recurrence and metastasis,and the mean time of tumor recurrence was 17.9 mouths.The results of univariate analysis showed that tumor type,differentiation degree,invasion depth,number of positive and negative lymph nodes,TNM staging were risk factors for the postoperative recurrence and metastasis of adenocarcinoma of the esophagogastric junction after curative resection (x2=5.248,13.493,12.319,18.315,9.704,10.281,P ＜ 0.05).The results of multivariate analysis showed that differentiation degree,invasion depth,number of positive and negative lymph nodes were the independent risk factors influencing the recurrence and metastasis of adenocarcinoma of the esophagogastric junction after curative resection (OR =1.805,1.809,1.520,0.763,P ＜0.05).The numbers of positive lymph nodes in the non-recurrence and metastasis group and the recurrence and metastasis group were 3.86 ± 0.28 and 6.89 ± 0.58,with a significant difference (t =5.118,P ＜ 0.05).The number of negative lymph nodes in the non-recurrence and metastasis group and the recurrence and metastasis group were 14.04 ±0.54 and 10.53 ±0.56,with a significant difference between the 2 groups (t =4.386,P ＜0.05).The 5-year survival rates of patients with the numbers of positive lymph nodes of 0,1-2,3-6 and more than 7 were 46.4％,43.8％,27.1％ and 7.2％,respectively,and the corresponding median survival time were 53,47,35 and 26 months.There was a significant difference in the 5-year survival rate among patients with different numbers of positive lymph nodes (x2 =54.783,P ＜ 0.05).The 5-year survival rates of patients with the number of negative lymph nodes under 9,between 10 and 15 and more than 16 were 22.1％,21.5％ and 45.5％,respectively,and the corresponding median survival time were 28,34,47 months.There was a significant difference in the 5-year survival rate among patients with different numbers of negative lymph nodes (x2=22.814,P ＜ 0.05).Conclusions Tumor type,invasion depth,number of positive and negative lymph nodes are independent risk factors of postoperative recurrence and metastasis of adenocarcinoma of the esophagogastric junction,and the number of positive and negative lymph nodes are important for the prognosis of patients with adenocarcinoma of the esophagogastric junction.

Objective To investigate the tumor diameter on the prognosis of patients with advanced esophageal squamous cell carcinoma(ESCC) after Ivor-Lewis surgical resection.Methods The clinical data of 254 patients with advanced ESCC who received Ivor-Lewis surgical resection at the Affiliated Hospital of Tianjin Medical University from January 2005 to December 2008 were retrospectively analyzed.All the patients were followed up via outpatient examination,telephone interview and correspondence till December 2013.Survival curve was drawn by the Kaplan-Meier method,and survival rate was analyzed using the Log-rank test.Receiver-operating-characteristic (ROC) curve analysis was used to determine the appropriate cutoff value of tumor size.Univariate and multivariate analysis were done using the chi-square test and COX regression model.Results Of 254 patients,223 patients were followed up for a median time of 30 months (range,3-108 months) with a follow-up rate of 87.80％ (223/254).The median total survival time was 27 months,and the 1,3,5-year overall survival rates were 72.7％,42.2％ and 31.3％,respectively.ROC analysis showed that the appropriate cutoff value of tumor diameter was 3.5 cm.The median survival time and 5-year survival rate were 36 months and 39.3％ in patients with tumor diameter ≤ 3.5 cm and 18 months and 25.4％ in patients with tumor diameter ＞ 3.5 cm,respectively,with a significant difference (x2 =9.494,P ＜ 0.05).The results of univariate analysis showed that the age,tumor diameter,depth of tumor invasion,lymph node metastasis and postoperative adjuvant therapy were related factors affecting the prognosis of patients with advanced ESCC after Ivor-Lewis surgical resection (x2=4.459,9.494,6.993,10.382,5.507,P ＜ 0.05).The results of multivariate analysis showed that tumor diameter ＞ 3.5 cm,lymph node metastasis and no postoperative adjuvant therapy were the independent factors affecting the prognosis of patients with advanced ESCC after Ivor-Lewis surgical resection (HR =1.631,1.681,0.677,95％ confidence interval:1.151-2.312,1.198-2.358,0.487-0.942,P ＜ 0.05).Of 159 patients without postoperative lymph node metastasis,median survival time and 5-year accumulated survival rate were 49 months and 46.4％ in patients with tumor diameter ≤ 3.5 cm and 23 months and 32.0％ in patients with tumor diameter ＞ 3.5 cm,respectively,with a significant difference (x2 =6.412,P ＜ 0.05).Conclusions The tumor diameter ＞ 3.5 cm,lymph node metastasis and no postoperative adjuvant therapy are the independent factors affecting the prognosis of patients with advanced ESCC after Ivor-Lewis surgical resection,meanwhile there is an assessed value of tumor diameter on the prognosis of patients without lymph node metastasis.

Objective To research the relationship between Serum uric acid (SUA) levels and the Neu-trophil-to-lymphocyte Ratio (NLR) of Type 2 Diabetes Mellitus (T2DM) patients. Method 273 newly diag-nosed T2DM patients are selected in accordance with the WHO diagnostic criteria: Male subjects with SUA lev-els ≥ 416 μmol/L(70 mg/L), and female subjects with SUA levels ≥ 357 μmol/L (60 mg/L) are sorted into the high SUA (HUA) group (224 subjects), and the rest into the normal SUA (NUA) group (49 subjects). 100 subjects were selected as a control group. One-Way analysis of variance was applied to the data of the three groups; Pearson correlation analysis was used to calculate the correlation of SUA levels , NLR and IR; risk fac-tors influencing SUA levels were analyzed with Logistic regression analysis; ROC curve analysis was used to de-termine the diagnostic value of NLR to HUA, and the optimal threshold value of NLR. Result (1) The NLR and IR of the HUA group was significantly higher than those of the NUA group (2.54 ± 0.63 vs. 2.05 ± 0.61, P < 0.001; 3.70 ± 1.86 vs. 2.71 ± 1.43, P < 0.001); (2) In the HUA group, UA was positively correlated with NLR and IR (respectively r = 0.480, P < 0.001; r = 0.332, P < 0.001). (3)NLR (P < 0.001, EXP(B)= 8.045, 95%CI = 4.597 ~ 14.079) was a risk factor of Hyperuricemia. Conclusion Our results suggest that NLR may be an independent risk factor of Hyperuricemia.

Objective To explore the prevention and treatment strategies for the infectious renal artery rupture after renal transplantation of organ donation after citizens death (DCD).Methods The clinical data of 5 donors and their corresponding recipients with infectious renal artery rupture after renal transplantation were retrospectively analyzed with review of the literature.Results The corresponding donors of 5 recipients had the potential risk factors for donor-transmitted infection (DTI):1 case of traumatic rupture of small intestine,2 cases of digestive tract injury when resecting the donor kidney from DCD donors,1 case of severe pneumonia and 1 case of multiple renal contusion.The pathogenic microorganisms were found in the culture of kidney preservation solution,including klebsiella pneumoniae in 1 case,candida albicans in i case,enterococcus.No pathogens were detected in 1 case,and kidney preservation solution taken from the external hospital was not cultured in 1 case.The pathological examination on the resected renal grafts revealed the necrosis of the arteries and the infiltration of lymphocytes.The culture of bacteria and fungi in the removed vessel walls of renal grafts and the iliac tissues showed there were 2 cases positive for candida albicans (case 2 and case 4),1 case for cryptococcus neoformans (case 1),1 case for klebsiella pneumonia (case 5).No pathogenic bacteria were detected in 1 case,but the possibility of fungal infection was more likely.In case 1,the second kidney transplantation was performed 10 months later after artery re-transplantation,and the kidney function was normal during the follow-up period.In case 4,the second kidney transplantation was performed 2 months later after transplant nephrectomy due to the refractory rejection,the transplanted kidney experienced a rapid loss of graft function,and the blood dialysis was given continuously.The remaining 3 patients survived so far,waiting for re-transplantation.No case of bleeding occurred again in the 5 recipients.Conclusion Renal graft artery rupture is one of most severe complications after renal transplantation.It is the key for preventing infectious renal artery rupture to screen strictly infection of donors and recipients,and to use sensitive and wide coverage antimicrobial to the donors before the removal of donor kidney and during the perioperative period after renal transplantation.Early detection and operation as soon as possible is the only treatment to save the lives of the recipients.

Objective To investigate the relationship between the expression of eonnexin 43 (Cx43) and clinicopathologieal characteristics of gastric cancer, and to study the role of Cx43 in peritoneal metastasis of gastric cancer. Methods Thirty-two patients who had gastric cancer and with peritoneal metastasis had been admitted to Southwest Hospital from January 2000 to December 2008. Gastric cancer tissues, adjacent tissues and metastatic peritoneal tissues were obtained postoperatively, and the expression of Cx43 was detected by immunohistochemistry. The relationship between Cx43 expression and clinicopathological characteristics of gastric cancer was analyzed. All data were analyzed via Spearman rank correlation coefficient, Fisher exact probability and chi-square test. Results The expression of Cx43 was mainly detected in the cell membrane and cytoplasm. The positive expres-sion rates of Cx43 in gastric cancer tissues, adjacent tissues and metastatic peritoneal tissues were 34% (11/32), 100% (32/32) and 94% (30/32), respectively. There were significant differences in the Cx43 expression between gastric cancer tissues and adjacent tissues (X~2=28.350, P < 0.01), and between gastric cancer tissues and metastatic peritoneal tissues (X~2 = 21.989, P < 0.01). The expression of Cx43 did not correlate with age and sex of patients (r = -0.030, - 0.169, P > 0.05), but with tumor differentiation, histological type and lymph node metastasis (r = 0.750, 0.642, - 0.357, P < 0.05). Conclusions There is a decreased expression of Cx43 in gastric cancer tissues and a up-regulated expression of Cx43 in metastatic peritoneal tissues. Cx43 may play a positive role in the peritoneal metastasis.

Objective To evaluate the clinical efficacy and safety of catheter ablation for atrial fibrillation in elderly patients.Methods From September 2008 to October 2011,a total of 420 consecutive patients undergoing catheter ablation of atrial fibrillation (AF) were selected.The patients were divided into 3 age groups:30 59 yr group (n=279),60-74 yr group (n=100),and 75-87 yr group (n =41).The effect of operation and complications during operative and postoperative periods were evaluated.Patients were followed up for at least 6 months,and the rate of atrial fibrillation reocurrence and life quality were recorded.Results Among 480 catheter ablation procedures,in 7 (1.5％) patients occurred main complications,while in 5 (1.0％) patients appeared other complications.The incidence of main complications in 3 groups were 1.1％ (3 patients),2.0％ (2 patients) and 4.9％ (2 patients) respectively,other complication rates in 3 groups were 0.7％ (2 patients),1.0％ (1 patient) and 4.9％ (2 patients) respectively and there were no differences between groups (all P＞0.05).During follow-up,the cases without AF relapse were 68.5％ (191 patients),66.0％ (66 patients) and 57.1％ (23 patients) respectively,and the patients with AF paroxysm were 21.1％ (59 patients),21.0％ (21 patients),29.3％ (12 patients) respectively,and there was no significant difference between groups (all P＞0.05).And no difference was found in improvement degree of life quality among three groups (P＞0.05).Conclusions Catheter ablation is safe and effective in elderly patients.For patients over 75 years with many types of cardiovascular diseases,catheter ablation is effective to control the relapse of AF,can significantly improve the quality of life,and has no increased risk of complications.

Objective To evaluate the change of left atrial function after mitral valvuloplasty in patients with mitral valve prolapse by measuring left atrial strain using two-dimensional speckle tracking echocardiography(2D-STE).Methods Study population consisted of 25 patients with mitral valve prolapse and 25 healthy subjects.High frame rate two-dimensional images were recorded from the apical four chamber view and two chamber view.Images of patients with mitral valve prolapse were respectively recorded at pre-operation,3 days and 3 months post-operation.Left atrial longitudinal strain was measured in two views using two-dimensional strain soft ware.Results ①Compared with the control group,global peak atrial longitudinal strain (PALS),peak atrial contraction strain (PACS) and atrial longitudinal strain during early diastole(ALSED) decreased (P ＜0.01) in patients with mitral valve prolapse,but global timeto-peak of peak atrial longitudinal strain(TPLS) increased(P ＜0.01).Regurgitant jet area/left atrium area (RJA/LAA) in patients with mitral valve prolapse correlated negatively with global PALS(r =-0.620,P ＜ 0.01).② Compared with preoperative group,global PALS,PACS,ALSED and TPLS decreased significantly at 3 days after surgery(P ＜0.01).Global PALS,ALSED(P ＜0.01) and PACS(P ＜0.05)increased at 3 months after surgery,but global TPLS did not differ significantly.Conclusions 2D-STE could accurately evaluate the change of left atrial function after mitral valvuloplasty.

Objective To compare the effects and significance of laparoscopic and open D2 gastrectomy on the expression of interleukin (IL)-6 and IL-10.Methods The clinical data of 146 patients with gastric cancer who were admitted to the Southwest Hospital from November 2010 to October 2011 were prospectively analyzed.All the patients were randomly divided into the laparoscopic group (75 patients) and open group (71 patients)according to the sealed envelope method.Laparoscopic or open D2 gastrectomy were performed according to the 14th edition of gastric cancer treatment guidelines of Japan Gastric Cancer Association.Peritoneal lavage fluid was collected at the beginning and the end of operation,and the concentrations of IL-6 and IL-10 in the peritoneal lavage fluid were detected by enzyme linked immunosorbent assay.The measurement data were analyzed using the t test,and the count data were analyzed using the chi-square test.Results The preoperative concentrations of IL-6 in the laparoscopic group and the open group were (34 ± 13)μg/L and (35 ± 12)μg/L,respectively,with no significant difference between the 2 groups (t =-5.110,P ＞ 0.05).The postoperative concentrations of IL-6 in the laparoscopic group and the open group were (4015 ± 1592)μg/L and (6724 ± 2112)μg/L,respectively.The postoperative concentration of IL-6 in the laparoscopic group was significantly lower than that of the open group (t =-8.367,P ＜ 0.05),and the postoperative concentrations of IL-6 were significantly higher than those before operation in the laparoscopic group and open group (t =-59.065,-87.123,P ＜0.05).The preoperative concentrations of IL-10 in the laparoscopic group and the open group were (43 ±9) μg/L and (42 ± 10) μL,respectively,with no significant difference between the 2 groups (t =1.190,P ＞0.05).The postoperative concentrations of IL-10 in the laparoscopic group and the open group were (92 ± 32)μg/L and (62 ± 23)μg/L,respectively.The postoperative concentration of IL-10 was significantly higher than that of the open group (t =6.408,P ＜ 0.05),and the postoperative concentrations of IL-10 were significantly higher than those before operation in the laparoscopic group and the open group (t =-12.680,-6.802,P ＜ 0.05).Conclusion Peritoneal inflammatory reaction is relatively lighter after laparoscopic D2 gastrectomy when compared with open D2 gastrectomy,which might prevent the peritoneal metastasis of gastric cancer mediated by IL-6.