OBJECTIVETo investigate the presence of miRNA-144 in the saliva of patients with esophageal cancer and its value for early diagnosis of esophageal cancer.

METHODSSaliva samples were collected form patients with esophageal cancer admitted in the Fourth Affiliated Hospital of Jinan University and the First Affiliated Hospital of Guangzhou Medical College between January, 2011 and May, 2013, with saliva samples from 50 middle-aged healthy volunteers matched for age and gender ratio as the control group. The contents of miRNA-144 in the samples were detected with RT-PCR.

RESULTSThe levels of miRNA-144 in both the whole saliva and saliva supernatant were significantly higher in esophageal cancer group than in the control group (P<0.05). In the whole saliva, the cut-off point of miRNA-144 was ≥100, with a sensitivity of 74.6% and a specificity of 92.0% for esophageal cancer diagnosis (Az=0.865); in saliva supernatant, the cut-off point was ≥20 with a sensitivity of 53.7% and a specificity of 94.0% (Az=0.754), suggesting a moderate diagnostic value of miRNA-144 in whole saliva and saliva supernatant.

CONCLUSIONmiRNA-144 is highly expressed in the saliva of patients with esophageal cancer and can be used as a genetic marker for early diagnosis of esophageal cancer.

Biomarkers, Tumor ; Early Diagnosis ; Esophageal Neoplasms ; diagnosis ; Humans ; MicroRNAs ; analysis ; Middle Aged ; Saliva ; chemistry ; Sensitivity and Specificity

BACKGROUNDThe mini-invasive surgery is now performed widely and these operations have been used in complete resection of lung cancer. The aim of this study is to summarize the results and to explore practicability of bronchial sleeve resection and reconstruction of pulmonary artery by video-assisted thoracic small incision surgery for lung neoplasms.

METHODSA total of 109 patients were retrospectively reviewed, who underwent sleeve lobectomy and bronchoplasty by video-assisted thoracic small incision surgery for lung neoplasms from January 1995 to December 2005.

RESULTSOperations were performed successfully for all the patients. The small incisions' length ranged from 3 to 15 cm and the mean length was 10 cm. The surgical time was 125-180 min and the mean was 150 min; blood loss was 210-450 mL and the mean was 320 mL. There was no operative mortality, occurrence of anastomosis stenosis and fistula. Follow-up results showed that there was no sign of re-perfusion hurt and no edema in remaining lobes. There was no blood transfusion in 80.7% of cases (88/109), no shoulder hurt in 94.5% of cases (103/109). The stay in hospital was 7-15 days, and the average was 9 days.

CONCLUSIONSThe bronchial sleeve resection and reconstruction of pulmonary artery by video-assisted thoracic small incision surgery for lung cancer could finish the same work as traditional thoracic lateral incision, with less trauma, less bleeding and blood transfusion, less time in opening and closing thorax.