Laparoscopic surgery has gained wide acceptance for its use in benign gastrointestinal cancer in the past 20 years, while its use in malignant gastrointestinal cancer has been highly controversial until the recent 3-5 years. Several prospective randomized clinical trials have suggested that the long-term outcome of laparoscopic surgery for colon cancer is the same as or better than that of open surgery. As for rectal cancer, whether the principles of total mesorectal excision can be well followed in laparoscopic surgery remains. Most recently, the trial of large number of patients doesn't show any differences upon local recurrence and 3-year survival rate between rectal cancer patients in laparoscopic group and open group. Laparoscopic surgery has been widely accepted as a standard treatment regimen for early gastric cancer in many specialized centers. Meanwhile, the feasibility and effectiveness of laparoscopic D2 lymphadenectomy for gastric cancer has been proved by several scholars. The use of laparoscopic surgery for advanced gastric cancer especially for T3 gastric cancer still remains controversial. The early concern that laparoscopic surgery for malignant cancer might increase tumor dissemination is not confirmed. The system of technical training and occupational qualification, proper selection of patients and adherence to all the principles of cancer clearance will ensure a good result of laparoscopic surgery for malignant gastrointestinal cancer.

The incidence of rectal cancer has been increasing over past decades in China, making it the third most common malignant tumor. Multidisciplinary treatment plays a fundamental role in the successful treatment of rectal cancer.Total mesorectal excision has been wildly accepted as the standard technique, however, this procedure has not been standardized in China. Neoadjuvant radiation has been accepted as a standard regimen for patients with an advanced rectal cancer at a higher risk of local recurrence, even though controversies remain, such as the selection of patients for preoperative radiation and the optimum regimen for radiation. Combination of chemotherapeutic agents and targeted therapies is recommended according to updated results of randomized controlled trials (RCTs). In the future, multidisciplinary treatment should be adjusted according to the socioeconomic status of China and RCTs results in Chinese population. Standardization of surgery and surgery quality control also continue to play a core role in improving treatment results of rectal cancer in China.

Objective To understand the current research status of sentinel lymph node (SLN) biopsy in colorectal cancer. Methods Literatures about the application of SLN biopsy in the field of colorectal surgery were collected and reviewed.Results The results of SLNs biopsy accurately reflected the status of the nodal basin. Focused examination of the SLNs could identify micrometastases that might otherwise had been missed by standard histopathological analysis, thus upstaged this group of patients.Conclusion SLN biopsy represents a new and effective technique to predict the tumor status of regional lymph nodes, which offers a potential alternative to improve the accuracy of tumor staging in colorectal cancer.

Objective To study the function of selectin in the pathogenesis and advancement of acute pancreatitis(AP), so as to guide further investigation and clinical treatment. Methods Correlative articles in recent years were reviewed. Results Selectins act as an indicator of the activation of endothelium. Their expression changes markedly during AP and is closely related to cytokines, oxygen free radicals and complements. Conclusion Selectin is a component which is engaged in the pathology of AP, the level of selectin is useful in guiding clinical observation and treatment.

Objective To investigate the relationship between rules of local metastasis and the operation for rectal cancer. Methods Literatures about rules of local metastasis and operation for rectal cancer were reviewed and analysed. Results The study of rules of local metastasis results in the change and refinement of the operation for rectal cancer. Conclusion With the development of basic research for rectal cancer,the operation for rectal cancer is changing and refining, and the result of the treatment is more favourable.

Objective To discuss the molecular structures and functions of Alu repeats,and its relationships with malignant tumors. Methods Advances in molecular biology and oncology of Alu repeats in recent years had been reviewed. Results Homologous recombination between Alu repeats may result in various genetic exchanges,including duplications, deletions and translocations,cause a series of malignancy alteration by activating some oncogenes. Conclusion Alu repeats as a sort of multifunction regulatory sequences may play an important role during the carcinogenesis and progression of some tumors.

Objective To investigate the recent studies on the biocharacters of keratin family (e.g. genetic mutations and abnormal expressions) and their relationships with the malignant tumors. Methods The literatures of recent years on the biocharacters of keratin family (e.g. genetic mutations and abnormal expressions) and their relationships with the malignant tumors were reviewed. Results Keratin family is a kind of structural proteins in cell which plays an important role in cytomechanics and regulates cell-cycle. The mutations of keratin genes (mRNA) or the overexpression of keratin proteins would interfere with the order of cell-cycle or the integrity of cytomechanics, and lead to some diseases and malignant tumors finally. Conclusion The studies on biocharaters of keratin family (e.g. genetic mutations and abnormal expressions) are helpful in the diagnosis, staging and the evaluation of prognosis of some diseases and cancers, e.g. liver cirrhosis, breast cancer, rectum carcinoma, etc.

VE-cadherin forms VE-cadherin/catenins complex by interacting with catenins,and VE-cadherin/catenins complex is an important component of adherens junctions(AJ). During inflammation ,different kinds of factors can increase the microvascular permeability eventually by causing the disassembly of VE-cadherin/catenins complex.

Objective To investigate the role of T cell factor-4 (TCF-4) in the carcinogenesis of colorectal cancer. Methods Relevant references about TCF-4 and the carcinogenesis of colorectal cancer, which were published recently domestic and abroad, were collected and reviewed. Results For TCF-4 gene, multiple isoforms are generated by way of alternative splicing, which encode different proteins. TCF-4 protein is sequence-specific DNA binding protein and is incapable of activating or repressing transcription independently, but it can interact with distinct partners to lead to different effects through multiple domains. Conclusion TCF-4 might be viewed as nuclear vehicles targeting other auxiliary proteins to a specific set of promoters and functions as molecular switch during the carcinogenesis of colorectal cancer.

Objective To explore the protective effect of ligustrazine on the ischemia-reperfusion injury of rat liver. Methods Ninety-six healthy SD rats were divided randomly into three groups: sham operation group, ischemia-reperfusion group(I/R group) and ischemia plus ligustrazine reperfusion group(therapy group).The plasm ALT,AST and LDH were measured before operation,at thirty minutes,six hours and twenty-four hours after operation. One week survival and liver pathological change of every group were observed, and the hepatocyte apoptosis index was measured simultaneously.Results One week survival of therapy group was higher than that of I/R group ( P