Objective:To evaluate the preoperative localization value of endoscopic ultrasound guided fine needle tattooing (EUS-FNT) for laparoscopic distal pancreatectomy in pancreatic lesions with a maximum diameter ≤3 cm.Methods:From November 2017 to October 2022, at the Second Affiliated Hospital of Soochow University, the data of patients with pancreatic lesions ≤3 cm who underwent laparoscopic distal pancreatectomy were retrospectively analyzed. Eight patients who underwent EUS-FNT assisted laparoscopic distal pancreatectomy were included in the fine needle tattooing (FNT) combined laparoscopic group. And 14 patients who underwent simple laparoscopic distal pancreatectomy were taken as the simple laparoscopic group. The success rate and complications of EUS-FNT were observed. The differences in operation time, surgery-related complications and complete resection rate of lesions between the two groups were compared. Mann-Whitney U test and descriptive analysis were used for statistical analysis. Results:In the FNT combined laparoscopic group, the lesions of 4 cases were located in the pancreatic body and 4 cases in the pancreatic tail. In the simple laparoscopic group, the lesions of 4 cases were located in the pancreatic body and 10 cases in the pancreatic tail. There was a significant difference in lesion size between the two groups (14.5 mm (10.8 mm, 16.5 mm) vs. 27.0 mm (23.5 mm, 30.0 mm), Z=-3.09, P=0.001). In the FNT combined laparoscopic group, EUS-FNT was successfully performed in all 8 patients. The average time of laparoscopy after EUS-FNT was (98.4±8.8) min. The marks were clearly visible under the laparoscopic field of view, and no complications such as abdominal hemorrhage and hematoma were observed. Laparoscopic pancreaticocaudectomy was performed in 5 cases and pancreaticocaudectomy plus splenectomy in 3 cases. The median operation time was 192.5 min (176.3 min, 203.8 min). The amount of intraoperative bleeding was large in 2 patients and blood transfusion was needed. The lesions were one-time completely resected in all 8 patients. The postoperative pathology were 6 cases of pancreatic neuroendocrine neoplasm, 1 case of intraductal papillary mucinous neoplasm (IPMN), and 1 case of solid pseudopapilloma. In the simple laparoscopic group, laparoscopic pancreaticocaudectomy was performed in 2 cases and pancreaticocaudectomy plus splenectomy in 12 cases. The median operation time was 202.5 min (192.8 min, 235.0 min), which was longer than that of FNT combined laparoscopic group, but the difference was not statistically significant ( P>0.05). The amount of intraoperative bleeding was large in 2 patients and blood transfusion was needed. In 1 patient with pancreatic body lesions, no lesion was found in the specimen examination after the first pancreatectomy, and the lesions were completely resected after the second partial pancreatectomy. Active abdominal hemorrhage occurred in 1 patient on the second day after operation, and underwent interventional embolization for hemostasis. Two weeks after surgery, 1 patient was found to have a encapsulated fluid with a long diameter of 6 cm around the pancreas by computed tomography re-examination 2 weeks after surgery. The postoperative pathology were 5 cases of pancreatic neuroendocrine neoplasm, 2 cases of IPMN, 1 case of solid pseudopapilloma, 1 case of pancreatic cyst with glandular low-grade intraepithelial neoplasia, 1 case of ectopic spleen, and 4 cases of pancreatic ductal adenocarcinoma. Conclusion:EUS-FNT can effectively localize small pancreatic lesions before laparoscopic distal pancreatectomy, shorten the operation time and improve the complete resection rate under laparoscopy.

Objective:To investigate the application value of choledochoscopy in the diagnosis of cholelithiasis related diseases.Methods:The retrospective and descriptive study was conducted. The clinicopathological data of 111 patients with cholelithiasis related diseases who were admitted to the Second Affiliated Hospital of Soochow University between January 2018 and April 2019 were collected. There were 45 males and 66 females, aged (55±16)years, with the range from 20 to 89 years. The mucosal course of biliary system and the submucosal vascular density of the 111 patients were observed by choledochoscopy during operation. Observation indicators: (1) patient examinations; (2) specific case analysis. Measurement data with normal distribution were represented as Mean± SD. Count data were described as absolute numbers or percentages. Results:(1) Patient examinations: 111 patients underwent intraoperative choledochoscopy examination, and 5 patients underwent pathological examination. Five of the 111 patients had the results of intraoperative choledochoscopy examination inconsistent with results of preoperative imaging examination. (2) Specific case analysis. Case 1: the patient was diagnosed with intrahepatic and extrahepatic bile duct stones preoperatively by computed tomography (CT) and magnetic resonance cholangiopancreatography (MRCP) examination. Results of intraoperative choledochoscopy examination and electronic staining under choledochoscope showed abnormal mucosa at the opening of the original cholecyst duct in the common bile duct, thickened and disordered blood vessels, which indicated the possibility of malignant transformation. Results of intraoperative rapid frozen histopathological examination showed inflammatory cell infiltration in gallbladder neck and focal glandular epithelial high-grade intraepithelial neoplasia. Results of postoperative pathological examination showed high-grade intraepithelial neoplasia of the wall of gallbladder cervical ducts, focal infiltrating myowall carcinoma and strongly positive of Cytokeratin 7 diaminobenzine staining. Case 2: results of preoperative doppler ultrasonography and MRCP showed gallbladder polyps. Intraoperative choledochoscopy examination showed gallbladder polyps with adenoma and a blood vessel at polyp root, which was diagnosed as gallbladder polyp combined with adenoma. Results of electronic staining in narrow band imaging (NBI) showed gallbladder polyps with adenoma and thick blood vessels at polyp root. Results of intraoperative rapid frozen histopathological examination showed cholesterol polyps and focal adenomatous hyperplasia. Results of postoperative pathological examination showed chronic cholecystitis with cholesterol polyps and adenomatous hyperplasia of focal glands. Case 3: results of preoperative MRCP examination showed choledocholithiasis and intrahepatic bile duct stones. Results of intraoperative choledochoscopy examination showed intrahepatic bile duct stones of large size. The patient underwent holmium laser lithotripsy and mucosal hyperplasia with soft lesion and smooth mucous epithelium was found after the stone was broken. Results of NBI and methylene electron staining showed multiple submucosal tortuous vessels in proliferative lesions behind bile duct stone. Results of intraoperative rapid frozen histopathological examination showed adenoma with high-grade intraepithelial neoplasia. Case 4: results of preoperative MRCP examination showed intrahepatic and extrahepatic bile duct stones combined with dilatation of bile duct. Results of CT examination showed multiple soft tissue density shadows of intrahepatic and extrahepatic bile ducts, which was considered as biliary papillomatosis. Results of intraoperative choledochoscopy showed small stones in the lower common bile duct and multiple segmental proliferative flocculent hyperplasia lesions on the wall of the intrahepatic and extrahepatic bile ducts. Results of electronic staining in NBI showed multiple proliferative lesions in intrahepatic and extrahepatic bile ducts and multiple curved vascular shadows under the mucosa of the lesions. Results of intraoperative rapid frozen histopathological examination showed a denomatous hyperplasia with low-grade intraepithelial neoplasia. Results of postoperative pathological examination showed adenoma with low-grade intraepithelial neoplasia. Case 5: results of preoperative magnetic resonance imaging examination showed silt-like stones in the lower part of bile duct accompanied with dilatation of intrahepatic and extrahepatic bile ducts, neck of pancreatic duct was narrowed and the remaining areas were thickened. Results of CT examination showed multiple stones in the neck of the gallbladder and in the common bile duct, accompanied by dilatation of the intrahepatic and extrahepatic bile ducts and the main pancreatic duct, and the lower end of the common bile duct was slightly narrow which mean the possibility of ampulla space occupying could not be excluded. Results of preoperative endoscopic ultrasonography examination showed soft tissue occupation at the lower end of the common bile duct which considering as the possibility of entophytic adenoma, and small stones in the common bile duct. Results of preoperative endoscopic ultrasonography biopsy showed chronic inflammation of duodenal papilla. Results of intraoperative rapid frozen histopathological examination showed chronic inflammation of duodenal papilla. Results of intraoperative choledochoscopy examination and electronic staining under choledochoscope showed smooth mucosa of duodenal papilla, without lesion. Results of intraoperative choledochoscopy examination with endobronchial ultrasonography showed clear structure of mucosa and submucosal of duodenal papilla, without lesion.Conclusion:Choledochoscopy can be used in the auxiliary diagnosis of cholelithiasis related diseases.

Objective To analyze the clinical value of postoperative radiotherapy for node-positive middle thoracic esophageal squamous cell carcinoma ( TESCC ) and to modify the target volume .Methods A total of 286 patients with node-positive middle TESCC underwent radical surgery in Cancer Hospital, Chinese Academy of Medical Sciences, from 2004 to 2009.In addition, 90 of these patients received postoperative intensity-modulated radiotherapy.The Kaplan-Meier method was used to calculate survival rates, and the log-rank test was used for survival difference analysis.The Cox model was used for multivariate prognostic analysis.The chi-square test was used for comparing the recurrence between patients receiving different treatment modalities.Results The 5-year overall survival ( OS) rates of the surgery alone ( S) group and surgery plus postoperative radiotherapy ( S+R) group were 22.9%and 37.8%, respectively, and the median OS times were 23.2 and 34.7 months, respectively ( P=0.003) .For patients with 1 or 2 lymph
node metastases (LNMs), the 5-year OS rates of the S group and S+R group were 27.3%and 44.8%, respectively ( P=0.017);for patients with more than 2 LNMs, the 5-year OS rates of the S group and S+R group were 16.7%and 25.0%, respectively (P=0.043).The peritoneal lymph node metastasis rates of N1 , N2 , and N3 patients in the S group were 2.9%, 10.9%, and 20.0%, respectively ( P=0.024) .The S+R group had a significantly lower mediastinal lymph node metastasis rate than the S group ( for patients with 1 or 2 LMNs:8.0%vs.35.3%, P=0.003;for patients with more than 2 LNMs, 10.0%vs.42.3%, P=0.001) , and had a prolonged recurrence time compared with the S group ( 25.1 vs.10.7 months, P=0.000) .However, for patients with more than 2 LNMs, the S+R group had a significantly higher hematogenous metastasis rate than the S group (46.7%vs.26.1%, P=0.039).Conclusions Patients with node-positive middle TESCC could benefit from postoperative radiotherapy.The target volume can be reduced for patients with 1 or 2 LNMs.Prospective studies are needed to examine whether it is more appropriate to reduce the radiotherapy dose than to reduce the target volume for patients with more than 2 LNMs.A high hematogenous metastasis rate warrants chemotherapy as an additional regimen.

[ Abstract] Objective To investigate the clinical efficacy of preoperative three-dimensional radiotherapy (3DRT) with or without concurrent chemotherapy for esophageal carcinoma.Methods We retrospectively analyzed 103 esophageal carcinoma patients who received preoperative 3DRT with or without concurrent chemotherapy from 2004 to 2014 in Cancer Hospital CAMS.The median radiation dose was 40 Gy, and the TP or PF regimen was adopted for concurrent chemotherapy if needed.The overall survival (OS) and disease-free survival ( DFS) were calculated by the Kaplan-Meier method, and the survival difference and univariate prognostic analyses were performed by the log-rank test.The Cox proportional hazards model was used for multivariate prognostic analysis.Results The number of patients followed at 3-years was 54.The 3-year OS and DFS rates were 61.1% and 54.9%, respectively, for all patients.There were no significant differences between the 3DRT and concurrent chemoradiotherapy (CCRT) groups as to OS (P=0.876) and DFS (P=0.521).The rates of complete, partial, and minimal pathologic responses of the primary tumor were 48.0%, 40.2%, and 11.8%, respectively.There were significant differences in OS and DFS between the complete, partial, and minimal pathologic response groups (P=0.037 and 0.003). No significant difference in pathologic response rate was found between the 3DRT and CCRT groups (P=0.953).The lymph node metastasis rate was 26.5%, and this rate for the complete, partial, and minimal pathologic response groups was 14%, 30%, and 67%, respectively, with a significant difference between the three groups (P=0.001).The OS and DFS were significantly higher in patients without lymph node metastasis than in those with lymph node metastasis (P=0.034 and 0.020).The surgery-related mortality was 7.8% in all patients.Compared with the 3DRT group, the CCRT group had significantly higher incidence rates of leukopenia (P=0.002), neutropenia (P=0.023), radiation esophagitis (P=0.008), and radiation esophagitis ( P=0.023).Pathologic response of the primary tumor and weight loss before treatment were independent prognostic factors for OS and DFS (P=0.030,0.024 and P=0.003,0.042). Conclusions Preoperative 3DRT alone or with concurrent chemotherapy can result in a relatively high complete pathologic response rate, hence increasing the survival rate.Further randomized clinical trials are needed to confirm whether preoperative CCRT is better than 3DRT in improving survival without increasing the incidence of adverse reactions.

Objective To compare set?up error and the positioning and error correction time between the infrared markers automatic positioning+ ExacTrac ( A) and the manual positioning+ cone?beam computed tomography ( CBCT) image?guided radiotherapy ( IGRT) ( B) in intensity?modulated radiotherapy ( IMRT) for lung cancer. Methods A total of 20 patients with lung cancer were randomly divided into Group A and Group B. In Group A, after automatic positioning, a group of orthogonal X?rays images were taken using kV X?rays, which matched digitally reconstructed radiographs to obtain errors before correction. In group B, after manual positioning, images were taken using CBCT, which matched reference computed tomography images to obtain errors before correction. The positioning and error correction time was recorded in both groups. After error correction, errors after correction were obtained in each group using IGRT. Between?group comparison was made using the paired t test. Results The errors in lateral, longitudinal, vertical, and spinning vertical directions were significantly reduced after correction in both Group A and B (A:1.8±1?3 vs. 0.4±0?1, P=0?000;2.7±1?9 vs. 0.5±0?1, P=0?000;2.8±1?7 vs. 0.4±0?1, P=0?000;1.6±1?0 vs. 0.3±0?9, P=0?000;B:2.6±1?9 vs. 0.5±0?5, P=0?000;3.1±2?5 vs. 0.6±0?6, P=0?000;2.1±1?8 vs. 0.5±0?5, P=0?000;0.9±0?7 vs. 0.3±0?1, P=0?000). There were no significant differences in errors after correction between Group A and Group B (0.4±0?1 vs. 0.5±0?5, P=0?204;0.5±0?1 vs. 0.6± 0?6, P=0?257;0.4± 0?1 vs. 0.5± 0?5, P=0?518;0.3± 0?9 vs. 0.3± 0?1, P=0?755 ) . However, the positioning and error correction time in Group A was significantly shorter than that in Group B (199.1±16?2 vs. 315.2±13?7, P=0?000). Conclusions The application of ExacTrac or CBCT IGRT can substantially reduce set?up errors and improve set?up accuracy in IMRT. In addition, the application of the ExacTrac system can substantially shorten the positioning and error correction time.

OBJECTIVEVideo-assisted thoracoscopic (VATS) esophagectomy has been performed for more than 10 years in China. However, compared with the conventional esophagectomy via right thoracotomy, whether VATS esophagectomy has more advantages or not in the lymph node (LN) dissection and prevention of perioperative complications is still controversial and deserves to be further investigated. The aim of this study was to explore whether there are significant differences in this issue between the two surgical modalities or not.

METHODSThe results of lymph node dissection and perioperative complications as well as other parameters in the patients treated by VATS esophagectomy and those by conventional esophagectomy via right thoracotomy at our department from May 1, 2009 to July 30, 2013 were compared using SPSS 16.0 in order to investigate whether there was any significant difference between these two treatment modalities in the learning curve stage of VATS esophagectomy.

RESULTSOne hundred and twenty-nine cases underwent VATS esophagectomy between May 1, 2009 and July 30, 2013, and another part 129 cases with the same preoperative cTNM stage treated by conventional esopahgectomy via right thoracotomy were selected in order to compare the results of lymph node dissection and perioperative complications as well as other parameters between those two groups of patients. There were no significant differences in the sex, age, lesion locations and cTNM stage between these two groups. The total LN metastatic rate in the VATS esophagectomy group was 35.7% and that of the conventional esophagectomy group was 37.2% (P > 0.05). The total average number of dissected lymph nodes was 12.1 vs. 16.2 (P < 0.001). The average dissected LN stations was 3.2 vs. 3.6 (P = 0.038). The total average number of dissected LN along the left recurrent laryngeal nerve was 2.0 vs. 3.7 (P = 0.012). The total average number of dissected LN along the right recurrent laryngeal nerve was 2.9 vs. 3.4 (P = 0.231). However, there was no significant difference in the total average number of dissected LN in the other thoracic LN stations, and in the perioperative complications between the two groups. The total postoperative complication rate was 41.1% in the VATS group versus 42.6% in the conventional group (P = 0.801). The cardiopulmonary complication rate was 25.6% vs. 27.1% (P = 0.777). The death rate was the same in the two groups (0.8%). The VATS group had less blood infusion (23.2% vs. 41.8%, P = 0.001) and shorter hospital stay (15.9 days vs. 19.2 days, P = 0.049) but longer operating time (161.3 min vs. 127.8 min, P < 0.01).

CONCLUSIONSIn the learning curve stage of VATS esophagectomy, compared with the conventional esophagectomy, less LN number and stations can be dissected in the VATS group due to un-skillful VATS manipulation, especially it is more difficult in the LN dissection along the left recurrent laryngeal nerve. Therefore, it is more suitable to select patients with early esophageal cancer without obvious enlarged lymph nodes for VATS esophagectomy in the learning curve stage.

China ; Esophageal Neoplasms ; pathology ; surgery ; Esophagectomy ; adverse effects ; methods ; Humans ; Learning Curve ; Length of Stay ; Lymph Node Excision ; adverse effects ; methods ; statistics & numerical data ; Lymph Nodes ; Operative Time ; Postoperative Complications ; epidemiology ; Recurrent Laryngeal Nerve ; Thoracic Surgery, Video-Assisted ; adverse effects ; Thoracotomy

Objective Video?assisted thoracoscopic ( VATS ) esophagectomy has been performed for more than 10 years in China. However, compared with the conventional esophagectomy via right thoracotomy, whether VATS esophagectomy has more advantages or not in the lymph node ( LN) dissection and prevention of perioperative complications is still controversial and deserves to be further investigated. The aim of this study was to explore whether there are significant differences in this issue between the two surgical modalities or not. Methods The results of lymph node dissection and perioperative complications as well as other parameters in the patients treated by VATS esophagectomy and those by conventional esophagectomy via right thoracotomy at our department from May 1,2009 to July 30,2013 were compared using SPSS 16.0 in order to investigate whether there was any significant difference between these two treatment modalities in the learning curve stage of VATS esophagectomy. Results One hundred and twenty?nine cases underwent VATS esophagectomy between May 1, 2009 and July 30, 2013, and another pared 129 cases with the same preoperative cTNM stage treated by conventional esopahgectomy via right thoracotomy were selected in order to compare the results of lymph node dissection and perioperative complications as well as other parameters between those two groups of patients. There were no significant differences in the sex, age, lesion locations and cTNM stage between these two groups. The total LN metastatic rate in the VATS esophagectomy group was 35.7% and that of the conventional esophagectomy group was 37.2% (P>0.05). The total average number of dissected lymph nodes was 12.1 vs. 16.2 ( P<0.001) . The average dissected LN stations was 3.2 vs. 3.6 ( P=0.038) . The total average number of dissected LN along the left recurrent laryngeal nerve was 2.0 vs. 3.7 ( P=0.012) . The total average number of dissected LN along the right recurrent laryngeal nerve was 2.9 vs. 3.4 (P=0.231). However, there was no significant difference in the total average number of dissected LN in the other thoracic LN stations, and in the perioperative complications between the two groups. The total postoperative complication rate was 41. 1% in the VATS group versus 42. 6% in the conventional group ( P=0.801) . The cardiopulmonary complication rate was 25.6% vs. 27.1% ( P=0.777) . The death rate was the same in the two groups (0.8%). The VATS group had less blood infusion (23.2% vs. 41.8%, P=0.001) and shorter hospital stay (15.9 days vs. 19.2 days, P=0.049) but longer operating time (161.3 min vs. 127.8 min, P<0.01). Conclusions In the learning curve stage of VATS esophagectomy, compared with the conventional esophagectomy, less LN number and stations can be dissected in the VATS group due to unskillful VATS manipulation, especially it is more difficult in the LN dissection along the left recurrent laryngeal nerve. Therefore, it is more suitable to select patients with early esophageal cancer without obvious enlarged lymph nodes for VATS esophagectomy in the learning curve stage.

Objective Video?assisted thoracoscopic ( VATS ) esophagectomy has been performed for more than 10 years in China. However, compared with the conventional esophagectomy via right thoracotomy, whether VATS esophagectomy has more advantages or not in the lymph node ( LN) dissection and prevention of perioperative complications is still controversial and deserves to be further investigated. The aim of this study was to explore whether there are significant differences in this issue between the two surgical modalities or not. Methods The results of lymph node dissection and perioperative complications as well as other parameters in the patients treated by VATS esophagectomy and those by conventional esophagectomy via right thoracotomy at our department from May 1,2009 to July 30,2013 were compared using SPSS 16.0 in order to investigate whether there was any significant difference between these two treatment modalities in the learning curve stage of VATS esophagectomy. Results One hundred and twenty?nine cases underwent VATS esophagectomy between May 1, 2009 and July 30, 2013, and another pared 129 cases with the same preoperative cTNM stage treated by conventional esopahgectomy via right thoracotomy were selected in order to compare the results of lymph node dissection and perioperative complications as well as other parameters between those two groups of patients. There were no significant differences in the sex, age, lesion locations and cTNM stage between these two groups. The total LN metastatic rate in the VATS esophagectomy group was 35.7% and that of the conventional esophagectomy group was 37.2% (P>0.05). The total average number of dissected lymph nodes was 12.1 vs. 16.2 ( P<0.001) . The average dissected LN stations was 3.2 vs. 3.6 ( P=0.038) . The total average number of dissected LN along the left recurrent laryngeal nerve was 2.0 vs. 3.7 ( P=0.012) . The total average number of dissected LN along the right recurrent laryngeal nerve was 2.9 vs. 3.4 (P=0.231). However, there was no significant difference in the total average number of dissected LN in the other thoracic LN stations, and in the perioperative complications between the two groups. The total postoperative complication rate was 41. 1% in the VATS group versus 42. 6% in the conventional group ( P=0.801) . The cardiopulmonary complication rate was 25.6% vs. 27.1% ( P=0.777) . The death rate was the same in the two groups (0.8%). The VATS group had less blood infusion (23.2% vs. 41.8%, P=0.001) and shorter hospital stay (15.9 days vs. 19.2 days, P=0.049) but longer operating time (161.3 min vs. 127.8 min, P<0.01). Conclusions In the learning curve stage of VATS esophagectomy, compared with the conventional esophagectomy, less LN number and stations can be dissected in the VATS group due to unskillful VATS manipulation, especially it is more difficult in the LN dissection along the left recurrent laryngeal nerve. Therefore, it is more suitable to select patients with early esophageal cancer without obvious enlarged lymph nodes for VATS esophagectomy in the learning curve stage.

OBJECTIVETo explore the pattern of lymph node metastasis and evaluate the modes and extent of mediastinal lymph node dissection in patients with ≤ 3 cm, clinical stage I primary non-small cell lung cancer (NSCLC).

METHODSData of 270 eligible patients who underwent pulmonary resection with systematic lymph node dissection in our hospital between March 2012 and August 2013 were retrospectively analyzed in order to investigate the relationship between the clinicopathological features and lymph node metastatic patterns. Patients with multiple primary carcinomas or non-primary pulmonary malignancies and those who received any chemotherapy or radiotherapy or did not undergo systematic nodal dissection were excluded. The criteria of systematic nodal dissection included the removal of at least six lymph nodes from at least three mediastinal stations, one of which must be subcarinal. The data were analyzed and compared using Chi-square test.

RESULTSThe postoperative morbidity rate was 14.8% and no death occurred in this series. The imaging findings showed 34 cases of pure ground glass opacity lesions, 47 partial solid nodules, and 189 solid nodules. Apart from 34 p-GGO lesions, among the other 236 cases, ≤ 1 cm lesions were in 22 cases, 1 cm- ≤ 2 cm lesions in 138 cases, and >2 cm- ≤ 3 cm lesions in 76 cases based on radiologic findings. The pathological types included adenocarcinoma (n = 245), squamous cell carcinoma (n = 18) and other rare types (n = 7). The overall lymph node metastasis rate was 18.9% (51/270), and the incidence of lymph node involvement was 0(0/34) in cancers with p-GGO, 2.1% (1/47) in mixed solid nodules, 26.5% (50/189) in solid nodules, 18.2% (4/22) in nodules ≤ 1 cm, 14.5% (20/138) in 1 cm < nodules ≤ 2 cm, and 35.5% (27/76) in 2 cm < nodules ≤ 3 cm. The metastasis rates of non-specific tumor-draining region lymph nodes detected in the patients with positive and negative lobe-specific lymph node involvement were 20.0%-50.0% vs. 0-2.9% (P < 0.001).

CONCLUSIONSUsually NSCLC with p-GGO nodules has no lymph node metastasis, therefore, systematic nodal dissection may be not necessary. The larger the tumor size is, the higher the lymph node metastatic rate is for mixed or solid nodules. Intraoperative frozen-section examination of the lobe-specific lymph nodes should be performed routinely in patients with ≤ 2 cm stage I NSCLC, and systematic nodal dissection should be done if positive, but it may be not necessary if negative. However, the effectiveness of the systematic selective lymph node dissection still needs to be further confirmed.

Carcinoma, Non-Small-Cell Lung ; diagnosis ; surgery ; Humans ; Lymph Node Excision ; methods ; Lymph Nodes ; surgery ; Lymphatic Metastasis ; diagnosis ; Neoplasm Staging ; Retrospective Studies

The UL49.5 gene of most herpesviruses is conserved and encodes glycoprotein N. However, the UL49.5 protein of duck enteritis virus (DEV) (pUL49.5) has not been reported. In the current study, the DEV pUL49.5 gene was first subjected to molecular characterization. To verify the predicted intracellular localization of gene expression, the recombinant plasmid pEGFP-C1/pUL49.5 was constructed and used to transfect duck embryo fibroblasts. Next, the recombinant plasmid pDsRed1-N1/glycoprotein M (gM) was produced and used for co-transfection with the pEGFP-C1/pUL49.5 plasmid to determine whether DEV pUL49.5 and gM (a conserved protein in herpesviruses) colocalize. DEV pUL49.5 was thought to be an envelope glycoprotein with a signal peptide and two transmembrane domains. This protein was also predicted to localize in the cytoplasm and endoplasmic reticulum with a probability of 66.7%. Images taken by a fluorescence microscope at different time points revealed that the DEV pUL49.5 and gM proteins were both expressed in the cytoplasm. Overlap of the two different fluorescence signals appeared 12 h after transfection and continued to persist until the end of the experiment. These data indicate a possible interaction between DEV pUL49.5 and gM.
Animals ; Ducks/virology ; Genes, Viral/genetics ; Mardivirus/*genetics ; Membrane Glycoproteins/*genetics ; Microscopy, Fluorescence ; Phylogeny ; Polymerase Chain Reaction/veterinary ; Viral Envelope Proteins/*genetics