Objective To explore the feasibility, safety, and efficacy of transesophageal endoscopic surgery for mediastinal tumors. Methods A retrospective analysis was conducted on the clinical data of 17 patients who underwent transesophageal endoscopic resection for benign mediastinal tumors at the Endoscopy Center of Zhongshan Hospital, Fudan University, between January 1, 2016 and December 31, 2024. Epidemiological characteristics, surgical parameters, adverse events, and follow-up outcomes were analyzed. Results Among the 17 patients, there were 9 males and 8 females, with an average age of (42.4±14.5) years and an average tumor size of (2.6±1.6) cm. Pathological types included esophageal duplication cysts (6 cases, 35.3%), bronchogenic cysts (5 cases, 29.4%), gastroenteric cysts (3 cases, 17.6%), schwannomas (2 cases, 11.8%), and lymphangioma (1 case, 5.9%). Fourteen patients (82.4%) underwent submucosal tunneling endoscopic resection (STER), 3 patients (17.6%) underwent natural orifice transluminal endoscopic mediastinal surgery. All surgeries were successfully completed without conversion to open surgery. En bloc resection was achieved in 11 patients (64.7%), with an average operative time of (60.9±32.6) min. No intraoperative bleeding or mucosal injury occurred, and 4 patients (23.5%) experienced minor complications (pneumothorax, fever, recurrent laryngeal nerve injury), all of which resolved with conservative treatment. The average postoperative hospital stay was (3.2±1.5) days, and no recurrence was observed during the follow-up period. Conclusions Transesophageal endoscopic resection of benign mediastinal tumors is a safe, effective, and minimally invasive treatment method. Further validation of its efficacy and safety through large-scale prospective studies is warranted.

Objective:Endoscopic resection of giant submucosal tumors (SMTs) in the esophagus and gastric cardia is challenging. The aim of this study was to investigate the safety and efficacy of various endoscopic procedures for resection of esophageal or gastric cardia SMTs with longitudinal diameter ≥7 cm and/or transverse diameter ≥3.5 cm.Methods:In this retrospective cohort study, we analyzed data of 109 patients with giant esophageal/cardia SMTs originating in the muscularis propria who had undergone endoscopic resection in Zhongshan Hospital from July 2017 to February 2022. Inclusion criteria were as follows: (1) SMT diameter ≥7 cm longitudinally or ≥3.5 cm transversely; (2) presence of symptoms requiring intervention; and (3) tumor originating in the muscularis propria. Exclusion criteria included severe comorbidities, coagulation disorders, prior surgery, or tumor adjacent to vital organs precluding endoscopic treatment. The primary outcomes were en bloc and piecemeal resection rates, whereas secondary outcomes comprised adverse events and long-term survival.Results:Among the 109 patients who had successfully undergone endoscopic resection, the median tumor diameters were 7.5 (4.0-15.0) cm, and 4.5 (1.5-7.0) cm. Submucosal tunneling endoscopic resection, endoscopic full-thickness resection, and endoscopic submucosal excavation were performed on 77, 22, and 10 patients, respectively. The median duration of the procedures was 90 (30-300) minutes. The overall en bloc resection rate was 78.9% (86/109), and piecemeal resection rate 21.1% (23/109). Major adverse events occurred in 12.8% of patients (14/109), comprising pneumothorax or pleural effusion ( n=12), esophageal-pleural fistula ( n=3), severe delayed bleeding ( n=1), tunnel infection with abdominal abscess ( n=1), pulmonary abscess ( n=1), abdominal abscess ( n=1), and postoperative esophageal stricture ( n=1). During a median follow-up period of 33.6 (15.4-70.4) months, no tumor recurrences or metastases were detected. Multivariate analysis revealed that transverse diameter ≥4.5 cm was an independent risk factor for piecemeal resection (OR=6.016, 95%CI: 2.180-16.597, P<0.001); longitudinal diameter ≥9.0 cm (OR=2.728, 95%CI: 1.005-7.405, P=0.049) and transverse diameter ≥4.5 cm (OR=2.942, 95%CI: 1.099-7.874, P=0.032) were independent risk factors for prolonged operation time; and longitudinal diameter ≥9.0 cm (OR=5.040, 95%CI: 1.425-17.828, P=0.012) and piecemeal resection (OR=6.280, 95%CI: 1.741-22.656, P=0.005) were independent risk factors for major adverse events. Conclusion:Endoscopic resection is a safe and effective treatment modality for giant esophageal or gastric cardia SMTs of longitudinal diameter ≥9.0 cm and transverse diameter ≥4.5 cm.

Objective:Endoscopic resection of giant submucosal tumors (SMTs) in the esophagus and gastric cardia is challenging. The aim of this study was to investigate the safety and efficacy of various endoscopic procedures for resection of esophageal or gastric cardia SMTs with longitudinal diameter ≥7 cm and/or transverse diameter ≥3.5 cm.Methods:In this retrospective cohort study, we analyzed data of 109 patients with giant esophageal/cardia SMTs originating in the muscularis propria who had undergone endoscopic resection in Zhongshan Hospital from July 2017 to February 2022. Inclusion criteria were as follows: (1) SMT diameter ≥7 cm longitudinally or ≥3.5 cm transversely; (2) presence of symptoms requiring intervention; and (3) tumor originating in the muscularis propria. Exclusion criteria included severe comorbidities, coagulation disorders, prior surgery, or tumor adjacent to vital organs precluding endoscopic treatment. The primary outcomes were en bloc and piecemeal resection rates, whereas secondary outcomes comprised adverse events and long-term survival.Results:Among the 109 patients who had successfully undergone endoscopic resection, the median tumor diameters were 7.5 (4.0-15.0) cm, and 4.5 (1.5-7.0) cm. Submucosal tunneling endoscopic resection, endoscopic full-thickness resection, and endoscopic submucosal excavation were performed on 77, 22, and 10 patients, respectively. The median duration of the procedures was 90 (30-300) minutes. The overall en bloc resection rate was 78.9% (86/109), and piecemeal resection rate 21.1% (23/109). Major adverse events occurred in 12.8% of patients (14/109), comprising pneumothorax or pleural effusion ( n=12), esophageal-pleural fistula ( n=3), severe delayed bleeding ( n=1), tunnel infection with abdominal abscess ( n=1), pulmonary abscess ( n=1), abdominal abscess ( n=1), and postoperative esophageal stricture ( n=1). During a median follow-up period of 33.6 (15.4-70.4) months, no tumor recurrences or metastases were detected. Multivariate analysis revealed that transverse diameter ≥4.5 cm was an independent risk factor for piecemeal resection (OR=6.016, 95%CI: 2.180-16.597, P<0.001); longitudinal diameter ≥9.0 cm (OR=2.728, 95%CI: 1.005-7.405, P=0.049) and transverse diameter ≥4.5 cm (OR=2.942, 95%CI: 1.099-7.874, P=0.032) were independent risk factors for prolonged operation time; and longitudinal diameter ≥9.0 cm (OR=5.040, 95%CI: 1.425-17.828, P=0.012) and piecemeal resection (OR=6.280, 95%CI: 1.741-22.656, P=0.005) were independent risk factors for major adverse events. Conclusion:Endoscopic resection is a safe and effective treatment modality for giant esophageal or gastric cardia SMTs of longitudinal diameter ≥9.0 cm and transverse diameter ≥4.5 cm.

Background:Esophageal neuroendocrine neoplasms(E-NENs)are rare and highly aggressive malignancies.Although endoscopic resection(ER)has demonstrated efficacy in managing gastrointestinal neuroendocrine tumors,ER for E-NENs lacks systematic evidence.Aims:To evaluate the feasibility and safety of ER in E-NENs,establish risk-stratified follow-up strategies based on tumor grade,invasion depth,and margin status,and define indications for ER.Methods:A retrospective analysis was conducted for 8 E-NEN patients treated with ER at the Endoscopy Center,Zhongshan Hospital,Fudan University from November 2017 to July 2021.The clinicopathological data,procedural parameters,adverse events,and follow-up outcomes were collected to summarize the diagnostic and therapeutic insights.Results:The cohort included 8 patients,with male-to-female ratio of 1:1;the mean age was(71.4±8.5)years.Half of the cases were incidentally detected during asymptomatic endoscopic screening.All tumors were confined to the submucosa:4 were small cell neuroendocrine carcinomas(SCNECs),and 4 were mixed neuroendocrine-non-neuroendocrine neoplasms(MiNENs).Endoscopic submucosal dissection(ESD)was performed in 6 cases and submucosal tunneling endoscopic resection(STER)in 2 cases.Self-limiting fever was reported in one case.One cases required additional surgery due to horizontal margin involving(no recurrence over 67 months follow-up).The median hospitalization was 4.5 days.With a median follow-up of 66 months,the recurrence and all-cause mortality rates were both 25.0%(2/8).Conclusions:MiNENs≤2.5 cm with complete ER exhibit favorable prognoses,whereas SCNECs with high mitotic indices or elevated Ki-67 proliferation indices correlate with poorer outcomes.Post-ER surveillance for E-NENs should meet or exceed esophageal squamous cell carcinoma standards.As the largest single-center ER cohort for E-NENs,this study provides critical evidence for minimally invasive management,though multicenter validation is needed.

To establish a fluorescence-labeled Corynebacterium pseudotuberculosis(Cp),the super-folded green fluorescent protein gene(sfGFP)fused to the red fluorescent protein gene(mCher-ry)was cloned into pXMJ19 and expressed in Cp.The fluorescent signals of recombinant Cp cul-tured under different pH values,and the visualized detection of bacteria in the macrophages J774A.1 or mice infected with recombinant Cp were evaluated.The results showed that a double fluores-cence labeled XH02-pXMJ19-sfGFPmCherry(XH02-sfGFPmCherry)was successfully construc-ted by electrotransformation of Cp with pXMJ19-sfGFPmCherry,which containing sfGFP fused to mCherry.The colony morphology of XH02-sfGFPmCherry on fresh blood agar plates was pink.The XH02-sfGFP mCherry showed green and red fluorescence when observed under the fluo-rescence microscope.Compared with cultivation at pH7.0,XH02-sfGFPmCherry showed a signifi-cant decrease in green fluorescence intensity(fluorescence intensity/D600)at pH5.0,but signifi-cantly increased in red fluorescence intensity at pH5.0.Green and red fluorescences of Cp were ob-served in the XH02-sfGFPmCherry-infected J774A.1 in vitro or in the liver and kidney of XH02-sfGFPmCherry-infected mice in vivo,and with good overlap of two kinds of fluorescences.This study demonstrates that the constructed dual fluorescent labeled Cp can efficiently express both red and green fluorescent proteins,and express the dominant fluorescent signals under different pH value conditions,which can be used for Cp monitoring in vitro infection of macrophages and in vivo infection of mice by this pathogen,and providing potential tool for the localization and tracing research of Cp infection.

To establish a fluorescence-labeled Corynebacterium pseudotuberculosis(Cp),the super-folded green fluorescent protein gene(sfGFP)fused to the red fluorescent protein gene(mCher-ry)was cloned into pXMJ19 and expressed in Cp.The fluorescent signals of recombinant Cp cul-tured under different pH values,and the visualized detection of bacteria in the macrophages J774A.1 or mice infected with recombinant Cp were evaluated.The results showed that a double fluores-cence labeled XH02-pXMJ19-sfGFPmCherry(XH02-sfGFPmCherry)was successfully construc-ted by electrotransformation of Cp with pXMJ19-sfGFPmCherry,which containing sfGFP fused to mCherry.The colony morphology of XH02-sfGFPmCherry on fresh blood agar plates was pink.The XH02-sfGFP mCherry showed green and red fluorescence when observed under the fluo-rescence microscope.Compared with cultivation at pH7.0,XH02-sfGFPmCherry showed a signifi-cant decrease in green fluorescence intensity(fluorescence intensity/D600)at pH5.0,but signifi-cantly increased in red fluorescence intensity at pH5.0.Green and red fluorescences of Cp were ob-served in the XH02-sfGFPmCherry-infected J774A.1 in vitro or in the liver and kidney of XH02-sfGFPmCherry-infected mice in vivo,and with good overlap of two kinds of fluorescences.This study demonstrates that the constructed dual fluorescent labeled Cp can efficiently express both red and green fluorescent proteins,and express the dominant fluorescent signals under different pH value conditions,which can be used for Cp monitoring in vitro infection of macrophages and in vivo infection of mice by this pathogen,and providing potential tool for the localization and tracing research of Cp infection.

Background:Esophageal neuroendocrine neoplasms(E-NENs)are rare and highly aggressive malignancies.Although endoscopic resection(ER)has demonstrated efficacy in managing gastrointestinal neuroendocrine tumors,ER for E-NENs lacks systematic evidence.Aims:To evaluate the feasibility and safety of ER in E-NENs,establish risk-stratified follow-up strategies based on tumor grade,invasion depth,and margin status,and define indications for ER.Methods:A retrospective analysis was conducted for 8 E-NEN patients treated with ER at the Endoscopy Center,Zhongshan Hospital,Fudan University from November 2017 to July 2021.The clinicopathological data,procedural parameters,adverse events,and follow-up outcomes were collected to summarize the diagnostic and therapeutic insights.Results:The cohort included 8 patients,with male-to-female ratio of 1:1;the mean age was(71.4±8.5)years.Half of the cases were incidentally detected during asymptomatic endoscopic screening.All tumors were confined to the submucosa:4 were small cell neuroendocrine carcinomas(SCNECs),and 4 were mixed neuroendocrine-non-neuroendocrine neoplasms(MiNENs).Endoscopic submucosal dissection(ESD)was performed in 6 cases and submucosal tunneling endoscopic resection(STER)in 2 cases.Self-limiting fever was reported in one case.One cases required additional surgery due to horizontal margin involving(no recurrence over 67 months follow-up).The median hospitalization was 4.5 days.With a median follow-up of 66 months,the recurrence and all-cause mortality rates were both 25.0%(2/8).Conclusions:MiNENs≤2.5 cm with complete ER exhibit favorable prognoses,whereas SCNECs with high mitotic indices or elevated Ki-67 proliferation indices correlate with poorer outcomes.Post-ER surveillance for E-NENs should meet or exceed esophageal squamous cell carcinoma standards.As the largest single-center ER cohort for E-NENs,this study provides critical evidence for minimally invasive management,though multicenter validation is needed.

Objective:To review publications in the field of digestive endoscopic minimally-invasive resection in the past 10 years in and outside China.Methods:Literature of digestive endoscopic minimally-invasive resection in the Web of Science and CNKI databases from January 1, 2011 to July 17, 2021 was retrieved. VOSviewer 1.6.11 was used for clustering and time series analysis of countries, institutions, authors and keywords, and drawing evidence-based visualization maps, so as to analyze the cooperation among countries, academic institutions and researchers, to compare the differences in research topics between Chinese and English databases, and to predict the future research hot spots and directions.Results:A total of 22 834 English articles and 4 636 Chinese articles were included. Over the past 10 years, the number of Chinese and English publications has been growing steadily, and most of them were published in professional journals. The publications were mainly from China, Japan, South Korea and the United States, where all exceeded 2 000. The National Cancer Center of Japan had 497 publications, ranking the first among all institutions. The cooperation between academic institutions showed obvious regional characteristics, and the inter-institutional and interpersonal cooperation needed improvement. In terms of keyword clustering, there was no significant difference between Chinese and English publications, but there were two additional clusters in Chinese publications, endoscopic nursing and submucosal tumor. Overlays analysis of key words showed that endoscopic surgery, tunneling technique, and submucosal tumor could be hot spots and future directions.Conclusion:Digestive endoscopic minimally-invasive resection has experienced a vigorous development in the past 10 years with a growing number of Chinese and English publications. China is playing an increasingly important role on the international stage. The advanced nature of research focus in Chinese publications is comparable to that in English publications, yet also showing Chinese characteristics. In the future, more efforts should be taken to strengthen regional cooperation and focus on research hot spots.

Objective To propose a new N staging system for nasopharyngeal carcinoma based on intensity-modulated radiotherapy (IMRT) and Radiation Therapy Oncology Group (RTOG) guidelines for cervical lymph node levels.Methods A retrospective analysis was performed in 324 patients with newly diagnosed nasopharyngeal carcinoma who had no distant metastasis confirmed by pathology and received IMRT in the Department of Radiation Oncology in The First Affiliated Hospital of Guangxi Medical University from January 2010 to December 2011.They were restaged according to the 7thedition of UICC/AJCC staging system for nasopharyngeal carcinoma.The survival rates were estimated using the Kaplan-Meier method and the log-rank test was used for univariate prognostic analysis.The Cox proportional hazards model was used for multivariate prognostic analysis.Results Of 324 patients,269(83.0%) had lymph node metastasis.The median follow-up was 58 months (6-77 months).The 5-year overall survival,disease-free survival,relapse-free survival,and distant metastasis-free survival rates were 84.8%,77.1%,92.7%,and 80.5%,respectively.Univariate and multivariate analyses of patients with positive cervical lymph nodes revealed that retropharyngeal lymph node status,cervical lymph node level,and laterality were evaluated as independent prognostic factors for nasopharyngeal carcinoma.According to the hazard ratio calculated,the N staging system was revised as follows:N0:no regional lymph node metastasis;N1:VⅡ a or/and unilateral levels (I,Ⅱ,Ⅲ,Va) involvement;N2:bilateral levels (I,Ⅱ,Ⅲ,Va) involvement;N3:levels IVa,Vb,and IVb+Vc involvement.Conclusions The proposed N staging system is based on IMRT and RTOG guidelines for lymph node levels and more practical,and can provide highly objective prediction of outcome and guide treatment in nasopharyngeal carcinoma.