Extraluminal laparoscopic wedge resection of gastric submucosal tumors: a retrospective review of 84 cases.

BACKGROUND: Laparoscopic resection of gastric stromal tumors is being performed with increased frequency. This study aims to evaluate the feasibility and safety of the extraluminal laparoscopic gastric wedge resection (ELWR) technique. METHODS: Clinical data of 84 patients who underwent ELWR for gastric submucosal tumors between September 2000 and December 2007 were reviewed and analyzed retrospectively. The operation includes: localization of the tumor, dissection of the omentum, mobilization of the upper stomach and the upper pole of the spleen, exposure of esophago-cardiac junction (ECJ), and wedge resection of the upper part of gastric body and/or the gastric fundus with endoscopic gastrointestinal anastomosis (Endo GIA) stapler. RESULTS: All of the procedures were performed successfully, with mean operation time of 62.6 +/- 8.9 min and mean intraoperative blood loss of 86.2 +/- 8.1 ml. Through extraluminal laparoscopic wedge resection, complete R0 resection was achieved for all tumors. All surgical margins were negative microscopically. No lesions were missed, nor were there any significant postoperative complications or intraoperative conversions to open surgery. A total of 78.6% of the patients recovered their gastrointestinal functions and began to eat and ambulate within 36 h of the operation. The smallest surgical margins were 0.7-2.5 cm, with a mean distance of 1.4 +/- 0.5 cm. Of the 84 cases of gastric submucosal tumors, 29 cases were leiomyomas, 51 cases were various types of stromal tumors, and 4 other cases were neurofibromas. Mean follow-up duration was 51 +/- 4.3 months (overall follow-up rate 73.8%, 62/84 cases), during which no recurrences or metastases were found. CONCLUSION: ELWR is a safe, simple, and effective procedure for treating submucosal tumors in the upper part of the stomach. It can avoid intraperitoneal contamination, possible tumor spillage, and postoperative esophageal stenosis, and provides unlimited scope for gastric resection.

[Effects of Gastric bypass surgery on the apoptosis of islet ß-cells in type 2 nonobese diabetic (NOD) rats and its mechanism].

OBJECTIVE: To investigate the effects of Gastric bypass surgery on the apoptosis of islet ß-cells in type 2 nonobese diabetic (NOD) rats and its mechanisms. METHODS: Seventy-two 8-week-old GK rats were randomly divided into four groups:operation group (group O, n = 18), sham operation group (group S, n = 18), diet control group (group F, n = 18) and control group (group C, n = 18). The levels of fasting, postprandial blood glucose, insulin and glucagon-like peptide-1 (GLP-1) were measured and compared among the 4 groups before the operation and at 1, 2, 4 and 8 weeks following the operation. The blood samples were collected at 2, 4 and 8 weeks after the operation for the measurement of postprandial blood glucose, and then the rats in batches (6 rats in each group) were decapitated to retrieve the pancreas. The apoptosis of the islet ß-cells was detected by using TUNEL assay, and the expression of apoptosis-related proteins Bcl-2, Bax was measured with immunohistochemistry. RESULTS: As for group O, the fasting blood glucose level decreased from (16.2 ± 0.8) mmol/L before the operation to respectively (9.2 ± 0.6) mmol/L and (9.7 ± 0.7) mmol/L at 4 and 8 weeks after the operation; postprandial blood glucose decreased from (31.1 ± 1.1) mmol/L before the operation to respectively (13.1 ± 0.7) mmol/L and (12.3 ± 0.7) mmol/L at 4 and 8 weeks after the operation. Fasting insulin level increased from (28.0 ± 1.2) mU/L before the operation to respectively (62.8 ± 1.9) mU/L and (61.7 ± 1.4) mU/L at 4 and 8 weeks after the operation; and at 4 and 8 weeks after the operation postprandial insulin level was (77.4 ± 1.1) mU/L and (77.1 ± 1.0) mU/L. At 2 weeks from the operation, the fasting GLP-1 in group O increased from (10.7 ± 1.0) pmol/L to (13.5 ± 0.8) pmol/L, and respectively to (26.1 ± 0.9) pmol/L and (25.3 ± 1.2) pmol/L at 4 and 8 weeks after the operation. The differences in the above-mentioned items before and after the operation were all significant in group O (P < 0.05), and the differences in the items among group O and the other three groups (P < 0.05) were all significant as well. In group O, the apoptosis rate of pancreatic islet cell decreased to (5.9 ± 0.7)% at 4 weeks from the operation, and (6.3 ± 1.1)% at 8 weeks from the operation (P < 0.05). The expression of Bcl-2 protein in group O was 31.3 ± 1.5, 35.7 ± 1.0 and 35.8 ± 0.8 at 2, 4 and 8 weeks post operation, which was significantly higher in statistics than those of the same time point in the other three groups (P < 0.05). The expression of Bax protein in group O was 13.3 ± 0.9, 10.8 ± 0.9 and 10.9 ± 1.1 at 2, 4 and 8 weeks from the operation, which was significantly lower in statistics than those of the same time point in the other three groups (P < 0.05). CONCLUSIONS: Gastric bypass surgery can significantly reduce the blood glucose level and promote the secretion of GLP-1, and therefore inhibit the apoptosis of the islet ß cells in diabetic rats through the Bcl-2 pathway.

Identification of ATP8B1 as a Tumor Suppressor Gene for Colorectal Cancer and Its Involvement in Phospholipid Homeostasis.

Homeostasis of membrane phospholipids plays an important role in cell oncogenesis and cancer progression. The flippase ATPase class I type 8b member 1 (ATP8B1), one of the P4-ATPases, translocates specific phospholipids from the exoplasmic to the cytoplasmic leaflet of membranes. ATP8B1 is critical for maintaining the epithelium membrane stability and polarity. However, the prognostic values of ATP8B1 in colorectal cancer (CRC) patients remain unclear. We analyzed transcriptomics, genomics, and clinical data of CRC samples from The Cancer Genome Atlas (TCGA). ATP8B1 was the only potential biomarker of phospholipid transporters in CRC. Its prognostic value was also validated with the data from the Gene Expression Omnibus (GEO). Compared to the normal group, the expression of ATP8B1 was downregulated in the tumor group and the CRC cell lines, which declined with disease progression. The lower expression level of ATP8B1 was also significantly associated with worse survival outcomes in both the discovery samples (359 patients) and the validation samples (566 patients). In multivariate analyses, low ATP8B1 levels predicted unfavorable OS (adjusted HR 1.512, 95% CI: 1.069-2.137; P = 0.019) and were associated with poor progress-free interval (PFI) (adjusted HR: 1.62, 95% CI: 1.207-2.174; P = 0.001). The pathway analysis results showed that the underexpression of ATP8B1 was negatively associated with phospholipid transport, phospholipid metabolic process, and cell-cell adherent junction and positively associated with the epithelial-mesenchymal transition in CRC. Our analysis suggests that ATP8B1 is a potential cancer suppressor in CRC patients and may offer new strategies for CRC therapy.

[Diagnosis and treatment of postoperative complications after laparoscopic adjustable gastric banding procedure].

OBJECTIVE: To investigate the diagnosis and treatment of the complications in patients after laparoscopic adjustable gastric banding (LAGB) procedure. METHODS: Retrospectively analyze the data of the 23 patients who received the LAGB procedure from June 2003 to November 2004. RESULTS: Of the 23 LAGB operations, 3 (13%) cases of vomiting and nausea, 1 (4.3%) case of access-port infection and 5 (21.4%) cases of food intolerance occurred. One band (4.3%) and one injection reservoir (4.3%) displaced and were removed by laparoscopy. No death and thrombo-embolism occurred. CONCLUSIONS: The diagnosis and treatment of complications after LAGB in morbid obesity was special, if managed properly, the result would be satisfactory.

[Effect of weight loss induced by laparoscopic adjustable gastric banding on immunity of morbid obesity].

OBJECTIVE: To compare the immunity of morbid obesity (MO) before and after laparoscopic adjustable gastric banding (LAGB). METHODS: 15 cases, with a mean body mass index (BMI) of 35.8 kg/m(2), were treated by LAGB from Jun. 2003 to Oct. 2003 in our department. Patients' immune parameters were determined preoperatively and 1, 3 and 6 months postoperatively. 15 cases with a normal BMI (23.6 kg/m(2)) were set as controls. RESULTS: Before surgery, the MO had a significant lower level of CD(4)(+), CD(4)(+)/CD(8)(+) and a higher level of serum interleukin-2 (IL-2), Interleukin-6 (IL-6) than the controls (P < 0.01). There was a significant reduction of weight and BMI 6 months postoperatively (P < 0.01). At the same time, CD(4)(+) increased and serum IL-2 decreased significantly. But CD(4)(+)/CD(8)(+)and serum IL-2, IL-6 were still abnormal compare to the controls. CONCLUSIONS: MO may combined with an abnormal immunity. But after enough weight loss induced by LAGB, it can be partly reversed.

Structure and Function of Vascular Endothelial Growth Factor and Its Related Proteins.

Vascular endothelial growth factor(VEGF) is a highly specific mitogen promoting the formation of blood vessels in embryogenesis and wound healing. It is also a potent inducer of vascular permeability. It is a member of the cystine knot growth factor superfamily. A detailed structural and functional characterization of the interactions between VEGF and its receptors is a prerequisite for the design of molecule antagonists. These structural characterizations and biological properties make VEGF an important research object in the fields of neovascularization of ischemia tissues, prognosis of cancers, tumor metastasis, and the gene therapy.

Management of aberrant bile duct during laparoscopic cholecystectomy.

OBJECTIVE: To investigate the incidence of aberrant bile duct and its management during laparoscopic cholecystectomy (LC). METHODS: In 10 000 patients undergoing laparoscopic cholecystectomy from 1992 to July 2001, 3 had the involvement of the right accessory hepatic duct. In patient 1, the aberrant duct drained into the cystic duct was confirmed by open operation. In patient 2, the aberrant duct, which drained to the common bile duct (CBD), was injured and treated with suture and ligature under laparoscopy. In patient 3, the aberrant duct, which also drained to the CBD, was confirmed and preserved. RESULTS: All patients recovered well except patient 1 who had a transient elevation of ALT. No bile leakage or other complication occurred. CONCLUSIONS: Only variation near the confluence and the entrance of the cystic duct into the bile duct is discovered during laparoscopic cholecystectomy. Right accessory hepatic duct is common and should be preserved during the operation. The accidentally injured small accessory hepatic duct can be treated with ligature without severe disturbance to liver function.

[Outcomes after laparoscopic surgery for 219 patients with obesity].

OBJECTIVE: To evaluate the outcomes after laparoscopic gastrointestinal surgery for patients with obesity and type 2 diabetes mellitus(T2DM). METHODS: From June 2003 to June 2010, 219 patients underwent laparoscopic gastrointestinal surgery for obesity and T2DM, including laparoscopic adjustable gastric banding(LAGB, n=201), laparoscopic mini gastric bypass(LMGB, n=13), and laparoscopic sleeve gastrectomy(LSG, n=5). Clinical data were analyzed retrospectively. RESULTS: The mean body mass index(BMI) of patients who received LAGB was 37.9 kg/m(2), and decreased to 32.4 kg/m(2) at 6 months and to 29.7 kg/m(2) at 12 months. In 43 patients who had concurrent T2DM, 11(25.6%) showed clinical partial remission(CPR) and 16(37.2%) clinical complete remission (CCR). Postoperative complications occurred in 26 patients(12.9%). The mean BMI of patients undergoing LMGB was 34.7 kg/m(2), and decreased to 31.6 kg/m(2) at 6 months and 26.9 kg/m(2) at 12 months after surgery. Ten patients had T2DM before operation, of whom 2(20.0%) had CPR and 7(70.0%) CCR postoperatively. Postoperative complications occurred in 2 patients(15.4%). The mean BMI of patients who underwent LSG was 43.8 kg/m(2), and was reduced to 38.1 kg/m(2) at 6 months and 34.3 kg/m(2) at 12 months after operation. Three patients were diagnosed with T2DM before operation. One patient (33.3%) had CPR and 1(33.3%) reached CCR after operation. There was 1(20.0%) patient who developed complication. No perioperative death occurred. CONCLUSION: Laparoscopic gastrointestinal surgery may result in satisfactory weight loss and clinical remission of T2DM with few complications.

[A new technique for esophagojejunostomy or esophagogastrostomy after laparoscopic gastrectomy].

OBJECTIVE: To report the newly developed reconstruction technique after laparoscopic total gastrectomy: intracorporeal circular stapling esophagojejunostomy using the transorally inserted anvil (OrVil; Covidien), and evaluate its feasibility, safety, and clinical outcomes. METHODS: After LTG (3 patients with gastric carcinoma in the body) or LPG (2 patients with gastric carcinoma in the cardiac and fundus, respectively, and 1 with cardiac stromal tumor), the anvil was then inserted transorally into the esophagus by using the OrVil system. Double-stapling esophagojejunostomy or esophagogastrostomy with a circular stapler was performed intracorporeally. RESULTS: The operations were uneventful. The operative time was (183.3+/-25.8) min, and blood loss was (128.3+/-90.2) ml. Postoperative fluorography revealed no anastomotic leakage or stenosis. Patients resumed an oral liquid diet on postoperative day (4.0+/-1.1), and were discharged on day (9.0+/-2.6). Patients were followed at 28 days and no complications were reported. CONCLUSIONS: LTG with Roux-en-Y reconstruction or LPG with esophagogastrostomy using the OrVil system appear to be safe and reliable with satisfactory short-term outcomes.

[Laparoscopic adjustable gastric banding in the treatment of obesity: analysis of 172 cases].

OBJECTIVE: To evaluate the outcome of weight loss by laparoscopic adjustable gastric banding (LAGB) on obesity patients and the improvement of comorbidity. METHODS: From June 2003 to June 2009, the data 172 obesity patients(119 women, 53 men, mean age 28.5 years, mean body mass index 38.5 kg/m(2)) were analyzed. Comorbidities included 28 cases with diabetes, 36 with hypertension, 85 with dyslipidemia, 56 with sleep apnea and 138 with fatty liver. RESULTS: Mean body mass index(BMI) at 1,3,6,12, 24, 36 and 48 months was 37.2 kg/m(2),35.9 kg/m(2), 34.5 kg/m(2), 32.9 kg/m(2), 30.7 kg/m(2), 29.2 kg/m(2) and 28.1 kg/m(2), respectively. The percentage of excess weight loss(% EWL) at 1, 3, 6, 12, 24, 36, and 48 months was 10.1%, 16.2%, 25.1%, 37.4%, 51.3%, 59.0% and 62.1%, respectively. At 24, 36 and 48 months, respectively, 50.7%, 63.6% and 70.0% of patients had more than 50% excess weight loss. Complications included 6 cases of port infection, 3 of other port problem, 7 of gastric pouch dilatations, 4 of slippage and 1 of chronic intestinal obstruction. Bands of 5 patients were explanted. No death occurred. Blood glucose of 60.7% patients with diabetes was controlled well without any drug. The blood pressure of 22 hypertensive patients became normal. The blood fat of 49 hyperlipidemia cases returned to normal. The symptom of 29 patients with sleep apnea disappeared. All the patients with fatty liver were improved in different degree. CONCLUSION: Gastric banding provides good weight loss and significant reduction in comorbidities with few and minor complications.

[Short-term outcome of laparoscopic gastric bypass and minigastric bypass on obesity patients with type 2 diabetes mellitus].

OBJECTIVE: To evaluate the short-term outcome of laparoscopic gastric bypass on obesity patients with type 2 diabetes mellitus. METHODS: Seven obesity patients with type 2 diabetes mellitus received laparoscopic gastric bypass(n=1) or laparoscopic minigastric bypass(n=6), and their data of treatment outcomes were analyzed. RESULTS: The operations were all successfully performed without any complications. The average operation time was 125 minutes(range: 100 to 170 minutes). The patients underwent 1-18 months follow-up after operation. Diabetic indicators returned to normal without any medication and body weight reduced by on average of 24.3 kg. CONCLUSION: Laparoscopic gastric bypass and minigastric bypass have good short-term outcome in the treatment of obesity patients with type 2 diabetes mellitus.

[Application of neoadjuvant chemotherapy in laparoscopic gastrectomy for advanced gastric cancer].

OBJECTIVE: To explore the benefit of neoadjuvant chemotherapy in advanced gastric cancer patients treated by laparoscopy. METHODS: Fifteen patients with histologically proved gastric adenocarcinomas (stages II(, III(, IIII(M(0)) were treated with FOLFOX7 neoadjuvant chemotherapy followed by laparoscopy between June 2005 and March 2007( trial group). Thirty patients were assigned to the control group with only laparoscopic treatment in the same period. The clinicopathological data were compared between two groups. RESULTS: All the patients in trial group accepted four cycles of preoperative chemotherapy and the toxicity was less than grade 3. Two of them achieved complete response, 10 achieved partial response and 3 kept stable disease. Ten patients of trial group underwent laparoscopic-assisted radical gastrectomy. The rates of R(0)-resection(80.0%) and pN(0) (60.0%) in trial group were significantly higher than those in control group(46.7% and 20.0%), while the rate of positive lymph node 11.0%(34/309) was significantly lower than that of control group 23.8%(142/596). The operation time and postoperative complication were similar in two groups. CONCLUSIONS: Advanced gastric cancer after neoadjuvant chemotherapy can be down-regulated in the stage, increase the rate of R(0)-resection, diminish the infiltration extent of tumor, decrease the metastasis of lymph node, and increase the possibility of laparoscopic radical gastrectomy.