Association between tobacco smoke exposure and serum parathyroid hormone levels among US adults (NHANES 2003-2006).

Tobacco smoke exposure has been demonstrated to impede bone remodeling and diminish bone density, yet research regarding its correlation with parathyroid hormone (PTH) remains limited. This study aims to investigate the relationship between tobacco smoke exposure and serum PTH levels in adults aged 20 years and older. This study included 7,641 participants from two cycles of the National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey (NHANES, United States, 2003- 2006). Reflect tobacco smoke exposure through serum cotinine levels, and use an adjusted weighted multivariate linear regression model to test the independent linear relationship between serum cotinine and PTH. Stratified analysis was conducted to validate the sensitivity of the conclusions. Smooth curve fitting and threshold effect analysis were performed to assess the non-linear relationship. After comprehensive adjustment using weighted multivariate regression analysis, a negative correlation was found between serum cotinine and PTH levels. The interaction p-values in subgroup analyses were all greater than 0.05. Moreover, smooth curve fitting indicated a non-linear relationship between serum cotinine and PTH, with a turning point observed. Our research indicates that tobacco smoke exposure is negatively correlated and independent of serum parathyroid hormone levels, indicating that long-term tobacco smoke exposure may lead to parathyroid dysfunction in adults.

Clinical characteristics of primary parathyroid adenoma and its relationship with coexisting papillary thyroid carcinoma: a clinical retrospective study.

Background: Parathyroid adenoma (PA) is a common but relatively poorly understood endocrine tumor. A significant number of PA patients also have papillary thyroid carcinoma (PTC). The clinicopathological characteristics of PA and its relationship with PTC need further study. Methods: The clinical data of 99 PA patients were reviewed and the clinicopathologic features of PA were analyzed. PTC occurred in 22 PA patients. The clinicopathologic features of 22 patients with PA + PTC and 77 patients with PA alone were compared. According to age, gender and thyroid surgery methods, 22 PA + PTC patients were matched with 1,123 patients with PTC alone during the same period. The pathological characteristics of the two groups of patients were compared. All data analysis was performed using SPSS23.0, variables were compared by t-test, chi square test or Mann Whitney U-test as appropriate. Results: Ninety-nine PA patients (21 males, 78 females) with a median age of 51 [10-80] years were included. The preoperative parathyroid hormone (PTH) (P=0.007) and preoperative blood calcium (P=0.036) of male patients were higher than those of female patients, and the proportion of asymptomatic patients (P=0.008) and postoperative PTH level (P=0.013) were lower. The preoperative PTH level (P=0.002), preoperative blood calcium level (P=0.004), preoperative alkaline phosphatase (ALP) level (P=0.018) and postoperative PTH levels (P=0.023) in PA + PTC group were lower than those in PA group. The asymptomatic rate was higher in PTC + PA group than that in PA group (P<0.001). There was no statistical difference between PA + PTC group and PTC group in multifocal tumor, capsule invasion, lymph node metastasis (P>0.05). The lymph node metastasis rate in PA + PTC group (9/215) was significantly lower than that in PTC group (37/337) (P=0.005). Conclusions: PA exhibited the following characteristics: occurred in all age groups; more common in women but more severe in men; more located in the lower pole. The coexistence of PTC and PA did not promote the progression of PA, nor did it increase the aggressiveness of PTC. Conversely, their co-existence may lead to early diagnosis of the disease. PA patients (22.2%) also have PTC, so surgeons should pay attention to thyroid disease to prevent the need for reoperation.

Detection of circulating tumor cells and tumor stem cells in patients with breast cancer by using flow cytometry: a valuable tool for diagnosis and prognosis evaluation.

Circulating tumor stem cells (CTSC), a subpopulation of circulating tumor cells (CTC), may lead to recurrent diseases. The aim of this study was to detect CTC (CD45(-)EpCAM(+)) and CTSC (CD45(-)EpCAM(+)CD44(+)CD24(-)) of breast cancer (BC) patients, as well as to explore their clinical relevance. CTC and CTSC in peripheral blood (PB) of 45 female BC patients were detected by using flow cytometry (FCM). SKBR-3 cells were mixed with MNC of four healthy volunteers at different ratios in order to evaluate the sensitivity of FCM. Real-time quantitative polymerase chain reaction (QRT-PCR) was conducted and compared with FCM. The expression of EPCAM between CTC < 50 and CTC ≥ 50 groups (19.98 ± 23.93 versus 29.46 ± 29.27 × 10(-5)), and the expression of CD44 between CTSC negative and positive groups (0.85 ± 0.91 versus 0.81 ± 0.75) were statistically the same. FCM had higher specificity than QRT-PCR. Statistical differences were obtained between CTC < 50 and CTC ≥ 50 groups among different TNM stages, histology stages, estrogen receptor (ER) status and progesterone receptor (PR) status (P < 0.05). Statistical differences between CTSC negative and positive groups within different TNM stages and regional lymph node metastasis (RLNM) status (P < 0.05) were also obtained. Moreover, the percentage of CTC on CD45 negative cells (CD45(-)C) among different clinical pathology was statistically different, P = 0.000. Additionally, the percentage of CTSC on CD45(-)C with TNM stage was rising (0: 0.00 ± 0.00‰, I: 0.03 ± 0.05‰, II: 0.06 ± 0.14‰, III: 0.10 ± 0.09‰, IV: 0.29 ± 0.35‰, P = 0.034). Statistical difference in the percentage of CTSC on CD45(-)C among different RLNM status (P = 0.001) was also obtained. FCM to detect CTC and CTSC may be used to diagnose disease at early stage, to guide clinical therapy or to predict prognosis.

Comparison of clinicopathological features and prognosis of papillary thyroid carcinoma and microcarcinoma: A population-based propensity score matching analysis.

Background: Overtreatment of papillary thyroid microcarcinoma (PTMC) has become a common concern. This study aimed to compare clinicopathological features between PTMC and papillary thyroid carcinoma (PTC) and to explore whether surgery can confer significant survival benefits in all patients with PTC or PTMC. Methods: Data of 145,951 patients with PTC registered in Surveillance, Epidemiology, and End Results (SEER) database and 8,751 patients with PTC in our institution were retrospectively collected. Patients with tumors less than 10 mm in diameter were classified as PTMC cohort and the rest as PTC cohort. Clinicopathological features between PTMC and PTC were compared on the basis of SEER cohort and validated with institutional data. Survival analysis was conducted to explore the effect of surgery on the prognosis of patients. To minimize potential confounders and selection bias, we performed propensity score matching (PSM) analysis to match more comparable cohorts. Results: Compared with PTC, PTMC exhibited the following characteristics: more common in women and whites, older age at diagnosis, lower proportion of follicular variants, intraglandular dissemination, extraglandular and capsular invasion, higher proportion of multifocality, fewer lymph node and distant metastases, and higher cancer-specific survival (CSS) and overall survival (OS) (all p-value < 0.05). Regarding treatment, patients with PTMC received a lower proportion of radiotherapy, chemotherapy, and total thyroidectomy but a higher proportion of lobectomy and/or isthmectomy. There was no significant difference in CSS for patients with PTMC at stage T1N0M0 with or without surgery (P = 0.36). Conclusion: Generally, PTMC showed higher biological indolence than PTC, which meant a higher survival rate for patients in both OS and CSS. For patients with PTMC at staged T1N0M0, active surveillance (AS) may be a potentially feasible management strategy. However, the maintenance of good medical compliance and the management of psychological burden cannot be ignored for patients included in AS.

Real-time intraoperative near-infrared autofluorescence imaging to locate the parathyroid glands: A preliminary report.

Identification and localization of parathyroid glands (PGs) remains a challenge for surgeons. The aim of this study was to evaluate the efficiency of intraoperative near-infrared autofluorescence (NIRAF) imaging to detect PGs in thyroid and parathyroid diseases. Seventy-six patients undergoing surgery for thyroid or parathyroid diseases between July 9, 2020 and August 20, 2021 were retrospectively analyzed. Intraoperative carbon nanoparticle (CN) negative imaging and handheld NIRAF imaging were successively performed for each patient. Of 206 PGs that needed to be identified for surgery, 162 were identified by NIRAF imaging, with a theoretical rate of identification of 78.64%. This was higher than the rate of identification with CN negative imaging, which was 75.73%. The number of PGs identified by NIRAF imaging and CN negative imaging did not differ significantly in either total thyroidectomy or thyroid lobectomy. In addition, the autofluorescence (AF) intensity of secondary parathyroid adenoma was weaker than that of normal PGs. NIRAF imaging is potentially a more efficient tool for identification of PGs than CN negative imaging, with a shorter learning curve and lower risk. It may not be well-suited to secondary hyperthyroidism or adenoma, but it was more efficient at identifying excised specimens than visual identification by a surgeon.

Case report and literature review: Malignant adenomyoepithelioma after breast augmentation.

Background: Breast malignant adenomyoepithelioma (MAME) after breast augmentation has never been reported. Case summary: We reported a case of a 55-year-old woman who was diagnosed with breast MAME 16 years after breast augmentation. Breast augmentation was performed on the patient with two 200 ml round textured prostheses in the subpectoral plane through axillary incisions in 2004. However, a breast ultrasound in 2020 revealed a suspicious malignant lump in the right breast, which was finally confirmed as MAME by pathology. Skin-sparing modified radical mastectomy and immediate breast reconstruction with expander implantation were performed. Subsequently, the patient received three cycles of chemotherapy with the regimen of anthracycline and cyclophosphamide. In the following nearly 2 years of follow-up, no tumor recurrence and metastasis were found, and the overall treatment was satisfactory for the patient. Conclusion: Here, we present a unique case in which a patient was diagnosed with breast MAME after breast augmentation. Skin-sparing modified radical mastectomy and immediate breast reconstruction with expander implantation are feasible approaches that yield at least short-term oncological safety and acceptable aesthetic results. However, whether there is a potential relationship between MAME and breast implants remains to be further explored. Meanwhile, due to the rarity of breast MAME, more authoritative strategies considering both oncological safety and aesthetics to seek better long-term therapeutic effects are needed.

Individualized model for predicting pathological complete response to neoadjuvant chemotherapy in patients with breast cancer: A multicenter study.

Background: Pathological complete response (pCR) is considered a surrogate for favorable survival in breast cancer (BC) patients treated with neoadjuvant chemotherapy (NACT), which is the goal of NACT. This study aimed to develop and validate a nomogram for predicting the pCR probability of BC patients after NACT based on the clinicopathological features. Methods: A retrospective analysis of 527 BC patients treated with NACT between January 2018 and December 2021 from two institutions was conducted. Univariate and multivariate logistic regression analyses were performed to select the most useful predictors from the training cohort (n = 225), and then a nomogram model was developed. The performance of the nomogram was evaluated with respect to its discrimination, calibration, and clinical usefulness. Internal validation and external validation were performed in an independent validation cohort of 96 and 205 consecutive BC patients, respectively. Results: Among the 18 clinicopathological features, five variables were selected to develop the prediction model, including age, American Joint Committee on Cancer (AJCC) T stage, Ki67 index before NACT, human epidermal growth factor receptor 2 (HER2), and hormone receptor (HR) status. The model showed good discrimination with an area under the receiver operating characteristic curve (AUC) of 0.825 (95% CI, 0.772 to 0.878) in the training cohort, and 0.755 (95% CI, 0.658 to 0.851) and 0.79 (95% CI, 0.724 to 0.856) in the internal and external validation cohorts, respectively. The calibration curve presented good agreement between prediction by nomogram and actual observation, and decision curve analysis (DCA) indicated that the nomogram had good net benefits in clinical scenarios. Conclusion: This study constructed a validated nomogram based on age, AJCC T stage, Ki67 index before NACT, HER2, and HR status, which could be non-invasively applied to personalize the prediction of pCR in BC patients treated with NACT.

Prognostic Analysis for Patients With Parathyroid Carcinoma: A Population-Based Study.

BACKGROUND: Parathyroid carcinoma (PC) is a rare but often lethal malignancy for which staging system, prognostic indicators, and treatment guidelines are still not established. We aimed to explore the prognostic parameters and construct a nomogram for cancer-specific survival (CSS) of PC. METHODS: A retrospective analysis of 604 PC patients in the SEER database from 2001 through 2018 was performed. All the cases were randomly assigned to the training cohort (n = 424) or the validation cohort (n = 180) at a ratio of 7:3. The Kaplan-Meier method and Cox regression model were applied to estimate the CSS and risk factors, and a nomogram was constructed. The predictive accuracy and discriminative ability of the nomogram in CSS were assessed by concordance index (C-index), the area under the curve (AUC) of receiver operating characteristics (ROC), and the calibration curve. RESULTS: Age at diagnosis > 70 years [hazard ratio (HR): 3.55, 95% CI: 1.07-11.78, p = 0.039] and tumor size > 35 mm (HR 4.22, 95% CI: 1.67-10.68, p = 0.002) were associated with worse CSS. Compared with distant metastasis, localized (HR 0.17, 95% CI: 0.06-0.47, p = 0.001) and regional lesions (HR 0.22, 95% CI: 0.07-0.66, p = 0.007) showed an improved CSS rate. Parathyroidectomy was the recommended treatment (p = 0.02). The C-index of the nomogram was 0.826, and the AUC for 5-, 10-, and 15-year CSS was 83.7%, 79.7%, and 80.7%, respectively. The calibration curve presented good agreement between prediction by nomogram and actual observation. CONCLUSION: Age at diagnosis > 70 years, tumor size > 35 mm, and distant metastasis were independent risk factors for PC-specific mortality. Parathyroidectomy was currently the most recommended treatment for PC. This nomogram provided individualized assessment and reliable prognostic prediction for patients with PC.

[Effects of Cdc42 overexpression on the estrogen-enhanced multidrug resistance in breast cancer cells].

OBJECTIVE: To investigate the changes of Cdc42 expression under estrogen stimulation, and to explore the signaling pathway of intracellular material transportation caused by estrogen. METHODS: MTT was used to test the drug sensitivity of cells. Real-time PCR was used to evaluate the expression of Cdc42 mRNA. The amount of ADM accumulated in MCF-7 cells was detected by flow cytometry. The protein levels of active-Cdc42 and Total-Cdc42 were measured by Western blot. RESULTS: IC(50) of ADM in MCF-7 cells was increased from (0.098 ± 0.011) µg/ml to (0.134 ± 0.130) µg/ml (P < 0.05) after estrogen stimulation. The amount of ADM accumulated in MCF-7 cells was reduced from 7.253 ± 0.310 to 3.233 ± 0.313 (P < 0.05). All of Cdc42 mRNA, active-Cdc42 protein and total-Cdc42 protein were increased (P < 0.05). After the treatment with siRNA, the IC(50) of ADM in siRNA group was decreased to (0.057 ± 0.017) µg/ml (P < 0.05) compared with that in the control group. The amount of accumulated ADM was significantly increased in the siRNA group, and all the expression levels of Cdc42 mRNA, active-Cdc42 protein and total-Cdc42 protein were decreased in the siRNA group (P < 0.05). CONCLUSIONS: Estrogen enhances the drug resistance in breast cancer cells. The mechanism of this effect may be via the enhancing Cdc42 expression and decreasing the accumulation of chemotherapeutic drugs in the cancer cells.

Primary Breast Diffuse Large B-Cell Lymphoma in a 42-Year-Old Female: A Case Report and Review of Literature.

Primary breast diffuse large B-cell lymphoma (PB-DLBCL) is a rare localized extranodal lymphoma. It is mainly diagnosed by pathological examination due to the lack of specific clinical and imaging manifestations. Whole-body positron emission tomography-computed tomography (PET-CT) is widely used in determining clinical staging and guiding clinical treatment. As part of comprehensive treatment, targeted therapy with rituximab, intrathecal methotrexate injection and consolidation radiotherapy remain controversial in treating PB-DLBCL, but the comprehensive treatment based on full-course of chemotherapy is still widely used as the first-line treatment. Comprehensive treatment often leads to a sharp decline in the immunity of elderly patients with malignancy. In this situation, surgery may be a good chance to improve their life quality without serious complications. We present a rare case of PB-DLBCL during the coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) pandemic. The patient underwent chest CT scan to screen COVID-19 and a mass of left breast was accidentally found. Because of the city lockdown policy in Wuhan, she did not seek medical help until noticing that the mass was gradually enlarged. Both ultrasonography and mammography indicated that the lesion was breast cancer. However, ultrasound-guided core needle biopsy revealed diffuse large B-cell lymphoma of breast and PET-CT scan showed that the lesion was a primary hypermetabolic tumor of left breast. The patient subsequently received comprehensive treatment based on six cycles of rituximab-cyclophosphamide, hydroxydaunomycin, oncovin, prednisone (R-CHOP) chemotherapy.

Intraglandular dissemination is a risk factor for lymph node metastasis in papillary thyroid carcinoma: a propensity score matching analysis.

BACKGROUND: Intraglandular dissemination is one of the metastatic pathways of papillary thyroid carcinoma (PTC). However, few studies have assessed the impact of intraglandular dissemination among patients with PTC. The purpose of this study was to investigate the potential correlation between intraglandular dissemination and various clinicopathological parameters in PTC patients. METHODS: We retrospectively collected the data of 1,043 consecutive PTC patients in Wuhan Union Hospital from 1 June 2020 to 1 May 2021. The patients were divided into 2 groups according to the presence or absence of intraglandular dissemination. A propensity score matching (PSM) analysis with a matching ratio of 1:2 and a caliper value of 0.05 was used to compare the clinicopathological differences between groups. Logistic regression analysis was performed to quantify the association between intraglandular dissemination and cervical lymph node (LN) metastasis. RESULTS: In total, 117 and 204 PTC patients with and without intraglandular dissemination, respectively, were successfully matched. The LN metastasis rate of PTC patients with intraglandular dissemination (88%) was significantly higher than that of patients without intraglandular dissemination (67.2%; P<0.001). The number of metastatic LNs in patients with and without intraglandular dissemination also varied greatly, at 9.62 (SD =7.92) and 3.33 (SD =4.23), respectively. Intraglandular dissemination was associated with an increased risk of LN metastasis in both the unmatched patients [odds ratio (OR), 3.19; 95% confidence interval (CI): 1.74 to 5.86; P<0.001] and the matched subset (OR, 4.00; 95% CI: 1.98 to 8.05; P<0.001). No statistically significant differences were found in age, gender, tumor size, histological subtypes, extrathyroidal extension, or presence of Hashimoto's thyroiditis (HT) (all P values >0.05). CONCLUSIONS: Intraglandular dissemination is a risk factor for LN metastasis in PTC, which suggests a need for more thorough LN dissection and closer follow-up in these patients. This finding may provide reliable reference data for the risk stratification of patients with PTC.

Intron 3 16 bp duplication polymorphism of TP53 contributes to cancer susceptibility: a meta-analysis.

A few genetic polymorphisms of TP53 are known to have a significant effect on cancer susceptibility. Intron 3 16 bp duplication polymorphism of TP53 has been reported to be associated with breast cancer, colorectal cancer, lung cancer and other cancers, but the reported results remain inconclusive. The present study, a meta-analysis including a total of 9801 cases and 10,391 controls from 26 studies, revealed that the 16 bp insertion (Ins) allele is significantly associated with an increased cancer risk in overall analysis [Ins/Ins + deletion (Del)/Ins versus Del/Del: odds ratio (OR) = 1.14, 95% confidence interval (CI) = 1.02-1.27, P = 0.02; Ins/Ins versus Del/Del: OR = 1.35, 95% CI = 1.11-1.63, P = 0.002; Del/Ins versus Del/Del: OR = 1.10, 95% CI = 0.98-1.23, P = 0.11.), particularly in breast cancer subgroup (Ins/Ins + Del/Ins versus Del/Del: OR = 1.16, 95% CI = 1.03-1.31, P = 0.02; Ins/Ins versus Del/Del: OR = 1.81, 95% CI = 1.30-2.52, P < 0.001; Del/Ins versus Del/Del: OR = 1.10, 95% CI = 0.97-1.25, P = 0.13). The relative risks to the colorectal and lung cancers increased but their association power was relatively weak, which may result from a limited number of studies of these two cancer types. These results suggest that intron 3 16 bp duplication polymorphism of TP53 is potentially an important and clinically relevant genetic marker contributing to cancer susceptibility.

[The characteristics of papillary thyroid cancer lymph node metastasis and the clinical significance of central region cervical lymph node dissection].

OBJECTIVE: To explore the necessity of the central region cervical lymph node dissection for patients with papillary thyroid carcinoma. METHODS: Clinical data of 457 papillary thyroid cancer patients underwent bilateral thyroidectomy with cervical lymph node excision from June 2003 to September 2007 were retrospectively reviewed. There were 86 male patients and 371 female patients. The age was 17 to 73 years old. RESULTS: There were no death for operation or in hospital. The total rate of central region cervical lymph node (VI region) metastasis was 59.1% (270/457), and bilateral metastasis was 42.2% (114/270). The total rate of III + IV region cervical lymph node metastasis was 29.8% (136/457). For unilateral papillary thyroid cancer, when tumor diameter over 1 cm and tumor breaking through thyroid caps, the central region cervical lymph node metastasis was 64.5% (178/276) and 81.6% (120/147) respectively. When the tumor diameter < or = 1 cm and tumor confining in thyroid, central region cervical lymph node metastasis was 23.4% (11/47) and 39.2% (69/176) respectively. There were 5 cases with lymph node jumping metastasis. During the follow-up of 7 to 59 months, 1 case died of lung metastasis. Four cases occurred local recurrence, 3 cases occurred distant metastasis. There was no case of hypothyroidism under the thyroxine replacement therapy. CONCLUSIONS: For papillary thyroid cancer, the most common cervical lymph node metastasis is central region. It is necessary to dissect bilateral central region lymph node following the original surgical procedures.

[Outcome of reoperation for thyroid cancer: clinical analysis of 72 cases].

OBJECTIVE: To analyze the indication of reoperation of thyroid cancer and to explore the timing, surgical pattern of reoperation. METHODS: Protocols of 72 patients underwent reoperation of thyroid cancer from June 2003 to August 2006 were reviewed retrospectively. Causes for reoperation were as follows: residue of the tumor locally as the inappropriate initial operation; local recurrence and cervical lymph node metastasis; before (131)I ablation which differentiated thyroid cancer with distant place metastasis. The reoperation style included residual lobectomy plus isthmus with single tumor below 2 cm, total thyroidectomy in most the other conditions and selective lymph node dissection in finding or suspected cervical lymph node metastasis. RESULTS: The rate of residual in thyroid confirmed by postoperative pathology was 47.1% (32/68). The rate of residual in cervical lymph node was 81.4% (35/43). The rates of temporary and permanent laryngeal recurrent nerve injury were 5.6% (4/72) and 1.4% (1/72) respectively. The rates of temporary and permanent hypocalcemia were 26.4% (19/72) and 1.4% (1/72) respectively. CONCLUSIONS: Inadequate operation, local recurrence and cervical lymph node metastasis of thyroid cancer need revision surgery undoubtedly. The optimal treatment was total thyroidectomy and level VI, VII central compartment lymph node dissection plus intraoperative frozen-section evaluation.

[Clinical analysis for iatrogenic injuries in the distal part of common bile duct].

OBJECTIVE: To investigate the early diagnosis on iatrogenic injuries in distal part of common bile duct and the prevention of severe retroperitoneal infection. METHODS: From 1990 to 2004, 17 patients with bile duct injures in the distal part of common biliary tract were admitted. And the clinical data of the 17 cases were retrospectively analyzed. RESULTS: Of the 17 cases, the injuries of 15 cases were caused by the operation, and the injuries of the other 2 cases were caused in the process of removing the stone by endoscopic retrograde cholangiopancreatography (ERCP). The injuries of 14 cases were found during the operation, but the other one was not found in time. Before the operation, 16 cases were examined by B-type ultrasonography, 2 by MRCP and 6 by intraoperative choledocho-endoscope after the biliary tract exploration. Ten cases underwent perforating suture repair and T-tube drainage; 2 with Odd's sphincter incision and shaping; 2 with choledochojejunostomy; 1 with duodenum wall and bile duct repair and drainage. When the bile duct injured, the major findings during operation were bile duct explorer located out of the duodenum wall and bile duct, two or more than cleft in the distal part of common biliary tract found by choledocho-endoscopic examination, retroperitoneal edema and liquid accumulation found by irrigating water through T-tube, and/or retroperitoneal tissues stained blue by irrigating methylthioninium chloride through T-tube. The clinical manifestations after injuries were abdominal distention, abdominal pain, pain in the waist and back, fever and shock, et al. Thirteen cases were cured. And the syndromes included 1 case with intestinal fistula, 1 with incisional infection, 4 dead (3 died from infectious shock; 1 from bleeding in gastrectomy). CONCLUSIONS: The postoperative clinical manifestations for iatrogenic injuries in the distal part of common biliary tract lack specificity, CT examinations are necessary to doubtful patients. Early diagnosis and timely management can obtain better results, and can effectively lower severe retroperitoneal infection. The perfect preoperative imaging examinations and intraoperative choledocho-endoscopic examinations before the biliary tract exploration maybe reduce iatrogenic injuries in the distal part of common biliary tract.

Estrogen-induced SDF-1α production promotes the progression of ER-negative breast cancer via the accumulation of MDSCs in the tumor microenvironment.

Estrogen plays a role in the processes of tumorigenesis, metastasis, and drug resistance in estrogen receptor (ER)-positive breast cancer (BC). Whether estrogen contributes to ER-negative BC is unclear. Here, we aimed to investigate whether estrogen could stimulate the secretion of stromal-derived factor-1 (SDF-1α) by cancer-associated fibroblasts (CAFs) to promote the progression of ER-negative BC. We transplanted ER-negative BC cells into ovariectomized mice, which was followed by continuous injection of estrogen, and found that estrogen promoted the tumorigenesis of BC. Furthermore, High levels of SDF-1α and tumor-infiltrating myeloid-derived suppressor cells (MDSCs) were detected in the estrogen treatment group. Estrogen stimulates secretion of SDF-1α by CAFs extracted from BC patients. Recombinant SDF-1α could recruit MDSCs isolated from bone marrow cells of mice. In addition, the co-culture of CAFs and MDSCs demonstrated that the recruitment of MDSCs was increased when CAFs were exposed to estrogen. Using AMD3100 to block the SDF-1α/CXCR4 axis or gemcitabine to delete MDSCs, we observed that both of these agents could neutralize the effect of estrogen on tumorigenesis. Together, these results suggest that estrogen may promote the progression of ER-negative BC by stimulating CAFs to secrete SDF-1α, which can recruit MDSCs to the tumor microenvironment to exert tumor-promoting effects.

[Early superselective angiography and transarterial embolization for massive bleeding after gastrectomy].

OBJECTIVE: To evaluate the efficacy of early superselective angiography and embolization in the diagnosis and treatment of massive bleeding after gastrectomy. METHODS: The clinical data of 28 patients with massive bleeding after surgery from 1980 to 2001 were retrospectively analysed. All patients underwent emergency angiography and 27 of them were treated by transcatheter embolization. RESULTS: Bleeding was controlled in 26 of the 28 patients (93%), recurrent bleeding occurred in 1, an recognized bleeding in 1, and abdominal pain in 1. There was no death. CONCLUSIONS: Transarterial embolization for massive bleeding after gastrectomy is safe and effective. It is suggested that early emergency angiography should be considered in all patients with massive gastrointestinal bleeding after gastrectomy.

[Surgical treatment of massive rebleeding after gastrectomy for bleeding gastroduodenal ulcer].

OBJECTIVE: To summarize the reoperation experiences in treatment of massive rebleeding after subtotal gastrectomy for bleeding gastroduodenal ulcer. METHODS: From 1980 to 2002, clinical data of 26 cases with massive rebleeding after subtotal gastrectomy for bleeding gastrorenal ulcer were analyzed retrospectively. RESULTS: Preoperative gastroscopy was performed in 6 cases, intraoperative gastroscopy in 11, and preoperative superselective angiography in 2 cases. Eleven cases with left ulcer or post- bulb ulcer bleeding underwent resection of the left ulcer or longitudinal incision of the duodenal descending part and direct hemostasis. Thirteen cases with anastomotic stoma bleeding underwent local suture hemostasis or resection of the stoma plus Billroth II or Roux- en- Y gastrojejunostomy. Two cases with gastric bleeding received reexcision of the stomach remnant. Twenty- four cases (92.3% ) were cured and 2 cases (7.7% ) died of gastric bleeding. CONCLUSION: Preoperative superselective angiography and intraoperative gastroscopy are beneficial to clarify the bleeding position and causes for massive rebleeding after gastrectomy. It is very important to select proper operative method to prevent postoperative rebleeding.