Video-assisted thoracoscopic surgery thymectomy versus open thymectomy in patients with myasthenia gravis: a meta-analysis.

BACKGROUND: Video-assisted thoracoscopic surgery (VATS) thymectomy has become a feasible treatment for myasthenia gravis (MG) in recent years. The objective of the present meta-analysis was to evaluate the perioperative characteristics, safety, and completely stable remission rate in patients with MG who received VATS or open thymectomy (OT). METHODS: We searched PubMed, Embase, ScienceDirect, Web of Science, and CNKI for related articles using combinations of the search terms video-assisted thoracoscopic thymectomy, transsternal thymectomy, and MG. The inter-study heterogeneity was assessed by χ2-based Q statistics, and the extent of inconsistency was generated by I2 statistics. RESULTS: A total of 12 studies with 1173 patients were included, and there was no difference in the operation time (p = 0.08) and ICU time (p = 0.14) between the two groups, but VATS thymectomy was associated with less intra-operation blood loss and hospital time (p < 0.00001). VATS was also associated with lower rates of total complication (OR =0.59; 95% CI, 0.37-0.94; p = 0.03) and myasthenic crisis (OR = 0.51; 95% CI, 0.28-0.92; p = 0.03), but the rates of pneumonia (OR = 0.59; 95% CI, 0.29-1.32; p = 0.21) and complete remission rate (CSR) (OR = 0.64; 95% CI, 0.38-1.09; p = 0.10) had no obvious differences between the VATS and OT groups. CONCLUSION: Patients with MG undergoing VATS thymectomy achieved better surgical outcomes and fewer complications than those who received OT.

Treatment of 336 cases of chest trauma.

OBJECTIVE: To summarize the clinical features, diagnosis and treatment of chest trauma. METHODS: A retrospective analysis was conducted among 336 cases of chest trauma admitted to our hospital from January 2009 to May 2011. RESULTS: Out of all cases, 325 were cured, accounting for 96.7%; 11 died, accounting for 3.3%. Among the dead cases, one died of hemorrhagic shock, three of acute respiratory distress syndrome, three of multiple organ failure, and four of severe multiple traumas. CONCLUSIONS: (1) For patients with severe chest trauma, early emergency treatment is crucial to save life. (2) Open thoracic surgery is needed for acute cardiac tamponade, intrapulmonary vascular injuries, progressive intrathoracic bleeding, lung laceration, tracheal breakage, and diaphragmatic injury. In addition, operative timing and method should be well chosen. (3) Pulmonary contusion is one of common complications in chest trauma, for which the combination of strong anti-infection therapy and mechanical ventilation is an effective treatment strategy.

Real-World Survival Outcomes Based on EGFR Mutation Status in Chinese Patients With Lung Adenocarcinoma After Complete Resection: Results From the ICAN Study.

INTRODUCTION: The adjuvant treatment of patients with resected lung adenocarcinoma (LUAD) remains unstandardized. We analyzed the survival outcomes of these patients based on EGFR mutation status and adjuvant chemotherapy treatment. METHODS: This noninterventional real-world study (ICAN) enrolled Chinese patients with resected stages I to III LUAD from April 8, 2010, to December 31, 2010. Tumor EGFR mutation status and 3-year disease-free survival (DFS) were determined. The extension phase provided long-term follow-up with overall survival (OS) as the primary end point. Secondary end points included DFS and prognostic factors of survival. Survival outcomes based on adjuvant chemotherapy treatment, EGFR mutation status, and postoperative stage were analyzed post hoc. RESULTS: Among 568 patients in the ICAN cohort, 472 continued to the extension phase and remained eligible. The 3-year DFS rate was 58.8%. In the extension cohort, 260 patients (55.1%) had EGFR-mutant disease and 207 (43.9%) received adjuvant chemotherapy. At a median follow-up of 109.0 (95% confidence interval [CI]: 106.6-111.4) months, median OS and DFS were 103.3 (95% CI: 101.7-104.9) and 67.4 (95% CI: 49.7-85.2) months, respectively. The 5-year OS and DFS rates were 68.9% (95% CI: 64.3-73.6) and 52.9% (95% CI: 48.2-57.7), respectively. EGFR wild-type disease was a significant independent predictor of worse OS (HR = 1.24, 95% CI: 1.07-1.44, p= 0.004) based on the Cox regression analysis of common factors. Post hoc subgroup analysis revealed that survival outcomes were not significantly different with adjuvant chemotherapy regardless of EGFR mutation status across all postoperative stages. CONCLUSIONS: EGFR mutations are common in operable LUAD, and recurrence and mortality after resection were considerable. Adjuvant chemotherapy did not improve survival outcomes, regardless of EGFR mutation status and postoperative stage.

[Preliminary application study of Ligasure in video-assisted thoracic pulmonary surgery].

OBJECTIVE: To investigate the application and techniques of Ligasure in video-assisted thoracic pulmonary surgery. METHODS: Use Ligasure to dissect lung parenchyma, small pulmonary vessel and stop bleeding in 15 cases spontaneous pneumothorax and 20 cases peripheral single lung node who undertaken video-assisted thoracic surgery during October 2008 to June 2010. RESULT: All the procedures were successful, no severe complications, as active bleeding, continuous air leak occurred. A period of 9.3 months (2 - 18 months) follow-up of all patients shows no delayed bleeding or recurrence pneumothorax. CONCLUSION: Ligasure is safe, easy to use. It can optimize operation and reduce the operation time.

[Diagnosis and surgical treatment for mediastinal hemangioma and lymphangioma].

OBJECTIVE: To review the experience of diagnosis and surgical treatment of the primary mediastinal hemangioma and lymphangioma. METHODS: We summarized the medical records of patients with primary mediastinal hemangioma or lymphangioma at our hospital from January 1998 to January 2009, then extracted relevant clinical data and carried out the retrospective analysis. RESULTS: There were 11 patients in the whole group. The age range was 4 - 78 years old (average: 38.9). Six patients were symptom-free and most patients had not an accurate preoperative diagnosis. All patients underwent surgical procedures. The radical excision was accomplished in 10 cases and incomplete excision in 1 case. Two cases of surgically related complications were observed. All the cases were diagnosed by postoperative histopathological examination. There were hemangioma (n = 5), lymphangioma (n = 3) and hematolymphangioma (n = 3). CONCLUSIONS: The operation should be performed once the diagnosis of hemangioma or lymphangioma is made. Radical excision should be performed to prevent a post-operative recurrence.

[Positron emission tomography with special tracers in pulmonary abnormalities].

OBJECTIVE: To assess the value of positron emission tomography (PET) with (11)C-choline (CH), (11)C-methionine (MET), (18)F-fluorothymidine (FLT), and (11)C-acetate (AC) in diagnosis of pulmonary abnormalities and the features of pulmonary abnormalities in PET. METHODS: From June 2002 to June 2007, 100 patients with pulmonary nodules or masses confirmed by CT scans received PET with special tracers. Fifty-eight patients received CH-PET, 16 patients received MET-PET, 22 patients received FLT-PET, 4 patients received AC-PET. PET data was analyzed by visual method and semiquantitative method with standard uptake value (SUV). Diagnoses were compared with pathology and follow-up survey. RESULTS: For identification of pulmonary neoplasms with CH-PET, the sensitivity, specificity and accuracy were 84.2% (32/38), 57.9% (11/19) and 75.4% (43/57). In cancer cases, SUV had no correlation with tumor size or age. For identification of pulmonary neoplasms with MET-PET, the sensitivity, specificity and accuracy were 6/7, 6/9 and 75.0% (12/16). In cancer cases, SUV had not correlation with tumor size or age. For identification of pulmonary neoplasms with FLT-PET, the sensitivity, specificity and accuracy were 85.7% (12/14), 2/8 and 63.6% (14/22). In cancer cases, SUV had not correlation with tumor size or age. In AC-PET, only 1 case of pulmonary metastasis of kidney clear cell carcinoma showed acetate avid. Two squamous cell carcinoma and 1 adenocarcinoma didn't appear abnormal in AC-PET. CONCLUSION: CH, MET, FLT, AC are valuable in diagnosing but also lead to false positive and false negative.

Identification of nine microRNAs as potential biomarkers for lung adenocarcinoma.

Lung cancer is a leading global cause of cancer-related death, and lung adenocarcinoma (LUAD) accounts for ~ 50% of lung cancer. Here, we screened for novel and specific biomarkers of LUAD by searching for differentially expressed mRNAs (DEmRNAs) and microRNAs (DEmiRNAs) in LUAD patient expression data within The Cancer Genome Atlas (TCGA). The identified optimal diagnostic miRNA biomarkers were used to establish classification models (including support vector machine, decision tree, and random forest) to distinguish between LUAD and adjacent tissues. We then predicted the targets of identified optimal diagnostic miRNA biomarkers, functionally annotated these target genes, and performed receiver operating characteristic curve analysis of the respective DEmiRNA biomarkers, their target DEmRNAs, and combinations of DEmiRNA biomarkers. We validated the expression of selected DEmiRNA biomarkers by quantitative real-time PCR (qRT-PCR). In all, we identified a total of 13 DEmiRNAs, 2301 DEmRNAs and 232 DEmiRNA-target DEmRNA pairs between LUAD and adjacent tissues and selected nine DEmiRNAs (hsa-mir-486-1, hsa-mir-486-2, hsa-mir-153, hsa-mir-210, hsa-mir-9-1, hsa-mir-9-2, hsa-mir-9-3, hsa-mir-577, and hsa-mir-4732) as optimal LUAD-specific biomarkers with great diagnostic value. The predicted targets of these nine DEmiRNAs were significantly enriched in transcriptional misregulation in cancer and central carbon metabolism. Our qRT-PCR results were generally consistent with our integrated analysis. In summary, our study identified nine DEmiRNAs that may serve as potential diagnostic biomarkers of LUAD. Functional annotation of their target DEmRNAs may provide information on their roles in LUAD.

[Clinical pathological study on nodal micrometastases of non-small-cell lung cancer].

OBJECTIVE: To investigate the practicability of detecting the micrometastases in lymph nodes of no-small-cell lung cancer (NSCLC) by means of the immunohistochemical (IHC) staining. METHODS: The lymph node samples were taken from the patients with NSCLC during the operations. Firstly, each resulting tissue block was processed for routine paraffin embedding. Then the 6 approximately 10 serial sections were chosen, each 5 microm thick, from every paraffin block of the lymph node. Finally, the first and the second last sections of each lymph node were stained by hematoxylin eosin (HE), and the other serial sections were used for the IHC staining examination with the monoclonal antibody against cytokeratin 19. RESULTS: The paraffin embedded sections of 195 regional lymph nodes from 25 patients with NSCLC were examined by HE staining. Thirty lymph nodes in 9 patients revealed gross nodal metastases, and none of lymph node in 25 patients showed micrometastatic tumor cells. Frozen tissue sections from 135 regional lymph nodes that were staged as free of metastases by HE staining were screened by IHC staining. Thirty-one lymph nodes in 9 patients showed micrometastatic tumor cells. Five of sixteen patients staged as PN(0) had hilum lymph nodal micrometastases, versus four of nine patients with stage PN(1) had mediastinal lymph nodal micrometastases. There was a significant difference between two groups (chi(2)=52.900, P=0.0193). CONCLUSIONS: Conventional HE staining can accurately detect gross nodal metastases in the lymph nodes of patients with NSCLC, but is unfit for detecting lymph nodal micrometastases. IHC staining analysis can significantly facilitate the detection of occult micrometastatic tumor cells in lymph nodes of NSCLC, and its assessment of nodal micrometastases can provide a refinement of TNM stage for partial patients with stage I to II NSCLC.

Sternum bone giant cell tumor resection and chest wall reconstruction after the excision of breast cancer.

Giant cell tumor (GCT) is generally treated with wide surgical excision, but the local bone tissue dysfunction is a major complication. Here, we report a sternum GCT patient who had previously undergone a mastectomy. The tumor was excised, and the patient accepted chest wall reconstruction. The patient recovered well and suffered no recurrence at the first year follow-up.

Diagnosis and comprehensive treatment of esophageal leiomyoma: clinical analysis of 77 patients.

To investigate the diagnosis and comprehensive treatment of esophageal leiomyoma. The clinical data of 77 cases of esophageal leiomyoma patients were analyzed between 2005 and 2013. Its diagnosis, treatment and prognosis were analyzed. 39 cases of patients were with eating choking feeling, 18 cases presented with chest pain and weight loss and 20 cases without any symptoms. Preoperative endoscopic ultrasonography of each patient was diagnosed as possibility of esophageal submucosal tumor. 3 All patients underwent tumor enucleation, in which tumor electrotomy under gastroscope were done for 2 cases, complete video-assisted thoracoscopic (CVATS) resection of tumor for 24 cases, thoracoscope assisted small incision tumor resection for 29 cases, conventional thoracic tumor resection for 22 cases. The comparison and the difference of complete video-assisted thoracoscopic surgery group and the thoracoscope assisted small incision group for the operation time, bleeding volume, drainage volume, extubation time, hospitalization time and fasting time were not statistically significant (P < 0.05). All the patients recovered well and postoperative pathology of each patient was esophageal leiomyoma. They were followed up for 6 months to 8 years, average for 4 years, not recurrence of esophageal leiomyoma. Endoscopic ultrasonography is the most accurate method in diagnosis of esophageal leiomyoma. Esophageal leiomyoma which less than 1.0 cm in diameter, regular shape, originated in the muscularis mucosa, endoscopic electrotomy can be used as the preferred; Surgical operation is the main treatment of esophageal leiomyoma, three kinds of operation way has its own corresponding clinical indications, according to the clinical characteristics of patients and operator' habits to choose the corresponding operation way, all can achieve good treatment effect.

[Long-term outcome of bronchoplastic procedures in the treatment of lung cancer].

OBJECTIVE: To assess the value of bronchoplastic procedures in surgical treatment for bronchogenic carcinoma. METHODS: Bronchoplastic procedures were performed in 78 patients with bronchogenic carcinoma from August 1976 to December 2002. There were 67 patients with squamous cell carcinoma (86%). Of the total, 57 patients underwent sleeve resection of the right upper lobe (including 2 undergoing bronchoplasty and angioplasty; 2 undergoing partial carinal plus lobar resection); 1 patient had sleeve bilobectomy of the right upper and middle lobes; 2 patients had sleeve bilobectomy of the right middle and lower lobes. Sleeve resection of the left upper lobe was accomplished in 12 patients (including 3, undergoing bronchoplasty and angioplasty), 5 patients had sleeve lobectomy of the left lower lobe. Postoperative pathological staging: 47 in stage I (60.2%), 23 in stage II (29.5%), 8 in stage III (10.3%). RESULTS: No operative death occurred in 30 days. Complications were noted in 5 patients (6.6%), including pneumonia (2 patients) and atelectasis (3 patients). The overall 5-year survival for 78 patients was 57.8% (26/45), 43% (6/14) respectively. The 5-year survival for patients in stage I, II and III was 68.7% (22/32), 36.4% (4/11) and 0 (0/2) respectively. CONCLUSION: Bronchoplastic procedures for bronchogenic carcinoma extends operative indication to some patients with complication rates comparable to pneumonectomy and improve life quality.

[Expression and clinical significance of methylthioadenosine phosphorylase gene in patients with non-small cell lung cancer].

OBJECTIVE: To investigate the change of expression of methylthioadenosine phosphorylase (MTAP) gene in patients with non-small cell lung cancer and its clinical significance. METHODS: Thirty fresh samples of cancer with adjacent tissues were collected from 15 patients with lung cancer, 12 males and 8 females, aged 53.6 (38 approximately 72), 8 with squamous cell carcinoma and 7 with adenocarcinoma. The expressions of MTAP mRNA and of its protein were analyzed by RT-PCR and Western blotting. RESULTS: In 11 out of the 15 tumor samples (73.3%) MTAP mRNA was not expressed or expressed only after the additional 5 circulations. However, the MTAP mRNA expression rate was 93.3% (14/15) in the adjacent tissues. The result in the 11 samples with none or low MTAP mRNA expression was confirmed by Western blot analysis. The low expression rates were not significantly different between lung adenocarcinoma and squamous cell carcinoma. But the low expression rate of MTAP in intermediate and poorly differentiated lung cancer was significantly higher than that in well-differentiated cancer. CONCLUSION: The low expression or loss of MTAP gene may be relevant closely to the differentiation degree in lung cancer.

[Fluorodeoxyglucose-positron emission tomography in carcinoma of the esophagogastric junction].

OBJECTIVE: To assess the value of fluorine-18 fluorodeoxyglucose (FDG)-positron emission tomography (PET) in carcinoma of the esophagogastric junction. METHODS: From December 1998 to April 2002, 27 patients were imaged with FDG-PET and FDG avid masses in the esophagogastric junction were found in every patient. FDG-PET data was analyzed by visual method and standardized uptake value (SUV). FDG-PET results were compared with pathological results and follow-up survey. RESULTS: 16 carcinomas of the esophagogastric junction and 11 non-specific FDG-avid masses of normal stomach were all considered malignant by visual method. Maximum and mean Standard uptake value (SUV) of cancer were 6.71 +/- 2.75 and 5.46 +/- 2.31, respectively; SUVmax and SUVmean of non-specific FDG avid mass were 2.99 +/- 0.67 and 2.38 +/- 0.51 respectively; SUV of cancer was higher than that of non-specific FDG avid mass (Z = -4.171, Z = -4.195, P < 0.01). CONCLUSIONS: FDG-PET has limited value in differentiating carcinoma of the esophagogastric junction from non-specific FDG avid mass of normal stomach.

Downregulation of LKB1 suppresses Stat3 activity to promote the proliferation of esophageal carcinoma cells.

The tumor suppressor liver kinase B1 (LKB1) encodes a serine/threonine kinase. The defect in LKB1 is the primary cause of Peutz-Jeghers syndrome (PJS). Inactivation of LKB1 by mutations or loss of LKB1 expression is associated with ovarian, lung and pancreatic cancer; however, the correlation between LKB1 and esophageal carcinoma remains unknown. Thus, quantitative PCR was performed to determine the clinical significance of LKB1 expression in 60 cases of esophageal cancer and its adjacent normal epithelium. LKB1 expression was observed to significantly downregulate the accompanying cancer progression, which was verified at the protein level by western blot analysis. Furthermore, the phosphorylated signal transducer and activator of transcription 3 (Stat3) level is reversibly associated with LKB1 expression. To determine the function of LKB1 in esophageal cancer, LKB1 expression is induced in TE1 esophageal cancer cells. The results show that LKB1 overexpression suppresses the proliferation of TE1 cells, downregulates the expression of cyclin D1 and Myc and represses Stat3 phosphorylation. Suppression of cell proliferation and cyclin D1 expression by LKB1 is fully inhibited by constitutively active Stat3C coexpression, suggesting that LKB1 inhibits esophageal cancer cell proliferation through suppression of Stat3 transaction. In conclusion, downregulation of LKB1 expression suppresses Stat3 activity that may promote tumor growth during esophageal cancer progression.

Diagnosis and multi-modality treatment of adult pulmonary plastoma: Analysis of 18 cases and review of literature.

The clinical data of 18 patients with PB from April 1989 to April 2013 was analyzed retrospectively, including 11 men and 7 women, aged 45 and 76 years old (mean 53 years). There were 12 cases of PB occurring in right lung and other cases in left lung. Among them, 3 patients had no symptoms, and 15 patients displayed symptoms of cough, chest pain, asthenia or minor haemoptysis. Overall, 11 patients had a preoperative diagnosis of lung cancer, 7 patients were preoperatively diagnosed as the other diseases, which included lung benign tumor (n=5) and mediastinal mass (n=2). All patients received a radical resection. Six patients received postoperative cisplatin-based chemotherapy, and two patients received postoperative irradiation with the dose of 55 Gy. Histologically, 14 cases of 18 patients had biphasic pulmonary blastoma and four cases had well differentiated fetal adenocarcinoma. A total of 12 patients died in a period of 6-36 months after operation, and 1 case was lost after 2 years of follow up. The median survival time was 19 months. PB is a rare primary lung malignant embryonal neoplasm. Despite its assumed embyonal origin, the tumor has a predilection for adults. A preoperative correct diagnosis is very difficult in spite of modern diagnostic imaging and biopsy techniques. Surgical resection is the main method for diagnosis and treatment. Postoperative chemotherapy or irradiation can help eliminate tumor remnants. Its prognosis is very poor, especially for the biphasic type.

Association between folate intake, serum folate levels and the risk of lung cancer: a systematic review and meta-analysis.

BACKGROUND: Folate plays a critical role in nucleotide synthesis and DNA methylation, and was considered to be associated with anti-carcinogenesis. RESULTS: from studies that concern the relationship between the folate intake or serum folate levels and lung cancer risk showed no consistency, which requires our further comprehensive meta-analysis. METHODS: Systematic literature search was conducted to identify the relevant studies (published prior to February 2013) according to standard protocol. Estimated effects were calculated under both random-effects and fixed-effects models. Heterogeneity between studies and publication bias were also evaluated. RESULTS: A total of 4390 cases and 6138 controls from 6 case-control studies revealed a significant overall inverse association between folate intake and lung cancer risk (OR = 0.74, 95%CI = 0.65 - 0.84, P < 0.001). Summary of 1438 cases and 2582 controls from 4 case-control studies and 44 cases out of a cohort of 1988 participants suggested a marginal association without significance (OR = 0.78, 95%CI = 0.60 - 1.02, P = 0.075) between high serum folate levels and less lung cancer susceptibility; however, subgroup analysis about population-based case-control studies showed that high serum folate levels significantly associated with the reduced lung cancer risk (OR = 0.76, 95%CI = 0.58 - 1.00, P = 0.048). CONCLUSION: Higher folate intake can be a protective factor against lung cancer risk, and higher serum folate level is probably associated with reduced lung cancer risk in marginal manner, though more studies are warranted to confirm these associations.

Surgical treatment and prognosis of octogenarians with non-small cell lung cancer.

OBJECTIVE: To explore the clinical characteristics, surgical treatment and prognosis of non-small cell lung cancer (NSCLC) among elderly patients over 80 years. METHODS: The clinical data, surgical methods, perioperative management, postoperative complications and prognosis of 52 NSCLC patients aged over 80 years were retrospectively analyzed. RESULTS: Out of 52 cases, 27 had a long-term smoking history (51.9%) and 44 were with other diseases (84.6%). Lobectomy was done in 32 cases (65.4%), sub-lobectomy in 20 cases (38.5%), including pulmonary wedge resection in 16 cases (30.8%) and lung segment resection in 4 cases (7.7%). The postoperative complication rate was 44.2% (23/52); the complication rate after lobectomy was 62.5% (20/32) and that after sub-lobectomy was 25% (5/20), with significant difference between lobectomy and sub-lobectomy (P<0.05). Postoperative mortality was 3.8% (2/52). Pathological TNM staging: I a 27 cases (51.9%), I b 12 cases (23.1%), II a 8 cases (15.4%), II b 3 cases (5.8%) and III a 2 cases (3.8%). The 1-, 3- and 5-year survival rate after operation was 87.1%, 59.8%, 19.1%. The 1-, 3- and 5-year survival rate was 86.0%, 61.8%, 21.5% in the patients after lobectomy; that was 89.0%, 58.3%, 18.7% in the patients after sub-lobectomy, with no significant difference between two surgical methods (P>0.05). CONCLUSIONS: Octogenarians with NSCLC are often afflicted with comorbidity, so perioperative management is more complex. Strictly adhering to indications, surgery is still an important treatment of NSCLC patients over 80.

Predictors of postoperative myasthenic crisis in patients with myasthenia gravis after thymectomy.

BACKGROUND: Thymectomy is considered the most effective treatment in patients with myasthenia gravis. This study aimed to explore the predictors of postoperative myasthenic crisis in patients with myasthenia gravis after thymectomy. METHODS: Clinical records of 243 patients with myasthenia gravis who underwent thymectomy were reviewed retrospectively. The following factors were analyzed in relation to the occurrence of myasthenic crisis after thymectomy: gender, age, duration of symptoms, Osserman stage, history of myasthenic crisis, concomitant diseases, preoperative pyridostigmine dose, preoperative steroid therapy, operation approach, operation time, presence of thymoma, major postoperative complications. RESULTS: Forty-four patients experienced postoperative myasthenic crisis during the first month after thymectomy. Univariate analysis revealed that Osserman stage (RR = 0.0976, P = 0.000), history of myasthenic crisis (RR = 0.2309, P = 0.012), preoperative pyridostigmine dose (RR = 0.4349, P = 0.016), thymoma (RR = 0.0606, P = 0.000), and major postoperative complications (RR = 0.1094, P = 0.000) were significantly related to postoperative myasthenic crisis. Multivariate Logistic regression analysis showed that Osserman stage (IIb + III + IV) (RR = 0.0953, P = 0.000), thymoma (RR = 0.0294, P = 0.000), and major postoperative complications (RR = 0.0424, P = 0.000) independently predict postoperative myasthenic crisis. CONCLUSION: Osserman stage (IIb + IIIb + IV), thymoma and major postoperative complications are independent predictors of postoperative myasthenic crisis in patients with myasthenia gravis who underwent thymectomy.

[Combination of single-port thoracoscopy and laparoscopy for the treatment of esophageal carcinoma: report of 6 cases].

OBJECTIVE: To study the feasibility and early results of radical resection of esophageal carcinoma using single-port thoracoscopy combined with laparoscopy. METHODS: From March 2010 to December 2010, 6 patients with esophageal carcinoma underwent radical resection by single-port thoracoscopy combined with laparoscopy in the General Hospital of People's Liberation Army. With the patients at a supine position, laparoscopy was performed to complete stomach mobilization and abdominal lymph node dissection. Thoracoscopy was then carried out with the patients lying on the left to mobilize the esophagus and dissect thoracic lymph nodes. Finally, the stomach was pulled into the thoracic cavity via the hiatus of the diaphragm to construct a tube-like stomach, which was then anastomosed to the esophagus using the OrVil system. RESULTS: No patient was converted to open surgery during the operation. The total operative time ranged from 200 to 320 min. The mean laparoscopic time was 75(range, 45-90) min, and the mean thoracoscopic time 160(120-240) min. The mean intraoperative blood loss was 220(160-300) ml. The mean lymph node retrieval was 12(9-18). No anastomotic fistula, chylothorax, lung infection were found postoperatively. CONCLUSION: After esophageal resection using single-port thoracoscopic and laparoscopy, reconstruction using OrVil system is safe and feasible.

Diagnostic values of SCC, CEA, Cyfra21-1 and NSE for lung cancer in patients with suspicious pulmonary masses: a single center analysis.

We recruited 805 patients with suspicious pulmonary masses that were identified finally as lung cancer or benign pulmonary masses. The serum levels of four tumor markers, including squamous cell carcinoma antigen (SCC), carcinoembryonic antigen (CEA), cytokeratin 19 fragment antigen 21-1 (Cyfra21-1) and neuron specific enolase (NSE) were tested for every patient. Though receiver operating characteristic (ROC) curves indicated unsatisfactory diagnostic power of those four tumor markers for lung cancer, 37.3% of early-staged lung cancer could be diagnosed just on the combination assays of the four tumor markers, under adjusted cut-off values through our statistical analysis retrospectively.