To what extent should the intestinal be resected proximally after radiotherapy: hint from a pathological view.

Background: Neoadjuvant chemoradiotherapy (nCRT) is associated with post-operative anastomotic complications in rectal-cancer patients. Anastomosis involving at least one non-irradiated margin reportedly significantly reduces the risk of post-operative anastomotic complications in radiation enteritis. However, the exact scope of radiotherapy on the remaining sigmoid colon remains unknown.

Efficacy and complications of argon plasma coagulation for hemorrhagic chronic radiation proctitis.

Background: Chronic radiation proctitis (CRP) is a complication which occurs in 1%-5% of patients who undergo radiotherapy for pelvic malignancies. Although a wide range of therapeutic modalities are available, there is no literature to date showing any particularly appropriate therapeutic modality for each disease stage. Argon plasma coagulation (APC) is currently recommended as the first-choice treatment for hemorrhagic CRP, however, its indication based on long-term follow-up is still unclear.

Investigation of correlation between mutational status in key EGFR signaling genes and prognosis of stage II colorectal cancer.

Aim: To investigate the relationship between mutations of key genes in the EGFR signaling pathway and the prognosis of stage II colorectal cancer patients without chemotherapy.

Materials & Methods: The incidence of KRAS, NRAS, BRAF, PIK3CA mutations and deficient DNA mismatch repair were assessed in 160 stage II colorectal cancer patients who had been treated by radical operation without adjuvant chemotherapy.

Results: Mutations in KRAS, BRAF or PIK3CA were associated with poor prognosis, while the deficient DNA mismatch repair status was not associated with the prognosis.

[Impact of reclaimed water irrigation on soil chemical properties and culturable microorganisms ].

This research used batch soil column experiment to study the effects of irrigating with reclaimed water and tap water on the soil chemical properties and culturable microorganisms. The results indicated that reclaimed water could markedly increase the soil organic material (OM) and total nitrogen (TN) content, but it had no obvious effect on total phosphorus (TP), available phosphorus (AP) and pH value. Reclaimed water irrigation could significantly enhance the amounts of surface soil bacteria and actinomycetes at a depth of 0-20 cm, but it had little effect on the biomass of 20-40 cm and 40-60 cm soil layers.