Short-term outcome of totally minimally invasive versus hybrid minimally invasive Ivor-Lewis esophagectomy.

Objectives: For resectable esophageal cancer, the choice of total minimally invasive esophagectomy (TMIE) or hybrid minimally invasive esophagectomy (HMIE) remains controversial. The purpose of this study was to evaluate the short-term clinical outcomes of TMIE and HMIE under the Ivor-Lewis procedure.

Methods: The data of 145 patients diagnosed with middle or lower esophageal cancer who underwent radical Ivor-Lewis esophagectomy in the Affiliated Hospital of Qingdao University between January 2018 and December 2019 were retrospectively analyzed.

Three-dimensional imaging analysis for the diagnosis of dural ossification in thoracic ossification of the ligamentum flavum: a multicenter study.

Background: Unforeseen dural ossification (DO) increases the risk of complications in the surgical management of thoracic ossification of the ligamentum flavum (OLF). Several methods have been proposed to identify DO; however, these approaches either have low diagnostic accuracy or poor feasibility. Therefore, we aimed to determine the relationship between DO and the severity and range of thoracic OLF compression using a 3-dimensional (3D) imaging analysis and to evaluate its superiority in diagnosing DO over conventional measurement methods.

A Recurrence Predictive Model for Node-negative Esophageal Squamous Cell Carcinoma After Upfront Esophagectomy.

The prognosis for pathologically node-negative (pN0) esophageal squamous cell carcinoma (ESCC) with surgery alone remains poor. We aimed to develop a model for a more precise prediction of recurrence, which will allow personalized management for pN0 ESCC after upfront complete resection. Clinical and pathological records of patients with completely resected pT1-3N0M0 ESCC were retrospectively analyzed between January 2014 and December 2019.

Autogenous pericardial angioplasty for thymic malignancies: a narrative review.

Locally advanced thymic tumor usually invades adjacent great vessels, while the optimal treatment strategy for vessels resection and prosthetic replacement is still in controversial. We hereby present our series of patients undergoing autologous pericardial angioplasty for thymic malignancies. For invasive thymic tumors involving the superior vena cava (SVC), the replacement vessel was prepared by autologous pericardium and placed between the right atrium and distal left innominate vein stump to establish a SVC bypass.

Anterior controllable antedisplacement and fusion: quantitative analysis of a single surgeon's learning experience.

Background Context: Anterior controllable antedisplacement and fusion (ACAF) is a novel surgical technique for the treatment of ossification of the posterior longitudinal ligament (OPLL) but the surgical learning curve for this technique has not been previously characterized.

Purpose: The aim of this study was to quantify a surgeon's learning curve for ACAF and the effect of surgeon experience on postoperative outcomes.

Study Design: Prospective study of a single institution and single surgeon experience with ACAF surgery.

Development and validation of a nomogram to predict anastomotic leakage after esophagectomy for esophageal carcinoma.

Background: This study aimed to identify variables associated with anastomotic leakage after esophagectomy and established a tool for anastomotic leakage prediction.

Methods: Twenty-six preoperative and postoperative variables were retrospectively collected from esophageal cancer patients who were treated with radical esophagectomy from January 2018 to June 2020 in the Affiliated Hospital of Qingdao University. SPSS Version 23.

DUOX2 As a Potential Prognostic Marker which Promotes Cell Motility and Proliferation in Pancreatic Cancer.

DUOX2 has been reported to highly express in several types of cancers. However, the prognostic significance and the biological function of DUOX2 expression with pancreatic cancer (PC) still remain unclear. The present study is aimed at investigating whether DUOX2 could act as a novel biomarker of prognosis and evaluating its effect on PC cell progression.

Consensus statement on diagnosis and treatment of cervical ossification of posterior longitudinal ligament from Asia Pacific Spine Society (APSS) 2020.

Purpose: The study aimed to develop an evidence-based expert consensus statement on diagnosis and treatment of cervical ossification posterior longitudinal ligament (OPLL).

Method: Delphi method was used to perform such survey, and the panel members from Asia Pacific Spine Society (APSS) 2020 were invited to answer the open-ended questions in rounds 1 and 2. Then the results were summarized and developed into a Likert-style questionnaire for voting in round 3, and the level of agreement was defined as 80%.

Linc01232 promotes the metastasis of pancreatic cancer by suppressing the ubiquitin-mediated degradation of HNRNPA2B1 and activating the A-Raf-induced MAPK/ERK signaling pathway.

Pancreatic cancer (PC) is a malignant cancer with high mortality and poor prognosis. In this study, we found that Linc01232 was significantly upregulated in PC tissues and cells and higher Linc01232 expression was associated with poorer prognosis. Linc01232 overexpression promoted and Linc01232 knockdown inhibited the migration and invasion of PC cells.

Role of radiation therapy in node-negative esophageal cancer: A propensity-matched analysis.

Background: This study investigated the prognostic impact of (neo-)adjuvant radiation therapies in early stage esophageal cancer.

Methods: A retrospective analysis using the Surveillance, Epidemiology, and End Results (SEER) database was conducted from 2004 to 2016. Patients with pathologically staged T1-4N0M0 esophageal cancer were divided into two treatment groups: (i) neoadjuvant radiotherapy followed by surgery; and (ii) upfront esophagectomy followed by adjuvant radiotherapy.

Neoadjuvant chemoradiotherapy plus surgery versus surgery alone for clinical node-negative esophageal carcinoma.

Background: The impact of neoadjuvant chemoradiotherapy (nCRT) on early stage esophageal cancer is unknown. Here, we compared the outcomes after esophagectomy alone or nCRT plus surgery for clinically staged node-negative esophageal cancer.

Methods: We searched the Surveillance, Epidemiology, and End Results database for patients with clinically node-negative (cN0) esophageal cancer from 2004 to 2016 who underwent surgery alone or nCRT plus surgery.

Development and validation of a nomogram prognostic model for patients with neuroendocrine tumors of the thymus.

Background: The purpose of this study was to analyze the clinical characteristics and prognostic survival of patients with neuroendocrine tumors of the thymus (NETTs), and to develop and validate a nomogram model for predicting the prognosis of patients.

Methods: We conducted a retrospective analysis of patients with neuroendocrine tumors of the thymus in the Surveillance, Epidemiology, and End Results (SEER) database in the United States between 1988 and 2016. Cox scale risk regression analysis, the Kaplan-Meier method and log-rank test were used to carry out the significance test to determine the independent prognostic factors, from which a nomogram for NETTs was established.

The YY1/miR-548t-5p/CXCL11 signaling axis regulates cell proliferation and metastasis in human pancreatic cancer.

Pancreatic cancer (PC) is a malignant tumor with a poor prognosis and high mortality. However, the biological role of miR-548t-5p in PC has not been reported. In this study, we found that miR-548t-5p expression was significantly decreased in PC tissues compared with adjacent tissues, and that low miR-548t-5p expression was associated with malignant PC behavior.

Optimization of internal reference genes for qPCR in human pancreatic cancer research.

Background: Pancreatic cancer (PC) has been becoming a common cancer with high mortality and quantitative real-time polymerase chain reaction (qPCR) is one of the best choices for researching gene expression. Internal reference genes, such as actin beta (ACTB) and glyceraldehyde-3-phosphatide hydrogenase (GAPDH) have long been used in relative quantification analysis. But evidence shows that some internal reference genes expression may vary in different tissues, cell lines and different conditions.

Adjuvant radiotherapy for patients with pathologic node-negative esophageal carcinoma: A population based propensity matching analysis.

Background: The impact of adjuvant treatment for esophageal carcinoma with tumor-negative lymph nodes after upfront radical esophagectomy is still uncertain. This study investigated the effects of postoperative radiotherapy in pT1-3N0 esophageal carcinoma after radical resection.

Method: We retrospectively identified pT1-3N0M0 esophageal carcinoma patients between 2000 and 2016 from the Surveillance, Epidemiology, and End Results database.

Theory of Bowstring Disease: Diagnosis and Treatment Bowstring Disease.

Bowstring disease (BSD) is a new classification of spine disease caused by axial stretched lesion on nerve roots and the spinal cord, which is differentiated from disc herniation and canal stenosis in that it is caused by nerve compression lesions. BSD could be caused by mismatched growth rates between the spine and nerve roots (the juvenile type), or by imbalanced degenerative rates between the spine column and nerve roots (degenerative type). Here, we propose that there are several self-adjust mechanisms to relieve axial nerve tension: (i) nerve growth; (ii) posture adjustment and low back pain; (iii) autogenous degeneration of intervertebral disc; and (iv) idiopathic and degenerative scoliosis.

Computer-assisted virtual operation planning in anterior controllable anterior-displacement and fusion surgery for ossification of the posterior longitudinal ligament based on actual computed tomography data.

Objectives: To investigate the effect of computer-assisted virtual operation planning (CAVOP) on anterior controllable anterior-displacement and fusion (ACAF) surgery for ossification of the posterior longitudinal ligament (OPLL).

Patients And Methods: A total of 25 patients with OPLL were enrolled in the study from September 2017 to December 2017. Preoperative Computed tomography (CT) scanning data were input into Mimics software to reconstruct three-dimensional (3D) models of actual cervical OPLL.

ACVR1-knockout promotes osteogenic differentiation by activating the Wnt signaling pathway in mice.

Osteogenic differentiation refers to the process of bone formation and remodeling, which is controlled by complex molecular mechanisms. Activin A receptor type I (ACVR1) is reported to be associated with osteogenic differentiation. However, the underlying molecular mechanism remains elusive.

Association between NR5A2 and the risk of pancreatic cancer, especially among Caucasians: a meta-analysis of case-control studies.

Background: Previous studies have reported that nuclear receptor subfamily 5, group A, member 2 (NR5A2) polymorphisms (rs3790843 G>A, rs3790844 T>C, rs12029406 C>T) are associated with the risk of pancreatic cancer. However, the results of epidemiological investigations are still controversial. In order to explore its potential attributing factors, we pooled the updated literatures to evaluate the association between NR5A2 polymorphism and the risk of pancreatic cancer in this meta-analysis.

Morphometric Analysis of the Uncinate Process as a Landmark for Anterior Controllable Antedisplacement and Fusion Surgery: A Study of Radiologic Anatomy.

Objective: This study used the uncinate process (UP) base as the landmark to measure the various distances of the interested anatomic structures to improve the practicality of anterior controllable antedisplacement and fusion (ACAF) for ossification of the posterior longitudinal ligament (OPLL).

Methods: Computed tomographic (CT) scan data of 20 OPLL patients were studied. We investigated the base distance of the UP, transverse foramen (TF) to UP base, pedicle to UP base, posterior to anterior UP, maximal width of OPLL, and width of the vertebrae-OPLL complex (VOC).

Yin Yang-1 suppresses pancreatic ductal adenocarcinoma cell proliferation and tumor growth by regulating SOX2OT-SOX2 axis.

The transcription regulator Yin Yang-1 (YY1) serves as a tumor suppressor in pancreatic ductal adenocarcinoma (PDAC). However, the function of YY1 in proliferation of PDAC cells remains to be clarified. In this study, we found that overexpression of YY1 suppressed proliferation and decreased the expression of long non-coding RNA (lncRNA) SOX2OT and its potential target gene SOX2 in PDAC cells.

Association between ERCC2 Lys751Gln polymorphism and the risk of pancreatic cancer, especially among Asians: evidence from a meta-analysis.

Unlabelled: Single nucleotide polymorphisms (SNPs) of Excision repair cross-complementing group 2 (ERCC2) gene are suspected to affect the risk of pancreatic cancer. Many studies have reported the association between ERCC2 Lys751Gln polymorphism (rs13181) and the susceptibility to pancreatic cancer, but the outcomes remained controversial. To comprehensively determine this association, we conducted a meta-analysis based on a total of eight studies.

Surgical Incision and Approach in Thoracolumbar Extreme Lateral Interbody Fusion Surgery: An Anatomic Study of the Diaphragmatic Attachments.

Study Design: Cadaveric study.

Objective: To provide anatomical basis for deciding the surgical approach and skin incision in thoracolumbar extreme lateral interbody fusion (XLIF) by delineating the attachment points of diaphragm.

Summary Of Background Data: Although the general anatomy of the thoracic diaphragm is well described, the specific attachment points of diaphragm concerned with the XLIF approach is yet to be elaborated.

Brain-derived neurotrophic factor is up-regulated in severe acute cauda equina syndrome dog model.

To determine the level of brain-derived neurotrophic factor (BDNF) in experimental dog model of severe acute cauda equina syndrome, which was induced by multiple cauda equina constrictions throughout the entire lumbar (L), sacral (S) and coccygeal (Co) spinal cord and their central processes of the dorsal root ganglia neurons. Adult male mongrel dogs were randomly divided into 2 groups. The experiment group (n=4) was subjected to multiple cauda equina constrictions.