Predicting lymph node metastasis in colorectal cancer: An analysis of influencing factors to develop a risk model.

Background: Colorectal cancer (CRC) is a significant global health issue, and lymph node metastasis (LNM) is a crucial prognostic factor. Accurate prediction of LNM is essential for developing individualized treatment strategies for patients with CRC. However, the prediction of LNM is challenging and depends on various factors such as tumor histology, clinicopathological features, and molecular characteristics.

Angiopoietin-2 induces angiogenesis via exosomes in human hepatocellular carcinoma.

Background: Hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) is the most common primary liver cancer and is a highly vascularized solid tumor. Angiopoietin-2 (ANGPT2) has been described as an attractive target for antiangiogenic therapy. Exosomes are small extracellular vesicles secreted by most cell types and contribute to cell-to-cell communication by delivering functional cargo to recipient cells.

[Role of EuroSCORE and SinoSCORE in prediction of early postoperative quality of life in patients after coronary artery bypass surgery].

Objective: To investigate the predicting value of European system for cardiac operative risk evaluation (EuroSCORE) and sino system for coronary operative risk evaluation (SinoSCORE) in early quality of life of patients after coronary artery bypass surgery (CABG).

Methods: A total of 218 consecutive patients who underwent CABG from March 2010 to January 2013 were evaluated with both systems before operation. Health related quality of life (QoL) was estimated by using 36-item short form health survey (SF-36) preoperatively and postoperatively in order to evaluate the predicting value of the two systems in early post-operative QoL.

Redo coronary artery bypass grafting: on-pump and off-pump coronary artery bypass grafting revascularization techniques.

Objective: To analyze the short-term outcomes of redo coronary artery bypass grafting (CABG) using on-pump and off-pump CABG techniques.

Methods: From January 2003 to August 2013, non-randomized 80 patients were treated with redo CABG in the Department of Cardiac Surgery, Peking University Third Hospital. Among these patients, 40 underwent on-pump CABG technique (redo-ONCAB group) and 40 underwent off-pump CABG technique (redo-OPCAB group).

Sternal reconstruction of deep sternal wound infections following median sternotomy by single-stage muscle flaps transposition.

Objective: To assess clinical effectiveness of using bilateral pectoralis major or plus rectus abdominis muscle flaps in treating deep sternal wound infection (DSWI) following median sternotomy.

Methods: Between January 2009 and December 2013, 19 patients with DSWI after median sternotomy for cardiac surgery were admitted to our hospital, including 14 males (73.7%) and 5 females (26.

[Association between nuclear factor of activated T cells 1 gene mutation and simple congenital heart disease in children].

Objective: To elucidate association between the mutation of nuclear factor of activated T cells 1 (NFATC1) gene in IPT-NFAT region and simple congenital heart disease (CHD) in children.

Method: We used polymerase chain reaction (PCR) and the sequencing reaction to detect the mutations on the patients and their parents and (or) siblings.

Results: PCR amplification of the exon 7 region showed that 2 bands are obtained in 58% of patients with CHD and in 74% of their healthy parents and (or) siblings.

[The role of European system for cardiac operative risk evaluation in the prediction of quality of life in patients after coronary artery bypass graft surgery].

Objective: To assess the value of European system for cardiac operative risk evaluation (EuroSCORE) in predicting quality of life in patients post coronary artery bypass graft surgery (CABG).

Methods: A total of 387 patients underwent CABG in our institute from December of 2002 to December of 2007 were assessed by EuroSCORE before operation. Health-related quality of life (QoL) was estimated postoperatively with Seattle angina questionnaire (SAQ), Nottingham healthy profile (NHP) and Duke activity status index (DASI) in order to evaluate the value of EuroSCORE for predicting quality of life in patients post CABG.

A novel mutation in GATA4 gene associated with dominant inherited familial atrial septal defect.

Objective: Atrial septal defect (ASD) is a common congenital heart disease (CHD). Although most cases are sporadic, familial cases have been reported. The transcription factors NKX2.

[Quality of life five years after coronary artery bypass grafting].

Objective: The quality of life (QOL) 5 years after coronary artery bypass grafting (CABG) was evaluated by NHP, SAQ and DASI questionnaires.

Methods: NHP, SAQ and DASI questionnaires were mailed to 287 patients who received CABG in our department between Jan 2001 and Jan 2002. The reliability and construct validity of the questionnaires and the influence factor of QOL were analyzed.

[A study on viral gastroenteritis attributed to noroviruses in hospitals].

Objective: To better understand the clinical feature of viral gastroenteritis attributed to noroviruses and to summarize the experience on an outbreak of acute gastroenteritis through rapidly colleting and confirmation of related information regarding to noroviruses in hospitals.

Methods: Information on an outbreaks involving 18 patients with acute gastroenteritis in one hospital regarding its epidemiological and clinical features and to perform bacteria culture for stool specimens on every patient. On 7 patients, rotavirus antigen were RNA tested together with norovirus nucleic acid were examined by ELISA and PAGE and RT-PCR.