Long-term survival of the middle and lower thoracic esophageal cancer patients after surgical treatment through left or right thoracic approach.

Background: Esophageal cancer is one of the most prevalent malignancies with a high incidence and mortality in China, the main treatment for esophageal cancer at present is still surgery-based multimodality treatment, and surgery is still the most effective measure. However, the modes of surgical treatment for esophageal cancer have been diverse. The surgical approaches can be mainly divided into the left thoracic approach and right thoracic approach in China.

Macrophage Inhibitory Cytokine-1 as a Novel Diagnostic and Prognostic Biomarker in Stage I and II Nonsmall Cell Lung Cancer.

Background: Increased level of serum macrophage inhibitory cytokine-1 (MIC-1), a member of transforming growth factor-μ superfamily, was found in patients with epithelial tumors. This study aimed to evaluate whether serum level of MIC-1 can be a candidate diagnostic and prognostic indicator for early-stage nonsmall cell lung cancer (NSCLC).

Methods: A prospective study enrolled 152 patients with Stage I-II NSCLC, who were followed up after surgical resection.

Performance of three prognostic models in patients with cancer in need of intensive care in a medical center in China.

Objective: The aim of this study was to evaluate the performance of Acute Physiology and Chronic Health Evaluation II (APACHE II), Simplified Acute Physiology Score 3 (SAPS 3), and Acute Physiology and Chronic Health Evaluation IV (APACHE IV) in patients with cancer admitted to intensive care unit (ICU) in a single medical center in China.

Materials And Methods: This is a retrospective observational cohort study including nine hundred and eighty one consecutive patients over a 2-year period.

Results: The hospital mortality rate was 4.

Effect of sedation on short-term and long-term outcomes of critically ill patients with acute respiratory insufficiency.

Background: The present study aimed to determine the short-term and long-term outcomes of critically ill patients with acute respiratory insufficiency who had received sedation or no sedation.

Methods: The data of 91 patients who had received mechanical ventilation in the first 24 hours between November 2008 and October 2009 were retrospectively analyzed. These patients were divided into two groups: a sedation group (n=28) and a non-sedation group (n=63).

Comparative study of video-assisted thoracic surgery versus open thymectomy for thymoma in one single center.

Background: Due to the popularity of video-assisted thoracic surgery (VATS) techniques in clinical, thymoma patients via VATS thymectomy are increasing rapidly. However, compared with open thymectomy, the potential superiorities and defects of VATS thymectomy remain controversial.

Methods: A number of 129 patients who underwent thymectomy of early stage thymoma (Masaoka stage I and stage II) in one single center from January 2007 to September 2013 were selected in this retrospective study.

[Surgical treatment and prognostic analyses of bronchopulmonary carcinoid tumors].

Objective: To explore the surgical treatment and prognostic factors of bronchopulmonary carcinoid tumors (BPC).

Methods: The clinical data of 65 patients undergoing surgery for BPC from May 1999 to December 2007 were reviewed retrospectively. The predictors of univariate and multivariate analyses included gender, age, smoking history, pathological type and tumor stage.

Application of video-assisted thoracic surgery in the standard operation for thoracic tumors.

Objective: To evaluate the short-term outcomes of video-assisted thoracic surgery (VATS) for thoracic tumors.

Methods: The data of 1,790 consecutive patients were retrospectively reviewed. These patients underwent VATS pulmonary resections, VATS esophagectomies, and VATS resections of mediastinal tumors or biopsies at the Cancer Institute & Hospital, Chinese Academy of Medical Sciences between January 2009 and January 2012.

Clinical outcomes of basaloid squamous cell carcinoma of the esophagus: a retrospective analysis of 142 cases.

Background: Basaloid squamous cell carcinoma of the esophagus (BSCCE) is a rare and distinctive tumor with no standard treatment. This study aimed to explore treatment in relation to prognosis of the disease.

Methods: A total of 142 patients with BSCCE that underwent treatment in our hospital from March 1999 to July 2010 were retrospectively analyzed.

Prognosis of patients with shock receiving vasopressors.

Background: Consensus guidelines suggested that both dopamine and norepinephrine may be used, but specific doses are not recommended. The aim of this study is to determine the predictive role of vasopressors in patients with shock in intensive care unit.

Methods: One hundred and twenty-two patients, who had received vasopressors for 1 hour or more in intensive care unit (ICU) between October 2008 and October 2011, were included.

Risk factors and prognosis of critically ill cancer patients with postoperative acute respiratory insufficiency.

Background: This study aimed to investigate the risk factors and outcome of critically ill cancer patients with postoperative acute respiratory insufficiency.

Methods: The data of 190 critically ill cancer patients with postoperative acute respiratory insufficiency were retrospectively reviewed. The data of 321 patients with no acute respiratory insufficiency as controls were also collected.

[Surgical treatment of sternal tumors: resection of the tumors and reconstruction of the chest wall defects].

Objective: To investigate the efficacy of surgical treatment of sternal tumors and repairing methods of the chest wall defects.

Methods: Fifteen patients with sternal tumors were diagnosed and underwent resection of the sternal tumors according to the en-bolck principle and repair of the chest wall defects using various materials from January 1968 to December 2010 in our hospital.

Results: Of 6 patients with sternal manubrim tumors, one patient had reconstruction only with steel wire, other 5 patients healed completely after repair with soft materials.

[Comparison of the short-term outcomes of surgical treatment for non-small cell lung cancer via video assisted thoracoscopic surgery and open thoracotomy].

Objective: To compare the short-term outcomes of surgical treatment for non-small cell lung cancer (NSCLC) by video-assisted thoracoscopic surgery (VATS) and open thoracotomy (OT).

Methods: Data of 737 consecutive NSCLC patients who underwent surgical treatment for non-small cell lung cancer by video-assisted thoracoscopic surgery and 630 patients who underwent pulmonary resection via open thoracotomy (as controls) in Cancer Institute & Hospital, Chinese Academy of Medical Sciences between January 2009 and August 2011 were retrospectively reviewed. The risk factors after lobectomy were also analyzed.

[Comparison of the results of lymph node dissection via left versus right thoracotomy].

Objective: Up to now surgical treatment has been still the most effective treatment for esophageal cancer. However, postoperative lymph node recurrence is still a frequent event and affects long term survival considerably. The aim of this study is to compare the results of lymph node dissection via left vs.

[Role of conventional pulmonary function tests and cardiopulmonary exercise test in the prediction of postoperative cardiopulmonary complications in high risk thoracic cancer patients].

Objective: To evaluate and compare the value of cardiopulmonary exercise test and conventional pulmonary function tests in the prediction of postoperative cardiopulmonary complications in high risk patients with chest malignant tumors.

Methods: From January 2006 to January 2009, 216 consecutive patients with thoracic malignant tumors underwent conventional pulmonary function tests (PFT, spirometry + DLCOsb for diffusion capacity) and cardiopulmonary exercise test (CPET) preoperatively. The correlation of postoperative cardiopulmonary complications with the parameters of PFT and CPET were retrospectively analyzed using Chi-square test, independent sample t-test and logistic regression analysis.

Two acute kidney injury risk scores for critically ill cancer patients undergoing non-cardiac surgery.

Background: Several risk scoures have been used in predicting acute kidney injury (AKI) of patients undergoing general or specific operations such as cardiac surgery. This study aimed to evaluate the use of two AKI risk scores in patients who underwent non-cardiac surgery but required intensive care.

Methods: The clinical data of patients who had been admitted to ICU during the first 24 hours of ICU stay between September 2009 and August 2010 at the Cancer Institute, Chinese Academy of Medical Sciences & Peking Union Medical College were retrospectively collected and analyzed.

A case of huge esophageal carcinosarcoma.

Carcinosarcoma of the esophagus is a rare malignant neoplasm with both epithelial and mesenchymal (sarcomatous) components. We describe a case of a 72-year-old man with a huge esophageal tumor which could often have been considered inoperable. However, the patient underwent a curative resection and had a good prognosis.

Cardiopulmonary exercise testing in the evaluation of high risk patients with lung cancer.

Background: It is still unclear whether pulmonary function tests (PFTs) are sufficient for predicting perioperative risk, and whether all patients or only a subset of them need a cardiopulmonary exercise test (CPET) for further assessment. Thus, this study was designed to evaluate the CPET and compare the results of CPET and conventional PFTs to identify which parameters are more reliable and valuable in predicting perioperative risks for high risk patients with lung cancer.

Methods: From January 2005 to August 2008, 297 consecutive lung cancer patients underwent conventional PFTs (spirometry + single-breath carbon monoxide diffusing capacity of the lungs (DLCOsb) for diffusion capacity) and CPET preoperatively.

[Application of video assisted thoracic surgery for chest tumors: experience of 144 cases in a single institution].

Objective: To evaluate the indication and safety of video assisted thoracic surgery (VATS) for chest tumors.

Methods: Data of 144 consecutive patients receiving VATS between January and November 2009 in Cancer hospital Chinese Academy of Medical Sciences were retrospectively reviewed.

Results: There was no conversion to open thoracotomy.

[Surgical treatment of bilateral thoracotomy in patients with lesions of left main bronchus invading carina].

Objective: To investigate the outcome for surgical treatment of bilateral thoracotomy in patients with lesions of left main bronchus invading carina by bilateral thoracotomy.

Methods: The clinical data of 4 patients with lesions of left main bronchus invading carina undergoing bilateral thoracotomy were retrospectively reviewed.

Results: There were two male and two female patients with a median age of 37.

[Clinical data analysis on 43 cases of the giant lymph node hyperplasia].

Objective: To summarize the clinical features, treatment and prognosis of giant lymph node hyperplasia (Castleman's disease, CD).

Methods: The clinical data of 43 CD patients with the tumor located in neck (n = 10), chest (n = 20), abdomen (n = 9) and multi-centers (n = 4) were analyzed.

Results: All the patients underwent surgical resection of tumor or lymph and the patients of multicentric disease underwent adjuvant chemotherapy or radiotherapy.

[Treatment and prevention of bronchus-pleural fistula after pneumonectomy for lung cancer].

Objective: To explore the methods of the treatment and the principles of the prevention of bronchus-pleural fistula (BPF) after pneumonectomy.

Methods: The clinical data of 15 cases of BPF after pneumonectomy in 815 lung cancer cases treated from July 1999 to June 2006 were analyzed retrospectively.

Results: The occurrence rate of BPF after right pneumonectomy was 3.

[Primary soft tissue sarcomas of mediastinum: experience in 22 cases from a single institution].

Objective: To assess the presentation, imaging features, and prognostic factors of primary soft tissue sarcoma of mediastinum.

Methods: The clinical data of 22 patients with primary soft tissue sarcoma of mediastinum, 12 males and 10 females, aged 46 (28-69), hospitalized over 27 years were retrospectively reviewed, focusing on the clinical presentations, preoperative diagnosis, imaging features, immunohistochemical studies, treatment, and survival.

Results: Chest pain, dyspnea, cough, and shoulder pain were the most common complaints.

[Surgical results of T4 lung cancer invading left atrium and great vessels].

Objective: To analyzed the indication and prognostic factors of surgical treatment of lung cancer invading left atrium and great vessels (T4).

Methods: We retrospectively reviewed the database of 136 T4 lung cancer (tumors invading left atrium and great vessels) patients who received surgical treatment in Cancer Hospital of Chinese Academy of Medical Science (CAMS) from September 1981 to January 2007. There are 114 men and 22 women, the median age was 58 years (range 28 - 76).

[Combined modality therapy for small cell lung cancer patient with limited stage disease].

Objective: To investigate the efficacy of combined modality therapy for small cell lung cancer (SCLC) patient with limited stage disease (LD).

Methods: The data of 122 SCLC patients with limited stage disease treated by surgery combined with chemotherapy and radiotherapy were analysed retrospectively.

Results: The median survival time (MST) of the 122 patients was 38 months, the 1-, 3-, 5-year survival rate was 83.

[Expression of ezrin and CD44-v6 in human esophageal squamous cell carcinoma and its clinical significance].

Objective: To evaluate the expression of ezrin and CD44-v6 in esophageal squamous cell carcinoma, and to evaluate its relationship with lymph node metastasis (LNM) and histological grading.

Methods: The expression of ezrin and CD44-v6 in 71 patients with esophageal squamous cell carcinoma was studied using immunohistochemical (SP) method. The correlation of their expression with relevant clinical data was statistically analyzed.