Tongxinluo Prevents Endothelial Dysfunction Induced by Homocysteine Thiolactone In Vivo via Suppression of Oxidative Stress.

Aim. To explore whether Chinese traditional medicine, tongxinluo (TXL), exerts beneficial effects on endothelial dysfunction induced by homocysteine thiolactone (HTL) and to investigate the potential mechanisms. Methods and Results.

Moderate Hypothermic Circulatory Arrest with Antegrade Cerebral Perfusion for Rapid Total Arch Replacement in Acute Type A Aortic Dissection.

Background: The optimal hypothermic level during circulatory arrest is controversial. The aim of our study was to comprehensively assess the impact of moderate hypothermic circulatory arrest with antegrade cerebral perfusion (ACP) on total aortic arch replacement.

Methods: From 2010 to 2013, data were collected from 99 consecutive patients with acute type A aortic dissection.

Androgen receptor promotes esophageal cancer cell migration and proliferation via matrix metalloproteinase 2.

Esophageal squamous cell carcinoma (ESCC) is one of the most common malignancies worldwide. Androgen receptor (AR) plays an important role in many kinds of cancers. However, the molecular mechanisms of AR in ESCC are poorly characterized.

Minimally invasive esophagectomy with right bronchial occlusion under artificial pneumothorax.

Aims: To assess the safety and feasibility of minimally invasive esophagectomy and selected three-field lymphadenectomy with the right bronchial occlusion in left semi-prone position under artificial pneumothorax.

Methods: Thoracoscopic-laparoscopic subtotal esophagectomy and selected three-field lymphadenectomy were performed in 166 patients with esophageal carcinoma by the right bronchial occlusion in left semi-prone position under artificial pneumothorax.

Results: 109 patients received two-field lymphadenectomy and 57 received three-field lymphadenectomy.

Resistance to cetuximab in EGFR-overexpressing esophageal squamous cell carcinoma xenografts due to FGFR2 amplification and overexpression.

Esophageal carcinoma is one of the most virulent malignant diseases and a major cause of cancer-related deaths worldwide. Despite improvements in surgical techniques and perioperative management and surgery combined with chemotherapy and/or radiotherapy, the prognosis of esophageal squamous cell carcinoma (ESCC) at an advanced stage remains poor. ESCC shows a relatively high incidence of EGFR (50% - 70%), and the humanized monoclonal antibody (mAb) cetuximab against EGFR has been undergoing clinical development.

Nicotine upregulates microRNA-21 and promotes TGF-β-dependent epithelial-mesenchymal transition of esophageal cancer cells.

A consistent positive association between cigarette smoking and the human esophageal cancer has been confirmed all over the world. However, details in the association need to be more focused on and be identified. Recently, aberrantly expressed microRNAs (miRNAs) have been shown to be promising biomarkers for understanding the tumorigenesis of a wide array of human cancers, including the esophageal cancer, and the deregulation on the epithelial to mesenchymal transition (EMT) by miRNAs is involved in the tumorigenesis.

Neuropilin 1 expression in human aortas, coronaries and the main bypass grafts.

Objectives: Development of intimal hyperplasia (IH) is the main pathology underlying graft failure following coronary artery bypass graft surgeries for ischaemic heart diseases, especially for great saphenous vein grafts which have a lower patency rate than internal mammary arteries. Neuropilin 1 (NRP1), which is a co-receptor for vascular endothelial growth factor found in vascular endothelial and smooth muscle cells, affects the development of IH. We examined the difference in NRP1 expression and distribution in human coronaries, aortas, mammary arteries and saphenous veins to detect a possible relation to their susceptibility to IH.

A completely resected paraganglioma arising from the right atrioventricular groove.

We report a case of completely resected right atrioventricular groove paraganglioma. Primary cardiac paragangliomas are extremely rare. Only about 60 cases have been reported in the literature, and most of these tumors originated from the left atrium or the base of the aortic root and pulmonary artery; 5 cases originated from the right atrium.

Focal organizing pneumonia mimicking lung cancer: a surgeon's view.

Focal organizing pneumonia is a unique form of organizing pneumonia. Little is known regarding its clinical and radiological feature, diagnosis, management, and outcome. Twenty patients with focal organizing pneumonia were investigated and compared with 40 patients with bronchogenic carcinoma.

Multimodality FDG PET/CT appearance of pulmonary tuberculoma mimicking lung cancer and pathologic correlation in a tuberculosis-endemic country.

Objectives: Differentiation between pulmonary tuberculoma and malignancy by preoperative diagnostic imaging sometimes proves difficult. The purpose of this study is to investigate variable manifestations of pulmonary tuberculoma mimicking lung cancer on fluorodeoxyglucose (FDG) positron emission tomography/computed tomography (PET/CT) image and pathologic correlation.

Patients And Methods: Twenty-five patients with a high suspicion of malignancy and histopathologically diagnosed as pulmonary tuberculoma were included.

Congenital left circumflex artery fistula drainage into left ventricle.

Congenital communication between left coronary artery to left ventricle is a rare anomaly. A 52-year-old male patient visited our institution complaining of paroxysmal palpitation and echocardiography revealed a large fistula draining into the left ventricle. Coronary angiography and computed tomography (CT) scanning confirmed the fistula located between the left circumflex coronary artery (LCX) and left ventricle (LV).

Successful correction of congenital giant right coronary artery aneurysm with fistula to left ventricle.

A 26-year-old male presented with radiographical evidence of enlargement of the right side of the heart. Echocardiography and computed tomography-scan revealed a diffuse, hugely enlarged right coronary artery (RCA) aneurysm, with the distal portion flowing directly into the left ventricle (LV). A radical correction operation was performed successfully.

Congenital right pulmonary artery-to-left atrial fistula.

A 23-year-old man presented with cyanosis since birth. Precordial echocardiography failed to detect any structural heart abnormality except for enlarged left atrium. Pulmonary angiography revealed a type I right pulmonary artery-to-left atrial fistula.

Bilateral giant pulmonary bronchogenic cysts.

Bilateral giant tension bronchogenic cysts were detected by computed tomography in a 13-year-old girl who presented with fever and severe cough. One was located in the right upper lobe, the other in the left lower lobe. The cysts, both measuring 10 cm in diameter, were removed in 2 operations 2 months apart.

[Simultaneous Surgical Treatment of Non-small Cell Lung Cancer and Off-pump Coronary Artery bypass Grafting.].

Background: Patients with resectable lung cancer and unstable coronary heart disease are at high risks of postoperative death or severe cardioovascular complications. They always pose a therapeutic challenge for thoracic surgeons. The aim of this study is to summarize clinical experience of radical lung resection for cancer with simultaneous off-pump coronary artery bypass grafting.

[Relationship between Glut-1, Glut-3 expression and fluorodeoxyglucose uptake in NSCLC and benign pulmonary lesion.].

Background: It has been known that facilitative glucose transporter (GLUT) is the main carrier which intervenes the glucose uptake of cell. The expression of Glut-1, Glut-3 has close relationship with the uptake of (18)Fluoro-2-deoxyglucose (FDG). The aim of this study is to discuss the relationship between expression of glucose transporter-1, 3 (Glut-1, Glut-3) and FDG uptake in NSCLC and benign pulmonary lesion.

[The relationship of expression of GLUT1,HIF-1α and the uptake of FDG in non-small cell lung cancer].

Background: It has been known that facilitative glucose transporter(GLUT) is the main carrier which intervenes the glucose uptake of cell,and there is a significant correlation between GLUT1 and cancer.The expression of GLUT1 in lung cancer has close relationship with the uptake of 18fluoro-2-deoxyglucose(FDG) of lung cancer,and the expression of GLUT1 is regulated by hypoxia inducible factor-1(HIF-1).The aim of this study is to investigate the relationship among expression of GLUT1,HIF-1α and the uptake of FDG in non-small cell lung cancer(NSCLC).

[Expression and clinicopathologic significance of OPN, CD44v6 and MMP-2 in squamous cell carcinoma and adenocarcinoma of the lung].

Background: There are a lot of studies on relationship of surface adhesion molecule (CD44) and matrix metalloproteinase (MMP) with tumors in recent years, however study on osteopontin (OPN) is still few. The aim of this study is to investigate the levels of OPN, CD44v6 and MMP-2 in squamous cell carcinoma and adenocarcinoma of the lung, and to clearly understand their roles in growth, invasion and metastasis of squamous cell carcinoma and adenocarcinoma.

Methods: OPN, CD44v6 and MMP-2 were detected in 69 patients with squamous cell carcinoma and adenocarcinoma by immunohistochemical method.

[Value of cardiopulmonary bypass for locally advanced lung cancer involving the left atrium].

Objective: To review the experience and assess the value of cardiopulmonary bypass (CPB) in the treatment of locally advanced lung cancer involving the left atrium.

Methods: From Jan. 1999 to Dec.