MicroRNA-34c-3p target inhibiting NOTCH1 suppresses chemosensitivity and metastasis of non-small cell lung cancer.

Background: Chemotherapy is the standard treatment for non-small cell lung cancer (NSCLC). However, chemoresistance frequently occurs, making the treatment of NSCLC more difficult.

Method: We combined clinical and experimental studies to establish the role of microRNA (miR)-34c in NSCLC metastasis and chemoresistance.

Phytochemical and bioactive profile of Coriandrum sativum L.

Coriandrum sativum L. is well known around the world because of its food and medicine uses. The main bioactive constituents in C.

Isolation, Purification, Characterization and Effect upon HepG2 Cells of Anemaran from Rhizome Anemarrhena.

The rhizome of Anemarrhena asphodeloides is used as food and traditional Chinese medicine for its hypoglycemic effect. The aim of this study was to investigate the isolation, purification and hypoglycemic activity of Anemaran as the active component. The influence factors (isolation duration, ratio of residuals to water and extracting times) during the isolation process were evaluated.

One surgeon's learning curve for video-assisted thoracoscopic esophagectomy for esophageal cancer with the patient in lateral position: how many cases are needed to reach competence?

Background: Minimally invasive esophagectomy is a feasible technique shown to be safe and oncologically adequate for the treatment of esophageal cancer. This study aimed to describe one surgeon's learning curve for video-assisted thoracoscopic esophagectomy with the patient in lateral position.

Methods: From May 2010 to June 2012, 89 thoracoscopic esophagectomies for esophageal cancer were performed by one surgeon.

Effect of altered WIG-1 expression on DDP sensitivity in a DDP-resistant esophageal squamous cancer cell line.

Esophageal cancer (EC) is the most common esophageal malignancy and has a dismal prognosis. Developing novel strategies to reverse the resistance to chemotherapeutics in EC is currently of intense interest. The wide-type p53 induced gene 1 (WIG-1) is a p53-regulated transcription factor.

Transcriptome network analysis reveals potential candidate genes for esophageal squamous cell carcinoma.

The esophageal squamous cell carcinoma (ESCC) is an aggressive tumor with a poor prognosis. Understanding molecular changes in ESCC should improve identification of risk factors with different molecular subtypes and provide potential targets for early detection and therapy. Our study aimed to obtain a molecular signature of ESCC through the regulation network based on differentially expressed genes (DEGs).

Prevention of postoperative chylothorax with thoracic duct ligation during video-assisted thoracoscopic esophagectomy for cancer.

Background: Minimally invasive esophagectomy (MIE) is a feasible technique that has been shown to be safe for the treatment of esophageal cancer. Chylothorax remains a challenging and potentially life-threatening postoperative complication of MIE. In this retrospective series, we evaluated the results of preventive intraoperative thoracic duct ligation in patients who underwent video-assisted thoracoscopic esophagectomy for cancer.

Retrospective analysis for thirty-nine patients with solitary fibrous tumor of pleura and review of the literature.

Background: Solitary fibrous tumor of the pleura (SFTP) is an uncommon neoplasm arising from mesenchymal cells. The aim of this study is to summarize the experience and the outcome of the surgical treatment for 39 cases of SFTP.

Methods: From January 2004 to December 2008, 39 patients underwent surgical resection of SFTP in our department.

Clinical value of assaying tumor supplied group of factor/tumor specific growth factor in patients with solitary pulmonary nodule.

Objective: This pilot study was designed to evaluate the clinical value of assaying tumor supplied group of factor/tumor specific growth factor (TSGF) in solitary pulmonary nodule (SPN).

Patients And Methods: The study was conducted from March 2007 to September 2010 and included 33 patients with SPN and 28 healthy volunteers. TSGF was assayed in preoperative serum, intraoperative pleural lavage fluid (IPLF), and postoperative serum.

Zinc induces cell cycle arrest and apoptosis by upregulation of WIG-1 in esophageal squamous cancer cell line EC109.

Zinc deficiency was implicated in the etiologies of human esophageal squamous cell carcinoma (ESCC). Wild-type p53-induced gene 1 (WIG-1), a kind of zinc finger protein, was cloned from the human 3q26.3 region and encoded a putative polypeptide of 289 amino acids.

Optimization of sympathectomy to treat palmar hyperhidrosis: the systematic review and meta-analysis of studies published during the past decade.

Objective: The systemic review and meta-analysis of the studies published during the past 10 years was designed to optimize the surgical procedures of video-assisted thoracoscopic sympathectomy (VTS) to treat palmar hyperhidrosis (PH).

Methods: Citations from 2000 to 2010 were included regarding the following aspects: selection of ganglia level for VTS, comparison of different techniques for VTS, evaluating clinical efficacy of intraoperative intrapleural analgesia, and postoperative intrapleural drainage. Major clinical outcomes are defined as: cases with postoperative resolution of symptoms, total cases with postoperative compensatory hyperhidrosis (CH), cases with severe or moderate CH, satisfied cases, evaluation of postoperative pain, and postoperative pneumothorax.

Preparation of a novel monoclonal antibody specific for WIG-1 and detection of its expression pattern in human esophageal carcinoma.

We have efficiently generated the first monoclonal antibody (MAb) against the human WIG-1 (wild-type p53-induced gene 1) protein, an apoptosis-related protein consisting of three zinc finger domains. Protein A affinity chromatography was performed to purify MAb from mice production ascites. Hybridomas were screened by indirect enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA).

Prevention of early delayed gastric emptying after high-level esophagogastrostomy by "pyloric digital fracture".

Objective: This study was designed to evaluate the clinical efficacy of pyloric digital fracture for the prevention of early delayed gastric emptying (DGE) after high-level esophagogastrostomy.

Methods: From January 2004 to March 2009, we sequentially enrolled 78 patients after esophagogastrostomy: 48 patients with pyloric digital fracture (DF group) and 30 patients without any drainage procedure (non-DF group). Intraoperative manometric study was performed in 48 patients of the DF group.

Up-regulation of Fas reverses cisplatin resistance of human small cell lung cancer cells.

Background/aim: Fas/FasL system is a major regulator of apoptosis. The mechanisms by which Fas mediates cisplatin resistance remain unclear. The aim of this study is to explore the effect of Fas over-expression on cisplatin resistance of small cell lung cancer cells and its possible mechanisms.

Suction or non-suction to the underwater seal drains following pulmonary operation: meta-analysis of randomised controlled trials.

Objectives: The decision to proceed to simple underwater seal drainage or to apply active suction to the underwater seal following pulmonary operation is a controversial one. For the sake of selecting the alternative to reduce postoperative air leakage, we performed a meta-analysis of randomised controlled trials (RCTs) to determine the benefit of suction or non-suction following lung surgery on patient outcomes.

Methods: RCTs published in English from 1999 to 2009 were included.

Controllable metastasis: the trap for the esophageal cancer cells?

The prognosis of esophageal cancer (EC) remains poor, lymph node metastasis is one of the most important factors for determining the prognosis of patients with EC. Extensive lymph node dissection has long been considered as the favorable procedure to achieve an accurate pathologic staging and a better prognosis. However, the effect of extensive lymphadenectomy during esophagectomy on survival of EC patients has been doubted.

Diagnosis of chest pain with foregut symptoms in Chinese patients.

Aim: To evaluate the diagnosis of chest pain with foregut symptoms in Chinese patients.

Methods: Esophageal manometric studies, 24-h introesophageal pH monitoring and 24-h electrocardiograms (Holter electrocardiography) were performed in 61 patients with chest pain.

Results: Thirty-nine patients were diagnosed with non-specific esophageal motility disorders (29 patients with abnormal gastroesophageal reflux and eight patients with myocardial ischemia).

Prevention of stricture development after corrosive esophageal burn with a modified esophageal stent in dogs.

Objective: We sought to test the feasibility and technical ease of a newly designed nitinol-based modified esophageal stent and its effects on preventing postcaustic stricture in mongrel dogs and to try to explain the result at the molecular level.

Methods: Twenty-four dogs were included in this controlled study. Stenosis index (wall thickness/intraluminal diameter), pathologic features, hydroxyproline quantities, esophageal compliance, and biomechanics were compared between the injured but unstented and stented dogs.

Functional and menometric study of side-to-side stapled anastomosis and traditional hand-sewn anastomosis in cervical esophagogastrostomy.

Objective: In the study, we made the pharyngoesophageal functional assessment and menometric study on the two kinds of anastomosis (traditional hand-sewn anastomosis and side-to-side stapled anastomosis) for the further evaluation and application of cervical esophagogastrostomy.

Patients: The study included 17 patients with esophageal squamous cancer from March 2006 to May 2008. Eight patients had undergone total esophagectomy and traditional hand-sewn technique in CEGA.

[Thymectomy for myasthenia gravis by video-assisted thoracoscopic surgery through right anterior-lateral approach].

Objective: To evaluate the feasibility and curative effect of thymectomy for myasthenia gravis (MG) by video-assisted thoracoscopic surgery (VATS) through right anterior-lateral approach.

Methods: Fifty-six patients of MG were treated with thoracoscopic thymectomy and mediastinal fat dissection through right anterior-lateral approach from August 2001 to October 2007. The feasibility, safety, complication and remission for MG were retrospectively analyzed.

Restoring the metabolic disturbance of zinc: may not only contribute to the prevention of esophageal squamous cell cancer.

The relationship between zinc deficiency (ZD) and esophageal squamous cell cancer (ESCC) is well-established. Zinc supplement has long been considered as potential strategy for prevention of ESCC. However, the effect of zinc replenishment on prevention of ESCC is still in controversy and no convincing evidence to support these proposals has become known.

Upregulation of ZNRD1 enhances cisplatin resistance in human esophageal cancer cells by regulation of ERCC1 and Bcl-2.

Background/aims: The precise mechanism of the zinc ribbon domain-containing-1 (ZNRD1) gene on cisplatin resistance remains unclear. The aim of this study is to identify the gene expression profile and explore the role of these genes in ZNRD1-induced cisplatin resistance in esophageal cancer cells.

Methods: An expression vector with ZNRD1 was transfected into the EC109 cells, and then cDNA microarray analysis was performed to identify the gene expression profile.