Comparison of neoadjuvant immunotherapy plus chemotherapy versus chemotherapy alone for patients with locally advanced esophageal squamous cell carcinoma: A propensity score matching.

Objectives: Clinical studies on immune checkpoint inhibitors (ICIs) combined with neoadjuvant chemotherapy (nCT) have been carried out for the resectable esophageal squamous cell carcinoma (ESCC). So far, few studies have compared the survival outcomes of nCT plus ICIs and nCT alone. This study aimed to compare the efficacy and safety of neoadjuvant ICIs combined with nCT versus nCT followed by esophagectomy for patients with resectable locally advanced ESCC.

Circular RNA UBR1 promotes the proliferation, migration, and invasion but represses apoptosis of lung cancer cells via modulating microRNA-545-5p/SSFA2 axis.

Lung cancer (LC) is a malignant tumor with the highest incidence in the world, and its specific pathogenesis is still unclear. Circular RNAs (circRNAs) are a group of non-coding RNAs that play a key role in the development and progression of various cancers. The expression pattern and function of circRNAs in LC are still not completely distinct.

[Pollution Characteristics and Health Risk Assessment of Volatile Organic Compounds in Baiyangdian Lake].

In order to survey the present pollution from volatile organic compounds in Baiyangdian Lake, 15 water samples were collected in March 2016, and analyzed for 54 VOCs by purge and trap gas chromatography-mass spectrometry. The distribution characteristics and health risk assessments were investigated, and the pollution from the VOCs was evaluated by a comprehensive pollution index. The survey showed that:① a total of 14 VOCs were detected in Baiyangdian water, with a 100% detection rate for dichloromethane, benzene, toluene, ethylbenzene, xylene, and 1,3,5-trimethylbenzene; xylene had the highest concentration with an average concentration of 564.

[Occurrence and Ecological Risk Assessment of Typical Persistent Organic Pollutants in Baiyangdian Lake].

A comprehensive survey of the pollution characteristics of persistent organic pollutants (POPs) in the surface water and surface sediment of Baiyangdian Lake was carried out. The survey showed that:① The concentrations of the polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons(PAHs), organic chlorine pesticides (OCPs), and polybrominated diphenyl ethers (PBDEs) in the surface water of Baiyangdian Lake were 71.32-228.

Isoalantolactone Inhibits Esophageal Squamous Cell Carcinoma Growth Through Downregulation of MicroRNA-21 and Derepression of PDCD4.

Background: This study was designed to explore the anticancer potential of isoalantolactone, a sesquiterpene lactone, on esophageal squamous cell carcinoma (ESCC) cells and associated molecular mechanisms.

Methods: ESCC cell lines were treated with isoalantolactone or vehicle and tested for viability, proliferation, cell cycle distribution, and apoptosis. Xenograft tumor studies in nude mice were done to examine the in vivo anticancer effect of isoalantolactone.

A Propensity-Matched Analysis of Outcomes of Patients with Clinical Stage I Non-Small Cell Lung Cancer Treated surgically or with stereotactic radiotherapy: A Meta-Analysis.

Objective: The aim of this study was to compare the efficacy between SBRT and surgery based on the Propensity-Matched Analysis.

Methods: Publications on comparison SBRT and Surgery for early stage non- small cell lung cancer (NSCLC) from 2011 to 2017 were collected. Propensity score matching was used to achieve comparable treatment hazard ratios of the overall survival (OS), local control survival (LC), regional control survival (RC), loco-regional control survival (LRC), distant control survival (DC), disease-free survival (DFS), and progression-free survival (PFS) between SBRT and Surgery.

Identification of Commonly Dysregulated Genes in Non-small-cell Lung Cancer by Integrated Analysis of Microarray Data and qRT-PCR Validation.

Background: Non-small-cell lung cancer (NSCLC), the most common lung cancer, leads to the largest number of cancer-related deaths worldwide. There are many studies to identify the differentially expressed genes (DEGs) between NSCLC and normal control (NC) tissues by means of microarray technology. Because of the inconsistency of the microarray data sets, we performed an integrated analysis to identify DEGs and analyzed their biological function.

New cancer suppressor gene for colorectal adenocarcinoma: filamin A.

Aim: To determine the expression and significance of filamin A (FLNa) in colorectal adenocarcinoma tissue.

Methods: The expression of FLNa in 46 colorectal cancer tissues and normal tissues was detected by immunohistochemistry, reverse transcription polymerase chain reaction (RT-PCR) and Western blotting, and its relationship with clinical parameters and prognosis was analyzed.

Results: The positive expression of FLNa in cancer tissues was lower than that in normal mucosa, and the difference was statistically significant.

Potential biomarkers for esophageal carcinoma detected by matrix-assisted laser desorption/ionization time-of-flight mass spectrometry.

Background: Currently, no satisfactory biomarkers are available to screen for esophageal squamous cell carcinoma (ESCC). The goal of this study was to find biomarkers and establish a serum protein fingerprint model for early diagnosis of ESCC using the ClinProt protocol of matrix-assisted laser desorption/ionization time-of-flight mass spectrometry (MALDI-TOF MS).

Methods: Serum samples were collected from 62 patients with ESCC, nine patients with esophageal adenocarcinoma (EA) and 38 healthy individuals.

[Expression of metallothionein-3 in esophageal cancer and its correlations to expression of metallothionein-1 and -2].

Background & Objective: Metallothionein (MT)-3 can inhibit cell growth. Up to now, it is the only MT subtype with specific physiological function. This study was to investigate the expression of MT-3 in esophageal cancer and its correlations to the expression of MT-1 and MT-2.

Methylation of TIMP3 in esophageal squamous cell carcinoma.

Aim: To measure the frequency of DNA methylation of the tissue inhibitor of metalloproteinase 3 (TIMP3) promoter and relate this to any change of gene expression in esophageal squamous cell carcinoma in patients from a region of high incidence in China.

Methods: Cancer cell lines were treated with or without the demethylating reagent 5-aza-2'-deoxycytidine. Methylation of the TIMP3 promoter was assessed in three regions by melt curve analysis and its expression was assessed by real-time RT-PCR.

[Long-term outcome of antireflux surgery for gastroesophageal reflux disease].

Objective: To investigate the long-term outcomes of various antireflux procedures for gastroesophageal reflux disease (GERD).

Methods: Between November 1988 and January 2004, 129 patients with GERD underwent antireflux procedures. Six kinds of antireflux procedures were performed including Nissen fundoplication, cardiac oblique invagination (COI) procedure, Belsey Mark IV, Toupet, Thal and Dor procedures.

[Mechanism of relaxation mediated by nitric oxide on human lower esophageal sphincter].

Objective: To explore the mechanism of relaxation mediated by nitric oxide on the human lower esophageal sphincter (LES), and compare the difference in relaxation response between clasp fibers and sling fibers.

Methods: 32 LES specimens were obtained from 32 patients with high-positioned carcinoma of the mid-esophagus, 12 males and 16 females, aged 55.9 +/- 9.

[Functional study of the remnant esophagus and intrathoracic stomach in patients who underwent esophagectomy for cancer].

Objective: To investigate pathophysiological changes of the remnant esophagus and gastric cardia in patients who underwent esophagectomy for cancer, and to provide objective evidences for the improvement of the postoperative quality of life.

Methods: The function of the remnant esophagus and intrathoracic stomach in patients who underwent esophagectomy for cancer were assessed objectively. The methods that we used were gastric scintigraphy, esophageal manometry, 24-hour esophageal pH monitoring, electronic gastroscopy, videofluoroscopy, and DeMeester scoring system for the assessment of heartburn.

[A study on the method of DNA extraction from unbuffered formalin-fixed and paraffin-embedded samples].

Background & Objective: Unbuffered formalin is widely used to fix resected specimens in China. The DNA in unbuffered formalin-fixed and paraffin-embedded tissues is usually degraded seriously, so the extraction of DNA from these samples is difficult. This study was conducted to seek an optimal method to extract DNA from these samples.

Responses of human clasp and sling fibers to neuromimetics.

Background And Aims: It has previously been demonstrated that clasp and sling fibers at the human gastroesophageal junction respond differently to acetylcholine (Ach). The present study was undertaken to investigate the differences between the physiological and pharmacological properties of the two types of muscle fiber.

Methods: Recordings were made of the isometric tension of human sling and clasp fibers in response to Ach, dopamine (DA), phenylephrine (Phe), and isoprenaline (Iso).

Long-term outcome of esophageal myotomy for achalasia.

Aim: Modified Heller's myotomy is still the first choice for achalasia and the assessment of surgical outcomes is usually made based on the subjective sensation of patients. This study was to objectively assess the long-term outcomes of esophageal myotomy for achalasia using esophageal manometry, 24-hour pH monitoring, esophageal scintigraphy and fiberoptic esophagoscopy.

Methods: From February 1979 to October 2000, 176 patients with achalasia underwent modified Heller's myotomy, including esophageal myotomy alone in 146 patients, myotomy in combination with Gallone or Dor antireflux procedure in 22 and 8 patients, respectively.