ObjectiveTo investigate the clinical characteristics of thoracic esophageal-gastric cancer (TEGC) and the safety and effectiveness of secondary reconstruction of thoracic and gastrointestinal tract after esophageal and preventriculus cancer (esophagogastric junction) surgery.MethodsThe clinical data of 353 patients with esophageal and preventriculus cancer who underwent endoscopic review from July 2007 to December 2019 were retrospectively analyzed. A total of 31 (8.78%) patients with relapsed or recurrent TEGC were found, including 24 males and 7 females with a mean age of 58.5 years (range: 42 to 68 years). There were 18 (58.06%) patients of adenocarcinoma and 13 (41.94%) squamous cell carcinoma. All patients underwent TEGC resection and secondary reconstruction of thoracic gastrointestinal tract. Thoracoabdominal computed tomography (CT) and upper gastrointestinal imaging (GI) were performed during follow-up, and gastroscopy was performed for suspected patients. All the patients were followed-up till death or December 30, 2019. The survival rate was calculated by Kaplan-Meier method, and the survival was analyzed using the log-rank test. ResultsThirty-one patients underwent thoracic esophagectomy and gastric cancer resection, and then reconstruction of the thoracic and gastrointestinal tract. Eight patients underwent residual gastroesophageal thoracic anastomosis, 13 patients colon esophagectomy, 6 patients jejunal esophagectomy (1 patient esophago-jejunal Roux-en-Y anastomosis), and 4 patients cervical esophagogastric anastomosis. The mean operation time and intraoperative blood loss were 404.8 (340-475) min and 378.4 (180-620) mL. The postoperative complications ocurred in 4 patients, including 3 patients of pulmonary infection and 1 patient of cervical incision infection. The mean hospital stay was 17.1 (14-21) d. All patients were followed up, the median survival time of 11 patients in stage Ⅰ-ⅡA was 25 (19.8-35.0) months and 20 patients in stage ⅡB-ⅢA was 16 (12.5-19.5) months. There was a significant difference between the two groups (χ2=7.840 8, P<0.01).ConclusionPostoperative relapsed and recurrent TEGC occurs after the surgery for esophageal and preventriculus cancers, most of which are caused by metachronous gastric cancer or residual esophageal carcinoma recurrence which leads to invasion of the thoracic and gastric wall. Regular endoscopic review is the main method after operation. It is technically safe and feasible to reconstruct the thoracic and esophageal digestive tract in patients with TEGC after reoperation, which can benefit the survival of patients.
ObjectiveTo investigate the correlations among the cadual homeobox gene 2 (CDX2), hypoxia inducible factor-1α (HIF-1α) protein expressions, and tumor budding in the colorectal cancer (CRC). MethodsIn this study, 63 CRC specimens surgically removed in the First Affiliated Hospital of Xi’an Jiaotong University from January 2012 to September 2015 were collected. The CDX2 and HIF-1α protein expressions were detected by immunohistochemical staining streptavidin-biotin peroxidase two-step method. The staining and the grade of tumor budding were observed under an optical microscope, and the correlation was analyzed using Spearman test. ResultsThe positive expressions of CDX2 and HIF-1α proteins in the CRC tissues were 35 (55.6%) and 47 (74.6%) cases, respectively, which was a negative correlation in the CRC (rs=–0.302, P=0.017). The positive expressions of CDX2 and HIF-1α proteins in the tumor budding of colorectal cancer were 21 (51.2%) and 26 (63.4%) cases, respectively, which was also a negative correlation in the tumor budding of CRC (rs=–0.336, P=0.031), but there was no statistic correlation between the grade of tumor budding and CDX2 or HIF-1α positive protein expression in the CRC (rs=0.113, P=0.370; rs=–0.026, P=0.838). ConclusionsThe positive expression between CDX2 and HIF-1α has a negative correlation in the same CRC specimen and which has a negative correlation in tumor budding. There is no statistic correlation between grade of tumor budding and CDX2 or HIF-1α protein expression in the CRC. Hypoxia environment may be involved in the downregulation of CDX2 level during the malignant progression of CRC.
Since December 2019, severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus-2 (SARS-CoV-2) infection has gradually spread all over the world. With the implementation of class B infectious disease management policy for coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19), China has experienced a pandemic. For patients receiving a time-sensitive or emergency surgery, SARS-CoV-2 infection may increase the risk of postoperative pulmonary complications. An appropriate perioperative mechanical ventilation strategy, such as lung protective ventilation strategy, is particularly important for preventing postoperative pulmonary complications in patients undergoing general anesthesia. In addition, how to protect medical personnel from being infected is also the focus we need to pay attention to. This article will discuss the perioperative mechanical ventilation strategy for COVID-19 patients and the protection of medical personnel, in order to provide reference for the development of guidelines.