ObjectiveTo discuss the role of imatinib preoperative chemotherapy in treatment of advanced gastrointestinal stromal tumor(GIST). MethodThe related literatures about imatinib preoperative chemotherapy for GIST were reviewed. ResultsImatinib preoperative chemotherapy is an effective treatment for advanced GIST, which significantly improve the resection rate and prolong the overall survival time for patients with advanced GIST. ConclusionsPreoperative imatinib treatment has good effect for metastatic or locally advanced GIST. It should be individualized by gene type of the GIST, which is deserved to be further studied.
Objective To evaluate the effectiveness and safety of gabexate mesylate in the prevention of post-endoscopic retrograde cholangiopancreatography （ERCP） pancreatitis （PEP）. Methods The literatures and corresponding references of randomized controlled trials （RCT） on gabexate mesylate in the prevention of PEP were searched from Cochrane library （1970 to December 2010），PubMed （1966 to December 2010），EMBASE （1966 to December 2010），and CBM （1978 to December 2010）.Literature screening，data extraction and methodological quality assessment were individually performed by two researchers.The software RevMan 4.2 of Cochrane Collaboration was used for statistical analysis. Results A total of 11 trails involving 3 012 patients were included. Meta analysis showed that high dose （≥1 000 mg）of gabexate mesylate with slow intravenous infusion （≥12 h） could effectively prevent from PEP （OR=0.27，95%CI： 0.11-0.64, P=0.003） and post-ERCP abdominal pain （OR=0.44，95%CI： 0.25-0.79，P=0.005） when compared with placebo. The low dose （≤500 mg） of gabexate mesylate with quick intravenous infusion （≤6.5 h） could not effectively prevent from PEP （OR=0.85, 95%CI： 0.59-1.34, P=0.570），post-ERCP hyperamylasemia （OR=0.86，95%CI： 0.69-1.07，P=0.180），and post-ERCP abdominal pain （OR=0.66，95%CI： 0.32-1.35，P=0.250）.When compared gabexate mesylate with ulinastatin, there was no statistical difference between them in the prevention of PEP （OR=1.57，95%CI： 0.39-6.24，P=0.520） and post-ERCP hyperamylasemia （OR=1.85, 95%CI： 0.83-4.13，P=0.130）. Conclusions The high dose （≥1 000 mg） of gabexate mesylate with slow intravenous infusion （≥12 h） other than low dose （≤500 mg） with quick intravenous infusion （≤6.5 h） is effective to prevent from PEP and post-ERCP abdominal pain，and can also prevent from post-ERCP hyperamylasemia to some extent.The effect which ulinastatin prevents PEP and post-ERCP hyperamylasemia is same to gabexate mesylate.The above conclusions remain to confirm by RCT with large sample and long-term follow-up of high-quality.
ObjectiveTo review the recent advances in the pancreatic cancer stem cells field and identify the research trend in future. MethodsCurrent literatures on pancreatic cancer stem cells were collected and reviewed. ResultsPancreatic cancer was a highly lethal disease and was usually diagnosed at a late stage, for which there were few effective therapies. Emerging evidence had suggested that pancreatic cancer cells proposed a heterogeneous organization. A subpopulation of stem celllike cells sustains tumor growth, propagation, metastasis, and resistance to standard chemotherapy. Cancer stem cells were identified based on their expression of different sets of cell surface markers and functional characteristics. Some important signaling pathways which maintain self-renewal and metastasis were upregulated in pancreatic cancer stem cells. ConclusionsCurrent findings clearly suggest that specific elimination of cancer stem cells is possible and therapeutically relevant. An improved understanding of the biological behavior of such cells may lead to the development of novel diagnosis and treatment regimens for pancreatic cancer.
Objective To explore a simple, effective and stable method for the isolation and purification of Kupffer cells from rat liver, enabling further study on the structure and function of these cells in vitro. Methods After laparotomy, a catheter was inserted into the portal vein and secured with artery clamp. Then, the rat liver was perfused and digested with solution Ⅰ and solution Ⅱ containing 0.05% collagenase Ⅳ respectively. The cell suspension was centrifuged with isopycnic sedimentation in a two-step Percoll gradient to harvest Kupffer cells. The isolated Kupffer cells were purified by selective adherence after 30 min of cultivation, and identified by evaluation of phagocytosis of India ink and peroxidase staining with DAB through light and electron microscopy. Results It was verified that the viability of isolated Kupfffer cells was more than 90% through Trypan blue staining. Those Kupffer cells could attach to plastic quickly and phagocytose ink, and had the appearance of “fried eggs” in positive peroxidase staining with a purity of 95%. Under the light microscopy, the appearance of newly isolated Kupffer cells was round with uniform shape and size. After two days of culture, Kupffer cells appeared to distend with irregular or stellate shape. The typical features were observed in the transmission electron micrographs. There were numerous pseudopods and occasional cup-like indentations in the cell membrane of Kupffer cells. The cytoplasm contained numerous types of lysosomes and other phagocytotic vesicles. Conclusion The method for isolating and culturing Kupffer cells in this study is effective and stable, and the biological characters are preserved in the cultured cells.
Objective To compare the long-term outcome between breast-conserving therapy with mastectomy therapy for early stage invasive breast cancer through a Meta analysis of the randomized controlled trials published worldwide. Methods Cochrane systematic evaluation was used to search through Cochrane libraries of clinical comparative trials, PubMed, Embase, Cancer Lit, and so on. The quality of literatures was independently evaluated and cross-checked by two evaluators, indicators for assessment including death number at the end of follow-up, locoregional and total recurrence. The results were analyzed with RevMan 4.2.2 software. Results Six articles were involved in the Meta analysis with total 3 933 patients. No statistical difference was found in the death at the end of follow-up between breast-conserving therapy group and mastectomy therapy group (OR=1.05, 95% CI=0.93—1.19， P=0.45). Locoregional and total recurrence rate of breast-conserving therapy group were statistical higher than those in mastectomy therapy group (OR=1.64, 95% CI: 1.10—2.44， P=0.01； OR=1.42, 95% CI: 1.22—1.64， Plt;0.01). Conclusions Breast-conserving therapy and mastectomy therapy have comparable effects on mortality in patient with early stage invasive breast cancer, even after long-term follow up. However, breast-conserving therapy is associated with significantly greater risk of locoregional recurrence.
Objective To summarize the nutritional management strategies of patients undergoing electively gastrointestinal surgery. Methods This article reviewed the recent researches on perioperative nutritional management in electively gastrointestinal surgery, including four major directions: preoperative nutritional evaluation, glucose level control, nutritional type, and immunonutrition. Results At present, preoperative nutritional evaluation methods included anthropometry, laboratory tests, subjective global assessment (SGA), nutritional risk screening (NRS) 2002, Reilly nutritional risk screening, nutritional risk indicator (NRI), and so on. For preoperative nutritional assessment system, however, current data could not single out superiority for any nutritional assessment methods in the ability to predict surgery-related complications. The usage of enhanced recovery after surgery (ERAS) protocol to reduce surgical stress and preclude postoperative insulin resistance had recently been clearly linked to reductions in postoperative morbidity and adverse outcomes. There were specific criterias for perioperative parenteral and enteral nutrition in undernourished patients, who were defined in clinical guidelines recently, such as the Guidelines for Adult Perioperative Nutrition Support issued by Chinese Society of Parenteral and Enteral Nutrition (CSPEN). Several systematic reviews showed that immunonutrition could reduce both morbidity and length of stay after major electively gastrointestinal surgery. Conclusion Perioperative nutritional management can ensure patients benefit from nutritional support by nutritional assessment, can reduce the nutritional risk and metabolic disorder caused by operation, can achieve the goal of optimal nutrition support in surgical patients, and can ultimately reduce postoperative complications.
ObjectiveTo compare the indirect calorimetry (IC) measured resting energy expenditure (MREE) with adjusted Harris-Benedict formula calculating resting energy expenditure (CREE) in the mechanically ventilated surgical critically ill patients and to evaluate the relationship between the resting energy expenditure (REE) with the severity of illness. MethodsTwenty-one patients undergonging mechanical ventilation for critical illness in the intensive care unit of general surgery between August 2008 and February 2010 were included in this study. Data during the study period of nutrition support were collected for computation of the severity of critical illness by acute physiology and chronic health evaluation Ⅱ scores (APACHE Ⅱ scores) and organ dysfunction scores (Marshall scores). MREE was measured by using IC of the MedGraphics CCM/D System within the first 7 d after nutrition therapy. CREE was calculated by using the HarrisBenedict formula adjusted with correction factors for illness at the same time. According to APACHE Ⅱ scores on admission, the enrolled patients were divided into two groups: APACHEⅡ score ≥20 scores group (n=8) and APACHE Ⅱ score lt;20 scores group (n=13), and the differences between MREE and CREE of patients in two groups were determined. ResultsThe reduction of variation tendency in CREE other than MREE in the enrolled patients within the first week of nutritional support was statistical significance (Plt;0.001). The CREE of patients 〔(1 984.49±461.83) kcal/d〕 was significantly higher than the MREE 〔(1 563.88±496.93) kcal/d〕 during the first week of nutritional support (Plt;0.001). The MREE on the 0, 1, 2, and 4 d after nutrition therapy were statistically significant lower than CREE at the same time interval in these patients (Plt;0.01), and the differences at the other time points were not significant (Pgt;0.05). There was a trend towards a reduction in APACHE Ⅱ and Marshall scores within the first week of nutrition therapy that reached statistical significance (Plt;0.001). During the first week of nutrition therapy, APACHEⅡ and Marshall scores of patients in ≥20 scores group were significantly higher than those in lt;20 scores group, respectively (Plt;0.05 or Plt;0.01), and the reductions of APACHE Ⅱ scores and Marshall scores were significant in patients of two groups (Plt;0.001). A significant positive correlation was found between CREE with APACHE Ⅱ scores (r=0.656, Plt;0.001) and Marshall scores (r=0.608，Plt;0.001) in patients within the first week after nutrition support. Although no statistically significant correlation was observed between MREE and APACHEⅡ scores (r=-0.045， P=0.563), a significant positive correlation was observed between MREE and Marshall scores (r=0.263, P=0.001) within the first week after nutrition therapy. There was no correlation between MREE and CREE (r=0.064, P=0.408) in patients at the same time interval. The reduction of MREE of patients in ≥20 scores group other than in lt;20 scores group was statistically significant within the first week after nutrition therapy (P=0.034). In addition, the MREE of patients in ≥20 scores group were not significantly different from those in lt;20 scores group (Pgt;0.05), and the mean CREE was not different in two groups patients within the first week of nutritional therapy 〔(1 999.55±372.73) kcal/d vs. (1 918.39±375.27) kcal/d, P=0.887〕. CREE was significantly higher than MREE of patients in ≥20 scores group within the first week except the 3 d and 5 d after nutrition therapy (Plt;0.05), while in lt;20 scores group CREE was significantly higher than MREE in patients only within the first 3 d after nutrition therapy (Plt;0.05 or Plt;0.01). MREE and CREE of patients in ≥20 scores group were not different from those in lt;20 scores group, respectively (Pgt;0.05).
Objective To investigate the threshold value for postoperative parathyroid hormone （PTH） that can predict the development of symptomatic hypocalcemia. Methods The patients received total thyroidectomy and all the operations performed by the same team from June 2010 to December 2011 in the thyroid and breast group of department of general surgery，Xuanwu Hospital of Capital Medical University were enrolled in this prospective study. Serum PTH and calcium were tested at 1-hour postoperatively and thereafter every day during hospitalization. Symptoms of hypocalcemia were recorded. Receiver operator characteristic curve was plotted to test the value of PTH assay to predict symptomatic hypocalcemia. Results There were 45 consecutive patients recruited in this prospective study，9 （20.0%） patients remained normocalcemic and 36 （80.0%） patients developed hypocalcemia postoperatively. There were 19 （42.2%） patients who developed symptoms associated with hypocalcemia and needed calcium supplement. The postoperative PTHs for normocalcemic （n=9），asymptomatic （n=17），and symptomatic （n=19） hypocalcemia patients groups were （40.5±23.7） ng/L，（18.3±9.1） ng/L，and （7.6±4.2） ng/L，respectively （P＜0.001）. The PTH value less than 13.4 ng/L could easily predict who were at high risk to develop symptomatic hypocalcemia with sensitivity of 94.7% and specificity of 76.9%. Conclusions This study suggests that a 1-hour postoperative PTH level at 13.4 ng/L can identify those individuals at risk for developing symptomatic hypocalcemia. Therefore，we recommend early calcium supplementation for these patients to decrease their postoperative morbidity from symptomatic hypocalcemia.
Objective To evaluate the impact of total thyroidectomy on health-related quality of life （HRQOL） in patients with nodular goiter. Methods The patients who underwent total thyroidectomy from Jan. 2009 to Dec. 2011 in our hospital were retrospectively analyzed with regard to the quality of life （total thyroidectomy group）. The patients with similar demographic features who underwent hemithyroidectomy during the same period were matched as control （hemi-thyroidectomy group）. The validated HRQOL instrument， which was the Euro quality of life-5D （EQ-5D）， was applied to measure the HRQOL. Comparison of HRQOL in patients of 2 groups was performed， meanwhile， the data of total thyroidectomy group was compared with data of normal population who were obtained from The Forth National Health Survey. Results There were 26 and 28 valid questionnaires returned for the total thyroidectomy group and hemithyroi-dectomy group respectively. The demographic features of patients in 2 groups were comparable. No significant variancecould be found between the 2 groups that there were no significant differences on the mobility， self-care， usual activities，pain/discomfort， anxiety/depression， and visual analogous scales （P＞0.05）. Furthermore， no significant differences in HRQOL were found in EQ-5D questionnaire compared with normal population derived from The Forth National Health Survey （P＞0.05）， except that there were more patients complained of moderate and severe pain/discomfort in the total thyroidectomy group 〔30.8% （8/26） vs.9.2% （16 330/177 501）， P＜0.01〕. Conclusion Total thyroidectomy appears to have little impact on the quality of life in the patients with nodular goiter.
Objective To investigate the indications and prevention of complications of total thyroidectomy in the management of thyroid diseases. Methods Eighty five patients who received total thyroidectomy between Jan. 2009 and Dec. 2011 were retrospectively analyzed with regard to the surgical procedures and postoperative complications. There were 46 thyroid cancers， 38 nodular goiters， and 1 Hashimoto thyroiditis. Results The postoperative pathological exam-inations revealed that 9 （19.6%） of 46 thyroid cancers were bilateral， and all of nodular goiters were also bilateral multiple nodule. Bilateral recurrent laryngeal nerves were exposed in all of the patients in which 4 recurrent laryngeal nerves were invaded by cancer and 1 was sacrificed. There were 5 patients whose parathyroids were not identified and protected during the operation. Two patients developed postoperative bleeding and needed reoperation， 6 patients developed hoarseness of whom 5 patients recovered except for the one whose nerve was sacrificed. And in terms of hypoparathyroidism， 33 （38.8%） patients developed transient hypocalcemia related symptoms. The permanent hypoparathyroidism occurred only in 2 patients. Conclusions Total thyroidectomy is a safe procedure in the management of thyroid cancer and bilateral nodular goiter. Exposing the recurrent laryngeal nerve and parathyroid is an effective method to prevent major complica-tions. Invasion of recurrent laryngeal nerve by thyroid cancer might not lead to hoarseness.