【Abstract】ObjectiveTo observe the chemotactic role on umbilical vein endothelial cells of SMMC7721 hepatic carcinoma cells with angiopoietin gene expression in order to study the effects of angiopoietin on hepatocellular carcinoma angiogenesis. MethodsAngiopoietin gene 1 (Ang-1) fragment and Ang-2 fragment was transfected into SMMC7721 liver carcinoma cell line by Lipofectamine induced gene transfection technique. The chemotactic role of SMMC7721 liver carcinoma cell line on umbilical vein endothelial cells was observed through microchemotaxis analysis. ResultsThe chemotactic response of the Umbilical vein endothelial cells was obviously improved with Ang1 expression (P＜0.05). This effect seemed to be inhibited by Ang-1 antibody (P＜0.05). However, there was no difference of the chemotactic effects with or without Ang-2 expression (Pgt;0.05). ConclusionAng-1 is a chemotactic factor for vascular endothelial cell and a promoter for angiogenesis, whereas Ang-2 does not show obvious chemotactic role.
ObjectiveTo investigate the clinical value of real-time elastosonography in diagnosis of thyroid nodules. MethodsThe clinical date of 168 patients with thyroid nodules, admitted to our hospital from June 2009 to December, were retrospectively analyzed with pathological findings as the reference standard． The findings on elastography were classified into five grades: grade 0 to Ⅳ. The nodules with grade less than Ⅱ were diagnosed as benign, otherwise more than Ⅲ were diagnosed as malignancy. ResultsThere were 208 nodules in 168 patients: nodular goiter was in 125 cases, thyroid adenoma in 36 cases, thyroid malignant tumor in 41 cases including 39 cases for thyroid papillary carcinoma, 1 case for thyroid medullary carcinoma, 1 case for thyroid non-Hodgkin lymphoma. Other nodules were in 6 cases, including diffuse toxic goiter in 1 case, local lymphocytic thyroiditis in 3 cases, and subacute granulomatous thyroiditis in 2 cases. There were 148 thyroid nodules in grade 0-Ⅱ and 60 nodules in grade Ⅲ-Ⅳ. According to the pathological findings, 97.3%(144/148) thyroid nodules of grade 0-Ⅱ were benign, however, 38.3% (23/60) of grade Ⅲ-Ⅳ were benign. Furthermore, 2.7% (4/148) thyroid nodules of grade 0-Ⅱ were malignancy, while 61.7% (37/60) of grade Ⅲ-Ⅳ were malignancy. The sensitivity， specificity, and accuracy of the real-time elastosonography in diagnosis of thyroid nodules was 90.2%(37/41), 86.2%(144/167), and 87.0%(181/208), respectively. ConclusionReal-time elastosonography can reflect the relative hardness of thyroid nodules and provide useful information for diagnosis, which is helpful in differentiating benign and malignant thyroid nodules.
ObjectiveTo evaluate the risk factors for central lymph node metastasis (CLNM) in papillary thyroid carcinoma (PTC) of cN0 staging. MethodsClinical data of 94 patients with cN0 PTC in Guangdong General Hospital who underwent thyroidectomy with prophylactic central node dissection (pCND) from March to July in 2014 were collected to analyze the risk factors of CLNM by using univariate and multivariate analysis methods. ResultsCLNM was found in 43 patients (45.7%). Multivariate analysis results showed that, the CLNM rate of patients with age < 45 years, tumor located in front of lobe by ultrasound, diameter of tumor > 2 cm, capsular invasion, and total number of central lymph node dissected > 3 were significantly higher (P < 0.05). ConclusionAge < 45 years, tumor located in front of lobe by ultrasound, and diameter of tumor > 2 cm are the risk factors of CLNM in patients with cN0 PTC, pCND should be performed for patients with some of the above risk factors.
ObjectiveTo compare the long-term survival of elderly patients with esophageal squamous cell carcinoma (ESCC) treated with surgical versus non-surgical treatment. MethodsA retrospective analysis was conducted on the clinical data of elderly patients aged ≥70 years with ESCC who underwent esophagectomy or radiotherapy/chemotherapy at Sichuan Cancer Hospital from January 2009 to September 2017. Patients were divided into a surgical group (S group) and a non-surgical group (NS group) according to the treatment method. The propensity score matching method was used to match the two groups of patients at a ratio of 1:1, and the survival of the two groups before and after matching was analyzed. ResultsA total of 726 elderly patients with ESCC were included, including 552 males and 174 females, with 651 patients aged 70-79 years and 75 patients aged≥80 years. There were 515 patients in the S group and 211 patients in the NS group. The median follow-up time was 60.8 months, and the median overall survival of the S group was 41.9 months [95%CI (35.2, 48.5)], while that of the NS group was only 24.0 months [95%CI (19.8, 28.3)]. The 1-, 3-, and 5-year overall survival rates of the S group were 84%, 54%, and 40%, respectively, while those of the NS group were 72%, 40%, and 30%, respectively [HR=0.689, 95%CI (0.559, 0.849), P<0.001]. After matching, 138 patients were included in each group, and there was no statistical difference in the overall survival between the two groups [HR=0.871, 95%CI (0.649, 1.167), P=0.352]. ConclusionCompared with conservative treatment, there is no significant difference in the long-term survival of elderly patients aged≥70 years who undergo esophagectomy for ESCC. Neoadjuvant therapy combined with surgery is still an important choice to potentially improve the survival of elderly patients with ESCC.