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Aim: To analyze the incidence of hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) in a population that underwent health checkups and had high serum miR-106b levels., Methods: A total of 335 subjects who underwent checkups in the Digestive and Liver Disease Department of our hospital were randomly selected. RT-PCR was used to detect the level of miR-106b in serum samples. Laboratory and imaging examinations were carried out to confirm the HCC diagnosis in patients who had a > 2-fold change in miR-106b levels. Ultrasound-guided biopsy was also used for HCC diagnosis when necessary. On this basis, the clinical data of these subjects, including history of hepatitis virus infection, obesity, long-term history of alcohol use and stage of HCC, were collected. Then, the impact of these factors on the level of miR-106b in serum was analyzed. Furthermore, receiver operating characteristic (ROC) curve was drawn to evaluate the diagnostic efficacy of miR-106b for HCC., Results: A total of 35 subjects had abnormal serum miR-106b levels, of which 20 subjects were diagnosed with HCC. t -test revealed that the difference in serum miR-106b level in terms of sex, age, history of hepatitis virus infection, obesity and long-term history of alcohol use was not statistically significant. However, serum miR-106b levels in patients with advanced HCC (stage III/IV) was higher than in patients with early HCC (stage I/II), and the difference was statistically significant ( P = 0.000). Moreover, the ROC curve revealed that the area under the curve value for miR-106b was 0.885, which shows that serum miR-106b level has a certain clinical value for HCC diagnosis., Conclusion: The random sampling survey shows that serum miR-106b level is a valuable diagnostic marker for HCC. However, the diagnostic threshold value needs to be further researched., Competing Interests: Conflict-of-interest statement: No potential conflicts of interest relevant to this article were reported.

In recent years, the treatment strategy of mid-low rectal cancer has changed from surgical resection alone to multidisciplinary treatment. In order to offer the greatest benefits to the mid-low rectal cancer patients, it is necessary to carry out the preoperative TNM staging for appropriate therapeutic strategies. Total mesorectal excision (TME), preoperative TNM staging and neoadjuvant chemoradiotherapy together may achieve a breakthrough in the therapeutic outcome of mid-low rectal cancer.

Laparoscopic proctocolectomy is a safe and feasible but complicated procedure, which is widely used clinically. Fully understanding of surgical plane and vascular anatomy is important for operation. The anastomosis methods, the type of ileal reservoir pouch and whether or not performing protective ileostomy should be considered preoperatively. Many details should be paid attention to.

Objective: To study the clinical characteristics, diagnosis, treatment and prognostic factors of gastrointestinal stromal tumor(GIST)., Methods: Clinicopathological data of 217 GIST patients from January 2005 to September 2010 in Wuhan Union Hospital were analyzed retrospectively and the prognostic factors were evaluated., Results: There were 103 males and 114 females with a median age of 55 years old. Two hundred and thirteen patients underwent R0 resection and 4 R1 resection due to extensive invasion. Thirty-five patients underwent laparoscopic resection. Forty-eight patients received imatinib mesylate therapy after surgery. A total of 178 patients(82.0%) were followed up for 3 to 74 months. Sixteen patients(9.0%) developed recurrence or metastasis. Logistic regression analysis showed that tumor location (OR=2.547, 95% CI:1.466-4.424) and mitotic count(OR=6.556, 95% CI:2.974-14.449) were independent factors for post-operative recurrence or metastasis. Five patients survived with tumor, and 11 patients(6.2%) died of GIST including intestinal GIST(n=7) and extraintestinal GIST(n=4). Cox regression analysis showed that the mitotic count (RR=2.654, 95% CI:1.094-6.438) and post-operative recurrence or metastasis (RR=32.988, 95% CI:3.879-280.529) were independent prognostic factors., Conclusions: Tumor location and mitotic count are independent risk factors for post-operative recurrence or metastasis in GIST. Mitotic count and post-operative recurrence or metastasis are independent indicators of poor prognosis. Surgical radical resection combined with targeted therapy can achieve satisfactory outcomes in patients with GIST.

Objective: To evaluate the clinical value of laparoscopy-assisted modified Soave procedure for Hirschsprung disease in adults., Methods: Twenty-eight patients with a preoperative diagnosis of Hirschsprung disease underwent laparoscopy-assisted modified Soave procedure between March 2005 and December 2009. Clinical data were retrospectively analyzed., Results: There were no conversions to open surgery. The mean operative time was (165±12) minutes (range: 135-185 minutes). Estimated blood loss ranged from 50 to 250 ml, and no patients required intraoperative blood transfusion. Postoperative pathologic examination showed Hirschsprung diseases in 19 patients and Hirschsprung allied diseases in 9. Only two patients developed rectal cuff infection and three mild seepage. Other patients had no postoperative complications. The mean hospital stay was (17.5±1.0) days. No fecal incontinence or recurrent constipation occurred during follow-up., Conclusion: Laparoscopy- assisted modified Soave procedure is safe and effective for Hirschsprung disease.

Aim: To investigate the effects of electroacupuncture (EA) at neiguan (PC6) on gastric distention-induced transient lower esophageal sphincter relaxations (TLESRs) and discuss the mechanisms of this treatment., Methods: Protocol I: Twelve healthy cats underwent gastric distention for 60 min on the first day. Electrical acupoint stimulation was applied at the neiguan or a sham point on the hip in randomized order before gastric distention, on the third day and fifth day. Those cats that underwent EA at neiguan on the fifth day were named "Neiguan Group" and the cats that underwent EA at a sham acupoint on the fifth day were named "Sham Group" (control group). During the experiment the frequency of TLESRs and lower esophageal sphincter (LES) pressure were observed by a perfused sleeve assembly. Plasma levels of gastrin (GAS) and motilin (MTL) were determined by radioimmunoassay. Nitrite/nitrate concentration in plasma and tissues were measured by Griess reagent. The nuclei in the brain stem were observed by immunohistochemistry method of c-Fos and NADPH-d dyeing. Protocol II: Thirty six healthy cats were divided into 6 groups randomly. We gave saline (2 mL iv. control group), phaclofen (5 mg/kg iv. GABA-B antagonist), cholecystokinin octapeptide (CCK-8) (1 microg/kg per hour iv.), L-Arginine (200 mg/kg iv.), naloxone (2.5 micromol/kg iv.) and tacrine (5.6 mg/kg ip. cholinesterase inhibitor) respectively before EA at Neiguan and gastric distention. And the frequencies of TLESRs in experimental groups were compared with the control group., Results: Protocol I: Not only the frequency of gastric distention-induced TLESR in 60 min but also the rate of common cavity during TLESRs were significantly decreased by EA at neiguan compared to that of sham acupoint stimulation. C-Fos immunoreactivity and NOS reactivity in the solitarius (NTS) and dorsal motor nucleus of the vagus (DMV) were significantly decreased by EA at neiguan compared to that of the sham group. However, the positive nuclei of C-Fos and NOS in reticular formation of the medulla (RFM) were increased by EA at neiguan. Protocol II: The inhibited effect of EA at neiguan on TLESR's frequency was completely restored by pretreatment with CCK (23.5/h vs 4.5/h, P < 0.05), L-arginine (17.5/h vs 4.5/h, P < 0.05) and naloxone(12/h vs 4.5/h, P < 0.05). On the contrary, phaclofen (6/h vs 4.5/h, P > 0.05) and tacrine (9.5/h vs 4.5/h, P > 0.05) did not influence it., Conclusion: Electric acupoint stimulation at Neiguan significantly inhibits the frequency of TLESR and the rate of common cavity during TLESR in cats. This effect appears to act on the brain stem, and may be mediated through nitric oxide (NO), CCK-A receptor and mu-opioid receptors. But the GABAB receptor and acetylcholine may not be involved in it.

Objective: To evaluate the efficacy, safty and economical values of immunonutrition for clinical nutritional support., Methods: The following electronic databases were searched: Chinese Biomedicine database (CBM), MEDLINE, EMBASE, Cochrane Library and SCI. Data were extracted by two reviewers. RevMan 4.1 was applied for statistical analysis., Results: Seventeen randomised trials comparing the use of immunonutrition which comprises nucleotides, omega-3 fatty acids and arginine with standard enteral nutrition in surgical, trauma/burn and critical illness patients. Combined analysis indicated that the use of immunonutrition decreased infectious events (pooled OR was 0.51, 95%CI [0.38, 0.67], P = 0.00001), length of hospitalization, and the cost. In sensitivity analysis for mortality, we found an increased tendency in immunonutrition (pooled OR was 1.94, 95%CI [1.05, 3.57], P = 0.03). Further sub-group analysis indicated that the effects of immunonutrition were various in different patient types., Conclusions: Immunonutrition is associated with decreasing of infectious rates, length of hospitalization and cost in selective operation patients. But current evidence can't affirm the role of immunonutrition on critical illness patients. Further studies are urgently needed to clarify the reliability of immunonutrition in this group.