Cancer of the esophagus and stomach

Upper gastrointestinal tumors involving the esophagus and the stomach are a serious public health problem worldwide. The West has seen a dramatic increase in the incidence of gastroesophageal cancers in the past 2 decades. Although Barrett esophagus has been well characterized, the exact pathway to developing frank malignancy remains undefined. Current treatments for locoregional disease include surgery, chemotherapy, radiation therapy, or some combination thereof. Clinical trials are currently investigating biologic agents that target signaling pathways in carcinogenesis. Whether this research translates into an improved therapeutic index remains to be seen. This review provides a comprehensive update to physicians and residents who contribute to the care of these patients. Studies in the English language were identified searching PubMed (January 1, 1980, through February 29, 2008) using the terms esophagus, gastric, carcinoma, adenocarcinoma, squamous cell, radiation, chemotherapy, surgery, esophagectomy, and targeted therapy.     

Fungal infection of the esophagus and stomach after chemical burns

Endoscopic signs of esophageal fungal lesions were established in 7.5% of patients with chemical impairment of the gastrointestinal tract on day 10-15 since the burn. Endoscopically, there were two forms of the esophageal lesion. To make the diagnosis more reliable, specific evidence at endoscopy and bacterioscopy should be used while the differential diagnosis should be based on biopotentialometry. Early diagnosis of fungal involvement may provide better response in the treatment of patients with chemical burns.     

管状胃食管吻合术与全胃代食管吻合术对食管癌患者术后食管反流及生活质量的对比研究

目的：探讨管状胃食管吻合术与全胃代食管吻合术对食管癌患者术后食管反流及生活质量的影响。方法将收治的60例食管癌患者分为研究组和对照组各30例,研究组采用管状胃食管吻合术,对照组采用全胃代食管吻合术;术后随访24周,对比两组患者生活质量、胃食管反流及肺部功能的变化情况。结果两组患者术后主要并发症有肺部感染、胸腔感染、吻合口瘘、残胃瘘等,其中研究组发生率为10．0％,对照组为13．3％,两组相比差异无统计学意义（χ2＝0．529,P ＞0．05）。术后12周及24周研究组生活质量评分显著高于对照组,两组间相比差异具有统计学意义（P ＜0．05）;研究组术后4周、12周 RDQ 评分显著低于对照组（P ＜0．05）,术后两组患者肺功能各指标均明显降低,其中研究组最大通气量（MMV）、一秒钟用力呼气容积（FEV1．0）、肺活量（VC）显著优于对照组,两组间相比差异有统计学意义（P ＜0．05）。结论管状胃食管吻合术可以显著改善患者胃食管反流和肺部功能,提高患者的生活质量,值得临床推广应用。     

食管胃双源病变的外科治疗

目的探讨食管胃双源病变的外科治疗方法及术式选择。方法回顾分析2008年5月~2012年1月本院食管胃双源病变患者12例的临床资料。结果 12例均行手术治疗,6例行右胸、腹二切口,3例行左胸切口,2例行左胸、腹联合切口,1例行左颈右胸腹三切口;10例行胃代食管术,1例行食管空肠Roux-en-Y吻合术,1例行结肠代食管术,术后瘘发生率16.7%。结论食管胃双源病变,积极的手术治疗是安全可行的,常用的代食管器官是胃,胃无法代食管,可用空肠、结肠代食管。     

Cancer of the esophagus: the environmental connection

Cancer of the esophagus poses a unique challenge for students of cancer prevention. The role of nutritional determinants and other environmental factors in modulating esophageal cancer has received increasing support from data collected during the last decades. Ecologic, geographic, economic, and cultural variables appear to be collectively operational in determining the nutritional profiles of high-risk populations in the Asian esophageal cancer belt and discrete hyperendemic pockets throughout the world. Altering dietary staples, preventing food contamination by mycotoxins, using molybdenum as a chemical fertilizer, modifying social habits, and adding deficient micronutrients to diets of high-risk groups will potentially avert the development of this devastating malignant neoplasm.