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Objective To detect EPPB41L3 methylation frequency difference between esophageal squamous cell carcinoma (ESCC) tissues and the normal tissues and between ESCC patients′plasma and healthy volenteers′plasma, and to analyze the correlation with clinicopathological parameters. Methods We collected esophageal squamous cell carcinoma tissues (n = 42 patients) and adjacent surrounding normal tissues (n = 42 patients), and plasma from 42 patients with ESCC and from 50 healthy individuals. We used methylation specific PCR (MSP) combined with agarose gel electrophoresis to detect the methylation status of the EPB41L3. We used the SPSS 13.0 software for statistical analysis by χ2 test and Fisher′s exact test. Results EPB41L3 frequency of methylation was significantly higher in tumor tissues than in the adjacent tissues (59.5% vs. 4.8%), the difference was statistically significant (χ2 = 28.873, P < 0.001). For plasma, EPB41L3 methylation frequency was 31.0%in cancer patients, while was not detectable in the healthy volunteers. Methylation of EPB41L3 in tissues was more frequently found in patients with tumor size of ≥ 5 cm or T3 than in patients with tumor size of < 5 cm or T1-2. Conclusions The methylation frequency of EPB41L3 is higher in ESCC tissues than in control normal tissues, and higer in plasma from ESCC patients than that from the healthy volunteers. EPB41L3 methylation is more frequently found in patients with more advanced disease.
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ObjectiveTo investigate safety and efficacy of one-stage pedicle screw fixation plus 360° spinal canal decompression and reconstruction in treatment of severe thoracolumbar burst fractures.MethodsThe study reviewed 11 patients (8 males and 3 females, at age range of 19-59 years, mean 34.4 years) with severe thoracolumbar burst fracture, who underwent one-stage posterior pedicle screw fixation, 360° spinal canal decompression and reconstruction. The injury location was at T12 in one patient, at L1 in three, at L2 in two, at L3 in three and at L4 in two. According to AO classification, all patients were with type A 3.3 fractures. McCormack load score was 7-9 points ( average 8.2 points). Based on the Frankel' s scale, the spinal cord function was classified as grade A in one patient, grade B in one,grade C in five and grade D in four. ResultsAll the operations accomplished successfully, with operation duration for 3.5-4.5 hours ( mean 4.1 hours) , blood loss for 900-2 800 ml ( mean 1 750 ml) and allogeneic blood transfusion for 400-1 200 ml ( average 760 ml). There was no complication either during or after operation. The loss rate of the anterior vertebrae column height was 48％ -85％ ( average 64.2％ )before operation and recovered to 95％ -100％ (average 98.6％ ) of the normal. The kyphotic Cobb angle was at -12°-35 ° ( average 12.1 ° ) before operation and recovered to - 30°-7 ° ( average - 8.1 ° ) after operation. The spinal canal stenosis rate was improved remarkably. The patients were followed up for 10-18 months (average 14. 5 months), which showed solid bone fusion, with no implant failure. The spinal cord function was improved Ⅰ to Ⅲ degrees in all patients except for one patient at grade A. One patient had mild lower back pain.ConclusionsOne-stage pedicle screw fixation plus 360° spinal canal decompression and reconstruction is a good alternative for severe thoracolumbar burst fracture, but it is essential for choosing strictly the surgical indications.