Clinical staging using both EUS and PET demonstrated high accuracy for predicting cT1N0M0 oesophageal cancer pathological staging, but was inadequate for predicting staging for cT2N0M0 cancer. Clinical factors such as SUVmax and tumour differentiation could help select patients with cT1-T2N0M0 tumours that might be upstaged because of unexpected LN metastases.

According to our findings, ESL is a safe and feasible procedure that does not compromise oncological principles. It can be considered an appropriate alternative to pneumonectomy and should be considered in patients with centrally located tumours.

Background and objective: The prevalence of lung cancer has been increasing in healthy elderly patients with preserved pulmonary function and without underlying lung diseases. We aimed to determine the prevalence of and risk factors for postoperative pulmonary complications (PPCs) in healthy elderly patients with non-small cell lung cancer (NSCLC) to select optimal candidates for surgical resection in this subpopulation. Methods: We included 488 patients older than 70 years with normal spirometry results who underwent curative resection for NSCLC (stage IA-IIB) between 2012 and 2016. Results: The median (interquartile range) age of our cohort was 73 (71-76) years. Fifty-two patients (10.7%) had PPCs. Severe PPCs like acute respiratory distress syndrome, pneumonia, and respiratory failure had prevalences of 3.7, 3.7, and 1.4%, respectively. Compared to patients without PPCs, those with PPCs were more likely to be male and current smokers; have a lower body mass index (BMI), higher American Society of Anesthesiologists (ASA) classification, more interstitial lung abnormalities (ILAs), and higher emphysema index on computed tomography (CT); and have undergone pneumonectomy or bilobectomy (all p < 0.05). On multivariate analysis, ASA classification ≥3, lower BMI, ILA, and extent of resection were independently associated with PPC risk. The short-term all-cause mortality was significantly higher in patients with PPCs. Conclusions: Curative resection for NSCLC in healthy elderly patients appeared feasible with 10% PPCs. ASA classification ≥3, lower BMI, presence of ILA on CT, and larger extent of resection are predictors of PPC development, which guide treatment decision-making in these patients.

To explore the direct role of ␤-amyloid (A␤) and carboxyl-terminal fragments of amyloid precursor protein in the inflammatory processes possibly linked to neurodegeneration associated with Alzheimer's disease, the effects of the 105-amino acid carboxyl-terminal fragment (CT 105 ) of amyloid precursor protein on the production of tumor necrosis factor-␣ (TNF-␣) and matrix metalloproteinase-9 (MMP-9) were examined in a human monocytic THP-1 cell line and compared with that of A␤. CT 105 elicited a marked increase in TNF-␣ and MMP-9 production in the presence of interferon-␥ in a dose-and time-dependent manner. Similar patterns were obtained with A␤ despite its low magnitude of induction. Autocrine TNF-␣ is likely to be a main mediator of the induction of MMP-9 because the neutralizing antibody to TNF-␣ inhibits MMP-9 production. Genistein, a specific inhibitor of tyrosine kinase, dramatically diminished both TNF-␣ secretion and subsequent MMP-9 release in response to CT 105 or A␤. Furthermore, PD98059 and SB202190, specific inhibitors of ERK or p38 MAPK respectively, efficiently suppressed CT 105 -induced effects whereas only PD98059 was effective at reducing A␤-induced effects. Our results suggest that CT 105 in combination with interferon-␥ might serve as a more potent activator than A␤ in triggering inflammatory processes and that both tyrosine kinase and MAPK signaling pathways may represent potential therapeutic targets for the control of Alzheimer's disease progression.

Malignant tumors involving the carina can be controlled with carinal surgery with acceptable mortality and morbidity. Patients with thoracic malignancy involving the carina should be considered as surgical candidate based on disease extent and functional status.

No abstract

Lymph node metastasis was a significant prognostic factor in thymic malignancies. Although LND did not improve long-term outcomes in thymic malignancies, LND played a role in accurate staging, and improved prediction of prognosis.

This study focused on the effectiveness of fear appeal messages used to arouse a threat in green advertising. An experiment recruited 175 participants to test the influence of the advertising appeal (fear vs. non-fear appeal), source (for-profit vs. non-profit organizations), and involvement with the environment on attitude toward the ad (A ad ), attitude toward the product (A p ) and purchase intention (PI). Results revealed that a fear appeal in a green ad negatively affected A ad and A p and that participants who were highly involved with the environment were more likely to have positive attitudes toward the green ad and advertised green product as well as a stronger intent to purchase it. The source type in the green ad did not affect ad effectiveness and involvement with the environment did not moderate the effects of either appeal or source.The green movement, centered on global health, ecology and human rights, is a virtually ubiquitous phenomenon and part of the marketing strategies employed by profit and nonprofit organizations. Companies invest significant financial and human resources in green product development and marketing to strengthen their reputation among consumers and increase sales. Non-profit groups encourage people to use green products and to behave in an environmentally friendly manner by saving energy and recycling. This pro-environmental movement in the market has been visible for several decades. To illustrate this point, the share of total new product introductions with green claims in the U.S. grew by just 0.5% in 2006, compared to 20.2% in 2013 (Mitchell 2014). In addition, the number of consumers willing to pay more for green products and services in the U.S. increased from 31.2 million in 2010 to 33.12 million in 2014 (Statista 2015).Advertising scholars have studied the effect of various appeals in advertising on consumer attitude change. Among these, fear appeals are known to create immediate behavioral changes in consumers (Witte and Allen 2000). For this reason, advertising aimed at the prevention of negative future events has often used this type of appeal (e.g. quitting smoking, condom use). In terms of environmental issues, humans' negative impact on the environment is well established (e.g. global warming, desertification, air pollution, etc.