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Esophageal cancer-related gene-4 (ECRG4), a 148-amino acid propertied and new tumor suppressor, is initially cloned from the normal esophageal epithelium. ECRG4 was found to be expressed not only in esophageal tissues but also in cardiomyocytes. Previous studies demonstrated that ECRG4 is constitutively expressed in esophageal epithelial cells, and its degree of downregulation is directly proportional to prognosis in patients with esophageal cancer. In the heart, ECRG4 shows greater expression in the atria than in the ventricles, which accounts for its heterogeneity. Downregulation of ECRG4 expression level correlates with esophageal cancer, as well as myocardial injuries and arrhythmias. As a result, this review summarizes the possible susceptibility gene, ECRG4 and its associated molecular mechanisms in cancer patients with atrial fibrillation and myocardial injury. The review begins by describing ECRG4’s biological background, discusses its expression in the cardiovascular system, lists the clinical and animal research related to the downregulation of ECRG4 in atrial fibrillation, and focuses on its potential role in atrial fibrillation. Downregulation of ECRG4 may increase the risk of atrial fibrillation by affecting ion channels, MMPs expression and inflammatory response. We will then discuss how ECRG4 can be used in the treatment of tumors and arrhythmias, and provide a novel possible strategy to reduce the occurrence of perioperative cardiovascular adverse events in patients with tumors such as esophageal cancer and gastric cancer.

BackgroundThere are few studies on the impact of body position on variations in circulation and breathing, and it has not been confirmed whether body position changes can reduce the pulmonary complications of thoracoscopic-assisted oesophagectomy.MethodsA single-center retrospective study included patients undergoing thoracoscopic-assisted oesophagectomy in the prone position or semiprone position between 1 July 2020, and 30 June 2021, at the Shanghai Chest Hospital. There were 103 patients with thoracoscopic-assisted oesophagectomy in the final analysis, including 43 patients undergoing thoracoscopic-assisted oesophagectomy in the prone position. Postoperative pulmonary complication (PPC) incidence was the primary endpoint. The incidence of cardiovascular and other complications was the secondary endpoint. Chest tube duration, patient-controlled anaesthesia (PCA) pressing frequency within 24 h, ICU stay, and the postoperative hospital length of stay (LOS) were also collected.ResultsCompared with the semiprone position, the prone position decreased the incidence of atelectasis (12% vs. 30%, P = 0.032). Nevertheless, there were no considerable differences in the rates of cardiovascular and other complications, ICU stay, or LOS (P >0.05). Multivariable logistic regression analysis showed that the prone position (OR = 0.196, P = 0.011), no smoking (OR = 0.103, P

ObjectivesTo investigate the relationship between obesity status and perioperative outcomes in elderly patients undergoing thoracoscopic anatomic lung cancer surgery.MethodsFrom January 2016 to December 2018, we performed a monocentric retrospective cohort study among 4164 consecutive patients aged 65 years or older who underwent thoracoscopic anatomic lung cancer surgery at Shanghai Chest Hospital. Two groups were stratified by body mass index (BMI): nonobese (BMI0.05). After a 1:1 PSM analysis, the difference in both intraoperative and postoperative complications among two groups were not significant (P>0.05). In subgroup analysis, patients with BMI≥30kg/m2 had a similar incidence of perioperative complications compared to patients with BMI between 28 and 30 kg/m2 (P>0.05).ConclusionsOur research data support evidence for “obesity paradox” and also contribute the growing body of evidence that obesity in older patients should not exclude candidates for thoracoscopic anatomic lung cancer surgery.