Clinical outcomes of radiofrequency ablation using a radiofrequency needle device for varicose ulcer: A non-randomized controlled prospective study.

OBJECTIVE: To evaluate the short-term clinical outcomes of radiofrequency ablation (RFA) using a radiofrequency (RF) needle device for varicose ulcers. METHODS: From September 2020 to September 2021, a total of 80 patients with varicose ulcers were included in this study. Based on the different surgical methods, the patients were divided into RF group and control groups, with 40 cases in each group. In the RF group, RFA was performed using an RF needle device and foam sclerotherapy was used for superficial veins. The control group was treated with conventional high-ligation stripping. The surgical data, hospitalization data, clinical efficacy, and postoperative complications of two groups were compared. Meanwhile, the correlation between RBC, HB, HCT, and ulcer healing time was analyzed. RESULTS: Compared to the control group, RF group had shorter surgery time, duration in the hospital, and less intraoperative bleeding (p < .05). The VCSS and CIVIQ scores in RF group were significantly higher than that in control group (p < .05). The healing time of ulcers was shorter in the RF group (x2 = 19.766, p = .000). The RF group had fewer postoperative complications. There was a positive correlation between RBC, HB, and HCT, and ulcer healing time (p < .05). CONCLUSION: The use of the RF needle device for RFA to treat patients with varicose ulcers showed acceptable short-term clinical outcomes with less incidence of trauma, faster recovery, and fewer complications.

The effectiveness of problem-based learning and case-based learning teaching methods in clinical practical teaching in TACE treatment for hepatocellular carcinoma in China: a bayesian network meta-analysis.

PURPOSE: To investigate the effectiveness of problem-based learning (PBL) and case-based learning (CBL) teaching methods in clinical practical teaching in transarterial chemoembolization (TACE) treatment in China. MATERIALS AND METHODS: A comprehensive search of PubMed, the Chinese National Knowledge Infrastructure (CNKI) database, the Weipu database and the Wanfang database up to June 2023 was performed to collect studies that evaluate the effectiveness of problem-based learning and case-based learning teaching methods in clinical practical teaching in TACE treatment in China. Statistical analysis was performed by R software (4.2.1) calling JAGS software (4.3.1) in a Bayesian framework using the Markov chain-Monte Carlo method for direct and indirect comparisons. The R packages "gemtc", "rjags", "openxlsx", and "ggplot2" were used for statistical analysis and data output. RESULTS: Finally, 7 studies (five RCTs and two observational studies) were included in the meta-analysis. The combination of PBL and CBL showed more effectiveness in clinical thinking capacity, clinical practice capacity, knowledge understanding degree, literature reading ability, method satisfaction degree, learning efficiency, learning interest, practical skills examination scores and theoretical knowledge examination scores. CONCLUSIONS: Network meta-analysis revealed that the application of PBL combined with the CBL teaching mode in the teaching of liver cancer intervention therapy significantly improves the teaching effect and significantly improves the theoretical and surgical operations, meeting the requirements of clinical education.

Fast Fusion Clustering via Double Random Projection.

In unsupervised learning, clustering is a common starting point for data processing. The convex or concave fusion clustering method is a novel approach that is more stable and accurate than traditional methods such as k-means and hierarchical clustering. However, the optimization algorithm used with this method can be slowed down significantly by the complexity of the fusion penalty, which increases the computational burden. This paper introduces a random projection ADMM algorithm based on the Bernoulli distribution and develops a double random projection ADMM method for high-dimensional fusion clustering. These new approaches significantly outperform the classical ADMM algorithm due to their ability to significantly increase computational speed by reducing complexity and improving clustering accuracy by using multiple random projections under a new evaluation criterion. We also demonstrate the convergence of our new algorithm and test its performance on both simulated and real data examples.

Comparative effectiveness of multiple different treatment regimens for nonalcoholic fatty liver disease with type 2 diabetes mellitus: a systematic review and Bayesian network meta-analysis of randomised controlled trials.

BACKGROUND: Nonalcoholic fatty liver disease (NAFLD) and type 2 diabetes mellitus (T2DM) are closely related and mutually contribute to the disease's development. There are many treatment options available to patients. We provide a comprehensive overview of the evidence on the treatment effects of several potential interventions for NAFLD with T2DM. METHODS: This systematic review and network meta-analysis included searches of PubMed, Embase, Cochrane Library, and Web of Science from inception to June 30, 2023, for randomised controlled trials of treatment of NAFLD with T2DM. We performed Bayesian network meta-analyses to summarise effect estimates of comparisons between interventions. We applied the Grading of Recommendations Assessment, Development, and Evaluation (GRADE) frameworks to rate all comparative outcomes' certainty in effect estimates, categorise interventions, and present the findings. This study was registered with PROSPERO, CRD42022342373. RESULTS: Four thousand three hundred and sixty-nine records were retrieved from the database and other methods, of which 24 records were eligible for studies enrolling 1589 participants. Eight clinical indicators and 14 interventions were finally in focus. Referring to the lower surface under the cumulative ranking curves (SUCRA) and the league matrix table, exenatide and liraglutide, which are also glucagon-like peptide-1 receptor agonists (GLP-1RAs), showed excellent potential to reduce liver fat content, control glycemia, reduce body weight, and improve liver function and insulin resistance. Exenatide was more effective in reducing glycated haemoglobin (HbA1c) (mean difference (MD) 0.32, 95%CI 0.12 to 0.52), lowering BMI (MD 0.81, 95%CI 0.18 to 1.45), and lowering alanine transaminase (ALT) (MD 10.96, 95%CI 5.27 to 16.66) compared to liraglutide. However, this evidence was assessed as low certainty. Omega-3 was the only intervention that did not have a tendency to lower HbA1c, with standard-treatment (STA-TRE) as reference (MD - 0.17, 95%CI - 0.42 to 0.07). Glimepiride is the only intervention that causes an increase in ALT levels, with standard-treatment (STA-TRE) as reference (MD - 11.72, 95%CI - 17.82 to - 5.57). Based on the available evidence, the treatment effects of pioglitazone, dapagliflozin, and liraglutide have a high degree of confidence. CONCLUSIONS: The high confidence mandates the confident application of these findings as guides for clinical practice. Dapagliflozin and pioglitazone are used for glycaemic control in patients with NAFLD combined with T2DM, and liraglutide is used for weight loss therapy in patients with abdominal obesity. The available evidence does not demonstrate the credibility of the effectiveness of other interventions in reducing liver fat content, visceral fat area, ALT, and insulin resistance. Future studies should focus on the clinical application of GLP-1Ras and the long-term prognosis of patients.

Transjugular Intrahepatic Portosystemic Shunt for Portal Vein Cavernous Transformation: A Systematic Review and Single-Arm Meta-Analysis.

BACKGROUND: Transjugular intrahepatic portosystemic shunt (TIPS) is technically challenging in the treatment of portal vein cavernous transformation (PVCT), and there is no high-quality evidence regarding whether it is an option for patients with PVCT. We carried out a systematic review and meta-analysis to assess the feasibility and safety of TIPS for PVCT. METHODS: Systematic search of PubMed, Chinese National Knowledge Infrastructure (CNKI) database, Cochrane Library, Embase, and Wanfang database through December 2021 for appropriate studies reporting efficacy and safety in patients with PVCT undergoing TIPS. The main outcome included the technical success rate, postoperative rebleeding rate, postoperative hepatic encephalopathy rate, stent patency rate, preoperative, and postoperative portal pressure. RESULTS: Ten studies, including 292 patients were included. Our results showed that TIPS was technically successful in 82.97% (95% confidence interval [CI]: 77.14%-88.41%, p = 0.297) with low heterogeneity (I2 = 18.39%, p = 0.279). Postoperative rebleeding occurred in 9.56% (95% CI: 4.55%-16.77%, p = 0.073) with moderate heterogeneity (I2 = 46.45%, p = 0.06). Postoperative hepatic encephalopathy occurred in 18.55% (95% CI: 9.23%-27.05%, p = 0.343) with moderate heterogeneity (I2 = 48.62%, p = 0.049). Stent patency during follow-up was in 78.43% (95% CI: 70.74%-85.20%, p = 0.805) with low heterogeneity (I2 = 0%, p = 0.654). Postoperative portal pressure significantly reduced (WMD = 12.79 mm Hg, 95% CI: 12.09-13.48 mm Hg, p < 0.00001) with high heterogeneity (I2 = 61.4%, p = 0.02). Both Begg test and funnel plot showed that there was no significant publication bias. CONCLUSIONS: TIPS is feasible and safe in patients with PVCT and PVCT should not be considered an absolute contraindication to TIPS.

Heterogeneous logistic regression for estimation of subgroup effects on hypertension.

Personalized medicine has gained much attention in the past decades, and identifying the effects of factors is essential for personalized preventions and treatments. Hypertension is a major modifiable risk factor for cardiovascular disease and is influenced by complex factors. In order to decrease the incidence of hypertension effectively, the subjects should be divided into subgroups according to their characteristics. In this study, we proposed to use a heterogeneous logistic regression combined with a concave fusion penalty to analyze the population-based survey data, including common influencing factors of hypertension. The analytic steps include: (1) identifying the most important predictor; (2) estimating subgroup-based heterogeneous effects. In the present context of primary hypertension data, the modeling results showed that the calculated prediction accuracy under our method was greater than 99%, while zero under the classical logistic regression. The findings could provide a practical guide for further individualized measures implementation.

Accuracy of quantitative diffusion-weighted imaging for differentiating benign and malignant pancreatic lesions: a systematic review and meta-analysis.

BACKGROUND: A variety of imaging techniques can be used to evaluate diffusion characteristics to differentiate malignant and benign pancreatic lesions. The diagnostic performance of diffusion parameters has not been systematic assessed. PURPOSE: We aimed to investigate the diagnostic efficacy of quantitative diffusion-weighted imaging (DWI) for pancreatic lesions. METHODS: A literature search was conducted using the PubMed, Embase, and Cochrane Library databases for studies from inception to March 30, 2020, which involves the quantitative diagnostic performance of diffusion-weighted imaging (DWI) and intravoxel incoherent motion (IVIM) in the pancreas. Studies were reviewed according to inclusion and exclusion criteria. The quality of articles was evaluated by the Quality Assessment of Diagnostic Accuracy Studies-2 (QUATAS-2). A bivariate random-effects model was used to evaluate pooled sensitivities and specificities. Univariable meta-regression analysis was used to test the effects of factors that contributed to the heterogeneity. RESULTS: A total of 31 studies involving 1558 patients were ultimately eligible for data extraction. The lowest heterogeneity was found in specificity of perfusion fraction (f) with the I2 value was 17.97% and Cochran p value was 0.28. However, high heterogeneities were found for the other parameters (all I2 > 50%). There was no publication bias found in funnel plot (p = 0.30) for the apparent diffusion coefficient (ADC) parameter. The pooled sensitivities for ADC, f, pure diffusion coefficient (D), and pseudo diffusivity coefficient (D*) were 83%, 81%, 76%, and 84%, respectively. The pooled specificities for ADC, f, D, and D* were 87%, 83%, 69%, and 81% respectively. The areas under the curves for ADC, f, D, and D* were 0.92, 0.87, 0.79, and 0.87 respectively. CONCLUSION: Quantitative DWI and IVIM have a good diagnostic performance for differentiating malignant and benign pancreatic lesions. KEY POINTS: • IVIM has high sensitivity and specificity (84% and 83%, respectively) for differential diagnosis of pancreatic lesions, which is comparable to that of the ADC (83% and 87%, respectively). • The ADC has an excellent diagnostic performance for differentiating malignant from benign IPMNs (sensitivity, 0.83; specificity, 0.92); the f has the best diagnostic performance for differentiating pancreatic carcinoma from PNET (sensitivity, 0.85; specificity, 0.85). • For the ADC, using a maximal b value < 800 s/mm2 has a higher diagnostic accuracy than ≥ 800 s/mm2; performing in a high field strength (3.0 T) system has a higher diagnostic accuracy than a low field strength (1.5 T) for pancreatic lesions.

Coexistence of liver abscess, hepatic cystic echinococcosis and hepatocellular carcinoma: A case report.

BACKGROUND: Human cystic echinococcosis (CE) is a life-threatening zoonosis caused by the Echinococcus granulosus (sensu lato). Hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) is a leading cause of cancer-related mortality in the world. The coexistence of CE and HCC is exceedingly rare, and only several well-documented cases have been reported. In addition to this coexistence, there is no report of the coexistence of CE, HCC, and liver abscess to date. Herein, we aimed to report a case of coexistence of liver abscess, hepatic CE, and HCC. CASE SUMMARY: A 65-year-old herdsman presented to the department of interventional therapy with jaundice, right upper abdominal distension and pain for 10 d. Laboratory test showed that he had positive results for HBsAg, HBeAb, HBcAb, and echinococcosis IgG antibody. The test also showed an increased level of alpha fetoprotein of 3400 ng/mL. An abdominal computed tomography (CT) scan revealed an uneven enhanced lesion of the liver at the arterial phase with enhancement and was located S4/8 segment of the liver. In addition, CT scan also revealed a mass in the S6 segment of the liver with a thick calcified wall and according to current guideline and medical images, the diagnoses of hepatic CE (CE4 subtype) and HCC were established. Initially, transarterial chemoembolization was performed for HCC. In the follow-up, liver abscess occurred in addition to CE and HCC; thus, percutaneous liver puncture drainage was performed. In the next follow-up, CE and HCC were stable. The liver abscess was completely resolved, and the patient was discharged with no evidence of recurrence. CONCLUSION: This is the first reported case on the coexistence of liver abscess, hepatic CE, and HCC. Individualized treatment and multidisciplinary discussions should be performed in this setting. Therefore, treatment and diagnosis should be based on the characteristics of liver abscess, hepatic CE, and HCC, and in future clinical work, it is necessary to be aware of the possibility of this complex composition of liver diseases.

Transarterial Chemoembolization Plus Sorafenib versus Transarterial Chemoembolization Alone for Advanced Hepatocellular Carcinoma: An Umbrella Review of Meta-Analyses and Systematic Reviews.

Background: Sorafenib is the standard treatment for most cases of advanced hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC), based on Western and Eastern clinical guidelines. Thus, an increasing number of transarterial chemoembolization (TACE) plus sorafenib combination therapies have been used in clinical practice. In addition, several systematic reviews and meta-analyses have explored the efficacy and safety of the combination of TACE and sorafenib. Therefore, we performed an umbrella review to summarize and evaluate these evidence-based studies. Methods: PubMed, Embase, Cochrane Library, and Web of Science databases were searched up to June 1, 2023. All meta-analyses that evaluated the effect of TACE plus sorafenib on HCC were considered eligible. The quality of the included meta-analyses was evaluated by AMSTAR2 (A Measurement Tool to Assess Systematic Reviews). The quality of evidence per association provided in the meta-analyses was rated using the Grading of Recommendations, Assessment, Development, and Evaluations (GRADE). This study was registered with PROSPERO (Registration ID: CRD42023420417). Results: We included 12 meta-analyses, including randomized clinical trials, cohort studies, and observational studies. A total of 44 associations with overall survival, survival rate, time to disease progression, overall response rate, disease control rate, and adverse events were evaluated in this umbrella review. The quality of most associations ranged from low to very low, indicating that flaws were significant in the current meta-analyses. Conclusion: This umbrella review identified beneficial associations between TACE and sorafenib combination therapy in advanced HCC. However, owing to the low certainty of the evidence, clinicians should interpret our results with caution when applying them in clinical practice, and high-quality studies are required in the future to confirm our results.

Hepatic arterial infusion chemotherapy combined with sorafenib versus sorafenib alone for advanced hepatocellular carcinoma: a systematic review and meta-analysis.

The clinical benefits and safety of hepatic arterial infusion chemotherapy (HAIC) combined with sorafenib versus sorafenib alone for advanced HCC are inconsistent in clinical studies. This meta-analysis aims to evaluate the effectiveness and safety of HAIC combined with sorafenib versus sorafenib alone for advanced hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC). We searched the database up to March 1, 2023, for studies evaluating the effectiveness and safety of HAIC combined with sorafenib versus sorafenib alone for advanced HCC. This study was registered in PROSPERO (CRD42022323712). Outcomes included overall survival (OS), progression-free survival (PFS), objective response rate (ORR), diseases control rate (DCR), and adverse effects (AEs). The hazard ratio (HR) and odd ratio (OR) with 95% confidence intervals (CI) were used to measure the pooled effect. Six studies with 318 patients in the combination group and 338 patients in the control group were included. Meta-analysis showed that HAIC combined with sorafenib significantly improves OS compared with sorafenib alone (HR = 9.70, 95% CI 4.52-20.82] and HAIC combined with sorafenib significantly improves PFS compared with sorafenib alone (HR = 9.48, 95% CI 4.47-20.13). Besides, HAIC combined with sorafenib did not show significantly advantage of DCR rate (OR = 1.85, 95% CI 0.93-3.69), but associated with higher rates of ORR compared with sorafenib alone (OR = 9.85, 95% CI 3.05-31.85). HAIC combined with sorafenib can achieve a better effect and survival benefits than sorafenib alone in patients with advanced HCC, but the limitation should be treated with cautions.

Efficacy and Safety of Conservative Treatment Compared With Surgical Treatment for Thoracolumbar Fracture With Score 4 Thoracolumbar Injury Classification and Severity (TLICS): A Systematic Review and Meta-analysis.

STUDY DESIGN: This was a systematic review and meta-analysis. OBJECTIVE: The clinical outcomes, radiologic outcome, and complications were compared between surgical treatment and conservative treatment of thoracolumbar fractures with a Thoracolumbar Injury Classification and Severity (TLICS) score of 4. SUMMARY OF BACKGROUND DATA: The thoracolumbar fracture is the main reason leading to the spinal cord injury. Some studies suggested that the treatment of TLICS=4 is a "gray zone." Hence, the efficacy and safety of surgical treatment and conservative treatment of thoracolumbar fractures with scores 4 TLICS was still debated. MATERIALS AND METHODS: A comprehensive search of PubMed, Embase, and the Cochrane Library, Chinese National Knowledge Infrastructure (CNKI), Chongqing VIP Database (VIP), and Wan Fang Database was performed up to October 2021. Relevant studies were identified using specific eligibility criteria and data was extracted and analyzed based on primary and secondary outcomes. RESULTS: A total of 10 studies involving 555 patients were included (3 randomized controlled trials and 7 retrospective studies). There was no significant difference of hospital time (standardized mean difference=0.24, 95% CI: -1.50 to 1.97, P=0.79) and Oswestry Disability Index (mean difference=2.97, 95% CI: -1.07 to 7.01, P=0.15) between surgery and nonsurgery. The length of returning to work was shorter in surgical treatment (standardized mean difference=1.27, 95% CI: 0.07-2.46, P=0.04). Visual Analog Scale in surgical treatment was lower at 1, 3, and 6 months (respectively, P<0.00001, P=0.003, and P=0.02). However, there existed no significant difference between surgical treatment and nonsurgical treatment at 12 and >24 months (respectively, P=0.18 and 0.17). Cobb angle was lower in surgical treatment at postoperative at 6, 12, and >24 months (respectively, P=0.005, P<0.00001, P=0.002, and P=0.0002). Finally, the surgical treatment had a lower incidence of complications (odds ratio=3.89, 95% CI: 1.90-7.94, P=0.0002). CONCLUSIONS: Current evidence recommended that surgical treatment is superior to conservative treatment of TLICS score of 4 at the early follow-up. Surgical treatment had lower Cobb angle, Visual Analog Scale scores, and complications compared with a nonsurgical TLICS score of 4. However, these findings needed to be verified further by multicenter, double-blind, and large-sample randomized controlled trials.

Efficacy and Safety of Lumbar Dynamic Stabilization Device Coflex for Lumbar Spinal Stenosis: A Systematic Review and Meta-analysis.

BACKGROUND: This systematic review and meta-analysis were performed to investigate evidence for the comparison of lumbar dynamic stabilization device Coflex (Surgalign, Deerfield, IL) with posterior lumbar fusion for lumbar spinal stenosis). METHODS: Relational databases were searched to October 2022. The main outcome measures included operation time, Japanese Orthopedic Association score (JOA), visual analog scale (VAS), Oswestry disability index (ODI), total complications, and adjacent segment degeneration (ASD). Statistical analysis was performed with Review Manager 5.3 (Cochrane Collaboration). RESULTS: A total of 26 studies were included. The main results of this meta-analysis showed lumbar dynamic stabilization device Coflex had shorter operation time (mean difference [MD] -50.77 min, 95% CI -57.24 to -44.30, P < 0.00001), less intraoperative blood loss (MD -122.21 mL, 95% CI -129.68 to -94.74, P < 0.00001), and shorter hospital stays (MD -3.21 days, 95% CI -4.04 to -2.37, P < 0.00001). What's more, the JOA score and ODI score were higher in the Coflex group during early follow-up. Yet, there was no significant difference between the 2 groups with the extension of follow-up time. Moreover, the Coflex group had a lower VAS score than fusion treatment (P < 0.00001). Finally, the Coflex group had lower total complications rate (P = 0.03), lower ASD rate (P = 0.001), and higher range of motion (P < 0.00001), but there was no significant difference in reoperation rate and internal fixation problems rate. CONCLUSIONS: Current evidence suggests that lumbar dynamic stabilization device Coflex is superior to posterior lumbar fusion in early follow-up. However, considering that the dynamic stabilization device group also has its limitations, these findings need to be further verified by multicenter, double-blind, and large-sample randomized controlled trials.

Hepatic arterial infusion chemotherapy versus transarterial chemoembolization for patients with unresectable hepatocellular carcinoma: a systematic review and meta-analysis.

BACKGROUND: We carried out a systematic review and meta-analysis to assess the safety and effectiveness of hepatic arterial infusion chemotherapy (HAIC) compared with transarterial chemoembolization (TACE) for patients with unresectable hepatocellular carcinoma (uHCC). METHODS: Eligible studies were searched by MEDLINE, the Cochrane Library, Embase, and Web of Science from January 1995 to January 2022, investigating eligible literature comparing HAIC and TACE for patients with HCC. The main outcome measures included progression-free survival (PFS), overall survival (OS), adverse events (AEs), objective response rate (ORR), and diseases control rate (DCR). RESULTS: Eight literature and 1028 patients were enrolled in this meta-analysis. The pooled PFS, OS, ORR, and DCR were HR = 0.89 (95% CI, 0.81-0.98), HR = 0.84 (95% CI, 0.75-0.93), OR = 2.77 (95% CI, 2.01-3.80), and OR = 4.64 (95% CI, 2.40-8.99), respectively. The adverse events of HAIC were lower than TACE. CONCLUSION: Our meta-analysis revealed that HAIC can achieve a better effect and survival benefits than TACE in patients with uHCC.

A systematic review of prognosis of ABO blood group and rhesus factor on outcomes in patients with bladder cancer.

BACKGROUND: Bladder cancer (BC) is the 10th most common malignancy worldwide, and some studies reported that ABO blood type or/and rhesus factor has been identified as a prognostic oncologic marker for patients with BC. We carried out a systematic review to assess the prognosis of ABO blood group and rhesus factor on outcomes in patients with bladder cancer. METHODS: We searched databases through February 2022 for studies assessing blood group on outcomes in patients with bladder cancer. RESULTS: We included ten studies with 15,204 participants. We found that blood type A is relevant to non-muscle-invasive BC patients treated with transurethral resection of bladder tumor and blood type B patients have a lower incidence of disease recurrence and progression. Blood type O and non-O blood type have not been found to be related to disease recurrence. However, in multivariable analyses, blood type O and non-O blood type are associated with cancer-specific mortality (CSM). Other than that, blood type B doesn't have statistical significance for BC patients accepted radical cystectomy (RC). The same results showed in blood type AB non-muscle-invasive bladder cancer patients treated with RC. CONCLUSIONS: Our study confirmed that a particular association of blood type for prognosis of patients with BC, and ABO blood group antigen expression can be suitable biomarkers for BC. We also found that rhesus factor has no impact on prognosis of BC patients.

Ruptured Hepatocellular Carcinoma: What Do Interventional Radiologists Need to Know?

Rupture of HCC (rHCC) is a life-threatening complication of hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC), and rHCC may lead to a high rate of peritoneal dissemination and affect survival negatively. Treatment for rHCC mainly includes emergency surgery, interventional therapies, and palliative treatment. However, the management of rHCC should be carefully evaluated. For patients with severe bleeding, who are not tolerant to open surgery, quick hemostatic methods such as rupture tissue ablation and TAE/TACE can be performed. We described clinical presentation, prognosis, complication, interventional management, and current evidence of rHCC from the perspective of interventional radiologists. Overall, our review summarized that interventional therapies are necessary for most patients with rHCC to achieve hemostasis, even in some patients with Child-Pugh C. Moreover, TAE/TACE followed by staged hepatectomy is a beneficial treatment for rHCC according to current clinical evidence. TAE/TACE is the first choice for most patients with rHCC, and appropriate interventional treatment may provide staged surgery opportunities for those who are not tolerant to emergency surgery to reach an ideal prognosis.

Efficacy and safety of electroacupuncture for carpal tunnel syndrome (CTS): A systematic review and meta-analysis of randomized controlled trials.

Aim: We carried out a systematic review and meta-analysis to evaluate the safety and efficacy of electroacupuncture for patients with carpal tunnel syndrome. Methods: We searched PubMed, Embase, Cochrane Library, Scopus, Web of Science, Chinese National Knowledge Infrastructure (CNKI), Chongqing VIP Database (VIP), and Wan Fang Database up to May 2022 for relevant studies. Relevant studies were identified by using specific eligibility criteria and data were extracted. Results: A total of 26 randomized controlled trials (RCTs) with 1,698 patients were included. Compared with routine treatment, electroacupuncture treatment had lower visual analog scale (VAS) score [mean difference = -0.79, 95% confidence interval (CI): -1.11 to -0.47, P < 0.00001], and the symptom severity scale and function status scale in electroacupuncture group were significantly lower than the control group (P = 0.0001 and P = 0.006). Moreover, the electrophysiological parameters in the electroacupuncture group were better than the control group. The electroacupuncture group had higher total effective rate than the control group (odds ratio = 4.94, 95% CI: 3.44-7.08, P < 0.00001). Conclusion: Our meta-analysis indicated that electroacupuncture had lower VAS score, higher total effective rate, a lower the scores of symptoms and function and electroacupuncture had better electrophysiological parameters. However, these findings needed to be verified further by multicenter, double-blind, and large-sample RCTs.

Arteriovenous fistula between the left vertebral artery and the inferior thyroid vein: a case report.

Arteriovenous fistula between the left vertebral artery and the inferior thyroid vein is a rare entity. This condition can change the blood supply of the basilar artery system, and then lead to an abnormal blood supply of the vertebral body. Therefore, this rare condition may be misdiagnosed in the clinic. We report an arteriovenous fistula between the left vertebral artery, which was found during an interventional operation of a 49-year-old Asian man. He was non-diabetic and an ex-smoker, and presented with a 1-month history of pain in the neck, shoulder, waist, back, and right lower limb. Vascular angiography showed an arteriovenous fistula, and coils were placed in the fistula. In this setting, coil embolization was effective, and a 1-year follow-up suggested that a good long-term result was likely.

Efficacy and safety of anterior transposition of the ulnar nerve for distal humerus fractures: A systematic review and meta-analysis.

Background: This systematic review and meta-analysis was performed to summarize available evidence of anterior transposition of the ulnar nerve for patients with distal humerus fractures. Materials and Methods: The databases were searched from PubMed, Cochrane, Embase, Scopus, Web of Science, Chinese National Knowledge Infrastructure (CNKI), Chongqing VIP Database (VIP), and Wan Fang Database up to June 2022. The clinical outcome included operation time, fracture healing time, hospital stays, elbow joint function, and ulnar neuritis rate. Statistical analysis was performed with Review Manager 5.3 (Cochrane Collaboration). Results: A total of 17 studies were included (8 RCTs and 9 retrospective studies), and 1280 patients were analyzed. The results of this meta-analysis showed anterior transposition group had longer operation time (MD = 20.35 min, 95%CI: 12.56-28.14, P < 0.00001). There was no significant difference in fracture healing time (SMD = -0.50, 95%CI: -1.50-0.50, P = 0.33), hospital stays (MD = -1.23 days, 95%CI: -2.72--0.27, P = 0.11), blood loss (MD = 2.66 ml, 95%CI: -2.45-7.76, P = 0.31), and ulnar neuritis rate (OR = 1.23, 95%CI: 0.63-2.42, P = 0.54) between two groups. Finally, elbow joint motion, elbow joint function, fracture nonunion, and post-operative infection (P > 0.05) between two groups were not significantly statistic difference. Conclusion: This meta-analysis showed that anterior transposition group is not superior to non-transposition group for patients with distal humerus fractures without ulnar nerve injury. On the contrary, non-transposition group have shorter operation time than that of anterior transposition group. Non-transposition group did not increase the post-operative ulnar neuritis rate. Therefore, both anterior transposition group and non- transposition group are the treatment options for patients with distal humerus fractures without ulnar nerve injury. Besides, these findings need to be further verified by multi-center, double-blind, and large sample RCTs.

Greater than or equal to 8 mm is a safe diameter of common bile duct for primary duct closure: single-arm meta-analysis and systematic review.

Greater than or equal to 8 mm was often used as the safe diameter of primary duct closure (PDC) after laparoscopic common bile duct exploration (LCBDE) in previous studies, but it is impossible to verify the source of this safe diameter, and lack of evidence for the safe diameter of PDC. Hence, this study evaluates the incidence of postoperative complications by single-arm meta-analysis to demonstrate the feasibility of using 8 mm as the safe diameter of PDC, so as to provide reference for clinical selection. Eligible studies were searched by MEDLINE, the Cochrane Library, Embase, and Web of Science from January 1995 to May 2021, investigating eligible literature using PDC after LCBDE for methods of common bile duct closure. The single-arm meta-analysis was analyzed by "meta" package under R 4.0.5, and the pooled incidence of postoperative complications was calculated. Twelve literatures were enrolled in this single-arm meta-analysis including 792 patients. The pooled complications rate including total complications (13.1%, 95% CI 10.1-15.6%), total biliary duct-related complications (9.4%, 95% CI 7.4-11.6%), residual stones (1.3%, 95% CI 0.3-2.7%), bile leakage (5.1%, 95% CI 3.5-6.9%), postoperative pneumonia (2.1%, 95% CI 0.8-3.8%), postoperative acute pancreatitis (1.8%, 95% CI 0.2-4.3%), and stone recurrence (2.6%, 95% CI 1.1-4.4%). The clinical indication of PDC after LCBDE should follow that the diameter of common bile duct ≥ 8 mm as the safe diameter.