Nd:YAG water mist laser treatment for giant gestational gingival tumor: A case report.

BACKGROUND: This case of gestational gingival tumor is huge and extremely rare in clinical practice. As the growth location of this gingival tumor is in the upper anterior tooth area, it seriously affects the pregnant woman's speech and food, causing great pain to the patient. The use of Nd:YGA water mist laser to remove the gingival tumor resulted in minimal intraoperative bleeding, minimal adverse reactions, and good postoperative healing, which is worthy of clinical promotion and application. CASE SUMMARY: The patient, a pregnant woman, reported a large lump in her mouth on the first day of postpartum treatment. Based on medical history and clinical examination, the diagnosis was diagnosed as gestational gingival tumor. Postoperative pathological biopsy also confirmed this diagnosis. The use of Nd:YAG water mist laser to remove the tumor resulted in minimal intraoperative bleeding, clear surgical field of view, short surgical time, and good postoperative healing. CONCLUSION: In comparison to traditional surgery, Nd:YAG water mist laser surgery is minimally invasive, minimizes cell damage, reduces bleeding, ensures a clear field of vision, and virtually eliminates postoperative edema, carbonization, and the risk of cross infection. It has unique advantages in oral soft tissue surgery for pregnant patients. Therefore, the clinical application of Nd:YAG water mist laser for the treatment of gestational gingival tumors is an ideal choice.

[Serum folate and vitamin B12 levels and their association with neurodevelopmental features in preschool children with autism spectrum disorder]. / å­¦é¾„å‰å­¤ç‹¬ç—‡è°±ç³»éšœç¢å„¿ç«¥è¡€æ¸ å¶é ¸ã€ç»´ç”Ÿç´ B12æ°´å¹³åŠå ¶ä¸Žç¥žç»å‘è‚²ç‰¹å¾çš„å ³è”.

OBJECTIVES: To investigate the levels of serum folate and vitamin B12 (VB12) and their association with the level of neurodevelopment in preschool children with autism spectrum disorder (ASD). METHODS: A total of 324 ASD children aged 2-6 years and 318 healthy children aged 2-6 years were recruited. Serum levels of folate and VB12 were measured using chemiluminescent immunoassay. The Social Responsiveness Scale and the Childhood Autism Rating Scale were used to assess the core symptoms of ASD children, and the Gesell Developmental Schedule was employed to evaluate the level of neurodevelopment. RESULTS: The levels of serum folate and VB12 in ASD children were significantly lower than those in healthy children (P<0.05). Serum folate levels in ASD children were positively correlated with gross and fine motor developmental quotients (P<0.05), and serum VB12 levels were positively correlated with adaptive behavior, fine motor, and language developmental quotients (P<0.05). In ASD children aged 2 to <4 years, serum folate levels were positively correlated with developmental quotients in all domains (P<0.05), and serum VB12 levels were positively correlated with language developmental quotient (P<0.05). In male ASD children, serum VB12 levels were positively correlated with language and personal-social developmental quotients (P<0.05). CONCLUSIONS: Serum folate and VB12 levels in preschool ASD children are lower than those in healthy children and are associated with neurodevelopmental levels, especially in ASD children under 4 years of age. Therefore, maintaining normal serum folate and VB12 levels may be beneficial for the neurodevelopment of ASD children, especially in ASD children under 4 years of age.

CircVMP1 promotes glycolysis and disease progression by upregulating HKDC1 in colorectal cancer.

BACKGROUND: Circular RNAs (circRNAs) have been reported to play important roles in cancers. Here, we characterized circVMP1 (hsa_circ_0006508), an important circRNA which promoted glycolysis and disease progression in colorectal cancer (CRC). In this study, we aimed to explore the mechanism by which circVMP1 regulated tumor glycolysis and its related pathways in promoting CRC cell proliferation and metastasis. METHODS: The expression level of circVMP1 in CRC tissues and adjacent normal tissues was detected using quantitative PCR. In vitro and in vivo functional experiments were used to evaluate the effects of circVMP1 in the regulation of CRC cell proliferation and migration. Mitochondrial stress tests and glycolysis stress tests were conducted to detect the effect of circVMP1 on oxidative phosphorylation and glycolysis. Dual-luciferase reporter and RNA immunoprecipitation assays were used to evaluate the interaction between circVMP1, miR-3167, and HKDC1. RESULTS: We demonstrated that the level of circVMP1 was significantly upregulated in CRC tissues compared with normal tissues. In HCT116 and SW480 cells, overexpression of circVMP1 promoted proliferation, metastasis, and glycolysis. In vivo analysis indicated that circVMP1 accelerated the proliferation of xenograft tumors. As for the mechanism, overexpression of circVMP1 increased the levels of hexokinase domain component 1 (HKDC1) through competitive binding with miR-3167. CONCLUSION: Our study reported that circVMP1 was one of the tumor driver genes that promoted CRC malignant progression and glycolysis by upregulating HKDC1. CircVMP1/miR-3167/HKDC1 was a signaling axis that might be a target for CRC therapy.

Integrating Network Pharmacology and In vivo Experimental Validation to Reveal the Mechanism of FuZheng YiLiu Formula on Estrogen Receptor Positive Breast Cancer.

BACKGROUND AND PURPOSE: FuZheng YiLiu Formula (FZYL) is a commonly used formula for postoperative estrogen receptor-positive (ER+) breast cancer and post-radiotherapy deficiency of both Qi and Yin. FZYL has been used in clinical practice for decades because of its ability to effectively improve the symptoms of deficiency in cancer patients. However, its mechanism needs to be further clarified. In this paper, we will observe the effect of FZYL on mice with ER+ breast cancer and explore the mechanism by which it improves the symptoms of ER+ breast cancer. MATERIALS AND METHODS: A tumor xenograft mouse model was established to detect tumor growth in vivo in order to evaluate the pharmacological effects of FZYL on ER+ breast cancer. The main targets of FZYL were identified by extracting the FZYL components and the corresponding potential target genes of breast cancer from the established database and constructing a protein-protein interaction network of shared genes using the string database. GO functional annotation and KEGG pathway enrichment analysis were performed, and molecular docking, molecular dynamics simulations, western blotting analysis, and RT-qPCR were performed to confirm the validity of targets in the relevant pathways. RESULTS: FZYL was able to significantly reduce the size of tumors in vivo and had a significant therapeutic effect on tumor xenograft mice. GO and KEGG pathway enrichment analyses indicated that the effects of FZYL may be mediated by oxidative stress levels, apoptotic signaling pathways, and cell cycle proliferation. By RT-qPCR and protein blotting assays, FZYL targeted the key targets of TP53, JUN, ESR1, RELA, MYC, and MAPK1 to exert its effects. The key active components of FZYL are quercetin, luteolin, stigmasterol, and glycitein. Molecular docking and molecular dynamics simulation results further demonstrated that the key active components of FZYL are stably bound to the core targets. CONCLUSION: In this study, the potential active ingredients, potential core targets, key biological pathways, and signaling pathways involved in the treatment of breast cancer with FZYL were identified, providing a theoretical basis for further anti ER+ breast cancer research.

DIMBOA-induced gene expression, activity profiles of detoxification enzymes, multi-resistance mechanisms, and increased resistance to indoxacarb in tobacco cutworm, Spodoptera litura (Fabricius).

Spodoptera litura (Fabricius) (Lepidoptera: Noctuidae) is one of the most destructive insect pests owned strong resistance to different insecticides. Indoxacarb as a novel oxadiazine insecticide becomes the main pesticide against S. litura. DIMBOA [2,4-dihydroxy-7-methoxy-2 H-1,4-benz-oxazin-3(4 H)-one] is involved in important chemical defense processes in corn plants. However, the insects' adaptation mechanism to insecticides when exposed to defensive allelochemicals in their host plants remains unclear. Here, we assessed multi-resistance, and resistance mechanisms based on S. litura life history traits. After 18 generations of selection, indoxacarb resistance was increased by 61.95-fold (Ind-Sel) and 86.06-fold (Dim-Sel) as compared to the Lab-Sus. Also, DIMBOA-pretreated larvae developed high resistance to beta-cypermethrin, chlorpyrifos, phoxim, chlorantraniliprole, and emamectin benzoate. Meanwhile, indoxacarb (LC50) was applied to detect its impact on thirty-eight detoxification-related genes expression. The transcripts of SlituCOE073, SlituCOE009, SlituCOE074, and SlituCOE111 as well as SlGSTs5, SlGSTu1, and SlGSTe13 were considerably raised in the Ind-Sel strain. Among the twenty-three P450s, CYP6AE68, CYP321B1, CYP6B50, CYP9A39, CYP4L10, and CYP4S9v1 transcripts denoted significantly higher levels in the Ind-Sel strain, suggesting that CarEs, GSTs and P450s genes may be engaged in indoxacarb resistance. These outcomes further highlighted the importance of detoxification enzymes for S. litura gene expression and their role in responses to insecticides and pest management approaches.

LW-213 induces immunogenic tumor cell death via ER stress mediated by lysosomal TRPML1.

Dying tumor cells release biological signals that exhibit antigenicity, activate cytotoxic T lymphocytes, and induce immunogenic cell death (ICD), playing a key role in immune surveillance. We demonstrate that the flavonoid LW-213 activates endoplasmic reticulum stress (ERS) in different tumor cells and that the lysosomal calcium channel TRPML1 mediates the ERS process in human cellular lymphoma Hut-102 cells. Apoptotic tumor cells induced by ERS often possess immunogenicity. Tumor cells treated with LW-213 exhibit damage-associated molecular patterns (DAMPs), including calreticulin translocation to the plasma membrane and extracellular release of ATP and HMGB1. When co-cultured with antigen-presenting cells (APCs), LW-213-treated tumor cells activated APCs. Two groups of C57BL/6J mice were inoculated with Lewis cells: a "vaccine group", which demonstrated that LW-213-treated tumor cells promote the maturation of dendritic cells and increase CD8+ T cells infiltration in the tumor microenvironment and a "pharmacodynamic group", treated with a combination of LW-213 and PD1/PD-L1 inhibitor (BMS-1), which reduced tumor growth and significantly prolonged the survival time of mice in the "pharmacodynamic group". Therefore, LW-213 can be developed as a novel ICD inducer, providing a new concept for antitumor immunotherapy.

Association between pre-diagnostic dietary antioxidant vitamin consumption and ovarian cancer survival: a prospective cohort study.

Background: Epidemiological evidence regarding the relationship between dietary antioxidant vitamin intake and ovarian cancer (OC) survival is not clear. Herein, we aimed to first evaluate this topic in a prospective cohort study in China. Methods: The present study included participants from the Ovarian Cancer Follow-Up Study, which was a hospital-based prospective cohort study including OC patients who were aged 18 to 79 years during 2015-2020. The information on the intake of antioxidant vitamins, consisting of vitamin A, retinol, α-carotene, ß-carotene, vitamin C, and vitamin E, and other diet information was obtained through a 111-item food frequency questionnaire. Deaths were recorded until March 31, 2021. Hazard ratios (HRs) and 95% confidence intervals (CIs) for overall survival were evaluated using Cox proportional hazards models. Results: There were 130 (18.49%) deaths among 703 OC patients during a median 37.19 months follow-up. In the multivariable-adjusted model, the highest tertile of dietary vitamin C (HR = 0.43, 95% CI = 0.25-0.75, P for trend <0.05) and ß-carotene intake (HR = 0.52, 95% CI = 0.31-0.87, P for trend <0.05) was inversely associated with the overall survival of OC when compared with the lowest tertile group. Retinol, vitamin A, vitamin E, and α-carotene consumption showed no association with OC survival. Of note is that the multiplicative interaction was identified between vitamin C intake and residual lesions in OC survival (P for interaction <0.05). Conclusion: Our findings indicate that pre-diagnostic higher vitamin C and ß-carotene intake was associated with improved OC survival.

Polyphenol-Enriched Protein Oleogels as Potential Delivery Systems of Omega-3 Fatty Acids.

Omega-3 polyunsaturated fatty acids (n-3 FAs) are essential nutrients and are considered effective in improving human health. Recent studies highlight the importance of the combination of n-3 FAs and polyphenols for limiting the oxidation of n-3 FAs and exhibiting synergistic beneficial effects. Herein, we developed a novel formulation technology to prepare oleogels that could be used for the codelivery of n-3 FAs and polyphenols with high loading efficacy and oxidative stability. These oleogels are made from algal oil with polyphenol-enriched whey protein microgel (WPM) particles as gelling agents via simple and scalable ball milling technology. The oxidative status, fatty acid composition, and volatiles of protein oleogels during accelerated storage were systematically assessed by stoichiometry and gas chromatography-mass spectrometry. These results showed that protein oleogels could overcome several challenges associated with the formulation of n-3 oils, including long-term oxidative stability and improved sensory and textural properties. The protein oleogel system could provide an excellent convenience for formulating multiple nutrients and nutraceuticals with integrating health effects, which are expected to be used in the care of highly vulnerable populations, including children, the elderly, and patients.

Successful surgical treatment of polybacterial gas gangrene confirmed by metagenomic next-generation sequencing detection: A case report.

BACKGROUND: We report on a case of Vibrio vulnificus (V. vulnificus) detected by metagenomics next-generation sequencing (mNGS) in a 53-year-old male patient with polymicrobial gas gangrene and successful treatment by surgery. This report raises awareness among dermatologists that when a patient is clinically suspected of a special type of pathogenic infection, the mNGS method should be preferred to identify the patient's pathogen infection as soon as possible and then take effective treatment in time to save patients' lives. CASE SUMMARY: A 53-year-old male who worked in the aquatic market complained of redness and swelling of the lower limbs, blisters and ulcers with fever for 3 d. We used mNGS to test the pathogens in ulcer secretions. The results were returned in 24 h and indicated: V. vulnificus, Fusobacterium necrophorum, Staphylococcus haemolyticus, Staphylococcus aureus, Streptococcus dysgalactiae and Klebsiella aerogenes. This patient was diagnosed with V. vulnificus infection. The emergency operation was performed immediately under combined lumbar and epidural anesthesia: Left leg expansion and exploration (August 10, 2021). After surgery, we continued to use piperacillin sodium tazobactam sodium 4.5 g every 8 h and levofloxacin 0.5 g for anti-infection treatment. The patient underwent further surgery under lumbar anesthesia on August 17, 2021 and August 31, 2021: Left leg deactivation and skin grafting, negative pressure closed drainage and right thigh skin removal. After treatment, the transplanted flap survived. CONCLUSION: We could confirm the diagnosis of Vibrio vulnificus infection within 24 h through mNGS detection and then immediately performed emergency surgery.

Artificial intelligence performance in image-based ovarian cancer identification: A systematic review and meta-analysis.

Background: Accurate identification of ovarian cancer (OC) is of paramount importance in clinical treatment success. Artificial intelligence (AI) is a potentially reliable assistant for the medical imaging recognition. We systematically review articles on the diagnostic performance of AI in OC from medical imaging for the first time. Methods: The Medline, Embase, IEEE, PubMed, Web of Science, and the Cochrane library databases were searched for related studies published until August 1, 2022. Inclusion criteria were studies that developed or used AI algorithms in the diagnosis of OC from medical images. The binary diagnostic accuracy data were extracted to derive the outcomes of interest: sensitivity (SE), specificity (SP), and Area Under the Curve (AUC). The study was registered with the PROSPERO, CRD42022324611. Findings: Thirty-four eligible studies were identified, of which twenty-eight studies were included in the meta-analysis with a pooled SE of 88% (95%CI: 85-90%), SP of 85% (82-88%), and AUC of 0.93 (0.91-0.95). Analysis for different algorithms revealed a pooled SE of 89% (85-92%) and SP of 88% (82-92%) for machine learning; and a pooled SE of 88% (84-91%) and SP of 84% (80-87%) for deep learning. Acceptable diagnostic performance was demonstrated in subgroup analyses stratified by imaging modalities (Ultrasound, Magnetic Resonance Imaging, or Computed Tomography), sample size (≤300 or >300), AI algorithms versus clinicians, year of publication (before or after 2020), geographical distribution (Asia or non Asia), and the different risk of bias levels (≥3 domain low risk or < 3 domain low risk). Interpretation: AI algorithms exhibited favorable performance for the diagnosis of OC through medical imaging. More rigorous reporting standards that address specific challenges of AI research could improve future studies. Funding: This work was supported by the Natural Science Foundation of China (No. 82073647 to Q-JW and No. 82103914 to T-TG), LiaoNing Revitalization Talents Program (No. XLYC1907102 to Q-JW), and 345 Talent Project of Shengjing Hospital of China Medical University (No. M0268 to Q-JW and No. M0952 to T-TG).

Pre-diagnosis Dietary One-Carbon Metabolism Micronutrients Consumption and Ovarian Cancer Survival: A Prospective Cohort Study.

Background and Aims: Epidemiological evidence on the relation between one-carbon metabolism (OCM) micronutrients intake and ovarian cancer (OC) survival are limited and conflicting. We evaluated the aforementioned associations in a prospective cohort-the Ovarian Cancer Follow-Up Study. Methods: A total of 635 newly diagnosed OC patients aged 18-79 y were enrolled in the present study. Dietary intake related to one-carbon metabolism, including methionine, vitamins B2, B3, B6, B9, B12, choline, and betaine, was assessed using a validated 111-item food frequency questionnaire. Deaths were ascertained until March 31, 2021, via medical records and active follow-up. Cox proportional hazards regression model was used to evaluate the hazard ratios (HRs) and 95% confidence intervals (CIs) for these aforementioned associations. Results: During a median follow-up of 37.2 months (interquartile: 24.7-50.2 months), 114 deaths were identified. We observed an improved survival with the highest compared with the lowest tertile of dietary vitamin B6 (HR = 0.52, 95%CI: 0.32-0.84, P-trend <0.05) and choline intake (HR = 0.50, 95%CI: 0.30-0.83, P-trend <0.05). No significant associations with OC survival were observed for dietary vitamins B2, B3, B9, B12, methionine, and betaine intake. We also observed a curvilinear association between vitamin B6 intake and OC survival (P non-linear <0.05). Conclusion: Our study suggests that pre-diagnosis higher intake of vitamin B6 and choline may improve OC survival. Further clarification of these associations is warranted.

Delayed Wound Healing After Achilles Tendon Suture: An Arthroscopic Solution.

This technical note describes an arthroscopic technique for treating delayed wound healing after Achilles tendon suture. Ankle arthroscopy is used to clean up the inflammatory tissues and foreign bodies that lead to delayed wound healing, with the advantages of simple postoperative care and low infection risk. This method may provide a less traumatic and low-risk option for the treatment of delayed wound healing after Achilles tendon surgery. The purpose of this technical note is to describe surgical procedures and related recommendations.

Propranolol inhibits infantile hemangioma by regulating the miR-424/vascular endothelial growth factor-A (VEGFA) axis.

BACKGROUND: Infantile hemangioma (IHA) is the most common tumor in infancy. We aimed to explore the effect of propranolol on the expression of microRNA (miR)-424 in IHA tissues and XPTS-1 cells, as well as its molecular mechanism of inhibiting XPTS-1 cell activity. METHODS: Tumor tissues and peritumoral tissue were collected from 13 IHA patients in Lishui Municipal Central Hospital. The level of miR-424 were detected using real-time quantitative reverse transcription polymerase chain reaction (RT-PCR). Cell counting kit-8 (CCK-8) was used to measure XPTS-1 cell viability. Flow cytometry and transwell were used to detect the apoptosis level and invasion ability of XPTS-1 cells. Western blot was used to measure the protein level of vascular endothelial growth factor-A (VEGFA). The luciferase reporter gene assay detected the targeting relationship between miR-424 and VEGFA. RESULTS: Compared with normal tissues and human umbilical vein endothelial cells, the expression level of miR-424 in IHA tissues and XPTS-1 cells was significantly reduced (P<0.05). As the concentration of propranolol increased, XPTS-1 cell viability gradually decreased (P<0.05), and the expression level of VEGFA decreased (P<0.05). The expression of miR-424 increased with the time of propranolol treatment (P<0.05). Compared with the control group, treatment with an miR-424 inhibitor resulted in a significant increase in XPTS-1 cell viability and invasion ability (P<0.05), and a decrease in apoptosis (P<0.05). However, both propranolol and miR-424 inhibitor treatment resulted in a partial decrease in XPTS-1 cell viability (P<0.05), and a partial increase in the level of apoptosis (P<0.05). MiR-424 directly targeted VEGFA; the overexpression of miR-424 resulted in a decrease in the VEGFA protein level (P<0.05), while inhibition of miR-424 resulted in an increase in the VEGFA protein level (P<0.05). Compared with the propranolol group, the XPTS-1 cell viability and invasion ability in the propranolol + VEGFA-si group were significantly decreased (P<0.05), while the level of apoptosis increased (P<0.05). Meanwhile, simultaneous miR-424 inhibitor treatment resulted in no difference in cell viability and apoptosis levels compared with the propranolol group, and the invasion ability was partially restored (P<0.05). CONCLUSIONS: Propranolol affects the malignant biological behavior of IHA cells by regulating the miR-424/VEGFA axis.

Polytriphenylamine and Poly(styrene-co-hydroxystyrene) Blends as High-Performance Anticorrosion Coating for Iron.

An electroactive polytriphenylamine (PTPA-C6) is blended with poly(styrene-co-hydroxystyrene) (PS-co-PHS) as coating layers to enhance protection efficiency of PTPA-C6 on iron substrate in 3.5% sodium chloride (NaCl) solution. Experimental results show that incorporation of hydroxyl group to the polystyrene not only increases the miscibility of PTPA-C6 with PS through the hydrogen bond formation, but also enhances the bonding strength between the polymer coating layer and iron substrate. These improvements lead to superior enhancement in anticorrosion performance of PTPA-C6, even after thermal treatment. Protection efficiency (PE) of PTPA-C6 increases from 81.52% of the PTPA-C6 itself to over 94.40% under different conditions (PEmax = 99.19%).

Fuzheng Yiliu Formula Regulates Tumor Invasion and Metastasis through Inhibition of WAVE3 Expression.

OBJECTIVE: To explore the mechanism of action of Fuzheng Yiliu formula (FZYLF) in regulation of the invasion and metastasis of MDA-MB-231/Adr human breast cancer cells through WAVE3. METHODS: The MDA-MB-231/Adr cells with high invasive ability were screened by Transwell, and the plasmid with high WAVE3 expression was made for transfection. Plasmid transfection efficiency and protein expression level were verified by polymerase chain reaction (PCR) and western blotting (WB). The effect of FZYLF on cell proliferation and invasion was investigated before and after WAVE3 silencing by flow cytometry. A nude mouse model of tumor metastasis was established to study the antitumor activity of FZYLF. RESULTS: The expression levels of mRNA and proteins of intracellular WAVE3 increased significantly after plasmid transfection, mRNA from 1.37± 0.41 to 9.88 ± 1.31 and protein from 1 ± 0.08 to 5.09 ± 0.03 (P < 0.01). Intervention with FZYLF could significantly affect the activity of MDA-MB-231/Adr cells and inhibit invasion and metastasis, IC50 from 71.04 to 46.41 mg/mL and from 162 ± 14.82 to 81.4 ± 12.05 (P < 0.05 or P < 0.01), and significantly reduce the expression levels of WAVE3 (from 1 ± 0.02 to 0.63 ± 0.04), MMP-9 (from 1 ± 0.05 to 0.63 ± 0.03), NF-κB (p65) (from 1 ± 0.02 to 0.62 ± 0.02), and p-IκBα (from 1 ± 0.03 to 0.68 ± 0.02) (P < 0.05 or P < 0.01). The T/C (%) of FZYLF (13 g crude drug/kg) was 62.06% for MDA-MB-231/Adr tumor xenografted in nude mice, with a tumor inhibition rate of 39.64%. CONCLUSION: FZYLF can inhibit the invasion and proliferation of the MDA-MB-231/Adr human breast cancer cells, and the mechanism of action may be related to the regulation of WAVE3 expression.

Endoscopic Surgery for Delayed Wound Healing After Achilles Tendon Suture Repair: A Report of Three Cases.

BACKGROUND: Delayed wound healing is a potention complication after Achilles tendon suture repair and occurs for various reasons. The conventional treatment for delayed wound healing is open surgery, but patients face long recovery times and postoperative care is difficult. CASE PRESENTATION: This report presents three patients who were seen at our institute from April 2008 to October 2017 due to long-term non-healing wounds after surgery. All three patients had undergone surgery at least 2 months previously. We performed endoscopic surgery on these patients. After the operation, patients received less antibiotics and simpler care than would be required for conventional open surgery. There is no need to keep the wound open after the operation or perform wound cleaning for multiple times at the same time, which can reduce healing time. At the last follow up, all postoperative scores among the patients were significantly improved compared to before surgery. The Achilles tendon total rupture scores were excellent and the American Orthopedic Foot and Ankle Society scores were satisfactory, indicating improvements in Achilles tendon function and movement in patients after surgery. CONCLUSION: Our case reports demonstrate that arthroscopic treatment for delayed wound healing after Achilles tendon suture repair is satisfactory and reliable; frequent opening of the wound for cleaning is not required after the operation, thus reducing the healing time.

Development of hydrophilic PES membranes using F127 and HKUST-1 based on the RTIPS method: Mitigate the permeability-selectivity trade-off.

In this study, to mitigate the permeability-selectivity trade-off effect, Pluronic F127 (F127) and HKUST-1 were employed to construct high-performance membranes based on the reverse thermally induced phase separation (RTIPS) method. F127, as a hydrophilic modifier, was applied to increase permeability and resist polyethersulfone (PES) membrane fouling, while the collapse of HKSUT-1 caused by its instability in pure water improved the permeability and selectivity of the membrane. Characterizations demonstrated the successful synthesis of HKUST-1, together with the successful introduction of HKSUT-1 and F127 in PES membranes. It was observed that the membrane prepared by the RTIPS process possessed a uniformly porous surface and sponge-like cross-section with excellent mechanical properties, higher permeability, and selectivity compared to the dense skin and finger-like cross-section of the membrane prepared by the nonsolvent induced phase separation (NIPS) method. Moreover, the permeation and bovine serum albumin (BSA) rejection rate of the optimal membrane reached 2378 L/m2 h and 89.3%, respectively, which were far higher than those of the pure membrane. Hydrophilic F127 and many microvoids formed by the collapse of HKUST-1, played an important role in excellent antifouling properties, high permeability, and selectivity by pure water flux (PWF), flux recovery rate (FRR), BSA flux, and COD removal rate tests. Overall, the membrane with F127 and HKSUT-1 prepared via the RTIPS method not only obtained excellent antifouling properties but also mitigated the permeability-selectivity trade-off.

Balloon-assisted endoscopic submucosal dissection for treating small intestinal lipomas: Report of two cases.

BACKGROUND: Most small intestinal lipomas are treated surgically, and some require repeated surgeries for multiple lipomas. However, application of endoscopic submucosal dissection (ESD) technology in the deep small intestine is rarely reported owing to the special anatomical structure of the small intestine, medical equipment limitations, and the lack of relevant experience among endoscopists. CASE SUMMARY: Two patients with small intestinal lipomas treated at the Air Force Medical Center from November 2015 to September 2019 were selected to undergo balloon-assisted ESD to treat the lipomas and explore the technical feasibility and safety of ESD for treating small intestinal lipomas. The two patients successfully underwent balloon-assisted ESD to treat four small intestinal lipomas, with a complete resection rate of 100% (4/4), without intraoperative or postoperative bleeding, perforation, or other complications. After 3-6 mo of postoperative follow-up, the clinical symptoms caused by the lipomas were significantly relieved or disappeared after treatment. CONCLUSION: Balloon-assisted ESD is a safe and reliable new method for treating deep intestinal lipomas and shows good clinical feasibility.

Efficacy and safety of Shenyankangfu Tablet, a Chinese patent medicine, for primary glomerulonephritis: A multicenter randomized controlled trial.

BACKGROUND: Shenyankangfu Tablet (SYKFT) is a Chinese patent medicine that has been used widely to decrease proteinuria and the progression of chronic kidney disease. OBJECTIVE: This trial compared the efficacy and safety of SYKFT, for the control of proteinuria in primary glomerulonephritis patients, against the standard drug, losartan potassium. DESIGN, SETTING, PARTICIPANTS AND INTERVENTION: This was a multicenter, double-blind, randomized, controlled clinical trial. Primary glomerulonephritis patients, aged 18-70 years, with blood pressure ≤ 140/90 mmHg, estimated glomerular filtration rate (eGFR) ≥ 45 mL/min per 1.73 m2, and 24-hour proteinuria level of 0.5-3.0 g, were recruited in 41 hospitals across 19 provinces in China and were randomly divided into five groups: SYKFT, losartan potassium 50 mg or 100 mg, SYKFT plus losartan potassium 50 mg or 100 mg. MAIN OUTCOME MEASURES: The primary outcome was change in the 24-hour proteinuria level, after 48 weeks of treatment. RESULTS: A total of 735 participants were enrolled. The percent decline of urine protein quantification in the SYKFT group after 48 weeks was 8.78% ± 2.56% (P = 0.006) more than that in the losartan 50 mg group, which was 0.51% ± 2.54% (P = 1.000) less than that in the losartan 100 mg group. Compared with the losartan potassium 50 mg group, the SYKFT plus losartan potassium 50 mg group had a 13.39% ± 2.49% (P < 0.001) greater reduction in urine protein level. Compared with the losartan potassium 100 mg group, the SYKFT plus losartan potassium 100 mg group had a 9.77% ± 2.52% (P = 0.001) greater reduction in urine protein. With a superiority threshold of 15%, neither was statistically significant. eGFR, serum creatinine and serum albumin from the baseline did not change statistically significant. The average change in TCM syndrome score between the patients who took SYKFT (-3.00 [-6.00, -2.00]) and who did not take SYKFT (-2.00 [-5.00, 0]) was statistically significant (P = 0.003). No obvious adverse reactions were observed in any group. CONCLUSION: SYKFT decreased the proteinuria and improved the TCM syndrome scores of primary glomerulonephritis patients, with no change in the rate of decrease in the eGFR. SYKFT plus losartan potassium therapy decreased proteinuria more than losartan potassium therapy alone. TRIAL REGISTRATION NUMBER: NCT02063100 on ClinicalTrials.gov.