Efficacy and safety of uterine artery embolization via the distal radial approach for uterine fibroids or adenomyosis: a single-center retrospective cohort study.

Background: The standard approach for transarterial embolization of uterine fibroids or adenomas is via the femoral artery, but this approach limits the patient's quality of life and increases the risk of deep vein thrombosis in the lower extremities. We applied the distal radial approach technique for the treatment of uterine artery embolization, and aimed to explore the feasibility and safety of uterine artery chemoembolization through the distal radial approach. Methods: We conducted a retrospective study at The First Hospital of Jilin University from January 1, 2021 to November 30, 2023. The main inclusion criteria were: (I) uterine fibroids and adenomyosis were confirmed by preoperative imaging examination; (II) able to accurately palpate the distal radial artery pulse, and the Allen test is negative. Exclusion criteria: patients with distal radial pulses that cannot be palpated, or who are palpable but have radial arteriotomy dialysis, have a tortuous angle on preoperative radial artery ultrasound, which is not conducive to guidewire catheter passage. The primary endpoint of this study was the success rate of distal radial artery puncture. The secondary endpoints included complications and the duration of the puncture. Results: Sixteen patients were enrolled in this study, of which 8 (50%) had uterine fibroids, 5 (31.25%) had uterine adenomas, and 3 (18.75%) had both. The puncture success rate was 93.75% (15/16) and one patient who failed to puncture the distal radial artery was changed to the radial artery approach. The mean time of puncture was 21±8.54 minutes. There were no complications, including bleeding, hematoma, arterial dissection, pseudoaneurysm formation, or distal radial artery occlusion, observed. Conclusions: Uterine artery embolization by the distal radial artery approach is safe and feasible, and should be widely promoted in uterine artery embolization.

Hepatic artery chemoembolization with distal transradial access for primary hepatocellular carcinoma: a novel interventional therapy for peripheral tumors.

OBJECTIVE: To investigate the feasibility and safety of hepatic artery chemoembolization via the distal transradial access (dTRA). METHODS: The clinical data of 130 patients with primary hepatocellular carcinoma treated in The First Hospital of Jilin University between August 1, 2020 and December 31, 2020, were retrospectively analyzed. Patients were confirmed to have primary hepatocellular carcinoma by preoperative imaging or pathology, with Child-Pugh Grade A or B and persistently palpable distal radial pulses. After a negative Allen test, patients underwent transcatheter arterial chemoembolization (TACE) via dTRA. The puncture success rate, the average number of needles, puncture time, distal radial occlusion and wrist hematoma were used to evaluate the treatment efficacy in the patients. RESULTS: All the punctures were performed using 21G steel needles. 5F sheaths were used for 84 cases, and 4F sheaths for 46 cases. The total was 130 cases. Among the 130 cases, 112 cases (86.2%) were successful in the puncture, 18 cases (13.8%) failed in the puncture. The success rate of the descending aorta selection using an MPA1 catheter (Cordis, Santa Clara, CA, USA) was 96.2% (125/130). In the remaining 5 cases, the selection succeeded after a 5F pigtail catheter was used instead. The success rate of the celiac trunk or superior mesenteric artery selection using an MPA1 catheter was 100%. No bleeding or hematoma occurred after 2-4 hours of compression following distal radial artery puncture, and both distal and proximal radial artery pulses were palpable. No arterial dissection or pseudoaneurysm was found, and there was no distal radial artery occlusion. Fourteen patients underwent 2 sessions of distal radial artery punctures, and no vascular occlusion was found in these patients either. CONCLUSIONS: TACE via the dTRA is feasible and safe for primary hepatocellular carcinoma.

Metabolomics analysis reveals the renal protective effect of Panax ginseng C. A. Mey in type 1 diabetic rats.

The dry root and rhizome of Panax ginseng C. A. Mey has garnered much interest owing to its medicinal properties against diabetes and cardiovascular diseases. In this study, an ultra-high performance liquid chromatography coupled with quadrupole time-of-flight mass spectrometry (UHPLC-Q-TOF-MS)-based metabolomics approach was used to illustrate the therapeutic mechanisms of ginseng extract on the serum and urinary metabolic profiles in streptozotocin-induced type 1 diabetes mellitus (T1DM) rats. Pharmacological and renal parameters in response to the administration of ginseng were also evaluated. In total, 16 serum endogenous metabolites and 14 urine endogenous metabolites, including pyruvic acid, indoleacetic acid, and phenylacetylglycine, were identified as potential biomarkers for diabetes. Pathway enrichment and network analysis revealed that the biomarkers modulated by ginseng were primarily involved in phenylalanine and pyruvate metabolism, as well as in arginine biosynthesis. Moreover, the levels of several renal injury-related biomarkers in T1DM rats were significantly restored following treatment with ginseng. The administration of the extract helped maintain tissue structure integrity and ameliorated renal injury. The findings suggest that the regulatory effect of ginseng extract on T1DM involves metabolic management of diabetic rats, which subsequently attenuates T1DM-induced early renal dysfunction.

Long Noncoding RNA lncCAMTA1 Promotes Proliferation and Cancer Stem Cell-Like Properties of Liver Cancer by Inhibiting CAMTA1.

Hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) is the most common subtype of liver malignancy, and it is characterized by poor prognosis because of cancer stem cell (CSC)-mediated high postsurgical recurrence rates. Thus, targeting CSCs, or HCC cells with CSC-like properties, is an effective strategy for HCC therapy. Here, using long noncoding RNA (lncRNA) microarray analysis, we identified a novel lncRNA termed lncCAMTA1 that is increased in both liver CSCs and HCC. High lncCAMTA1 expression in HCC indicates poor clinical outcome. In vitro and in vivo functional experiments showed that overexpression of lncCAMTA1 promotes HCC cell proliferation, CSC-like properties, and tumorigenesis. Conversely, depletion of lncCAMTA1 inhibits HCC cell proliferation, CSC-like properties, and tumorigenesis. Mechanistically, we demonstrated that lncCAMTA1 physically associates with the calmodulin binding transcription activator 1 (CAMTA1) promoter, induces a repressive chromatin structure, and inhibits CAMTA1 transcription. Furthermore, CAMTA1 is required for the effects of lncCAMTA1 on HCC cell proliferation and CSC-like properties, and the expression of lncCAMTA1 and CAMTA1 is significantly negatively correlated in HCC tissues. Collectively, our study revealed the important roles and underlying molecular mechanisms of lncCAMTA1 on HCC, and suggested that lncCAMTA1 could be an effective prognostic factor and a potential therapeutic target for HCC.