SPAUTIN-1 alleviates LPS-induced acute lung injury by inhibiting NF-κB pathway in neutrophils.

BACKGROUND: Acute lung injury (ALI) is an inflammatory condition characterized by acute damage to lung tissue. SPAUTIN-1, recognized as a small molecule drug targeting autophagy and USP10/13, has been reported for its potential to inhibit oxidative stress damage in various tissue injuries. However, the role and mechanism of SPAUTIN-1 in ALI remain unclear. This study aims to elucidate the protective effects of SPAUTIN-1 on ALI, with a particular focus on its role and mechanism in pulmonary inflammatory responses. METHODS: Lipopolysaccharides (LPS) were employed to induce inflammation-mediated ALI. Bleomycin was used to induce non-inflammation-mediated ALI. The mechanism of SPAUTIN-1 action was identified through RNA-Sequencing and subsequently validated in mouse primary cells. Tert-butyl hydroperoxide (TBHP) was utilized to create an in vitro model of lung epithelial cell oxidative stress with MLE-12 cells. RESULTS: SPAUTIN-1 significantly mitigated LPS-induced lung injury and inflammatory responses, attenuated necroptosis and apoptosis in lung epithelial cells, and inhibited autophagy in leukocytes and epithelial cells. However, SPAUTIN-1 exhibited no significant effect on bleomycin-induced lung injury. RNA-sequencing results demonstrated that SPAUTIN-1 significantly inhibited the NF-κB signaling pathway in leukocytes, a finding consistently confirmed by mouse primary cell assays. In vitro experiments further revealed that SPAUTIN-1 effectively mitigated oxidative stress injury in MLE-12 cells induced by TBHP. CONCLUSION: SPAUTIN-1 alleviated LPS-induced inflammatory injury by inhibiting the NF-κB pathway in leukocytes and protected epithelial cells from oxidative damage, positioning it as a potential therapeutic candidate for ALI.

Remodeling the tumor immune microenvironment via siRNA therapy for precision cancer treatment.

How to effectively transform the pro-oncogenic tumor microenvironments (TME) surrounding a tumor into an anti-tumoral never fails to attract people to study. Small interfering RNA (siRNA) is considered one of the most noteworthy research directions that can regulate gene expression following a process known as RNA interference (RNAi). The research about siRNA delivery targeting tumor cells and TME has been on the rise in recent years. Using siRNA drugs to silence critical proteins in TME was one of the most efficient solutions. However, the manufacture of a siRNA delivery system faces three major obstacles, i.e., appropriate cargo protection, accurately targeted delivery, and site-specific cargo release. In the following review, we summarized the pharmacological actions of siRNA drugs in remolding TME. In addition, the delivery strategies of siRNA drugs and combination therapy with siRNA drugs to remodel TME are thoroughly discussed. In the meanwhile, the most recent advancements in the development of all clinically investigated and commercialized siRNA delivery technologies are also presented. Ultimately, we propose that nanoparticle drug delivery siRNA may be the future research focus of oncogene therapy. This summary offers a thorough analysis and roadmap for general readers working in the field.

Application of an innovative pancreaticojejunostomy technique with a modified set of perioperative management in pancreatoduodenectomy: a retrospective cohort study.

How to reduce grade C postoperative pancreatic fistula (POPF) incidence after pancreaticoduodenectomy (PD) is the pursuit of pancreatic surgeons. This study introduced an innovative pancreaticojejunostomy (PJ) technique with a complete set of perioperative management. All 144 patients in this single-center retrospective cohort study underwent the same PJ technique and perioperative management. The primary endpoint was grade C POPF incidence. The secondary endpoints were grade B POPF rate, drain fluid amylase level, complications, hospital stay duration, and mortality. Risk factors for clinically-relevant POPF (CR-POPF) were assessed by logistic regression analysis. No patient (0.0%) experienced grade C POPF, while 44 (30.6%) developed grade B. No in-hospital death was recorded. Multivariate analysis found relatively high body mass index, laparoscopic surgery, and soft or moderate pancreatic texture independent risk factors for CR-POPF. Our novel PJ anastomosis with modified perioperative management helped avoid grade C POPF. However, grade B POPF incidence was relatively high to some extent because of the enhanced management itself.

CD155 and its receptors in cancer immune escape and immunotherapy.

In recent years, there have been multiple breakthroughs in cancer immunotherapy, with immune checkpoint inhibitors becoming the most promising treatment strategy. However, available drugs are not always effective. As an emerging immune checkpoint molecule, CD155 has become an important target for immunotherapy. This review describes the structure and function of CD155, its receptors TIGIT, CD96, and CD226, and summarizes that CD155 expressed by tumor cells can upregulate its expression through the DNA damage response pathway and Ras-Raf-MEK-ERK signaling pathway. This review also elaborates the mechanism of immune escape after binding CD155 to its receptors TIGIT, CD96, and CD226, and summarizes the current progress of immunotherapy research regarding CD155 and its receptors. Besides, it also discusses the future direction of checkpoint immunotherapy.

Luteolin Ameliorates Hepatic Steatosis and Enhances Mitochondrial Biogenesis via AMPK/PGC-1α Pathway in Western Diet-Fed Mice.

Luteolin (LU), a natural compound, has diverse bioactivities; it alleviates lipid accumulation by enhancing the oxidation of fatty acids in nonalcoholic fatty liver disease (NAFLD). Mitochondrial dysfunction promotes the development of steatosis in NAFLD. However, few studies have focused on the mechanism by which LU affects mitochondrial function in NAFLD. In the present study, we investigated whether LU could ameliorate hepatic steatosis and affect mitochondrial function in Western diet-fed mice. After LU treatment, the indicators of hepatic function and markers of mitochondrial biogenesis were evaluated. The results showed that LU intervention 1) decreased the levels of serum triglyceride, total cholesterol, alanine aminotransferase, and low-density lipoprotein cholesterol; 2) increased the succinate dehydrogenase activity of mitochondrial enzyme; and 3) increased mitochondrial biogenesis by upregulating the AMPK/PGC-1α pathway. Therefore, LU might have the potential to prevent NAFLD.

A novel density peaks clustering algorithm for automatic selection of clustering centers based on K-nearest neighbors.

The density peak clustering algorithm (DPC) requires manual determination of cluster centers, and poor performance on complex datasets with varying densities or non-convexity. Hence, a novel density peak clustering algorithm is proposed for the automatic selection of clustering centers based on K-nearest neighbors (AKDPC). First, the AKDPC classifies samples according to their mutual K-nearest neighbor values into core and non-core points. Second, the AKDPC uses the average distance of K nearest neighbors of a sample as its density. The smaller the average distance is, the higher the density. Subsequently, it selects the highest density sample among all unclassified core points as a center of the new cluster, and the core points that satisfy the merging condition are added to the cluster until no core points satisfy the condition. Afterwards, the above steps are repeated to complete the clustering of all core points. Lastly, the AKDPC labels the unclassified non-core points similar to the nearest points that have been classified. In addition, to prove the validity of AKDPC, experiments on manual and real datasets are conducted. By comparing the AKDPC with classical clustering algorithms and excellent DPC-variants, this paper demonstrates that AKDPC presents higher accuracy.

Tetrandrine Treatment May Improve Clinical Outcome in Patients with COVID-19.

Background and objectives: The COVID-19 pandemic continues worldwide, and there is no effective treatment to treat it. Chinese medicine is considered the recommended treatment for COVID-19 in China. This study aimed to examine the effectiveness of tetrandrine in treating COVID-19, which is originally derived from Chinese medicine. Materials and Methods: A total of 60 patients, categorized into three types (mild, moderate, severe), from Daye Hospital of Chinese Medicine with a diagnosis of COVID-19 were included in this study. Demographics, medical history, treatment, and results were collected. We defined two main groups according to the clinical outcome between improvement and recovery. All underlying factors including clinical outcomes were assessed in the total number of COVID-19 patients and moderate-type patients. Results: In a total of 60 patients, there were significant differences in the clinical outcome underlying treatment with antibiotics, tetrandrine, and arbidol (p < 0.05). When the comparison was limited to the moderate type, treatment with tetrandrine further increased recovery rate (p = 0.007). However, the difference disappeared, and no association was indicated between the clinical outcome and the treatment with and without antibiotic (p = 0.224) and arbidol (p = 0.318) in the moderate-type patients. In all-type and moderate-type patients, tetrandrine improved the rate of improvement in cough and fatigue on day 7 (p < 0.05). Conclusions: Tetrandrine may improve clinical outcome in COVID-19 patientsand could be a promising potential natural antiviral agent for the prevention and treatment of COVID-19.

The role of GILZ in lipid metabolism and adipocyte biology.

Glucocorticoid-induced leucine zipper (GILZ) is a glucocorticoid-responsive protein and is thought to mediate part of the anti-inflammatory effects of glucocorticoid receptors (GRs). Its role in inflammation and immune responses has been widely studied since its discovery in 1997. Recently, increasing studies showed that GILZ might be involved in the differentiation of preadipocytes and adipogenesis. This review aims to provide readers with the latest updates on the biology of GILZ. The role and regulatory mechanism of GILZ in lipid metabolism and preadipocytes differentiation were summarized. In addition, new insights on the regulatory mechanism of GILZ in adipocyte browning was also discussed, which proposes a novel therapeutic target for lipid metabolic disorders in the future. However, research related to the function and regulatory mechanisms of GILZ in lipid metabolism and adipocyte biology is still in its infancy, and there is still much work needs to be done.

Neuroprotective Potency of Neolignans in Magnolia officinalis Cortex Against Brain Disorders.

In recent years, neurological diseases including Alzheimer's disease, Parkinson's disease and stroke are one of the main causes of death in the world. At the same time, the incidence of psychiatric disorders including depression and anxiety has been increasing. Accumulating elderly and stressed people suffer from these brain disorders, which is undoubtedly a huge burden on the modern aging society. Neolignans, the main active ingredients in Magnolia officinalis cortex, were reported to have neuroprotective effects. In addition, the key bioactive ingredients of neolignans, magnolol (1) and honokiol (2), were proved to prevent and treat neurological diseases and psychiatric disorders by protecting nerve cells and brain microvascular endothelial cells (BMECs). Furthermore, neolignans played a role in protecting nerve cells via regulation of neuronal function, suppression of neurotoxicity, etc. This review summarizes the neuroprotective effect, primary mechanisms of the leading neolignans and provides new prospects for the treatment of brain disorders in the future.

Updating global urbanization projections under the Shared Socioeconomic Pathways.

Urbanization level is an important indicator of socioeconomic development, and projecting its dynamics is fundamental for studies related to global socioeconomic and climate change. This paper aims to update the projections of global urbanization from 2015 to 2100 under the Shared Socioeconomic Pathways by using the logistic fitting model and iteratively identifying reference countries. Based on historical urbanization level database from the World Urbanization Prospects, projected urbanization levels and uncertainties are provided for 204 countries and areas every five years. The 2010-2100 year-by-year projected urbanization levels and uncertainties based on the annual historical data from the World Bank (WB) for 188 of countries and areas are also provided. The projections based on the two datasets were compared and the latter were validated using the historical values of the WB for the years 2010-2018. The updated dataset of urbanization level is relevant for understanding future socioeconomic development, its implications for climate change and policy planning.

Hypoxia-induced RNASEH2A limits activation of cGAS-STING signaling in HCC and predicts poor prognosis.

BACKGROUND: Hypoxia is a hallmark of solid cancers, including hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC). There is scarce information about how hypoxia avoids immunologic stress and maintains a cancer-promoting microenvironment. METHODS: The Cancer Genome Atlas, RNA-seq data, and Oncomine database were used to discover the correlation of RNASEH2A with tumor progression; then expression of RNASEH2A mRNA and protein were detected in HCC tissues and cells subjected to hypoxia or with the treatment of CoCl2 via real-time quantitative polymerase chain reaction and immunochemistry assays. Finally, the effect of RNASEH2A on cell proliferation and the involved signaling pathway was explored further. RESULTS: RNASEH2A was positively correlated with tumor grade, size, vascular invasion, and poor prognosis. The expression of RNASEH2A mRNA and protein were increased and dependent on hypoxia-inducible factor 2α in HCC tissues and cell lines. Knockout of RNASEH2A in HCC cells greatly reduced cell proliferation and induced the transcription of multiple cGAS-STING (cyclic GMP-AMP synthase-stimulator of interferon genes) targeted type 1 interferon-related genes, including IFIT1, USP18, and CXCL10, which suggests knockout of RNASEH2A may produce immunologic stress and tumor suppressive effects. CONCLUSIONS: RNASEH2A plays a critical role and potentially predicts patient outcomes in HCC, which uncovers a new mechanism that RNASEH2A contributes to limit immunologic stress of cancer cells in the context of hypoxia.

Super-enhancer receives signals from the extracellular matrix to induce PD-L1-mediated immune evasion via integrin/BRAF/TAK1/ERK/ETV4 signaling.

OBJECTIVE: PD-L1 and PD-L2 expression levels determine immune evasion and the therapeutic efficacy of immune checkpoint blockade. The factors that drive inducible PD-L1 expression have been extensively studied, but mechanisms that result in constitutive PD-L1 expression in cancer cells are largely unknown. METHODS: DNA elements were deleted in cells by CRISPR/Cas9-mediated knockout. Protein function was inhibited by chemical inhibitors. Protein levels were examined by Western blot, mRNA levels were examined by real-time RT-PCR, and surface protein expression was determined by cellular immunofluorescence and flow cytometry. Immune evasion was examined by in vitro T cell-mediated killing. RESULTS: We determined the core regions (chr9: 5, 496, 378-5, 499, 663) of a previously identified PD-L1L2-super-enhancer (SE). Through systematic analysis, we found that the E26 transformation-specific (ETS) variant transcription factor (ETV4) bound to this core DNA region but not to DNA surrounding PD-L1L2SE. Genetic knockout of ETV4 dramatically reduced the expressions of both PD-L1 and PD-L2. ETV4 transcription was dependent on ERK activation, and BRAF/TAK1-induced ERK activation was dependent on extracellular signaling from αvß3 integrin, which profoundly affected ETV4 transcription and PD-L1/L2 expression. Genetic silencing or pharmacological inhibition of components of the PD-L1L2-SE-associated pathway rendered cancer cells susceptible to T cell-mediated killing. CONCLUSIONS: We identified a pathway originating from the extracellular matrix that signaled via integrin/BRAF/TAK1/ERK/ETV4 to PD-L1L2-SE to induce PD-L1-mediated immune evasion. These results provided new insights into PD-L1L2-SE activation and pathways associated with immune checkpoint regulation in cancer.

Pretreatment with metformin prevents microcystin-LR-induced tau hyperphosphorylation via mTOR-dependent PP2A and GSK-3ß activation.

Microcystin-leucine-arginine (MC-LR) is a toxin secreted by freshwater cyanobacteria that is considered a potential environmental risk factor for Alzheimer's disease (AD). A previous study indicated that tau protein hyperphosphorylation via protein phosphatase 2A (PP2A) and GSK-3ß inhibition was the mechanism by which MC-LR induces neurotoxicity; however, how MC-LR-induced neurotoxicity can be effectively prevented remains unclear. In this study, the reversal effect of metformin on MC-LR-induced neurotoxicity was investigated. The results showed that metformin effectively prevented tau hyperphosphorylation at Ser202 caused by MC-LR through PP2A and GSK-3b activity. The effect of metformin on PP2A activity was dependent on the inhibition of mTOR in MC-LR-treated SH-SY5Y cells. Metformin prevented spatial memory deficits in rats caused by intrahippocampal MC-LR administration. In sum, the results suggested that metformin can ameliorate the MC-LR-induced AD-like phenotype by preventing tau phosphorylation at Ser202, which was mainly mediated by mTOR-dependent PP2A and GSK-3ß activation.

Effects of different drugs on the curative effect, stress responses, and the circulatory system of patients with hypertensive trigeminal neuralgia.

BACKGROUND: This research aimed to analyze the effects of stellate nerve block with different drugs on the curative effect, stress responses, and the circulatory system of patients with hypertensive trigeminal neuralgia (TN). METHODS: A retrospective analysis of 82 patients with hypertensive TN admitted to our hospital from January 2019 to January 2021 was conducted, and the patients were divided into a control group and an observation group according to different drugs. The pain visual analogue scale (VAS) scores were determined between the 2 groups before treatment and at 1, 2, 3, 7, and 30 d after treatment. The mean arterial pressure (MAP) and heart rate (HR) were measured in the 2 groups of patients before treatment and immediately after treatment (T0), half an hour after treatment (T1), 1 h after treatment (T2), and 6 h after treatment (T3). The left ventricular wall thickness (LVWT), left ventricular end systolic volume (LVESV), left ventricular ejection fraction (LVEF), and fraction shortening (FS) were detected in the 2 groups before treatment and at T0-T2. Patient satisfaction was also scored, and the incidence of adverse reactions was assessed. RESULTS: The VAS scores of the 2 groups of patients decreased significantly after treatment at 1, 2, 3, 7, and 30 d. The MAP and HR indicators of the 2 groups decreased gradually at T0-T2, and gradually recovered to levels before treatment at the T3 time point. The MAP and HR indicators of the observation group were significantly lower than those of the control group at T0-T2. After treatment, the levels of LVWT, LVESV, LVEF, and FS in the observation group at the T0-T2 time points were significantly lower than those of the control group. Additionally, after treatment, the satisfaction of the observation group was significantly higher than that of the control group. The total incidence of adverse reactions in the observation group was significantly lower than that in the control group. CONCLUSIONS: For patients with hypertensive TN, a single ropivacaine stellate nerve block can significantly relieve pain, and has little effect on heart function.

A kindergarten-based, family-involved intervention to improve children's hand hygiene behavior: A cluster-randomized controlled trial.

OBJECTIVE: The present study determined the feasibility and initial efficacy of a kindergarten-based, family-involved intervention in improving children's hand hygiene (HH) behaviors. DESIGN: A cluster-randomized controlled trial was performed, with a cluster defined as a kindergarten class. SAMPLE: Participants were recruited from 20 classes in six kindergartens. A total of 289 children and their families were enrolled in the intervention group, and 293 children and their families were enrolled in the control group. MEASUREMENTS: HH behavior and a related knowledge survey, as well as data on absences due to infection, were collected. INTERVENTION: An 8-week training session on HH for children and an education program combining a seminar and WeChat groups for parents were provided to participants in the intervention group. RESULTS: Two HH behaviors of children, namely, HH after playing outside and 7-stage HH compliance, were significantly different between the two groups after the intervention. The two HH behaviors and knowledge of infections of parents/legal guardians in the intervention group were better than those in the control group after the intervention. The number of absences due to infections in children was lower in the intervention group than in the control group. CONCLUSIONS: Kindergarten-based, family-involved interventions effectively improved the HH behavior of kindergarten children and decreased absences due to infections.

Microcystin-LR Induces NLRP3 Inflammasome Activation via FOXO1 Phosphorylation, Resulting in Interleukin-1ß Secretion and Pyroptosis in Hepatocytes.

Microcystin-LR (MC-LR), the most common and toxic microcystin (MC) present in freshwater, poses a substantial threat to human health, especially hepatotoxicity. Recent evidence reveals that the NLRP3 inflammasome plays an important role in liver injury by activating caspase-1 to promote interleukin-1ß (IL-1ß) secretion. In this study, we investigated the possible role of NLRP3 inflammasome activation in MC-LR-induced mouse liver inflammatory injury. We found that MC-LR administered to mice by oral gavage mainly accumulated in liver and induced the activation of the NLRP3 inflammasome and production of mature IL-1ß. Additionally, we observed an increase in the levels of NLRP3 inflammasome-related proteins and the proportion of pyroptosis in MC-LR-treated AML-12 cells. We also found that inhibition of NLRP3 in mice attenuated MC-LR-induced IL-1ß production, indicating an essential role for NLRP3 in MC-LR-induced liver inflammatory injury. In addition, we found that inhibition of FOXO1 by AKT-mediated hyperphosphorylation, due to protein phosphatase 2A (PP2A) inhibition, is required for MC-LR-induced expression of NLRP3. Taken together, our in vivo and in vitro findings suggest a model in which the NLRP3 inflammasome activation, a result of AKT-mediated hyperphosphorylation of FOXO1 through inhibition of PP2A, plays a key role in MC-LR-induced liver inflammatory injury via IL-1ß secretion and pyroptotic cell death.

Chinese herbal medicine si-miao-san decoction for acute gouty arthritis: A protocol for systematic review and meta-analysis of randomized controlled trials.

BACKGROUND: The prevalence of gout is increasing worldwide, and the symptoms of acute arthritis appearing in gout patients seriously affect the quality of life. The pain and functional limitation caused by acute gouty arthritis (AGA) bring great pain to patients. At present, mainstream drugs have problems such as poor efficacy and side effects. Traditional Chinese medicine has extensive clinical experience in the prevention and treatment of gout, and it also shows clear advantages in the treatment of AGA. Clinical studies have confirmed that si-miao-san decoction (SMSD), a traditional Chinese medicine decoction, can improve the clinical symptoms and signs of AGA patients. Therefore, we will conduct a systematic review to clarify the effectiveness and safety of SMSD for AGA. METHODS: We will search different database from the built-in to October 2020. The electronic database includes PubMed, Embase, Cochrane Library, Web of Science, CNKI, WanFang, VIP, and CBM. At the same time, we will also search for clinical registration tests and gray literatures. This study only screened clinical randomized controlled trials (RCT) for SMSD for AGA. The 2 researchers independently conducted literature selection, data extraction, and quality assessment. Dichotomous data are represented by relative risk (RR), continuous data are represented by mean difference (MD) or standard mean deviation (SMD), and the final data are fixed effect model (FEM) or random effect model (REM), depending on whether it exists heterogeneity. The main outcomes are clinical efficacy, including pain score, joint function, and degree of swelling. The secondary outcomes include: blood uric acid (BUA), C-reactive protein (CRP), and erythrocyte sedimentation rate (ESR). Finally, a meta-analysis was conducted through Review Manager software version 5.3. RESULTS: This study will conduct a comprehensive analysis based on the currently released Si-Miao-San data for the treatment of AGA and provide high-quality evidence of clinical efficacy and safety. CONCLUSION: This systematic review aims to provide new options for SMSD treatment of AGA in terms of its efficacy and safety. ETHICS AND DISSEMINATION: The review is based solely on a secondary study of published literatures and does not require ethics committee approval. Its conclusion will be disseminated in conference papers, magazines, or peer-reviewed journals. INPLASY REGISTRATION NUMBER: INPLASY202040163.

Clinical efficacy of ultrasound-guided injection in the treatment of olecranon subcutaneous bursitis.

BACKGROUND: Recent studies have shown that ultrasound-guided injection of glucocorticoids is superior to blind puncture methods. OBJECTIVE: To evaluate clinical efficacy of ultrasound-guided drug injection in the treatment of olecranon subcutaneous bursitis. METHODS: From June 2016 to September 2018, 45 patients diagnosed with obvious synovial effusion and treated with ultrasound-guided injection therapy for olecranon bursitis were included in this study. Under the guidance of ultrasound, the synovial effusion aspiration was performed and 2 ml of the compound betamethasone mixture was injected into the bursae and dressed under pressure. Ultrasound examination was performed 2 weeks after operation and the secondary fluid aspiration and drug injection treatment were performed. The depth of synovial effusion, the thickness of synovial hyperplasia and the blood flow signal were measured 4 weeks after operation to evaluate the therapeutic effect. RESULTS: After first treatment, the recurrence rate of the olecranon mass were 40%. After secondary treatment, recurrence of olecranon mass occurred in 6 of the 45 patients with a recurrence rate of 13.3%. After 4 weeks of follow-up, the depth of olecranon synovial effusion, the average thickness of synovial hyperplasia and the blood flow signal decreased significantly after treatment (P < 0.05). CONCLUSIONS: Ultrasound-guided drug injection is safe and effective in treating olecranon subcutaneous bursitis. Although the recurrence rate is high after the first treatment, the second treatment is simple and can reduce the recurrence rate. The patients have a high acceptance rate, which is worthy of clinical promotion.

Ultrasound-guided needle release of the transverse carpal ligament with and without corticosteroid injection for the treatment of carpal tunnel syndrome.

BACKGROUND: To compare the clinical effectiveness of ultrasound-guided needle release of the transverse carpal ligament (TCL) with and without corticosteroid injection in carpal tunnel syndrome (CTS). METHODS: From June 2016 to June 2017, 49 CTS patients (50 wrists) were included in this study. Twenty-five wrists were treated with ultrasound-guided needle release of the TCL plus corticosteroid injection (group A), and 25 wrists were treated with single ultrasound-guided needle release of the TCL (group B). The following parameters were assessed and compared including postprocedure results according to relief of symptoms, ultrasound parameters (cross-sectional area of the median nerve at the levels of pisiform, flattening ratio of median nerve at the levels of the hamate bone, and the thicknesses of TCL on the cross-section at the level of the hamate bone), and electrophysiological parameters (distal motor latency and sensory conduction velocity). RESULTS: Group A had higher overall excellent and good rate 3 months after the procedure than group B (84 vs 52%, P < 0.05). There were significant differences regarding the above ultrasonic and electrophysiological parameters between the baseline and postprocedure values in both groups (all P < 0.05). There were significant differences regarding the postprocedure values of above ultrasonic and electrophysiological parameters between the two groups (all P < 0.05). No complications such as infection or tendon rupture were noted. No procedures were converted to the open release. CONCLUSIONS: Both techniques are effective in treating CTS. Ultrasound-guided needle release of the TCL with corticosteroid injection had better treatment benefits than single ultrasound-guided needle release of the TCL in treating CTS.