Mobilizing endogenous neuroprotection: the mechanism of the protective effect of acupuncture on the brain after stroke.

Given its high morbidity, disability, and mortality rates, ischemic stroke (IS) is a severe disease posing a substantial public health threat. Although early thrombolytic therapy is effective in IS treatment, the limited time frame for its administration presents a formidable challenge. Upon occurrence, IS triggers an ischemic cascade response, inducing the brain to generate endogenous protective mechanisms against excitotoxicity and inflammation, among other pathological processes. Stroke patients often experience limited recovery stages. As a result, activating their innate self-protective capacity [endogenous brain protection (EBP)] is essential for neurological function recovery. Acupuncture has exhibited clinical efficacy in cerebral ischemic stroke (CIS) treatment by promoting the human body's self-preservation and "Zheng Qi" (a term in traditional Chinese medicine (TCM) describing positive capabilities such as self-immunity, self-recovery, and disease prevention). According to research, acupuncture can modulate astrocyte activity, decrease oxidative stress (OS), and protect neurons by inhibiting excitotoxicity, inflammation, and apoptosis via activating endogenous protective mechanisms within the brain. Furthermore, acupuncture was found to modulate microglia transformation, thereby reducing inflammation and autoimmune responses, as well as promoting blood flow restoration by regulating the vasculature or the blood-brain barrier (BBB). However, the precise mechanism underlying these processes remains unclear. Consequently, this review aims to shed light on the potential acupuncture-induced endogenous neuroprotective mechanisms by critically examining experimental evidence on the preventive and therapeutic effects exerted by acupuncture on CIS. This review offers a theoretical foundation for acupuncture-based stroke treatment.

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Acupuncture has a positive effect in the treatment of ischemic stroke (IS). A number of studies have confirmed that the role of acupuncture in the treatment of IS, which is closely related to its functions of regulating mitochondrial functions. In the present article, we review the mechanisms of acupuncture underlying improvement of mitochondria in the treatment of IS from 4 aspects： 1) protecting mitochondrial structure integrity, 2) regulative effect on mitochondrial functional activities, including regulating energy metabolism, reducing oxidative stress, suppressing calcium overload, and regulating mitochondrial membrane potential changes, 3) regulating mitochondrial quality control system, including promoting mitochondrial biosynthesis, regulating mitochondrial dynamics and apoptosis, and 4) regula-ting mitochondria-related apoptosis pathways. All of these may provide a theoretical basis for acupuncture in the treatment of IS and a reference for further research.

Epidemiological trend analysis of liver cancer incidence in Luzhou City， Sichuan Province from 2016 to 2022 / 上海预防医学

ObjectiveTo analyze the epidemiological distribution and temporal trends of liver cancer incidence among Luzhou residents from 2016‒2022， and to provide a theoretical basis for improving liver cancer prevention and treatment strategies in Luzhou. MethodsData on liver cancer incidence among Luzhou residents from 2016 to 2022 were collected， and the incidence rate， age-specific incidence rate， and annual percentage change （APC） were calculated. A Joinpoint regression model was used to fit a time series segment to the monthly number of new cases in each district and county of Luzhou to explore the trend of liver cancer incidence rate. ResultsThe incidence rate of liver cancer in Luzhou increased from 22.96/105 in 2016 to 32.31/105 in 2022. The incidence rate of liver cancer in men was higher than that in women in both 2016 and 2022， and the incidence rate of liver cancer in men increased from 34.83/105 in 2016 to 47.95/105 in 2022， with an APC of 3.3%； the incidence rate of liver cancer in women increased from 10.50/105 in 2016 to 15.95/105 in 2022， with an APC of 3.0%， and the differences in the change trends were not statistically significant （P>0.05）.The incidence of liver cancer was low in the age group of 0‒<40 years from 2016 to 2022 and increased with age； the incidence of liver cancer in the age group of 55 years and above was increasing at an average annual rate of 16.4%. ConclusionThe overall incidence of liver cancer in Luzhou is on the rise， and the incidence of liver cancer in men is higher than that in women. Middle-aged and elderly men are the key population for liver cancer prevention and treatment， and liver cancer prevention and treatment should be carried out in a targeted manner， taking into account regional development differences.

Chemical reaction mechanism of decoction of traditional Chinese medicines: a review / 中国中药杂志

Complicated chemical reactions occur in the decoction of traditional Chinese medicines(TCMs) which features complex components, influencing the safety, efficacy, and quality controllability of TCMs. Therefore, it is particularly important to clarify the chemical reaction mechanism of TCMs in the decoction. This study summarized eight typical chemical reactions in the decoction of TCMs, such as substitution reaction, redox reaction, isomerization/stereoselective reaction, complexation, and supramolecular reaction. With the "toxicity attenuation and efficiency enhancement" of aconitines and other examples, this study reviewed the reactions in decoction of TCMs, which was expected to clarify the variation mechanisms of key chemical components in this process and to help guide medicine preparation and safe and rational use of medicine in clinical settings. The current main research methods for chemical reaction mechanisms of decoction of TCMs were also summed up and compared. The novel real-time analysis device of decoction system for TCMs was found to be efficient and simple without the pre-treatment of samples. This device provides a promising solution, which has great potential in quantity evaluation and control of TCMs. Moreover, it is expected to become a foundational and exemplary research tool, which can advance the research in this field.

The Influence of Parents on Medication Adherence of Their Children in China: A Cross-Sectional Online Investigation Based on Health Belief Model.

Objective: To explore the influence of parents on the medication adherence of their children. Study Design: A cross-sectional online investigation. Methods: A questionnaire with 41 questions was designed based on the health belief model (HBM) distributed and collected online in 28 cities around China through multi-stage stratified sampling. The reliability of the questionnaire was assessed with Cronbach's α coefficient and split-half reliability, and its validity was evaluated with exploratory factor analysis and content validity index. The structural equation model (SEM) was constructed to explore the relationship between the parents' health beliefs and their children's medication adherence. Subgroup analysis was conducted to study the differences between parents with different demographic characteristics (male and female, rural and urban). Results: 573 questionnaires were included for analysis, with an effective rate of 62.97%. The Cronbach'α coefficient of the questionnaire was 0.821 > 0.6, the split-half reliability was 0.651 > 0.6, the I-CVI of each dimension were >0.78, and the S-CVI/AVE (I-CVI average) was 0.95 > 0.9. The result of the questionnaire exploratory factor analysis met the standard. According to the SEM, self-efficacy (λ = 0.177), perceived susceptibility (λ = -0.244), and perceived severity (λ = 0.243) were direct influencing factors of children's medication adherence. In the subgroup analysis, the model established by each subgroup was consistent with the model established by the overall sample. The absolute values of females' perceived susceptibility, severity, and self-efficacy for their children's medication adherence path coefficients were higher than males'. Conclusion: Parents' perceived severity and self-efficacy may positively impact on their children's medication adherence, while parents' susceptibility to children's medication non-adherence may negatively impact on children's medication adherence. Objective constraints, perceived barriers, and benefits may in directly impact on children's medication adherence. Women's health beliefs appear to have a more significant impact on their children's medication adherence than men's. It may be an effective strategy to increase their children's medication adherence by improving parents' health beliefs. Medical staff should explain medication adherence knowledge to the parents of children, and inform the children of the possible consequences of non-adherence with medication, to improve the subjective perception of parents on the severity of children's non-adherence with medication, and improve parents' self-efficacy in rational medication for children. In addition, attention should be paid to the mental health of the parents, and more social and psychological support.

Fork head box M1 regulates vascular endothelial growth factor-A expression to promote the angiogenesis and tumor cell growth of gallbladder cancer.

BACKGROUND: Gallbladder cancer (GBC) is an aggressive type of biliary tract cancer that lacks effective therapeutic targets. Fork head box M1 (FoxM1) is an emerging molecular target associated with tumor progression in GBC, and accumulating evidence suggests that vascular endothelial growth factor (VEGF) promotes various tumors by inducing neoangiogenesis. AIM: To investigate the role of FoxM1 and the angiogenesis effects of VEGF-A in primary GBC. METHODS: Using immunohistochemistry, we investigated FoxM1 and VEGF-A expression in GBC tissues, paracarcinoma tissues and cholecystitis tissues. Soft agar, cell invasion, migration and apoptosis assays were used to analyze the malignant phenotype influenced by FoxM1 in GBC. Kaplan-Meier survival analysis was performed to evaluate the impact of FoxM1 and VEGF-A expression in GBC patients. We investigated the relationship between FoxM1 and VEGF-A by regulating the level of FoxM1. Next, we performed MTT assays and Transwell invasion assays by knocking out or overexpressing VEGF-A to evaluate its function in GBC cells. The luciferase assay was used to reveal the relationship between FoxM1 and VEGF-A. BALB/c nude mice were used to establish the xenograft tumor model. RESULTS: FoxM1 expression was higher in GBC tissues than in paracarcinoma tissues. Furthermore, the high expression of Foxm1 in GBC was significantly correlated with a malignant phenotype and worse overall survival. Meanwhile, high expression of FoxM1 influenced angiogenesis; high expression of FoxM1 combined with high expression of VEGF-A was related to poor prognosis. Attenuated FoxM1 significantly suppressed cell proliferation, transfer and invasion in vitro. Knockdown of FoxM1 in GBC cells reduced the expression of VEGF-A. Luciferase assay showed that FoxM1 was the transcription factor of VEGF-A, and knockdown VEGF-A in FoxM1 overexpressed cells could partly reverse the malignancy phenotype of GBC cells. In this study, we found that FoxM1 was involved in regulation of VEGF-A expression. CONCLUSION: FoxM1 and VEGF-A overexpression were associated with the prognosis of GBC patients. FoxM1 regulated VEGF-A expression, which played an important role in the progression of GBC.

Influence of fat and muscle on sit-ups in female college students / 解剖学报

Objective To explore the influence of muscle and fat distribution on sit-up ability of female college students. Methods A total of 1560 female students majoring in non-physical education in a Guangxi University were randomly selected. Body composition was measured by the bioresistance antibody component meter. According to the National Physical Health Test Standard, the height, weight and sit-ups of female college students were measured. The students were divided into four groups according to the score of sit-ups:0, P<0.05). Compared with other parameters, the correlation coefficient between trunk muscle mass and sit-ups was the largest. Conclusion The distribution of fat and muscle has different effects on sit-up ability. Female college students' sit-up ability is greatly affected by subcutaneous fat and trunk muscle, and has nothing to do with visceral fat.

Serological Identification and FUT1 Gene Mutation Analysis of 8 Individuals with Para-Bombay Phenotypes in Guangxi / 中国实验血液学杂志

OBJECTIVE@#To study the serological characteristics and molecular biological basis of 8 individuals with Para-Bombay phenotypes in Guangxi area.@*METHODS@#Serological tests were used to identify the blood groups of red cells. Molecular biological methods, including PCR-SSP for ABO genotyping and DNA sequencing for FUT1, were used to detect the genotypes of ABO and FUT1 which determined the expression of H antigen.@*RESULTS@#Eight individuals in the study were all the Para-Bombay phenotypes, including 4 cases of B@*CONCLUSION@#There are varieties of molecular genetic mechanisms for Para-Bombay phenotypes. In this study, the FUT1 mutations that cause Para-Bombay phenotypes in Guangxi area are mainly h3, h

Body fat parameters of adult population in Guangxi with the change trend of age / 解剖学报

Objective To measure the body fat parameters of adult population in Guangxi, and to explore the characteristics of distribution of fat content with age and gender. Methods A total of 1558 male residents and 2132 female residents were selected by random sampling method . The subjects were divided into 8 groups every 10 years, and the fat parameters were measured and recorded by body composition analyzer. The statistical software SPSS 22. 0 analysed data. Results The total of fat mass and fat content of all parts as well as the subcutaneous and limb fat content of all age groups in Guangxi females were higher than that of the male. The fat content of each part of the male increased first and then decreased with age. It was at the age of 30 that the fat parameters of the male peaked with the highest rates of overweight and obesity. Males had more visceral fat and trunk fat than women at 30-40 years old, and showed predominantly centripetal obesity.Total fat content and fat content of all age groups of female showed a rapid rise at the age of 20-50, and reached a peak at 40 years old. After 50 years old, they slowly decreased and gradually stabilized. The main manifestations of young women were subcutaneous and limb fat increase, which was mainly characterized by centripetal obesity after 40-50 years old, when the rates of overweight and obesity were the highest. Conclusion The body fat content of male and female people in Guangxi increases first and then decreases with age. Twenty-thirty years old of Males and 20-50 years old of female are the key time points for the change of body fat content. In addition of the visceral and trunk fat content, the fat content of different age groups and different parts of female is higher in Guangxi than that of males. The visceral and trunk fat content of Guangxi young adults male is higher than that of females.

Polymorphism of HLA-A, -B, -C, -DRB1 and -DQB1 Allele and Haplotype Frequency at High Resolution in Guangxi Zhuang Population / 中国实验血液学杂志

OBJECTIVE@#To analyze the characteristics of allelic and haplotypic polymorphisms of human leukocyte antigens at HLA-A, -B, -C, DRB1 and DQB1 loci in Guangxi Zhuang population.@*METHODS@#Polymerase chain reaction-sequence based typing (PCR-SBT) was used to detect. The five loci (HLA-A, -B, -C, -DRB1, -DQB1) in 350 unrelated Zhuang ethnic individual from Guangxi region. Allelic and haplotypic frequencies were calculated by using Arlequin software 3.5.2.2. Phylogeny tree were constructed by using MEGA software 6.0, and SPSS software was used for principal component analysis.@*RESULTS@#Among the five loci in the population, only HLA-A and DRB1 loci were observed as departures from Hardy-Weinberg expectations. A total of 19 HLA-A, 42 HLA-B, 22 HLA-C, 25 HLA-DRB1 and 15 HLA-DQB1 alleles were found in 350 samples. The most highest frequent alleles were A*11: 01(28.57%), B*46: 01(14.00%), C*01: 02(18.43%), DRB1*16: 02 (15.71%）and DQB1*05: 02 (35.00%) . The most common five loci haplotype was A*33: 03-C*03: 02-B*58: 01-DRB1*03: 01-DQB1*02: 01（6.86%）. The phylogenetic tree analysis showed that Guangxi Zhuang population had a relative close genetic relationship with southern Han Chinese populations.@*CONCLUSION@#This reaserch found that the HLA-A, B, C, DRB1 and DQB1 loci are highly polymorphic in Guangxi Zhuang population.

Two Novel Mutations at the CD36 Gene Splicing Sites and Their Molecular Basis for the CD36 Deficiency / 中国实验血液学杂志

OBJECTIVE@#To study two novel CD36 gene mutations at the CD36 splicing sites found in Guangxi population, as well as the molecular basis and population incidence of them.@*METHODS@#DNA sequencing and cDNA clonal sequencing were used to detect CD36 exon sequence and the protein coding region sequence of CD36 mRNA for 2 CD36 deficient individuals (HHC and WGM) found in Guangxi population. Eukaryotic expression cell lines were established for the discovery of CD36 mRNA abnormal transcripts and Western blot assay was used to verify the effect of abnormal CD36 mRNA transcripts on CD36 expression. A DNA PCR-SSP genotyping method was established for the two CD36 novel mutations, and the population distribution was investigated among 110 CD36 deficient individuals in Guangxi region and 296 random individuals in Guangxi population.@*RESULTS@#Novel mutation of c.430 -1G>C was found at the CD36 splicing site in HHC and WGM individuals, and novel mutation of c.1006 +2T>G at the CD36 splicing site was also found in the WGM individual. CD36 cDNA clonal sequencing showed that CD36 c.430 -1G>C could lead to the production of the two CD36 mRNA transcript variants: c.429_430ins［430-17_430-2;C］(p.Ala144fsTer1) and c.430_609del(p.Ala144_Pro203del)(GenBank:HM 217023.1); and CD36 c.1006 +2T>G could lead to the production of CD36 mRNA transcript variant of c.819_1006 del (p.Ser274GlufsTer16) (GenBank: HM217025.1). It was verified that all the three transcript variants could lead to CD36 deficiency by establishment of eukaryotic expression cell lines and Western blot assay. A study of the population incidence of two novel CD36 splicing site mutations found showed that in 110 CD36 deficient individuals and in 296 random individuals in Guangxi region, the mutation rate of CD36 c.430 -1G>C was 10.91% (12/110) and 1.35% (4/296), respectively, while CD36 c.1006 +2T>G was 2.73% (3/110) and 0 (0/296), respectively.@*CONCLUSION@#This study identifies two novel CD36 mutations at CD36 splicing site, and preliminary clarified their molecular basis for the CD36 deficiency and the distribution characteristics in Guangxi population as well. It provides an experimental and theoretical basis for studying the molecular mechanism and characteristics of CD36 deficiency in Chinese population.

Seven-senescence-associated gene signature predicts overall survival for Asian patients with hepatocellular carcinoma.

BACKGROUND: Cellular senescence is a recognized barrier for progression of chronic liver diseases to hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC). The expression of a cluster of genes is altered in response to environmental factors during senescence. However, it is questionable whether these genes could serve as biomarkers for HCC patients. AIM: To develop a signature of senescence-associated genes (SAGs) that predicts patients' overall survival (OS) to improve prognosis prediction of HCC. METHODS: SAGs were identified using two senescent cell models. Univariate COX regression analysis was performed to screen the candidate genes significantly associated with OS of HCC in a discovery cohort (GSE14520) for the least absolute shrinkage and selection operator modelling. Prognostic value of this seven-gene signature was evaluated using two independent cohorts retrieved from the GEO (GSE14520) and the Cancer Genome Atlas datasets, respectively. Time-dependent receiver operating characteristic (ROC) curve analysis was conducted to compare the predictive accuracy of the seven-SAG signature and serum α-fetoprotein (AFP). RESULTS: A total of 42 SAGs were screened and seven of them, including KIF18B, CEP55, CIT, MCM7, CDC45, EZH2, and MCM5, were used to construct a prognostic formula. All seven genes were significantly downregulated in senescent cells and upregulated in HCC tissues. Survival analysis indicated that our seven-SAG signature was strongly associated with OS, especially in Asian populations, both in discovery and validation cohorts. Moreover, time-dependent ROC curve analysis suggested the seven-gene signature had a better predictive accuracy than serum AFP in predicting HCC patients' 1-, 3-, and 5-year OS. CONCLUSION: We developed a seven-SAG signature, which could predict OS of Asian HCC patients. This risk model provides new clinical evidence for the accurate diagnosis and targeted treatment of HCC.

Six-long non-coding RNA signature predicts recurrence-free survival in hepatocellular carcinoma.

BACKGROUND: Recent evidence shows that long non-coding RNAs (lncRNAs) are closely related to hepatogenesis and a few aggressive features of hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC). Increasing studies demonstrate that lncRNAs are potential prognostic factors for HCC. Moreover, several studies reported the combination of lncRNAs for predicting the overall survival (OS) of HCC, but the results varied. Thus, more effort including more accurate statistical approaches is needed for exploring the prognostic value of lncRNAs in HCC. AIM: To develop a robust lncRNA signature associated with HCC recurrence to improve prognosis prediction of HCC. METHODS: Univariate COX regression analysis was performed to screen the lncRNAs significantly associated with recurrence-free survival (RFS) of HCC in GSE76427 for the least absolute shrinkage and selection operator (LASSO) modelling. The established lncRNA signature was validated and developed in The Cancer Genome Atlas (TCGA) series using Kaplan-Meier curves. The expression values of the identified lncRNAs were compared between the tumor and non-tumor tissues. Pathway enrichment of these lncRNAs was conducted based on the significantly co-expressed genes. A prognostic nomogram combining the lncRNA signature and clinical characteristics was constructed. RESULTS: The lncRNA signature consisted of six lncRNAs: MSC-AS1, POLR2J4, EIF3J-AS1, SERHL, RMST, and PVT1. This risk model was significantly associated with the RFS of HCC in the TCGA cohort with a hazard ratio (HR) being 1.807 (95%CI [confidence interval]: 1.329-2.457) and log-rank P-value being less than 0.001. The best candidates of the six-lncRNA signature were younger male patients with HBV infection in relatively early tumor-stage and better physical condition but with higher preoperative alpha-fetoprotein. All the lncRNAs were significantly upregulated in tumor samples compared to non-tumor samples (P < 0.05). The most significantly enriched pathways of the lncRNAs were TGF-ß signaling pathway, cellular apoptosis-associated pathways, etc. The nomogram showed great utility of the lncRNA signature in HCC recurrence risk stratification. CONCLUSION: We have constructed a six-lncRNA signature for prognosis prediction of HCC. This risk model provides new clinical evidence for the accurate diagnosis and targeted treatment of HCC.

Gender differences in the relationship between sit-and-reach and body composition:a survey of college students in Guangxi Zhuang Autonomous Region / 中国组织工程研究

BACKGROUND: Studying the relationship between flexibility and body composition of college students is of great significance for enhancing the levels of physical health and sports. OBJECTIVE: To investigate the relationship between sit-and-reach and body composition of college students in Guangxi Zhuang Autonomous Region and differences between sexes. METHODS: Totally 2 175 students from a Guangxi university were randomly selected. Body composition was determined by the MC-180 body composition tester. The students were divided into four groups: ≤ 12.10 cm group,＞ 12.10-16.40 cm group,＞ 16.40-20.70 group and＞ 20.70 group according to quartile of sit-and-reach measured in accordance with the National Physical Health Test Standard. All data were processed by SPSS 22.0 software. RESULTS AND CONCLUSION: Sit-and-reach was significantly correlated with body mass index, percentage of body fat, fat-free mass index, upper limb lean mass and lower limb lean mass (P ＜ 0.05), and percentage of body fat was negatively correlated with sit-and-reach (P ＜ 0.05). The body mass index, fat-free mass index, upper limb lean mass and lower limb lean mass in the ≤ 12.10 cm group were significantly lower than those in the other groups. Fat-free mass index and upper limb lean mass were correlated with sit-and-reach in male college students (P ＜ 0.05). The fat-free mass index and upper limb lean mass in the＞ 16.40-20.70 cm group were significantly higher than those in the ≤ 12.10 cm group. Therefore, there is a positive correlation between the flexibility and fat-free mass index and upper limb lean mass in college students.

The predictive value of PNI for post-operative intra-abdominal infections in gerontal liver cancer patients / 中国实用外科杂志

OBJECTIVE: To investigate the predictive significance of prognostic nutritional index(PNI)for intraabdominal infections(IAIs)in gerontal liver cancer patients who received hepatectomy.METHODS: The clinical data of270 gerontal(age≥60 y)patients with primary liver cancer(PLC)who received hepatectomy in the First Affiliated Hospital of Xi' an Jiaotong University were retrospectively analyzed.Receiver operating characteristic curve(ROC),multivariate analysis and survival curve were used to conduct the predictive significance of preoperative PNI for IAIs.RESULTS: The incidence of IAIs was 12.59%(34/270)in this cohort.The cut-off value of preoperative PNI for the prediction of postoperative IAIs was 47.58(P0.05).CONCLUSION: Preoperative PNI determination has predictive value for postoperative IAIs in gerontal liver cancer patients who received hepatectomy.

Prognosis of patients with secondary organ dysfunction caused by intra-abdominal infections / 中国实用外科杂志

OBJECTIVE: To analyze the clinical characteristics and prognosis of patients with organ dysfunction secondary to intra-abdominal infections(IAIs).METHODS: 606 patients with organ dysfunction secondary to IAIs who admitted to the First Affiliated Hospital of Xi' an Jiaotong University from January 2014 to December 2017 were recruited for retrospective analysis.Demographic,treatment and outcome data of all patients were collected.Incidence,mortality,treatment and risk factors were adopted for reveal the prevalence of organ dysfunction secondary to IAIs.RESULTS: The morbidity and mortality of patients with organ dysfunction secondary to IAIs were 40.6% and 14.7%,respectively.The mortality rate increased with the number of dysfunctional organs.The univariate analysis results indicated that the number of dysfunctional organs,location of primary infection,continuous renal replacement therapy(CRRT) treatment,artificial liver support,presence of comorbidities,acute physiology and chronic health status(APACHEII)score,sequential organ failure(SOFA)score were associated with the prognosis.The multivariate analysis results showed that the number of dysfunctional organs,artificial liver support,APACHE Ⅱ score and SOFA score were risk factors for the prognosis of patients with organ dysfunction secondary to IAIs.CONCLUSION: The morbidity and mortality of organ dysfunction in IAIs were high.The number of dysfunctional organs,artificial liver support,APACHE Ⅱscore and SOFA score were risk factors for the prognosis of patients with organ dysfunction secondary to IAIs.

Devascularization of the superior mesenteric vein without reconstruction during surgery for retroperitoneal liposarcoma: A case report and review of literature.

A 61-year-old female patient with chronic hepatitis B virus infection was diagnosed with liposarcoma in a community hospital. Fine needle aspiration biopsy confirmed the diagnosis of well-differentiated liposarcoma. Abdominal computed tomographic angiography (CTA) showed that the mass adhered to and constricted the main trunk and branch of the superior mesenteric vein (SMV), especially the ileocolic vein, and collateral circulation was observed during the vascular reconstruction scan. The abdominal liposarcoma was resected. Because of the collateral circulation, devascularization of the SMV was attempted, and we resected the eroded SMV. The condition of the blood vessels was evaluated 20 d after surgery using CTA, which showed that the SMV had disappeared. Significant improvements in SMV collateral circulation and the inferior mesenteric vein were observed after vascular reconstruction. The patient had an uneventful postoperative course except for transient gastroplegia. Twenty months after surgery, the patient had a recurrence of liposarcoma. She underwent tumor resection to remove the distal small intestine and right hemicolon. We learned that (1) direct devascularization of the main SMV trunk without a vein graft is possible. The presence of collateral circulation can increase the success rate of patients undergoing radical surgery and prevent the occurrence of serious postoperative complications. In addition, (2) this case demonstrated the clinical value of 3D reconstruction.

Discussion on Treatment of Post-thyroidectomy Cough Based on Wind, Phlegm, Congestion, and Innutrition / 中国中医药信息杂志

The incidence of thyroid nodule is increasing day by day, and surgery is the main remedy at present. However, patients have a very high incidence of cough. Western medicine has no effective measures, while TCM has good efficacy. Combined with constitutions of thyroid patients and its unique postoperative changes, this article discussed the etiology and treatment of post-thyroidectomy cough from the aspects of "wind", "phlegm","congestion", and "innutrition".

A promising prediction model for survival in gallbladder carcinoma patients: pretreatment prognostic nutrient index.

The pretreatment nutritional and immunological status play indispensable roles in predicting the outcome of patients with various types of malignancies. The aim of the study was to investigate whether preoperative prognostic nutritional index (PNI), which simply accounts for nutritional and immunological status, was associated with overall survival (OS) in patients with gallbladder carcinoma (GBC). The retrospective study included a total of 315 GBC patients after surgery between 2002 and 2012. PNI was calculated according to the following formula: 10× serum albumin (g/dl) +0.005× total lymphocyte count (per mm3). A receiver operating characteristic (ROC) curve for survival prediction was plotted to verify the optimal cutoff value for LMR, which was set at 46.14. According the value, patients were categorized into two different groups, namely high-PNI group (n = 133) and low-PNI group (n = 182). The univariate and multivariate Cox regression models were used to identify the independent prognostic factors. The results showed that low pretreatment PNI value was significantly associated with elderly age, partial surgery procedure, and advanced tumor status such as tumor stage, node stage, and tumor-node-metastasis stage (P < 0.05). The low-PNI group had a worse OS compare with the high-PNI group (P < 0.05). Via univariate and multivariate analyses, pretreatment PNI was identified as an independent prognostic factor for OS [HR: 0.613; 95%CI: 0.448-0.838; P < 0.001]. Subgroup analyses further revealed that PNI was significantly associated with postoperative OS independent of tumor node metastasis stage and surgical procedure. In conclusion, pretreatment PNI might serve as an effective predictor to evaluate prognosis of GBC patients after surgery. Based on the findings, PNI, characterized with accessibility, objectivity and noninvasiveness, should be included in the routine assessment of GBC.

Prognostic significance of pretreatment albumin/globulin ratio in patients with hepatocellular carcinoma.

BACKGROUND: Pretreatment nutritional and immunological statuses play an indispensable role in predicting the outcome of patients with various types of malignancies. The purpose of this study is to evaluate the predictive value of albumin/globulin ratio (AGR) in overall survival (OS) and recurrence in patients with hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) following radical hepatic carcinectomy. PATIENTS AND METHODS: This retrospective study included a total of 172 patients with HCC with complete medical and follow-up information between 2002 and 2012. AGR was calculated according to the following formula: AGR = albumin/globulin. Receiver operating characteristic curve analysis was performed to determine the optimal cutoff value. The associations of AGR with clinicopathological characteristics and prognosis were assessed. Further multivariate analysis using Cox regression model and subgroup analysis was performed to evaluate the predictive value. RESULTS: Receiver operating characteristic curve determined 37.65, 31.99, and 1.48 as the optimal cutoff values of albumin, globulin, and AGR in terms of 5-year OS or death, respectively. On the basis of the cutoff value of AGR, all the patients were divided, respectively, into low-AGR (n=105) and high-AGR (n=67) groups. AGR was found to be significantly correlated with age, cancer embolus, international normalized ratio, and postoperative outcome (P<0.05). Hepatitis B virus infection (hazard ratio [HR]: 2.125; 95% confidence interval [CI]: 1.285-3.153), tumor node metastasis stage (HR: 1.656; 95% CI: 1.234-2.223), serum albumin (HR: 0.546; 95% CI: 0.347-0.857), and AGR (HR: 0.402; 95% CI: 0.233-0.691) were independent predictors of OS via univariate and multivariate survival analyses. However, alpha-fetoprotein (HR: 1.708; 95% CI: 1.027-2.838), tumor node metastasis stage (HR: 1.464; 95% CI: 1.078-1.989), and AGR (HR: 0.493; 95% CI: 0.293-0.828) functioned as independent risk variables for predicting recurrence. Moreover, AGR showed superior prognostic value for OS and recurrence in the subgroups with normal level of albumin or survival time beyond 6 months. CONCLUSION: Pretreatment AGR might serve as an effective biomarker to evaluate the prognosis of patients with a diagnosis of HCC. Based on the results, AGR, characterized with easy accessibility, objectivity, and noninvasiveness, should be included in the routine assessment of HCC.