Construction of preclinical evidence for propofol in the treatment of reperfusion injury after acute myocardial infarction: A systematic review and meta-analysis.

Propofol, a commonly used intravenous anesthetic, has demonstrated potential in protecting against myocardial ischemia/reperfusion injury (MIRI) based on preclinical animal studies. However, the clinical benefits of propofol in this context are subject to debate. We conducted a systematic search across eight databases to identify all relevant animal studies investigating the preventive effects of propofol on MIRI until October 30, 2023. We assessed the methodological quality of the included studies using SYRCLE's bias risk tool. Statistical analysis was performed using STATA 15.1. The primary outcome measures analyzed in this study were myocardial infarct size (IS) and myocardial injury biomarkers. This study presents a comprehensive analysis of 48 relevant animal studies investigating propofol's preventive effects on MIRI. Propofol administration demonstrated a reduction in myocardial IS and decreased levels of myocardial injury biomarkers (CK-MB, LDH, cTnI). Moreover, propofol improved myocardial function parameters (+dp/dtmax, -dP/dtmax, LVEF, LVFS), exhibited favorable effects on inflammatory markers (IL-6, TNF-α) and oxidative stress markers (SOD, MDA), and reduced myocardial cell apoptotic index (AI). These findings suggest propofol exerts cardioprotective effects by reducing myocardial injury, decreasing infarct size, and improving heart function. However, the absence of animal models that accurately represent comorbidities such as aging and hypertension, as well as inconsistent administration methods that align with clinical practice, may hinder its clinical translation. Further robust investigations are required to validate these findings, elucidate the underlying mechanisms of propofol, and facilitate its potential translation into clinical practice.

Anlotinib in patients with recurrent platinum resistant/refractory ovarian cancer: a prospective, single arm, phase II study.

OBJECTIVE: This study aimed to prospectively evaluate the efficacy and safety of anlotinib in patients with platinum resistant/refractory ovarian cancer. METHODS: In this prospective, single arm, phase II study, patients with platinum resistant/refractory ovarian cancer received anlotinib (12 mg once daily; days 1-14; 21 days per cycle) until disease progression, unacceptable toxicity, or study withdrawal. The study was conducted between May 2019 and May 2021. The primary endpoint was objective response rate. Secondary endpoints were disease control rate, progression free survival, overall survival, and safety. An exploratory biomarker analysis was performed to evaluate the correlation of baseline TP53 mutation status with outcomes. RESULTS: 33 of 34 enrolled patients received at least one dose of anlotinib. The objective response rate was 31.2% (95% confidence interval (CI) 16.1% to 50.0%), with 2 (6.3%) complete and 8 (25.0%) partial responses. In total, 14 (43.8%) patients achieved stable disease, resulting in a disease control rate of 75.0% (95% CI 56.6% to 88.5%). With a median follow-up of 4.6 months (range 0.5-17.2) at data cut-off (September 16, 2022), median progression free survival was 5.3 months (95% CI 4.04 to 6.56) and median overall survival was not reached. In a subgroup analysis, patients with a TP53 mutation showed a trend towards worse progression free survival than those with the wild-type TP53 (4.4 months vs 8.4 months; hazard ratio 2.48 (95% CI 0.91 to 6.76), p=0.067). Common adverse events were hypertension (42.4%), hand-foot syndrome (27.3%), and fatigue (24.2%). Grade 3 events were reported in 3 (9.1%) patients and no grade 4-5 events or deaths were observed. CONCLUSION: Anlotinib showed antitumor activity with an acceptable safety profile in patients with platinum resistant/refractory ovarian cancer, and it might be a potential treatment in this population.

Biology-guided deep learning predicts prognosis and cancer immunotherapy response.

Substantial progress has been made in using deep learning for cancer detection and diagnosis in medical images. Yet, there is limited success on prediction of treatment response and outcomes, which has important implications for personalized treatment strategies. A significant hurdle for clinical translation of current data-driven deep learning models is lack of interpretability, often attributable to a disconnect from the underlying pathobiology. Here, we present a biology-guided deep learning approach that enables simultaneous prediction of the tumor immune and stromal microenvironment status as well as treatment outcomes from medical images. We validate the model for predicting prognosis of gastric cancer and the benefit from adjuvant chemotherapy in a multi-center international study. Further, the model predicts response to immune checkpoint inhibitors and complements clinically approved biomarkers. Importantly, our model identifies a subset of mismatch repair-deficient tumors that are non-responsive to immunotherapy and may inform the selection of patients for combination treatments.

Efficacy and safety of acupuncture for pregnancy-related low back pain: A systematic review and meta-analysis.

Background: Pregnancy-related low back pain (PLBP) is a common musculoskeletal disorder, affecting people's physical and psychological health. Acupuncture is widely used in clinical practice as a treatment for PLBP. This study aimed to evaluate the efficacy and safety of acupuncture or acupuncture combined with other treatments for PLBP patients. Methods: The Cochrane Library, PubMed, EMBASE, Web of Science, the Chinese Biological Medicine Database, China National Knowledge Infrastructure, WanFang Database, and VIP information database were searched from inception to January 31, 2022. Randomized controlled trials (RCTs) were eligible, without blinding and language restriction. Cochrane's risk of bias tool was used to assess the methodological quality. Meta-analysis was performed using RevMan 5.3. Results: Twelve randomized controlled trials involving 1302 patients were included. The results showed that compared to the control group, the VAS score was significantly decreased after acupuncture treatment. In addition, no significant difference was found in the preterm delivery rate (RR = 0.38, 95%CI: 0.24 to 0.61, P = 0.97) after acupuncture treatment. Compared with other therapies, acupuncture or acupuncture plus other therapies revealed a significant increase in the effective rate (OR: 6.92, 95%CI: 2.44 to 19.67, I2 = 0%). No serious adverse events owing to acupuncture were reported. Conclusion: Acupuncture or acupuncture combined with other interventions was a safe and effective therapy for treating PLBP. However, the methodological quality of the RCTs was low. More rigorous and well-designed trials should be conducted.

Medical prediction from missing data with max-minus negative regularized dropout.

Missing data is a naturally common problem faced in medical research. Imputation is a widely used technique to alleviate this problem. Unfortunately, the inherent uncertainty of imputation would make the model overfit the observed data distribution, which has a negative impact on the model generalization performance. R-Drop is a powerful technique to regularize the training of deep neural networks. However, it fails to differentiate the positive and negative samples, which prevents the model from learning robust representations. To handle this problem, we propose a novel negative regularization enhanced R-Drop scheme to boost performance and generalization ability, particularly in the context of missing data. The negative regularization enhanced R-Drop additionally forces the output distributions of positive and negative samples to be inconsistent with each other. Especially, we design a new max-minus negative sampling technique that uses the maximum in-batch values to minus the mini-batch to yield the negative samples to provide sufficient diversity for the model. We test the resulting max-minus negative regularized dropout method on three real-world medical prediction datasets, including both missing and complete cases, to show the effectiveness of the proposed method.

Mental Distress and Professional Commitment among Chinese Medical Postgraduate Students: A Moderated Mediation of Psychological Capital and the Supervisor-Postgraduate Relationship.

This study determined the relationship between mental distress and professional commitment among medical postgraduate students, and the roles of psychological capital as a mediator and the supervisor-postgraduate relationship as a moderator. This cross-sectional study recruited 836 medical postgraduate students from eight medical universities and the medical college of comprehensive universities in Guangdong Province, China. Participants were assessed through questionnaires, which covered demographic items, the supervisor-postgraduate relationship scale, the psychological capital questionnaire, the symptom checklist - 90 (SCL -90), and the professional commitment scale. We used descriptive statistics to describe demographics and mental distress and professional commitment scores. Pearson's analysis was used to identify correlations between the variables and the SPSS PROCESS macro was performed to confirm mediating and moderating effects of psychological capital and the supervisor-postgraduate relationship. Mental distress was negatively related with professional commitment (r = -0.262, p < 0.01) and psychological capital (r = -0.442, p < 0.01). Psychological capital was positively associated with professional commitment (r = 0.486, p < 0.01). The confidence interval (CI) suggested that psychological capital mediated the relationship between mental distress and professional commitment (95% CI, -0.198 to - 0.143), and the supervisor-postgraduate relationship had a moderate role between psychological capital and professional commitment (95% CI, 0.069 to -0.212). Hence, educators may refer to these findings to improve professional commitment level among medical postgraduate students.

Acupuncture for protracted opioid abstinence syndrome: study protocol for a systematic review and meta-analysis.

INTRODUCTION: Protracted opioid abstinence syndrome (POAS) refers to a series of physical discomforts and neuropsychiatric symptoms after discontinuation of opioid-type substances for a certain amount of time and is one of the main causes of relapse. Studies have shown that acupuncture is effective in the treatment of POAS. We plan to conduct this systematic review and meta-analysis to assess the efficacy and safety of acupuncture for POAS. METHODS AND ANALYSIS: A comprehensive search of studies will be carried out in the following databases from inception to 31 January 2023: Web of Science, Embase, PubMed, Chinese Biology Medicine, China National Knowledge Infrastructure, Wan Fang Database and Chinese Scientific Journal Database (VIP). WHO International Clinical Trials Registry Platform, ClinicalTrials.gov and Chinese Clinical Trial Registry will also be searched for ongoing relevant trials, and 'grey literatures' will be identified from GreyNet International, OpenGrey and Google Scholar. Randomised controlled trials regarding acupuncture therapy for treatment of POAS will be included. The primary outcome is the severity of protracted withdrawal symptoms. Two reviewers will screen studies using the inclusion criteria, extract data and assess the risk of bias, respectively. The quality of evidence will be assessed using the Grading of Recommendations, Assessment, Development and Evaluation. Data synthesis will be performed using RevMan V.5.4.1. ETHICS AND DISSEMINATION: This study will not invade patients' personal privacy, and so ethical review is not required. The results will be disseminated in a peer-reviewed journal. PROSPERO REGISTRATION NUMBER: CRD42022382978.

Readiness for return-to-work model-based analysis of return-to-work perception of young and middle-aged colorectal cancer patients with stoma in the early postoperative period: a descriptive qualitative study.

PURPOSE: With an increase in the number of young and middle-aged colorectal cancer (CRC) patients with stoma, understanding their perception about return to work (RTW) in the early postoperative period can guide medical professionals to provide appropriate rehabilitation strategies, which can eventually improve patients' readiness for return to work (RRTW) and enable them to achieve final rehabilitation. The present study aimed to investigate the RTW-related perceptions and considerations of young and middle-aged CRC patients with stoma after surgery. METHODS: From 2021 to 2022, we conducted a basic interpretive qualitative study involving semi-structured interviews with 17 CRC patients with stoma in two grade 3A hospitals in China. This study was based on the RRTW model. Data collection was continued until data saturation was reached, and all data were transcribed verbatim and analyzed by Colaizzi's phenomenological method. RESULTS: The following three key themes were identified: (1) self-efficacy; (2) decision balance; and (3) change process. Eight subthemes were formulated that were included within the respective main themes. CONCLUSION: In light of the current low self-efficacy and unsatisfactory willingness of patients with stoma about RTW, we suggest that medical staff should implement cognitive intervention and supportive interventions to improve self-efficacy, actively enhance the motivation of patients for RTW, and simultaneously resolve the pertinent difficulties; this could help patients to accept the positive change process and enable their successful transition from a change process to RTW.

Natural products modulate cell apoptosis: a promising way for treating endometrial cancer.

Endometrial cancer (EC) is a prevalent epithelial malignancy in the uterine corpus's endometrium and myometrium. Regulating apoptosis of endometrial cancer cells has been a promising approach for treating EC. Recent in-vitro and in-vivo studies show that numerous extracts and monomers from natural products have pro-apoptotic properties in EC. Therefore, we have reviewed the current studies regarding natural products in modulating the apoptosis of EC cells and summarized their potential mechanisms. The potential signaling pathways include the mitochondria-dependent apoptotic pathway, endoplasmic reticulum stress (ERS) mediated apoptotic pathway, the mitogen-activated protein kinase (MAPK) mediated apoptotic pathway, NF-κB-mediated apoptotic pathway, PI3K/AKT/mTOR mediated apoptotic pathway, the p21-mediated apoptotic pathway, and other reported pathways. This review focuses on the importance of natural products in treating EC and provides a foundation for developing natural products-based anti-EC agents.

Acupuncture for protracted amphetamine abstinence syndrome: study protocol for a systematic review and meta-analysis.

INTRODUCTION: Amphetamine-type stimulants (ATSs) are presenting a great challenge to global public health along with its worldwide abuse in recent years. Protracted amphetamine abstinence syndrome (PAAS) is one of the primary causes of relapse for ATS abusers during withdrawal. However, different conclusions are reached by previous trials. This study is designed to evaluate the efficacy and safety of acupuncture in treating PAAS. METHODS AND ANALYSIS: Cochrane Central Register of Controlled Trials, PubMed, Embase, Web of Science, Cumulative Index to Nursing and Allied Health Literature (CINAHL), PsycINFO, ProQuest Dissertation and Theses, Allied and Complementary Medicine Database (AMED), ClinicalTrials.gov and who.int/trialsearch will be searched from the inception to February 2023 and language will be restricted to English and Chinese. Eligible randomised controlled trials will be included. The primary outcome is the intensity of withdrawal syndrome. The secondary outcomes include: (1) intensity of pain, anxiety, depression and other associated symptoms; (2) number of participants with relapse; (3) retention of treatment and (4) nature and rate of adverse effects. Data synthesis will be performed by using RevMan (V.5.4). The quality of evidence will be evaluated by the Grading of Recommendations, Assessment, Development and Evaluation approach. This study will strictly adhere to the Preferred Reporting Items for Systematic Review and Meta-Analysis guidelines. ETHICS AND DISSEMINATION: Ethical approval is not required as this is a systematic review and meta-analysis based on previously published studies that do not involve patients' privacy. The results of this study will be disseminated in a peer-reviewed journal. PROSPERO REGISTRATION NUMBER: CRD42022297761.

Efficacy and safety of apatinib in patients with recurrent uterine malignancy: a prospective, single-center, single-arm, phase 2 study.

Background: Apatinib, a small-molecule tyrosine kinase inhibitor that selectively targets vascular endothelial growth factor receptor-2, has clinical activity in recurrent/advanced gynecological cancers. However, its efficacy in uterine malignancy remains unclear. This study aimed to determine the efficacy and safety of single-agent apatinib in patients with recurrent uterine malignancy. Methods: This is a prospective single-center, single-arm, phase 2 study that enrolled patients aged 18-70 years with histopathologically confirmed recurrent endometrial cancer (EC) and recurrent uterine sarcoma (US), received at least 2 chemotherapy regimens, and an Eastern Cooperative Group performance status of 0-1. Apatinib (500 mg) was administered orally once daily. A treatment cycle was defined as 4 weeks. The patients were followed up every 2 cycles for tumor radiological assessment until disease progression. The primary endpoint was the overall response rate (ORR). The secondary endpoints were progression-free survival (PFS) and overall survival (OS). Adverse events (AEs) were recorded throughout the treatment and within 30 days of the last study treatment and graded as per the National Cancer Institute Common Toxicity Criteria Version 4.0. Results: A total of 33 patients (22 with EC and 11 with US) were enrolled between October 2018 and April 2021. Median follow-up duration was 11.7 months (interquartile range: 6.8-32.5 months). The patients received apatinib for a median of 4.79 cycles (range 2-13 cycles). In the EC and US cohorts, the ORRs were 27.2% [95% confidence interval (CI), 10.7% to 50.2%] and 9.1% (95% CI, 0.2% to 41.3%), the median PFS were 4.4 months (95% CI, 4.2 to 6.7 months) and 7.0 months (95% CI, 3.2 to 11.6 months), and the median OS were 11.7 months (95% CI, 6.8 months to not reached) and 18.1 months (95% CI, 9.2 months to not reached), respectively. The most common treatment-related AEs of all grades were hypertension (36.4%), proteinuria (33.3%), and hand-foot syndrome (30.3%). No treatment-related serious AEs or deaths occurred. Conclusions: To our knowledge, this is the first prospective study assessing the efficacy and safety of apatinib in patients with uterine malignancy. The results suggested that apatinib might be a potential treatment option for these patients.

Image-mode performance characterisation of a positron emission tomography subsystem designed for Biology-guided radiotherapy (BgRT).

OBJECTIVES: In this study, we characterise the imaging-mode performance of the positron emission tomography (PET) subsystem of the RefleXion X1 machine using the NEMA NU-2 2018 standard. METHODS: The X1 machine consists of two symmetrically opposing 900 arcs of PET detectors incorporated into the architecture of a ring-gantry linear accelerator rotating up to 60 RPM. PET emissions from a tumour are detected by the PET detectors and used to guide the delivery of radiation beam. Imaging performance of the PET subsystem on X1 machine was evaluated based on sensitivity of the PET detectors, spatial resolution, count-loss performance, image quality, and daily system performance check. RESULTS: PET subsystem sensitivity was measured as 0.183 and 0.161 cps/kBq at the center and off-center positions, respectively. Spatial resolution: average FWHM values of 4.3, 5.1, and 6.7 mm for the point sources at 1, 10, and 20 cm off center, respectively were recorded. For count loss, max NECR: 2.63 kcps, max true coincidence rate: 5.56 kcps, and scatter fraction: 39.8%. The 10 mm sphere was not visible. Image-quality contrast values were: 29.6%, 64.9%, 66.5%, 81.8%, 81.2%, and background variability: 14.8%, 12.4%, 10.3%, 8.8%, 8.3%, for the 13, 17, 22, 28, 37 mm sphere sizes, respectively. CONCLUSIONS: When operating in an imaging mode, the spatial resolution and image contrast of the X1 PET subsystem were comparable to those of typical diagnostic imaging systems for large spheres, while the sensitivity and count rate were lower due to the significantly smaller PET detector area in the X1 system. Clinical efficacy when used in BgRT remains to be validated. ADVANCES IN KNOWLEDGE: This is the first performance evaluation of the PET subsystem on the novel BgRT machine. The dual arcs rotating PET subsystem on RefleXion X1 machine performance is comparable to those of the typical diagnostic PET system based on the spatial resolution and image contrast for larger spheres.

A scoping review of deep learning in cancer nursing combined with augmented reality: The era of intelligent nursing is coming.

Artificial intelligence has been developing greatly in the field of medicine. As a new research hotspot of artificial intelligence, deep learning (DL) has been widely applied in the fields of cancer risk assessment, symptom recognition, and cancer detection. Therefore, nursing care issues in terms of consuming time and energy, lower accuracy, and lower efficiency can be solved with applying DL in caring cancer patients. In addition, augmented reality (AR) has great navigation potential through combining computer-generated virtual elements with the real world. Thus, DL â€‹+ â€‹AR may facilitate patients with cancer to possess a brand-new model of nursing care that is more intelligent, mobile, and adapted to the information age, compared to traditional nursing. With the advent of the era of intelligent nursing, future nursing models can not only learn from the DL â€‹+ â€‹AR model to meet the needs of patients with cancer but also reduce nursing workload, save healthcare resources, and improve work efficiency, the quality of nursing care, as well as the quality of life for cancer patients.

Characterization of hotspot exonuclease domain mutations in the DNA polymerase ϵ gene in endometrial cancer.

Objective: This study was aimed to profile hotspot exonuclease domain mutations (EDMs) of the DNA polymerase ϵ gene (POLE) in endometrial cancer (EC) and to investigate the effects of EDMs on tumor cell behavior and catalytic activities of Polϵ. Methods: POLE sequencing was performed in tumor tissue samples from patients with EC to identify hotspot EDMs. Bioinformatics tools were used to select the potential pathogenic EDMs. The association of EDMs with the clinical outcomes of patients was assessed. EC cells were transfected with wildtype POLE or POLE variants to examine the effects of the EDMs on EC cell behavior, including cell cycle, migration, and invasion. Co-immunoprecipitation was employed to obtain FLAG-tagged wildtype and mutant catalytic subunits of Polϵ, followed by the assessment of polymerase and exonuclease activities. Results: In addition to previously reported P286R and V411L, R375Q and P452L were identified as novel, and deleterious POLE hotspot EDMs of EC. Patients in EDM group had significantly better clinical outcomes than the rest of the cohort. Compared with wildtype POLE, overexpression of POLE variants promoted cisplatin resistance, G0/G1 cell cycle arrest, and cell migration and invasion in EC cells. Overexpression of POLE variants significantly increased the abundance of 3'-OH and upregulated the expression of DNA mismatch repair genes in HEK293T cells. Compared with wildtype Polϵ, Pol ϵ mutants exhibited undermined polymerase and exonuclease abilities in the presence of mismatched nucleotides in HEK293 cells. Conclusion: We characterized the of hotspot exonuclease domain mutations in the DNA polymerase ϵ gene and identified P286R, V411L, R375Q, and P452L as pathogenic POLE hotspot EDMs in endometrial cancer. These hotspot EDMs are associated with the malignant behavior of endometrial cancer cells in vitro and favorable prognosis in patients, suggesting that POLE affects a wide range of cellular processes beyond DNA replication and proofreading.

The CX-DZ-II intelligent electronic stimulator for neck pain caused by cervical spondylosis: A two-center, randomized, controlled, and non-inferiority trial.

Background: Electroacupuncture (EA) has been commonly used for the management of neck pain caused by cervical spondylosis (NPCS); however, current electrical instruments have limitations on intelligence, digitalization, and visualization. The intelligent electronic stimulator (CX-DZ-II) is a digital device with an evidence-based diagnosis and treatment system. This study aimed to investigate the efficacy and safety of the CX-DZ-II intelligent EA instrument for NPCS. Materials and Methods: A total of 164 patients with NPCS [mean age (SD), 49.48 (13.47) years] were randomly assigned to receive 8 sessions (over 2 weeks) EA of the intelligent electronic stimulator (CX-DZ-II) or the regular electronic stimulator (SDZ-II). The primary outcome was the change of the visual analog scale (VAS) from baseline to 2 weeks of treatment. Secondary outcomes included mean scores of the VAS after each treatment in 1 week, responder rate, drug-usage rate of non-steroidal antipyretic analgesics (NSAAs), the occurrence rate of adverse events (AEs), proportions of apparatus with defect during treatment, and excellent rate of apparatus. Results: The intelligent electronic stimulator (CX-DZ-II) was non-inferior to the regular electronic stimulator (SDZ-II) for changes from baseline in the VAS [3.36 vs. 3.23, with a difference of 0.17 (95% CI, -0.36 to 0.69), P < 0.025 for non-inferiority]. No between-group differences were found in outcomes of VAS in 1 week, overall responders, and drug-usage rate of NSAAs. The defect rate and excellent rate of the instrument were similar in the CX-DZ-II and SDZ-II groups. Adverse events occurred in 9 (10.84%) patients in the CX-DZ-II group and 4 (5.00%) patients in the SDZ-II group. Conclusion: The intelligent electronic stimulator (CX-DZ-II) was non-inferior to the regular electronic stimulator (SDZ-II) in relieving neck pain. The intelligent electronic stimulator (CX-DZ-II) is a promising non-inferior alternative instrument for NPCS. Clinical Trial Registration: [https://clinicaltrials.gov/], identifier [NCT030 05301].

Posttreatment FDG-PET/CT Hopkins criteria predict locoregional recurrence after definitive radiotherapy for oropharyngeal squamous cell carcinoma.

BACKGROUND: Metabolic response assessment for oropharyngeal squamous cell carcinoma (OPSCC) aids in identifying locoregional persistence/recurrence (LRR). The Hopkins Criteria are a standardized qualitative response assessment system using posttreatment FDG-PET/CT. METHODS: We conducted a retrospective cohort study of patients with node-positive OPSCC treated with definitive (chemo)radiotherapy. We assessed Hopkins Criteria performance for LRR, then developed and validated a competing-risks model. RESULTS: Between 2004 and 2018, 259 patients were included with median follow-up of 43 months. The Hopkins Criteria sensitivity, specificity, negative predictive value, and accuracy were 68%, 88%, 95%, and 85%. The 36-month cumulative incidence of LRR was greater with positive scores (45% vs. 5%, HR 12.60, p < 0.001). PET/CTs performed ≤10 weeks after radiotherapy were associated with a four-fold increase in pathologically negative biopsies/surgeries (36% vs. 9%, p = 0.03). The AUC for LRR was 0.89 using a model integrating the Hopkins score. CONCLUSIONS: The Hopkins Criteria predict LRR with high accuracy for OPSCC response assessment.

Hysteroscopic Curettage Followed by Megestrol Acetate Plus Metformin as a Fertility-Sparing Treatment for Women with Atypical Endometrial Hyperplasia or Well-Differentiated Endometrioid Endometrial Carcinoma.

Background: In reproductive-aged women, the incidence of atypical endometrial hyperplasia (AEH) or endometrioid endometrial carcinoma (EEC) is rising globally. The study aimed to investigate the effectiveness of hysteroscopic curettage followed by megestrol acetate (MA) plus metformin as conservative treatment in AEH and early EEC. Methods: We retrospectively studied AEH and stage IA, grade 1 EEC patients treated with hysteroscopic curettage followed by MA (160 mg/d) plus metformin (1500 mg/d) from January 2010 to December 2020 at Fudan University Shanghai Cancer Center. Treatment outcomes were assessed by complete response (CR) rate, recurrence rate, and pregnancy outcomes. Univariate and multivariate analyses were performed via the logistic regression model. Results: The study included 79 patients, 31 (39.2%) with AEH and 48 (60.8%) with EEC. The medians of age (years) and follow-up time (months) were 30 and 39.5, respectively. Seventy-six patients (96.2%) finally achieved CR. The median time to CR was 3.6 (3.0-20.6) months. The CR rate after 3 months, 6 months, and 1 year was 55 (69.6%), 67 (84.8%), and 72 (91.1%), respectively. Recurrence occurred in 26 (34.2%) patients. Treatment duration ⩾9 months was associated with a lower recurrence rate after CR (P = .012). Fourteen (93.3%) of the 15 recurrent patients who received progestin re-treatment achieved CR again. Finally, 29 patients delivered live births. Conclusions: Hysteroscopy followed by MA plus metformin can achieve CR in short time and is overall safe. Consolidation treatment should be prolonged to decrease the recurrence rate, despite a shorter time to CR.

Electro-acupuncture for protracted amphetamine abstinence syndrome: study protocol for a pragmatic randomized controlled trial.

BACKGROUND: Protracted amphetamine abstinence syndrome is one of the primary causes of relapse for amphetamine-type drug abusers during withdrawal. However, the importance of the management of protracted amphetamine abstinence syndrome is underestimated. Electro-acupuncture may be a safe and effective alternative therapy for protracted amphetamine abstinence syndrome, but the evidence is limited. METHODS: The study is a prospective, two-center, randomized, waitlist controlled, open-label pragmatic trial. A total of 300 patients with protracted amphetamine abstinence syndrome will be recruited. All participants will be randomly assigned to an electro-acupuncture group or a waitlist group in a 1:1 ratio. Participants in the electro-acupuncture group will receive the electrical-acupuncture treatment. Waitlist group participants will not receive electro-acupuncture treatment but will be assessed at each visit. Treatments will be administered twice a week for a total of 4 consecutive weeks. The primary outcome in this study is the change in the ACSA between baseline (week 0) and the completion of treatment (week 4), and the secondary outcomes are changes in the Hamilton Depression Scale (HAMD), the visual analog scale (VAS), the Hamilton Anxiety Scale (HAMA), the Pittsburgh Sleep Quality Index (PSQI), the Montreal Cognitive Assessment (MoCA), and the Medical Outcomes Study 36-item Short-Form Health Survey (SF-36). DISCUSSION: This study will assess the effectiveness of acupuncture in PAAS in real-world settings to provide support for clinical decisions and a basis for subsequent trials comparing acupuncture with other positive regimens. TRIAL REGISTRATION: ClinicalTrials.gov ChiCTR2000040619 . Registered on 3 December 2020.

Inhibition of Myocardial Cell Apoptosis Is Important Mechanism for Ginsenoside in the Limitation of Myocardial Ischemia/Reperfusion Injury.

Ischemic heart disease has a high mortality, and the recommended therapy is reperfusion. Nevertheless, the restoration of blood flow to ischemic tissue leads to further damage, namely, myocardial ischemia/reperfusion injury (MIRI). Apoptosis is an essential pathogenic factor in MIRI, and ginsenosides are effective in inhibiting apoptosis and alleviating MIRI. Here, we reviewed published studies on the anti-apoptotic effects of ginsenosides and their mechanisms of action in improving MIRI. Each ginsenoside can regulate multiple pathways to protect the myocardium. Overall, the involved apoptotic pathways include the death receptor signaling pathway, mitochondria signaling pathway, PI3K/Akt signaling pathway, NF-κB signaling pathway, and MAPK signaling pathway. Ginsenosides, with diverse chemical structures, regulate different apoptotic pathways to relieve MIRI. Summarizing the effects and mechanisms of ginsenosides contributes to further mechanism research studies and structure-function relationship research studies, which can help the development of new drugs. Therefore, we expect that this review will highlight the importance of ginsenosides in improving MIRI via anti-apoptosis and provide references and suggestions for further research in this field.