Effect of Head Meridian Massage Combined with Auricular Acupoint Plaster on Patients with Insomnia

Objective:To study the effect of head meridian massage combined with auricular acupoint plasters on patients with insomnia.Methods:The sample consisted of 50 cases,and all of them were admitted to Yixing Hospital of Traditional Chinese Medicine from January 2022 to December 2023.The patients were divided into an observation group and a control group,with 25 cases in each group.The observation group was treated with a combination of head meridian massage and auricular acupoint plaster while the control group underwent conventional nursing care.The improvement of sleep quality and nursing effect were used as evaluation criteria to compare the clinical effects of the nursing programs.Results:After nursing intervention,the Pittsburgh sleep quality index(PSQI)score of the observation group,which was 7.17±1.41 points was lower than that of the control group(9.04±1.96 points),(t=3.8724,P<0.05).The total efficacy was 96.00%for the observation group and 76.00%for the control group(2=4.1528,P<0.05).Conclusion:Head meridian massage combined with auricular acupoint can improve the sleep quality of patients with insomnia.

The history of interventional therapy for liver cancer in China

In China interventional therapy of liver cancer started in the 1980s. It is well-known that Professor Lin Gui is the founding father of Interventional radiology. Under the leadership of Lin Gui and other professors, interventional therapy of liver cancer has swiftly progressed in China. Indeed, TAI, TAE, TACE and ablation therapy have witnessed great innovations in hardware facil ities, technical means, and therapeutic philosophy, while incorporating Chinese characteristics. As with the development of combined interventional therapy in China, interventional treatment of liver cancer has gradually started the process of precision and individualization. Actually, multidisciplinary, multimodal, and polymorphic treatments will be the most suitable pattern for liver cancer in the future, among which combination of interventional therapy with targeted, immunological treatments and information technology(IT) tools may bring a revolutionary breakthrough in liver cancer treatment.

Inhibitive effect of triptolide on invasiveness of human fibrosarcoma cells by downregulating matrix metalloproteinase-9 expression

Objective:To explore the molecular mechanisms of antitumor properties of triptolide,a bioactive component isolated from the Chinese herb Tripterygium wolfordii Hook F.Methods:Human fibrosarcoma HT-1080 cells were treated with different doses of triptolide for 72 h.Then the expression and activity of matrix metalloproteinase(MMP)-2 and -9 were measured and the invasiveness of triptolide-treated HT-1080 cells was compared with that of anti-MMP-9- treated HT-1080 cells.Results:18 nmol/L triptolide inhibited the gene expression and activity of MMP-9,but not those of MMP-2,in HT-1080 cells.In addition,both 18 nmol/L triptolide and 3μg/mL anti-MMP-9 significantly reduced the invasive potential of HT-1080 cells,by about 50%and 35%, respectively,compared with the control.Whereas there was no significant difference between the effect of 18 nmol/L triptolide and that of anti-MMP-9 on invasive potential of HT-1080 cells. Conclusions:These data suggest that triptolide inhibits tumor cell invasion partly by reducing MMP-9 gene expression and activity.

Superselective transcatheter arterial embolization to control renal hemorrhage after partial nephrectomy for renal tumors:A report of 9 cases and a literature review

Objective:This study aimed to evaluate the efficacy and safety of selective arterial embolization for hemorrhage after renal surgery and to summarize the clinical experience.Materials and methods:A total of 9 patients underwent arterial embolization after partial nephrectomy from 2010 to 2018.Results:Technical success was achieved in all patients;however,3 patients underwent a secondary arterial embolization because of short-term re-hemorrhage or the co-occurrence of accessory renal arterial hemorrhage.No serious complications occurred during the follow-up.Conclusions:Superselective arterial embolization is an effective and minimally invasive treatment for hemorrhage after partial nephrectomy.To improve the success rate of surgery,attention should be paid to the evaluation of accessory renal arteries and the management of suspected bleeding arteries.

Transcatheter arterial chemoembolization combined with simultaneous cone beam computed tomography-guided multipolar microwave ablation for massive hepatocellular carcinoma(≥10 cm):Safety and primary clinical results

Purpose:To explore the safety and clinical efficacy of transcatheter arterial chemoembolization(TACE)combined with simultaneous cone beam computed tomography(CBCT)-guided multipolar microwave ablation(MWA)in the treatment of massive hepatocellular carcinoma(HCC).Materials and methods:Records of nine patients who underwent TACE combined with simultaneous CBCT-guided multipolar MWA for massive HCC,between January and June 2015,were retrospectively reviewed.Technical success rate,blood levels of liver function indicators,complications,and tumor response one month after treatmentwere investigated.Results:The technical success rate of TACE combined with simultaneous MWA was 100%.The mean procedure time was 195.0 min(range,125-350 min),the mean hospital stay after the treatment was 4.0±1.0 days(range,3-7 days),and no serious complications occurred.Minor complications were experienced by some patients but were relieved after conservative treatment.One month after treatment,enhanced CT revealed a complete response rate of 66.7%(6/9),a partial response rate of 22.2%(2/9),and a stable disease rate of 11.1%(1/9).Mild and reversible injury of liver function occurred in these patients.Conclusion:TACE combined with simultaneous CBCT-guided MWA for massive HCC was feasible and safe,and yielded a high response rate.

Serum midkine levels for the diagnosis and assessment of response to interventional therapy in patients with hepatocellular carcinoma

Objective:To explore the clinical significance of serum midkine(MDK) levels for the diagnosis of hepatocellular carcinoma(HCC) and evaluate the efficacy of interventional therapy.Methods:Eighty-four patients with HCC were enrolled in this retrospective study.They received an interventional treatment.A follow-up was performed every 2 months,using magnetic resonance imaging,to determine whether the treatment should be continued.Serum alpha-fetoprotein(AFP) and MDK levels were measured at the first diagnosis and during the follow-ups,and the HCC detection rates based on the cutoff values of these two measurements were compared.The relationships between AFP and MDK and the clinical tumor characteristics and changes in APK and MDK before and after treatment were also compared using a rank sum test and χ2 test,respectively.The prognostic significance of MDK for HCC was determined through regression analysis.A twosided P <0.05 was considered statistically significant.Results:MDK expression was detected in 95.24% of the cases.Subgroup analysis revealed MDK expression in95.35%,95.12%,85.19%,86.67%,and 83.33% of the AFP-positive,AFP-negative,stage A Barcelona clinic liver cancer(BCLC-A),BCLC-A/AFP-positive,and BCLC-A/AFP-negative cases,respectively.MDK expression after the interventional treatment(66.7%) was significantly lower than that before the treatment(95.2%).The mean posttreatment MDK level was 0.67 ng/mL in patients with a positive response to therapy as compared with 3.66 ng/mL in those with no positive response.All patients were followed up for 18 months,and those positive for MDK expression before the intervention were more likely to relapse than patients without MDK expression.Subgroup analysis revealed the highest recurrence rate for patients who were positive for MDK expression before and after treatment.Conclusions:Serum MDK may serve as a powerful complement to AFP in the diagnosis of HCC.MDK measurement may improve the detection rate of BCLC-A and AFP-negative HCC.Serum MDK may help to determine the vascular invasion and poor clinical staging of HCC tumors.Patients with MDK-positive HCC before treatment may be more prone to postoperative tumor progression.

Computed tomography-guided radiofrequency ablation of the retained iodized oil after simultaneous combination with transarterial embolization in small recurrent or residual hepatocellular carcinoma

Objective:To assess the clinical efficacy and safety of transarterial embolization(TAE)in simultaneous combination with computed tomography(CT)-guided radiofrequency ablation(RFA)for recurrent or residual hepatocellular carcinoma(HCC),and to determine the risk factors influencing local tumor progression following this procedure.Methods:One hundred eighteen patients with recurrent or residual HCC(tumor size,10–30 mm)underwent RFA.During the 19-month follow-up,59 patients received RFA only(RFA group),and the remaining 59 received RFA immediately after TAE(TAE+RFA group).All patients were followed up to observe the short-term therapeutic effects and complications.The cumulative local tumor progression rates in both groups were calculated using unpaired Student’s t tests and the Kaplan-Meier method.Results:The rate of major complications was 5.08%in the TAE+RFA group and 3.39%in the RFA group.The overall response rate was 96.61%in the TAE+RFA group and 79.66%in the RFA group(P=0.008).The disease control rate was significantly higher in the TAE+RFA group than in the RFA group(94.92%vs.79.66%,P=0.024).The median time to local tumor progression was 4.8 months in the RFA group and 9.6 months in the TAE+RFA group.The cumulative local tumor progression rate at 1 year was 10.60%in the RFA group and 23.60%in the TAE+RFA group(P=0.016).Conclusion:TAE in simultaneous combination with CT-guided RFA was effective and safe against recurrent or residual HCC.Local tumor progression can be minimized by the complete ablation of targeted iodized oil deposits after simultaneous TAE.

Evaluation of a resoruf in-based fluorescent probe for tyrosinase detection in skin pigmentation disorders

Purpose Skin pigmentation disorders,such as vitiligo and melasma,are difficult to diagnose in the early stages,but abnor-mal tyrosinase levels and tyrosinase activity are potential indicators.Some resorufin-based fluorescence probes(RBFPs)have been designed to detect tyrosinase in tumors,but they have not been used in skin pigmentation disorders.In this study,one of these RBFPs(synthesized by resorufin salt coupled with 3-(bromomethyl)phenol)was evaluated comprehensively.Methods The RBFP was tested in different kinds of mouse and human skin cells,as well as in in vivo models,including zebrafish,guinea pigs,and Sprague-Dawley rats.In addition,small interfering RNAs(siRNAs),kojic acid,and 1-phenyl-2-thiourea(PTU)were used to inhibit tyrosinase levels or tyrosinase activity.Results This probe successfully detected tyrosinase and emitted red fluorescence in melanoma cells and melanocytes.Fluorescence was also observable in zebrafish and on the skin of guinea pigs when using the RBFP.In mouse and human cells,the RBFP showed good selectivity to tyrosinase.Moreover,in the case of decreased tyrosinase levels or activity caused by siRNAs,kojic acid,or PTU,the probe was sensitive to these changes.Further,the RBFP showed no toxic effects at concentrations of<20μmol/L,both in vitro and in vivo.Conclusions Our findings indicate the value and limitations of the RBFP in tyrosinase detection,but suggest the need for further improvement of fluorescent probes in the diagnosis of skin pigmentation disorders.

Effectiveness and Safety of Splenic Micro-wave Ablation Combined with Hepatic Ar-terial Chemoembolization for Hepatocellular Carcinoma Associated with Hypersplenism: A Prospective Study in 5 Patients

The aim was to prospectively evaluate the efficacy and safety of splenic microwave ablation (MWA) combined with transcatheter hepatic arterial chemoembolization (TACE) in treatment of hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) associated with hypersplenism. Five patients suffering from primary HCC associated with hypersplenism caused by cirrhosis were received MWA combined with TACE. Follow-up examinations included calculation of peripheral blood cells (leukocytes, platelets and red blood cells) and treatment-associated complications. After treatment, leukocyte and platelet counts were significantly higher (P < 0.05) than prior-treatment. Right upper quadrant pain occurred in 3 patients, fever occurred in 4 patients, and mild nausea & vomiting occurred in 3 patients. Complications such as pleural effusion, ascites, bacterial peritonitis, and variceal bleeding did not occur after treatment. So, MWA combined with TACE is effective and safe for the patients with HCC associated with hypersplenism caused by cirrhosis.

SARS-CoV-2 nucleocapsid protein phase separates with G3BPs to disassemble stress granules and facilitate viral production

A key to tackling the coronavirus disease 2019(COVID-19)pandemic is to understand how severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2(SARS-Co V-2)manages to outsmart host antiviral defense mechanisms.Stress granules(SGs),which are assembled during viral infection and function to sequester host and viral m RNAs and proteins,are part of the antiviral responses.Here,we show that the SARS-Co V-2 nucleocapsid(N)protein,an RNA binding protein essential for viral production,interacted with RasGTPase-activating protein SH3-domain-binding protein(G3 BP)and disrupted SG assembly,both of which require intrinsically disordered region1(IDR1)in N protein.The N protein partitioned into SGs through liquid-liquid phase separation with G3 BP,and blocked the interaction of G3 BP1 with other SG-related proteins.Moreover,the N protein domains important for phase separation with G3 BP and SG disassembly were required for SARS-Co V-2 viral production.We propose that N protein-mediated SG disassembly is crucial for SARS-Co V-2 production.

Impact of type 2 diabetes mellitus on short-term and long-term outcomes of patients with esophageal squamous cell cancer undergoing resection: a propensity score analysis

Background:The association between type 2 diabetes mellitus(T2DM)and the risk of esophageal cancer remains unclear.The present study aimed to evaluate the impact of T2DM on short-term outcomes and long-term survival in patients with esophageal squamous cell cancer(ESCC).Methods:The present retrospective study included 862 patients diagnosed with ESCC between January 2001 and December 2010.Among them,280 patients had T2DM.A 1:1 propensity score-matched cohort consisting of 280 patients with and 280 without T2DM was selected from the 862 patients.The associations between T2DM and clinico-pathologic characteristics were assessed using theχ2 or Fisher’s exact test.Survival of ESCC patients with and without T2DM was calculated by using the Kaplan-Meier method and compared by using the Cox regression model between the two groups.Results:The occurrence rate of anastomotic leakage was significantly higher in patients with T2DM than in those without T2DM(P<0.001).In the subgroup with weight loss rate≤5.05%,ESCC patients with T2DM had a signifi-cant longer overall survival than did those without T2DM(P=0.003),whereas in the subgroup with weight loss rate>5.05%,the patients without T2DM showed a longer survival(P=0.001).Univariate and multivariate analysis results showed that T2DM was not an independent prognostic factor for patient survival.Conclusions:Type 2 diabetes mellitus is not an independent prognostic factor in patients with ESCC.However,the combination of T2DM with severe weight loss would be a predictor of poor prognosis.

BCL-6 suppresses miR-142-3p/5p expression in SLE CD4^(+) T cells by modulating histone methylation and acetylation of the miR-142 promoter

The reduced expression of miR-142-3p/5p in CD4^(+) T cells of SLE patients caused T cell hyperactivity and B cell hyperstimulation.This study aimed to investigate the mechanisms of regulating miR-142-3p/5p expression in SLE CD4^(+) T cells.The BCL-6 expression was significantly increased in SLE CD4^(+) T cells compared with normal controls,and the BCL-6 expression was inversely correlated with miR-142-3p/5p expression.BCL-6 suppresses the expression of miR-142-3p/5p by increasing H3K27me3 level and reducing H3K9/K14ac levels in SLE CD4^(+) T cells.BCL-6 regulates histone modifications in miR-142 promoter by recruiting EZH2 and HDAC5.Furthermore,we observed significantly decreased CD40L,ICOS,and IL-21 expression levels in SLE CD4^(+) T cells with BCL-6 interference,and obviously reduced autoantibody IgG production in autologous B cells co-cultured with BCL-6 inhibited SLE CD4^(+) T cells.Our study found that increased BCL-6 up-regulates H3K27me3 and down-regulates H3K9/14ac at miR-142 promoter in SLE CD4^(+) T cells.These factors induce a declination in miR-142-3p/5p expression,consequently resulting in CD4^(+) T cell hyperactivity.

Robust ultrathin and transparent AZO/Ag-SnOx/AZO on polyimide substrate for flexible thin film heater with temperature over 400℃

We developed flexible and transparent thin film heaters(TFHs)with a structure of AZO/AgSnOx/AZO/polyimide(PI)which exhibited superior stability under operational conditions.Ultrathin and robust doped silver(Ag)films were produced by introducing a small amount of SnOx during the sputtering process.The AZO/Ag-SnOx/AZO stacks showed the best figure of merit value of 139.9,which was higher than that of ITO counterpart(25.5)with the same thickness.In addition,it exhibited excellent durability,which showed unaffected optical and electrical properties under the heat treatment of 500℃for 30 min in air,highly-accelerated tempe ratu re and humidity stress test(HAST)at 121℃and 97%RH for 36 h,10,000 times of scratching and 1500 times of inner and outer bending test.Furthermore,the TFHs based on AZO/Ag-SnOx/AZO/PI achieved a high temperature of 438.8℃with response time in several seconds,which outperformed most previous studies.The robust high-temperature TFHs in this research hold promising commercial applications in flexible and high temperature occasions.

Establishment and validation of psoriasis evaluation models

Psoriasis is a common inflammatory skin disease that seriously affects the patient's quality of life.The diagnosis of psoriasis is mainly based on clinical and pathological features,and the assessment depends on the psoriasis area and severity index(PASI).However,there are few reliable and accurate evaluation methods to assess lesion severity and therapeutic effects.This work identified 17 model genes from GEO datasets and established 6 psoriasis evaluation models by LASSO regression,linear regression,and random forest separately.Models were trained and evaluated in different GEO datasets.All 6 models accurately classified psoriatic lesions and non-lesional skin in training and testing data,and showed good AUC.In biologics-treated samples,the model scores were positively correlated with the severity of lesions and negatively correlated with treatment length.Thus,models have the potential to assess the therapeutic effects.In addition,the expression of model genes was examined in keratinocytes,skin of IMQ-induced psoriatic mice,and lesions of psoriasis patients.The RNA and protein levels of model genes increased in cytokine-stimulated keratinocytes and psoriatic lesions as expected.This work provides new methods to assess the lesion severity and therapeutic effects of biologies in psoriasis.