The Application Value of Swan-Neck Microcatheter in Peripheral Vascular Interventional Therapy

Background and Objectives: Establishing a stable pathway is the basis for interventional surgery, and hyper-selected intubation has become the basic requirement for vascular intervention therapy. Super-selection intubation can not only significantly improve the efficacy of peripheral intervention treatment, but also greatly reduce surgical complications. However, during the treatment of peripheral vascular intervention (such as liver tumor arterial chemotherapy embolism, hemoptysis bronchial arterial embolism, gastrointestinal hemorrhagic gastrointestinal arterial embolism, etc.), vascular mutation is often large, and there are many branches, and the direction of blood flow is into the direction of blood flow, the horns are even reverse, and even the use of straight-headed microstructures will have difficulty interpolation difficulties or even failure, which increases the risk of surgery and affects safety treatment. To overcome this, pre-plasticized microcatheters have emerged, among which the InstantPass Swan-Neck Microstructure is a catheter with a head-end morphology similar to Cobra. Our research aims to explore the feasibility, safety, and technical advantages of the use of swan-neck microcatheter in peripheral vascular hyperboloid intubation. Materials and Methods: From January 2023 to March 2024, 31 patients with swan-neck microstructure were used in the peripheral vascular intervention therapy outside the hospital. Among them, there were 23 men and 8 women, aged 32 - 81 years old, an average (55 ± 13) years, and the average irradiation time was 35.1 ± 24.7 minutes. 10 cases of iodide oil arterial chemotherapy embolism, 7 cases of microspheres of hepatic arteries, 3 cases of gastric duodenal artery selective embolism, 3 cases of vein embolism with esophageal stomach, and 2 cases of sperm varicose vein embolism, 2 cases of selective embolism of the intestinal membrane, 2 cases of uterine arteries embolism, and 2 cases of renal arterial embolism. 11 of these patients switched to the swan-neck microstructure after using the straight-headed microstructure super-selective intubation. To analyze whether the swan-neck microcatheter is successfully transported to the target location, whether it can provide a satisfactory path for subsequent intravascular treatment, evaluate the surgery instant image results and complications related to the microstructure during the surgery period, analyze the angle of the target blood vessels and the main blood vessels, the target blood vessels, the target blood vessels, the relationship between the degree of pedestrian and the success rate of ultra-selective intubation, and summarize the indication of the application of the swan-neck microstructure in peripheral intervention therapy. Results: In this study, 31 patients used 31 swan-neck microcatheters, of which 22 (70.9%) target vascular and main blood vessels were ≤90˚;17 patients (54.8%) patients were curved and angulated;11 cases (35.5%) were after the failure of the superselective intubation of the straight-headed microstructure, the swan-neck microcatheter was successful after the failure;1 case (3.2%) patients with microstructure-related mezzanine occurred during surgery, and the complication rate of the perioperative ductation was 3.2%. All target lesions are finally successfully completed, and the success rate of surgical technology is 100%. Conclusion: Swan-neck microcatheters have a high success rate in superselective cannulation of peripheral blood vessels and perform well in vascular tortuosity and angulated lesions.

Efficacy of transjugular intrahepatic portosystemic shunts in treating cirrhotic esophageal-gastric variceal bleeding

BACKGROUND Esophageal-gastric variceal bleeding(EGVB)represents a severe complication among patients with cirrhosis and often culminates in fatal outcomes.Interven-tional therapy,a rapidly developing treatment modality over the past few years,has found widespread application in clinical practice due to its minimally inva-sive characteristics.However,whether transjugular intrahepatic portosystemic shunt(TIPS)treatment has an impact on patient prognosis remains controversial.METHODS A retrospective study was conducted on ninety-two patients presenting with cirrhotic EGVB who were admitted to our hospital between September 2020 and September 2022.Based on the different modes of treatment,the patients were assigned to the study group(TIPS received,n=50)or the control group(per-cutaneous transhepatic varices embolization received,n=42).Comparative ana-lyses were performed between the two groups preoperatively and one month postoperatively for the following parameters:Varicosity status;hemodynamic parameters[portal vein flow velocity(PVV)and portal vein diameter(PVD);platelet count(PLT);red blood cell count;white blood cell count(WBC);and hepatic function[albumin(ALB),total bilirubin(TBIL),and aspartate transaminase(AST)].The Generic Quality of Life Inventory-74 was utilized to assess quality of life in the two groups,and the 1-year postoperative rebleeding and survival rates were compared.RESULTS Following surgical intervention,there was an improvement in the incidence of varicosity compared to the preoperative status in both cohorts.Notably,the study group exhibited more pronounced enhancements than did the control group(P<0.05).PVV increased,and PVD decreased compared to the preoperative values,with the study cohort achieving better outcomes(P<0.05).PLT and WBC counts were elevated postoperatively in the two groups,with the study cohort displaying higher PLT and WBC counts(P<0.05).No differences were detected between the two groups in terms of serum ALB,TBIL,or AST levels either preoperatively or postoperatively(P<0.05).Postoperative scores across all dimensions of life quality surpassed preoperative scores,with the study cohort achieving higher scores(P<0.05).At 22.00%,the one-year postoperative rebleeding rate in the study cohort was significantly lower than that in the control group(42.86%;P<0.05);conversely,no marked difference was obser-ved in the 1-year postoperative survival rate between the two cohorts(P>0.05).CONCLUSION TIPS,which has demonstrated robust efficacy in managing cirrhotic EGVB,remarkably alleviates varicosity and improves hemodynamics in patients.This intervention not only results in a safer profile but also contributes significantly to a more favorable prognosis.

Efficacy and safety of targeted therapy plus immunotherapy combined with hepatic artery infusion chemotherapy (FOLFOX) for unresectable hepatocarcinoma

BACKGROUND The advent of cutting-edge systemic therapies has driven advances in the treatment of hepatocellular carcinoma(HCC),and therapeutic strategies with multiple modes of delivery have been shown to be more efficacious than mono-therapy.However,the mechanisms underlying this innovative treatment modality have not been elucidated.AIM To evaluate the clinical efficacy of targeted therapy plus immunotherapy combined with hepatic arterial infusion chemotherapy(HAIC)of FOLFOX in patients with unresectable HCC.METHODS We enrolled 53 patients with unresectable HCC who received a combination of targeted therapy,immunotherapy,and HAIC of FOLFOX between December 2020 and June 2021 and assessed the efficacy and safety of the treatment regimen.RESULTS The objective response rate was 60.4%(32/53),complete response was 24.5%(13/53),partial response was 35.9%(19/53),and stable disease was 39.6%(21/53).The median duration of response and median progression-free survival were 9.1 and 13.9 months,respectively.The surgical conversion rate was 34.0%(18/53),and 1-year overall survival was 83.0%without critical complicating diseases or adverse events(AEs).CONCLUSION The regimen of HAIC of FOLFOX,targeted therapy,and immunotherapy was curative for patients with unresectable HCC,with no serious AEs and a high rate of surgical conversion.

Inhibiting the formation of neutrophil extracellular trapping: a potential mechanism of Chinese medicine in the treatment of ischemic stroke

Ischemic stroke(IS)is the main killer that endangers the health and life of middle-aged and elderly people worldwide.Inflammatory response plays a key regulatory role in the pathogenesis of IS.After cerebral ischemia,leukocytes rapidly accumulate,penetrate blood vessels and infiltrate brain tissue,thereby activating pro-inflammatory factors in the infarct area to exacerbate nerve damage.Neutrophil extracellular traps(NETs)are fibrous mesh structures released by activated neutrophils outside the cell,which can clear pathogens and cell debris,induce inflammatory responses and exacerbate cerebral ischemia-reperfusion(CI/R)injury.Various traditional Chinese medicines and their main components can improve neurological function defects after IS,and inhibit the formation of NETs,which opens up a new direction for the study of traditional Chinese medicines in the prevention and treatment of IS.

Prognostic value of a nomogram model for postoperative liver metastasis of colon cancer

BACKGROUND Colon cancer is one of the most common malignant tumors of the digestive system.Liver metastasis after colon cancer surgery is the primary cause of death in patients with colon cancer.AIM To construct a novel nomogram model including various factors to predict liver metastasis after colon cancer surgery.METHODS We retrospectively analyzed 242 patients with colon cancer who were admitted and underwent radical resection for colon cancer in Zhejiang Provincial People’s Hospital from December 2019 to December 2022.Patients were divided into liver metastasis and non-liver metastasis groups.Sex,age,and other general and clinicopathological data(preoperative blood routine and biochemical test indexes)were compared.The risk factors for liver metastasis were analyzed using singlefactor and multifactorial logistic regression.A predictive model was then constructed and evaluated for efficacy.RESULTS Systemic inflammatory index(SII),C-reactive protein/albumin ratio(CAR),red blood cell distribution width(RDW),alanine aminotransferase,preoperative carcinoembryonic antigen level,and lymphatic metastasis were different between groups(P<0.05).SII,CAR,and RDW were risk factors for liver metastasis after colon cancer surgery(P<0.05).The area under the curve was 0.93 for the column-line diagram prediction model constructed based on these risk factors to distinguish whether liver metastasis occurred postoperatively.The actual curve of the column-line diagram predicting the risk of postoperative liver metastasis was close to the ideal curve,with good agreement.The prediction model curves in the decision curve analysis showed higher net benefits for a larger threshold range than those in extreme cases,indicating that the model is safer.CONCLUSION Liver metastases after colorectal cancer surgery could be well predicted by a nomogram based on the SII,CAR,and RDW.

Comparison of efficacy and safety of nab-paclitaxel and oxaliplatin+S-1 and standard S-1 and oxaliplatin chemotherapy regimens for treatment of gastric cancer

BACKGROUND Gastric cancer(GC)is a relatively frequent clinical phenomenon,referring to ma-lignant tumors emerging in the gastric mucosal epithelial cells.It has a high mor-bidity and mortality rate,posing a significant threat to the health of patients.Hence,how to diagnose and treat GC has become a heated topic in this research field.AIM To discuss the effectiveness and safety of nab-paclitaxel in combination with oxaliplatin and S-1(P-SOX)for the treatment of GC,and to analyze the factors that may influence its outcomes.METHODS A total of 219 eligible patients with advanced GC,who were treated at Qinghai University Affiliated Hospital Gastrointestinal Oncology between January 2018 and March 2020,were included in the study.Among them,149 patients received SOX regimen and 70 patients received S-1 regimen.All patients underwent both preoperative and postoperative chemotherapy consisting of 2-4 cycles each,totaling 6-8 cycles,along with parallel D2 radical surgical treatment.The patients were followed up for a period of three years or until reaching the event endpoint.RESULTS The short-term and long-term efficacy of the P-SOX group was significantly higher than that of the SOX group,and the safety was manageable.Cox multivariate analysis revealed that progression-free survival was associated with perioperative chemotherapy efficacy,tumor diameter≤2cm,high differentiation,and early cTNM(T stands for invasion depth;N stands for node metastasis;M stands for distant invasion)stage.CONCLUSION In comparison to the SOX regimen,the P-SOX regimen demonstrates improved short-term and long-term efficacy with tolerable adverse reactions.It is anticipated that the P-SOX regimen will emerge as a first-line chemotherapy option for GC.Patients with GC who receive effective perioperative chemotherapy(Response Evaluation Criteria in Solid Tumors 1.1,Tumor Regression Grade),have a tumor diameter≤2cm,exhibit high degree of differentiation,and are at an early cTNM stage show better prognosis.

Drug-Based Reversal of Drug Resistance in Hepatocellular Carcinoma (HCC) Using TPGS

Hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) is a cancer with high incidence and mortality rates worldwide. In the various treatment methods for HCC, the lack of cancer cell specificity and the development of multidrug resistance (MDR) are two major obstacles in the treatment of HCC. P-glycoprotein (P-gp) is an ATP-dependent drug efflux pump that can reduce the accumulation of drugs in cells and make cancer cells acquire drug resistance. D-α-tocopheryl polyethylene glycol succinate (Vitamin E TPGS or TPGS) can inhibit the activity of ATP-dependent P-gp and serves as an effective excipient for overcoming tumor multidrug resistance (MDR). TPGS has been approved by the FDA as a safe adjuvant and is widely used in drug delivery systems. The biological and physicochemical properties of TPGS provide multiple advantages for its application in drug delivery, such as high biocompatibility, enhanced drug solubility, improved drug permeation, and selective antitumor activity. In recent years, more and more studies have found that using TPGS-modified nanomaterials to load chemotherapy drugs to treat tumors can effectively reverse the drug resistance of tumors, including HCC. This review summarizes and discusses the role of TPGS in reversing tumor drug resistance and the therapeutic effects of TPGS-based drugs on drug-resistant HCC.

Effect of medical care linkage-continuous management mode in patients with posterior circulation cerebral infarction undergoing endovascular interventional therapy

BACKGROUND Acute cerebral infarction is a severe type of ischemic stroke that can be divided into anterior circulation cerebral infarction and posterior circulation cerebral infarction(PCCI).PCCI affects the structure of the posterior circulation brain,because posterior part of the brain,which has more complex anatomical structures and more prone to posterior circulation vascular variation.Therefore,improving the prognosis of PCCI patients is necessary.AIM To explore the effect of medical care linkage-continuous management mode(MCLMM)on endovascular interventional therapy(EIT)for PCCI.METHODS Sixty-nine patients with PCCI who received EIT and conventional nursing intervention were selected as the control group,and 78 patients with PCCI who received EIT and MCLMM intervention were selected as the observation group.The incidence of postoperative complications,compliance and disease selfmanagement behavior after six months of intervention,modified Rankin scale(mRS)and Barthel index(BI)scores in the acute phase and after one year of intervention,and recurrence within one year were compared between the two groups.RESULTS The total incidence rate of postoperative complications in the observation group(7.69%)was lower than that in the control group(18.84%)(P<0.05).The scores for medical compliance behavior(regular medication,appropriate diet,and rehabilitation cooperation rates)and disease self-management behavior(self-will,disease knowledge,and self-care ability)in the observation group were higher than those in the control group(P<0.05).After one year of intervention,in the observation group,the mRS score was significantly lower,and the BI score was significantly higher than those in the control group(P<0.05).The recurrence rate within one year in the observation group(3.85%)was significantly lower than that in the control group(13.04%)(P<0.05).CONCLUSION MCLMM can reduce the incidence of complications after EIT for PCCI,improve patient compliance behavior and disease self-management ability,and promote the recovery of neurological function.

Comparison of therapeutic effectiveness of combined interventional therapy for 1126 cases of primary liver cancer

AIM： To verify the effect of combined interventiona therapy for hepatocellular carcinoma （HCC）. METHODS： The clinical data of 1126 HCC patients who received combined interventional therapy for transcatheter arterial chemoembolization （TACE） before or after hepatectomy, TACE and radio-frequency ablation （RFA）, Chinese medicine treatment and biotherapy after TACE or transcatheter arterial infusion （TAI）, were reviewed according to the results of their liver function, alpha-fetoprotein, image data, color-ultrosonography finding and survival rate. RESULTS： A total of 874 patients were followed up for a period of 2 to 63 mo. The overall 1-, 3- and 5- year survival rates were 67.8%, 28.7% and 18.8% respectively. The 1- 3- and 5- year survival rates of patients who received TACE were 74.7%, 41.4%, 36.9% before hepatectomy and 78.9%, 40.4%, 37.5% after hepatectomy. The effective rate （PR ＋ NC） after TACE and RFA was 93.4%, the 1- and 3- year survival rates were 74.5% and 36.8% after TACE and RFA. The effective rate of PR ＋ NC after TACE was 83.2%. The 1-, 3- and 5- year survival rates were 69.3%, 21.7%, 8.4% after TACE. The effective rate of PR ＋ NC after TAI was 27.5%, the 1- and 2- year survival rates were 11.6% and 0% after TAI. The liver function, color-ultrosonography finding and alpha-fetoprotein after TACE ＋ RFA, TACE and TAI were compared. There was no significant difference in each index between TACE and RFA or TACE as well as in liver function between TACE and RFA or between TACE and TAI. CONCLUSION： The therapeutic effectiveness of TACE before or after hepatectomy is most significant, while the effect of TACE and RFA is better than that of TACE, and the effect of TAI is minimal.

Comparison of the application value of transvaginal ultrasound and transabdominal ultrasound in the diagnosis of ectopic pregnancy

BACKGROUND Ectopic pregnancy(EP) is one of the most common acute abdominal diseases in gynecology. Once the condition of EP is delayed, it may lead to massive hemorrhage, shock, and even death in a short time, seriously threatening the patient’s life. Early diagnosis is the key to preventing and improving the prognosis of EP.Transabdominal ultrasound(TAS) and transvaginal ultrasound(TVS) are the main diagnostic methods for abdominal diseases. The purpose of this study is to explore the application value and effect of TAS and TVS in the diagnosis of EP,hoping to provide more valuable references for the diagnosis of EP.AIM To explore the application value of TAS and TVS in the diagnosis of EP and to improve the level of clinical diagnosis.METHODS A total of 140 patients with EP admitted to our hospital from July 2018 to July 2020 were selected for this study. All patients were divided into two groups according to the examination methods. 63 patients who underwent abdominal ultrasound examination were set as the TAS group, while 77 patients who underwent TVS examination were set as the TVS group. We compared the diagnostic accuracy and misdiagnosis rates between the two types of ultrasound examinations, as well as the postoperative pathological results of the two diagnostic methods for different types of ectopic pregnancies. We also analyzed the sonograms for the presence of mixed ectopic masses,adnexal masses, ectopic gestational sacs, the presence or absence of visible embryo and fetal heart in the ectopic sac shadow, and the detection of fluid in the rectal fossa of the uterus, such as the adnexal area, yolk sac, and embryo, etc. In addition, the diagnosis time, days of gestational sac appearance, operation time, endometrial thickness, and blood flow resistance index were compared as well.RESULTS After performing both types of ultrasound examinations in 140 patients with EP, we found that the diagnostic accuracy of TVS was significantly higher than that of TAS, and the misdiagnosis rate was significantly lower than that of TAS. The differences were statistically significant(P < 0.05). In addition, the detection rate of TVS was better than that of TAS for the presence of mixed masses,adnexal masses, ectopic gestational sacs, the presence or absence of visible embryo and fetal heart in the shadow of the ectopic sac, and sonograms such as the adnexal area, yolk sac, and embryo,etc. The coincidence rate of its postoperative pathological examination results was significantly higher than those of TAS. The diagnosis time and the days of gestational sac appearance by TVS were significantly shorter than that by TAS, and the operation time was earlier than that by TAS.What’s more, the detection rates of the endometrial thickness ￡ 1.5 mm and blood flow resistance ￡0.5 were significantly higher in TVS diagnosis of EP than in TAS. All differences were statistically significant(P < 0.05).CONCLUSION Compared with TAS, TVS has the advantages of high detection accuracy and good sonogram performance.

Percutaneous microwave ablation and transcatheter arterial chemoembolization for serum tumor markers and prognostics of middle-late primary hepatic carcinoma

BACKGROUND Primary hepatic carcinoma(PHC)has an insidious onset and is usually diagnosed in the middle and late stages.Although transcatheter arterial chemoembolization(TACE)is the preferred option for treating middle-and advanced-stage PHC,it has limited efficacy in killing tumor cells and poor long-term efficacy.TACE plus percutaneous microwave coagulation therapy(PMCT)is more effective than interventional therapy alone and can improve survival time.However,there are few reports on the effects of TACE and PMCT on serum marker levels and the prognosis of patients with advanced PHC.AIM To investigate the effect of PMCT+TACE on serum tumor markers and the prognosis of middle-late PHC.METHODS This retrospective study included 150 patients with middle-late PHC admitted to Zhongshan People’s Hospital between March 2018 and February 2021.Patients were divided into a single group(treated with TACE,n=75)and a combined group(treated with TACE+PMCT,n=75).Before and after treatment,the clinical efficacy and serum tumor marker levels[carbohydrate antigen 19-9(CA19-9),alpha-fetoprotein(AFP),and carcinoembryonic antigen(CEA)]of both groups were observed.The 1-year survival rates and prognostic factors of the two groups were analyzed.RESULTS The combined group had 21 and 35 cases of complete remission(CR)and partial remission(PR),respectively.The single group had 13 and 25 cases of CR and PR,decreased,with the decrease in the combined group being more significant(P<0.05).The 1-year survival rate of the combined group(80.00%)was higher than that of the single group(60.00%)(P<0.05).The average survival time within 1 year in the combined group was 299.38±61.13 d,longer than that in the single group(214.41±72.97 d,P<0.05).COX analysis revealed that tumor diameter,tumor number,and the treatment method were prognostic factors for patients with middle-late PHC(P<0.05).CONCLUSION TACE+PMCT is effective in treating patients with mid-late PHC.It reduces the levels of tumor markers,prolongs survival,and improves prognosis.

Efficacy and safety analysis of transarterial chemoembolization and transarterial radioembolization in advanced hepatocellular carcinoma descending hepatectomy

BACKGROUND Hepatocellular carcinoma(HCC)is one of the most common malignant tumors in the world,which is seriously threatening the lives of patients.Due to the rapid development of the disease,patients were in the middle and advanced stages at the time of diagnosis and missed the best time for treatment.With the development of minimally invasive medicine,interventional therapy for advanced HCC has achieved promising results.Transarterial chemoembolization(TACE)and transarterial radioembolization(TARE)are currently recognized as effective treatments.This study aimed to investigate the clinical value and safety of TACE alone and combined with TACE in the treatment of progression in patients with advanced HCC and to find a breakthrough for the early diagnosis and treatment of patients with advanced HCC.AIM To investigate the efficacy and safety of hepatic TACE and TARE in advanced descending hepatectomy.METHODS In this study,218 patients with advanced HCC who were treated in the Zhejiang Provincial People’s Hospital from May 2016 to May 2021 were collected.Of the patients,119 served as the control group and received hepatic TACE,99 served as the observation group and were treated with hepatic TACE combined with TARE.The patients in two groups were compared in terms of lesion inactivation,tumor nodule size,lipiodol deposition,serum alpha-fetoprotein(AFP)level in different periods,postoperative complications,1-year survival rate,and clinical symptoms such as liver pain,fatigue,and abdominal distension,and adverse reactions such as nausea and vomiting.RESULTS The observation group and the control group had good efficacy in treatment efficiency,reduction of tumor nodules,reduction of postoperative AFP value,reduction of postoperative complications,and relief of clinical symptoms.In addition,compared with the control group,the treatment efficiency,reduction of tumor nodules,reduction of AFP value,reduction of postoperative complications,and relief of clinical symptoms in the observation group were better than those in the TACE group alone.Patients in the TACE+TARE group had a higher 1-year survival rate after surgery,lipiodol deposition was significantly increased and the extent of tumor necrosis was expanded.The overall incidence of adverse reactions in the TACE+TARE group was lower than that in the TACE group,and the difference had statistical significance(P<0.05).CONCLUSION Compared with TACE alone,TACE combined with TARE is more effective in the treatment of patients with advanced HCC.It also improves postoperative survival rate,reduces adverse effects,and has a better safety profile.

Association of non-alcoholic fatty liver and metabolic-associated fatty liver with COVID-19 outcomes:A systematic review and metaanalysis

BACKGROUND Non-alcoholic fatty liver disease(NAFLD)and metabolic-associated fatty liver disease(MAFLD)are on the rise like any other liver disease,and tend to affect 25%of the United States population.The impact of NAFLD and MAFLD on patients with coronavirus disease 2019(COVID-19)remains unclear.AIM To identify the association of NAFLD and MAFLD with mortality,hospitalization,hospital length of stay,and supplemental oxygen utilization in COVID-19 patients.METHODS A systematic review of literature on Cochrane,Embase,PubMed,ScienceDirect,and Web of Science databases was conducted from January 2019 to July 2022.Studies that evaluated NAFLD/MAFLD using laboratory methods,noninvasive imaging,or liver biopsy were included.The study protocol was registered in PROSPERO(ID CRD42022313259)and PRISMA guidelines were followed.The National Institutes of Health quality assessment tool was used to assess the quality of the studies.Pooled analysis was conducted using software Rev Man version 5.3.The stability of the results was assessed using sensitivity analysis.RESULTS Thirty-two studies with 43388 patients were included in the meta-analysis of whom 8538(20%)patients were observed to have NAFLD.There were 42254 patients from 28 studies included in the mortality analysis.A total of 2008 patients died from COVID-19;837(10.52%)in the NAFLD group and 1171(3.41%)in the non-NAFLD group.The odds ratio(OR)was 1.38 for mortality with a 95%confidence interval(95%CI)=0.97-1.95 and P=0.07.A total of 5043 patients from eight studies were included in the hospital length of stay analysis.There were 1318 patients in the NAFLD group and 3725 patients in the non-NAFLD group.A qualitative synthesis showed that the mean difference in hospital length of stay was about 2 d between the NAFLD and non-NAFLD groups with a 95%CI=0.71-3.27 and P=0.002.For hospitalization rates,the OR was 3.25 with a 95%CI of 1.73-6.10 and P=0.0002.For supplemental oxygen utilization,the OR was 2.04 with a 95%CI of 1.17-3.53 and P=0.01.CONCLUSION Our meta-analysis suggests that there are increased odds of hospitalization,longer hospital length of stay,and increased use of supplemental oxygen in NAFLD/MAFLD patients.

Exploration of risk factors for hemoglobinuria and acute kidney injury following iliofemoral venous mechanical thrombectomy

Objective: To evaluate the risk factors for hemoglobinuria and acute kidney injury(AKI) after percutaneous mechanical thrombectomy(MT) with or without catheter-directed thrombolysis(CDT) for iliofemoral deep vein thrombosis(IFDVT).Methods: Patients with IFDVT who had MT with the Angio Jet catheter(group A), MT plus CDT(group B), or CDT alone(group C) from January 2016 to March 2020 were retrospectively evaluated. Hemoglobinuria was monitored throughout the treatment course, and postoperative AKI was assessed by comparing the preoperative(baseline) and postoperative serum creatinine(sCr) levels from the electronic medical records of all patients. AKI was defined as an elevation in the sCr level exceeding 26.5 μmol/L within 72 h after the operation according to the Kidney Disease Improving Global Outcomes criteria.Results: A total of 493 consecutive patients with IFDVT were reviewed, of which 382(mean age, 56 ± 11 years;41% of them were females;97 in group A, 128 in group B, and 157 in group C) were finally analyzed. Macroscopic hemoglobinuria was evident in 44.89% of the patients of the MT groups(101/225, 39 in group A, and 62 in group B), with no significant difference between the groups(P = 0.219), but not in the patients in group C. None of the patients developed AKI(mean sCr difference-2.76 ± 13.80 μmol/L, range =-80.20 to 20.60 μmol/L) within 72h after surgery.Conclusions: Rheolytic MT is an independent risk factor for hemoglobinuria. A proper aspiration strategy, hydration, and alkalization following thrombectomy are particularly favorable for preventing AKI.

Comparison of ethanol-soaked gelatin sponge and microspheres for hepatic arterioportal fistulas embolization in hepatic cellular carcinoma

Hepatic arterioportal fistulas(APFs)are common in hepatocellular carcinoma(HCC).Moreover,correlated with poor prognosis,APFs often complicate antitumor treatments,including transarterial chemoembolization(TACE).AIM To compare the efficacy of ethanol-soaked gelatin sponges(ESG)and microspheres in the management of APFs and their impact on the prognosis of HCC.METHODS Data from patients diagnosed with HCC or hepatic APFs between June 2016 and December 2019 were retrospectively analyzed.Furthermore,APFs were embolized with ESG(group E)or microspheres(group M)during TACE.The primary outcomes were disease control rate(DCR)and objective response rate(ORR).The secondary outcomes included immediate and first follow-up APF improvement,overall survival(OS),and progression-free survival(PFS).RESULTS Altogether,91 participants were enrolled in the study,comprising 46 in group E and 45 in group M.The DCR was 93.5%and 91.1%in groups E and M,respectively(P=0.714).The ORRs were 91.3%and 66.7%in groups E and M,respectively(P=0.004).The APFs improved immediately after the procedure in 43(93.5%)patients in group E and 40(88.9%)patients in group M(P=0.485).After 2 mo,APF improvement was achieved in 37(80.4%)and 33(73.3%)participants in groups E and M,respectively(P=0.421).The OS was 26.2±1.4 and 20.6±1.1 mo in groups E and M,respectively(P=0.004),whereas the PFS was 16.6±1.0 and 13.8±0.7 mo in groups E and M,respectively(P=0.012).CONCLUSION Compared with microspheres,ESG embolization demonstrated a higher ORR and longer OS and PFS in patients of HCC with hepatic APFs.

Application of sintilimab combined with anlotinib hydrochloride in the clinical treatment of microsatellite stable colorectal cancer

BACKGROUND Microsatellite stable(MSS)colorectal cancer(CRC)is a common type of tumor with limited treatment options.Sintilimab and anlotinib hydrochloride are two extensively studied anticancer drugs.AIM To probe the clinical value of combining sintilimab with anlotinib hydrochloride in MSS CRC treatment.METHODS During the period spanning from April 2019 to April 2022,Zhejiang Provincial People’s Hospital accommodated a cohort of 92 patients diagnosed with MSS CRC who were classified into two distinct groups in our study,the observation group and the control group.The control group was administered anlotinib hy-drochloride as their designated therapy,whereas the observation group received the additional treatment of sintilimab in conjunction with the therapy assigned to the control group.The administration of treatment occurred in cycles consisting of a duration of 3 wk,and the evaluation of effectiveness took place subsequent to the completion of two consecutive cycles of treatment within both groups.A comparative analysis between the two groups was conducted to assess the short-term efficacy and ascertain the incidence of adverse events transpiring throughout the duration of the treatment period.Changes in the levels of carcinoembryonic Life Questionnaire-Core 30 were compared between the two groups prior to and subsequent to therapy.Finally,a 1-year follow-up was conducted for both groups of patients,and the survival status was recorded and analyzed.RESULTS The short-term effectiveness displayed by the observation group surpassed that exhibited by the control group,with a statistically significant discrepancy(76.09%vs 50.00%),reaching a significance level denoted as P<0.05.Following the administration of treatment,the observation group manifested a considerable reduction in numerous serum indicators,which were found to be lower than the corresponding pretreatment levels within the same group as well as the post-treatment levels observed in the control group(P<0.05).Post-treatment,the T lymphocyte subset levels within the observation group demonstrated a remarkable amelioration,surpassing the corresponding pre-treatment levels observed within the same group as well as the post-treatment levels observed in the control group(P<0.05).Subsequent to the therapeutic intervention,the observation group showcased a notable amelioration in the scores associated with multiple dimensions of life quality.These scores outperformed the pretreatment scores within the same group as well as the post-treatment scores observed in the control group(P<0.05).The safety levels of drug use in the two group were comparable(19.57%vs 13.04%),and no distinct difference was observed upon comparison(P>0.05).After the completion of treatment,both groups of patients underwent a 1-year follow-up outside the hospital.Throughout this period,1 patient within the observation group and 2 patients within the control group became untraceable and were lost to follow-up.During the follow-up period of the observation group,12 patients died,resulting in a survival rate of 73.33%(33/45),while in the control group,21 patients died,resulting in a survival rate of 52.27%(23/44).The implementation of Kaplan-Meier survival analysis revealed a conspicuous contrast in survival rates exhibited by the two groups(log-rank=4.710,P=0.030).CONCLUSION The combination of sintilimab and anlotinib hydrochloride demonstrated favorable efficacy in the treatment of MSS CRC patients,leading to improvements in patient immunity and prognosis.Additionally,it exerted inhibitory effects on the expression of carcinoembryonic antigen,CA199,and CA125.

Intracoronary thrombolysis combined with drug balloon angioplasty in a young ST-segment elevation myocardial infarction patient:A case report

BACKGROUND The combination of acute ST-segment elevation myocardial infarction(STEMI)and gastric ulcers poses a challenge to primary percutaneous coronary intervention(PPCI),particularly for young patients.The role of drug-coated balloons(DCBs)in the treatment of de novo coronary artery lesions in large vessels remains unclear,especially for patients with STEMI.Our strategy is to implement drug balloon angioplasty following the intracoronary administration of low-dose prourokinase and adequate pre-expansion.CASE SUMMARY A 54-year-old male patient presented to the emergency department due to chest pain on June 24,2019.Within the first 3 minutes of the initial assessment in the emergency room,the electrocardiogram(ECG)showed significant changes.There was atrial fibrillation with ST-segment elevation.Subsequently,atrial fibrillation terminated spontaneously and reverted to sinus rhythm.Soon after,the patient experienced syncope.The ECG revealed torsades de pointes ventricular tachycardia.A few seconds later,it returned to sinus rhythm.High-sensitivity tropon in I was normal.The diagnosis was acute STEMI.Emergency coronary angiography revealed subtotal occlusion with thrombus formation in the proximal segment of the left anterior descending artery.Considering the patient's age and history of peptic ulcer disease,after the intracoronary injection of prourokinase,percutaneous transluminal coronary angioplasty and cutting balloon angioplasty were conducted for thorough preconditioning,and paclitaxel drug-eluting balloon angioplasty was performed without any stents,achieving favorable outcomes.CONCLUSION A PPCI without stents may be a viable treatment strategy for select patients with STEMI,and further research is warranted.

Correlation between serum markers and transjugular intrahepatic portosystemic shunt prognosis in patients with cirrhotic ascites

BACKGROUND Individuals with refractory ascites in the context of liver cirrhosis typically face an adverse prognosis.The transjugular intrahepatic portosystemic shunt(TIPS)is an efficacious intervention,but there is a lack of reliable tools for postoperative pro-gnosis assessment.Previously utilized clinical biochemical markers,such as the serum albumin concentration(Alb),sodium(Na+)concentration,and serum creatinine(Scr),have limited predictive value.Therefore,the quest for novel,specific biomarkers to evaluate the post-TIPS prognosis in patients with liver cirrhosis and refractory ascites holds significant practical importance.A retrospective analysis was conducted on 75 patients with liver cirrhosis and refractory ascites who underwent TIPS at our institution from August 2019 to August 2021.These patients were followed up regularly for two years,and the death toll was meticulously documented.The patients were allocated into a survival group(n=45 patients)or a deceased group(n=30 patients)based on their prognosis status.The clinical data of the two groups were collected,and Child-Pugh scores and MELD scores were calculated for analysis.Spearman correlation analysis was carried out to evaluate the correlation of prognosis with Child-Pugh grade,MELD score,and Cys C level.Additionally,a multiple-factor analysis utilizing the Cox proportional hazard model was used to identify independent risk factors affecting the post-TIPS prognosis of patients with liver cirrhosis and refractory ascites.The receiver operating characteristic curve(ROC)ascertained the predictive value of the Cys C concen-tration,Child-Pugh grade,and MELD score for the prognosis of liver cirrhosis with refractory ascites in post-TIPS patients.RESULTS During a 2-year follow-up period,among 75 patients with liver cirrhosis and refractory ascites who underwent TIPS treatment,30 patients(40.00%)passed away.The deceased cohort exhibited heightened aspartate aminotrans-ferase,alanine aminotransferase,total bilirubin,Scr,prothrombin time,Cys C,international normalized ratio,Child-Pugh,and MELD scores compared to those of the survival cohort,while Alb and Na+levels were attenuated in the deceased group(P<0.05).Spearman analysis revealed moderate to high positive correlations between prognosis and Child-Pugh score,MELD score,and Cys C level(r=0.709,0.749,0.671,P<0.05).Multivariate analysis using the Cox proportional hazard model demonstrated that the independent risk factors for post-TIPS prognosis in patients with liver cirrhosis and refractory ascites were Cys C(HR=3.802;95%CI:1.313-11.015),Child-Pugh(HR=3.030;95%CI:1.858-4.943),and MELD(HR=1.222;95%CI:1.073-1.393)scores.ROC analysis confirmed that,compared to those of the classic prognostic models for Child-Pugh and MELD scores,the predictive accuracy of Cys C for post-TIPS prognosis in patients with liver cirrhosis and refractory ascites was slightly lower.This analysis yielded sensitivity and specificity values of 83.33%and 82.22%,respectively.The area under the curve value at this juncture was 0.883,with an optimal cutoff value set at 1.95 mg/L.CONCLUSION Monitoring the serum Cys C concentration is valuable for assessing the post-TIPS prognosis in patients with liver cirrhosis and refractory ascites.Predictive models based on serum Cys C levels,as opposed to Scr levels,are more beneficial for evaluating the condition and prognosis of patients with ascites due to cirrhosis.

Radiofrequency ablation of hepatocellular carcinoma sized> 3 and ≤ 5 cm: Is ablative margin of more than 1 cm justified?

AIM:To investigate whether an ablative margin(AM)>1.0 cm might reduce chance of recurrence for patients with hepatocellular carcinoma(HCC)tumors 3.1to 5.0 cm in size,compared with an AM of 0.5-1.0 cm.METHODS:From October 2005 to December 2012,936 consecutive patients with HCC who received radiofrequency ablation were screened.Of these,281 patients,each with a single primary HCC tumor of 3.1 to5.0 cm in size on its greatest diameter,were included in the study.Based on the AM width,we categorized patients into the 0.5-1.0 cm group and the>1.0 cm group.Local tumor progression(LTP)-free survival,intrahepatic distant recurrence(IDR)-free survival and overall survival(OS)rates were obtained using the Kaplan-Meier method.RESULTS:The 1-,2-,3-,4-,and 5-year LTP-free survival rates and IDR-free survival rates were significantly higher in the>1.0 cm group compared with the 0.5-1.0cm group(97.5%,86.3%,73.6%,49.5%and 26.4%vs 91.3%,78.4%,49.5%,27.8%,and 12.8%;95.1%,90.3%,77.0%,61.0%and 48.3%vs 95.2%,85.9%,62.6%,47.2%and 28.5%;P<0.05).The 1-,2-,3-,4-,and 5-year OS rates were 98.6%,91.5%,69.2%,56.0%and 42.2%,respectively,in the 0.5-1.0 cm group and 100%,98.9%,90.1%,68.7%and 57.4%,respectively,in the>1.0 cm group(P=0.010).There were no significant differences in complication rates between the two groups.Both univariate and multivariate analyses identified AM as an independent prognostic factor linked to LTP,IDR,and OS.CONCLUSION:For HCC tumors>3.0 cm and≤5.0cm,AM>1.0 cm could reduce chances of recurrence compared with AM of 0.5-1.0 cm,emphasizing the need for a more defensive strategy using AMs>1.0 cm for ablating HCC tumors of 3.1 to 5.0 cm.

Identification of predictive factors for post-transarterial chemoembolization liver failure in hepatocellular carcinoma patients: A retrospective study

BACKGROUND Post-transarterial chemoembolization(TACE)liver failure occurs frequently in hepatocellular carcinoma(HCC)patients.The identification of predictors for post-TACE liver failure is of great importance for clinical decision-making in this population.AIM To investigate the occurrence rate and predictive factors of post-TACE liver failure in this retrospective study to provide clues for decision-making regarding TACE procedures in HCC patients.METHODS The clinical records of HCC patients treated with TACE therapy were reviewed.Baseline clinical characteristics and laboratory parameters of these patients were extracted.Logistic models were used to identify candidates to predict post-TACE liver failure.RESULTS A total of 199 HCC patients were enrolled in this study,and 70 patients(35.2%)developed post-TACE liver failure.Univariate and multivariate logistic models indicated that microspheres plus gelatin embolization and main tumor size>5 cm were risk predictors for post-TACE liver failure[odds ratio(OR):4.4,95%confidence interval(CI):1.2-16.3,P=0.027;OR:2.3,95%CI:1.05-5.3,P=0.039,respectively].Conversely,HCC patients who underwent tumor resection surgery before the TACE procedure had a lower risk for post-TACE liver failure(OR:0.4,95%CI:0.2-0.95,P=0.039).CONCLUSION Microspheres plus gelatin embolization and main tumor size might be risk factors for post-TACE liver failure in HCC patients,while prior tumor resection could be a favorable factor reducing the risk of post-TACE liver failure.