Aluminum phosphate gel reduces early rebleeding in cirrhotic patients with gastric variceal bleeding treated with histoacryl injection therapy

BACKGROUND Esophageal-gastro varices bleeding(EGVB)is the most widely known cause of mortality in individuals with cirrhosis,with an occurrence rate of 5%to 15%.Among them,gastric varices bleeding(GVB)is less frequent than esophageal varices bleeding(EVB),but the former is a more critical illness and has a higher mortality rate.At present,endoscopic variceal histoacryl injection therapy(EVHT)is safe and effective,and it has been recommended by relevant guidelines as the primary method for the treatment of GVB.However,gastric varices after endoscopic treatment still have a high rate of early rebleeding,which is mainly related to complications of its treatment,such as bleeding from drained ulcers,rebleeding of varices etc.Therefore,preventing early postoperative rebleeding is very important to improve the quality of patient survival and outcomes.AIM To assess the efficacy of aluminium phosphate gel(APG)combined with proton pump inhibitor(PPI)in preventing early rebleeding after EVHT in individuals with GVB.METHODS Medical history of 196 individuals with GVB was obtained who were diagnosed using endoscopy and treated with EVHT in Shenzhen People's Hospital from January 2016 to December 2021.Based on the selection criteria,101 patients were sorted into the PPI alone treatment group,and 95 patients were sorted into the PPI combined with the APG treatment group.The incidences of early rebleeding and corresponding complications within 6 wk after treatment were compared between both groups.Statistical methods were performed by two-sample t-test,Wilcoxon rank sum test andχ2 test.RESULTS No major variations were noted between the individuals of the two groups in terms of age,gender,Model for End-Stage Liver Disease score,coagulation function,serum albumin,hemoglobin,type of gastric varices,the dose of tissue glue injection and EV that needed to be treated simultaneously.The early rebleeding rate in PPI+APG group was 3.16%(3/95),which was much lower than that in the PPI group(12.87%,13/101)(P=0.013).Causes of early rebleeding:the incidence of gastric ulcer bleeding in the PPI+APG group was 2.11%(2/95),which was reduced in comparison to that in the PPI group(11.88%,12/101)(P=0.008);the incidence of venous bleeding in PPI+APG group and PPI group was 1.05%(1/95)and 0.99%(1/101),respectively,and there was no significant difference between them(0.999).The early mortality rate was 0 in both groups within 6 wk after the operation,and the low mortality rate was related to the timely hospitalization and active treatment of all patients with rebleeding.The overall incidence of complications in the PPI+APG group was 12.63%(12/95),which was not significantly different from 13.86%(14/101)in the PPI group(P=0.800).of abdominal pain in the PPI+APG group was 3.16%(3/95),which was lower than that in the PPI group(11.88%,12/101)(P=0.022).However,due to aluminum phosphate gel usage,the incidence of constipation in the PPI+APG group was 9.47%(9/95),which was higher than that in the PPI group(1.98%,2/101)(P=0.023),but the health of the patients could be improved by increasing drinking water or oral lactulose.No patients in either group developed spontaneous peritonitis after taking PPI,and none developed hepatic encephalopathy and ectopic embolism within 6 wk of EVHT treatment.CONCLUSION PPI combined with APG can significantly reduce the incidence of early rebleeding and postoperative abdominal pain in cirrhotic patients with GVB after taking EVHT.

Comprehensive treatment of advanced primary live cancer with intraperitoneal chemotherapy or in combination with other therapies:therapeutic observation of 72 cases

Objective： To evaluate the effect of intraperitoneal chemotherapy or in combination with other therapies in patients with advanced primary liver cancer. Methods： 72 patients with advanced primary liver cancer with no indication for surgery received intraperitoneal chemotherapy in combination with other therapies including transcatheter arterial chemoembolization （TACE）, radiofrequency catheter ablation （RFA）, percutaneous ethanol injection therapy （PELT） and radiotherapy. Of them, 29 cases were complicated with hilar or retroperitoneal multiple lymph node metastases, 14 with portal vein embolus, 15 with intrapedtoneal and diaphragmatic metastases, 6 with chylous ascites, one with cancerous ascites, and 7 with suspected cancerous ascites （referring to large amounts of ascites without hypoproteinemia while exfoliative cytology of the ascites was positive）. The mean maximum tumor size was 8.2 cm in diameter. Liver function at the initial treatment was Child A in 53 cases, and Child B in 19 cases. I ntrapedtoneal chemotherapy was performed in all these patients. The intraperitoneal chemotherapy protocols included： 5-FU 0.5-0.75 g/d for 10-15 consecutive days, with a total dosage of 5-12.5 g, and at the last day of chemotherapy 10 mg mitomycin （MMC） or 100 mg carboplatin was injected. For 7 cases of cholangiocarcinoma, Gemzar 800-1000 mg was administered additionally. A majority of all these patients received another one or two therapy methods followed by intraperitoneal chemotherapy. TACE was performed in the patients with multiple tumors or nodule more than 5 cm in diameter in the liver, RFA or PElT with nodule fewer than 4 in number and 5 cm or less than 5 cm in diameter and radiotherapy, only for metastases, with metastatic lymph nodes, localized metastasis within the abdominal cavity or portal vein embolus. Interval time between two methods was one month or so. Two months after the sequential therapy, repeated treatment would be given if general medical condition and liver function were perfect at that time. Results： The median survival time of the group was 13.97 ± 6.27 months. The 1- and 2-year survival rates were 59.7% and 30.6% respectively. The mean survival time of the patients with liver function Child A was 15.91 ± 5.49 months, and that of the patients with Child B was 8.55 ± 5.09 months. The difference was statistically significant （P 〈 0.05）. Conclusion： Intraperitoneal chemotherapy or in combination with other therapies in patients with advanced primary liver cancer with metastases to abdominal cavity is an effective method. It can prolong the survival time and improve life quality for a certain percentage of patients with advanced pnmary liver cancer.

OBSERVATION ON THE THERAPEUTIC EFFECT OF ACUPOINT INJECTION FOR TREATMENT OF GOUTY ARTHRITIS

In the present paper, 60 cases of gouty arthritis patients were randomly divided into acupuncture group (n=30) and acupoint injection group (n=30). In these two groups, the tender point was used as the main acupoint, combined with Taichong (LR 3), Yinbai (SP 1), Sanyinjiao (SP 6), Juegu (GB 39), Xuehai (SP 10), etc. 10% Chishao (Radix Paeoniae Rubra) Injection and dexamethasone were used for acupoint injection. Results indicated that in acupoint injection and acupuncture groups, 15 (50.0%) and 9 (30.0%) cases had marked improvement, 12 (40.0%) and 10 (33.3%) were effective, and 3 (10.0%) and 11(36.7%) failed in treatment, with the total effective rats being 90.0% and 63.3% respectively. Statistical analysis shows that acupoint injection is significantly superior to simple acupuncture in the therapeutic effect (P<0.05).

Combined photodynamic therapy and ranibizumab for polypoidal choroidal vasculopathy：a 2-year result and systematic review

AIM：To report a cohort of patients with polypoidal choroidal vasculopathy（PCV）treated with photodynamic therapy（PDT）followed by intravitreal ranibizumab injection 24-48 h later,and to compare the results between eyes with PCV treated by PDT followed by intravitreal anti-vascular endothelial growth factor（VEGF）injection and intravitreal anti-VEGF injection followed by PDT by Meta-analysis.METHODS：Retrospective study and systematic literature review. Medical records of patients with PCV who were initially treated using PDT followed by intravitreal ranibizumab injection 24-48 h after PDT and had completed at least 2y follow-up were reviewed and analyzed. Clinical data,including age,sex,best-corrected visual acuity（BCVA）,fundus photograph,fluorescein angiography,indocyanine green angiography and optical coherence tomography were investigated. A systematic literature review was also conducted,and a visual outcome of studies over 1y was compared using Meta-analysis. RESULTS：A total of 52 patients were included in the study. Mean BCVA at baseline and follow-up at 1 or 2y were 0.71± 0.61,0.51±0.36 and 0.68±0.51 log MAR,respectively. The cumulative hazard rate for recurrence at 1 and 2y followup was 15.4% and 30.3% respectively. The percentage of eyes with polyps regression at 3,12 and 24 mo follow-up was 88.5%,84.6% and 67.3% respectively. A Meta-analysis based on 22 independent studies showed the overall vision improvements at 1,2 and 3y follow-up were 0.13±0.04（P〈0.001）,0.12±0.03（P〈0.001）,0.16±0.06（P〈0.001）,respectively. The proportion of polyps regression at 1y follow-up was 64.6%（95%CI：51.5%,77.7%,P〈0.001）in 434 eyes treated by intravitreal anti-VEGF agents beforePDT and 76.0%（95%CI：64.8%,87.3%,P=0.001）in 199 eyes treated by intravitreal anti-VEGF agents after PDT. CONCLUSION：Intravitreal ranibizumab injection 24-48 h following PDT effectively stabilizes visual acuity in the eye with PCV. PDT followed by intravitreal anti-VEGF agents may contribute to a relatively higher proportion of polyps＇ regression as compared to that of intravitreal anti-VEGF before PDT.

Endoscopic ultrasound-guided injectable therapy for pancreatic cancer:A systematic review

BACKGROUND Given the low survival rate in pancreatic cancer,new therapeutic techniques have been explored,especially for unresectable or borderline resectable disease.Endoscopic ultrasound(EUS)provides real-time imaging and minimally invasive access for local and targeted injection of anti-tumor agents directly into the pancreatic tumor.Limited studies have been reported using this technique for the treatment of pancreatic ductal adenocarcinoma(PDAC).AIM To evaluate the progress made with EUS-guided injectable therapies in the treatment of PDAC.METHODS All original articles published in English until July 15,2021,were retrieved via a library-assisted literature search from Ovid Evidence-Based Medicine Reviews and Scopus databases.Reference lists were reviewed to identify additional relevant articles.Prospective clinical studies evaluating the use of EUS-guided injectable therapies in PDAC were included.Studies primarily directed at non-EUS injectable therapies and other malignancies were excluded.Retrieved manuscripts were reviewed descriptively with on critical appraisal of published studies based on their methods and outcome measures such as safety,feasibility,and effectiveness in terms of tumor response and survival.Heterogeneity in data outcomes and therapeutic techniques limited the ability to perform comparative statistical analysis.RESULTS A total of thirteen articles(503 patients)were found eligible for inclusion.The EUS-injectable therapies used were heterogeneous among the studies consisting of immunotherapy(n=5)in 59 patients,chemotherapy(n=1)in 36 patients,and viral and other biological therapies(n=7)in 408 patients.Eleven of the studies reviewed were single armed while two were double armed with one randomized trial and one non-randomized comparative study.Overall,the included studies demonstrated EUS-guided injectable therapies to be safe and feasible with different agents as monotherapy or in conjunction with other modalities.Promising results were also observed regarding their efficacy and survival parameters in patients with PDAC.CONCLUSION EUS-guided injectable therapies,including immunotherapy,chemotherapy,and viral or other biological therapies have shown minimal adverse events and potential efficacy in the treatment of PDAC.Comparative studies,including controlled trials,are required to confirm these results in order to offer novel EUS-based treatment options for patients with PDAC.

Local recurrence is an important prognostic factor of hepatocellular carcinoma

AIM： To clarify the importance of complete treatment by PELT. METHODS： A total of 140 previously untreated cases of HCC were enrolled in this study from 1988 to 2002. The inclusion criteria were： a solitary tumor less than 4 cm in diameter or multiple tumors, fewer than four in number and less than 3 cm in diameter, without extrahepatic metastasis or vessel invasion. As general principles for the treatment of HCC, the patients underwent transcatheter arterial chemoembolization （TACE） prior to PEIT. After the initial treatment of the patients, ultrasonography and computed tomography were performed, and measurement of serum levels of α- fetoprotein （AFP） was determined. When tumor recurrences were detected, PEIT and/or TACE were repeated whenever the hepatic functional reserve of the patient permitted. We then analyzed the variables that could influence prognosis, including tumor size and number, the serum levels of AFP, the parameters of hepatic function （albumin, bilirubin, ALT, hepaplastin test, platelet number, and indocyanine green retention at 15 rain [ICG-R15]）, combined therapy with TACE, distant recurrence, and local recurrence. RESULTS： Univariate analysis identified the ICG test, serum levels of AFP and albumin, tumor size and number, and local recurrence, but not distant recurrence, as significant prognostic variables. In multivariate analysis using those five parameters, the ICG test, tumor size, tumor number, and local recurrence were identified as significant prognostic factors. In both univariate and multivariate analyses, the relative risk for the ICG test was the highest, followed by local recurrence. CONCLUSION： We found that local recurrence is an independent prognostic factor of HCC, indicating that achieving complete treatment for HCC on first treatment is important for improving the prognosis of patients with HCC. 2005 The WJG Press and Elsevier Inc. All rights reserved.

Successful treatment of hypovascular advanced hepatocellular carcinoma with lipiodol-targetting intervention radiology

We report a case of hypovascular advanced hepa-tocellular carcinoma (HCC) successfully treated with a novel combination therapy of percutaneous ethanol-lipiodol injection (PELI) and intervention radiology (IVR),lipiodol-targetting IVR (Lipi-IVR). The present case had a hypovascular HCC (3 cm in diameter) located in the S6 region of the liver. Although the tumor was not detectable at all by both of early and late phase of helical dynamic computed tomography (CT),it could be detected by ultrasonography (US) as a low echoic space occupying lesion (SOL) beside the gallbladder and right kidney. Serum levels of alpha fetoprotein (AFP) and AFP-L3 were extremely high. Combination therapy of PELI,firstly reported in our department,and IVR (PELI and IVR,lipiodol-targetting IVR) was performed twice for the treatment. PELI could effectively visualize the location of the tumor for IVR treatment and show the presence of a thin blood vessel branching from the right hepatic artery flowing into the lipiodol deposit. After treatment,the serum levels of AFP and AFP-L3 were rapidly decreased to normal and maintained for more than eight months. Thus,this case expressing the tremendous effect might give us insight into the effectiveness of the novel combination therapy of PELI and IVR for the treatment of hypovascular HCC.

Management of Musculoskeletal Pain

Musculoskeletal pain is a distressing, unpleasant feeling and an emotional experience associated with actual or potential tissue damage. Prolotherapy is an injection therapy designed to stimulate tissue healing. Lyftogt PIT （perineural injection therapy） treats the neurogenic inflammation. Therefore it stops the pain and promotes the release of NGFs （nerve growth factors） which are important for tissue regeneration. Vitamin D3 receptors are ubiquitous in tissue distribution, which opens the possibility for unforeseen biological functions of vitamin D endocrine system. Dextrose is the most commonly used tissue proliferant in prolotherapy. It has different ways of action aiming to stimulate the tissue regeneration. Platelet Rich Plasma is also used in the IROM （interventional regenerative orthopedic medicine）, and it is very powerful because it delivers ＂growth-factors＂ which stimulate the local tissue progenitor cells （adult mesenchymal stem cells） enhancing the regeneration of the tissues. Adult Mesenchymal stem cell is the hot topic nowadays in the non-surgical field of pain management. In this paper, 250 patients suffering from chronic pain and dysfunction of different body joints （knee, hip and elbow）, were treated with one or two injection therapy techniques, to evaluate the patient improvement regarding the pain and function. The effect of adding an intra-articular injection of vitamin D to the above techniques was also evaluated regarding the joint pain and function improvement. Some of the patients were treated with Platelet Rich Plasma and others were treated with Bone Marrow Stem cells. The results of the 250 patients were compared with those obtained from 30 matching control patients, having same conditions and were treated with physiotherapy, Conclusions show that the therapeutic benefit from combining the two techniques, Lyflogt Perineural Injection Therapy and Prolotherapy, is better than using only one of them regarding the pain and function for the different body joints. Adding an intra-articular injection of vitamin D to the treatment of some patients gave a better result than those treated with dextrose only. However, using the Platelet Rich Plasma and the Stem cells instead of dextrose gave the best results ever regarding the pain and function of the musculoskeletal system.

Effect of Aidi injection plus chemotherapy on gastric carcinoma:a Meta-analysis of randomized controlled trials

OBJECTIVE: To conduct a Meta-analysis of studies on the effect of Aidi injectioncombined with chemotherapy versus chemotherapy alone in the treatment of gastric cancer(GC).METHODS: Nine electronic databases and six gray literature databases were comprehensively searcheduntil April 20,2013. Two reviewers independently selected and assessed included trialsaccording to the inclusion and exclusion criteria. The risk of bias tool from the Cochrane Handbook version 5.1.0was used to assess trial quality. All calculations were performed using Review Manager 5.0.RESULTS: Thirty-two studies including 1927 participants met the inclusion criteria,most of which were low quality. Compared with chemotherapy alone,Aidi injection plusthe same chemotherapy significantly improved the effective rate [OR = 1.52,95% CI(1.24,1.86),P < 0.0001],clinical beneficial rate [OR = 1.77,95% CI(1.33,2.36),P < 0.0001],and quality of life [OR = 3.02,95% CI(2.39,3.82),P <0.000 01]. There was a significant improvement in nausea and vomiting incidence [OR = 0.34,95%CI(0.24,0.47),P < 0.000 01],diarrhea [OR = 0.47,95%CI(0.33,0.69),P < 0.000 01],leukopenia( 3,0.51),P = 0.05],hemⅢ-ogⅣ)[OR = 0.34,95%CI(0.2lobin decrease(thromⅢ-boⅣ) [OR = 0.42,95%CI(0.18-1.00),P = 0.05],cytopenia(4],and Ⅲ-damⅣ) [OR = 0.46,95%CI(0.22,0.96),P = 0.0age to liver function [OR = 0.36,95%CI(0.24,0.54),P < 0.000 01].CONCLUSION: Aidi injection combined with chemotherapy significantly improved the clinical effect of chemotherapy,reducing the incidence of adverse events. Use of the CONSORT statement for randomized controlled trials is recommended for stricter reporting.

Therapeutic Efficacy Observation on Mild Lifting and Superficial Pulling Point-towards-point Needling for Intractable Facial Palsy

Objective: To observe and compare the clinical effects of combining mild lifting and superficial pulling point-towards-point needling and point injection and integrated standard electroacupuncture(EA) with intramuscular injection of Mecobalamin for intractable facial palsy. Methods: Eighty cases with intractable facial palsy were randomized into a treatment group and a control group, 40 in each group. Cases in the treatment group were treated with mild lifting and superficial pulling point-towards-point needling Xiaguan(ST 7) coupled with point injection of Mecobalamin. Cases in the control group were treated with standard EA coupled with intramuscular injection of Mecobalamin. After three courses of treatment, the between-group comparisons of Portmann scores and clinical effects were conducted. Results: After three courses of treatment, the Portmann scores in both groups were higher than the scores before treatment(P<0.01); the Portmann score in the treatment group was higher than that in the control group(P<0.05) and the total effective rate in the treatment group was higher than that in the control group(P<0.05). Conclusion: Combining mild lifting and superficial pulling point-towardspoint needling and point injection of Mecobalamin could obtain better effect for intractable facial palsy than standard EA coupled with intramuscular injection of Mecobalamin.