Enhanced electrogastrography: A realistic way to salvage a promise that was never kept?

To enhance the clinical utility of electrogastrography (EGG), which has been recorded since 1922, but is clinically unutilized. METHODSAn innovative method to salvage the promise of EGG is proposed by introducing a preliminary procedure, while maintaining the electrodes, standardized equipment, and signal processing utilized in the well-established EGG testing of today. The proposed enhanced EGG (EEGG) protocol involves swallowing an ingestible capsule containing miniature electronic oscillator embedded in an expandable, self-disintegratable, biocompatible pseudobesoar residing in the stomach for the duration of the test. The benefits of the proposed approach are outlined, tested and discussed in details. RESULTSExperiments were performed on eight mongrel dogs (6F, 4M, 23.8 ± 3.3 kg). Four were administered an active EEGG capsule, while the rest were given a deactivated (battery removed) capsule. Pharmacologically facilitated gastric motility revealed a significant (P < 0.01) Pearson correlation between gastric motility indices obtained by force transducers implanted directly on the stomach, and the motility indices obtained by EEGG. A particular emphasis was made on preserving standard EGG-related hardware and software in order to facilitate the introduction of the proposed EEGG in environments which already utilize standard EGG testing. The expanded intragastric pseudobezoar containing the miniature electronic oscillator was retained during the tests, and could be disintegrated on demand. CONCLUSIONEnhancing standard EGG by an ingestible, self-expanding and self-disintegrating pseudobesoar containing a miniature electronic oscillator can be an important avenue for clinical applicability of this test.

Organ dysfunction as a risk factor for early severe acute pancreatitis

We read with interest the review paper by Tao et al. on thetopic of early severe acute pancreatifis (EASP, defined as severeacute pancreatitis according to the Altanta criteria, with organdysfunction within 72 h after the start of symptoms) in a recentissue of the World Journal of Gastroenterology. It addressesan important problem in patients with severe acute pancreatitis,namely early organ dysfunction and its effect on outcomes.

Gastric electrical stimulation for gastroparesis:A goal greatly pursued,but not yet attained

The lack of an effective medical treatment for gastroparesis has pushed the research of new techniques of gastric electrical stimulation (GES) for nearly half a century of experimentation with a large variety of electrical stimuli delivered to the gastric wall of animals and patients with gastroparesis. Three principal methods are currently available: gastric low-frequency/high-energy GES with long pulse stimulation, high-frequency/low-energy GES with short pulse stimulation and neural sequential GES. The first method aims to reset a regular slow wave rhythm, but has variable effects on contractions and requires devices with large and heavy batteries unsuitable for implantation. High-frequency/low-energy GES, although inadequate to restore a normal gastric electro-mechanical activity, improves dyspeptic symptoms, such as nausea and vomiting, giving patients a better quality of life together with a more satisfactory nutritional status and is suitable for implantation. Unfortunately, the numerous clinical studies using this type of GES, with the exception of two, were not controlled and there is a need for definitive verification of the effectiveness of this technique to justify the cost and the risks of this procedure. The last method, which is neural sequential GES, consists of a microprocessor-controlled sequential activation of a series of annular electrodes along the distal two thirds of the stomach and is able to induce propagated contractions causing forceful emptying of the gastric content. The latter method is the most promising, but has been used only in animals and needs to be tested in patients with gastroparesis before it is regarded as a solution for this disease.

Neoadjuvant Combination Chemotherapy with Pegylated Liposomal Doxorubicin and Vinorelbine for Locally Advanced Breast Cancer

OBJECTIVE In China, vinorelbine plus an anthracycline is a common neoadjuvant regimen for locally-advanced breast cancer （LABC）. Pegylated liposomal doxorubicin （PLD） is an alternate anthracycline formulation with a more favorable safety profile compared with conventional anthracyclines. METHODS In this open-label trial, 61 women with LABC received up to 6 cycles of PLD 30 mg/m2 on Day 1 and vinorelbine 25 mg/m2 on Days 1 and 8 every 21 days. Hormone receptor and/or HER2 status was not routinely available. RESULTS The overall clinical response rate （primary efficacy endpoint） was 80% （95% CI： 68%-89%）. Two patients achieved a pathological complete response （3%）, with 75% having their tumor down-staged, and 89% proceeding to tumor resection. The most frequent nonhematologic adverse events were stomatitis, fever, rash, and palmar-plantar erythrodysesthesia, with none considered serious. Grade 3 or 4 neutropenia and thrombocytopenia occurred in 10% and 2% of patients, respectively. CONCLUSION PLD plus vinorelbine demonstrated comparable efficacy to conventional anthracyclines plus vinorelbine in the neoadjuvant treatment of LABC, but may offer safety advantages.

Use of CCW （Civil Construction Waste） in Soil Improvement

The vast production of CCW （Civil Construction Waste） has caused socio-environmental concern as a result of the exploration of natural resources, clandestine disposal and proliferation of vector-borne diseases, for example. It now gives priority to non-generation, reduction and recycling of CCW. This study, therefore, seeks an alternative for CCW by comparing the physical and mechanical characteristics, both in laboratory and onsite, of the recycled CCW aggregate and natural aggregate （stone powder）, commonly used in the composition of compaction piles for improving soils in foundation works in the city of Recife, Pernambuco, Brazil. All results showed similar behaviours among the investigated samples （CCW recycled and natural）, confirming the satisfactory performance of the investigated CCW material.

论筝乐的传统与民俗特色

文章沿筝与筝乐在我国2000多年的发展脉络,对筝与筝乐的世俗性和民俗性特色及美学传统进行了较为理性的梳理,以期使筝这一古老的艺术形式在当今社会发挥更大的作用。

Analysis of the potteries from ancient Liangzhu city-site

The excavation of ancient Liangzhu city-site (5000 B.P.) gave a new perspective on the study of Liangzhu culture and provided important evidence for the origin of Chinese civilization.In this work,the compositions and structures of pottery samples from Liangzhu city-site were analyzed by EDXRF,XRD,EPMA and Raman spectroscopy methods.Tremolite particles were proved to be an admixture for pottery for the first time.Most of the jades of Liangzhu culture were tremolite jades,so there might exist a connection between pottery production and jade making in Liangzhu times.The carburization craft made "black skin pottery" look black.High phosphorus content in pottery body implied that plant ash might have been added into body materials.In addition,the relationship between Liangzhu culture and other cultures was also discussed based on the similarity in pottery making technologies.

Ilioinguinal approach versus Stoppa approach for open reduction and internal fixation in the treatment of displaced acetabular fractures： A systematic review and meta-analysis

Purpose： To compare the efficacy and safety of open reduction and internal fixation through ilioinguinal approach and Stoppa approach for the treatment of displaced acetabular fractures. Methods： Case-controlled trials （CCTs） published from January 2010 to August 2015 that compared the ilioinguinal approach and Stoppa approach in the management of displaced acetabular fractures were retrieved from the databases of Cochrane Library, Pubmed, CNKI, and so on. Methodological quality of the trials was critically assessed. Statistical software RevMan 5.0 was used for data analysis. Results： Eight articles were included in the meta-analysis. Through comparing the efficacy and safety of ilioinguinal approach and Stoppa approach in the treatment of displaced acetabular fracture, statistical significance was found in the average operation time [WMD = 68.29, 95% CI （10.52, 126.05）, p 〈 0.05] and the median intraoperative blood loss [WMD = 142.26, 95% CI （9.30, 275.23）, p 〈 0.05]. However, there existed no statistical significance in the fracture end reset satisfaction rate [RR = 0.63, 95% CI （0.17, 2.37）, p 〉 0.05], the early complications rate [RR = 0.89, 95% CI （0.33, 2.40）, p 〉 0.05], the late complications rate [RR = 0.91, 95% CI （0.27, 3.01）, p 〉 0.05], and Harris hip score good function rate [RR = 0.52, 95% CI （0.25, 1.10）, p 〉 0.05]. Conclusion： Though both techniques can obtain satisfactory clinical functions in the treatment of displaced acetabular fractures, Stoppa approach is superior to the ilioinguinal approach in terms of operation time and intraoperative blood loss.

Clinical observation of acupuncture and moxibustion for functional dyspepsia due to Yang deficiency of the spleen and stomach

Objective To observe the clinical efficacy of acupuncture and moxibustion for functional dyspepsia(FD)due to Yang deficiency of the spleen and stomach.Methods A total of 90 patients meeting the inclusion criteria of FD due to Yang deficiency of the spleen and stomach were randomized into an acupuncture-moxibustion group,an electroacupuncture(EA)group,and a mosapride group by the random number table method,with 30 cases in each group.The mosapride group was treated with mosapride citrate dispersible tablets.The EA group was treated with EA treatment.The acupuncture-moxibustion group was treated with additional moxibustion therapy based on the treatment in the EA group.All three groups took 10 d as one treatment course and 2 courses in total,with a 2-day interval between two courses.The traditional Chinese medicine(TCM)symptoms score,functional digestive disorder quality of life questionnaire(FDDQL)score,oral-colon transit time(OCTT),and serum glucagon-like peptide-1(GLP-1)level was compared before and after treatment among the three groups.And the clinical efficacy was evaluated.Results The total effective rate in the acupuncture-moxibustion group was 96.7%,which was higher than 86.7%in the EA group and 73.3%in the mosapride group,and the total effective rate in the EA group was higher than that in the mosapride group;the inter-group differences were all statistically significant(P<0.05).After treatment,the TCM symptom score in the three groups was lower than that before treatment(P<0.05),and the FDDQL score was higher than that before treatment(P<0.05).The change after treatment in the TCM symptom score in the acupuncture-moxibustion group and the EA group was more significant than that in the mosapride group,and the change in the acupuncture-moxibustion group was more significant than that in the EA group;the inter-group differences were statistically significant(P<0.05).The change after treatment in the FDDQL score in the acupuncture-moxibustion group and the EA group was greater than that in the mosapride group,and the change in the acupuncture-moxibustion group was larger than that in the EA group;the inter-group differences were all statistically significant(P<0.05).After treatment,the OCTT in all three groups was lower than that before treatment(P<0.05),and the serum GLP-1 level was higher than that before treatment(P<0.05);the change after treatment in the OCTT in the acupuncture-moxibustion group and the EA group was more significant than that in the mosapride group,and the change in the acupuncture-moxibustion group was more significant than that in the EA group;the inter-group differences were statistically significant(P<0.05).The change after treatment in the serum GLP-1 level in the acupuncture-moxibustion group and the EA group was greater than that in the mosapride group,and the change in the acupuncture-moxibustion group was larger than that in the EA group;the inter-group differences were statistically significant(P<0.05).Conclusion Acupuncture and moxibustion can improve the clinical symptoms in patients with FD and enhance their quality of life,producing better effects than EA or mosapride alone.Shortening gastrointestinal movement time and increasing gastrointestinal hormone levels may be its mechanism.