Safety and efficacy of Kaffes intraductal self-expanding metal stents in the management of post-liver transplant anastomotic strictures

BACKGROUND Endoscopic management is the first-line therapy for post-liver-transplant anas-tomotic strictures.Although the optimal duration of treatment with plastic stents has been reported to be 8-12 months,data on safety and duration for metal stents in this setting is scarce.Due to limited access to endoscopic retrograde cholan-giopancreatography(ERCP)during the coronavirus disease 2019 pandemic in our centre,there was a change in practice towards increased usage and length-of-stay of the Kaffes biliary intraductal self-expanding stent in patients with suitable anatomy.This was mainly due to the theoretical benefit of Kaffes stents allowing for longer indwelling periods compared to the traditional plastic stents.METHODS Adult liver transplant recipients aged 18 years and above who underwent ERCP were retrospectively identified during a 10-year period through a database query.Unplanned admissions post-Kaffes stent insertion were identified manually through electronic and scanned medical records.The main outcome was the incidence of complications when stents were left indwelling for 3 months vs 6 months.Stent efficacy was calculated via rates of stricture recurrence between patients that had stenting courses for≤120 d or>120 d.RESULTS During the study period,a total of 66 ERCPs with Kaffes insertion were performed in 54 patients throughout their stenting course.In 33 ERCPs,the stent was removed or exchanged on a 3-month interval.No pancreatitis,perfor-ations or deaths occurred.Minor post-ERCP complications were similar between the 3-month(abdominal pain and intraductal migration)and 6-month(abdominal pain,septic shower and embedded stent)groups-6.1%vs 9.1%respectively,P=0.40.All strictures resolved at the end of the stenting course,but the stenting course was variable from 3 to 22 months.The recurrence rate for stenting courses lasting for up to 120 d was 71.4%and 21.4%for stenting courses of 121 d or over(P=0.03).There were 28 patients that were treated with a single ERCP with Kaffes,21 with removal after 120 d and 7 within 120 d.There was a significant improvement in stricture recurrence when the Kaffes was removed after 120 d when a single ERCP was used for the entire stenting course(71.0%vs 10.0%,P=0.01).CONCLUSION Utilising a single Kaffes intraductal fully-covered metal stent for at least 4 months is safe and efficacious for the management of post-transplant anastomotic strictures.

Research Progress on Self-Efficacy Level of Patients with Type 2 Diabetes Mellitus and Its Influencing Factors

Self-efficacy plays an important role in the management of type 2 diabetes mellitus (T2DM) patients, and it runs through the whole process of diabetes treatment, which is conducive to controlling and delaying the occurrence and development of complications, as well as improving the quality of life of patients. This paper mainly describes the concept of self-efficacy, the current situation of self-efficacy of diabetic patients at home and abroad, the functional aspects and their influencing factors, so as to take relevant measures on how to improve self-efficacy. It aims to provide a theoretical basis for the development of self-efficacy interventions for patients with type 2 diabetes mellitus.

The Impact of Simulation Education on Self-Efficacy in Pre-Registration Nursing Students

This literature review primarily aims to explore and synthesise the previous studies in simulation education research conducted over the past five years related to the effects of simulation training on the self-efficacy of undergraduate pre-registration nursing students. The second aim of this study is to explore additional outcome variables that were examined in the previous studies. Five electronic databases were searched systematically. These databases were MEDLINE, CINAHL Plus, Scopus, Embase and PsycINFO. The PICO model was employed to identify the search terms, with a thesaurus being used to provide synonyms. Reference lists of relevant articles were examined and hand searches of journals were also undertaken. The quality of each study was assessed using the Simulation Research Rubric (SRR). A total of 11 studies were included. All studies explored the impact of simulation education on undergraduate pre-registration nursing. Six studies explored nursing students’ competence and performance and two papers examined their critical thinking. Problem solving, learning motivation, communication skills and knowledge acquisition were examined once. The majority of studies indicated that simulation training has a positive impact on pre-registration nursing students’ self-efficacy and other outcome variables. Furthermore, the study results indicate that simulation training is more dependable than traditional training, and students were extremely satisfied with the simulation training. However, most of the studies included in this review had several gaps, including study design, sample size and dissimilarities between the scales used. Further research with large samples, reliable and valid instruments, and outcomes measures (such as critical thinking and transferability of skills) is required to provide better insight into the effectiveness of simulation in undergraduate nursing education. .

Evaluation of the Strategy and Efficacy of Treatment of Chronic Viral Hepatitis C with the Sofosbuvir/Daclatasvir Combination in a Resource-Limited Country

Introduction: The treatment of viral hepatitis C (HCV), a major public health problem, has evolved considerably since the introduction of direct-acting anti-virals (DAAs). The aim of this study was to evaluate the strategy for initiating treatment with Sofosbuvir/Daclatasvir, and also to assess its efficacy. Patients and Methods: Included were patients aged at least 15 years, with detectable hepatitis C viremia and treated with a pan-genotypic Sofosbuvir/Daclatasvir regimen at the Centre “Hospitalier Universitaire la Référence Nationale de N’Djamena” between October 2019 and October 2023. The APRI score was used to assess fibrosis. Cure was defined by an undetectable viral load 12 weeks after the end of treatment. Results: A total of 835 patients were included (sex ratio 1.55, mean age 50.5 ± 13.73, extremes 20 and 84 years). The 60 - 69 age group was the most represented. The mean APRI score was 0.42 ± 0.29, with extremes of 0.019 and 1.84. The mean viral load was 2,316,193.086 IU/mL. All subjects had good renal function. Cytolysis was absent in 70% of cases. Without genotyping, a pan-genotypic regimen was used in all patients: Sofosbuvir (400 mg)/Daclatasvir (60 mg). The cure rate was 99.4%, with good tolerability. However, four cases of failure were recorded out of the 668 patients who underwent follow-up HCV-PCR testing after 12 weeks of treatment. Conclusion: The Sofosbuvir/Daclatasvir regimen is highly effective, with an excellent safety profile. However, the still high cost of these molecules limits their accessibility to a large proportion of patients.

Ganoderma lucidum:a comprehensive review of phytochemistry,efficacy,safety and clinical study

Ganoderma lucidum,one of the most well-known edible fungi,is believed to be very beneficial for longevity and vitality.A long usage history suggests that G.lucidum has various clinical therapeutic effects.And experimental studies have confirmed that G.lucidum has multiple pharmacological effects,including antitumor,anti-microbial,anti-HIV protease,and antidiabetic activity and so on.With the deepening of research,more than 300 compounds have been isolated from G.lucidum.There is an increasing population of G.lucidum-based products,and its international development is expanding.Currently,G.lucidum has drawn much attention to its chemical composition,therapeutic effect,clinical value,and safety.This paper provides a comprehensive review of these aspects to enhance the global promotion of G.lucidum.

Efficacy of ginseng-based Renshenguben oral solution for cancer-related fatigue among patients with advanced-stage hepatocellular carcinoma:A prospective multicenter cohort study

Background:Cancer-related fatigue(CRF)is a common and debilitating symptom experienced by patients with advanced-stage cancer,especially those undergoing antitumor therapy.This study aimed to evaluate the efficacy and safety of Renshenguben(RSGB)oral solution,a ginseng-based traditional Chinese medicine,in alleviating CRF in patients with advanced hepatocellular carcinoma(HCC)receiving antitumor treatment.Methods:In this prospective,open-label,controlled,multicenter study,patients with advanced HCC at BCLC stage C and a brief fatigue inventory(BFI)score of≥4 were enrolled.Participants were assigned to the RSGB group(RSGB,10 mL twice daily)or the control group(with supportive care).Primary and secondary endpoints were the change in multidimensional fatigue inventory(MFI)score,and BFI and functional assessment of cancer therapy-hepatobiliary(FACT-Hep)scores at weeks 4 and 8 after enrollment.Adverse events(AEs)and toxicities were assessed.Results:A total of 409 participants were enrolled,with 206 assigned to the RSGB group.At week 4,there was a trend towards improvement,but the differences were not statistically significant.At week 8,the RSGB group exhibited a significantly lower MFI score(P<0.05)compared to the control group,indicating improved fatigue levels.Additionally,the RSGB group showed significantly greater decrease in BFI and FACT-Hep scores at week 8(P<0.05).Subgroup analyses among patients receiving various antitumor treatments showed similar results.Multivariate linear regression analyses revealed that the RSGB group experienced a significantly substantial decrease in MFI,BFI,and FACT-Hep scores at week 8.No serious drug-related AEs or toxicities were observed.Conclusions:RSGB oral solution effectively reduced CRF in patients with advanced HCC undergoing antitumor therapy over an eight-week period,with no discernible toxicities.These findings support the potential of RSGB oral solution as an adjunctive treatment for managing CRF in this patient population.

RepBoTNet-CESA:An Alzheimer’s Disease Computer Aided Diagnosis Method Using Structural Reparameterization BoTNet and Cubic Embedding Self Attention

Various deep learning models have been proposed for the accurate assisted diagnosis of early-stage Alzheimer’s disease(AD).Most studies predominantly employ Convolutional Neural Networks(CNNs),which focus solely on local features,thus encountering difficulties in handling global features.In contrast to natural images,Structural Magnetic Resonance Imaging(sMRI)images exhibit a higher number of channel dimensions.However,during the Position Embedding stage ofMulti Head Self Attention(MHSA),the coded information related to the channel dimension is disregarded.To tackle these issues,we propose theRepBoTNet-CESA network,an advanced AD-aided diagnostic model that is capable of learning local and global features simultaneously.It combines the advantages of CNN networks in capturing local information and Transformer networks in integrating global information,reducing computational costs while achieving excellent classification performance.Moreover,it uses the Cubic Embedding Self Attention(CESA)proposed in this paper to incorporate the channel code information,enhancing the classification performance within the Transformer structure.Finally,the RepBoTNet-CESA performs well in various AD-aided diagnosis tasks,with an accuracy of 96.58%,precision of 97.26%,and recall of 96.23%in the AD/NC task;an accuracy of 92.75%,precision of 92.84%,and recall of 93.18%in the EMCI/NC task;and an accuracy of 80.97%,precision of 83.86%,and recall of 80.91%in the AD/EMCI/LMCI/NC task.This demonstrates that RepBoTNet-CESA delivers outstanding outcomes in various AD-aided diagnostic tasks.Furthermore,our study has shown that MHSA exhibits superior performance compared to conventional attention mechanisms in enhancing ResNet performance.Besides,the Deeper RepBoTNet-CESA network fails to make further progress in AD-aided diagnostic tasks.

Efficacy of radiofrequency ablation combined with sorafenib for treating liver cancer complicated with portal hypertension and prognostic factors

BACKGROUND Patients with liver cancer complicated by portal hypertension present complex challenges in treatment.AIM To evaluate the efficacy of radiofrequency ablation in combination with sorafenib for improving liver function and its impact on the prognosis of patients with this condition.METHODS Data from 100 patients with liver cancer complicated with portal hypertension from May 2014 to March 2019 were analyzed and divided into a study group(n=50)and a control group(n=50)according to the treatment regimen.The research group received radiofrequency ablation(RFA)in combination with sorafenib,and the control group only received RFA.The short-term efficacy of both the research and control groups was observed.Liver function and portal hypertension were compared before and after treatment.Alpha-fetoprotein(AFP),glypican-3(GPC-3),and AFP-L3 levels were compared between the two groups prior to and after treatment.The occurrence of adverse reactions in both groups was observed.The 3-year survival rate was compared between the two groups.Basic data were compared between the survival and non-surviving groups.To identify the independent risk factors for poor prognosis in patients with liver cancer complicated by portal hypertension,multivariate logistic regression analysis was employed.RESULTS When comparing the two groups,the research group's total effective rate(82.00%)was significantly greater than that of the control group(56.00%;P<0.05).Following treatment,alanine aminotransferase and aspartate aminotransferase levels increased,and portal vein pressure decreased in both groups.The degree of improvement for every index was substantially greater in the research group than in the control group(P<0.05).Following treatment,the AFP,GPC-3,and AFP-L3 levels in both groups decreased,with the research group having significantly lower levels than the control group(P<0.05).The incidence of diarrhea,rash,nausea and vomiting,and fatigue in the research group was significantly greater than that in the control group(P<0.05).The 1-,2-,and 3-year survival rates of the research group(94.00%,84.00%,and 72.00%,respectively)were significantly greater than those of the control group(80.00%,64.00%,and 40.00%,respectively;P<0.05).Significant differences were observed between the survival group and the non-surviving group in terms of Child-Pugh grade,history of hepatitis,number of tumors,tumor size,use of sorafenib,stage of liver cancer,histological differentiation,history of splenectomy and other basic data(P<0.05).Logistic regression analysis demonstrated that high Child-Pugh grade,tumor size(6–10 cm),history of hepatitis,no use of sorafenib,liver cancer stage IIIC,and previous splenectomy were independent risk factors for poor prognosis in patients with liver cancer complicated with portal hypertension(P<0.05).CONCLUSION Patients suffering from liver cancer complicated by portal hypertension benefit from the combination of RFA and sorafenib therapy because it effectively restores liver function and increases survival rates.The prognosis of patients suffering from liver cancer complicated by portal hypertension is strongly associated with factors such as high Child-Pugh grade,tumor size(6-10 cm),history of hepatitis,lack of sorafenib use,liver cancer at stage IIIC,and prior splenectomy.

Effect of Health Education Program on Self-Efficacy and Functional Capacity of Patients with Coronary Artery Bypass Surgery in Khartoum State-Sudan, 2015-2019

Coronary heart disease is among the most prevalent and costly of all global health problems. Coronary artery bypass grafting (CABG) has been increasingly used since the 1960s. Coronary heart disease is a leading cause of death worldwide, including Sudan. Self-efficacy and functional capacity is a critical factor for quality of life in patients who has undergone CABG as well as for their caregivers from their families. Aim of the Study: To explore the effects of an educational program on self-efficacy and functional capacity of patients after CABG. 1) There will be no significant difference between the intervention group and control group concerning knowledge regarding Self-efficacy and functional capacity post CABG surgery. 2) The application of our educational program for the patients will enhance the patients with CABG surgery and improve knowledge about Self-efficacy and functional capacity post CABG surgery. 3) There are some socio demographic factors that affect the response to the educational program. Methods: This was a quasi-experimental, interventional and hospital-based study, including pre-test, a post-test and follow-up test, with a control group, conducted during the period from September 2014 to June 2019. Patients were recruited consecutively to the cases and control group using convenience sampling. The sample consisted of 76 patients;41 as cases and 35 as control group. The sample included those who had undergone CABG in Khartoum State. Relevant data were collected using a checklist to monitor the effect of a health education program on self-efficacy and functional capacity of the patients. Result: The results showed marked improvement in patients’ self-efficacy and functional capacity between pretest and posttest for the study group;p-value = (0.001) in the health status of cases in comparison to the control group. The indices were observed to be higher for patients who received a nursing educational program throughout the study period;p-value = (0.002).

Efficacy and safety of minimally invasive laparoscopic surgery under general anesthesia for ovarian cancer

BACKGROUND Ovarian cancer is one of the most common malignant tumors in female reproductive system in the world,and the choice of its treatment is very important for the survival rate and prognosis of patients.Traditional open surgery is the main treatment for ovarian cancer,but it has the disadvantages of big trauma and slow recovery.With the continuous development of minimally invasive technology,minimally invasive laparoscopic surgery under general anesthesia has been gradually applied to the treatment of ovarian cancer because of its advantages of less trauma and quick recovery.However,the efficacy and safety of minimally invasive laparoscopic surgery under general anesthesia in the treatment of ovarian cancer are still controversial.AIM To explore the efficacy and safety of general anesthesia minimally invasive surgery in the treatment of ovarian cancer.METHODS The clinical data of 90 patients with early ovarian cancer in our hospital were analyzed retrospectively.According to the different surgical treatment methods,patients were divided into study group and control group(45 cases in each group).The study group received minimally invasive laparoscopic surgery under general anesthesia for ovarian cancer,while the control group received traditional open surgery for ovarian cancer.The European Organization for Research and Treatment of Cancer Quality of Life Questionnaire(EORTC QLQ-C30),clinical efficacy and safety of the two groups were compared.RESULTS The intraoperative blood loss,length of hospital stay,postoperative gas evacuation time,and postoperative EORTC QLQ-C30 score of the study group were significantly better than those of the control group(P<0.05).The incidence of postoperative complications in the study group was significantly lower than in the control group(P<0.05).The two groups had no significant differences in the preoperative adrenocorticotropic hormone(ACTH),androstenedione(AD),cortisol(Cor),cluster of differentiation 3 positive(CD3+),and cluster of differentiation 4 positive(CD4+)indexes(P>0.05).In contrast,postoperatively,the study group's ACTH,AD,and Cor indexes were lower,and the CD3+and CD4+indexes were higher than those in the control group(P<0.05).CONCLUSION Minimally invasive laparoscopic surgery under general anesthesia in patients with early ovarian cancer can significantly improve the efficacy and safety,improve the short-term prognosis and quality of life of patients,and is worth popularizing.

Clinical efficacy and safety of erlotinib combined with chemotherapy in the treatment of advanced pancreatic cancer:A meta-analysis

BACKGROUND Advanced pancreatic cancer is resistant to chemotherapeutic drugs,resulting in limited treatment efficacy and poor prognosis.Combined administration of the chemotherapeutic gemcitabine and erlotinib is considered a potential first-line treatment for advanced pancreatic cancer.However,their comparative benefits and potential risks remain unclear.AIM To assess the clinical efficacy and safety of erlotinib combined with other chemotherapy regimens for the treatment of advanced pancreatic cancer.METHODS Literature on the clinical efficacy and safety of erlotinib combined with chemotherapy for advanced pancreatic cancer was retrieved through an online search.The retrieved literature was subjected to a methodological qualitative assessment and was analyzed using the RevMan 5.3 software.Ten randomized controlled trials involving 2444 patients with advanced pancreatic cancer were included in the meta-analysis.RESULTS Compared with chemotherapeutic treatment,erlotinib combined with chemotherapy significantly prolonged the progression-free survival time of pancreatic cancer patients[hazard ratio(HR)=0.78,95%CI:0.66-0.92,P=0.003].Meanwhile,the overall survival(HR=0.99,95%CI:0.72-1.37,and P=0.95)and disease control rate(OR=0.93,95%CI:0.45-0.91,P=0.84)were not significantly favorable.In terms of safety,the erlotinib and chemotherapy combination was associated with a significantly higher risk of diarrhea(OR=3.59,95%CI:1.63-7.90,P<0.05)and rash(OR=3.63,95%CI:1.64-8.01,P<0.05)compared with single-agent chemotherapy.Moreover,the risk of vomiting(OR=1.27,95%CI:0.62-2.59,P=0.51),regurgitation/anorexia(OR=1.61,95%CI:0.25-10.31,P=0.62),and infection(OR=0.72,95%CI:0.28-1.87,P=0.50)were not significant in either group.CONCLUSION Compared with a single chemotherapeutic modality,erlotinib combined with gemcitabine can prolong progression-free survival in pancreatic cancer,but does not improve survival benefit or disease control rate,and can increase the risk of diarrhea and rash.

Efficacy of 1% Permethrin and 2% Permethrin Combined with 1% Piperonyl Butoxide against Rhipicephalus sanguineus Ticks in Naturally Infested Dogs

The aim of the present study was to compare the ixodicide efficacy of 1% permethrin applied as a shampoo-bath in single treatment and a combined formulation of 2% permethrin + 1% piperonyl butoxide applied as powder in a single treatment against Rhipicephalus sanguineus ticks, in naturally infested dogs. Eighteen adult cross-mixed dogs, harboring to at least 20 ticks/animal, were selected on pre-treatment live tick counts. On day 0, the dogs were then divided in 3 groups of 6 animals each, for treatment: Group 1 (G1) received 1% permethrin applied as shampoo-bath (approximately 10 ml/kg bw), according to label instructions. G2 was treated with 2% permethrin + 1% piperonyl butoxide applied as powder, and rubbed as massage on the body, as recommended by the producer. G3 served as a non-treated control. After the treatment, the dogs were checked out for live ticks counting on days 0, 1, 7, and 14. The ixodicide efficacy was assessed based on the percentage reductions of ticks on the days analyzed post-treatment, with respect to the untreated control. Results showed that permethrin alone removed ticks on 81%, 93.1% and 89.6% for days 1, 7 and 14, respectively. The combined formulation of 2% permethrin + 1% piperonyl butoxide exerted a better efficacy of 98.8, 97.7 and 97.0%, respectively. It is concluded that this combined formulation was highly effective at rapidly repelling and killing Riphicephalus sanguineus ticks on naturally infected dogs, showing a significant effect on days 1, 7 and 14 after tick exposure. The sustained high and quick level of efficacy of this combination may well interfere with the transmission of Riphicephalus sanguineus ticks. It is concluded that the sustained high level of efficacy of the permethrin + piperonyl butoxide combination may well exert an additive effect and could interfere with the transmission of Riphicephalus sanguineus ticks.

Short-term efficacy of microwave ablation in the treatment of liver cancer and its effect on immune function

BACKGROUND Hepatectomy is the first choice for treating liver cancer.However,inflammatory factors,released in response to pain stimulation,may suppress perioperative immune function and affect the prognosis of patients undergoing hepatectomies.AIM To determine the short-term efficacy of microwave ablation in the treatment of liver cancer and its effect on immune function.METHODS Clinical data from patients with liver cancer admitted to Suzhou Ninth People’s Hospital from January 2020 to December 2023 were retrospectively analyzed.Thirty-five patients underwent laparoscopic hepatectomy for liver cancer(liver cancer resection group)and 35 patients underwent medical image-guided microwave ablation(liver cancer ablation group).The short-term efficacy,complications,liver function,and immune function indices before and after treatment were compared between the two groups.RESULTS One month after treatment,19 patients experienced complete remission(CR),8 patients experienced partial remission(PR),6 patients experienced stable disease(SD),and 2 patients experienced disease progression(PD)in the liver cancer resection group.In the liver cancer ablation group,21 patients experienced CR,9 patients experienced PR,3 patients experienced SD,and 2 patients experienced PD.No significant differences in efficacy and complications were detected between the liver cancer ablation and liver cancer resection groups(P>0.05).After treatment,total bilirubin(41.24±7.35 vs 49.18±8.64μmol/L,P<0.001),alanine aminotransferase(30.85±6.23 vs 42.32±7.56 U/L,P<0.001),CD4+(43.95±5.72 vs 35.27±5.56,P<0.001),CD8+(20.38±3.91 vs 22.75±4.62,P<0.001),and CD4+/CD8+(2.16±0.39 vs 1.55±0.32,P<0.001)were significantly different between the liver cancer ablation and liver cancer resection groups.CONCLUSION The short-term efficacy and safety of microwave ablation and laparoscopic surgery for the treatment of liver cancer are similar,but liver function recovers quickly after microwave ablation,and microwave ablation may enhance immune function.

Efficacy and safety of perioperative therapy for locally resectable gastric cancer:A network meta-analysis of randomized clinical trials

BACKGROUND Gastric cancer(GC)is the fifth most commonly diagnosed malignancy worldwide,with over 1 million new cases per year,and the third leading cause of cancer-related death.AIM To determine the optimal perioperative treatment regimen for patients with locally resectable GC.METHODS A comprehensive literature search was conducted,focusing on phase II/III randomized controlled trials(RCTs)assessing perioperative chemotherapy and chemoradiotherapy in treating locally resectable GC.The R0 resection rate,overall survival(OS),disease-free survival(DFS),and incidence of grade 3 or higher nonsurgical severe adverse events(SAEs)associated with various perioperative regimens were analyzed.A Bayesian network meta-analysis was performed to compare treatment regimens and rank their efficacy.RESULTS Thirty RCTs involving 8346 patients were included in this study.Neoadjuvant XELOX plus neoadjuvant radiotherapy and neoadjuvant CF were found to significantly improve the R0 resection rate compared with surgery alone,and the former had the highest probability of being the most effective option in this context.Neoadjuvant plus adjuvant FLOT was associated with the highest probability of being the best regimen for improving OS.Owing to limited data,no definitive ranking could be determined for DFS.Considering nonsurgical SAEs,FLO has emerged as the safest treatment regimen.CONCLUSION This study provides valuable insights for clinicians when selecting perioperative treatment regimens for patients with locally resectable GC.Further studies are required to validate these findings.

Compare clinical efficacy and safety of neoadjuvant therapy and neoadjuvant chemoradiotherapy for locally advanced rectal cancer: Meta-analysis

BACKGROUND To compare the efficacy and safety of total neoadjuvant therapy(TNT)and neoadjuvant chemoradiotherapy(nCRT)in the treatment of middle and low locally advanced rectal cancer.Our study will systematically collect and integrate studies to evaluate the ability of these two treatments to improve tumor shrinkage rates,surgical resection rates,tumor-free survival,and severe adverse events.AIM To provide clinicians and patients with more reliable treatment options to optimize treatment outcomes and quality of life for patients with locally advanced rectal cancer by comparing the advantages and disadvantages of the two treatment options.METHODS A full search of all clinical studies on the effectiveness and safety of TNT and nCRT for treating locally advanced rectal cancer identified in Chinese(CNKI,Wanfang,China Biomedical Literature Database)and English(PubMed,Embase)databases was performed.Two system assessors independently screened the studies according to the inclusion and exclusion criteria.Quality evaluation and RESULTS Finally,14 studies were included,six of which were randomized controlled studies.A total of 3797 patients were included,including 1865 in the TNT group and 1932 in the nCRT group.The two sets of baseline data were comparable.The results of the meta-analysis showed that the pCR rate[odds ratio(OR)=1.57,95%confidence interval(CI):1.30-1.90,P<0.00001],T stage degradation rate(OR=2.16,95%CI:1.63-2.57,P<0.00001),and R0 resection rate(OR=1.42,95%CI:1.09-1.85,P=0.009)were significantly greater in the nCRT group than in the nCRT group.There was no significant difference in the incidence of grade 3/4 acute toxicity or perioperative complications between the two groups.The 5-year OS[hazard ratio(HR)=0.84,95%CI:0.69-1.02,P=0.08]and DFS(HR=0.94,95%CI:0.03-1.39,P=0.74)of the TNT group were similar to those of the nCRT group.CONCLUSION TNT has greater clinical efficacy and safety than nCRT in the treatment of locally advanced rectal cancer.

Efficacy comparison of multipoint and single point scanning panretinal laser photocoagulation in non-proliferative diabetic retinopathy treatment

BACKGROUND Non-proliferative diabetic retinopathy(NPDR)poses a significant challenge in diabetes management due to its microvascular changes in the retina.Laser photocoagulation,a conventional therapy,aims to mitigate the risk of progressing to proliferative diabetic retinopathy(PDR).AIM To compare the efficacy and safety of multi-spot vs single-spot scanning panretinal laser photocoagulation in NPDR patients.METHODS Forty-nine NPDR patients(86 eyes)treated between September 2020 and July 2022 were included.They were randomly allocated into single-spot(n=23,40 eyes)and multi-spot(n=26,46 eyes)groups.Treatment outcomes,including bestcorrected visual acuity(BCVA),central macular thickness(CMT),and mean threshold sensitivity,were assessed at predetermined intervals over 12 months.Adverse reactions were also recorded.RESULTS Energy levels did not significantly differ between groups(P>0.05),but the multi-spot group exhibited lower energy density(P<0.05).BCVA and CMT improvements were noted in the multi-spot group at one-month posttreatment(P<0.05).Adverse reaction incidence was similar between groups(P>0.05).CONCLUSION While energy intensity and safety were comparable between modalities,multi-spot scanning demonstrated lower energy density and showed superior short-term improvements in BCVA and CMT for NPDR patients,with reduced laser-induced damage.

Unified Description of the Three Stable Particles in Self-Action Allows Determination of Their Relative Masses

The Dirac equation γμ(δμ-eAμ)Ψ=mc2Ψ describes the bound states of the electron under the action of external potentials, Aμ. We assumed that the fundamental form of the Dirac equation γμ(δμ-Sμ)Ψ=0 should describe the stable particles (the electron, the proton and the dark-matter-particle (dmp)) bound to themselves under the action of their own potentials Sμ. The new equation reveals that self energy is consequence of self action, it also reveals that the spin angular momentum is consequence of the dynamic structure of the stable particles. The quantitative results are the determination of their relative masses as well as the determination of the electromagnetic coupling constant.

Robotic-assisted low anterior resection for rectal cancer shows similar clinical efficacy to laparoscopic surgery: A propensity score matched study

BACKGROUND Rectal cancer ranks as the second leading cause of cancer-related mortality worldwide,necessitating surgical resection as the sole treatment option.Over the years,there has been a growing adoption of minimally invasive surgical techni-ques such as robotic and laparoscopic approaches.Robotic surgery represents an innovative modality that effectively addresses the limitations associated with traditional laparoscopic techniques.While previous studies have reported favo-rable perioperative outcomes for robot-assisted radical resection in rectal cancer patients,further evidence regarding its oncological safety is still warranted.AIM To conduct a comparative analysis of perioperative and oncological outcomes between robot-assisted and laparoscopic-assisted low anterior resection(LALAR)procedures.METHODS The clinical data of 125 patients who underwent robot-assisted low anterior resection(RALAR)and 279 patients who underwent LALAR resection at Shandong Provincial Hospital Affiliated to Shandong First Medical University from December 2019 to November 2022 were retrospectively analyzed.After performing a 1:1 propensity score matching,the patients were divided into two groups:The RALAR group and the LALAR group(111 cases in each group).Subsequently,a comparison was made between the short-term outcomes within 30 d after surgery and the 3-year survival outcomes of these two groups.RESULTS Compared to the LALAR group,the RALAR group exhibited a significantly earlier time to first flatus[2(2-2)d vs 3(3-3)d,P=0.000],as well as a shorter time to first fluid diet[4(3-4)d vs 5(4-6)d,P=0.001].Additionally,the RALAR group demonstrated reduced postoperative indwelling catheter time[2(1-3)d vs 4(3-5)d,P=0.000]and decreased length of hospital stay after surgery[5(5-7)d vs 7(6-8)d,P=0.009].Moreover,there was an observed increase in total cost of hospitalization for the RALAR group compared to the LALAR group[10777(10780-11850)dollars vs 10550(8766-11715)dollars,P=0.012].No significant differences were found in terms of conversion rate to laparotomy or incidence of postoperative complications between both groups.Furthermore,no significant disparities were noted regarding the 3-year overall survival rate and 3-year disease-free survival rate between both groups.CONCLUSION Robotic surgery offers potential advantages in terms of accelerated recovery of gastrointestinal and urologic function compared to LALAR resection,while maintaining similar perioperative and 3-year oncological outcomes.

Efficacy and predictive factors of transarterial chemoembolization combined with lenvatinib plus programmed cell death protein-1 inhibition for unresectable hepatocellular carcinoma

BACKGROUND The efficacy and safety of transarterial chemoembolization(TACE)combined with lenvatinib plus programmed cell death protein-1(PD-1)for unresectable hepato-cellular carcinoma(HCC)have rarely been evaluated and it is unknown which factors are related to efficacy.AIM To evaluate the efficacy and independent predictive factors of TACE combined with lenvatinib plus PD-1 inhibitors for unresectable HCC.METHODS This study retrospectively enrolled patients with unresectable HCC who received TACE/lenvatinib/PD-1 treatment between March 2019 and April 2022.Overall survival(OS)and progression-free survival(PFS)were determined.The objective response rate(ORR)and disease control rate(DCR)were evaluated in accordance with the modified Response Evaluation Criteria in Solid Tumors.Additionally,the prognostic factors affecting the clinical outcome were assessed.RESULTS One hundred and two patients were enrolled with a median follow-up duration of 12.63 months.The median OS was 26.43 months(95%CI:17.00-35.87),and the median PFS was 10.07 months(95%CI:8.50-11.65).The ORR and DCR were 61.76%and 81.37%,respectively.The patients with Barcelona Clinic Liver Cancer Classification(BCLC)B stage,early neutrophil-to-lymphocyte ratio(NLR)response(decrease),or early alpha-fetoprotein(AFP)response(decrease>20%)had superior OS and PFS than their counterparts.CONCLUSION This study showed that TACE/lenvatinib/PD-1 treatment was well tolerated with encouraging efficacy in patients with unresectable HCC.The patients with BCLC B-stage disease with early NLR response(decrease)and early AFP response(decrease>20%)may achieve better clinical outcomes with this triple therapy.

Tissue optical clearing enhances efficacy of vascular targeted photodynamic therapy of mouse dorsal skin

Vascular-targeted photodynamic therapy(V-PDT)is an effective treatment for port wine stains(PWS).However,repeated treatment is usually needed to achieve optimal treatment outcomes,possibly due to the limited treatment light penetration depth in the PWS lesion.The optical clearing technique can increase light penetration in depth by reducing light scattering.This study aimed to investigate the V-PDT in combination with an optical clearing agent(OCA)for the therapeutic enhancement of V-PDT in the rodent skinfold window chamber model.Vascular responses were closely monitored with laser speckle contrast imaging(LSCI),optical coherence tomography angiography,and stereo microscope before,during,and after the treatment.We further quantitatively demonstrated the effects of V-PDT in combination with OCA on the blood flow and blood vessel size of skin microvasculature.The combination of OCA and V-PDT resulted in significant vascular damage,including vasoconstriction and the reduction of blood flow.Our results indicate the promising potential of OCA for enhancing V-PDT for treating vascular-related diseases,including PWS.