Effect of Acupotomy Combined with Electroacupuncture Therapy on Finger Mobility and Pain Relief in Patients with Carpal Tunnel Syndrome.

Objective: To explore the effect of acupotomy in combination with electroacupuncture therapy on the finger mobility and pain relief in patients who had carpal tunnel syndrome (CTS). Methods: The clinical data of 60 CTS patients in our hospital from November 2020 to November 2021 received retrospective analysis. With 30 cases in each group, they were randomly divided into the treatment group and the control group. The control group underwent hot compress, oral medication, and local injection during hospitalization, while the treatment group received acupotomy and electroacupuncture therapy on top of the above treatments, and the clinical effects, finger mobility, and pain relief were compared between both groups. Results: The clinical indexes in the treatment group after treatment were remarkably better than those in the control group (P < 0.05), with the remarkably higher number of cured cases in the treatment group (P < 0.05). After treatment, the treatment group had remarkably higher mean total active motion (TAM) and score of the 36-item short form (SF-36) health survey and a remarkably lower mean score of visual analog scale (VAS) than those in the control group (P < 0.001). Conclusion: The quality of life and finger mobility of CTS sufferers can be improved with acupotomy in conjunction with electroacupuncture therapy. In-depth research will help build better procedures for these patients because this approach lessens the discomfort and shortens the symptom duration in CTS sufferers.

Prognostic factors influencing the survival of patients with carcinoma of the gastric cardia receiving preoperative interventional embolization chemotherapy.

The purpose of this study was to analyze the characteristics of patients with gastric cardia cancer (GCC) to identify the main factors the influence the survival rate after interventional embolization chemotherapy (IEC). One hundred and fifty-six patients with advanced GCC were treated with IEC via the left gastric artery. Survival time was defined as from the date of diagnosis until death or the end of this study in June 2015. The median survival time was 15 months (range 3 to 29 months). The Cox proportional hazard model found that patients' age (p < 0.001), sex (p = 0.039), weight loss more than 10% in the prior 3 months (p = 0.014), body mass index (BMI) (p = 0.047), and hematocrit value less than 37% (p < 0.001) were correlated with mortality after removal of cases of poorly differentiated carcinoma and undifferentiated carcinoma from the analysis. Kaplan-Meier curves of survival according to patients' age showed significant differences by the log-rank test (p = 0.0015). The median survival time was 17 months among patients of aged < 50 years. In conclusion, BMI, weight loss > 10% in the prior 3 months, albumin, and hematocrit were prognostic indicators for patients with advanced GCC, and patients younger than 50 years have a higher survival rate after IEC.

NDV-D90 suppresses growth of gastric cancer and cancer-related vascularization.

Recent reports suggest promises on using oncolytic Newcastle disease viruses (NDV) to treat different cancers, while the effects of a NDV-D90 strain on gastric cancer remain unknown. Here we showed that NDV-D90 induced gastric cancer cell apoptosis in a dose-dependent manner in 3 gastric cancer cell lines BGC-823, SGC-7901 and MKN-28. Pronounced reduction in cell invasion was detected in NDV-D90-treated BGC-823 and SGC-7901 cells, but not in MKN-28 cells. The increases in cell apoptosis and reduction in cell growth in NDV-D90-treated gastric cancer cells seemingly resulted from augmentation of p38 signaling and suppression of ERK1/2 and Akt signaling. In vivo, orthotopic injection of NDV-D90 impaired tumor growth and induced intratumoral necrosis. Tumor cells that had been pre-treated with NDV-D90 showed defect in development of implanted tumor. Moreover, NDV-D90 appeared to reduce gastric tumor vascularization, possibly through suppression of vascular endothelial growth factor A and Matrix Metallopeptidase 2. Together, our data suggest that NDV-D90 may have potential anti-cancer effects on gastric cancer.

Preventative effects of prostaglandin E1 in combination with iodized olive oil on liver fibrosis after transcatheter arterial chemoembolization in a rabbit model of CCl4-induced liver fibrosis.

To explore the preventative effects of prostaglandin E1 (PGE1) on a rabbit model of CCl4-induced liver fibrosis after transcatheter arterial chemoembolization (TACE), we generated a rabbit model of CCl4-induced liver fibrosis by treatment with 40% CCl4 in iodized olive oil for 16 weeks. Body mass and serum levels of alanine aminotransferase (ALT), aspartate aminotransferase (AST), total protein (TP), albumin (ALB), albumin:globulin ratio (A:G), total bilirubin (TBIL), and direct bilirubin (DBIL) were measured. After TACE, the levels of hyaluronic acid (HA), procollagen III (PC III), laminin (LN), and collagen IV (IV-C) were measured, and the severity of liver fibrosis as well as the morphology of liver tissues were determined. Body mass in the model group was significantly decreased from 10 to 16 weeks, and the serum levels of ALT, AST, TP, TBIL, and DBIL levels were significantly increased while the model was being generated; the levels of ALB and A:G were significantly decreased. After TACE, serum levels of HA, PC III, and LN in the group injected with 1.0 mL iodized olive oil (Group B) were higher than in the group that were injected with 1.0 mL iodized olive oil + 0.2 mL PGE1 (Group C), whereas the serum levels of IV-C were lower. The severity of liver fibrosis was ameliorated in Group C. The combination of PGE1 and iodized olive oil prevented the development of liver fibrosis following TACE.

Synthesis of 3-pyrrolin-2-ones by rhodium-catalyzed transannulation of 1-sulfonyl-1,2,3-triazole with ketene silyl acetal.

α-Imino rhodium carbenoids generated from 1-sulfonyl 1,2,3-triazole were applied to the 3 + 2 cycloaddition with ketene silyl acetal, offering a novel and straightforward synthesis of biologically interesting compound 3-pyrrolin-2-one with broad substrate scope.

Synthesis of 3-aza-bicyclo[3.1.0]hexan-2-one derivatives via gold-catalyzed oxidative cyclopropanation of N-allylynamides.

N-allylynamides with various functional groups and different substitution patterns can be converted into 3-aza-bicyclo[3.1.0]hexan-2-one derivatives in moderate to high yield using IMesAuCl/AgBF4 as the catalyst and pyridine N-oxide as the oxidant. A noncarbene mediated approach is proposed as the mechanism.

[Anti-tumor immunity of Newcastle disease virus HN protein is influenced by differential subcellular targeting].

BACKGROUND AND OBJECTIVE: Hemagglutinin-neuraminidase (HN) protein of newcastle disease virus is an important immunogen for oncolysis. We designed three different expression plasmids encoding the HN protein targeted to different subcellular compartments: cytoplasmic (Cy-HN), secreted (Sc-HN) and membrane-anchored (M-HN). On the basis of antitumor effect in vitro, the aim of this study is to investigate the anti-tumor immunity effect of HN protein in vivo. METHODS: In the present study, we developed a mouse model in order to evaluate the anti-tumor effect of the intratumorally injected modified HN proteins and the anti-tumor immunity by lymphocyte proliferative response and CTL activity test. RESULTS: Although all three DNA constructs elicited an immune response, tumor-bearing mice intratumorally injected with M-HN demonstrated a significantly better anti-tumor effect than those injected with Cy-HN or Sc-HN (Day 18: P=0.022; Day 21: P<0.01). It also showed that this anti-tumor effect was mediated by higher lymphocyte proliferative response and CTL activity in mice intratumorally injected with M-HN [M-HN vs Cy-HN, P=0.019; M-HN vs Sc-HN, P=0.043; M-HN vs pcDNA3.1(+), P<0.01]. CONCLUSION: The anti-tumor immunity of Newcastle disease virus HN protein is influenced by differential subcellular targeting. The membrane-anchored form of the HN protein appears to be an ideal candidate to improve the specific cellular immunity.

The anti-tumor effect of Newcastle disease virus HN protein is influenced by differential subcellular targeting.

BACKGROUND: Immunotherapy is emerging as a major player in the current standard of care for aggressive cancers such as non-small cell lung cancer (NSCLC). The Newcastle disease virus with its tumor-specific replicative and oncolytic abilities is a promising immunotherapeutic candidate. A DNA vaccine expressing the major immunogenic hemagglutinin-neuraminidase (HN) protein of this virus has shown promising results as an immunotherapeutic agent. METHODS: In the present study, three different DNA vaccine constructs encoding differentially targeted HN proteins (cytoplasmic or Cy-HN, secreted or Sc-HN and membrane-anchored or M-HN) were generated to evaluate their anti-tumor effect in vitro and in vivo. RESULTS: Although all three DNA constructs elicited an immune response, tumor-bearing mice intratumorally injected with M-HN demonstrated a significantly better anti-tumor effect than those injected with Cy-HN or Sc-HN. We also showed that this anti-tumor effect was mediated by higher lymphocyte proliferative response and CTL activity in mice intratumorally injected with M-HN. CONCLUSION: The membrane-anchored form of the HN protein appears to be an ideal candidate to develop as an immunotherapeutic agent for NSCLC.

Interventional therapy for acute hemorrhage in gastrointestinal tract.

AIM: To evaluate the diagnostic angiography and therapy for acute massive hemorrhage in gastrointestinal tract. METHODS: Twenty-five cases of acute hemorrhage in gastrointestinal tract admitted between April 2002 and September 2004 were reviewed and analyzed by angiography and embolotherapy. RESULTS: Fifteen patients were men and ten patients were women. The Seldinger technique and method of coaxial duct were used to get access to the bleeding region. PVA particles, gelfoam, and coils were used for embolism. All bleeding sites could be confirmed and were successfully embolized. Hemostasis was achieved in all the patients without bleeding again. The cure rate was 100%. CONCLUSION: Interventional therapy can not only ascertain the bleeding site, but also stop the bleeding . The method is simple and the effect is certain.