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.

[Efficacy of albendazole for treatment of mice infected with Sparganum mansoni].

In order to observe the efficacy of albendazole for the treatment of mice infected with Sparganum mansoni, a total of 72 mice were divided into 8 groups (9 mice each), each mouse was orally infected with 5 plerocercoid. At one week after infection, groups A-C were treated with a 7-day course of albendazole (1700, 2500, and 3300 mg/kg, twice daily), and sacrificed at 1 week post-treatment; groups E-G were treated with the second course of albendazole with the same dosage at 1 week interval after the first course, and sacrificed at 1 week after the second course; the groups D and H were used as control for A-C and E-G, respectively. After the infected mice were sacrificed, the mean number of worms recovered was observed and worm reduction rate was determined. When treating with one course of albendazole at 1 week post infection, the worm reduction rate in groups A-C was 20.0%, 20.0% and 24.9%, respectively (chi2 = 0.351, P > 0.05). After treatment with two courses of albendazole, the worm reduction rate in groups E-G was 22.3%, 36.4% and 31.9% (chi2 = 1.812, P > 0.05). The difference of the worm reduction rate in the infected mice treated with 1 and 2 courses of albendazole showed no statistical significance (P > 0.05). The results indicated albendazole has no obvious efficacy for treating sparganosis in mice.