Objective To analyze the factors influencing the occurrence of post-embolization syndrome(PES)after transhepatic arterial chemoembolization(TACE).Methods A total of 107 patients with hepatocellular carcinoma(HCC),who received TACE treatment at authors'hospital between February 2021 and March 2023,were included in the study.Among them,56 patients developed PES(PES group)and 51 patients did not develop PES(non-PES group).The demographic data,medical history,pathological findings,laboratory indicators and operation-related materials were compared between the two groups,and the risk factors for PES were analyzed.Results There were statistically significant differences in tumor diameter,albumin(ALB)level,preoperative physical condition(ECOG)score,type of embolization agent,drug-loaded microspheres,number of microspheres,and dosage of loaded drug between the two groups(all P＜0.05).Multivariate Logistic analysis revealed that drug-loaded microspheres,number of microspheres,and dosage of loaded drug were the independent risk factors for PES occurring after TACE(all P＜0.05).Conclusion HCC patients treated with TACE using drug-loaded microspheres,large amount of microspheres and high dosage of loaded drug have a higher risk of PES occurring after TACE.For patients having the above risk factors,the formulation of corresponding perioperative intervention strategies is necessary so as to avoid the occurrence of PES and to improve the safety of TACE.

ObjectiveTo evaluate the effectiveness of stone needle thermocompression and massage compared to flurbiprofen gel patch in relieving chronic musculoskeletal pain in the shoulder and back， and to explore the potential mediating mechanism through muscle elasticity. MethodsA total of 120 patients with chronic musculoskeletal pain in the shoulder and back were randomly assigned to either stone needle group or flurbiprofen group， with 60 patients in each. The stone needle group received stone needle thermocompression and massage for 30 minutes， three times per week； the flurbiprofen group received flurbiprofen gel patch twice daily. Both groups were treated for 2 weeks. Pain improvement， as the primary outcome， was assessed using the Global Pain Scale （GPS） at baseline， after 2 weeks of treatment， and again 2 weeks post-treatment. To explore potential mechanisms， a mediator analysis was conducted by measuring changes in superficial and deep muscle elasticity using musculoskeletal ultrasound at baseline and after the 2-week treatment period. ResultsThe stone needle group showed significantly greater pain relief than the flurbiprofen group 2 weeks post-treatment. After adjusting for confounders related to pain duration， the between-group mean difference was -8.8 ［95% CI （-18.2， -0.7）， P＜0.05］. Part of the therapeutic effect was mediated by changes in deep muscle elasticity， with a mediation effect size of -1.5 ［95% CI （-2.0， -0.9）， P = 0.024］， accounting for 17.9% of the total effect. ConclusionStone needle thermocompression and massage can effectively relieve chronic musculoskeletal pain in the shoulder and back， partly through a mediating effect of improved deep muscle elasticity.