Objective To investigate the incidence and causes of complication of stenting in the treatment of superior vena cava syndrome (SVCS) for its proper prevetions. Methods Thirty nine patients with SVCS due to various diseases were retrospectively analyzed. The location, extension and degree of the stenosis were identified on venography before stent placement. Lumen narrowing becoming less than 50% or 20% improvement after stenting was taken as effective. Complications after stenting were analyzed. Results Thirty-five(89.7%, 35/39) patients relieved after stenting. Six patients (15.4%) had complications, including stents displacement due to mass lessened after chemotherapy in 1 cases, stents displacement and thrombogenesis due to lack of anticoagulant therapy and mass lessened after chemotherapy in 1 cases, restenosis due to mass growing into the screening of Gianturco Z-type stent in 1 cases, acute pericardial effusion in 1 cases, 1 of acute pulmonary embolism(PE) in 1 cases and acute congestive right heart failure and relieved after treatment in 1 cases. Conclusions Some complications of stenting in SVCS is serious. Proper procedure, stents selection and skillful handling can reduce the frequency of the complications.

Systemic light chain amyloidosis (AL amyloidosis) is the most common type of amyloidosis, in which deposition of misfolded monoclonal light chain secreted by underlying clonal plasma cells leads to organ dysfunction. Tissue biopsy of involved organ is needed to confirm the type of amyloid deposits, thus proper treatment could be applied. Laser microdissection followed by mass spectrometry, performed on formalin-fixed paraffin-embedded specimens, has been proven superior to traditional methods on accurate diagnosis of amyloidosis. Prognosis depends on the extent of cardiac involvement. The Mayo staging system using NT-ProBNP, cardiac troponin-T and free light chain, is the most robust method for risk stratification and treatment guidance. The introduction of autologous stem cell transplantation (auto-ASCT) resulted in long-term survival in responders, while treatment-related toxicity substantially limited the number of eligible candidates. Novel agents, especially bortezomib, thalidomide and lenalidomide hold promise to achieve comparable hematological responses with auto-ASCT, which might play significant role in treatment of recurrent or refractory AL amyloidosis.
Amyloidosis ; Bortezomib ; Hematopoietic Stem Cell Transplantation ; Humans ; Immunoglobulin Light Chains ; Immunoglobulin Light-chain Amyloidosis ; Natriuretic Peptide, Brain ; Peptide Fragments ; Prognosis

OBJECTIVETo verify the clinical efficacy of acupuncture on motor dysfunction in ischemic stroke of subacute stage.

METHODSThe multi-central randomized controlled trial was adopted. One hundred and twenty-six cases of ischemic stroke of subacute stage were randomized into an acupuncture group (61 cases) and a conventional treatment group (65 cases). The basic treatment of western internal medicine and rehabilitation training were applied to the patients of the two groups. In the acupuncture group, acupuncture was supplemented at the body points located on the extensor of the upper limbs and the flexor of the lower limbs. In combination, scalp acupuncture was applied to NS5, MS6 and MS6 on the affected side. The treatment was given 5 times a week and totally 8 weeks were required. The follow-up observation lasted for 3 months. The scores in Fugl-Meyer scale and NIHSS scale and Barthel index were compared between the two groups before treatment, in 4 and 8 weeks of treatment and the 3-month follow-up observation after treatment separately.

RESULTSIn 4 and 8 weeks of treatment and the follow-up observation, Fugl-Meyer scale score was improved obviously in the patients of the two groups (all P<0. 01). In 8 weeks of treatment and the follow-up observation, Fugl-Meyer scale score in the acupuncture groupwas im proved much apparently as compared with that in the conventional treatment group [68. 0 (43. 0,86. 5) vs 52. 5 (30.3, 77.0), 77.0 (49.5, 89.0) vs 63. 0 (33.0, 84.0), both P<0. 05]. Except that NIHSS scale score was not reduced apparently in 4 weeks of treatment in the conventional treatment group (P>0.05), the results of NIHSS scale at the other time points were all decreased obviously as compared with those before treatment in the patients of the two groups (all P<0. 01). In 8 weeks of treatment and the follow-up observation, the results in the acupuncture group were reduced much apparently as compared with those in the conventional treatment group [5. 0 (3.0,8.0) vs 7. 0 (3.0,13.8), 4. 0 (1.5,7.0) vs 6.0 (2.0,11.7) ,both P<0. 05]. In 8 weeks of treatment and the follow-up observation, Barthel index was improved obviously as compared with that before treatment in the patients of the two groups (all P<0. 05). The improvement in the acupuncture group was much more significant as compared with the conventional treatment group [75. 0 (60. 0,87. 5) vs 65. O (36. 3, 87. 5), P<0. 051.

CONCLUSIONBased on the conventional treatment, Acupuncture achieves the satisfactory clinical efficacy on motor dysfunction in ischemic stroke of subacute stage.

Acupuncture Therapy ; Adult ; Aged ; Aged, 80 and over ; Female ; Humans ; Male ; Middle Aged ; Motor Activity ; Stroke ; physiopathology ; therapy ; Treatment Outcome

OBJECTIVETo investigate the therapeutic effect and characteristic of dynamic hip screw with modified reamer (MDHS for short) in the treatment of the intertrochanteric fracture in the elderly.

METHODSFifty-four patients with intertrochanteric fracture from Aug. 2007 to Dec. 2008 were retrospectively analyzed. Among them, 27 patients were treated with MDHS, including 12 males and 15 females with an average age of 79.4 years old ranging from 69 to 93 years; according to modified Evans classification, there were 3 cases of type I , 12 cases of type II, 8 cases of type III, 4 cases of type IV. The other 27 patients (10 males and 17 females), aged from 66 to 88 years old (average 77.2), were composed of 4 cases of type I, 14 cases of type II, 6 cases of type III, 3 cases of type IV. The fracture healing time,forepart movement time,percentage of loosening screw and hip joint function were compared between two groups.

RESULTSAll 54 patients were followed up for 21 to 36 months (means 27.6 months). All fractures were bone healing. The time of fracture healing were compared between two groups,there were no significant difference (P>0.05). The forepart movement time of MDHS group (14.2 +/- 2.1) was shorter than that of DHS group (18.9 +/- 3.1) (P<0.05). The loosening screw of MDHS group (1 case) was less than that of DHS group (8 cases) (P<0.05). The Harris score of hip joint function of MDHS group (87.8 +/- 4.7) was higher than that of DHS group (83.3 +/- 7.5) (P<0.05).

CONCLUSIONMDHS has several advantages on wider indications, stronger holding power,early forepart movement time, fewer complications, which is a good choice for osteoporotic intertrochanteric fracture.

Aged ; Aged, 80 and over ; Bone Screws ; Female ; Follow-Up Studies ; Fracture Fixation, Internal ; adverse effects ; instrumentation ; Hip ; physiopathology ; surgery ; Hip Fractures ; physiopathology ; surgery ; Humans ; Male ; Postoperative Complications ; Recovery of Function

Objective: To evaluate the response of oral melphalan plus high-dose dexamethasone (MDex) for patients with primary light chain amyloidosis (pAL). Methods: Clinical data, hematological and organ responses, and survival of 76 patients with pAL who had received MDex from January 2009 to July 2017 were retrospectively analyzed. Results: Of 76 patients (47 males and 29 females with the median age of 56 [range, 20-74] years old), 19.70% patients were defined as Mayo 2004 stage 3, involvement of more than or two organs was presented in 65 (85.53%) patients. Among 60 response evaluable patients, overall hematological response was 48.33% with complete response of 20.00% and very good partial response of 20.00%, respectively. The median time to the hematological response was 5 (range, 1-15) months. 36.67% patients achieved organ response. After the median follow up of 23(range, 1-113) months for surviving patients, median progression-free survival (PFS) and overall survival (OS) were 34 and 43 months, respectively. In a three months landmark analysis, the median rates of PFS and OS were 46 and 65 months, respectively. The median OS rates of patients with Mayo 2004 stage 3 and non Mayo 2004 stage 3 were 5 and 65 months (P=0.001), respectively. Conclusions: MDex was an effective treatment for patients with early stage pAL, but was not suitable for those with severe cardiac involvement.
Adult ; Aged ; Amyloidosis/drug therapy* ; Dexamethasone/administration & dosage* ; Drug Combinations ; Female ; Humans ; Immunoglobulin Light-chain Amyloidosis ; Male ; Melphalan/administration & dosage* ; Middle Aged ; Retrospective Studies ; Treatment Outcome ; Young Adult

In recent years, the clinical treatment of colorectal cancer(CRC) has made great progress, but chemoresistance is still one of the main reasons for reducing the survival rate of patients with colorectal cancer. Therefore, ameliorating chemotherapy resis-tance is an urgent problem to be solved. The purpose of this study was to investigate the regulatory role and related molecular mechanisms of hydroxysafflor yellow A(HSYA) in colorectal cancer cell proliferation, migration, and 5-fluorouracil(5-FU) chemoresistance. In this study, HCT116 and HT-29 cells were used as research subjects. Firstly, methyl thiazolyl tetrazolium(MTT) assay and colony formation assay were used to detect and analyze the effect of HSYA on the proliferation of CRC cells. Secondly, the effect of HSYA on the cell cycle in CRC cells was analyzed by cell cycle assay. Furthermore, the effect of HSYA on the migration of CRC cells was analyzed by wound-healing assay and Transwell assay. Based on the above, the influences of HSYA on 5-FU chemoresistance of CRC cells and related molecular mechanisms were explored and analyzed. The results showed that HSYA significantly inhibited the proliferation and migration of CRC cells, and arrested the cell cycle in G_0/G_1 phase. In addition, HSYA significantly ameliorated the chemoresistance of CRC cells to 5-FU. The results of acridine orange staining and Western blot showed that the autophagy activity of CRC cells in the HSYA and 5-FU combined treatment group was significantly higher than that in the 5-FU single drug treatment group. As compared with the 5-FU single drug treatment group, the phosphorylation levels of protein kinase B(Akt) and mammalian target of rapamycin(mTOR) in the HSYA and 5-FU combined treatment group were significantly reduced, indicating that the Akt/mTOR signaling pathway in the combined treatment group was down-regulated in CRC cells. In conclusion, HSYA may upregulate autophagy activity through the Akt/mTOR signaling pathway, thereby inhibiting the proliferation and migration of CRC cells and ameliorating the chemoresistance to 5-FU.
Humans ; Proto-Oncogene Proteins c-akt/metabolism* ; Drug Resistance, Neoplasm ; Cell Line, Tumor ; TOR Serine-Threonine Kinases/metabolism* ; Fluorouracil/pharmacology* ; Cell Proliferation ; Autophagy ; Colorectal Neoplasms/drug therapy*

Objective To evaluate the sensitivities of various biopsy methods for the diagnosis of systematic amyloidosis (SA). Methods The clinical data and biopsy results of 194 SA patients who were treated in Peking Union Medical College Hospital from January 2009 to June 2015 were retrospectively analyzed. Results The highest sensitivity was achieved by biopsy of affected organs,with renal biopsy 97.4%,heart biopsy 95.0% and liver biopsy 87.5%. Among non-invasive biopsy methods,tongue biopsy was found to be 75% sensitive,followed by gingiva biopsy at 57%,abdominal fat pad aspiration at 57%,rectum biopsy at 16%,and bone marrow examination at 8%. Combination of tongue and abdominal fat pad biopsy yielded a detection rate of 93.1%. Conclusions Biopsy of the involved organ has the highest sensitivity. However,combination of multiple non-invasive biopsy methods may has sensitivity comparable to organ biopsy and is safer and more convenient.
Adipose Tissue ; pathology ; Amyloidosis ; diagnosis ; Biopsy ; methods ; Biopsy, Needle ; Humans ; Retrospective Studies ; Sensitivity and Specificity ; Tongue ; pathology

OBJECTIVETo study the immune repair effect of umbilical cord mesenchymal stem cells (UC-MSC) on inflammatory disorders and thrombophilia state of MRL/lpr mice by detecting the expression change of peripheral blood CD4(+) CD25(+) T cells and the levels of plasma inflammatory cytokines TNF-α, IL-6 and thrombosis indicators TF, FIB.

METHODSTwenty five MRL/lpr mice were divided into control (C) group, UC-MSC one time treatment (UT1) group and UC-MSC three time treatments (UT3) group. UC-MSC cell suspension was injecled via tail vein and these mice were feeded in SPF environment. The blood samples were taken from the mice every 2 weeks after 16(th) week. FCM was used to detect the expression of CD4(+) CD25(+) T cells in peripheral blood, ELISA assay was used to detect the levels of inflammatory cytokines TNF-α, IL-6 and thrombosis indicators TF, FIB.

RESULTSThe expression of peripheral blood CD4(+) CD25(+) T cells in treatment groups increased during 16(th) to 18(th) week, dropped and tended to be stable since 20(th) week, and lower than those in control group. The levels of plasma TNF-α and IL-6 in treatment group decreased since 16(th) week and significantly lower than those in control group (P < 0.05). The levels of plasma TF and FIB in treatment group decreased since 16(th) week. The level of plasma TF in treatment group was significantly lower than those in control group (P < 0.05) since 18(th) week.

CONCLUSIONUC-MSC can repair the immune inflammatory microenvironment disorders of MRL/lpr mice through its immunomodulatory effect. UC-MSC contribute to repair of immune inflammatory thrombophilia of MRL/lpr mice.

Animals ; Interleukin-6 ; Mesenchymal Stromal Cells ; Mice ; Mice, Inbred MRL lpr ; T-Lymphocytes ; Thrombophilia ; Tumor Necrosis Factor-alpha ; Umbilical Cord

Diagnosis, Differential ; Enteritis ; diagnosis ; Humans ; Intestinal Mucosa ; pathology ; Intestinal Obstruction ; diagnosis ; Lymphoid Tissue ; Lymphoma ; Ulcer ; diagnosis

Objective: To analyze the clinical presentation and progression risk factors of patients with monoclonal gammopathy of undetermined significance (MGUS) in China. Methods: We retrospectively assessed the clinical features and disease progression of 1 037 patients with monoclonal gammopathy of undetermined significance between January 2004 and January 2022 at Peking Union Medical College Hospital. Results: A total of 1 037 patients were recruited in the study, including 636 males (63.6%) , with a median age of 58 (18-94) years. The median concentration of serum monoclonal protein was 2.7 (0-29.4) g/L. The monoclonal immunoglobulin type was IgG in 380 patients (59.7%) , IgA in 143 patients (22.5%) , IgM in 103 patients (16.2%) , IgD in 4 patients (0.6%) , and light chain in 6 patients (0.9%) . 171 patients (31.9%) had an abnormal serum-free light chain ratio (sFLCr) . According to the Mayo Clinic model for risk of progression, the proportion of patients in the low-risk, medium-low-risk, medium-high risk, and high-risk groups were 254 (59.5%) , 126 (29.5%) , 43 (10.1%) , and 4 (0.9%) , respectively. With a median follow-up of 47 (1-204) months, 34 of 795 patients (4.3%) had disease progression, and 22 (2.8%) died. The overall progression rate was 1.06 (0.99-1.13) /100 person-years. Patients with non-IgM MGUS have a markedly higher disease progression rate per 100 person-years than IgM-MGUS (2.87/100 person-years vs 0.99/100 person-years, P=0.002) . The disease progression rate per 100 person-years in non-IgM-MGUS patients of Mayo classification low-risk, medium-low risk and medium-high risk groups were 0.32 (0.25-0.39) /100 person-years, 1.82 (1.55-2.09) /100 person-years, and2.71 (1.93-3.49) /100 person-years, which had statistically difference (P=0.005) . Conclusion: In comparison to non-IgM-MGUS, IgM-MGUS has a greater risk of disease progression. The Mayo Clinic progression risk model applies to non-IgM-MGUS patients in China.
Male ; Humans ; Middle Aged ; Aged ; Aged, 80 and over ; Monoclonal Gammopathy of Undetermined Significance ; Retrospective Studies ; Risk Factors ; Immunoglobulin Light Chains ; Disease Progression