Objective To study the efficacy of minimally invasive treatment for lower extremities venous ulcers.Methods A total of 48 patients with lower extremities venous ulcers(56 hmbs)wereexamined with venography to identify the primary lesion that resulted ulcer. According to the type and degree of hemedynamie abnormality,high ligation of the great saphenous vein combined with endovenous laser treatment,subfascial endoscopic perforator surgery,and external banding valvuloplasty of the superficial femoral vein were done in 8 eases(8 limbs),high ligafion of the great saphenous vein combined with endovenous laser treatment and subfascial endoscopic perforator surgery were carried out in 24 cases(28 limbs),and high figation of the great saphenous vein combined with endovenous laser treatment was performed on 16 cases(20 linbs).In all cases,the ulcers were eircumferentially ligated at the same time.Results After the operations,superficial varicosis,pigmentations,and eczematous relieved remarkably in the 56 limbs.In 51 limbs,heavy feeling,ache,and edema disappeared 14-18 days after operation.The ulcers of the 56 limbs healed l6-48 days after operation.During 4 to 46 months follow up,ulcers recurred in 4 limbs(7.1%).Conclusions It is effective to correct the incompetence of the superficial,perforating,and deep veins and manage the surface of ulcers for lower extremities venous ulcers.Endovenous Iaser treatment and subfascial endoscopic perforator surgery are easily performing,minimally invasive,and safe operations.The recurrence of leg ulcers can be reduced by external banding valvuloplasty of the superficial femoral vein.

A questionnaire and telephone survey was conducted on 246 patients with chronic liver diseases in the Outpatient Clinic from August 2010 to May 2011.The distribution of diseases and the causes of losing follow-up were analyzed. Most subjects in this survey (182/246,74.0％ ) were patients with chronic viral hepatitis( HBV or HCV)and cirrhosis; and their follow-up status was better than others (X2 =12.382,P ＜ 0.05). There were no differences in gender( X2 =10.137,P ＞ 0.05),but significant differences in age ( X2 =31.783,P ＜ 0.05 ) and educational levels ( X2 =32.803,P ＜ 0.05 ) between patients with chronic viral hepatitis and cirrhosis and patients with other liver diseases.The main causes of losing follow-up were neglect of disease by patients (38.3％) and lack of good communication between doctors and patients ( 18.3％ ).It is important to reinforce the understanding and awareness of chronic liver diseases for patients.

Nonalcoholic fatty liver disease (NAFLD) is a metabolic disease which can progress to liver fibrosis, liver cirrhosis, and liver cancer. Sarcopenia is an age-related disease and metabolic factors play an important role in its pathogenesis. NAFLD and sarcopenia share a variety of metabolic pathophysiological mechanisms. Further studies are needed to determine whether there is an association between NAFLD and sarcopenia and whether they are predisposing factors or risk factors for disease progression for each other, in order to help with better prevention, treatment, and prognostic evaluation of the two diseases in clinical practice. This article reviews the independent association between NAFLD and sarcopenia.

Objective To clarify the role of insulin resistance on spontaneous recanalization of infarct-relat-ed arteries in the early phase of acute ST-elevation myocardial infarction (STEMI) in patients with normal glucose tolerance. Methods 141 consecutive patients with normal glucose tolerance and acute STEMI were enrolled in our study. Subjects were divided into TIMI 0-1 group (n =91 ) and TIMI 2-3 group (n =50) by primary coronary angi-ngraphy (CAG). The Gemini score and 0-3-vessel disease score estimated the severity and extent of coronary artery disease (CAD). Metabolic parameters and homeostasis model assessment for insulin resistance (IRI) were deter-mined. Results Serum level of fasting insulin, IRI and Gemini score were higher in TIMI 0-1 group than in TIMI 2-3 group [ (11.52±6.22)mU/L vs (7.54±3.65)mU/l,(2.79±2.32) vs (1.73±1.26),(59.17±26.95) vs ( 38.46±22.74) ( P <0.01)]. IRI was positively associated with Gemini score (r=0.185,P <0.05 ). Multivariate Logistic regression analysis revealed that IRI was independent risk factor influencing spontaneous recanalization of in-farct-related urteries(OR=2.87,95% CI=1.09-7.57,P<0.05). Conclusion Insulin resistance is independent risk factor influencing spontaneous recanalizafion of infarct-related arteries in the early phase of acute STEMI in pa-tients with normal glucose tolerance.

AIM: To construct pVAX1-GrB. METHODS: Lymphocytes from human laryngeal carcinoma tissue were separated from tumor tissue. The fragment of granzyme B (GrB) was amplified by RT-PCR and was recombined to the downstream of T7 promoter in the vector pVAX1. The construction was transfected into Hep2 cells with lipofectamine 2000. The expression of protein was identified by indirect immunofluorescent antibody assay. RESULTS: It has been proved that the sequence of the RT-PCR product was totally consistent with the data of GenBank by DNA sequencing analysis. The GrB cDNA fragment was cloned into the vector of pVAX1 in the right direction and the open reading fragment of GrB was maintained. The target protein was detected in the transfected Hep2 cells. CONCLUSION: The pVAX1-GrB plasmid was successfully constructed and expressed. [

Objective To investigate the predictive value of serum adiponectin level on morbidity of acute myocardial infarction, and to evaluate its impact on prognosis in patients with acute myocardial infarction after percutaneous coronary intervention (PCI). Methods We prospectively recruited patients with acute ST segment elevation myocardial infarction (STEMI) who had underwent primary PCI. Their serum adiponectin levels were measured. The TIMI blood flow classification of culprit vessel was recorded after PCI. Echocardiography was performed in 24 h after PCI to evaluate left ventricular ejection fraction (LVEF). Major adverse cardiac events (MACE) were recorded including cardiac death, recurrent nonfatal myocardial infarction, target vessel reascularization, and readmission for heart failure after 18 months′ followed-up. Results 108 consecutive patients with STEMI and 38 control patients without coronary artery stenosis were recruited. The serum adiponectin level in STEMI group was significantly lower than that in control: (1 413.9 ± 218.8) ng/L vs.(1 756.3 ± 205.5) ng/L (P<0.01). STEMI patients with LVEF < 50% had lower serum adiponectin level compared with LVEF ≥50%: (1 334.1 ± 226.3) ng/L vs. (1 453.0 ± 213.8) ng/L , P<0.01. The serum adiponectin level in the TIMI 0-2 group after PCI was significantly lower than that in the TIMI 3 group:(1 350.7 ± 214.9) ng/L vs. (1 430.6 ± 218.5) ng/L, P < 0.01. Multiple logistic regression analysis revealed that lower serum adiponectin level was an independent predictor of STEMI ( OR=0.992, 95% CI 0.987-0.996, P<0.01). MACE occurred in 22 patients (20.4% ). Cox regression analysis revealed that lower serum adiponectin level remained an independent predictor of MACE ( OR=0.996, 95% CI 0.993-0.999, P < 0.01). Conclusions Lower serum adiponectin level is significantly associated with morbidity of STEMI and adverse prognosis in patients with acute myocardial infarction.

Objective To compare the effects of ticagrelor and clopidogrel on platelet aggregation rate, myocardial perfusion and prognosis in patients with acute myocardial infarction. Methods One hundred and sixty-nine patients with acute ST segment elevation myocardial infarction (STEMI) and emergency percutaneous coronary intervention (PCI) were recruited and randomly divided into ticagrelor group (85 cases) and clopidogrel group (84 cases). The TIMI blood flow before and after PCI was recorded, and the ST segment fall rate of 1 h ECG after PCI was calculated. The platelet aggregation rate was measured. After 12 months' follow-up, the incidence of major adverse cardiac events (MACE) was recorded. The Logistic regression analysis was used to discover the factors of MACE. Results One hundred and sixty-nine patients with acute STEMI were recruited including 85 cases treated with ticagrelor and 84 cases in clopidogrel group. The ECG ST segment fall rate after PCI in ticagrelor group was significantly higher than that in clopidogrel group: (61.3 ± 30.7)％ vs. (47.8 ± 26.6)％, P<0.05. The platelet aggregation rate 2 h, 24 h and 7 d after PCI in ticagrelor group was significantly lower than that in clopidogrel group (P<0.05). MACE occurred in 19 cases (22.4％) in ticagrelor group and in 21 cases (25.0％) in clopidogrel group, and there was no significant difference (P > 0.05). Multiple Logistic regression analysis revealed that age and ECG ST segment fall rate were independent risk factors for MACE (P<0.05). Conclusions Compared with clopidogrel, ticagrelor can effectively reduce platelet aggregation rate and accelerate ST segment fall in STEMI patients, but their long-term prognosis is similar.

Objective To investigate the relationship between the expression levels of thyroid transcription factor-1(TTF-1)and Galectin-3 in differentiated thyroid carcinoma(DTC)tissues and clinical manifestations and prognosis of patients.Methods A total of 76 DTC patients admitted to the hospital from January 1,2017 to May 30,2020 were selected as the study objects.Cancer tissue specimens obtained during surgery were in-cluded in the DTC group(n=76),and corresponding paracancer tissue specimens were included in the para-cancer group(n=76).The expressions of TTF-1 and Galectin-3 in DTC group and paracancer group were de-tected by immunohistochemistry,and the relationship between the expression levels of TTF-1 and Galectin-3 and the clinicopathological characteristics of DTC patients was analyzed.Multivariate Cox regression analysis was used to investigate the prognostic factors of DTC patients.Results The positive expression rates of TTF-1 and Galectin-3 in DTC group were higher than those in paracancer group,and the difference was statistically significant(P＜0.05).The TTF-1 positive expression rate and Galectin-3 positive expression rate in DTC pa-tients with TNM stage Ⅲ to Ⅳ,low differentiation,tissue type of papillary thyroid carcinoma and lymph node metastasis were higher than those in DTC patients with TNM stage Ⅰ to Ⅱ,medium/high differentiation,tis-sue type of thyroid follicular carcinoma and no lymph node metastasis.The difference was statistically signifi-cant(P＜0.05).The 3-year overall survival rate of TTF-1 negative and Galectin-3 negative DTC patients was higher than that of TTF-1 positive and Galectin-3 positive DTC patients,and the difference was statistically significant(P＜0.05).Multivariate Cox regression analysis showed that lymph node metastasis,positive TTF-1 and positive Galectin-3 were prognostic factors in DTC patients(P＜0.05).Conclusion TTF-1 and Galectin-3 are related to TNM stage,differentiation degree,tissue type,lymph node metastasis and 3-year sur-vival rate of DTC patients,and have important reference value for the diagnosis and prognosis evaluation of DTC patients.

Intragastric balloon (IGB) placement under endoscopy is a non-invasive method for weight loss.By placing a space-occupying balloon in the stomach, IGB treatment can achieve better effect of weight loss than medications.Herein we review the development of IGB, its effect on weight loss and the mechanism, and the eligible individuals for IGB treatment.We also examine the high-intensity postoperative management following IGB placement, which is important for maintaining long-term weight loss, and discuss the future development of IGB.The patients should understand that on the basis of ensuring a high safety, the weight-losing effect of IGB can be limited and relies heavily on postoperative management.Patients should make a decision on IGB placement after careful consideration of their own physical, economic, and psychological conditions, lifestyle and the line of work in addition to the indications of IGB.IGB placement combined with high-intensity postoperative management and active interventions of lifestyle and dietary habits help to achieve long-term effect of weight loss and improve obesity-related complications.
Endoscopy ; Gastric Balloon ; Humans ; Life Style ; Obesity ; Obesity, Morbid/surgery* ; Treatment Outcome ; Weight Loss

Seeds are the source for the production of Chinese medicinal materials. The seed authenticity and quality of directly affect the effectiveness and safety of Chinese medicinal materials. The seed quality is faced with the problems such as mixed sources， existence of adulterants and seeds stocked for years， low maturity， and low purity. To ensure the high-quality and sustainable development of the Chinese medicinal material industry， it is urgent to standardize the seed market and identify and evaluate the quality of the seeds circulating in the market. Seed identification methods include visual inspection， microscopic observation， micro-character identification， chemical fingerprinting， molecular identification， electronic nose， X-ray diffraction， electrochemical fingerprinting， spectral imaging， and artificial intelligence. These methods have different application scopes and unique advantages and disadvantages. According to the different species of Chinese herbal medicines and different requirements of testing sites， suitable methods can be selected to achieve rapid and accurate identification with low costs. In the future， the seed identification methods should be developed based on emerging technologies with interdisciplinary knowledge， and intelligent， nondestructive， and single-grain detection methods are needed for the modern Chinese medicinal material industry. This paper introduces the seed identification technologies currently applied in research and production， compares the principles， applicability， advantages， and disadvantages of different technologies， and provides an outlook on the future development of seed identification technologies， aiming to provide a reference for the identification and quality evaluation of seeds of Chinese medicinal material.