Objective To evaluate the clinical value of double-balloon enteroscopy( DBE)in as-sessing the effect of mucosal healing in patients with moderate small bowel Crohn's disease( CD)treated with low-dose azathioprine. Methods CD patients who were naive to any immunomodulators or biological a-gents with lesions mainly located in ileu were screened by multislice CT enterography and anal-route DBE at baseline. Lesions at 150 cm proximal to ileocecal valve were assessed by DBE with Simple Endoscopic Score for CD( SES-CD)after 12 and 24 months of low-dose azathioprine treatment,respectively. Results A total of 36 patients were enrolled and the average tolerated dose of azathioprine was(61. 8 ± 17. 2)mg/day. The total rates of complete,near-complete,partial and no mucosal healing in 36 patients were 19. 4%(7/36), 5. 6%(2/36),27. 8%(10/36),and 47. 2%(17/36)at month 12 and 30. 6%(11/36),25. 0%(9/36), 33. 3%(12/36),and 11. 1%(4/36)at month 24,respectively. The baseline SES-CD score(OR=2. 71, 95%CI:1. 11-6. 63,P=0. 029)and duration of disease(OR=1. 27,95%CI:1. 10-1. 47,P =0. 001) were two relevant factors associated with mucosal healing of small bowel CD. Conclusion DBE has a signif-icant advantage in assessing post-therapy mucosal healing for patients with small bowel CD. The optimal time point for the first follow-up by DBE is at least 12 months after low-dose azathioprine treatment.

Objective To analyze the efficacy and tolerance of methotrexate(MTX)in remission maintenance of Crohn′s disease (CD).Methods From June 2012 to August 2015 ,49 CD patients who received MTX as mainly treatment medication to maintain remission were enrolled.The pre-medication history,efficacy,dosage and side effects of MTX were analyzed.The effects of inducing strategy on disease recurrence were analyzed.Chi-square test and t test were used for statistical analysis.Results Among the 49 patients,34 (69.4%)received steroids for remission inducing,nine (18.4%)received infliximab for remission inducing and six (12.2%)achieved remission after operation.In the 44 patients treated with azathioprine (AZA)before,the median treatment time was one month and the dosage for withdrawal of AZA was (42.0 ± 14.8)mg/d.The most common reason was leucopenia (81 .8%, 36/44).Till the time point of follow-up,46 of the 49 CD patients still took MTX orally with a median treatment time of 16 months,and the weekly dosage was (12.7 ±2.0)mg.Thirty-one cases (67.4%) achieved clinical stability,while 15 cases (32.6%)underwent clinical recurrence.The median Crohn′s disease activity index (CDAI)was 123.5 ± 66.6.The weekly dosage of clinical stability group was (12.5 ±2.1)mg,and that of clinical recurrence group was (13.0 ±1 .7 )mg,there was no statistically significant difference between the two groups (t =0.802,P =0.426 ).The recurrence rate of steroids-induced remission group was 41 .2% (14/34 ),which was higher than that of infliximab and surgery-induced remission group (1/15),and the differnce was statistically significant (χ2 =5 .177,P =0.023 ). The common side effects were gastrointestinal reaction (26.5 %, 13/49 ), impaired liver function (20.4%,10/49)and leukopenia (12.2%,6/49).Only three cases could not tolerate the side effects and underwent medication withdrawal.Conclusions As a second-line immunosuppressant for maintanence remission in CD,MTX is effective and well-tolerated in patients.So it can be an important option during the long course of CD.

Objective:To systematically evaluate the clinical efficacy of Ruiyun procedure for hemorrhoids(RPH)combined with milligan-morgan hemorrhoidectomy(MMH)in the treatment of mixed hemorrhoids compared with MMH alone.Methods:Relevant literature was retrieved from China National Knowledge Infrastructure(CNKI),Wanfang,and VIP databases from their establishment to Jan 2023 using computers.Clinical randomized controlled trials(RCTs)of RPH combined with MMH and MMH alone in the treatment of mixed hemorrhoids were selected and analyzed,and meta-analysis was conducted using RevMan5.3 software.Results:A total of 30 RCTs were included,involving 4 609 patients.Results of Meta-analysis showed that there were statistically significant differences in surgical efficacy(RR=1.05,95% CI:1.02-1.08,P= 0.003),postoperative margin edema(RR=0.36,95% CI:0.27-0.49,P＜0.01),postoperative anal pain(RR=0.35,95% CI:0.23-0.53,P＜0.01),postoperative rectal bleeding(RR=0.35,95% CI:0.17-0.72,P=0.004),postoperative anal stenosis(RR=0.26,95% CI:0.11-0.59,P=0.001)and postoperative urinary retention(RR=0.77,95% CI:0.63-0.93,P=0.007)between RPH combined with MMH group and MMH group.Conclusion:Compared with MMH alone,RPH combined with MMH in the treatment of mixed hemorrhoids can reduce the incidence of postoperative side effects,such as postoperative margin edema,anal pain,rectal bleeding,anal stenosis,and urinary retention,with a relatively higher efficiency.

Objective: To evaluate the relationship between visceral pleural invasion (VPI) and other clinicopathological features in lung adenocarcinoma with tumor size ≤3 cm, and to investigate the impact of VPI on the patients′ prognosis. Methods: The clinical and pathological features were retrospectively reviewed in 231 cases of lung adenocarcinoma with the largest diameter of tumor ≤3 cm, following complete resection and systemic lymphadenectomy. VPI was divided into three grades, PL0, PL1 and PL2 according to modified Hammar classification for lung cancer upon elastic fiber staining. Survival analysis was performed by Kaplan-Meier method, and the risk factors for prognosis were explored by Cox proportional hazards model. Patient prognosis was evaluated by progression-free survival (PFS) and overall survival (OS). Results: In all 231 cases, the number of patients with VPI was 70 (30.3%), of which 61 cases were PL1 and 9 cases were PL2. The remaining 161 cases (69.7%) had no VPI (PL0). The tumor size (P=0.003), histological grade (P<0.01), the presence of solid component (P=0.001) and micropapillary component (P=0.009), N stage (P<0.01) and TNM stage (P<0.01) were significantly correlated with VPI. Patients with VPI had significantly shorter PFS and OS than those without VPI (P<0.01). There were significant differences in PFS and OS between patients with different VPI levels (P<0.01). Cox multivariate regression analysis showed that VPI was not an independent prognostic factor, whereas PL2 was an independent prognostic factor for PFS (P=0.007), but not an independent prognostic factor for OS (P=0.052). Conclusions For patients with lung adenocarcinoma of tumor size ≤3 cm, VPI is related to poor prognosis; However, only PL2 is an independent prognostic factor for PFS. It may be not necessary to separate PL0 and PL1 status in smaller lung adenocarcinomas. Therefore, the definition of VPI may need further modification through large cohort studies.

Long non-coding RNA (lncRNA) is a class of transcripts longer than 200 nucleotides, which do not have the function of coding proteins.Widely involved in the progress of various human diseases, lncRNA has become a new research hotspot and the regulatory role of it has been paid more and more attention.Studies in recent years found that lncRNA is abnormally expressed in age-related macular degeneration (AMD) and age-related cataract (ARC) compared with healthy individuals.LncRNA ZNF503-AS1, BANCR and MEG3 can play important roles in regulating function of retinal pigment epithelial cell, which can lead to the development of AMD.LncRNA MIAT, TUG1 and H19 can have important regulatory effects through competitive binding with microRNAs, thus affecting the occurrence and development of ARC.This article reviewed the research progress of lncRNA in the AMD and ARC related field, revealed the role of different lncRNAs in the diseases, provided a new perspective for elucidating the mechanism of the diseases and found a new biomarker for the diagnosis and treatment of the diseases.

Objective To explore the effects of transcutaneous electrical acupoint stimulation(TEAS)combined with multi-model analgesia on infrared thermal imaging characteristics and pain after total knee arthroplasty(TKA).Methods A total of 74 patients with TKA were divided into the treatment group and the control group according to random number table method,with 37 cases in each group.The control group was treated with multi-model analgesia,and the treatment group was treated with TEAS on the basis of multi-model analgesia for 30 min,once in the morning and afternoon before the patient's rehabilitation exercise 1-7 days after surgery.The infrared thermal imaging data,visual analogue scale(VAS)score,Western Ontario and McMaster Universities Osteoarthritis Index(WOMAC)score and pain threshold of the two groups were recorded and analyzed before and at different time points after operation.Results There were 2 cases dropped out in each group.Compared with before surgery,both groups had an increase in knee joint temperature on the surgical side 14 days after surgery(P<0.05),and the temperature in the treatment group was lower than that in the control group(P<0.05).The self knee temperature difference in the treatment group was lower than that in the control group 14 days after surgery(P<0.05).Compared with before surgery,the VAS score of the treatment group decreased 3 and 7 days after surgery(P<0.05),while the VAS score of the control group decreased 7 days after surgery(P<0.05);compared with the control group at 3 and 7 days after surgey,the VAS score of the treatment group was lower than that of the control group.Compared with before surgery,the WOMAC scores of both groups increased 7 days after surgery(P<0.05);after 7 days of surgery,the WOMAC score of the treatment group was lower than that of the control group(P<0.05).Compared with before surgery,the pain threshold values of both groups increased 7 days after surgery(P<0.05);compared with the control group at 3 and 7 days after surgery,the pain threshold values of the treatment group was higher than that of the control group(P<0.05).Conclusion TEAS combined with multi-model analgesia can reduce the temperature of the knee joint,relieve the pain of the operated limb,and promote the early functional recovery of the knee joint after TKA.Infrared thermal imaging technology has a certain application value in indirectly assessing the degree of postoperative pain and detecting early infection of the affected limb.

Objective To investigate the effects of transcutaneous electrical acupoint stimulation(TEAS)combined with multimodal analgesia on short-term and long-term joint function after total knee arthroplasty(TKA).Methods Totally 110 patients with TKA were divided into the treatment group and the control group according to random number table method,with 55 cases in each group.The control group was treated with multimodal analgesia,and the treatment group was treated with TEAS on the basis of multimodal analgesia.The VAS score,pain threshold value,WOMAC score and SF-12 score of the two groups before and at different time points after operation were recorded and analyzed.Results The VAS score of the treatment group was lower than that of the control group on the 3rd and 7th day after operation(P<0.05).On the 7th day after operation,the knee pain threshold in the treatment group was higher than that in the control group(P<0.05).The WOMAC score of the treatment group was lower than that of the control group at the 1st,2nd,4th and 12th week after operation(P<0.05).At the 4th and 12th week after operation,the SF-12 score of the treatment group was higher than that of the control group(P<0.05).Conclusion TEAS combined with multimodal analgesia can relieve the pain after TKA,and promote the recovery of joint function in the short term and long term,and the improvement effect in the short term is more obvious than that in the long term.

Boron neutron capture therapy(BNCT), a promising radiotherapy, belongs to precision treatment for cancers. BNCT can accurately kill cancer cells and protect normal cells at the same time relying on 10B compounds with high efficacy. The research about developing new 10B compounds is in progress, and novel and efficient 10B compounds are emerging, which greatly facilitate broadening the advantages and efficacy of BNCT. Considering the mixed rays generated from the BNCT process, its biological effects on tumor cells are relatively complex, and related studies are still lacking. The molecular mechanisms underlying BNCT need to be elucidated further. BNCT has been applied in the treatment of malignant brain tumors, head and neck cancers, and malignant melanoma with favorable curative effects. This review mainly focuses on the development of 10B compounds, biological mechanisms, potential advantages, and clinical applications.

OBJECTIVETo explore the impact of plasma homocysteinemia(Hcy) on contrast-induced nephropathy (CIN) after percutaneous coronary intervention (PCI) in acute coronary syndrome (ACS) patients.

METHODSConsecutive 684 ACS patients undergoing first PCI in our department between January 2013 and December 2014 were prospectively enrolled.Patients were divided into 2 groups according to the pre-procedural plasma Hcy level: high-Hcy group (Hcy≥10 μmol/L, n=404) and control group (Hcy<10 μmol/L, n=280). The CIN was defined as serum creatinine ≥ 44.2 μmol/L or 25% increase compared to baseline within 48-72 h after PCI.The baseline clinical data and the ratio of CIN were compared between the 2 groups.Multivariate logistic regression analysis was used to define the independent risk factors for CIN.

RESULTSCIN occurred in 133(19.4%) out of 684 enrolled patients, and the incidence of CIN was significantly higher in high Hcy group than in the control group (22.0%(89/404)vs. 15.7%(44/280), P=0.040). After adjusting the confounding factors, including age, acute myocardial infarction, co-morbidities(hypertension, diabetes mellitus, and old myocardial infarction), laboratory examination (level of cystatin C and uric acid), glomerular filtration rate, left ventricular ejection fraction, angiographic and procedural characteristics (3 diseased vessels, multiple stent implantation), treatment at admission (spironolactone, digoxin), multivariate logistic regression analysis showed that high Hcy was independently associated with the development of CIN (OR=1.70, 95%CI 1.60-2.64, P=0.021).

CONCLUSIONElevated Hcy prior PCI is an independent risk factor of CIN in ACS patients undergoing first PCI.

Acute Coronary Syndrome ; Diabetes Mellitus ; Glomerular Filtration Rate ; Humans ; Hyperhomocysteinemia ; Incidence ; Kidney Diseases ; Myocardial Infarction ; Percutaneous Coronary Intervention ; Risk Factors ; Ventricular Function, Left

Purpose: Intrahepatic cholangiocarcinoma (ICC) is one of the most common liver primary tumors but its treatments are limited. Bioinformatics showed that the expression level of long non-coding RNA cancer-associated susceptibility 15 gene (CASC15) is correlated with ICC progression, but its functional mechanism remains unclear. Materials and Methods: Tissues from ICC patients, tumor and adjacent tissue, were used for detection of the expression of CASC15. Clinical data were also collected for clinicopathologic and survival analysis. Short interfering RNA and lentiviral short hairpin RNA were used to knock down CASC15 and PRDX2 expression in ICC cell lines, for the analysis of changes of cell function and xenografts. RNA-pulldown and RNA immunoprecipitation assays were used to detect RNA-binding protein, PRDX2. Male nude mice were used for ICC xenografts, and livers were collected after 4 weeks for immunohistochemistry. Results: CASC15 is highly expressed in ICC tissues and is related to higher TNM stage. Knockdown of CASC15 in ICC cells reduced cell proliferation, migration, invasiveness and increased apoptosis, and G1/S block. PRDX2 bound to CASC15. Knockdown of CASC15 decreased PRDX2 expression which was rescued by the inhibition of proteasome formation. Downregulation of PRDX2 resulted in G1/S block, reduced ICC cell invasion. Downregulation of CASC15 inhibited phosphoinositide 3-kinase (PI3K)/AKT/c-Myc pathway through downregulating of PRDX2 and overexpressed PRDX2 rescued the block. CASC15 knockout in ICC xenografts suppressed tumor development in vivo, decreased the expression of PRDX2 and Ki67 and inhibited PI3K/AKT pathway. Conclusion CASC15 promotes ICC possibly by targeting PRDX2 via the PI3K/AKT pathway, indicating poor prognosis and high degree of malignancy of ICC.