Objective To explore the effect of Rhubarb ultrasonic electrical conduction target penetration therapy on the gastrointestinal function of sepsis patients.Methods A total of 88 cases of inpatient sepsis patients diagnosed and treated at the Second Affiliated Hospital of Guangzhou University of Chinese Medicine from October 2021 to June 2023 were selected as the participants and the patients were divided into the treatment group and the control group by a simple random method.Both groups were given routine treatments such as anti-infection,fluid resuscitation,nutritional support,blood sugar management,and prevention of stress ulcers,while the treatment group was treated with ultrasonic conductance target penetration Rhubarb therapy at Shenque point and Zhongwan point on the basis of the control group.The main observational indexes were the number of bowel sounds in the two groups before treatment and after 3 days,and 7 days of treatment.The secondary observational indexes were gastric retention,serum C-reactive protein(CRP),procalcitonin(PCT),acute physiology and chronic health evaluation Ⅱ(APACHE Ⅱ),the first defecation time,time to mechanical ventilation,length of stay in the intensive care unit(ICU),hospitalization cost,and 28 days readmission rate of the two groups.The gastric retention was evaluated and recorded every 4 hours before treatment and 3 days and 7 days after treatment,CRP and APACHE Ⅱ score were evaluated before treatment and 7 days after treatment,the 28-day readmission was followed up by telephone.Results A total of 44 cases in the treatment group and 43 cases in the control group completed the intervention.The difference between the bowel sounds and the amount of gastric retention of the two groups was not statistically significant before treatment,with the prolongation of time,the bowel sounds of the two groups gradually increased and the amount of gastric retention gradually decreased,and the number of bowel sounds in the treatment group increased significantly compared to the control group 3 days and 7 days after treatment[beats/minute:4.49(4.23,4.74)vs.3.07(2.80,3.33)3rd day of and 4.79(4.49,5.10)vs.3.36(3.06,3.66)on the 7th day of treatment,both P<0.01],and the amount of gastric retention was significantly reduced compared with the control group[mL:20.93(9.22,32.64)vs.53.52(41.16,65.88)for 3rd day of and 3.72(0.17,7.28)vs.31.59(24.87,38.31)on the 7th day of treatment,both P<0.01].The first defecation time was significantly shorter in the treatment group than in the control group(hours:25.67±9.99 vs.33.64±11.30,P<0.01).After 7 days treatment,the CRP,PCT,and APACHE Ⅱ score were significantly reduced in the treatment group compared to those in the control group[CRP(mg/L):45.97(35.68,56.26)vs.77.30(57.20,97.38),PCT(μg/L):0.94(0.56,1.31)vs.2.73(1.36,4.09),APACHE Ⅱ score:24.11±7.01 vs.28.06±9.25,all P<0.05],the mechanical ventilation time and ICU length of stay were significantly shortened[mechanical ventilation time(hours):107.05±70.76 vs.168.83±136.62,ICU stay time(days):7.58±3.72 vs.9.70±5.15,both P<0.05],the hospitalization cost and 28-day readmission rate were significantly reduced[hospitalization cost(yuan):80337.89±36483.72 vs.109100.24±87080.84,28-day readmission rate:9.1％(4/44)vs.27.9％(12/43),both P<0.05].Conclusion Rhubarb ultrasonic conductive target penetration therapy is a safe,simple,and effective characteristic therapy of external Chinese medicine that can provide a new basis for the protection of gastrointestinal function in patients with sepsis.

Objective To evaluate the clinical efficacy and safety of transcatheter arterial infusion with gemcitabine and nab-paclitaxel(GN)as first-line therapy in treating patients with advanced pancreatic cancer.Methods The clinical data of a total of 50 patients with advanced pancreatic cancer,who were treated with transcatheter arterial infusion chemotherapy with GN regimen at the Zhejiang Cancer Hospital of China between January 2016 and December2020,were collected The objective effective rate(ORR),progression-free survival(PFS),overall survival(OS)and treatment-related toxic reactions were analyzed.Results A total of 236 times of transcatheter arterial infusion chemotherapy were carried out in the 50 patients,with an average perfusion procedure of 4.72 times per patient.Complete remission(CR)was obtained in 0 patient,partial remission(PR)in 16 patients,and stable disease(SD)in 21 patients.The ORR was 32％,the median PFSwas5.1 months,and the OS was 9.8 months.The main adverse events included neutropenia,thrombocytopenia,vomiting,nausea,fatigue,etc.Conclusion For patients with advanced pancreatic cancer,transcatheter arterial infusion chemotherapy with GN regimen carries good short-term efficacy and safety,it can improve patient's PFS and OS to a certain extent.(J Intervent Radiol,2024,33:512-515)

Objective:To explore the clinical effect of Guige Shujing Decoction combined with acupuncture in the treatment of cervical spondylotic radiculopathy with coldness-blood stasis obstructing meridians.Methods:A total of 86 patients with coldness-blood stasis obstructing meridians of cervical spondylotic radiculopathy, who met the inclusion criteria from May 2019 to May 2021, were divided into two groups, with 43 cases in each group, according to the random number table method. The control group was treated with routine basic treatment and acupuncture, and the observation group was treated with routine basic treatment, acupuncture and Guige Shujing Decoction. Both groups were treated for 4 weeks and followed up for 6 months. The scores of TCM syndromes were performed before and after treatment, Clinical Assessment Scale for Cervical Spondylosis (CASCS) was used to evaluate cervical spine function, Visual Analogue Score (VAS) was used to evaluate the degree of pain, Neck Disability Index (NDI) was used to evaluate cervical spine function, and ELISA was used to detect levels of hypersensitive C-reactive protein (hs-CRP), interleukin-1β (IL-1β) and tumor necrosis factor-α (TNF-α). The adverse reactions were observed during treatment and the recurrence rate was recorded during follow-up.Results:The total effective rate of the observation group was 95.35% (41/43), and that of the control group was 81.40% (35/43), the difference between the two groups was statistically significant ( χ2=4.07, P=0.043). After treatment, the scores and total scores of shoulder and neck pain, upper limb numbness, neck stiffness, head tenderness and heaviness in the observation group were significantly lower than those in the control group ( t values were 10.66, 12.89, 9.12, 12.27 and 8.75, respectively, P<0.001). After treatment, the CASCS score in the observation group was significantly higher than that of the control group ( t=2.64, P=0.010). After treatment, the VAS and NDI scores in the observation group were significantly lower than those in the control group ( t values were 5.62 and 7.00, respectively, P<0.001). After treatment, the levels of serum hs-CRP, IL-1β and TNF-α in the observation group were significantly lower than those in the control group ( t values were 6.65, 7.52 and 5.08, respectively, P<0.001). There was no significant difference in the incidence of adverse reactions between the two groups during treatment ( χ2=0.73, P=0.393). After 6 months of follow-up, the recurrence rate in the observation group was 2.44% (1/41) and that in the control group was 17.14% (6/35). There was a statistically significant difference in the recurrence rate between the two groups ( χ2=3.89, P=0.048). Conclusion:The Guige Shujing Decoction combined with acupuncture therapy can inhibit the neurogenic inflammatory reaction of patients with coldness-blood stasis obstructing meridians of cervical spondylotic radiculopathy, reduce pain, improve cervical spine function, reduce recurrence rate and improve curative effect.

Objective: To explore the factors affecting the prognosis of patients with hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) combined with portal vein tumor thrombosis (PVTT), and to analyze the clinical value of transcatheter arterial chemoembolization (TACE) combined with iodine-125 seed implantation in such patients. Methods: A retrospective analysis of 53 patients with HCC combined with PVTT was performed. In the study group, 32 cases were treated with TACE combined with iodine-125 seed implantation, and 21 cases in the control group were treated with TACE combined with sorafenib. Survival analysis was carried out on eight factors such as gender, age, Child-Pugh classification, alpha fetoprotein level, portal vein tumor thrombosis (PVTT) type, forms of liver tumor, extra-hepatic metastasis and treatment modalities. The efficacy of TACE combined with iodine-125 seed implantation and TACE combined with sorafenib was further compared. The χ ² test was used to evaluate the efficacy of the two groups. A single factor survival analysis was calculated by Kaplan-Meier estimator and multifactor survival analysis by Cox proportional hazards model. Results: All 53 patients were successfully treated. The median tumor progression time (mTTP) and median overall survival (mOS) were 8 months and 11 months, respectively. The disease control rate (DCR) of the study group for PVTT was 93.8%, which was significantly higher than that of the control group (61.9%, χ ² = 6.448, P = 0.011). The difference was statistically significant; the objective remission rate of the study group for PVTT was 75.0%. Significantly higher than 9.5% in the control group, P < 0.05, the difference was statistically significant; the DCR of the primary tumor in the study group was 50.0%, which was lower than the 70.0% of the PVTT in the control group, P = 0.231, the difference was not statistically significant. The progression of primary HCC lesions in patients with multivariate survival analysis: Child-Pugh grade A patients were compared to grade B [Hazard ratio (HR) = 0.236, P = 0.003]; no extra-hepatic metastasis (HR = 0.258, P = 0.002); and TACE combined with iodine-125 seed implantation group compared with TACE combined sorafenib group (HR = 0.372, P = 0.002), the differences were statistically significant. Multivariate survival analysis of patients with overall survival: AFP < 400 ng/mL vs. AFP≥400 ng/mL (HR = 0.389, P = 0.030); Child-Pugh grade A vs. B (HR = 0.263, P = 0.006); and no extra-hepatic metastasis (HR = 0.306, P = 0.006), the differences were statistically significant. Conclusion TACE combined with iodine-125 seed implantation for the treatment of HCC with PVTT can effectively control the progression of PVTT and intrahepatic lesions and improve the prognosis of patients.

Objective To investigate the regularity of abdominal pain and its influence factors in patients with primary hepatic carcinoma (PHC) after receiving transcatheter arterial chemoembolization (TACE).Methods A total of 121 patients with PHC were enrolled in this study.All patients were admitted to the Department of Interventional Radiology of Zhejiang Provincial Cancer Hospital from December 2012 to June 2013,and all patients were suffered from PHC.The occurrence,duration and severity of the abdominal pain as well as the used dosage of morphine within 48 hours after TACE were documented.The results were statistically analyzed.Results A total of 96 patients (96/121,78.5％) complained of different degrees of abdominal pain after interventional therapy,and 72 patients (72/121,59.5％) showed moderate to severe pain,with the VAS score being more than 4 points.The average dosage of morphine used each time for one patient was 19.7 mg.Statistical analysis indicated that these patients were more prone to develop abdominal pain after TACE if they carried more than one of the following risk factors:age ≥60 years (when compared with patients ＜60 years,OR:0.307,P=0.008),preoperative ECOG score ＞2 (when compared with a ECOG score of 0-1,OR:0.195,P=0.006),the distance between tumor and liver capsule ＞1 cm (when compared with the distance ≤ 1 cm,OR:0.296,P=0.007),the use of THP in performing chemoembolization (when compared with other chemotherapeutic drugs,OR:0.232,P＜0.003 4).Conclusion After TACE abdominal pain is a high-frequency event.The independent factors affecting the occurrence of abdominal pain are age＜60 years,preoperative ECOG score ＞2,tumor located close to liver capsule,and the use of THP-lipiodol mixture as embolic agent.Therefore,for patients carrying moderate-high risk of abdominal pain,routine use of analgesics before TACE as well as within 12 hours after TACE to prevent the occurrence of abdominal pain is quite necessary.

Objective To investigate the changes in myocardial proteomics in the late phase of limb ischemic preconditioning (LIP) in rats.Methods Twelve pathogen-free adult male Sprague-Dawley rats,aged 8-9 weeks,weighing 260-280 g,were randomly assigned into LIP group (n=6) and control group (group C,n=6) using a random number table.Limb ischemia was preceded by 3 cycles of 5-min ischemia which was induced by ligation of the root of the right hindlimb with a rubber band followed by 5-min reperfusion in group LIP.At 24 h after LIP,the tissues were obtained from the left ventricle,and the isobaric tags for relative and absolute quantification technique and liquid chromatography-mass spectrometry were applied to detect the differences in protein expression profiles between the two groups (the difference in expression between the two groups＞ 1.2 times and P＜0.05).The identified differentially expressed proteins were analyzed using the bioinformatics,and some were further verified by Western blot.Results A total of 55 proteins were identified to be differentially expressed,and among the 55 proteins,the expression of 35 proteins was up-regulated,and the expression of 20 proteins was down-regulated.Bioinformatics analysis showed that most of the 55 proteins were organelles,cell membrane or macromolecular compounds,were involved in the process such as metabolism,biological regulation,stress response and signal transduction,and showed functions such as the binding affinity to molecules,catalytic activity,anti-oxidant activity,and modulation of the activity of enzyme.The results verified by Western blot were consistent with those shown by using the isobaric tags for relative and absolute quantification analysis.Conclusion The late phase of LIP can induce changes in the expression of the 55 proteins involving regulation of energy metabolism,anti-oxidant action,regulation of gene expression,and protein folding and degradation in the myocardium,which may be the mechanism of myocardial protection in rats.

Objective:To investigate the expression and its possible role of Oct4B1 subtype of Embryonic stem cell transcription factor Oct4 in colorectal cancer stem cells. Methods: 3D microspheres were cultured by suspension culture to human colorectal cancer cell line SW480 cells. The 3D microspheres and SW480 cells were used as the research objects. Whether 3D microspheres were enriched cancer stem cells,we used the methods of cell differentiation experiments,soft agar cloning experiments,and the expression levels of cancer stem cells markers CD133,CD44 detected by flow cytometry. The expression levels of Oct4B1 mRNA were detected by RT-qPCR. Results:3D microspheres could differentiate into normal cancer cells. Compared with the parental SW480 cells,in vitro colony formation was significantly enhanced(P<0. 01),the percentage of positive cells of CD133 and CD44 were significantly increased ( P < 0. 01 ), the expression levels of Oct4B1 mRNA were obviously higher ( P < 0. 01 ) in 3D microspheres. Conclusion: Oct4B1 subtype of Embryonic stem cell transcription factor Oct4 in 3D microspheres enriched human colorectal cancer stem cells,which may be involved in the regulation of colorectal cancer stem cells.

Objective:To investigate the reversal multidrug resistance effects of curcumin on human colorectal cancer cell lines resistant to oxaliplatin( SW620/OxR) and whether its mechanism was involved in downregulation of STAT3 signaling.Methods: The IC50 value(50%cell growth inhibitory concentrations) of curcumin to SW620/OxR cell lines was obtained by WST-1 reagent,which was one kind of cell proliferation assay.Later experiments included in the experimental group and the control group.In the experimental group,SW620/OxR cell lines were exposed to the previous experiment IC50 concentrations of curcumin plus 2 μmol/L oxaliplatin for 48 h,while in the control group,SW620/OxR cell lines were cultured in medium containing in 2μmol/L oxaliplatin.In the two groups:apoptosis was detected by flow cytometry;the protein expression levels of phosphorylated STAT3(P-STAT3) and P-gp were disclosed by Western blot.Results:The IC50 value of curcumin to SW620/OxR cell lines was 18.9 μmol/L.The apoptosis rate of cells in the control group and the experimental group were respectively ( 5.08 ±1.82 )% and ( 30.69 ±2.94 )%, the apoptosis rate of the experimental group was significantly higher than that of the control group ( P<0.05 ) .The protein expression levels of phosphorylated STAT3(P-STAT3) and P-gp in the experimental group was significantly lower than that in the control group(P<0.05).Conclusion:Curcumin can reverse drug resistance in colorectal cancer cell lines resistant to oxaliplatin, its effect may be associated with downregulation of STAT3 signaling pathways.

Objective To investigate the efficacy and safety of CT-guided radiofrequency ablation (RFA) in treating lung tumors. Methods A total of 33 patients with lung cancer (35 lesions in total), who were admitted to authors’ hospital during the period from May 2007 to August 2013 to receive treatment, were enrolled in this study. RFA was carried out in all patients. After RFA the patients were followed up regularly (once every 3 months) to evaluate the therapeutic efficacy and the adverse reaction. The deadline for the following-up was November 2013, or to the time when tumor progression occurred. Results Of the total 34 lesions in 32 patients who had received RFA and had complete follow-up data, the one-year local control rate was 85.3%. The average one-year progression-free survival rate was 75.0%, among them 15 cases with primary lung cancer had a mean one-year progression-free survival rate of 80.0% and 17 cases with metastatic lung cancer had a mean one-year progression-free survival rate of 70.6%. The overall median progression-free survival (PFS) was(18.0±1.3) months. No obvious correlation existed between PFS and age, sex, tumor size, pathological type, clinical stage (P<0.05). The main adverse reactions of RFA were pain, hydrothorax and pneumothorax; no serious life-threatening complications occurred. Conclusion RFA is a safe, effective and minimally-invasive treatment for lung cancer, regardless of early stage or late stage of the tumor.

Objective To evaluate the safety and clinical efficacy of CT-guided 125I seeds interstitial implantation in treating the refractory liver cancers that show poor response to commonly used therapies. Methods A total of 40 patients with refractory clinically or pathologically-proved liver cancer were enrolled in this study, the diseases included primary liver cancer (n = 27, with coexisting portal vein cancerous thrombus in 2) and metastatic liver cancer (n = 13). CT-guided 125I seeds interstitial implantation was performed in all patients. Preoperative plan of seeds implantation protocol was formulated by using the treatment plan system (TPS); the 125I seed activity was 0.6 -0.8 mCi and the peripheral matching dose (MPD) was 100 -140 Gy. The procedure of 125I seeds interstitial implantation was performed under local anesthesia in all patients. By using percutaneous trans-hepatic puncturing and single-or multiple-needle technique, the 125I seeds were implanted along a line parallel to the long axis of the tumor and/or tumorous thrombus with an interval of 0.5 -1.0 cm. The short-term efficacy was evaluated by modified response evaluation criteria in solid tumors (mRECIST), and the median time to tumor progression (mTTP) and the median overall survival time (mOS) were calculated by Kaplan and Meier method. Results The technical success rate was 100%. The diameter of the tumor was 1.5 -12.0 cm (mean 4.0 cm), and a total of 1 748 125I seeds were implanted in 40 patients (mean 44 seeds per patient). The short-term effective rate was 37.5%(n = 15), including complete remission in 8 cases and partial remission in 7 cases, the stable disease was seen in 15 cases (37.5%), and the disease control rate was 75%. The mTTP was 7.0 months (95%CI:4.524-9.476 months), while mOS was 10 months (95%CI: 6.901 -13.099 months). The procedure-related adverse reactions included small amount of subcapsular hemorrhage (n =2, 5%), intrahepatic migration of 125I seeds (n=2, 5%), pain at liver area (n=1, 2.5%); and no special treatment was needed in these patients. One patient developed high fever with chills 3 hours after the procedure, which was relieved after symptomatic and antipyretic treatment. Conclusion For the treatment of refractory liver cancers, CT-guided 125I seeds permanent interstitial implantation, used as a remedial therapy, is safe and effective. This technique is worth popularizing in clinical practice.