Objective To observe the clinical effect of ultrasound-guided nerve block combined with arc edge needle-scalpel in the treatment of cervical spondylotic radiculopathy.Methods 160 cases were randomly divided into 4 groups from A to D,40 cases in each group.Group A was given nerve block,group B was given ultrasound-guided nerve block,group C was given arc edge needle-scalpel,and group D was given ultrasound-guided nerve block combined with arc edge needle-scalpel for 4 weeks.The McGill pain scale,cervical dysfunction index,cervical motion(angle of cervical left and right rotation,anterior flexion,posterior extension and lateral flexion),myoelectric-evoked potentiall(median nerve and ulnar nerve conduction velocity,latency),arterial blood flow velocity(average vertebral artery and basal artery flow velocity,end-diastolic blood flow velocity)were observed.The serum levels of neuron-specific enolase(NSE),β-endorphin(β-EP),lipoprotein-associated phospholipase A2(LpPLA2),6-ketoprostaglandin E1α(6-keto-PGE1α)were measured.The clinical efficacy and safety of each group were observed.Results The response rate in group D was taller than that in group A and group B significantly(χ2=6.605,P=0.013;χ2=4.073,P=0.044).Compared with the other three groups,the McGill pain,NDI,NSE,LpPLA2 and 6-keto-PGE1α in group D decreased significantly(P<0.05),the β-EP increased significantly(P<0.05),and the angles of left and right cervical rotation,anterior flexion,posterior extension and lateral flexion increased significantly(P<0.05),and median nerve and ulnar nerve conduction velocity,vertebral artery and basilar artery average blood flow velocity,end diastolic blood flow velocity increased significantly(P<0.05),and median nerve and ulnar nerve latency decreased significantly(P<0.05).The safety index of group D was higher than that in group A significantly(χ2=5.641,P=0.018).Conclusion Ultrasound-guided nerve block combined with arc edge needle-scalpel can relieve neck and shoulder pain,improve cervical spine function and reduce complications in patients with cervical spondylotic radiculopathy.

Objective:To investigate the efficacy and safety of high-frequency irreversible electroporation (H-FIRE) in treating benign prostatic hyperplasia (BPH).Methods:This randomized controlled open-label multicenter clinical trial enrolled patients from nine medical centers in China between August 2020 and July 2022. Inclusion criteria: age 50–80 years, International Prostate Symptom Score (IPSS) ≥12, maximum urinary flow rate (Q max) >5 ml/min and ≤15 ml/min. Exclusion criteria: prostate malignancy, contraindications to surgery or anesthesia. Patients were randomized 1∶1 into the H-FIRE group (experimental) or the control group (daily oral 0.2 mg tamsulosin hydrochloride sustained-release capsules). Primary outcomes included Q max, IPSS, prostate volume, and International Index of Erectile Function-5 (IIEF-5) scores, measured at baseline, 1 and 3 months post-treatment. Results:A total of 160 cases were included in this study, including 80 cases in the experimental group and 80 cases in the control group, 30 cases in Renji Hospital, 7 cases in Qilu Hospital of Shandong University, 8 cases in Tongji Hospital, 3 cases in Hunan Provincial Hospital, 13 cases in Shanghai Pudong Hospital, 29 cases in Hwa Mei Hospital, 18 cases in Yiyuan County People's Hospital, and 38 cases in Shanghai East Hospital, and 14 cases in Sun Yat-sen Memorial Hospital. At 3 months of post-treatment, Q max in the experimental group increased by a median of 7.50 (3.55, 14.50) ml/s from the baseline value, whereas in the control group it increased by a median of 1.70 (-1.40, 6.00) ml/s, and the difference between the two groups was statistically significant ( P < 0.01, U = 1 083); and at 3 months of post-treatment, IPSS in the experimental group decreased by a median of 12.00 (7.00, 17.00) points in the test group and 6.00 (2.00, 11.00) points in the control group, and the magnitude of improvement in IPSS scores in the test group was significantly higher than that in the control group ( P < 0.01, U = 1 248); at 3 months of post-treatment, the prostate volume decreased by a median of 12.16 (5.69, 18.27) ml in the experimental group and 0 (-3.94, 6.89) ml in the control group, suggesting that H-FIRE significantly reduced prostate gland volume ( P<0.01, U=1 111). The difference in elevated IIEF-5 scores from baseline at 3 months of treatment between the experimental and control groups was not statistically significant[0(-2.00, 1.00) points vs. 0(-2.00, 1.50) points; P=0.54, U=2 338]. There were no serious adverse events in the two groups. Conclusions:H-FIRE could significantly improve both subjective and objective symptoms of BPH with a low risk of severe complications.

Objective To observe the clinical effect of ultrasound-guided nerve block combined with arc edge needle-scalpel in the treatment of cervical spondylotic radiculopathy.Methods 160 cases were randomly divided into 4 groups from A to D,40 cases in each group.Group A was given nerve block,group B was given ultrasound-guided nerve block,group C was given arc edge needle-scalpel,and group D was given ultrasound-guided nerve block combined with arc edge needle-scalpel for 4 weeks.The McGill pain scale,cervical dysfunction index,cervical motion(angle of cervical left and right rotation,anterior flexion,posterior extension and lateral flexion),myoelectric-evoked potentiall(median nerve and ulnar nerve conduction velocity,latency),arterial blood flow velocity(average vertebral artery and basal artery flow velocity,end-diastolic blood flow velocity)were observed.The serum levels of neuron-specific enolase(NSE),β-endorphin(β-EP),lipoprotein-associated phospholipase A2(LpPLA2),6-ketoprostaglandin E1α(6-keto-PGE1α)were measured.The clinical efficacy and safety of each group were observed.Results The response rate in group D was taller than that in group A and group B significantly(χ2=6.605,P=0.013;χ2=4.073,P=0.044).Compared with the other three groups,the McGill pain,NDI,NSE,LpPLA2 and 6-keto-PGE1α in group D decreased significantly(P<0.05),the β-EP increased significantly(P<0.05),and the angles of left and right cervical rotation,anterior flexion,posterior extension and lateral flexion increased significantly(P<0.05),and median nerve and ulnar nerve conduction velocity,vertebral artery and basilar artery average blood flow velocity,end diastolic blood flow velocity increased significantly(P<0.05),and median nerve and ulnar nerve latency decreased significantly(P<0.05).The safety index of group D was higher than that in group A significantly(χ2=5.641,P=0.018).Conclusion Ultrasound-guided nerve block combined with arc edge needle-scalpel can relieve neck and shoulder pain,improve cervical spine function and reduce complications in patients with cervical spondylotic radiculopathy.

Objective:To investigate the efficacy and safety of high-frequency irreversible electroporation (H-FIRE) in treating benign prostatic hyperplasia (BPH).Methods:This randomized controlled open-label multicenter clinical trial enrolled patients from nine medical centers in China between August 2020 and July 2022. Inclusion criteria: age 50–80 years, International Prostate Symptom Score (IPSS) ≥12, maximum urinary flow rate (Q max) >5 ml/min and ≤15 ml/min. Exclusion criteria: prostate malignancy, contraindications to surgery or anesthesia. Patients were randomized 1∶1 into the H-FIRE group (experimental) or the control group (daily oral 0.2 mg tamsulosin hydrochloride sustained-release capsules). Primary outcomes included Q max, IPSS, prostate volume, and International Index of Erectile Function-5 (IIEF-5) scores, measured at baseline, 1 and 3 months post-treatment. Results:A total of 160 cases were included in this study, including 80 cases in the experimental group and 80 cases in the control group, 30 cases in Renji Hospital, 7 cases in Qilu Hospital of Shandong University, 8 cases in Tongji Hospital, 3 cases in Hunan Provincial Hospital, 13 cases in Shanghai Pudong Hospital, 29 cases in Hwa Mei Hospital, 18 cases in Yiyuan County People's Hospital, and 38 cases in Shanghai East Hospital, and 14 cases in Sun Yat-sen Memorial Hospital. At 3 months of post-treatment, Q max in the experimental group increased by a median of 7.50 (3.55, 14.50) ml/s from the baseline value, whereas in the control group it increased by a median of 1.70 (-1.40, 6.00) ml/s, and the difference between the two groups was statistically significant ( P < 0.01, U = 1 083); and at 3 months of post-treatment, IPSS in the experimental group decreased by a median of 12.00 (7.00, 17.00) points in the test group and 6.00 (2.00, 11.00) points in the control group, and the magnitude of improvement in IPSS scores in the test group was significantly higher than that in the control group ( P < 0.01, U = 1 248); at 3 months of post-treatment, the prostate volume decreased by a median of 12.16 (5.69, 18.27) ml in the experimental group and 0 (-3.94, 6.89) ml in the control group, suggesting that H-FIRE significantly reduced prostate gland volume ( P<0.01, U=1 111). The difference in elevated IIEF-5 scores from baseline at 3 months of treatment between the experimental and control groups was not statistically significant[0(-2.00, 1.00) points vs. 0(-2.00, 1.50) points; P=0.54, U=2 338]. There were no serious adverse events in the two groups. Conclusions:H-FIRE could significantly improve both subjective and objective symptoms of BPH with a low risk of severe complications.

Purpose: In non-metastatic prostate cancer (nmPCa) setting, it is important to early identify the patients at risk of biochemical recurrence (BCR) for immediate postoperative intervention. Our study aimed to evaluate the potential clinical utility of circulating tumor DNA (ctDNA) for predicting disease recurrence. Materials and Methods: This real-world observational study evaluated 161 cases of nmPCa undergoing next-generation sequencing at our institution. A total of 139 ctDNA samples and 31 biopsied tumor tissue underwent genomic profiling. The study endpoint was BCR after radical prostatectomy. Relationships between the ctDNA status and the biochemical progression-free survival (bPFS) were analyzed by log-rank test and multivariate Cox regression. Results: Of 161 enrolled patients, 19 (11.8%) harbored deleterious alterations in NCOR2, followed by BRCA2 (3.7%), ATR (2.5%), and CDK12 (2.5%). Of available pre-operative blood samples (n=139), ctDNA was detectable in 91 (65.5%). Until last follow-up, 56 of 68 patients (85.3%) with detectable ctDNA had achieved BCR, whereas only eight of 39 patients (20.5%) with undetectable ctDNA had achieved BCR. Patients who had undetectable ctDNA experienced significantly longer bPFS compared with those who had detectable ctDNA (not available vs. 8.2 months; hazard ratio, 0.14; p < 0.01). Pre-operative ctDNA status was a significant prognostic factor of disease recurrence. Conclusion Pre-operative ctDNA detection could identify patients at high risk of recurrence and has the potential to inform immediate postoperative interventions, but these approaches remain to be validated in prospective studies. ctDNA studies can provide insights into accurate monitoring and precise treatment rather than simply following routine clinical care.

Objective:To compare the efficacy and safety of radium-223 in the treatment of metastatic castration-resistant prostate cancer (mCRPC) patients with and without homologous recombination repair (HRR) gene mutation.Methods:The clinical data of 27 patients with mCRPC bone metastases who received radium-223 therapy from April 2021 to November 2022 in Renji Hospital Affiliated to Shanghai Jiaotong University School of Medicine were retrospectively analyzed. Among the 27 mCRPC patients, 18 patients carrying HRR gene mutations belonged to the HRD(+ ) group, and 9 patients without HRR gene mutation belonged to the HRD(-) group. The age of patients in HRD(+ ) group was 69.5 (63.8, 77.0) years old, alkaline phosphatase (ALP) was 243.0 (82.8, 301.3) U/L, prostate specific antigen (PSA) was 71.6 (7.3, 329.8) ng/ml, pain score was 3.0 (1.0, 5.0) points. Eastern Cooperative Oncology Group (ECOG) score ranged from 0 to 1 points in 7 cases, and 2 points in 11 cases. In the HRD(-) group, the median age was 72.0 (64.5, 76.5) years old, ALP was 88.0 (67.5, 260.6) U/L, PSA was 19.1 (1.1, 117.8) ng/ml, and pain score was 2.0 (0, 4.5) points. The ECOG score ranged from 0 to 1 in 4 cases, and 2 in 5 cases in the HRD(-) group. There was no significant difference in the above general data between the two groups ( P>0.05). All patients received radium-223 treatment every 4 weeks, no more than 6 times. The changes of ALP, PSA, pain score and hematological adverse reactions were compared between the two groups. Results:In the HRD(+ ) group, the median number of radium-223 treatment was 4.5 (3.0, 5.3) couses, 4 patients (22.2%) completed 6 courses, and 6 patients died of prostate cancer during follow-up. In the HRD(-) group, the median number of radium treatment was 4.0 (2.5, 6.0) couses, 3 patients (33.3%) completed 6 courses, and 1 patient died of prostate cancer during follow-up. There was no significant difference in the number of radium treatment courses between the two groups ( P=0.320). ALP in HRD(+ ) group was 101.8 (61.3, 147.0) U/L after radium-223 treatment, which was significantly lower than that before treatment ( P=0.002). ALP in HRD(-) group was 73.0 (64.0, 113.5) U/L after radium-223 treatment, and it was not significantly different from that before treatment ( P=0.327). The rate of ALP response (ALP decrease >10%) in HRD(+ ) group was significantly higher than that in HRD(-) group [83.3% (15/18) vs. 44.4% (4/9), P=0.037]. PSA was 105.9(5.2, 798.4) ng/ml in HRD (+ ) group after radium-223 treatment, and was 25.6(0.8, 1 031.0) ng/ml in HRD(-) group, and they were not significantly different from that before treatment ( P=0.145, P=0.386). There were no significant differences in the rate of PSA response (PSA decrease>10%) between HRD(+ ) group and HRD(-) group [38.9% (7/18) vs. 22.2% (2/9), P=0.386]. The median pain score of HRD(+ ) group was 3.0 (0, 4.0) points after treatment, which was significantly lower than that before treatment ( P=0.028). The pain score of HRD(-) group was 1.0(0, 3.0) points after treatment, and it was not significantly different from that before treatment ( P=0.129). There was no significant difference in pain relief rate between HRD(+ ) group and HRD(-) group [66.7% (12/18) vs. 44.4% (4/9), P=0.411]. The incidence of at least one hematological adverse event during radium-223 treatment in the HRD(+ ) group was higher than that in the HRD(-) group [77.8% (14/18) vs. 33.3% (3/9), P=0.039]. There was no significant difference in the incidence of grade 1-2 hematological adverse events between the two groups [72.2%(13/18) vs. 33.3%(3/9), P=0.097]. Only 1 patient in the HRD(+ ) group experienced grade 3 anemia during treatment which was recovered after blood transfusion. Conclusions:Compared to mCRPC patients without HRR gene mutation, patients with HRR gene mutations had better ALP response and bone pain relief after radium-223 treatment. The overall incidence of adverse events in the HRD(+ ) group is higher than that in HRD(-) group, and there was no significant difference in grade 1-2 hematological adverse events between the two goups. It is necessary to expand the sample size to further verify the conclusion.

BACKGROUND: Previous studies have confirmed that 6-hydroxydopamine is capable to increase the expression of divalent metal transporter-1 and reduce the expression of ferroportin-1 in the neurons and microglia, which may lead to iron deposition in the substantia nigra after Parkinson’s disease. However, it is unclear whether 6-hydroxydopamine can play diverse roles in astrocytes.
OBJECTIVE:To observe the effects of 6-hydroxydopamine on the expression of divalent metal transporter-1 and ferroportin-1 in rat C6 glioma cel lines.
METHODS:C6 glioma cell lines from rats were cultured in 10 μmol/L 6-hydroxydopamine for 24 hours. Then, protein expressions of divalent metal transporter-1 and ferroportiner-1 were measured by western blot method.
RESULTS AND CONCLUSION:The protein expressions of divalent metal transporter-1 and ferroportin-1 in C6 glioma cell lines were increased by 2.5 times (P < 0.01) and 1 time (P < 0.05), respectively, after treatment with 6-hydroxydopamine. These findings indicate that 6-hydroxydopamine can promote iron transport rate in astrocytes by increasing both divalent metal transporter-1 and ferroportin-1 expressions, and astrocytes has a different response to 6-hydroxydopamine from neurons and microglia.