Objective:To investigate the correlation between uterine volume and intrauterine adhesion (IUA).Methods:From June 2018 to November 2019, totally 7 007 patients who underwent hysteroscopy in outpatient operating rooms of Gynecological Minimally Invasive Center, Beijing Obstetrics and Gynecology Hospital were retrospectively analyzed . Patients of reproductive age with IUA without uterine fibroids and adenomyosis were selected as IUA group, and patients of reproductive age without uterine fibroids and adenomyosis without IUA during the same period were selected as the control group. The propensity score matching (PSM) method was used to perform 1∶1 matching for the two groups of patients, matching variables included age, height, weight, body mass index (BMI), gravidity, parity, and number of abortion curettage. Whether there was any difference in uterine volume between the two groups of patients was compared, and whether uterine volume was an influencing factor of IUA was explored. The patients in IUA group were also categorized into mild, moderate and severe to explore whether uterine volume influenced the severity of IUA. Results:(1) After inclusion and exclusion criteria, 351 patients were included in IUA group and 2 986 patients in the control group. With PSM, 327 patients in IUA group and 327 patients in the control group were finally enrolled in this study. There were no statistically significant differences in age, height, weight, BMI, gravidity, parity, and number of abortion curettage between the two groups of patients after matching (all P>0.05). (2) After PSM, there was a significant difference between the uterine volume of IUA group (median: 44.23 cm 3) and the uterine volume of the control group (median: 57.20 cm 3; P<0.001). (3) Reduced uterine volume ( OR=0.961, 95% CI: 0.952-0.970) was an independent risk factor for IUA ( P<0.001). (4) Uterine volume had a significant effect on the severity of IUA ( P<0.001), the larger the uterine volume ( B=-0.030, 95% CI: -0.044 to -0.017), the less severe the IUA. Conclusions:Reduced uterine volume is an independent risk factor for IUA, and uterine volume has a significant effect on the severity of IUA. In patients with small uterine volume size, primary and secondary prevention of IUA should be emphasized.

Objective:To investigate the predictive value of uterine volume for intrauterine adhesion (IUA) caused by endometrial injury, and to provide a new perspective for the primary prevention of IUA.Methods:The clinical data of 7 007 patients of reproductive age who underwent outpatient hysteroscopy in the Gynecological Minimally Invasive Center, Beijing Obstetrics and Gynecology Hospital from June 2018 to November 2019 were retrospectively analyzed. Patients of reproductive age with IUA without uterine fibroids and adenomyosis were selected as the IUA group (351 cases), and patients of reproductive age without uterine fibroids and adenomyosis and without IUA during the same period were selected as the control group (2 986 cases). The uterine volume was compared between the two groups. Multivariate binary logistic regression analysis was used to determine whether uterine volume was an independent factor for the occurrence of IUA. Ordinal multinomial logistic regression was used to analyze the correlation between uterine volume and menstrual volume in IUA patients. Receiver operating characteristic (ROC) curve was used to analyze the predictive value of uterine volume for IUA caused by endometrial injury.Results:(1) The uterine volume of the IUA group was significantly smaller than that of the control group (median: 44.15 vs 62.59 cm 3; Z=-15.742, P<0.001). (2) Multivariate binary logistic regression analysis showed that decreased uterine volume was an independent risk factor for IUA ( OR=0.184, 95% CI: 0.139-0.245; P<0.001). (3) The area under the ROC curve of uterine volume to predict IUA was 0.756, and the optimal cut-off value of uterine volume to predict IUA was 51.49 cm 3. (4) The risk of IUA caused by endometrial injury in patients with uterine volume≤51.49 cm 3 was 4.658 times higher than that in patients with uterine volume>51.49 cm 3 (95% CI: 3.681-5.893; P<0.001). (5) The smaller the uterine volume ( β=-0.032, 95% CI:-0.046 to -0.018; P<0.001), the more likely the IUA patients were to have menorrhagia and amenorrhea. Conclusions:Uterine volume has a certain predictive value for the occurrence of IUA caused by endometrial injury. For patients with small uterine volume, it is necessary to be alert to the occurrence of IUA caused by endometrial injury and improve the awareness of primary prevention.

Objective:To explore the effect of transcranial direct current stimulation (tDCS) on dysphagia in hemispheric stroke patients.Methods:Sixty-two hemispheric stroke patients with dysphagia were randomized into an ipsilateral group, a contralateral group and a bilateral group with 20 in each group. The ipsilateral and contralateral groups received tDCS over their ipsilesional and contralesional hemispheres, respectively, while in the bilateral group it was over both hemispheres. That was followed by conventional swallowing therapy. Before and after 2 weeks of the treatment, swallowing function was assessed using the modified Mann Assessment of Swallowing Ability (MMASA) and a Swallow Severity scale (SSS). Linear regressions were evaluated to highlight the factors most influencing recovery from post-stroke hemispheric dysphagia.Results:After the treatments, the average MMASA and SSS scores had increased significantly in all three groups. There was no significant difference in the average post-treatment MMASA and SSS scores between the ipsilateral and contralateral groups, but the bilateral group showed significantly better average post-treatment MMASA and SSS scores compared to the other two groups. Linear regression analysis confirmed that the tDCS protocol (group allocation) was a significant predictor of recovery.Conclusion:Bilateral tDCS can effectively promote the recovery of swallowing function after a hemispheric stroke. It demonstrates greater therapeutic benefits than unilateral tDCS.

OBJECTIVE: To observe the clinical efficacy and safety of acupuncture combined with blade needle therapy for knee osteoarthritis (KOA). METHODS: A total of 60 patients with KOA were randomly divided into an observation group and a control group, 30 cases each group. The control group received acupuncture at Neixiyan (EX-LE4)，Dubi (ST35), Yinlingquan (SP9), Liangqiu (ST34), Xuehai (SP10), Yanglingquan (GB34) and Zusanli (ST36) on the affected side, once every other day, 3 times a week. The observation group received blade needle therapy on the basis of the treatment in the control group, once every 3 days, 2 times a week. Both groups were treated for 4 weeks. Before treatment, after 2, 4 weeks of treatment, and after 1 month of treatment completion (in follow-up), the scores of pain visual analogue scale (VAS), Western Ontario and McMaster Universities osteoarthritis index (WOMAC) and Lequesne index were observed in the two groups, and the clinical efficacy and safety were evaluated. RESULTS: After 2, 4 weeks of treatment and in follow-up, the pain VAS scores, Lequesne index scores, and pain, stiffness, function scores of WOMAC in both groups were decreased compared with those before treatment (P<0.05), and the VAS scores, Lequesne index scores and pain, function scores of WOMAC in the observation group were lower than those in the control group (P<0.05). The effective response rate in the observation group was 76.7% (23/30), while that in the control group was 70.0% (21/30), there was no statistically significant difference in the effective response rates between the two groups (P>0.05). No adverse reactions were observed in either group. CONCLUSION Acupuncture combined with blade needle therapy could alleviate pain and promote functional recovery in KOA patients, and achieve long-lasting improvements.
Humans ; Osteoarthritis, Knee/physiopathology* ; Acupuncture Therapy/instrumentation* ; Male ; Female ; Middle Aged ; Aged ; Acupuncture Points ; Treatment Outcome ; Adult ; Needles ; Combined Modality Therapy

AIM:To explore the role and mechanism of calcium-sensing receptor(CaSR)in regulating macro-phage polarization in hypertensive rats.METHODS:Male spontaneously hypertensive rats(SHR)and Wistar-Kyoto(WKY)rats were categorized into WKY group,SHR group,SHR+R568(CaSR agonist)group,and SHR+NPS2143(CaSR inhibitor)group.The thoracic aorta was isolated,and the expression of CaSR and macrophage polarization markers in the aorta was observed through immunofluorescence staining.The primary peritoneal macrophages of SHR and WKY rats were aseptically extracted following anesthesia.After intervention with R568 and NPS2143,the expression levels of M1 and M2 markers of peritoneal macrophages were observed by Western blot and immunofluorescence staining.The levels of interleukin(IL)-1β and IL-10 were measured by ELISA.The concentration of Ca2+in peritoneal macrophages was mea-sured by immunofluorescence.Western blot was employed to identify the expression of CaSR and nucleotide-binding oligo-merization domain-like receptor protein 3(NLRP3)inflammasome components.Following anesthesia,vascular smooth muscle cells(VSMCs)were isolated from SHR using an adherent method.Subsequently,a co-culture system was estab-lished with macrophage supernatant.The optimal action time for this co-culture system was determined through CCK-8 as-say.RESULTS:Compared with SHR group,activation of CaSR resulted in a significant decrease in the protein expres-sion of M1 polarization markers(P<0.05)and a concomitant increase in the protein expression of M2 polarization markers in the aorta(P<0.05).Compared with SHR group,administration of R568 led to a significant decrease in the protein ex-pression of M1 polarization markers(P<0.05)and a concomitant increase in the protein expression of M2 polarization markers(P<0.05)in peritoneal macrophages.Additionally,there was a notable reduction in the protein levels of NLRP3 inflammasome components(P<0.05).Furthermore,the fluorescence intensity of intracellular Ca2+was significantly en-hanced following R568 treatment(P<0.05).After administration of MCC950,an NLRP3 inflammasome inhibitor,the re-sults were consistent with those observed following R568 treatment,demonstrating statistical significance(P<0.05).This effect was reversed by the combined intervention of U73122,a phospholipase C(PLC)inhibitor(P<0.05).Compared with the control(0 h),the 24-h peritoneal macrophage supernatant exhibited the strongest capacity to enhance the viabili-ty of VSMCs after 24 h of culture(P<0.05).CONCLUSION:In hypertensive rats,the CaSR inhibits NLRP3 inflamma-some activation via the PLC-Ca2+signaling pathway,thereby mediating an increase in macrophage polarization towards the M2 phenotype and a decrease towards the M1 phenotype.

AIM:To investigate the efficacy and safety of checkpoint inhibitor lenvatinib combined with Tirelizumab in the treatment of advanced he-patocellular carcinoma(HCC).METHODS:A retro-spective analysis was performed on 52 patients with advanced HCC treated with Renvatinib,tirelli-zumab or their combination from January 2021 to December 2022 in Zhongda Hospital Affiliated to Southeast University,with disease progression,death and intolerance as endpoints.Efficacy was as-sessed according to RECIST 1.1 criteria and follow-up was conducted up to June 2023.The main end-points of the study were objective response rate(ORR),disease control rate(DCR),progression-free survival,PFS)and security.RESULTS:The combina-tion therapy significantly improved ORR and mPFS in patients compared with tirelizumab or lenvatinib monotherapy.Compared with single tirellizumab or lenvastinib,there was no significant difference in the adverse reactions associated with the combina-tion treatment,suggesting that the combination of the two was generally well tolerated and the side effects are controllable.CONCLUSION:Lonvastinib combined with tirelizumab is more effective in the treatment of HCC,can significantly prolong PFS,and is generally well tolerated,which may be a po-tential treatment for advanced HCC.

Objective:To investigate the correlation between uterine volume and intrauterine adhesion (IUA).Methods:From June 2018 to November 2019, totally 7 007 patients who underwent hysteroscopy in outpatient operating rooms of Gynecological Minimally Invasive Center, Beijing Obstetrics and Gynecology Hospital were retrospectively analyzed . Patients of reproductive age with IUA without uterine fibroids and adenomyosis were selected as IUA group, and patients of reproductive age without uterine fibroids and adenomyosis without IUA during the same period were selected as the control group. The propensity score matching (PSM) method was used to perform 1∶1 matching for the two groups of patients, matching variables included age, height, weight, body mass index (BMI), gravidity, parity, and number of abortion curettage. Whether there was any difference in uterine volume between the two groups of patients was compared, and whether uterine volume was an influencing factor of IUA was explored. The patients in IUA group were also categorized into mild, moderate and severe to explore whether uterine volume influenced the severity of IUA. Results:(1) After inclusion and exclusion criteria, 351 patients were included in IUA group and 2 986 patients in the control group. With PSM, 327 patients in IUA group and 327 patients in the control group were finally enrolled in this study. There were no statistically significant differences in age, height, weight, BMI, gravidity, parity, and number of abortion curettage between the two groups of patients after matching (all P>0.05). (2) After PSM, there was a significant difference between the uterine volume of IUA group (median: 44.23 cm 3) and the uterine volume of the control group (median: 57.20 cm 3; P<0.001). (3) Reduced uterine volume ( OR=0.961, 95% CI: 0.952-0.970) was an independent risk factor for IUA ( P<0.001). (4) Uterine volume had a significant effect on the severity of IUA ( P<0.001), the larger the uterine volume ( B=-0.030, 95% CI: -0.044 to -0.017), the less severe the IUA. Conclusions:Reduced uterine volume is an independent risk factor for IUA, and uterine volume has a significant effect on the severity of IUA. In patients with small uterine volume size, primary and secondary prevention of IUA should be emphasized.

Objective:To investigate the predictive value of uterine volume for intrauterine adhesion (IUA) caused by endometrial injury, and to provide a new perspective for the primary prevention of IUA.Methods:The clinical data of 7 007 patients of reproductive age who underwent outpatient hysteroscopy in the Gynecological Minimally Invasive Center, Beijing Obstetrics and Gynecology Hospital from June 2018 to November 2019 were retrospectively analyzed. Patients of reproductive age with IUA without uterine fibroids and adenomyosis were selected as the IUA group (351 cases), and patients of reproductive age without uterine fibroids and adenomyosis and without IUA during the same period were selected as the control group (2 986 cases). The uterine volume was compared between the two groups. Multivariate binary logistic regression analysis was used to determine whether uterine volume was an independent factor for the occurrence of IUA. Ordinal multinomial logistic regression was used to analyze the correlation between uterine volume and menstrual volume in IUA patients. Receiver operating characteristic (ROC) curve was used to analyze the predictive value of uterine volume for IUA caused by endometrial injury.Results:(1) The uterine volume of the IUA group was significantly smaller than that of the control group (median: 44.15 vs 62.59 cm 3; Z=-15.742, P<0.001). (2) Multivariate binary logistic regression analysis showed that decreased uterine volume was an independent risk factor for IUA ( OR=0.184, 95% CI: 0.139-0.245; P<0.001). (3) The area under the ROC curve of uterine volume to predict IUA was 0.756, and the optimal cut-off value of uterine volume to predict IUA was 51.49 cm 3. (4) The risk of IUA caused by endometrial injury in patients with uterine volume≤51.49 cm 3 was 4.658 times higher than that in patients with uterine volume>51.49 cm 3 (95% CI: 3.681-5.893; P<0.001). (5) The smaller the uterine volume ( β=-0.032, 95% CI:-0.046 to -0.018; P<0.001), the more likely the IUA patients were to have menorrhagia and amenorrhea. Conclusions:Uterine volume has a certain predictive value for the occurrence of IUA caused by endometrial injury. For patients with small uterine volume, it is necessary to be alert to the occurrence of IUA caused by endometrial injury and improve the awareness of primary prevention.

AIM:To investigate the efficacy and safety of checkpoint inhibitor lenvatinib combined with Tirelizumab in the treatment of advanced he-patocellular carcinoma(HCC).METHODS:A retro-spective analysis was performed on 52 patients with advanced HCC treated with Renvatinib,tirelli-zumab or their combination from January 2021 to December 2022 in Zhongda Hospital Affiliated to Southeast University,with disease progression,death and intolerance as endpoints.Efficacy was as-sessed according to RECIST 1.1 criteria and follow-up was conducted up to June 2023.The main end-points of the study were objective response rate(ORR),disease control rate(DCR),progression-free survival,PFS)and security.RESULTS:The combina-tion therapy significantly improved ORR and mPFS in patients compared with tirelizumab or lenvatinib monotherapy.Compared with single tirellizumab or lenvastinib,there was no significant difference in the adverse reactions associated with the combina-tion treatment,suggesting that the combination of the two was generally well tolerated and the side effects are controllable.CONCLUSION:Lonvastinib combined with tirelizumab is more effective in the treatment of HCC,can significantly prolong PFS,and is generally well tolerated,which may be a po-tential treatment for advanced HCC.