Journal of the Chinese Medical Association : JCMA
-
Hypopharyngeal squamous cell carcinoma (HPSCC) has the poorest prognosis among head and neck cancers. Its treatment may significantly affect breathing, speaking, and swallowing. Induction chemotherapy (ICT) followed by transoral laser microsurgery (TLM) could reduce these adverse effects and achieve good outcomes. ⋯ ICT followed by TLM is an appropriate treatment for good tumor control in select patients with advanced HPSCC while preserving laryngeal function.
-
Locally advanced rectal tumors are typically treated with neoadjuvant chemoradiotherapy. Short-course chemoradiotherapy (SCRT, 2500 cGy in five fractions) is a convenient alternative to concurrent chemoradiotherapy with long-course radiotherapy (CCRT, 4500 cGy in 25 fractions) without sacrificing efficacy. We aimed to compare the short-term outcomes of SCRT and CCRT in patients with mid- and low- rectal tumors who underwent total mesorectal excision using real-world data. ⋯ Among patients with locally advanced rectal cancer, SCRT combined with four cycles of FOLFOX was shown to enhance short-term disease-free survival. Factors impacting recurrence include the initial CEA level and SCRT, but not the harvested lymph node count.
-
Orthoses play an important role in the conservative treatment of hallux valgus (HV) with different therapeutic effects. In this study, a new HV orthosis was developed using three-dimensional (3D) printing technology. In addition, its kinematic effect was evaluated using motion analysis. ⋯ The results of our study confirm the potential of the 3D-printed HV orthosis in the static and dynamic correction of deformities while ensuring patient comfort with minimal impact on hallux kinematics, suggesting the potential of our design for long-term use.
-
Diabetic retinopathy (DR) is one of the most well-known microvascular complications of diabetes mellitus. As a traditional Chinese medicine, Huangqi (HQ), has been used for treating DR for a long time. However, its anti-DR active ingredients and mechanism are still unknown. Therefore, we designed this study to explore the active components and mechanism of HQ against DR via network pharmacology analysis. ⋯ This study preliminarily unveiled that the therapeutic efficacy of HQ against DR might be attributed to the reduced expression of CCL2, IL-6, VEGFA, and PTGS2.
-
As modern societies witness a shift from home deaths to hospital deaths, the compromise practice of impending death discharge (IDD) in response to Chinese traditions and changing times deserves further exploration. ⋯ This study investigates factors associated with IDD, informing healthcare professionals on end-of-life care in Chinese culture. Future qualitative or prospective research can offer deeper insights into family dynamics, patient preferences, and other unmeasured factors influencing IDD utilization.