Int J Med Sci
-
Research on the anatomy of cerebral deep veins (CDVs) around the vein of Galen (VG) is very important and has fundamental clinical significance. Large-scale anatomical studies of CDVs using computed tomography angiography (CTA) are rarely reported. A retrospective study of the CDVs around the VG was conducted in Chinese patients of Han nationality. ⋯ The angle at the VG and SS transition area ranged from 25.4 to 110.6° (77.2 ± 18.0°). This study was a meaningful attempt to conduct anatomical research of CDVs using CTA. Preoperative familiarity with the normal venous structure and its variation around the VG would be helpful for endovascular treatment.
-
Review
A review of cutting-edge therapies for hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC): Perspectives from patents.
Rationale: Hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) is a challenging disease due to its heterogenous etiology. Several breakthroughs have occurred in treatment of HCC, associated with an enormous number of patent publications for a variety of HCC treatment modalities. As patents can provide valuable information for academic research and commercial development, this study aims to unravel the cutting-edge therapies for HCC by using patents as an indicator. ⋯ Numerous researches were focalized on refinements in technologies and innovations within the field of HCC therapy, and the major achievements are technology advancement on molecular target therapy, chemotherapy, locoregional therapy, combination therapy and immunotherapy with demonstrated clinical benefits. In patent citation network, Notch pathway investigation, antibody drug conjugate (ADC) technology development and drug eluting beads trans artery chemoembolization (DEB-TACE) advancement are the major technological communities involving patents with the greatest future exploratory potential. Conclusion: Numerous emerging technologies have been identified in this study, in which exploring novel therapeutic targets in molecular target therapy, more localized and visible locoregional therapy and combination of immunotherapy with target therapy or other traditional therapies are highlighted as the future trends in treating HCC.
-
Objective: The purpose of this study was to investigate whether routine blood tests on admission and clinical characteristics can predict prognosis in patients with traumatic brain injury (TBI) combined with extracranial trauma. Methods: Clinical data of 182 patients with TBI combined with extracranial trauma from April 2018 to December 2019 were retrospectively collected and analyzed. Based on GOSE score one month after discharge, the patients were divided into a favorable group (GOSE 1-4) and unfavorable group (GOSE 5-8). ⋯ Based on multivariate analysis, independent risk factors associated with unfavorable outcome were age (odds ratio [OR], 1.070; 95% confidence interval [CI], 1.018-1.124; p<0.01), admission Glasgow Coma Scale (GCS) score (OR, 0.807; 95% CI, 0.675-0.965; p<0.05), heart rate (OR, 1.035; 95% CI, 1.004-1.067; p<0.05), platelets count (OR, 0.982; 95% CI, 0.967-0.997; p<0.05), and tracheotomy (OR, 15.201; 95% CI, 4.121-56.078; p<0.001). Areas under the curve (AUC) of age, admission GCS, heart rate, tracheotomy, and platelets count were 0.678 (95% CI, 0.584-0.771), 0.799 (95% CI, 0.723-0.875), 0.652 (95% CI, 0.553-0.751), 0.776 (95% CI, 0.692-0.859), and 0.688 (95% CI, 0.606-0.770), respectively. Conclusions: Age, admission GCS score, heart rate, tracheotomy, and platelets count can be recognized as independent predictors of clinical prognosis in patients with severe TBI combined with extracranial trauma.
-
Objectives: A significant proportion of discharged COVID-19 patients still have some symptoms. Traditional Chinese medicine (TCM) has played an important role in the treatment of COVID-19, but whether it is helpful for discharged patients is still unknown. The aim of this study was to retrospectively analyze the impacts of TCM treatment on the convalescents of COVID-19. ⋯ Conclusions: This study suggested that TCM treatment would be beneficial for discharged COVID-19 patients. However, long-term medical observation and further study with randomized trial should be done to confirm this result. Besides, the potential molecular mechanisms of TCM treatment should be further revealed.
-
Neuromyelitis optica spectrum disorder (NMOSD) is an autoimmune neurological disease that can cause blindness and disability. As the major mediators in the central nervous system, microglia plays key roles in immunological regulation in neuroinflammatory diseases, including NMOSD. ⋯ These processes involving activated microglia ultimately promote the pathological course of NMOSD. In this review, recent research progress on the roles of microglia in NMOSD pathogenesis is summarized, and the mechanisms of microglial activation and microglial-mediated inflammation, and the potential research prospects associated with microglial activation are also discussed.