Effect of non-recommended doses versus recommended doses of direct oral anticoagulants in atrial fibrillation patients: A meta-analysis.

Background: Several observational studies have shown that the inappropriate dosing use of direct oral anticoagulants (DOACs) in atrial fibrillation (AF) that does not conform to recommendations is becoming a widespread phenomenon. Therefore, we performed a meta-analysis and systematic review to assess the effect of non-recommended doses versus recommended doses of DOACs on the effectiveness and safety outcomes among AF patients.

Methods: The PubMed and Ovid databases were systematically searched to identify the relevant studies until December 2020.

The role of non-vitamin K antagonist oral anticoagulants in Asian patients with atrial fibrillation: A PRISMA-compliant article.

Background: Given the huge burden of atrial fibrillation (AF) and AF-related stroke in Asia, stroke prevention represents an urgent issue in this region. We herein performed a network meta-analysis to examine the role of non-vitamin K antagonist oral anticoagulants (NOACs) in Asian patients with AF.

Methods: A systematic search of the publications was conducted in PubMed and Embase databases for eligible studies until July 2019.

Overexpression of MACC1 and Its significance in human Breast Cancer Progression.

Background: Metastasis-associated in colon cancer-1 (MACC1) was first identified as a transcriptional activator for proto-oncogene c-MET expression, and its overexpression is frequently associated with metastatic progression for multiply tumor types. In the present study, we analyzed for the first time the expression of MACC1 in breast cancer and its correlation with clinicopathologic features, including metastasis and patient survival.

Results: MACC1 protein expression was analyzed in two cohorts of clinicopathologically characterized breast cancer using immunohistochemistry.

Differentially expressed microRNAs at different stages of atherosclerosis in ApoE-deficient mice.

Background: Atherosclerosis is the primary cause of cardiovascular disease, carotid artery disease, and peripheral vascular disease. However, it is hard to obtain human arterial tissue at different stages of atherosclerosis for a systematic study. The ApoE-deficient (ApoE(-/-)) mice predictably develop spontaneous atherosclerotic plaques with numerous features similar to the human lesions and contain nearly the entire spectrum of lesions observed during atherogenesis in humans.

Expressions of miRNAs in papillary thyroid carcinoma and their associations with the BRAFV600E mutation.

Objective: Alterations in microRNA (miRNA) expression have been described in thyroid tumors, suggesting a role for miRNAs in thyroid carcinogenesis. BRAF(V600E) is the most frequently identified genetic alteration in papillary thyroid carcinoma (PTC). We investigated the link between BRAF(V600E) status and the expression of miRNAs in PTC and analyzed the associations of these factors with clinicopathological characteristics.

[Endovascular repair of abdominal aortic aneurysm: a clinical report of 81 cases].

Objective: To evaluate the efficacy and safety of endovascular aneurysm repair (EVAR) for abdominal aortic aneurysm (AAA), and to compare the prognosis between patients of different ages.

Methods: The hospitalization and follow-up data of 81 AAA patients treated by EVAR from May 2005 to May 2011 were retrospectively analyzed. All the patients were divided into advanced age group (age ≥ 75 years, 24 cases) and relatively young group (age < 75 years, 57 cases).

Circulating tissue factor positive microparticles in patients with acute recurrent deep venous thrombosis.

Introduction: Circulating tissue factor positive microparticles (MPTF) were reported in a wide range of diseases with thrombotic tendency. Though D-dimer assay had a high negative predictive value for deep venous thrombosis (DVT) recurrence, there are currently no reliable positive predictors for recurrent DVT. We therefore quantified MPTF in patients with acute recurrent DVT to determine whether MPTF levels could be used to predict recurrent DVT.

Abdominal aorta aneurysms in children: single-center experience of six patients.

Background: Abdominal aortic aneurysms (AAA) are rare in children and are associated with significant morbidity and mortality as in adults. We summarize our experience in the diagnosis and management of AAAs in 6 children at a single institution.

Methods: The clinical data of 6 pediatric patients with AAAs treated at our hospital from November 2005 to November 2008 were retrospectively analyzed.

Clinical analysis of vascular anomalies: a hospital-based retrospective study of 592 patients in southeast China.

Background: Vascular anomalies are common and multidisciplinary involved diseases. The greatest impediment to their treatment in the past was their confusing terminology and clinical heterogeneities. This hospital-based retrospective study assessed some clinical characteristics, diagnosis, therapies and outcomes of patients with vascular anomalies in southeast China.

Somatic mutations in exon 17 of the TEK gene in vascular tumors and vascular malformations.

Objective: As a common disease, the molecular etiology of noninherited vascular anomalies is still poorly understood. Recently, somatic mutations in exon 17 of the endothelial cell tyrosine kinase receptor Tie-2 (encoded by TEK) were identified in 49.1% of patients with common sporadic venous malformation, a subtype of vascular anomalies.

Sphingosine kinase 1 is overexpressed and promotes proliferation in human thyroid cancer.

Sphingosine kinase 1 (SphK1), an oncogenic kinase, has been previously found to be elevated in various types of human cancer and play a role in tumor development and progression. Nevertheless, the biological and clinical significance of SphK1 in thyroid cancer is largely unknown. Here, we demonstrate that the expression of SphK1 is generally up-regulated in thyroid cancer and that its expression level is correlated with the degree of thyroid malignancy.

MicroRNA-21 regulates vascular smooth muscle cell function via targeting tropomyosin 1 in arteriosclerosis obliterans of lower extremities.

Objective: The goal of this study was to determine the expression signature and the potential role of microRNAs in human arteries with arteriosclerosis obliterans (ASO).

Methods And Results: The expression profiles of microRNAs in human arteries with ASO and in normal control arteries were determined by quantitative reverse transcription-polymerase chain reaction array. Among the 617 detected microRNAs, multiple microRNAs were aberrantly expressed in arteries with ASO.

Gambogic acid induces G0/G1 cell cycle arrest and cell migration inhibition via suppressing PDGF receptor β tyrosine phosphorylation and Rac1 activity in rat aortic smooth muscle cells.

Aim: Gambogic acid (GA) is the major active compound of Gamboge, a brownish or orange resin exuded from Garcinia hanburryi tree in Southeast Asia. Previous studies have demonstrated that GA exhibits potent anticancer effects by inducing cell cycle arrest or apoptosis in many types of cancer cell lines and blocking angiogenesis via inhibition of vascular endothelial cell proliferation and migration. Proliferation and migration of vascular smooth muscle cells (VSMCs) are critical steps in the progress of atherosclerosis and restenosis after angioplasty.

[The value of regulated upon activation normal T cell expressed and secreted in the pathogenesis of varicose ulcer of lower limbs].

Objective: To study the effectiveness of RANTES in the pathogenesis of venous ulceration.

Methods: 40 Chronic venous insufficiency (CVI) individuals were enrolled in the study and separated into the ulceration group (n=20) and non-ulceration group (n=20), according to CVI with or without ulceration, 10 healthy individuals were enrolled as control group. The expression of RANTES mRNA was analyzed by reverse transcription-polymerase chain reaction (RT-PCR) in blood.

[Experience of surgical treatment of carotid body tumor after preoperative embolization of feeding vessels].

Objective: To evaluate the effect of preoperative embolization of the feeding vessels of carotid body tumor in the treatment thereof.

Methods: 33 patients with carotid body tumors not less than 3 cm in diameter were examined by color Doppler ultrasound. Polyvinyl alcohol particle 250-1000 microm in diameter were suspended in meglumine diatrizoate or Ultravist and then injected via microcatheter into the feeding vessels until detainment or reflux was seen.

Combination of stromal-derived factor-1alpha and vascular endothelial growth factor gene-modified endothelial progenitor cells is more effective for ischemic neovascularization.

Background: Recruitment and entrapment of bone marrow-derived endothelial progenitor cells (EPCs) is important in vascular endothelial growth factor (VEGF)-induced angiogenesis. EPC mobilization and differentiation are modulated by stromal-derived factor-1alpha (SDF-1alpha/CXCL12), another important chemokine. In this study, we investigated the hypothesis that SDF-1alpha and VEGF might act synergistically on EPC-mediated vasculogenesis.

[RANTES expression in venous ulceration of lower limbs].

Objective: To investigate the expression of RANTES in venous ulceration.

Methods: From patients with lower limb venous ulceration, patients with non-ulcerous venous insufficiency, and healthy individuals, peripheral blood was collected from the lower limb veins for measurement of RANTES mRNA using RT-PCR.

Results: In the ulceration group, the expression of RANTES mRNA was significantly increased as compared with the other two groups (P<0.

[A random, comparative study on endovenous laser therapy and saphenous veins stripping for the treatment of great saphenous vein incompetence].

Objective: To evaluate the therapeutic effects of endovenous laser therapy (EVLT) and saphenous veins stripping in the treatment of great saphenous vein incompetence.

Methods: Eighty cases (80 limbs) with great incompetent saphenous vein were randomly divided into 2 equal groups: EVLT group and stripping group. The patients in the EVLT group underwent EVLT and those in the stripping group underwent upper ligation and stripping of great saphenous vein.

Overexpression of macrophage migration inhibitory factor induces angiogenesis in human breast cancer.

Macrophage migration inhibitory factor (MIF) is known to be an important contributor to tumor progression. Overexpression of MIF has been reported in different types of tumors. However, the correlation between MIF expression and tumor pathologic features in patients with breast cancer has not been elucidated.

[Clinical effects of endovenous laser therapy plus transilluminated powered phlebectomy in treatment of primary varicose veins].

Objective: To evaluate the clinical and cosmetic effects of endovenous laser therapy (EVLT) plus transilluminated powered phlebectomy (TIPP) in the treatment of primary varicose veins.

Methods: The clinical effects of EVLT plus TIPP in treatment of 82 patients of primary varicose vein with 105 extremities were evaluated. The procedure-related parameters, clinical outcomes, and complications were recorded.

Role of interleukin-8 in the progression of estrogen receptor-negative breast cancer.

Background: Estrogen receptor (ER) is a very important biomarker of breast cancer. ER deletion has been consistently associated with tumor progression, recurrence, metastasis and poor prognosis, but the biological mechanism is still unclear. ER negative breast cancer expresses high levels of interleukin-8 (IL-8).

Interleukin-8 modulates growth and invasiveness of estrogen receptor-negative breast cancer cells.

Breast cancer, especially estrogen receptor (ER)-negative breast cancer, remains hard to treat despite major advances in surgery and adjuvant therapies. The deletion of ER has been consistently associated with tumor progression, recurrence, metastasis and poor prognosis. Among other differences in biological features, ER-negative breast cancers express high levels of interleukin-8 (IL-8), whereas their ER-positive counterparts do not.

[Selection of the initial surgery extent for differentiated thyroid cancer without metastasis].

Objective: To discuss the selection of the initial surgery extent for differentiated thyroid cancer (DTC) without metastasis.

Methods: The clinical data of 504 cases with DTC, who accepted the surgical treatment from Jan 1995 to Dec 2004, were analyzed and studied. There were 329 cases without metastasis.

Effect of external valvuloplasty of the deep vein in the treatment of chronic venous insufficiency of the lower extremity.

Objective: This study was conducted to verify the efficacy of external valvuloplasty of the femoral vein in the treatment of primary chronic venous insufficiency (PCVI).

Methods: Forty patients with PCVI of the bilateral lower extremities were enrolled at the time of surgical management. All 80 limbs were classified as CEAP C2 to C4, with moderate incompetence of the deep vein.