USMB-shMincle: a virus-free gene therapy for blocking M1/M2 polarization of tumor-associated macrophages.

Mincle is essential for tumor-associated macrophage (TAM)-driven cancer progression and represents a potential immunotherapeutic target for cancer. Nevertheless, the lack of a specific inhibitor has largely limited its clinical translation. Here, we successfully developed a gene therapeutic strategy for silencing Mincle in a virus-free and tumor-specific manner by combining RNA interference technology with an ultrasound-microbubble-mediated gene transfer system (USMB).

AANG: A natural compound formula for overcoming multidrug resistance via synergistic rebalancing the TGF-β/Smad signalling in hepatocellular carcinoma.

Cancer cells are high in heterogeneity and versatility, which can easily adapt to the external stresses via both primary and secondary resistance. Targeting of tumour microenvironment (TME) is a new approach and an ideal therapeutic strategy especially for the multidrug resistant cancer. Recently, we invented AANG, a natural compound formula containing traditional Chinese medicine (TCM) derived Smad3 inhibitor Naringenin (NG) and Smad7 activator Asiatic Acid (AA), for rebalancing TGF-β/Smad signalling in the TME, and its implication on the multidrug resistance is still unexplored.

Urgent care peripheral nerve blocks for refractory trigeminal neuralgia.

Objective: After medication failure, patients with refractory trigeminal neuralgia (TGN) often present urgently and seek more potent or invasive therapies such as opioids or surgical options. Peripheral nerve blocks, safe and simple, may offer extended pain relief prior to opioid use or more invasive ganglion level procedures.

Methods: We report a retrospective case-series (urgent care, at a large urban medical center, over a 2 year period) of nine patients with intractable primary TGN who underwent peripheral trigeminal nerve blocks after failing conservative medical therapy.

Acute Versus Delayed Magnetic Resonance Imaging and Associated Abnormalities in Traumatic Anterior Shoulder Dislocations.

Background: The delayed management of patients with shoulder instability may increase the prevalence and severity of concomitant intra-articular shoulder injuries resulting from persistent subluxations and dislocations.

Hypothesis: Patients with a longer delay from the initial dislocation event to undergoing magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) or magnetic resonance arthrography will demonstrate more subluxations or dislocations and a greater amount of intra-articular shoulder damage.

Study Design: Cohort study; Level of evidence, 3.

Management of complications after reverse shoulder arthroplasty.

Reverse total shoulder arthroplasty (RTSA) has become the treatment of choice for patients with rotator cuff arthropathy. Complication rate after RTSA has been reported to be three to five times that of conventional total shoulder arthroplasty. Intraoperative and postoperative complications include neurological injury, infection, dislocation or instability, acromial or scapular spine fracture, hematoma, and scapular notching.