Community-based smart healthcare initiative reduces carotid intima-media thickness and thrombotic markers in patients with hypertension: A prospective study.

Objective: Unhealthy lifestyles negatively impact the prognosis and outcomes of cardiovascular disease. The objective of this study is to examine the effects of smart healthcare technology in assisting physicians with monitoring and improving patient lifestyles, as well as adjusting treatment plans on carotid intima-media thickness (IMT) and thrombotic markers during the therapeutic management of hypertension. Furthermore, we compared the efficacy of smart healthcare interventions with conventional hospital-based follow-up in ameliorating cardiovascular complications in patients with established hypertension.

Primary Hepatic Neuroendocrine Tumor Mimicking Ruptured Hepatocellular Carcinoma with AFP Elevation: A Case Report and Literature Review.

Liver cancer is a common malignant disease in China, while the primary hepatic neuroendocrine tumor (PHNET) is extremely rare presented with various manifestations. We herein describe an interesting PHNET case, which was clinically diagnosed as hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) based on strong clinical evidence and the national guideline, but confirmed to be PHNET by pathology. A42-year-old Chinese male was admitted for persistent upper abdominal pain, and CT scan revealed a huge liver tumor in the left lobe.

Combination of transarterial chemoembolization and sorafenib improves outcomes of unresectable hepatocellular carcinoma: an updated systematic review and meta-analysis.

Background: The effectiveness of combination therapy of transarterial chemoembolization and sorafenib for unresectable hepatocellular carcinoma are controversial in some studies. This meta-analysis aims to compare efficacy and safety, as well as regional disparities, between transarterial chemoembolization plus sorafenib and transarterial chemotherapy alone for hepatocellular carcinoma.

Methods: We systematically searched multiple databases to select eligible studies.

Water exchange versus air insufflation for colonoscopy: A meta-analysis.

Background/aims: To compare water exchange (WE) method with conventional air insufflation (AI) method for colonoscopy, evaluating the technical quality, screening efficacy, and patients' acceptance.

Materials And Methods: Electronic databases were systematically searched for randomized controlled trials comparing WE colonoscopy with AI colonoscopy. The pooled data of procedure-associated and patient-related outcomes were assessed, using the weighted mean difference (WMD) with 95% confidence interval (CI) for continuous variables and relative risk (RR) with 95% CI for dichotomous variables, respectively.

Thiazolidinediones and risk of colorectal cancer in patients with diabetes mellitus: A meta-analysis.

Background/aims: A growing body of evidence has suggested that thiazolidinediones (TZDs) potentially reduce the risk of colorectal cancer (CRC). This study aimed to evaluate the effect of TZDs on CRC risk in patients with diabetes mellitus (DM).

Patients And Methods: A systematic search of electronic databases was performed for studies evaluating the exposure to TZDs and reporting CRC risk in diabetic patients.

Endoscopic papillary large balloon dilation vs endoscopic sphincterotomy for retrieval of common bile duct stones: a meta-analysis.

Aim: To compare the efficacy and safety of endoscopic papillary large balloon dilation (EPLBD) with endoscopic sphincterotomy (EST) in retrieval of common bile duct stones (≥ 10 mm).

Methods: PubMed, Web of Knowledge, EBSCO, the Cochrane Library, and EMBASE were searched for eligible studies. Randomized controlled trials (RCTs) that compared EPLBD with EST were identified.