Arthrospira Enhances Seroclearance in Patients with Chronic Hepatitis B Receiving Nucleos(t)ide Analogue through Modulation of TNF-α/IFN-γ Profile.

Chronic hepatitis B (CHB) virus infection, causing immune dysfunction and chronic hepatitis, is one of the leading risk factors for hepatocellular cancer. We investigated how Arthrospira affected hepatitis B surface antigen (HBsAg) reduction in CHB patients under continued nucleos(t)ide analogues (NA). Sixty CHB patients who had been receiving NA for at least one year with undetectable HBV DNA were randomized into three groups: control and oral Arthrospira at 3 or 6 g daily add-on therapy groups.

Combination of radiofrequency ablation and percutaneous ethanol injection versus radiofrequency ablation alone for hepatocellular carcinoma: a systematic review and meta-analysis.

Introduction: Radiofrequency ablation and percutaneous ethanol injection are important treatment modalities for hepatocellular carcinoma patients; Whether a combination treatment yields, additional benefit still remains controversial.

Methods: A systematic review and meta-analysis was concluded. Randomized controlled trials published before January 1, 2022, from PubMed, EMBASE, Scopus, and CNKI were searched.

A Fast Two-Stage Bilateral Filter Using Constant Time (1) Histogram Generation.

Bilateral Filtering (BF) is an effective edge-preserving smoothing technique in image processing. However, an inherent problem of BF for image denoising is that it is challenging to differentiate image noise and details with the range kernel, thus often preserving both noise and edges in denoising. This letter proposes a novel Dual-Histogram BF (DHBF) method that exploits an edge-preserving noise-reduced guidance image to compute the range kernel, removing isolated noisy pixels for better denoising results.

Percutaneous endoscopic gastrostomy prior to esophagectomy for esophageal cancer - a systematic review and meta-analysis.

Background: For resectable esophageal cancer (EC), it remains controversial whether to place percutaneous endoscopic gastrostomy (PEG) before the curative surgery to provide nutritional support during the neoadjuvant therapy.

Objective: To compare surgical outcomes for patients who received preoperative PEG and those without PEG placement (No-PEG) insertion prior to surgery in a potentially operable EC.

Methods: A comprehensive literature search was conducted to identify randomized and non-randomized studies comparing PEG and No-PEG groups.

Efficacy of Scalp Acupuncture in Patients With Post-stroke Hemiparesis: Meta-Analysis of Randomized Controlled Trials.

To conduct a meta-analysis to assess the efficacy of scalp acupuncture (SA) in patients with stroke and consequent hemiparesis regardless of brain infarction or intracerebral hemorrhage. A literature search of randomized controlled trials (RCTs) on SA for stroke was performed in five databases up to May 10, 2021. We investigated three types of outcome: motor function, sequelae of poststroke hemiparesis, and adverse effects.

Anterior scalene plane block at the superior trunk level relieves referred shoulder pain after liver radiofrequency ablation: a technical report.

We report the first case of using an anterior scalene plane block at the superior trunk level achieving phrenic nerve blockade to treat intolerable referred shoulder pain after liver Radiofrequency Ablation (RFA) of a diaphragm-abutting liver tumor despite prevention with a full-dose non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drug. The anterior scalene plane block rapidly alleviated pain without significant complications.

Fucoidan and Fucoxanthin Attenuate Hepatic Steatosis and Inflammation of NAFLD through Modulation of Leptin/Adiponectin Axis.

Non-alcoholic fatty liver disease (NAFLD) is the emerging cause of chronic liver disease globally and lack of approved therapies. Here, we investigated the feasibility of combinatorial effects of low molecular weight fucoidan and high stability fucoxanthin (LMF-HSFx) as a therapeutic approach against NAFLD. We evaluated the inhibitory effects of LMF-HSFx or placebo in 42 NAFLD patients for 24 weeks and related mechanism in high fat diet (HFD) mice model and HepaRG cell line.

Efficacy and safety of traction-assisted endoscopic submucosal dissection: a meta-regression of randomized clinical trials.

Background: Endoscopic submucosal dissection (ESD) is widely used to treat gastrointestinal lesions. A traction-assisted (TA) strategy has been recently developed for ESD. In this study, we evaluated the safety and efficacy of TA-ESD compared with conventional ESD (C-ESD).

Effectiveness of stereotactic ablative radiotherapy in patients with advanced hepatocellular carcinoma unsuitable for transarterial chemoembolization.

Background: Stereotactic ablative radiotherapy (SABR) can deliver tumoricidal doses and achieve long-term control in early hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC). However, limited studies have investigated the safety and effectiveness of SABR in patients with advanced diseases that is unsuitable for transarterial chemoembolization (TACE).

Methods: In this observational study, we reviewed the medical records of patients with Barcelona Clinic Liver Cancer (BCLC) stage C disease treated with linear accelerator-based SABR between 2008 and 2016.

How does lesion size affect the pooled effect of traction-assisted endoscopic submucosal dissection on procedure time? A meta-regression.

The purpose of this letter was to explore how lesion size affects the pooled effect of traction-assisted endoscopic submucosal dissection on procedure time. Our meta-regression showed that lesion size negatively associated with the effect of traction-assisted endoscopic submucosal dissection on procedure time (estimate point = - 1.02; 95% confidence interval, from - 1.

Efficacy and safety of femoral nerve block for the positioning of femur fracture patients before a spinal block - A systematic review and meta-analysis.

Background: The evidence supporting the benefit of femoral nerve block (FNB) for positioning before spinal anesthesia (SA) in patients suffering from a femur fracture remains inconclusive. In the present study, the authors intended to determine the efficacy and safety of FNB versus an intravenous analgesic (IVA) for positioning before SA in patients with a femur fracture.

Method: PubMed, EMBASE, Cochrane, and Scopus databases were searched up to January 2018.

Systematic review with meta-analysis: risk of post-operative complications associated with pre-operative exposure to anti-tumour necrosis factor agents for Crohn's disease.

Background: Post-operative complications after anti-tumour necrosis agent treatment for Crohn's disease (CD) have been analysed with conflicting results.

Aim: To assess the effects of pre-operative anti-tumour necrosis factor (TNF) therapy on post-operative complications within 30 days post-operatively in patients with CD undergoing abdominal surgery.

Methods: Systematic review with meta-analysis was performed on articles found in MEDLINE, Embase, Cochrane Library, Scopus, and the International Clinical Trials Registry Platform until September 2018.

Fascia iliaca compartment block versus intravenous analgesic for positioning of femur fracture patients before a spinal block: A PRISMA-compliant meta-analysis.

Background: Fascia iliaca compartment block (FICB) provides an analgesic option for positioning before spinal anesthesia in patients suffering from a femur fracture. The evidence supporting FICB is still not well established. The aim of our study is to assess the efficacy and safety of FICB comparing with intravenous analgesic (IVA) on the quality for positioning before spinal anesthesia in participants with a femur fracture.

Double filtration plasmapheresis in treatment of acute pancreatitis associated with severe hypertriglyceridemia: Three case reports.

Rationale: Severe hypertriglyceridemia is the 3rd-leading cause of acute pancreatitis. Current treatment option for hypertriglyceridemia associated with acute pancreatitis is mainly supportive measures, including adequate fluid supply, pain management, and broad-spectrum antibiotics if necessary. Extracorporeal method by mean of plasmapheresis is effective in reducing serum level of triglyceride.

Medical Treatment for Epistaxis in Hereditary Hemorrhagic Telangiectasia: A Meta-analysis.

Objectives: The aim of this study (PROSPERO ID: CRD42017081952) was to evaluate medical treatment for epistaxis from hereditary hemorrhagic telangiectasia (HHT).

Data Sources: PubMed, Embase, Scopus, and Cochrane Library databases were interrogated from their inceptions to November 2017.

Review Methods: Randomized clinical trials comparing medical treatment with placebo for epistaxis of HHT were included.

Silodosin versus tamsulosin for medical expulsive treatment of ureteral stones: A systematic review and meta-analysis.

Silodosin, a recently introduced selective α-blocker, has a much higher selectivity for the α-1A receptor. The efficacy and safety of silodosin compared to tamsulosin in medical expulsive therapy (MET) are controversial. The objective of this study was to assess the efficacy and safety of silodosin compared to tamsulosin for treating ureteral stones <10 mm in diameter.

Using a Macroporous Silver Shell to Coat Sulfonic Acid Group-Functionalized Silica Spheres and Their Applications in Catalysis and Surface-Enhanced Raman Scattering.

In this paper, novel organic sulfonic acid group-functionalized silica spheres (SiO2-SO3H) were chosen as a template for fabricating core-shell SiO2-SO3H@Ag composite spheres by the seed-mediated growth method. The SiO2-SO3H spheres could be obtained easily by oxidation of the thiol group-terminated silica spheres (SiO2-SH) with H2O2. Due to the presence of sulfonic acid groups, the [Ag(NH3)2](+) ions were captured on the surface of the silica spheres, followed by in-site reduction to silver nanoseeds for further growth of the silver shell.