Efficacy of acupuncture for functional constipation in elderly: a systematic review and meta-analysis.

Background: Numerous clinical studies have shown that patients suffering from functional constipation can benefit by combining medication with acupuncture. There have been no published reviews or meta-analyses regarding the use of acupuncture in treating functional constipation in older adults. Therefore, we carried out a meta-analysis to assess the impact of acupuncture on elderly patients dealing with functional constipation.

Myofibroblast-derived extracellular vesicles facilitate cancer stemness of hepatocellular carcinoma via transferring ITGA5 to tumor cells.

Background: Myofibroblasts constitute a significant component of the tumor microenvironment (TME) and play a pivotal role in the progression of hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC). Integrin α5 (ITGA5) is a crucial regulator in myofibroblasts of malignant tumors. Therefore, the potential of ITGA5 as a novel target for the therapeutic strategy of HCC should be investigated.

Preoperative identification from occult leiomyosarcomas in laparoscopic hysterectomy and laparoscopic myomectomy: accuracy of the ultrasound scoring system (PRESS-US).

Purpose: To assess the diagnostic performance and inter-observer agreement of a PREoperative sarcoma scoring based on ultrasound (PRESS-US) in differentiating uterine leiomyosarcoma (uLMS) from leiomyoma (LM).

Methods: We conducted a retrospective evaluation of patients who underwent surgery and received standardized ultrasound examinations due to the presence of uterine myoma-like masses. Histological diagnosis was used as the reference standard.

The antitumor action of endocannabinoids in the tumor microenvironment of glioblastoma.

Approximately 80% of all malignant brain tumors are gliomas, which are primary brain tumors. The most prevalent subtype of glioma, glioblastoma multiforme (GBM), is also the most deadly. Chemotherapy, immunotherapy, surgery, and conventional pharmacotherapy are currently available therapeutic options for GBM; unfortunately, these approaches only prolong the patient's life by 5 years at most.

Refining postoperative monitoring of recurrent laryngeal nerve injury in esophagectomy patients through transcutaneous laryngeal ultrasonography.

Background: Recurrent laryngeal nerve injury (RLNI) leading to vocal cord paralysis (VCP) is a significant complication following minimally invasive esophagectomy (MIE) with upper mediastinal lymphadenectomy. Transcutaneous laryngeal ultrasonography (TLUSG) has emerged as a non-invasive alternative to endoscopic examination for evaluating vocal cord function. Our study aimed to assess the diagnostic value of TLUSG in detecting RLNI by evaluating vocal cord movement after MIE.

Potential diagnostic value of quantitative superb microvascular imaging in premalignant and malignant cervical lesions.

Objective: The purpose of this study was to assess the diagnostic efficacy of the vascular index (VI) on superb microvascular imaging (SMI) in distinguishing normal uterine cervical epithelium, high-grade cervical intraepithelial neoplasia (CIN), and cervical cancer.

Methods: The retrospective study included women with pathology-confirmed CIN or cervical cancer, who underwent transvaginal ultrasound and SMI between April 2021 and October 2022. The SIM manifestations of normal cervix and cervical lesions were reviewed.

Value of transrectal ultrasound-guided biopsy in endoscopy negative biopsy patients with rectal lesions.

Objective: To evaluate the value of transrectal ultrasound (TRUS) guided biopsy in endoscopy negative biopsy patients with rectal lesions.

Methods: 150 endoscopy negative biopsy result rectal lesions adopted the transrectal ultrasound-guided biopsy. Based on whether the patients received contrast-enhanced ultrasound examination or not before the biopsies, all enrolled cases were divided into TRUS guided group and contrast-enhanced TRUS (CE-TRUS) guided group, and the safety and diagnostic performances were analyzed retrospectively.