Medicine
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Currently no research is available on muscle and functional performance of chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD) patients with type 2 diabetes (T2DM) in China, even though both diseases have been reported to damage motor function. This single-center prospective study involves 55 males with COPD and T2DM and 46 males with COPD. Lung function, muscle strength and endurance of the upper limbs, and quadriceps strength of both legs were assessed using instruments. ⋯ Mean 6MW distances of COPD patients with T2DM were significantly worse (P < .05), and mean pulse rate (PR) increments of COPD patients with T2DM in 6MW test were significantly higher (P < .05). The combination of COPD and T2DM not only brings one more chronic disease to elderly patients but also significantly affects muscle strength and endurance as well as physical performance. Accordingly, in the management of chronic diseases, we recommend that clinicians as well as patients themselves actively control blood sugar and review them regularly with a view to reducing adverse effects on physical performance.
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Cancer-associated fibroblasts (CAFs) have been attracting attention in recent years, but their nature has not been fully elucidated. Although CAFs have been recognized as an important therapeutic target, therapeutic agents have not been developed to date. CAFs are characterized by their high migration rate and involvement in epithelial-to-mesenchymal transition with some displaying a dendritic morphology that is reminiscent of fascin expression. ⋯ In addition, the proportion of tumor cells showing fascin-positive staining was found to correlate with its expression in CAFs (P < .05). We propose that CAFs express fascin, and that fascin may mediate crosstalk between cancer tissue and CAFs. Fascin might be a novel therapeutic target for treatments that target the cancer stroma.
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This study aimed to assess the efficacy and safety of minimally invasive percutaneous nephrolithotomy (MPCNL) versus standard percutaneous nephrolithotomy in patients with renal and upper ureteric stones. ⋯ This pooled analysis indicated that MPCNL was a safe and effective method for treating renal stones compared with standard percutaneous nephrolithotomy. Besides, the vacuum suction effect in MPCNL played a more important role. When it comes to multiple or staghorn stones, the longer operative time in MPCNL could not be ignored.
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To investigate the clinical and pathological characteristics in patients with pulmonary inflammatory pseudotumors (PIP). This retrospective study included 31 patients with PIP from 2001 to 2019. Preoperative computed tomography scan was performed in all patients. ⋯ Preoperative diagnosis is difficult to reach. The final diagnosis still depends on the pathological and immunohistochemical examination. Complete surgical resection is the main treatment at present, and the overall prognosis is good.
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In this single-center retrospective study, we intended to evaluate the frequencies and characteristics of computed tomography findings of pancreatobiliary inflammation (PBI) in patients treated with lenvatinib and the relationship of these findings with treatment-planning changes. We included 78 patients (mean ± standard deviation, 69.8 ± 9.4 years, range: 39-84 years, 62 men) with hepatocellular carcinoma (n = 62) or thyroid carcinoma (n = 16) who received lenvatinib (June 2016-September 2020). Two radiologists interpreted the posttreatment computed tomography images and assessed the radiological findings of PBI (symptomatic pancreatitis, cholecystitis, or cholangitis). ⋯ Lenvatinib-induced PBI developed in 11.5% of patients, leading to a significantly shorter treatment duration. Approximately 55.6% of the PBI cases were acalculous. The recognition of this phenomenon would aid physicians during treatment planning in the future.