Medicine
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The application of transarterial chemoembolization (TACE) in combination with targeted therapy and immunotherapy (TACE-T-I) for unresectable hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) has gained increasing attention. However, there are variations in the efficacy and safety outcomes between TACE-T-I versus TACE combined with targeted drugs (TACE-T). This study aims to systematically evaluate the efficacy and safety of TACE-T-I versus TACE-T in unresectable HCC. ⋯ Current evidence suggests that, on the basis of TACE combined with targeted therapy, the addition of immunotherapy provides better clinical efficacy and survival benefits for unresectable HCC patients, with good tolerability.
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This systematic review and meta-analysis aimed to report the evaluation of the prevalence and risk of nonalcoholic fatty liver disease (NAFLD) among adult psoriatic patients in a systematic review and meta-analysis. ⋯ The study found a significant link between psoriasis and NAFLD, with psoriatic patients having a higher chance of developing NAFLD compared to the controls. The study calls for regular NAFLD screening in psoriatic patients to prevent liver complications.
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Dementia is a major public health challenge for aging societies worldwide. Neuroinflammation is thought to be a key factor in dementia development. The aim of this study was to comprehensively assess translocator protein (TSPO) expression by positron emission tomography (PET) imaging to reveal the characteristics of neuroinflammation in dementia. ⋯ This study summarizes the existing literature on TSPO expression in specific regions of the brain in patients with dementia, and also provides some preliminary evidence on the possible association between neuroinflammation and dementia. However, the heterogeneity of results and limitations of the study suggest that we need to interpret these findings with caution. Future studies need to adopt a more rigorous and consistent methodological design to more accurately assess the role of neuroinflammation in dementia, thereby providing a more reliable evidence base for understanding pathological mechanisms and developing potential therapeutic strategies.
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β-Thalassemia is the world's number 1 single-gene genetic disorder and is characterized by suppressed or impaired production of β-pearl protein chains. This results in intramedullary destruction and premature lysis of red blood cells in peripheral blood. Among them, patients with transfusion-dependent β-thalassemia face the problem of long-term transfusion and iron chelation therapy, which leads to clinical complications and great economic stress. ⋯ In addition, we focus on gene therapy and gene editing advances. Nucleic acid endonuclease tools currently available for gene editing fall into 3 categories: zinc finger nucleases, transcription activator-like effector nucleases, and regularly interspaced short palindromic repeats (CRISPR-Cas9) nucleases. This paper reviews the exploratory applications and exploration of emerging therapeutic tools based on 3 classes of nucleic acid endonucleases in the treatment of β-thalassemia diseases.
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Benign thyroid nodules (BTNs) represent a prevalent clinical challenge globally, with various ultrasound-guided ablation techniques developed for their management. Despite the availability of these methods, a comprehensive evaluation to identify the most effective technique remains absent. This study endeavors to bridge this knowledge gap through a network meta-analysis (NMA), aiming to enhance the understanding of the comparative effectiveness of different ultrasound-guided ablation methods in treating BTNs. ⋯ Various ablation methods are effective in treating BTNs, with RFA showing notable advantages. RFA with 2 sessions is particularly optimal for solid BTNs, while polidocanol ablation stands out for cystic nodules.