Medicine
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Observational Study
Neoadjuvant chemoradiation therapy application in radical esophagectomy surgery: Safety and feasibility: A descriptive study in Vietnam.
Esophageal cancer (EC) ranks as the 7th most prevalent form of cancer and the 6th leading cause of cancer-related mortality globally. Neoadjuvant therapy, encompassing neoadjuvant chemotherapy or chemoradiotherapy, has shown promise in reducing the staging of EC and mitigating the risk of early systemic spread. This study seeks to assess the safety and viability of implementing neoadjuvant chemoradiotherapy (nCRT) in conjunction with radical esophagectomy surgery for Vietnamese patients diagnosed with locally advanced EC. ⋯ R0 resection was achieved in 29 (96.7%) patients, with 43.4% attaining pathological complete response and 56.7% demonstrating tumor complete response. The study's outcomes emphasize the safety and feasibility of employing esophagectomy subsequent to nCRT in Vietnamese patients, as evidenced by the absence of mortality, low complication rates, and favorable surgical results. It also suggests the potential advantages of utilizing a lower daily Gy dose for enhanced safety and considering squamous cell carcinoma as a specific criterion for nCRT.
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Pneumonia is a respiratory disease with high pathogenicity and mortality. Traditional Chinese medicine (TCM) is a natural therapy that has proven effectiveness and safety. Although TCM has been found to be effective in treating pneumonia, further research is needed to determine the specific mechanism of action. ⋯ The study found that, according to network pharmacology prediction, 4 types of TCMs-natural active compounds, single herb medicine, Chinese patent medicines, and multi-component herbal formulations-were effective in treating pneumonia. TCM components demonstrated a multi-target and multi-pathway approach to treat the disease. The diversity of targets and signaling pathways not only facilitates the investigation of TCM's mechanism of action of TCM in pneumonia treatment but also offers novel insights and perspectives for innovative drug research and development.
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Review Case Reports
Imaging features of bronchogenic cyst of the stomach: A case report with literature review.
Bronchogenic cyst (BC) is a congenital disease characterized by an anomaly of the foregut in the embryonic stage. Gastric BC is exceedingly rare and has never been accurately diagnosed prior to surgery; it is often misidentified as gastric stromal tumor, with the definitive diagnosis confirmed through postoperative specimens. Although gastric BC is considered a benign lesion, its prognosis remains uncertain, underscoring the importance of accurate preoperative identification. ⋯ BC of the stomach is mostly ovate in shape with well-defined margins. The cyst wall shows prolonged enhancement and calcification may occur at the edges. The density and signal of the cyst content varied with composition. These imaging features are helpful for differentiating diagnoses from other diseases.
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Chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD) is a global health problem with high morbidity and mortality. Tai Ji and Qigong are traditional Chinese meditative movements, benefit COPD patient's physical and mental health. ⋯ Tai Ji and Qigong increase %PredFEV1 and promote QoL. However, the evidences are not sufficient, a proper subgroup analysis should be considered.
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Tumor-associated macrophages (TAMs) are present in and are important components of the tumor microenvironment (TME). TAMs differentiate into 2 functionally distinct morphologies, classically activated (M1)-type TAMs and alternatively activated (M2)-type TAMs, when stimulated by different cytokines. The 2 types of TAMs exhibit distinct properties and functions. ⋯ However, the intracellular signaling pathways involved in the polarization of TAMs are poorly understood. The AKT signaling pathway is an important signaling pathway involved in the polarization, growth, proliferation, recruitment, and apoptosis of TAMs, as well as the action of TAMs on other cells within the TME. This paper reviews the AKT signaling pathway in the polarization of TAMs and the regulation of the TME and provides new ideas for tumor immunotherapy.