Medicine
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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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Review Case Reports
Organized chronic subdural hematoma with cognitive impairment: A case report and literature review.
Organic chronic subdural hematoma is extremely rare in clinical practice, with unclear etiology and pathogenesis. Its clinical manifestations and treatment approaches are diverse, making diagnosis challenging and prone to misdiagnosis or mistreatment, adversely affecting patient care and quality of life. ⋯ Patients with mild or no significant symptoms, such as headaches and dizziness, are advised to undergo regular imaging follow-ups. Surgical intervention is recommended for patients presenting with intracranial hypertension and neurological impairment, with bone flap craniotomy and lesion resection under microscopic guidance being the preferred approach. It is imperative to conduct regular postoperative monitoring to promptly detect potential complications, such as hematoma recurrence.
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Review Case Reports
Traditional Chinese medicine for premature ventricular contraction caused by obstructive sleep apnea: A case report and literature review.
Premature ventricular contraction (PVC) is a common type of arrhythmia, and obstructive sleep apnea (OSA) is a common trigger for this condition. Some patients still have PVC, even if ventilation is improved by wearing a respirator. Traditional Chinese medicine (TCM) has a long history of arrhythmia treatment, and this is the first report of a patient with PVC caused by OSA treated with TCM. Twenty-four-hour Holter showed that the number of PVCs decreased from 8968 to 0 before and after TCM treatment, and discomfort symptoms disappeared completely. ⋯ After treatment with TCM, the patient's palpitations disappeared completely and snoring improved, which proved that TCM can treat PVC caused by OSA. To verify this conclusion, more high-quality research is necessary to establish the efficacy and underlying mechanisms of TCM in treating PVC caused by OSA.
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Review Case Reports
Beating the odds: Rare prolonged survival of truncus arteriosus: A case report with literature review.
Truncus arteriosus is a cyanotic congenital heart disease in which the great vessels of the heart fail to separate in utero. Consequently, a single truncal vessel arises from the heart to supply the systemic, coronary, and pulmonary circulations. This lesion causes the total mixing of oxygenated and deoxygenated blood, with an early onset of pulmonary vascular disease. Patients rarely survive beyond the first year of life. This case report highlights a rare survival without intervention up to the ninth year of life. ⋯ Truncus arteriosus is a critical congenital heart defect that has a high potential for morbidity and mortality within the first year of life. It requires immediate intervention and surgical repair in the immediate neonatal period. In rare cases, patients have been able to survive beyond the first year, especially if they also developed pulmonary stenosis. However, this patient had been a survivor for 9 years without another structural anomaly. Given the unique presentation and its rarity, further research is needed into compensatory mechanisms and possible low-cost and accessible alternatives in resource-constrained settings. It also demonstrates that pharmacologic therapy alone is insufficient to prevent mortality.
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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.