Case report: Successful and effective percutaneous closure of a deep femoral artery pseudoaneurysm using proglide device

A 61-year-old man developed severe swelling in the left lower extremity after interventional embolization of liver tumor. Ultrasound examination showed a pseudoaneurysm and thrombosis in the upper thigh on the left. To recognize the causes and determine the effective therapy, lower extremity arteriography was performed. The results revealed a pseudoaneurysm arised from deep femoral artery. Considering of the size of cavity and symptoms of patient, a new method was tried instead of traditional treatment using PROGLIDE device. Postoperative angiography showed a powerful blocking effect. This case study provide us a specific treatment for pseudoaneurysm, and this method provide us a new therapeutic strategy in clinical practice

Long-Noncoding RNA Colorectal Neoplasia Differentially Expressed Gene as a Potential Target to Upregulate the Expression of IRX5 by miR-136-5P to Promote Oncogenic Properties in Hepatocellular Carcinoma

Background/Aims: The long-noncoding RNA colorectal neoplasia differentially expressed (CRNDE) gene was first found to be activated in colorectal neoplasia. Now, it also has been found to be upregulated in many other solid tumors. Whether CRNDE affects tumorigenesis remains unknown. Methods: We conducted bioinformatics, real-time polymerase chain reaction (PCR), Western blot analysis, cell proliferation assay, colony formation assay, wound healing assay, cell migration and invasion assays, RNA immunoprecipitation, and reporter vector construction and luciferase assays. Results: CRNDE was upregulated in hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC). The overexpression of CRNDE promoted HCC cellular proliferation, migration, and invasion in intro and in vivo, and acted as an oncogene in HCC progression. Furthermore, CRNDE impaired miR-136-5P expression in a RISC manner, and a reciprocal repression feedback loop was possible between CRNDE and miR-136-5P. We found that the neighboring mRNA of CRNDE was IRX5, and IRX5 increased the tumorigenicity of HCC cells. IRX5 was a potential downstream target gene of miR-136-5P. MiR-136 regulated IRX5 by interacting with its 3’UTR. In addition, miR-136-5P was involved in the CRNDE-regulated expression of IRX5. Conclusion: CRNDE acted as a tumor oncogene by exhibiting oncogenic properties of human HCC and revealed a novel CRNDE-miR-136-5P-IRX5 regulatory network in HCC. CRNDE may be considered to be a potential target for HCC therapies based on its ability to upregulate IRX5, and it deserves further investigation

An Open Invitation to Join the International Brugada Electrocardiographic Indices Registry

Background: The Brugada Electrocardiographic Indices Registry is a comprehensive data registry composed of patients with Brugada patterns on the electrocardiogram (ECG). The aim is to test the hypotheses that (i) ECG indices combining both depolarization and repolarization abnormalities can better predict spontaneous ventricular arrhythmias than existing ECG markers in Brugada syndrome and (ii) that serial ECG measurements will provide additional information for risk stratification, especially in asymptomatic patients. Methods: Patients with both Brugada pattern ECGs and Brugada syndrome are eligible for inclusion in this registry. Baseline characteristics and ECG variables reflecting depolarization and repolarization will be determined. The primary outcome is spontaneous ventricular tachycardia/ventricular fibrillation or sudden cardiac death. Secondary outcomes are inducible ventricular tachycardia/ventricular fibrillation and syncope. Results: As of November 15, 2019, 39 investigators from 32 cities in 18 countries had joined this registry. As of December 15, 2019, 1383 cases had been enrolled. Conclusions: The Brugada Electrocardiographic Indices Registry will evaluate the disease life course, risk factors, and prognosis in a large series of Brugada patients. It will therefore provide insights for improving risk stratification

Clinical Significance of PTEN Deletion, Mutation, and Loss of PTEN Expression in De Novo Diffuse Large B-Cell Lymphoma

PTEN loss has been associated with poorer prognosis in many solid tumors. However, such investigation in lymphomas is limited. In this study, PTEN cytoplasmic and nuclear expression, PTEN gene deletion, and PTEN mutations were evaluated in two independent cohorts of diffuse large B-cell lymphoma (DLBCL). Cytoplasmic PTEN expression was found in approximately 67% of total 747 DLBCL cases, more frequently in the activated B-cell-like subtype. Nuclear PTEN expression was less frequent and at lower levels, which significantly correlated with higher PTEN mRNA expression. Remarkably, loss of PTEN protein expression was associated with poorer survival only in DLBCL with AKT hyperactivation. In contrast, high PTEN expression was associated with Myc expression and poorer survival in cases without abnormal AKT activation. Genetic and epigenetic mechanisms for loss of PTEN expression were investigated. PTEN deletions (mostly heterozygous) were detected in 11.3% of DLBCL, and showed opposite prognostic effects in patients with AKT hyperactivation and in MYC rearranged DLBCL patients. PTEN mutations, detected in 10.6% of patients, were associated with upregulation of genes involved in central nervous system function, metabolism, and AKT/mTOR signaling regulation. Loss of PTEN cytoplasmic expression was also associated with TP53 mutations, higher PTEN-targeting microRNA expression, and lower PD-L1 expression. Remarkably, low PTEN mRNA expression was associated with down-regulation of a group of genes involved in immune responses and B-cell development/differentiation, and poorer survival in DLBCL independent of AKT activation. Collectively, multi-levels of PTEN abnormalities and dysregulation may play important roles in PTEN expression and loss, and that loss of PTEN tumor-suppressor function contributes to the poor survival of DLBCL patients with AKT hyperactivation

Growth Trends and Heterogeneity of Total Factor Productivity in Nine Pan-PRD Provinces in China

As a national regional development strategy and a vital region of the Belt and Road Initiative, the sustainable development of the Pan-Pearl River Delta (Pan-PRD) region is of great importance. The national development plan emphasizes improving total factor productivity (TFP) and promoting high-quality economic development. This paper uses the DEA-Malmquist index model to measure the TFP of nine provinces in the Pan-PRD region based on inter-provincial panel data from 2003 to 2020. Furthermore, it analyzes its growth trend and heterogeneity characteristics in the inter-provincial spatial, industrial, and city dimensions. The results show that in the time dimension, TFP shows a W-shaped fluctuation trend, technical efficiency grows slowly, and technical progress is the pillar of TFP improvement. The spatial dimension shows a high distribution in the center and low distribution in the south. On the industry dimension, the TFP is in descending order as follows: tertiary industry—secondary industry—primary industry. The spatial distribution is heterogeneous, exacerbating the uneven economic development within the region, and the regional industrial structure needs urgent optimization. The spatial development of city TFP is uneven, and the number of cities with a TFP below 1 is increasing. Finally, we suggest policies to accelerate regional collaborative innovation, cultivate advantageous industrial clusters, create an advantageous industrial ecosystem, and achieve sustainable development in the Pan-PRD region

Successful retrieval of a retained cerebral protection device using esophageal biopsy forceps

Cerebral protection devices (CPDs) often were applied to improve the safety of carotid artery stenting, but the CPD itself may cause fatal complications. We report a case of a retained CPD that was an Emboshield NAV6 device left in situ, which was retrieved successfully with esophageal biopsy forceps

Identification and validation of reference genes for normalization of gene expression analysis using qRT-PCR in Megalurothrips usitatus (thysanoptera: thripidae)

Introduction: Gene expression analysis by reverse transcription quantitative polymerase chain reaction (qRT-PCR) has been widely used in research including insects. The selection of appropriate reference genes is the key to obtaining accurate and reliable results from qRT-PCR. However, studies on the expression stability of reference genes in Megalurothrips usitatus remain lacking.Methods: In this study, qRT-PCR was used to analyze the expression stability of candidate reference genes in M. usitatus. The expression levels of six candidate reference gene transcription of M. usitatus were analyzed. GeNorm, NormFinder, BestKeeper, and ΔCt were used to analyze the expression stability of M. usitatus treated with biological factors (developmental period treatment) and abiotic factors (light, temperature, insecticide treatment, respectively). Comprehensive stability ranking of candidate reference genes was recommended by RefFinder.Results and Discussion: Results showed that ribosomal protein S (RPS) was the most suitable expression in insecticide treatment. Ribosomal protein L (RPL) was the most suitable expression at developmental stage and light treatment, whereas elongation factor was the most suitable expression in temperature treatment. RefFinder was used to comprehensively analyze the above four treatments, and the results showed that RPL and actin (ACT) showed high stability in each treatment. Therefore, this study identified these two genes as reference genes in the qRT-PCR analysis of different treatment conditions of M. usitatus. Ourfindings will be beneficial for improving the accuracy of qRT-PCR analysis for future functional analysis of the target gene expression in M. usitatus

Health literacy and health outcomes in hypertension: An integrative review

Objective: The aim of this study was to summarize the evidence of health literacy and health outcomes in hypertensive patients. Methods: Articles published in English were searched from six databases: MEDLINE, CINAHL, Embase, ERIC, psycINFO, and SCOPUS. The articles published up to September 2017 were included. Results: Nineteen publications were included in the review. There was quality and consistent evidence that hypertensive patients with lower literacy had poorer knowledge. There was inconsistent evidence to show the relationship between health literacy and clinical outcomes, of systolic and diastolic blood pressure, and blood pressure control; behavioral outcomes, of self-care, self-efficacy, adherence; patient-physician interactions outcomes, of patient-physician communication, patient trust, involvement in decision making and other outcomes. Conclusion: The person with low health literacy is likely to have poor knowledge of hypertension. However, there is insufficient evidence to suggest that health literacy is associated with outcomes of hypertension independently. Keywords: Health literacy, Hypertension, Outcomes, Integrative revie

Cardiac rehabilitation knowledge in patients with coronary heart disease in Baoding city of China: A cross-sectional study

Objective: The purpose of this study is to assess the awareness on cardiac rehabilitation (CR) in patients with coronary heart disease (CHD). Methods: Inpatients diagnosed with coronary heart disease were recruited from 3 hospitals in this study. The study employed a cardiac structured questionnaire to assess respondents' level of awareness, and bivariate to analyze the sociodemographic factors that influence the awareness on CR. Results: Of all 500 participants, 66.40% were male and the mean age was 62.51 ± 9.96 years. The mean score of knowledge was 44.00 ± 17.00 (score range: 0–93), and the mean level of awareness was 47.31% (awareness range: 0–100%). The highest mean level of awareness was in the reexamination subscale (98%) and the lower were in the basic information about CR program, SP optimized medication and heart rate subscale. Bivariate analysis showed that higher age was associated with less knowledge. Patients with higher education level and better income status had better knowledge. And patients who lived in rural and had no jobs had less knowledge. Conclusions: This study showed low levels of awareness on CR program in CHD patients in Baoding. Therefore, the need for health education is indicated in this study to improve the awareness on CR among CHD patients. Keywords: Coronary heart disease, Cardiac rehabilitation, Awareness, Influencing factor