Esophageal stricture complicated with cardia cancer after endoscopic injection sclerotherapy for esophago-gas-tric fundal varices rupture bleeding: a case report

Cardia cancer patients complicated with cirrhosis，hypersplenism，and portal hypertension constantly have contraindications to systemic drugs such as chemotherapy due to poor liver function，and surgery has become the preferred treatment for patients with such cardia tumors. Evaluation of surgical indications，optimization of surgical regimen，and perioperative management strategy are key factors for safe and successful implementation of these surgeries. Here，we reported a 65-year-old male patient undergoing laparoscopic splenectomy plus pericardiac vascularization combined with radical resection of cardiac carcinoma. Satisfactory clinical efficacy was obtained. He could eat semi-liquid diet at 2 weeks after surgery. During over 1-year follow-up，the patient was generally in good condition，could eat normal diet，and the white blood cell，red blood cell and platelet were restored normal. Liver function was normal，and no thrombosis was seen on portal ultrasound. This case prompts that for cardia cancer patients complicated with cirrhosis，hypersplenism，esophago-gas-tric fundal varices，esophageal stricture，this surgical regimen provides novel therapeutic ideas，which can be utilized as a safe and effective treatment option

Research status of seam tracking methods for orbital pipe welding robots

This paper first outlines the worldwide oil and gas pipeline laying situation by 2013 and industrial applications, the working characteristics and advantages of orbital pipe welding robots using the gas metal arc metal(GMAW). Then the classifications of commonly used welding seam tracking sensors are comprehensively introduced. The sensor working principles, advantages and disadvantages and the application situation in pipeline welding are analysed in details. The studies show that arc sensors and visual sensors have many advantages such as good real-time characteristic, informativeness and high tracking precision, and are most widely used in pipeline welding. Using single sensor in different process can limit the tracking precision easily, but a system with multiple sensors will greatly improve the tracking precision in oil and gas pipeline welding. A system using visual sensor and arc sensor has been used in the gas field pipeline welding in Japan and a good effect has been achieved. Finally the conclusion is drawn that suitable seam tracking sensor should be chosen according to the process features and methods, and using a variety of sensors can improve the welding seam tracking precision, which will become the focus of future researches

Lack of an Association between Angiotensin Receptor Blocker Based Therapy and Increased Risk of Cancer: Evidence from Large Observational Studies

<div><p>Background</p><p>A previous meta-analysis of randomized controlled studies that were not designed to investigate cancer as a primary outcome suggested that ARB-based therapy is associated with increased risk of cancer; however, results of recent observational studies considering the association have been contradictory. This study sought to evaluate the association between angiotensin receptor blocker (ARB)-based therapy and risk of cancer by conducting a meta-analysis of observational studies.</p><p>Methods</p><p>Relevant articles published before February 2014 were identified by searching PubMed and the Cochrane Library. Pooled relative risks (RRs) were determined using a random effects model and were used to assess the strength of association between use of ARB-based therapy and risk of cancer.</p><p>Results</p><p>Six retrospective cohort studies involving a total of 3,827,109 participants and four case-control studies involving a total of 193,029 cases were included. The present study found that ARB-based therapy was not significantly associated with an increased risk of cancer (RR = 0.87, 95%CI: [0.75, 1.01]). However, an analysis including only cohort studies suggested a significantly decreased risk of cancer among individuals with any history of ARB use as compared to those with no history of ARB use (RR = 0.80, 95%CI: [0.55, 0.95]); no significant association was found between ARB use and risk of cancer when the case-control studies were separately considered (RR = 1.03, 95%CI: [0.93, 1.13]). Subgroup analyses showed that use of ARB-based therapy was associated with decreased risk of lung cancer (RR = 0.81, 95%CI: [0.69, 0.94]); however, no significant associations were found with the other cancer sites investigated. Furthermore, no association was observed upon adjustment by type of ARB drug. No publication bias was detected.</p><p>Conclusion</p><p>Overall, ARB-based therapy was not associated with increased risk of cancer. However, its use may be related to decreased incidence of lung cancer; this finding should be considered carefully and confirmed with further studies.</p></div

Influence of Repetitive Square Voltage Duty Cycle on the Electrical Tree Characteristics of Epoxy Resin

The application of wide band-gap power electronic devices brings more challenges to insulating packaging technology. Knowing the influence of applied voltage parameters on insulation performance is helpful to evaluate the insulation condition of electric power equipment. In this paper, the effect of repetitive square wave voltage duty cycle on the growth characteristics of electrical trees in epoxy resin was studied. The experimental results show that the square wave voltage duty cycle has a significant influence on treeing features. The electrical tree proportion initiation has shown a decreasing trend, and the shape of the electrical tree changes from pine-like to branch-like by increasing the duty cycles. The length and damaged area of electrical tree increased with the increase in the duty cycle up to 10% and then decrease by increasing the duty cycle higher than 30%. It indicates that a low duty cycle will enhance the electron injection and accumulate space charges and thus accelerate electrical tree development. Under short duty cycles, the electric field due to the shielding effect near the needle tip suppresses the electrical tree growth, which results in treeing growth stagnation. The obtained results are helpful to keep these parameters in mind during the design of epoxy-based insulation such high-voltage rotating machines and power electronic device packaging

Forest plot of ARB-based therapy and risk of cancer.

<p>Forest plot shows association between ARB-based therapy and risk of cancer. CI = confidence interval; ES = estimates.</p

Newcastle-Ottawa-Scale scores for the quality assessment of including studies.

<p>Newcastle-Ottawa-Scale scores for the quality assessment of including studies.</p

Funnel plot of ARB-based therapy and risk of cancer.

<p>Funnel plot is relatively symmetrical which suggests there is no significant publication bias.</p

Characteristics of ten included studies of ARB and risk of cancer.

<p>ARB: angiotensin receptor blocker; ACEI: angiotensin-converting enzyme inhibitor; BB: beta-blocker; BMI: body mass index; CCB: calcium channel blocker; HR: hazard ratio; RR: rate ratio; NA: not available; NSAIDs: Non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs; UK, United Kingdom; USA: United States of America; DM: diabetes mellitus.</p><p>*All includes breast, colon, liver, lung, rectum, stomach, prostate and haematological.</p><p>Characteristics of ten included studies of ARB and risk of cancer.</p