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Backgrounds: It is unclear which patients benefit from resection in intermediate-stage-hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC). The authors aimed to identify high-risk patients for early recurrence among patients with resectable intermediate-stage HCC. Methods: This multicenter retrospective study included patients who underwent resection or trans-arterial chemoembolization (TACE) for intermediate-stage HCC (2008-2019). Multivariable Cox proportional analysis was performed to identify high-risk patients when treated with resection. A prediction score for 2-year recurrence-free survival (RFS) was developed using the training cohort and validated. The 2-year RFS in each risk group was compared with that in TACE group, after propensity score matching (PSM). Results: A total of 1686 patients were included (480 and 1206 patients in the resection and TACE groups). During a median followup of 31.4 months, the 2-year RFS was significantly higher in the resection (47.7%) than in the TACE group (19.8%) [adjusted hazard ratio (aHR)= 1.471, 95% CI: 1.199-1.803, P< 0.001). On multivariate analysis, alpha-fetoprotein = 5.0 ng/ml (aHR =0.202), ALBI grade =2 (aHR =0.709), tumor number =3 (aHR =0.404), and maximal tumor size =5 cm (aHR =0.323) were significantly associated with the lower risk of 2-year RFS in the resection group. The newly developed Surgery Risk score in BCLC-B (SR-B score) with four significant risk factors showed an area under the curve of 0.801 for the 2-year RFS and was validated. Based on the SR-B score, low-risk patients had a significantly higher 2-year RFS (training: aHR = 5.834; validation: aHR =5.675) than high-risk patients (all P <0.001) did. In a PSM cohort, a low-risk resection group had a significantly higher (aHR =3.891); a high-risk resection group had a comparable 2-year RFS to those treated with TACE (aHR =0.816). Conclusions: Resection may be beneficial for resectable intermediate-stage HCC based on the SR-B score. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Sham acupuncture should have two distinct features: first, it must be morphologically similar to verum acupuncture for blinding purposes, and second, it must not exert physiologically expected effects of verum acupuncture. While several types of sham acupuncture are currently used, there are on-going debates on which sham acupuncture can meet the criteria for being an appropriate control intervention in acupuncture research. In view of this situation, it is unreasonable to regard the use of sham acupuncture in acupuncture research as the same as the use of placebo drugs in drug research. Given the current research evidence that sham acupuncture can exert not only the originally expected non-specific effects but also sham acupuncture-specific effects, it would be misleading to simply regard sham acupuncture as the same as placebo. Therefore, researchers should be cautious when using the term sham acupuncture in clinical investigations. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Purpose: To determine whether the prognostic impact of lymph node ratio (LNR), defined as the ratio between the number of positive lymph nodes and removed lymph nodes, differs between open and minimally invasive surgical approaches for radical hysterectomy (RH) in node-positive, early-stage cervical cancer. Materials and Methods: We retrospectively identified 2009 International Federation of Gynecology and Obstetrics stage IB1-IIA2 patients who underwent primary type C RH between 2010 and 2018. Among them, only those with pathologically proven lymph node metastases who received adjuvant radiation therapy were included. The prognostic significance of LNR was investigated according to open surgery and minimally invasive surgery (MIS). Results: In total, 55 patients were included. The median LNR (%) was 9.524 (range, 2.083--62.500). Based on receiver operating characteristic curve analysis, the cut-off value for LNR (%) was determined as 8.831. Overall, patients with high LNR (≥8.831%; n=29) showed worse disease-free survival (DFS) than those with low LNR (<8.831%, n=26) (p=0.027), whereas no difference in overall survival was observed. Multivariate analyses adjusting for clinicopathologic factors revealed that DFS was adversely affected by both MIS [adjusted hazard ratio (HR), 8.132; p=0.038] and high LNR (adjusted HR, 10.837; p=0.045). In a subgroup of open surgery cases, LNR was not associated with disease recurrence. However, in a subgroup of MIS cases, high LNR was identi- fied as an independent poor prognostic factor for DFS (adjusted HR, 14.578; p=0.034). Conclusion: In patients with node-positive, early-stage cervical cancer, high LNR was associated with a significantly higher disease recurrence rate. This relationship was further consolidated among patients who received MIS RH. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Purpose: Alpha-fetoprotein (AFP) is a prognostic marker for hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC). We investigated the prognostic value of AFP levels in patients who achieved complete response (CR) to transarterial chemoembolization (TACE) for HCC. Materials and Methods: Between 2005 and 2018, 890 patients with HCC who achieved a CR to TACE were recruited. An AFP responder was defined as a patient who showed elevated levels of AFP (>10 ng/mL) during TACE, but showed normalization or a >50% reduction in AFP levels after achieving a CR. Results: Among the recruited patients, 569 (63.9%) with naïve HCC and 321 (36.1%) with recurrent HCC after complete resection were treated. Before TACE, 305 (34.3%) patients had multiple tumors, 219 (24.6%) had a maximal tumor size >3 cm, and 22 (2.5%) had portal vein tumor thrombosis. The median AFP level after achieving a CR was 6.36 ng/mL. After a CR, 473 (53.1%) patients experienced recurrence, and 417 (46.9%) died [median progression-free survival (PFS) and overall survival (OS) of 16.3 and 62.8 months, respectively]. High AFP levels at CR (>20 ng/mL) were independently associated with a shorter PFS [hazard ratio (HR)=1.403] and OS (HR=1.284), together with tumor multiplicity at TACE (HR=1.518 and 1.666, respectively). AFP non-responders at CR (76.2%, n=359 of 471) showed a shorter PFS (median 10.5 months vs. 15.5 months, HR=1.375) and OS (median 41.4 months vs. 61.8 months, HR=1.424) than AFP responders (all p=0.001). Conclusion: High AFP levels and AFP non-responders were independently associated with poor outcomes after TACE. AFP holds clinical implications for detailed risk stratification upon achieving a CR after TACE. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Purpose: To assess the usefulness of an ultrasound (US)-guided peritoneal biopsy for the solitary peritoneal thickening visualized as only infiltrated fat on a computed tomography (CT) scan. Materials and Methods: This retrospective study included 36 patients (16 males, 20 females; mean age, 51.7 years) who underwent a US-guided biopsy for the solitary peritoneal thickening of unknown cause visualized as only infiltrated fat without an apparent mass formation on a CT scan. The rate of the specific histopathological diagnosis and accuracy for the diagnosis of malignant disease was assessed. Results: The procedure was technically successful with the acquisition of an adequate amount of the specimen for microscopic examination from all patients. A specific histopathological diagnosis was made in 31/36 patients (86.1%): peritoneal carcinomatosis in 15/31 (48.4%), tuberculous peritonitis in 15/31 (48.4%) and panniculitis in 1/31 (3.2%). A non-specific histopathological diagnosis was made in 5/36 (13.9%): chronic inflammation in 4/5 (80%) and mesothelial hyperplasia in 1/5 (20%). The procedure showed sensitivity of 83.3%, with a specificity of 100%, a positive predictive value of 100%, a negative predictive value of 85.7%, and an accuracy rate of 86.1% for the diagnosis of malignant diseases. Conclusion: The US-guided peritoneal biopsy is a fairly accurate diagnostic procedure for the peritoneal thickening visualized as only infiltrated fat on a CT scan, and it can be used before performing laparoscopic or an open biopsy. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The article presents a proposed optimal impact angle control guidance law which lessens the time-to-go weighted energy cost function. It explores the development of a three-dimensional guidance laws that were based on proportional navigation (PN) having adaptive guidance parameters to obtain impact angle requirements. The impact angle control created the missile trajectory highly curved that might missed the target in the look-angle limit of the seeker.

Purpose: The goal of this study was to identify baseline prognostic factors of outcome in ankle osteoarthritis patients after intra-articular hyaluronic acid injection. Materials and Methods: Patients with ankle osteoarthritis who received hyaluronic acid injection therapy were retrospectively reviewed. Each patient received weekly intra-articular hyaluronic acid injections (2 mL) for 3 weeks. Six predictors including gender, age, symptom duration, radiographic osteoarthritis stage, radio-graphic subchondral cyst, and fracture history were evaluated. Visual analogue scale (VAS) and patient satisfaction were evaluated as outcome measures. These predictors and outcome measurements were included in a logistic regression model for statistical analysis. Results: Total of 40 consecutive patients (21 male, 19 female) were included in this study. Mean age was 60.6. Average follow up period was 13 months. The mean VAS recorded 3,6, and 12 months after the first injection was 3.6 (SD 2.54, p<0.001), 4.33 (SD 2.9, p<0.001), and 5.3 (SD 2.7, p=0.0071), respectively, when compared to baseline VAS. Early stage disease was identified as an independent predictor associated with 'positive VAS outcome' at 3 and 6 months. Early stage disease and duration of pain less than 1 year were independent predictors associated with higher satisfaction. Conclusion: While hyaluronic acid injection for ankle osteoarthritis is a safe and effective treatment, careful selection of patients should be made according to the above prognostic predictors. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Purpose: The goal of this study was to identify baseline prognostic factors of outcome in ankle osteoarthritis patients after intra-articular hyaluronic acid injection. Materials and Methods: Patients with ankle osteoarthritis who received hyaluronic acid injection therapy were retrospectively reviewed. Each patient received weekly intra-articular hyaluronic acid injections (2 mL) for 3 weeks. Six predictors including gender, age, symptom duration, radiographic osteoarthritis stage, radio-graphic subchondral cyst, and fracture history were evaluated. Visual analogue scale (VAS) and patient satisfaction were evaluated as outcome measures. These predictors and outcome measurements were included in a logistic regression model for statistical analysis. Results: Total of 40 consecutive patients (21 male, 19 female) were included in this study. Mean age was 60.6. Average follow up period was 13 months. The mean VAS recorded 3,6, and 12 months after the first injection was 3.6 (SD 2.54, p<0.001), 4.33 (SD 2.9, p<0.001), and 5.3 (SD 2.7, p=0.0071), respectively, when compared to baseline VAS. Early stage disease was identified as an independent predictor associated with 'positive VAS outcome' at 3 and 6 months. Early stage disease and duration of pain less than 1 year were independent predictors associated with higher satisfaction. Conclusion: While hyaluronic acid injection for ankle osteoarthritis is a safe and effective treatment, careful selection of patients should be made according to the above prognostic predictors. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The article proposed two-phase guidance schemes with terminal-angle constraints based on the conventional proportional navigation (PN) guidance. It summarized bias PN (BPN) guidance with the terminal-angle constraint. The guidance performance and feasibility of BPN guidance with the proposed bias-shaping method is also discussed.

Objectives: Lumbar spinal stenosis (LSS) negatively affects patients' quality of life. No systematic review evaluating the effects and safety of acupuncture for this population is available. We aimed to evaluate evidence indicating the effectiveness and safety of acupuncture for LSS. Methods: We searched five English-language databases (EMBASE, MEDLINE, CENTRAL, CINAHL, and AMED) and one Chinese database (CAJ) for randomised controlled trials (RCTs) and non-randomised controlled clinical trials (CCTs) of needle acupuncture for LSS. CCTs were analyzed only in terms of safety and intervention-related information. Results: Six RCTs (n = 582) and six CCTs, which were all from China and reported in Chinese, were included. High or uncertain risk of bias and clinical heterogeneity due to different acupuncture techniques were observed. All RCTs compared different combinations or techniques of acupuncture. None of the included studies mentioned safety issues. Acupuncture combined with other interventions and/or with additional stimulation increased the number of improved patients compared with acupuncture alone or relatively simpler stimulation (n = 582; relative risk, 1.16; 95% confidence interval 1.08-1.25). Pain intensity, overall symptoms, and functional outcomes related to LSS and quality of life showed significantly favourable improvement in the treatment group compared with the control group, which lasted for up to 6 months post-treatment. Conclusions: We found no conclusive evidence of the effectiveness and safety of acupuncture for LSS because of high or uncertain risk of bias and the limited generalisability of the included studies. Future trials using rigorous methodology, appropriate comparisons and clinically relevant outcomes should be conducted. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The article presents a study which examined the use of a proportional navigation guidance (PNG) in ascertaining the interception angle for stationary or slowly moving air vehicle. A guidance law called interception angle control guidance (IACG) was derived using a linear formulation and optimal theory, which are based on computing the path of projected flight and line-of-sight (LOS) angle. A simulation of the performance of IACG is offered.

The article presents a study on the role of the differences in hepatic gene expression as a major distinguishing factor between Korean native pig (KNP) and Yorkshire (YS). The study utilizes several methods including animal tissue collection, microarray scanning and image analysis, and quantitative real-time polymerase chain reaction (qPCR). It also revealed the breed-specific clustering of hepatic transcriptomes and selection of hepatic differential expressed genes (DEGs).

Ischemic colitis is a condition that usually occurs in the elderly, as a form of vascular disease. However, ischemic colitis also occurs, though rarely, in healthy young adults. Moreover, food supplements containing Ephedra sinica or ma huang have been linked to adverse central nervous and cardiovascular events. A 40-year-old man was admitted to our emergency department after 2 episodes of abdominal pain and bloody diarrhea that lasted 24 hours. His medical history was unremarkable for risk factors of bowel ischemia, except for well-controlled hypertension. However, a weight-loss supplement, Ephedra sinica, had been prescribed for daily use during the previous month. Both abdominal/pelvic computed tomography and colonoscopy revealed findings compatible with ischemic colitis. His conditions spontaneously improved without any serious complications, and he was advised to discontinue the use of herbal medications containing ephedrine. In this paper, we describe a case of ischemic colitis that was potentially linked to the use of ma huang with a review of the relevant literature. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]