Esophageal cancer is one of the common malignant tumors with high incidence and poor prognosis. Angiogenesis-related pathways play an important role in the occurrence and development of esophageal cancer. Vascular endothelial growth factor (VEGF) is the main mediator of angiogenesis. In addition to promoting angiogenesis and maintaining the survival of neovascularization, VEGF can also directly act on esophageal cancer cells and promote the occurrence and development of tumors. This article reviews the biology of VEGF and its effect on blood vessels, the expression of VEGF in esophageal cancer cells and its influencing factors, the role of VEGF in esophageal cancer cells, the immunomodulatory activity of VEGF and the clinical study of VEGF inhibitors. The purpose of this study is to provide a basis for more rational use of VEGF inhibitors in the treatment of esophageal cancer.
This paper explores the methodological characteristics and key considerations of umbrella trials. By allocating different treatment strategies based on patients' molecular features, umbrella trials significantly enhance screening efficiency and can quickly identify ineffective therapies. Through the analysis of patient allocation strategies, statistical model selection, and error control methods, we can better utilize this design to accelerate drug development and achieve more efficient personalized treatment. However, despite significant progress in methodology and practice, umbrella trials still face multiple challenges during implementation, including trial design, sample size calculation, patient recruitment, informed consent, and resource allocation. Addressing these challenges in the future will help further optimize the application of umbrella trials. This study aims to provide thoughts and inspirations for researchers conducting umbrella trials and promote the steady development of this field.
Healthcare-associated infection management has advanced rapidly in recent years. With the development of more standards and guidelines, infection control measures become more standardized and evidence-based. Evidence-based measures are increasingly applied in infection control, which promote more studies on the prevention and control of healthcare-associated infections. Furthermore, more new ideas of infection control have emerged, with old ones being challenged. The hand hygiene reform, multidrug-resistant organisms, and surgical site infections become the hot topics in recent years. In addition, whole-genome sequencing also provides more bases for understanding pathogen transmission in hospitals. Based on the high-quality studies published in recent years, this opinion review discusses these hot topics in the prevention and control of healthcare-associated infections.
With the development of three-dimensional (3D) printing technology, more and more researches have focused on its application in the region of intervertebral fusion materials; the prospects are worth looking forward to. This article reviews the researches about 3D printing technology in spinal implants, and summarizes the materials and printing technology applied in the field of spinal interbody fusion, and the shortcomings in the current research and application. With the rapid development of 3D printing technology and new materials, more and more 3D printing spinal interbodies will be developed and used clinically.
ObjectiveTo summarize the current research progress of three-dimensional (3D) printing technique for spinal implants manufacture. MethodsThe recent original literature concerning technology, materials, process, clinical applications, and development direction of 3D printing technique in spinal implants was reviewed and analyzed. ResultsAt present, 3D printing technologies used to manufacture spinal implants include selective laser sintering, selective laser melting, and electron beam melting. Titanium and its alloys are mainly used. 3D printing spinal implants manufactured by the above materials and technology have been successfully used in clinical. But the problems regarding safety, related complications, cost-benefit analysis, efficacy compared with traditional spinal implants, and the lack of relevant policies and regulations remain to be solved. Conclusion3D printing technique is able to provide individual and customized spinal implants for patients, which is helpful for the clinicians to perform operations much more accurately and safely. With the rapid development of 3D printing technology and new materials, more and more 3D printing spinal implants will be developed and used clinically.
Objective To carry out a comprehensive and objective evaluation of viscosupplementation, so as to provide the actual judgments of effectiveness, development trends, and direction. Methods The related l iterature was reviewed, and the keys were the assessments from the international relevant advisory bodies and insurance companies and the evidence-based medicine on cl inic. Results Viscosupplementation has been gradually accepted. Although there are many different cl inical views of the viscosupplementation in the molecular weight of hyaluronan, injection dose, and the indications, intra-articular injection of hyaluronan for the treatment of osteoarthritis is well accepted. ConclusionViscosupplementation is one of the methods of treating osteoarthritis. As it has been already verified that hyaluronan iseffective in treating osteoarthritis of the knee and the periarthritis of shoulder, the hip joint injection is gradually recognized,and other small joints are going gradually.
Febrile seizure is one of the most common emergencies in children, accounting for about 30% of all types of children, and the most common among children aged 6 months to 5 years. At the same time, children in this age group are at the peak of growth and development, and the content of various trace elements in the body is prone to abnormalities. At present, there are few related studies on febrile seizure and trace elements in children. This paper summarizes the related studies on febrile seizure and trace elements in order to provide theoretical guidance for the prevention and treatment of febrile seizure
Objective To review the research progress of osteoblastextracellular matrix(ECM) and its application in bone tissue engineering. Methods The recentrelated literatures were extensively reviewed. Results The ECM was complex in its components. The configuration of cell and cell’s adhesion, migration, proliferation, and differentiation were subject to the ECM. The bioactivity of the tissue engineering products was revealed by ECM, which predicted the product’s efficiency in clinic application. Conclusion ECM has the potential to become the effective index in evaluating tissue engineered products.
ObjectiveTo summarize the current researches and progress on experimental animal models of avascular necrosis of the femoral head. MethodsDomestic and international literature concerning experimental animal models of avascular necrosis of the femoral head was reviewed and analyzed. ResultsThe methods to prepare the experimental animal models of avascular necrosis of the femoral head can be mainly concluded as traumatic methods (including surgical, physical, and chemical insult), and non-traumatic methods (including steroid, lipopolysaccharide, steroid combined with lipopolysaccharide, steroid combined with horse serum, etc). Each method has both merits and demerits, yet no ideal methods have been developed. ConclusionThere are many methods to prepare the experimental animal models of avascular necrosis of the femoral head, but proper model should be selected based on the aim of research. The establishment of ideal experimental animal models needs further research in future.
ObjectiveTo summarize the research progress of the design and effectiveness of gender-specific prosthesis in total knee arthroplasty (TKA). MethodsThe relevant literature on gender-specific prosthesis in recent years was extensively reviewed and analyzed. ResultsGender-specific prosthesis is designed according to the female knee joint anatomical characteristics. In theory, it should obtain better effectiveness. But a large number of clinical studies have shown that the knee function, pain, and satisfaction has no obvious advantage when compared with conventional prosthesis after TKA for female patient. ConclusionComprehensive evaluation should be considered when gender-specific is selected; and the effectiveness needs further follow-up.