Alternative Therapies in Health and Medicine

OBJECTIVE: Glioblastoma is the most common and aggressive type of the central nervous system cancers. Although radiotherapy and chemotherapy are used in the treatment of glioblastoma, survival rates remain unsatisfactory. This study aimed to explore differentially expressed genes (DEGs) based on the survival prognosis of patients with glioblastoma and to establish a model for classifying patients into different risk groups for overall survival. METHODS: DEGs from 160 tumor samples from patients with glioblastoma and 5 nontumor samples from other patients in The Cancer Genome Atlas database were identified...

BACKGROUND: Upper gastrointestinal bleeding encompasses bleeding arising from esophageal, gastric, duodenal, or pancreaticobiliary lesions above the Treitz ligament. Research indicates a close association between improper diet and upper gastrointestinal bleeding. OBJECTIVE: This study aims to investigate the application effects of individualized diet nursing combined with the modified Glasgow-Blatchford scoring system in patients with upper gastrointestinal bleeding...

BACKGROUND: Sepsis, characterized by life-threatening organ dysfunction, stems from an unregulated host response. Timely identification is pivotal for enhancing the prognosis of sepsis patients. OBJECTIVE: This study aims to explore the diagnostic and prognostic values of alkaline phosphatase on the surface membrane of neutrophils (mNAP) in peripheral blood among sepsis patients. DESIGN: The study employed a retrospective design. SETTING: This study was conducted at Donghai County People's Hospital...

OBJECTIVE: The objective of this study was to enhance the efficiency of pre-check and triage procedures in gynecology and obstetrics, while ensuring the safety of maternal and infant patients during the COVID-19 pandemic. METHODS: Between March 2020 and July 2022, the workflow in gynecology and obstetrics was optimized, and the management of medical staff working in outpatient, ward, and obstetric ward settings was strengthened. Special protocols were developed and implemented for pregnant women, parturients, and neonates...

OBJECTIVE: It aimed to investigate the difference in clinical efficacy between posterior cervical endoscopic discectomy (PCED) and Fenestration laminectomy discectomy (FLD) in cervical disc herniation (CDH). METHODS: This retrospective study analyzed 100 CDH patients undergoing nucleotomy and assigned them into the FLD and PCED groups, 50 cases for each group. The differences in operation time, intraoperative blood loss, skin incision, off-bed time, and hospital stay were evaluated...

OBJECTIVE: This study aims to evaluate the clinical efficacy and safety of combining adhesion release under brachial plexus block with silver needle warm acupuncture for the treatment of frozen shoulder, compared to adhesion release under brachial plexus block alone. METHODS: A total of 72 patients with frozen shoulder were randomly assigned to receive either adhesion release under brachial plexus block (control group) or adhesion release under brachial plexus block plus silver needle warm acupuncture (treatment group)...

OBJECTIVE: This study aims to investigate the practical application of "Internet + technology" leveraging medical big data to enhance the development of a smart hospital platform. Specifically, the focus is on optimizing patient care processes, refining medical data management systems, and enhancing operational efficiency within the hospital setting. METHODS: With the help of traditional Internet and mobile Internet technology, we analyzed the patient behavior big data accumulated in our hospital for many years, simplified the diagnosis and treatment links, refined the service connotation, and improved patient satisfaction before, during and after diagnosis; With the help of barcode, RFID and 5G networks, the links that are easy to produce medical security incidents can be monitored to improve medical quality, such as digital operating room system, establishment of multidisciplinary consultation center (MDT), electronic medical record system based on digital signature, etc...

OBJECTIVE: Cervical cancer remains a major health concern globally, and combined modality treatment often includes radiotherapy or concurrent chemoradiotherapy. Recently, recombinant human adenovirus-p53 (rAd-p53) has been introduced as a promising agent in treatment of cervical cancer. METHODS: We conducted a systematic review and meta-analysis following the PRISMA guidelines. RCTs were identified through electronic databases without limitations on time or language...

OBJECTIVE: To comparatively analyze the therapeutic effect of maxillary expansion combined with twin-block appliances (TBA) versus adenotonsillectomy (ATE) in the treatment of children with upper airway stenosis (UAS) complicated by malocclusion (MA), and to analyze the related factors affecting the changes of the upper airway sagittal diameter. METHODS: From October 2020 to October 2022, 54 children with UAS complicated by class II MA were treated at Zhenjiang Stomatological Hospital and Liyang People's Hospital...

CONTEXT: Due to the different effects of various drugs and the lack of authoritative and unified guidelines in clinical practice, the choice of therapeutic drugs for pulmonary tuberculosis (TB) remains controversial. Rifampicin, levofloxacin, and isoniazid are all anti-TB drugs. However, no comparative studies of the treatment effects of rifampicin + levofloxacin and rifampicin + isoniazid have occurred. OBJECTIVE: The study intended to analyze the therapeutic effects of rifampicin + levofloxacin compared to rifampicin + isoniazid in the treatment of pulmonary TB to provide a clinical reference, which could provide new references for future clinical treatment of the disease...

OBJECTIVE: This study evaluates the effects of valve surgery on safety and cardiac function in patients with valvular heart disease complicated by pulmonary arterial hypertension (PAH), focusing on postoperative outcomes influenced by age, heart function grade, and PAH severity. METHODS: A retrospective analysis was conducted on 307 valve surgery patients from April 2017 to April 2022. The cohort had a mean age of 57.6 years, with 56.9% males, and was stratified by NYHA functional class II-IV...

BACKGROUND: The prevalence of abnormal physical development in preschool children is often linked to their dietary habits, necessitating a comprehensive investigation. Understanding the intricacies of these habits is crucial for formulating targeted interventions to enhance the overall health and well-being of this vulnerable population. OBJECTIVE: This study aims to explore the dietary habits of preschool children in Shijiazhuang and evaluate their impact on abnormal physical development...

OBJECTIVE: This study aims to establish a theoretical foundation for the clinical treatment of lung cancer by investigating the regulatory role of CRABP2 in the ROS/Src signaling pathway, specifically in accelerating the migration and metastasis of lung cancer. METHODS: Lung cancer mouse models were established using BALB/c-nu mice, randomly assigned to the control group (NC group) and the experimental group (mimic group). Tumor volume was precisely observed. The impact of CRABP2 on lung cancer migration and metastasis was analyzed through hematoxylin and eosin (H&E) staining and histochemical staining observation...

OBJECTIVE: This study aims to analyze factors contributing to recurrent respiratory tract infections (RRTIs) in pediatric patients and evaluate the efficacy of pidotimod (PI) treatment. METHODS: This study utilized a retrospective cohort design, enrolling a total of 85 children diagnosed with RRTIs between September 2020 and September 2022, alongside 54 healthy children. Logistic regression analysis was employed to identify factors contributing to RRTI occurrence...

BACKGROUND: Ropivacaine (Ropi) is a widely utilized anesthetic in cesarean sections (CS), however its optimal dosage remains controversial. OBJECTIVE: To assess the efficacy and safety of varying doses (10mg, 5mg, 4mg, and 3mg) of Ropi in subarachnoid block (SA) for CS. METHODS: A prospective cohort study was conducted, and a total of 74 pregnant women undergoing CS at Nantong Maternal and Child Health Care Hospital between January and June 2023 were selected as the study population...

BACKGROUND: Acute myocardial infarction is the myocardial necrosis caused by acute and persistent ischemia and hypoxia of coronary arteries. It can be complicated with arrhythmia, shock or heart failure, and often can endanger life. The disease is most common in Europe and the United States, where about 1.5 million heart attacks occur each year. China has shown a clear upward trend in recent years, with at least 500 000 new cases and at least 2 million new cases every year. Cardiac rehabilitation nursing is a kind of comprehensive nursing that aims to restore the body function of patients with myocardial infarction...

BACKGROUND: Acute pancreatitis poses a significant threat in the emergency department due to its rapid and dangerous progression. Without timely and effective treatment measures, there is a heightened risk of advancing to multiple organ failure, posing a serious threat to the life safety of patients. OBJECTIVE: This study aims to investigate the impact of graded emergency nursing on patients with acute pancreatitis. DESIGN: A randomized controlled experiment was conducted to assess the effectiveness of graded emergency nursing...

OBJECTIVES: This study aimed to analyze the psychological status and quality of life (QoL) of patients with advanced lung cancer and assess the impact of continuous nursing intervention on these parameters. METHODS: A total of 160 advanced lung cancer patients were randomly assigned to a control group or a study group, with 80 patients in each. The control group received the routine nursing intervention, while the study group received the continuous nursing intervention, including health record establishment, regular follow-ups, diet guidance, health knowledge education, psychological counseling, and work and rest guidance...

CONTEXT: High-dose methylprednisolone pulse therapy and oral high-dose prednisone are two common treatments for pediatric nephrotic syndrome (NS). While both treatments have shown effectiveness for patients with pediatric NS to some extent, a clear comparison of their efficacy and safety remains elusive, posing a challenge for clinicians when devising treatment plans. OBJECTIVE: The study intended to compare the efficacy and safety of high-dose methylprednisolone pulse therapy and conventional oral high-dose prednisone for pediatric patients with NS, to provide more accurate treatment recommendations for clinicians to optimize their treatment plans, improve their QoL, and prevent complications...

OBJECTIVE: ObjectiveThis study aims to assess the utility of uterine artery Doppler parameters in predicting adverse pregnancy outcomes among pregnant women, thereby enhancing the safety of pregnancy. METHODS: This study utilized a prospective observational design. A total of 142 pregnant women who underwent prenatal ultrasonography at our hospital and Wuxi Maternal and Child Health Hospital (Maternity Hospital affiliated with Jiangnan University) from May 2022 to May 2023 were included...