Aims: As data on the use of circulating tumor cells (CTCs) to predict patient outcomes in extensive-stage small-cell lung cancer (ES-SCLC) remain inconclusive, we investigated the clinical value of CTC determination in an open-label, multicenter study of 91 patients with newly diagnosed ES-SCLC. Materials & methods: Blood CTC counts were determined using the CellSearch® system at baseline, after the second cycle of chemotherapy, and on disease progression. Results & conclusion: Following the second cycle of treatment, CTC numbers and the change in CTCs were strong, significant and independent indicators for both progression-free survival and overall survival in ES-SCLC. The CTC change was associated with both refractory disease (response to initial therapy ≤3 months) and sensitive disease (response to initial therapy >3 months).

Background: During pregnancy and postpartum, changes in biomechanics can cause dysfunctions in the myofascial system, such as rectus abdominis diastasis, various types of pain, and pelvic floor dysfunction. These common postpartum problems seriously threaten women’s health. Myofascial therapy, as an effective means of improving biomechanics, has no unified understanding of its therapeutic effects on postpartum functional disorders. This study aims to systematically evaluate the rehabilitative effects of myofascial therapy on postpartum rectus abdominis diastasis, low back and leg pain, and pelvic floor dysfunction through a meta-analysis of published randomized controlled trials. Methods: A systematic literature search of databases in Chinese and English was performed through May 2023. The treatment methods were randomized controlled studies using myofascial therapy in the treatment of rectus abdominis separation, lumbo-leg pain, and pelvic floor dysfunction. The main outcome indicators were abdominal circumference, rectus abdominis separation distance, visual analogue pain score, pelvic floor muscle potential, ability to live daily activities, number of events, and treatment effectiveness. Results: There were 22 studies, including 2235 patients. The result showed that compared with control group, myofascial therapy demonstrated to reduce abdominal circumference and rectus abdominis separation index, improve lumbar function significantly, and decrease urinary incontinence and pelvic organ prolapse. In the myofascial therapy group, pelvic floor muscle strength was significantly enhanced, anterior/posterior resting potential of pelvic floor muscle was significantly decreased, and pelvic floor muscle potential was enhanced. Compared with the control group, the number of patients with various types of pain and pain scores were significantly reduced after myofascial therapy. When myofascial therapy lasted <4 weeks, pain relief was greater. In the myofascial therapy group, the ability to perform daily activities was significantly improved. An analysis of the effectiveness of the treatment showed that after myofascial therapy, the patient’s symptoms improved significantly. There also saw low heterogeneity among all outcomes. Conclusion: The results suggested that myofascial therapy could effectively reduce rectus abdominis separation, relieve pelvic floor muscle dysfunction, enhance lumbar function, relieve pain, and improve the ability of daily living activities. All the data demonstrated that myofascial therapy had a good therapeutic effect on postpartum dysfunction.

Leonurine has been reported to play an important role in ameliorating cognitive dysfunction, inhibiting ischemic stroke, and attenuating perihematomal edema and neuroinflammation in intracerebral hemorrhage. However, the exact mechanism and potential molecular targets of this effect remain unclear. Thus, in this study we investigated the neuroprotective effects of leonurine on hypoxia ischemia injury and explored the underlying mechanisms. An in vitro model of oxygen–glucose deprivation (OGD)-induced PC12 cells was established to mimic ischemic-like conditions. Cell viability, apoptosis, Cx36 and pCaMKII/CaMKII expression levels were evaluated after treatment with leonurine. The Cx36-selective antagonist mefloquine and CaMKII Inhibitor KN-93 were used to investigate the neuroprotective effect of leonurine on and the involvement of Cx36/CaMKII in this process. The results revealed that cell viability decreased and cell apoptosis and the protein expression of Cx36 and pCaMKII/CaMKII increased in the OGD-induced PC12 cells. Leonurine significantly increased cell viability and decreased cell apoptosis and the protein expression of Cx36 and pCaMKII/CaMKII in the OGD-induced PC12 cells. The specific inhibitor of Cx36 and CaMKII displayed similar protective effects. Moreover, the inhibition of Cx36 reduced pCaMKII levels and the ratio of pCaMKII/CaMKII in the OGD-induced PC12 cells, and vice versa. Taken together, these results suggest that leonurine might have a protective effect on OGD-induced PC12 cells through targeting the Cx36/CaMKII pathway. Thus, leonurine appears to have potential as a preventive or therapeutic drug against ischemic-induced neuronal injury.