Laparoscopic antireflux surgery or PPIs in the management of reflux-related esophageal stricture.

Background: Gastroesophageal reflux disease (GERD) is often associated with esophageal stricture, particularly benign esophageal stricture. We aimed to evaluate the effects of balloon catheter dilation (BD) combined with laparoscopic fundoplication (LF) surgery and proton pump inhibitors (PPIs) in patients with reflux-induced esophageal strictures.

Methods: We retrospectively analyzed 116 patients with reflux-induced benign esophageal strictures who underwent balloon dilatation therapy combined with PPIs (BD-PPIs group, n = 58) and balloon dilatation combined with LF (BD-LF group, n = 58).

Effect of astragaloside IV and salvianolic acid B on antioxidant stress and vascular endothelial protection in the treatment of atherosclerosis based on metabonomics.

Vascular endothelial cells and oxidation reduction system play an important role in the pathogenesis of atherosclerosis (AS). If these conditions are disordered, it will inevitably lead to plaque formation and even rupture. Astragaloside IV (AsIV) and salvianolic acid B (Sal B) are the main active ingredients of Astragalus membranaceus and Salvia miltiorrhiza, respectively, and found to ameliorate vascular endothelial dysfunction and protect against oxidative stress in recent studies.

Characteristics and independent predictors of self-disclosure among male patients undergoing in vitro fertilization: A cross-sectional study.

Purpose: To investigate the levels of self-disclosure in men undergoing in vitro fertilization and analyze the effects of communication and personality on self-disclosure.

Design And Methods: This cross-sectional study included 210 men undergoing in vitro fertilization. Self-disclosure was measured using the Chinese Distress Disclosure Index Scale.