zhen song

 Upward stone migration is a significant problem during ureteroscopic lithotripsy (URSL) for upper ureteral stone, especially in absence of a ureteral occlusion device. In this study, we evaluated the novel strategy of reverse Trendelenburg position (RTP) and intraoperative diuresis for URSL without ureteral occlusion devices to avoid upward migration.

 From March 2018 to May 2020, a total of 119 URSLs were performed for upper ureteral stone (6-15 mm) with 67 procedures in RTP and 52 procedures in conventional lithotomy position (CLP). 20 mg of intravenous furosemide was administered prior to stone fragmentation with holmium laser only in RTP group. Patient demographics, stone side, stone size and operative characteristics were recorded and compared between the two groups.

 Patient data, stone side and size were similar in the two groups. All procedures were complete without conversion to open surgery and major complications. There was no significant difference in the mean operative time (47.9 ± 7.7 min vs 45.3 ± 7.0 min, P = .062) and mean hospital stay (3.9 ± 0.9 d vs 4.0 ± 1.0 d, P = .336) between the RTP and CLP group. Stone upward migration was significantly less in RTP group (3.0%, 2/67) than in CLP group (19.2%, 10/52) (P = .005). Stone-free rate at one month after initial treatment was 92.5% in RTP group and 73.1% in CLP group (P = .004).

 The strategy of placing the patient in RTP and intraoperative administration of intravenous furosemide is simple, feasible and cost-effective in preventing stone upward migration during URSL with holmium laser in absence of a ureteral occlusion device for upper ureteral stone.

Berberine, an isoquinoline alkaloid purified from Chinese herbs, was verified to have antitumor effects. It has also been reported that berberine can enhance the anticancer effect of tamoxifen (TAM) in estrogen receptor (ER)-positive breast cancer cells; however, the involved underlying mechanism is still unclear. In the present study, the role of one variant of ER-α, ER-α36, in the TAM sensitizing effect of berberine was explored in TAM-resistant breast cancer cells. This study demonstrated that berberine potently sensitized TAM-resistant breast cancer cells, including TAM-resistant MCF7 and BT-474 cells, to TAM treatment. Additionally, this study showed that berberine could simultaneously suppress ER-α36 expression in TAM-resistant cells. However, when ER-α36 was knocked down in TAM-resistant cells, there was no significant TAM-sensitizing effect by berberine. Therefore, this study indicated that ER-α36 is involved in berberine’s TAM-sensitizing effect on ER-positive breast cancer cells, which provided supporting data for the application of berberine in cancer therapy as an adjuvant agent for TAM treatment.