Medicine
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Observational Study
Plasma miRNA-223 correlates with risk, inflammatory markers as well as prognosis in sepsis patients.
The purpose was to evaluate the role of plasma microRNA-223 (miRNA-223) in risk and prognosis in sepsis patients, and its correlation with inflammatory markers. In this study, 187 sepsis patients from July 2015 to December 2016 were consecutively enrolled. Blood samples from septic patients and healthy controls (HCs) were collected, and plasma was separated for miRNA-223 expression detected by quantitative real-time PCR (qPCR). ⋯ ROC curve revealed miRNA-223 could distinguish sepsis non-survivor form survivor with AUC of 0.600, 95% CI: 0.505-0.695. Sensitivity and specificity were 83.5% and 38.9% respectively at the best cut-off point. In conclusion, plasma miRNA-223 correlates with disease severity and inflammatory markers levels, and it might serve as a novel diagnostic and prognostic biomarker in sepsis patients.
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Metformin is one of the most commonly used drugs for the treatment of type 2 diabetes mellitus (T2DM). Despite its widespread use, there are considerable interindividual variations in metformin response, with about 35% of patients failing to achieve initial glycemic control. These variabilities that reflect phenotypic differences in drug disposition and action may indeed be due to polymorphisms in genes that regulate pharmacokinetics and pharmacodynamics of metformin. Moreover, interethnic differences in drug responses in some cases correspond to substantial differences in the frequencies of the associated pharmacogenomics risk allele. ⋯ Genetic effects of OCT1 polymorphisms on metformin responses were population specific. Further investigations in other populations are required to set ethnicity-specific reference for metformin responses and to obtain a solid basis to design personalized therapeutic approaches for T2DM treatment.
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Comparative Study Clinical Trial
Comparison of free-hand fluoroscopic guidance and electromagnetic navigation in distal locking of tibia intramedullary nails.
It is challenges for surgeon to position the distal locking screw of a tibia intramedullary nail. The traditional free-hand (FH) technique is related to the proficiency of surgeons and has a long learning curve. Furthermore, the radiation dose and the accuracy of screw placement should be taken into account. The new technology, the electromagnetic navigation system (ET), which is a radiation-free way to locate the position of the drill bit. The purpose of our study is to evaluate the results of the ET for distal locking screw of a tibia intramedullary nail and to compare the effects with the FH technique. ⋯ Compared with the FH technique, the ET for distal locking of tibia intramedullary nail has the advantages of high efficiency and short locking time without radiation.
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Observational Study
Impact of reduced skeletal muscle volume on clinical outcome after esophagectomy for esophageal cancer: A retrospective study.
The aim of the study was to clarify the impact of reduced skeletal muscle volume on the morbidity of patients who underwent esophagectomy for esophageal cancer. Malnutrition and reduced skeletal muscle volume, that is, presarcopenia, are reportedly associated with a high frequency of postoperative complications after esophagectomy. However, it remains unclear whether the reduction of skeletal muscle volume following esophagectomy may affect clinical outcomes including pneumonia occurred beyond the preoperative period. ⋯ Multivariate analysis demonstrated that age and postoperative PI reduction were independently associated with the incidence of pneumonia 6 months after surgery (hazard ratio [HR] = 2.92, 95% confidence interval [CI] 1.16-7.32, P = .02; HR = 3.25, 95% CI 1.15-9.15, P = .03, respectively). Patients with pneumonia 6 months after surgery had significantly poorer overall survival than those without pneumonia at that time. Postoperative reduction of skeletal muscle volume was independently associated with the occurrence of pneumonia beyond the preoperative period, which might indicate the importance of a postoperative nutritional support after perioperative period in esophageal cancer patients.
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Clinical Trial Observational Study
Prior vaccinations improve immunogenicity of inactivated influenza vaccine in young children aged 6 months to 3 years: A cohort study.
In young children, infrequent antigen exposure, which is partly characterized by fewer vaccinations, may be a factor impairing the immunogenicity of inactivated influenza vaccine. We assessed the effects of prior vaccinations on age-specific immune responses in Japanese children aged 6 months to 3 years, using data from a cohort study with 266 children who had received 2 doses (0.25 mL/dose for < 3 years old, 0.5 mL/dose for 3 years old) in the 2006/2007 season. Serological measures, primarily seroprotection rates, between previously vaccinated and vaccine-naïve children were compared within 1-year age strata. ⋯ After adjustment for age, baseline antibody titer and experience of acute febrile respiratory illness in the preceding season, odds ratios showed a significant independent positive effect of prior vaccination on seroprotection rate for every strain. After the seroprotection threshold was changed from 1:40 to 1:160, the results of the effects of prior vaccinations on immunogenicity were similar or became more evident, which demonstrate the robustness of our findings. Our study found that prior vaccinations improved poor immunogenicity among young children, especially in 1-year-olds.