Arch Med Sci
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Indomethacin is an anti-inflammatory drug with clearly known side effects on gastric mucosa. New treatment and side effect prevention methods are being studied. Donkey milk, as a nutritional support, has recently come into the spotlight with its anti-oxidant features, high antibody content and low allergenic properties. In this study, we investigated donkey milk's possible protective effect against acute gastric mucosal damage by indomethacin. ⋯ Donkey milk was observed to have significant protective effects against gastric damage induced by indomethacin.
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Recipients of corneal transplants are at risk of healthcare-associated infections, which, apart from other causes of surgical site infections, may also occur as a result of the transfer of infected corneal tissue. In this study we assessed the risk of bacterial and fungal infections based on the results of routine microbiological testing of cornea preservation fluid samples. ⋯ We postulate that perioperative antibiotic prophylaxis in cornea transplant recipients is important in preventing bacterial infections derived from the donor cornea. We believe that the addition of an antifungal agent to commercially available cornea preservation fluids should also be considered.
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Non-interventional and other observational studies have become important in medical research. In such observational, non-randomized studies, groups usually differ in some baseline covariates. Propensity scores are increasingly being used in the statistical analysis of these studies. Stratification, also called subclassification, based on propensity scores is one of the possible methods. There is the quasi-standard of using five strata. In this paper we focus on a binary outcome and evaluate the above-mentioned standard of using five strata. ⋯ When applying a stratification, more than five strata may be preferable, especially because of increased power. Our simulation study does not show a clear winner; hence a useful strategy could be to work with five as well as with ten strata.
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Abnormal expression of microRNAs (miRNAs) contributes to cancer development through regulating proliferation, apoptosis and drug resistance in cancer cells. The present study was designed to explore the effect and mechanism of miR-141 on gastric cardia adenocarcinoma (GCA). ⋯ Our findings demonstrated that miR-141 expression was associated with GCA progression. MACC1, working as one possible target of miR-141, may contribute to the process. MiR-141 is expected to be a potential therapeutic target for the treatment of GCA patients.
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The effects of statins on lipoprotein-associated phospholipase A2 (Lp-PLA2) are controversial, and the present study aimed to investigate whether atorvastatin could reduce Lp-PLA2 in rats with dyslipidemia. ⋯ Atorvastatin treatment is beneficial for reducing the Lp-PLA2 level in rats with dyslipidemia, which may be related to reduced ROCK1 expression in a dose-dependent manner.