Prostate cancer is a common disease in the USA and Europe, with a gradually increasing incidence in China, and presents a significant health burden for older men. The lack of modifiable risk factors has made early detection as a strategy to reduce mortality. Current methods of screening involve the measurement of serum prostate-specific antigen (PSA) and digital rectal examination followed by biopsy. With PSA screening evidence of level I absent, the evidence on the use of PSA as a screening test is still highly controversial. Furthermore, there is controversy over whether screen-detected lesions will become clinically significant. There are three major treatment options for localized disease: radical prostatectomy, radical radiotherapy and monitoring with treatment if required. There is no evidence of randomized controlled trial (RCT) to suggest a survival advantage of any of these treatments. Opinions about the related benefits and risks of screening vary widely. In the absence of RCT of benefit for screening, many now suggest “informed consensus” screening, which encourages a discussion between the patient and his physician with both sides informed of all of the issues.
Objective To verify the association between admission serum phosphate level and short-term (<30 days) mortality of severe pneumonia patients admitted to intensive care unit (ICU) / respiratory intensive care unit (RICU). Methods Severe pneumonia patients admitted to the ICU/RICU of Quanzhou First Hospital Affiliated to Fujian Medical University from November 2019 to September 2021 were included in the study. Serum phosphate was demonstrated as an independent risk factor for short-term mortality of severe pneumonia patients admitted to ICU/RICU by logical analysis and receiver operator characteristic (ROC) curve. The patients were further categorized by serum phosphate concentration to explore the relationship between serum phosphate level and short-term mortality. Results Comparison of baseline indicators at admission between the survival group (n=54) and the non survival group (n=46) revealed that there was significant difference in serum phosphate level [0.9 (0.8, 1.2) mmol/L vs. 1.2 (0.9, 1.5) mmol/L, P<0.05]. Logical analysis showed serum phosphate was an independent risk factor for short-term mortality. ROC curve showed that the prediction ability of serum phosphate was close to pneumonia severity index (PSI). After combining serum phosphate with PSI score, CURB65 score, and sequential organ failure score, the predictive ability of these scores for short-term mortality was improved. Compared with the normophosphatemia group, hyperphosphatemia was found be with significantly higher short-term mortality (85.7% vs. 47.3%, P<0.05), which is absent in hypophosphatemia (25.8%). Conclusions Serum phosphate at admission has a good predictive value on short-term mortality in severe pneumonia patients admitted to the ICU/RICU. Hyperphosphatemia at admission is associated with a higher risk of short-term death.
Objective To investigate and evaluate prevention and treatment of seroma by transposition of tissue flaps and Arista hemostatic powder after regional lymph node resection in patients with malignant tumors. Methods Twelve patients (6 males, 6 females; aged 31-81 years, with metastatic tumors underwent prevention and treatment of seroma with the tissue flaps and Arista hemostatic powder spray after regional lymph node resection. The metastatic tumors involved the axilla in 1 patient with breast carcinoma, the iliac and inguinal regions in 2 patients with carcinomas of theuterine cervix and the rectum, and the inguinal region in 9 patients, including4 patients with malignant fibrous histiocytoma（3 in the thigh, 1 in the leg）,2 patients with squamous carcinomas in the leg, 1 patient with synovial sarcomain the knee, 1 patient with epithelioid sarcoma in the leg, and 1 patient with malignant melanoma in the foot. As for the lymph node removal therapy. 1 patientunderwent axillary lymph node removal, 2 palients underwent lymph node removal in theiliac and inguinal regions, and 9 patients underwent lymph node removal inthe inguinal region. Meanwhile, of the 12 patients, 6 patients underwent transpostion of sartourius flaps with Arista hemostatic powder, 3 patients underwent transposition of the rectus abdominis myocutaneous flaps (including 2 patients treatedwith Arista spray befor the wound closure and 1 patient treated by transposition of local skin flaps with Arista spray used again),and 3 patients underwent only the suturing of the wounds combined with Arista. At the same time, of the 12 patients,only 4 patient underwent the transplantation of artificial blood vessels. Results The follow-up for 2-10 months after operation revealed that 10 patients, who had received the transposition of tissue flaps and the spray of Arista hemostatic powder, had the first intention of the incision heal with seroma cured. Nine patients were given a preventive use of Arista hemostaticpowder and therefore no seroma developed. The combined use of the transpositionof tissue flaps and Arista hemostatic powder spray achieved a success rate of 100% in the prevention or treatment of seroma. However, 1 patient developed microcirculation disturbance 24 hours after operation and underwent disarticulation of the hip; 1 patient developed pelvic cavity hydrops and died 10 months after operation. Conclusion The combined use of transposition of tissue flaps and Arista hemostatic powder spray can effectively prevent or treat seroma after regional lymph node removal in a patient with malignant tumor.
Objective To evaluate the efficacy of Yangxue Qingnao Grain for migraine. Methods We searched The Cochrane Library (Issue 3, 2007), EMBASE (1974 to June 2007), PubMed (1966 to June 2007), VIP (1989 to June 2007), CNKI (1979 to June 2007) and CBM (1978 to June 2007) to identify randomized controlled trials or quasirandomized controlled trials comparing Yangxue Qingnao Grain versus sibeline for migraine. The quality of included studies was critically assessed and data analyses were performed with The Cochrane Collaboration’s RevMan 4.2.7. Results Eight studies were included, involving 5 randomized trials and 3 quasi-randomized trials. Meta-analyses showed that the total response rate (RR=1.07, 95%CI 1.00 to 1.15, P=0.06), the duration of headache (WMD 1.33, 95%CI – 0.87 to 3.52, P=0.24), and the frequency of headache episodes (WMD 0.93, 95%CI –1.00 to 2.86, P=0.35) were similar between Yangxue Qingnao Grain and sibeline. One study reported that the changes of ACA (WMD 3.70, 95%CI –3.46 to 10.86), MCA (WMD 0.60, 95%CI –10.37 to 11.57), ICA (WMD 3.40, 95%CI –4.35 to 11.15) and DCA (WMD – 2.30, 95%CI –9.52 to 4.92) revealed by transcranial doppler sonography were also comparable between the two groups. Conclusion Yangxue Qingnao Grain is effective in the treatment of migraine, but its superiority over sibeline is not demonstrated. Due to the poor quality and small sample of the included trials, more large-scale multi-center randomized trials are needed.
Objective
To investigate whether recombinant human serum albumin (rHSA) can replace traditional B27 as a basic medium for differentiation of human pluripotent stem cells (hPSCs) into cardiomyocytes.
Methods
hPSCs were seeded at a cell density of 1.2×104/cm2; until up to 75% confluency hPSCs were induced by differentiation medium containing various concentration of rHSA (0, 50, 100, 200 g/L). Light microscope and fluorescence microscope recorded the whole process of stem cells differentiating into myocardium. Flow cytometry was used to detect the cardiac differentiation efficiency at different concentrations of rHSA. Immunofluorescence staining was used to detect the cardiac specific protein α-actinin and troponin T (cTnT) and electron microscope to observe the ultrastructure of human pluripotent stem cell-derived cardiomyocytes (hPSC-CM) and beating rates of hPSC-CMs response to drugs.
Results
A large number of spontaneous beating cardiomyocytes were observed 9 days after induction and differentition. The percentage of colonies showing beating cardiomyocytes was 60.4% at the concentration of 200 g/L of rice derived-rHSA. Beating cardiomyocytes were α-actinin and cTnT positive. Ultrastructural analysis showed scattered sarcomeres and mitochondrial. hPSC-CMs were dose-dependent on isopropyl adrenaline and verapamil.
Conclusion
Using such simple media to differentiate hPSCs into functional cardiomyocytes is cost-effective and highly efficient, and can be used in the clinical research.
Objective To determine the influence of combinative assessment of 64 multi-slice spiral computer tomography (MSCT) and serum amyloid A protein (SAA ) on the selection of operative procedures in lower rectal cancer.MethodsProspectively enrolled 130 patients diagnosed definitely as lower rectal cancer (distance of tumor to the dentate line ≤7 cm) at West China Hospital of Sichuan University from July 2007 to September 2008 were randomly assigned into two groups with 65 participants, respectively. In one group named MSCT+SAAgroup, both 64 MSCT and SAA combinative assessment were made for the preoperative evaluation. In another group named MSCT group, only the preoperative MSCT was made. Furthermore, the preoperative staging and predicted operation procedures were compared with postoperative pathologic staging and practical operation program, respectively.ResultsAccording to the criteria, 119 patients with colorectal cancer were actually included into MSCT+SAA group (n=58) and MSCT group (n=61). The baselines characteristics of two groups were basically identical. For MSCT+SAAgroup, the accuracies of preoperative staging T, N, M and TNM were 89.66%, 79.31%, 100% and 77.59%, respectively; For MSCT group, the corresponding rates were 86.89%, 70.49%, 100% and 65.57%, respectively. There was a statistically significant difference of the accuracy of prediction to operative procedures in two groups (93.10% vs. 80.33%, P=0.041). The clinical staging (P=0.001), preoperative T staging (P=0.000), M staging (P=0.016), TNM staging (P=0.013) and serum level of SAA (P=0.029) were related to the selection of operative procedures when analyzing the relationship between the operative procedures and multiple clinicopathologic factors in lower rectal cancer. ConclusionCombinative assessment of 64 MSCT and SAA could improve the accuracy of preoperative staging, thus provide higher predictive coincidence rate to operative procedures for surgeon.
ObjectiveTo observe and evaluate the predictive value of serum cystatin C (Cys-C) on the risk of sight-threatening diabetic retinopathy (STDR). MethodsA non-randomized controlled cross-sectional clinical study. Ninety-two patients with type 2 diabetes mellitus (T2DM) who were admitted to Department of Ophthalmology of Beijing Tsinghua Changgung Hospital from January 2022 to October 2022 were included in the study. Among them, 50 were male, 42 cases were female, with the mean age of (58.24±12.49) years. The mean duration of T2DM was (13.18±8.35) years, of which 38 cases had a duration of ≥10 years. Twenty-nine cases complicated with hypertension, of which 16 cases had a duration of ≥10 years. Seventeen cases complicated with chronic kidney disease stage 2 and 23 cases were treated with lipid-lowering drugs. Hemoglobin Alc, serum Cys-C, serum lipids and renal function were tested, and urinary microalbumin/creatinine ratio (ACR) was calculated. According to the 2003 American Academy of Ophthalmology "Clinical Guidelines for Diabetic Retinopathy (DR)" and international clinical DR severity grading standards, the patients were divided into STDR and non-STDR groups, with 44 and 48 cases in each group, respectively. STDR was defined as severe non-proliferative DR, proliferative DR, and macular edema. Logistic regression was used to analyze the independent risk factors of STDR in T2DM patients. Receiver operating characteristic curve (ROC curve) was used to calculate and analyze the area under ROC curve (AUC) and the predictive value of serum Cys-C and ACR in predicting STDR in T2DM patients. ResultsSerum Cys-C levels in STDR and non-STDR groups were 1.10 (0.94, 1.28) and 0.91 (0.83, 1.02) mg/L, respectively, with ACR of 4.29 (1.05, 21.89) and 1.39 (0.77, 3.80) mg/mmol, respectively. Compared with non-STDR group, serum Cys-C and ACR in STDR group were higher, and the difference was statistically significant (Z=－3.984, －3.280; P＜0.05). Multivariate logistic regression analysis showed that serum Cys-C was an independent risk factor for STDR (odds ratio=1.337, 95% confidence interval 1.145-2.090, P=0.033), and the risk of STDR increased by 33.7% for every 0.1 mg/L increase in serum Cys-C. ROC analysis results showed that serum Cys-C＞1.065 mg/L combined with ACR＞5.84 mg/mmol predicted the AUC of STDR in T2DM patients was 0.661, with the specificity of 95.8%. ConclusionsThe high serum Cys-C level is an independent risk factor for STDR in T2DM patients. Serum Cys-C has high predictive value for the occurrence of STDR.
Serum alkaline phosphatase (ALP) has long been used as a biomarker for the liver, kidney, and bone. Currently, increasing evidence suggests a correlation between serum ALP and cardiovascular disease (CVD). Research has shown that serum ALP affects endothelial cell function and induces changes in pyrophosphate through various mechanisms to accelerate vascular calcification and promote cardiac fibrosis. Therefore, this article reviews the potential value of serum ALP in CVD through relevant research, revealing the specific relationship between serum ALP and CVD, in order to provide new ideas for the prevention and treatment of CVD.
