Blood pressure variability and cognitive dysfunction: A systematic review and meta‐analysis of longitudinal cohort studies

The variability of blood pressure (BPV) has been suggested as a clinical indicator for cognitive dysfunction, yet the results from clinical studies are variable. This study investigated the relationship between BPV and the risk of cognitive decline or dementia. Bibliographic databases, including PubMed, Scopus, and Embase, were searched systematically for longitudinal cohort studies with BPV measurements and neuropsychological examinations or dementia diagnosis. A traditional meta‐analysis with subgroup analysis, and a further dose‐response meta‐analysis were conducted. Twenty cohort studies with 7 924 168 persons were included in this review. The results showed that a higher systolic BPV (SBPV), when measured with the coefficient of variation (SBP‐CV) or standard deviation (SBP‐SD), was associated with a higher risk of all‐cause dementia diagnosis but not incidence of cognitive decline on neuropsychological examinations. In subgroup analysis, the effect was more prominent when using BPV of shorter timeframes, during shorter follow‐ups, or among the elderly aged more than 65 years. No dose‐response relationship could be found. Our study suggested possible positive associations between SBPV and the risk of dementia. Further studies are required to validate these findings.     

Enhanced electrical and thermal properties of semi-conductive PANI-CNCs with surface modified CNCs

Cellulose nanocrystals (CNCs) are the most commonly used natural polymers for biomaterial synthesis. However, their low dispersibility, conductivity, and poor compatibility with the hydrophobic matrix hinder their potential applications. Therefore, we grafted sulfate half-ester and carboxylic functional groups onto CNC surfaces (S-CNC and C-CNC) to overcome these shortcomings. The effect of the dopants, surfactant ratios, and properties of CNCs on the thermal stability, conductivity, and surface morphology of polyaniline (PANI)-doped CNC nanocomposites were investigated through emulsion and in situ polymerization. The higher electrical conductivity and well-dispersed morphology of SCNC–PANI₃₀ (1.1 × 10⁻² S cm⁻¹) but lower thermal stability than that of CCNC–PANI₃₀ (T₀: 189 °C) nanocomposites are highly related to dispersibility of S-CNCs. However, after 4-dodecylbenzenesulfonic acid (DBSA) was added, the conductivity and thermal stability of SCNC/PANI increased up to 2.5 × 10⁻¹ S cm⁻¹ and 192 °C with almost no particle aggregation because of the increase in charge dispersion. The proposed biodegradable, renewable, and surface-modified S-CNC and C-CNC can be used in high-thermal-stability applications such as food packaging, optical films, reinforcement fillers, flexible semiconductors, and electromagnetic materials.

Biodegradable surface-modified CNCs were synthesized found high dispersibility and flexibility. Polyaniline-doped CNCs nanocomposites were exhibited high conductivity and thermal stability that may be promising for flexible semiconductors.     

Expression of BCL10 is significantly associated with the progression and prognosis of oral squamous cell carcinomas in Taiwan

This study used an immunohistochemical technique to examine the expression of BCL10 in 93 specimens of oral squamous cell carcinoma (OSCC) and 21 specimens of normal oral mucosa (NOM). We found a significant correlation between the higher mean BCL10 labeling index (LI) and OSCCs at the tongue, with larger tumor size, with positive lymph node metastasis, with more advanced clinical stages, or with recurrence (all p-values=0.000). Positive lymph node metastasis (p=0.044) and BCL10 LI>50% (p=0.037) were identified as independent unfavorable prognosis factors by multivariate analyses with Cox regression model. The Kaplan-Meier curve showed that OSCC patients with a BCL10 LI>50% had a significantly poorer cumulative survival than those with a BCL10 LI<50% (log-rank test, p<0.00001). We conclude that the BCL10 LI in OSCC samples can predict the progression of OSCCs and the survival of OSCC patients.     

Cefuroxime-impregnated cement and systemic cefazolin for 1 week in primary total knee arthroplasty: An evaluation of 2700 knees

BackgroundInfection is one of the most devastating complications after primary total knee arthroplasty (TKA). Antibiotics-impregnated cement has been used and proven effective in preventing deep infection. This study was to evaluate the long-term results of using cefuroxime-impregnated cement and systemic cefazolin for one week to assess their efficacy in preventing infection of primary TKA.MethodsFrom 1999 to 2007, 2700 cases of primary TKA were performed with cemented fixation of all patellar, tibial, and femoral components. Cefuroxime-impregnated cement for fixation and systemic cefazolin for one week were selected in all cases. The average follow-up period was 89 months (range, 40–140). The effects of this selected regime in the periprosthetic infection were evaluated.ResultsA total of eight infections occurred after primary TKA, including five deep infections (0.19%) and three superficial infections (0.11%) in the 2700 knees. No loosening or osteolysis was noted.ConclusionComparable with other measurements, cefuroxime-impregnated cement, accompany by systemic cefazolin for 1 week was shown to control postoperative deep infection to 0.19% (after primary TKA was performed in an operative setting without lamina flow and body exhaust suit).     

Rapid induction of cytokine gene expression in the lung after single and fractionated doses of radiation

PURPOSE: To investigate cytokine gene expression in the lung after single and fractionated doses of radiation, and to investigate the effect of steroids and the genetic background. MATERIALS AND METHODS: Expression of cytokine genes (mTNF-alpha, mIL-1alpha, mIL-1beta, mIL-2, mIL-3, mIL-4, mIL-5, mIL-6, mIFN-gamma) in the lungs of C3H/HeJ and C57BL/6J mice was measured by RNase protection assay at different times after various doses of radiation. The effects of dexamethasone and fractionated radiation treatment on gene expression were also studied. RESULTS: IL-1beta was the major cytokine induced in the lungs of C3H/HeJ mice within the first day after thoracic irradiation. Radiation doses as low as 1 Gy were effective. Responses to 20 Gy irradiation peaked within 4-8h and subsided by 24 h. With the exception of IL-1alpha and TNF-alpha, the other cytokines that were investigated had undetectable pre-treatment mRNA levels and were not radiation inducible. Similar responses were seen in C57BL/6J mice, although TNF-alpha was induced and there were some quantitative differences. Pre-treatment of C3H/HeJ mice with dexamethasone reduced basal and induced IL-1 levels, but complete inhibition was not achieved. Dexamethasone was also effective if given immediately after irradiation. Fractionated daily doses of radiation (4 Gy/day) helped to maintain cytokine gene expression for a longer period. CONCLUSIONS: Inflammatory genes are rapidly induced in the lung by irradiation. This response cannot be readily abolished by steroid pre-treatment. Fractionated treatment schedules help to perpetuate the response.     

A Stabilized Kriging Method for Mapping Disease Rates

BackgroundMapping disease rates is an important aspect of epidemiological research because it helps inform public health policy. Disease maps are often drawn according to local administrative areas (LAAs), such as counties, cities, or towns. In LAAs with small populations, disease rates are unstable and are prone to appear extremely high or low. The empirical Bayes methods consider variance differences among different LAAs, thereby stabilizing the disease rates. The methods of kriging break the constraints of geopolitical boundaries and produce a smooth curved surface in the form of contour lines, but the methods lack the stabilizing effect of the empirical Bayes methods.MethodsAn easy-to-implement stabilized kriging method is proposed to map disease rates, which allows different errors in different LAAs.ResultsMonte Carlo simulations revealed that the stabilized kriging method had smaller symmetric mean absolute percentage error than three other types of methods (the original LAA-based method, empirical Bayes methods, and traditional kriging methods) in nearly all scenarios considered. Real-world data analysis of oral cancer incidence rates in men from Taiwan demonstrated that the age-standardized rates in the central mountainous sparsely-populated region of Taiwan were stabilized using our proposed method, with no more large differences in numerical values, whereas the rates in other populous regions were not over-smoothed. Additionally, the stabilized kriging map had improved resolution and helped locate several hot and cold spots in the incidence rates of oral cancer.ConclusionWe recommend the use of the stabilized kriging method for mapping disease rates.Key words: kriging method, incidence, oral cancer, disease map