Modeling Clinical Outcomes in Prostate Cancer: Application and Validation of the Discrete Event Simulation Approach

Objectives

Treatment landscape in prostate cancer has changed dramatically with the emergence of new medicines in the past few years. The traditional survival partition model (SPM) cannot accurately predict long-term clinical outcomes because it is limited by its ability to capture the key consequences associated with this changing treatment paradigm. The objective of this study was to introduce and validate a discrete-event simulation (DES) model for prostate cancer.

Physical Activity Patterns and Correlates of 9-Month-Old Chinese Infants in the Macau Population

Objectives Many obesity-related chronic diseases originate from unhealthy childhood habits. The aim of this study was to describe 9-month-old infants’ physical activity levels and patterns and to examine the correlates. Understanding these factors is necessary for improving the effectiveness of physical activity intervention programs for infants. Methods In total, 143 infant–mother dyads from Macau, SAR China, participated in this study. Physical activity (PA) was assessed by using the Actigraph GT3X+ accelerometer and the demographic variables were collected by questionnaires. Results The most important findings were that: (1) infants had more screen time during weekdays (p?=?.044); (2) infants and mothers were least active at 8 a.m. (both weekdays and weekends) in the morning and most active at 7 p.m. (weekdays) and 8 p.m. (weekends) in the evening; (3) infants’ PA levels significantly correlated with their mothers’ PA intensities during the weekends (r?=?.192, p?=?.036), especially the mothers’ lower intensities in the mornings and evenings; (4) maternal BMI predicted the PA levels of the 9-month-old infants’ (R²?=?.06, β?=?29.188, p?=?.009). Conclusions for Practice Physical activity promotion programs for infants should be time-specific starting from early infancy. This study was one of the first to examine 9-month-old infants’ PA levels, patterns and correlates. The results may be helpful in improving the effectiveness of future healthy lifestyle intervention programs for infants in Macau and in the region in general.     

Peripheral blood leukocyte telomere length is associated with age but not renal function: A cross-sectional follow-up study

Objectives

We aimed to evaluate the relationship between baseline renal function and changes in telomere length in Han Chinese.

Methods

The telomere restriction fragment (TRF) length of leukocytes in the peripheral blood was measured in healthy volunteers recruited in 2014. The estimated glomerular filtration rate (eGFR) was calculated based on serum creatinine (Scr) and serum cystatin C (CysC)-eGFRcys and eGFRScr-cys through the Cockcroft-Gault formula (eGFRC-G) or the Chronic Kidney Disease Epidemiology Collaboration (CKD-EPI / eGFRCKD-EPI) equation. The correlation between telomere length changes over time and renal function was analyzed.

Results

Leukocyte TRF lengths were negatively correlated to age (r = -0.393, p < 0.001) and serum CysC (r = -0.180, p < 0.01), while positively associated with eGFRCKD-EPI, eGFRC-G, eGFRcys, and eGFRScr-cys (r = 0.182, 0.122, 0.290, and 0.254 respectively, p < 0.01). The 3-year change of telomere length was 46 bp/years. When adjusted for age, the associations between telomere length changes and baseline, subsequent TRF lengths, and serum CysC were no longer present. No association was observed between TRF length changes and renal function.

Conclusion

The rate of telomere length changes was affected by age and baseline telomere length. The telomere length changes might be important markers for aging.

     

Lifestyle factors and social ties associated with the frequency of laughter after the Great East Japan Earthquake: Fukushima Health Management Survey

Purpose

Although mental health problems such as depression after disasters have been reported, positive psychological factors after disasters have not been examined. Recently, the importance of positive affect to our health has been recognised. We therefore investigated the frequency of laughter and its related factors among residents of evacuation zones after the Great East Japan Earthquake of 2011.

Methods

In a cross-sectional study on 52,320 participants aged 20 years and older who were included in the Fukushima Health Management Survey in Japan’s fiscal year 2012, associations of the frequency of laughter with changes in lifestyle after the disaster, such as a changed work situation, the number of family members, and the number of address changes, and other sociodemographic, psychological, and lifestyle factors were examined using logistic regression analysis. The frequency of laughter was assessed using a single-item question: “How often do you laugh out loud?”

Results

The proportion of those who laugh almost every day was 27.1%. Multivariable models adjusted for sociodemographic, psychological, and lifestyle factors demonstrated that an increase in the number of family members and fewer changes of address were significantly associated with a high frequency of laughter. Mental health, regular exercise, and participation in recreational activities were also associated with a high frequency of laughter.

Conclusion

Changes in lifestyle factors after the disaster were associated with the frequency of laughter in the evacuation zone. Future longitudinal studies are needed to examine what factors can increase the frequency of laughter.

     

Parent–child separation: the relationship between separation and psychological adjustment among Chinese rural children

Purpose

The current study aimed to explore the characteristics of psychological adjustment among Chinese left-behind children (LBC) in rural areas, and to examine the association between separation duration from parent/parents (SDP) and children’s psychological adjustment and the extent to which personality mediates this hypothesized link.

Methods

We surveyed 534 rural children and adolescents aged 10–17 years at school (440 LBC and 94 non-LBC) in 2013, who were selected for participation using stratified cluster sampling from two counties in Chongqing, China. Measures used included socio-demographic variables, age at the commencement and end of the separation from parents, the revised Chinese Juvenile Eysenck Personality Questionnaire, and the Adolescent Psychological Adaptability Scale.

Results

Most children (82.4%) had experienced separation from parents. t test results showed a marginally significant difference (p?=?.08) in psychological adjustment between LBC (mean?=?64.44, SD?=?8.62) and non-LBC (mean?=?66.16, SD?=?9.26). LBC’s mean SDP was 5.64 years (SD?=?3.90). Correlation analysis showed that children’s SDP was negatively associated with psychological adjustment. Structural equation modeling showed that neuroticism, but not extraversion or psychoticism, fully mediated the link between children’s SDP and psychological adjustment.

Conclusion

Personality (neuroticism) is one of the mediating pathways through which long-term SDP may predict poor psychological adjustment among children. Given the detrimental impact of long-term SDP, interventions should target the mediating pathway to buffer against the negative impact of parental separation on the affected rural children and to improve their mental health.

     

中西药治疗脉络膜新生血管性疾病疗效观察

目的:观察黄斑方联合抗氧化剂治疗脉络膜新生血管性疾病(CNV)的临床疗效。方法:对2004年至2015年就诊的31例(35只眼)视力、眼底彩照进行回顾性分析,并将视力与眼底形态学改变进行相关分析。结果:视力平均值治疗前与治疗后3、6、12个月时比较差异有统计学意义(P0.05);治疗后3个月时与治疗后6个月时比较,差异也有统计学意义(P0.05);治疗后6个月时与治疗后12个月时比较,差异无统计学意义(P0.05)。CNV总面积平均值治疗前与治疗后3个月时比较,差异无统计学意义(P0.05);治疗前与治疗后6、12月时比较,差异有统计学意义(P0.05);治疗后3个月时与治疗后6、12个月时比较,差异有统计学意义(P0.05);治疗后6个月时与治疗后12个月时比较,差异有统计学意义(P0.05)。治疗后12个月时视力提高19只眼(54.3%),视力稳定14只眼(40.0%),视力下降2只眼(5.7%)。CNV最大病灶面积与视力在治疗前无相关性,在治疗后3、6、12个月时均呈负相关。结论:黄斑方联合抗氧化剂治疗脉络膜新生血管性疾病能有效缩小病灶及减少荧光素渗漏。     

Absence of sustained effects of acute fluoride exposure on cyclic AMP levels in the adult rat.

Previously published results from studies of the in vivo effects of fluoride on cyclic AMP are contradictory. Because of the important physiological role of cyclic AMP as a "second messenger" in numerous metabolic processes, it was important to clarify the effect of fluoride on cyclic AMP. This study was designed to monitor cyclic AMP levels in the plasma, liver and kidney of rats at intervals of 0.5, 4 and 24 hours following acute intraperitoneal or intubated treatment with a single dose of 15 mg fluoride/kg and to relate cyclic AMP levels to plasma and tissue fluoride concentrations determined at the same time.     

A comparative study of the treatment of unilateral fractured and dislocated mandibular condyles in the rabbit

This study evaluated the results of three methods of managing simulated unilateral dislocated fractured mandibular condyles in the rabbit. The first method consisted of surgical reduction of the fractured condyle to its anatomic position and its subsequent fixation with a titanium plate. The second method differed from the first by completely detaching the condyle, then replacing it as free graft. The third method left the fractured condyle in its dislocated position outside the glenoid fossa. Eighteen rabbits were used, 6 animals for each method. Half the animals in each group were killed at 4 weeks, the other half at 14 weeks postoperatively. Clinical, morphologic, functional, radiologic, and histologic examinations were conducted on all animals. The results indicated that open reduction with internal fixation with no disruption of the blood supply to the condyle provided the most favorable results. While closed reduction without internal fixation gave good functional results, definite reduction in ramus height on the operated site was observed in this group of animals. Animals that had open reduction and internal fixation using the condyle as a free graft did not do as well as the other two groups. Despite good mouth opening and occlusion, more animals showed facial asymmetry and it was more severe. None of the condyles were lost as result of necrosis, but healing took longer when compared with the other group of animals.     

牙周基础治疗后龈沟液中IL-6和TNF-α的变化

目的 :探讨牙周基础治疗对龈沟液中IL - 6和TNF -α水平的影响。方法 :选取成人牙周炎位点 87个 ,用夹心ELISA法进行龈沟液IL - 6和TNF -α水平的检测并记录相关临床指标 ,然后行牙周基础治疗。治疗后 6周再次检测观察牙的龈沟液IL - 6和TNF -α水平及相关临床指标 ,比较牙周基础治疗前后龈沟液中IL - 6、TNF -α及相关临床指标的差异。结果 :牙周基础治疗前后探诊深度 (PD)、附着丧失 (AL)及龈沟液中IL - 6、TNF -α水平都有显著性改变 (P <0 .0 5 ) ;龈沟液量、菌斑指数 (PLI)和改良龈沟出血指数 (mBI)有非常显著性改善 (P <0 .0 1)。结论 :牙周基础治疗在降低各项临床指标的同时对龈沟液中IL - 6和TNF -α水平也有明显影响 ,确实有控制牙龈炎症的作用