Risk factors for and predictive nomogram of overall survival in adult patients with craniopharyngiomas: A SEER population-based study

Studies with relatively large sample size as well as long-term follow-up focusing on adult craniopharyngioma (CP) patients are still lacking. We attempted to identify independent prognostic factors and establish a nomogram model to estimate survival rates for adult CP patients.The Surveillance, Epidemiology, and End Results database was used to obtain data on patients with CP. Univariable and multivariable Cox analyses were utilized to identify the prognostic factors of adult CP patients. A survival prediction model was constructed and its predictive performance was also assessed.A total of 991 patients (695 in training group and 296 in validation group) were eligible for final inclusion. Multivariate Cox analysis presented that age at diagnosis, marital status, race, tumor size, and surgery type were statistically significant prognostic factors for overall survival (all P < .05). A graphical predicting nomogram model was developed to calculate the predicted patients’ survival probabilities at 1, 2, 5, and 10 years. The concordance indexes were 0.708 ± 0.019 and 0.750 ± 0.025 for the training and validation samples, respectively, demonstrating favorable discrimination abilities. Similarly, the time-dependent area under curve also showed overall satisfactory discrimination ability. Favorable consistencies between the predicted and actual survival were presented according to the calibration curves.An easy-to-use nomogram, being proven to be with reliable discrimination ability and accuracy, was established to help predict overall survival for adult patients with CP using the identified significant prognostic factors.     

COVID-19 Symptoms and Deaths among Healthcare Workers,United States

We evaluated whether demographics and COVID-19 symptoms predicted COVID-19 deaths among healthcare workers (HCWs) in the United States by comparing COVID-19 deaths in HCWs with 3 control groups (HCW nondeaths, non-HCW deaths, and non-HCW nondeaths) using a case–control design. We obtained patient-level data of 33 variables reported during January 1, 2020–October 12, 2021, in all US states. We used logistic regression analysis while controlling for confounders. We found that persons who were >50 years of age, male, Black, or Asian experienced significantly more deaths than matched controls. In addition, HCWs who died had higher risks for the most severe clinical indicators. We also found that the most indicative symptoms were preexisting medical conditions, shortness of breath, fever, cough, and gastrointestinal symptoms. In summary, minority, male, and older HCWs had greater risk for COVID-19 death. Severe clinical indicators and specific symptoms may predict COVID-19–related deaths among HCWs.     

Racial and Ethnic Healthcare Disparities in Skin Cancer in the United States: A Review of Existing Inequities,Contributing Factors,and Potential Solutions

Objective Racial and ethnic health disparities affect the diagnosis and management of melanoma and nonmelanoma skin cancers, leading to deleterious outcomes. Non-Hispanic White patients make up the majority of skin cancers cases, yet racial and ethnic minorities have poorer prognoses and outcomes. The skin cancer literature is fragmented with regards to potential contributors to these healthcare disparities. In this article, we provide a comprehensive review of the skin cancer literature to briefly quantify racial and ethnic inequities, highlight contributing factors, and propose practical changes that can be made.MethodsA PubMed search was completed to identify articles related to racial and ethnic health care disparities in the context of melanoma, basal cell carcinoma, squamous cell carcinoma, Merkel cell carcinoma, and dermatofibrosarcoma protuberans.ResultsRelative to non-Hispanic White patients, patients of racial and ethnic minorities have differing clinical presentations of skin cancers and genetic risk factors. Insurance, access to specialty care, cultural beliefs, and available educational resources further contribute to racial and ethnic disparities.LimitationsWe are limited to the level of detail provided in the existing literature, and at some times are unable to distinguish race of Hispanic populations. We also acknowledge that there are different nationalities grouped under these broad labels as well as multi-racial populations that may not be accounted for.ConclusionAwareness of and familiarization with innate factors and potentially more modifiable contributors can help inform efforts to close the observed gap in racial and ethnic inequities.     

Nitric oxide-mediated bystander effect induced by heavy-ions in human salivary gland tumour cells

Purpose : To investigate the signal factor and its function in the medium-mediated bystander effect during heavy-ion irradiation of human salivary gland (HSG) neoplastic cells. Materials and methods : Unirradiated recipient HSG cells were co-cultivated with HSG donor cells irradiated with 290 MeV/u carbon beams having different LET values. Cell proliferation and micronucleus (MN) induction in recipient cells with and without treatment of a NO scavenger (PTIO) were measured and the concentration of nitrite in the co-culture medium was detected. As a direct control, the effects of a nitric oxide (NO) generator (sper/NO) on cell proliferation and MN induction were also examined. Results : Increases in cell proliferation and MN induction were found in the recipient HSG cells as a result of co-culturing and cell proliferation was obviously enhanced during a further subculture. In comparison with 13 keV/ μ m, 100 keV/ μ m carbon-ion irradiation was found to be a more efficient inducer of the medium-mediated bystander effect. The treatment of cells by PTIO resulted in elimination of such effects, which supports a role for NO in the medium-mediated bystander effect. As an oxidization product of NO, nitrite was detected in the co-culture medium, and the dose-response for its concentration was similar to that of cell proliferation and MN induction in the recipient cells. When the HSG cells were treated by sper/NO with a concentration of less than 20 μ M, cell proliferation was enhanced, whereas MN increased along with sper/NO concentration. Conclusion : NO participated in the medium-mediated bystander effects on cell proliferation and MN induction, depending on the LET of irradiation.     

An antibody against Siglec-15 promotes bone formation and fracture healing by increasing TRAP+mononuclear cells and PDGF-BB secretion

INTRODUCTION Siglec-15 is a member of the sialic acid-binding immunoglobulintype lectin (Siglecs) family, a group of cell-surface receptors that potentially reg...     

Identification of novel biomarkers differentially expressed between African-American and Caucasian-American prostate cancer patients

Prostate cancer (PCa) incidence and mortality rate vary among racial and ethnic groups with the highest occurrence in African American (AA) men who have mortality rates twice that of Caucasians (CA). In this study, we focused on differential expression of proteins in AA prostate cancer compared to CA using Protein Pathway Array Analysis (PPAA), in order to identify protein biomarkers associated with PCa racial disparity. Fresh frozen prostate samples (n=90) obtained from radical prostatectomy specimens with PCa, including 25 AA tumor, 21 AA benign, 23 CA tumor, 21 CA benign samples were analyzed. A total of 286 proteins and phosphoproteins were assessed using PPAA. By PPAA analysis, 33 proteins were found to be significantly differentially expressed in tumor tissue (n=48, including both CA and AA) in comparison to benign tissue (n=42). We further compared protein expression levels between AA and CA tumor groups and found that 3 proteins were differentially expressed (P<0.05 and q<5%). Aurora was found to be significantly increased in AA tumors, while Cyclin D1 and HNF-3a proteins were downregulated in AA tumors. Predicted risk score was significantly different between AA and CA ethnic groups using logistic regression analysis. In conclusion, we identified Aurora, Cyclin D1 and HNF-3a proteins as being differentially expressed between AA and CA in PCa tissue. Our study suggests that these proteins might be involved in different pathways that lead to aggressive PCa behavior in AA patients, potentially serving as biomarkers for the PCa racial disparity.     

计算机波谱分析与喉动态镜观测在研究喉发声功能中的应用

应用IBM微机系统对31名正常人和31名喉疾病患者进行了声波、波谱描记,并与喉动态镜观察结果进行了比较,对声带的7种疾病的特异性进行了研究,认为二者结合可使喉发声功能的研究提高到新水平。     

2020年肾移植临床国际前沿热点及新进展荟萃

在浩瀚的肾移植相关文献中, 本文汲取和盘点2020年肾移植临床国际前沿热点和难点, 移植新技术、新方法、新视野及新进展荟萃, 主要内容包括排斥反应, 免疫抑制优化应用与调控, 移植感染, 移植后恶性肿瘤, 无创检测与生物标志物, 供者器官保存、修复及利用, 肾移植术后肾病复发, 多因素影响移植肾长期存活, 计算机与人工智能等。加强对肾移植领域文献的阅读与思考, 站在更高的起点开拓视野, 结合中国肾移植临床实践, 以推动肾移植获得更好的长期效果。     

免疫抑制剂细胞内浓度测定的研究进展

细胞外浓度测定作为目前器官移植临床免疫抑制剂治疗药物监测（TDM）的主要手段,与免疫抑制剂药效之间的相关性不理想。随着液相质谱技术的广泛应用,免疫抑制剂细胞内浓度检测技术逐渐成熟。由于细胞内浓度测定可直接检测靶细胞内的药物暴露水平,理论上能更好地反映免疫抑制剂的药效。本文总结了免疫抑制剂细胞内浓度测定的历史与现状,着重介绍免疫抑制剂细胞内浓度的测定方法及其与药效的相关性。免疫抑制剂细胞内浓度测定具有较好的临床应用价值,值得推广。     

硬化注射缝合加内扩括约肌侧切治疗直肠前突的临床研究

目的 探讨硬化注射缝合后加内扩括约肌侧切法治疗直肠前突的有效性.方法 将64例中度及中度以上的直肠前突患者随机分成两组,各32例.试验组行硬化注射缝合加内扩括约肌侧切法治疗,对照组行经直肠切开修补术,并观察两组的治疗效果及并发症.结果 治疗后两组患者症状评分较治疗前降低,两组治疗效果相比无统计学差异,但试验组在术中出血、术后疼痛等并发症方面则优于对照组.结论 硬化注射加柱状缝合法是一种简便有效的治疗直肠前突的方法.