Changes in cognitive function among older adults: A latent profile transition analysis

Cognitive decline in late life is a crucial health problem. It is important to understand the consistency and change of older adults’ cognitive function in late life. Data for older adults (78 years and above) from the Health and Retirement Study (N = 1680) were used to explore meaningful subtypes of cognitive function and transitions patterns between those profiles across times. Age, gender, levels of education and nursing home were incorporated as covariates to explore the association between these variables and cognitive function transition pattern. Three cognitive function subgroups (Normal Cognitive Function, Fluid Intelligence Impairment and Cognitive Impairment) were identified. Individuals in Normal Cognitive Function status had a high probability to convert to the Fluid Intelligence Impairment status whereas the Cognitive Impairment status appeared a predominant tendency for stability. Increasing age played a significant role in fluid intelligence impairment and cognitive impairment process. Female and individuals with nursing home might be at higher risk of subsequent fluid intelligence impairment, while higher education did not protect against fluid intelligence impairment. These findings highlighted the usefulness to adopt a person-centered approach rather than a variable-centered approach, suggesting directions for future research and tailored interventions approaches to older adults with particular characteristics.     

Model for the onset of fibrillation following coronary artery occlusion

INTRODUCTION: It is the hypothesis of this article that the onset of fibrillation following a coronary artery occlusion is a direct consequence of the spatial inhomogeneity of chemical processes that occur following the occlusion. In particular, the localized increase of extracellular potassium and decrease of ATP availability lead to an increase of resting potential in the affected cells. This difference in potential between affected cells and normal cells drives a current, the "current of injury," which may drive oscillations in the border zone, a "border zone arrhythmia." The border zone arrhythmia may drive a "breakup instability" (related to the action potential duration restitution instability) in the surrounding tissue, leading to self-sustained fibrillation. METHODS AND RESULTS: In this article, we present a mathematical model demonstrating this transition from normal to fibrillatory dynamics, describing the general conditions under which this transition occurs and showing in a simple ionic model the way in which spatial inhomogeneity alone can initiate self-sustained reentrant activity. CONCLUSION: Using general arguments and numerical simulations with generic models of excitable media, we have demonstrated that a spatial region with an elevated resting potential surrounded by a spatial region wherein action potentials are foreshortened can drive a breakup instability, leading to the rapid initiation of a fibrillatory state.     

Perspectives of patients with cystic fibrosis on preventive counseling and transition to adult care

The purpose of this study was to investigate how adolescents and adults with cystic fibrosis (CF) view preventive counseling and their transition to adult-centered care within a children's hospital. Thirty-two patients >/=16 years old diagnosed with CF were recruited from a pediatric tertiary care setting. During face-to-face interviews, patients were asked 27 structured questions and completed a 30-item self-administered questionnaire on preventive counseling by healthcare providers and on transition issues. The median age of patients was 25.5 years (range, 16-43 years); 69% of patients identified a pulmonologist as their "main doctor," even though 78% had a primary care provider. Participants felt that 13-16 years of age was the best time for them to begin spending time alone with their main doctor. Less than half of the participants recalled receiving preventive counseling during the previous 12 months, and more patients wanted to discuss issues than actually did. Qualitative data emphasized the importance of independence in making decisions in healthcare and establishing relationships with providers, and many patients did not desire to transfer care to an adult hospital. Participants identified adult-focused services such as inpatient rooms, discussion groups, work options, and social service support that would enhance care. In conclusion, the majority of adolescent/young adult patients with CF receiving care in a pediatric institution reported satisfaction with their healthcare. However, patients identified preventive issues that they desired to be more regularly addressed, starting in early adolescence, and changes in the delivery of services to enhance transition to adult-oriented care. This study underscored the understanding of the integration of transition planning into the facilitation of healthcare decision-making by the adolescent in issues of self-care, sexuality, education, and finances. Future initiatives to enhance the care of patients with CF should provide training of pulmonologists in preventive care and increased attention to helping patients utilize appropriate primary-care services during the adult years. In addition, prospective studies are needed to compare outcomes of CF patients who have transitioned and transferred to adult hospitals and those transitioning to adult-oriented services in a pediatric institution.     

脾边缘带B细胞淋巴瘤的临床及病理组织学特征

目的：提高对脾边缘带淋巴瘤(SMZL)的认识和诊治水平。方法：对1例男性老年(75岁)SMZL患者的外周血、骨髓及脾脏标本，分别采用光镜、相差显微镜、透射电镜、免疫组织化学染色、RHG显带核型分析及PCR技术研究肿瘤细胞的生物学特征。结果：本例患者肿瘤细胞CD20、CD43、bcl—2表达阳性，肿瘤细胞呈结节状浸润脾脏白髓，致套区和边缘带完全被肿瘤细胞取代。骨髓细胞无异常核型。脾脏有单克隆IgH基因重排，骨髓和外周血未见异常淋巴细胞，无单克隆IgH基因重排。结论：对脾进行性肿大不伴浅表淋巴结肿大患者应疑为SMZL；单克隆IgH基因重排有助于SMZL的诊断，需排除滤泡中心淋巴瘤和套区淋巴瘤；脾切除治疗效果好。     

Clinical and histological features of patients with chronic hepatitis B virus infection in the grey zone

Chronic HBV infection patients who do not conform to any of the usual immune states are regarded as ‘grey zone’ patients. We aimed to investigate the proportion of chronic HBV infection patients in the grey zone, and evaluate the clinical characteristics and liver pathological changes in grey zone patients. Clinical data of 1391 treatment-naive chronic HBV infection patients with liver biopsy were collected. Natural history of HBV infection was determined based on European Association for the Study of the Liver (EASL) 2017, American Association for the Study of Liver Diseases (AASLD) 2018 and Chinese 2019 guidelines for the prevention and treatment of chronic HBV infection. Significant liver histological changes and associated risk factors of normal ALT grey zone patients were analysed. According to EASL, AASLD and Chinese criteria, there were 50.0%, 28% and 37.4% chronic HBV infection patients in the grey zone. Among the 353 grey zone patients with normal ALT, 72.4% had significant liver histological changes. ALT (optimal cut-off value 25 IU/L) and HBV DNA (optimal cut-off value 18,000 IU/mL) were independent risk factors of significant liver histological abnormalities. In conclusion, a substantial proportion of grey zone patients with normal ALT have significant liver histological changes that can be predicted by levels of serum ALT and HBV DNA. These results provide guidance of antiviral treatment in grey zone patients.     

重症监护室过渡期老年肿瘤患者生活质量及其影响因素

目的 分析重症监护室(ICU)转出的老年肿瘤患者过渡期生活质量及影响因素。方法 回顾性分析2021年6月至2023年2月新疆医科大学附属肿瘤医院ICU治疗的240例老年肿瘤患者临床资料,患者均处于ICU转出过渡期,将健康状况调查简表(SF-36)评分＜50分患者纳为观察组(n=70),SF-36得分≥50分患者纳为对照组(n=170)。采用体力状况(ZPS)评分评价患者的一般情况与健康状态,采用微型营养评估量表(MNA)评估患者的营养状况,采用抑郁自评量表(SDS)和焦虑自评量表(SAS)评价患者心理状况,采用视觉模拟评分(VAS)评价患者的疼痛程度。采用SPSS 20.0软件进行数据分析。根据数据类型,组间比较分别采用t检验、U检验、χ²检验及方差分析。采用多因素logistic回归分析ICU转出过渡期老年肿瘤患者生活质量的影响因素。结果 观察组患者SF-36评分[(41.15±5.74)和(68.88±7.43)分]及医护服务满意度[(83.43±8.87)和(94.65±9.46)分]明显低于对照组,差异均有统计学意义(P＜0.05)。观察组年龄76~85岁、患慢性疾病＞3种、重度抑郁、重度焦虑、中度疼痛、行手术治疗、ICU入住时间＞5d比例及体力状况评分明显高于对照组,血小板水平及MNA评分明显低于对照组(P＜0.05)。多因素logistic回归分析提示,中度疼痛(OR=2.964,95%CI 2.004~7.964)、ICU入住时间＞5d(OR=5.750,95%CI 2.442~7.975)为老年肿瘤患者ICU转出过渡期生活质量下降的危险因素,MNA评分(OR=0.973,95%CI 0.955~0.991)为其保护因素(P＜0.05)。结论 老年肿瘤患者ICU转出过渡期存在生活质量降低情况,医护人员应密切关注患者病情变化及心理变化,根据患者生活质量状况实施处理措施,以此促进患者身体的恢复。     

Exosomes in ascites from patients with human pancreatic cancer enhance remote metastasis partially through endothelial-mesenchymal transition

BackgroundDespite advances in multidisciplinary treatment, the prognosis of pancreatic cancer remains poor. Since distant metastasis defines prognosis, elucidation of the mechanism of metastasis is important for improving survival. Exosomes are extracellular secretory vesicles and are responsible for intercellular communication. In this study, we investigated whether exosomes secreted by human pancreatic cancer cells are involved in promoting distant metastasis of cancer and the mechanism that underlies the promotion of metastasis.MethodsExosomes were isolated from ascites of a patient with pancreatic cancer and a patient with liver cirrhosis as a control. Three days after the administration of exosomes to nude mice, GFP-labeled human pancreatic cancer cells were injected via the spleen or tail vein, and then the liver and lungs were histologically analyzed. To elucidate the mechanism, vascular permeability was estimated using FITC-dextran in place of pancreatic cancer cells in vivo and human umbilical vascular endothelial cells (HUVECs) were used to analyze vascular permeability and the induction of endothelial-mesenchymal transition (EndMT) in vitro.ResultsDistant metastasis and vascular permeability were significantly enhanced in mice treated with exosomes from pancreatic cancer patients in comparison to exosomes from a control patient in vivo. In addition, exosomes from pancreatic cancer patients significantly enhanced vascular permeability and the induction of EndMT in HUVECs in vitro.ConclusionExosomes derived from pancreatic cancer cells form a pre-metastatic niche and promote the extravasation and colonization of pancreatic cancer cells to remote organs, partially through endothelial-mesenchymal transition.     

Transforming growth factor-β during carcinogenesis: the shift from epithelial to mesenchymal signaling

Transforming growth factor-β (TGF-β) activates not only TGF-β type I receptor (TβRI) but also c-Jun N-terminal kinase (JNK), changing unphosphorylated Smad3 to its phosphoisoforms: C-terminally phosphorylated Smad3 (pSmad3C) and linker phosphorylated Smad3 (pSmad3L). While the TβRI/pSmad3C pathway inhibits growth of normal epithelial cells, JNK/pSmad3L-mediated signaling is involved in invasion by activated mesenchymal cells. During sporadic human colorectal carcinogenesis, TGF-β signaling confers a selective advantage on tumor cells by shifting from the TβRI/pSmad3C pathway characteristic of mature epithelial cells to the JNK/pSmad3L pathway, which is more characteristic of the state of flux shown by the activated mesenchymal cells. JNK acts as a regulator of TGF-β signaling by increasing the basal level of pSmad3L available for action in the nuclei of the invasive adenocarcinoma, in the meantime shutting down TGF-β-dependent nuclear activity of pSmad3C. Loss of epithelial homeostasis and acquisition of a migratory, mesenchymal phenotype are essential for tumor invasion. From the viewpoint of TGF-β signaling, a key therapeutic aim in cancer would be restoration of the lost tumor suppressor function observed in normal colorectal epithelial cells at the expense of effects promoting aggressive behavior of the adenocarcinoma. Specific inhibitors of the JNK/pSmad3L pathway might prove useful in this respect. In the case of molecularly targeted therapy for human cancer, pSmad3L and pSmad3C could be assessed as biomarkers to evaluate the likely benefit from specific inhibition of the JNK/pSmad3L pathway.     

Crossing cultures: the lived experience of Jordanian graduate students in nursing: a qualitative study

This qualitative phenomenologic study explores the meaning of crossing cultures as experienced by Jordanian graduate students in nursing. Seven male and female students participated in conversations and journals regarding their experiences in the academic, social and professional realms of an American culture at a private, mid-Atlantic university. An analysis of the text revealed an overarching theme, "metamorphosis of self." Events leading to the metamorphosis included being chosen, experiencing a time full of memories, feeling bombarded with stimuli and "looking to do something" as professional nurses in Jordan.     

塔中古隆起碳酸盐岩断裂组合模式及油气分布规律———以塔中碳酸盐岩地层为例

塔中古隆起碳酸盐岩地层内发育多类型、多期次、多级别断裂系统, 构造变形复杂, 对勘探开发造成不 利影响。针对此问题, 基于地震精细解释, 钻井、测井资料分析, 建立了主干断裂、分支断裂及裂缝带3 级破碎系 统, 预测有利裂缝发育带, 指导井位部署。取得如下认识: ①塔中古隆起发育走滑型和断褶型两种破碎带。走滑型 破碎带剖面上为“三花六带” 模式, 平面上发育4 个带。断褶型破碎带根据逆冲断裂与褶皱的组合形式分为3 大类、 6 个亚类; ②根据断裂性质, 裂缝带划分为走滑型和褶皱型两大型、8 个亚类, 断裂分段性、褶皱几何形态和构 造位置是裂缝带分布差异的主控因素; ③羽状裂缝带、断褶型裂缝带及叠合型裂缝带是油气聚集有利区, 利于单 井高产。