ObjectiveTo explore the association of pretreatment hyponatremia with clinicopathological and prognostic characteristics of non-small cell lung cancer (NSCLC) patients. MethodsThe PubMed, EMbase, Web of Science, VIP, CNKI and WanFang databases were searched from the inception to July 12, 2021 for relevant literatures. The quality of included studies was assessed by the Newcastle-Ottawa Scale (NOS) score. The relative risk (RR) and hazard ratio (HR) with 95% confidence interval (CI) were combined to assess the relationship between pretreatment hyponatremia and clinicopathological and prognostic characteristics. The prognostic indicators included the overall survival (OS) and progression-free survival (PFS). All statistical analysis was conducted by the STATA 15.0 software. ResultsA total of 10 high-quality studies (NOS score≥6 points) involving 10 045 patients were enrolled and all participants were from Asian or European regions. The pooled results demonstrated that male [RR=1.18, 95%CI (1.02, 1.36), P=0.026], non-adenocarcinoma [RR=0.86, 95%CI (0.81, 0.91), P＜0.001] and TNM Ⅲ-Ⅳ stage [RR=1.17, 95%CI (1.12, 1.21), P＜0.001] patients were more likely to experience hyponatremia. Besides, pretreatment hyponatremia was significantly related to worse OS [HR=1.83, 95%CI (1.53, 2.19), P＜0.001] and PFS [HR=1.54, 95%CI (1.02, 2.34), P=0.040]. Pretreatment hyponatremia was a risk factor for poor prognosis of NSCLC patients. ConclusionMale, non-adenocarcinoma and advance stage NSCLC patients are more likely to experience hyponatremia. Meanwhile, the pretreatment sodium level can be applied as one of the prognostic evaluation indicators in NSCLC and patients with hyponatremia are more likely to have poor survival. However, more researches are still needed to verify above findings.
ObjectiveTo investigate the clinical characteristics of epileptics with pregnancy and then provide reference for standardized management of epileptics with pregnancy. MethodsFrom June 2012 to June 2021, epileptics with pregnancy who delivered in Jinan Central Hospital were selected as the research subjects. The clinical data such as the application of Antiseizure medications (ASMs) during pregnancy, seizure frequency, pregnancy outcomes, delivery ways, offspring feeding ways and the incidence of complications were investigated and analyzed. ResultsAmong 36 epileptics with pregnancy, 20 cases (55.56%) were treated with ASMs alone, 5 cases (13.88%) were treated with combined medication, and 11 cases (30.56%) were treated without ASMs during pregnancy. 15 cases (41.67%) adhered to systematic application of ASMs, 17 cases (47.22%) did not adhere to systematic application of ASMs, and 4 cases (11.11%) had unknown medication history. The frequency of seizures increased in 5 cases, decreased in 7 cases and unchanged in 24 cases during pregnancy. Pregnancy outcomes: full-term delivery in 33 cases (91.67%), preterm delivery in 1 case (2.78%) and abortion in 2 cases (5.56%). Delivery mode: cesarean section in 31 cases (91.18%), vaginal delivery in 3 cases (8.82%). After delivery, 4 cases (11.76%) were fed with milk powder and 30 cases (88.24%) were breast-fed. Complications: There were 6 cases complicated with anemia (16.67%), 5 cases complicated with gestational hypertension (13.89%), 3 cases complicated with gestational diabetes (8.33%), 4 cases complicated with premature rupture of membranes (11.11%), 2 cases complicated with fetal growth restriction (5.56%), 2 cases complicated with oligohydramnios (5.56%), 3 cases complicated with fetal distress (8.33%) and 3 cases complicated with neonatal asphyxia (8.33%). ConclusionsThe proportion of epileptics with pregnancy who were systematically treated with ASMs was low and the seizures were poorly controlled. There is a lack of standardized management for such patients in clinical practice.
Objective To analyze the relationship between the residence and oncological characteristics of colorectal patients served by Sichuan University West China Hospital as a regional center in the current version of the Database from Colorectal Cancer (DACCA). Methods The DACCA version selected for this data analysis was the updated version on January 5, 2022. The data items analyzed included: residence, precancerous lesions, family history of cancer, tumor location, tumor morphology, tumor orientation, tumor pathology, tumor differentiation and preoperative TNM staging. According to the regional distribution of colorectal cancer patients' residence in the database, they were divided into Sichuan group and non-Sichuan group, and the Sichuan group was further divided into Sichuan-Chengdu group and Sichuan-non-Chengdu group. Results The DACCA database was filtered by conditions to obtain 7 232 valid data. ① The composition ratio of precancerous lesions in different places of residence: The difference between the Sichuan group and the non-Sichuan group was statistically significant (χ2=14.462, P=0.003), and the difference between the Sichuan-Chengdu group and the Sichuan-non-Chengdu group was not statistically significant (χ2=7.591, P=0.101). ② Composition ratio of family history of cancer in different places of residence: In the family history of cancer in oneself, the difference between Sichuan group and non-Sichuan group as well as between Sichuan-Chengdu group and Sichuan-non-Chengdu group were not statistically significant (χ2=1.121, P=0.606; χ2=1.047, P=0.621). In the family history of cancer in relatives, the differences in the composition ratio of different tumor histories between the Sichuan group and the non-Sichuan group, and between the Sichuan-Chengdu group and the Sichuan-non-Chengdu group were not statistically significant (χ2=0.813, P=0.692; χ2=2.696, P=0.262). ③ Tumor site composition ratios in different places of residence: The difference between Sichuan group and non-Sichuan group was not statistically significant (χ2=0.476, P=0.490), and the difference between Sichuan-Chengdu group and Sichuan-non-Chengdu group was statistically significant (χ2=36.216, P<0.001). ④ Tumor morphology composition ratio in different places of residence: The difference between Sichuan group and non-Sichuan group was statistically significant (χ2=19.560, P<0.001), and the difference between Sichuan-Chengdu group and Sichuan-non-Chengdu group was not statistically significant (χ2=5.377, P=0.247). ⑤ Composition ratio of tumor orientation in different places of residence: The differences in composition ratio of tumor orientation between Sichuan group and non-Sichuan group and between Sichuan-Chengdu group and Sichuan-non-Chengdu group were statistically significant (χ2=17.484, P=0.005; χ2=26.820, P<0.001). ⑥ Composition ratio of tumor pathological properties under different residence: The differences in the comparison of pathological properties between Sichuan group and non-Sichuan group as well as between Sichuan-Chengdu group and Sichuan-non-Chengdu group of CRC patients were not statistically significant (χ2=8.136, P=0.408; χ2=7.278, P=0.506). ⑦ Composition ratio of tumor differentiation degree under different residence groupings: the differences in the composition ratio of tumors with different degrees of differentiation were not statistically significant between Sichuan group and non-Sichuan group, and between Sichuan-Chengdu group and Sichuan-non-Chengdu group (H=0.289, P=0.591; H=0.156, P=0.693). ⑧ The composition ratio of TNM staging of tumors before operation in different places of residence: between the Sichuan group and the non-Sichuan group, the difference in the composition ratio of preoperative TNM staging of CRC patients was statistically significant (H=8.023, P=0.005); between the Sichuan-Chengdu group and the Sichuan-non-Chengdu group, the difference in the composition ratio of preoperative TNM staging of CRC patients was not statistically significant (H=0.218, P=0.640). Conclusions Data analysis in DACCA reveal multiple associations between the place of residence and oncological characteristics of CRC patients. There are differences in the composition of the types of precancerous lesions among CRC patients in different places of residence. The proportion of CRC is higher in the family history of cancer. In terms of the site of tumor occurrence, the proportion of tumors located in the rectum is higher than that in the colon. In the composition of tumor morphology in all regions, the ulcerative type is the most frequent. The composition of tumor orientation is different in patients with CRC, and those who has involved a circle of the intestinal wall are the most frequent. Most CRC patients are already in middle or late stage when the tumor is discovered, and the proportion of middle or late stage patients in non-Sichuan provinces was even higher.
In the present study, a finite element model of L4-5 lumbar motion segment was established based on the CT images and a combination with image processing software, and the analysis of lumbar biomechanical characteristics was conducted on the proposed model according to different cases of flexion, extension, lateral bending and axial rotation. Firstly, the CT images of lumbar segment L4 to L5 from a healthy volunteer were selected for a three dimensional model establishment which was consisted of cortical bone, cancellous bone, posterior structure, annulus, nucleus pulposus, cartilage endplate, ligament and facet joint. The biomechanical analysis was then conducted according to different cases of flexion, extension, lateral bending and axial rotation. The results showed that the established finite element model of L4-5 lumbar segment was realistic and effective. The axial displacement of the proposed model was 0.23, 0.47, 0.76 and 1.02 mm, respectively under the pressure of 500, 1 000, 1 500 and 2 000 N, which was similar to the previous studies in vitro experiments and finite element analysis of other people under the same condition. The stress distribution of the lumbar spine and intervertebral disc accorded with the biomechanical properties of the lumbar spine under various conditions. The established finite element model has been proved to be effective in simulating the biomechanical properties of lumbar spine, and therefore laid a good foundation for the research of the implants of biomechanical properties of lumbar spine.
ObjectiveTo investigate the clinical characteristics and risk factors of patients with coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19), to provide a basis for clinical classification, diagnosis, and treatment.MethodsThe clinical data of COVID-19 patients comfirmed between January 17th and February 13th, 2020 were collected, single-factor test and multivariate logistic regression were used to compare the relevant indicators between the mild or common cases and the severe or critically severe cases.ResultsA total of 202 patients with COVID-19 were included, with an average age of 45.2 years and a male-to-female ratio of 1∶1.02. There were 146 patients (72.3%) without underlying diseases. The average time from onset to diagnosis was 5.4 d, and 31 were clustering epidemic cases. There were 13 (6.4%) mild cases, 151 (74.8%) common cases, 32 (15.8%) severe cases, and 6 (3.0%) critically severe cases. The main clinical symptoms were fever, cough, gasp, and diarrhea. Of the 202 patients, 135 (66.8%) had normal white blood cell count, 22 (10.9%) had lymphocyte ratio >40%, 18 (8.9%) had elevated aspartate aminotransferase (AST), 11 (5.4%) had elevated creatine kinase MB isoenzyme (CKMB), and 143 (70.8%) had elevated C-reactive protein (CRP). Single factor analyses showed that there were statistically significant differences between the mild or common cases and the severe or critically severe cases in the days of diagnosis, age, underlying disease, percentage of neutrophil, percentage of lymphocyte, arterial oxygen partial pressure, CRP, procalcitonin, lactate dehydrogenase, creatine kinase, CKMB, and AST (all P<0.05); multiple logistic regression analysis showed that CRP [odds ratio (OR)=1.035, 95% confidence interval (CI) (1.015, 1.055), P=0.001], CKMB [OR=1.078, 95%CI (1.023, 1.135), P=0.005], and AST [OR=1.042, 95%CI (1.016, 1.069), P=0.002] were correlated with clinical classification.ConclusionsCOVID-19 patients are mild or common cases mostly. CRP, CKMB, and AST are elevated in some cases, which may be related to early inflammation and certain myocardial damages and are independent risk factors for predicting classification.
ObjectiveTo discuss the clinical characteristics of liver cirrhosis in elderly patients. MethodsWe retrospectively analyzed the clinical data of 67 patients (elderly group) with liver cirrhosis aged ≥60 treated between January 1998 and December 2010. Then, we compared these cases with another 72 liver cirrhosis patients (non-elderly group) aged<60. ResultsThe incidence of jaundice, ascites and albumin deficiency in the elderly patients was significantly higher than that in the non-elderly patients (P<0.05). Complications in the elderly group were relatively more, including electrolyte imbalance, infections, gastrointestinal bleeding, hepatic encephalopathy, liver cancer, liver and kidney syndrome and liver and lung syndrome, and the incidence of these complications was all significantly higher than the non-elderly group (P<0.05) except the liver and kidney syndrome (P>0.05). The causes of liver cirrhosis in both groups were similar. The most common cause was hepatitis B virus infection, followed by chronic alcoholism, but in the elderly group, chronic alcoholism, cholestasis, poisoning from medicines and poisons and liver blood circulation disorders were more common than the non-elderly group (P<0.05); hepatitis B and non-alcoholic fatty hepatitis were more common in the non-elderly group than in the elderly group (P<0.05). The elderly group had more Child-Pugh class C cases (P<0.05), while there were more class A cases in the non-elderly group (P<0.05). Twenty-six patients died in the elderly group with a mortality rate of 38.8%; while only 13 died in the non-elderly group with a mortality rate of 18.1%. The difference of mortality rate was significant between the two groups (P<0.05). Common causes of death in the elderly group were infection, hepatic encephalopathy, and electrolyte disorders and gastrointestinal bleeding, while the common causes of death in the non-elderly group were gastrointestinal bleeding and electrolyte disorders. ConclusionThe etiology, clinical manifestations and prognosis of liver cirrhosis in elderly patients differ from those in younger patients. We must pay more attention on treating complications of liver cirrhosis in elderly patients.
ObjectiveTo investigate the biological characteristics of bone marrow mesenchymal stem cells (BMSCs) in microenvironment of premature senescence of nucleus pulposus cells (NPCs) so as to lay a foundation for the repair of intervertebral disc degeneration by BMSCs transplantation. MethodsHuman degenerative nucleus pulposus and normal bone marrow were collected, and then NPCs and BMSCs were isolated, cultured, and identified. The 3rd passage BMSCs and the 1st passage NPCs with premature senescence were co-cultured without contact in the Transwell culture system. NPCs to BMSCs ratio was 75%:25% (group A), 50%:50% (group B), and 0:100% (group C). The morphological changes of BMSCs were observed by inverted phase contrast microscopy and transmission electron microscopy. At 3 and 6 days after co-culture, cell counting kit 8 was used to detect cell viability, flow cytometry was used to observe the cell cycle and detect DNA metabolism after BrdU labeling. Cell senescence was also evaluated by detecting senescence associated β-galactosidase (SA-β-gal) activity. ResultsThe typical morphology of cell senescence was seen in groups A and B, especially in group A. At 3 and 6 days after co-culture, the cell survival rate of group A was significantly lower than that of group B (P<0.05). At 3 days after co-culture, the proportion of cells in G1 phase in group A was significantly higher than that in groups B and C (P<0.05), the proportion of cells in S phase in group A was significantly lower than that in groups B and C (P<0.05). At 6 days, the proportion of cells in G1 phase in group A was about 81.0%, and the proportion of cells in S phase and G2 phase decreased, showing significant difference when compared with groups B and C (P<0.05); the proportion of cells in G1 phase in group B was about 74.4%, showing significant difference when compared with group C (P<0.05). BrdU content in group A was significantly lower than that in groups B and C at 3 and 6 days after co-culture (P<0.05), but no significant difference was found between groups B and C at 3 days (P>0.05); Brdu content in group B was also significantly reduced when compared with group C (P<0.05) at 6 days. At 6 days, SA-β-gal activity was significantly increased in groups A and B, and significant difference was shown in SA-β-gal positive cell number between groups (P <0.05). ConclusionPremature senescence of NPCs can down-regulate the proliferation capacity of co-cultured BMSCs by the paracrine effect. The greater proportion of NPCs with premature senescence is, the earlier senescence of BMSCs will be induced.
Objective To study the differences of obstructive sleep apnea hypopnea syndrome (OSAHS)-related indexes between Uyghur and Han, and to provide evidence for the development of individualized treatment measures for different ethnic groups. Methods 224 Han OSAHS patients were collected from Guangdong Provincial Hospital of Chinese Medicine, and 178 Uygur OSAHS patients were collected from The First People’s Hospital of Kashi between January 2018 and December 2019. The collected data information included age, sex, nationality, body mass index (BMI), apnea hypopnea index (AHI), lowest oxygen saturation (LSaO2), OSAHS stage, mean corpuscular hemoglobin concentration (MCHC), triglyceride (TG), total cholesterol (TC), high density lipoprotein (HDL), low density lipoprotein (LDL), fasting blood glucose (FBG), and glycosylated hemoglobin (HbAlc). After using propensity matching scores to reduce confounding factors, differences in above indicators between different nationalities were compared. Results The mean values of MCHC, TC and HDL in Uygur OSAHS patients were lower than those in Han patients at the same stage, and the mean values of LSaO2 and LDL in mild and severe Uygur OSAHS patients were lower than those in Han patients at the same stage, with statistically significant differences (all P<0.05). There were no significant differences in AHI, TG, FBG or HbAlc between Uygur and Han patients with OSAHS. Conclusion There are significant differences in LSaO2, LDL, MCHC, TC and HDL between Uygur and Han Chinese patients with OSAHS.
Patch clamp is a technique that can measure weak current in the level of picoampere (pA). It has been widely used for cellular electrophysiological recording in fundamental medical researches, such as membrane potential and ion channel currents recording, etc. In order to obtain accurate measurement results, both the resistance and capacitance of the pipette are required to be compensated. Capacitance compensations are composed of slow and fast capacitance compensation. The slow compensation is determined by the lipid bilayer of cell membrane, and its magnitude usually ranges from a few picofarads (pF) to a few microfarads (μF), depending on the cell size. The fast capacitance is formed by the distributed capacitance of the glass pipette, wires and solution, mostly ranging in a few picofarads. After the pipette sucks the cells in the solution, the positions of the glass pipette and wire have been determined, and only taking once compensation for slow and fast capacitance will meet the recording requirements. However, when the study needs to deal with the temperature characteristics, it is still necessary to make a recognition on the temperature characteristic of the capacitance. We found that the time constant of fast capacitance discharge changed with increasing temperature of bath solution when we studied the photothermal effect on cell membrane by patch clamp. Based on this phenomenon, we proposed an equivalent circuit to calculate the temperature-dependent parameters. Experimental results showed that the fast capacitance increased in a positive rate of 0.04 pF/℃, while the pipette resistance decreased. The fine data analysis demonstrated that the temperature rises of bath solution determined the kinetics of the fast capacitance mainly by changing the inner solution resistance of the glass pipette. This result will provide a good reference for the fine temperature characteristic study related to cellular electrophysiology based on patch clamp technique.
Objective To explore the correlation of Gli1 expression with clinical characteristics and prognosis of liver cancer. Methods Such Databases as PubMed, Embase, CNKI, Wanfang Database and Chinese Biomedical Literature Database were searched to collect cohort studies, which has published on the correlation between the expression of Gli1 and the clinical pathologic features of liver cancer and its prognostic value from the establishment of the databases to December 2016. Results Twelve studies with a total of 831 patients were included in this study. The high expression of Gli1 was associated with the tumor diameter >5 cm [relative risk (RR)=1.39, 95% confidence interval (CI) (1.08, 1.79)], clinical stage [RR=1.26, 95%CI (1.05, 1.51)], intrahepatic metastasis [RR=1.39, 95%CI (1.06, 1.83)] and venous invasion [RR=1.44, 95%CI (1.01, 2.04)], but the correlation of Gli1 expression was not significant with gender, histological differentiation, tumor diameter >3 cm, hepatitis B virus, cirrhosis and alpha fetoprotein. Meanwhile, the results of Meta-analysis showed that the higher Gli1 expression in liver cancer patients had a worse 3-/5-year overall survival rate and overall survival rate than those of the lower Gli1 expression group [3-year, RR=3.38, 95%CI (2.01, 5.67); 5-year, RR=1.51, 95%CI (1.19, 1.91); overall survival, RR=1.60, 95%CI (1.11, 2.30)]. And the higher Gli1 expression in liver cancer patients had a worse disease free survival rate than that in the lower Gli1 expression group [RR=1.89, 95%CI (1.35, 2.66)]. Conclusion The high expression of Gli1 is associated with poor prognostic outcome in liver cancer, and may be used as an important prognostic marker for patients with liver cancer.