Medicine
-
Steroid-induced osteonecrosis of the femoral head (ONFH) is the most common clinical nontraumatic ONFH. Once ONFH occurs, it seriously reduces patients' quality of life. The matrix metalloproteinase/tissue inhibitor of metalloproteinase (MMP/TIMP) system was found to play a significant role in the development of ONFH. The aim of this study was to identify the associations between 7 genes selected from the MMP/TIMP system and steroid-induced ONFH. ⋯ Our results verify that genetic variants of MMP8 contribute to steroid-induced ONFH susceptibility in the population of northern China. In addition, we found that gender differences might interact with MMP8 polymorphisms to contribute to the overall susceptibility to steroid-induced ONFH.
-
Observational Study
Tumor growth rate of invasive breast cancers during wait times for surgery assessed by ultrasonography.
Several studies suggest that delay in the surgical treatment of breast cancer is significantly associated with lower survival. This study evaluated the tumor growth rate (TGR) of invasive breast cancers during wait times for surgery quantitatively using ultrasonography (US) and identified clinicopathologic factors associated with TGR. This retrospective study was approved by our institutional review board and the requirement for written informed consent was waived. ⋯ On multivariate analysis, surrogate molecular subtype was a significant independent factor of SGR (P = 0.001); triple negative cancers showed the highest SGR (1.003%/day) followed by HER2-positive (0.859 %/day) and luminal cancers (luminal B, 0.208 %/day; luminal A, 0.175%/day) (P < 0.001). Clinical T stage was more frequently upgraded in nonluminal (triple negative, 18% [12/67]; HER2-positive, 14% [3/22]) than luminal cancers (luminal B, 3% [1/30]; luminal A, 2% [4/204]) (P < 0.001). Invasive breast cancers with aggressive molecular subtypes showed faster TGR and more frequent upgrading of clinical T stage during wait times for surgery.
-
Observational Study
Prevalence of chronic cough and possible causes in the general population based on the Korean National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey.
Although chronic cough is very common, its prevalence and causes have been rarely reported in the large general population including smokers. This study aimed to identify the prevalence of possible causes of chronic cough and their clinical impact. From Korean National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey (KNHANES) data including 119,280 adults aged over 40 years, 302 individuals with chronic cough were recruited irrespective of smoking status. ⋯ This pattern was not different according to smoking status excepting the prevalence of COPD. Smoking, COPD, and chest radiographic abnormalities should be considered as causes of chronic cough, along with UACS and asthma. Gastro-esophageal reflux-related cough is not prevalent in study population.
-
The pathogenesis of orthostatic tremor (OT) remains unclear, although some evidence points to dysfunction in the brainstem or cerebellum. We used single voxel proton magnetic resonance spectroscopy (1H-MRS) (3 T) to investigate whether neurochemical changes underlie abnormal cerebellar or cortical function in OT. Fourteen OT patients and 14 healthy controls underwent 1H-MRS studies with voxels placed in midparietal gray matter and cerebellum (vermis and central white matter). ⋯ No differences in the other metabolites or their ratios were observed. Reductions in both cerebral cortical and cerebellar NAA suggest that there is neuronal damage or loss in OT, raising the intriguing question as to whether OT is a neurodegenerative disease. Along with clinical history and electrophysio0logical examination, 1H-MRS could serve as a useful diagnostic aid for OT.
-
Observational Study
Religiosity in black and white older Americans: Measure adaptation, psychometric validation, and racial difference.
Racial difference of religiosity in a heterogeneous older population had long been a focal point of gerontological research. However, most religiosity measures were developed from homogenous sample, few underwent rigorous psychometric validation, and studies on racial difference of religiosity had been obstructed. This cross-sectional study adapted a religiosity measure originally designed for blacks only to a heterogeneous older population of blacks and whites, validated its psychometric properties, and examined racial difference of religiosity. ⋯ We also found racial differences of religiosity in all three domains of the measure, even after adjustment of the detected measurement biases in two domains. In conclusion, the original measure can be adapted to and validated for a heterogeneous older population of blacks and whites. Although the adapted measure can be used to measure the three domains of religiosity in blacks and whites, the observed racial differences of religiosity need to be adjusted for measurement biases before meaningful comparisons.