Medicine
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Observational Study
A retrospective study of supplemental iron intake in singleton pregnancy women with risk of developing gestational diabetes mellitus.
This study investigated the effect of supplemental iron intake (SII) in early singleton pregnancy women with the risk of developing gestational diabetes mellitus (GDM) among Chinese population. This study included 259 singleton pregnancy participants. Of those, 135 women underwent SII and were assigned to an intervention group, while 124 participants received no SII and were assigned to a control group. ⋯ However, when compared with control group, subjects in the intervention group showed greater efficacy in delivery mode choice of vaginal delivery (P = .04), and cesarean section (P = .01), as well as the birthweight of infants (P < .01). Moreover, Hb and ferritin levels were also significantly higher in the intervention group than those in the control group (P < .01). The results of this retrospective study showed that SII may not increase risk of developing GDM in singleton pregnancy women; and also may benefit both pregnancy women and infants among Chinese population.
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Observational Study
Performance assessment of the inpatient medical services of a clinical subspecialty: A case study with risk adjustment based on diagnosis-related groups in China.
Diagnosis-related groups (DRGs) have been receiving increasing attention in health service research in China. In the present study, we used the 2014 Beijing-Diagnosis Related Groups (BJ-DRGs) to evaluate the inpatient service performance of the clinical subspecialty "major operation of the digestive system" of a cancer specialist hospital. The research hospital is one of 16 public municipal hospitals overseen by the Beijing Health Bureau ("16 hospitals"). ⋯ The mortality rates of the middle-low risk groups (GB15 and GB25) in the research hospital and the 16 hospitals were zero, while the mortality rates for the middle-high risk groups (GB11 and GB23) in the research hospital were significantly lower than those in 16 hospitals. The service capacity of the subspecialty steadily increased in the research hospital. However, the hospital must offer more attention to complex digestive disease cases (GB11/GB23) and strictly control hospitalization expenses, while maintaining the advantages of service efficiency and quality.
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Osteosarcoma (OS), the most common malignant bone tumor, accounts for the heavy healthy threat in the period of children and adolescents. OS occurrence usually correlates with early metastasis and high death rate. This study aimed to better understand the mechanism of OS metastasis. ⋯ Gene Ontology functional and KEGG pathway enrichment analyses showed that significantly OS metastasis-associated genes were involved in pathway correlated with insulin-like growth factor binding. Our research figured out several potential molecules participating in metastasis process and factors acting as biomarker. With this study, we could better explore the mechanism of OS metastasis and further discover more therapy targets.
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Observational Study
Side effects and medication adherence of tyrosine kinase inhibitors for patients with chronic myeloid leukemia in Taiwan.
Nonadherence is common in patients with chronic myeloid leukemia (CML) and leads to treatment failure and poor outcomes. Side effects due to treatment are also common in patients with CML. However, no study has investigated the link between side effects and medication adherence for patients with CML in Taiwan. ⋯ Poor adherence is common in Taiwanese patients with CML. The main reason for a decrease in the adherence rate is the lack of comprehensive information about treatment and medication, particularly in young and single population. The next urgent step is to educate patients about their treatment and management of side effects to improve adherence and treatment outcome for patients with CML in Taiwan.
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Observational Study
The association between MCP-1, VEGF polymorphisms and their serum levels in patients with diabetic foot ulcer.
The purpose of the present study was to investigate distribution of monocyte chemoattractant protein-1 (MCP-1) -2518A/G and vascular endothelial growth factor (VEGF) -634G/C polymorphisms in type 2 diabetes melitus patients (T2DM) presenting diabetic foot ulcer (DFU). Additionally, we evaluated the effects of these 2 polymorphisms on serum levels of MCP-1 and VEGF in the study population. Patients diagnosed with T2DM without or with DFU were recruited in the study. ⋯ Analysis for VEGF -634G/C polymorphisms indicated that the prevalence of CC genotype and C allele of the polymorphisms was decreased in DFU patients, compared with T2DM patients (OR = 0.36, 95% CI = 0.17-0.77, P = .008 and OR = 0.63, 95% CI = 0.43-0.91, P = .015, respectively). DFU patients carrying CC genotype had a higher level of VEGF than those with other genotypes (P = .007). MCP-1 -2518A/G and VEGF -634G/C polymorphisms may involve in occurrence and progress of DFU through regulating transcription activity of the genes.