Medicine
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Betel-quid is commonly used around the world and is listed as a Group I carcinogen. Prior research has suggested a possible association between antidepressants and betel-quid use. We aimed to clarify the effects of antidepressant therapy in betel-quid chewers in the population of patients with depression. ⋯ After antidepressant therapy, the addictiveness of betel-quid was significantly reduced by 4 times. This was a pioneering study showing that antidepressants could be a candidate for betel-quid cessation therapy. Future clinical trials are needed to verify their efficacy in reducing consumption for betel-quid addiction treatment.
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To investigate the interaction between the single nucleotide polymorphism of the 3' untranslated region (3'UTR) of the pentraxin 3 (PTX3) gene, as well as environmental factors and the preeclampsia risk in a Chinese Han population. Sanger sequencing was used to analyze rs5853783 and rs73158510 loci of the PTX3 gene 3'UTR from 235 patients with preeclampsia and 235 control subjects. The plasma PTX3 protein level was measured by enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA). ⋯ The AUC of plasma PTX3 protein level diagnosis of preeclampsia in PTX3 gene rs5853783 locus II genotype subjects was up to 0.9371, followed by the ID genotype (AUC = 0.8586); the DD genotype was the lowest (AUC = 0.8154). The AUC of plasma PTX3 protein level diagnosis of preeclampsia in rs73158510 locus GG genotype subjects was 0.9102, GA genotype was 0.8766, and AA genotype was 0.8750. The rs5853783 and rs73158510 SNPs in the 3'UTR region of the PTX3 gene are associated with the risk of preeclampsia in a Chinese Han population.
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Observational Study
Epidemiology of low-energy wrist, hip, and spine fractures in Chinese populations 50 years or older: A national population-based survey.
The aim of the study was to investigate the incidence of low-energy fracture of wrist, hip, and spine and the related risk factors in Chinese populations 50 years or older. This study was a part of the Chinese National Fracture Survey (CNFS) carried out in 8 Chinese provinces in 2015. Data on 154,099 Chinese men and women 50 years or older were extracted from the CNFS database for calculations and analyses. ⋯ These epidemiologic data on low-energy fractures provided updated clinical evidence base for national healthcare planning and preventive efforts in China. Corresponding interventions such as decreasing alcohol consumption and sleep improvement should clearly be implemented. For women, especially those with more births and past history of fracture, routine screening of osteoporosis, and intensive nourishment since menopause should be advocated.
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The aim of this study was to evaluate the risk factors and elucidate the clinical characteristics of cancer-associated ischemic stroke to differentiate it from conventional ischemic stroke in China and East Asia. Between June 2012 and June 2016, a retrospective analysis was performed on 609 stroke patients with cancer. They were divided into 3 groups: cancer-stroke group (CSG, 203 cases), stroke group (SG, 203 cases), and cancer group (CG, 203 cases). ⋯ Univariate analysis of the CSG and the others shows there were significant differences in the prevalence of the levels of D-dimer and DWI pattern, hypertension, diabetes mellitus, and thrombus. CSG has a unique pathological characteristic including high plasma D-dimer levels and multiple vascular lesions. The results show that D-dimer and DWI can be used as diagnostic index in clinical practice.
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Observational Study
Evaluating the association between avascular necrosis of femoral head and oral corticosteroids use in Taiwan.
The aim of this study was to assess a correlation between avascular necrosis of femoral head and oral corticosteroids use in the general population in Taiwan. A population-based case-control study was performed to analyze the database of Taiwan National Health Insurance Program. The study consisted of 3002 subjects aged 20 to 84 with newly diagnosed avascular necrosis of femoral head between 2000 and 2013 as the cases and 11279 sex-matched and age-matched subjects without avascular necrosis of femoral head as the matched controls. ⋯ A significant association is detected between avascular necrosis of femoral head and oral corticosteroids use in the general population in Taiwan. There is a duration-dependent effect of oral corticosteroids use on the risk of avascular necrosis of femoral head. Clinicians should be aware of the risk of avascular necrosis of femoral head when oral corticosteroids are prescribed for a long time.