Medicine
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Parathyroid hormone-related peptide (PTHrP) is known to have a pivotal role in the progression of various solid tumors, among which prostate cancer stands out. However, the extent of PTHrP expression and its clinical implications in prostate cancer patients remain shrouded in obscurity. The primary objective of this research endeavor was to shed light on the relevance of PTHrP in the context of prostate cancer patients and to uncover the potential underlying mechanisms. ⋯ The present study indicates that PTHrP is associated with risk factors of poor outcomes in prostate cancer, while epithelial-mesenchymal transition may be involved in this process.
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Observational Study
Analysis on status quo and related factors of delays in diagnosis and treatment of breast cancer in Ningxia Hui Autonomous Region.
This study aimed to explore factors contributing to the delays in the diagnosis and treatment of breast cancer (BC) in Ningxia Hui Autonomous Region. We conducted a cohort analysis of 1012 patients with BC diagnosed at the General Hospital of Ningxia Medical University between January 2018 and December 2019. Sociodemographic data were collected through questionnaires, and clinical data were gathered and analyzed from relevant databases. ⋯ Patients aged 51 to 60 and those with molecular types (Limanal1B: ki-67 > 14%, Limanal1B: HER-2 positive) were prone to patient delay, whereas molecular characteristics influenced system delay, unrelated to sociodemographic factors. The study identifies significant age, residency, and tumor molecular subtype correlations with diagnostic and treatment delays in Ningxia's patients with BC, predominantly affecting women aged 41 to 60, especially urban dwellers. These findings underscore the need for targeted interventions to reduce delays and improve BC care in this region.
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The purpose of the present study was to mechanically verify after vertebral augmentation (AVA) scores using a finite element method (FEM) with accurate material constants of balloon kyphoplasty (BKP) cement. Representative cases with AVA scores of 1 (case 1), 3 (case 2), and 5 (case 3) among patients with vertebral body fractures who underwent BKP were analyzed. A FEM model consisting of 5 vertebral bodies was created, including the injured vertebral body in each case. ⋯ Fractures were detected by compressive forces of 3300 N (upper) and 3300 N (lower), 3000 N (upper) and 3100 N (lower), and 1200 N (upper) and 1200 N (lower) in cases 1, 2, and 3, respectively. The AVA scoring system was mechanically verified using the accurate material constants of BKP cement. A multicenter survey and external validation are therefore required for the clinical implementation of the AVA score.
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This paper demonstrates a digital manufacturing technique of a removable orthodontic appliance from an intraoral scan. An intraoral scan was made for the maxillary and mandibular arches. 3Shape Orthodontics Appliance Designer produced the virtual Hawley retainer, consisting of alloy components (Adam Clasps and Fitted Labial bow) and a base plate. The base plate design was modified to adapt to inserting the alloy components, which were combined using cold-cured acrylic. ⋯ A combination of additive and subtractive techniques was successfully employed to manufacture the alloy components and base plate. This novel method provides an alternative approach to manufacturing removable appliances with computer-aided design (CAD)/computer-aided manufacturing (CAM) technologies. The described process offers a precursor to digital manufacturing of other developed designs of dental appliances.
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Observational Study
An observation study of the effect of "Internet + Nursing" on psychological status and quality of life of patients with thyroid eye disease.
"Internet + Nursing" refers to medical institutions using Internet technologies and big data to provide nursing services to discharged patients or those with severe illnesses unable to visit hospitals, through online applications and offline care provision. This study aimed to explore the influence of "Internet + Nursing" on the psychological status and quality of life of patients with thyroid eye disease. Sixty-eight patients with thyroid eye disease from January 2021 to December 2022 were divided into a research group (n = 34, joined the platform) and control group (n = 34, not joined the platform) based on their voluntary participation in our hospital's "Internet + Nursing Platform." The self-rating anxiety scale (SAS) and self-rating depression scale (SDS) scores of the research group were lower than those of the control group (P < .05). ⋯ Additionally, after nursing, the levels of interleukin-6 (IL-6), interleukin-1β (IL-1β), and tumor necrosis factor-α (TNF-α) in the research group were lower than those in the control group (P < .05). The patients in the research group exhibited higher recognition scores of nursing compared to those in the control group (P < .05). Through the implementation of "Internet + Nursing" for patients with thyroid eye disease discharged from our hospital, we can provide better out-of-hospital nursing for patients, reduce the occurrence of complications, improve ocular surface symptoms, promote visual acuity recovery, and improve patients' psychological status and quality of life.