Medicine
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Observational Study
Positive association between constipation and mild cognitive impairment in elders: A cross-sectional study.
This study aimed to examine the association between constipation and mild cognitive impairment (MCI); and further elucidate the possible mechanisms involved. A cross-sectional study was conducted among community-dwelling elders (N = 789) in Nanning, China. Trained research staffs collected detailed information through questionnaires and physical examinations. ⋯ Among these, constipation, history of stroke, and years of schooling were directly related to the occurrence of MCI. Years of schooling indirectly affected MCI through infrequent fruit consumption and constipation; or through inactive physical exercises and history of stroke. This study demonstrates a direct association between constipation and increased risks of MCI.
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The ratio of non-high-density lipoprotein cholesterol to high-density lipoprotein cholesterol, abbreviated as NHHR, represents a brand-new lipid biomarker for assessing cardiovascular disease risk. Research has suggested a link between lipid metabolism and obstructive sleep apnea (OSA). To delve deeper, this study was carried out using data derived from the NHANES to ascertain whether NHHR and OSA are associated. ⋯ Findings from this study uncovered a strong connection between NHHR and an increased possibility of developing OSA in American adults. Further exploration of NHHR could offer insights into OSA prevention and treatment. However, owing to the constraints inherent in cross-sectional studies, more studies are required to establish a concrete link between NHHR and OSA.
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Observational Study
Association between serum globulins and diabetes mellitus in American latent tuberculosis infection patients: A cross-sectional study.
Diabetes mellitus (DM) is predisposing to the development of latent tuberculosis infection (LTBI). An understanding of the underlying factors of LTBI-DM is important for tuberculosis prevention and control. This study aims to evaluate the association between LTBI and DM among the noninstitutionalized civilian population in the United States, focusing on the impact of serum globulins. ⋯ The area under the curve for serum globulin predicting DM was 0.795, with an optimal cutoff value of 2.9. Elevated serum globulin levels are significantly associated with an increased risk of DM among individuals with LTBI, highlighting the potential role of serum globulin as a predictive biomarker for DM in this population. However, the specific mechanism between globulin and LTBI-DM needs to be further investigated.
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Observational Study
Serum ACSL4 levels in prostate cancer patients and its relationship between patient prognosis: A prospective observational study.
In this prospective observational study, our objective was to investigate the serum levels of Acyl-CoA synthetase long-chain family member 4 (ACSL4) in prostate cancer (PCa) patients and examine its association with other serum biomarkers, and the clinical outcomes of PCa patients. This prospective observational study was conducted from January 2019 to October 2021, including 103 cases of PCa patients and 101 cases of benign prostate hyperplasia (BPH) patients who received treatment at our hospital. All patients had their serum ACSL4 levels measured using enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay before treatment. ⋯ Finally, we found that ACSL4, tPSA, and P were identified as risk factors associated with PCa patients. Our findings indicated that the serum levels of ACSL4 were significantly decreased in PCa patients compared to BPH patients. Serum ACSL4 could be used as a potential biomarker for early PCa diagnosis and prognosis.
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Comparative Study
Enhancing English abstract quality for non-English speaking authors using ChatGPT: A comparative study of Taiwan, Japan, China, and South Korea with slope graphs.
A clear and proficient English abstract is crucial for disseminating research findings to a global audience, significantly impacting the accessibility and visibility of research from non-English speaking countries. Despite the adoption of ChatGPT since November 30, 2022, a comprehensive analysis of improvements in English abstracts in scholarly journals has not been conducted. This study aims to identify which authors from Taiwan, Japan, China, and South Korea (TJCS) have shown the most improvement in English abstracts. ⋯ The English abstracts in Medicine (Baltimore) have improved, reflecting the tool's positive impact on enhancing technical language. This study demonstrates that ChatGPT can enhance the quality of English abstracts for authors from non-English speaking regions, although the assumption that all authors use ChatGPT is invalid and impractical. The findings underscore the value of artificial intelligence tools in academic writing and recommend further investigation into the long-term implications of artificial intelligence integration in scholarly communication.