Medicine
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Polycystic kidney disease (PCKD) is the most common hereditary cause of end-stage renal disease. The complications associated with this disease may affect the performance of peritoneal dialysis (PD). The aim of this study was to compare the outcomes between patients on PD with PCKD and without PCKD. ⋯ Furthermore, the overall annual medical expenditures were similar between the patients with and without PCKD. PD patients with PCKD are comparable to PD patients without PCKD in terms of risk of death, peritonitis, technique failure, and hospitalization in the present study. Furthermore, the medical expenses of the 2 groups after initiation of PD are also indistinguishable.
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Although CD3-CD56+NKp44+ natural killer (NKp44+NK) cells have been linked to autoimmune diseases including inflammatory bowel disease, ankylosing spondylitis, and primary Sjogren syndrome, the expansion and role of those cells in patients with rheumatoid arthritis (RA) remain less defined. Here, we investigate the proportion and pathogenesis of NKp44+NK cells in patients with RA. The results show NKp44+NK cells significantly expanded in RA peripheral blood and synovial fluid, which were correlated positively with RA disease activity. ⋯ Treated with recombination human IL-22, the proliferation and phosphorylation-STAT3 on RA-FLS increased in a dose-dependent manner and time-dependent manner; the progress of which could be blocked by AG490. The present study clarifies the expansion of NKp44+NK cells in the peripheral blood and synovial fluid of patients with RA, especially in the synovial tissues of RA for the first time. STAT3 is an essential pathway in mediating the effects of IL-22 secreted by NKp44+NK cells on the proliferation of FLS in patients with RA.
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Observational Study
Low-Level Microsatellite Instability as a Potential Prognostic Factor in Sporadic Colorectal Cancer.
Although microsatellite instability-high (MSI-H) colorectal cancers (CRCs) have been shown to exhibit a distinct phenotype, the clinical value of MSI-low (MSI-L) in CRC remains unclear. We designed this study to examine the clinicopathologic characteristics and oncologic implications associated with MSI-L CRCs. We retrospectively reviewed data of CRC patients from 3 tertiary referral hospitals in Korea, who underwent surgical resection between January 2003 and December 2009 and had available MSI testing results. ⋯ However, MSI-L was an independent prognostic factor for poor OS by Cox regression analysis (hazard ratio 1.358, 95% confidence interval 1.014-1.819, P = 0.040). MSI-L may be an independent prognostic factor for OS in sporadic CRCs despite their clinicopathologic similarity to MSS. Further studies investigating the significance of MSI-L in the genesis and prognosis of CRCs are needed.
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Observational Study
Prognostic Significance and Molecular Features of Colorectal Mucinous Adenocarcinomas: A Strobe-Compliant Study.
Mucinous adenocarcinoma (MC) is a special histology subtype of colorectal adenocarcinoma. The survival of MC is controversial and the prognostic biomarkers of MC remain unclear. To analyze prognostic significance and molecular features of colorectal MC. ⋯ In conclusion, the colorectal MC patients had significantly worse CSS than NMC patients, prominently in stage III. MC was an independent prognostic factor associated with worse survival in rectal cancer patients. The PINCH and RAD50 were prognostic biomarkers for colorectal MC patients.
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Observational Study
Association Between Chronic Hepatitis B Virus Infection and Risk of Osteoporosis: A Nationwide Population-Based Study.
The effect of hepatitis B virus (HBV) infection on bone mineral density in patients without advanced liver disease remains unclear. Hence, we assessed the association between HBV infection and the risk of osteoporosis. From 2000 to 2011, patients older than 20 years with HBV infection were identified from the Longitudinal Health Insurance Database 2000. ⋯ Furthermore, the osteoporosis risk contributed by HBV infection has decreased with the presence of comorbidity (aHR = 1.27, 95% CI = 1.09-1.48 vs aHR = 1.04, 95% CI = 0.91-1.15). HBV increases the risk of osteoporosis, but HBV infection may be less influential than other risk factors. Moreover, HBV has no detrimental effect on osteoporotic fracture in this study.