Annals of medicine
-
Type 2 diabetes is a major risk factor for atherosclerotic disease. It is well agreed that the reactivity of diabetic platelets is increased but how platelet reactivity regulates is unknown. In our laboratory, density separated platelets have been investigated extensively and high- and low-density platelets circulate in an activated state. The density distribution of circulating platelets is altered in diabetes type 2 as well. We hypothesize that such platelets modify whole blood (WB) in vitro α-thrombin-evoked (10 μM/mL) activity in type 2 diabetes. Thus, the study aims to identify features of circulating normal-sized density subpopulations affecting whole blood (WB) platelet reactivity in type 2 diabetes. ⋯ From the current descriptive work only involving type 2 diabetes, it is impossible to judge whether the findings are features of the disease or if they occur in healthy individuals as well. However, the study describes LAMP-1 expressing subpopulations of circulating normal-sized platelets that associate with WB α-thrombin (10 U/mL) responses in vitro. Increased proportions of such platelets induced lysosomal release and αIIbβ3 receptor activity, whereas lower proportions promoted WB agonist-induced procoagulant platelet creation. It is to hypothesize that the new described regulatory mechanism could in the future offer a possibility to influence platelet behavior in type 2 diabetes.Key messagesLysosomal exocytosis of circulating platelets influences reactivity, as determined by agonist-induced platelet reactions in vitroThus, the low release of lysosomes by normal-sized platelets in vivo increases agonist-evoked procoagulant platelet production.Higher lysosomal exocytosis of circulating normal-sized platelets promotes platelet aggregation and secretion.
-
The future composition of a country's physician workforce depends on medical students' choices of specialties. Students' familiarity with the job market (the healthcare system) they are about to enter and the influence job market conditions have on their choices has not been well explored. This study focuses on whether and how the healthcare system's employment landscape is taken into consideration by medical students and whether this facet adds information about the specialty selection process. ⋯ This study demonstrated the utility of querying medical students about their market awareness when investigating the specialty selection process. Students' poor rating of selection criteria, such as specialties with ease in finding jobs because they are suffering workforce shortages and have empty positions, provide insights and concerns for healthcare leaders. It should aid them in approaching the challenge of attracting students to specialties with workforce shortfalls.KEY MESSAGESThis study demonstrated the feasibility and potential value of adding queries about market awareness when investigating the medical student specialty selection process.Medical students were more interested in a specialty that provides job security than one where it is easy to find work.It could be useful for the healthcare leadership and medical educators in all countries to learn what medical students know about their national healthcare system and whether they need to add more healthcare delivery and system subjects to their curricula.
-
Uterine serous carcinoma (USC) exhibits worse survival rates compared to the endometrioid subtype, and there is currently no effective treatment options for recurrence of this disease after platinum-based chemotherapy. Activation of PIK3CA/AKT/mTOR signaling pathway is a common biological feature in USC. ⋯ These findings suggest that the combination of IPAT and carboplatin has potential clinical implications for developing new USC treatment strategies.
-
To assess the prognostic significance of skin involvement in breast cancer patients with chest wall recurrence (CWR). ⋯ Skin involvement was a predictor of poor disease control in patients with CWR and was closely related to persistent chest wall progression. We stratified the prognosis of individualized treatment for breast cancer patients with CWR to provide new insights into the biological behaviours of the disease.
-
Thyroid nodules are a kind of common endocrine system disease, with approximately 5% of them developing into malignant lesions, the most common of which belong to differentiated thyroid carcinoma (DTC). Accurate differential diagnosis using reliable methods and targeted treatment of benign and malignant thyroid nodules are of great significance to improve patient outcomes. This study mainly investigates the diagnostic value of thyroglobulin (Tg) and anti-thyroglobulin antibody (anti-TgAb) combined with emission computed tomography (ECT) in the adjuvant diagnosis DTC. ⋯ The combination of Tg. anti-TgAb, and RNI can effectively improve the diagnostic accuracy of DTC and reduce the missed diagnosis rate, which has important reference significance for clinical diagnosis and treatment of TC.