Arch Med Sci
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Non-interventional and other observational studies have become important in medical research. In such observational, non-randomized studies, groups usually differ in some baseline covariates. Propensity scores are increasingly being used in the statistical analysis of these studies. Stratification, also called subclassification, based on propensity scores is one of the possible methods. There is the quasi-standard of using five strata. In this paper we focus on a binary outcome and evaluate the above-mentioned standard of using five strata. ⋯ When applying a stratification, more than five strata may be preferable, especially because of increased power. Our simulation study does not show a clear winner; hence a useful strategy could be to work with five as well as with ten strata.
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Mutations at the DFNA9 locus on chromosome 14q12 are the third most common form of DFNA hearing loss, which is clinically characterized by late onset (in adulthood) progressive sensorineural hearing loss accompanied by vestibular dysfunction. The aim of the study was to search for COCH gene mutations (P51S, V66G, G87W, G88E, V104del, I109N, W117R, A119T, M512T, C542Y) in patients with severe or profound sensorineural hearing loss accompanied by a vestibular lesion. ⋯ No cochlin mutations were found in the group of patients with severe to profound sensorineural hearing impairment accompanied by a vestibular lesion. The COCH gene needs further exploration and analysis of genotype-phenotype correlations.
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Vascular smooth muscle cell (VSMC) proliferation plays a major role in the progression of vascular diseases. In the present study, we established the efficacy and the mechanisms of action of hinokitiol, a tropolone derivative found in Chamaecyparis taiwanensis, Cupressaceae, in relation to platelet-derived growth factor-BB (PDGF-BB) and serum-dependent VSMC proliferation. ⋯ These data suggest that the anti-proliferative effects of hinokitiol in VSMCs may be mediated by activation of p21 and p53 signaling pathways, and it may contribute to the prevention of vascular diseases associated with VSMC proliferation.
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We compared the side effects of ketamine and thiopental used alone and of a ketamine/thiopental combination dose on the brain,heart, and bronchial tissues of rats. ⋯ The studied doses of ketamine led to oxidative stress by increasing the amount of adrenaline. Thiopental increased oxidative stress with decreases in adrenaline. A longer anesthetic effect with minimal adverse events may be achieved by ketamine and thiopental in combination.
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Recently, increasing evidence has shown that long non-coding RNAs (lncRNAs) play critical roles in tumor progression and development. However, the expression pattern and biological function of lncRNA HULC (highly upregulated in liver cancer) in prostate cancer (PCa) remain largely unclear. ⋯ Our data suggested that lncRNA HULC might play oncogenic roles in PCa progression, which provided a novel therapeutic strategy for PCa patients.