Articles: function.
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Due to the controversy on the feasibility of laparoscopic-assisted anorectoplasty (LAARP) for the treatment of the anorectal malformation (ARM) with rectobulbar fistula (RBF), this study aimed to compare the outcomes of LAARP and posterior sagittal anorectoplasty (PSARP) for ARM with RBF. Demographic data, postoperative complications, and bowel function of RBF patients who underwent LAARP and PSARP at 2 medical centers from 2016-2018 were retrospectively reviewed. Eighty-eight children with RBF were enrolled, including 43 in the LAARP group and 45 in the PSARP group. ⋯ The groups had equivalent Bowel Function Score (15.29 ± 2.36 vs 15.58 ± 2.88, P = .645), but the LAARP group had better voluntary bowel movement (94.6% vs 84.2%, P = .148) by Krickenbeck classification. The intermediate-term outcomes of LAARP show that the urethral diverticulum was rare by the intraluminal incision of the fistular and the bowel function was comparable to that of PSARP in ARM with rectobulbar fistula. However, LAARP was associated with smaller perineal wounds.
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To examine the reliability and validity of eye-hand coordination pointing with pencil test (EHCPPT), which evaluates the spatial and temporal displacement of rhythmic movements. One hundred and thirty-five older adults participated in our study. Reproducibility of the EHCPPT was assessed by the participants tapping on the center of the circles using a tablet pen in response to 2 types of stimulus sound sequences (Test A and B) across 2 separate trials, the first and second half. ⋯ Spatial and temporal displacements were correlated with motor and cognitive functions. The spatial and temporal displacements of EHCPPT indicated reproducibility and validity in older adults. The EHCPPT may serve as a rhythmic movement reflecting motor and cognitive functions.
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A meta-analysis of randomized controlled trials. ⋯ In summary, we considered that IS had similar effects with DS in hospital stay, blood loss, spinous process fracture, disc height decrease, VAS score, Oswestry Disability Index score, and Zurich Claudication Questionnaire Symptom severity, and was better in some indices such as operation time, dural violation, Zurich Claudication Questionnaire Physical function, and foraminal height decrease than DS. However, due to the higher rate of reoperation in the IS group, we considered that both IS and DS were acceptable strategies for treating LSS. As a novel technique, further well-designed studies with longer-term follow-up are needed to evaluate the effectiveness and safety of IS.
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Various sperm preparation techniques have been developed to obtain functionally, genetically and morphologically high-quality competent spermatozoa for use in assisted reproductive technologies, which may affect treatment options and thus pregnancy outcomes and live birth rates. We aimed to compare swim-up washing procedure (SWP) and microfluidics sperm sorting (MSS) with regard to sperm separation, pregnancy outcomes and live birth rates in infertile couples receiving intrauterine insemination. A total of 326 couples with unexplained infertility who underwent intrauterine insemination were enrolled in this retrospective cohort study and were divided into 2 groups according to sperm preparation technique. ⋯ Other variables, including female age, type and reason of infertility, number of cycles, and sperm motility and concentration, were found to be nonsignificant (P > .05). We observed nonsignificant worse reproductive results using microfluid sperm selection in comparison to the pellet swim-up technique (live birth rate = 12% vs 20%). Our evidence is of limited quality due to the retrospective design of this study and sufficiently powered RCTs are needed to evaluate whether sperm selection based using a microfluidic chip is better, similar, or worse than the pellet swim-up technique.
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Telomeres exert a critical role in chromosome stability and aberrant regulation of telomerase may result in telomeres dysfunction and genomic instability, which are involved in the occurrence of cancers. However, limited studies have been performed to fully clarify the immune infiltration and clinical significance of telomeres-related genes (TRGs) in lung adenocarcinoma (LUAD). The number of clusters of LUAD was determined by consensus clustering analysis. ⋯ Moreover, LUAD patients with high risk score had a high TMB score, low TIDE score and IC50 value of common drugs, suggesting that high risk score group might benefit from receiving immunotherapy, chemotherapy and target therapy. We also developed a lncRNA KCNQ1QT1/miR-296-5p/PLK1 regulatory axis. Our study identified 2 telomeres-related clusters and a prognostic model in LUAD, which could be helpful for risk stratification, prognosis prediction and treatment approach selection.