bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025_split huggingface dataset:
Cochlear implantation effect on deaf children with gap junction protein beta 2 gene mutation
Authors: KONG Ying , LIU Sha , WANG Su-ju , Li Shu-jing , LIANG Shuang 
Published: January 2024

Background
The popularization and promotion of gene diagnosis technology makes it possible to detect deafness genes for children with congenital hearing impairment, and the proportion of gap junction protein beta 2 (GJB2) gene mutations in cochlear implant patients is 26.5%. We did follow-up evaluation on auditory rehabilitation effect for all 31 deaf children with GJB2 gene mutation after cochlear implantation to provide a reference for such patients.

Methods
Application of “the genetic deafness gene chip detection kit” and “gene complete sequence analysis” were applied to conduct detection on common genetic deafness gene mutation hotspots of the hearing impaired children with cochlear implantation. To conduct auditory rehabilitation effect evaluation on all 31 cases of patients with GJB2 genetic deafness after 3, 6 and 12 months of the operation respectively. The single factor repeated measure analysis of variance (ANOVA) was applied to analysis whether there were significant difference among the results of initial consonant of a Chinese syllable recognition at 3 different stages after the operation, the results of vowel of a Chinese syllable recognition at 3 different stages after the operation, and the results of two-syllable recognition at 3 different stages after the operation.

Results
The 235delC is the high-incidence mutational site in 31 cases of patients with GJB2 genetic deafness, and the total detection rate is up to 90.3% (28/31). There were significant differences in the initial consonant and the vowel of a Chinese syllable recognition rate, and the two-syllable recognition rates at 3, 6, and 12 months after the operation (P <0.01).

Conclusion
Cochlear implantation is a safe and effective measure for auditory reconstruction, enabling patients with GJB2 hereditary severe sensorineural deafness to achieve auditory speech recognition effectively.
Osteopontin knockdown suppresses non-small cell lung cancer cell invasion and metastasis
Authors: SUN Bing-sheng , YOU Jian , LI Yue , ZHANG Zhen-fa , WANG Chang-li 
Published: January 2024

Background
Osteopontin (OPN) was identified as one of the leading genes that promote the metastasis of malignant tumor. However, the mechanism by which OPN mediates metastasis in non-small cell lung cancer (NSCLC) remains unknown. The aim of the study is to investigate the biological significance and the related molecular mechanism of OPN expression in lung cancer cell line.

Methods
Lentiviral-mediated RNA interference was applied to inhibit OPN expression in metastatic human NSCLC cell line (A549). The invasion, proliferation, and metastasis were evaluated OPN-silenced in A549 cells in vitro and in vivo. The related mechanism was further investigated.

Results
Interestingly, OPN knockdown significantly suppressed the invasiveness of A549 cells, but had only a minor effect on the cellular migration and proliferation. Moreover, we demonstrated that OPN knockdown significantly reduced the levels of matrix metalloproteinase (MMP)-2 and urokinase plasminogen activator (uPA), and led to an obvious inhibition of both in vitro invasion and in vivo lung metastasis of A549 cells (P <0.001).

Conclusions
Our data demonstrate that OPN contributes to A549 cell metastasis by stimulating cell invasion, independent of cellular migration and proliferation. OPN could be a new treatment target of NSCLC.
Clinical and pathological features of acute optic neuritis in Chinese patients
Authors: ZHANG Jia-ying , SHEN Xu-zhong , SUN Li , LU Zhao-zeng , YE Wen 
Published: January 2024

Background
The incentives and the factors that affect the onset and outcome of optic neuritis (ON) are not very clear. The aim of this study is to define and get a comprehensive understanding of the clinical profile of ON, and to identify the factors that were related to the prognosis of the patients.

Methods
Medical records of patients with diagnosis of ON at Huashan Hospital, Fudan University between March 2008 and June 2011 were reviewed. Clinical features, ophthalmologic and neurologic assessments, neuroimaging studies, laboratory examinations, visual recovery, and final outcome of the patients were evaluated by the authors.

Results
Records of 50 patients (32 females and 18 males), aged 15-56 years, were reviewed, in which 22% patients had a previous onset of ON. Maximal visual deficit was severe in 72.5% (<20/200). Abnormal rates of hormone levels and rheumatoid indicators were found in 54.2% and 25.0%. ANA test returned positive in 40%, oligoclonal banding (OCB) was identified in 31.3%, and Serum neuromyelitis optica (NMO)-IgG studies were abnormal in 25% of the patients. Neuroimaging abnormalities associated with ON were documented in six patients. Three of the 50 patients have been diagnosed with multiple sclerosis, and two with NMO. Visual acuity was 20/20 or better in 26.1% and 20/100 or worse in 39.1% affected eyes at the last visit. Poor visual acuity at onset is the main factor that would affect the final outcome of vision (P <0.05).

Conclusions
Vision defects of this group of patients were severe. Females had a higher incidence of ON than males. Hormone levels, rheumatoid indicators and immune parameters may be related to the onset of ON. The severe reduction of visual acuity at onset may be related to the poor outcome of vision in ON patients.
Effects of meteorological elements on admission rates of cerebral infarction patients with hypertensive nephropathy from nine hospitals in Changchun city, Jilin Province
Authors: Yang Bo-yu , Zhang Yue , Xu Chang-yan , Jia Bo-ting , Wang Chun-jie , Jia Zhan-jun , Ni Hui , Wang De-hui , Zhang Zhe , Zhao Gang , Yang Li-ming 
Published: January 2024

Background
It is well recognized that meteorological factors have important influences on the onset and development of many kinds of diseases. The present study was undertaken to investigate the effects of the meteorological elements on admission rates of cerebral infarction patients with hypertensive nephropathy at Changchun city, Jilin Province, northeast China.

Methods
A total of 763 medical records of inpatients from nine hospitals at Changchun city, during a period from April 6 to April 17 in 2010, were reviewed. These patients were admitted to hospitals due to the occurrence of cerebral infarction. The hypertensive nephropathy was evidenced with certain diagnosis of essential hypertension and hypertension-related kidney injuries. The cerebral infarction was diagnosed according to the World Health Organization (Stroke) standard. All the meteorological data were from practical monitoring records in Jilin Province Meteorological Observatory. The relationships between the epidemiological prevalence of cerebral infarction and meteorological variables were analyzed using the time series models of statistics.

Results
Compared with admission rates before the violent change in meteorological status (April 6 to April 17, 2010), the number of admission patients suffering from cerebral infarction remarkably peaked on April 12. Such an increase was highly correlated with heavy precipitation, elevation of daily average relative humidity, and reduction of average daily air temperature. With the betterment of the meteorological conditions on April 17, the admission rates of cerebral infarction patients dropped to the same level as the dates before snowing (April 6 to April 11).

Conclusions
The meteorological changes are highly associated with the occurrence of cerebral infarction in patients with hypertensive renal injury in northeast China. This study also suggested that an intensive medical interference for those patients with hypertension-induced organ injuries is very necessary in preventing the occurrence of cerebral infarction with hypertensive nephropathy when there is a violent change in meteorological condition
Early posterior spinal canal decompression and circumferential reconstruction of rotationally unstable thoracolumbar burst fractures with neurological deficit
Authors: ZHENG Guo-quan , WANG Yan , TANG Pei-fu , ZHANG Yong-gang , ZHANG Xue-song , GUO Yi-zhu , TAO Sheng 
Published: January 2024

Background
Among the various treatments of neurologically involved unstable thoracolumbar burst fractures, the combination of anterior and posterior instrumentation provides the most stable reconstruction. However, the use of both approaches on a trauma patient may increase the morbidity. This study is a retrospective matched cohort study to evaluate the advantages of a single stage posterior approach for spinal canal decompression in combination with circumferential reconstruction by comparing the clinical and radiographic results.

Methods
From March 2005 to September 2009, patients with matched type spinal fracture, ages at surgery, and involved levels in our institute underwent either a single stage posterior approach (group one, n=12) or traditional combined approach (group two, n=14) for spinal canal decompression and circumferential reconstruction were reviewed. Pre- and post-operative X-ray films were reviewed and changes in Cobb angle of thoracolumbar spine were documented. Intra-operative, post-operative, and general complications were registered.

Results
The mean follow-up was (27.7±9.6) months (range, 14 to 56 months) in group one and (29.2±7.4) months (range, 20 to 60 months) in group two (P >0.05). The mean operation time was 214 minutes (range, 186-327 minutes) in group one and 284 minutes (range, 219-423 minutes) in group two (P <0.05). The average volume of intraoperative blood loss was 1856 ml (range, 1250-3480 ml) in group one and 2453 ml (range, 1600-3680 ml) in group two (P <0.05). There was no statistical difference between the groups one and two in average vertebral body height loss at the injured level and the average Cobb angle in sagittal plane before and immediately after surgery. Postoperatively, there was an epidural hematoma in one patient in group one and two patients in group two. Bony union after stabilization was obtained in all patients, without loosening or breakage of screws. Loss of correction (5°) was seen in 1 patient in group one at the 6th month owing to the subsidence of the Titanium mesh cages into the vertebra. In group two, totally four patients suffered respiratory-related complication, including pneumonia in two, severe atelectasis in one and pleural effusions in one. Importantly, there were no intraoperative or postoperative deaths in any group. All patients with incomplete neurologic deficits improved at least 1 Frankel grade.

Conclusion
Single-stage posterior vertebra resection in combination with circumferential reconstruction is a new option to manage severe thoracolumbar burst fractures.
Effects of glucocorticoids on traumatic brain injury related critical illness-related corticosteroid insufficiency
Authors: Zhao Zi-long , Chen Xin , Zhu Hui , Zhang Bao-liang , Chai Yan , Li Xin-yuan , Dong Jing-fei , Zhang Jian-ning 
Published: January 2024

Background
Traumatic brain injury (TBI) is a heterogeneous condition that can lead to critical LLLness-related corticosteroid insufficiency (CIRCI) causing a high mortality and morbidity. Glucocorticoids were widely used in the clinical management of TBI, but their benefit has been challenged in some studies and their efficacy, especially for treating CIRCI in TBI patients, remains unclear.

Methods
We conducted a meta-analysis of published data to determine if the controversy is related to clinical dosing and timing of glucocorticoids (GCs) application. We analyzed published reports in four databases (MEDLINE, EMBASE, the Cochrane Controlled Trials Register, and CBMdisc). The published data were stratified into not only low- and high-dose GCs group but also short- and long-term GCs group to compare their effectiveness in improving TBI outcomes.

Results
We totally identified 16 reports. For low-dose patients, the pooled relative risks (RRs) for two clinical outcomes of death or a combination of death and severe disability were 0.95 (95% confidence interval (CI): 0.80 to 1.13) and 0.95 (95% CI: 0.83 to 1.09), respectively. The risks for infection and gastrointestinal bleeding were 0.85 (95% CI: 0.50 to 1.45) and 0.64 (95% CI: 0.15 to 2.70), respectively. For high-dose group, the pooled RR of death is 1.14 (95% CI: 1.06 to 1.21). The pooled RRs for infection and gastrointestinal bleeding for the high-dose patients were 1.04 (95% CI: 0.93 to 1.15) and 1.26 (95% CI: 0.92 to 1.75), respectively. For long-term use group, the pooled RRs for two clinical outcomes of death or a combination of death and severe disability were 0.98 (95% CI: 0.87 to 1.12) and 1.00 (95% CI: 0.90 to 1.11), respectively. The risks for infection and gastrointestinal bleeding were 0.88 (95% CI: 0.71 to 1.11) and 0.96 (95% CI: 0.35 to 2.66), respectively. For short-term use group, the pooled RR of death is 1.15 (95% CI: 1.07 to 1.23), and importantly the effects on infections were beneficial in terms of TBI patients suffering from CIRCI.

Conclusions
This meta-analysis suggests an increased risk of death for TBI patients on a high dose and short term of glucocorticoids compared with those on a low dose and long term, for whom a trend towards clinical improvement is evident. In addition, stress-does of GCs further decrease the pneumonia incidence in TBI patients suffering from CIRCI. A large-scale multicenter randomized controlled trial is warranted for testing (1) the efficacy of stress-dose GCs treatment in the sub-acute phase of TBI (4-21 days after initial trauma), when CIRCI is most likely to occur; (2) the hypothesis that stress-dose GCs could boost patients' stress function and ensure survival.
Glycated albumin may be a choice, but not an alternative marker of glycated hemoglobin for glycemic control assessment in diabetic patients undergoing maintenance hemodialysis
Authors: CHEN Feng-kun , SUN Xue-feng , ZHANG Dong , CUI Shao-yuan , CHEN Xiang-mei , WEI Ri-bao , LU Ju-ming , LI Ji-jun , LIU Wen-hu , ZHANG Dong-liang , ZHANG Zhi-min 
Published: January 2024

Background
It has been suggested that glycated hemoglobin (HbA1c) underestimate the actual glycemic control levels in maintenance hemodialysis (MHD) patients, because of anemia and the using of erythropoietin (EPO); it was recommended that glycated albumin (GA) should be an alternative marker. Therefore, the assessment performances of glycemic control were compared between GA and HbA1c in this research by referring to mean plasma glucose (MPG) in diabetes mellitus (DM) patients undergoing MHD or not.

Methods
MPG was calculated according to the data registered at enrollment and follow-up 2 months later and corresponding HbA1c, albumin (ALB), GA, etc. were measured in 280 cases. A case-control study for comparing GA and HbA1c was done among the groups of MHD patients with DM (n=88) and without DM (NDM; n=90), and non-MHD ones with DM (n=102) using MPG for an actual glycemic control standard.

Results
In these 3 groups, only for DM patients' (whether undergoing MHD or not), GA and HbA1c correlated with MPG significantly (P <0.01). Through linear regression analysis, it could be found that the regression curves of GA almost coincided in MHD and non-MHD patients with DM, because the intercepts (2.418 vs. 2.329) and slopes (0.053 vs. 0.057) were very close to each other. On the contrary, regression curves of HbA1c did not coincide in the two groups, because variance of the slopes (0.036 vs. 0.052) were relatively large. Through comparing receiver operating characteristic (ROC) areas under the curve (AUC), it could be understood that the assessment performances of GA and HbA1c in MHD patients were lower than those in non-MHD ones, and assessment performance of HbA1c in MHD patients was better than GA (P <0.05). In addition, the effects of Hb and EPO dose on HbA1c, or that of ALB on GA were unobvious in our study.

Conclusions
Actual glycemic control level in MHD patients with DM may be underestimated by HbA1c, and it could be avoided by GA; however, glycemic evaluating performance of HbA1c may be still better than that of GA. Therefore, HbA1c should not be replaced completely although GA can be used as a choice to monitor glycemic level.
High serum interleukin-6 level is associated with increased risk of delirium in elderly patients after noncardiac surgery: a prospective cohort study
Authors: Liu Pei , Li Ya-wei , Wang Xiao-shan , Zou Xi , Zhang Da-zhi , Wang Dong-xin , Li Shi-zhong 
Published: January 2024

Background
The relationship between inflammation and delirium remains to be determined. The purposes of this study were to investigate the association between serum interleukin-6 levels and the occurrence of delirium in elderly patients after major noncardiac surgery.

Methods
A total of 338 elderly patients (60 years of age and over) undergoing major noncardiac surgery were enrolled. Blood samples were obtained before anesthesia and in the first postoperative morning and serum interleukin-6 concentrations were measured. Delirium was assessed twice daily by the confusion assessment method for the Intensive Care Unit during the first three postoperative days. Survival analyses were performed to assess the relationship between the serum IL-6 level and the occurrence of postoperative delirium.

Results
Postoperative delirium occurred in 14.8% (50 of 338) of patients. High serum interleukin-6 levelsafter surgery were significantly associated with increased risk of the occurrence of postoperative delirium (hazard ratio 1.514, 95% confidence interval 1.155-1.985, P=0.003). Other independent predictors of delirium included increasing age, poor preoperative New York Heart Association classification, low preoperative Mini-Mental State Examination score, and high total postoperative Visual Analogue Scale pain score. Patients who developed delirium had a prolonged hospital stay after surgery.

Conclusions
Delirium is a frequent complication in elderly patients after noncardiac surgery. High serum interleukin-6 level after surgery is associated with increased risk of the occurrence of postoperative delirium.
Effect of intensity-modulated radiotherapy versus three-dimensional conformal radiotherapy on clinical outcomes in patients with glioblastoma multiforme
Authors: CHEN Yi-dong , FENG Jin , FANG Tong , YANG Ming , QIU Xiao-guang , JIANG Tao 
Published: January 2024

Background
Few studies were reported on the comparison of clinical outcomes between intensity-modulated radiotherapy (IMRT) and three-dimensional conformal radiotherapy (3D-CRT) in the treatment of glioblastoma multiforme (GBM). This study aimed to determine whether IMRT improves clinical outcomes compared with 3D-CRT in patients with GBM.

Methods
The records of 54 patients with newly-diagnosed GBM from July 2009 to December 2010 were reviewed. The patients underwent postoperative IMRT or 3D-CRT with concurrent and adjuvant temozolomide. Kaplan-Meier method and log rank test were used to estimate differences of patients' survival.

Results
The median follow-up was 13 months. Of the 54 patients, fifty (92.6%) completed the combined modality treatment. The 1-year overall survival rate (OS) was 79.6%. The pattern of failure was predominantly local. A comparative analysis revealed that no statistical difference was observed between the IMRT group (n=21) and the 3D-CRT group (n=33) for 1-year OS (89.6% vs. 75.8%, P=0.795), or 1-year progression-free survival (PFS) (61.0% vs. 45.5%, P=0.867). In dosimetric comparison, IMRT seemed to allow better sparing of organs at risk than 3D-CRT did (P=0.050, P=0.055). However, there was no significant difference for toxicities of irradiation between the IMRT group and the 3D-CRT group.

Conclusions
Our preliminary results suggested that delivering standard radiation doses by IMRT is unlikely to improve local control or overall survival for GBM compared with 3D-CRT. Given this lack of survival benefit and increased costs of IMRT, the utilization of IMRT treatment for GBM needs to be carefully rationalized.
Tamoxifen-resistant breast cancer cells possess cancer stem-like cell properties
Authors: LIU Hui , ZHANG Heng-wei , SUN Xian-fu , GUO Xu-hui , HE Ya-ning , CUI Shu-de , FAN Qing-xia 
Published: January 2024

Background
Cancer stem cells (CSCs) are the cause of cancer recurrence because they are resistant to conventional therapy and contribute to cancer growth and metastasis. Endocrinotherapy is the most common breast cancer therapy and acquired tamoxifen (TAM) resistance is the main reason for endocrinotherapy failure during such therapy. Although acquired resistance to endocrine treatment has been extensively studied, the underlying mechanisms are unclear. We hypothesized that breast CSCs played an important role in TAM-induced resistance during breast cancer therapy. Therefore, we investigated the biological characteristics of TAM-resistant (TAM-R) breast cancer cells.

Methods
Mammosphere formation and tumorigenicity of wild-type (WT) and TAM-R MCF7 cells were tested by a mammosphere assay and mouse tumor xenografts respectively. Stem-cell markers (SOX-2, OCT-4, and CD133) and epithelial-mesenchymal transition (EMT) markers were tested by quantitative real-time (qRT)-PCR. Morphological observation was performed to characterize EMT.

Results
After induction of TAM resistance, TAM-R MCF7 cells exhibited increased proliferation in the presence of TAM compared to that of WT MCF7 cells (P <0.05), indicating enhanced TAM resistance of TAM-R MCF7 cells compared to that of WT MCF7 cells. TAM-R MCF7 cells showed enhanced mammosphere formation and tumorigenicity in nude mice compared to that of WT MCF7 cells (P <0.01), demonstrating the elevated CSC properties of TAM-R MCF7 cells. Consistently, qRT-PCR revealed that TAM-R MCF7 cells expressed increased mRNA levels of stem cell markers including SOX-2, OCT-4, and CD133, compared to those of WT MCF7 cells (P <0.05). Morphologically, TAM-R MCF7 cells showed a fibroblastic phenotype, but WT MCF7 cells were epithelial-like. After induction of TAM resistance, qRT-PCR indicated that MCF7 cells expressed increased mRNA levels of Snail, vimentin, and N-cadherin and decreased levels of E-cadherin, which are considered as EMT characteristics (P <0.05).

Conclusion
TAM-R MCF7 cells possess CSC characteristics and may be responsible for TAM resistance during breast cancer therapy.