Gouty arthritis patients' diagnostic, biochemical, and hematological characteristics study: a single-center retrospective study.

Objective: This study aims to investigate the diagnostic, biochemical, and hematological characteristics of patients with gouty arthritis and analyze their correlations with baseline characteristics to guide clinical practice, develop personalized treatment strategies, and improve patient outcomes.

Methods: A single-center retrospective analysis was conducted on 8,344 patients with acute gouty arthritis admitted to our hospital between January 2014 and December 2023. Baseline characteristics and laboratory data, including uric acid, blood glucose, triglycerides, total cholesterol, low-density lipoprotein cholesterol (LDL-C), high-density lipoprotein cholesterol (HDL-C), alanine aminotransferase (ALT), aspartate aminotransferase (AST), creatinine, erythrocyte sedimentation rate (ESR), high-sensitivity C-reactive protein (hs-CRP), C-reactive protein (CRP), white blood cell count, neutrophil count, lymphocyte count, monocyte count, fibrinogen, and serum albumin, were collected.

Exploring the impact and mechanisms of behavioral activation on sleep disorders in colorectal cancer: a randomized controlled trial.

Background: Colorectal cancer (CRC) patients frequently experience sleep disturbances, significantly impacting their quality of life. Cognitive behavioral therapy for insomnia (CBT-I) is considered the first-line treatment but is often complex, costly, and requires highly trained therapists. Behavioral activation (BA), derived from cognitive behavioral therapy (CBT), offers a flexible, simple, and cost-effective alternative.

Study of the correlations between loneliness, disease uncertainty, and perceived social support among elderly patients with digestive tract tumors during treatment.

Objective: To explore whether there are correlations between loneliness, disease uncertainty, and perceived social support among elderly patients with digestive tract tumors.

Method: A cross-sectional study was conducted on 149 patients with digestive tract tumors. A general information questionnaire, the Chinese version of the Cancer Patient Loneliness Scale, the Disease Uncertainty Scale, and the Perceived Social Support Assessment Scale were used.

Simultaneous analysis of PAEs in edible oil and dietary exposure assessment in Hubei.

Phthalic acid esters (PAEs), widely used in food processing, pose significant risks to food safety and human health. A rapid and accurate method to simultaneously detect 18 PAEs in edible oil was developed and applied to evaluate daily exposures in Hubei. By using ultrasound-assisted extraction and GC-MS with deuterated isotopes, we improved extraction efficiency and detection accuracy.

Global prevalence of depression in caregivers of children with autism: A systematic review and meta-analysis.

Problem: Depression is reported as the most common disorder among caregivers, especially for caregivers of children with autism. However, limited systematic reviews have investigated the prevalence of depressive symptoms among these caregivers. This systematic review and meta-analysis aim to synthesize the prevalence of global depressive symptoms among caregivers of children with autism and identify associated factors.

Patients and Spine Surgeons' Perspectives regarding Decision-Making and Outcomes in Lumbar Surgery: An Exploratory, Qualitative Study.

Background: Decision-making in lumbar surgery for degenerative conditions is influenced by various factors, including patient expectations and empowerment. The role of patient-reported outcomes (PROs) in guiding these decisions is underexplored. This study aims to understand the perspectives of patients and spine surgeons in decision-making for lumbar surgery and explore their perspectives on the relevance and influence of pre- and post-surgery PROs.

Depression decreases immunity and PD-L1 inhibitor efficacy via the hypothalamic-pituitary-adrenal (HPA) axis in triple-negative breast cancer.

Background: Depression weakens antitumor immunity, yet the underlying mechanisms linking depression and tumor growth remain unclear. This study examines the influence of depression on the hypothalamic-pituitary-adrenal (HPA) axis, immunological function, and effectiveness of immunotherapy in triple-negative breast cancer (TNBC) patients.

Methods: A mouse model of comorbid TNBC and depression was established via chronic restraint stress (CRS) and 4T1 tumor transplantation.

Fractional-order hybridly polarized vector beams: generation, focusing, propagation, and spatial self-phase modulation.

As a class of integer-order vector beams, hybridly polarized vector beams (HPVBs) are widely used in focus shaping, femtosecond laser filamentation, linear and nonlinear polarization evolution, etc. Recently, fractional-order vector beams have gained widespread interest due to their more control parameters, rich photophysical properties, and novel nonlinear optical phenomena. In this work, we report the experimental generation, focusing and propagation characteristics, and spatial self-phase modulation (SSPM) phenomenon of fractional-order HPVBs.

Effects of the CALM intervention on cancer-related fatigue and heart rate variability in NSCLC: a randomized trial.

Objectives: To evaluate the effects of CALM intervention on cancer-related fatigue (CRF), quality of life (QOL), and heart rate variability (HRV) in non-small cell lung cancer (NSCLC) patients.

Methods: A total of 153 NSCLC patients were enrolled in the study. Participants were randomly assigned to the CALM group and usual care (UC) group.

DNA methylation-regulated HK1 overexpression contributes to irradiation-resistance by promoting glycolysis in non-small cell lung cancer.

Irradiation-resistance presents a substantial challenge in the successful application of radiotherapy for non-small-cell lung cancer (NSCLC). However, the specific molecular mechanisms responsible for irradiation-resistance have yet to be completely understood. In this research, the DNA methylation and gene expression patterns resulting from irradiation treatment were produced using the DNA methylation BeadChip and RNA-Seq.

Effectiveness of Horticultural Therapy in Older Adults without Dementia: A Systematic Review and Meta-Analysis.

Objectives: Horticultural therapy (HT) has garnered growing interest because of its psychological and physical benefits. Previous reviews have demonstrated its therapeutic effects in older adults with cognitive impairment or mental illnesses. However, its impact on older adults without dementia has not been synthesized.

Environmental chemical exposures and a machine learning-based model for predicting hypertension in NHANES 2003-2016.

Background: Hypertension is a common disease, often overlooked in its early stages due to mild symptoms. And persistent elevated blood pressure can lead to adverse outcomes such as coronary heart disease, stroke, and kidney disease. There are many risk factors that lead to hypertension, including various environmental chemicals that humans are exposed to, which are believed to be modifiable risk factors for hypertension.

The Mediating Effect of Psychological Resilience and Coping Style on Fear of Recurrence and Reproductive Concerns in Breast Cancer Patients of Childbearing Age.

Objective: Fear of recurrence and reproductive concerns are great public health concerns among breast cancer patients in childbearing age. The purpose of this study was to explore whether psychological resilience and coping styles play mediating roles in fear of recurrence and reproductive concerns among Chinese breast cancer patients in childbearing age.

Methods: A total of 1267 breast cancer patients of childbearing age completed the questionnaires, including a brief demographic questionnaire survey.

A comparison of measurement properties between EORTC QLU-C10D and FACT-8D in patients with hematological malignances.

Objective: To perform a comparison of the measurement properties of two cancer-specific Multi-Attribute Utility Instruments (MAUIs), EORTC QLU-C10D and FACT-8D, in Chinese patients with hematologic malignancies (HM).

Methods: We conducted a longitudinal study on patients with HM in China, using QLU-C10D and FACT-8D at baseline and follow-up (3-4 months from baseline). We assessed: (i) convergent validity using Spearman's rank correlation test (r) with EQ-5D-5L; (ii) clinical-groups validity by differentiating cancer stages, overall health assessment (OHA), Eastern Cancer Oncology Group (ECOG) performance status, and mental health status.

Cucurbitacin E elicits apoptosis in laryngeal squamous cell carcinoma by enhancing reactive oxygen species-regulated mitochondrial dysfunction and endoplasmic reticulum stress.

Laryngeal squamous cell carcinoma (LSCC) is a prevalent head and neck neoplasm with escalating global morbidity and mortality rates. Despite the increasing burden of LSCC, the drugs currently approved for its treatment are limited. Therefore, it is necessary to identify novel and promising drugs that target LSCC.

Validity and Responsiveness of EQ-5D in Asthma: A Systematic Review and Meta-analysis.

Objective: We aimed to synthesize the evidence on the construct validity and responsiveness of the EQ-5D and compare them with asthma-specific health-related quality-of-life scales, to guide further research and clinical applications in asthma.

Methods: We searched key databases from inception to 1 June, 2024 and used the COnsensus-based Standards for the Selection of Health Measurement Instruments (COSMIN) method to appraise the evidence. The effect size estimates were aggregated using the inverse variance method to evaluate the relative efficiency of EQ-5D measures against the Asthma Quality of Life Questionnaire (AQLQ) and/or its corresponding preference-based index, Asthma Quality of Life-5 Dimensions (AQL-5D).

Cystathionine γ-Lyase Attenuates Vascular Smooth Muscle Cell Senescence via Foxm1-Gas1 Pathway to Mediate Arterial Stiffness.

Arterial stiffness, a hallmark of vascular aging, significantly contributes to hypertension and impaired organ perfusion. Vascular smooth muscle cell (VSMC) dysfunction, particularly VSMC senescence and its interaction with stiffness, is crucial in the pathogenesis of arterial stiffness. Although hydrogen sulfide (HS) and its key enzyme cystathionine γ-lyase (CSE) are known to play roles in cardiovascular diseases, their effects on arterial stiffness are not well understood.

Assessing the reliability of a novel cancer-specific multi-attribute utility instrument (FACT-8D) and comparing its validity to EQ-5D-5L in colorectal cancer patients.

Objective: To examine the test-retest reliability of the Functional Assessment of Cancer Therapy - 8 Dimension (FACT-8D) for the first time, and to conduct a head-to-head comparison of the distribution properties and validity between the FACT-8D and EQ-5D-5L in Colorectal Cancer (CRC) Patients.

Methods: We conducted a longitudinal study on Chinese CRC patients, employing Functional Assessment of Cancer Therapy-General (FACT-G) and EQ-5D-5L at baseline, and FACT-G during follow-up (2-7 days from baseline). Utility scores for FACT-8D were derived from all available value sets (Australia, Canada and USA), while EQ-5D-5L scores were obtained from corresponding value sets for various countries.

Assessment of perioperative cardiac risk using preoperative quantitative flow ratio in patients with coronary artery disease undergoing noncardiac surgery: a retrospective cohort study.

Background: Quantitative flow ratio (QFR) is a novel diagnostic modality for the functional testing of coronary artery stenosis, but evidence concerning the postoperative prognostic implication of QFR in noncardiac surgery (NCS) of patients with coronary artery disease (CAD) is limited. The purpose of this study was to examine the role of QFR in perioperative risk prediction in patients with coronary heart disease.

Methods: This retrospective cohort study was conducted in The First Affiliated Hospital of Wenzhou Medical University between 2013 and 2022, and consecutively included patients with CAD who had undergone NCS <1 year after coronary angiography.

An Exploratory Study of Alternative Time Frames and Descriptors for EQ-5D-5L in Obstructive Airway Diseases Using Mixed Methods.

Objectives: EQ-5D-5L with its recall time of "today" may limit its ability to capture episodic symptoms and exacerbations in chronic obstructive airway diseases (OAD). We examined whether longer time frames and changing the intensity response scales to frequency scales could improve the measurement properties of EQ-5D-5L.

Methods: We used a mixed-method design starting with in-depth interviews with 20 patients and clinicians to elicit preferred time frames using concept elicitation techniques and content analyses.