On GEE for Mean-Variance-Correlation Models: Variance Estimation and Model Selection.

Generalized estimating equations (GEE) are of great importance in analyzing clustered data without full specification of multivariate distributions. A recent approach by Luo and Pan jointly models the mean, variance, and correlation coefficients of clustered data through three sets of regressions. We note that it represents a specific case of the more general estimating equations proposed by Yan and Fine which further allow the variance to depend on the mean through a variance function.

Treatment of chronic osteomyelitis with gradient release of DGEA and vancomycin hydrogel-microsphere system and its mechanism.

In recent years, the treatment of chronic osteomyelitis mediated by biodegradable polymer platforms has received increasing attention. This paper reports an advanced drug delivery system, vancomycin (VA) and DGEA loaded microspheres embedded in injectable thermosensitive polypeptide hydrogels (i.e.

The role of circular RNA in preeclampsia: From pathophysiological mechanism to clinical application.

Preeclampsia (PE) is a common pregnancy-induced hypertension disorder that poses a significant threat to the health of pregnant women and fetuses, and has become a leading cause of maternal, fetal, and neonatal mortality. Currently, the therapy strategy for PE is mainly prevention management and symptomatic treatment, and only delivery can completely terminate PE. Therefore, a deeper understanding of the pathogenesis of PE is needed to make treatment and prevention more effective and targeted.

AURKA, TOP2A and MELK are the key genes identified by WGCNA for the pathogenesis of lung adenocarcinoma.

The comprehensive analysis of single or multiple microarray datasets is currently available in Gene Expression Omnibus (GEO) databases, with several studies having identified genes strongly associated with the development of lung adenocarcinoma (LUAD). However, the mechanisms of LUAD development remain largely unknown and has not yet been systematically studied; thus, further studies are required in this field. In the present study, weighted gene co-expression network analysis (WGCNA) was used for the evaluation of key genes with potential high risk of LUAD, and to provide more reliable evidence concerning its pathogenesis.

Prenatal diagnosis of isolated lateral facial cleft by ultrasonography and three-dimensional printing: A case report.

Background: Lateral facial clefts are atypical with a low incidence in the facial cleft spectrum. With the development of ultrasonography (US) prenatal screening, such facial malformations can be detected and diagnosed prenatally rather than at birth. Although three-dimensional US (3DUS) can render the fetus' face 3D reconstruction, the 3D images are displayed on two-dimensional screens without field depth, which impedes the understanding of untrained individuals.

Multidisciplinary treatment of advanced hepatocellular carcinoma with severe arterioportal shunt: a case report.

Hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) is the fourth leading cause of cancer mortality globally. In addition, most patients present in advanced stages with limited curative treatment options. Therefore, multidisciplinary treatment is often warranted.

First trimester Doppler velocimetry of the uterine artery ipsilateral to the placenta improves ability to predict early-onset preeclampsia.

This study sought to investigate the effects of placental laterality on the measurements of uterine artery (UtA) Doppler velocimetry and their application in predicting early-onset preeclampsia (PE).We conducted a prospective cohort study on all women with singleton, uncomplicated pregnancies scheduled for first-trimester nuchal translucency at our institution. Pulsatility index (PI) for both UtAs was measured by Doppler velocimetry, and placental laterality was determined.

Effect of chitosan combined with hyaluronate on promoting the recovery of postoperative facial nerve regeneration and function in rabbits.

To determine better solutions for postoperative nerve functional recovery, the effects of chitosan and hyaluronate on perineural scar formation and neural function recovery were investigated in 40 rabbits. Rabbits were randomized into 4 groups: A (chitosan), B (chitosan + hyaluronate), C (hyaluronate) and D (control). The rabbits underwent the same parotidectomy surgery, but different materials were used to cover the operated nerves.

Chitosan conduit combined with hyaluronic acid prevent sciatic nerve scar in a rat model of peripheral nerve crush injury.

In the present study, the effects of hyaluronic acid (HA) combined with chitosan conduit on peripheral nerve scarring and regeneration were investigated in a rat model of peripheral nerve crush injury. A total of 60 Sprague-Dawley rats were randomly distributed into four groups (15 rats in each group), in which the nerve was either not treated (control group) or treated with chitosan conduit, hyaluronic acid, or chitosan conduit coupled with hyaluronic acid following clamp injury to the sciatic nerve. The surgical sites were evaluated by assessing the sciatic functional index, the degree of scar adhesions, the numbers of myelinated nerve fibers, the average diameter of myelinated nerve fibers and the myelin sheath thickness.

PPFIA1 is upregulated in liver metastasis of breast cancer and is a potential poor prognostic indicator of metastatic relapse.

Although the oncogenic role of PPFIA1 (liprin-α1) in breast cancer has been reported, whether its dysregulation is associated with metastasis risk or survival outcomes in breast cancer patients is not clear. Our primary data showed that PPFIA1 expression was significantly higher in liver metastatic breast tumors than in the primary tumors. Then, we tried to pool previous annotated genomic data to assess the prognostic value of PPFIA1 in distant metastasis-free survival, the risk of metastatic relapse, and metastatic relapse-free survival in breast cancer patients by data mining in two large databases, Kaplan-Meier plotter and bc-GenExMiner 4.

[Effect of PEG stress on plantlets of Chrysanthemum morifolium induced by endophytic botrytis sp. (C1) and Chaetomium globosum (C4)].

The effect of the endophytic fungi Botrytis sp. (C1) or Chaetomium globosum (C4) on the drought resistance of Chrysanthemum morifolium was studied. Ch.

[The effect of different endophytic fungi on Chrysanthemum morifolium output and quality].

Objective: To enhance the flowers yield of Chrysanthemum morifolium by endophytic fungi.

Methods: Endophytic fungi (Chaetomium globosum strain C4 and Botrytis sp. strain C1) were inoculated to the plantlets which were planted in the pots.