Dysregulation of Vascular Endothelial Growth Factor Receptor-2 by Multiple miRNAs in Endothelial Colony-Forming Cells of Coronary Artery Disease.

Background/aims: Endothelial colony-forming cells (ECFCs) have the potential to be used in regenerative medicine. Dysfunction of ECFCs is correlated with the onset of cardiovascular disorders, especially coronary artery disease (CAD). Binding of vascular endothelial growth factor A (VEGFA) to vascular endothelial growth factor receptor-2 (VEGFR2) triggers cell motility and angiogenesis of ECFCs, which are crucial to vascular repair.

Periodontal Pocket Depth, Hyperglycemia, and Progression of Chronic Kidney Disease: A Population-Based Longitudinal Study.

Background: No large epidemiological study has been conducted to investigate the interaction and joint effects of periodontal pocket depth and hyperglycemia on progression of chronic kidney disease in patients with periodontal diseases.

Methods: Periodontal pocket depth was utilized for the grading severity of periodontal disease in 2831 patients from January 2002 to June 2013. Progression of chronic kidney disease was defined as progression of color intensity in glomerular filtration rate and albuminuria grid of updated Kidney Disease-Improving Global Outcomes guidelines.

Effect of Recombinant Human Growth Hormone and Rosiglitazone for HIV-Associated Abdominal Fat Accumulation on Adiponectin and other Markers of Inflammation.

Background/objective: In a previous report of HIV-infected patients with fat redistribution, we found that recombinant human growth hormone (rhGH) therapy reduced visceral adipose tissue (VAT) but increased insulin resistance, and that the addition of rosiglitazone reversed the negative effects of rhGH on insulin sensitivity. In this study, we sought to determine the effects of rhGH and rosiglitazone therapy on an array of inflammatory and fibrinolytic markers.

Methods: 72 patients with HIV-associated abdominal obesity and insulin resistance were randomized to treatment with rhGH, rosiglitazone, the combination of rhGH and rosiglitazone, or placebo for 12 weeks.

Does the Presence of Endometriosis Affect Prognosis of Ovarian Cancer?

Ovarian cancers diagnosed between 2000 and 2013 were examined and cases with and without endometriosis compared. Among 139 epithelial ovarian, there were 49 (35%) with endometriosis and 90 (65%) without endometriosis. Endometriosis associated ovarian cancers were more likely to be confined to the pelvis (54% vs.

MicroRNA-134 Contributes to Glucose-Induced Endothelial Cell Dysfunction and This Effect Can Be Reversed by Far-Infrared Irradiation.

Diabetes mellitus (DM) is a metabolic disease that is increasing worldwide. Furthermore, it is associated with the deregulation of vascular-related functions, which can develop into major complications among DM patients. Endothelial colony forming cells (ECFCs) have the potential to bring about medical repairs because of their post-natal angiogenic activities; however, such activities are impaired by high glucose- (HG) and the DM-associated conditions.

Health-related quality of life in midlife women in Qatar: relation to arthritis and symptoms of joint pain.

Objective: The prevalence of osteoarthritis (OA) and rheumatoid arthritis (RA) has been poorly documented in the Middle East and North African region, including the State of Qatar. Given that musculoskeletal pain is commonly reported among midlife women, we evaluated the association between self-report of either OA or RA and health-related quality of life (HRQoL) among midlife women in Qatar. In addition, HRQoL among women in Qatar was compared with that of women in the Study of Women's Health Across the Nation (SWAN).

Hypertonic saline reduces cumulative and daily intracranial pressure burdens after severe traumatic brain injury.

Object: Increased intracranial pressure (ICP) in patients with traumatic brain injury (TBI) is associated with a higher mortality rate and poor outcome. Mannitol and hypertonic saline (HTS) have both been used to treat high ICP, but it is unclear which one is more effective. Here, the authors compare the effect of mannitol versus HTS on lowering the cumulative and daily ICP burdens after severe TBI.

miRNome traits analysis on endothelial lineage cells discloses biomarker potential circulating microRNAs which affect progenitor activities.

Background: Endothelial progenitor cells (EPCs) play a fundamental role in not only blood vessel development but also post-natal vascular repair. Currently EPCs are defined as early and late EPCs based on their biological properties and their time of appearance during in vitro culture. Both EPC types assist angiogenesis and have been linked to ischemia-related disorders, including coronary artery disease (CAD).

Screening for type 2 diabetes mellitus in patients with mental illness: application of a self-assessment score for diabetes mellitus risk.

Various methods for diabetes risk assessment have been developed over a decade, but they were not evaluated in patients with mental illness. This study examined the feasibility and utility of a self-assessment score for type 2 diabetes mellitus (DM2) risk among patients with mental illness. DM2 risk was assessed by patients with mental illness as well as clinicians via a self-assessment questionnaire, and the resulting scores were compared to each other as well as with actual diagnosis.

Research training among pediatric residency programs: a national assessment.

Purpose: The Accreditation Council for Graduate Medical Education (ACGME) states that "residents should participate in scholarly activity." However, there is little guidance for effectively integrating scholarly activity into residency. This study was conducted to understand how pediatric residency programs meet ACGME requirements and to identify characteristics of successful programs.

A comparison of same setting versus delayed vitrectomy in the management of retained lens fragments after cataract surgery.

Purpose: Intravitreal retained lens fragments are a rare but potentially serious complication of phacoemulsification. The purpose of this study was to compare same setting ("no wait") vitrectomy with delayed surgery in the management of retained lens fragments in a single academic setting.

Methods: This study is a retrospective nonrandomized study of all patients undergoing pars plana vitrectomy for retained lens fragments after cataract surgery from 2007 to 2012.

Lipid profile changes in the severely obese after laparoscopic sleeve gastrectomy (LSG), 1, 3, and 5 years after surgery.

Background: Since there is an increasing acceptance of the laparoscopic sleeve gastrectomy (LSG) and limited information regarding its effect on cardiac risk factors, we assessed lipid profiles.

Methods: A retrospective review of patient records pre and post LSG was performed. Analysis of variance evaluated group differences and paired t tests compared variable changes.

Dysregulated miR-361-5p/VEGF axis in the plasma and endothelial progenitor cells of patients with coronary artery disease.

Dysfunction and reduction of circulating endothelial progenitor cell (EPC) is correlated with the onset of cardiovascular disorders including coronary artery disease (CAD). VEGF is a known mitogen for EPC to migrate out of bone marrow to possess angiogenic activities, and the plasma levels of VEGF are inversely correlated to the progression of CAD. Circulating microRNAs (miRNAs) in patient body fluids have recently been considered to hold the potential of being novel disease biomarkers and drug targets.

SPOP mutations in prostate cancer across demographically diverse patient cohorts.

Background: Recurrent mutations in the Speckle-Type POZ Protein (SPOP) gene occur in up to 15% of prostate cancers. However, the frequency and features of cancers with these mutations across different populations is unknown.

Objective: To investigate SPOP mutations across diverse cohorts and validate a series of assays employing high-resolution melting (HRM) analysis and Sanger sequencing for mutational analysis of formalin-fixed paraffin-embedded material.

The impact of sleep apnea on postoperative utilization of resources and adverse outcomes.

Background: Despite the concern that sleep apnea (SA) is associated with increased risk for postoperative complications, a paucity of information is available regarding the effect of this disorder on postoperative complications and resource utilization in the orthopedic population. With an increasing number of surgical patients suffering from SA, this information is important to physicians, patients, policymakers, and administrators alike.

Methods: We analyzed hospital discharge data of patients who underwent total hip or knee arthroplasty in approximately 400 U.

Perioperative outcomes in patients with rheumatoid versus osteoarthritis for total hip arthroplasty: a population-based study.

Objectives: Little is known about perioperative outcomes among the subset of patients undergoing total hip arthroplasty (THA) for a diagnosis of rheumatoid arthritis (RA) rather than osteoarthritis (OA). We sought to 1) identify the prevalence of RA in patients undergoing THA, 2) compare their demographics to those being operated on for OA, 3) determine differences in perioperative outcomes and 4) analyse if RA represents an independent risk factor for complications, mortality, utilisation of resources, increased length of stay and cost.

Methods: Entries of patients who underwent elective THA between 2006 and 2010 were identified in a national database and subgrouped according to presence of a concurrent diagnosis of RA.

Age-specific cerebral perfusion pressure thresholds and survival in children and adolescents with severe traumatic brain injury*.

Objectives: Evidence-based traumatic brain injury guidelines support cerebral perfusion pressure thresholds for adults at a class 2 level, but evidence is lacking in younger patients. The purpose of this study is to identify the impact of age-specific cerebral perfusion pressure thresholds on short-term survival among patients with severe traumatic brain injury.

Design: Institutional review board-approved, prospective, observational cohort study.

Peripheral nerve blocks in shoulder arthroplasty: how do they influence complications and length of stay?

Background: Regional anesthesia has proven to be a highly effective technique for pain control after total shoulder arthroplasty. However, concerns have been raised about the safety of upper-extremity nerve blocks, particularly with respect to the incidence of perioperative respiratory and neurologic complications, and little is known about their influence, if any, on length of stay after surgery.

Questions/purposes: Using a large national cohort, we asked: (1) How frequently are upper-extremity peripheral nerve blocks added to general anesthesia in patients undergoing total shoulder arthroplasty? (2) Are there differences in the incidence of and adjusted risk for major perioperative complications and mortality between patients receiving general anesthesia with and without nerve blocks? And (3) does resource utilization (blood product transfusion, intensive care unit admission, length of stay) differ between groups?

Methods: We searched a nationwide discharge database for patients undergoing total shoulder arthroplasty under general anesthesia with or without addition of a nerve block.

Marked reduction in mortality in patients with severe traumatic brain injury.

Object: In spite of evidence that use of the Brain Trauma Foundation Guidelines for the Management of Severe Traumatic Brain Injury (Guidelines) would dramatically reduce morbidity and mortality, adherence to these Guidelines remains variable across trauma centers. The authors analyzed 2-week mortality due to severe traumatic brain injury (TBI) from 2001 through 2009 in New York State and examined the trends in adherence to the Guidelines.

Methods: The authors calculated trends in adherence to the Guidelines and age-adjusted 2-week mortality rates between January 1, 2001, and December 31, 2009.

Bias Correction Methods for Misclassified Covariates in the Cox Model: comparison offive correction methods by simulation and data analysis.

Measurement error/misclassification is commonplace in research when variable(s) can notbe measured accurately. A number of statistical methods have been developed to tackle this problemin a variety of settings and contexts. However, relatively few methods are available to handlemisclassified categorical exposure variable(s) in the Cox proportional hazards regression model.