Survival analysis of patients with metastatic head and neck squamous cell carcinoma treated with metastasis-directed radiotherapy and immunotherapy.

Objective: Immunotherapy combined with chemotherapy is currently the first-line treatment for metastatic head and neck squamous cell carcinoma (HNSCC). This study aims to evaluate whether adding metastasis-directed radiotherapy (MDRT) to immunotherapy and chemotherapy could improve the survival rate of patients with metastatic HNSCC.

Materials And Methods: A retrospective analysis was conducted on patients with HNSCC who developed distant metastases after curative treatment.

Small watersheds are the best control and management unit for improving soil conservation services in karst areas.

Climate factors and changes in landscape patterns are often recognized as the primary drivers of soil conservation services. The influence mechanism of climate factors and landscape patterns on soil conservation service is scale-dependent and spatial heterogeneous. However, it is not clear whether small watershed scale is more conducive to soil erosion control than large scale such as county scale and township scale.

IoT service composition based on improved Shuffled Frog Leaping Algorithm.

In the complex Internet of Things (IoT) environment, a plethora of IoT services with akin functions but varying qualities of service exist. To meet diverse customer needs and drive widespread application, service composition optimization becomes crucial. In the current era of rapid development in artificial intelligence, intelligent algorithms play a significant role in optimizing service composition.

How problem difficulty and order influence programming education outcomes in online judge systems.

With the widespread application of computer technology in engineering education, Online Judge (OJ) systems have become an important platform for programming teaching. OJ systems provide a platform for learners to practice programming skills, submit solutions, and receive feedback. They offer a conducive environment for learners to engage in hands-on coding exercises and enhance their programming abilities.

Clinical Outcomes of Transmetatarsal Amputation in Patients with Diabetic Foot Ulcers Treated without Revascularization.

Introduction: Most studies on outcomes of transmetatarsal amputation (TMA) have been for patients who underwent revascularization. This study was performed to evaluate the outcomes of TMA in diabetic patients without revascularization.

Methods: One hundred two diabetic patients who were not candidates for revascularization underwent TMA and received a multidisciplinary treatment.

Signature microRNAs and long noncoding RNAs in laryngeal cancer recurrence identified using a competing endogenous RNA network.

The aim of the present study was to identify novel microRNA (miRNA) or long noncoding RNA (lncRNA) signatures of laryngeal cancer recurrence and to investigate the regulatory mechanisms associated with this malignancy. Datasets of recurrent and nonrecurrent laryngeal cancer samples were downloaded from The Cancer Genome Atlas (TCGA) and the Gene Expression Omnibus database (GSE27020 and GSE25727) to examine differentially expressed miRNAs (DE‑miRs), lncRNAs (DE‑lncRs) and mRNAs (DEGs). miRNA‑mRNA and lncRNA‑miRNA networks were constructed by investigating the associations among these RNAs in various databases.

Interactive biomedical ontology matching.

Due to continuous evolution of biomedical data, biomedical ontologies are becoming larger and more complex, which leads to the existence of many overlapping information. To support semantic inter-operability between ontology-based biomedical systems, it is necessary to identify the correspondences between these information, which is commonly known as biomedical ontology matching. However, it is a challenge to match biomedical ontologies, which dues to: (1) biomedical ontologies often possess tens of thousands of entities, (2) biomedical terminologies are complex and ambiguous.

Expression level and prospective mechanism of miRNA-99a-3p in head and neck squamous cell carcinoma based on miRNA-chip and miRNA-sequencing data in 1, 167 cases.

Background: The role of miR-99a-3p in Head and neck squamous cell carcinoma (HNSCC) has not been reported. Therefore, in this study, we examined the expression level and its molecular mechanisms of miR-99a-3p in HNSCC.

Materials And Methods: MiR-99a-3p-related miRNA-chip and miRNA-sequencing data were collected.

Drug repositioning in head and neck squamous cell carcinoma: An integrated pathway analysis based on connectivity map and differential gene expression.

The severe damage to health and social burden caused by head and neck squamous cell carcinoma (HNSCC) generated an urgent need to develop novel anti-cancer therapy. Currently, drug repositioning has risen in responses to the proper time as an efficient approach to invention of new anti-cancer therapies. In the present study, we aimed to screen candidate drugs for HNSCC by integrating HNSCC-related pathways from differentially expressed genes (DEGs) and drug-affected pathways from connectivity map (CMAP).

Reasonable Glycemic Control Would Help Wound Healing During the Treatment of Diabetic Foot Ulcers.

Introduction: The effect of glycemic control on wound healing in patients with diabetic foot ulcers (DFUs) is inconsistent among different studies. This study was performed to investigate the association between level of hemoglobin A1c (HbA1c) at baseline as well as during treatment and wound healing and mortality in patients with DFU.

Methods: Hospitalized DFU patients were recruited consecutively with their basic clinical data collected and treated according to clinical practice guidelines.

Association between QTc interval prolongation and outcomes of diabetic foot ulcers: Data from a 4-year follow-up study in China.

Objectives: To examine whether QTc interval prolongation is an independent risk factor of outcomes in patients with diabetic foot ulcers (DFU).

Research Design And Methods: 331 patients with type 2 diabetes and DFU hospitalized in a Chinese tertiary hospital were recruited. ECG was done at baseline and QTc interval was calculated through Bazett's formula.

Association between estimated glomerular filtration rate and outcomes in patients with diabetic foot ulcers: a 3-year follow-up study.

Objective: End-stage renal disease and dialysis have been proven to be associated with poor prognoses in diabetic foot ulcers (DFUs). However, it has rarely been reported whether and to what extent milder renal insufficiency affects the prognosis. The purpose of this study was to investigate the categorized impact of estimated glomerular filtration (eGFR) on the outcomes of patients with DFU.

[Clinical analysis of 23 patients with ossifying fibroma of paranasal sinuses].

Objective: To investigate the clinical features and treatment options of ossifying fibroma of paranasal sinuses.

Method: A retrospective evaluation of twenty-three patients with ossifying fibroma of paranasal sinuses was presented. The choice of surgical operations on ossifying fibroma of paranasal sinuses was mainly decided by the location and area of ossifying fibroma.

Heart failure in hospitalized patients with diabetic foot ulcers: clinical characteristics and their relationship with prognosis.

Background: In the present study we: (i) evaluated the incidence of heart failure (HF) in patients with diabetic foot ulcer (DFU); and (ii) investigated the relationship between the clinical characteristics in these patients and prognosis.

Methods: The clinical characteristics of 330 consecutive Chinese patients (137 men, 193 women) hospitalized for DFU were collected and assessed to determine the effects of HF on DFU. All patients were followed for 3 months and rates of healing, the development of new ulcers, amputations, and mortality were calculated at the end of the follow-up period.

Hormones other than aldosterone may contribute to hypertension in 3 different subtypes of primary aldosteronism.

Blood pressure (BP) level is similar in patients with 3 subtypes of primary aldosteronism (PA), even though aldosterone levels may vary. Glucocorticoids and adrenomedullary hormones may be influenced and may contribute to hypertension in PA. The authors' objective was to investigate the influence of PA on adrenal gland secretion and the roles of these hormones in hypertension.

[The combined application of dissociate skin flap and vacuum sealing drainage on the defect of the large neck neoplasms after surgical procedures].

Objective: To evaluate the effect of the combined application of dissociate skin flap and vacuum sealing drainage (VSD) for the repairing for defect after surgical management of huge neck neoplasms.

Method: Nineteen patients with huge neck malignant tumor involving the skin of the neck were given radical operation, making use of VSD covering the wound surface. After giving 6.

Nutritional status deteriorates as the severity of diabetic foot ulcers increases and independently associates with prognosis.

The prognosis for diabetic foot ulcers (DFUs) remains poor. Nutritional status has not been identified as one of the factors affecting the outcome of DFUs. Therefore, indicators correlated with nutritional status and outcome were analyzed to investigate their relationship.

Two unusual cases of intractable hyperthyroidism responsive to octreotide: Munchausen syndrome or not?

Background: The effective treatment for patients with resistant hyperthyroidism is difficult.

Methods: In this case report with 4-year follow-up data, we present 2 unusual cases of hyperthyroidism that were unresponsive to almost all antithyroid treatments including total thyroidectomy, but both were controlled with octreotide.

Results: Cases 1 and 2 were both middle-aged women.

[Efficacy and safety of high-dose α-lipoic acid in the treatment of diabetic polyneuropathy].

Objective: To evaluate the efficacy and safety of high-dose α-lipoic acid in the treatment of diabetic polyneuropathy with regards to sensory symptoms and nerve conduction velocity.

Methods: A total of 236 diabetics with symptomatic polyneuropathy were enrolled into this 5-center, randomized, double-blind and placebo-controlled study of α-lipoic acid 1800 mg daily (n = 117) or matching placebo (n = 119) for 12 weeks. The primary outcome was total symptom score (TSS).

A patient with pseudohypoaldosteronism type II caused by a novel mutation in WNK4 gene.

Pseudohypoaldosteronism Type II (PHAII) is a very rare disorder characterized by hyperkalemia, hypertension, and slight hyper-chloremic metabolic acidosis. The index patient showed typical features of PHAII, including elevated blood pressure (140-150/90-100 mmHg), hyperkalemia in the range of 5.30-5.

RET proto-oncogene mutations are restricted to codons 634 and 918 in mainland Chinese families with MEN2A and MEN2B.

Objective: Multiple endocrine neoplasia type 2 is caused by autosomal dominant gain-of-function mutations in the RET proto-oncogene, which includes multiple endocrine neoplasia type 2A (MEN2A), type 2B (MEN 2B), and familial medullary thyroid carcinoma (FMTC). In this paper we present the phenotype-genotype correlation of 20 unrelated Chinese families with 15 cases of MEN2A and five cases of MEN2B.

Design: Cross-sectional study.

[Metabolic syndrome in patients with adrenocortical adenoma].

Objective: To investigate the prevalence and characteristics of metabolic syndrome (MS) in patients of adrenocortical adenoma.

Methods: MS-related indexes, including waist circumference (WC), blood pressure, triglyceride (TG), high-density lipoprotein cholesterol (HDL-C), fasting plasma glucose, plasma and urinary aldosterone, plasma potassium, basic and upright plasma renin activity (PRA), plasma and urinary cortisol, and plasma ACTH, were examined among 61 patients of aldosterone producing adenoma (APA, Group 1), 23 patients of cortisol-secreting adenoma (CSA, Group 2), 24 patients of nonfunctional adrenal adenoma (NAA, Group 3), and 26 healthy controls (Group 4).

Results: As defined by the National Cholesterol Education Program Adult Treatment Panel III criteria, the prevalence rates of MS were 27.

[Risk factors for cardiovascular autonomic neuropathy and their prognostic implications in type 2 diabetes mellitus].

Objective: Risk factors for diabetic cardiovascular autonomic neuropathy (CAN) in patients with type 2 diabetes were analyzed to establish a regression model for evaluating the diagnosis of CAN.

Methods: 325 patients with type 2 diabetes were divided into four groups according to the results of four standard function tests. Every patient was required to offer detailed disease history and accept physical examination, serum and urine tests and examinations including ECG, nerve conduction velocity, retinoscope and Doppler of carotid and lower limb arteries.

Age-dependent onset of liver-specific IGF-I gene deficiency and its persistence in old age: implications for postnatal growth and insulin resistance in LID mice.

To explore the limitations of the liver-specific IGF-I gene-deficient (LID) model and to further evaluate the role of endocrine IGF-I in early postnatal life and old age, we have studied these mice during the prepubertal period (from birth to 3 wk of age) and when they are 2 yr old. During the first 2 wk of life, IGF-I gene deficiency and the resulting reduction in serum IGF-I levels in LID mice did not reach sufficiently low levels when mice experience the most rapid and growth hormone (GH)-independent growth. It suggests that the role of liver-derived IGF-I in prepubertal, GH-independent postnatal growth cannot be established.