Esophageal cancer in elderly patients: a population-based study.

Background: As the aging issue and increased elderly esophageal cancer (EC) patients, we sought to study the clinical characteristics, treatment modality and outcomes of EC patients 70 years or older compared with those younger than 70 years old.

Methods: The national surveillance, epidemiology, and end results (SEER) database for the period from 1973 to 2013 was analyzed. The patient and treatment characteristics were compared between the age groups.

Cross-sectional study of contraceptive use among Chinese women of reproductive age: results based on a mobile application (APP)-derived data.

Purpose: To evaluate the contraceptive status among Chinese women of reproductive age and factors associated with contraceptive methods.

Methods: A cross-sectional study from November 2015 to January 2016 was conducted. We used APP to collect demographics and contraceptive use information of women aged 14-44 years in China.

The Differentially Expressed Genes of Human Sporadic Cerebral Cavernous Malformations.

Objectives: To understand the development of sporadic cerebral cavernous malformations (SCCM) comprehensively, we analyzed gene expression profiles in SCCMs by gene microarray.

Methods: The total number of the specimens collected in our study was 14, 7 of which were SCCMs, and the others were controls that were obtained from normal brain vessels. The total RNA was extracted and hybridized with oligonucleotide array containing 21522 genes.

IL-23 and IL-27 Levels in Serum are Associated with the Process and the Recovery of Guillain-Barré Syndrome.

IL-23 and IL-27 are believed to be involved in the pathogenesis of Guillain-Barré syndrome (GBS). However, changes in these cytokines during the dynamic pathological and recovery processes of GBS are not well described. In the present study, plasma was collected from 83 patients with various stages of GBS, 70 patients with central nervous system demyelinating diseases,70 patients with other neurological diseases (OND) and 70 age- and sex-matched healthy volunteers.

Clinical features and dysfunctions of iron metabolism in Parkinson disease patients with hyper echogenicity in substantia nigra: a cross-sectional study.

Background: Transcranial ultrasound is a useful tool for providing the evidences for the early diagnosis and differential diagnosis of Parkinson disease (PD). However, the relationship between hyper echogenicity in substantia nigra (SN) and clinical symptoms of PD patients remains unknown, and the role of dysfunction of iron metabolism on the pathogenesis of SN hyper echogenicity is unclear.

Methods: PD patients was detected by transcranial sonography and divided into with no hyper echogenicity (PDSN-) group and with hyper echogenicity (PDSN+) group.

Parkinson disease with constipation: clinical features and relevant factors.

Constipation is one of the most frequent non-motor symptoms of Parkinson disease (PD) and it may be ignored by PD patients, leading to this problem not to be reported in time. The relationships between constipation and demographic variables, motor symptoms and other non-motor symptoms of PD are still unknown. PD patients were evaluated by diagnostic criteria of functional constipation in Rome III and divided into PD with constipation (PD-C) and PD with no constipation (PD-NC) groups.

Iron deposition in substantia nigra: abnormal iron metabolism, neuroinflammatory mechanism and clinical relevance.

Parkinson disease (PD) is associated with multiple factors, including iron, which is demonstrated to deposit excessively in PD brains. We detected iron deposition by susceptibility weighted image (SWI) and measured the levels of iron metabolism-related proteins and inflammatory factors in cerebrospinal fluid (CSF) and serum of PD patients and control subjects. Clinical symptoms of PD were evaluated by series of rating scales.

Subfoveal Choroidal and Macular Thickness Changes after Phacoemulsification Using Enhanced Depth Imaging Optical Coherence Tomography.

Purpose: To assess changes in the thickness of the subfoveal retina and choroid after phacoemulsification using enhanced depth imaging optical coherence tomography (EDI-OCT).

Methods: A prospective study was conducted on 100 patients. The subfoveal choroidal thickness (SFCT) was measured at 7 points and the retinal thickness was measured at 5 points (before surgery, and 1 day, 1 week, 1 month, and 3 months after surgery).

Restless legs syndrome in Parkinson disease: Clinical characteristics, abnormal iron metabolism and altered neurotransmitters.

Relationships among clinical characteristics, iron metabolism and neurotransmitters in Parkinson disease (PD) patients with restless legs syndrome (RLS) remains unclear. We divided 218 patients into PD with and with no RLS (PD-RLS and PD-NRLS) groups by RLS-rating scale (RLS-RS) score. Motor and non-motor symptoms were rated by related scales.

Correlation between diffusion tensor imaging parameters and clinical assessments in patients with cervical spondylotic myelopathy with and without high signal intensity.

Study Design: A cross-sectional observational study.

Objectives: The aim of this study is to compare the apparent diffusion coefficient (ADC) and fractional anisotropy (FA) between patients with cervical spondylotic myelopathy (CSM) with and without high T2-weighted signal intensity, and to correlate each parameter with clinical assessments.

Setting: CSM is a common cause of spinal cord dysfunction.

Propensity score matching analysis of a phase II study on simultaneous modulated accelerated radiation therapy using helical tomotherapy for nasopharyngeal carcinomas.

Background: Using propensity score matching method (PSM) to evaluate the feasibility and clinical outcomes of simultaneous modulated accelerated radiation therapy (SMART) using helical tomotherapy (HT) in patients with nasopharyngeal carcinoma (NPC).

Methods: Between August 2007 and January 2016, 381 newly diagnosed NPC patients using HT were enrolled in pre-PSM cohort, including 161 cases in a prospective phase II study (P67.5 study, with a prescription dose of 67.

Dexmedetomidine as a neuraxial adjuvant for prevention of perioperative shivering: Meta-analysis of randomized controlled trials.

Background: Dexmedetomidine, a highly selective α2-adrenoceptor agonist, has been investigated for anti-shivering effects in some trials. This current meta-analysis was conducted to evaluate the effectiveness of dexmedetomidine as a neuraxial adjuvant in preventing perioperative shivering.

Methods: This systematic review and meta-analysis was registered in PROSPERO [www.

Tongxie Formula Reduces Symptoms of Irritable Bowel Syndrome.

Background & Aims: Irritable bowel syndrome (IBS) is the most common chronic gastrointestinal disorder, yet few drugs are effective in reducing symptoms. Approximately 50% of patients with IBS attempt herbal therapy at least once. We performed a randomized controlled trial to compare the efficacy of the herb formulation tongxie vs placebo or pinaverium (an antispasmodic agent) in reducing symptoms of IBS.

Using Ultrasonography to Evaluate the Relationship between Capsular Invasion or Extracapsular Extension and Lymph Node Metastasis in Papillary Thyroid Carcinomas.

Background: Previous studies have demonstrated that ultrasonography is the recommended imaging modality for preoperative staging of papillary thyroid carcinomas (PTCs). However, only a few studies have kept watch on preoperative evaluation of capsular invasion (CI) or extracapsular extension (ECE) and cervical lymph node metastasis using preoperative ultrasonography. This study aimed to investigate the relationship between the CI or ECE and the cervical lymph node metastasis in PTCs using preoperative ultrasonography and postoperative pathology in Chinese patients.

OPN-a Splicing Variant Expression in Non-small Cell Lung Cancer and its Effects on the Bone Metastatic Abilities of Lung Cancer Cells .

Background: Osteopontin (OPN) is known to be involved in the development of certain cancers, including non-small cell lung cancer (NSCLC). However, its role in tumour progression remains unclear. The present study investigated the expression and biological impact of the OPN variant, OPN-a in NSCLC.

Serotonergic dysfunctions and abnormal iron metabolism: Relevant to mental fatigue of Parkinson disease.

Fatigue is a very common non-motor symptom in Parkinson disease (PD) patients. It included physical fatigue and mental fatigue. The potential mechanisms of mental fatigue involving serotonergic dysfunction and abnormal iron metabolism are still unknown.

Impact of Examined Lymph Node Count on Precise Staging and Long-Term Survival of Resected Non-Small-Cell Lung Cancer: A Population Study of the US SEER Database and a Chinese Multi-Institutional Registry.

Purpose We investigated the correlation between the number of examined lymph nodes (ELNs) and correct staging and long-term survival in non-small-cell lung cancer (NSCLC) by using large databases and determined the minimal threshold for the ELN count. Methods Data from a Chinese multi-institutional registry and the US SEER database on stage I to IIIA resected NSCLC (2001 to 2008) were analyzed for the relationship between the ELN count and stage migration and overall survival (OS) by using multivariable models. The series of the mean positive LNs, odds ratios (ORs), and hazard ratios (HRs) were fitted with a LOWESS smoother, and the structural break points were determined by Chow test.

Transjugular intrahepatic portosystemic shunt for Budd-Chiari syndrome with diffuse occlusion of hepatic veins.

Either acute or sub-acute Budd-Chiari syndrome (BCS) with diffuse occlusion of hepatic veins has a high mortality rate and remains challenging for clinical treatment. We aimed to evaluate the feasibility and safety of transjugular intrahepatic portosystemic shunt (TIPS) as a treatment for BCS with diffuse occlusion of hepatic veins. From January 2007 to December 2010, 100 patients were randomly recruited onto this study and 91 patients were treated with TIPS.

Dietary intake and risk of rheumatoid arthritis-a cross section multicenter study.

Environmental factors play an important role in the development of rheumatoid arthritis (RA). Among these factors, smoking is generally considered to be an established risk factor for RA. Data regarding the impact of diet on risk of RA development is limited.

Identification of TMEM230 mutations in familial Parkinson's disease.

Parkinson's disease is the second most common neurodegenerative disorder without effective treatment. It is generally sporadic with unknown etiology. However, genetic studies of rare familial forms have led to the identification of mutations in several genes, which are linked to typical Parkinson's disease or parkinsonian disorders.

[CT Guided Radiofrequency Ablation Followed Intratumoral Chemotherapy in the Treatment of Early Stage Non-small Cell Lung Cancer].

Background: Radiofrequency ablation (RFA) has become one of the local treatment for inoperable early stage non-small cell lung cancer (NSCLC). This study observes effectiveness and safety of computed tomography (CT) guided RFA followed intratumoral chemotherapy (RFA-ITC).

Methods: From 2005 to 2015, our group perspectively enrolled inoperable early stage NSCLC underwent RFA-ITC duo to poor cardiopulmonary function or with other diseases or patient can't tolerate or reject surgery.

Paclitaxel induces apoptosis in leukemia cells through a JNK activation-dependent pathway.

Paclitaxel (PTX) is a mitotic inhibitor widely used in chemotherapy for many types of cancers, including solid tumors and hematological malignancies. However, the molecular basis of the anti-proliferation activity of PTX is not fully understood. In this paper, we focused on the role of c-Jun N-terminal kinase (JNK) pathways in PTX-induced apoptosis and proliferation inhibition.

Effect of YangZheng XiaoJi Extract, DME-25, on Endothelial Cells and their Response to Avastin.

Background: Angiogenesis is a cellular process that has been identified as a key target for therapy in solid cancer. However, over the course of anti-angiogenic therapies, cancer cells acquire resistance to these therapies after an initial period of success. DME-25 is an extract from Yang Zheng Xiao Ji, a traditional Chinese medicine that has been reported to benefit patients with cancer by alleviating chemotherapy-associated symptoms and possibly inhibiting key cancer cell traits.