Readability and quality of online patient health information on parotidectomy.

OBJECTIVE: Complications of parotidectomy can have a massive impact on patients' quality of life. This study aimed to evaluate the readability and quality of online health information on parotidectomy. METHOD: The search terms 'parotidectomy', 'parotid surgery', 'parotidectomy patient information' and 'parotid surgery patient information' were parsed through three popular search engines. RESULTS: The websites were analysed using readability scores of the Flesch Reading Ease test and the Gunning Fog Index. The DISCERN instrument was used to assess quality and reliability. The average Flesch Reading Ease score was 50.2 ± 9.0, indicating that the materials were fairly difficult to read, the Gunning Fog Index score showed that the patient health information was suitable for an individual above 12th grade level, and the DISCERN score indicated that the online patient health information had fair quality. The Kruskal-Wallis test showed a significant difference in Flesch Reading Ease and DISCERN tool scores according to website category (p < 0.05). CONCLUSION: Current online patient health information on parotidectomy is too difficult for the public to understand, and it exceeds the reading levels recommended by Health Education England and the American Medical Association.

[Progress on development and application of the diet-related inflammatory index in cancer epidemiological studies].

Cancer is a major public health problem worldwide, causing an more serious burden of disease. Inflammation is considered a predisposing factor for cancer with close relationship with its incidence. In recent years, the public and epidemiologists has paid more attention to the association between nutrition and cancer and other chronic diseases in the perspective of inflammation. This paper summarizes the development and application of the diet-related inflammatory index in cancer epidemiological studies based on the literature retrieval of common diet-related inflammatory index. Firstly, we highlight the common diet-related inflammatory indices and their construction methods, such as the Dietary Inflammatory Index, a literature-derived diet-related inflammatory index, and the Empirical Dietary Inflammatory Index, an empirically derived diet-related inflammatory index, and so on. Secondly, the epidemiological research progress on the commonly used diet-related inflammatory indices is briefly introduced. Finally, the advantages and disadvantages of the two types of this inflammatory indices are also briefly described for the purpose of providing reference for nutrition epidemiological studies of cancer and other chronic diseases in China.

[Read-through circular RNA rt-circ-HS promotes hypoxia inducible factor 1α expression and renal carcinoma cell proliferation, migration and invasiveness].

OBJECTIVE: To identify and characterize read-through RNAs and read-through circular RNAs (rt-circ-HS) derived from transcriptional read-through hypoxia inducible factor 1α (HIF1α) and small nuclear RNA activating complex polypeptide 1 (SNAPC1) the two adjacent genes located on chromosome 14q23, in renal carcinoma cells and renal carcinoma tissues, and to study the effects of rt-circ-HS on biological behavior of renal carcinoma cells and on regulation of HIF1α. METHODS: Reverse transcription-polymerase chain reaction (RT-PCR) and Sanger sequencing were used to examine expression of read-through RNAs HIF1α-SNAPC1 and rt-circ-HS in different tumor cells. Tissue microarrays of 437 different types of renal cell carcinoma (RCC) were constructed, and chromogenic in situ hybridization (ISH) was used to investigate expression of rt-circ-HS in different RCC types. Small interference RNA (siRNA) and artificial overexpression plasmids were designed to examine the effects of rt-circ-HS on 786-O and A498 renal carcinoma cell proliferation, migration and invasiveness by cell counting kit 8 (CCK8), EdU incorporation and Transwell cell migration and invasion assays. RT-PCR and Western blot were used to exa-mine expression of HIF1α and SNAPC1 RNA and proteins after interference of rt-circ-HS with siRNA, respectively. The binding of rt-circ-HS with microRNA 539 (miR-539), and miR-539 with HIF1α 3' untranslated region (3' UTR), and the effects of these interactions were investigated by dual luciferase reporter gene assays. RESULTS: We discovered a novel 1 144 nt rt-circ-HS, which was derived from read-through RNA HIF1α-SNAPC1 and consisted of HIF1α exon 2-6 and SNAPC1 exon 2-4. Expression of rt-circ-HS was significantly upregulated in 786-O renal carcinoma cells. ISH showed that the overall positive expression rate of rt-circ-HS in RCC tissue samples was 67.5% (295/437), and the expression was different in different types of RCCs. Mechanistically, rt-circ-HS promoted renal carcinoma cell proliferation, migration and invasiveness by functioning as a competitive endogenous inhibitor of miR-539, which we found to be a potent post-transcriptional suppressor of HIF1α, thus promoting expression of HIF1α. CONCLUSION: The novel rt-circ-HS is highly expressed in different types of RCCs and acts as a competitive endogenous inhibitor of miR-539 to promote expression of its parental gene HIF1α and thus the proliferation, migration and invasion of renal cancer cells.

Overexpression of long non-coding RNA TUG1 alleviates TNF-α-induced inflammatory injury in interstitial cells of Cajal.

OBJECTIVE: Irritable bowel syndrome (IBS) is a common functional disorder in the gastrointestinal tract. Inflammatory response has been found to participate in the pathogenesis of IBS. This study aimed to explore the effects of long non-coding RNA taurine upregulated gene 1 (TUG1) on tumor necrosis factor alpha (TNF-α)-induced interstitial cells of Cajal (ICC) inflammatory injury, which was relevant to the pathogenesis of IBS. PATIENTS AND METHODS: The expression levels of TUG1 and microRNA-127 (miR-127) were analyzed by qRT-PCR. Viability, apoptosis and the expression of apoptosis-associated factors were analyzed by CCK-8 assay, flow cytometry and Western blot, respectively. The mRNA and protein levels of pro-inflammatory cytokines were detected by qRT-PCR and Western blot, respectively. Finally, activations of nuclear factor kappa-B (NF-κB) and Notch pathways were evaluated by Western blot. RESULTS: TNF-α treatment inhibited ICC viability, induced ICC apoptosis and promoted an inflammatory response in ICC. TUG1 was downregulated in TNF-α-treated ICC. TUG1 overexpression protected ICC from TNF-α-induced apoptosis and pro-inflammatory cytokines expression. TUG1 suppression showed opposite effects. MiR-127 was negatively regulated by TUG1 and implicated in the action of TUG1 in ICC. MiR-127 up-regulation largely reversed the effects of TUG1 on TNF-α-treated ICC. Mechanistically, TUG1 inhibited TNF-α-induced activation of NF-κB and Notch pathways in ICC by down-regulating miR-127. CONCLUSIONS: TUG1 attenuated TNF-α-caused apoptosis and inflammatory response in ICC by down-regulating miR-127 and then inactivating NF-κB and Notch pathways.

Effects of miR-223 on colorectal cancer cell proliferation and apoptosis through regulating FoxO3a/BIM.

OBJECTIVE: Colorectal cancer is a common malignant tumor of the digestive tract. It frequently occurs at the junction of the rectum and sigmoid colon. It is characterized by high mortality and poor prognosis. Bcl-2 interacting mediator of cell death (BIM) plays a role in the regulation of cell proliferation and apoptosis, and involves in the pathogenesis of colorectal cancer. The transcription factor forkhead, transcription factor O subfamily 3a (FoxO3a) plays a role in the regulation of BIM expression and is associated to the pathogenesis of colorectal cancer. Bioinformatics analysis suggests that there is a targeted relationship between FoxO3a and microRNA-223 (miR-223). This study aims to investigate effects of miR-223 on the regulation of FoxO3a/BIM signaling pathway and colorectal cancer cell proliferation and apoptosis. MATERIALS AND METHODS: Colorectal cancer cell line SW620 and normal colorectal epithelial cell line NCM460 were cultured in vitro. Dual luciferase reporter assay was used to validate the relationship between miR-223 and FoxO3a. Flow cytometry was adopted to detect apoptosis. EdU staining was applied to test cell proliferation. Western blot was selected to determine FoxO3a and BIM protein expressions. RESULTS: There was targeted regulatory relationship between miR-223 and FoxO3a. MiRa-223 up-regulated, FoxO3a and BIM expressions reduced, and cell proliferation was enhanced in SW620 cells compared with NCM460 cells. MiR-223 inhibitor or pIRES2-FoxO3a transfection significantly increased FoxO3a and BIM expressions, attenuated cell proliferation, and enhanced cell apoptosis. CONCLUSIONS: MiR-223 targeted inhibited expression of FoxO3. Down-regulating the expression of miR-223, it increased the expressions of FoxO3a and BIM, weakened SW620 cells proliferation and induced apoptosis.

Temperature-dependent optical constants of liquid isopropanol, n-butanol, and n-decane.

Liquid isopropanol, n-butanol, and n-decane are combustible organic compounds that are frequently used in theoretical and experimental researches on fuel combustion. In this work, the temperature-dependent optical constants of liquid isopropanol, n-butanol, and n-decane in the region 500-5500 cm-1 at ambient pressure are measured using the combined ellipsometry-transmission method. In the combined method, the optical constants are first measured by a modified ellipsometry method, and then the absorption indices for weak absorption regions are obtained by the transmission method using the refractive indices measured by the modified ellipsometry method. The refractive indices of liquid isopropanol, n-butanol, and n-decane are within the range from 1.3 to 1.45 in the studied wavelength and temperature region. The absorption indices of these liquids range from 10-5 to 10-1. In the temperature range studied, the refractive indices decrease with increasing temperature in an approximately linear manner, but the effects of the temperature on the absorption indices are much smaller. The characteristic wavenumbers of the main absorption peaks are consistent with the vibrational frequencies of major functional groups.

[Clinical study on serum 25(OH)D level in patients with moderate to severe allergic rhinitis].

Objective:Through the detection of the serum 25 (OH) D level of patients with moderate to severe allergic rhinitis (AR), we preliminarily explored the mechanism of vitamin D on AR and provided evidence for the control of AR. Method:Eighty cases of moderate to severe AR and 65 healthy adults were selected as the subjects. The level of 25 (OH) D was detected by enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA), and the serum 25 (OH) D level of eight common serum allergens in patients with moderate to severe AR was analyzed. Result:The level of serum 25 (OH) D of AR group was (29.4±4.7)ng/ml, and the serum level of 25 (OH) D in the control group was (30.9±5.9)ng/ml, no significant difference (P>0.05). The percentage of serum vitamin D deficiency in AR group was 36%, and the control group was 7%, and the difference was statistically significant (P<0.05). Among eight common serum allergens, the AR patients who were allergic to ragweed, household dust mites and shrimps, the percentage of vitamin D deficiency and insufficient was higher than that of the control group, the difference was statistically significant (P<0.05). Conclusion:Vitamin D deficiency may be associated with moderate to severe AR patients, and vitamin D may have potential beneficial effects on the progression of AR.

Burden, emotional distress and quality of life among informal caregivers of lung cancer patients: An exploratory study.

This study was conducted to explore the interrelationships among caregiver burden, emotional status and quality of life (QoL) in caregivers of lung cancer patients, and to identify whether caregiver burden and health status are associated with patient emotional status and QoL. Forty-three dyads of lung cancer patients and their caregivers were included for analysis. Caregiver-reported outcomes were measured by Caregiver Burden Scale (CBS), Caregivers Quality of Life Index-Cancer (CQOLC) and Hospital Anxiety and Depression Scale (HADS), while patient-reported outcomes were collected by HADS and Lung Cancer Symptom Scale (LCSS). The majority of the CBS and CQOLC scores were significantly higher in anxious and depressed caregivers than non-anxious and non-depressed caregivers (p < .01 or .05). Caregivers of depressed patients experienced significantly greater emotional distress than those of non-depressed patients (p < .01). Significantly positive associations were identified among most of the CBS, CQOLC and caregiver HADS scores. Patient LCSS scores were positively correlated with the CBS and caregiver HADS scores, and patient HADS scores were also positively related to caregiver HADS scores. The close interrelationships between caregiver and patient health outcomes provide evidence that lung cancer patients and their caregivers should be viewed as a unit in future supportive service models.

Infrared optical constants of liquid palm oil and palm oil biodiesel determined by the combined ellipsometry-transmission method.

The optical constants of vegetable oils and biodiesels are the basic input parameters in the study of the thermal radiation transfer and monitoring the productivity of vegetable oils converting to biodiesels. In this work, a combined ellipsometry-transmission method is presented to obtain the optical constants of palm oil and palm oil biodiesel between 20°C and 150°C in the spectral range 600-4100 cm-1 and to study the temperature effect on the optical constants. In the combined method, a modified ellipsometry method is used to measure the optical constants of palm oil and palm oil biodiesel for the whole researched wave bands. For the weak absorption regions in which the ellipsometry method cannot give precise absorption indices, the transmission method is conducted to get the absorption indices using the refractive indices obtained by the proposed ellipsometry method. Deionized water and methanol are taken as examples to verify the combined ellipsometry-transmission method. It is shown that the combined method can overcome the deficiencies of the traditional ellipsometry and transmission method, which can be used for the measurements of both strong and weak absorption wave bands. The experimental analyses indicate that temperature exerts a noticeable influence on the infrared optical constants of palm oil and palm oil biodiesel. With the increase of temperature, the refractive indices at certain wavenumbers decrease nearly linearly, and the amplitudes of dominant absorption peaks show a decreasing trend. The absorption peaks located around 3550 cm-1 show blueshift trends as temperature increases. Comparing these two kinds of oils, palm oil presents larger values in refractive indices and dominant absorption peaks.

[The regulatory mechanisms of 1,25(OH)2D3 in allergic rhinitis].

Nearly 30 years at home and abroad, the study found that Vitamin D can adjust congenital and acquired immune at the same time. As a result, Vitamin D is expected to be used for prevention and treatment of allergic rhinitis. But about vitamin D supplement to the mechanism of action of allergic disease such as allergic rhinitis is still not clear, there is no consistent condusion, even some of the result also has certain contradiction, so vitamin D is not routinely used for clinical therapy. This review will help us to understand the mechanism of action of vitamin D for allergic rhinitis in the treatment of thinking in the future.

[In vivo and in vitro experimental studies of remote digital control endovascular robotic system in interventional angiography].

Objective: To investigate the feasibility of the remote control endovascular robotic system in interventional angiography. Method: The endovascular robotic system Heifetz™ and the matched steerable catheter Mirage™ were used to cannulate all the target vessels in the vascular model and cerebral arteries originated from the aorta of Bama mini-pigs under fluoroscopic guidance. The technical success rate, cannulation time and exposure dose were all collected and compared with the result of using conventional techniques. Result: All the target vessels were successfully cannulated.The average cannulation time for the steerable catheter into left subclavian artery, left common carotid artery, brachiocephalic artery, right common carotid artery and right subclavian artery in the vascular model was (21.3±2.8)s, (28.8±5.2)s, (17.7±2.6)s, (31.5±5.1)s and (24.2±3.7) s, respectively, while the average exposure dose was (9.3±1.2)mGy, (12.4±2.2)mGy, (7.4±1.2)mGy, (14.2±2.5)mGy and( 10.4±1.9)mGy, respectively. The endovascular robotic system completed the cerebral angiography in Bama mini-pigs successfully. The average cannulation time for left innominate artery, right innominate artery, right subclavian artery, common internal carotid trunk, left internal carotid artery and right internal carotid artery was (41.5±6.8)s, (29.1±3.7)s, (40.7±5.5)s, (40.1±5.8)s, (59.6±9.0)s and( 60.3±10.1)s, respectively, while the average exposure dose was (40.6±6.5)mGy, (36.0±5.2)mGy, (39.8±6.1)mGy, (43.9±6.7)mGy, (51.0±7.4)mGy and( 50.1±7.8)mGy, respectively. There was no significant difference between robotic and conventional group in success rate, cannulation time and exposure dose. Conclusion: The remote digital control endovascular robotic system could cannulate the target vessel in both vascular model and complete the cerebral angiography in Bama mini-pigs, which shows the feasibility of using this robotic system in endovascular intervention procedures under remote control.

A prospective comparison of times to presentation and treatment of regional and remote head and neck patients in North Queensland, Australia.

BACKGROUND/AIM: This study aims to examine differences between outer regional (OR) and remote/very remote (RVR) patients in northern Queensland, Australia in the times taken to receive various aspects of head and neck cancer management. METHODS: Our study prospectively recruited head and neck cancer patients presenting to three North Queensland regional hospitals from January 2009 to January 2011. Data on demographic and cancer-specific details, comorbidities and timing of presentation to various services, were collected using a self-administered questionnaire that included two questions in relation to possible reason for delays to health services. Multivariate linear regression analyses were conducted to assess the effects of various demographic characteristics on time delays. Survival and disease recurrence data were analysed in 2014. RESULTS: One hundred and fifty-eight patients participated. RVR patients had significantly longer median times between diagnosis and first treatment compared with OR patients (P = 0.015). Indigenous patients had significant delays from diagnosis to first treatment (P = 0.013) and visit to first specialist and treatment (P = 0.031) compared to non-Indigenous patients. Longer median times between symptoms and first treatment was associated with low income (P = 0.03) and lower education level (P = 0.04). Disease recurrence was higher for RVR patients compared with OR patients (P = 0.04), without significant differences in overall survival. Possible reasons for delays included patient and professional factors. CONCLUSION: Significant delays in various aspects of head and neck cancer management were associated with remoteness, Indigenous and socioeconomic status. While patient and professional factors could be addressed at local levels, sustainable improvement in outcomes requires a state and national level approach.

The burden of filial piety: A qualitative study on caregiving motivations amongst family caregivers of patients with cancer in Singapore.

OBJECTIVE: This study explores (1) the motivations and challenges facing family caregiving for cancer in Singapore and (2) suggests a possible framework to guide culturally sensitive future work on caregivers. DESIGN: Twenty caregivers of patients being treated for cancer at a public hospital in Singapore were interviewed. A semi-structured interview format and inductive thematic analysis were used to analyse the data. Caregivers were asked about their motivations for caregiving and the challenges they faced. RESULTS: Caregivers' motivations grouped into three categories: personal value and fulfilment, giving care because of societal expectations such as filial piety, and practical need. Challenges were grouped into interpersonal challenges, disclosure and finding balance. Caregivers with different primary motivations varied in their responses to these challenges. More autonomous caregivers cited learning points and reprioritised more effectively than less autonomous caregivers, who reported more internal conflict and less control over their situation. CONCLUSIONS: In Singapore and Asia, sociocultural values of family caregiving are not uniformly experienced as positive, and may be burdensome for caregivers who give care primarily for extrinsic motivations. As family caregiving needs increase, targeted psychosocial support for caregivers with less autonomous behavioural orientations may pre-empt caregiver burnout and burden.

Nurse-led educational interventions on cancer pain outcomes for oncology outpatients: a systematic review.

BACKGROUND: Cancer pain management is still unsatisfactory, although some effective guidelines exist. Educational interventions are reported to be useful in pain relief for oncology outpatients. AIM: The aims of this systematic review were to evaluate the effects of nurse-led educational interventions on improving cancer pain outcomes for oncology patients, and to establish an effective cancer pain protocol for clinical nursing practice in China. METHODS: A three-step search strategy was utilized. Eight databases were searched using the standards provided by the Joanna Briggs Institute that guided article selection, critical appraisal, data collection and data synthesis. RESULTS: A total of 1093 studies were identified through a literature search. Only six studies complied with the inclusion criteria and were found to be methodologically sound. In general, the included studies indicated positive results pertaining to patient's knowledge and attitudes towards analgesics and cancer pain management and decreased pain intensity. Studies reported minimal effects of intervention on anxiety, depression, satisfaction regarding cancer pain management and patient's quality of life. CONCLUSIONS: Educational interventions were reported as effective methods to improve cancer pain outcomes. Analysis of the six included studies demonstrated the overall positive effects of nurse-led educational interventions for improving cancer pain management. IMPLICATIONS FOR NURSING AND HEALTH POLICY: The results suggest that an effective cancer pain protocol for improving cancer pain management can be established in China.

Genetic variants on 17q21 are associated with asthma in a Han Chinese population.

A genome-wide study has shown an association between SNPs located on 17q21 and asthma. Such associations have been identified in several populations, but little is known about the Han Chinese population. We conducted a case-control study in a Han Chinese population to investigate the relationship between SNPs located on 17q21 and asthma; 241 asthmatic patients and 212 healthy controls were recruited from the outpatient clinics of the Nanfang Hospital, Guangdong Province, southern China. We genotyped six SNPs (rs8067378, rs8069176, rs2305480, rs4795400, rs12603332, and rs11650680) located on 17q21 with the Sequenom MassARRAY iPLEX platform. For two of these six loci (rs2305480 and rs8067378), there was evidence of association with asthma, and there was a weak association of asthma with rs8069176. We confirm that genetic variants on 17q21 are associated with asthma in the Han Chinese population.

Esophageal tissue engineering: an in-depth review on scaffold design.

Treatment of esophageal cancer often requires surgical procedures that involve removal. The current approaches to restore esophageal continuity however, are known to have limitations which may not result in full functional recovery. In theory, using a tissue engineered esophagus developed from the patient's own cells to replace the removed esophageal segment can be the ideal method of reconstruction. One of the key elements involved in the tissue engineering process is the scaffold which acts as a template for organization of cells and tissue development. While a number of scaffolds range from traditional non-biodegradable tubing to bioactive decellularized matrix have been proposed to engineer the esophagus in the past decade, results are still not yet favorable with many challenges relating to tissue quality need to be met improvements. The success of new esophageal tissue formation will ultimately depend on the success of the scaffold being able to meet the essential requirements specific to the esophageal tissue. Here, the design of the scaffold and its fabrication approaches are reviewed. In this paper, we review the current state of development in bioengineering the esophagus with particular emphasis on scaffold design.

Low prevalence of significant carotid artery disease on ultrasound in patients proceeding to coronary artery bypass surgery.

BACKGROUND: Cardiothoracic surgery is associated with an increased risk of perioperative stroke. Preoperative carotid ultrasonography can identify significant stenosis, but there is debate about the value of screening. The aims of this study were to (i) determine the prevalence of significant carotid artery disease in screened patients undergoing cardiothoracic surgery and (ii) correlate their ultrasonographic findings with perioperative strokes. METHODS: Retrospective analysis of 166 patients (118 men, 48 women) who underwent a preoperative carotid ultrasound and coronary artery bypass graft surgery (CABG) from 2004 to 2007. Perioperative strokes were recorded and compared with ultrasonographic and clinical data. A separate cohort of 1423 patients (1064 men, 359 women) who underwent CABG over the same period was also evaluated. RESULTS: Only 11 screened patients (6.6%) had significant (>70%) carotid artery disease and two of these underwent simultaneous carotid endarterectomy. There were five perioperative strokes in screened patients, four of which occurred in individuals with <50% disease. Compared with the non-screened cohort, ultrasound screened patients were older and more likely to have a prior stroke or transient ischaemic attack, hypertension, hypercholesterolaemia, peripheral vascular disease and/or renal impairment than non-screened patients. There was no significant difference in perioperative strokes compared with non-screened patients (3% vs 1.2% respectively, P= NS). CONCLUSION: There is a low prevalence of significant carotid artery disease in ultrasound screened patients. The risk of perioperative strokes in screened patients is low and not significantly different from non-screened patients.

Pheochromocytoma in pregnancy: a case report and review of literature.

Hypertension is a common problem in pregnancy that can result in significant maternal and fetal morbidity and mortality. The common causes include pre-eclampsia, gestational hypertension and essential hypertension. Although phaeochromocytoma is a rare cause of hypertension in pregnancy, it can lead to potentially life-threatening cardiovascular complications for the mother and increased fetal mortality if left undiagnosed and untreated. The diagnosis can be confirmed by measurement of plasma and urinary catecholamines and their metabolities followed by radiological localization of the tumour. Surgical resection of the tumour after adequate pre-operative control of hypertension using sequential alpha- followed by beta-blockers is the definitive treatment. In pregnancy, depending on the gestation at which diagnosis is made, the optimal timing for surgery is during the late first or early second trimester. When the pregnancy is more advanced, medical management followed by combined caesarean section and tumour resection closer to term is preferred.