American journal of translational research最新文献

Objectives: There is ongoing debate regarding the effectiveness of open cavity mastoidectomy (OCM) versus closed cavity mastoidectomy (CCM) in patients with chronic otitis media (COM). This study aimed to compare audiological outcomes of OCM and CCM in cholesteatomatous COM (CCOM) patients.

Methods: Clinical data were collected from 102 patients with middle ear cholesteatomas who underwent OCM or CCM for CCOM at our hospital between February 2018 and May 2022. A retrospective analysis was conducted on audiological outcomes for patients with CCOM receiving either OCM or CCM. Air conduction (AC), bone conduction (BC), and air-bone gap (ABG) were compared between the two surgical methods. Further, recurrence, complications, pathological types, and the impact of prior ossiculoplasty were analyzed both before surgery and at three months post-ossiculoplasty.

Results: No significant differences in demographic features were observed between the OCM and CCM groups, including gender, age, complications, pathological types, and the use of ossiculoplasty. All cases presented with hearing loss and otorrhea. Both OCM and CCM significantly reduced AC, BC, and ABG thresholds, with OCM showing greater effectiveness in decreasing AC and BC thresholds compared to the CCM method. In patients with different pathological types, OCM did not result in a significantly greater reduction in AC, BC, or ABG thresholds compared to CCM. Further, there were no significant differences in hearing outcomes between OCM and CCM, regardless of whether patients underwent ossiculoplasty.

Conclusions: Both OCM and CCM are effective in improving hearing in patients with CCOM. However, OCM demonstrates superior therapeutic effects compared to CCM, particularly in terms of effectiveness, although complications and drying time should be considered.

Objective: To evaluate the predictive value of plasma D-D (D-dimer) and CRP (C-reactive protein) levels for mortality risk among elderly patients with severe pneumonia.

Methods: Clinical data of 119 patients treated between February 2022 and February 2024 were collected and retrospectively analyzed. Based on survival outcomes, the patients were categorized into a survival group (72 patients) and a death group (47 patients). The D-D and CRP levels were compared between the two groups, and their potential as prognostic markers for mortality risk in elderly patients with severe pneumonia were also assessed.

Results: The levels of D-D and CRP in the death group were significantly higher than those in the survival group (all P<0.05). D-D had an AUC (area under the curve) of 0.601, with a specificity of 63.83% and a sensitivity of 55.56%. CRP had an AUC of 0.624, with a specificity of 48.94% and a sensitivity of 72.22%. Both biomarkers showed good predictive value. Multivariate Cox regression analysis further confirmed that elevated D-D and CRP levels were independent prognostic factors influencing patient prognosis (P<0.05).

Conclusions: Elevated levels of D-D and CRP are associated with poorer prognosis and increased mortality risk in elderly patients with severe pneumonia. These findings highlight the potential of these two biomarkers as valuable biomarkers for guiding clinical decision-making and management strategies in this patient population.

Objectives: To examine the impact of pathogen spectrum and antibiotic resistance on the treatment efficacy of clinical microbial infections from 2012 to 2022.

Methods: Retrospective analysis of clinical data from 1200 patients with microbial infections admitted to The Fifth Hospital of Xiamen. Bacterial cultures and drug sensitivity tests were conducted, and the efficacy of first-line antibiotics was evaluated.

Results: A total of 1258 pathogens were identified, with 57.23% Gram-positive and 37.84% Gram-negative bacteria. Staphylococcus aureus and Staphylococcus epidermidis showed high resistance to penicillin and cephalosporins. Klebsiella pneumoniae and Escherichia coli exhibited elevated resistance to imipenem and cephalosporins. From 2018 to 2022, there was an increase in resistance to cephalosporins and a decrease in treatment efficacy (P<0.05).

Conclusions: Rising resistance rates to cephalosporins among Gram-positive and Gram-negative bacteria have led to diminished antibiotic efficacy. Adjustments in antibiotic selection, such as using glycopeptide antibiotics, are needed to combat resistance.

Objective: We aimed to investigate the pharmacologic mechanism underlying this traditional remedy.

Method: We used a freshly produced hot water decoction of J. sambac leaves (HWDJS) to examine its hepatoprotective effects in laboratory animals, administering doses of HWDJS at 100, 200, and 300 mg/kg over 7 days. On the 8th day, paracetamol toxicity was induced at a dose of 2 g/kg. The test and control groups assessed biochemical indicators (alkaline phosphatase, aspartate transaminase, alanine transaminase, and C-reactive protein), liver-to-body weight ratio, and cytoarchitecture. Oxidative biomarkers (gamma-glutamyl-glycine, superoxide dismutases, and malondialdehyde) were measured after 24 hours of toxicity induction to judge the extent of hepatoprotection.

Result: HWDJS confirmed a significant (P ≤ 0.05) decrease in biochemical markers compared to the intoxicated group: histopathologic differences and antioxidant measures. The antioxidant potential of HWDJS was confirmed by a 2,2-diphenyl-1-picrylhydrazyl and nitric oxide scavenging assay.

Conclusion: The findings prove that the decoction of J. sambac has extensive hepatoprotection against paracetamol-induced toxicity and can be considered as an alternative therapy in hepatic disorders.

Objectives: To investigate the roles of Cu transporter ATPase copper transporting alpha (ATP7A) in gastric cancer (GC) progression and prognosis.

Methods: ATP7A expression was investigated using databases, immunohistochemistry (IHC) and qPCR in tumor tissues and GC cell lines. Diagnostic and prognostic value of ATP7A was assessed by Receiver Operating Characteristic (ROC) and Kaplan-Meier curve, respectively. The roles of ATP7A were explored using protein-protein interaction (PPI), Gene Ontology (GO), Kyoto Encyclopedia of Genes and Genomes (KEGG) and Gene Set Enrichment Analysis (GSEA), ssGSEA algorithm and Tumor Immune Estimation Resource (TIMER) databases. Subsequently, the effects of ATP7A were evaluated by Cell Counting Kit-8 (CCK-8), colony formation, and transwell assays.

Results: ATP7A overexpression was associated with a higher IHC score and a larger area under the ROC curve (0.746). Elevated ATP7A expression correlated with shorter survival time, greater invasion depth of GC lesions, advanced pathological stages, and older age in GC patients. Comprehensive analysis revealed that ATP7A was involved in copper ion transport, transition metal ion homeostasis, cellular transition metal ion homeostasis, and copper ion homeostasis. Additionally, ATP7A was linked to key signaling pathways, including Hedgehog, Wnt/β-catenin, and Notch, along with the top 10 hub genes. Furthermore, ATP7A played a role in immune infiltration, influencing T cells, dendritic cells, B cells, macrophages, and neutrophils, as well as the expression of immune checkpoints such as Cytotoxic T-Lymphocyte-Associated Protein 4 (CTLA-4), Programmed Cell Death Protein 1 Ligand 1 (PD-L1), T-Cell Immunoglobulin, and Mucin Domain-Containing Protein 3 (TIM-3). Experimental validation demonstrated that silencing ATP7A suppressed GC cell proliferation, colony formation, migration, and invasion.

Conclusion: ATP7A promoted GC progression and acted as a promising prognostic target for the treatment of GC.

Objective: To evaluate the effects of a comprehensive nursing model on perioperative experiences and complications in patients undergoing general anesthesia.

Methods: A retrospective analysis was conducted on 98 patients who underwent general anesthesia at the First Affiliated Hospital, Jiangxi Medical College, Nanchang University from August 2022 to March 2024. Patients were divided into a traditional group (TG, n=41) and a comprehensive nursing group (CG, n=57) based on their perioperative nursing model. Surgical data, recovery metrics, stress-related indicators before and after surgery, and perioperative hemodynamic indicators were compared between the two groups. Postoperative cognitive function and complication rates were also assessed.

Results: The CG had a shorter hospital stay compared to the TG (P<0.05). On postoperative day 1, epinephrine and norepinephrine levels in the CG were lower than those in the TG (P<0.05). At T3 and T4, systolic blood pressure in the CG was lower than of the TG (P<0.05), and at T1, diastolic blood pressure was also lower in the CG (P<0.05). At T5, the heart rate in the CG was lower than of the TG (P<0.05). Awakening and extubation times were shorter in the CG than the TG (both P<0.05). On postoperative day 1, Mini-Mental State Examination scores were higher in the CG than the TG (P<0.05), while Visual Analogue Scale scores were lower (P<0.05). The total incidence of perioperative complications was 8.77% (5/57) in the CG, significantly lower than 26.83% (11/41) in the TG (P<0.05).

Conclusion: Comprehensive nursing interventions can effectively reduce perioperative stress, shorten emergence and extubation times, mitigate short-term cognitive decline, and decrease perioperative complications in patients undergoing general anesthesia.

Objective: To evaluate the clinical efficacy of fractional laser treatment combined with bipolar radiofrequency for improving atrophic facial acne scars.

Methods: The clinical data of patients with atrophic facial acne scars treated in the Dermatology Department of The People's Hospital of Chongqing Liangping District from October 2022 to 2023 were retrospectively analyzed. The patients were divided into two groups based on treatment methods: the single intervention group (Group A, n=25) and the combined intervention group (Group B, n=25). Group A received bipolar radiofrequency therapy only, with a treatment cycle of 4 weeks and 4 cycles per treatment course. Group B received combination treatment, starting with carbon dioxide (CO₂) laser therapy for 2 weeks, followed by bipolar radiofrequency therapy for 2 weeks, alternating between the two modalities for 4 cycles per treatment course. Six months post-treatment, three doctors performed a blinded evaluation of facial photos from both groups using the Echelle d'evaluation clinique des cicatrices d'acne (ECCA) to assess clinical efficacy. Outcome measures included changes in scar texture and facial atrophy, adverse reactions, and patient satisfaction.

Results: The facial acne scars in both groups were classified as type III-IV before surgery. Post-treatment follow-up showed significant improvements in scar texture and atrophy in both groups. Group B demonstrated superior treatment outcomes compared to Group A. Specifically, the incidence of edema and pigmentation was lower in group B with a shorter duration of edema, faster wound healing, and reduced rest time compared to group A. Patient satisfaction was also higher in group B.

Conclusion: Fractional laser treatment combined with bipolar radiofrequency therapy is an effective combination for patients with atrophic acne scars, offering minimal side effects and enhanced patient satisfaction.

Objective: To investigate the role and mechanisms of Erianin in treating alopecia areata.

Methods: A C3H/HeJ AA mouse model was established using skin transfer or adoptive T-cell transfer. All mice received either systemic or topical treatments. Photographic documentation was used to monitor hair growth, which was quantified using G*Power software. Infiltrating inflammatory markers in the skin were assessed using immunofluorescence staining, and the infiltrating immune cell populations in the skin and subcutaneous draining lymph nodes (SDLNs) were analyzed using flow cytometry.

Results: Erianin effectively inhibited the function of effector T cells, significantly suppressing Alopecia Areata (AA) in C3H/HeJ transplanted mice. It also reversed systemic manifestations of AA and effectively promoted hair growth in AA mice.

Conclusion: Erianin demonstrates a potent therapeutic effect on AA, primarily through modulation of T cell immune function.

Objective: This study aimed to evaluate the application value of personalized patient protocol technology (P3T) modular cardiac injection technique combined with the iterative reconstruction algorithm, sinogram-affirmed iterative reconstruction (SAFIRE) in coronary computed tomography angiography (CCTA).

Methods: A retrospective analysis was performed on 40 patients who underwent CCTA at the Central Hospital Affiliated to Shandong First Medical University. Patients were divided into two groups: control group (n=20), which received the traditional contrast agent injection with fixed iodine load and injection flow rate, and filtered back projection reconstruction with filtered back projection (FBP), and experimental group (n=20), which employed a dosing protocol calculated based on P3T cardiac modular parameters, with SAFIRE strength 3 reconstruction. The two groups were compared regarding CT values (proximal, middle, and distal segments), signal-to-noise ratio (SNR), contrast-to-noise ratio (CNR), coronary imaging quality score, contrast agent flow rate, injection volume, and effective radiation dose (ED).

Results: There were no significant differences in CT values of the right coronary artery, anterior descending artery, or circumflex artery at the proximal and middle segments between the two groups (P>0.05). However, the experimental group exhibited significantly higher CT values at the distal segments of these coronary arteries compared to the control group (P<0.05). SNR, CNR, and coronary imaging quality scores showed no significant differences between the two groups (P>0.05). The contrast agent flow rate and injection volume in the experimental group were significantly lower than those in the control group (P<0.05). Additionally, the volume CT dose index (CTDIvol), dose length product (DLP), and ED were significantly reduced in the experimental group compared to the control group (P<0.05).

Conclusion: The combination of P3T technology with SAFIRE reconstruction in CCTA effectively reduces contrast agent flow rate, injection volume, and radiation dose without compromising image quality. This approach enables individualized, standardized, and consistent injection schemes.