Hospital accreditation programs are used worldwide to improve the quality of care and improve patient safety. It is of great help in improving the structure of hospitals, but there are mixed research ...results on improving the clinical outcome of patients. The purpose of this study was to compare the levels of core clinical outcome indicators after receiving inpatient services from accredited and nonaccredited hospitals in patients with acute myocardial infarction (AMI). For all patients with AMI admitted to general hospitals in Korea from 2010 to 2017, their 30-day mortality and readmissions and length of stay were compared according to accreditation status. In addition, through a multivariate model that controls various patients' and hospitals' factors, the differences in those indicators were analyzed more accurately. The 30-day mortality of patients admitted to accredited hospitals was statistically significantly lower than that of patients admitted to nonaccredited hospitals. However, for 30-day readmission and length of stay, accreditation did not appear to yield more desirable results. This study shows that when evaluating the clinical impact of hospital accreditation programs, not only the mortality but also various clinical indicators need to be included, and a more comprehensive review is needed.
Adequate preclinical model and model establishment procedure are required to accelerate translational research in lung cancer. We streamlined a protocol for establishing patient-derived cells (PDC) ...and identified effective targeted therapies and novel resistance mechanisms using PDCs. We generated 23 PDCs from 96 malignant effusions of 77 patients with advanced lung adenocarcinoma. Clinical and experimental factors were reviewed to identify determinants for PDC establishment. PDCs were characterized by driver mutations and in vitro sensitivity to targeted therapies. Seven PDCs were analyzed by whole-exome sequencing. PDCs were established at a success rate of 24.0%. Utilizing cytological diagnosis and tumor colony formation can improve the success rate upto 48.8%. In vitro response to a tyrosine kinase inhibitor (TKI) in PDC reflected patient treatment response and contributed to identifying effective therapies. Combination of dabrafenib and trametinib was potent against a rare BRAF K601E mutation. Afatinib was the most potent EGFR-TKI against uncommon EGFR mutations including L861Q, G719C/S768I, and D770_N771insG. Aurora kinase A (AURKA) was identified as a novel resistance mechanism to olmutinib, a mutant-selective, third-generation EGFR-TKI, and inhibition of AURKA overcame the resistance. We presented an efficient protocol for establishing PDCs. PDCs empowered precision medicine with promising translational values.
This study was designed to investigate whether dieckol may inhibit α-glucosidase and α-amylase activities, and alleviate postprandial hyperglycemia in streptozotocin-induced diabetic mice. Dieckol ...isolated from Ecklonia cava, brown algae, evidenced prominent inhibitory effect against α-glucosidase and α-amylase. The IC50 values of dieckol against α-glucosidase and α-amylase were 0.24 and 0.66mM, respectively, which evidenced the higher activities than that of acarbose. Dieckol did not exert any cytotoxic effect in human umbilical vein endothelial cells (HUVECs) at various concentrations (from 0.33 to 2.69mM). The increase of postprandial blood glucose levels were significantly suppressed in the dieckol administered group than those in the streptozotocin-induced diabetic or normal mice. Moreover, the area under curve (AUC) was significantly reduced via dieckol administration (259 versus 483mmolmin/l) in the diabetic mice as well as it delays absorption of dietary carbohydrates. Therefore, these result indicated that dieckol might be a potent inhibitor for α-glucosidase and α-amylase.
•Two new 3D Zn(II)/Co(II) CPs of sebacic acid and bbimb ligands are discribed.•CPs 1 and 2 display as 5-fold interpenetrating dia topology.•Both CPs exhibit selective sensing toward tryptophan and ...norfloxacin via turn-on and red shift effects.
Two three-dimensional (3D) coordination polymers (CPs), namely {M(seb)(bbimb)·3H2O}n (M = Zn for 1; Co for 2), were obtained via hydrothermal method using sebacic acid (H2seb) mixed with 1,4-bis(benzoimidazol-1-yl)butane (bbimb). The structures of 1 and 2 both display as 3D frameworks with a 5-fold interpenetrating dia topology. CPs 1 and 2 both exhibit excellent luminescent properties and good water stability. Fluorescence sensing experiments demonstrate that 1 and 2 both can selectively detect tryptophan (Trp) and norfloxacin (Nor) in aqueous solution through turn-on and red-shift effect with remarkable anti-interference ability and low detection limits. The limits of detection (LOD) toward Trp-and Nor are 0.07 μM, 0.08 μM for 1 and 0.41 μM, 0.11 μM for 2. In addition, theoretical calculations and different detection methods were utilized to thoroughly investigate the potential sensing mechanisms for Trp-and Nor. Importantly, 1 and 2 represent two rare examples for sensing both Trp-and Nor via turn-on and red-shift effects. The fluoresence test films of 1 and 2 were prepared which can detect Trp-and Nor quickly with naked eye.
Display omitted
Two new 3D Zn(II)/Co(II) CPs of sebacic acid and bbimb ligands are discribed. CPs 1 and 2 display as 5-fold interpenetrating dia topology. Both CPs were confirmed to be luminescent sensors for detection of tryptophan (Trp) and norfloxacin (Nor) in aqueous solution through turn-on and red shift effects.
Abstract
The utilization of botulinum neurotoxin in the field of body contouring is on the rise. Body contouring procedures typically focus on specific muscle groups such as the superior trapezius, ...deltoid, and lateral head of the triceps brachii. The authors propose identifying optimal injection sites for botulinum neurotoxin to achieve desired aesthetic contouring of the shoulders and arms. The authors conducted a modified Sihler’s staining method on specimens of the superior trapezius, deltoid, and lateral head of the triceps brachii muscles, totaling 16, 14, and 16 specimens, respectively. The neural distribution exhibited the most extensive branching patterns within the horizontal section (between 1/5 and 2/5) and the vertical section (between 2/4 and 4/4) of the superior trapezius muscle. In the deltoid muscle, the areas between the anterior and posterior deltoid bellies, specifically within the range of the horizontal 1/3 to 2/3 lines, showed significant intramuscular arborization. Furthermore, the middle deltoid muscle displayed arborization patterns between 2/3 and the axillary line. Regarding the triceps brachii muscle, the lateral heads demonstrated arborization between 4/10 and 7/10. The authors recommend targeting these regions, where maximum arborization occurs, as the optimal and safest points for injecting botulinum toxin.
Objective
Literature has well noted ethnic/racial disparities in cancer survival and cancer care. However, socioeconomic disparities in psychosocial adjustment to breast cancer have garnered little ...attention. This study addresses the research gap by investigating the associations between socioeconomic indicators (ie, education, annual personal, and household income) and quality of life (QOL) and the mediating roles of social support and social constraints (objective and subjective conditions that constrain individuals from disclosing cancer concerns) in these associations among Chinese American breast cancer survivors (CABCS).
Methods
Ninety‐six CABCS completed questionnaires assessing these variables.
Results
After controlling for stage of cancer, annual personal and household income had indirect effects on QOL through social support, and education showed indirect effect on QOL through social support and social constraints. Subscale analyses indicated that controlling for years of immigration, annual personal and household income showed indirect effect on functional well‐being through social support. When controlling for stage of cancer and income, education showed indirect effects on physical well‐being through social support and social constraints and showed both direct and indirect effects on breast cancer concerns through social constraints.
Conclusion
This study suggested that socioeconomic indicators, education, and income could be associated with different aspects of QOL through unique interpersonal mechanisms among CABCS. Our findings implied that increasing social support and reducing social constraints when implementing psychosocial interventions for CABCS may help to address the SES‐related health disparities.
Purpose
The pectoralis minor muscle (PMi) generally originates from the third, fourth, and fifth ribs and inserts on the medial and superior margins of the anterior portion of the coracoid process. ...Variations in the shape and attachment point of the PMi could cause discomfort in the shoulders. The aim of this study was to observe the types of morphological insertion patterns and attachment sites of the PMi.
Methods
Seventy-four sides of fresh, embalmed Korean (42 sides; mean age 78 years) and Thai (32 sides; mean age 78 years) cadavers were dissected to analyze the morphological insertion types and attachment sites of the PMi.
Results
Unusual insertion patterns were evident in about 23% of the samples. When the portion of the PMi tendon ran over the coracoid process, the most common attachment site was the glenohumeral joint capsule. We also confirmed the attachment of the PMi to the clavicle. Costal attachments of the PMi that extend from the second rib to the fourth rib were observed frequently as well.
Conclusions
Unusual insertion patterns of the PMi are common. Some authors consider that tendon attachment to the joint capsule can cause shoulder pain. In addition, the PMi tendon could be utilized in acromioclavicular joint reconstruction. Surgeons need to be aware of the possibility of a PMi variant being found during surgery even when this is not visible in magnetic resonance or ultrasound imaging.
Seaweed-derived compounds are known to possess various biological activities. The present study evaluated the antioxidant potential of (−)-loliolide, a monoterpenoid isolated from
Sargassum horneri
...in Vero cells and zebrafish models. (−)-Loliolide was purified from the chloroform fraction of an
S. horneri
methanol extract using high-performance centrifugal partition chromatography (HPCPC). HPCPC was found to be an effective method to isolate (−)-loliolide, yielding a high purity product. Electron spin resonance evaluation demonstrated that (−)-loliolide had significant alkyl radical scavenging activity (IC
50
: 0.043 ± 0.005 mg mL
−1
). In addition, our study showed that (−)-loliolide demonstrated dose-dependent protective effects for Vero cell viability against 2,2′-azobis(2-amidinopropane) dihydrochloride (AAPH)-induced intracellular reactive oxygen species (ROS). Moreover, (−)-loliolide reduced lipid peroxidation in AAPH-induced zebrafish embryos, while ameliorating the survival rate and cell death in a dose-dependent manner. These results reveal the antioxidant potential of (−)-loliolide. Future studies highlighting the potential applications of
S. horneri
in manufacturing functional food ingredients are required.
An emerging paradigm in wound healing techniques is that a tissue-engineered skin substitute offers an alternative approach to create functional skin tissue. Here we developed a fish ...collagen/alginate (FCA) sponge scaffold that was functionalized by different molecular weights of chitooligosaccharides (COSs) with the use of 1-ethyl-3-(3-dimethylaminopropyl) carbodiimide hydrochloride as a cross-linking agent. The effects of cross-linking were analyzed by Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy. The results indicate that the homogeneous materials blending and cross-linking intensity were dependent on the molecular weights of COSs. The highly interconnected porous architecture with 160–260μm pore size and over 90% porosity and COS's MW driven swelling and retention capacity, tensile property and in vitro biodegradation behavior guaranteed the FCA/COS scaffolds for skin tissue engineering application. Further improvement of these properties enhanced the cytocompatibility of all the scaffolds, especially the scaffolds containing COSs with MW in the range of 1–3kDa (FCA/COS1) showed the best cytocompatibility. These physicochemical, mechanical, and biological properties suggest that the FCA/COS1 scaffold is a superior candidate that can be used for skin tissue regeneration.
PDF
