Research into the Predictive Effect of TEG in the Changes of Coagulation Functions of the Patients with Traumatic Brain Hemorrhage

To analyze the predictive effect of thrombelastogram (TEG) in the changes of coagulation functions of patients with traumatic brain hemorrhage, as well as to provide a practice basis for clinical guidance. 54 cases were observed from Aug. 2013–Oct. 2014. All patients received a TEG test 1d, 3d and 7d after traumatic injury. According to the statistical analysis, the comparison among the aforementioned coagulation function parameters in each group of patients, K, α and Ma all had significant differences. In the comparison between different time points in the same group, there was still a significant difference. Compared to the patients, the changes of R and K reached the lowest at 1d and the highest at 3d, but there was no significant difference between two groups at 7d. The changes of α and Ma reached its highest at 1d and the lowest at 3d after traumatic injury, but there was no significant difference at 7d. There was some difference in changes of coagulation functions between all groups. The former was more serious and the changes of coagulation functions had certain regularity, i.e., after traumatic injury, 1d showed a hypercoagulable state; 3d showed a hypocoagulable state; the coagulation functions of 7d returned to normal.

Association of ANGPTL8 and Resistin With Diabetic Nephropathy in Type 2 Diabetes Mellitus

Background

Previous studies showed altered angiopoietin-like protein-8 (ANGPTL-8) and resistin circulating levels in type 2 diabetes mellitus (T2DM). Whether or not the alteration in ANGPTL-8 and resistin level can be a predictive maker for increased diabetic nephropathy risk remains unclear.

Aim

To Investigate the possible association of ANGPTL-8 and resistin with DN, and whether this association is affected by NAFLD status.

Methods

A total of 278 T2DM patients were enrolled. Serum levels of ANGPTL8, resistin, BMI, blood pressure, duration of diabetes, glycosylated hemoglobin (HbA1c), fasting blood glucose (FPG), hypersensitive C-reactive protein (hs-CRP), lipid profile, liver, and kidney function tests were assessed. The relationship between DN with ANGPTL8 and resistin was analyzed in the unadjusted and multiple-adjusted regression models.

Results

Serum levels of ANGPTL8 and resistin were significantly higher in DN compared with T2DM subjects without DN (respectively; P <0.001), especially in non-NAFLD populations. ANGPTL8 and resistin showed positive correlation with hs-CRP (respectively; P<0.01), and negative correlation with estimated GFR (eGFR) (respectively; P=<0.001) but no significant correlation to HOMA-IR(respectively; P>0.05). Analysis showed ANGPTL8 levels were positively associated with resistin but only in T2DM patients with DN(r=0.1867; P<0.05), and this significant correlation disappeared in T2DM patients without DN. After adjusting for confounding factors, both ANGPTL8(OR=2.095, 95%CI 1.253-3.502 P=0.005) and resistin (OR=2.499, 95%CI 1.484-4.208 P=0.001) were risk factors for DN. Data in non-NAFLD population increased the relationship between ANGPTL8 (OR=2.713, 95% CI 1.494-4.926 P=0.001), resistin (OR=4.248, 95% CI 2.260-7.987 P<0.001)and DN. The area under the curve (AUC) on receiver operating characteristic (ROC) analysis of the combination of ANGPTL8 and resistin was 0.703, and the specificity was 70.4%. These data were also increased in non-NAFLD population, as the AUC (95%CI) was 0.756, and the specificity was 91.2%.

Conclusion

This study highlights a close association between ANGPTL8, resistin and DN, especially in non-NAFLD populations. These results suggest that ANGPTL-8 and resistin may be risk predictors of DN.

The predictive effect childhood abuse on aggression of adolescents with ADHD: The mediating role of executive function

This study investigates the predictive effect childhood abuse on aggression of adolescents with ADHD, focusing on the mediating role of Executive function. Random sampling was used to select adolescents from five schools in Baltim City, Egypt from January to April 2024 as the research subjects. A total of 180 participants aged 12-15 years (mean= 13.10 and SD = 4.56) were included in the analyses. Questionnaires were used to collect data. This study mainly explored the relationship between childhood abuse, executive function, and reactive and proactive aggressive behavior among adolescents. The results of comparing the scores of the top 27% and the bottom 27% of childhood abuse experience showed that the reactive, proactive aggression, and executive dysfunction questionnaire scores of the high childhood abuse group were higher than those of the low childhood abuse group.

Risk factors for benign paroxysmal positional vertigo and construction of a nomogram predictive model

BACKGROUND

To analyze the risk factors for benign paroxysmal positional vertigo (BPPV) and to construct a predictive nomogram model.

METHODS

In this retrospective study, 312 participants were enrolled, including 164 BPPV patients and 148 healthy subjects without BPPV. Risk predictors for BPPV were identified using univariate and multivariate analyses, and a clinical nomogram was constructed. The predictive accuracy was assessed by unadjusted concordance index (C-index) and calibration plot.

RESULTS

Univariate and multivariate regression analysis identified stroke (95% CI, 0.575-5.954; P=0.022), hyperlipidemia (95% CI, 0.471-4.647; P=0.003), chronic suppurative otitis media (95% CI, 1.222-45.528; P=0.005), cervical spondylosis (95% CI, 1.232-3.017; P=0.005), and osteoporosis (95% CI, 1.130-3.071; P=0.001) were the independent risk factors for BPPV. These risk factors were used to construct a clinical predictive nomogram. The regression equation was: logit (P) = -6.820 + 0.450 * stroke + hyperlipidemia * 0.312 + chronic suppurative otitis media * 0.499 + cervical spondylosis * 0.916 + osteoporosis * 0.628. The calibration curves demonstrated excellent accuracy of the predictive nomogram. Decision curve analysis showed that the predictive model is clinically applicable when the threshold probability was between 20% and 60%.

CONCLUSIONS

Stroke, hyperlipidemia, chronic suppurative otitis media, cervical spondylosis and osteoporosis are independent risk predictors for BPPV. The developed nomogram is useful in predicting the risk of BPPV.

Role of Exosomes in Immunotherapy of Hepatocellular Carcinoma

Simple Summary

Hepatocellular carcinoma is one of the most lethal malignancies, having a significantly poor prognosis. Immunotherapy, as an emerging tumor treatment option, provides new hope for many cancer patients. However, a large proportion of patients do not benefit from immunotherapy. As a critical cell-to-cell communication mediator in the tumor immune microenvironment, exosomes may play a unique role in hepatocellular carcinoma immune response and thus affect the efficiency of immunotherapy. In this review, we discuss related research on the roles of exosomes in the current immunotherapy resistance mechanism of hepatocellular carcinoma. Furthermore, we also clarify the excellent predictive value of exosomes and the roles they play in improving immunotherapy efficacy for hepatocellular carcinoma patients. We hope that our review can help readers to gain a more comprehensive understanding of exosomes’ roles in hepatocellular carcinoma immunotherapy.

Abstract

Hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) is one of the most lethal malignancies, having a significantly poor prognosis and no sufficiently efficient treatments. Immunotherapy, especially immune checkpoint inhibitors (ICIs), has provided new therapeutic approaches for HCC patients. Nevertheless, most patients with HCC do not benefit from immunotherapy. Exosomes are biologically active lipid bilayer nano-sized vesicles ranging in size from 30 to 150 nm and can be secreted by almost any cell. In the HCC tumor microenvironment (TME), numerous cells are involved in tumor progression, and exosomes—derived from tumor cells and immune cells—exhibit unique composition profiles and act as intercellular communicators by transporting various substances. Showing the dual characteristics of tumor promotion and suppression, exosomes exert multiple functions in shaping tumor immune responses in the crosstalk between tumor cells and surrounding immune cells, mediating immunotherapy resistance by affecting the PD-1/PD-L1 axis or the anti-tumor function of immune cells in the TME. Targeting exosomes or the application of exosomes as therapies is involved in many aspects of HCC immunotherapies (e.g., ICIs, tumor vaccines, and adoptive cell therapy) and may substantially enhance their efficacy. In this review, we discuss the impact of exosomes on the HCC TME and comprehensively summarize the role of exosomes in immunotherapy resistance and therapeutic application. We also discuss the potential of exosomes as biomarkers for predicting the efficacy of immunotherapy to help clinicians in identifying HCC patients who are amenable to immunotherapies.

Construction of nomogram prediction model using heart rate and pulse perfusion variability index as predictors for hypotension in cervical cancer patients with spinal epidural anesthesia

The prevention and treatment strategies for cervical cancer patients undergoing spinal epidural anesthesia have increasingly focused on early screening for high-risk factors associated with potential hypotension. We analyze the general conditions and preoperative examination results of 312 cervical cancer patients who received spinal epidural anesthesia, in order to identify independent risk factors for hypotension, assess their predictive efficacy, and construct a nomogram. 312 patients with cervical cancer received spinal epidural anesthesia were included in this study. Among them, 164 patients with hypotension after hysterectomy with spinal epidural anesthesia were in a hypotension group. Important risk predictors of hypotension after hysterectomy with spinal epidural anesthesia were identified using univariate and multivariate analyses, then a clinical nomogram was constructed. The predictive accuracy was assessed by unadjusted concordance index (C-index) and calibration plot. Univariate and multivariate regression analysis identified basal HR (≥95) (95% CI 0.831-0.900; P = 0.000) and basal PVI (95% CI 0.679-0.877; P = 0.000) were the independent risk factors for hypotension in cervical cancer patients with spinal epidural anesthesia. Those risk factors were used to construct a clinical predictive nomogram. The regression equation model based on the above factors was logit (P) = -6.820 + 0.216 * basal HR + basic PVI * 0.312. The calibration curves for hypotension risk revealed excellent accuracy of the predictive nomogram model. Decision curve analysis showed that the predictive model could be applied clinically when the threshold probability was 20 to 75%. We surmised that the basal HR values and PVI values are the independent risk factors for hypotension in cervical cancer patients with spinal epidural anesthesia. The construction of nomograms is beneficial in predicting the risk of hypotension in these patients.