LncRNA CDKN2BAS aggravates the progression of ovarian cancer by positively interacting with GAS6.

OBJECTIVE: The aim of this study was to elucidate the role of long non-coding RNA (lncRNA) CDKN2BAS in aggravating the progression of ovarian cancer via binding growth arrest-specific 6 (GAS6). PATIENTS AND METHODS: The relative levels of CDKN2BAS and GAS6 in ovarian cancer and normal ovarian tissues were detected. In addition, their levels in ovarian cancer cases with different FIGO stages and pathological grades were detected. Pearson correlation test was applied for assessing the correlation between CDKN2BAS and GAS6 levels in ovarian cancer tissues. The roles of CDKN2BAS and GAS6 in mediating proliferative and migratory potentials in HEY and SKOV-3 cells were examined by Cell Counting Kit-8 (CCK-8) and transwell assay, respectively. Subcellular distribution of CDKN2BAS was explored. CDKN2BAS-GAS6 interaction was evaluated by RIP (RNA immunoprecipitation) assay. RESULTS: CDKN2BAS was upregulated in ovarian cancer tissues, especially those with advanced FIGO stage and high pathological grade. It displayed diagnostic potential in ovarian cancer. CDKN2BAS level was positively correlated to that of GAS6 in ovarian cancer tissues. It was mainly expressed in the cytoplasm and could be interacted with GAS6. The overexpression of CDKN2BAS enhanced proliferative and migratory potentials in HEY and SKOV-3 cells. The knockdown of GAS6 partially abolished the regulatory effects of CDKN2BAS on promoting proliferative and migratory potentials in ovarian cancer. CONCLUSIONS: LncRNA CDKN2BAS is upregulated in ovarian cancer. By positively interacting with GAS6, CDKN2BAS triggers the progression of ovarian cancer.

Incidence of renal and perinephric abscess in diabetic patients: a population-based national study.

This population-based cohort study aimed to investigate the incidence and relative hazard of renal and perinephric abscess (RA) in the diabetic population in Taiwan. More than a half million diabetic patients and sex- and age-matched controls were identified from the 1997 Taiwan National Health Insurance data and were linked to in-patient claims from 1997 to 2007. Person-year approach with Poisson assumption was used to estimate the incidence density (ID) of RA. The hazard ratios (HRs) of hospitalization due to RA in relation to diabetes were analysed using a Cox proportional hazard model. The ID for the diabetic and control subjects was 4·6 and 1·1/10,000 person-years, respectively, in 11 years of follow-up, representing an adjusted HR of 3·81 (95% confidence interval 3·44-4·23). This study confirmed the association of diabetes with RA, and argued that more aggressive urological care should be administered to diabetic patients.

Skin temperature and skin blood flow affect bioelectric impedance study of female fat-free mass.

PURPOSE: This study examined the effects of skin temperature (Ts) and skin blood flow (SKBF) on bioelectrical impedance (BIA) measurements of body composition in healthy young females. METHODS: The Lukaski (FFM(LUK)) and Guo (FFM(GUO)) BIA equations for measuring female fat-free mass (FFM) were used. All subjects (N = 20, age = 18-22 yr) underwent the following measurements under three ambient temperatures (T(amb)): Ts and SKBF for the calf, thigh, biceps, and chest; oral temperature (T(OR)); and the BIA measures of resistance (R) and reactance (Xc). The three T(amb) were 17, 25, and 35 degrees C which were considered as cold (CT), neutral (NT), and hot (HT) conditions, respectively. Their underwater weighing (UWW), lung residual volume, and skinfold thickness were measured in the NT. Data were analyzed using repeated measures of ANOVA and Tukey post-hoc test. RESULTS: We observed that in the CT mean SKBF and Ts decreased (P < 0.05) and R and Xc increased (P < 0.05), compared with those in both NT and HT. However, in the HT both SKBF and Ts increased and R deceased, but Xc remained unchanged relative to the NT. In these subjects, a net change in Ts of 17 degrees C resulted in a net change in the BIA measure of R of 46 ohms or 2.5 ohms per degree C. These changes affected the estimate of FFM(LUK) between CT, NT, and HT, but not the estimate of FFM(GUO) Regarding the two BIA equations for estimating FFM, the Guo equation underestimated FFM(UWW) (P < 0.05) in the CT, NT, and HT, and the Lukaski equation underestimated FFM(UWW) (P < 0.05) only in the CT, compared with that in the UWW technique. CONCLUSIONS: Ambient temperature affects Ts and SKBF which in turn influence the BIA measures of R and Xc, especially in the cold ambient temperature; the Guo BIA equation consistently underestimated FFM of young nonobese Chinese women in all temperatures; and the Lukaski equation closely approximates the FFM in the neutral and hot conditions compared with the FFM(UWW).

Case mix adjustment in nursing systems research: the case of resident outcomes in nursing homes.

Case mix indicates, for a resident population, the degree of risk for developing favorable or unfavorable outcomes. In a study of 164 nursing homes, we explored two methods for combining resident assessment data into a case mix index (CMI). We compared a facility-level, composite CMI to a prevalence-based CMI comprised of 22 separate resident characteristics for their adequacy in explaining resident outcomes. The prevalence-based CMI consistently explained more variance in outcomes than the facility level, composite CMI. This study indicates a reasonable method for using administrative databases containing resident assessment data to adjust for the influence of case mix on nursing home resident outcomes.

Resource allocation and resident outcomes in nursing homes: comparisons between the best and worst.

The purpose of this study was to identify patterns of resource allocation that relate to resident outcomes in nursing homes. Data on structure, staffing levels, salaries, cost, case mix, and resident outcomes were obtained from state-level, administrative databases on 494 nursing homes. We identified two sets of comparison groups and showed that the group of homes with the greatest percentage of improvement in resident outcomes had higher levels of registered nurse (RN) staffing and higher costs. However, comparison groups based on best-worst average outcomes did not differ in resource allocation patterns. Additional analysis demonstrated that when controlling for RN staffing, resident outcomes in high- and low-cost homes did not differ. The results suggest that, although RN staffing is more expensive, it is key to improving resident outcomes.