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Aim: A meta-analysis was conducted to evaluate the clinical significance of serum thymidine kinase 1 protein concentration (STK1p) in distinguishing between hepatocellular carcinomas (HCC) and non-HCC for predicting early progression and monitoring the response to transarterial chemoembolization in HCC. Materials & methods: A total of 24 eligible studies were included, containing 1849 HCC patients and 1069 healthy subjects. Results: The STK1p level significantly increased from normal controls to benign/pre-HCC and HCC (p, Lay abstract There is a need for reliable prognostic biomarkers in liver cancer, to support therapy efforts. In this study we investigated if thymidine kinase 1 in blood could be used to discover patients with hepatocellular carcinoma and show the results of their treatment. The results are based on 1847 hepatocellular carcinoma patients and 1069 healthy people. We conclude that serum thymidine kinase 1 protein concentration is a reliable biomarker in liver cancer.

Aim: A prospective investigation of serum thymidine kinase 1 concentration (STK1p) was performed to evaluate its prognostic value in patients with non-small-cell lung carcinoma (NSCLCs). Patients & methods: The STK1p values of 127 patients were determined by an enhanced chemiluminescent dot blot assay. The patients were recruited from March 2011 to December 2017. Results: Kaplan–Meier plot showed that patients with elevated STK1p values had worse overall survival (OS), especially patients of early/middle stages. Multi-variable COX regression showed that STK1p value and combined treatment surgery + chemotherapy were independent prognostic factors for favorable OS. Conclusion: STK1p is helpful in predicting OS of early/middle stages (I–IIIA) NSCLCs patients following a nonrandomized individual adapted treatment, but is may be not recommended in advanced stages (IIIB + IV) of NSCLCs., Lay abstract Lung cancer is one of the most common types of tumors, with a high mortality rate. We investigate if thymidine kinase 1 in serum (STK1p) is a reliable prognostic marker for survival in non-small-cell lung carcinoma. We recruited 127 patients in this study. STK1p level was determined using a high-sensitive chemiluminescent dot blot assay. Patients with elevated STK1p values had worse overall survival, especially patients in the early/middle cancer stages. Analysis showed that STK1p is an independent prognostic factors for overall survival. We concluded that STK1p is helpful predicting the efficacy of treatment in non-small-cell lung carcinoma for those in the early/middle stages.

Breast cancer is one of the most common malignant tumors in women, which is threatening women’s health...

Objectives: To examine the association between neighborhood cohesion and risk of self-neglect in a community-dwelling Chinese-American older population. Setting: Community. Participants: Chinese-American older adults aged 60 and older interviewed from 2011 to 2013 (N = 3,159). Design: Data were drawn from the Population Study of Chinese Elderly, a cross-sectional community-engaged study in the greater Chicago area. Measurements: Self-neglect was assessed with systematic observations of a participant's personal and home environment. Neighborhood cohesion was measured using six questions. Results: After controlling for potential confounders, greater neighborhood cohesion was significantly associated with lower risk of overall self-neglect (odds ratio (OR) = 0.87, 95% confidence interval (CI) = 0.77–0.98) and moderate to severe self-neglect (OR = 0.70, 95% CI = 0.58–0.85) but not significantly associated with mild self-neglect (OR = 0.94, 95% CI = 0.82–1.09). Regarding the phenotypes of self-neglect, greater neighborhood cohesion was significantly associated with lower risk of poor personal hygiene (OR = 0.80, 95% CI = 0.67–0.96) and need for home repair (OR = 0.70, 95% CI = 0.60–0.83) but not significantly for hoarding (OR = 1.04, 95% CI = 0.89–1.21), unsanitary conditions (OR = 0.88, 95% CI = 0.76–1.02), and inadequate utilities (OR = 1.00, 95% CI = 0.77–1.31). Conclusion: This study highlights the association between greater neighborhood cohesion and lower risk of overall self-neglect in Chinese-American older adults. Enhancing neighborhood cohesion may enhance elder self-neglect prevention and intervention.

This study aims to examine the association between neighborhood cohesion and cancer screening utilization in a community-dwelling Chinese American older population. Data were drawn from the Population Study of Chinese Elderly including 3159 Chinese American older adults aged 60 and above in the greater Chicago area. Cancer screening utilization was assessed by asking whether participants had undergone colon, breast, cervical, or prostate cancer screening. Neighborhood cohesion was measured through six questions. Logistic regression analysis showed that greater neighborhood cohesion was associated with higher likelihood of utilizing a mammogram (OR 1.32, 95% CI 1.14-1.52), a Pap test (OR 1.22, 95% CI 1.06-1.41), but not of a blood stool test (OR 1.10, 95% CI 0.98-1.23), a colonoscopy (OR 1.05, 95% CI 0.94-1.17), and a PSA test (OR 1.13, 95% CI 0.95-1.34). This study suggests positive associations between neighborhood cohesion and breast and cervical cancer screening utilization among a Chinese American older population.

Objectives: This study aims to examine the association between social engagement and cancer screening utilization among a Chinese American older population. Method: Data were drawn from the Population Study of Chinese Elderly (PINE). In total, 3,157 Chinese older adults enrolled in this study. Cancer screening utilization was assessed by asking whether participants had utilized cancer screenings. Social engagement was measured with 16 questions. Results: After controlling for potential confounders, a higher level of social engagement was associated with increased utilization in blood stool test (OR 1.03, [1.02, 1.05]), colonoscopy (OR 1.02, [1.01, 1.03]), mammography (OR 1.06, [1.05, 1.08]), Pap test (OR 1.04, [1.03, 1.06]), and prostate specific antigen (PSA) test (OR 1.03, [1.01, 1.05]). Compared with those with low levels of social engagement, older adults with high levels of social engagement were more likely to have utilized a blood stool test (OR 1.85, [1.46, 2.35]), a colonoscopy (OR 1.37, [1.09, 1.72]), a mammography (OR 3.05, [2.25, 4.14]), and a Pap test (OR 1.99, [1.49, 2.66]), but not more likely to have utilized a PSA test (OR 1.40, [0.97, 2.03]). Conclusion: This study underscores the association between active social engagement and increased utilization of cancer screening among a Chinese American older population. Improving social engagement could be helpful in promoting cancer screening utilization.

Objective: This study aims to examine the association between neighborhood disorder with self-neglect among a community-dwelling Chinese American older population. Method: Data were extracted from the Population Study of Chinese Elderly (PINE), a cross-sectional study of 3,157 participants living in the greater Chicago area. Self-neglect was assessed with systematic observations of participants’ personal and home environment. Neighborhood disorder was measured through eight questions. Logistic regression was used to examine the association between neighborhood disorder and self-neglect. Results: After adjusting for potential confounding factors, every one point higher in neighborhood disorder score was significantly associated with greater risk for overall self-neglect (odds ratio [OR] = 1.13, [1.11, 1.16]), mild self-neglect (OR = 1.14, [1.11, 1.17]), and moderate/severe self-neglect (OR = 1.12, [1.09, 1.16]). Regarding the phenotypes of self-neglect, every one point higher in neighborhood disorder score was significantly associated with greater risk for hoarding (OR = 1.17, [1.14, 1.20]), personal hygiene (OR = 1.15, [1.12, 1.19]), house in need of repair (OR = 1.12, [1.10, 1.15]), unsanitary conditions (OR = 1.12, [1.09, 1.15]), and inadequate utilities (OR = 1.10, [1.05, 1.15]). Discussion: This study underscores the significant association between disordered neighborhood and greater risk of self-neglect among Chinese American older adults. Improving neighborhood disorder problems could benefit for elder self-neglect prevention.