OBJECTIVETo evaluate facial morphology characteristics of patients with unilateral complete cleft lip and palate (UCCLP) after cleft palate repair in different periods.

METHODS46 nonsyndromic UCCLP patients were chosen as test group and divided into three kinds (under 4-year-old, 4-7-year-old, over 7-year-old) according to periods of palate repair. 38 age and gender matched non-clefts children were involved as control group. 26 cephalometric measurements were measured to evaluate facial morphology of four groups.

RESULTSCompared with patients who received palate repair before 4-year-old, patients who received repair after 4-year-old had more protrusive ANS point (Ba-N-ANS, Ba-ANS) and less Y-axis angle. Patients who received palate repair after 7-yesr-old had greater A-PMP and ANS-PMP than patients who received palate repair before 4-year-old, patients who received palate repair before 7-year-old had smaller ANS-Me but after had no significant difference when compared with non-clefts.

CONCLUSIONWhenever palate repair is undertaken in the period of maxillary growth and development, patients' maxillary growth would be restrained, the delayed repair sample have better lower face height, maxillary protrusion, maxillary sagittal length and mandible growing direction when compared with the early repair sample, that is to say, the delayed repair sample have preferable head-face morphology.

Cephalometry ; Child ; Child, Preschool ; Cleft Lip ; Cleft Palate ; Face ; Humans ; Mandible ; Maxilla

Objective To investigate the application of statistical methods in clinical research articles of oncology in China. Methods The core journals in Chinese oncology journals were retrieved in "Wanfang Data", and the application of statistical methods in the clinical research articles published in the first issue of 2017 were analyzed,including the selection of statistical indicators,the selection of statistical methods and the interpretation of statistical results. Results A total of 176 clinical research articles from 24 journals were taken into the study.In the selection of statistical indicators, 12.6 %(16 articles) used the description method of normal distribution data for the skewness distribution measurement data; 37.9 % (47 articles) described the count data with samples<20 as a percentage; 14.5 % (9 articles) replaced the constituent percentages with composition ratios. In the selection of statistical methods, 10.3 % (12 articles) did not perform analysis of variance when comparing among multiple groups, and the t test was used to compare each other directly. 15.1 % (8 articles) disregarded the preconditions of the use of the χ 2test. In the interpretation of statistical results, 18.4 % (27 articles) confused the statistical significance with biological significance. Conclusions The statistical problems are widespread in Chinese oncology clinical research articles,involving the entire process from study design to interpretation of results. Scientific research management departments, clinical researchers, and journal editorial board need to work together to improve the scientificity of clinical scientific research results of oncology in China.

Objective: To detect differentially expressed microRNAs in chronic hepatitis B (CHB) before being treated with pegylated interferon (PegIFN) and the relationship between their target genes and HBsAg loss. Methods: Pretreatment differentially expressed microRNAs between different response groups were screened using high throughput microarrays and validated by quantitative reverse-transcription polymerase chain reaction (RT-qPCR). Bioinformatics analysis was performed to determine their target genes potential mechanistic roles. Results: A total of 417 microRNA were differentially expressed between different response groups, among which 342 were up-regulated and 75 were down-regulated. miR-3960, miR-126-3p, miR-23 a-3p and miR-335-5p were verified to be down-regulated by RT-qPCR result in HBsAg loss group. Bioinformatic analysis result show that the relevant pathways of microRNAs include AMPK signal pathway, NOD-like signal pathway, NF-kappa B signal pathway and mTOR signal pathway. Conclusions HBsAg loss is probably achieved as the result of genes expression regulated in association with immune response, further enhance the immune response of HBV elimination and acquire HBsAg loss.

Objective:To study the clinical significance of plasma D-dimer for extended anticoagulation in the elderly patients with hip fracture after discharge.Methods:The data were retrospectively analyzed of the 355 elderly patients with hip fracture who had been admitted to Emergence Center of Trauma and Department of Orthopedic Surgery, The Third Hospital of Hebei Medical University from January 2016 to November 2020. There were 107 males and 248 females with a mean age of 79.0 years (from 65 to 102 years). There were 179 femoral neck fractures, 159 intertrochanteric fractures, and 17 subtrochanteric fractures. Plasma D-dimer concentrations were detected at admission, before surgery, and 35 days after surgery. Color Doppler ultrasonography of deep veins of lower extremities was performed at admission, before surgery, before discharge, and 35 days after surgery. The patients with deep vein thrombosis (DVT) at the time of discharge should were reexamined 15 days after discharge. Strategies for anticoagulation prevention and treatment were formulated according to the patients' plasma D-dimer, color Doppler ultrasonography results, symptoms and signs. Plasma D-dimer concentrations were compared between patients with thrombosis and without thrombosis at different time points.Results:The plasma D-dimer concentrations for the 355 patients at admission, before surgery and 35 days after surgery were 2.73 (1.72, 5.13) mg/L, 1.31 (0.72, 2.58) mg/L, and 0.49 (0.25, 0.80) mg/L, respectively. The level of D-dimer at 35 days after surgery was significantly lower than that at admission and before surgery ( P<0.05). There were, respectively, 105, 126,191 and 148 patients with DVT at admission, before surgery, before discharge and 35 days after surgery, and the DVT was distal in most cases. The D-dimer concentrations for patients with thrombosis and without thrombosis at 35 days after surgery was 0.64 (0.32, 1.00) mg/L and 0.37 (0.22, 0.68) mg/L respectively, showing a significant difference ( P<0.05). The area under the receiver operating characteristic curve of plasma D-dimer for the diagnosis of DVT at 35 days after surgery was 0.665. Conclusions:Extended anticoagulation and continuous monitoring of plasma D-dimer are very important for elderly patients with hip fracture after discharge. For patients with DVT at discharge, negative plasma D-dimer is a sign for termination of anticoagulation; for patients without DVT at discharge, it is reasonable to extend anticoagulation 35 days after surgery.

Objective:To analyze the situation of articles published in Journal of Leukemia & Lymphoma and provide reference for the development of the journal and better service to readers and authors. Methods:All articles published in Journal of Leukemia & Lymphoma from January 2019 to December 2021 were searched on the official website of the journal (www.bxblbl.com.cn) and the full-text database of Chinese medical journals (www.yiigle.com), and the statistical analysis of the articles published in the journal was performed using bibliometric methods and Excel software. Website readings and downloads were recorded based on data from the Chinese medical journal network publishing platform (https://app.yiigle.com/cmaapp/). Results:From January 2019 to December 2021, 36 issues of Journal of Leukemia & Lymphoma were published, containing a total of 578 articles, with an average of about 16 articles per issue. There were 222 (38.4%) original articles, 173 (29.9%) brief communications, 11 (1.9%) guidelines and consensus articles, 58 (10.0%) topic reviews, and 94 (16.3%) reviews; the degree of authorship cooperation was 5.10 (2 946/578). The first author's affiliation included 28 provinces, cities and autonomous regions. The top 10 regions were Jiangsu, Henan, Beijing, Fujian, Shanxi, Guangdong, Tianjin, Shanghai, Hebei, and Shandong, with a total of 425 (73.5%) articles. There were 257 (44.5%) funded articles, including 105 (18.2%) articles funded by national funds. The average number of citations per article was 18.6 (10 751/578). The average annual number of reads was 104 630, and the top 20 most-read articles in 2021 were mostly in the category of guidelines and consensus and topical reviews. Conclusions:Journal of Leukemia & Lymphoma has developed well in recent years, and its influence in the field of hematology-oncology has steadily increased. In the future, according to the purpose of the journal, the special columns should be further created, and the academic quality should be improved to better serve the readers and authors.

Objective:To analyze the articles and literature indicators of Cancer Research and Clinic, in order to provide reference for the development of the journal. Methods:All articles published in Cancer Research and Clinic from January 2017 to December 2021 were searched on the official website of the journal (www.zlyjylc.com.cn), and the core literature indicators of Cancer Research and Clinic published in the Citation Report of Chinese Science and Technology Journals (Core Edition) from 2018 to 2022 were searched, and the statistical analysis of the articles and literature indicators was performed using bibliometric method and Excel software. Results:From 2017 to 2021, a total of 60 issues of Cancer Research and Clinic were published, containing a total of 1 065 articles, with an average of 17.8 articles per issue; a total of 4 416 pages of articles were published, with an average of 4.1 pages per article. There were 609 original articles (57.2%), 193 brief communications (18.1%) and 224 reviews (21.0%) in the main sections. The degree of authorship cooperation was 3.84 (4 086/1 065). The first author affiliation of the article was located in 31 regions, of which the top 10 regions in terms of the number of articles published were Shanxi, Jiangsu, Beijing, Shandong, Hubei, Shaanxi, Liaoning, Guangdong, Henan, and Hebei, with a total of 822 articles (77.2%). A total of 487 articles (45.7%) were funded by the foundation, including 134 articles (12.6%) funded by the national foundations. The average number of citations per article was 19.3 (20 557/1 065); the total number of marked keywords was 4 412, with an average of 4.1 per article. The impact factor and total citation frequency in 2018 were the highest (0.680 and 775), and the rate cited, open factor and overall evaluation total score in 2021 were the highest (0.94, 42 and 29.8). Conclusions:Cancer Research and Clinic has adhered to its own purpose and formed its own characteristics, and its academic quality and influence have steadily improved in the field of oncology in China in recent years. It should continue to improve the quality and strive to be a first-class oncology journal in the future.

Objective: To investigate the effect of Toll-like receptor 9 (TLR9) on high glucose-induced retinal ganglion cells-5 (RGC-5) apoptosis and the inhibitory effects of small interfering RNA-TLR9 (si-TLR9) on apoptosis. Methods: RGC-5 cells were divided into normal control group, high glucose group, high glucose+ negative control group and high glucose+ si-TLR9 group which cells were respectively dealt with normal culture medium, high glucose medium, transfection of non-specific siRNA under high glucose and transfection of siRNA-TLR9 under high glucose.The expression of TLR9 mRNA was detected by real time PCR; the survival rate of the cells was evaluated by MTT assay; the apoptotic rate of the cells was detected by flow cytometry; the caspase-3 activity in the cells was detected by related kit, and the expressions of TLR9, B cell lymphoma (bcl-2), bcl-2 associated X protein (bax), p38 mitogen-activated protein kinases (p38MAPK) and phosphorylated (p)-p38MAPK proteins were detected by Western blot. Results: The expressions of TLR9 mRNA and protein in the high glucose+ si-TLR9 group were significantly decreased in comparison with the high glucose+ negative control group (both at P<0.05). The cell survival rate of the high glucose group and high glucose+ negative control group was (78.36±5.13)% and (75.12±4.25)%, respectively, which was significantly lower than (95.48±7.25)% in the normal control group, and that in the high glucose+ si-TLR9 group was (86.58±5.32)%, which was significantly reduced in comparison with the high glucose+ negative control group (all at P<0.05). The apoptotic rate of the cells in the high glucose group and high glucose+ negative control group was (13.23±1.22)% and (12.52±1.38)%, respectively, which was significantly higher than (2.26±0.15)% of the normal control group, and apoptotic rate in the high glucose+ si-TLR9 group was (7.15±0.24)%, which was significantly lower than that in high glucose+ negative control group (all at P<0.05). The expression of bax in the cells of the high glucose+ si-TLR9 group was significantly decreased, and the expression of bcl-2 in the cells of the high glucose+ si-TLR9 group was significantly increased in comparison with the high glucose+ negative control group (both at P<0.05). Caspase-3 activity in the cells was significantly decreased in the high glucose+ si-TLR9 group compared with the high glucose+ negative control group (P<0.05). The relative expression of p-p38MAPK in the cells was significantly decreased in the high glucose+ si-TLR9 group compared with the high glucose+ negative control group (P<0.05). Conclusions Down-regulation of TLR9 expression in the RGC-5 cells can inhibit the apoptosis induced by high glucose probablely by suppressing p38MAPK signaling pathway.

Objective: To explore the improvement rate of liver fibrosis in patients with chronic hepatitis B virus infection who received entecavir alone or in combination with anluohuaxianwan for 78 weeks. Methods: Patients with chronic HBV infection were randomly treated with entecavir alone or in combination with anluohuaxian for 78 weeks. Ishak fibrosis score was used for blind interpretation of liver biopsy specimens. The improvement in liver fibrosis condition before and after the treatment was compared. Student's t test and non-parametric test (Mann-Whitney U-Test and Kruskal-Wallis test) were used to analyze the measurement data. The categorical variables were analyzed by Chi-square test method and Spearman’s rank correlation coefficient was used to test bivariate associations. Results: Liver fibrosis improvement rate after 78 weeks of treatment was 36.53% (80/219) and the progression rate was 23.29% (51/219). The improvement of liver fibrosis was associated to the degree of baseline fibrosis and treatment methods (P < 0.05). The improvement rate of hepatic fibrosis in patients treated with anluohuaxianwan combined with entecavir at baseline F < 3 (54.74%, 52/95) was significantly higher than that in patients treated only with entecavir (33.33%, 16/48), P = 0.016 and the progression rate of hepatic fibrosis (13.68%, 13/95) was lower than that in patients treated alone (18.75%, 9/48), P = 0.466. In patients with baseline F < 3, the proportion of patients with improved and stable liver fibrosis in the combined treatment group (68.1%, 32/47) was higher than that in the treatment group alone (51.7%, 15/29). Conclusion Combined anluohuaxianwan and entecavir treatment can significantly improve the improvement rate of liver fibrosis in patients with chronic hepatitis B virus infection. Furthermore, it has the tendency to improve the stability rate and reduce the rate of progression of liver fibrosis.