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Clinical Gastroenterology and... Oct 2022This study explored the link between duodenal eosinophils and mast cells in patients with functional dyspepsia (FD). (Meta-Analysis)
Meta-Analysis Review
BACKGROUND & AIMS
This study explored the link between duodenal eosinophils and mast cells in patients with functional dyspepsia (FD).
METHODS
MEDLINE (PubMed) and Embase electronic databases were searched until June 2021 for case-control studies reporting duodenal eosinophils and mast cells in FD. Pooled standardized mean difference (SMD), odds ratio, and 95% CIs of duodenal eosinophils and mast cells in FD patients and controls were calculated, using a random-effects model.
RESULTS
Twenty-two case-control studies with 1108 FD patients and 893 controls were identified. Duodenal eosinophils (SMD, 1.29; 95% CI, 0.85-1.73; P = .0001) and mast cells (SMD, 2.11; 95% CI, 1.14-3.07; P = .0001) were increased in FD patients compared with controls. Substantial heterogeneity was found (I = 93.61, P = .0001; and I = 96.69, P = .0001, respectively) and visual inspection of funnel plots confirmed publication bias. Degranulation of duodenal eosinophils was significantly higher in FD patients compared with controls (odds ratio, 3.78; 95% CI, 6.76-4.48; P = .0001), without statistically significant heterogeneity. We conducted a sensitivity analysis for duodenal eosinophils, by including only high-quality studies, and the results remained unchanged (SMD, 1.73; 95% CI, 1.06-2.40; P = .0001), with substantial heterogeneity. Postinfectious FD patients had increased duodenal eosinophils compared with controls (SMD, 3.91; 95% CI, 1.32-6.51; P = .001) and FD patients without any history of infection (SMD, 1.42; 95% CI, 0.88-1.96; P = .001). Helicobacter pylori-negative FD patients had significantly higher duodenal eosinophils compared with controls (SMD, 3.98; 95% CI, 2.13-5.84; P = .0001), with substantial heterogeneity. No significant difference in duodenal eosinophils was seen according to FD subtypes.
CONCLUSIONS
This meta-analysis suggests a link between duodenal microinflammation and FD. However, the quality of evidence is very low, largely owing to the unexplained heterogeneity and serious risk of publication bias in all comparative analyses. Thus, causality remains uncertain and further studies are required.
Topics: Case-Control Studies; Duodenum; Dyspepsia; Eosinophilia; Eosinophils; Humans; Mast Cells
PubMed: 35123088
DOI: 10.1016/j.cgh.2022.01.014 -
Thorax Oct 2023Obesity is associated with more severe asthma, however, the mechanisms responsible are poorly understood. Obesity is also associated with low-grade systemic... (Meta-Analysis)
Meta-Analysis
BACKGROUND
Obesity is associated with more severe asthma, however, the mechanisms responsible are poorly understood. Obesity is also associated with low-grade systemic inflammation; it is possible that this inflammation extends to the airways of adults with asthma, contributing to worse asthma outcomes. Accordingly, the aim of this review was to examine whether obesity is associated with increased airway and systemic inflammation and adipokines, in adults with asthma.
METHODS
Medline, Embase, CINAHL, Scopus and Current Contents were searched till 11 August 2021. Studies reporting measures of airway inflammation, systemic inflammation and/or adipokines in obese versus non-obese adults with asthma were assessed. We conducted random effects meta-analyses. We assessed heterogeneity using the I statistic and publication bias using funnel plots.
RESULTS
We included 40 studies in the meta-analysis. Sputum neutrophils were 5% higher in obese versus non-obese asthmatics (mean difference (MD)=5.0%, 95% CI: 1.2 to 8.9, n=2297, p=0.01, I=42%). Blood neutrophil count was also higher in obesity. There was no difference in sputum %eosinophils; however, bronchial submucosal eosinophil count (standardised mean difference (SMD)=0.58, 95% CI=0.25 to 0.91, p<0.001, n=181, I=0%) and sputum interleukin 5 (IL-5) (SMD=0.46, 95% CI=0.17 to 0.75, p<0.002, n=198, I=0%) were higher in obesity. Conversely, fractional exhaled nitric oxide was 4.5 ppb lower in obesity (MD=-4.5 ppb, 95% CI=-7.1 ppb to -1.8 ppb, p<0.001, n=2601, I=40%). Blood C reactive protein, IL-6 and leptin were also higher in obesity.
CONCLUSIONS
Obese asthmatics have a different pattern of inflammation to non-obese asthmatics. Mechanistic studies examining the pattern of inflammation in obese asthmatics are warranted. Studies should also investigate the clinical relevance of this altered inflammatory response.
PROSPERO REGISTERATION NUMBER
CRD42021254525.
Topics: Adult; Humans; Asthma; Inflammation; Eosinophils; Obesity; Leukocyte Count; Sputum
PubMed: 36948588
DOI: 10.1136/thorax-2022-219268 -
Arthritis Research & Therapy Apr 2021Osteoarthritis (OA) has long been regarded as a disease of cartilage degeneration, whereas mounting evidence implies that low-grade inflammation contributes to OA. Among... (Review)
Review
OBJECTIVE
Osteoarthritis (OA) has long been regarded as a disease of cartilage degeneration, whereas mounting evidence implies that low-grade inflammation contributes to OA. Among inflammatory cells involved, macrophages play a crucial role and are mediated by the local microenvironment to exhibit different phenotypes and polarization states. Therefore, we conducted a systematic review to uncover the phenotypic alterations of macrophages during OA and summarized the potential therapeutic interventions via modulating macrophages.
METHODS
A systematic review of multiple databases (PubMed, Web of Science, ScienceDirect, Medline) was performed up to February 29, 2020. Included articles were discussed and evaluated by two independent reviewers. Relevant information was analyzed with a standardized and well-designed template.
RESULTS
A total of 28 studies were included. Results were subcategorized into two sections depending on sources from human tissue/cell-based studies (12 studies) and animal experiments (16 studies). The overall observation indicated that M1 macrophages elevated in both synovium and circulation during OA development, along with lower numbers of M2 macrophages. The detailed alterations of macrophages in both synovium and circulation were listed and analyzed. Furthermore, interventions against OA via regulating macrophages in animal models were highlighted.
CONCLUSION
This study emphasized the importance of the phenotypic alterations of macrophages in OA development. The classical phenotypic subcategory of M1 and M2 macrophages was questionable due to controversial and conflicting results. Therefore, further efforts are needed to categorize macrophages in an exhaustive manner and to use advanced technologies to identify the individual roles of each subtype of macrophages in OA.
Topics: Animals; Humans; Inflammation; Macrophages; Osteoarthritis; Phenotype; Synovial Membrane
PubMed: 33838669
DOI: 10.1186/s13075-021-02457-3 -
Journal of Oral Pathology & Medicine :... Jan 2022Inflammation seems to play a critical role in the development and progression of different cancers. Neutrophil-to-lymphocyte ratio (NLR) is an easily measurable marker... (Meta-Analysis)
Meta-Analysis Review
Inflammation seems to play a critical role in the development and progression of different cancers. Neutrophil-to-lymphocyte ratio (NLR) is an easily measurable marker of systemic inflammation. The purpose of this systematic review and meta-analysis was to evaluate the prognostic role of the pre-treatment NLR, in terms of overall survival (OS) and disease-free survival (DFS), in patients with primary head and neck squamous cell carcinoma (HNSCC) treated by surgery alone or followed by chemo/radiotherapy. This systematic review was performed according to the guidelines reported in the Cochrane Handbook and the Preferred Reporting Items for Systematic Reviews and Meta-Analysis (PRISMA) statement. Meta-analysis of OS and DFS was performed using the inverse of variance test. Fixed-effect models were used on the basis of the presence of heterogeneity. Risk of bias assessment and trial sequential analysis (TSA) were also performed; the quality of the evidence was evaluated via the Grading of Recommendations, Assessment, Development and Evaluation (GRADE) approach. The analysis revealed that a higher value of pre-treatment NLR correlates with a statistically significant decrease of OS (HR, 1.56; 95% CI: [1.35, 1.80]; p < 0.00001) and a lower DFS (HR, 1.64; 95% CI: [1.30, 2.07]; p < 0.0001) in HNSCC patients.
Topics: Head and Neck Neoplasms; Humans; Lymphocytes; Neutrophils; Prognosis; Squamous Cell Carcinoma of Head and Neck
PubMed: 34797592
DOI: 10.1111/jop.13264 -
BMC Pediatrics Jun 2023To compare the performance of Neutrophil-to-Lymphocyte Ratio (NLR) with that of Platelet-to-Lymphocyte Ratio (PLR) in diagnosing neonatal sepsis (NS). (Meta-Analysis)
Meta-Analysis
PURPOSE
To compare the performance of Neutrophil-to-Lymphocyte Ratio (NLR) with that of Platelet-to-Lymphocyte Ratio (PLR) in diagnosing neonatal sepsis (NS).
METHODS
PubMed and Embase were searched for relevant studies from the inception of the databases to May, 2022. The pooled sensitivity (SEN), specificity (SPE), and area under the receiver operator characteristic curve (AUC) were measured.
RESULTS
Thirteen studies involving 2610 participants were included. The SEN, SPE, and AUC of NLR were 0.76 (95%CI: 0.61-0.87), 0.82 (95%CI: 0.68-0.91), and 0.86 (95%CI: 0.83-0.89), respectively, and those of PLR were 0.82 (95%CI: 0.63-0.92), 0.80 (95%CI: 0.24-0.98), and 0.87 (95%CI: 0.83-0.89), respectively. Significant heterogeneity was observed among the studies. Subgroup analysis and meta-regression showed that types of sepsis (p = 0.01 for SEN), gold standard (p = 0.03 for SPE), and pre-set threshold (p<0.05 for SPE) might be the sources of heterogeneity for NLR, whereas the pre-set threshold (p<0.05 for SPE) might be the source of heterogeneity for PLR.
CONCLUSIONS
NLR and PLR would be of great accuracy for the diagnosis of NS, and the two indicators have similar diagnostic performance. However, the overall risk of bias was high, and significant heterogeneity was identified among the included studies. The results of this study should be interpreted prudently, and the normal or cut-off values and the type of sepsis should be considered. More prospective studies are needed to further support the clinical application of these findings.
Topics: Infant, Newborn; Humans; Neonatal Sepsis; Neutrophils; Sepsis; Blood Platelets; Lymphocytes
PubMed: 37391699
DOI: 10.1186/s12887-023-04094-y -
The Journal of Evidence-based Dental... Dec 2023Evidence suggests that inflammation contributes to tumor development, from onset to progression and metastasis. Platelet-to-lymphocyte ratio (PLR) is a composite... (Meta-Analysis)
Meta-Analysis Review
BACKGROUND
Evidence suggests that inflammation contributes to tumor development, from onset to progression and metastasis. Platelet-to-lymphocyte ratio (PLR) is a composite parameter that provides information from two distinct cellular elements, platelets, and lymphocytes. The purpose of this systematic review and meta-analysis is to evaluate the prognostic role of the PLR, in terms of overall survival (OS), disease-free survival (DFS), cancer-specific survival (CSS) and progression-free survival (PFS), in patients with primary head and neck squamous cell carcinoma treated with surgery followed or not by adjuvant therapies.
MATERIALS AND METHODS
This systematic review was performed according to the guidelines reported in the Cochrane Handbook and the Preferred Reporting Items for Systematic Reviews and Meta-Analysis (PRISMA) statement. Meta-analysis of OS and DFS was performed using the inverse of variance test. Random-effect models were used on the basis of high heterogeneity. Risk of bias assessment, quality of evidence within studies (GRADE) and trial sequential analysis (TSA) were also performed.
RESULTS
The analysis revealed that a higher value of pretreatment PLR correlates with a statistically significant decrease of OS (HR, 1.85; 95% CI: [1.23, 2.80]; P < .00001), confirmed by TSA. The meta-analysis reports an association between high PLR and DFS (HR,1.46; 95% CI: [1.03, 2.06]; P = .003); but TSA suggests that it his should be considered as a false positive. Further studies are needed to validate the efficacy of PLR in predicting CSS and PFS outcomes.
CONCLUSION
Pretreatment PLR is an independent prognostic factor for OS in HNSCC.
Topics: Humans; Squamous Cell Carcinoma of Head and Neck; Prognosis; Lymphocytes; Blood Platelets; Head and Neck Neoplasms; Neutrophils
PubMed: 38035889
DOI: 10.1016/j.jebdp.2023.101898 -
Frontiers in Immunology 2020Camels are domesticated animals that are highly adapted to the extreme desert ecosystem with relatively higher resistance to a wide range of pathogens compared to many...
Camels are domesticated animals that are highly adapted to the extreme desert ecosystem with relatively higher resistance to a wide range of pathogens compared to many other species from the same geographical region. Recently, there has been increased interest in the field of camel immunology. As the progress in the analysis of camel immunoglobulins has previously been covered in many recent reviews, this review intends to summarize published findings related to camel cellular immunology with a focus on the phenotype and functionality of camel leukocyte subpopulations. The review also describes the impact of different physiological (age and pregnancy) and pathological (e.g. infection) conditions on camel immune cells. Despite the progress achieved in the field of camel immunology, there are gaps in our complete understanding of the camel immune system. Questions remain regarding innate recognition mechanisms, the functional characterization of antigen-presenting cells, and the characterization of camel NK and cytotoxic T cells.
Topics: Aging; Animals; Animals, Newborn; Camelus; Communicable Diseases; Female; Immunity, Mucosal; Leukocytes; Monocytes; Neutrophils; Pregnancy
PubMed: 33569060
DOI: 10.3389/fimmu.2020.614150 -
Prostate Cancer and Prostatic Diseases Mar 2023Immunotherapy has not achieved improvement of survival in prostate cancer patients. Myeloid-derived suppressor cells (MDSCs) in tumor microenvironment can hamper its... (Meta-Analysis)
Meta-Analysis Review
BACKGROUND
Immunotherapy has not achieved improvement of survival in prostate cancer patients. Myeloid-derived suppressor cells (MDSCs) in tumor microenvironment can hamper its efficacy. Some preclinical studies explored the role of MDSCs in prostate cancer development. We aimed to verify the availability of studies exploring the prognostic effect of circulating MDSCs in prostate cancer patients.
METHODS
We systematically selected studies for a meta-analysis, which compares survival between prostate cancer patients with high vs low circulating MDSC levels. We extracted or calculated hazard ratios (HRs) and relative 95% confidence intervals (CIs) in terms of overall survival (OS) from selected studies. We calculated the pooled HR and relative 95% CIs and estimated publication bias.
RESULTS
Among 133 studies retrieved from search on Pubmed, 5 eligible studies (236 prostate cancer patients) met inclusion criteria. High circulating MDSC levels are associated with a worse OS (HR = 2.19; 95%CI = 1.51-3.17). Heterogeneity was not significant (I = 0%; p = 0.64). Publication bias was also not significant (Egger's test, p = 0.09).
CONCLUSIONS
High levels of circulating MDSCs induce a worse OS in prostate cancer patients than in those with low levels. This finding supports the importance of MDSC detection and targeting also in prostate cancer patients.
Topics: Male; Humans; Prostatic Neoplasms; Myeloid-Derived Suppressor Cells; Prognosis; Immunotherapy; Tumor Microenvironment
PubMed: 36411316
DOI: 10.1038/s41391-022-00615-5 -
International Journal of Medical... 2021Neutrophil extracellular traps (NETs) have been implicated in host immune responses. Attempts have been made to examine how NETs affect the pathogenesis of...
Neutrophil extracellular traps (NETs) have been implicated in host immune responses. Attempts have been made to examine how NETs affect the pathogenesis of complications such as autoimmune and vascular disorders. This study aimed to explore the relationship between NETs and vasculitis. The current study entailed the searching of PsycINFO, PubMed, Web of Science, and CINAHL for articles related to the research topic. The search terms and phrases included "vasculitis," "NETs," "neutrophil extracellular traps," "NETosis," and "pathogenesis." The search was limited to articles published between 2009 and 2019. Researchers have shown that NETs contribute to the pathogenesis of vasculitis through different mechanisms and processes, including renal failure and vascular damage. The protective effects of NETs have also been highlighted. Overall, some scholars have shown the effectiveness of using DNase I and the PAD4 inhibitor Cl-amidine to treat vasculitis by restricting NET formation. However, observations have been noted in only animal experimental models. Neutrophil hyperactivity and its role in vasculitis are not yet fully understood. More studies aiming to determine the accurate function of NETs in vasculitis pathogenesis, particularly in humans, should be undertaken. Intensive research on NETs and vasculitis can increase the knowledge of medical practitioners and contribute to the development of new treatment methods to enhance patient outcomes in the future.
Topics: Animals; Anti-Neutrophil Cytoplasmic Antibody-Associated Vasculitis; Apoptosis; Deoxyribonuclease I; Disease Models, Animal; Extracellular Traps; Giant Cell Arteritis; Humans; Neutrophils; Ornithine; Protein-Arginine Deiminase Type 4; Regulated Cell Death; Takayasu Arteritis
PubMed: 33746569
DOI: 10.7150/ijms.53728 -
Clinical Chemistry and Laboratory... Sep 2022The infectious respiratory condition COVID-19 manifests a clinical course ranging from mild/moderate up-to critical systemic dysfunction and death linked to... (Review)
Review
The infectious respiratory condition COVID-19 manifests a clinical course ranging from mild/moderate up-to critical systemic dysfunction and death linked to thromboinflammation. During COVID-19 infection, neutrophil extracellular traps participating in cytokine storm and coagulation dysfunction have emerged as diagnostic/prognostic markers. The characterization of NET identified that mainly histones, have the potential to initiate and propagate inflammatory storm and thrombosis, leading to increased disease severity and decreased patient survival. Baseline assessment and serial monitoring of blood histone concentration may be conceivably useful in COVID-19. We performed a literature review to explore the association among increased circulating levels of histones, disease severity/mortality in COVID-19 patients, and comparison of histone values between COVID-19 and non-COVID-19 patients. We carried out an electronic search in Medline and Scopus, using the keywords "COVID-19" OR "SARS-CoV-2" AND "histone" OR "citrullinated histones" OR "hyperhistonemia", between 2019 and present time (i.e., June 07th, 2022), which allowed to select 17 studies, totaling 1,846 subjects. We found that substantially elevated histone values were consistently present in all COVID-19 patients who developed unfavorable clinical outcomes. These findings suggest that blood histone monitoring upon admission and throughout hospitalization may be useful for early identification of higher risk of unfavorable COVID-19 progression. Therapeutic decisions in patients with SARS-CoV-2 based on the use of histone cut-off values may be driven by drugs engaging histones, finally leading to the limitation of cytotoxic, inflammatory, and thrombotic effects of circulating histones in viral sepsis.
Topics: COVID-19; Histones; Humans; Inflammation; Neutrophils; SARS-CoV-2; Thrombosis
PubMed: 35852070
DOI: 10.1515/cclm-2022-0574