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Journal of Cancer Research and... Sep 2018NM23, as a possible biomarker of prognosis in malignant tumors, has generated remarkable interest in this critical period of the high morbidity and mortality of... (Meta-Analysis)
Meta-Analysis
AIM OF STUDY
NM23, as a possible biomarker of prognosis in malignant tumors, has generated remarkable interest in this critical period of the high morbidity and mortality of malignancies. Thus, we launched this meta-analysis to investigate the predictive value of NM23 expression in patients with gastric cancer.
MATERIALS AND METHODS
We searched PubMed, Embase, and Web of Science for relevant articles. The pooled odds ratios (ORs) and corresponding 95% confidence interval (CI) were calculated to evaluate the prognostic value of NM23 expression in patients with gastric cancer and the association between NM23 expression and clinicopathological factors. We also performed subgroup analyses to find the source of heterogeneity.
RESULTS
Exactly, 2674 patients were pooled from 19 available studies in total. The incorporative OR combined by 11 studies with overall survival (OS) showed no significance (OR = 0.90, 95% CI: 0.51-1.58, P = 0.71). Although we failed to find any significance in N status and tumor node metastasis (TNM) staging (P = 0.23 and P = 0.74, respectively), elevated NM23 expression was related to well tumor differentiation (OR = 0.62, 95% CI: 0.41-0.95, P = 0.03). However, in the subgroup analyses, we could not find any potential source of heterogeneity.
CONCLUSION
The results showed that statistically significant association was found between NM23 expression and the tumor differentiation of patients with gastric cancer, but no significance was found in OS, N status, and TNM staging. More and further researches should be conducted to reveal the prognostic value of NM23.
Topics: Biomarkers, Tumor; Female; Gene Expression Regulation, Neoplastic; Humans; Male; NM23 Nucleoside Diphosphate Kinases; Prognosis; Stomach Neoplasms
PubMed: 30249868
DOI: 10.4103/0973-1482.183188 -
Medicine Feb 2021Exercise test (ET) may have adverse effects on platelet function and induce acute thrombotic events in patients with coronary artery disease (CAD). The aim of this study... (Meta-Analysis)
Meta-Analysis
BACKGROUND
Exercise test (ET) may have adverse effects on platelet function and induce acute thrombotic events in patients with coronary artery disease (CAD). The aim of this study is to investigate the platelet function and evaluate the risk of thrombotic events in CAD patients during ET.
METHODS
Pubmed, Embase, Cochrane Library, and Web of Science were searched for a systematic review from initiation to October 2019. The inclusion criteria were controlled clinical trails as study design; investigating platelet function in CAD patients during ET; with ET carried out by treadmill or bicycle ergometer; written in English. Included articles were screened based on title/abstract and full-text review by 2 independent reviewers. Platelet aggregation (PA), platelet surface expression of CD62p and PAC-1, plasma levels of platelet factor 4 (PF4) and beta-thromboglobulin (β-TG) were evaluated before and after ET.
RESULTS
Eighteen articles were included out of the 427 references initially identified. In most of the studies included ET was terminated because of limited symptoms. Prior to ET, no difference in platelet aggregation was observed in CAD patients compared with healthy controls in majority of the studies, with or without the treatment with Aspirin. Dual anti-platelet therapy suppressed adenosine diphosphate (ADP)-induced platelet aggregation at rest. After ET, platelet aggregation, the serum levels of β-thromboglobulin were found unchanged in majority of studies and platelet factor-4 were found unchanged in half of studies. The expression of platelet surface markers were elevated by ET in a few study.
CONCLUSION
Symptom-limited exercise test did not affect platelet function in patients with coronary artery disease; however exercise to higher intensity may induce platelet activation.
Topics: Cardiac Rehabilitation; Coronary Artery Disease; Exercise Test; Humans; Platelet Aggregation; Platelet Aggregation Inhibitors; Platelet Function Tests
PubMed: 33663130
DOI: 10.1097/MD.0000000000024932 -
Journal of the National Cancer Institute Nov 2021Loss of ovarian function is a recognized adverse effect of chemotherapy for breast cancer and of great importance to patients. Little is known about the ovarian toxicity...
BACKGROUND
Loss of ovarian function is a recognized adverse effect of chemotherapy for breast cancer and of great importance to patients. Little is known about the ovarian toxicity of newer cancer treatments. This study examined whether breast cancer clinical trials include assessment of the impact of trial interventions on ovarian function.
METHODS
Eligible trials were phase III (neo)adjuvant trials of pharmacologic treatments for breast cancer, recruiting between June 2008 and October 2019, which included premenopausal women. MEDLINE, EMBASE, Clinicaltrials.gov, and EudraCT were searched. Data were extracted from trial publications, protocols, databases, and a survey sent to all trial chairs. Tests of statistical significance were 2-sided.
RESULTS
Of 2354 records identified, 141 trials were eligible. Investigational treatments included chemotherapy (36.9%), HER2 targeted (24.8%), endocrine (12.8%), immunotherapy (7.8%), cyclin-dependent kinase 4/6 inhibitors (5.0%), and poly-ADP-ribose polymerase inhibitors (2.8%). Ovarian function was a prespecified endpoint in 13 (9.2%) trials. Forty-five (31.9%) trials collected ovarian function data, but only 33 (23.4%) collected posttrial-intervention data. Common postintervention data collected included menstruation (15.6%), pregnancy (13.5%), estradiol (9.9%), and follicle-stimulating hormone levels (8.5%). Only 4 (2.8%) trials collected postintervention anti-müllerian hormone levels, and 3 (2.1%) trials collected antral follicle count. Of 22 trials investigating immunotherapy, cyclin-dependent kinase 4/6 inhibitors, or poly-ADP-ribose polymerase inhibitors, none specified ovarian function as an endpoint, but 4 (18.2%) collected postintervention ovarian function data.
CONCLUSIONS
The impact of pharmacologic interventions on ovarian function is infrequently assessed in phase III breast cancer (neo)adjuvant trials that include premenopausal women. Trialists should consider inclusion of ovarian function endpoints when designing clinical trials, given its importance for informed decision making.
Topics: Female; Humans; Pregnancy; Adenosine Diphosphate Ribose; Breast Neoplasms; Cyclin-Dependent Kinase 4; Ovary; Premenopause; Clinical Trials, Phase III as Topic
PubMed: 34048575
DOI: 10.1093/jnci/djab111 -
World Journal of Gastroenterology Jun 2019Changes in N-linked glycosylation have been observed in the circulation of individuals with hepatocellular carcinoma. In particular, an elevation in the level of core...
BACKGROUND
Changes in N-linked glycosylation have been observed in the circulation of individuals with hepatocellular carcinoma. In particular, an elevation in the level of core fucosylation has been observed. However, the mechanisms through which core fucose is increased are not well understood. We hypothesized that a review of the literature and related bioinformatic review regarding six genes known to be involved in the attachment of core fucosylation, the synthesis of the fucosylation substrate guanosine diphosphate (GDP)-fucose, or the transport of the substrate into the Golgi might offer mechanistic insight into the regulation of core fucose levels.
AIM
To survey the literature to capture the involvement of genes regulating core N-linked fucosylation in hepatocellular carcinoma.
METHODS
The PubMed biomedical literature database was searched for the association of hepatocellular carcinoma and each of the core fucose-related genes and their protein products. We also queried The Cancer Genome Atlas Liver hepatocellular carcinoma (LIHC) dataset for genetic, epigenetic and gene expression changes for the set of six genes using the tools at cBioportal.
RESULTS
A total of 27 citations involving one or more of the core fucosylation-related genes (FPGT, FUK, FUT8, GMDS, SLC35C1, TSTA3) and hepatocellular carcinoma were identified. The same set of gene symbols was used to query the 371 patients with liver cancer in the LIHC dataset to identify the frequency of mRNA over or under expression, as well as non-synonymous mutations, copy number variation and methylation level. Although all six genes trended to more samples displaying over expression relative to under-expression, it was noted that a number of tumor samples had undergone amplification of the genes of the synthesis pathway, GMDS (27 samples) and TSTA3 (78 samples). In contrast, the other four genes had undergone amplification in 2 or fewer samples.
CONCLUSION
Amplification of genes involved in the pathway for generation of GDP-fucose, GMDS and TSTA3, likely contributes to the elevated core fucose observed in hepatocellular carcinoma.
Topics: Carbohydrate Epimerases; Carcinoma, Hepatocellular; DNA Copy Number Variations; DNA Methylation; Gene Expression Regulation, Neoplastic; Glycoproteins; Glycosylation; Guanosine Diphosphate Fucose; Humans; Hydro-Lyases; Ketone Oxidoreductases; Liver Neoplasms; Metabolic Networks and Pathways; Mutation
PubMed: 31249452
DOI: 10.3748/wjg.v25.i23.2947 -
Cerebrovascular Diseases (Basel,... 2019A rapid serum biomarker that confirms or rules out a transient ischemic attack (TIA) would be of great value in clinical practice. We aimed to systematically review...
BACKGROUND AND PURPOSE
A rapid serum biomarker that confirms or rules out a transient ischemic attack (TIA) would be of great value in clinical practice. We aimed to systematically review current evidence for the diagnostic accuracy of blood biomarkers in the early diagnosis of TIA.
METHODS
This is a systematic review with quality appraisal of individual studies using the QUADAS-2 tool. MEDLINE and EMBASE databases were searched up to May 1, 2017, to select primary diagnostic accuracy studies evaluating potential biomarkers in blood for the diagnosis of TIA or ischemic stroke.
RESULTS
Of 4,215 studies retrieved, 78 met our eligibility criteria. Forty-five studies restricted their population to ischemic stroke patients, 32 included both TIA and ischemic stroke patients, and only one study was restricted to TIA patients. In total 62/78 (79.5%) studies had a case-control design comparing TIA or stroke patients with healthy subjects. Overall, 125 single biomarkers and 5 biomarker panels were studied, with a median number of participants per study of 92.0 (interquartile range 44.8-144.5), varying from 8 to 915. Sufficient information to extract 2 × 2 tables was available for 35 (44.9%) articles, and for 60 (48.0 %) biomarkers. Several markers, such as NR2A/B (antibodies), Parkinson 7, nucleoside diphosphate kinase A, ubiquitin fusion degradation protein-1, and heart-type fatty acid binding protein, have shown moderate to high diagnostic accuracy in multiple studies.
CONCLUSIONS
Although the methodological quality of studies evaluating biomarkers of brain ischemia was poor, several biomarkers have shown the potential to detect transient brain ischemia in an early phase. Diagnostic accuracy studies in suspected cases of TIA are needed to determine their true clinical value.
Topics: Biomarkers; Early Diagnosis; Humans; Ischemic Attack, Transient; Predictive Value of Tests; Prognosis; Reproducibility of Results
PubMed: 31473737
DOI: 10.1159/000502449 -
Clinical Nutrition ESPEN Jun 2018The WHO 2016 report indicates that worldwide obesity is rising, with over 600 million people in the obese range (BMI>30). The recommended daily calorie intake for adults...
The WHO 2016 report indicates that worldwide obesity is rising, with over 600 million people in the obese range (BMI>30). The recommended daily calorie intake for adults is 2000 kcal and 2500 kcal for women and men respectively. The average American consumes 3770 kcal/day and the average person in the UK consumes 3400 kcal/day. With such increased caloric intake, there is an increased load on metabolic pathways, in particular glucose metabolism. Such metabolism requires micronutrients as enzyme co-factors. The recommended daily allowance (RDA) for thiamine is 1.3 mg/day and 0.5 mg thiamine is required to process 1000 kilocalories (kcal). Therefore, despite the appearance of being overfed, there is now increasing evidence that the obese population may nutritionally depleted of essential micronutrients. Thiamine deficiency has been reported to be in the region of 16-47% among patients undergoing bariatric surgery for obesity. Thiamine, in turn, requires magnesium to be in its active form thiamine diphosphate, (TDP). TDP also requires magnesium to achieve activation of TDP dependent enzymes, including transketolase (TK), pyruvate dehydrogenase (PDH) and alpha-keto glutaric acid dehydrogenase (AKGDH), during metabolism of glucose. Thiamine and magnesium therefore play a critical role in glucose metabolism and their deficiency may result in the accumulation of anaerobic metabolites including lactate due to a mismatch between caloric burden and function of thiamine dependent enzymes. It may therefore be postulated that thiamine and magnesium deficiency are under-recognized in obesity and may be important in the progress of obesity and obesity related chronic disease states. The aim of the present systematic review was to examine the role of thiamine dependent enzymes in obesity and obesity related chronic disease states.
Topics: Body Mass Index; Chronic Disease; Energy Intake; Glucose; Humans; Magnesium; Magnesium Deficiency; Nutritional Status; Obesity; Prevalence; Prognosis; Recommended Dietary Allowances; Risk Factors; Thiamine; Thiamine Deficiency
PubMed: 29779823
DOI: 10.1016/j.clnesp.2018.02.007 -
Seminars in Arthritis and Rheumatism Aug 2020Although calcium pyrophosphate deposition (CPPD) is common, there are no validated outcome domains and/or measurements for CPPD studies. The aim of this work was to...
INTRODUCTION
Although calcium pyrophosphate deposition (CPPD) is common, there are no validated outcome domains and/or measurements for CPPD studies. The aim of this work was to identify domains that have been reported in prior clinical studies in CPPD, to inform the development of a core set of domains for CPPD studies.
METHODS
We performed a scoping literature review for clinical studies in CPPD, searching in Medline (via PubMed), EMBASE, and Cochrane Central Register of Controlled Trials (CENTRAL) databases; published from January 1, 1946 to January 7, 2020. All reported outcomes and study design data were extracted and mapped to the core areas and domains as defined by the OMERACT Filter 2.1.The protocol was registered on PROSPERO (CRD: 42019137075; 09-07-2019).
FINDINGS
There were 112 papers identified, comprising of 109 observational studies and three randomized controlled trials. Most studies reported clinical presentations of OA with CPPD or acute CPP crystal arthritis. Outcomes that mapped to 22 domains were identified; the most frequently reported measures mapped to the following domains/sub-domains: imaging (joint damage on imaging tests - 59 studies; joint calcification on imaging tests - 28 studies), joint pain (26 studies), response to treatment (23 studies), side effects of treatment (15 studies), inflammation in the joint fluid or blood (ESR or C-reactive protein - 12 studies; synovial fluid markers - 4 studies; other blood markers - 2 studies), overall function (14 studies), joint swelling (12 studies) and range of joint movement (10 studies). Very few studies mapped to domains related to life impact, societal/resource use or longevity.
CONCLUSION
There is substantial variability in outcomes reported in CPPD studies. Outcomes that map to imaging manifestations, joint pain and response to treatment domains are most often reported.
Topics: Calcinosis; Calcium Pyrophosphate; Chondrocalcinosis; Female; Humans; Male; Observational Studies as Topic; Synovial Fluid
PubMed: 32521326
DOI: 10.1016/j.semarthrit.2020.05.015 -
Frontiers in Oncology 2020The efficacy of poly(adenosine diphosphate-ribose) polymerase inhibitors (PARPi) as a maintenance therapy in patients with newly diagnosed advanced ovarian cancer...
The efficacy of poly(adenosine diphosphate-ribose) polymerase inhibitors (PARPi) as a maintenance therapy in patients with newly diagnosed advanced ovarian cancer remains unclear. We conducted a meta-analysis to assess the benefits and safety of PARPi maintenance therapy in patients with newly diagnosed advanced ovarian cancer. We searched the PubMed, EMBASE, and Cochrane databases for randomized controlled trials (RCTs), which assessed the efficacy of PARPi as a maintenance therapy for newly diagnosed advanced ovarian cancer. Progression-free survival (PFS) was the primary endpoint, which was assessed using hazard ratios (HRs) with 95% confidence intervals (95% CI). Progression-free survival was extracted independently, and the pooled results were used to compare the prognoses of patients who received PARPi maintenance therapy and those who received a placebo. Three RCTs, SOLO1, VELIA/GOG-3005, and PRIMA, which included 1,881 patients with newly diagnosed advanced ovarian cancer, were included in the meta-analysis. The overall analysis showed that PARPi maintenance therapy significantly increased PFS (HR, 0.51; 95% CI, 0.33-0.80; = 0.004) compared to placebo. Subgroup analyses confirmed this result. We also observed an improved PFS in patients with homologous recombination deficiency (HR, 0.50; 95% CI, 0.38-0.66; < 0.001) and in patients with BRCA mutations (HR, 0.42; 95% CI, 0.31-0.57; < 0.001). Moreover, there were no significant differences in health-related quality of life between the PARPi and placebo groups. Patients with newly diagnosed advanced ovarian cancer who received PARPi maintenance therapy had a better prognosis than did those who received a placebo. Moreover, no significant changes in health-related quality of life were seen in PARPi-treated individuals.
PubMed: 32850351
DOI: 10.3389/fonc.2020.01204 -
Clinical and Experimental Rheumatology 2020The main aim of this systematic literature review (SLR) was to summarise the evidence in the use of biological therapies in calcium pyrophosphate deposition disease...
The main aim of this systematic literature review (SLR) was to summarise the evidence in the use of biological therapies in calcium pyrophosphate deposition disease (CPPD). We performed a SLR using PubMed, Embase and Cochrane databases. Only studies reporting the efficacy of biologics in CPPD were selected. The search resulted in 83 articles; 11 were further evaluated in the SLR. Seventy-six patients were included: 2 received infliximab, whereas 74 anakinra. Anakinra was used in refractory disease (85.1%) or in patients with contraindications to standard treatments (23.0%). Clinical response to anakinra was observed in 80.6% of patients with acute and 42.9% of those with chronic CPPD. Short-term treatment was well tolerated and adverse events were reported in 4.1% of the cases. This review provides evidence in favour of the use of anakinra as a therapeutic option in patients with CPPD, especially in acute refractory CPPD or when standard treatments are contraindicated.
Topics: Biological Products; Calcium Pyrophosphate; Chondrocalcinosis; Humans; Infliximab; Interleukin 1 Receptor Antagonist Protein
PubMed: 32359034
DOI: No ID Found -
Cardiovascular Diabetology Jan 2019Carotid artery intima-media thickness (cIMT) progression is a surrogate marker of atherosclerosis with a high predictive value for future CVD risk. This study evaluates... (Meta-Analysis)
Meta-Analysis
Comparative effects of lipid lowering, hypoglycemic, antihypertensive and antiplatelet medications on carotid artery intima-media thickness progression: a network meta-analysis.
BACKGROUND
Carotid artery intima-media thickness (cIMT) progression is a surrogate marker of atherosclerosis with a high predictive value for future CVD risk. This study evaluates the comparative efficacies of lipid lowering, hypoglycemic, antihypertensive and antiplatelet medications on cIMT progression.
METHODS
We conducted a network meta-analysis (NMA) to evaluate the relative efficacies of several drug classes in modifying cIMT progression. After a literature search in several electronic databases, studies were selected by following predetermined eligibility criteria. An inverse variance-heterogeneity model was used for NMA. Sensitivity analyses were performed to check the reliability of the overall NMA, and transitivity analyses were performed to examine the effects of modifiers on the NMA outcomes.
RESULTS
Data were taken from 47 studies (15,721 patients; age: 60.2 years [95% confidence interval (CI) 58.8, 61.6]; BMI: 27.2 kg/m [95% CI 26.4, 28.0]; and gender: 58.3% males [95% CI 48.3, 68.3]). Treatment duration was 25.8 months [95% CI 22.9, 28.7]. Of the 13 drug classes in the network, treatment with phosphodiesterase III inhibitors was the most effective in retarding annual mean cIMT against network placebo (weighted mean difference (WMD) - 0.059 mm [95% CI - 0.099, - 0.020) followed by the calcium channel blockers (WMD - 0.055 mm [95% CI - 0.099, 0.001]) and platelet adenosine diphosphate inhibitors (WMD - 0.033 mm [95% CI - 0.058, 0.008]). These 3 drug classes also attained the same positions when the NMA was conducted by using first-year changes in mean cIMT. In transitivity analyses, longer treatment duration, higher body mass index (BMI), and a higher baseline cIMT were found to be independently associated with a lesser reduction in annual mean cIMT. However, in a multivariate analysis with these 3 modifiers, none of these factors was significantly associated with annual change in mean cIMT. In the placebo group, age was inversely associated with annual change in mean cIMT independently.
CONCLUSION
Phosphodiesterase III inhibitors and calcium channel blockers are found more effective than other drug classes in retarding cIMT progression. Age, BMI, and baseline cIMT may have some impact on these outcomes.
Topics: Antihypertensive Agents; Calcium Channel Blockers; Carotid Artery Diseases; Carotid Intima-Media Thickness; Disease Progression; Female; Humans; Hypoglycemic Agents; Hypolipidemic Agents; Male; Middle Aged; Phosphodiesterase 3 Inhibitors; Platelet Aggregation Inhibitors; Predictive Value of Tests; Time Factors; Treatment Outcome
PubMed: 30700294
DOI: 10.1186/s12933-019-0817-1