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Cytokine Sep 2023Biliary tract cancer (BTC) is a highly malignant tumor that originates from bile duct epithelium and is categorized into intrahepatic cholangiocarcinoma (iCCA),... (Review)
Review
Biliary tract cancer (BTC) is a highly malignant tumor that originates from bile duct epithelium and is categorized into intrahepatic cholangiocarcinoma (iCCA), perihilar cholangiocarcinoma (pCCA), distal cholangiocarcinoma (dCCA) and gallbladder cancer (GBC) according to the anatomic location. Inflammatory cytokines generated by chronic infection led to an inflammatory microenvironment which influences the carcinogenesis of BTC. Interleukin-6 (IL-6), a multifunctional cytokine secreted by kupffer cells, tumor-associated macrophages, cancer-associated fibroblasts (CAFs) and cancer cells, plays a central role in tumorigenesis, angiogenesis, proliferation, and metastasis in BTC. Besides, IL-6 serves as a clinical biomarker for diagnosis, prognosis, and monitoring for BTC. Moreover, preclinical evidence indicates that IL-6 antibodies could sensitize tumor immune checkpoint inhibitors (ICIs) by altering the number of infiltrating immune cells and regulating the expression of immune checkpoints in the tumor microenvironment (TME). Recently, IL-6 has been shown to induce programmed death ligand 1 (PD-L1) expression through the mTOR pathway in iCCA. However, the evidence is insufficient to conclude that IL-6 antibodies could boost the immune responses and potentially overcome the resistance to ICIs for BTC. Here, we systematically review the central role of IL-6 in BTC and summarize the potential mechanisms underlying the improved efficacy of treatments combining IL-6 antibodies with ICIs in tumors. Given this, a future direction is proposed for BTC to increase ICIs sensitivity by blocking IL-6 pathways.
Topics: Humans; Interleukin-6; Biliary Tract Neoplasms; Cholangiocarcinoma; Cytokines; Antibodies; Bile Duct Neoplasms; Bile Ducts, Intrahepatic; Tumor Microenvironment
PubMed: 37331095
DOI: 10.1016/j.cyto.2023.156271 -
The Journal of Maternal-fetal &... Dec 2023Transcervical resection of adhesion (TCRA) and postoperative adjuvant estrogen and progestin are the main treatments for cavity adhesions, but the recurrence rate after... (Meta-Analysis)
Meta-Analysis Review
The effect of aspirin on uterine arterial blood flow and endometrium in moderate and severe intrauterine adhesion after transcervical resection of adhesion: a systematic review and meta-analysis.
BACKGROUND
Transcervical resection of adhesion (TCRA) and postoperative adjuvant estrogen and progestin are the main treatments for cavity adhesions, but the recurrence rate after surgery is still high. It was showed that aspirin could promote endometrial proliferation and repair after TCRA in patients with severe cavity adhesions, but the effect on reproduction was uncertain.
OBJECTIVE
To assess the effect of aspirin on uterine arterial blood flow and endometrium in moderate and severe intrauterine adhesion after transcervical resection of adhesion.
METHODS
The databases used included Cumulative Index to PubMed, EMBASE, Chinese National Knowledge Infrastructure (CNKI), and Wanfang database. Studies published before June 2022 were included. Each participant received an aspirin-based intervention aimed at improving uterine status, which was compared to a sham intervention. The primary outcome measure was a change in endometrium thickness. Secondary outcomes included uterine artery resistance index, blood flow index, and endometrial arterial resistance index.
RESULT
A total of 19 studies ( = 1361 participants) that met the inclusion criteria were included in this study. The aspirin-based intervention was strongly associated with better clinical outcome at second-look endometrium thickness (MD 0.81, CI 0.46-1.16; < .00001) and blood flow Index (FI) (MD 4.1, CI 2.3-5.9; < .00001). Besides, the analysis of arterial pulsatility index (PI) showed a significantly reduced after transcervical resection of adhesion (MD -0.9, CI -1.2 to 0.6; < .00001); whereas no significant difference was found in endometrial arterial resistance index (RI) (95% CI, -0.30 to 0.01; = .07).
CONCLUSION
Our study proved the effect of aspirin on uterine arterial blood flow and endometrium in moderate and severe intrauterine adhesion after transcervical resection of adhesion. However, the review requires evidence from additional randomized controlled trials and high-quality research. More strictly designed research studies are needed to assess the effectiveness of aspirin administration after transcervical resection of adhesion.
Topics: Female; Humans; Aspirin; Uterine Artery; Uterine Diseases; Endometrium; Uterus
PubMed: 37286223
DOI: 10.1080/14767058.2023.2209818 -
Journal of Clinical and Experimental... 2024Atypical lymphoplasmacytic and immunoblastic proliferation (ALPIBP) was first reported in 1984 as characteristic histological findings in lymph nodes associated with...
Atypical lymphoplasmacytic and immunoblastic proliferation (ALPIBP) was first reported in 1984 as characteristic histological findings in lymph nodes associated with autoimmune diseases, but it has not been clearly defined to date. To summarize the histological characteristics and clinical diagnoses associated with ALPIBP, we searched MEDLINE and EMBASE for all peer-reviewed articles using keywords including "atypical lymphoplasmacytic and immunoblastic lymphadenopathy" from their inception to December 27, 2023. We also summarized the courses of three cases with a pathological diagnosis of ALPIBP. Nine articles with 52 cases were included. Among the total of 55 cases, including the three from our institution, the median age of the cases was 63.5 years with a female predominance (69.5%). Lymphadenopathy was generalized in 65.6% and regional in 34.4% of cases. RA (24.4%), SLE (24.4%), and autoimmune hemolytic anemia (20.0%), were common clinical diagnoses. A combination of cytotoxic chemotherapy was used in 15.6% of cases due to the suspicion of malignancy. Nodal T-follicular helper cell lymphoma, angioimmunoblastic type, methotrexate-associated lymphoproliferative disorders, and IgG4-related diseases were listed as important diseases that need to be pathologically differentiated from ALPIBP. This review summarizes the current understanding of the characteristics of ALPIBP. Given that underrecognition of ALPIBP could lead to overdiagnosis of hematological malignancy and unnecessary treatment, increased awareness of the condition in pathologists and clinicians is crucial.
Topics: Humans; Female; Male; Middle Aged; Lymphoproliferative Disorders; Lymphadenopathy; Lymph Nodes; Autoimmune Diseases
PubMed: 38925977
DOI: 10.3960/jslrt.24007 -
International Journal of Molecular... Nov 2023Studying primary melanoma and its corresponding metastasis has twofold benefits. Firstly, to better understand tumor biology, and secondly, to determine which sample... (Meta-Analysis)
Meta-Analysis Review
Studying primary melanoma and its corresponding metastasis has twofold benefits. Firstly, to better understand tumor biology, and secondly, to determine which sample should be examined in assessing drug targets. This study systematically analyzed all the literature on primary melanoma and its matched metastasis. Following PRISMA guidelines, we searched multiple medical databases for relevant publications from January 2000 to December 2022, assessed the quality of the primary-level studies using the QUIPS tool, and summarized the concordance rate of the most reported genes using the random-effects model. Finally, we evaluated the inter-study heterogeneity using the subgroup analysis. Thirty-one studies investigated the concordance of and in 1220 and 629 patients, respectively. The pooled concordance rate was 89.4% [95% CI: 84.5; 93.5] for and 97.8% [95% CI: 95.8; 99.4] for . When high-quality studies were considered, only mutation status consistency increased. Five studies reported the concordance status of c (93%, 44 patients) and promoter (64%, 53 patients). Lastly, three studies analyzed the concordance of cancer genes involved in the signaling pathways, apoptosis, and proliferation, such as (25%, four patients), (44%, nine patients), and (20%, five patients). Our study found that the concordance of known drug targets (mainly ) during melanoma progression is higher than in previous meta-analyses, likely due to advances in molecular techniques. Furthermore, significant heterogeneity exists in the genes involved in the melanoma genetic makeup; although our results are based on small patient samples, more research is necessary for validation.
Topics: Humans; Melanoma; Skin Neoplasms; Proto-Oncogene Proteins B-raf; Mutation; Melanoma, Cutaneous Malignant
PubMed: 38003476
DOI: 10.3390/ijms242216281 -
Phytomedicine : International Journal... Jan 2024Ginkgo biloba leaves (GBLs), as an herbal dietary supplement and a traditional Chinese medicine, have been used in treating diseases for hundred years. Recently,... (Review)
Review
BACKGROUND
Ginkgo biloba leaves (GBLs), as an herbal dietary supplement and a traditional Chinese medicine, have been used in treating diseases for hundred years. Recently, increasing evidence reveals that the extracts and active ingredients of GBLs have anti-cancer (chemo-preventive) properties. However, the molecular mechanism of GBLs in anti-cancer has not been comprehensively summarized.
PURPOSE
To systematically summarize the literatures for identifying the molecular mechanism of GBLs in cellular, animal models and clinical trials of cancers, as well as for critically evaluating the current evidence of efficacy and safety of GBLs for cancers.
METHODS
Employing the search terms "Ginkgo biloba" and "cancer" till July 25, 2023, a comprehensive search was carried out in four electronic databases including Scopus, PubMed, Google Scholar and Web of Science. The articles not contained in the databases are performed by manual searches and all the literatures on anti-cancer research and mechanism of action of GBLs was extracted and summarized. The quality of methodology was assessed independently through PRISMA 2020.
RESULTS
Among 84 records found in the database, 28 were systematic reviews related to GBLs, while the remaining 56 records were related to the anticancer effects of GBLs, which include studies on the anticancer activities and mechanisms of extracts or its components in GBLs at cellular, animal, and clinical levels. During these studies, the top six cancer types associated with GBLs are lung cancer, hepatocellular carcinoma, gastric cancer, breast cancer, colorectal cancer, and cervical cancer. Further analysis reveals that GBLs primarily exert their anticancer effects by stimulating cancer cell apoptosis, inhibiting cell proliferation, invasion and migration of cancers, exhibiting anti-inflammatory and antioxidant properties, and modulating signaling pathways. Besides, the pharmacology, toxicology, and clinical research on the anti-tumor activity of GBLs have also been discussed.
CONCLUSIONS
This is the first paper to thoroughly investigate the pharmacology effect, toxicology, and the mechanisms of action of GBLs for anti-cancer properties. All the findings will reinforce the need to explore the new usage of GBLs in cancers and offer comprehensive reference data and recommendations for future research on this herbal medicine.
Topics: Animals; Ginkgo biloba; Liver Neoplasms; Phytotherapy; Plant Extracts; Plants, Medicinal
PubMed: 37844377
DOI: 10.1016/j.phymed.2023.155088 -
JAMA Network Open Nov 2023Mobile mental health applications (apps) for moderate to severe depression are proliferating, likely owing to their capacity to overcome the limitations of conventional... (Meta-Analysis)
Meta-Analysis
IMPORTANCE
Mobile mental health applications (apps) for moderate to severe depression are proliferating, likely owing to their capacity to overcome the limitations of conventional psychotherapy, but research on the potential moderators of treatment efficacy is lacking.
OBJECTIVE
To examine the treatment efficacy associated with mobile app interventions for moderate to severe depression and identify the potential moderators associated with better treatment outcomes.
DATA SOURCES
PubMed, Embase, and PsycINFO were searched from their inception to January 22, 2023.
STUDY SELECTION
Only randomized clinical trials evaluating mobile app treatments in adults with moderate to severe depression that published their results in English were included in the analysis.
DATA EXTRACTION AND SYNTHESIS
Three independent researchers extracted and assessed relevant studies, their risk of bias, the characteristics of the population and study design, and the components of the intervention program following the Preferred Reporting Items for Systematic Reviews and Meta-analyses reporting guidelines. A fixed-effects model was used for data analysis, and exploratory post hoc meta-regression and subgroup analyses were also conducted. Data were analyzed from February 16 to March 25, 2023.
MAIN OUTCOMES AND MEASURES
The main outcome was changes in depression symptom severity from before to after treatment, measured by standardized depression assessment instruments. Secondary outcomes included study-, intervention-, and patient-level factors associated with app efficacy.
RESULTS
Of 2128 studies identified, 13 studies evaluating 16 intervention apps with 1470 participants with moderate to severe depression were included in the analysis. The overall pooled effect size of mobile app interventions vs both active and inactive control groups was 0.50 (95% CI, 0.40 to 0.61). Interventions with in-app notifications were associated with significantly lower treatment outcomes (standardized mean difference [SMD], 0.45; 95% CI, 0.29-0.60) than interventions without (SMD, 0.71; 95% CI, 0.54-0.87; P = .02). In addition, app interventions delivered for less than 8 weeks were associated with a significantly greater effect size (SMD, 0.77; 95% CI, 0.59-0.96) than interventions delivered for 8 weeks or longer (SMD, 0.43; 95% CI, 0.30-0.57; P = .004).
CONCLUSIONS AND RELEVANCE
In this systematic review and meta-analysis, the feasibility and efficacy of mobile app interventions were supported in treating moderate and severe depression, and practical implications were also provided for developing effective app-based interventions in clinical practice.
Topics: Adult; Humans; Depression; Depressive Disorder, Major; Mobile Applications; Behavior Therapy; Control Groups
PubMed: 37983028
DOI: 10.1001/jamanetworkopen.2023.44120 -
International Journal of Molecular... Jul 2023sp. are the most commonly associated pathogens in infective endocarditis, especially within high-income nations. This along with the increasing burden of healthcare,... (Review)
Review
sp. are the most commonly associated pathogens in infective endocarditis, especially within high-income nations. This along with the increasing burden of healthcare, aging populations, and the protracted infection courses, contribute to a significant challenge for healthcare systems. A systematic review was conducted using relevant search criteria from PubMed, Ovid's version of MEDLINE, and EMBASE, and data were tabulated from randomized controlled trials (RCT), observational cohort studies, meta-analysis, and basic research articles. The review was registered with the OSF register of systematic reviews and followed the PRISMA reporting guidelines. Thirty-five studies met the inclusion criteria and were included in the final systematic review. The role of and its interaction with the protective shield and host protection functions was identified and highlighted in several studies. The interaction between infective endocarditis pathogens, vascular endothelium, and blood constituents was also explored, giving rise to the potential use of antiplatelets as preventative and/or curative agents. Several factors allow infections to proliferate within the host with numerous promoting and perpetuating agents. The complex interaction with the hosts' innate immunity also potentiates its virulence. The goal of this study is to attain a better understanding on the molecular pathways involved in infective endocarditis supported by and whether therapeutic avenues for the prevention and treatment of IE can be obtained. The use of antibiotic-treated allogeneic tissues have marked antibacterial action, thereby becoming the ideal substitute in native and prosthetic valvular infections. However, the development of effective vaccines against still requires in-depth studies.
Topics: Humans; Anti-Bacterial Agents; Endocarditis; Endocarditis, Bacterial; Staphylococcal Infections; Staphylococcus; Staphylococcus aureus
PubMed: 37446247
DOI: 10.3390/ijms241311068 -
Journal of Cancer Research and Clinical... Nov 2023The phosphoinositide 3-kinase (PI3K)/AKT/mammalian target of rapamycin (mTOR) signaling pathway regulates proliferation, survival and metabolism, and its dysregulation... (Review)
Review
The phosphoinositide 3-kinase (PI3K)/AKT/mammalian target of rapamycin (mTOR) signaling pathway regulates proliferation, survival and metabolism, and its dysregulation is one of the most frequent oncogenic events across human malignancies. Over the last two decades, there has been significant focus on the clinical development of PI3K pathway inhibitors. More than 40 different inhibitors of this axis have reached various stages of clinical trials, but only a few of them have been approved by the Food and Drug Administration (FDA) for cancer treatment. These clinical results, however, could be improved given the importance of PI3K signaling in cancer and its role in linking cancer growth with metabolism. In this systematic review, after a glance at PI3K/AKT/mTOR pathway and its different inhibitors, we retrieved registered clinical trials evaluating the efficacy and safety of PI3K/AKT/mTOR inhibitors on Clinicaltrials.gov. Following the extraction of the data, finally we analyzed 2250 included studies in multiple steps, beginning with an overview and moving on to the details about type of malignancies, inhibitors, and treatment strategies. We also took a closer look at more than 100 phase III-IV clinical trials to pinpoint promising therapies, hoping that presenting a comprehensive picture of current clinical trials casts a flash of light on what remains to be done in future clinical trials of PI3K/AKT/mTOR inhibitors in human malignancies.
Topics: Humans; Phosphatidylinositol 3-Kinase; Phosphatidylinositol 3-Kinases; Proto-Oncogene Proteins c-akt; Sirolimus; MTOR Inhibitors; Neoplasms; TOR Serine-Threonine Kinases; Phosphoinositide-3 Kinase Inhibitors
PubMed: 37594532
DOI: 10.1007/s00432-023-05277-x -
Tissue Engineering and Regenerative... Dec 2023Cartilage, bone, and teeth, as the three primary hard tissues in the human body, have a significant application value in maintaining physical and mental health. Since... (Review)
Review
BACKGROUND
Cartilage, bone, and teeth, as the three primary hard tissues in the human body, have a significant application value in maintaining physical and mental health. Since the development of bacterial cellulose-based composite materials with excellent biomechanical strength and good biocompatibility, bacterial cellulose-based composites have been widely studied in hard tissue regenerative medicine. This paper provides an overview of the advantages of bacterial cellulose-based for hard tissue regeneration and reviews the recent progress in the preparation and research of bacterial cellulose-based composites in maxillofacial cartilage, dentistry, and bone.
METHOD
A systematic review was performed by searching the PubMed and Web of Science databases using selected keywords and Medical Subject Headings search terms.
RESULTS
Ideal hard tissue regenerative medicine materials should be biocompatible, biodegradable, non-toxic, easy to use, and not burdensome to the human body; In addition, they should have good plasticity and processability and can be prepared into materials of different shapes; In addition, it should have good biological activity, promoting cell proliferation and regeneration. Bacterial cellulose materials have corresponding advantages and disadvantages due to their inherent properties. However, after being combined with other materials (natural/ synthetic materials) to form composite materials, they basically meet the requirements of hard tissue regenerative medicine materials. We believe that it is worth being widely promoted in clinical applications in the future.
CONCLUSION
Bacterial cellulose-based composites hold great promise for clinical applications in hard tissue engineering. However, there are still several challenges that need to be addressed. Further research is needed to incorporate multiple disciplines and advance biological tissue engineering techniques. By enhancing the adhesion of materials to osteoblasts, providing cell stress stimulation through materials, and introducing controlled release systems into matrix materials, the practical application of bacterial cellulose-based composites in clinical settings will become more feasible in the near future.
Topics: Humans; Regenerative Medicine; Biocompatible Materials; Cellulose; Tissue Engineering; Cartilage
PubMed: 37688748
DOI: 10.1007/s13770-023-00575-4 -
CNS Neuroscience & Therapeutics Aug 2023Rapid diagnosis of acute ischemic stroke (AIS) patients is still challenging, and reliable biomarkers are needed. Noncoding RNAs are important for many physiological... (Meta-Analysis)
Meta-Analysis Review
BACKGROUND
Rapid diagnosis of acute ischemic stroke (AIS) patients is still challenging, and reliable biomarkers are needed. Noncoding RNAs are important for many physiological activities, among which circular RNAs (circRNAs) have been proven to be more tissue-specific and conservative. Many recent studies found the potential of circRNAs as biomarkers for many diseases, including cardiovascular diseases, cancers, and ischemic stroke. This systemic review and meta-analysis aimed to identify circRNAs as potential biomarkers for AIS.
METHODS
This study has been prospectively registered in PROSPERO (Registration No. 11 CRD42021288033). Published literature comparing circRNA expression profiles between AIS and non-AIS in human and animal models were retrieved from the articles published by January 2023 in major databases. We descriptively summarized the included studies, conducted meta-analysis under a random effects model, and did bioinformatics analysis including Gene Ontology (GO) and Kyoto Encyclopedia of Genes and Genomes (KEGG) enrichment analysis.
RESULTS
Totally 23 studies were included, reporting 18 distinctive upregulated and 20 distinctive downregulated circRNAs. Diagnostic meta-analysis indicated discriminative ability of the circRNAs. Furthermore, circRNA HECTD1, circRNA DLGAP4, circRNA CDC14A, circRNA SCMH1, and circRNA TLK1 were reported with the same regulation trend in more than one study (animal studies included). GO and KEGG enrichment analyses indicated that the target genes of these five circRNAs were enriched in regulating cell proliferation, apoptosis, and oxidative stress.
CONCLUSIONS
This study demonstrates that circRNAs (circRNA HECTD1, circRNA DLGAP4, circRNA CDC14A, circRNA SCMH1, and circRNA TLK1) generally are promising as potential biomarkers for AIS. However, due to the limited number of studies, diagnostic value of individual circRNA could not be validated. More in vitro and in vivo functional studies are needed.
Topics: Animals; Humans; RNA, Circular; Ischemic Stroke; Stroke; Biomarkers; MicroRNAs; RNA; Gene Expression Profiling; Protein Serine-Threonine Kinases
PubMed: 37186176
DOI: 10.1111/cns.14220