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Neuromodulation : Journal of the... Jan 2023Spinal cord stimulation (SCS) is a last-resort treatment for patients with chronic neuropathic pain. The mechanism underlying SCS and pain relief is not yet fully... (Review)
Review
OBJECTIVES
Spinal cord stimulation (SCS) is a last-resort treatment for patients with chronic neuropathic pain. The mechanism underlying SCS and pain relief is not yet fully understood. Because the inflammatory balance between pro- and anti-inflammatory molecules in the spinal nociceptive network is pivotal in the development and maintenance of neuropathic pain, the working mechanism of SCS is suggested to be related to the modulation of this balance. The aim of this systematic review is to summarize and understand the effects of different SCS paradigms on the central inflammatory balance in the spinal cord.
MATERIALS AND METHODS
A systematic literature search was conducted using MEDLINE, Embase, and PubMed. All articles studying the effects of SCS on inflammatory or glial markers in neuropathic pain models were included. A quality assessment was performed on predetermined entities of bias.
RESULTS
A total of 11 articles were eligible for this systematic review. In general, induction of neuropathic pain in rats results in a proinflammatory state and at the same time an increased activity/expression of microglial and astroglial cells in the spinal cord dorsal horn. Conventional SCS seems to further enhance this proinflammatory state and increase the messenger RNA expression of microglial markers, but it also results in a decrease in microglial protein marker levels. High-frequency and especially differential targeted multiplexed SCS can not only restore the balance between pro- and anti-inflammatory molecules but also minimize the overexpression/activation of glial cells. Quality assessment and risk of bias analysis of the studies included make it clear that the results of these preclinical studies must be interpreted with caution.
CONCLUSIONS
In summary, the preclinical findings tend to indicate that there is a distinct SCS paradigm-related effect in the modulation of the central inflammatory balance of the spinal dorsal horn.
Topics: Rats; Animals; Spinal Cord Stimulation; Neuralgia; Pain Management; Spinal Cord; Spinal Cord Dorsal Horn
PubMed: 35931643
DOI: 10.1016/j.neurom.2022.04.049 -
Journal of Ovarian Research Nov 2021STAT3 and p-STAT3 are often overexpressed in various human tumours and participate in cancer development and progression. However, whether STAT3/p-STAT3 expression is... (Meta-Analysis)
Meta-Analysis
PURPOSE
STAT3 and p-STAT3 are often overexpressed in various human tumours and participate in cancer development and progression. However, whether STAT3/p-STAT3 expression is associated with clinicopathologic characteristics and has prognostic significance for people suffering from ovarian cancer remains controversial. We conducted a systematic review and meta-analyses to clarify the associations between STAT3/p-STAT3 expression and clinicopathologic characteristics and prognostic factors of ovarian cancer.
METHODS
A systematic electronic search in the PubMed, Embase, CNKI, and Wanfang databases was conducted to identify relevant articles published before 3 April 2021. All statistical analyses were performed using Stata 15.1.
RESULTS
We included 16 eligible studies incorporating 1747 ovarian cancer patients. The expression of STAT3/p-STAT3 was upregulated in ovarian cancer samples versus normal ovarian tissue, benign tumours and borderline tumours (OR = 10.14, p < 0.00001; OR = 9.08, P < 0.00001; OR = 4.01, p < 0.00001, respectively). STAT3/p-STAT3 overexpression was significantly correlated with FIGO stage (I-II vs. III-IV) (OR = 0.36, p < 0.00001), tumour grade (G1 + G2 vs. G3) (OR = 0.55; p = 0.001) and lymph node metastasis (yes vs. no) (OR = 3.39; p < 0.00001). High STAT3/p-STAT3 expression was correlated with poorer prognosis of ovarian cancer patients for both overall survival (OS) (HR = 1.67, p < 0.00001) and progression-free survival (PFS) (HR = 1.40, p = 0.007).
CONCLUSION
The present meta-analysis indicated that high STAT3/p-STAT3 expression is likely predictive of an unfavourable prognosis in ovarian cancer patients. Nonetheless, prospective trials are required to confirm these associations.
Topics: Biomarkers, Tumor; Female; Humans; Lymphatic Metastasis; Neoplasm Grading; Neoplasm Staging; Ovarian Neoplasms; Phosphorylation; Prognosis; Progression-Free Survival; STAT3 Transcription Factor; Survival Rate
PubMed: 34789292
DOI: 10.1186/s13048-021-00918-6 -
Oral Oncology Jul 2020The presence of Programmed Death-Ligand 1 protein (PD-L1) in oral squamous cell carcinoma (OSCC) may indicate an ability to evade immune response and has been suggested... (Meta-Analysis)
Meta-Analysis
BACKGROUND
The presence of Programmed Death-Ligand 1 protein (PD-L1) in oral squamous cell carcinoma (OSCC) may indicate an ability to evade immune response and has been suggested as a prognostic marker, but there is controversy in the literature.
OBJECTIVE
To review the scientific evidence of a prognostic role for PD-L1 levels in OSCC.
METHODS
PubMed, Embase, Web of Science, and Scopus were searched for studies published on or before March 02, 2019. Studies measuring PD-L1 levels by immunohistochemistry (IHC) in OSCC were included. Study quality was assessed using the QUIPS tool. Meta-analysis was performed for survival outcomes and clinic-pathological parameters.
RESULTS
26 articles were included comprising 2532 patients. Analysis of studies measuring PD-L1 expression in the cell membrane showed a worse prognosis for disease-specific survival (HR = 1.74, 95% CI = 1.14-2.66, p = 0.01) and disease-free survival (HR = 1.56, 95% CI = 1.16-2.09, p = 0.003). PD-L1 overexpression was more likely in females (OR = 0.69, 95% CI = 0.53-0.91, p = 0.008), non-smokers (OR = 0.45, 95% CI = 0.27-0.75, p = 0.002), non-drinkers (OR = 0.40, 95% CI = 0.16-0.97, p = 0.04), advance stage tumours (OR = 1.63, 95% CI = 1.00-2.64, p = 0.05) and in tumours with high levels of PD-1 (OR = 33.36, 95% CI = 1.88-591.69, p = 0.02), CD4+ (OR = 3.25, 95% CI = 1.36-7.76, p = 0.008) and CD8+ (OR = 3.63 , 95% CI = 1.20-10.99, p = 0.02).
CONCLUSION
This meta-analysis found a worse prognosis in OSCCs overexpressing PD-L1 in the cell membrane as measured by disease specific survival and disease-free survival. We also found positive correlations between PD-L1 overexpression and advanced tumours, females, non-smokers, non-drinkers and high levels of tumour PD-1, CD4, and CD8.
Topics: B7-H1 Antigen; Disease-Free Survival; Female; Humans; Male; Mouth Neoplasms; Prognosis; Squamous Cell Carcinoma of Head and Neck; Survival Rate
PubMed: 32330687
DOI: 10.1016/j.oraloncology.2020.104722 -
Urologic Oncology Jul 2021To evaluate the oncologic prognostic value of fibroblast growth factor receptor (FGFR) and to assess the safety and efficacy of its inhibitors in patients with... (Meta-Analysis)
Meta-Analysis
To evaluate the oncologic prognostic value of fibroblast growth factor receptor (FGFR) and to assess the safety and efficacy of its inhibitors in patients with urothelial bladder carcinoma. A literature search using PubMed, Scopus, and Cochrane Library was conducted on June 2020 to identify relevant studies according to the Preferred Reporting Items for Systematic Review and Meta-Analysis guidelines. The pooled recurrence-free survival (RFS), progression-free survival (PFS), and cancer-specific survival (CSS) were calculated using a fixed or random effects model in patients with nonmuscle invasive bladder cancer (NMIBC). Overall, 62 studies comprising 9,229 patients were eligible and included in this systematic review and meta-analysis. Both FGFR3 mutation and protein overexpression were significantly associated with RFS, PFS, CSS, and overall survival. FGFR3 mutation was associated with worse RFS and better PFS (pooled hazard ratio: 1.30; 95% confidence interval: 1.08-1.57, and pooled hazard ratio: 0.62; 95% confidence interval: 0.42-0.92, respectively) in patients with NMIBC. In 11 studies reporting on the response to FGFR inhibitors, complete response rates, disease control rates, and overall response rate of 0% to 8%, 59.3% to 64.2%, and 40% were reported for dovitinib, infigratinib, and erdafitinib, respectively. Based on this study, FGFR3 mutation is a statistically significant prognostic factor for RFS in NMIBC. FGFR inhibitors have measurable benefit in patients with advanced and metastatic urothelial carcinoma. However, the results of ongoing RCTs and future well-designed studies are awaited to capture the differential biologic and clinical behavior of tumors harboring FGFR while helping to identify those who are most likely to benefit from FGFR inhibitors.
Topics: Carcinoma, Transitional Cell; Humans; Prognosis; Receptors, Fibroblast Growth Factor; Urinary Bladder Neoplasms
PubMed: 33642228
DOI: 10.1016/j.urolonc.2021.01.025 -
Medicine Jan 2021Heat-shock proteins (HSP) is a key chaperone protein which maintains intracellular proteostasis and is expressed on the surface of solid and hematological malignancies.... (Meta-Analysis)
Meta-Analysis
BACKGROUND
Heat-shock proteins (HSP) is a key chaperone protein which maintains intracellular proteostasis and is expressed on the surface of solid and hematological malignancies. Several studies have reported paradoxical evidence of the association between HSP expression and prognosis of oral cancer. To address the discrepancy, we carried out the meta-analysis to assess the role of HSP such as: HSP70, HSP90, HSP27, HSP60, and HSP105 in susceptibility, progression, and prognosis of oral cancer.
MATERIALS AND METHODS
We retrieved the PubMed, Embase, Web of science, China National Knowledge Infrastructure (CNKI), and Wanfang databases to acquire the eligible studies which were associated with HSP70, HSP90, HSP27, HSP60, and HSP105 protein expression and oral cancer. We applied hazard ratio (HR) and its 95% confidence interval (95% CI) to assess the value of HSP protein expression in overall survival of oral cancer; odds ratio (OR) and its 95% CI were used to evaluate the association of risk and clinical features of oral cancer. Funnel plot, Begg test, and Egger line regression test were utilized to observe publication bias among studies. All statistical analysis was performed with Stata 14.0 software (Stata Corporation, College Station, TX).
RESULTS
A total of 26 studies were included in the present meta-analysis. On based of the results, HSP70 and HSP27 had no significant association with progression of oral cancer. However, the pooled HR and 95% CI revealed a significant well effects of HSP70 and HSP27 expression on survival of oral cancer. Moreover, the susceptibility of oral cancer was significantly associated with HSP70 and HSP60 overexpression.
CONCLUSION
HSP70 and HSP27 protein overexpression might be valuable biomarkers for the prognosis of oral cancer. And HSP70 and HSP60 might have potential predictive effects on the risk of oral cancer.
Topics: HSP70 Heat-Shock Proteins; Heat-Shock Proteins; Humans; Mouth Neoplasms; Prognosis; Proportional Hazards Models
PubMed: 33546049
DOI: 10.1097/MD.0000000000024274 -
PloS One 2024Meningioma is the most common primary brain tumor and many studies have evaluated numerous biomarkers for their prognostic value, often with inconsistent results.... (Meta-Analysis)
Meta-Analysis
Meningioma is the most common primary brain tumor and many studies have evaluated numerous biomarkers for their prognostic value, often with inconsistent results. Currently, no reliable biomarkers are available to predict the survival, recurrence, and progression of meningioma patients in clinical practice. This study aims to evaluate the prognostic value of immunohistochemistry-based (IHC) biomarkers of meningioma patients. A systematic literature search was conducted up to November 2023 on PubMed, CENTRAL, CINAHL Plus, and Scopus databases. Two authors independently reviewed the identified relevant studies, extracted data, and assessed the risk of bias of the studies included. Meta-analyses were performed with the hazard ratio (HR) and 95% confidence interval (CI) of overall survival (OS), recurrence-free survival (RFS), and progression-free survival (PFS). The risk of bias in the included studies was evaluated using the Quality in Prognosis Studies (QUIPS) tool. A total of 100 studies with 16,745 patients were included in this review. As the promising markers to predict OS of meningioma patients, Ki-67/MIB-1 (HR = 1.03, 95%CI 1.02 to 1.05) was identified to associate with poor prognosis of the patients. Overexpression of cyclin A (HR = 4.91, 95%CI 1.38 to 17.44), topoisomerase II α (TOP2A) (HR = 4.90, 95%CI 2.96 to 8.12), p53 (HR = 2.40, 95%CI 1.73 to 3.34), vascular endothelial growth factor (VEGF) (HR = 1.61, 95%CI 1.36 to 1.90), and Ki-67 (HR = 1.33, 95%CI 1.21 to 1.46), were identified also as unfavorable prognostic biomarkers for poor RFS of meningioma patients. Conversely, positive progesterone receptor (PR) and p21 staining were associated with longer RFS and are considered biomarkers of favorable prognosis of meningioma patients (HR = 0.60, 95% CI 0.41 to 0.88 and HR = 1.89, 95%CI 1.11 to 3.20). Additionally, high expression of Ki-67 was identified as a prognosis biomarker for poor PFS of meningioma patients (HR = 1.02, 95%CI 1.00 to 1.04). Although only in single studies, KPNA2, CDK6, Cox-2, MCM7 and PCNA are proposed as additional markers with high expression that are related with poor prognosis of meningioma patients. In conclusion, the results of the meta-analysis demonstrated that PR, cyclin A, TOP2A, p21, p53, VEGF and Ki-67 are either positively or negatively associated with survival of meningioma patients and might be useful biomarkers to assess the prognosis.
Topics: Meningioma; Humans; Biomarkers, Tumor; Prognosis; Meningeal Neoplasms; DNA Topoisomerases, Type II; Ki-67 Antigen; Tumor Suppressor Protein p53; Vascular Endothelial Growth Factor A; Immunohistochemistry; Poly-ADP-Ribose Binding Proteins
PubMed: 38758750
DOI: 10.1371/journal.pone.0303337 -
Current Medicinal Chemistry 2021Periodontitis is an immune-inflammatory disease that leads to the progressive destruction of bone and connective tissue in the periodontal area. The cytokine network... (Review)
Review
BACKGROUND
Periodontitis is an immune-inflammatory disease that leads to the progressive destruction of bone and connective tissue in the periodontal area. The cytokine network plays a primary role in tissue homeostasis, the recruitment of immune cells to control the pathogenic impact and the regulation of osteoclastic function, thus modulating the intensity and duration of the immune response. This review provides an update on the main cytokines implicated in the pathogenesis and progression of periodontitis and their targeting potential in order to enrich current treatment options.
METHODS
A structured search of bibliographic databases (PubMed, MEDLINE, Scopus) was performed for peer-reviewed cytokine studies focused on periodontitis the last ten years. A qualitative content analysis was performed in screened papers and a critical discussion of main findings is provided.
RESULTS
An altered cytokine profile has been detected in periodontitis patients and the interplay of pro-inflammatory and/or anti-inflammatory cytokines has been associated with disease pathogenesis. Among the most prominent pro-inflammatory cytokines, TNF-α, IL-1β, IL-17, IL-6 and the chemokines CXCL-6, CXCL-8 are overexpressed in periodontitis patients and correlate with disease progression. On the other hand, the anti-inflammatory IL-4 and IL- 11 levels are reduced while IL-12 and IFN-γ expression play a dual role in periodontal disease. Current periodontitis treatment strategies include selective antibiotics, antimicrobial photodynamic therapy and probiotics, which can modulate the cytokine network and when applied in combination with specific anti-cytokine agents can exert additional beneficial effects.
CONCLUSION
It is evident that cytokines play a central regulatory role in the inflammatory process and immune cell response that underlies bone destruction in periodontitis. Specific cytokine targeting should be considered as a complementary therapeutic scheme to current periodontal management.
Topics: Chemokines; Cytokines; Humans; Periodontitis; Photochemotherapy; Tumor Necrosis Factor-alpha
PubMed: 32838709
DOI: 10.2174/0929867327666200824112732 -
International Journal of Molecular... Oct 2022The characteristic epigenetic profile of periodontitis found in peripheral leukocytes denotes its impact on systemic immunity. In fact, this profile not only stands for... (Review)
Review
The characteristic epigenetic profile of periodontitis found in peripheral leukocytes denotes its impact on systemic immunity. In fact, this profile not only stands for periodontitis as a low-grade inflammatory disease with systemic effects but also as an important source of potentially valuable clinical biomarkers of its systemic effects and susceptibility to other inflammatory conditions. Thus, we aimed to identify relevant genes tested as epigenetic systemic biomarkers in patients with periodontitis, based on the DNA methylation patterns and RNA expression profiles in peripheral immune cells. A detailed protocol was designed following the Preferred Reporting Items for Systematic Review and Meta-analysis -PRISMA guideline. Only cross-sectional and case-control studies that reported potential systemic biomarkers of periodontitis in peripheral immune cell types were included. DNA methylation was analyzed in leukocytes, and gene expression was in polymorphonuclear and mononuclear cells. Hypermethylation was found in TLR regulators genes: , , , , , , and in early stages of periodontitis, while advanced stages presented hypomethylation of these genes. , , , and genes were differentially expressed in lymphocytes and monocytes of subjects with poorly controlled diabetes mellitus, dyslipidemia, and periodontitis in comparison with controls. The gene was differentially overexpressed in periodontitis and dyslipidemia. Peripheral blood neutrophils in periodontitis showed differential expression in 163 genes. Periodontitis showed an increase in ceruloplasmin gene expression in polymorphonuclears in comparison with controls. Several genes highlight the role of the epigenetics of peripheral inflammatory cells in periodontitis that could be explored in blood as a source of biomarkers for routine testing.
Topics: Biomarkers; Ceruloplasmin; Cross-Sectional Studies; DNA Methylation; Dyslipidemias; Gene Expression; Humans; Myeloid Differentiation Factor 88; Periodontitis; RNA
PubMed: 36233348
DOI: 10.3390/ijms231912042 -
Frontiers in Oncology 2020Current reports on the prognostic and predictive value of hypoxia-inducible factor-1α (HIF-1α) in endometrial carcinoma are inconsistent. Therefore, we conducted this...
BACKGROUND
Current reports on the prognostic and predictive value of hypoxia-inducible factor-1α (HIF-1α) in endometrial carcinoma are inconsistent. Therefore, we conducted this meta-analysis to precisely evaluate the association of HIF-1α expression with susceptibility, clinical features, and prognosis of endometrial cancer.
METHODS
Eligible studies that assessed the role of HIF-1α protein expression, immunohistochemistry detection, disease susceptibility, clinical features, and prognosis of endometrial cancer were searched from the Embase, Pubmed, and Web of Science databases. Stata 14.0 software was used to merge and compute pooled hazard ratios (HR) and odds ratios (OR). Information including HIF-1α protein expression and clinical progression of endometrial cancer was extracted. The pooled HR and OR with corresponding 95% confidence intervals (CI) were used to estimate the strength of these associations.
RESULTS
A total of 25 studies were included in the analysis. HIF-1α protein expression in endometrial cancer tissue was significantly higher than that in normal tissues (OR = 15.79, 95% CI = 8.44-29.52, < 0.05). Endometrial cancer patients with higher HIF-1α protein expression had poorer prognosis compared to patients with low HIF-1α protein expression (HR = 2.29, 95% CI = 1.68-2.90, < 0.05). In addition, high HIF-1α protein expression was significantly associated with endometrial cancer grade, lymph node metastasis, and myometrial invasion (grade in Caucasians: OR = 3.09, 95% CI = 1.63-5.85, < 0.05; lymph node metastasis: OR = 3.09, 95% CI = 1.63-5.85, < 0.05; myometrial invasion: OR = 2.26, 95% CI = 2.15-5.08, < 0.05).
CONCLUSIONS
HIF-1α overexpression was significantly associated with increased risk, advanced clinical progression, and poor prognosis in endometrial cancer patients.
PubMed: 33304847
DOI: 10.3389/fonc.2020.587420 -
European Journal of Cancer Prevention :... Nov 2020High mobility group A protein-2 (HMGA2) is an architectural transcription factor that binds to the A/T-rich DNA minor groove and is responsible for regulating... (Meta-Analysis)
Meta-Analysis
High mobility group A protein-2 (HMGA2) is an architectural transcription factor that binds to the A/T-rich DNA minor groove and is responsible for regulating transcriptional activity of multiple genes indirectly through chromatin change and assembling enhanceosome. HMGA2 is overexpressed in multiple tumor types, suggesting its involvement in cancer initiation and progression, thus, making it an ideal candidate for cancer diagnostic and prognostic. We performed a systematic review to examine the role of HMGA2 as a universal tumor cancer diagnostic and prognostic marker. We used Reporting Recommendations for Tumor Marker Prognostic Studies to systematically search OvidMedline, PubMed, and the Cochrane Library for English language studies, published between 1995 and June 2019. Meta-analysis provided pooled risk estimates and their 95% confidence intervals (CIs) for an association between overall survival and recurrence of cancers for studies with available estimates. We identified 42 eligible studies with a total of 5123 tumor samples in 15 types of cancer. The pooled percentage of HMGA2 gene expression in tumor samples was 65.14%. Meta-analysis showed that cancer patients with HMGA2 positive have significantly reduced survival, compared to patients without HMGA2 gene [pooled-hazard ratio (HR) = 1.85, 95% CI 1.48-2.22]. There was a positive association between cancer patients with HMGA2 overexpression and cancer recurrence though this association did not reach significance (pooled-HR = 1.44, 95% CI 0.80-2.07). Overexpression of HMGA2 was found in 15 types of cancer. There was an association between HMGA2 overexpression with reduced survival of cancer patients. HMGA2 is thus considered a promising universal tumor marker for prognostics.
Topics: Biomarkers, Tumor; Combined Modality Therapy; HMGA2 Protein; Humans; Neoplasms; Prognosis; Survival Rate
PubMed: 32898013
DOI: 10.1097/CEJ.0000000000000602