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Pathology Oncology Research : POR Apr 2020The relationship between androgen receptor expression and renal cell carcinoma risk remains controversial. This study is aimed to investigate the clinical significance... (Meta-Analysis)
Meta-Analysis
The relationship between androgen receptor expression and renal cell carcinoma risk remains controversial. This study is aimed to investigate the clinical significance of androgen receptor expression in renal cell carcinoma. A computerized bibliographic search of Embase, the PubMed, and Web of Science combined with manual research between 1977 and 2017 was conducted to explore the association between androgen receptor expression and clinicopathological features of renal cell carcinoma. Data were analyzed by a meta-analysis using RevMan 5.3 analysis software. Eleven retrospective studies with 1839 renal cell carcinoma cases were finally included according to the Preferred Reporting Items for Systematic Reviews and Meta-analysis guidelines. It was found that there was no significant difference between androgen receptor expression and susceptibility, pathological type, metastatic status, metastatic type (lymph or distant metastasis) and cancer-specific survival of renal cell carcinoma (P > 0.05). However, positive androgen receptor expression was demonstrated to be significantly associated with male patients, lower pathological grade, and earlier tumor stage of renal cell carcinoma (OR = 1.69, 95% CI = 1.30-2.19, P < 0.0001; OR = 2.06, 95% CI = 1.49-2.85, P < 0.0001; OR = 2.81, 95% CI = 1.30-6.12, P = 0.009; respectively). In conclusion, higher androgen receptor expression was correlated with male patients, low tumor grade and early stage of renal cell carcinoma. Based on current results, androgen receptor-inhibited target therapy for renal cell carcinoma patients may be of limited benefits and should be taken into more evaluations.
Topics: Biomarkers, Tumor; Carcinoma, Renal Cell; Female; Humans; Kidney Neoplasms; Male; Prognosis; Receptors, Androgen; Risk Factors
PubMed: 30919276
DOI: 10.1007/s12253-019-00650-z -
Current Atherosclerosis Reports May 2020To revise the clinical evidence supporting the use of volanesorsen as new lipid-lowering drug and to assess the efficacy and safety of volanesorsen (ISIS 304801) through... (Meta-Analysis)
Meta-Analysis
PURPOSE OF REVIEW
To revise the clinical evidence supporting the use of volanesorsen as new lipid-lowering drug and to assess the efficacy and safety of volanesorsen (ISIS 304801) through a systematic review of the literature and a meta-analysis of the available phase 2 and phase 3 clinical studies.
RECENT FINDINGS
The meta-analysis of three clinical studies comprising 11 arms (N = l 156 subjects, with 95 in the active-treated arm and 61 in the control one) shows that volanesorsen significantly affects plasma levels of triglycerides (TG) [MD = - 67.90%, 95%CI = - 85.32, - 50.48, P < 0.001], high-density lipoprotein cholesterol (HDL-C) [MD = 40.06%, 95%CI: 32.79, 47.34, P < 0.001], very-low-density lipoprotein cholesterol (VLDL-C) [MD = - 72.90%, 95%CI = - 82.73, - 63.07, P < 0.001], apolipoprotein B (Apo B) [MD = 8%, 95%CI = 2.17, 13.84, P = 0.007], Apo B-48 [MD = - 64.63, 95%CI = - 105.37, - 23.88, P = 0.002], ApoCIII [MD = - 74.83%, 95%CI = - 85.93, - 63.73, P < 0.001], and VLDL ApoCIII [MD = - 83.69%, 95%CI = - 94.08, - 73.29, P < 0.001], without significant impact on LDL-C [MD = 47.01%, 95%CI = - 1.31, 95.33, P = 0.057] levels. Treatment with volanesorsen was associated with an higher risk of injection site reaction (OR = 32.89, 95%CI = 7.97,135,74, P < 0.001) and with an increased risk of upper respiratory tract infections (OR = 10.58, 95%CI = 1.23, 90.93, P < 0.05) when compared to placebo. Volanesorsen has a relevant impact on plasma TG and related parameters without affecting LDL cholesterolemia and is associated with an acceptable safety profile.
Topics: Adult; Aged; Animals; Apolipoprotein C-III; Cholesterol, HDL; Female; Humans; Hypertriglyceridemia; Hypolipidemic Agents; Male; Middle Aged; Oligonucleotides; Triglycerides; Young Adult
PubMed: 32458077
DOI: 10.1007/s11883-020-00836-w -
Microbial Cell Factories Oct 2021Recombinant enzyme expression in Escherichia coli is one of the most popular methods to produce bulk concentrations of protein product. However, this method is often...
Recombinant enzyme expression in Escherichia coli is one of the most popular methods to produce bulk concentrations of protein product. However, this method is often limited by the inadvertent formation of inclusion bodies. Our analysis systematically reviews literature from 2010 to 2021 and details the methods and strategies researchers have utilized for expression of difficult to express (DtE), industrially relevant recombinant enzymes in E. coli expression strains. Our review identifies an absence of a coherent strategy with disparate practices being used to promote solubility. We discuss the potential to approach recombinant expression systematically, with the aid of modern bioinformatics, modelling, and 'omics' based systems-level analysis techniques to provide a structured, holistic approach. Our analysis also identifies potential gaps in the methods used to report metadata in publications and the impact on the reproducibility and growth of the research in this field.
Topics: Biotechnology; Escherichia coli; Gene Expression; Inclusion Bodies; Industrial Microbiology; Recombinant Proteins; Research Design; Solubility
PubMed: 34717620
DOI: 10.1186/s12934-021-01698-w -
Mediators of Inflammation 2021Statins reportedly have anti-inflammatory effects aside from their lipid-lowering impact. We investigated the effects of statin therapy on the level of C-reactive...
BACKGROUND
Statins reportedly have anti-inflammatory effects aside from their lipid-lowering impact. We investigated the effects of statin therapy on the level of C-reactive protein (CRP) or highly sensitive CRP (hs-CRP), a liver-derived marker of systemic inflammation, among stroke patients.
METHODS
An online search was performed in Scopus, PubMed/MEDLINE, ISI Web of Science, and Google Scholar up to November 2020 to recognize clinical trials investigating the effects of statins on the CRP level in stroke patients.
RESULTS
Overall, nine studies (11 treatment arms) with 1659 participants met the inclusion criteria. Six out of 9 studies (8 out of 11 arms) were categorized as studies with a high-quality methodological approach using the Cochrane Collaboration's tool. Data from 5 treatment arms indicated a significant decrease in CRP concentration, and in one treatment arm, CRP concentration did not suggest any considerable alteration following statin therapy. Moreover, two treatment arms showed a significant reduction in hs-CRP concentration and three treatment arms revealed no significant alteration in hs-CRP concentration following statin therapy. Generally, results were heterogeneous and independent of the type of statin, statin dose, treatment duration, and changes in plasma low-density lipoprotein cholesterol concentration.
CONCLUSION
The results suggest that statin therapy could reduce and, therefore, could be considered in these patients as potential anti-inflammatory agents.
Topics: Anti-Inflammatory Agents; C-Reactive Protein; Cholesterol; Clinical Trials as Topic; Humans; Hydroxymethylglutaryl-CoA Reductase Inhibitors; Inflammation; Liver; Stroke
PubMed: 34489618
DOI: 10.1155/2021/7104934 -
Journal of Cerebral Blood Flow and... Dec 2019Clinical studies report that low circulating angiopoietin-1 concentration at presentation predicts worse outcomes after ischaemic stroke. Upregulating angiopoietin-1 may... (Meta-Analysis)
Meta-Analysis
Clinical studies report that low circulating angiopoietin-1 concentration at presentation predicts worse outcomes after ischaemic stroke. Upregulating angiopoietin-1 may therefore have therapeutic benefit for ischaemic stroke. This systematic review assessed whether upregulating angiopoietin-1 improved outcomes in rodent models of ischaemic stroke. Random-effects models quantified the effect of angiopoietin-1 upregulation on stroke severity in terms of the size of cerebral infarction and the extent of blood-brain barrier permeability. Eleven studies utilising rat and mouse models of ischaemic stroke fulfilled the inclusion criteria. Meta-analyses demonstrated that angiopoietin-1 upregulation significantly reduced cerebral infarction size (standardised mean difference: -3.02; 95% confidence intervals: -4.41, -1.63; < 0.001; = 171 animals) and improved blood-brain barrier integrity (standardized mean difference: -2.02; 95% confidence intervals: -3.27, -0.77; = 0.002; = 129 animals). Subgroup analyses demonstrated that angiopoietin-1 upregulation improved outcomes in models of transient, not permanent cerebral ischaemia. Six studies assessed the effect of angiopoietin-1 upregulation on neurological function; however, inter-study heterogeneity prevented meta-analysis. In conclusion, published rodent data suggest that angiopoietin-1 upregulation improves outcome following temporary cerebral ischaemia by reducing cerebral infarction size and improving blood-brain barrier integrity. Additional research is required to examine the effect of angiopoietin-1 upregulation on neurological function during stroke recovery and investigate the benefit and risks in patients.
Topics: Angiopoietin-1; Animals; Blood-Brain Barrier; Cerebral Infarction; Disease Models, Animal; Humans; Mice; Rats; Stroke; Up-Regulation
PubMed: 31581897
DOI: 10.1177/0271678X19876876 -
Pathology Oncology Research : POR Jul 2020Previous studies indicated that cyclin D1 shown the potential as a tumor biomarker. However, the prognostic value of cyclin D1 in renal cell carcinoma (RCC) remains... (Meta-Analysis)
Meta-Analysis
Previous studies indicated that cyclin D1 shown the potential as a tumor biomarker. However, the prognostic value of cyclin D1 in renal cell carcinoma (RCC) remains controversial. This study investigated the correlation of cyclin D1 expression with the prognostic and clinicopathological features in RCC patients. We systematically searched the database of PubMed, Embase, Cochrane, and Web of Science updated on November 26, 2017. Eighteen studies with 2282 patients satisfied the inclusion criteria. Results demonstrated that cyclin D1 overexpression in RCC showed significant favorable prognostic impact on disease-free survival (DFS) (HR 0.57, 95% CI: 0.43-0.74) and disease-specific survival (DSS) (HR 0.59, 95% CI 0.41-0.85) without significant heterogeneity. In subgroup of clear cell RCC, the prognostic effect on DFS was robust and the pooled HR was 0.39 (95% CI: 0.27-0.57). However, no association between overall survival (OS) and cyclin D1 expression was observed. Stratified analysis in DFS studies by sample size, staining patterns race and metastasis status showed similar results. Otherwise, cyclin D1 overexpression predicted a reduced prevalence of high TNM stage (T3 + T4) (OR 0.63, 95% CI: 0.40-0.99), high-grade tumor (G3 + G4) (OR 0.51, 95% CI: 0.31-0.81) and large tumor size (OR 0.35, 95% CI: 0.19-0.62). Our meta-analysis indicated that cyclin D1 overexpression could predict the favorable prognosis in patients with RCC.
Topics: Biomarkers, Tumor; Carcinoma, Renal Cell; Cyclin D1; Humans; Kidney Neoplasms; Prognosis
PubMed: 31748879
DOI: 10.1007/s12253-019-00776-0 -
Medicine Mar 2020Many studies have been done to reported the value of SRY-related HMG-box Gene 2 (SOX2) in prognosis of solid tumors. But results were not particularly consistent among... (Meta-Analysis)
Meta-Analysis
BACKGROUND
Many studies have been done to reported the value of SRY-related HMG-box Gene 2 (SOX2) in prognosis of solid tumors. But results were not particularly consistent among these studies because of the limitations of the small sample data.
METHODS
We searched relevant studies published before November 2018 by PubMed, Web of Science and EMBASE. In this meta-analysis, hazard ratio (HR) values for overall survival (OS) were cumulatively pooled and quantitatively analyzed.
RESULTS
A meta-analysis based on 12 studies with 3318 patients was conducted to assess the potential correlation between SOX2 overexpression and OS in human solid tumors. A total of 12 studies (n = 3318) were assessed in the meta-analysis. It suggested that the high expression of SOX2 obviously indicates poor survival and prognosis in both univariate and multivariate analysis. In the univariate analysis, the combined HR for OS was 1.66 (95% confidence interval [CI]: 1.46-1.89, P < .001). The pooled HR of multivariate analysis for OS was 1.51 (95% confidence interval [CI]: 1.32-1.71, P < .001).
CONCLUSIONS
This meta-analysis indicated that the high expression level of SOX2 is significantly associated with a decline in survival of human with solid tumors. On the basis of the expression level in solid tumors, SOX2 is expected to be a meaningful prognostic biomarker and effective therapeutic target.
Topics: Biomarkers, Tumor; Gene Expression Regulation, Neoplastic; Humans; Neoplasms; Prognosis; Proportional Hazards Models; SOXB1 Transcription Factors; Survival Analysis
PubMed: 32221082
DOI: 10.1097/MD.0000000000019604