-
Fundamental Research May 2024The sudden onset of the coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) in January 2020 has affected essential global health services. Cancer-screening services that can reduce... (Review)
Review
The sudden onset of the coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) in January 2020 has affected essential global health services. Cancer-screening services that can reduce cancer mortality are strongly affected. However, the specific role of COVID-19 in cancer screening is not fully understood. This study aimed to assess the efficiency of global cancer screening programs before and during the COVID-19 pandemic and to promote potential cancer-screening strategies for the next pandemic. Electronic searches in PubMed, Embase, and Web of Science, and manual searches were performed between January 1, 2020 and March 1, 2023. Cohort studies that reported the number of participants who underwent cancer screening before and during the COVID-19 pandemic were included. The methodological quality of the included studies was assessed using the Newcastle-Ottawa Scale. Differences in cancer-screening rates were estimated using the incidence rate ratio (IRR). Fifty-five cohort studies were included in this meta-analysis. The screening rates of colorectal cancer using invasive screening methods (Pooled IRR = 0.52, 95% CI: 0.42 to 0.65, < 0.01), cervical cancer (Pooled IRR = 0.56, 95% CI: 0.47 to 0.67, < 0.01), breast cancer (Pooled IRR = 0.57, 95% CI: 0.49 to 0.66, < 0.01) and prostate cancer (Pooled IRR = 0.71, 95% CI: 0.56 to 0.90, < 0.01) during the COVID-19 pandemic were significantly lower than those before the COVID-19 pandemic. The screening rates of lung cancer (Pooled IRR = 0.77, 95% CI: 0.58 to 1.03, = 0.08) and colorectal cancer using noninvasive screening methods (Pooled IRR = 0.74, 95% CI: 0.50 to 1.09, = 0.13) were reduced with no statistical differences. The subgroup analyses revealed that the reduction in cancer-screening rates varied across economies. Our results suggest that the COVID-19 pandemic has had a noteworthy impact on colorectal, cervical, breast, and prostate cancer screening. Developing innovative cancer-screening technologies is important to promote the efficiency of cancer-screening services in the post-COVID-19 era and prepare for the next pandemic.
PubMed: 38933198
DOI: 10.1016/j.fmre.2023.12.016 -
Iranian Journal of Public Health Mar 2024Cadmium, a toxic heavy metal, experienced a surge in production during the 20th century due to the rise of nickel-cadmium batteries, metal plating, and plastic... (Review)
Review
BACKGROUND
Cadmium, a toxic heavy metal, experienced a surge in production during the 20th century due to the rise of nickel-cadmium batteries, metal plating, and plastic stabilizers. Exposure to cadmium primarily occurs through the consumption of contaminated food, such as vegetables and grains, as well as drinking water or inhaling polluted air. The objective of this study was to investigate the relationship between cadmium exposure and the incidence of prostate cancer using a systematic review and meta-analysis approach.
METHODS
This research involved searching and retrieving observational and experimental studies conducted until May 2022 from various databases, including ISI Web of Science, Cochrane, Science Direct, Scopus, Pub-Med, and Google Scholar. Data analysis was performed using Stata 15 statistical software.
RESULTS
The initial search yielded 794 articles, which were subsequently reduced to 427 articles after eliminating duplicates. Following the application of inclusion and exclusion criteria, a total of 16 studies were included in the meta-analysis. The odds ratio of prostate cancer compared to the first quartile of exposure in the second quartile was 1.03 (0.95-1.12), in the third quartile it was 1.12 (0.99-1.26) and in the fourth quartile of exposure was equal to 1.16 (0.79-1.70). Regarding the investigation of the probability of the occurrence of publication bias, the results of Begg's and Egger's tests were not statistically significant.
CONCLUSION
Although exposure to cadmium leads to an increase in the chance of prostate cancer, this chance increase was not statistically significant.
PubMed: 38919294
DOI: 10.18502/ijph.v53i3.15136 -
Frontiers in Pharmacology 2024Cancer refers to a group of diseases characterized by the uncontrolled growth and spread of abnormal cells in the body. Due to its complexity, it has been hard to find...
Cancer refers to a group of diseases characterized by the uncontrolled growth and spread of abnormal cells in the body. Due to its complexity, it has been hard to find an ideal medicine to treat all cancer types, although there is an urgent need for it. However, the cost of developing a new drug is high and time-consuming. In this sense, drug repurposing (DR) can hasten drug discovery by giving existing drugs new disease indications. Many computational methods have been applied to achieve DR, but just a few have succeeded. Therefore, this review aims to show DR approaches and the gap between these strategies and their ultimate application in oncology. The scoping review was conducted according to the Arksey and O'Malley framework and the Joanna Briggs Institute recommendations. Relevant studies were identified through electronic searching of PubMed/MEDLINE, Embase, Scopus, and Web of Science databases, as well as the grey literature. We included peer-reviewed research articles involving strategies applied to drug repurposing in oncology, published between 1 January 2003, and 31 December 2021. We identified 238 studies for inclusion in the review. Most studies revealed that the United States, India, China, South Korea, and Italy are top publishers. Regarding cancer types, breast cancer, lymphomas and leukemias, lung, colorectal, and prostate cancer are the top investigated. Additionally, most studies solely used computational methods, and just a few assessed more complex scientific models. Lastly, molecular modeling, which includes molecular docking and molecular dynamics simulations, was the most frequently used method, followed by signature-, Machine Learning-, and network-based strategies. DR is a trending opportunity but still demands extensive testing to ensure its safety and efficacy for the new indications. Finally, implementing DR can be challenging due to various factors, including lack of quality data, patient populations, cost, intellectual property issues, market considerations, and regulatory requirements. Despite all the hurdles, DR remains an exciting strategy for identifying new treatments for numerous diseases, including cancer types, and giving patients faster access to new medications.
PubMed: 38919258
DOI: 10.3389/fphar.2024.1400029 -
Indian Journal of Endocrinology and... 2024Obesity has erupted as an epidemic around the world. It has set itself as a fast wave among other prevailing specific clusters of non-communicable diseases. The current... (Review)
Review
Obesity has erupted as an epidemic around the world. It has set itself as a fast wave among other prevailing specific clusters of non-communicable diseases. The current study reviews and presents an updated meaningful review of the vast research work performed at schools located in different cities of India. A systematic search was conducted in PubMed, Scopus, Google Scholar and PEDro. Studies representing data on obesity and overweight among children in Indian cities were included in the review. A total of 21 articles with 71,466 participants were included in the review for analysis. Obesity developed in childhood and adolescence is greatly associated with heart disease, stroke and cancer (breast and ovarian in women and prostate in men) in the late stage of life. In India, despite being a country with a faster rate of population becoming overweight and obese in urban areas, in contrast, rural areas are still struggling with malnutrition.
PubMed: 38911116
DOI: 10.4103/ijem.ijem_365_23 -
Frontiers in Pharmacology 2024Benign prostatic hyperplasia (BPH) is prevalent among the aging male population and often presents with distressing lower urinary tract symptoms. There is emerging...
Comparative efficacy of commercial oral poly-herbal traditional Chinese medicine formulations combined with western medicine in benign prostatic hyperplasia management: a systematic review and network meta-analysis.
Benign prostatic hyperplasia (BPH) is prevalent among the aging male population and often presents with distressing lower urinary tract symptoms. There is emerging evidence that commercial oral poly-herbal traditional Chinese medicine (TCM) formulation combined with Western medicine (WM) may offer enhanced therapeutic effects compared to WM alone in BPH treatment. Nevertheless, determining the optimal formulations for BPH remains controversial. We aimed to employ a network meta-analysis to compare and assess differences among commonly used and recommended poly-herbal TCM formulations outlined in the Chinese guidelines for BPH treatment, providing clinical medication recommendations and guidance. We extensively searched for RCTs of BPH patients that had oral poly-herbal TCM formulations and WM treatment, covering both English and Chinese databases up to 31 October 2023. The quality of the included studies was evaluated using the Cochrane risk-of-bias tool Version 2 (ROB2). A Bayesian network meta-analysis was performed to assess the effectiveness of various formulations, followed by sensitivity and subgroup analyses. Our meta-analysis included 107 RCTs involving 11,037 patients across 16 oral poly-herbal TCM formulations. The quality of the selected studies was assessed as "Some concerns". Most formulations combined with WM demonstrated superior therapeutic efficacy compared to WM alone. For clinical effective rate, Jingui Shenqi pill (JGSQ) + WM had the highest-ranking probability (87.38%). Concerning International Prostate Symptom Score (IPSS) and maximum flow rate of urine, Guizhi Fuling capsule (GZFL) + WM was most effective (91.10% and 98.55%). Regarding the quality of life score and postvoid residual urine, Pulean tablet (PLA) + WM ranked first (86.71% and 91.81%). In controlling prostate volume, Huange capsule (HE) + WM demonstrated the highest efficacy (95.65%). Additionally, among the interventions, Lingze (LZ) + WM capsule exhibited the lowest incidence of adverse drug reactions (2.32%). Combining oral poly-herbal TCM formulations with WM may provide greater therapeutic benefits in BPH treatment compared to WM alone. JGSQ, GZFL, PLA, and HE emerged as promising treatment options. However, further rigorous empirical studies are essential to substantiate these findings. https://www.crd.york.ac.uk/prospero/display_record.php?RecordID=459651, CRD 42023459651.
PubMed: 38904002
DOI: 10.3389/fphar.2024.1358340 -
Ultrasonography (Seoul, Korea) May 2024To provide more accurate and definitive conclusions regarding the clinical and technical complications associated with the transperineal (TP) and transrectal (TR)...
PURPOSE
To provide more accurate and definitive conclusions regarding the clinical and technical complications associated with the transperineal (TP) and transrectal (TR) approaches, a comprehensive review of observational studies and randomized controlled trials was conducted. This systematic review covered all eligible studies to facilitate a thorough comparison of complications linked to the two fiducial marker insertion methods, TP and TR.
METHODS
A comprehensive search of the literature was conducted, encompassing databases such as PubMed, Embase, and the Cochrane Library, up to July 7, 2023. The relative risk and 95% confidence interval were utilized to evaluate the diagnosis and complication rates.
RESULTS
The final selection for the methodological quality analysis included 13 observational studies that utilized TP and TR gold fiducial insertion approaches. The meta-analysis revealed significantly lower risks of urinary tract infections (UTI) and rectal bleeding with the TP approach.
CONCLUSION
The use of both TP and TR techniques for placing gold seed fiducial markers has proven to be an effective, safe, and well-tolerated method for image-guided radiation therapy in prostate cancer patients. A significant benefit of the TP technique is its ability to avoid rectal puncture, thereby reducing the risk of UTIs. Although the incidence of UTIs and rectal bleeding associated with the TR method is relatively low, these complications can disrupt patient wellbeing and potentially cause delays in treatment.
PubMed: 38898635
DOI: 10.14366/usg.23229 -
Nutrients Jun 2024The purpose of our systematic review was to examine the effects of any physical activity/exercise intervention combined with any diet/nutrition intervention on any... (Meta-Analysis)
Meta-Analysis Review
BACKGROUND
The purpose of our systematic review was to examine the effects of any physical activity/exercise intervention combined with any diet/nutrition intervention on any biological/biochemical index, quality of life (QoL), and depression in breast, lung, colon and rectum, prostate, stomach, and liver cancer patients and/or cancer survivors.
METHODS
A systematic review and meta-analysis were undertaken, using PRISMA guidelines and the Cochrane Handbook. The systematic review protocol can be found in the PROSPERO database; registration number: CRD42023481429.
RESULTS
We found moderate-quality evidence that a combined intervention of physical activity/exercise and nutrition/diet reduced body mass index, body weight, fat mass, insulin, homeostatic model assessment for insulin resistance, C-reactive protein, triglycerides, and depression, while it increased high-density lipoprotein, the physical component of QoL, and general functional assessment of cancer therapy.
CONCLUSIONS
We conclude that a combined intervention of physical activity/exercise and diet/nutrition may decrease body weight, fat mass, insulin levels, and inflammation, and improve lipidemic profile, the physical component of QoL, and depression in cancer patients and survivors. These outcomes indicate a lower risk for carcinogenesis; however, their applicability depends on the heterogeneity of the population and interventions, as well as the potential medical treatment of cancer patients and survivors.
Topics: Humans; Neoplasms; Exercise; Quality of Life; Cancer Survivors; Diet; Depression; Male; Body Mass Index; Female
PubMed: 38892682
DOI: 10.3390/nu16111749 -
BMC Urology Jun 2024The aim of our study was to investigate the comparative outcomes of five different energy types on surgical efficacy and postoperative recovery in patients with benign... (Meta-Analysis)
Meta-Analysis Comparative Study
PURPOSE
The aim of our study was to investigate the comparative outcomes of five different energy types on surgical efficacy and postoperative recovery in patients with benign prostate hyperplasia.
METHODS
The literature was systematically reviewed on December 1st, 2023, encompassing studies retrieved from PubMed, Embase, Web of Science, and The Cochrane Library databases that incorporated clinical studies of holmium laser enucleation of the prostate (HoLEP), Thulium:YAG laser enucleation of the prostate (ThuLEP), transurethral plasmakinetic enucleation of prostate (PKEP), diode laser enucleation of the prostate (DiLEP) and thulium fiber laser enucleation of the prostate (ThuFLEP) in the treatment of prostatic hyperplasia. Two independent reviewers extracted study data and conducted quality assessments using the Cochrane Collaboration's Risk of Bias tool and Newcastle-Ottawa Scale (NOS). Network meta-analysis (NMA) was employed to indirectly analyze the outcomes of endoscopic enucleation of the prostate (EEP) techniques.
RESULTS
The study included a total of 38 studies, comprising 21 non-randomized controlled trials (nRCTs) and 17 randomized controlled trials (RCTs), incorporating five distinct techniques: holmium laser, Thulium:YAG laser, bipolar plasma, diode laser and thulium fiber laser. In comparing treatment durations, ThuLEP and HoLEP had shorter overall hospital stays than PKEP, while the enucleation time of ThuLEP and HoLEP was shorter than that of ThuFLEP. Moreover, the enucleation tissue weight of both thulium fiber laser and holmium laser was heavier than bipolar plasma. However, the analysis did not reveal any statistically significant variation in complications among the various types of enucleation. In postoperative follow-up, the IPSS at 3 months post-operation was superior in the Thulium:YAG laser group compared to the holmium laser group. The thulium fiber laser technique demonstrated significant advantages over other enucleation methods in terms of QoL and PVR at 12 months after surgery.
CONCLUSION
Theoretical properties may vary among different energy sources; however, there are no discernible clinical differences in operation-related parameters, postoperative complications, and postoperative follow-up. Therefore, the choice of laser does not significantly impact the outcome. However, due to the limited number of included studies, future research should focus on larger sample sizes and multicenter investigations to further validate the findings of this study.
Topics: Humans; Male; Prostatic Hyperplasia; Network Meta-Analysis; Treatment Outcome; Laser Therapy; Prostatectomy; Lasers, Solid-State
PubMed: 38886739
DOI: 10.1186/s12894-024-01517-5 -
Insights Into Imaging Jun 2024To investigate the diagnostic performance of MRI in detecting clinically significant prostate cancer (csPCa) and prostate cancer (PCa) in patients with prostate-specific...
OBJECTIVE
To investigate the diagnostic performance of MRI in detecting clinically significant prostate cancer (csPCa) and prostate cancer (PCa) in patients with prostate-specific antigen (PSA) levels of 4-10 ng/mL.
METHODS
A computerized search of PubMed, Embase, Cochrane Library, Medline, and Web of Science was conducted from inception until October 31, 2023. We included articles on the use of MRI to detect csPCa or PCa at 4-10 ng/mL PSA. The primary and secondary outcomes were MRI performance in csPCa and PCa detection, respectively; the estimates of sensitivity, specificity, positive predictive value (PPV), and negative predictive value (NPV) were pooled in a bivariate random-effects model.
RESULTS
Among the 19 studies (3879 patients), there were 10 (2205 patients) and 13 studies (2965 patients) that reported MRI for detecting csPCa or PCa, respectively. The pooled sensitivity and specificity for csPCa detection were 0.84 (95% confidence interval [CI], 0.79-0.88) and 0.76 (95%CI, 0.65-0.84), respectively, for PCa detection were 0.82 (95%CI, 0.75-0.87) and 0.74 (95%CI, 0.65-0.82), respectively. The pooled NPV for csPCa detection was 0.91 (0.87-0.93). Biparametric magnetic resonance imaging also showed a significantly higher sensitivity and specificity relative to multiparametric magnetic resonance imaging (both p < 0.01).
CONCLUSION
Prostate MRI enables the detection of csPCa and PCa with satisfactory performance in the PSA gray zone. The excellent NPV for csPCa detection indicates the possibility of biopsy decision-making in patients in the PSA gray zone, but substantial heterogeneity among the included studies should be taken into account.
CLINICAL RELEVANCE STATEMENT
Prostate MRI can be considered a reliable and satisfactory tool for detecting csPCa and PCa in patients with PSA in the "gray zone", allowing for reducing unnecessary biopsy and optimizing the overall examination process.
KEY POINTS
Prostate-specific antigen (PSA) is a common screening tool for prostate cancer but risks overdiagnosis. MRI demonstrated excellent negative predictive value for prostate cancer in the PSA gray zone. MRI can influence decision-making for these patients, and biparametric MRI should be further evaluated.
PubMed: 38886256
DOI: 10.1186/s13244-024-01699-4 -
Nature Communications Jun 2024Exposure to ambient air pollution has significant adverse health effects; however, whether air pollution is associated with urological cancer is largely unknown. We... (Meta-Analysis)
Meta-Analysis
Exposure to ambient air pollution has significant adverse health effects; however, whether air pollution is associated with urological cancer is largely unknown. We conduct a systematic review and meta-analysis with epidemiological studies, showing that a 5 μg/m increase in PM exposure is associated with a 6%, 7%, and 9%, increased risk of overall urological, bladder, and kidney cancer, respectively; and a 10 μg/m increase in NO is linked to a 3%, 4%, and 4% higher risk of overall urological, bladder, and prostate cancer, respectively. Were these associations to reflect causal relationships, lowering PM levels to 5.8 μg/m could reduce the age-standardized rate of urological cancer by 1.5 ~ 27/100,000 across the 15 countries with the highest PM level from the top 30 countries with the highest urological cancer burden. Implementing global health policies that can improve air quality could potentially reduce the risk of urologic cancer and alleviate its burden.
Topics: Humans; Air Pollution; Urologic Neoplasms; Particulate Matter; Male; Air Pollutants; Environmental Exposure; Risk Factors; Urinary Bladder Neoplasms; Kidney Neoplasms; Prostatic Neoplasms; Female
PubMed: 38879581
DOI: 10.1038/s41467-024-48857-2