-
PloS One 2022Analytic approaches to clinical validation of results from preclinical models are important in assessment of their relevance to human disease. This systematic review...
INTRODUCTION
Analytic approaches to clinical validation of results from preclinical models are important in assessment of their relevance to human disease. This systematic review examined consistency in reporting of glioblastoma cohorts from The Cancer Genome Atlas (TCGA) or Chinese Glioma Genome Atlas (CGGA) and assessed whether studies included patient characteristics in their survival analyses.
METHODS
We searched Embase and Medline on 02Feb21 for studies using preclinical models of glioblastoma published after Jan2008 that used data from TCGA or CGGA to validate the association between at least one molecular marker and overall survival in adult patients with glioblastoma. Main data items included cohort characteristics, statistical significance of the survival analysis, and model covariates.
RESULTS
There were 58 eligible studies from 1,751 non-duplicate records investigating 126 individual molecular markers. In 14 studies published between 2017 and 2020 using TCGA RNA microarray data that should have the same cohort, the median number of patients was 464.5 (interquartile range 220.5-525). Of the 15 molecular markers that underwent more than one univariable or multivariable survival analyses, five had discrepancies between studies. Covariates used in the 17 studies that used multivariable survival analyses were age (76.5%), pre-operative functional status (35.3%), sex (29.4%) MGMT promoter methylation (29.4%), radiotherapy (23.5%), chemotherapy (17.6%), IDH mutation (17.6%) and extent of resection (5.9%).
CONCLUSION
Preclinical glioblastoma studies that used TCGA for validation did not provide sufficient information about their cohort selection and there were inconsistent results. Transparency in reporting and the use of analytic approaches that adjust for clinical variables can improve the reproducibility between studies.
Topics: Adult; Brain Neoplasms; DNA Methylation; DNA Modification Methylases; DNA Repair Enzymes; Glioblastoma; Glioma; Humans; Prognosis; Reproducibility of Results
PubMed: 35231064
DOI: 10.1371/journal.pone.0264740 -
Journal of Parkinson's Disease 2022Long-term levodopa administration for treating Parkinson's disease (PD) may shorten the duration of effect and cause dyskinesias, inducing the need for... (Meta-Analysis)
Meta-Analysis
BACKGROUND
Long-term levodopa administration for treating Parkinson's disease (PD) may shorten the duration of effect and cause dyskinesias, inducing the need for catechol-O-methyltransferase (COMT) inhibitors as adjuvant therapy.
OBJECTIVE
We provide pooled scientific evidence highlighting the efficacy and safety of opicapone, a newly approved COMT inhibitor, as an adjuvant to levodopa.
METHODS
We searched Ovid Medline, Embase, and Cochrane databases for relevant reports. Efficacy and safety were evaluated as off-time reduction and risk ratio (RR) of dyskinesia, respectively. Data were independently extracted using predefined criteria. Selected placebo-controlled trials were divided into double-blind and open-label periods. Using a random-effects model, the mean difference (MD) of the off-time reduction (efficacy), RR for the occurrence of dyskinesia, and on-time without/with troublesome dyskinesia (TD; safety assessment) were compared between opicapone and placebo groups.
RESULTS
Five studies from three randomized controlled trials were included, and a meta-analysis was performed with 407 patients receiving opicapone 50 mg and 402 patients receiving placebo. Compared with the placebo, opicapone (50 mg) reduced off-time by 49.91 min during the double-blind period (95% confidence intervals [CIs] = -71.39, -28.43; I2 = 0%). The RR of dyskinesia was 3.43 times greater in the opicapone 50 mg group than in the placebo group (95% CI = 2.14, 5.51; I = 0%). Compared with the placebo, opicapone increased the on-time without TD by 44.62 min (95% CI = 22.60, 66.64; I2 = 0%); the on-time increase with TD did not differ between treatments.
CONCLUSION
Opicapone can play a positive role as an adjuvant to levodopa in patients with PD by reducing off-time and prolonging on-time without PD.
Topics: Antiparkinson Agents; Catechol O-Methyltransferase; Catechol O-Methyltransferase Inhibitors; Dyskinesias; Humans; Levodopa; Oxadiazoles; Parkinson Disease; Randomized Controlled Trials as Topic
PubMed: 35180134
DOI: 10.3233/JPD-213057 -
International Journal of Molecular... Feb 2022Psychopathic traits in youth may lead to adult criminal behaviors/psychopathy. The Val158Met polymorphism of catechol-O-methyltransferase () may influence the risk for...
Psychopathic traits in youth may lead to adult criminal behaviors/psychopathy. The Val158Met polymorphism of catechol-O-methyltransferase () may influence the risk for psychopathy-related behaviors, while acting as a biomarker for predicting treatment response to dopaminergic medications. The literature shows inconsistent findings, making the interpretation of 's role difficult. The aims of this article are (i) to conduct a systematic review to analyze the effects of Val158Met on psychopathic traits in children and adolescents, and (ii) to present new evidence on the developmental trajectory of the association of Val158Met and youth psychopathic traits. For the systematic review, a literature search was conducted using PubMed, EMBASE, OVID Medline and PsychINFO with the search terms for psychopathic traits, Val158Met and age of interest. In our genotype study, the Val158Met genotype of 293 youth with European ancestry was analyzed in association with the psychopathy-related behavior scores from the Child Behavior Checklist and the Psychopathy Screening Device. To examine the potential influence of developmental changes, the sample was split into at or above and below age 13, and analyses were performed in males and females separately. The literature search yielded twenty-eight articles to be included in the systematic review, which demonstrated mixed results on the association depending on environmental factors, sex ratios, age groups and behavioral disorder diagnoses. The results from our genotype study revealed that Met homozygous youth in the below age 13 group and conversely Val carrier youth in the above age 13 group were more likely to display psychopathic traits. To our knowledge, this is the first study to systematically review the effects of Val158Met on psychopathic traits in childhood and adolescence, and to provide new evidence on the changing effects of Val158Met on psychopathy-related behaviors with development. Elucidating the role of the genotype in conjunction with the child versus adolescent stage of development for psychopathic traits may help predict treatment response, and may lead to early intervention and prevention strategies.
Topics: Adolescent; Antisocial Personality Disorder; Catechol O-Methyltransferase; Child; Female; Genetic Predisposition to Disease; Humans; Male; Polymorphism, Single Nucleotide
PubMed: 35163702
DOI: 10.3390/ijms23031782 -
Frontiers in Oncology 2022Gynecological cancers seriously affect the reproductive system of females; diseases include ovarian tumors, uterine tumors, endometrial cancers, cervical cancers, and...
Gynecological cancers seriously affect the reproductive system of females; diseases include ovarian tumors, uterine tumors, endometrial cancers, cervical cancers, and vulva and vaginal tumors. At present, the diagnosis methods of gynecological cancer are insufficiently sensitive and specific, leading to failure of early disease detection. N-methyladenosine (mA) plays various biological functions in RNA modification and is currently studied extensively. mA modification controls the fate of transcripts and regulates RNA metabolism and biological processes through the interaction of mA methyltransferase ("writer") and demethylase ("erasers") and the binding protein decoding mA methylation ("readers"). In the field of epigenetics, mA modification is a dynamic process of reversible regulation of target RNA through its regulatory factors. It plays an important role in many diseases, especially cancer. However, its role in gynecologic cancers has not been fully investigated. Thus, we review the regulatory mechanism, biological functions, and therapeutic prospects of mA RNA methylation regulators in gynecological cancers.
PubMed: 35155260
DOI: 10.3389/fonc.2022.827956 -
European Psychiatry : the Journal of... Nov 2021Mental disorders in comorbidity with chronic skin diseases may worsen disease outcome and patients' quality of life. We hypothesized the comorbidity of depression,...
BACKGROUND
Mental disorders in comorbidity with chronic skin diseases may worsen disease outcome and patients' quality of life. We hypothesized the comorbidity of depression, anxiety syndromes, or symptoms as attributable to biological mechanisms that the combined diseases share.
METHODS
We conducted a systematic review based on the Preferred Reporting Items for Systematic Review and Meta-Analysis statement searching into PubMed, PsycInfo, and Scopus databases. We examined the literature regarding the comorbidity of psoriasis (Ps), atopic dermatitis (AD), or hidradenitis suppurativa with depression and/or anxiety in adults ≥18 years and the hypothetical shared underlying biological mechanisms.
RESULTS
Sixteen studies were analyzed, mostly regarding Ps and AD. Brain-derived neurotrophic factor/tropomyosin receptor kinase B signaling and nuclear factor kappa-light-chain-enhancer of activated B cells/p38 mitogen-activated protein kinase pathways arose as shared mechanisms in Ps animal models with depression- and/or anxiety-like behaviors. Activated microglia and neuroinflammatory responses emerged in AD depressive models. As to genetic studies, atopic-dermatitis patients with comorbid anxiety traits carried the short variant of serotonin transporter and a polymorphism of the human translocator protein gene. A GA genotype of catechol-O-methyltransferase gene was instead associated with Ps. Reduced natural killer cell activity, IL-4, serotonin serum levels, and increased plasma cortisol and IgE levels were hypothesized in comorbid depressive AD patients. In Ps patients with comorbid depression, high serum concentrations of IL-6 and IL-18, as well as IL-17A, were presumed to act as shared inflammatory mechanisms.
CONCLUSIONS
Further studies should investigate mental disorders and chronic skin diseases concurrently across patients' life course and identify their temporal relation and biological correlates. Future research should also identify biological characteristics of individuals at high risk of the comorbid disorders and associated complications.
Topics: Animals; Anxiety; Catechol O-Methyltransferase; Comorbidity; Depression; Dermatitis, Atopic; Hidradenitis Suppurativa; Humans; Psoriasis; Quality of Life
PubMed: 34819201
DOI: 10.1192/j.eurpsy.2021.2249 -
Cancer Control : Journal of the Moffitt... 2021Since protein arginine methyltransferase 5 (PRMT5) is abnormally expressed in various tumors, in this study we aim to assess the association between PRMT5 and... (Meta-Analysis)
Meta-Analysis
PURPOSE
Since protein arginine methyltransferase 5 (PRMT5) is abnormally expressed in various tumors, in this study we aim to assess the association between PRMT5 and clinicopathological and prognostic features.
METHODS
Electronic databases including PubMed, Web of Science, Scopus, ScienceDirect, and the Cochrane Library were searched until July 25, 2021. The critical appraisal of the eligible studies was performed using the Newcastle-Ottawa Quality Assessment Scale. Pooled hazard ratios (HR) and pooled odds ratios (OR) were calculated to assess the effect. Engauge Digitizer version 12.1, STATA version 15.1, and R version 4.0.5 were used to obtain and analysis the data.
RESULTS
A total of 32 original studies covering 15,583 patients were included. In our data, it indicated that high level of PRMT5 was significantly correlated with advanced tumor stage (OR = 2.12, 95% CI: 1.22-3.70, =.008; = 80.7%) and positively correlated with poor overall survival (HR = 1.59, 95% CI: 1.46-1.73, < .001; = 50%) and progression-free survival (HR = 1.53, 95% CI: 1.24-1.88, < .001; = 0%). In addition, sub-group analysis showed that high level of PRMT5 was associated with poor overall survival for such 5 kinds of cancers as hepatocellular carcinoma, pancreatic cancer, breast cancer, gastric cancer, and lung cancer.
CONCLUSION
For the first time we found PRMT5 was pan-cancerous as a prognostic biomarker and high level of PRMT5 was associated with poor prognosis for certain cancers.
Topics: Humans; Neoplasm Staging; Neoplasms; Protein-Arginine N-Methyltransferases; Survival Analysis
PubMed: 34758643
DOI: 10.1177/10732748211050583 -
Frontiers in Endocrinology 2021The CDK5 regulatory subunit-associated protein 1-like 1 () contributes to islet β-cell function and insulin secretion by inhibiting the activation of CDK5. The current... (Meta-Analysis)
Meta-Analysis
OBJECTIVES
The CDK5 regulatory subunit-associated protein 1-like 1 () contributes to islet β-cell function and insulin secretion by inhibiting the activation of CDK5. The current studies on the relationship between polymorphisms rs7756992 A>G and rs7754840 C>G and the risk of gestational diabetes mellitus (GDM) have drawn contradictory conclusions.
MATERIALS AND METHODS
A meta-analysis with a fixed- or random-effects model was conducted to estimate the correlation between studied polymorphisms and GDM risk with the summary odds ratio (OR) and 95% confidence interval (CI). In addition, trial sequential analysis (TSA) and false-positive report probability (FPRP) analysis were performed to confirm the study findings.
RESULTS
A total of 13,306 subjects were included in the present study. Meta-analysis results showed that the variant heterozygous and homozygous genotypes of the two polymorphisms were associated with increased GDM risk in comparison with the wild-type AA genotype (AG AA: OR = 1.23, 95% CI = 1.08, 1.41, = 0.002; GG AA: OR = 1.47, 95% CI = 1.05, 2.05, = 0.024 for rs7756992; and CG GG: OR = 1.36, 95% CI = 1.13, 1.65, = 0.002; CC GG: OR = 1.76, 95% CI = 1.37, 2.26, < 0.001 for rs7754840). The TSA confirmed a significant association between rs7754840 and the susceptibility to GDM because the cumulative Z-curve crossed both the conventional cutoff value and the TSA boundaries under the heterozygote and homozygote models.
CONCLUSIONS
This study supported the finding that rs7756992 and rs7754840 are associated with susceptibility to GDM. However, further functional studies are warranted to clarify the mechanism.
Topics: Case-Control Studies; Cyclin-Dependent Kinase 5; Diabetes, Gestational; Female; Genetic Predisposition to Disease; Genome-Wide Association Study; Humans; Polymorphism, Single Nucleotide; Pregnancy; Risk Factors; tRNA Methyltransferases
PubMed: 34721291
DOI: 10.3389/fendo.2021.722674 -
Frontiers in Neurology 2021Parkinson's disease (PD) is a common, chronic, progressive, debilitating neurodegenerative disease. The current levodopa treatment requires the addition of other drugs,...
Parkinson's disease (PD) is a common, chronic, progressive, debilitating neurodegenerative disease. The current levodopa treatment requires the addition of other drugs, such as catechol-O-methyl transferase (COMT) inhibitors, to alleviate motor fluctuations in advanced PD. Therefore, a theoretical reference for treatment is urgently needed. In this study, an appropriate search strategy was used to screen eligible studies on different drugs to treat patients with PD from the Embase, PubMed, and Cochrane Library. The publication dates were from January 1990 to June 2021. We integrated eligible randomized controlled trials, and statistical analysis was performed on three kinds of effectiveness outcomes and two types of safety outcomes. We assessed the average difference or odds ratio between each drug and placebo and summarized them as the average and 95% confidence interval (CI), respectively. In terms of efficacy, entacapone (mean difference [MD], 0.64 h; 95% CI, 0.29-1.0), opicapone (MD, 0.92 h; 95% CI, 0.35-1.5), and tolcapone (MD, 3.2 h; 95% CI, 2.1-4.2) increased patients' total ON-time compared to placebo. Tolcapone (MD, -100 mg; 95% CI -160 to -45) reduced the total daily dose of levodopa therapy. None of these three drugs was found to have statistical significance in mean change from baseline in UPDRS part III scores when compared with others. In terms of safety, tolcapone (MD, 3.8; 95% CI, 2.1-6.8), opicapone (MD, 3.7; 95% CI, 2-7.2), and entacapone (MD, 2.2; 95% CI, 1.5-3.3) increased the number of cases of dyskinesia compared to placebo. Entacapone (MD, 1.7; 95% CI, 1.3-2.2) and tolcapone (MD, 4.3; 95% CI, 1.3-15) were more likely to cause adverse events than placebo. In conclusion, opicapone showed higher efficiency and fewer safety problems in five indicators we selected when compared with the other two drugs.
PubMed: 34630283
DOI: 10.3389/fneur.2021.707723 -
Frontiers in Neurology 2021Tumors derived from the neuroepithelium are collectively termed gliomas and are the most common malignant primary brain tumor. Epilepsy is a common clinical symptom in...
Tumors derived from the neuroepithelium are collectively termed gliomas and are the most common malignant primary brain tumor. Epilepsy is a common clinical symptom in patients with glioma, which can impair neurocognitive function and quality of life. Currently, the pathogenesis of glioma-related epilepsy is not fully described. Therefore, it is necessary to further understand the mechanism of seizures in patients with glioma. In this study, a comprehensive meta-analysis was conducted to investigate the relationship between five commonly used tumor molecular markers and the incidence of perioperative epilepsy in patients with glioma. PubMed, EMBASE, and Cochrane Library databases were searched for related research studies. Odds ratio and the corresponding 95% confidence interval were used as the main indicators to evaluate the correlation between tumor molecular markers and the incidence of perioperative epilepsy in patients with glioma. A total of 12 studies were included in this meta-analysis. The results showed that isocitrate dehydrogenase 1 (IDH1) mutation was significantly correlated with the incidence of perioperative epilepsy. A subgroup analysis showed that IDH1 was significantly correlated with the incidence of preoperative epilepsy, but not with intraoperative and postoperative epilepsy. There was no correlation between O6-methylguanine-DNA methyltransferase methylation and 1p/19q deletion and the incidence of perioperative epilepsy. Tumor protein p53 and epidermal growth factor receptor could not be analyzed because of the limited availability of relevant literature. There was no significant heterogeneity or publication bias observed among the included studies. The present meta-analysis confirms the relationship between tumor molecular markers and the incidence of perioperative epilepsy in patients with glioma. The present results provide more comprehensive evidence for the study of the pathogenesis of glioma-related epilepsy. Our research may offer a new method for the treatment of perioperative seizures in patients with glioma.
PubMed: 34539550
DOI: 10.3389/fneur.2021.692751 -
Neuro-oncology Sep 2021The DNA repair protein O6-methylguanine-DNA methyltransferase (MGMT) causes resistance of tumor cells to alkylating agents. It is a predictive biomarker in high-grade... (Meta-Analysis)
Meta-Analysis
MGMT promoter methylation testing to predict overall survival in people with glioblastoma treated with temozolomide: a comprehensive meta-analysis based on a Cochrane Systematic Review.
BACKGROUND
The DNA repair protein O6-methylguanine-DNA methyltransferase (MGMT) causes resistance of tumor cells to alkylating agents. It is a predictive biomarker in high-grade gliomas treated with temozolomide, however, there is no consensus on which test method, methylation sites, and cutoff values to use.
METHODS
We performed a Cochrane Review to examine studies using different techniques to measure MGMT and predict survival in glioblastoma patients treated with temozolomide. Eligible longitudinal studies included (i) adults with glioblastoma treated with temozolomide with or without radiotherapy, or surgery; (ii) where MGMT status was determined in tumor tissue, and assessed by 1 or more technique; and (iii) where overall survival was an outcome parameter, with sufficient information to estimate hazard ratios (HRs). Two or more methods were compared in 32 independent cohorts with 3474 patients.
RESULTS
Methylation-specific PCR (MSP) and pyrosequencing (PSQ) techniques were more prognostic than immunohistochemistry for MGMT protein, and PSQ is a slightly better predictor than MSP.
CONCLUSIONS
We cannot draw strong conclusions about use of frozen tissue vs formalin-fixed paraffin-embedded in MSP and PSQ. Also, our meta-analysis does not provide strong evidence about the best CpG sites or threshold. MSP has been studied mainly for CpG sites 76-80 and 84-87 and PSQ at CpG sites ranging from 72 to 95. A cutoff threshold of 9% for CpG sites 74-78 performed better than higher thresholds of 28% or 29% in 2 of the 3 good-quality studies. About 190 studies were identified presenting HRs from survival analysis in patients in which MGMT methylation was measured by 1 technique only.
Topics: Antineoplastic Agents, Alkylating; Brain Neoplasms; DNA Methylation; DNA Modification Methylases; DNA Repair Enzymes; Glioblastoma; Glioma; Humans; Methylation; Promoter Regions, Genetic; Temozolomide; Tumor Suppressor Proteins
PubMed: 34467991
DOI: 10.1093/neuonc/noab105