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Frontiers in Oncology 2024Fibroblast activation protein-α (FAP-α) is a vital surface marker of cancer-associated fibroblasts, and its high expression is associated with a higher tumor grade and...
INTRODUCTION
Fibroblast activation protein-α (FAP-α) is a vital surface marker of cancer-associated fibroblasts, and its high expression is associated with a higher tumor grade and metastasis. A systematic review and a meta-analysis were performed to associate future metastasis with FAP-α expression in cancer.
METHODS
In our meta-analysis, relevant studies published before 20 February 2024 were systematically searched through online databases that included PubMed, Scopus, and Web of Science. The association between FAP-α expression and metastasis, including distant metastasis, lymph node metastasis, blood vessel invasion, vascular invasion, and neural invasion, was evaluated. A pooled odds ratio (OR) with 95% confidence intervals (CI) was reported as the measure of association.
RESULTS
A total of 28meta-analysis. The random-effects model for five parameters showed that a high FAP-α expression was associated with blood vessel invasion (OR: 3.04, 95% CI: 1.54-5.99, = 63%, = 0.001), lymphovascular invasion (OR: 3.56, 95% CI: 2.14-5.93, = 0.00%, < 0.001), lymph node metastasis (OR: 2.73, 95% CI: 1.96-3.81, = 65%, < 0.001), and distant metastasis (OR: 2.59; 95% CI: 1.16-5.79, = 81%, < 0.001). However, our analysis showed no statistically significant association between high FAP-α expression and neural invasion (OR: 1.57, 95% CI: 0.84-2.93, = 38%, = 0.161).
CONCLUSIONS
This meta-analysis indicated that cancer cells with a high FAP-α expression have a higher risk of metastasis than those with a low FAP-α expression. These findings support the potential importance of FAP-α as a biomarker for cancer metastasis prediction.
PubMed: 38751814
DOI: 10.3389/fonc.2024.1339050 -
Journal of Clinical Medicine Apr 2024The use of electronic cigarettes has become increasingly popular in recent years. However, the impact that electronic cigarettes have on the ocular surface is not well... (Review)
Review
The use of electronic cigarettes has become increasingly popular in recent years. However, the impact that electronic cigarettes have on the ocular surface is not well known. Therefore, the aim of this review is to explore the current literature on the acute and chronic sequelae of electronic cigarettes on the ocular surface. A systematic review of the literature was undertaken by keyword searching on the Embase, Medline, and Web of Science databases. Articles identified through the search underwent title/abstract screening, full-text screening, and data extraction. A total of 18 studies were included in this review. Non-intended ocular surface exposures and intended exposures on the ocular surface were found to be associated with the use of electronic cigarettes. The impact of vaping on the ocular surface is not benign. There are significant risks that vaping can pose to the ocular surface. Hence, it is necessary to develop appropriate risk communication tools given the increasing popularity of this activity. Additionally, future long-term studies are needed to better understand the long-term impacts of vaping on the ocular surface given the lack of current data.
PubMed: 38731149
DOI: 10.3390/jcm13092619 -
Nanomaterials (Basel, Switzerland) Apr 2024(1) Background: Despite the encouraging indications regarding the suitability (biocompatibility) of iron carbide nanoparticles (ICNPs) in various biomedical... (Review)
Review
(1) Background: Despite the encouraging indications regarding the suitability (biocompatibility) of iron carbide nanoparticles (ICNPs) in various biomedical applications, the published evidence of their biosafety is dispersed and relatively sparse. The present review synthesizes the existing nanotoxicological data from in vitro studies relevant to the diagnosis and treatment of cancer. (2) Methods: A systematic review was performed in electronic databases (PubMed, Scopus, and Wiley Online Library) on December 2023, searching for toxicity assessments of ICNPs of different sizes, coatings, and surface modifications investigated in immortalized human and murine cell lines. The risk of bias in the studies was assessed using the ToxRTool for in vitro studies. (3) Results: Among the selected studies ( = 22), cell viability emerged as the most frequently assessed cellular-level toxicity endpoint. The results of the meta-analysis showed that cell models treated with ICNPs had a reduced cell viability (SMD = -2.531; 95% CI: -2.959 to -2.109) compared to untreated samples. A subgroup analysis was performed due to the high magnitude of heterogeneity (I = 77.1%), revealing that ICNP concentration and conjugated ligands are the factors that largely influence toxicity ( < 0.001). (4) Conclusions: A dose-dependent cytotoxicity of ICNP exposure was observed, regardless of the health status of the cell, tested organism, and NP size. Inconsistent reporting of ICNP physicochemical properties was noted, which hinders comparability among the studies. A comprehensive exploration of the available in vivo studies is required in future research to assess the safety of ICNPs' use in bioimaging and cancer treatment.
PubMed: 38727328
DOI: 10.3390/nano14090734 -
Frontiers in Pharmacology 2024The European League of Rheumatology(EULAR)guidelines recommend Janus kinase (JAK) inhibitors for patients with moderate to severe rheumatoid arthritis (RA) who are... (Review)
Review
Comparative efficacy of five approved Janus kinase inhibitors as monotherapy and combination therapy in patients with moderate-to-severe active rheumatoid arthritis: a systematic review and network meta-analysis of randomized controlled trials.
BACKGROUND
The European League of Rheumatology(EULAR)guidelines recommend Janus kinase (JAK) inhibitors for patients with moderate to severe rheumatoid arthritis (RA) who are insensitive or under-responsive to conventional synthetic disease-modifying anti-rheumatic drugs (csDMARDs). But there was no recommendation for which one was preferred in five currently approved JAK inhibitors. The objective of this network meta-analysis study was to evaluate the efficacy of five JAK inhibitors as monotherapy and combination therapy in patients with moderate-to-severe active rheumatoid arthritis.
METHODS
The randomized controlled trials (RCTs) of tofacitinib, baricitinib, upadacitinib, filgotinib and peficitinib as monotherapy or combined with csDMARD in the treatment of active RA were searched in database of PubMed, Embase, Web of Science and Cochrane Library, up to December 2023. The control group included placebo or csDMARD. Outcome indicators included American College of Rheumatology 20% response (ACR20), ACR50, ACR70 and the percentage of patients achieving 28-joint disease activity score using C-reactive protein (DAS28(CRP))<2.6 at 12 weeks and 24 weeks. The statistical analysis was performed by Stata14 and RevMan5.4. Data processing, network evidence plots, surface under the cumulative ranking curve (SUCRA) ranking, league plots and funnel plots were generated. Risk ratio (RR) and 95% confidence interval (95%CI) as effect sizes to analyze the statistics.
RESULTS
This study included thirty-six RCTs with 16,713 patients. All JAK inhibitors were more effective than placebo in ACR20 (RRs ranging between 1.74 and 3.08), ACR50 (RRs ranging between 2.02 and 7.47), ACR70 (RRs ranging between 2.68 and 18.13), DAS28(CRP) < 2.6 (RRs ranging between 2.70 and 7.09) at 12 weeks. Upadacitinib 30 mg and upadacitinib 15 mg showed relatively good efficacy according to their relative SUCRA ranking. All JAK inhibitors were more effective than csDMARD or placebo in ACR20 (RRs ranging between 1.16 and 1.86), ACR50 (RRs ranging between 1.69 and 2.84), ACR70 (RRs ranging between 1.50 and 4.47), DAS28(CRP) < 2.6 (RRs ranging between 2.28 and 7.56) at 24 weeks. Upadacitinib 15 mg + csDMARD and baricitinib 4 mg + csDMARD showed relatively good efficacy according to their relative SUCRA ranking. The safety analysis results such as serious infection, malignancy, major adverse cardiovascular event (MACE), and venous thromboembolic events (VTE) showed no statistical difference.
CONCLUSION
This NMA study indicated that all JAK inhibitors performed better than placebo. Based on the results of this study, upadacitinib 30 mg, upadacitinib 15 mg, upadacitinib 15 mg + csDMARD and baricitinib 4 mg + csDMARD were recommended treatment options with relatively good efficacy and safety. However, attention should be paid to monitoring the occurrence of adverse events in high-risk RA patients with medication. Combination therapy with csDMARD might be more suitable for the maintenance of long-term efficacy. However, in clinical practice, it is still necessary to select the appropriate therapeutic regimen based on the actual clinical situation.
PubMed: 38725657
DOI: 10.3389/fphar.2024.1387585 -
PloS One 2024Workers in the construction industry frequently work in construction sites with numerous areas that can potentially accumulate water, such as tanks, wet cement surfaces,...
INTRODUCTION
Workers in the construction industry frequently work in construction sites with numerous areas that can potentially accumulate water, such as tanks, wet cement surfaces, or water puddles. These water collection sites become ideal breeding grounds for mosquito infestation, which leads to a higher prevalence of mosquito-borne diseases, especially malaria and dengue among construction workers. Despite that numerous factors have been identified in controlling vector-borne diseases, the specific factors that influence mosquito control at construction sites have yet to be explored.
AIMS
This systematic review aims to determine the factors associated with mosquito control among construction workers.
METHODS
Primarily, articles related to factors associated with mosquito control among construction workers were collected from two different online databases (ScienceDirect and EBSCOhost). Two independent reviewers were assigned to screen the titles and abstracts of the collected data, stored in Microsoft Excel, against the inclusion and exclusion criteria. Afterwards, the quality of the included articles was critically assessed using the Mixed Method Appraisal Tool (MMAT). Of the 171 articles identified, 4 were included in the final review.
RESULTS
Based on the thorough evaluation, mosquito-related knowledge, practical mosquito prevention measures, and Larval Source Management (LSM) were identified as vital factors associated with mosquito control among construction workers. The significant association between mosquito-related knowledge and control practices indicates higher knowledge linked to effective practices, particularly among female workers and those who were recently infected with malaria. Concurrently, there were notable challenges regarding sustainable preventive measures and larval control methods in construction settings.
CONCLUSION
Implementing effective mosquito control, including knowledge and practice on mosquito control together with vector control, is highly required to suppress the expanding mosquito population. It is recommended that employers provide continuous mosquito control education and training to their employees and reward them with incentives, while employees should comply with the guidelines set by their employers to ensure successful mosquito control and reduce the spread of mosquito-borne diseases in the construction industry.
Topics: Mosquito Control; Humans; Construction Industry; Animals; Malaria; Culicidae; Mosquito Vectors; Female; Health Knowledge, Attitudes, Practice
PubMed: 38718075
DOI: 10.1371/journal.pone.0303330 -
Revista Do Colegio Brasileiro de... 2024burns represent a pivotal component of trauma in Brazil, accounting for 2 million incidents and 2,500 deaths annually. Self-intentional burns are associated with a worse... (Meta-Analysis)
Meta-Analysis
INTRODUCTION
burns represent a pivotal component of trauma in Brazil, accounting for 2 million incidents and 2,500 deaths annually. Self-intentional burns are associated with a worse prognosis, larger burned surface area, higher infection rates, and death. The lack of studies on the issue of self-immolation raises epidemiological questions regarding Brazilian victims. This study aimed to investigate the profile of burn events associated with self-injurious behavior among Brazilian victims.
METHODS
this systematic review was performed according to PRISMA 2020 guidelines and evaluated the correlation between self-injurious behavior as a cause of burns in Brazilian victims and its epidemiological implications in the last 20 years (2003-2023). The MeSH terms "Burns", "Self-Injurious Behavior", "Epidemiology" and "Brazil" were queried in the PubMed/MEDLINE, SciELO, and Cochrane Library databases, and, after selection by inclusion/exclusion criteria, the most relevant studies were critically analyzed.
RESULTS
From 1,077 pre-selected studies, 92 were potentially eligible, resulting in 7 manuscripts incorporated in this review. From 3,510 burned victims assembled in the pool of selected studies, 311 cases displayed self-injurious behavior. Burned patients who attempted to burn their lives have a higher risk of death (p<0.05; RR=5.1 [3.2-8.1]) and larger burned surface area (p<0.05; MD=19.2 [10-28.2]), compared to accidental cases. Moreover, the female gender was at a higher risk of attempting self-immolation (p<0.05; RR=4.01 [2.9-5.5]).
CONCLUSION
our results show that self-inflicted burn cases were associated with a larger burned surface area and a higher risk of death, and the female gender was identified as a relevant risk factor in Brazil.
Topics: Humans; Brazil; Burns; Self-Injurious Behavior; Female; Male
PubMed: 38716915
DOI: 10.1590/0100-6991e-20243665-en -
Dental Materials : Official Publication... Jun 2024Nanotechnology is constantly advancing in dental science, progressing several features aimed at improving dental implants. An alternative for surface treatment of dental... (Meta-Analysis)
Meta-Analysis Review
OBJECTIVES
Nanotechnology is constantly advancing in dental science, progressing several features aimed at improving dental implants. An alternative for surface treatment of dental implants is electrochemical anodization, which may generate a nanotubular surface (TiO nanotubes) with antibacterial potential and osteoinductive features. This systematic review and meta-analysis aims to elucidate the possible antibacterial properties of the surface in question compared to the untreated titanium surface.
SOURCES
For that purpose, was performed a systematic search on the bases PubMed, Lilacs, Embase, Web Of Science, Cinahl, and Cochrane Central, as well as, manual searches and gray literature.
STUDY SELECTION
The searches resulted in 742 articles, of which 156 followed for full-text reading. Then, 37 were included in the systematic review and 8 were included in meta-analysis.
RESULTS
Fifteen studies revealed significant antibacterial protection using TiO nanotube surfaces, while 15 studies found no statistical difference between control and nanotextured surfaces. Meta-analysis of in vitro studies demonstrated relevant bacterial reduction only for studies investigating Staphylococcus aureus in a period of 6 h. Meta-analysis of in vivo studies revealed three times lower bacterial adhesion and proliferation on TiO nanotube surfaces.
CONCLUSIONS
TiO nanotube topography as a surface for dental implants in preclinical research has demonstrated a positive relationship with antibacterial properties, nevertheless, factors such as anodization protocols, bacteria strains, and mono-culture methods should be taken into consideration, consequently, further studies are necessary to promote clinical translatability.
Topics: Titanium; Nanotubes; Dental Implants; Surface Properties; Anti-Bacterial Agents; Bacterial Adhesion; Humans; Staphylococcus aureus
PubMed: 38714394
DOI: 10.1016/j.dental.2024.04.009 -
The Journal of Prevention of... 2024Exercise is a promising non-pharmacological therapy for subjective cognitive decline, but it is unclear which type of exercise is most effective. The objective was to... (Meta-Analysis)
Meta-Analysis
BACKGROUND AND OBJECTIVE
Exercise is a promising non-pharmacological therapy for subjective cognitive decline, but it is unclear which type of exercise is most effective. The objective was to assess the comparative effects and ranks of all exercise-based interventions on cognitive function in patients with subjective cognitive decline (SCD).
METHOD
In this network meta-analysis, Online databases for Web of Science, PubMed, Embase, Medline, Cochrane Library and PsycINFO were searched from inception to April 30, 2023. The included studies are randomized controlled trials assessing the efficacy of exercise interventions for individuals with SCD. The primary outcome measure is memory, while secondary outcome measures encompass executive function, attention, verbal fluency, and global cognitive function. Represented using Standardized Mean Differences (SMDs) along with their 95% Confidence Intervals (CIs). Bias assessment was conducted in accordance with the 'Cochrane Risk of Bias Assessment Tool, 2nd Edition' (RoB 2). Pairwise meta-analysis was carried out using the 'meta-analysis' module within STATA 14.0, and network meta-analysis was performed using the 'mvmeta' and 'network' packages available in STATA 14.0. Registration number CRD42023289687.
RESULT
This study included a total of 11 randomized controlled trials, encompassing 1,166 patients. Mind-body exercise was found to be efficacious in enhancing or sustaining memory (SMD: 0.58, 95%CI: 0.06 ~ 1.10) and executive function (SMD: 0.41, 95%CI: 0.09 ~ 0.73) in individuals with subjective cognitive decline. Furthermore, mind-body exercise exhibited the highest probability of being the most effective measures for improving or preventing the decline in memory (surface under cumulative ranking curve (SUCRA) value: 90.4) and executive function (SUCRA value: 91.8). The second-ranked moderate-intensity aerobic exercise has also shown a positive effect on the improvement of executive function in patients with subjective cognitive decline (SMD: 0.23, 95%CI: 0.03 ~ 0.43, SUCRA value: 68.2). However, we did not observe a significant effectiveness of exercise interventions on verbal fluency, attention, and overall cognitive function in subjective cognitive decline.
CONCLUSION
Mind-body exercise may potentially be the optimal strategies for enhancing memory and executive function in individuals with subjective cognitive decline. Additionally, moderate-intensity aerobic exercise has shown a modest positive effect on executive function in subjective cognitive decline. When resources permit, practical application of these findings may be considered. Nevertheless, further support for the conclusions of this study is warranted through larger sample sizes and well-designed multicenter trials.
Topics: Humans; Cognitive Dysfunction; Network Meta-Analysis; Exercise Therapy; Randomized Controlled Trials as Topic; Executive Function; Exercise
PubMed: 38706278
DOI: 10.14283/jpad.2024.65 -
Journal of Applied Biomaterials &... 2024Despite the development of implant-supported prostheses, there are still patients for whom conservative treatments such as resin-bonded fixed dental prostheses (RBFDPs)... (Review)
Review
Despite the development of implant-supported prostheses, there are still patients for whom conservative treatments such as resin-bonded fixed dental prostheses (RBFDPs) are more appropriate. This study's objective was to analyze the available research on full-ceramic RBFDPs. In this study, Web of Science, MEDLINE/PubMed, Scopus, Embase, Cochrane Library, and Google Scholar databases were searched for articles published in English between 2010 and 2020. A total of 14 studies were reviewed based on the eligibility criteria. The results showed that using a cantilever design with one abutment had an advantage over two abutments. Additionally, it was proposed that preparations designed with retentive aids, such as a proximal box, groove, and pinhole, could improve RBFDP survival rates. IPS e.max ZirCAD, In-Ceram alumina, and zirconia CAD/CAM were the most commonly used framework materials. Most studies used air abrasion, salinization, or hydrofluoric acid for surface treatment. Adhesive resin cements were the most frequently used type of cement. The survival rate of In-Ceram ceramics (85.3%-94.8%) was lower than that of In-Ceram zirconia and IPS e.max ZirCAD. Debonding, followed by framework fracture, was the leading cause of failure. Following 3-10 years follow-up, the survival percentage of all-ceramic RBFDPs ranged from 76% to 100%. Although RBFDPs have demonstrated satisfactory success as a conservative treatment, long-term follow-ups and higher sample sizes in clinical research are required to gain more reliable outcomes on the clinical success rate of various RBFDP designs.
Topics: Humans; Ceramics; Resin Cements; Dental Porcelain; Dental Prosthesis, Implant-Supported; Denture, Partial, Fixed, Resin-Bonded; Zirconium
PubMed: 38706266
DOI: 10.1177/22808000241250118 -
Oral Oncology Jun 2024Resection margins of oral squamous cell carcinoma (SCC) are often inadequate. A systematic review on clinical intraoperative whole-specimen imaging techniques to obtain... (Review)
Review
Resection margins of oral squamous cell carcinoma (SCC) are often inadequate. A systematic review on clinical intraoperative whole-specimen imaging techniques to obtain adequate deep resection margins in oral SCC is lacking. Such a review may render better alternatives for the current insufficient intraoperative techniques: palpation and frozen section analyses (FSA). This review resulted in ten publications investigating ultrasound (US), four investigating fluorescence, and three investigating MRI. Both US and fluorescence were able to image the tumor intraorally and perform ex-vivo imaging of the resection specimen. Fluorescence was also able to image residual tumor tissue in the wound bed. MRI could only be used on the ex-vivo specimen. The 95 % confidence intervals for sensitivity and specificity were large, due to the small sample sizes for all three techniques. The sensitivity and specificity of US for identifying < 5 mm margins ranged from 0 % to 100 % and 60 % to 100 %, respectively. For fluorescence, this ranged from 0 % to 100 % and 76 % to 100 %, respectively. For MRI, this ranged from 7 % to 100 % and 81 % to 100 %, respectively. US, MRI and fluorescence are the currently available imaging techniques that can potentially be used intraoperatively and which can image the entire tumor-free margin, although they have insufficient sensitivity for identifying < 5 mm margins. Further research on larger cohorts is needed to improve the sensitivity by determining cut-off points on imaging for inadequate margins. This improves the number of adequate resections of oral SCC's and pave the way for routine clinical implementation of these techniques.
Topics: Humans; Mouth Neoplasms; Carcinoma, Squamous Cell; Margins of Excision; Magnetic Resonance Imaging; Ultrasonography; Sensitivity and Specificity
PubMed: 38701572
DOI: 10.1016/j.oraloncology.2024.106823