Transcriptome analysis of the effect of HERV-K env gene knockout in ovarian cancer cell lines.

Background: Human endogenous retroviruses (HERVs) have been implicated in the pathogenesis of various diseases, particularly cancers. Previous investigations from our group demonstrated that targeted knockout (KO) of the HERV-K env gene led to a significant reduction in tumorigenic attributes, including proliferation, migration, and invasion of ovarian cancer cells.

Objective: In this study, we aimed to elucidate the impact of HERV-K env KO on gene expression in ovarian cancer cell lines through comparative RNA sequencing (RNA-Seq) analysis with two distinct HERV-K env KO ovarian cancer cell lines, SKOV3 and OVCAR3.

Correlation analysis of cancer stem cell marker CD133 and human endogenous retrovirus (HERV)-K env in SKOV3 ovarian cancer cells.

Background: Human endogenous retrovirus (HERV)-K is a type of retrovirus that is present in the human genome, and its expression is usually silenced in healthy tissues. The precise mechanism by which HERV-K env influences cancer stemness is not fully understood, but it has been suggested that HERV-K env may activate various signaling pathways that promote stemness traits in cancer cells.

Objective: To establish the connection between HERV-K env expression and cancer stemness in ovarian cancer cells, we carried out correlation analyses between HERV-K env and the cancer stem cell (CSC) marker known as the cluster of differentiation 133 (CD133) gene in SKOV3 ovarian cancer cells.

Association of metabolic syndrome and its components with the risk of depressive symptoms: A systematic review and meta-analysis of cohort studies.

Background: The purpose of this meta-analysis was to quantitatively analyze the association between metabolic syndrome (MetS) and the risk of depressive symptoms.

Methods: Three electronic databases (PubMed, Embase, and PsycINFO) were searched for articles published through February 15, 2022. Cohort studies evaluating the association between MetS and depressive symptoms were selected for inclusion in this study.

Impact of sarcopenia and phase angle on mortality of the very elderly.

Background: Sarcopenia is a major component of geriatric syndrome and associated with poor clinical outcomes and mortality. However, diagnosing sarcopenia in the very elderly is difficult, and data on its epidemiology and devastating effects in this group are scarce. Phase angle (PA) is measured using bioimpedance spectroscopy and known to reflect cellular integrity and health.

Resting Heart Rate and Cognitive Decline: A Meta-Analysis of Prospective Cohort Studies.

Background And Purpose: Several previous meta-analyses have identified an association between cognitive decline and heart rate variability, which reflects autonomic nerve activity. This systematic review and meta-analysis investigated the impact of increased resting heart rate (RHR) on the incidence of cognitive decline, including dementia.

Methods: The PubMed, Embase, and PsycInfo databases were searched for relevant prospective cohort studies published before April 18, 2022.

Stent-based electrode for radiofrequency ablation in the rat esophagus: a preliminary study.

Endoluminal radiofrequency (RF) ablation has been widely used as a safe and effective treatment for Barrett's esophagus. However, inadequate RF ablation may occur due to insufficient contact between the electrode and target tissues. Herein, a stent-based monopolar RF electrode (SE) was developed to evenly deliver RF energy to the inner wall of the rat esophagus.

High-Frequency Pulsed Electric Field Ablation in Beagle Model for Treatment of Prostate Cancer.

Conventional irreversible electroporation (IRE) with low-frequency pulsed electric field (LF-PEF) is used to induce cell death; however, it has several disadvantages including a long procedure time and severe muscle contraction due to high-voltage electric field. This study investigates a novel IRE protocol with high-frequency pulsed electric field (HF-PEF) of 500 Hz repetition to ablate the prostate tissue in beagles for treatment of prostate cancer. A finite element analysis was performed to validate optimal electrical field strength for the procedure.

Effect of human endogenous retrovirus-K env gene knockout on proliferation of ovarian cancer cells.

Background: Among various human endogenous retroviruses (HERVs), the HERV-K (HML-2) group has been reported to be highly related to cancer. In pancreatic cancer cells, shRNA-mediated downregulation of HERV-K env RNA decreases cell proliferation and tumor growth through the RAS-ERK-RSK pathway; in colorectal cancer, CRISPR-Cas9 knockout (KO) of the HERV-K env gene affects tumorigenic characteristics through the nupr-1 gene.

Objective: The effect of HERV-K env KO has not been studied in ovarian cancer cell lines.

Acid suppressant use in association with incidence and severe outcomes of COVID-19: a systematic review and meta-analysis.

Purpose: Several observational studies have presented conflicting results on the association between the use of proton pump inhibitors (PPIs) or histamine H2 receptor antagonist (H2RA) and the risk of coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19). This systematic review and meta-analysis aimed to examine this association.

Methods: In July 2021, PubMed, Embase, Cochrane Central Register of Controlled Trials, and Web of Science were searched for articles investigating the relationship between the two main acid suppressants and COVID-19.

Evaluation of electroporated area using 2,3,5-triphenyltetrazolium chloride in a potato model.

Irreversible electroporation (IRE) is a tissue ablation method, uses short high electric pulses and results in cell death in target tissue by irreversibly permeabilizing the cell membrane. Potato is commonly used as a tissue model for electroporation experiments. The blackened area that forms 12 h after electric pulsing is regarded as an IRE-ablated area caused by melanin accumulation.

Effects of thymosin β4-derived peptides on migration and invasion of ovarian cancer cells.

Background: Thymosin β4 (Tβ4) is a highly conserved actin binding protein associated with the metastatic potential of tumor cells by stimulating cell migration. The role of Tβ4 and its derived fragment peptides in migration of ovarian cancer cells has not been studied.

Objective: To analyze the effects of Tβ4 and its derived fragment peptides on ovarian cancer cell migration and invasion, we applied Tβ4 and three Tβ4-derived synthetic peptides to SKOV3 ovarian cancer cells.

Association between sunlight exposure and risk of prostate cancer: a systematic review and meta-analysis.

Background: The prevalence of prostate cancer (PC) is increasing worldwide. An association between sunlight exposure and PC risk has been described by a previously published meta-analysis, although the level of statistical significance was not reached. We have, therefore, performed an updated systematic review and meta-analysis to further elucidate this potential connection.

Sunlight exposure in association with risk of lymphoid malignancy: a meta-analysis of observational studies.

Purpose: Several observational studies have shown contradictory results regarding the association between sunlight exposure and the risk of malignant lymphoma. Thus, we aimed to systematically determine the association between sunlight exposure and lymphoid malignancy risk through a meta-analysis.

Methods: A thorough search of four electronic databases (PubMed, Embase, Web of Science, and Scopus) was performed to identify eligible studies until 13 August 2020.

Calcium Supplements and Risk of Cardiovascular Disease: A Meta-Analysis of Clinical Trials.

Background: Recent systematic reviews and meta-analyses of randomized, double-blind, placebo-controlled trials (double-blind, placebo-controlled RCTs) have reported controversial findings regarding the associations between calcium supplements on the risk of cardiovascular disease (CVD). This meta-analysis aimed to investigate the association between them.

Methods: We searched PubMed, EMBASE, the Cochrane Library, and the bibliographies of relevant articles for double-blind, placebo-controlled RCTs in November, 2020.

Classification of cervical neoplasms on colposcopic photography using deep learning.

Colposcopy is widely used to detect cervical cancers, but experienced physicians who are needed for an accurate diagnosis are lacking in developing countries. Artificial intelligence (AI) has been recently used in computer-aided diagnosis showing remarkable promise. In this study, we developed and validated deep learning models to automatically classify cervical neoplasms on colposcopic photographs.

Analysis of KAP1 expression patterns and human endogenous retrovirus Env proteins in ovarian cancer.

Background: Human endogenous retroviruses (HERVs) constitute around 8% of the human genome and have important roles in human health and disease, including cancers. Previous studies showed that HERV envelope (Env) proteins are highly expressed in cancer tissues and co-related with cancer progression. KAP1 has been reported to play a key role in regulating retrotransposons, including HERV-K, through epigenetic silencing.

A simple segmentation and quantification method for numerical quantitative analysis of cells and tissues.

Background: Microscopic image analysis based on image processing is required for quantitative evaluation of decellularization. Existing methods are not widely used because of expensive commercial software, and machine learning-based techniques lack generality for decellularization because many high-resolution image data has to be processed.

Objective: In this study, we developed an image processing algorithm for quantitative analysis of tissues and cells in a general microscopic image.

The association between aspirin use and depression: a systematic review and meta-analysis of observational studies.

Purpose: Many clinical trials and observational studies have been conducted under the premise that the anti-inflammatory effect of aspirin may prevent depression. These studies, however, showed inconsistent results. To inspect the association between aspirin use and depression, we conducted a meta-analysis of observational studies.

Association between anaemia and adult depression: a systematic review and meta-analysis of observational studies.

Background: Several observational studies have been conducted to investigate the link between anaemia and adult depression but have shown inconsistent results. This systematic review and meta-analysis was performed to investigate this association.

Methods: A comprehensive search of four electronic databases (PubMed, EMBASE, PsycINFO and the Cochrane Library) was conducted to identify relevant papers published up to November 2019 for the systematic review and meta-analysis.

Association of resting heart rate with nonalcoholic fatty liver disease in postmenopausal women.

Resting heart rate, a simple and useful indicator of autonomic function, and its imbalance has emerged as an independent predictor of cardio metabolic diseases. Nonalcoholic fatty liver disease (NAFLD) is increasingly being diagnosed worldwide and is strongly associated with the features of cardiometabolic diseases. This study aimed to examine the association between resting heart rate and NAFLD in postmenopausal women.

Association between anemia and maternal depression: A systematic review and meta-analysis.

Previous observational epidemiological studies have reported inconsistent findings regarding the association between anemia and the risk of maternal depression. In the present study, we investigated the relationship between anemia and the risk of maternal depression using a meta-analysis. We searched PubMed, EMBASE, and the bibliographies of relevant articles in May 2019.

Anemia in Association with Cognitive Impairment: A Systematic Review and Meta-Analysis.

Background: Prevalence of both anemia and cognitive impairment tends to increase with age. Individual studies have recently shown that anemia could be associated with cognitive impairment.

Objective: To investigate the association between anemia and cognitive impairment including dementia.

Correlation of long interspersed element-1 open reading frame 1 and c-Met proto-oncogene protein expression in ovarian cancer.

Background: Hypomethylation of long interspersed nuclear element-1 (LINE-1) is closely related to certain cancers and concerns with aggressive tumor behavior. Previously, we reported LINE-1 open reading frame-1 (ORF1) protein level was significantly up-regulated in ovarian cancers compared with normal ovary. Hypomethylation of local LINE-1 sequence has been reported to reactivate MET proto-oncogene in colon cancers and hepatocellular carcinoma.