Prognostic Value of the Advanced Lung Cancer Inflammation Index in Patients with Lung Cancer: A Meta-Analysis.

Background: The advanced lung cancer inflammation index (ALI) has been related to tumor survival in lung cancer (LC) patients. However, these findings regarding the prognostic relevance of ALI in LC were inconsistent. Our study is aimed at characterizing the prognostic significance of low pretreatment ALI in LC cases.

Prognostic value of lncRNA FEZF1 antisense RNA 1 over-expression in oncologic outcomes of patients with solid tumors.

Background: FEZ family zinc finger 1 antisense RNA 1 (FEZF1-AS1), as a novel lncRNA, was reported to be up-regulated in various cancers and involved in tumor progression. This study systematically assessed the prognostic value of FEZF1-AS1 in solid tumors.

Methods: Web of Science, PubMed, EMBASE, Chinese National Knowledge Infrastructure, and Wanfang databases were searched for eligible studies that evaluated the prognostic role of FEZF1-AS1 expression in cancer patients.

Clinical significance of systemic immune-inflammation index (SII) and C-reactive protein-to-albumin ratio (CAR) in patients with esophageal cancer: a meta-analysis.

Numerous studies have reported that systemic immune-inflammation index (SII) and C-reactive protein-to-albumin ratio (CAR) correlate with tumor progression and prognosis in various types of human cancer. The aim of this study is to systematically investigate the clinical significance of SII and CAR in esophageal cancer (EC). We searched a number of databases for articles reporting the effect of pretreatment SII and CAR on the survival of EC patients.

Efficacy of ultrasound-guided percutaneous lavage for rotator cuff calcific tendinopathy: A systematic review and meta-analysis.

Background: Rotator cuff calcific tendinopathy (RCCT) is frequently diagnosed in patients with shoulder pain, but there is no consensus on its treatment such as rest, nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drugs (NSAIDs), physical therapy, subacromial corticosteroid injection (SAI), extracorporeal shock wave therapy (ESWT), and ultrasound-guided percutaneous lavage (UGPL). The aim of the study was to compare the effectiveness of UGPL with other techniques in the treatment of RCCT.

Methods: Literature searches of PubMed, EMBASE, OVID, Cochrane Library, Web of Science, Chinese Biomedical Literature, Wanfang, Weipu Journal, and CNKI databases were performed up to August 2018.

FBW7 Regulates the Autophagy Signal in Mesangial Cells Induced by High Glucose.

Aims: Abnormal regulation of autophagy participates in the development of diabetic nephropathy. mTOR is the most common negative regulator of the autophagy signaling pathway. FBW7 constitutes the SCF (Skp1-Cullin1-F-box protein) recognition subunit of E3 ubiquitin ligase, and mTOR is a substrate of FBW7 that can be modified by ubiquitination and be degraded via proteasomes.

Prognostic significance of the ratio of fibrinogen and albumin in human malignancies: a meta-analysis.

Serum fibrinogen and albumin are two important factors in systemic inflammation and these two factors are related to tumor progression. This study aimed to comprehensively reveal the prognostic value of the ratio of fibrinogen and albumin in malignant tumors. We systematically searched relevant studies in PubMed, Web of Science and Embase up to November 21, 2018.

Combination of medical and health care based on digital smartphone-powered photochemical dongle for renal function management.

Currently, the global healthcare market is increasing at high speed with the impendent global aging issue. Healthcare Industry 4.0 has emerged as an efficient solution towards the aging issue since it was integrated with ubiquitous medical sensors, big health processing platform, high bandwidth, speed technologies, and medical services, etc.

Prognostic and Clinicopathological Significance of lncRNA MVIH in Cancer Patients.

LncRNA associated with microvascular invasion in hepatocellular carcinoma (lncRNA MVIH) is a newly discovered long non-coding RNA that aberrantly up-regulates and holds prognostic value in various tumors. The aim of the review and meta-analysis is to assess its prognostic potential and functions in malignant tumors. PubMed, PMC, EMBASE, Web of Science, Cochrane Library, China National Knowledge Infrastructure (CNKI), and Wanfang Database were carefully searched for articles published as of Jan.

Prognostic utility and clinical significance of lysyl oxidase-like 2 protein expression in digestive system cancers.

Lysyl oxidase-like 2 (LOXL2) participates in the occurrence and development of digestive system cancers (DSCs). The aim of this study was to determine whether LOXL2 protein could serve as a prognostic biomarker in patients with DSCs. Relevant studies published before October 1, 2018 were identified from a comprehensive literature review in PubMed, Web of Science, and Embase.

Genetic variants of SP-D confer susceptibility to radiation pneumonitis in lung cancer patients undergoing thoracic radiation therapy.

Background: Surfactant protein D (SP-D) is an innate immunity molecule in the alveoli. However, the associations between genetic variants of SP-D and radiation pneumonitis (RP) have never been investigated.

Methods: The Linkage disequilibrium of SP-D and tagSNPs were analyzed by using Haploview 4.

MiR-345-5p functions as a tumor suppressor in pancreatic cancer by directly targeting CCL8.

Background: Increasing evidence has demonstrated that microRNAs (miRNAs) are key regulators of human diseases and can serve as prognostic markers for several cancers, such as pancreatic ductal adenocarcinoma (PDAC). Previous studies have revealed various functions for miR-345-5p in several cancers. However, the role and potential mechanism of miR-345-5p in PDAC have not been resolved.

[Expression and Function of miR-99a-5p in Bone Marrow of Patients with MDS].

Objective: To detect the expression of miR-99a-5p in myelodysplastic syndrome (MDS), to predict the target genes and to analyze its function by using bioinformatics.

Methods: The expression levels of bone marrow miR-99a-5p in MDS patients were detected by qRT-PCR, and the correlation of miR-99a-5p expression with clinical pathological characteristics, percentage of marrow blasts , chromosome karyotype and peripheral blood hemogram were analyzed. The target genes of miR-99a-5p were predicted by Targetscan, Miranda and Microcosm, and the intersection of the predicted results of 3 softwares was used as a potential target gene for miR-99a-5p.

The novel sugar transporter SLC50A1 as a potential serum-based diagnostic and prognostic biomarker for breast cancer.

Background: The novel sugar transporter and membrane protein SLC50A1 has been identified as a potential candidate biomarker for breast cancer; however, its potential as a serum biomarker for breast cancer detection and prognosis is unclear. The aim of this study was to investigate the serum expression profile of SLC50A1 and to determine its diagnostic and prognostic significance in breast cancer.

Materials And Methods: Bioinformatics analysis was conducted, and data for expression in human breast cancer were collected.

Efficacy and Safety of Different Maintenance Doses of Caffeine Citrate for Treatment of Apnea in Premature Infants: A Systematic Review and Meta-Analysis.

Background: Caffeine is widely used for the treatment of neonatal apnea, but there is no agreement on the optimum maintenance dose for preterm infants.

Objective: The aims of this meta-analysis were to compare the efficacy and safety of high versus low maintenance doses of caffeine citrate for the treatment of apnea in premature infants.

Methods: Literature searches were conducted using PubMed, Cochrane Library, OVID, Embase, Web of Science, Chinese Biomedical Literature, Weipu Journal, Wanfang, and CNKI databases up to September 2018.

Comparison of endoscopic papillary large balloon dilation with and without a prior endoscopic sphincterotomy for the treatment of patients with large and/or multiple common bile duct stones: a systematic review and meta-analysis.

Aim: To compare endoscopic papillary large balloon dilation (EPLBD) alone with EPLBD following endoscopic sphincterotomy (EST) in patients with large and/or multiple common bile duct stones.

Methods: We conducted a comprehensive search of PubMed, EMBASE, and the Cochrane Library database to identify relevant available articles until July 19, 2018. Complete common bile duct stone (CBDS) removal rate, frequency of mechanical lithotripsy (ML) usage, total procedure time and intra- and postoperative adverse events were analyzed.

Prognostic Value of PDZ-Binding Kinase/T-LAK Cell-Originated Protein Kinase (PBK/TOPK) in Patients with Cancer.

PDZ-binding kinase/T-LAK cell-originated protein kinase (PBK/TOPK) plays a critical role in tumorigenesis and cancer progression. However, the prognostic roles in cancer patients are inconsistent or even controversial. Therefore, we performed a meta-analysis to investigate the prognostic value of PBK/TOPK in cancers.

miR-125a is upregulated in cancer stem-like cells derived from TW01 and is responsible for maintaining stemness by inhibiting p53.

microRNA (miR)-125a and miR-125b were demonstrated to translationally and transcriptionally inhibit the mRNA level of p53 following the induction of chemo-reagents in our previous report. As a small subpopulation of nasopharyngeal carcinoma (NPC), cancer stem-like cells (CSCs) function critically in multi-malignant behaviors, including tumorigenesis and metastasis; however, the expression pattern and regulatory role of miR-125a, miR-125b and p53 in CSCs derived from NPC remain unclear. In order to investigate the potential regulatory role of miR-125 on p53, firstly CSCs was isolated from TW01 by culturing in serum-free medium.

Systemic immune-inflammation index is a promising noninvasive marker to predict survival of lung cancer: A meta-analysis.

Background: The prognostic value of pretreatment systemic immune-inflammation index (SII) in lung cancer has yet to be fully established.

Methods: Relevant articles were obtained by performing a systematic search. Hazard ratios (HRs) and 95% confidence intervals (95% CIs) were used to assess the relationship between SII index and overall survival (OS) in lung cancer; the OS was calculated from the time of cancer diagnosis to the date of death due to any cause or to the last date of follow-up.

Transradial vs transfemoral access in patients with hepatic malignancy and undergoing hepatic interventions: A systematic review and meta-analysis.

Background: The aim of this study was to compare transradial access (TRA) approach with transfemoral access (TFA) approach in patients undergoing hepatic interventions.

Methods: We conducted a comprehensive search of the PubMed, Embase, and the Cochrane Library database to identify relevant available articles. Patients' preference, success rate, intra- and postoperative outcomes were analyzed.

The antitumor effect of cisplatin-loaded thermosensitive chitosan hydrogel combined with radiotherapy on nasopharyngeal carcinoma.

Cisplatin-based chemo-radiotherapy (RT) is the most effective treatment in patients with loco-regionally advanced nasopharyngeal carcinoma (NPC). However, traditional chemotherapy drugs have low bioavailability and targeting ability, which reduce their antitumor effects. Therefore, we developed a chitosan/ cis-dichlorodiamineplatinum (CS/DDP) hydrogel-based drug delivery system for the in situ treatment of NPC in combination with RT, and investigated their synergistic antitumor efficacy and underlying mechanism of action.

Prognostic Significance of Pretreatment Apolipoprotein A-I as a Noninvasive Biomarker in Cancer Survivors: A Meta-Analysis.

Background: Numerous studies have reported the prognostic significance of serum apolipoprotein A-I (ApoA-I) in various cancers, but the results have been inconsistent. The current meta-analysis was performed to investigate the association between ApoA-I level and prognosis in human malignancies.

Methods: A literature search was performed using the electronic platforms of the PubMed, Cochrane Library, Web of Science, Embase, Wanfang, and China National Knowledge Infrastructure (CNKI) databases to obtain eligible articles published up to May 20, 2018.

Preoperative albumin-to-globulin ratio as a significant prognostic indicator in urologic cancers: a meta-analysis.

Background: Emerging studies reported that preoperative albumin-to-globulin ratio (AGR) correlated with tumor progression and prognosis in several types of cancer. The aim of this study was to systematically explore the association between preoperative AGR and clinical outcomes in cancers of the urinary system.

Methods: Relevant articles were searched in PubMed, Embase and Web of Science by two independent investigators from inception to June 1, 2018.

Correlations of MMP-2 and MMP-9 gene polymorphisms with the risk of hepatopulmonary syndrome in cirrhotic patients: A case-control study.

Hepatopulmonary syndrome (HPS) increases the mortality of patients who suffered from liver cirrhosis, especially patients plagued by severe hypoxemia. Gene polymorphisms are reported to be related to the risk of HPS in cirrhotic patients. Thus, our study aims to elucidate the correlation between MMP-2 and MMP-9 gene polymorphisms and HPS in cirrhotic patients.

Preliminary report of a single-channel applicator in high dose rate afterloading brachytherapy for cervical cancer.

The aim of this study was to evaluate whether a patented single-channel applicator, which was modified from the traditional tandem applicator and wrapped with an oval-shield alloy around the source channel, has the same clinical efficacy and safety as the standard Fletcher-type applicator in high dose rate (HDR) brachytherapy for carcinoma of the cervix. Between December 2011 and February 2017, 299 patients with pathologically confirmed International Federation of Gynecology and Obstetrics (2009) stage Ib2-IVa cervical cancer were recruited to the trial and finished the allocated intervention. Of the first 151 patients, 71 were allocated to the Fletcher group and 80 to the single-channel group, satisfying the criteria for a preliminary analysis.

Prognostic value of pretreatment systemic immune-inflammation index in patients with gastrointestinal cancers.

Background: Numerous studies have reported the relationship between systemic immune-inflammation index (SII) and prognosis in gastrointestinal (GI) cancers, but no consensus has been reached. We aimed to systematically evaluate the prognostic value of SII in patients with GI cancers.

Methods: Relevant published papers regarding the prognostic value of SII in patients with GI cancers were obtained from a number of electronic databases.