Reshaping the root endophytic microbiota in plants to combat mercury-induced stress.

Emerging evidence suggests that plants experiencing abiotic stress actively seek help from soil microbes. However, the empirical evidence supporting this strategy is limited, especially in response to heavy metal stress. We used integrated microbial community profiling and culture-based methods to investigate the interaction between mercury (Hg) stress, the entophytic root microbiome, and maize seedlings. The results of the pot experiment showed that soil Hg (20 mg/kg) strongly inhibited maize growth, indicating its strong phytotoxicity. Furthermore, Hg stress significantly altered the structure of the bacterial and fungal communities and enriched the potentially pathogenic Fusarium sp., suggesting that soil Hg stress may enhance the bio-stress induced by Fusarium species in maize. Additionally, soil Hg also led to the enrichment of beneficial bacterial members of Streptomyces, Lysobacter, and Sphingomonas (defined as differential species), which were also identified as keystone species in the Hg treatment by the analysis of co-occurrence networks. Therefore, it can be postulated that the members of Streptomyces, Lysobacter, and Sphingomonas function as stress-alleviating microbes. We successfully isolated the representatives of these stress-alleviating microbes. As expected, these strains mitigated the detrimental effects of Hg stess for the maize seedlings, suggesting that plants recruit the stress-alleviated microbiota to combat Hg stress. This study provides insights into the potential of manipulating the root microbiome to enhance plant growth in polluted environments.

Ras-Targeting Stabilized Peptide Increases Radiation Sensitivity of Cancer Cells.

Radiation therapy is one of the most common treatments for cancer. However, enhancing tumors' radiation sensitivity and overcoming tolerance remain a challenge. Previous studies have shown that the Ras signaling pathway directly influences tumor radiation sensitivity. Herein, we designed a series of Ras-targeting stabilized peptides, with satisfactory binding affinity (KD = 0.13 µM with HRas) and good cellular uptake. Peptide H5 inhibited downstream phosphorylation of ERK and increased radio-sensitivity in HeLa cells, resulting in significantly reduced clonogenic survival. The stabilized peptides, designed with an N-terminal nucleation strategy, acted as potential radio-sensitizers and broadened the applications of this kind of molecule. This is the first report of using stabilized peptides as radio-sensitizers, broadening the applications of this kind of molecule.

Myricetin Acts as an Inhibitor of Type II NADH Dehydrogenase from Staphylococcus aureus.

BACKGROUND: Staphylococcus aureus is a common pathogenic microorganism in humans and animals. Type II NADH oxidoreductase (NDH-2) is the only NADH:quinone oxidoreductase present in this organism and represents a promising target for the development of anti-staphylococcal drugs. Recently, myricetin, a natural flavonoid from vegetables and fruits, was found to be a potential inhibitor of NDH-2 of S. aureus. The objective of this study was to evaluate the inhibitory properties of myricetin against NDH-2 and its impact on the growth and expression of virulence factors in S. aureus. RESULTS: A screening method was established to identify effective inhibitors of NDH-2, based on heterologously expressed S. aureus NDH-2. Myricetin was found to be an effective inhibitor of NDH-2 with a half maximal inhibitory concentration (IC50) of 2 µM. In silico predictions and enzyme inhibition kinetics further characterized myricetin as a competitive inhibitor of NDH-2 with respect to the substrate menadione (MK). The minimum inhibitory concentrations (MICs) of myricetin against S. aureus strains ranged from 64 to 128 µg/mL. Time-kill assays showed that myricetin was a bactericidal agent against S. aureus. In line with being a competitive inhibitor of the NDH-2 substrate MK, the anti-staphylococcal activity of myricetin was antagonized by MK-4. In addition, myricetin was found to inhibit the gene expression of enterotoxin SeA and reduce the hemolytic activity induced by S. aureus culture on rabbit erythrocytes in a dose-dependent manner. CONCLUSIONS: Myricetin was newly discovered to be a competitive inhibitor of S. aureus NDH-2 in relation to the substrate MK. This discovery offers a fresh perspective on the anti-staphylococcal activity of myricetin.

A retrospective cohort study of Epstein-Barr virus infection status and systemic lupus erythematosus.

OBJECTIVES: Systemic lupus erythematosus (SLE) and the Epstein-Barr virus (EBV) are very closely related. This study estimated the impact of EBV infection status on clinical manifestations and disease remission in patients with SLE. METHOD: A retrospective study was performed using electronic health records of patients with SLE. The SLE disease activity index (SLEDAI-2 K) was used to assess disease activity. VCAIgM or EAIgM positive or EBVDNA copies ≥ 50 IU/mL were defined as lytic infection group, EBNA-IgG or VCAIgG-positive and who were negative for both VCAIgM and EAIgM with EBVDNA copies < 50 IU/mL were defined as the latent infection group. The endpoint (disease remission) was defined as a decrease in SLEDAI-2 K score of ≥ 1 grade or ≥ 4 points from baseline. The association between EBV infection status and disease remission was assessed using propensity score weighting and multivariable Cox regression models. RESULTS: There were 75 patients with SLE in the EBV lytic infection group and 142 patients in the latent infection group. The SLEDAI-2 K score was higher in the lytic infection group (10.00 (6.25, 16.00) vs. 8.00 (5.00, 10.00), Z = 3.96, P < 0.001). There was a significant difference in the effect of EBV lytic infection on disease remission compared to latent infection (HR 0.30, 95% CI 0.19-0.49, P < 0.001). CONCLUSIONS: Patients with SLE with lytic EBV infection have higher disease activity and take longer to achieve remission. Our study furthers our understanding of the relationship between SLE and EBV infection and may inform better treatment practices in the future.

Mechanisms involved in the sequestration and resistance of cadmium for a plant-associated Pseudomonas strain.

Understanding Cd-resistant bacterial cadmium (Cd) resistance systems is crucial for improving microremediation in Cd-contaminated environments. However, these mechanisms are not fully understood in plant-associated bacteria. In the present study, we investigated the mechanisms underlying Cd sequestration and resistance in the strain AN-B15. These results showed that extracellular Cd sequestration by complexation in strain AN-B15 was primarily responsible for the removal of Cd from the solution. Transcriptome analyses have shown that the mechanisms of Cd resistance at the transcriptional level involve collaborative processes involving multiple metabolic pathways. The AN-B15 strain upregulated the expression of genes related to exopolymeric substance synthesis, metal transport, Fe-S cluster biogenesis, iron recruitment, reactive oxygen species oxidative stress defense, and DNA and protein repair to resist Cd-induced stress. Furthermore, inoculation with AN-B15 alleviated Cd-induced toxicity and reduced Cd uptake in the shoots of wheat seedlings, indicating its potential for remediation. Overall, the results improve our understanding of the mechanisms involved in Cd resistance in bacteria and thus have important implications for improving microremediation.

Evaluation of a medical education policy with compulsory rural service in China.

Background: Since 2010, China has implemented a national programme to train general practitioners for rural areas. The programme enrolled medical students with a rural background who signed a contract for 6 years' compulsory rural service after graduation. China is transitioning its national COVID-19 strategies in view of the features of coronavirus Omicron variant, the vaccination coverage, and the need for socioeconomic development. Strengthening primary health care, especially the health workforce in rural areas, should be an important consideration during the policy transition. This study aims to evaluate the implementation process of enrolling medical students in the programme, their willingness to work in the rural settings and their actual job choice after graduation. Methods: The study chose four medical universities in central and western China. A total of 2,041 medical graduates who have signed a contract for compulsory rural service and 1,576 medical graduates enrolled "as usual" (no compulsory rural service) were recruited in five campaigns-every June from 2015 to 2019. A survey was conducted 1 week before their graduation ceremony. Results: The top three reasons for choosing this programme were: a recommendation of a family member or teacher, a guaranteed job after graduation and the waiver of the tuition fee. 23.0-29.7% of the study participants were not familiar with the policy details. 39.1% of the medical students signed a contract with a county other than that of their hometown. Medical graduates on the compulsory rural service programme had very low willingness (1.9%) to work in rural areas but 86.1% of them actually worked at township health centers. In contrast, the willingness to work at township health centers was 0.2% for the comparison group (medical graduates without the contract), and their actual job choice at township health centers was 0%. Conclusions: Although the well-trained medical graduates on the compulsory rural service programme have low willingness to work in the township health centers, 86.1% of them choose to do so following their contract. This programme will strengthen the primary health workforce to deal with the increasing disease burden as China is transitioning its national COVID-19 strategies.

miRNA-381-3p Functions as a Tumor Suppressor to Inhibit Gastric Cancer by Targeting Fibroblast Growth Factor Receptor-2.

Objectives: MicroRNAs possess essential effects on gastric cancer (GC), whereas the underlying mechanisms have not been fully uncovered. The present work focused on investigating the role of miR-381-3p in GC cellular processes and the possible mechanisms. Materials and Methods: miR-381-3p levels within GC tissues and cells were measured through quantitative real-time polymerase chain reaction (qRT-PCR). This study measured cell proliferation, apoptosis, and metastasis through EdU, colony formation, flow cytometry, and Transwell assays separately. TargetScan was adopted to predict the miR-381-3p targets, whereas luciferase reporter assay was adopted for confirmation. Results: miR-381-3p levels were decreased, whereas fibroblast growth factor receptor-2 (FGFR2) expression was increased in GC. miR-381-3p upregulation inhibited proliferation, migration, and invasion and it promoted the apoptosis of GC cells. Further, FGFR2 overexpression partly reversed the miR-381-3p-mediated impacts on GC cellular processes. Conclusions: This study provides an experimental basis, suggesting the potential of using miR-381-3p as the novel marker for GC. Clinical Trial Registration number: 2020-05.

Effect of Water Immersion on Compressive Properties of Coir Fiber Magnesium Phosphate Cement.

Magnesium phosphate cement (MPC) is a new type of inorganic cementitious rapid repair material, but it has poor toughness and is easy to crack. According to our previous research, these problems can be ameliorated by adding natural coir fiber (CF) into MPC. As coir fiber magnesium phosphate cement (CF-MPC) may be used in humid or rainy areas, its water resistance is an important property in consideration. However, at present, little research has focused on this aspect to provide a good theoretical and experimental basis for the practical application of CF-MPC. In this paper, static compression test and solubility test were used to study the mechanical properties and solubility of CF-MPC under water. At the same time, X-ray diffraction (XRD) and scanning electron microscopy (SEM) were used to test the changes of hydration composition and microstructure of the test specimen, so as to understand the deterioration mechanism of CF-MPC in water. The results suggested that, when compared with CF-MPC cured in air, CF-MPC cured in water is more prone to encounter oblique cracks and through cracks in the compression process. Moreover, with the extension of curing time, the compressive strength and elastic modulus of CF-MPC cured in water will continue to decrease, the concentrations of PH, K+, and Mg2+ in the curing solution will change significantly, resulting in the gradual decrease in the mass ratio of MgO and MgKPO4·6H2O in CF-MPC matrix, cracks and pores, and looseness in the microstructure.

Hsa-let-7d-5p Promotes Gastric Cancer Progression by Targeting PRDM5.

Gastric cancer (GC) is a common malignant tumor in the digestive system and a significant health burden worldwide. In this study, we found that hsa-let-7d-5p was upregulated in GC cells, promoted GC cell proliferation, migration, and invasion, and reduced apoptosis. Moreover, we found that the expression of PRDM5 (PR domain protein 5) was downregulated in GC cells and upregulated in GC cells treated with hsa-let-7d-5p inhibitor. Further investigation showed that hsa-let-7d-5p was the target of PRDM5, and the functions of hsa-let-7d-5p on GC progression were rescued by PRDM5 overexpression in GC cells. Collectively, our findings suggested that hsa-let-7d-5p promoted the development of GC by targeting PRDM5, indicating that hsa-let-7d-5p could be a promising therapeutic molecule for the treatment of gastric cancer.

Disparities of obesity and non-communicable disease burden between the Tibetan Plateau and developed megacities in China.

Background: Non-communicable diseases (NCDs) including risk factors, e.g., obesity, are the major causes of preventable deaths in China, yet NCD disparities in China remain under-studied. Objective: This study aimed to compare the determinants and burden of NCDs within four selected provinces in mainland China: the least developed Qinghai-Tibet Plateau group (PG, Tibetan Autonomous Region [TAR] and Qinghai Province) and most developed megacity group (MCG, Shanghai, and Beijing). Methods: Studies, reports, and other official sources with comparable data for NCD burden and related determinants for the four provinces were searched. Geographic, demographic, socioeconomic, and dietary characteristics and selected health indicators (e.g., life expectancy) were extracted from the China Statistical Yearbook and China Health Statistics Yearbook. Data on NCD burdens were extracted from the National Chronic Disease and Risk Factor Surveillance Study and other nationally representative studies. Results: The overall NCD mortality rates and prevalence of metabolic risk factors including obesity, hypertension, and diabetes in mainland China have increased in the past 20 years, and this trend is expected to continue. The PG had the highest level of standardized mortality rates (SMRs) on NCDs (711.6-896.1/100,000, 6th/6-level); the MCG had the lowest (290.6-389.6/100,000, 1st/6-level) in mainland China. The gaps in SMRs were particularly high with regard to chronic respiratory diseases (PG 6th/6-level, MCG 1st/6-level) and cardiovascular diseases (6th/6 and 4th/6 in TAR and Qinghai; 1st/6-level and 2nd/6-level in Shanghai and Beijing). In contrast, the prevalence rates of obesity, hypertension, and diabetes were generally higher or comparable in MCG compared to PG. Diabetes prevalence was particularly high in MCG (5th/5-level, 13.36-14.35%) and low in PG (1st/5-level, 6.20-10.39%). However, awareness, treatment, and control of hypertension were poor in PG. Additionally, PG had much lower and severely inadequate intakes of vegetables, fruits, and dairy products, with additional indicators of lower socioeconomic status (education, income, etc.,) compared with MCG. Conclusion: Evidence showed large disparities in NCD burden in China's provinces. Socioeconomic disparity and dietary determinants are probably the reasons. Integrated policies and actions are needed.

Die Casting Die Design and Process Optimization of Aluminum Alloy Gearbox Shell.

Taking an aluminum alloy gearbox of an automobile as an example, according to its structural characteristics, the parting surface was determined, and the initial gating system was designed by using 3D modeling software UG. Based on Magmasoft software, the numerical simulation of the filling and solidification process was carried out to determine the best gating system scheme. The cooling system and core pulling structure were designed, and the parameter design process of the aluminum alloy gearbox shell in the die-casting process was introduced. Aiming at the leakage problem of the gearbox shell in the bench and road test after assembly, the cause was found through numerical simulation and industrial CT analysis, and the problem was solved by adding high-pressure point cooling at the corresponding position of the leakage, and the correctness of the optimization was verified. It provides an effective method for the die-casting production of the transmission housing and the analysis and solution of product defects, which improves the product quality and shortens the production cycle.

The Pre-Implantation Embryo Induces Uterine Inflammatory Reaction in Mice.

It has been well established that uterine function during the peri-implantation period is precisely regulated by ovarian estrogen and progesterone. The embryo enters the uterine cavity before implantation. However, the impact of pre-implantation embryo on uterine function is largely unknown. In the present study, we performed RNA-seq analysis of mouse uterus on day 4 morning of natural pregnancy (with embryos in the uterus) and pseudo-pregnancy (without embryos in the uterus). We found that 146 genes were upregulated, and 77 genes were downregulated by the pre-implantation embryo. Gene ontology and gene network analysis highlighted the activation of inflammatory reaction in the uterus. By examining the promoter region of differentially expressed genes, we found that NF-kappaB was a causal transcription factor. Finally, we validated 4 inflammation-related genes by quantitative RT-PCR. These 4 genes are likely the main mediators of the inflammatory reaction in the uterus triggered by the pre-implantation embryo. Our data indicated that the pre-implantation embryo causes uterine inflammatory reaction, which in turn might contribute to the establishment of uterine receptivity and embryo implantation.

Comparative Analysis of Mouse Decidualization Models at the Molecular Level.

The mouse is widely used to study decidualization and there are three well-established mouse models of decidualization, namely natural pregnancy decidualization (NPD), artificial decidualization (AD), and in vitro decidualization (IVD). However, the extent of similarity and difference between these models at the molecular level remains largely unknown. Here, we performed a comparative analysis using the RNA-seq approach. In the NPD model, which is thought to be the golden standard of mouse decidualization, we found a total of 5277 differentially expressed genes, with 3158 genes being up-regulated and 2119 genes being down-regulated. A total of 4294 differentially expressed genes were identified in the AD model: 1127 up-regulated genes and 3167 down-regulated genes. In comparison to NPD, 1977 genes were consistently expressed, whereas only 217 genes were inconsistently expressed, indicating that AD is a reliable model for mouse decidualization. In the IVD model, RNA-seq analysis revealed that 513 genes were up-regulated and 988 genes were down-regulated. Compared to NPD, 310 genes were consistently expressed, whereas 456 genes were inconsistently expressed. Moreover, although the decidualization marker Prl8a2 (prolactin family 8 subfamily a member 2) was up-regulated, the widely-used marker Alpl (alkaline phosphatase liver/bone/kidney) was down-regulated in the IVD model. Therefore, we suggest that the IVD model should be optimized to mimic NPD at the transcriptomic level. Our study contributes to an increase in the knowledge about mouse models of decidualization.

Identifying specific miRNAs and associated mRNAs in CD44 and CD90 cancer stem cell subtypes in gastric cancer cell line SNU-5.

Cancer stem cells (CSCs) are capable of generating multiple types of cells and play a vital role in promoting gastric cancer (GC) progression. Our previous research indicated that gastric CSCs with surface markers of CD44+ were more invasive compared to CD44- CD90+ CSCs (CD90+ CSCs), whereas CD90+ CSCs exhibited higher levels of proliferation than CD44+ CSCs. However, the mechanism and characteristics of marker-positive gastric CSCs are poorly understood. In this study, we profiled expression of miRNAs and mRNAs in CD44+ CSCs, CD90+ CSCs, and CD44- CD90- cell subtype (control) from SNU-5 cells by microarray analysis. Our results suggested some specially expressed miRNA-mRNA pairs in CD44+ and CD90+ CSCs. We performed Gene ontology (GO) and Kyoto Encyclopedia of Genes and Genomes (KEGG) analyses to analyze the correlation and function of those pairs. We also validated the pairs that may play roles in metastasis by qRT-PCR. In CD44+ CSCs, we observed hsa-miR-15b-5p was up-regulated and its target genes AMOT, USP31, KALRN, EPB41L4B, ATP2B2, and EMC4 were down-regulated, which may relate to invasion and migration. In CD90+ CSCs, we observed hsa-miR-3631-3p is up-regulated, while its target genes QKI, TRIM67 and HMGA2 are down-regulated, which is associated with proliferation. We also found that hsa-miR-1910-5p is up-regulated while its target gene QKI and HMGA2 are down-regulated in CD90+ CSCs. The screened miRNA-mRNA pairs give us new insight into the mechanism of different phenotypes and biomarkers capable of identifying and isolating metastatic and tumorigenic CSCs. Those miRNA-mRNA pairs may also act as treatment for GC.

Risk factors for postoperative residual back pain after percutaneous kyphoplasty for osteoporotic vertebral compression fractures.

PURPOSE: To determine the incidence of and risk factors for residual back pain in osteoporotic vertebral compression fracture (OVCF) patients after percutaneous kyphoplasty (PKP) treatment, we performed a retrospective analysis of prospective data. METHODS: Patients who underwent bilateral PKP and met this study's inclusion criteria were retrospectively reviewed. Back pain intensity was assessed using a visual analogue scale (VAS) after surgery. Residual back pain was defined as the presence of postoperative moderate-severe pain (average VAS score ≥ 4), and the variables included patient characteristics, baseline symptoms, radiological parameters and surgical factors. Univariate and multivariate logistic regression analyses were performed to identify risk factors. RESULTS: A total of 809 patients were included, and residual back pain was identified in 63 (7.8%) patients. Of these patients, 52 patients had complete data for further analysis. Multivariate logistic regression analysis showed that risk factors for back pain included the presence of an intravertebral vacuum cleft (OR 2.93, P = 0.032), posterior fascia oedema (OR 4.11, P = 0.014), facet joint violations (OR 12.19, P < 0.001) and a separated cement distribution (OR 2.23, P = 0.043). CONCLUSION: The incidence of postoperative residual back pain was 7.8% among 809 OVCF patients following PKP. The presence of an intravertebral vacuum cleft, posterior fascia oedema, facet joint violations and a separated cement distribution were identified as independent risk factors for residual back pain.

Job Burnout and Occupational Stressors among Chinese Healthcare Professionals at County-Level Health Alliances.

BACKGROUND: This study aimed to examine the degrees of job burnout and occupational stressors and their associations among healthcare professionals from county-level health alliances in Qinghai-Tibet Plateau, China. METHODS: A cross-sectional study was conducted in county-level health alliances in Qinghai Province, China, in November 2018. The Maslach Burnout Inventory-General Survey and the 38-item Chinese version of the "Scale for occupational stressors on clinicians" were used. Medical staff in four health alliances from two counties were invited to complete the questionnaire. RESULTS: A total of 1052 (age: 34.06 ± 9.22 years, 79.1% females) healthcare professionals were included, 68.2% (95% CI: 65.2-71.0%) of the participants had job burnout symptoms. Occupational stressors had positive associations with moderate (OR = 1.06, 95% CI: 1.05-1.07) and serious (OR = 1.15, 95% CI: 1.13-1.19) level of job burnout. Stressors from vocational interest produced the greatest magnitude of odds ratio (OR = 1.76, 95% CI: 1.62-1.92) for serious degree of burnout, followed by doctor-patient relationship, interpersonal relationship as well as other domains of occupational stressors. CONCLUSIONS: Job burnout was very common among healthcare professionals working in Chinese county-level health alliances, different occupational stressors had associations with job burnout. Appropriate and effective policies and measures should be developed and implemented.

Experimental Study on Three-Dimensional Microstructure Copper Electroforming Based on 3D Printing Technology.

In order to fabricate three-dimensional metal microstructures, a combined machining process based on 3D printing technology and electroforming technology is proposed. Firstly, a substrate with microstructures is fabricated by 3D printing technology, and then the microstructures were fabricated by electroforming technology. The influence of process parameters such as current density, distance between electrodes and pulse current duty cycle on the electroformed layer were studied and analyzed. It was determined that the peak current density 6A/dm2, the void ratio 20%, and the distance between electrodes 40 mm were the optimum process conditions of electroforming experiment. The electroforming experiments of different microstructures were carried out with the optimum process parameters.

Identification of Gene Expression Changes Associated With Uterine Receptivity in Mice.

The mouse is a widely used animal model for studying human reproduction. Although global gene expression changes associated with human uterine receptivity have been determined by independent groups, the same studies in the mouse are scarce. The extent of similarities/differences between mice and humans on uterine receptivity at the molecular level remains to be determined. In the present study, we analyzed global gene expression changes in receptive uterus on day 4 of pregnancy compared to non-receptive uterus on day 3 of pregnancy in mice. A total of 541 differentially expressed genes were identified, of which 316 genes were up-regulated and 225 genes were down-regulated in receptive uterus compared to non-receptive uterus. Gene ontology and gene network analysis highlighted the activation of inflammatory response in the receptive uterus. By analyzing the promoter sequences of differentially expressed genes, we identified 12 causal transcription factors. Through connectivity map (CMap) analysis, we revealed several compounds with potential anti-receptivity activity. Finally, we performed a cross-species comparison against human uterine receptivity from a published dataset. Our study provides a valuable resource for understanding the molecular mechanism underlying uterine receptivity in mice.

Pooling analysis reveals that galectin-1 is a reliable prognostic biomarker in various cancers.

Galectin-1 is reported to be upregulated in various human cancers. However, the relationship between galectin-1 expression and cancer prognosis has not been systematically assessed. In this study, we searched PubMed, Web of Science, and Embase to collect all relevant studies and a meta-analysis was performed. We found that increased galectin-1 expression was associated with tumor size (odds ratio [OR] = 1.75; 95% confidence interval [CI]: 1.06-2.89; p = 0.029), clinical stage (OR = 3.89; 95% CI: 2.40-6.31; p < 0.001), and poorer differentiation (OR = 1.39; 95% CI: 1.14-1.69; p = 0.001), but not with age (OR = 1.07; 95% CI: 0.82-1.39; p = 0.597), sex (OR = 0.89; 95% CI: 0.74-1.07; p = 0.202), or lymph node metastasis (OR = 2.57; 95% CI: 0.98-6.78; p = 0.056). In addition, we found that high galectin-1 expression levels were associated with poor overall survival (HR = 2.12; 95% CI: 1.71-2.64; p < 0.001). The results were further validated using The Cancer Genome Atlas data set. Moreover, high galectin-1 expression was significantly associated with disease-free survival (hazard ratio [HR] = 1.60; 95% CI: 1.17-2.19; p = 0.003), progression-free survival (HR = 1.93; 95% CI: 1.65-2.25; p < 0.001), and cancer-specific survival (HR = 1.82; 95% CI: 1.30-2.55; p < 0.001). Our meta-analysis demonstrated that galectin-1 might be a useful common biomarker for predicting prognosis in patients with cancer.

Upregulation of long noncoding RNA XIST is associated with poor prognosis in human cancers.

Growing evidence from recent studies has shown that the X-inactive specific transcript (XIST), a well-known long noncoding RNA involved in early embryonic development, is aberrantly regulated in various human cancers. However, the prognostic value of XIST in cancers remains uncharacterized. In this study, we searched PubMed, Web of Science, and Embase to collect all relevant studies, and a meta-analysis was performed to explore the association of XIST expression with overall survival (OS) and clinicopathological parameters. We demonstrated that high XIST expression was associated with poor OS (hazard ratio = 1.76; 95% confidence intervals [CI], 1.56-1.98; p < 0.001). In addition, increased XIST expression was found to be associated with lymph node metastasis (odds ratio [OR] = 2.06; 95% CI, 1.46-1.90; p < 0.001), distant metastasis (OR = 2.93; 95% CI, 2.00-4.28; p < 0.001), tumor size (OR = 2.66; 95% CI, 1.86-3.81; p < 0.001), poor differentiation (OR = 1.45; 95% CI, 1.00-2.10; p = 0.049), and advanced tumor stage (OR = 3.35; 95% CI, 2.25-5.00; p < 0.001), but not with age (OR = 0.82; 95% CI, 0.59-1.15; p = 0.251) or gender (OR = 0.92; 95% CI, 0.70-1.19; p = 0.512). Our meta-analysis showed that XIST may be a useful common biomarker for predicting prognosis in patients with cancer.