Analysis of related factors of CRA in lung cancer patients with different serum iron levels: A retrospective cohort study.

BACKGROUND: Serum iron, an essential component of hemoglobin (Hb) synthesis in vivo, is a crucial parameter for evaluating the body's iron storage and metabolism capacity. Iron deficiency leads to reduced Hb synthesis in red blood cells and smaller red blood cell volume, ultimately resulting in iron-deficiency anemia. Although serum iron cannot independently evaluate iron storage or metabolism ability, it can reflect iron concentration in vivo and serve as a good predictor of iron-deficiency anemia. Therefore, exploring the influence of different serum iron levels on anemia and diagnosing and treating iron deficiency in the early stages is of great significance for patients with lung cancer. AIM: This study aims to explore the related factors of cancer-related anemia (CRA) in lung cancer and construct a nomogram prediction model to evaluate the risk of CRA in patients with different serum iron levels. METHODS: A single-center retrospective cohort study was conducted, including 1610 patients with lung cancer, of whom 1040 had CRA. The relationship between CRA and its influencing factors was analyzed using multiple linear regression models. Lung cancer patients were divided into two groups according to their serum iron levels: decreased serum iron and normal serum iron. Each group was randomly divided into a training cohort and a validation cohort at a ratio of 7:3. The influencing factors were screened by univariate and multivariate logistic regression analyses, and nomogram models were constructed. The area under the receiver operating characteristic (ROC) curve, calibration curve, and decision curve analysis (DCA) were used to evaluate the models. RESULTS: CRA in lung cancer is mainly related to surgery, chemotherapy, Karnofsky Performance Status (KPS) score, serum iron, C-reactive protein (CRP), albumin, and total cholesterol (p < 0.05). CRA in lung cancer patients with decreased serum iron is primarily associated with albumin, age, and cancer staging, while CRA in lung cancer patients with normal serum iron is mainly related to CRP, albumin, total cholesterol, and cancer staging. The area under the ROC curve of the training cohort and validation cohort for the prediction model of lung cancer patients with decreased serum iron was 0.758 and 0.760, respectively. Similarly, the area under the ROC curve of the training cohort and validation cohort for the prediction model of lung cancer patients with normal serum iron was 0.715 and 0.730, respectively. The calibration curves of both prediction models were around the ideal 45° line, suggesting good discrimination and calibration. DCA showed that the nomograms had good clinical utility. CONCLUSION: Both models have good reliability and validity and have significant clinical value. They can help doctors better assess the risk of developing CRA in lung cancer patients. CRP is a risk factor for CRA in lung cancer patients with normal serum iron but not in patients with decreased serum iron. Therefore, whether CRP and the inflammatory state represented by CRP will further aggravate the decrease in serum iron levels, thus contributing to anemia, warrants further study.

PIEZO2 expression is an independent biomarker prognostic for gastric cancer and represents a potential therapeutic target.

Gastric cancer (GC) is one of the most prevalent malignant tumors of the gastrointestinal system in the globe. The effect of PIEZO2 on the immune function and pathological features of gastric cancer remains to be explored. The Online database of cancer genes and GSE54129 have been used to analyze the clinical characteristics of PIEZO2 expression. We looked at the relationship between PIEZO2 and the immune systems of GC patients. The TIDE algorithm was used to explore the value of PIEZO2 in immunotherapy. Investigated the enrichment of PIEZO2 gene ontology and associated signal pathways using Online gene databases. The results show that overexpression of PIEZO2 was identified as an independent risk factor for patients with GC who had poor overall survival. Individuals may have a better prognosis if they had poorly differentiated GC and increased PIEZO2 expression (P < 0.05). We demonstrated a strong correlation between PIEZO2 and immune cells. The majority of immune checkpoint and immunological-related genes were associated with PIEZO2 expression. And PIEZO2 might be used as an immunotherapy target. Finally, the differential PIEZO2 genes in GC were mostly implicated in the processes of inflammation, immunological response, and tumor metastasis, according to functional analysis. PIEZO2 has a negative correlation with cell stemness and mutation levels in patients with GC and a positive correlation with immune cell infiltration and gene expression in the tumor microenvironment. These findings point to PIEZO2 as a potential new immunotherapy target of GC.

Research on Electroacupuncture Parameters for Cancer Pain Based on Data Mining.

BACKGROUND: Cancer pain, a common complication of this disease, has been widely treated by electroacupuncture in recent years. However, there are numerous treatment parameters that are not conducive to clinical translation applications. This study aims to summarize the stimulation parameters commonly used in electroacupuncture treating cancer pain by data mining and visualization techniques to provide a basis for the future acupuncture technology transformation and selection of optimal stimulation parameters. METHODS: Nine databases, including Pubmed, Cochrane Library, Embase, Web of Science, OVID, China National Knowledge Infrastructure Database, China Biology Medicine disk, China Science and Technology Journal Database, and Wanfang Database, were searched for clinical studies on electroacupuncture treatment cancer pain published between January 2012 and September 2022. A database was established using Microsoft Excel 2020 and analyzed with SPSS Modeler 18.1 software and SPSS statistics 26.0 software. RESULTS: Twenty-four articles were included according to the established criteria. The most used electroacupuncture stimulation parameters were a dilatational wave, the current frequency of 2/100 Hz, stimulation duration of 30 minutes per treatment, and frequency of treatment once a day. Fifty-eight acupoints were mentioned, and the total frequency of acupoints involved was 156 times. The most used ones include Zusanli (ST36), Sanyinjiao (SP06), Hegu (LI04), Neiguan (PC06), Quchi (LI11), Taichong (LR03), Ashi point, Jiaji point, and those most generally used acupoints that are closely arranged on the Stomach Channel of Foot Yangming and the Spleen Channel of Foot Taiyin. The association analysis of acupoints revealed that the most supported acupoint pair was Sanyinjiao (SP06) and Zusanli (ST36). Cluster analysis demonstrated 3 groups, 1 for obligatory acupoints, 1 for Ashi point, and the third for Jiaji point. CONCLUSIONS: A dilatational wave, the current frequency of 2/100 Hz, 30-minute stimulation, and acupoints of the Stomach Channel of Foot Yangming and the Spleen Channel of Foot Taiyin selection are frequently used in electroacupuncture for treating cancer pain. Due to the limitations of this study, further research and more standardized, multi-center, large-sample clinical trials can be carried out to guide optimizing acupuncture treatment schemes and promote the formation of TCM-characteristic technologies for cancer pain.

Exploring the Rules of Related Parameters in Transcutaneous Electrical Nerve Stimulation for Cancer Pain Based on Data Mining.

INTRODUCTION: This study aims to investigate the regularity of related parameters in the treatment of cancer pain using transcutaneous electrical nerve stimulation (TENS). METHODS: A comprehensive literature search was conducted in databases such as PubMed, Cochrane Library, Embase, Web of Science, OVID, CNKI, CBM, VIP, and WANNGFANG from inception up to December 2022. A database was established, and data mining techniques were applied to analyze the relevant TENS parameters. RESULTS: A total of 27 articles were included, encompassing nine current frequencies, four retention times, four treatment frequencies, and two wave types. On the basis of the analysis of parameter association rules, the most closely related parameter combination for clinical TENS in the treatment of cancer pain was a current frequency of 2/100 Hz, a treatment frequency of once a day, a retention time of 30 min, and the dilatational wave. Moreover, the study involved 22 acupuncture points distributed along 13 meridians. According to the analysis of acupuncture point association rules, Hegu (LI04), Zusanli (ST36), and Sanyinjiao (SP06) were the most closely related acupuncture points and could be used in combination for clinical TENS in cancer pain treatment. Furthermore, cluster analysis was conducted on acupuncture points with a frequency ≥ 5, resulting in three categories: the first category included Sanyinjiao (SP06), Zusanli (ST36), Hegu (LI04), Jiaji point, and Neiguan (PC06); the second category included Ashi point; and the third category included Back shu point. CONCLUSION: In the treatment of cancer pain using TENS, it is recommended to use a current frequency of 2/100 Hz, a treatment frequency of once a day, a retention time of 30 min, and the dilatational wave. The electrode positions were primarily selected from Ashi point, Back shu point, Sanyinjiao (SP06), Zusanli (ST36), Hegu (LI04), Jiaji point, and Neiguan (PC06) to achieve the best analgesic effect.

Association between glycemic traits and melanoma: a mendelian randomization analysis.

Background: The causation of Glycemic Traits and risks of Melanoma remains unknown. We used Mendelian Randomization (MR) to assess the links between Glycemic Traits and Melanoma. Method: Pooled data from Genome-Wide Association Studies (GWAS) were utilized to examine the relationships that exist between Fasting Insulin (n = 26), 2-h Glucose (n = 10), Fasting Glucose (n = 47), HbA1c (n = 68), and Type-2 Diabetes (n = 105) and Melanoma. We evaluated the correlation of these variations with melanoma risk using Two-Samples MR. Result: In the IVW model, Fasting Glucose (OR = 0.99, 95%CI = 0.993-0.998, p < 0.05, IVW), Type-2 Diabetes (OR = 0.998, 95%CI = 0.998-0.999, p < 0.01, IVW) and HbA1c (OR = 0.19, 95%CI = 0.0415-0.8788, p < 0.05, IVW) was causally associated with a lower risk of Melanoma. In all models analyzed, there was no apparent causal relationship between Fasting Insulin and Melanoma risk. There was no obvious causal difference in the IVW analysis of 2-h Glucose and Melanoma, but its p < 0.05 in MR Egger (OR = 0.99, 95%CI = 0.9883-0.9984, p < 0.05, MR Egger), and the direction was consistent in other MR analyses, suggesting that there may be a causal relationship. Conclusion: The results of this study suggest that a higher risk of Fasting Glucose, Type-2 Diabetes, 2-h Glucose, and HbA1c may be associated with a lower risk of Melanoma. However, no causal relationship between fasting insulin and melanoma was found. These results suggest that pharmacological or lifestyle interventions that regulate plasma glucose levels in the body may be beneficial in the prevention of melanoma.

External Treatment With Chinese Herbal Medicine for Chemotherapy-Induced Peripheral Neuropathy: A Systematic Review and Meta-Analysis.

Background: Chemotherapy-induced peripheral neuropathy (CIPN) is a common adverse reaction of chemotherapy. Many studies have confirmed that traditional Chinese medicine (TCM) has unique advantages for treating CIPN. However, there is no standard TCM prescription in clinical practice or objective outcome index, and similar efficacy varies. Therefore, in this study, a systematic review of randomized controlled trials (RCTs) was performed to evaluate the clinical efficacy of external treatment with Chinese herbal medicine (CHM) for CIPN. This analysis provides evidence-based medical support for the use of CHM for external treatment of CIPN. Methods: Relevant RCTs assessing CHM external treatment of CIPN were searched in nine electronic databases, including the China National Knowledge Infrastructure Database, China Biology Medicine Disc, China Science and Technology Journal Database, Wanfang Database, PubMed, Cochrane Library, MEDLINE, Web of Science, and OVID, from inception to July 2021. A meta-analysis was performed on these studies using RevMan5.3 software. Results: Based on the inclusion and exclusion criteria, 33 clinical studies were included, while 1,354 studies were screened out. There were 2,356 patients in total, including 1,208 in the treatment group and 1,148 in the control group. In the treatment group, peripheral neurotoxicity rate, total effect rate, KPS score, TCM syndrome score and efficacy, pain NRS score, and pain relief rate were significantly improved compared with those of the control group (p < 0.01). Furthermore, the peroneal and median nerve conduction velocities were also improved compared with those in the control group (p < 0.05). By creating a funnel plot for the incidence of peripheral neurotoxicity and the total effect rate, we showed that the left and right sides were symmetrical, and that the publication bias was low. Conclusion: CHM external treatment was found to be an effective method for treating CIPN as it significantly improved clinical symptoms and quality of life in patients with CIPN. Clinical Trial Registration: identifier ChiCTR1900024617.