Association of sarcopenia with severe chemotherapy toxicities and survival in patients with advanced gastric cancer.

BACKGROUND: Sarcopenia or skeletal muscle depletion is a poor prognostic factor for gastric cancer (GC). However, existing cutoff values of skeletal muscle index (SMI) for defining sarcopenia have been found to have limitations when clinically applied. This study aimed to determine the optimal cutoff for SMI to predict severe toxicities of chemotherapy and overall survival (OS) in patients with advanced GC. METHODS: Patients with metastatic gastric adenocarcinoma who received first-line palliative chemotherapy between January 2014 and December 2021 at Queen Mary Hospital, Hong Kong, were included in this study. The SMI was determined via a pre-chemotherapy computed tomography scan. Optimal cutoff points of SMI were identified by recursive partitioning analysis. Univariate and multivariate analyses evaluating risk factors of severe chemotherapy toxicities and OS were also performed. RESULTS: A total of 158 patients (male: 108 (68.4%), median age: 65.3) were included. The SMI cutoff to define low SMI was ≤33 cm2/m2 for males and ≤28 cm2/m2 for females; 30 patients (19.0%) had low SMI. Patients with low SMI had a higher incidence of hematological toxicities (63.3% vs 32.0%, P = .001) and non-hematological toxicities (66.7% vs 36.7%, P = .003). Multivariable analysis indicated that low SMI and low serum albumin (≤28 g/L) were independent predictive factors of hematological toxicity, while low SMI and neutrophil-lymphocyte ratio ≥5 were predictive factors of non-hematological toxicity. Moreover, patients with low SMI had a significantly shorter OS (P = .011), lower response rate to chemotherapy (P = .045), and lower utilization of subsequent lines of treatment (P < .001). CONCLUSIONS: Using pre-chemotherapy SMI cutoff (≤33 cm2/m2 for males and 28 cm2/m2 for females) one can identify individuals with a higher risk of severe chemotherapy toxicities and worse prognosis.

Norovirus outbreaks in China, 2000-2018: A systematic review.

To understand epidemiological characteristics of norovirus outbreaks in China from 2000 to 2018 the literature on norovirus outbreaks was identified by searching WANFANG, CNKI, PubMed, and Web of Science databases before 31 December 2018. Statistical analyses were performed using Statistical Product Service Solutions software. RStudio1.4.1717 and ArcGIS trial version were used for plotting bar graphs and maps. A total of 419 norovirus outbreaks were reported in the 394 included articles, which occurred between June 2000 and October 2018, showing an overall increasing trend. The majority of outbreaks occurred in schools (52.28%, 218/417) and kindergartens (55/417, 13.19%). Person-to-person transmission (41.64%, 137/329) was most common, followed by food-borne transmission (75/329, 22.80%) and water-borne transmission (72/329, 21.88%). GII was the most predominant norovirus genogroup, with GII.4, GII.17 and GII.2 being the dominant genotypes in 2007-2013, 2014-2015, 2016-2017, respectively. Increased outbreaks were associated with the prevalence of new variants. Most norovirus outbreaks were reported in the southeast of the country. The number of norovirus outbreaks was positively associated with the per capita gross domestic product and the year-end resident population. Norovirus outbreaks have become an important public health problem in China. It is necessary to establish surveillance in hospitals and nursing homes. Genotyping of noroviruses is important for monitoring the circulating strains and improving the vaccine design, so it should be carried out in more regions.

Exosomes derived from maxillary BMSCs enhanced the osteogenesis in iliac BMSCs.

OBJECTIVE: Secondary alveolar bone grafting is an essential part in the treatment of alveolar cleft deformity. Autologous iliac bone is the most favorable grafting source. However, the factors regulating postoperative bone formation are unclear. Investigations are needed to found whether the alveolar bone niche and bone marrow mesenchymal stem cells (BMSCs) derived from the jaw bone (BMSCs-J) affected the osteogenesis of BMSCs from the ilium (BMSCs-I). MATERIALS AND METHODS: The effect of BMSCs-J on BMSCs-I was investigated using a co-culture model. The exosomes were purified by sequential centrifugation. The osteoblastic differentiation of BMSCs was analyzed in vitro and in vivo. RESULTS: Co-culture with BMSCs-J increased the alkaline phosphatase (ALP) activity, Alizarin Red S (ARS) staining, and osteogenic gene expression in BMSCs-I. Transmission electron microscopy and nanoparticle tracking analysis verified the presence of exosomes in the culture supernatants of BMSCs. Exosomes secreted by BMSCs-J enhanced the ALP activity, ARS staining, osteogenic gene expression of BMSCs-I in vitro, and new bone formation in vivo. Blocking the secretion of exosomes using siRNA for Rab27a inhibited the effect of BMSCs-J. CONCLUSION: Exosomes played a role in the interaction between BMSCs-J and BMSCs-I, thereby leading to the enhanced osteogenic capacity of BMSCs-I and bone formation.

Stability of maxillary protraction therapy in children with Class III malocclusion: a systematic review and meta-analysis.

OBJECTIVE: The objective of this study was to evaluate the stability of treatment effects of maxillary protraction therapy in Class III children. MATERIALS AND METHODS: Multiple electronic databases were searched from 01/1996 to 10/2016. Randomized clinical trials, controlled clinical trials, and cohort studies with untreated Class III controls and a follow-up over 2 years were considered for inclusion. The methodological quality of the studies and publication bias were evaluated. Mean differences and 95% confidence intervals (CI) of six variables (SNA, SNB, ANB, mandibular plane angle, overjet, and lower incisor angle) were calculated. RESULTS: Ten studies were included in the qualitative analysis, and four studies were included in the quantitative analysis. Compared with the control group, after treatment, the treated group showed significant changes: SNA +1.79° (95% CI: 1.23, 2.34), SNB -1.16° (95% CI -2.08, -0.24), ANB +2.92° (95% CI 2.40, 3.44), mandibular plane angle +1.41° (95% CI 0.63, 2.20), overjet +3.94 mm (95% CI 2.17, 5.71) and lower incisor angle -3.07° (95% CI -4.92, -1.22). During follow-up, the changes in five variables reflected significant relapse. Overall, the treated group showed significant changes only in ANB +1.66° (95% CI 0.97, 2.35) and overjet +2.41 mm (95% CI 1.60, 3.23). CONCLUSIONS: Maxillary protraction can be a short-term effective therapy and might improve sagittal skeletal and dental relationships in the medium term. But some skeletal and dental variables showed significant relapse during the follow-up period. Long-term studies are still required to further evaluate its skeletal benefits. CLINICAL RELEVANCE: The study evaluated the medium-term stability of skeletal and dental effects of maxillary protraction in Class III children and discussed whether the therapy can reduce the need for orthognathic surgery.

Aggregation-induced emission luminogen based molecularly imprinted ratiometric fluorescence sensor for the detection of Rhodamine 6G in food samples.

Using an aggregation-induced emission luminogen (AIEgen) as the fluorescence signal part, a novel molecularly imprinted polymers (MIPs) based ratiometric fluorescence sensor (AIE-MIPs-1) was developed for detecting Rhodamine 6G (Rh6G) in food samples including dried papaya and beverage. The sensor exhibited strong blue fluorescence itself at 420 nm. Upon the adsorption of Rh6G, the original fluorescence intensity decreased while a new fluorescence emission peak at 562 nm increased gradually, which showed typical ratiometric fluorescence change. Good linear relationship between the fluorescence intensity ratio (I562/I420) and the concentration of Rh6G was obtained in the range of 0.0-10.0 µmol/L. A detection limit of 0.26 µmol/L Rh6G was achieved. Moreover, AIE-MIPs-1 exhibited good sensitivity towards Rh6G over other colorants. This study provided a new strategy for construction of MIPs-based fluorescence sensors by introducing AIEgens as the fluorescence signal part, which will significantly expand the categories and application ranges of MIPs-based fluorescence sensors.