Effectiveness of redcore lotion in patients with vulvovaginal candidiasis: a systematic review and Meta-analysis.

OBJECTIVE: To summarize and evaluate the effectiveness and safety of Redcore lotion on treating vulvovaginal candidiasis (VVC) using a systematic review and Meta-analysis of randomized controlled trials. METHODS: A systematic literature search was performed in five English and three Chinese electronic databases up to October 2019. Randomized controlled trials in the treatment for VVC were included; only studies which compared the effectiveness and safety of Redcore lotion plus miconazole with miconazole alone were included. Relative risk (RR) and 95% confidence intervals (CI) were used in the Meta-analysis. RESULTS: Seven studies involving 768 patients suffering from VVC were identified; 468 of the patients were pregnant women (60.9%). Combination group (Redcore lotion plus miconazole) was more effective in reduCIng symptomatic episodes of VVC than miconazole alone, with respect to cure rate (RR, 1.31; 95% CI, 1.09-1.57; P = 0.01), fungal culture negative rate (RR, 1.21; 95% CI, 1.04-1.41; P = 0.01), and effective rate (RR, 1.18; 95% CI, 1.05-1.35; P = 0.01). Subgroup analyses for pregnant women also showed that the combination group had superior outcomes with respect to VVC cure rate (RR, 1.48; 95% CI, 1.16-1.88, P < 0.01), fungal culture negative rate (RR, 1.26; 95% CI; 1.09-1.47; P < 0.01), and effective rate (RR, 1.25; 95% CI, 1.10-1.42; P < 0.01). Additionally, the observed risk of adverse events was lower in the combination medication group (RR, 0.30; 95% CI, 0.14-0.65; P < 0.01). CONCLUSIONS: Though overall quality of individual studies was low, Redcore lotion plus miconazole can significantly improve clinical effectiveness and safety compared with miconazole alone.

Associations of cereal grains intake with cardiovascular disease and mortality across 21 countries in Prospective Urban and Rural Epidemiology study: prospective cohort study.

OBJECTIVE: To evaluate the association between intakes of refined grains, whole grains, and white rice with cardiovascular disease, total mortality, blood lipids, and blood pressure in the Prospective Urban and Rural Epidemiology (PURE) study. DESIGN: Prospective cohort study. SETTING: PURE study in 21 countries. PARTICIPANTS: 148 858 participants with median follow-up of 9.5 years. EXPOSURES: Country specific validated food frequency questionnaires were used to assess intakes of refined grains, whole grains, and white rice. MAIN OUTCOME MEASURE: Composite of mortality or major cardiovascular events (defined as death from cardiovascular causes, non-fatal myocardial infarction, stroke, or heart failure). Hazard ratios were estimated for associations of grain intakes with mortality, major cardiovascular events, and their composite by using multivariable Cox frailty models with random intercepts to account for clustering by centre. RESULTS: Analyses were based on 137 130 participants after exclusion of those with baseline cardiovascular disease. During follow-up, 9.2% (n=12 668) of these participants had a composite outcome event. The highest category of intake of refined grains (≥350 g/day or about 7 servings/day) was associated with higher risk of total mortality (hazard ratio 1.27, 95% confidence interval 1.11 to 1.46; P for trend=0.004), major cardiovascular disease events (1.33, 1.16 to 1.52; P for trend<0.001), and their composite (1.28, 1.15 to 1.42; P for trend<0.001) compared with the lowest category of intake (<50 g/day). Higher intakes of refined grains were associated with higher systolic blood pressure. No significant associations were found between intakes of whole grains or white rice and health outcomes. CONCLUSION: High intake of refined grains was associated with higher risk of mortality and major cardiovascular disease events. Globally, lower consumption of refined grains should be considered.

Associations of unprocessed and processed meat intake with mortality and cardiovascular disease in 21 countries [Prospective Urban Rural Epidemiology (PURE) Study]: a prospective cohort study.

BACKGROUND: Dietary guidelines recommend limiting red meat intake because it is a major source of medium- and long-chain SFAs and is presumed to increase the risk of cardiovascular disease (CVD). Evidence of an association between unprocessed red meat intake and CVD is inconsistent. OBJECTIVE: The study aimed to assess the association of unprocessed red meat, poultry, and processed meat intake with mortality and major CVD. METHODS: The Prospective Urban Rural Epidemiology (PURE) Study is a cohort of 134,297 individuals enrolled from 21 low-, middle-, and high-income countries. Food intake was recorded using country-specific validated FFQs. The primary outcomes were total mortality and major CVD. HRs were estimated using multivariable Cox frailty models with random intercepts. RESULTS: In the PURE study, during 9.5 y of follow-up, we recorded 7789 deaths and 6976 CVD events. Higher unprocessed red meat intake (≥250 g/wk vs. <50 g/wk) was not significantly associated with total mortality (HR: 0.93; 95% CI: 0.85, 1.02; P-trend = 0.14) or major CVD (HR: 1.01; 95% CI: 0.92, 1.11; P-trend = 0.72). Similarly, no association was observed between poultry intake and health outcomes. Higher intake of processed meat (≥150 g/wk vs. 0 g/wk) was associated with higher risk of total mortality (HR: 1.51; 95% CI: 1.08, 2.10; P-trend = 0.009) and major CVD (HR: 1.46; 95% CI: 1.08, 1.98; P-trend = 0.004). CONCLUSIONS: In a large multinational prospective study, we did not find significant associations between unprocessed red meat and poultry intake and mortality or major CVD. Conversely, a higher intake of processed meat was associated with a higher risk of mortality and major CVD.

MicroRNA-21 is involved in osteosarcoma cell invasion and migration.

MicroRNAs are involved in different cancer-related processes. MicroRNA-21 (miR-21), as an oncomiR, is overexpressed in all kinds of tumors and the role of miR-21 in carcinogenesis is elucidated in many cancers gradually. However, the function of miR-21 in osteosarcoma is still unclear. In our study, we found that miR-21 was significantly overexpressed in osteosarcoma tissues. More importantly, we confirmed that knockdown of miR-21 greatly decreased cell invasion and migration of MG-63. Furthermore, we identified that RECK (reversion-inducing-cysteine-rich protein with kazal motifs), a tumor suppressor gene, was a direct target of miR-21. Finally, the expression of RECK protein negatively correlated with the expression of miR-21 in human osteosarcoma tissues, indicating the potential regulation of RECK by miR-21. Our results suggest that miR-21 expression has a key role in regulating cellular processes in osteosarcoma, likely through regulating RECK and may serve as a therapeutic target.