Mechanisms of low nighttime temperature promote oil accumulation in Brassica napus L. based on in-depth transcriptome analysis.

Rape (Brassica napus L.; AACC) is an important oil-bearing crop worldwide. Temperature significantly affects the production of oil crops; however, the mechanisms underlying temperature-promoted oil biosynthesis remain largely unknown. In this study, we found that a temperature-sensitive cultivar (O) could accumulate higher seed oil content under low nighttime temperatures (LNT,13°C) compared with a temperature-insensitive cultivar (S). We performed an in-depth transcriptome analysis of seeds from both cultivars grown under different nighttime temperatures. We found that low nighttime temperatures induced significant changes in the transcription patterns in the seeds of both cultivars. In contrast, the expression of genes associated with fatty acid and lipid pathways was higher in the O cultivar than in the S cultivar under low nighttime temperatures. Among these genes, we identified 14 genes associated with oil production, especially BnLPP and ACAA1, which were remarkably upregulated in the O cultivar in response to low nighttime temperatures compared to S. Further, a WGCNA analysis and qRT-PCR verification revealed that these genes were mainly regulated by five transcription factors, WRKY20, MYB86, bHLH144, bHLH95, and NAC12, whose expression was also increased in O compared to S under LNT. These results allowed the elucidation of the probable molecular mechanism of oil accumulation under LNT conditions in the O cultivar. Subsequent biochemical assays verified that BnMYB86 transcriptionally activated BnLPP expression, contributing to oil accumulation. Meanwhile, at LNT, the expression levels of these genes in the O plants were higher than at high nighttime temperatures, DEGs (SUT, PGK, PK, GPDH, ACCase, SAD, KAS II, LACS, FAD2, FAD3, KCS, KAR, ECR, GPAT, LPAAT, PAP, DGAT, STERO) related to lipid biosynthesis were also upregulated, most of which are used in oil accumulation.

Construction and validation of a prognostic model based on autophagy-related genes for hepatocellular carcinoma in the Asian population.

BACKGROUND AND OBJECTIVE: Hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC), which has a complex pathogenesis and poor prognosis, is one of the most common malignancies worldwide. Hepatitis virus B infection is the most common cause of HCC in Asian patients. Autophagy is the process of digestion and degradation, and studies have shown that autophagy-associated effects are closely related to the development of HCC. In this study, we aimed to construct a prognostic model based on autophagy-related genes (ARGs) for the Asian HCC population to provide new ideas for the clinical management of HCC in the Asian population. METHODS: The clinical information and transcriptome data of Asian patients with HCC were downloaded from The Cancer Genome Atlas (TCGA) database, and 206 ARGs were downloaded from the human autophagy database (HADB). We performed differential and Cox regression analyses to construct a risk score model. The accuracy of the model was validated by using the Kaplan-Meier (K-M) survival curve, receiver operating characteristic (ROC) curve, and univariate and multivariate Cox independent prognostic analyses. The results Thirteen ARGs that were significantly associated with prognosis were finally identified by univariate and multivariate Cox regression analyses. The K-M survival curves showed that the survival rate of the low-risk group was significantly higher than that of the high-risk group (p < 0.001), and the multi-indicator ROC curves further demonstrated the predictive ability of the model (AUC = 0.877). CONCLUSION: The risk score model based on ARGs was effective in predicting the prognosis of Asian patients with HCC.

High-performance visible-near-infrared photodetector based on the N2200/Sb2Se3 nanorod arrays organic-inorganic hybrid heterostructure.

Antimony selenide (Sb2Se3) is a suitable candidate for a broadband photodetector owing to its remarkable optoelectronic properties. Achieving a high-performance self-powered photodetector through a desirable heterojunction still needs more efforts to explore. In this work, we demonstrate a broadband photodetector based on the hybrid heterostructure of Sb2Se3 nanorod arrays (NRAs) absorber and polymer acceptor (P(NDI2OD-T2), N2200). Owing to the well-matched energy levels between N2200 and Sb2Se3, the recombination of photogenerated electrons and holes in N2200/Sb2Se3 hybrid heterostructure is greatly inhibited. The photodetector can detect the wavelength from 405 to 980 nm, and exhibit high responsivity of 0.39 A/W and specific detectivity of 1.84 × 1011 Jones at 780 nm without bias voltage. Meanwhile, ultrafast response rise time (0.25 ms) and fall time (0.35 ms) are obtained. Moreover, the time-dependent photocurrent of this heterostructure-based photodetector keeps almost the same value after the storge for 40 days, indicating the excellent stability and reproducibility. These results demonstrate the potential application of a N2200/Sb2Se3 NRAs heterojunction in visible-near-infrared photodetectors.

Effects of Five-Step Nutritional Interventions Conducted by a Multidisciplinary Care Team on Gastroenteric Cancer Patients Undergoing Chemotherapy: A Randomized Clinical Trial.

The present study aims to report a five-step nutritional intervention conducted by a multidisciplinary care team as well as to investigate its effects on the nutritional status and quality of life of gastroenteric cancer patients undergoing chemotherapy. A total of 176 patients with newly diagnosed gastroenteric cancer were enrolled in the observational study. The nutritional status of the patients was assessed using Patient-Generated Subjective Global Assessment (PG-SGA) and Nutritional Risk Screening-2002 (NRS-2002), and anthropometry and biological tests were performed. Patients were randomly divided into intervention group (n = 40) and control group (n = 38). Patients in the intervention group received five-step nutrition intervention, while the control group received routine nutrition management. In the newly diagnosed patients with gastroenteric cancer, 50% presented mild to moderate malnutrition, 29.5% presented severe malnutrition, while only 20.5% of patients were in good nutritional status. Nutritional interventions reduced the progression of malnutrition after 10 weeks. Anthropometric parameters increased as well as function and symptoms improved; therefore, controlled the decline in quality of life. To sum up, five-step nutritional interventions conducted by a multidisciplinary care team improved the nutritional status of patients with gastroenteric cancer undergoing chemotherapy, and showed positive impacts on quality of life.

MiR-122 knockdown regulates vascular smooth muscle cells phenotypic switching through enhanced FOXO3 expression.

Vascular smooth muscle cells (VSMCs) phenotypic switching is identified as enhanced dedifferentiation, proliferation, and migration ability of VSMCs, in which microRNAs have been identified as important regulators of the process. The present study is aimed to explore the pathophysiological effect of miR-122 on VSMC phenotypic modulation. Here, the result showed that the decreased miR-122 expression was found in VSMCs subjected to platelet-derived growth factor-BB (PDGF-BB) treatment. Next, we investigated the response of miR-122 knockdown in VSMCs with PDGF-BB stimulation. MiR-122 silencing showed increased proliferation and migration capability, whereas attenuated the differentiation markers expression. The above results were reversed by miR-122 overexpression. Finally, we further demonstrated that FOXO3 was an important target for miR-122. Collectively, we demonstrated that miR-122 silencing promoted VSMC phenotypic modulation partially through upregulated FOXO3 expression that indicated miR-122 may be a novel therapeutic target for neointimal formation.

[Optimization of parameters for stir-frying of Kansui Radix with vinegar based on conversion of toxic components].

This study aims to optimize the parameters for stir-frying of Kansui Radix with vinegar based on the conversion of representative toxic diterpenes, which is expected to serve as a reference for the standardized production of Kansui Radix stir-fried with vinegar. To be specific, the toxic components [3-O-(2'E,4'Z-decadienoyl)-20-O-acetylingenol(3-O-EZ), kansuiphorin C(KPC)] in Kansui Radix and the products(ingenol, 20-deoxyingenol) after the stir-frying with vinegar were selected. The toxicity to intestine and water-draining activity were evaluated with NCM460(normal human colon mucosal epithelial cell line) and HT-29(a human colorectal adenocarcinoma cell line). An HPLC method was then developed to assess the conversion of toxic components. On this basis, temperature, time, and amount of vinegar for the processing of Kansui Radix were optimized with the Box-Behnken design and the content of ingenol and 20-deoxyingenol as evaluation index. The results showed that after the stir-frying of Kansui Radix with vinegar, 3-O-EZ and KPC were first converted to monoester 3-O-(2'E,4'Z-decadienoyl)ingenol(3-EZ) and 5-O-benzoyl-20-deoxyingenol(5-O-Ben) and finally to almost non-toxic ingenol and 20-deoxyingenol, respectively. Meanwhile, the water-draining activity was retained. Six compounds had a good linear relationship with the peak area in the corresponding concentration ranges(R~2≥0.999 8), and the average recovery fell in the range of 98.20%-102.3%(RSD≤2.4%). The content of representative diterpenes and intermediate products was 14.78%-24.67% lower in the Kansui Radix stir-fried with vinegar than in the Kansui Radix, while the content of the conversed products was 14.37%-71.37% higher. Among the process parameters, temperature had significant influence on the total content of products, followed by time. The optimal parameters were 210 ℃, 15 min, and 30% vinegar. The relative error between the experimental results and the predicted values was 1.68%, indicating that the process was stable and reproducible. The strategy of screening optimal parameters for stir-frying of Kansui Radix with vinegar based on the transformation of toxic components can help improve the production stability, reduce the toxicity, and ensure the efficacy of Kansui Radix stir-fried with vinegar, which can serve as a reference for the process optimization of similar toxic Chinese medicinals.

Altered functional connectivity pattern of hippocampal subfields in individuals with objectively-defined subtle cognitive decline and its association with cognition and cerebrospinal fluid biomarkers.

Recent studies have shown that in the preclinical phase of Alzheimer's disease (AD), subtle cognitive changes can be detected using sensitive neuropsychological measures, and have proposed the concept of objectively-defined subtle cognitive decline (Obj-SCD). We aimed to assess the functional alteration of hippocampal subfields in individuals with Obj-SCD and its association with cognition and pathological biomarkers. Forty-two participants with cognitively normal (CN), 29 with Obj-SCD, and 55 with mild cognitive impairment (MCI) were retrospectively collected from the ADNI database. Neuropsychological performance, functional MRI, and cerebrospinal fluid (CSF) data were obtained. We calculated the seed-based functional connectivity (FC) of hippocampal subfields (cornu ammonis1 [CA1], CA2/3/dentate gyrus [DG], and subiculum) with whole-brain voxels. Additionally, we analyzed the correlation between FC values of significantly altered regions and neuropsychological performance and CSF biomarkers. The Obj-SCD group showed lower FC between left CA1-CA2/3/DG and right thalamus and higher FC between right subiculum and right superior parietal gyrus (SPG) compared with the CN and MCI groups. In the Obj-SCD group, FC values between left CA2/3/DG and right thalamus were positively associated with Auditory Verbal Learning Test (AVLT) recognition (r = 0.395, p = 0.046) and CSF Aß1-42 levels (r = 0.466, p = 0.019), and FC values between left CA1 and right thalamus were positively correlated with CSF Aß1-42 levels (r = 0.530, p = 0.006). Taken together, dysfunction in CA1-CA2/3/DG subregions suggests subtle cognitive impairment and AD-specific pathological changes in individuals with Obj-SCD. Additionally, increased subiculum connectivity may indicate early functional compensation for subtle cognitive changes.

Total, bioavailable and free 25-hydroxyvitamin D are associated with the prognosis of patients with non-small cell lung cancer.

PURPOSE: To analyze the prognostic value of total, bioavailable and free 25-hydroxyvitamin D [25(OH)D] as well as vitamin D-binding protein (VDBP) in patients with non-small cell lung cancer (NSCLC). METHODS: We prospectively collected and analyzed data for 395 patients diagnosed with NSCLC between January 2016 and December 2018 in two university-affiliated hospitals. Total and free 25(OH)D and VDBP were measured directly, and bioavailable 25(OH)D was calculated using a validated formula. Their prognostic values were evaluated by Cox proportional hazards model, and hazard ratios (HRs) and 95% confidence intervals (CIs) were calculated. RESULTS: Patients with NSCLC had significantly lower levels of total, bioavailable, and free 25(OH)D and higher VDBP levels in comparison to healthy controls (all p < 0.001). In multivariate analyses, higher levels of total, bioavailable, and free 25(OH)D were independently associated better overall survival (OS) and progression-free survival (PFS). For OS, the adjusted HRs were 0.58 (95% CI, 0.40-0.87; p for trend = 0.008), 0.45 (95% CI, 0.30-0.67; p for trend < 0.001) and 0.49 (95% CI, 0.33-0.73; p for trend < 0.001) for the highest versus the lowest tertile of total, bioavailable and free 25(OH)D, respectively. The corresponding adjusted HRs for PFS were 0.61 (95% CI, 0.43-0.86; p for trend = 0.006), 0.56 (95% CI, 0.40-0.80; p for trend = 0.001) and 0.60 (95% CI, 0.42-0.85; p for trend = 0.004), respectively. However, VDBP was not associated with either OS or PFS. CONCLUSION: The current study suggested that total, bioavailable and free 25(OH)D may be reliable prognosis indicators in NSCLC patients, though the optimal 25(OH)D form for NSCLC prognosis remains to be assessed in future studies.

High-responsivity, self-driven visible-near infrared Sb2Se3 nanorod array photodetector.

Anisotropic antimony selenide (Sb2Se3) semiconductor has received considerable attention due to its unique one-dimensional crystal structure and corresponding superior and anisotropic optical and electronic properties. It is a promising material for a wide range of applications related to electronics and optoelectronics. Herein, we demonstrate a high-performance and self-powered Sb2Se3 nanorod array-based core/shell heterojunction detector fabricated on glass substate. The detector shows a wide spectral photoresponse range from visible to near-infrared (405-980 nm). The detector yields a detectivity of as high as 2.06×1012 Jones in the visible light (638 nm) and that of 1.82×1012 Jones (830 nm) at zero bias. Due to the strong built-in filed and excellent carrier transport, the detector exhibits ultrafast response speed at both rise (30 µs) and decay (68 µs) processes. Further analysis demonstrates that the noise is mainly generated from the 1/f noise in the low frequency range, while it is affected by the shot noise and generation-recombination noise in high frequency.

The Geriatric Nutritional Risk Index as a Prognostic Factor in Patients with Advanced Non-Small-Cell Lung Cancer.

The Geriatric Nutritional Risk Index (GNRI) is widely applied as a prognostic factor in different cancers. We aimed to analyze the prognostic value of the GNRI in 257 patients diagnosed with advanced non-small-cell lung cancer (NSCLC). Patients with GNRI >98, 92-98, and <92 were grouped into normal, low risk and moderate/high risk groups, respectively. There were 45.1% patients at risk for malnutrition. Kaplan-Meier survival curves indicated that patients with lower GNRI scores had a poorer overall survival (OS). Two-year OS for normal, low risk and moderate/high risk groups were 57.4%, 42.3% and 15.8%, respectively. In multivariate survival analysis, GNRI (<92), body mass index (BMI, ≥24 kg/m2), combined therapy, hemoglobin and neutrophil-to-lymphocyte ratio (NLR) were independent prognostic factors of OS. Stratifying by age groups, GNRI (<92), hemoglobin and NLR were independent prognostic factors of OS in patients aged <65 years. GNRI (<92), smoking, BMI (≥24 kg/m2) and platelet-to-lymphocyte ratio were independent prognostic factors of OS in patients aged ≥65 years. In conclusion, GNRI was a significant prognostic factor in advanced NSCLC patients regardless of age. A decreased GNRI may be considered as a clinical trigger for nutritional support in advanced NSCLC patients, though additional studies are still required to confirm the best cut-point.

The impact of carbon neutrality on the investment performance: Evidence from the equity mutual funds in BRICS.

The promotion of carbon-neutral investments is among the primary constituents of developing a carbon-neutral economy. This is even more important for emerging economies that have constrained financial markets. In this paper, using monthly data between 2011 and 2019, we study 6519 actively managed mutual funds in BRICS after sorting them into black, brown, and green categories based on their investment holdings. Our comparative performance shows that green funds outperform their counterparts for the entire sample and within-country assessment. We also document the volatility and market timing ability of green funds, mainly absent in high emission funds. The results remained robust for various definitions of performance. Our findings also indicate Chinese green funds perform better than those of other countries. This is attributed to the multiple ecologically friendly economic policies that China has adopted over the years. Based on the results, we propose various interventions that could foster the adaptability of a carbon-neutral investment landscape.

Photoexcitation-induced local phonon spectra and local hot excitons in polymer solar cells.

In this article, based on nonadiabatic molecular dynamics with electronic transitions, the elaborate ultrafast process of hot excitons in conjugated polymer solar cells is revealed. When an external optical beam/pulse with the intensity of 30 µJ/cm-2 is utilized to excite a conjugated polymer, just within only 50 fs, the electronic transition not only redistributes the electron population in the original molecular orbital, but also starts to localize the electron cloud of excited states and to distort the alternating bonds in the polymer chain. Up to 300 fs, the lattice distortion has been stabilized. During the formation of hot excitons, the prominent self-trapping effect of conjugated polymer triggers the occurrence of local infrared active phonon modes, with five peaks in the phonon spectrum as the hot excitons relax. The characteristic phonon spectrum and infrared modes hence form the fingerprint of the hot excitons of a conjugated polymer, which are readily distinguished from other excitation states in the polymer.

High DPP4 expression predicts poor prognosis in patients with low-grade glioma.

Dipeptidyl peptidase-IV (DPP4) plays a key role in tumor development; however, its role in glioma pathogenesis has not been determined. Here, we aimed to investigate the expression pattern of DPP4 and explore the association between expression and patient prognosis in glioma. DPP4 levels were investigated using qRT-PCR, immunohistochemistry and western blot in a rat model of glioma and also in patient samples. The relationship between DPP4 levels, WHO pathological grade gliomas, and isocitrate dehydrogenase 1 and 2 (IDH1/2) status was assessed in patient samples. Our data indicated that DPP4 levels were markedly increased in a rat model of glioma (p < 0.05, p < 0.01) and aslo in patient samples. Furthermore, the elevation of DPP4 levels in the samples obtained from pateints was associated with the pathogical grade of glioma and the IDH1/2 status (p < 0.01, p < 0.001). High DPP4 levels decreased the survival probability of patients with low-grade glioma (LGG). The data from patient samples showed that DPP4 expression increased with the pathological grade. Increased expression of DPP4 could be a promising index for determining the prognosis of glioma.

Prognostic values of pretreatment neutrophil-to-lymphocyte and platelet-to-lymphocyte ratios in endometrial cancer: a systematic review and meta-analysis.

PURPOSE: Elevated inflammatory markers, including neutrophil-to-lymphocyte ratio (NLR) and platelet-to-lymphocyte ratio (PLR), have been identified as poor predictors of survival in several malignancies. This meta-analysis was performed to quantify the effect of pretreatment NLR and PLR on the survival of patients with endometrial cancer (EC). METHODS: This review systematically searched for relevant publications in databases of PubMed, Embase, and the Cochrane Library. Pooled hazard ratios (pHRs) with 95% confidence intervals (95% CIs) were determined and used to explore the association between inflammatory markers and overall survival (OS) and disease-free survival (DFS) in a random-effects model. Subgroup analysis, sensitivity analysis, and publication bias were also conducted in this meta-analysis. RESULTS: Nine articles comprising 3390 patients were included. NLR higher than the cutoff was associated with a shorter OS (pHR = 2.22, 95% CI 1.77-2.78) and poorer PFS (pHR = 1.81, 95% CI 1.35-2.41). Patients with elevated PLR had high risk of decreased OS (pHR = 1.99, 95% CI = 1.51-2.61) and unfavorable PFS (pHR = 2.02, 95% CI 1.45-2.80). CONCLUSIONS: Elevated NLR and PLR during pretreatment are biomarkers of poor prognosis in patients with EC.

Extracellular organic matter (EOM) distribution characteristic in algae electro-dewatering process.

The work evaluated the influence of different operating conditions (voltage, ionic strength and mechanical pressure) on algae electro-osmotic dewatering effect and extracellular organic matter (EOM) regionalization. It was found that the algae electro-dewatering effect became better as the voltage and ionic strength increased, but electro-dewatering effect was decreased when ionic strength was more than 0.006gNaCl/gTSS, this indicated that too high ionic strength will reduce algae electro-dewatering effect. In addition, electro-osmosis effect first increases and then weakens when the pressure was increased. The content of dissolved organic materials (DOM) in the filtrate of both electrodes was increased when the voltage and ionic strength enhanced, the DOM content of filtrate at cathode and anode were increased from 42.9 mg/L, 36.7 mg/L to 68.2 mg/L, 85.3 mg/L when ionic strength raised from 0gNaCl/gTSS to 0.01gNaCl/gTSS, this indicated that a large amount of EOM dissolution as the voltage and ionic strength increased. The DOM content of both electrodes did not change significantly when mechanical pressure changed, anodic oxidation can oxidize and decompose macromolecular weight substances into mid-molecular weight and low molecular weight substances.

Charge Accumulation of Amplified Spontaneous Emission in a Conjugated Polymer Chain and Its Dynamical Phonon Spectra.

In this article, the detailed photoexcitation dynamics which combines nonadiabatic molecular dynamics with electronic transitions shows the occurrence of amplified spontaneous emission (ASE) in conjugated polymers, accompanied by spontaneous electric polarization. The elaborate molecular dynamic process of ultrafast photoexcitation can be described as follows: Continuous external optical pumping (laser of 70 µJ/cm2) not only triggers the appearance of an instantaneous four-level electronic structure but causes population inversion for ASE as well. At the same time, the phonon spectrum of the conjugated polymer changes, and five local infrared lattice vibrational modes form at the two ends, which break the original symmetry in the system and leads to charge accumulation at the ends of the polymer chain without an external electric field. This novel phenomenon gives a brand-new avenue to explain how the lattice vibrations play a role in the evolution of the stimulated emission, which leads to an ultrafast effect in solid conjugated polymers.

Interaction between mitochondrial NADH dehydrogenase subunit-2 5178 C > A and clinical risk factors on the susceptibility of essential hypertension in Chinese population.

BACKGROUND: The mitochondrial genotype 5178 cytosine/adenine (5178 C > A) within the NADH dehydrogenase subunit-2 gene (ND2) was proved to associate with longevity and predispose resistance to adult-onset diseases. This study aimed to confirm the interactive effects between ND 25178 C > A and clinical risk factors on the susceptibility of essential hypertension in Chinese general population. MATERIALS AND METHODS: The relationship between the ND2 5178 C > A variation and the risk of hypertension was investigated in 817 hypertensives and 821 matched normotensives. The interactive effects between ND2 5178 C > A and clinical risk factors were evaluated. RESULTS: The ND2 5178 A allele was more frequent in normotensives than in hypertensives (32.64% vs. 24.24%; adjusted OR: 0.62, 95% CI: 0.49-0.79, P = 1.3 × 10- 4). After stratification, the significant association between ND2 5178 C > A and hypertension was found only in current smokers (OR: 0.44, 95% CI: 0.31-0.62), but not in non-current smokers (p <  0.01 for interaction). Smoking status (OR: 1.51, 95% CI: 1.11-2.06) and high triglycerides (OR: 1.57, 95% CI: 1.10-2.24) were found independently associated with hypertension only in carriers of 5178 C allele but not in carriers of 5178 A allele. CONCLUSIONS: In conclusion, ND2 5178 A allele could confer a lower risk for essential hypertension in Chinese by the interaction with smoking status. The higher risk of hypertension imposed by smoking and high TG may be altered by ND2 5178 A allele.

Breaking of lattice potential well-induced confinement of carriers in conjugated polymers.

Recent experimental research has reported that a surface electric field on the polymer solar cell can restrain the recombination of the resultant charged carriers [23]. Based on this, this article reveals an underlying mechanism: If a surface electric field below 4.5 × 104 V/cm is applied to the polymer layer, the electric field drives the charged polaron to transport. Once the polaron approaches and collides with the exciton, it is easily trapped by the potential well produced by the exciton and then forms a charged exciton. The decay of the resultant charged exciton rapidly reduces the number of excitons. However, once the external field surpasses the threshold value of 4.5 × 104 V/cm, the charged polaron absorbs momentum from the external electric field and shakes off the trapping of the exciton. It finally steps out of the original lattice potential well, where the appropriate electric field magnitude ranges from 5.5 × 104 V/cm to 8 × 105 V/cm. After a collision of 300 fs, apart from a phase shift, the exciton still exists. Then, the originally carriers is dissociated when the electric field reaches 0.8 MV/cm. The applied surface field is able to effectively keep the excitons from fusion with the transporting charged polarons, which provides a valid and easily manufactured approach to yield higher efficiency of polymer solar cells.

Anticancer effect of berberine based on experimental animal models of various cancers: a systematic review and meta-analysis.

BACKGROUND: Numerous studies have explored the anti-tumor effect of berberine (BBR), but little clinical evidence guides the use of BBR in cancer patients. OBJECTIVES: Our aim was to investigate the impact of BBR on various cancers in healthy animals to promote the transformation from bench to bed. SEARCH METHODS: PubMed, Embase, Springer, and Cochrane databases were searched from January 2000 to October 2018 for relevant articles. SELECTION CRITERIA: Only published studies focusing on the relationship between BBR and various cancers in vivo were qualified. Two review authors independently assessed the risk of bias for each study, and any disagreement was resolved by discussion or by involving a third assessor. RESULTS: A total of 26 studies from 2000 to 2018, focusing on various cancer types, including breast cancer, liver cancer, colorectal cancer, nasopharyngeal carcinoma, lung cancer, gastric cancer, neuroepithelial cancer, endometrial carcinoma, esophageal cancer, tongue cancer, cholangiocarcinoma, and sarcoma were included. Overall, BBR reduced tumor volume (SMD =3.72, 95% CI: 2.89, 4.56, Z = 8.73, p < 0.00001) and tumor weight (SMD =2.35, 95% CI: 1.51, 3.19, Z = 5.50, p < 0.00001) in a linear The dose-response relationship (Pearson r = - 0.6717, p < 0.0001 in tumor volume analysis; Pearson r = - 0.7704, p < 0.0005 in tumor weight analysis). BBR inhibited angiogenesis in tumor tissues (SMD = 4.29, 95% CI: 2.14, 6.44, Z = 3.92, p < 0.00001), but it had no significant effect on the body weight of experimental animals (SMD = 0.11, 95% CI: - 0.70, 0.92, Z = 0.27, p = 0.78). Publication bias was not detected. CONCLUSION: BBR exerted anti-tumor effects in a variety of tumors in vivo, especially breast cancer and lung cancer, and the evidence was still insufficient in colorectal cancer and gastric cancer.

Mortality of site-specific cancer in patients with schizophrenia: a systematic review and meta-analysis.

BACKGROUND: Numerous studies have reported contradicting results on the relationship between cancer mortality and schizophrenia. Our aim is to quantify the mortality rate of common site-specific cancers among patients with schizophrenia and to synthesize the available research evidence. METHODS: We performed a systemic search of the PubMed, EMBASE and Web of Science databases. Studies reporting the mortality rate of different cancer in patients with schizophrenia were included. A random-effects model was applied to calculate the pooled relative risks (RRs) with 95% confidence intervals (95%CIs). RESULTS: Seven studies consisting of 1,162,971 participants with schizophrenia were included in this meta-analysis. Data regarding mortality risk of breast, colon, lung and prostate cancer among schizophrenia patients were subjected to quantitative analysis. Pooled results showed significant increases in mortality risk of breast cancer (RR = 1.97, 95%CI 1.38-2.83), lung cancer (RR = 1.93, 95%CI 1.46-2.54) and colon cancer (RR = 1.69, 95%CI 1.60-1.80) in patients with schizophrenia compared with those in the general population or control group. The mortality risk of prostate cancer increased in male patients, although no significant difference was detected (RR = 1.58, 95% CI 0.79-3.15). Increased risks of mortality from lung and colon cancer were observed in female patients (RR = 2.49, 95%CI 2.40-2.59 and RR = 2.42, 95%CI 1.39-4.22, respectively) and elevated risks of mortality from lung and colon cancer in male patients (RR = 2.40, 95%CI 2.30-2.50 and RR = 1.90, 95%CI 1.71-2.11, respectively) were detected. CONCLUSIONS: Individuals with schizophrenia have a significantly high risk of mortality from breast, colon, and lung cancer.