Prognostic value of 17-Gene genomic prostate score in patients with clinically localized prostate cancer: a meta-analysis.

BACKGROUND: The 17-gene Genomic Prostate Score (GPS) test has been clinically employed to predict adverse prognosis in prostate cancer. In this meta-analysis, we aimed to evaluate the prognostic value of the 17-gene GPS in patients with prostate cancer. METHODS: Potentially relevant studies were obtained by searching PubMed, Web of Science, Embase databases from their inception to December 1, 2023. Studies were considered eligible if they evaluated the association of the 17-gene GPS with distant metastases, biochemical recurrence, or prostate cancer-specific mortality (PCSM) in prostate cancer patients. To estimate the prognostic value, we pooled the adjusted hazard ratio (HR) with 95% confidence intervals (CI) for the high versus low GPS group or per 20-unit increase in GPS. RESULTS: Seven cohort studies that reported on 8 articles comprising 1,962 patients satisfied the eligibility criteria. Meta-analysis showed that per 20-unit increase in GPS was significantly associated with distant metastases (HR 2.99; 95% CI 1.97-4.53), biochemical recurrence (HR 2.18; 95% CI 1.64-2.89), and PCSM (HR 3.14; 95% CI 1.86-5.30). Moreover, patients with high GPS (> 40 points) had an increased risk of distant metastases (HR 5.22; 95% CI 3.72-7.31), biochemical recurrence (HR 4.41; 95% CI 2.29-8.49), and PCSM (HR 3.81; 95% CI 1.74-8.33) than those with low GPS (≤ 40 points). CONCLUSIONS: A higher 17-gene GPS significantly predicts distant metastases, biochemical recurrence, and PCSM in men with clinically localized prostate cancer. However, large-scale multicenter prospective studies are necessary to further validate these findings.

Cachexia Index as a Predictor of Reduced Survival in Patients with Gastrointestinal Cancer: A Systematic Review and Meta-Analysis.

The cachexia index is a novel indicator of cachexia, but its prognostic implications for survival outcomes have not been systematically assessed in patients with gastrointestinal cancer. This systematic review and meta-analysis aimed to examine the association between the cachexia index and survival outcomes in gastrointestinal cancer patients. Two independent reviewers searched PubMed, Embase, and Web of Science to identify studies that evaluated the prognostic significance of the cachexia index in patients with gastrointestinal cancer. The prognostic value of the cachexia index was determined by combining the adjusted hazard ratios (HR) and 95% confidence intervals (CI). Thirteen studies were identified, including a total of 4207 patients. Meta-analysis indicated that a lower cachexia index was associated with shorter overall survival (HR 2.18; 95% CI 1.78-2.66) and disease-free survival (HR 1.72; 95% CI 1.50-1.97) in gastrointestinal cancer patients. Further stratified analysis confirmed the significant association between a lower cachexia index and shorter overall survival in different study designs, regions, patients' age, sample sizes, gastrointestinal cancer subtypes, tumor stages, and follow-up duration subgroups. The cachexia index could be utilized as a predictor of overall survival and disease-free survival in patients with gastrointestinal cancer. However, future prospective studies are required to confirm these findings.

Circular RNAs' cap-independent translation protein and its roles in carcinomas.

Circular RNAs a kind of covalently closed RNA and widely expressed in eukaryotes. CircRNAs are involved in a variety of physiological and pathological processes, but their regulatory mechanisms are not fully understood. Given the development of the RNA deep-sequencing technology and the improvement of algorithms, some CircRNAs are discovered to encode proteins through the cap-independent mechanism and participate in the important process of tumorigenesis and development. Based on an overview of CircRNAs, this paper summarizes its translation mechanism and research methods, and reviews the research progress of CircRNAs translation in the field of oncology in recent years. Moreover, this paper aims to provide new ideas for tumor diagnosis and treatment through CircRNAs translation.

The Prognosis Role of AST/ALT (De Ritis) Ratio in Patients with Adult Secondary Hemophagocytic Lymphohistiocytosis.

PURPOSE: Secondary hemophagocytic lymphohistiocytosis (sHLH) accompanied by liver involvement, characterized by hepatomegaly and increased liver enzymes, is usually associated with elevated mortality. However, the magnitude of these associations remains unknown. Our objective was to assess the associations of the aspartate transaminase/alanine transaminase (AST/ALT, De Ritis) ratio with overall survival among adult patients with sHLH. METHODS: A retrospective analysis was performed on 289 patients aged 18-86 years with complete serum transaminase data at diagnosis of sHLH. Multivariate Cox regression analyses and restricted cubic splines were conducted to address the association between the De Ritis ratio and the risk of mortality. RESULTS: The median De Ritis ratio for the entire study population was 1.34 (IQR: 0.84-2.29). After a median follow-up time of 60 (range 17-227.5) days, 205 deaths occurred. After fully adjusting for hepatomegaly, albumin, fibrinogen, EBV, ferritin, etiologies, and treatment strategies, the adjusted hazard ratios (HRs) with corresponding confidence intervals (CIs) of mortality for the 2 st tertile and 3 st tertile were 1.2 (0.8-1.7) and 1.6 (1.1-2.2), respectively (P < 0.01 for trends). Restricted cubic spline confirmed a linear association between the log2-transformed De Ritis ratio and the risk of mortality. Moreover, this trend persisted in subgroups with MHLH, hyperferrinaemia, sCD25 ≤ 20,000 ng/L, patients without EBV infection, and those received treatment. CONCLUSIONS: The De Ritis ratio is a strong and independent predictor for overall survival in patients with sHLH. As a readily available biomarker in routine clinical practice, it is used to identify patients with sHLH with inferior overall survival.

Erectile dysfunction and risk of cardiovascular and all-cause mortality in the general population: a meta-analysis of cohort studies.

PURPOSE: Studies on the association of erectile dysfunction (ED) with cardiovascular or all-cause mortality have yielded conflicting findings. We conducted this meta-analysis to evaluate the association of ED with cardiovascular or all-cause mortality in the general population. METHODS: Pubmed and Embase databases were searched for prospective studies that evaluated the association of ED with cardiovascular or all-cause mortality in the general population up to 15 December, 2017. The overall combined risk ratio (RR) and 95% confidence intervals (CI) were pooled for the men with or without ED. RESULTS: A total of 7 studies involving 111,440 participants were included in the meta-analysis. When compared to the men with or without ED, the overall pooled RR was 1.24 (95% CI 1.11-1.39) for all-cause mortality and 1.11 (95% CI 0.92-1.35) for cardiovascular mortality. Subgroup analyses indicated that only men with severe ED significantly increased all-cause mortality risk (RR 1.58; 95% CI 1.37-1.82), but not in the mild (RR 1.07; 95% CI 0.93-1.24) ED and the moderate (RR 1.16; 95% CI 1.00-1.35) ED. CONCLUSIONS: This meta-analysis suggests that severe ED is significantly associated with increased all-cause mortality in the general population. However, the association of ED with cardiovascular mortality should be further investigated.

Adjuvant Treatment with Qilin Pill for Men with Oligoasthenospermia: A Meta-Analysis of Randomized Controlled Trials.

Qilin pill has been used in the management of oligoasthenospermia. This meta-analysis aimed to evaluate the effects of Qilin pill as an adjunctive therapy on semen parameters in oligoasthenospermic men. A comprehensive literature search was conducted in PubMed, Embase, Cochrane Library, Wanfang, CNKI, and VIP databases until June 2016. Randomized controlled trials (RCTs) that evaluated Qilin pill as an adjunctive therapy in oligoasthenospermic were included. Dichotomous data and continuous data were calculated as the risk ratio (RR) and mean difference (MD) with their 95% confidence interval (CI), respectively. Eight RCTs involving 778 patients were identified. Adjunctive treatment with Qilin pill significantly improved the semen volume (MD 0.50 mL; 95% CI 0.42-0.59), sperm concentration (MD 5.01 × 106 /mL; 95% CI 3.28-6.75), sperm motility (MD 7.54%; 95% CI 5.64-9.45), grade A sperm (MD 9.75%; 95% CI 4.05-15.45), serum testosterone level (MD 1.66 nM; 95% CI 0.40-2.92), and pregnancy rate (RR 1.46; 95% CI 1.08-1.99) during follow-up. However, differences in the serum follicle-stimulating and luteinizing hormone levels were not significant. Adjunctive treatment with Qilin pill significantly improves the sperm quality in patients with oligoasthenospermia. However, further trials are necessary to investigate the efficacy of Qilin pill on oligoasthenospermia-induced male infertility. Copyright © 2017 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.

Ovarian cancer with intestinal wall invasion and hyperamylasemia: a case report.

Numerous studies have suggested a robust association between amylase and ovarian cancer. however, few amylase-producing ovarian cancers have been reported because amylase is a rare product of ovarian cancer. A case of an elderly female patient with an upper abdominal unfitness, intestinal wall along with uterine adnexal invasion, and high serum and urinary amylase is summarized in this article. The patient was initially suspected of having a gastrointestinal tumor. Initial laboratory findings showed markedly significantly raised serum and urinary amylase levels. Imaging showed invasion of the intestinal wall and uterine adnexa, and histology of the specimen taken through the abdominal wall lump and electron colonoscopy showed ovarian cancer. The patient's blood amylase levels decreased to normal after 4 cycles of neoadjuvant chemotherapy with paclitaxel and carboplatin. Following this, she underwent interval debulking surgery, which included total hysterectomy, bilateral adnexectomy, great omentectomy, appendectomy, resection of pelvic and abdominal lesions, and partial rectal resection. Postoperative pathology and immunohistochemistry staining confirmed a diagnosis of high-grade serous ovarian cancer. This case suggests that in female patients, hyperamylasemia may indicate the presence of ovarian cancer. It is necessary to perform a multisite, multipoint histologic examination to identify the tumor's origin in patients with multiple sites of invasion.

Construction and validation of a RARRES3-based prognostic signature related to the specific immune microenvironment of pancreatic cancer.

Background: Tumor immune microenvironment (TiME) is prognostically instructive in Pancreatic adenocarcinoma (PAAD). However, the potential value of TiME-related genes in the individualized immunotherapy of PAAD has not been clarified. Methods: Correlation between Immune-Related Genes (IRGs) and immune-related transcription factors (TFs) was performed to prove the immune correlation of selected genes. Immune-related molecular subtypes were identified by consensus clustering. The TiME-score, an immune microenvironment-related prognostic signature for PAAD, was constructed using minimum absolute contraction and selection operator regression (Lasso-Cox). The International Cancer Genome Consortium (ICGC) dataset validated the reliability of TiME-score as external validation. Single-cell samples from GSE197177 confirmed microenvironment differences of TiME-score hub genes between tumor and its paracancer tissues. Then, RARRES3, a hub gene in TiME-score, was further analyzed about its upstream TP53 mutation and the specific immune landscape of itself in transcriptome and Single-cell level. Eventually, TiME-score were validated in different therapeutic cohorts of PAAD mice models. Results: A 14-genes PAAD immune-related risk signature, TiME-score, was constructed based on IRGs. The differences of TiME-score hub genes in single-cell samples of PAAD cancer tissues and adjacent tissues were consistent with the transcriptome. Single-cell samples of cancer tissues showed more pronounced immune cell infiltration. The upstream mutation factor TP53 of RARRES3 was significantly enriched in immune-related biological processes. High RARRES3 expression was correlated with a worse prognosis and high macrophages M1 infiltration. Additionally, the immunohistochemistry of hub genes AGT, DEFB1, GH1, IL20RB, and TRAF3 in different treatment cohorts of mice PAAD models were consistent with the predicted results. The combination of immunotherapy, chemotherapy and targeted therapy has shown significantly better therapeutic effects than single drug therapy in PAAD. Conclusion: TiME-score, as a prognostic signature related to PAAD-specific immune microenvironment constructed based on RARRES3, has predictive value for prognosis and the potential to guide individualized immunotherapy for PAAD patients.

Advances on Senescence-associated secretory phenotype regulated by circular RNAs in tumors.

The components that comprise the senescence-associated secretory phenotype (SASP) include growth factors, proteases, chemokines, cytokines, and bioactive lipids. It drives secondary aging and disrupts tissue homeostasis, ultimately leading to tissue repair and regeneration loss. It has a two-way regulatory effect on tumor cells, resisting cancer occurrence and promoting its progression. A category of single-stranded circular non-coding RNA molecules known as circular RNAs (circRNAs) carries out a series of cellular activities, including sequestering miRNAs and modulating gene editing and expression. Research has demonstrated that a large number of circRNAs exhibit aberrant expression in pathological settings, and play a part in the onset and progress of cancer via modulating SASP factors. However, the research related to SASP and circRNAs in tumors is still in its infancy at this stage. This review centers on the bidirectional modulation of SASP and the role of circRNAs in regulating SASP factors across different types of tumors. The aim is to present novel perspectives for the diagnosis and therapeutic management of malignancies.

Expression profiling and bioinformatics analysis of serum exosomal circular RNAs in lymph node metastasis of papillary thyroid carcinoma.

Most papillary thyroid carcinoma (PTC) patients have a good prognosis, but lymph node metastasis (LNM) is the most common progressive manifestation and often leads to a poor-prognosis. However, few studies focused on the underlying mechanisms of LNM. This study aimed to identity the potential role of exosomal circRNAs that contribute to LNM in PTC. We found that 9000 aberrantly expressed exosomal circRNAs in PTC patients with LNM, including 684 observably upregulation and 2193 notably downregulation. Functional enrichment analyses indicated that these aberrantly expressed circRNAs were mainly enriched in a variety of molecules and signaling pathways related to the progression and LNM of PTC. Bioinformatics analysis screened 14 circRNA-miRNA-mRNA networks associated with LNM-related signaling pathways in PTC. Moreover, circTACC2-miR-7-EGFR and circBIRC6-miR-24-3p-BCL2L11 axes were verified for potential involvement in PTC with LNM. Additionally, 4 upregulated circRNAs-related hub genes and 8 hub genes associated with downregulated circRNAs were screened, some of which were involved in LNM of PTC through verification. Collectively, our data provided a novel framework for in-depth investigation of the function of dysregulated exosomal circRNAs and their potential biomarkers in PTC patients with LNM.

Comparison of different treatment regimens and analysis of prognostic factors in secondary hemophagocytic lymphohistiocytosis in adults: A single-center retrospective study.

BACKGROUND: Hemophagocytic lymphohistiocytosis (HLH) is a life-threatening disease caused by immune hyperactivation. The overall survival (OS) of adults with secondary HLH remains suboptimal and new treatment strategies are needed. OBJECTIVES: This study aimed to compare the efficacy of different regimens in the treatment of secondary HLH in adults and analyze the prognostic factors affecting patient survival. MATERIAL AND METHODS: The clinical data of 245 adults with secondary HLH admitted to our hospital from January 2016 to October 2021 were analyzed retrospectively. The patients were divided into 3 groups according to different treatment regimens: corticosteroids therapy + chemotherapy + supportive treatment group (JHZ group), chemotherapy + supportive treatment group (HZ group) and corticosteroids therapy + supportive treatment group (JZ group). The clinical efficacy was compared among the 3 groups after treatment, and progression-free survival (PFS) and overall survival (OS) were calculated. Additionally, risk factors associated with prognosis were also analyzed with Cox regression analysis. RESULTS: The objective response rate (ORR) in the JHZ group was higher than that in the HZ group and JZ group, but there was no significant difference between the 3 groups. Also, the patients in the JHZ group had the longest OS and median PFS. Further Cox regression analysis suggested that hyperbilirubinemia was an independent risk factor for OS in secondary HLH patients. CONCLUSIONS: A combination of corticosteroids therapy, chemotherapy and supportive therapy is superior to the other 2 regimens in the clinical benefit in the treatment of secondary HLH in adults, and thus may be a preferred and feasible treatment regimen. Moreover, hyperbilirubinemia was a risk factor for prognosis that has crucial guiding significance for clinical treatment of patients with secondary HLH.

Association of Prefrailty and Frailty With All-Cause Mortality, Acute Exacerbation, and Hospitalization in Patients With Chronic Obstructive Pulmonary Disease: A Meta-Analysis.

OBJECTIVE: To evaluate the impact of prefrailty and frailty on all-cause mortality, acute exacerbation, and all-cause hospitalization in patients with chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD). DESIGN: Meta-analysis. SETTING AND PARTICIPANTS: Two authors independently searched PubMed, Web of Science, and Embase databases until December 27, 2022，to identify studies that reported the predictive value of prefrailty and frailty in COPD patients. MEASUREMENTS: All-cause mortality, acute exacerbation, and all-cause hospitalization. RESULTS: Ten studies reporting on 11 articles enrolling 13,203 patients with COPD were included. The prevalence of frailty ranged from 6.0% to 51%. When compared with nonfrailty, the pooled adjusted hazard ratio (HR) of all-cause mortality was 1.48 (95% CI 0.92-2.40) for prefrailty and 2.64 (95% CI 1.74-4.02) for frailty, respectively. The pooled adjusted odds ratio (OR) of all-cause hospitalization was 1.35 (95% CI 1.05-1.74) for prefrailty and 1.65 (95% CI 1.05-2.61) for frailty. In addition, frailty significantly predicted all acute exacerbation (OR 2.20, 95% CI 1.26-3.81) but not moderate to severe acute exacerbation (OR 1.42, 95% CI 0.94-2.17) in patients with stable COPD. However, the pooled results of all-cause hospitalization were not reliable in leave-1-out sensitivity analyses. CONCLUSIONS AND IMPLICATIONS: Frailty significantly predicts all-cause mortality in patients with COPD, even after adjustment for common confounding factors. Assessment of frail status in COPD patients may improve secondary prevention and allow early intervention. However, future studies are warranted to validate the impact of frailty defined by a standardized definition of frailty on acute exacerbation and all-cause hospitalization.

Factors impacting the benefits and pathogenicity of Th17 cells in the tumor microenvironment.

Tumor development is closely associated with a complex tumor microenvironment, which is composed of tumor cells, blood vessels, tumor stromal cells, infiltrating immune cells, and associated effector molecules. T helper type 17 (Th17) cells, which are a subset of CD4+ T cells and are renowned for their ability to combat bacterial and fungal infections and mediate inflammatory responses, exhibit context-dependent effector functions. Within the tumor microenvironment, different molecular signals regulate the proliferation, differentiation, metabolic reprogramming, and phenotypic conversion of Th17 cells. Consequently, Th17 cells exert dual effects on tumor progression and can promote or inhibit tumor growth. This review aimed to investigate the impact of various alterations in the tumor microenvironment on the antitumor and protumor effects of Th17 cells to provide valuable clues for the exploration of additional tumor immunotherapy strategies.

Development and validation of cuproptosis-related lncRNAs associated with pancreatic cancer immune microenvironment based on single-cell.

Background: Cuproptosis, a novel mode of cell death associated with the tricarboxylic acid (TCA) cycle, is relevant to the development of cancer. However, the impact of single-cell-based Cuproptosis-associated lncRNAs on the Tumor immune microenvironment (TIME) of Pancreatic adenocarcinoma (PAAD) and its potential value for individualized immunotherapy has not been clarified. Methods: 14 immune-related CRGs were screened by exploring the interaction between differentially expressed Immune-Related Genes (IRGs) and Cuproptosis-Related Genes (CRGs) in PAAD. Next, the expression amount and expression distribution of CRGs in single-cell samples were analyzed by focusing on 7-CRGs with significant expressions. On the one hand, MAP2K2, SOD1, and VEGFA, which were significantly differentially expressed between PAAD sites and normal tissues adjacent to them, were subjected to immunohistochemical validation and immune landscape analysis. On the other hand, from these 7-CRGs, prognostic signatures of lncRNAs were established by co-expression and LASSO-COX regression analysis, and their prognostic value and immune relevance were assessed. In addition, this study not only validated the hub CRGs and the lncRNAs constituting the signature in a PAAD animal model treated with immunotherapy-based combination therapy using immunohistochemistry and qRT-PCR but also explored the potential value of the combination of targeted, chemotherapy and immunotherapy. Results: Based on the screening of 7-CRGs significantly expressed in a PAAD single-cell cohort and their co-expressed Cuproptosis-Related lncRNAs (CRIs), this study constructed a prognostic signature of 4-CRIs named CIR-score. A Nomogram integrating the CIR-score and clinical risk factors was constructed on this basis to predict the individualized survival of patients. Moreover, high and low-risk groups classified according to the median of signatures exhibited significant differences in clinical prognosis, immune landscape, bioenrichment, tumor burden, and drug sensitivity. And the immunohistochemical and qRT-PCR results of different mouse PAAD treatment strategies were consistent with the trend of inter-group variability in drug sensitivity of hub CRGs and CIR-score. The combination of immunotherapy, targeted therapy, and chemotherapy exhibited a better tumor suppression effect. Conclusion: CIR-score, as a Cuproptosis-related TIME-specific prognostic signature based on PAAD single cells, not only predicts the prognosis and immune landscape of PAAD patients but also provides a new strategy for individualized immunotherapy-based combination therapy.

Advances in hyperbaric oxygen to promote immunotherapy through modulation of the tumor microenvironment.

Hyperbaric oxygen therapy is a relatively safe treatment method that has been used for a long time in the clinic. It has been proven that it can enhance the sensitivity of radiotherapy and photodynamic therapy for cancer. However, there are few studies on hyperbaric oxygen and immunotherapy. In this article, we summarize that hyperbaric oxygen therapy regulates the tumor microenvironment through various pathways such as improving tumor hypoxia, targeting hypoxia-inducing factors, and generating reactive oxygen species. The change in the tumor microenvironment ultimately affects the curative effect of immunotherapy. Therefore, hyperbaric oxygen can influence immunotherapy by regulating the tumor microenvironment, providing a direction for the future development of immunotherapy.

Identification of RNA Methylation-Related lncRNAs Signature for Predicting Hot and Cold Tumors and Prognosis in Colon Cancer.

N6-methyladenosine (m6A), N1-methyladenosine (m1A), 5-methylcytosine (m5C), and 7-methylguanosine (m7G) are the major forms of RNA methylation modifications, which are closely associated with the development of many tumors. However, the prognostic value of RNA methylation-related long non-coding RNAs (lncRNAs) in colon cancer (CC) has not been defined. This study summarised 50 m6A/m1A/m5C/m7G-related genes and downloaded 41 normal and 471 CC tumor samples with RNA-seq data and clinicopathological information from The Cancer Genome Atlas (TCGA) database. A total of 1057 RNA methylation-related lncRNAs (RMlncRNAs) were identified with Pearson correlation analysis. Twenty-three RMlncRNAs with prognostic values were screened using univariate Cox regression analysis. By consensus clustering analysis, CC patients were classified into two molecular subtypes (Cluster 1 and Cluster 2) with different clinical outcomes and immune microenvironmental infiltration characteristics. Cluster 2 was considered to be the "hot tumor" with a better prognosis, while cluster 1 was regarded as the "cold tumor" with a poorer prognosis. Subsequently, we constructed a seven-lncRNA prognostic signature using the least absolute shrinkage and selection operator (LASSO) Cox regression. In combination with other clinical traits, we found that the RNA methylation-related lncRNA prognostic signature (called the "RMlnc-score") was an independent prognostic factor for patients with colon cancer. In addition, immune infiltration, immunotherapy response analysis, and half-maximum inhibitory concentration (IC50) showed that the low RMlnc-score group was more sensitive to immunotherapy, while the high RMlnc-score group was sensitive to more chemotherapeutic agents. In summary, the RMlnc-score we developed could be used to predict the prognosis, immunotherapy response, and drug sensitivity of CC patients, guiding more accurate, and personalized treatment regimens.

Integrated Analysis of Necroptosis-Related Genes for Prognosis, Immune Microenvironment Infiltration, and Drug Sensitivity in Colon Cancer.

Background: Necroptosis, is intimately linked to tumor development and prognosis and has been considered as a target for anticancer therapy. However, the role of necroptosis-related genes (NRGs) in colon cancer is unclear. Methods: In the present study, we screened 76 NRGs from previous studies and described the landscape of transcriptomic and genetic variation of NRGs in colon cancer (CC) patient samples. Molecular subtypes of necroptosis in colon cancer were identified by clustering analysis, and these molecular subtypes were linked to patient prognosis and TME cell infiltration characteristics. Then, the NRS-score for predicting overall survival (OS) was built based on the TCGA database and validated in the GSE39582 cohort for its predictive power in CC patients. Besides, the ESTIMATE and CIBERSORT algorithms were applied to explore the relationship between NRS-score and tumor immune microenvironment. Results: We identified two molecular subtypes associated with necroptosis in CC, which have diverse prognosis and immune microenvironment characteristics. Based on the differentially expressed genes between the two molecular subtypes, we further developed a necroptosis risk score signature, referred to as NRS-score. High NRS-score was associated with poor prognosis in CC through immunosuppressive microenvironment and immune escape mechanisms. The nomogram based on NRS-score showed excellent ability to predict prognosis. In addition, NRS-score presented a positive correlation with tumor mutational burden (TMB) and immune checkpoint blockade (ICB) expression and was closely correlated with multiple anticancer agent susceptibility. Conclusion: This work revealed a close relationship between necroptosis and the prognosis and immune microenvironment of colon cancer. The NRS-score based on the 8-gene signature may be used to predict the sensitivity of immunotherapy and chemotherapy in colon cancer patients, and provides a foundation for future studies targeting necroptosis and its immune microenvironment.

Characteristics and prognostic value of pleural effusion in secondary hemophagocytic lymphohistiocytosis.

The clinical features of patients with secondary hemophagocytic lymphohistiocytosis (sHLH) complicated with pleural effusion have rarely been evaluated. We retrospectively analyzed 203 patients newly diagnosed with sHLH from July 2015 to July 2019 according to the HLH-2004 protocol. Baseline characteristics, laboratory results, and imaging were reviewed. Pleural effusion was found in 58.6% of the studied sHLH population, and characteristic imaging findings were minimal volume and bilaterality. Patients with pleural effusion had lower PLT counts, HB levels and ALB levels as well as higher sCD25 levels than those without pleural effusion (all p values < 0.05). Multivariate analyses showed that lg(sCD25) and PLT ≤ 65 × 109/L were significant risk factors for developing pleural effusion in sHLH. Regarding prognostic value, survival analysis showed a lower survival probability for patients with pleural effusion than for those without pleural effusion (median OS, 90 vs. 164 days, p = 0.028). In multivariate analysis, pleural effusion was an independent prognostic factor for overall survival (OS) (HR 2.68; 95% CI 1.18-6.11, p = 0.019). Pleural effusion is frequently found in patients with sHLH and is associated with greater inflammation and worse outcomes.

The prevalence and prognosis of hyponatraemia in non-Hodgkin lymphoma-associated hemophagocytic lymphohistiocytosis.

Non-Hodgkin lymphoma associated hemophagocytic lymphohistiocytosis (NHL-HLH) in adult secondary HLH is a common and universally highly lethal critical disorder. Hyponatraemia is the most common electrolyte disorder in the critical illness setting and acts as a negative prognostic factor. The aim of our study was to evaluate the prognostic role of hyponatraemia among patients with NHL-HLH. The results showed that 81 (52.9%) patients had hyponatraemia. After a median follow up 47 (range 14-180) days, there were 72 (88.9%) cumulative deaths in hyponatraemia group while 50 (69.4%) in normonatremia group. After adjustment for confounders, multivariate analysis revealed that hyponatraemia was an independent prognostic factor for OS (HR:1.51, 95% CI: 1.03-2.20; p = 0.033). Restricted cubic spline confirmed a linear and positive association between serum sodium and the risk of mortality. Hyponatraemia is relatively frequent in NHL-HLH. As a readily available biomarker in clinical routine, it was a promising prognostic predictor for NHL-HLH.

Utility of Elevated Pentraxin-3 Level as Inflammatory Marker for Predicting Adverse Outcomes in Patients With Acute Coronary Syndrome: A Meta-Analysis.

BACKGROUND: Vascular inflammation plays an important role in the pathogenesis and development of acute coronary syndrome (ACS). However, studies on the association between elevated pentraxin-3 level and adverse outcomes in patients with ACS have yielded controversial results. The purpose of this meta-analysis was to assess the value of elevated pentraxin-3 level as an inflammatory marker for predicting adverse outcomes in patients with ACS. METHODS: Two authors systematically searched the articles indexed in PubMed, Embase, CNKI, Wanfang, and VIP databases up to March 31, 2021. Studies reporting the association of elevated pentraxin-3 level at the acute phase with cardiovascular mortality, all-cause mortality, or cardiac events (cardiac death, non-fatal myocardial infarction, revascularization, or heart failure) in patients with ACS were included. RESULTS: A total of 8,775 ACS patients from 12 studies were identified and analyzed. When compared the lowest pentraxin-3 level, ACS patients with the highest pentraxin-3 level conferred an increased risk of cardiovascular mortality [risk ratio (RR) 2.10; 95% CI 1.44-3.06], all-cause mortality (RR 1.99; 95% CI 1.46-2.71), and cardiac events (RR 1.74; 95% CI 1.32-2.29), even after adjustment for some important confounders. Subgroup analysis indicated that the association of elevated pentraxin-3 level with cardiac events appeared to be stronger in ST-segment elevation myocardial infarction patients (RR 2.72; 95% CI 1.69-4.36) than in all patients with ACS (RR 1.59; 95% CI 1.10-2.29). CONCLUSIONS: Elevated pentraxin-3 level is possibly an independent predictor of adverse outcomes in patients with ACS. Assessment of pentraxin-3 level at the acute phase can provide important information for early risk stratification of ACS.