A Systematic Review and Meta-Analysis of the Associations between Immigration Status and Stroke Incidence and Mortality.

Methods: We thoroughly searched PubMed, Embase, and MEDLINE databases for the literature on stroke risk for immigrants and host populations by January 2022. Fourteen relevant cohort studies from eight countries met the inclusion criteria, and their data were included in this meta-analysis. Heterogeneity and publication bias were assessed. Results: The results showed that the immigrant groups suffered from a lower incidence rate of stroke compared with the host populations (HR = 0.81, 95% CI 0.71-0.91, P = 0.001), but there was nonsignificant higher mortality of stroke in immigrants (HR = 1.07; 95% CI 0.84-1.36). However, the pooled adjusted incidence HR reduced to 0.67 (95% CI 0.60-0.75) after adjustment for publication bias. Immigrants had a lower stroke incidence compared to long-term residents, but the association varied with the country of origin, socioeconomic status, residence (urban vs. rural), and comorbid conditions. Discussion. The present systematic review and meta-analysis implicated that stroke risks are different for immigrants and the host populations; therefore, this knowledge may be useful for developing targeted stroke prevention strategies.

Prognostic Value of Long Noncoding RNA SPRY4-IT1 on Survival Outcomes in Human Carcinomas: A Systematic Review and Meta-Analysis with TCGA Database.

BACKGROUND: Emerging evidences have shown that long noncoding RNA SPRY4-IT1 can be aberrantly expressed in human cancers, and it could be an unfavorable prognostic factor in cancer patients. However, the prognostic mechanism of SPRY4-IT1 is still unclear. This study is aimed at evaluating its potential predictive value for cancer prognosis. METHODS: We thoroughly searched PubMed, Embase, Web of Science, and MEDLINE databases so as to explore the relationship between SPRY4-IT1 expression and cancer prognosis value. Then, TCGA datasets were used to validate the results of our meta-analysis. RESULTS: In all, seventeen studies involving 1650 patients were included in this meta-analysis. Pooled results showed that high expression of SPRY4-IT1 was significantly correlated with poor OS (HR = 1.96, 95% confidence interval (CI) = 1.47-2.62, P < 0.001) in cancer patients. Furthermore, exploration of TCGA dataset further validated that SPRY4-IT1 was aberrantly expressed in various cancers, which partially confirmed our results in this meta-analysis. CONCLUSIONS: The present systematic review and meta-analysis implicated that the aberrant expressions of lncRNA SPRY4-IT1 were strongly associated with clinical survival outcomes in various cancers and therefore might serve as a promising biomarker for predicting prognosis of human cancers.

Genetic Correction of Induced Pluripotent Stem Cells From a Deaf Patient With MYO7A Mutation Results in Morphologic and Functional Recovery of the Derived Hair Cell-Like Cells.

UNLABELLED: The genetic correction of induced pluripotent stem cells (iPSCs) induced from somatic cells of patients with sensorineural hearing loss (caused by hereditary factors) is a promising method for its treatment. The correction of gene mutations in iPSCs could restore the normal function of cells and provide a rich source of cells for transplantation. In the present study, iPSCs were generated from a deaf patient with compound heterozygous MYO7A mutations (c.1184G>A and c.4118C>T; P-iPSCs), the asymptomatic father of the patient (MYO7A c.1184G>A mutation; CF-iPSCs), and a normal donor (MYO7A(WT/WT); C-iPSCs). One of MYO7A mutation sites (c.4118C>T) in the P-iPSCs was corrected using CRISPR/Cas9. The corrected iPSCs (CP-iPSCs) retained cell pluripotency and normal karyotypes. Hair cell-like cells induced from CP-iPSCs showed restored organization of stereocilia-like protrusions; moreover, the electrophysiological function of these cells was similar to that of cells induced from C-iPSCs and CF-iPSCs. These results might facilitate the development of iPSC-based gene therapy for genetic disorders. SIGNIFICANCE: Induced pluripotent stem cells (iPSCs) were generated from a deaf patient with compound heterozygous MYO7A mutations (c.1184G>A and c.4118C>T). One of the MYO7A mutation sites (c.4118C>T) in the iPSCs was corrected using CRISPR/Cas9. The genetic correction of MYO7A mutation resulted in morphologic and functional recovery of hair cell-like cells derived from iPSCs. These findings confirm the hypothesis that MYO7A plays an important role in the assembly of stereocilia into stereociliary bundles. Thus, the present study might provide further insight into the pathogenesis of sensorineural hearing loss and facilitate the development of therapeutic strategies against monogenic disease through the genetic repair of patient-specific iPSCs.

Comparison of the effects of laparoscopic hernia repair and Lichtenstein tension-free hernia repair.

OBJECTIVE: To compare the effects of laparoscopic inguinal hernia repair (LIHR) and Lichtenstein tension-free inguinal hernia repair and to explore the safety and feasibility of LIHR as well as the advantages and disadvantages of these procedures. SUBJECTS AND METHODS: In total, 252 patients with inguinal hernia were equally randomized into the transabdominal preperitoneal (TAPP) repair, totally extraperitoneal (TEP) repair, and Lichtenstein tension-free hernia repair groups (n=84 each). Operating time, postoperative pain scores, postoperative scrotal seroma, postoperative local esthesiodermia, postoperative chronic pains, postoperative long-term hernia relapse, and costs of hospitalization were compared among the three groups. RESULTS: All laparoscopic operations were performed smoothly without intraoperative conversion to open surgery. The LIHR groups showed significantly better effects on postoperative pains and hernia recurrence than the Lichtenstein tension-free herniorrhaphy group (P<.05), but with a significantly higher hospitalization cost (P<.05). The occurrence rate of postoperative scrotal seroma or hydrops in the TAPP, TEP, and Lichtenstein groups was 11 (13.10%), 13 (15.48%), and 6 (7.14%), respectively. No significant differences among the operating time, postoperative local esthesiodermia, or postoperative chronic pains of the groups were observed (P>.05). CONCLUSIONS: LIHR is a safe and feasible procedure. It has significantly better effects on postoperative pains and hernia relapse than Lichtenstein tension-free hernia repair.