Clinical significance of serum FGF21 levels in diagnosing nonalcoholic fatty liver disease early.

The endogenous FGF21 level is a potential target for diagnosing NAFLD. This study aimed to assess the clinical utility of FGF21 in diagnosing NAFLD and provide new ideas for predicting and preventing NAFLD. A total of 193 patients diagnosed with NAFLD based on diagnostic criteria and 64 healthy individuals were included in the NAFLD and non-NAFLD groups, respectively. Data on the participant names, sex, age, height, weight, blood pressure, serum FGF21 levels, liver function enzyme (AST, ALT, ALP, and GGT) levels, lipid profile (TC, TG, HDL-C, and LDL-C) indicators, and blood glucose levels were collected. The data were statistically analyzed to assess the correlations between serum FGF21 levels and related biochemical markers in NAFLD patients. The areas under the receiver operating characteristic curves (AUCs) of serum FGF21, lipids (TG + TC + HDL + LDL), and FGF21 combined with lipids for the diagnosis of NAFLD were compared. Compared with the non-NAFLD group, the NAFLD group presented significantly higher levels of FGF21. Serum FGF21 levels in the NAFLD group were positively correlated with the TG, TC, and LDL-C levels (P < 0.05). The area under the receiver operating characteristic curve (AUC) of serum FGF21 for the diagnosis of NAFLD was 0.832 (95% CI: 0.77-0.886, P < 0.001). The AUC of FGF21 combined with lipids (TG + TC + HDL + LDL) for the diagnosis of NAFLD was 0.910 (95% CI: 0.874-0.946, P < 0.001). There is a close association between elevated FGF21 levels and the development of NAFLD. The progression of NAFLD is complex and varied, and its pathogenesis is unclear. Early detection, prevention, and intervention may help slow NAFLD development or even reverse the disease. In this study, we found that the FGF21 level could be used as an auxiliary biological indicator for predicting NAFLD, and the role of FGF21 in the progression of NAFLD deserves to be investigated in the future.

Remote focusing optical tweezers for 3D imaging.

We present a remote focusing optical tweezer utilizing a 4f symmetrical optical system to compensate the high-order aberration during annular light refocusing. The position of the optical trap can be adjusted beyond the range of one hundred micrometers in the axial direction by means of tuning the position of the mirror placed in the focal region of the illumination objective lens. This optical tweezer can be combined with a sectioning microscope to realize three-dimensional (3D) imaging, e.g., a confocal microscope using a single water immersion objective lens. All optical elements are placed in one side of the sample, which is very useful for application in fields such as radiation biology, where radiation or magnetism disturbance must be introduced on the other side of the sample. In the experiment, a 10 µm diameter silicon dioxide microsphere and pollen cells immersed in the water are translated along the axis using the optical tweezer and, meanwhile, the sectioning images are obtained using the confocal microscope.

The Clinical Value of Metagenomic Next-Generation Sequencing in Pneumocystis jirovecii Pneumonia.

Background: The incidence of Pneumocystis jirovecii pneumonia (PJP) is increasing. Methods: 108 patients were analysed retrospectively at the Wuhan Union Hospital. The patients were classified into the PJP group or the P. jirovecii colonisation (PJC) group based on clinical diagnosis. Clinical data included demographics, laboratory examinations, treatment, and outcomes. Results: A notable difference in the fungal load was seen between two groups, with median reads of 3215.79 vs. 5.61 in two groups, respectively (P<0.001). The optimal threshold value for discriminating P. jirovecii infection between colonisation for mNGS was six, and serum (1,3)-ß-D-glucan (BDG) was 47.6 pg/mL. Besides, the positive detection rate of mNGS for co-pathogens in PJP patients was significantly higher than that of culture (88.16% vs. 22.37%, P<0.0001). Epstein-Barr virus and cytomegalovirus were the most common pathogens of co-infection in PJP patients. The antibiotic therapy in PJP patients was adjusted according to the mNGS results, of which seventeen (22.37%) were downgraded, 38 (50.0%) patients were upgraded, and 21 (27.63%) were unchanged. And almost all patients showed significant improvement in C-reactive protein. Conclusion: mNGS is a promising and valuable technique with good performance for differentiating P. jirovecii infection and colonisation, the detection of pathogens, and antibiotic treatment.

[Effect of Systematic Graded Rewarming Pattern on All-Cause Mortality of Hypothermic Trauma Patients in Different Time Periods].

Objective To investigate the effect of systematic graded rewarming pattern on all-cause mortality of hypothermic trauma patients in different time periods. Methods A prospective case-control study was carried out for 236 hypothermic trauma patients with modified trauma score<12 in the Emergency Department of the Second Affiliated Hospital of Wenzhou Medical University from January 2020 to December 2021.The patients were randomly assigned into a systematic graded rewarming group (n=118) and a traditional rewarming group (n=118).The main outcome event was all-cause death within 15 days after trauma,and the secondary outcome event was all-cause death within 3,7,and 30 days after trauma. Results Overall,13.98%(33/236) and 14.83%(35/236) of the patients died within 15 and 30 days after trauma,respectively,and the median survival time of all dead patients was 6 (4,10) days.The systematic graded rewarming group had higher temperature after rewarming for 2 h (P=0.001) and larger temperature change after rewarming intervention (P=0.047) than the traditional rewarming group.The all-cause mortality within 15 days (27.3%vs.72.7%,P=0.005) and 30 days (25.7%vs.74.3%,P=0.002) in the systematic graded rewarming group was lower than that in the traditional rewarming group.Kaplan-Meier analysis showed that the survival time of the patients in the systematic graded rewarming group was longer than that in the traditional rewarming group (P=0.003).Multivariate cox regression analysis indicated that systematic graded rewarming was a strong protective factor for survival time after trauma (HR=0.450, P=0.042).Further Logistic regression analysis for the occurrence of all-cause death in each time period showed that the OR of systematic graded rewarming pattern to all-cause death within 15 days and 30 days after trauma were 0.289 and 0.286,respectively,after adjusting the covariates(P=0.008,P=0.005).The temperature after rewarming for 2 h had a negative correlation with all-cause mortality within 30 days after trauma (OR=0.670, P=0.049). Conclusions Systematic graded rewarming is a protective factor for the survival time of patients with traumatic hypothermia and an independent factor affecting the risk of all-cause death within 15 days and 30 days after trauma.The temperature after rewarming for 2 h is expected to be an independent predictor of all-cause mortality of 30 days after trauma in the patients with hypothermia.The systematic graded rewarming pattern could reduce the mortality of hypothermic trauma patients.

Rhodiola rosea polysaccharides-based nanoparticles loaded with DOX boosts chemo-immunotherapy for triple-negative breast cancer by re-educating Tumor-associated macrophages.

Hydrophobic drug delivery vectors suffer significant challenges in cancer therapy, including efficient encapsulation and tumor targeting ability. In the present study, Rhodiola rosea polysaccharides (RHPs), which have the ability to modulate Tumor-associated macrophages and typical structural characteristics, were employed as an immunoactive vector for drug delivery. Folic acid (FA) and stearic acid (SA) were chemically modified to the backbone of RHPs to obtain the self-assembly and tumor-targeting behavior. Further, the hydrophobic drug, doxorubicin (DOX), was encapsulated in the RHPs derivatives (FA-RHPs-SA) with high efficiency. Additionally, the optimally formed DOX@FA-RHPs-SA had a uniform size distribution of approximately 196 nm and a pH-sensitive release capacity in different acidic conditions. In vitro experiments demonstrated that tumor cells could efficiently uptake DOX@FA-RHPs-SA. Furthermore, the modulatory function of the FA-RHPs-SA on RAW264.7 macrophages was also demonstrated in the transition from M0 to M1 phenotypes, and the M2 differentiated into the M1. Finally, the in vivo antitumor study revealed that the inhibitory effect of DOX@FA-RHPs-SA was superior to the DOX monotherapy treatment, and the new preparation functioned synergistically by inducing tumor cell apoptosis and modulating immune cell function. In conclusion, this study described an RHPs-based hydrophobic delivery vector and achieved an additional helpful antitumor effect by modulating Tumor-associated macrophages.

Comparing the effects of different exercises on blood pressure and arterial stiffness in postmenopausal women: A systematic review and meta-analysis.

The present study aimed to compare the efficacy of different exercises on systolic blood pressure (SBP), diastolic blood pressure (DBP), and aortic pulse wave velocity (PWV) in postmenopausal women. We searched the China National Knowledge Infrastructure (CNKI), Wanfang database, Web of Science, PubMed, and Cochrane library databases, up to July 2022. The randomized controlled trials (RCTs) were selected following the inclusion criteria. We assessed study quality with the PEDro scale. The Stata software was used for statistical analysis. Twenty-three papers (26 RCTs) and 729 participants were included. Meta-analysis demonstrated that exercise decreased SBP (WMD = -6.74 mmHg, 95%CI: -9.08, -4.41, p = 0.000), DBP (WMD = -4.13 mmHg, 95%CI: -5.78, -2.48, p = 0.000) and aortic PWV (WMD = -0.79 m/s, 95%CI: -1.02, -0.56, p = 0.000). Aerobic exercise can significantly decrease SBP (WMD = -7.97 mmHg, 95%CI: -12.99, -2.60, p = 0.003) and DBP (WMD = -5.97 mmHg, 95%CI: -8.55, -3.39, p = 0.000). Resistance exercise can significantly decrease SBP (WMD = -5.62 mmHg, 95%CI: -9.00, -2.23, p = 0.001), DBP (WMD = -1.87 mmHg, 95%CI: -2.75, -0.99, p = 0.000) and aortic PWV (WMD = -0.67 m/s，95%CI: -0.98, -0.36, p = 0.000). Combined aerobic and resistance exercise can significantly decrease SBP (WMD = -5.42 mmHg, 95%CI: -10.17, -0.68, p = 0.025). The efficacy of mind-body exercise (Tai Chi/Yoga) on SBP, DBP, and aortic PWV were not obvious (p > 0.05). Exercise significantly improved SBP, DBP, and aortic PWV in postmenopausal women. Aerobic exercise decreased SBP and DBP. Resistance exercise decreased SBP, DBP, and aortic PWV. Additionally, further research is required to confirm the efficacy of mind-body exercise (Tai Chi/Yoga) on blood pressure and arterial stiffness.

Clinical evaluation of the efficacy of a new bone cement-injectable cannulated pedicle screw in the treatment of spondylolysis-type lumbar spondylolisthesis with osteoporosis: a retrospective study.

PURPOSE: To investigate the clinical efficacy and safety of a bone cement-injectable cannulated pedicle screw (CICPS) in the treatment of spondylolysis-type lumbar spondylolisthesis with osteoporosis. METHODS: A retrospective study was conducted on 37 patients (Dual-energy X-ray bone density detection showed different degrees of osteoporosis) with spondylolysis-type lumbar spondylolisthesis who underwent lumbar spondylolisthesis reduction and fusion using a new type of injectable bone cement screw from May 2011 to March 2015. Postoperative clinical efficacy was evaluated by the Visual Analogue Scale (VAS) scores and the Oswestry Disability Index (ODI). Imaging indexes were used to evaluate the stability of internal fixation of the devices 1, 3, 6, and 12 months after surgery and annually thereafter. The safety of the CICPS was assessed by the prevalence of intraoperative and postoperative complications. RESULTS: A total of 124 CICPS were implanted intraoperatively. Bone cement leakage occurred in 3 screws (2.42%), and no clinical discomfort was found in any patients. All 37 patients were followed up with an average follow-up time of 26.6 ± 13.4 months (12-58 months). In the evaluation of the clinical effects of the operation, the average postoperative VAS score of the patients decreased from 4.30 ± 1.58 before surgery to 0.30 ± 0.70 after surgery (P < 0.001), and the ODI decreased from 47.27% ± 16.97% before surgery to 3.36% ± 5.70% after surgery (P < 0.001). No screw was loose, broken or pulled out. CONCLUSION: CICPS is safe and effective in the treatment of spondylolysis-type lumbar spondylolisthesis complicated by osteoporosis.

Hyperoside: A review on its sources, biological activities, and molecular mechanisms.

Hyperoside is a natural flavonol glycoside in various plants, such as Crataegus pinnatifida Bge, Forsythia suspensa, and Cuscuta chinensis Lam. Medical research has found that hyperoside possesses a broad spectrum of biological activities, including anticancer, anti-inflammatory, antibacterial, antiviral, antidepressant, and organ protective effects. These pharmacological properties lay the foundation for its use in treating multiple diseases, such as sepsis, arthritis, colitis, diabetic nephropathy, myocardial ischemia-reperfusion, pulmonary fibrosis, and cancers. Hyperoside is obtained from the plants and chemical synthesis. This study aims to provide a comprehensive overview of hyperoside on its sources and biological activities to provide insights into its therapeutic potential, and to provide a basis for high-quality studies to determine the clinical efficacy of this compound.

Transplantation of Gut Microbiota From High-Fat-Diet-Tolerant Cynomolgus Monkeys Alleviates Hyperlipidemia and Hepatic Steatosis in Rats.

Emerging evidence has been reported to support the involvement of the gut microbiota in the host's blood lipid and hyperlipidemia (HLP). However, there remains unexplained variation in the host's blood lipid phenotype. Herein a nonhuman primate HLP model was established in cynomolgus monkeys fed a high-fat diet (HFD) for 19 months. At month 19%, 60% (3/5) of the HFD monkeys developed HLP, but surprisingly 40% of them (2/5) exhibited strong tolerance to the HFD (HFD-T) with their blood lipid profiles returning to normal levels. Metagenomic analysis was used to investigate the compositional changes in the gut microbiota in these monkeys. Furthermore, the relative abundance of Megasphaera remarkably increased and became the dominant gut microbe in HFD-T monkeys. A validation experiment showed that transplantation of fecal microbiota from HFD-T monkeys reduced the blood lipid levels and hepatic steatosis in HLP rats. Furthermore, the relative abundance of Megasphaera significantly increased in rats receiving transplantation, confirming the successful colonization of the microbe in the host and its correlation with the change of the host's blood lipid profiles. Our results thus suggested a potentially pivotal lipid-lowering role of Megasphaera in the gut microbiota, which could contribute to the variation in the host's blood lipid phenotype.

Antibacterial, wearable, transparent tannic acid-thioctic acid-phytic acid hydrogel for adhesive bandages.

Making a hydrogel-based first-aid bandage with green resources, desirable biocompatibility, universal adhesive properties, low cost and simple production is a long-standing research aspiration. Considering this, three naturally existing organic acids, namely tannic acid, thioctic acid and phytic acid, were used to construct a novel adhesive gel (TATAPA hydrogel) for epidermal tissue bandage applications. This hydrogel could be synthesized under mild conditions with no need for a freeze-thawing shaping procedure, and was transparent, moldable and stretchable with good stability under continuous water immersion. In lap-shear tests, the TATAPA hydrogel could adhere to various hydrophilic and hydrophobic surfaces. Moreover, in the case of skin tissue adhesion, the hydrogel could be easily peeled off from the skin, meeting wearability requirements. Rheological tests showed that the hydrogel possessed thermal sensitive properties derived from multi-supramolecular interactions. The methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus (MRSA)-infected burn wound test demonstrated that the hydrogel had desirable antibacterial activity and was beneficial for wound healing. A femoral artery bleeding assay was also used to reveal that the TATAPA hydrogel could be directly pasted onto the bleeding site for hemostasis. Overall, this hydrogel demonstrates potential as a surgical bioadhesive for a broad range of medical applications.

Effects of Lactobacillus plantarum FZU3013-Fermented Laminaria japonica on Lipid Metabolism and Gut Microbiota in Hyperlipidaemic Rats.

In this study, we explored the effect of Lactobacillus plantarum FZU3013-fermented Laminaria japonica (LPLJ) supplementation to prevent hyperlipidaemia in rats fed with a high-fat diet (HFD). The results indicate that LPLJ supplementation improved serum and hepatic biochemical indicators (p < 0.05), elevated short-chain fatty acid levels, reduced HFD-induced accumulation of lipid droplets in the liver, modulated the relative abundance of some microbial phylotypes, and reduced hyperlipidaemia in HFD-fed rats by adjusting the aminoacyl-tRNA, phenylalanine, tyrosine, and tryptophan biosynthetic pathways, as well as the phenylalanine, D-glutamine and D-glutamate, and glutathione metabolic pathways. Additionally, hepatic mRNA levels of the genes involved in lipid metabolism and bile acid homeostasis were significantly reduced by LPLJ intervention (p < 0.05). These results suggest that LPLJ has a positive effect on modulating lipid metabolism and has the potential to be a functional food that can help prevent hyperlipidaemia.

Lamiophlomis herba: A comprehensive overview of its chemical constituents, pharmacology, clinical applications, and quality control.

Lamiophlomis rotata (Benth.) Kudo (LR) is an extensively used Chinese herbal medicine. It contains a variety of chemical constituents with significant biological activities that were first recorded in the classical masterpiece of Tibetan Medicine, Somaratsa. In this review, we summarize the information regarding the traditional uses, chemical constituents, pharmacological effects, clinical applications, quality control, toxicology, and pharmacokinetics of LR. At least 223 chemical constituents have been isolated from LR, including phenylethanoid glycosides, flavonoids, iridoids, volatile oils, et al. Their various physiological activities have been demonstrated as analgesic, hemostatic, anti-inflammatory, anti-tumor, marrow-supplementing, anti-bacterial, and immunity-strengthening. The clinical applications of LR and quality control are also discussed, as well as some existing problems. This article aims to provide more comprehensive information on the chemical composition, pharmacological activity, and clinical application of LR, so as to provide a theoretical basis for the further reasonable development of LR in clinical practice and of new drugs.

The beneficial effects of Lactobacillus brevis FZU0713-fermented Laminaria japonica on lipid metabolism and intestinal microbiota in hyperlipidemic rats fed with a high-fat diet.

This study aimed to investigate the beneficial effects of the oral administration of Lactobacillus brevis FZU0713-fermented Laminaria japonica (FLJ) on lipid metabolism and intestinal microbiota in hyperlipidemic rats fed with a high-fat diet (HFD). The results demonstrated that the oral administration of FLJ significantly inhibited obesity and improved the serum and hepatic biochemical parameters in HFD-fed rats. Histopathological results also indicated that FLJ intervention could significantly reduce the accumulation of lipid droplets in the liver induced by HFD feeding. Furthermore, FLJ intervention up-regulated the fecal short-chain fatty acid (SCFA) levels (mainly acetate, propionate and isobutyrate) in HFD-fed rats. Intestinal microbiota profiling by 16S rRNA gene sequencing revealed that FLJ intervention increased the relative abundance of Akkermansia, Collinsella, Ruminococcaceae_UCG-013, Defluviitaleaceae_UCG-011, Intestinimonas, Actinomyces and Tyzzerella, but decreased the abundance of Flavonifractor, Collinsella, Sporosarcina and Lacticigenium. Based on Spearman's correlation, the fecal levels of TC, TG, acetic acid and butyric acid were positively correlated with the relative abundance of Akkermansia and Ruminococcaceae_NK4A214, but negatively correlated with the relative amount of Flavonifractor and Collinsella. The metabolic function of intestinal microbiota predicted by PICRUSt analysis of 16S rRNA gene sequences demonstrated that primary and secondary bile acid biosyntheses, fatty acid biosynthesis, taurine and hypotaurine metabolism, arachidonic acid metabolism, glycolysis/gluconeogenesis, etc. were significantly down-regulated after 8 weeks of FLJ intervention. Additionally, FLJ intervention significantly regulated the hepatic mRNA levels (including BSEP, CYP7A1, LDLR, HMGCR, CD36 and SREBP1-C) involved in lipid metabolism and bile acid homeostasis. In conclusion, these findings support the possibility that Laminaria japonica fermented with probiotic Lactobacillus has the potential to reduce the disturbance of lipid metabolism by regulating intestinal microflora and liver gene expression profiles, so it can be employed as a potential functional food to prevent hyperlipidemia.

Which is the best combination of surgery for hepatocellular carcinoma with hepatic/portal vein thrombosis in China: a network meta-analysis of randomized controlled trials.

PURPOSE: To assess the efficacy and safety of different perioperative regimens using network meta-analysis for hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) with hepatic/portal vein thrombosis. The interested modalities included neoadjuvant three-dimensional conformal radiotherapy (3D-CRT), post-operative intensity modulated radiation therapy (IMRT). post-operative transarterial chemoembolization (TACE) and surgery alone. METHODS: PubMed and Cochrane Library electronic databases were systematically searched for eligible studies published up to November 2020. Data related to treatment efficacy including overall survival (OS), and disease-free survival (DFS) were extracted and compared using a Bayesian approach. Adverse events (AEs) were assessed and compared. RESULTS: Four studies published between 2005 and 2020 involving a total of 422 patients were enrolled in this network meta-analysis. The comparison showed that surgery with IMRT ranked relatively higher in prolonging OS in advanced HCC patients, followed by neoadjuvant 3DCRT and surgery plus TACE. Postoperative IMRT appeared better choice in terms of DFS. The rate of AEs did not significantly differ. CONCLUSION: Adjuvant IMRT showed more favorable treatment responses compared with other regimens in HCC patients with hepatic/portal vein thrombosis.

Prenatal phthalate exposure reduction through an integrated intervention strategy.

Pregnancy represents a sensitive susceptibility window to phthalate esters (PAEs). In this study, we develop an intervention strategy for reducing the exposure of pregnant women to phthalates. Thirty-five pregnant women, who initially underwent maternity examination, were recruited from an ongoing longitudinal prospective prenatal cohort study. The intervention strategy integrates diet, lifestyle, and environmental factors. Participants were encouraged to modify their behaviors and habits according to the intervention strategy at three different periods. Urine samples were collected from the participants after antenatal examination every month, for 8 months, to measure ten PAE metabolites. Mono-(2-ethyl-5-hydroxyhexyl) phthalate (MEHHP), mono-n-butyl phthalate (MnBP), and mono-(2-ethyl-5-oxohexyl) phthalate (MEOHP) declined significantly after the 1st intervention, while mono-isobutyl phthalate (MiBP) and mono-methyl phthalate (MMP) noticeably decreased after the 2nd intervention. The sum of the molar concentrations of MEHP, MEHHP, MEOHP, and MECPP reduced by 20 to 40% during subsequent intervention. In addition, the sum of the molar concentrations of MEP, MnBP, MMP, and MiBP as well as the sum of the molar concentrations of the ten metabolites also reduced. Our findings suggest that intervention through written recommendations can effectively reduce the burden of phthalates during pregnancy.

Adiponectin Deficiency Suppresses Rhabdomyosarcoma Associated with Gut Microbiota Regulation.

The gut microbiota is very important in the initiation, progression, and dissemination of cancer, and the regulation of microbiota has been employed as a novel strategy to enhance the effect of immunotherapy. Adiponectin (APN), an adipocyte-derived hormone, plays a vital role in regulating the immune response of innate immune cells. The deficiency of APN inhibits rhabdomyosarcoma growth. However, whether this function is associated with regulating gut microbiota remains unknown. To investigate, we performed 16S ribosomal RNA (rRNA) gene sequencing on the fecal microbiome of APN gene knockout mice to determine whether APN deletion affects the gut microbiota. We found APN deficiency alters gut microbial functions involved in metabolism, genetic information processing, and cellular processes. In addition, a decreased abundance of Bacteroides and an increased abundance of Prevotella and Helicobacter were observed in rhabdomyosarcoma-bearing APN knockout mice; these bacteria were associated with the inhibition of rhabdomyosarcoma growth. These findings suggest that gut microbiota may be a potential target of APN deficiency against rhabdomyosarcoma.

Intracellular Nonenzymatic In Situ Growth of Three-Dimensional DNA Nanostructures for Imaging Specific Biomolecules in Living Cells.

Real-time in situ monitoring of low-abundance cancer biomarkers (e.g., miRNAs and proteins) in living cells by nonenzymatic assembly entirely from original DNA probes remains unexplored due to an extremely complex intracellular environment. Herein, a nonenzymatic palindrome-catalyzed DNA assembly (NEPA) technique is developed to execute the in situ imaging of intracellular miRNAs by assembling a three-dimensional nanoscale DNA spherical structure (NS) with low mobility from three free hairpin-type DNAs rather than from DNA intermediates based on the interaction of designed terminal palindromes. Target miRNA was detected down to 1.4 pM, and its family members were distinguished with almost 100% accuracy. The subcellular localization of NS products can be visualized in real time. The NEPA-based sensing strategy is also suitable for the intracellular in situ fluorescence imaging of cancer-related protein receptors, offering valuable insight into developing sensing protocols for understanding the biological function of vital biomolecules in disease pathogenesis and future therapeutic applications.

Long noncoding RNA TC0101441 induces epithelial-mesenchymal transition in epithelial ovarian cancer metastasis by downregulating KiSS1.

Peritoneal metastasis is a critical feature and clinical challenge in epithelial ovarian cancer (EOC). We previously identified a novel long noncoding RNA (lncRNA, TC0101441) in epithelial ovarian cancer (EOC) using microarrays. However, the impact of TC0101441 on EOC metastasis and prognosis remains unclear. TC0101441 expression in EOC tissues and its correlation with clinicopathological factors and prognosis were examined. A series of in vitro and in vivo assays were performed to elucidate the roles and mechanism of TC0101441 in EOC metastasis. We found that TC0101441 levels were elevated in EOC tissues compared with those in normal controls and significantly correlated with an advanced clinical stage and lymph node metastasis. TC0101441 was determined to be an independent prognostic predictor of overall survival (OS) and disease-free survival (DFS). Furthermore, loss-of-function assays showed that TC0101441 promoted the invasive and metastatic capacities of EOC cells both in vitro and in vivo. Mechanistically, the prometastatic effects of TC0101441 were linked to the induction of epithelial-mesenchymal transition (EMT). Importantly, KiSS1 was identified as a downstream target gene of TC0101441 and was downregulated by TC0101441 in EOC cells. After TC0101441 was silenced, the corresponding phenotypes of EOC cell invasion and EMT were reversed by the overexpression of KiSS1. Taken together, our data suggest that TC0101441 functions as a potential promigratory/invasive oncogene by promoting EMT and metastasis in EOC through downregulation of KiSS1, which may represent a novel prognostic marker and therapeutic target in EOC.

Factors Correlating to the Development of Hepatitis C Virus Infection among Drug Users-Findings from a Systematic Review and Meta-Analysis.

Hepatitis C remains a significant public health threat. However, the main routes of transmission have changed since the early 1990s. Currently, drug use is the main source of hepatitis C virus (HCV) infection, and some measures have been successively implemented and additional studies have been published. However, the factors correlating with HCV infection failed to clearly define. Our study pooled the odds ratios (ORs) with 95% confidence intervals (CIs) and analyzed sensitivity by searching data in the PubMed, Elsevier, Springer, Wiley, and EBSCO databases. Publication bias was determined by Egger's test. In our meta-analysis, HCV-infected and non-HCV-infected patients from 49 studies were analyzed. The pooled ORs with 95% CIs for study factors were as follows: Injecting drug use 10.11 (8.54, 11.97); sharing needles and syringes 2.24 (1.78, 2.83); duration of drug use >5 years 2.39 (1.54, 3.71); unemployment 1.50 (1.22, 1.85); commercial sexual behavior 1.00 (0.73, 1.38); married or cohabiting with a regular partner 0.88 (0.79, 0.98), and sexual behavior without a condom 1.72 (1.07, 2.78). This study found that drug users with histories of injecting drug use, sharing needles and syringes, drug use duration of >5 years, and unemployment, were at increased risk of HCV infection. Our findings indicate that sterile needles and syringes should be made available to ensure safe injection. In view of that, methadone maintenance treatment can reduce or put an end to risky drug-use behaviors, and should be scaled up further, thereby reducing HCV infection.