Prognostic value of visfatin in various human malignancies: A systematic review and meta-analysis.

Although numerous studies have shown that visfatin is linked to several cancers, its prognostic value is still unclear. This first comprehensive meta-analysis was performed to evaluate the prognostic effect of visfatin in cancer patients. A systematic search was conducted for relevant studies in health-related electronic databases up to May 2019. The pooled hazard ratios (HRs) and ORs with 95% confidence intervals (CIs) for total and stratified analyses were calculated to demonstrate the prognostic value of visfatin expression level in cancer patients. Heterogeneity and publication bias were also investigated. A total of 14 eligible studies with 1616 patients were included in the current meta-analysis. Pooling results revealed that, high visfatin expression was significantly associated with poorer overall survival (OS) (HR = 2.43, 95% CI 1.64-3.62, P < 0.001). Elevated visfatin level was also correlated with positive lymph node metastasis (OR = 2.45, 95% CI 1.43-4.17, P ≤ 0.001), positive distance metastasis (OR = 2014, 95% CI 1.25-3.69, P ≤ 0.001), advanced tumor stage (OR = 3.01, 95% CI 1.91-7.72, P ≤ 0.001), and larger tumor size (OR = 1.99, 95% CI 1.49-2.69, P ≤ 0.001). Our meta-results indicates that altered visfatin expression is a potential indicator of poor clinical outcomes in tumor patients, suggesting that high visfatin expression may serve as a potential biomarker of poor prognosis and metastasis in cancers.

Alteration in Expression of Trim29, TRIM37, TRIM44, and ß-Catenin Genes After Irradiation in Human Cells with Different Radiosensitivity.

Introduction: Radiotherapy is a crucial component of treatment for ∼70% of all cancer patients. The identification of effective biomarkers of radiosensitivity (RS) is a fundamental goal of radiobiology. The authors hypothesize that the RS of human normal and tumoral cells is correlated by the level of expression of TRIM29, TRIM37, TRIM44, and ß-catenin genes. Materials and Methods: Clonogenic assay was performed and RS of four cell lines was determined by survival fraction at 2 Gy. To determine the level of gene expression 6 and 24 h after irradiation, RNA was extracted from each cell line, and expression of the above-mentioned genes in cell lines with different RS was determined by real-time polymerase chain reaction (PCR). Results: The clonogenic assay showed that human dermal fibroblasts (fibroblast) and HT-29 (colorectal) cells are radioresistant, while human foreskin fibroblasts (fibroblast) and QU-DB (lung) cells are radiosensitive. Analysis of the real-time PCR data, 6 h after irradiation, showed that the increase and decrease of the expression of TRIM29 and TRIM37 genes were directly correlated with the RS of normal and tumor cells. At 24 h postirradiation, a considerable difference was only observed in the expression of the ß-catenin gene. Conclusion: This study showed that the TRIM29 and TRIM37 genes are involved in the cell response to radiation and proposed that these genes may be biomarkers for predicting RS in normal and tumoral cell lines.

Clinical significance of TRIM29 expression in patients with gastric cancer.

Aim: The present study aimed to evaluate the expression profile, prognostic value, and possible correlation of TRIM29 with ß-catenin, Cyclin D, and Bcl2 in Iranian patients with GC. Background: Tripartite Motif Containing 29 (TRIM29) has been reported to function as an oncogene or a tumor suppressor depending on the tumor type. This contextual function has created a controversial situation that needs to be fully delineated in various cancers. Although few studies have reported an elevated TRIM29 expression in gastric cancer (GC), its clinicopathological and prognostic values as well as possible molecular mechanisms are yet to be re-evaluated in different populations. Methods: Real-time quantitative PCR was used to detect TRIM29, ß-catenin, Cyclin D, and Bcl-2 expression in 40 GC and their adjacent normal tissues. Patients were further stratified into high and low expression subgroups based on their TRIM29 expression levels. The association of TRIM29 expression level with ß-catenin, Cyclin D, BCL2, some clinicopathological features, and patients' overall survival (OS) was assessed using appropriate statistical analyses. Results: The results showed a significantly higher TRIM29 expression level in GC tissues compared with their corresponding normal tissues (fold change=2.94, p=0.003). Patients with high TRIM29 expression levels exhibited poorer OS (HR=1.25, 95% CI: 1.06-1.47, p=0.007). High expression of TRIM29 was also associated with increased levels of ß-catenin, Cyclin D, and Bcl-2 genes expression. Conclusion: Overexpression of TRIM29 is associated with poor prognosis in patients with GC and is probably mediated through ß-catenin/Cyclin D/Bcl2 pathway and can be considered as a potential independent prognostic marker.

Decreased expression of TRIM3 gene predicts a poor prognosis in gastric cancer.

BACKGROUND/AIMS: Tripartite motif-containing 3 (TRIM3) is a member of the TRIM protein family which is known to be involved in development of numerous tumor types. However, the prognostic role of TRIM3 in gastric cancer (GC) remained to be clarified. The aim of this study was to evaluate the expression pattern and prognostic significance of TRIM3 gene and its relationship with ß-catenin, CyclinD, and BCL2 expression in patients with GC. METHODS: A total of 40 fresh primary gastric cancer tumors and their matched adjacent noncancerous tissues were selected from the First Affiliated Hospital of Mashhad University. Real-time quantitative RT-PCR was performed to evaluate differences in TRIM3 expression in GC and normal tissues. The correlation between TRIM3 expression level and patients' overall survival, some clinicopathological variables, and ß-catenin, CyclinD, and BCL-2 genes expression level were also studied. Moreover, patients were divided in two groups according to the TRIM3 expression levels: low and high. RESULTS: Compared to noncancerous tissues, TRIM3 expression in GC tissues was significantly increased (fold change = 1.58). Kaplan-Meier survival analysis revealed a significant difference of patient survival according to TRIM3 expression status (P = 0.012). Low TRIM3 expression was associated with shorter overall survival and was an independent predictor for poor prognosis in GC patients (HR, 1.25; 95%CI, 1.02-1.60; P = 0.045). Expression of TRIM3 was negatively correlated with expression of ß-catenin, BCL-2, and CyclinD as genes for proliferation, apoptosis, and the cell cycle in GC patients. CONCLUSIONS: This study demonstrates that decreased level of TRIM3 mRNA expression is associated with poor prognosis in patients with gastric cancer. TRIM3 may play a protective role in gastric cancer by relieving the effects of cancer progressive genes and could be considered for further investigations as a prognostic biomarker.

The possible prophylactic effect of Nigella sativa seed aqueous extract on respiratory symptoms and pulmonary function tests on chemical war victims: a randomized, double-blind, placebo-controlled trial.

BACKGROUND: In previous studies, the relaxant, anticholinergic (functional antagonism), and antihistaminic effects of various extracts and oils of Nigella sativa seed have been demonstrated. In the present study, the prophylactic effect of a boiled aqueous extract of nigella seed on chemical war victims was examined. METHODS: Forty (40) chemical war victims were randomly divided into control group (20 patients) and study group (20 patients), and they were studied for 2 months. In the study group 0.375 mL/kg of 50 g% boiled extract and in the control group a placebo solution were administered daily throughout the study. Respiratory symptom score and wheezing were recorded in the beginning (first visit), 30 days after treatment (second visit), and at the end of the study (third visit). Pulmonary function tests (PFTs) were also measured, and the drug regimen of the patients was evaluated at 3 different visits. RESULTS: All respiratory symptoms, chest wheezing, and PFT values in the study group significantly improved in the second and third visits compared to the first visit (p < 0.05 to p < 0.001). In addition, further improvement of chest wheezing and some PFT values on the third visit were observed compared to the second visit in this group (p < 0.05 to p < 0.001). In the third visits, all PFT values and most symptoms in the study group were significantly different from those of the control group (p < 0.01 to p < 0.001). However, in the control group, there were only small improvements in some parameters in the second and third visits. The use of inhaler and oral beta-agonists and oral corticosteroid in the study group decreased at the end of the study, while there were no obvious changes in use of the drugs in control subjects. CONCLUSIONS: The results of this study suggest a prophylactic effect of N. sativa on chemical war victims and warrant further research regarding this effect.