Evaluation of the lncRNA-miRNA-mRNA ceRNA network in lungs of miR-147 -/- mice.

Background: Previous studies have documented important roles for microRNA-147 (miR-147) in inflammation, radiation-induced injury, cancer, and a range of other diseases. Murine lungs exhibit high levels of miRNA, mRNA, and lncRNA expression. However, very little research to date has focused on the lncRNA-miRNA-mRNA competing endogenous RNA (ceRNA) networks associated with miR-147, and the regulation of lncRNAs and miRNAs in this setting remains poorly understood. Methods: After establishing a miR-147-/- model mouse, samples of lung tissue were harvested for RNA-sequencing, and differentially expressed lncRNAs, miRNAs, and mRNAs were identified. The miRNA targets of these lncRNAs and the identified miRNAs were first overlapped to facilitate the prediction of target mRNAs, with analyses then examining the overlap between these targets and mRNAs that were differentially expressed. Then, these target mRNAs were subjected to pathway enrichment analyses. These results were ultimately used to establish a miR-147-related ceRNA network. Results: Relative to wild-type mice, the lungs of miR-147-/- mice exhibited 91, 43, and 71 significantly upregulated lncRNAs, miRNAs, and mRNAs, respectively, together with 114, 31, and 156 that were significantly downregulated. The lncRNA-miRNA-mRNA network established based on these results led to the identification of Kcnh6 as a differentially expressed hub gene candidate and enabled the identification of a range of regulatory relationships. KEGG pathway enrichment showed that the mRNA targets of differentially expressed lncRNAs and miRNAs in the mice were associated with tumor-related signaling, endometrial cancer, bladder cancer, and ErbB signaling. Conclusion: These results suggest that the identified ceRNA network in miR-147-/- mice shapes tumor-associated signaling activity, with miR-147 potentially regulating various lncRNAs and miRNAs through Kcnh6, ultimately influencing tumorigenesis. Future studies of the lncRNA, miRNA, and mRNA regulatory targets shown to be associated with miR-147 in the present study may ultimately lead to the identification of novel clinically relevant targets through which miR-147 shapes the pathogenesis of cancer and other diseases.

Evaluating the efficacy of auricular acupuncture for chemotherapy-induced taste alterations: A pilot randomized controlled trial.

PURPOSE: Irrespective of the development of acupuncture-based interventions, clinical evidence regarding their efficacy remains controversial owing to issues with the study design and an unclear risk of bias. This study aimed to evaluate the efficacy of auricular acupuncture in managing taste alterations in patients with cancer undergoing platinum-based chemotherapy. METHODS: We conducted a pilot randomized controlled trial involving 73 patients randomly assigned to an auricular acupuncture or a control group. The primary outcome was the severity of chemotherapy-induced taste alterations, and the secondary outcomes included quality of life and negative emotions of the patients. RESULTS: A total of 49 participants completed the study. Compared to the control group, patients in the auricular acupuncture group showed significant reductions in discomfort, general taste alterations, and total scores on the Chemotherapy-induced Taste Alteration Scale (all p < 0.05). Furthermore, we observed significant improvements in quality of life, including physical function (p = 0.007), role function (p = 0.006), emotional function (p = 0.016), nausea and vomiting (p = 0.021), appetite loss (p = 0.046), and significant improvements in anxiety and depression (p < 0.01). CONCLUSIONS: Our findings suggest that auricular acupuncture may be a beneficial intervention for managing chemotherapy-induced taste alterations in patients with cancer receiving platinum-based chemotherapy. It may also contribute to improvements in quality of life and negative emotions. However, these results are preliminary, and further evaluation with larger randomized controlled trials is necessary.

Analysis of lncRNA-miRNA-mRNA Expression in the Troxerutin-Mediated Prevention of Radiation-Induced Lung Injury in Mice.

Background: Radiation-induced lung injury (RILI) is a critical factor that leads to pulmonary fibrosis and other diseases. LncRNAs and miRNAs contribute to normal tissue damage caused by ionizing radiation. Troxerutin offers protection against radiation; however, its underlying mechanism remains largely undetermined. Methods: We established a model of RILI in mice pretreated with troxerutin. The lung tissue was extracted for RNA sequencing, and an RNA library was constructed. Next, we estimated the target miRNAs of differentially expressed (DE) lncRNAs, and the target mRNAs of DE miRNAs. Then, functional annotations of these target mRNAs were performed using GO and KEGG. Results: Compared to the control group, 150 lncRNA, 43 miRNA, and 184 mRNA were significantly up-regulated, whereas, 189 lncRNA, 15 miRNA, and 146 mRNA were markedly down-regulated following troxerutin pretreatment. Our results revealed that the Wnt, cAMP, and tumor-related signaling pathways played an essential role in RILI prevention via troxerutin using lncRNA-miRNA-mRNA network. Conclusion: These evidences revealed that the abnormal regulation of RNA potentially leads to pulmonary fibrosis. Therefore, targeting lncRNA and miRNA, along with a closer examination of competitive endogenous RNA (ceRNA) networks are of great significance to the identification of troxerutin targets that can protect against RILI.

Autophagy-related gene LAPTM4B promotes the progression of renal clear cell carcinoma and is associated with immunity.

Renal cell carcinoma (RCC) is a common urologic disease. Currently, surgery is the primary treatment for renal cancer; immunotherapy is not as effective a treatment strategy as expected. Hence, understanding the mechanism in the tumor immune microenvironment (TME) and exploring novel immunotherapeutic targets are considered important. Recent studies have demonstrated that autophagy could affect the immune environment of renal cell carcinoma and induce proliferation and apoptosis of cancer cells. By comparing lysosomal genes and regulating autophagy genes, we identified the LAPTM4B gene to be related to RCC autophagy. By analyzing the TCGA-KIRC cohort using bioinformatics, we found M2 macrophages associated with tumor metastasis to be significantly increased in the immune microenvironment of patients with high expression of LAPTM4B. GO/KEGG/GSEA/GSVA results showed significant differences in tumor autophagy- and metastasis-related pathways. Single-cell sequencing was used to compare the expression of LAPTM4B in different cell types and obtain the differences in lysosomal and autophagy pathway activities in different ccRCC cells. Subsequently, we confirmed the differential expression of LAPTM4B in renal cell carcinoma of different Fuhrman grades using western blotting. Downregulation of LAPTM4B expression significantly reduced the proliferation of renal cell carcinoma cells and promoted cell apoptosis through cell experiments. Overall, our study demonstrated that the autophagy-related gene LAPTM4B plays a critical role in the TME of RCC, and suggested that LAPTM4B is a potential therapeutic target for RCC immunotherapy.

Construction and validation of a competing endogenous RNA network in the thymus of miR-147-/- mice.

BACKGROUND: Prior evidence has demonstrated that miR-147 can regulate cellular proliferation, migration, apoptotic death, inflammatory responses, and the replication of viruses through its interactions with specific mRNA targets. LncRNA-miRNA-mRNA interactions are often found in various biological processes. No studies have documented lncRNA-miRNA-mRNA regulatory interactions in miR-147-/- mice. METHODS: Thymus tissue samples from miR-147-/- mice were systematically analyzed to detect patterns of lncRNA, miRNA, and mRNA dysregulation in the absence of this biologically important miRNA. Briefly, RNA-sequencing was used to analyze samples of thymus tissue from wild-type (WT) and miR-147-/- mice. Radiation damage models of miR-147-/- mice were prepared and prophylactic intervention with the drug trt was performed. The validation of miR-47, PDPK1,AKT and JNK were carried out by qRT-PCR, western blot and fluorescence in situ hybridization. Apoptosis was detected by Hoechst staining, and histopathological changes were detected by HE staining. RESULTS: We showed the identification of 235 mRNAs, 63 lncRNAs, and 14 miRNAs that were significantly upregulated in miR-147-/- mice as compared to WT controls, as well as 267 mRNAs, 66 lncRNAs and 12 miRNAs exhibiting significant downregulation. Predictive analyses of the miRNAs targeted by dysregulated lncRNAs and their associated mRNAs were further performed, highlighting the dysregulation of pathways including the Wnt signaling pathway, Thyroid cancer, Endometrial cancer (include PI3K/AKT) and Acute myeloid leukemia pathway(include PI3K/AKT) pathways. Troxerutin (TRT) upregulated PDPK1 via targeting miR-147 to promote AKT activation and inhibit JNK activation in the lungs of mice in radioprotection. CONCLUSION: Together, these results highlight the potentially important role of miR-147 as a key regulator of complex lncRNA-miRNA-mRNA interacting networks. Further research focusing on PI3K/AKT pathways in miR-147-/- mice in radioprotection will thus benefit current knowledge of miR-147 while also informing efforts to improve radioprotection.

Novel B and N Sites of One-Dimensional Boron Nitride Fiber: Efficient Performance and Mechanism in the Formaldehyde Capture Process.

Identification of adsorption centers with atomic levels of adsorbents is crucial to study the adsorption of formaldehyde (HCHO), especially for an in-depth understanding of the mechanism of HCHO capture. Herein, we investigate the HCHO adsorption performance of one-dimensional (1D) nanoporous boron nitride (BN) fiber, and explore the adsorption mechanism by density functional theory (DFT) calculations, including adsorption energy change and Bader charge change, and experimental study as well. Research shows that the 1D nanoporous BN fiber possesses a high concentration of Lewis pairs, which act as Lewis acid and Lewis base sites associated with the fiber's electron-deficient and electron-rich features. It is worth noting that the HCHO removal efficiency of a typical sample is as high as 91%. This work may open the door to the field of adsorption of other pollutants by constructing Lewis pairs in the future.

IC50: an unsuitable measure for large-sized prostate cancer spheroids in drug sensitivity evaluation.

Preclinical models of tumors have the potential to become valuable tools for commercial drug research and development, and 3D culture systems are gaining traction in this area, particularly in prostate cancer (PCa) research. However, nearly all 3D drug design and screening assessments are based on 2D experiments, suggesting limitations of 3D drug testing. To simulate the natural response of human cells to the drug, we detected the half-maximal inhibitory concentration (IC50) changes of 2D/3D LNCaP cells in the drug docetaxel, as well as the sensitivity of different morphologies of 2D/3D LNCaP to docetaxel treatment. In contrast to 2D LNCaP cells, the evaluation of LNCaP spheroids' susceptibility to treatment was more complicated; the fitness of IC50 curves of 2D and 3D tumor cell preclinical models differs significantly. IC50 curves were unsuitable for large-sized LNCaP spheroids. More evaluation indexes (such as max inhibition) and experiments (such as spheroids formation) should be explored and performed to evaluate the susceptibility systematically.

Genome-wide association study of eigenvectors provides genetic insights into selective breeding for tomato metabolites.

BACKGROUND: Long-term domestication and intensive breeding of crop plants aim to establish traits desirable for human needs, and characteristics related to yield, disease resistance, and postharvest storage have traditionally received considerable attention. These processes have led also to negative consequences, as is the case of loss of variants controlling fruit quality, for instance in tomato. Tomato fruit quality is directly associated to metabolite content profiles; however, a full understanding of the genetics affecting metabolite content during tomato domestication and improvement has not been reached due to limitations of the single detection methods previously employed. Here, we aim to reach a broad understanding of changes in metabolite content using a genome-wide association study (GWAS) with eigenvector decomposition (EigenGWAS) on tomato accessions. RESULTS: An EigenGWAS was performed on 331 tomato accessions using the first eigenvector generated from the genomic data as a "phenotype" to understand the changes in fruit metabolite content during breeding. Two independent gene sets were identified that affected fruit metabolites during domestication and improvement in consumer-preferred tomatoes. Furthermore, 57 candidate genes related to polyphenol and polyamine biosynthesis were discovered, and a major candidate gene chlorogenate: glucarate caffeoyltransferase (SlCGT) was identified, which affected the quality and diseases resistance of tomato fruit, revealing the domestication mechanism of polyphenols. CONCLUSIONS: We identified gene sets that contributed to consumer liking during domestication and improvement of tomato. Our study reports novel evidence of selective sweeps and key metabolites controlled by multiple genes, increasing our understanding of the mechanisms of metabolites variation during those processes. It also supports a polygenic selection model for the application of tomato breeding.

Transfer of Invitro CD4 + T Cells with Hypomethylation of Perforin Promoter into Rats' Abdomens Causes Autoimmune Emphysema.

Our previous study suggested that hypomethylation of perforin promoter of CD4 + T cells might be involved in the pathogenesis of autoimmune emphysema of rats. Whether transfer of this kind of cells hypomethylated in vitro into naive immunocompetent rats also results in emphysema is unknown yet. To test the hypothesis above, thirty Sprague Dawley (SD) rats were randomly divided into three groups: a model group (n = 10), a normal control group (n = 10) and a sham operation group (n = 10). In the model group, spleen-derived CD4 + T cells of normal rats were treated with 5-azacytidine (5-Aza), complete Freund's adjuvant and Phosphate Buffered Saline (PBS), then transferred into naive immunocompetent rats. The normal control group was injected with CD4 + T lymphocytes from spleens of normal rats and the same amount of adjuvant and PBS as above. In sham operation group, normal rats were injected intraperitoneally with complete Freund's adjuvant and PBS. Histopathological evaluations (mean linear Intercept (MLI) and mean alveolar numbers (MAN)), anti-endothelial cell antibodies (AECA) in serum and bronchoalveolar lavage fluid (BALF), lung vascular endothelial growth factor (VEGF)), the apoptotic index (AI) of alveolar septal cells and the methylation levels of perforin promoter of CD4 + T cells were investigated. The levels of the methylation above and MAN were lower in the model group than in the control and the sham operation group, while the AECA in serum and BALF, VEGF, MLI and the AI were greater (all p < 0.05). The methylation levels of perforin promoter were positively correlated with the MAN (r = 0.747, p < 0.05) and negatively correlated with AI, AECA, MLI, and VEGF (r was -0.789, -0.746, -0.743, -0.660, respectively, all p < 0.05). This study suggests that transfer of invitro CD4 + T cells with hypomethylation of perforin promoter into rats causes autoimmune emphysema, possibly by increasing expression of VEGF and promoting alveolar septal cell apoptosis.

The Feasibility of Targeted Magnetic Iron Oxide Nanoagent for Noninvasive IgA Nephropathy Diagnosis.

IgA nephropathy is the most common glomerular disease in the world and has become a serious threat to human health. Accurate and non-invasive molecular imaging to detect and recognize the IgA nephropathy is critical for the subsequent timely treatment; otherwise, it may progress to end-stage renal disease and lead to glomerular dysfunction. In this study, we have developed a sensitive, specific, and biocompatible integrin αvß3-targeted superparamagnetic Fe3O4 nanoparticles (NPs) for the noninvasive magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) of integrin αvß3, which is overexpressed in glomerular mesangial region of IgA nephropathy. The rat model of IgA nephropathy was successfully established and verified by biochemical tests and histological staining. Meanwhile, the clinical 18F-AlF-NOTA-PRGD2 probe molecule was utilized to visualize and further confirmed the IgA nephropathy in vivo via positron emission computed tomography. Subsequently, the Fe3O4 NPs were conjugated with arginine-glycine-aspartic acid (RGD) molecules (Fe3O4-RGD), and their integrin αvß3-targeted T2-weighted imaging (T2WI) potential has been carefully evaluated. The Fe3O4-RGD demonstrated great relaxation in vivo. The T2WI signal of renal layers in the targeted group at 3 h after intravenous injection of Fe3O4-RGD was distinctly lower than baseline, indicating MRI signal decreased in the established IgA nephropathy rat model. Moreover, the TEM characterization and Prussian blue staining confirmed that the Fe3O4-RGD was located at the region of glomerulus and tubular interstitium. Moreover, no obvious signal decreased was detected in the untargeted Fe3O4 treated and normal groups. Collectively, our results establish the possibility of Fe3O4-RGD serving as a feasible MRI agent for the noninvasive diagnosis of IgA nephropathy.

A p53/CPEB2 negative feedback loop regulates renal cancer cell proliferation and migration.

The tumor suppressor p53 transactivates the expression of multiple genes to exert its multifaceted functions and ultimately maintains genome stability. Thus, cancer cells develop various mechanisms to diminish p53 expression and bypass the cell cycle checkpoint. In this study, we identified the gene encoding RNA-binding protein cytoplasmic polyadenylation element-binding protein 2 (CPEB2) as a p53 target. In turn, CPEB2 decreases p53 messenger RNA stability and translation to fine-tune p53 level. Specifically, we showed that CPEB2 binds the cytoplasmic polyadenylation elements in the p53 3'-untranslated region, and the RNA recognition motif and zinc finger (ZF) domains of CPEB2 are required for this binding. Furthermore, we found that CPEB2 was upregulated in renal cancer tissues and promotes the renal cancer cell proliferation and migration. The oncogenic effect of CPEB2 is partially dependent on negative feedback regulation of p53. Overall, we identify a novel regulatory feedback loop between p53 and CPEB2 and demonstrate that CPEB2 promotes tumor progression by inactivating p53, suggesting that CPEB2 is a potential therapeutic target in human renal cancer.

The Taxus genome provides insights into paclitaxel biosynthesis.

The ancient gymnosperm genus Taxus is the exclusive source of the anticancer drug paclitaxel, yet no reference genome sequences are available for comprehensively elucidating the paclitaxel biosynthesis pathway. We have completed a chromosome-level genome of Taxus chinensis var. mairei with a total length of 10.23 gigabases. Taxus shared an ancestral whole-genome duplication with the coniferophyte lineage and underwent distinct transposon evolution. We discovered a unique physical and functional grouping of CYP725As (cytochrome P450) in the Taxus genome for paclitaxel biosynthesis. We also identified a gene cluster for taxadiene biosynthesis, which was formed mainly by gene duplications. This study will facilitate the elucidation of paclitaxel biosynthesis and unleash the biotechnological potential of Taxus.

Discovery of potent, orally bioavailable ERK1/2 inhibitors with isoindolin-1-one structure by structure-based drug design.

Constitutive activation of MAPK (RAS/RAF/MEK/ERK) pathway is frequently observed in many tumors and thus has become an interesting therapeutic target for cancer therapy. Despite the successful development of BRAF and MEK inhibitors in clinic treatment, resistance often appears to re-enhance ERK1/2 signaling. Inspired by the central role of the ERK1/2 signaling cascade in cancer, we describe the scaffold-hopping generation of a series of isoindolin-1-one ERK1/2 inhibitors. Our new compounds could inhibit proliferation of KRAS and BRAF mutant cells lines at low nanomolar concentrations. Compound 22a possesses acceptable pharmacokinetic profiles and showed considerable in vivo antitumor efficacy in a HCT-116 xenograft model, providing a promising basis for further optimization towards clinical ERK1/2 inhibitors.

[Electroacupuncture intervention combined with general anesthesia for 80 cases of heart valve replacement surgery under cardiopulmonary bypass].

OBJECTIVE: To determine whether electroacupuncture (EA) intervention combined with general anesthesia (GA) strategy can reduce early post-operative morbidity and medical costs in patients undergoing heart valve replacement operation under cardiopulmonary bypass. METHODS: A total of 160 heart valve replacement surgery patients undergoing cardiopulmonary bypass were randomly divided into GA and EA + GA groups (n = 80 in each group). Patients of the GA group were given with intravenous injection of Fentanyl, Midazolam, Vecuronium Bromide, etc. and routine tracheal intubation. EA (3-4 Hz, 2.0-2.2 mA) was applied to bilateral Zhongfu (LU 1), Chize (LU 5) and Ximen (PC 4) beginning about 20 mm before the surgery in the EA + GA group. Endotracheal intubation was not employed but only prepared as a standby for patients of the EA + GA group. The dosage of narcotic drugs, duration of surgery, duration of aertic blockage, rate of cardiac re-beating, volumes of post-operative blood transfusion, discharge volume, cases of post-operative pulmonary infection, vocal cord injury, and the time of first bed-off, first eating and duration in intensive care unit (IOU) residence. etc. were recorded. RESULTS: The successful rates of heart valve replacement surgery were similar in both GA and EA + GA groups. Compared with the GA group, the dosages of Fentanyl, Midazolam and Vecuronium of the EA + GA group were significantly lower (P < 0.05, P < 0.01), the numbers of patients needing blood-transfusion, antibiotics treatment, and suffering from pulmonary infection were fewer, the time of first bed-off and duration of hospitalizetion and IOU residence were considerably shorter (P < 0.05, P < 0.01) and the total medical cost was obviously lower (P < 0.05) in the EA + GA group. CONCLUSION: EA combined with general anesthesia strategy for heart valve replacement surgery without endotracheal intubation is safe and can reduce post-operative morbidity and medical costs in patients undergoing heart valve replacement surgery under cardiopulmonary bypass.

[Post-operative management for 86 cases of heart valve replacement surgery patients undergoing transcutaneous electrical acupoint stimulation combined with general anesthesia].

OBJECTIVE: To summarize post-operative management strategy for heart valve replacement surgery under transcutaneous electrical acupoint stimulation (TEAS) combined with general anesthesia. METHODS: From July 2006 to June 2012, a total of 86 cases of open-heart surgery patients experiencing TEAS plus general anesthesia with cardiopulmonary bypass (heart valve replacement surgery without intubation) were recruited in the present summary. Post-operative managements in the Intensive Care Unit (ICU) were administrated with strict hemodynamic monitoring for volume infusion, routine administration of vasoactive drugs (including dopamine and nitroglycerin), oxygen inhalation, and analgesics and monitoring of central nervous system and renal function. RESULTS: All the 86 patients under TEAS + general anesthesia and cardiopulmonary bypass and without intubation experienced successful heart valve replacement surgery. The post-operative pulmonary infection was found in 8 cases (9.30%), the average stay duration in ICU was (28.6 +/- 6.2) hours, and the average draining volume of the interpleural space was (291 +/- 73)mL. The cardia insufficiency was found in 5 cases (5.81%), hypoxia occurred in 8 cases (9.30%), nausea in 8 cases (9.30%), vomiting 5 cases (5.81%) and post-operative gastrointestinal distension 13 cases (15.12%), mild renal insufficiency 3 cases (3.49%), fever (> 38.5 degrees C) 1 case(1. 16%) and severe post-operative pain 7 cases (8.14%). CONCLUSION: TEAS combined with general anesthesia is safe for patients undergoing heart valve replacement surgery under cardiopulmonary bypass. The key points of treatment in ICU are volume infusion, body temperature maintenance, and pain control.

AKAP3 synthesis is mediated by RNA binding proteins and PKA signaling during mouse spermiogenesis.

Mammalian spermatogenesis is regulated by coordinated gene expression in a spatiotemporal manner. The spatiotemporal regulation of major sperm proteins plays important roles during normal development of the male gamete, of which the underlying molecular mechanisms are poorly understood. A-kinase anchoring protein 3 (AKAP3) is one of the major components of the fibrous sheath of the sperm tail that is formed during spermiogenesis. In the present study, we analyzed the expression of sperm-specific Akap3 and the potential regulatory factors of its protein synthesis during mouse spermiogenesis. Results showed that the transcription of Akap3 precedes its protein synthesis by about 2 wk. Nascent AKAP3 was found to form protein complex with PKA and RNA binding proteins (RBPs), including PIWIL1, PABPC1, and NONO, as revealed by coimmunoprecipitation and protein mass spectrometry. RNA electrophoretic gel mobility shift assay showed that these RBPs bind sperm-specific mRNAs, of which proteins are synthesized during the elongating stage of spermiogenesis. Biochemical and cell biological experiments demonstrated that PIWIL1, PABPC1, and NONO interact with each other and colocalize in spermatids' RNA granule, the chromatoid body. In addition, NONO was found in extracytoplasmic granules in round spermatids, whereas PIWIL1 and PABPC1 were diffusely localized in cytoplasm of elongating spermatids, indicating their participation at different steps of mRNA metabolism during spermatogenesis. Interestingly, type I PKA subunits colocalize with PIWIL1 and PABPC1 in the cytoplasm of elongating spermatids and cosediment with the RBPs in polysomal fractions on sucrose gradients. Further biochemical analyses revealed that activation of PKA positively regulates AKAP3 protein synthesis without changing its mRNA level in elongating spermatids. Taken together, these results indicate that PKA signaling directly participates in the regulation of protein translation in postmeiotic male germ cells, underscoring molecular mechanisms that regulate protein synthesis during mouse spermiogenesis.

Hormone replacement therapy and risk of meningioma in women: a meta-analysis.

PURPOSE: The relationship between hormone replacement therapy (HRT) and the incidence of meningioma in women has been investigated in several epidemiologic studies, but their results were not entirely consistent. Here, we performed a meta-analysis of case-control and cohort studies to analyze this association. METHODS: The PubMed database was searched from inception to 30 September 2012 to identify relevant studies that met pre-stated inclusion criteria. We also reviewed reference lists from the retrieved articles. Two researchers evaluated study eligibility and extracted the data independently. Odds ratios (ORs) or relative risks and 95 % confidence intervals (CIs) were extracted and pooled using the fixed-effect or random-effects models. RESULTS: A total of 11 studies (six case-control and five cohort studies) were included in this meta-analysis, involving 1,820,954 participants, of whom 3,249 had meningioma. When compared to never users of HRT, the pooled OR with ever users for meningioma was 1.29 (95 % CI 1.03-1.60). Sensitivity analyses restricted to postmenopausal women yielded similar results (OR: 1.22; 95 % CI 1.02-1.46). Subgroup analyses showed that the pooled ORs were 1.27 (95 % CI 1.08-1.49, p < 0.05) and 1.12 (95 % CI 0.95-1.32) for current and past users of HRT, respectively. CONCLUSION: Hormone replacement therapy use is associated with an increased risk of meningioma in women, as well as in postmenopausal women. Besides, the significant risk elevation is present in current users but not in past users. Future research should attempt to establish whether this association is causal and to clarify its mechanisms.

Glutathione S-transferase M1, T1, and P1 polymorphisms and risk of glioma: a meta-analysis.

The relationship between genetic polymorphisms of glutathione S-transferase (GST) and the development of glioma has been investigated in several epidemiologic studies. However these studies report inconsistent results. In order to quantitatively summarise the evidence for such a relationship, a meta-analysis is conducted. The PubMed database was searched from inception to January 2012 to identify relevant studies that met pre-stated inclusion criteria. We also reviewed reference lists from retrieved articles. Two researchers evaluated study eligibility and extracted the data independently, and disagreements were resolved by discussion. The principal outcome measure was the odds ratio (OR) with 95 % confidence interval (CI) for the risk of glioma associated with GSTM1, GSTT1, GSTP1 I105V or GSTP1 A114V. This meta-analysis included 11 case-control studies, which included 2,404 glioma cases and 6,379 controls. The combined results based on all studies showed that there was no association between any of the GST variants and the risk of glioma (for GSTM1: pooled OR = 1.03; 95 % CI, 0.92-1.15; for GSTT1: pooled OR = 1.12; 95 % CI, 0.90-1.40; for GSTP1 I105V: pooled OR = 0.92; 95 % CI, 0.64-1.31 and for GSTP1 A114V: pooled OR = 1.14; 95 % CI, 0.97-1.34). Subgroup analyses showed that GSTP1 A114V genotype was associated with an increased risk of other histopathologic glioma except glioblastoma multiforme (GBM) (pooled OR = 1.30; 95 % CI = 1.06-1.60); no relationship was found between other GST variants and histopathologic groups. In conclusion, our meta-analysis suggests no association between GST variants and the risk of glioma. However, the significant risk elevation is present between GSTP1 A114V genotype and other histopathologic glioma except GBM.

Smoking and risk of meningioma: a meta-analysis.

OBJECTIVE: The relationship between smoking and the development of meningioma has been investigated in several epidemiological studies. However, the results of these studies are inconsistent. We conducted a meta-analysis in order to identify any potential association. METHODS: PubMed, the Cochrane Library, and EMBASE databases were searched to identify relevant articles that investigated the risk of meningioma following cigarette smoking. Two researchers evaluated study eligibility and extracted the data independently, and disagreements were resolved by discussion. The variables used to estimate the pooled risk of smoking in meningioma development were the multivariate-adjusted risk estimates presented in the literature. RESULTS: Seven case-control and two cohort studies were included in this meta-analysis. The pooled estimated risks associated with ever smoking for meningioma were 1.02 (95% confidence interval (CI): 0.85-1.21) in the case-control studies, 0.93 (95% CI: 0.83-1.04) in the cohort studies and 0.95 (95% CI: 0.87-1.05, P = 0.32) in all studies when the cohort and case-control data were combined. Subgroup analyses suggested that the risk estimates were 1.49 (95% CI: 1.06-2.09, P = 0.02), 0.86 (95% CI: 0.65-1.13), 0.79 (95% CI: 0.50-1.25) and 0.84 (95% CI: 0.69-1.03) for men, women, current and past smoking respectively. Sensitivity analyses restricted to studies with different adjustments for confounders yielded similar results. No evidence of publication bias was observed. CONCLUSION: Our meta-analysis suggests that there is no association between ever smoking and the risk of meningioma. However, a small but significant risk elevation is present among men smokers.

Acupuncture anesthesia for open heart surgery in contemporary China.

BACKGROUND: Although the use of acupuncture anesthesia for open heart surgery, which was introduced in China four decades ago, has declined in recent years, there is a renewed interest in it in contemporary China due to the escalating medical costs associated with open heart surgery. This study was aimed to determine whether a combined acupuncture-medicine anesthesia (CAMA) strategy reduces early postoperative morbidity and medical costs in patients undergoing open heart operation under cardiopulmonary bypass. METHODS: From July 2006 to October 2010, CAMA was applied in 100 patients undergoing open heart surgery in comparison with another 100 patients under the conventional general anesthesia (GA). For all the CAMA patients, an abdominal breathing training program was practiced for the 3 consecutive days prior to operation. About 15 to 20 min prior to surgical incision, acupuncture needles were inserted into the bilateral points ZhongFu, LieQue, and XiMen. During operation, patients were kept on spontaneous breathing. Endotracheal intubation was not employed but only prepared as a standby. The narcotic drugs, fentanyl and midazolam, were intravenously injected but in very low doses as compared to GA. Open heart procedures were performed routinely in both groups. RESULTS: Compared with the GA patients, the CAMA patients had a less usage of narcotic drugs (p<0.001), less postoperative pulmonary infection (p<0.05), shorter stay in intensive care unit (p<0.05), and a lower medical cost (P<0.05). CONCLUSIONS: A combined acupuncture-medicine anesthesia strategy reduces the postoperative morbidity and medical costs in patients undergoing open heart surgery under cardiopulmonary bypass.