A novel peptide protects against diet-induced obesity by suppressing appetite and modulating the gut microbiota.

OBJECTIVE: The obesity epidemic and its metabolic complications continue to be a major global public health threat with limited effective treatments, especially drugs that can be taken orally. Peptides are a promising class of molecules that have gained increased interest for their applications in medicine and biotechnology. In this study, we focused on looking for peptides that can be administrated orally to treat obesity and exploring its mechanisms. DESIGN: Here, a 9-amino-acid peptide named D3 was designed and administered orally to germ-free (GF) mice and wild-type (WT) mice, rats and macaques. The effects of D3 on body weight and other basal metabolic parameters were evaluated. The effects of D3 on gut microbiota were evaluated using 16S rRNA amplicon sequencing. To identify and confirm the mechanisms of D3, transcriptome analysis of ileum and molecular approaches on three animal models were performed. RESULTS: A significant body weight reduction was observed both in WT (12%) and GF (9%) mice treated with D3. D3 ameliorated leptin resistance and upregulated the expression of uroguanylin (UGN), which suppresses appetite via the UGN-GUCY2C endocrine axis. Similar effects were also found in diet-induced obese rat and macaque models. Furthermore, the abundance of intestinal Akkermansia muciniphila increased about 100 times through the IFNγ-Irgm1 axis after D3 treatment, which may further inhibit fat absorption by downregulating Cd36. CONCLUSION: Our results indicated that D3 is a novel drug candidate for counteracting diet-induced obesity as a non-toxic and bioactive peptide. Targeting the UGN-GUCY2C endocrine axis may represent a therapeutic strategy for the treatment of obesity.

Pan-cancer analyses of pyroptosis with functional implications for prognosis and immunotherapy in cancer.

BACKGROUND: Programmed cell death is an active and orderly form of cell death regulated by intracellular genes that plays an important role in the normal occurrence and development of the immune system, and pyroptosis has been found to be involved in tumorigenesis and development. However, compressive analysis and biological regulation of pyroptosis genes are lacking in cancers. METHODS: Using data from The Cancer Genome Atlas, we established a score level model to quantify the pyroptosis level in cancer. Multiomics bioinformatic analyses were performed to assess pyroptosis-related molecular features and the effect of pyroptosis on immunotherapy in cancer. RESULTS: In the present study, we performed a comprehensive analysis of pyroptosis and its regulator genes in cancers. Most pyroptosis genes were aberrantly expressed in different types of cancer, attributed to the CAN frequency and differences in DNA methylation levels. We established a pyroptosis level model and found that pyroptosis had dual roles across cancers, while the pyroptosis levels were different among multiple cancers and were significantly associated with clinical prognosis. The dual role of pyroptosis was also shown to affect immunotherapeutic efficacy in several cancers. Multiple pyroptosis genes showed close associations with drug sensitivity across cancers and may be considered therapeutic targets in cancer. CONCLUSIONS: Our comprehensive analyses provide new insight into the functions of pyroptosis in the initiation, development, progression and treatment of cancers, suggesting corresponding prognostic and therapeutic utility.

Silencing GOLGA8B inhibits cell invasion and metastasis by suppressing STAT3 signaling pathway in lung squamous cell carcinoma.

Changes to some Golgi subfamily member proteins are reported to be involved in tumor metastasis. However, the functional role and potential mechanism of the Golgi A8 family member B (GOLGA8B) in lung squamous cell carcinoma (LUSC) remains unknown. In the present study, GOLGA8B expression was detected using qRT-PCR, Western blot, and immunohistochemistry (IHC). In vivo animal experiments and in vitro functional assays were performed to explore the function of GOLGA8B in LUSC. Luciferase assays were performed to investigate the underlying targets of GOLGA8B in LUSC. GOLGA8B was shown to be highly expressed in LUSC metastasis tissue, and significantly associated with the distant metastasis-free survival of LUSC patients. Loss-of-function assays indicated that silencing GOLGA8B suppressed LUSC cell tumorigenesis in vivo and weakened in vitro invasion and migration. GOLGA8B silencing-induced inhibition of invasion and migration was associated with the inactivation of STAT3 signaling. Importantly, these results showed that the number of circulating tumor cells (CTCs) was markedly higher in the GOLGA8B silencing group than in the control vector group. GOLGA8B expression was positively associated with p-STAT3 expression in LUSC tissue. Study findings revealed a novel mechanism by which GOLGA8B promotes tumor metastasis in LUSC cells and suggests that this protein could be a promising target for antitumor metastasis therapy in LUSC patients.

[Value of Head and Neck CT Angiography in the Clinical Evaluation of Intraoperative Bleeding Volume of Carotid Body Tumours].

Objective To investigate the value of head and neck CT angiography(CTA)in the evaluation of intraoperative hemorrhage of carotid body tumours. Methods Head and neck CTA images of 36 patients with carotid body tumours confirmed by pathology were retrospectively analyzed.Patients were divided into two groups based on the intraoperative bleeding volume:<500 ml and≥500 ml groups.The patient's age,sex,Shamblin classification,size of the lesion,number of blood supply arteries,course of the disease,plain scan,and enhanced CT value between two groups were compared and analyzed.Logistics regression equation was established based on the CTA parameters with significant differences between the two intraoperative bleeding volume groups,and combined parameter was acquired.The receiver operating characteristic curve was established based on CTA single and combined parameters. Results The bleeding volume during the operation of carotid body tumors was significantly correlated with the age of patients(P=0.019),the maximum diameter of tumours on axial images(P=0.003),the maximum upper and lower diameters(P=0.004),Shamblin classification(P=0.012),and number of blood supply arteries(P<0.001).The area under the receiver operating characteristic curve of the number of feeding arteries,the maximum diameter of axial images,maximum upper and lower diameters,Shamblin classification,and combined parameters were 0.865,0.781,0.806,0.766,and 0.927,respectively.When the optimal critical value was 0.408,the Youden index was 0.794,and the corresponding accuracy,sensitivity,and specificity were 0.919,0.909,and 0.923,respectively. Conclusions Preoperative head and neck CTA can be used to evaluate the intraoperative blood loss.Combined parameters has the best diagnostic performance compared with single parameters.

Quantitative proteome analysis identifies MAP2K6 as potential regulator of LIFR-induced radioresistance in nasopharyngeal carcinoma cells.

Using Tandem Mass Tags (TMT) labeling and LC-MS/MS analysis of peptides from two cell lines (CNE2 and its radioresistant subclone CNE2-IR), we identified 754 proteins differentially expressed in CNE2-IR compared to CNE2. MAP2K6 was identified as a candidate radioresistance-related protein kinase. In vitro functional analysis revealed that over-expression of MAP2K6 significantly enhanced cell survival and colony formation following irradiation in NPC cells. Further, knockdown of MAP2K6 in radioresistant NPC cells led to decreased colony formation and increased apoptotic cells following irradiation. However, the effect of MAP2K6 in regulating the radioresistance in NPC cells did not seem to depend on p38/MAPK activity. Importantly, MAP2K6 might be required for leukemia inhibitory factor receptor (LIFR)-regulated radioresistance, as the expression levels of MAP2K6 affected LIFR/p70S6K signaling activation in NPC cells. Further, MAP2K6 kinase activity is required to activate LIFR/p70S6K signaling and to confer pro-survival effect on NPC cells. In conclusion, MAP2K6 might be an important regulator of LIFR-induced radioresistance in NPC.

Prevalence of depression or depressive symptoms among people living with HIV/AIDS in China: a systematic review and meta-analysis.

BACKGROUND: The number of people living with HIV/AIDS (PLHA) in China continues to increase. Depression, a common mental disorder in this population, may confer a higher likelihood of worse health outcomes. An estimate of the prevalence of this disorder among PLHA is required to guide public health policy, but the published results vary widely and lack accuracy in China. The goal of this study was to estimate the pooled prevalence of depression or depressive symptoms among PLHA in China. METHODS: A systematic literature search of several databases was conducted from inception to June 2017, focusing on studies reporting on depression or depressive symptoms among PLHA in China. The risk of bias of individual studies was assessed using a modified version of the Newcastle-Ottawa scale. The overall prevalence estimates were pooled using random-effects meta-analysis. Differences according to study-level characteristics were examined using stratified meta-analysis and meta-regression. RESULTS: Seventy-four observational studies including a total of 20,635 PLHA were included. The pooled prevalence of depression or depressive symptoms was 50.8% (95% CI: 46.0-55.5%) among general PLHA, 43.9% (95% CI: 36.2-51.9%) among HIV-positive men who have sex with men, 85.6% (95% CI: 64.1-95.2%) among HIV-positive former blood/plasma donors, and 51.6% (95% CI: 31.9-70.8%) among other HIV-positive populations. Significant heterogeneity was detected across studies regarding these prevalence estimates. Heterogeneity in the prevalence of depression among the general population of PLHA was partially explained by the geographic location and baseline survey year. CONCLUSIONS: Because of the significant heterogeneity detected across studies regarding these prevalence estimates of depression or depressive symptoms, the results must be interpreted with caution. Our findings suggest that the estimates of depression or depressive symptoms among PLHA in China are considerable, which highlights the need to integrate screening and providing treatment for mental disorders in the treatment package offered to PLHA, which would ultimately lead to better health outcomes in PLHA.

High expression of Ki-67 acts a poor prognosis indicator in locally advanced nasopharyngeal carcinoma.

Nasopharyngeal carcinoma (NPC) is a common head and neck malignancy in Southern China and Southeast Asia compared with Western countries. The standard treatment for NPC is radiotherapy. However, radioresistance remains a serious obstacle to satisfactory treatment, it can cause local recurrence and distant metastases in some patients after treatment by radiation. We retrospectively reviewed 108 NPC patients (7th AJCC Ⅲ-Ⅳa) who have received intensity modulated radiation therapy (IMRT) between August 2008 and January 2012 at Xiangya Hospital of Central South University. Ninety-eight patients with >60% reduction of tumor size after radiation treatment were regarded as radiation sensitive, Ten patients with <40% reduction of tumor size after radiation treatment were regarded as radiation resistant. Using immunohistochemistry, we found that the high expression rate of Ki-67 in radiation resistant and radiation sensitive patients was 80.0% and 42.6%, respectively, and the difference was statistically significant (p = 0.025). The 5-year progress free survival rates in patients with low and high expression of Ki-67 was 70.7% and 48.0%, respectively, and the difference was statistically significant (p = 0.0008). Multivariate Cox regression analysis identified that high expression of Ki-67 was an independent negative prognostic factor in nasopharyngeal carcinoma patients [Hazard ratio (95% CI), 2.098(1.101, 3.996); p = 0.024]. These results demonstrate that high expression of Ki-67 contributes to radiation resistance and acts a poor prognosis indicator in patients with locally advanced nasopharyngeal carcinoma.

Red blood cell distribution width and carotid intima-media thickness in patients with metabolic syndrome.

BACKGROUND: To evaluate the relationship between red blood cell distribution width (RDW) and carotid intima-media thickness (CIMT) in metabolic syndrome (MetS) patients. METHODS: In this study, we analyzed 803 patients with MetS who underwent carotid ultrasonography examination at Henan Province Hospital of Traditional Chinese Medicine from October 2014 to September 2015. Demographic data were collected using a questionnaire. An automatic biochemistry analyzer measured RDW. Pearson correlation coefficient, multivariate linear and logistic regression was used to evaluate the correlation between RDW and CIMT. RESULTS: Compared with control group, case group had higher RDW level (P < 0.001) and CIMT (P < 0.001). CIMT was positively related to RDW (r = 0.436, P < 0.001). Logistic regression indicated that RDW was a predictor of CIMT ≥ 1 mm. Compared with the first quartile, people with third and fourth quartile level gave obvious higher risk of carotid artery atherosclerotic trend (OR = 1.41, 95% CI:1.01-197; OR = 2.10, 95% CI: 1.30-3.40). Using a cutoff point of 13.9%, RDW predicts elevated CIMT with a sensitivity of 62.1% and a specificity of 70.3%. CONCLUSION: High RDW is related to the increased CIMT in MetS patients, which highlights the role of RDW in the progression of elevated CIMT in MetS patients.

Prevalence of attention deficit/hyperactivity disorder among children and adolescents in China: a systematic review and meta-analysis.

BACKGROUND: Attention deficit/hyperactivity disorder (ADHD), the most common childhood neurobehavioural disorder, can produce a series of negative effects on children, adolescents, and even adults as well as place a serious economic burden on families and society. However, the prevalence of ADHD is not well understood in China. The goal of this study was to estimate the pooled prevalence of ADHD among children and adolescents in China using a systematic review and meta-analysis. METHODS: A systematic literature search was conducted in PubMed, Web of Science, MEDLINE, CNKI, Wanfang, Weipu and CBM databases, and relevant articles published from inception to March 1, 2016, that provided the prevalence of ADHD among children and adolescents in China were reviewed. The risk of bias in individual studies was assessed using the Risk of Bias Tool for prevalence studies. Pooled-prevalence estimates were calculated with a random-effects model. Sources of heterogeneity were explored using subgroup analyses. RESULTS: Sixty-seven studies with a total of 275,502 individuals were included in this study. The overall pooled-prevalence of ADHD among children and adolescents in China was 6.26% (95% CI: 5.36-7.22%) with significant heterogeneity (I2 = 99.0%, P < 0.001). The subgroup analyses showed that, the variables "geographic location" and "source of information" partially explained of the heterogeneity in this study (P < 0.05). The prevalence of ADHD-I was the highest of the subtypes, followed by ADHD-HI and ADHD-C. CONCLUSIONS: The prevalence of ADHD among children and adolescents in China is generally consistent with the worldwide prevalence and shows that ADHD affects quite a large number of people under 18 years old. However, a nationwide study is needed to provide more accurate estimations.

Association between CYP3A5 genotypes with hypertension in Chinese Han population: A case-control study.

BACKGROUND: The association of CYP3A5 gene polymorphisms with hypertension in the Chinese population is unknown. We explored the association between the CYP3A5 (rs776746) gene and hypertension in the Chinese Han population. METHODS: Using a case-control design, 340 cases and 254 controls were enrolled from the Third Affiliated Hospital of South Medical University between July and December of 2015. We used a standardized questionnaire to collect data regarding age, sex, smoking, drinking, family history of hypertension, and physical exercise. Height and weight were measured, and the body mass index (BMI) was calculated by weight/height2. Blood pressure was measured three times after 5 min of rest with at least 15 s between measurements, and the mean was considered the final BP. A Clinical examination was conducted. RESULTS: A total of 594 participants, including 340 cases and 254 controls, were entered into the analyses. The genotype frequencies of the CYP3A5 G>A polymorphism did not deviate from the Hardy-Weinberg equilibrium. The genotype frequencies among the cases were 38.8% (GA, 132 individuals), 42.9% (GG, 146 individuals), and 18.2% (AA, 62 individuals). The differences in genotype between the cases and the controls were statistically significant. The AA genotype was associated with an elevated risk of hypertension after adjusting for potential confounders in Model 2. There was no interaction between smoking and the CYP3A5 genotype, while the interaction between drinking and the CYP3A5 genotype was significant. CONCLUSION: The CYP3A5 gene may be associated with the risk of hypertension in the Chinese Han population, and this effect may be exacerbated by drinking.

Prevalence of osteoporosis in China: a meta-analysis and systematic review.

BACKGROUND: We conducted a systematic review and meta-analysis to obtain a reliable estimation of the prevalence of osteoporosis in China and to characterize its epidemiology. METHODS: We identified relevant studies via a search of literature published from 2003 to October 2015 in the PubMed, Web of Science, China National Knowledge Infrastructure, Wanfang and Weipu databases. Both Chinese and WHO criteria were considered acceptable for the diagnosis of osteoporosis. Prevalence estimates were obtained using random effects models. Meta-regression analysis was used to explore the sources of heterogeneity, and publication bias was evaluated by visually inspecting funnel plots. RESULTS: Overall, 69 articles were included in this study. An obvious increase in the prevalence of osteoporosis was identified over the past 12 years (prevalence of 14.94 % before 2008 and 27.96 % during the period spanning 2012-2015). The prevalence of osteoporosis was higher in females than in males (25.41 % vs. 15.33 %) and increased with age. Osteoporosis prevalence was higher in rural than in urban areas (20.87 % vs. 23.92 %) and higher in southern than in northern areas (23.17 % vs. 20.13 %). At present, the pooled prevalence of osteoporosis in people aged 50 years and older was more than twice the pooled prevalence identified in 2006 (34.65 % vs. 15.7 %). The application of different diagnostic criteria could have an impact on prevalence estimation (19.7 % vs. 29.3 %). Meta-regression suggested that study setting also influenced the estimation of point prevalence (P = 0.022). CONCLUSIONS: The prevalence of osteoporosis in China has increased over the past 12 years, affecting more than one-third of people aged 50 years and older. The prevalence of osteoporosis increased with age and was higher in females than in males. Prevention and control measures have become all the more important given the increase in osteoporosis prevalence, and three-step prevention programmes should be implemented.

[Prevalence of paternal postpartum depression in China and its association with maternal postpartum depression: A Meta-analysis].

OBJECTIVE: To estimate the national prevalence of paternal postpartum depression in China and evaluate its association with maternal postpartum depression.
 Methods: Systematic literature searches were conducted in databases including PubMed, Web of Science, Embase, Medline, China National Knowledge Infrastructure (CNKI), Wangfang Database, Chinese science & technology journal database (VIP) and SinoMed database. The articles reported the prevalence of paternal postpartum depression in China were collected from inception to October 1, 2015. Random effect models were used to calculate pooled estimates and 95% confidence intervals. Subgroup analysis were undertaken by period of measurement, case identification, study location and study quality.
 Results: Fourteen studies with a total sample size of 3 819 partners were included in this study. The pooled estimate of paternal postpartum depression was 13.6% (95% CI 8.7%-21.3%). The Pearson correlation coefficien between maternal PPD and paternal PPD was 0.295 (95% CI 0.218-0.367). The subgroup analysis showed that the estimates of paternal PPD in 0-5+6 weeks postpartum, 6-8 weeks postpartum and 8+1-24 weeks postpartum were 28.7%, 11.4% and 5.5%, respectively; when the rating scale was used as case identification method, the estimate of paternal PPD was 16.8%, and it was 4.1% when interview was used. The estimate of paternal PPD in inner areas was 22.2%, in coastal areas was 13.3% and in Hongkong/Taiwan was 7.8%. In studies with lower quality, the estimate of paternal PPD was 23.0%, and it was 9.1% in studies with higher quality.
 Conclusion: The national prevalence of paternal postpartum depression in China was at a high level, particularly during the postpartum 0-5+6 weeks. Paternal postpartum depression also showed a moderate positive correlation with maternal postpartum depression.

MicroRNA-433 inhibits cell proliferation in hepatocellular carcinoma by targeting p21 activated kinase (PAK4).

Hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) is one of the most common cancers worldwide. P21-activated kinase 4 (PAK4) has been identified as an oncogenic protein in a variety of cancers. However, the contribution and regulation of PAK4 in HCC remain poorly understood. In the present study, we found that inhibition of PAK4 expression by specific shRNA significantly attenuated HCC cell proliferation. Moreover, we show that microRNA-433 (miRNA-433) could directly target PAK4 through the miRNA-433 binding sequence at the 3'-UTR of PAK4 mRNA, and inhibit PAK4 protein expression. We further show that miRNA-433 expression was downregulated in HCC tissues and cell culture as well, which inversely correlated with PAK4 expression levels. Overexpression of miRNA-433 significantly suppressed the proliferation of HepG2 cells, while this effect was partially rescued by forced expression of PAK4 through restoring PI3K/AKT signaling in HepG2 cells. These findings will shed light on the roles and mechanisms of miRNA-433 in regulating HCC proliferation, and may benefit future development of therapeutics targeting miRNA-433 and PAK4 in HCC.

Prevalence and Correlates of Psychological Symptoms in Chinese Doctors as Measured with the SCL-90-R: A Meta-Analysis.

Poor mental health in doctors appears to be a global phenomenon, but there are limited data on changes in doctors' psychological symptoms over time in mainland China. Through a detailed meta-analysis of cross-sectional studies, our aim was to examine the prevalence of psychological symptoms in Chinese physicians as measured with the Symptom Checklist 90-R (SCL-90-R) and to explore the factors associated with doctors' mental health. A comprehensive search was performed in major English and Chinese databases. Thirty studies involving a total of 6,099 subjects were included in the meta-analysis. The pooled estimates of psychological symptoms including somatization, obsession-compulsion, interpersonal-sensitivity, depression, anxiety, hostility, phobic anxiety, and paranoid ideation among doctors were significantly higher than those in the general population. Only psychoticism was similar in prevalence to Chinese population norms. The prevalence increased with the study year but decreased with physicians' increasing age. Doctors from central and western China experienced more mental health symptoms than those from eastern China. Psychiatrists scored significantly less favorably than other doctors on most subscales of the SCL-90-R. Doctors' mental health may be associated with age discrepancy, quantitative workload, effort-reward ratio, doctor-patient relationships, professional identity, and individual traits. To minimize the risk of poor mental health in doctors, screening and professional intervention services should be provided at early career stages to raise physicians' awareness about the importance of maintaining psychological well-being and to reduce the prevalence of psychological symptoms.

[Intervention efficacy of lamivudine on liver dysfunction in patients undergoing anti-tuberculosis treatment for pulmonary tuberculosis complicated with chronic hepatitis B: a Meta-analysis].

OBJECTIVE: To analyze the intervention efficacy of lamivudine on liver dysfunction in patients undergoing anti-tuberculosis treatment for pulmonary tuberculosis complicated with chronic hepatitis B.
 METHODS: Corresponding data were retrieved from PubMed, Web of Science, Embase, the Cochrane Library, Chinese Biomedical Literature (CBM), VIP, China National Knowledge Infrastructure (CNKI) and Wanfang Database with randomly controlled trials regarding the chronic hepatitis B and tuberculosis by lamivudine. Statistical analysis was performed by Meta-analysis using Stata11.0.
 RESULTS: Fifteen randomly controlled trials including 967 chronic hepatitis B and tuberculosis cases met the inclusion criteria (564 cases in observation group and 403 cases in control group). Meta-analysis showed that the values of ALT, AST, TBIL and HBV-DNA load in the observation group were lower than those in the control group. The values of standardized mean difference (95% CI) were -2.58 (-3.55, -1.60), -2.43 (-3.33, -1.54), -1.56 (-2.18, -0.94) and -6.91 (-8.90, -4.92), while the combined effect of OR values for liver damage was 0.11 (0.06, 0.19). There were significant differences in the combined effect of each value between the two groups (P<0.05).
 CONCLUSION: The intervention efficacy of lamivudine on liver dysfunction in patients undergoing anti-tuberculosis treatment for pulmonary tuberculosis complicated with chronic hepatitis B patients was good, which can reduce hepatitis B viral load levels.

[Association of genetic variants in TOMM7 gene and gene environment interaction with type 2 diabetes in Chinese Dong population].

OBJECTIVE: To investigate the association of 7 novel genetic loci identified in a recent genome-wide association studies (GWAS) with T2DM in Chinese Dong populations. METHODS: A case-controlled study was performed in individuals of Chinese Dong nationality. The genotypes of PARD3B (rs849230), LOC729993 (rs149228), EPHA4 (rs16862811), HNT (rs3099797), PTPRD (rs17584499 and rs649891), TOMM7 (rs2240727) genes were determined by Multiplex PCR-SNaPshot. The independent association between each polymorphism and T2DM was assessed by unconditional binary logistic regression analysis. The gene-environment interaction was assessed by marginal structural linear odds model. RESULTS: A total of 209 cases of T2DM and 209 control subjects were enrolled in the study. The polymorphism of rs2240727 in TOMM7 gene was associated with T2DM (OR=1.50, per copy of the risk T allele, P=0.004). In addition, CT (OR=2.07, 95% CI: 1.14-3.76) and TT (OR=2.75, 95% CI: 1.46-5.17) were risk genotypes for T2DM. After the correction for multiple test, the association remained significant (all P<0.05). After adjustment for the confounders of age, gender, and BMI, the association remained significant (P<0.05). The results of interaction analysis indicated that there were interaction between rs2240727 locus and BMI, WHR, hypertension and family history of diabetes. After adjustment for age and gender, the results of relative excess risk of interaction (RERI) were 1.5430 (95% CI: 0.5797-2.5062), 2.6520 (95% CI: 1.7516-3.5524), 2.9131 (95% CI: 1.7959-4.0303), 4.2062 (95% CI: 1.1686-8.2439), respectively (all P<0.05). CONCLUSION: The rs2240727 genetic variant in TOMM7 is associated with T2DM in Chinese Dong population. There is positive interaction between rs2240727 and BMI, WHR, hypertension as well as family history of diabetes.

Prevalence of nonalcoholic fatty liver disease in mainland of China: a meta-analysis of published studies.

BACKGROUND AND AIM: Nonalcoholic fatty liver disease (NAFLD) is becoming an increasingly important health issue. However, there are no data on the change in prevalence of NAFLD within a population over time, especially in the mainland of China. The goal of this study was to estimate the pooled prevalence of NAFLD in the mainland of China. METHODS: Systematic literature searches were conducted in PubMed, Web of Knowledge, Chinese Web of Knowledge, Wangfang, Weipu, and SinoMed databases, as well as relevant articles published from 1997 to 2013, reporting prevalence estimates of NAFLD in the mainland of China. Summary estimates of prevalence were calculated with a random effects model. The effects of research methodology on the prevalence estimates were assessed using a meta-regression model. RESULTS: Forty-eight studies were identified with of a total of 356 367 subjects. The overall pooled prevalence of NAFLD was 20.09% (17.95-22.31%). Subgroup analyses showed the following results: male: 24.81% (21.88-27.87%), female: 13.16% (11.33-15.11%), for 18-30: 9.22% (6.93-11.81%), for 40: 16.77% (13.22-20.66%), for 50: 23.50% (19.57-27.66%), for 60: 26.89% (21.11-33.09%), for urban: 21.83% (18.00-25.92%), for rural: 20.43% (8.01-36.74%); study years in 2000-2006: 18.22% (14.32-22.48%), 20.00% (16.84-23.36%) for 2007-2009, and 18.93% (15.41-22.72%) for 2010-2013. CONCLUSIONS: The prevalence of NAFLD is lower than the estimates from developed countries. But it still reaches the epidemic proportions, and its prevalence is increasing. Meanwhile, a nationwide prevalence investigation should be conducted to confirm the estimates and determine more accurate rates for specific populations.

Association between transforming growth factor-ß1gene-509C/T polymorphism and susceptibility of IgA nephropathy: a meta-analysis.

A role for transforming growth factor-ß1gene has been suggested in the etiology of IgA nephropathy. However, results have been inconsistent. In this study, a meta-analysis was performed to further clarify the association between transforming growth factor-ß1-509C/T gene polymorphism and the susceptibility of IgA nephropathy. PubMed, EMBASE, Web of Science, CNKI, WanFang, and VIP Data were searched for eligible studies. Pooled odds ratios (ORs) with 95% confidence intervals were calculated using a fixed-effects model or random-effects model. A total of eight publications involving 1355 IgA nephropathy patients and 1464 controls met the inclusion and were analyzed. The pooled ORs for the association between TGF-ß1gene-509C/T polymorphism and IgA nephropathy risk were not statistically significant under all genetic models (for CT+TT vs. CC: OR = 1.09; 95% CI = 0.92-1.29, p = 0.490; for TT vs. CT+CC: OR = 1.14; 95% CI = 0.94-1.38, p = 0.081; for CC vs. TT: OR = 0.87; 95% CI = 0.69-1.08, p = 0.195; for C allele vs. T allele: OR = 0.92; 95% CI = 0.83-1.03, p = 0.149). In the stratified analysis by ethnicity, results also showed no significant association between TGF-ß1 gene-509C/T polymorphism and IgA nephropathy risk in both European and Asian populations. This meta-analysis does not support the hypothesis that TGF-ß1 gene-509C/T polymorphism is a risk factor for the development of IgA nephropathy.

[Effects and mechanisms of punicosides on acute alcoholic liver damage in mice].

OBJECTIVE: To evaluate the protective effects of punicosides on alcohol induced acute liver injury in mice and its possible mechanisms as well. METHOD: The 60 mice were randomly divided into normal control, model group, three dose groups of punicosides with low, medium and high, then there is silibinin group. Three dose groups of punicosides and silibinin were given in advance by gavage for 4 weeks, then the mouse model of alcoholic acute liver injury was established. The serum levels of ALT, AST and TG were determined, and the mice were killed to calculate somatic index of liver, thymus as well as spleen. MDA, SOD, GSH-Px and GSH-ST were detected in the liver homogenate. Histopathological changes of the liver were observed by HE staining. The expression of MCP-1 and NF-kappaB in the liver tissues were detected by immunohistochemistry. RESULT: Mid and high dose of punicosides reduced the liver index in mice significantly, improved liver steatosis, decreased the level of ALT, AST and TG in serum and the content of MDA in liver homogenate, furthermore the two dose groups increased the activity of SOD, GSH-Px and GSH-ST, inhibited the expression of MCP-1 and NF-kappaB in liver tissue. CONCLUSION: Punicosides can protect the acute liver damage induced by alcohol.

Establishment of a novel efferocytosis potential index predicts prognosis and immunotherapy response in cancers.

The biological function and prognostic value of efferocytosis in cancer remains unclear. In this study, we systematically analysed the expression profiles and genetic variations of 50 efferocytosis-related regulator genes in 33 cancer types. Using data from The Cancer Genome Atlas, we established an efferocytosis potential index (EPI) model to represent the efferocytosis level in each cancer type. The relationship between the EPI and prognosis, immune-related molecules, specific pathways, and drug sensitivity was determined. We found that efferocytosis regulator genes were abnormally expressed in cancer tissue, perhaps owing to copy number variations, gene alterations, and DNA methylation. For the most part, the EPI was higher in tumour vs. normal tissues. In most of the 33 cancer types, it positively correlated with cell death- and immune-related pathway enrichment, the tumour microenvironment, immune infiltration, and drug sensitivity. For specific cancers, a high EPI may be a prognostic risk factor and, in patients treated receiving immune checkpoint therapy, a predictor of poor prognosis. Our study reveals the biological functions of efferocytosis-related regulator genes in distinct cancers and highlights the potential of efferocytosis intervention in cancer therapy.