Integrative metabolomics highlights gut microbiota metabolites as novel NAFLD-related candidate biomarkers in children.

Altered gut microbiota and metabolites are important for non-alcoholic fatty liver disease (NAFLD) in children. We aimed to comprehensively examine the effects of gut metabolites on NAFLD progression. We performed integrative metabolomics (untargeted discovery and targeted validation) analysis of non-alcoholic fatty liver (NAFL), non-alcoholic steatohepatitis (NASH), and obesity in children. Fecal samples were collected from 75 subjects in the discovery cohort (25 NAFL, 25 NASH, and 25 obese control children) and 145 subjects in an independent validation cohort (53 NAFL, 39 NASH, and 53 obese control children). Among 2,491 metabolites, untargeted metabolomics revealed a complete NAFLD metabolic map containing 318 increased and 123 decreased metabolites. Then, machine learning selected 65 important metabolites that can distinguish the severity of the NAFLD. Furthermore, precision-targeted metabolomics selected 5 novel gut metabolites from 20 typical metabolites. The functionality of candidate metabolites was validated in hepatocyte cell lines. In the end, this study annotated two novel elevated pathogenic metabolites (dodecanoic acid and creatinine) and a relationship between depleted protective gut microbiota (Butyricicoccus and Alistipes), increased inflammation (IL-1ß), lipid metabolism (TG), and liver function (ALT and AST). This study demonstrates the role of novel gut metabolites (dodecanoic acid and creatinine), as the fatty acid metabolism regulator contributing to NAFLD development through its influence on inflammation and liver function. IMPORTANCE: Altered gut microbiota and metabolites are a major cause of non-alcoholic fatty liver disease (NAFLD) in children. This study demonstrated a complete gut metabolic map of children with NAFLD, containing 318 increased and 123 decreased metabolites by untargeted metabolomic. Multiple validation approaches (machine learning and targeted metabolomic) selected five novel gut metabolites for targeted metabolomics, which can distinguish NAFLD status and severity. The gut microbiota (Butyricicoccus and Alistipes) and metabolites (creatinine and dodecanoic acid) were novel biomarkers associated with impaired liver function and inflammation and validated by experiments of hepatocyte cell lines. The data provide a better understanding of the importance of gut microbiota and metabolite alterations in NAFLD, which implies that the altered gut microbiota and metabolites may represent a potential target to prevent NAFLD development.

Prevalence of Anxiety and Associated Factors Among Inpatients with Type 2 Diabetes Mellitus in China: A Cross-Sectional Study.

This study aimed to investigate the prevalence of anxiety and its associated factors among inpatients with type 2 diabetes mellitus (T2DM) in China. This study was a cross-sectional study. Inpatients with T2DM admitted to the Endocrinology Department of Xiangya Hospital, Central South University in Hunan Province of China from March 2021 to December 2021 were consecutively included in this study. Participants were interviewed to obtain the data on socio-demographic characteristics, lifestyle characteristics, T2DM-related information, and social support. Anxiety was measured using the Hospital Anxiety and Depression Scale-anxiety subscale by experienced physicians. Multivariable logistic regression analysis was used to estimate the independent contribution of each independent variable to anxiety. A total of 496 inpatients with T2DM were included in this study. The prevalence of anxiety was 21.8% (95% confidence interval [CI]: 18.1%-25.4%). The results of multivariable logistic regression analysis indicated that age of at least 60 (adjusted odd ratio [aOR] = 1.79, 95% CI: 1.04-3.08), and having diabetes specific complications (aOR = 4.78, 95% CI: 1.02-22.44) were risk factors for anxiety, and an educational level of high school or above (aOR = 0.55, 95% CI: 0.31-0.99), regular physical activity (aOR = 0.36, 95% CI: 0.22-0.58), and high social support (aOR = 0.30, 95% CI: 0.17-0.53) were protective factors for anxiety. A predictive model based on these five variables showed good performance (area under the curve = 0.80). Almost one in five inpatients with T2DM suffered from anxiety in China. Age, educational level, regular physical activity, diabetes specific complications, and social support were independently associated with anxiety.

Auxiliary screening COVID-19 by computed tomography.

Background: The 2019 novel coronavirus (COVID-19) pandemic remains rampant in many countries/regions. Improving the positive detection rate of COVID-19 infection is an important measure for the control and prevention of this pandemic. This meta-analysis aims to systematically summarize the current characteristics of the computed tomography (CT) auxiliary screening methods for COVID-19 infection in the real world. Methods: Web of Science, Cochrane Library, Embase, PubMed, CNKI, and Wanfang databases were searched for relevant articles published prior to 1 September 2022. Data on specificity, sensitivity, positive/negative likelihood ratio, area under curve (AUC), and diagnostic odds ratio (dOR) were calculated purposefully. Results: One hundred and fifteen studies were included with 51,500 participants in the meta-analysis. Among these studies, the pooled estimates for AUC of CT in confirmed cases, and CT in suspected cases to predict COVID-19 diagnosis were 0.76 and 0.85, respectively. The CT in confirmed cases dOR was 5.51 (95% CI: 3.78-8.02). The CT in suspected cases dOR was 13.12 (95% CI: 11.07-15.55). Conclusion: Our findings support that CT detection may be the main auxiliary screening method for COVID-19 infection in the real world.

The use of nomogram for detecting mild cognitive impairment in patients with type 2 diabetes mellitus.

BACKGROUND: Type 2 diabetes mellitus (T2DM) is highly prevalent worldwide and may lead to a higher rate of cognitive dysfunction. This study aimed to develop and validate a nomogram-based model to detect mild cognitive impairment (MCI) in T2DM patients. METHODS: Inpatients with T2DM in the endocrinology department of Xiangya Hospital were consecutively enrolled between March and December 2021. Well-qualified investigators conducted face-to-face interviews with participants to retrospectively collect sociodemographic characteristics, lifestyle factors, T2DM-related information, and history of depression and anxiety. Cognitive function was assessed using the Mini-Mental State Examination scale. A nomogram was developed to detect MCI based on the results of the multivariable logistic regression analysis. Calibration, discrimination, and clinical utility of the nomogram were subsequently evaluated by calibration plot, receiver operating characteristic curve, and decision curve analysis, respectively. RESULTS: A total of 496 patients were included in this study. The prevalence of MCI in T2DM patients was 34.1% (95% confidence interval [CI]: 29.9%-38.3%). Age, marital status, household income, diabetes duration, diabetic retinopathy, anxiety, and depression were independently associated with MCI. Nomogram based on these factors had an area under the curve of 0.849 (95% CI: 0.815-0.883), and the threshold probability ranged from 35.0% to 85.0%. CONCLUSIONS: Almost one in three T2DM patients suffered from MCI. The nomogram, based on age, marital status, household income, duration of diabetes, diabetic retinopathy, anxiety, and depression, achieved an optimal diagnosis of MCI. Therefore, it could provide a clinical basis for detecting MCI in T2DM patients.

Prevalence of comorbid depression and associated factors among hospitalized patients with type 2 diabetes mellitus in Hunan, China.

BACKGROUND: Depression and diabetes are major health challenges, with heavy economic social burden, and comorbid depression in diabetes could lead to a wide range of poor health outcomes. Although many descriptive studies have highlighted the prevalence of comorbid depression and its associated factors, the situation in Hunan, China, remains unclear. Therefore, this study aimed to identify the prevalence of comorbid depression and associated factors among hospitalized type 2 diabetes mellitus (T2DM) patients in Hunan, China. METHODS: This cross-sectional study involved 496 patients with T2DM who were referred to the endocrinology inpatient department of Xiangya Hospital affiliated to Central South University, Hunan. Participants' data on socio-demographic status, lifestyle factors, T2DM-related characteristics, and social support were collected. Depression was evaluated using the Hospital Anxiety and Depression Scale-depression subscale. All statistical analyses were conducted using the R software version 4.2.1. RESULTS: The prevalence of comorbid depression among hospitalized T2DM patients in Hunan was 27.22% (95% Confidence Interval [CI]: 23.3-31.1%). Individuals with depression differed significantly from those without depression in age, educational level, per capita monthly household income, current work status, current smoking status, current drinking status, regular physical activity, duration of diabetes, hypertension, chronic kidney disease, stroke, fatty liver, diabetic nephropathy, diabetic retinopathy, insulin use, HbA1c, and social support. A multivariable logistic regression model showed that insulin users (adjusted OR = 1.86, 95% CI: 1.02-3.42) had a higher risk of depression, while those with regular physical activity (adjusted OR = 0.48, 95% CI: 0.30-0.77) or greater social support (adjusted OR = 0.20, 95% CI: 0.11-0.34) had a lower risk of depression. The area under the curve of the receiver operator characteristic based on this model was 0.741 with a sensitivity of 0.785 and specificity of 0.615. CONCLUSIONS: Depression was moderately prevalent among hospitalized T2DM patients in Hunan, China. Insulin treatment strategies, regular physical activity, and social support were significantly independently associated with depression, and the multivariable model based on these three factors demonstrated good predictivity, which could be applied in clinical practice.

Auxiliary Screening COVID-19 by Serology.

Background: The 2019 novel coronavirus (COVID-19) pandemic remains rampant in many countries/regions. Improving the positive detection rate of COVID-19 infection is an important measure for control and prevention of this pandemic. This meta-analysis aims to systematically summarize the current characteristics of the auxiliary screening methods by serology for COVID-19 infection in real world. Methods: Web of Science, Cochrane Library, Embase, PubMed, CNKI, and Wangfang databases were searched for relevant articles published prior to May 1st, 2022. Data on specificity, sensitivity, positive/negative likelihood ratio, area under curve (AUC), and diagnostic odds ratio (dOR) were calculated purposefully. Results: Sixty-two studies were included with 35,775 participants in the meta-analysis. Among these studies, the pooled estimates for area under the summary receiver operator characteristic of IgG and IgM to predicting COVID-19 diagnosis were 0.974 and 0.928, respectively. The IgG dOR was 209.78 (95% CI: 106.12 to 414.67). The IgM dOR was 78.17 (95% CI: 36.76 to 166.25). Conclusion: Our findings support serum-specific antibody detection may be the main auxiliary screening methods for COVID-19 infection in real world.

Chemokines in Gestational Diabetes Mellitus.

Background: Studies investigating chemokines in gestational diabetes mellitus (GDM) have yielded mixed results. The purpose of this meta-analysis was to explore whether concentrations of chemokines in patients with GDM differed from that of the controls. Methods: Following Preferred Reporting Items for Systematic Reviews and Meta-Analyses (PRISMA) guidelines, we systematically searched Web of Science, Embase, Cochrane Library, and PubMed databases for articles, published in any language, on chemokines and GDM through August 1st, 2021. The difference in concentrations of chemokines between patients with GDM and controls was determined by a standardized mean difference (SMD) with a 95% confidence interval (CI), calculated in the meta-analysis of the eligible studies using a random-effects model with restricted maximum-likelihood estimator. Results: Seventeen studies met the inclusion criteria for the meta-analysis. Altogether, they included nine different chemokines comparisons involving 5,158 participants (1,934 GDM patients and 3,224 controls). Results showed a significant increase of these chemokines (CCL2, CXCL1, CXCL8, CXCL9, and CXCL12) in the GDM patients compared with the controls. However, there was a significant decrease of the chemokines, CCL4, CCL11 and CXCL10, in the GDM patients compared with the controls. Moreover, subgroup analysis revealed a potential role of chemokines as biomarkers in relation to laboratory detection (different sample type and assay methods) and clinical characteristics of GDM patients (ethnicity and body mass index). Conclusion: GDM is associated with several chemokines (CCL2, CCL4, CCL11, CXCL1, CXCL8, CXCL9, CXCL10 and CXCL12). Therefore, consideration of these chemokines as potential targets or biomarkers in the pathophysiology of GDM development is necessary. Notably, the information of subgroup analysis underscores the importance of exploring putative mechanisms underlying this association, in order to develop new individualized clinical and therapeutic strategies.

Prevalence of Moderate to Severe Anxiety Symptoms among Patients with Myocardial Infarction: a Meta-Analysis.

This study attempted to synthesize the evidence on the prevalence of moderate to severe anxiety symptoms among myocardial infarction (MI) patients to offer a reliable and accurate estimate on the number of MI patients suffering from moderate to severe anxiety symptoms. Comprehensive electronic searches (PubMed, Embase and Web of Science) were performed from their inception to February 2021. Between-study heterogeneity was analyzed using the Cochran's Q test and [Formula: see text] statistic, and if it was high across the eligible studies, meta-regression and subgroup analyses were conducted to examine the source of heterogeneity. Publication bias and the robustness of the pooled results were also examined. A total of 18 eligible studies covering 8,532 MI patients were included, of which 3,443 were identified with moderate to severe anxiety symptoms. Between-study heterogeneity was high ([Formula: see text]=98.8%) with the reported prevalence ranging from 9.6% to 69.17%, and the pooled prevalence was 38.08% (95% confidence interval: 28.82-47.81%) by a random-effects model. Meta-regression analyses indicated that publication year (ß = -0.014) was significant moderators contributing 16.11% to the heterogeneity. Subgroup analyses indicated that studies using the anxiety subscale of Brief Symptom Inventory to assess anxiety were homogenous ([Formula: see text]=0.0). Furthermore, the pooled prevalence of moderate to severe anxiety symptoms varied significantly by geographic region, instrument used to assess anxiety, methodological quality, sex, education level, a history of previous MI and hypercholesterolemia. Additionally, the results of Egger's linear test (t = -0.630) and Begg's rank test (z = -0.190) indicated no evidence of publication bias, and the sensitivity of the pooled results was low. Nearly two fifth of MI patients suffered from moderate to severe anxiety symptoms, which emphasizes the importance of early identification of anxiety symptoms after MI, as well as the need of implementing psychological interventions for those with elevated anxiety symptoms.

Seroprevalence of anti-SARS-CoV-2 antibodies in Africa: A systematic review and meta-analysis.

We estimated the seroprevalence of anti-severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2) antibodies in residents of African countries and explored its associated factors. We searched PubMed, EMBASE, PsycINFO, AMED, CINAHL, DOAJ and Google Scholar databases for peer reviewed articles and pre-prints that reported anti-SARS-CoV-2 antibody seroprevalence of general or specific human populations resident in Africa. The eligible studies were evaluated using Joana Briggs Institute prevalence critical appraisal tool. Twenty-three studies involving 27,735 individuals were included in our paper. The pooled seroprevalence of anti-SARS-CoV-2 antibodies in Africa was 22% (95%CI: 14-31) with very high heterogeneity (I2  = 100%, p < 0.001). Seroprevalence was highest in studies conducted in Central Africa compared to Southern Africa, West Africa, North Africa and East Africa respectively. The number of days between the first reported coronavirus disease 2019 case in each country and when a seroprevalence study was conducted was a significant moderator of seroprevalence. Seropositivity was numerically influenced by gender and age of the participants with males and those aged below 50 years being most affected with SARS-CoV-2 infection. The highest pooled seroprevalence in Africa reported in this review should be interpreted cautiously due to high heterogeneity between studies. Continued seroprevalence surveillance is warranted to establish Africa's transition towards herd immunity.

Gut Microbiota, Glucose, Lipid, and Water-Electrolyte Metabolism in Children With Nonalcoholic Fatty Liver Disease.

There is evidence that nonalcoholic fatty liver disease (NAFLD) is affected by gut microbiota, glucose, and lipid. However, the function of water-electrolyte metabolism remains undefined in children with NAFLD. Therefore, the aim of this case-control study was to better understand these interactions. The sample consisted of 75 children, aged between 7 and 16, of whom 25 had nonalcoholic fatty liver (NAFL), 25 had nonalcoholic steatohepatitis (NASH), and 25 were obese and without NAFLD. These groups were matched by age, sex, and body mass index. Data were collected between June, 2019 and December, 2019 at the Hunan Children's Hospital, in China. Microbiome composition in fecal samples was assessed using 16S ribosomal RNA amplicon sequencing. In the clinical indices, 12 glucose and lipid metabolism indices were included, and six water-electrolyte metabolism indices were included. The results indicated that microbiomes of NAFLD children had lower alpha diversity but higher beta diversity index than the other two groups. Specifically, anti-inflammatory and probiotics abundance (e.g., Faecalibacterium, Akkermansia, and Bifidobacterium_adolescentis) was significantly decreased in NAFLD, whereas the abundance of harmful bacteria (e.g., Staphylococcaceae) was increased. Moreover, the abundance of butyrate-producing bacteria (e.g., Faecalibacterium, Roseburia_inulinivorans, Roseburia_intestinalis, and Coprococcus_comes) was significantly decreased in NASH. The abundance of these bacteria were associated with glucose, lipid, and water-electrolyte metabolism (e.g., glucose, triglyceride, cholesterol, inorganic salt, total body water, etc.), implying that the NAFLD and its severity were associated with glucose, lipid, and water-electrolyte metabolism dysbiosis. Therefore, these findings suggest that the gut microbiome, especially butyrate-producing bacteria, play an important role in the development of NAFLD in children.

Chemokines in Prediabetes and Type 2 Diabetes: A Meta-Analysis.

Background: A growing number of studies found inconsistent results on the role of chemokines in the progression of type 2 diabetes (T2DM) and prediabetes (PDM). The purpose of this meta-analysis was to summarize the results of previous studies on the association between the chemokines system and T2DM/PDM. Methods: We searched in the databases, PubMed, Web of Science, Embase and Cochrane Library, for eligible studies published not later than March 1, 2020. Data extraction was performed independently by 2 reviewers, on a standardized, prepiloted form. Group differences in chemokines concentrations were summarized using the standardized mean difference (SMD) with a 95% confidence interval (CI), calculated by performing a meta-analysis using the random-effects model. Results: We identified 98 relevant studies that investigated the association between 32 different chemokines and T2DM/PDM. Altogether, these studies involved 14,708 patients and 14,574 controls. Results showed that the concentrations of CCL1, CCL2, CCL4, CCL5, CCL11, CXCL8, CXCL10 and CX3CL1 in the T2DM patients were significantly higher than that in the controls, while no difference in these concentrations was found between the PDM patients and controls. Conclusion: Progression of T2DM may be associated with elevated concentrations of chemokines. Meta-Analysis Registration: PROSPERO, identifier CRD42019148305.

Lifetime prevalence of suicidal attempt among homeless individuals in North America: a meta-analysis.

BACKGROUND: Homelessness is a compelling public health problem, and homeless individuals are at increased risk for attempting suicide. However, the reported lifetime prevalence of suicidal attempt among homeless individuals in North America varied considerably. Therefore, this meta-analysis aimed to estimate the pooled lifetime prevalence of suicidal attempt among homeless individuals in North America and explore factors that may moderate this estimation. METHODS: The protocol was registered in PROSPERO database (CRD42018102593). A systematic literature search was conducted in the electronic databases of PubMed, Embase, Web of Science, PsycINFO, and Google Scholar. Observational studies exploring the lifetime prevalence of suicidal attempt among homeless individuals in North America were included. Heterogeneity across studies was evaluated using the Cochran Q test and quantified using the I2 statistic. Subgroup analyses were performed to identify possible sources of heterogeneity. RESULTS: Twenty-two eligible studies with a total of 9,727 homeless individuals were included, of which 2,986 reported having attempted suicide in their lifetime. A high degree of heterogeneity (I2=96.4%, P<0.001) was observed, and the pooled lifetime prevalence was 31.83% (95% confidence interval: 26.87%-36.99%). Subgroup analyses showed that the heterogeneity was quite low when estimating the pooled lifetime prevalence of suicidal attempt among heterosexual (I2=0.0, P=0.401) and non-heterosexual homeless individuals (I2=0.0, P=0.405). LIMITATIONS: All eligible studies were exclusively conducted in the US and Canada. CONCLUSIONS: Nearly three tenths of homeless individuals in North America have attempted suicide in their lifetime, and the differences in sexual orientation might have contributed to the heterogeneity.

Chemokines in Type 1 Diabetes Mellitus.

BACKGROUND: Previous studies suggested that chemokines may play an important role in the formation and mediation of immune microenvironments of patients affected by Type 1 Diabetes Mellitus (T1DM). The aim of this study was to summarise available evidence on the associations of different chemokines with T1DM. METHODS: Following PRISMA guidelines, we systematically searched in PubMed, Web of Science, Embase and Cochrane Library databases for studies on the associations of different chemokines with T1DM. The effect size of the associations were the standardized mean differences (SMDs) with corresponding 95% confidence intervals (CIs) of the chemokines concentrations, calculated as group differences between the T1DM patients and the controls. These were summarized using network meta-analysis, which was also used to rank the chemokines by surface under cumulative ranking curve (SUCRA) probabilities. RESULTS: A total of 32 original studies on the association of different chemokines with T1DM were identified. Fifteen different chemokine nodes were compared between 15,683 T1DM patients and 15,128 controls, and 6 different chemokine receptor nodes were compared between 463 T1DM patients and 460 controls. Circulating samples (blood, serum, and plasma) showed that concentrations of CCL5 and CXCL1 were significantly higher in the T1DM patients than in the controls (SMD of 3.13 and 1.50, respectively). On the other hand, no significant difference in chemokine receptors between T1DM and controls was observed. SUCRA probabilities showed that circulating CCL5 had the highest rank in T1DM among all the chemokines investigated. CONCLUSION: The results suggest that circulating CCL5 and CXCL1 may be promising novel biomarkers of T1DM. Future research should attempt to replicate these findings in longitudinal studies and explore potential mechanisms underlying this association.

Chemokines in post-traumatic stress disorder: A network meta-analysis.

BACKGROUND: Previous studies on the association between chemokines concentrations and post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD) yielded inconsistent results. Therefore, the purpose of this network meta-analysis was to summarize these results. METHODS: The databases of PubMed, Web of Science, Psyc-ARTICLES, Embase and Cochrane Library were searched for relevant articles published not later than January 15, 2020. Then, eligible studies were selected based on predefined study selection criteria. Standardized mean differences (SMDs) with 95% confidence intervals (CIs) were calculated as group differences in chemokines concentrations. Moreover, network meta-analysis was used to rank chemokines effect values according to their respective surface under cumulative ranking curve (SUCRA) probabilities. FINDINGS: A total of 18 eligible studies that investigated the association between 9 different chemokines and PTSD were identified. They involved 1,510 patients and 2,012 controls. Results of the meta-analysis showed that the concentrations of CCL3, CCL4 and CCL5 in the PTSD patients were significantly higher than that in the controls (SMDs of 4.12, 6.11 and 1.53 respectively). However, although not statistically significant, concentrations of CCL2 tended to be lower in PTSD patients than in the controls (SMD = -0.76); whereas concentrations of CXCL12 tended to be higher in PTSD patients than in the controls (SMD = 0.37). SUCRA probabilities showed that, among all the chemokines studied, the effect of CCL5 was the highest in PTSD patients. INTERPRETATION: Concentrations of CCL3, CCL4 and CCL5 may be associated with a trauma and/or PTSD. Also, CXCL12 and CCL2 may be the underlying biomarkers for trauma and/or PTSD. Thus, future studies with large population based samples are needed to further assess these associations. In addition, future research should explore possible mechanisms underlying these associations, with the aim to develop new diagnostics for PTSD. PROSPERO CRD42019147703.

Chemokines in hepatocellular carcinoma: a meta-analysis.

Accumulating evidence suggests that chemokines may play an important role in the formation and mediating of the immune microenvironment of hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC). The purpose of this meta-analysis was to explore the differences in blood or tissues chemokines concentrations between HCC patients and controls. Online databases, namely PubMed, Web of Science, Embase and Cochrane Library, were systematically searched for relevant articles published on or before 15 January 2020. Standardized mean differences (SMDs) with corresponding 95% confidence intervals of the chemokines concentrations were calculated as group differences between the HCC patients and the controls. Sixty-five studies met the inclusion criteria for the meta-analysis. Altogether they consisted of 26 different chemokines compared between 5828 HCC patients and 4909 controls; and 12 different chemokines receptors compared between 2053 patients and 2285 controls. The results of meta-analysis indicated that concentrations of CCL20, CXCL8 and CXCR4 in the HCC patients were significantly higher than those in the controls (SMD of 6.18, 1.81 and 1.04, respectively). Therefore, higher concentration levels of CCL20, CXCL8 and CXCR4 may indicate the occurrence of HCC Future research should explore the putative mechanisms underlying this linkage. Meanwhile, attempts can be made to replicate the existing findings in prospective cohort populations and explore the cause-and-effect relationships pertaining to this linkage in order to develop new diagnostic and therapeutic strategies for HCC.

Catecholamines in Alzheimer's Disease: A Systematic Review and Meta-Analysis.

Background and Purpose: Previous studies found inconsistent results regarding the relationship between Alzheimer's disease (AD) and catecholamines, such as dopamine (DA), norepinephrine (NE), and epinephrine (EPI). Therefore, the purpose of this study was to perform a systematic review and meta-analysis to evaluate the results of previous studies on this relationship. Method: Literature retrieval of eligible studies was performed in four databases (Web of Science, PubMed, Embase, and PsycARTICLES). Standardized mean differences (SMDs) were calculated to assess differences in catecholamine concentrations between the AD groups and controls. Results: Thirteen studies met the eligibility criteria. Compared with the controls, significant lower concentrations of NE (SMD = -1.10, 95% CI: -2.01 to -0.18, p = 0.019) and DA (SMD = -1.12, 95% CI: -1.88 to -0.37, p = 0.003) were observed in patients with AD. No difference was found in the concentrations of EPI between the two groups (SMD = -0.74, 95% CI: -1.85 to 0.37, p = 0.189). Conclusion: Overall, these findings are in line with the hypothesis that reduced NE and DA may be an important indicator for AD (Registration number CRD42018112816).

Gut metabolites and inflammation factors in non-alcoholic fatty liver disease: A systematic review and meta-analysis.

The interaction of gut microbiota, related metabolites and inflammation factors with nonalcoholic fatty liver disease (NAFLD) remains unclearly defined. The aim of this systematic review and meta-analysis was to synthesize previous study findings to better understand this interaction. Relevant research articles published not later than September, 2019 were searched in the following databases: Web of Science, PubMed, Embase, and Cochrane Library. The search strategy and inclusion criteria for this study yielded a total of 47 studies, of which only 11 were eligible for meta-analysis. The narrative analysis of these articles found that there is interplay between the key gut microbiota, related metabolites and inflammation factors, which modulate the development and progression of NAFLD. In addition, the results of meta-analysis showed that probiotic supplementation significantly decreased tumor necrosis factor-α (TNF-α) in NAFLD patients (standardized mean difference (SMD) = -0.52, confidence interval (CI): -0.86 to -0.18, and p = 0.003) and C-reactive protein (CRP) (SMD = -0.62, CI: -0.80 to -0.43, and p < 0.001). However, whether therapies can target TNF-α and CRP in order treat NAFLD still needs further investigation. Therefore, these results suggest that the interaction of the key gut microbiota, related metabolites and inflammation factors with NAFLD may provide a novel therapeutic target for the clinical and pharmacological treatment of NAFLD.

Fetuin-A and Fetuin-B in Non-Alcoholic Fatty Liver Disease: A Meta-Analysis and Meta-Regression.

The magnitude of the effect of fetuin-A and fetuin-B on non-alcoholic fatty liver disease (NAFLD) remains undefined. Therefore, the aim of this study was to synthesize previous findings to obtain a reliable estimation of this relationship. This study was registered in PROSPERO with the number CRD42019126314. Studies published not later than March 2019, examining the relationship between fetuin-A, fetuin-B, and NAFLD, were identified by a systematic search in the electronic databases of the Web of Science, PubMed, Embase, and Cochrane Library. Pooled estimates of standardized mean difference (SMD), calculated using the random-effects model in a meta-analysis, were applied to estimate the strength of the association between fetuin-A, fetuin-B, and NAFLD. Thirty publications were identified and analyzed based on specified inclusion criteria. Collectively, they consisted of 3800 NAFLD participants and 3614 controls. Compared with the controls, significant higher values of the fetuin-A (SMD = 0.83, 95% CI: 0.59 to 1.07, Z = 6.82, p < 0.001) and fetuin-B (SMD = 0.18, 95% CI: 0.02 to 0.33, Z = 2.27, p = 0.023) were observed in NAFLD patients. Meanwhile, in the subgroup analysis, the effect value of fetuin-A in the NASH group was significantly higher than that in the NAFL group (p = 0.036). The findings of this study suggest that elevated fetuin-A and fetuin-B may independently indicate the occurrence of NAFLD. Nevertheless, further research is needed to confirm these results.

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The pathogenesis of autistic spectrum disorders is complicated and the exact etiology and pathogenesis remain unclear. Major advances in spatial information technology have revealed the potential of spatial information technology as an effective tool in research and treatment for children with autistic spectrum disorders. However, there are too many fragmented research topics. According to recent reports on spatial information technology, there is no precedent for the application of spatial information technology in autistic spectrum disorders in China. Space information technology analysis for autistic spectrum disorders can be divided into the following steps: pre analysis, spatial clustering analysis, spatial model analysis, and interpretation of related results. It is hopeful that the space information technology can provide proposals for the future research on the pathogenesis of autistic spectrum disorders in our country.

Fetuin-A in Metabolic syndrome: A systematic review and meta-analysis.

OBJECTIVE: Fetuin-A has been associated with the progression of metabolic syndrome, but previous studies found inconsistent results on the relationship between metabolic syndrome and the concentration of fetuin-A. The aim of this study was to perform a meta-analysis to summarize previous findings on this relationship. METHOD: This study was registered with the International Prospective Register of Systematic Reviews PROSPERO (CRD42019129566). Studies examining the relationship between metabolic syndrome and the concentration of circulating fetuin-A were identified using a systematic search in the electronic databases of Embase, PubMed, Web of Science, and Cochrane Library before March 2019. A random effects model was used to summarize the effect size of the association in terms of the standardized mean difference (SMD). RESULTS: Fourteen eligible studies compared fetuin-A concentrations between 4,551 metabolic syndrome patients and 8,805 controls. The circulating fetuin-A concentration was significantly higher in the metabolic syndrome patients than in the controls (SMD = 0.65, 95% confidence interval (CI): 0.48 to 0.83, Z = 7.18, p<0.001). Besides, circulating fetuin-A was a risk factor for metabolic syndrome (odds ratio 1.23, 95% CI: 1.08 to 1.40). CONCLUSION: These findings suggest that fetuin-A may be an important indicator for metabolic syndrome, in which case this may lead to new perspectives in early diagnosis, identification of novel biomarkers, and providing novel targets for pharmacological interventions.