Encapsulated lignin-based slow-release manganese fertilizer with reduced cadmium accumulation in rice (Oryza sativa L.).

As an essential trace element for plant growth and development, manganese plays a crucial role in the uptake of the heavy metal cadmium by rice (Oryza sativa L.). In this study, we developed a novel slow-release manganese fertilizer named Mn@LNS-EL. Initially, lignin nanoparticles were derived from sodium lignosulfonate, and a one-step emulsification strategy was employed to prepare a water-in-oil-in-water (W/O/W) Pickering double emulsions. These double emulsions served as the template for interfacial polymerization of lignin nanoparticles and epichlorohydrin, resulting in the formation of microcapsule wall materials. Subsequently, manganese fertilizer (MnSO4) was successfully encapsulated within the microcapsules. Hydroponic experiments were conducted to investigate the effects of Mn@LNS-EL on rice growth and the cadmium and manganese contents in the roots and shoots of rice under cadmium stress conditions. The results revealed that the treatment with Mn@LNS-EL markedly alleviated the inhibitory effects of cadmium on rice growth, leading to notably lower cadmium levels in the rice roots and shoots compared to the specimens treated without manganese fertilizer. Specifically, there was a reduction of 37.9 % in the root cadmium content and a 17.1 % decrease in the shoot cadmium content. In conclusion, this study presents an innovative approach for the high-value utilization of lignin through effective encapsulation and slow-release mechanisms of trace-element fertilizers while offering a promising strategy for efficiently remediating cadmium pollution in rice.

Wood-derived bio-coating materials incorporating hydrophobic lignin and hierarchically porous biochar for high-efficiency coating slow-release fertilizers.

Coating slow-release fertilizers (CSRFs) have gained significant attention for their potential to improve nutrient utilization efficiency and prevent environmental pollution through mitigating soil and water contamination. This study developed a novel wood waste-derived composition as a bio-coating material for urea slow-release by integrating modified lignin (PCL) and activated biochar (ABC). PCL was prepared by grafting palmitoyl chloride (PC) with hydrophobic groups to the lignin via an esterification reaction. ABC with a high surface area and hierarchically porous structure created rich channels for ion transportation. These results increased the water-retention ability with a reduced absorbing/expelling rate and confer an excellent Cr(VI) adsorption capacity to the PCL and ABC hybrid coating material (PCL/ABC). The as-prepared PCL/ABC-based CSRF (PCL/ABC-CSRF) showed improving fertilizer slow-release properties for real application (nitrogen release persistence for 40 days at soil). The rice (Oryza sativa L.) hydroponics study suggested that such novel PCL/ABC was conducive to the rice growth in micro metallic contaminated hydroponics by eliminating the accumulation of chromium metal in rice roots. Overall, this study provides an attractive platform for developing biodegradable, heavy-metal adsorbable, and high-efficient CSRFs and a feasible and effective way for functionalized utilization of wood waste.

Construction of a survival prediction model for high-and low -grade UTUC after tumor resection based on "SEER database": a multicenter study.

BACKGROUND: There are differences in survival between high-and low-grade Upper Tract Urothelial Carcinoma (UTUC). Our study aimed to develop a nomogram to predict overall survival (OS) of patients with high- and low-grade UTUC after tumor resection, and to explore the difference between high- and low-grade patients. METHODS: Patients confirmed to have UTUC between 2004 and 2015 were selected from the Surveillance, Epidemiology and End Results (SEER) database. The UTUCs were identified and classified as high- and low-grade, and 1-, 3- and 5-year nomograms were established. The nomogram was then validated using the Chinese multicenter dataset (patients diagnosed in Shandong, China between January 2010 and October 2020). RESULTS: In the high-grade UTUC patients, nine important factors related to survival after tumor resection were identified to construct nomogram. The C index of training dataset was 0.740 (95% confidence interval [CI]: 0.727-0.754), showing good calibration. The C index of internal validation dataset was 0.729(95% CI:0.707-0.750). On the other hand, Two independent predictors were identified to construct nomogram of low-grade UTUC. The C index was 0.714 (95% CI: 0.671-0.758) for the training set,0.731(95% CI:0.670-0.791) for the internal validation dataset. Encouragingly, the nomogram was clinically useful and had a good discriminative ability to identify patients at high risk. CONCLUSION: We constructed a nomogram and a corresponding risk classification system predicting the OS of patients with an initial diagnosis of high-and low-grade UTUC.

Meta-analysis of the association between the dietary inflammatory index (DII) and breast cancer risk.

BACKGROUND: Recent studies have reported mixed results on the association between the pro-inflammatory dietary index and risk of breast cancer. We perform this comprehensive meta-analysis to figure out whether high dietary inflammatory index (DII) score is a risk factor for the occurrence of breast cancer. METHODS: We comprehensively searched the PubMed, EMBASE and Cochrane databases to identify included studies updated to September 12, 2017. All studies that reported risk estimates by comparing the highest DII score to the lowest were assessed. RESULTS: A total of seven observational studies were identified: three case controls and four cohorts, involving 319,993 participants. Overall, the meta-analysis reported that individuals with the highest DII score were associated with a 25% increased risk of breast cancer versus those with the lowest DII score (relative risk [RR] = 1.25; 95% confidence interval [CI] 1.09-1.44; I2 = 82.7%, p = 0.000). Upon stratified analysis, significant positive associations remained for postmenopausal women (RR = 1.15; 95% CI 1.02-1.30; p = 0.020), case-control studies (RR = 1.68; 95% CI 1.13-2.49; p = 0.010), Asia (RR = 2.30; 95% CI 1.7-3.12; p = 0.0031) and Europe (RR = 1.26; 95% CI 1.01-1.58; p = 0.0477). When analysed on hormonal receptor status, 36% increased risk was explored for hormone-receptor negative. CONCLUSION: This meta-analysis suggested that more pro-inflammatory diets (higher DII scores) are associated with increased breast cancer incidence. However, the research is not about significant associations but about moderate effect sizes.

The effect of long noncoding RNAs HOX transcript antisense intergenic RNA single-nucleotide polymorphisms on breast cancer, cervical cancer, and ovarian cancer susceptibility: A meta-analysis.

Recent studies have shown that long noncoding RNAs (lncRNA) HOX transcript antisense intergenic RNA (HOTAIR) polymorphisms are associated with cancer susceptibility. The greatest threat to women's health among a variety of cancers is breast cancer (BC), cervical cancer (CC), and ovarian cancer (OC), and the incidence of it is increasing. We performed a meta-analysis to clarify the relationship between lncRNA HOTAIR expression and BC, CC, and OC susceptibility. We thoroughly searched PubMed, Embase, and the Cochrane Library to obtain the relevant literature. We extracted data from case groups and control groups for each single-nucleotide polymorphism (SNP) (rs4759314, rs920778, rs189663, rs12826786, rs7958904, and rs874945) and compared the relationship between alleles, codominance models, dominant and invisible models and BC, CC, and OC susceptibility. Our study included 11 studies with a total of 5322 patients. There was a significant association between the rs4759314 polymorphism of HOTAIR and susceptibility to BC, CC, and OC (codominant model: AG/AA odds ratio [OR] = 1.13 [95% confidence intervals [CI], 1.00-1.29], GG/AA OR = 1.54 [95% CI, 1.06-2.23]; dominant model: GG + AG/AA OR = 1.16 [95% CI, 1.02-1.32]; and recessive model: GG/AA + AG OR = 1.51 [95% CI, 1.05-2.19]). The association between the expression of rs920778 and BC, CC, and OC susceptibility was not clear (alleles T/C: OR = 1.28 [95% CI, 0.87-1.89]; in codominant model: CT/CC OR = 1.10, [95% CI, 0.71-1.71], TT/CC OR = 1.29 [95% CI, 0.59-2.80]; dominant model: TC + TT/CC OR = 1.16, [95% CI, 0.73-1.86]; and recessive model: TT/TC + CC OR = 1.43, [95% CI, 0.83-2.47]). HOTAIR polymorphism rs1899663 was associated with BC, CC, and OC susceptibility to a certain extent, (alleles T/G OR = 0.90 [95% CI, 0.69-1.16]; in the codominant model: GT/GG OR = 0.81 [95% CI, 0.50-1.30], TT/GG OR = 1.04 [95% CI, 0.63-1.72]; dominant model: GT + TT/GG OR = 0.82 [95% CI, 0.52-1.29]; and recessive model: TT/GT + GG OR = 1.21 [95% CI, 0.76-1.94]). The rs12826786, rs7958904, and rs874945 polymorphisms were associated with a certain degree of BC, CC, and OC susceptibility, but they were not statistically significant. HOTAIR rs4759314 increased susceptibility to BC, CC, and OC in some patients; rs029778 and rs1899663 also increased susceptibility to some extent. SNPs rs12826786, rs7958904, and rs874945 did not correlate with an effect on patient susceptibility to BC, CC, and OC.

Impact of endometriosis on risk of ovarian, endometrial and cervical cancers: a meta-analysis.

PURPOSE: The risks of gynecologic cancer have not been well established in women with endometriosis. The objective of the present study was to investigate the influence of endometriosis on the risk for three gynecologic cancer (ovarian cancer, endometrial cancer and cervical cancer). METHODS: We gathered updated evidence about the risk relationship between endometriosis and gynecologic cancers by conducting a comprehensive search of several medical literature electronic databases, including PubMed, Embase and the Cochrane Library. The design and quality of all studies were evaluated using the Newcastle-Ottawa Scale (NOS), and a random-effects model was used to calculate pooled risk ratio (RR). RESULTS: Of the 8538 articles our search produced, we selected 25 qualified studies, including 16 cohort studies and 9 case-control studies. Patients with endometriosis had both an increased risk of ovarian cancer [RR 1.964; 95% CI (1.685, 2.290)]. The risk of endometrial cancer (EC) is not necessarily higher in patients with endometriosis [RR 1.176, 95% CI (0.878, 1.575)]. Endometriosis was not associated with an increased risk for cervical cancer (CC) [RR 0.670, 95% CI (0.537, 0.838)]. CONCLUSIONS: Patients with endometriosis need to be closely observed and rechecked regularly to prevent malignant changes.

The association between statin use and endometrial cancer survival outcome: A meta-analysis.

BACKGROUND: Previous studies on the association between statin use and survival outcomes in gynecologic cancers have presented conflicting results. No independent studies to elucidate the association between statin use and survival outcomes of endometrial cancer (EC) have been conducted. METHODS: To gather updated evidence, we carried out an extensive literature search on Medline (PubMed and OvidSP), Embase, Cochrane Library, China National Knowledge Infrastructure (CNKI), wanfang data, and Vip network to identify all potential studies on the effect of statins on the prognosis of endometrial carcinoma. The design and quality of all studies were evaluated, and a fixed-effects model was used to calculate pooled hazard ratios (HRs) for overall survival (OS) and disease-specific survival (DSS). RESULTS: Of the 219 articles screened, 9 articles were eligible, including 8 articles and 1 abstract. A total of 5923 patients with endometrial cancer who used statins were identified. Statin use was related to increased overall survival (HR, 0.80; 95% confidence interval [CI], 0.66-0.95, without significant heterogeneity, I = 52%, P = .080). Statin users also had increased disease-specific survival (HR, 0.69; 95% CI, 0.61-0.79, I = 0.0%). CONCLUSION: Statins are beneficial to the survival outcome of patients with endometrial cancer. The selection of statins as a 1st-line agent seems justified for endometrial carcinoma.

Efficacy and safety of de-escalation bone- modifying agents for cancer patients with bone metastases: a systematic review and meta-analysis.

BACKGROUND: Compared with application of bone-modifying agents (BMAs) every 4 weeks, it is unclear whether 12-weekly de-escalated therapy can be used as a substitute strategy. METHODS: A systematic search of PubMed, EMBASE, and the Cochrane Register of Controlled Trials until November 22, 2017, was performed. Randomized controlled trials (RCTs) were included to assess skeletal-related event (SRE) rates, adverse events, and bone turnover biomarkers, comparing 12-weekly de-escalated treatments with standard 4-weekly dosage regimens. Risk ratios (RRs) with 95% CIs were pooled in fixed-effect meta-analyses. RESULTS: A total of eight citations were eligible comprising 2,878 patients: zoledronate (three studies, 2,650 patients), pamidronate (two studies, 68 patients), and denosumab (three studies, 160 patients). Summary RR (0.98; 95% CI 0.87-1.12; P=0.82) for SRE rates between de-escalated and standard arms was produced when seven low risk of bias trials (695 patients) were pooled, and results without statistical significance also appeared in the analysis of adverse events and bone turnover biomarkers. Due to the limited sample size and methodological differences, the data for skeletal morbidity rates (SMRs), time to first SRE, serum C-telopeptide (sCTx) levels, and hypocalcemia were not combined, but systematic review still obtained similar indistinguishableness. CONCLUSION: In this meta-analysis of randomized clinical trials, the results "appeared" to show non-inferiority of the 12-weekly treatment. Due to the difference in available data, the results for bisphosphonates are more solid than for the receptor activator of nuclear factor-κB ligand (RANKL) antibodies.

Effectiveness and complications of ultrasound guided fine needle aspiration for primary liver cancer in a Chinese population with serum α-fetoprotein levels ≤200 ng/ml--a study based on 4,312 patients.

BACKGROUND: Hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) can be diagnosed by noninvasive approaches with serum α-fetoprotein (AFP) levels >200 ng/ml and/or a radiological imaging study of tumor mass >2 cm in patients with chronic liver disease. Percutaneous fine needle aspiration (FNA) under ultrasound (US) guidance has a diagnostic specificity of 95% and is superior to radiological imaging studies. AIM: The aim of this study is to elucidate the effectiveness and complications of fine needle aspiration in a Chinese population with primary liver cancer and AFP levels ≤200 ng/ml. MATERIALS AND METHODS: A retrospective study was conducted over a period of 28 years. This selection period included patients with a suspected diagnosis of primary liver cancer whose AFP levels were ≤200 ng/ml and who underwent US-FNA. This data was then analyzed with cytomorphological features correlating with medical history, radiological imaging, AFP, and follow-up information. RESULTS: Of the 1,929 cases with AFP ≤200 mg/ml, 1,756 underwent FNA. Of these, 1,590 cases were determined malignant and the remaining 166 were determined benign. Further, 1,478 malignant cases were diagnosed by FNA alone, and of these, 1,138 were diagnosed as PLC. The sensitivity, specificity, positive predictive value, negative predictive value, and overall accuracy of the diagnoses were 92.96%, 100%, 100%, 59.71%, and 93.62% respectively. There was no significant difference in the sensitivity, specificity, PPV and NPV between the subgroups with tumor size<2 cm and ≥2 cm. Major complications included implantation metastasis and hemorrhage. CONCLUSION: Patients with PLC, especially those who present with an AFP ≤200 ng/ml, should undergo FNA. If negative results are obtained by FNA, it still could be HCC and repeated FNA procedure may be needed if highly suspicious of HCC on imaging study. The superiority of FNA in overall accuracy may outweigh its potential complications, such like hemorrhage and implantation metastasis.