A systematic review and meta-analysis of pollutants in environmental media.

Environmental pollutants are ubiquitous in our environmental media, resulting in detrimental impacts on both humans and the environment. An evidence-based review, particularly a systematic review and meta-analysis, performs a crucial function in assessing the pollution status of pollutants in environmental media at national and global scales. We selected and thoroughly investigated 76 papers focusing on systematic reviews and meta-analyses of contaminants in environmental media. The need to broaden the scope of studies was observed with an increase in the total number of publications, and there were greater focuses on food safety, water pollution, biological pollution, and environmental risks. Furthermore, this review outlined the fundamental procedures involved in a systematic review and meta-analysis, including literature searching, screening of articles, study quality analysis, data extraction and synthesis, and meta-analysis. A meta-analysis typically comprises fixed- and/or random-effects meta-analysis, identifying and measuring heterogeneity, sensitivity analysis, publication bias, subgroup analysis, and meta-regression. We specifically explored the application of meta-analysis to assess the presence of contaminants in environmental media based on two different pollutant categories, namely, non-biological and biological pollutants. The mean value is commonly utilized to assess the pooled concentration of non-biological pollutants, while the prevalence serves as the effect size of biological pollutants. Additionally, we summarized the innovative applications, frequent misuses, and problems encountered in systematic reviews and meta-analyses. Finally, we proposed several suggestions for future research endeavors.

Effects of Jinkui Shenqi and Wuzi Yanzong pill on sperm motility and sperm DNA fragmentation rate in asthenospermia

This study was designed to compare the effects of Jinkui Shenqi and Wuzi Yanzong pill on sperm motility and sperm DNA fragmentation rate in patients with asthenospermia. 130 cases were randomly divided into an observation and control group (n=65). The control group was treated with the Wuzi Yanzong pill while the observation group with the Jinkui Shenqi pill. The sperm motility parameters rate (PR), semen concentration, sperm motility, DFI and α-glucosidase, fructose, seminal plasma zinc (Zn), acid phosphatase (ACP) in seminal plasma biochemistry and other indexes of were observed. The biochemical indexes of seminal plasma of α-glucosidase, fructose, Zn, ACP in two groups were significantly (p<0.05) improved after treatment. Compared with the control group, the indexes of the observation group improved more obviously after treatment. Pearson correlation analysis of DFI and PR indexes in 130 patients before treatment showed that sperm DFI and PR percentage were negatively correlated in asthenospermia patients (r =-0.572, P<0.05). There was no significant difference in DFI, semen concentration, PR, and sperm motility between the two groups before treatment. The DFI, semen concentration, PR and sperm viability of the two groups showed a tendency to improve after treatment, and the effect of the observation group was less significant than that of the control group (p<0.05). Two groups of patients have completed treatment successfully, no adverse events occurred during treatment. Jinkui Shenqi pill can effectively treat asthenospermia, which can effectively improve the effect of sperm motility in patients. It has less adverse reactions, safe and reliable, and is worthy of promotion.

Red blood cell distribution width is an independent risk factor in the prediction of acute respiratory distress syndrome after severe burns.

BACKGROUND: The occurrence of acute respiratory distress syndrome (ARDS) significantly increases the mortality and morbidity of major burns; there are few laboratory markers that predict the development of ARDS in severe burns. This study was to investigate the relationship between complete blood count (CBC) parameters and the incidence of ARDS in severe burn patients. METHODS: An eight-year retrospective study was performed on 610 severe burn patients who were admitted to the First Affiliated Hospital of Anhui Medical University and Rui Jin Hospital of Shanghai Jiao Tong University from January 2008 to December 2015. The patients were divided into two groups based on the development of ARDS. A blood sample was taken at admission and CBC parameters were examined. Univariate logistic regression analysis was used to evaluate the risk factors for the development of ARDS. RESULTS: Of these 610 patients, 143 developed ARDS giving a rate of 23.44%. The percentage of deep second degree and full thickness burn, inhalation injury and red blood cell distribution width (RDW) were independently associated with the development of ARDS in severe burn patients. Every 1% increase in RDW was associated with a 29% increase in the risk to develop ARDS. CONCLUSIONS: The findings of this study suggest that an elevated RDW is associated with an increased risk of ARDS and RDW is an independent risk factor in the prediction of ARDS after severe burns.

Long non-coding RNA TUG1 promotes the proliferation of colorectal cancer cells through regulating Wnt/ß-catenin pathway.

The long non-coding RNA taurine up-regulated gene 1 (TUG1) has been shown to be dysregulated in various types of malignant cancer; however, its underlying mechanism of action has not been fully elucidated. The present study aimed to investigate the biological role and clinical significance of TUG1 in the progression of colorectal cancer (CRC). A reverse transcription-quantitative polymerase chain reaction assay was used to evaluate TUG1 expression in tissues from patients with CRC. The effect of TUG1 on cell viability of CRC cells using MTT assay. The influence of TUG1 on tumorigenesis was monitored using an in vivo xenograft model. The status of the Wnt/ß-catenin signaling pathway was evaluated using immunofluorescence, western blotting and luciferase reporter assays. The results demonstrated that the expression of TUG1 was positively associated with the pathological grade and clinical stage of CRC patients. Knockdown of TUG1 inhibited the proliferation of CRC cells and attenuated the activity of Wnt/ß-catenin pathway in CRC cells. In addition, TUG1 knockdown inhibited the tumorigenicity in the in vivo CRC xenograft model, as well as the nuclear localization of ß-catenin and downstream gene transcription. Taken together, the data of the present study highlighted the pivotal role of the TUG1-Wnt/ß-catenin signaling pathway in CRC, which could be targeted to improve the therapeutic efficacy of CRC.

Regulation of Embryonic Stem Cell Self-Renewal and Differentiation by MicroRNAs.

MicroRNAs (miRNAs) are posttranscriptional regulators of gene expression. They play an important role in various cellular processes such as apoptosis, differentiation, secretion, and proliferation. Embryonic stem cells (ESCs) are derived from the inner cell mass of the blastocyst stage of the embryo. miRNAs are critical factors for the self-renewal and differentiation of ESCs. In this review, we will focus on the role of miRNAs in the self-renewal and directional differentiation of ESCs. We will present the current knowledge on key points related to miRNA biogenesis and their function in ESCs.

Clinical significance of immunotherapy with combined three kinds of cells for operable colorectal cancer.

Surgery, chemotherapy, and radiotherapy have presented with the ability of killing tumor cells, as well as damaging the immune function, which can be corrected by the immunotherapy. The purpose of this perspective cohort study was to evaluate the efficacy of postoperative immunotherapies of tumor lysate-loaded dendritic cells (DC), in vitro DC-activated T (DC-AT), and activated T cells (ATC) combined with chemotherapy on the survival of patients with operable colorectal cancer. A total of 253 patients with primary colorectal cancer resection including 181 patients receiving postoperative simple chemotherapy (control group) and 72 patients receiving immunotherapies of DC, DC-AT, and ATC combined with chemotherapy during the corresponding period (immunotherapy group) were enrolled in this perspective cohort study. The survival of these patients was analyzed. The immunotherapy group presented a higher 5-year overall survival rate than the control group (75.63 vs 67.81 %, P = 0.035), as well as 3-year overall survival rate (87.07 vs 74.80 %, P = 0.045). For patients with advanced cancer (TNM stages III and IV), immunotherapy significantly promotes mean survival than control subjects (59.74 ± 3.21 vs 49.99 ± 2.54 years, P = 0.034). Patients who received more than three cycles of immunotherapies had a higher 5-year overall survival rate than those with less than three cycles (82.10 vs 69.90 %, P = 0.035). No serious adverse effect was observed in the immunotherapy group. Postoperative immunotherapies with DC, DC-AT, and ATC combination can promote the survival of patients with operable colorectal cancer (Clinical Trials, ChiCTR-OCH-12002610).

[Assessment value of preoperative neutrophil-lymphocyte ratio for the prognosis of patients with colorectal cancer after radical operation].

OBJECTIVE: To assess the value of preoperative neutrophil-lymphocyte ratio (NLR) for prognosis in patients with colorectal cancer after radical operation. METHODS: Clinical data of 140 patients with colorectal cancer undergoing radical operation in the Department of General Surgery of General Hospital of PLA from July 2005 to July 2011 were analyzed retrospectively. According to preoperative NLR, patients were divided into the low NLR group (NLR<5, n=105) and the high NLR group (NLR≥5, n=35). The overall 5-year survival rates of two groups were compared and the independent risk factors were examined by univariate analysis and Cox model. RESULTS: The overall 5-year survival rates of the low and high NLR groups were 74.8% and 54.7% respectively with significant difference (P=0.03). Univariate analysis revealed depth of tumor, lymph nodes metastasis, TMN stage and NLR were associated with survival (P<0.05, P<0.01). Cox model showed that NLR was independent risk factor of prognosis (RR=1.068, 95%CI:1.009-1.129, P=0.02). CONCLUSION: Preoperative NLR≥5 predicts poorer prognosis of colorectal cancer patients.