The relationship of publication language, study population, risk of bias, and treatment effects in acupuncture related systematic reviews: a meta-epidemiologic study.

BACKGROUND: There are debates in acupuncture related systematic reviews and meta-analyses on whether searching Chinese databases to get more Chinese-language studies may increase the risk of bias and overestimate the effect size, and whether the treatment effects of acupuncture differ between Chinese and non-Chinese populations. METHODS: In this meta-epidemiological study, we searched the Cochrane library from its inception until December 2021, and identified systematic reviews and meta-analyses with acupuncture as one of the interventions. Paired reviewers independently screened the reviews and extracted the information. We repeated the meta-analysis of the selected outcomes to separately pool the results of Chinese- and non-Chinese-language acupuncture studies and presented the pooled estimates as odds ratios (OR) with 95% confidence interval (CI). We calculated the Ratio of ORs (ROR) by dividing the OR of the Chinese-language trials by the OR of the non-Chinese-language trials, and the ROR by dividing the OR of trials addressing Chinese population by the OR of trials addressing non-Chinese population. We explored whether the impact of a high risk of bias on the effect size differed between studies published in Chinese- and in non-Chinese-language, and whether the treatment effects of acupuncture differed between Chinese and non-Chinese population. RESULTS: We identified 84 Cochrane acupuncture reviews involving 33 Cochrane groups, of which 31 reviews (37%) searched Chinese databases. Searching versus not searching Chinese databases significantly increased the contribution of Chinese-language literature both to the total number of included trials (54% vs. 15%) and the sample size (40% vs. 15%). When compared with non-Chinese-language trials, Chinese-language trials were associated with a larger effect size (pooled ROR 0.51, 95% CI 0.29 to 0.91). We also observed a higher risk of bias in Chinese-language trials in blinding of participants and personnel (97% vs. 51%) and blinding of outcome assessment (93% vs. 47%). The higher risk of bias was associated with a larger effect estimate in both Chinese-language (allocation concealment: high/unclear risk vs. low risk, ROR 0.43, 95% CI 0.21 to 0.87) and non-Chinese-language studies (blinding of participants and personnel: high/unclear risk vs. low risk, ROR 0.41, 95% CI 0.23 to 0.74). However, we found no evidence that the higher risk of bias would increase the effect size of acupuncture in Chinese-language studies more often than in non-Chinese-language studies (the confidence intervals of all ROR in the high-risk group included 1, Table 3). We further found acupuncture appeared to be more effective in Chinese than in non-Chinese population (Table 4). CONCLUSIONS: The findings of this study suggest the higher risk of bias may lead to an overestimation of the treatment effects of acupuncture but would not increase the treatment effects in Chinese-language studies more often than in other language studies. The difference in treatment effects of acupuncture was probably associated with differences in population characteristics. TRIAL REGISTRATION: We registered our protocol on the Open Science Framework (OSF) ( https://doi.org/10.17605/OSF.IO/PZ6XR ).

The Effects of Oral Probiotic Supplementation in Postmenopausal Women with Overweight and Obesity: A Systematic Review and Meta-analysis of Randomized Controlled Trials.

Gut microbiota has been identified as a unique endocrine organ linked to the development of cardiovascular disease and other illnesses, especially deteriorated in overweight and obese postmenopausal women. The object of this systematic review and meta-analysis aimed to assess the effects of oral supplementation with probiotics for overweight and obese postmenopausal women. We performed a systematic search for randomized controlled trials (RCTs) from inception to April 2022 in MEDLINE, Embase, Cochrane Library, Web of Science, and ClinicalTrials.gov. We also performed a hand search by reviewing reference lists to identify trials. The risk of bias in individual studies was assessed with the Cochrane risk of bias tool for randomized trials (RoB). Two reviewers independently selected studies and collected data. There were 6 studies from 5 RCTs with 281 participants in this systematic review. Compared with the placebo, the probiotics supplementation group had reductions in insulin (MD - 4.20 IU/L (95% CI - 8.11 to - 0.30 IU/L), I2 = 54%), HOMA-IR (MD - 1.25 (95% CI - 2.49 to - 0.01), I2 = 50%), and TNF-α (MD - 0.12 pg/mL (95% CI - 0.22 to - 0.01 pg/mL), I2 = 44%). Improvements were also shown in body adiposity and lipid profile, but these effects were nonsignificant. In addition to body adiposity and cardiovascular risk markers, one trial showed the administration of probiotics also had an effect on iron metabolism. In conclusion, probiotics have a potential benefit on glucose metabolism and inflammatory process in overweight and obese postmenopausal women, but this effect is mild. It demonstrates that oral probiotics supplementation can be a complementary treatment for improving the fitness of postmenopausal women with overweight and obesity.

Comprehensive analysis of alternative splicing signatures in pancreatic head cancer.

The correlation between dysregulation of splicing and cancers has been increasingly recognised and confirmed. The identification of valuable alternative splicing (AS) in pancreatic head cancer (PHC) has a great significance. AS profiles in PHC were generated using the data from The Cancer Genome Atlas and TCGASpliceSeq. Then, the NMF clustering method was performed to identify overall survival-associated AS (OS-AS) subtypes in PHC patients. Subsequently, we used least absolute shrinkage and selection operator Cox regression analysis to construct an AS-related risk model. The splicing regulatory network was uncovered by Cytoscape 3.7. A total of 1694 OS-AS events were obtained. The PHC patients were divided into clusters 1 and 2. Cluster 1 had poorer prognosis and lower infiltration of immune cells. Subsequently, a prognostic signature was established that showed good performance in predicting OS and progression-free survival. The risk score of this signature was associated with the unique tumour immunity. Moreover, a nomogram incorporating the risk score and clinicopathological parameters was established. Finally, a splicing factor-AS regulatory network was developed. A comprehensive analysis of the AS events in PHC associated with prognosis and tumour immunity may help provide reliable information to guide individual treatment strategies.

Trends in research related to menopausal hormone therapy from 2000 to 2021: A bibliometric analysis.

We conducted the present bibliometric analysis to explore menopausal hormone therapy (MHT)-related research trends between 2000 and 2021. The Web of Science database was systematically searched from 2000 to 2021 to retrieve MHT-related publications. Visualization mapping and keyword cluster graphs were utilized to illustrate the research topics and hotpots. We included 11,616 MHT-related publications for this bibliometric analysis. The results showed that (1) MHT-related research had a very slow increase in the past 22 years, and the trend fluctuated. Sum of times cited and average citations per item had the same trend: a sharp decline from 2002 to 2003, and a rapid increase from 2003 to 2006, reaching the peak in 2006, then following a downward trend. The average H-index was 57, peaking in 2001; (2) the USA, the League of European Research Universities, and Dr. JoAann Manson from Harvard University contributed the most; (3) Menopause: The Journal of The North American Menopause Society had the most significant number of MHT-related publications; (4) the research hotpots primarily focused on MHT for treating menopausal symptoms and the impact of MHT on women's health. According to previous studies, MHT was the most effective treatment for managing vasomotor symptoms of menopause, but results from the clinical trials and observational studies regarding MHT adverse events remain inconsistent. Mechanisms are fundamental when clinical studies give conflicting results. Therefore, future studies should focus on adverse events and their mechanisms.

Correlation between the GP78 Gene Polymorphism and Coronary Atherosclerotic Heart Disease.

OBJECTIVE: To study the correlation between the GP78 gene polymorphism and blood fat, blood glucose, blood pressure and coronary atherosclerotic heart disease. METHODS: A total of 72 patients with coronary atherosclerotic heart disease were selected as the observation group, and 68 healthy participants were selected as the control group. The gp78 gene polymorphism of both groups was studied via polymerase chain reaction-restriction fragment length polymorphism (RFLP). At the same time, the multiple expression quantities of the GP78 gene in the tissues of both groups were tested via fluorogenic quantitative PCR, enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA) and Western-blotting assay. Furthermore, the blood fat, blood glucose and blood pressure of subjects in both groups were tested. RESULTS: The percentages of the gp78 gene polymorphisms of Arg/Arg, Arg/Gly and Gly/Gly at the 145 locus of the study subjects in the observation group were 12.3%, 43.2% and 44.5%, respectively, while those in the control group were 74.3%, 11.2% and 14.5%, respectively, and there were significant differences between both groups. Based on the test results of the blood fat, blood glucose and blood pressure of the objects in the observation group and control group, significant differences were found between the two groups (P<0.05). CONCLUSION: There was a significant correlation between the 145 locus of the gp89 gene and coronary atherosclerotic heart disease, indexes of blood fat, blood glucose and blood pressure.

Electrochemical sensor for discrimination tyrosine enantiomers using graphene quantum dots and ß-cyclodextrins composites.

An electrochemical sensor using the composites of graphene quantum dots (GQDs) and ß-cyclodextrins (ß-CDs) functionalized glassy carbon electrode (GCE) was developed for determination and recognition of tyrosine (Tyr) enantiomers which are biomarker of depression. The modified electrode is simple to fabricate and rapid, sensitive, selective to detect the Tyr enantiomers. In order to further validate the feasibility of the electrochemical sensor in real samples, the sensor was applied to the detection of L-Tyr in blood serum samples of healthy people and depression patients, and found that the quantities of L-Tyr of depression patients in serum is less than healthy people. The ß-CDs-GQDs composites were fabricated as modification layer of electrodes. GQDs were used as substrate and functionalized with ß-CDs. The ß-CDs-GQDs composites utilized nanosize of GQDs and enantioselectivity of ß-CDs to realize chiral recognition of Tyr. The ß-CDs-GQDs modified electrode presented significant difference in the oxidation peak current with ratio of L to D-Tyr reaching 2.35. The detection limits of L-Tyr and D-Tyr were 6.07×10-9 M and 1.03×10-7 M, respectively and superior to detection limits of the reported methods. In addition, the stability and reproducibility of the prepared modified electrode were investigated, and achieved good results.

Fingerprint quality control of Angelica sinensis (Oliv.) Diels by high-performance liquid chromatography coupled with discriminant analysis.

High-performance liquid chromatography (HPLC) was employed in the fingerprint analysis of Angelica sinensis (Oliv.) Diels. A chromatographic profile of A. sinensis (Oliv.) Diels from the Dingxi District of Gansu province, China, was established as the characteristic fingerprint. The feasibility and advantages of employing chromatographic fingerprint combined with discriminant analysis were investigated and demonstrated for the evaluation of A. sinensis (Oliv.) Diels for the first time. Our results showed that the chromatographic fingerprint combining with discriminant analysis can efficiently distinguish A. sinensis (Oliv.) Diels from various areas.

[The effect of atorvastatin on the expression of CD55, CD59 in patients with hyperlipidemia].

OBJECTIVE: To study the expressions of CD55 and CD59 in patients with hyperlipidemia and the effects of atorvastatin on it, and to identify the possible influential factors. METHODS: We selected 67 patients with hyperlipidemia, and 24 healthy people matched in terms of age, sex and body weight as control. The expressions of CD55 and CD59 on white blood cells were detected by flow cytometry, and their relationships to blood lipids, complement activation indexes (C(5a), sC(5b-9)), inflammatory factors (high sensitivity C-reactive protein (hsCRP), TNF-alpha, IL-6 were analyzed. 24 patients with hyperlipidemia were treated with atorvastatin for 8-12 weeks and the expressions of CD55 and CD59 were measured before and after atorvastatin therapy. RESULTS: The mean fluorescence intensity (MFI) of CD55 lymphocytes and monocytes were decreased in patients with hyperlipidemia compared with control (2.07 +/- 0.28 vs 2.29 +/- 0.44 and 3.45 +/- 1.02 vs 4.33 +/- 2.32, P < 0.01 and P < 0.05, respectively). CD55 positive lymphocyte MFI was negatively correlated with waist circumference, waist-hip ratio, hsCRP and C(5a). C(5a) was negatively correlated with the MFIs of CD55 positive lymphocytes, monocytes, granulocytes, and positively with TG and diastolic blood pressure. After atorvastatin therapy, the MFIs of CD59 positive lymphocytes, monocytes and granulocytes increased (4.34 +/- 1.16 vs 3.69 +/- 0.76, 4.52 +/- 1.36 vs 3.91 +/- 0.89, 5.67 +/- 1.72 vs 4.56 +/- 1.03, P < 0.05, < 0.05 and < 0.01 respectively), which were not correlated with changes of blood lipids. CONCLUSIONS: The expression of CD55 is down-regulated in hyperlipidemia, which might be influenced by obesity, abdominal distribution of adipose tissue and inflammatory status of hyperlipidemia, but not by blood lipids. The expression of CD55 is related with complement activation; The expression of CD59 is up-regulated after atorvastatin treatment independently of blood lipids.