Gut microbiome alterations during gastric cancer: evidence assessment of case-control studies.

Objectives: The study aims to systematically identify the alterations in gut microbiota that observed in gastric cancer through comprehensive assessment of case-control studies. Methods: The systematic literature search of PubMed, Embase, Cochrane Library, and Web of Science was conducted to identify case-control studies that compared the microbiomes of individuals with and without gastric cancer. Quality of included studies was evaluated with the Newcastle-Ottawa Quality Assessment Scale (NOS). Meta-analyses utilized a random-effects model, and subgroup and sensitivity analyses were performed to assess study heterogeneity. All data analyses were performed using the "metan" package in Stata 17.0, and the results were described using log odds ratios (log ORs) with 95% confidence intervals (CIs). Results: A total of 33 studies involving 4,829 participants were eligible for analysis with 29 studies provided changes in α diversity and 18 studies reported ß diversity. Meta-analysis showed that only the Shannon index demonstrated statistical significance for α-diversity [-5.078 (-9.470, -0.686)]. No significant differences were observed at the phylum level, while 11 bacteria at genus-level were identified significant changed, e.g., increasing in Lactobacillus [5.474, (0.949, 9.999)] and Streptococcus [5.095, (0.293, 9.897)] and decreasing in Porphyromonas and Rothia with the same [-8.602, (-11.396, -5.808)]. Sensitivity analysis indicated that the changes of 9 bacterial genus were robust. Subgroup analyses on countries revealed an increasing abundance of Helicobacter and Streptococcus in Koreans with gastric cancer, whereas those with gastric cancer from Portugal had a reduced Neisseria. Regarding the sample sources, the study observed an increase in Lactobacillus and Bacteroides in the gastric mucosa of people with gastric cancer, alongside Helicobacter and Streptococcus. However, the relative abundance of Bacteroides decreased compared to the non-gastric cancer group, which was indicated in fecal samples. Conclusion: This study identified robust changes of 9 bacterial genus in people with gastric cancer, which were country-/sample source-specific. Large-scale studies are needed to explore the mechanisms underlying these changes. Systematic Review: Unique Identifier: CRD42023437426 https://www.crd.york.ac.uk/prospero/display_record.php?ID=CRD42023437426.

Association between blood volatile organic aromatic compound concentrations and hearing loss in US adults.

OBJECTIVE: Benzene, ethylbenzene, meta/para-xylene, and ortho-xylene, collectively referred to as benzene, ethylbenzene, and xylene (BEX), constitute the main components of volatile organic aromatic compounds (VOACs) and can have adverse effects on human health. The relationship between exposure to BEX and hearing loss (HL) in the adult U.S. population was aimed to be assessed. METHODS: Cross-sectional data from the National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey (NHANES) for the years 2003-2004, 2011-2012, and 2015-2016 were analyzed. This dataset included complete demographic characteristics, pure-tone audiometry measurements, and volatile organic compound detection data from the NHANES database. A weighted multivariate logistic regression model was employed to investigate the associations between blood BEX concentrations HL, low-frequency hearing loss (SFHL), and high-frequency hearing loss (HFHL). RESULTS: 2174 participants were included, with weighted prevalence rates of HL, SFHL, and HFHL being 46.81%, 25.23%, and 45.86%, respectively. Exposure to benzene, ethylbenzene, meta/para-xylene, and ortho-xylene, and cumulative BEX concentrations increased the risk of hearing loss (odds ratios [ORs] were 1.36, 1.22, 1.42, 1.23, and 1.31, respectively; all P < 0.05). In the analysis with SFHL as the outcome, ethylbenzene, m-/p-xylene, o-xylene, benzene, and overall BEX increased the risk (OR 1.26, 1.21, 1.28, 1.20, and 1.25, respectively; all P < 0.05). For HFHL, exposure to ethylbenzene, m-/p-xylene, o-xylene, benzene, and overall BEX increased the risk (OR 1.36, 1.22, 1.42, 1.22, and 1.31, respectively; all P < 0.05). CONCLUSION: Our study indicated that a positive correlation between individual or cumulative exposure to benzene, ethylbenzene, meta/para-xylene, and ortho-xylene and the risk of HL, SFHL, and HFHL. Further research is imperative to acquire a more comprehensive understanding of the mechanisms by which organic compounds, notably BEX, in causing hearing loss and to validate these findings in longitudinal environmental studies.