The association between TNF-α 238A/G and 308A/G polymorphisms and juvenile idiopathic arthritis: An updated PRISMA-compliant meta-analysis.

OBJECTIVE: A previous meta-analysis concluded that TNF-α 238A/G and TNF-α 308A/G polymorphisms were not associated with the risk of juvenile idiopathic arthritis (JIA) in the overall population or Caucasian subjects. With the publication of a fair number of studies on the association between TNF-α polymorphisms and JIA in recent years, we conducted this updated meta-analysis to make a more accurate evaluation of such relationship. METHODS: We adopted PubMed, EMBASE, ISI Web of Science and CNKI to identify observational studies that addressed the association between TNF-α polymorphisms and risk for JIA. The allelic effect of variant A for the risk of JIA was expressed as odds ratio (OR) along with the associated 95% confidence interval (95% CI). Meta-analyses were performed by pooling ORs and 95%CI from included studies using RevMan 5.3 software. The stratified-analysis based on ethnicity was performed to confirm the ethnicity-dependent effect on the relationship. RESULTS: A total of 15 case-control studies including 2845 patients in JIA groups and 4771 patients in control groups were included in our study. The findings indicated a statistically significant association between the A allele of the TNF-alpha 238A/G polymorphism and the decreased JIA risk in Caucasians (P = .0002). The study in Iranian showed similar results (P = .0002) whereas the studies in other ethnicities failed to replicate this finding: Han (P = .29), Mexican (P = .64) and Turkish population (P = .32). TNF-α 308A/G was not statistically associated with JIA in overall subjects or Caucasians. CONCLUSION: Our study confirmed the protective role of the A allele in TNF-α 238A/G but not TNF-α 308A/G against the occurrence of JIA in the Caucasian population. To exactly validate the correlation between TNF-α polymorphisms and JIA in other ethnic backgrounds, additional studies are required.

No association between HMGB1 polymorphisms and cancer risk: evidence from a meta-analysis.

The aim of the present study was to determine whether High mobility group box 1 (HMGB1) polymorphism was associated with cancer susceptibility. PubMed, Embase, and ISI Web of Science were extensively searched without language restriction. Data were extracted using a standardized data collection sheet after two reviewers scanned studies independently. The association between HMGB1 polymorphism and cancer risks was indicated as odds ratio (OR) along with its related 95% confidence interval (95%CI). Meta-analysis was conducted via RevMan 5.3 software. A total of ten studies comprising 4530 cases and 5167 controls were included in our study. Meta-analysis revealed no statistical association between rs1045411, rs1360485, rs1412125, or rs2249825 polymorphisms in HMGB1 gene and risk of cancer, either did subgroup analysis of rs1045411 stratified by cancer types and ethnic groups. Our results revealed no statistical association between current four polymorphism loci and cancer risks, suggesting that the attempt of applying HMGB1 variants as a therapeutic target or a prognosis predictor might still require a second thought. However, HMGB1 is deemed to play pleiotropic roles in cancers, we strongly call for large-scale studies with high evidence level to uncover the exact relationship between HMGB1 gene variants and cancer progression.

The effect of erbium on the adsorption and photodegradation of orange I in aqueous Er3+-TiO2 suspension.

Pure TiO(2) and erbium ion-doped TiO(2) (Er(3+)-TiO(2)) catalysts prepared by the sol-gel method were characterized by means of XRD and diffusive reflectance spectra (DRS). The XRD results showed that erbium ion doping could enhance the thermal stability of TiO(2) and inhibit the increase of the crystallite size, and the DRS results showed that the optical absorption edge slightly shifted to red direction owing to erbium ion doping and the Er(3+)-TiO(2) catalysts had three typical absorption peaks located at 490, 523 and 654 nm owing to the transition of 4f electron from (4)I(15/2) to (4)F(7/2), (2)H(11/2) and (4)F(9/2). With a purpose of azo dyes degradation, orange I was used as a model chemical. And the adsorption isotherm, degradation and mineralization of orange I were investigated in aqueous suspension of pure TiO(2) or Er(3+)-TiO(2) catalysts. The results showed that Er(3+)-TiO(2) catalysts had higher adsorption equilibrium constants and better adsorption capacity than pure TiO(2). The adsorption equilibrium constants (K(a)) of Er(3+)-TiO(2) catalysts were about twice of that of pure TiO(2). The maximum adsorption capacity (Q(max)) of 2.0% Er(3+)-TiO(2) catalyst was 13.08x10(-5)mol/g, which was much higher than that of pure TiO(2) with 9.03x10(-5)mol/g. Among Er(3+)-TiO(2) catalysts, 2.0% Er(3+)-TiO(2) catalyst achieved the highest Q(max) and K(a) values. The kinetics of the orange I degradation using different Er(3+)-TiO(2) catalysts were also studied. The results demonstrated that the degradation and mineralization of orange I under both UV radiation and visible light were more efficient with Er(3+)-TiO(2) catalyst than with pure TiO(2), and an optimal dosage of erbium ion at 1.5% achieved the highest degradation rate. The higher photoactivity under visible light might be attributable to the transitions of 4f electrons of Er(3+) and red shifts of the optical absorption edge of TiO(2) by erbium ion doping.