Homohelical Self-Assembly of Trimer of α-Cyclodextrin and Octamolybdate.

The ability to conceptually mimic biomolecules to construct emergency-functional homospiral aggregates remains a long-standing challenge. Herein, we report artificial homohelical assembly by blending inorganic polyoxometalates (POMs) and organic cyclodextrin molecules. The chiral double-helical chains have been achieved by a left-hand arrangement of trimer-trimer. The trimer is formed by three {Mo8}@α-CD inclusive complexes as a Whittaker-style paddle wheel. During the process of assembly, chiral transfer and amplification from molecule to superstructure were observed. The enantioselective adsorption of the homohelical aggregate toward (R/S)-1,1'-binaphthyl-2,2'-diamine was further demonstrated. The interaction of {Mo8} and α-CD in solution was investigated. This work opens a wide scope for the design of a homohelix, enriching POM-based inorganic-organic materials.

Alteration of twinfilin1 expression underlies opioid withdrawal-induced remodeling of actin cytoskeleton at synapses and formation of aversive memory.

Exposure to drugs of abuse induces alterations of dendritic spine morphology and density that has been proposed to be a cellular basis of long-lasting addictive memory and heavily depend on remodeling of its underlying actin cytoskeleton by the actin cytoskeleton regulators. However, the actin cytoskeleton regulators involved and the specific mechanisms whereby drugs of abuse alter their expression or function are largely unknown. Twinfilin (Twf1) is a highly conserved actin-depolymerizing factor that regulates actin dynamics in organisms from yeast to mammals. Despite abundant expression of Twf1 in mammalian brain, little is known about its importance for brain functions such as experience-dependent synaptic and behavioral plasticity. Here we show that conditioned morphine withdrawal (CMW)-induced synaptic structure and behavior plasticity depends on downregulation of Twf1 in the amygdala of rats. Genetically manipulating Twf1 expression in the amygdala bidirectionally regulates CMW-induced changes in actin polymerization, spine density and behavior. We further demonstrate that downregulation of Twf1 is due to upregulation of miR101a expression via a previously unrecognized mechanism involving CMW-induced increases in miR101a nuclear processing via phosphorylation of MeCP2 at Ser421. Our findings establish the importance of Twf1 in regulating opioid-induced synaptic and behavioral plasticity and demonstrate its value as a potential therapeutic target for the treatment of opioid addiction.

High resolution estimates of relative gene abundance with quantitative ratiometric regression PCR (qRR-PCR).

Quantification of the relative abundance of genetic traits has broad applications for biomarker discovery, diagnostics, and assessing gene expression in biological research. Relative quantification of genes is traditionally done with the 2-ΔΔCT method using quantitative real-time polymerase chain reaction (qPCR) data, which is often limited in resolution beyond orders of magnitude difference. The latest techniques for quantification of nucleic acids employ digital PCR or microarrays which involve lengthy sample preparation and complex instrumentation. In this work, we describe a quantitative ratiometric regression PCR (qRR-PCR) method for computing relative abundance of genetic traits in a sample with high resolution from a single duplexed real-time quantitative PCR assay. Instead of comparing the individual cycle threshold (Ct) values as is done for the 2-ΔΔCT method, our qRR-PCR algorithm leverages the innate relationship of co-amplified PCR targets to measure their relative quantities using characteristic curves derived from the normalized ratios of qPCR fluorescence curves. We demonstrate the utility of this technique for discriminating the fractional abundance of mixed alleles with resolution below 5%.

Role of FOXO protein's abnormal activation through PI3K/AKT pathway in platinum resistance of ovarian cancer.

AIM: Platinum-based chemotherapy is the standard treatment for ovarian cancer. However, tumor cells' resistance to platinum drugs often occurs. This paper provides a review of Forkhead box O (FOXO) protein's role in platinum resistance of ovarian cancer which hopefully may provide some further guidance for the treatment of platinum-resistant ovarian cancer. METHODS: We reviewed a 128 published papers from authoritative and professional journals on FOXO and platinum-resistant ovarian cancer, and adopts qualitative analyses and interpretation based on the literature. RESULTS: Ovarian cancer often has abnormal activation of cellular pathways, the most important of which is the PI3K/AKT pathway. FOXOs act as crucial downstream factor of the PI3K/Akt pathway and are negatively regulated by it. DNA damage response and apoptosis including the relationship between FOXOs and ATM-Chk2-p53 are essential for platinum resistance of ovarian cancer. Through gene expression analysis in platinum-resistant ovarian cancer cell model, it was found that FoxO-1 is decreased in platinum-resistant ovarian cancer, so studying the role of FOXO in the pathway on platinum-induced apoptosis may further guide the treatment of platinum-resistant ovarian cancer. CONCLUSIONS: There are many drug resistance mechanisms in ovarian cancer, wherein the decrease in cancer cells apoptosis is one of the important causes. Constituted by a series of transcription factors evolving conservatively and mainly working in inhibiting cancer, FOXO proteins play various roles in cells' antitumor response. More and more evidence suggests that we need to re-understand the role that FOXOs have played in cancer development and treatment.

[Induced pluripotent stem cell technology and its application in disease research].

Since Takahashi and Yamanaka reported the generation of induced pluripotent stem cells (iPSCs) in 2006, the field of pluripotent stem cells has entered an unprecedented state of development. It plays an important role in disease modeling, drug discovery and cell therapy, and promotes the development of cell biology and regenerative medicine. At present, iPSC technology has become an important tool for studying of pathological mechanisms. New drugs screened by iPSC technology are being developed, and the number of clinical trials using iPSC-derived cells is gradually increasing. The latest research progress of iPSCs, combined with gene editing technology and 3D organoid methodology, promotes the further applications of iPSCs in disease research. In this review, we introduce the innovation of reprogramming methods in recent years, analyze the advantages and disadvantages of four reprogramming methods: integrated virus vector system, integrated non-viral vector system, non-integrated virus vector system and non-integrated non virus vector system. At the same time, we summarize the latest research progress on iPSCs in disease modeling and clinical treatment strategies, so as to provide a reference for further in-depth research in various fields of iPSCs.

The Small GTPase Rac1 Contributes to Extinction of Aversive Memories of Drug Withdrawal by Facilitating GABAA Receptor Endocytosis in the vmPFC.

Extinction of aversive memories has been a major concern in neuropsychiatric disorders, such as anxiety disorders and drug addiction. However, the mechanisms underlying extinction of aversive memories are not fully understood. Here, we report that extinction of conditioned place aversion (CPA) to naloxone-precipitated opiate withdrawal in male rats activates Rho GTPase Rac1 in the ventromedial prefrontal cortex (vmPFC) in a BDNF-dependent manner, which determines GABAA receptor (GABAAR) endocytosis via triggering synaptic translocation of activity-regulated cytoskeleton-associated protein (Arc) through facilitating actin polymerization. Active Rac1 is essential and sufficient for GABAAR endocytosis and CPA extinction. Knockdown of Rac1 expression within the vmPFC of rats using Rac1-shRNA suppressed GABAAR endocytosis and CPA extinction, whereas expression of a constitutively active form of Rac1 accelerated GABAAR endocytosis and CPA extinction. The crucial role of GABAAR endocytosis in the LTP induction and CPA extinction is evinced by the findings that blockade of GABAAR endocytosis by a dynamin function-blocking peptide (Myr-P4) abolishes LTP induction and CPA extinction. Thus, the present study provides first evidence that Rac1-dependent GABAAR endocytosis plays a crucial role in extinction of aversive memories and reveals the sequence of molecular events that contribute to learning experience modulation of synaptic GABAAR endocytosis.SIGNIFICANCE STATEMENT This study reveals that Rac1-dependent GABAAR endocytosis plays a crucial role in extinction of aversive memories associated with drug withdrawal and identifies Arc as a downstream effector of Rac1 regulations of synaptic plasticity as well as learning and memory, thereby suggesting therapeutic targets to promote extinction of the unwanted memories.

Novel bioflocculant produced by salt-tolerant, alkaliphilic strain Oceanobacillus polygoni HG6 and its application in tannery wastewater treatment.

The optimized production of MBF-HG6, which is a novel salt-tolerant alkaliphilic bioflocculant produced by Oceanobacillus polygoni with its application in tannery wastewater treatment was investigated in this study. It was found the optimal carbon source, nitrogen source, cation, and initial pH of the medium for bioflocculant production were starch, urea, Fe2+, and pH 9.0, respectively. The best stability in the temperature range was from 0 to 80°C and the purified MBF-HG6 contained polysaccharides of 81.53% and proteins of 9.98%. The carboxyl, hydroxyl, and amino groups were determined in bioflocculants, while the optimized bioflocculating activity was observed as 90.25% for the dosages of 6.96mL MBF-HG6, 4.77mL CaCl2 (1%, m/v), and 19.24g/L NaCl using response surface methodology. In addition, SS and turbidity removal rates of the tannery wastewater (4g/L MBF-HG6) could, respectively, reach 46.49% and 91.08%, indicating that the great potential was emerged in enhancement of tannery wastewater treatment by MBF-HG6.

Transcriptome Profiling Analysis of Wolf Spider Pardosa pseudoannulata (Araneae: Lycosidae) after Cadmium Exposure.

Pardosa pseudoannulata is one of the most common wandering spiders in agricultural fields and a potentially good bioindicator for heavy metal contamination. However, little is known about the mechanisms by which spiders respond to heavy metals at the molecular level. In the present study, high-throughput transcriptome sequencing was employed to characterize the de novo transcriptome of the spiders and to identify differentially expressed genes (DEGs) after cadmium exposure. We obtained 60,489 assembled unigenes, 18,773 of which were annotated in the public databases. A total of 2939 and 2491 DEGs were detected between the libraries of two Cd-treated groups and the control. Functional enrichment analysis revealed that metabolism processes and digestive system function were predominately enriched in response to Cd stress. At the cellular and molecular levels, significantly enriched pathways in lysosomes and phagosomes as well as replication, recombination and repair demonstrated that oxidative damage resulted from Cd exposure. Based on the selected DEGs, certain critical genes involved in defence and detoxification were analysed. These results may elucidate the molecular mechanisms underlying spiders' responses to heavy metal stress.

The Effects of Cadmium Exposure on Fitness-Related Traits and Antioxidant Responses in the Wolf Spider, Pardosa pseudoannulata.

The objective of the present study was to assess the ecotoxicological responses of Pardosa pseudoannulata to a common environmental pollutant, cadmium. Third-instar spiderlings and adult spiders were exposed to sublethal concentrations of CdCl2 solution in their drinking water. The Cd content in P. pseudoannulata adults increased significantly with the number of days of exposure to a 0.2 mM CdCl2 solution, when exposed to 2 mM CdCl2 solution, the Cd content in the spiders increased sharply in the first two (male) or three (female) weeks, and then no significant changes were recorded following with the next three (male) or two (female) weeks exposure. Exposure of spiders to Cd contaminated drinking water resulted in reduced body mass, delayed development, fewer eggs and increased mortality. Significantly higher activities of superoxide dismutase, catalase and glutathione-S-transferase were recorded in the spiders after 7 day exposure to 0.2 mM CdCl2 solution. However, longer-term exposures or increased Cd concentrations did not result in significantly higher antioxidant enzyme activity relative to control treatment.

Intravenous Transplantation of BMP2-Transduced Endothelial Progenitor Cells Attenuates Lipopolysaccharide-Induced Acute Lung Injury in Rats.

BACKGROUND/AIMS: Acute lung injury (ALI) and its aggressive stage, acute respiratory distress syndrome (ARDS), are characterized by diffuse damage and increased permeability of the endothelial barrier, leading to alveolar infiltrates and interstitial edema. Enhancing endothelial integrity represents a novel therapeutic strategy for ALI/ARDS. Endothelial progenitor cells (EPCs) have been reported to participate in endothelial repair of ALI and also serve as a tool for gene therapy. Further, bone morphogenetic protein 2 (BMP2) is an essential signaling molecule that regulates the fate of different cell types. The aim of our study is to explore whether bone marrow-derived EPCs transduced with lentiviral-mediated BMP2 gene might benefit lipopolysaccharide (LPS)-induced ALI in a rat model. METHODS: Rats were divided randomly into five groups. The sham group was given normal saline via the trachea and right jugular vein. The other four groups underwent intratracheal-LPS-induced ALI followed after 30 min by treatment with either normal saline, EPCs, EPCs transduced with empty lentiviral vector (EPCs-null), or EPCs transduced with BMP2 (EPCs-BMP2) via the right jugular vein. RESULTS: We found that the lung injury score, oxygenation, and inflammatory response were significantly ameliorated in the three EPC-treated groups (EPCs, EPCs-null, and EPCs-BMP2). In addition, EPCs-BMP2 further improved endothelium repair and capillary permeability, causing markedly reduced wet-to-dry lung-weight ratio and BALF protein content, and increased levels of BMP2 protein, BMP2 mRNA, and eNOS protein in lung tissues. CONCLUSION: Transplantation of BMP2-transduced EPCs effectively attenuates edema and protein exudation compared with EPCs alone in LPS-induced ALI via enhanced expression of BMP2 and eNOS.

A systematic study of gene expression variation at single-nucleotide resolution reveals widespread regulatory roles for uAUGs.

Regulatory single-nucleotide polymorphisms (rSNPs) alter gene expression. Common approaches for identifying rSNPs focus on sequence variants in conserved regions; however, it is unknown what fraction of rSNPs is undetectable using this approach. We present a systematic analysis of gene expression variation at the single-nucleotide level in the Saccharomyces cerevisiae GAL1-10 regulatory region. We exhaustively mutated nearly every base and measured the expression of each variant with a sensitive dual reporter assay. We observed an expression change for 7% (43/582) of the bases in this region, most of which (35/43, 81%) reside in conserved positions. The most dramatic changes were caused by variants that produced AUGs upstream of the translation start (uAUGs), and we sought to understand the consequences and molecular mechanisms underlying this class of mutations. A genome-wide analysis showed that genes with uAUGs display significantly lower mRNA and protein levels than genes without uAUGs. To determine the generality of this mechanism, we introduced uAUGs into S. cerevisiae genes and observed significantly reduced expression in 17/21 instances (p < 0.01), suggesting that uAUGs are functional in a wide variety of sequence contexts. Quantification of mRNA and protein levels for uAUG mutants showed that uAUGs affect both transcription and translation. Expression of uAUG mutants under the upf1Δ strain demonstrated that uAUGs stimulate the nonsense-mediated decay pathway. Our results suggest that uAUGs are potent and widespread regulators of gene expression that act by attenuating both protein and RNA levels.

Formation of aversive memories associated with conditioned drug withdrawal requires BDNF expression in the amygdala in acute morphine-dependent rats.

AIM: Brain-derived neurotrophic factor (BDNF) plays an important role in learning and memory in multiple brain areas. In the present study, we investigated the roles of BDNF in aversive memories associated with conditioned drug withdrawal in acute morphine-dependent rats. METHODS: Conditioned place aversion (CPA) was induced in male SD rats exposed to a single dose of morphine (10 mg/kg, sc) followed by naloxone (0.3 mg/kg, sc). In some rats, BDNF receptor antagonist K252a (8.5 ng per side) or BDNF scavenger TrkB-FC (0.65 µg per side) was bilaterally microinjected into amygdala before naloxone injection. BDNF mRNA and protein expression levels in amygdala were detected after the behavior testing. RESULTS: CPA behavior was induced in rats by the naloxone-precipitated morphine withdrawal, which was accompanied by significantly increased levels of BDNF mRNA and protein in the amygdala. Bilateral microinjection of TrkB-FC or K252a into the amygdala completely blocked CPA behavior in the rats. CONCLUSION: Formation of aversive memories associated with conditioned drug withdrawal in acute morphine-dependent rats requires BDNF expression in the amygdala.

[Transcription factors in resistance against pathogen Botrytis cinerea in Arabidopsis].

A large number of defense genes are activated in plants when responding to pathogen infection. Furthermore, transcription factors are suggested to play important roles in regulating huge defense network in plants. The necrotrophic fungus Botrytis cinerea is one of the most destructive pathogens which could result in massive economic losses in the agriculture. Our review summarized the study results of members from transcription factor ERF, WRKY and MYB families which function in resistance of Botrytis cinerea in Arabidopsis thaliana. The transcription factors come into more elaborate regulation network through interacting with target genes at mRNA or protein levels aiming at activating expression of defense genes which lead to resistance against the fungus. Some transcriptional factors were discovered to be the main nodes and regulators in different phytohormones crosstalk, illustrating and connecting the molecular mechanisms of plants against different types of pathogens. Study on the transcription factor mentioned above, provides us clues for the study of other plant pathogen defense mechanism. Further understanding of disease mechanisms will help researchers to utilize the resis-tance genes in crop improvement and protection practice.

Self-paced graph memory for learner GPA prediction and it's application in learner multiple evaluation.

A scientific and rational evaluation of teaching is essential for personalized learning. In the current teaching assessment model that solely relies on Grade Point Average (GPA), learners with different learning abilities may be classified as the same type of student. It is challenging to uncover the underlying logic behind different learning patterns when GPA scores are the same. To address the limitations of pure GPA evaluation, we propose a data-driven assessment strategy as a supplement to the current methodology. Firstly, we integrate self-paced learning and graph memory neural networks to develop a learning performance prediction model called the self-paced graph memory network. Secondly, inspired by outliers in linear regression, we use a t-test approach to identify those student samples whose loss values significantly differ from normal samples, indicating that these students have different inherent learning patterns/logic compared to the majority. We find that these learners' GPA levels are distributed across different levels. Through analyzing the learning process data of learners with the same GPA level, we find that our data-driven strategy effectively addresses the shortcomings of the GPA evaluation model. Furthermore, we validate the rationality of our method for student data modeling through protein classification experiments and student performance prediction experiments, it ensuring the rationality and effectiveness of our method.

Network Pharmacology Prediction and Experimental Validation of Trichosanthes-Fritillaria thunbergii Action Mechanism Against Lung Adenocarcinoma.

We aimed to study the mechanism of Trichosanthes-Fritillaria thunbergii in treating lung adenocarcinoma (LUAD) based on network pharmacology and experimental verification. The effective components and potential targets of Trichosanthis and Fritillaria thunbergii were collected by high-throughput experiment and reference-guided (HERB) database of traditional Chinese medicine and a similarity ensemble approach (SEA) database, and the LUAD-related targets were queried by the GeneCards and Online Mendelian Inheritance in Man (OMIM) databases. A drug-component-disease-target network was constructed by Cytoscape software. Protein-protein interaction (PPI) network, gene ontology (GO) function, and Kyoto encyclopedia of genes and genomes (KEGG) pathway enrichment analyses were conducted to obtain core targets and key pathways. An aqueous extract of Trichosanthes-Fritillaria thunbergii and A549 cells were used for the subsequent experimental validation. Through the HERB database and literature search, 31 effective compounds and 157 potential target genes of Trichosanthes-Fritillaria thunbergii were screened, of which 144 were regulatory targets of Trichosanthes-Fritillaria thunbergii in the treatment of lung adenocarcinoma. The GO functional enrichment analysis showed that the mechanism of action of Trichosanthes-Fritillaria thunbergii against lung adenocarcinoma is mainly protein phosphorylation. The KEGG pathway enrichment analysis suggested that the treatment of lung adenocarcinoma by Trichosanthes-Fritillaria thunbergii mainly involves the PI3K/AKT signaling pathway. The experimental validation showed that an aqueous extract of Trichosanthes-Fritillaria thunbergii could inhibit the proliferation of A549 cells and the phosphorylation of AKT. Through network pharmacology and experimental validation, it was verified that the PI3K/AKT signaling pathway plays a vital role in the action of Trichosanthes-Fritillaria thunbergii in treating lung adenocarcinoma.

Introduction of Curdlan Optimizes the Comprehensive Properties of Methyl Cellulose Films.

The good oxygen barrier and hydrophobic properties of curdlan (CL) film might be suitable complements for MC film, and its similar glucose unit and thermal-gel character might endow the methyl cellulose (MC)/CL blended system with compatibility and good comprehensive properties. Thus, MC/CL blended films were developed. The effects of MC/CL blend ratios on the microstructures and physical properties of the blends were characterized by using Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy (FTIR), X-ray diffraction (XRD), scanning electron microscopy (SEM), oxygen and water vapor permeability testing, dynamic mechanical analysis (DMA), light transmittance testing, tensile testing, hydrophilic property testing, and water solubility testing. The introduction of CL affected the molecular aggregation and crystallization of the MC molecules, suggesting MC-CL molecular interactions. The cross-sectional roughness of the MC/CL film increased with an increase in CL content, while the surface of the MC/CL 5:5 film was smoother than those of the MC/CL 7:3 and 3:7 films. Only one glass transition temperature, which was between that of the MC and CL films, was observed for the MC/CL 7:3 and MC/CL 5:5 films, indicating the good compatibility of the MC and CL molecules at these two blend ratios. The hydrophobicity and water insolubility increased with the CL content, which was due to the combined effects of more hydrophobic cavities in the CL triple-helix and increased surface roughness. Increased oxygen barrier properties with increasing CL content might be a combined effect of the increased hydrogen bonds and hydrophilic ektexines of the CL triple-helix. The elongations of the blended films were higher than those of the MC film, which might be related to its increased water content. The MC/CL 7:3 and MC/CL 5:5 films retained the good light transmittance and tensile strength of the MC film, which corresponded well to their good compatibility and might be due to the effects of the MC-CL molecular interactions and the relative smooth morphologies. MC/CL 5:5 showed improved water vapor barrier properties, which might be due to its smooth surface morphologies. This research offers new MC based films with improved properties and good compatibility, providing great potential for use as edible coatings, capsules, and packaging materials.

Measuring Sleep Stages and Screening for Obstructive Sleep Apnea with a Wearable Multi-Sensor System in Comparison to Polysomnography.

Objective: To assess the performance of a wearable multi-sensor system (SensEcho) in comparison to polysomnography (PSG) in measuring sleep stages and searching for obstructive sleep apnea (OSA). Methods: Participants underwent overnight simultaneous monitoring using SensEcho and PSG in a sleep laboratory. SensEcho analyzed the recordings spontaneously, and PSG was assessed as per standard guidelines. The degree of snoring was evaluated according to the guidelines for the diagnosis and treatment of OSA hypopnea syndrome (2011 revision). The Epworth Sleepiness Scale (ESS) was used to assess general daytime sleepiness. Results: This study included 103 Han Chinese, 91 of whom (age 39.02 ± 13.84 years, body mass index 27.28 ± 5.12 kg/m2, 61.54% male) completed the assessments. The measures of total sleep time (P = 0.198); total wake time (P = 0.182); shallow sleep (P = 0.297), deep sleep (P = 0.422), rapid eye movement sleep (P = 0.570), and awake (P = 0.336) proportions were similar between SensEcho and PSG. Using an apnea-hypopnea index (AHI) cutoff of ≥ 5 events/h, the SensEcho had 82.69% sensitivity and 89.74% specificity. Almost the same results were obtained at an AHI threshold of ≥ 15 events/h. Although the specificity increased to 94.67%, it decreased to 43.75% at an AHI cutoff of ≥ 30 events/h. Conclusion: This study demonstrated that SensEcho can be used to evaluate sleep status and screen for OSA. Nevertheless, improving the accuracy of its assessment of severe OSA and further testing its effectiveness in community and home environments is necessary.

Reliability and validity of the Chinese version of the Nightmare disorder index in adolescents.

The Nightmare Disorder Index Questionnaire (NDI) was developed to measure the impact of nightmares. The purpose of this study was to investigate the psychometric properties of NDI among Chinese adolescents. This study investigated the validity and internal consistency of the Nightmare Disorder Index Chinese (NDI-CV) among 6014 Chinese adolescents who completed the NDI-CV, Nightmare Distress Questionnaire-Chinese Version (NDQ-CV), Pittsburgh Sleep Quality Index (PSQI), Insomnia Severity Index (ISI), Chinese Adolescent Daytime Sleepiness Scale (CADSS), Generalized Anxiety Disorder-7 Questionnaire (GAD-7), and Patient Health Questionnaire-9 (PHQ-9). In addition, we investigated the test-retest reliability of the NDI-CV among 423 adolescents who completed a retest of the NDI-CV after a 2-week interval. Finally, NDI-CV demonstrated good psychometric properties in a sample of Chinese adolescents (Cronbach's α coefficient of 0.876), and the 95% confidence interval for the 2-week retest correlation coefficient was 0.675-0.977 (p < 0.001).

Perioperative systemic lidocaine for postoperative analgesia and recovery after abdominal surgery: a meta-analysis of randomized controlled trials.

BACKGROUND: Postoperative pain management remains a significant challenge after abdominal surgery. OBJECTIVE: The aim of this meta-analysis was to evaluate the efficacy of systemic lidocaine for postoperative pain management and recovery after abdominal surgery. DATA SOURCE: Data were derived from Medline (1966-2010), CINAHL, The Cochrane Central Register of Controlled Trials, and Scopus. STUDY SELECTION: Randomized controlled trials of systemic administration of lidocaine for postoperative analgesia and recovery after abdominal surgery in adults, ie, >18 years, were considered. INTERVENTIONS: Combined data were analyzed with use of a random-effects model. MAIN OUTCOMES MEASURES: Data on opioid consumption, postoperative pain intensity, opioid-related side effects, time to first flatus, time to first bowel movement, and length of hospital stay were extracted. RESULTS: Twenty-one trials comparing systemic lidocaine with placebo or blank control for postoperative analgesia and recovery after abdominal surgery were included in this meta-analysis. Weighted mean difference for cumulative analgesic opioid (morphine) consumption 48 hours after surgery was -7.04 mg (95% CI: -10.40, -3.68, I2= 46.1%).Systemic lidocaine also significantly reduced postoperative pain intensity(visual analog scale, 0-100 mm) 6 hours after surgery at rest (weighted mean difference: -8.07 mm (95% CI: -14.69, -1.49); I2 = 90.6%) and during activity (weighted mean difference: -10.56 mm (95% CI: -16.89, -4.23), I2 = 82%). The time to first flatus and bowel movement was significantly shortened with lidocaine intervention by 6.92 hours (95% CI: -9.21, -4.63, I2 = 62.8%) and 11.74 hours (95% CI:-16.97, -6.51, I2 = 0). Moreover, systemic lidocaine also reduced hospital length of stay following the open procedure (weighted mean difference: -0.71 days (95% CI: -1.35, -0.07); I2 = 37.3%). LIMITATIONS: Heterogeneity of study results is the main limitation of this meta-analysis. CONCLUSION: Perioperative systemic lidocaine may be a useful adjunct for postoperative pain management by decreasing postoperative pain intensity, reducing opioid consumption, facilitating GI function, and shortening length of hospital stay.

Dietary omega-3 LCPUFA intake in the prevention of neovascular age-related macular degeneration: a systematic review and meta-analysis.

Introduction: Purpose: to evaluate the protective effect of omega-3 long-chain unsaturated fatty acids on the progression of wet age-related macular degeneration (wAMD). Methods: this meta-analysis was designed, implemented, and analyzed in accordance with the Meta-analysis of Observational Studies in Epidemiology (MOOSE) protocol and is reported following PRISMA guidelines. Results: in this study we included 5 observational trials, including 2 cross-sectional studies, 2 case-control studies, and 1 confrontation study. These tests are conducted in the U.S., Europe and Japan, and are of high quality. In general, people with high dietary long-chain omega-3 polyunsaturated fatty acids (omega-3 LCPUFAs) have a lower risk of progression to advanced age-related macular degeneration (AMD) (effect size, ES: 0.51, 95 % CI [0.34, 0.75], I2 = 70 %, p = 0.01). When assessing docosahexaenoic acid (DHA) and eicosapentaenoic acid (EPA) intake and wAMD risk a total of the three above studies were included, which also produced similar results. Conclusions: the highest DHA consumption reduced the risk of disease by 39 % (effect size: 0.61, 95 % CI [0.50, 0.74], I2 = 14 %, p = 0.31); compared with the lowest EPA consumption, the highest EPA consumption reduced the risk of wAMD by 32 % (ES: 0.68, 95 % CI [0.57, 0.82], I2 = 39 %, p = 0.20).

Introducción: Propósito: evaluar el efecto protector de los AGPICL omega-3 sobre la degeneración macular húmeda asociada a la edad (DMAE). Métodos: este metaanálisis fue diseñado, implementado y analizado de acuerdo con el protocolo de Metaanálisis de Estudios Observacionales en Epidemiología (MOOSE) y se informa siguiendo las directrices de PRISMA. Resultados: en este estudio se incluyeron 5 ensayos observacionales, entre ellos 2 estudios transversales, 2 estudios de casos y controles y 1 estudio de confrontación. Estos ensayos se realizan en Estados Unidos, Europa y Japón y son de alta calidad. En general, las personas con una dieta alta en ácidos grasos poliinsaturados de cadena larga (AGPICL omega-3) tienen un menor riesgo de progresión hacia la degeneración macular avanzada relacionada con la edad (DMAE) (tamaño del efecto, ES: 0,51, IC 95 % [0,34, 0,75], I2 = 70 %, p = 0,01). Al evaluar la ingesta de ácido docosahexaenoico (DHA) y ácido eicosapentaenoico (EPA) y el riesgo de DMAE se incluyeron en total tres de los estudios anteriores, que también arrojaron resultados similares. Conclusiones: el mayor consumo de DHA redujo el riesgo de enfermedad en un 39 % (tamaño del efecto: 0,61, IC del 95 % [0,50, 0,74], I2 = 14 %, p = 0,31); en comparación con el menor consumo de EPA, el mayor consumo de EPA redujo el riesgo de wAMD en un 32 % (ES: 0,68, IC del 95 % [0,57, 0,82], I2 = 39 %, p = 0,20).