Cytochrome P450 1A1 (CYP1A1) gene polymorphisms and ovarian cancer risk: a meta-analysis

This meta-analysis aims to examine whether the genotype status of MspI, Ile462Val, and Thr461Asn polymorphisms in Cytochrome P450 1A1 (CYP1A1) is associated with ovarian cancer risk. Eligible case-control studies were identified through search in MEDLINE (end of search: October 2010). Pooled odds ratios (ORs) were appropriately derived from fixed effects or random effects models. Concerning MspI polymorphism, seven studies were eligible (1,051 cases and 1,613 controls); 11 studies were eligible (1,680 cases and 3,345 controls) for Ile462Val and three studies were eligible (349 cases and 785 controls) for Thr461Asn. Ile462Val polymorphism seemed to confer elevated ovarian cancer risk concerning homozygous carriers (pooled OR?=?2.65, 95?% CI: 1.40-5.03, p?=?0.003, fixed effects), as well as at the recessive model (pooled OR?=?2.10, 95?% CI: 1.13-3.92, p?=?0.020, fixed effects); these findings were replicated upon Caucasian subjects. MspI polymorphism was not associated with ovarian cancer risk (for heterozygous TC vs TT carriers pooled OR?=?1.10, 95?% CI: 0.91-1.34, p?=?0.329, fixed effects; for homozygous CC vs. TT carriers pooled OR?=?1.11, 95?% CI: 0.65-1.90, p?=?0.693, fixed effects). With respect to Thr461Asn polymorphism a finding of borderline statistical significance emerged, pointing to marginally elevated ovarian cancer risk in heterozygous Thr/Asn carriers (pooled OR?=?1.62, 95?% CI: 0.97-2.70, p?=?0.066, fixed effects), but not in homozygous Asn/Asn carriers (pooled OR?=?1.40, 95?% CI: 0.18-10.89, p?=?0.749, fixed effects). Ile462Val status seems to represent a meaningful risk factor for ovarian cancer in Caucasians. Additional case-control studies of high methodological quality are needed in order to further substantiate and enrich the present findings. Special attention should be paid upon the design of future studies; Asian and African populations should represent points of focus.     

Reconstructing grassy understories in south‐eastern Australia: Interview with Paul Gibson‐Roy

A marriage of ecology with agronomy is proving successful in restoring diverse herbaceous layers ‐ to the extent that some reconstructed grasslands on ex‐agricultural land and rural roadsides have been found eligible for federal protection as threatened ecological communities. Can lessons from this improve our management and expansion of grassy ecosystems more broadly?     

The impact of E-cadherin expression on non-small cell lung cancer survival: a meta-analysis

E-cadherin has been implicated in invasiveness and metastasis. However, the clinical prognostic value of decreased E-cadherin expression in patients with non-small cell lung cancer (NSCLC) remains unsettled. A meta-analysis of eligible studies was performed to quantitatively review the correlation of decreased E-cadherin expression with survival in patients with NSCLC. Thirteen studies, including 2,274 patients, were subjected to final analysis. The rate of decreased E-cadherin expression was 47.6?% overall and 41.4?% for stage I disease. The combined hazard ratio (HR) was 1.41 (95?% CI 0.18-1.65; P?=?0.001), indicating that decreased E-cadherin expression had an unfavorable impact on the survival of patients with NSCLC. Further, in the stratified analysis by ethnicity, the combined HR in Asians was 1.49 (95?% CI 1.27-1.71) and in non-Asians was 1.01 (95?% CI 1.00-1.02). However, when only the stage I studies were considered, the combined HR was 1.19 (95?% CI 0.90-1.47; P?=?0.576), suggesting that decreased E-cadherin expression has no impact on survival. Decreased E-cadherin expression was associated with poor survival in patients with NSCLC, especially among Asians, but was not significantly correlated with survival for stage I NSCLC patients.     

Effectiveness of peer-led self-management coaching for patients recently diagnosed with Type 2 diabetes mellitus in primary care: a randomized controlled trial

Diabet. Med. 29, e390-e397 (2012) SUMMARY: Aims To study the effectiveness of a peer-led self-management coaching intervention in recently diagnosed patients with Type 2 diabetes. Methods Randomized controlled trial of recently diagnosed patients with Type 2 diabetes from 54 participating general practices. The intervention group received three home visits by an experienced peer (expert patient) who adhered to the recommended treatment and lifestyle guidelines. Together with their expert patient, participants set feasible goals and these were evaluated in the next visit. Participants in the control group received care as usual. At baseline, 3?months and 6?months post-intervention, participants completed a questionnaire measuring changes in self-efficacy, coping, physical activity, dietary habits, psychological well-being, depressive symptoms and diabetes related distress. Results In total, 327 patients were eligible for inclusion in the study of which 133 consented to participate. In participating patients, self-efficacy, coping and saturated fat intake improved significantly over time. Analyses of participants with low self-efficacy at baseline (25th percentile: 44) revealed a significant time?×?group difference, F?=?3.71; P?=?0.03. Participants who reported low psychological well-being at baseline increased substantially throughout the study (F?=?23.84; P?相似文献   

Prognostic Value of YKL-40 in Patients with Glioblastoma: a Systematic Review and Meta-analysis

YKL-40 is the most highly expressed gene in glioblastoma compared with normal brain tissues. Previous studies assessing the association between YKL-40 and survival in glioblastoma patients reported varying magnitude of estimates. The objective of this meta-analysis was to determine the prognostic value of YKL-40 in glioblastoma patients. PubMed and Embase databases were searched for studies relating to YKL-40 and prognosis of glioblastoma patients. Studies reporting estimates for overall survival by YKL-40 expression in glioblastoma patients were considered eligible. A meta-analysis of included studies was performed using fixed- or random-effect model to calculate the pooled hazard ratio (HR) and 95 % confidence interval (95%CI). Eight studies were ultimately considered eligible and included into the meta-analysis. Those eight studies included 1241 glioblastoma patients. Meta-analysis of those studies showed that high YKL-40 expression was associated with worse overall survival in glioblastoma patients (HR?=?1.46, 95%CI 1.33–1.61, P?<?0.001). Meta-analysis of studies with adjusted estimates and high quality showed that high YKL-40 expression was independently associated with worse overall survival in glioblastoma patients (HR?=?1.50, 95%CI 1.35–1.66, P?<?0.001). Both subgroup analysis and sensitivity analysis validated the obvious association between high YKL-40 expression and worse overall survival in glioblastoma patients. High YKL-40 expression is independently and markedly associated with worse overall survival in glioblastoma patients. YKL-40 is a good predictive biomarker of prognosis in glioblastoma patients.     

KinCor,a national registry for paediatric patients with congenital and other types of heart disease in the Netherlands: aims,design and interim results

Objective

Studies in children with heart disease have been hampered by a lack of easily identifiable patient groups. Currently, there are few prospective population-based registries covering the entire spectrum of heart disease in children. KinCor is a Dutch national registry for children with heart diseases. This paper presents the aims, design and interim results of the KinCor project.

Methods

All children presenting at a Dutch university medical centre with a diagnosis of heart disease from 2012 onwards were eligible for registration in the KinCor database. Data entry is through a web-based portal. Entry codes have been synchronised with the European Paediatric Cardiac Coding system, allowing coupling with similar databases for adults, such as CONCOR.

Results

Between June 2012 and July 2015, 8421 patients were registered (76?% of those eligible). Median age of the patients was 9.8 years, 44.7?% were female; 6782 patients had morphological congenital heart disease. The most prevalent morphological congenital heart defects were ventricular septal defects (18?%), Tetralogy of Fallot (10?%) and transposition of great arteries (9?%). For 42?% of the patients additional diagnoses were registered. Sixty percent of patients had undergone at least one intervention (catheter intervention or surgery).

Conclusion

The KinCor database has developed into a large registry of data of children with all types of heart disease and continues to grow. This database will provide the opportunity for epidemiological research projects on congenital and other types of heart disease in children. Entry codes are shared with the CONCOR database, which may provide a unique dataset.

     

不同影响因素对热原实验中兔筛选的影响

目的分析不同影响因素对新西兰兔的初次筛选合格率、二次筛选合格率的影响。方法根据2005版《中国药典》进行测定。结果初次筛选结果中,不同季节、体重值、性别、湿度新西兰兔的筛选率都有显著性差异,筛选时间在7～9月、体重值为1.7～2.0 kg、雄性的新西兰兔、在湿度为61～70%的条件下初次筛选率较高;在二次筛选结果中,不同季节、室温、湿度条件下新西兰兔的筛选率都有显著性差异,筛选时间在1～3月、在室温为22.1～23.0℃、湿度为61～70%的条件下新西兰兔的二次筛选率较高。结论在不同影响因素的条件下,新西兰兔的初次筛选合格率、二次筛选合格率均受到影响。     

Association between the OGG1 Ser326Cys and APEX1 Asp148Glu polymorphisms and lung cancer risk: a meta-analysis

The previous published data on the association between the 8-oxo-guanine glycosylase-1 (OGG1) and apurinic/apyrimidinic-endonuclease-1 (APEX1/APE1) polymorphisms and lung cancer risk remained controversial. Several polymorphisms in the OGG1 and APEX1 gene have been described, including the commonly occurring Ser326Cys in OGG1 and Asp148Glu in APEX1. This meta-analysis of literatures was performed to derive a more precise estimation of the relationship. A total of 37 studies were identified to the meta-analysis, including 9,203 cases and 10,994 controls for OGG1 Ser326Cys (from 25 studies) and 3,491 cases and 4,708 controls for APEX1 Asp148Glu (from 12 studies). When all the eligible studies were pooled into the meta-analysis of OGG1 Ser326Cys polymorphism, significantly increased lung cancer risk was observed in recessive model (OR?=?1.17, 95?% CI?=?1.03–1.33) and in additive model (OR?=?1.21, 95?% CI?=?1.03–1.42). In the stratified analysis, significantly increased risk of lung cancer was also observed on the population-based studies (recessive model: OR?=?1.26, 95?% CI?=?1.08–1.46, additive model: OR?=?1.42, 95?% CI?=?1.06–1.73) and non-smokers (dominant model: OR?=?1.20, 95?% CI?=?1.02–1.42, recessive model: OR?=?1.20, 95?% CI?=?1.02–1.40, additive model: OR?=?1.35, 95?% CI?=?1.08–1.68). Additionally, when one study was deleted in the sensitive analysis, the results of OGG1 Ser326Cys were changed in Asians (recessive model: OR?=?1.16, 95?% CI?=?1.06–1.27, additive model: OR?=?1.23, 95?% CI?=?1.09–1.38). When all the eligible studies were pooled into the meta-analysis of APEX1 Asp148Glu polymorphism, there was no evidence of significant association between lung cancer risk and APEX1 Asp148Glu polymorphism in any genetic model. In the stratified analysis, significantly decreased lung adenocarcinoma risk was observed in recessive model (OR?=?0.68, 95?% CI?=?0.48–0.97, P _h?=?0.475, I²?=?0.0?%). Additionally, when one study was deleted in the sensitive analysis, the results of APEX1 Asp148Glu were changed in Asians (recessive model: OR?=?1.21, 95?% CI?=?1.03–1.43) and smokers (dominant model: OR?=?1.62, 95?% CI?=?1.08–2.44, additive model: OR?=?1.37, 95?% CI?=?1.02–1.84). In summary, this meta-analysis indicates that OGG1 Ser326Cys show an increased lung cancer risk in Asians and non-smokers, APEX1 Asp148Glu polymorphism may be associated with decreased lung adenocarcinoma risk, and APEX1 Asp148Glu polymorphism show an increased lung cancer risk in Asians and smokers. However, a study with the larger sample size is needed to further evaluated gene-environment interaction on OGG1 Ser326Cys and APEX1 Asp148Glu polymorphisms and lung cancer risk.     

Outcomes and indications of corpus callosum section for intractable seizure control

Callosotomy (CCS) was performed in 9 cases of rigorously classified drug-refractory epilepsy not eligible for focal cortical resection. Complete CCS was carried out in two stages in 8 patients. 1 case had an anterior CCS only. None of the 9 patients has become seizure free. In 7, seizure frequency has diminished by a factor of 3-60 for at least one seizure type. Drop attacks in 2 cases have ceased. Clinical seizure patterns appeared more helpful in predicting outcome than preoperative EEG and stereoelectroencephalographic studies. Complete CCS may result in prolonged behavioral disturbances in the areas of language, hemisphere competition and attention-memory sequencing with impact on the sphere of daily living.     

Could malaria return to Britain?

With predicted global warming, the mosquito fauna of Britain is certain to change. How will this effect our native Anopheles mosquitoes and the development of malarial parasites within them? Will exotic species become established, and act as more effective vectors of malaria?     

Matrix metalloproteinase 2 overexpression and prognosis in colorectal cancer: a meta-analysis

Many studies investigated the relationship between matrix metalloproteinase 2 (MMP-2) overexpression and survival in patients with colorectal cancer (CRC), but yielded inconsistent results. To derive a more precise estimate of the prognostic significance of MMP-2 overexpression, we reviewed published studies and carried out a meta-analysis. Eligible articles were identified for the period up to March 2012 in electronic databases. To evaluate the correlation between MMP-2 overexpression and the prognosis in CRC, pooled hazard ratio (HR) and its 95?% confidence interval (95?% CI) for poorer overall and progression-free survival were appropriately derived from fixed-effects or random-effects models using standard meta-analysis techniques. Thirteen studies with a total of 1,919 CRC patients stratifying overall survival (OS) and/or progression-free survival in CRC patients by MMP-2 expression status were eligible for analysis. Ten studies investigated the OS in a total of 1,612 cases with CRC, and five studies investigated the progression-free survival in a total of 508 patients CRC. The combined HR estimate for OS and progression-free survival was 1.74 (95?% CI, 1.34?C2.26) and 1.35 (95?% CI, 1.07?C1.80), respectively. Both subgroup analyses and sensitivity analysis further identified the prognostic role of MMP-2 overexpression in patients with CRC. There was no evidence for publication bias. In conclusion, MMP-2 overexpression is associated with poorer overall and progression-free survival in patients with CRC.     

Lymphatic microvessel density and vascular endothelial growth factor-C and -D as prognostic factors in breast cancer: a systematic review and meta-analysis of the literature

The use of lymphatic microvessel density (LVD) and pro-lymphangiogenic mediators as prognostic factors for survival in breast cancer remains controversial. We searched the electronic databases PubMed and EMBASE without language restrictions for relevant literature to aggregate the survival results. To be eligible, every study had to include the assessment of the LVD or the expression of vascular endothelial growth factor (VEGF)-C or -D in patients with breast cancer and provide a survival comparison, including disease-free survival (DFS) or overall survival (OS), according to the LVD, VEGF-C or VEGF-D status. Across all studies, 56.64?% of patients were considered to have a VEGF-C-positive tumor, and 65.54?% of patients had VEGF-D-positive tumors. High LVD had an unfavorable impact on DFS, with a pooled hazard ratio (HR) of 2.222 (95?% CI 1.579–3.126) and an OS with a HR of 2.493 (95?% CI 1.183–5.25). According to the different lymphatic makers, the subgroup HR in the D2-40 studies was 2.431 (95?%?CI 1.622–3.644) for DFS and 4.085 (95?% CI 1.896–8.799) for OS. VEGF-C overexpression, as assessed by immunochemistry, was a prognostic factor for decreased DFS (HR 2.164; 95?% CI 1.256–3.729) and for decreased OS (HR 2.613; 95?% CI 1.637–4.170). VEGF-D overexpression was a significant although weak prognostic factor for DFS only when assessed by immunochemistry, with a HR of 2.108 (95?% CI 1.014–4.384). Our meta-analysis demonstrated that LVD, VEGF-C and VEGF-D could predict poor prognosis in patients with breast cancer. However, standardization of the assessment of LVD and for the expression of lymphangiogenesis factors is needed.     

Claude Bernard: primer of the second biomedical revolution

Claude Bernard, the son of a Beaujolais winegrower, moved to Paris to pursue his literary ambitions and went on to become one of the fathers of modern life sciences. What did Bernard do to earn universal renown? And are his teachings relevant to modern science?     

Neural stem cells: From fly to vertebrates

Our goal in this review is to explore the relationship between Drosophila and vertebrate neural stem cell development by comparing progress in each system with the aim of answering several central questions in stem cell biology: (a) How are stem cells formed? (b) Do stem cells divide symmetrically or asymmetrically? (c) How is stem cell fate maintained? (d) How is stem cell differentiation initiated? (e) How are different stem cell fates determined? (f) How “plastic” are different neural stem cell fates? (g) How do neural stem cells produce different progeny? and (h) What regulates stem cell proliferation versus quiescence? Not surprisingly, research in Drosophila and vertebrate systems each have their own biases, strengths, and weaknesses; we hope that by directly comparing progress in each field, new experiments and interpretations in both vertebrate and Drosophila research will become apparent. It has become increasingly clear that vertebrates and Drosophila share many fundamental mechanisms of neurogenesis, validating a comparative approach. © 1998 John Wiley & Sons, Inc. J Neurobiol 36: 111–127, 1998     

石制品使用微痕多阶段成形轨迹的实验研究

石制品微痕是进行石器功能研究、了解史前人类行为模式的重要考古证据之一。本文在以往实验研究的基础上, 设计并开展多阶段燧石制品"刮骨"微痕实验, 分阶段详细、直观地记录石制品刃缘使用微痕的最初形成与发展动态。实验研究表明, "刮骨"使用微痕迹随着使用时间长度的递增发生复杂的动态变化, 使用微痕的发展与使用时间之间并非简单的正函数关系。片疤破损自开始在一定时间段内呈连续发生状态, 随后停止发展, 是确认石制品是否经过使用的良好指示。磨圆表现出由少到多、由弱及强的逐渐发育过程, 可以反映石制品的使用时间和强度, 也是判断使用微痕的重要参考依据。     

Initiating thrombolytic therapy for acute myocardial infarction: whose job is it anyway?

Although thrombolytic therapy has clearly become the standard of care for acute myocardial infarction (AMI), its delivery in Canada continues to be extremely variable. Significant unnecessary delays in the initiation of this treatment still occur in many hospitals and constitute the most common avoidable cause of death in patients with AMI. The authors agree with the statement by representatives of the member organizations of the Emergency Cardiac Care Coalition (see pages 483 to 487 of this issue) that emergency service providers must get patients to hospital sooner and that all eligible patients should receive thrombolytic therapy within 30 minutes of their arrival at hospital. This objective requires that thrombolytic therapy be initiated by emergency physicians and be supported by well-established guidelines for its use.     

Relative risk of acute pancreatitis in initiators of exenatide twice daily compared with other anti-diabetic medication: a follow-up study

Aims Previously, a retrospective cohort study found no increased risk of acute pancreatitis with current or recent use of exenatide twice daily compared with use of other anti-diabetic drugs. This follow-up study investigated incident acute pancreatitis, with the use of a different data source and analytic method, in patients exposed to exenatide twice daily compared with patients exposed to other anti-diabetic medications. Methods A large US health insurance claims database was used. Eligible patients had ≥?9?months continuous enrollment without a claim for pancreatitis and a claim for a new anti-diabetic medication on or after 1 June 2005 to 31 March 2009. Cases of acute pancreatitis were defined as hospitalized patients with an Internation Classification of Disease?9 code of 577.0 in the primary position. A discrete time survival model was used to evaluate the relationship between exenatide twice daily and acute pancreatitis. Results Of 482?034 eligible patients, 24?237 initiated exenatide twice daily and 457?797 initiated another anti-diabetic medication. Initiators of exenatide twice daily had more severe diabetes compared with initiators of other anti-diabetic medications. After adjustments for propensity score, insulin and use of medication potentially associated with acute pancreatitis, the odds ratio with exenatide twice daily exposure was 0.95 (95%?CI 0.65-1.38). A secondary analysis that examined current, recent and past medication exposure found no increased risk of acute pancreatitis with exenatide twice daily, regardless of exposure category. Conclusion This study indicates that exposure to exenatide twice daily was not associated with an increased risk of acute pancreatitis compared with exposure to other anti-diabetic medications. These results should be interpreted in light of potential residual confounding and unknown biases.     

Is the distribution of training practices appropriate for the needs of general practice?

The distribution of practices that train general practitioners in the west of Scotland was examined. The concentration of training practices is lowest in conurbations that are grossly deprived. Several topics require debate: should trainees be given experience in such areas as an elective? Should the criteria for selecting training practices be similar in all areas? Should practices in deprived areas be encouraged to apply to become training practices?     

Breaking the language barrier

English has undoubtedly become the universal language of science. But how did this come about and what are the potential benefits?