Co-exposure of microcystin and nitrite enhanced spermatogenic disorders: The role of mtROS-mediated pyroptosis and apoptosis.

Microcystins (MCs) and nitrites are coexisted in the environment and have reproductive toxicity. The combined toxic effect and mechanism of MCs and nitrite on spermatogenesis remain largely unclear. In the present study, co-exposure to microcystin-leucine arginine (MC-LR) and sodium nitrite (NaNO2) aggravated testicular damage of Balb/c mice and mitochondrial impairment of spermatogonia, Sertoli cells, and sperm. Furthermore, MC-LR and NaNO2 reduced sperm density with a synergistic effect. In addition, MC-LR and NaNO2 synergistically induced oxidative stress in the reproductive system by decreasing superoxide dismutase (SOD) activity and glutathione (GSH) levels and increasing levels of mitochondrial reactive oxygen species (mtROS) and reactive oxygen species (ROS). More importantly, mitoquidone mesylate (MitoQ), an inhibitor of mtROS, blocked MC-LR and NaNO2-induced spermatogonia and Sertoli cell apoptosis by inhibiting high expression of Bax, Fadd, Caspase-8, and cleaved-Caspase-3. On the other hand, MitoQ suppressed pyroptosis of Sertoli cells by inhibiting the expression of NLRP3, N-GSDMD, and cleaved-Caspase-1. Additionally, MitoQ alleviated co-exposure-induced sperm density reduction and organ index disorders in F1 generation mice. Together, co-exposure of MC-LR and NaNO2 can enhance spermatogenic disorders by mitochondrial oxidative impairment-mediated germ cell death. This study emphasizes the potential risks of MC-LR and NaNO2 on reproduction in realistic environments and highlights new insights into the cause and treatment of spermatogenic disorders.

Does climate change increase the risk of marine toxins? Insights from changing seawater conditions.

Marine toxins produced by marine organisms threaten human health and impose a heavy public health burden on coastal countries. Lately, there has been an emergence of marine toxins in regions that were previously unaffected, and it is believed that climate change may be a significant factor. This paper systematically summarizes the impact of climate change on the risk of marine toxins in terms of changes in seawater conditions. From our findings, climate change can cause ocean warming, acidification, stratification, and sea-level rise. These climatic events can alter the surface temperature, salinity, pH, and nutrient conditions of seawater, which may promote the growth of various algae and bacteria, facilitating the production of marine toxins. On the other hand, climate change may expand the living ranges of marine organisms (such as algae, bacteria, and fish), thereby exacerbating the production and spread of marine toxins. In addition, the sources, distribution, and toxicity of ciguatoxin, tetrodotoxin, cyclic imines, and microcystin were described to improve public awareness of these emerging marine toxins. Looking ahead, developing interdisciplinary cooperation, strengthening monitoring of emerging marine toxins, and exploring more novel approaches are essential to better address the risks of marine toxins posed by climate change. Altogether, the interrelationships between climate, marine ecology, and marine toxins were analyzed in this study, providing a theoretical basis for preventing and managing future health risks from marine toxins.

The effect and mechanism of combined exposure of MC-LR and NaNO2 on liver lipid metabolism.

Microcystin-LR (MC-LR) and sodium nitrite (NaNO2) co-exist in the environment and are hepatotoxic. The liver has the function of lipid metabolism, but the impacts and mechanisms of MC-LR and NaNO2 on liver lipid metabolism are unclear. Therefore, we established a chronic exposure model of Balb/c mice and used LO2 cells for in vitro verification to investigate the effects and mechanisms of liver lipid metabolism caused by MC-LR and NaNO2. The results showed that after 6 months of exposure to MC-LR and NaNO2, the lipid droplets content was increased, and the activities of alanine aminotransferase (ALT) and aspartate aminotransferase (AST) were raised in the liver (P < 0.05). Moreover, MC-LR and NaNO2 synergistically induced hepatic oxidative stress by decreasing total superoxide dismutase (T-SOD) activity and glutathione (GSH) levels and increasing malondialdehyde (MDA) content levels. In addition, the levels of Nrf2, HO-1, NQO1 and P-AMPK was decreased and Keap1 was increased in the Nrf2/HO-1 pathway. The key factors of lipid metabolism, SREBP-1c, FASN and ACC, were up-regulated in the liver. More importantly, there was a combined effect on lipid deposition of MC-LR and NaNO2 co-exposure. In vitro experiments, MC-LR and NaNO2-induced lipid deposition and changes in lipid metabolism-related changes were mitigated after activation of the Nrf2/HO-1 signaling pathway by the Nrf2 activator tertiary butylhydroquinone (TBHQ). Additionally, TBHQ alleviated the rise of reactive oxygen species (ROS) in LO2 cells induced by MC-LR and NaNO2. Overall, our findings indicated that MC-LR and NaNO2 can cause abnormal liver lipid metabolism, and the combined effects were observed after MC-LR and NaNO2 co-exposure. The Nrf2/HO-1 signal pathway may be a potential target for prevention and control of liver toxicity caused by MC-LR and NaNO2.

Modeling opening price spread of Shanghai Composite Index based on ARIMA-GRU/LSTM hybrid model.

In the dynamic landscape of financial markets, accurate forecasting of stock indices remains a pivotal yet challenging task, essential for investors and policymakers alike. This study is motivated by the need to enhance the precision of predicting the Shanghai Composite Index's opening price spread, a critical measure reflecting market volatility and investor sentiment. Traditional time series models like ARIMA have shown limitations in capturing the complex, nonlinear patterns inherent in stock price movements, prompting the exploration of advanced methodologies. The aim of this research is to bridge the gap in forecasting accuracy by developing a hybrid model that integrates the strengths of ARIMA with deep learning techniques, specifically Long Short-Term Memory (LSTM) and Gated Recurrent Unit (GRU) networks. This novel approach leverages the ARIMA model's proficiency in linear trend analysis and the deep learning models' capability in modeling nonlinear dependencies, aiming to provide a comprehensive tool for market prediction. Utilizing a comprehensive dataset covering the period from December 20, 1990, to June 2, 2023, the study develops and assesses the efficacy of ARIMA, LSTM, GRU, ARIMA-LSTM, and ARIMA-GRU models in forecasting the Shanghai Composite Index's opening price spread. The evaluation of these models is based on key statistical metrics, including Mean Squared Error (MSE) and Mean Absolute Error (MAE), to gauge their predictive accuracy. The findings indicate that the hybrid models, ARIMA-LSTM and ARIMA-GRU, perform better in forecasting the opening price spread of the Shanghai Composite Index than their standalone counterparts. This outcome suggests that combining traditional statistical methods with advanced deep learning algorithms can enhance stock market prediction. The research contributes to the field by providing evidence of the potential benefits of integrating different modeling approaches for financial forecasting, offering insights that could inform investment strategies and financial decision-making.

Advances in polychlorinated biphenyls-induced female reproductive toxicity.

Polychlorinated biphenyls (PCBs) are a class of endocrine-disrupting chemicals (EDCs) widely present in the environment. PCBs have been of concern due to their anti/estrogen-like effects, which make them more toxic to the female reproductive system. However, there is still a lack of systematic reviews on the reproductive toxicity of PCBs in females, so the adverse effects and mechanisms of PCBs on the female reproductive system were summarized in this paper. Our findings showed that PCBs are positively associated with lower pregnancy rate, hormone disruption, miscarriage and various reproductive diseases in women. In animal experiments, PCBs can damage the structure and function of the ovaries, uterus and oviducts. Also, PCBs could produce epigenetic effects and be transferred to the offspring through the maternal placenta, causing development retardation, malformation and death of embryos, and damage to organs of multiple generations. Furthermore, the mechanisms of PCBs-induced female reproductive toxicity mainly include receptor-mediated hormone disorders, oxidative stress, apoptosis, autophagy, and epigenetic modifications. Finally, we also present some directions for future research on the reproductive toxicity of PCBs. This detailed information provided a valuable reference for fully understanding the reproductive toxicity of PCBs.

The cytotoxicity of microcystin-LR: ultrastructural and functional damage of cells.

Microcystin-LR (MC-LR) is a toxin produced by cyanobacteria, which is widely distributed in eutrophic water bodies and has multi-organ toxicity. Previous cytotoxicity studies have mostly elucidated the effects of MC-LR on intracellular-related factors, proteins, and DNA at the molecular level. However, there have been few studies on the adverse effects of MC-LR on cell ultrastructure and function. Therefore, research on the cytotoxicity of MC-LR in recent years was collected and summarized. It was found that MC-LR can induce a series of cytotoxic effects, including decreased cell viability, induced autophagy, apoptosis and necrosis, altered cell cycle, altered cell morphology, abnormal cell migration and invasion as well as leading to genetic damage. The above cytotoxic effects were related to the damage of various ultrastructure and functions such as cell membranes and mitochondria. Furthermore, MC-LR can disrupt cell ultrastructure and function by inducing oxidative stress and inhibiting protein phosphatase activity. In addition, the combined toxic effects of MC-LR and other environmental pollutants were investigated. This review explored the toxic targets of MC-LR at the subcellular level, which will provide new ideas for the prevention and treatment of multi-organ toxicity caused by MC-LR.

Prognostic and clinicopathological significance of C-reactive protein in patients with ovarian cancer: a meta-analysis.

BACKGROUND: Many studies have explored the relationship between C-reactive protein (CRP) levels and survival outcomes in patients with ovarian cancer (OC); however, consistent results have not been reported. As such, this meta-analysis was performed to accurately assess the prognostic and clinicopathological roles of CRP in OC. METHODS: The PubMed, Web of Science, Embase, and Cochrane Library databases were systematically searched for relevant studies published from inception to April 7, 2023. The effect of CRP level(s) and OC prognostic outcomes was analyzed by computing the combined hazard ratio (HR) and corresponding 95% confidence interval (CI). Thereafter, the association between CRP level(s) and clinicopathological factors was evaluated using a combined odds ratio (OR) and corresponding 95% CI. RESULTS: The present meta-analysis included 15 studies comprising 3202 subjects. According to the combined data, higher CRP levels were markedly associated with unfavorable overall survival (OS) (HR 1.23 [95% CI 1.11-1.37]; p < 0.001) and progression-free survival (PFS) (HR 1.55 [95% CI 1.30-1.84]; p < 0.001) in patients with OC. Furthermore, the results indicated that high CRP levels were significantly correlated with International Federation of Gynecology and Obstetrics (FIGO) stages III-IV (p < 0.001), residual tumor size ≥ 1 cm (p < 0.001), histological grade 3 (p = 0.040), and ascites volume ≥ 500 mL (p < 0.001). CONCLUSION: The results of this meta-analysis demonstrated that higher serum CRP levels were strongly associated with dismal OS and PFS in subjects with OC. High CRP levels were also significantly associated with clinical factors implicated in tumor aggressiveness and the development of OC.

Prokaryotic expression and functional analysis of molecular chaperone Acr2 protein of Mycobacterium tuberculosis / 中国生物制品学杂志

@#Objective To express the molecular chaperone Acr2 protein of Mycobacterium tuberculosis(Mtb)in E.coli and analyze the function. Methods The recombinant plasmid pET-28a-Acr2 was transformed into competent E. coli BL21(DE3),and induced by IPTG. The expressed His-Acr2 protein was purified by Ni-NTA chromatography and SuperdexTM200 10/300 GL gel filtration chromatography to obtain Acr2 protein. The Acr2 protein was refolded by spontaneous refolding and reassembly after thermal denaturation(100 ℃ for 15 min)and chemical denaturation(8 mol/L urea,37 ℃ for 4 h).The secondary structure of Acr2 protein before and after denaturation-renaturation was detected by circular dichroism spectroscopy and non-denaturing SDS-PAGE,and the molecular chaperone function of Acr2 protein in vitro was detected by substrate binding assay. Results The purified Acr2 protein had the relative molecular mass of about 232 000,the purity of over 90%,and the concentration of about 2 mg/mL,which recovered its natural secondary structure after denaturationrenaturation,and formed stable complexes with the denatured malate dehydrogenase(MDH)at 48 ℃. Conclusion The Acr2protein can restore its natural molecular conformation with molecular chaperone activity in vitro after denaturation-renaturation treatment,providing a new strategy for the preparation of Mtb protein antigen with natural activity.

Prognostic value of pretreatment lymphocyte-to-monocyte ratio in patients with glioma: a meta-analysis.

BACKGROUND: Many studies have explored the prognostic role of the lymphocyte-to-monocyte ratio (LMR) in patients with glioma, but the results have been inconsistent. We therefore conducted the current meta-analysis to identify the accurate prognostic effect of LMR in glioma. METHODS: The electronic databases of PubMed, Web of Science, Embase, and Cochrane Library were thoroughly searched from inception to July 25, 2023. The pooled hazard ratios (HRs) and 95% confidence intervals (CIs) were calculated to estimate the prognostic role of LMR for glioma. RESULTS: A total of 16 studies comprising 3,407 patients were included in this meta-analysis. A low LMR was significantly associated with worse overall survival (OS) (HR = 1.35, 95% CI = 1.13-1.61, p = 0.001) in glioma. However, there was no significant correlation between LMR and progression-free survival (PFS) (HR = 1.20, 95% CI = 0.75-1.91, p = 0.442) in glioma patients. Subgroup analysis indicated that a low LMR was significantly associated with inferior OS and PFS in glioma when using a cutoff value of ≤ 3.7 or when patients received mixed treatment. CONCLUSIONS: This meta-analysis demonstrated that a low LMR was significantly associated with poor OS in glioma. There was no significant correlation between LMR and PFS in glioma patients. The LMR could be a promising and cost-effective prognostic biomarker in patients with glioma in clinical practice.

Research on the pre-pulses caused by post-pulses in the optical parametric chirped-pulse amplifier.

Pre-pulses caused by the post-pulses in the optical parametric chirped-pulse amplifier were comprehensively studied for the first time, including the underlying mechanism for the delay-shift of pre-pulses, the intensity variation of pre-pulses affected by the initial delay of post-pulses and the pump energy, and also the nonlinear beat noise. The simulation and measurement confirmed that the high-order dispersion of the pulse stretcher was the main cause for the delay-shift of pre-pulses, which should be similar with the chirped-pulse amplifiers. The intensity of pre-pulses would decrease significantly as the initial delay of post-pulses increased, but would increase with the growth of pump energy. Moreover, the temporal position of the nonlinear beat noise in the experiment was successfully predicted by our simulation. This work could help us better understand the pre-pulses in OPCPA and provide helpful guidance for designing high-contrast laser systems.

Delay-shift and asymmetric broadening of pre-pulses by post-pulses in a petawatt laser facility.

The temporal contrast of high-peak-power lasers is usually limited by pre-pulses, which are generally produced by post-pulses due to the nonlinearity of the active medium. The reason for the conversion between pre-pulse and post-pulse is now well known, but the mechanisms for the delay-shift and asymmetric broadening of the newly generated pre-pulse are not yet clear. In this work, a novel, to the best of our knowledge, numerical model combining the nonlinear Schrödinger equation and the Frantz-Nodvik equation is proposed to investigate the underlying mechanisms for the "distortion" of the pre-pulse. Numerical results show that the gain characteristics of Ti:sapphire amplifiers can only make a minor change on the temporal profile of the pre-pulse, but the high-order dispersion is the main cause for the delay-shift and asymmetric broadening of the pre-pulse, and the effects are more significant for the initial post-pulse with a relatively larger delay.

Prognostic significance of C-reactive protein in patients with cervical cancer: a meta-analysis.

Background: Numerous studies have investigated the significance of pretreatment C-reactive protein (CRP) levels for determining the prognosis of cervical cancer (CC). The results of these studies, however, have been inconsistent. The present meta-analysis, therefore, focused on identifying the exact relationship of CRP levels with CC prognoses. Methods: We searched the following databases from their inception until April 18, 2023: PubMed; Web of Science; Embase; and Cochrane Library. From the search results, we estimated the significance of CRP levels in determining the prognosis of CC, based on combined hazard ratios (HRs) and relevant 95% confidence intervals (CIs). Results: The present meta-analysis included 12 studies, encompassing 2,204 patients. Based on combined data, an increased CRP level was significantly related to an unfavorable overall survival (OS) of patients with CC (HR = 1.63; 95% CI = 1.36-1.95; P < 0.001). Moreover, an increased CRP level was significantly associated with shortened progression-free survival (PFS) in patients with CC (HR = 1.68; 95% CI = 1.39-2.03; P < 0.001). According to the subgroup and sensitivity analyses, CRP level was a reliable factor in determining CC prognoses. Conclusion: Based on the results of our present analyses, increased CRP levels were significant predictors of poor OS and PFS in patients with CC. CRP level, therefore, could be an independent and inexpensive factor for determining the prognosis of patients with CC in clinical settings. Systematic review registration: INPLASY, identifier INPLASY202360074.

Multifunctional Lanthanide Metal-Organic Frameworks Based on -NH2 Modified Ligand: Fluorescent Ratio Probe, CrO42- Ions Adsorption, and Photocatalytic Property.

In response to the growing concern for environmental pollution, two lanthanide compounds {[Ln(L)(H2O)]·4H2O}n (where Ln = Tb and Gd, H3L = 1-amino-2,4,6-benzene tricarboxylic acid) were synthesized using a -NH2 modified ligand and systematically characterized. Both compounds exhibit remarkable fluorescence response, adsorption of CrO42- ions, and photocatalytic degradation properties, as well as exceptional acid-base and thermal stability. Remarkably, the pH-dependent 1-Tb exhibits exceptional performance as a fluorescent probe for detecting Fe3+ and CrO42-/Cr2O72- ions in aqueous solutions, while also serving as a ratiometric fluorescent probe for the detection of Cr3+, offering rapid response, high sensitivity, selectivity, and recoverability advantages in application. Moreover, 1-Tb exhibits excellent detection capabilities and displays effective adsorption of CrO42- ions, with a maximum adsorption capacity of 230.71 mg/g. On the other hand, 1-Gd exhibits superior performance compared to 1-Tb in the photocatalytic degradation of antibiotics. The degradation mechanism is further elucidated by conducting experiments with DFT theoretical calculations.

Prognostic and clinicopathological role of geriatric nutritional risk index in patients with diffuse large B-cell lymphoma: A meta-analysis.

Background: Previous studies have explored the relationship between the geriatric nutritional risk index (GNRI) and survival outcomes of diffuse large B-cell lymphoma (DLBCL) cases, but the results were inconsistent. Consequently, the present meta-analysis was conducted to investigate how GNRI affects DLBCL and its function in terms of prognosis. Methods: The Web of Science, PubMed, Embase, and Cochrane Library databases were thoroughly searched until January 18, 2023. We calculated combined hazard ratios (HRs) and 95% confidence intervals (CIs) to estimate the relationship between the GNRI and survival outcomes of patients with DLBCL. Results: This meta-analysis included seven articles involving 2,353 cases. A lower level of GNRI predicted dismal overall survival (HR=1.40, 95% CI=1.25-1.56, p<0.001) and inferior progression-free survival (HR=1.46, 95% CI=1.19-1.80, p<0.001) of DLBCL patients. Moreover, a low GNRI was significantly related to Eastern Cooperative Oncology Group Performance Status ≥2 (odds ratio [OR]=4.55, 95% CI=2.75-7.54, p<0.001), Ann Arbor stage III-IV (OR=2.91, 95% CI=2.38-3.57, p<0.001), B symptoms (OR=3.51, 95% CI=2.34-5.29, p<0.001), and extranodal disease (OR=2.90, 95% CI=2.32-3.63, p<0.001). Conclusion: A lower GNRI level predicted poorer short- and long-term prognosis in patients with DLBCL. A low GNRI was correlated with clinical factors of disease progression in DLBCL patients.

Adverse effects of microcystins on sperm: A systematic review.

Eutrophication of water bodies can lead to cyanobacterial blooms, with the resultant release of microcystins (MCs), posing a threat to the ecosystem and human health. MCs are environmental toxins with male reproductive toxicity. However, there is a dearth of reviews focusing on sperm or spermatogenesis. In this paper, studies on sperm toxicity caused by MCs in recent 20 years were collected and summarized, aiming at revealing the toxic effects and potential mechanisms of MCs on sperm. Based on the previous findings, MCs can decline sperm quality and count, and cause malformation in vertebrates and invertebrates. The reason might be that MCs cause indirect damage to sperm through impairing the structure and function of the testis. The mechanisms of MCs-induced sperm toxicity mainly result from alterations in genetic material, abnormalities in the structure and function of sperm. The epigenetic modifications such as miRNA and piRNA were also involved in MC-LR-induced sperm damage. In conclusion, MCs exposure is harmful to sperm, but its direct effects and mechanisms on sperm are still not known, which remains a significant research direction. Our review will provide a basis for the protection of male reproductive health damage caused by microcystins.

Investigation and suppression of pre-pulses on nanosecond time scale in the SULF-1PW laser.

It is of crucial significance to investigate and suppress pre-pulses on nanosecond time scale because the intense pre-plasma generated by them may have enough time to expand and, thus, cause fatal impact on laser-matter interactions. In this research, we analyze the potential origins of pre-pulses on nanosecond time scale in a typical Ti:sapphire chirped pulse amplification laser system. Based on the analysis, the initial status of these generated pre-pulses in the SULF-1PW laser is measured and investigated. Then different measures, including fine control on the time synchronization and the replacement for the Ti:sapphire, are adopted in the SULF-1PW laser to suppress these pre-pulses with respective origins, which can promote the energy ratio between the main pulse and these pre-pulses by 2-3 orders of magnitude. This research not only improves the temporal contrast of the SULF-1PW laser on nanosecond time scale but also provides beneficial guidance for the design and construction of similar laser facilities.

Angular dispersion compensation for ultra-broadband pulses by using a cascaded prism and hollow-core fiber configuration.

In this paper, we report that the angular dispersion of the output pulses in a nonlinear process can be efficiently compensated by using a cascaded prism(s) and short hollow-core fiber (HCF) configuration. Here, the prism(s) is used to suppress the angular dispersion and transform it into spatial chirp, while the HCF is used for removing this spatial chirp and the residual angular dispersion, which can also significantly improve the beam quality. The feasibility of this novel method is numerically and experimentally investigated with the ultra-broadband idler pulses centered at 1250 nm wavelength and generated by an LBO crystal based non-collinear optical parametric amplifier. The proof-of-principle experiment shows that the angular dispersion can be effectively removed and ultra-broadband idler pulses with good spectral quality and spatial profile can be obtained. The total transmission efficiency in the experiment is around 67% and the measured M x2 and M y2 can reach 1.12 and 1.04, respectively. To the best of our knowledge, this is the first reported ultra-broadband angular dispersion compensation scheme combining prism(s) and HCF, which can remarkably eliminate the angular dispersion while simultaneously possesses high efficiency, good spectral and beam spatial quality.

Suppressing scattering-induced nanosecond pre-pulses in Ti:sapphire multi-pass amplifiers.

In this Letter, we experimentally investigate a new kind of nanosecond pre-pulse, which originates from the bidirectional scattering of crystals in traditional Ti:sapphire multi-pass amplifiers. The experimental results demonstrate that the intensity of scattering-induced pre-pulses is very sensitive to the scattering angle, and the delay time between the pre-pulse and the main pulse is an integer multiple of the light path in each pass of the amplifier. An optimized multi-pass amplifier configuration is proposed, for what is believed to be the first time, to suppress the scattering-induced pre-pulses. The contrast ratio between pre-pulses and the main pulse is enhanced by more than two orders of magnitude, reaching a level of 10-10. This novel multi-pass amplifier configuration is very simple and economical, and provides an effective solution for the temporal contrast enhancement in the nanosecond range.

Predictive values of serum estradiol, calcium, and 25-hydroxyvitamin D levels for recurrence of benign paroxysmal positional vertigo in postmenopausal women.

Objectives: This study aims to explore the predictive values of serum estradiol, calcium and 25-hydroxyvitamin D [25(OH)D] levels for benign paroxysmal positional vertigo (BPPV) recurrence in postmenopausal women. Patients and methods: A total of 156 postmenopausal women (mean age: 59.5±7.4 years; range, 46 to 75 years) diagnosed with primary BPPV between January 2015 and August 2018 were included. After follow-up for one year, they were divided into non-recurrence (n=126) and recurrence groups (n=30). Fifty healthy females (mean age: 60.3±7.4 years; range, 48 to 75 years) with natural menopause for over one year were enrolled as the control group. Serum estradiol, calcium and 25(OH)D levels were compared, and their correlations in the recurrence group were analyzed by Pearson method. The predictive values of these levels for recurrence were evaluated using the receiver operating characteristic curve. Predisposing factors were determined by univariate and multivariate logistic regression analyses. Results: Serum estradiol, calcium, and 25(OH)D levels of the control group were significantly higher than the non-recurrence and recurrence groups (p<0.05). The levels of recurrence group exceeded those of non-recurrence group (p<0.05). In recurrence group, estradiol level was positively correlated with those of calcium and 25(OH)D (r=0.7501, 0.7871, p<0.001), and calcium level was positively correlated with that of 25(OH)D (r=0.7904, p<0.001). The three levels had diagnostic values for recurrence. The maximum Youden's index of their combination was 0.476, and the corresponding prognostic index was 13.04, suggesting a higher recurrence probability. Number of repositioning, Self-Rating Depression Scale score, levels of estradiol, calcium and 25(OH)D were predisposing factors for recurrence. Conclusion: Serum estradiol, calcium, and 25(OH)D levels are significantly positively correlated in postmenopausal women with BPPV recurrence and their combination can be used to predict recurrence.

Prognostic Significance of the Systemic Immune-Inflammation Index (SII) in Patients With Small Cell Lung Cancer: A Meta-Analysis.

BACKGROUND: Previous studies have investigated the prognostic value of the systemic immune-inflammation index (SII) in small cell lung cancer (SCLC). However, the results have been inconsistent. The study aimed to investigate the prognostic and clinicopathological significance of SII in SCLC through a meta-analysis. METHODS: The PubMed, Web of Science, Embase, Cochrane Library, and China National Knowledge Infrastructure databases were thoroughly searched. The pooled hazard ratios (HRs) with 95% confidence intervals (CIs) were calculated to evaluate the prognostic value of the SII for survival outcomes. The combined odds ratios (ORs) and 95% CIs were used to evaluate the correlation between SII and clinicopathological features. RESULTS: Eight studies comprising 2,267 patients were included in the meta-analysis. Pooled analyses indicated that a high SII was significantly associated with worse overall survival (OS) (HR=1.52, 95% CI=1.15-2.00, p=0.003) but not progression-free survival (HR=1.38, 95% CI=0.81-2.35, p=0.238) in patients with SCLC. Moreover, a high SII was associated with extensive-stage SCLC (OR=2.43, 95% CI=1.86-3.17, p<0.001). However, there was a non-significant correlation between SII and age, sex, smoking history, Karnofsky Performance Status score, or initial therapeutic response. CONCLUSION: Our meta-analysis demonstrated that a high SII could be an efficient prognostic indicator of OS in SCLC. We recommend adopting SII to predict OS in patients with SCLC, and SII in combination with other parameters or biomarkers may aid in addressing the clinical strategy and choosing the best treatment for an individual patient.