Geriatric Nutritional Risk Index as a Prognostic Factor of Patients with Non-Small Cell Lung Cancer: A Meta-Analysis.

Geriatric nutritional risk index (GNRI), a newly developed indicator of nutritional status retrieved by serum albumin concentration and ideal body weight, has been suggested as a prognostic factor for various malignancies. The aim of the study was to summarize the prognostic role of GNRI for patients with non-small cell lung cancer (NSCLC) in a meta-analysis. Cohort studies evaluating the relationship between GNRI at baseline and survival OF NSCLC were retrieved by search of PubMed, Embase, and Web of Science databases from inception to January 12, 2022. A conservative random-effect model incorporating the possible influence of between-study heterogeneity was used to pool the results. Eleven cohorts including 2865 patients with NSCLC were included. Compared to those with higher GNRI, NSCLC patients with lower GNRI were associated with poorer overall survival [OS, hazard ratio (HR): 2.39, 95% CI: 1.97-2.91, p<0.001; I2=29%), progression-free survival (HR: 1.94, 95% CI: 1.52-2.47, p<0.001; I2=29%), and cancer-specific survival (HR: 2.59, 95% CI: 1.55-4.35, p<0.001; I2=0%). Subgroup analyses showed that the significant association between lower GNRI and worse OS in patients with NSCLC was not affected by study characteristics including study location, design, cancer stage, treatment, or follow-up durations (p for subgroup effects all<0.001). In conclusion, a lower GNRI in patients with NSCLC may be a predictor of poor survival. Nutritional status indicated by GNRI may be important for the prognostic prediction of patients with NSCLC.

Multi-omics analysis of genomics, epigenomics and transcriptomics for molecular subtypes and core genes for lung adenocarcinoma.

BACKGROUND: Lung adenocarcinoma (LUAD) is the most frequently diagnosed histological subtype of lung cancer. Our purpose was to explore molecular subtypes and core genes for LUAD using multi-omics analysis. METHODS: Methylation, transcriptome, copy number variation (CNV), mutations and clinical feature information concerning LUAD were retrieved from The Cancer Genome Atlas Database (TCGA). Molecular subtypes were conducted via the "iClusterPlus" package in R, followed by Kaplan-Meier survival analysis. Correlation between iCluster subtypes and immune cells was analyzed. Core genes were screened out by integration of methylation, CNV and gene expression, which were externally validated by independent datasets. RESULTS: Two iCluster subtypes were conducted for LUAD. Patients in imprinting centre 1 (iC1) subtype had a poorer prognosis than those in iC2 subtype. Furthermore, iC2 subtype had a higher level of B cell infiltration than iC1 subtype. Two core genes including CNTN4 and RFTN1 were screened out, both of which had higher expression levels in iC2 subtype than iC1 subtype. There were distinct differences in CNV and methylation of them between two subtypes. After validation, low expression of CNTN4 and RFTN1 predicted poorer clinical outcomes for LUAD patients. CONCLUSION: Our findings comprehensively analyzed genomics, epigenomics, and transcriptomics of LUAD, offering novel underlying molecular mechanisms for LUAD. Two multi-omics-based core genes (CNTN4 and RFTN1) could become potential therapeutic targets for LUAD.

Clinical Effect and Prognosis of Off-Pump Minimally Invasive Direct Coronary Artery Bypass.

BACKGROUND Coronary artery bypass grafting (CABG) is a common procedure to circumvent the obstruction of coronary arteries when stents are unsuitable. CABG is a very traumatic surgery that requires redirecting blood flow to an external pump. Thus, this procedure has many risks during and after surgery, and minimizing these risks would greatly benefit the patients. MATERIAL AND METHODS We selected 126 patients with coronary artery syndrome and who were unsuitable for stent percutaneous coronary intervention. The observation group received minimally invasive direct coronary artery bypass (MIDCAB), while the control group was treated with off-pump CABG. RESULTS Blood markers and echocardiography before and after treatment improved equally in both groups. Neither group exhibited obvious adverse reactions, or liver and kidney function damage. However, surgical bleeding and postoperative observation days were significantly reduced in the MIDCAB group. Death and cardiac shock at the end of follow-up were significantly lower in the MIDCAB group. CONCLUSIONS Overall, the clinical benefits of MIDCAB and OP-CABG were similar, but MIDCAB significantly reduced postoperative hospital stay and intraoperative blood transfusion, and improved clinical prognosis.

Serum TNF-α levels in children with congenital heart disease undergoing cardiopulmonary bypass: A cohort study in China and a meta-analysis of the published literature.

OBJECTIVE: To investigate the changes in tumor necrosis factor alpha (TNF-α) serum levels after cardiopulmonary bypass (CPB) in children with congenital heart disease (CHD), followed by a meta-analysis to analyze the clinical value of TNF-α in CPB. METHODS: Our cohort study enrolled 67 CHD children, assigned into off-pump group (n=32) and CPB group (n=35). The TNF-α serum levels in two groups were detected by ELISA before the operation (T1), at the end of the operation (0 hour, T2), and after 24 hours of the operation (T3). For meta-analysis, literature search was conducted to identify published case-control articles about the changes of TNF-α serum levels with CPB of CHD. RESULTS: The TNF-α levels in CPB group were lower than that in the off-pump group at T3 (P=.006). TNF-α level at T3 was significantly lower than that at T1 and T2 (all P<.05). Meta-analysis results further confirmed that the TNF-α levels of CHD children were dramatically decreased at T3 as compared to that at T1 and T2 (both P<.001). CONCLUSION: The TNF-α serum levels showed a transient and dramatic decline after 24 hours of CPB, and it may act as an important biological indicator for monitoring the efficacy of CPB in CHD children.

[Ecological technique of cultivating Coptis chinensis in woods and co-cultivating it with maize].

OBJECTIVE: To establish ecologically new modes of cultivating Coptis chinensis in woods and co-cultivating it with maize. METHODS: Based on the experience obtained from plot comparative test and production test, we used application-oriented research methods, and established new Coptis chinensis cultivation techniques that protect the natural environment. RESULTS: Coptis chinensis was harvested 6 years after cultivation. Yield of Coptis chinensis cultivated in forest (69.5 kg per 0.067 hm2) was higher with 3.7% than that in controls which cultivated under shed (67 kg). Yield of Coptis chinensis co-cultivated together with maize (168.4 kg per 0.067 hm2) was lower with 15.8% than that in controls which cultivated under shed (200 kg). CONCLUSION: The new cultivation modes of Coptis chinensis is an ecologically new technique that assures the good growth of medicinal plants, cereals, forest and animal husbandry.