Clinical efficacy of low-dose aspirin combined with calcium in preventing preeclampsia: A systematic review and meta-analysis.

OBJECTIVE: This systematic review and meta-analysis aimed to evaluate the clinical effectiveness of low-dose aspirin combined with calcium supplements for the prevention of preeclampsia. METHODS: China National Knowledge Infrastructure, VIP, Wanfang, PubMed, EMBASE, and Cochrane Library databases were searched from inception until December 2022. Randomized controlled trials investigating the preventive use of aspirin in combination with calcium supplementation for preeclampsia in high-risk pregnant women were included. The quality of the literature was evaluated, and a meta-analysis was conducted using RevMan 5.3 software to analyze the clinical efficacy of low-dose aspirin combined with calcium supplementation in preventing preeclampsia. RESULTS: Seven randomized controlled trials were included in this meta-analysis, and compared with the control group, the experimental group had lower incidence rates of preeclampsia with gestational hypertension (odds ratios [OR]: 0.17, 95% confidence interval [CI]: 0.11-0.28), preeclampsia (OR: 0.20, 95% CI: 0.10-0.37), gestational hypertension (OR: 0.15, 95% CI: 0.07-0.31), preterm birth (OR: 0.26, 95% CI: 0.16-0.44), postpartum hemorrhage (OR: 0.15, 95% CI: 0.08-0.27), and fetal growth restriction (OR: 0.16, 95% CI: 0.08-0.33). CONCLUSION: Compared with aspirin alone, low-dose aspirin combined with calcium supplementation was more effective in preventing preeclampsia, reduced the risk of preterm birth and postpartum hemorrhage, and promoted fetal growth. This intervention has clinical value and should be considered for high-risk pregnant women.

The preoperative platelet to neutrophil ratio and lymphocyte to monocyte ratio are superior prognostic indicators compared with other inflammatory biomarkers in ovarian cancer.

Background: Previous studies have suggested that the ratios of immune-inflammatory cells could serve as prognostic indicators in ovarian cancer. However, which of these is the superior prognostic indicator in ovarian cancer remains unknown. In addition, studies on the prognostic value of the platelet to neutrophil ratio (PNR) in ovarian cancer are still limited. Methods: A cohort of 991 ovarian cancer patients was analyzed in the present study. Receiver operator characteristic (ROC) curves were utilized to choose the optimal cut-off values of inflammatory biomarkers such as neutrophil to lymphocyte ratio (NLR), lymphocyte to monocyte ratio (LMR), platelet to lymphocyte ratio (PLR), systemic immune-inflammation index (SII), and PNR. The correlation of inflammatory biomarkers with overall survival (OS) and relapse-free survival (RFS) was investigated by Kaplan-Meier methods and log-rank test, followed by Cox regression analyses. Results: Kaplan-Meier curves suggested that LMR<3.39, PLR≥181.46, and PNR≥49.20 had obvious associations with worse RFS (P<0.001, P=0.018, P<0.001). Multivariate analysis suggested that LMR (≥3.39 vs. <3.39) (P=0.042, HR=0.810, 95% CI=0.661-0.992) and PNR (≥49.20 vs. <49.20) (P=0.004, HR=1.351, 95% CI=1.103-1.656) were independent prognostic indicators of poor RFS. In addition, Kaplan-Meier curves indicated that PLR≥182.23 was significantly correlated with worse OS (P=0.039). Conclusion: Taken together, PNR and LMR are superior prognostic indicators compared with NLR, PLR, and SII in patients with ovarian cancer.

Clinical Application of a Multiparameter-Based Nomogram Model in Predicting Preeclampsia.

Based on single-center data, the related predictive factors of preeclampsia (PE) were investigated, and a nomogram prediction model was established and validated. A retrospective collection of 93 PE patients admitted to our hospital from January 2019 to January 2021 were included in the PE group. In addition, non-PE pregnant women were selected for physical examination during the same period for matching, and 170 normal pregnant women who met the matching conditions were found as the normal pregnancy group. Clinical data of the selected candidates were collected. The risk factors of PE were screened by logistic regression analysis, and the lipopograph prediction model was constructed and verified. Logistic analysis results showed that age (OR = 3.069, 95% CI = 1.233-7.638), prepregnancy BMI (OR = 2.896, 95% CI = 1.193-7.029), vitamin E deficiency (OR = 2.803, 95% CI = 1.134-6.928), 25-(OH)D (OR = 0.944, 95% CI = 0.903∼9.988), PLGF (OR = 0.887, 95% CI = 0.851∼0.924), PAPP-A (OR = 1.240, 95% CI = 1.131∼1.360), and PI (OR = 6.376, 95% CI = 1.163∼34.967) were the independent risk factors for PE prediction (P < 0.05). The ROC curve showed that the AUC of the model for predicting the risk of PE was 0.957 (95% CI: 0.935-0.979), and the specificity and sensitivity were 0.912 and 0.892, respectively. H-L goodness of the fit test showed that there was no statistical significance in the deviation between the actual observed value and the predicted value of the risk in the line graph model (χ 2 = 7.001, P=0.536). The bootstrap test was used for internal verification, and the original data were repeatedly sampled 1000 times. The average absolute error of the calibration curve is 0.014, and the fitting degree between the calibration curve and the ideal curve is good. Age, prepregnancy BMI, lack of vitamin E, 25-(OH)D, PLGF, PAPP-A, and PI are independent risk factors for predicting PE. The establishment of a nomogram prediction model based on the above parameters can help identify PE high-risk groups in the early clinical stage and provide a reference for individualized clinical diagnosis and treatment.

Metformin up-regulated miR-107 expression and enhanced the inhibitory effect of miR-107 on gastric cancer growth.

Gastric cancer (GC) is one of the most common malignant neoplasms and is the third leading cause of cancer-related death around the world. Metformin has been well reported to have an inhibitory effect on the growth of various cancers by regulating the expression of microRNAs (miRNAs). However, the specific miRNA(s) regulated by metformin in GC have not been identified. In this study, real-time reverse transcription polymerase chain reaction (RT-PCR) analysis in vitro indicated that miR-107 expression was up-regulated in metformin-treated SGC-7901 cells compared with untreated SGC-7901 and MGC803 cells. Amplification of miR-107 expression further reduced cell proliferation in metformin-treated GC cells. A bioinformatics analysis showed that mitogen-activated protein kinase 8 (MAPK8) was the common target of metformin and miR-107. MAPK8 expression is associated with immune cell infiltration in GC as well as overall GC patient survival. Our study demonstrates that miR-107 enhances the anti-cancer effects of metformin in GC tissues, which offers a novel strategy for the treatment of GC.

Erratum to metformin up-regulated miR-107 expression and enhanced the inhibitory effect of miR-107 on gastric cancer growth.

[This corrects the article DOI: 10.21037/tcr.2020.03.25.].

Kinetics and mechanism of oxidation of the anti-tubercular prodrug isoniazid and its analog by iridium(iv) as models for biological redox systems.

A complex reaction mechanism of oxidation of the anti-tubercular prodrug isoniazid (isonicotinic hydrazide, INH) by [IrCl6]2- as a model for redox processes of such drugs in biological systems has been studied in aqueous solution as a function of pH between 0 and 8.5. Similar experiments have been performed with its isomer nicotinic hydrazide (NH). All reactions are overall second-order, first-order in [IrCl6]2- and hydrazide, and the observed second-order rate constants k' have been determined as a function of pH. Spectrophotometric titrations indicate a stoichiometry of [Ir(iv)] : [hydrazide] = 4 : 1. HPLC analysis shows that the oxidation product of INH is isonicotinic acid. The derived reaction mechanism, based on rate law, time-resolved spectra and stoichiometry, involves parallel attacks by [IrCl6]2- on all four protolytic species of INH and NH as rate-determining steps, depending on pH. These steps are proposed to generate two types of hydrazyl free radicals. These radicals react further in three rapid consecutive processes, leading to the final oxidation products. Rate constants for the rate-determining steps have been determined for all protolytic species I-IV of INH and NH. They are used to calculate reactivity-pH diagrams. These diagrams demonstrate that for both systems, species IV is ca. 105 times more reactive in the redox process than the predominant species III at the physiological pH of 7.4. Thus, species IV will be the main reactant, in spite of the fact that its concentration at this pH is extremely low, a fact that has not been considered in previous work. The results indicate that pH changes might be an important factor in the activation process of INH in biological systems also, and that in such systems this process most likely is more complicated than previously assumed.

SIRT1 in B[a]P-induced lung tumorigenesis.

Benzo[a]pyrene (B[a]P) is a carcinogen in cigarette smoke. We found that B[a]P induced SIRT1 in human bronchial epithelial BEAS-2B cell. SIRT1 was overexpressed in the lung of B[a]P-exposed mice and in human lung cancer biopsies. SIRT1 up-regulated TNF-α and ß-catenin and down-regulated the membrane fraction of E-cadherin. In addition, SIRT1 promoted invasion, migration and tumorigenesis of BEAS-2B cells in nude mice upon B[a]P exposure. Thus, SIRT1 is involved in B[a]P-induced transformation associated with activation of the TNF-α/ß-catenin axis and is as a potential therapeutic target for lung cancer.

Amphiphilic dendritic peptides: Synthesis and behavior as an organogelator and liquid crystal.

New amphiphilic dendritic peptides on dendritic polyaspartic acid were designed and synthesized. The organogel and liquid crystal properties of these amphiphilic dendritic peptides were fully studied by field-emission SEM, temperature dependent FT-IR, differential scanning calorimetry, polarization optical microscopy and X-ray diffraction experiments. Amphiphilic dendritic peptides G3 show good organogel properties with a minimum gelation concentration as low as 1 wt %. Furthermore, amphiphilic dendritic peptides G3 can form a hexagonal columnar liquid crystal assembly over a wide temperature range.

[Expression of apoptosis-related proteins in gastric mucosa of children with Helicobacter pylori infection].

OBJECTIVE: To investigate the relationship between apoptosis-related proteins in gastric mucosa, p53 and Bax, and Helicobacter pylori (H. pylori) infection in children. METHODS: p53 and Bax expression in gastric mucosa were measured using immunohistochemical technique in 33 children with gastric mucosal lesions. Presence/absence of H. pylori infection was detected by the rapid urease and pathological tests. RESULTS: Fifteen children (88%) showed positive expression of p53 in 17 children who were confirmed with H. pylori infection, compared with 9 (56%) in 16 H. pylori negative children. Thirteen children (76%) showed positive expression of Bax in the 17 children with H. pylori infection, compared with 6 (38%) in the 16 H. pylori negative children. The expression levels of p53 and Bax in the H. pylori positive group were significantly higher than those in the H. pylori negative group (p<0.05). CONCLUSIONS: H. pylori infection is associated with the over-expression of p53 and Bax proteins in gastric mucosa in children.