Association between irisin and metabolic parameters in nondiabetic, nonobese adults: a meta-analysis.

BACKGROUND: Irisin has been proposed to have a beneficial influence on the metabolic status of animals and humans. However, the relationship between circulating irisin levels and the risks of metabolic components in humans remains unclear. In the present meta-analysis, we aimed to evaluate the association between circulating irisin and metabolic parameters in nonobese, nondiabetic adults. METHODS: We searched PubMed, Embase, the Cochrane Library, Web of Science and ClinicalTrial.gov using the main search terms and identified original articles published prior to March 7, 2022. Studies that met our inclusion criteria and reported the association between irisin and metabolic parameters were included in our meta-analysis. We used the Newcastle Ottawa scale to assess the quality of the included studies. RESULTS: A total of 14 studies (711 subjects) in 11 articles were included for qualitative and quantitative synthesis. The pooled results showed that circulating irisin was positively and significantly correlated with fasting blood glucose (r = 0.159), HOMA-IR (r = 0.217) and waist-to-hip ratio (WHR) (r = 0.168). However, no significant association was detected between irisin levels and other metabolic parameters. CONCLUSIONS: Thus, these findings indicated the possible link between irisin levels and part of the metabolic parameters in apparently metabolically normal individuals. However, the regulation of irisin in metabolism in humans remains to be fully elucidated, and well-designed prospective studies will be needed in the future. Trial registration The review protocol was registered in the International Prospective Register of Systematic Reviews (PROSPERO): CRD42022315269.

Ultrasonographic and pathological features of sclerosing stromal tumor: a case report.

Background: We herein report a rare case of a sclerosing stromal tumor (SST) in an adolescent. In this case, the mass displayed a shrinking trend, combined with its ultrasonic manifestations and pathological characteristics and may provide some references for the selection and timing of treatment, to avoid excessive harm to patients. Case Description: A healthy 17-year-old adolescent female presented to the outpatient department, complaining of abnormal uterine bleeding, but no abdominal pain, bloating, chills, or fever. The patient had no history of malignant tumors, and no relevant family or genetic history. An ultrasound showed an inhomogeneous hypoechoic area (106 mm × 53 mm × 68 mm) in the right ovarian, a clear boundary, an anechoic area inside and blood flow was observed in the mass. At a follow-up regular re-examination, the mass displayed a shrinking trend from 95 mm × 50 mm × 88 mm, 61 mm × 28 mm × 42 mm, 43 mm × 28 mm × 40 mm, 43 mm × 28 mm × 40 mm, to 42 mm × 23 mm × 28 mm. The patient underwent laparoscopic surgery a week later. Based on the immunohistochemistry and morphology results, the posterior ovarian mass was diagnosed as an SST. At one month after operation, there was no obvious abnormality on ultrasound. Conclusions: The incidence of SST is relatively low. However, due to the low specificity of clinical manifestations, imaging examination and serum tumor markers, the diagnosis of SST mainly relies on pathological examination. Therefore, in clinical practice, the possibility of misdiagnosis is greater, and attention should be paid to the differentiation of ovarian malignant tumors. Surgical resection is recommended, and the effect is good. Surgical methods should be selected individually according to the size of the tumor and the age of the patient.

Effects of Melatonin Supplementation on Insulin Levels and Insulin Resistance: A Systematic Review and Meta-Analysis of Randomized Controlled Trials.

Insulin resistance (IR) is a pivotal process in various metabolic diseases. The well-known treatment is lifestyle modification and medication therapy, which may result in poor compliance and side effects. Melatonin has been suggested to have a role in glucose metabolism, yet the results across studies have been inconsistent. Therefore, we performed a systematic review to evaluate the effects of melatonin supplementation on insulin levels and IR. We searched PubMed, Embase, Cochrane Central Register of Controlled Trials, and ClinicalTrials.gov, and identified randomized controlled trials (RCTs) published prior to August 2020. Articles were reviewed, selected and extracted by two reviewers independently. In total, 8 RCTs of 376 participants were included. Data were pooled using a random-effects model, with mean differences (MDs) and 95% confidence intervals (CIs). Our results showed that melatonin administration significantly reduced insulin levels and homeostasis model assessment of insulin resistance (HOMA-IR), and increased the quantitative insulin sensitivity check index (QUICKI). We conclude that melatonin ameliorated hyperinsulinemia, insulin resistance, and insulin sensitivity, and the results are an update of a previous meta-analysis. Although more investigations are required, we clearly provide evidence for the use of melatonin as an adjuvant treatment for metabolic disorders involving IR.

Admission Neutrophil-Lymphocyte Ratio Predicts Rebleeding Following Aneurismal Subarachnoid Hemorrhage.

OBJECTIVE: The relationship between neutrophil-lymphocyte ratio (NLR) and the occurrence of rebleeding in aneurysmal subarachnoid hemorrhage (aSAH) is poorly understood. Our study aimed to investigate the association between NLR on admission and rebleeding following aSAH. METHODS: Clinical and laboratorial data from patients with aSAH were retrospectively collected, including leukocyte, neutrophil, lymphocyte, and NLR. Univariate and multivariate analyses were performed to assess for the association of NLR with rebleeding. We performed propensity-score matching analyses to correct imbalances in patient characteristics between the rebleeding group and nonrebleeding group. RESULTS: Rebleeding occurred in 30 of 716 (4.19%) patients with aSAH in this cohort. Patients with rebleeding had significantly higher NLR comparing with patients without rebleeding (11.27 vs. 5.5; P < 0.05) in the univariate analysis. In the multivariate analysis, NLR was considered as a risk factor of rebleeding (odds ratio, 0.283; 95% confidence interval, 0.130-0.620; P = 0.002), as well as Fisher grade (odds ratio, 0.353, 95% confidence interval, 0.151-0.824; P = 0.016). The area under the curve of the NLR and combined NLR-Fisher grade model was 0.702 and 0.744 (sensitivity was 39.94%, and specificity was 100%) for predicting rebleeding, respectively. After propensity-score matching, the optimal cutoff value for NLR as a predictor for rebleeding following aSAH was determined as 5.4 (sensitivity was 83.33%, and the specificity was 63.33%). CONCLUSIONS: Higher NLR predicts the occurrence of rebleeding and poor outcome, and NLR combined with Fisher grade significantly improves the prediction of rebleeding following aSAH.

Strontium ranelate-induced anti-adipocytic effects are involved in negative regulation of autophagy in rat bone marrow mesenchymal stem cells.

PURPOSES: Strontium ranelate (SrRN) is a novel and effective anti-osteoporotic drug used to promote bone formation and restrain bone resorption. However, studies of the effects and mechanism of SrRN on adipocytic differentiation from bone marrow mesenchymal stem cells (BMMSCs) remain limited. METHODS: The cytoactivity of BMMSCs was analyzed by CCK-8 and annexin V-FITC/PI kit. Then the differentiation efficiency was analyzed by Oil Red O staining and western blotting. The level of autophagy was evaluated by immunofluorescence and western blotting. The autophagy inhibitor chloroquine and the selective Akt antagonist API-2 were used to study the relationship between autophagy regulation and adipocytic differentiation. Finally variations in ß-catenin protein levels were also analyzed by western blotting, as were proteins related with autophagy and differentiation signaling pathways. RESULTS: SrRN had no influence on the vatility of BMMSCs (bone marrow mesenchymal stem cells) and exhibited anti-adipocytic effects in dose-dependent manner. At the early stage of adipocytic differentiation, autophagy level significantly increased and SrRN inhibited the variation tendency. Then we detected the PPAR-γ and ß-catenin variation when applied with autophagy inhibitor CQ (chloroquine) and the same way, after Akt selective inhibitor applied in the test, the effect of SrRN was compromised. At last, we detected the increased phosphorylation of Akt-related pathway at 1.00 mM concentration of SrRN in comparison with the adipocytic induction. CONCLUSIONS: SrRN could disturb the process of adipocytic differentiation of BMMSCs and interfere with the variation tendency of autophagy level after adipocytic induction in Akt-dependent manners.