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Background: From the perspective of information processing, an integrated understanding of the structural and functional connectomes in depression patients is important, a multimodal meta-analysis is required to detect the robust alterations in graph metrics across studies.Methods: Following a systematic search, 952 depression patients and 1447 controls in nine diffusion magnetic resonance imaging (dMRI) and twelve rest state functional MRI (rs-fMRI) studies with high methodological quality met the inclusion criteria and were included in the meta-analysis.Results: Regarding the dMRI results, no significant differences of meta-analytic metrics were found; regarding the rs-fMRI results, the modularity and local efficiency were found to be significantly lower in the depression group than in the controls (Hedge's g = -0.330 and -0.349, respectively).Conclusion: Our findings suggested a lower modularity and network efficiency in the rs-fMRI network in depression patients, indicating that the pathological imbalances in brain connectomes needs further exploration.Limitations: Included number of trials was low and heterogeneity should be noted. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Previous studies have shown a strong coexistence of colorectal neoplasia (CRN) and cardiovascular diseases (CVD). This study was aimed to summarize the available evidence on association of CVD risk with early CRN detection in asymptomatic populations. PubMed, Web of Science, and Embase were systematically searched for eligible studies published until Dec 20, 2019. Studies exploring the associations of recommended CVD risk assessment methods (e.g., risk scores, carotid artery plaque, and coronary artery calcium score [CACS]) with risk of CRN were included. Meta-analyses were conducted to determine the overall association of CVD risk with the CRN. A total of 12 studies were finally included. The association of carotid artery plaque with the risk of colorectal adenoma (AD) was weakest (pooled odds ratio [OR)] 1.27, 95% confidence interval [CI), 1.12, 1.45]. Participants with CACS> 100 had about 2-fold increased risk of AD than those with CACS=0. The pooled ORs were 3.36 (95% CI, 2.15, 5.27) and 2.30 (95% CI, 1.69, 3.13) for the risk of advanced colorectal neoplasia (AN) and AD, respectively, in participants with Framingham risk score (FRS)> 20%, when compared to participants at low risk (FRS< 10%). FRS might help identify subgroups at increased risk for AN, but further studies are needed. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Emerging evidence has shown the potential of oral microbiota as a noninvasive diagnostic tool in gastrointestinal (GI) cancer. PubMed, Web of Science, and Embase were systematically searched for eligible studies published until May 31, 2019. Of the 17 included studies published between 2011 and 2019, five kinds of GI cancer, including colorectal cancer (n=6), pancreatic cancer (n=5), gastric cancer (n=4), esophageal cancer (n=2) and liver cancer (n=1), were reported. Generally, the diagnostic performance of the multi-bacteria model for GI cancer was strong with the best area under the receiver operator characteristic curve (AUC) exceeding 0.90, but only one study had a validation phase. Pathogens involved in periodontal disease, such as Porphyromonas gingivalis and Tannerella forsythia, were linked to various kinds of GI cancer. Besides, more oral bacteria significantly differed between cases with upper digestive cancer and healthy controls when compared to colorectal cancer (the most common form of lower digestive cancer), probably indicating a different mechanism due to anatomical and physiological differences in the digestive tract. Oral microbiota changes were associated with risk of various kinds of GI cancer, which could be considered as a potential tool for early prediction and prevention of GI cancer, but validation based on a large population, reproducible protocols for oral microbiota research and oral-gut microbiota transmission patterns are required to be resolved in further studies. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Gap junctional intercellular communication (GJIC) composed of connexin proteins is considered vital to cancer onset and progression since 50 years ago based on Lowenstein and Kano's works, however altered expression of connexins is still a lesser known "hallmark" of cancer. Although many studies support the hypothesis that connexins are tumor suppressors, recent evidence indicates that, in some tumor types including glioma, they may play contradictory role in some specific stages of tumor progression. We thus conduct a meta-analysis to evaluate the prognostic role of Cx43 in glioma for the unanswered questions that whether Cx43 is a beneficial or insalubrity factor for glioma. Eight studies with 1,706 patients were included for meta-analysis. The results showed that Cx43 expression was a clearly negative factor with tumor grades (I 2 = 34%, P < 0.001) and beneficial for OS (n = 3, HR 2.62, 95%CI 1.47–4.68; P = 0.001). Subgroup analysis also found that Cx43 had different expression in Asian young patients vs. other groups. In conclusion, this article summarize the prognostic value of Cx43 and offer a clinical evidence for the notion that Cx43 is generally a tumor suppressor and beneficial for the patients' survival time. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Abstract: Objective: To determine whether X‐ray repair cross‐complementing group 1 (XRCC1) gene polymorphisms confer susceptibility to systemic lupus erythematosus (SLE) and rheumatoid arthritis (RA). A meta‐analysis was conducted to determine the associations between XRCC1 gene polymorphisms and susceptibility to SLE and RA. Methods: A systematic literature search was conducted to identify all relevant studies. Pooled odds ratios (ORs) with 95% confidence intervals (CIs) were used to estimate the strength of the association. Results: A total of nine case‐control articles, consisting of five SLE and four RA articles, involving 1138 patients and 1399 healthy controls, were included in the meta‐analysis. This meta‐analysis showed no significant association of the Arg399Gln and Arg194Trp polymorphisms with SLE were found in all models when all study subjects were considered together. Stratification by ethnicity indicated the variant Arg399 (A) allele carriers increased the risk of SLE in Asians (A vs. G: OR = 1.402, 95% CI = 1.139–1.726, P = 0.001) and decreased the risk of SLE in Caucasians (A vs. G: OR = 0.769, 95% CI = 0.630–0.937, P = 0.009; AA vs. AG+GG: OR = 0.727, 95% CI = 0.554–0.953, P = 0.021). However, we failed to reveal any association between XRCC1 gene polymorphisms (Arg399Gln, Arg280His and Arg194Trp) and RA risk under all analysis models. Similar results were obtained in the subgroup analysis based on ethnicity. Conclusions: The present study suggests that the XRCC1 Arg399Gln polymorphism might be associated with genetic susceptibility to SLE in Asians and Caucasians, and there is no significant association between XRCC1 gene polymorphisms (Arg399Gln, Arg280His and Arg194Trp) and RA risk. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Objectives: To derive a more precise comparison of flow-mediated dilatation (FMD%) of the brachial artery between patients with rheumatoid arthritis (RA) and normal controls by performing a meta-analysis of appropriate studies.Methods: PubMed and EMBASE databases were searched for all relevant articles. STATA (V.12.0) software was used to perform the meta-analysis. Quality estimation of all appropriate studies was evaluated according to the Newcastle-Ottawa Scale (NOS). Standardised mean difference (SMD) with 95% CIs were calculated with a random-effects model. The Cochrane Q test and I2 statistic were used to evaluate the heterogeneity. Funnel plot and Egger's test were conducted to assess the publication bias.Results: In total, 464 articles were obtained after searching the two databases. Ten studies were included in the meta-analysis on the basis of the inclusion and exclusion criteria. Significant heterogeneity was observed among these 10 studies (Q=102.89, p<0.001, I2=91.3%) with random-effects modelling. The results showed that the RA group had significantly lower FMD% (SMD: -1.405; 95% CI -1.992 to -0.817; p<0.001) than the control group. Egger's test (p=0.004) indicated that the funnel plot showed a skewed or asymmetrical shape and publication bias existed. Sensitivity analyses suggested the robustness and credibility of our results.Conclusions: FMD% in patients with RA is significantly decreased compared with healthy controls. FMD% is an important early marker of atherosclerosis. It may be used as a parameter to forecast cardiovascular disease in patients with RA. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: Autologous blood transfusion (ABT) drainage system is a new unwashed salvaged blood retransfusion system for total knee replacement (TKA). However, whether to use ABT drainage, closed-suction (CS) drainage or no drainage in TKA surgery remains controversial. This is the first meta-analysis to assess the clinical efficiency, safety and potential advantages regarding the use of ABT drains compared with closed-suction/no drainage.Methods: PubMed, Embase, and the Cochrane Library were comprehensively searched in March 2015. Fifteen randomized controlled trials (RCTs) were identified and pooled for statistical analysis. The primary outcome evaluated was homologous blood transfusion rate. The secondary outcomes were post-operative haemoglobin on days 3-5, length of hospital stay and wound infections after TKA surgery.Results: The pooled data included 1,721 patients and showed that patients in the ABT drainage group might benefit from lower blood transfusion rates (16.59 % and 37.47 %, OR: 0.28 [0.14, 0.55]; 13.05 % and 16.91 %, OR: 0.73 [0.47,1.13], respectively). Autologous blood transfusion drainage and closed-suction drainage/no drainage have similar clinical efficacy and safety with regard to post-operative haemoglobin on days 3-5, length of hospital stay and wound infections.Conclusions: Autologous blood transfusion drainage offers a safe and efficient alternative to CS/no drainage with a lower blood transfusion rate. Future large-volume high-quality RCTs with extensive follow-up will affirm and update this system review. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Multidrug-resistant (MDR) bacteria-induced VAP often has high lethality. We present this systematic review and meta-analysis to assess the risk factors for MDR bacterial infection in patients with VAP. PubMed, EMBASE, Web of Science, and Cochrane Library were searched for studies regarding MDR bacterial infection in VAP patients, from Jan 1996 to Aug 2022. Study selection, data extraction, and quality assessment of included studies were conducted by two reviewers independently, and potential risk factors for MDR bacterial infection were identified. Meta-analysis showed that the score of the Acute Physiology and Chronic Health Evaluation II (APACHE-II) [OR = 1.009, 95% (CI 0.732, 1.287)], Simplified Acute Physiology Score II (SAPS-II) [OR = 2.805, 95%CI (0.854, 4.755)], length of hospital-stay before VAP onset (days) [OR = 2.639, 95%CI (0.387, 4.892)], in-ICU duration [OR = 3.958, 95%CI (0.894, 7.021)], Charlson index [OR = 1.000, 95%CI (0.889, 1.111)], overall hospital-stay [OR = 20.742, 95%CI (18.894, 22.591)], Medication of Quinolones [OR = 2.017, 95%CI (1.339, 3.038)], medication of carbapenems [OR = 3.527, 95%CI (2.476, 5.024)], combination of more than 2 prior antibiotics [OR = 3.181, 95%CI (2.102, 4.812)], and prior use of antibiotics [OR 2.971, 95%CI (2.001, 4.412)] were independent risk factors of MDR bacterial infection in VAP patients. Diabetes and mechanical ventilation duration before VAP onset showed no association with risk for MDR bacterial infection. This study has identified 10 risk factors associated with MDR bacterial infection in VAP patients. Identification of these factors would be able to facilitate the treatment and prevention of MDR bacterial infection in clinical practice. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Although enteral nutrition (EN) is effective for induction therapy in Crohn's disease (CD), it remains unclear whether partial enteral nutrition (PEN), i.e., EN, along with a daily diet, is effective for maintenance therapy in CD. It was hypothesized that PEN would be effective as a maintenance therapy in CD. This meta-analysis aimed to evaluate the efficacy and safety of PEN for maintenance therapy in CD. PubMed, EMBASE, Web of Science, and Cochrane Library were searched up to January 2019 for eligible prospective controlled trials, and then a meta-analysis was conducted. The primary outcome was clinical relapse, as defined in the primary studies. Eight studies with 429 patients were included in the meta-analysis. The rate of clinical relapse at 0.5 to 2 years was significantly lower in patients receiving PEN (420-1800 kcal/d) than in those not receiving nutrition therapy (RR: 0.67, 95% CI: 0.54-0.82, P <.01; number needed to treat = 5, P <.01). Patients receiving PEN exhibited a higher frequency of clinical remission maintenance at 0.5 to 1 year (67%) than did those not receiving nutrition therapy (48%; RR: 1.32, 95% CI: 1.07-1.64, P =.01). The total adverse event rate was comparable in the two groups (RR: 3.60, 95% CI: 0.70-18.66, P =.13). PEN may be more effective than the absence of EN therapy for the maintenance of remission in CD with a good safety profile. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]