Search

Brain-derived neurotrophic factor (BDNF) is a growth factor that plays many critical functions in the central nervous system (CNS) and may be involved in the development of a range of psychopathologies, including depression, dementia, and neurodegenerative disorders. In the present study, we performed the first systematic review with a meta-analysis to quantitatively compare the peripheral blood BDNF levels between patients with obsessive-compulsive disorder (OCD) and healthy controls (HCs). A systematic search was conducted using PubMed and Web of Science databases to identify the relevant articles. Nine studies encompassing 474 adults with OCD and 436 HCs were included in this meta-analysis. A random-effects meta-analysis showed that patients with OCD had significantly decreased peripheral blood levels of Brain-derived neurotrophic factor (BDNF) when compared with the HCs (Hedges' g = −0.722, 95% confidence interval [CI] = −1.152 to −0.292, P = 0.001). Subgroup analyses revealed decreased BDNF levels in plasma of patients (Hedges' g = −1.137, 95% CI = −1.463 to −0.810, P = 0.000) and drug-free patients (Hedges' g = −1.269, 95% CI = −1.974 to −0.564, P = 0.000) as compared to patients on active drug therapy and HCs. Meta-regression analyses showed that age, sex, sample size, Y-BOS total score, and publication year had no moderating effects on the outcome. Although the relationship between our findings and the pathophysiology of OCD and the role BDNF plays in the development of the disease remains to be determined, the outcomes suggest that BDNF may serve as a potential biomarker of OCD. • Brain-derived neurotrophic factor as a potential biomarker for obsessive-compulsive disorder. • Patients with OCD have significantly lower BDNF levels than healthy controls. • BDNF levels in drug-free patients were significantly lower than controls. • No significant difference in BDNF levels in drug-treated patients vs controls. • Meta-regression analysis showed that variables had no moderating effects. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The association between hyperuricemia or gout and cancer risk has been investigated in various published studies, but their results are conflicting. We conducted a meta‐analysis to investigate whether hyperuricemia or gout was associated with the cancer incidence and mortality. Linear and nonlinear trend analyses were conducted to explore the dose–response association between them. The pooled relative risk (RR) and 95% confidence interval (CI) were used to evaluate cancer risk. A total of 24 articles (33 independent studies) were eligible for inclusion. When compared participants with the highest SUA (hyperuricemia) levels and those with the lowest SUA levels, the pooled RR was 1.08 (95% CI, 1.04–1.12), it was significantly associated among males but not among females (males, RR = 1.07; 95% CI, 1.03–1.11; females, RR = 1.06; 95% CI, 0.96–1.17). Hyperuricemia increased total cancer mortality (RR = 1.15; 95% CI, 1.05–1.26), but a significant association was observed in females rather than in males (females: RR = 1.26; 95% CI, 1.09–1.45; males, RR = 1.02; 95% CI, 0.80–1.30). Linear relationships of SUA levels with overall cancer incidence (p for nonlinearity = 0.238) and overall cancer mortality (p for nonlinearity = 0.263) were identified. However, 1 mg/dL increment in SUA levels was weakly significant in overall cancer incidence (RR = 1.01; 95% CI, 1.01–1.01) but not associated with overall cancer mortality (RR = 1.01; 95% CI, 0.99–1.03). Gout was significantly associated with increased cancer incidence (RR = 1.19; 95% CI, 1.12–1.25). In conclusion, Hyperuricemia or gout was associated with higher cancer incidence and mortality. Though a potential linear relationship between them was found, we'd better treat this result with caution. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: Hexavalent chromium [Cr(VI)] is an occupational carcinogen that can cause lung and nasal cancers, but its association with mortality and incidence in many other cancers is unclear. Objectives: In this meta-analysis, we aimed to evaluate the relationship between exposure to Cr(VI) and the mortality and incidence of human cancers. Methods: We performed a search of the literature and extracted the standardized mortality ratios (SMRs), standardized incidence ratios (SIRs), and their corresponding 95% confidence intervals (CIs), to estimate risk values. Subgroup analyses were conducted by sex, occupation, and types of cancer to identify groups that were at high-risk or predisposed to certain cancers. Results: A total of 47 cohort studies covering the period 1985–2016 were included (37 studies reporting SMRs and 16 studies reporting SIRs). The summary SMR for all studies combined was 1.07 (95% CI: 1.01–1.15). Summary SMRs were higher among chromate production workers, chrome platers, and masons, and especially male workers. In the subgroup analysis, Cr(VI) exposure was related to a higher risk of death owing to lung, larynx, bladder, kidney, testicular, bone, and thyroid cancer. The meta-SIR of all studies combined was 1.06 (95% CI: 1.04–1.09). Summary SIRs were elevated among cement industry workers and tanners. Cr(VI) exposure was related to an elevated risk of respiratory system, buccal cavity, pharynx, prostate, and stomach cancers. Conclusions: Cr(VI) might cause cancers of the respiratory system, buccal cavity and pharynx, prostate, and stomach in humans, and it is related to increased risk of overall mortality owing to lung, larynx, bladder, kidney, testicular, bone, and thyroid cancer. In addition, there was a strong association between incidence and mortality risk of cancers and concentration of Cr(VI) in the air and the exposure time. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: Various studies have evaluated the significance of phospho-histone-H3 (PHH3) expression in cancer patients, but controversy over its reliability remains. We conducted a meta-analysis to summarize the prognostic relevance of PHH3 expression in cancer patients. Patients and methods: Nineteen studies, including 4803 patients, were identified by searching PubMed, Web of Science, Embase, and Cochrane Library. The correlation of PHH3 expression level with overall survival (OS), disease-free survival, and recurrence-free survival was analyzed. Results: Overall, the results suggest that high expression of PHH3 can predict a poor OS (HR=2.66, 95% CI=1.74–4.08, P<0.001), disease-free survival (HR=3.40, 95% CI=1.47–7.87, P=0.004), and recurrence-free survival (HR=2.80, 95% CI=1.61–4.85, P<0.001) in cancer patients. The subgroup analysis showed that highly expressed PHH3 was significantly related to breast cancer (HR=5.66, 95% CI=2.72–11.78, P<0.001) and urogenital tumors (HR=3.01, 95% CI=1.78–5.09, P<0.001). Furthermore, no significant difference was found between Asian (HR=1.98, 95% CI=1.08–3.63, P=0.026) and Caucasian populations (HR=3.01, 95% CI=1.87–4.85, P<0.001) regarding OS and PHH3 expression. Conclusion: This meta-analysis indicates that high expression of PHH3 may serve as a biomarker for poor prognosis in patients with cancer. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background. The associations between polymorphisms in microRNAs and the susceptibility of colorectal cancer (CRC) were inconsistent in previous studies. This study aims to quantify the strength of the correlation between the four common polymorphisms among microRNAs (hsa-mir-146a rs2910164, hsa-mir-149 rs2292832, hsa-mir-196a2 rs11614913, and hsa-mir-499 rs3746444) and CRC risk. Methods. We searched PubMed, Web of Knowledge, and CNKI to find relevant studies. The combined odds ratio (OR) with 95% confidence interval (95% CI) was used to estimate the strength of the association in a fixed or random effect model. Results. 15 studies involving 5,486 CRC patients and 7,184 controls were included. Meta-analyses showed that rs3746444 had association with CRC risk in Caucasians (OR = 0.57, 95% CI = 0.34–0.95). In the subgroup analysis, we found significant associations between rs2910164 and CRC in hospital based studies (OR = 1.24, 95% CI = 1.03–1.49). rs2292832 may be a high risk factor of CRC in population based studied (OR = 1.18, 95% CI = 1.08–1.38). Conclusion. This meta-analysis showed that rs2910164 and rs2292832 may increase the risk of CRC. However, rs11614913 polymorphism may reduce the risk of CRC. rs3746444 may have a decreased risk to CRC in Caucasians. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: It is well known that hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) has been one of the most life-threatening diseases all over the world. Plenty of internal and extrinsic factors have been proven to be related to HCC, such as gene mutation, viral hepatitis, and Nitrosamines. Though previous studies demonstrated that glutathione S-transferase (GST) genotypes are associated with HCC, the conclusions are inconsistent. Therefore, we carried on a renewed meta-analysis to expound the connection between the null GSTM1, GSTT1 polymorphisms and the risk of HCC. Methods: We searched PubMed, Web of Science, Embase, and CNKI databases to select qualified researches which satisfied the inclusion criteria up to July 31, 2018. Finally, we selected 41 articles with 6124 cases and 9781 controls in this meta-analysis. We use ORs and 95% confidence interval (CI) to evaluate the correlation intension between the GSTM1 and GSTT1 null genes and the risk of HCC. All the statistical processes were executed by Stata (version 12.0). Results: The pooled analysis showed that both GSTM1 null genotypes (OR = 1.37, 95% CI = 1.18–1.59) and GSTT1 null genotypes (OR = 1.43, 95% CI = 1.23–1.66) increased the risk of HCC. And GSTM1–GSTT1 dual-null genotypes also increased the risk of HCC (OR = 1.58, 95% CI = 1.22–2.05). In the subgroup analysis, we obtained significant results among Asians when stratified by race, and the results are GSTM1 null OR = 1.44, 95% CI = (1.22–1.71), GSTT1 null OR = 1.48, 95% CI = (1.25–1.77), GSTM1–GSTT1 null OR = 1.58, 95% CI = (1.19–2.09), while we didn't obtain significant results among Caucasians or Africans. Stratified analyses on the type of control indicated a higher risk of HCC associated with GSTM1, GSTT1 single null genotypes and GSTM1–GSTT1 dual-null genotypes in healthy people. No evidence of significant connection was discovered in chronic liver disease (CLD) except in GSTT1 single null. Conclusions: Our study indicated that an individual who carries the GSTM1, GSTT1 single null genotypes and GSTT1–GSTM1 dual-null genotypes is more likely to develop HCC. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Increasing evidence indicates that flotillins which associate with cell infiltration and metastasis are overexpressed in multiple tumors. The prognostic role of flotillins remains controversial. We conducted a comprehensive meta-analysis of published research to investigate the prognostic value of flotillins in patients with cancer. Pooled HRs (hazard ratio) with 95% CIs (confidence interval) were collected to estimate the prognostic value. Twenty-seven studies with 4803 cancer patients were finally identified. The results indicated that: (1) elevated flotillins predicted poorer OS (overall survival) (HR = 2.17, 95% CI 1.87 to 2.52; HR = 1.61, 95% CI 1.44 to 1.81) and DFS (disease-free survival) (HR = 2.41, 95% CI 1.83 to 3.18; HR = 3.01, 95% CI 2.12 to 4.27) in patients with cancer; (2) Subgroup analysis showed that the prognostic value of flotillin-1 on OS and DFS in the investigated tumors were not altered by tumor type (such as digestive system cancers, renal cell cancer, lung cancer, or others), country (China or Canada), cutoff value, detection method, analysis type or paper quality and flotillin-2 overexpression indicates poor OS in human cancers except for nasopharyngeal carcinoma. Flotillins are promising as new biomarkers to predict poor prognosis of patients with tumors. This conclusion needs more clinical studies with different types of cancer to be proven. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: The associations between Interleukin-10 ( IL-10) polymorphisms and breast cancer (BC) risk are inconsistent. This study was aimed to evaluate the relationship between IL-10 polymorphisms (rs1800896, rs1800871, and rs1800872) and BC risk. Methods: Databases, including PubMed, Web of Knowledge, Embase, and Chinese National Knowledge Infrastructure, were searched to find relevant studies. Odds ratios (ORs) with 95% confidence intervals (CIs) were used to estimate the strength of associations. Results: A total of 12 studies (4743 cancer cases and 5120 case-free controls) were eligible for meta-analysis. There were nine studies with 1851 cases and 1910 controls for rs1800896, six studies with 1034 cases and 1173 controls for rs1800871, and seven studies with 3637 cases and 3391 controls for rs1800872. Meta-analysis showed that rs1800896 and rs1800871 polymorphisms had no association with BC risk (for rs1800896: OR=1.060, 95% CI=0.785-1.432 in the dominant model, and OR=1.152, 95% CI=0.958-1.386 in the recessive model; for rs1800871: OR=0.952, 95% CI=0.859-1.056 in the dominant model, and OR=0.892, 95% CI=0.741-1.072 in the recessive model). However, rs1800872 polymorphism has association with BC risk based on the recessive model (OR=0.80, 95% CI=0.73-0.88). In the stratified analysis, when analyzed by the recessive model (CC vs. AA+AC), the ORs were 0.75 (95% CI=0.68-0.83) ( p<0.00001) among Caucasians and 1.17 (95% CI=0.88-1.55) ( p=0.27) among Asians. These results suggested that the CC homozygote has a 25% decreased risk of BC compared with those individuals with AA and AC genotypes in Caucasians. Conclusions: This meta-analysis showed that IL-10 rs1800896 and rs1800871 polymorphisms had no association with BC risk, while rs1800872 polymorphism had a decreased risk of BC in Caucasians. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]