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Background: There were controversies for the association between computed tomography (CT)‐determined low skeletal muscle mass (SMM) and overall survival (OS) in gastric cancer (GC). In this study, we investigated whether cachexia could be a potential confounding variable for this issue. Methods: We retrospectively collected the patients of GC in our institution between July 2016 and January 2021. Preoperative SMM was determined by analyzing the skeletal muscle index of L3 with abdominal CT, and the cut‐offs for low SMM were defined as <52.4 (men) and < 38.5 cm2/m2 (women), respectively. Overall survival (OS) was the primary endpoint. Results: Of the 255 included GC patients, 117 (46%) were classified as having low SMM. Those with low SMM were associated with a higher level of circulating interleukin 6 and C reactive protein but a lower level of albumin than those of normal SMM. The univariate analysis showed that low SMM, tumor‐node‐metastasis (TNM) stage, body mass index (BMI), postoperative chemotherapy, and cachexia were significantly associated with OS, while in the multivariate analysis, only low SMM and TNM stage were significantly associated with OS. Kaplan–Meier survival curves with log‐rank tests indicated that low SMM significantly predicted worse OS of GC. After grouping by cachexia, the low SMM significantly predicted worse OS in patients with cachexia instead of those without cachexia. Conclusions: CT‐determined low SMM predicts worse OS of GC in patients with cachexia instead of those without cachexia, and greater attention should be paid to such patients with synchronous low SMM and cachexia. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Respiratory tract infections caused by Mycoplasma pneumoniae is a serious risk for child health. It has been difficult to prevent and control for a variety of reasons; therefore, timely diagnosis is particularly important for treatment of patients. At present, the rapid M pneumoniae test kits based on nucleic acid amplification have been commercialized and used as primary diagnostic tools for M pneumoniae infection, but current kits are time-consuming, which is difficult to meet the requirement for accurate and rapid diagnosis of M pneumoniae during epidemics. Rapid and accurate test kits are urgently required to diagnose M pneumoniae infection. In this article, we evaluated the performance of a novel nucleic acid detection kit (A) for M pneumoniae from feasibility and sensitivity, and compared it with kit B. Results showed this kit has the advantage of being rapid, sensitive, and specific, which meets the demands for the diagnosis of M pneumoniae infection in clinical settings. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Herein, we developed an ultra-fast and visual single-tube nucleic acid detection approach, which combined the advantages of self-settling characteristics of chitosan-functionalized diatomaceous earth (CDE) and accelerated PCR (AC-PCR). DNA was rapidly extracted by CDE within 3 min for the next nucleic acid amplification based on the nucleic acid attached on the chitosan in pH = 5.0. Under the action of gravity, the DNA-enriched CDE self-sediments to the bottom of the tube could be directly used for AC-PCR to achieve single-tube extraction and amplification. Our method detected Salmonella culture fluids with a detection limit of 1 CFU/mL, which was 100-fold more sensitive than conventional method that have not undergone nucleic acid enrichment. Furthermore, it also displayed high specificity and sensitivity for a variety of spiked samples. The entire process could be completed within 17 min in a single tube, and in particular, the result was visualized by the naked eyes. Overall, it is an all-in-one detection strategy without the requirement of redundant procedure, which greatly improved the detection efficiency, and saved the time and the cost. With these advantages, the approach will supply a promising tool in the field of point-of-care testing for Salmonella and other foodborne pathogens. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: Most previous studies compared the risk for non-melanoma skin cancer (NMSC) in biologic-treated common inflammatory diseases with the general population. Whether the increased NMSC risk is caused by the disease itself, the biologics, or both remains unknown. Methods: We systematically searched PubMed, Embase, Medline, Web of Science, and Cochrane Library from inception to May 2021. Studies were included if they assessed the risk of NMSC for rheumatoid arthritis (RA), inflammatory bowel disease (IBD), or psoriasis patients treated with biologics compared with patients not receiving biologics. Pooled relative risks (RRs) and 95% confidence intervals (CIs) were calculated using the fixed- or random-effects model. Results: The current meta-analysis included 12 studies. Compared with patients with the inflammatory disease without biologics, patients receiving biological therapy were associated with an increased risk for NMSC (RR 1.25, 95% CI 1.14 to 1.37), especially in patients with RA (RR 1.24, 95% CI 1.13 to 1.36) and psoriasis (RR 1.28, 95% CI 1.07 to 1.52), but not in patients with IBD (RR 1.49, 95% CI 0.46 to 4.91). The risks for squamous cell skin cancer and basal cell skin cancer were both increased for patients receiving biologics. However, the risk of NMSC did not increase in patients treated with biologics less than 2 years. Conclusions: Current evidence suggests that increased risk of NMSC was identified in RA and psoriasis treated with biologics compared with patients not receiving biologics, but not in patients with IBD. The inner cause for the increased risk of NMSC in IBD patients should be further discussed. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Purpose: The purpose of this meta-analysis was to assess the associations between inflammatory bowel disease (IBD) and risk of the gastric, small bowel and colorectal cancer. Methods: We searched the PubMed and Web of Science for observational studies published before June 2020, and the quality of each included study was evaluated according to the Newcastle–Ottawa–Scale. Results: Twenty-six studies comprising 531 449 IBD patients and more than 65 million reference individuals were included. Although IBD was significantly associated with 67% increased risk of the total gastric, small bowel and colorectal cancer. After stratifying by cancer location, IBD mainly increased the risk of intestinal cancer instead of gastric cancer. Furthermore, Crohn's disease (CD) significantly increased the risk of both small bowel cancer and colorectal cancer, while ulcerative colitis (UC) only increased the risk of colorectal cancer. In subgroup analysis, associations between IBD and risk of total gastric, small bowel and colorectal cancer were similar between male and female, except for that male IBD patients but not female had a significantly higher risk of small bowel cancer. Additionally, IBD patients in different geographical areas had different associations with risk of various gastrointestinal tract cancers. Conclusions: IBD is mainly associated with increased risk of cancers in the lower gastrointestinal tract, including small bowel cancer and colorectal cancer. Because studies about the association between IBD and risk of gastric cancer and the populations in Asia are limited, more observational studies are required in the future. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Previously, our meta‐analysis and other studies have suggested that allium vegetable consumption is beneficial for health, but no umbrella review has been conducted to assess the evidence of the various health benefits of allium vegetable consumption. Therefore, we conducted this umbrella review on this topic. This umbrella review included a total of 16 meta‐analyses with 50 unique outcomes. The most beneficial cancer‐related outcome was shown for gastric cancer (risk ratio 0.78; 95% confidence interval [CI] 0.67–0.91). In addition, only 8 weeks of garlic consumption significantly decreased serum total cholesterol (weighted mean differences −17.20 mg/dl; 95% CI −23.10 to −11.30), and patients with dyslipidemia who consumed garlic experienced more benefits than the whole population. Diabetic patients with longer durations of garlic intake experienced more benefits in terms of fasting blood glucose (FBG), HbA1c, and serum fructosamine than healthy participants, and garlic intake was associated with blood pressure reduction in hypertensive patients but not in normotensive participants. Limited side effects of garlic, such as garlic odor and gastrointestinal complaints, were reported among the included meta‐analyses. Our results suggested that allium vegetables might be beneficial for cancer prevention. In particular, garlic was comparatively safe and is recommended as a long‐term dietary component for patients with dyslipidemia, diabetes, and hypertension. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Objective: The purpose of this umbrella review was to assess the associations between sarcopenia and adverse health‐related outcomes. Design: An umbrella review of meta‐analyses of observational studies. Setting and Participants: Patients with sarcopenia and controls without sarcopenia were included. Measures: The PubMed, Web of Science and Embase were searched for relevant systematic review and meta‐analysis. AMSTAR and GRADE system were used for methodological quality and evidence quality assessments, respectively. Results: Totally 54 outcomes extracted from 30 meta‐analyses were analyzed. Twenty out of 21 prognostic outcomes indicated that sarcopenia was significantly associated with poorer prognosis of gastric cancer, hepatocellular cancer, urothelial cancer, head and neck cancer, hematological malignancy, pancreatic cancer, breast cancer, colorectal cancer, lung cancer, esophageal cancer, and ovarian cancer. Besides, 10 out of 16 postoperative outcomes suggested that sarcopenia significantly increased the risk of multiple postoperative complications and prolonged the length of hospitalization of patients with digestive cancer. In age‐related outcomes, sarcopenia significantly increased the risk of dysphagia, cognitive impairment, fractures, falls, hospitalization, and all‐cause mortality of elderly populations. Moreover, sarcopenia was also associated with higher level of albuminuria, risk of depression, and several metabolic diseases. Conclusions and Implications: Sarcopenia significantly affected a wide range of adverse health‐related outcomes, particularly in patients of tumor and elderly populations. Because evidences of most outcomes were rated as "low" and "very low," more prospective cohort studies are required in the future. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Introduction: The main emphasis of the research about adjuvant imatinib for high‐risk gastrointestinal stromal tumors (GISTs) is prolonging the treatment duration and ignores the heterogeneous that 10‐year recurrence rates ranged from about 20%–100%. Thus, this study evaluated the effect of different durations of adjuvant imatinib on outcomes in high‐risk GISTs to explore the feasibility of individual treatment. Methods: We analyzed 855 high‐risk GIST patients from three centers who underwent macroscopically complete resection between December 2007 and September 2020. The patients were divided into training (n =564) and two validation cohorts (n = 238 and53) based on their source. Recurrence‐free survival (RFS) was the primary point. Cox multivariate analysis was used to develop the nomogram. C‐index, time‐dependent area under the curves, and calibration plots were used to assess the performance of the nomogram. Results: Univariate analysis showed that longer adjuvant imatinib was significantly associated with better 5‐year RFS (p < 0.0001). Further investigation identified that the same high‐risk patients with lower tumor‐associated recurrence risk benefitted little from prolonged treatment and that the recommended adjuvant imatinib duration was insufficient for those with higher recurrence risk. A nomogram for predicting 2‐, 3‐, and 5‐year RFS based on different treatment durations and four major risk factors, namely, tumor site, size, mitotic count, and rupture status, was built and validated, with a C‐index of 0.82, 0.74, and 0.70 in training and two external validation cohorts, respectively. An online dynamic nomogram was further developed for clinical applications (https://ruolinliu666.shinyapps.io/GIST/), offering predictive recurrence rates based on different treatment durations and tumor features. Conclusions: We developed a nomogram to predict the recurrence risk for high‐risk patients according to tumor features and treatment durations of imatinib to help physicians on decision‐making for individualized treatment duration. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Purpose: Observational studies have reported an association between metabolic syndrome (MetS) and colorectal cancer risk with inconsistent risk estimates. We conducted this meta-analysis to evaluate the risk of colorectal cancer in individuals with MetS. Methods: PubMed, Embase, and Web of Science were searched for related studies from database inception to 21 January 2021. Risk estimates for colorectal cancer were extracted from individual articles and pooled using a fixed-effect or random-effect model according to the heterogeneity. Results: MetS was significantly associated with a higher risk of colorectal cancer in both sexes (relative risk [RR] 1.36, 95% confidence interval [CI] 1.26–1.47, P < 0.001), men (RR 1.33, 95% CI 1.21–1.47, P < 0.001), and women (RR 1.34, 95% CI 1.19–1.52, P < 0.001). The risk of colorectal cancer seemed to increase as the number of MetS components rose. Moreover, the high body mass index (BMI)/waist circumference (WC) and hyperglycemia were all significantly associated with a higher risk of colorectal cancer (RR 1.28 [1.20–1.37] and 1.31 [1.14–1.50] in both sexes, RR 1.31 [1.19–1.45] and 1.23 [1.03–1.46] in men, and RR 1.22 [1.02–1.46] and 1.63 [1.16–2.28] in women, respectively). Conclusions: MetS was significantly associated with a higher risk of colorectal cancer. The high BMI/WC or hyperglycemia might largely account for this association. Further analysis suggested that, as the number of MetS components increased, the risk of colorectal cancer rose. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Fish contains a variety of essential nutrients, which may contribute to multiple health benefits in humans. Conversely, it also may contain contaminants, resulting in confusion over the health impact of fish consumption. To assess the strength and validity of associations between fish intake and multiple health outcomes. We performed an umbrella review of systematic reviews and meta-analyses in humans. Key findings and conclusions: Of the 55 unique outcomes in the identified 89 systematic reviews and meta-analyses, fish consumption did more benefit than harm for a variety of health outcomes with largest risk reduction at 2 to 4 servings per week. Dose-response analyses revealed that every 20 g/d (approximately one serving/week) increment could decrease 2%–7% risk of coronary heart disease mortality, cardiovascular disease mortality, all-cause mortality, stroke, myocardial infarction, acute coronary syndrome, heart failure, gastrointestinal cancer, metabolic syndrome, dementia and Alzheimer's disease. Beneficial associations were also found for cancers, atopic, musculoskeletal, gastrointestinal and ophthalmologic outcomes. Caution is warranted for potential allergy or contamination when advising during pregnancy and young children. Fish intake appears generally safe in this umbrella review with largest risk reduction for a range of health outcomes at two to four servings per week, and seems more beneficial than harmful. High-quality prospective studies are needed. Image 1 • Umbrella review of 55 outcomes in 89 systematic reviews and meta-analyses. • Fish intake reduces all-cause mortality, CVD, cancer and other outcomes. • Fish intake looks generally safe with largest risk reduction at 2–4 servings/week. • Every 20 g/d increment could decrease 2%–7% risk of various health outcomes. • Caution is warranted for potential allergy or contamination. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Listeria monocytogenes is an infectious foodborne pathogen that greatly threatens the public health worldwide. A simple and sensitive detection of L. monocytogenes is extremely important in food safety industry. In this study, we developed an all-in-one platform, which consists of nucleic acid extraction, amplification and visual detection in a single tube. Following a simple bacterial lysis, the released DNA and RNA were highly enriched by a chitosan modified silica membrane (CMSM). Enriched nucleic acids were then directly used for isothermal strand exchange amplification (SEA) and colorimetric detection. The analytical feasibility of this platform was successfully determined by identifying L. monocytogenes with a specific set of primers, and experiments confirmed a detection limit of 1.0 × 102 CFU/mL in pure culture, while the limit of detection in L. monocytogenes spiked pork was 1.0 × 103 CFU/g without bacterial enrichment and 1.0 × 10° CFU/g following 4 h enrichment. The whole SEA assay takes an hour to complete, allows one-step DNA and RNA amplification and substantially improves the assay sensitivity. In addition, the colorimetric-based visual result readout developed in this study fully alleviates the use of sophisticated equipment. Therefore, the proposed method has great potential for rapid and on-site identification of L. monocytogenes in resource-restricted settings. • The proposed all-in-one colorimetric SEA method can detect foodborne pathogen in a single tube. • DNA and RNA can be enriched simultaneously by chitosan-modified silica membrane for subsequent amplification. • Isothermal strand exchange amplification (SEA) realized one-step amplification of DNA and RNA. • The results were read out with the naked eye. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The development of rapid nucleic acid detection methods, which are promising the diagnostic standard of the infectious disease, could expand more options for disease traceability and controllability. Nucleic acid hybridization-based biosensing techniques still encounter limitations in meeting the requirements for rapid detection. Therefore, we proposed a potential-assisted ratiometric electrochemical biosensor for rapid and accurate target DNA detection. This dual-signal analysis system actuated an enzyme-free detection process. The application of an external electric field accelerated molecular dynamics, resulting in highly efficient collision chances. This hybridization process was thus improved from hours to minutes compared with passive hybridization approach. The biosensor not only had a high sensitivity with the detection limit of 12 fM, but also features a robust capability in identifying single-base mismatch. Moreover, the biosensor realized sensitive detection of target DNA in complex biological environments. Overall, this sensing strategy exhibits a promising potential for application in point-of-care testing. Schematic representation of the provided potential-assisted ratiometric electrochemical biosensor for target detection. [Display omitted] • The process of hybridization was finished at electrode interface within 90 s under the application of electric field. • The whole strategy was performed without any use of enzymes. • The potential-assisted electrochemical biosensor has more outstanding sensitivity. • Signal mismatched target was successfully identified, adequately indicating a good specificity. • A great potential in the development of POCT. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

• Umbrella review of 29 outcomes in 24 systematic reviews and meta-analyses. • GLVs intake reduces all-cause mortality, CVD, cancer and other outcomes. • Per 100 g/d increment decrease 25% risk of mortality, CHD and stroke. • Dietary lutein intake reduces age-related eye diseases (AMD and cataract). • Caution was warranted for potentially pathogenic contamination (Escherichia coli). Green leafy vegetables (GLVs) are a key element of healthy eating patterns and are an important source of lutein. To clarify the evidence for associations between GLVs and lutein intake and multiple health outcomes, we performed a review. A total of 24 meta-analyses with 29 health outcomes were identified by eligibility criteria. Dose-response analyses revealed that, per 100 g/d GLV intake was associated with a decreased risk (ca. 25%) of all-cause mortality, coronary heart disease and stroke. Beneficial effects of GLV intake were found for cardiovascular disease and bladder and oral cancer. Dietary lutein intake was inversely associated with age-related macular degeneration, age-related cataracts, coronary heart disease, stroke, oesophageal cancer, non-Hodgkin lymphoma, metabolic syndrome, and amyotrophic lateral sclerosis. Caution was warranted for contamination with potentially pathogenic organisms, specifically Escherichia coli. GLV consumption and lutein intake therein are generally safe and beneficial for multiple health outcomes in humans. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

• Umbrella review of 20 outcomes in 17 systematic reviews and meta-analyses. • Tomato intake benefited mortality, prostate cancer, and gastric cancer. • Lycopene benefited mortality, prostate cancer, CVD, and metabolic syndrome. • Caution was warranted for potential allergy and pollution. • But the quality of the evidence was not high. Lycopene is a potent lipophilic antioxidant in tomato. We aim to clarify the evidence for associations between tomato and lycopene and multiple health outcomes. Umbrella review of meta-analyses and systematic reviews was performed in humans. A total of 174 articles were searched, 17 articles with 20 health outcomes were identified by eligibility criteria. Tomato intake was inversely associated with all-cause mortality, coronary heart disease mortality, cerebrovascular disease mortality, prostate cancer, and gastric cancer. Dietary lycopene intake or serum lycopene was inversely associated with all-cause mortality, prostate cancer, stroke, cardiovascular disease, metabolic syndrome, and male infertility. Caution was warranted for potential allergy and pollution. The quality of the vast majority of evidence by GRADE was low or very low with the remaining six as moderate. The intake of tomato or lycopene was generally safe and beneficial for multiple health outcomes in humans. But the quality of the evidence was not high. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]