Clinicopathologic and prognostic significance of long non-coding RNA myocardial infarction-associated transcript in multiple cancers

OBJECTIVE

The aim of the meta-analysis was to explore the clinicopathological and prognostic significance of long non-coding RNA (lncRNA) myocardial infarction-associated transcript (MIAT) in various cancers.

MATERIALS AND METHODS

We searched multiple databases, including PubMed, China National Knowledge 53 Infrastructure (CNKI), Springer, Web of Science, and Cochrane, for articles on the prognostic value of lncRNA MIAT in various cancers before 25 March 2021. The odds ratio (OR) and 95% confidence interval (CI) were adopted to evaluate the clinicopathological features and outcomes of cancers. The Cancer Genome Atlas dataset was used to identify the differential expression and prognostic significance of lncRNA MIAT.

RESULTS

We enrolled 14 publications, including 1,573 cancer patients. Higher lncRNA MIAT expression was significantly related to worse overall survival (OR=3.13, 95% CI: 2.47-3.96, p<0.05), regardless of cancer types, sample size, and follow-up time of the included studies. Additionally, higher lncRNA MIAT expression was associated with larger tumour sizes (OR=1.67, 95% CI: 1.24-2.26, p<0.05), advanced clinical stage (OR=4.79, 95% CI: 3.38-6.79, p<0.05), lymph nodes metastasis (OR=7.33, 95% CI: 4.61-11.67, p<0.05), and distant metastasis (OR=2.62, 95% CI: 1.88-3.66, p<0.05), but not associated with age and gender. We found no publication bias, and sensitivity analysis indicated that the results were reliable.

CONCLUSIONS

Higher lncRNA MIAT expression may predict larger tumour sizes, advanced clinical stage, metastasis of cancers, and lower overall survival rate. LncRNA MIAT may serve as a useful clinicopathological and prognostic biomarker for cancers.

Discrimination between microcystic meningioma and atypical meningioma using whole-lesion apparent diffusion coefficient histogram analysis

AIM

To explore the value of whole-lesion apparent diffusion coefficient (ADC) histogram analysis in discriminating microcystic meningioma (MCM) from atypical meningioma (AM).

MATERIALS AND METHODS

Clinical and preoperative MRI data of 20 patients with MCM and 26 patients with AM were analysed retrospectively. Whole-lesion apparent diffusion coefficient (ADC) histogram analysis was performed on each patient's lesion to obtain histogram parameters, including mean, variance, skewness, kurtosis, the 1st (ADCp1), 10th (ADCp10), 50th (ADCp50), 90th (ADCp90), and 99th (ADCp99) percentiles of ADC. The differences between the ADC histogram parameters of the two tumours were compared, and the receiver operating characteristic (ROC) curve was used to assess the diagnostic performance of statistically significant parameters in distinguishing the two tumours.

RESULTS

The mean, ADCp1, ADCp10, ADCp50, and ADCp90 of MCM were greater than those of AM, and significant differences were observed in these parameters between MCM and AM (all p<0.05). ROC analysis showed that the mean had the highest area under the curve value (AUC) in distinguishing the two tumours (AUC = 0.852), when using 120.46 × 10^-6 mm²/s as the optimal threshold, the sensitivity, specificity, accuracy, positive predictive value, and negative predictive value for discriminating the two groups were 84.6%, 75%, 80.4%, 81.5%, and 78.9%, respectively.

CONCLUSION

Histogram analysis based on whole-lesion ADC maps was useful for discriminating between MCM from AM preoperatively, with the mean being the most promising potential parameter.

[Taxonomic rank of human parasites]

Biological category is effective to indicate the evolution of organism populations between past and present. Conventional taxonomy of human parasites mainly depends on important morphological features, which suffers from a problem of categorizing related-genera species with similar morphological characteristics. With recent advances in molecular biological technologies, the effective applications of mitochondrial and ribosomal biomarkers and sequencing greatly improve the development of the taxonomic rank of human parasites. Worldwide, the classification of human parasites have been continuously revised and improved. Hereby, we re-categorize parasitic Protozoa, Trematoda, Cestoda and Nematoda, so as to provide insights into the researches on molecular systematics and genetic evolution of human parasites.

[Prognosis of adenoid cystic carcinoma of head and neck and risk factors for lung metastasis]

Objective: To analyze the prognosis and risk factors of lung metastasis of patients with adenoid cystic carcinoma(ACC) of head and neck. Methods: A retrospective study was conducted. The data of 157 patients with ACC of head and neck treated in Beijing Tongren Hospital, Capital Medical University from January 2014 to October 2020 were collected, including 72 males and 85 females, with onset age between 14 and 72 years old. According to whether lung metastasis occurred, the patients were divided into lung metastasis group (88 cases) and non-pulmonary metastasis group (69 cases). Kaplan-Meier method was used to calculate the overall survival rate and progression-free survival rate using SPSS 26.0 software. Log-rank test was used to evaluate statistically relevant clinicopathological factors. Cox proportional risk model was used in multivariate analysis for the factors affecting the lung metastasis-free survival using R Studio 1.2.5042. Results: The 3-year and 5-year overall survival rates were 91.5% and 85.2%, respectively. The 3-year and 5-year progression-free survival rates were 57.7% and 34.3%, respectively. Univariate analysis showed that primary site, histological grade, high-grade transformation, Ki-67, T stage, and lymph node status were the risk factors for lung metastasis (χ²=11.78, 10.41, 4.06, 4.71, 5.37, 16.20, respectively, all P<0.05). Multivariate analysis showed independent risk factors for lung metastasis, including submandibular gland and sublingual gland (HR=3.53, 95%CI: 1.19-10.46, P<0.05), T3-4 stage (HR=3.09, 95%CI: 1.54-6.23, P<0.05), and Grade Ⅱ-Ⅲ grade (HR=2.47, 95%CI: 1.26-4.86,P<0.05). Conclusion: Distant metastasis, mainly pulmonary metastasis, affects the long-term prognosis of patients with ACC significantly. Primary site, T stage and histopathological grade can be used as the predictors for the risk of lung metastasis.

Joint action of binary mixtures based on parameter k·ECx from concentration-response curves in long-term toxicity assay

A previous acute toxicity study of binary mixtures showed that the combined toxicity can be predicted with the parameter k∙EC_x. To systematically investigate the ability of k∙EC_x to predict the chronic combined toxicity of binary mixtures, the toxicity of six contaminants and five binary mixtures was determined by long-term microplate toxicity analysis (L-MTA) using Aliivibrio fischeri as the test organism. The independent action model (IA) and the relative model deviation ratio (rMDR) were employed to determine the relationship between the Δ(k∙EC_x)% and rMDR_x. The results showed that these two factors conformed to the exponential function in long-term toxicity. Owing to the time-dependence of toxicity, the mixture type of chronic toxicity changes to the relative type of acute toxicity. If the acute toxicity of binary mixtures changes their mode of joint action throughout the concentration range, the chronic toxicity will also change their mode of joint action, and vice versa. This study clarified the change rules of the joint action of binary mixtures in acute and chronic toxicity which can promote research on chronic toxicity of binary mixtures.

[Association between coagulation function and prognosis in patients with acute pancreatitis]

OBJECTIVE

To explore the correlation of coagulation function with the severity and prognosis of acute pancreatitis (AP) and identify the laboratory markers for early prediction and dynamic monitoring of the prognosis of AP.

METHODS

We retrospectively analyzed the clinical data of patients with AP admitted less than 72 h after onset to our hospital from December 1, 2017 to November 30, 2018. The correlation of coagulation function-related markers at admission and their changes during hospitalization with the prognosis of the patients was analyzed.

RESULTS

We screened the data of a total of 1260 patients with AP against the inclusion and exclusion criteria, and eventually 175 patients were enrolled in this analysis, among whom 52 patients had severe AP (SAP) and 12 patients died. Logistic regression analysis identified vWF: Ag, PT, PC, AT Ⅲ and D-dimer markers at admission as independent risk factors for predicting SAP and death. Dynamic monitoring of the changes in coagulation function-related markers in the disease course had greater predictive value of the patients' prognosis, and the indicators including vWF: Ag_max, PT_max, APTT_max, TT_max, FIB_min, D-dimer_max, PLT_min, PC_min, PLG_min, AT Ⅲ_min, and their variations were all independent risk factors for predicting SAP and death. ROC analysis suggested that dynamic monitoring of the changes in the indicators, especially those of △vWF: Ag, △PT, △APTT, △FIB, △TT, △D-dimer, △PLT, △PC, △AT Ⅲ, △PLG, could effectively predict SAP and death in these patients (with AUC range of 0.63-0.84).

CONCLUSION

Patients with AP have vascular endothelial injuries and coagulation disorders. The markers including vWF: Ag, PT, PC, AT Ⅲ and D-dimer at admission are independent risk factors for predicting SAP and death, and dynamic monitoring of the changes in vWF: Ag、PT、APTT、TT、FIB、D-dimer、PLT、PC、AT Ⅲ and PLG can further increase the predictive value.

[Analysis of the new WHO guideline to accelerate the progress towards elimination of schistosomiasis in China]

On February 2022, WHO released the evidence-based guideline on control and elimination of human schistosomiasis, with aims to guide the elimination of schistosomiasis as a public health problem in disease-endemic countries by 2030 and promote the interruption of schistosomiasis transmission across the world. Based on the One Health concept, six evidence-based recommendations were proposed in this guideline. This article aims to analyze the feasibility of key aspects of this guideline in Chinese national schistosomiasis control program and illustrate the significance to guide the future actions for Chinese national schistosomiasis control program. Currently, the One Health concept has been embodied in the Chinese national schistosomiasis control program. Based on this new WHO guideline, the following recommendations are proposed for the national schistosomiasis control program of China: (1) improving the systematic framework building, facilitating the agreement of the cross-sectoral consensus, and building a high-level leadership group; (2) optimizing the current human and livestock treatments in the national schistosomiasis control program of China; (3) developing highly sensitive and specific diagnostics and the framework for verifying elimination of schistosomiasis; (4) accelerating the progress towards elimination of schistosomiasis and other parasitic diseases through integrating the national control programs for other parasitic diseases.

[Decoding the evolution of preventive chemotherapy schemes for schistosomiasis in China to improve the precise implementation of the WHO guideline on control and elimination of human schistosomiasis]

Preventive chemotherapy is one of the pivotal interventions for the control and elimination of schistosomiasis, which is effective to reduce the morbidity and prevalence of schistosomiasis. In order to promote the United Nations' sustainable development goals and the targets set for schistosomiasis control in the Ending the neglect to attain the Sustainable Development Goals: a road map for neglected tropical diseases 2021-2030, WHO released the guideline on control and elimination of human schistosomiasis in 2022, with major evidence-based updates of the current preventive chemotherapy strategy for schistosomiasis. In China where great success has been achieved in schistosomiasis control, the preventive chemotherapy strategy for schistosomiasis has been updated several times during the past seven decades. This article reviews the evolution of the WHO guidelines on preventive chemotherapy and Chinese national preventive chemotherapy schemes, compares the current Chinese national preventive chemotherapy scheme and the recommendations for preventive chemotherapy proposed in the 2022 WHO guideline on control and elimination of human schistosomiasis, and proposes recommendations for preventive chemotherapy during the future implementation of the 2022 WHO guideline, so as to provide insights into schistosomiasis control among public health professionals engaging in healthcare foreign aid.

[Study of cross-sectional morphology of root canals in Tibetan mandibular incisors by micro-computed tomography]

Objective: To study the cross-sectional morphology of root canal system of Tibetan mandibular incisors by micro-CT. Methods: From October 2019 to October 2020, one hundred and thirty-six mandibular incisors were collected from Tibetan patients [(51.9±16.4) years old, range from 25 to 80 years] who underwent teeth extraction due to severe periodontitis at the Department of Stomatology, Tibetan Hospital of Traditional Tibetan Medicine, including 84 mandibular central incisors and 52 mandibular lateral incisors. These teeth were scanned at 23 μm voxel size resolution. Root lengths from cemento-enamel junction (CEJ) to apex of mandibular incisors were measured. According to the length, the root was divided as cervical 1/3, middle 1/3 and apical 1/3, and the numbers of root canals were recorded simultaneously. The major diameter, minor diameter, and dimension were measured per millimeter in cross section for mandibular incisor with single root canal, and the ratio of major diameter to minor diameter (Dmax/Dmin) as well as roundness were calculated for morphological analysis. The diversions and conversions from CEJ to apex in cross section were recorded for mandibular incisor with multiple root canals. Results: For mandibular central incisors with single root canal, the Dmax/Dmin was highest in middle 1/3 of the root [1.99 (1.31, 2.79)], which was significantly higher than cervical 1/3 and apical 1/3 (P=0.010, P=0.003). The roundness was least in middle 1/3 [0.47 (0.31, 0.66)], which was significantly lower than cervical 1/3 and apical 1/3 (P=0.010, P=0.001). For mandibular central incisor with multiple root canals, the highest incidence of multiple root canals was 40.5% (34/84), and mainly detected in middle 1/3 of the root [32.1% (27/84)]. For mandibular lateral incisor with single root canal, the roundness was greatest in apical 1/3 of the root [0.61 (0.49, 0.71)], which was significantly higher than cervical 1/3 (P=0.001) and middle 1/3 (P=0.001). The highest incidence of multiple root canals was 34.6% (18/52), all of which were detected in apical 1/3. Conclusions: In Tibetan mandibular central incisors, the cross-sectional morphology of root canals was long and narrow in middle 1/3, and multiple root canals were more likely to be found here. In Tibetan mandibular lateral incisors, the cross-sectional anatomy of root canal was relatively close to circle in apical 1/3, but the shape was still so irregular that one root canal may divide into two here.

[Clinical features and risk factors for early relapse of pediatric ulcerative colitis]

Objective: To investigate the clinical features of pediatric ulcerative colitis (UC) and analyze the risk factors of disease relapse. Methods: The clinical data of 79 children with UC diagnosed in Beijing Children's Hospital, Capital Medical University from January 2016 to February 2021 were retrospectively analyzed. They were divided into early relapse group and non-early relapse group according to the clinical relapse within 12 months after diagnosis. T-test, rank sum test, χ² test or Fisher's exact test were used to compare the variables between the 2 groups, including the clinical features, laboratory examination results and treatments. The Logistic regression was used to analyze the risk factors of early relapse. The cumulative relapse rate during follow-up was calculated by Kaplan-Meier method. Results: Among the 79 UC children, 46 were males and 33 were females, and the age of onset was 10.6 (6.4, 12.7) years. The children were mainly characterized by extensive disease (E3) and pancolitis (E4) (51/79, 65%), moderate to severe activity (48/79, 61%) and moderate to severe inflammation of colonic mucosa (71/79, 90%). Thirty-eight (48%) patients had atypical phenotype and 17 (22%) had extraintestinal manifestations. The follow-up period was 43.9 (22.8, 61.3) months, and of the 41 patients rechecked with colonoscopy, 7 (17%) had disease progression. According to Kaplan-Meier analysis, the cumulative relapse rate of the 79 cases at 3 months, 6 months, 1 year and 2 years after diagnosis were 27% (21/79), 47% (37/79), 57% (45/79) and 73% (53/73), respectively. There were 45 children (57%) in early relapse group and 34 (43%) in non-early relapse group. In early relapse group, hemoglobin and mucosal healing rate were both significantly lower (105 (87, 122) vs. 120 (104, 131) g/L, 28% (7/25) vs. 7/9, Z=-2.38, χ²=4.87, both P<0.05). The rate of steroid-dependent, E3 and step-up therapy during the induction period were all significantly higher than those in non-early relapse group (11/19 vs. 1/12, 24% (11/45) vs. 6% (2/34), 29% (13/45) vs. 6% (2/34), χ²=5.67, 4.85, 6.66, all P<0.05). Multivariate Logistic regression analysis showed that extraintestinal manifestations (OR=4.33, 95%CI 1.05-17.83), E3 (OR=8.27, 95%CI 1.47-46.46) and step-up therapy during the induction period (OR=5.58, 95%CI 1.01-30.77) were independent risk factors for early relapse. Conclusions: Pediatric UC is usually extensive and severe, with atypical phenotype, a high rate of relapse and a risk of disease progression. Extraintestinal manifestations, E3 and step-up therapy during the induction period are independent risk factors for early relapse.