The coincidence of increased risk of atrial fibrillation in randomized control trials of omega-3 fatty acids: a meta-analysis

Diet and risk of atrial fibrillation: a systematic review

Atrial fibrillation (AF) is the most prevalent sustained cardiac arrhythmia. Comprehensive modification of established AF risk factors combined with dietary interventions and breaking deleterious habits has been shown to reduce AF burden and recurrence. Numerous AF risk factors, such as diabetes, obesity or hypertension can be partially related to dietary and lifestyle choices. Therefore, dietary interventions may have potential as a therapeutic approach in AF. Based on available data, current guidelines recommend alcohol abstinence or reduction to decrease AF symptoms, burden, and progression, and do not indicate the need for caffeine abstention to prevent AF episodes (unless it is a trigger for AF symptoms). Uncertainty persists regarding harms or benefits of other dietary factors including chocolate, fish, salt, polyunsaturated and monounsaturated fatty acids, vitamins, and micronutrients. This article provides a systematic review of the association between AF and both dietary patterns and components. Additionally, it discusses potentially related mechanisms and introduces different strategies to assess patients' nutrition patterns, including mobile health solutions and diet indices. Finally, it highlights the gaps in knowledge requiring future investigation.

Omega-3 fatty acids and atrial fibrillation

Although some clinical trials have demonstrated reduced incidence of cardiovascular disease with the use of omega-3 fatty acids, others have found an increased risk of atrial fibrillation (AF). AF is the most common sustained cardiac arrhythmia worldwide. It is associated with high morbidity and mortality rates and significant public health burden. Previous studies of the effect of omega-3 fatty acids on AF occurrence have reported contradictory results. Here we reviewed the effect of omega-3 fatty acids on the risk of AF.

A novel four-gene signature predicts immunotherapy response of patients with different cancers

Background

Immune checkpoint blockade (ICB) therapy has demonstrated favorable clinical efficacy, particularly for advanced or difficult‐to‐treat cancer types. However, this therapy is ineffective for many patients displaying lack of immune response or resistance to ICB. This study aimed to establish a novel four‐gene signature (CD8A, CD8B, TCF7, and LEF1) to provide a prognostic immunotherapy biomarker for different cancers.

Methods

Transcriptome profiles and clinical data were obtained from The Cancer Genome Atlas database. Multivariate Cox regression analysis was used to establish a four‐gene signature. The R package estimate was used to obtain the immune score for every patient.

Results

Risk scores of the novel four‐gene signature could effectively divided all patients into high‐ and low‐risk groups, with distinct outcomes. The immune score calculated via the estimate package demonstrated that the four‐gene signature was significantly associated with the immune infiltration level. Furthermore, the four‐gene signature could predict the response to atezolizumab immunotherapy in patients with metastatic urothelial cancer.

Conclusions

The novel four‐gene signature developed in this study is a good prognostic biomarker, as it could identify many kinds of patients with cancer who are likely to respond to and benefit from immunotherapy.