Medicine
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Over-expression of vitronectin (VN) is associated with tumorigenesis. The present study aimed to evaluate the prognostic value of VN expression in gastric cancer. The least absolute shrinkage and selection operator analysis was performed to screen the hub gene from The Cancer Genome Atlas gastric cancer patients with complete follow-up data, and 347 patients were finally included. ⋯ A prognostic risk score for OS was built based on VN expression. A meta-analysis from Oncomine datasets revealed that significantly lower VN mRNA levels in gastric cancer correlated with poorer OS. VN expression could be a prognostic marker of gastric cancer.
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Real-world clinical cases of molecularly targeted agent (MTA) administration to patients with advanced hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) with ≥50% liver occupation have been reported, but treatment outcomes have rarely been described. We have encountered several cases in which albumin-bilirubin (ALBI) scores deteriorated markedly and C-reactive protein (CRP) levels elevated in the early post-dose period. The present study therefore investigated early clinical changes in ALBI score and CRP levels after initiating MTA in advanced HCC patients with ≥50% liver occupation, focusing on antitumor response at 6 weeks. ⋯ These significant differences between groups had again disappeared at 4 and 6 weeks. In PD patients, no difference between groups in CRP elevation occurred at 1 and 2 weeks. In MTA treatment for patients with ≥50% liver occupation, to obtain an antitumor response of PR + SD, adequate management might be important considering transient deteriorated ALBI scores and elevated CRP levels.
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Meta Analysis
Diagnostic accuracy of interleukin-33 for tuberculous pleural effusion: A systematic review and meta-analysis.
The detection of interleukin 33 (IL-33) in pleural effusion may be more sensitive in diagnosing tuberculous pleural effusion (TPE). The present study aimed to assess the accuracy of pleural IL-33 for the diagnosis of TPE by means of meta-analysis and systematic review of relevant studies. ⋯ The detection of IL-33 alone in pleural effusion seems to not be an efficient diagnostic marker for TPE but may serve as a novel biomarker to differentiate between TPE and malignant pleural effusion.
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Observational Study
The association between AST/ALT ratio and all-cause and cardiovascular mortality in patients with hypertension.
Previous studies had shown that an increased aspartate aminotransferase to alanine aminotransferase ratio (AST/ALT ratio) was associated with cardiovascular disease. This study aimed to assess the relationship between AST/ALT ratio and all-cause and cardiovascular mortality in patients with hypertension. By March 31, 2020, a cohort of 14,220 Chinese hypertensive patients was followed up. ⋯ Present study indicated that increased AST/ALT ratio levels were predictive of all-cause and cardiovascular mortality among Chinese hypertensive patients. Trial registration: CHICTR, CHiCTR1800017274. Registered 20 July 2018.