Association between tumor necrosis factor-alpha polymorphisms (rs361525, rs1800629, rs1799724, 1800630, and rs1799964) and risk of psoriasis in studies following Hardy-Weinberg equilibrium: A systematic review and meta-analysis

Efficacy of electroacupuncture on clinical signs and immunological factors in herpes zoster: The first systematic review, meta-analysis, and trial sequential analysis of randomized clinical trials

BACKGROUND

Electroacupuncture (EA) is utilized to address various health conditions. Herein, we designed a systematic review and meta-analysis to evaluate the efficacy of EA on clinical and immunological factors in herpes zoster (HZ) based on randomized clinical trials.

METHODS

Four international databases and 3 Chinese databases were searched until January 2024. We used RevMan 5.3 for meta-analysis and presented the data as standardized mean difference (SMD) or odds ratio (OR) and 95% confidence interval.

RESULTS

A total of 1361 records were identified in the databases and at last, 19 articles were entered into the meta-analysis. The result shows a negative pooled SMD of -2.55 (P < .00001) for the VAS score. The pooled SMD for cessation of pustules time in the case group compared to the control group was -0.69 (P = .0008), for pain relief time was -1.36 (P = .002), for the time to scab was -0.47 (P = .009), and for time to remove scab was -1.01 (P = .0003). The pooled OR for the incidence of postherpetic neuralgia was 0.11 (P < .00001), and the total effective rate was 4.25 (P < .00001). The pooled SMD for the cluster of differentiation (CD)3 count was 2.59 (P = .07), for the CD4 count was 2.81 (P = .04), for the CD8 count was -0.75 (P = .50), and for theCD4/CD8 ratio was 1.12 (P = .15).

CONCLUSIONS

The results indicate that the EA treatment had several significant benefits compared to Western medicine (WM) in HZ patients in terms of clinical and immunological factors. But, the combination of treatments of EA with WM had better effects compared to EA treatment alone.

Chronic Decrements in Energy in Women with Breast Cancer are Associated with Cytokine Gene Polymorphisms

OBJECTIVES

Decrements in energy were found in 67% of women who underwent breast cancer surgery. However, no information is available on chronic decrements in energy and associations with inflammation. Purposes were to identify latent classes of patients with distinct average energy profiles from prior to through 12 months after breast cancer surgery; evaluate for differences in demographic and clinical characteristics between the two extreme average energy classes; and evaluate for polymorphisms for cytokine genes associated with membership in the Low energy class.

METHODS

Women (n = 397) completed assessments of energy prior to and for 12 months following breast cancer surgery. Growth mixture modeling was used to identify classes of patients with distinct average energy profiles. Eighty-two single nucleotide polymorphisms (SNPs) among 15 cytokine genes were evaluated.

RESULTS

Three distinct energy profiles were identified (ie, Low [27.0%], Moderate [54.4%], Changing [18.6%]). Data from patients in the Low and Moderate energy classes were used in the candidate gene analyses. Five SNPs and one haplotype in six different genes remained significant in logistic regression analyses (ie, interleukin [IL]-1β rs1143623, IL1 receptor 1 rs3917332 IL4 rs2243263, IL6 HapA1 [that consisted of rs1800795, rs2069830, rs2069840, rs1554606, rs2069845, rs2069849, and rs2069861], nuclear factor kappa beta subunit 1 rs170731, tumor necrosis factor rs1799964). For several SNPs for IL6, expression quantitative trait locis were identified in subcutaneous and visceral adipose tissue and thyroid tissue. In addition, skeletal muscle was identified as an expression quantitative trait loci for nuclear factor kappa beta subunit 1.

CONCLUSIONS

Findings suggest that cytokine genes are involved in the mechanisms that underlie chronic decrements in energy in women following breast cancer surgery. Given the roles of subcutaneous and visceral adipose and thyroid tissues in metabolism and energy balance, the findings related to IL6 suggest that these polymorphisms may have a functional role in the development and maintenance of chronic decrements in energy.

Prevalence and risk of nonalcoholic fatty liver disease among adult psoriatic patients: A systematic review, meta-analysis, and trial sequential analysis

BACKGROUND

This systematic review and meta-analysis aimed to report the evaluation of the prevalence and risk of nonalcoholic fatty liver disease (NAFLD) among adult psoriatic patients in a systematic review and meta-analysis.

METHODS

A comprehensive search was conducted across 4 databases of PubMed, Scopus, Cochrane Library, and Web of Science to collect relevant studies until November 30, 2023, without any restrictions for finding observational studies. The comprehensive meta-analysis version 3.0 software was used to calculate effect sizes, showing the event rate (ER), odds ratio (OR), and a 95% confidence interval (CI) to evaluate NAFLD risk or prevalence in psoriatic patients and controls or psoriatic patients alone. The quality scoring was performed by 1 author based on the Newcastle-Ottawa Scale tool. Publication bias, meta-regression analysis, and sensitivity analyses were performed. Additionally, Trial Sequential Analysis (TSA) was performed using TSA software.

RESULTS

A total of 581 records were identified among the databases and electronic sources. At last, 41 studies involving 607,781 individuals were included in the meta-analysis. The pooled ER of NAFLD among psoriatic patients was 29.5% (95%CI: 19.6%-41.7%) and I2 = 99.79%. The pooled OR of NAFLD in psoriatic patients compared to controls was 1.685 (95%CI: 1.382-2.055; P < .001) and I2 = 87.96%.

CONCLUSIONS

The study found a significant link between psoriasis and NAFLD, with psoriatic patients having a higher chance of developing NAFLD compared to the controls. The study calls for regular NAFLD screening in psoriatic patients to prevent liver complications.

Analysis of Mutational Status of IGHV, and Cytokine Polymorphisms as Prognostic Factors in Chronic Lymphocytic Leukemia: The Romanian Experience

The aim of the current study was to assess the associations between genetic risk factors (such as the mutational status of the IGHV gene and polymorphisms of the IL-10 and TNF-α genes) and CLL risk, prognosis, and overall survival. Another goal of this study was to evaluate the multivariate effect of the combination of multiple genetic risk factors (mutational status of the IGHV gene, somatic mutations, DNA CNVs, and cytokine SNPs) on the clinical characteristics and survival of patients. A total of 125 CLL patients and 239 healthy controls were included for comparative SNP analysis. IL-10 (rs1800896 and rs1800872) and TNF-α (rs361525 and rs1800750) SNPs and haplotypes were not associated with CLL risk. The absence of hypermutation in the IGHV gene was shown to be of important prognostic value, being associated with short OS. Further individual risk factors for short OS were an age above 65 years at diagnosis and the presence of somatic mutations and/or CNVs. In our multivariable analysis, the presence of somatic mutations and the IL-10 rs1800872 variant allele, and the association of CNVs with the IL-10 rs1800896 variant allele, were identified as risk factors for short OS. Moreover, the OS in unmutated IGHV patients was additionally affected (decreased) by the presence of CNVs and/or somatic mutations. Similarly, IL-10 rs1800896 modulated the OS in unmutated IGHV patients with CNVs.

Association between psoriasis and serum apolipoprotein A1 and B: A systematic review and meta-analysis

Background

Psoriasis has been linked to dyslipidemia. However, the magnitude of the association between psoriasis and serum apolipoproteins A1 and B remains unclear.

Methods

We systematically searched PubMed, Embase, and Cochrane Library databases for eligible studies published before August 10, 2023. Data were pooled using Stata software. We adopted a random-effects model for the meta-analysis. Additionally, we conducted subgroup analyses of the studies according to the psoriasis type and matched body mass index (BMI).

Results

Seventeen studies involving 2467 participants were included. Psoriasis was associated with decreased serum apolipoprotein A1 (weighted mean difference [WMD] = -9.05, P < 0.001) and increased serum apolipoprotein B (WMD = 11.68, P < 0.001). In subgroup analysis after matching BMI, the findings showing an association of psoriasis with serum apolipoprotein A1 (WMD = -14.07, P < 0.001) and serum apolipoprotein B (WMD = 13.07, P < 0.001) were consistent with the overall results. The subgroup analysis for the presence or absence of psoriatic arthritis showed that serum apolipoprotein A1 was significantly decreased in psoriasis with (WMD = -11.29, P < 0.001) and without arthritis (WMD = -8.69, P = 0.039); whereas serum apolipoprotein B was significantly increased in psoriasis with (WMD = 13.57, P < 0.001) and without arthritis (WMD = 9.21, P < 0.001).

Conclusions

Our study revealed that psoriasis is associated with decreased serum apolipoprotein A1 and increased serum apolipoprotein B levels compared with healthy controls.