The 2518 A/G polymorphism in the MCP-1 gene and cancer risk: a meta-analysis

BACKGROUND

The 2518 A/G polymorphism in the MCP-1 gene has been extensively studied for associations with cancer; however, results from replication studies have been inconsistent. The aim of this investigation was to determine links with risk of cancer by meta-analysis.

METHODS

We searched Pubmed, Embase, CNKI, Weipu and Wanfang databases, covering all case-control studies until March, 2013. Statistical analyses were performed using the Revman 5.0 software.

RESULTS

A total of 11 case-control studies met our inclusion criteria, including 1,422 cases and 2,237 controls. The results indicated that the MCP-1 2518 gene polymorphism had no association with cancer risk overall (GG vs.GA+ AA: OR = 0.89, 95%CI = 0.61-1.28, P = 0.52). However, in the subgroup analysis by ethnicity, a decrease of cancer risk was found in Asian populations (GG vs.GA+ AA: OR = 0.79, 95%CI = 0.63-0.99, P = 0.04).

CONCLUSION

This meta-analysis suggested that the 2518A/G polymorphism of MCP-1 gene is associated with risk of cancer among Asian, but not in Caucasian populations.

Diagnostic performance of lung ultrasound in the diagnosis of pneumonia: a bivariate meta-analysis

BACKGROUND AND OBJECTIVE

Pneumonia is a common disease with both high morbidity and mortality, the diagnosis of pneumonia remains a clinical challenge. Many studies have been conducted to identify the usefulness of lung ultrasound for the diagnosis of pneumonia, but with inconsistent and inconclusive results. The present study aimed to establish the overall diagnostic accuracy of lung ultrasound in diagnosing pneumonia.

METHODS

Based on a comprehensive search of the Pubmed, Embase, and the Cochrane database, we identified out-come data from all articles estimating diagnostic accuracy with lung ultrasound for pneumonia. Quality was assessed with the Quality Assessment for Diagnostic Accuracy Studies. Results from different studies were pooled using a bivariate meta-analysis. Summary receiver operating characteristic curve was used to assess the overall performance of lung ultrasound-based assays.

RESULTS

Nine studies containing 1080 subjects were included in this meta-analysis. The summary estimates for lung ultrasound in the diagnosis of pneumonia in the studies included were as follows: sensitivity, 0.97 (95% CI: 0.93-0.99); specificity, 0.94 (95% CI: 0.85-0.98); DOR, 507.99 (95% CI: 128.11-2014.34); positive likelihood ratio, 15.62 (95% CI: 6.31-38.68); negative likelihood ratio, 0.03 (95% CI: 0.01-0.08); The area under the summary receiver operating characteristic curve was 0.99 (95% CI: 0.98-1.00).

CONCLUSION

Lung ultrasound is a capable of diagnosing pneumonia with high accuracy and is a promising attractive alternative to chest radiography and thoracic CT scan.

Diagnostic accuracy of interferon gamma-induced protein 10 for tuberculosis: a meta-analysis

The diagnostic accuracy of tuberculosis (TB) remains a clinical challenge, and a number of studies have used the interferon gamma-induced protein 10 (IP-10) in the diagnosis of TB. The aim of the present meta-analysis was to determine the overall accuracy of IP-10 in the diagnosis of TB. A systematic review of studies published in English from Medline, Embase and Cochrane Library was conducted and the data concerning the accuracy of IP-10 in the diagnosis of TB were pooled. The methodological quality of each study was assessed by QUADAS (quality assessment for studies of diagnostic accuracy). Statistical analysis was performed by employing Meta-Disc 1.4 soft-ware and STATA. The overall test performance was summarized using receiver operating characteristic curves. 14 studies, based on 2075 subjects, met the inclusion criteria. The summary estimates for IP-10 in the diagnosis of TB were: sensitivity 0.73 (95% CI, 0.71-0.76), specificity 0.83 (95% CI, 0.81-0.86), positive likelihood ratio 7.08 (95% CI, 3.94-12.72), negative likelihood ratio 0.26 (95% CI, 0.20-0.35) and diagnostic odds ratio 29.50 (95% CI, 14.43-60.30), and the area under the curve was 0.88. Our findings suggest that IP-10 may improve the accuracy of TB diagnosis, while the results of IP-10 assays should be interpreted in parallel with conventional test results and other clinical findings.

Diagnostic accuracy of adenosine deaminase for tuberculous peritonitis: a meta-analysis

INTRODUCTION

Tuberculous peritonitis remains a diagnostic challenge for clinicians. Many studies have investigated the usefulness of adenosine deaminase (ADA) in ascites for the diagnosis of tuberculous peritonitis; however, the overall diagnostic accuracy of ADA for tuberculous peritonitis remains unclear. The aim of the present meta-analysis was to determine the overall accuracy of ADA measurements in the diagnosis of tuberculous peritonitis.

MATERIAL AND METHODS

We performed a systematic search in PubMed and Embase to identify published studies that evaluated the diagnostic role of ADA for tuberculous peritonitis. Quality was assessed according to standardized Quality Assessment of Diagnostic Accuracy Studies criteria. Sensitivity, specificity and other measures of accuracy of ADA assay in order to diagnose tuberculous peritonitis were pooled using random effects models. Summary receiver operating characteristic curve (SROC) was used to summarize overall test performance.

RESULTS

Sixteen studies met inclusion criteria for the present meta-analysis. The pooled sensitivity and specificity for diagnosing tuberculous peritonitis were 0.93 (95% CI: 0.89-0.95) and 0.96 (95% CI: 0.94-0.97), respectively. The positive likelihood ratio was 15.80 (95% CI: 10.87-22.95), negative likelihood ratio was 0.09 (95% CI: 0.05-0.16) and diagnostic odds ratio was 249.28 (95% CI: 113.11-549.39). The area under the SROC was 0.98.

CONCLUSIONS

Ascitic ADA determination is a relatively sensitive and specific test for the diagnosis of tuberculous peritonitis. Measurement of ADA in ascites is thus likely to be a useful diagnostic method for tuberculous peritonitis.

Diagnostic accuracy of neutrophil CD64 expression in neonatal infection: A meta-analysis

Objective

*Liu-Qun Jia and Yong-Chun Shen contributed equally to this work and are joint first authors. The aim of the present study was to establish the predictive values of neutrophil CD64 expression in diagnosing neonatal infection.

Methods

A comprehensive search of the PubMed and Embase® literature databases identified outcome data from published studies estimating the diagnostic accuracy of neutrophil CD64 expression for neonatal infection. Summary estimates for sensitivity, specificity, diagnostic odds ratios (DOR) and the area under the summary receiver operating characteristic curve (AUC) were calculated using a bivariate random-effects approach.

Results

Twelve studies including 1915 neonates were analysed. Summary estimates (95% confidence intervals) for CD64 expression in the diagnosis of neonatal infection were: sensitivity, 0.78 (0.75, 0.81); specificity, 0.81 (0.78, 0.83); DOR, 21.27 (11.71, 38.65); positive-likelihood ratio, 4.53 (3.22, 6.36); negative-likelihood ratio, 0.23 (0.14, 0.37); AUC, 0.89.

Conclusions

Neutrophil CD64 expression can be used as an additional test in the diagnosis of neonatal infection. Results of a CD64 assay should not be used alone to diagnose such infections, but should be interpreted in combination with other test results and clinical findings.

Energetics and dynamics of threshold photoion-pair formation in HF∕DF

Threshold ion-pair production spectroscopy (TIPPS) has been applied to two isotopomers, HF and DF. From the high resolution (approximately 0.3 cm(-1)) TIPP spectra, the ion-pair thresholds of HFDF have been precisely measured. Combined with the ionization energy of H(D), the electron affinity of F, and the zero point energies of HFDF, the difference between their classical bond dissociation energies was obtained as D(e)(H-F)-D(e)(D-F) = 12.4 +/- 0.5 cm(-1). Our result provides an experimental estimate of the Born-Oppenheimer breakdown in the ground electronic state. The present work also measured the total ion-pair yield spectra of HF and DF in the threshold region, and the ion-pair formation mechanisms of these two molecules were discussed in light of the high resolution results.

Threshold ion-pair production spectroscopy of HCN

The spectroscopic technique of threshold ion-pair production spectroscopy (TIPPS) has been applied to the triatomic molecule HCN. We have recorded the total ion-pair yield and TIPP spectra for the HCN-->H(+) + CN(-) process using coherent vacuum ultraviolet excitation. From the simulation of our high-resolution TIPP spectrum we have precisely measured the HCN ion-pair threshold E(IP) (0) to be 122 244 +/- 4 cm(-1). This value could be used to determine the bond dissociation energy D(0)(H-CN) to unprecedented accuracy. Our fitting result also showed that rotationally excited instead of cold CN(-) fragment is favored as the ion-pair dissociation product in the threshold region.

Threshold ion-pair production spectroscopy (TIPPS) of H2 and D2

The threshold ion-pair production spectra at the J" = 0 and J" = 1 thresholds of H2 and J" = 0, 1 and 2 thresholds of D2 obtained with single photon excitation are presented. The ion-pair yield spectra of H2 and D2 over these energy ranges demonstrate strong resonant enhancement, parts of which dominate the TIPPS signals, permitting the assignment of the lower states of these resonances. From those thresholds with weak resonant enhancement (the J" = 0 threshold of H2 and the J" = 1 threshold of D2) a very small direct contribution to ion-pair production can be observed. The behaviour of the TIPPS spectra taken with different applied discrimination fields is understood by modeling the field ionization behaviour of a MATI spectrum of H2, containing both the similarly resonantly enhanced v+ = 8 S(0) ionization threshold and the non-resonantly enhanced S(1) ionization threshold. From the H2 J" = 1 and D2 J" = 0 TIPPS spectra the energetic field-free thresholds of the H2 and D2 ion-pair limits were determined to be 139,714.8 +/- 1.0 cm-1 and 140,370.2 cm-1 +/- 1.0 cm-1, respectively.

The adjacent pixel nonlinearity: problems and solutions

The adjacent pixel nonlinearity refers to the dependence of the luminance of a given pixel on the preceding pixel or pixels. We measured this nonlinearity for two CRT displays by measuring the average luminances of a variety of test patterns with different luminance jumps. A two-stage model proposed by Mulligan and Stone was used to fit the data [Mulligan, J.B. & Stone, L. S., (1989). Journal of the Optical Society of America A, 6, 1217-1227 (1989)]. The results show that the model predicts our data well. Based on our measurements and the modeling results, a double-entry look-up table was created to compensate for this nonlinearity. This compensation method works even if the current pixel depends on more than one preceding pixel. Observers commented that at small pixel sizes the compensation results in a sharp, accurate image. Advantages and problems of this compensation will be discussed.

The retinoblastoma protein physically associates with the human cdc2 kinase

The protein product (pRB) of the retinoblastoma susceptibility gene functions as a negative regulator of cell proliferation, and its activity appears to be modulated by phosphorylation. Using a new panel of anti-human pRB monoclonal antibodies, we have investigated the biochemical properties of this protein. These antibodies have allowed us to detect a pRB-associated kinase that has been identified as the cell cycle-regulating kinase p34cdc2 or a closely related enzyme. Since this associated kinase phosphorylates pRB at most of the sites used in vivo, these results suggest that this kinase is one of the major regulators of pRB. The associated kinase activity follows the pattern of phosphorylation seen for pRB in vivo. The associated kinase activity is not seen in the G1 phase but appears in the S phase, and the levels continue to increase throughout the remainder of the cell cycle.

Antibodies specific for the human retinoblastoma protein identify a family of related polypeptides

Even though the retinoblastoma gene is one of the best-studied tumor suppressor genes, little is known about its functional role. Like all tumor suppressor gene products, the retinoblastoma protein (pRB) is thought to inhibit some aspect of cell proliferation. It also appears to be a cellular target of several DNA tumor virus-transforming proteins, such as adenovirus E1A, human papillomavirus E7, or simian virus 40 large T antigen. To help in the analysis of pRB, we have prepared a new set of anti-human pRB monoclonal antibodies. In addition to being useful reagents for the study of human pRB, these antibodies display several unexpected properties. They can be used to distinguish different subsets of the pRBs on the basis of their phosphorylation states. Some are able to recognize pRB homologs in other species, including mice, chickens, and members of the genus Xenopus. In addition, some of these antibodies can bind directly to other cellular proteins that, like pRB, were originally identified through their association with adenovirus E1A. These immunologically cross-reactive proteins include the p107 and p300 proteins, and their recognition by antibodies raised against pRB suggests that several members of the E1A-targeted cellular proteins form a structurally and functionally related family.

The regions of the retinoblastoma protein needed for binding to adenovirus E1A or SV40 large T antigen are common sites for mutations

The protein product of the retinoblastoma (RB) gene is thought to function in a pathway that restricts cell proliferation. Recently, transforming proteins from three different classes of DNA tumor viruses have been shown to form complexes with the RB protein. Genetic studies suggest that these interactions with the RB protein are important steps in transformation by these viruses. In order to understand better the function of the RB-viral oncoprotein complexes, we have mapped the regions of the RB protein that are necessary for these associations. Two non-contiguous regions of RB were found to be essential for complex formation with adenovirus E1A or SV40 large T antigen. These two regions are found between amino acids 393 and 572 and 646 and 772. Interestingly, these binding sites on RB overlap with the positions of naturally occurring, inactivating mutations of the RB gene. These results strongly suggest that these viral oncoproteins are targeting a protein domain that is an important site in the normal function of the RB protein.