BackgroundCoronary atherosclerosis diseases (CADs) are associated with chronic inflammation. Neutrophil extracellular traps (NETs) are a type of novel proinflammatory cytokines whose levels are dramatically elevated in acute coronary syndrome. We conducted this study to further evaluate the association between circulating NET-associated markers and CAD in Chinese adults.MethodsA total of 174 patients with CAD and 55 healthy controls were screened using percutaneous coronary intervention or coronary computed tomography angiography. Blood lipid levels, blood glucose levels, and blood cell counts were determined using commercial kits. Serum levels of myeloperoxidase (MPO) and neutrophil elastase (NE) were measured using ELISA. Double-stranded DNA (dsDNA) in serum was quantified using the Quant-iT PicoGreen assay. We also compared the circulating NET levels with various parameters in the study subjects.ResultsThe levels of serum NET markers, dsDNA, MPO, and NE, were significantly elevated in patients with CAD, particularly in the severe group, consistent with the increase in neutrophil counts. The levels of NET markers correlated with the risk factors of AS, increasing with the number of risk factors. NET markers were identified as independent risk factors for severe coronary stenosis and also as predictors of severe CAD.ConclusionNETs may be related to AS and serve as indicators or predictors of stenosis in patients with severe CAD.

ObjectiveIt is of great importance to recognize bio-markers for cancer prognosis. However, the association between solute carrier family 7 member 11 (SLC7A11) and prognosis is still controversial. Therefore, we conducted this systematic review and meta-analysis to identify the prognostic and clinicopathological significance of SLC7A11 in human cancers.MethodsPubMed, Web of Science, Scopus, the Cochrane Library and Embase database were searched from database inceptions to March 19th 2022. Hand searches were also conducted in references. Prognosis and clinicopathological data were extracted and analyzed.ResultsA total of 12 eligible studies with 1,955 patients were included. The results indicated that SLC7A11 expression is associated with unfavorable overall survival (OS), unfavorable recurrence-free survival (RFS) and unfavorable progression free survival (PFS). And SLC7A11 expression is also associated with more advanced tumor stage.ConclusionsSLC7A11 expression is associated with more unfavorable prognosis and more advanced tumor stage. Therefore, SLC7A11 could be a potential biomarker for human cancer prognosis.

BackgroundUncertainty exists regarding the pain scores and the success rate of intraligamentary anesthesia compared to other infiltration anesthesia. Based on the conditions of clinical anesthesia techniques, we conducted a systematic review and meta-analysis to compare the efficacy of intraligamentary anesthesia with other infiltration anesthesia.MethodsThe search was carried out in PubMed Central, Cochrane Central Register of Controlled Trials, MEDLINE (via OVID), Embase (via OVID), and Scopus from the inception to March 26, 2023.ResultsSeven eligible randomized controlled trials were included in the meta-analysis. The results indicated no significant difference in the success rate (RR = 0.96; 95% CI [0.81–1.14]; p = 0.65; I2= 73%) and visual analog scale (VAS) during dental procedures (MD = 3.81; 95% CI [−0.54–8.16]; p = 0.09; I2= 97%) between intraligamentary anesthesia and other infiltration anesthesia. However, intraligamentary anesthesia exhibited a higher VAS score during injection than other infiltration anesthesia (MD = 8.83; 95% CI [4.86–12.79]; p < 0.0001; I2= 90%). A subgroup analysis according to infiltration techniques showed that supraperiosteal anesthesia had a lower VAS score during dental procedures than intraligamentary anesthesia.ConclusionsIntraligamentary anesthesia and other infiltration anesthesias have the same success rate and pain during dental procedures. However, the pain during injection of intraligamentary anesthesia is heavier than that of other infiltration anesthesia.