Minerva medica
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Review
Asthma-COPD overlap syndrome: recent advances in diagnostic criteria and prognostic significance.
The term asthma-chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD) overlap syndrome (ACOS) has been proposed for individuals with features of both asthma and COPD. Several attempts have been done to define ACOS on the basis of medical history, symptoms, and functional findings. The main diagnostic criteria include airflow obstruction with a strong although incomplete reversibility to bronchodilation tests, a significant exposure to cigarette or biomass smoke, and a history of atopy or asthma. ⋯ The prevalence of ACOS increases with aging, then it is relatively stable in elderly individuals (>65 years). Long-term mortality of subjects with ACOS is similar to COPD, and worse than asthma and healthy controls. Future research is still needed to improve the understanding and management of ACOS.
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Review Meta Analysis
The effect of prediabetes on hepatocellular carcinoma risk: a systematic review and meta-analysis.
Some studies suggested an increased risk of hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) risk in subjects with prediabetes, whereas other studies have reported negative results. Therefore, we did this meta-analysis to assess the role of prediabetes on HCC risk. ⋯ In conclusion, this meta-analysis demonstrated that prediabetes might be a risk factor of HCC.
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MicroRNAs (miRNAs) play key roles in tumor development and progression. The aim of this study was to explore the expression levels of miR-34a and miR-217 in hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) and to further investigate the clinicopathological and prognostic value of miR-34a and miR-217. ⋯ Our data showed that downregulation of miR-34a and miR-217 was associated with HCC progression and both of them may act as tumor suppressor in HCC.
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Review Meta Analysis
Cumulative review and meta-analyses on the association between MTHFR rs1801133 polymorphism and breast cancer risk: a pooled analysis of 83 studies with 74,019 participants.
The association between methylenetetrahydrofolate reductase (MTHFR) gene polymorphisms and breast cancer risk has been extensively explored, but their results are conflicting rather than conclusive. To clarify the precise effects of MTHFR polymorphisms on the risk of breast cancer, a systemic review and most comprehensive meta-analysis of all available studies relating MTHFR rs1801133 gene polymorphism to the risk of breast cancer was conducted. ⋯ The results of this meta-analysis suggest that MTHFR rs1801133 gene polymorphism may the therapeutic target for breast cancer.
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Meta Analysis
Effects of cognitive behavioral therapy on quality of life and stress for breast cancer survivors: a meta-analysis.
Cognitive behavioral therapy (CBT) has been shown to be effective in mitigating various psychosocial impacts from breast cancer. Long-term studies have yielded mixed findings on the outcome of CBT in breast cancer settings, especially with respect to quality of life (QOL) and the quantified degree of stress (QDS). ⋯ Despite the meta-analysis fails to support the use of CBT to improve QOL or reduce stress for breast cancer survivors, CBT appears to be promising as a therapeutic intervention against many of the psychosocial impacts of breast cancer.