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INTRODUCTION AND OBJECTIVES: Assessing fibrosis risk noninvasively is essential. The steatosis-associated fibrosis estimator (SAFE) score shows promise but needs validation. PATIENTS AND METHODS: This was a three-part study. In part 1, we compared the SAFE score with the Fibrosis-4 (FIB-4) and NAFLD fibrosis score (NFS) in the National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey (NHANES) cohort (2017-2020), using transient elastography (TE) as screening reference. In part 2, we examined patients who underwent liver biopsies at an Asian center between 2018 and 2020 to assess these models in various liver diseases. In part 3, the SAFE score was applied to adults in the NHANES cohort (1999-2016) to assess the correlation with mortality. RESULTS: In part 1, we studied 6,677 patients, comprising 595 screening positive (TE ≥8 kPa). SAFE (cutoff 100) displayed a lower proportion of false positives (10.4 %) than FIB-4 (cutoff 1.3) and NFS (cutoff -1.455) (22.1 % and 43.6 %) while retaining a low proportion of false negatives (5.5 %). In part 2, SAFE outperformed FIB-4 (P = 0.04) and NFS (P = 0.04) in staging significant fibrosis (≥S2) in NAFLD and had similar accuracies in other etiologies. In part 3, the FIB-4, NFS, and SAFE score were associated with all-cause mortality in the general population, with c-statistics of 0.738, 0.736, and 0.759, respectively. CONCLUSIONS: The SAFE score reduced futile referrals more effectively than FIB-4 without raising the missed TE ≥ 8 kPa rate. It correlated with all-cause mortality in the general population and excelled in staging significant fibrosis in NAFLD.

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BACKGROUND: Liver dysfunction is a postulated variable for poor prognosis in dilated cardiomyopathy (DCM). OBJECTIVE: This study aimed to investigate the prognostic value of the albumin-bilirubin (ALBI) score, a relatively new model for evaluating liver function, in patients with idiopathic DCM. METHODS: A total of 1025 patients with idiopathic DCM were retrospectively included and divided into three groups based on ALBI scores: grade 1 (≤ -2.60, n = 113), grade 2 (-2.60 to -1.39, n = 835), and grade 3 (> -1.39, n = 77). The association of ALBI score with in-hospital major adverse clinical events (MACEs) and long-term mortality was analyzed. P-value less than 0.05 was considered statistically significant. RESULTS: The in-hospital MACEs rate was significantly higher in the grade 3 patients (2.7% versus 7.1% versus 24.7%, p < 0.001). Multivariate analysis showed that ALBI score was an independent predictor for in-hospital MACEs (adjusted odds ratio = 2.80, 95%CI: 1.63 - 4.80, p < 0.001). After a median 27-month follow-up, 146 (14.2%) patients died. The Kaplan-Meier curve indicated that the cumulative rate of long-term survival was significantly lower in patients with higher ALBI grade (log-rank = 45.50, p < 0.001). ALBI score was independently associated with long-term mortality (adjusted hazard ratio = 2.84, 95%CI: 1.95 - 4.13, p < 0.001). CONCLUSION: ALBI score as a simple risk model could be considered a risk-stratifying tool for patients with idiopathic DCM.

FUNDAMENTO: A disfunção hepática é uma variável postulada de prognóstico desfavorável na cardiomiopatia dilatada (CMD). OBJETIVO: Este estudo teve como objetivo investigar o valor prognóstico do escore albumina-bilirrubina (ALBI), um modelo relativamente novo para a avaliação da função hepática, em pacientes com CMD idiopática. MÉTODOS: Um total de 1.025 pacientes com CMD idiopática foram incluídos retrospectivamente e divididos em três grupos com base nos escores de ALBI: grau 1 (≤ −2,60, n = 113), grau 2 (−2,60 a −1,39, n = 835) e grau 3 (> −1,39, n = 77). Foi analisada a associação do escore ALBI com eventos clínicos adversos maiores (ECAM) intra-hospitalares e mortalidade a longo prazo. Valor de p inferior a 0,05 foi considerado estatisticamente significativo. RESULTADOS: A taxa de ECAM intra-hospitalares foi significativamente maior nos pacientes com grau 3 (2,7% versus 7,1% versus 24,7%, p < 0,001). A análise multivariada mostrou que o escore ALBI foi um preditor independente para ECAM intra-hospitalares (odds ratio ajustada = 2,80, IC 95%: 1,63 ­ 4,80, p < 0,001). Após seguimento mediano de 27 meses, 146 (14,2%) pacientes morreram. A curva de Kaplan-Meier indicou que a taxa cumulativa de sobrevida a longo prazo foi significativamente menor em pacientes com grau mais alto de ALBI (log-rank = 45,50, p < 0,001). O escore ALBI foi independentemente associado à mortalidade a longo prazo (hazard ratio ajustada = 2,84, IC 95%: 1,95 ­ 4,13, p < 0,001). CONCLUSÃO: O escore ALBI, como modelo de risco simples, pode ser considerado uma ferramenta de estratificação de risco para pacientes com CMD idiopática.

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Resumo Fundamento: A disfunção hepática é uma variável postulada de prognóstico desfavorável na cardiomiopatia dilatada (CMD). Objetivo: Este estudo teve como objetivo investigar o valor prognóstico do escore albumina-bilirrubina (ALBI), um modelo relativamente novo para a avaliação da função hepática, em pacientes com CMD idiopática. Métodos: Um total de 1.025 pacientes com CMD idiopática foram incluídos retrospectivamente e divididos em três grupos com base nos escores de ALBI: grau 1 (≤ −2,60, n = 113), grau 2 (−2,60 a −1,39, n = 835) e grau 3 (> −1,39, n = 77). Foi analisada a associação do escore ALBI com eventos clínicos adversos maiores (ECAM) intra-hospitalares e mortalidade a longo prazo. Valor de p inferior a 0,05 foi considerado estatisticamente significativo. Resultados: A taxa de ECAM intra-hospitalares foi significativamente maior nos pacientes com grau 3 (2,7% versus 7,1% versus 24,7%, p < 0,001). A análise multivariada mostrou que o escore ALBI foi um preditor independente para ECAM intra-hospitalares (odds ratio ajustada = 2,80, IC 95%: 1,63 - 4,80, p < 0,001). Após seguimento mediano de 27 meses, 146 (14,2%) pacientes morreram. A curva de Kaplan-Meier indicou que a taxa cumulativa de sobrevida a longo prazo foi significativamente menor em pacientes com grau mais alto de ALBI (log-rank = 45,50, p < 0,001). O escore ALBI foi independentemente associado à mortalidade a longo prazo (hazard ratio ajustada = 2,84, IC 95%: 1,95 - 4,13, p < 0,001). Conclusão: O escore ALBI, como modelo de risco simples, pode ser considerado uma ferramenta de estratificação de risco para pacientes com CMD idiopática.

Abstract Background: Liver dysfunction is a postulated variable for poor prognosis in dilated cardiomyopathy (DCM). Objective: This study aimed to investigate the prognostic value of the albumin-bilirubin (ALBI) score, a relatively new model for evaluating liver function, in patients with idiopathic DCM. Methods: A total of 1025 patients with idiopathic DCM were retrospectively included and divided into three groups based on ALBI scores: grade 1 (≤ −2.60, n = 113), grade 2 (−2.60 to −1.39, n = 835), and grade 3 (> −1.39, n = 77). The association of ALBI score with in-hospital major adverse clinical events (MACEs) and long-term mortality was analyzed. P-value less than 0.05 was considered statistically significant. Results: The in-hospital MACEs rate was significantly higher in the grade 3 patients (2.7% versus 7.1% versus 24.7%, p < 0.001). Multivariate analysis showed that ALBI score was an independent predictor for in-hospital MACEs (adjusted odds ratio = 2.80, 95%CI: 1.63 - 4.80, p < 0.001). After a median 27-month follow-up, 146 (14.2%) patients died. The Kaplan-Meier curve indicated that the cumulative rate of long-term survival was significantly lower in patients with higher ALBI grade (log-rank = 45.50, p < 0.001). ALBI score was independently associated with long-term mortality (adjusted hazard ratio = 2.84, 95%CI: 1.95 - 4.13, p < 0.001). Conclusion: ALBI score as a simple risk model could be considered a risk-stratifying tool for patients with idiopathic DCM.

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PURPOSE: To explore the regulatory effect of let-7a-5p/TGFBR1/Smad3 on the proliferation activity of cervical cancer cells. METHODS: The difference in let-7a-5p expression between normal people and patients with cervical cancer was detected by miREIA assay. The differences of let-7a-5p expression between cervical cancer cell line C33a and adjacent normal epithelial cell line HUCEC were determined by qRT-PCR. RESULTS: miREIA result showed that let-7a-5p concentrations were 178.5 ± 24.3 µg/L in healthy individuals and 106.1 ± 14.8 µg/L in cervical cancer patients (P = 0.0002). qRT-PCR showed that let-7a-5p in cervical cancer tissue (0.57 ± 0.03) was lower than that in adjacent normal tissue (0.84 ± 0.04, P = 0.0107). Compared with normal cervical epithelial cells (HUCEC), the expression of let-7a-5p was lower in cervical cancer cells (C33a, Hela, P = 0.0001). The results of CCK-8 and EDU detection showed that activation of let-7a-5p inhibited the proliferation of C33a (P = 0.00130, P << 0.0001) and Hela (P = 0.00254, P = 0.0066) cells. According to the analysis using Starbase V2.0 online database, let-7a-5p could target TGFßR1 in cervical cancer cell lines, and the let-7a-5p mimic reduces the mRNA expression level of TGFßR1 in cervical cancer cell C33a (P = 0.0067). Western blot results showed that TGFBR1 expression significantly decreased in cervical cancer cells after let-7a-5p mimic treatment (P = 0.0048) and significantly increased after let-7a-5p mimic inhibitor treatment (P = 0.0003). CONCLUSIONS: let-7a-5p represents the independent novel anti-oncogenes in cervical cancer, which can regulate TGF-ß1/TGFBR1/pSmad3 cell pathway and interfere with the proliferation of cervical cancer cells. Therefore, let-7a-5p can serve as a novel potential therapeutic target for the treatment of cervical cancer.

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Seismic airgun signals recorded on two hydrophone arrays during an oil and gas survey were analyzed for investigation of three-dimensional (3D) underwater sound propagation in the Mississippi Canyon area. A 3D numerical model with realistic seafloor and oceanographic inputs has been established to explain the intensified canyon focusing seen in the airgun signals received at one of the arrays. This study was under a passive acoustic monitoring program for establishing a current baseline of natural and anthropogenic sound sources and levels in the Gulf of Mexico. The reported investigation provides insight into the propagation effects affecting underwater soundscape in the area.

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ABSTRACT Background: The rapid outbreak of COVID-19 pandemic promptly changed people's daily lives, influenced human interactions and economic activities and induced mental reactions. Objective: This review synthesized the evidence of correlation between demographic factors, social media exposure, stressors and anxiety and depression status in the early phase of COVID-19. Method: A systematically search included observational studies published before May15, 2020. We selected studies designed with valid measuring instruments of anxiety and depression. Result: 20 articles were included (19 cross-sectional) for review. People who were divorced/widowed, with poor self-rated health status, chronic illness and previous psychiatric illness had higher anxiety and depression prevalence. Higher COVID-19 awareness (including COVID-19 knowledge and precautionary measure) decreased anxiety and depression. The protective measures to reduce anxiety and depression levels included avoiding sharing meals, frequently washing hands and wearing mask. Economic loss, academic delay, influence of daily life, worrying and symptoms related to infection were stressors of anxiety and depression. There were lots of inconsistent results due to convenience sampling and diverse measuring instrument. Conclusion: Our review suggested that reliable information from health authorities, enhancing health literacies and prevention measures of general population can reduce anxiety and depression levels.

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During 2013, the Maryland Department of Health and Mental Hygiene in Baltimore, MD, USA, received report of 2 Maryland residents whose surgical sites were infected with rapidly growing mycobacteria after cosmetic procedures at a clinic (clinic A) in the Dominican Republic. A multistate investigation was initiated; a probable case was defined as a surgical site infection unresponsive to therapy in a patient who had undergone cosmetic surgery in the Dominican Republic. We identified 21 case-patients in 6 states who had surgery in 1 of 5 Dominican Republic clinics; 13 (62%) had surgery at clinic A. Isolates from 12 (92%) of those patients were culture-positive for Mycobacterium abscessus complex. Of 9 clinic A case-patients with available data, all required therapeutic surgical intervention, 8 (92%) were hospitalized, and 7 (78%) required ≥3 months of antibacterial drug therapy. Healthcare providers should consider infection with rapidly growing mycobacteria in patients who have surgical site infections unresponsive to standard treatment.

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BACKGROUND: Prostate cancer is a common malignancy in men, and inevitably some patients experience biochemical recurrence after radical prostatectomy. To date, there are no reliable predictors for prostate cancer recurrence, and novel predictors are urgently needed. PCDH10 (protocadherin-10) is a novel tumor suppressor gene, which is down-regulated by promoter methylation in prostate cancer. The aim of this study was to evaluate the feasibility of using PCDH10 methylation to predict the biochemical recurrence (BCR) of prostate cancer after radical prostatectomy. MATERIAL/METHODS: Fresh tissue samples were obtained from 151 patients with primary prostate cancer, and from 34 patients with benign prostatic hyperplasia (BPH) as control. The methylation status of PCDH10 in prostate cancer tissues and controls were examined using methylation-specific PCR (MSP), and then associated with clinicopathological features and BCR-free survival of patients with prostate cancer. RESULTS: We found that PCDH10 methylation was detected in 79 (52.3%) patients with prostate cancer, but no methylation was found in controls (P<0.0001). Moreover, PCDH10 methylation was significantly associated with higher preoperative prostate-specific antigen (PSA) level (P <0.0001), higher Gleason Score (P<0.0001), advanced clinical stage (P=0.0002), lymph node metastasis (P=0.0389), angiolymphatic invasion (P=0.0303), and biochemical recurrence (P=0.0068). Moreover, PCDH10 methylation was associated with poor BCR-free survival (P<0.0001), and may be used as an independent predictor of BCR-free survival (P=0.0046). CONCLUSIONS: Our results indicate that PCDH10 methylation in prostate cancer tissue is an independent prognostic biomarker of worse BCR-free survival of patients with prostate cancer after radical prostatectomy.

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