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BACKGROUND: Esophageal squamous cell carcinoma (ESCC) patients carries a poor prognosis, with limited effective therapeutic targets. This study aimed to clarify the clinical significance of guanine nucleotide-binding protein like 3-like (GNL3L) protein expression in ESCC and its role in malignant progression. METHODS: GNL3L expression and associated cancer-promoting pathways in ESCC were interrogated via bioinformatics analysis through use of The Cancer Genome Atlas (TCGA) database. Subsequent verification of GNL3L protein expression in ESCC, coupled with clinical data, was conducted through immunohistochemistry and followed by a comprehensive prognostic analysis. We further investigated potential signaling pathways facilitating ESCC progression, employing a combination of bioinformatics analysis and immunohistochemical (IHC) experiments. RESULTS: Bioinformatics analysis unveiled a significant elevation in GNL3L expression, particularly in gastrointestinal tumors and ESCC. Immunohistochemistry confirmed elevated GNL3L expression in ESCC tissues. Regression analysis established a correlation between elevated GNL3L expression and advanced tumor node metastasis (TNM) stage, with high expression associated with poor prognosis in patients with ESCC. Our integrated approach of bioinformatics and IHC analysis indicated a potential role of the signal transducers and activators of transcription 3 (STAT3) signaling pathway in ESCC progression. CONCLUSIONS: High GNL3L expression significantly contributes to the malignant progression of ESCC. This study further elucidates the mechanisms driving ESCC progression and offers possible insights for more effective diagnosis and treatment strategies.

Background and Aims Diet plays an integral role in the modulation of the intestinal environment, with the potential to be modified for management of individuals with inflammatory bowel disease [IBD]. It has been hypothesised that poor 'Western-style' dietary patterns select for a microbiota that drives IBD inflammation and, that through dietary intervention, a healthy microbiota may be restored. This study aimed to systematically review the literature and assess current available evidence regarding the influence of diet on the intestinal microbiota composition in IBD patients, and how this may affect disease activity. Methods MEDLINE, EMBASE, Scopus, Web of Science, and Cochrane Library were searched from January 2013 to June 2023, to identify studies investigating diet and microbiota in IBD. Results Thirteen primary studies met the inclusion criteria and were selected for narrative synthesis. Reported associations between diet and microbiota in IBD were conflicting due to the considerable degree of heterogeneity between studies. Nine intervention studies trialled specific diets and did not demonstrate significant shifts in the diversity and abundance of intestinal microbial communities or improvement in disease outcomes. The remaining four cross-sectional studies did not find a specific microbial signature associated with habitual dietary patterns in IBD patients. Conclusions Diet modulates the gut microbiota, and this may have implications for IBD; however, the body of evidence does not currently support clear dietary patterns or food constituents that are associated with a specific microbiota profile or disease marker in IBD patients. Further research is required with a focus on robust and consistent methodology to achieve improved identification of associations. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: An association between breast cancer and meningioma has been suggested in cohort studies. We aimed to perform a systematic review and meta‐analysis to determine whether there is an association between initial breast cancer and subsequent meningioma diagnosis and vice versa. Methods: A systematic literature search was performed on Medline, Embase, Scopus and Google scholar from inception up to April 2023. A meta‐analysis of selected studies was performed using Review Manager 5.4. Results: There were eight studies included in the systematic review. Seven had reported Standardized Incidence Ratio (SIR) for female patients and were suitable for the meta‐analysis. Only one study reported SIR for male patients. For the association between initial breast cancer and subsequent meningioma, in 795 000 female patients with follow‐up ranging from 7 to 13 years, the SIR was 1.27 (95% CI: 1.20–1.34, P‐value <0.00001). For the association between initial meningioma and subsequent breast cancer, in 28 000 female patients with follow‐up ranging from 6 to 15 years, the SIR was 1.32 (95% CI: 1.21–1.45, P‐value <0.00001). There were low heterogeneity and no significant publication bias. Conclusion: There was a small but significant association between initial breast cancer and subsequent meningioma as well as initial meningioma and subsequent breast cancer in female patients. The potential underlying mechanisms and risk factors were unclear from current literature and would be a potential area for future research. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]