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Age, ethnic background and genetic components have been identified as the established risks for prostate cancer (PCa). Pentraxin 3 (PTX3), originally identified as a pattern‐recognition molecule for defence against infectious agents, has multiple functions in tissue repair and in the regulation of cancer‐associated inflammation. In this study, we sought to investigate the impact of PTX3 gene variants on the development of PCa. Genotypes of four common single‐nucleotide polymorphisms (SNPs) of PTX3 gene, including rs1840680, rs2305619, rs3816527 and rs2120243, were profiled among 705 PCa patients and 705 ethnicity‐matched controls. In this study, we found that patients who carry at least one minor allele (C) of rs3816527 (AC and CC) tended to develop advanced forms of diseases (clinical large T stage, OR, 1.593, p = 0.032; pathologically‐confirmed nodal spread, OR, 1.987, p = 0.011; metastatic tumour, OR, 3.896, p = 0.032) as compared with those homologous for the major allele (AA). Further stratification analysis showed that such association of rs3816527 with lymphatic and distal metastasis of PCa was accentuated in the younger age group (≤65 at diagnosis) but not seen in the older age group (>65 at diagnosis), suggesting an age‐specific effect of PTX3 variants. Prediction of PTX3 protein structure implied that polymorphism may alter the quaternary organization and oligomerization of PTX3 protein. Moreover, our gene silencing experiments and survey of public datasets revealed that elevation of PTX3 levels in PCa was required for cell migration and associated with tumour metastasis. Our results highlight an association of PTX3 rs3816527 with the progression of PCa. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

We aim to evaluate the effectiveness of an acupuncture steam-warming eye mask (ASEM) on dry eye disease (DED) in visual display terminal (VDT) users. This prospective randomized clinical trial included VDT users with DED-related features who were randomly assigned to the ASEM group (ASEM for 2 weeks, 20 participants) or the steam-warming eye mask (SEM) group (SEM for 2 weeks, 20 participants). The tear film break-up time (TBUT), Schirmer test, tear meniscus height, ocular surface staining scores, eyelid and meibomian gland exam, subjective symptoms, and quality of life (QoL) scores before and after treatment were collected. A generalized linear mixed model was applied to compare the improvement of symptoms and signs between the two groups. After the 2-week treatment, all the subjective symptoms and questionnaire scores in the ASEM group improved significantly (all p < 0.05), whereas the feelings of relaxation, comfortable, and refreshment did not change in the SEM group (both p > 0.05). The TBUT, tear meniscus height, and meibum quality in the lower eyelid were significantly better in the ASEM group than the SEM group (all p < 0.05), whereas no significant changes were observed in the Schirmer test and ocular surface staining scores. Compared with the SEM group, the ASEM group experienced a stronger feeling of refreshment (p = 0.013), lower sensation of ocular discharge (p = 0.031), higher TBUT (p = 0.045), better meibomian gland expressibility of both eyelids (both p < 0.05), and better meibum quality of both eyelids (both p < 0.05), even after adjustments for age and sex. In conclusion, comparing with SEM, ASEM can improve some subjective DED symptoms, tear film stability, and meibum status in VDT users. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Nasopharyngeal carcinoma (NPC) is prevalent in Asia and exhibits highly metastatic characteristics, leading to uncontrolled disease progression. Isoliquiritigenin (ISL) have attracted attention due to their diverse biological and pharmacological properties, including anticancer activities. However, the impact of ISL on the invasive and migratory ability of NPC remains poorly understood. Hence, this study aimed to investigate the in vitro anti‐metastatic effects of ISL on NPC cells and elucidate the underlying signalling pathways. Human NPC cell NPC‐39 and NPC‐BM were utilized as cell models. Migratory and invasive capabilities were evaluated through wound healing and invasion assays, respectively. Gelatin zymography was employed to demonstrate matrix metalloproteinase‐2 (MMP‐2) activity, while western blotting was conducted to analyse protein expression levels and explore signalling cascades. Overexpression of signal transducer and activator of transcription 3 (STAT3) was carried out by transduction of STAT3‐expressing vector. Our findings revealed that ISL effectively suppressed the migration and invasion of NPC cells. Gelatin zymography and Western blotting assays demonstrated that ISL treatment led to a reduction in MMP‐2 enzyme activity and protein expression. Investigation of signalling cascades revealed that ISL treatment resulted in the inhibition of STAT3 phosphorylation. Moreover, overexpression of STAT3 restored the migratory ability of NPC cells in the presence of ISL. Collectively, these findings indicate that ISL inhibits the migration and invasion of NPC cells associating with MMP‐2 downregulation through suppressing STAT3 activation. This suggests that ISL has an anti‐metastatic effect on NPC cells and has potential therapeutic benefit for NPC treatment. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

We aim to investigate the potential risk factors for undercorrection in those who have received extend depth-of-focus (EDOF) intraocular lens (IOL) implantation. A retrospective case-control study was conducted in which patients who had received one type of EDOF IOL implantation were included. The patients were divided into the residual group and non-residual group according to the final postoperative sphere power. The preoperative data include the refractive, topographic, endothelial, and biometric parameters obtained. A generalized linear model was generated to yield the adjusted odds ratio (aOR) and 95% confidence interval (CI) of each parameter of the residual myopia. One month postoperatively, the UDVA was better in the non-residual group than in the residual group (p = 0.010), and the final SE was significantly higher in the residual group than in the non-residual group (p < 0.001). In the multivariable analysis, the high preoperative cycloplegia sphere power, higher TCRP, higher corneal cylinder power, and longer AXL significantly correlated to the presence of postoperative residual myopia (all p < 0.05). Furthermore, the higher preoperative cycloplegia sphere power, higher TCRP, higher corneal cylinder power, longer AXL, larger ACD, and larger WTW were significantly associated with postoperative residual myopia in the high-myopia population (all p < 0.001), while the higher preoperative cycloplegia sphere power, higher TCRP, and longer AXL were related to postoperative residual myopia in the low-myopia population (all p < 0.05). In conclusion, high preoperative myopia and corneal refractive power correlate to high risk of residual myopia after EDOF IOL implantation, especially in the high-myopia population. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Cervical cancer ranks as the fourth most prevalent form of cancer and is a significant contributor to female mortality on a global scale. Pitavastatin is an anti-hyperlipidemic medication and has been demonstrated to exert anticancer and anti-inflammatory effects. Thus, the purpose of this study was to evaluate the anticancer effect of pitavastatin on cervical cancer and the underlying molecular mechanisms involved. The results showed that pitavastatin significantly inhibited cell viability by targeting cell-cycle arrest and apoptosis in Ca Ski, HeLa and C-33 A cells. Pitavastatin caused sub-G1- and G0/G1-phase arrest in Ca Ski and HeLa cells and sub-G1- and G2/M-phase arrest in C-33 A cells. Moreover, pitavastatin induced apoptosis via the activation of poly-ADP-ribose polymerase (PARP), Bax and cleaved caspase 3; inactivated the expression of Bcl-2; and increased mitochondrial membrane depolarization. Furthermore, pitavastatin induced apoptosis and slowed the migration of all three cervical cell lines, mediated by the PI3K/AKT and MAPK (JNK, p38 and ERK1/2) pathways. Pitavastatin markedly inhibited tumor growth in vivo in a cancer cell-originated xenograft mouse model. Overall, our results identified pitavastatin as an anticancer agent for cervical cancer, which might be expanded to clinical use in the future. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

In this study, we aimed to evaluate the association between the severity of coronary heart disease (CHD) and the subsequent severity of blepharitis. This retrospective population-based cohort study was conducted using the National Health Insurance Research Database (NHIRD) of Taiwan. The participants with a CHD diagnosis were divided into mild CHD and severe CHD groups at a 1:2 ratio, according to whether percutaneous coronary intervention (PCI) was performed. The main outcomes were the development of blepharitis and severe blepharitis with the application of antibiotics. Cox proportional hazard regression was performed to obtain the adjusted hazard ratio (aHR) for blepharitis, with a 95% confidence interval (CI) between the groups. There were 22,161 and 15,369 blepharitis events plus 9597 and 4500 severe blepharitis episodes in the mild and severe CHD groups, respectively. The severe CHD group showed a significantly higher incidence of blepharitis development (aHR, 1.275; 95% CI: 1.051–1.912, p = 0.0285), whereas the incidence of severe blepharitis was not significantly different between the groups (aHR, 0.981; 95% CI: 0.945–1.020, p = 0.3453). The cumulative probability of blepharitis was significantly higher in the severe CHD group than in the mild CHD group (p < 0.001). In the subgroup analyses, the correlation between severe CHD and blepharitis was more significant in patients older than 70 years compared to the younger group (p = 0.0115). In conclusion, severe CHD is associated with a higher incidence of blepharitis than mild CHD, and this correlation is more prominent in individuals older than 70 years. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

We aimed to evaluate the postoperative visual and refractive outcomes between the first- and second-generation keratorefractive lenticule extraction (KLEx) surgeries. A retrospective cohort study was conducted and patients who had received first- and second-generation KLEx surgeries were enrolled. A total of 80 and 80 eyes were categorized into the first and second KLEx groups after exclusion, respectively. The primary outcomes were the postoperative uncorrected distance visual acuity (UDVA), spherical equivalent (SE), and safety indexes. An independent t-test and generalized estimate equation were implemented to compare the primary outcomes between the two groups. After the KLEx surgery, the UDVA showed no significant difference between the two groups throughout the study period (all p > 0.05), and the postoperative SE and safety index were also statistically identical between the two groups during the follow-up interval (all p > 0.05). There was a similar trend of visual recovery between the two groups (aOR: 0.967; 95% CI: 0.892–1.143; p = 0.844), while the amplitude of the SE change was significantly lower in the second KLEx group (aOR: 0.760; 95% CI: 0.615–0.837; p = 0.005). Nine and two unintended initial dissection of the posterior plane (UIDPP) occurred intraoperatively in the first and second KLEx groups, respectively, and the second group showed a lower risk of UIDPP (p = 0.032). In conclusion, the efficiency, predictability, and safety are similar between first- and second-generation KLEx surgeries. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Our objective was to evaluate the topographic and surgical factors of early myopic regression between laser in situ keratomileusis (LASIK) and small-incision lenticule extraction (SMILE). A retrospective case–control study was conducted, and 368 and 92 eyes were enrolled in the LASIK and SMILE groups via propensity score matching (PSM). Visual acuity, refractive status, axial length, and topographic/surgical parameters were collected. Multiple linear regression was applied to the yield coefficient and the 95% confidence interval (CI) of the parameters. The cumulative incidence of early myopic regression was higher in the LASIK group (p < 0.001). In the SMILE group, a lower central corneal thickness (CCT) thinnest value and a higher corneal cylinder associated with early myopic regression were observed; meanwhile, in the LASIK group, a lower CCT thinnest value, a higher steep corneal curvature, a larger optic zone, and a lower flap thickness related to early myopic regression were observed (all p < 0.05). In the SMILE group, a higher CCT difference correlated with early myopic regression was observed compared to the LASIK group (p = 0.030), and higher steep corneal curvature and lower cap/flap thickness (both p < 0.05) correlated with early myopic regression were observed in the LASIK group compared to the SMILE group. In conclusion, CCT differences significantly influence early myopic regression in the SMILE group; meanwhile, corneal curvature and flap thickness affect early myopic regression principally in the LASIK group. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Simple Summary: The study examined the relationship between Human Papillomavirus (HPV) and various types of skin cancer, including squamous cell carcinoma, basal cell carcinoma, and melanoma. It aimed to assess how HPV influenced the likelihood of developing these cancers, considering factors such as age, gender, urbanization, and existing health conditions. Through statistical models, the research quantified the risk of skin cancer in individuals with HPV compared to those without, underscoring how behaviors related to sun exposure and protection practices could alter these risks. The findings were crucial for guiding prevention and treatment strategies and were of significant interest to medical professionals and public health policymakers. Overall, the study enhanced our understanding of the risks associated with HPV, potentially leading to more effective health interventions. Human papillomavirus (HPV) has been implicated in various cancers, including those affecting the skin. The study assessed the long-term risk of skin cancer associated with HPV infection in Taiwan region, using data from the National Health Insurance Research Database between 2007 and 2015. Our analysis revealed a significant increase in skin cancer risk among those with HPV, particularly for squamous cell carcinoma (SCC), the subtype with the highest observed adjusted hazard ratio (aHR) = 5.97, 95% CI: 4.96–7.19). The overall aHR for HPV-related skin cancer was 5.22 (95% CI: 4.70–5.80), indicating a notably higher risk in the HPV-positive group. The risk of skin cancer was further stratified by type, with basal cell carcinoma (aHR = 4.88, 95% CI: 4.14–5.74), and melanoma (aHR = 4.36, 95% CI: 2.76–6.89) also showing significant associations with HPV. The study also highlighted regional variations, with increased risks in southern Taiwan and the Kaohsiung-Pingtung area. Key findings emphasize the importance of sun protection, particularly in regions of high UV exposure and among individuals in high-risk occupations. This research contributes to a better understanding of the complex interactions between HPV and skin cancer risk, reinforcing the importance of preventive strategies in public health. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This study used artificial intelligence techniques to identify clinical cancer biomarkers for recurrent gastric cancer survivors. From a hospital-based cancer registry database in Taiwan, the datasets of the incidence of recurrence and clinical risk features were included in 2476 gastric cancer survivors. We benchmarked Random Forest using MLP, C4.5, AdaBoost, and Bagging algorithms on metrics and leveraged the synthetic minority oversampling technique (SMOTE) for imbalanced dataset issues, cost-sensitive learning for risk assessment, and SHapley Additive exPlanations (SHAPs) for feature importance analysis in this study. Our proposed Random Forest outperformed the other models with an accuracy of 87.9%, a recall rate of 90.5%, an accuracy rate of 86%, and an F1 of 88.2% on the recurrent category by a 10-fold cross-validation in a balanced dataset. We identified clinical features of recurrent gastric cancer, which are the top five features, stage, number of regional lymph node involvement, Helicobacter pylori, BMI (body mass index), and gender; these features significantly affect the prediction model's output and are worth paying attention to in the following causal effect analysis. Using an artificial intelligence model, the risk factors for recurrent gastric cancer could be identified and cost-effectively ranked according to their feature importance. In addition, they should be crucial clinical features to provide physicians with the knowledge to screen high-risk patients in gastric cancer survivors as well. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Monoamine oxidase B (MAOB), a neurotransmitter‐degrading enzyme, was reported to reveal conflicting roles in various cancers. However, the functional role of MAOB and impacts of its genetic variants on prostate cancer (PCa) is unknown. Herein, we genotyped four loci of MAOB single‐nucleotide polymorphisms (SNPs), including rs1799836 (A/G), rs3027452 (G/A), rs6651806 (A/C) and rs6324 (G/A) in 702 PCa Taiwanese patients. We discovered that PCa patients carrying the MAOB rs6324 A‐allele exhibited an increased risk of having a high initial prostate‐specific antigen (iPSA) level (>10 ng/mL). Additionally, patients with the rs3027452 A‐allele had a higher risk of developing distal metastasis, particularly in the subpopulation with high iPSA levels. In a subpopulation without postoperative biochemical recurrence, patients carrying the rs1799836 G‐allele had a higher risk of developing lymph node metastasis and recurrence compared to those carrying the A‐allele. Furthermore, genotype screening in PCa cell lines revealed that cells carrying the rs1799836 G‐allele expressed lower MAOB levels than those carrying the A‐allele. Functionally, overexpression and knockdown of MAOB in PCa cells respectively suppressed and enhanced cell motility and proliferation. In clinical observations, correlations of lower MAOB expression levels with higher Gleason scores, advanced clinical T stages, tumour metastasis, and poorer prognosis in PCa patients were noted. Our findings suggest that MAOB may act as a suppressor of PCa progression, and the rs3027452 and rs1799836 genetic variants of MAOB are linked to PCa metastasis within the Taiwanese population. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

We aim to investigate the potential correlation between the presence of ovarian cancer and the development of dry eye disease (DED) via the usage of the Longitudinal Health Insurance Database (LHID) of Taiwan. A retrospective cohort study was executed, and patients with ovarian cancer were selected according to the diagnostic and procedure codes. One ovarian cancer patient was matched to four non-ovarian cancer participants which served as control group, and a total of 4992 and 19,968 patients constructed the ovarian cancer and control groups, respectively. The primary outcome in the current study is the development of DED according to the diagnostic and procedure codes. Cox proportional hazard regression was utilized to produce the adjusted hazard ratio (aHR) and related 95% confidence interval (CI) of DED between the two groups. There were 542 and 2502 DED events observed in the ovarian cancer group and the control group, respectively. The ovarian cancer group illustrated a significantly higher incidence of DED development than the control group after the adjustment of several confounders (aHR: 1.10, 95% CI: 1.01–1.21, p = 0.040). In the subgroup analysis stratified by age, ovarian cancer patients aged older than 60 years showed a higher incidence of DED compared to the non-ovarian cancer population (aHR: 1.19, 95% CI: 1.08–1.28, p = 0.011). In addition, ovarian cancer patients with a disease duration longer than five years also showed higher incidence of DED formation than the non-ovarian cancer population (aHR: 1.13, 95% CI: 1.04–1.22, p = 0.027). In conclusion, the presence of ovarian cancer is associated with higher incidence of subsequent DED, especially in those older than 60 years and with a disease interval of more than five years. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Osteosarcoma, the most common primary bone cancer that affects adolescents worldwide, has the early metastatic potential to be responsible for high mortality rates. Morin has a multipurpose role in numerous cancers, whereas little is known about its role in osteosarcoma migration and invasion. Therefore, we hypothesized that morin suppresses the invasive activities and the migratory potential of human osteosarcoma cells. Our results showed that morin reduced migration and invasion capabilities in human osteosarcoma U2OS and HOS cells. Moreover, morin inhibited the urokinase plasminogen activator (uPA) expression through a signal transducer and an activator of transcription‐3 (STAT3) phosphorylation. After STAT3 overexpression, the decrease of the migratory potential and uPA expression caused by 100 μM of morin in U2OS cells was countered, indicating that STAT3 contributes to the antimetastatic property of morin in human osteosarcoma cells by reducing uPA. In conclusion, morin may be a potential candidate for the antimetastatic treatment of human osteosarcoma. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

PurposeSunitinib is currently considered as the standard treatment for advanced renal cell carcinoma (RCC). We aimed to better understand the mechanisms of sunitinib action in kidney cancer treatment and in the development of acquired resistance.Experimental designGene expression profiles of RCC tumor endothelium in sunitinib-treated and -untreated patients were analyzed and verified by quantitative PCR and immunohistochemistry. The functional role of the target gene identified was investigated in RCC cell lines and primary cultures in vitro and in preclinical animal models in vivo.ResultsAltered expression of autotaxin, an extracellular lysophospholipase D, was detected in sunitinib-treated tumor vasculature of human RCC and in the tumor endothelial cells of RCC xenograft models when adapting to sunitinib. ATX and its catalytic product, lysophosphatidic acid (LPA), regulated the signaling pathways and cell motility of RCC in vitro. However, no marked in vitro effect of ATX-LPA signaling on endothelial cells was observed. Functional blockage of LPA receptor 1 (LPA1) using an LPA1 antagonist, Ki16425, or gene silencing of LPA1 in RCC cells attenuated LPA-mediated intracellular signaling and invasion responses in vitro. Ki16425 treatment also dampened RCC tumorigenesis in vivo. In addition, coadministration of Ki16425 with sunitinib prolonged the sensitivity of RCC to sunitinib in xenograft models, suggesting that ATX-LPA signaling in part mediates the acquired resistance against sunitinib in RCC.ConclusionsOur results reveal that endothelial ATX acts through LPA signaling to promote renal tumorigenesis and is functionally involved in the acquired resistance of RCC to sunitinib.