This study examined whether exposure to nitrate in drinking water is associated with increased risk for bladder cancer by conducting a comprehensive literature research. A meta-analysis was performed with and without adjustment for confounding factors. Three groups (reference, intermediate and high groups) were established in terms of different nitrate concentrations in each included study. Separate relative risk measures were calculated for intermediate and high groups. Heterogeneity was assessed by using the Q statistics. Publication bias was evaluated by Egger's and Begg's test. Quality assessment for studies was performed by using the Newcastle-Ottawa scale. Two cohorts, two case-controls, and one ecological study were included in this study. The adjusted data showed that the combined risk ratios (RRs) were 1.13 (95% CI: 0.81 to 1.57) and 1.27 (95% CI: 0.75 to 2.15) for intermediate and high groups respectively. For unadjusted data, the corresponding RRs were 1.18 (95% CI: 0.89 to 1.57) and 1.29 (95% CI: 0.81 to 2.07). Sensitivity test indicated that results were significantly underestimated when Ward's study was included. No significant publication bias was found. There was heterogeneity among studies. The results suggested that there was no sufficient evidence that nitrate in drinking water is associated with increased risks for bladder cancer.

Objective To investigate the serum anti-HBc level in patients with different natural history of chronic hepatitis B virus (HBV) infection and cirrhosis,and its clinical value for distinguishing the natural history statue.Methods A total of 160 patients with chronic HBV infection from March 2015 to June 2016 were enrolled,and they were divided into immune tolerance group (n=43),HBeAg-positive chronic hepatitis B (CHB) group (n=37),inactive carrier group (n=39) and HBeAg-negative CHB group (n=41).A total of 44 patients with HBeAg-positive cirrhosis and 46 patients with HBeAg-negative cirrhosis were enrolled too.The general conditions data were collected,and HBsAg,HBeAg,anti-HBc,HBV DNA load and HBV genotype were detected.The associations between anti-HBc level and clinical parameters were analyzed,and the diagnostic value of anti-HBc for distinguishing different natural histories was analyzed.Results The anti-HBc levels in different natural history from high to low were as following: HBeAg-positive CHB group (4.22±0.68)log10 IU/mL,HBeAg-negative CHB group (3.89±0.88)log10 IU/mL,inactive carrier group (3.07±0.68)log10 IU/mL and immune tolerance group (2.88±0.82)log10 IU/mL.The anti-HBc levels in HBeAg-positive and HBeAg-negative cirrhosis patients were (3.04±0.82) and (3.15±0.86) log10 IU/mL,respectively.In HBeAg-positive CHB group,the anti-HBc was positively associated with ALT (r=0.353,P=0.032) and AST (r=0.421,P=0.009).In HBeAg-negative CHB group,the anti-HBc was positively associated with HBV DNA (r=0.343,P=0.028),ALT (r=0.458,P=0.003) and AST (r=0.495,P=0.001).The AUC of anti-HBc used to distinguish immune tolerance from HBeAg-positive CHB was 0.903,and the AUC used to distinguish inactive carrier from HBeAg-negative CHB was 0.833.Conclusion Anti-HBc levels in different natural history of chronic HBV infection are significantly different,and anti-HBc could be used to distinguish the natural history statue of chronic HBV infection with a higher diagnostic value than HBsAg.

Naturally existing Newcastle disease virus (NDV) can specifically execute oncolytic ability in clinical studies. Reports from clinical trials using NDV as oncolytic agents showed promise and warrant results in cancer therapy. In recent years, reverse genetics technology has been used widely in the studies of NDV virology. More recently, the technology was applied to optimize the oncolytic efficacy of NDV, for instance, modification of the F gene, and expression of GM-CSF, IFN-gamma, IL-2 or TNF-alpha. NDV is widely investigated in cancer therapy and will definitely offer a prosperous future for clinical cancer therapeutics. We reviewed the developments of cancer therapy by recombinant NDV using reverse genetics technology, as well as our own experience in this domain.
Animals ; Humans ; Neoplasms ; pathology ; therapy ; Newcastle disease virus ; genetics ; physiology ; Oncolytic Virotherapy ; methods ; Oncolytic Viruses ; genetics ; physiology ; Recombination, Genetic

To investigate the cell-killing effect and its possible mechanism of rClone30-hDR5 in combination with TRAIL on human hepatic carcinoma (HCC) cell line, first of all, recombinant plasmid pee12.4-hDR5 was introduced into HepG2 cells by liposome transfection. After five rounds of screening by flow cytometry, HepG2 cells expressing high levels of DR5 on cell surface were isolated. The cytotoxicity of TRAIL to selected cells was higher than that of TRAIL to HepG2 cells by MTT method (P < 0.01). The result suggested that the cloned hDR5 gene had biological activity. MTT assay showed that, rClone30- hDR5 in combination with TRAIL more efficiently inhibited the tumor growth of HepG2 cells compared to rClone30-hDR5 or TRAIL in vitro. The results of Annexin V-FITC/PI staining and Quantitative Real-time PCR indicated that rClone30-hDR5 in combination with TRAIL significantly increased the mRNA levels of caspase 3 and caspase 8, and induced the apoptosis of tumor cells. HepG2 cells were infected with rClone30-hDR5 or rClone30 at MOI of 1. The expression of hDR5 on tumor surface increased significantly by rClone30-hDR5 compared to that by rClone30, which contributed to the sensitivity to TRAIL. In conclusion, rClone30-hDR5 in combination with TRAIL has potential application value in cancer treatment.

In order to enhance the antitumor efficacy of recombinant Newcastle disease virus, rNDV-IL15 was rescued in this study. Recombinant plasmid prNDV-IL15 was constructed, and BHK21 cells were transfected with the recombinant plasmid. Finally, the recombinant Newcastle disease virus rNDV-IL15 was successfully rescued. The growth curves of these two recombinant viruses were determined. Murine melanoma B16F10 cells were infected with rNDV-IL15 at MOI of 0.1, and the expression level of IL15 in the supernatant was detected by ELISA. The antitumor efficacy of rNDV-IL15 and rNDV was compared in vitro and in vivo. Results showed that prNDV-IL15 was constructed and recombinant virus rNDV-IL15 was successfully rescued. The growth curve of rNDV-IL15 showed that the growth of rNDV-IL15 had not been changed after insertion of IL15 gene. Results showed that there was high level of IL15 expression in the supernatant of rNDV-IL5-infected B16F10 cells (1 044.3 +/- 27.7 ng x mL(-1)). rNDV-IL15 and rNDV significantly inhibited the growth of B16F10 cells in vitro in a time-dependent manner. However, there was no significant difference between them. In animal experiments, rNDV-IL15 efficiently suppressed tumor growth in vivo when compared with rNDV, and the difference was statistically significant. The results suggested that rNDV-IL15 is a more effective antitumor agent.

This study examined whether exposure to nitrate in drinking water is associated with increased risk for bladder cancer by conducting a comprehensive literature research. A meta-analysis was performed with and without adjustment for confounding factors. Three groups (reference, intermediate and high groups) were established in terms of different nitrate concentrations in each included study. Separate relative risk measures were calculated for intermediate and high groups. Heterogeneity was assessed by using the Q statistics. Publication bias was evaluated by Egger's and Begg's test. Quality assessment for studies was performed by using the Newcastle-Ottawa scale. Two cohorts, two case-controls, and one ecological study were included in this study. The adjusted data showed that the combined risk ratios (RRs) were 1.13 (95% CI: 0.81 to 1.57) and 1.27 (95% CI: 0.75 to 2.15) for intermediate and high groups respectively. For unadjusted data, the corresponding RRs were 1.18 (95% CI: 0.89 to 1.57) and 1.29 (95% CI: 0.81 to 2.07). Sensitivity test indicated that results were significantly underestimated when Ward's study was included. No significant publication bias was found. There was heterogeneity among studies. The results suggested that there was no sufficient evidence that nitrate in drinking water is associated with increased risks for bladder cancer.
Drinking Water ; adverse effects ; Humans ; Nitrates ; adverse effects ; Risk Factors ; Urinary Bladder Neoplasms ; etiology