Background/Aims: Serum apolipoprotein A1 (apoA1) has been reported to be abnormally expressed in several malignancies. However, the prognostic role of apoA1 in solid tumors is still controversial. We conducted this meta-analysis to obtain a more accurate evaluation of prognostic significance of apoA1 in Chinese patients with solid tumors. Methods: A comprehensive literature search of electronic databases was carried out up to August 2018. We included studies investigating the association between pretreatment serum apoA1 level and clinicopathological features, including survival outcomes, in solid tumors. Hazard ratios (HRs) and odds ratio (ORs) with 95% confidence intervals (CIs) were applied as effect size estimates. Results: A total of 13 studies and 8052 patients were included in our meta-analysis. Elevated level of pretreatment serum apoA1 was markedly associated with an improved OS (pooled HR = 0.608, 95% CI = 0.557 – 0.665, P < 0.001). The statistical significances were observed in all cancer types, including digestive system malignancies (pooled HR = 0.633; 95% CI = 0.550–0.727; P < 0.001), urinary system cancers (pooled HR = 0.471; 95% CI = 0.352–0.630; P < 0.001), nasopharyngeal cancer (pooled HR = 0.642; 95% CI = 0.538–0.766; P < 0.001) and non-small cell lung cancer (pooled HR = 0.526; 95% CI = 0.329–0.841; P = 0.007), but not in breast cancer (pooled HR = 0.573; 95% CI = 0.266–1.246; P = 0.155). Meanwhile, cancer patients with a low level of serum apoA1 suffered an unfavorable DFS (pooled HR = 0.714, 95% CI = 0.603 – 0.845, P < 0.001). Moreover, abnormal serum apoA1 was significantly correlated to tumor size (pooled OR = 0.640, 95% CI = 0.475 – 0.863, P = 0.003), tumor differentiation (pooled HR = 0.724, 95% CI = 0.565 – 0.929, P = 0.011), and tumor stage (pooled HR = 0.493, 95% CI = 0.384 – 0.633, P < 0.001). Conclusion: Elevated level of pretreatment serum apoA1 was significantly associated with longer survival in patients with solid tumors. Pretreatment serum apoA1 could serve as a novel positive factor for malignant patient prognosis in Chinese population.

Coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19), caused by SARS-CoV-2, has induced a worldwide pandemic since early 2020. COVID-19 causes pulmonary inflammation, secondary pulmonary fibrosis (PF); however, there are still no effective treatments for PF. The present study aimed to explore the inhibitory effect of dihydroartemisinin (DHA) on pulmonary inflammation and PF, and its molecular mechanism. Morphological changes and collagen deposition were analyzed using hematoxylin-eosin staining, Masson staining, and the hydroxyproline content. DHA attenuated early alveolar inflammation and later PF in a bleomycin-induced rat PF model, and inhibited the expression of interleukin (IL)-1β, IL-6, tumor necrosis factor α (TNFα), and chemokine (C-C Motif) Ligand 3 (CCL3) in model rat serum. Further molecular analysis revealed that both pulmonary inflammation and PF were associated with increased transforming growth factor-β1 (TGF-β1), Janus activated kinase 2 (JAK2), and signal transducer and activator 3(STAT3) expression in the lung tissues of model rats. DHA reduced the inflammatory response and PF in the lungs by suppressing TGF-β1, JAK2, phosphorylated (p)-JAK2, STAT3, and p-STAT3. Thus, DHA exerts therapeutic effects against bleomycin-induced pulmonary inflammation and PF by inhibiting JAK2-STAT3 activation. DHA inhibits alveolar inflammation, and attenuates lung injury and fibrosis, possibly representing a therapeutic candidate to treat PF associated with COVID-19.

Colorectal cancer (CRC) is one of the most common types of cancer in the world, and targeted therapy is frequently used in the clinical management of the disease. A complete and accurate picture of tissue gene mutations is therefore critical. Tissue specimens from 117 patients with CRC were used for high throughput DNA next-generation sequencing (NGS) analysis. Hotspots from 50 genes frequently associated with the development and progression of solid tumors were targeted for sequencing. Characterization of tissue gene mutations was performed; the tissue mutation positive rates of

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