ObjectOvarian cancer is the primary cause of cancer-associated deaths among gynaecological malignancies. Increasing evidence suggests that microRNAs may be potential biomarkers for the diagnosis and prognosis of cancer. In this study, we conducted a systematic review and meta-analysis to summarize the global research and to evaluate the overall diagnostic accuracy of miRNAs in detecting ovarian cancer.MethodsA systematic literature search was conducted for relevant studies through July 20, 2017, in English databases (CENTRAL, MEDLINE, and EMBASE), the Grey reference database and Chinese databases. Statistical analysis was conducted using OpenMetaAnalyst, STATA 14.0 and RevMan 5.3. Pooled sensitivity, specificity, and other parameters were used to assess the overall miRNA assay performance using a bivariate random-effects model (BRM). Meta-regression and subgroup analyses were performed to dissect the heterogeneity. Sensitivity analysis was performed to assess the robustness of our analysis, and the publication bias of the selected studies was assessed using Deeks’ funnel plot asymmetry test.ResultsThirteen articles described 33 studies, including 1081 patients with ovarian cancer and 518 controls. The pooled results were as follows: sensitivity, 0.89 (95% CI: 0.84–0.93); specificity, 0.64 (95% CI: 0.56–0.72); positive likelihood ratio, 2.18 (95% CI: 1.89–2.51); negative likelihood ratio, 0.15 (95% CI: 0.11–0.22); and diagnostic odds ratio (DOR), 13.21 (95% CI: 9.00–19.38). We conducted subgroup analyses based on ethnicity, research design, and miRNA profiling and found that multiple miRNA panels were more accurate in detecting ovarian cancer, with a combined DOR of 30.06 (95% CI: 8.58–105.37).ConclusionPer the meta-analysis, circulating miRNAs may be novel and non-invasive biomarkers for detecting ovarian cancer, particularly multiple miRNA panels, which have potential diagnostic value as screening tools in clinical practice.Electronic supplementary materialThe online version of this article (10.1186/s13048-019-0482-8) contains supplementary material, which is available to authorized users.

Whether consolidation chemotherapy (CCT) after chemoradiotherapy (CRT) helps in the treatment of locally advanced non-small cell lung cancer (LA-NSCLC) is controversial. The aim of this meta-analysis was to evaluate the impact of CCT on overall survival (OS), progression-free survival (PFS), overall response rate (ORR) and toxicities in patients with inoperable LA-NSCLC. PubMed, Embase, The Cochrane Library, WanFang, VIP, and CNKI were searched to identify any relevant publications. After screening the literature and completing quality assessment and data extraction, the meta-analysis was performed using RevMan5.3 software. Ultimately, 5 eligible studies with a total of 1036 patients were selected for the present meta-analysis. The results of the analysis indicated that treatment of LA-NSCLC patients with CRT followed by CCT improved OS (pooled HR 0.85; 95% CI 0.73-0.99; P = 0.03), but did not improve PFS (pooled HR 0.78; 95% CI 0.60-1.02; P = 0.07) and ORR (P = 0.26). Although it could increase the risk of grade ≥3 infection (P = 0.04), it may not increase the risk of grade ≥3 radiation pneumonitis (P = 0.09) during the CCT period. CCT after concurrent CRT may provide additional benefits in the treatment of LA-NSCLC. Although this therapeutic strategy did not prolong PFS, further assessment is warranted.

The commercial mature gallium nitride high electron mobility transistors (GaN HEMT) technology has drawn much attention for its great potential in industrial power electronic applications. GaN HEMT is known for low on-state resistance, high withstand voltage, and high switching frequency. This paper presents comparative experimental evaluations of GaN HEMT and conventional Si insulated gate bipolar transistors (Si IGBTs) of similar power rating. The comparative study is carried out on both the element and converter level. Firstly, on the discrete element level, the steady and dynamic characteristics of GaN HEMT are compared with Si-IGBT, including forward and reverse conducting character, and switching time. Then, the elemental switching losses are analyzed based on measured data. Finally, on a complementary buck converter level, the overall efficiency and EMI-related common-mode currents are compared. For the tested conditions, it is found that the GaN HEMT switching loss is much less than for the same power class IGBT. However, it is worth noting that special attention should be paid to reverse conduction losses in the PWM dead time (or dead band) of complementary-modulated converter legs. When migrating from IGBT to GaN, choosing a dead-time and negative gate drive voltage in conventional IGBT manner can make GaN reverse conducting losses high. It is suggested to use 0 V turn-off gate voltage and minimize the GaN dead time in order to make full use of the GaN advantages.

214 Background: To relieve the dysphagia is a critical treatment for advanced esophageal cancer patients’ palliative care in their end-of-life. The ideal way is to satisfy both the patient’s nutrition supplement and self-taste. Although several endoscopic dilation techniques have been reported, the high incidence of dysphagia quickly relapsing remains. The aim of this study was to compare the effect of Argon Plasma Coagulation (APC) combined with Savary bougienage (SB) and SB alone for the relief of dysphagia of esophageal squamous cancer in the end-of-life. Methods: Patients with dysphagia for local advanced esophageal squamous cell carcinoma or local tumor recurrence and no any radiotherapy or surgery chance were randomly assigned to undergo APC combined with SB or SB alone. Primary endpoints were the dysphagia-free survival (DFS, be defined as the time from first dilation of effectively relieved dysphagia to dysphagia relapse, days) after 3 months followed up. Results: A total of 60 patients from Cancer Institute, First Affiliated Hospital of Henan University of Science and Technology were included in the study (SB group, n = 30, Combination group [APC combined with SB], n = 30), 2011. October 1-31, 2015. Primary endpoints: 3 months after treatment, DFS of Combination group (30.63 days; 95% CI, 20.31-36.95) was significantly longer than the SB alone group (5.3 days; 95% CI, 3.01-8.84, P = 0.000). No severe complications occurred within both of two groups. Conclusions: APC combined with SB was a safe and well-tolerated method for relieving dysphagia of advanced esophageal squamous cell cancer patients in the end-of-life, more investigation should pay on if this dilation method could obviously improve the life quality of patients and family by questionnaire as well. Clinical trial information: ChiCTR-TRC-13003757.