Background: The potential role of selenium in preventing chronic liver diseases remains controversial. This meta-analysis aimed to summarize the available evidence from observational studies and intervention trials that had evaluated the associations between body selenium status and chronic liver diseases. Methods: We comprehensively searched MEDLINE, Embase, Web of Science, and Cochrane Library from inception to April 2021. The study protocol was registered at PROSPERO (CRD42020210144). Relative risks (RR) for the highest versus the lowest level of selenium and standard mean differences (SMD) with 95% confidence intervals (CI) were pooled using random-effects models. Heterogeneity and publication bias were evaluated using the I2 statistic and Egger’s regression test, respectively. Results: There were 50 studies with 9875 cases and 12975 population controls in the final analysis. Patients with hepatitis (SMD = −1.78, 95% CI: −2.22 to −1.34), liver cirrhosis (SMD = −2.06, 95% CI: −2.48 to −1.63), and liver cancer (SMD = −2.71, 95% CI: −3.31 to −2.11) had significantly lower selenium levels than controls, whereas there was no significant difference in patients with fatty liver diseases (SMD = 1.06, 95% CI: −1.78 to 3.89). Moreover, the meta-analysis showed that a higher selenium level was significantly associated with a 41% decrease in the incidence of significant advanced chronic liver diseases (RR = 0.59, 95% CI: 0.49 to 0.72). Conclusion: Our meta-analysis suggested that both body selenium status and selenium intake were negatively associated with hepatitis, cirrhosis, and liver cancer. However, the associations for fatty liver diseases were conflicting and need to be established in prospective trials.

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Background: Acute myocardial infarction (AMI) is a significant cause of mortality and morbidity worldwide. Today, with increasing life quality and social economy, people pay much attention to the cost-effectiveness of a treatment strategy. This study investigated the preferences of individuals who would be potential caregivers or patients for AMI treatment in order to provide liable and instructive information for cardiologists and other related physicians. Methods: A discrete choice experiment was conducted among people to assess preferences for hypothetical AMI treatment scenarios characterized by the attributes of treatment method, mortality within 5 years, complication rate within 1 year, treatment duration and expense. A conditional logit regression model and latent class analysis were used to interpret the collected data systematically. The relative importance of each attribute and willingness to pay of people on the trade-offs between different treatment strategies were estimated. Results: Participants valued mortality within 5 years most highly (average importance: 40.9, 95%CI 0.447-0.530). Three classes of participants were identified: Class 1 placed the most importance on treatment duration, class 2 corresponded with the overall result while expense was regarded as the most important attribute in class 3. Individuals favored an intermediate treatment duration of about 10 days instead of the shortest (95% CI 1.044-1.248, P < 0.001). People's characteristics (sex, age, marriage, education and income) affected their preferences (P < 0.01). Conclusion: People considered a mortality rate within 5 years as the most crucial attribute in the MI treatment and preferred an intermediate treatment duration of about 10 days. Furthermore, the findings estimated the trade-offs acceptable to patients and heterogeneity in preferences for AMI treatment.

Objective RNA interference holds tremendous potential in the treatment of malignant tumors. However, efficient and biocompatible delivery methods are needed for systemic delivery of small interfering RNA (siRNA). In this study, we explored the delivery efficiency and therapy effect of si-UBB-5A2SC8 in ovarian cancer. Methods and materials Si-UBB-5A2SC8 nanoparticles were successfully prepared according to the established procedure and the characteristic of nanoparticles was determined by digital laser scanning. Flow cytometry and confocal analysis demonstrated si-UBB was efficiently transfected to cell by the delivery of 5A2SC8 complexes. The in vitro gene knockdown efficiency of ubiquitin B was demonstrated by RT-qPCR and Western blot analysis, which was further verified by the inhibition of proliferation and migration of ovarian cancer cells. Accumulative efficiency of si-UBB-5A2SC8 nanoparticles was investigated in BALB/c mice bearing SKOV3-GFP tumor xenograft. In vivo imaging was adopted to test the accurate location of the nanoparticle in the tumor. The feature of the tumor and pivotal organ was determined. TUNEL and caspase-3 expression was used to analyze the underling mechanism of the inhibition effect. Results The average size and the zeta potential of the si-UBB-5A2SC8 was (150 ± 11) nm and − (20 ± 4) mV, respectively. Transmission electronic microscopy showed the nanoparticle was near-spherical with the mean size of (100 ± 15) nm. Flow cytometry and confocal microscopic images demonstrated 5A2SC8 complex could successfully deliver Cy5.5-siRNA to the cytoplasm of ovarian cancer cells. qRT-PCR and western blot demonstrated the mRNA and protein expression of ubiquitin B was decreased to 62.5% and 36.5% of the control group, which was accompanied with the decreased proliferation and migration ability in si-UBB-5A2SC8-transfected cells. Ex vivo fluorescence imaging demonstrated 5A2SC8 complex could successfully carry siRNA to the tumor lesion and exert the inhibition effect, which was verified by the decreased tumor weight and increased apoptosis and caspase-3 expression in mice treated with si-UBB-5A2SC8. Conclusions 5A2SC8 complex was a safe and efficient gene delivery vehicle and ubiquitin B was a potential target for the ovarian cancer targeted therapy.