Metabolic syndrome (MetS) has been shown to be associated with an increased risk of gastric cancer. However, the impact of MetS on gastric cancer mortality remains largely unknown. Here, we prospectively examined the prediction of preoperative MetS for gastric cancer mortality by analyzing a subset of data from the ongoing Fujian prospective investigation of cancer (FIESTA) study. This study was conducted among 3012 patients with gastric cancer who received radical gastrectomy between 2000 and 2010. The latest follow-up was completed in 2015. Blood/tissue specimens, demographic and clinicopathologic characteristics were collected at baseline. During 15-year follow-up, 1331 of 3012 patients died of gastric cancer. The median survival time (MST) of patients with MetS was 31.3 months, which was significantly shorter than that of MetS-free patients (157.1 months). The coexistence of MetS before surgery was associated with a 2.3-fold increased risk for gastric cancer mortality (P < 0.001). The multivariate-adjusted hazard ratios (HRs) were increased with invasion depth T1/T2 (HR = 2.78, P < 0.001), regional lymph node metastasis N0 (HR = 2.65, P < 0.001), positive distant metastasis (HR = 2.53, P < 0.001), TNM stage I/II (HR = 3.00, P < 0.001), intestinal type (HR = 2.96, P < 0.001), negative tumor embolus (HR = 2.34, P < 0.001), and tumor size ≤ 4.5 cm (HR = 2.49, P < 0.001). Further survival tree analysis confirmed the top splitting role of TNM stage, followed by MetS or hyperglycemia with remarkable discrimination ability. In this large cohort study, preoperative MetS, especially hyperglycemia, was predictive of significant gastric cancer mortality in patients with radical gastrectomy, especially for early stage of gastric cancer.

This prospective study sought to investigate the prediction of preoperative metabolic syndrome and its components for the risk of colorectal cancer (CRC) mortality by analyzing a subset of data from the ongoing Fujian prospective investigation of cancer (FIESTA) study. In total, 1,318 CRC patients who received radical resection were consecutively enrolled between January 2000 and December 2008. The median follow-up time was 58.6 months, with 412 deaths from CRC. The CRC patients with metabolic syndrome had significantly shorter median survival time (MST) than those without (50.9 vs. 170.3 months, p < 0.001). Among four components of metabolic syndrome, hyperglycemia was the strongest predictor and its presence was associated with shorter MST than its absence (44.4 vs. 170.3 months, p < 0.001). Moreover, the complication of metabolic syndrome in CRC patients was associated with a 2.98-fold increased risk of CRC mortality (hazard ratio [HR] = 2.98, 95% confidence interval [CI]: 2.40-3.69, p < 0.001) after adjusting for confounding factors. The magnitude of this association was especially potentiated in CRC patients with tumor-node-metastasis stage I/II (HR = 3.94, 95% CI: 2.65-5.85, p < 0.001), invasion depth T1/T2 (HR = 5.41, 95% CI: 2.54-11.50, p < 0.001), regional lymph node metastasis N0 (HR = 4.06, 95% CI: 2.85-5.80, p < 0.001) and negative distant metastasis (HR = 3.23, 95% CI: 2.53-4.12, p < 0.001). Further survival tree analysis reinforced the prognostic capability of fasting blood glucose in CRC survival. Our findings convincingly demonstrated that preoperative metabolic syndrome, especially hyperglycemia, was a robust predictor for CRC mortality, and the protection was more obvious in patients with Stage I/II.

Some metabolic factors have been shown to be associated with an increased risk of esophageal cancer; however the association with its prognosis is rarely reported. Here, we assessed the prediction of preoperative metabolic syndrome and its single components for esophageal cancer mortality by analyzing a subset of data from the ongoing Fujian prospective investigation of cancer (FIESTA) study. Between 2000 and 2010, patients who underwent three-field lymphadenectomy were eligible for inclusion. Blood/tissue specimens, demographic and clinicopathologic data were collected at baseline. Metabolic syndrome is defined by the criteria proposed by Chinese Diabetes Society. In this study, analysis was restricted to esophageal squamous cell carcinoma (ESCC) due to the limited number of other histological types. The median follow-up in 2396 ESCC patients (males/females: 1822/574) was 38.2 months (range, 0.5–180 months). The multivariate-adjusted hazard ratio (HR) of metabolic syndrome for ESCC mortality was statistically significant in males (HR, 95% confidence interval, P: 1.45, 1.14–1.83, 0.002), but not in females (1.46, 0.92–2.31, 0.107). For single metabolic components, the multivariate-adjusted HRs were significant for hyperglycemia (1.98, 1.68–2.33, < 0.001) and dyslipidemia (1.41, 1.20–1.65, < 0.001) in males and for hyperglycemia (1.76, 1.23–2.51, < 0.001) in females, independent of clinicopathologic characteristics and obesity. In tree-structured survival analysis, the top splitting factor in both genders was tumor-node-metastasis stage, followed by regional lymph node metastasis. Taken together, our findings demonstrate that preoperative metabolic syndrome was a significant independent predictor of ESCC mortality in males, and this effect was largely mediated by glyeolipid metabolism disorder.

Diabetes as a latent risk factor for cancer has been extensively investigated, while its postoperative prognosis for esophageal cancer is rarely reported. We therefore sought to assess whether the elevated fasting blood glucose before surgery was associated with poor survival in esophageal cancer patients by eliciting a subset of data from the ongoing Fujian prospective investigation of cancer (FIESTA) study. Over 15-year follow-up, 2535 patients receiving three-field lymphadenectomy were assessable. Only patients with esophageal squamous cell carcinoma (ESCC) (n=2396) were analyzed due to the lower prevalence of the other histological types. In ESCC patients, the follow-up duration ranged from 0.5 to 180 months (median 38.2 months). The median survival time (MST) was remarkably shorter in males than in females (80.7 vs. 180+ months, Log-rank test: P<0.001). In males, the survival was worse in patients with diabetes than those without (MST: 27.9 vs. 111.1 months, Log-rank test: P<0.001). In females, the survivor was improved in patients with diabetes (MST: 71.5 months), but was still worse than patients without diabetes (MST: 180+ months, Log-rank test: P<0.001). The overall multivariate hazard ratio for per unit increment in fasting blood glucose was 1.11 (95% confidence interval or CI: 1.09-1.14, P<0.001) and 1.08 (95% CI: 1.03-1.13, P=0.002) in males and females, respectively. Further survival tree analysis consolidated the discrimination ability of fasting blood glucose for the survival of ESCC patients. Taken together, our findings convincingly demonstrated that the elevated preoperative fasting blood glucose can predict poor survival of ESCC patients, especially in males.

This prospective study was designed to investigate the prognosis of preoperative blood-routine markers for esophageal cancer mortality by using data from the ongoing

ObjectiveEvidence is mounting suggesting that a strong genetic component underlies aspirin insensitivity. To generate more information, we aimed to evaluate the association of four common polymorphisms (rs3842787, rs20417, rs201184269, rs1126643) from four candidate genes (COX-1, COX-2, ITGA2B, ITGA2) with aspirin insensitivity via a meta-analysis.Methods and ResultsIn total, there were 4 (353/595), 6 (344/698), 10 (588/878) and 7 (209/676) articles (patients/controls) qualified for rs3842787, rs20417, rs20118426 and rs1126643, respectively. The data were extracted in duplicate and analyzed by STATA software (Version 11.2). The risk estimate was expressed as odds ratio (OR) and 95% confidence interval (95% CI). Analyses of the full data set indicated significant associations of rs20417 (OR; 95% CI; P: 1.86; 1.44–2.41; <0.0005) and rs1126643 (2.37; 1.44–3.89; 0.001) with aspirin insensitivity under allelic model. In subgroup analyses, the risk estimate for rs1126643 was greatly potentiated among patients with aspirin semi-resistance relative to those with aspirin resistance, especially under dominant model (aspirin semi-resistance: 5.44; 1.42–20.83; 0.013 versus aspirin resistance: 1.96; 1.07–3.6; 0.03). Further grouping articles by ethnicity observed a stronger prediction of all, but rs20417, examined polymorphisms for aspirin insensitivity in Chinese than in Caucasians. Finally, meta-regression analyses observed that the differences in percentage of coronary artery disease (P = 0.034) and averaged platelet numbers (P = 0.012) between two groups explained a large part of heterogeneity for rs20417 and rs1126643, respectively.ConclusionOur findings provide strong evidence that COX-2 and ITGA2 genetic defects might increase the risk of having aspirin insensitivity, especially for aspirin semi-resistance and in Chinese populations.

Some studies reported a protective role of angiotensin receptor blockers (ARBs) against arterial stiffness. Therefore, we performed a meta-analysis of published clinical trials to systematically assess the impact of ARBs on arterial stiffness as measured by using pulse wave velocity (PWV). Eligible articles were identified by searching PubMed, EMBASE, Cochrane, Wanfang and CNKI databanks before 31 July 2014. The data were extracted independently and in duplicate. Forty articles including 53 clinical trials qualified, including 1650 and 1659 subjects in ARB treatment and control groups, respectively. Overall reductions in carotid-femoral PWV (cfPWV) and brachial-ankle PWV (baPWV) were statistically significant, with an average of -42.52 cm s(-1) (95% CI: -81.82 to -3.21; P=0.034) and -107.08 cm s(-1) (95% CI: -133.98 to -80.18; P<0.0005), respectively, after receiving ARBs. Subgroup analysis by ARB type revealed that telmisartan (weighted mean difference or WMD=-100.82 cm s(-1); P<0.0005) and valsartan (WMD=-104.59 cm s(-1); P<0.0005) significantly reduced baPWV, but only valsartan reduced cfPWV (WMD=-65.58; P=0.030). cfPWV was significantly reduced in comparisons of ARBs with placebo (WMD=-79.65 cm s(-1); P=0.001), and baPWV was significantly reduced with calcium channel blockers (WMD=-130.74 cm s(-1); P<0.0005). There were low probabilities of publication bias. Taken together, our findings support the important role of ARB treatment in improving arterial stiffness.

ObjectiveThe transradial approach has been used extensively for both diagnostic and interventional coronary procedures; however, there is no universal consensus hitherto on the optimal choice of radial access from either the left or the right artery. We therefore sought to meta-analyze available randomized clinical trials to compare the left with the right radial access for the diagnostic or interventional coronary procedures.Methods and ResultsFour electronic databases including the PubMed, EMBASE, Wanfang, and CNKI were searched up to April 2013. In total, there were 22 qualified randomized trials involving 5317 and 4970 patients assigned to the left and the right radial accesses, respectively. Data were extracted independently by two investigators. Analyses of the full data set indicated significant reductions in fluoroscopy time (seconds) (weighted mean difference; 95% confidence interval; P: −36.18; −53.28 to −18.53; <0.0005) and contrast use (mL) (−2.88; −5.41 to −0.34; 0.026) in patients with the left radial access compared to those with the right radial access, and there was strong evidence of heterogeneity but low probability of publication bias. The failure rate of radial access from the left was relatively lower than that from the right (odds ratio: 0.83; 95% confidence interval: 0.68−1.01; P = 0.064). Further in meta-regression analyses, body mass index was found to be a potential source of heterogeneity for both fluoroscopy time (regression coefficient: 35.85; P = 0.025) and catheter number (regression coefficient: 0.35; P = 0.018).ConclusionsOur findings demonstrate that left radial access is preferable to right radial access in terms of fluoroscopy time and contrast use for the diagnostic or interventional coronary procedures. The import of this study lies in its great shock to the concept of convenient radial access from the right artery.