ObjectivesAn increased risk of tuberculosis (TB) has been reported in patients treated with TNF-α antagonists, an issue that has been highlighted in a WHO black box warning. This review aimed to assess the risk of TB in patients undergoing TNF-α antagonists treatment.MethodsA systematic literature search for randomised controlled trials (RCTs) was performed in MEDLINE, Embase and Cochrane library and studies selected for inclusion according to predefined criteria. ORs with 95% CIs were calculated using the random-effect model. Subgroup analyses considered the effects of drug type, disease and TB endemicity. The quality of evidence was assessed using the Grades of Recommendation, Assessment, Development and Evaluation (GRADE) approach.Results29 RCTs involving 11 879 patients were included (14 for infliximab, 9 for adalimumab, 2 for golimumab, 1 for etanercept and 3 for certolizumab pegol). Of 7912 patients allocated to TNF-α antagonists, 45 (0.57%) developed TB, while only 3 cases occurred in 3967 patients allocated to control groups, resulting in an OR of 1.94 (95% CI 1.10 to 3.44, p=0.02). Subgroup analyses indicated that patients of rheumatoid arthritis (RA) had a higher increased risk of TB when treated with TNF-α antagonists (OR 2.29 (1.09 to 4.78), p=0.03). The level of the evidence was recommended as ‘low’ by the GRADE system.ConclusionsFindings from our meta-analysis indicate that the risk of TB may be significantly increased in patients treated with TNF-α antagonists. However, further studies are needed to reveal the biological mechanism of the increased TB risk caused by TNF-α antagonists treatment.

Ag 2 Te is one of the most promising semiconductors with a narrow band gap and low toxicity; however, it remains a challenge to tune the emission of Ag 2 Te quantum dots (QDs) precisely and continuously in a wide range. Herein, Ag 2 Te QDs emitting from 950 to 2100 nm have been synthesized via trialkylphosphine-controlled growth. Trialkylphosphine has been found to induce the dissolution of small-sized Ag 2 Te QDs due to its stronger ability to coordinate to the Ag ion than that of 1-octanethiol, predicated by the density functional theory. By controlling this dissolution effect, the monomer supply kinetics can be regulated, achieving precise size control of Ag 2 Te QDs. This synthetic strategy results in state-of-the-art silver-based QDs with emission tunability. Only by taking advantage of such an ultrawide emission has the sizing curve of Ag 2 Te been obtained. Moreover, the absolute photoluminescence quantum yield of Ag 2 Te QDs can reach 12.0% due to their well-passivated Agenriched surface with a density of 5.0 ligands/nm 2 , facilitating noninvasive in vivo fluorescence imaging. The high brightness in the long-wavelength near-infrared (NIR) region makes the cerebral vasculature and the tiny vessel with a width of only 60 μm clearly discriminable. This work reveals a nonclassical growth mechanism of Ag 2 Te QDs, providing new insight into precisely controlling the size and corresponding photoluminescence properties of semiconductor nanocrystals. The ultrasmall, low-toxicity, emission-tunable, and bright NIR-II Ag 2 Te QDs synthesized in this work offer a tremendous promise for multicolor and deep-tissue in vivo fluorescence imaging.

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Background Hemorrhagic transformation (HT) is a severe complication occurring in acute ischemic stroke (AIS) patients. Stress hyperglycemia is frequent in patients with acute illness such as stroke. We aimed to explore the association between stress hyperglycemia and HT in AIS patients. Methods A total of 287 consecutive participants with HT and 285 age- and sex-matched stroke patients without HT were enrolled in this study. Baseline glucose and glycated hemoglobin (HbA1c) levels were collected to measure stress hyperglycemia. The stress hyperglycemia ratio (SHR) was calculated by dividing the fasting plasma glucose at admission with HbA1c. HT was diagnosed by follow-up imaging assessment, and was radiologically classified as hemorrhagic infarction type (HI) 1 or 2 or parenchymal hematoma type (PH) 1 or 2. Results Univariate analysis showed that SHR is significantly higher among patients with HT than those without HT. Compared to the patients in the lower three quartiles of SHR, the incidence of HT was significantly higher among patients with the highest quartile of SHR in total population, diabetic and non-diabetic population. We also observed that patients with the highest SHR quartile were associated with an increased risk of hemorrhagic transformation after adjusted for potential covariates (68.4% versus 39.1%; adjusted odds ratio, 2.320; 95% confidence interval, 1.207–4.459; P =0.012). Conclusion The stress hyperglycemia ratio, representing the state of stress hyperglycemia, was significantly associated with an increased risk of hemorrhagic transformation in patients with acute ischemic stroke.

Introduction Hemorrhagic transformation (HT) is a complex and multifactorial complication among patients with acute ischemic stroke (AIS), and the inflammatory response has been considered as a risk factor for HT. We aimed to evaluate the stratification of FAR (fibrinogen‐to‐albumin ratio), an inflammatory biomarker, in HT patients. Methods A total of 256 consecutive stroke patients with HT and 256 age‐ and gender‐matched stroke patients without HT were included in this study. HT during hospitalization was diagnosed by follow‐up imaging assessment and was classified into hemorrhagic infarction (HI) and parenchymal hematoma (PH) according to the recommendations of European Cooperative Acute Stroke Study II classification. Blood samples were obtained at admission. Results Higher levels of FAR were observed in patients with HT compared with the non‐HT group [10.29 (8.39–12.95) vs. 8.60 (7.25–10.8), p < .001], but no significant difference was found between the PH and HI [10.88 (8.72–13.40) vs. 10.13 (8.14–12.60), p > .05]. Patients were assigned to groups of high FAR (≥9.51) and low FAR (<9.51) based on the optimal cut‐off value. After adjustment for potential confounders, the high FAR remained independently associated with the increased risk of HT (OR = 5.027, 95% CI = 5.027 (2.309–10.942), p < .001). Conclusions High FAR was independently associated with the increased risk of HT after AIS.

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Near-infrared (NIR) fluorescent quantum dots (QDs) are ideal platforms to fabricate multifunctional contrast agents for multimodal imaging. Herein, second near-infrared window fluorescent (NIR-II) Ag2Se QDs were coupled with gadopentetate dimeglumine injection (Gd-DTPA) for dual-modality T1-weighted magnetic resonance (MR) imaging and fluorescence imaging. In vitro experiments suggested that the prepared Ag2Se-Gd QDs exhibit low cytotoxicity, remarkable T1-weighted MR imaging, and fluorescence imaging contrast properties. In vivo experiment results showed that Ag2Se-Gd QDs were the preferred contrast agents for dual-modality T1-weighted MR imaging and fluorescence imaging with high spatial resolution. Moreover, excellent temporal resolution and high tissue penetration depth were also achieved by fluorescence imaging. These results indicate the potential of Ag2Se-Gd QDs as multifunctional contrast agents for multimodal imaging in clinical diagnosis and research.

Background: Emerging evidences have shown that the high-mobility group protein A2 (HMGA2) can aberrantly express in human cancers, and it could be an unfavorable prognostic factor in cancer patients. However, the prognostic value of HMGA2 was still unclear. Therefore, in this study, we explored the potential prognostic value of HMGA2 in human cancers by using meta-analysis based on published literatures and The Cancer Genome Atlas (TCGA) datasets.Methods: Through searching PubMed, Embase, Web of Science and Cochrane Library databases, we were able to identify the studies evaluating the prognostic value of HMGA2 in cancers. Then, UALCAN and TCGA datasets were used to validate the results of our meta-analysis.Results: In all, 15 types of cancers were included in this meta-analysis. Pooled results showed that high level of HMGA2 was significantly correlated with poor OS (HR = 1.88, 95% confidence interval (CI) = 1.68-2.11, P < 0.001) and poor DFS (HR = 2.49, 95% CI = 1.44-4.28, P = 0.001) in cancer patients. However, subgroup analyses revealed that the high expressed HMGA2 was associated with poor OS in head and neck cancer, gastric cancer and colorectal cancer, but not esophageal cancer and ovarian cancer. Based on TCGA datasets, we analyzed 9944 patients with 33 types of cancers. Significant association between HMGA2 overexpression and poor OS was found in 14 types of cancers. Taken together, consistent results were observed in clear cell renal cell carcinoma, esophageal adenocarcinoma, head and neck cancer, hepatocellular carcinoma, ovarian carcinoma, and pancreatic ductal adenocarcinoma.Conclusion: Our meta-analysis showed the significance of HMGA2 and its prognostic value in various cancers. High level of HMGA2 could be associated with poor OS in patients with clear cell renal cell carcinoma, head and neck cancer, hepatocellular carcinoma and pancreatic ductal adenocarcinoma, but not esophageal adenocarcinoma and ovarian carcinoma.