Introduction The coronavirus disease-2019 (COVID-19) has emerged as a novel infection which has spread rapidly across the globe and currently presents a grave threat to the health of the cancer patient. Objective The aim of this meta-analysis was to evaluate the proportion of hematological cancer patients with the SARS-CoV-2 infection during the COVID-19 pandemic. Method A comprehensive literature review was performed on PubMed, Web of Science, Scopus, EKB SciELO, SID, CNKI and Wanfang databases to retrieve all relevant publications up to January 31, 2021. Observational studies, consecutive case-series and case-control studies were included. The proportion for hematological cancer patients with COVID-19 was estimated using the odds ratios (ORs) and 95% confidence interval (95% CIs). Results Fourteen studies with a total of 3,770 infected cancer patients and 685 hematological cancer cases with COVID-19 were selected. Combined data revealed that the overall proportion of hematological cancer patients with COVID-19 was 16.5% (95% CI 0.130 - 0.208, p ≤ 0.001). The stratified analysis by ethnicity showed that the proportion was 18.8% and 12.4% in Caucasian and Asian hematological cancer patients with COVID-19, respectively. Moreover, subgroup analysis by country of origin showed that its proportion was the highest in the United Kingdom (22.5%), followed by France (17.1%) and China (8.2%). Conclusion This meta-analysis result indicated that the proportion of hematological cancer patients with SARS-CoV-2 infection during the COVID-19 pandemic was 16.5%. Further larger sample sizes and multicenter studies among different ethnic groups are necessary to get a better assessment of the proportion.

RESUMO CONTEXTO: O papel do polimorfismo -251A>T no gene anti-inflamatório citocina interleucina-8 (IL-8) no câncer gástrico foi intensamente avaliado, mas os resultados desses estudos foram inconsistentes. OBJETIVO: Portanto, realizamos uma meta-análise para fornecer dados abrangentes sobre a associação de IL-8 -251T>A polimorfismo com câncer gástrico. MÉTODOS: Todos os estudos elegíveis foram identificados nos bancos de dados PubMed, Web of Science, EMBASE, Wanfang e CNKI antes de 01 de setembro de 2019. As relações de probabilidades agrupadas (ORs) com intervalos de confiança de 95% (IC) foram derivadas de um modelo de efeito fixo ou efeito aleatório. RESULTADOS: Foram selecionados 33 estudos de controle de caso com 6.192 casos e 9.567 controles. No geral, dados agrupados mostraram que o polimorfismo IL-8 -251T>A foi significativamente associado a um risco aumentado de câncer gástrico em todos os cinco modelos genéticos, isto é, alelo (A vs T: OR=1,189; 95% CI 1,027-1,378; P=0,021), homozigoto (AA vs TT: OR=1,307; 95% CI 1,111-1,536; P=0,001), heterozigoto (AT vs TT: OR=1,188; 95% CI 1,061-1,330; P=0,003), dominante (AA+AT vs TT: OR=1,337; 95% CI 1,115-1,602; P=0,002) e recessivo (AA vs AT+TT: OR=1,241; 95% CI 1,045-1,474; P=0,014). A análise estratificada por etnia revelou um risco aumentado de câncer gástrico em asiáticos e populações mistas, mas não em caucasianos. Além disso, estratificado por país. Encontrou-se uma associação significativa em chineses, coreanos e brasileiros, mas não entre os japoneses. CONCLUSÃO: Esta meta-análise sugere que o polimorfismo IL-8 -251T>A está associado a um risco aumentado de câncer gástrico, especialmente por etnia (populações asiáticas e mistas) e por país (chinês, coreano e brasileiro).

ABSTRACT BACKGROUND: The role of -251A>T polymorphism in the anti-inflammatory cytokine interleukin-8 (IL-8) gene in gastric cancer was intensively evaluated, but the results of these studies were inconsistent. OBJECTIVE: Therefore, we performed a meta-analysis to provide a comprehensive data on the association of IL-8 -251T>A polymorphism with gastric cancer. METHODS: All eligible studies were identified in PubMed, Web of Science, EMBASE, Wanfang and CNKI databases before September 01, 2019. The pooled odds ratios (ORs) with 95% confidence intervals (CIs) were derived from a fixed effect or random effect model. RESULTS: A total of 33 case-control studies with 6,192 cases and 9,567 controls were selected. Overall, pooled data showed that IL-8 -251T>A polymorphism was significantly associated with an increased risk of gastric cancer under all five genetic models, i.e., allele (A vs T: OR=1.189, 95% CI 1.027-1.378, P=0.021), homozygote (AA vs TT: OR=1.307, 95% CI 1.111-1.536, P=0.001), heterozygote (AT vs TT: OR=1.188, 95% CI 1.061-1.330, P=0.003), dominant (AA+AT vs TT: OR=1.337, 95% CI 1.115-1.602, P=0.002) and recessive (AA vs AT+TT: OR=1.241, 95% CI 1.045-1.474, P=0.014). The stratified analysis by ethnicity revealed an increased risk of gastric cancer in Asians and mixed populations, but not in Caucasians. Moreover, stratified by country found a significant association in Chinese, Korean and Brazilian, but not among Japanese. CONCLUSION: This meta-analysis suggests that the IL-8 -251T>A polymorphism is associated with an increased risk of gastric cancer, especially by ethnicity (Asian and mixed populations) and country (Chinese, Korean and Brazilian).

Resumo Estudos epidemiológicos recentes identificaram que o polimorfismo -174G > C (rs1800795) na região promotora do gene interleucina-6 (IL-6) está associado ao risco de desenvolver escoliose idiopática da adolescência (EIA), mas apresentaram resultados inconsistentes e controversos. Assim, realizamos um estudo de caso-controle e metanálise para obter uma estimativa mais precisa da relação entre o polimorfismo IL-6 -174G > C e o risco de desenvolver EIA. Um total de 80 pacientes com EIA e 80 controles saudáveis pareados foram genotipados usando o ensaio de reação em cadeia de polimerase de polimorfismos de comprimento de fragmentos de restrição (RCP-PCFR). Além disso, todos os estudos elegíveis publicados até junho de 2018 foram identificados por meio de uma pesquisa nas bases de dados PubMed, EMBASE, Google Scholar e China National Knowledge Infrastructure (CNKI). Calculamos as razões de probabilidades (RPs) e os intervalos de confiança de 95% (ICs95%) para avaliar a associação. Um total de 10 estudos elegíveis compreendendo 1.695 casos de EIA e 2.097 controles saudáveis foram incluídos na metanálise. Os dados agrupados sugeriram uma associação significativa entre o polimorfismo IL-6 -174G > C e a suscetibilidade a desenvolver EIA que foi demonstrada em quatro modelos genéticos, ou seja, alélico (C versus G; RP = 0,671; IC95%: 0,457-0,985; p = 0,042), heterozigótico (GC versus GG; RP = 0,734; IC95%: 0,554-0,973; p = 0,032), dominante (CC + GC versus GG; RP = 0,660; IC95%: 0,440-0,990; p = 0,044) e recessivo (CC versus CG + GG; RP = 0,506; IC95%: 0,264-0,970; p = 0,040). A análise de estratificação por etnia revelou um aumento do risco de desenvolver EIA em caucasianos, mas não em asiáticos. Esta metanálise, que é inconsistente com relação à metanálise anterior, sugere que o polimorfismo IL-6 -174G > C pode aumentar a suscetibilidade individual para desenvolver EIA, especialmente em caucasianos, e pode servir como um biomarcador para prever a população com alto risco de desenvolver EIA.

Abstract Recent epidemiological studies have identified that the -174G > C (rs1800795) polymorphism in the promoter region of the interleukin-6 (IL-6) gene is associated with the risk of developing adolescent idiopathic scoliosis (AIS), but they presented inconsistent and controversial results. Thus, we performed a case-control study and meta-analysis to derive a more precise estimation of the relationship between the IL-6 -174G > C polymorphism and the risk of developing AIS. A total of 80 patients with AIS and 80 matched healthy control subjects were genotyped using the polymerase chain reaction-restriction fragment length polymorphism (PCR-RFLP) assay. In addition, all eligible studies published up to June 2018 were identified through a search in the PubMed, EMBASE, Google Scholar, and China National Knowledge Infrastructure (CNKI) databases. We calculated the odds ratios (ORs) and 95% confidence intervals (95%CIs) to assess the association. A total of 10 eligible studies comprising 1,695 AIS cases and 2,097 healthy controls were included in the meta-analysis. The pooled data suggested a significant association between the IL-6 -174G > C polymorphism and the susceptibility to develop AIS, which was demonstrated under 4 genetic models, that is, the allelic (C versus G; OR = 0.671; 95%CI: 0.457-0.985; p = 0.042), heterozygous (CG versus GG; OR = 0.734; 95%CI: 0.554-0.973; p = 0.032), dominant (CC + CG versus GG; OR = 0.660; 95%CI: 0.440-0.990; p = 0.044) and recessive models (CC versus CG + GG; OR = 0.506; 95%CI: 0.264-0.970; p = 0.040). The stratification analysis by ethnicity revealed an increased risk of developing AIS in Caucasians, but not in Asians. The present meta-analysis, which is inconsistent with the previous meta-analysis, suggests that the IL-6 -174G > C polymorphism may increase the individual susceptibility to develop AIS, especially in Caucasians, and it could serve as a biomarker to predict the population at high risk of developing AIS.

Resumo Vários estudos de associação entre os polimorfismos genéticos nos receptores α e β de estrogênio e a escoliose idiopática da adolescência (EIA) foram publicados nas últimas duas décadas. No entanto, a associação com a EIA, especialmente em diferentes subgrupos étnicos, continua a ser controversa. Assim, o presente estudo investigou esses dados inconclusivos por meio de uma metanálise para avaliar sistematicamente essa associação. Uma pesquisa bibliográfica foi realizada nas bases de dados PubMed, ISI Web of Science, EMBASE, SCOPUS, EBSCO, Cochrane Library, China National Knowledge Infrastructure (CNKI) e Wanfang até 20 de janeiro de 2018. A força de associação foi avaliada por meio de razões de probabilidades (RPs) e intervalos de confiança de 95% (ICs95%). Um total de 12 estudos de caso-controle, com 4.304 casos de EIA e 3.123 controles, atenderam aos critérios de inclusão do presente estudo. As RPs combinadas indicaram que os polimorfismos ESRα XbaI A > G, ESRα PvuII T > C e ESRβ AlwNI T > C podem não estar significativamente associados ao risco geral de desenvolvimento de EIA. No entanto, observou-se uma associação significativa entre o polimorfismo ESRα XbaI A > G e a EIA sob o modelo homozigótico (GG versus AA; RP = 1,448; IC95%: 1,052-1,993; p = 0,023). Esta metanálise sugere que os polimorfismos ESRα XbaI A > G, ESRα PvuII T > C e ESRβ AlwNI T > C podem não estar associados ao risco geral de desenvolvimento de EIA. No entanto, ESRα XbaI A > G pode influenciar a suscetibilidade de desenvolver EIA entre indivíduos asiáticos. Considerando o tamanho e a variação étnica limitada da amostra, outros estudos de maior escala são necessários para obter uma estimativa mais precisa das associações.

Abstract Several association studies of genes polymorphisms on estrogen receptors-α and β with respect to adolescent idiopathic scoliosis (AIS) have been published in the past two decades. However, the association with AIS, especially among different ethnic subgroups, still remains controversial. Thus, we investigated these inconclusive data by performing a meta-analysis to systematically evaluate the association. A literature search was conducted in the PubMed, ISI Web of Science, EMBASE, SCOPUS, EBSCO, Cochrane Library, China National Knowledge Infrastructure (CNKI) and Wanfang databases until January 20, 2018. The strength of relationship was assessed using odds ratios (ORs) and 95% confidence intervals (95%CIs). A total of 12 case-control studies with 4,304 cases of AIS and 3,123 controls met our criteria. The pooled ORs indicated that the ESRα XbaI A > G, ESRα PvuII T > C and ESRβ AlwNI T > C polymorphisms were not significantly associated with the risk of developing AIS in the overall analysis. However, we found a significant association between the ESRα XbaI A > G polymorphism and AIS under the homozygote model (GG versus AA; OR = 1.448, 95%CI: 1.052-1.993; p = 0.023). The present meta-analysis suggests that the ESRα XbaI A > G, ESRα PvuII T > C and ESRβ AlwNI T > C polymorphisms may not be associated with the risk of developing AIS in the overall analysis. However, ESRα XbaI A > G might have an influence on the susceptibility to develop AIS among Asians. Considering the limited sample size and ethnicity, further larger studies are needed to provide a more precise estimation of the associations.