In recent years, the prevalence of obesity and cancer have been rising. Since this poses a serious threat to human health, the relationship between the two has attracted much attention. This study examined whether fat mass and obesity-associated (FTO) genes are linked, taking into account a Genome-wide Association Study (GWAS) that revealed multiple single nucleotide polymorphism sites (SNPs) of the FTO gene, indicating an association between obesity and cancer in different populations. FTO proteins have been proved to participate in adipogenesis and tumorigenesis with post-transcriptional regulation of downstream molecular expression or through the target of the mammalian target protein rapamycin (mTOR). FTO inhibitors have also been found to share anti-obesity and anti-cancer effects in vivo. In this review, we comprehensively discuss the correlation between obesity and cancer by measuring FTO gene polymorphism, as well as the molecular mechanism involved in these diseases, emphasizing FTO as the common genetic basis of obesity and cancer.

Background: Gastric cancer is one of the most common malignant tumors of the digestive system. However, its targeted therapy develops at a slow pace. Thus, exploring the mechanisms of the malignant behavior of gastric cancer cells is crucial to exploit its treatment. Mammalian never-in-mitosis A (NIMA)-related kinases (NEKs) are considered to play a significant role in cancer cell proliferation. However, no study has reported on NIMA family proteins in gastric cancer. Methods: Bioinformatics analysis was employed to clarify the expression patterns of NEK1–NEK11 and their effects on prognosis. The effects of NEK7 on immune infiltration and NEK7 related pathways were also analyzed. At the cell level, 5-ethynyl-2-deoxyuridine, cell cycle, and Cell Counting Kit-8 assays were utilized to clarify the effect of NEK7 on gastric cancer cell proliferation. A mouse subcutaneous model revealed the regulating effect of NEK7 on gastric cancer cell proliferation in vivo. Results: Bioinformatics analysis revealed that NEK7 is upregulated in gastric cancer and is related to poor prognosis. NEK7 is also related to T-stage, which is closely associated with cell proliferation. Further analysis showed that NEK7 was correlated with infiltration of multiple immune cells as well as gastric cancer-related pathways. Cell experiments indicated the promoting effect of NEK7 on cell proliferation, while the absence of NEK7 could lead to inhibition of gastric cancer proliferation and G1/S arrest. Conclusion: NEK7 exerts a regulatory effect on cell proliferation and is closely related to tumor immune infiltration.

Objective: Our study aims to detect the sensitivity of the new biomarker miR-212 existing in serum exosomes along with other hepatocellular carcinoma biomarkers such as AFP (alpha-fetoprotein), CA125 (carbohydrate antigen-ca125), and Hbx protein in the diagnosis of HBV-related liver diseases. We also aim to study the roles of these biomarkers in the progression of chronic hepatitis B and provide scientific data to show the clinical value of these biomarkers.Methods: We selected 200 patients with HBV-infection (58 cases of chronic hepatitis B, 47 cases of hepatocellular carcinoma, 30 cases of compensatory phase cirrhosis, and 65 cases of decompensatory phase cirrhosis), 31 patients with primary liver cancer without HBV infection, and 70 healthy individuals as the control group. The expression level of serum AFP and CA125 was detected with electrochemiluminescence immunoassay. The expression level of the Hbx protein was detected with ELISA. Meanwhile, the expression level of miR-212 in serum was analyzed with RT-qPCR. We collected patients’ clinical information following the Child-Pugh classification and MELD score criterion, and statistical analysis was made between the expression level of miR-212 and the collected clinical indexes. Lastly, we predicted the target genes of the miR-212 and its functions using bioinformatics methods such as cluster analysis and survival prediction.Results: Compared to the control group, the expression level of miR-212 in HBV infected patients was remarkably increased (P<0.05), especially between the HBV-infection Hepatocellular carcinoma group and the non-HBVinfection liver cancer group (P<0.05). The expression of miR-212 was increased in patients’ Child-Pugh classification, MELD score, and TNM staging. Moreover, the sensitivity and specificity of miR-212 were superior to AFP, CA125, and HBx protein.Conclusion: There is a linear relationship between disease progression and expression level of miR-212 in the serum of HBV infected patients. This demonstrates that miR-212 plays a significant role in liver diseases. miR-212 is expected to be a new biomarker used for the diagnosis and assessment of patients with HBV-infection-related liver diseases.

Background and Purpose: Hyperglycemia (HG) is associated with increased postoperative complications. This study aims to evaluate the effect of HG during supplemental parenteral nutrition (SPN) on short-term prognosis in non-diabetic patients undergoing gastrectomy for cancer and to analyse the risk factors and prevention methods for HG.Methods: A total of 359 patients were divided into three groups according to blood glucose (BG) during SPN: normoglycemic patients ( ≤ 125 mg/dL), mild HG (125~200 mg/dL), and severe HG (>200 mg/dL). The effect of BG on postoperative short-term outcomes was analyzed. Multivariate regression was performed to investigate influencing factors for severe HG. The safety and efficacy of insulin addition to total nutrient admixture (TNA) for the prevention and management of HG were assessed by propensity score matching (PSM). In addition, regression analysis was performed in the noninsulin group to investigate the predictive factors of severe HG, and a nomogram was plotted.Results: The postoperative complication rate was 18.9%, but it was significantly higher in patients with severe HG than in mild HG and normoglycemic patients (25.2, 15.0, and 10.0%, respectively, p < 0.05). Multivariate logistic regression analysis showed that anemia, myosteatosis, higher postoperative capillary blood glucose (CBG) before TNA infusion, and insulin in the TNA were independent influencing factors for severe HG. Based on the above factors, 75 pairs of patients (insulin group and non-insulin group) with comparable baseline data were successfully matched by PSM. The HG incidence and the glycemic fluctuation were significantly improved through 1 U insulin/6 g glucose (1/6 scheme) to TNA. A nomogram containing hemoglobin, skeletal muscle radiodensity, pre-SPN CBG, and pTNM stage with good predictive efficacy (C-index: 0.750) was constructed based on the noninsulin group.Conclusion: Poor postoperative glycemic control was related to worse outcomes in non-diabetic patients undergoing gastrectomy for cancer. Pre-operative anemia, myosteatosis, and high postoperative CBG before TNA infusion are risk factors for severe HG. Insulin in TNA can improve the blood glucose control of patients. Our proposed nomogram rendered an individualized predictive tool for HG during SPN, which helps screen high-risk patients requiring insulin therapy. Future studies with larger samples are needed to develop a complete insulin application protocol for SPN.