Background: The association between gastrointestinal cancer and types of meat consumption, including red meat, processed meat, or a combination of both, remains disputable. Therefore, we performed a systematic review and meta-analysis of prospective cohort studies to estimate the association between meat consumption and gastrointestinal cancer risk. Methods: PubMed, EmBase, and the Cochrane library databases were searched systematically for eligible studies that investigated the relation between meat consumption and the risk of developing gastrointestinal cancers, including esophageal cancer (EC), gastric cancer (GC), colorectal cancer (CRC), colon cancer (CC), rectal cancer (RC), pancreatic cancer (PC), and hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) throughout February, 2023. The pooled relative risk (RR) with 95% confidence interval (CI) was assigned as an effect estimate and calculated using a random-effects model with inverse variance weighting. Results: Forty cohorts comprising 3,780,590 individuals were selected for the final quantitative analysis. The summary results indicated that a higher red meat consumption was associated with an increased risk of CRC (RR: 1.09; 95% CI: 1.02–1.16; P = 0.007) and CC (RR: 1.13; 95% CI: 1.03–1.25; P = 0.011). Moreover, a higher processed meat consumption was associated with an increased risk of CRC (RR: 1.19; 95% CI: 1.13–1.26; P < 0.001), CC (RR: 1.24; 95% CI: 1.13–1.26; P < 0.001), and RC (RR: 1.24; 95% CI: 1.08–1.42; P = 0.002). Furthermore, a higher total consumption of red and processed meat was associated with an increased risk of CRC (RR: 1.13; 95% CI: 1.06–1.20; P < 0.001), CC (RR: 1.17; 95% CI: 1.04–1.33; P = 0.012), and RC (RR: 1.20; 95% CI: 1.04–1.39; P = 0.016). Finally, the strength of higher consumption of total red and processed meat with the risk of GC, and higher consumption of red meat with the risk of RC in subgroup of high adjusted level was lower than subgroup of moderate adjusted level, while the strength of higher consumption of processed meat with the risk of RC and HCC in subgroup of follow-up ≥ 10.0 years was higher than subgroup of follow-up < 10.0 years. Conclusions: This study found that meat consumption was associated with an increased risk of CRC, CC, and RC, and dietary intervention could be considered an effective strategy in preventing CRC.

In mammalian cells, the Golgi apparatus undergoes extensive fragmentation during mitosis; this is required not only for the partitioning of the complex but also for the process of mitosis. However, the molecular mechanism underlying the mitotic fragmentation of the Golgi is far from clear. Here, we show that AMP-activated protein kinase (AMPK) is phosphorylated and activated when cells enter mitosis. Activated AMPK phosphorylates GBF1, a guanine nucleotide exchange factor (GEF) for Arf-GTPases at Thr1337, disassociating GBF1 from the Golgi membrane and abolishing the action of GBF1 as an Arf1-GEF. We further demonstrate that the phosphorylation of AMPK and GBF1 is essential for Golgi disassembly and subsequent mitosis entry. These data suggest that AMPK-GBF1-Arf1 signaling is involved in the regulation of Golgi fragmentation during mitosis.

Fine-needle aspiration (FNA) is the most dependable tool to triage thyroid nodules for medical or surgical management. However, Bethesda class III cytology, namely “follicular lesion of undetermined significance” (FLUS) or “atypia of undetermined significance” (AUS), is a major limitation of the US-FNA in assessing thyroid nodules. As the most important imaging method, ultrasound (US) has a high efficacy in diagnosing thyroid nodules. This meta-analysis aimed to assess the role of US in evaluating Bethesda class III thyroid nodules. With keywords “Undetermined Significance,” “Bethesda Category III,” “Bethesda system,” “Cytological Subcategory,” “AUS/FLUS,” “Atypia of Undetermined Significance,” and “Ultrasound/US,” papers in PubMed, Cochrane Library, Medline, Web of Science, Embase, and Google Scholar from inception to December 2016 were searched. A meta-analysis of these trials was then performed for evaluating the diagnostic value of thyroid ultrasound in Bethesda Category III thyroid nodules. Fourteen studies including 2405 nodules were analyzed. According to the criteria for US diagnosis of thyroid nodules in each article, with any one of suspicious features as indictors of malignancy, US had a pooled sensitivity of 0.75 (95% CI 0.72–0.78) and a pooled specificity of 0.48 (95% CI 0.45–0.50) in evaluating Bethesda Class III Nodules. The pooled diagnostic odds ratio was 10.92 (95% CI 6.04–19.74). The overall area under the curve was 0.84 and the Q* index was 0.77. With any 2 or 3 of US suspicious features as indictors of malignancy, the sensitivity and specificity were 0.77 (95% CI 0.71–0.83) and 0.54 (95% CI 0.51–0.58), 0.66 (95% CI 0.59–0.73) and 0.71 (95% CI 0.68–0.74), respectively. US was helpful for differentiating benign and malignant Bethesda class III thyroid nodules, with the more suspicious features, the more likely to be malignant.

Bromocriptine-QR (quick release) is a novel treatment for type 2 diabetes. The objective of this study is to assess the efficacy and safety of bromocriptine-QR in adults with type 2 diabetes mellitus based on randomized controlled trials published in peer-reviewed journals or as abstracts. We performed a comprehensive literature search of MEDLINE, Pubmed, Web of Science, EMBASE, and the Cochrane Library up to May 2015. Randomized controlled trials of bromocriptine-QR therapy in type 2 diabetes mellitus were eligible. Two reviewers independently assessed the eligibility of trials based on predefined inclusion criteria. Information was collected concerning basic study data, patient characteristics, efficacy and safety outcomes, and methodological quality. Bromocriptine-QR add-on therapy lowered hemoglobin A1c compared with placebo (weighted mean difference, − 6.52 mmol/mol; 95% CI, − 8.07 to − 4.97 mmol/mol). Bromocriptine-QR exhibited an increase in achieving an HbA1c level≤53 mmol/mol (≤ 7.0%) (32.0 vs. 9.5%; odds ratio, 4.57; 95% CI, 2.42–8.62). Fasting plasma glucose was reduced with bromocriptine-QR compared with placebo (weighted mean difference,−1.04 mmol/l; 95% CI,−1.49 to−0.59 mmol/l). Moreover, bromocriptine-QR had neutral effects on postprandial glycemia, Body Mass Index (BMI), and lipid profile. Bromocriptine-QR had more gastrointestinal side effects of nausea and vomiting. Bromocriptine-QR had no increased risk of hypoglycemia, hypotension, or cardiovascular effects. Bromocriptine-QR therapy offers an alternative option to currently available antidiabetic agents for type 2 diabetes mellitus adults. Neither hypoglycemia nor other metabolic changes occur with this drug. More data for long-term efficacy and safety are needed for further observation. ^* These 2 authors contributed equally to this work and should be considered as first co-authors