<i>Stage-II</i> estimates of the coefficient for each of the variables (x, y, D) included in the Cox proportional hazard models for different specifications, Monte Carlo simulations, sample size 5000, <i>d</i>₁ = 0.2 and <i>δ</i>₁ = 0.4.

<p>^a<i>z</i>₁ is the only instrumental variable, but it is invalid;</p><p>^b<i>z</i>₁ and <i>z</i>₂ are the invalid and valid instrumental variables respectively;</p><p>^c<i>z</i>₂ is the only instrumental variable, and it is valid. Specification III is correct.</p><p><i>Stage-II</i> estimates of the coefficient for each of the variables (x, y, D) included in the Cox proportional hazard models for different specifications, Monte Carlo simulations, sample size 5000, <i>d</i>₁ = 0.2 and <i>δ</i>₁ = 0.4.</p

The effect of omitting <i>z</i> from the health outcome equation.

<p>In theory, the total effect of <i>z</i> on health outcome, H, is <i>δ</i> + <i>θd</i>. In practice, using <i>z</i> as an instrumental variable causes bias in the estimated effect of the 25(OH)D score, <i>D</i>, on the health outcome, because the direct effect of <i>z</i> on the health outcome is incorrectly captured as being mediated by <i>D</i>.</p

Summary of characteristics according to vitamin D status (based on measured serum 25(OH)D concentration) among 4,002 adults of the National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey (2005–06), American adults who had three readings of systolic blood pressure.

<p>^a P values were derived from Kolmogorov-Smirnov tests;</p><p>^b P values for trend (two-sided) were derived from trend tests.</p><p>Summary of characteristics according to vitamin D status (based on measured serum 25(OH)D concentration) among 4,002 adults of the National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey (2005–06), American adults who had three readings of systolic blood pressure.</p

Estimates of the association between the 25(OH)D concentration and the health outcome (<i>ϴ</i>) according to the change in (a) <i>d</i>₁, with <i>δ</i>₁ = 0.4 and (b) <i>δ</i>₁, with <i>d</i>₁ = 0.2; sample size 5000, Specification I and II.

<p>Estimates of the association between the 25(OH)D concentration and the health outcome (<i>ϴ</i>) according to the change in (a) <i>d</i>₁, with <i>δ</i>₁ = 0.4 and (b) <i>δ</i>₁, with <i>d</i>₁ = 0.2; sample size 5000, Specification I and II.</p

Prognostic Significance of the Metabolic Marker Hexokinase-2 in Various Solid Tumors: A Meta-Analysis

<div><p>Objective</p><p>Recently, numerous studies have reported that hexokinase-2 (HK2) is aberrantly expressed in cancer, indicating that HK2 plays a pivotal role in the development and progression of cancer. However, its prognostic significance in solid tumor remains unclear. Accordingly, we performed a meta-analysis to assess the prognostic value of HK2 in solid tumor.</p><p>Methods</p><p>Eligible studies were identified using PubMed, Embase, and Web of Science databases. Pooled hazard ratios (HRs) with 95% confidence intervals (CIs) for overall survival (OS) or progression-free survival (PFS)/disease-free survival (DFS)/relapse-free survival (RFS) were estimated with random effects or fixed effects models, respectively. Subgroup analysis was also performed according to patients’ ethnicities, tumor types, detection methods, and analysis types.</p><p>Results</p><p>Data from 21 included studies with 2532 patients were summarized. HK2 overexpression was significantly associated with worse OS (pooled HR = 1.90, 95% CI = 1.51–2.38, <i>p</i> < 0.001) and PFS (pooled HR = 2.91, 95% CI = 2.02–4.22, <i>p</i> < 0.001) in solid tumor. As to a specific form of cancer, the negative effect of HK2 on OS was observed in hepatocellular carcinoma (pooled HR = 2.06, 95% CI = 1.67–2.54, <i>p</i> < 0.001), gastric cancer (pooled HR = 1.72, 95% CI = 1.09–2.71, <i>p</i> = 0.020), colorectal cancer (pooled HR = 2.89, 95% CI = 1.62–5.16, <i>p</i> < 0.001), but not in pancreatic cancer (pooled HR = 1.13, 95% CI = 0.28–4.66, <i>p</i> = 0.864). No publication bias was found in the included studies for OS (Begg’s test, <i>p</i> = 0.325; Egger’s test, <i>p</i> = 0.441).</p><p>Conclusion</p><p>In this meta-analysis, we identified that elevated HK2 expression was significantly associated with shorter OS and PFS in patients with solid tumor, but the association varies according to cancer type.</p></div

Mirror, Mirror on the Wall, I Deserve More Than All: perceived attractiveness and self-interested behavior

A substantial amount of research has demonstrated that good-looking individuals are perceived and treated in a favorable manner; however, relatively little research has examined how attractive people actually behave. There are two predominant theories on attractiveness: the self-fulfilling nature of “what is beautiful is good” from social psychology and the evolutionary perspective of attractiveness, make divergent predictions in this regard. The current research systematically investigated whether physical attractiveness can predict self-interested behavior and, if so, in which direction. Across five studies (N = 1303), self-perceived attractiveness, either chronically experienced (Studies 1–3) or temporarily heightened (Studies 4 and 5), predicted and increased self-interested behavioral intention and behavior. Increased psychological entitlement acted as a mediator in this process (Studies 1–5). Furthermore, the publicity of the act was a boundary condition for the effect of attractiveness on self-interested behavior (Study 5). We have discussed theoretical and practical implications.</p

Flow diagram shows search strategy.

<p>Flow diagram shows search strategy.</p

Funnel plots to evaluate publication bias of included studies for OS.

<p>Funnel plots to evaluate publication bias of included studies for OS.</p

Forest plots to assess the effect of elevated HK2 expression on PFS/DFS/RFS.

<p>Forest plots to assess the effect of elevated HK2 expression on PFS/DFS/RFS.</p

The main characteristics of the included studies in the meta-analysis.

<p>The main characteristics of the included studies in the meta-analysis.</p