Background Recent studies have shown that there exists a significant correlation between oral microbiome and the occurrence of malignancies. However, the prognostic significance of oral microbiome for cancer patients remains unclear. The purpose of this meta-analysis is to evaluate the impact of oral microbiome on the survival of patients with malignant neoplasms. Methods We conducted a thorough literature search of PubMed, Embase, and Cochrane Library databases until September 2022. The hazard ratio (HR) with a corresponding 95% confidence interval (CI) was analyzed using Review Manager 5.4 software for survival outcomes, including overall survival (OS), disease-specific survival (DSS), progression-free survival (PFS), and disease-free survival (DFS). Results A total of 15 studies, covering 5191 samples with various types of cancers, were selected based on specified inclusion and exclusion criteria. In both univariate and multivariate analysis, patients with low diversity of the oral microbiome, or those with Fusobacterium-high/positive, or P. gingivalis positive in cancer tissue displayed poorer OS (univariate HR = 1.74; 95% CI 1.15–2.62; P = 0.009; multivariate HR = 1.56; 95% CI 1.07–2.27; P = 0.02), DSS (univariate HR = 2.06; 95% CI 1.50–2.84; P < 0.00001; multivariate HR = 1.80; 95% CI 1.48–2.20; P < 0.00001), and PFS/DFS (univariate HR = 2.00; 95% CI 1.12–3.58; P = 0.002; multivariate HR = 1.78; 95% CI 1.05–3.02; P = 0.003). Subgroup analysis revealed that Fusobacterium positive or high abundance in cancer tissues was associated with poor OS in multivariate analysis but had no statistical differences in PFS or DFS in univariate and multivariate analysis. Additionally, P. gingivalis positive in cancer tissue was also associated with worse OS. Conclusions Our meta-analysis suggests that the composition of the oral microbiome may play a significant role in predicting survival outcomes for cancer patients.

Under the background of aging, how to provide affordable and sustainable geriatric care services in China has become a crucial issue with social concern. Chinese society has been continuing the tradition of family support for the elderly, which was formed in the long history of agricultural society, based on filial piety culture and big family structure. However, due to the industrialization process since the reform and opening up, a large number of laborers leave the countryside and enter the city. With the influence of the one-child policy, the structure of the Chinese family has changed fundamentally, that is, the small family has become the main form. While the risk of aging accumulates, the state has become the legal subject to provide elderly care, but the specific obligations in practice are still unclear. Long-term care insurance should be the way to provide geriatric care services, and pilot reforms have been carried out in some cities. In the future, the long-term care insurance will be affected by China’s massive demand for geriatric care, the limited financial capacity of the state and the family tradition of caring the aged, which all together will build the long-term care system with Chinese characteristics.

BACKGROUND:Breast cancer patients' understanding of therapies is a very important factor during their surgical treatment decision-making. To date, there has been no report in this area about Chinese patients. Aiming to evaluate the perception of breast conservation surgery (BCS) in Chinese breast cancer patients (CBCP) and explore influencing factors.METHODS:A self-structured questionnaire was distributed to 1,496 CBCPs, eliciting information on patients' age, religion, sexual history, occupation, education, whether they were pre- or postoperative, understanding of BCS and their means of gaining information.RESULTS:A total of 1,324 (88.5%) patients completed the questionnaire. Only 2.42% of patients had more understanding of BCS. Patients' perception about BCS was associated with their age, religion, occupation, education background and whether they were postoperative or not (P<0.01). Surgeon was the most commonly way being used to obtain information (68.9%); however, this was not significant in affecting patients' perception [odds ratios (OR) =1.034; 95% confidence intervals (CI): 0.762-1.402]. Patients using books and/or internet to obtain information on BCS had better understanding (OR =1.665; 95% CI: 1.249-2.193), but only 20.2% patients used this way to search for information.CONCLUSIONS:The study indicated that CBCP' perception of BCS was poor, they lacked access to information. Therefore, educating patients and making them master knowledge about BCS were a hard work in China.