European review for medical and pharmacological sciences最新文献

Objective: The use of biologic agents, mainly tumor necrosis factor (TNF)-α and interleukin (IL)-17A inhibitors, was associated with cutaneous side effects, but the factors associated with eczematous reactions occurring during biologic treatments are not completely known.

Patients and methods: An observational, retrospective, multicentre Italian study evaluated the clinical features and the management of eczematous eruptions in 54 patients with chronic plaque psoriasis who developed eczema after treatment with biological agents (anti-IL-17 or 23).

Results: Many of these patients had personal and family history of atopy. Eczematous reactions developed between a few days and 3 years after initiation of the biologic drug. The highest proportion of cases associated with eczematous reactions during biologic treatments was seen in patients on anti-IL-17 agents, including brodalumab. We observed that eczema rapidly remitted without relapse in all patients who switched to anti-IL-23 agents. Among our cases, fast responders to psoriasis therapy seem to have more persistent eczematous reactions.

Conclusions: Patients with psoriasis and a history of atopic dermatitis should be treated with an IL-23 inhibitor due to its efficacy in psoriasis and the rarely reported eczematous reaction.

Objective: Metabolic syndrome (MetS) affects about one-fourth of the global adult population and is characterized by hyperglycemia, abdominal obesity, low HDL (high-density lipoprotein cholesterol) cholesterol, and high triglycerides and blood pressure. Its emergence in developed nations is linked to energy intake imbalances and sedentary lifestyles. There is a parallel between MetS and conditions marked by glucocorticoid excess, such as Cushing's syndrome (CS), sharing features like central obesity, hypertension, dyslipidemia, and insulin resistance. This study aimed to investigate the association between retroperitoneal fat area (RFA) and MetS components in patients undergoing laparoscopic lateral transabdominal adrenalectomy. While intra-abdominal visceral fat's role in MetS has been studied, the significance of RFA needs further exploration.

Patients and methods: The research involved 88 patients categorized into three groups: adrenal-dependent CS, subclinical CS (SCS), and nonfunctional adrenal incidentaloma (NFA). Parameters, including body mass index (BMI), RFA, waist circumference, blood pressure, lipid profile, and fasting glucose levels, were measured. The study used hormonal hypersecretion assessments, criteria for SCS diagnosis, and biochemical analyses. MetS components were determined based on established criteria, and RFA quantification used advanced imaging software on computed tomography (CT) scans. Previous studies on intra-abdominal fat and MetS were reviewed to contextualize the findings.

Results: Patients with MetS had significantly higher BMI, waist circumference, and RFA compared to those without MetS. Positive correlations were observed between BMI, RFA, central obesity, and MetS. ROC curve analysis showed a significant relationship between RFA and MetS, with a cutoff value of 36.6 cm² predicting MetS accurately in 95% of cases. The results were compared with existing literature on visceral fat's impact on MetS.

Conclusions: The study findings underscore the associations between anthropometric parameters, specifically RFA and MetS. RFA is a valuable tool for assessing metabolic risk, with implications for refining criteria for adrenalectomy in individuals with adrenal incidentalomas.

Objective: Ferroptosis of neurons is a significant cause of brain injury following intracerebral hemorrhage (ICH). As an iron-containing compound in hemoglobin, heme contributes to nerve injury post-ICH. Melatonin has been shown to mitigate the effects of ICH, yet its specific functions remain largely elusive. In this study, we aimed to explore the roles and mechanisms of melatonin in heme-induced ferroptosis subsequent to ICH.

Materials and methods: C57BL/6 mice were intracranially injected with heme and then treated with melatonin. Behavior tests [modified neurological severity score (mNSS), forelimb placing, and corner turn tests], H&E staining, Nissl staining, and Prussian blue staining were used to evaluate mouse brain tissue injury. In vitro, HT-22 cells were stimulated with heme and cell viability was determined by crystal violet staining. The iron contents were determined in heme-treated brains and cells, and the levels of 4-hydroxynonenal (4-HNE) and malonaldehyde (MDA) were assessed by ELISA. Reverse transcription-quantitative polymerase chain reaction (RT-qPCR) was used to investigate the mRNA levels of nuclear factor erythroid 2-related factor 2 (Nrf2) and heme oxygenase-1 (HO-1). Immunoblotting was used to analyze the protein expression of glutathione peroxidase 4 (GPX4), solute carrier family 7 member 11 (SLC7A11), Nrf2, and HO-1. Finally, small interfering RNA (siRNA) was used to knock down Nrf2 in HT-22 cells.

Results: Melatonin treatment alleviated heme-induced injuries to neural function, as indicated by improved behavior in the mice. Moreover, melatonin decreased cell death and iron concentrations, increased MDA and 4-HNE levels, and reversed the decreases in GPX4, SLC7A11, Nrf2, and HO-1 induced by heme in vitro and in vivo. These results indicated that melatonin could improve the ferroptosis induced by heme. In addition, we found that Nrf2 knockdown attenuated the therapeutic effect of melatonin on neuronal ferroptosis induced by heme.

Conclusions: In general, melatonin alleviates heme-induced ferroptosis by activating the Nrf2/HO-1 pathway, which implies that melatonin is a promising treatment for ferroptosis in ICH.

The article "Effects of fibroblast growth factors 2 and low intensity pulsed ultrasound on the repair of knee articular cartilage in rabbits" by Z.-F. Tang, H.-Y. Li, published in Eur Rev Med Pharmacol Sci 2018; 22 (8): 2447-2453 - PMID: 29762847 has been retracted by the Editor in Chief. Following some concerns raised on PubPeer (link: https://pubpeer.com/publications/F11DC0DC2B3DAB9753C11C8DC18822), the Editor in Chief has started an investigation to assess the validity of the results as well as possible figure manipulation. The authors have been informed about the journal's investigation but remained unresponsive and have not provided the study's raw data. The journal's investigation identified duplications between Control images A (4 weeks) and E (8 weeks), FHF2 C (4 weeks) and G (8 weeks), and FGF2+LIPU D (4 weeks)  and H (8 weeks) of Figure 1. Additionally, duplications were identified between panels A and B of Figure 4. Consequently, the Editor in Chief mistrusts the results presented and has decided to retract the article. This article has been retracted. The Publisher apologizes for any inconvenience this may cause.

Objective: The coronavirus disease (COVID-19) pandemic, resulting from human-to-human transmission of a novel severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus (SARS-CoV-2), has caused a global health emergency. The lack of a specific drug or treatment strategy against this disease makes it devastating. Given that the main protease (Mpro) of SARS-CoV-2 plays an indispensable role in viral polyprotein processing, its successful inhibition prevents viral replication and constrains virus spread. Therefore, developing an effective SARS-CoV-2 Mpro inhibitor to treat COVID-19 is imperative.

Materials and methods: We employed a high-throughput screening (HTS) method based on fluorescence polarization (FP) assay and further confirmed by the fluorescence resonance energy transfer (FRET) method for the discovery of Mpro inhibitors. Then multiple approaches were taken to investigate the inhibition profiles of the hit compounds against Mpro, including 3-(4,5-dimethylthiazol-2-yl)-2,5-diphenyltetrazolium bromide (MTT) proliferation assay, surface plasmon resonance analysis (SPR), high-performance liquid chromatography-quadrupole-time-of-flight mass spectrometry (HPLC-Q-TOF-MS), cytopathic effect (CPE) assay, molecule docking, and the drug-likeness analysis.

Results: In this study, four Mpro inhibitors with low toxicity were selected from HTS. According to SPR, all the hit compounds had medium binding affinities toward SARS-CoV-2 Mpro. HPLC-Q-TOF-MS results revealed the non-covalent linkage of each compound with SARS-CoV-2 Mpro. Molecule docking simulated the molecule interactions between each compound and the substrate binding pocket of SARS-CoV-2 Mpro. CPE assay was used to detect their inhibitory activities against coronaviruses HCoV-OC43 and HCoV-229E. In particular, the IMB63-8G compound demonstrated the highest antiviral potency [50% effective concentration (IC50) value of 1.71 μg/mL] and selectivity against HCoV-OC43 (SI = 39), which was more than 4-fold higher than that of ribavirin (RBV). Besides, the IMB63-8G compound possessed favorable drug-likeness characteristics.

Conclusions: Our results will highlight the therapeutic potential of these compounds for the treatment of SARS-CoV-2 infection.

Objective: The aim of the study was to investigate the utilization and outcomes of Hartmann's procedure in the emergency left colon surgery with respect to other stoma interventions.

Patients and methods: A total of 70 consecutive patients (mean±SD age: 71.1±15.5 years, 51.4% were males) who underwent emergency surgery for the left colon were included in this retrospective cohort study. Data on patient demographics, primary diagnosis, emergency surgery indication, operative risk, stoma type (Hartmann's procedure, primary anastomosis with diverting loop ileostomy, double-barreled ostomy), surgeon sub-specialty, postoperative complications, and stoma reversal time and rates were recorded.

Results: Hartmann's procedure (72.9%) was the most commonly utilized stoma type, followed by primary anastomosis with diverting loop ileostomy (14.3%) and double-barreled ostomy (10.0%), while primary anastomosis was performed only in 2.8% of patients. The stoma reversal rate was 25.0%, and the median time to stoma reversal was 10 months (range, 3 to 48 months). Hartmann's procedure was less commonly performed by colorectal surgeons than by general surgeons (35.3% vs. 68.4%, p=0.013) and was associated with a lower chance of stoma reversal compared to other stoma types, including primary anastomosis with diverting loop ileostomy and double-barreled ostomy (15.7% vs. 52.9%, p=0.006).

Conclusions: In conclusion, our findings revealed that Hartmann's procedure, although performed less commonly by colorectal surgeons than by general surgeons, was still the most prevalent procedure applied for the surgical management of left colon emergencies, particularly in the setting of tumor-induced obstruction or perforation, despite the potential risk of severe postoperative complications and lower stoma reversal rates with this procedure.

Objective: According to the World Health Organization, 17.9 million individuals died from cardiovascular diseases (CVD) in 2019, constituting 32% of all global mortalities. In recent years, percutaneous coronary interventions such as stenting have become a common treatment approach for coronary artery disease (CAD). However, the problem of angina recurrence after stenting, associated with in-stent restenosis, persists. The aim of this study was to elucidate the intricate structure of relevant countries and regions, prominent research institutions, prolific authors, and recurring keywords shaping the landscape of this field.

Materials and methods: The search strategy involved Scopus and Web of Science Core Collection databases on December 13, 2023. Bibliometric analysis was performed using the Bibliometrix R-package.

Results: An upward trend was found, characterized by an annual growth rate (AGR) of 6.82%. China leads with 17 publications, followed by Argentina with 14 and Italy with 9. Capital Medical University from China has published the largest number of articles in the field. The most significant number of publications were published in the American Journal of Cardiology. Among the top ten authors, Kim J. has published six articles and Yang C. has published four, making them the most productive in the field. "In-stent restenosis" and "percutaneous coronary intervention" were the most frequently used terms between 2002 and 2023.

Conclusions: It is important to note that the majority of studies examined were conducted in developed countries, which may influence the generalization of results. Nevertheless, there is also considerable attention to the topic from scientific groups in developing countries. This analysis helps identify gaps in the current research field and define directions for future studies.

Background: Intravesical bacillus Calmette-Guerin (IVBCG) is considered the most optimal follow-up therapy for high-risk urothelial cancers. Although side effects such as cystitis, hematuria, and low-grade fever are common, they are generally mild. Severe reactions involving the kidneys are extremely rare. Here, we present the case of a 64-year-old male who developed acute renal failure due to acute tubulointerstitial nephritis (ATIN) following the first IVBCG administration. We have also conducted a literature review concerning IVBCG-induced nephritis.

Case report: A 64-year-old male presented to the Nephrology Department with acute kidney injury indicators and hematuria. The patient was suffering from high-grade papillary urothelial carcinoma. Transurethral resection of the bladder tumor was performed twice and followed by one IVBCG administration - two days before the symptoms occurred. The latest follow-up cystoscopy excluded the recurrence of the cancer. Laboratory tests displayed hyperkalemia, decreased glomerular filtration rate (GFR = 4 ml/min/1.73 m2), elevated C-reactive protein, and acute metabolic acidosis. Urinalysis showed proteinuria (900 mg/24 h), leukocyturia, and erythrocyturia (20,402.7 per microliter). Renal ultrasound demonstrated slight bilateral renal enlargement. The patient was identified with acute tubulointerstitial nephritis (ATIN). The treatment involved intravenous methylprednisolone (250 mg three times every two days and then 125 mg four times every two days), fol-lowed by oral methylprednisolone (24 mg and 12 mg daily alternately for a week). Piperacillin and tazobactam, probiotics, and proton pump inhibitors were also administered. Hemodialysis was conducted three times. Two weeks after the admission, a significant improvement was observed: creatinine decreased to 2.04 mg/dl, and GFR increased to 33 ml/min/1.73 m2. The patient was discharged with a recommendation to reduce the dose of glucocorticosteroids and continued in the outpatient clinic.

Conclusions: IVBCG may lead to acute kidney injury due to ATIN. Symptoms may occur as early as after the first IVBCG, contrary to previous reports. Patients should be regularly assessed for potential complications, including creatine level measurement, after each IVBCG treatment.

Objective: Urinary tract infection is one of the most common extraintestinal infectious diseases encountered in clinics. It affects both genders and all age groups and constitutes a major health issue in clinical practice worldwide. Uropathogens often develop resistance to therapeutic agents, creating a formidable challenge for physicians to treat these infections. The goal of the current review is to provide current information on therapeutic advancements and interventions in the treatment of urinary tract infections.

Materials and methods: Databases like MEDLINE, PubMed, and ClinicalTrials.gov were used as search engines to collect the relevant articles, and the required information was extracted.

Results: Research data suggest an increasing prevalence of pathogenic strains that are resistant to standard antimicrobial regimens recommended for the treatment of urinary tract infections. Targeted therapies for urinary tract infections, such as mannosides and pilicides, as well as vaccinations against uropathogenic Escherichia coli, have been developed recently. The efficacy of other strategies like iontophoresis, hydrogel-coated catheters, and antibiofilm therapy is also investigated. Clinical trials conducted between 2014 and 2019 show a rise in interest in a variety of therapies, highlighting the need for a thorough strategy to treat urinary tract infections, particularly in populations of women.

Conclusions: Antimicrobial-resistant strains of Escherichia coli are becoming more common in urinary tract infections, which have led to the development of targeted medicines such as mannosides and pilicides, as well as immunizations against the pathogenic Escherichia coli strains. There is continuing research into alternate approaches, such as hydrogel-coated catheters, antibiofilm therapy, and iontophoresis. Clinical trials conducted between 2014 and 2019 showed a rise in interest in these different treatment approaches.