Chronic Diseases and Translational Medicine最新文献

During antenatal care, gestational diabetes mellitus (GDM) screening is crucial for early diagnosis and treatment to ameliorate clinical outcomes and limit health care expenses. Dietary management and physical activity are central to GDM treatment, however, adherence is often influenced by personal preferences, socioeconomic barriers, and psychological stress. Pharmacologically, insulin and oral hypoglycemic medications, are the main GDM treatment that can be subject to patients' resistance due to fears of needles and side effects. Metformin is increasingly preferred for its ease of administration and lower cost. In the postpartum stage, regular screening for type 2 diabetes mellitus (T2DM) should always be considered despite the possible limitations that could arise, including communication gaps, lack of long-term focus, and personal barriers. Overall, women with GDM prefer personalized, flexible management plans that consider their lifestyle, support from health care professionals (HCPs), and family involvement. Addressing psychological and socioeconomic barriers through education, counseling, and support networks is crucial for improving adherence and health outcomes. Enhancing patient-centered care and shared decision-making can empower women with GDM to manage their condition effectively and maintain lifestyle changes postpartum. Therefore, this review aimed to assess pregnant women's preferences in GDM management, focusing on screening, dietary recommendations, physical activity, and treatment. Additionally, this review examined GDM care in terms of these patients' quality of life and postpartum experiences.

The rising incidence and death rates linked to Alzheimer's disease (AD) highlight an urgent issue. Genetic screening is celebrated as a significant advancement for its early detection capabilities, pinpointing those at risk before the emergence of symptoms. Yet, the limited availability of these technologies highlights a critical gap in widespread application. This review pivots to the potential of presymptomatic clinical assessments as a readily available, economical, and simple strategy for early detection. Traditionally, AD diagnosis relies on the late-stage identification of cognitive deterioration, functional impairments, and neuropsychiatric symptoms, coinciding with advanced brain degeneration. Conversely, emerging research identifies early indicators preceding significant degeneration, manifesting years before clinical symptoms. We introduce a mnemonic, MEMORIES, to categorize these prodromal: Metabolism changes, Eye/visual impairments, March (refer to gait disturbances), Olfactory dysfunction, Rhythm (blood pressure and heart rate), Insensitivity of the tongue, Ears (hearing loss), and Stool alterations. Recognizing these prodromal through clinical examinations provides a valuable strategy for initiating preventative actions against brain degeneration. This approach advocates for broadening the screening lens beyond genetic screening to encompass clinical evaluations, enhancing early detection and intervention opportunities for AD.

Cancer stands as a leading global cause of death, with its etiology characterized by complexity and multifaceted factors. Growing research indicates a strong correlation between environmental factors and cancer incidence, underscoring the critical importance of intervening in environmental risk factors to mitigate cancer occurrence. Despite this, specialized research institutions focusing on the intersection of environment and cancer remain scarce, with global investment in cancer prevention significantly trailing behind efforts in diagnosis and treatment. Against the backdrop of rapid global climate change, industrialization, urbanization, aging populations, and the globalization of lifestyles, we proposed the concept of Environmental Oncology (EO) to address these challenges. We discussed the rationale and necessity of developing EO and presented a comprehensive research framework focusing on cancer prevention and treatment. Future EO research will aim to identify cancer causes and implement early prevention strategies using advanced scientific technologies and methods. By emphasizing multidisciplinary collaboration and integrating molecular biology at the micro level, EO will explore the relationship between external and internal environments and cancer. EO will identify potential therapeutic targets by studying the pathways through which environmental exposures lead to carcinogenesis. EO will develop early warning systems and disseminate research findings by collecting big data, employing robust statistical models, and establishing research centers.

Alterations in cellular calcium (Ca²⁺) signals have been causally associated with the development and progression of human cancers. Cellular Ca²⁺ signals are generated by channels, pumps, and exchangers that move Ca²⁺ ions across membranes and are decoded by effector proteins in the cytosol or in organelles. S-acylation, the reversible addition of 16-carbon fatty acids to proteins, modulates the activity of Ca²⁺ transporters by altering their affinity for lipids, and enzymes mediating this reversible post-translational modification have also been linked to several types of cancers. Here, we compile studies reporting an association between Ca²⁺ transporters or S-acylation enzymes with specific cancers, as well as studies reporting or predicting the S-acylation of Ca²⁺ transporters. We then discuss the potential role of S-acylation in the oncogenic potential of a subset of Ca²⁺ transport proteins involved in cancer.