Pub Date : 2023-10-23DOI: 10.37349/emed.2023.00169
Alvarez Alvarez, Asif Becher, Thomas Chandy Varkey, Avtar Singh
Bell’s palsy is a rapid unilateral peripheral paralysis of cranial nerve VII whose etiology is varied, most commonly associated with an acute infectious or inflammatory demyelinating process. Nerve injury can result in edema because of increased permeability of vascular structures, which can sometimes be seen as a locus of enhancement of magnetic resonance imaging (MRI). Bell’s palsy is typically considered a clinical diagnosis and the specificity and sensitivity of imaging have been poorly studied. Herein is describe a case of a 73-year-old male who presented to the emergency department with left-sided facial droop and no other focal neurological abnormalities. With a history of a Janus kinase 2 (JAK2) mutation and the new initial facial drooping, acute cerebrovascular insult was high on the differential. Initial labs and computerized tomography (CT) head were inconclusive, but MRI showed pronounced enhancement of the left distal internal carotid artery (ICA) with contiguous enhancement of the labyrinthine, geniculate, and tympanic segments of the left facial nerve. Diagnosing Bell’s palsy can be a challenge as there are numerous postulated etiologies stemming from trauma, infection, and neoplasm; with infection (particularly viral) postulated to be the most likely source. Though MRI is currently not validated as a tool in expediting Bell’s palsy diagnosis, findings such as the enhancement seen here provide some insight into the benefit of MRI as a diagnostic modality in some cases. This case is unique both for the diagnostic dilemma between stroke and Bell’s palsy and the potential for MRI imaging to help guide clinical decision-making into treatment.
{"title":"Cranial nerve VII on gadolinium contrast-enhanced magnetic resonance imaging in the case of Bell’s palsy","authors":"Alvarez Alvarez, Asif Becher, Thomas Chandy Varkey, Avtar Singh","doi":"10.37349/emed.2023.00169","DOIUrl":"https://doi.org/10.37349/emed.2023.00169","url":null,"abstract":"Bell’s palsy is a rapid unilateral peripheral paralysis of cranial nerve VII whose etiology is varied, most commonly associated with an acute infectious or inflammatory demyelinating process. Nerve injury can result in edema because of increased permeability of vascular structures, which can sometimes be seen as a locus of enhancement of magnetic resonance imaging (MRI). Bell’s palsy is typically considered a clinical diagnosis and the specificity and sensitivity of imaging have been poorly studied. Herein is describe a case of a 73-year-old male who presented to the emergency department with left-sided facial droop and no other focal neurological abnormalities. With a history of a Janus kinase 2 (JAK2) mutation and the new initial facial drooping, acute cerebrovascular insult was high on the differential. Initial labs and computerized tomography (CT) head were inconclusive, but MRI showed pronounced enhancement of the left distal internal carotid artery (ICA) with contiguous enhancement of the labyrinthine, geniculate, and tympanic segments of the left facial nerve. Diagnosing Bell’s palsy can be a challenge as there are numerous postulated etiologies stemming from trauma, infection, and neoplasm; with infection (particularly viral) postulated to be the most likely source. Though MRI is currently not validated as a tool in expediting Bell’s palsy diagnosis, findings such as the enhancement seen here provide some insight into the benefit of MRI as a diagnostic modality in some cases. This case is unique both for the diagnostic dilemma between stroke and Bell’s palsy and the potential for MRI imaging to help guide clinical decision-making into treatment.","PeriodicalId":72999,"journal":{"name":"Exploration of medicine","volume":null,"pages":null},"PeriodicalIF":0.0,"publicationDate":"2023-10-23","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"135406246","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":0,"RegionCategory":"","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}
Pub Date : 2023-10-10DOI: 10.37349/emed.2023.00168
Kenneth Lundstrom
Self-replicating RNA viruses such as alphaviruses, flaviviruses, paramyxoviruses, and rhabdoviruses have been engineered as expression vectors for vaccine development. The prominent feature of self-replicating RNA viruses is their RNA-dependent RNA polymerase activity, which generates massive self-amplification of RNA in the cytoplasm of infected host cells leading to extreme levels of transgene expression. Infectious diseases have been targeted by overexpression of surface proteins of pathogens as antigens for vaccine development. Moreover, overexpression of tumor-associated antigens and immunostimulatory genes has been the basis for cancer vaccines. Proof-of-concept of robust antigen-specific immune responses and protection against challenges with lethal doses of infectious agents have been demonstrated. Likewise, vaccine development against various cancers has elicited strong immune responses and resulted in tumor regression and eradication, cure, and prolonged survival in animal tumor models. Good safety and immune responses have been achieved in clinical trials. The ERVEBO® vaccine, based on the vesicular stomatitis virus, has been approved for immunization against the Ebola virus disease.
{"title":"Self-replicating RNA viruses in vaccine development","authors":"Kenneth Lundstrom","doi":"10.37349/emed.2023.00168","DOIUrl":"https://doi.org/10.37349/emed.2023.00168","url":null,"abstract":"Self-replicating RNA viruses such as alphaviruses, flaviviruses, paramyxoviruses, and rhabdoviruses have been engineered as expression vectors for vaccine development. The prominent feature of self-replicating RNA viruses is their RNA-dependent RNA polymerase activity, which generates massive self-amplification of RNA in the cytoplasm of infected host cells leading to extreme levels of transgene expression. Infectious diseases have been targeted by overexpression of surface proteins of pathogens as antigens for vaccine development. Moreover, overexpression of tumor-associated antigens and immunostimulatory genes has been the basis for cancer vaccines. Proof-of-concept of robust antigen-specific immune responses and protection against challenges with lethal doses of infectious agents have been demonstrated. Likewise, vaccine development against various cancers has elicited strong immune responses and resulted in tumor regression and eradication, cure, and prolonged survival in animal tumor models. Good safety and immune responses have been achieved in clinical trials. The ERVEBO® vaccine, based on the vesicular stomatitis virus, has been approved for immunization against the Ebola virus disease.","PeriodicalId":72999,"journal":{"name":"Exploration of medicine","volume":null,"pages":null},"PeriodicalIF":0.0,"publicationDate":"2023-10-10","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"136295146","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":0,"RegionCategory":"","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}
Pub Date : 2023-10-08DOI: 10.37349/emed.2023.00167
Abuelgasim Elrasheed A. Alhassan, Weaam Elrashid, Aref Alshehhi, Samya Al Mamari, Mahmoud Abu Raddaha, Mansour Assaf, Simon Elliott
Diabetes mellitus has become increasingly more common and diagnosed within the global population. Coupled with the continued prevalence of substance use, there are some distinct considerations for users suffering (knowingly or unknowingly) from type 1 or type 2 diabetes. The various different types of drugs of abuse including central nervous system stimulants, depressants, and hallucinogens present varying direct and indirect complications for diabetes based on their physiological and psychological effects ranging from non-compliance with medication to an increased risk of hypoglycaemia, hyperglycaemia, and/or ketoacidosis. This perspective highlights these issues supported by the drug history and toxicological findings in patients undergoing drug rehabilitation in the United Arab Emirates (UAE) demonstrating the use of alcohol, amphetamines, benzodiazepines, cannabis, opiates/opioids (especially tramadol), pregabalin, and synthetic cannabinoids. Physicians and drug clinic professionals should be aware of the contraindications of substance use and diabetes with a view to educating patients and healthcare professionals within such clinical settings.
{"title":"Diabetes and substance use: a perspective within drug rehabilitation","authors":"Abuelgasim Elrasheed A. Alhassan, Weaam Elrashid, Aref Alshehhi, Samya Al Mamari, Mahmoud Abu Raddaha, Mansour Assaf, Simon Elliott","doi":"10.37349/emed.2023.00167","DOIUrl":"https://doi.org/10.37349/emed.2023.00167","url":null,"abstract":"Diabetes mellitus has become increasingly more common and diagnosed within the global population. Coupled with the continued prevalence of substance use, there are some distinct considerations for users suffering (knowingly or unknowingly) from type 1 or type 2 diabetes. The various different types of drugs of abuse including central nervous system stimulants, depressants, and hallucinogens present varying direct and indirect complications for diabetes based on their physiological and psychological effects ranging from non-compliance with medication to an increased risk of hypoglycaemia, hyperglycaemia, and/or ketoacidosis. This perspective highlights these issues supported by the drug history and toxicological findings in patients undergoing drug rehabilitation in the United Arab Emirates (UAE) demonstrating the use of alcohol, amphetamines, benzodiazepines, cannabis, opiates/opioids (especially tramadol), pregabalin, and synthetic cannabinoids. Physicians and drug clinic professionals should be aware of the contraindications of substance use and diabetes with a view to educating patients and healthcare professionals within such clinical settings.","PeriodicalId":72999,"journal":{"name":"Exploration of medicine","volume":null,"pages":null},"PeriodicalIF":0.0,"publicationDate":"2023-10-08","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"135198046","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":0,"RegionCategory":"","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}
Pub Date : 2023-09-15DOI: 10.37349/emed.2023.00166
Mohsina Patwekar, Faheem Patwekar, Anuradha Medikeri, Shaikh Daniyal, Mohammad A. Kamal, Gulzar Ahmed Rather, Rohit Sharma
Complex enzyme interactions play a role in the spread of cancer, a process fueled by unregulated cell proliferation. DNA topoisomerases, which are important for fixing DNA topological problems, have drawn a lot of interest as potential targets for anti-cancer medications. Cancer treatment, which includes radiation, surgery, and chemotherapy, tries to control cell survival, demise, and mobility, which are mediated by ion transportation across cell membranes via channels and carriers. The malignant transition is characterised by altered channels and carriers. Chemoresistance, which commonly develops after chemotherapy, denotes decreased therapeutic effectiveness against cancer progression. Chemosensitizers are used in combination with anti-cancer medications to overcome this resistance, particularly against adenosine triphosphate (ATP)-binding cassette (ABC) transporters including P-glycoprotein, multidrug resistance-associated protein 1 (MRP1), breast cancer resistance protein (BCRP). Effective targets for treatment are transcription factors, which play a key role in the development of cancer. With the use of interactions with receptors, enzymes, ion channels, transporters, and TFs, nanotechnology improves the safety of tumour localization, treatment, and diagnostics. As a result of mutations or altered signalling, rat sarcoma (RAS) proteins regulate signalling, which is essential for both healthy growth and the development of cancer. Rational treatments that target RAS pathways have the potential to inhibit the growth and spread of tumours. New treatments are still being developed, and they are showing promise in clinical settings. The roles of receptors on tumour cells, their significance for cancer therapy, and recent advancements in preclinical and clinical research are all included in this overview.
{"title":"Mechanistic insights on anticancer drugs with specific biological targets and signalling pathways","authors":"Mohsina Patwekar, Faheem Patwekar, Anuradha Medikeri, Shaikh Daniyal, Mohammad A. Kamal, Gulzar Ahmed Rather, Rohit Sharma","doi":"10.37349/emed.2023.00166","DOIUrl":"https://doi.org/10.37349/emed.2023.00166","url":null,"abstract":"Complex enzyme interactions play a role in the spread of cancer, a process fueled by unregulated cell proliferation. DNA topoisomerases, which are important for fixing DNA topological problems, have drawn a lot of interest as potential targets for anti-cancer medications. Cancer treatment, which includes radiation, surgery, and chemotherapy, tries to control cell survival, demise, and mobility, which are mediated by ion transportation across cell membranes via channels and carriers. The malignant transition is characterised by altered channels and carriers. Chemoresistance, which commonly develops after chemotherapy, denotes decreased therapeutic effectiveness against cancer progression. Chemosensitizers are used in combination with anti-cancer medications to overcome this resistance, particularly against adenosine triphosphate (ATP)-binding cassette (ABC) transporters including P-glycoprotein, multidrug resistance-associated protein 1 (MRP1), breast cancer resistance protein (BCRP). Effective targets for treatment are transcription factors, which play a key role in the development of cancer. With the use of interactions with receptors, enzymes, ion channels, transporters, and TFs, nanotechnology improves the safety of tumour localization, treatment, and diagnostics. As a result of mutations or altered signalling, rat sarcoma (RAS) proteins regulate signalling, which is essential for both healthy growth and the development of cancer. Rational treatments that target RAS pathways have the potential to inhibit the growth and spread of tumours. New treatments are still being developed, and they are showing promise in clinical settings. The roles of receptors on tumour cells, their significance for cancer therapy, and recent advancements in preclinical and clinical research are all included in this overview.","PeriodicalId":72999,"journal":{"name":"Exploration of medicine","volume":null,"pages":null},"PeriodicalIF":0.0,"publicationDate":"2023-09-15","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"135437436","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":0,"RegionCategory":"","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}
Pub Date : 2023-09-15DOI: 10.37349/emed.2023.00165
Peter Martin, Rotem Arieli, Mai Kabayama, Kayo Godai, Yasuyuki Gondo, Mary Ann Johnson, Leonard W. Poon
Aim: The purpose of this study was to examine the association among body mass, blood pressure (BP), and cognitive functioning for octogenarians and centenarians. Methods: A total of 300 participants (221 centenarians and 79 octogenarians) from the Georgia Centenarian Study were included in this study. Demographic variables included age, gender, and ethnicity. Body mass was measured with the body mass index (BMI), and systolic and diastolic BP, as well as mean arterial pressure (MAP) and the Mini-Mental Status Examination (MMSE) were assessed. Results: Results showed age differences indicating that centenarians had lower BMI and MMSE scores when compared to octogenarians. Women had lower cognitive functioning scores compared to men. Black Americans had higher BMI and BP as well as lower MMSE scores. Participants with low BMI values (< 18.5 kg/m2) and normal BP had a significantly lower MMSE score when compared to those with elevated BMI values (≥ 25 kg/m2 to < 30 kg/m2) and high BP. Multiple regression analyses determined that age, gender, ethnicity, and BMI were significantly associated with cognitive function in very late life. Conclusions: The results suggest that extreme values of body mass (low and high) in combination with normal BP (< 130 mmHg) are potential risk factors for compromised cognition.
{"title":"Body mass, blood pressure, and cognitive functioning among octogenarians and centenarians","authors":"Peter Martin, Rotem Arieli, Mai Kabayama, Kayo Godai, Yasuyuki Gondo, Mary Ann Johnson, Leonard W. Poon","doi":"10.37349/emed.2023.00165","DOIUrl":"https://doi.org/10.37349/emed.2023.00165","url":null,"abstract":"Aim: The purpose of this study was to examine the association among body mass, blood pressure (BP), and cognitive functioning for octogenarians and centenarians. Methods: A total of 300 participants (221 centenarians and 79 octogenarians) from the Georgia Centenarian Study were included in this study. Demographic variables included age, gender, and ethnicity. Body mass was measured with the body mass index (BMI), and systolic and diastolic BP, as well as mean arterial pressure (MAP) and the Mini-Mental Status Examination (MMSE) were assessed. Results: Results showed age differences indicating that centenarians had lower BMI and MMSE scores when compared to octogenarians. Women had lower cognitive functioning scores compared to men. Black Americans had higher BMI and BP as well as lower MMSE scores. Participants with low BMI values (< 18.5 kg/m2) and normal BP had a significantly lower MMSE score when compared to those with elevated BMI values (≥ 25 kg/m2 to < 30 kg/m2) and high BP. Multiple regression analyses determined that age, gender, ethnicity, and BMI were significantly associated with cognitive function in very late life. Conclusions: The results suggest that extreme values of body mass (low and high) in combination with normal BP (< 130 mmHg) are potential risk factors for compromised cognition.","PeriodicalId":72999,"journal":{"name":"Exploration of medicine","volume":null,"pages":null},"PeriodicalIF":0.0,"publicationDate":"2023-09-15","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"135436611","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":0,"RegionCategory":"","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}
Pub Date : 2023-08-31DOI: 10.37349/emed.2023.00161
Pankaj Sharma, Vinay Jain
The development of patient-specific prosthetics, medication administration, the manufacture of tissues and organs, and surgical planning have all benefited significantly from the use of three-dimensional (3D) printing during the past few decades. The enthusiasm for customized healthcare has increased because the United States of America launched its Precision Medicine Initiative in 2015. In a nutshell, the phrase “personalized medicine” refers to medical care that is tailored to the patient. Nevertheless, the biomedical materials utilized in 3D printing are often stable and can’t react or be adaptive and intelligent in the body’s interior environment. Ex-situ fabrication of these substances, which includes printing on a flat substrate before releasing it onto the target surface, may cause a discrepancy between the printed portion and the target areas. The 3D printing is one method that might be used to provide customized treatment. The four-dimensional (4D) printing is developed while employing components that can be tweaked with stimulation. Several researchers have been looking at a new area recently that blends medicines with 3D and 4D printing. The development of 4D printing overcomes a number of these issues and creates a promising future for the biomedical industry. Smart materials that have been pre-programmed can be used in 4D printing to create structures that react interactively to outside stimuli. Despite these benefits, dynamic materials created using 4D technology remain in their development. As a result, several ideas for pharmaceutical products and formulas that may be customized and printed have emerged. Furthermore, Spritam®, the first medicine produced by 3D printing, has indeed reached a medical facility. This paper offers a summary of several 3D and 4D printing technologies and how they are used in the pharmaceutical industry for customized medicine and drug delivery systems.
{"title":"An overview of current advances and pharmaceutical uses of 3D and 4D printing","authors":"Pankaj Sharma, Vinay Jain","doi":"10.37349/emed.2023.00161","DOIUrl":"https://doi.org/10.37349/emed.2023.00161","url":null,"abstract":"The development of patient-specific prosthetics, medication administration, the manufacture of tissues and organs, and surgical planning have all benefited significantly from the use of three-dimensional (3D) printing during the past few decades. The enthusiasm for customized healthcare has increased because the United States of America launched its Precision Medicine Initiative in 2015. In a nutshell, the phrase “personalized medicine” refers to medical care that is tailored to the patient. Nevertheless, the biomedical materials utilized in 3D printing are often stable and can’t react or be adaptive and intelligent in the body’s interior environment. Ex-situ fabrication of these substances, which includes printing on a flat substrate before releasing it onto the target surface, may cause a discrepancy between the printed portion and the target areas. The 3D printing is one method that might be used to provide customized treatment. The four-dimensional (4D) printing is developed while employing components that can be tweaked with stimulation. Several researchers have been looking at a new area recently that blends medicines with 3D and 4D printing. The development of 4D printing overcomes a number of these issues and creates a promising future for the biomedical industry. Smart materials that have been pre-programmed can be used in 4D printing to create structures that react interactively to outside stimuli. Despite these benefits, dynamic materials created using 4D technology remain in their development. As a result, several ideas for pharmaceutical products and formulas that may be customized and printed have emerged. Furthermore, Spritam®, the first medicine produced by 3D printing, has indeed reached a medical facility. This paper offers a summary of several 3D and 4D printing technologies and how they are used in the pharmaceutical industry for customized medicine and drug delivery systems.","PeriodicalId":72999,"journal":{"name":"Exploration of medicine","volume":null,"pages":null},"PeriodicalIF":0.0,"publicationDate":"2023-08-31","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"47882789","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":0,"RegionCategory":"","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}
Pub Date : 2023-08-31DOI: 10.37349/emed.2023.00156
P. Giannoni, E. Barisione, M. Grosso, D. de Totero
Broncho-alveolar lavage (BAL) represents a safe tool for the differential diagnosis of various pulmonary fibrotic diseases. Idiopathic pulmonary fibrosis (IPF) belongs to a heterogeneous group of diseases, interstitial lung disease (ILD), presenting a progressive impairment of pulmonary functions. IPF is characterized by the excessive accumulation of extracellular matrix (ECM) in the alveolar parenchyma that may lead to irreversible pulmonary remodeling. Although the exact pathogenetic mechanisms leading to IPF development are still unclear it has been demonstrated that fibroblasts differentiating toward myofibroblasts are the major actors involved in this process. The possibility of obtaining and expanding fibroblasts from the BAL of ILD patients for research purposes has been recently explored. This approach is discussed here as a reliable chance, helpful to advance the scientific community knowledge and to devise two- and three-dimensional (2D/3D) pre-clinical in vitro models of these diseases, further overcoming technical and ethical concerns related to the use of fibroblasts derived from tissue biopsy.
{"title":"Utility of fibroblasts derived from broncho-alveolar lavage of patients with idiopathic pulmonary fibrosis or related disorders to develop in vitro models","authors":"P. Giannoni, E. Barisione, M. Grosso, D. de Totero","doi":"10.37349/emed.2023.00156","DOIUrl":"https://doi.org/10.37349/emed.2023.00156","url":null,"abstract":"Broncho-alveolar lavage (BAL) represents a safe tool for the differential diagnosis of various pulmonary fibrotic diseases. Idiopathic pulmonary fibrosis (IPF) belongs to a heterogeneous group of diseases, interstitial lung disease (ILD), presenting a progressive impairment of pulmonary functions. IPF is characterized by the excessive accumulation of extracellular matrix (ECM) in the alveolar parenchyma that may lead to irreversible pulmonary remodeling. Although the exact pathogenetic mechanisms leading to IPF development are still unclear it has been demonstrated that fibroblasts differentiating toward myofibroblasts are the major actors involved in this process. The possibility of obtaining and expanding fibroblasts from the BAL of ILD patients for research purposes has been recently explored. This approach is discussed here as a reliable chance, helpful to advance the scientific community knowledge and to devise two- and three-dimensional (2D/3D) pre-clinical in vitro models of these diseases, further overcoming technical and ethical concerns related to the use of fibroblasts derived from tissue biopsy.","PeriodicalId":72999,"journal":{"name":"Exploration of medicine","volume":null,"pages":null},"PeriodicalIF":0.0,"publicationDate":"2023-08-31","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"41804168","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":0,"RegionCategory":"","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}
Pub Date : 2023-08-31DOI: 10.37349/emed.2023.00164
Shymaa M. Al-Jabri, Effat A. Al-Judaibi, Yasser A. Al-Gamdee, A. Al-Judaibi
Aim: Childhood obesity is a global health concern that affects the daily life of children. It has a complex pathogenesis that involves genetic and nutritional factors among others. Moreover, the dysbiosis of gut microbiota has been recently associated with the development and progression of obesity. Methods: A total of 43 faecal samples were collected from Saudi children; among them, 26 were normal and 17 were obese. Whole genomic DNA was extracted from their faecal samples and sequenced using an Illumina Sequencing platform. Results: The gut microbiota was dominated by Phyla Firmicutes (69.00%) and Bacteroidetes (20.00%), followed by Actinobacteria (8.50%). In children with obesity, the abundance of Firmicutes was decreased, while Bacteroidetes was relatively enriched. Verrucomicrobia and Proteobacteria were not detected in the obese group, but they were found in low abundance in the control group. Phylum Firmicutes was dominated by the families Ruminococcaceae (17.86%) and Lachnospiraceae (41.20%). Less Ruminococcaceae was found in the obese group. Phylum Bacteroidetes was dominated by families Bacteroidaceae (12.98%) and Prevotellaceae (4.10%), which were enriched in the obese group. Genus Blautia (14.29%) was highly abundant, followed by Bacteroides (12.98%), Faecalibacterium (10.08%), Bifidobacterium (7.96%), and Prevotella (5.04%). Ruminococcus_g2 and _g4, Subdoligranulum, Roseburia, Fusicatenibacter, Anaerostipes, and Faecalibacterium were decreased (P > 0.05) in the obese group, while Streptococcus, Agathobacter, Prevotella, Bacteroides, and Bifidobacterium were increased (P > 0.05). Conclusions: In conclusion, a diverse bacterial community was profiled in Saudi preschool children, and changes in bacterial community composition were observed between obese- and normal-weight children.
{"title":"Comparison of eating habits and gut microbiota of preschool children with obesity","authors":"Shymaa M. Al-Jabri, Effat A. Al-Judaibi, Yasser A. Al-Gamdee, A. Al-Judaibi","doi":"10.37349/emed.2023.00164","DOIUrl":"https://doi.org/10.37349/emed.2023.00164","url":null,"abstract":"Aim: Childhood obesity is a global health concern that affects the daily life of children. It has a complex pathogenesis that involves genetic and nutritional factors among others. Moreover, the dysbiosis of gut microbiota has been recently associated with the development and progression of obesity.\u0000Methods: A total of 43 faecal samples were collected from Saudi children; among them, 26 were normal and 17 were obese. Whole genomic DNA was extracted from their faecal samples and sequenced using an Illumina Sequencing platform.\u0000Results: The gut microbiota was dominated by Phyla Firmicutes (69.00%) and Bacteroidetes (20.00%), followed by Actinobacteria (8.50%). In children with obesity, the abundance of Firmicutes was decreased, while Bacteroidetes was relatively enriched. Verrucomicrobia and Proteobacteria were not detected in the obese group, but they were found in low abundance in the control group. Phylum Firmicutes was dominated by the families Ruminococcaceae (17.86%) and Lachnospiraceae (41.20%). Less Ruminococcaceae was found in the obese group. Phylum Bacteroidetes was dominated by families Bacteroidaceae (12.98%) and Prevotellaceae (4.10%), which were enriched in the obese group. Genus Blautia (14.29%) was highly abundant, followed by Bacteroides (12.98%), Faecalibacterium (10.08%), Bifidobacterium (7.96%), and Prevotella (5.04%). Ruminococcus_g2 and _g4, Subdoligranulum, Roseburia, Fusicatenibacter, Anaerostipes, and Faecalibacterium were decreased (P > 0.05) in the obese group, while Streptococcus, Agathobacter, Prevotella, Bacteroides, and Bifidobacterium were increased (P > 0.05).\u0000Conclusions: In conclusion, a diverse bacterial community was profiled in Saudi preschool children, and changes in bacterial community composition were observed between obese- and normal-weight children.","PeriodicalId":72999,"journal":{"name":"Exploration of medicine","volume":null,"pages":null},"PeriodicalIF":0.0,"publicationDate":"2023-08-31","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"47028638","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":0,"RegionCategory":"","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}
Pub Date : 2023-08-31DOI: 10.37349/emed.2023.00162
M. Obradović, S. Zafirovic, Z. Gluvić, Jelena Radovanović, E. Isenovic
The current literature findings on autophagy’s beneficial and detrimental roles in diabetes mellitus (DM) and diabetes-related comorbidities were reviewed. The effects of oral hypoglycaemic medicines and autophagy in DM. Autophagy plays an important function in cellular homeostasis by promoting cell survival or initiating cell death in physiological settings was also assessed. Although autophagy protects insulin-target tissues, organelle failure caused by autophagy malfunction influences DM and other metabolic diseases. Endoplasmic reticulum and oxidative stress enhance autophagy levels, making it easier to regulate stress-induced intracellular changes. Evidence suggests that autophagy-caused cell death can occur when autophagy is overstimulated and constitutively activated, which might prevent or develop DM. Even though the precise role of autophagy in DM complications is uncertain, deregulation of the autophagic machinery is strongly linked to beta cell destruction and the aetiology of DM. Thus, improving autophagy dysfunction is a possible therapeutic objective in treating DM and other metabolic disorders.
{"title":"Autophagy and diabetes","authors":"M. Obradović, S. Zafirovic, Z. Gluvić, Jelena Radovanović, E. Isenovic","doi":"10.37349/emed.2023.00162","DOIUrl":"https://doi.org/10.37349/emed.2023.00162","url":null,"abstract":"The current literature findings on autophagy’s beneficial and detrimental roles in diabetes mellitus (DM) and diabetes-related comorbidities were reviewed. The effects of oral hypoglycaemic medicines and autophagy in DM. Autophagy plays an important function in cellular homeostasis by promoting cell survival or initiating cell death in physiological settings was also assessed. Although autophagy protects insulin-target tissues, organelle failure caused by autophagy malfunction influences DM and other metabolic diseases. Endoplasmic reticulum and oxidative stress enhance autophagy levels, making it easier to regulate stress-induced intracellular changes. Evidence suggests that autophagy-caused cell death can occur when autophagy is overstimulated and constitutively activated, which might prevent or develop DM. Even though the precise role of autophagy in DM complications is uncertain, deregulation of the autophagic machinery is strongly linked to beta cell destruction and the aetiology of DM. Thus, improving autophagy dysfunction is a possible therapeutic objective in treating DM and other metabolic disorders.","PeriodicalId":72999,"journal":{"name":"Exploration of medicine","volume":null,"pages":null},"PeriodicalIF":0.0,"publicationDate":"2023-08-31","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"45573478","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":0,"RegionCategory":"","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}
Abnormal energy metabolism is one of the ten hallmarks of tumors, and tumor cell metabolism provides energy and a suitable microenvironment for tumorigenesis and metastasis. Tumor cells can consume large amounts of glucose and produce large amounts of lactate through glycolysis even in the presence of oxygen, a process called aerobic glycolysis, also known as the Warburg effect. Lactate is the end product of the aerobic glycolysis. Lactate dehydrogenase A (LDHA), which is highly expressed in cancer cells, promotes lactate production and transports lactate to the tumor microenvironment and is taken up by surrounding stromal cells under the action of monocarboxylate transporter 1/4 (MCT1/4), which in turn influences the immune response and enhances the invasion and metastasis of cancer cells. Therapeutic strategies targeting lactate metabolism have been intensively investigated, focusing on its metastasis-promoting properties and various target inhibitors; AZD3965, an MCT1 inhibitor, has entered phase I clinical trials, and the LDHA inhibitor N-hydroxyindole (NHI) has shown cancer therapeutic activity in pre-clinical studies. Interventions targeting lactate metabolism are emerging as a promising option for cancer therapy, with chemotherapy or radiotherapy combined with lactate-metabolism-targeted drugs adding to the effectiveness of cancer treatment. Based on current research, this article outlines the role of lactate metabolism in tumor metastasis and the potential value of inhibitors targeting lactate metabolism in cancer therapy.
能量代谢异常是肿瘤的十大标志之一，肿瘤细胞代谢为肿瘤的发生和转移提供了能量和适宜的微环境。肿瘤细胞即使在氧气存在的情况下也能通过糖酵解消耗大量葡萄糖并产生大量乳酸，这一过程被称为有氧糖酵解，也被称为Warburg效应。乳酸是有氧糖酵解的最终产物。乳酸脱氢酶A (Lactate dehydrogenase A, LDHA)在癌细胞中高表达，在单羧酸转运蛋白1/4 (MCT1/4)的作用下，促进乳酸生成并将乳酸转运到肿瘤微环境，被周围基质细胞摄取，进而影响免疫应答，增强癌细胞的侵袭和转移。针对乳酸代谢的治疗策略已被深入研究，重点关注其促进转移的特性和各种靶标抑制剂;MCT1抑制剂AZD3965已进入I期临床试验，LDHA抑制剂n -羟基吲哚(NHI)已在临床前研究中显示出癌症治疗活性。针对乳酸代谢的干预措施正在成为癌症治疗的一个有希望的选择，化疗或放疗结合乳酸代谢靶向药物增加了癌症治疗的有效性。基于目前的研究，本文概述了乳酸代谢在肿瘤转移中的作用以及靶向乳酸代谢抑制剂在肿瘤治疗中的潜在价值。
{"title":"Lactate metabolic pathway regulates tumor cell metastasis and its use as a new therapeutic target","authors":"Weimei Xing, Xiaowei Li, Yuli Zhou, Mengsen Li, Mingyue Zhu","doi":"10.37349/emed.2023.00160","DOIUrl":"https://doi.org/10.37349/emed.2023.00160","url":null,"abstract":"Abnormal energy metabolism is one of the ten hallmarks of tumors, and tumor cell metabolism provides energy and a suitable microenvironment for tumorigenesis and metastasis. Tumor cells can consume large amounts of glucose and produce large amounts of lactate through glycolysis even in the presence of oxygen, a process called aerobic glycolysis, also known as the Warburg effect. Lactate is the end product of the aerobic glycolysis. Lactate dehydrogenase A (LDHA), which is highly expressed in cancer cells, promotes lactate production and transports lactate to the tumor microenvironment and is taken up by surrounding stromal cells under the action of monocarboxylate transporter 1/4 (MCT1/4), which in turn influences the immune response and enhances the invasion and metastasis of cancer cells. Therapeutic strategies targeting lactate metabolism have been intensively investigated, focusing on its metastasis-promoting properties and various target inhibitors; AZD3965, an MCT1 inhibitor, has entered phase I clinical trials, and the LDHA inhibitor N-hydroxyindole (NHI) has shown cancer therapeutic activity in pre-clinical studies. Interventions targeting lactate metabolism are emerging as a promising option for cancer therapy, with chemotherapy or radiotherapy combined with lactate-metabolism-targeted drugs adding to the effectiveness of cancer treatment. Based on current research, this article outlines the role of lactate metabolism in tumor metastasis and the potential value of inhibitors targeting lactate metabolism in cancer therapy.","PeriodicalId":72999,"journal":{"name":"Exploration of medicine","volume":null,"pages":null},"PeriodicalIF":0.0,"publicationDate":"2023-08-31","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"42651042","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":0,"RegionCategory":"","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}
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