Search Results (672)

Osteoarthritis (OA) is the most common joint disorder, with a social and financial burden that is expected to increase in the coming years. Currently, there are no effective medications to treat it. Due to limited treatment options, patients often resort to supplements, such as collagen hydrolysates (CHs). CHs are products with low molecular weight (MW) peptides, often between 3 and 6 kDa, and are a result of industrialized processed collagen. Collagen extraction is often a by-product of the meat industry, with the main source for collagen-based products being bovine, although it can also be obtained from porcine and piscine sources. CHs have demonstrated positive results in clinical trials related to joint health, such as decreased joint pain, increased mobility, and structural joint improvements. The bioactivity of CHs is primarily attributed to their bioactive peptide (BAP) content. However, there are significant knowledge gaps regarding the digestion, bioavailability, and bioactivity of CH-derived BAPs, and how different CH products compare in that regard. The present review discusses CHs and their BAP content as potential treatments for OA. Full article

An aura is a subjective experience felt in the initial phase of a seizure. Studying auras is relevant as they can be warning signs for people with epilepsy. The incidence of aura tends to be underestimated due to misdiagnosis or underrecognition by patients unless it progresses to motor features. Also, auras are associated with seizure remission after epilepsy surgery and are an important prognostic factor, guiding the resection site and improving surgical outcomes. Somatosensory auras (SSAs) are characterized by abnormal sensations on one or more body parts that may spread to other parts following a somatotopic pattern. The occurrence of SSAs among individuals with epilepsy can range from 1.42% to 80%. The upper extremities are more commonly affected in SSAs, followed by the lower extremities and the face. The most common type of somatosensory aura is paresthetic, followed by painful and thermal auras. In the primary somatosensory auras, sensations occur more commonly contralaterally, while the secondary somatosensory auras can be ipsilateral or bilateral. Despite the high localizing features of somatosensory areas, cortical stimulation studies have shown overlapping sensations originating in the insula and the supplementary sensorimotor area. Full article

Background: Postoperative trigeminal neuropathy may be seen after surgery for middle and posterior cranial fossa lesions. Although neuropathic pain is a cause of reduced quality of life, global consensus on postoperative pain management is lacking. Mirogabalin besylate is a selective ligand for the α2δ subunit of voltage-gated calcium channels. Although mirogabalin has been used for patients with postherpetic neuralgia and painful diabetic peripheral neuropathy, few reports have assessed the effect on postsurgical neuropathy. In this report, we describe a clinical effectiveness of mirogabalin for trigeminal neuropathy after skull base surgery. Case description: Case 1: A 51-year-old female with right trigeminal schwannoma was operated on via the anterior transpetrosal approach. She had tingling and numb feelings in the right face postoperatively. Mirogabalin was orally administered after the operation. Her continuous facial numbness immediately improved. Case 2: A 55-year-old female with left middle fossa base meningioma extending into the infratemporal fossa was operated on via the infratemporal fossa approach. She had a tingling feeling in the left face postoperatively. Mirogabalin was orally administered for this symptom after the operation, which gradually improved. Conclusions: Mirogabalin may show significant pain relief for patients with trigeminal neuropathy after skull base surgery. Further studies using a larger number of patients are warranted to confirm these findings. Full article

There is an indication of abrupt rise in chronic kidney disease (CKD) in Nigeria and thyroid function involvement has not been sufficiently evaluated. This study determined thyroid gland function among subjects with CKD in Benin City, Nigeria. A total of 184 randomized CKD patients attending specialist clinic and 80 healthy control subjects were recruited for this study. A well-structured questionnaire was used to obtain data on socio-demography. Blood specimens were collected and used for the determination of thyroid function parameters; thyroid stimulating hormone (TSH), triiodothyronine (T3), free triiodothyronine (fT3), thyroxine (T4), free thyroxine (fT4), thyroid peroxidase antibody (TPO-Abs), thyroid globulin antibody (Tg-Abs) and Deiodinase enzyme Type 1 (D1). SPINA GD and SPINA GT were calculated using Michaelis-Menten model. The CKD was classified into stages using Modification of Drug in Renal Disease (MDRD) formula. Thyroid dysfunctions observed were clinical hyperthyroidism 1 (0.54%), non-thyroidal illness 78 (42.4%), clinical hypothyroidism 11 (6.0%), sub-clinical hyperthyroidism 3 (1.60%), and sub-clinical hypothyroidism 11 (6.0%), while euthyroid were 80 (43.5%). SPINA GD of CKD patients (33.85 ± 10.94) was not significantly different when compared with controls (24.85 ± 1.57), whereas, SPINA GT was significantly higher (p < 0.01) among CKD patients (3.74 ± 0.31) than controls (2.68 ± 0.11). Autoimmune thyroid disease demonstrated by positive Tg-Abs and TPO-Abs were observed among approximately 7.9% of CKD patients. Serum TPO-Abs concentration increased with CKD progression. Thyroid dysfunction is involved in the pathogenesis of CKD patients. The etiologies are multifactorial and immunological mechanisms of autoimmune thyroid disease may be a contributing factor. Full article

Background: Contrast-induced encephalopathy (CIE) is an infrequent but serious neurological condition that occurs shortly after the administration of contrast during endovascular and angiography procedures. Patients suffering from chronic kidney disease (CKD) or end-stage kidney disease (ESKD) are considered to be at a higher risk of contrast medium neurotoxicity, due to the delayed elimination of the contrast medium. However, the occurrence and characteristics of CIE in CKD/ESKD patients have not been extensively investigated. Methods: We conducted a comprehensive literature search, utilizing databases such as MEDLINE, EMBASE, the Cochrane Central Register of Controlled Trials, and the Cochrane Database of Systematic Reviews, up to September 2022. The purpose was to identify documented cases of CIE among patients with CKD or ESKD. Employing a random-effects model, we calculated the pooled incidence and odds ratio (OR) of CIE in CKD/ESKD patients. Results: Our search yielded a total of eleven articles, comprising nine case reports and two observational studies. Among these studies, 2 CKD patients and 12 ESKD patients with CIE were identified. The majority of the CKD/ESKD patients with CIE (93%) had undergone intra-arterial contrast media and/or endovascular procedures to diagnose acute cerebrovascular disease, coronary artery disease, and peripheral artery disease. The male-to-female ratio was 64%, and the median age was 63 years (with an interquartile range of 55 to 68 years). In the two observational studies, the incidence of CIE was found to be 6.8% in CKD patients and 37.5% in ESKD patients, resulting in a pooled incidence of 16.4% (95% CI, 2.4%–60.7%) among the CKD/ESKD patients. Notably, CKD and ESKD were significantly associated with an increased risk of CIE, with ORs of 5.77 (95% CI, 1.37–24.3) and 223.5 (95% CI, 30.44–1641.01), respectively. The overall pooled OR for CIE in CKD/ESKD patients was 32.9 (95% CI, 0.89–1226.44). Although dialysis prior to contrast exposure did not prevent CIE, approximately 92% of CIE cases experienced recovery after undergoing dialysis following contrast exposure. However, the effectiveness of dialysis on CIE recovery remained uncertain, as there was no control group for comparison. Conclusions: In summary, our study indicates an association between CIE and CKD/ESKD. While patients with CIE showed signs of recovery after dialysis, further investigations are necessary, especially considering the lack of a control group, which made the effects of dialysis on CIE recovery uncertain. Full article

Translational neuroscience is intended as a holistic approach in the field of brain disorders, starting from the basic research of cerebral morphology and with the function of implementing it into clinical practice. This concept can be applied to the rehabilitation field to promote promising results that positively influence the patient’s quality of life. The last decades have seen great scientific and technological improvements in the field of neurorehabilitation. In this paper, we discuss the main issues related to translational neurorehabilitation, from basic research to current clinical practice, and we also suggest possible future scenarios. Full article

Background: High-dose proton pump inhibitor (PPI) therapy, given either intermittently or continuously for non-variceal upper gastrointestinal bleeding (NV-UGIB), is efficacious. Using intermittent PPI for low-risk patients may be cost-saving. Our objective was to estimate the annual cost savings if all low-risk NV-UGIB patients received intermittent PPI therapy. Methods: Patients who presented to hospital in Calgary, Alberta, who received a PPI for NV-UGIB from July 2015 to March 2017 were identified using ICD-10 codes. Patients were stratified into no endoscopy, high-risk, and low-risk lesion groups and further subdivided into no PPI, oral PPI, intermittent intravenous (IV), and continuous IV subgroups. Average length of stay (LOS) in each subgroup and costs were calculated. Results: We identified 4141 patients with NV-UGIBs, (median age 61, 57.4% male). One-thousand two-hundred and thirty-one low-risk patients received continuous IV PPI, with an average LOS of 6.8 days (95% CI 6.2–7.3) versus 4.9 days (95% CI 3.9–5.9) for intermittent IV patients. If continuous IV PPI patients instead received intermittent IV PPI, 3852 patient days and CAD 11,714,390 (2017 CAD)/year could be saved. Conclusions: Using real-world administrative data, we demonstrate that a sizable portion of low-risk patients with NV-UGIB who were given continuous IV PPI if switched to intermittent IV therapy could generate significant potential cost savings. Full article

Background. Many anti-cancer drugs used in clinical practice cause adverse events such as oral mucositis, neurotoxicity, and extravascular leakage. We have reported that two 3-styrylchromone derivatives, 7-methoxy-3-[(1E)-2-phenylethenyl]-4H-1-benzopyran-4-one (Compound A) and 3-[(1E)-2-(4-hydroxyphenyl)ethenyl]-7-methoxy-4H-1-benzopyran-4-one (Compound B), showed the highest tumor-specificity against human oral squamous cell carcinoma (OSCC) cell lines among 291 related compounds. After confirming their superiority by comparing their tumor specificity with newly synthesized 65 derivatives, we investigated the neurotoxicity of these compounds in comparison with four popular anti-cancer drugs. Methods: Tumor-specificity (TS_M, TS_E, TS_N) was evaluated as the ratio of mean CC₅₀ for human normal oral mesenchymal (gingival fibroblast, pulp cell), oral epithelial cells (gingival epithelial progenitor), and neuronal cells (PC-12, SH-SY5Y, LY-PPB6, differentiated PC-12) to OSCC cells (Ca9-22, HSC-2), respectively. Results: Compounds A and B showed one order of magnitude higher TS_M than newly synthesized derivatives, confirming its prominent tumor-specificity. Docetaxel showed one order of magnitude higher TS_M, but two orders of magnitude lower TS_E than Compounds A and B. Compounds A and B showed higher TS_M, TS_E, and TS_N values than doxorubicin, 5-FU, and cisplatin, damaging OSCC cells at concentrations that do not affect the viability of normal epithelial and neuronal cells. QSAR prediction based on the Tox21 database suggested that Compounds A and B may inhibit the signaling pathway of estrogen-related receptors. Full article

Background and Objectives: This report described two cases with clear longitudinal changes in motor estimation error (difference between the motor imagery and motor execution) and their progression and motor and activities of daily living (ADL) function changes in patients with PD. Materials and Methods: Patient 1 was a 68-year-old man (Hoehn and Yahr [H and Y] stage: IV, diagnosed with PD for 11.8 years) and patient 2 was a 68-year-old woman (H and Y stage: II, diagnosed with PD for 9.6 years). Imagined two-step test (iTST), two-step test (TST), and PD-related assessments (Unified Parkinson’s Disease Rating Scale [UPDRS], and Freezing of Gait Questionnaire [FOGQ]) were assessed at baseline and after 6 months. Motor estimation error was calculated as the iTST distance minus TST distance. Results: In patient 1, motor estimation error was greater after 6 months (baseline: 5.7 [4.8%]/after 6 months: 25.7 cm [26.1%]). Moreover, UPDRS and FOGQ total scores deteriorated after 6 months (UPDRS total: 29/34 point, and FOGQ: 9/16 point). Conversely, in patient 2, motor estimation error did not change notably (−3.6 [7.6%]/−2.5 cm [7.0%]), while UPDRS and FOGQ total scores improved after 6 months (UPDRS total: 17/12 point, and FOGQ: 6/1 point). Conclusions: This report indicated that greater motor estimation error may be associated with declining motor and ADL function and disease progression in patients with PD. Full article

Background: The association between Graves’ disease (GD) and serum vitamin D levels has been studied for decades although the results were controversial. Moreover, the difference in vitamin D levels between the different stages of GD is not well studied. Therefore, this study aimed to compare the vitamin D levels between active and remission GD and to investigate the factors affecting vitamin D levels in GD patients. Methods: This cross-sectional study was performed between 1 January to 31 December 2021. The eligible patients were in either the active or remission stage of GD. The demographic and clinical data of the patients willing to participate in the study were collected, as well as their vitamin D levels. Comparisons of continuous parameters between the active and remission groups were performed using the Mann–Whitney U test, while categorical parameters were performed using the Chi-square test. Results: 75 patients were diagnosed with GD, with 54.7% in the active stage. The mean vitamin D level was lower in the active GD group than in the remission GD group (28.23 vs. 31.58 ng/mL, respectively, p-value 0.079). The prevalence of vitamin D deficiency (i.e., serum vitamin D level < 20 ng/mL) in the active GD group was 14.6%, and in the remission GD group was 0% (p-value 0.02). Moreover, there was a significant negative correlation between the serum vitamin D level and serum free T4 level (p-value 0.03). Conclusions: In spite of non-significance, patients with active GD had lower mean vitamin D levels compared to those with remission GD. The prevalence of vitamin D deficiency was significantly higher in the active GD patients. Additionally, a negative correlation between serum vitamin D levels and serum free T4 levels was observed in this study. Full article

Platelet-rich plasma (PRP) is an ‘orthobiologic’ with recognized roles in plastic surgery, musculoskeletal disorders, dentistry, dermatology, and more recently, ‘ovarian rejuvenation’. Intraovarian PRP involves a complex secretome discharged after platelet activation, comprising multiple cytokine mediators delivered surgically to older or inactive ovarian tissue. Loss of oocyte meiotic fidelity and impaired fertilization accompanying advanced maternal age are already managed by IVF, but only with eggs provided by younger donors. However, if the observed effect of rectifying embryo ploidy error can be proven beyond case reports and small series, activated PRP (or its condensed plasma cytokines) would deliver a welcome therapeutic disruption that is difficult to overstate. Because shortcomings in ovarian function are presently addressed mainly by pharmacological approaches (i.e., via recombinant gonadotropins, GnRH analogs, or luteal support), autologous PRP would represent an unusual departure from these interventions. Given the diversity of platelet cargo proteins, the target response of intraovarian PRP is probably not confined to oocytes or follicles. For example, PRP manipulates signal networks driving improved perfusion, HOX regulation, N-glycan post-translational modification, adjustment of voltage-gated ion channels, telomere stabilization, optimization of SIRT3, and ribosome and mitochondria recovery in older oocytes. While multichannel signals operating on various pathways are not unique to reproductive biology, in intraovarian PRP this feature has received little study and may help explain why its standardization has been difficult. Against this background, our report examines the research themes considered most likely to shape clinical practice. Full article

Background: Antimicrobials are some of the most prescribed drugs by junior doctors, but studies suggest most medical graduates feel unprepared for their future prescribing tasks. The aim of the present study was to compare the self-reported preparedness to prudently prescribe antimicrobials of final-year medical students in Croatia in 2015 and 2019. Methods: The same self-reported web-based survey on the preparedness to prescribe antibiotics was used in both 2015 and 2019. All final-year students at all four medical schools in Croatia (Osijek, Rijeka, Split, and Zagreb) were invited to participate in both 2015 and 2019. Preparedness scores were divided into “topic preparedness scores” and “global preparedness scores”. Topic preparedness scores represented the percentage of students at a medical school who felt sufficiently prepared for each topic. They were first established at a medical school level and then at the national level. Global preparedness scores were determined for each student separately and then calculated at the medical school and national levels. Results: The country’s global preparedness score, representing the average proportion of topics in which students felt sufficiently prepared, was slightly higher in 2015 compared with the 2019 results (62.7% vs. 56.5%; p = 0.191). Croatian students reported higher preparedness in 2015 than in 2019 for 25 out of 27 topics included in the survey. The majority of students reported a need for more education on antibiotic use both in 2015 and 2019 (78.0% vs. 83.0%; p = 0.199). Conclusions: Despite increasing antimicrobial stewardship activities in various healthcare settings, medical students who are about to start prescribing antibiotics on their own do not feel sufficiently prepared to do so. Antimicrobial stewardship programs should be designed to incorporate undergraduate medical student education, for instance, as a specific, mandatory course or integrated into other courses, such as clinical pharmacology. Full article

Background: TB is a major cause of morbidity and mortality, with slum residents being disproportionately affected. This study aimed to assess health-seeking behavior among adult residents of slum communities presenting with coughs in Lagos, Nigeria. Methods: A community-based, cross-sectional study was conducted across six urban slums in Nigeria as part of community outreaches to mark World TB Day. A structured, pretested questionnaire was used to capture relevant sociodemographic details and questions regarding symptoms of coughs and related symptoms as well as care-seeking behavior. Data were explored, analyzed, and presented using descriptive statistics. Results: A total of 632 respondents participated in this study. The majority were 25–34 years old (24.7%), male (65.8%), Christian (55.7%), married (73.7%), with secondary education (37.8%), with 3–4 persons per household (41%) and with 1–2 persons per room (44.5%). In total, 26.6% had had a cough for two weeks or more and were considered as presumptive TB patients. Overall, 37.2% of respondents with a cough visited patent proprietary medicine vendors (PPMVs) as the first port of call. Good health-seeking behavior was exhibited by only 36.2% of respondents. In total, 38.9% delayed seeking care from a health facility (government or private) more than one month after the onset of symptoms. None of the factors included in the multivariate analysis showed a significant association with good health-seeking behavior (i.e., visiting government or private hospitals/clinics). Conclusions: The poor health-seeking behavior, delay in seeking TB care and preference for PPMVs emphasizes the need for National tuberculosis programs (NTPs) to further engage these informal providers in TB prevention, diagnosis and treatment services in urban slum communities. Full article

Background: Rhinosinusitis is commonly treated with decongestants, analgesics, and local corticosteroids. Phytotherapeutics are also utilised for symptomatic relief, including cineole, the main component of eucalyptus oil. Methods: The current non-interventional, anonymised survey investigated quality of life in participants with rhinosinusitis (with or without additional symptoms of bronchitis) via the German version of a validated quality of life questionnaire (RhinoQol). Overall, 310 subjects administered a cineole preparation (Sinolpan) and 40 subjects applying nasal decongestant were recruited in German pharmacies. Results: Significant improvements in frequency (64.0%), bothersomeness (52.1%), and impact (53.9%) of rhinosinusitis symptoms were reported upon treatment with cineole over a mean treatment period of seven days (p < 0.001 each). The overall treatment efficacy of cineole was evaluated as good or very good by 90.0% of the participants, and the quality of life during work or leisure time improved upon treatment. Six (non-serious) possibly related side effects were reported in four participants who were administered cineole. The tolerability of the treatment was assessed as good or very good by 93.9% of the participants. Conclusions: Cineole can be considered as a safe and well-tolerated rhinosinusitis treatment conferring a clear improvement in quality of life outcomes. Full article

Cancer cells are characterized by metabolic reprogramming, which enables their survival in of-ten inhospitable conditions. A very well-documented example that has gained attraction in re-cent years and is already considered a hallmark of transformed cells is the reprogramming of carbohydrate metabolism. Such a feature, in association with the differential expression of en-zymes involved in the biosynthesis of glycoconjugates, generically known as glycosyltransfer-ases, contributes to the expression of structurally atypical glycans when compared to those ex-pressed in healthy tissues. The latest studies have demonstrated that glycophenotypic alterations are capable of modulating multifactorial events essential for the development and/or progres-sion of the disease. Herein, we will address the importance of glycobiology in modern medi-cine, focusing on the ability of unusual/truncated O-linked glycans to modulate two complex and essential phenomena for cancer progression: the acquisition of the multidrug resistance (MDR) phenotype and the activation of molecular pathways associated with the epithelial–mesenchymal transition (EMT) process, an event deeply linked with cancer metastasis. Full article