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Aloe vera: Could the popular soothing plant have a role in the treatment of colon cancer?
No full textAbstract
Background: Colon cancer is the most common digestive cancer in the US. Aloe vera has long been used topically to soothe skin burns. In recent years, it has been shown to have anti-tumor effects. However, little is known about its effect on growth of colon cancer. This study was designed to investigate the effect of aloe vera on the survival, proliferation, and apoptosis of colon cancer in an attempt to evaluate the potential of aloe vera as an anti-tumor agent.
Methods: HCT 1116, a commonly used colon cancer cell line, was used and cells were exposed to aloe vera extract (AE). The effects of AE on the survival, proliferation, and apoptosis of the cells were studied using clonogenic survival assays, cell proliferation kit, and caspase-3 activity kits. RT-PCR and IHC were used to further investigate molecular mechanisms.
Results: Colon cancer cell colony count was significantly lower in the presence of AE. This was further supported by a decrease in the optical density value of colon cancer cells in the presence of AE. The relative caspase-3 activity was higher in the presence of AE in colon cancer cells. The anti-proliferative effect of AE on colon cancer cells correlated with lower expression of cyclin B. The pro-apoptotic effect of AE on colon cancer cells correlated with lower expression of survivin.
Conclusions: Aloe vera inhibits growth of colon cancer by downregulation of cyclin B and survivin. Such a study suggests aloe vera may have a role in treatment of colon cancer and warrants further studies
Wild Jujube, A Welcomed Possibility for Pancreatic Cancer Treatment
No full textAbstract
Background: Pancreatic Cancer (PC) is the third leading cause of cancer mortality in the US and continues to increase in occurrence. Wild Jujube (WJ) is a commonly consumed fruit for folk medicine and is rich in phytochemicals such as tannins, flavonoids and alkaloids. Previous studies have demonstrated that WJ possesses anticancer properties. However, few studies have attempted to investigate the anticancer mechanisms of WJ. This study will investigate the effects of WJ on the growth of PC and their potential proliferative or pro-apoptotic mechanisms.
Methods: To determine the effect of WJ on proliferation and apoptosis using WJ extract (WJE), a clonogenic survival assay, cell proliferation kit, caspase-3 activity kit, and TUNEL staining were utilized on the PC cell line, PAN-48. To determine potential molecular mechanisms, RT-PCR and IHC were used on the same PAN-48 cell line.
Results: A decreased colony cell survival count, survivin staining, cyclin D staining, and TUNNEL+ cell count for WJE-treated PAN-48 demonstrated that WJE has an inhibitory effect on PC growth. This is further supported by the increase of caspase-3 activity noted for the WJE-treated group. RT-PCR for the WJE-treated group revealed that pro-proliferative molecule cyclin D and anti-apoptotic molecule survivin were significantly lower than the control group.
Conclusion: WJ showed inhibitory effects on the growth of PC through the downregulation of pro-proliferative molecule cyclin D and anti-apoptotic molecule survivin. Further studies may reveal the therapeutic benefits of utilizing WJ PC therapy
Chronic Intermittent Hypoxia Conditioning Augments Decrements in Renal Microcirculatory Perfusion During Asphyxia
No full textAbstracts
Sleep apnea (SA) is highly prevalent in patients with chronic kidney disease and may contribute to the development and/or progression of this condition. Previous studies suggest that dysregulation of renal hemodynamics and oxygen flux may play a key role in this process. The present study sought to determine how chronic intermittent hypoxia (CIH) associated with SA affects regulation of renal microcirculatory perfusion (RP) and cortical and medullary tissue PO2 as well as expression of genes that could contribute to renal injury. We hypothesized that normoxic tissue PO2 would be reduced after CIH relative to baseline, and that RP and tissue PO2 would be decreased to a greater extent in CIH vs sham during exposure to intermittent asphyxia (IA, FiO2 0.10/FiCO2 0.03). Additionally, we hypothesized that gene programs promoting oxidative stress and fibrosis would be activated by CIH in renal tissue. All physiological variables were measured at baseline (FiO2 0.21) and during exposure to 10 episodes of IA (excluding GFR). Normoxic renal tissue PO2 was significantly lower in CIH vs sham (p\u3c 0.05). Reductions in RP and renal tissue PO2 during IA occurred in both groups but to a greater extent in CIH (p\u3c 0.05). Pro-oxidative and pro-fibrotic gene programs were activated in renal tissue from CIH but not sham. In conclusion, CIH adversely affects renal microcirculatory perfusion and oxygen flux during both normoxia and IA and results in changes in renal tissue gene expression. Supported by R15 HL138600-01 and MSRP
Symptom recovery time under the ocular domain for concussion: a systematic review
No full textAbstract
Background- The objective of this literature review was to investigate normative timeframes of symptom resolution under the ocular domain of concussion.
Methods- An electronic search was conducted in 3 databases (Scopus, Google Scholar, and PubMed). Search results were restricted to the last 6 years and utilized a combined list of terms related to concussion and ocular domain symptoms. A hand search was performed for relevant citations on all included articles. A total of 7 studies met the inclusion criteria and reported outcome measures. Included in these 7 studies were 987 number of participants. All searches were conducted between May 30, 2023 and July 13, 2023.
Results- Results of each study were reported in mean and/or median recovery times. A range of medians was reported in the data, as well as a range of means. Overall, the results showed a median recovery time of ocular concussion symptoms at finding a range of 8 to 150 days depending on the symptom and the study. A range of means was reported as well, finding a range of means from 9.4-40.8 days, with an average of the means calculated to 21.1 days.
Conclusion- Symptoms within the ocular domain typically resolved within 40 days. Additionally, a pattern was observed in recovery times when looking at age and the days to therapeutic intervention. Patients under the age of 18 had longer recovery times compared to their over 18 counterparts. Patients who had therapeutic interventions started \u3c 30 post-injury recovered faster than those who did not
Habit Formation Intervention to Improve Type 2 Diabetes Self-Management Behaviors: A Feasibility Study
No full textImportance: Self-management of lifestyle behaviors is the recommended focus for interventions to address Type 2 diabetes. Habit formation is an effective approach to changing personal behaviors, but evidence of success for Type 2 diabetes is limited. Objective: To examine the feasibility and preliminary effectiveness of occupation-based habit formation interventions for improving diabetes self-management behaviors. Design: Single-subject design with multiple participants providing 4 wk of baseline data followed by 10 wk of intervention data. Setting: Individual telehealth sessions. Participants: Eight adults (ages 29–75 yr) with Type 2 diabetes, who had access to a telephone and who were not involved in other diabetes-related education or interventions voluntarily, enrolled into the study. Intervention: Participants engaged in 10 wk of habit formation intervention focused on four diabetes self-management domains: nutrition, blood glucose monitoring, medication management, and physical activity. Outcomes and Measures: Data gathered included findings on measures of diabetes self-care behaviors and habit formation. Results: There was a significant change in self-care behaviors for 6 of the 8 participants (p \u3c .05 for 1 participant, and p \u3c .01 for 5 participants). Group changes were statistically significant (p \u3c .001). Habit strength significantly improved for all areas of diabetes self-management (p \u3c .001 for nutrition, blood glucose monitoring, and medication management and p 5 .001 for physical activity). Conclusions and Relevance: Findings suggest that the occupation-based intervention was feasible and showed promise for developing self-management behaviors
Temporary bilateral central scotoma under scotopic conditions associated with oral Semaglutide
No full textAbstract
Introduction: To report a case of a bilateral central scotoma present under scotopic conditions with a positive afterimage associated with the short-term use of Semaglutide in a male ophthalmologist that resolved with medication discontinuation.
Case Presentation: A 72-year-old male ophthalmologist, with an ocular history of macular drusen and cataract surgery in the right eye, noticed a constant, unchanging scotoma in his right eye and subsequently his left eye 20 days after starting 3.0mg Semaglutide once daily. The right eye scotoma was only present in a dimly lit room and would persist until he was in a photopic condition. Upon closing the eyes, the scotoma would be followed by a bright white positive afterimage that would fade within 6 seconds. After a few days, the scotoma of the right eye changed shape, and the day after he experienced a scotoma of his left eye. Medication was stopped after the left eye developed symptoms. After discontinuation, the scotomas subsided within 3 days. An ocular exam with macular and retinal nerve fiber layer OCT and HVF 10-2 testing revealed no remarkable findings except for scattered drusen on OCT with no diabetic retinopathy. Either any findings resolved prior to evaluation, or the pathophysiologic process could not be identified with testing.
Discussion: Semaglutide is approved for weight loss and diabetic treatment; however, there is more to learn about its potential visual side effects. One potential association is the development of a central, bilateral scotoma present under scotopic conditions that can resolve after medication discontinuation
Measuring and addressing health equity: an assessment of cancer center designation requirements
No full textPurpose: By requiring specific measures, cancer endorsements (e.g., accreditations, designations, certifications) promote high-quality cancer care. While \u27quality\u27 is the defining feature, less is known about how these endorsements consider equity. Given the inequities in access to high-quality cancer care, we assessed the extent to which equity structures, processes, and outcomes were required for cancer center endorsements. Methods: We performed a content analysis of medical oncology, radiation oncology, surgical oncology, and research hospital endorsements from the American Society of Clinical Oncology (ASCO), American Society of Radiation Oncology (ASTRO), American College of Surgeons Commission on Cancer (CoC), and the National Cancer Institute (NCI), respectively. We analyzed requirements for equity-focused content and compared how each endorsing body included equity as a requirement along three axes: structures, processes, and outcomes. Results: ASCO guidelines centered on processes assessing financial, health literacy, and psychosocial barriers to care. ASTRO guidelines related to language needs and processes to address financial barriers. CoC equity-related guidelines focused on processes addressing financial and psychosocial concerns of survivors, and hospital-identified barriers to care. NCI guidelines considered equity related to cancer disparities research, inclusion of diverse groups in outreach and clinical trials, and diversification of investigators. None of the guidelines explicitly required measures of equitable care delivery or outcomes beyond clinical trial enrollment. Conclusion: Overall, equity requirements were limited. Leveraging the influence and infrastructure of cancer quality endorsements could enhance progress toward achieving cancer care equity. We recommend that endorsing organizations 1) require cancer centers to implement processes for measuring and tracking health equity outcomes and 2) engage diverse community stakeholders to develop strategies for addressing discrimination
Using machine learning to segment and quantify the neuropil space in the brain of the North American beaver (Castor canadensis)
No full textAbstract
The North American beaver (Castor canadensis) is a large rodent species native to North America. Like most rodents, beavers have smooth (lissencephalic) brains however, this external organizational simplicity is contradicted by their apparent behavioral complexity (e.g., dam building), raising the question as to how beavers can perform these complex tasks with such diminutive brain organization. To address this question and develop an approach which could be readily acquire cell profiles in this understudied species, we surveyed the neuropil space (a proxy for cortical connectivity) using a combination of design based stereological sampling and machine learning. A sub sample consisting of image stacks of the frontal and visual cortex of the beaver brain were manually labelled and four models were developed and trained using varying sampling parameters. The resulting output from each model was then visually compared for accuracy to select the most optimal model for use. The results of this pilot study are discussed in consideration of the feasibility, accuracy, and challenges to ongoing analysis of the beaver cortical surface
Survey of Physician Assistant Curriculum in Ultrasound at Des Moines University
No full textAbstract
There is great interest nationwide in integrating ultrasound into the physician assistant (PA) curriculum over the recent years. Two of the biggest challenges that impair implementation of ultrasound into PA programs are lack of access to ultrasound machines and trained faculty. Des Moines University started ultrasound training for the PA program in their first year since 2017. The PA ultrasound curriculum consists of ultrasound teaching or training in didactic lectures, anatomy, cardiac physiology, vascular ultrasound, muscular skeletal ultrasound, FAST exam, and central line placement. A three-year survey of the PA ultrasound curriculum was conducted showing that the students significantly favored ultrasound teaching or training in didactic lectures, anatomy, cardiac physiology, and vascular ultrasound. Muscular skeletal ultrasound, FAST exam, and central line placement were not significantly favored with the least favored being central line placement. This shows a solid ultrasound curriculum for PA that is well received at DMU and has room for improvement. Areas of future improvement will be based in student evaluations and survey data. DMU is committed to ultrasound training in the College of Health Sciences, and the PA program are leaders in advancing ultrasound within their college
Mixed methods analysis of diversity and equity education: Perspectives from third year medical students
No full textAbstract
Delivering culturally and socially responsive healthcare is an important part of being a physician. To address this need, first-year medical students at Des Moines University (DMU) take “Foundations of Physicianship” (FOP). The course has four themes: identity, communication, bias, and epidemiology. Within each theme, students engage with content through community panels, group discussions, learning modules, and engagement activities.
All students (N=215) were invited to complete pre- and post-course surveys to assess their abilities and comfort level in providing culturally and socially responsive healthcare. This qualitative and quantitative research assessed third-year students’ perspectives and how FOP prepared them on rotations.
We asked students to consider a specific clinical encounter on rotations when they worked with a patient with an identity different from theirs and comment on: 1) how they applied something from FOP, 2) what they felt unprepared for, and 3) how FOP could have better prepared them. Students discussed using listening and motivational interviewing skills. They reported feeling unprepared for knowing which resources to provide patients and working with language barriers. Finally, students wanted to learn more about providing care for patients from various backgrounds and learning through practice scenarios.
Third-year students also rated their encounters with culturally and socially responsive healthcare and experiences working with patients with backgrounds different from theirs. Overall, most students reported feeling prepared in these areas.
This novel information can help DMU faculty shape curriculum to fit the needs of medical students throughout their preclinical and clinical years, overall improving culturally and socially responsive healthcare