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Evolving Treatment Strategies for Moderate-to-Severe Hidradenitis Suppurativa
No full textHidradenitis suppurativa (HS) is a chronic, inflammatory skin disorder that severely impacts quality of life, yet consensus on optimal long-term treatment remains limited. The significance of this issue stems from the ongoing reliance on antibiotics, despite concerns regarding resistance and limited long-term efficacy. This study aimed to compare the effectiveness of biologic therapies, particularly Adalimumab, with traditional antibiotic regimens in treating moderate-to-severe HS over a one-year period. The hypothesis proposed that biologics offer improved symptom control, fewer flare-ups, and greater patient satisfaction. A comprehensive literature review was conducted using Medline via the Christopher Center and Google Scholar, yielding 77 and over 20,000 results, respectively. Studies were included if they involved patients diagnosed with HS; those focused on acne vulgaris were excluded. Data analysis focused on clinical outcomes and patient-reported satisfaction. Findings showed that although antibiotics remain the primary systemic treatment, their long-term benefits are limited and may delay more effective options. Biologics, while effective and targeting underlying inflammatory mechanisms, are underutilized and often initiated years after diagnosis. Patient preference for oral medications and limited access to biologics contribute to delayed use. The review concludes that biologics demonstrate equal or superior efficacy and should be considered earlier in treatment. However, more research is needed to establish standardized treatment protocols, assess long-term outcomes, and explore barriers to early biologic use in HS management
Exploring Therapeutic Potential of Low Dose Naltrexone for Fibromyalgia Patients
No full textObjective: This study aims to compare and evaluate current research on the use and efficacy of low dose naltrexone (LDN) in reducing pain symptoms in patients with fibromyalgia (FM).
Methods: A literature review was conducted using Google Scholar, PubMed, and an Valparaiso University\u27s library database. Search items included low dose naltrexone and fibromyalgia. Studies were included if they focused on LDN treatment in FM populations, emphasizing symptom outcomes and safety profiles. Eligible publications comprised randomized controlled trials, systematic reviews, and clinical studies.
Results: Five studies met inclusion criteria: one randomized, double-blind trial, three systematic reviews, and one randomized, single-blinded clinical trial. Overall, evidence suggests that LDN may be more effective than placebo in alleviating FM symptoms. One study did not show significant improvement in FIQR (Fibromyalgia Impact Questionnaire Revised) and SPIR (Summed Pain Intensity Ratings), although outliers strongly influenced findings. Another trial demonstrated improvement in pressure pain thresholds (PPT) and overall pain ratings but found no significant changes in FIQR or PCS scores, while reporting a low side effect profile. A systematic review cited low-grade evidence for LDN in FM. Another review could not perform a meta-analysis due to high heterogeneity but concluded LDN appears safe and potentially effective. Lastly, a randomized trial exploring optimal dosing observed improvement in tenderness, sleep quality, and energy levels as secondary outcomes.
Conclusion: LDN appears to be a safe and potentially effective option for fibromyalgia symptom relief with minimal side effects. Given its favorable safety profile, LDN may be considered when conventional treatments fail. Further high-quality trials are needed to confirm its efficacy and compare it with established FM therapies.
Keywords: fibromyalgia, low dose naltrexone, pain management, central sensitization, FIQR, SPIR, PP
Liposome Development for Lymphatic Filariasis Treatment
No full textLymphatic filariasis, a parasitic infection prevalent in many tropical countries, poses a significant challenge to treat due to parasite residence within the lymphatic system. Common drugs used for filariasis treatment are small molecules, which due to their small size tend to accumulate in the bloodstream rather than the lymphatic system where the adult parasite lives. When these drugs are loaded into a larger nanoscale drug delivery vehicle, lymphatic uptake and resulting lymphatic drug concentration may be enhanced by size-based passive targeting. Liposomes, fat-based nanoparticles with both hydrophobic and hydrophilic internal spaces for drug encapsulation, may be particularly useful for oral delivery due to the involvement of gut lymphatics in fat transport. In order to investigate how liposome encapsulation impacts drug access to the lymphatic system, this work first focuses on synthesizing liposomes with controllable size and characterizing their drug loading and release. The impact of composition, synthesis conditions, and post-processing on liposome diameter is explored using dynamic light scattering to assess particle size. Drug loading and release is simulated using two small molecule dyes, Oil Red O and fluorescein isothiocyanate, as proxies for hydrophobic and hydrophilic drugs, respectively. Fluorescence and absorbance spectroscopy is used to measure the encapsulation of the dye in the liposomes and dye release across a dialysis membrane over time. This information can then be applied to optimize the design and functionality of liposome-based drug delivery systems in future in vitro experiments
Tolkien’s Glee: A Reading of the Songs in “The Hobbit” and “The Lord of the Rings” (2025) by John R. Holmes
No full textBook review, by Douglas C. Kane, of Tolkien’s Glee: A Reading of the Songs in “The Hobbit” and “The Lord of the Rings”, by John R. Holme
Correlation between periodontal status and Parkinson\u27s disease; a literature review
Get PDFThis systematic review aims to explore the relationship between chronic inflammation of periodontal disease and neurodegenerative disorders (especially Parkinson\u27s disease), focusing primarily on pathophysiological, clinical and immunological aspects. An exhaustive search on this topic was performed in several databases (including PubMed, Scopus and Web of Science) selecting articles published between 2006 and 2023. After reviewing the titles, abstracts and protocols of each study, 13 articles were extracted for detailed assessment. The main indicators in the study included clinical signs of gingival inflammation, bleeding on probing (BoP), bone loss (BL), periodontal probing depth (PPD), and clinical attachment loss (CAL). Additionally, levels of inflammatory markers such as epidermal growth factor (EGF), interleukin-8 (IL-8), interleukin-17 (IL-17), interferon γ-induced protein 10 (IP-10), and monocyte chemoattractant protein-1 (MCP-1) were monitored. The investigation also explored the presence of one of the main periodontal pathogens (Porphyromonas gingivalis) in the microbiota of Parkinson\u27s disease patients. In conclusion, the data presented further support the intricated relationship between periodontal health and neurodegenerative processes, including aspects related to changes in clinical periodontal indices, immunological indices, as well as oral hygiene and patient medication
The effects of SGLT2 inhibitors in patients with metabolic dysfunction-associated fatty liver disease; a narrative review
Get PDFWorldwide, metabolic dysfunction-associated fatty liver disease (MAFLD) is a significant public health concern, especially since more than fifty percent of people with type 2 diabetes are affected by it. This pathological condition includes all states of fatty liver disease, from non-alcoholic fatty liver disease (NAFLD) to steatohepatitis (NASH). Prolonged evolutions can lead to cirrhosis and cancer, so treatment must be started early. Hepatic steatosis may be improved by sodium glucose co-transporter 2 inhibitors (SGLT2 inhibitors), which prevent glucose reabsorption in the proximal renal tubule and increase urinary excretion, thus lowering plasma glucose levels. Experimental studies in animal models have suggested that SGLT2 inhibitors may have beneficial modulatory effects on NAFLD and NASH, while numerous clinical trials have demonstrated their favorable effects on the liver enzymes, body mass index, blood lipids, blood glucose, and insulin resistance in NAFLD patients. This review highlights the state of knowledge regarding the epidemiology, diagnosis and pathogenetic pathways of MAFLD, focusing primarily on the effectiveness of SGLT2 inhibitors as a promising drug class in the treatment of NAFLD
Affective temperaments and personality traits in couple well-being
Get PDFBackground. The objective of this study is to establish the link between affective temperament traits and maladaptive personality traits, to verify whether the potential presence of elements related to emotional, affective and dysfunctional relational functioning can affect the couple satisfaction, modifying the well-being or discomfort condition. Materials and Methods. A data collection questionnaire was developed to investigate the factors associated with dysfunctional emotional, affective, and relational modes of functioning. The sample consisted of 473 subjects. Data were collected including the TEMPS-A questionnaire, The Dirty Dozen Italian Assessment and the Relationship Assessment Scale (RAS). Results. The findings of this study showed that the subscales of affective temperament were predictors of dark triad traits. The expressive, irritable and hyperthymic temperamental traits were found to be predictors of trait psychopathy; hyperthymic temperament is also a predictor of narcissistic traits and cyclothymic temperament is a predictor of lower couple satisfaction; men show higher scores than women in Dark triad. Conclusions. This study confirmed that temperamental traits can predict maladaptive personality traits belonging to the dark triad and confirms the importance of evaluating maladaptive personality traits to prevent forms of psychological violence in couple
Synchronous cervical sympathetic chain schwannoma, parathyroid adenoma and hypofunctional nodular goiter - a case report and literature review
Get PDFSimultaneously diagnosing cervical sympathetic chain schwannoma, nodular goiter and parathyroid adenoma is a very rare event during clinical practice. We had the opportunity to find this unusual association on a female patient. While nodular goiter and parathyroid adenoma are more common diseases and easier to diagnose, identifying the etiology of a parapharyngeal space tumor remains a challenge and requires multiple imaging studies such as computed tomography scan, magnetic resonance imaging or angiography. A cervical sympathetic chain schwannoma, a carotid body tumor, a paraganglioma or a vagal schwannoma must be taken into account as possible diagnostic variants. Complaints such as Horner`s syndrome, hoarse voice or dysphagia may suggest a nerve originating tumor, but this is a rare situation. Only the surgical exploration is successful in detecting the tumor origin from the cervical sympathetic chain. Even so, the exact origin of the tumor cannot usually be detected without surgical exploration and removal of the piece or biopsies. Therefore, the pathological report of the specimen (adding or not immunohistochemistry tests) is mandatory to be able to confirm the diagnosis of schwannoma
Nuclear and Particle Physics Research at Valparaiso University: Summer 2024
No full textNuclear physics students and faculty at Valparaiso University worked on two experiments: the STAR Experiment, and the nEDM Experiment. A major goal of the STAR Experiment at Brookhaven National Laboratory is understanding the gluon\u27s contribution to the proton\u27s spin. A proton contains quarks and gluons whose individual spins contribute to an overall spin of ½ ħ. At the Relativistic Heavy Ion Collider (RHIC) high energy polarized proton beams are collided, producing a large number of neutral pions (π0) and eta (η) mesons. These particles promptly decay into two photons whose energies and positions are measured by the Endcap Electromagnetic Calorimeter (EEMC). Pairs of photons are combined to calculate the invariant mass of the particles from which they decayed. Our mission was to perform quality assurance on the data taken in 2013 and 2015 to ensure it is good for further analysis. Our quality-assured data will then be used to calculate the assymetry of π0 and η particles produced in the polarized proton beam collisions. These calculations can then be used to determine the gluon\u27s contribution to the proton\u27s spin. Results from the quality assurance of the data will be presented.
The neutron Electric Dipole (nEDM) experiment at Los Alamos National Laboratory is designed to search for the nEDM at the level of 10-27 e*cm. The experiment is enclosed in a magnetically shielded room (MSR) to null external magnetic fields. A shielding factor characterizes the performance of the MSR. Discussion of the progress on the shielding factor measurement and optimization of neutron delivery will be presented