7973 research outputs found
Sort by
GLP-1-based therapies for type 2 diabetes: from single, dual and triple agonists to endogenous GLP-1 production and L-cell differentiation
No full textGlucagon-like peptide-1 (GLP-1) is an incretin peptide hormone mainly secreted by enteroendocrine intestinal L-cells. GLP-1 is also secreted by α-cells of the pancreas and the central nervous system (CNS). GLP-1 secretion is stimulated by nutrient intake and exerts its effects on glucose homeostasis by stimulating insulin secretion, gastric emptying confiding the food intake, and β-cell proliferation. The insulinotropic effects of GLP-1, and the reduction of its effects in type 2 diabetes mellitus (T2DM), have made GLP-1 an attractive option for the treatment of T2DM. Furthermore, GLP-1-based medications such as GLP-1 receptor agonists and dipeptidyl peptidase-4 inhibitors, have been shown to improve diabetes control in preclinical and clinical trials with human subjects. Importantly, increasing the endogenous production of GLP-1 by different mechanisms or by increasing the number of intestinal L-cells that tend to produce this hormone may be another effective therapeutic approach to managing T2DM. Herein, we briefly describe therapeutic agents/compounds that enhance GLP-1 function. Then, we will discuss the approaches that can increase the endogenous production of GLP-1 through various stimuli. Finally, we introduce the potential of L-cell differentiation as an attractive future therapeutic approach to increase GLP-1 production as an attractive therapeutic alternative for T2DM
Looting and antisocial behavior after disasters: a systematic review
No full textBackground: There are different opinions about looting after disasters. Many believe that post-disaster chaos is the best chance for antisocial behavior. Aim: The purpose of this systematic review is to explore the literature regarding looting after disasters, its different dimensions, and to examine coping strategies. Methods: This study is a systematic review of publications about disaster-related looting and antisocial behavior, and the study was performed according to the Preferred Reporting Items for Systematic Reviews and Meta-Analyses (PRISMA) guidelines. Web of Science, Scopus, ProQuest, PubMed, ScienceDirect, and Google Scholar were the primary databases used for the search of literature. From the 2,467 records identified through database searching in the early stage; after investigating and analyzing the characteristics and content analysis, 8 articles were included in the final stage of this review study to answer the study questions. Results: The findings of this systematic review that emerged from the content analysis of included studies are summarized in four themes: socioeconomic status (SES), social capital, media, and looting prevention. Conclusions: To reduce looting, governments should incorporate looting into disaster planning, take help from community capacities and non-governmental organizations (NGOs), and try to increase social capital in the long term. Also, correct information transmission by the media is an important part of post-disaster looting management
Cellular senescence in the tumor with a bone niche microenvironment: friend or foe?
No full textCellular senescence is understood to be a biological process that is defined as irreversible growth arrest and was originally recognized as a tumor-suppressive mechanism that prevents further propagation of damaged cells. More recently, cellular senescence has been shown to have a dual role in prevention and tumor promotion. Senescent cells carry a senescence-associated secretory phenotype (SASP), which is altered by secretory factors including pro-inflammatory cytokines, chemokines, and other proteases, leading to the alteration of the tissue microenvironment. Though senescence would eventually halt the growth of cancerous potential cells, SASP contributes to the tumor environment by promoting inflammation, matrix remodeling, and tumor cell invasion. The paradox of tumor prevention/promotion is particularly relevant to the bone niche tumor microenvironment, where longer-lasting, chronic inflammation promotes tumor formation. Insights into a mechanistic understanding of cellular senescence and SASP provide the basis for targeted therapies, such as senolytics, which aim to eliminate senescent cells, or SASP inhibitors, which would eliminate the tumor-promoting effects of senescence. These therapeutic interventions offer significant clinical implications for treating cancer and healthy agin
Efficacy of ozone therapy in dentistry with approach of healing, pain management, and therapeutic outcomes: a systematic review of clinical trials
No full textOzone therapy has emerged as a promising treatment modality in dentistry due to its antimicrobial and healing properties. This systematic review aimed to evaluate the recent clinical trials on ozone therapy in dentistry and its impact on therapeutic outcomes. A comprehensive literature search was conducted across multiple databases, including Web of Science, PubMed, and Scopus from January 2018 to December 2024, identifying studies that investigated the use of ozone in dental applications. The findings demonstrated that ozone therapy is effective in improving periodontal health, healing soft tissue after dental implant surgery, and reducing postoperative discomfort. The combination of scaling and root planing with gaseous ozone therapy showed superior periodontal response rates. The use of ozone during endodontics procedures resulted in reduced post-treatment pain, while ozonated materials showed promise in the management of dentinal hypersensitivity. However, it is not recommended in restorative dentistry due to potential adverse effects on dentinal bond strength. The findings of this systematic review supported the integration of ozone therapy into dentistry as an adjunctive therapy. More research is needed to elucidate its mechanisms, optimize application techniques, and evaluate long-term outcomes for patient safety and treatment effectiveness
Neutrophil to lymphocyte ratio in urolithiasis: a systematic review
No full textBackground: Urolithiasis is among the most prevalent and possibly devastating diseases. It affects millions worldwide, and a cheap or rapid biomarker is required to diagnose it. Previous investigations revealed that inflammation has a role in the progression of urolithiasis patients, and an elevated neutrophil-to-lymphocyte ratio (NLR) value can be a valuable biomarker to ensure inflammation and, consequently, renal stones. This study was conducted to summarize the results of studies investigating the role of NLR in urolithiasis. Methods: We systematically searched three main databases (Scopus, PubMed, and Web of Science) up to January 1, 2023. Our study was registered in PROSPERO (CRD42024500756). Results: Ultimately, 33 studies were selected for this review article. Patients in either acute or subacute phase exhibited higher NLR levels than healthy controls. Also, patients in acute and subacute phases significantly differed regarding NLR levels. In addition, studies showed that NLR could predict sepsis and systemic inflammatory response syndrome (SIRS) among urolithiasis patients. In addition, evidence reported that NLR was helpful in the prediction of spontaneous stone passage among these patients. Conclusion: Our results support a reliable biomarker that is easily added into clinical settings to help predict urolithiasis patients’ condition
Pathological expression of mitochondrial genome-derived circRNA SCAR/mc-COX2 and its ceRNA network in colorectal cancer: implications for clinical significance
No full textBackground: Mitochondrial-encoded circular RNAs (mecciRNAs) are a newly discovered class of mitochondrial-encoded non-coding RNAs (mt-ncRNAs) that play important biological roles in the cell. This study aimed to examine the expression profile of SCAR/mc-COX2 (has_circ_0089762) in colorectal cancer (CRC) and its relationship with clinicopathological variables. Furthermore, to better understand SCAR/mc-COX2's functional role in CRC, we constructed a competing endogenous RNA (ceRNA) network. Methods: Quantitative real-time PCR (qRT-PCR) was employed to analyze the expression levels of SCAR/mc-COX2 in 40 pairs of CRC samples, consisting of 40 tumor samples and 40 adjacent non-tumoral samples from patients. The ceRNA regulatory network was constructed using online bioinformatics tools. Furthermore, the Kyoto Encyclopedia of Genes and Genomes (KEGG) pathway analysis and Gene Ontology (GO) enrichment analysis were conducted using the Enrichr database. Results: The results demonstrated a significant decrease in SCAR/mc-COX2 expression in tumor tissues compared to adjacent non-tumoral tissues (p-value<0.05). In another finding, a significant relationship was observed between pathological T staging and the expression status of SCAR/mc-COX2 (p-value=0.02). Additionally, the Receiver Operating Characteristic (ROC) curve analysis revealed that SCAR/mc-COX2 had an area under the curve (AUC) of 0.77, with 80% sensitivity and 75% specificity. Finally, a ceRNA regulatory network including SCAR/mc-COX2, 5 miRNA, and 9 mRNAs was found. Conclusion: These findings suggest that SCAR/mc-COX2 may act as a tumor suppressor in CRC, and its dysregulation could play a crucial role in the pathophysiology of this cancer. The significant association with pathological T staging and its robust diagnostic performance (AUC = 0.77, sensitivity = 80%, specificity = 75%) highlight its potential as a novel biomarker for CRC detection and prognosis. Further functional studies are required to elucidate its precise role in CRC tumorigenesis and clinical applicability
Patient-specific skin dose evaluation in breast cancer radiotherapy: A Monte Carlo study
No full textIntroduction: Accurate assessment of skin dose in radiation treatment of breast cancer is very important. The analytical algorithms of treatment planning systems are limited in calculating the surface dose where electron equilibrium is not established. Measuring the skin dose requires a special dosimeter, which is time-consuming. Monte Carlo simulation has been developed as a golden method for calculating the skin dose. This study aimed to assess the factors affecting the skin dose in radiotherapy of intact breast cancer by developing a computational Monte Carlo framework. Methods: The BEAMnrc-based model of 6 MV beam of a Siemens Primus linac was developed and validated. The skin dose in tangential breast fields was calculated and measured in the CIRS phantom by simulation and film dosimetry. The effect of treatment parameters, including field size, obliquity, skin-to-surface distance and the wedge angle, on surface dose was investigated. Results: The calculated beam model with electron energy 6.7 MeV and FWHM 3.0 mm were validated. The mean relative skin dose differences between calculated and measured for inside the field was 17.24%, and for out-of-field points on the contralateral breast, was 21.05%. Increasing the open field size, increased the skin dose. By increasing the gantry angle from 50° to 65°, the skin dose increased by 178% only along the contralateral breast. The in-field and over the contralateral breast skin dose changed, by increasing the SSD from 95 cm to 105 cm. By changing the wedge angle from 15° to 45°, the in-field skin dose was reduced by 9.21%. Conclusion: Several limitations make surface dosimetry challenging in radiotherapy of breast cancer. The computational Monte Carlo framework developed in this study, including the Primus linear accelerator head model with the patient's treatment plan specifications and the patient's tomographic phantom, can be used to measure the skin dose in radiation therapy for various cancers
Design, synthesis, and evaluation of cell-penetrating anticancer peptides to enhance the antitumor activity of liposomal daunorubicin: A molecular dynamics and experimental study
No full textTargeted delivery and effective penetration into cancer cells are key factors in the success of drug delivery systems. This study aimed to design, synthesize, and evaluate cell-penetrating anticancer peptides (ACPs), and to develop functionalized nanoliposomes with ACPs and an antibody to enhance the specificity and cellular uptake of liposomal daunorubicin (daunosome) in multidrug-resistance cancer cells. Here, a library of 1290 peptides was screened for anticancer potential and physicochemical properties, and the top candidates were evaluated for permeability to cell membrane models using molecular dynamics simulations. The selected peptides (Pep5 and Pep6) were synthesized, used to modify daunosomes, and evaluated for cytotoxicity, apoptosis, drug accumulation, and efflux kinetics in HDF, EPG85.257, and EPG85.257RDB cell lines. The liposomal formulations were characterized using FTIR, TEM, X-ray diffraction, and DLS analysis. The potential of mean force (PMF) profiles predicted that Pep6 required less energy than Pep5 to cross the membrane of cancer cells. The cytotoxicity assay showed that the peptides selectively reduced the viability of the cancer cell lines (EPG85.257RDB and EPG85.257) more than that of normal HDF cells. The daunorubicin encapsulation rate and average diameter of the daunosome formulations were approximately 93 % and 264–314 nm, respectively. The highest apoptosis rates were observed in the EPG85.257 cell line following treatment with Ab+TAT+daunosome (44.4 %) and in EPG85.257RDB cells treated with Ab+Pep6+daunosome (29.3 %). Drug accumulation was significantly increased following the decoration of daunosomes with trastuzumab, TAT, Pep5, and Pep6. The results indicate that the designed ACPs, in combination with the trastuzumab, can enhance the antitumor activity of liposomal daunorubicin
Cardiovascular and mortality outcomes of DPP-4 inhibitors vs. sulfonylureas as metformin add-on therapy in patients with type 2 diabetes: A systematic review and meta-analysis
No full textBackground Type 2 diabetes significantly increase the risk of cardiovascular disease and mortality. This systematic review and meta-analysis compared cardiovascular and mortality outcomes in type 2 diabetes patients receiving dipeptidyl peptidase-4 inhibitors (DPP-4is) plus metformin versus sulfonylureas (SUs) plus metformin as add-on therapy. Methods PubMed, Web of Science, Cochrane Central Register of Controlled Trials, Embase, Google Scholar, and Scopus were searched through January 1, 2025, for studies comparing DPP-4is plus metformin versus SUs plus metformin in type 2 diabetes patients. Outcomes of interest were major adverse cardiovascular events and all-cause mortality. Heterogeneity was assessed using Cochran’s Q test and I2 statistic. Publication bias was evaluated with Begg’s and Egger’s tests. Study quality was assessed with the Jadad scale (for randomized controlled trials) and the Newcastle-Ottawa Scale (for observational studies). Results Twenty-seven studies (2012–2024), encompassing 1,505,821 participants, were included in the analysis. Major adverse cardiovascular events were reported in 21 studies, and all-cause mortality data were available from 19 studies. Meta-analysis revealed a significantly lower risk of both major adverse cardiovascular events (risk ratio [RR]: 0.79; 95% confidence interval [CI]: 0.73–0.84; p < 0.001) and all-cause mortality (RR: 0.79; 95% CI: 0.71–0.88; p < 0.001) in patients with diabetes treated with DPP-4 inhibitors plus metformin compared to those treated with SUs plus metformin. No publication bias was detected. Conclusion In type 2 diabetes patients treated with metformin, adding a DPP-4is is associated with significantly lower risks of major adverse cardiovascular events and all-cause mortality compared to adding an SUs. These findings underscore the potential cardiovascular benefits of DPP-4is and their role in improving patient outcome
Corrigendum to “Natural biomacromolecule based composite scaffolds from silk fibroin, gelatin and chitosan toward tissue engineering applications” [Int. J. Biol. Macromol. volume 154 (2020), Pages 1285–1294]
No full textThe authors regret errors in Figs. 2A (SF-CG 2/1 group), 3A, and 7. The correct versions are as follows:[Figure presented][Figure presented][Figure presented] The authors would like to apologise for any inconvenience caused