1,721,104 research outputs found
Persistence of coronavirus in the cardiac tissue in patients following recovery from COVID-19
Full text linkIt is well known that coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) patients present with symptoms involving multiple organs, in addition to its original manifestation of respiratory symptoms. Studies have reported that the coronavirus affects extrapulmonary organs including cardiovascular system (1-5). The cardiac injury associated with COVID-19 includes development of acute myocardial injury, cardiac arrhythmia and other cardiac complications which worsen the prognosis (6-8). Early reports during the pandemic outbreak in 2020 showed that about 12% of COVID-19 patients suffered from acute heart injuries (9), and 5–25% of hospitalised COVID-19 patients had elevations in cardiac troponin which is a biomarker of myocardial injury (9-11). While acute cardiac injury is well recognised and reported in the literature with clear definition, chronic cardiovascular damage associated with COVID-19 patients remains uncertain due to variable clinical manifestations in long-COVID patients
Harnessing downstream NF-kappaB signalling to achieve apoptosis-inducing anti-cancer-specific activity
Full text linkTranscription factors of the NF-κB family are driven by many inflammatory stimuli and activate expression and production of soluble cytokines, chemokines and inflammatory mediators, and a plethora of important immune response genes.1 It has been known since long time that NF-κB is frequently activated in solid and blood cancer,2–3 stemming the idea that its oncogenic function relays on inhibition of cancerous cell death, driven either by antitumor drugs or tumour-suppressor mechanism.3 This hypothesis, robustly based on experimental models, originated the valid assumption that inhibiting NF-κB activity should be an effective therapeutic tool alone or in combination with chemotherapy or radiation therapy. This hypothesis ignited an intense race to develop NF-κB inhibitors, most often by targeting I-κB kinase, a protein kinase that is essential for NF-κB activation
Nardilysin: A potential biomarker for the early diagnosis of acute coronary syndrome
No full textThe interesting finding reported in IJC by Po-Min Chen et al. [1] in regard to nardilysin as a potential early marker of acute coronary syndrome, is even more intriguing now keeping in mind the very recent report by Ito et al. [2]. The latter manuscript claims that in vitro platelet production from induced pluripotent stem cell (iPS) precursors is largely increased by applying turbulent forces in the in vitro system designed by the authors, scaling platelet yield and quality at a clinical meaningful level and paving the way for a realistic alternative to transfusion for platelet supply for the first time
New Promises and Challenges on Inflammation and Atherosclerosis: Insights From CANTOS and CIRT Trials
Full text linkAtherosclerosis is still a great burden on human health and scientific achievements of the past 30 years have definitively proven the inflammatory causes of the disease (1, 2) highlighted by the results of the CANTOS trial (3). Canakinumab inhibition of interleukin-1 (IL1)-beta has been demonstrated to provide protection against cardiovascular (CV) risk irrespective of lipid levels in a cohort of patients with high C–reactive protein (CRP) levels despite achieving blood lipid control, as measured by high sensitivity C-Reactive Protein (hsCRP) (3).
The final demonstration of atherosclerosis as an inflammatory-driven pathology is driving research toward new anti-inflammatory approaches that could influence the natural history of the disease and change the clinical paradigms of therapy. Considering the costs of canakinumab and exploiting different avenues of anti-inflammatory therapies, a more affordable approach has been proposed by the authors of the CANTOS study (4)
Comparison of augmented reality with other teaching methods in learning anatomy: A systematic review
No full textAugmented reality (AR) has been investigated as an engaging educational tool that motivates undergraduate health science students to learn human anatomy. AR technology is developing rapidly, supporting medical education by presenting models of human anatomy as digital objects overlaid in the real world via mobile or head-mounted display (HMD). The purpose of this systematic review is to provide a post-pandemic analysis of AR compared with other methods for teaching anatomy and to determine the effects of AR on learning outcomes (LOs). Original research published between January 2020 and April 2024 was obtained from the WOS, Scopus, MEDLINE(Ovid), EMBASE, and PubMed databases, following PRISMA 2020 protocols. Articles included for analysis compared AR with alternative pedagogical methods of teaching undergraduate human anatomy. Studies that described AR as “mixed reality” (MR) were included, while those describing “virtual reality” (VR) were not considered. Risk of bias and limitations in individual studies were assessed using the Quality Assessment with Diverse Studies (QuADS) tool. Data were synthesized using a convergent integrated approach with LOs tabulated for visual analysis. A total of 17 articles were eligible for review: nine studies comparing AR via HMD hardware, and eight comparing mobile AR. The LOs of 12 studies were overwhelmingly reported as non-significant. Insufficient data precluded an accurate meta-analysis of LOs, and critical analysis revealed a considerable risk of bias and lack of justified methodology. While AR holds potential for supporting undergraduate students in learning anatomy, definitive outcomes from the current literature are limited by the heterogeneous nature of the studies and inconsistent use of terminology. It is recommended that future research employs professional AR technologies and incorporates the perspectives of university educators to ensure reliable outcomes that can direct the further development of AR technology in medical education
Nicotinamide adenine dinucleotide and the sirtuins caution: Pro-cancer functions
Full text linkThis scoping review aims to perform a brief but comprehensive assessment of existing peer-reviewed literature and determine whether raising nicotinamide adenine dinucleotide can prevent or promote tumorigenesis. The examination of extensive peer-reviewed data regarding the synthesis of nicotinamide adenine dinucleotide has been performed with a focus on nuclear dynamics and the deoxyribose nucleic acid repair pathway. Various enzymatic protective functions have been identified from nicotinamide adenine dinucleotide levels, as well as the threat role that is also explored. Nicotinamide adenine dinucleotide precursors and sirtuin-activating compounds are becoming ubiquitous in the commercial market. Further research into whether elevating levels of nicotinamide adenine dinucleotide or overexpression of sirtuins can increase the potential for neoplasm or other age-related pathophysiology is warranted due to the high energy requirements of certain diseases such as cancer
The anatomical drawings: the intersection of anatomy and art
No full textThe intersection of anatomy and ar
Inflammation Beats Cholesterol: A Comment on the Unequivocal Driver of Cardiovascular Disease Risk
Full text linkDespite advancements in the current standard of care, cardiovascular diseases continue to hold the top spot as the leading cause of mortality worldwide. The development of atherosclerosis is the most common culprit behind ailments such as myocardial infarction, stroke, and peripheral vascular disease. Consequently, it imposes a significant burden on life expectancy, quality of life, morbidity, and societal costs. Both increased cholesterol levels and the activation of the inflammatory cascade are known as cardiovascular risk facts. Their relative weight is in the spotlight of curent biomedical research. Newly published data shed light on the role of inflammation in determining cardiovascular risk irrespective of cholesterol levels and cholesterol-lowering therapies
Cutting-edge biotechnological advancement in islet delivery using pancreatic and cellular approaches.
Full text linkThere are approximately 1 billion prediabetic people worldwide, and the global cost for diabetes mellitus (DM) is estimated to be $825 billion. In regard to Type 1 DM, transplanting a whole pancreas or its islets has gained the attention of researchers in the last few decades. Recent studies showed that islet transplantation (ILT) containing insulin-producing β cells is the most notable advancement cure for Type 1 DM. However, this procedure has been hindered by shortage and lack of sufficient islet donors and the need for long-term immunosuppression of any potential graft rejection. The strategy of encapsulation may avoid the rejection of stem-cell-derived allogeneic islets or xenogeneic islets. This review article describes various biotechnology features in encapsulation-of-islet-cell therapy for humans, including the use of bile acids
Could Physical Activity Have any Role in Cardiovascular Disease Prevention in Prisoners? A Systematic Review.
Full text linkMore than 10.74 million people are currently held in penal institutions worldwide. Moreover, there is also evidence that the percentage of elder and female prisoners has been consistently growing. Cardiovascular diseases are the leading cause of death worldwide. Exercise training and physical activity help to prevent both primary and secondary cardiovascular events. Data on the influence of physical activity on the well-being in prison population is scarce. Here, we discussed, in a systematic review, the general health conditions and the cardiovascular risk profile in the prisoners compared to the general population and evaluated whether or not exercise could be a valuable tool in preventing these diseases in inmates. We performed a systematic review following the Preferred Reporting Items for Systematic Reviews and Meta-Analyses (PRISMA) statement: 769 were initially identified, and a total of 24 studies were finally included. Nine studies evaluated the health conditions in prisoners, five studies evaluated the incidence of cardiovascular disease (CVD) and coronary heart disease (CHD) in the prison population, and 10 studies evaluated the feasibility and the effectiveness of exercise programs in prisoners. Sports-educational programs can benefit prison inmates. It appears that supervised exercise training is an effective coping strategy to deal with incarceration. Moreover, it seems the sports programs might be a useful tool in improving physical and mental health of prisoners as well as in decreasing cardiovascular risk factors
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