Fibrosis in Chronic Kidney Disease: Pathophysiology and Therapeutic Targets.

Chronic kidney disease (CKD) is a slowly progressive condition characterized by decreased kidney function, tubular injury, oxidative stress, and inflammation. CKD is a leading global health burden that is asymptomatic in early stages but can ultimately cause kidney failure. Its etiology is complex and involves dysregulated signaling pathways that lead to fibrosis.

Beyond physical health: the role of psychosocial challenges and stigma in tackling the COVID-19 pandemic-A scoping review.

Background: The socio-cultural response to the Coronavirus Disease 2019 (COVID-19) and the level of adherence to evidence-based guidelines played a crucial role in determining the morbidity and mortality outcomes during the pandemic. This review aims to evaluate the impact of stigma and psycho-socio-cultural challenges on efforts to control the COVID-19 pandemic and to identify ways to mitigate such challenges in future pandemics.

Methods: Using keywords including COVID-19, coronavirus, stigma, psychosocial challenges, and others, the authors searched seven major databases with a time limitation of July 2021, which yielded 2,038 results.

Traumatic brain injury: Mechanisms, manifestations, and visual sequelae.

Traumatic brain injury (TBI) results when external physical forces impact the head with sufficient intensity to cause damage to the brain. TBI can be mild, moderate, or severe and may have long-term consequences including visual difficulties, cognitive deficits, headache, pain, sleep disturbances, and post-traumatic epilepsy. Disruption of the normal functioning of the brain leads to a cascade of effects with molecular and anatomical changes, persistent neuronal hyperexcitation, neuroinflammation, and neuronal loss.

Duplication and expression patterns of CYCLOIDEA-like genes in Campanulaceae.

Background: CYCLOIDEA (CYC)-like transcription factors pattern floral symmetry in most angiosperms. In core eudicots, two duplications led to three clades of CYC-like genes: CYC1, CYC2, and CYC3, with orthologs of the CYC2 clade restricting expression dorsally in bilaterally symmetrical flowers. Limited data from CYC3 suggest that they also play a role in flower symmetry in some asterids.

Chronic Inflammatory Demyelinating Polyradiculoneuropathy During the COVID-19 Pandemic: Telemedicine Limitations and Strategies for Improvement.

Chronic Inflammatory Demyelinating Polyneuropathy (CIDP) is a relapsing-remitting or progressive inflammatory neuropathy, which can present in a multitude of phenotypes. It can be a challenging condition to diagnose and requires thorough clinical evaluation and electrodiagnostic testing. With the outbreak of coronavirus disease in 2019 (COVID-19), large portions of the medical field converted to telemedicine to facilitate patient visits.

Guillain-Barré Syndrome as a Complication of COVID-19.

Coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) is associated with multiple neurological complications including Guillain-Barre syndrome (GBS).While there are reports of COVID-19 -related GBS cases, much remain unknown. We report two cases of GBS-associated COVID-19, which started about eight weeks after the initial COVID-19 infection.

The Effectiveness of Selective Serotonin Reuptake Inhibitors for Treatment of Obsessive-Compulsive Disorder in Adolescents and Children: A Systematic Review and Meta-Analysis.

Obsessive-compulsive disorder (OCD) is a common behavioral disorder among adolescents and children. The selective serotonin reuptake inhibitors (SSRIs) are the first pharmacological choice for this condition due to mild adverse effect profile. This systematic review was performed to evaluate the efficacy of SSRI for OCD in adolescents and children.

Use of Gabapentin in the Treatment of Substance Use and Psychiatric Disorders: A Systematic Review.

Gabapentin (GBP) is an anticonvulsant medication that is also used to treat restless legs syndrome (RLS) and posttherapeutic neuralgia. GBP is commonly prescribed off-label for psychiatric disorders despite the lack of strong evidence. However, there is growing evidence that GBP may be effective and clinically beneficial in both psychiatric disorders and substance use disorders.

Efficacy and Safety of Varenicline for Smoking Cessation in Schizophrenia: A Meta-Analysis.

Smoking represents a major public health problem among patients with schizophrenia. To this end, some studies have investigated the efficacy of varenicline for facilitating smoking cessation in schizophrenia patients. The present review seeks to synthesize the results of these studies as well as document the reported side effects of using this medication.