Publications by authors named "C M Helou"
A host of anti-hyperglycemic agents are currently available and widely prescribed for diabetes and weight loss management. In patients undergoing surgery, use of these agents poses a clinical challenge to surgeons, anesthesiologists, and other perioperative care providers with regard to optimal timing of discontinuation and resumption of use, as well as possible effects of these agents on physiology and risk of postoperative complications. Here, we provide a comprehensive review of anti-hyperglycemic medications' effects on physiology, risks/benefits, and best practice management in the perioperative setting.
View Article and Find Full Text PDFMetabolic Alkalemia in Hypercalciuria Stone Formers: Does It Matter?
Kidney Blood Press Res
December 2024
Article Synopsis
- - The study examines metabolic alkalemia in outpatients with hypercalciuric nephrolithiasis, noting that these patients often use thiazides, which can cause chloride losses and potentially lead to metabolic imbalances.
- - Data collected from patient records showed that only 4.3% of patients had metabolic alkalemia, primarily those using thiazides, and the daily dosage was higher among those with the condition.
- - The findings highlight the prevalence of hypokalemia (37%) in patients with metabolic alkalemia and indicate lower levels of chloride, magnesium, and ionic calcium, suggesting the need for careful monitoring of these patients despite the low overall prevalence.
Article Synopsis
- Advanced glycation end-products (AGE) are harmful protein modifications linked to serious health issues like neurodegenerative diseases, heart disease, and diabetes, caused by toxic byproducts of glucose metabolism.
- Research reveals that AGE crosslinking activates a specific antibacterial enzyme in the bacteria Enterobacter cloacae, which is linked through a unique interaction between two amino acids.
- The study highlights that glycation can stabilize protein structures, especially in environments where traditional stabilizing methods (like disulfide bonds) are not effective, suggesting broader implications for protein engineering.
Variants in () have been linked to several forms of inherited retinal diseases (IRDs) besides the classically defined Stargardt disease (STGD), known collectively as retinopathies. is a sizable locus harboring 50 exons; thus, its analysis has revealed over 2,400 variants described, of which more than 2,000 are causal. Due to the clinical and genetic heterogeneity, diagnosing retinopathies is challenging.
View Article and Find Full Text PDFBy synthesizing the requisite functionalities of intelligence in an integrated material system, it may become possible to animate otherwise inanimate matter. A significant challenge in this vision is to continually sense, process, and memorize information in a decentralized way. Here, we introduce an approach that enables all such functionalities in a soft mechanical material system.
View Article and Find Full Text PDF