Publications by authors named "Malek R"

Glioblastoma multiforme (GBM) is the most common and aggressive primary brain tumor in adults, characterized by resistance to conventional therapies and poor survival. Ferroptosis, a form of regulated cell death driven by lipid peroxidation, has recently emerged as a promising therapeutic target for GBM treatment. However, there are currently no non-invasive imaging techniques to monitor the engagement of pro-ferroptotic compounds with their respective targets, or to monitor the efficacy of ferroptosis-based therapies.

View Article and Find Full Text PDF
Article Synopsis
  • A biocompatible polyelectrolyte complex (PEC) was created using Tragacanth gum (TG) and chitosan (CS) to explore its potential biological applications, with an optimized TG:CS ratio of 18:2 identified through various tests.
  • The study found that at pH 4, TG and CS showed strong interactions, highlighting charge neutralization in the PECs, which featured a unique macroporous structure.
  • The PEC cryogel demonstrated significant antibacterial activity against E. coli and S. aureus, while also promoting wound healing in human fibroblast cells without any toxic effects.
View Article and Find Full Text PDF

Background: Recent advances in stroke care have led to improvements in survival and rates of stroke recurrence. However, there is a lack of data on trends of major vascular events, and risk factors associated with non-fatal and fatal outcomes. We aim to identify demographical and clinical factors leading to incidence of subsequent major vascular events after the first-ever stroke.

View Article and Find Full Text PDF
Article Synopsis
  • Metformin has been a staple in treating type 2 diabetes for years and is also used off-label for conditions like gestational diabetes and polycystic ovarian syndrome due to its insulin-sensitizing properties.
  • In 2022, it became the only oral medication approved by the European Union for managing diabetes during pregnancy, showing safety and benefits for mothers while crossing the placenta to the baby.
  • Benefits for mothers include reduced weight gain and lower risk of pre-eclampsia; however, long-term effects on their children are still uncertain, necessitating further research on potential concerns like small-for-gestational-age (SGA) outcomes.
View Article and Find Full Text PDF

Objective: Autonomously functioning thyroid nodules (AFTN) can be treated with antithyroid drugs, radioactive iodine (RAI), thyroid lobectomy or radiofrequency ablation (RFA). Although surgery is most definitive, some patients require lifelong hormone supplementation. RFA avoids this sequela, but its efficacy depends on nodule size.

View Article and Find Full Text PDF

Insulin autoimmune syndrome (IAS), or Hirata's disease, is a rare disease characterized by episodes of hypoglycemia with elevated levels of insulin secondary to high concentrations of insulin autoantibodies. The use of methimazole is a risk factor for the development of Hirata's disease. We report a case of a 47-year-old man being treated for thyroid storm initially with methimazole and other agents.

View Article and Find Full Text PDF

Regenerative medicine, specifically bone marrow aspirate concentrate (BMAC) and platelet-rich plasma (PRP), has become a novel adjunct that orthopedic surgeons have started to use with surgical rotator cuff repairs (RCR). Thus, we are conducting this systematic review to determine if either RCRs with BMAC alone or with BMAC and PRP result in superior functional outcomes. We conducted a comprehensive search using five databases including PubMed, Web of Science, Embase, Scopus, and Cochrane.

View Article and Find Full Text PDF

Introduction: The aim of this work was to assess the safety and effectiveness of concomitant iGlarLixi and sodium-glucose co-transporter-2 inhibitors (SGLT-2i) use in adults with type 2 diabetes (T2D) who fasted during Ramadan.

Methods: Of the 420 eligible participants from the SoliRam study, 174 were using SGLT-2i in addition to iGlarLixi and 246 were not using SGLT-2i, referred to as SGLT-2i user and non-user, respectively. The primary endpoint was the proportion of participants experiencing ≥ 1 severe and/or symptomatic documented (< 70 mg/dl [< 3.

View Article and Find Full Text PDF

At present, one of the most promising strategies to tackle the complex challenges posed by Alzheimer's disease (AD) involves the development of novel multitarget-directed ligands (MTDLs). To this end, we designed and synthesized nine new MTDLs using a straightforward and cost-efficient one-pot Biginelli three-component reaction. Among these newly developed compounds, one particular small molecule, named has emerged as a promising MTDL.

View Article and Find Full Text PDF

Background: Managing diabetes during Ramadan fasting is a challenge due lifestyle changes. We described the characteristics and patterns of care for type 2 diabetes mellitus (T2DM) during Ramadan 2020 and 2022.

Methods: Our study included multinational Muslims with T2DM who were during routine consultation.

View Article and Find Full Text PDF
Article Synopsis
  • The study compares the real-world effectiveness and safety of three treatments for atopic dermatitis: dupilumab, ciclosporin (CyA), and methotrexate (MTX), using data from the A-STAR register in the UK and Ireland.
  • It involved 488 patients (adults and children) and measured treatment outcomes like the Eczema Area and Severity Index (EASI) and quality of life scales over 12 months.
  • Results showed that dupilumab and CyA led to faster improvements in skin severity scores and overall patient outcomes compared to MTX, indicating dupilumab is an effective option in managing atopic dermatitis.
View Article and Find Full Text PDF
Article Synopsis
  • Primary diabetes care and diabetic retinopathy (DR) screening face challenges due to a lack of trained primary care physicians, especially in low-resource areas.
  • The integrated image-language system, DeepDR-LLM, combines a language model and deep learning to help PCPs provide tailored diabetes management recommendations, showing comparable or better accuracy than PCPs in diagnosing DR.
  • In a study, patients assisted by DeepDR-LLM demonstrated improved self-management and adherence to referral recommendations, indicating that the system enhances both care quality and patient outcomes.
View Article and Find Full Text PDF
Article Synopsis
  • - The study evaluates the efficacy and safety of the new biologic medication lebrikizumab for treating atopic dermatitis in comparison to other systemic treatments, using a systematic network meta-analysis of clinical trials.
  • - Data was gathered from various medical databases, focusing on trials that assessed treatment effects for at least 8 weeks in patients with moderate to severe atopic dermatitis, with analysis conducted using random-effects Bayesian methods.
  • - Key outcomes measured include the improvement in eczema severity (using scales like EASI and POEM), safety indicators such as serious adverse events, and the ability of participants to achieve significant improvements in their condition.
View Article and Find Full Text PDF

Objective: The study aimed to assess the construct validity of the Arab Hand Function Index and the Arabic Health Assessment Questionnaire in Algerian patients with systemic sclerosis.

Methods: Consecutive Algerian patients who fulfilled the American College of Rheumatology/European League Against Rheumatism criteria for systemic sclerosis were included. In addition to disease characteristics, global disability and hand disability were assessed using the Arabic Health Assessment Questionnaire and the Arab Hand Function Index, respectively.

View Article and Find Full Text PDF

Background: Increased arterial stiffness and pulse wave velocity (PWV) of the aorta and large arteries impose adverse hemodynamic effects on the heart and other organs. Antihypertensive treatment reduces PWV, but it is unknown whether this results from an unloading of stiffer elements in the arterial wall or is due to an alternate functional or structural change that might differ according to class of antihypertensive drug.

Methods: We performed a systematic review and meta-analysis of the effects of different antihypertensive drug classes and duration of treatment on PWV with and without adjustment for change in mean arterial blood pressure (BP; study 1) and compared this to the change in PWV after an acute change in transmural pressure, simulating an acute change in BP (study 2).

View Article and Find Full Text PDF

Purpose Of Review: Targeting specific steroidogenic enzymes is effective in decreasing testosterone synthesis, resulting in significant antitumor effects in prostate cancer. Such treatments result in disruptions of complicated and intertwining pathways with systemic physiologic consequences via effects on the adrenal gland and renin-angiotensin-aldosterone axis. This review highlights some of these aspects that need to be taken into consideration when treating patients with androgen biosynthesis inhibitors.

View Article and Find Full Text PDF

Purpose: To the best of our knowledge, implementation of artificial intelligence (AI)-based vision screening in community health fair settings has not been previously studied. This prospective cohort study explored the incorporation of AI in a community health fair setting to improve access to eyecare.

Methods: Vision screening was implemented during a community health fair event using an AI-based non-mydriatic fundus camera.

View Article and Find Full Text PDF

Despite recent advances in the use of adeno-associated viruses (AAVs) as potential vehicles for genetic intervention of central and peripheral nervous system-associated disorders, gene therapy for the treatment of neuropathology in adults has not been approved to date. The currently FDA-approved AAV-vector based gene therapies rely on naturally occurring serotypes, such as AAV2 or AAV9, which display limited or no transport across the blood-brain barrier (BBB) if systemically administered. Recently developed engineered AAV variants have shown broad brain transduction and reduced off-target liver toxicity in non-human primates (NHPs).

View Article and Find Full Text PDF

Social and health disparities among transgender people may result in increased rates of incarceration, particularly among Black transgender women. The World Professional Association for Transgender Health states that all recommendations for gender-affirming care made in the Standards of Care-8 be applied equally to people living in institutions. Understanding the structural challenges to gender-affirming care in the corrections environment will allow the endocrinologist to navigate the complex correctional health care system.

View Article and Find Full Text PDF
Article Synopsis
  • A systematic review and network meta-analysis evaluated the efficacy of systemic treatments for atopic dermatitis, focusing on binary outcomes from randomized trials that lasted at least 8 weeks.
  • The analysis included 83 trials with over 22,000 participants, comparing treatments based on their success rates in improving symptoms as measured by the Eczema Area and Severity Index (EASI) and Investigator Global Assessment (IGA).
  • Results indicated that abrocitinib and upadacitinib had higher odds of achieving significant symptom improvement compared to dupilumab, while other treatments like baricitinib and tralokinumab showed lower odds of success.
View Article and Find Full Text PDF

Midface hypoplasia in syndromic craniosynostosis (SC) may lead to serious respiratory issues. The aim of this study was to analyse the morphometric correlation between midface and cranial base parameters in paediatric SC patients in order to formulate predictive regression models. The computed tomography scans of 18 SC patients and 20 control were imported into Materialise Mimics Medical version 21.

View Article and Find Full Text PDF

Telemedicine can be an effective tool for managing chronic diseases. The disruption in traditional diabetes care resulting from the COVID-19 pandemic led to global interest in telemedicine. With this manuscript, we evaluated the use of telemedicine for the management of diabetes during the pandemic and its impact on glycemic control, focusing on retrospective and prospective studies which included adult, non-pregnant patients with diabetes.

View Article and Find Full Text PDF