Global and regional incidence of intrahepatic cholestasis of pregnancy: a systematic review and meta-analysis.

Background: Intrahepatic cholestasis of pregnancy (ICP) can be a source of significant distress for both pregnant women and the fetus, impairing the quality of life and well-being of pregnant women, leading to psychological disorders among pregnant women with severe or recurrent ICP, and causing life-threatening complications among fetuses. Regrettably, our current understanding of ICP globally is limited, lacking a comprehensive estimation of its incidence. Therefore, in this systematic review and meta-analysis, we aimed to investigate the global and regional incidence of ICP and identify factors that account for its variety across studies.

Epigenomic and clinical analyses of striatal DAT binding in healthy individuals reveal well-known loci of Parkinson's disease.

Background: Striatal dopamine transporter (DAT) binding is a sensitive and specific endophenotype for detecting dopaminergic deficits across Parkinson's disease (PD) spectrum. Molecular and clinical signatures of PD in asymptomatic phases help understand the earliest pathophysiological mechanisms underlying the disease. We aimed to investigate whether blood epigenetic markers are associated with inter-individual variation of striatal DAT binding among healthy elderly individuals.

Non-coding RNAs in cancer immunotherapy: A solution to overcome immune resistance?

With the rapid advancement in immunotherapy, cancer immune resistance has become more evident, which demands new treatment approaches to achieve greater efficacy. Non-coding RNAs (ncRNAs) are a heterogeneous group of RNAs that are not translated to proteins but instead regulate different stages of gene expression. Recent studies have increasingly supported the critical role of ncRNAs in immune cell-cancer cell cross-talk, and numerous ncRNAs have been implicated in the immune evasion of cancer cells.

The blood pressure-lowering property of subcutaneous semaglutide: a systematic review, meta-analysis, and meta-regression.

Purpose: Semaglutide is a glucagon-like peptide (GLP1) receptor agonist with unprecedented weight-lowering and anti-hyperglycemic properties. Recent clinical trials reported that subcutaneous semaglutide can modulate blood pressure; however, its effect on blood pressure widely varied in different studies and different subgroups of patients.

Methods: PubMed, Web of Science, Scopus, and the Cochrane Library were systematically searched from the inception to July 18, 2024.

Noncoding Ribonucleic Acids (RNAs) May Improve Response to Immunotherapy in Pancreatic Cancer.

Pancreatic ductal adenocarcinoma (PDAC) is the seventh most common cause of cancer-related mortality. Despite different methods of treatment, nearly more than 90% of patients with PDAC die shortly after diagnosis. Contrary to promising results in other cancers, immune checkpoint inhibitors (ICIs) showed limited success in PDAC.

Tirzepatide outcompetes long-acting insulin in managing type 2 diabetes: a meta-analysis of three phase 3 randomized controlled trials.

In this systematic review and meta-analysis, we compared the efficacy and safety of tirzepatide with those of long-acting or ultra-long-acting insulin for type 2 diabetes. PubMed, Web of Science, Scopus, and Google Scholar were searched from the inception to August 20, 2023. All clinical trials or randomized clinical trials comparing the efficacy of tirzepatide with long-acting or ultra-long-acting insulin for treating type 2 diabetes were included.

Clinical manifestation, epidemiology, genetic basis, potential molecular targets, and current treatment of polycystic liver disease.

Polycystic liver disease (PLD) is a rare condition observed in three genetic diseases, including autosomal dominant polycystic liver disease (ADPLD), autosomal dominant polycystic kidney disease (ADPKD), and autosomal recessive polycystic kidney disease (ARPKD). PLD usually does not impair liver function, and advanced PLD becomes symptomatic when the enlarged liver compresses adjacent organs or increases intra-abdominal pressure. Currently, the diagnosis of PLD is mainly based on imaging, and genetic testing is not required except for complex cases.

The Pathophysiological Associations Between Obesity, NAFLD, and Atherosclerotic Cardiovascular Diseases.

Obesity, non-alcoholic fatty liver disease (NAFLD), and atherosclerotic cardiovascular diseases are common and growing public health concerns. Previous epidemiological studies unfolded the robust correlation between obesity, NAFLD, and atherosclerotic cardiovascular diseases. Obesity is a well-known risk factor for NAFLD, and both of them can markedly increase the odds of atherosclerotic cardiovascular diseases.

Development and Application of Prototype System Based on Light-Emitting Diode Arrays (660 nm) with a Top Hat Beam Profile in Order to Optimize Photobiomodulation Protocols for Treatment of Radiation-Induced Oral Mucositis in Rats.

Oral mucositis (OM) is a common adverse effect of radiation to the head and neck. Recent research has shown that extra oral photobiomodulation (EO-PBM) reduces the severity of OM. However, appropriate EO-PBM therapy parameters for OM severity reduction have not been documented.

Genome- and Exome-Wide Association Studies Revealed Candidate Genes Associated with DaTscan Imaging Features.

Introduction: Despite remarkable progress in identifying Parkinson's disease (PD) genetic risk loci, the genetic basis of PD remains largely unknown. With the help of the endophenotype approach and using data from dopamine transporter single-photon emission computerized tomography (DaTscan), we identified potentially involved genes in PD.

Method: We conducted an imaging genetic study by performing exome-wide association study (EWAS) and genome-wide association study (GWAS) on the specific binding ratio (SBR) of six DaTscan anatomical areas between 489 and 559 subjects of Parkinson's progression markers initiative (PPMI) cohort and 83,623 and 36,845 single-nucleotide polymorphisms (SNPs)/insertion-deletion mutations (INDELs).

The prevalence and predictors of geriatric giants in community-dwelling older adults: a cross-sectional study from the Middle East.

The term "geriatric giants" refers to the chronic disabilities of senescence leading to adverse health outcomes. This study aimed to investigate the prevalence and predictors of geriatric giants in Southern Iran. The participants were selected from Bushehr city using a multistage cluster random sampling method.

Protective effects of melatonin against oxidative stress induced by metabolic disorders in the male reproductive system: a systematic review and meta-analysis of rodent models.

Background: Male infertility is a multifaceted issue that has gained scientific interest due to its increasing rate. Studies have demonstrated that oxidative stress is involved in male infertility development. Furthermore, metabolic disorders, including obesity, diabetes, hypo- and hyperthyroidism, are risk factors for male infertility, and oxidative stress is believed to contribute to this association.

Recent progress in the immunotherapy of hepatocellular carcinoma: Non-coding RNA-based immunotherapy may improve the outcome.

Hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) is the second most lethal cancer and a leading cause of cancer-related mortality worldwide. Immune checkpoint inhibitors (ICIs) significantly improved the prognosis of HCC; however, the therapeutic response remains unsatisfactory in a substantial proportion of patients or needs to be further improved in responders. Herein, other methods of immunotherapy, including vaccine-based immunotherapy, adoptive cell therapy, cytokine delivery, kynurenine pathway inhibition, and gene delivery, have been adopted in clinical trials.

The beneficial effects of mesenchymal stem cells and their exosomes on myocardial infarction and critical considerations for enhancing their efficacy.

Mesenchymal stem cells (MSCs) are multipotent stromal cells with regenerative, anti-inflammatory, and immunomodulatory properties. MSCs and their exosomes significantly improved structural and functional alterations after myocardial infarction (MI) in preclinical studies and clinical trials. By reprograming intracellular signaling pathways, MSCs attenuate inflammatory response, oxidative stress, apoptosis, pyroptosis, and endoplasmic reticulum (ER) stress and improve angiogenesis, mitochondrial biogenesis, and myocardial remodeling after MI.

Weight loss breaks the bond between nonalcoholic fatty liver disease and cardiovascular diseases: A clinical and epidemiological perspective.

Nonalcoholic fatty liver disease (NAFLD) is a growing health concern that is closely related to obesity and metabolic syndrome. In particular, NAFLD has been increasingly reported in adolescents and young adults in recent years. Cardiovascular diseases (CVDs) such as cardiac remodeling, heart failure, myocardial infarction, valvular heart diseases, and arrhythmia are more common in patients with NAFLD.

Low-dose sumatriptan improves the outcome of acute mesenteric ischemia in rats via downregulating kynurenine.

Background: Mesenteric ischemia has remained without effective pharmacological management for many years. Sumatriptan, an abortive medication for migraine and cluster headaches, has potent anti-inflammatory properties and ameliorated organ ischemia in previous animal studies. Similarly, inhibition of the kynurenine pathway ameliorated renal and myocardial ischemia/reperfusion (I/R) in many preclinical studies.

Sestrin2 Signaling Pathway Regulates Podocyte Biology and Protects against Diabetic Nephropathy.

Sestrin2 regulates cell homeostasis and is an upstream signaling molecule for several signaling pathways. Sestrin2 leads to AMP-activated protein kinase- (AMPK-) and GTPase-activating protein activity toward Rags (GATOR) 1-mediated inhibition of mammalian target of rapamycin complex 1 (mTORC1), thereby enhancing autophagy. Sestrin2 also improves mitochondrial biogenesis via AMPK/Sirt1/peroxisome proliferator-activated receptor-gamma coactivator (PGC-1) signaling pathway.

Metastatic melanoma presenting with dyspepsia: a case report.

The gastrointestinal tract is an uncommon site for metastasis. Gastrointestinal metastasis of melanoma is usually asymptomatic, often affects the small intestine (81.1%) and the colon (15.

Sildenafil improves radiation-induced oral mucositis by attenuating oxidative stress, NF-κB, ERK and JNK signalling pathways.

Radiation-induced oral mucositis is a common and dose-limiting complication of head and neck radiotherapy with no effective treatment. Previous studies revealed that sildenafil, a phosphodiesterase 5 inhibitor, has anti-inflammatory and anti-cancer effects. In this study, we investigated the effect of sildenafil on radiation-induced mucositis in rats.

The Footprint of Kynurenine Pathway in Cardiovascular Diseases.

Kynurenine pathway is the main route of tryptophan metabolism and produces several metabolites with various biologic properties. It has been uncovered that several cardiovascular diseases are associated with the overactivation of kynurenine pathway and kynurenine and its metabolites have diagnostic and prognostic value in cardiovascular diseases. Furthermore, it was found that several kynurenine metabolites can differently affect cardiovascular health.

Sestrin2 in cancer: a foe or a friend?

Sestrin2 is a conserved antioxidant, metabolism regulator, and downstream of P53. Sestrin2 can suppress oxidative stress and inflammation, thereby preventing the development and progression of cancer. However, Sestrin2 attenuates severe oxidative stress by activating nuclear factor erythroid 2-related factor 2 (Nrf2), thereby enhancing cancer cells survival and chemoresistance.

Sodium Selenite Modulates IDO1/Kynurenine, TLR4, NF-κB and Bcl2/Bax Pathway and Mitigates Acetic Acid-Induced Colitis in Rat.

Background/aims: Colitis is a main presentation of inflammatory bowel disease (IBD) and yet, has no definitive cure. Currently, corticosteroids, anti-tumor necrosis factor (anti-TNF) agents and 5-aminosalicylic acid derivatives are prescribed for management of colitis. Except their failure rate, they are not always tolerated because of their severe adverse effects.

Empagliflozin Enhances Autophagy, Mitochondrial Biogenesis, and Antioxidant Defense and Ameliorates Renal Ischemia/Reperfusion in Nondiabetic Rats.

Background: Recent meta-analyses have shown that sodium-glucose cotransporter 2 (SGLT-2) inhibitors alleviate chronic kidney disease and acute kidney injury in diabetic patients. In this study, we aimed to investigate the effect of empagliflozin on renal ischemia/reperfusion (I/R) in nondiabetic rats and find the possible mechanisms. .

Target c-Myc to treat pancreatic cancer.

C-Myc overexpression is a common finding in pancreatic cancer and predicts the aggressive behavior of cancer cells. It binds to the promoter of different genes, thereby regulating their transcription. C-Myc is downstream of KRAS and interacts with several oncogenic and proliferative pathways in pancreatic cancer.