Regional brain glucose uptake following gastric bypass surgery during normo- and hypoglycemic clamp: a pilot FDG-PET study.

Purpose: We aimed to characterize the RYGB-induced changes in the dynamics of brain glucose uptake. We addressed heterogeneity between brain regions during experimental normo- and hypoglycemia and explored associations with anthropometric and metabolic outcomes of RYGB.

Methods: Analyses of regional brain glucose uptake were performed on 9 individuals with obesity and no diabetes, investigated with combined brain F-FDG-PET and fMRI during hyperinsulinemic normo- and hypoglycemic clamp, one month before and four months after RYGB.

Electrolytes as predictors of fibro fatigue scores in Long-COVID patients.

Background: The complex effects of Long-COVID, a syndrome marked by enduring symptoms after COVID-19 infection, with an emphasis on patients' differing degrees of fibro fatigue (FF). Electrolyte disturbances may affect the severity of FF and may be used as a predictive tool for severe FF in Long-COVID patients.

Objective: The aim is to use the electrolyte levels for prediction of the Long-COVID patients with high FF levels.

Home versus Clinic Blood Pressure Monitoring: Evaluating Applicability in Hypertension Management via Telemedicine.

Hypertension is a significant public health concern in Saudi Arabia, affecting 28.6% of the population. Despite the availability of effective treatments, optimal blood pressure control is not always achieved, highlighting the need for effective management strategies.

Causative bacteria of ventilator-associated pneumonia in intensive care unit in Bahrain: Prevalence and antibiotics susceptibility pattern.

Background: Ventilator-associated pneumonia (VAP) is defined as pneumonia that occurs two calendar days following endotracheal intubation or after that. It is the most common infection encountered among intubated patients. VAP incidence showed wide variability between countries.

Preparation and characterization of UHMWPE reinforced with polyester fibers for artificial cervical disc replacement (ACDR).

of this paper is to report on the preparation and improvement of a biocomposite material made from ultra-high molecular weight polyethylene for the replacement of natural discs. Such replacements are necessary due to intervertebral disc degradation as humans age, which can cause persistent pain due to nerve compression and high friction between vertebrae that can lead to vertebral corrosion. The material was shown to have excellent mechanical properties such as low coefficient of friction, and biocompatibility; however, it degraded with time due to wear failure.

Perception of dental professionals towards dental management of patients using antithrombotic medications in Saudi Arabia: A cross-sectional survey.

Objectives: To assess dental professionals' perception and knowledge about dental management of patients on antithrombotics and determine if the treatment approach is according to the international guidelines.

Methods: This cross-sectional survey was conducted in Saudi Arabia during January 2014-December 2015 and included licensed dentists and hygienists from different dental institutions and Saudi's annual dental conference attendees. Data were collected by using a self-administered questionnaire, with questions about dental management of patients on antithrombotics.

Moxifloxacin reduces Stenotrophomonas maltophilia adhesion to mouse intestinal tract in vitro.

Stenotrophomonas maltophilia is an important opportunistic pathogen that affects immunocompromised individuals. Viable bacterial count method was used to count the number of adhered bacteria. The current study showed the efficiency of S.

Molecular Changes During Breast Cancer and Mechanisms of Endocrine Therapy Resistance.

Estrogen receptors (ERs) are expressed in 75% of breast cancers. ERs and their estrogen ligands play a key role in the development and progression of breast cancer. ERs have a genomic activity involving direct modulation of expression of genes vital to cell growth and survival by their classic nuclear receptors.

Chimeric antigen receptor engineering: a right step in the evolution of adoptive cellular immunotherapy.

Cancer immunotherapy comprises different therapeutic strategies that exploit the use of distinct components of the immune system, with the common goal of specifically targeting and eradicating neoplastic cells. These varied approaches include the use of specific monoclonal antibodies, checkpoint inhibitors, cytokines, therapeutic cancer vaccines and cellular anticancer strategies such as activated dendritic cell (DC) vaccines, tumor-infiltrating lymphocytes (TILs) and, more recently, genetically engineered T cells. Each one of these approaches has demonstrated promise, but their generalized success has been hindered by the paucity of specific tumor targets resulting in suboptimal tumor responses and unpredictable toxicities.

The role of human papilloma virus (HPV) infection in non-anogenital cancer and the promise of immunotherapy: a review.

Over the past 30 years, human papilloma virus (HPV) has been shown to play a role in the development of various cancers. Most notably, HPV has been linked to malignant progression in neoplasms of the anogenital region. However, high-risk HPV has also been suggested to play a significant role in the development of cancers in other anatomic locations, such as the head and neck, lung, breast and bladder.

Mast cells and the liver aging process.

It has now ascertained that the clinical manifestations of liver disease in the elderly population reflect both the cumulative effects of longevity on the liver and the generalized senescence of the organism ability to adjust to metabolic, infectious, and immunologic insults. Although liver tests are not significantly affected by age, the presentation of liver diseases such as viral hepatitis may be subtler in the elderly population than that of younger patients.Human immunosenescence is a situation in which the immune system, particularly T lymphocyte function, deteriorates with age, while innate immunity is negligibly affected and in some cases almost up-regulated.

Cancer testes antigens in breast cancer: biological role, regulation, and therapeutic applicability.

Breast cancer remains one of the leading causes of death among women across the world. The last few decades have seen significant reduction in mortality owing to earlier detection and better adjuvant treatments that were developed based on clinical staging and morphological features. As these treatments have evolved, the heterogeneity of breast cancer poses a new challenge, since there is no standard gold-therapy suitable for all tumors of the mammary gland.

Aging, cancer, and cancer vaccines.

World population has experienced continuous growth since 1400 A.D. Current projections show a continued increase - but a steady decline in the population growth rate - with the number expected to reach between 8 and 10.

Hyperthyroidism and pulmonary hypertension: an important association.

Pulmonary hypertension is a complex disorder with multiple etiologies. The World Health Organization Group 5 (unclear multifactorial mechanisms) includes patients with thyroid disorders. The authors reviewed the literature on the association between hyperthyroidism and pulmonary hypertension and identified 20 publications reporting 164 patients with treatment outcomes.

Proton pump inhibitors and risk of fracture: a systematic review and meta-analysis of observational studies.

Objectives: Proton pump inhibitors (PPIs) are widely used in several acid-related gastrointestinal disorders. In vivo studies have suggested that gastric suppression by PPIs could result in decreased intestinal calcium absorption. Subsequently, there have been concerns that the chronic use of a PPI is associated with an increased risk of bone fracture.

Airway obstruction is increased in pneumocystis-colonized human immunodeficiency virus-infected outpatients.

We investigated the relationship of Pneumocystis colonization, matrix metalloprotease levels in sputum, and airway obstruction in a cohort of human immunodeficiency virus (HIV)-infected outpatients. Pneumocystis-colonized subjects had worse obstruction of airways and higher levels of matrix metalloprotease-12 in sputa, suggesting that Pneumocystis colonization may be important in HIV-associated chronic obstructive pulmonary disease.

Outcome of HIV-associated Pneumocystis pneumonia in hospitalized patients from 2000 through 2003.

Background: Pneumocystis pneumonia (PCP) remains a leading cause of morbidity and mortality in HIV-infected persons. Epidemiology of PCP in the recent era of highly active antiretroviral therapy (HAART) is not well known and the impact of HAART on outcome of PCP has been debated.

Aim: To determine the epidemiology of PCP in HIV-infected patients and examine the impact of HAART on PCP outcome.

Clinical experience with a hypotonic oral rehydration solution in acute diarrhoea.

A hypotonic oral rehydration salts (ORS) solution with total osmolality of 224 mosmol/l was compared in an open clinical trial with an isotonic (osmolality 304 mosmol/l) ORS solution for the treatment of dehydration due to acute diarrhoea. Both ORS solutions had the same electrolyte composition with a Na+ concentration of 60 mmol/l. Children given the hypotonic ORS solution (n = 103) passed significantly fewer diarrhoeal stools, and their diarrhoea and hospital stay were shorter than those of children given the isotonic ORS solution (n = 135).