Long-term enteral nutrition with a nasogastric tube can be safe and effective: A case report.

Home enteral nutrition (HEN) is a vital feeding practice for those who have chronic disorders that prevent them from eating normally. Although short-term feeding is predominantly done via nasogastric (NG) tubes and long-term feeding is done via percutaneous endoscopic gastrostomy (PEG) tube, we present a case that demonstrates that the long-term use of NG tubes may be possible. Our case involves an adult woman who has been fed via an NG tube for >3 years with no complications.

Metabolomics-Based Machine Learning Models Accurately Predict Breast Cancer Estrogen Receptor Status.

Breast cancer is a global concern as a leading cause of death for women. Early and precise diagnosis can be vital in handling the disease efficiently. Breast cancer subtyping based on estrogen receptor (ER) status is crucial for determining prognosis and treatment.

Understanding the Role of Vitamin D in Heart Failure.

Vitamin D is now believed to have a significant role in cardiac signal transduction and regulation of gene expression, and thus influences normal cardiomyocyte function. It has been reported to provide cardioprotection through its anti-inflammatory, anti-apoptotic and anti-fibrotic actions; and to prevent cardiac remodeling, -handling defects, and abnormal electrophysiological patterns. A vitamin D deficient state has been associated in the pathogenesis of heart failure; however, while many clinical studies report a benefit of vitamin D to heart function, other clinical studies are inconsistent with these findings.

Biomarkers for Early Detection of Cancer: Molecular Aspects.

According to the World Health Organization, cancer is a leading cause of death worldwide, representing almost 10 million deaths in 2020 [...

Role of phospholipase C in catecholamine-induced increase in myocardial protein synthesis.

The activation of the α-adrenoceptor-(α-AR) by norepinephrine results in the G-protein (Gqα) mediated increase in the phosphoinositide-specific phospholipase C (PLC) activity. The byproducts of PLC hydrolytic activity, namely, 1,2-diacylglycerol and inositol-1,4,5-trisphosphate, are important downstream signal transducers for increased protein synthesis in the cardiomyocyte and the subsequent hypertrophic response. In this article, evidence was outlined to demonstrate the role of cardiomyocyte PLC isozymes in the catecholamine-induced increase in protein synthesis by using a blocker of α-AR and an inhibitor of PLC.

Modification of Ischemia/Reperfusion-Induced Alterations in Subcellular Organelles by Ischemic Preconditioning.

It is now well established that ischemia/reperfusion (I/R) injury is associated with the compromised recovery of cardiac contractile function. Such an adverse effect of I/R injury in the heart is attributed to the development of oxidative stress and intracellular Ca-overload, which are known to induce remodeling of subcellular organelles such as sarcolemma, sarcoplasmic reticulum, mitochondria and myofibrils. However, repeated episodes of brief periods of ischemia followed by reperfusion or ischemic preconditioning (IP) have been shown to improve cardiac function and exert cardioprotective actions against the adverse effects of prolonged I/R injury.

Use of amantadine in the evaluation of response to chemotherapy in lung cancer: a pilot study.

Aim: The assessment of tumor response to therapy is of critical importance as it permits for a prospective end point evaluation and provides a guide to clinicians for making future treatment decisions. However, current practices in early evaluation of chemotherapy are insufficient. Amantadine is a substrate for .

N95 mask reuse in a major urban hospital: COVID-19 response process and procedure.

Background: The shortage of single-use N95 respirator masks (NRMs) during the severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2) pandemic has prompted consideration of NRM recycling to extend limited stocks by healthcare providers and facilities.

Aim: To assess potential reuse via autoclaving of NRMs worn daily in a major urban Canadian hospital.

Methods: NRM reusability was assessed following collection from volunteer staff after 2-8 h use, sterilization by autoclaving and PortaCount fit testing.

A High-Performing Plasma Metabolite Panel for Early-Stage Lung Cancer Detection.

The objective of this research is to use metabolomic techniques to discover and validate plasma metabolite biomarkers for the diagnosis of early-stage non-small cell lung cancer (NSCLC). The study included plasma samples from 156 patients with biopsy-confirmed NSCLC along with age and gender-matched plasma samples from 60 healthy controls. A fully quantitative targeted mass spectrometry (MS) analysis (targeting 138 metabolites) was performed on all samples.

Predictive value and clinical significance of increased SSAT-1 activity in healthy adults.

Aim: Spermidine/spermine N-acetyltransferase (SSAT-1) regulates cell growth, proliferation and death. Amantadine is converted by SSAT-1 to acetylamantadine (AA). In our earlier studies, although SSAT-1 was activated in patients with cancer, a number of ostensibly healthy adult volunteers had higher than expected AA concentration.

Use of amantadine as substrate for SSAT-1 activity as a reliable clinical diagnostic assay for breast and lung cancer.

Aim: Spermidine/spermine N-acetyltransferase (SSAT-1) plays a critical role in cell growth, proliferation and death, and is known to be activated in human cancer cells. Amantadine, a US FDA-approved antiviral drug, is a substrate for SSAT-1 and can be used to indirectly measure SSAT-1 activity because of its conversion to acetylamantadine (AA). This study was undertaken to further validate SSAT-1 activity in breast and lung cancer patients.

Developmental origins of myocardial abnormalities in postnatal life .

Poor quality and quantity maternal nutrition during pregnancy exerts permanent and damaging effects on the heart of the developing fetus. The developmental origin of adult heart disease is considered an important and critical factor in the pathogenesis of myocardial abnormalities in later life. Low birth mass, a marker of intrauterine stress, has been linked to a predisposition to heart disease.

Cost-effectiveness analysis of rheumatic heart disease prevention strategies.

Rheumatic heart disease (RHD), secondary to group A streptococcal infection is endemic in the developing as well as parts of the developed world with significant costs to the patient, and to the healthcare system. We briefly review the prevalence and cost of RHD in developed and developing nations. We subsequently develop a Markov model to evaluate the cost-effectiveness of three strategies (vs standard no prevention) for preventing RHD in a developing world country: primary prophylaxis (throat swab to detect and subsequently treat group A streptococci as needed); primary prophylaxis (antibiotic prophylaxis for all) with benzathine penicillin G once monthly to all patients (ages 5-21 years) regardless of evidence of infection; and secondary prophylaxis with monthly only to those with echocardiographic evidence of early RHD.

Potent antihypertensive action of dietary flaxseed in hypertensive patients.

Flaxseed contains ω-3 fatty acids, lignans, and fiber that together may provide benefits to patients with cardiovascular disease. Animal work identified that patients with peripheral artery disease may particularly benefit from dietary supplementation with flaxseed. Hypertension is commonly associated with peripheral artery disease.

An international basic science and clinical research summer program for medical students.

An important part of training the next generation of physicians is ensuring that they are exposed to the integral role that research plays in improving medical treatment. However, medical students often do not have sufficient time to be trained to carry out any projects in biomedical and clinical research. Many medical students also fail to understand and grasp translational research as an important concept today.

The effect of dietary flaxseed on improving symptoms of cardiovascular disease in patients with peripheral artery disease: rationale and design of the FLAX-PAD randomized controlled trial.

Background: Flaxseed is an important source of alpha-linolenic acid an essential omega-3 fatty acid. The possibility that a supplementation of the diet with foods rich in alpha-linolenic acid, antioxidants and fiber (like flaxseed) has not been investigated.

Methods/design: The primary objective is to determine whether consumption of a diet rich in FLAXseed over a one year period has any beneficial cardiovascular effects in patients with Peripheral Arterial Disease (FLAX-PAD study).

Plasmid lipid and lipoprotein pattern in the Inuit of the Keewatin district of the Northwest territories.

It has long been recognized that certain indigenous populations, such as the traditional living Inuit, have been relatively spared from ischemic heart disease despite their high fat diet. There is evidence to suggest that elevated serum levels of oxidated cholesterol may be a strong risk factor for atherogenesis. This study was performed to examine the plasma levels of lipid, triglyceride, lipoprotein cholesterol and oxidated cholesterol derivatives in the Inuit of the Keewatin district of Canada.

Immunofluorescence imaging as a tool for studying the pharmacokinetics of a human monoclonal single chain fragment antibody.

We have used immunofluorescence imaging to study binding of a monoclonal antibody fragment to subcutaneously implanted human melanoma cells in nude mice. The data acquired using this nontraditional approach was then analyzed using standard pharmacokinetic methods to produce estimates of k(e) (0.06h(-1)), t 1/2 (16 h), mean residency time (23.

Noninvasive localization of tumors by immunofluorescence imaging using a single chain Fv fragment of a human monoclonal antibody with broad cancer specificity.

Background: A single chain antibody fragment, NovoMAb-G2-scFv, derived from a human anti-tumor monoclonal antibody recognizes tumor antigen molecules expressed on a wide variety of human cancers including melanoma, breast carcinoma, colon adenocarcinoma, squamous cell carcinoma, lung carcinoma, and prostate carcinoma. This study was designed to evaluate the use of a NovoMab-G2-scFv/cyanine fluorochrome (Cy5.5.

Diffusion- and T2-weighted increases in magnetic resonance images of immature brain during hypoxia-ischemia: transient reversal posthypoxia.

Hypoxic-ischemic changes in brain are detected earlier with diffusion-weighted (DW) than with T2-weighted magnetic resonance (MR) imaging techniques in adults, whereas the response in immature brain is not known. We investigated MR imaging changes prior to, during, and/or after 2 h of hypoxia-ischemia (right carotid artery occlusion + 2 h of hypoxia) in 7-day-old rats anesthetized with isoflurane. In general, within the first 45 min of hypoxia-ischemia there were no changes in the DW or T2-weighted images.