Decoding the role of miRNAs in multiple myeloma pathogenesis: A focus on signaling pathways.

Multiple myeloma (MM) is a cancer of plasma cells that has been extensively studied in recent years, with researchers increasingly focusing on the role of microRNAs (miRNAs) in regulating gene expression in MM. Several non-coding RNAs have been demonstrated to regulate MM pathogenesis signaling pathways. These pathways might regulate MM development, apoptosis, progression, and therapeutic outcomes.

Polarity Based Model for Guiding Medical School Strategy During Crisis - A Cross Sectional Qualitative Study.

Background: Crises in academia can best be dealt with as a polarity that needs to be leveraged rather than a problem that needs to be solved. This work aimed at utilizing the Polarity Approach for Continuity and Transformation (PACT)™ to establish a guide for medical schools during times of crisis to minimize the effect of crisis-driven decisions on strategic growth.

Subjects And Methods: A qualitative study following the 5-Steps of the PACT process was conducted.

Stop eating plastic, molecular signaling of bisphenol A in breast cancer.

Breast cancer is the second most common fatal cancer in women. Developing a breast cancer is a multi-factorial and hormonal-dependent process, which may be triggered by many risk factors. An endocrine disrupting substance known as bisphenol A (BPA), that is used greatly in the manufacture of plastic products, was suggested as a possible risk factor for developing breast cancer.

Measuring Students' Perceptions of Educational Environment in the PBL Program of Sharjah Medical College.

Background: Students' perception of their educational environment has a significant impact on their behavior and academic progress. The recent worldwide usage of innovative problem-based learning (PBL) medical programs requires major changes in medical schools and their environments. Therefore, measuring students' perceptions of the complex PBL environment has become a critical necessity as a determinant of students' academic success and as a part of attaining the quality standards of education.

Antioxidant effect of garlic (Allium sativum) and black seeds (Nigella sativa) in healthy postmenopausal women.

Objectives: The objective of this study is to investigate the antioxidant effects of garlic extract and crude black seeds' consumption on blood oxidant/antioxidant levels in healthy postmenopausal women.

Methods: In total, 30 healthy postmenopausal women (mean age = 50.31 ± 4.

Interstitial cells of Cajal, the Maestro in health and disease.

Interstitial cells of Cajal (ICC) are important players in the symphony of gut motility. They have a very significant physiological role orchestrating the normal peristaltic activity of the digestive system. They are the pacemaker cells in gastrointestinal (GI) muscles.

Functional activity of the rectum: A conduit organ or a storage organ or both?

Aim: To investigate whether the degree of rectal distension could define the rectum functions as a conduit or reservoir.

Methods: Response of the rectal and anal pressure to 2 types of rectal balloon distension, rapid voluminous and slow gradual distention, was recorded in 21 healthy volunteers (12 men, 9 women, age 41.7 +/- 10.

The effect of esophageal and gastric distension on the crural diaphragm.

Background: The mechanism of prevention of gastric reflux into the esophagus is not exactly known. The lower esophagus has a barrier function provided by the lower esophageal sphincter. We investigated the hypothesis that the crural diaphragm shares in the barrier function not only mechanically but also actively through a crural-esophageal-gastric reflex action.

Role of the rectosigmoidal junction in fecal continence: concept of the primary continent mechanism.

Hypothesis: At mass contraction of the descending colon, the colonic contents stop at the sigmoid colon (SC) and do not pass directly to the rectum. We investigated the hypothesis that a continent mechanism seems to exist at the rectosigmoidal junction (RSJ), preventing the direct passage of stools from the descending colon to the rectum.

Methods: The SC in 16 healthy volunteers (mean +/- SD age, 38.

Effect of straining on diaphragmatic crura with identification of the straining-crural reflex. The "reflex theory" in gastroesophageal competence.

Background: The role of the crural diaphragm during increased intra-abdominal pressure is not exactly known. We investigated the hypothesis that the crural diaphragm undergoes reflex phasic contraction on elevation of the intra-abdominal pressure with a resulting increase of the lower esophageal pressure and prevention of gastro-esophageal reflux.

Methods: The esophageal pressure and crural diaphragm electromyographic responses to straining were recorded in 16 subjects (10 men, 6 women, age 36.

Electromotor activity of the cecum and ascending colon: the concept of 'individual pacemakers'.

Background/aims: The cecum is described as differing anatomically from the ascending colon (AC); yet their similarity or difference in terms of motile activity has not been studied sufficiently. The cecum is separated from the AC by the cecocolonic junction (CCJ) which contains a cecocolonic sphincter. We assumed that the motile activity of the AC is different from that of the cecum and hypothesized that both the AC and the cecum might have different pacemakers which initiate the motile activity.

Vesical pacing in patients with overactive bladder: technique and results.

Objectives: A recent study has demonstrated that the electric activity of the overactive bladder (OAB) is 'dysrhythmic'. The cause was attributed to a disordered vesical pacemaker which discharges these waves. In a subsequent study, the dysrhythmic waves have been 'normalized' by vesical pacing and the optimal parameters which are required to achieve normalization have been defined.

Does the crural diaphragm share in the contractile activity of the costal diaphragm? The concept of an "autonomous esophageal crus" and its role in esophageal competence.

Background: We investigated the hypothesis that the esophageal crus (EC, part of the crus surrounding the esophagus) is an "individual muscle" and does not share in the contractile activity of the costal diaphragm (CD).

Material/methods: The electric activities of the EC and the costal diaphragm (CD) were recorded in 21 subjects (12 men, 9 women, aged 41.6+/-10.

The electrovaginogram: study of the vaginal electric activity and its role in the sexual act and disorders.

Objectives: We investigated the hypothesis that the vagina generates electric waves which effect vaginal contraction during penile thrusting.

Methods: In 24 healthy female volunteers, the electric waves of the vagina were recorded by two electrodes applied to its wall. The vaginal pressure was registered by a manometric tube.

Vesical pacing: pacing parameters required for normalization of vesical electric activity in patients with overactive bladder.

There are several modalities for the treatment of the overactive bladder (OAB), but the results may not be satisfactory. A recent study has demonstrated that the OAB has a dysrhythmic electric activity that seems to result from a disordered vesical pacemaker. We hypothesized that vesical pacing may correct the irregularities of the vesical electric waves and consequently normalize the vesical contractility.

Electric activity of the colon in subjects with constipation due to total colonic inertia: an electrophysiologic study.

Background: Idiopathic constipation may result from colonic inertia, which affects the whole colon or is localized to an area of the colon. The colon exhibits electric activity in the form of slow waves or pacesetter potentials (PPs) and action potentials (APs), which are coupled with elevated colonic pressure. The APs are claimed to be responsible for colonic motor activity.

Role of the rectosigmoid pacemaker and electric activity in rectal motility: mechanism and clinical significance.

Background: The rectum exhibits electric activity in the form of slow waves or pacesetter potentials (PPs) and action potentials (APs), which are suggested to be initiated from a rectosigmoid pacemaker (RSP). We hypothesized that the RSP and electric waves are responsible for rectal motility. This hypothesis was investigated.

Effects of exposure to extremely low-frequency magnetic field of 2 G intensity on memory and corticosterone level in rats.

In the present study, we examined the effects of chronic exposure (1 and 2 weeks) to an extremely low-frequency magnetic field (ELFMF) of 2 G intensity on memory in rats using an object recognition task. Comparable groups of rats were exposed for 1, 2 or 4 weeks to ELFMF and the following day blood samples were collected from each rat for the measurement of corticosterone level. Our results demonstrate that exposure to ELFMF induces a significant increase in the level of corticosterone in blood plasma and is associated with impairment in discrimination between familiar and novel objects.

Electrophysiological study of the rectosigmoid canal: evidence of a rectosigmoid sphincter.

Previous studies strongly suggest the presence of a sphincter at the rectosigmoid junction, an area with a mean length of 2.8 cm in adults, called the rectosigmoid canal (RSC). To find supporting evidence of a sphincteric function for the RSC, two recording electrodes were applied to each of the sigmoid colon (SC), RSC and rectum (R) in 11 subjects during operative repair of huge incisional hernias.