Publications by authors named "Sarah Alam"
Thyroid eye disease (TED), also known as thyroid-associated ophthalmopathy, is an autoimmune disorder caused due to a complex interplay between autoantigens including the thyroid-stimulating hormone receptor and the insulin-like growth factor-I receptor. TED is characterized by progressive proptosis or diplopia. This systematic review aimed to compare the efficacy of the newer monoclonal antibody - teprotumumab and intravenous methylprednisolone (IVMP) in TED patients.
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- The study investigates how the monoclonal antibody lecanemab, used for treating Alzheimer's by targeting amyloid beta, interacts with plasma proteins, particularly focusing on its relatively short half-life due to these interactions.
- * Researchers employed techniques like ELISA and western blotting to analyze the binding of a lecanemab biosimilar to plasma proteins, identifying fibrinogen as a potential binding partner.
- * The findings suggest that fibrinogen levels could affect the availability of lecanemab in the bloodstream, highlighting the importance of considering plasma protein binding in the clinical use of therapeutic antibodies for neurodegenerative diseases.
Article Synopsis
- - Hypocalcemia, or low blood calcium levels, can vary in severity and is often caused by conditions like hypoparathyroidism and vitamin D deficiency, with a rare form known as pseudohypoparathyroidism involving resistance to parathyroid hormone.
- - A young female patient experienced severe hypocalcemia, hyperphosphatemia, and high PTH levels, complicated by vitamin D deficiency; despite treatment, she faced prolonged recovery and readmission.
- - Genetic testing identified a variant in the CACNA1S gene, and her condition improved with a tailored treatment plan, highlighting the need for thorough diagnosis and continuous monitoring in managing pseudohypoparathyroidism.
Article Synopsis
- This study aimed to determine if the recombinant zoster vaccine (RZV) increases the risk of developing new-onset gout in adults aged 50 and older in the US.
- Researchers analyzed health claims data for individuals who received RZV and checked for gout events within 60 days, using a self-controlled risk interval method to compare the risk during the first 30 days post-vaccine to the following 30 days.
- The results showed no significant difference in gout occurrences after vaccination, suggesting that RZV does not increase the risk of gout in the studied population.
Article Synopsis
- The study aimed to determine if heightened levels of cardiac troponin I (cTnI) could indicate poor functional outcomes in patients with ischemic stroke.
- Conducted with 100 patients, those with elevated cTnI showed more severe stroke symptoms and a higher risk of mortality and unfavorable outcomes within 90 days.
- The findings suggest that elevated cTnI is a significant independent predictor of worse short-term outcomes and lower survival rates after an ischemic stroke.
Introduction: A wide array of post-translational modifications of the tau protein occurs in Alzheimer's disease (AD) and they are critical to pathogenesis and biomarker development. Several promising tau markers, pT181, pT217, and pT231, rely on increased phosphorylation within a common molecular motif threonine-proline-proline (TPP).
Methods: We validated new and existing antibodies against pT217, pT231, pT175, and pT181, then combined immunohistochemistry (IHC) and immunoassays (ELISA) to broadly examine the phosphorylation of the tau TPP motif in AD brains.
Article Synopsis
- Endogenous Cushing's syndrome (CS) can lead to secondary osteoporosis and vertebral fractures even with normal bone mineral density (BMD); thus, the study aimed to analyze BMD and trabecular bone score (TBS) in CS patients compared to healthy controls.
- The study included 40 women with endogenous CS and 40 matched healthy controls, measuring biochemical parameters, BMD, and TBS.
- Results showed that CS patients had significantly lower BMD and TBS values than controls, with some patients having normal BMD but low TBS, indicating that TBS is a valuable tool for assessing bone health in these patients.
The spectrum of manifestations of primary hyperparathyroidism in children and adolescents.
Pediatr Endocrinol Diabetes Metab
October 2022
Introduction: Primary hyperparathyroidism (PHPT) is a rare disease in children and adolescents. Early recognition of this disease is important to prevent significant morbidity and mortality.
Material And Methods: We included 10 consecutive patients with PHPT aged 14 to 19 years of age and followed-up prospectively upto one year after parathyroidectomy.
Atypical parathyroid adenoma: Severe manifestations in an adolescent girl.
Pediatr Endocrinol Diabetes Metab
March 2022
Introduction: Primary hyperparathyroidism (PHPT) is a disease that is usually diagnosed in an asymptomatic state during routine biochemical screening. It generally manifests as a sporadic disease in post-menopausal women. However, in India and developing countries, we continue to see severe skeletal and renal manifestations of the disease.
View Article and Find Full Text PDFAdrenocortical adenoma manifesting as Cushing's syndrome and pseudo-precocious puberty in a toddler.
Pediatr Endocrinol Diabetes Metab
March 2022
Article Synopsis
- - Cushing's syndrome is a rare condition in children, with adrenocortical carcinomas (ACC) being a common cause in ages 1 to 5, often producing additional hormones that can lead to symptoms of precocious puberty alongside Cushing's symptoms.
- - Differentiating between malignant adrenocortical carcinomas and benign adenomas is challenging due to similarities in clinical presentation, imaging, and tissue analysis.
- - The case of a 2.5-year-old boy with Cushing's syndrome and signs of virilization highlights the diagnostic difficulties in determining whether a pediatric tumor is benign or malignant.
Article Synopsis
- * Common skeletal manifestations of uncorrected RTA include rickets, osteomalacia, fractures, and secondary osteoporosis, often due to increased bone resorption linked to acidosis and other renal and metabolic factors.
- * The study describes five cases of MBD diagnosed with RTA, emphasizing the need for early recognition to prevent long-term skeletal damage and providing evaluation algorithms to better diagnose and understand the condition.
Motherhood and Endocrinology Training: Diary of a Female Resident.
Indian J Endocrinol Metab
September 2021
Article Synopsis
- Motherhood poses significant challenges for women, especially those in residency training, impacting both physical and mental well-being.
- The demanding long hours and high expectations create immense stress, making it tough to balance work and parenting responsibilities.
- The author emphasizes that support from their community was crucial in overcoming insecurities and achieving their goals amidst these difficulties.
Article Synopsis
- - Pituitary apoplexy occurs due to bleeding or infarction in a pituitary tumor and can be common in acromegaly due to larger tumors.
- - A 40-year-old male with chronic headaches and acromegaloid features was found to have a pituitary macroadenoma that led to his diagnosis after an episode of severe headache.
- - The case illustrates that rare instances of pituitary apoplexy can result in spontaneous remission of growth hormone excess in acromegaly, necessitating follow-up for potential hypopituitarism.
Article Synopsis
- Heart failure (HF) can result from various endocrine disorders and should be included in the assessment of heart failure causes.
- Acute heart failure may present as hypertensive crises or specific forms of cardiomyopathy, while chronic heart failure can show features like hyperdynamic or restrictive cardiomyopathy.
- Thorough history-taking and physical exams, along with targeted tests, are crucial for effective management and treatment to reverse the underlying issues.
A FLASH OF HOPE: Eye Movement Desensitization and Reprocessing (EMDR) Therapy.
Innov Clin Neurosci
July 2020
Article Synopsis
- The document discusses the use of Eye Movement Desensitization and Reprocessing (EMDR), a therapy that employs bilateral stimulation to aid trauma survivors.
- It details how EMDR involves eight steps to help individuals reshape their perceptions and responses to traumatic events.
- The article also presents a composite case and reviews research suggesting EMDR's effectiveness not only for PTSD but potentially for other mental health disorders as well, like bipolar and depressive disorders.
Article Synopsis
- A study was conducted to evaluate the prevalence of primary aldosteronism (PA) in patients who developed hypertension before the age of 40, as previous data on this group was limited.
- Out of 202 young-onset hypertension patients studied, 18.8% screened positive for PA, and it was confirmed in 17.8% of cases, indicating a notable prevalence correlated with hypertension severity and potassium levels.
- The findings suggest a significant underdiagnosis of PA in young patients and recommend that this group be prioritized in screening measures for PA.
Complete gonadal dysgenesis (CGD) or Swyer syndrome is characterised by sexual infantilism in a phenotypic female with 46, XY karyotype. Patients with gonadal dysgenesis and Y-chromosome material are at a high risk of developing gonadoblastoma and dysgerminoma. A 16-year-old girl presented with progressive virilisation, poor breast development and primary amenorrhea.
View Article and Find Full Text PDFReactive oxygen species exert important functions in regulating several cellular signalling pathways. However, an excessive accumulation of reactive oxygen species can perturb the redox homeostasis leading to oxidative stress, a condition which has been associated to many neurodegenerative disorders. Accordingly, alterations in the redox state of cells and mitochondrial homeostasis are established hallmarks in both familial and sporadic Parkinson's disease cases.
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- Hexanucleotide repeat expansions in the C9ORF72 gene are linked to amyotrophic lateral sclerosis (ALS) and frontotemporal dementia, causing neurotoxicity through repeat transcripts and dipeptide repeat proteins.
- Researchers discovered that reducing the nuclear export adaptor SRSF1 can prevent neurodegeneration and movement issues in a Drosophila model of this disease.
- Depleting SRSF1 or blocking its interaction with NXF1 inhibits the harmful export of C9ORF72 transcripts and proteins, suggesting a new potential target for neuroprotective therapies.
Article Synopsis
- This study explored whether high school students could successfully learn laparoscopic surgical skills using a training curriculum intended for surgeons.
- Thirteen students participated in a validated training program, completing various drills and showing impressive performance improvements compared to a database of surgeons.
- The results indicated that students not only completed the tasks but also had faster improvement rates, with their final times being comparable or faster than those of experienced surgeons in specific drills.