Recently Published Articles
Overexpression of Prostate Apoptosis Response Protein-4 In Colon Cancer Cells Can Inhibit Metastasis by Upregulating E-cadherin Expression
Abstract:
Colon cancer has a five-year survival of 64.7%, and about 50,000 people are expected to die from colon cancer this year. Patients with metastatic colorectal cancer have a significantly worse prognosis, a 12.9% five-year survival. This emphasizes the need for strategies to inhibit the growth and metastases of colorectal cancer. Prostate apoptosis response protein 4 (Par-4) is a pro-apoptotic protein that has been shown to mediate apoptosis in response to stimuli, such as chemotherapeutics and radiation. Recombinant Par-4 protein has been shown to reduce the occurrence of Lewis lung carcinoma metastases in-vivo; however, the mechanism by which Par-4 can inhibit metastasis has not been elucidated. In this study, human colon cancer cell lines - SW480 and SW620 - were transfected with Par-4 plasmid or anti-Par-4 shRNA, and the effect on metastasis was examined. Par-4 overexpression inhibited cell migration and invasion, while Par-4 knockdown promoted it. Moreover, the...
Why Music in Neurology?
Abstract:
In the last years we could find many uses of music in different clinical settings, also in the field of neurology. In this field empirical results, but also scientific studies, showed the efficacy of music interventions on psychological, cognitive and motor aspects. This is consistent with strong effects of music on brain areas. Music can stimulate and modulate/regulate cognitive functions, behaviors, movements and emotions. Music plays an important role also from a psychological point of view, increasing motivation and promoting relationships and communication. Literature has showed how music interventions can improve behavioral, cognitive, motor, psychological, relational and emotional outcomes in different neurological pathologies. Significant results are present in particular in dementia, stroke and Parkinson's disease. We can find also minor results and qualitative research approaches in multiple sclerosis and in other brain injury such as vegetative and mini...
Subjective and Objective Actigraphic Sleep Monitoring and Psychopathology in a Clinical Sample of Patients with Night Eating Syndrome, with and Without Binge Eating Behaviors
Abstract:
Night Eating Syndrome (NES) is a phenomenon combining aspects of both sleeping disorders and Eating Disorders (EDs). To the best of our knowledge, few studies to date have examined NES among patients with EDs. None examined ED patients with and without NES in clinical settings by comparing their sleep disturbances using the new NES diagnostic criteria The sample included 71 women, ages 19-62, referred for assessment to a hospital Eating Disorders Clinic. Measures included self-report questionnaires, psychiatric evaluation and actigraph recording for one week. Participants were divi...
Below What Hemoglobin Concentration in Pregnancy is there an Increased Risk of Maternal or Fetal Adverse Effects?
Abstract:
To identify the lowest hemoglobin concentration (Hb) associated with increased risk of materno-fetal complications. This cohort study was conducted in the Yaoundé University Teaching Hospital, Cameroon, from March 1st, 2011 to February 28th, 2013. Maternal and fetal outcomes among anemic women (AW) and non-anemic women (NW) were compared. Two hundred and twelve AW (booking Hb <10g/dl) without any chronic diseases, carrying singletons and 212 similar NW (Hb ≥11g/dl) were followed up. Main variables were booking and 36 weeks Hb, complications observed and birth weight (BW). Data were analyzed using SPSS 18.0. Fisher exact test and t-test were used for comparison. Level of significance was P<0.05. Thyroid disorders are a common, worldwide clinical problem in general practice.It presents predominantly as a thyroid nodule. Each thyroid nodule has a risk of cancer. The incidence of thyroid cancer is much more common in Saudi Arabia in comparison to the West. There is a worldwide increase in the incidence of thyroid cancer. The objective of this study is to highlight in details the wide spectrum of histopathologic diagnosis encountered in patient undergoing thyroid surgery in the population of Riyadh region of Saudi Arabia. Retrospective review of all thyroid samples for 256 patients whom underwent thyroid surgery at King Khalid University Hospital, King Saud University, Riyadh, during the period between 2000 and 2009. Of those, 171 cases were non neoplastic and 85 neoplast...
Vegetarianism in Food-Based Dietary Guidelines
Abstract:
Plant foods are staples of many cultures in the world. Conversely, the appearance of vegetarianism in Western countries is a relatively recent phenomenon, showing an upward trend: people following vegetarian diets (both lacto-ovo-vegetarian-LOV and vegan-VEG), account today for about 10% of the Western population. According to the principle of non-discrimination, the most recent national dietary guidelines for the general population (DGLs) of some Western countries have adapted their contents to comprise vegetarian eating patterns. Moreover, since 1997, specific vegetarian food guidelines (VFGs) were developed. The aim of this review was to summarize and compare the information and recommendations of the food-based dietary guidelines (FBDGs) contained in the DGLs usable by vegetarians, and in the main VFGs; to extract a list of basic criteria for the planning of a well-balanced vegetarian diet, and to identify the most valid FBDG for vegetarians.
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Influence of Chemical Refining Processes on the Total Phenolics and Antioxidant Activity of Sunflower Oil
Abstract:
The raw sunflower oil (SFO) has an undesirable flavour and odour. Therefore, to make it suitable for human consumption, the oil has to undergo a number of refining processes such as degumming, neutralization, bleaching and deodorization. During these refining processes, some of the phytochemicals present in SFO is lost. The aim of this study is to evaluate the loss in total phenolic, flavonoid and non-flavonoid contents and the antioxidant properties of the oil at the different chemical refining stages. The crude SFO oil has the highest total phenolic, flavonoid and non-flavonoid contents. The amount of phenolic compounds decreases as the oil undergoes different chemical refining processes. Results of this study indicated that the highest percentage loss of the phenolic compounds occurred during the deodorizing step.
MicroRNA Profiling of Differentiated, Poorly Differentiated and Anaplastic Thyroid Carcinoma, a Comparative Approach
Abstract:
Thyroid carcinomas encompass a wide spectrum ranging from differentiated thyroid carcinoma (DTC) to poorly differentiated (PDC) and anaplastic thyroid carcinoma (ATC). DTC of both follicular (FTC) and papillary (PTC) types can progress to PDC and AC. The aim of our study was to evaluate if there is differential microRNA (miRNA) expression in various tumor subtypes during this progression. The miRNA profile of differentiated carcinomas (Follicular and Papillary) and ATC were compared with that of PDCs either by itself or in a background of differentiated carcinomas and anaplastic carcinomas. Unsupervised hierarchical clustering analysis revealed that FTC and PDC tend to cluster together in the absence of ATC. Interestingly, in cases with presence of all components i.e. FTC, PDC and ATC, the miRNA profile of poorly differentiated component clusters with that of the Anaplastic carcinoma component. miR-494 and miR-125a-5p were found to be differentially regulated in t...
Isotretinoin-Induced Facial Hyperpigmentation: Idiosyncratic Reaction?
Abstract:
Isotretinoin is notorious for having a myriad of mucocutaneous side effects including cheilitis, xerodermia, facial erythema, pruritis, hair thinning, and brittle nails, among others. Although photosensitivity is considered to be one of the side effects of oral isotretinoin therapy, cutaneous hyperpigmentation has not, to the best of our knowledge, yet been reported as a side effect. This report presents a case of striking facial hyperpigmentation in a patient on oral isotretinoin.