Obesity in Gynecologic Oncology

AbstractThe decades-long global obesity epidemic has resulted in steady increase in the incidence of obesity-related malignancies. The associated diagnostic and therapeutic implications present a clinical challenge for gynecologic oncology treatment strategies. Recent studies have provided solid evidence for an independent, linear, positive correlation between a pathologically increased body mass index and the probability of developing endometrial or postmenopausal breast cancer. The pathogenesis is complex and the subject of current research. Proposed causes include pathologically increased serum levels of sexual steroids and adiponectin, obesity-induced insulin resistance, and systemic inflammatory processes. The scientific evidence for an association between obesity and other gynecological malignancies is, however, less solid. The clinical relevance of obesity as a risk factor for epithelial ovarian cancer, cervical cancer and vulvar cancer appears to be negligible. Nevertheless, obesity appears to have a negative impact on prognosis and oncologic outcomes for all gynecological cancers. Whether or not this effect can be interpreted as correlative or causal is still a subject of ongoing debate.

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The Potential of South African Herbal Tisanes, Rooibos and Honeybush in the Management of Type 2 Diabetes Mellitus

Molecules ◽

10.3390/molecules23123207 ◽

2018 ◽

Vol 23 (12) ◽

pp. 3207 ◽

Cited By ~ 9

Author(s):

Olawale Ajuwon ◽

Ademola Ayeleso ◽

Gbenga Adefolaju

Keyword(s):

Diabetes Mellitus ◽

Type 2 Diabetes ◽

Type 2 Diabetes Mellitus ◽

Scientific Evidence ◽

Treatment Strategies ◽

Natural Antioxidants ◽

High Morbidity ◽

Therapeutic Implications ◽

Depth Analysis

Diabetes mellitus is a metabolic disease that can lead to high morbidity, mortality and long-term complications. Available treatment strategies, which are mainly based on treating hyperglycemia, with insulin and other pharmacological agents are not completely efficient and can even lead to development of unwanted side effects. Scientific evidence suggests that bioactive compounds from teas and other plant-based foods, which are known source of natural antioxidants, could be an attractive strategy to preferentially treat and manage type 2 diabetes mellitus (T2DM) and thus, have significant therapeutic implications. In this review, we attempt an in-depth analysis and discussion of the current progress in our understanding of the antidiabetic potential of two commercialized South Africa herbal tisanes—Rooibos and Honeybush and their polyphenols.

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Multidisciplinary Evidence to Treat Bilingual Individuals with Aphasia

Perspectives on Communication Disorders and Sciences in Culturally and Linguistically Diverse Populations ◽

10.1044/cds15.3.66 ◽

2008 ◽

Vol 15 (3) ◽

pp. 66-72 ◽

Cited By ~ 1

Author(s):

José G. Centeno

Keyword(s):

Stroke Rehabilitation ◽

Culturally Diverse ◽

Treatment Strategies ◽

The United States ◽

Intervention Strategies ◽

Steady Increase ◽

Clinical Procedures ◽

Bilingual Speakers ◽

Aphasic Clients

Abstract The steady increase in linguistic and cultural diversity in the country, including the number of bilingual speakers, has been predicted to continue. Minorities are expected to be the majority by 2042. Strokes, the third leading cause of death and the leading cause of long-term disability in the U.S., are quite prevalent in racial and ethnic minorities, so population estimates underscore the imperative need to develop valid clinical procedures to serve the predicted increase in linguistically and culturally diverse bilingual adults with aphasia in post-stroke rehabilitation. Bilingualism is a complex phenomenon that interconnects culture, cognition, and language; thus, as aphasia is a social phenomenon, treatment of bilingual aphasic persons would benefit from conceptual frameworks that exploit the culture-cognition-language interaction in ways that maximize both linguistic and communicative improvement leading to social re-adaptation. This paper discusses a multidisciplinary evidence-based approach to develop ecologically-valid treatment strategies for bilingual aphasic individuals. Content aims to spark practitioners' interest to explore conceptually broad intervention strategies beyond strictly linguistic domains that would facilitate linguistic gains, communicative interactions, and social functioning. This paper largely emphasizes Spanish-English individuals in the United States. Practitioners, however, are advised to adapt the proposed principles to the unique backgrounds of other bilingual aphasic clients.

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The Impact of Translational Research in Breast Cancer Care: Can we Improve the Therapeutic Scenario?

Anti-Cancer Agents in Medicinal Chemistry ◽

10.2174/1871520617666171103105247 ◽

2018 ◽

Vol 18 (6) ◽

pp. 832-836

Author(s):

Giuseppe Buono ◽

Francesco Schettini ◽

Francesco Perri ◽

Grazia Arpino ◽

Roberto Bianco ◽

...

Keyword(s):

Breast Cancer ◽

Translational Research ◽

Cell Biology ◽

Cancer Biology ◽

Hormone Receptors ◽

Treatment Strategies ◽

Growth Factor Receptor ◽

Molecular Heterogeneity ◽

Therapeutic Implications ◽

The Impact

Traditionally, breast cancer (BC) is divided into different subtypes defined by immunohistochemistry (IHC) according to the expression of hormone receptors and overexpression/amplification of human epidermal growth factor receptor 2 (HER2), with crucial therapeutic implications. In the last few years, the definition of different BC molecular subgroups within the IHC-defined subtypes and the identification of the important role that molecular heterogeneity can play in tumor progression and treatment resistance have inspired the search for personalized therapeutic approaches. In this scenario, translational research represents a key strategy to apply knowledge from cancer biology to the clinical setting, through the study of all the tumors “omics”, including genomics, transcriptomics, proteomics, epigenomics, and metabolomics. Importantly, the introduction of new high-throughput technologies, such as next generation sequencing (NGS) for the study of cancer genome and transcriptome, greatly amplifies the potential and the applications of translational research in the oncology field. Moreover, the introduction of new experimental approaches, such as liquid biopsy, as well as new-concept clinical trials, such as biomarker-driven adaptive studies, may represent a turning point for BC translational research. </P><P> It is likely that translational research will have in the near future a significant impact on BC care, especially by giving us the possibility to dissect the complexity of tumor cell biology and develop new personalized treatment strategies.

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Dermatillomania: Strategies for Developing Protective Biomaterials/Cloth

Pharmaceutics ◽

10.3390/pharmaceutics13030341 ◽

2021 ◽

Vol 13 (3) ◽

pp. 341

Author(s):

Priusha Ravipati ◽

Bice Conti ◽

Enrica Chiesa ◽

Karine Andrieux

Keyword(s):

Alternative Treatment ◽

Negative Impact ◽

Treatment Strategies ◽

Current Treatment ◽

Primary Objective ◽

Neuropsychiatric Disorder ◽

Physical Barrier ◽

Physical Treatment ◽

Pubmed Database ◽

Prevention Of Infections

Dermatillomania or skin picking disorder (SPD) is a chronic, recurrent, and treatment resistant neuropsychiatric disorder with an underestimated prevalence that has a concerning negative impact on an individual’s health and quality of life. The current treatment strategies focus on behavioral and pharmacological therapies that are not very effective. Thus, the primary objective of this review is to provide an introduction to SPD and discuss its current treatment strategies as well as to propose biomaterial-based physical barrier strategies as a supporting or alternative treatment. To this end, searches were conducted within the PubMed database and Google Scholar, and the results obtained were organized and presented as per the following categories: prevalence, etiology, consequences, diagnostic criteria, and treatment strategies. Furthermore, special attention was provided to alternative treatment strategies and biomaterial-based physical treatment strategies. A total of six products with the potential to be applied as physical barrier strategies in supporting SPD treatment were shortlisted and discussed. The results indicated that SPD is a complex, underestimated, and underemphasized neuropsychiatric disorder that needs heightened attention, especially with regard to its treatment and care. Moreover, the high synergistic potential of biomaterials and nanosystems in this area remains to be explored. Certain strategies that are already being utilized for wound healing can also be further exploited, particularly as far as the prevention of infections is concerned.

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Neuroinflammation and the Kynurenine Pathway in CNS Disease: Molecular Mechanisms and Therapeutic Implications

Cells ◽

10.3390/cells10061548 ◽

2021 ◽

Vol 10 (6) ◽

pp. 1548

Author(s):

Mustafa N. Mithaiwala ◽

Danielle Santana-Coelho ◽

Grace A. Porter ◽

Jason C. O’Connor

Keyword(s):

Molecular Mechanisms ◽

Treatment Options ◽

Treatment Strategies ◽

Kynurenine Pathway ◽

Economic Problem ◽

Cns Disease ◽

Therapeutic Implications ◽

Efficacious Treatment ◽

The Central Nervous System ◽

Significant Health

Diseases of the central nervous system (CNS) remain a significant health, social and economic problem around the globe. The development of therapeutic strategies for CNS conditions has suffered due to a poor understanding of the underlying pathologies that manifest them. Understanding common etiological origins at the cellular and molecular level is essential to enhance the development of efficacious and targeted treatment options. Over the years, neuroinflammation has been posited as a common link between multiple neurological, neurodegenerative and neuropsychiatric disorders. Processes that precipitate neuroinflammatory conditions including genetics, infections, physical injury and psychosocial factors, like stress and trauma, closely link dysregulation in kynurenine pathway (KP) of tryptophan metabolism as a possible pathophysiological factor that ‘fuel the fire’ in CNS diseases. In this study, we aim to review emerging evidence that provide mechanistic insights between different CNS disorders, neuroinflammation and the KP. We provide a thorough overview of the different branches of the KP pertinent to CNS disease pathology that have therapeutic implications for the development of selected and efficacious treatment strategies.

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Advances in the Diagnosis and Treatment of Pediatric Acute Lymphoblastic Leukemia

Journal of Clinical Medicine ◽

10.3390/jcm10091926 ◽

2021 ◽

Vol 10 (9) ◽

pp. 1926

Author(s):

Hiroto Inaba ◽

Ching-Hon Pui

Keyword(s):

Acute Lymphoblastic Leukemia ◽

Detailed Analysis ◽

Residual Disease ◽

Lymphoblastic Leukemia ◽

Survival Rates ◽

Treatment Strategies ◽

Chemotherapeutic Agents ◽

Response To Treatment ◽

Pediatric Acute Lymphoblastic Leukemia ◽

Therapeutic Implications

The outcomes of pediatric acute lymphoblastic leukemia (ALL) have improved remarkably during the last five decades. Such improvements were made possible by the incorporation of new diagnostic technologies, the effective administration of conventional chemotherapeutic agents, and the provision of better supportive care. With the 5-year survival rates now exceeding 90% in high-income countries, the goal for the next decade is to improve survival further toward 100% and to minimize treatment-related adverse effects. Based on genome-wide analyses, especially RNA-sequencing analyses, ALL can be classified into more than 20 B-lineage subtypes and more than 10 T-lineage subtypes with prognostic and therapeutic implications. Response to treatment is another critical prognostic factor, and detailed analysis of minimal residual disease can detect levels as low as one ALL cell among 1 million total cells. Such detailed analysis can facilitate the rational use of molecular targeted therapy and immunotherapy, which have emerged as new treatment strategies that can replace or reduce the use of conventional chemotherapy.

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Metabolic Interplay between the Immune System and Melanoma Cells: Therapeutic Implications

Biomedicines ◽

10.3390/biomedicines9060607 ◽

2021 ◽

Vol 9 (6) ◽

pp. 607

Author(s):

Alice Indini ◽

Francesco Grossi ◽

Mario Mandalà ◽

Daniela Taverna ◽

Valentina Audrito

Keyword(s):

Metabolic Pathways ◽

Cancer Metabolism ◽

Acquired Resistance ◽

Treatment Strategies ◽

Predictive Biomarkers ◽

Treatment Resistance ◽

Metastatic Potential ◽

Biological Behavior ◽

Therapeutic Implications ◽

Systemic Treatments

Malignant melanoma represents the most fatal skin cancer due to its aggressive biological behavior and high metastatic potential. Treatment strategies for advanced disease have dramatically changed over the last years due to the introduction of BRAF/MEK inhibitors and immunotherapy. However, many patients either display primary (i.e., innate) or eventually develop secondary (i.e., acquired) resistance to systemic treatments. Treatment resistance depends on multiple mechanisms driven by a set of rewiring processes, which involve cancer metabolism, epigenetic, gene expression, and interactions within the tumor microenvironment. Prognostic and predictive biomarkers are needed to guide patients’ selection and treatment decisions. Indeed, there are no recognized clinical or biological characteristics that identify which patients will benefit more from available treatments, but several biomarkers have been studied with promising preliminary results. In this review, we will summarize novel tumor metabolic pathways and tumor-host metabolic crosstalk mechanisms leading to melanoma progression and drug resistance, with an overview on their translational potential as novel therapeutic targets.

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Can mean ADC value and ADC ratio of benign prostate tissue to prostate cancer assist in the prediction of clinically significant prostate cancer within the PI-RADSv2 scoring system?

Egyptian Journal of Radiology and Nuclear Medicine ◽

10.1186/s43055-020-00347-3 ◽

2020 ◽

Vol 51 (1) ◽

Author(s):

Samar Ramzy Ragheb ◽

Reem Hassan Bassiouny

Keyword(s):

Prostate Cancer ◽

Sensitivity And Specificity ◽

Gleason Score ◽

Treatment Strategies ◽

Serum Levels ◽

Prostatic Tissue ◽

Histopathological Analysis ◽

Adc Value ◽

The Mean ◽

Clinically Significant

Abstract Background The aim of this study is to investigate whether quantitative DW metrics can provide additive value to the reliable categorization of lesions within existing PI-RADSv2 guidelines. Fifty-eight patients with clinically suspicious prostate cancer who underwent PR examination, PSA serum levels, sextant TRUS-guided biopsies, and bi-parametric MR imaging were included in the study. Results Sixty-six lesions were detected by histopathological analysis of surgical specimens. The mean ADC values were significantly lower in tumor than non-tumor tissue. The mean ADC value inversely correlated with Gleason score of tumors with a significant p value < 0.001.Conversely, a positive relationship was found between the ADC ratio (ADC of benign prostatic tissue to prostate cancer) and the pathologic Gleason score with a significant elevation of the ADC ratio along with an increase of the pathologic Gleason score (p < 0.001). ROC curves constructed for the tumor ADC and ADC ratio helped to distinguish pathologically aggressive (Gleason score ≥ 7) from non-aggressive (Gleason score ≤ 6) tumors and to correlate it with PIRADSv2 scoring to predict the presence of clinically significant PCA (PIRADSv2 DW ≥ 4). The ability of the tumor ADC and ADC ratio to predict highly aggressive tumors (GS> 7) was high (AUC for ADC and ADC ratio, 0.946 and 0.897; p = 0.014 and 0.039, respectively). The ADC cut-off value for GS ≥ 7 was < 0.7725 and for GS ≤ 6 was > 0.8620 with sensitivity and specificity 97 and 94%. The cutoff ADC ratio for predicting (GS > 7) was 1.42 and for GS ≤ 6 was > 1.320 with sensitivity and specificity 97 and 92%. By applying this ADC ratio cut-off value the sensitivity and specificity of reader 1 for correct categorization of PIRADSv2 DW > 4 increased from 90 and 68% to 95 and 90% and that of reader 2 increased from 94 and 88% to 97 and 92%, respectively. Conclusion Estimation of DW metrics (ADC and ADC ratio between benign prostatic tissue and prostate cancer) allow the non-invasive assessment of biological aggressiveness of prostate cancer and allow reliable application of the PIRADSv2 scoring to determine clinically significant cancer (DW score > 4) which may contribute in planning initial treatment strategies.

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Inhibition of monocyte-derived inflammatory cytokines by IL-25 occurs via p38 Map kinase–dependent induction of Socs-3

Blood ◽

10.1182/blood-2008-08-172767 ◽

2009 ◽

Vol 113 (15) ◽

pp. 3512-3519 ◽

Cited By ~ 41

Author(s):

Roberta Caruso ◽

Carmine Stolfi ◽

Massimiliano Sarra ◽

Angelamaria Rizzo ◽

Massimo C. Fantini ◽

...

Keyword(s):

Map Kinase ◽

Inflammatory Cytokines ◽

Inflammatory Responses ◽

Human Peripheral Blood ◽

Serum Levels ◽

Cell Types ◽

P38 Map Kinase ◽

Negative Regulator ◽

Therapeutic Implications

Abstract IL-25, a member of the IL-17 cytokine family, is known to enhance Th2-like responses associated with increased serum levels of IgE, IgG1, IgA, blood eosinophilia, and eosinophilic infiltrates in various tissues. However, IL-25 also abrogates inflammatory responses driven by Th17 cells. However, the cell types that respond to IL-25 and the mechanisms by which IL-25 differentially regulates immune reactions are not well explored. To identify potential targets of IL-25, we initially examined IL-25 receptor (IL-25R) in human peripheral blood cells. IL-25R was predominantly expressed by CD14+ cells. We next assessed the functional role of IL-25 in modulating the response of CD14+ cells to various inflammatory signals. CD14+ cells responded to IL-25 by down-regulating the synthesis of inflammatory cytokines induced by toll-like receptor (TLR) ligands and inflammatory cytokines. Inhibition of cytokine response by IL-25 occurred via a p38 Map kinase–driven Socs-3–dependent mechanism. In vivo, IL-25 inhibited monocyte-derived cytokines and protected against LPS-induced lethal endotoxemia in mice. These data indicate that IL-25 is a negative regulator of monocyte proinflammatory cytokine responses, which may have therapeutic implications.

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Le Bon’s crowd psychology and post-truth

Theoria Beograd ◽

10.2298/theo2101149p ◽

2021 ◽

Vol 64 (1) ◽

pp. 149-160

Author(s):

Dusko Prelevic

Keyword(s):

Social Media ◽

Deliberative Democracy ◽

Public Discourse ◽

Negative Impact ◽

Scientific Evidence ◽

Technological Innovations ◽

Psychological Mechanisms ◽

Public Debates ◽

Crowd Psychology ◽

Philosophical Community

The phenomenon of post-truth, in which truth (or facts or the best scientific evidence) is brushed aside in public debates, has recently caught the eye of many philosophers, who typically see it as a threat to deliberative democracy. In this paper, it is argued that Gustave Le Bon?s remarks on crowd psychology, which had been very popular in past (and brushed aside later on), might be relevant for a better understanding of psychological mechanisms that lead to post-truth. According to Le Bon, crowds are often irrational, whereas those who try to convince them to do something should use specific techniques of persuasion, such as affirmation, repetition, contagion and prestige, of which the last one can be undermined either by fiasco (the fastest way), or by critique (a bit slower, but nonetheless effective way). It is the age of posttruth that goes towards the neutralization of any critique (Le Bon himself considered such neutralization devastating for democratic societies), which has been, according to some authors, affected to a great extent by technological innovations in media, such as social media that some authors consider anti-social due to their negative impact on society. I argue that Le Bon?s insights might be useful to members of scientific and philosophical community in their attempts to eliminate the spreading of quasi-scientific views in public discourse.

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