scholarly journals Antidiabetic drugs and the risk of cancer: beneficial, neutral, or detrimental?

2021 ◽  
Vol 12 (1) ◽  
pp. 74-81
Author(s):  
Taoreed Adegoke Azeez ◽  
Sharif Adeniyi Folorunso ◽  
Chinedu Eguzozie ◽  
Adeleke Adedapo Adegboyega
Keyword(s):  
Diabetes Mellitus ◽  
Clinical Trials ◽  
Epidemiological Studies ◽  
The Body ◽  
Antidiabetic Drugs ◽  
Pharmacological Agents ◽  
Middle Income ◽  
Beneficial Effects ◽  
Risk Of Cancer

Abstract The prevalence of diabetes mellitus is rapidly rising, especially in low- and middle-income countries. Also, early-onset diabetes is on the rise, and millions of individuals have to be on antidiabetic medications for a prolonged period. Therefore, more people are getting exposed to the adverse effects of antidiabetic medications. Cancer is among the top ranking causes of death worldwide. Researches are still ongoing to understand the etiologies, precipitants, risk factors, correlates, and predictors of cancers. Diabetes mellitus is associated with various cancers, as extensively documented in the literature. There are conflicting reports about the association between antidiabetic drugs and cancer. This is even of crucial importance, considering that the prevalence of diabetes is rising. Insulin glargine is reported to be associated with cancers, but clinical trials have not confirmed this. Metformin is largely believed to be beneficial in oncologic practice. Glibenclamide is reported to reduce tumor growth. The association between pioglitazone and bladder cancer is still an area for further research. Meglitinides have also been associated with cancers. Incretin-based therapy and the α-glucosidase inhibitors appear to have beneficial effects on cancers. There is still a need for randomized multicentric clinical trials to further substantiate and clarify reports from epidemiological studies. Further in vitro studies will also be necessary to characterize the interaction of these pharmacological agents with other molecules in the body.

scholarly journals Viable and Heat-Killed Probiotic Strains Improve Oral Immunity by Elevating the IgA Concentration in the Oral Mucosa

2021 ◽  
Author(s):  
Wen-Yang Lin ◽  
Yi-Wei Kuo ◽  
Ching-Wei Chen ◽  
Yu-Fen Huang ◽  
Chen-Hung Hsu ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Streptococcus Mutans ◽  
The Body ◽  
Effective Dosage ◽  
Tgf Beta ◽  
Oral Tablet ◽  
Beneficial Effects ◽  
Bifidobacterium Animalis ◽  
Probiotic Strains ◽  
Oral Pathogens

AbstractOral-nasal mucosal immunity plays a crucial role in protecting the body against bacterial and viral invasion. Safe probiotic products have been used to enhance human immunity and oral health. In this study, we verified the beneficial effects of mixed viable probiotic tablets, consisting of Lactobacillus salivarius subsp. salicinius AP-32, Bifidobacterium animalis subsp. lactis CP-9, and Lactobacillus paracasei ET-66, and heat-killed probiotic tablets, consisting of L. salivarius subsp. salicinius AP-32 and L. paracasei ET-66, on oral immunity among 45 healthy participants. Participants were randomly divided into viable probiotic, heat-killed probiotic, and placebo groups. The administration of treatment lasted for 4 weeks. Saliva samples were collected at Weeks 0, 2, 4, and 6, and Lactobacillus, Bifidobacterium and Streptococcus mutans populations and IgA concentration were measured. IgA concentrations, levels of TGF-beta and IL-10 in PBMCs cells were quantified by ELISA method. Results showed that salivary IgA levels were significantly increased on administration of both the viable (119.30 ± 12.63%, ***P < 0.001) and heat-killed (116.78 ± 12.28%, ***P < 0.001) probiotics for 4 weeks. Among three probiotic strains, AP-32 would effectively increase the levels of TGF-beta and IL-10 in PBMCs. The oral pathogen Streptococcus mutans was significantly reduced on viable probiotic tablet administration (49.60 ± 31.01%, ***P < 0.001). The in vitro antibacterial test confirmed that viable probiotics effectively limited the survival rate of oral pathogens. Thus, this clinical pilot study demonstrated that oral probiotic tablets both in viable form or heat-killed form could exert beneficial effects on oral immunity via IL-10, TGB-beta mediated IgA secretion. The effective dosage of viable probiotic content in the oral tablet was 109 CFUs/g and the heat-killed oral tablet was 1 × 1010 cells/g.

scholarly journals Peptide hormone relaxin: from bench to bedside

2018 ◽  
Vol 314 (6) ◽  
pp. R753-R760 ◽  
Author(s):  
Maria Jelinic ◽  
Sarah A. Marshall ◽  
Dennis Stewart ◽  
Elaine Unemori ◽  
Laura J. Parry ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Clinical Trials ◽  
Animal Models ◽  
Animal Studies ◽  
Ischemia Reperfusion ◽  
Peptide Hormone ◽  
The Body ◽  
Cervical Ripening ◽  
Matrix Remodeling ◽  
Vitro Fertilization

The peptide hormone relaxin has numerous roles both within and independent of pregnancy and is often thought of as a “pleiotropic hormone.” Relaxin targets several tissues throughout the body, and has many functions associated with extracellular matrix remodeling and the vasculature. This review considers the potential therapeutic applications of relaxin in cervical ripening, in vitro fertilization, preeclampsia, acute heart failure, ischemia-reperfusion, and cirrhosis. We first outline the animal models used in preclinical studies to progress relaxin into clinical trials and then discuss the findings from these studies. In many cases, the positive outcomes from preclinical animal studies were not replicated in human clinical trials. Therefore, the focus of this review is to evaluate the various animal models used to develop relaxin as a potential therapeutic and consider the limitations that must be addressed in future studies. These include the use of human relaxin in animals, duration of relaxin treatment, and the appropriateness of the clinical conditions being considered for relaxin therapy.

scholarly journals Omega-3 Polyunsaturated Fatty Acids Inhibit the Function of Human URAT1, a Renal Urate Re-Absorber

Nutrients ◽  
2020 ◽  
Vol 12 (6) ◽  
pp. 1601 ◽  
Author(s):  
Hiroki Saito ◽  
Yu Toyoda ◽  
Tappei Takada ◽  
Hiroshi Hirata ◽  
Ami Ota-Kontani ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Fatty Acids ◽  
Human Health ◽  
Serum Urate ◽  
The Body ◽  
Omega 3 ◽  
Beneficial Effects ◽  
Uricosuric Agents ◽  
Transport Assay ◽  
The Impact

The beneficial effects of fatty acids (FAs) on human health have attracted widespread interest. However, little is known about the impact of FAs on the handling of urate, the end-product of human purine metabolism, in the body. Increased serum urate levels occur in hyperuricemia, a disease that can lead to gout. In humans, urate filtered by the glomerulus of the kidney is majorly re-absorbed from primary urine into the blood via the urate transporter 1 (URAT1)-mediated pathway. URAT1 inhibition, thus, contributes to decreasing serum urate concentration by increasing net renal urate excretion. Here, we investigated the URAT1-inhibitory effects of 25 FAs that are commonly contained in foods or produced in the body. For this purpose, we conducted an in vitro transport assay using cells transiently expressing URAT1. Our results showed that unsaturated FAs, especially long-chain unsaturated FAs, inhibited URAT1 more strongly than saturated FAs. Among the tested unsaturated FAs, eicosapentaenoic acid, α-linolenic acid, and docosahexaenoic acid exhibited substantial URAT1-inhibitory activities, with half maximal inhibitory concentration values of 6.0, 14.2, and 15.2 μM, respectively. Although further studies are required to investigate whether the ω-3 polyunsaturated FAs can be employed as uricosuric agents, our findings further confirm FAs as nutritionally important substances influencing human health.

The Indispensable Value of Clinical Trials in the Modernization of Traditional Chinese Medicine: 12 Years' Experience at CUHK and Future Perspectives

2014 ◽  
Vol 42 (03) ◽  
pp. 587-604 ◽  
Author(s):  
Willmann Liang ◽  
David T. Yew ◽  
Kam Lun Hon ◽  
Chun Kwok Wong ◽  
Timothy C. Y. Kwok ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Clinical Trials ◽  
Chinese Medicine ◽  
Herbal Medicines ◽  
Chinese Herbs ◽  
Protective Effects ◽  
Beneficial Effects ◽  
Artery Disease ◽  
The Many

The last decade has seen a wealth of information reporting the beneficial effects of Chinese herbal medicines. While a lot more studies were done using in vitro and in vivo research platforms, much fewer investigations were conducted according to evidence-based requirements in clinical settings. The Institute of Chinese Medicine at the Chinese University of Hong Kong (CUHK) has had the opportunity to collaborate with clinicians over the years to initiate and conduct dozens of clinical trials investigating and verifying the therapeutic values of Chinese herbs in selected disease conditions. Of the many disorders, we chose to focus on those that are known for their difficulties achieving perfect results with conventional treatment methods. Examples include non-healing ulcers, allergic conditions, degenerative diseases and cancer. Protective effects of the herbs in such chronic diseases as coronary artery disease and osteoporosis were also part of our focus. Even in healthy individuals and those recovering from chemotherapy, Chinese herbs could help with the immune system and were studied in our clinical trials as well. This paper aims to highlight the important findings from these clinical studies while at the same time, stressing the indispensable value of clinical trials in modernizing the use of Chinese herbs in present-day medicine.

The beneficial effects of taurine in preventing metabolic syndrome

2016 ◽  
Vol 7 (4) ◽  
pp. 1849-1863 ◽  
Author(s):  
Wen Chen ◽  
Junxia Guo ◽  
Yanzhen Zhang ◽  
Jing Zhang
Keyword(s):  
Diabetes Mellitus ◽  
Metabolic Syndrome ◽  
Molecular Mechanisms ◽  
Human Studies ◽  
Beneficial Effects

A review of the data fromin vitro, animal and limited human studies of the beneficial effects of taurine on obesity, dyslipidaemia, diabetes mellitus and hypertension, as well as the possible metabolic and molecular mechanisms for the prevention of metabolic syndrome by taurine.

scholarly journals BCG Vaccine Derived Peptides Induce SARS-CoV-2 T Cell Cross-Reactivity

2021 ◽  
Vol 12 ◽  
Author(s):  
Peter J. Eggenhuizen ◽  
Boaz H. Ng ◽  
Janet Chang ◽  
Ashleigh L. Fell ◽  
Rachel M. Y. Cheong ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Clinical Trials ◽  
T Cell ◽  
Epidemiological Studies ◽  
Cross Reactivity ◽  
Bcg Vaccine ◽  
Protective Effects ◽  
Cell Reactivity ◽  
Bcg Vaccination ◽  
T Cell Reactivity

Epidemiological studies and clinical trials suggest Bacillus Calmette-Guérin (BCG) vaccine has protective effects against coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19). There are now over 30 clinical trials evaluating if BCG vaccination can prevent or reduce the severity of COVID-19. However, the mechanism by which BCG vaccination can induce severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2)-specific T cell responses is unknown. Here, we identify 8 novel BCG-derived peptides with significant sequence homology to either SARS-CoV-2 NSP3 or NSP13-derived peptides. Using an in vitro co-culture system, we show that human CD4+ and CD8+ T cells primed with a BCG-derived peptide developed enhanced reactivity to its corresponding homologous SARS-CoV-2-derived peptide. As expected, HLA differences between individuals meant that not all persons developed immunogenic responses to all 8 BCG-derived peptides. Nevertheless, all of the 20 individuals that were primed with BCG-derived peptides developed enhanced T cell reactivity to at least 7 of 8 SARS-CoV-2-derived peptides. These findings provide an in vitro mechanism that may account, in part, for the epidemiologic observation that BCG vaccination confers some protection from COVID-19.

scholarly journals Use of Selected Antioxidant-Rich Spices and Herbs in Foods

2021 ◽  
Author(s):  
Perçin Karakol ◽  
Emin Kapi
Keyword(s):  
Large Scale ◽  
Ischemia Reperfusion Injury ◽  
Ischemia Reperfusion ◽  
Antioxidant Properties ◽  
Epidemiological Studies ◽  
Herbal Products ◽  
Pharmacological Agents ◽  
Long Time ◽  
Herbs And Spices

Free radicals are chemicals that play a role in the etiopathogenesis of ischemia–reperfusion injury. To prevent or reduce this damage, many protective or therapeutic antioxidants are used effectively in alternative medicine. These antioxidants include immunological or pharmacological agents, vitamins, food and herbal products, and spices. Herbs and spices have been used for a long time as coloring or preservative agents by adding to the content of foods, and at the same time to increase the nutritional value of foods. More recently, the nutritional effects of herbs and spices have become more perceived and the area of ​​interest for these products has increased. Concordantly, the biological contents of herbs and spices have begun to be studied in more detailed way at the cellular and molecular level. Sample plants are classified according to different chemical families, with the diet. Therefore, they have different levels of antioxidant capacity. These products also have potent anti-inflammatory, antihypertensive, glucoregulatory, antithrombotic, anticarcinogenic and so forth effects. These properties are used in the treatment of some chronic diseases. In this review, the antioxidant properties of various herbs and spices used to add flavor to foods or to extend their shelf life have been examined in the light of large-scale nutritional epidemiological studies, in vitro cellular/animal studies and clinical trials.

scholarly journals A Brief Overview on Probiotics: The Health Friendly Microbes

2021 ◽  
Vol 14 (4) ◽  
pp. 1869-1880
Author(s):  
Sanjukta Mishra ◽  
Swastik Acharya
Keyword(s):  
Clinical Trials ◽  
Human Health ◽  
Intrinsic Property ◽  
Saccharomyces Boulardii ◽  
Human Beings ◽  
Fatty Acid Production ◽  
Beneficial Effects ◽  
Probiotic Mechanisms

Probiotics are defined as non-pathogenic live microorganisms that, when administered in adequate amounts, confer health benefits on the host. Association of probiotics with human beings has a lot of history. Well known as 'health-friendly bacteria', they are widely used commercially as a functional food. The popularity of probiotics has gone exponentially high due to an increasing number of clinical trials, supporting their beneficial effects. Several in vivo and in-vitro experimental evidence supports strain-specific and disease-specific probiotic efficacy to prevent and ameliorate antibiotic-associated diarrhoea, traveller's diarrhoea, ulcerative colitis, and many more. Besides, numerous recent studies have reported that probiotics could have a significant effect in alleviating various metabolic, lifestyle and diet-related disorders like obesity, type 2 diabetes, metabolic syndrome, irritable bowel syndrome Strains of Bifidobacterium, Lactobacillus and Saccharomyces boulardii are the most commonly used as probiotics. Safety, efficacy, pathogenicity, infectivity, intrinsic property, virulence factors are to be addressed during probiotic selection. The underlying mechanisms of probiotics effects are still not fully elucidated and have been under intensive research. Numerous diverse, strain-specific probiotic mechanisms have been proposed, which include early colonization of perturbed microbes, competitive exclusion of pathogens, short-chain volatile fatty acid production, alteration of gut pH, immunomodulation and many more. Considering the remarkable influence on human health, probiotics seem to be alluring attractive agents to promote human health conditions and to improve the quality of life against several diseases. This review discusses the current documentation and recent advances on probiotics and their possible health attributes, in scientific literature, focusing on diverse, heterogeneous, and strain-specific mechanisms of action. Randomised human controlled clinical trials are needed to reconfirm its safety and beneficial effects.

Nanoformulations can be utilized to deliver effective siRNA to tumor cells to decrease gene expression

2021 ◽  
Author(s):  
Moataz Dowaidar
Keyword(s):  
Gene Expression ◽  
Clinical Trials ◽  
Tumor Cells ◽  
Sirna Delivery ◽  
The Body ◽  
Passive Targeting ◽  
Delivery Vector ◽  
Tumor Tissues ◽  
Collaborative Efforts

siRNA-based gene therapy has gained interest in recent decades. Nanocarriers can be used to deliver rapid and efficient siRNA to tumor cells, suppressing gene expression. Some RNAi-based therapies are presently undergoing clinical trials. Clinical trials to preserve and distribute siRNA are increasingly focused on nanoformulations, and their safety has been promising. How nanocarriers avoid immune clearance and extend their circulation in the body is a key study topic for scientists.Most research relies on EPR-mediated passive targeting. However, as the MPS system sequesters most nanocarriers, the E PR effect can not be administered successfully in mice, which is a big human concern. Novel targeted approaches are desperately needed to accumulate siRNA in tumor tissues. In vitro and animal models, a number of TME-responsive siRNA nanocarriers were examined. Clinical nanomedicine is generally simple in structure and easy to mass-produce while preserving safety and effectiveness.It will require the collaborative efforts of materials scientists, basic medical scientists, and clinicians to develop the design of the ideal siRNA delivery vector, the authors suggest. The authors suggest that multimodal combination therapy has a stronger therapeutic impact on malignancies than a single therapy paradigm and might be "over-designed" for therapeutic usage. The study was published in Cancer Research.

scholarly journals It’s Time for New Treatments in Pancreatic Cancer Pathology

2013 ◽  
Vol 20 (1) ◽  
pp. 69-75
Author(s):  
Ramona Crişan ◽  
Mihaela Aldea ◽  
Gabriel Kacso
Keyword(s):  
Pancreatic Cancer ◽  
Clinical Trials ◽  
Randomized Clinical Trials ◽  
Epidemiological Studies ◽  
Human Pancreatic Cancer ◽  
Reference List ◽  
Risk Of Death ◽  
Pancreatic Cancer Cells ◽  
Summary Relative Risk

Abstract Background and aims: The objective of this study was to conclude if there are enough scientific evidences to consider metformin as a potential treatment for pancreatic cancer. Material and Method: We performed a systematic search using PubMed and MedlinePlus up to September 2012. Reference list of relevant peer reviewed literature were hand searched. Ultimately 15 articles were included. Results: Epidemiological studies had revealed that therapy with metformin was associated with 21% reduced risk for all types of malignancies, 31% reduction in overall summary relative risk, the median survival was longer: 16.6 vs. 11.5 months and the risk of death has decreased with 33%. In vitro it was proven that low doses of metformin block the stimulation of DNA synthesis and the growth of human pancreatic cancer cells. Prospective randomized clinical trials to confirm these data were already launched. Conclusions: These results raise the possibility that metformin could improve the poor prognostic of patients suffering from pancreatic cancer. Other clinical trials should confirm this hypothesis.

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