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1.
The therapeutic mechanisms and beneficial effects of ursodeoxycholic acid in the treatment of nonalcoholic fatty liver disease: a systematic review.
Stan, SI, Biciuşcă, V, Clenciu, D, Mitrea, A, Boldeanu, MV, Durand, P, Dănoiu, S
Medicine and pharmacy reports. 2024;(1):12-25
Abstract
Non-alcoholic fatty liver disease (NAFLD) is the most prevalent chronic liver disease, with an increasing prevalence in all regions of the world. Its spectrum includes hepatic steatosis (HS) and non-alcoholic steatohepatitis (NASH) with progression to fibrosis, cirrhosis, and hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC). NAFLD may represent the hepatic manifestation of the metabolic syndrome (MS), with a prevalence directly proportional to the prevalence of obesity and MS. The standard treatment for patients with NAFLD is lifestyle modification, which in medical practice has many limitations. To overcome them, numerous drugs with benefits in the prevention and treatment of the disease have been studied. Currently, the most used substances are vitamin E and Pioglitazone, with numerous benefits. Furthermore, new strategies and beneficial treatments are needed for the prevention of the disease, which is currently a priority in both the health and research fields. One of the most studied agents in the last decades has been ursodeoxycholic acid (UDCA), which is of great interest in the treatment of NAFLD due to its hepatoprotective effects.
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2.
Re-emergence of a forgotten diabetes complication: Euglycemic diabetic ketoacidosis.
Dagdeviren, M, Akkan, T, Ertugrul, DT
Turkish journal of emergency medicine. 2024;(1):1-7
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Abstract
Diabetic ketoacidosis (DKA) is the most common emergency complication of diabetes. Euglycemic DKA (EDKA), on the other hand, has been known for many years but is a rare and under-recognized condition and constitutes a very small proportion of DKA cases. However, in recent years, an increase in the incidence of EDKA has been observed with the widespread use of sodium-glucose co-transporter 2 inhibitors, which have proven benefits in the treatment of diabetes mellitus and its cardiorenal complications, heart failure, and chronic kidney disease. Unlike classical DKA, these patients without significant hyperglycemia can easily be missed in emergency departments. EDKA should be kept in mind in patients with diabetes presenting with DKA but with a blood glucose level <250 mg/dL. The diagnostic and therapeutic approach after clinical suspicion in these patients is similar to classical DKA and is briefly summarized in this review. The most important point in treatment is that these patients are normoglycemic but have a significant insulin deficiency (relative or absolute). Therefore, insulin is the mainstay of the treatment and should be given together with dextrose solutions to avoid hypoglycemia.
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Harnessing root-soil-microbiota interactions for drought-resilient cereals.
Gholizadeh, S, Nemati, I, Vestergård, M, Barnes, CJ, Kudjordjie, EN, Nicolaisen, M
Microbiological research. 2024;:127698
Abstract
Cereal plants form complex networks with their associated microbiome in the soil environment. A complex system including variations of numerous parameters of soil properties and host traits shapes the dynamics of cereal microbiota under drought. These multifaceted interactions can greatly affect carbon and nutrient cycling in soil and offer the potential to increase plant growth and fitness under drought conditions. Despite growing recognition of the importance of plant microbiota to agroecosystem functioning, harnessing the cereal root microbiota remains a significant challenge due to interacting and synergistic effects between root traits, soil properties, agricultural practices, and drought-related features. A better mechanistic understanding of root-soil-microbiota associations could lead to the development of novel strategies to improve cereal production under drought. In this review, we discuss the root-soil-microbiota interactions for improving the soil environment and host fitness under drought and suggest a roadmap for harnessing the benefits of these interactions for drought-resilient cereals. These methods include conservative trait-based approaches for the selection and breeding of plant genetic resources and manipulation of the soil environments.
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Gestational diabetes mellitus: genetic factors, epigenetic alterations, and microbial composition.
Lizárraga, D, Gómez-Gil, B, García-Gasca, T, Ávalos-Soriano, A, Casarini, L, Salazar-Oroz, A, García-Gasca, A
Acta diabetologica. 2024;(1):1-17
Abstract
Gestational diabetes mellitus (GDM) is a common metabolic disorder, usually diagnosed during the third trimester of pregnancy that usually disappears after delivery. In GDM, the excess of glucose, fatty acids, and amino acids results in foetuses large for gestational age. Hyperglycaemia and insulin resistance accelerate the metabolism, raising the oxygen demand, and creating chronic hypoxia and inflammation. Women who experienced GDM and their offspring are at risk of developing type-2 diabetes, obesity, and other metabolic or cardiovascular conditions later in life. Genetic factors may predispose the development of GDM; however, they do not account for all GDM cases; lifestyle and diet also play important roles in GDM development by modulating epigenetic signatures and the body's microbial composition; therefore, this is a condition with a complex, multifactorial aetiology. In this context, we revised published reports describing GDM-associated single-nucleotide polymorphisms (SNPs), DNA methylation and microRNA expression in different tissues (such as placenta, umbilical cord, adipose tissue, and peripheral blood), and microbial composition in the gut, oral cavity, and vagina from pregnant women with GDM, as well as the bacterial composition of the offspring. Altogether, these reports indicate that a number of SNPs are associated to GDM phenotypes and may predispose the development of the disease. However, extrinsic factors (lifestyle, nutrition) modulate, through epigenetic mechanisms, the risk of developing the disease, and some association exists between the microbial composition with GDM in an organ-specific manner. Genes, epigenetic signatures, and microbiota could be transferred to the offspring, increasing the possibility of developing chronic degenerative conditions through postnatal life.
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Sex differences in growth and neurocognitive development in infancy and early childhood.
Moore, SE
The Proceedings of the Nutrition Society. 2024;:1-8
Abstract
Undernutrition in early life remains a significant public health challenge affecting millions of infants and young children globally. Children who are wasted, stunted or underweight are at increased risk of morbidity and mortality. Undernutrition at critical periods also impacts on aspects of neurodevelopment, with longer-term consequences to educational performance and mental health outcomes. Despite consistent evidence highlighting an increased risk of neonatal and infant mortality among boys, a common assumption held across many disciplines is that girls are more vulnerable with respect to early-life exposures. In relation to undernutrition, however, recent evidence indicates the reverse, and in contexts of food insecurity, boys are at increased risk of undernutrition in early life compared to girls, with sex-specific risks for neurodevelopmental deficits. These effects appear independent of social factors that may favour boys, such as gender disparities in infant feeding practices and health-seeking behaviours. The observed vulnerability among boys may therefore be underpinned by biological processes such as differential energy requirements during periods of rapid growth. As boys have greater needs for growth and maintenance, then, in times of nutritional hardship, these needs may not be met resulting in risk of undernutrition and subsequent health consequences. In view of this emerging evidence, a greater understanding of the mechanisms behind this vulnerability among boys is needed and policy considerations to protect boys should be considered. This review will explore sex differences in risk of undernutrition and consider these in the context of existing programmes and policies.
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Exploring the potential of probiotic-enriched beer: Microorganisms, fermentation strategies, sensory attributes, and health implications.
Hinojosa-Avila, CR, García-Gamboa, R, Chedraui-Urrea, JJT, García-Cayuela, T
Food research international (Ottawa, Ont.). 2024;:113717
Abstract
Probiotic-enriched beers have emerged as an innovative solution for delivering beneficial microorganisms, particularly appealing to consumers seeking non-dairy options. However, navigating the complex beer environment presents challenges in effectively cultivating specific probiotic strains. This review aims to promote innovation and distinctiveness within the brewing industry by providing insights into current research on the integration of probiotic microorganisms into beer production, thereby creating a functional beverage. The review explores the effects of probiotic incorporation on the functional, technological, and sensory attributes of beer, distinguishing contributions from bacterial and yeast, as well as potential health benefits. Probiotic microorganisms encounter hurdles during beer production, including ethanol, hops, CO2 levels, pH, oxygen, and nutrients. Ethanol tolerance mechanisms vary among bacteria and yeasts, with specific lactic acid bacteria showing resistance to hop compounds. Hops, crucial for beer categorization, exert a timing-dependent impact on probiotics-early isomerization impedes growth, while late additions yield non-isomerized antibacterial properties. Effective probiotic integration necessitates precise post-fermentation addition stages to ensure viability and flavor. The sensory impact and consumer reception of probiotic-enriched beers require further exploration. Probiotics must endure storage conditions to qualify as functional beer, while limited research investigates health advantages, urging enhanced production techniques, sensory optimization, and clinical validation.
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Epidemiology and risk factors for hyperkalaemia in heart failure.
Grobbee, DE, Filippatos, G, Desai, NR, Coats, AJS, Pinto, F, Rosano, GMC, Cleland, JGF, Kammerer, J, de Arellano, AR
ESC heart failure. 2024
Abstract
Patients with heart failure (HF), particularly those with impaired renal function receiving renin-angiotensin-aldosterone system inhibitors (RAASis), are at risk of hyperkalaemia; when hyperkalaemia is severe, this can have serious clinical consequences. The incidence, prevalence, and risk factors for hyperkalaemia reported in randomized trials of RAASis may not reflect clinical practice due to exclusion of patients with elevated serum potassium (sK+ ) or severe renal impairment: information on patients managed in routine clinical care is important to understanding the actual burden of hyperkalaemia. This paper reviews the available clinical epidemiology data on hyperkalaemia in HF and considers areas requiring further research. Observational studies published since 2017 that focused on hyperkalaemia, included patients with HF, and had ≥1000 participants were considered. Hyperkalaemia occurrence in HF varied widely from 7% to 39% depending on the setting, HF severity, follow-up length, and concomitant medications. Rates were lowest in patients with newly diagnosed HF and highest in patients with greater disease severity; comorbidities, such as chronic kidney disease and diabetes, and RAASi use, reflected commonly identified risk factors for hyperkalaemia in patients with HF. Hyperkalaemia was most often mild; however, from the limited data available, persistence of mild hyperkalaemia was associated with an increased risk of mortality and major adverse cardiovascular events. There were also limited data available on the progression of hyperkalaemia. Recurrence was common, occurring in one-quarter to two-fifths of hyperkalaemia cases. Despite HF guidelines recommending close monitoring of sK+ , 55-93% of patients did not receive appropriate testing before or after initiation of RAASi or in follow-up to moderate/severe hyperkalaemia detection. Many of the observational studies were retrospective and from a single country. There is a need for international, prospective, longitudinal, observational studies, such as the CARE-HK in HF study (NCT04864795), to understand hyperkalaemia's prevalence, incidence, and severity; to identify and characterize cases that persist, progress, and recur; to highlight the importance of sK+ monitoring when using RAASi; and to assess the impact of newer HF therapies and potassium binders in clinical practice. Data from both clinical trials and observational studies with adjustments for confounding variables will be needed to assess the contribution of hyperkalaemia to clinical outcomes.
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Development of small-molecule inhibitors that target PI3Kβ.
Yu, Y, Gu, D, Cai, L, Yang, H, Sheng, R
Drug discovery today. 2024;(1):103854
Abstract
Phosphatidylinositol-3 kinase (PI3K) β, a subtype of class I PI3Ks, has an essential role in PTEN-deficient tumors and links to thrombosis, male fertility, and Fragile X syndrome. PI3Kβ-specific targeting therapy could be an efficacious treatment for diseases highly dependent on PI3Kβ, while mitigating the severe toxicity of pan-PI3K inhibitors. Achieving selectivity can be accomplished through three primary strategies, namely, binding to the induced lipophilic pocket, targeting the unique amino acid residue of PI3Kβ, or using atropisomerism to lock conformation. In this review, we focus on advances in the development of these β-isoform-selective PI3K inhibitors, providing potential guidance for the further development of novel clinical candidates.
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Plant Biostimulant as an Environmentally Friendly Alternative to Modern Agriculture.
Jiang, Y, Yue, Y, Wang, Z, Lu, C, Yin, Z, Li, Y, Ding, X
Journal of agricultural and food chemistry. 2024;(10):5107-5121
Abstract
Ensuring the safety of crop production presents a significant challenge to humanity. Pesticides and fertilizers are commonly used to eliminate external interference and provide nutrients, enabling crops to sustain growth and defense. However, the addition of chemical substances does not meet the environmental standards required for agricultural production. Recently, natural sources such as biostimulants have been found to help plants with growth and defense. The development of biostimulants provides new solutions for agricultural product safety and has become a widely utilized tool in agricultural. The review summarizes the classification of biostimulants, including humic-based biostimulant, protein-based biostimulant, oligosaccharide-based biostimulant, metabolites-based biostimulants, inorganic substance, and microbial inoculant. This review attempts to summarize suitable alternative technology that can address the problems and analyze the current state of biostimulants, summarizes the research mechanisms, and anticipates future technological developments and market trends, which provides comprehensive information for researchers to develop biostimulants.
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Arterial Spin Labeling (ASL) in Neuroradiological Diagnostics - Methodological Overview and Use Cases.
Sollmann, N, Hoffmann, G, Schramm, S, Reichert, M, Hernandez Petzsche, M, Strobel, J, Nigris, L, Kloth, C, Rosskopf, J, Börner, C, et al
RoFo : Fortschritte auf dem Gebiete der Rontgenstrahlen und der Nuklearmedizin. 2024;(1):36-51
Abstract
BACKGROUND Arterial spin labeling (ASL) is a magnetic resonance imaging (MRI)-based technique using labeled blood-water of the brain-feeding arteries as an endogenous tracer to derive information about brain perfusion. It enables the assessment of cerebral blood flow (CBF). METHOD This review aims to provide a methodological and technical overview of ASL techniques, and to give examples of clinical use cases for various diseases affecting the central nervous system (CNS). There is a special focus on recent developments including super-selective ASL (ssASL) and time-resolved ASL-based magnetic resonance angiography (MRA) and on diseases commonly not leading to characteristic alterations on conventional structural MRI (e. g., concussion or migraine). RESULTS ASL-derived CBF may represent a clinically relevant parameter in various pathologies such as cerebrovascular diseases, neoplasms, or neurodegenerative diseases. Furthermore, ASL has also been used to investigate CBF in mild traumatic brain injury or migraine, potentially leading to the establishment of imaging-based biomarkers. Recent advances made possible the acquisition of ssASL by selective labeling of single brain-feeding arteries, enabling spatial perfusion territory mapping dependent on blood flow of a specific preselected artery. Furthermore, ASL-based MRA has been introduced, providing time-resolved delineation of single intracranial vessels. CONCLUSION Perfusion imaging by ASL has shown promise in various diseases of the CNS. Given that ASL does not require intravenous administration of a gadolinium-based contrast agent, it may be of particular interest for investigations in pediatric cohorts, patients with impaired kidney function, patients with relevant allergies, or patients that undergo serial MRI for clinical indications such as disease monitoring. KEY POINTS · ASL is an MRI technique that uses labeled blood-water as an endogenous tracer for brain perfusion imaging.. · It allows the assessment of CBF without the need for administration of a gadolinium-based contrast agent.. · CBF quantification by ASL has been used in several pathologies including brain tumors or neurodegenerative diseases.. · Vessel-selective ASL methods can provide brain perfusion territory mapping in cerebrovascular diseases.. · ASL may be of particular interest in patient cohorts with caveats concerning gadolinium administration..