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Topic Review
Vitamin E and cardiovascular diseases
Cardiovascular diseases (CVD) cause about 1/3 of global deaths. Therefore, new strategies for the prevention and treatment of cardiovascular events are highly sought-after. Vitamin E is known for significant antioxidative and anti-inflammatory properties, and has been studied in the prevention of CVD, supported by findings that vitamin E deficiency is associated with increased risk of cardiovascular events. However, randomized controlled trials in humans reveal conflicting and ultimately disappointing results regarding the reduction of cardiovascular events with vitamin E supplementation. As we discuss in detail, this outcome is strongly affected by study design, cohort selection, co-morbidities, genetic variations, age, and gender. For effective chronic primary and secondary prevention by vitamin E, oxidative and inflammatory status might not have been sufficiently antagonized. In contrast, acute administration of vitamin E may be more translatable into positive clinical outcomes. In patients with myocardial infarction (MI), which is associated with severe oxidative and inflammatory reactions, decreased plasma levels of vitamin E have been found. The offsetting of this acute vitamin E deficiency via short-term treatment in MI has shown promising results, and, thus, acute medication, rather than chronic supplementation, with vitamin E might revitalize vitamin E therapy and even provide positive clinical outcomes.
  • 1.2K
  • 13 Oct 2020
Topic Review
Lignin-Based Sunscreens
In light of recent research, a vast majority of the commonly-used broad-range sunscreens fail to provide adequate protection against portions of sunlight that age and otherwise damage the skin, including visual light. In addition, many of their UV-active synthetic components that easily pass through effluent wastewater treatment plants have been linked to coral bleaching and other negative effects on marine ecosystems. These compounds may also penetrate the skin and are suspected of causing allergies and acting as hormone disruptors. Technical lignins are phenolic biopolymers obtained in large quantities as by-products of chemical pulping and biomass refinery processes that have been found to be of low toxicity to normal mammalian cells. Because of their polymeric nature, they should be much easier to remove from wastewater than the small synthetic UV-active compounds used in chemical sunscreens. Provided that they have the right chemical structure and are converted to nanoparticles, they display significant absorbance in the UV- and visual wavelength areas of sunlight. Most commercial sunscreens are whitish because of perceived consumer preference and for this reason, contain only compounds that have insignificant absorbance in the visual region of sunlight. Coupled with their ability to act as antioxidants and preservatives, lignin-based sunscreens offer themselves as a bio-based and safe multi-functional additive for high-SPF (Sun Protection Factor) sunscreens and cosmetics. This review addresses the state-of-the art of lignin-based sunscreens.
  • 1.2K
  • 19 Nov 2020
Topic Review
Insulin Resistance
IRES is associated with obesity, glucose intolerance, dyslipidemia, and hypertension, evolves toward type 2 diabetes, and increases the risk of developing cardiovascular diseases. Several studies designed to explore the mechanisms involved in IRES allowed the identification of a multitude of potential molecular targets. Among the most promising, G Protein Coupled Receptor Kinase type 2 (GRK2) appears to be a suitable one given its functional implications in many cellular processes. In this review, we will discuss the metabolic role of GRK2 in those conditions that are characterized by insulin resistance (diabetes, hypertension, heart failure), and the potentiality of its inhibition as a therapeutic strategy to revert both insulin resistance and its associated phenotypes
  • 1.2K
  • 28 Jan 2021
Topic Review
Transarterial Chemoembolization
TACE is widely performed for inoperable HCCs; however, its therapeutic effects on HCC is strongly influenced by techniques. Therefore, it is important to properly use the TACE techniques according to the patient and tumor condition. Among them, cTACE is a skill to cure localized HCCs; however, it should be performed as selectively as possible because it also damages the normal liver.
  • 1.2K
  • 12 Nov 2020
Topic Review
Immigrant Experiences of Primary Health-Care
Access to primary health care (PHC) services is a right for all individuals and communities. Adequate access to quality care in PHC is crucial to everyone, however, equal and equitable access to healthcare for all individuals in society is still a matter of great concern in many countries across the world. Immigrants in particular face unique challenges in accessibility and usability of basic healthcare services, especially when moving to a more developed nation. These challenges are often driven by factors such as differing culture, language, economy, literacy, social relations, and exposure to a new and unknown healthcare structure. Understanding these social and cultural determinants of health is a necessary foundation for developing an effective and efficient primary healthcare system. This study explores patient experiences in primary care from the perspective of immigrant communities and identifies areas for further research and improvement.
  • 1.1K
  • 12 Dec 2020
Topic Review
Probiotics and Synbiotics on Hirsutism
Probiotics and synbiotics are known to have beneficial effects on human health and disease. Hirsutism, a disorder that is characterised by the presence of coarse terminal hairs in a male-like pattern, is usually caused by elevated androgen levels in blood plasma. This disorder is usually ob-served in PCOS women and it is linked to insulin resistance (IR). Although idiopathic hirsutism (IH) is not shown to have excess androgen production from the ovarian and adrenal glands, in-creased 5α-reductase in peripheral tissues and insulin resistance are common observations.
  • 1.1K
  • 27 Jan 2021
Topic Review
Decision Support for Patient-Centered Care
Care management strategies could be effectively used and augmented by shared decision support systems or artificial intelligence.  Evidence-based approaches to the determinants and consequences of chronic care management  are suggested. The proper utilization of care management strategies will not only enhance better patient care outcomes but also reduce the hospitalization or readmission.
  • 1.1K
  • 02 Nov 2020
Topic Review
Human Thermoregulation
The international community has recognized global warming as an impending catastrophe that poses significant threat to life on earth. In response, the signatories of the Paris Agreement (2015) have committed to limit the increase in global mean temperature to < 1.5 oC, from pre-industry period, which is defined as 1850 - 1890. Considering that the protection of human life is a central focus in the Paris Agreement, the naturally endowed properties of the human body to protect itself from environmental extremes should form the core of an integrated and multifaceted solution against global warming. Scholars believe that heat and thermoregulation play important roles in the evolution of life and continue to be a central mechanism that allow humans to explore, labor and live in extreme conditions. However, the international effort against global warming has focused primarily on protecting the environment and on the reduction of greenhouse gases by changing human behavior, industrial practices, and government policies, with limited consideration given to the nature and design of the human thermoregulatory system. Global warming is projected to challenge the limits of human thermoregulation, which can be enhanced by complementing innate human thermo-plasticity with the appropriate behavioral changes and technological innovations. Therefore, the fundamental concepts and physiology of human thermoregulation should form the underlying bases for human adaptation to global warming and for designing behavioral adaptations and technological innovations to enhance human capacity to function in a warmer environment. A potential behavioral adaptation to global warming is that sleep-wake cycle would gravitate towards a sub-nocturnal pattern, especially for outdoor activities, to avoid the heat of the day. Technologically, the current concept of cooling the space in the room, would likely steer towards targeted body surface cooling. Solar energy is likely to overtake fossil fuel-based energy as the main source of electrical supply globally and more manual labor tasks would need to be replaced by machines and robots to reduce metabolic heat production. There should be more integrated solutions between biologists, behavioral scientists, and technologists, so that man and machine can enhance each other to bring about better solutions against the threat of global warming. 
  • 1.1K
  • 09 Nov 2020
Topic Review
Future of Work and OSH
Rapid and profound changes anticipated in the future of work will have significant implications for the education and training of occupational safety and health (OSH) professionals and the workforce. As the nature of the workplace, work, and the workforce change, the OSH field must expand its focus to include existing and new hazards (some yet unknown), consider how to protect the health and well-being of a diverse workforce, and understand and mitigate the safety implications of new work arrangements. Preparing for these changes is critical to developing proactive systems that can protect workers, prevent injury and illness, and promote worker well-being. An in-person workshop held on February 3–4, 2020 at The University of Texas Health Science Center (UTHealth) School of Public Health in Houston, Texas, USA, examined some of the challenges and opportunities OSH education will face in both academic and industry settings. The onslaught of the COVID-19 global pandemic reached the United States one month after this workshop and greatly accelerated the pace of change.
  • 1.1K
  • 23 Apr 2021
Topic Review
Iodine Deficiency
Iodine deficiency is a global issue and affects around 2 billion people worldwide, with pregnant women as a high-risk group. Iodine-deficiency prevention began in the 20th century and started with global salt iodination programmes, which aimed to improve the iodine intake status globally.
  • 1.1K
  • 19 Feb 2021
Topic Review
Physical Exercise in NAFLD
Non-alcoholic fatty liver disease (NAFLD) is a major health problem, and its prevalence has increased in recent years. Diet and exercise interventions are the first-line treatment options. The goal is to understand the complex pathophysiology underlying exercise interventions with the potential to prevent and treat NAFLD.
  • 1.1K
  • 26 Nov 2020
Topic Review
Nutrition-focused QIPs in Cancer Care
Malnutrition in patients with cancer is a ubiquitous but neglected problem that can reduce patient survival/quality of life and increase treatment interruptions, readmission rates, and healthcare costs. Malnutrition interventions, including nutrition support through dietary counseling, diet fortification, oral nutrition supplements (ONS), and enteral and parenteral nutrition can help improve health outcomes. However, nutritional care standards and interventions for cancer are ambiguous and inconsistently applied. The lack of systematic malnutrition screening and intervention in ambulatory cancer care has especially significant consequences and thus the nutrition support of patients with cancer represents an area for quality improvement. United States healthcare payment models such as the Oncology Care Model are linked to quality of care and health outcomes. Quality improvement programs (QIPs) can advance patient-centered care, perfect care processes, and help healthcare professionals meet their quality measure performance goals. Malnutrition QIPs like the Malnutrition Quality Improvement Initiative (MQii) have been shown to be effective in identifying and treating malnutrition. However, little is known about or has been reported on nutrition or malnutrition-focused QIPs in cancer care. This paper provides information to support translational research on quality improvement and outlines the gaps and potential opportunities for QIPs in the nutrition support of patients with cancer.
  • 1.1K
  • 27 Oct 2020
Topic Review
Anti-Obesity Effects of Microalgae
Microalgae are prokaryotic or eukaryotic microscopic single-cell organisms, producing a great variety of compounds, such as photosynthetic pigments (carotenoids and chlorophylls), sterols, polyunsaturated fatty acids, vitamins, minerals, fiber, polysaccharides, enzymes, peptides, and toxins. In recent years, they have attracted great interest as a major source of bioactive medicinal products and food ingredients with anti-oxidant, anti-inflammatory, anti-cancer and anti-microbial properties. In most pre-clinical studies performed with Euglena gracilis, Phaeodactylum tricornutum, Spirulina maxima, Spirulina platensis, or Nitzschia laevis microalgae, positive anti-obesity effects have been addressed in animals submitted to an obesogenic feeding pattern. However, more research is warranted to determine which bioactive compound(s) are responsible for their anti-obesity effects, as well as to establish the mechanisms underlying those effects.
  • 1.1K
  • 14 Apr 2021
Topic Review
Ketone Bodies as Epigenetic Modifiers
 Ketogenesis and ketolysis are the main regulatory metabolic pathways of ketone bodies (KBs). These pathways are active during conditions like adherence to ketogenic diet or starvation, where carbohydrates availability is reduced, or fatty acid levels are increased. Epigenetic changes are influenced by KBs, and in particular βOHB, which regulates cellular processes through epigenetic mechanisms, and therefore serves as a strong epigenetic modifiers and exerts its anti-inflammatory effect providing potential targeted therapy in asthma.   
  • 1.0K
  • 30 Jan 2021
Topic Review
Sustainability-Sport-Physical Activity
The present study is a synthesizing analysis of international literature on correlations between sustainability, sport, and physical activity. The study of sustainability is considered essential in modern research; its multidisciplinary approach relies on sports science and sports economics as well. There are several aspects of sustainability that are closely associated with health and health preservation; the beneficial effect of exercise on health is also widely known. For the analysis of this complex matter, our current study relied on secondary sources, and besides exploring specialist literature, it also illustrates and analyzes related statistical data. Our results highlight the correlations between living environment and physical activity, the importance of increasing individual commitment towards sustainability and using green spaces for exercising, as well as questions on social and environmental development in relation to physical activity. The study revealed the existence of highly complex links between physical environment, physical activities, and sustainability. The results section of our study provides a brief summary on the possible ways of making people physically active. Increasing physical activity is of paramount importance for achieving the objectives formulated in relation to sustainability.
  • 1.0K
  • 19 Feb 2021
Topic Review
Games for Diabetes Control
Finding methods to improve people’s diabetes control and management is important to prevent its complications and maintain the quality of life. The aim of this review was to assess the effect of games on the blood glucose level (glycated hemoglobin (HbA1c)). A systematic review and meta-analysis were made. Pubmed, Scopus, and CINAHL databases were consulted in July of 2020. Ten studies were selected as a final sample, most of them being clinical trials using games to improve diabetes control. Half of the studies had samples between 8 and 14.9 years old and the other half between 57 and 65 years old. The studies informed about using applications/games for mobile phones, game consoles, and board games for diabetes education and management. The meta-analysis was performed with 4 studies showing a mean difference of 0.12 (CI 95% 0.57, 0.33) of HbA1c in favor of the intervention group with p > 0.05. Games are positive for diabetes health education and promoting healthier lifestyle, but their impact on HbA1c is low.
  • 982
  • 23 Apr 2021
Topic Review
Critical Limb Ischemia
Critical limb ischemia (CLI) constitutes the most severe form of peripheral arterial disease (PAD), a prevalent manifestation of atherosclerosis which involves the blockade of major systemic arteries other than those of the cerebral and coronary circulation, more common in legs than in arms. Overall, CLI patients suffer from chronic ischemic rest pain, ulcers, or gangrene, as well as an increased risk of cardiovascular events. CLI has a huge impact on the patients’ quality of life, being associated with an increased risk of amputations (fingers, toes, or extremities) and, moreover, an increase in mortality rates. Currently, revascularization strategies (bypass grafting, angioplasty) remain the first option for CLI patients, although less than 45% of them are eligible for surgical intervention mainly due to associated comorbidities. Moreover, patients usually require amputation in the short-term. As an alternative to conventional treatments, therapeutic angiogenesis has arisen as a promising treatment for CLI patients, mainly those considered as “no-option”, due to the potential of this strategy to promote revascularization of ischemic tissues. Different approaches including angiogenic gene or cell-based therapies are currently under investigation.
  • 969
  • 22 Sep 2021
Topic Review
Intracellular pH Regulation in Muscle
Here we talk about the effects of acidosis on insulin signaling and glucose uptake in skeletal muscle and whether correcting defects that maintain [pH]i within the muscle, such as carnosine, could alleviate insulin resistance improve insulin responses during metabolic syndrome.
  • 918
  • 22 Oct 2020
Topic Review
Women Care with Delusional Disorder
Delusional disorder is a difficult-to-treat clinical condition with health needs that are often undertreated. Although individuals with delusional disorder may be high functioning in daily life, they suffer from serious health complaints that may be sex-specific.
  • 915
  • 27 Jan 2021
Topic Review
Dietary Mitophagy Enhancer
Recently, nutritional interventions have received attention as promising approaches to promote human health during a lifespan. The Mediterranean and Okinawan diets have been associated with longevity and decreasing risk for age-related diseases in contrast to the Western diet. The effect might be due to several antioxidative bioactive compounds highly consumed in both diets, namely, resveratrol, hydroxytyrosol, oleuropein, curcumin, and spermidine. This review aims to address the underlying mechanisms of these compounds to enhance mental fitness throughout life with a focus on brain mitophagy. Mitophagy is the autophagic clearance of dysfunctional, redundant, and aged mitochondria. In aging and neurodegenerative disorders, mitophagy is crucial to preserve the autophagy mechanism of the whole cell, especially during oxidative stress. Growing evidence indicates that curcumin, astaxanthin, resveratrol, hydroxytyrosol, oleuropein, and spermidine might exert protective functions via antioxidative properties and as well the enhanced induction of mitophagy mediators. The compounds seem to upregulate mitophagy and thereby alleviate the clearance of dysfunctional and aged mitochondria as well as mitogenesis. Thus, the Mediterranean or Okinawan diet could represent a feasible nutritional approach to reduce the risk of developing age-related cognitive impairment and corresponding disorders via the stimulation of mitophagy and thereby ensure a balanced redox state of brain cells.
  • 905
  • 20 Oct 2020
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