Topic Review
Oxidative Stress and ROS Link Diabetes and Cancer
Type 2 diabetes mellitus (T2DM) accounts for one-sixth of deaths globally, whereas cancer is the second leading cause of death in the U.S. T2DM is a known risk factor for many cancers. Reactive oxygen species (ROS)-altered metabolic and signaling pathways link T2DM to cancer. These reprogrammed metabolic and signaling pathways contribute to diabetic complications, impact the redox balance (oxidative stress), and have differential roles in the early and late stages of cancer. A respiratory chain that is highly reduced (as under hyperglycemic conditions) or if reduced cofactors accumulate, ROS are greatly elevated. ROS may cause mutations in mitochondrial DNA (mtDNA) that result in further ROS elevations. The amplification of ROS results in the activation of PKC, an overarching signaling pathway that activates MAPK with a subsequent regulation in several factors that result in pathophysiological manifestations of T2DM and cancer. An upregulation in PKC leads to a deregulation in NF-kß, which regulates the PKB/P13/Akt pathway and orchestrates the cell survival, growth, proliferation, and glucose metabolism manifested in cancer. It also affects Insulin Receptor Substrate (IRS-1), decreasing insulin-stimulated glucose transport and glucose uptake, disrupting subsequent cell signaling pathways contributing to the development of T2DM.
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  • 12 Mar 2024
Topic Review
Use of Immune Regulation in HNSCC
Immunotherapy has emerged as a promising new treatment modality for head and neck cancer, offering the potential for targeted and effective cancer management. Squamous cell carcinomas pose significant challenges due to their aggressive nature and limited treatment options. Conventional therapies such as surgery, radiation, and chemotherapy often have limited success rates and can have significant side effects. Immunotherapy harnesses the power of the immune system to recognize and eliminate cancer cells, and thus represents a novel approach with the potential to improve patient outcomes. In the management of head and neck squamous cell carcinoma (HNSCC), important contributions are made by immunotherapies, including adaptive cell therapy (ACT) and immune checkpoint inhibitor therapy.
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  • 12 Mar 2024
Topic Review
Endocannabinoid System–Glia Axis
The endocannabinoid system (ECS), comprising endogenous cannabinoids, receptors, and enzymes, has emerged as a critical modulator of sleep patterns, influencing both the initiation and maintenance of sleep. Concurrently and once considered tolerant support cells, glial cells are now recognized as active contributors to neuroinflammatory processes and synaptic regulation. The intricate relationships between the ECS and glia-mediated immune responses in the context of sleep regulation present a novel avenue for understanding the broader implications of disrupted sleep on neural health. The bidirectional communication within the ECS–Glia Axis intersects with sleep regulation, creating a dynamic relationship between neuroinflammation and sleep–wake patterns. Sleep disturbances often coincide with increased neuroinflammation, and chronic activation of the ECS–Glia Axis may contribute to disrupted sleep. Conversely, alterations in sleep architecture influence the activity of the ECS–Glia Axis, suggesting a reciprocal modulation.
  • 181
  • 12 Mar 2024
Topic Review
Mechanisms of Cognitive Impairment in Chronic Kidney Disease
A notable feature of dementia in chronic kidney disease (CKD) patients is the high frequency of vascular dementia, making its prevention through the management of classical risk factors such as hypertension, diabetes mellitus, dyslipidemia, smoking, etc., associated with atherosclerosis and arteriosclerosis. Other effective measures, including the use of renin–angiotensin system inhibitors, addressing anemia, exercise therapy, and lifestyle improvements, have been reported. The incidence and progression of cognitive impairment (CI) may also be influenced by the type of kidney replacement therapy, with reports suggesting that long-duration dialysis, low-temperature hemodialysis, peritoneal dialysis, and kidney transplantation can have a preferable effect on the preservation of cognitive function. In conclusion, patients with CKD are at a higher risk of developing CI, with brain atrophy being a contributing factor. 
  • 112
  • 12 Mar 2024
Topic Review
Selected Conventional and Alternative Sweeteners on Gastrointestinal Hormones
Sugar consumption is known to be associated with a whole range of adverse health effects, including overweight status and type II diabetes mellitus. Alternative sweeteners have gained interest as substitutes for conventional sweeteners, such as sucrose, glucose, or fructose, to achieve a reduction in sugar intake without loss of the sweet taste. Several human studies have shed light on the differential effects of conventional sweeteners (glucose, fructose, and sucrose) and alternative sweeteners on metabolic parameters such as gastrointestinal (GI) hormone secretion, gastric emptying rates, energy intake, glycemic control, blood lipids, and uric acid. 
  • 85
  • 12 Mar 2024
Topic Review
Post-Discectomy Infection
Postoperative discitis (POD) accounts for 20% to 30% of all cases of pyogenic spondylodiscitis, while POD may be mis-or-under-diagnosed, due to the vague related symptomatology and the non-specific imaging findings. Most studies report infection rate of less than 1%, which increases with the addition of non-instrumented fusion to 2.4% to 6.2%. The onset of POD symptoms usually occurs at 2–4 weeks after an apparently uneventful operation. Back pain and muscle spasms are usually refractory to bed rest and analgesics. Magnetic Resonance Imaging (MRI) is the most sensitive and specific imaging diagnostic technique. Antimicrobial therapy depends on the results of tissue cultures, and along with bracing represents the mainstay of management. Surgical intervention is necessary in patients failing conservative treatment. For the majority of cases, extensive surgical debridement, antibiotic therapy, and orthosis immobilization are effective in eliminating the infection.
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  • 12 Mar 2024
Topic Review
Potential Immunohistochemical Biomarkers for Grading Oral Dysplasia
Oral cancer is becoming more and more frequent worldwide. Despite the widely available prevention, it is one of the most common cancers in the world, with 476,125 new cases and 225,900 deaths in 2020. Among the causes of carcinogenesis in the oral cavity, tobacco smoking or chewing, alcohol consumption, occupational exposure, risky sexual behaviour, genetic factors, and environmental pollution are widely mentioned. Smoking is the most prominent risk factor for oral cancer due to the carcinogenic chemicals in cigarette smoke, including nitrosamines, benzopyrenes, and aromatic amines. The risk of oral cancer is three times higher in smokers compared to non-smokers. In addition, the combination of cigarette smoking and frequent heavy alcohol consumption increases the risk of developing cancer by several times.
  • 111
  • 12 Mar 2024
Topic Review
Microglial Transforming Growth Factor-β Signaling in Alzheimer’s Disease
Alzheimer’s disease is the most common form of dementia (60–70%) affecting the elderly. To date, the major risk factor of Alzheimer’s disease (AD) is aging. In these times of demographic change, the numbers of patients diagnosed with AD are rising.
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  • 12 Mar 2024
Topic Review
Music Therapy in End-of-Life Care Contexts
Certified music therapists use music within therapeutic relationships to address human needs, health, and well-being with a variety of populations. Palliative care and music therapy are holistic and diverse fields, adapting to unique issues within end-of-life contexts. Palliative care music therapy has been formally practiced since the late 1970s and affords a variety of benefits, including pain and anxiety reduction, enhancement of quality of life, emotional expression, and relationship completion. 
  • 304
  • 12 Mar 2024
Topic Review
Myopia, Sodium Chloride, and Vitreous Fluid Imbalance
Myopia prevalence is low in native people consuming traditional diets lacking in sodium chloride, and nutritional epidemiological evidence supports the association of rising myopia prevalence with dietary sodium intake. East Asian populations have among the highest rates of myopia associated with high dietary sodium. Similar associations of sodium and rising myopia prevalence were observed in the United States in the late 20th century.
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  • 12 Mar 2024
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