Topic Review
Therapies for COVID-19 Treatment
The virus SARS-CoV-2, the etiological agent of COVID-19, is responsible for more than 400,000 deaths worldwide as of June 10, 2020. As a result of its recent appearance (December 2019), an efficacious treatment is not yet available. Although considered a lung infection since its emergence, COVID-19 is now causing multiple organ failure, requiring a continuous adjustment in the procedures. In this review, we summarized the current literature surrounding unproven therapies for COVID-19. Analyses of the clinical trials were grouped as chemo-, sero-, anticoagulant, and the use of human recombinant soluble ACE2 therapies. We conclude that while no agent has hit the threshold for quality of evidence to demonstrate efficacy and safety, preliminary data show potential benefits. Moreover, there is a possibility for harm with these unproven therapies, and the decision to treat should be based on a comprehensive risk-benefit analysis.
  • 1.2K
  • 28 Jul 2020
Topic Review
Licorice and the Cardiovascular System
Licorice is one of the oldest used herbs for medicinal purposes and consists of up to 300 active compounds. The main active constituent of licorice is the prodrug glycyrrhizin, which is successively converted to 3β-monoglucuronyl-18β-glycyrrhetinic acid (3MGA) and 18β-glycyrrhetinic acid (GA) in the intestines. Despite many reported health benefits, 3MGA and GA inhibit the 11-β-hydrogenase type II enzyme (11β-HSD2) oxidizing cortisol to cortisone. Through activation of mineralocorticoid receptors, high cortisol levels induce a mild form of apparent mineralocorticoid excess in the kidney and increase systemic vascular resistance. Continuous inhibition of 11β-HSD2 related to excess licorice consumption will create a state of hypernatremia, hypokalemia and increased fluid volume.
  • 1.2K
  • 21 May 2021
Topic Review
Role of Microbiomes in Skin Aging
The skin has a multifactorial aging process, caused by both intrinsic and extrinsic factors. A major theory of aging involves cellular senescence or apoptosis resulting from oxidative damage as the skin’s antioxidant system tends to weaken with age. The human microbiota is a complex ecosystem that is made up of microorganisms (bacteria, fungi, and viruses). Both gut and skin microbiota have essential roles in the protection against invading pathogens, mediating inflammatory conditions, and the modulation of the immune system which is involved in both innate and adaptive immune responses. 
  • 1.2K
  • 04 Jul 2022
Topic Review
Preeclampsia
Preeclampsia (PE) is a common obstetric disease characterized by hypertension, proteinuria, and multi-system dysfunction. It endangers both maternal and fetal health. Although hemostasis is critical for preventing bleeding complications during pregnancy, delivery, and post-partum, PE patients often develop a severe prothrombotic state, potentially resulting in life-threatening thrombosis and thromboembolism. The cause of this thrombotic complication is multi-factorial, involving endothelial cells, platelets, adhesive ligands, coagulation, and fibrinolysis. Increasing evidence has shown that hemostatic cells and factors undergo oxidative modifications during the systemic inflammation found in PE patients. However, it is largely unknown how these oxidative modifications of hemostasis contribute to development of the PE-associated prothrombotic state. This knowledge gap has significantly hindered the development of predictive markers, preventive measures, and therapeutic agents to protect women during pregnancy.
  • 1.2K
  • 08 Dec 2020
Topic Review Peer Reviewed
Nanotechnology-Enabled COVID-19 mRNA Vaccines
COVID-19 mRNA vaccines contain synthetic mRNA sequences encoded for the Spike proteins expressed on the surface of SARS-CoV-2, and utilize the host cells to produce specific antigens that stimulate both humoral and cellular immunities. Lipid nanoparticles are essential to facilitate the intracellular delivery of the mRNA to its action site, the ribosome, to fully exert its effect.
  • 1.1K
  • 13 Apr 2022
Topic Review Peer Reviewed
The Applications of Microphysiological Systems in Biomedicine: Impact on Urologic and Orthopaedic Research
Microphysiological systems (MPSs) are in vitro models that can incorporate dynamic stimuli such as flow, pressure and contraction in cell culture, enabling the formation of cellular architectures and retrieving physiological function often absent in conventional 2D-cell culture. MPS applications saw a substantial growth in recent years, drawing attention from industry as a strategy to optimize pre-clinical drug-development purposes, as well as from biomedical research, to fill a gap between in vivo and in vitro models. Several MPS platforms are now available and are employed in the development of bone and kidney complex systems for urologic and orthopaedic research. These advances have enabled, for example, the in vitro modelling of bone regeneration and renal drug secretion, and have dramatic potential to improve research into both orthopaedic and urology cancers. 
  • 1.2K
  • 16 Jun 2022
Topic Review
Vasovagal Reactions during Interventional Pain Management Procedures
Vasovagal reactions—defined as a rapid drop in heart rate and/or blood pressure, usually in response to a stressful trigger—are a common complication of interventional pain management procedures. Three types of vasovagal responses have been described in the literature: a cardioinhibitory form (HR < 40 bpm), vasodepressor form (SBP < 80 mmHg or decrease by >30% without significant HR reduction), or mixed form (HR < 40 bpm and SBP < 80 mmHg or decrease by >30%). Typical symptoms of a vasovagal reaction are lightheadedness or dizziness, palpitations, weakness, blurred vision, nausea, feelings of warmth or coldness, and sweating. When a vasovagal reaction results in a loss of consciousness, it is termed vasovagal syncope. Although vasovagal reactions are usually benign in nature, they can lead to more serious complications for both patients and providers, such as aborted procedures, cardiac arrythmias, or fear of future procedures. It is thus useful for pain medicine clinicians to identify the risk factors, prevention, and management of vasovagal reactions in an outpatient setting.
  • 1.2K
  • 03 Aug 2022
Topic Review
Sacituzumab Govitecan in Breast Cancer
Sacituzumab govitecan (SG) is a third-generation antibody-drug conjugate, consisting of an anti-Trop-2 monoclonal antibody (hRS7), a hydrolyzable linker, and a cytotoxin (SN38), which inhibits topoisomerase 1. Specific pharmacological features, such as the high antibody to payload ratio, the ultra-toxic nature of SN38, and the capacity to kill surrounding tumor cells (the bystander effect), make SG a very promising drug for cancer treatment.
  • 1.2K
  • 07 Dec 2021
Topic Review
Insulin
Insulin is used for the treatment of diabetes mellitus, which is characterized by hyperglycemia. Subcutaneous injections are the standard mode of delivery for insulin therapy; however, this procedure is very often invasive, which hinders patient compliance, particularly for individuals requiring insulin doses four times a day. Furthermore, cases have been reported of sudden hypoglycemia occurrences following multidose insulin injections. Such an invasive and intensive approach motivates the quest for alternative, more user-friendly insulin administration approaches. For example, transdermal delivery has numerous advantages, such as prolonged drug release, low variability in the drug plasma level, and improved patient compliance.
  • 1.2K
  • 05 Feb 2021
Topic Review
Emotional Exhaustion
Emotional exhaustion is a chronic state of physical and emotional depletion that results from excessive job, personal demands, and/or continuous stress. It describes a feeling of being emotionally overextended and exhausted by one's work. It is manifested by both physical fatigue and a sense of feeling psychologically and emotionally "drained".
  • 1.2K
  • 14 Oct 2022
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