Topic Review Video
Androgen Deprivation Therapy for Prostate Cancer: Adverse Effects
Prostate cancer is the second leading cause of cancer death in men in the United States. Androgen deprivation therapy (ADT) is currently the primary treatment for metastatic prostate cancer, and some studies have shown that the use of anti-androgen drugs is related to a reduction in cognitive function, mood changes, diminished quality of life, dementia, and possibly Alzheimer’s disease. ADT has potential physiological effects such as a reduction in white matter integrity and a negative impact on hypothalamic functions due to the lowering of testosterone levels or the blockade of downstream androgen receptor signaling by first- and second-generation anti-androgen drugs.
  • 182
  • 09 Jan 2024
Topic Review
Atopic March or Atopic Multimorbidity
The atopic march encompasses a sequence of allergic conditions, including atopic dermatitis, food allergy, allergic rhinitis, and asthma, that frequently develop in a sequential pattern within the same individual. It was introduced as a conceptual framework aimed at elucidating the developmental trajectory of allergic conditions during childhood. Following the introduction of this concept, it was initially believed that the atopic march represented the sole and definitive trajectory of the development of allergic diseases. 
  • 118
  • 03 Jan 2024
Topic Review
Noncoding RNAs in Macrophage Polarization
Allergy is a type 2 immune reaction triggered by antigens known as allergens, including food and environmental substances such as peanuts, plant pollen, fungal spores, and the feces and debris of mites and insects. Macrophages are myeloid immune cells with phagocytic abilities that process exogenous and endogenous antigens. Upon activation, they can produce effector molecules such as cytokines as well as anti-inflammatory molecules. The dysregulation of macrophage function can lead to excessive type 1 inflammation as well as type 2 inflammation, which includes allergic reactions. Thus, it is important to better understand how macrophages are regulated in the pathogenesis of allergies. Emerging evidence highlights the role of noncoding RNAs (ncRNAs) in macrophage polarization, which in turn can modify the pathogenesis of various immune-mediated diseases, including allergies.
  • 126
  • 21 Dec 2023
Topic Review
Tryptase for Suspected Mast Cell Disorders
Tryptase has proven to be a very useful and specific marker to demonstrate mast cell activation and degranulation when an acute (i.e., within 4 h after the event) and baseline value (i.e., at least 24 h after the event) are compared and meet the consensus formula (i.e., an increase of 20% + 2). The upper limit of normal determined by the manufacturer is 11.4 ng/mL; however, this boundary has been the subject of debate. According to ECNM and AIM experts, the normal range of baseline tryptase should be 1 to 15 ng/mL. A genetic trait, hereditary alpha tryptasemia, characterized by an increased alpha coding TPSAB1 copy number is associated with a baseline value above 8 ng/mL. Elevated tryptase can also be found in chronic kidney disease, obesity, and hematological neoplasms. A tryptase > 20 ng/mL serves as a minor criterion to diagnose systemic mastocytosis and an increase in tryptase > 20% + 2 during an acute event is a required criterion in the diagnosis of mast cell activation syndrome. 
  • 126
  • 19 Dec 2023
Topic Review
Rare Disease
The definition of rare disease (RD) varies across the world. There are about 296 definitions from 1109 organizations, most of which are explicitly or implicitly derived from prevalence thresholds. Such definitions are expressed as a fraction, a percentage, or the number of cases per population (whether that be from 10,000 or 100,000 people). Only a few countries consider a broader set of dimensions that are relevant from a healthcare policy perspective, capturing aspects of vulnerability and socioeconomic impact. This is, for example, the case in Thailand, where the RD definition used by the Universal Coverage Scheme is derived from a combination of a number of cases per population and a broader set of qualitative descriptors that include severity (defined by high morbidity and premature death); difficulties accessing adequate diagnosis, screening, treatment, and lifelong treatment; and high economic burdens on the family and society.
  • 104
  • 04 Dec 2023
Topic Review
Clinical manifestations of Fruit Allergy
Fruit allergies manifest with a diverse array of clinical presentations, ranging from localized contact allergies and oral allergy syndrome to the potential for severe systemic reactions including anaphylaxis. The scope of population-level prevalence studies remains limited, largely derived from single-center or hospital-based investigations.
  • 112
  • 17 Nov 2023
Topic Review
Regulatory ILC2—Role of IL-10 Producing ILC2 in Asthma
Innate lymphoid cells (ILC) are a family of lineage-negative cells that are are proposed to be critical drivers of inflammation at mucosal interfaces. KLRG1+ILC2 have the capacity to produce the anti-inflam-matory cytokine IL-10. ILC2 respond to microenvironmental cues, including retinoic acid (RA), IL-2, IL-4, IL-10, and IL-33, as well as neuropeptide mediators such as neuromedin-U (NMU), prompting a shift towards IL-10 and away from T2 cytokine production. In contrast, TGF-β attenuates IL-10 production by ILC2. Immune regulation provided by IL-10+ILC2s holds potential significance for the management of T2 inflammatory conditions.
  • 146
  • 08 Nov 2023
Topic Review
Disorders Associated with Mast Cell Activation and Nomenclature
Mast cells (MCs), as multifunctional immune cells, orchestrate the typical allergic conditions wherein the activation of these cells by allergens, including pollen, food, medication, and the venom of stinging insects, leads to the degranulation and elaboration of the inflammatory mediators responsible for regulating the acute dramatic inflammatory response. Anaphylaxis, mast cell activation syndrome (MCAS), and mastocytosis are interrelated yet distinct conditions within the spectrum of mast cell activation disorders.
  • 143
  • 03 Nov 2023
Topic Review
Exhaled Nitric Oxide in Type 2 Diseases
Nitric oxide (NO) is a short-lived gas molecule which has been studied for its role as a signaling molecule in the vasculature and later, in a broader view, as a cellular messenger in many other biological processes such as immunity and inflammation, cell survival, apoptosis, and aging. Fractional exhaled nitric oxide (FeNO) is a convenient, easy-to-obtain, and non-invasive method for assessing active, mainly Th2-driven, airway inflammation, which is sensitive to treatment with standard anti-inflammatory therapy. Consequently, FeNO serves as a valued tool to aid the diagnosis and monitoring of several asthma phenotypes. FeNO has been evaluated in several other respiratory and/or immunological conditions, including allergic rhinitis, chronic rhinosinusitis with/without nasal polyps, atopic dermatitis, eosinophilic esophagitis, and food allergy.
  • 147
  • 02 Nov 2023
Topic Review
Probiotics and Probiotic-like Agents against Chemotherapy-Induced Intestinal Mucositis
Cancer chemotherapy has allowed many patients to survive, but not without risks derived from its adverse effects. Drugs, such as 5-fluorouracil, irinotecan, oxaliplatin, methotrexate, and others, as well as different drug combinations trigger intestinal mucositis that may cause or contribute to anorexia, pain, diarrhea, weight loss, systemic infections, and even death. Dysbiosis is a hallmark of chemotherapy-induced intestinal mucositis and diarrhea, and, therefore, strategies aimed at modulating intestinal microbiota may be useful to counteract and prevent those dreadful effects.
  • 309
  • 25 Oct 2023
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