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Drug Discoveries & Therapeutics Jun 2024Tuberculosis is a chronic infectious disease caused by mycobacterium tuberculosis infection. In the world, tuberculosis is an important factor affecting women's... (Review)
Review
Tuberculosis is a chronic infectious disease caused by mycobacterium tuberculosis infection. In the world, tuberculosis is an important factor affecting women's reproductive health, which can cause reproductive tract anatomy abnormalities, embryo implantation obstacles, ovarian reserve and ovulation dysfunction, leading to female infertility. This group of women usually need to seek assisted reproductive technology to conceive. Latent tuberculosis infection during pregnancy has no clinical manifestation, but may develop into active tuberculosis, leading to adverse pregnancy outcomes. Most pregnant women do not need to be treated for latent tuberculosis infection, unless they are combined with high-risk factors for tuberculosis progress, but they need close follow-up. Early diagnosis and treatment of active tuberculosis in pregnancy can reduce the incidence rate and mortality of pregnant women and newborns, and treatment needs multidisciplinary cooperation.
Topics: Humans; Female; Pregnancy; Reproductive Techniques, Assisted; Pregnancy Complications, Infectious; Tuberculosis; Infertility, Female; Latent Tuberculosis; Pregnancy Outcome; Risk Factors; Mycobacterium tuberculosis; Antitubercular Agents
PubMed: 38631867
DOI: 10.5582/ddt.2024.01007 -
Acta Biochimica Et Biophysica Sinica Oct 2022The novel coronavirus, namely, SARS-CoV-2 (COVID-19), broke out two years ago and has caused major global health issues. Adequate treatment options are still lacking for... (Review)
Review
The novel coronavirus, namely, SARS-CoV-2 (COVID-19), broke out two years ago and has caused major global health issues. Adequate treatment options are still lacking for the management of COVID-19 viral infections. Many patients afflicted with COVID-19 may range from asymptomatic to severe symptomatic, triggering poor clinical outcomes, morbidity, and mortality. Cancer is one of the leading causes of death worldwide. It is pertinent to re-examine cancer prevalence during the COVID-19 pandemic to prevent mortality and complications. Understanding the impact of SARS-CoV-2 on cancer is key to appropriate healthcare measures for the treatment and prevention of this vulnerable population. Data was acquired from PubMed using key search terms. Additional databases were utilized, such as the Centers for Disease Prevention and Control, American Cancer Society (ACS), and National Cancer Institute (NCI). Cancer patients are more prone to SARS-CoV-2 infection and exhibit poor health outcomes, possibly due to a chronic immunosuppressive state and anticancer therapies. Male sex, older age, and active cancer disease or previous cancer are risk factors for COVID-19 infection, leading to possible severe complications, including morbidity or mortality. The speculated mechanism for potentially higher mortality or COVID-19 complications is through reduced immune system function and inflammatory processes through cancer disease, anticancer therapy, and active COVID-19 infection. This review includes prostate, breast, ovarian, hematologic, lung, colorectal, esophageal, bladder, pancreatic, cervical, and head and neck cancers. This review should help better maintain the health of cancer patients and direct clinicians for COVID-19 prevention to improve the overall health outcomes.
Topics: United States; Humans; Male; COVID-19; SARS-CoV-2; Pandemics; Lung; Neoplasms
PubMed: 36269132
DOI: 10.3724/abbs.2022147 -
Expert Opinion on Pharmacotherapy 2023Early treatment for SARS-CoV-2 infection is essential to limit the clinical progression of COVID-19. However, limited therapeutic options are available for standard-risk... (Review)
Review
INTRODUCTION
Early treatment for SARS-CoV-2 infection is essential to limit the clinical progression of COVID-19. However, limited therapeutic options are available for standard-risk patients, including those under age 50 who have received the primary series of COVID-19 vaccination as well as a bivalent booster.
AREAS COVERED
Metformin is a widely used, inexpensive antihyperglycemic for the treatment of diabetes mellitus type 2 as well as polycystic ovarian syndrome, with a well-described safety profile.
EXPERT OPINION
Although the mechanism of action has not been fully elucidated, metformin is known to alter glucose metabolism and is under investigation as an antiviral agent, demonstrating in vitro and in vivo activity against SARS-CoV-2. Recent work suggests metformin may also serve as a therapeutic option for patients with COVID-19 as well as those with post-acute sequelae of SARS-CoV-2 infection, known more commonly as 'long COVID-19.' This manuscript examines what is known about metformin for the treatment of COVID-19 and explores how this drug may be used in the future to address the SARS-CoV-2 pandemic.
Topics: Humans; Middle Aged; COVID-19; SARS-CoV-2; Metformin; Post-Acute COVID-19 Syndrome; COVID-19 Vaccines
PubMed: 37194484
DOI: 10.1080/14656566.2023.2215385 -
Wiadomosci Lekarskie (Warsaw, Poland :... 2023The aim: To evaluate the automatic computer diagnostic (ACD) systems, which were developed, based on two classifiers-HAAR features cascade and AdaBoost for the...
OBJECTIVE
The aim: To evaluate the automatic computer diagnostic (ACD) systems, which were developed, based on two classifiers-HAAR features cascade and AdaBoost for the laparoscopic diagnostics of appendicitis and ovarian cysts in women with chronic pelvic pain.
PATIENTS AND METHODS
Materials and methods: The training of HAAR features cascade, and AdaBoost classifiers were performed with images/ frames of laparoscopic diagnostics. Both gamma-corrected RGB and RGB converted into HSV frames were used for training. Descriptors were extracted from images with the method of Local Binary Pattern (LBP), which includes both data on color characteristics («modified color LBP»-MCLBP) and textural features.
RESULTS
Results: Classification of test video images revealed that the highest recall for appendicitis diagnostics was achieved after training of AdaBoost with MCLBP descriptors extracted from RGB images - 0.708, and in the case of ovarian cysts diagnostics - for MCLBP gained from RGB images - 0.886 (P<0.05). Developed AdaBoost-based ACD system achieved a 73.6% correct classification rate (accuracy) for appendicitis and 85.4% for ovarian cysts. The accuracy of the HAAR features classifier was highest in the case of ovarian cysts identification and achieved 0,653 (RGB) - 0,708 (HSV) values (P<0.05).
CONCLUSION
Conclusions: The HAAR feature-based cascade classifier turned out to be less e"ective when compared with the AdaBoost classifier trained with MCLBP descriptors. Ovarian cysts were better diagnosed when compared with appendicitis with the developed ACD.
Topics: Humans; Female; Appendicitis; Algorithms
PubMed: 37010159
DOI: 10.36740/WLek202302102 -
Obstetrics and Gynecology Clinics of... Dec 2021Gynecologic cancers contribute to a significant portion of cancer morbidity and mortality among women in the United States and across the globe. This article provides a... (Review)
Review
Gynecologic cancers contribute to a significant portion of cancer morbidity and mortality among women in the United States and across the globe. This article provides a comprehensive review of current screening guidelines and novel techniques that have promise in the prevention and early detection of gynecologic cancers in the future. The authors anticipate a move toward less invasive testing modalities, use of cancer biomarkers, and the prevention and treatment of high-risk factors such as human papilloma virus infection and obesity.
Topics: Early Detection of Cancer; Female; Genital Neoplasms, Female; Humans; Ovarian Neoplasms; Papillomavirus Infections; United States; Uterine Cervical Neoplasms
PubMed: 34756291
DOI: 10.1016/j.ogc.2021.06.001 -
Sleep Medicine Clinics Dec 2023There is an increased risk of becoming pregnant through fertility treatments using assisted reproductive technology (ART) during the COVID-19 pandemic. The aim of this... (Review)
Review
There is an increased risk of becoming pregnant through fertility treatments using assisted reproductive technology (ART) during the COVID-19 pandemic. The aim of this review is to gather comprehensive data from the existing literature on the potential risks of fertility management during the pandemic period, and outline strategies to mitigate them, with a focus on the hormonal and surgical procedures of ART. A comprehensive search of the scientific literature on COVID-19 in relation to fertility was conducted in the PubMed database using the keywords "coronavirus," "COVID-19," "SARS-CoV-2" and "pregnancy," "fertility," "urogenital system," "vertical transmission," "assisted human reproduction," "controlled ovarian stimulation," "oocyte retrieval," "in vitro fertilization," "hormones," "surgical procedures," "embryos," "oocytes," "sperm," "semen," "ovary," "testis," "ACE-2 receptor," "immunology," "cytokine storm," and "coagulation," from January 2020-July 2022. Published data on pregnancy and COVID-19, and the interaction of the urogenital system and SARS-CoV-2 is reported. The immunologic and prothrombotic profiles of patients with COVID-19, and their increased risks from controlled ovarian stimulation (COS) and ART surgeries, and how these procedures could facilitate COVID-19 and/or contribute to the severity of the disease by enhancing the cytokine storm are summarized. Strategies to prevent complications during COS that could increase the risks of the disease in pre-symptomatic patients are considered. The impact of SARS-CoV-2 on pre-symptomatic infertile patients presents a challenge to find ways to avoid the increased hormonal, immunologic, and prothrombotic risks presented by the use of COS in ART protocols during the COVID-19 outbreak. Safe ART procedures and recommendations are highlighted.
Topics: Female; Humans; Male; Pregnancy; COVID-19; Cytokine Release Syndrome; SARS-CoV-2; Reproductive Techniques, Assisted
PubMed: 38501521
DOI: 10.1016/j.jsmc.2023.06.012 -
The Journal of Steroid Biochemistry and... Jan 2021The new severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2) has been associated with acute respiratory distress syndrome and infected patients have a relatively... (Review)
Review
The new severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2) has been associated with acute respiratory distress syndrome and infected patients have a relatively high risk of death. Emerging risk factors for poor outcome in this disease include age, male gender, cardiovascular co-morbidities including hypertension, prior cardiovascular disease, diabetes and more recently obesity. To date there are no data relating to SARS-CoV-2 in PCOS women. The present Clinical Opinion represents a summary of the epidemiological evidence and possible pathophysiological mechanisms regarding PCOS and COVID-19. PCOS women could be more susceptible to infections compared to non-PCOS women. Insulin resistance and the associated hyperinsulinaemia are drivers for enhanced steroidogenesis in women with PCOS. Weight-gain and obesity, through their worsening effects on insulin resistance, thereby drive enhanced steroidogenesis and hyperandrogenism. All these features represent key points to provide an explanation for the possible association between PCOS and SARS-CoV-2. Indeed, androgens may drive clinical results in COVID-19, through the expression of TMPRSS2, a cellular co-receptor necessary for SARS-CoV-2 infection and through androgen-mediated immune modulation. In women with PCOS the endocrine-immune axis leads to immune dysfunction with a state of chronic inflammation, and hyperandrogenism and IR with compensatory hyperglycaemia could play a determining role in the pathophysiogenesis of the infection. However, it is possible that only specific PCOS phenotypes may be more susceptible. In addition, vitamin D deficiency and gut dysbiosis are another important factor potentially involved in the increased risk of developing severe forms of COVID-19 in PCOS women. Further scientific investigations are needed with the aim of understanding which women are most at risk of becoming infected or developing complications, what are the causal mechanisms on which it is possible to intervene with prophylactic and therapeutic measures and what the long-term consequences will be on the health of these patients.
Topics: Adult; COVID-19; Female; Humans; Hyperandrogenism; Inflammation; Insulin Resistance; Ovary; Polycystic Ovary Syndrome; Risk Factors; SARS-CoV-2
PubMed: 33065278
DOI: 10.1016/j.jsbmb.2020.105770 -
Cancer Gene Therapy Jun 2023Self-replicating RNA viruses have been engineered as efficient expression vectors for vaccine development for infectious diseases and cancers. Moreover, self-replicating... (Review)
Review
Self-replicating RNA viruses have been engineered as efficient expression vectors for vaccine development for infectious diseases and cancers. Moreover, self-replicating RNA viral vectors, particularly oncolytic viruses, have been applied for cancer therapy and immunotherapy. Among negative strand RNA viruses, measles viruses and rhabdoviruses have been frequently applied for vaccine development against viruses such as Chikungunya virus, Lassa virus, Ebola virus, influenza virus, HIV, Zika virus, and coronaviruses. Immunization of rodents and primates has elicited strong neutralizing antibody responses and provided protection against lethal challenges with pathogenic viruses. Several clinical trials have been conducted. Ervebo, a vaccine based on a vesicular stomatitis virus (VSV) vector has been approved for immunization of humans against Ebola virus. Different types of cancers such as brain, breast, cervical, lung, leukemia/lymphoma, ovarian, prostate, pancreatic, and melanoma, have been the targets for cancer vaccine development, cancer gene therapy, and cancer immunotherapy. Administration of measles virus and VSV vectors have demonstrated immune responses, tumor regression, and tumor eradication in various animal models. A limited number of clinical trials have shown well-tolerated treatment, good safety profiles, and dose-dependent activity in cancer patients.
Topics: Male; Animals; Humans; RNA Viruses; Viruses; Neoplasms; RNA; Immunization; Genetic Vectors; Zika Virus; Zika Virus Infection
PubMed: 35169298
DOI: 10.1038/s41417-022-00436-7 -
Seminars in Cancer Biology Nov 2022Ovarian cancer is one of the most prevalent cancers with a high mortality rate in women. Published studies indicate that inflammation, DNA damage, and pelvic... (Meta-Analysis)
Meta-Analysis Review
BACKGROUND
Ovarian cancer is one of the most prevalent cancers with a high mortality rate in women. Published studies indicate that inflammation, DNA damage, and pelvic inflammatory disease (PID) are the most important risk factors for ovarian cancer and this could be induced and exacerbated by infectious agents such as Chlamydia trachomatis and Mycoplasma genitalium. The aim of this study was to determine the association between Chlamydia and Mycoplasma infections and the risk of ovarian cancer.
METHODS
We carried out a comprehensive search of PubMed, Scopus, Web of Science, Embase, and Google Scholar without limitation on publication date. All relevant studies which investigatived probable potential connection between Chlamydia and Mycoplasma infection and development of ovarian cancer were included.
RESULTS
Eighteen studies comprising a total of 8207 patients were evaluated in the study and this showed that the frequency of infection with Chlamydia and Mycoplasma among ovarian cancer patients was 32.6 % and 23 %, respectively. The results suggested that Chlamydia trachomatis infection increased the overall risk for ovarian cancer by 1.344 fold (OR: 1.344; 95 %CI: 1.19-1.50). Moreover, infection with Mycoplasma infections showed a week but not significant increased risk of ovarian cancer (OR: 1.12; 95 %CI: 0.86-1.44). However, the test for heterogeneity was significant among these studies.
CONCLUSION
This study confirmed the clinical relevance of Chlamydia and Mycoplasma infection and development of the ovarian cancer risk, although the significance was marginal and study heterogeneity was significant. This highlights the need for further studies in this area.
Topics: Humans; Female; Mycoplasma Infections; Mycoplasma genitalium; Chlamydia trachomatis; Chlamydia Infections; Carcinoma, Ovarian Epithelial; Ovarian Neoplasms
PubMed: 34333041
DOI: 10.1016/j.semcancer.2021.07.016 -
European Journal of Clinical... Sep 2021We conducted a meta-analysis of published data to update and estimate the prevalence of HPV in ovarian cancer. A comprehensive literature search was performed according... (Meta-Analysis)
Meta-Analysis Review
We conducted a meta-analysis of published data to update and estimate the prevalence of HPV in ovarian cancer. A comprehensive literature search was performed according to the PRISMA guidelines. Eligible articles published from 1989 until 2020 by searching Web of Sciences, Pubmed, Embase, and the Cochrane Library Central databases were gathered. A pooled estimation of HPV prevalence with a 95% confidence interval (CI) was calculated based on a random effect model. Quantitative assessment of heterogeneity was explored using Cochrane test and I. Additionally, publication bias, sensitivity, meta-regression, and subgroup analyses were also performed. Twenty-nine studies involving 2280 patients with ovarian cancer were included. The statistical heterogeneity was high (I = 88%, P<0.0001). The pooled prevalence of HPV in ovarian cancer cases was 15.9% (95% CI, 11-22). In subgroup analyses, the highest prevalence of HPV was reported by studies from Asia (30.9%; 95% CI, 20-44) and Eastern Europe (29.3%; 95% CI, 4.4-78). Furthermore, the most frequently detected HPV genotype was HPV16 (54%; 95% CI, 27.9-55), followed by HPV18 (23.2%; 95% CI, 18.8-28.2). Our meta-analysis suggests a great difference in the prevalence of HPV detected in ovarian cancer by different studies, which is not seen in strongly HPV-associated cancers such as cervical cancer. However, the prevalence varied markedly by geographic region. Considering the substantial heterogeneity found, more studies with control groups and precise assays measuring HPV mRNA expression are needed to further evaluate the link and causative aetiology between HPV and ovarian cancer.
Topics: Female; Genotype; Humans; Ovarian Neoplasms; Papillomaviridae; Papillomavirus Infections; Prevalence; Systematic Reviews as Topic
PubMed: 34086102
DOI: 10.1007/s10096-021-04282-7