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Journal of Back and Musculoskeletal... 2022Low back pain is a significant spinal disorder that affects much of the population at some point during their lives. (Review)
Review
BACKGROUND
Low back pain is a significant spinal disorder that affects much of the population at some point during their lives.
OBJECTIVE
While proper diagnosis is key, diagnosing the underlying cause of low back pain may often be unclear.
METHOD
In this review article, we discuss lumbar instability as an etiology of low back pain and its treatment by prolotherapy.
RESULTS
Spinal ligaments may be an underlying culprit in the development of lumbar instability with resultant low back pain and associated disorders.
CONCLUSION
In these cases, adequate treatment consisting of non-biologic prolotherapy or cellular prolotherapy, including platelet rich plasma (PRP), can be beneficial in restoring spinal stability and resolving chronic low back pain.
Topics: Humans; Joint Instability; Low Back Pain; Lumbar Vertebrae; Platelet-Rich Plasma; Prolotherapy; Spinal Diseases
PubMed: 34957989
DOI: 10.3233/BMR-210097 -
The Lancet. Psychiatry Feb 2020Cognitive symptoms are common, and yet many who seek help for cognitive symptoms neither have, nor go on to develop, dementia. A proportion of these people are likely to...
Cognitive symptoms are common, and yet many who seek help for cognitive symptoms neither have, nor go on to develop, dementia. A proportion of these people are likely to have functional cognitive disorders, a subtype of functional neurological disorders, in which cognitive symptoms are present, associated with distress or disability, but caused by functional alterations rather than degenerative brain disease or another structural lesion. In this Review, we have systematically examined the prevalence and clinical associations of functional cognitive disorders, and related phenotypes, within the wider cognitive disorder literature. Around a quarter of patients presenting to memory clinics received diagnoses that might indicate the presence of functional cognitive disorders, which were associated with affective symptoms, negative self-evaluation, negative illness perceptions, non-progressive symptom trajectories, and linguistic and behavioural differences during clinical interactions. Those with functional cognitive disorder phenotypes are at risk of iatrogenic harm because of misdiagnosis or inaccurate prediction of future decline. Further research is imperative to improve diagnosis and identify effective treatments for functional cognitive disorders, and better understanding these phenotypes will also improve the specificity of diagnoses of prodromal degenerative brain disease.
Topics: Affective Symptoms; Attitude to Health; Cognition Disorders; Humans; Medically Unexplained Symptoms; Memory Disorders
PubMed: 31732482
DOI: 10.1016/S2215-0366(19)30405-5 -
Journal of Medicine and Life 2021Temporomandibular joint disorders (TMDs) encompass a wide array of ailments affecting the temporomandibular joint (TMJ), muscles of mastication, and the allied...
Temporomandibular joint disorders (TMDs) encompass a wide array of ailments affecting the temporomandibular joint (TMJ), muscles of mastication, and the allied structural framework. Myofascial pain, internal derangement of the joint, and degenerative joint diseases constitute the majority of TMDs. TMDs usually have a multifactorial etiology, and treatment modalities range from conservative therapies to surgical interventions. Low-level laser therapy (LLLT) has evolved as an efficient non-invasive therapeutic modality in TMDs. Previously conducted systematic reviews and meta-analyses have shown variable results regarding the efficiency of LLLT in TMJ disorder patients. Hence, this systematic review was carried out as an attempt to evaluate the efficacy of LLLT in the treatment of temporomandibular joint disorder patients.
Topics: Humans; Low-Level Light Therapy; Publication Bias; Risk; Software; Temporomandibular Joint Disorders
PubMed: 34104237
DOI: 10.25122/jml-2020-0169 -
Oxidative Medicine and Cellular... 2019Reactive species produced in the cell during normal cellular metabolism can chemically react with cellular biomolecules such as nucleic acids, proteins, and lipids,... (Review)
Review
Reactive species produced in the cell during normal cellular metabolism can chemically react with cellular biomolecules such as nucleic acids, proteins, and lipids, thereby causing their oxidative modifications leading to alterations in their compositions and potential damage to their cellular activities. Fortunately, cells have evolved several antioxidant defense mechanisms (as metabolites, vitamins, and enzymes) to neutralize or mitigate the harmful effect of reactive species and/or their byproducts. Any perturbation in the balance in the level of antioxidants and the reactive species results in a physiological condition called "oxidative stress." A catalase is one of the crucial antioxidant enzymes that mitigates oxidative stress to a considerable extent by destroying cellular hydrogen peroxide to produce water and oxygen. Deficiency or malfunction of catalase is postulated to be related to the pathogenesis of many age-associated degenerative diseases like diabetes mellitus, hypertension, anemia, vitiligo, Alzheimer's disease, Parkinson's disease, bipolar disorder, cancer, and schizophrenia. Therefore, efforts are being undertaken in many laboratories to explore its use as a potential drug for the treatment of such diseases. This paper describes the direct and indirect involvement of deficiency and/or modification of catalase in the pathogenesis of some important diseases such as diabetes mellitus, Alzheimer's disease, Parkinson's disease, vitiligo, and acatalasemia. Details on the efforts exploring the potential treatment of these diseases using a catalase as a protein therapeutic agent have also been described.
Topics: Aging; Alzheimer Disease; Catalase; Diabetes Mellitus; Humans; Oxidative Stress; Parkinson Disease; Reactive Oxygen Species
PubMed: 31827713
DOI: 10.1155/2019/9613090 -
Medicina (Kaunas, Lithuania) Jul 2022The 'Focal Infection Era in Dentistry' in the late 19th and early 20th century resulted in widespread implementation of tooth extraction and limited the progress of... (Review)
Review
The 'Focal Infection Era in Dentistry' in the late 19th and early 20th century resulted in widespread implementation of tooth extraction and limited the progress of endodontics. The theory proposed that bacteria and toxins entrapped in dentinal tubules could disseminate systemically to remote body parts, resulting in many types of degenerative systemic diseases. This theory was eventually refuted due to anecdotal evidence. However, lately there has been increased interest in investigating whether endodontic disease could have an impact on general health. There are reviews that have previously been carried out on this subject, but as new data have emerged since then, this review aims to appraise the available literature investigating the dynamic associations between apical periodontitis, endodontic treatment, and systemic health. The available evidence regarding focal infection theory, bacteraemia and inflammatory markers was appraised. The review also collated the available research arguing the associations of apical periodontitis with cardiovascular diseases, diabetes mellitus, adverse pregnancy outcome and autoimmune disorders, along with the effect of statins and immunomodulators on apical periodontitis prevalence and endodontic treatment prognosis. There is emerging evidence that bacteraemia and low-grade systemic inflammation associated with apical periodontitis may negatively impact systemic health, e.g., development of cardiovascular diseases, adverse pregnancy outcomes, and diabetic metabolic dyscontrol. However, there is limited information supporting the effect of diabetes mellitus or autoimmune disorders on the prevalence and prognosis post endodontic treatment. Furthermore, convincing evidence supports that successful root canal treatment has a beneficial impact on systemic health by reducing the inflammatory burden, thereby dismissing the misconceptions of focal infection theory. Although compelling evidence regarding the association between apical periodontitis and systemic health is present, further high-quality research is required to support and establish the benefits of endodontic treatment on systemic health.
Topics: Autoimmune Diseases; Bacteremia; Cardiovascular Diseases; Diabetes Mellitus; Female; Focal Infection; Humans; Periapical Periodontitis; Pregnancy
PubMed: 35888650
DOI: 10.3390/medicina58070931 -
Retina (Philadelphia, Pa.) Mar 2024The aim of this literature review was to summarize novel optical coherence tomography (OCT) imaging biomarkers that have recently been described in the literature and... (Review)
Review
PURPOSE
The aim of this literature review was to summarize novel optical coherence tomography (OCT) imaging biomarkers that have recently been described in the literature and are frequently encountered clinically.
METHODS
The literature was reviewed to identify novel OCT biomarkers reported to date. A descriptive summary of all terms and representative illustrations were provided to highlight the most relevant features.
RESULTS
Thirty-seven OCT terminologies were identified. The vitreomacular interface disorder group included the four stages of epiretinal membrane, macular pseudohole, tractional lamellar hole (LH), degenerative LH, cotton ball sign, and foveal crack sign. The age-related macular degeneration group included outer retinal tubulation, multilayered pigment epithelial detachment, prechoroidal cleft, onion sign, double-layer sign, complete outer retinal atrophy, complete retinal pigment epithelium and outer retinal atrophy, and reticular pseudodrusen. The uveitic disorder group consisted of bacillary layer detachment, syphilis placoid, rain-cloud sign, and pitchfork sign. The disorders relating to the toxicity group included flying saucer sign and mitogen-activated protein kinase (MEK) inhibitor-associated retinopathy. The disorders associated with the systemic condition group included choroidal nodules and needle sign. The pachychoroid spectrum group included pachychoroid and brush border pattern. The vascular disorder group included pearl necklace sign, diffuse retinal thickening, disorganization of retinal inner layers, inner nuclear layer microcysts, hyperreflective retinal spots, paracentral acute middle maculopathy, and acute macular neuroretinopathy. The miscellaneous group included omega sign (ω), macular telangiectasia (type 2), and omega sign (Ω).
CONCLUSIONS
Thirty-seven OCT terminologies were summarized, and detailed illustrations consolidating the features of each biomarker were included. A nuanced understanding of OCT biomarkers and their clinical significance is essential because of their predictive and prognostic value.
Topics: Humans; Tomography, Optical Coherence; Epiretinal Membrane; Uveitis; Retinal Drusen; Biomarkers; Atrophy; Retrospective Studies
PubMed: 37903455
DOI: 10.1097/IAE.0000000000003974 -
Theranostics 2021Aging frailty is a complex geriatric syndrome that becomes more prevalent with advancing age. It constitutes a major health problem due to frequent adverse outcomes.... (Review)
Review
Aging frailty is a complex geriatric syndrome that becomes more prevalent with advancing age. It constitutes a major health problem due to frequent adverse outcomes. Frailty is characterized by disruption of physiological homeostasis and progressive decline of health status. Multiple factors contribute to development of frailty with advancing age, including genome instability, DNA damage, epigenetic alternations, stem cell exhaustion, among others. These interrelated factors comprehensively result in loss of tissue homeostasis and diminished reserve capacity in frailty. Therefore, the aged organism gradually represents symptoms of frailty with decline in physiological functions of organs. Notably, the brain, cardiovascular system, skeletal muscle, and endocrine system are intrinsically interrelated to frailty. The patients with frailty may display the diminished reserves capacity of organ systems. Due to the complex pathophysiology, no specific treatments have been approved for prevention of this syndrome. At such, effective strategies for intervening in pathogenic process to improve health status of frail patients are highly needed. Recent progress in cell-based therapy has greatly contributed to the amelioration of degenerative diseases related to age. Mesenchymal stem cells (MSCs) can exert regenerative effects and possess anti-inflammatory properties. Transplantation of MSCs represents as a promising therapeutic strategy to address the pathophysiologic problems of frail syndrome. Currently, MSC therapy have undergone the phase I and II trials in human subjects that have endorsed the safety and efficacy of MSCs for aging frailty. However, despite these positive results, caution is still needed with regard to potential to form tumors, and further large-scale studies are warranted to confirm the therapeutic efficacy of MSC therapy.
Topics: Aged; Aging; Animals; Frail Elderly; Frailty; Humans; Mesenchymal Stem Cell Transplantation; Mesenchymal Stem Cells; Regenerative Medicine; Syndrome
PubMed: 33897874
DOI: 10.7150/thno.46436 -
Membranes Oct 2021Plasmalogens, a subclass of glycerophospholipids containing a vinyl-ether bond, are one of the major components of biological membranes. Changes in plasmalogen content... (Review)
Review
Plasmalogens, a subclass of glycerophospholipids containing a vinyl-ether bond, are one of the major components of biological membranes. Changes in plasmalogen content and molecular species have been reported in a variety of pathological conditions ranging from inherited to metabolic and degenerative diseases. Most of these diseases have no treatment, and attempts to develop a therapy have been focusing primarily on protein/nucleic acid molecular targets. However, recent studies have shifted attention to lipids as the basis of a therapeutic strategy. In these pathological conditions, the use of plasmalogen replacement therapy (PRT) has been shown to be a successful way to restore plasmalogen levels as well as to ameliorate the disease phenotype in different clinical settings. Here, the current state of PRT will be reviewed as well as a discussion of future perspectives in PRT. It is proposed that the use of PRT provides a modern and innovative molecular medicine approach aiming at improving health outcomes in different conditions with clinically unmet needs.
PubMed: 34832067
DOI: 10.3390/membranes11110838