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Microorganisms Jun 2024Bacterial endocarditis (BE) is a severe infection of the endocardium and cardiac valves caused by bacterial agents in dogs. Diagnosis of endocarditis is challenging due... (Review)
Review
Bacterial endocarditis (BE) is a severe infection of the endocardium and cardiac valves caused by bacterial agents in dogs. Diagnosis of endocarditis is challenging due to the variety of clinical presentations and lack of definitive diagnostic tests in its early stages. This study aims to provide a research literature analysis on BE in dogs based on text mining (TM) and topic analysis (TA) identifying dominant topics, summarizing their temporal trend, and highlighting any possible research gaps. A literature search was performed utilizing the Scopus database, employing keywords pertaining to BE to analyze papers published in English from 1990 to 2023. The investigation followed a systematic approach based on the PRISMA guidelines. A total of 86 records were selected for analysis following screening procedures and underwent descriptive statistics, TM, and TA. The findings revealed that the number of records published per year has increased in 2007 and 2021. TM identified the words with the highest term frequency-inverse document frequency (TF-IDF), and TA highlighted the main research areas, in the following order: causative agents, clinical findings and predisposing factors, case reports on endocarditis, outcomes and biomarkers, and infective endocarditis and bacterial isolation. The study confirms the increasing interest in BE but shows where further studies are needed.
PubMed: 38930619
DOI: 10.3390/microorganisms12061237 -
Life (Basel, Switzerland) Jun 2024Stress is recognized as a significant trigger and exacerbator of various medical conditions, particularly in the field of cardiovascular disease (CVD). Given that heart... (Review)
Review
Stress is recognized as a significant trigger and exacerbator of various medical conditions, particularly in the field of cardiovascular disease (CVD). Given that heart rate variability (HRV) offers insight into the functioning of the autonomic nervous system and has been identified as a predictive factor for increased cardiovascular mortality, exploring the correlation between stress and HRV is pertinent. We systematically reviewed trials where researchers investigated the effects of stress-reducing interventions on biomarkers and time-domain/frequency-domain parameters of HRV in CVD. Eligible studies underwent meta-analysis utilizing a random-effects model. The meta-analysis showed overall beneficial effects of stress-reducing interventions on HRV for the standard deviation of Normal-to-Normal intervals (SDNN) in short-term and 24 h assessments, as well as for the low-frequency power (LF) in short-term assessment. Overall effect sizes were notably high and showed significant -values (short-term SDNN: MD = 6.43, = 0.01; 24 h SDNN: MD = 10.92, = 0.004; short-term LF: MD = 160.11, < 0.001). Our findings highlight the significant impact of stress-reducing interventions in modulating HRV by influencing short-term SDNN and LF parameters, as well as the 24 h assessment of SDNN. These results emphasize the importance of stress-reducing measures in lowering the risk of further progression in CVD and improving patient outcomes.
PubMed: 38929732
DOI: 10.3390/life14060749 -
Medicina (Kaunas, Lithuania) May 2024: Multiple sclerosis (MS) is a chronic neurodegenerative disease often linked with systemic conditions such as periodontal diseases (PDs). This systematic review aims to... (Review)
Review
: Multiple sclerosis (MS) is a chronic neurodegenerative disease often linked with systemic conditions such as periodontal diseases (PDs). This systematic review aims to explore the association between inflammatory markers in saliva and PDs in MS patients, assessing the use of saliva as a non-invasive tool to monitor disease progression. : 82 publications were examined after a thorough search of scholarly databases to determine whether inflammatory markers were present in MS patients and whether they were associated with periodontal disease (PD). Quality and bias were assessed using the Newcastle-Ottawa Scale, resulting in eight articles that were thoroughly analyzed. : The results point to a strong correlation between MS and periodontal disorders, which may point to the same pathophysiological mechanism. It does, however, underscore the necessity of additional study to determine a definitive causal association. : The findings indicate a strong association between MS and PDs, likely mediated by systemic inflammatory responses detectable in saliva. The review highlights the importance of oral health in managing MS and supports the utility of saliva as a practical, non-invasive medium for monitoring systemic inflammation. Further research is necessary to confirm the causal relationships and to consider integrating salivary diagnostics into routine clinical management for MS patients.
Topics: Humans; Saliva; Multiple Sclerosis; Periodontal Diseases; Biomarkers; Inflammation
PubMed: 38929476
DOI: 10.3390/medicina60060859 -
International Journal of Molecular... Jun 2024A central role for neuroinflammation in epileptogenesis has recently been suggested by several investigations. This systematic review explores the role of inflammatory... (Review)
Review
A central role for neuroinflammation in epileptogenesis has recently been suggested by several investigations. This systematic review explores the role of inflammatory mediators in epileptogenesis, its association with seizure severity, and its correlation with drug-resistant epilepsy (DRE). The study analysed articles published in JCR journals from 2019 to 2024. The search strategy comprised the MESH, free terms of "Neuroinflammation", and selective searches for the following single biomarkers that had previously been selected from the relevant literature: "High mobility group box 1/HMGB1", "Toll-Like-Receptor 4/TLR-4", "Interleukin-1/IL-1", "Interleukin-6/IL-6", "Transforming growth factor beta/TGF-β", and "Tumour necrosis factor-alpha/TNF-α". These queries were all combined with the MESH terms "Epileptogenesis" and "Epilepsy". We found 243 articles related to epileptogenesis and neuroinflammation, with 356 articles from selective searches by biomarker type. After eliminating duplicates, 324 articles were evaluated, with 272 excluded and 55 evaluated by the authors. A total of 21 articles were included in the qualitative evaluation, including 18 case-control studies, 2 case series, and 1 prospective study. As conclusion, this systematic review provides acceptable support for five biomarkers, including TNF-α and some of its soluble receptors (sTNFr2), HMGB1, TLR-4, CCL2 and IL-33. Certain receptors, cytokines, and chemokines are examples of neuroinflammation-related biomarkers that may be crucial for the early diagnosis of refractory epilepsy or may be connected to the control of epileptic seizures. Their value will be better defined by future studies.
Topics: Humans; Biomarkers; Neuroinflammatory Diseases; HMGB1 Protein; Epilepsy; Cytokines; Toll-Like Receptor 4; Drug Resistant Epilepsy
PubMed: 38928193
DOI: 10.3390/ijms25126488 -
International Journal of Molecular... Jun 2024Coronary artery disease (CAD) and hypertension significantly contribute to cardiovascular morbidity and mortality. MicroRNAs (miRNAs) have recently emerged as promising... (Review)
Review
Coronary artery disease (CAD) and hypertension significantly contribute to cardiovascular morbidity and mortality. MicroRNAs (miRNAs) have recently emerged as promising biomarkers and therapeutic targets for these conditions. This systematic review conducts a thorough analysis of the literature, with a specific focus on investigating miRNA expression patterns in patients with CAD and hypertension. This review encompasses an unspecified number of eligible studies that employed a variety of patient demographics and research methodologies, resulting in diverse miRNA expression profiles. This review highlights the complex involvement of miRNAs in CAD and hypertension and the potential for advances in diagnostic and therapeutic strategies. Future research endeavors are imperative to validate these findings and elucidate the precise roles of miRNAs in disease progression, offering promising avenues for innovative diagnostic tools and targeted interventions.
Topics: Humans; Coronary Artery Disease; MicroRNAs; Hypertension; Biomarkers; Gene Expression Regulation
PubMed: 38928136
DOI: 10.3390/ijms25126430 -
Cancers Jun 2024Endometrial cancer (EC) includes various histologic types, with estrogen-dependent endometrioid carcinoma being the most common. Obesity significantly increases the risk... (Review)
Review
Endometrial cancer (EC) includes various histologic types, with estrogen-dependent endometrioid carcinoma being the most common. Obesity significantly increases the risk of developing this type, especially in postmenopausal women, due to elevated estrogen production by adipocytes. This review examines the impact of weight loss from different interventions on reducing obesity-related risk factors for endometrioid EC. A systematic review and meta-analysis were conducted on three weight loss interventions: bariatric surgery, pharmacotherapy, and lifestyle changes. The effects of these interventions on inflammatory biomarkers (CRP, TNF-α, IL-6) and hormones (leptin, estrogen) were analyzed. Data from controlled studies were pooled to assess the significance of weight loss in reducing these biomarkers. Despite heterogeneity, bariatric surgery resulted in an overall 25.8% weight reduction, outperforming lifestyle and pharmacotherapy interventions. Weight loss reduced CRP levels by 33.5% and IL-6 levels by 41.9%. TNF-α levels decreased by 13% with percent weight loss over 7%. Leptin levels also decreased significantly, although the exact weight loss percentage was not statistically significant. Weight loss effectively reduces proinflammatory markers and hormones associated with increased risk of endometrioid EC. The strengths of this review include a comprehensive examination of different weight-loss interventions and a large pool of participants. However, limitations include high heterogeneity among studies and only 43% of the participants being postmenopausal. Limited data on sex hormones and racial disparities underscore the need for further research.
PubMed: 38927903
DOI: 10.3390/cancers16122197 -
Antibiotics (Basel, Switzerland) Jun 2024The issue of bacterial infections in COVID-19 patients has received increasing attention. Scant data are available on the impact of bacterial superinfection and... (Review)
Review
The issue of bacterial infections in COVID-19 patients has received increasing attention. Scant data are available on the impact of bacterial superinfection and antibiotic administration on the outcome of hospitalized COVID-19 patients. We conducted a literature review from 1 January 2022 to 31 March 2024 to assess the current burden of bacterial infection and the evidence for antibiotic use in hospitalized COVID-19 patients. Published articles providing data on antibiotic use in COVID-19 patients were identified through computerized literature searches with the search terms [(antibiotic) AND (COVID-19)] or [(antibiotic treatment) AND (COVID-19)]. PubMed and SCOPUS databases were searched from 1 January 2022 to 31 March 2024. No attempt was made to obtain information about unpublished studies. English language restriction was applied. The quality of the included studies was evaluated by the tool recommended by the Joanna Briggs Institute. Both quantitative and qualitative information were summarized by means of textual descriptions. Five hundred fifty-one studies were identified, and twenty-nine studies were included in this systematic review. Of the 29 included studies, 18 studies were on the prevalence of bacterial infection and antibiotic use in hospitalized COVID-19 patients; 4 studies reported on the efficacy of early antibiotic use in COVID-19; 4 studies were on the use of sepsis biomarkers to improve antibiotic use; 3 studies were on the efficacy of antimicrobial stewardship programs and predictive models among COVID-19-hospitalized patients. The quality of included studies was high in 35% and medium in 62%. High rates of hospital-acquired infections were reported among COVID-19 patients, ranging between 7.5 and 37.7%. A high antibiotic resistance rate was reported among COVID-19 patients developing hospital-acquired infections, with a high in-hospital mortality rate. The studies evaluating multi-faceted antimicrobial stewardship interventions reported efficacy in decreasing antibiotic consumption and lower in-hospital mortality.
PubMed: 38927211
DOI: 10.3390/antibiotics13060545 -
BMC Cancer Jun 2024Despite the existence of numerous studies investigating the diagnostic potential of blood microRNAs for colorectal cancer, the microRNAs under consideration vary widely,... (Meta-Analysis)
Meta-Analysis Comparative Study
BACKGROUND
Despite the existence of numerous studies investigating the diagnostic potential of blood microRNAs for colorectal cancer, the microRNAs under consideration vary widely, and comparative analysis of their diagnostic value is lacking. Consequently, this systematic review aims to identify the most effective microRNA blood tumor markers to enhance clinical decision-making in colorectal cancer screening.
METHOD
A comprehensive search of databases, including PubMed, Embase, Web of Science, Scopus, and Cochrane, was conducted to identify case‒control or cohort studies that examined the diagnostic value of peripheral blood microRNAs in colorectal cancer. Studies were included if they provided sensitivity and specificity data, were published in English and were available between January 1, 2000, and February 10, 2023. The Critical Appraisal Skills Programme (CASP) checklist was employed for quality assessment. A Bayesian network meta-analysis was performed to estimate combined risk ratios (RRs) and 95% confidence intervals (CIs), with results presented via rankograms. This study is registered with the International Platform of Registered Systematic Review and Meta-analysis Protocols (INPLASY), 202,380,092.
RESULTS
From an initial pool of 2254 records, 79 met the inclusion criteria, encompassing a total of 90 microRNAs. The seven most frequently studied microRNAs (43 records) were selected for inclusion, all of which demonstrated moderate to high quality. miR-23, miR-92, and miR-21 exhibited the highest sensitivity and accuracy, outperforming traditional tumor markers CA19-9 and CEA in terms of RR values and 95% CI for both sensitivity and accuracy. With the exception of miR-17, no significant difference was observed between each microRNA and CA19-9 and CEA in terms of specificity.
CONCLUSIONS
Among the most extensively researched blood microRNAs, miR-23, miR-92, and miR-21 demonstrated superior diagnostic value for colorectal cancer due to their exceptional sensitivity and accuracy. This systematic review and network meta-analysis may serve as a valuable reference for the clinical selection of microRNAs as tumor biomarkers.
Topics: Humans; Colorectal Neoplasms; Biomarkers, Tumor; MicroRNAs; Network Meta-Analysis; Sensitivity and Specificity; Early Detection of Cancer; Bayes Theorem
PubMed: 38926893
DOI: 10.1186/s12885-024-12528-8 -
Ageing Research Reviews Jun 2024Exposure to pesticides is a risk factor for various diseases, yet its association with biological aging remains unclear. We aimed to systematically investigate the... (Review)
Review
OBJECTIVE
Exposure to pesticides is a risk factor for various diseases, yet its association with biological aging remains unclear. We aimed to systematically investigate the relationship between pesticide exposure and biological aging.
METHODS
PubMed, Embase and Web of Science were searched from inception to August 2023. Observational studies investigating the association between pesticide exposure and biomarkers of biological aging were included. Three-level random-effect meta-analysis was used to synthesize the data. Risk of bias was assessed by the Newcastle-Ottawa Scale.
RESULTS
Twenty studies evaluating the associations between pesticide exposure and biomarkers of biological aging in 10,368 individuals were included. Sixteen reported telomere length and four reported epigenetic clocks. Meta-analysis showed no statistically significant associations between pesticide exposure and the Hannum clock (pooled β = 0.27; 95%CI: -0.25, 0.79), or telomere length (pooled Hedges'g = -0.46; 95%CI: -1.10, 0.19). However, the opposite direction of effect for the two outcomes showed an indication of possible accelerated biological aging. After removal of influential effect sizes or low-quality studies, shorter telomere length was found in higher-exposed populations.
CONCLUSION
The existing evidence for associations between pesticide exposure and biological aging is limited due to the scarcity of studies on epigenetic clocks and the substantial heterogeneity across studies examining telomere length. High-quality studies incorporating more biomarkers of biological aging, focusing more on active chemical ingredients of pesticides and accounting for potential confounders are needed to enhance our understanding of the impact of pesticides on biological aging.
PubMed: 38925480
DOI: 10.1016/j.arr.2024.102390 -
Complementary Therapies in Medicine Jun 2024Oxidative stress and inflammation play critical roles in the pathogenesis of many chronic diseases. Dark chocolate (DC)/cocoa, as a rich source of polyphenols like... (Review)
Review
Effect of dark chocolate/ cocoa consumption on oxidative stress and inflammation in adults: A GRADE-assessed systematic review and dose-response meta-analysis of controlled trials.
BACKGROUND
Oxidative stress and inflammation play critical roles in the pathogenesis of many chronic diseases. Dark chocolate (DC)/cocoa, as a rich source of polyphenols like flavonoids, has anti-inflammatory and antioxidant properties that may confer health benefits, but findings in this context are inconsistent.
OBJECTIVE
This systematic review and dose-response meta-analysis aimed to provide a comprehensive overview of the controlled trials (CTs) that have examined the effects of DC/cocoa on oxidative stress and inflammation biomarkers in adults.
SEARCH METHODS
Databases including PubMed, Web of Science, and Scopus, were searched for relevant studies through April 2024.
SELECTION CRITERIA
Studies assessed C-reactive protein (CRP), interleukin-6 (IL-6), tumor necrosis factor-alpha (TNF-α), malondialdehyde (MDA), nitric oxide (NO), P-selectin, E-selectin and thiobarbituric acid reactive substances (TBARS) in adults were included.
DATA ANALYSIS
Based on the random-effects model, we calculated WMDs, SMDs and 95 % confidence intervals (CIs). Sensitivity, sub-group, meta-regression and dose-response analyses were also conducted.
RESULTS
Thirty-three eligible CTs with 1379 participants were included. All studies reported the intervention types (cocoa powder, beverages and chocolate bars) and dosage. However, sixteen studies didn't do/report testing for purity and potency by independent groups. Also, none of the studies mentioned the risk of contamination with heavy metals. Another limitation was the lack of blinding assessment in studies. DC/cocoa significantly reduced MDA (SMD: -0.69, 95 %CI: -1.17, -0.2, p = 0.005) and increased NO levels (SMD: 2.43, 95 %CI: 1.11,3.75, p < 0.001); However, it has no significant effects on the other outcomes. Greater anti-inflammatory effects occurred at higher flavonoid doses (>450 mg/day) and for shorter durations (≤4 weeks) in the non-healthy participants. Non-linear dose-response relationships between cocoa dosage and CRP level and also between flavonoid dosage and IL-6 level were observed. Based on the GRADE evaluation, just CRP and MDA results were considered as high certainty evidence and the other outcomes results were categorized as very low to moderate certainty.
CONCLUSIONS
DC/cocoa may improve systemic oxidative status and inflammation in adults. However, further studies should be performed to determine its benefits.
PubMed: 38925412
DOI: 10.1016/j.ctim.2024.103061