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Urologia Feb 2024The major barriers to phytonutrients in prostate cancer therapy are non-specific mechanisms and bioavailability issues. Studies have pointed to a synergistic combination... (Review)
Review
The major barriers to phytonutrients in prostate cancer therapy are non-specific mechanisms and bioavailability issues. Studies have pointed to a synergistic combination of curcumin (CURC) and ursolic acid (UA). We investigate this combination using a systematic review process to assess the most likely mechanistic pathway and human testing in prostate cancer. We used the PRISMA statement to screen titles, abstracts, and the full texts of relevant articles and performed a descriptive analysis of the literature reviewed for study inclusion and consensus of the manuscript. The most common molecular and cellular pathway from articles reporting on the pathways and effects of CURC ( = 173) in prostate cancer was NF-κB ( = 25, 14.5%). The most common molecular and cellular pathway from articles reporting on the pathways and effects of UA ( = 24) in prostate cancer was caspase 3/caspase 9 ( = 10, 41.6%). The three most common molecular and cellular pathway from articles reporting on the pathways and effects of both CURC and UA ( = 193) in prostate cancer was NF-κB ( = 28, 14.2%), Akt ( = 22, 11.2%), and androgen ( = 19, 9.6%). Therefore, we have identified the potential synergistic target pathways of curcumin and ursolic acid to involve NF-κB, Akt, androgen receptors, and apoptosis pathways. Our review highlights the limited human studies and specific effects in prostate cancer.
Topics: Male; Humans; Ursolic Acid; Curcumin; NF-kappa B; Signal Transduction; Proto-Oncogene Proteins c-akt; Apoptosis; Triterpenes; Prostatic Neoplasms
PubMed: 37776274
DOI: 10.1177/03915603231202304 -
Journal of Nephrology Jan 2024Artificial intelligence (AI) integration in nephropathology has been growing rapidly in recent years, facing several challenges including the wide range of histological... (Review)
Review
INTRODUCTION
Artificial intelligence (AI) integration in nephropathology has been growing rapidly in recent years, facing several challenges including the wide range of histological techniques used, the low occurrence of certain diseases, and the need for data sharing. This narrative review retraces the history of AI in nephropathology and provides insights into potential future developments.
METHODS
Electronic searches in PubMed-MEDLINE and Embase were made to extract pertinent articles from the literature. Works about automated image analysis or the application of an AI algorithm on non-neoplastic kidney histological samples were included and analyzed to extract information such as publication year, AI task, and learning type. Prepublication servers and reviews were not included.
RESULTS
Seventy-six (76) original research articles were selected. Most of the studies were conducted in the United States in the last 7 years. To date, research has been mainly conducted on relatively easy tasks, like single-stain glomerular segmentation. However, there is a trend towards developing more complex tasks such as glomerular multi-stain classification.
CONCLUSION
Deep learning has been used to identify patterns in complex histopathology data and looks promising for the comprehensive assessment of renal biopsy, through the use of multiple stains and virtual staining techniques. Hybrid and collaborative learning approaches have also been explored to utilize large amounts of unlabeled data. A diverse team of experts, including nephropathologists, computer scientists, and clinicians, is crucial for the development of AI systems for nephropathology. Collaborative efforts among multidisciplinary experts result in clinically relevant and effective AI tools.
Topics: Humans; Algorithms; Artificial Intelligence; Coloring Agents; Kidney
PubMed: 37768550
DOI: 10.1007/s40620-023-01775-w -
Journal of Personalized Medicine Sep 2023The objective of this manuscript was to review the indications, efficacy, and safety of a 585 nm pulsed dye laser (PDL) in non-malignant laryngeal lesions. Following the... (Review)
Review
The objective of this manuscript was to review the indications, efficacy, and safety of a 585 nm pulsed dye laser (PDL) in non-malignant laryngeal lesions. Following the PRISMA statement recommendations, three independent authors searched for articles published in PubMed/MEDLINE, the Cochrane Library, Google Scholar, Scielo, and Web of Science. A bias analysis was performed following NICE guidance tools. From the 506 identified publications, 19 observational studies met the inclusion criteria. The PDL improves vocal quality objectively and subjectively in vascular lesions ( < 0.005) and improves vocal quality in patients with dysplasia/leukoplasia without changing the natural history of the disease compared to other treatments. Reinke's edema and granulomas require an average of 1.5 PDL sessions for resolution. Treatment of recurrent respiratory papillomatosis requires multiple sessions, with complete remission achieved in 50-70% of patients. Regardless of the lesion, the tolerance of the procedure under local anesthesia is exceptional (84-97%), and the results in terms of regression and vocal quality are promising. The complication rate is minimal, and the procedure does not interfere with other treatment alternatives. There is no consensus on laser settings. The lack of consistent use in evaluating vocal outcomes, whether objective or subjective, prevents the comparability between studies. The 585 nm pulsed dye laser appears to be an effective and safe therapeutic option in patients with non-malignant laryngeal pathology. Future controlled studies are needed to compare the 585 nm pulsed dye laser with other lasers or cold instrument procedures.
PubMed: 37763142
DOI: 10.3390/jpm13091374 -
PloS One 2023The study aims to identify whether factors such as time to initiation of laser therapy following scar formation, type of laser used, laser treatment interval and...
AIM
The study aims to identify whether factors such as time to initiation of laser therapy following scar formation, type of laser used, laser treatment interval and presence of complications influence burn scar outcomes in adults, by meta-analysis of previous studies.
METHODS
A literature search was conducted in May 2022 in seven databases to select studies on the effects of laser therapy in adult hypertrophic burn scars. The study protocol was registered with PROSPERO (CRD42022347836).
RESULTS
Eleven studies were included in the meta-analysis, with a total of 491 patients. Laser therapy significantly improved overall VSS/POSAS, vascularity, pliability, pigmentation and scar height of burn scars. Vascularity improvement was greater when laser therapy was performed >12 months (-1.50 [95%CI = -2.58;-0.42], p = 0.01) compared to <12 months after injury (-0.39 [95%CI = -0.68; -0.10], p = 0.01), the same was true for scar height ((-1.36 [95%CI = -2.07; -0.66], p<0.001) vs (-0.56 [95%CI = -0.70; -0.42], p<0.001)). Pulse dye laser (-4.35 [95%CI = -6.83; -1.86], p<0.001) gave a greater reduction in VSS/POSAS scores compared to non-ablative (-1.52 [95%CI = -2.24; -0.83], p<0.001) and ablative lasers (-0.95 [95%CI = -1.31; -0.59], p<0.001).
CONCLUSION
Efficacy of laser therapy is influenced by the time lapse after injury, the type of laser used and the interval between laser treatments. Significant heterogeneity was observed among studies, suggesting the need to explore other factors that may affect scar outcomes.
PubMed: 37756273
DOI: 10.1371/journal.pone.0292097 -
BJS Open Sep 2023Accurate tumour localization is crucial for precise surgical targeting and complete tumour removal. Indocyanine green fluorescence, an increasingly used technique in...
BACKGROUND
Accurate tumour localization is crucial for precise surgical targeting and complete tumour removal. Indocyanine green fluorescence, an increasingly used technique in oncological surgery, has shown promise in localizing non-palpable breast tumours. The aim of this systematic review was to describe the efficacy of indocyanine green fluorescence for the identification of non-palpable breast tumours.
METHODS
A systematic literature search was performed in PubMed, Embase, and the Cochrane Library, including studies from 2012 to 2023. Studies reporting the proportion of breast tumours identified using indocyanine green fluorescence were included. The quality of the studies and their risk of bias were appraised using the Methodological Index for Non-Randomized Studies ('MINORS') tool. The following outcomes were collected: identification rate, clear resection margins, specimen volume, operative time, re-operation rate, adverse events, and complications.
RESULTS
In total, 2061 articles were screened for eligibility, resulting in 11 studies, with 366 patients included: two RCTs, three non-randomized comparative studies, four single-arm studies, and two case reports. All studies achieved a 100 per cent tumour identification rate with indocyanine green fluorescence, except for one study, with an identification rate of 87 per cent (13/15). Clear resection margins were found in 88-100 per cent of all patients. Reoperation rates ranged from 0.0 to 5.4 per cent and no complications or adverse events related to indocyanine green occurred.
CONCLUSION
Indocyanine green fluorescence has substantial theoretical advantages compared with current routine localization methods. Although a limited number of studies were available, the current literature suggests that indocyanine green fluorescence is a useful, accurate, and safe technique for the intraoperative localization of non-palpable breast tumours, with equivalent efficacy compared with other localization techniques, potentially reducing tumour-positive margins.
Topics: Humans; Female; Fluorescence; Indocyanine Green; Margins of Excision; Operative Time; Breast Neoplasms
PubMed: 37751322
DOI: 10.1093/bjsopen/zrad092 -
Tomography (Ann Arbor, Mich.) Aug 2023Recent advances in tumor visualization have improved the extent of resection (EOR) of primary and secondary tumors of the central nervous system, while limiting the... (Meta-Analysis)
Meta-Analysis Review
Intraoperative Fluorophores: An Update on 5-Aminolevulinic Acid and Sodium Fluorescein in Resection of Tumors of the Central Nervous System and Metastatic Lesions-A Systematic Review and Meta-Analysis.
INTRODUCTION
Recent advances in tumor visualization have improved the extent of resection (EOR) of primary and secondary tumors of the central nervous system, while limiting the morbidity and mortality of the surgery. One area of recent interest has been the use of intraoperative fluorophores for tumor visualization such as 5-aminolevulinic acid (5-ala) and sodium fluorescein. We performed a systematic review and meta-analysis on the utility of fluorophore administration and EOR with each fluorophore to update the current literature.
METHODS
We conducted a systematic review and meta-analysis on the use of intraoperative 5-ala or fluorescein between 2021 and 2023 using the PubMed, SCOPUS, and WOS databases. The initial search yielded 8688 results. After inclusion and exclusion criteria were met, 44 studies remained for review. A meta-analysis was performed to compare the EOR between studies for each fluorophore and to compare the presence of intraoperative fluorescence by tumor type. Odds ratios (OR) were calculated for gross total resection (GTR), and two-way ANOVA tests were performed to compare rates of intraoperative fluorescence by fluorophore and tumor type.
RESULTS
In all groups except low-grade glioma, fluorescence was present after 5-ala administration; fluorescence was present for all groups after fluorescein administration. Two-way ANOVA analysis for both fluorophores demonstrated no statistically significant difference in presence of fluorescence between type of tumor resected. Meta-analysis of EOR did show a higher, but not significant, rate of GTR in the 5-ala group compared to controls (OR = 1.29, 95% CI = 0.49; 3.37). In the fluorescein group, there were statistically significant higher odds of GTR compared to the control group (OR = 2.10, 95% CI = 1.43; 3.10, I = 0%).
CONCLUSIONS
Both 5-ala and sodium fluorescein demonstrated intraoperative fluorescence among various tumor types in both cranial and spinal tumors, as well as efficacy in improving EOR. Both fluorophores merit further investigation for use in surgery of CNS tumors.
Topics: Humans; Fluorescein; Aminolevulinic Acid; Levulinic Acids; Glioma
PubMed: 37736977
DOI: 10.3390/tomography9050124 -
Frontiers in Plant Science 2023Turmeric ( L.), a significant commercial crop of the Indian subcontinent is widely used as a condiment, natural dye, and as a cure for different ailments. Various... (Review)
Review
Turmeric ( L.), a significant commercial crop of the Indian subcontinent is widely used as a condiment, natural dye, and as a cure for different ailments. Various bioactive compounds such as turmerones and curcuminoids have been isolated from that have shown remarkable medicinal activity against various ailments. However, reduced soil fertility, climatic variations, rapid urbanization, and enhanced food demand, pose a multifaceted challenge to the current agricultural practices of Plant growth-promoting microbes play a vital role in plant growth and development by regulating primary and secondary metabolite production. Rhizospheric associations are complex species-specific interconnections of different microbiota with a plant that sustain soil health and promote plant growth through nutrient acquisition, nitrogen fixation, phosphate availability, phytohormone production, and antimicrobial activities. An elaborative study of microbiota associated with the roots of is essential for rhizospheric engineering as there is a huge potential to develop novel products based on microbial consortium formulations and elicitors to improve plant health, stress tolerance, and the production of secondary metabolites such as curcumin. Primarily, the purpose of this review is to implicate the rhizospheric microbial flora as probiotics influencing overall health, development, and survival for an increase in biomass, enhanced yield of secondary metabolites, and sustainable crop production.
PubMed: 37692412
DOI: 10.3389/fpls.2023.1231676 -
Philosophical Transactions. Series A,... Oct 2023This rapid systematic review of evidence asks whether (i) wearing a face mask, (ii) one type of mask over another and (iii) mandatory mask policies can reduce the... (Review)
Review
This rapid systematic review of evidence asks whether (i) wearing a face mask, (ii) one type of mask over another and (iii) mandatory mask policies can reduce the transmission of SARS-CoV-2 infection, either in community-based or healthcare settings. A search of studies published 1 January 2020-27 January 2023 yielded 5185 unique records. Due to a paucity of randomized controlled trials (RCTs), observational studies were included in the analysis. We analysed 35 studies in community settings (three RCTs and 32 observational) and 40 in healthcare settings (one RCT and 39 observational). Ninety-five per cent of studies included were conducted before highly transmissible Omicron variants emerged. Ninety-one per cent of observational studies were at 'critical' risk of bias (ROB) in at least one domain, often failing to separate the effects of masks from concurrent interventions. More studies found that masks ( = 39/47; 83%) and mask mandates ( = 16/18; 89%) reduced infection than found no effect ( = 8/65; 12%) or favoured controls ( = 1/65; 2%). Seven observational studies found that respirators were more protective than surgical masks, while five found no statistically significant difference between the two mask types. Despite the ROB, and allowing for uncertain and variable efficacy, we conclude that wearing masks, wearing higher quality masks (respirators), and mask mandates generally reduced SARS-CoV-2 transmission in these study populations. This article is part of the theme issue 'The effectiveness of non-pharmaceutical interventions on the COVID-19 pandemic: the evidence'.
Topics: Humans; COVID-19; Masks; Policy; SARS-CoV-2
PubMed: 37611625
DOI: 10.1098/rsta.2023.0133 -
Alternative Therapies in Health and... Sep 2023Turmeric is a well-known herb that has been used in many traditional medicinal systems since ancient times. Turmeric roots contain hydrophobic polyphenols called... (Meta-Analysis)
Meta-Analysis
CONTEXT
Turmeric is a well-known herb that has been used in many traditional medicinal systems since ancient times. Turmeric roots contain hydrophobic polyphenols called curcuminoids, which have proven anti-inflammatory and antioxidant effects and are shown to be beneficial for the management of musculoskeletal health. Various products containing curcumin or turmeric extract are commercially available.
OBJECTIVE
This systematic review and meta-analysis of randomized clinical trials (RCTs) is intended to evaluate the effective dose, safety, and efficacy of commercial turmeric extract and curcumin supplements in musculoskeletal health.
DESIGN
The research team performed a systematic literature search of PubMed, Google Scholar, and Cochrane Library databases and conducted a meta-analysis according to PRISMA guidelines.
SETTING
Authors from India and USA contributed to this systematic review and meta-analysis.
RESULTS
The research team analyzed 21 prospective, randomized clinical studies, of which seven studies were focused on skeletal muscle health and fourteen on joint health. Statistical heterogeneity was established based on the results of heterogeneity analysis of a Chi-square (χ2) value for Cochran's Q statistic of 29.3765 for musculoskeletal and 3666.80 for joint health studies (P < .0001 for both analyses). Therefore, the random effects model was used. The χ2 value of the random effects model was 216.5545 for skeletal muscle health studies and 1400.65 for joint health studies, which was statistically significant with P < .0001 for both analyses.
CONCLUSIONS
Turmeric extract and curcumin supplements can be effective adjuvants for the management of musculoskeletal health, with a low incidence of AEs. The water-dispersible turmeric extract, WDTE60N, at a dose of 250 mg per day, was found to be more effective than other curcumin products. However, the studies included in the analysis were conducted using diverse doses and treatment durations. Further evaluation using comparisons in future clinical trials can establish the appropriate effective dose of curcumin supplements for the overall maintenance of musculoskeletal health.
Topics: Humans; Curcumin; Curcuma; Plant Extracts; Anti-Inflammatory Agents
PubMed: 37574203
DOI: No ID Found -
Advances in Nutrition (Bethesda, Md.) Nov 2023Accumulation of deoxyribonucleic acid (DNA) damage diminishes cellular health, increases risk of developmental and degenerative diseases, and accelerates aging.... (Review)
Review
Protective Effects of Micronutrient Supplements, Phytochemicals and Phytochemical-Rich Beverages and Foods Against DNA Damage in Humans: A Systematic Review of Randomized Controlled Trials and Prospective Studies.
Accumulation of deoxyribonucleic acid (DNA) damage diminishes cellular health, increases risk of developmental and degenerative diseases, and accelerates aging. Optimizing nutrient intake can minimize accrual of DNA damage. The objectives of this review are to: 1) assemble and systematically analyze high-level evidence for the effect of supplementation with micronutrients and phytochemicals on baseline levels of DNA damage in humans, and 2) use this knowledge to identify which of these essential micronutrients or nonessential phytochemicals promote DNA integrity in vivo in humans. We conducted systematic literature searches of the PubMed database to identify interventional, prospective, cross-sectional, or in vitro studies that explored the association between nutrients and established biomarkers of DNA damage associated with developmental and degenerative disease risk. Biomarkers included lymphocyte chromosome aberrations, lymphocyte and buccal cell micronuclei, DNA methylation, lymphocyte/leukocyte DNA strand breaks, DNA oxidation, telomere length, telomerase activity, and mitochondrial DNA mutations. Only randomized, controlled interventions and uncontrolled longitudinal intervention studies conducted in humans were selected for evaluation and data extraction. These studies were ranked for the quality of their study design. In all, 96 of the 124 articles identified reported studies that achieved a quality assessment score ≥ 5 (from a maximum score of 7) and were included in the final review. Based on these studies, nutrients associated with protective effects included vitamin A and its precursor β-carotene, vitamins C, E, B1, B12, folate, minerals selenium and zinc, and phytochemicals such as curcumin (with piperine), lycopene, and proanthocyanidins. These findings highlight the importance of nutrients involved in (i) DNA metabolism and repair (folate, vitamin B, and zinc) and (ii) prevention of oxidative stress and inflammation (vitamins A, C, E, lycopene, curcumin, proanthocyanidins, selenium, and zinc). Supplementation with certain micronutrients and their combinations may reduce DNA damage and promote cellular health by improving the maintenance of genome integrity.
Topics: Humans; Prospective Studies; Selenium; Lycopene; Cross-Sectional Studies; Curcumin; Proanthocyanidins; Randomized Controlled Trials as Topic; Vitamins; Vitamin A; Micronutrients; Folic Acid; Zinc; Beverages; Phytochemicals; DNA; DNA Damage; Biomarkers; Dietary Supplements
PubMed: 37573943
DOI: 10.1016/j.advnut.2023.08.004