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Biomolecules Jun 2024A notable shift in understanding the human microbiome's influence on cardiovascular disease (CVD) is underway, although the causal association remains elusive. A... (Meta-Analysis)
Meta-Analysis Review
A notable shift in understanding the human microbiome's influence on cardiovascular disease (CVD) is underway, although the causal association remains elusive. A systematic review and meta-analysis were conducted to synthesise current knowledge on microbial taxonomy and metabolite variations between healthy controls (HCs) and those with CVD. An extensive search encompassing three databases identified 67 relevant studies (2012-2023) covering CVD pathologies from 4707 reports. Metagenomic and metabolomic data, both qualitative and quantitative, were obtained. Analysis revealed substantial variability in microbial alpha and beta diversities. Moreover, specific changes in bacterial populations were shown, including increased and and decreased in patients with CVD compared with HC. Additionally, elevated trimethylamine N-oxide levels were reported in CVD cases. Biochemical parameter analysis indicated increased fasting glucose and triglycerides and decreased total cholesterol and low- and high-density lipoprotein cholesterol levels in diseased individuals. This study revealed a significant relationship between certain bacterial species and CVD. Additionally, it has become clear that there are substantial inconsistencies in the methodologies employed and the reporting standards adhered to in various studies. Undoubtedly, standardising research methodologies and developing extensive guidelines for microbiome studies are crucial for advancing the field.
Topics: Gastrointestinal Microbiome; Humans; Cardiovascular Diseases; Bacteria; Methylamines
PubMed: 38927134
DOI: 10.3390/biom14060731 -
Biomolecules Jun 2024Dilated cardiomyopathy (DCM) is a common cause of heart failure (HF) and heart transplantation (HTx), with genetic factors playing a significant role. In recent years,... (Review)
Review
Dilated cardiomyopathy (DCM) is a common cause of heart failure (HF) and heart transplantation (HTx), with genetic factors playing a significant role. In recent years, the RNA-binding protein motif 20 (), which affects the gene splicing of various proteins with different cellular functions, was identified as the first DCM gene with regulatory properties. Variants of have been associated with severe forms of DCM. The aim of this critical systematic review was to analyse cardiomyopathy clinical features and outcomes. According to PRISMA guidelines, a search was run in the PubMed, Scopus and Web of Science electronic databases using the following keywords: ""; "cardiomyopathy"; "arrhythmias"; "heart failure". A total of 181 records were screened, of which 27 studies were potentially relevant to the topic. Through the application of inclusion and exclusion criteria, eight papers reporting 398 patients with pathogenic variants were analysed. The mean age at presentation was 41 years. Familiarity with cardiomyopathy was available in 59% of cases, with 55% of probands reporting a positive family history. Imaging data indicated a mild reduction of left ventricular ejection fraction (mean LVEF 40%), while tissue characterization was reported in 24.3% of cases, showing late gadolinium enhancement in 33% of patients. Composite outcomes of sustained monomorphic ventricular tachycardia or ventricular fibrillation occurred in 19.4% of patients, with 12% undergoing HTx. There were no gender differences in arrhythmic outcomes, while 96.4% of patients who underwent HTx were male. In conclusion, cardiomyopathy exhibits a severe phenotypic expression, both in terms of arrhythmic burden and HF progression.
Topics: Humans; RNA-Binding Proteins; Cardiomyopathy, Dilated; Male; Female; Adult
PubMed: 38927106
DOI: 10.3390/biom14060702 -
Malaria Journal Jun 2024Malaria, a severe health threat, significantly affects total antioxidant status (TAS) levels, leading to considerable oxidative stress. This systematic review and... (Meta-Analysis)
Meta-Analysis
BACKGROUND
Malaria, a severe health threat, significantly affects total antioxidant status (TAS) levels, leading to considerable oxidative stress. This systematic review and meta-analysis aimed to delineate differences in TAS levels between malaria patients and healthy controls, and assess correlations between disease severity and parasite density.
METHODS
The systematic review was registered with the International Prospective Register of Systematic Reviews (PROSPERO) under registration number CRD42023448761. A comprehensive literature search was conducted in databases such as Embase, MEDLINE, Journals@Ovid, PubMed, Scopus, ProQuest, and Google Scholar to identify studies reporting data on TAS levels in malaria patients. Data from the included studies were analysed both qualitatively and quantitatively. Differences in TAS levels between malaria patients and controls were pooled using a random effects model, with Hedges' g as the effect size measure.
RESULTS
Of 1796 identified records, 20 studies met the inclusion criteria. The qualitative synthesis of these studies revealed a marked decrease in TAS levels in patients with malaria compared to non-malaria cases. The meta-analysis results showed a significant decrease in TAS levels in patients with malaria compared to non-malaria cases (P < 0.01, Hedges' g: - 2.75, 95% CI - 3.72 to -1.78, I: 98.16%, 13 studies), suggesting elevated oxidative stress in these patients. Subgroup analyses revealed that TAS level variations were significantly influenced by geographical region, age group, Plasmodium species, and method for measuring TAS. Notably, TAS levels were significantly lower in severe malaria cases and those with high parasite density, indicating a potential relationship between oxidative stress and disease severity.
CONCLUSION
This study highlights the potential utility of TAS as a biomarker for disease risk and severity in malaria. The significant decrease in TAS levels in malaria patients compared to controls implies increased oxidative stress. Further well-designed, large-scale studies are warranted to validate these findings and elucidate the intricate mechanisms linking TAS and malaria.
Topics: Malaria; Antioxidants; Humans; Oxidative Stress
PubMed: 38926807
DOI: 10.1186/s12936-024-05003-z -
Lipids in Health and Disease Jun 2024Lipid accumulation product (LAP) is a novel predictor index of central lipid accumulation associated with metabolic and cardiovascular diseases. This study aims to... (Meta-Analysis)
Meta-Analysis Review
Gender-specific accuracy of lipid accumulation product index for the screening of metabolic syndrome in general adults: a meta-analysis and comparative analysis with other adiposity indicators.
BACKGROUND
Lipid accumulation product (LAP) is a novel predictor index of central lipid accumulation associated with metabolic and cardiovascular diseases. This study aims to investigate the accuracy of LAP for the screening of metabolic syndrome (MetS) in general adult males and females and its comparison with other lipid-related indicators.
METHODS
A systematic literature search was conducted in PubMed, Scopus, Web of Science, Cumulative Index to Nursing and Allied Health Literature (CINAHL), and ProQuest for eligible studies up to May 8, 2024. Outcomes were pooled mean difference (MD), odds ratio (OR), and diagnostic accuracy parameters (sensitivity, specificity, and area under the summary receiver operating characteristic [AUSROC] curve). Comparative analysis was conducted using Z-test.
RESULTS
Forty-three studies involving 202,313 participants (98,164 males and 104,149 females) were included. Pooled MD analysis showed that LAP was 45.92 (P < 0.001) and 41.70 units (P < 0.001) higher in men and women with MetS, respectively. LAP was also significantly associated with MetS, with pooled ORs of 1.07 (P < 0.001) in men and 1.08 (P < 0.001) in women. In men, LAP could detect MetS with a pooled sensitivity of 85% (95% CI: 82%-87%), specificity of 81% (95% CI: 80%-83%), and AUSROC curve of 0.88 (95% CI: 0.85-0.90), while in women, LAP had a sensitivity of 83% (95% CI: 80%-86%), specificity of 80% (95% CI: 78%-82%), and AUSROC curve of 0.88 (95% CI: 0.85-0.91). LAP had a significantly higher AUSROC curve (P < 0.05) for detecting MetS compared to body mass index (BMI), waist-to-height ratio (WHtR), waist-to-hip ratio (WHR), body roundness index (BRI), a body shape index (ABSI), body adiposity index (BAI), conicity index (CI) in both genders, and waist circumference (WC) and abdominal volume index (AVI) in females.
CONCLUSION
LAP may serve as a simple, cost-effective, and more accurate screening tool for MetS in general adult male and female populations.
Topics: Humans; Metabolic Syndrome; Female; Male; Lipid Accumulation Product; Adiposity; Adult; ROC Curve; Mass Screening; Sex Factors; Waist Circumference
PubMed: 38926783
DOI: 10.1186/s12944-024-02190-1 -
PloS One 2024Vitamins D, E, A, B, C, and Omega-3 play crucial roles in modulating inflammatory and oxidative stress pathways, both implicated in abdominal aortic aneurysm (AAA)...
BACKGROUND
Vitamins D, E, A, B, C, and Omega-3 play crucial roles in modulating inflammatory and oxidative stress pathways, both implicated in abdominal aortic aneurysm (AAA) development. Recent research has explored the potential impact of dietary supplements on AAA progression. The systematic review aims to assess interventional studies investigating the effects of various dietary supplements on the development and severity of abdominal aortic aneurysms.
METHOD
A systematic search using relevant keywords related to abdominal aortic aneurysm and dietary supplements was conducted across four databases (PubMed, Embase, Scopus, and Web of Science). Quality assessment for animal studies employed SYRCLE and the Cochrane Collaboration Risk of Bias Tool for randomized control trials. The study protocol is registered in PROSPERO under the registry code CRD42023455958.
RESULTS
Supplementation with Omega-3, Vitamins A, C, D, E, and the Vitamin B family exhibited positive effects in AAA progression. These supplements contributed to a reduction in AAA diameter, elastin degradation, inflammatory responses, and reactive oxygen species. Additional supplements such as Zinc, methionine, and phytoestrogen also played roles in mitigating AAA progression.
CONCLUSION
The findings of this study underscore the potential role of dietary supplements in the progression of AAA. Predominantly based on animal studies, the results indicate that these supplements can limit AAA progression, primarily evidenced by their ability to mitigate inflammatory processes and oxidative stress pathways.
Topics: Aortic Aneurysm, Abdominal; Dietary Supplements; Humans; Disease Progression; Animals; Vitamins; Fatty Acids, Omega-3; Oxidative Stress
PubMed: 38923975
DOI: 10.1371/journal.pone.0305265 -
Journal of Functional Morphology and... Jun 2024The aim was to identify if surface electromyography (sEMG) parameters are indicative of post-activation potentiation (PAP)/post-activation performance enhancement... (Review)
Review
Are Surface Electromyography Parameters Indicative of Post-Activation Potentiation/Post-Activation Performance Enhancement, in Terms of Twitch Potentiation and Voluntary Performance? A Systematic Review.
The aim was to identify if surface electromyography (sEMG) parameters are indicative of post-activation potentiation (PAP)/post-activation performance enhancement (PAPE), in terms of twitch potentiation and voluntary performance. Three databases were used in April 2024, with the following inclusion criteria: (a) original research, assessed in healthy human adults, and (b) sEMG parameters were measured. The exclusion criteria were (a) studies with no PAP/PAPE protocol and (b) non-randomized control trials. The following data were extracted: study characteristics/demographics, PAP/PAPE protocols, sEMG parameters, twitch/performance outcomes, and study findings. A modified physiotherapy evidence database (PEDro) scale was used for quality assessment. Fifteen randomized controlled trials (RCTs), with a total of 199 subjects, were included. The M-wave amplitude (combined with a twitch torque outcome) was shown to generally be indicative of PAP. The sEMG amplitudes (in some muscles) were found to be indicative of PAPE during ballistic movements, while a small decrease in the MdF (in certain muscles) was shown to reflect PAPE. Changes in the H/M ratio were found to contribute (temporally) to PAP, while the H-reflex amplitude was shown to be neither indicative of PAP nor PAPE. This review provides preliminary findings suggesting that certain sEMG parameters could be indicative of PAP/PAPE. However, due to limited studies, future research is warranted.
PubMed: 38921642
DOI: 10.3390/jfmk9020106 -
Clinics and Practice May 2024Isotretinoin is the drug of choice for severe acne. We sought to examine the potential link between isotretinoin and insulin resistance. (Review)
Review
BACKGROUND
Isotretinoin is the drug of choice for severe acne. We sought to examine the potential link between isotretinoin and insulin resistance.
METHODS
We conducted a systematic review and meta-analysis in accordance with the PRISMA statement. A comprehensive search of the PubMed/MEDLINE, SCOPUS, and Cochrane databases was performed until 12 January 2022 utilizing the PICO (Patient, Intervention, Comparison, Outcome) tool. Fifteen English-language studies focusing on isotretinoin-treated acne patients were included. Serum levels of insulin, glucose, and adiponectin were evaluated before and after treatment, and insulin sensitivity was assessed using the HOMA-IR. A meta-analysis was conducted using RevMan 5.4.1 software, and a quality assessment was undertaken using the ROBINS-I tool.
RESULTS
The meta-analysis unveiled a statistically significant rise in the post-treatment levels of adiponectin, an anti-inflammatory agent, which inhibits liver glucose production while enhancing insulin sensitivity (SMD = 0.86; 95% confidence interval (95% CI) = 0.48-1.25, -value < 0.0001; I = 58%). Our subgroup analysis based on study type yielded consistent findings. However, no statistically significant outcomes were observed for insulin, glucose levels, and the HOMA-IR.
CONCLUSIONS
There is not a clear association between isotretinoin and insulin resistance, but it appears to enhance the serum levels of adiponectin, which participates in glucose metabolism.
PubMed: 38921259
DOI: 10.3390/clinpract14030081 -
Cells Jun 2024Tumour hypoxia is a known microenvironmental culprit for treatment resistance, tumour recurrence and promotion of metastatic spread. Despite the long-known existence of... (Review)
Review
Tumour hypoxia is a known microenvironmental culprit for treatment resistance, tumour recurrence and promotion of metastatic spread. Despite the long-known existence of this factor within the tumour milieu, hypoxia is still one of the greatest challenges in cancer management. The transition from invasive and less reliable detection methods to more accurate and non-invasive ways to identify and quantify hypoxia was a long process that eventually led to the promising results showed by functional imaging techniques. Hybrid imaging, such as PET-CT, has the great advantage of combining the structural or anatomical image (offered by CT) with the functional or metabolic one (offered by PET). However, in the context of hypoxia, it is only the PET image taken after appropriate radiotracer administration that would supply hypoxia-specific information. To overcome this limitation, the development of the latest hybrid imaging systems, such as PET-MRI, enables a synergistic approach towards hypoxia imaging, with both methods having the potential to provide functional information on the tumour microenvironment. This study is designed as a systematic review of the literature on the newest developments of PET-MRI for the imaging of hypoxic cells in breast cancer. The analysis includes the affinity of various PET-MRI tracers for hypoxia in this patient group as well as the correlations between PET-specific and MRI-specific parameters, to offer a broader view on the potential for the widespread clinical implementation of this hybrid imaging technique.
Topics: Humans; Breast Neoplasms; Magnetic Resonance Imaging; Positron-Emission Tomography; Female; Cell Hypoxia; Tumor Microenvironment; Tumor Hypoxia
PubMed: 38920676
DOI: 10.3390/cells13121048 -
Frontiers in Endocrinology 2024Acromegaly is a rare endocrine disorder caused by hypersecretion of growth hormone (GH) from a pituitary adenoma. Elevated GH levels stimulate excess production of...
UNLABELLED
Acromegaly is a rare endocrine disorder caused by hypersecretion of growth hormone (GH) from a pituitary adenoma. Elevated GH levels stimulate excess production of insulin-like growth factor 1 (IGF-1) which leads to the insidious onset of clinical manifestations. The most common primary central nervous system (CNS) tumors, meningiomas originate from the arachnoid layer of the meninges and are typically benign and slow-growing. Meningiomas are over twice as common in women as in men, with age-adjusted incidence (per 100,000 individuals) of 10.66 and 4.75, respectively. Several reports describe co-occurrence of meningiomas and acromegaly. We aimed to determine whether patients with acromegaly are at elevated risk for meningioma. Investigation of the literature showed that co-occurrence of a pituitary adenoma and a meningioma is a rare phenomenon, and the majority of cases involve GH-secreting adenomas. To the best of our knowledge, a systematic review examining the association between meningiomas and elevated GH levels (due to GH-secreting adenomas in acromegaly or exposure to exogenous GH) has never been conducted. The nature of the observed coexistence between acromegaly and meningioma -whether it reflects causation or mere co-association -is unclear, as is the pathophysiologic etiology.
SYSTEMATIC REVIEW REGISTRATION
https://www.crd.york.ac.uk/prospero/, identifier CRD42022376998.
Topics: Humans; Meningioma; Acromegaly; Meningeal Neoplasms; Human Growth Hormone; Risk Factors; Adenoma
PubMed: 38919490
DOI: 10.3389/fendo.2024.1407615 -
Frontiers in Nutrition 2024Obesity is reaching epidemic proportions with 51% of the population expected to be obese by 2030. Recently, polyphenols have been highlighted as an effective approach to...
BACKGROUND
Obesity is reaching epidemic proportions with 51% of the population expected to be obese by 2030. Recently, polyphenols have been highlighted as an effective approach to managing obesity and associated risks. Polyphenols are a large class of bioactive plant compounds classified into two major categories: flavonoids which are distinguished by the fundamental C6-C3-C6 skeleton and non-flavonoids.
OBJECTIVE
This systematic review evaluated the effect of different polyphenol sources in overweight and obese people with and without type 2 diabetes. The primary outcome was lipid profile and the secondary outcomes were blood glucose, HbA1c (%), HOMA-IR, weight, and body mass index.
METHOD
A search was undertaken in PubMed, Web of Science, Medline, and Wiley for randomized control trials that assessed different sources of polyphenols in overweight and obese people with or without type 2 diabetes. The quality of the included studies was assessed using the National Heart, Lung, and Blood Institute Quality Assessment Tool.
RESULT
The search yielded 935 studies, of which six randomized control trials met the inclusion criteria. Five studies found no significant difference in lipid profile between the control and intervention groups in triglycerides, total cholesterol, LDL cholesterol, and HDL cholesterol. However, one study showed significant differences in triglycerides ( = 0.04) and HDL cholesterol ( = 0.05) between the two groups with no significant difference in total cholesterol and LDL cholesterol. There were no significant changes in blood glucose observed in the included studies, with only two studies reporting a significant difference in A1c between the groups. Four studies found no difference in HOMA-IR, while one study showed a significant decrease in HOMA-IR in the intervention group compared to the control group. Three studies reported no difference in BMI or weight between the two groups.
CONCLUSION
The data associated with the specific health benefits of polyphenols and their sources in people with overweight, obese, and type 2 diabetes are still limited, so further research is required to support their use and prove their benefits.
PubMed: 38919387
DOI: 10.3389/fnut.2024.1376508