Medical principles and practice : international journal of the Kuwait University, Health Science Centre
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This study was conducted to investigate the mechanisms of action of Eurycoma longifolia in rat corpus cavernosum. ⋯ Fraction DCM-I was able to antagonize angiotensin II-induced contraction to cause corpus cavernosum relaxation via inhibition of angiotensin II type 1 receptor and enhance bradykinin-induced relaxation through inhibition of angiotensin-converting enzyme.
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The purpose of this study was to evaluate the effect of atorvastatin administration on amiodarone-induced pulmonary fibrosis in rats. ⋯ In this study, the concomitant administration of amiodarone and atorvastatin increased pulmonary fibrosis in rats.
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Review Meta Analysis
Ultrasound-guided Transversus Abdominis Plane Block for Analgesia in Laparoscopic Cholecystectomy: A Systematic Review and Meta-analysis.
To evaluate the analgesic efficacy of ultrasound-guided transversus abdominis plane (TAP) block for patients undergoing laparoscopic cholecystectomy (LC). ⋯ In this study, the ultrasound-guided TAP block was an effective strategy for analgesia in patients undergoing LC.
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Castration-resistant prostate cancer (CRPC) progression after androgen deprivation therapy shows upregulated expression of androgen receptor (AR) splice variants, induced epithelial-to-mesenchymal transition phenotypes and enhanced stem cell characteristics, all of which are associated with resistance to enzalutamide. Since there is no curative treatment for CRPC, innovative treatments are urgently needed. In our recent study, we found that resistance to enzalutamide was partly due to deregulated expression of microRNAs such as miR-34a, miR-124, miR-27b, miR-320 and let-7, which play important roles in regulating AR and stem cell marker gene expression that appears to be linked with resistance to enzalutamide. ⋯ The inhibitory effects of BR-DIM on AR and AR target gene such as prostate-specific antigen were also observed in the clinical trial. Our preclinical and clinical studies provide the scientific basis for a 'proof-of-concept' clinical trial in CRPC patients treated with enzalutamide in combination with BR-DIM. This strategy could be expanded in future clinical trials in patients with PCa to determine whether or not they could achieve a better treatment outcome which could be partly mediated by delaying or preventing the development of CRPC.
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The experience of chronic pain is universal, yet pain management services delivered by health professionals vary substantially, depending on the context and patient. This review is a part of a series that has examined the issue of chronic non-cancer pain services and management in different global cities. The review is structured as a case study of the availability of management services for people living with chronic non-cancer pain within the context of the Kuwaiti health systems, and the cases are built from evidence in the published literature identified through a comprehensive review process. ⋯ This review also includes a description of chronic pain patient personas to highlight expected barriers as well as compliance issues with services likely to be encountered in Kuwait. The case study analysis and persona descriptions illustrate a need to move beyond pain symptom management towards considering the entire person and his/her individual experience of pain such that health care success is judged by enhancement of patient well-being rather than access to services. A road map for improving integrative chronic pain management in Kuwait is discussed.