Medicina
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Background and Objectives: The three most widely performed bariatric surgeries are Roux-en-Y gastric bypass (RYGB), sleeve gastrectomy (SG), and one-anastomosis gastric bypass (OAGB). Aside from the benefits of weight loss, current findings suggest that these procedures can also induce remission of T2DM (type 2 diabetes mellitus). There are limited data that directly compare these three procedures. ⋯ Increasing in popularity, OAGB had comparable outcomes to RYGB and SG in inducing T2DM remission. In addition to the choice of bariatric surgery, there are other independent predictive factors that have an impact on T2DM remission. Further studies with larger sample sizes, longer follow-up periods, and studies that control confounding factors are required in this field.
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Background and Objectives: The neutrophilic peptide, alpha-defensin, is considered an evolving risk factor intimately linked with lipid mobilization. It was previously linked to augmented liver fibrosis. Here, we assess a potential association between alpha-defensin and fatty liver. ⋯ The metabolic cage demonstrated dominant fat utilization with a comparable food intake in the Def+/+ mice. Conclusions: Chronic physiological expression of alpha-defensin induces favorable blood metabolic profile, increased systemic lipolysis, and decreased hepatic fat accumulation. Further studies are needed to characterize the defensin net liver effect.
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Background and Objectives: Bleomycin-induced pulmonary fibrosis is one of the serious complications that may limit the use of bleomycin in cancer therapy. To date, there is no effective remedy for the amelioration of this condition. Donepezil, an anti-Alzheimer's medication, has recently been proven to exhibit potent anti-inflammatory, antioxidant, and antifibrotic effects. ⋯ In addition, these animals showed a significant amelioration of the histopathological changes of fibrosis, together with a significant decline in nuclear factor kappa B (p65) immunoexpression, compared to the group treated with bleomycin alone. However, the rats treated with the donepezil/prednisolone combination showed non-significant effects on the aforementioned parameters compared to the group treated with prednisolone alone. Conclusions: Donepezil may emerge as a promising drug that shows significant prophylactic effects against bleomycin-induced pulmonary fibrosis.
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Background and Objectives: The main cause of the vision loss in diabetics is the development of diabetic macular edema, regardless of the stage of diabetic retinopathy. The paper aimed to examine whether the additional intravitreal application of triamcinolone acetonide to continuous anti-vascular endothelial growth factor therapy could improve therapeutic outcomes for pseudophakic eyes with persistent diabetic macular edema. Materials and Methods: twenty-four pseudophakic eyes with refractory diabetic macular edema, that had appeared despite three previously administered intravitreal injections of aflibercept, were divided into two groups (twelve eyes in each group). ⋯ As was evident from the p-values, the differences were statistically significant. No statistically significant difference was recorded for visual acuity: 3rd month p = 0.423; 6th month p = 0.392; 9th month p = 0.413; 12th month p = 0.418. Conclusions: Combined anti-vascular endothelial growth factor and steroid therapy leads to a better anatomical outcome of persistent diabetic macular edema in pseudophakic eyes, but does not lead to a more significant improvement in visual acuity than continuous anti-VEGF therapy alone.
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Editorial
Editorial for the Special Issue "Acute and Chronic Pancreatitis, Pancreatic Malignancies".
Pancreatic diseases, especially acute pancreatitis and pancreatic cancer, are associated with high rates of complications, difficult treatment that may not always be effective, and high mortality in complex cases [...].