Arch Med Sci
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We examined the association between sarco/endoplasmic reticulum calcium ATPase (SERCA) expression and glycated hemoglobin (HbA1c) levels since alterations in this protein expression are associated with the genesis of insulin resistance. HbA1c levels and SERCA protein expression from platelets of Mexican patients diagnosed with type 2 diabetes mellitus (T2DM) were analyzed showing lower values of SERCA expression against the normal values we find in healthy people. Interestingly, as diabetes condition got worse; SERCA protein expression decreased gradually until it was undetectable. The results showed an inverse correlation between HbA1c and SERCA protein expression in T2DM patients. .
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Hypertension, particularly untreated, leads to serious complications and contributes to high costs incurred by the whole society. The aim of the review was to carry out a social and economic comparison of various categories of hypertension costs from different countries. ⋯ The costs of hypertension calculated per country reached the region of several dozen billion Int$. Other sources usually showed lower costs than those presented in this review. This indicates a growth in costs from year to year and the future increasing burden on society. Globally uniform cost terminology and cost calculation standards need to be developed. That would facilitate making more informed decisions regarding fund allocation in hypertension management schemes.
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The aim of the present study was to assess the efficacy of molecularly targeted agents (MTAs) in the treatment of elderly patients with metastatic oesophago-gastric cancer (mOGC). ⋯ Our results indicate that the MTA-containing therapies significantly improve OS but not for PFS in elderly mOGC patients. Sub-group analysis shows that improved efficacy is only observed in the second-line setting and not in the first-line setting. Our findings support the use of angiogenesis as second-line treatment for elderly mOGC patients.
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We performed a meta-analysis and an experimental validation to investigate the association between tumor infiltrating lymphocytes (TILs) and the outcome of gastric cancer (GC) patients to provide prognostic indicators for clinical practice. ⋯ This meta-analysis clarified that high levels of CD8+, CD3+, and CD4+ T cell infiltration in tumor tissue showed better OS in GC patients, whereas high density of FOXP3+ T cell infiltration may not be recognized as a negative prognostic factor. These results may provide some useful prognostic indicators for clinical application in gastric cancer.
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Endometriosis is a chronic disease that involves the development of endometrium outside the uterine cavity with pain component predominance. The aim of the study was to discuss the occurrence of health problems in patients with endometriomas and simple cysts and the effect of these problems on the daily functioning of the patients. ⋯ Since the stage of endometriosis does not correlate with subjective complaints, it seems that an additional routine evaluation of quality of life, including an assessment of the severity of the disease, is warranted. Routine use of the Nottingham Health Profile Questionnaire in patients with endometriosis can improve also the assessment of the treatment.