Int J Med Sci
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The forensic investigation of asphyxia deaths still poses a challenge due to the need to demonstrate vital exposure to hypoxic insult according to high levels of evidence. The pulmonary effects of hypoxia are complex and the understanding of the mechanisms underlying the acute pneumotoxicity induced by hypoxia is still incomplete. Redox imbalance has been suggested as the protagonist of the main acute changes in pulmonary function in the hypoxic context. ⋯ The aim of the manuscript is to identify, the miRNAs involved in the early stages of the cellular response to hypoxia, in order to characterize the possible implications in the forensic field of the determination of expression profiles. At present, more than 60 miRNAs involved in the hypoxia response with different expression profiles (upregulation and downregulation) have been identified. Despite the multiple and different effects on reprogramming following the hypoxic insult, the evaluation of the diagnostic implications of hypoxamiRs in the forensic field presupposes a specific treatment of the influences on HIF-1α regulation, cell cycle progression, DNA repair, and apoptosis.
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Pre-B-cell leukemia transcription factor 1 (PBX1) proteins are a subfamily of evolutionarily conserved atypical homeodomain transcription factors belonging to the superfamily of triple amino acid loop extension homeodomain proteins. PBX family members play crucial roles in the regulation of various pathophysiological processes. ⋯ It also suggests a possible link between PBX1 in the two domains, which is expected to open up a new field for future exploration of cell homeostasis, as well as the regulation of endogenous danger signals. This would provide a new target for the study of diseases in various systems.
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Ischemic stroke (IS) is the majority of strokes which remain the second leading cause of deaths in the last two decades. Circulating microRNAs (miRNAs) have been suggested as potential diagnostic and therapeutic tools for IS by previous studies analyzing their differential expression. However, inconclusive and controversial conclusions of these results have to be addressed. ⋯ These miRNAs were evaluated in 20 IS patients, compared to 20 healthy subjects. 4 miRNAs (hsa-let-7e-5p, hsa-miR-124-3p, hsa-miR-17-5p, hsa-miR-185-5p) exhibited the significant expression level in IS patient plasma samples. Pathway and biological process enrichment analysis for the target genes of the 4 validated miRNAs identified cellular senescence and neuroinflammation as key post-IS response pathways. The results of our analyses closely correlated with the pathogenesis and implicated pathways observed in IS subjects suggested by the literature, which may provide aid in the development of circulating diagnostic or therapeutic targets for IS patients.
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Randomized Controlled Trial Observational Study
Objective Assessment of Perioperative Anxiety using Functional Near-infrared Spectroscopy in Elderly Patients: A Prospective Randomized Observational Pilot Study.
Background: Assessing and managing patient anxiety is essential to reduce postoperative complications in elderly patients. However, monitoring patient anxiety objectively is impossible. This study aimed to investigate the correlation between the level of fNIRS signals and anxiety in patients aged 65 and older undergoing artificial joint replacement surgery. ⋯ Results: The STAI-S score was significantly correlated with power of bandwidth (p = 0.034). In addition, the RSS score was significantly correlated with BW 1, 2, and 3 (p = 0.010, p < 0.001, and p = 0.003, respectively). Conclusion: The STAI-S score and BW 3 were significantly correlated, suggesting that fNIRS might help objectively and directly monitor anxiety levels.
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Randomized Controlled Trial
Cardiovascular and lipid-lowering effects of a marine lipoprotein extract in a high-fat diet-induced obesity mouse model.
Obesity is a major health challenge worldwide, with implications for diabetes, hypertension and cardiovascular disease (CVD). Regular consumption of dark-meat fish is linked to a lower incidence of CVD and associated metabolic disorders due to the presence of long-chain omega-3 fatty acid ethyl esters in fish oils. The aim of the present study was to determine whether a marine compound like a sardine lipoprotein extract (RCI-1502), regulates fat accumulation in the heart of a high-fat diet-induced (HFD) mouse model of obesity. ⋯ RCI-1502 significantly reduced triacylglyceride, low-density lipoprotein and total-cholesterol concentrations in serum, but increased HDL-cholesterol levels. Our data show that RCI-1502 is beneficial for reducing obesity associated with a long-term HFD, possibly by exerting a protective effect on lipidic homeostasis, indicated also by histopathological analysis. These results collectively indicate that RCI-1502 acts as a cardiovascular therapeutic nutraceutical agent, which modulates fat-induced inflammation and improves metabolic health.