J Res Med Sci
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Leishmania infantum is the causative agent of infantile visceral leishmaniasis (VL) in the Mediterranean region. Despite developing protective responses, the disease progresses due to many of factors. These include the action of suppressive cytokines, exhaustion of specific T cells, loss of lymphoid tissue, and defective humoral response. ⋯ Therefore, endoG represents a caspase-independent apoptotic pathway initiated from the mitochondria. A comprehensive understanding of the immune and genetic events that occur during VL is very important for designing immunotherapy strategies and developing effective vaccines for disease prevention. In this review which explained the immunological responses and also the important factors that can contribute to parasite apoptosis and are used in subsequent studies as a target for the preparation of drugs or recombinant vaccines against parasites are briefly reviewed.
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We carried out this meta-analysis for the aim of exploring the influence of diabetes mellitus (DM) on the prognosis of patients with ischemic stroke. Relevant studies were identified using computerized databases supplemented with manual search strategies. The included studies were strictly followed the inclusion and exclusion criteria. ⋯ The results of this meta-analysis manifested that there was a significant difference of the blood glucose level at 48 h after stroke between patients with DM complicated with ischemic stroke and patients with ischemic stroke (standard mean difference [SMD] =1.27, 95% confidence interval [CI] =0.02-2.51, P = 0.047); however, the effectiveness, fatality, and the National Institutes of Health Stroke Scale (NIHSS) score in patients with DM complicated with ischemic stroke, and patients with ischemic stroke had no significant difference (effectiveness: risk ratio [RR] = 0.88, 95% CI = 0.75-1.03, P = 0.121; fatality: RR = 1.29, 95% CI = 0.97-1.71, P = 0.081; NIHSS score: SMD = -0.14, 95% CI = -1.56-1.28, P = 0.849). The current evidence suggests that there is statistical difference of the blood glucose level at 48 h after stroke between patients with DM complicated with ischemic stroke and patients with ischemic stroke, but there is no statistical difference of prognostic indicators between patients in two groups. Thus, our study provides certain clinical value.
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Vitamin D has an important role in bone metabolism but recently has been recognized as an immunoregulator, and this has led to investigations on the effect of Vitamin D supplementation in various autoimmune diseases and its anti-inflammatory effects. There is some evidence that Vitamin D can regulate gastrointestinal inflammation. In addition, previous studies have shown that Vitamin D can affect the gut microbiome. ⋯ Several cell types of the immune system express Vitamin D receptor, and hence the use of Vitamin D in immune regulation has some potential. Furthermore, Vitamin D deficiency leads to dysbiosis of gut microbiome and reported to cause severe colitis. Vitamin D supplementation is low cost and available and can be a therapeutic option.
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Chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD) is known as a progressive lung disease and the fourth leading cause of death worldwide. Despite valuable efforts, there is still no accurate diagnostic and prognostic tool for COPD. Hence, it seems that finding new biomarkers could contribute to provide better therapeutic platforms for COPD patients. ⋯ Multiple lines of evidence have indicated that extracellular vesicles such as exosomes could carry a variety of cargos (i.e., mRNAs, miRNAs, and proteins) which transfer various cellular and molecular signals to recipient cells. Here, we summarized various miRNAs which could be applied as diagnostic and prognostic biomarkers in the treatment of patients with COPD. Moreover, we highlighted the role of extracellular vesicles containing miRNAs as diagnostic and prognostic biomarkers in COPD patients.
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Review
One-anastomosis gastric bypass as an alternative procedure of choice in morbidly obese patients.
One-anastomosis gastric bypass is an attractive bariatric procedure. It is effective in weight loss and comorbidity resolution. ⋯ In this article, we review the technique of this procedure and discuss about some practical surgical highlights. Furthermore, we overview studies performed about this procedure and compare it to some other well-established bariatric operations, while providing a detailed study about the facts related to its outcomes and complications.