Medical hypotheses最新文献

Cavernous sinus hemodynamic buffering model (CSHBM): a novel hypothesis for neurovascular protection 海绵窦血流动力学缓冲模型：神经血管保护的新假说

IF 0.8 4区医学

Medical hypotheses Pub Date : 2025-10-07 DOI: 10.1016/j.mehy.2025.111779

Guive Sharifi , Khatere Mokhtari

{"title":"Cavernous sinus hemodynamic buffering model (CSHBM): a novel hypothesis for neurovascular protection","authors":"Guive Sharifi , Khatere Mokhtari","doi":"10.1016/j.mehy.2025.111779","DOIUrl":"10.1016/j.mehy.2025.111779","url":null,"abstract":"<div><div>The cavernous sinus (CS) is an anatomically complex venous plexus located at the base of the skull, closely associated with the internal carotid artery (ICA) and cranial nerves controlling ocular movement and facial sensation. We propose the Cavernous Sinus Hemodynamic Buffering Model (CSHBM), hypothesizing that the CS acts as a dynamic hemodynamic buffer protecting these vital neurovascular structures from the pulsatile forces generated by the ICA and external mechanical stresses. According to this model, the venous blood acts as a viscoelastic cushion, and together with the trabeculated architecture and compliant walls of the sinus, facilitates absorption, attenuation, and gradual dissipation of arterial pulsatile energy. This mechanism reduces mechanical strain on adjacent cranial nerves and preserves microvascular stability. The model underscores a potentially underappreciated neuroprotective role of the CS, particularly relevant in pathologies such as carotid-cavernous fistulas and thrombosis. This hypothesis can be evaluated using computational fluid dynamics (CFD), fluid–structure interaction (FSI) modeling, and advanced imaging modalities like 4D Flow MRI and phase-contrast MRI to assess pressure dynamics and flow modulation within the cavernous sinus. Understanding this buffering function may provide new insights into cavernous sinus pathophysiology and inform future diagnostic and therapeutic approaches.</div></div>","PeriodicalId":18425,"journal":{"name":"Medical hypotheses","volume":"204 ","pages":"Article 111779"},"PeriodicalIF":0.8,"publicationDate":"2025-10-07","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"145269806","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":4,"RegionCategory":"医学","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}

引用次数: 0

Could the cervico-vaginal microbiome protect against prostate cancer? 宫颈阴道微生物群能预防前列腺癌吗？

IF 0.8 4区医学

Medical hypotheses Pub Date : 2025-10-06 DOI: 10.1016/j.mehy.2025.111780

P. Charlier

引用次数: 0

A diametrically opposed view of the role of glucocorticoids in central serous chorioretinopathy 糖皮质激素在中枢性浆液性脉络膜视网膜病变中的作用的完全相反的观点

IF 0.8 4区医学

Medical hypotheses Pub Date : 2025-09-30 DOI: 10.1016/j.mehy.2025.111777

F. Behar-Cohen

引用次数: 0

Metabolic immunobridge: Could adipose-derived extracellular vesicles be the missing link between obesity, autoimmunity, and drug-induced hepatotoxicity? 代谢免疫桥：脂肪来源的细胞外囊泡可能是肥胖、自身免疫和药物引起的肝毒性之间缺失的一环吗？

IF 0.8 4区医学

Medical hypotheses Pub Date : 2025-09-28 DOI: 10.1016/j.mehy.2025.111776

Okechukwu Paul-Chima Ugwu, Fabian Chukwudi Ogenyi, Chinyere Nneoma Ugwu, Samanya Bulhan

{"title":"Metabolic immunobridge: Could adipose-derived extracellular vesicles be the missing link between obesity, autoimmunity, and drug-induced hepatotoxicity?","authors":"Okechukwu Paul-Chima Ugwu, Fabian Chukwudi Ogenyi, Chinyere Nneoma Ugwu, Samanya Bulhan","doi":"10.1016/j.mehy.2025.111776","DOIUrl":"10.1016/j.mehy.2025.111776","url":null,"abstract":"<div><div>Obesity is now being viewed as a systemic immunometabolic disease, but the mediators through which adipose dysfunction is associated with immune dysregulation and liver damage are still not fully known. Our hypothesis is that lipid-enriched adipose-derived extracellular vesicles (EVs), containing microRNAs and damage-associated molecular patterns, are a metabolic immunobridge between obesity, autoimmunity, and hepatotoxicity caused by drugs. In contrast to previous models, like the one described by Malaguarnera et al., which in depth analysed the contribution of the two types of EV to autoimmunity differences between brown and white adipose tissue, we concentrate on the new postulate that EV cargo can co-stimulate autoimmunity and reduce the hepatic threshold of drug injury, and therefore unite two different pathological risks into a single explanatory model. The integrative viewpoint is a step further in the literature since it focuses on EV-mediated cross-talk not only between adipocytes and immune cells but also between immune-primed conditions and hepatocellular susceptibility. Provided as validated, this framework would offer new information on why obese people are more susceptible to autoimmune diseases and experience disproportionate severity of drug-induced liver injury (DILI). Furthermore, EVs could serve as predictive biomarkers and therapeutic targets for immune hepatic disorders associated with obesity.</div></div>","PeriodicalId":18425,"journal":{"name":"Medical hypotheses","volume":"204 ","pages":"Article 111776"},"PeriodicalIF":0.8,"publicationDate":"2025-09-28","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"145223230","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":4,"RegionCategory":"医学","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}

引用次数: 0

Facial asymmetry from one-sided sleep? A hypothesis linking REM activity and muscle hypertrophy 单侧睡眠导致面部不对称？一个将快速眼动活动和肌肉肥大联系起来的假说

IF 0.8 4区医学

Medical hypotheses Pub Date : 2025-09-27 DOI: 10.1016/j.mehy.2025.111775

Andrew James Swift

引用次数: 0

The Brain-Heart-Kidney Axis: a unified theory of systemic small vessel disease in CSVD 脑-心-肾轴：CSVD系统性小血管病变的统一理论

IF 0.8 4区医学

Medical hypotheses Pub Date : 2025-09-27 DOI: 10.1016/j.mehy.2025.111774

Tie-Qiang Li , Jiaxin Liu , Caijing Zhuo

引用次数: 0

CNS-derived microparticles: a hypothesis for biomarker-based assessment of neurological complications in β-thalassemia 中枢神经系统衍生微粒：基于生物标志物评估β-地中海贫血神经系统并发症的假设

IF 0.8 4区医学

Medical hypotheses Pub Date : 2025-09-24 DOI: 10.1016/j.mehy.2025.111767

Egarit Noulsri , Surada Lerdwana

{"title":"CNS-derived microparticles: a hypothesis for biomarker-based assessment of neurological complications in β-thalassemia","authors":"Egarit Noulsri , Surada Lerdwana","doi":"10.1016/j.mehy.2025.111767","DOIUrl":"10.1016/j.mehy.2025.111767","url":null,"abstract":"<div><div>β-thalassemia, a prevalent hereditary hematological condition, is associated with multi-organ impairment, including well-documented neurological complications. These neurological sequelae are primarily attributed to chronic anemia and iron overload-induced neurotoxicity. While existing diagnostic methods assess neurological deficits, a more practical and sensitive strategy is critically needed for early detection and effective treatment monitoring in β-thalassemia patients. A comprehensive review of the literature provides compelling evidence that 1) diverse cell types within the central nervous system (CNS) release specific microparticles (MPs); 2) the concentrations of these MPs in biological fluids are directly influenced by pathological damage to their originating cells; and 3) the unique pathological state of β-thalassemia e.g., oxidative stress, hypoxia, inflammation actively contributes to this MP release. Therefore, we hypothesize that elevated concentrations of CNS-derived MPs in β-thalassemia patients will directly correlate with the severity of neurological abnormalities and CNS injury. If rigorously validated through further <em>in vivo</em> and clinical studies, our proposed MP-based assessment could represent a novel and practical approach for determining the early stages of neurological involvement and effectively monitoring CNS recovery following therapy in β-thalassemia.</div></div>","PeriodicalId":18425,"journal":{"name":"Medical hypotheses","volume":"204 ","pages":"Article 111767"},"PeriodicalIF":0.8,"publicationDate":"2025-09-24","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"145223234","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":4,"RegionCategory":"医学","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}

引用次数: 0

Could sleep deprivation and changes in maternal microbiota during early pregnancy raise the risk of neural tube and heart malformations? 妊娠早期睡眠不足和母体微生物群的变化会增加神经管和心脏畸形的风险吗？

IF 0.8 4区医学

Medical hypotheses Pub Date : 2025-09-24 DOI: 10.1016/j.mehy.2025.111764

Vanessa Cavalcante-Silva , Marise Samama , Allan Chiaratti de Oliveira , Vânia D’Almeida , Frida Entezami , Sergio Tufik , Monica L. Andersen

{"title":"Could sleep deprivation and changes in maternal microbiota during early pregnancy raise the risk of neural tube and heart malformations?","authors":"Vanessa Cavalcante-Silva , Marise Samama , Allan Chiaratti de Oliveira , Vânia D’Almeida , Frida Entezami , Sergio Tufik , Monica L. Andersen","doi":"10.1016/j.mehy.2025.111764","DOIUrl":"10.1016/j.mehy.2025.111764","url":null,"abstract":"<div><div>Neural tube and heart malformations are major congenital anomalies influenced by genetic and environmental factors, including elevated maternal homocysteine (Hcy) levels. Elevated Hcy levels have been linked to nutritional deficiencies, particularly in folate and cobalamin, as well as with genetic variations in key metabolic enzymes such as methionine synthase (MS), methylenetetrahydrofolate reductase (MTHFR), and cystathionine β-synthase. We hypothesize that elevated Hcy, which has been associated with impaired fetal development, may be influenced by gut microbiota imbalances and sleep disturbances. The gut microbiota is thought to contribute to Hcy metabolism, partly through the production of essential vitamins such as B12 and folate. In this context, dysbiosis, which may be exacerbated by hormonal changes during pregnancy and by sleep deprivation, reflecting a hypomethylated environment. This hypomethylation can adversely affect gene expression and embryonic and fetal development. Strategies to improve maternal sleep quality and support microbiota health, together with folate supplementation, have been suggested to modulate Hcy levels and potentially benefit pregnancy outcomes and fetal development.</div></div>","PeriodicalId":18425,"journal":{"name":"Medical hypotheses","volume":"204 ","pages":"Article 111764"},"PeriodicalIF":0.8,"publicationDate":"2025-09-24","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"145223231","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":4,"RegionCategory":"医学","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}

引用次数: 0

Considering the potential of ovarian hormones in rescuing neurological phenotypes in Duchenne muscular dystrophy – it’s time to think beyond the muscles 考虑到卵巢激素在拯救杜氏肌营养不良患者的神经表型方面的潜力，是时候考虑肌肉以外的问题了

IF 0.8 4区医学

Medical hypotheses Pub Date : 2025-09-24 DOI: 10.1016/j.mehy.2025.111766

Gretel S. Major , Cara A. Timpani , Aaron P. Russell , Emma Rybalka , Angus Lindsay

{"title":"Considering the potential of ovarian hormones in rescuing neurological phenotypes in Duchenne muscular dystrophy – it’s time to think beyond the muscles","authors":"Gretel S. Major , Cara A. Timpani , Aaron P. Russell , Emma Rybalka , Angus Lindsay","doi":"10.1016/j.mehy.2025.111766","DOIUrl":"10.1016/j.mehy.2025.111766","url":null,"abstract":"<div><div>Duchenne muscular dystrophy (DMD) is an X-linked neuromuscular disease that causes premature mortality in young boys. While muscle degeneration is the central cause of death, a myriad of other comorbidities, including neurological dysfunction, afflict boys with DMD throughout their life − yet addressing these secondary dysfunctions has been largely overlooked. This has contributed to a poor mechanistic understanding of neurological comorbidities, a lack of specific clinical treatments and, therefore, a reduced quality of life for patients with DMD. Despite years of near exclusive focus on both pharmacological and genetic therapies to improve muscular phenotypes, there remains limited treatments for DMD. It is time to broaden the therapeutic scope to address the neurological phenotypes in DMD, which may improve patient and family quality of life. Transdisciplinary literature across the field of DMD and other neurological disorders provides evidence that ovarian hormones (oestrogen and progesterone) could play a role in rescuing aspects of neurobehavioural and cognitive dysfunction. Yet given the complexities of systemic endocrine hormone signalling, and a likely negative bias in treating males with female sex hormones, only rudimentary investigations in this area have been conducted. We propose that neurological comorbidities in DMD may stem not only by the absence of dystrophin in the brain, but also from peripheral endocrine control. This hypothesis explores the potential of these peripheral pathways—specifically through ovarian hormones or their receptor modulators—as a novel strategy to improve neurological dysfunction in DMD.</div></div>","PeriodicalId":18425,"journal":{"name":"Medical hypotheses","volume":"204 ","pages":"Article 111766"},"PeriodicalIF":0.8,"publicationDate":"2025-09-24","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"145223235","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":4,"RegionCategory":"医学","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}

引用次数: 0

Is iron dysregulation in the mirror motor cortex associated with misophonia? 镜像运动皮层中的铁调节失调与恐音症有关吗？

IF 0.8 4区医学

Medical hypotheses Pub Date : 2025-09-24 DOI: 10.1016/j.mehy.2025.111765

Pradeep Dheerendra , Soumita Ramesh

{"title":"Is iron dysregulation in the mirror motor cortex associated with misophonia?","authors":"Pradeep Dheerendra , Soumita Ramesh","doi":"10.1016/j.mehy.2025.111765","DOIUrl":"10.1016/j.mehy.2025.111765","url":null,"abstract":"<div><div>Iron homeostasis plays a critical role in brain function and mental health, yet its dysregulation in specific psychiatric conditions remains underexplored. In this article, we propose iron accumulation in the brains of individuals with misophonia—a condition characterized by intense emotional and physiological reactions to specific human-generated sounds. Based on the known involvement of the mirror neuron system in misophonia, we hypothesize that excessive iron concentration in the mirror motor cortex is a result of abnormal hyperactivity in this region. We propose that chronic overactivation of mirror motor cortex leads to increased metabolic demand and elevated cerebral blood flow, facilitating excessive iron influx. This may trigger low-grade chronic neuroinflammation, promoting maladaptive synaptic plasticity and long-term potentiation. The resulting impaired inhibitory control and heightened functional connectivity with primary sensory areas may further exacerbate hyper-mirroring. We propose future studies should confirm the existence of this self-perpetuating cycle which would imply that interventions aimed at reducing mirror system hyperactivity could disrupt this cycle and offer a promising therapeutic strategy for misophonia.</div></div>","PeriodicalId":18425,"journal":{"name":"Medical hypotheses","volume":"204 ","pages":"Article 111765"},"PeriodicalIF":0.8,"publicationDate":"2025-09-24","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"145157197","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":4,"RegionCategory":"医学","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}

引用次数: 0