Medical hypotheses最新文献

{"title":"New contributions to the theory of air pressure regulation mechanisms in the middle ear: The Eustachian tube resting ventilation and mastoid core hypotheses","authors":"Jingjing Liu ,&nbsp;Tingyan Wei ,&nbsp;Yunfeng Wang","doi":"10.1016/j.mehy.2025.111652","DOIUrl":"10.1016/j.mehy.2025.111652","url":null,"abstract":"<div><div>The mechanism underlying middle ear air pressure regulation remains unclear, and the intrinsic links between related middle ear disorders such as acute otitis media (AOM), chronic suppurative otitis media (CSOM), and otitis media with effusion (OME) have not been adequately elucidated. The possibility of mucus blanket bubble formation and connection in the Eustachian tube (ET) lumen, inflammation that can alter gas exchange in the middle ear fissure, potential presence of bacteria in OME, and the unique role of the mastoid in the treatment of CSOM support our hypothesis regarding resting ET ventilation and the mastoid core. We aimed to refine the current theory of middle ear air pressure regulation. The intrinsic connections between middle ear disorders, such as AOM, CSOM, and OME, can be more rationally explained through this hypothesis. Further, it also clarifies how inflammation, the mastoid, middle ear, and ET interact in these disorders.</div></div>","PeriodicalId":18425,"journal":{"name":"Medical hypotheses","volume":"200 ","pages":"Article 111652"},"PeriodicalIF":2.1,"publicationDate":"2025-05-16","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"144170677","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}

{"title":"Beyond HbA1c: Can mitochondrial function assessment enhance evaluation of exercise efficacy?","authors":"Yu-Hsiang Lin ,&nbsp;Jau-Yuan Chen ,&nbsp;Ke-Hung Tsui","doi":"10.1016/j.mehy.2025.111657","DOIUrl":"10.1016/j.mehy.2025.111657","url":null,"abstract":"","PeriodicalId":18425,"journal":{"name":"Medical hypotheses","volume":"199 ","pages":"Article 111657"},"PeriodicalIF":2.1,"publicationDate":"2025-05-15","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"144090174","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}

{"title":"Exploring therapy for tooth eruption disturbances from the perspective of ECM-macrophage","authors":"Han Qin ,&nbsp;Jun Cai","doi":"10.1016/j.mehy.2025.111662","DOIUrl":"10.1016/j.mehy.2025.111662","url":null,"abstract":"<div><div>Dental follicle is the loose fibrous connective tissue surrounding the developing tooth germ, performing as an essential organ for tooth eruption. The stress generated during tooth eruption promotes the secretion of various factors from the dental follicle, recruit macrophages into the dental follicle and fuse to form osteoclasts, leading to alveolar bone resorption and eruption channel formation. Extracellular matrix (ECM) is mainly expressed in fibrous connective tissue subjected to sustained mechanical stress, mediating signal transduction between inside and outside cells. It can sense stress accurately and convert it into biological signals, thereby supporting and connecting tissue structures, regulating tissue occurrence and cellular physiological activities. Recent studies have shown that ECM-macrophage dysregulation can trigger cellular fibrosis, leading to abnormal cells differentiation. Our preliminary research findings suggest that tooth eruption disturbances are accompanied by dental follicle cell fibrosis and ECM-macrophage imbalance. We propose a hypothesis to explore the regulatory mechanism of dental follicle induced osteoclast differentiation from the perspective of ECM-macrophage interaction. Through in-depth research on its mechanism, a novel perspective will be provided for the clinical treatment of tooth eruption disturbances.</div></div>","PeriodicalId":18425,"journal":{"name":"Medical hypotheses","volume":"199 ","pages":"Article 111662"},"PeriodicalIF":2.1,"publicationDate":"2025-05-15","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"144071457","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}

{"title":"A genetic polymorphism unique to East Asians, Aldehyde dehydrogenase 2 rs671, could explain the low incidence of Sudden Infant Death Syndrome in Asian babies","authors":"Paul N. Goldwater","doi":"10.1016/j.mehy.2025.111656","DOIUrl":"10.1016/j.mehy.2025.111656","url":null,"abstract":"<div><div>The single-nucleotide polymorphism of the aldehyde dehydrogenase 2 (ALDH2) gene, rs671 has a very high prevalence in East Asian populations. Previous studies have demonstrated an association of the polymorphism with protection against infection. Given that infection has very strong epidemiological, pathological and clinical associations with sudden infant death syndrome (SIDS), the preventative effect of the polymorphism against infection provides a plausible explanation for the lower incidence of SIDS in East Asian infants and is the basis of the hypothesis, the evolution of which is explained in detail.</div></div>","PeriodicalId":18425,"journal":{"name":"Medical hypotheses","volume":"199 ","pages":"Article 111656"},"PeriodicalIF":2.1,"publicationDate":"2025-05-14","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"144084666","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}

{"title":"A hypothesis exploring gender differences in gait variability using rhythmic auditory stimulation in individuals with Parkinson’s disease","authors":"Shaye M. Tiell","doi":"10.1016/j.mehy.2025.111660","DOIUrl":"10.1016/j.mehy.2025.111660","url":null,"abstract":"<div><div>Parkinson’s Disease (PD) is an incurable and progressive neurodegenerative disorder with worldwide prevalence. The application of external cueing devices to mitigate motor symptoms of Parkinson’s Disease (PD) and improve gait has gained significant attention in recent decades. Many of these studies have yielded significant findings, however, they often overlook gender-related differences that may underlie significant outcomes in longitudinal PD studies and warrant consideration. A review of existing literature shows significant gender differences within this population including differences in disease epidemiology, gait, and dual-tasking abilities. Thus, this paper presents the hypothesis that because males tend to be more severely affected by PD, females are more likely to benefit from external cueing devices such as Rhythmic Auditory Stimulation (RAS). Preliminary data using a small cohort supports this hypothesis, warranting further investigation. Validation of this hypothesis will highlight the importance of conducting inclusive research studies and design approaches. Incorporating gender-specific considerations into treatment plans will optimize the efficacy of these therapies and thus lead to a more significant and widespread reduction in disability and improvement in life for individuals managing the symptoms of PD.</div></div>","PeriodicalId":18425,"journal":{"name":"Medical hypotheses","volume":"200 ","pages":"Article 111660"},"PeriodicalIF":2.1,"publicationDate":"2025-05-14","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"144130934","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}

{"title":"The role of hemispheric sensory shifts: Impacts on stretch reflex and motor plasticity post-stroke","authors":"Mahmood Rajabtabar Darvish ,&nbsp;Joohwan Sung ,&nbsp;Jordan N. Williamson ,&nbsp;Beni Mulyana ,&nbsp;Xiaoxi Chen ,&nbsp;Yuan Yang","doi":"10.1016/j.mehy.2025.111653","DOIUrl":"10.1016/j.mehy.2025.111653","url":null,"abstract":"<div><div>Previous studies have found that post-stroke motor impairments are associated with damage to the lesioned corticospinal tract and the hyperexcitability of the cortico-reticulospinal tract at the hemisphere opposite to the lesion side, i.e., the contralesional hemisphere. While motor deficits and recovery mechanisms have been extensively studied, the role of sensory feedback in motor control has received less attention. We hypothesize that sensory-motor reorganization influences the stretch reflex and contributes to post-stroke spasticity. Effective motor function depends on the sensorimotor network, which integrates proprioceptive, tactile, and vibratory sensory inputs to guide movement and facilitate sensorimotor plasticity. Following stroke, these sensory pathways may undergo significant reorganization, leading to disrupted feedback loops and maladaptive changes in motor pathways. Recent studies have reported a hemispheric shift of somatosensory processing following a stroke. We propose to test our hypothesis by quantitatively analyzing the extent to which reorganization of sensory feedback pathways affects the stretch reflex. Testing our hypothesis will provide novel insights into the pathophysiological mechanisms underlying post-stroke spasticity. This will facilitate the development of customized rehabilitation strategies tailored to individual patient needs including improving their sensory feedback during movement exercise and other therapeutical intervention.</div></div>","PeriodicalId":18425,"journal":{"name":"Medical hypotheses","volume":"199 ","pages":"Article 111653"},"PeriodicalIF":2.1,"publicationDate":"2025-05-14","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"144068431","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}

{"title":"Metformin might decrease glucose-induced granulosa cell pyroptosis by increasing glucose uptake and decreasing follicular glucose levels in PCOS","authors":"Caglar Berkel,&nbsp;Oguz Özbek,&nbsp;Sukran Yagmur Avcioglu,&nbsp;Abdulkadir Akyasan","doi":"10.1016/j.mehy.2025.111658","DOIUrl":"10.1016/j.mehy.2025.111658","url":null,"abstract":"","PeriodicalId":18425,"journal":{"name":"Medical hypotheses","volume":"199 ","pages":"Article 111658"},"PeriodicalIF":2.1,"publicationDate":"2025-05-14","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"144071458","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}

{"title":"Morning light exposure: a potential modifier of cardiovascular risk factor","authors":"Victor Menezes Cardoso ,&nbsp;Waléria Dantas Pereira Gusmão ,&nbsp;Claudia Roberta de Castro Moreno","doi":"10.1016/j.mehy.2025.111654","DOIUrl":"10.1016/j.mehy.2025.111654","url":null,"abstract":"<div><div>The importance of adequate exposure to light during the day is certainly one of the most emblematic recommendations of the circadian hygiene process. Although there are scientific gaps regarding the relationship between exposure to light in the morning and nighttime sleep, it is already known that exposure to natural light in the morning promotes an acute preventive impact on the suppression of melatonin induced by nighttime light, stabilizes the circadian phase and alters metabolic functions, being closely related to cardiovascular health. Exposure to intense light in the early hours of the morning also promotes a phase advance in melatonin concentration during the night. In clinical studies involving humans, with experimental protocols with administration of exogenous melatonin, the results demonstrate significant hypotensive effects. We propose the hypothesis that the reduction of exposure to intense light in the morning is associated with a decrease in the amplitude of the nocturnal dip and, consequently, a greater risk of cardiovascular diseases. We also recommend methods and resources to be added to research protocols that can confirm the proposed hypothesis.</div></div>","PeriodicalId":18425,"journal":{"name":"Medical hypotheses","volume":"199 ","pages":"Article 111654"},"PeriodicalIF":2.1,"publicationDate":"2025-05-13","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"143942261","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}

{"title":"Endothelial activation causes trauma-induced coagulopathy through plasmin-mediated coagulation factor V inactivation","authors":"Martin Vigstedt ,&nbsp;Pär I. Johansson","doi":"10.1016/j.mehy.2025.111655","DOIUrl":"10.1016/j.mehy.2025.111655","url":null,"abstract":"<div><div>Trauma-induced coagulopathy (TIC) is a life-threatening complication to severe traumatic injury. The pathophysiology is not completely understood. We hypothesize that plasmin-mediated inactivation of (activated) coagulation factor V (FV) is a clinically important contributor to the hypocoagulation of TIC often seen in severely injured trauma patients. We propose that the mechanism is initiated by activation of endothelial cells in the microcirculation due to hypoxia, catecholamines, and inflammatory cytokines, which leads to excess tissue-type plasminogen activator (tPA) release that is not compensated by a corresponding release of plasminogen activator inhibitor (PAI-1). This imbalance results in a surge in plasmin generation, which then binds to lysine residues on fibrin and cell surfaces where it cleaves its substrates, including fibrinogen/fibrin and membrane-bound coagulation factors. Additionally, if the plasmin concentration becomes sufficiently high, or if plasmin is prevented from binding to lysine residues, the excess plasmin may be able to inactivate circulating coagulation factors, resulting in systemic hypocoagulation. Based on activity measurements of different coagulation factors in several previous studies of trauma patients, we hypothesize that FV is of particular clinical importance. This mechanism may also explain why cleavage of membrane-bound thrombomodulin from the endothelial surface, as seen in trauma patients with TIC, does not result in a procoagulant phenotype of the circulating blood, since FV can be inactivated by plasmin in the absence of activated protein C. We further hypothesize that plasmin-mediated FV inactivation may be a therapeutic target and that specific substitution of FV may have a place in the treatment of TIC.</div></div>","PeriodicalId":18425,"journal":{"name":"Medical hypotheses","volume":"199 ","pages":"Article 111655"},"PeriodicalIF":2.1,"publicationDate":"2025-05-13","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"144068430","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}

{"title":"Nutcracker mechanism in the thalamo-caudate groove: implications of stria terminalis and superior thalamostriate vein compression in the neurocognitive impairment of normal pressure hydrocephalus","authors":"Salvatore Marrone ,&nbsp;Gianluca Scalia ,&nbsp;Noemi La Porta ,&nbsp;Darko Orešković ,&nbsp;Sandro Bellavia ,&nbsp;Agnese Di Prazza ,&nbsp;Jessica Naimo ,&nbsp;Luigi Basile ,&nbsp;Luciano Mastronardi ,&nbsp;Giuseppe Emmanuele Umana","doi":"10.1016/j.mehy.2025.111651","DOIUrl":"10.1016/j.mehy.2025.111651","url":null,"abstract":"<div><div>Normal pressure hydrocephalus (NPH) is primarily characterized by neurocognitive impairment, traditionally attributed to degenerative processes in the neocortex (fronto-parieto-temporal regions) and compression or traction of white matter tracts. Recent studies on deeper subcortical structures suggest that other critical regions may also be involved. These structures, located along the pathways defined by paraventricular gray nuclei, may play a role in the modulation of circuits essential for cognitive and psychological functions. The progressive enlargement of the ventricles, particularly in advanced NPH, exerts pressure on paraventricular structures, displacing them towards the periosteum, compressing neuronal bundles and the thalamo-caudate groove (TCg). Our investigation focused on this groove and its key neurovascular structures: the stria terminalis (ST) and the superior thalamostriate vein (STSV). Chronic compression of the ST may alter connectivity between the amygdala, the extended amygdala, and other regions like the septal area and hypothalamus. This disruption can affect circuits involved in learning, motivation, memory, and arousal. The ST is composed primarily of GABAergic axons, followed by glutamatergic fibers, supporting its role as a modulatory hub linking the limbic system to the neocortex.</div><div>While experimental studies on human or animal models of hydrocephalus that examine changes in the TCg are scarce, we conducted an extensive review of neuroanatomy and neuroradiology literature. Our findings support the hypothesis that paraventricular compression in NPH impacts subcortical circuits crucial for cognitive function, with the ST and STSV playing pivotal roles. This highlights the need for further investigation into subcortical involvement in NPH pathophysiology.</div></div>","PeriodicalId":18425,"journal":{"name":"Medical hypotheses","volume":"199 ","pages":"Article 111651"},"PeriodicalIF":2.1,"publicationDate":"2025-05-12","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"143942260","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}