Medicine international最新文献

{"title":"Parvovirus B19-associated erythropoiesis-stimulating agent hyporesponsiveness in a patient on maintenance hemodialysis: A case report.","authors":"Theodoros Eleftheriadis, Maria Divani, Maria-Anna Polyzou-Konsta, Evangelos Lykotsetas, Christina Poulianiti, Andriani Balatsouka, Ioannis Stefanidis","doi":"10.3892/mi.2026.337","DOIUrl":"10.3892/mi.2026.337","url":null,"abstract":"<p><p>Parvovirus B19 is an uncommon cause of hypoproliferative anemia. In maintenance hemodialysis (HD), anemia is rarely explained by a single mechanism, and the viral suppression of erythropoiesis may be overlooked when infection, inflammation and iron deficiency occur concomitantly. The present case report describes the case of a 79-year-old man receiving chronic HD who was admitted twice with prolonged fever and was eventually treated for culture-negative mitral valve endocarditis. During the second hospitalization period, the hemoglobin level decreased from 8.8 to 7.7 g/dl, despite an increase in the level of recombinant human erythropoietin (rHuEPO) from 30,000 to 60,000 IU/week. The number of reticulocytes decreased from 2.07 to 0.95%, and a blood transfusion was required. The patient tested positive for Parvovirus B19 immunoglobulin M and immunoglobulin G, and polymerase chain reaction (PCR) confirmed active infection. Bleeding, hemolysis, vitamin B12 and folate deficiency, uncontrolled hypothyroidism, malignancy and inadequate dialysis were excluded. Intravenous immunoglobulin was administered at 0.4 g/kg/day for 5 days. By the time of discharge, the hemoglobin level had increased to 9.4 g/dl and reticulocytes had increased to 2.7%. Repeat PCR at follow-up, 20 days following discharge, yielded negative results. Severe iron deficiency was then evident, and following the administration of ferric carboxymaltose, the hemoglobin level further increased to 12.1 g/dl, allowing a reduction in rHuEPO. On the whole, the present case report underlines that Parvovirus B19, although rare, should remain in the differential diagnosis of erythropoiesis-stimulating agent-resistant anemia in patients undergoing HD.</p>","PeriodicalId":74161,"journal":{"name":"Medicine international","volume":"6 5","pages":"53"},"PeriodicalIF":0.0,"publicationDate":"2026-08-24","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC13551081/pdf/","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"148914584","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":0,"RegionCategory":"","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"OA","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}

{"title":"Salinomycin is effective for clinically relevant radioresistant oral squamous cell carcinoma cancer cells and their cancer stem cell marker positive fraction.","authors":"Ryo Saga, Yoichiro Hosokawa, Manabu Fukumoto","doi":"10.3892/mi.2026.335","DOIUrl":"10.3892/mi.2026.335","url":null,"abstract":"<p><p>Numerous patients with cancer experience metastasis, recurrence and resistance to chemotherapy and radiotherapy due to the presence of cancer stem cells (CSCs). Salinomycin (Sal) is a candidate for CSC-targeting therapy and may consequently sensitize tumors to radiation. Therefore, the present study investigated whether Sal can alleviate radioresistance using a clinically relevant radioresistant cell line and sorted CSC-like cells. The human oral squamous carcinoma cell line, SAS, and its radioresistant counterpart, SAS-R, were used. The fraction of CD24^-/CD44⁺ cells was identified in the CSC-like cell population and that of CD24⁺/CD44⁺ cells was in identified in the non-CSC-like counterparts. These were sorted from the SAS cells. Clonogenic potency was evaluated using a colony formation assay. The positive fractions of CSC markers (CD24 and CD44) and the number of apoptotic SAS and SAS-R cells were measured using flow cytometry. The percentage of the CD24⁺/CD44⁺ fraction in the SAS-R cells was lower than that in the SAS cells, whereas the CD24^-/CD44⁺ population was higher in the SAS-R cells than in the SAS cells. The Sal concentration-dependent decrease in the cell surviving fraction was more rapid in the SAS-R cells than in the SAS cells (IC50 values: 0.250 and 0.332 µM, respectively). The fraction of CD24^-/CD44⁺ cells exhibited a greater radioresistance than the parent SAS cells and the fraction of CD24⁺/CD44⁺ cells. Moreover, the surviving fraction of CD24^-/CD44⁺ cells was significantly reduced by treatment with 0.3 µM Sal. The addition of Sal increased the number of apoptotic cells compared to 2 Gy radiation alone. On the whole, the present study indicates that Sal is effective in killing the radioresistant population in SAS cells, which comprise a large proportion of CSCs in oral cancer, that is, the CD24-/CD44⁺ fraction. Furthermore, clinically relevant radioresistant cells (SAS-R) are sensitive to Sal; therefore, further investigations are necessary.</p>","PeriodicalId":74161,"journal":{"name":"Medicine international","volume":"6 5","pages":"51"},"PeriodicalIF":0.0,"publicationDate":"2026-08-11","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC13531107/pdf/","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"148876955","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":0,"RegionCategory":"","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"OA","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}

{"title":"Methotrexate subcutaneous injection for the initial treatment of rheumatoid arthritis can achieve earlier remission compared with oral administration.","authors":"Yukie Saio","doi":"10.3892/mi.2026.336","DOIUrl":"10.3892/mi.2026.336","url":null,"abstract":"<p><p>In Japan, subcutaneous methotrexate (SC-MTX) administration was introduced in 2022; however, available data regarding its use as an initial treatment or its effectiveness when switching from oral MTX remain limited. The present study aimed to examine the introduction timing and effects of a SC-MTX injection in patients with rheumatoid arthritis (RA). The oral MTX administration group (n=202, O-MTX), initial SC-MTX group (n=59, SC-MTX) and SC-MTX-switched group (n=25, SWITCH) were compared for the disease activity score in the disease activity score in 28 joints with C-reactive protein (DAS28-CRP), health assessment questionnaire (HAQ), remission rate of MTX, combination rate of biological agents and JAK inhibitors, the discontinuation rate (DR) of glucocorticoids, alanine aminotransferase, low-density lipoprotein, estimated glomerular filtration rate, hemoglobin, white blood cell count, lymphocyte count, DR of medications. A survey on SC-MTX self-injection was also conducted. SC-MTX achieved greater improvements in both HAQ and DAS28-CRP than O-MTX, and the difference became evident by 12 weeks following treatment introduction. In SWITCH, the disease activity also decreased after switching. The proportions of remission cases on MTX monotherapy at 24 weeks in the O-MTX, SC-MTX and SWITCH groups were 31.3, 65.96 and 33.33%, respectively and the DR rates of glucocorticoids in these groups were 59.3, 85.7 and 50%, respectively. As regards safety, no differences were noted in renal function, liver function, or changes in blood cells. According to the questionnaire for the usability of the SC-MTX self-injection, patients were very satisfied. On the whole, the present study demonstrates that in the treatment of RA, the initial introduction of SC-MTX is considered very useful, particularly in patients with high disease activity.</p>","PeriodicalId":74161,"journal":{"name":"Medicine international","volume":"6 5","pages":"52"},"PeriodicalIF":0.0,"publicationDate":"2026-08-11","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC13531110/pdf/","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"148876900","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":0,"RegionCategory":"","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"OA","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}

{"title":"Exosome-based strategies for periodontal regeneration: Current insights and future prospects (Review).","authors":"Gayathri Kannan, Gayathri Kumar, Potluri Leela Ravishankar, Gracelin Solomon, Kalaivani Varatharajan, Viola Esther Paneerselvan","doi":"10.3892/mi.2026.334","DOIUrl":"10.3892/mi.2026.334","url":null,"abstract":"<p><p>The tooth-supporting structures gradually deteriorate due to periodontal disease and standard regenerative therapies are currently being modified using adjunctive strategies to optimise the treatment outcomes. Nanosized extracellular vesicles called exosomes, which contain bioactive molecules, function as mediators of immunomodulation, regeneration, and tissue repair. Recent research indicates that exosomes may enhance periodontal regeneration through immunomodulation, osteogenesis and angiogenesis from various stem cells. It is suggested that exosomes promote fibroblast proliferation, reduce inflammation and accelerate bone/cementum regeneration. Scaffold-loaded exosomes provide sustained release. The purpose of the present review was to discuss the functions of exosomes and their potential to be used as therapeutic agents in periodontal regeneration. For this purpose, the terms 'Exosomes', 'Extracellular Vesicles' and 'Periodontal Regeneration' were searched in Google Scholar, Web of Science and PubMed databases to identify articles in the English language published up to June, 2025. Grey literature was searched through an internet-based free tool created by the Canadian Agency for Drugs and Technologies in Health. Two independent reviewers evaluated the titles and abstracts of the retrieved studies, followed by a detailed review of the full texts to extract information relevant to the research objective. While further clinical research is required to validate their regenerative potential, the evidence generally points to exosomes as promising therapeutic agents. Although the available data are encouraging, standardized procedures and clinical trials are required before they can be routinely used in clinical settings, to address challenges with delivery and isolation.</p>","PeriodicalId":74161,"journal":{"name":"Medicine international","volume":"6 5","pages":"50"},"PeriodicalIF":0.0,"publicationDate":"2026-08-07","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC13531124/pdf/","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"148876904","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":0,"RegionCategory":"","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"OA","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}

{"title":"Endocardial radiofrequency ablation for the treatment of pediatric hypertrophic cardiomyopathy: A report of two cases and a brief review of the literature.","authors":"Fan Zhang, Bo Wang, Ye Chen, Wenjuan Shu, Jie Huang, Ling Sun","doi":"10.3892/mi.2026.329","DOIUrl":"10.3892/mi.2026.329","url":null,"abstract":"<p><p>The present case report evaluated the application and outcomes of endocardial radiofrequency ablation (ERFA) in children with hypertrophic cardiomyopathy (HCM). The clinical data, procedural details and short-term follow-up of two pediatric patients with HCM admitted to the department of cardiology from 2023 to 2024. In addition, literature published between 2012 and 2025 was reviewed using the key words 'endocardial radiofrequency ablation', 'children' and 'hypertrophic cardiomyopathy' to summarize the current status and efficacy of ERFA in pediatric HCM. The first reported case was that of a 9-year-old boy who presented with reduced exercise tolerance for 6 months. An echocardiography revealed asymmetric hypertrophy of the interventricular septum and left ventricular wall, positive systolic anterior motion (SAM) sign and left ventricular outflow tract (LVOT) obstruction. Genetic testing indicated variants in <i>LZTR1</i>, suggestive of Noonan syndrome type 10. Despite medication (metoprolol and captopril), LVOT obstruction progressed (gradient >50 mmHg). ERFA was performed, and follow-up at 2 months showed reduced septal thickness and alleviated LVOT obstruction. The second case was that of an 11-year- and -11-month-old girl who presented with 3 years of dizziness and fatigue. An echocardiography confirmed asymmetric left ventricular hypertrophy, LVOT obstruction and SAM sign. Post-ERFA, LVOT obstruction significantly improved. Literature reports on ERFA for pediatric HCM are limited. Combined with adult series, ERFA appears safer than surgical myectomy or alcohol septal ablation, although long-term efficacy requires further validation. On the whole, the present case report demonstrates that ERFA is a safe and effective intervention for pediatric HCM when pharmacological therapy fails, providing a viable minimally alternative.</p>","PeriodicalId":74161,"journal":{"name":"Medicine international","volume":"6 4","pages":"45"},"PeriodicalIF":0.0,"publicationDate":"2026-06-23","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC13320129/pdf/","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"148371281","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":0,"RegionCategory":"","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"OA","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}

{"title":"Emodin-induced cell cycle arrest: A promising approach for cancer therapy (Review).","authors":"Shreya Das, Jhansi Kompala, Kyle Laney, Sneha Pathak, Ravi Nayar, Sukant Khurana, Alfredo Ghezzi, Lakshminarayanan Karthik, Abhijit G Banerjee","doi":"10.3892/mi.2026.328","DOIUrl":"10.3892/mi.2026.328","url":null,"abstract":"<p><p>Emodin is a naturally occurring anthraquinone being investigated for its anticancer potential due to its ability to modulate the cell cycle and inhibit tumor progression. The cell cycle is composed of a series of events that dictate cell growth and cell division. The G0/G1 checkpoint is the resting stage before the first gap phase (G1), whereas the G2/M checkpoint is the working stage from the second gap phase (G2) before mitosis begins. Emodin exerts its effects by the following means: Cyclins, which propel the cells through the cell cycle stages; cyclin-dependent kinases (CDKs), which are energy sources that, along with cyclins, push the cell cycle further; and finally, CDK inhibitors, such as p21 and p27, which can inhibit CDK activity. G0/G1 arrest is mediated by the suppression of cyclin D/CDK4 and cyclin E/CDK2 activity, whereas G2/M arrest results from the inhibition of cyclin B/CDK1 and the disruption of mitotic progression. G2/M arrest is further reinforced by the activation of the checkpoint kinases, Chk1 and Chk2. These kinases operate downstream of DNA damage sensors and effectors to maintain cell cycle blockade. The present review discusses the mechanisms of emodin-induced cell cycle arrest. In preclinical settings, emodin has been shown to be capable of suppressing tumor cell proliferation in multiple cancer models, both by itself and in combination with standard chemotherapy or radiotherapy. However, suboptimal bioavailability and metabolic instability are obstacles that have hindered its clinical application, with results being inconsistent among cancer types. Future studies are required to develop more efficacious drug delivery systems, identify predictive biomarkers and conduct strong clinical trials. Addressing these issues may position emodin as a viable cancer therapeutic option, either alone or in combination with current therapies.</p>","PeriodicalId":74161,"journal":{"name":"Medicine international","volume":"6 4","pages":"44"},"PeriodicalIF":0.0,"publicationDate":"2026-06-19","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC13320594/pdf/","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"148371272","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":0,"RegionCategory":"","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"OA","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}

{"title":"Post-operative liver metastasis from gastric cancer with HER2-positive areas newly identified upon re-evaluation, leading to a favorable response to trastuzumab-based therapy: A case report.","authors":"Shinsuke Usui, Kenichi Iwasaki, Ryota Sakon, Ryuichi Wada, Tatsushi Suwa","doi":"10.3892/mi.2026.327","DOIUrl":"10.3892/mi.2026.327","url":null,"abstract":"<p><p>Recent advances in molecular targeted agents and immune checkpoint inhibitors have markedly improved outcomes in patients with unresectable or recurrent advanced-stage gastric cancer. As treatment options continue to expand, biomarker testing has become essential for determining first-line treatment strategies. Among these, human epidermal growth factor receptor 2 (HER2) plays a key role in treatment selection; however, the intratumoral heterogeneity of HER2 expression in gastric cancer has long been recognized and may influence therapeutic decision-making. The present study describes the case of a patient who was initially diagnosed as having a HER2 score of 0 on the surgical specimen, but was later found to have a HER2 score of 2+ with FISH positivity upon reassessment, subsequently demonstrating a favorable response to trastuzumab-based therapy. The patient was a 79-year-old man with a type 3 lesion at the cardia, and enlarged lymph nodes adjacent to the primary tumor. The pre-operative diagnosis was cT4aN1M0, stage III. He underwent total gastrectomy. At 27 months post-surgery, MRI revealed a 21-mm metastatic lesion in liver segment 8. Given the initial HER2 score of 0, nivolumab plus the oxaliplatin + leucovorin + 5-fluorouracil regimen (mFOLFOX6) was initiated as first-line systemic therapy. However, as tumor markers continued to increase after two cycles, HER2 was re-evaluated using a different section from the resected specimen, which revealed a score of 2+ with FISH positivity. Therefore, the treatment was switched to trastuzumab plus mFOLFOX6. Following the regimen change, tumor markers decreased, and a CT scan demonstrated the shrinkage of the liver metastasis to 13 mm. Chemotherapy remains ongoing 7 months following the initiation trastuzumab treatment. On the whole, the present case report suggests that the reassessment of HER2 status may help identify patients who may benefit from HER2-targeted therapy, and may ultimately improve the therapeutic efficacy of chemotherapy.</p>","PeriodicalId":74161,"journal":{"name":"Medicine international","volume":"6 4","pages":"43"},"PeriodicalIF":0.0,"publicationDate":"2026-06-11","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC13320584/pdf/","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"148371301","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":0,"RegionCategory":"","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"OA","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}

{"title":"Regenerative and molecular therapies for myocardial repair (Review).","authors":"Divina Mariya Puthooran, Adlin Tom, Anna Anna, Harini Sundaram, Yousra Anwar, Kirtick Poovendran","doi":"10.3892/mi.2026.326","DOIUrl":"10.3892/mi.2026.326","url":null,"abstract":"<p><p>Despite considerable progress being made in reperfusion, drugs and device-based therapies, myocardial infarction remains a primary cause of heart failure due to irreversible cardiomyocyte loss and maladaptive ventricular remodeling. Conventional surgical and interventional methods cannot regenerate functional myocardium, although they can restore perfusion. Limited endogenous cardiac renewal has driven the development of regenerative, molecular and bioengineering-based therapies aimed at myocardial repair after MI. The present narrative overview summarizes current approaches, including gene and RNA therapeutics, cell-based therapies, extracellular vesicles, engineered cardiac patches and pharmacological strategies. Only modest improvements in left ventricular function were shown in early clinical trials employing mesenchymal stromal cells and bone marrow-derived mononuclear cells; these benefits were mostly attributable to immunomodulatory and paracrine effects rather than true remuscularization. Recent advancements, including cardiac progenitor cells, allogeneic platforms and intraoperative delivery during coronary artery bypass grafting, improved safety but showed mixed outcomes. Induced pluripotent stem cell-derived cardiomyocytes and engineered cardiac patches are a step toward structural myocardial replacement with encouraging preclinical and early human safety data; however, problems with arrhythmogenic risk, immunological rejection, scalability and long-term durability remain unresolved. Parallel developments in gene and RNA therapies, particularly cardiotropic adeno-associated viral vectors, lipid nanoparticle-mediated mRNA delivery and RNA interference, have highlighted the importance of vector design, myocardial targeting and appropriate molecular selection, as evidenced by the inconsistent clinical outcomes of SERCA2a-based gene therapy. Pharmacological management of post-myocardial infarction inflammation, fibrosis, metabolism, and cellular senescence promotes regenerative methods by improving the cardiac milieu and decreasing detrimental remodeling. Both regenerative and molecular therapies have shown encouraging effects on cardiac repair, but successful clinical translation remains a work in progress. With ongoing technological advances and carefully controlled clinical studies, these innovative approaches could ultimately provide effective treatments to regenerate the damaged myocardium and improve outcomes for patients.</p>","PeriodicalId":74161,"journal":{"name":"Medicine international","volume":"6 4","pages":"42"},"PeriodicalIF":0.0,"publicationDate":"2026-06-03","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC13267094/pdf/","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"148267309","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":0,"RegionCategory":"","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"OA","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}

{"title":"Prevalence of Y chromosome microdeletions of the azoospermia factor region among Libyan men with infertility.","authors":"Sassia O Regeai, Abdul Hakim S Elnfati, Nuzha M Alomrani, Afaf Shibane, Salem Ahlees, Osama Almajdoub, Ibrahim Ginaw, Mohamed Abdusalam, Ashraf Zaied, Inas M Alhudiri, Adem I Elzagheid","doi":"10.3892/mi.2026.325","DOIUrl":"10.3892/mi.2026.325","url":null,"abstract":"<p><p>The detection of Y chromosome microdeletions (YCMDs) in the azoospermia factor (AZF) region is a critical diagnostic tool for male infertility. The present study aimed to determine the prevalence of YCMDs among Libyan men with infertility following the European Academy of Andrology (EAA) and the European Molecular Genetics Quality Network (EMQN) guidelines. The present descriptive cross-sectional study included 41 men with infertility, stratified into two primary groups for comparative analysis: One group with azoospermia (n=23) and a non-azoospermia group (n=18). Genetic screening for AZFa, AZFb and AZFc microdeletions was performed using multiplex PCR with standardized sequence-tagged site primers (sY84, sY127, sY254, sY86, sY134 and sY255). Hormonal profiles, including follicle stimulating hormone (FSH), luteinizing hormone (LH), testosterone (T) and prolactin (PRL), as well as their ratios, were evaluated. The overall prevalence of YCMDs was 2.44% (1/41; 95% confidence interval, 0.06-12.79%). A single case of a complete AZFb+c microdeletion was identified in a patient with azoospermia. The azoospermia group exhibited significantly higher mean FSH (P<0.001) and LH levels (P<0.01) than those of the non-azoospermia group. The azoospermia group demonstrated a suppressed LH/FSH ratio (0.61) and a reduced T/LH ratio (0.37), indicating testicular failure and compensated Leydig cell dysfunction, respectively. To the best of our knowledge, the present study represents the first investigation in Tripoli, Libya, to report the prevalence of YCMDs in accordance with the EAA/EMQN international standards. Future large-scale, multicenter studies incorporating larger cohorts, fertile control groups, and broader geographic representations, are essential to establish a comprehensive genetic landscape of male infertility in Libya.</p>","PeriodicalId":74161,"journal":{"name":"Medicine international","volume":"6 4","pages":"41"},"PeriodicalIF":0.0,"publicationDate":"2026-05-26","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC13238963/pdf/","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"148201397","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":0,"RegionCategory":"","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"OA","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}

{"title":"Experimental atherosclerosis models in small animals (Review).","authors":"Mehmet Ertugrul Balkar, Hakan Parlakpinar","doi":"10.3892/mi.2026.324","DOIUrl":"10.3892/mi.2026.324","url":null,"abstract":"<p><p>Atherosclerosis refers to the accumulation of plaque in arteries and is the underlying cause of various serious vascular diseases, including coronary artery disease and ischemic stroke. These diseases pose a major threat to global health and are often fatal. Individuals predisposed to metabolic health conditions, such as familial hypercholesterolemia, hypertension or diabetes mellitus, often manifest atherosclerosis in the early stages. Because early-stage atherosclerosis is asymptomatic and typically progresses without obvious symptoms, its clinical detection remains challenging before the onset of notable vascular obstruction. The primary objective of the present review was to comprehensively address experimental atherosclerosis models that are commonly used in small animals, and to serve as a source of inspiration for the development of new pharmacological treatment protocols in the future. Numerous sources related to the importance of atherosclerosis, the disease process, pathophysiology, risk factors and experimental models developed in small animals were examined for the present review. Experimental atherosclerosis models are crucial for researchers to understand the disease process and to develop innovative treatments, and <i>in vivo</i> models reveal biochemical and molecular processes associated with the disease. Understanding the unique characteristics of each animal species is essential for selecting the appropriate experimental model, and creation of <i>in vivo</i> models requires careful consideration of animal selection, materials and model characteristics. Further research is needed to understand the pathophysiological processes of atherosclerosis and to develop novel pharmacological treatments for the diseases it causes.</p>","PeriodicalId":74161,"journal":{"name":"Medicine international","volume":"6 4","pages":"40"},"PeriodicalIF":0.0,"publicationDate":"2026-05-18","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC13216755/pdf/","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"148139007","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":0,"RegionCategory":"","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"OA","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}