Jun-Yuan Zheng, Shie-Shian Huang, Jung-Jr Ye, Ching-Tai Huang
{"title":"Mpox: A narrative review on current knowledge.","authors":"Jun-Yuan Zheng, Shie-Shian Huang, Jung-Jr Ye, Ching-Tai Huang","doi":"10.1016/j.bj.2024.100823","DOIUrl":"https://doi.org/10.1016/j.bj.2024.100823","url":null,"abstract":"","PeriodicalId":8934,"journal":{"name":"Biomedical Journal","volume":" ","pages":"100823"},"PeriodicalIF":4.1,"publicationDate":"2024-12-14","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"142833845","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":3,"RegionCategory":"医学","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}
Jan Martel, Nicolas Rouleau, Nirosha J Murugan, Wei-Chun Chin, David M Ojcius, John D Young
{"title":"Effects of light, electromagnetic fields and water on biological rhythms.","authors":"Jan Martel, Nicolas Rouleau, Nirosha J Murugan, Wei-Chun Chin, David M Ojcius, John D Young","doi":"10.1016/j.bj.2024.100824","DOIUrl":"https://doi.org/10.1016/j.bj.2024.100824","url":null,"abstract":"<p><p>The circadian rhythm controls a wide range of functions in the human body and is required for optimal health. Disruption of the circadian rhythm can produce inflammation and initiate or aggravate chronic diseases. The modern lifestyle involves long indoor hours under artificial lighting conditions as well as eating, working, and sleeping at irregular times, which can disrupt the circadian rhythm and lead to poor health outcomes. Seasonal solar variations, the sunspot cycle and anthropogenic electromagnetic fields can also influence biological rhythms. The possible mechanisms underlying these effects are discussed, which include resonance, radical-pair formation in retina cryptochromes, ion cyclotron resonance, and interference, ultimately leading to variations in melatonin and cortisol. Intracellular water, which represents a coherent, ordered phase that is sensitive to infrared light and electromagnetic fields, may also respond to solar variations and man-made electromagnetic fields. We describe here various factors and underlying mechanisms that affect the regulation of biological rhythms, with the aim of providing practical measures to improve human health.</p>","PeriodicalId":8934,"journal":{"name":"Biomedical Journal","volume":" ","pages":"100824"},"PeriodicalIF":4.1,"publicationDate":"2024-12-11","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"142821782","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":3,"RegionCategory":"医学","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}
{"title":"Application of extended reality in pediatric neurosurgery: A comprehensive review.","authors":"Yau-Zen Chang, Chieh-Tsai Wu","doi":"10.1016/j.bj.2024.100822","DOIUrl":"https://doi.org/10.1016/j.bj.2024.100822","url":null,"abstract":"<p><p>The integration of Extended Reality (XR) technologies, including Augmented Reality (AR) and Virtual Reality (VR), represents a significant advancement in pediatric neurosurgery. These technologies offer immersive and interactive 3D visualization capabilities, which enhance the precision and accuracy of surgical procedures. This comprehensive review systematically examines the current applications of XR in pediatric neurosurgery. The review adheres to the PRISMA (Preferred Reporting Items for Systematic Reviews and Meta-Analyses) guidelines, which provide criteria for reporting systematic reviews and meta-analyses. It also utilizes the PICOS (Population, Intervention, Comparison, Outcome, Study design) framework to formulate research questions and structure literature searches. A thorough search of multiple databases yielded 1,434 relevant articles, supplemented by an additional 55 articles obtained through manual searches. The review includes a detailed analysis of the XR workflow, its surgical applications, and associated outcomes. It emphasizes the practical benefits of XR in preoperative planning, intraoperative navigation, and postoperative assessment. Furthermore, the paper discusses the challenges, opportunities, and future prospects of XR in pediatric neurosurgery, including its effects on surgical outcomes, medical education, and patient care. By synthesizing technological developments with clinical applications, this review provides a comprehensive understanding of the multifaceted roles of AR and VR in pediatric neurosurgical practice. It covers innovative methods, applicable scenarios, datasets, and metrics, along with a comparative analysis of state-of-the-art techniques, considering differences in input data. Ultimately, this review aims to present an overview of the current landscape of XR in pediatric neurosurgery to inform future research and clinical practice.</p>","PeriodicalId":8934,"journal":{"name":"Biomedical Journal","volume":" ","pages":"100822"},"PeriodicalIF":4.1,"publicationDate":"2024-12-08","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"142806019","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":3,"RegionCategory":"医学","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}
{"title":"An Ex vivo Cultivation Model for Circulating Tumor Cells: The Success Rate and Correlations with Cancer Response to Therapy.","authors":"I-Hsuan Chiang, Hsuan-Chih Kuo, Chun-Ta Liao, Yung-Chia Kuo, Shao-Ming Yu, Hung-Ming Wang, Yi-Hui Huang, Nguyen Thi Kim Anh, Min-Hsien Wu, Jason Chia-Hsun Hsieh","doi":"10.1016/j.bj.2024.100819","DOIUrl":"https://doi.org/10.1016/j.bj.2024.100819","url":null,"abstract":"<p><strong>Background: </strong>Cancer mortality is closely linked to recurrence and distant metastasis, posing challenges in real-time tracking due to the invasiveness of current methods. Circulating tumor cells (CTCs) show promise as potential tools; however, their scarcity remains a significant obstacle.</p><p><strong>Method: </strong>In this prospective study, we validated a simple culture protocol and investigated the correlation between clinical response and CTC growth status. Following negative selection, the isolated cells were subjected to ex vivo cultivation in a two-dimensional environment supplemented with cytokines for up to 21 days, followed by immunofluorescence staining for analysis.</p><p><strong>Results: </strong>Among 37 participants with solid tumors and distant metastasis (34.8% head and neck cancer), 47 samples were collected, from which CTCs were detected. The percentages of CTCs, atypical CTCs, and white blood cells during cultivation from days 7 to 21 were significantly different (p < 0.001, p < 0.001, and p = 0.330, respectively). Patients were further categorized into progressive disease (PD) and non-PD groups based on disease status, revealing significant differences in CTC growth rates and increases from Days 7 to 21 between groups (5.5x vs. 2.8x growth, respectively; p < 0.001).</p><p><strong>Conclusion: </strong>Our protocols cultured CTCs from patients with various cancers for 21 days and identified a tool for predicting cancer response. The actual cancer status (PD or non-PD) at CTC isolation correlates to CTC growth rate, guiding the required observation time and parameters for culture.</p>","PeriodicalId":8934,"journal":{"name":"Biomedical Journal","volume":" ","pages":"100819"},"PeriodicalIF":4.1,"publicationDate":"2024-11-30","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"142765747","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":3,"RegionCategory":"医学","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}
{"title":"Genomic Surveillance of SARS-CoV-2 in Taiwan: A Perspective on Evolutionary Data Interpretation and Sequencing Issues.","authors":"Yu-Nong Gong, Nai-Yu Kuo, Ting-Syuan Yeh, Shin-Ru Shih, Guang-Wu Chen","doi":"10.1016/j.bj.2024.100820","DOIUrl":"https://doi.org/10.1016/j.bj.2024.100820","url":null,"abstract":"<p><p>This review presents a comprehensive perspective on the genomic surveillance of SARS-CoV-2 in Taiwan, with a focus on next-generation sequencing and phylogenetic interpretation. This article aimed to explore how Taiwan has utilized genomic sequencing technologies and surveillance to monitor and mitigate the spread of COVID-19. We examined databases and sources of genomic sequences and highlighted the role of data science methodologies in the explanation and analyses of evolutionary data. This review addressed the challenges and limitations inherent in genomic surveillance, such as concerns regarding data quality and the necessity for interdisciplinary expertise for accurate data interpretation. Special attention was given to the unique challenges faced by Taiwan, including its high population density and major transit destination for international travelers. We underscored the far-reaching implications of genomic surveillance data for public health policy, particularly in influencing decisions regarding travel restrictions, vaccine administration, and public health decision-making. Studies were examined to demonstrate the effectiveness of using genomic data to implement public health measures. Future research should prioritize the integration of methodologies and technologies in evolutionary data science, particularly focusing on phylodynamic analytics. This integration is crucial to enhance the precision and applicability of genomic data. Overall, we have provided an overview of the significance of genomic surveillance in tracking SARS-CoV-2 variants globally and the pivotal role of data science methodologies in interpreting these data for effective public health interventions.</p>","PeriodicalId":8934,"journal":{"name":"Biomedical Journal","volume":" ","pages":"100820"},"PeriodicalIF":4.1,"publicationDate":"2024-11-26","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"142749840","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":3,"RegionCategory":"医学","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}
Raquel López-Gálvez, José Miguel Rivera-Caravaca, Darío Mandaglio-Collados, Antonio J Ruiz-Alcaraz, Álvaro Lahoz-Tornos, Diana Hernández-Romero, Esteban Orenes-Piñero, María Pilar Ramos-Bratos, Carlos M Martínez, Marina Carpes, José María Arribas-Leal, Sergio Cánovas, Gregory Y H Lip, Francisco Marín
{"title":"Endothelial activation, Cell-Cell Interactions, and Inflammatory Pathways in Postoperative Atrial Fibrillation Following Cardiac Surgery.","authors":"Raquel López-Gálvez, José Miguel Rivera-Caravaca, Darío Mandaglio-Collados, Antonio J Ruiz-Alcaraz, Álvaro Lahoz-Tornos, Diana Hernández-Romero, Esteban Orenes-Piñero, María Pilar Ramos-Bratos, Carlos M Martínez, Marina Carpes, José María Arribas-Leal, Sergio Cánovas, Gregory Y H Lip, Francisco Marín","doi":"10.1016/j.bj.2024.100821","DOIUrl":"https://doi.org/10.1016/j.bj.2024.100821","url":null,"abstract":"<p><strong>Background: </strong>Postoperative atrial fibrillation (POAF) is common after cardiac surgery and related to endothelial activation and systemic inflammation. Herein, we investigate the pathophysiological mechanisms of AF through endothelial activation and cell-cell interactions related to the development of POAF.</p><p><strong>Methods: </strong>Patients without previous AF undergoing cardiac surgery were studied. Permanent AF patients were included as positive controls. Interleukin (IL)-6, Von Willebrand factor (vWF), N-terminal pro-brain natriuretic peptide (NT-proBNP) and high sensitivity troponin T (hsTnT) were evaluated by electrochemiluminescence. Vascular cell adhesion molecule-1 (VCAM-1) and human Growth Differentiation Factor 15 (GDF-15) was assessed by ELISA. Connexins (Cxs) 40 and 43 were measured by tissue immunolabelling, and apoptosis by TUNEL assay.</p><p><strong>Results: </strong>We included 117 patients (median age 67: 27.8% female): 17 with permanent AF; 27 with POAF and 73 with non- AF. Patients with permanent AF and POAF had higher levels of NT-proBNP, hs-TnT, apoptotic nuclei and decrease Cx43 expression, compared to non-AF patients (all p-value <0.05). VCAM-1 and GDF-15 were significantly higher in permanent AF vs. non-AF (p=0.013 and p=0.035).</p><p><strong>Conclusions: </strong>Greater endothelial activation and inflammation in AF patients compared to those without AF was found. The proinflammatory state in AF patients, in addition to the lower expression of Cx43, seems to be associated with atrial remodeling processes occurring in AF.</p>","PeriodicalId":8934,"journal":{"name":"Biomedical Journal","volume":" ","pages":"100821"},"PeriodicalIF":4.1,"publicationDate":"2024-11-25","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"142738182","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":3,"RegionCategory":"医学","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}
{"title":"miR-424/322 attenuates cardiac remodeling by modulating the nuclear factor-activated T-cell 3/furin pathway.","authors":"Hsiao-Ya Tsai, Jen-Chun Wang, Yu-Juei Hsu, Chih-Yuan Lin, Po-Hsun Huang, Min-Chien Tsai, Chin-Wang Hsu, Shang-Feng Yang, Shih-Hung Tsai","doi":"10.1016/j.bj.2024.100818","DOIUrl":"https://doi.org/10.1016/j.bj.2024.100818","url":null,"abstract":"<p><strong>Background: </strong>Cardiac remodeling is implicated in numerous physiologic and pathologic conditions, including scar formation, heart failure, and cardiac arrhythmias. Nuclear factor-activated T-cell cytoplasmic (NFATc) is a crucial transcription factor that regulates cardiac remodeling. MicroRNA (miR)-424/322 has pathophysiological roles in the cardiovascular and respiratory systems by modulating hypoxia and inflammatory pathways. The role of miR-424/322 in regulating cardiac remodeling is under investigation. We identified several cardiac hypertrophy and fibrosis-related molecules as putative targets of miR-424/322. We propose that miR-424/322 could have crucial roles in cardiac remodeling by modulating several key molecules for cardiac fibrosis and hypertrophy.</p><p><strong>Methods: </strong>Human cardiac fibroblasts (HCFs) and a myogenic cell line H9c2 cells were used for in vitro experiments. A murine model of angiotensin II (AngII)-induced cardiac remodeling was used to assess the roles of miR-322 on cardiac hypertrophy and fibrosis in vivo. Immunoblotting, immunofluorescence, real-time polymerase chain reaction and cell proliferation, Sirius Red, and dual-luciferase reporter assays were used to decipher the molecular mechanism.</p><p><strong>Results: </strong>We found that miR-322 knockout mice were susceptible to AngII-induced cardiac fibrosis and hypertrophy in vivo. Administration of miR-424/322 inhibitors aggravated AngII-induced overexpression of NFATc3, furin, natriuretic peptides and collagen 1A1 in H9c2 cells and HCFs. miR-424/322 mimics reversed the AngII-induced fibrosis, hypertrophy, and proliferation by targeting NFATc3 and furin in vitro. miR-424/322 could be transactivated by NFATc3. Exogenous miR-322 ameliorated AngII-induced hypertrophy and cardiac fibrosis in vivo.</p><p><strong>Conclusions: </strong>The NFATc3/miR-424/322/furin axis is crucial for developing cardiac remodeling, and exogenous miR-322 mimics could have therapeutic potential in cardiac remodeling.</p>","PeriodicalId":8934,"journal":{"name":"Biomedical Journal","volume":" ","pages":"100818"},"PeriodicalIF":4.1,"publicationDate":"2024-11-23","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"142715282","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":3,"RegionCategory":"医学","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}
{"title":"Increased risk of migraine among patients with hidradenitis suppurativa: A US multi-center cohort study.","authors":"Shuo-Yan Gau, Shao-Wei Lo, Tsu-Man Chiu, Chen-Pi Li, Ru-Yin Tsai, Hui-Chin Chang, Ching-Chi Chi","doi":"10.1016/j.bj.2024.100816","DOIUrl":"https://doi.org/10.1016/j.bj.2024.100816","url":null,"abstract":"<p><strong>Background: </strong>Hidradenitis suppurativa (HS) and migraine share common inflammatory pathways and neuropsychological implications. Both conditions involve proinflammatory cytokines like tumor necrosis factor and are associated with psychological comorbidities. Despite these similarities, the association between HS and migraine remained unclear. This study aimed to evaluate the relation between HS and incident migraine.</p><p><strong>Materials and methods: </strong>We conducted a multicenter cohort study using the TriNetX Research Network. Patients diagnosed with HS between January 1, 2005 and December 31, 2022 were identified with a control group of non-HS subjects established by propensity score matching at a 1:1 ratio. Our outcome was the hazard ratio (HR) of incident migraine in relation to HS. We also examined the HR for various subtypes of migraine. We conducted stratified analyses based on age, gender, insomnia, depression, and anxiety subgroups. Sensitivity analyses were performed to strengthen the robustness of our analysis.</p><p><strong>Results: </strong>The HS group exhibited an increased risk of incident migraine compared to controls (HR 1.35, 95% confidence interval (CI) 1.28-1.42). Also, HS patients had increased risk of migraine with aura and migraine without aura than controls, with HR being 1.36 (95% CI 1.21-1.52), 1.36 (95% CI 1.20-1.45), respectively. Female HS patients demonstrated an increased risk of incident migraine compared to their controls (HR 1.38, 95% CI 1.30-1.45). Elevated risk of incident migraine was observed in both younger and older HS patients when compared to their respective controls. The increased risk of incident migraine among HS patients remained consistent across various sensitivity analyses.</p><p><strong>Conclusions: </strong>HS patients present with an increased risk of incident migraine. Physicians should be aware of this association and provide timely referral and interventions when appropriate.</p>","PeriodicalId":8934,"journal":{"name":"Biomedical Journal","volume":" ","pages":"100816"},"PeriodicalIF":4.1,"publicationDate":"2024-11-18","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"142680712","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":3,"RegionCategory":"医学","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}
{"title":"A comprehensive overview of gastric cancer management from a surgical point of view.","authors":"Jun-Te Hsu, Yu-Ning Lin, Yi-Fu Chen, Hao-Wei Kou, Shan-Yu Wang, Wen-Chi Chou, Ting-Rong Wu, Ta-Sen Yeh","doi":"10.1016/j.bj.2024.100817","DOIUrl":"https://doi.org/10.1016/j.bj.2024.100817","url":null,"abstract":"<p><p>Despite advancements in medical care, surgical technologies, and the development of novel treatments over the past decade, the prognosis for patients with gastric cancer (GC) has only modestly improved. This is primarily due to the fact that the majority of patients are diagnosed at advanced stages or present with metastatic disease. Radical resection remains the cornerstone of potentially curative treatment, yet the overall 5-year survival rate remains below 35%. The management of GC varies globally, influenced by factors such as geographical disparities, patient comorbidities and performance status, surgical approaches, and available medical resources. Multidisciplinary collaboration and a multimodal treatment approach are essential for optimizing patient outcomes. Surgeons must stay updated on emerging surgical concepts and make informed decisions regarding patient selection, timing of intervention, and the adoption of appropriate surgical techniques to improve both quality of life and prognosis. This review aims to provide a surgical perspective on the management of GC across all stages, highlighting the importance of a comprehensive treatment approach. Endoscopic resection may be a viable option for early GC in patients with minimal risk of lymph node metastasis, particularly in elderly patients with high surgical risk or severe comorbidities. For advanced GC, neoadjuvant therapy followed by surgery could be a promising strategy to improve patient outcomes. Conversion surgery offers a potential survival benefit for patients who respond to treatment with tumor downstaging. The treatment of peritoneal carcinomatosis remains challenging; however, hyperthermic intraperitoneal chemotherapy combined with complete cytoreductive surgery or pressurized intraperitoneal aerosolized chemotherapy may prolong survival or improve quality of life in highly selected patients.</p>","PeriodicalId":8934,"journal":{"name":"Biomedical Journal","volume":" ","pages":"100817"},"PeriodicalIF":4.1,"publicationDate":"2024-11-18","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"142680711","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":3,"RegionCategory":"医学","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}