Endocrine, Metabolic & Immune Disorders Drug Targets

BACKGROUND: Hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) is a globally prevalent malignancy accompanied by high incidence, poor outcomes, and high mortality. Anthocyanins can inhibit tumor proliferation, migration, invasion, and promote apoptosis. Moreover, autophagy-related genes (ARGs) may play vital roles in HCC progression. This study aimed to decipher the mechanisms through which anthocyanins influence HCC via ARGs and to establish a novel prognostic model. METHODS: Based on data from public databases, differential analysis and the Venn algorithm were employed to detect intersecting genes among differentially expressed genes (DEGs), anthocyanin- related targets, and ARGs...

BACKGROUND: Small molecule phytocompounds can potentially ameliorate degenerative changes in cerebral tissues. Thus, the current study aimed to evaluate the neuroprotective efficacy of phytocompounds of methanolic shoots extract of Calligonum polygonoides L. (MSECP) in hypercholesterolemia-associated neurodegenerations. METHODS: Phytochemical screening of the extract was made by LCMS/MS and validated by a repository of the chemical library. The hypercholesterolemia was induced through the intraperitoneal administration of poloxamer-407 with a high-fat diet...

Longevity has been associated with healthy lifestyles, including some dietary regimens, such as the Mediterranean diet (MedDiet) and the Blue Zone (BZ) diets. MedDiet relies on a large consumption of fruit, vegetables, cereals, and extra-virgin olive oil, with less red meat and fat intake. Four major BZ have been recognized in the world, namely, Ogliastra in Sardinia (Italy), Ikaria (Greece), the Peninsula of Nicoya (Costa Rica), and Okinawa (Japan). Extreme longevity in these areas has been associated with correct lifestyles and dietary regimens...

BACKGROUND: The dysregulation of the innate immune system plays a crucial role in the development of Diabetic Retinopathy (DR). To gain an insight into the underlying mechanism of DR, it is essential to identify specific biomarkers associated with immune cell infiltration. METHODS: In this study, we retrieved the GSE94019 and GSE60436 datasets from the Gene Expression Omnibus (GEO) database. By utilizing CIBERSORT, MCPcounter, and xCell algorithms, we conducted a comprehensive analysis of the immune cell infiltration landscape in DR...

Panax ginseng is one of the most important remedies in ancient Eastern medicine. In the modern Western world, its reputation started to grow towards the end of the XIX century, but the rather approximate understanding of action mechanisms did not provide sufficient information for an appropriate use. Nowadays, Panax ginseng is frequently used in some pathological conditions, but the comprehension of its potential beneficial effects is still incomplete. The purpose of this study is to highlight the most recent knowledge on mechanisms and effects of ginseng active ingredients on the intestinal microbiota...

Coronavirus disease-2019 (COVID-19) is a respiratory disease in which Spike protein from SARS-CoV-2 plays a key role in transferring virus genomic code into target cells. Spike protein, which is found on the surface of the SARS-CoV-2 virus, latches onto angiotensin-converting enzyme 2 receptors (ACE2r) on target cells. The RNA genome of coronaviruses, with an average length of 29 kb, is the longest among all RNA viruses and comprises six to ten open reading frames (ORFs) responsible for encoding replicase and structural proteins for the virus...

Gestational Diabetes Mellitus (GDM) is a common endocrine condition associated with adverse pregnancy outcomes. In recent years, a growing number of risk factors associated with gestational diabetes mellitus have been defined. GDM poses a serious threat to maternal health. The etiology is complex and multifactorial and can be divided into inherent and modifiable factors. The inherent factors have been described in other literature, while the modifiable factors are mainly the risk of lifestyle habits. In this study, we performed a narrative review of the progress of risk factors associated with gestational diabetes mellitus...

BACKGROUND: Compared to Immediate-Release (IR) metformin, Extended-Release (ER) metformin reduces side effects and pill burden while improving adherence; however, there is little real-life data on patient satisfaction with this innovative formulation to guide physicians toward a more holistic approach. OBJECTIVE: Our goal is to train general practitioners on holistic patient management, with the aim of increasing patient satisfaction and treatment adherence, reducing side effects, and improving quality of life in patients with poor tolerance to metformin-IR...

Although the Mediterranean Diet (MedDiet) may appear simple and locally inspired based on the provided definitions, mounting evidence reveals that adopting a dietary pattern aligned with MedDiet principles can yield numerous health benefits. Also, the MedDiet stands as the gold standard in preventive medicine, so it is not a simplistic diet centered around specific ingredients or cooking methods; instead, it emerges from a distinctive way of life (lifestyle) inherent to the Mediterranean region. This lifestyle encapsulates essential components of a balanced diet and life, including frugality and moderation in food consumption, the utilization of seasonal and traditional products, a focus on locally sourced, eco-friendly, and biodiverse items, personal engagement in culinary preparation, the emphasis on conviviality and social activities during meal consumption, regular engagement in physical activity, adequate hydration, and sufficient rest...

BACKGROUND: The most aggressive form of breast cancer (BC) is Triple-Negative BC (TNBC), with the poorest prognosis, accounting for nearly 15% of all cases. Since there is no effective treatment, novel strategies, especially targeted therapies, are essential to treat TNBC. Exosomes are nano-sized microvesicles derived from cells and transport various intracellular cargoes, including microRNAs (miRNAs). MiRNAs, small non-coding RNA, are an influential factor in the development of cancerous transformations in cells...

BACKGROUND: Obesity-linked insulin resistance (IR) is an important risk factor for metabolic diseases, and anthropometric indices are commonly used for risk assessment. AIM: The study aimed to assess possible differences between women and men in the predictive value and association of nine obesity indices with IR, as assessed by HOMA-IR, in a nondiabetic adult population. METHODS: The cross-sectional study included individuals recruited from a hospital in Mexico City...

BACKGROUND: Adrenal Hypoplasia Congenita (AHC) is a rare subtype of primary adrenal insufficiency (PAI) that can go undiagnosed easily. In this article, we report two brothers with hypogonadotropic hypogonadism and novel mutations in the NR0B1 gene who were misdiagnosed and mismanaged as having congenital adrenal hypoplasia (CAH) for several years. CASE PRESENTATION: Herein, we describe two brothers with similar histories; first, they were diagnosed with CAH and treated for that; however, after several years, they showed symptoms of lack of testosterone despite receiving CAH treatment...

BACKGROUNDS: Postbiotics produced by gut microbiota have exhibited diverse pharmacological activities. Valeric acid, a postbiotic material produced by gut microbiota and some plant species like valerian, has been explored to have diverse pharmacological activities. METHODS: This narrative review aims to summarise the beneficial role of valeric acid for different health conditions along with its underlying mechanism. In order to get ample scientific evidence, various databases like Science Direct, PubMed, Scopus, Google Scholar and Google were exhaustively explored to collect relevant information...

BACKGROUND: This study reported a case of micropenis caused by a novel hemizygous mutation in the ADGRG2 gene, which aimed to expand the understanding of sexual dysplasia caused by ADGRG2 gene mutation. CASE PRESENTATION: We present the clinical data and genetic test results of a patient with micropenis admitted in September, 2022, to the Tongji Hospital. The patient was a 9-year-10- month-old male whose chief complaint was the presence of a short penis over a period of three years...

OBJECTIVE: The purpose of this study was to identify predictive and risk factors for the development of immune-related endocrinopathies and to analyze the incidence and characteristics of immune-related endocrinopathies in our population Design: A retrospective, single-centre cohort carried out at Gregorio Marañón Hospital between January 2018 -December 2019. METHODS: A total of 163 patients were enrolled. In January 2018 and December 2019, we treated patients who underwent ICI treatment in the Medical Oncology Department of General University Hospital Gregorio Marañón, a tertiary care public hospital in Madrid, as part of an observational, retrospective, single-center cohort study...

BACKGROUND: Gestational diabetes mellitus (GDM) is considered a risk factor for heart metabolic disorder in future mothers and offspring. Ferroptosis is a new type of programmed cell death, which may participate in the occurrence and development of GDM. OBJECTIVE: This study aims to identify ferroptosis-related genes in GDM by bioinformatics methods and to explore their clinical diagnostic value. METHODS: The dataset GSE103552 was analyzed using the Gene Expression Omnibus (GEO) database to screen for differentially expressed genes (DEGs) in GDM...

Thymus plays a crucial role in cellular immunity by acting as a warehouse for proliferating and differentiating lymphocytes. Thymic stromal cells educate T-cells to differentiate self from non-self antigens while nurse cells and thymoproteasome play a major role in the maturation and differentiation of T-cells. The thymic conditions dictate T-cells to cope with the risk of cancer development. A study was designed to demonstrate potential mechanisms behind the failure to eliminate tumors and impaired immune surveillance as well as the impact of delay in thymus regression on cancer and autoimmune disorders...

BACKGROUND: The Mediterranean diet, listed as the intangible cultural heritage of humanity by UNESCO, is known as healthy and consumed worldwide. The Japanese diet is also listed and considered healthy. This narrative review compares the Mediterranean diet with its Japanese counterpart. DISCUSSION: Research has reported that people in Mediterranean regions, such as Italy and Greece, have one-third of the mortality ratio from cardiovascular diseases compared to people in the United States and Northern Europe because of the difference in eating habits...

BACKGROUND: The prevalence of diabetes is rapidly increasing in India, even among young adult individuals. Rare adiponectin gene (ADIPOQ) variants may be predominantly present in Indians and decrease the circulatory levels of APN (Adiponectin). Studies reported that ADIPOQ gene variants were associated with type 2 diabetes mellitus (T2DM) and its complications in the Indian population. OBJECTIVES: To review the association of specific ADIPOQ gene variants with T2DM and its associated complications...

The respiratory illness known as COVID-19 is caused by the novel coronavirus, SARS-CoV-2. While the precise pathogenic mechanism of COVID-19 remains unclear, the occurrence of a cytokine storm subsequent to viral infection plays a pivotal role in the initiation and advancement of the disease. The infection of SARS-CoV-2 induces a state of immune system hyperactivity, leading to an excessive production of inflammatory cytokines. Consequently, the identification of the various signaling pathways implicated in the inflammation induced by COVID-19 will enable researchers to investigate new targets for therapeutic intervention...