• IMMUNE NETWORK
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• v.21 no.1
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• pp.1.1-1.16
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• 2021

The emergence of a new severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2) pandemic has become a significant health concern worldwide. Undoubtedly, a better understanding of the innate and adaptive immune responses against SARS-CoV-2 and its relationship with the coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) pathogenesis will be the sole basis for developing and applying therapeutics. This review will summarize the published results that relate to innate immune responses against infections with human coronaviruses including SARS-CoV-1 and SARS-CoV-2 in both humans and animal models. The topics encompass the innate immune sensing of the virus to the dysregulation of various innate immune cells during infection and disease progression.

• IMMUNE NETWORK
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• v.16 no.3
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• pp.147-158
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• 2016

The liver lies at the intersection of multiple metabolic pathways and consequently plays a central role in lipid metabolism. Pathological disturbances in hepatic lipid metabolism are characteristic of chronic metabolic diseases, such as obesity-mediated insulin resistance, which can result in nonalcoholic fatty liver disease (NAFLD). Tissue damage induced in NAFLD activates and recruits liver-resident and non-resident immune cells, resulting in nonalcoholic steatohepatitis (NASH). Importantly, NASH is associated with an increased risk of significant clinical sequelae such as cirrhosis, cardiovascular diseases, and malignancies. In this review, we describe the immunopathogenesis of NASH by defining the known functions of immune cells in the progression and resolution of disease.

• Molecules and Cells
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• v.47 no.2
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• pp.100010.1-100010.12
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• 2024

Recently, the incidence of metabolic dysfunction-associated steatotic liver disease (MASLD) is increasing due to the high prevalence of metabolic conditions, such as obesity and type 2 diabetes mellitus. Steatotic liver is a hotspot for cancer metastasis in MASLD. Altered lipid metabolism, a hallmark of MASLD, remodels the tissue microenvironment, making it conducive to the growth of metastatic liver cancer. Tumors exacerbate the dysregulation of hepatic metabolism by releasing extracellular vesicles and particles into the liver. Altered lipid metabolism influences the proliferation, differentiation, and functions of immune cells, contributing to the formation of an immunosuppressive and metastasis-prone liver microenvironment in MASLD. This review discusses the mechanisms by which the steatotic liver promotes liver metastasis progression, focusing on its role in fostering an immunosuppressive microenvironment in MASLD. Furthermore, this review highlights lipid metabolism manipulation strategies for the therapeutic management of metastatic liver cancer.

• Korean Circulation Journal
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• v.52 no.10
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• pp.721-736
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• 2022

Aortic stenosis (AS) is one of the most common valvular heart diseases and the number of patients with AS is expected to increase globally as the older population is growing fast. Since the majority of patients are elderly, AS is no longer a simple valvular heart disease of left ventricular outflow obstruction but is accompanied by other cardiac and comorbid conditions. Because of the significant variations of the disease, identifying patients at high risk and even earlier detection of patients with AS before developing symptomatic severe AS is becoming increasingly important. With the proven of efficacy and safety of transcatheter aortic valve replacement (TAVR) in the severe AS population, there is a growing interest in applying TAVR in those with less than severe AS. A medical therapy to reduce or prevent the progression in AS is actively investigated by several randomized control trials. In this review, we will summarize the most recent findings in AS and discuss potential future management strategies of patients with AS.

• The Korean Journal of Medicine
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• v.99 no.2
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• pp.61-68
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• 2024

Chronic Kidney Disease (CKD) is a major global health burden. Sodium-glucose cotransporter-2 (SGLT2) inhibitors have demonstrated potential in slowing CKD progression. We evaluated the expanding role of SGLT2 inhibitors, emphasizing their renoprotective benefits in diabetic and non-diabetic CKD patients. We also investigated the underlying mechanisms, including the reduction of glomerular hypertension via modulation of tubuloglomerular feedback. Our study critically analyzed current indications for SGLT2 inhibitor therapy based on recent clinical trial data. To optimize patient outcomes, we present a comprehensive analysis of practical considerations for the prescription of SGLT2 inhibitors, including the potential initial decline in the estimated glomerular filtration rate and a review of adverse events.

• Journal of Hospice and Palliative Care
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• v.22 no.1
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• pp.8-18
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• 2019

Purpose: This study was conducted to better understand the illness experiences and palliative care needs in community-dwelling persons with cardiometabolic diseases. Methods: This qualitative descriptive study was conducted with 11 patients (and three family members) among 28 patients contacted. Interviews were led by the principal investigator in her office or at participants' home depending on their preference. All interviews were digitally recorded and transcribed by a research assistant. The interviews were analyzed by two independent researchers using a conventional method. Results: Participants' ages ranged from 42 to 82 years (nine men and two women). Three themes were identified: (1) same disease, but different illness experiences; (2) I am in charge of my disease(s); (3) preparation for disease progression. Participants were informed of the name of their disease when they were diagnosed, but not provided with explanation of the diagnosis or meant or how to do self-care to delay the disease progression, which increased the feelings of uncertainty, hopelessness and anxiety. Taking medication was considered to be the primary treatment option and self-care a supplemental one. Advanced care plans were considered when they felt the progression of their disease(s) while refraining from sharing it with their family or health care professionals to save their concerns. All participants were willing to withhold life-sustaining treatment without making any preparation in writing. Conclusion: Education on self-care and advanced care planning should be provided to community-dwelling persons with cardiometabolic diseases. A patient-centered education program needs to be developed for this population.

• Asian Pacific Journal of Cancer Prevention
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• v.16 no.5
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• pp.1971-1976
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• 2015

Background: To evaluate our results in terms of response, survival and toxicity profile of sunitinib among Egyptian patients with metastatic renal cell carcinoma. Materials and Methods: Between January 2010 and December 2013, 44 patients with metastatic renal cell carcinoma who received sunitinib at an oncology center of Cairo university hospitals were enrolled in this retrospective analysis. Results: The median age of the patients was 53 years, 22 (50%) having localized disease at presentation, while the remaining half of the patients presented with metastasis. At a median follow up of 19 months, 9 (21%) patients achieved partial remission, while disease was reported stable in 20 cases (45%) and progressive in 7 (16%), 4 (9%) being lost to follow up, and 4 (9%) had discontinued therapy due to toxicity. The median overall survival was 23 months (95%CI 15.2 - 30.9), while progression free survival was 12 months (95%CI 11.6 - 12.3). The most commonly reported non hematological grade 3 adverse events included mucositis (15.9%), hand-foot syndrome (13.6%), and fatigue (9%), while the predominant grade 3 or 4 laboratory abnormalities were neutropenia (6.8%), followed by anemia in 4.5% of patients. Conclusions: Our efficacy data were comparable to the published literature in terms of progression free survival and overall survival, while toxicity profile is different from Asian and western countries. However, sunitinib adverse events were manageable and tolerable in most of our Egyptian patients.

• Journal of Periodontal and Implant Science
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• v.25 no.3
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• pp.648-658
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• 1995

The present study has been performed to evaluate the clinical, microbiological, biochemical and immunological parameters associated with the periodontal disease activity in adolescent periodontitis. 21 young adolescents with evidences of periodontal attachment loss participated in the study for upto 3 years of examination. Probing pocket depths and attachment levels of whole dentitions were annually recorded and 4 deepest pockets, with initial probing depth ${\geq}$ 4mm, were selected as the representative experimental sites of a patient. Sites experiencing attachment loss ${\geq}$ 1mm during the 3-year experimental period were designated as the active sites and these sites were examined for the microbiological and biochemical profiles at the time when attachment loss occurred. Microbiological assay included cultural studies and PerioScan for monitoring BANA(+) organisms(e.g. Porphyromonas gingivalis, Treponema denticola, Bacteriodes forsythus). Biochemical assay has been performed for monitoring GCF levels of neutral protease. Serum IgG and IgG2 titers against Porphyromonas gingivalis 381 were determined of a patients at the beginning and the end of the study, respectively for patient-based analysis. The results indicated that the parameters consisting of microbiological cultures and GCF neutral protease exhibited low association with the periodontal disease activity in adolescents. However, the specificity for microbiological culture of the selected periodontopathic organisms(Aa,Pg,Pi) were considerably high. Moreover, the clinical pameters such as bleeding on probing and presence of plaque as well as IgG levels against Pg at the baseline exminations were closely associated with the subsequent evidences of attachment loss during the whole experimental period(3-year).

• Asian Pacific Journal of Cancer Prevention
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• v.16 no.17
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• pp.7875-7882
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• 2015

Background: The objectives of this study were to evaluate the expression of brain and acute leukemia, cytoplasmic (BAALC) gene and erythroblast transformation-specific related gene (ERG) in de novo cases of acute myeloid leukemia (AML) and identify roles in disease progression and outcome. Materials and Methods: This study included 50 newly diagnosed AML patients, along with 10 apparently healthy normal controls. BAALC and ERG expression was detected in the bone marrow of both patients and controls using real-time RT-PCR. Results: BAALC and ERG expression was detected in 52% of cases but not in any controls. There was a statistically significant correlation between BAALC and ERG gene expression and age (p-value=0.004 and 0.019, respectively). No statistical significance was noted for sex, lymphadenopathy, hepatomegaly, splenomegaly, other hematological findings, immunophenotyping and FAB sub-classification except for ERG gene and FAB (p-value=0.058). A statistical significant correlation was found between response to treatment with ERG expression (p-value=0.028) and age (p-value=0.014). A statistically significant variation in overall survival was evident with patient age, BM blast cells, FAB subgroups, BAALC and ERG expression (p-value=<0.001, 0.045, 0.041, <0.008 and 0.025 respectively). Conclusions: Our results suggest that BAALC and ERG genes are specific significant molecular markers in AML disease progression, response to treatment and survival.

• Asian Pacific Journal of Cancer Prevention
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• v.15 no.4
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• pp.1627-1632
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• 2014

Background: Several studies indicated that the diagnosis season affects the prognosis of some cancers, such as examples in the prostate, colon and breast. This retrospective study aimed to investigate whether the diagnosis and recurrent season impacts the prognosis of epithelial ovarian cancer patients. Methods: From January 2005 to August 2010, 161 epithelial ovarian cancer patients were analyzed and followed up until August 2013. Kaplan-Meier survival curves and the log-rank test were used to make the survival analysis. Multivariate analysis was conducted to identify independent prognostic factors. Results: The prognostic factors of overall survival in epithelial ovarian cancer patients included age, clinical stage, pathological type, histological grade, residual disease after primary surgery, recurrent season and adjuvant chemotherapy cycles. Moreover, clinical stage, histological grade, residual disease after primary surgery, recurrent season and adjuvant chemotherapy cycles also impacted the progression-free survival of epithelial ovarian cancer patients. The diagnosis season did not have a significantly relationship with the survival of operable epithelial ovarian cancer patients. Median overall survival of patients with recurrent month from April to November was 47 months, which was longer (P < 0.001) than that of patients with recurrence month from December to March (19 months). Median progression-free survival of patients with recurrence month from April to November and December to March was 20 and 8 months, respectively (P < 0.001). Conclusion: The recurrence season impacts the survival of epithelial ovarian cancer patients. However, the diagnosed season does not appear to exert a significant influence.