Recent advances in understanding schizophrenia.
This article aims to summarize and explain recent advancements in research on schizophrenia, to suggest how these recent discoveries may lead to a better understanding and possible further development of effective therapies, and to highlight the paradigm shifts that have taken place in our understanding of the diagnosis, etiopathology, and treatment.
PMID: 25184047 [PubMed] (Source: F1000 Medicine Reports)
Source: F1000 Medicine Reports - December 1, 2014 Category: Biomedical Science Tags: F1000Prime Rep Source Type: research
Management of tricuspid regurgitation.
Authors: De Bonis M, Taramasso M, Lapenna E, Alfieri O
Abstract
Secondary tricuspid regurgitation is the most frequent type of tricuspid insufficiency in western countries. Its surgical treatment is still an object of debate both in terms of timing and surgical techniques. Until recently, the avoidance of surgery for tricuspid repair was commonly accepted in patients with less than severe secondary tricuspid regurgitation undergoing left-sided valve surgery. More recently, compelling evidence in favour of a more aggressive surgical approach in this setting has emerged. The surgical technique should be tail...
Source: F1000 Medicine Reports - December 1, 2014 Category: Biomedical Science Tags: F1000Prime Rep Source Type: research
Pathogenesis and prognostication in acute lymphoblastic leukemia.
Authors: Zuckerman T, Rowe JM
Abstract
The process of lymphoid maturation is tightly controlled by the hierarchical activation of transcription factors and selection through functional signal transduction. Acute lymphoblastic leukemia (ALL) represents a group of B/T-precursor-stage lymphoid cell malignancies arising from genetic alterations that block lymphoid differentiation and drive aberrant cell proliferation and survival. With recent advances in next-generation sequencing, we are discovering new mutations affecting normal lymphopoiesis and the significance of cooperating mutations, as well as epigenet...
Source: F1000 Medicine Reports - December 1, 2014 Category: Biomedical Science Tags: F1000Prime Rep Source Type: research
Leptin signaling.
Authors: Park HK, Ahima RS
Abstract
Leptin is secreted by adipose tissue and regulates energy homeostasis, glucose and lipid metabolism, immune function, and other systems. The binding of leptin to its specific receptor activates various intracellular signaling pathways, including Janus kinase 2 (JAK2)/ signal transducer and activator of transcription 3 (STAT3), insulin receptor substrate (IRS)/phosphatidylinositol 3 kinase (PI3K), SH2-containing protein tyrosine phosphatase 2 (SHP2)/mitogen-activated protein kinase (MAPK), and 5' adenosine monophosphate-activated protein kinase (AMPK)/ acetyl-CoA carboxyl...
Source: F1000 Medicine Reports - December 1, 2014 Category: Biomedical Science Tags: F1000Prime Rep Source Type: research
Membrane tethering.
Authors: Chia PZ, Gleeson PA
Abstract
Membrane trafficking depends on transport vesicles and carriers docking and fusing with the target organelle for the delivery of cargo. Membrane tethers and small guanosine triphosphatases (GTPases) mediate the docking of transport vesicles/carriers to enhance the efficiency of the subsequent SNARE (soluble N-ethylmaleimide-sensitive factor attachment protein receptor)-mediated fusion event with the target membrane bilayer. Different classes of membrane tethers and their specific intracellular location throughout the endomembrane system are now well defined. Recent bio...
Source: F1000 Medicine Reports - December 1, 2014 Category: Biomedical Science Tags: F1000Prime Rep Source Type: research
Known unknowns for allele-specific expression and genomic imprinting effects.
Authors: Gregg C
Abstract
Recent studies have provided evidence for non-canonical imprinting effects that are associated with allele-specific expression biases at the tissue level in mice. These imprinting effects have features that are distinct from canonical imprinting effects that involve allele silencing. Here, I discuss some of the evidence for non-canonical imprinting effects in the context of random X-inactivation and epigenetic allele-specific expression effects on the autosomes. I propose several mechanisms that may underlie non-canonical imprinting effects and outline future directions and approa...
Source: F1000 Medicine Reports - December 1, 2014 Category: Biomedical Science Tags: F1000Prime Rep Source Type: research
Histone modifications and a choice of variant: a language that helps the genome express itself.
Authors: Gurard-Levin ZA, Almouzni G
Abstract
Covalent post-translational modifications on histones impact chromatin structure and function. Their misfunction, along with perturbations or mutations in genes that regulate their dynamic status, has been observed in several diseases. Thus, targeting histone modifications represents attractive opportunities for therapeutic intervention and biomarker discovery. The best approach to address this challenge is to paint a comprehensive picture integrating the growing number of modifications on individual residues and their combinatorial association, the correspondi...
Source: F1000 Medicine Reports - December 1, 2014 Category: Biomedical Science Tags: F1000Prime Rep Source Type: research
Prevention and management of pelvic organ prolapse.
Authors: Giarenis I, Robinson D
Abstract
Pelvic organ prolapse is a highly prevalent condition in the female population, which impairs the health-related quality of life of affected individuals. Despite the lack of robust evidence, selective modification of obstetric events or other risk factors could play a central role in the prevention of prolapse. While the value of pelvic floor muscle training as a preventive treatment remains uncertain, it has an essential role in the conservative management of prolapse. Surgical trends are currently changing due to the controversial issues surrounding the use of mes...
Source: F1000 Medicine Reports - December 1, 2014 Category: Biomedical Science Tags: F1000Prime Rep Source Type: research
Advances in managing ankylosing spondylitis.
Authors: Daikh DI, Chen PP
Abstract
Ankylosing spondylitis (AS) is a chronic inflammatory disease with prominent involvement of the spine and sacroiliac joints which frequently leads to significant spine deformity and disability. The development of effective therapies for AS, particularly with anti-tumor necrosis factor agents, has resulted in improved symptoms and functions for many patients, and clinical research increasingly suggests that effective therapy can also prevent destruction in the spine and other structures. Recent focus of disease classification in AS has emphasized that many individuals wit...
Source: F1000 Medicine Reports - December 1, 2014 Category: Biomedical Science Tags: F1000Prime Rep Source Type: research
Opioid-induced respiratory depression: reversal by non-opioid drugs.
Authors: van der Schier R, Roozekrans M, van Velzen M, Dahan A, Niesters M
Abstract
The human body is critically dependent on the ventilatory control system for adequate uptake of oxygen and removal of carbon dioxide (CO2). Potent opioid analgesics, through their actions on μ-opioid receptor (MOR) expressed on respiratory neurons in the brainstem, depress ventilation. Opioid-induced respiratory depression (OIRD) is potentially life threatening and the cause of substantial morbidity and mortality. One possible way of prevention of OIRD is by adding a respiratory stimulant to the opioid treatment, which thr...
Source: F1000 Medicine Reports - December 1, 2014 Category: Biomedical Science Tags: F1000Prime Rep Source Type: research
Carbapenemase-producing Klebsiella pneumoniae.
Authors: Robilotti E, Deresinski S
Abstract
The continuing emergence of infections due to multidrug resistant bacteria is a serious public health problem. Klebsiella pneumoniae, which commonly acquires resistance encoded on mobile genetic elements, including ones that encode carbapenemases, is a prime example. K. pneumoniae carrying such genetic material, including both blaKPC and genes encoding metallo-β-lactamases, have spread globally. Many carbapenemase-producing K. pneumoniae are resistant to multiple antibiotic classes beyond β-lactams, including tetracyclines, aminoglycosides, and fluoroquinolones...
Source: F1000 Medicine Reports - December 1, 2014 Category: Biomedical Science Tags: F1000Prime Rep Source Type: research
Epidemiology of invasive fungal diseases on the basis of autopsy reports.
This article reviews and analyzes the data on IFD obtained from 11 single-center, multi-center and nationwide autopsy reports published between 2008 and 2013, and also discusses the issues we need to address in order to improve the quality of the epidemiological data on invasive fungal disease obtained from autopsy reports.
PMID: 25343038 [PubMed] (Source: F1000 Medicine Reports)
Source: F1000 Medicine Reports - December 1, 2014 Category: Biomedical Science Tags: F1000Prime Rep Source Type: research
Recent advances in our understanding of Streptococcus pneumoniae infection.
Authors: Feldman C, Anderson R
Abstract
A number of significant challenges remain with regard to the diagnosis, treatment, and prevention of infections with Streptococcus pneumoniae (pneumococcus), which remains the most common bacterial cause of community-acquired pneumonia. Although this infection is documented to be extremely common in younger children and in older adults, the burden of pneumonia it causes is considerably underestimated, since the incidence statistics are derived largely from bacteremic infections, because they are easy to document, and yet the greater burden of pneumococcal pneumonias ...
Source: F1000 Medicine Reports - December 1, 2014 Category: Biomedical Science Tags: F1000Prime Rep Source Type: research
Recent advances in the understanding of acute kidney injury.
Authors: Tögel F, Westenfelder C
Abstract
Acute kidney injury (AKI) is a common clinical entity associated with high morbidity and mortality and clinical costs. The pathophysiology is multifaceted and involves inflammation, tubular injury, and vascular damage. Recently identified components include necroptosis, a special form of cell death, and autophagy. Most of the pathophysiological knowledge is obtained from animal models but these do not directly reflect the reality of the clinical situation. Tubular cells have a remarkable capacity to regenerate, and the role of stem/progenitor cells is discussed. A...
Source: F1000 Medicine Reports - December 1, 2014 Category: Biomedical Science Tags: F1000Prime Rep Source Type: research
Spinal cord injury - there is not just one way of treating it.
Authors: Estrada V, Müller HW
Abstract
In the last century, research in the field of spinal cord trauma has brought insightful knowledge which has led to a detailed understanding of mechanisms that are involved in injury- and recovery-related processes. The quest for a cure for the yet generally incurable condition as well as the exponential rise in gained information has brought about the development of numerous treatment approaches while at the same time the abundance of data has become quite unmanageable. Owing to an enormous amount of preclinical therapeutic approaches, this report highlights importan...
Source: F1000 Medicine Reports - December 1, 2014 Category: Biomedical Science Tags: F1000Prime Rep Source Type: research
