Vitamin D deficiency may stimulate fibroblasts in Dupuytren ́s disease via mitochondrial increased reactive oxygen species through upregulating transforming growth factor-β1
Dupuytren ’s disease, a benign fibroproliferative disorder of the palmar fascia, represents an ideal model to study tissue fibrosis. Transforming growth factor-β1 (TGF-β1) and its downstream Smad signaling system is well established as a keyplayer during fibrogenesis. Vitamin D has been extensively studie d as an anti-fibrotic agent in malignant chronic diseases. A number of studies have shown that myofibroblasts are main target cells of 1,25(OH)2D3 inhibitory action. The myofibroblast in the palmar aponeurosis of patients in different stages of Dupuytren’s disease was found by electron microscopy to contain a large ...
Source: Medical Hypotheses - April 17, 2018 Category: Biomedical Science Authors: Harun Seyhan, Jan-Phillip Stromps, Erhan Demir, Paul C. Fuchs, J ürgen Kopp Source Type: research
The electronics in fluorescent bulbs and light emitting diodes (LED), rather than ultraviolet radiation, cause increased malignant melanoma incidence in indoor office workers and tanning bed users
The epidemiology of cutaneous malignant melanoma (CMM) has a number of facets that don't fit with sunlight and ultraviolet light as the primary etiologic agents. Indoor workers have higher incidence and mortality rates of CMM than outdoor workers; CMM occurs in body locations never exposed to sunlight; CMM incidence is increasing in spite of use of UV blocking agents and small changes in solar radiation.Installation of two new fluorescent lights in the milking parlor holding area of a Minnesota dairy farm in 2015 caused an immediate drop in milk production. (Source: Medical Hypotheses)
Source: Medical Hypotheses - April 17, 2018 Category: Biomedical Science Authors: Samuel Milham, Dave Stetzer Source Type: research
Neuromuscular taping reduces blood pressure in systemic arterial hypertension
Systemic arterial hypertension, a well-known cause of morbidity, is associated with dysfunction of the autonomic nervous system. Neuromuscular taping (also known as kinesio taping, medical taping and Vendje neuromuscular) allows movement and muscle activity to treat pain, muscle disorders and lymphoedema, in which its mode of action may involve muscular stimulation leading to increased local blood circulation or stimulating dermatological, muscular and fascial structures with a form of passive massage. (Source: Medical Hypotheses)
Source: Medical Hypotheses - April 17, 2018 Category: Biomedical Science Authors: M. Shah, P.O.O. Julu, J.A. Monro, J. Coutinho, C. Ijeh, B.K. Puri Source Type: research
Telomere length, thyroid dysfunction/autoimmunity and parity
There may exist an association between thyroid dysfunction/autoimmunity and parity. Autoimmune thyroiditis shows some degree of telomere shortening. Parity was recently found to be associated with telomere shortening. We hypothesize that among the factors affecting the tentative association between parity and thyroid dysfunction/autoimmunity shortened telomeres' may also be implicated. This could also be another facet of the processes leading to autoimmune thyroiditis. (Source: Medical Hypotheses)
Source: Medical Hypotheses - April 17, 2018 Category: Biomedical Science Authors: Ioannis Ilias, Maria Alexiou, George Mastorakos Source Type: research
Blood cell disruption to significantly improve the Borrelia PCR detection sensitivity in borreliosis in humans
Lyme disease is the most frequently reported zoonotic tick-borne disease worldwide, and the number of infected humans is increasing. Lyme disease (or Lyme borreliosis) is an affection caused by the spirochete Borrelia burgdorferi, sensu lato. Lyme disease is also reported as a variety of misleading clinical symptomatologies. Infected patient ’s blood serology is the most currently test used for its diagnosis. However, serology has a low sensitivity, which ranges from 34% to 70%.Thus, there are numerous subsequent false-negative diagnoses despite an active clinical infection profile. (Source: Medical Hypotheses)
Source: Medical Hypotheses - April 15, 2018 Category: Biomedical Science Authors: Alexis Lacout, Yves Mone, Michel Franck, Pierre-Yves Marcy, Marie Mas, Francisco Veas, Christian Perronne Source Type: research
Blood Cell Disruption to Significantly Improve the Borrelia Pcr Detection Sensitivity in Borreliosis in Humans
Lyme disease is the most frequently reported zoonotic tick-borne disease worldwide, and the number of infected humans is increasing. Lyme disease (or Lyme borreliosis) is an affection caused by the spirochete Borrelia burgdorferi, sensu lato. Lyme disease is also reported as a variety of misleading clinical symptomatologies. Infected patient ’s blood serology is the most currently test used for its diagnosis. However, serology has a low sensitivity, which ranges from 34 % to 70%.Thus, there are numerous subsequent false-negative diagnoses despite an active clinical infection profile. (Source: Medical Hypotheses)
Source: Medical Hypotheses - April 15, 2018 Category: Biomedical Science Authors: Alexis Lacout, Yves Mone, Michel Franck, Pierre-Yves Marcy, Marie Mas, Francisco Veas, Christian Perronne Source Type: research
Blastocystis subtypes and their association with Irritable Bowel Syndrome
Blastocystis spp. is a common intestinal protozoan that affects humans and animals. The role of this parasite as a pathogen is still controversial and it is suspected to be linked to Irritable Bowel Syndrome (IBS), a functional bowel disorder characterized by chronic or recurrent abdominal pain associated with altered intestinal habits. A broad search in electronic databases, libraries, portals of journals, etc. for reports on the association between the parasite and IBS without language restriction was performed. (Source: Medical Hypotheses)
Source: Medical Hypotheses - April 13, 2018 Category: Biomedical Science Authors: Susana Cifre, M ónica Gozalbo, Vicente Ortiz, José M. Soriano, J. Francisco Merino, María Trelis Source Type: research
Pathways from epigenomics and glycobiology towards novel biomarkers of addiction and its radical cure
The recent demonstration that addiction-relevant neuronal ensembles defined by known master transcription factors and their connectome is networked throughout mesocorticolimbic reward circuits and resonates harmonically at known frequencies implies that single-cell pan-omics techniques can improve our understanding of Substance Use Disorders (SUD ’s). Application of machine learning algorithms to such data could find diagnostic utility as biomarkers both to define the presence of the disorder and to quantitate its severity and find myriad applications in a developmental pipeline towards therapeutics and cure. (Source: Medical Hypotheses)
Source: Medical Hypotheses - April 12, 2018 Category: Biomedical Science Authors: Albert Stuart Reece, Wei Wang, Gary Kenneth Hulse Source Type: research
What about novel pathogenetic mechanisms in Multiple Sclerosis? The emerging role of mitochondria
It has been recently found that mitochondrial dysfunction may be considered as an important component of human Multiple Sclerosis (MS) lesions, playing a key role in the loss of oligodendrocytes and axons, besides other possible causal pathogenetic mechanisms [1]. Amongst these mechanisms, oxidative stress is believed to have an important role in MS pathogenesis, and therefore oxidative stress may be an effective target for MS treatment [2]. Indeed, antioxidants have been demonstrated to be effective in suppressing MS inflammation [3]. (Source: Medical Hypotheses)
Source: Medical Hypotheses - April 12, 2018 Category: Biomedical Science Authors: Simona Portaro, Antonino Naro, Vincenzo Cimino, Rocco Salvatore Calabr ò Source Type: research
Assessing whether progesterone-matured dendritic cells are responsible for retention of fertilization products in missed abortion
We hypothesize that progesterone causes tolerogenic maturation of myeloid dendritic cells (DCs) in human decidua of threatened miscarriage or missed abortion characterized by a distinct phenotype and cytokine production, including reduction of the main NK cell proliferation and cytotoxic factor interleukin (IL)-15. During DC/NK cell interaction, progesterone-shaped DCs cannot efficiently multiply or equip NK cells with the cytotoxic mediators peforin and granulysin, which might harm trophoblasts and induce abortion. (Source: Medical Hypotheses)
Source: Medical Hypotheses - April 12, 2018 Category: Biomedical Science Authors: Gordana Laskarin, Tamara Gulic, Lana Glavan Gacanin, Marin Dominovic, Herman Haller, Daniel Rukavina Source Type: research
Treatment of Anorexia Nervosa with Palmitoylethanoamide
This hypothesis is grounded on evidence that the endocannabinoid system (ECS) is intimately involved in the pathogenesis of anorexia nervosa (AN). The premise for suggesting that palmitoylethanoamide (PEA), which is a commercially available nutraceutical could ameliorate these disorders, is based the parable of the drunkard who is searching tirelessly under a streetlamp in the nighttime. A policeman approaches, and asks what he has lost. “My keys” he answers, and so the policeman helps him search. (Source: Medical Hypotheses)
Source: Medical Hypotheses - April 12, 2018 Category: Biomedical Science Authors: Barbara Scolnick Source Type: research
Why is vitamin B6 effective in alleviating the symptoms of autism?
Many factors are reported to be involved in the complex pathophysiological processes of autism, suggesting that there is considerable variability in the manifestations of this disease. Several interventions are used to treat this disorder. Among them, vitamin B6 is widely used to treat the symptoms observed in autism. Vitamin B6 is beneficial for about half of autistic individuals in decreasing behavioral problems. However, until now, it remains unknown why vitamin B6 is effective for this disease. (Source: Medical Hypotheses)
Source: Medical Hypotheses - April 12, 2018 Category: Biomedical Science Authors: Kohji Sato Source Type: research
Pathways from Epigenomics and Glycobiology towards Novel Biomarkers of Addiction and its Radical Cure
The recent demonstration that addiction-relevant neuronal ensembles defined by known master transcription factors and their connectome is networked throughout mesocorticolimbic reward circuits and resonates harmonically at known frequencies implies that single-cell pan-omics techniques can improve our understanding of Substance Use Disorders (SUD's). Application of machine learning algorithms to such data could find diagnostic utility as biomarkers both to define the presence of the disorder and to quantitate its severity and find myriad applications in a developmental pipeline towards therapeutics and cure. (Source: Medical Hypotheses)
Source: Medical Hypotheses - April 12, 2018 Category: Biomedical Science Authors: Albert Stuart Reece, Wei Wang, Gary Kenneth Hulse Source Type: research
Assessing whether progesterone-matured dendritic cells are responsible for retention of fertilization products in missed abortion
We hypothesize that progesterone causes tolerogenic maturation of myeloid dendritic cells (DCs) in human decidua of threatened miscarriage or missed abortion characterized by a distinct phenotype and cytokine production, including reduction of the main NK cell proliferation and cytotoxic factor interleukin (IL)-15. During DC/NK cell interaction, progesterone-shaped DCs cannot efficiently multiply or equip NK cells with the cytotoxic mediators peforin and granulysin, which might harm trophoblasts and induce abortion. (Source: Medical Hypotheses)
Source: Medical Hypotheses - April 12, 2018 Category: Biomedical Science Authors: Gordana Laskarin, Tamara Gulic, Lana Glavan Gacanin, Marin Dominovic, Herman Haller, Daniel Rukavina Source Type: research
