Journal of Cellular and Molecular Immunology

As the soft tissue- air interface is virtually impenetrable to ultrasound, its utility for evaluating lung pathologies was historically thought to be unfeasible [1]. However, the observation of different artifacts and novel research into their interpretations has helped transform this dogma and develop lung ultrasound as a valuable diagnostic tool in pulmonary diseases.

Many drugs are effective systemically, but slow onset of non-intravenous routes of administration may limit their clinical utility. While anesthesiologists usually have intravenous (IV) access for drug delivery, other healthcare professionals in less controlled situations such as acute crises in the emergency room, critical care settings, or urgent needs in the community, may need non-invasive drug delivery [1].

Background: Breast cancer remains a major global health burden despite therapeutic advances, necessitating further innovations to address persistent challenges like therapeutic resistance, adverse effects, and mortality in subgroups. Emerging technologies offer promising opportunities in this regard through data-driven, precise, and personalized approaches.

Mesenchymal stem cells (MSCs) are widely used in regenerative medicine. They can be isolated from different adult tissues. However, the regenerative potential of MSCs obtained from various sources and from different age donors may significantly differ.

Aspirin (acetylsalicylic acid), a non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drug, inhibits cyclooxygenases (COX-1 and COX-2), which catalyze the conversion of arachidonic acid to prostaglandins. In control environments, low-dose aspirin (75 mg or 81 mg) inhibits COX-1 and disrupts the production of thromboxane, reducing platelet aggregation

The action potential (AP) in cardiac tissue is important for initiating and coordinating contractions in the heart. In addition, the long refractory period minimizes the potential for developing extrasystoles and arrhythmias. The AP is generated by coordinate changes in different ionic currents. In human (or canine) adult ventricular cells, the depolarization phase of the AP is mainly through the influx of Na+ and Ca2+ through specific voltage gated channels.

Our paper entitled “Discussing diabetes, palliative care and end of life care: choosing the right language” reports a core aspect of our research program, which focuses on older people with diabetes, palliative and end of life care for people with diabetes, and the effect of language on clear communication, that commenced in 2009 [1]. 

The incorporation of patient-reported outcomes (PROs) is essential for assessing whether a cancer treatment enhances overall patient well-being, beyond merely extending survival. This scoping review aimed to identify and analyze the use of PROs in ovarian cancer clinical trials.

Today, both type 1 and type 2 diabetes mellitus affect 33.3 million people in the United States and nearly 500 million adults worldwide, and there is concern that this number may increase steadily in the future. Previous studies have linked the development of type 2 diabetes to multiple lifestyle factors, including physical activity level and diet, and biological characteristics, such as body composition, age, and race; however, current research suggests that gender may also have an impact on one’s risk of developing type 2 diabetes. Variations in type 2 diabetes diagnosis, prevalence, and progression have been found between males and females.

In many metazoan tissues, highly specialized cells are constantly lost and need to be replaced by tissue homeostasis from adult stem cells. When adult stem cells divide by mitosis their daughter cells either become new stem cells, or enter a proliferation and differentiation path. Recent studies in Drosophila males showed that germline stem cells (GSCs) can increase their mitotic activity in response to repeated mating.

Depression is one of the most common comorbidities of chronic diseases including diabetes and obstructive lung diseases (emphysema, chronic bronchitis, and asthma). Obstructive lung diseases and depression have few symptoms in common. However, they are both common in adults and associated with chronic inflammation. It is not clear if their coappearance in diabetic patients is coincidental or associated beyond that expected by chance.

Examining BRCA mutations in preoperative breast cancer patients is very important when selecting a surgical procedure. Although there are advantages and disadvantages associated with knowing about the presence of genetic mutations, including for the patient’s family, there are many benefits for the patient. BRCA genetic testing should be recommended for patients who are strongly suspected of being positive for a BRCA mutation. 

Liver masses account for 5 to 6% of pediatric cancer, which includes hepatoblastoma (HBL) along with rare cases of hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC). The most dangerous form of pediatric liver cancer is aggressive HBL, which can be characterized by chemo-resistance and multiple nodules or metastases at diagnosis, all correlating with worse clinical prognosis. Despite intensive studies and a significant improvement in overall outcomes, very little is known about the key molecular pathways which determine the aggressiveness of pediatric liver cancer.

The recent pandemic of SARS-CoV-2 has emerged as a health emergency to develop effective therapeutic strategies for restricting deadly disease, COVID-19. SARS-CoV-2 infects cells by the endocytosis process via receptor-mediated binding and priming by cellular proteases.

There is a striking likeness between an old model for the action of mobile genetic elements in Maize and recent observations on endogenous retroviruses in human Multiple Sclerosis. Nexø discussed this and other developments in his recent theory on autoimmunity. Specifically, in analogy to the onc genes Nexø suggest that insertion of a retrovirus activates a so-called aut gene. This aut gene may well be an EBV genome. 

The protein hormone adiponectin regulates glucose and fatty acid metabolism by binding to two PAQR-family receptors (AdipoR1 and AdipoR2). Both receptors feature a C-terminal segment which is released by proteolysis to form a freely circulating C-terminal fragment (CTF) found in the plasma of normal individuals but not in some undefined diabetes patients.

Stem cell therapy for the treatment of cerebral palsy is a rapidly expanding area of research that has been identified as a high priority by consumers. There are several types and sources of stem cell therapies under investigation. Stem cell treatments proposed for cerebral palsy are believed to provide benefit via some or all of the following mechanisms including immunomodulation, paracrine signaling and supporting endogenous reparative processes.

This commentary focuses on two recent publications showing deregulation of the transcription factor Slug/Snail2 and TGF-β function in primary bronchial basal/progenitor cells of patients with Chronic Obstructive Pulmonary Disease (COPD) and the impact on proliferation and the expression of genes involved in stem cell maintenance. We discuss the molecular mechanisms related to the exhaustion of airway basal stem/progenitor cells in tobacco smoke-induced COPD, as well as putative links between COPD and lung cancer at the molecular level.

Sleeve gastrectomy is the most common bariatric surgery worldwide. However, such a surgery caries risk of complications associated with morbidity and mortality. Gastric leak can occur and represents one of the most severe complications following sleeve gastrectomy. Since the two last decades, regenerative medicine has emerged, offering new strategies to face to sleeve gastrectomy complications.

Acute myeloid leukemia (AML) is characterized by multiple molecular and cytogenetic abnormalities, with increasing data to support clinical and prognostic implications to guide clinical decision making. One of the most well described mutations involves fms-like tyrosine kinase 3 (FLT3) that results in a constitutively active tyrosine kinase and is generally associated with poor prognosis involving shorter overall survival and higher rates of relapse.