Daily Med Bites

Dear Reader, welcome to the first post of this newsletter! Here’s a recap of the latest papers that have been published on pubmed yesterday.

Cancer research

Colorectal Cancer: Initial gut microbiota composition modulates iron supplementation effects on tumorigenesis. Pre-diagnosis plasma proteomic profiles predict colon cancer patient survival outcomes. Whole blood mRNA and microRNA expression correlates with circulating tumor cells and prognosis in metastatic CRC patients. Tumor-specific growth factor (TSGF) may predict CRC prognosis. Novel metabolic subtypes identified using serum metabolomics improve XELOX chemotherapy sensitivity prediction. Lymph node ratio-based modified N staging system offers better prognostic stratification for CRC compared to AJCC N stage. MIPD database integrates imaging, genetic, and clinical data to characterize tumor heterogeneity in CRC, advancing personalized treatment approaches. Source 1 Source 2 Source 3 Source 4 Source 5 Source 6 Source 7

Surgery for Gastric Cancer: Laparoscopic surgery for T4b gastric cancer with transverse colon or mesocolon invasion is feasible and associated with comparable outcomes to open surgery. Additionally, laparoscopic total gastrectomy achieves similar 'textbook outcomes' as open surgery, indicating equivalent quality and efficacy in gastric cancer treatment. Source 1 Source 2

Palliative Care: Myofascial pain is prevalent in head and neck cancer patients post-treatment, impacting quality of life. Higher symptom burden and unmet supportive care needs correlate with increased distress in advanced cancer patients. There is a critical need to develop outcome measures for pediatric palliative care services. Training nurses in palliative care can improve COPD patient outcomes. Low-income patients require additional support in palliative care, and qualitative research on treatment preferences is needed. Identifying high-risk groups for financial toxicity among lung cancer patients can help alleviate economic burdens. Community-based palliative care services vary widely and often lack specialized support, indicating a need for systemic improvements. Source 1 Source 2 Source 3 Source 4 Source 5 Source 6 Source 7

Cancer: SOX1 methylation is a promising biomarker for cervical cancer diagnosis. Moonlight2 framework integrates DNA methylation analysis to predict driver genes in cancer, offering prognostic and therapeutic insights. Source 1 Source 2

Cancer Biology: MicroRNAs are critical therapeutic targets and tools in precision oncology but face challenges like off-target effects and delivery issues. Additionally, hsa_circRNA_103809 (circ_0072088) is identified as a highly expressed circRNA in non-small cell lung cancer, promoting cancer progression by downregulating miR-1270 and targeting the TOP2A gene. Source 1 Source 2

Cancer: DET exhibits anti-cancer effects in NSCLC by inhibiting cancer cell growth. NDUFS8, a subunit of mitochondrial complex I, promotes tumorigenesis in NSCLC by enhancing energy production and reducing radioresistance. Silencing or knocking out NDUFS8 inhibits tumor growth and increases sensitivity to radiation therapy. Source 1 Source 2

Cancer Survivorship: Systematic monitoring of cancer survivorship care delivery improves patient outcomes. Focused attention on the unique challenges and long-term needs of pediatric cancer survivors is crucial during their transition to post-treatment life. Source 1 Source 2

Skin Cancer Diagnosis: A multimodal method using OCT and Raman spectroscopy differentiates melanoma from benign lesions noninvasively. Ex vivo LC-OCT provides high-quality images of cutaneous tumors correlating well with dermoscopy and histology, enhancing tumor understanding and surgical margin detection. Source 1 Source 2

Cancer Care: Mobile health interventions improve psychological well-being and health-related quality of life for breast cancer patients during the perioperative period. Digital technologies like online health communities and mobile apps benefit individuals with cancer in low- and middle-income countries by improving quality of life, reducing anxiety and depression, but further research is needed to fully understand their impact across different regions and cancer types. Source 1 Source 2

Virus research

Virus Replication: The cytoskeleton, RAB11A, and FIP2 are crucial for transporting and assembling viral ribonucleoprotein complexes during HPIV3 infection. Additionally, avipoxviruses use homologs of host RNA triphosphatase DUSP11 to suppress the immune response by reducing RNAPIII transcripts and 5'pppRNA-mediated activation, aiding in viral replication. Source 1 Source 2

Herpesviruses: KICS is a severe condition linked to HHV-8-induced immune dysregulation with high mortality. Host proteins DDX5 and DDX17 are required for KSHV and EBV lytic reactivation, suggesting they as potential targets for antiviral therapies. Source 1 Source 2

Surgery

Surgery and Nutrition: Higher cooking skills in individuals who have undergone MBS reduce consumption of ultra-processed foods. Robotic-assisted bariatric surgery is economically efficient compared to laparoscopic methods and reduces surgical team requirements. 5G remote robot-assisted gastrointestinal surgery has been successfully implemented, detailing its practical application and safety measures. In China, MBS should focus on treating morbid obesity, standardizing procedures, enhancing multidisciplinary collaboration, and aligning with international standards. Multidisciplinary support for MBS patients can be improved by addressing varying needs beyond the first postoperative year. Source 1 Source 2 Source 3 Source 4 Source 5 Source 6

Thrombocytopenia: Standardized transfusion guidelines can reduce excessive platelet transfusions in preterm neonates. Intravenous VPA increases risk of thrombocytopenia in children undergoing neurosurgical operations. T-ICAHT grading system standardizes assessment of CAR-T therapy-induced thrombocytopenia. Source 1 Source 2 Source 3

Miscellaneous

Sickle Cell Disease: Socio-economic and clinical factors influence pain episodes frequency in Ugandan patients with sickle cell disease. Pooled prevalence estimates and trends for sickle cell anemia in Sub-Saharan Africa are provided, addressing diagnostic inconsistencies and data gaps. Source 1 Source 2

PCOS: Vitamin D supplementation improves metabolic parameters in women with PCOS and may alleviate pain related to primary dysmenorrhea and endometriosis. Higher TyG index is associated with increased incidence of depression in PCOS patients. Key mitochondrial dysfunction-related genes are identified as potential diagnostic biomarkers and therapeutic targets for PCOS. Source 1 Source 2 Source 3 Source 4

Antibiotic Resistance: Salmonella and Shigella infections are prevalent with high antibiotic resistance in under-five children in Ethiopia. Antibiotic resistance among Salmonella Typhi and Paratyphi isolates has increased in India post-COVID-19, particularly showing ceftriaxone resistance and higher azithromycin MICs. Non-typhoidal Salmonella (NTS), Shiga toxin-producing E. coli (STEC), and Campylobacter infections vary by region and season in Ethiopia, with higher rates in rural areas during specific seasons. Source 1 Source 2 Source 3

Sepsis: Factors differentiating survival from mortality are identified, contributing to improved patient outcomes. A nomogram predicts sepsis-induced coagulopathy risk based on admission indicators and complications. Higher red cell distribution width to albumin ratio (RAR) is linked to increased short-term mortality in ICU patients with sepsis-associated delirium. Machine learning models predict ARDS risk using immune cell parameters and physiological data for early intervention. Five blood metabolites differentiate sepsis after trauma from SIRS, offering potential biomarkers for diagnosis. Higher mean corpuscular volume (MCV) is associated with increased mortality risk in sepsis patients. Source 1 Source 2 Source 3 Source 4 Source 5 Source 6

Atherosclerosis: Resveratrol exerts anti-atherosclerotic effects by modulating glycolysis in endothelial cells. Source 1

Inflammation and Neurodegeneration: IAA94 inhibits NLRP3 inflammasome-mediated liver inflammation during sepsis. Inhibiting the NLRP3 inflammasome shows promise as a therapeutic approach for Parkinson's disease by reducing associated inflammation. Reducing Major Histocompatibility Complex Class II (MHCII) in immune cells protects against dopaminergic degeneration, indicating potential neuroprotective effects in Parkinson's disease. Source 1 Source 2 Source 3

Primary Care Teams: High-performing teams with skills in quality improvement and practice transformation improve patient outcomes, particularly in underserved communities. Bedside interdisciplinary rounds enhance care quality, team communication, and patient satisfaction. Source 1 Source 2

Parkinson's Disease: Serum markers and neuroimaging changes are associated with depression in Parkinson's patients. Diffusion MRI identifies brain microstructural markers that correlate with improved motor outcomes following STN-DBS treatment. Source 1 Source 2

Mesenchymal Stem Cells: MSCs-sEVs protect the blood-brain barrier after ischemic stroke. MSCs and their EVs have potential in promoting longevity and treating age-related diseases. Adipose-derived MSC EVs enhance limbal epithelial cell colony formation through specific microRNAs. Source 1 Source 2 Source 3

Sleep Research: Mean alpha and delta wave power values can identify major depressive disorder. A new EEG-derived chronotype indicator links sleep quality, circadian rhythms, and REM dynamics. Distinct electrophysiological markers of lucid dreaming include reduced beta power and increased gamma connectivity. Source 1 Source 2 Source 3

Spinal Cord Injury: Key gene sets and pathways are differentially expressed in neonatal versus adult microglia after SCI, indicating potential therapeutic targets for better recovery. Nimodipine reduces pro-inflammatory shifts in microglia, potentially offering neuroprotective effects by modulating microglial phenotypes and transcriptomic profiles. Source 1 Source 2

Hepatotoxicity: THC induces hepatotoxicity through 22 core molecular targets and multiple pathways, offering insights for developing protective clinical interventions. CB1 Receptor Agonists Source 1 Source 2

Oxidative Stress Regulation: NRF1 suppresses SMOX expression to regulate acrolein production under normal conditions. Remimazolam protects against neuronal injury by activating the Nrf2 pathway. Post-translational modifications and epigenetic alterations of NRF2 provide new therapeutic targets for diseases related to oxidative stress, inflammation, and cell death. Source 1 Source 2 Source 3

Infant Health: Pooled prevalence and risk factors for low birth weight are quantified across high infant mortality countries. Specific risk factors for fetal macrosomia are identified among women delivering in Uganda, addressing the rise in macrosomic newborns and related complications. Source 1 Source 2

Hemodialysis: Extending hemoadsorption to 4 hours during dialysis is safe and effective. A fully-integrated hemodialysis machine at a flow rate of 300 ml/min is efficient in acute settings. Indications for hemoadsorption therapies are not yet clearly defined, with varying device properties. Source 1 Source 2 Source 3

Digital twins: Real-time simulations can enhance emergency medicine but face challenges like data resolution and ethics. Virtual Brain Twins (VBTs) personalize neuroscience by customizing clinical treatments based on individual brain data. Source 1 Source 2

Multiple Sclerosis: A health system intervention increased use of effective MS treatments equitably across racial and ethnic groups. Composite confirmed disability worsening/progression (cCDW/cCDP) is a valuable endpoint for capturing meaningful disability changes in MS clinical trials. Source 1 Source 2