Internal and emergency medicine
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Microorganisms and plants produce bioactive metabolites that are potentially useful in the treatment of disease. We have designed and synthesized DHMEQ as a specific inhibitor of NF-κB based on the structure of epoxyquinomicin. ⋯ It was also effective to improve the success of islet transplantation especially when administered to donor mice. We have also isolated from the leaves of Ervatamia microphylla conophylline, a compound that induces differentiation of beta cells from the precursor cells and was recently found to suppress islet fibrosis in diabetes model rats.
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Nutritional medicine presents significant educational and clinical challenges worldwide. Major issues include physician shortages as a result of inadequate training, increasing prevalence of metabolic diseases, such as obesity, diabetes, and atherosclerosis, incorporation of molecular medicine into our understanding of nutrition, and lastly, an emergent transcultural variable that affecting implementation strategies. Examples of translating specific molecular targets to culturally sensitive food-based therapies are given.
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The authors briefly review the biological effects of vitamin D on the heart and discuss the experimental and clinical studies related to the potential protective effect of vitamin D on the cardiovascular system. Experimental and observational studies in man strongly suggest that vitamin D supplementation can benefit heart failure patients and improve cardiovascular health in the population. However, presently there are limited randomized controlled studies. The authors highlight the hypothesis that vitamin D-induced mechanisms activating calcium channels may represent a novel target for therapy in patients with heart failure.
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Some obese individuals do not get cardiovascular disease, diabetes, or certain cancers associated with obesity. These healthy obese individuals exercise regularly and reduce circulating levels of inflammatory mediators which are associated with the complications of obesity. ⋯ Exercise, by reducing the excess storage of fat in these bloated fat cells, reduces the levels of circulating inflammatory mediators. The processes of gathering and creating new energy-rich substances, storing energy, and consuming energy-rich substances, and the specific contribution of several hormones to this process, are reviewed.
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Experimental and clinical findings strongly support the concept that thyroid hormone (TH) plays a fundamental role in the cardiovascular (CV) homeostasis. CV diseases represent a major public health care and economic problem being one of the principal causes of morbidity, mortality and hospitalization. In particular, chronic heart failure (HF) is one of the most common reasons for general practitioners consultations in people >65-70 years old. ⋯ In HF, the main and earlier alteration of the thyroid function is referred to as "low-T3" syndrome characterized by the reduction in serum total T3 and free T3 with normal levels of thyroxine (T4) and thyrotropin (TSH). This syndrome may affect till one-third of advanced HF patients. The main goal of this mini-review is to examine the main pathophysiological and clinical links between an altered thyroid metabolism and CV diseases, namely HF during progression of disease from organ specific to systemic disorder.