Advances in medical sciences
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Review Meta Analysis
Association of Brain-derived neurotrophic factor gene polymorphisms with body mass index: A systematic review and meta-analysis.
Many studies with inconsistent results have assessed the association of Brain-derived neurotrophic factor (BDNF) gene polymorphisms with prevalence of obesity and overweight. This review aims to provide a summary of the literature evaluating the relation between BDNF genotype and body mass index (BMI). ⋯ This meta-analysis suggests that some polymorphisms in BDNF gene including rs925946, rs10501087, rs6265 and rs988712 can be considered as genetic determinants of obesity.
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Irritable bowel syndrome (IBS) is one of the most common functional gastrointestinal disorders (FGID), characterized by abdominal pain and a change in stool form that cannot be explained by structural abnormalities. Its prevalence ranges from 9 to 23% of the worldwide population. The pathophysiology of IBS is diverse and not well understood. ⋯ IBS is diagnosed on the basis of Rome Diagnostic Criteria. Recently, their newest version (Rome IV) has been presented. The aim of this review is to summarize the past decade progress in IBS diagnosis, main pathophysiological aspects and therapeutic management strategy.
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Borrelia miyamotoi is a tick-borne bacterium which has only recently been identified in Europe as a human pathogen causing relapsing fever and little is known about its local impact on human health. There are three types of B. miyamotoi: Asian (Siberian), European, and American. ⋯ Both Borrelia groups are mostly maintained in natural rodent populations. The aim of this review is to summarize the available literature on B. miyamotoi, with the focus of attention falling on Europe, as well as to describe its presence in ticks, reservoir hosts, and humans and discuss its potential impact on public health.
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Worldwide, the prevalence of overweight and obesity and associated complications is increasing. Cardiovascular complications are the most important factor determining survival and influencing clinical management. ⋯ The hormones (leptin, adiponectin, resistin) and cytokines (TNF alpha, IL-6, PAI-1) produced by the adipose tissue are the link between obesity and obesity-related complications. The present article discusses the structure, function and clinical significance of adipokines.
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The metabolic syndrome refers to the clustering of upper body obesity, atherogenic dyslipidemia, insulin resistance and elevated blood pressure. Both, obesity and metabolic syndrome, have the potential to influence on the incidence and severity of cardiovascular disease with serious implications for worldwide health care systems. Obesity plays a central role in the development of insulin resistance and dyslipidemia through the mediation of a pro-inflammatory and pro-thrombotic state. ⋯ Those bioactive molecules participate in regulation of apetite and energy homeostasis, lipid metabolism (tumour necrosis factor alpha--TNF-alpha), insulin sensitivity (TNF-alpha, adiponectin, resistin, visfatin) immunity (monocyte chemoattractant protein-1--MCP-1, TNF-alpha, IL-6), angiogenesis, blood pressure and hemostasis (plasminogen activator inhibitor--PAI-1). The effects of major pro-/anti-inflammatory and pro-thrombotic adipokines on several physiological processes will be discussed in this review. Also, an evidence-based approach to the laboratory diagnosis and treatment of metabolic syndrome will be presented.