Journal of investigative medicine : the official publication of the American Federation for Clinical Research
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Sickle cell disease (SCD) life expectancy has increased in high-income countries, approaching the fifth decade in the United States. Aging in SCD has raised concerns about chronic organ damage due to adaptative and maladaptive cardiac remodeling. This study aims to assess the prevalence and predictors of non-rheumatic valvular heart disease (NRVHD) in SCD patients using the United States National Inpatient Sample database from 2016 and 2017. ⋯ NRVHDs, especially MI and TI, are comorbidities in SCD. Literature is scarce on this topic. The predictors found for its occurrence could help address modifiable factors that can positively affect patients with SCD who, due to the natural history of the disease, are at risk of developing NRVHD.
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Owing to the high rates of relapse and migration, ovarian cancer (OC) has been recognized as the most lethal gynecological malignancy worldwide. The activity of the epidermal growth factor receptor (EGFR) signaling pathway is frequently associated with OC cell proliferation and migration. Despite this knowledge, inhibition of EGFR signaling in OC patients failed to achieve satisfactory therapeutic effects. ⋯ Mechanistically, the combined treatment triggered intense DNA damage, suppressed DNA damage repair, and enhanced the inhibition of the EGFR pathway. These results demonstrated that compared with each pathway inhibition, combined blocking of both DNA damage repair and the EGFR pathway appears to more effective against OC treatment. The results support the potential of BD and afatinib combination as a therapeutic strategy for OC patients.