Serum cholecalciferol may be a better marker of vitamin D status than 25-hydroxyvitamin D
Vitamin D is produced in the skin upon sun-exposure or obtained through the diet. Vitamin D is hydroxylated to 25-hydroxyvitamin D (25(OH)D) in the liver and to the active form 1,25-dihydroxyvitamin D (1,25(OH)2D) in the kidneys. To exert its effect 1,25(OH)2D has to bind to the nuclear vitamin D receptor VDR. Lack of vitamin D leads to rickets in children and to osteomalacia in adults. 25(OH)D is used as a marker of a subject ́s vitamin D status. Low serum 25(OH)D levels are associated with a number of diseases, risk factors for disease and increased mortality. (Source: Medical Hypotheses)
Source: Medical Hypotheses - December 13, 2017 Category: Biomedical Science Authors: R. Jorde, G. Grimnes Source Type: research
Multimodal imaging questions etiology of idiopathic retinal vasculitis, aneurysms and neuroretinitis syndrome (IRVAN syndrome)
We report cases of a 9 year old girl and a 22 year old male patient with diagnosis of IRVAN syndrome. The conclusions drawn from the clinical examination and multimodal imaging including optical coherence tomography angiography of the patients are discussed. Our conclusions and interpretation point towards IRVAN being a developmental vascular anomaly rather than a consequence of inflammation. (Source: Medical Hypotheses)
Source: Medical Hypotheses - December 12, 2017 Category: Biomedical Science Authors: Rohan Chawla, Atul Kumar, Raghav Ravani, Ruchir Tewari, Farin Rajmohmad Shaikh, Anu Sharma Source Type: research
Immediate and complete restoration of peripheral nerve function after injury is attainable by a combination of surgical and chemical interventions
Despite significant advances in almost every other aspect of medicine, physicians are still unable to restore function after nerve injury with any consistency or reliability. The current standard of care (which involves coaptation of the two ends via epineurial sutures) is largely unchanged from its first description over 400 years ago, and unfortunately leads to a recovery that is at best slow (taking months or years) and partial. Encouragingly, two new conceptual approaches are being developed that separately have been shown to improve outcomes. (Source: Medical Hypotheses)
Source: Medical Hypotheses - December 12, 2017 Category: Biomedical Science Authors: Peter W. Henderson Source Type: research
Was Ugo Foscolo (1778 –1827) affected by alpha-1 antitrypsin deficiency?
Niccol ò Ugo Foscolo (1778–1827), known as Ugo, is one of the masters of the Italian poetry. A writer and a revolutionary, he embraced the ideals of the French Revolution and took part in the stormy political discussions, which the fall of the Republic of Venice had provoked. Despite his poor health, Fo scolo lived an adventurous life serving as a volunteer in the Guardia Nazionale and in the Napoleonic army. Following Napoleon’s fall (1814), he went into voluntary exile in early 1815. He reached London in Sept. (Source: Medical Hypotheses)
Source: Medical Hypotheses - December 9, 2017 Category: Biomedical Science Authors: A. Perciaccante, C. Negri, A. Coralli, P. Charlier, O. Appenzeller, R. Bianucci Source Type: research
Functional Neurological Symptom Disorder (Conversion Disorder): A role for microglial-based plasticity mechanisms?
Functional Neurological Symptom Disorder (FND) is a relatively common neurological condition, accounting for approximately 3-6% of neurologist referrals. FND is considered a transient disorder of neuronal function, sometimes linked to physical trauma and psychological stress. Despite this, chronic disability is common, for example, around 40% of adults with motor FND have permanent disability. Building on current theoretical models, this paper proposes that microglial dysfunction could perpetuate functional changes within acute motor FND, thus providing a pathophysiological mechanism underlying the chronic stage of the mot...
Source: Medical Hypotheses - December 9, 2017 Category: Biomedical Science Authors: Chris P. Stephenson, Ian J. Baguley Source Type: research
No incision and tension-free vaginal sling for stress urinary incontinence: the role of knotless barbed suture
Midurethral mesh sling is the most performed incontinence procedure. This hypotheses propose knotless barbed suture could be positioned as a tension-free trans-vaginal sling under the mid-urethra without vaginal incision. Knotless suture sling support and stabilize mid-urethra when intraabdominal pressure increase. This procedure is designed to replace midurethral mesh sling operation, aiming at reducing complications. It is completed in a similar way with retropubic mesh sling procedure, and less invasive. (Source: Medical Hypotheses)
Source: Medical Hypotheses - December 9, 2017 Category: Biomedical Science Authors: Niu Qiang, Zheng jinping, Han xiaohui Source Type: research
Was ugo foscolo (1778-1827) affected by alpha-1 antitrypsin deficiency?
Niccol ò Ugo Foscolo (1778-1827), known as Ugo, is one of the masters of the Italian poetry. A writer and a revolutionary, he embraced the ideals of the French Revolution and took part in the stormy political discussions, which the fall of the Republic of Venice had provoked. Despite his poor health, Fosc olo lived an adventurous life serving as a volunteer in the Guardia Nazionale and in the Napoleonic army. Following Napoleon’s fall (1814), he went into voluntary exile in early 1815. He reached London in Sept. (Source: Medical Hypotheses)
Source: Medical Hypotheses - December 9, 2017 Category: Biomedical Science Authors: A. Perciaccante, C. Negri, A. Coralli, P. Charlier, O. Appenzeller, R. Bianucci Source Type: research
A novel bimodal approach for treating atrophic bone non-unions with extracorporeal shockwaves and autologous mesenchymal stem cell transplant
We propose a novel approach for the treatment of atrophic bone non-unions via parallel applications of extracorporeal shock wave therapy (ESWT) and an autologous mesenchymal stem cell transplant. The hypothesis resides on the potentiality of shock waves (SWs) to act as a tool for manipulating the patient ’s mesenchymal stem cells (MSCs). In addition to the conventional physical stimulus achieved by delivering SWs at the site of non-union to stimulate the well-known trophic effects on bone tissue, a series of concomitant ESWT would be administered in tandem at a bone marrow donor site, such as the iliac crest, to precondi...
Source: Medical Hypotheses - December 8, 2017 Category: Biomedical Science Authors: Valerio Sansone, Manuel Bra ñes, Pietro Romeo Source Type: research
Scapholunate interosseous ligament dysfunction as a source of elbow pain syndromes: possible mechanisms and implications for hand surgeons and therapists
Elbow pain syndromes are common upper extremity musculoskeletal disorders, and they are usually associated with repetitive occupational exposure. Ligaments are often one of the sources of musculoskeletal disorders because of their mechanical and neurological properties. The wrist ligaments are some of the ligaments most vulnerable to occupational exposure. Since most occupational tasks require wrist extension for handling tools and loading, the scapholunate interosseous ligament (SLIL) bears greater strain during loading, which results in creep deformation and hysteresis. (Source: Medical Hypotheses)
Source: Medical Hypotheses - December 4, 2017 Category: Biomedical Science Authors: Cigdem Ayhan, Seval Tanr ıkulu, Gursel Leblebicioglu Source Type: research
Fibromyalgia and unexplained widespread pain: The idiopathic cerebrospinal pressure dysregulation hypothesis
Fibromyalgia (FM) is a debilitating, widespread pain disorder that is assumed to originate from inappropriate pain processing in the central nervous system. Psychological and behavioral factors are both believed to underlie the pathogenesis and complicate the treatment. This hypothesis, however, has not yet been sufficiently supported by scientific evidence and accumulating evidence supports a peripheral neurological origin of the symptoms.We postulate that FM and several unexplained widespread pain syndromes are caused by chronic postural idiopathic cerebrospinal hypertension. (Source: Medical Hypotheses)
Source: Medical Hypotheses - December 4, 2017 Category: Biomedical Science Authors: M. Hulens, W. Dankaerts, I. Stalmans, A. Somers, G. Vansant, R. Rasschaert, F. Bruyninckx Source Type: research
Whole Body Periodic Acceleration (pGz) as a Non-Invasive Preconditioning Strategy for Pediatric Cardiac Surgery
We hypothesized that pGz has cardio and neuroprotective effects due to upregulation of pathways which include eNOS, anti-apoptotic, and anti-inflammatory pathways. We analyze protein expression of these pathways in the brain of neonatal piglets, as well as report on the myocardial function after Deep Hypothermic Circulatory Arrest (DHCA) and pGz preconditioning. Animal data affirms both a cardio and neuroprotective role for pGz. These findings suggest that pGz can be a simple, non-invasive cardio and neuroprotective strategy preconditioning strategy in children requiring surgical intervention. (Source: Medical Hypotheses)
Source: Medical Hypotheses - December 4, 2017 Category: Biomedical Science Authors: Jose A. Adams, Peter Pastuszko, Arkady Uryash, David Wilson, Jose R. Lopez Padrino, Vinay Nadkarni, Anna Pastuszko Source Type: research
Promising Horizon to Alleviate Alzeheimer ’s Disease Pathological Hallmarks via Inhibiting mTOR Signaling Pathway: A New Application for A Commonplace Analgesic
Alzheimer ’s disease (AD) is a very prevalent and burdensome disease of elderlies but albeit extensive studies, mechanisms underlying its pathology and consequently its definite treatment is ambiguous. Intra and extra-cellular aggregation of abnormal proteins and impaired autophagy machinery, two closely re lated events taking place in AD brains proposed to be directly controlled by mTOR signaling pathway.On the other hand, tramadol that is a very well tolerated opioid analgesic has been revealed to inhibit mTOR upstream controllers through interaction with specific types of muscarinic, serotonergic, n icotinic and NMDA ...
Source: Medical Hypotheses - December 4, 2017 Category: Biomedical Science Authors: Leila Pourtalebi Jahromi, Zahra Sasanipour, Amir Azadi Source Type: research
Iron therapy as treatment of anemia: a potentially detrimental and hazardous strategy in colorectal cancer patients
In colorectal cancer patients, iron therapy, and especially intravenous iron therapy, is increasingly used to treat anemia and reduce the use of blood transfusions. However, iron has also been shown to be an essential nutrient for rapidly proliferating tissues and cells. In this respect, anemia of inflammation, characterized by limited duodenal iron uptake and sequestration of iron into the reticuloendothelial system, might be regarded as a potentially effective defense strategy of the human body against tumor growth. (Source: Medical Hypotheses)
Source: Medical Hypotheses - December 4, 2017 Category: Biomedical Science Authors: M.J. Wilson, J.J. Harlaar, J. Jeekel, M. Schipperus, J.J. Zwaginga Source Type: research
Fear of movement modulates the feedforward motor control of the affected limb in complex regional pain syndrome (CRPS): A single-case study
Pain-related fear can exacerbate physical disability and pathological pain in complex regional pain syndrome (CRPS) patients. We conducted a kinematic analysis of grasping movements with a pediatric patient suffering from CRPS in an upper limb to investigate how pain-related fear affects motor control. Using a three-dimensional measurement system, we recorded the patient ’s movement while grasping three vertical bars of different diameters (thin, middle, thick) with the affected and intact hands. (Source: Medical Hypotheses)
Source: Medical Hypotheses - December 2, 2017 Category: Biomedical Science Authors: Michihiro Osumi, Masahiko Sumitani, Yuko Otake, Shu Morioka Source Type: research
Modelling information flow along the human connectome using maximum flow
The human connectome is a complex network that transmits information between interlinked brain regions. Using graph theory, previously well-known network measures of integration between brain regions have been constructed under the key assumption that information flows strictly along the shortest paths possible between two nodes. However, it is now apparent that information does flow through non-shortest paths in many real-world networks such as cellular networks, social networks, and the internet. (Source: Medical Hypotheses)
Source: Medical Hypotheses - December 2, 2017 Category: Biomedical Science Authors: Youngwook Lyoo, Jieun E. Kim, Sujung Yoon Source Type: research
