ABSTRACT
Background: Hypercholesteremia is the major cause of cardiovascular diseases. It results from elevated cholesterol levels in the blood. LDL cholesterol is removed from the circulation by using the LDL receptor. Red mold rice or red yeast rice is produced by fermentation of the Monascus Purpureus yeast on rice. Many researchers suggest that the active component in Red Yeast Rice (monacolin k) serves as a treatment for hypercholesteremic patients. Methods: By using NCBI databases, specifically GenBank to analyze DNA sequence and mRNA sequence of LDLR gene. GenBank file format was helpful to extract an accession number of the gene, number of amino acids, exons, and length of nucleotides. FASTA format was also useful to retrieve the nucleotide sequence and get the function of the protein. BLAST was used to compare the protein product of the LDLR gene between humans and pan paniscus (pygmy chimpanzee). Results: In accession number NC_000019, the number of amino acids in protein product is 44389 bp, and the number of exons found is 18. On the other hand, the gene is located in chromosome 19. The function of LDLR gene is to control the production of LDL receptor where the low-density lipoprotein particles attach to it and are taken into the cell ending up in the lysosome where the protein is degraded and cholesterol is made which will inhibit 3-hydroxy-3-methylglutaryl coenzyme A (HMG CoA) reductase that controls the production of cholesterol. Finally, many organisms have the same gene like dogs, cows, mice, rats, zebrafish, and frogs. Conclusion: Mutation in the LDLR gene causing high level of cholesterol in the blood especially LDL (Low-density Lipoprotein). Monacolin k that found in red yeast rice (RYR) is safe and natural alternative treatment for hypercholesteremic patients by lowering the cholesterol level in the blood.
ABSTRACT
Exposure to androgen deprivation therapy (ADT) by prostate cancer (PCa) patients is increasing, either in early-stage and in metastatic disease. Frequently, ADT becomes a long-term treatment, lasting even more than 10 years, starting with gonadotropin releasing hormone (GnRH) agonists or antagonists, until the newest hormonal treatments as Abiraterone and Enzalutamide. As a consequence, ADT related adverse events occurred. We reviewed the medical literature using Pubmed search terms “prostate cancer”, “androgen deprivation”, “metabolic syndrome”, “cardiovascular diseases” and “psychological assessment”. The search was limited to manuscripts published in English language between 1999 and 2016, preferring more recent review articles. Metabolic syndrome, diabetes and cardiovascular diseases, rather than PCa itself, are the most common causes of mortality, particularly in early stage PCa patients. All these adverse eff ects synergistically increase morbidity in patients taking ADT. Psychological-cognitive implications emerging during ADT result in a signifi cant reduction of health-related quality of life of PCa patients. ADT is associated with several adverse events, which physicians andpatients should evaluate when recommending ADT. Multidisciplinary approach, with diff erent clinicians such as Urologist, Radiotherapist, Oncologist, Endocrinologist, Cardiologist, Psychologist, is mandatory for the suitable clinical management of patients with PCa submitted to ADT.
ABSTRACT
Oriental medicine explains that Kikyo (deficiency of Qi) is an exhausted state of the human body's energy. Hence a lack of energy state could be equal to a state of low metabolism. It would affect any blood test. Kikyo-scores were evaluated in 333 new patients who had visited our clinic within a 13-month period, and their blood samples were collected on the same days. A chi-square test was done with the Kikyo cases, indicating points of 30 and above of Kikyo-score, and patients who indicated lower than standard levels in their blood tests. A relationship between Kikyo, and points lower than normal chemical screening test values was proved (p<0.0001). Forty-nine percent of Kikyo-patients were under normal limits, but the positive predictive ratio was85%. We have to recognize it is an exhaustive Qi state we see, when chemical screening data values are low.