Multiple Myeloma and the Role of Bisphosphonates in Its Management.

An aberrant growth of plasma cells in the bone marrow characterizes the hematological neoplasm known as multiple myeloma, which is typically accompanied by increased bone pain and skeletal-related events such as pathological fractures and/or spinal cord compression. Changes in the bone marrow microenvironment brought on by increased osteoclastic activity and/or decreased osteoblastic activity as a result of myeloma bone disease have a detrimental effect on quality of life. Bone-modifying medications such as bisphosphonates or denosumab are used to treat myeloma bone disease. These substances can lessen bone pain and the chance of pathological fracture, but they do not stimulate the growth of new bone or heal already damaged bone. In order to conduct this study, we searched the PubMed, Google Scholar, and Cochrane databases for complete free papers published in English and studied people over the previous five years, starting in 2018. The search covered randomized clinical trials (RCT), observational studies, meta-analyses, systemic reviews, and conventional reviews. Twenty-five publications are picked after using quality evaluation techniques to determine the type of study. These papers' full-text articles are investigated, examined, and tallied. We spoke about the various treatments for bone damage in multiple myeloma. It was discovered that bisphosphonates lessen the frequency and severity of bone problems. However, we are unsure of their contribution to survival. Although these medicines enhance life quality, it is unknown if they also increase overall survival. The focus of this study is on several kinds of bone-modifying drugs, their processes of action, the point at which therapy is started, how long it lasts, and any possible mortality advantages.

Non-alcoholic Fatty Liver Disease and Its Association With Left Ventricular Diastolic Dysfunction: A Systematic Review.

The commonest cause of hepatic illness globally is non-alcoholic fatty liver disease (NAFLD). This multisystemic disease affects extrahepatic organs, including the heart. It causes cardiac remodeling and a disruption of the systolic and diastolic functioning of the left ventricle. Numerous studies have investigated the connection between NAFLD and left ventricular diastolic dysfunction (LVDD). The results, nevertheless, are often contradictory. This systematic review looked at the relationship between NAFLD and LVDD generally and among different patient groups since it is a topic of interest. A thorough search approach was used to locate relevant publications published between 2003 and 2023 using major medical databases. Studies were chosen based on the pre-established eligibility criteria; the studies selected then underwent a critical evaluation using standardized quality assessment tools. For the systematic review, 13 articles were chosen, comprising nine cross-sectional studies, three narrative reviews, and one meta-analysis. There were a total of 13,341 NAFLD patients in these studies. Data extraction and qualitative synthesis from the selected research articles were conducted to determine the relationship between NAFLD and LVDD in various patient categories. We found a significant association between NAFLD and LVDD. Therefore, patients with NAFLD should be treated early to avoid complications since they are more likely to develop cardiac dysfunction in the future.

Probing the Relationship Between the Human Gut Microbiome and Prospects of Prostate Cancer: A Systematic Review.

Prostate neoplasia is one of the most commonly occurring neoplasias in males and has a high mortality rate. Prostate cancer (PCA) risk factors include tall stature, male sex, known family history, obesity, high blood pressure, lack of fitness, higher levels of testosterone for a long time, increasing age, and ethnicity are well known. The association and role of the gut microbiota in different diseases in our body have been highlighted recently. Therefore, finding the influence of gut microbiota on the prostatic cells can be useful for preventing prostatic neoplasia and/or reducing its severity. We aimed to assess its impact on PCA risk. We thoroughly searched databases for the relevant literature for our systematic review. The final research papers analyzed how bacteria played a role in the risk of PCA, either through inflammation or the production of metabolites that increase/decrease the risk of PCA. Based on the studies reviewed, we found that some gut bacteria play a role in the formation of PCA. In contrast, some bacteria can help prevent PCA, but the metabolism of the dietary components is the major factor for PCA.

The Role of Non-genetic Therapies to Reduce the Incidence of Sickle Cell Crisis: A Systematic Review.

Sickle cell anemia is a hemoglobinopathy that causes complications such as Vaso-Occlusive Crisis (VOC), stroke, priapism, Acute Chest Syndromes (ACS), and bone infarcts due to blood vessel occlusion, resulting in hypoxia, ischemia, and inflammation. Preventing these incidents improves the quality of life and lowers mortality rates in Sickle Cell Disease (SCD) patients. This systematic review aims to describe the drugs, their mechanisms of action, dosages, changes in hemoglobin parameters, decrease in VOCs, delay the time for the next VOC, decrease in the length of hospital stay, and side effects associated with these drugs. This review adheres to the Preferred Reporting Items for Systematic Review and Meta-Analysis (PRISMA) 2020 guidelines. For this review, we searched the PubMed, Google Scholar, and Cochrane databases and screened them for full free texts published in English and studied in humans in the last five years beginning in 2018. Randomized clinical trials (RCT), observational studies, meta-analyses, systemic reviews, and traditional reviews were all included in the search. According to the type of study, quality assessment tools are used, and eight papers are chosen. Full-text articles from these papers are studied, analyzed, and tabulated. We discussed seven interventions that are used to treat sickle cell disease. Voxelotor, crizanlizumab, L-glutamate, long-term blood transfusions, Zinc (Zn), Niprisan®, and Ciklavit* were found to reduce the number and severity of VOC. We discovered that VOCs containing L -glutamate reduced the length of hospitalization. Magnesium (Mg) did not affect the number and severity of VOCs. This review includes a few articles for the study. Future papers on this subject should include a large sample size and many papers. More clinical trials are required to evaluate the dosages and outcomes of using these drugs in combination to prevent VOCs.

Effectiveness of Fecal Microbiota Transplantation Treatment in Patients With Recurrent Clostridium difficile Infection, Ulcerative Colitis, and Crohn's Disease: A Systematic Review.

Cronh's disease and ulcerative colitis (UC) are diseases with unknown etiologies that cause ongoing inflammation in the gastrointestinal system. Chron's disease causes immunological dysregulation, and UC causes intestinal harm due to immune reactions. According to our study, fecal microbiota transplantation (FMT) has many benefits in the treatment of inflammatory bowel disease (IBD) by restoring intestinal homeostasis and reducing clinical symptoms. In mildly symptomatic patients with UC, an FMT treatment combined with an anti-inflammatory diet can produce remission, which would then be followed by a diet that maintained the anti-inflammatory effects. The efficacy of FMT consists of preventing flares or the consequences of IBD. As a result, we must emphasize that more investigation should be done before developing a therapeutic procedure for FMT in IBD and its associated consequences.

The Impact of Serum Uric Acid on the Progression of Amyotrophic Lateral Sclerosis in Adults Aged 18 and Older: A Systematic Review.

We have conducted this review to see if serum uric acid (UA) is associated with slowing amyotrophic lateral sclerosis (ALS) progression in adult patients who are at least 18 years old. Understanding the effects of this biomarker for future use is critical because of its easy accessibility. This systematic review paper examined five previous years of recent studies and reports, published in English and limited to human investigations from the Cochrane, PubMed, and Google Scholar databases. Using instruments for assessing the eligibility and quality of systematic and narrative reviews, we narrowed our search to 11 reports that show evidence of a positive association between high blood uric acid and the progression of ALS. However, this claim still needs confirmation by future studies to confirm that possibility. The results of this systematic review may provide a strong foundation for future studies on this biomarker, demonstrating the significance of blood uric acid levels in ALS and highlighting the necessity of using that biomarker to track the disease's progression.

Evaluation of the Safety and Efficacy of Conventional Transarterial Chemoembolization (cTACE) and Drug-Eluting Bead (DEB)-TACE in the Management of Unresectable Hepatocellular Carcinoma: A Systematic Review.

Transarterial chemoembolization (TACE) is considered the preferred loco-regional treatment option for hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) not amenable to resection due to its distinctive blend of precise drug administration, localized tumor management, and reduced systemic adverse effects, setting it apart from the plethora of alternative treatments available. There is an ongoing debate regarding the optimal choice for managing HCC using TACE, particularly between its two major types: conventional TACE (cTACE) and drug-eluting bead TACE (DEB-TACE). The medical community remains divided on which approach offers superior safety and efficacy, with conflicting evidence and varied outcomes adding to the complexity of this nuanced decision. Given the lack of consensus surrounding the preferred TACE technique in treatment-naive patients for HCC, we conducted a rigorous systematic review to assess and contrast the relative safety and efficacy of cTACE versus DEB-TACE in patients diagnosed with HCC who did not receive any prior treatment for HCC. Our study aimed to provide much-needed clarity on this controversial topic, shedding light on the two approaches' comparative safety and efficacy to inform clinical decision-making. After a comprehensive search of databases and search engines and through a methodical screening process, including standardized quality assessments and relevant filter application based on our eligibility criteria, we identified 10 articles pertinent to our research query comprising two randomized controlled trials, one meta-analysis, and seven observational studies. The collective sample size of the studies was 5,288 patients with HCC, of which 2,959 were in the cTACE arm and 2,324 were in the DEB-TACE arm.

Assessing the Link Between Statins and Insulin Intolerance: A Systematic Review.

There has been mixed and inconclusive evidence regarding the relationship between statin usage and insulin intolerance. This systematic review aims to comprehensively explore the link between the use of statins and insulin intolerance. We systematically searched MEDLINE, PubMed, PubMed Central (PMC), and Google Scholar databases for online English articles with full text. We excluded conference proceedings, editorials, commentaries, preclinical studies, abstracts, and preprints. The search across databases initially identified 667 articles. After eliminating duplicates and analyzing the remaining articles based on the inclusion and exclusion criteria, 11 articles were selected. The included studies had a total of 46,728,889 participants. The findings suggest that the use of statins is associated with a decrease in insulin sensitivity and insulin resistance. This systematic review provides evidence that the use of statins may have an adverse effect on insulin sensitivity and increase insulin resistance. These findings may have important clinical implications for individuals on statin therapy, especially those at risk of developing diabetes.

Obesity: An Instagram Analysis.

Introduction Although the pathophysiology of obesity is widely recognized, its psychological and social aspects have received more attention in treatment and prevention. Social media technological advancements offer a quicker, more accessible, and broader platform for the dissemination of information. Hence, social media may significantly impact eating habits and body image development in children and adolescents, potentially turning into a risk factor for obesity if the behaviors being pushed are not consistent with a healthy lifestyle. Aim This study aims to evaluate the quality and reliability of content being circulated on Instagram related to the disease "obesity." Methods A cross-sectional observational study was conducted virtually over a period of ten days. Six hashtags related to the disease "obesity" were screened. Posts in the languages "English" or "Hindi" containing information about the disease "obesity" were included in the study. A questionnaire was made to assess these posts based on various pre-determined categories: type of post, type of information circulated, quality, reliability, and correctness. Results After applying the inclusion criteria, 420 posts were included in our study. 84% of the relevant posts were images/posts, and 15% were videos. Only 17% were posted by doctors, while the health and wellness industry posted around 54.52%. Survivors/persons suffering from the disease contributed to 13.81%, while that from dietitians was 6.43%, and that from new agencies was only 1.19%. The number of correct posts by doctors, nurses, and hospitals was 54.93%, and others were 37.7%. The posts by doctors, nurses, and hospitals were more reliable compared to others (statistically significant p<0.05). Conclusion This study highlights the need for continued monitoring and evaluation of the social media platform Instagram for the spread of healthcare information.

A Case of Hypoparathyroidism in Type 1 Diabetes Mellitus.

This case report discusses a 13-year-old female with a known history of type 1 diabetes mellitus presenting with pain in bilateral lower limbs, generalized weakness, and fatigue. After laboratory examinations, hypoparathyroidism was diagnosed based on low serum calcium, elevated serum phosphorous, and lower serum intact parathyroid hormone (PTH) levels. Treatment with calcium and vitamin D supplements led to a reduction in the patient's symptoms. The report provides an overview of the pathophysiology of hypoparathyroidism, its various etiologies, and clinical manifestations. The report emphasizes the importance of considering hypoparathyroidism as a differential diagnosis in patients with unexplained neuromuscular symptoms, even without a known thyroid disease or previous thyroid surgery.