Endocrine, Metabolic & Immune Disorders-Drug Targets (Formerly Current Drug Targets - Immune, Endocrine & Metabolic Disorders) - Volume 21, Issue 12, 2021

Recent reports of the relationship between nickel, allergy and autoimmunity have been described. However, there remains a lack of information on the concordance between nickel sensitization and potency. Of note, an article by Drenovska et al. recommended a call for increased epidemiologic studies to define the prevalence of autoimmune syndromes induced by adjuvants such as nickel-containing metal implants. Accumulatin Read More

Presently the world is witnessing the most devastating pandemic in the history of mankind caused by Severe Acute Respiratory Syndrome or SARS-CoV-2. This dreaded pandemic is responsible for escalated mortality rates across the globe and this is the worst catastrophe in the history of mankind. Since its outbreak, substantial scientific explorations focusing on the formulation of novel therapeutical and/or adjunct interve Read More

Targeting inhibitory receptors on T cells in the tumor sites can promote effective anti-tumor immunity in bladder cancer. Unfortunately, the main dilemma is that a large number of patients remain refractory to CTLA-4, PD-1, and PD-L1 blockade therapies. T-cell immunoglobulin and mucin domain 3 (Tim-3) is an inhibitory receptor expressed on T cells and innate immune cells. Both in vivo and in vitro data from patients with Read More

Background: The improvement of beta thalassaemia treatments has led to an increase in life expectancy. This implies the emergence of new comorbidities. Amongst others, endocrine glands are extremely sensitive to iron overload. Objective: We aimed to understand the impact of the endocrine conditions on the patient’s quality of life (QOL). Results: Hypogonadism may present with lack or delay of pubertal developme Read More

Cancer, a set of diseases characterized by abnormal cell growth resulting from alteration in the expression pattern of diverse genes, is one of the prominent causes of mortality and morbidity worldwide. This modification of various genes leads to altered signalling cascades and changes in the molecular network. These changes eventually give rise to cellular dysfunction and then to systemic failure causing death. Of the several Read More

Sodium-glucose co-transporter 2 (SGLT2) inhibitors are an emerging group of therapeutic agents that show their tremendous glucose lowering activity without producing hypoglycemia, which is one of the major drawbacks of existing antidiabetic therapy. Comprehensive literature was searched in English using electronic databases including PubMed, ScienceDirect, Medline, Scopus and Embase. SGLT2 inhibitors reduce b Read More

Background: Based on a common belief among people, narcotic substances and psychoactive drugs may help to reduce blood glucose and lipid profile leading to reduced risk of cardiovascular diseases. This hypothesis has been verified in several studies; however, there is no conclusive agreement on the reducing effects of opium and other opioid derivatives on blood glucose and lipids. In the present review, we collected Read More

Background: In Covid-19 infection, leukopenia, inflammation, and elevated liver enzymes are found in most patients. Also, vitamin D deficiency attenuates the immune system and predisposes a person to being more susceptible to infection. In this context, we aimed to evaluate vitamin D, electrolytes, complete blood count, liver enzymes, urea, creatinine, albumin, CRP and ESR levels in patients with Covid-19. Methods: We Read More

Aims: The present study was performed in order to find out the anti-depression effect of Erxian Decoction in perimenopausal mice. Background: Erxian Decoction (EXD) has been used in folk medicine for the treatment of perimenopausal syndrome, but it has not been researched on perimenopausal depression. Objective: The present study aimed to evaluate the effect of extraction of Erxian Decoction on perimenopa Read More

Aims: To investigate the influence of body mass index (BMI) on the association between psychological stress and physical fitness. Background: Both obesity and psychological stress reduce exercise performance. Objective: It is unknown whether obesity may modify the relationship. Methods: A population of 4,080 military subjects in Taiwan was divided to three groups according to the BMI ≥27.0 kg/m2 (obesity), 24.0-26.9 kg/m2 Read More

Background and Objective: Decreased nitric oxide (NO) bioavailability contributes to the pathophysiology of type 2 diabetes mellitus (T2DM). This study aims to determine the effects of nitrate (NO3 –) on gene and protein expression of NO synthase (NOS) enzymes in the liver, soleus muscle (SM), and epididymal adipose tissue (eAT) of rats with T2DM. Methods: Twenty-eight male rats were divided into 4 groups: Control, diabe Read More

Background: Thyrotoxic Hypokalemic Periodic Paralysis (THPP) is a rare neuromuscular disease characterized by recurrent episodes of skeletal muscle weakness associated with hypokalemia. Alterations in protein-encoding genes that are part of ion channels seem to be related to the development of this disease. However, the pathogenic potential of some variants in these genomic regions is not yet fully understood. T Read More

Background: Some endocrinologists were involved in the management of patients with suspected or confirmed COVID-19 during the first wave of the pandemic. This study aims to analyze burnout levels among the Association of Medical Endocrinologists (AME) members before and during the pandemic. Methods: We recruited two AME members samples at two different times: before COVID-19 (n = 811) and during the first wa Read More

Background: Neonatal respiratory distress syndrome (RDS) is a common dangerous chest problem that is caused by a lack of surfactant. Aim: The aim of this study was to show the role of zinc as an adjuvant anti-inflammatory therapy in neonatal RDS. Objective: To study the effect of zinc supplementation in cases of neonatal RDS. Methods: A prospective randomized controlled trial (RCT) study was done on 90 neonates suf Read More

Background: The incidence and mortality of hyperlipidemia are increasing year by year, showing a younger trend. At present, the treatment of hyperlipidemia is mainly dependent on western medicine, but its side effects on liver and kidney function are common in clinics. Therefore, it is necessary to study the treatment of hyperlipidemia by augmenting effective dietary nutrition supplements. Vitamin B6 (VitB6), as an ess Read More

Background: The currently available bone turnover markers are mostly derived from osteoblasts or osteoclasts. Protein markers derived from osteocytes, the most abundant bone cells that can regulate bone turnover activities by other cells, are less explored. Objective: This study aimed to compare the circulating markers of osteocytes and calcium homeostasis between Malaysian postmenopausal women with and without o Read More

Background and Aims: Due to the increasing prevalence of obesity and related disorders, there is an urgent need to examine the relationship between diet quality and public health. The Alternative Healthy Eating Index (AHEI) is one of the indices that is used to assess diet quality. Therefore, we investigated the relationship between AHEI and anthropometric measurements and blood pressure. Methods: In this cros Read More

Background & Objective: Exercise and dietary interventions are used to control dyslipidemia and depression in obese individuals, whilst rare investigations have examined the concurrent effects of a low-fat diet and moderate-intensity aerobic exercise training (MIAET) on dyslipidemia and depression in obese patients. Hence, we assessed the potential influences of a low-fat diet combined with MIAET on blood lipids and dep Read More

Background: In Congenital Disorder of Glycosylation (CDG) type Ia, homozygous mutations of the PMM2 gene cause phosphomannomutase 2 dysfunction. Case presentation: Herein, a 10-month-old girl, is presented with severe hypotonia, along with inappropriately normal mental status and normal facies. High 2-ketoglutaric acid was detected in her urine, therefore, the diagnosis of 2-Ketoglutarate dehydrogenase compl Read More

Background: We describe the case of an 11-year-old boy affected by chronic granulomatous disease complicated by a Crohn’s like colitis needing prolonged treatment with oral corticosteroids. Case Presentation: His therapy for the control of severe oral mucositis was based on topical clobetasol, which did not decrease once the steroids were discontinued. Two years after the oral interruption of the steroids, cushingoid Read More