by Richell Booijink  and Ruchi Bansal

Received: 27 March 2019;  Published: 21 June 2019;  doi: 10.21926/obm.hg.1902024

Chronic liver diseases affects millions of people worldwide each year. Upon chronic liver injury, a wound healing process ensues, leading to the accumulation of extracellular matrix (ECM) proteins. If the injury persists, this leads to liver fibrosis with excessive scarring of the liver and loss of liver function. Lysophosphatidic acid (LPA), a signaling molecule has shown to be involved in various biological processes, including wound healing process. Elevated plasma levels of LPA and its catalyst autotaxin (ATX), [...]

by Cynthia M.A. Geppert  and Ronald W. Pies

Received: 01 March 2019;  Published: 04 March 2019;  doi: 10.21926/obm.icm.1901016

Compassion in Clinical Care

by David Bayo  , Olufunso Adeniyi  , Adebayo Adeniyi  and Oluwole Ariwoola

Received: 27 February 2021;  Published: 12 May 2021;  doi: 10.21926/acr.2102013

The present study investigated the level of heavy metals in selected fruits sold commonly in Jos, Nigeria. The fresh fruits (Avocado pear, Black currant, Egg Plant, Golden melon, and Soursop) were purchased from five major markets (Terminus, Farin Gada, Building materials, Bukuru, and Fobur) in Jos. Each fruit sample was collected in triplicate and analyzed using standard procedures. The concentration of heavy metals (Fe, Cu, As, Cd, Zn, Pb, Mn, and Cr) was determined using Graphite Furnace Atomic Absorption Spectr [...]

by Harnish P Patel  , Faidra Laskou  and Elaine M Dennison

Received: 15 February 2024;  Published: 23 January 2025;  doi: 10.21926/obm.geriatr.2501296

Sarcopenia is characterised by progressive and generalised decline in muscle strength, function, and muscle mass. Now recognised as a muscle disease, it is highly prevalent in older adults, with estimates of up to 30% in some populations. Sarcopenia has a complex multifactorial aetiology, including cellular and molecular changes, chronic disease, lower physical activity as well as nutritional deficiency. Sarcopenia is associated with a range of adverse physical and metabolic outcomes leading to disability, morbidit [...]

by Susan E. Reid  , Bessam Abdulrazak  and Tianqi Xiao

Received: 08 August 2022;  Published: 17 October 2022;  doi: 10.21926/obm.geriatr.2204209

Despite the increase in use and interest in mobile devices by older adults, to date, there is still limited research carried out to better understand older adults’ usage and needs as they relate to such devices. As such, this research examined the use of two types of mobile devices, smartphones, and tablets, by older adults (i.e., age 65+), as well as the use of a new interface, developed for research purposes, called “PhonAge”. This study was exploratory, and utilizes frequency data and tables, in order to get a s [...]

by Jessica Ferguson  , Marisa Holubar  , Waldo Concepcion  and Dora Y. Ho

Received: 24 July 2020;  Published: 09 November 2020;  doi: 10.21926/obm.transplant.2004122

Liver transplant recipients (LTRs) are at risk for vancomycin-resistant Enterococcus (VRE) infections which can lead to significant morbidity or mortality. Antibiotic exposure, including vancomycin, is associated with greater risk of VRE infection. This study aimed to assess the appropriateness of vancomycin use and rates of VRE infection in this population. We performed a retrospective cohort study of 327 patients who underwent liver transplantation at our center from January 1, 2012 to June 30, 2017. Sixty (18.3% [...]

by Karine Dornela Rosa  , Tara Rava Zolnikov  , Rodrigo Souza Leite  , Sérgio Caldas  , Job Alves de Souza Filho  , Raquel Sampaio Jacob  and Marcos Paulo Gomes Mol

Received: 05 May 2022;  Published: 11 July 2022;  doi: 10.21926/aeer.2203028

Visceral leishmaniasis (VL) is a vector-borne disease that is caused by the protozoan Leishmania infantum and transmitted to humans and other mammals through the bites of infected female sandflies. VL has been prevalent in Minas Gerais, Brazil, since the 1940s. As the vector completes its reproductive cycle in the soil with organic matter, the association between the occurrence of VL and unimproved solid waste disposal sites has been investigated. Thus, in this study, we analyzed the relationship of waste disposal [...]

by Chaimae Merimi  , Abdessamad Benabbou  , Lamiae Bourassi  , Abdelhay Addous  , Ahmed A. Elhenawy  , Rachid Touzani  and Belkheir Hammouti

Received: 22 January 2025;  Published: 25 June 2025;  doi: 10.21926/obm.icm.2502027

Cardiovascular diseases and hypertension represent significant global health challenges, driving the need for innovative therapeutic solutions. In this study, we employed advanced in silico methods to investigate the molecular properties of two bioactive compounds, Flavonoids and Rosmarinic Acid, extracted from five medicinal plants: Rosemary, Oregano, Pink Savory, Lemon Balm, and Saffron. The bioactive compounds were evaluated against key biological targets associated with hypertension and cardiovascular diseases, [...]

by Rayara Silva dos Santos  , Pedro Henrique Poubel Mendonça da Silveira  , Beatriz Cruz Bastos  , Marceli do Nascimento da Conceição  , Roberto Carlos da Conceição Ribeiro  and Daniele Cruz Bastos

Received: 22 May 2023;  Published: 18 July 2023;  doi: 10.21926/rpm.2303027

This article presents the development and characterization of environmentally friendly composites comprising polypropylene (PP) reinforced with Bahia Beige (BB) marble waste. The composites were prepared using different PP/BB weight ratios and analyzed for their chemical, physical, mechanical, microstructural, and thermal properties. X-ray fluorescence (XRF) analysis revealed the composition of BB, which exhibited a significant concentration of CaO, indicating the presence of calcite and other oxides. X-ray diffrac [...]

by Gerhard Litscher

Received: 19 November 2023;  Published: 20 November 2023;  doi: 10.21926/obm.icm.2304054

In today's high-tech-driven times, traditional ways are getting a digital upgrade, and Chinese medicine is part of this change. Mixing ancient healing know-how with modern high technology has created digital Chinese medicine (DCM). It could change healthcare worldwide. This editorial aims to explore this new area and look at its possibilities, challenges, and how it might affect healthcare in the future. It lists some essential topics that need to be considered in the future within the digital transformation of Chi [...]