by Rafail Nikolaos Tasakis  , F. Nina Papavasiliou  and Rita Shaknovich

Received: 03 December 2018;  Published: 08 April 2019;  doi: 10.21926/obm.genet.1902072

Cancer development and progression is strongly associated with somatic mutations. From oncogenic hits that initiate the primary tumor formation to metastasis, the tumor mutational burden (TMB) plays a prominent role in the disease progression for the vast majority of cancer types. Not only are heterogeneous mutational loads or genetic heterogeneity causal to transcriptomic and proteomic discrepancies and to phenotypic diversity between individuals, they are also between tumor cells. But in addition to mutations, a [...]

by Kristy Lui  , Darlene Yee-Melichar  and Emiko Takagi

Received: 31 October 2018;  Published: 08 April 2019;  doi: 10.21926/obm.geriatr.1902046

This research review sought to examine the patterns of engagement in advance care planning (ACP) and utilization of end-of-life (EoL) care treatment services including, but not limited to hospice care, in distinct older Asian American ethnic groups. The review of existing research suggested evidence that empirical studies about different older subpopulations of Asian Americans remains scarce. This research analysed 30 small-scale studies on older Asian Americans’ attitudes and engagement in EoL care planning. The r [...]

by James Farag  and Silvana Marasco

Received: 13 February 2019;  Published: 08 April 2019;  doi: 10.21926/obm.transplant.1902060

Left ventricular assist devices (LVADs) improve quality of life in end-stage heart failure patients but a frequent complication is Right heart failure (RHF) causing significant morbidity and mortality. This review article discusses key issues that need to be considered in the assessment and clinical management of RHF in LVAD patients including the use of Right Ventricle (RV) support devices and off-label LVADs as temporary or permanent RV support.

by Steve Liebich

Received: 02 February 2019;  Published: 04 April 2019;  doi: 10.21926/obm.geriatr.1902045

Telomere shortening in the somatic cells is one of the most well-documented factors of cellular ageing. Telomeres are composed of tandem hexanucleotide repeats that protect cells from unwanted recombination mechanisms, secure the ends of chromosomes and their stability, and are responsible for limited division capacity. Telomerase is an enzymatic ribonucleoprotein complex, present in embryonic cells, adult stem cells, and germinal progenitors, whose function is to extend the telomeres length by adding the lost tand [...]

by Olga Zichnali  , Despina Moraitou  , Christos Pezirkianidis  and Anastasios Stalikas

Received: 30 October 2018;  Published: 03 April 2019;  doi: 10.21926/obm.geriatr.1902044

Background: Interventions that facilitate positive actions and attitudes seem to play an important role in enhancing psychological health. This study examines the effectiveness of two self-guided interventions with the aim to enhance adults’ well-being through the cultivation of forgiveness skills. Methods: A total of 11 men and 31 women aged 34-80 years were involved (M = 56.57, S.D. = 13.44). All participants were Orthodox Christians, as the average Greeks are, without belonging to a closed religious community. T [...]

by Laura Alonso Canal  , Inmaculada Carreras Sáez  , María Concepción Fournier del Castill  , Julia Asensio Antón  , Inmaculada de Prada Vicente  , Carlos Isasi Zaragoza  , Javier Tejada Gallego  and María José Martínez-Gómez

Received: 17 December 2018;  Published: 03 April 2019;  doi: 10.21926/obm.neurobiol.1902024

Background: The association between Attention Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder (ADHD) and celiac disease has already been established. Non-celiac gluten sensitivity (NCGS), as well as celiac disease, has been associated with neuro-psychiatric disorders. Our objective is to assess if a proportion of pediatric ADHD patients are affected by NCGS and could consequently benefit from a gluten-free diet. Methods: Pilot study of 6 ADHD patients. Personal or family history suggestive of NCGS was investigated. The Conners Cont [...]

by Naoaki Sakata  , Gumpei Yoshimatsu  and Shohta Kodama

Received: 15 January 2019;  Published: 03 April 2019;  doi: 10.21926/obm.transplant.1902059

Total pancreatectomy (TP) is performed for not only malignant pancreatic diseases but also benign disease such as chronic pancreatitis or pancreatic injury. However, because this surgery involves removal of the whole pancreas, both exocrine and endocrine pancreatic functions are abolished, significantly impairing the nutritional statuses of patients as well as having other detrimental outcomes. Thus, especially in benign cases additional treatment to recover endocrine function is recommended, as permanent endocrine [...]

by Yumiko Nagao  , Shinji Nishioka  and Keizo Koresawa

Received: 12 January 2019;  Published: 02 April 2019;  doi: 10.21926/obm.hg.1902016

Background: The association between hepatitis C virus (HCV) infection and oral lichen planus (OLP), an extrahepatic manifestation, is well known. There are still patients with viral liver disease in this country who are not receiving appropriate treatment. This prospective study aimed to evaluate the prevalence of OLP and untreated hepatitis virus infection in patients who visited dental clinics in Ehime prefecture, in western Japan. Methods: Patients who visited 35 dental clinics in Japan from March 2018 to June 2 [...]

by Pei-Chen Lo  , Bo-Ting Lyu  and Wu Jue Miao Tian

Received: 30 July 2018;  Published: 01 April 2019;  doi: 10.21926/obm.icm.1902021

Background: This research aims to develop new methods to investigate the cardiorespiratory interaction of Zen-meditation practitioners (Zen-meditation group) and healthy ordinary young people (control group) by quantitatively evaluating respiratory sinus arrhythmia (RSA) behavior. Methods: Twenty-five voluntary controls and seven Zen-meditation practitioners were recruited. The experimental protocol involved five sessions of different mental-stress levels (control group) and five sessions of Zen-meditation practice [...]

by Jennie Cao  , Valentina L Kouznetsova  and Igor F Tsigelny

Received: 30 January 2019;  Published: 01 April 2019;  doi: 10.21926/obm.genet.1902071

Cancer is the leading cause of death in dogs, and 50 percent of dogs over the age of 10 develop cancer at some point. The most common cancers in dogs include lymphoma, mast cell tumors, osteosarcoma, mammary gland tumors, and melanoma, and many of them share marked similarities with their human counterparts. Although canines are afflicted with many of the same types of cancers as humans, the genetic basis behind these cancers are not as well understood. Thus, the aim of this study is to elucidate some of the molecu [...]

by Kyunga Kim  , Shlomit Kenigsberg  , Andrea Jurisicova  and Yaakov Bentov

Received: 01 January 2019;  Published: 29 March 2019;  doi: 10.21926/obm.genet.1901070

The mitochondria of the oocyte are a prominent source of energy metabolism as well as mitochondrial DNA that will later populate the cells of the offspring. Recent discoveries provided new insight into the physiology of the mitochondria and its unique genetics. The concept of heteroplasmy defined as the presence of more than one type of mitochondrial genome, is gaining increasing recognition as an important contributor to several complex morbidities, age-related reproductive dysfunction and aging. Understanding the [...]

by Ana Jessica Alfaro  , Soledad Argüelles-Borge  , Ashley M. Stripling  and Paula M. Brochu

Received: 17 September 2018;  Published: 29 March 2019;  doi: 10.21926/obm.geriatr.1901043

Background: The world’s aging population is growing and diversifying at an unprecedented rate. In preparation for this, the National Institutes of Health and the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention have issued calls to improve the overall health of older adults. A promising avenue of research to improve health in late life has been dedicated to subjective aging; the way people perceive their own aging process. The main objective of this empirical study was to investigate subjective aging in late life among e [...]

by Ray Marks

Received: 25 March 2019;  Published: 28 March 2019;  doi: 10.21926/obm.geriatr.1901042

Depression and Aging: Role of Social Support

by Carmelo Guido  , Valentina Selmi  , Cosimo Chelazzi  , Giulia Borsotti  , Rita Giachetti  , Vittorio Limatola  , Martina Sicurani  and Angelo Raffaele De Gaudio

Received: 29 September 2018;  Published: 28 March 2019;  doi: 10.21926/obm.icm.1901020

Background: In recent years, complementary and alternative medicine (CAM) techniques have become very widespread; among these, acupuncture can play an important role in the treatment of adverse effects related to chemotherapy. This role has been recognized by the National Institutes of Health after many clinical studies, thus allowing the official introduction of acupuncture in supportive therapy for oncological diseases, particularly to prevent nausea and vomiting. The aim of this paper is to describe the activity [...]

by Minako Ito  , Tanakorn Srirat  , Toshihiro Nakamura  , Kyoko Komai  and Akihiko Yoshimura

Received: 13 January 2019;  Published: 27 March 2019;  doi: 10.21926/obm.neurobiol.1901023

Inflammation and immune responses after stroke, including ischemic cerebral infarction, play pivotal roles in the pathology, resolution of inflammation, and neurological recovery. Regulatory T (Treg) cells are the cells responsible for immune tolerance, usually activated by secondary lymphatic tissues, which subsequently regulate effector T cell activation and dendritic cell activation. Recently, Tregs that are present in tissues, called tissue Tregs, have been shown to exhibit tissue-specific functions in addition [...]

by Oliver Reed  , Patrick B Allen  , Grant Caddy  , John Eccles  and Tony CK Tham

Received: 28 January 2019;  Published: 26 March 2019;  doi: 10.21926/obm.hg.1901015

Crohn’s disease is a chronic inflammatory condition of the gastrointestinal tract which can result in luminal stenosis and up to 90% of patients requiring surgery during their lifetime. Medical management aims to reduce the inflammatory burden to prevent the development of inflammatory strictures, progression to fibro-stenosis and subsequent obstructive symptoms. Endoscopic balloon dilatation (EBD) is a well-established, safe technique in the management of short strictures to prevent patients having multiple surgic [...]

by Harry G. Hong

Received: 10 December 2018;  Published: 25 March 2019;  doi: 10.21926/obm.icm.1901019

Background: Electrodermal measurement of acupuncture points has been correlated to physiologic and pathologic conditions with clinical and laboratory studies. Emerging evidence indicates that in addition to therapeutic effect, acupuncture points may also have diagnostic properties. However, physiologic basis of this phenomenon is still unknown. Objective: To determine how electrodermal activity of acupuncture points on hands and feet responds to exercise-induced sympathetic stress and how electrodermal measurement [...]

by Annapaola Mariniello  and Silvia Novello

Received: 15 November 2018;  Published: 22 March 2019;  doi: 10.21926/obm.genet.1901069

Immune oncology treatment with immune checkpoint inhibitors (ICIs) is revolutionizing therapeutic approach for advanced non-small cell lung cancer (NSCLC) patients, in terms of longer survival and improved quality of life. To date, the widely used and approved biomarker is programmed death ligand 1 (PD-L1) expression on tumour cells, but it is considered not accurate and it is more likely that many factors, related to both cancer and host, may better predict response to ICI. Among those factors, great attention is [...]

by Javier Carbone  , Juan Fernandez-Yañez  , Iago Sousa  , Patricia Muñoz  and Elizabeth Sarmiento

Received: 23 November 2018;  Published: 22 March 2019;  doi: 10.21926/obm.transplant.1901058

Secondary antibody deficiency has been associated with risk of invasive fungal infections in solid organ transplantation. Single center, multi-center and meta-analysis studies have tested this association. Therapy of these infectious complications in the presence of a secondary antibody deficiency after transplantation remain a challenge for transplant teams. Currently, there are no guidelines for the management of this combined clinical scenario. We report the case of a patient with severe secondary immunodeficien [...]

by Lei Zhang  , Xian-Zhang Hu  , Xiaoxia Li  , Jacob Dohl  , Tianzheng Yu  and Robert J. Ursano

Received: 28 December 2018;  Published: 21 March 2019;  doi: 10.21926/obm.geriatr.1901041

Depression, PTSD, and hostility are common mental conditions that are associated with aging. A growing body of research has highlighted the possible effects of depression, PTSD, and hostility on aging and telomere length (TL), a cellular aging marker. Individuals who exhibit excessive responses to stressors show notable circulating inflammatory responses with high cortisol reactivity, which increases cell turnover and oxidative stress and may subsequently contribute to shortened TL. This review focuses on the most [...]

by Robert J Emanuel

Received: 09 January 2019;  Published: 21 March 2019;  doi: 10.21926/obm.geriatr.1901040

The amount of patients who suffer with dementia is set to rise with an ageing population. As well as living longer, patients will be retaining their natural teeth into their later life and will be less reliant on dentures. From both the current evidence available in the literature, and anecdotally from clinicians experienced in treating patients with dementia, it can be concluded that on balance, patients with dementia appear to be at a greater risk from dental caries (dental decay). However, more research in this [...]

by Paul D. Loprinzi

Received: 07 February 2019;  Published: 21 March 2019;  doi: 10.21926/obm.icm.1901018

The objective of this brief systematic review was to examine the effects of aquatic exercise on cognitive function. Studies were identified using electronic databases, including PubMed, PsychInfo, Sports Discus and Google Scholar. In total, 13 articles met the inclusionary criteria. Among the 13 studies, all 13 demonstrated beneficial cognitive effects from exercise. This included chronic aquatic exercise-induced improvements in global cognition, executive function, attention, learning and memory, cognitively-relat [...]

by Robert L. Conder  , Christopher Friesen  and Alanna A. Conder

Received: 30 November 2018;  Published: 20 March 2019;  doi: 10.21926/obm.geriatr.1901039

Background: While the percent of persons 65 and older is expected to increase to 17% of the world’s population by 2050, this increase in longevity does not necessarily suggest a parallel increase in health status. While aging is an inevitable aspect of living, there are factors which can accelerate morbidity and mortality, as well as factors likely to promote a healthy transition into longevity. This paper addresses behavioural and complementary interventions for healthy neurocognitive aging. Specific evidence-base [...]

by Ivan Y. Iourov  , Ilia V. Soloviev  , Yuri B. Yurov  and Svetlana G. Vorsanova

Received: 02 February 2019;  Published: 20 March 2019;  doi: 10.21926/obm.genet.1901067

Fluorescence in situ hybridization (FISH) seems to be the most applicable and versatile molecular cytogenetic platform for visual interphase chromosome analysis offering a variety of opportunities for studying chromosomal structure and behaviour at the highest microscopic resolution and at all stages of the cell cycle. Quantitative assessment of FISH results has been repeatedly shown to increase the efficiency of FISH-based approaches. Here, we explore the potential of interphase quantitative FISH (IQ-FISH), which [...]

by Svetlana G. Vorsanova  , Yuri B. Yurov  , Ilia V Soloviev  , Alexei D Kolotii  , Irina A Demidova  , Viktor S Kravets  , Oxana S Kurinnaia  , Maria A Zelenova  and Ivan Y. Iourov

Received: 08 February 2019;  Published: 20 March 2019;  doi: 10.21926/obm.genet.1901068

Recently, numerous studies have reported convincing data suggesting that chromosome instability may be not only a trigger of cancers but a possible mechanism for a wide spectrum of brain diseases. According to our original experience, chromosome instability is commonly observed during karyotyping of children with neuropsychiatric diseases and congenital malformations. To understand mechanisms of non-cancerous diseases potentially mediated by chromosome instability, which may represent an important target for molecu [...]