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Feature Papers in Medical Research: 2nd Edition

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A special issue of Life (ISSN 2075-1729). This special issue belongs to the section "Medical Research".

Deadline for manuscript submissions: closed (20 September 2023) | Viewed by 6922

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Special Issue Editor

Prof. Dr. Christian Lehmann

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Guest Editor

Faculty of Medicine, Dalhousie University, Halifax NS B3H 4R2, Canada
Interests: anesthesiology; physiology and biophysics; pharmacology; microbiology and immunology; computer science
Special Issues, Collections and Topics in MDPI journals

Special Issue Information

Dear Colleagues,

The first volume of the Special Issue “Feature Papers in Medical Research” was successful (https://www.mdpi.com/journal/life/special_issues/SK0T5PC4U2). We would like to open Volume II in 2023 for high-quality submissions in the Medical Research Section.

We aim to collect research articles and systematic reviews in all fields of medical research. Since the goal of this Topical Collection is to present novel medical research, we encourage the Editorial Board Members of Life to contribute papers reflecting the latest progress in their field or to invite relevant experts and colleagues to do so.

Topics include, but are not limited to:

Dermatological research;
Cancer research;
Cardiovascular research;
General medicine;
Gastroenterological research;
Hematological research;
Immunological research;
Infectious diseases research;
Metabolism and endocrinology;
Nervous system research;
Nursing;
Pediatrics;
Pulmonary research;
Psychiatric research;
Rehabilitation;
Renal and urinary research;
Reproductive research and women's health;
Rheumatological research;
Skeletal and muscular research;
Vision research.

Prof. Dr. Christian Lehmann
Guest Editor

Manuscript Submission Information

Manuscripts should be submitted online at www.mdpi.com by registering and logging in to this website. Once you are registered, click here to go to the submission form. Manuscripts can be submitted until the deadline. All submissions that pass pre-check are peer-reviewed. Accepted papers will be published continuously in the journal (as soon as accepted) and will be listed together on the special issue website. Research articles, review articles as well as short communications are invited. For planned papers, a title and short abstract (about 100 words) can be sent to the Editorial Office for announcement on this website.

Submitted manuscripts should not have been published previously, nor be under consideration for publication elsewhere (except conference proceedings papers). All manuscripts are thoroughly refereed through a single-blind peer-review process. A guide for authors and other relevant information for submission of manuscripts is available on the Instructions for Authors page. Life is an international peer-reviewed open access monthly journal published by MDPI.

Please visit the Instructions for Authors page before submitting a manuscript. The Article Processing Charge (APC) for publication in this open access journal is 2600 CHF (Swiss Francs). Submitted papers should be well formatted and use good English. Authors may use MDPI's English editing service prior to publication or during author revisions.

Published Papers (5 papers)

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Research

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18 pages, 1680 KiB

Open AccessArticle

The Reticulon-4 3-bp Deletion/Insertion Polymorphism Is Associated with Structural mRNA Changes and the Risk of Breast Cancer: A Population-Based Case–Control Study with Bioinformatics Analysis

by Pouria Pourzand, Farhad Tabasi, Fariba Fayazbakhsh, Shamim Sarhadi, Gholamreza Bahari, Mohsen Mohammadi, Sahar Jomepour, Mohammad Nafeli, Fatemeh Mosayebi, Mehrdad Heravi, Mohsen Taheri, Mohammad Hashemi and Saeid Ghavami

Life 2023, 13(7), 1549; https://doi.org/10.3390/life13071549 - 12 Jul 2023

Viewed by 2053

Abstract

Breast cancer (BC) is a complex disease caused by molecular events that disrupt cellular survival and death. Discovering novel biomarkers is still required to better understand and treat BC. The reticulon-4 (RTN4) gene, encoding Nogo proteins, plays a critical role in apoptosis and cancer development, with genetic variations affecting its function. We investigated the rs34917480 in RTN4 and its association with BC risk in an Iranian population sample. We also predicted the rs34917480 effect on RTN4 mRNA structure and explored the RTN4’s protein–protein interaction network (PPIN) and related pathways. In this case–control study, 437 women (212 BC and 225 healthy) were recruited. The rs34917480 was genotyped using AS-PCR, mRNA secondary structure was predicted with RNAfold, and PPIN was constructed using the STRING database. Our findings revealed that this variant was associated with a decreased risk of BC in heterozygous (p = 0.012), dominant (p = 0.015), over-dominant (p = 0.017), and allelic (p = 0.035) models. Our prediction model showed that this variant could modify RTN4’s mRNA thermodynamics and potentially its translation. RTN4’s PPIN also revealed a strong association with apoptosis regulation and key signaling pathways highly implicated in BC. Consequently, our findings, for the first time, demonstrate that rs34917480 could be a protective factor against BC in our cohort, probably via preceding mechanisms. Full article

(This article belongs to the Special Issue Feature Papers in Medical Research: 2nd Edition)

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13 pages, 925 KiB

Open AccessArticle

Mentalization, Oxytocin, and Cortisol in the General Population

by Edina Török, Oguz Kelemen and Szabolcs Kéri

Life 2023, 13(6), 1329; https://doi.org/10.3390/life13061329 - 06 Jun 2023

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Abstract

Although evidence suggests the role of oxytocin and cortisol in social cognition and emotion regulation, it is less known how their peripheral levels are related to social perception (biological motion detection) and mentalization (self-reflection, emotional awareness, and affect regulation) in the general population. We assessed 150 healthy individuals from the general community on a mentalization questionnaire, a scale measuring the intensity of positive and negative emotions, and measured oxytocin and cortisol levels in the saliva. Oxytocin but not cortisol level and biological motion detection predicted mentalization abilities. There was a positive correlation between mentalization and positive emotions and between mentalization and biological motion detection. These results suggest that oxytocin, but not cortisol, plays a role in low-level perceptual and self-reflective aspects of social cognition. Full article

(This article belongs to the Special Issue Feature Papers in Medical Research: 2nd Edition)

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Review

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16 pages, 1292 KiB

Open AccessReview

An Integrative Approach to the Current Treatment of HIV-Associated Neurocognitive Disorders and the Implementation of Leukemia Inhibitor Factor as a Mediator of Neurocognitive Preservation

by Andrés De Freitas-Suarez, Natalia Espinosa-Ponce, Natalia Alvarez-Roger, Arianna Iris Cabrera-Suarez, Guillermo Jiménez-Jordán, Rocio Vega-Roman, Mikhail Inyushin and Janaina M. Alves

Life 2023, 13(11), 2194; https://doi.org/10.3390/life13112194 - 11 Nov 2023

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Abstract

HIV-associated neurocognitive disorders (HANDs) continue to impact patients despite antiretroviral therapy. A combination of antiretroviral therapies can diminish the HIV viral load to near undetectable levels, but fails to preserve neurocognitive integrity. The cytokine leukemia inhibitory factor (LIF) has shown neuroprotective properties that could mitigate neurodegeneration in HANDs. The LIF promotes neurogenesis, neural cell differentiation, and survival. Combination antiretroviral therapy reduces severe forms of HANDs, but neurocognitive impairment persists; additionally, some antiretrovirals have additional adverse neurotoxic effects. The LIF counteracts neurotoxic viral proteins and limits neural cell damage in models of neuroinflammation. Adding the LIF as an adjuvant therapy to enhance neuroprotection merits further research for managing HANDs. The successful implementation of the LIF to current therapies would contribute to achieving a better quality of life for the affected population. Full article

(This article belongs to the Special Issue Feature Papers in Medical Research: 2nd Edition)

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Other

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8 pages, 569 KiB

Open AccessBrief Report

Epidemiology and Clinical Course of Haemorrhagic Fever with Renal Syndrome in New Endemic Area for Hantavirus Infection in Croatia

by Đurđica Cekinović Grbeša, Nino Zahirović, Viktorija Flego, Marija Livajić, Mari Rončević Filipović, Samira Knežević and Irena Slavuljica

Life 2023, 13(8), 1767; https://doi.org/10.3390/life13081767 - 18 Aug 2023

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Abstract

Background: Hantaviruses remain an important case of emerging and re-emerging infections in human medicine. This study aimed to analyse the epidemiology, clinical presentation, and outcome of hantavirus infections in the western part of Republic of Croatia, a new geographical area for hantavirus infections. Methods: Retrospective analysis of medical records of patients treated for hemorrhagic fever with renal syndrome (HFRS) at the infectious diseases Clinic of the Clinical Hospital Center in Rijeka, Croatia, from 1 January 2014, to 31 December 2021. Results: During the eight-year period, 251 patients were hospitalized and treated for HFRS, with epidemic outbreaks in years 2014 and 2021. Most patients had a typical clinical course of HFRS and received supportive care. Serological analysis revealed the Puumala Virus (PUUV) as the predominant etiology of the disease. Epidemiological analysis revealed clustering of infections in the region of Gorski Kotar and spread to the area on the Mediterranean coast (Adriatic Sea), which was previously considered an area free from hantavirus infections. Conclusions: The presented results indicate the spread of hantavirus infections in Croatia from the central low-lying parts of the country to the tourist-attractive western area adjacent to the Mediterranean coast, which was previously considered free of hantavirus infections. Full article

(This article belongs to the Special Issue Feature Papers in Medical Research: 2nd Edition)

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6 pages, 10329 KiB

Open AccessCase Report

A Strange Case of Traumatic Pleural Effusion: Pleural Empyema Due to Actinomyces meyeri, a Case Report

by Marco Ghisalberti, Chiara Madioni, Giacomo Ghinassi, Uberto Maccari, Roberto Corzani, Fabiola Meniconi, Raffaele Scala and Piero Paladini

Life 2023, 13(7), 1450; https://doi.org/10.3390/life13071450 - 27 Jun 2023

Cited by 1 | Viewed by 1420

Abstract

BACKGROUND: Actinomycosis by Actinomyces meyeri is rare and scarcely reported in the literature. The lung is the main organ involved. Penicillin and amoxicillin are the first-choice treatments. Surgery is indicated when empyema and abscesses are resistant to medical treatment. CASE PRESENTATION: We report an underdiagnosed case of pleural empyema due to A. meyeri in a patient with closed chest trauma. The patient, a male, 47 years old, presented with a dry cough, thoracic pain, and dyspnea a month after the trauma. A chest X-ray showed a left lower lobe pleural effusion, so he was subjected to a thoracentesis, leading to a partial re-expansion of the left lung. The patient also complained about gum discomfort; thus, a dental x-ray scan was taken, which showed the presence of vertical bone resorption in a periodontal pocket. The patient was treated with levofloxacin 500 mg orally once a day, which was continued for 15 days after discharge. Two months after the accident, he presented again with intermittent fever, a worsening cough, and dyspnea. A CT scan showed thickening of the left pleura and a loculated pleural effusion with partial collapse of the left lower lobe. A decision was made to refer the patient to the Thoracic Unit to undergo surgery via a left thoracoscopic uniportal approach. The lung was thoroughly decorticated, and the purulent fluid was aspirated. The postoperative course was uneventful. Cultures showed the growth of Actinomyces meyeri, which is sensitive to imipenem and amoxicillin. The patient started a proper antibiotic regimen and, whenever possible, was discharged. At 12 months follow-up, a chest X-ray showed a complete resolution of the left pleural effusion with complete re-expansion of the left lung. CONCLUSIONS: Although rare, Actinomycetes infections must be considered especially in front of non-solving empyema or severe pneumonia of unknown cause because in the majority of cases, with the proper treatment, the restitutio ad integrum is possible. Full article

(This article belongs to the Special Issue Feature Papers in Medical Research: 2nd Edition)

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