Emerging evidence suggests that COVID is associated with a wide range of cardiac abnormalities in patients aged 30–50 years, including individuals with no prior cardiovascular risk factors. This review synthesizes five contemporary studies to evaluate the nature, persistence, and clinical implications of post-COVID cardiac dysfunction. Diagnostic approaches used in these studies included cardiac magnetic resonance imaging (CMR), echocardiography, and exercise testing. The use of these testing methodologies revealed subclinical impairments, structural remodeling, and diminished functional capacity. Additionally, persistent inflammation and abnormal global longitudinal strain were also frequently observed, often in the absence of other symptoms or elevated biomarkers. Despite variations in methodology and sample demographics, the studies converged on the conclusion that COVID poses a threat to cardiac health. Limitations of these studies included small cohort sizes, limited follow-up, and heterogeneity in diagnostic protocols, underscoring the need for standardized longitudinal research. The overall conclusion emphasizes the importance of proactive diagnostic screening and tailored treatment strategies to mitigate long-term cardiovascular consequences in this population.
Mild cognitive impairment (MCI) and early Alzheimer's disease (AD) present significant challenges in aging populations, as cognitive decline impacts daily life and overall well-being. There has been a growing interest in non-pharmacological interventions that can mitigate the progression of these conditions. This review explores the impact of various interventions, including physical activity, nutrition, cognitive training, and multidomain approaches, on cognitive function in individuals with MCI or early AD. Studies have demonstrated the potential of exercise, particularly aerobic and strength training, to improve cognitive health by preserving brain structure and function. Nutritional interventions, particularly those focusing on Mediterranean-style diets, offer promising cognitive benefits due to their anti-inflammatory properties. Cognitive training programs have shown improvements in specific cognitive domains, but results regarding their long-term effectiveness are still inconclusive. Multidomain interventions that combine exercise, nutrition, and cognitive training show potential for optimizing cognitive function and reducing the risk of further cognitive decline. However, while these studies offer promising results, more large-scale, long-term trials are needed to confirm the sustained impact of these interventions and identify the most effective strategies for preventing dementia.
Recent clinical trials on cancer immunotherapy drugs have demonstrated improved breast cancer patient outcomes. Pembrolizumab, a cancer immunotherapy checkpoint inhibitor, has been utilized in clinical breast cancer trials due to its reasonable safety profile. Pembrolizumab acts on cancer cells by blocking programmed death-ligand-1 (PD-L1), allowing our adaptive immune system to function as it normally would. PD-L1 is a cell surface protein that induces T cell apoptosis upon binding to PD-1 receptors on T cells, a key mechanism for immune evasion. Through measuring overall response rate (ORR) and pathological complete response (pCR), researchers have measured the efficacy of Pembrolizumab. While it was generally found that there was no statistically significant difference for ORR, the data collected for pCR shows a statistically significant difference in patients who received pembrolizumab treatment compared to those who received the control. This data offers promising results that pembrolizumab could potentially improve breast cancer patient survival outcomes.
Sex-chromosome mutations are among the most detrimental to human health. Most are lethal or result in major loss of function, and their germline location allows mutations to affect multiple generations. A mosaic mutation causes an individual to have multiple populations of cells with different genotypes [1]. There are two types of mosaic chromosomal mutations (mCAs) that occur in germline cells. One has links to the Y chromosome in men (mLOY) while the other has links to the X chromosome in women (mLOX) [2].
Currently, over 90,000 people are waiting for a kidney transplant in the United States alone [1]. End-stage renal disease affects 2 in 1000 Americans, whose only treatment options are dialysis or a kidney transplant [2]. Dialysis does the work of the kidneys by filtering out waste and excess fluid. However, serious drawbacks include frequent, time-consuming appointments and an increased risk of blood clots, which cause dialysis to fail [3]. Therefore, the ideal treatment option is transplantation of a functioning kidney.
Lung cancer accounts for the highest mortality rate out of all cancer types (Siegel et al., 2021) due to late diagnosis and poor prognosis. Lung cancer can be classified into non-small cell lung carcinoma (NSCLC) and small cell lung carcinoma (SCLC). NSCLC accounts for 80-85% of lung cancers and is subdivided into adenocarcinoma, squamous cell carcinoma, and large cell carcinoma (Osmani et al., 2018). Common treatments for cancer include chemotherapy or radiotherapy.
Climate change has intensified environmental stresses on plants, threatening global food security by reducing crop yields by up to 5% per decade [1]. While genetic modifications have traditionally enhanced crop resilience, they raise ethical and ecological concerns. Epigenetic priming, where plants retain “memories” of prior stress and respond more effectively to future challenges, offers a prospective, sustainable alternative. This review examines three key aspects of epigenetic priming: underlying mechanisms, the stability and reliability of transgenerational inheritance, and practical agricultural applications. Peer-reviewed studies from Biosis and CAB Abstracts databases were searched using epigenetic priming keywords, limited to those published in the past five years. The most consistent finding is that DNA methylation and histone modifications regulate plant stress responses, contributing to short-term, long-term, and potentially transgenerational memory. However, evidence on the stability of transgenerational inheritance remains mixed. Some studies support heritable epigenetic changes that enhance resilience, while others report inconsistent results across environments and genotypes. Practical applications are also emerging, including CRISPR-based tools for targeted epigenetic modifications and field studies demonstrating potential improvements in crop resilience and yields. Yet, variability in outcomes across crops stresses the need for specialized approaches. The discrepancies mentioned likely stem from methodological differences, such as stress application protocols and the resetting of epigenetic marks in germlines. Future research must refine methodologies to bridge these gaps, unlocking the potential of epigenetic priming to enhance crop resilience in a changing climate.
This review of ankylosing spondylitis (AS) mechanisms is an update on current AS theories and suggestions for continued research. A literature search identified two leading hypotheses on possible mechanisms–the arthritogenic peptide hypothesis and the misfolding hypothesis– as well as three additional factors that may influence the progression of the disease. These studies have raised as many questions as they answered, and there is often a significant time gap between studies on the same topic due to the difficulties and costs involved. Continued research on this prevalent and debilitating disease remains imperative, especially in light of recent breakthroughs in immunotherapy such as CAR T cell therapy. This review explores the two major mechanistic hypotheses, then discusses emerging genetic and immunologic findings, and the potential of CAR T cell therapy.
Age-related macular degeneration (AMD) is the leading cause of vision impairment and irreversible blindness among individuals over the age of 55 in developed countries [1, 2, 3]. It is characterized by progressive damage to the macula, a key component of the eye’s retina. Since the retina is responsible for converting light into neural signals essential for vision, any damage can severely impair both central and peripheral vision, significantly impacting the quality of life for millions of people.
Ultraviolet radiation is a wavelength of light invisible to the human eye, but responsible for catastrophic damage to our DNA. Although our bodies have built-in mechanisms to repair DNA damage, these systems are not perfect. Essential genes in our skin cells still experience mutations as a result of UV radiation (UVR), and in some cases, this results in skin cancer. Melanoma is the deadliest form, responsible for thousands of deaths a year, and although its causes aren’t fully understood, it is clear that UV exposure is a key player in melanomagenesis. To fully understand how best to protect against melanoma, it is important to elucidate exactly how UV radiation causes the mutations that ultimately result in our melanocytes becoming cancerous. This paper will examine the current understanding of the mechanisms of UV-generated DNA damage, mutations, and tumor formation to determine what causes melanoma.
