Role of TRP channels in carcinogenesis and metastasis: Pathophysiology and regulation by non-coding RNAs

In 2021, David Julius and Ardem Patapoutian received Nobel Prize in Physiology or Medicine for their ground-breaking discoveries in the functional characterization of receptors for temperature and touch. Transient receptor potential (TRP) channels have captivated tremendous appreciation as promising drug targets over the past few years because of central involvement in different cancers. Based on the insights gleaned from decades of high-quality research, basic and clinical scientists have unveiled how Transient receptor potential channels regulated cancer onset and progression. Pioneering studies have sparked renewed interest and researchers have started to scratch the surface of mechanistic role of these channels in wide variety of cancers. In this review we have attempted to provide a summary of most recent updates and advancements made in the biology of these channels in context of cancers. We have partitioned this review into different subsections on the basis of emerging evidence about characteristically distinct role of TRPV (TRPV1, TRPV5), TRPM (TRPM3, TRPM7) and TRPC in cancers. Regulation of TRP channels by non-coding RNAs is also a very exciting area of research which will be helpful in developing a sharper understanding of the multi-step aspects of cancers.

TRAIL-mediated signaling in bladder cancer: realization of clinical efficacy of TRAIL-based therapeutics in medical oncology

Bladder cancer is a therapeutically challenging disease and wealth of knowledge has enabled researchers to develop a clear understanding of mechanisms which underlie carcinogenesis and metastasis. Excitingly, research over decades has unveiled wide-ranging mechanisms which serve as central engine in progression of bladder cancer. Loss of apoptosis, drug resistance, and pro-survival signaling are some of the highly studied cellular mechanisms. Therefore, restoration of apoptosis in resistant cancers is a valuable and attractive strategy. Discovery of TRAIL-mediated signaling cascade is an intriguing facet of molecular oncology. In this review, we have provided an overview of the translational and foundational advancements in dissecting the genomic and proteomic cartography of TRAIL signaling exclusively in the context of bladder cancer. We have also summarized how different natural products sensitized drug-resistant bladder cancer cells to TRAIL-mediated apoptosis. Interestingly, different death receptors that activate agonistic antibodies have been tested in various phases of clinical trials against different cancers. Certain clues of scientific evidence have provided encouraging results about efficacy of these agonistic antibodies (lexatumumab and mapatumumab) against bladder cancer cell lines. Therefore, multipronged approaches consisting of natural products, chemotherapeutics, and agonistic antibodies will realistically and mechanistically provide proof-of-concept for the translational potential of these combinatorial strategies in well-designed clinical trials.

Health-Related Quality of Life in Patients with Chronic Hepati-tis B: A Meta-Analysis of Observational Studies

Background: Chronic hepatitis B virus (CHB) infection is one of the most common liver infections worldwide. Approximately 240 million patients are diagnosed with CHB. The objective of this meta-analysis was to identify the effect of CHB on the affected patients’ health-related quality of life and compare with the control group. Methods: A comprehensive search was conducted through PubMed, Medline, ProQuest, Cochrane Central Register of Controlled Trials, Clinicaltrials.gov, and Web of Science databases up to Jul 2022. Results: Five primary observational studies using SF-36 and WHOQOL surveys with 1135 participants (646 with CHB and 489 healthy individuals) included in the meta-analysis. We evaluated the scores of physical and mental component summaries. HRQoL was comparable in both groups. The disease's impact appears to slightly affect the mental component summary than the physical component summary. Conclusion: The HRQoL in CHB patients is mainly reflected in the impairment of the mental aspect. It is vital to focus on optimally managing care, family and social support, stress management.

Multifunctional Roles of Betulinic Acid in Cancer Chemoprevention: Spotlight on JAK/STAT, VEGF, EGF/EGFR, TRAIL/TRAIL-R, AKT/mTOR and Non-Coding RNAs in the Inhibition of Carcinogenesis and Metastasis

The pursual of novel anticancer molecules from natural sources has gained worthwhile appreciation, and a significant fraction of conceptual knowledge has revolutionized our understanding about heterogeneous nature of cancer. Betulinic acid has fascinated interdisciplinary researchers due to its tremendous pharmacological properties. Ground-breaking discoveries have unraveled previously unprecedented empirical proof-of-concept about momentous chemopreventive role of betulinic acid against carcinogenesis and metastasis. Deregulation of cell signaling pathways has been reported to play a linchpin role in cancer progression and colonization of metastatically competent cancer cells to the distant organs for the development of secondary tumors. Importantly, betulinic acid has demonstrated unique properties to mechanistically modulate oncogenic transduction cascades. In this mini-review, we have attempted to provide a sophisticated compendium of regulatory role of betulinic acid in cancer chemoprevention. We have partitioned this multi-component review into different sections in which we summarized landmark research-works which highlighted betulinic acid mediated regulation of JAK/STAT, VEGF, EGF/EGFR, TRAIL/TRAIL-R, AKT/mTOR and ubiquitination pathways in the inhibition of cancer. In parallel, betulinic acid mediated regulation of signaling cascades and non-coding RNAs will be critically analyzed in cell culture and animal model studies. Better comprehension of the pharmaceutical features of betulinic acid and mapping of the existing knowledge gaps will be valuable in the translatability of preclinical studies into rationally designed clinical trials.

Life Expectancy as a Quality of Life Indicator

The article's abstract is not available.  

A Pilot Study of Nutrition Management in the Department of Pediatric Oncology Department of a Hospital in Kazakhstan

Maintaining optimal nutritional status is important for children with cancer because it can affect clinical outcomes. This study aimed to prospectively study clinical practices in children's cancer departments to improve the nutritional health of children and adolescents receiving cancer treatment. Currently, there are no unified and harmonized protocols for assessing the nutritional status and nutritional support of children in pediatric wards in Kazakhstan. According to WHO research, most of the children admitted to hospitals already have significant nutritional status disorders, such as exhaustion and malnutrition, lipid metabolism disorders, hypovitaminosis and anemia. 200 children with cancer aged 6 months to 17 years (n=200) were recruited. Dietary data and other relevant anthropometric and biochemical data were collected using a data collection form validated and developed by the researchers. Data processing is still in progress. They were randomly allocated either to a treatment group or a control group (age-matched and gender matched). The treatment group received nutritional advice and support and the control group received the standard treatment. A significant decrease in the intake of protein and energy with the consumed diets, which are prescribed by doctors in daily practice, was revealed, which is a risk factor for the development of severe nutritional disorders (p>0.5). Patients who were assigned nutritional support in addition to the General diets during the study had higher nutrient intake. Comparing week zero with subsequent weeks of nutritional support, children in the main group showed significant improvements in the thickness of the triceps skin fold (P<0.001), the circumference of the middle shoulder (P<0.001), and the circumference of the arm muscles (P<0.001), showing that performing nutritional support is better for the evolution of nutrition (P<0.01). Proper use of nutritional support in children with cancer can prevent the development of nutritional deficiencies and associated risks. To improve nutrition management, attention should be paid to nutrition education and assessment tools for doctors and nurses.

Unemployment as a Medical and Social Problem and Incidence among Unemployed Young People

BACKGROUND: The problem of unemployment among young people worries the world for many generations, since young people are the stratum of the population on which the future in each country depends (Brydsten et al. 2016). The socioeconomic situation of young people, especially the unemployed, is alarming, which is not always emphasized in the priorities of social policy. The study of incidence among unemployed youth is carried out in many countries, where it is noted that the unemployed people have worse mental and physical health compared to employed one (Grzegorczyk and Wolff, 2020). AIM: Our study aims to assess the difference between the incidence of working and unemployed youth. METHODS: The study involved 536 people, from 18 to 29-years-old, among whom women - 69.2%, men - 30.8%, from all regions of Kazakhstan. RESULTS: The results of the work showed that the level of youth unemployment increased during the pandemic by an average of 1% in the world and in Kazakhstan, young people had limitations in receiving medical and social assistance due to financial constraints, deficiency of health insurance and personal reluctance. It was also found that social status is a significant predictor of vaccination (beta = −0.225, R2 = 0.0507, p < 0.001) and a predictor of alcohol consumption (beta = −0.0908, R2 = 0.00824, p = 0.037). More often unemployed youth noted health problems over the past year (42.3%) than in other social groups (35.6–37.8%), a similar situation was observed when assessing the frequency of chronic diseases (p = 0.365). CONCLUSION: In our study, we show that the decline in health by virtue of unemployment is likely to be significant, since our estimated effect implies that the health of young people is almost 10% worse (in absolute terms) due to unemployment compared to the employed population. This further underscores that unemployment is a public health problem that needs more attention. Furthermore, the results obtained show that unemployment has the most negative consequences for vulnerable people, including young people.

Assessment of the Quality of Life and Living Conditions of the Rural Population of the Kazakhstan during the COVID-19 Pandemic

BACKGROUND: Low availability of medical care and low level of comfort living in rural areas, underdeveloped infrastructure, and difficult working conditions lead to the deterioration of health of rural residents. Rural areas are characterized by less comfortable living conditions than in the city, which can affect health-related quality of life. AIM: The purpose of this study was to assess the satisfaction of the population with the quality of life in rural areas as well as to study the quality of life of the rural population of the Republic of Kazakhstan related to health. METHODS: This study was a one-stage cross-sectional study. Online questionnaire was asked by 411 local residents, of which only 302 were suitable for processing. RESULTS: The results showed that almost a third of the respondents are unemployed (27.2%). In the course of the survey, respondents could subjectively assess their own health, for example, almost a third of respondents (35.76%) assess their health as “poor” and “below average.” At the same time, 18.21% of respondents are not satisfied with the quality of medical services provided in rural areas. The coefficients of correlation between the desire to move to the city and age, income level, family composition, marital status, and type of housing were established. The universal social functioning-36 index was 0.6 (±0.02) for women and 0.55 (±0.033) for men CONCLUSIONS: We can say that the quality of life of the rural population remains quite low. This is evidenced by low income, high unemployment, and the problem of drinking water. Quarantine measures related to COVID-19 also had an impact on the increase in unemployment, however, during the quarantine, there is a deterioration in mental health indicators among men compared to women. The results of the study confirmed that the issue of accessibility of medical services remains very urgent for rural residents.

Features of the Development of a Mobile Application for Cardiac Patients

Background:

An important global public health problem in many economically developed countries, in particular in Kazakhstan, is the leading cause of morbidity and mortality from cardiovascular disease (CVD), both in urban and rural areas.

Objective:

This study aims to develop the design of a mobile application for smartphones for cardiac patients, taking into account the specifics of outpatient care.

Methods:

This methodological study includes identified educational and prevention content for CVD patients to develop an education and monitoring tool using a smartphone app. The application was developed according to the stages of analysis, design, development, implementation and evaluation, which is a systematic training model of design. The levels of satisfaction with the developed application for smartphones among 65 outpatients with CVD were assessed using a questionnaire during their visit to a medical organization.

Results:

The «My Heart» smartphone app was developed based on a review of the literature related to educating patients with CVD, consulting specialists, monitoring and searching for medical smartphone applications that are already available. The content of education and registration includes three main sections, containing basic questions on registration and monitoring of the condition, materials on education and prevention of CVD, such as a daily questionnaire and nutritional advice. After modification based on expert feedback, the application was finally developed and evaluated by patients who reported being satisfied with the usefulness of the application.

Conclusions:

This application is developed as a research tool to further conduct a study in CVD patients. Current evaluation was a pilot testing wherein this application showed promising results.