Hypohidrotic Ectodermal Dysplasia: A Case Report.

Ectodermal dysplasia (ED) is a rare genetic disorder that affects the developmental disturbance of ectoderm-derived tissues, organs, and accessory appendages, i.e. skin, hair, tooth, nail, and sweat glands. ED has two types hypohidrotic or anhidrotic ectodermal dysplasia and hidrotic ectodermal dysplasia. We report this case of classical hypohidrotic ectodermal dysplasia (HED) with clubbing. The association of clubbing with HED is still rare. This case report aims to discuss the etiology, clinical manifestations, and management of ectodermal dysplasia. A multidisciplinary approach is required including dentists, nutritionists, dermatologists, and physicians to manage ectodermal dysplasia.

Prospect of Alpha-Synuclein (A-Syn) Isolation From Saliva as a Promising Diagnostic Biomarker Alternative in Parkinson's Disease (PD): A Systematic Review.

Neurodegenerative diseases, in particular Parkinson's disease (PD), a disabling disorder, require early attention due to the course the diseases take. By the time of clinical manifestation, dopaminergic neuron death would have already exceeded a damaging level. Therefore, the discovery of biomarkers that will effectively diagnose PD at an early stage and help monitor disease advancement is crucial. Out of the available biomarkers and bodily sources from which these can be isolated; alpha-synuclein (a-syn) from saliva seems to be a promising and easily accessible option. This has been further investigated in this systematic review. A comprehensive literature search on PubMed, PubMed Central (PMC), and Science Direct resulted in 1,439 articles. After screening and exclusion, 12 relevant articles were derived. In many of the studies, there was a decrease in total salivary a-syn in PD patients compared to healthy controls (HC), with an increase in oligo a-syn and oligo a-syn/total a-syn ratio as a rather consistent finding amongst the studies reviewed. On the other hand, a few studies revealed no significant difference in a-syn levels between the controls and PD patients. Another common finding was the lack of disease severity correlation with the marker, probably due to the scarcity of longitudinal studies conducted and smaller cohorts recruited in the studies. Overall, the total a-syn did show a genetic and phenotypic association, whilst oligo a-syn had the potential to serve as a biomarker for disease diagnosis. With the standardization of sample collection methods and diagnostic tools, and the accomplishment of longitudinal studies, further importance of salivary a-syn as a biomarker in PD could be established, utilizing the already existing data as an encouraging foundation for future research.

Posttraumatic Stress Disorder (PTSD) and Instigation of Cardiovascular Events: Ischemic Heart Disease (IHD) and Atrial Fibrillation (AF).

Posttraumatic stress disorder (PTSD) is a disorder with chronic deterioration that arises after exposure to traumatic events. In these events, a persistent maladaptive reaction was found as a result of severe psychological stress and trauma. It is usually accompanied by mood alteration, disturbing memories, evading behavior, and hyperarousal. Many studies found a connection between PTSD and both ischemic heart disease (IHD) and atrial fibrillation (AF). Impairment of the hypothalamic-pituitary-adrenal axis and sympathetic nervous system can contribute to hypercoagulability, elevated cardiac reactivity, hypertension, dyslipidemia, and chronic inflammation, as all of these processes are implicated in IHD and AF risk. PTSD tends to have a more long-term course and is associated with more autonomic reactivity rather than a direct negative impact. More research is needed to understand the mechanisms underlying the increased AF risk in patients with PTSD and to identify supposed objectives for screening, intervention, and treatment. Highlighting the connection between PTSD and cardiovascular events would lead clinicians to develop screening tests that might help with the prevention and treatment of cardiovascular events for these patients.

Role of Metformin in the Management of Polycystic Ovarian Syndrome-Associated Acne: A Systematic Review.

Metformin, a biguanide hypoglycemic agent that is safe and effective for treating acne in women with the polycystic ovarian syndrome (PCOS), has shown growing evidence of improving insulin resistance, hyperandrogenism, dyslipidemia, overall cardiovascular health, quality of life, psychological wellbeing, and general health outcomes. This study aims to identify and summarize the effects of metformin in patients with PCOS-associated acne. This systematic review was based on the Preferred Reporting Items for Systematic Reviews and Meta-Analyses (PRISMA) guidelines. A systematic search was done on PubMed, PubMed Central, Cochrane, Google Scholar, and Science Direct databases from 2011 up to 23 February 2022. Randomized controlled trials (RCTs), cross-sectional studies, observational studies, literature reviews, systematic reviews, and meta-analyses published in English were selected. The data was extracted to a predefined template. Each study was individually checked by using a quality assessment. The initial search generated a total of 218 studies. Nine studies were included in the final selection: two RCTs, one hospital-based longitudinal study, one hospital-based clinical trial, three cross-sectional studies, three systematic reviews with meta-analyses, and one narrative review. Metformin is generally effective and safe for improving PCOS-associated acne and the quality of life. More clinical trials are required to determine the indications for prescribing metformin in patients with PCOS-associated acne.

Is Tocilizumab Effective and Safe in Polymyalgia Rheumatica and Giant-Cell Arteritis With Polymyalgia Rheumatica?

Polymyalgia rheumatica (PMR) and giant-cell arteritis (GCA) with symptoms of PMR share some pathophysiologic features. Interleukin 6 (IL-6) levels are elevated in both groups. We investigated the effect of tocilizumab (TCZ), an IL-6 inhibitor, in both populations and whether there were any differences regarding effectiveness and safety between them. We conducted a systematic review following the Preferred Reporting Items for Systematic Reviews and Meta-Analyses guidelines by searching the following databases: PubMed, PMC, Medline, Scopus, Cochrane Library, and ClincalTrials.gov. We found eight articles including one systematic review, one randomized controlled trial (RCT), one posthoc analysis of an RCT, and five observational studies. A total of 668 patients were included in this study. After a comprehensive analysis, we can only infer that there is insufficient evidence to suggest TCZ as monotherapy. Nevertheless, using TCZ in combination with glucocorticoid can be an effective therapeutic option.

The Effects of Yoga on Bipolar Disorder: A Systematic Review.

Bipolar disorder (BD) is a mood disorder characterized by severe mood swings and or periods of depression. This study examined the role that practicing yoga has on the symptoms of BD. One of the main goals was to identify if patients with BD believe that yoga is a viable treatment option. Six research databases were searched using the keywords "yoga" AND "therapy" AND "BD" AND "bipolar depression." Articles published in 2005 and later were included in the search. After duplicates were removed, and inclusion and exclusion criteria were applied, five articles were analyzed and included in this literature review. Results of this review indicate that yoga has been shown to be associated with both benefits and risks for the treatment of BD. Studies have shown that yoga might relieve some symptoms of BD and depression. However, due to the lack of research on the impact of yoga on BD and the small number of studies included in this review, results should be approached with caution. Overall, yoga was well-tolerated in the studies reviewed in this article. Yoga may relieve the symptoms of depression. Future research should analyze the long-term impact of yoga on bipolar depression. Yoga instructional standards should also be considered.

Ill Effects and Complications Associated to Removable Dentures With Improper Use and Poor Oral Hygiene: A Systematic Review.

The importance of oral care and its relationship with an individual's well-being has been identified over the past few decades. As there is a drastic increase in the aging population, so did the use of removable dentures more than ever before. The use of dentures among the elderly provides functional advantages and esthetic benefits. However, improper use and poor oral hygiene with removable dentures come with complications, including denture stomatitis, ulcerations, pneumonia, and many more. The study aims to determine the complications associated with inappropriate use and poor oral care and bring forth evidence-based dentist-recommended guidelines for denture maintenance. Articles were systematically screened in PubMed/Medline (Medical Literature Analysis and Retrieval System Online), PubMed Central (PMC), and Cochrane Library using keywords. Medical Subject Heading (MeSH) was also utilized to identify relevant articles. Inclusion and exclusion criteria were applied, duplicate articles were discarded, and then the articles were reviewed by title and abstract screening. The remaining articles went through a detailed full-text review. A quality appraisal check was conducted for each unique type of research publication, after which a total of 22 articles were finalized. In this study, we have seen pathological biofilm formation on dentures, life-threatening pneumonia, denture stomatitis, and accidental ingestion/aspiration of dentures amongst the elderly population. The study also identified members with low literacy rates, minorities, and low-income families seem to be at higher risk of poor oral care and denture hygiene. We identified that most of these complications could be prevented with proper guidance and education. In the future, a further detailed study is important as no clear consensus exists in terms of best practices of denture cleaning methods. In addition, measures should be initiated to encourage regular dentist appointments and increase accessibility among members of low socioeconomic status and minorities.

Cannabis Use and the Development of Depression in Adolescents: Is There an Established Linear Relationship Between the Two?

The period of adolescence is a stage during which individuals experience several physical and psychological changes which increase their vulnerabilities to environmental influences. Cannabis exposure is one environmental factor that may put their health at risk. Various research agree that a connection exists between the onset of depression and cannabis use. Cannabis can affect the adolescents' brain, making them susceptible to depression. Depression is a disorder that manifests in a myriad of ways that can be detrimental to individuals. This problem is not only confined to the individuals themselves, but it is also a societal problem. The relationship that exists between cannabis use and depression is an extremely complex one. This study's main objective is to review previously conducted research regarding the association between cannabis use and depression in adolescents.