Effect Study of the Recombinant Human Brain Natriuretic Peptide in Patients with Heart Failure Combined with Hypotension

Objective: This paper aims to investigate the effect of applying recombinant human brain natriuretic peptide in patients with heart failure combined with hypotension. Recombinant human brain natriuretic peptide is a synthetic polypeptide drug that is primarily used to treat acute heart failure. Its mechanism of action closely mimics that of human endogenous brain natriuretic peptide. By binding to receptors on cardiomyocytes, it exerts its pharmacological effects. Methods: For the study, 76 heart failure patients with hypotension were selected from our hospital between May 2022 and June 2023. These patients were divided into two groups: a control group and an observation group, each comprising 38 patients. The control group received dopamine treatment, while the observation group was treated with recombinant brain natriuretic peptide. The objective was to compare the effects of the treatments in both groups by analyzing cardiac function indices and levels of vasoactive substances to identify any significant differences in outcomes. Results: The overall response rate of the patients in the observation group and the control group was 94.74% and 73.68%, significantly higher as compared with the observation group (P 0.05). After the following treatment, BNP, ANNP and urine output in the observation group were significantly different compared with the control group, of the statistical significance (P Conclusion: For the treatment of heart failure patients with hypotension, the clinical application of recombinant human brain natriuretic peptide is the most ideal, and significantly improves the cardiac function of patients, which is worth popularizing.

Efficacy and safety of sacubitril/valsartan after six months in patients with heart failure with reduced ejection fraction and asymptomatic hypotension

BACKGROUND It is not clear whether sacubitril/valsartan is beneficial for patients with heart failure(HF)with reduced ejec-tion fraction(HFrEF)and low systolic blood pressure(SBP).This study aimed to investigate the efficacy and tolerability of sacu-bitril/valsartan in HFrEF patients with SBP<100 mmHg.METHODS&RESULTS An observational study was conducted on 117 patients,40.2%of whom had SBP<100 mmHg wit-hout symptomatic hypotension,and 59.8%of whom had SBP≥100 mmHg in an optimized HF follow-up management system.At the 6-month follow-up,52.4%of patients with SBP<100 mmHg and 70.0%of those with SBP≥100 mmHg successfully rea-ched the target dosages of sacubitril/valsartan.A reduction in the concentration of N-terminal pro-B-type natriuretic peptide was similar between patients with SBP<100 mmHg and SBP≥100 mmHg(1627.5 pg/mL and 1340.1 pg/mL,respectively;P=0.75).The effect of sacubitril/valsartan on left ventricular ejection fraction was observed in both SBP categories,with a 10.8%increase in patients with SBP<100 mmHg(P<0.001)and a 14.0%increase in patients with SBP≥100 mmHg(P<0.001).The effects of sac-ubitril/valsartan on SBP were statistically significant and inverse across both SBP categories(P=0.001),with an increase of 7.5 mmHg in patients with SBP<100 mmHg and a decrease of 11.5 mmHg in patients with SBP≥100 mmHg.No statistically signi-ficant differences were observed between the two groups in terms of the occurrence of symptomatic hypotension,deteriorating re-nal function,hyperkalemia,angioedema,or stroke.CONCLUSIONS Within an optimized HF follow-up management system,sacubitril/valsartan exhibited excellent tolerability and prompted left ventricular reverse remodeling in patients with HFrEF who presented asymptomatic hypotension.

Prevalence and Contributing Factors of Orthostatic Hypotension in the Cardiology Department of the CHU Ignace Deen in Conakry

Introduction: Orthostatic Hypotension (OH) is a frequent situation during consultation in hypertensive patients. The prevalence in the general population increases with age and it is recommended to systematically search for it in patients with multiple comorbidities. The objective of this study was to determine the prevalence of orthostatic hypotension;describe their socio- demographic profile, the various clinical and paraclinical aspects and the predisposing factors of orthostatic hypotension in treated hypertensives, controlled or not. Method: This was a descriptive cross-sectional study, from January 2 to June 30, 2022 in the cardiology department of the Ignace Deen National Hospital. Included in this study were all patients who presented with orthostatic hypotension under antihypertensive treatment, regardless of age and sex, and who agreed to participate in the study. The non-inclusion criteria were hypertensive patients without OH and those who had not agreed to participate in the study. Each patient had blood pressure and heart rate measured in the supine position at room temperature and with an empty bladder. Then the measurement is taken again three (3) minutes after the switch to orthostatism. We retained the diagnosis of OH if the SBP drops by at least 20 mmHg and/or the PAD by at least 10 mmHg three (3) min after the transition to orthostatism. Our data obtained were analyzed in the Epi-info 7.4.0 software. Results: During our study period, we investigated 385 presented with OH, 12.2%. The mean age of the patients was 60.83 years ± 10.01 years and hypertensive patients, 47 of whom the M/F sex ratio was 0.81. In our study, blood pressure was not controlled in 36.2% of our patients with a predominance of grade 3 hypertension, a rate of 55.32%. Renal failure, anemia, heart failure and stroke were the main comorbidities associated with the occurrence of HO. The most incriminated factors were age with a frequency of 74.47%, followed by obesity at 44.68% and diabetes at 27.66%. BP was normally controlled with a rate of 68.8% in treated hypertensive patients with OH. It is found much more in patients using triple therapy, a rate of 61.71%. Conclusion: The prevalence of OH is high in our department. It is found much more in patients using triple therapy. The most incriminated factors were age followed by obesity and diabetes.

Rare cause of cerebral venous sinus thrombosis:Spontaneous intracranial hypotension syndrome:A case report

BACKGROUND Spontaneous intracranial hypotension syndrome is a relatively uncommon neurological disorder of unknown etiology with a good prognosis.Cerebral venous sinus thrombosis is a specific type of cerebrovascular disease caused by multiple etiologies of cerebral venous sinus or vein thrombosis that obstructs cerebral venous return and is associated with impaired cerebrospinal fluid absorption;this entity is rarely seen clinically.Spontaneous intracranial hypotension syndrome is one of the causes of cerebral venous sinus thrombosis,and the probability of their combined occurrence is only 1%-2%.As such,it is easily overlooked clinically,thus increasing the difficulty of diagnosis and treatment.CASE SUMMARY A 29-year-old young woman presented with postural headache.Lumbar puncture suggested a pressure of 50 mmH2O(normal 80 mmH2O-180 mmH2O),and magnetic resonance imaging cerebral venography suggested thrombosis of the supratentorial sinus.These findings were considered indicative of cerebral venous sinus thrombosis due to spontaneous intracranial hypotension syndrome after ruling out immunological causes,tumor,infection,abnormal coagulation mechanism,and hypercoagulable state,etc.She was treated with rehydration and low-molecular heparin anticoagulation for 15 d,and follow-up magnetic resonance imaging cerebral venography suggested resolution of the thrombus.The patient had complete improvement of her headache symptoms.CONCLUSION Spontaneous intracranial hypotension syndrome is one of the rare causes of cerebral venous sinus thrombosis,which is frequently misdiagnosed or missed and deserves consideration by clinicians during differential diagnosis.Dehydration should be avoided in such patients,and early rehydration and anticoagulation therapy are effective treatment options.

Incidence,characteristics and risk factors for alveolar recruitment maneuver-related hypotension in patients undergoing laparoscopic colorectal cancer resection

BACKGROUND Alveolar recruitment maneuvers(ARMs)may lead to transient hypotension,but the clinical characteristics of this induced hypotension are poorly understood.We investigated the characteristics of ARM-related hypotension in patients who underwent laparoscopic colorectal cancer resection.AIM To investigate the characteristics of ARM-related hypotension in patients who underwent laparoscopic colorectal cancer resection.METHODS This was a secondary analysis of the PROtective Ventilation using Open Lung approach Or Not trial and included 140 subjects.An ARM was repeated every 30 min during intraoperative mechanical ventilation.The primary endpoint was ARM-related hypotension,defined as a mean arterial pressure(MAP)<60 mmHg during an ARM or within 5 min after an ARM.The risk factors for hypotension were identified.The peri-ARM changes in blood pressure were analyzed for the first three ARMs(ARM_(1,2,3))and the last ARM(ARMl_(ast)).RESULTS Thirty-four subjects(24.3%)developed ARM-related hypotension.Of all 1027 ARMs,37(3.61%)induced hypotension.More ARMs under nonpneumoperitoneum(33/349,9.46%)than under pneumoperitoneum conditions(4/678,0.59%)induced hypotension(P<0.01).The incidence of hypotension was higher at ARM_(1)points than at non-ARM_(1)points(18/135,13.3%vs 19/892,2.1%;P<0.01).The median percentage decrease in the MAP at ARM1 was 14%.Age≥74 years,blood loss≥150 mL and peak inspiratory pressure under pneumoperitoneum<24 cm H_(2)O were risk factors for ARM-related hypotension.CONCLUSION When the ARM was repeated intraoperatively,a quarter of subjects developed ARM-related hypotension,but only 3.61%of ARMs induced hypotension.ARM-related hypotension most occurred in a hemodynamically unstable state or a hypovolemic state,and in elderly subjects.Fortunately,ARMs that were performed under pneumoperitoneum conditions had less impact on blood pressure.

Persistent postoperative hypotension caused by subclinical empty sella syndrome after a simple surgery:A case report

BACKGROUND Empty sella is an anatomical and radiological finding of the herniation of the subarachnoid space into the pituitary fossa leading to a flattened pituitary gland.Patients with empty sella may present with various symptoms,including headache due to intracranial hypertension and endocrine symptoms related to the specific pituitary hormones affected.Here,we report a female patient who developed persistent postoperative hypotension caused by subclinical empty sella syndrome after a simple surgery.CASE SUMMARY A 47-year-old woman underwent vocal cord polypectomy under general anesthesia with endotracheal intubation.She denied any medical history,and her vital signs were normal before the surgery.Anesthesia and surgery were uneventful.However,she developed dizziness,headache and persistent hypotension in the ward.Thus,intravenous dopamine was started to maintain normal blood pressure,which improved her symptoms.However,she remained dependent on dopamine for over 24 h without any obvious anesthesia-and surgery-related complications.An endocrine etiology was then suspected,and further examination showed a high prolactin level,a low normal adrenocorticotropic hormone level and a low cortisol level.Magnetic resonance imaging of the brain revealed an empty sella.Therefore,she was diagnosed with empty sella syndrome and secondary adrenal insufficiency.Her symptoms disappeared one week later after daily glucocorticoid supplement.CONCLUSION Endocrine etiologies such as pituitary and adrenal-related dysfunction should be considered in patients showing persistent postoperative hypotension when anesthesia-and surgery-related factors are excluded.

Vitamin D,selenium,and antidiabetic drugs in the treatment of type 2 diabetes mellitus with Hashimoto's thyroiditis

BACKGROUND Diabetes and thyroiditis are closely related.They occur in combination and cause significant damage to the body.There is no clear treatment for type-2 diabetes mellitus(T2DM)with Hashimoto's thyroiditis(HT).While single symptomatic drug treatment of the two diseases is less effective,combined drug treatment may improve efficacy.AIM To investigate the effect of a combination of vitamin D,selenium,and hypoglycemic agents in T2DM with HT.METHODS This retrospective study included 150 patients with T2DM and HT treated at The Central Hospital of Shaoyang from March 2020 to February 2023.Fifty patients were assigned to the control group,test group A,and test group B according to different treatment methods.The control group received low-iodine diet guidance and hypoglycemic drug treatment.Test group A received the control treatment plus vitamin D treatment.Test group B received the group A treatment plus selenium.Blood levels of markers of thyroid function[free T3(FT3),thyroid stimulating hormone(TSH),free T4(FT4)],autoantibodies[thyroid peroxidase antibody(TPOAB)and thyroid globulin antibody(TGAB)],blood lipid index[low-density lipoprotein cholesterol(LDL-C),total cholesterol(TC),triacylglycerol(TG)],blood glucose index[fasting blood glucose(FBG),and hemoglobin A1c(HbA1c)]were measured pre-treatment and 3 and 6 months after treatment.The relationships between serum 25-hydroxyvitamin D3[25(OH)D3]level and each of these indices were analyzed.RESULTS The levels of 25(OH)D3,FT3,FT4,and LDL-C increased in the order of the control group,test group A,and test group B(all P<0.05).The TPOAB,TGAB,TC,TG,FBG,HbA1c,and TSH levels increased in the order of test groups B,A,and the control group(all P<0.05).All the above indices were compared after 3 and 6 months of treatment.Pre-treatment,there was no divergence in serum 25(OH)D3 level,thyroid function-related indexes,autoantibodies level,blood glucose,and blood lipid index between the control group,test groups A and B(all P>0.05).The 25(OH)D3 levels in test groups A and B were negatively correlated with FT4 and TGAB(all P<0.05).CONCLUSION The combination drug treatment for T2DM with HT significantly improved thyroid function,autoantibody,and blood glucose and lipid levels.

Beware of the serious harm of veterinary drug poisoning:a case report

Veterinary drugs are substances(including pharmaceutical feed additives)used to prevent,treat,and diagnose diseases or regulate the physiological functions of animals.Veterinary drug poisoning in humans is relatively rare both in China and the rest of the world.Here,we report a case of death from veterinary drug poisoning from avermectin-closantel.Avermectin-closantel is a broad-spectrum antiparasitic drug,which has high efficacy against a variety of trematodes and nematodes.

Prediction of Hypotension During Neuraxial Anesthesia in Patients with Pregnancy-Induced Hypertension Through Subclavian Vein Collapsibility Index

Objective:To explore and evaluate the predictive value of subclavian vein collapsibility index(SCV-CI)on hypotension during neuraxial anesthesia in patients with pregnancy-induced hypertension(PIH).Methods:Pregnant women with PIH who underwent elective cesarean section in our hospital from January to July 2021 were selected as the research subjects.Patients who experienced hypotension during anesthesia were included into the hypotension group,whereas patients who had a normal blood pressure during anesthesia were included in the normotensive group.The SCV-CI was then calculated for three respiratory cycles,the average value was taken as the base value,and the patient was monitored for another 20 minutes.The blood pressure,heart rate,blood oxygen saturation,and SCV-CI of the patients were measured,and the incidence of maternal nausea and vomiting and cord blood gas were recorded.Then,a correlation analysis was conducted on the relationship between subclavian vein collapsibility index and hypotension.A receiver operating characteristic curve was drawn to seek the threshold value of subclavian vein collapsibility index for post-anesthesia hypotension.Results:There was no significant difference in systolic blood pressure(SBP),diastolic blood pressure(DBP),and heart rate(HR)between the two groups before anesthesia(P>0.05).After anesthesia,the above indexes(SBP,103.25±12.48 mmHg;DBP,58.94±7.46 mmHg;and HR,52.96±6.48 beats/min)were significantly lower than those of the normal blood pressure group,and the difference was statistically significant(P<0.05).In comparison,the SCV-CI in the hypotension group was 35.82±4.93%greater than that in the normal blood pressure group(23.85±5.27%),and the incidence of nausea and vomiting in the hypotension group(40.0%)was significantly higher than that in the normotensive group(10.53%),and the difference was statistically significant(P<0.05).The area under the curve of SCV-CI prediction against hypotension in patients with PIH under neuraxial anesthesia was 0.825(95%CI:0.762-0.893,P<0.001),the cut-off value was 25.68%,the predictive sensitivity was 92.68%,and the specificity was 81.24%.Conclusion:SCV-CI has a good predictive value for the occurrence of hypotension in patients with PIH during neuraxial anesthesia.

Strategies for translating proteomics discoveries into drug discovery for dementia

Tauopathies,diseases characterized by neuropathological aggregates of tau including Alzheimer's disease and subtypes of fro ntotemporal dementia,make up the vast majority of dementia cases.Although there have been recent developments in tauopathy biomarkers and disease-modifying treatments,ongoing progress is required to ensure these are effective,economical,and accessible for the globally ageing population.As such,continued identification of new potential drug targets and biomarkers is critical."Big data"studies,such as proteomics,can generate information on thousands of possible new targets for dementia diagnostics and therapeutics,but currently remain underutilized due to the lack of a clear process by which targets are selected for future drug development.In this review,we discuss current tauopathy biomarkers and therapeutics,and highlight areas in need of improvement,particularly when addressing the needs of frail,comorbid and cognitively impaired populations.We highlight biomarkers which have been developed from proteomic data,and outline possible future directions in this field.We propose new criteria by which potential targets in proteomics studies can be objectively ranked as favorable for drug development,and demonstrate its application to our group's recent tau interactome dataset as an example.

3D bioprinting of in vitro porous hepatoma models:establishment,evaluation,and anticancer drug testing

Traditional tumor models do not tend to accurately simulate tumor growth in vitro or enable personalized treatment and are particularly unable to discover more beneficial targeted drugs.To address this,this study describes the use of threedimensional(3D)bioprinting technology to construct a 3D model with human hepatocarcinoma SMMC-7721 cells(3DP-7721)by combining gelatin methacrylate(GelMA)and poly(ethylene oxide)(PEO)as two immiscible aqueous phases to form a bioink and innovatively applying fluorescent carbon quantum dots for long-term tracking of cells.The GelMA(10%,mass fraction)and PEO(1.6%,mass fraction)hydrogel with 3:1 volume ratio offered distinct pore-forming characteristics,satisfactorymechanical properties,and biocompatibility for the creation of the 3DP-7721 model.Immunofluorescence analysis and quantitative real-time fluorescence polymerase chain reaction(PCR)were used to evaluate the biological properties of the model.Compared with the two-dimensional culture cell model(2D-7721)and the 3D mixed culture cell model(3DM-7721),3DP-7721 significantly improved the proliferation of cells and expression of tumor-related proteins and genes.Moreover,we evaluated the differences between the three culture models and the effectiveness of antitumor drugs in the three models and discovered that the efficacy of antitumor drugs varied because of significant differences in resistance proteins and genes between the three models.In addition,the comparison of tumor formation in the three models found that the cells cultured by the 3DP-7721 model had strong tumorigenicity in nude mice.Immunohistochemical evaluation of the levels of biochemical indicators related to the formation of solid tumors showed that the 3DP-7721 model group exhibited pathological characteristics of malignant tumors,the generated solid tumors were similar to actual tumors,and the deterioration was higher.This research therefore acts as a foundation for the application of 3DP-7721 models in drug development research.

Multiple sclerosis drug repurposing for neuroregeneration

Multiple sclerosis(MS)is an autoimmune disorder of the central nervous system(CNS)and is primarily characterized by immune cell infiltration leading to relapses followed by remission phases and a disease course turning progressive over time with neurodegenerative processes taking over(Amin and Hersh,2023).Of note,beyond relapse-associated worsening early in disease progression independent of relapse activity may arise independently of relapse activity and can occur in all phenotypes.Autoimmune-mediated damage of myelin sheaths and the subsequent loss of mature oligodendrocytes are resulting in impaired axonal integrity,neurodegeneration and accounts for irreversible neuronal damage(Kuhlmann et al.,2023).The current landscape of available disease-modifying therapies comprises mainly immunomodulatory drugs that effectively diminish relapses and slow down progression at the onset form of the disease,namely relapsing MS(RMS).In this regard,a number of drugs have been approved as disease-modifying therapies for MS by US Food and Drug Administration and European Medicines Agencies(Box 1).

Peptide drugs: a new direction in cancer immunotherapy

Cancer immunotherapy has emerged as a promising approach in cancer treatment and is considered a major advancement after surgical interventions, radiotherapy, chemotherapy, and targeted therapy. The clinical use of immunotherapeutic drugs, particularly antibody-based drugs that target immune checkpoints, has notably increased~1.

Chinese expert consensus on the clinical application of drugcoated balloon(2^(nd) Edition)

Percutaneous coronary interventions have progressed through the era of plain balloon dilation, bare-metal stent insertion to drug-eluting stent treatment, which has significantly reduced the acute occlusion and restenosis rates of target vessels and improved patient prognosis, making drug-eluting stents the mainstream interventional treatment for coronary artery disease. In recent years, drug-coated balloons(DCBs) have become a new treatment strategy for coronary artery disease, and the drugs used in the coating and the coating technology have progressed in the past years. Without permanent implant, a DCB delivers antiproliferative drugs rapidly and uniformly into the vessel wall via the excipient during a single balloon dilation. Many evidence suggests that DCB angioplasty is an effective measure for dealing with in-stent restenosis and de novo lesions in small coronary vessels.As more clinical studies are published, new evidence is emerging for the use of DCB angioplasty in a wide range of coronary diseases, and the indications are expanding internationally. Based on the latest research from China and elsewhere, the Expert Writing Committee of the Chinese Expert Consensus on Clinical Applications of Drug-Coated Balloon has updated the previous DCB consensus after evidence-based discussions and meetings in terms of adequate preparation of in-stent restenosis lesions, expansion of the indications for coronary de novo lesions, and precise guidance of DCB treatment by intravascular imaging and functional evaluation.

Stem cell technology for antitumor drug loading and delivery in oncology

The main aim of antineoplastic treatment is to maximize patient benefit by augmenting the drug accumulation within affected organs and tissues,thus incrementing drug effects and,at the same time,reducing the damage of non-involved tissues to cytotoxic agents.Mesenchymal stromal cells(MSC)represent a group of undifferentiated multipotent cells presenting wide self-renewal features and the capacity to differentiate into an assortment of mesenchymal family cells.During the last year,they have been proposed as natural carriers for the selective release of antitumor drugs to malignant cll,s thus optimizing cytotoxic action on cancer cll,while significantly reducing adverse side efect on healthy cells.MSC chemotherapeutic drug loading and delivery is an encouraging new area of cell therapy for several tumors,especially for those with unsatisfactory prognosis and limited treatment options available.Although some experim ental models have been sucesfuly developed,phase I dinical studies are needed to confirm this potential application of cell therapy,in particular in the case of primary and secondary lung cancers.

Bacterial Exofactors Modulate Biofilm Growth and Resistivity to Antimicrobial Drugs

Some bacteria have the ability to co-exist, proliferate and survive in a multicellular community, biofilm. Each participating bacteria can form its colonies and encases itself by a self-produced insoluble extracellular matrix substance (EPS). Microcolonies within biofilm are held together by interactions and bonding of the substances present in the EPS with their separation from the water channels. Similar to insoluble EPS, bacterial microcolonies release soluble exofactors that have direct impacts on the survivability, growth and antibacterial resistivity of other microcolonies made of single- or multi-species bacteria in the same biofilm. How the exofactors of microcolonies of one-type bacteria impact on microcolonies of other-type bacteria is still unclear. We studied about the role of exofactors released from Escherichia coli, Staphylococcus aureus and Pseudomonas aeruginosa, which are common biofilm-forming pathogenic bacteria. Exofactors facilitate to transform the microenvironment where bacteria can acquire alternative lifestyle with a long survival period and resistivity to certain antimicrobial drugs.

Practice of Perioperative Rational Use of Antibacterial Drugs Based on Drug Pathway

[Objectives]To establish a new management model for rational use of perioperative antibacterial drugs in surgical departments.[Methods]Based on evidence-based medicine,the department s drug pathway was formulated,and the new mode of rational drug use control was established by using fine pharmaceutical technology intervention,and the intervention effect was evaluated by the intensity of antibacterial drug use,per capita drug costs and the proportion of drugs.[Results]After adopting drug pathway in departments,the intensity of antibacterial drug use,per capita drug costs and the proportion of drugs decreased significantly,and the effect of rational drug use control was remarkable.[Conclusions]The drug pathway provides a new management and control mode for the rational use of perioperative antibacterial drugs in surgical departments of hospitals.Thus,it is worthy of popularization and application.

Hepatitis B Surface Antigen and Hepatitis C Virus Antibodies among Drug Users in Burkina Faso

Introduction: The epidemiology of both hepatitis B virus (HBV) and hepatitis C virus (HCV) infections among drug users (DUs) is little known in West Africa. The study aimed to assess the prevalence of hepatitis B and C viruses among drug users in Burkina Faso. Methodology: This was a cross-sectional biological and behavioral survey conducted between June and August 2022, among drug users in Ouagadougou and Bobo Dioulasso, the two main cities of Burkina Faso. A respondent-driven sampling (RDS) was used to recruit drug users. Hepatitis B surface antigen was determined using lateral flow rapid test kits and antibodies to hepatitis C virus in serum determined using an Enzyme-Linked Immunosorbent Assay. Data were entered and analyzed using Stata 17 software. Weighted binary logistic regression was used to identify the associated factors of hepatitis B and C infections and a p-value Results: A total of 323 drug users were recruited with 97.5% males. The mean age was 32.7 years old. The inhaled or smoked mode was the most used by drug users. The adjusted hepatitis B and hepatitis C prevalence among study participants were 11.1% and 2.3% respectively. The marital status (p = 0.001), and the nationality (p = 0.011) were significantly associated with hepatitis B infection. The type of drug used was not significantly associated with hepatitis B infection or hepatitis C infection. Conclusion: The prevalence of HBsAg and anti-HCV antibodies among DUs are comparable to those reported in the general population in Burkina Faso. This result suggests that the main routes of contamination by HBV and HCV among DUs are similar to those in the population, and could be explained by the low use of the injectable route by DUs in Burkina Faso.

Drug resistance mechanisms in cancers:Execution of prosurvival strategies

One of the quintessential challenges in cancer treatment is drug resistance.Several mechanisms of drug resistance have been described to date,and new modes of drug resistance continue to be discovered.The phenomenon of cancer drug resistance is now widespread,with approximately 90% of cancer-related deaths associated with drug resistance.Despite significant advances in the drug discovery process,the emergence of innate and acquired mechanisms of drug resistance has impeded the progress in cancer therapy.Therefore,understanding the mechanisms of drug resistance and the various pathways involved is integral to treatment modalities.In the present review,I discuss the different mechanisms of drug resistance in cancer cells,including DNA damage repair,epithelial to mesenchymal transition,inhibition of cell death,alteration of drug targets,inactivation of drugs,deregulation of cellular energetics,immune evasion,tumor-promoting inflammation,genome instability,and other contributing epigenetic factors.Furthermore,I highlight available treatment options and conclude with future directions.

Actors of Psychoactive Drug Initiation among Adolescents in Yaoundé-Cameroon

Introduction: Actors of psychoactive drug initiation refer to those who introduce others to psychoactive drug use (initiators) and those who are introduced to psychoactive drugs (users). By identifying their features, better prevention and intervention programs can be developed to reduce psychoactive drug use among adolescents. This article describes the role of actors of psychoactive drug initiation among teenagers in secondary schools in Yaoundé (Cameroon). Methodology: A cross sectional study was carried out in twelve secondary schools in Yaoundé from October 2022 to May 2023. Adolescents from Form four to upper sixth, who assented to participate in the study and received parental consent were included. Data were collected in a structured self-reported questionnaire and analyzed using SPSS 23. Quantitative variables were expressed using means, standard deviations, median and interquartile ranges depending on the distribution of data. Qualitative variables were expressed in the form of frequency and percentages. Results: Drug use was more prevalent among male adolescents (55.3%) from nuclear families (91.4%) who received relatively high pocket money. The main sources of drug exposure were non-family members (49.7%), especially friends outside school. The most frequent place of initiation was snack bars (33.1%). Conclusion: The study revealed the importance of the family, friends and leisure places in the initiation process of drug use in teenagers. Based on these results, parents and school authorities should work together to create a safe and supportive environment that fosters communication, education to prevent drug abuse among adolescents in Yaoundé.