Berkeley Pharma Tech Journal of Medicine

Interest in Telehealth for Obstetrics and Gynecology During the COVID-19 Pandemic

Magda Wojtara, Simran Athwal, Kehinde Dorcas Anuoluwapo Adebogun, Maira Elahi — Sat, 30 Dec 2023 00:00:00 -0800

The coronavirus (COVID-19) pandemic resulted in a plethora of healthcare challenges. To adapt, many health systems implemented telehealth interventions. This retrospective study using data from March 1, 2021 to March 31, 2022 evaluates the relationship between the daily reported number of new COVID-19 cases and corresponding changes to search volume on obstetrics and gynecology telehealth visits. Google Trends™ outputs were compared to COVID-19 case data for the time period and region as provided by the World Health Organization (WHO). Spearman’s correlation coefficient (ρ) was used to determine the strength of the relationship between new cases and relative search volumes (RSVs) related to obstetrics and gynecology telehealth. Globally, there was a significant positive strong correlation between public interest regarding telehealth in obstetrics and gynecology and new COVID-19 cases (ρ=0.986, p-value<0.001). However, the United States and Mexico demonstrated non-significant poor correlations. Brazil exhibited a positive fair correlation. Based on this retrospective study, there was a steady rise in public interest in telehealth usage for obstetrics and gynecology throughout the pandemic. Increased telehealth intervention in the field of obstetrics and gynecology (ob-gyn) has shown promising initial results. There are numerous considerations for utilizing telehealth for surgical specialties such as ob-gyn.

Exploring Novel Neoantigen-Based Treatment Methods for Glioblastoma

Daniyal Atiq, Yacoub Alokam, Suraj Shah — Sat, 30 Dec 2023 00:00:00 -0800

Glioblastoma, constituting almost half of all malignant brain tumors, presents a formidable challenge in treatment due to the blood-brain barrier's protective role against certain therapies. These tumors, characterized by rapid growth, tissue invasion, and diverse evolving cells, afflict individuals of all ages and resist conventional cancer treatments despite extensive biomedical research. An innovative approach to glioblastoma treatment involves leveraging neoantigens, specific to cancer cells and targetable by the immune system. Clinical trials suggest that neoantigen-based treatments hold promise, offering more effective and personalized options for patients. Exploring this avenue, including vaccines, immune checkpoint blockers, and adoptive cellular therapies, is crucial for improving outcomes. This paper reviews novel therapeutic options within neoantigen-based treatments, providing insights into potential advancements against glioblastoma.

Advancing Wound Healing: Innovative Pathway Strategies for Enhanced Recovery

Jowana Ghazzawi, Crystal Yu, Maria Favela — Sat, 30 Dec 2023 00:00:00 -0800

As the largest organ of the body, it is crucial that the skin, and all it protects, remain healthy and functioning. However, burn injuries may result as a serious threat to the skin, possibly forming greater health issues depending on the severity of the issue. Burn wound injury is characterized as damage to the skin or other organic tissue originating from sources such as heat, friction, radiation, radioactivity, electricity, and/or chemical contact. Different degrees of burn wounds make it increasingly more difficult to treat the more severe the wound is. For this reason, it is crucial to study how skin can not only heal itself via its own equipped healing related pathways, but also what treatments exist outside of the ongoing biochemical mechanisms in order to accelerate healing and repair the body’s greatest defense. More standard forms of treatment that currently exist adopt a more holistic approach, treating at the surface level, while treatments targeting the molecular level are less well studied. This review paper assesses several novel therapeutic alternatives including, but not limiting to, targeting lncRNA XIST, IL-33, and miR-19b through analyzing the molecular pathways in which wound healing is performed.

Exploring the Therapeutic Potential of PTPN Families in Lung and Digestive Cancers

Hasset Yishak, Kareem Halwah, Jiyun Rhim — Sat, 30 Dec 2023 00:00:00 -0800

Protein phosphorylation and dephosphorylation are pivotal in regulating protein activity. Two key players, protein tyrosine kinases and protein tyrosine phosphatases (PTPN), especially non-receptor PTPNs, exert opposing influences in this process. While all PTPNs dephosphorylate substrates, their impact on different cancers varies. Some act as tumor suppressors in specific cancers, while in others, they may function as tumor promoters. This review focuses on comprehending the roles of PTPNs in lung and digestive cancers. Notably, lung cancer ranks as the third most common cancer in the United States, with around 200,000 new cases reported annually. Despite declining rates in the US, stomach cancer remains a major cause of cancer-related deaths worldwide. The objective of this review article is to elucidate the functions of PTPN1, PTPN2, PTPN3, PTPN6, PTPN11, PTPN12, and PTPN13 in lung and/or digestive cancers. Emphasis is placed on exploring their potential as prognostic markers or therapeutic targets.

Effective Reprogramming Strategies for Treating Diabetes-Related Cancer: A Focus on Fasentin, Metformin, and Panitumumab Therapies

Heyi Fang, Hailey Guinto, Harshita Pinneboina — Sat, 30 Dec 2023 00:00:00 -0800

Cancer is a condition characterized by the uncontrolled growth and spreading of certain cells within the body. The formation of malignant tumors necessitates a substantial amount of energy to sustain the abnormal rate of cell division. This process leads to a significant alteration in the primary metabolic pathway, transitioning from mitochondrial respiration to aerobic glycolysis, particularly in cancers associated with diabetes. This shift creates an opportunity for less invasive treatment options that can limit cancer growth by targeting specific transporters and enzymes crucial for energy production. This article focuses on the biological functions of Fasentin and Metformin, exploring their effectiveness in constraining cancer development. The discussion delves into their roles in regulating metabolism and highlights how these drugs can be instrumental in impeding the progression of cancer.

An Overview of Interdisciplinary Research and Clinical Medicine

Sydney Worrall — Sat, 30 Dec 2023 00:00:00 -0800

Medicine has historically been built upon the discoveries of interdisciplinary research, yet modern clinical medicine has stagnated in its production of such research. This is despite multiple calls for interdisciplinary clinical medicine research from both inside and outside the discipline. Complex issues, such as those that physicians are recently facing, require complex solutions that cannot be achieved through the use of a single discipline. In order to promote interdisciplinary research, certain approaches need to change. Such changes include the reorganization of university department structures to prioritize interdisciplinary scholarship and create ‘translator’ positions to help bridge the knowledge gap between disciplines. This paper reviews how clinical medicine and interdisciplinary research are intertwined, assesses why there is a lack of interdisciplinary work within clinical medicine, and explores methods to encourage more collaboration between clinical medicine and other disciplines.