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Preclinical evidence indicates the potential anti-tumor capabilities of cannabinoids in prostate cancer (PC). We undertook a cross-sectional study using National Survey on Drug Use and Health data from 2002 to 2020, involving 2503 participants in the USA. The independent variable was marijuana use status (current, former, never), while the dependent variable was self-reported PC (yes, no). Eleven other demographic variables were assessed as covariates. PC prevalence was lower among current marijuana users (46/145, 31.7%) and former users (323/1021, 31.6%) compared to non-users (534/1337, 39.9%, p < 0.001). PC prevalence was lower among users versus non-users in the elderly (≥65) (36.4% vs. 42.4%, p = 0.016) and non-Hispanic white subgroups (28.9% vs. 38.3%, p < 0.001). There were no significant PC prevalence differences between users and non-users in the younger population (50–64) or other race/ethnicity. In the multivariable analyses, former marijuana use was associated with lower PC compared to never using (odd ratio = 0.74, 95% CI 0.62–0.90, p = 0.001). Current use was also suggestive of reduced prevalence but was not statistically significant (odd ratio = 0.77, 95% CI 0.52–1.14, p = 0.198), possibly due to low sample size. Our findings from a large national survey provide additional data to link marijuana use with lower PC prevalence. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

To examine the effect of a change in the delivery mode of clinical neurology, a postgraduate subject at Macquarie University, following COVID-19 restrictions on face-to-face teaching. Participants were master of chiropractic students (n = 212) who completed 2019 or 2020 clinical neurology. The main outcome measure was a comparison of objective structured clinical examination (OSCE) marks between the 2019 and 2020 cohorts. The 2019 group underwent traditional, face-to-face learning, whereas the 2020 group were taught and examined remotely in session 1 but returned to campus in session 2. Descriptive analyses, between-group differences, and generalized linear models were performed. Means for OSCE marks between the 2 groups were higher in the 2020 group in session 1 (p <.001). However, when students returned to campus in session 2, the means were significantly lower in the 2020 group compared with the 2019 group (p <.001). Generalized linear regression indicated that the web-based mode of delivery in 2020 might have had a significant impact on OSCE marks compared with their 2019 counterparts (p <.001). The sudden change in the mode of delivery from face-to-face to remote learning and the change in testing methods in response to the global COVID-19 pandemic had a significant effect on clinical neurology student performance scores. The OSCE marks in the 2020 cohort for session 1 were higher than those in 2019. However, when the 2020 cohort returned to on-campus tutorials in session 2, their marks were lower than those of their 2019 counterparts. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Pancreatic cancer (PC) is the third leading cause of adult cancer mortality in the United States. The poor prognosis for patients with PC is mainly due to its aggressive course, the limited efficacy of active systemic treatments, and a metastatic behavior, demonstrated throughout the evolution of the disease. On average, 80% of patients with PC are diagnosed with metastatic disease, and the half of those who undergo surgery and adjuvant therapy develop liver metastasis within two years. Metastatic dissemination is an early event in PC and is mainly attributed to an evolutionary biological process called epithelial-to-mesenchymal transition (EMT). This innate mechanism could have a dual role during embryonic growth and organ differentiation, and in cancer progression, cancer stem cell intravasation, and metastasis settlement. Many of the molecular pathways decisive in EMT progression have been already unraveled, but little is known about the causes behind the induction of this mechanism. EMT is one of the most distinctive and critical features of PC, occurring even in the very first stages of tumor development. This is known as pancreatic intraepithelial neoplasia (PanIN) and leads to early dissemination, drug resistance, and unfavorable prognosis and survival. The intention of this review is to shed new light on the critical role assumed by EMT during PC progression, with a particular focus on its role in PC resistance. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Heart failure is more prevalent among African Americans than in the general population. Metabolomic studies among African Americans may efficiently identify novel biomarkers of heart failure. We used untargeted methods to measure 204 stable serum metabolites and evaluated their associations with incident heart failure hospitalization (n = 276) after a median follow-up of 20 years (1987–2008) by using Cox regression in data from 1,744 African Americans aged 45–64 years without heart failure at baseline from the Jackson, Mississippi, field center of the Atherosclerosis Risk in Communities (ARIC) Study. After adjustment for established risk factors, we found that 16 metabolites (6 named with known structural identities and 10 unnamed with unknown structural identities, the latter denoted by using the format X-12345) were associated with incident heart failure (P < 0.0004 based on a modified Bonferroni procedure). Of the 6 named metabolites, 4 are involved in amino acid metabolism, 1 (prolylhydroxyproline) is a dipeptide, and 1 (erythritol) is a sugar alcohol. After additional adjustment for kidney function, 2 metabolites remained associated with incident heart failure (for metabolite X-11308, hazard ratio = 0.75, 95% confidence interval: 0.65, 0.86; for metabolite X-11787, hazard ratio = 1.23, 95% confidence interval: 1.10, 1.37). Further structural analysis revealed X-11308 to be a dihydroxy docosatrienoic acid and X-11787 to be an isoform of either hydroxyleucine or hydroxyisoleucine. Our metabolomic analysis revealed novel biomarkers associated with incident heart failure independent of traditional risk factors. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The growing worldwide obesity epidemic and obesity-related disorders present a huge unmet medical need for safe and effective anti-obesity medications. The discovery of leptin in 1994 was rapidly succeeded by a wave of related discoveries leading to the elaboration of a hypothalamic melanocortinergic neuronal circuit regulated by leptin and other central and peripheral signaling molecules to control energy homeostasis. The identification of specific neuronal subtypes along with their unique connections and expression products generated a rich target menu for anti-obesity drug discovery programs. Over the course of the last decade, several new chemical entities aimed at these targets have reached various stages or successfully completed the drug discovery/regulatory process only to be dropped or taken off the market. There are now in fact fewer options for anti-obesity drug therapies in late 2010 than were available in 2000. The challenge to discover safe and effective anti-obesity drugs is alive and well. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]