Frigid Zone Medicine

Impacts of cold exposure on energy metabolism

Miao Yan, Shanjie Wang, Shaohong Fang, Mingyan E, Bo Yu

2024, 4(2): 65-71. doi: 10.1515/fzm-2024-0007

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Abstract:
Cold stimulation has been shown to regulate glucose, lipid, and amino acid metabolism, while also increasing heat production and energy expenditure in the body. Disordered energy metabolism is a key factor in the onset and progression of chronic metabolic conditiones such as diabetes, obesity, and cardiovascular disease. Recent research has unveiled the myriad pathways through which cold stimulation affects human energy metabolism. This article provides an overview of how cold stimulation affects energy metabolism across the three major metabolic pathways. Furthermore, it explores the implications and potential therapeutic applications of cold stimulation in the prevention and treatment of various metabolic diseases.

Cryoablation techniques in bladder cancer: A review

Binglei Ma, Wilhem Teixeira, Lijuan Jiang

2024, 4(2): 72-77. doi: 10.1515/fzm-2024-0008

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Abstract:
Bladder cancer (BC) ranks as the tenth most common cancer globally. Histopathologically, BC is broadly categorized into urothelial and non-urothelial BC. Urothelial carcinoma represents over 90% of BC in most regions worldwide. The standard treatment procedure for diagnosing and treating non-muscle-invasive bladder cancer (NMIBC) is transurethral resection of bladder tumors (TURBT). Currently, the standard of care for muscle-invasive bladder cancer (MIBC) is neoadjuvant chemotherapy followed by radical cystectomy. Cryoablation therapy is a medical technique that uses extremely low temperatures to destroy diseased tissue. This treatment serves as a therapeutic tool for both benign and malignant diseases in organs such as the kidney, prostate gland, lung, liver, and breast, and is particularly effective for unresectable tumors, offering less trauma, quick recovery, good tolerability, and symptom control. However, cryoablation has its limitations. Over the past few years, cryoablation therapy has emerged as a new method for treating early BC. This treatment is minimally invasive, precise, and offers quick recovery, providing patients with a new treatment option. Although randomized studies are still limited, increasing evidence suggests its potential application in bladder cancer combined with transurethral resection (TURBT) or medication. Cryoablation is not standard therapy for bladder cancer. Treatment decisions should be discussed by a multidisciplinary team of urologists, oncologists, and interventional physicians and require more randomized controlled trials to define patient selection criteria and treatment approaches.

Cold environments and human metabolism: A traditional chinese medicine perspective

Tengyu Zhao, Yifu Ma, Jian Zhang, Xiaojie Zhou, Yanyan Zhou, Jingdong Yan

2024, 4(2): 78-95. doi: 10.1515/fzm-2024-0009

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Abstract:
The concept of Traditional Chinese Medicine (TCM) emphasizes the intrinsic connection between human beings and nature, positing that the human body undergoes distinct physiological changes in response to various natural environments. Cold, as a primary external factor in cold areas, necessitates the body's autonomous adaptation to uphold optimal living conditions. The repercussions of cold on the body are both far-reaching and profound, with metabolic equilibrium adjustments playing a pivotal role. This article, rooted in the TCM principle of Yin-Yang balance, delves into the metabolic intricacies and adaptive responses to the human body in cold environments. The effects manifest in heat-producing tissues, systemic substance consumption, the blood substance concentrations, liver function, and metabolic rhythms. The article subsequently presents TCM recommendations for maintaining health in cold climates. It concludes by advocating the exploration of metabolic homeostasis changes as a key avenue for investigating the metabolic traits s of populations in cold regions. We posit that such insights will enhance comprehension of the metabolic shifts in cold region populations and advance the evolution of regional medicine.

Toll-like receptors 2 polymorphism is associated with psoriasis: A case-control study in the northern Chinese population

Siyu Hao, Yu Zhang, Anqi Yin, Ying Lyu, Nannan Tong, Jiangtian Tian, Yuzhen Li

2024, 4(2): 96-101. doi: 10.1515/fzm-2024-0010

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Abstract:
Background Psoriasis is a disease caused by genetics and immune system dysfunction, affecting the skin and joints. Toll-like receptors (TLRs) play an important role in triggering the innate immune response and controlling adaptive immunity. The role of TLR2 in the progression of psoriasis is not well understood. Methods A case-control study was conducted on a northern Chinese Han population, consisting of psoriasis patients and healthy control subjects. Genotyping was performed using the tetra-primer amplification refractory mutation system-polymerase chain reaction (ARMS-PCR), and allele and genotype frequencies of four SNPs in TLR2 were analyzed in 270 psoriasis patients and 246 healthy controls. Results Four TLR2 SNPs (rs11938228, rs4696480, rs3804099, rs5743699) were genotyped and found to be in linkage disequilibrium. The genotype distributions of rs11938228 and rs4696480 in two groups were in Hardy-Weinberg equilibrium and statistically significant except for the overdominance model. The haplotypes ATTC and ATCC were found to be protective against psoriasis. Conclusion Our study found a correlation between TLR2 genetic variations and the likelihood of psoriasis in northern China.

Vitamin D deficiency and increased inflammatory factor intercellular cell adhesion molecule-1 indicate severe leukoaraiosis in northern China

Jiaxin Guan, Lu Gan, Chaoqi Yan, Boyu Hou, Ying Fan

2024, 4(2): 102-109. doi: 10.1515/fzm-2024-0011

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Abstract:
Background and objective Commonly plaguing in the frigid zone of the world, vitamin D deficiency, as indicated by low levels of 25-hydroxyvitamin D, exacerbated inflammatory responses and impaired endothelial function. Leukoaraiosis (LA) is a prevalent cause of cognitive dysfunction in the elderly and is potentially associated with inflammatory responses. This study aimed to investigate the impact of vitamin D on the severity of LA. Methods Patients with LA were categorized based on 3.0 T brain MRI findings into mild (N = 43), moderate (N = 40), or severe groups (N = 29) using the Fazekas scale (scoring 1-6). A control group consisting of 41 healthy individuals was included. Serum fibrinogen C, homocysteine, plasma 25-hydroxyvitamin D, and intercellular cell adhesion molecule-1 (ICAM-1) levels were measured using ELISA. Results All LA severity groups exhibited lower plasma 25-hydroxyvitamin D levels compared to the control group, with a more pronounced decrease observed as LA severity increased. Low plasma 25-hydroxyvitamin D was identified as an independent risk factor for LA (P < 0.05) according to Multiple logistic regression analysis. Additionally, a negative association was observed between 25-hydroxyvitamin D and vascular inflammatory factor ICAM-1. Conclusions Disease severity positively correlated with levels of the inflammatory marker ICAM-1, worsening as plasma 25-hydroxyvitamin D concentration decreased. Low 25-hydroxyvitamin D emerged as an independent risk factor for LA, potentially exacerbating the inflammatory response. These findings suggest 25-hydroxyvitamin D supplementation as a potential therapeutic approach for LA.

PLA2G2D and CHIT1: Potential biomarkers for immune infiltration and prognosis in cervical squamous cell carcinoma

Liangliang Jiang, Qiushuang Qiao, Jing Wang

2024, 4(2): 110-119. doi: 10.1515/fzm-2024-0012

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Abstract:
Objective The aim of this study was to identify biomarkers associated with immunity and prognosis in patients with cervical cancer. Materials and methods Data from patients with cervical squamous cell carcinoma (CESC) were retrieved from the UCSC Xena database and subjected to analysis. Gene sets representing 22 types of immunocytes were acquired, and immunocytes relevant to prognosis were identified. Weighted gene co-expression network analysis (WGCNA) was utilized to identify gene modules associated with prognosis-related immunocytes and to construct immune-related gene markers. Differentially expressed genes were then screened, and the association between immune score and biological function of immune-related gene markers was analyzed. Furthermore, tissue samples from cervical cancer patients in Northeast China were collected to validate the expression of two genes using real-time PCR and immunohistochemistry. Results This study identified 10 immunocytes significantly correlated with overall survival time in patients. Six gene modules were identified as significantly associated with prognosis-related immunocytes, with gene module 6 showing relevance to all prognosis-related immunocytes. Gene module 6 was related to all prognosis-related immunocytes. Moreover, two genes (including PLA2G2D and CHIT1) were found to be significantly associated with overall survival in cancer patients. Patients with CESC were classified into high and low immune score groups based on the median score of gene markers. Correlation analysis of the immune score and biological function was performed. Immunohistochemistry and real-time PCR results revealed high expression of CHIT1 and PLA2G2D in CESC tumor tissues. Conclusion PLA2G2D and CHIT1 show promise as biomarkers for evaluating immune infiltration and prognosis in patients with cervical cancer.

Characteristics of gut microbiota in anastomotic leakage patients in cold zones post-colorectal cancer surgery: A high-throughput sequencing and propensity-score matching study

Yuliuming Wang, Yukun Zhang, Yu Cao, Weiyuan Zhang, Ming Liu, Guiyu Wang

2024, 4(2): 120-128. doi: 10.1515/fzm-2024-0013

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Abstract:
Objective The study aimed to explore the association between gut microbiota and anastomotic leakage (AL) after surgery in colorectal cancer (CRC) patients from a frigid zone, based on high-throughput sequencing. Methods A total of 98 CRC patients admitted to the Second Affiliated Hospital of Harbin Medical University from July 2018 to February 2019, who met the inclusion criteria, were included. Among these, 10 patients were diagnosed as AL. After propensity-score matching of baseline characteristics, 10 patients from the anastomotic leakage group (AG) and 10 patients from the normal group (NG) were finally included in this study. Fecal samples were collected, and total DNA was extracted for high-throughput sequencing and bioinformatic analysis. Results Alpha diversity analysis showed no significant difference between the two groups, while beta diversity analysis revealed significant differences in principal components. Differential microbiota were classified as Proteobacteria at the phylum level (P = 0.021). At the genus level, the abundances of Streptococcus (P = 0.045), Citrobacter (P = 0.008) and Klebsiella (P = 0.002) were significantly different between the two groups. LEfSe analysis indicated that these genera contributed most to the differences between the groups. Conclusion The characteristics of the gut microbiota in the AG and NG were significantly different, and these differences might be associated with AL in CRC patients from frigid zones.

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