Abstract:
:Most cancer cells would not result in devastating tumours if it were not for their ability to metastasize. The process of cancer metastasis involves significant cell shape, motility, and adhesive changes of pre-cancerous cells, and the remodelling of the extracellular matrix, as well as cognate properties of neighbouring normal cells. Such changes will be hereafter referred to as "tissue fluidity changes". A number of pathogens are known to disseminate to distant organs from sites of infection within a few days. A compromise on the ability to disseminate rapidly could be deleterious to the pathogen (e.g. the pathogen might be cleared before it reaches immuno-privileged sites within its host). Several ways of dissemination could be envisioned - and some are known to occur - ranging from rather passive such as outgrowth and lysis of tissues, residence in the bloodstream, "hitch-hiking" on migratory cells of the immune and lymphatic systems to an active dissemination process involving tissue fluidity changes similar to those that cancer cells invoke to be able to metastasize. The latter is particularly expected to be an important mechanism for the in vivo dissemination of tissue-dwelling pathogens. The mechanisms behind metastasis can, therefore, be viewed as part of the unifying features between cancer cells and pathogens other than their characteristic high proliferation index (at least in one form in the case of digenetic parasites). The current paper presents a synthesis of the hitherto reported but rather scattered data that broadly reinforce the premise of unifying metastasis processes. The overwhelming research outcome in cancer metastasis might therefore serve as a spring board for facilitating the studies of pathogen metastasis and, importantly, relevant cancer treatment strategies can be adopted to combat infectious diseases.
journal_name
Med Hypothesesjournal_title
Medical hypothesesauthors
Haile Sdoi
10.1016/j.mehy.2007.04.042subject
Has Abstractpub_date
2008-01-01 00:00:00pages
375-7issue
2eissn
0306-9877issn
1532-2777pii
S0306-9877(07)00356-8journal_volume
70pub_type
杂志文章abstract::The three events, viz. schizophrenia, dissociative anaesthesia and Near-Death Experience, despite their seemingly unrelated manifestation to each other, have nevertheless similar functional basis. All three events are linked to the glutamate sensitive N-methyl-D-aspartate (NMDA) receptor complex, which serves as their...
journal_title:Medical hypotheses
pub_type: 杂志文章
doi:10.1016/s0306-9877(03)00307-4
更新日期:2004-01-01 00:00:00
abstract::Alzheimer's disease (AD) is the most common neurodegenerative disease and oligodendrocyte degeneration and white matter damage play a critical role in the pathogenesis of AD. FGF/FGF receptor signaling have been implicated in diverse cellular processes including cell apoptosis, survival, adhesion, migration, different...
journal_title:Medical hypotheses
pub_type: 杂志文章
doi:10.1016/j.mehy.2012.12.008
更新日期:2013-04-01 00:00:00
abstract::Obstructive sleep apnea (OSA) is a common and underdiagnosed medical disorder. OSA is associated with the symptoms of excessive daytime sleepiness (EDS). These patients typically follow a sedentary lifestyle, and sedentary behavior is related to impaired fluid dynamics in the lower body, particularly the legs. In a su...
journal_title:Medical hypotheses
pub_type: 杂志文章
doi:10.1016/j.mehy.2012.11.007
更新日期:2013-02-01 00:00:00
abstract::The aim was to search for periodical fluctuations in daily occurrence of gout attacks during the synodic lunar cycle. 126 gout attacks were recorded between 1972 and 1994 at known calendar dates. The synodic plexogram, displaying the number of attacks for each day of the cycle, was processed by cosinor regression. A p...
journal_title:Medical hypotheses
pub_type: 杂志文章
doi:10.1054/mehy.1999.0973
更新日期:2000-07-01 00:00:00
abstract::Previous research from our group suggests that patients with lesions in the left inferior parietal lobule (IPL)-which is concerned with abstract numerical cognition and cross-modal association (which is consistent with its strategic location at the crossroads between the temporal, parietal and occipital lobes) have di...
journal_title:Medical hypotheses
pub_type: 杂志文章
doi:10.1016/j.mehy.2014.01.033
更新日期:2014-06-01 00:00:00
abstract::In the present study, we used the potential of bioinformatics and computational analysis to predict the existence and biological relevance of zinc finger (ZF) motifs in heamagglutinin (HA) protein of Avian Influenza (AI) virus. Sequence data of Avian Influenza (AI) viruses were retrieved from accessible databases (Gen...
journal_title:Medical hypotheses
pub_type: 杂志文章
doi:10.1016/j.mehy.2020.109925
更新日期:2020-11-01 00:00:00
abstract::Lipid peroxidation has been shown to both enhance carcinogenesis and to have an anticarcinogenic effect. This paradox is of great relevance to the fields of free radical biology, biochemistry, pathology, nutrition and oncology among others and needs to be addressed. A proper understanding of this issue can be a key to...
journal_title:Medical hypotheses
pub_type: 杂志文章
doi:10.1016/s0306-9877(96)90120-6
更新日期:1996-06-01 00:00:00
abstract::Pelvis is a functional shell-like unit consisting of the pelvic floor and perineum. The patients, who underwent a radical operation of the pelvis due to an oncological disease, often develop pelvic disorders. These disorders do not depend on the type of surgery or any presence of postoperative treatment (radio- and ch...
journal_title:Medical hypotheses
pub_type: 杂志文章
doi:10.1016/j.mehy.2008.10.019
更新日期:2009-03-01 00:00:00
abstract::Abnormal fluctuations of acetylcholine and serotonin might cause, or be correlated with, a variety of symptoms. This communication cites evidence which suggests that fluctuations of serotonin might have a causative role in migraine, mania, and depression and that fluctuations of acetylcholine might have a causative ro...
journal_title:Medical hypotheses
pub_type: 杂志文章
doi:10.1016/0306-9877(93)90011-e
更新日期:1993-05-01 00:00:00
abstract::Muscle spindles are increasingly recognized as playing a pivotal role in the cause of dystonia. This development and own laryngeal observations that support the idea of causally "well-intentioned" stuttering motivated us to present the following hypothesis: stuttering events compensate for a sensory problem that arise...
journal_title:Medical hypotheses
pub_type: 杂志文章
doi:10.1016/j.mehy.2012.03.025
更新日期:2012-07-01 00:00:00
abstract::The accepted paradigms of mainstream neuropsychiatry appear to be incompletely adequate and in various cases offer equivocal analyses. However, a growing number of new approaches are being proposed that suggest the emergence of paradigm shifts in this area. In particular, quantum theories of mind, brain and consciousn...
journal_title:Medical hypotheses
pub_type: 杂志文章
doi:10.1016/j.mehy.2017.02.013
更新日期:2017-04-01 00:00:00
abstract::The comorbidity of eating disorders and reflex sympathetic dystrophy syndrome in the same patients raises the possibility of a common pathway for both conditions. Reflex sympathetic dystrophy syndrome may be manifesting itself in those individuals who have sympathetic overdrive. Microtrauma, often induced by compulsiv...
journal_title:Medical hypotheses
pub_type: 杂志文章
doi:10.1016/s0306-9877(97)90305-4
更新日期:1997-03-01 00:00:00
abstract::Oral submucous fibrosis (OSMF) is a potentially malignant disorder of the oral cavity. Most of the people affected by OSMF are betel quid chewers. It is characterized by epithelial atrophy and progressive accumulation of collagen fibers in lamina propria and submucosa of the oral mucosa. 7.6% of OSMF cases undergo ora...
journal_title:Medical hypotheses
pub_type: 杂志文章
doi:10.1016/j.mehy.2013.07.001
更新日期:2013-10-01 00:00:00
abstract::Parkinson's disease (PD) is the second most common neurodegenerative disease after Alzheimer's disease. The hallmark pathologic feature of PD is dopamine deficiency, caused by the degeneration of nigrostriatal dopaminergic neurons. Current treatments for PD mainly address the dopaminergic features of the disease; howe...
journal_title:Medical hypotheses
pub_type: 杂志文章
doi:10.1016/j.mehy.2007.04.014
更新日期:2007-01-01 00:00:00
abstract::Oral water irrigation devices (WIDs) are widely used for oral physiotherapy in homes and dental clinics throughout the world. A major area of concern in the use of WIDs has been the possibility of injury to the sulcular epithelium and underlying tissue. There are several documented clinical cases of tissue injury with...
journal_title:Medical hypotheses
pub_type: 杂志文章
doi:10.1016/0306-9877(85)90110-0
更新日期:1985-12-01 00:00:00
abstract::This article presents a novel view on the diabetes aetiology from the standpoint of a single epidemiological factor. It has been observed that, irrespective of the type of diabetes, sufferers have a stable, persistent behavioural habit: to take a rest or to have a nap within two hours of a meal. Such habitual behaviou...
journal_title:Medical hypotheses
pub_type: 杂志文章
doi:10.1016/j.mehy.2010.01.016
更新日期:2010-06-01 00:00:00
abstract::Numerous medical conditions present with acute and severe autonomic and muscular overactivity. These syndromes include Neuroleptic Malignant Syndrome, Serotonin Syndrome, Dysautonomia (or paroxysmal sympathetic storms) following acquired brain injury, Autonomic Dysreflexia, Parkinsonian-Hyperpyrexia Syndrome, Malignan...
journal_title:Medical hypotheses
pub_type: 杂志文章
doi:10.1016/j.mehy.2007.04.037
更新日期:2008-01-01 00:00:00
abstract::Silicone may, like any other adjuvant, induce an inflammatory reaction and diseases. There is no data about its use in renal transplant recipients. Increased immunogenicity of silicon may manifest by activation of both the innate and the adaptive immune system cells what promotes a chronic pro-inflammatory response. D...
journal_title:Medical hypotheses
pub_type: 杂志文章
doi:10.1016/j.mehy.2018.12.012
更新日期:2019-02-01 00:00:00
abstract::Individuals with Down syndrome have signs of possible brain damage prior to birth. In addition to slowed and reduced mental development, they are much more likely to have cognitive deterioration and develop dementia at an earlier age than individuals without Down syndrome. Some of the cognitive impairments are likely ...
journal_title:Medical hypotheses
pub_type: 杂志文章
doi:10.1016/j.mehy.2004.08.020
更新日期:2005-01-01 00:00:00
abstract::Preliminary but increasing evidence suggests that attention-deficit/hyperactivity disorder (ADHD), Tourette's syndrome (TS), and restless legs syndrome (RLS) may be comorbid. In the present article, we hypothesize that ADHD, TS, and RLS may be part of a spectrum, and that iron deficiency contributes to the pathophysio...
journal_title:Medical hypotheses
pub_type: 杂志文章
doi:10.1016/j.mehy.2007.10.013
更新日期:2008-01-01 00:00:00
abstract::The amino acid threonine contains two chiral carbons and thus can exist in four possible conformations. However, only a single conformation (2S, 3R) of threonine is incorporated in proteins by the cellular translation material. The conformation at the alpha carbon (carbon 2) is the same as that of the other amino acid...
journal_title:Medical hypotheses
pub_type: 杂志文章
doi:10.1054/mehy.2000.1231
更新日期:2001-04-01 00:00:00
abstract::The aim of the present paper is to give a schematic illustration of the basic humoral mechanisms of sodium, calcium and glucose homeostasis regulation. These can be compared to a lever system that maintains a dynamic equilibrium. ...
journal_title:Medical hypotheses
pub_type: 杂志文章
doi:10.1054/mehy.1998.0740
更新日期:1999-09-01 00:00:00
abstract::A method for fast nucleotide sequencing is described. It is based in the selection of well-known small oligomers able to be hybridized with the unknown target. The selected oligomers are afterwards ordered following a simple statistical approach. The use of capillary electrophoresis for the analysis is emphasized. ...
journal_title:Medical hypotheses
pub_type: 杂志文章
doi:10.1054/mehy.1999.1026
更新日期:2000-07-01 00:00:00
abstract::About 25-50% of children and adolescents with attention-deficit hyperactivity disorder (ADHD) experience sleep problems. An appropriate assessment and treatment of such problems might improve the quality of life in such patients and reduce both the severity of ADHD and the impairment it causes. According to data in th...
journal_title:Medical hypotheses
pub_type: 杂志文章
doi:10.1016/j.mehy.2012.04.020
更新日期:2012-08-01 00:00:00
abstract::A major factor relating to the oversight of neurological dysfunction and seizures caused by magnesium (Mg++) depletion, involves the buffer functions of the skeletal system orchestrated primarily by the parathyroid. A Mg++ depleted subject may appear relatively asymptomatic until a short period after homeostatic respo...
journal_title:Medical hypotheses
pub_type: 杂志文章
doi:10.1016/0306-9877(91)90067-9
更新日期:1991-01-01 00:00:00
abstract::Narcolepsy is a disorder characterized by the sudden urge to sleep. The biochemical etiology of this disorder is believed to be due to dopamine abnormalities. Since the precursor of dopamine is L-tyrosine, the administration of this amino acid may prove beneficial in the treatment of narcolepsy. Preliminary research a...
journal_title:Medical hypotheses
pub_type: 杂志文章
doi:10.1016/0306-9877(90)90141-z
更新日期:1990-12-01 00:00:00
abstract::The cause and therapy of neurodegenerative diseases remain unsolved puzzles. These diseases are correlated with presence of beta sheet-rich amyloid assemblies. Here, I derive and assemble puzzle pieces to obtain a loose end-tying hypothesis for cause with direct implications for therapy. I use the following extrapolat...
journal_title:Medical hypotheses
pub_type: 杂志文章
doi:10.1016/j.mehy.2017.11.001
更新日期:2018-01-01 00:00:00
abstract::Chronic, tertiary Lyme disease, a vector-borne infection most accurately designated neuroborreliosis, is often misdiagnosed. Infectors of the human brain, Lyme borrelial spirochetes are neurotropic, similar to the spirochetes of syphilis. Symptoms of either disease may be stable and persistent, transient and inconsist...
journal_title:Medical hypotheses
pub_type: 杂志文章
doi:10.1016/j.mehy.2005.04.009
更新日期:2005-01-01 00:00:00
abstract::Recently, a mini-review was published in the Medical Hypotheses journal by Usul Afsar entitled 2019-nCoV-SARS-CoV-2 (COVID-19) infection: Cruciality of Furin and relevance with cancer. Previous studies have pointed out that disruption of the proteolytic cleavage of proteins can promote infectious and non-infectious di...
journal_title:Medical hypotheses
pub_type: 信件
doi:10.1016/j.mehy.2020.109893
更新日期:2020-10-01 00:00:00
abstract::The aetiology of multiple sclerosis suggests that its occurrence depends on a combination of factors, including viral infection in early childhood, genotype and an initiating event within the central nervous system. The resulting damage may be caused by events initiated by free radicals. Free radicals themselves may c...
journal_title:Medical hypotheses
pub_type: 杂志文章
doi:10.1016/s0306-9877(97)90196-1
更新日期:1997-10-01 00:00:00