Background Fibromyalgia is a debilitating syndrome characterized by diffuse and chronic musculoskeletal pain.Objective To perform a systematic review and meta-analysis of case-control studies to explore the respiratory disturbances among persons with fibromyalgia.Study appraisal and synthesis method This review was performed in accordance with PRISMA guidelines (PROSPERO; identification number CRD 42,020,196,835). We systematically searched seven electronic databases for articles published before December 2020.Eligibility criteria Case-control studies comparing adults with fibromyalgia syndrome and healthy individuals with regard to the respiratory disturbances.Results A total of six studies were included in the quantitative analysis. Pooled analysis showed that persons with fibromyalgia reported reduced chest expansion (MD -0.72, 95% CI, -1.70 to 0.27, I2 = 95%, p = 0.016), maximum expiratory pressure (MD -10.67, 95% CI, -18.62 to -2.72, I2 = 77%, p = 0.009), maximum inspiratory pressure (MD 11.04, 95% CI, -14.45 to -7.62, I2 = 0%, p less then 0.001) and maximal voluntary ventilation (MD 11.79, 95% CI, -16.80 to -7.78, I2 = 0%, p less then 0.001).Conclusion Persons with fibromyalgia experience respiratory disturbances, such as reduced chest expansion, maximum expiratory pressure, maximum inspiratory pressure, and maximal voluntary ventilation.Introduction The phosphatidylinositol 3-kinase/protein kinase-B/mammalian target of rapamycin (PI3K/AKT/mTOR) pathway is a fundamental regulator of cell proliferation and survival. Dysregulation in this pathway leads to the development of cancer. Accumulating evidence indicates that dysregulation in this pathway is involved in cancer initiation, progression, and recurrence. However, the pathway consists of various signal transducing factors related with cellular events, such as transformation, tumorigenesis, cancer progression, and drug resistance. Therefore, it is very important to determine the targets in this pathway for cancer therapy. Although many drugs inhibiting this signaling pathway are in clinical trials or have been approved for treating solid tumors and hematologic malignancies, further understanding of the signaling mechanism is required to achieve better therapeutic efficacy.Areas covered In this review, we have describe the PI3K/AKT/mTOR pathway in detail, along with its critical role in cancer stem cells, for identifying potential therapeutic targets. see more We also summarize the recent developments in different types of signaling inhibitors.Expert opinion Downregulation of the PI3K/AKT/mTOR pathway is very important for treating all types of cancers. Thus, further studies are required to establish novel prognostic factors to support the current progress in cancer treatment with emphasis on this pathway.Pregnancy is characterized by insulin resistance that is associated with increased angiotensin II (AngII) and insulin levels. Therefore, pregnancy may change insulin-induced vasodilation through changes in AngII receptors. Insulin-induced vasorelaxation was evaluated in phenylephrine-precontracted aortic rings of pregnant and non-pregnant rats, using a conventional isolated organ preparation. Experiments were performed in thoracic or abdominal aorta rings with or without endothelium in the presence and absence of L-NAME (10-5 M), losartan (10-7 M) or PD123319 (10-7 M). AT1 and AT2 receptors expression were detected by immunohistochemistry. Insulin-induced vasodilation was endothelium and NO dependent and decreased in the thoracic aorta but increased in the abdominal segment of pregnant rats. Insulin’s vasorelaxant effect was increased by losartan mainly on the thoracic aorta. PD123319 decreased insulin-induced vasorelaxation mainly in the pregnant rat abdominal aorta. AT1 receptors’ expression was decreased while AT2 receptors’ expression was increased by pregnancy. In conclusion, pregnancy changes insulin-induced vasorelaxation. Moreover, insulin vasodilation is tonically inhibited by AT1 receptors, while AT2 receptors appear to have an insulin-sensitizing effect. The role of pregnancy and AngII receptors differ depending on the aorta segment. These results shed light on the role of pregnancy and AngII receptors on the regulation of insulin-mediated vasodilation.Although vasodilatation evoked by acidosis at normal body temperature is well known, the reports regarding effect of acidosis on the reactivity of the isolated arteries at low temperatures are non-existent. This study tested the hypothesis that the inhibitory effect of acidosis on the neurogenic vasoconstriction may be increased by cooling. Using wire myography, we recorded the neurogenic contraction of the rat tail artery segments to the electrical field stimulation in the absence and in the presence of 0.03-10.0 µmol/L noradrenaline. The experiments were conducted at 37oC or 25oC and pH 7.4 or 6.6 which was decreased by means of CO2. Noradrenaline at concentration of 0.03-0.1 µmol/L significantly potentiated the neurogenic vasoconstriction at 25oC, and the potentiation was not inhibited by acidosis. Contrary to our hypothesis, acidosis at a low temperature did not affect the noradrenaline-induced tone and significantly increased the neurogenic contraction of the artery segments in the absence and presence of noradrenaline. These effects of acidosis were partly dependent on the endothelium and L-type Ca2+ channels activation. The phenomenon described for the first time might be of importance for the reduction in the heat loss by virtue of decrease in the subcutaneous blood flow at low ambient temperatures.Postherpetic neuralgia (PHN) is a painful neuropathic complication resulting from herpes zoster (HZ). The pain manifests in peripheral nerves infected by herpesviruses, mostly from reactivation of latent varicella zoster virus. Mechanistic descriptions suggest that PHN develops because of disrupted immune system signaling and inflammation or peripheral nerve damage; however, the pathophysiology is not clear. It is difficult to predict/prevent PHN manifestations of HZ patients due to the lack of accurate diagnostics. In this study, sera from healthy controls, HZ patients, and PHN patients were subjected to an interferon (IFN) expression profile (IEP) study. The corresponding cDNAs were analyzed by quantitative reverse transcription-polymerase chain reaction (qRT-PCR) using primer pairs against a panel of 21 different IFN subtypes. The results showed that distinct IEPs were observed among HZ and PHN cohorts in comparison to the healthy controls. Together, this pilot study suggested that the IEP study may be used as a molecular tool for diagnosis of PHN and assist in designing new PHN therapeutic protocols.