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Topic Review
Pathophysiology of Psoriasis
Psoriasis is an immune-mediated inflammatory disease, with a chronic relapsing-remitting course, which affects 2–3% of the worldwide population. Psoriasis vulgaris is a common inflammatory, immune-mediated, chronic, and recurrent dermatosis, caused by the interplay between multiple genetic and environmental risk factors. The clinical feature of psoriasis is dominated by erythematous-squamous plaques which usually, but non-exclusively arise symmetrically on the extensor surfaces of the elbows and knees, scalp, lumbosacral area, and it reflects some pathogenetic mechanisms underlying psoriasis, i.e., inflammation, hyperproliferation, angiogenesis.
  • 1.2K
  • 28 Oct 2021
Topic Review
Telomerase in Brain
Telomerase is an enzyme that in its canonical function extends and maintains telomeres, the ends of chromosomes. However, telomere-independent functions are known for the telomerase protein TERT like shuttling from the nucleus to mitochondria where it decreases oxidative stress, apoptosis sensitivity and DNA damage. Recently, a protective role of TERT was found in brain where it protects neurons from stress and toxic proteins connected to neurodegenerative diseases. Telomerase activators are able to boost this protection in brain. The entry summarises our current knowledge about telomerase in the brain and highlights possible therapeutic approaches.
  • 1.2K
  • 31 May 2021
Topic Review
Folates
Folates are crucial to life, as a component and catalyst for essential biochemical reactions, particularly and especially via their central role in the metabolism of nucleotides for DNA synthesis and methylation processes involved in imprinting and epigenesis.
  • 1.2K
  • 29 Mar 2022
Topic Review
SLC6A14 and SLC38A5
SLC6A14 and SLC38A5 are the two transporters that are upregulated in a variety of cancers to mediate the influx of glutamine, serine, glycine, and methionine into cancer cells. SLC6A14 is a Na+/Cl− -coupled transporter for multiple amino acids, including these four amino acids. In contrast, SLC38A5 is a Na+-coupled transporter with rather restricted specificity towards glutamine, serine, glycine, and methionine. Both transporters exhibit unique functional features that are ideal for the rapid proliferation of cancer cells.
  • 1.2K
  • 14 Apr 2021
Topic Review
Metformin in Differentiated Thyroid Cancer
Metformin is a synthetic biguanide that improves insulin sensitivity and reduces hepatic gluconeogenesis. Aside being the first-line therapy for Type 2 Diabetes (T2D), many pleiotropic effects have been discovered in recent years, such as its capacity to reduce cancer risk and tumorigenesis.
  • 1.2K
  • 25 Apr 2022
Topic Review
NO Signaling Pathways in Aging
Nitric Oxide (NO) is a potent signaling molecule involved in the regulation of various cellular mechanisms and pathways under normal and pathological conditions. NO production, its effects, and its efficacy, are extremely sensitive to aging-related changes in the cells. 
  • 1.2K
  • 12 Aug 2021
Topic Review
PIPAC
Theoretical considerations as well as comprehensive preclinical and clinical data suggest that optimizing physical parameters of intraperitoneal drug delivery might help to circumvent initial or acquired resistance of peritoneal metastasis (PM) to chemotherapy. Pressurized Intraperitoneal Aerosol Chemotherapy (PIPAC) is a novel minimally invasive drug delivery system systematically addressing the current limitations of intraperitoneal chemotherapy. The rationale behind PIPAC is: (1) optimizing homogeneity of drug distribution by applying an aerosol rather than a liquid solution; (2) applying increased intraperitoneal hydrostatic pressure to counteract elevated intratumoral interstitial fluid pressure; (3) limiting blood outflow during drug application; (4) steering environmental parameters (temperature, pH, electrostatic charge etc.) in the peritoneal cavity for best tissue target effect. In addition, PIPAC allows repeated application and objective assessment of tumor response by comparing biopsies between chemotherapy cycles. 
  • 1.2K
  • 09 Aug 2021
Topic Review
Bone Health in Patients with Dyslipidemias
Despite the high heterogeneity and the variable quality of evidence, dyslipidemia, mainly high TC and LDL-C and, to a lesser extent, TG concentrations, seems to be associated with low bone mass and increased fracture risk. This detrimental effect may be mediated directly through the increased oxidative stress and systemic inflammation that dyslipidemia is associated with, leading to increased osteoclastic activity and reduced bone formation, or through the atherosclerotic process, which affects bone’s vascularization. Other mechanisms, such as low estrogen, vitamin D and K status, and increased concentrations of PTH, homocysteine, and lipid oxidation products, may also contribute to this interplay. Regarding the effect of lipid-lowering therapy on bone metabolism, statins may slightly increase BMD, with a tendency to reduce fracture risk as shown in case-control and cohort studies, although available RCTs have not shown any effect of statins on fracture risk. This is also the case for omega-3 FA, whereas inconsistent or insufficient evidence exists for other commonly used lipid-lowering medications, such as ezetimibe, fibrates, and niacin. There is an exigent need for prospective, well-designed studies in males and females to elaborate on the putative association between lipids and bone strength.
  • 1.2K
  • 14 Feb 2022
Topic Review
Antidiabetic Properties of Naringenin
Type 2 diabetes mellitus (T2DM) is a metabolic disease characterized by insulin resistance and hyperglycemia and is associated with personal health and global economic burdens. Current strategies/approaches of insulin resistance and T2DM prevention and treatment are lacking in efficacy resulting in the need for new preventative and targeted therapies. In recent years, epidemiological studies have suggested that diets rich in vegetables and fruits are associated with health benefits including protection against insulin resistance and T2DM. Naringenin, a citrus flavanone, has been reported to have antioxidant, anti-inflammatory, hepatoprotective, nephroprotective, immunomodulatory and antidiabetic properties.
  • 1.2K
  • 14 Jul 2021
Topic Review
Proteomics, Personalized Medicine and Cancer
Cancer, a major public health issue worldwide, is the second most common cause of death. Initiatives such as the Human Genome Project (HGP) and Human Proteome Project (HPP) have greatly advanced the understanding of human health and disease, including cancer, and are supporting the current trend towards personalized/precision medicine.
  • 1.2K
  • 01 Jun 2021
Topic Review
Chronothyroidology and Chronobiology
Chronobiology is the scientific discipline which considers biological phenomena in relation to time, which assumes itself biological identity. Many physiological processes are cyclically regulated by intrinsic clocks and many pathological events show a circadian time-related occurrence. Even the pituitary–thyroid axis is under the control of a central clock, and the hormones of the pituitary–thyroid axis exhibit circadian, ultradian and circannual rhythmicity.
  • 1.2K
  • 25 May 2021
Topic Review
Assertive Community Treatment
Assertive community treatment (ACT) is an intensive and highly integrated approach for community mental health service delivery. ACT teams serve individuals with the most serious forms of mental illness, predominantly but not exclusively the schizophrenia spectrum disorders. ACT service recipients may also have diagnostic profiles that include features typically found in other DSM-5 categories (for example, bipolar, depressive, anxiety, and personality disorders, among others). Many have histories of frequent psychiatric hospitalization, substance abuse, victimization and trauma, arrests and incarceration, homelessness, and additional significant challenges. The symptoms and complications of their mental illnesses have led to serious functioning difficulties in several areas of life, often including work, social relationships, residential independence, money management, and physical health and wellness. By the time they start receiving ACT services, they are likely to have experienced failure, discrimination, and stigmatization, and their hope for the future is likely to be quite low.
  • 1.2K
  • 27 Oct 2022
Topic Review
Status Dynamic Psychotherapy
Status dynamic psychotherapy (SDT) is an approach to psychotherapy that was created by Peter G. Ossorio at the University of Colorado in the late 1960s as part of a larger system known as "descriptive psychology". Its distinguishing characteristic is that it does not focus on the factors traditionally targeted by psychotherapy such as the client’s behaviors, cognitions, insight into unconscious factors, and patterns of interaction with significant others. Instead, it focuses on bringing about changes in clients’ statuses; i.e., the positions that they occupy in relation to everything in their worlds, including themselves and aspects of themselves. Proponents of SDT maintain:
  • 1.2K
  • 08 Nov 2022
Topic Review
Sarcopenia and Cognitive Function
Sarcopenia is a geriatric syndrome characterized by the progressive degeneration of muscle mass and function. It is associated with cognitive impairment, defined as a decline in cognitive domains such as language, memory, reasoning, social cognition, planning, making decisions, and solving problems. Several studies have shown that skeletal muscle can regulate brain functions, including mood, learning, locomotor activity, and neuronal injury protection, showing the existence of muscle-brain crosstalk. 
  • 1.2K
  • 04 Jun 2021
Topic Review
Thymus Gland
The thymus gland is the chief lymphoid organ that regulates the functions of the immune and endocrine systems by controlling the levels of hormones and cytokines. The thymus gland protects against various internal and external stresses through immunoregulatory properties, nerve systems, and endocrine pathways. The thymus gland controls cell proliferation, apoptosis, hormones, and neuropeptides, as well as regulating intrathymic T cell differentiation and production of a repertoire of the T cell.
  • 1.2K
  • 26 Oct 2021
Topic Review
Epithelial–Mesenchymal Transition for Breast Carcinogenesis
The transforming growth factor-β (TGF-β) signaling pathway plays multiple regulatory roles in the tumorigenesis and development of cancer. TGF-β can inhibit the growth and proliferation of epithelial cells and induce apoptosis, thereby playing a role in inhibiting breast cancer. Therefore, the loss of response in epithelial cells that leads to the inhibition of cell proliferation due to TGF-β is a landmark event in tumorigenesis. As tumors progress, TGF-β can promote tumor cell invasion, metastasis, and drug resistance. At present, the above-mentioned role of TGF-β is related to the interaction of multiple signaling pathways in the cell, which can attenuate or abolish the inhibition of proliferation and apoptosis-promoting effects of TGF-β and enhance its promotion of tumor progression. 
  • 1.2K
  • 31 Aug 2021
Topic Review
Intervention Strategies Using Antimicrobial Peptides
The emergence of multidrug-resistant H. pylori poses a public healthcare threat, particularly in low- and middle-income countries. Recently, the World Health Organization has classified clarithromycin-resistant H. pylori as high priority in the research and discovery of novel antibiotics. This study was aimed to systematically review the prevalence of primary antibiotic resistance in H. pylori in Southeast Asian countries (SEAC) and to review current studies of antimicrobial peptides against H. pylori. We systematically searched through electronic databases of studies conducted on antimicrobial resistance of H. pylori in SEA countries. Furthermore, we searched articles that conducted studies on antimicrobial peptides, naturally occurring host’s defense molecules, against H. pylori. After a series of screening processes, 15 studies were included in our systematic review. Our analysis revealed that primary resistance of H. pylori to metronidazole, clarithromycin, and levofloxacin were high in SEAC, although the primary resistance to amoxicillin and tetracycline remains low. Multidrug-resistant H. pylori are emerging in SE Asian countries. The antimicrobial peptides show promising antibacterial and antibiofilm activity against drug-resistant H. pylori. The research and discovery of antimicrobial peptides against H. pylori in SEAC will help in limiting the spread of antimicrobial resistance of H. pylori. 
  • 1.2K
  • 17 Sep 2021
Topic Review
Role of Cytokine IL-37 in Modulating Inflammation
Inflammation constitutes an essential response of tissues to infection or injury. The cytokine IL-37 is a member of the IL-1 family of cytokines, otherwise known for its pivotal role in promoting inflammation. This cytokine (a former member 7 of the IL-1 family) was characterized by computational cloning, which revealed its role as a negative regulator of the cytokine IL-18, which in addition to IL-1β is the key proinflammatory cytokine of the IL-1 cytokine family. There is growing interest in the therapeutic potentials of IL-37.
  • 1.1K
  • 20 Jun 2022
Topic Review
Gestalt Practice
Gestalt Practice is a contemporary form of personal exploration and integration developed by Dick Price at the Esalen Institute. The objective of the practice is to become more fully aware of the process of living within a unified field of body, mind, relationship, earth and spirit. Gestalt is a German word that denotes form, shape or configuration, and connotes wholeness. Practice is an ongoing program or process of development. Gestalt Practice is an ongoing process of integrating human awareness across a broad spectrum of consciousness. Initially, Gestalt was used as a psychological term in Gestalt psychology. Then Fritz Perls, Laura Perls and Paul Goodman applied it to psychotherapy when they developed Gestalt therapy, upon which Gestalt Practice was partially based. Alan Watts, who was a mentor of Dick Price, suggested combining practices from the cultures of East and West. The writings of Nyanaponika Thera and the nearby presence of Zen Roshi Shunryu Suzuki[notes 1] were sources of Buddhist meditation practice for Price. Gestalt Practice was the term he used to describe his combination of these Eastern and Western traditions. This term distinguished the practice Price taught from both Gestalt therapy and Buddhist practice.:172
  • 1.1K
  • 03 Nov 2022
Topic Review
Remission in Type 2 Diabetes
Type 2 diabetes mellitus (T2DM) is a progressive disease with a growing prevalence, associated with an increased risk of complications. The introduction of new classes of antidiabetic drugs into clinical practice has dramatically changed the landscape of diabetes therapy. However, despite the progress made in the pharmacotherapy of T2DM, mitigating the burden of the disease on individuals, societies and health care systems remains a challenge. Remission has emerged as a therapeutic target in T2DM, achievable through a wide range of interventions. Studies have shown that extensive lifestyle changes, such as weight reduction, bariatric surgery, and intensive glucose lowering therapy, can prompt the remission of diabetes, but some unanswered questions remain regarding its long-term effects on diabetic complications. Metabolic surgery and novel classes of glucose-lowering medications are the most effective interventions to induce weight loss and by extension remission in patients with diabetes.
  • 1.1K
  • 02 Dec 2022
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