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Topic Review
Inorganic Nanoparticles for Cancer Treatment
The application of porphyrins and their derivatives have been investigated extensively over the past years for phototherapy cancer treatment. Phototherapeutic Porphyrins have the ability to generate high levels of reactive oxygen with a low dark toxicity and these properties have made them robust photosensitizing agents. In recent years, Porphyrins have been combined with various nanomaterials in order to improve their bio-distribution. These combinations allow for nanoparticles to enhance photodynamic therapy (PDT) cancer treatment and adding additional nanotheranostics (photothermal therapy—PTT) as well as enhance photodiagnosis (PDD) to the reaction. This review examines various porphyrin-based inorganic nanoparticles developed for phototherapy nanotheranostic cancer treatment over the last three years (2017 to 2020). Furthermore, current challenges in the development and future perspectives of porphyrin-based nanomedicines for cancer treatment are also highlighted.
  • 1.5K
  • 28 Oct 2020
Topic Review
Superoxide Radical Anion O2•−
Classically, superoxide anion O2•− and reactive oxygen species ROS play a dual role. At the physiological balance level, they are a by-product of O2 reduction, necessary for cell signalling, and at the pathological level they are considered harmful, as they can induce disease and apoptosis, necrosis, ferroptosis, pyroptosis and autophagic cell death.
  • 1.5K
  • 31 Jan 2023
Topic Review
YAP/TAZ Activation in Head and Neck Cancer
The Hippo signaling pathway, originally discovered as a mechanism regulating tissue growth and organ size, transduces intracellular and extracellular signals to regulate the transcriptional co-activators YAP and TAZ. Alterations in the Hippo pathway resulting in persistent YAP and TAZ activation have emerged as major oncogenic drivers. The researchers' analysis of the human Head and neck squamous cell carcinoma (HNSCC) oncogenome revealed multiple genomic alterations impairing Hippo signaling and activating YAP and TAZ, which in turn contribute to HNSCC development. This includes mutations and deletions of the FAT1 gene (29%) and amplification of the WWTR1 (encoding TAZ, 14%) and YAP1 genes (8%), together representing one of the most genetically altered signaling mechanisms in this malignancy. 
  • 1.5K
  • 11 May 2022
Topic Review
Hydrogen Bond
The hydrogen bond may be treated as a local stabilizing interaction that acts between the proton or the electron charge deficient region of hydrogen centre and the electron rich region that is related to one or more centres. This may be named as the two-sites hydrogen bond definition. However in numerous studies the A-H proton donating bond with the positively charged H-atom and the proton acceptor, say B, being the electron rich centre are taken into account. Thus so-called A-H∙∙∙B hydrogen bridges are often considered. In such a way the three-sites hydrogen bond definition may be proposed that the hydrogen bond is the A-H∙∙∙B local stabilizing system with the proton situated between two A and B electron rich sites, most often closer to one of them, forming the A-H covalent bond; both A and B may correspond to one or more atomic centres.
  • 1.5K
  • 07 Sep 2021
Topic Review
Endogenous Retroviruses Activity in Mouse
Endogenous retroviruses (ERVs) are genetic elements resulting from relics of ancestral infection of germline cells, now recognized in human as cofactors in the etiology of several complex diseases as neurodevelopmental disorders. Autism spectrum disorders, attention deficit hyperactivity disorders, and schizophrenia are neurodevelopmental disorders, currently attributed to the interplay among genetic vulnerability, environmental risk factors, and maternal immune activation. The role of ERVs in human embryogenesis, their intrinsic responsiveness to external stimuli, and the interaction with the immune system support the involvement of ERVs in the derailed neurodevelopmental process. Although definitive proofs that ERVs are involved in neurobehavioral alterations are still lacking, both preclinical models and human studies indicate that the abnormal expression of ERVs could represent a neurodevelopmental disorders-associated biological trait.
  • 1.5K
  • 30 Oct 2020
Topic Review
Mitochondria
Mitochondria are energy-producing structures and the main site for aerobic respiration in cells, and are therefore called the “powerhouse of the cell”.
  • 1.5K
  • 14 Apr 2023
Topic Review
Perfume and Flavor Engineering
The Perfumery Ternary Diagram enables us to determine the dominant odor for each perfume composition.
  • 1.5K
  • 29 Jun 2021
Topic Review
Cyclodextrins in the Food Industry
Cyclodextrins (CDs) are cyclic oligomers broadly used in food manufacturing as food additives for different purposes, e.g., to improve sensorial qualities, shelf life, and sequestration of components.
  • 1.5K
  • 04 Mar 2021
Topic Review
Nucleoside Analogs
As the non-naturally occurring biomolecules, modified DNA/RNA nucleoside and oligonucleotide analogues composed of L-(deoxy)riboses, have been designed and applied as innovative therapeutics with superior plasma stability, weakened cytotoxicity, and inexistent immunogenicity.
  • 1.5K
  • 29 Dec 2021
Topic Review
Ribonucleotides in DNA
RNA is frequently found into DNA. Single embedded ribonucleotides are mainly introduced by DNA polymerases. Longer stretches of RNA can also anneal to DNA, forming RNA:DNA hybrids, as occurs for R-loops. Even if R-loops are the most studied hybrid structures, the world of RNA:DNA hybrids is much wider. Polyribonucleotide chains are indeed synthesized to allow Okazaki fragments priming in the process of DNA replication, and double-strand breaks repair and may also result from the direct incorporation of several consecutive ribonucleotides by DNA polymerases. We discuss about all the possible sources of single and multiple ribonucleotides in DNA, focusing on situations where the aberrant processing of RNA:DNA hybrids may result in potentially harmful stretches of consecutive ribonucleotides embedded into the genome, whose existence is also supported by their presence into the DNA of organelles.
  • 1.5K
  • 01 Nov 2020
Topic Review
Food–Drug Interactions with Fruit Juices
Fruit juices contain a large number of phytochemicals that, in combination with certain drugs, can cause food–drug interactions that can be clinically significant and lead to adverse events. The mechanisms behind such interactions are in most cases related to phytochemical interference with the activity of cytochrome P450 metabolizing enzymes (CYPs) or drug transporters. Moreover, alterations in their activity can have a clinical relevance if systemic exposure to the drug is decreased or increased, meaning that the pharmacological drug effects are suboptimal, or the drug will cause toxicity. In general, the common pharmacokinetic parameters found to be altered in food–drug interactions regarding fruit juices are the area under the concentration–time curve, bioavailability, and maximum plasma concentration. In most cases, the results from the drug interaction studies with fruit juices provide only limited information due to the small number of subjects, which are also healthy volunteers. Moreover, drug interactions with fruit juices are challenging to predict due to the unknown amounts of the specific phytochemicals responsible for the interaction, as well as due to the inter-individual variability of drug metabolism, among others. Therefore, this work aims to raise awareness about possible pharmacological interactions with fruit juices. 
  • 1.5K
  • 29 May 2021
Topic Review
Astrocytic Factors Controlling Synaptogenesis
Astrocytes are essential players of brain circuit development and homeostasis controlling many aspects of synapse formation, function, plasticity and elimination both during development and adulthood. Accordingly, alterations in astrocyte morphogenesis and physiology may severely affect proper brain development, causing neurological or neuropsychiatric conditions. Recent findings revealed a huge astrocyte heterogeneity among different brain areas, which is likely at the basis of the different synaptogenic potential of these cells in selected brain regions. 
  • 1.5K
  • 13 Oct 2020
Topic Review
Hsp70 and Hsp90
Hsp70, Hsp90, and their co-chaperones are crucial members of the proteostasis network that are able to recognize misfolded proteins, aberrant condensates and protein aggregates, triaging proteins for refolding or degradation. These members of the chaperome are considered major sentinels impeding the molecular processes that lead to cell damage in the course of degenerative proteinopathies. Indeed, Hsp70, Hsp90 and their co-chaperones are increasingly recognized as therapeutic targets for the development of treatments against prevalent protein misfolding diseases.
  • 1.5K
  • 23 Dec 2020
Topic Review
Cytokines Drive Angiogenesis
Cytokines are important molecular players in cancer development, progression, and potential targets for treatment. Despite being small and overlooked, research has revealed that cytokines influence cancer biology in multiple ways. Cytokines are often found to contribute to immune function, cell damage, inflammation, angiogenesis, metastasis, and several other cellular processes important to tumor survival. Cytokines have also proven to have powerful effects on complex tumor microenvironment molecular biology and microbiology.  Angiogenesis, also termed neovascularization, is blood vessel development from pre-existing vasculature. It is regulated by a careful balance of pro- and anti-angiogenic factors.
  • 1.5K
  • 10 May 2022
Topic Review
Updating Phospholipase A2 Biology
The phospholipase A2 (PLA2) superfamily contains more than 50 enzymes in mammals that are subdivided into several distinct families on a structural and biochemical basis. In principle, PLA2 has the capacity to hydrolyze the sn-2 position of glycerophospholipids to release fatty acids and lysophospholipids, yet several enzymes in this superfamily catalyze other reactions rather than or in addition to the PLA2 reaction. PLA2 enzymes play crucial roles in not only the production of lipid mediators, but also membrane remodeling, bioenergetics, and body surface barrier, thereby participating in a number of biological events. Accordingly, disturbance of PLA2-regulated lipid metabolism is often associated with various diseases.
  • 1.5K
  • 17 Nov 2020
Topic Review
Colorectal Cancer Cells
The majority of deaths related to colorectal cancer (CRC) are associated with the metastatic process. Alternative therapeutic strategies, such as traditional folk remedies, deserve attention for their potential ability to attenuate the invasiveness of CRC cells. The aim of this study is to investigate the biological activity of brown Cuban propolis (CP) and its main component nemorosone (NEM) and to describe the molecular mechanism(s) by which they inhibit proliferation and metastatic potential of 2 CRC cell lines. CP and NEM significantly decreased cell viability and inhibited clonogenic capacity of CRC cells in a dose and time-dependent manner, by arresting the cell cycle in the G0/G1 phase and inducing apoptosis. Furthermore, CP and NEM downregulated BCL2 gene expression and upregulated the expression of the proapoptotic genes TP53 and BAX, with a consequent activation of caspase 3/7. They also attenuated cell migration and invasion by inhibiting MMP9 activity, increasing E-cadherin and decreasing β-catenin and vimentin expression, proteins involved in the epithelial–mesenchymal transition (EMT). NEM, besides displaying antiproliferative activity on CRC cells, is able to decrease their metastatic potential by modulating EMT-related molecules. These findings provide new insights about the antitumoral properties of CP, due to NEM content.  
  • 1.5K
  • 01 Nov 2020
Topic Review
Benzo[a]pyrene
Benzo[a]pyrene (B[a]P) is the main representative of polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons (PAHs), and has been repeatedly found in the air, surface water, soil, and sediments.
  • 1.5K
  • 21 Jun 2022
Topic Review
Exosome
Exosomes are nano-sized vesicles generated inside cells during the maturation of endosomes into multivesicular bodies (MVBs) and then released into the extracellular space.
  • 1.5K
  • 02 Sep 2020
Topic Review
Human Gut Microbiome and Quercetin
The existing evidence suggests that gut microbiota is capable of flavonoid biotransformation to generate bioactive metabolites including 2,4,6-trihydroxybenzoic acid (2,4,6-THBA), 3,4-dihydroxybenzoic acid (3,4-DHBA), and 3,4-dihydroxyphenylacetic acid (DOPAC).
  • 1.5K
  • 08 Jul 2021
Topic Review
Silk Fibroin as Contact Lenses
Fibroin is a fibrous protein that can be conveniently isolated from the silk cocoons produced by the larvae of Bombyx mori silk moth. In its form as a hydrogel, Bombyx mori silk fibroin (BMSF) has been employed in a variety of biomedical applications. When used as substrates for biomaterial-cells constructs in tissue engineering, the oxygen transport characteristics of the BMSF membranes have proved so far to be adequate. However, over the past three decades the BMSF hydrogels have been proposed episodically as materials for the manufacture of contact lenses, an application that depends on substantially elevated oxygen permeability.
  • 1.5K
  • 26 May 2021
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