Your browser does not fully support modern features. Please upgrade for a smoother experience.
Subject:
All Disciplines Arts & Humanities Biology & Life Sciences Business & Economics Chemistry & Materials Science Computer Science & Mathematics Engineering Environmental & Earth Sciences Medicine & Pharmacology Physical Sciences Public Health & Healthcare Social Sciences
Sort by:
Most Viewed Latest Alphabetical (A-Z) Alphabetical (Z-A)
Filter:
All Topic Review Biography Peer Reviewed Entry Video Entry
Topic Review
Targeting Potential in Gliomas
Gliomas portray a large and heterogeneous group of CNS tumors, encompassing a wide range of low- to high-grade tumors, as defined by histological and molecular characteristics. The identification of signature mutations and other molecular abnormalities has largely impacted tumor classification, diagnosis, and therapy. Transcription factors (TFs) are master regulators of gene expression programs, which ultimately shape cell fate and homeostasis. A variety of TFs have been detected to be aberrantly expressed in brain tumors, being highly implicated in critical pathological aspects and progression of gliomas.
  • 681
  • 18 Apr 2022
Topic Review
Actions of Insulin Expressed in the CNS
The expression of insulin receptors (IR) in the central nervous system (CNS) was first documented almost half a century ago. It is now known that both short (IR-A) and long (IR-B) isoform of this receptor is expressed in the hypothalamus, hippocampus, cerebral cortex, and cerebellum, the brain regions also associated with the production of insulin. In regard to the IR expression at the cellular level, it was shown that, unlike neurons that only express IR-A, astrocytes express both IR-A and IR-B. Ever since the transport of insulin across the BBB and the expression of functional IR in the CNS was documented, attempts have been made to learn more about the effects of insulin on the brain. In line with that, numerous actions of insulin in the CNS have been described so far. It has been known that insulin takes part in controlling food intake and body weight. In addition to that, insulin actions are also essential for proper neuronal development and survival, cognition, brain cholesterol synthesis, hepatic glucose production, lipolysis and lipogenesis, and even reproductive competence. Moreover, it was also shown that impairment in insulin signaling could trigger depression- and anxiety-like behaviors. Although new roles of insulin keep emerging, it is still mainly unknown which of them can be attributed to brain-derived and which to pancreatic insulin, or whether their actions in the CNS overlap and to what extent.
  • 681
  • 12 Apr 2023
Topic Review
Microsampling Applications Monitoring Lipids and Metabolites
Due to its numerous advantages, microsampling technology has become widely utilized in blood collection and storage across various fields. There has been a notable increase in studies combining microsampling with mass spectrometry techniques, with mass spectrometry being the preferred analytical tool for measuring lipids and metabolites. The synergy of microsampling with mass spectrometry brings forth several benefits, including minimal sample requirements, the ability to analyze multiple analytes simultaneously, and high sensitivity and specificity. Microsampling can be carried out by the patient without requiring trained personnel. This feature simplifies remote sampling, enhancing accessibility for individuals in remote areas and eliminating unnecessary, and in some cases, risky hospital visits for elderly individuals. 
  • 680
  • 23 Jan 2024
Topic Review
Duplex DNA and G-Quadruplexes
Biomedicine may be considered the cornerstone of modern health care.  It includes key enabled technologies such as molecular biology, biotechnology, nanobiotechnology, biological engineering, etc., and concerns a wide range of scientific and technological approaches that range from the understanding of molecular interactions to the study of gene therapy.
  • 679
  • 17 Aug 2021
Topic Review
Wild-Type P53-Dependent Secretome
The wild-type p53 protein prevents tumorigenesis by regulating a plethora of signaling pathways. The importance of the p53 tumor suppressive activity is not only primarily involved within cells to limit tumor cell proliferation but also in the extracellular microenvironment of cancer. Thus, p53 has a profound impact on the secretome composition of cancer cells and reducing the transition to invasiveness.
  • 679
  • 18 Feb 2022
Topic Review
Monoclonal Antibodies: Structure and Function
Monoclonal antibodies are among the most effective tools for detecting tumor-associated antigens. The U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) has approved more than 36 therapeutic antibodies for developing novel alternative therapies that have significant success rates in fighting cancer. 
  • 679
  • 29 Jun 2023
Topic Review
OKN-007 Alters Protein Expression Profiles
Current therapies for high-grade gliomas, particularly glioblastomas (GBM), do not extend patient survival beyond 16–22 months. OKN-007 (OKlahoma Nitrone 007), which is currently in phase II (multi-institutional) clinical trials for GBM patients, and has demonstrated efficacy in several rodent and human xenograft glioma models, shows some promise as an anti-glioma therapeutic, as it affects most aspects of tumorigenesis (tumor cell proliferation, angiogenesis, migration, and apoptosis). Combined with the chemotherapeutic agent temozolomide (TMZ), OKN-007 is even more effective by affecting chemo-resistant tumor cells.
  • 678
  • 24 Jan 2022
Topic Review
Mushroom-Derived Compounds Targeting Disrupted Metabolism in Cancer
Cancer is responsible for lifelong disability and decreased quality of life. Cancer cells undergo numerous changes in their metabolic pathways, involving energy and biosynthetic processes, so that they can proliferate. Hence, the metabolic pathways appear as interesting targets for a broad spectrum of therapeutic approaches. Mushrooms possess biological activities relevant to disease-fighting and to the prevention of cancer. They have a long-standing tradition of use in ethnomedicine and have been included as an adjunct therapy during and after oncological care. Mushroom-derived compounds have also been reported to target the key signature of cancer cells in in vitro and in vivo studies.
  • 678
  • 27 Feb 2023
Topic Review
Lipid Droplets, Phospholipase A2, Arachidonic Acid, and Atherosclerosis
Lipid droplets, classically regarded as static storage organelles, are currently considered as dynamic structures involved in key processes of lipid metabolism, cellular homeostasis and signaling. Studies on the inflammatory state of atherosclerotic plaques suggest that circulating monocytes interact with products released by endothelial cells and may acquire a foamy phenotype before crossing the endothelial barrier and differentiating into macrophages. One such compound released in significant amounts into the bloodstream is arachidonic acid, the common precursor of eicosanoids, and a potent inducer of neutral lipid synthesis and lipid droplet formation in circulating monocytes. Members of the family of phospholipase A2, which hydrolyze the fatty acid present at the sn-2 position of phospholipids, have recently emerged as key controllers of lipid droplet homeostasis, regulating their formation and the availability of fatty acids for lipid mediator production.
  • 677
  • 20 Jan 2022
Topic Review
Algal Lipids as Modulators of Skin Disease
Lipids from algae have been scarcely applied to modulate skin diseases, but they are well known antioxidant and anti-inflammatory agents. They have shown scavenging activities and can modulate redox homeostasis enzymes. They can also downmodulate key inflammatory signaling pathways and transcription factors such as NF-κB, decreasing the expression of pro-inflammatory mediators. Thus, the exploitation of algae lipids as therapeutical agents for the treatment of inflammatory skin diseases is highly attractive.
  • 677
  • 28 Feb 2022
Topic Review
Exosomal Micro-RNAs as Intercellular Communicators
Communication between neighboring or distant cells is made through a complex network that includes extracellular vesicles (EVs). Exosomes, which are a subgroup of EVs, are released from most cell types and have been found in biological fluids such as urine, plasma, and airway secretions like bronchoalveolar lavage (BAL), nasal lavage, saliva, and sputum. Mainly, the cargo exosomes are enriched with mRNAs and microRNAs (miRNAs), which can be transferred to a recipient cell consequently modifying and redirecting its biological function. The effects of miRNAs derive from their role as gene expression regulators by repressing or degrading their target mRNAs. Various types of research are focused on evaluating the potential of exosomal miRNAs as biomarkers for the prognosis and diagnosis of different pathologies.
  • 677
  • 14 Oct 2022
Topic Review
Molecular Structure of Leucine-Rich-Repeat Kinase 2
Mutations in the multidomain protein Leucine-rich-repeat kinase 2 (LRRK2) have been identified as a genetic risk factor for both sporadic and familial Parkinson’s disease (PD). LRRK2 has two enzymatic domains: a RocCOR tandem with GTPase activity and a kinase domain. In addition, LRRK2 has three N-terminal domains: ARM (Armadillo repeat), ANK (Ankyrin repeat), and LRR (Leucine-rich-repeat), and a C-terminal WD40 domain, all of which are involved in mediating protein–protein interactions (PPIs) and regulation of the LRRK2 catalytic core.
  • 677
  • 25 Apr 2023
Topic Review
The Structure and Function of LRP5
The LRP5 protein plays a significant role in the highly conserved canonical WNT signaling pathway, also known as the WNT–β-catenin pathway, which is involved in multiple processes, including cell fate determination, organogenesis, limb pattern formation, injury repair, and the pathogenesis of a variety of diseases.
  • 677
  • 09 Oct 2023
Topic Review
Sialylation and Cancer Metastasis
Metastasis is a multi-step, inefficient process that accounts for approximately 90% of cancer-related deaths. The process of cancer metastasis can be briefly summarized as cancer cells escaping their initial sites, surviving in blood and lymph transfer, and developing new distal tumor sites. Sialylation modifies the conformation of essential proteins to promote cancer cell proliferation, invasion, and migration. α2-6-Sialylation of epidermal growth factor receptor (EGFR) regulates the epithelial-to-mesenchymal transition (EMT) of cancer cells and sustains its membrane retention, regulating integrin tension, focal adhesion, and cell motility.
  • 676
  • 12 Dec 2022
Topic Review
Compounds Inhibiting Noppera-bo as Insect Growth Regulators
Glutathione S-transferases (GSTs) are conserved in a wide range of organisms, including insects. In 2014, an epsilon GST, known as Noppera-bo (Nobo), was shown to regulate the biosynthesis of ecdysteroid, the principal steroid hormone in insects. Studies on fruit flies, Drosophila melanogaster, and silkworms, Bombyx mori, demonstrated that loss-of-function mutants of nobo fail to synthesize ecdysteroid and die during development, consistent with the essential function of ecdysteroids in insect molting and metamorphosis. This genetic evidence suggests that chemical compounds that inhibit activity of Nobo could be insect growth regulators (IGRs) that kill insects by disrupting their molting and metamorphosis. In addition, because nobo is conserved only in Diptera and Lepidoptera, a Nobo inhibitor could be used to target IGRs in a narrow spectrum of insect taxa. Dipterans include mosquitoes, some of which are vectors of diseases such as malaria and dengue fever. Given that mosquito control is essential to reduce mosquito-borne diseases, new IGRs that specifically kill mosquito vectors are always in demand. 
  • 676
  • 09 May 2023
Topic Review
suPAR in Autoimmune Rheumatic Diseases
The soluble urokinase plasminogen activator receptor (suPAR) is the bioactive form of urokinase plasminogen activator receptor (uPAR), a membrane-bound glycoprotein, and it is primarily expressed on the surface of immunologically active cells. Mirroring local inflammation and immune activation, suPAR has gained interest as a potential prognostic biomarker in several inflammatory diseases. Mirroring immune system activation, suPAR has been associated with many autoimmune rheumatic diseases.
  • 676
  • 17 May 2023
Topic Review
Cancer Cell Secretome in Driving Breast Cancer Progression
Breast cancer is a complex disease that remains a significant public health challenge. The breast cancer cells secrete various substances collectively known as the secretome, which include proteins, lipids, and nucleic acids that contribute to the growth and spread of breast cancer. The secretome plays a crucial role in the development and progression of breast cancer by modifying signaling pathways and creating an environment supporting cancer growth while evading the immune system. Additionally, the secretome is responsible for the development of resistance to cancer drugs, making it a significant challenge for effective treatment.
  • 676
  • 26 May 2023
Topic Review
Clinical Signs of Androgen Receptor-Negative Disease
Androgen deprivation therapy (ADT) has been the mainstay of prostate cancer (PCa) treatment, with success in developing more effective inhibitors of androgen synthesis and antiandrogens in clinical practice. However, hormone deprivation and AR ablation have caused an increase in ADT-insensitive PCas associated with a poor prognosis. Resistance to ADT arises through various mechanisms, and most castration-resistant PCas still rely on the androgen axis, while others become truly androgen receptor (AR)-independent. 
  • 675
  • 11 Jul 2023
Topic Review
DOX–Chitosan-Mediated NPs for Drug Deliveries
Chitosan nanoparticles (NPs) serve as useful multidrug delivery carriers in cancer chemotherapy. Chitosan has considerable potential in drug delivery systems (DDSs) for targeting tumor cells. Doxorubicin (DOX) has limited application due to its resistance and lack of specificity. Chitosan NPs have been used for DOX delivery because of their biocompatibility, biodegradability, drug encapsulation efficiency, and target specificity.
  • 675
  • 27 Dec 2023
Topic Review
Epigenetic Regulation of Hippocampal Neurogenesis
The hippocampus is crucial in learning, memory and emotion processing, and is involved in the development of different neurological and neuropsychological disorders. Several epigenetic factors, including DNA methylation, histone modifications and non-coding RNAs, have been shown to regulate the development and function of the hippocampus, and the alteration of epigenetic regulation may play important roles in the development of neurocognitive and neurodegenerative diseases. 
  • 675
  • 21 Feb 2021
  • Page
  • of
  • 133
Featured Entry Collections
>>

Featured Reprints

>>
Encyclopedia of Digital Society, Industry 5.0 and Smart City
Encyclopedia of Engineering
Encyclopedia of Social Sciences
Encyclopedia of COVID-19
Academic Video Service
Feedback