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Topic Review
Tumor Cell Signaling Pathways
Increasing the understanding of carcinogenesis has allowed the delineation of crucial signaling pathways, which have shown essential roles in the regulation of stem cell functions
  • 1.1K
  • 09 Sep 2022
Topic Review
Novel Adipokines and Their Role in Bone Metabolism
Adipokines secreted from white adipose tissue (WAT) and bone marrow adipose tissue (BMAT) exerts endocrine and paracrine effects on the survival and function of osteoblasts and osteoclasts.
  • 1.1K
  • 22 Mar 2023
Topic Review
Wood as Possible Renewable Material for Bone Implants
Bone fractures and bone defects affect millions of people every year. Metal implants for bone fracture fixation and autologous bone for defect reconstruction are used extensively in treatment of these pathologies. Simultaneously, alternative, sustainable, and biocompatible materials are being researched to improve existing practice. Wood as a biomaterial for bone repair has been considered.
  • 1.1K
  • 23 May 2023
Topic Review
Impact of Oxysterols
Oxysterols are oxidized derivatives of cholesterol produced by enzymatic activity or non-enzymatic pathways (auto-oxidation). The oxidation processes lead to the synthesis of about 60 different oxysterols. Several oxysterols have physiological, pathophysiological, and pharmacological activities. The effects of oxysterols on cell death processes, especially apoptosis, autophagy, necrosis, and oxiapoptophagy (a complex mode of cell death characterized by ROS overproduction (“oxi-”), apoptosis induction, (“-apopto”), and autophagy (“-phagy”)), as well as their action on cell proliferation, are reviewed here. These effects, also observed in several cancer cell lines, could potentially be useful in cancer treatment. The effects of oxysterols on cell differentiation are also described. Among them, the properties of stimulating the osteogenic differentiation of mesenchymal stem cells while inhibiting adipogenic differentiation may be useful in regenerative medicine. 
  • 1.1K
  • 18 Oct 2021
Topic Review
ACE2 as Link between COVID-19 and Parkinson’s Disease
Coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) is frequently accompanied by neurological manifestations such as headache, delirium, and epileptic seizures, whereas ageusia and anosmia may appear before respiratory symptoms. Among the various neurological COVID-19-related comorbidities, Parkinson’s disease (PD) has gained increasing attention. Some cases of PD disease have been linked to COVID-19, and both motor and non-motor symptoms in Parkinson’s disease patients frequently worsen following SARS-CoV-2 infection. Although it is unclear whether PD increases the susceptibility to SARS-CoV-2 infection or whether COVID-19 increases the risk of or unmasks future cases of PD, emerging evidence sheds more light on the molecular mechanisms underlying the relationship between these two diseases. Among them, angiotensin-converting enzyme 2 (ACE2), a significant component of the renin-angiotensin system (RAS), seems to play a pivotal role. ACE2 is required for the entry of SARS-CoV-2 to the human host cells, and ACE2 dysregulation is implicated in the severity of COVID-19-related acute respiratory distress syndrome (ARDS). ACE2 imbalance is implicated in core shared pathophysiological mechanisms between PD and COVID-19, including aberrant inflammatory responses, oxidative stress, mitochondrial dysfunction, and immune dysregulation. ACE2 may also be implicated in alpha-synuclein-induced dopaminergic degeneration, gut–brain axis dysregulation, blood–brain axis disruption, autonomic dysfunction, depression, anxiety, and hyposmia, which are key features of PD.
  • 1.1K
  • 03 Mar 2023
Topic Review
Next-Generation Sequencing (NGS) in COVID-19
Next-generation sequencing (NGS) is a technology used by countless laboratories across the world for investigating the genetic makeup of all forms of living beings, but its utilization in infectious disease diagnostics is relatively scarce at the present moment. Information gleaned from NGS, whereby the pathogen’s genome sequence is determined, yields a much greater trove of knowledge than the data produced by standard testing procedures, including information for the development of therapeutics and vaccines, the monitoring of changes in the virus as it circulates through the population, and deeper insights into patterns of transmission across time and geography.
  • 1.1K
  • 21 Feb 2022
Topic Review
PTPRZ1 in Cancer Therapy and Diagnosis
Protein tyrosine phosphatase receptor zeta 1 (PTPRZ1) belongs to the type V transmembrane TPs and has three known splicing variants: PTPRZ-A, which is a full-length receptor form; PTPRZ-B, which is a shorter receptor form that has a deletion in the extracellular region compared to PTPRZ-A, and PTPRZ-S, which is a secretory variant of PTPRZ-A known as 6B4 proteoglycan/phosphacan. The transmembrane isoforms share common structural characteristics, such as an extracellular carbonic anhydrase-like domain at the N-terminal of the receptor, followed by a fibronectin type III (FNIII)-like domain, a transmembrane region, two TP catalytic domains, and a C-terminal PDZ-binding motif. The shorter PTPRZ-B isoform lacks exon 12, which encodes 860 amino acids in the extracellular domain following the FNIII domain and forms a Ser-Gly-rich region for glycosaminoglycan attachment. 
  • 1.1K
  • 15 May 2023
Topic Review
Bacteriocins and Bacteriophages
Bacteriocins are bactericidal peptides, ribosomally synthesized, with an inhibitory activity against diverse groups of undesirable microorganisms. Bacteriophages are viruses that are able to infect bacterial cells and force them to produce viral components, using a lytic or lysogenic cycle. They constitute a large community in the human gut called the phageome, the most abundant part of the gut virome. 
  • 1.1K
  • 10 Jan 2022
Topic Review
Cell Death in Hepatocellular Carcinoma
The progression of liver tumors is highly influenced by the interactions between cancer cells and the surrounding environment, and, consequently, can determine whether the primary tumor regresses, metastasizes, or establishes micrometastases. In the context of liver cancer, cell death is a double-edged sword. On one hand, cell death promotes inflammation, fibrosis, and angiogenesis, which are tightly orchestrated by a variety of resident and infiltrating host cells. On the other hand, targeting cell death in advanced hepatocellular carcinoma could represent an attractive therapeutic approach for limiting tumor growth.
  • 1.1K
  • 09 Feb 2022
Topic Review
Protein Interactions with O-GlcNAc Cycling Enzymes in Cancer
The dynamic O-GlcNAc modification of intracellular proteins is an important nutrient sensor for integrating metabolic signals into vast networks of highly coordinated cellular activities. Dysregulation of the sole enzymes responsible for O-GlcNAc cycling, O-GlcNAc transferase (OGT) and O-GlcNAcase (OGA), and the associated cellular O-GlcNAc profile is a common feature across nearly every cancer type.
  • 1.1K
  • 03 Nov 2022
Topic Review
Aptamer-Based Immune Strategies for TNBC Treatment
Aptamer-based immunotherapy has great potential to overcome significant challenges in T cell immunotherapy for solid tumors mainly represented by strong immunosuppressive signals, which induce low T cell activation and decreased synthesis and release of cytotoxic proteins.
  • 1.1K
  • 17 Apr 2023
Topic Review
Abdominal Aortic Aneurysms
This entry outlines recent preclinical and clinical advances in molecular imaging of abdominal aortic aneurysms (AAA) with a focus on molecular magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) of the extracellular matrix (ECM). In addition, developments in pharmacologic treatment of AAA targeting the ECM are reviewed and results from animal studies are contrasted with clinical trials. Abdominal aortic aneurysm (AAA) is an often fatal disease without non-invasive pharmacologic treatment options. The ECM, with collagen type I and elastin as major components, is the key structural component of the aortic wall and is recognized as a target tissue for both initiation and the progression of AAA. Molecular imaging allows in vivo measurement and characterization of biological processes at the cellular and molecular level and sets forth to visualize molecular abnormalities at an early stage of disease, facilitating novel diagnostic and therapeutic pathways. By providing surrogate criteria for the in vivo evaluation of the effects of pharmacological therapies, molecular imaging techniques targeting the ECM may facilitate the development of pharmacological drugs. In addition, molecular targets can also be used within theranostic approaches that have the potential for timely diagnosis and simultaneous medical therapy. Recent successes in preclinical studies suggest future opportunities for clinical translation. However, further clinical studies are needed to validate the most promising molecular targets for human application.
  • 1.1K
  • 22 Sep 2021
Topic Review
T Cell Lipid Metabolism and Function by FABP5
To evade immune surveillance, tumors develop a hostile microenvironment that inhibits anti-tumor immunity. Recent immunotherapy breakthroughs that target the reinvigoration of tumor-infiltrating T lymphocytes (TIL) have led to unprecedented success in treating some cancers that are resistant to conventional therapy, suggesting that T cells play a pivotal role in anti-tumor immunity. In the hostile tumor microenvironment (TME), activated T cells are known to mainly rely on aerobic glycolysis to facilitate their proliferation and anti-tumor function. However, TILs usually exhibit an exhausted phenotype and impaired anti-tumor activity due to the limited availability of key nutrients (e.g., glucose) in the TME. Emerging evidence suggests that fatty acid binding protein 5 (FABP5) expression in T cells regulates T cell lipid metabolism and function. 
  • 1.1K
  • 31 Jan 2023
Topic Review
Methods for Radiolabelling Nanoparticles
The use of radiolabelled nanoparticles (NPs) is a promising nuclear medicine tool for diagnostic and therapeutic purposes. Thanks to the heterogeneity of their material (organic or inorganic) and their unique physical and chemical characteristics, they are highly versatile for their use in several medical applications. In particular, they have shown interesting results as radiolabelled probes for positron emission tomography (PET) imaging. The high variability of NP types and the possibility to use several isotopes in the radiolabelling process implies different radiolabelling methods that have been applied.
  • 1.1K
  • 21 Nov 2022
Topic Review
Tryptophan and Kynurenine Pathway Involved in Immune-Related Diseases
The tryptophan and kynurenine pathway is well-known to play an important role in nervous, endocrine, and immune systems, as well as in the development of inflammatory diseases. It has been documented that some kynurenine metabolites are considered to have anti-oxidative, anti-inflammatory, and/or neuroprotective properties. Importantly, many of these kynurenine metabolites may possess immune-regulatory properties that could alleviate the inflammation response. The abnormal activation of the tryptophan and kynurenine pathway might be involved in the pathophysiological process of various immune-related diseases, such as inflammatory bowel disease, cardiovascular disease, osteoporosis, and/or polycystic ovary syndrome. 
  • 1.1K
  • 25 Apr 2023
Topic Review
Allicin and Pulmonary Arterial Hypertension
Pulmonary arterial hypertension (PAH) is characterized by pulmonary vascular remodeling. Recent evidence supports that inflammation plays a key role in triggering and maintaining pulmonary vascular remodeling. Recent studies have shown that garlic extract has protective effects in PAH, but the precise role of allicin, a compound derived from garlic, is unknown. Thus, we used allicin to evaluate its effects on inflammation and fibrosis in PAH.
  • 1.1K
  • 21 Sep 2021
Topic Review
Catatonia
Catatonia is a complex syndrome that includes psychomotor disorders (negativity, catalepsy, wax flexibility, mutism, automatism, mannerisms, or echolalia) and volitional processes affect modulation and action planning, which leads to hypofunctional, hyperfunctional, or parafunctional motor action. This is a very important clue that this state can be associated with both mental and somatic diseases. The treatment of catatonia is not standardized. It is based on the use of benzodiazepines, GABAa receptor antagonists, NMDA receptor antagonists, D2 receptor antagonist, and electroconvulsive therapy (ECT). The topic of catatonia should be of interest not only to psychiatrists, but also to doctors of other specialties, who may encounter cases of catatonia complicating somatic states in hospital wards.
  • 1.1K
  • 16 Sep 2022
Topic Review
Biodegradable Microparticles for Regenerative Medicine
Regenerative medicine is one of the most attractive topics of research worldwide. Different strategies are proposed, and a range of materials of various forms and compositions tailored for tissue engineering are developed, but this approach just started to emerge in clinics. Biodegradable microparticles (MPs) made from degradable and biocompatible polymers, with a mean diameter of ~200 μm, are attractive not only as 3D matrices to multiply cells but also as a scaffold to support tissue rebuilding.
  • 1.1K
  • 19 Apr 2022
Topic Review
PGD, ESLP, and Lung Transplantation
Lung transplantation is the gold standard treatment for end-stage lung disease. Lung transplantation helps patients with end-stage lung disease due to a number of causes such as chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD), cystic fibrosis, sarcoidosis, interstitial lung disease (ILD), pulmonary fibrosis, and pulmonary hypertension. Primary graft dysfunction (PGD) is a form of acute lung injury that can occur after transplantation within the first 72-h. At a tissue level, PGD is the result of diffuse alveolar damage. This damage manifests clinically as severe hypoxemia and lung edema with diffuse pulmonary infiltrates as seen on CXR. PGD is the leading cause of 30-day mortality post-LTx, affecting 11–25% of patients. The clinical gold standard for organ preservation is cold static preservation (CSP); however, ex-situ lung perfusion (ESLP) is a relatively novel donor lung preservation and reconditioning technology that has been shown to improve lung function and increase organ utilization. 
  • 1.1K
  • 28 Jun 2021
Topic Review
Biomaterial-Based Responsive Nanomedicines for Targeting Solid Tumor Microenvironments
Solid tumors are composed of a highly complex and heterogenic microenvironment, with increasing metabolic status. This environment plays a crucial role in the clinical therapeutic outcome of conventional treatments and innovative antitumor nanomedicines. Scientists have devoted great efforts to conquering the challenges of the tumor microenvironment (TME), in respect of effective drug accumulation and activity at the tumor site. The main focus is to overcome the obstacles of abnormal vasculature, dense stroma, extracellular matrix, hypoxia, and pH gradient acidosis. In this endeavor, nanomedicines that are targeting distinct features of TME have flourished; these aim to increase site specificity and achieve deep tumor penetration. The development of such systems has significantly advanced the application of biomaterials in combinational therapies and in immunotherapies for improved anticancer effectiveness.
  • 1.1K
  • 17 Feb 2024
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