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Topic Review
Vitamin D in the Context of Evolution
For at least 1.2 billion years, eukaryotes have been able to synthesize sterols and, therefore, can produce vitamin D when exposed to UV-B. Vitamin D endocrinology was established some 550 million years ago in animals, when the high-affinity nuclear receptor VDR (vitamin D receptor), transport proteins and enzymes for vitamin D metabolism evolved. This enabled vitamin D to regulate, via its target genes, physiological process, the first of which were detoxification and energy metabolism. In this way, vitamin D was enabled to modulate the energy-consuming processes of the innate immune system in its fight against microbes. In the evolving adaptive immune system, vitamin D started to act as a negative regulator of growth, which prevents overboarding reactions of T cells in the context of autoimmune diseases. When, some 400 million years ago, species left the ocean and were exposed to gravitation, vitamin D endocrinology took over the additional role as a major regulator of calcium homeostasis, being important for a stable skeleton.
  • 946
  • 29 Jul 2022
Topic Review
The Role Vitamin D Reducing Risk Inflammatory Disease
Numerous pleiotropic effects have been reported for vitamin D (vit D) since its discovery a century ago. Today it is well known that in addition to its pivotal role in calcium homeostasis and bone metabolism, vit D has antibacterial, anti-proliferative, immunomodulatory, and anti-inflammatory actions, among other beneficial properties. In the context of inflammatory-based diseases, vit D and its receptor VDR might fulfil their roles as gene regulators through direct gene regulation and epigenetic mechanisms.
  • 942
  • 01 Mar 2023
Topic Review
Movement as a Positive Modulator
Movement is an important part of self-sufficiency. Moreover, movement has been shown to improve patients’ clinical status.
  • 942
  • 18 Jun 2021
Topic Review
Trans-Endothelial Fatty Acid Transport and Cardiac Metabolism/Contractile
The heart is a metabolic omnivore that combusts a considerable amount of energy substrates, mainly long-chain fatty acids (FAs) and others such as glucose, lactate, ketone bodies, and amino acids. There is emerging evidence that muscle-type continuous capillaries comprise the rate-limiting barrier that regulates FA uptake into cardiomyocytes. The transport of FAs across the capillary endothelium is composed of three major steps—the lipolysis of triglyceride on the luminal side of the endothelium, FA uptake by the plasma membrane, and intracellular FA transport by cytosolic proteins. In the heart, impaired trans-endothelial FA (TEFA) transport causes reduced FA uptake, with a compensatory increase in glucose use. In most cases, mice with reduced FA uptake exhibit preserved cardiac function under unstressed conditions. When the workload is increased, however, the total energy supply relative to its demand (estimated with pool size in the tricarboxylic acid (TCA) cycle) is significantly diminished, resulting in contractile dysfunction. The supplementation of alternative fuels, such as medium-chain FAs and ketone bodies, at least partially restores contractile dysfunction, indicating that energy insufficiency due to reduced FA supply is the predominant cause of cardiac dysfunction. 
  • 941
  • 20 Jan 2022
Topic Review
High-Density Lipoprotein Alterations in T2D and Obesity
Alterations affecting high-density lipoproteins (HDLs) are one of the various abnormalities observed in dyslipidemia in type 2 diabetes mellitus (T2DM) and obesity. Kinetic studies have demonstrated that the catabolism of HDL particles is accelerated. Both the size and the lipidome and proteome of HDL particles are significantly modified, which likely contributes to some of the functional defects of HDLs. Studies on cholesterol efflux capacity have yielded heterogeneous results, ranging from a defect to an improvement. HDLs are less able to inhibit the nuclear factor kappa-B (NF-κB) proinflammatory pathway, and subsequently, the adhesion of monocytes on endothelium and their recruitment into the subendothelial space. In addition, the antioxidative function of HDL particles is diminished, thus facilitating the deleterious effects of oxidized low-density lipoproteins on vasculature. Lastly, the HDL-induced activation of endothelial nitric oxide synthase is less effective in T2DM and metabolic syndrome, contributing to several HDL functional defects, such as an impaired capacity to promote vasodilatation and endothelium repair, and difficulty counteracting the production of reactive oxygen species and inflammation
  • 940
  • 16 Mar 2023
Topic Review
Insulin Resistance and Metabolic Syndrome
Insulin is the main metabolic regulator of fuel molecules in the diet, such as carbohydrates, lipids, and proteins. It does so by facilitating glucose influx from the circulation into the liver, adipose tissue, and skeletal myocytes. The outcome of which is subjected to glycogenesis in skeletal muscle and lipogenesis in adipose tissue, as well as in the liver. Metabolic syndrome is the congregation of abdominal obesity (visceral obesity), hypertension, hyperglycemia, hyperlipidemia (triglycerides), and low serum high-density lipoprotein (HDL). At least three of these criteria must exist for the diagnosis of this syndrome. Insulin resistance is indeed a component of this syndrome. When hyperglycemia falls below the threshold to diagnose diabetes mellitus, the condition is called prediabetes. Insulin resistance, prediabetes, and metabolic syndrome share a spectrum of an overlapping area, thus they are closely related conditions and are milestones of a spectrum of a huge metabolic disorder of energy utilization and storage. Metabolic syndrome is indeed a serious condition in that it is a potential risk factor for ischemic heart diseases and type 2 diabetes (T2D). 
  • 928
  • 05 May 2023
Topic Review
Mechanism of Metabolic Syndrome Formation
Metabolic syndrome (MetS) is a cluster of metabolic abnormalities that can predispose an individual to a greater risk of developing type-2 diabetes and cardiovascular diseases. The cluster includes abdominal obesity, dyslipidemia, hypertension, and hyperglycemia, all of which are risk factors to public health. While searching for a link among the aforementioned malaises, clues have been focused on the cell membrane domain caveolae, wherein the MetS-associated active molecules are co-localized and interacted with to carry out designated biological activities. Caveolae disarray could induce all of those individual metabolic abnormalities to be present in animal models and humans, providing a new target for therapeutic strategy in the management of MetS. Using a cellular model of caveolae inter-cellular movement (with the eGFP-labelledcaveolae), several potential herbal extracts and nutrients have shown their effects on externalization of caveolae, opening an initiative for the associated metabolic pathways. This also is supported by recent publications which have demonstrated that some clinical effective Chinese herbal or herbal extracts for the treatments of hypertension, hyperlipidemia, and hyperglycemia can have a stimulating effect on cellular caveolae bioactivity. A new therapeutic target to effectively treat and prevent metabolic syndrome safely without significant side effects may become possible.
  • 926
  • 28 Sep 2021
Topic Review
Oral Hygiene and Metabolic Syndrome
Poor oral hygiene is the primary cause of common oral diseases and has been found to be associated with low-grade inflammation, suggesting its potential link to metabolic syndrome (MetS).
  • 926
  • 27 Jul 2021
Topic Review
Mobile Tools to Manage Diabetes
Assessment tools on mobile platforms have the ability to capture multiple aspects of dietary behavior in real-time throughout the day to inform and improve diabetes management and insulin dosing. Dietary intake and behaviors are essential components of diabetes management. 
  • 924
  • 30 Apr 2021
Topic Review
Xenoestrogens and Phytoestrogens in Cancers
According to Global Cancer Statistics 2020, the burden of cancer incidence and mortality is rapidly growing worldwide. The epidemiological features of cancer reflect both the aging and growth of the population and the changes in the prevalence and distribution of the main cancer risk factors, several of which are particularly associated with the environment. Exogenous estrogens, such as synthetic industrial estrogenic compounds (xenoestrogens) and estrogenic molecules from plants (phytoestrogens), are environmental factors that potentially cause various cancers through their interactions with cellular signaling processes involving estrogen signaling pathways.
  • 919
  • 25 Aug 2021
Topic Review
Long Non-Coding RNAs in Diabetic Cardiomyopathy
Diabetes mellitus is a burdensome public health problem. Diabetic cardiomyopathy (DCM) is a major cause of mortality and morbidity in diabetes patients. The pathogenesis of DCM is multifactorial and involves metabolic abnormalities, the accumulation of advanced glycation end products, myocardial cell death, oxidative stress, inflammation, microangiopathy, and cardiac fibrosis. Evidence suggests that various types of cardiomyocyte death act simultaneously as terminal pathways in DCM. Long non-coding RNAs (lncRNAs) are a class of RNA transcripts with lengths greater than 200 nucleotides and no apparent coding potential. Emerging studies have shown the critical role of lncRNAs in the pathogenesis of DCM, along with the development of molecular biology technologies.
  • 918
  • 14 Dec 2022
Topic Review
Obesity-Associated Cancers
Obesity, one of the major problems in modern human society, is correlated with various diseases, including type 2 diabetes mellitus (T2DM). In particular, epidemiological and experimental evidence indicates that obesity is closely linked to at least 13 different types of cancer. The mechanisms that potentially explain the link between obesity and cancer include hyperactivation of the IGF pathway, metabolic dysregulation, dysfunctional angiogenesis, chronic inflammation, and interaction between pro-inflammatory cytokines, endocrine hormones, and adipokines. 
  • 917
  • 18 May 2022
Topic Review
The Ketogenic Diet
The ketogenic diet (KD) is a therapeutic option for individuals with sarcopenic obesity due to its positive effect on VAT, adipose tissue, cytokines such as blood biochemistry, gut microbiota, and body composition. A KD’s macronutrient profile is composed of 55 to 60% lipids, 30 to 35% protein, and 5 to 10% carbohydrates. This causes nutritional ketosis, in which fatty acids undergo partial beta-oxidation to produce ketone bodies, which are then used as a source of energy. Ketone bodies are used to replace glucose as a source of energy in most tissues throughout time. KD plays a role in treating nonalcoholic fatty liver disease (NAFLD) by lowering hunger and concurrently decreasing carbohydrate consumption, owing to two separate pathways, which include the general reduction of body weight and the modulation of insulin levels.
  • 912
  • 07 Mar 2022
Topic Review
Cancer-Related Inflammation
Both in situ and allograft models of cancer in juvenile and adult Drosophila melanogaster fruit flies offer a powerful means for unravelling cancer gene networks and cancer–host interactions.
  • 904
  • 02 Dec 2021
Topic Review
Adipokines in Non-Alcoholic Fatty Liver Disease
Non-alcoholic fatty liver disease (NAFLD) has become the major cause of chronic hepatic illness and the leading indication for liver transplantation in the future decades. NAFLD is also commonly associated with other high-incident non-communicable diseases, such as cardiovascular complications, type 2 diabetes, and chronic kidney disease. Aggravating the socio-economic impact of this complex pathology, routinely feasible diagnostic methodologies and effective drugs for NAFLD management are unavailable. The pathophysiology of NAFLD, defined as metabolic associated fatty liver disease (MAFLD), is correlated with abnormal adipose tissue–liver axis communication because obesity-associated white adipose tissue (WAT) inflammation and metabolic dysfunction prompt hepatic insulin resistance (IR), lipid accumulation (steatosis), non-alcoholic steatohepatitis (NASH), and fibrosis. Accumulating evidence links adipokines, cytokine-like hormones secreted by adipose tissue that have immunometabolic activity, with NAFLD pathogenesis and progression.
  • 904
  • 16 Sep 2022
Topic Review
Lipid Metabolism in Metabolic-Associated Steatotic Liver Disease
Metabolic-associated steatotic liver disease (MASLD) is a cluster of pathological conditions primarily developed due to the accumulation of ectopic fat in the hepatocytes. During the severe form of the disease, i.e., metabolic-associated steatohepatitis (MASH), accumulated lipids promote lipotoxicity, resulting in cellular inflammation, oxidative stress, and hepatocellular ballooning. If left untreated, the advanced form of the disease progresses to fibrosis of the tissue, resulting in irreversible hepatic cirrhosis or the development of hepatocellular carcinoma. Although numerous mechanisms have been identified as significant contributors to the development and advancement of MASLD, altered lipid metabolism continues to stand out as a major factor contributing to the disease.
  • 903
  • 29 Dec 2023
Topic Review
Impact of Endoplasmic Reticulum Stress for Type-1-Diabetes
Type-1-diabetes (T1D) is a multifactorial disorder with a global incidence of about 8.4 million individuals in 2021. It is primarily classified as an autoimmune disorder, where the pancreatic β-cells are unable to secrete sufficient insulin. This leads to elevated blood glucose levels (hyperglycemia). The development of T1D is an intricate interplay between various risk factors, such as genetic, environmental, and cellular elements. Here, the focus is on cellular elements such as ER stress leading to defects in insulin secretion and β-cell destruction.
  • 893
  • 03 Nov 2022
Topic Review
Seminal Plasma Proteomic Biomarkers
The prevalence of idiopathic male infertility is high, up to 75% of patients with abnormal sperm parameters. Hence, the research of its causes is mandatory. Oxidative stress (OS) can be responsible for male infertility in 30–80% of cases. In recent years, seminal plasma (SP) proteomics has developed as a useful tool to provide biomarkers of specific diseases. 
  • 892
  • 26 Jan 2021
Topic Review
Neuroendocrine Neoplasms
Neuroendocrine neoplasms (NENs) are a heterogeneous group of malignancies represented by different histological subtypes, primary locations and functional status. NENs range from well-differentiated neuroendocrine tumors (NETs), which are mainly indolent neoplasms, to poorly differentiated neuroendocrine carcinomas (NECs), which are highly aggressive cancers with poor prognosis.
  • 885
  • 23 Dec 2020
Topic Review
Primary Hyperparathyroidism in Pregnancy
Parathyroid disease is uncommon in pregnancy. During pregnancy, multiple changes occur in the calcium regulating hormones which may make the diagnosis of primary hyperparathyroidism more challenging. Close monitoring of serum calcium during pregnancy is necessary in order to optimize maternal and fetal outcomes.
  • 885
  • 07 Jul 2021
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