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Topic Review
Management of Bacterial Diseases of Hazelnut
The cultivation of hazelnut (Corylus avellana) has expanded in several areas of Europe, Asia, Africa, and North and South America following the increased demand for raw materials by the food industry. Bacterial diseases caused by Xanthomonas arboricola pv. corylina and Pseudomonas avellanae are threats of major concern for hazelnut farmers. These pathogens have been controlled with copper-based products, which are being phased out in the European Union. Following the need for alternative practices to manage these diseases, some progress has been achieved through the exploitation of the plant’s systemic acquired resistance mechanisms, nanoparticle technology, as well as preventive measures based on hot water treatment of the propagation material.
  • 1.5K
  • 06 Jan 2023
Topic Review
Cripto-1 in Tumor Progression
Cripto-1 is an essential protein for human development that plays a key role in the early phase of gastrulation in the differentiation of an embryo as well as assists with wound healing processes. Importantly, Cripto-1 induces epithelial to mesenchymal transition to turn fixed epithelial cells into a more mobile mesenchymal phenotype through the downregulation of epithelial adhesion molecules such as E-cadherin, occludins, and claudins, and the upregulation of mesenchymal, mobile proteins, such as N-cadherin, Snail, and Slug. Consequently, Cripto-1’s role in inducing EMT to promote cell motility is beneficial in embryogenesis, but detrimental in the formation, progression and metastasis of malignant tumors. Indeed, Cripto-1 is found to be upregulated in most cancers, such as breast, lung, gastrointestinal, hepatic, renal, cervical, ovarian, prostate, and skin cancers. Through its role in EMT, Cripto-1 can remodel cancer cells to enable them to travel through the extracellular matrix as well as blood and lymphatic vessels to metastasize to different organs. Additionally, Cripto-1 promotes the survival of cancer stem cells, which can lead to relapse in cancer patients. 
  • 1.5K
  • 06 Sep 2021
Topic Review
NF-κB-Dependent and -Independent IκBα Functions
IκBα is considered to play an almost exclusive role as inhibitor of the NF-κB signaling pathway. However, previous results have demonstrated that SUMOylation imposes a distinct subcellular distribution, regulation, NF-κB-binding affinity and function to the IκBα protein. In this review we discuss the main alterations of IκBα found in cancer and whether they are (most likely) associated with NF-κB-dependent or NF-κB-independent (moonlighting) activities of the protein.
  • 1.5K
  • 19 Oct 2021
Topic Review
Liquid Biopsy of Brain Tumors
Direct biopsies obtain tissue material from the primary tumor, either via neurosurgical removal of all or most parts of a tumor or via stereotactic tissue biopsy. In contrast, a liquid biopsy uses body fluids collected distant to the brain tumor, such as venous blood from the arm or cerebrospinal fluid (CSF) via lumbar or cisternal puncture.
  • 1.5K
  • 25 Dec 2025
Topic Review
Genetic Characterization of Endometriosis
The purpose of this study was to evaluate the recent literature on the genetic characterization of women affected by endometriosis and to evaluate the influence of polymorphisms of the wingless-type mammalian mouse tumour virus integration site family member 4 (WNT4), vezatin (VEZT), and follicle stimulating hormone beta polypeptide (FSHB) genes, already known to be involved in molecular mechanisms associated with the proliferation and development of endometriotic lesions.
  • 1.5K
  • 06 Nov 2020
Topic Review
Brassica Bioactives May Ameliorate Endometriosis
Endometriosis is a chronic, inflammatory, hormone-dependent disease characterized by histological lesions produced by the presence of endometrial tissue outside the uterine cavity. Despite the fact that an estimated 176 million women are affected worldwide by this gynecological disorder, risk factors that cause endometriosis have not been properly defined and current treatments are not efficient. Although the interaction between diet and human health has been the focus of many studies, little information about the correlation of foods and their bioactive derivates with endometriosis is available. In this framework, Brassica crops have emerged as potential candidates for ameliorating the chronic inflammatory condition of endometriosis, due to their abundant content of health-promoting compounds such as glucosinolates and their hydrolysis products, isothiocyanates.
  • 1.4K
  • 22 Dec 2020
Topic Review
Fragile X-Associated Tremor/Ataxia Syndrome
Fragile X-Associated Tremor/Ataxia Syndrome (FXTAS) is a neurodegenerative disorder seen in older premutation (55–200 CGG repeats) carriers of FMR1. Three molecular mechanisms have been proposed: (1) the production of toxic FMRpolyG by repeat-associated non-AUG (RAN) translation, (2) RNAs and protein sequestration into intranuclear inclusions and (3) DNA damage caused by R-loop formation. Additionally, mitochondrial dysfunction, oxidative stress, and iron metabolism dysregulation also play a role in the development of the neuropathology of FXTAS. One of the neuropathological hallmarks of FXTAS is the presence of eosinophilic intranuclear inclusions in the CNS and peripheral nervous system. Other findings include cerebral atrophy, ventriculomegaly, and spongiosis of the cerebellar white matter. The mechanisms underlying the pathophysiology of FXTAS are currently being investigated for the development of targeted treatment. 
  • 1.4K
  • 10 Nov 2020
Topic Review
FAK Family Kinases
In various vascular diseases, extracellular matrix (ECM) and integrin expression are frequently altered, leading to FAK or Pyk2 activation. In addition to the major roles of FAK and Pyk2 in regulating adhesion dynamics via integrins, recent studies have shown a new role of nuclear FAK in gene regulation in various vascular cells. In particular, FAK primarily localizes within the nuclei of vascular smooth muscle cells (VSMCs) of healthy arteries. However, vessel injury increased FAK localization back to adhesions and elevated FAK activity, leading to VSMC hyperplasia. The study suggested that abnormal FAK or Pyk2 activation in vascular cells may cause pathological condition in vascular diseases. Here we will review several studies of FAK and Pyk2 associated with integrin signaling in vascular diseases including restenosis, atherosclerosis, heart failure, pulmonary arterial hypertension, aneurysm, and thrombosis. Despite the importance of FAK family kinases in vascular diseases, comprehensive reviews are scarce. Therefore, we summarized animal models involving FAK family kinases in vascular diseases
  • 1.4K
  • 27 Oct 2020
Topic Review
High-Density Lipoproteins as Homeostatic Nanoparticles
It is well known that blood lipoproteins (LPs) are multimolecular complexes of lipids and proteins that play a crucial role in lipid transport. High-density lipoproteins (HDL) are a class of blood plasma LPs that mediate reverse cholesterol transport (RCT)—cholesterol transport from the peripheral tissues to the liver. Due to this ability to promote cholesterol uptake from cell membranes, HDL possess antiatherogenic properties. This function was first observed at the end of the 1970s to the beginning of the 1980s, resulting in high interest in this class of LPs. It was shown that HDL are the prevalent class of LPs in several types of living organisms (from fishes to monkeys) with high resistance to atherosclerosis and cardiovascular disorders. Lately, understanding of the mechanisms of the antiatherogenic properties of HDL has significantly expanded. Besides the contribution to RCT, HDL have been shown to modulate inflammatory processes, blood clotting, and vasomotor responses. These particles also possess antioxidant properties and contribute to immune reactions and intercellular signaling.
  • 1.4K
  • 30 Nov 2020
Topic Review
Dry Eye and Probiotics
Probiotics are defined as live microorganisms that present health benefits when administered in adequate amounts. Prebiotics refer to substrates that microorganisms use to bestow health benefits upon host. Evidence regarding their effects on the ocular surface, especially dry eye, are now just emerging. Both rodent and human studies regarding gut microbiota in Sjögren’s syndrome and environmental dry eye are explored, and we discussed the effects of prebiotics and probiotics on dry eye in this section. 
  • 1.4K
  • 06 Jul 2021
Topic Review
Polyphenols and Ischemic Stroke
Stroke is now the second leading cause of death worldwide, and is defined as an impairment in blood supply to the brain, and is linked to different cardiovascular dysfunctions. Two main types of stroke exist: ischemic stroke (due to clot-mediated blood vessel occlusion), which accounts for about 85% of all stroke cases, and hemorrhagic stroke (caused by blood vessel rupture), which accounts for 15% of total cases. Following the stroke, while the core region undergoes sudden death, the surrounding injured regions (called penumbra) may be able to recover their functions.
  • 1.4K
  • 23 Jun 2021
Topic Review
Aortic Valve Calcification
Aortic valve stenosis (AS) is the most common valvular heart disease. The incidence of AS increases with age, however, a significant proportion of elderly people have no significant AS, indicating that both aging and nonaging pathways are involved in the pathomechanism of AS.
  • 1.4K
  • 14 Nov 2022
Topic Review
Alzheimer′s Disease Really Start
While Alzheimer’s disease (AD) classical diagnostic criteria rely on clinical data from a stablished symptomatic disease, newer criteria aim to identify the disease in its earlier stages. For that, they incorporated the use of AD’s specific biomarkers to reach a diagnosis, including the identification of Aβ and tau depositions, glucose hypometabolism, and cerebral atrophy. These biomarkers created a new concept of the disease, in which AD’s main pathological processes have already taken place decades before we can clinically diagnose the first symptoms. Therefore, AD is now considered a dynamic disease with a gradual progression, and dementia is its final stage. With that in mind, new models were proposed, considering the orderly increment of biomarkers and the disease as a continuum, or the variable time needed for the disease’s progression. In 2011, the National Institute on Aging and the Alzheimer’s Association (NIA-AA) created separate diagnostic recommendations for each stage of the disease continuum—preclinical, mild cognitive impairment, and dementia. However, new scientific advances have led them to create a unifying research framework in 2018 that, although not intended for clinical use as of yet, is a step toward shifting the focus from the clinical symptoms to the biological alterations and toward changing the future diagnostic and treatment possibilities. 
  • 1.4K
  • 30 Oct 2020
Topic Review
Quetiapine-Related Deaths
Quetiapine is a second-generation antipsychotic drug available for two and half decades. Due to increased misuse, prescription outside the approved indications, and availability on the black market, it is being encountered in medicolegal autopsies more frequently. For instance, it has been linked to increased mortality rates, most likely due to its adverse effects on the cardiovascular system. 
  • 1.4K
  • 10 Jan 2024
Topic Review
A Complex Disease: Non-Small Cell Lung Cancer
Non-small cell lung cancer (NSCLC) is a complex disease often driven by activating mutations or amplification of the epidermal growth factor receptor (EGFR) gene, which expresses a transmembrane receptor tyrosine kinase. Targeted anti-EGFR treatments include small-molecule tyrosine kinase inhibitors (TKIs), among which gefitinib and erlotinib are the best studied, and their function more often imaged. TKIs block EGFR activation, inducing apoptosis in cancer cells addicted to EGFR signals. 
  • 1.4K
  • 28 Feb 2022
Topic Review
HGF/MET
Unlike in normal epithelium, dysregulated overactivation of various proteases have been reported in cancers. Degradation of pericancerous extracellular matrix leading to cancer cell invasion by matrix metalloproteases is well known evidence. On the other hand, several cell-surface proteases, including type II transmembrane serine proteases (TTSPs), also induce progression through activation of growth factors, protease activating receptors and other proteases. Hepatocyte growth factor (HGF) known as a multifunctional growth factor that upregulates cancer cell motility, invasiveness, proliferative, and anti-apoptotic activities through phosphorylation of MET (a specific receptor of HGF). HGF secreted as inactive zymogen (pro-HGF) from cancer associated stromal fibroblasts, and the proteolytic activation by several TTSPs including matriptase and hepsin is required. The activation is strictly regulated by HGF activator inhibitors (HAIs) in physiological condition. However, downregulation is frequently observed in cancers. Indeed, overactivation of MET by upregulation of matriptase and hepsin accompanied by the downregulation of HAIs in urological cancers (prostate cancer, renal cell carcinoma, and bladder cancer) are also reported, a phenomenon observed in cancer cells with malignant phenotype, and correlated with poor prognosis.
  • 1.4K
  • 29 Oct 2020
Topic Review
Predicting Response to Immune-Checkpoint Inhibition
The therapeutic concept of unleashing a pre-existing immune response against the tumor by the application of immune-checkpoint inhibitors (ICI) has resulted in long-term survival in advanced cancer patient subgroups. Established biomarkers such as programmed death ligand 1 (PD-L1) and tumor mutational burden (TMB) help to select patients who will most likely benefit from ICI, however, biomarker negativity does not exclude responses. Investigating alterations in the antigen presenting pathway as well as radiomics have the potential to determine tumor immunogenicity and response to ICI. A plethora of steps is crucial for proper tumor neoantigen presentation and T cell recognition. Alterations in the antigen presenting pathway give rise to resistance mechanisms that in turn abolish the effect of ICI. Tumor neoantigen prediction models have been shown to identify cancer patients who benefit most from immune-checkpoint blockade, however, a high false positive rate is a drawback of these models. The predictive value of already established biomarkers is considerably heterogeneous across various malignancies and intratumoral and intrapatient heterogeneity complicate tumor tissue-based biomarker assessment. Radiomics offers the opportunity to evaluate biomarkers based on imaging studies without the necessity to perform tumor tissue biopsies. Several radiomics studies have shown to predict clinical outcome with ICI. Radiomics might also help to identify patients who are at risk for hyperprogressive disease upon initiation of anti-PD-1/anti-PD-L1 therapy and patients who are at risk for high grade immune-related adverse events.
  • 1.4K
  • 29 Oct 2020
Topic Review
SARS-CoV-2 Infection
The SARS-CoV-2 pandemic represents the focus of the biomedical research worldwide. The identification of the molecular events related to the SARS-CoV-2 infection, as well as the characterization of its clinical features, could put an end to this dramatic health emergency. In this scenario, the interpretation of histopathological data in light of the clinical imaging characteristics of SARS-CoV-2 infection can provide the scientific rationale to develop diagnostic and therapeutic protocols that are capable of improving the management of infected patients. Specifically, morphological and molecular analysis of SARS-CoV-2 infected tissues could highlight new useful prognostic and predictive biomarkers for in vivo investigations.
  • 1.4K
  • 06 Nov 2020
Topic Review
The Role of Sphingomyelin in Motor Neuron Diseases
Amyotrophic Lateral Sclerosis (ALS), Spinal Bulbar Muscular Atrophy (SBMA), and Spinal Muscular Atrophy (SMA) are motor neuron diseases (MNDs) characterised by progressive motor neuron degeneration, weakness and muscular atrophy. Lipid dysregulation is well recognised in each of these conditions and occurs prior to neurodegeneration. Several lipid markers have been shown to predict prognosis in ALS. Sphingolipids are complex lipids enriched in the central nervous system and are integral to key cellular functions including membrane stability and signalling pathways, as well as being mediators of neuroinflammation and neurodegeneration. 
  • 1.4K
  • 04 Oct 2022
Topic Review
Molecular Hydrogen Neuroprotection in Post-Ischemic Brain Injury
Molecular hydrogen has gained the attention of both preclinical and clinical researchers. The death of pyramidal neurons in especially the CA1 area of the hippocampus, increased permeability of the blood-brain barrier, neuroinflammation, amyloid accumulation, tau protein dysfunction, brain atrophy, cognitive deficits and dementia are considered an integral part of the phenomena occurring during brain neurodegeneration after ischemia.
  • 1.4K
  • 01 Jul 2022
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