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Topic Review
Physicochemical Properties of Stingless Bee Honey
Stingless bee honey (SLBH) has a high moisture content, making it more prone to fermentation and leading to honey spoilage. Dehydration of SLBH after harvest is needed to reduce the moisture content. This review compiles the available data on the dehydration methods for SLBH and their effect on its physicochemical properties.
  • 1.4K
  • 21 Nov 2022
Topic Review
Curcumin and Autophagy Signaling Pathway
Autophagy is the major intracellular machinery for degrading proteins, lipids, polysaccharides, and organelles. This cellular process is essential for the maintenance of the correct cellular balance in both physiological and stress conditions. Because of its role in maintaining cellular homeostasis, dysregulation of autophagy leads to various disease manifestations, such as inflammation, metabolic alterations, aging, and neurodegeneration. A common feature of many neurologic and neuromuscular diseases is the alteration of the autophagy-lysosomal pathways. For this reason, autophagy is considered a target for the prevention and/or cure of these diseases. Dietary intake of polyphenols has been demonstrated to prevent/ameliorate several of these diseases. Thus, natural products that can modulate the autophagy machinery are considered a promising therapeutic strategy. In particular, curcumin, a phenolic compound widely used as a dietary supplement, exerts an important effect in modulating autophagy. 
  • 1.4K
  • 01 Sep 2021
Topic Review
Astaxanthin as a Novel Mitochondrial Regulator
Astaxanthin is a member of the carotenoid family that is found abundantly in marine organisms. It has been reported that astaxanthin functions both as a pigment, and as an antioxidant with superior free radical quenching capacity.
  • 1.4K
  • 29 Mar 2022
Topic Review
Effects of Palmitoylethanolamide on Neurodegenerative Diseases
Palmitoylethanolamide (PEA) stands out among endogenous lipid mediators for its neuroprotective, anti-inflammatory, and analgesic functions. PEA belonging to the N-acetylanolamine class of phospholipids was first isolated from soy lecithin, egg yolk, and peanut flour. It is currently used for the treatment of different types of neuropathic pain, such as fibromyalgia, osteoarthritis, carpal tunnel syndrome, and many other conditions. 
  • 1.4K
  • 19 May 2022
Topic Review
Fruits and Beverages as Functional Foods
It is largely accepted that the daily intake of fruits, vegetables, herbal products and derivatives is an added value in promoting human health, given their capacity to counteract oxidative stress markers and suppress uncontrolled pro-inflammatory responses. Given that, natural-based products seem to be a promising strategy to attenuate, or even mitigate, the development of chronic diseases, such as diabetes, and to boost the immune system.
  • 1.4K
  • 01 Aug 2023
Topic Review
Citrus Flavone Nobiletin and Circadian Rhythms
The importance of the circadian clock in maintaining human health is now widely acknowledged. Dysregulated and dampened clocks may be a common cause of age-related diseases and metabolic syndrome Thus, circadian clocks should be considered as therapeutic targets to mitigate disease symptoms. 
  • 1.4K
  • 19 Jan 2023
Topic Review
Short Bowel Syndrome (SBS)
Short bowel syndrome (SBS) is a malabsorptive condition that is most often caused by a massive resection of the small intestine. Its prevalence is 3–4 per million and occurs in about 15% of adult patients undergoing an intestinal resection, either massive (3/4) or from multiple sequential resections (1/4). SBS and intestinal failure (IF) are not necessarily synonymous. Intestinal failure describes the state when an individual’s gastrointestinal function is inadequate to maintain his or her nutrient and hydration status without intravenous or enteral supplementation. 
  • 1.4K
  • 22 Jan 2024
Topic Review
Brain Iron Metabolism
Iron is an essential trace element important for many biological functions, including the essential functions of the nervous system. Understanding the mechanisms of iron homeostasis is  of clinical relevance since either depletion or accumulation of intracellular iron may affect the normal function of the cell. Brain iron metabolism is a topic of growing interest since numerous researches have proved its role in neurodegeneration (e.g. Alzheimer's disease, Parkinson's disease) and other neurological disorders, especially in elderly. Maintaining of brain iron homeostasis is very specific because of the blood-brain barrier. It is a physiological barrier formed by the endothelial cells that line cerebral microvessels and has an important role in maintaining a precisely regulated brain microenvironment. Despite the years of research, the complex mechanisms for the iron influx, efflux, and regulation in the brain are not completely resolved. It would be of great importance for the future research to determine the exact cellular and molecular mechanisms related to disturbances of brain iron metabolism, especially in the context of brain aging and as potential therapeutic targets for neurodegenerative diseases.
  • 1.4K
  • 01 Sep 2020
Topic Review
Gluten and Rheumatoid Arthritis in Adults
There is currently a growing anti-gluten trend which, except for individuals with coeliac disease and non-coeliac gluten sensitivity (NCGS) for whom its intake is contraindicated, results in gluten (the main protein in wheat and other cereals) being considered harmful to health and excluded from diets, largely due to information distributed through social networks. However, in many cases the recommendation to exclude gluten from the diet goes beyond personal choice and is promoted by health professionals. This choice and/or recommendation is especially important to individuals with chronic inflammatory diseases such as rheumatoid arthritis (RA), for which this exclusion is justified to reduce the symptoms of the disease.
  • 1.4K
  • 16 Jan 2023
Topic Review
Towards a More Sustainable Nutrition
The concept of sustainable nutrition considers different fields: from human health to environmental, economic and socio-cultural aspects. Currently, in Europe, the diets that reflect the assumptions of the sustainable diet are the Mediterranean Diet and the New Nordic Diet. They both encourage the consumption of vegetable, organic and minimally processed foods, as well as regional, seasonal and Fair-Trade products, reducing the ecological impact of the production chain. These eating habits could be established starting from the prenatal period and from infancy during the complementary feeding stage, aiding children to accept of a more variable diet in terms of flavor, taste and texture. In particular, the positive parental role model is an effective method for improving a child’s diet and behaviors. Two healthy plates representing a sustainable diet in early infancy, at 6 and 24 months, are here proposed, in line with the “Planetary Health Diet” approved by the EAT-Lancet Commission.
  • 1.4K
  • 15 Sep 2021
Topic Review
Food for Special Medicinal Use
Food for special medical purposes (FSMPs) are foods designed for people with particular medical disorders and nutritional needs. They are often only available with a prescription and are meant to be used under medical supervision. FSMPs can come in different forms and can be used in various settings, such as hospitals, long-term care facilities, and home settings. Examples of medical conditions that may call for the use of FSMPs include inborn errors of metabolism, severe food allergies, and gastrointestinal illnesses.  
  • 1.4K
  • 20 Jul 2023
Topic Review
Mediterranean Diet (MD)
The Mediterranean Diet (MD), UNESCO Intangible Cultural Heritage of Humanity, has become a scientific topic of high interest due to its health benefits. The aim of this review is to pick up selected studies that report nutrigenomic or nutrigenetic data and recapitulate some of the biochemical/genomic/genetic aspects involved in the positive health effects of the MD. These include (i) the antioxidative potential of its constituents with protective effects against several diseases; (ii) the epigenetic and epigenomic effects exerted by food components, such as Indacaxanthin, Sulforaphane, and 3-Hydroxytyrosol among others, and their involvement in the modulation of miRNA expression; (iii) the existence of predisposing or protective human genotypes due to allelic diversities and the impact of the MD on disease risk. A part of the review is dedicated to the nutrigenomic effects of the main cooking methods used in the MD and also to a comparative analysis of the nutrigenomic properties of the MD and other diet regimens and non-MD-related aliments. Taking all the data into account, the traditional MD emerges as a diet with a high antioxidant and nutrigenomic modulation power, which is an example of the “Environment-Livings-Environment” relationship and an excellent patchwork of interconnected biological actions working toward human health.
  • 1.4K
  • 25 Apr 2021
Topic Review
Vitamin K and Age-Associated Diseases
Vitamin K is a vital cofactor in activating several proteins, which act against age-related syndromes. Thus, vitamin K can carboxylate osteocalcin (a protein capable of transporting and fixing calcium in bone), activate matrix Gla protein (an inhibitor of vascular calcification and cardiovascular events) and carboxylate Gas6 protein (involved in brain physiology and a cognitive decline and neurodegenerative disease inhibitor). By improving insulin sensitivity, vitamin K lowers diabetes risk. It also exerts antiproliferative, proapoptotic, autophagic effects and has been associated with a reduced risk of cancer. Recent research shows that protein S, another vitamin K-dependent protein, can prevent the cytokine storm observed in COVID-19 cases. The reduced activation of protein S due to the pneumonia-induced vitamin K depletion was correlated with higher thrombogenicity and possibly fatal outcomes in COVID-19 patients.
  • 1.4K
  • 16 May 2021
Topic Review
EPIC Cohort Study
In the Greek segment of the EPIC cohort study (EPIC-Greece), the changes in dietary habits of 23,505 participants regarding several food items/groups (vegetables, legumes, fruits, nuts, dairy, cereal, meat, fish/seafood, olive oil) were recorded repeatedly over time and compared to the baseline assessment (1994–1997), using a short, qualitative, follow-up questionnaire.
  • 1.4K
  • 30 Mar 2021
Topic Review
Gut-Brain Axis in Autism Spectrum Disorder
Autism spectrum disorder (ASD) is a complex behavioral syndrome that is characterized by speech and language disorders, intellectual impairment, learning and motor dysfunctions. Several genetic and environmental factors are suspected to affect the ASD phenotype including air pollution, exposure to pesticides, maternal infections, inflammatory conditions, dietary factors or consumption of antibiotics during pregnancy.  Many children with ASD shows abnormalities in gastrointestinal (GI) physiology, including increased intestinal permeability, overall microbiota alterations, and gut infection. Moreover, they are “picky eaters” and the existence of specific sensory patterns in ASD patients could represent one of the main aspects in hampering feeding. GI disorders are associated with an altered composition of the gut microbiota. Gut microbiome is able to communicate with brain activities through microbiota-derived signaling molecules, immune mediators, gut hormones as well as vagal and spinal afferent neurons. Since the diet induces changes in the intestinal microbiota and in the production of molecules, such as the SCFA, we wanted to investigate the role that nutritional intervention can have on GI microbiota composition and thus on its influence on behavior, GI symptoms and microbiota composition and report which are the beneficial effect on ASD condition.
  • 1.4K
  • 23 Nov 2021
Topic Review
Subclinical B12 Deficiency in Elderly
Vitamin B12 is an essential water-soluble vitamin that plays a pivotal role for several physiologic functions during one’s lifespan. Specific sub-group populations, such as elderly, are at risk of vitamin B12 subclinical deficiency due to different factors. This narrative review aims to summarize facts about B12 deficiency and the burden of inadequate dietary intake in elderly population, as well as to discuss sustainable approaches to vitamin B12 deficiency in aging population.
  • 1.4K
  • 11 Jun 2021
Topic Review
Hypothalamic Inflammation and PCOS
Polycystic ovary syndrome (PCOS) is the most common endocrine disorder among women of reproductive age. It is a heterogeneous condition characterized by reproductive, endocrine, metabolic, and psychiatric abnormalities. More than one pathogenic mechanism is involved in its development. On the other hand, the hypothalamus plays a crucial role in many important functions of the body, including weight balance, food intake, and reproduction. A high-fat diet with a large amount of long-chain saturated fatty acids can induce inflammation in the hypothalamus. Hypothalamic neurons can sense extracellular glucose concentrations and participate, with a feedback mechanism, in the regulation of whole-body glucose homeostasis. When consumed nutrients are rich in fat and sugar, and these regulatory mechanisms can trigger inflammatory pathways resulting in hypothalamic inflammation. The latter has been correlated with metabolic diseases, obesity, and depression.
  • 1.4K
  • 18 Feb 2021
Topic Review
Foods for Plant-Based Diets
Plant-based diets include foods predominantly from plants (fruits, vegetables, nuts, oil, whole grains, and legumes) but can also contain small quantities of food derived from animals. The vegetarian diet may include eggs, dairy and honey, while the vegan diet does not include any food or derivatives of animal origin.
  • 1.4K
  • 08 Mar 2021
Topic Review
Effect of Probiotics on Glucose Metabolism and Homeostasis
The maintenance of a healthy status depends on the coexistence between the host organism and the microbiota. Early studies have already focused on the nutritional properties of probiotics, which may also contribute to the structural changes in the gut microbiota, thereby affecting host metabolism and homeostasis. Maintaining homeostasis in the body is therefore crucial and is reflected at all levels, including that of glucose, a simple sugar molecule that is an essential fuel for normal cellular function. Despite numerous clinical studies that have shown the effect of various probiotics on glucose and its homeostasis, knowledge about the exact function of their mechanism is still scarce. 
  • 1.4K
  • 12 Aug 2022
Topic Review
Vitamin C: AA vs. DHA
The reduced form of vitamin C (ascorbic acid, AA) is an essential micronutrient of small size; it is soluble in water and has two dissociable protons with pKa values of 4.2 and 11.8. At physiological pH, its reduced form predominates as the monovalent ascorbate anion (AA); when it loses the second proton, it is oxidized to dehydroascorbic acid (DHA). Most mammals can synthesize vitamin C from D-glucose in the liver, except guinea pigs, bats, and higher primates, including humans, due to the absence of the enzyme L-gulonolactone oxidase, which catalyzes the last step of the bio-synthesis of vitamin C . Therefore, to meet the body’s requirements, vitamin C must be incorporated into the diet. The best-known function of vitamin C is as an anti-oxidant agent that can act as a cofactor of enzymatic reactions involved in the synthe sis of catecholamines, carnitine, cholesterol, amino acids, and some hormonal peptides, as well as in the maintenance of brain function and the protection of central nervous system (CNS) structures . AA uptake in different cells is performed by the sodium-ascorbate cotransporters SVCT1 and SVCT2, which stereospecifically transport the reduced form of vitamin C, L-ascorbate . Vitamin C can also be transported in its oxidized form, DHA, through the facilitative glucose transporters GLUT1, GLUT2, GLUT3, GLUT4, and GLUT8. However, for a long time, it has been postulated that the contribution of DHA to the accumulation of vitamin C in tissues is relatively low. 
  • 1.4K
  • 20 Feb 2021
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