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Topic Review
Galectins in Esophageal Cancer
The overall 5-year survival rate of esophageal cancer patients is poor. Galectins are glycan-binding proteins known to contribute to tumor initiation and progression. To get insight in the expression and potential function of galectins in esophageal cancer, a literature review is performed. The researchers found that galectins have been mainly studied in the context of esophageal squamous cell carcinoma and that galectin-1, -3, and -9 expression are most frequently reported. More research is required to provide better insights in the diagnostic, prognostic, and predictive value of galectins in esophageal cancer as well as their functional role in tumor progression.
  • 1.1K
  • 05 Dec 2022
Topic Review
SIRT1 and SIRT2 Modulators
Depression is a psychiatric disorder that has a significant health burden on patients and their families. Unfortunately, the current antidepressant medications that mainly target monoamine neurotransmitters have limited efficacy. Recent evidence has indicated that neuroinflammation participates in the genesis and development of depression, and interacts with other factors involved in depression. Therefore, exploring effective anti-inflammatory medications could be beneficial for the development of new treatment options for depression. Sirtuins are a unique class of nicotinamide adenine dinucleotide (NAD+)-dependent deacetylases, which have seven members that can affect multiple downstream targets by deacetylation activity.
  • 1.1K
  • 05 Mar 2021
Topic Review
Endometrial Cancer
EC is the most common cancer in the female genital tract in developed countries, and with its increasing incidence due to risk factors, such as aging and obesity, tends to become a public health issue. Although EC is a hormone-dependent neoplasm, there are no recommendations for the determination of steroid hormone receptors in the tumor tissue and no hormone therapy has ever been assessed in the adjuvant setting. Furthermore, its immune environment has been slightly characterized, but recent evidences point out how EC microenvironment may increase self-tolerance by reducing the recruitment of cytotoxic immune cells to the tumor site and/or modifying their phenotype, making these cells no longer able to suppress tumor growth.
  • 1.1K
  • 05 May 2021
Topic Review
Remote Ischemic Preconditioning
Autophagy is a cellular process by which mammalian cells degrade and assist in recycling damaged organelles and proteins. This study aimed to ascertain the role of autophagy in RIPC-induced cardioprotection. Sprague Dawley rats were subjected to RIPC at the hindlimb followed by 30 min transient blockade of the left coronary artery to simulate I/R injury. Hindlimb muscle and the heart were excised 24 h post reperfusion. RIPC prior to I/R upregulated autophagy in the rat heart at 24 h post reperfusion. In vitro, autophagy inhibition or stimulation prior to RIPC respectively, either ameliorated or stimulated the cardioprotective effect, measured as improved cell viability to mimic the preconditioning effect. Recombinant IL-6 treatment prior to I/R increased in vitro autophagy in a dose dependent manner activating the JAK-STAT pathway without affecting the other kinase pathways such as p38 MAPK, and GSK-3β pathways. Prior to I/R, in vitro inhibition of the JAK-STAT pathway reduced autophagy upregulation despite recombinant IL-6 pre-treatment. Autophagy is an essential component of RIPC-induced cardioprotection that may upregulate autophagy through an IL-6/JAK-STAT dependent mechanism, thus identifying a potentially new therapeutic option for the treatment of ischemic heart disease.
  • 1.1K
  • 29 Oct 2020
Topic Review
Chronic Kidney Disease (CKD)
Chronic kidney disease, also referred to as end-stage renal disease (ESRD), is a prevalent and chronic condition for which treatment is necessary as a means of survival once affected individuals reach the fifth and final stage of the disease. Dialysis is a form of maintenance treatment that aids with kidney functioning once a normal kidney is damaged. There are two main types of dialysis: hemodialysis (HD) and peritoneal dialysis (PD). Each form of treatment is discussed between the patient and nephrologist and is largely dependent upon the following factors: medical condition, ability to administer treatment, supports, geographical location, access to necessary equipment/supplies, personal wishes, etc. For Indigenous Peoples who reside on remote Canadian First Nation communities, relocation is often recommended due to geographical location and limited access to both health care professionals and necessary equipment/supplies (i.e., quality of water, access to electricity/plumbing, etc.). Consequently, the objective of this paper is to determine the psychosocial and somatic effects for Indigenous Peoples with ESRD if they have to relocate from remote First Nation communities to an urban centre. A review of the literature suggests that relocation to urban centres has negative implications that are worth noting: cultural isolation, alienation from family and friends, somatic issues, psychosocial issues, loss of independence and role adjustment. As a result of relocation, it is evident that the impact is profound in terms of an individuals’ mental, emotional, physical and spiritual well-being. Ensuring that adequate social support and education are available to patients and families would aid in alleviating stressors associated with managing chronic kidney disease.
  • 1.1K
  • 17 Apr 2021
Topic Review
Central Serous Chorioretinopathy (CSC)
Central serous chioretinoapthy (CSC) is a common chorioretinal disorder characterized by an idiopathic retinal serous detachment of the retina, associated with one or multiple areas of leakage originating from the choroid through a defect in the retinal pigment epithelium (RPE), the outer blood–retina barrier. Several pharmacological treatment options have been investigated for its treatment; however, there is still no significant evidence about the role of pharmacological agents for the management of CSC. To date, photodynamic therapy (PDT) remains the gold standard.
  • 1.1K
  • 29 Sep 2020
Topic Review
Natural Sources against Coronavirus Protease
The SARS-CoV-2 main protease (Mpro) is one of the molecular targets for drug design. Effective vaccines have been identified as a long-term solution but the rate at which they are being administered is slow in several countries, and mutations of SARS-CoV-2 could render them less effective.
  • 1.1K
  • 10 Sep 2021
Topic Review
Cardiovascular risk onset in children and adolescents with diabetes mellitus
The prevalence of diabetes mellitus is rising among children and adolescents worldwide. Cardiovascular diseases are the main cause of morbidity and mortality in diabetic patients. We review the impact of diabetes on establishing, during childhood and adolescence, the premises for cardiovascular diseases later in life. Interestingly, it seems that hyperglycemia is not the only factor that establishes an increased cardiovascular risk in adolescence. Other factors have been recognized to play a role in triggering the onset of latent cardiovascular diseases in the pediatric population. Among these cardiovascular risk factors, some are modifiable: glucose variability, hypoglycemia, obesity, insulin resistance, waist circumference, hypertension, dyslipidemia, smoking alcohol, microalbuminuria and smoking. Others are unmodifiable, such as diabetes duration and family history. Among the etiological factors, subclinical endothelial dysfunction represents one of the earliest key players of atherosclerosis and it can be detected during early ages in patients with diabetes. A better assessment of cardiovascular risk in pediatric population still represents a challenge for clinicians, and thus further efforts are required to properly identify and treat pediatric patients who may suffer from cardiovascular disease later in early adulthood.
  • 1.1K
  • 22 Jul 2020
Topic Review
Severe COVID-19
SARS-CoV2 has caused the current pandemic of new coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) worldwide. Clinical outcomes of COVID-19 illness range broadly from asymptotic and mild to a life-threatening situation. This casts uncertainties for defining host determinants underlying the disease severity. Recent genetic analyses based on extensive clinical sample cohorts using genome-wide association studies (GWAS) and high throughput sequencing curation revealed genetic errors and gene loci associated with about 20% of life-threatening COVID-19 cases. Significantly, most of these critical genetic loci are enriched in two immune signaling pathways, i.e., interferon-mediated antiviral signaling and chemokine-mediated/inflammatory signaling. In line with these genetic profiling studies, the broad spectrum of COVID-19 illness could be explained by immuno-pathological regulation of these critical immunogenetic pathways through various epigenetic mechanisms, which further interconnect to other vital components such as those in the renin–angiotensin–aldosterone system (RAAS) because of its direct interaction with the virus causing COVID-19. Together, key genes unraveled by genetic profiling may provide targets for precisely early risk diagnosis and prophylactic design to relieve severe COVID-19. The confounding epigenetic mechanisms may be key to understanding the clinical broadness of COVID-19 illness. 
  • 1.1K
  • 03 Dec 2020
Topic Review
Friedreich’s Ataxia
Friedreich’s ataxia (FRDA, MIM 229300) is an autosomal recessive neurodegenerative disease and it is the most prevalent hereditary ataxia in the Caucasian population, with a prevalence of around 2–4 in 100,000 individuals.  FRDA is classically characterized by progressive gait ataxia, dysarthria, dysphagia, oculomotor dysfunction, loss of deep tendon reflexes, signs of pyramidal tract involvement, scoliosis, visual loss, and poor hearing, and in some cases, cardiomyopathy, diabetes mellitus. FRDA is caused by an unstable GAA expansion located in intron 1 of the FXN gene (9q21.11) that encodes for frataxin (Fxn). The function of Fxn is not completely known, but the most widely accepted theory is that it plays a role in the biogenesis of iron-sulfur clusters required for the correct function of several proteins.
  • 1.1K
  • 07 Jan 2021
Topic Review
Tryptophan Metabolites
The metabolism of tryptophan is intimately associated with the differential regulation of diverse physiological processes, including in the regulation of responses to severe acute respiratory syndrome, coronavirus-2 (SARS-CoV-2) infection that underpins the COVID-19 pandemic.
  • 1.1K
  • 29 Jan 2022
Topic Review
Therapeutic Targeting of the NF-κB Pathway in Cancer
NF-κB transcription factors are major drivers of tumor initiation and progression. NF-κB signaling is constitutively activated by genetic alterations or environmental signals in many human cancers, where it contributes to almost all hallmarks of malignancy, including sustained proliferation, cell death resistance, tumor-promoting inflammation, metabolic reprogramming, tissue invasion, angiogenesis, and metastasis. As such, the NF-κB pathway is an attractive therapeutic target in a broad range of human cancers, as well as in numerous non-malignant diseases.
  • 1.1K
  • 21 Sep 2022
Topic Review
Visceral Leishmaniasis
Visceral leishmaniasis (VL) is one of the clinical forms of leishmaniasis, caused mainly by the intracellular protozoan Leishmania donovani or Leishmania infantum.
  • 1.1K
  • 09 Jul 2021
Topic Review
Polymorphisms in Collagen-Encoding Genes
Intervertebral disc degeneration (IVDD) is a common pathology of the spine that significantly reduces the quality of life and performance of patients [1]. Neurologists, therapists, rheumatologists and orthopedists take part in the observation and treatment this disorder. The purpose of this entry is to analyze domestic and foreign studies on the role of collagen-encoding genes polymorphism in the development of intervertebral discs (IVDs) degeneration in humans.
  • 1.1K
  • 01 Sep 2021
Topic Review Peer Reviewed
Supplements for Smoking-Related Lung Diseases
Supplements for smoking-related lung diseases are considered as nonfood products and thought to improve health. Multivitamins and antioxidants are the most commonly dietary supplements used by cancer and asthma patients. There are currently no clear regulatory guidelines that include dietary supplements and their effect on lung cancer and asthma patients, particularly in smokers. Several countries have taken steps to overcome challenges in regulating dietary supplements in the marketplace. These challenges include inadequate assurance of safety/efficacy, inaccuracy of product labeling, misleading health claims, and lack of analytical techniques for dietary supplements. There is a need to establish standards and regulation of dietary supplement use in patients with lung cancer and asthma. The aim of this entry is to expand knowledge on dietary supplements use and smoking-related lung diseases (lung cancer and asthma). 
  • 1.1K
  • 13 Apr 2022
Topic Review
SARS-CoV-2 and Oral Inflammatory Diseases
The oral cavity is a niche for diverse microbes, including viruses. Members of the Herpesviridae family, comprised of dsDNA viruses, as well as severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2), an ssRNA virus, are among the most prevalent viruses infecting the oral cavity, and they exhibit clinical manifestations unique to oral tissues. Herpesviruses and SARS-CoV-2 are individually associated with oral inflammatory diseases, particularly periodontitis, peri-implantitis, and endodontic disease.
  • 1.1K
  • 15 Jan 2024
Topic Review
Gut Microbiota in Primary Immunodeficiencies
Inborn errors of immunity (IEI) are a group of disorders that are mostly caused by genetic mutations affecting immune host defense and immune regulation. Although IEI present with a wide spectrum of clinical features, in about one third of them various degrees of gastrointestinal (GI) involvement have been described and for some IEI the GI manifestations represent the main and peculiar clinical feature. The microbiome plays critical roles in the education and function of the host’s innate and adaptive immune system, and imbalances in microbiota-immunity interactions can contribute to intestinal pathogenesis. Microbial dysbiosis combined to the impairment of immunosurveillance and immune dysfunction in IEI, may favor mucosal permeability and lead to inflammation. Here we review how immune homeostasis between commensals and the host is established in the gut, and how these mechanisms can be disrupted in the context of primary immunodeficiencies. Additionally, we highlight key aspects of the first studies on gut microbiome in patients affected by IEI and discuss how gut microbiome could be harnessed as a therapeutic approach in these diseases.
  • 1.1K
  • 16 Feb 2021
Topic Review
Dynamic Contrast Enhanced-MR CEST Urography
Upper urinary tract obstructions (UTOs) are blockages that inhibit the flow of urine through its normal course, leading to impaired kidney function. Imaging plays a significant role in the initial diagnosis of UTO, with anatomic imaging (primarily ultrasound (US) and non-contrast computed tomography (CT)) serving as screening tools for the detection of the dilation of the urinary collecting systems (i.e., hydronephrosis). Whether hydronephrosis represents UTO or a non-obstructive process is determined by functional imaging (typically nuclear medicine renal scintigraphy). If these exams reveal evidence of UTO but no discernable source, multiphase contrast enhanced CT urography and/or dynamic contrast enhanced MR urography (DCE-MRU) may be performed to delineate a cause. These are often performed in conjunction with direct ureteroscopic evaluation. While contrast-enhanced CT currently predominates, it can induce renal injury due to contrast induced nephropathy (CIN), subject patients to ionizing radiation and is limited in quantifying renal function and establishing the extent to which hydronephrosis is due to functional obstruction. Traditional MRI is similarly limited in its ability to quantify function. DCE-MR CEST urography is a promising alternative, employing new MRI contrast agents and imaging schemes and allowing for concurrent assessment of renal anatomy and functional parameters. We highlight clinical challenges in the diagnosis and management of UTO,identify key advances in imaging agents and techniques for DCE-MR CEST urography and provide perspective on how this technique may evolve in clinical importance.
  • 1.1K
  • 06 Apr 2021
Topic Review
Cardiac Adiposity and Arrhythmias
Increased cardiac fat depots are metabolically active tissues having a pronounced pro-inflammatory nature. Increasing evidence supports a potential role of cardiac adiposity as a determinant of the substrate of atrial fibrillation and ventricular arrhythmias. The underlying mechanism appears to be multifactorial with local inflammation, fibrosis, adipocyte infiltration, electrical remodeling, autonomic nervous system modulation, oxidative stress and gene expression playing interrelating roles. Current imaging modalities, such as echocardiography, computed to-mography and cardiac magnetic resonance, have provided valuable insight into the relationship between cardiac adiposity and arrhythmogenesis, in order to better understand the pathophysi-ology and improve risk prediction of the patients, over the presence of obesity and traditional risk factors.
  • 1.1K
  • 05 Mar 2021
Topic Review
Poly(lysine) Dendrimers
The disruption of the cellular pathways of protein biosynthesis through the mechanism of RNA interference has been recognized as a tool of great diagnostic and therapeutic significance. However, in order to fully exploit the potential of this phenomenon, the efficient and safe carriers, capable of overcoming extra- and intracellular barriers and delivering siRNA to the target cells are needed. Recently the attention has been paid to the possibility of application of multifunctional nanoparticles – dendrimers as potential delivery devices for siRNA. The aim of the present work was to evaluate the formation of dendriplexes using novel poly(lysine) dendrimers (containing lysine and arginine or histidine residues in their structure), and to verify the hypothesis that the use of these polymers may allow to obtain an efficient method of siRNA transfer into the cells in vitro. The fluorescence polarization studies, as well as zeta potential and hydrodynamic diameter measurements were used to characterize the dendrimer:siRNA complexes. The cytotoxicity of dendrimers and dendriplexes was evaluated with the resazurin-based assay. Using the flow cytometry technique, the efficiency of siRNA transport to the myeloid cells was determined. This approach allowed us to determine the properties and optimal molar ratios of dendrimer:siRNA complexes, as well as to demonstrate that poly(lysine) dendrimers may serve as efficient carriers of genetic material, being much more effective than the commercially available transfection agent – Lipofectamine 2000. This outcome provides the basis for further research on the application of poly(lysine) dendrimers as carriers for nucleic acids in the field of gene therapy.
  • 1.1K
  • 30 Oct 2020
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