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Topic Review
Alcohol, Inflammation, and Microbiota in Alcoholic Liver Disease
Alcoholic liver disease (ALD) is a consequence of excessive alcohol use. According to many studies, alcohol represents a significant socioeconomic and health risk factor in population. According to data from the World Health Organization, there are about 75 million people who have alcohol disorders, and it is well known that its use leads to serious health problems. ALD is a multimodality spectrum that includes alcoholic fatty liver disease (AFL) and alcoholic steatohepatitis (ASH), consequently leading to liver fibrosis and cirrhosis. In addition, the rapid progression of alcoholic liver disease can lead to alcoholic hepatitis (AH). Alcohol metabolism produces toxic metabolites that lead to tissue and organ damage through an inflammatory cascade that includes numerous cytokines, chemokines, and reactive oxygen species (ROS). In the process of inflammation, mediators are cells of the immune system, but also resident cells of the liver, such as hepatocytes, hepatic stellate cells, and Kupffer cells. These cells are activated by exogenous and endogenous antigens, which are called pathogen and damage-associated molecular patterns (PAMPs, DAMPs). Both are recognized by Toll-like receptors (TLRs), which activation triggers the inflammatory pathways. It has been proven that intestinal dysbiosis and disturbed integrity of the intestinal barrier perform a role in the promotion of inflammatory liver damage. These phenomena are also found in chronic excessive use of alcohol. The intestinal microbiota has an important role in maintaining the homeostasis of the organism, and its role in the treatment of ALD has been widely investigated. Prebiotics, probiotics, postbiotics, and symbiotics represent therapeutic interventions that can have a significant effect on the prevention and treatment of ALD.
  • 771
  • 10 May 2023
Topic Review
MicroRNAs, Multiple Sclerosis, and Depression
Multiple sclerosis (MS) is a chronic disease of the central nervous system that affects the brain and spinal cord. There are several disease courses in MS including relapsing–remitting MS (RRMS), primary progressive MS (PPMS), and secondary progressive MS (SPMS). Up to 50% of MS patients experience depressive disorders. Major depression (MD) is a serious comorbidity of MS. Many dysfunctions including neuroinflammation, peripheral inflammation, gut dysbiosis, chronic oxidative and nitrosative stress, and neuroendocrine and mitochondrial abnormalities may contribute to the comorbidity between MS and MD. In addition to these actions, medical treatment and microRNA (miRNA) regulation may also be involved in the mechanisms of the comorbidity between MS and MD.
  • 770
  • 05 Aug 2021
Topic Review
Brown Adipose Tissue Activation and Diet-Induced Thermogenesis
Brown adipose tissue (BAT) has been considered a vital organ in response to non-shivering adaptive thermogenesis, which could be activated during cold exposure through the sympathetic nervous system (SNS) or under postprandial conditions contributing to diet-induced thermogenesis (DIT). Humans prefer to live within their thermal comfort or neutral zone with minimal energy expenditure created by wearing clothing, making shelters, or using an air conditioner to regulate their ambient temperature; thereby, DIT would become an important mechanism to counter-regulate energy intake and lipid accumulation. In addition, there has been a long interest in the intriguing possibility that a defect in DIT predisposes one to obesity and other metabolic diseases.
  • 770
  • 06 Sep 2022
Topic Review
Biomechanical Forces for Receptivity Status of the Endometrium
Myometrium cells are an important reproductive niche in which cyclic mechanical forces of a pico-newton range are produced continuously at millisecond and second intervals. Overproduction and/or underproduction of micro-forces, due to point or epigenetic mutation, aberrant methylation, and abnormal response to hypoxia, may lead to the transformation of fibroid stem cells into fibroid-initiating stem cells. Fibroids are tumors with a high modulus of stiffness disturbing the critical homeostasis of the myometrium and they may cause unfavorable and strong mechanical forces. Micro-mechanical forces and soluble-chemical signals play a critical role in transcriptional and translational processes’ maintenance, by regulating communication between the cell nucleus and its organelles. Signals coming from the external environment can stimulate cells in the format of both soluble biochemical signals and mechanical ones. The shape of the cell and the plasma membrane have a significant character in sensing electro-chemical signals, through specialized receptors and generating responses, accordingly. In order for mechanical signals to be perceived by the cell, they must be converted into biological stimuli, through a process called mechanotransduction. Transmission of fibroid-derived mechanical signals to the endometrium and their effects on receptivity modulators are mediated through a pathway known as solid-state signaling.
  • 769
  • 02 Dec 2022
Topic Review Peer Reviewed
Predictive Modeling in Medicine
Predictive modeling is a complex methodology that involves leveraging advanced mathematical and computational techniques to forecast future occurrences or outcomes. This tool has numerous applications in medicine, yet its full potential remains untapped within this field. Therefore, it is imperative to delve deeper into the benefits and drawbacks associated with utilizing predictive modeling in medicine for a more comprehensive understanding of how this approach may be effectively leveraged for improved patient care. When implemented successfully, predictive modeling has yielded impressive results across various medical specialities. From predicting disease progression to identifying high-risk patients who require early intervention, there are countless examples of successful implementations of this approach within healthcare settings worldwide. However, despite these successes, significant challenges remain for practitioners when applying predictive models to real-world scenarios. These issues include concerns about data quality and availability as well as navigating regulatory requirements surrounding the use of sensitive patient information—all factors that can impede progress toward realizing the true potential impact of predictive modeling on improving health outcomes.
  • 769
  • 11 May 2023
Topic Review
Type 2 Diabetes Pathogenesis
Since the discovery of insulin a century ago, insulin injection has been a primary treatment for both type 1 (T1D) and type 2 diabetes (T2D). T2D is a complicated disease that is triggered by the dysfunction of insulin-producing β cells and insulin resistance in peripheral tissues. Insulin injection partially compensates for the role of endogenous insulin which promotes glucose uptake, lipid synthesis and organ growth.
  • 768
  • 20 Mar 2023
Topic Review
Role of Chalcones in Gastrointestinal Cancers
Chalcones, plant-derived polyphenols, received marked attention due to their biological activities as well as for relatively easy structural manipulation and synthesis of new chalcone derivatives. The chemotherapeutic effects of chalcones are mediated by numerous activities including the initiation of cell death machinery, suppression of cancer cell growth, modulation of several signaling pathways such as Wnt/β-catenin pathway, nuclear factor kappa B pathway, mitogen-activated protein kinase (MAPK) pathway and many others. In addition, chalcones seem to have an anticancer effect also via the inhibition of angiogenesis, production of reactive oxygen species (ROS), anti-H. pylori activity and anti-inflammatory action.
  • 768
  • 26 Apr 2023
Topic Review
Clinical Relevance of Circulating Tumor Cells in Immunology
Circulating tumor cells (CTCs) are a heterogeneous population of tumor cells that have shed from a tumor into the lymphatics and vasculature, ultimately disseminating into blood circulation. Immune modulation is a hallmark of cancer. Cancer–immune interaction shapes the course of disease progression at every step of tumorigenesis, including metastasis, of which circulating tumor cells (CTCs) are regarded as an indicator. 
  • 767
  • 07 Mar 2022
Topic Review
Application of Calcitriol in Breast Cancer
Calcitriol represents the most active VD metabolite and hormonal form, which modulates calcium homeostasis through actions on the kidney, bone, and intestinal tract. However, calcitriol is also known for its potent anticancer effects. In particular, calcitriol inhibits breast cancer cells proliferation and tumorigenesis.
  • 766
  • 03 Dec 2021
Topic Review
Dysregulation of mir-106a in Non-Cancer Diseases
MicroRNAs (miRNAs) comprise a class of non-coding RNA with extensive regulatory functions within cells. MiR-106a is recognized for its super-regulatory roles in vital processes. MicroRNAs (miRNAs) are small, endogenous, non-coding RNAs that control gene expression at the translation and even transcription levels. miRNAs are critical regulators of biological processes, including cellular proliferation, differentiation, development, apoptosis, and modulation of the host response to viral infection.
  • 766
  • 03 Aug 2023
Topic Review
Phage-Based Therapeutics for Multi-Drug Resistant Acinetobacter baumannii
Acinetobacter baumannii is an important opportunistic human pathogen, representing one of the most challenging hospital-acquired pathogens worldwide, causing nosocomial infections, including bacteraemia, skin and soft tissue infections, wound infections, urinary tract infections, meningitis, endocarditis, and pneumonia. A. baumannii has a strong ability to form biofilms—a bacterial community enclosed in a matrix of self-produced extracellular polysaccharides that enables attachment to hospital medical equipment and surfaces, indeed, infections associated with the biofilms attached to surfaces are comparatively more difficult to treat. Phage therapy become a hot research field worldwide again after the post-antibiotic era. 
  • 765
  • 09 Feb 2023
Topic Review
Antioxidant Phytochemicals in HIV+ Patients
Human immunodeficiency virus (HIV) infection has continued to be the subject of study since its discovery nearly 40 years ago. Significant advances in research and intake of antiretroviral therapy (ART) have slowed the progression and appearance of the disease symptoms and the incidence of concomitant diseases, which are the leading cause of death in HIV+ persons.
  • 762
  • 01 Jun 2022
Topic Review
Fundamental Knowledge of the Biochemical Properties of 1O2
Energy transfer to ground state triplet molecular oxygen results in the generation of singlet molecular oxygen (1O2), which has potent oxidizing ability. Irradiation of light, notably ultraviolet A, to a photosensitizing molecule results in the generation of 1O2, which is thought to play a role in causing skin damage and aging. It should also be noted that 1O2 is a dominant tumoricidal component that is generated during the photodynamic therapy (PDT). While type II photodynamic action generates not only 1O2 but also other reactive species, endoperoxides release pure 1O2 upon mild exposure to heat and, hence, are considered to be beneficial compounds for research purposes. Concerning target molecules, 1O2 preferentially reacts with unsaturated fatty acids to produce lipid peroxidation. Enzymes that contain a reactive cysteine group at the catalytic center are vulnerable to 1O2 exposure. Guanine base in nucleic acids is also susceptible to oxidative modification, and cells carrying DNA with oxidized guanine units may experience mutations. 
  • 761
  • 17 May 2023
Topic Review
Biomonitoring in Occupational Exposure to Glyphosate
Glyphosate, also known under its IUPAC name N-(phosphonomethyl) glycine, while discovered by a Swiss chemist, Dr. Henri Martin, was initially developed as a chemical chelating agent, a chemical intermediate for the synthesis of other molecules, and as a possible bioactive compound.
  • 761
  • 28 Feb 2023
Topic Review
Roux-En-Y Gastric Bypass (RYGB) Surgery
Roux-en-Y gastric bypass (RYGB) surgery has been proven successful in weight loss and improvement of co-morbidities associated with obesity. Chronic complications such as malabsorption of micronutrients in up to 50% of patients underline the need for additional therapeutic approaches. 
  • 760
  • 28 Feb 2022
Topic Review
Role of Genetic Polymorphisms in Differentiated Thyroid Cancer
Thyroid cancer is the most common endocrine malignancy, with an increasing trend in the past decades. It has a variety of different histological subtypes, the most frequent one being differentiated thyroid cancer, which refers to papillary carcinoma, the most common histological type, followed by follicular carcinoma. Associations between genetic polymorphisms and thyroid cancer have been investigated over the years and are an intriguing topic for the scientific world.
  • 760
  • 20 Apr 2023
Topic Review
Impaired Mitophagy in Neurons and Glial Cells
Aging is associated with a decline in cognitive function, which can partly be explained by the accumulation of damage to the brain cells over time. Neurons and glia undergo morphological and ultrastructure changes during aging. Over the past several years, it has become evident that at the cellular level, various hallmarks of an aging brain are closely related to mitophagy. The importance of mitochondria quality and quantity control through mitophagy is highlighted by the contribution that defects in mitochondria–autophagy crosstalk make to aging and age-related diseases.
  • 758
  • 11 Jan 2022
Topic Review
Advanced Glycation End Products and Diabetes Mellitus
Persistent hyperglycemic state in type 2 diabetes mellitus leads to the initiation and progression of non-enzymatic glycation reaction with proteins and lipids and nucleic acids. Glycation reaction leads to the generation of a heterogeneous group of chemical moieties known as advanced glycated end products (AGEs), which play a central role in the pathophysiology of diabetic complications. The engagement of AGEs with its chief cellular receptor, RAGE, activates a myriad of signaling pathways such as MAPK/ERK, TGF-β, JNK, and NF-κB, leading to enhanced oxidative stress and inflammation. The downstream consequences of the AGEs/RAGE axis involve compromised insulin signaling, perturbation of metabolic homeostasis, RAGE-induced pancreatic beta cell toxicity, and epigenetic modifications. The AGEs/RAGE signaling instigated modulation of gene transcription is profoundly associated with the progression of type 2 diabetes mellitus and pathogenesis of diabetic complications.
  • 755
  • 01 Jun 2022
Topic Review
Hyponatremia and Non Osmotically-Induced Oxidative Stress
It is well accepted that the central nervous system is not the only target of low [Na+]. Indeed, mild chronic hyponatremia has also been associated with detrimental effects on bone, specifically increased risk of osteoporosis and fractures independently of bone demineralization. 
  • 754
  • 06 Feb 2023
Topic Review
PPAR Agonists in Current Clinical Trials against NASH
The number of patients with nonalcoholic fatty liver disease (NAFLD)/nonalcoholic steatohepatitis (NASH) is increasing globally and is raising serious concerns regarding the increasing medical and economic burden incurred for their treatment. The progression of NASH to more severe conditions such as cirrhosis and hepatocellular carcinoma requires liver transplantation to avoid death. Therefore, therapeutic intervention is required in the NASH stage, although no therapeutic drugs are currently available for this. Several anti-NASH candidate drugs have been developed that enable treatment via the modulation of distinct signaling cascades and include a series of drugs targeting peroxisome proliferator-activated receptor (PPAR) subtypes (PPARα/δ/γ) that are considered to be attractive because they can regulate both systemic lipid metabolism and inflammation. 
  • 754
  • 29 Aug 2023
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