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Topic Review
Roles of Adrenoceptors in Atherosclerosis
Atherosclerosis is an arterial disease that is characterized by the narrowing of the arterial lumen due to the subendothelial accumulation of lipids. Atherosclerosis is the key underlying mechanism for ischemic heart disease and stroke. Despite the availability of a wide array of effective lipid-lowering medications such as statins, ezetimibe, and PCSK9 (proprotein convertase subtilisin-like kexin type 9) inhibitors, ischemic heart disease and stroke remain the leading two causes of mortality globally, highlighting the need to identify new therapeutic strategies for atherosclerosis.
  • 964
  • 29 Aug 2023
Topic Review
Gut-Induced Inflammation
Gut microbiota plays a role in modulating complex signaling pathways, predominantly via the bidirectional gut-brain-axis (GBA).
  • 963
  • 03 Mar 2021
Topic Review
Chronic Nonbacterial Osteomyelitis in Children
Chronic nonbacterial osteomyelitis (CNO) is an auto-inflammatory bone disorder with a wide spectrum of clinical manifestations, from unifocal to multifocal lesions. When it manifests with multifocal lesions, it is also referred to as chronic recurrent multifocal osteomyelitis (CRMO). CNO/CRMO can affect all age groups, with the pediatric population being the most common. Patients may present with systemic inflammation, but there is no pathognomonic laboratory finding. Magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) is the gold standard radiological tool for diagnosis. In the absence of validated diagnostic criteria, CNO/CRMO remains an exclusion diagnosis. Bone biopsy does not show a specific disease pattern, but it may be necessary in unifocal or atypical cases to differentiate it from malignancy or infection. First-line treatments are non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs (NSAIDs), while bisphosphonates or TNF-α blockers can be used in refractory cases. The disease course is unpredictable, and uncontrolled lesions can complicate with bone fractures and deformations, underlying the importance of long-term follow-up in these patients. 
  • 963
  • 12 Jul 2021
Topic Review
Glutathione Depletion and MicroRNA Dysregulation in MSA
Multiple system atrophy (MSA) is a rare neurodegenerative disease characterized by parkinsonism, cerebellar impairment, and autonomic failure. Although the causes of MSA onset and progression remain uncertain, its pathogenesis may involve oxidative stress via the generation of excess reactive oxygen species and/or destruction of the antioxidant system. One of the most powerful antioxidants is glutathione, which plays essential roles as an antioxidant enzyme cofactor, cysteine-storage molecule, major redox buffer, and neuromodulator, in addition to being a key antioxidant in the central nervous system. Glutathione levels are known to be reduced in neurodegenerative diseases. In addition, genes regulating redox states have been shown to be post-transcriptionally modified by microRNA (miRNA), one of the most important types of non-coding RNA. miRNAs have been reported to be dysregulated in several diseases, including MSA.
  • 960
  • 15 Dec 2022
Topic Review
Translation of Ferroptosis into Clinical Hepatocellular Carcinoma Practice
Ferroptosis, an iron and reactive oxygen species (ROS)-dependent non-apoptotic type of regulated cell death, is characterized by a massive iron overload and peroxidation of polyunsaturated fatty acids (PUFAs), which finally results in cell death. Recent studies suggest that ferroptosis can influence carcinogenesis negatively and therefore may be used as a novel anti-cancer strategy. Hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) is a deadly malignancy with poor chances of survival and is the second leading cause of cancer deaths worldwide. Diagnosis at an already late stage and general resistance to current therapies may be responsible for the dismal outcome. As the liver acts as a key factor in iron metabolism, ferroptosis is shown to play an important role in HCC carcinogenesis and, more importantly, may hold the potential to eradicate HCC.
  • 957
  • 05 May 2022
Topic Review
Hedgehog Signaling during Nerve Healing
The peripheral nervous has important regenerative capacities that regulate and restore peripheral nerve homeostasis. Following peripheral nerve injury, the nerve undergoes a highly regulated degeneration and regeneration process, called Wallerian degeneration, where numerous cell populations interact to allow proper nerve regeneration. Recent studies have evidenced the prominent role of morphogenetic Hedgehog signaling pathway and its main effectors, Sonic Hedgehog (SHH) and Desert Hedgehog (DHH) in the regenerative drive following nerve injury. Furthermore, dysfunctional regeneration and/or dysfunctional Hedgehog signaling participate in the development of chronic neuropathic pain that sometimes accompanies nerve healing in the clinical context. Understanding the implications of this key signaling pathway could provide exciting new perspectives for future research on peripheral nerve healing.  
  • 955
  • 21 Dec 2020
Topic Review
STIM1/Orai1-Mediated SOCE
Store-operated Ca 2+ entry (SOCE), also known as capacitive calcium entry (CCE), consists in a Ca2+influx downstream of ER/SR Ca2+stores and it is a pivotal mechanism in cellular calcium signaling and in maintaining cellular calcium homeostasis. The concept of SOCE was first postulated by Putney in 1986 who demonstrated that in salivary gland cells the depletion of internal Ca2+stores controlled the extent of Ca2+influx.
  • 954
  • 03 Nov 2021
Topic Review
Endothelial Dysfunction in Diabetic Subjects
Endothelial Dysfunction is a condition of altered metabolism and function of endothelium inducing vascular injury and defective repair.
  • 952
  • 06 Jan 2021
Topic Review
MSCs for the IVD regeneration
Chronic low back pain (LBP) remains a challenging condition to treat, and especially to cure. If conservative treatment approaches fail, the current “gold standard” for intervertebral disc degeneration (IDD)-provoked back pain is spinal fusion. However, due to its invasive and destructive nature, the focus of orthopedic research related to the intervertebral disc (IVD) has shifted more towards cell-based therapeutic approaches. They aim to reduce or even reverse the degenerative cascade by mimicking the human body’s physiological healing system. The implementation of progenitor and/or stem cells and, in particular, the delivery of mesenchymal stromal cells (MSCs) has revealed significant potential to cure the degenerated/injured IVD.
  • 949
  • 14 Apr 2021
Topic Review
PPARs and Their Neuroprotective Effects in Parkinson’s Disease
Peroxisome proliferator-activated receptor (PPAR) belong to subgroup 1 of the nuclear receptor superfamily. They are known to form heterodimers with the retinoid X receptors (RXRs) when activated by endogenous or exogenous ligands and to bind to a co-activator such as PGC-1α.
  • 948
  • 22 Feb 2023
Topic Review
Endocrine Disorders in Autoimmune Rheumatism
Autoimmune rheumatological diseases’ incidence and prevalence have risen over the last decades and they are becoming increasingly important worldwide. Thyroid autoimmune diseases share with them an imbalance in the immune system that lead to a pro-inflammatory environment. Usually this is the result of a multi-factorial process. In fact, it includes not only a possible genetic predisposition, but also environmental causes like microbiota dysbiosis, diet rich in processed foods, exposure to toxicants and infections.
  • 946
  • 07 Jul 2021
Topic Review
EGCG for NDs Treatment
Neurodegenerative diseases (NDs) are common chronic diseases typically characterized by a progressive loss of function and death of neurons in the brain or peripheral nervous system. NDs are among the most widespread health problems, affecting millions of people worldwide. The potential to treat NDs of the major bioactive compound of green tea, epigallocatechin-3-gallate (EGCG), is well documented. Numerous findings now suggest that EGCG targets protein misfolding and aggregation, a common cause and pathological mechanism in many NDs.
  • 944
  • 27 May 2021
Topic Review
T Cell Senescence and EOC
Epithelial ovarian cancer (EOC) is one of the most common causes of cancer-related deaths among women and is associated with age and age-related diseases. With increasing evidence of risks associated with metabolic inflammatory conditions, such as obesity and type 2 diabetes mellitus (T2DM), it is important to understand the complex pathophysiological mechanisms underlying cancer progression and metastasis. Age-related conditions can lead to both genotypic and phenotypic immune function alterations, such as induction of senescence, which can contribute to disease progression.
  • 944
  • 25 Aug 2021
Topic Review
SARS-CoV-2 Alpha Variant Infection
The ongoing global coronavirus-19 disease (COVID-19) pandemic, caused by severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2), poses major challenges to health systems worldwide. While the majority of infected people have mild to moderate symptoms, some patients develop acute respiratory distress syndrome (ARDS) requiring intensive care treatment and mechanical ventilation.
  • 944
  • 22 Sep 2021
Topic Review
N-Glycans’ Effect on Pathologic Protein Conformations in Disease
Glycosylation, a prevalent post-translational modification, plays a pivotal role in regulating intricate cellular processes by covalently attaching glycans to macromolecules. Dysregulated glycosylation is linked to a spectrum of diseases, encompassing cancer, neurodegenerative disorders, congenital disorders, infections, and inflammation. Considering the allosteric effects of N-glycans in regulating protein conformation, with potential implications for its assembly and function, it is of no surprise that dysregulated N-glycosylation has been implicated in several disease-associated human proteins. Furthermore, these glycans may play a pivotal role in modulating the conformation of pathogen-associated proteins, influencing their infectivity within human cells.
  • 943
  • 06 Mar 2024
Topic Review
Molecular Mechanisms from Lung Fibrosis to Lung Cancer
Idiopathic pulmonary fibrosis (IPF) is a chronic, progressive, fibrosing interstitial lung disease (ILD) of unknown aetiology, with a median survival of 2–4 years from the time of diagnosis. Although IPF has unknown aetiology by definition, there have been identified several risks factors increasing the probability of the onset and progression of the disease in IPF patients such as cigarette smoking and environmental risk factors. Cigarette smoking together with concomitant emphysema might predispose IPF patients to lung cancer (LC), mostly to non-small cell lung cancer (NSCLC), increasing the risk of cancer development. 
  • 940
  • 24 Nov 2021
Topic Review
Animal Models to Study Amyotrophic Lateral Sclerosis
Amyotrophic lateral sclerosis (ALS) is a fatal, multigenic, multifactorial, and non-cell autonomous neurodegenerative disease characterized by upper and lower motor neuron loss. Several genetic mutations lead to ALS development and many emerging gene mutations have been discovered in recent years. Over the decades since 1990, several animal models have been generated to study ALS pathology including both vertebrates and invertebrates such as yeast, worms, flies, zebrafish, mice, rats, guinea pigs, dogs, and non-human primates. Although these models show different peculiarities, they are all useful and complementary to dissect the pathological mechanisms at the basis of motor neuron degeneration and ALS progression, thus contributing to the development of new promising therapeutics.
  • 938
  • 19 Apr 2022
Topic Review
Vascular Smooth Muscle Cell Phenotype Switching in Arteriogenesis
Vascular smooth muscle cells in the adult vasculature are not terminally differentiated cells. They possess extensive plasticity such that it can be stimulated to undergo a structural and functional transition into proliferative/migratory/synthetic phenotype or undergo an extreme phenotypic change into osteochondrocyte-like cells, foam-like cells, and myofibroblastsas detected in atherosclerotic lesions. Nevertheless, SMC plasticity enables de-differentiated SMCs to re-differentiate back to a quiescent and contractile state according to their microenvironment. SMCs are the predominant cell type in collateral arteries that restores blood flow after significant arterial occlusion in peripheral arterial disease patients. They respond to altered blood flow and inflammatory conditions after an arterial occlusion by switching their phenotype between quiescent contractile and proliferative synthetic states.
  • 937
  • 13 Feb 2023
Topic Review
miRNA in Regulating CFTR
The Cystic Fibrosis Transmembrane Conductance Regulator (CFTR) is a cAMP-activated ion channel that mediates transepithelial Cl- and HCO- secretion in fluid transporting epithelia. In the airway, a thin layer of fluid, known as the airway surface liquid (ASL), acts as a medium to facilitate ciliary function and allow for the overlying mucus layer to glide from the distal lung to the trachea where it can be expelled from the lung. CFTR gene mutations impair regulation of the transport of Cl-, HCO-, Na+, and water, and alter the volume and composition of the luminal contents of the airway, intestine, and biliary tree, leading to muco-obstructive disease cystic fibrosis (CF). Deletion of phenylalanine in position 508 (p.F508del) of the CFTR gene is present in at last 70% of CF patients.  We discuss the role of micro(mi)RNAs in regulating CFTR expression and function in health and disease.
  • 931
  • 27 Oct 2020
Topic Review
The Epigenetic Effects of Diet
The pathophysiology behind obesity involves a myriad of genetic, epigenetic, physiological, and macroenvironmental factors that drive food intake and appetite and increase the obesity risk for susceptible individuals. Metabolically, food intake and appetite are regulated via intricate processes and feedback systems between the brain, gastrointestinal system, adipose and endocrine tissues that aim to maintain body weight and energy homeostasis but are also responsive to environmental cues that may trigger overconsumption of food beyond homeostatic needs.
  • 930
  • 07 Jan 2021
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