Your browser does not fully support modern features. Please upgrade for a smoother experience.
Subject:
All Disciplines Arts & Humanities Biology & Life Sciences Business & Economics Chemistry & Materials Science Computer Science & Mathematics Engineering Environmental & Earth Sciences Medicine & Pharmacology Physical Sciences Public Health & Healthcare Social Sciences
Sort by:
Most Viewed Latest Alphabetical (A-Z) Alphabetical (Z-A)
Filter:
All Topic Review Biography Peer Reviewed Entry Video Entry
Topic Review
Immune Thrombocytopenia in Antiphospholipid Syndrome
Antiphospholipid syndrome (APS) is frequently associated with thrombocytopenia, in most cases mild and in the absence of major bleedings. In some patients with a confirmed APS diagnosis, secondary immune thrombocytopenia (ITP) may lead to severe thrombocytopenia with consequent major bleeding. At the same time, the presence of antiphospholipid antibodies (aPL) in patients with a diagnosis of primary ITP has been reported in several studies, although with some specific characteristics especially related to the variety of antigenic targets. 
  • 1.5K
  • 28 Sep 2021
Topic Review
Raman Spectroscopy Applied to Biomedical Research
Nowadays, there is an interest in biomedical and nanobiotechnological studies, such as studies on carotenoids as antioxidants and studies on molecular markers for cardiovascular, endocrine, and oncological diseases. Also, interest in industrial production of microalgal biomass for biofuels and bioproducts has stimulated studies on microalgal physiology and mechanisms of synthesis and accumulation of valuable biomolecules in algal cells. Biomolecules such as neutral lipids and carotenoids are being actively explored by the biotechnology community. Raman spectroscopy (RS) has become an important tool for researchers to understand biological processes at the cellular level in medicine and biotechnology.
  • 1.5K
  • 05 May 2022
Topic Review
Computational NMR of Carbohydrates
Nowadays, computational NMR is widely used for structural and stereochemical studies of a wide series of carbohydrates including mono-, di-, and polysaccharides together with their functional derivatives. Stereochemical analysis of carbohydrates could mostly be performed by using computational versus experimental 1H and 13C-NMR chemical shifts and spin-spin coupling constants in view of their marked stereochemical dependences providing a new guide in stereochemical structure of carbohydrates together with fundamental factors controlling molecular recognition and catalysis in biochemical systems.
  • 1.5K
  • 05 May 2021
Topic Review
Extracellular Vesicles in Blood
Extracellular vesicles (EVs) are important players for intercellular communication. EVs are secreted by almost all cell types; they can transfer information between nearby or distant cells, and they are highly abundant in body fluids. The present work provides an overview of the components, effects, and applications of EVs in blood.
  • 1.5K
  • 26 Aug 2021
Topic Review
Osteoclasts
There are sexually dimorphic differences in osteoclast formation and function that may have significant importance for understanding why females are prone to have a lower bone mass than males at any given age and are at increased risk for osteoporosis. Osteoclasts are the principal mediators of bone resorption. They form through the fusion of mononuclear precursor cells under the principal influence of the cytokines macrophage colony stimulating factor (M-CSF, aka CSF-1) and receptor activator of NF-κB ligand (RANKL, aka TNFSF11).
  • 1.5K
  • 04 Nov 2020
Topic Review
Angiotensin II
Cardiovascular disease is the leading cause of morbidity and mortality in the western and developing world, and the incidence of cardiovascular disease is increasing with the longer lifespan afforded by our modern lifestyle.  Vascular diseases including coronary heart disease, high blood pressure, and stroke comprise the majority of cardiovascular disease and therefore represent a significant medical and socioeconomic burden on our society.  It is not be surprising that these conditions overlap and potentiate each other when we consider the many cellular and molecular similarities between them. At the molecular level, the vascular smooth muscle cell (VSMC) is the target, integrator, and effector cell of both atherogenic and the major effector protein of the hypertensive signal, Angiotensin II (Ang II).  Together, these signals can potentiate each other and prime the artery and exacerbate hypertension and atherosclerosis. Therefore, VSMC are the fulcrum in progression of these diseases and therefore, understanding the effects of atherogenic stimuli and Ang II on VSMC is  key to understanding and treating  atherosclerosis and hypertension.  In this review, we will examine studies in which hypertension and atherosclerosis intersect on the VSMC, and illustrate common pathways between these two diseases and vascular aging.
  • 1.5K
  • 07 Jul 2020
Topic Review
Mitochondrial microRNAs
Mitochondrial microRNAs (mitomiRs) are endogenous small, single-stranded molecules of noncoding RNA (19–23 nucleotides) present in mitochondria that represent a new level of control of gene expression. These sequences can be either encoded in the nuclei - however the importing mechanism is still not fully established - or may be originated straight inside mitochondria, from mitochondrial genome-derived mRNA. Undeniably, mitomiRs typically act by regulating gene expression inside mitochondria at the post-transcriptional level with a significant role both in physiology and in pathology. Unveiling mitochondrial microRNAs biological function and their targets will propel the development of innovative therapeutic and diagnostic tools.
  • 1.5K
  • 11 Jan 2021
Topic Review
Brillouin Spectroscopy
Brillouin spectroscopy has recently gained considerable interest within the biomedical field as an innovative tool to study mechanical properties in biology. The Brillouin effect is based on the inelastic scattering of photons caused by their interaction with thermodynamically driven acoustic modes or phonons and it is highly dependent on the material’s elasticity. Therefore, Brillouin is a contactless, label-free optic approach to elastic and viscoelastic analysis that has enabled unprecedented analysis of ex vivo and in vivo mechanical behavior of several tissues with a micrometric resolution, paving the way to a promising future in clinical diagnosis.
  • 1.5K
  • 20 Aug 2021
Topic Review
Terpenoid Lactones
Terpenoids with lactone moieties have been indicated to possess various biological activities. Certain terpenoid lactones exist in nature, in plants and animals, but they can also be obtained by chemical synthesis. Terpenoids possessing lactone moieties are known for their cytotoxic, anti-inflammatory, antimicrobial, anticancer, and antimalarial activities. 
  • 1.5K
  • 31 May 2021
Topic Review
Peptide Human Neutrophil Elastase Inhibitors
Elastases are a broad group of enzymes involved in the lysis of elastin, the main component of elastic fibres. They are produced and released in the human body, mainly by neutrophils and the pancreas.
  • 1.5K
  • 06 Apr 2022
Topic Review
Structural and Regulation Aspects of IGF2
Insulin-like growth factor two (IGF-II) is a key protein regulating growth, particularly during normal fetal development, but it is also often dysregulated during tumorigenesis. IGF-II belongs to a larger system including several different regulatory factors and generally referred to as the “IGF system”. IGF-I and IGF-II are the main ligands of the type 1 IGF receptor (IGF-1R).
  • 1.5K
  • 28 Jun 2022
Topic Review
Disordered Proteins and Dynamic Interactions
Intrinsically disordered proteins (IDPs) or regions (IDRs), compared to the well-structural proteins, do not have stable tertiary structures under physiological conditions, and even remain dynamic in specific complexes and functional assemblies. It is now recognized that they are highly prevalent and play important roles in biology and human diseases due to the presence of many representative conformational states and potential dynamic interactions, which requires computer simulations for describing disordered protein ensembles and dynamic interactions involved in biological functions, diseases, and therapeutics.
  • 1.5K
  • 27 Oct 2021
Topic Review
γ-Hydroxybutyric Acid
γ-Hydroxybutyric acid (GHB) is an endogenous short chain fatty acid that acts as a neurotransmitter and neuromodulator in the mammalian brain. It has often been illegally abused or misused due to its strong anesthetic effect, particularly in drug-facilitated crimes worldwide. However, proving its ingestion is not straightforward because of the difficulty in distinguishing between endogenous and exogenous GHB, as well as its rapid metabolism. Metabolomics and metabolism studies have recently been used to identify potential biomarkers of GHB exposure. 
  • 1.5K
  • 04 Mar 2021
Topic Review
Vascularization and Cancer Biology
Vascularization is another hallmark of cancer, whereby cancer cells promote the formation of blood vessels to deliver nutrients for fast-growing solid tumors. The most well-known process of vascularization is angiogenesis. In normal cells and tissues, the angiogenesis is a controlled process that is turned on or off depending on the needs of the cells; however, in cancerous cells and tumors, the angiogenesis process is continuous and there is a dysregulation of pro- and antiangiogenesis factors . This continuous activation of angiogenesis allows the cancer cells to form blood vessels to obtain sufficient nutrients for continuous growth and proliferation. There are other ways tumors can achieve vascularization, such as vascular co-option, intussusceptive microvascular growth and vasculogenic mimicry.
  • 1.5K
  • 22 Apr 2022
Topic Review
C/EBPs
CCAAT-enhancer-binding proteins (C/EBPs) is a family of six structurally homologous transcription factors that promote the expression of genes involved in different cellular responses, such as proliferation, growth, and differentiation. These transcription factors control the differentiation of several cell types, and have key roles in regulating cellular proliferation, through interaction with cell cycle proteins. The molecular structure of C/EBPs and their ability to interact with a multitude of factors determine their complex functions in different cells. In fact, C/EBPs can be activated or inhibited by a variety of intracellular or extracellular signals. In addition, post-translational modifications and interaction with other proteins can regulate their expression and activity in a complex manner. C/EBPs can activate or repress several classes of genes implicated in cell differentiation, metabolism, inflammation, and immune response. Moreover, C/EBPs play an important role in cancer progression and metastasis, showing both pro-oncogenic and onco-suppressor functions. Interestingly, the same isotype of C/EBP can exhibit both of these opposite functions. This “Janus” role of C/EBPs in cancer could depend on their particular position at the crossroads between proliferation and differentiation. Specific conditions such as cell type, microenvironment, type of heterodimerization, or interaction with different regulatory proteins can tip the balance towards pro- or anti-oncogenic action.
  • 1.5K
  • 13 Sep 2021
Topic Review
FTO Intronic SNP
Browning of white adipose tissue shifts adipocytes from energy storage white to energy expenditure beige types. The balance between the two adipocyte populations in white adipose tissue is highly determined by noncoding variants of the Fat mass and obesity-associated (FTO) locus which has the strongest association with obesity. The rs1421085 FTO risk allele results in a loss of ARID5B repression of IRX3 and IRX5 which promotes excess white adipocyte formation. Recent studies have revealed the presence of brown adipose tissues at several anatomical sites in humans including the deep-neck (DN).  We found that the characteristic gene expression profile and associated pathways of DN brown adipocytes were determined by partially overlapping effects of tissue site specific commitments of the stem cells, PPARγ stimulation and the FTO status of donors. The presence of FTO rs1421085 risk alleles had a strong influence, manifested during differentiation, on browning resulting in compromised expression of metabolic and mitochondrial genes as well as pathways which are decisive in thermogenesis.
  • 1.5K
  • 30 Oct 2020
Topic Review
Necroptosis in Intestinal Inflammation
Necroptosis is a caspases-independent programmed cell death displaying intermediate features between necrosis and apoptosis. Albeit some physiological roles during embryonic development such tissue homeostasis and innate immune response are documented, necroptosis is mainly considered a pro-inflammatory cell death. Key actors of necroptosis are the receptor-interacting-protein-kinases, RIPK1 and RIPK3, and their target, the mixed-lineage-kinase-domain-like protein, MLKL. The intestinal epithelium has one of the highest rates of cellular turnover in a process that is tightly regulated. Altered necroptosis at the intestinal epithelium leads to uncontrolled microbial translocation and deleterious inflammation. Indeed, necroptosis plays a role in many disease conditions and inhibiting necroptosis is currently considered a promising therapeutic strategy.
  • 1.5K
  • 20 Oct 2020
Topic Review
KRAS
The RAS family consists of membrane-associated small GTPases which play essential roles in cell survival, proliferation, and differentiation. There are four RAS protein isoforms in humans: HRAS, NRAS, and two splice variants, KRAS4A and KRAS4B. 
  • 1.5K
  • 12 Oct 2021
Topic Review
Exposome
The “exposome” is the cumulative exposures (diet, exercise, environmental exposure, vaccination, genetics, etc.) an individual has experienced and provides a mechanism for the establishment of immune training or immunotolerance. It is becoming increasingly clear that trained immunity constitutes a delicate balance between the dose, duration, and order of exposures. Upon innate stimuli, trained immunity or tolerance is shaped by epigenetic and metabolic changes that alter hematopoietic stem cell lineage commitment and responses to infection. Due to the immunomodulatory role of the exposome, understanding innate immune training is critical for understanding why some individuals exhibit protective phenotypes while closely related individuals may experience immunotolerant effects (e.g., the order of exposure can result in completely divergent immune responses). Research on the exposome and trained immunity may be leveraged to identify key factors for improving vaccination development, altering inflammatory disease development, and introducing potential new prophylactic treatments, especially for diseases such as COVID-19, which is currently a major health issue for the world. Furthermore, continued exposome research may prevent many deleterious effects caused by immunotolerance that frequently result in host morbidity or mortality. 
  • 1.5K
  • 09 Dec 2020
Topic Review
UFM1
Post-translational modification with Ubiquitin-like proteins represents a complex signaling language regulating virtually every cellular process. Among these post-translational modifiers is Ubiquitin-fold modifier (UFM1), which is covalently attached to its substrates through the orchestrated action of a dedicated enzymatic cascade. Originally identified to be involved embryonic development, its biological function remains enigmatic. Recent research reveals that UFM1 regulates a variety of cellular events ranging from DNA repair to autophagy and ER stress response implicating its involvement in a variety of diseases. Given the contribution of UFM1 to numerous pathologies, the enzymes of the UFM1 cascade represent attractive targets for pharmacological inhibition.
  • 1.5K
  • 26 Feb 2021
  • Page
  • of
  • 133
Featured Entry Collections
>>

Featured Books

>>
Encyclopedia of Digital Society, Industry 5.0 and Smart City
Encyclopedia of Engineering
Encyclopedia of Social Sciences
Encyclopedia of COVID-19
Academic Video Service
Feedback