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Topic Review
Multi-Modal Regulation by Biological Clocks
The circadian clock is a fundamental biological timing mechanism that generates nearly 24 h rhythms of physiology and behaviors, including sleep/wake cycles, hormone secretion, and metabolism. Evolutionarily, the endogenous clock is thought to confer living organisms, including humans, with survival benefits by adapting internal rhythms to the day and night cycles of the local environment. Mirroring the evolutionary fitness bestowed by the circadian clock, daily mismatches between the internal body clock and environmental cycles, such as irregular work (e.g., night shift work) and life schedules (e.g., jet lag, mistimed eating), have been recognized to increase the risk of cardiac, metabolic, and neurological diseases. Moreover, increasing numbers of studies with cellular and animal models have detected the presence of functional circadian oscillators at multiple levels, ranging from individual neurons and fibroblasts to brain and peripheral organs. These oscillators are tightly coupled to timely modulate cellular and bodily responses to physiological and metabolic cues. 
  • 772
  • 11 Jan 2022
Topic Review
List of Cyphophthalmi Species
This page lists all described species of the harvestman suborder Cyphophthalmi. Unless otherwise noted, information is taken from Giribet's 2000 taxonomic catalogue and from Giribet et al., 2012.
  • 772
  • 09 Oct 2022
Topic Review
Impact of Special Diets on Infants Gut Microbiome
Gut microbiota is a complex system that starts to take shape early in life. Several factors influence the rise of microbial gut colonization, such as term and mode of delivery, exposure to antibiotics, maternal diet, presence of siblings and family members, pets, genetics, local environment, and geographical location. Breastfeeding, complementary feeding, and later dietary patterns during infancy and toddlerhood are major players in the proper development of microbial communities. Nonetheless, if dysbiosis occurs, gut microbiota may remain impaired throughout life, leading to deleterious consequences, such as greater predisposition to non-communicable diseases, more susceptible immune system and altered gut–brain axis. 
  • 770
  • 28 Sep 2022
Topic Review
DNA Methylation Variation in Wild Animal Populations
Population epigenetics explores the extent of epigenetic variation and its dynamics in natural populations encountering changing environmental conditions. In contrast to population genetics, the basic concepts of this field are still in their early stages, especially in animal populations. Epigenetic variation may play a crucial role in phenotypic plasticity and local adaptation as it can be affected by the environment, it is likely to have higher spontaneous mutation rate than nucleotide sequences do, and it may be inherited via non-mendelian processes.
  • 770
  • 19 Oct 2022
Topic Review
Treatment Strategies for KRAS-Mutated Non-Small-Cell Lung Cancer
Activating mutations in Kirsten rat sarcoma viral oncogene homologue (KRAS) are highly prevalent in solid tumours and are frequently found in 35% of lung, 45% of colorectal, and up to 90% of pancreatic cancers. Mutated KRAS is a prognostic factor for disease-free survival (DFS) and overall survival (OS) in NSCLC and is associated with a more aggressive clinical phenotype, highlighting the need for KRAS-targeted therapy. Once considered undruggable due to its smooth shallow surface, a breakthrough showed that the activated G12C-mutated KRAS isozyme can be directly inhibited via a newly identified switch II pocket. This discovery led to the development of a new class of selective small-molecule inhibitors against the KRAS G12C isoform. Sotorasib and adagrasib are approved in locally advanced or metastatic NSCLC patients who have received at least one prior systemic therapy. 
  • 770
  • 28 Mar 2023
Topic Review
Insect Antimicrobial Peptides
Insects are the organisms from which the greatest amount of peptides are isolated. A single insect produces a mixture of 15–20 peptides, the concentration of which in the hemolymph increases rapidly during infection. Their presence in the hemolymph enables the body’s systemic response to infection, while peptides synthesized in epithelial cells participate in local reactions involving the gates of infection. With over a million described species, insects make up the largest class of organisms in the world. Insects show adaptability to repeated changes and resistance to a wide range of pathogens. The mechanism of resistance developed by insects is associated with an immune system based solely on the innate immune response, which allows for a quick and broad response to attacking organisms. Insect antimicrobial peptides (AMPs) have been increasingly used in pharmacy as well as in agriculture. With a growing number of identified peptides that can inhibit human pathogens, insect AMPs are of great interest for biomedical applications. Insect AMPs represent a highly promising alternative to overcome medical problems associated with antibiotic resistance.
  • 769
  • 05 Jul 2023
Topic Review
Animal Models of Acute Inflammation
Acute inflammation is an integral component of the body's innate immune system, responsible for defending against infections and initiating the healing process post-injury. While essential for overall health, uncontrolled or excessive acute inflammation can lead to severe tissue damage and the onset of chronic inflammatory disorders, posing a substantial threat to well-being. The exploration takes us into the realm of preclinical models of acute inflammation, where their characteristics and their indispensable contributions to our understanding of the intricate mechanisms governing inflammation were analyzed. These models provide researchers with controlled environments to replicate and study inflammation, mirroring the complex interplay of inflammatory mediators, cells, and pathways observed in human physiology.
  • 769
  • 08 Sep 2023
Topic Review
Convalescent Plasma Transfusion for COVID‐19
More than one year into the novel coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) pandemic, healthcare systems across the world continue to be overwhelmed with soaring daily cases. The treatment spectrum primarily includes ventilation support augmented with repurposed drugs and/or convalescent plasma transfusion (CPT) from recovered COVID-19 patients. CPT is a promising COVID-19 therapeutic option that merits internationally coordinated RCTs to achieve a scientific risk-benefit consensus. 
  • 768
  • 24 May 2021
Topic Review
Neoglycoliposomes Bearing Arborescent Architectures
This entry highlights systematic progress in the design of synthetic glycolipid (neoglycolipids) analogs evolving from the conventional architectures of natural glycosphingolipids and gangliosides. Given that naturally occurring glycolipids are composed of only one hydrophilic sugar head-group and two hydrophobic lipid tails embedded in the lipid bilayers of the cell membranes, they usually require extraneous lipids (phosphatidylcholine, cholesterol) to confer their stability. In order to obviate the necessity for these additional stabilizing ingredients, recent investigations have merged dendrimer chemistry with that of neoglycolipid syntheses.
  • 768
  • 03 Aug 2021
Topic Review
Nuclear Protein in Testis
NUT (Nuclear protein in Testis) is a testis-specific factor originally discovered as a chromosomal fusion partner of BRD4 and BRD3, both members of the BET double bromodomain-containing family of proteins, in an aggressive cancer known as NUT Carcinoma (NC).
  • 764
  • 20 May 2022
Topic Review
Efficient Direct Lineage Reprogramming Technology for Neurological Diseases
Gene therapy is an innovative approach in the field of regenerative medicine. This therapy entails the transfer of genetic material into a patient’s cells to treat diseases. Direct lineage reprogramming (DLR) enables the direct conversion of differentiated mature cells into various other cell types, without the need for an intermediate pluripotent state. This approach was inspired by the critical role played by transcription factors in the process of converting non-neuronal cells into neurons. 
  • 762
  • 26 Jul 2023
Topic Review
Therapeutic Potential of Ganoderma lucidum in Cancer
Triterpenoids, such as ganoderic acid, and polysaccharides, including β-D-glucans, α-D-glucans, and α-D-mannans, are the main secondary metabolites of the medicinal fungus Ganoderma lucidum. There is evidence of the effects of ganoderic acid in hematological malignancies, whose mechanisms involve the stimulation of immune response, the macrophage-like differentiation, the activation of MAP-K pathway, an IL3-dependent cytotoxic action, the induction of cytoprotective autophagy, and the induction of apoptosis. In fact, this compound has been tested in twenty-six different human cancer cell types and has shown an anti-proliferative activity, especially in leukemia, lymphoma, and myeloma lines. 
  • 761
  • 01 Mar 2024
Topic Review
SCFA Receptors in T1D Pathology
SCFAs, mainly acetate, butyrate, and propionate, are gut microbiota fermentation byproducts of indigestible fiber. The majority of SCFAs are readily absorbed and utilized by the colonocytes as an energy source. Remaining SCFAs are drained into the hepatic and portal venous systems before emerging into the systemic circulation. SCFAs affect host physiology in numerous ways, acting both as metabolic substrates and signaling molecules. Distinct GM and SCFA profiles in T1D versus controls provide compelling evidence for the roles of SCFA receptors in disease pathology. For a better understanding of this role, a review of known functions of FFA2 and FFA3 centering on the endocrine pancreas, immune cells, and gut is presented. Discussion of the roles of these receptors in other tissues has been covered elsewhere.
  • 759
  • 20 May 2021
Topic Review
Type 2 Diabetes Mellitus and COVID-19
Type 2 diabetes mellitus (T2DM) is one of the world’s leading causes of death and life-threatening conditions. Researchers shed light on the single-cell-based technologies and multi-omics approaches that have reached breakthroughs in the understanding of the pathomechanism of T2DM. Hyperglycemia initiates a pathobiochemical cascade that results in increased mortality in SARS-CoV-2-infected diabetic patients. The underlying molecular mechanisms are responsible for the worsening of both metabolic and hemodynamic conditions. 
  • 758
  • 21 Sep 2022
Topic Review
BCMA-Targeting Antibody-Drug Conjugates in Multiple Myeloma
Multiple myeloma (MM) is an incurable cancer of the plasma cells. Over the years, treatment strategies have evolved toward targeting MM cells—from the shotgun chemotherapy approach to the slightly more targeted approach of disrupting important MM molecular pathways to the immunotherapy approach that specifically targets MM cells based on protein expression. Antibody-drug conjugates (ADCs) are introduced as immunotherapeutic drugs which utilize an antibody to deliver cytotoxic agents to cancer cells distinctively. Recent investigations of ADCs for MM treatment focus on targeting B cell maturation antigen (BCMA), which regulates B cell proliferation, survival, maturation, and differentiation into plasma cells (PCs). Given its selective expression in malignant PCs, BCMA is one of the most promising targets in MM immunotherapy. Compared to other BCMA-targeting immunotherapies, ADCs have several benefits, such as lower price, shorter production period, fewer infusions, less dependence on the patient’s immune system, and they are less likely to over-activate the immune system. 
  • 758
  • 23 Apr 2023
Topic Review
Pathways Associated with Skeletal Sagittal Malocclusions
Skeletal class II and III malocclusions are craniofacial disorders that negatively impact people’s quality of life worldwide. Interestingly, several genes and enriched pathways are involved in both skeletal class II and III malocclusions, indicating the key regulatory effects of these genes and pathways in craniofacial development.
  • 756
  • 07 Dec 2021
Topic Review
Glucosamine and Chondroitin Sulfate
Osteoarthritis is the most common progressive joint disease diagnosed in companion animals and its management continues to be a significant challenge. Nutraceuticals have been widely investigated over the years in the treatment of osteoarthritis and among them, glucosamine and chondroitin sulfate treatments are probably the most common therapies used in veterinary management.
  • 755
  • 23 Jun 2021
Topic Review
GJB2 Missense Variants
The GJB2 gene is the most common gene responsible for hearing loss (HL) worldwide, and missense variants are the most abundant type. GJB2 pathogenic missense variants cause nonsyndromic HL (autosomal recessive and dominant) and syndromic HL combined with skin diseases.
  • 755
  • 08 May 2023
Topic Review
Dual-Function Protein MEX3A
MEX3A belongs to the MEX3 (Muscle EXcess) protein family consisting of four members (MEX3A-D) in humans. Characteristic for MEX3 proteins is their domain structure with 2 HNRNPK homology (KH) domains mediating RNA binding and a C-terminal really interesting new gene (RING) domain that harbors E3 ligase function. 
  • 754
  • 21 May 2021
Topic Review
In Utero Origins of Acute Leukemia in Children
Acute leukemias, mainly consisting of acute lymphoblastic leukemia (ALL) and acute myeloid leukemia (AML), comprise a major diagnostic group among hematologic cancers. Due to the early age at onset of ALL, particularly, it has long been suspected that acute leukemias of childhood may have an in utero origin. 
  • 753
  • 23 Feb 2024
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