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Topic Review
Dysbiosis and Neurological Conditions
The prevalence of neurological conditions which manifest with chronic pain is increasing globally, where the World Health Organisation has now classified chronic pain as a risk factor for death by suicide. While many chronic pain conditions have a definitive underlying aetiology, non-somatic conditions represent difficult-to-diagnose and difficult-to-treat public health issues. The interaction of the immune system and nervous system has become an important area in understanding the occurrence of neuroinflammation, nociception, peripheral and central sensitisation seen in chronic pain.
  • 630
  • 17 Mar 2023
Topic Review
Soil Thermophiles and Their Extracellular Enzymes
During this century, a number of reports have described the potential roles of thermophiles in the upper soil layers during high-temperature periods. Soil thermophiles are able to adapt their extracellular enzyme activities to environmental conditions. These enzymes can present optimum activity under high temperatures and reduced water content. Consequently, these microorganisms have been shown to actively process and decompose substances (including pollutants) under extreme conditions (i.e., desiccation and heat) in soils.
  • 630
  • 03 Jul 2023
Topic Review
Applications of Biobanking in Neuro-Urology
Understanding the molecular mechanisms underlying neuro-urological disorders is crucial for the development of targeted therapeutic interventions. Through the establishment of comprehensive biobanks, researchers can collect and store various biological specimens, including urine, blood, tissue, and DNA samples, to study these mechanisms. In the context of neuro-urology, biobanking facilitates the identification of genetic variations, epigenetic modifications, and gene expression patterns associated with neurogenic lower urinary tract dysfunction. These conditions often present as symptoms of neurological diseases such as Alzheimer’s disease, multiple sclerosis, Parkinson’s disease, spinal cord injury, and many others. Biobanking of tissue specimens from such patients is essential to understand why these diseases cause the respective symptoms and what can be done to alleviate them. 
  • 629
  • 11 Dec 2023
Topic Review
Gender Differences of Cortisol and Receptors in Depression
There are significant gender differences in the relationship between cortisol and depression. While the results may vary based on the age group and source of the samples, several mixed-gender studies show that there appears to be heightened serum cortisol levels in depressed males compared to depressed females. There are also differences noticed in salivary cortisol reactivity, with male children having increased reactivity, though these differences seem to diminish with age. Significant gender differences can also be seen in glucocorticoid and mineralocorticoid receptor expression. These differences are found both in expression levels as well as epigenetic regulation depending on the disorder and on the brain region.
  • 628
  • 25 May 2023
Topic Review
Policies Addressing Non-Communicable and Chronic Diseases in China
Non-communicable and chronic diseases (NCDs) have become a public health problem that seriously threatens the population’s health, especially in rapidly industrialized countries. Given the complexity of managing NCDs, there is growing evidence that interventions embedding or incorporating health promotion strategies can help reduce the disease burden of NCDs. 
  • 627
  • 24 Aug 2022
Topic Review
Biological Clock in Ageing and Low-Level Chronic Inflammation
Ageing is a multifactorial physiological manifestation that occurs inexorably and gradually in all forms of life. This process is linked to the decay of homeostasis due to the progressive decrease in the reparative and regenerative capacity of tissues and organs, with reduced physiological reserve in response to stress. Ageing is closely related to oxidative damage and involves immunosenescence and tissue impairment or metabolic imbalances that trigger inflammation and inflammasome formation. One of the main ageing-related alterations is the dysregulation of the immune response, which results in chronic low-level, systemic inflammation, termed “inflammaging”. Genetic and epigenetic changes, as well as environmental factors, promote and/or modulate the mechanisms of ageing at the molecular, cellular, organ, and system levels. Most of these mechanisms are characterized by time-dependent patterns of variation driven by the biological clock. 
  • 627
  • 23 Nov 2022
Topic Review
Interplay of BDNF and Glucocorticoids in Alzheimer’s Disease
Both the brain-derived neurotrophic factor (BDNF) and glucocorticoids (GCs) play multiple roles in various aspects of neurons, including cell survival and synaptic function. BDNF and its receptor TrkB are extensively expressed in neurons of the central nervous system (CNS), and the contribution of the BDNF/TrkB system to neuronal function is evident; thus, its downregulation has been considered to be involved in the pathogenesis of Alzheimer’s disease (AD). GCs, stress-related molecules, and glucocorticoid receptors (GRs) are also considered to be associated with AD in addition to mental disorders such as depression. Importantly, a growing body of evidence suggests a close relationship between BDNF/TrkB-mediated signaling and the GCs/GR system in the CNS.
  • 627
  • 06 Feb 2024
Topic Review
Behavioral Ecology of European Plethodontid Salamanders
Plethodontid salamanders (family Plethodontidae) are often used as model organisms to better understand different aspects of behavioral adaptation. This contributed to increase the interest from ethologists and evolutionary biologists regarding amphibian behavioral ecology. The recent advancements on the behavioral ecology of European cave salamanders belonging to the genus Speleomantes are presented herein. Several aspects of Speleomantes behavior were investigated, such as trophic strategies and parental care, while others were neglected, in particular, chemical communication at the intraspecfic level. Possible future directions for successful research should integrate field observations and planned experiments to understand those topics still uninvestigated (e.g., chemical communication and behavioral adaptation that facilitate the permanent colonization of subterranean habitats).
  • 626
  • 06 Dec 2023
Topic Review
Short-Chain Fatty Acids Impact Neonatal Regulatory T Cells
T cells are specialised lymphocytes that play a pivotal role in the adaptive immune response and are marked by their surface expression of a T cell receptor (TCR). Conventional T cells are classically divided into one of two major subtypes based on the identity of their TCR co-receptor: CD4+ T cells or T helper (Th) cells play a key role in orchestrating adaptive immune responses via the production of effector cytokines; CD8+ T cells, also known as cytotoxic T lymphocytes (CTLs), are critical mediators in the elimination of virally infected or tumour cells, which they achieve through the release of cytotoxic granules that induce apoptotic or lytic death. Over the first weeks of life, the neonatal gastrointestinal tract is rapidly colonised by a diverse range of microbial species that come to form the ‘gut microbiota’. Microbial colonisation of the neonatal gut is a well-established regulator of several physiological processes that contribute to immunological protection in postnatal life, including the development of the intestinal mucosa and adaptive immunity. However, the specific microbiota-derived signals that mediate these processes have not yet been fully characterised. Short-chain fatty acids (SCFAs), end-products of intestinal bacterial metabolism, as one of the key mediators of immune development in early life. Critical to neonatal health is the development of regulatory T (Treg) cells that promote and maintain immunological tolerance against self and innocuous antigens.
  • 626
  • 21 Sep 2022
Topic Review
Systems Immunology Approach for Tumor Microenvironment
The tumor microenvironment (TME) is a complex and dynamic system that plays a critical role in cancer development and progression. It consists of a variety of cell types, including cancer cells, immune cells, and stromal cells (fibroblasts and endothelial cells), as well as extracellular matrix components and signaling molecules.
  • 623
  • 08 Aug 2023
Topic Review
Intra-Articular Platelet-Rich Plasma Injections in Knee Osteoarthritis
Primary knee osteoarthritis (OA) continues to be a hard-to-control degenerative disease. Intra-articular corticosteroids are typically advised, but only for short-term pain alleviation, given that their benefits last only a few weeks. The efficacy of hyaluronic acid is controversial. When the aforesaid options fail, total knee arthroplasty is generally recommended as an efficacious treatment. However, it is costly and can involve medical and postoperative complications. Therefore, determining alternate safe and effective treatments for knee OA is paramount. Platelet-rich plasma (PRP) has lately been investigated for the treatment of knee OA.
  • 621
  • 28 Feb 2022
Topic Review
Circadian Gas-Responsive Hemeprotein NPAS2
Neuronal PAS domain protein 2 (NPAS2) is a hemeprotein comprising a basic helix–loop–helix domain (bHLH) and two heme-binding sites, the PAS-A and PAS-B domains.
  • 621
  • 30 Oct 2023
Topic Review
Neuroprotective Effect of Clobenpropit
Neuroinflammation is defined as one of the key contributors involved in several CNS-related disorders including neurodegenerative diseases. According to experimental evidence, the inflammatory process in the neuron has been shown to cause cell death and neurodegeneration in Parkinson’s (PD), Alzheimer’s (AD), and other neurodegenerative diseases. 
  • 614
  • 13 Jan 2022
Topic Review
ER+, Node-Positive Breast Cancer
The majority of breast cancers are oestrogen receptor-positive (ER+). In ER+ cancers, oestrogen acts as a disease driver, so these tumours are likely to be susceptible to endocrine therapy (ET). ET works by blocking the hormone’s synthesis or effect. A significant number of patients diagnosed with breast cancer will have the spread of tumour cells into regional lymph nodes either at the time of diagnosis, or as a recurrence some years later. Patients with node-positive disease have a poorer prognosis and can respond less well to ET. The nodal metastases may be genomically similar or, as is becoming more evident, may differ from the primary tumour. However, nodal metastatic disease is often not assessed, and treatment decisions are almost always based on biomarkers evaluated in the primary tumour. 
  • 614
  • 17 Oct 2023
Topic Review
Nanoparticle-Based Drug Delivery Risks
Engineered nanoparticles (NPs) with pharmacological potential can be rapidly taken up by a variety of cell types and have the potential to traverse intracellular and intercellular barriers. NPs can trigger the production of reactive oxygen species, activate the complement system, or impair the functionality of membranes and cellular barriers, depending on the kind, dose, and incubation period. These acts cause immediate or persistent damage to the organism, which can result in catastrophic consequences such as inflammation, gene mutations, and severe organ damage.
  • 612
  • 28 Apr 2023
Topic Review
Polyamines and Physical Activity in Musculoskeletal Diseases
Autophagy dysregulation is commonplace in the pathogenesis of several invalidating diseases, such as musculoskeletal diseases. Polyamines are emerging as natural autophagy regulators with strong anti-aging effects. Recent studies indicate that spermidine reverses dysfunctional autophagy and stimulates mitophagy in muscles and heart, preventing senescence. Physical exercise, as polyamines, regulates skeletal muscle mass inducing proper autophagy and mitophagy. In addition, the combination of spermidine supplementation and regular physical exercise could have positive effects on reactivating the autophagic process flux, maintaining the skeletal muscle mass, and delaying its senescence. This suggests that exercise and spermidine may share mediators acting on similar pathways in autophagy and related processes involved in muscle maintenance. Therefore, the established geroprotective effect of spermidine supplementation and regular practice of exercise might also be promising to prevent or improve age-related musculoskeletal diseases. 
  • 611
  • 25 Jun 2023
Topic Review
Sources and Biological Activity of Cell-Free DNA
The term cell-free DNA (cfDNA) encompasses all kinds of extracellular DNA molecules found in serum or plasma and other body fluids, and includes genomic DNA (gDNA) and mitochondrial DNA (mtDNA), as well as DNA of bacterial or viral origin. Cell-free DNA (cfDNA), freely circulating in the bloodstream, urine, and other fluids (or encapsulated in vesicles) may be derived from both normal and diseased cells. cfDNA is extremely dynamic and responsive, providing sensitive indicators of changes that are not detectable by standard clinical tests. It can be used as a reliable, safe, and objective tool to reflect disease progression and supplement clinical data in a particular patient, and thus, represents a new path in personalized medicine.
  • 608
  • 07 Oct 2023
Topic Review
Physiological and Anti-Tumor Activities of Vitamin C
Vitamin C (L-ascorbic acid, ascorbate, VC) is an essential nutrient for the normal maintenance of cellular functions, such as neural pathways, molecule biosynthesis (e.g., collagen, norepinephrine), immune signaling, chromatin remodeling, and cell division. This versatile nutrient has the potential as an anti-tumor agent. At high doses, it acts as a pro-oxidant, selectively targeting cancer cells. At low doses, it acts as an antioxidant, enhancing anti-tumor immunity. VC's potential lies in its ability to target cancer stem cells (CSCs), the self-renewing cells responsible for tumor recurrence and chemoresistance. Recent studies suggest that VC can selectively target CSCs via epigenetic and metabolic pathways. Understanding how VC exerts anti-tumor activity by targeting CSCs provides a rationale for its use in cancer treatment.
  • 604
  • 05 Dec 2023
Topic Review
Small Extracellular Vesicles in Cardiac Diseases
Effective intercellular communication is essential for cellular and tissue balance maintenance and response to challenges. Cellular communication methods involve direct cell contact or the release of biological molecules to cover short and long distances.
  • 600
  • 04 Mar 2024
Topic Review
Cotoneaster integerrimus (Rosaceae) from the Balkans
Cotoneaster integerrimus represents a multiploid and facultative apomictic system of widely distributed mountain populations. 
  • 595
  • 19 Apr 2022
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