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Topic Review
Selenium and Chronic Diseases
Selenium (Se) is an essential micronutrient for mammals, and its deficiency seriously threatens human health. A series of biofortification strategies have been developed to produce Se-enriched foods for combating Se deficiency. Although there have been some inconsistent results, extensive evidence has suggested that Se supplementation is beneficial for preventing and treating several chronic diseases. Understanding the association between Se and chronic diseases is essential for guiding clinical practice, developing effective public health policies, and ultimately counteracting health issues associated with Se deficiency. The current review will discuss the food sources of Se, biofortification strategies, metabolism and biological activities, clinical disorders and dietary reference intakes, as well as the relationship between Se and health outcomes, especially cardiovascular disease, diabetes, chronic inflammation, cancer, and fertility.
  • 930
  • 01 Jun 2021
Topic Review
Arteriovenous and Cavernous Malformations
Brain arteriovenous malformations (BAVMs) are predominantly congenital vascular disorders that may arise anywhere inside of the central nervous system. They are comprised of one or more arterial feeders supplying a vascular nidus, and one or more draining veins. The nidus itself represents the site where arterial blood is shunted directly into the venous system without an interpolating network of capillaries.
  • 930
  • 18 Jun 2021
Topic Review
Effects of Ursolic Acid Against Prostate Cancer
Prostate cancer is the second most diagnosed form of cancer in men worldwide (second to lung cancer). Finding novel approaches to prevent and treat prostate and other urogenital cancers effectively is of major importance. Chemicals derived from plants, such as docetaxel and paclitaxel, have been used in cancer treatment. Ursolic acid, found in high concentrations in cranberries, is a pentacyclic triterpenoid compound demonstrated to have anti-inflammatory, antioxidant, and anticancer properties. 
  • 930
  • 10 May 2023
Topic Review
Comparison of Histone H3K4me3
Histones are alkaline proteins that package DNA into nucleosomes. H3K4me3 is highly enriched in gene promoter regions. A gain in H3K4me3 enrichment is associated with active gene transcription, open chromatin, and loss of DNA methylation. H3K4me3 has been adopted as a marker to identify transcriptionally active genes.
  • 929
  • 03 Sep 2021
Topic Review
Xanthohumol Is a Potent Pan-Inhibitor of Coronaviruses
Coronaviruses cause diseases in humans and livestock. The SARS-CoV-2 is infecting millions of human beings, with high morbidity and mortality worldwide. The main protease (Mpro) of coronavirus plays a pivotal role in viral replication and transcription, which, in theory, is an attractive drug target for antiviral drug development. It has been extensively discussed whether Xanthohumol is able to help COVID-19 patients. Here, researchers report that Xanthohumol, a small molecule in clinical trials from hops (Humulus lupulus), was a potent pan-inhibitor for various coronaviruses by targeting Mpro, for example, betacoronavirus SARS-CoV-2 (IC50 value of 1.53 μM), and alphacoronavirus PEDV (IC50 value of 7.51 μM). Xanthohumol inhibited Mpro activities in the enzymatical assays, while pretreatment with Xanthohumol restricted the SARS-CoV-2 and PEDV replication in Vero-E6 cells. Therefore, Xanthohumol is a potent pan-inhibitor of coronaviruses and an excellent lead compound for further drug development.
  • 927
  • 22 Dec 2021
Topic Review
High-Throughput Screening Methods for Radiosensitivity and Resistance
The biological impact of ionizing radiation (IR) on humans depends not only on the physical properties and absorbed dose of radiation but also on the unique susceptibility of the exposed individual. A critical target of IR is DNA, and the DNA damage response is a safeguard mechanism for maintaining genomic integrity in response to the induced cellular stress. Unrepaired DNA lesions lead to various mutations, contributing to adverse health effects.
  • 925
  • 19 Aug 2022
Topic Review
Extracellular Matrix Environment of ccRCC
The extracellular matrix (ECM) controls fundamental properties of tumors, including growth, blood vessel investment, and invasion. The ECM defines rigidity of tumor tissue and individual ECM proteins have distinct biological effects on tumor cells. The most frequent initiating genetic mutation in ccRCC (clear cell renal cell carcinoma) inactivates the VHL gene, which plays a direct role in organizing the ECM.
  • 925
  • 15 Sep 2022
Topic Review
Glutathione/Glutaredoxin in Cellular Redox Homeostasis and Signaling
The tripeptide glutathione (GSH) is the most abundant non-enzymatic antioxidant/nucleophilic molecule in cells. In addition to various metabolic reactions involving GSH and its oxidized counterpart GSSG, oxidative post-translational modification (PTM) of proteins has been a focal point of keen interest in the redox field over the last few decades. In particular, the S-glutathionylation of proteins (protein-SSG formation), i.e., mixed disulfides between GSH and protein thiols, has been studied extensively. This reversible PTM can act as a regulatory switch to interconvert inactive and active forms of proteins, thereby mediating cell signaling and redox homeostasis. The unique architecture of the GSH molecule enhances its relative abundance in cells and contributes to the glutathionyl specificity of the primary catalytic activity of the glutaredoxin enzymes, which play central roles in redox homeostasis and signaling, and in iron metabolism in eukaryotes and prokaryotes under physiological and pathophysiological conditions. The class-1 glutaredoxins are characterized as cytosolic GSH-dependent oxidoreductases that catalyze reversible protein S-glutathionylation specifically, thereby contributing to the regulation of redox signal transduction and/or the protection of protein thiols from irreversible oxidation.
  • 925
  • 08 Aug 2023
Topic Review
Roles of Non-Coding RNA in Alzheimer’s Disease Pathophysiology
Alzheimer’s disease (AD) is a chronic neurodegenerative disorder that is accompanied by deficits in memory and cognitive functions. The disease is pathologically characterised by the accumulation and aggregation of an extracellular peptide referred to as amyloid-β (Aβ) in the form of amyloid plaques and the intracellular aggregation of a hyperphosphorelated protein tau in the form of neurofibrillary tangles (NFTs) that cause neuroinflammation, synaptic dysfunction, and oxidative stress. The search for pathomechanisms leading to disease onset and progression has identified many key players that include genetic, epigenetic, behavioural, and environmental factors, which lend support to the fact that this is a multi-faceted disease where failure in various systems contributes to disease onset and progression. Although the vast majority of individuals present with the sporadic (non-genetic) form of the disease, dysfunctions in numerous protein-coding and non-coding genes have been implicated in mechanisms contributing to the disease.
  • 925
  • 25 Aug 2023
Topic Review
TAL Effector
TAL (transcription activator-like) effectors (often referred to as TALEs, but not to be confused with the three amino acid loop extension homeobox class of proteins) are proteins secreted by Xanthomonas bacteria via their type III secretion system when they infect various plant species. These proteins can bind promoter sequences in the host plant and activate the expression of plant genes that aid bacterial infection. They recognize plant DNA sequences through a central repeat domain consisting of a variable number of ~34 amino acid repeats. There appears to be a one-to-one correspondence between the identity of two critical amino acids in each repeat and each DNA base in the target sequence. These proteins are interesting to researchers both for their role in disease of important crop species and the relative ease of retargeting them to bind new DNA sequences. Similar proteins can be found in the pathogenic bacterium Ralstonia solanacearum and Burkholderia rhizoxinica., as well as yet unidentified marine microorganisms. The term TALE-likes is used to refer to the putative protein family encompassing the TALEs and these related proteins.
  • 924
  • 08 Nov 2022
Topic Review
Aptamer-Based Probes for Cancer Diagnostics and Treatment
Aptamers are single-stranded DNA or RNA oligomers that have the ability to generate unique and diverse tertiary structures that bind to cognate molecules with high specificity. In recent years, aptamer researches have witnessed a huge surge, owing to its unique properties, such as high specificity and binding affinity, low immunogenicity and toxicity, and simplicity of synthesis with negligible batch-to-batch variation. Aptamers may bind to targets, such as various cancer biomarkers, making them applicable for a wide range of cancer diagnosis and treatment. In cancer diagnostic applications, aptamers are used as molecular probes instead of antibodies.
  • 924
  • 08 Dec 2022
Topic Review
Sphingolipid Homeostasis
Sphingolipids are ubiquitous components of cellular membranes that exert various functions depending on their structural maturation and subcellular localization. Structurally simple sphingolipid precursors, such as ceramides, act as intracellular signaling molecules in many processes, including apoptosis, whereas mature and complex forms of sphingolipids are important structural components of the plasma membrane. Supplying complex sphingolipids to the plasma membrane while simultaneously preventing the accumulation of pro-apoptotic metabolites is essential for cell survival and depends on mechanisms that tightly control sphingolipid synthesis, breakdown, transport, and storage. Sphingolipid homeostasis describes the state of the cell in which the intracellular concentration and distribution of sphingolipids supports survival. 
  • 918
  • 22 Dec 2021
Topic Review
Cellular Differentiation
Across embryonic development to late adulthood, highly regulated cellular differentiation is imperative for proper development and growth, as well as for the maintenance of specialized tissues throughout life. In general, this crucial cellular process underlies organogenesis and tissue regeneration, and its dysregulation or pathological dysfunction may accelerate aging and/or the onset of disease. Furthermore, the effects of cannabinoids on cellular differentiation are seen across a broad variety of tissues, including many peripheral tissues such as muscle, bone, and blood.
  • 917
  • 04 Jul 2023
Topic Review
Parathyroid Hormone-Related Protein
Parathyroid hormone-related protein (PTHrP), classically regarded as the mediator of the humoral hypercalcemia of malignancy syndrome, is a polyhormone that undergoes proteolytic processing into smaller bioactive forms. These bioactive forms comprise an N-terminal-as well as midregion-and C-terminal peptides, which have been shown to regulate various biological events, such as survival, proliferation and differentiation, in diverse cell model systems, both normal and pathological. 
  • 917
  • 12 Jul 2023
Topic Review
Epigenetic Modifications and Carcinogenesis
Epigenetics encompasses a group of dynamic, reversible, and heritable modifications that occur within cells that are independent of gene mutations. These alterations are highly influenced by the environment, from the environment that surrounds the human being to the internal microenvironments located within tissues and cells. The ways that pigenetic modifications promote the initiation of the tumorigenic process have been widely demonstrated. Similarly, it is well known that carcinogenesis is supported and prompted by a strong proinflammatory environment. At the same time, cancer cells can alter their epigenetic profile to generate a positive loop in the promotion of the inflammatory process. Therefore, an in-depth understanding of the epigenetic networks between the tumor microenvironment and cancer cells might highlight new targetable mechanisms that could prevent tumor progression. 
  • 916
  • 16 Mar 2022
Topic Review
Caspase Inhibition Improves Electrotransfer Efficiency
Chimeric antigen receptor (CAR) T cell therapy has been approved to treat patients with various B cell-related tumors, including B-cell precursor acute lymphoblastic leukemia (ALL), diffuse large B-cell lymphoma (DLBCL), primary mediastinal B-cell lymphoma (PMBCL), and high-grade B-cell lymphoma. T cell receptor (TCR) knockout is a critical step in producing universal CAR T cells. A promising approach to achieving the knockout is to deliver the CRISPR/Cas9 system into T cells using electrotransfer technology.
  • 914
  • 27 Sep 2020
Topic Review
Muscle Regeneration and RNA
In skeletal muscle, regeneration is driven by a reservoir of resident progenitors, called satellite cells, able to efficiently replenish damaged muscle [44]. These cells are not present in the adult cardiac muscle, although a regenerative response, mediated by the proliferation of pre-existing cardiomyocytes, occurs in mice during the first week of life [45,46,47]. Temporal and tissue-specific nuances in the process of regeneration may underlie the participation of still unknown protagonists, whose ability to fine-tune myogenic expression becomes critical in both physiological and pathological conditions. The peculiar properties of RNA, along with its tissue specificity, satisfy the requirements for its integration in regenerative networks and will surely pave the way for future applications in medicine.
  • 914
  • 09 Oct 2021
Topic Review
HDL Cholesterol Efflux Capacity
Over the years, the relationship between high-density lipoprotein (HDL) and atherosclerosis, initially highlighted by the Framingham study, has been revealed to be extremely complex, due to the multiple HDL functions involved in atheroprotection. Among them, HDL cholesterol efflux capacity (CEC), the ability of HDL to promote cell cholesterol efflux from cells, has emerged as a better predictor of cardiovascular (CV) risk compared to merely plasma HDL-cholesterol (HDL-C) levels. HDL CEC is impaired in many genetic and pathological conditions associated to high CV risk such as dyslipidemia, chronic kidney disease, diabetes, inflammatory and autoimmune diseases, endocrine disorders, etc. 
  • 913
  • 19 Mar 2021
Topic Review
CD34 Stem Cell Therapy
Ischemia with non-obstructive coronary arteries (INOCA) is an increasingly recognized disease, with a prevalence of 3 to 4 million individuals, and is associated with a higher risk of morbidity, mortality, and a worse quality of life. Persistent angina in many patients with INOCA is due to coronary microvascular dysfunction (CMD), which can be difficult to diagnose and treat. A coronary flow reserve <2.5 is used to diagnose endothelial-independent CMD. Antianginal treatments are often ineffective in endothelial-independent CMD and thus novel treatment modalities are currently being studied for safety and efficacy. CD34+ cell therapy is a promising treatment option for these patients, as it has been shown to promote vascular repair and enhance angiogenesis in the microvasculature. 
  • 913
  • 11 May 2021
Topic Review
Cellular Senescence in Lung Fibrosis
Cellular senescence, one of the hallmarks of aging, is defined as a cellular state of irreversibly arrested proliferation of aged or damaged cells.
  • 912
  • 09 Jul 2021
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