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Topic Review
Biography
Peer Reviewed Entry
Video Entry
Topic Review
Trans-Regulatory KLF14 Gene
Krüpple-Like family of transcription factor-14 (KLF14) is a master trans-regulatory gene that has multiple biological regulatory functions and is involved in many pathological mechanisms. It controls the expressions of several other genes which are involved in multiple regulatory functions.
407
28 Jun 2023
Topic Review
Endothelial-Mesenchymal Transition to Atherosclerosis
Atherosclerosis is a chronic inflammatory process that leads to the thickening of the intimal layer of large- and medium-sized arteries and results in the formation of plaques. It occurs due to an imbalance between lipid breakdown and the immune response, leading to a failure of inflammatory response resolution. The risk factors of atherosclerosis include hypertension, hyperglycemia, obesity, hyperlipidemia, and smoking.
406
12 Nov 2021
Topic Review
SARS-CoV-2 Peptide Vaccines
Several times during the past two decades, epidemic viral diseases created global challenges. Although many solutions have been proposed to deal with this tight spot, it is still believed that public vaccination represents the most effective strategy to handle it. So far, various kinds of vaccines including protein subunits, virus-like particles, inactivated, live attenuated, viral vectors, RNA, and DNA vaccines have been used in the prevention of COVID-19. Among the various categories of vaccines, peptide vaccines have created a new hope for quick and trustworthy access due to the development of proteomics equipment.
405
14 Jul 2023
Topic Review
Therapeutic Indications and Mechanisms of Action in Biologics
The year 2022 witnessed the control of the COVID-19 pandemic in most countries through social and hygiene measures and also vaccination campaigns. It also saw a decrease in total approvals by the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA). Nevertheless, there was no fall in the Biologics class, which was boosted through the authorization of 15 novel molecules, thus maintaining the figures achieved in previous years. Indeed, the decrease in approvals was only for the category of small molecules. Monoclonal antibodies (mAbs) continued to be the drug class with the most approvals, and cancer remained the most targeted disease, followed by autoimmune conditions, as in previous years. Interestingly, the FDA gave the green light to a remarkable number of bispecific Biologics (four), the highest number in recent years. Indeed, 2022 was another year without the approval of an antimicrobial Biologic, although important advancements were made in targeting new diseases, which are discussed herein. This work analyzes the Biologics authorized in 2022. Furthermore, the orphan drugs authorized was considered. A quantitative analysis was applied to this year’s harvest, the efficacy of the Biologics with those authorized in previous years was compared. On the basis of their chemical structure, the Biologics addressed fall into the following classes: monoclonal antibodies; antibody-drug conjugates; and proteins/enzymes.
404
17 May 2023
Topic Review
Strategies for the Appropriateness of Medication Use
The evidence on the effectiveness of strategies and tools to promote and improve medication appropriateness and their sustainability largely derives from local and heterogeneous experiences with contrasting results. As a general framework, three main steps should be considered in implementing measures to improve the appropriateness of medications: prescription, acceptance by the patient, and continuous monitoring of adherence and the risk-benefit profile. Each step needs efforts from specific actors (physicians, patients, caregivers, healthcare professionals) and dedicated supporting tools. Moreover, how to support the appropriateness also strictly depends on the particular care setting (hospital, ambulatory or primary care, nursing home, long-term care) and available economic resources.
401
23 Sep 2022
Topic Review
Osteoporosis in Celiac Disease
Impaired bone mineral density (BMD) is a frequent complication of adult-onset celiac disease (CeD). This is usually due to malabsorption of nutrients, changes in bone metabolism in association with inflammation, and to a lesser extent, decreased overall physical health and mobility. Optimal dietary treatment and an adequate supply of calcium and vitamin D are the cornerstones for the reduction in fracture risk in patients with CeD. In adults with low BMD or fragility fractures, CeD needs to be considered and specifically approached. When osteoporosis is documented, start treatment with an antiresorptive agent; these agents are proven to result in a long-term reduction in fracture risk in high-risk individuals. In patients with persisting diarrhea and malabsorption, parenteral medications may be preferable.
399
28 Nov 2022
Topic Review
Multifaceted Potential of Sulforaphane
Sulforaphane (SFN) is a naturally occurring compound found in cruciferous vegetables such as broccoli and cauliflower. It has been widely studied for its potential as a neuroprotective and anticancer agent. SFN has been shown to exert neuroprotective effects through the activation of the Nrf2 pathway, the modulation of neuroinflammation, and epigenetic mechanisms. In cancer treatment, SFN has demonstrated the ability to selectively induce cell death in cancer cells, inhibit histone deacetylase, and sensitize cancer cells to chemotherapy. SFN has also shown chemoprotective properties through inhibiting phase I metabolizing enzymes, modulating phase II xenobiotic-metabolizing enzymes, and targeting cancer stem cells.
396
18 Dec 2023
Topic Review
Advances in Aptamers-Based Applications in Breast Cancer
Aptamers are synthetic single-stranded oligonucleotides (such as RNA and DNA) evolved in vitro using Systematic Evolution of Ligands through Exponential enrichment (SELEX) techniques. Aptamers are evolved to have high affinity and specificity to targets; hence, they have a great potential for use in therapeutics as delivery agents and/or in treatment strategies. Aptamers can be chemically synthesized and modified in a cost-effective manner and are easy to hybridize to a variety of nano-particles and other agents which has paved a way for targeted therapy and diagnostics applications such as in breast tumors.
395
02 Dec 2022
Topic Review
Paclitaxel in Bioinspired Nanosystems for Targeted Delivery
Taxanes are a class of diterpenes originally isolated from plants of the yew family (Taxaceae). An intriguing alternative to natural vesicles is represented by bioinspired extracellular vesicle (EV)-like nanoparticles (NPs), for example exosomes (EXOs) obtained from a serial extrusion process of a parent cell membrane suspension through decreasing pore size membranes or from hybridization of EXOs and liposome membranes.
394
18 May 2023
Topic Review
Biologic Functions of Hydroxychloroquine in Disease
Chloroquine (CQ) and Hydroxychloroquine (HCQ), initially utilized in the treatment of malaria, have developed a long list of applications. Despite their clinical relevance, their mechanisms of action are not clearly defined. Major pathways by which these agents are proposed to function include alkalinization of lysosomes and endosomes, downregulation of C-X-C chemokine receptor type 4 (CXCR4) expression, high-mobility group box 1 protein (HMGB1) inhibition, alteration of intracellular calcium, and prevention of thrombus formation.
393
09 Dec 2022
Topic Review
Seaweed Sulfated Polysaccharides
Seaweed sulfated polysaccharides (PSs) has wide therapeutic potential, including anticoagulant, thrombolytic, and fibrinolytic activities, opens up new possibilities for their study in experimental and clinical trials. These natural compounds can be important complementary drugs for the recovery from hemostasis disorders due to their natural origin, safety, and low cost compared to synthetic drugs.
391
07 May 2021
Topic Review
Therapeutic Cancer Vaccines
Vaccines have played a significant role in protecting public and personal health against infectious diseases and proved their great potential in battling cancers as well.
389
20 Jul 2022
Topic Review
Drug Therapies for Diabetes
The treatment of type 2 diabetes (T2D) necessitates a multifaceted approach that combines behavioral and pharmacological interventions to mitigate complications and sustain a high quality of life. Treatment encompasses the management of glucose levels, weight, cardiovascular risk factors, comorbidities, and associated complications through medication and lifestyle adjustments. Metformin, a standard in diabetes management, continues to serve as the primary, first-line oral treatment across all age groups due to its efficacy, versatility in combination therapy, and cost-effectiveness. Glucagon-like peptide-1 receptor agonists (GLP-1 RA) offer notable benefits for HbA1c and weight reduction, with significant cardiovascular benefits. Sodium-glucose cotransporter inhibitors (SGLT-2i) lower glucose levels independently of insulin while conferring notable benefits for cardiovascular, renal, and heart-failure outcomes. Combined therapies emphasizing early and sustained glycemic control are promising options for diabetes management. As insulin therapy remains pivotal, metformin and non-insulin agents such as GLP-1 RA and SGLT-2i offer compelling options. Notably, exciting novel treatments like the dual GLP-1/ glucose-dependent insulinotropic polypeptide (GIP) agonist show promise for substantially reducing glycated hemoglobin and body weight.
386
03 Jan 2024
Topic Review
Autophagy in Uveal Melanoma
Autophagy is a form of programmed cell degradation that enables the maintenance of homeostasis in response to extracellular stress stimuli. Autophagy is primarily activated by starvation and mediates the degradation, removal, or recycling of cell cytoplasm, organelles, and intracellular components in eukaryotic cells. Autophagy is also involved in the pathogenesis of human diseases, including several cancers. Autophagy mechanisms and mediators have emerged as promising therapeutic targets that could be used to develop new treatment options for uveal melanoma (UM).
385
28 Feb 2024
Topic Review
Golimumab Therapy for the Treatment of Psoriatic Arthritis
Psoriatic arthritis is a chronic debilitating autoimmune condition, and when diagnosed in patients before the age of eighteen, it is considered pediatric polyarticular juvenile idiopathic arthritis. Juvenile idiopathic arthritis is an umbrella term used to describe different inflammatory arthropathies that are diagnosed in children under the age of sixteen with symptoms lasting at least six weeks. Psoriatic arthritis differs from other arthropathies, particularly in its cutaneous involvement. The disease can be monoarticular or polyarticular, but a few distinguishing characteristics include radiographic findings of the “pencil-in-cup deformity” and scaly, white skin lesions that often bleed when scratched.
383
26 Jul 2023
Topic Review
Diet-Induced Insulin Resistance
Insulin resistance (IR) is defined as the decreased ability of insulin to insert the glucose transporter (glut4) on the cell membrane facilitating glucose entry into body cells. IR in the hepatocytes is associated with increased de novo lipogenesis and gluconeogenesis, leading to hypertriglyceridemia and hyperglycemia.
382
06 Nov 2023
Topic Review
Pharmacological Activities of Betulin
Betulin is a natural triterpene, usually from birch bark, known for its potential wound-healing properties. Betulin has protective effects against cardiovascular and liver diseases, cancer, diabetes, oxidative stress, and inflammation. It reduces postprandial hyperglycemia by inhibiting α-amylase and α-glucosidase activity, combats tumor cells by inducing apoptosis and inhibiting metastatic proteins, and modulates chronic inflammation by blocking the expression of proinflammatory cytokines via modulation of the NFκB and MAPKs pathways.
382
25 Jul 2023
Topic Review
Fluorescence Microscopy Techniques and DDS
In the latest years, fluorescence microscopy-related techniques have exhibited continuous developments and progresses, both from technical and applicative perspectives, holding the promise to provide unprecedented tools for drug delivery research.We have revised the major fluorescence microscopy-related experimental techniques available for the characterization of drug delivery systems (DDS)from static and dynamic points of view in different media, with a particular focus on the investigation within biological environments and in vivo. Indeed, the opportunities provided by fluorescence microscopy-related techniques to disentangle scientific issues typical of drug delivery research (spanning from the colloidal characterization of a DDS to its adhesion to biological membranes, its interaction with biomolecules, and its intracellular behavior) are countless and exponentially growing, allowing for the expectation that in the next few years the development of completely new tools and protocols will truly advance drug delivery research.
380
22 Jun 2021
Topic Review
Risk of Adverse Drug Reactions in Elderly Population
The European Medicine Agency (EMA) has defined Adverse Drug Reactions (ADRs) as “a noxious and unintended response to a medicine”, not including poisoning, accidental, or intentional overdoses. The ADR occurrence differs based on the approach adopted for defining and detecting them, the characteristics of the population under study, and the research setting. ADRs have a significant impact on morbidity and mortality, particularly among older adults, and represent a financial burden for health services.
378
09 Nov 2023
Topic Review
Methods for DDIs Mediated by Renal Transporters
Drug–drug interactions (DDIs) are a key issue in clinical rational administration and post-marketing pharmacovigilance. Since the 1980s, with the development of molecular biology, the study of renal transporters has made rapid progress. The exploration of these transporters has helped to improve drug safety and efficacy, played an important role in understanding drug toxicity and DDIs, and also provided a theoretical basis for improving drug targeting. Regarding renal transporters, researchers and drug discovery scientists have studied a lot in the field of their mediated DDIs, from traditional models to recent biomarker methods and in silico models.
377
21 Jul 2023
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