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Topic Review
Cannabis and Cannabinoids for Treatment of Cancer
Cancer is a disease which affects approximately 40% of people in their lifetime. Chemotherapy, the primary choice for treatment of cancer, is often ineffective or/and presents itself with many debilitating side effects, including loss of appetite, nausea, insomnia, and anxiety. Components of cannabis extracts, including cannabinoids and terpenes, may present an alternative for controlling side effects and may be used for tumor shrinkage together with chemodrugs. Cannabinoids act on so called endocannabinoid system (ECS) that operates in human body to maintain homeostasis. ECS promotes healthy development of tissues and regulates many processes in our organism and when disbalanced may lead to disease, including cancer. 
  • 1.2K
  • 25 Oct 2022
Topic Review
Radiolabeled Gold Nanoseeds and Glioblastoma Multiforme
Glioblastoma multiforme (GBM), classified as a grade IV brain tumor, represents the most frequent brain tumor, accounting for approximately 12–15% of all intracranial neoplasms. Current therapeutic strategies for GBM rely on open surgery, chemotherapy and radiotherapy. Despite some progress in the past 30 years, the overall survival of patients with glioblastoma remains extremely poor. The average lifespan is approximately 15 months after diagnosis, with most patients experiencing tumor relapse and outgrowth within 7–10 months of initial radiation therapy.
  • 1.2K
  • 14 Jan 2022
Topic Review
Heme-Copper Oxidases with Nitrite and Nitric Oxide
Nitrite and nitric oxide (NO), two active and critical nitrogen oxides linking nitrate to dinitrogen gas in the broad nitrogen biogeochemical cycle, are capable of interacting with redox-sensitive proteins. The interactions of both with heme-copper oxidases (HCOs) serve as the foundation not only for the enzymatic interconversion of nitrogen oxides but also for the inhibitory activity.
  • 1.2K
  • 26 Jan 2022
Topic Review
5-10-Methylenetetrahydrofolate Reductase
The 5-10-methylenetetrahydrofolate reductase (MTHFR) enzyme is vital for cellular homeostasis due to its key functions in the one-carbon cycle, which include methionine and folate metabolism, and protein, DNA, and RNA synthesis. 
  • 1.2K
  • 14 Feb 2022
Topic Review
PROteolysis TArgeting Chimeras-Based Antiviral Strategies
The PROteolysis TArgeting Chimeras (PROTAC), a technology for targeted protein degradation, relies on using heterobifunctional molecules to recruit intracellular protein degradation machinery to the intracellular target protein of interest. This chemically-induced proximity between protein degradation machinery and the target POI results in polyubiquitylation and proteasomal degradation of the target protein. Despite the field of PROTAC technology being relatively new, PROTACs have found wide applications not just as a technical tool but also as a therapeutic approach for infectious and non-infectious diseases, including cancer and neurodegenerative diseases.
  • 1.2K
  • 10 May 2023
Topic Review
Extracellular Vesicles Based Drug Delivery
Extracellular vesicles (EVs) play major roles in intracellular communication and participate in several biological functions in both normal and pathological conditions. Surface modification of EVs via various ligands, such as proteins, peptides, or aptamers, offers great potential as a means to achieve targeted delivery of therapeutic cargo, i.e., in drug delivery systems (DDS). This study summarizes recent studies pertaining to the development of EV-based DDS and its advantages compared to conventional nano drug delivery systems (NDDS). 
  • 1.2K
  • 30 Mar 2021
Topic Review
Glycosaminoglycans in Cancer Therapy
The tumor microenvironment (TME) is composed of cancerous, non-cancerous, stromal, and immune cells that are surrounded by the components of the extracellular matrix (ECM). Glycosaminoglycans (GAGs), natural biomacromolecules, essential ECM, and cell membrane components are extensively altered in cancer tissues. During disease progression, the GAG fine structure changes in a manner associated with disease evolution. Thus, changes in the GAG sulfation pattern are immediately correlated to malignant transformation. Their molecular weight, distribution, composition, and fine modifications, including sulfation, exhibit distinct alterations during cancer development. GAGs and GAG-based molecules, due to their unique properties, are suggested as promising effectors for anticancer therapy. Considering their participation in tumorigenesis, their utilization in drug development has been the focus of both industry and academic research efforts. These efforts have been developing in two main directions; (i) utilizing GAGs as targets of therapeutic strategies and (ii) employing GAGs specificity and excellent physicochemical properties for targeted delivery of cancer therapeutics.
  • 1.2K
  • 24 Mar 2021
Topic Review
Curved Lipid Membranes
Eukaryotic cells contain membranes with various curvatures, from the near-plane plasma membrane to the highly curved membranes of organelles, vesicles, and membrane protrusions. These curvatures are generated and sustained by curvature-inducing proteins, peptides, and lipids, and describing these mechanisms is an important scientific challenge. In addition to that, some molecules can sense membrane curvature and thereby be trafficked to specific locations. 
  • 1.2K
  • 08 Aug 2022
Topic Review
SNARE Genes in Brassica napus
SNAREs (soluble N-ethylmaleimide-sensitive factor attachment protein receptors) are central components that drive membrane fusion events during exocytosis and endocytosis and play important roles in the different biological processes of plants.
  • 1.2K
  • 05 May 2022
Topic Review
Plant Kunitz Inhibitors and Their Interaction with Proteases
Plant Kunitz inhibitors generally exhibit highly conserved primary structures. These inhibitors usually have a reactive site located in the region that binds to the enzyme, and the formation of the enzyme–inhibitor complex occurs in 1:1 stoichiometry. Their reactive sites are frequently composed of Arg and Lys; they may occasionally contain Glu, Ala, or Val.
  • 1.2K
  • 13 May 2022
Topic Review
Cholinesterase Modeling and Simulation
The cholinesterase enzyme family has but two members: acetylcholinesterase (AChE) and butyrylcholinesterase (BChE).  Computational efforts to better understand these enzymes, with a focus on their structural and catalytic properties and dynamics, includes docking and other Monte Carlo based calculations, as well as dynamic simulations of varying rigor and resource-demand including molecular dynamics, Langevin dynamics, quantum mechanical/molecular mechanics, and related algorithms. 
  • 1.1K
  • 21 Apr 2021
Topic Review
Diagnosis of Hepatocellular Carcinoma
There are several risk factors of HCC such as viral hepatitis (B, C), cirrhosis, tobacco and alcohol use, aflatoxin-contaminated food, pesticides, diabetes, obesity, nonalcoholic fatty liver disease (NAFLD), and metabolic and genetic diseases. Diagnosis of HCC is based on different methods such as imaging ultrasonography (US), multiphasic enhanced computed tomography (CT), magnetic resonance imaging (MRI), and several diagnostic biomarkers.
  • 1.1K
  • 17 Jul 2023
Topic Review
Electrospinning Proteins for Wound Healing
In recent years, there has been a growing interest for electrospun polymeric wound dressings with fiber diameters in the nano- and micrometer range. Such wound dressings display a number of properties, which support and accelerate wound healing. For instance, they provide physical and mechanical protection, exhibit a high surface area, allow gas exchange, are cytocompatible and biodegradable, resemble the structure of the native extracellular matrix, and deliver antibacterial agents locally into the wound.
  • 1.1K
  • 22 Feb 2021
Topic Review
Thrombospondin-1 CD47 Signalling
Recent advances provide evidence that the cellular signalling pathway comprising the ligand-receptor duo of thrombospondin-1 (TSP1) and CD47 is involved in mediating a range of diseases affecting renal, vascular, and metabolic function, as well as cancer. In several instances, research has barely progressed past pre-clinical animal models of disease and early phase 1 clinical trials, while for cancers, anti-CD47 therapy has emerged from phase 2 clinical trials in humans as a crucial adjuvant therapeutic agent. This has important implications for interventions that seek to capitalize on targeting this pathway in diseases where TSP1 and/or CD47 play a role. Despite substantial progress made in our understanding of this pathway in malignant and cardiovascular disease, knowledge and translational gaps remain regarding the role of this pathway in kidney and metabolic diseases, limiting identification of putative drug targets and development of effective treatments. This review considers recent advances reported in the field of TSP1-CD47 signalling, focusing on several aspects including enzymatic production, receptor function, interacting partners, localization of signalling, matrix-cellular and cell-to-cell cross talk. The potential impact that these newly described mechanisms have on health, with a particular focus on renal and metabolic disease, is also discussed.
  • 1.1K
  • 02 Jul 2021
Topic Review
PVT1: novel colorectal cancer biomarker
Colorectal cancer is a very deadly disease with a current lack of a reliable biomarker for early detection, non-invasive diagnosis, treatment, prognostication, and monitoring of treatment. This entry provides information that indicates that PVT1 is a novel biomarker in colorectal cancer. Further research is required to establish how this knowledge can be used for clinical applications.
  • 1.1K
  • 04 Aug 2020
Topic Review
Tumour Immune Microenvironment
Targeting altered tumour metabolism is an emerging therapeutic strategy for cancer treatment. The metabolic reprogramming that accompanies the development of malignancy creates targetable differences between cancer cells and normal cells, which may be exploited for therapy. In this entry, we focus on the metabolic dysregulation exerted by tumour cells on the immune microenvironment, leading to tumour immunosuppression. This metabolic rewiring and crosstalk with the tumour microenvironment also play a key role in cell proliferation, metastasis, and the development of treatment resistance. Nonetheless, greater understanding of the metabolic crosstalk presents strategies that aid in the precision targeting of altered tumour metabolism, including therapeutic strategies combining metabolic inhibition with immunotherapy.
  • 1.1K
  • 09 Dec 2020
Topic Review
The Main Protease of SARS-CoV-2 and its inhibitors
Mpro, also known as 3-chymotrypsin-like protease (3CLpro), is a 33.8 kDa, three-domain cysteine protease, essential for proteolytic maturation and viral replication of coronaviruses. This enzyme is an excellent target for a potential drug, as it is essential for viral replication and has no closely related homologues in humans, making its inhibitors unlikely to be toxic. 
  • 1.1K
  • 08 Aug 2022
Topic Review
Value-Added Polyhydroxyalkanoates
The synthesis of polyhydroxyalkanoates (PHAs), a bioplastic that can be used to replace traditional (petrol-based) plastics, is an important focus in today’s politically and environmentally conscious society. 
  • 1.1K
  • 19 Sep 2022
Topic Review
Mitochondrial Aging and Natural Products with Protective Potential
It was found that mitochondrial activity decreases with aging and that degeneration is linked to the reductions in mitochondria, mRNA transcripts, protein expression, and mtDNA and increased oxidative stress. In particular, reduced protein synthesis hinders protein turnover. The inability to replace damaged proteins may explain why aging is related to reduced mitochondrial function. Mitochondria, the cellular organelles that produce most of the ATP, become dysfunctional during aging. This condition is coupled with inflammation, oxidative stress, and reduced cellular functionalities in every organ. Numerous genes have been linked to aging, with some favoring it (gerontogenes) and others blocking it (genes of longevity pathways). The desire for eternal youth is a constant in the history of humanity. The increased life expectancy in industrialized countries has unfortunately also led to a significant increase in the incidence of age-related diseases (ARDs) such as neurodegenerative diseases, diabetes, cardiovascular diseases, and cancers.
  • 1.1K
  • 27 Dec 2022
Topic Review
Gestational Factors Throughout Fetal Neurodevelopment
Serotonin (5-HT) is a critical player in brain development and neuropsychiatric disorders. Fetal 5-HT levels can be influenced by several gestational factors, such as maternal genotype, diet, stress, medication, and immune activation. In this review, addressing both human and animal studies, we discuss how these gestational factors affect placental and fetal brain 5-HT levels, leading to changes in brain structure and function and behavior. We conclude that gestational factors are able to interact and thereby amplify or counteract each other’s impact on the fetal 5-HT-ergic system. We, therefore, argue that beyond the understanding of how single gestational factors affect 5-HT-ergic brain development and behavior in offspring, it is critical to elucidate the consequences of interacting factors. Moreover, we describe how each gestational factor is able to alter the 5-HT-ergic influence on the thalamocortical- and prefrontal-limbic circuitry and the hypothalamo-pituitary-adrenocortical-axis. These alterations have been associated with risks to develop attention deficit hyperactivity disorder, autism spectrum disorders, depression, and/or anxiety. Consequently, the manipulation of gestational factors may be used to combat pregnancy-related risks for neuropsychiatric disorders.
  • 1.1K
  • 27 Oct 2020
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