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Topic Review
Sparganosis
Sparganosis is a parasitic infection caused by the plerocercoid larvae of the genus Spirometra including S. mansoni, S. ranarum, S. mansonoides and S. erinacei. It was first described by Patrick Manson from China in 1882, and the first human case was reported by Charles Wardell Stiles from Florida in 1908. The infection is transmitted by ingestion of contaminated water, ingestion of a second intermediate host such as a frog or snake, or contact between a second intermediate host and an open wound or mucous membrane. Humans are the accidental hosts in the life cycle, while dogs, cats, and other mammals are definitive hosts. Copepods (freshwater crustaceans) are the first intermediate hosts, and various amphibians and reptiles are second intermediate hosts. Once a human becomes infected, the plerocercoid larvae migrate to a subcutaneous location, where they typically develop into a painful nodule. Migration to the brain results in cerebral sparganosis, while migration to the eyes results in ocular sparganosis. Sparganosis is most prevalent in Eastern Asia, although cases have been described in countries throughout the world. In total, approximately 300 cases have been described in the literature up to 2003. Diagnosis is typically not made until the sparganum larva has been surgically removed. Praziquantel is the drug of choice, although its efficacy is unknown and surgical removal of the sparganum is generally the best treatment. Public health interventions should focus on water and dietary sanitation, as well as education about the disease in rural areas and discouragement of the use of poultices.
  • 1.6K
  • 20 Oct 2022
Topic Review
CYP3A in Health and Disease
CYP3A is an enzyme subfamily in the cytochrome P450 (CYP) superfamily and includes isoforms CYP3A4, CYP3A5, CYP3A7, and CYP3A43. CYP3A enzymes are indiscriminate toward substrates and are unique in that these enzymes metabolize both endogenous compounds and diverse xenobiotics. Constitutive regulation of CYP3A4 transcription, both positive and negative, is mediated by hepatocyte nuclear factor 4α (HNF4α) and other hepatic transcription factors. CYP3A4 expression is modulated by various mechanisms involving nuclear receptors, hormones, xenobiotics, and signaling molecules. CYP3A4 is regulated by a large number of xenobiotics, including many drugs, endogenous compounds, and many hormones, such as triiodothyronine, dexamethasone, and growth hormone. Xenobiotic- and endobiotic-mediated CYP3A4 induction is indirect and entails activation of such ligand-dependent nuclear receptors as PXR, CAR, VDR, glucocorticoid receptor (GR) α, estrogen receptor (ER) α, bile acid receptor (farnesoid X receptor; FXR), oxysterol receptor (liver X receptor; LXR), and peroxisome proliferator-activated receptor alpha (PPARα) as well as by binding to the three major cis-acting modules: CLEM4, distal XREM, and prPXRE.
  • 1.6K
  • 14 Nov 2022
Topic Review
Non-Invasive Pulsatile Shear Stress Modifies Endothelial Activation
The luminal surface of all the vasculature and the heart is lined by endothelial cells (EC), encompassing more than 5000 m2. Furthermore, the response of EC to external signals and the synthesis and production of various mediators is heterogeneous and adaptive based on location and signals. EC membranes are the sensing mechanism, responsive to mechanical (shear stress) and biochemical signaling (chemosensor). EC output is important for blood fluidity, coagulation, vasoreactivity, vasculogenesis, barrier function, and inflammation. Endothelial cell activation is the process by which EC changes from a quiescent cell phenotype, which maintains cellular integrity, antithrombotic, and anti-inflammatory properties, to a prothrombotic, pro-inflammatory, and permeable phenotype, also at the site of injury or infection, involved in repair and leukocyte trafficking. Endothelial activation is triggered by a multitude of stimuli that include inflammatory cytokines (interleukins, tumor necrosis factor, and interferon-γ), bacterial endotoxins, and pattern recognition receptor activation (PRR) after recognition of pathogen-associated molecular patterns (PAMP) or damage-associated molecular patterns (DAMP). Pathological activation of EC leads to increased vascular permeability, thrombosis, and an uncontrolled inflammatory response leading to endothelial dysfunction; the latter can be contained at the local level or participate in a more profound systemic response leading to multiorgan dysfunction and death.
  • 1.6K
  • 06 Dec 2022
Topic Review
Zonulin Pathway as a Therapeutic Target
The integrity and thus the function of blood–brain barrier (BBB) TJs play a crucial role in the pathomechanism of neuroinflammatory and neurodegenerative diseases. Previously, it has been suggested that targeting different elements of the zonulin pathway, including actin filaments, TJs, or NF-κB, have potential therapeutic effects on CNS diseases. Indeed, encouraging results are accumulating from a recent preclinical study, using myosin light chain kinase (MLCK) inhibitor ML-7, which attenuates BBB disruption by preventing the disintegration of actin cytoskeletal microfilaments. Similarly, blocking the cleavage of TJ proteins by matrix metalloproteases (MMP) inhibitors, using either direct (broad-spectrum or selective MMP-2 and MMP-9) or indirect inhibitors (COX) has been shown to protect BBB. Peroxisome proliferator-activated receptor-γ (PPAR-γ) agonists, such as rosiglitazone, pioglitazone, or D-allose, also prevented BBB integrity by inhibiting NF-κB activation. Therefore, the use of zonulin inhibitors seems to be justified in the treatment of CNS diseases.
  • 1.6K
  • 04 May 2023
Topic Review
Forest Bathing
Forest bathing was proposed in Japan in 1982 for the purpose of reducing stress and health management, and research on the health promotion and disease prevention effects of forest bathing began in Japan in 2004. Since then, many papers were published and, in 2012, Forest Medicine was established as a new preventive medicine. Imagine a new medical science that could let you know how to be more active, more relaxed, healthier, and happier, with reduced stress and a reduced risk of lifestyle-related diseases. This new medical science is Forest Medicine. Forest Medicine studies the effects of forest environments on human health and is a new interdisciplinary science that belongs to the categories of environmental and preventive medicine.
  • 1.6K
  • 05 Jun 2023
Topic Review
Microalgae in Rheumatoid Arthritis
Rheumatoid arthritis (RA) is an invalidating chronic autoimmune disorder characterized by joint inflammation and progressive bone damage. Dietary intervention is an important component in the treatment of RA to mitigate oxidative stress, a major pathogenic driver of the disease. Alongside traditional sources of antioxidants, microalgae—a diverse group of photosynthetic prokaryotes and eukaryotes—are emerging as anti-inflammatory and immunomodulatory food supplements.
  • 1.6K
  • 12 Dec 2023
Topic Review
Hypertension, Anxiety and Obstructive Sleep Apnea
Increased anxiety in these conditions may be linked to a high-salt diet through stimulation of the sympathetic nervous system, which increases blood pressure while releasing catecholamines, causing a “fight or flight” response. A rostral shift of fluid overload from the lower to the upper body occurs in obstructive sleep apnea associated with COVID-19 and cardiovascular disease, and may be related to sodium and fluid retention triggered by hypertonic dehydration. Chronic activation of the renin-angiotensin-aldosterone system responds to salt-induced dehydration by increasing reabsorption of sodium and fluid, potentially exacerbating fluid overload. Anxiety may also be related to angiotensin II that stimulates the sympathetic nervous system to release catecholamines. 
  • 1.6K
  • 14 Mar 2024
Topic Review
CD146 (MCAM)
CD146 is a cell adhesion molecule expressed on all the vascular tree and belongs to the immunoglobulin superfamily. Two isoforms of CD146 exists, a long isoform expressed at the cell junction and a short isoform located at the apical membrane of the cells. CD146 appears to be critical in regulating vascular permeability, cell-cell cohesion, leukocyte transmigration, and angiogenesis. As a consequence, CD146 is involved in the pathogenesis of various diseases including autoimmune diseases and cancers. Also, CD146 exists in a soluble form generated via the action of matrix metalloproteinases and referred to as soluble CD146 (sCD146). The concentration of sCD146 is quantifiable in the sera and cerebrospinal fluid of healthy individuals. Indeed, any variation in its physiological concentration is associated with certain diseases making it an excellent biomarker for diagnostic purposes.  
  • 1.6K
  • 27 Apr 2021
Topic Review
Low-Cost Thermal Cameras
Thermal imaging is a promising technology in the medical field, in which infrared (IR) sensors can be used in e-health applications. However, in order to make this technology more accessible, the suitability of low-cost devices for such applications has been evaluated. Low-cost sensors present reduced capabilities compared to more expensive high-end devices. Therefore, their characterization is of outmost interest, which is performed in terms of the following parameters: non-uniformity (NU) effects and correction as well as their dependence on room temperature, noise-equivalent temperature difference (NETD), and response curve stability with temperature. In this work, a good performance is shown for the selected low-cost sensor, especially when used in temperature-controlled environments. Thus, the suitability of such sensors for medical applications is confirmed, proving its efficiency for the particular application we are focused on, this is, the assessment of diabetic foot ulcers.
  • 1.6K
  • 29 Oct 2020
Topic Review
Clinical nutrition management of sarcopenia/T2DM utilizing amino acids
Sarcopenia develops over time as a result of aging, and typically leads to muscle loss, a concurrent increase in fat mass, and a variety of health issues leading to an overall poor quality of life. There is some evidence that sarcopenia may be a contributing to the development of type 2 diabetes mellitus (T2DM) in the elderly, and therefore nutritional management is key in the prevention of both sarcopenia and T2DM. The primary focus of nutritional management lays in the amount and quality of protein intake, which has led to the development of clinical nutritional therapies involving amino acids to improve muscle protein synthesis and decrease sarcopenia symptoms. In the work herein, we present and evaluate data derived from human trials regarding the utilization of hydroxyl-methyl butyrate (HMB), L-leucine (Leu), L-glutamine (Gln) and L-arginine (Arg) supplementation for optimal management of sarcopenia in geriatric patients, a topic of significant clinical nutrition interest which may have important implications in T2DM management.
  • 1.6K
  • 29 Oct 2020
Topic Review
Gastroesophageal Adenocarcinoma
The World Health Organization (WHO) classified gastric cancer into tubular, papillary, mucinous, poorly cohesive (including Lauren diffuse type), and mixed variants. 
  • 1.6K
  • 20 Jul 2022
Topic Review
Protein Homeostasis Network in Yeast
The balance of proteins in cells, is proteostasis (protein homeostasis).  While protein balances can be moderated by cell division, in non-dividing cells, with age there is declining proteostasis and the accumulation of deleterious proteins can present as major problems, such as Alzheimer's disease, Parkinson's disease, Huntington's disease, etc. Budding yeast also exhibit ageing and can offer convenient means to discover more about biological pathways involved in proteostasis.  Similarities of yeast and humans mean that yeast can provide valuable insights into multiple pathways of proteostasis, and can be used as a model for analysing drugs that may improve proteostasis and counter age-related decline in neuronal health.
  • 1.6K
  • 17 Nov 2020
Topic Review
Microfluidics
Microfluidics is the advanced microtechnology of fluid manipulation in channels with at least one dimension in the range of 1–100 microns. Microfluidic technology offers a growing number of tools for manipulating small volumes of fluid to control chemical, biological, and physical processes relevant to separation, analysis, and detection.
  • 1.6K
  • 05 Mar 2024
Topic Review
Microbial Electrolysis Cell
Carbon constraints, as well as the growing hazard of greenhouse gas emissions, have accelerated research into all possible renewable energy and fuel sources. Microbial electrolysis cells (MECs), a novel technology able to convert soluble organic matter into energy such as hydrogen gas, represent the most recent breakthrough. 
  • 1.6K
  • 09 Aug 2021
Topic Review
Protein Binding of Benzofuran Derivatives
Benzofuran derivatives are synthetic compounds that are finding an increasing interest in the scientific community not only as building blocks for the realization of new materials, but also as potential drugs thanks to their ability to interact with nucleic acids, interfere with the amyloid peptide aggregation and cancer cell cycle. However, their ability to interact with proteins is a theme still in need of investigation for the therapeutic importance that benzofurans could have in the modulation of protein-driven processes, and for the possibility of making use of serum albumins as benzofurans delivery systems.
  • 1.6K
  • 29 Mar 2022
Topic Review
Assessing Colonial-period Disease Control: Flat Island, Mauritius
Long-distance labor migrations had dire health consequences to both immigrants and host populations. Focusing on the quarantine station on Flat Island, Mauritius, this study analyzes a historical social setting and natural environment that were radically altered due to the implementation of health management.
  • 1.6K
  • 23 May 2022
Topic Review
Artificial Intelligence in Nondestructive Evaluation
Nondestructive evaluation (NDE) techniques are used in many industries to evaluate the properties of components and inspect for flaws and anomalies in structures without altering the part’s integrity or causing damage to the component being tested. This includes monitoring materials’ condition (Material State Awareness (MSA)) and health of structures (Structural Health Monitoring (SHM)). NDE techniques are highly valuable tools to help prevent potential losses and hazards arising from the failure of a component while saving time and cost by not compromising its future usage. On the other hand, Artificial Intelligence (AI) and Machine Learning (ML) techniques are useful tools which can help automating data collection and analyses, providing new insights, and potentially improving detection performance in a quick and low effort manner with great cost savings. 
  • 1.6K
  • 01 Jul 2022
Biography
Ali T. Alouani
The University of Tennessee Knoxville, USA Ph.D. Degree in Electrical & Computer Engineering. (Dec, 1986) Thesis title: Implementation of Nonlinear Centralized Estimators in a Distributed Fashion. Research Areas: Autonomous Systems, Sensor Data Fusion, Medical Diagnosis Support Systems, EV Battery Safety, Smart Grid Monitoring Ecole Nationale d’Ingénieurs de Tunis, Tunisia, Ingénieur Prin
  • 1.6K
  • 11 Nov 2022
Topic Review
Plant Growth and Development of Broccoli
Broccoli (Brassica oleracea L. var. italica Plenck.) is nowadays one of the most important vegetable crops worldwide, with an increasing demand by the market, due to its high nutritional value. From an agronomic point of view, the growth and development of broccoli can be divided into two stages; the first one starting from the transplanting to the onset of the head’s formation, which includes the meristem differentiation from vegetative to reproductive and the second one lasts from the onset of the head’s formation to its harvest. Both stages are strongly dependent on the environmental conditions (temperature, solar radiation, relative humidity, etc.) during cultivation, but each stage responds differently to them, which in turn makes it difficult to predict the effects on crop yield and head quality. 
  • 1.6K
  • 21 Nov 2022
Topic Review
Biological Properties of Flavonoid Quercetin
Quercetin is a dietary flavonoid present in vegetables, fruits, and beverages, such as onions, apples, broccoli, berries, citrus fruits, tea, and red wine. Flavonoids have antioxidant and anti-inflammatory effects, acting in the prevention of several diseases. 
  • 1.6K
  • 27 Feb 2023
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