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Topic Review
Sensogenomics and the Biological Background Underlying Musical Stimuli
The impact of musical stimulus in the human genome opens a new era of research. We hereby introduce and develop the term Sensogenomics, referring to the still unexplored field of research focused on the response of our genome to sensorial stimuli.
  • 1.8K
  • 21 Jan 2022
Topic Review
Molecular Analyses for Ancient Parchment Documentary Materials
A new trend is molecular analysis, which has given rise to the emerging field of biocodicology, comprising protein and DNA analysis for the identification of the biological origin of the skins used for their manufacture. In addition, DNA analysis can identify the microbiome present in the object under investigation, which adds value by providing information on its history and state of preservation. 
  • 1.8K
  • 01 Nov 2022
Topic Review
Bowmouth Guitarfish
The bowmouth guitarfish (Rhina ancylostoma), also called the shark ray or mud skate, is a species of ray and a member of the family Rhinidae. Its evolutionary affinities are not fully resolved, though it may be related to true guitarfishes and skates. This rare species occurs widely in the tropical coastal waters of the western Indo-Pacific, at depths of up to 90 m (300 ft). Highly distinctive in appearance, the bowmouth guitarfish has a wide and thick body with a rounded snout and large shark-like dorsal and tail fins. Its mouth forms a W-shaped undulating line, and there are multiple thorny ridges over its head and back. It has a dorsal color pattern of many white spots over a bluish gray to brown background, with a pair of prominent black markings over the pectoral fins. This large species can reach a length of 2.7 m (8.9 ft) and weight of 135 kg (298 lb). Usually found near the sea floor, the bowmouth guitarfish prefers sandy or muddy areas near underwater structures. It is a strong-swimming predator of bony fishes, crustaceans, and molluscs. This species gives live birth to litters of two to eleven pups, which are nourished during gestation by yolk. The International Union for Conservation of Nature (IUCN) has assessed the bowmouth guitarfish as Vulnerable because it is widely caught by artisanal and commercial fisheries for its valuable fins and meat. It is viewed as a nuisance by trawlers, however, because its bulk and thorny skin cause it to damage netted catches. Habitat degradation and destruction pose an additional, significant challenge to this ray's survival. The bowmouth guitarfish adapts well to captivity and is displayed in public aquariums.
  • 1.8K
  • 09 Nov 2022
Topic Review Peer Reviewed
β-Glucans
β-glucans are complex polysaccharides that are found in several plants and foods, including mushrooms. β-glucans display an array of potentially therapeutic properties.
  • 1.8K
  • 13 Apr 2022
Topic Review
Non-Coding RNAs and Hereditary Hemorrhagic Telangiectasia
Non-coding RNAs (ncRNAs) are functional ribonucleic acid (RNA) species that include microRNAs (miRs), a class of short non-coding RNAs (∼21–25 nucleotides), and long non-coding RNAs (lncRNAs) consisting of more than 200 nucleotides. They regulate gene expression post-transcriptionally and are involved in a wide range of pathophysiological processes. Hereditary hemorrhagic telangiectasia (HHT) is a rare disorder inherited in an autosomal dominant fashion characterized by vascular dysplasia. Patients can develop life-threatening vascular malformations and experience severe hemorrhaging.
  • 1.8K
  • 05 Nov 2021
Topic Review
Potential Usage of Edible Mushrooms
Currently, the food and agricultural sectors are concerned about environmental problems caused by raw material waste, and they are looking for strategies to reduce the growing amount of waste disposal. Now, approaches are being explored that could increment and provide value-added products from agricultural waste to contribute to the circular economy and environmental protection. Edible mushrooms have been globally appreciated for their medicinal properties and nutritional value, but during the mushroom production process nearly one-fifth of the mushroom gets wasted. Therefore, improper disposal of mushrooms and untreated residues can cause fungal disease. The residues of edible mushrooms, being rich in sterols, vitamin D2, amino acids, and polysaccharides, among others, makes it underutilized waste. Most of the published literature has primarily focused on the isolation of bioactive components of these edible mushrooms; however, utilization of waste or edible mushrooms themselves, for the production of value-added products, has remained an overlooked area. Waste of edible mushrooms also represents a disposal problem, but they are a rich source of important compounds, owing to their nutritional and functional properties. Researchers have started exploiting edible mushroom by-products/waste for value-added goods with applications in diverse fields. Bioactive compounds obtained from edible mushrooms are being used in media production and skincare formulations. Furthermore, diverse applications from edible mushrooms are also being explored, including the synthesis of biosorbent, biochar, edible films/coating, probiotics, nanoparticles and cosmetic products. 
  • 1.7K
  • 08 Jun 2021
Topic Review
Chlorophytum tuberosum
Chlorophytum tuberosum (C. tuberosum) belongs to the family Liliaceae and is being used in the indigenous systems of medicine as a galactagogue, aphrodisiac, antitumor, immunomodulatory, antidiabetic, analgesic, anti-inflammatory, hypolipidemic, anti-ageing, antimicrobial, etc. 
  • 1.7K
  • 11 Apr 2023
Topic Review
SDSA DNA Repair Mechanism
DNA repair mechanisms include nucleotide pool sanitization (nucleotide pool sanitization), direct repair (DR), base excision repair (BER), nucleotide excision repair (NER), mismatch repair (MMR), homologous recombination repair ( HRR) and non-homologous end joining (NHEJ).  The mechanism of action of ssODN-directed gene editing has been a topic of discussion within the field of CRISPR gene editing since its inception. Multiple comparable, but distinct, pathways have been discovered for DNA repair both with and without a repair template oligonucleotide.
  • 1.7K
  • 06 May 2021
Topic Review
Doxorubicin-Induced Cardiomyopathy
Germline mutations in Breast cancer susceptibility genes 1 and 2 (BRCA1 and BRCA2) cause breast, ovarian, and other cancers, and the chemotherapeutic drug doxorubicin (Dox) is widely used to treat these cancers. Dox use is limited by the latent induction of severe cardiotoxicity known as Dox-induced cardiomyopathy, for which there are no specific treatments currently available. Dox is administered into the systemic circulation, where it readily translocates into sub-cellular compartments and disrupts the integrity of DNA.
  • 1.7K
  • 01 Feb 2024
Topic Review
Duckweeds for Remediating Water Contaminated with Organic Compounds
Tiny aquatic plants from the Lemnaceae family, commonly known as duckweeds, are often regarded as detrimental to the environment because of their ability to quickly populate and cover the surfaces of bodies of water. Due to their rapid vegetative propagation, duckweeds have one of the fastest growth rates among flowering plants and can accumulate large amounts of biomass in relatively short time periods. Due to the high yield of valuable biomass and ease of harvest, duckweeds can be used as feedstock for biofuels, animal feed, and other applications. Thanks to their efficient absorption of nitrogen- and phosphate-containing pollutants, duckweeds play an important role in the restorative ecology of water reservoirs. The global distribution of duckweeds and their tolerance of ammonia, heavy metals, other pollutants, and stresses are the major factors highlighting their potential for use in purifying agricultural, municipal, and some industrial wastewater. In summary, duckweeds are a powerful tool for bioremediation that can reduce anthropogenic pollution in aquatic ecosystems and prevent water eutrophication in a simple, inexpensive ecologically friendly way.
  • 1.7K
  • 06 May 2023
Topic Review
Blood Markers in Human Colorectal Cancer
Cancer is a predominant cause of mortality all over the world. Lung, prostate, and colorectal cancer are the more frequent in men while breast and colorectal have a high incidence in women. Major progress aside, some cancers are still frequent and one major issue is improvements in detection methods. Imaging techniques have a major role, but inflammatory, tumoral markers and calculated scores may contribute to the assessment of prognosis. The erythrocyte sedimentation rate (ESR), C-reactive protein (CRP), and carcinoembryonic antigen cell adhesion molecule (CEACAM) have been used for decades and do not have a clear use for diagnosis or prognosis yet. The CEACAM family includes 12 human members, and some of them have a cluster differentiation (CD). CD66 may be an interesting indicator of disease severity. Beside interleukin-6 (IL-6), the high level of which is observed in patients with a high mortality rate, other cytokines IL-17A, IL-22, and transforming growth factor -β (TGF-β) are expressed at the tumor level. The detection of circulating tumor cells has been improved but is still of undetermined value. Circulating tumor DNA (ctDNA) was recently studied in CRC stage II patients and may be helpful for chemotherapy management.
  • 1.7K
  • 15 Nov 2022
Topic Review
Proteomics in Forensic Analysis
Proteomics is in the early stages of development for forensic applications. It has been used in forensics for identification of tissue and body fluid, identification and quantification of protein toxins, human individualization, detection of protein drugs and hormones in sports, and estimation of post-mortem intervals.
  • 1.7K
  • 19 Apr 2021
Topic Review
Integration of Light and Brassinosteroid Signaling
Light and brassinosteroid (BR) are external stimuli and internal cue respectively, that both play critical roles in a wide range of developmental and physiological process. Seedlings grown in the light exhibit photomorphogenesis, while BR promotes seedling etiolation. Light and BR oppositely control the development switch from skotomorphogenesis in the dark to photomorphogenesis in the light. Recent progress report that substantial components have been identified as hubs to integrate light and BR signals. Photomorphogenic repressors including COP1, PIFs, and AGB1 have been reported to elevate BR response, while photomorphogenesis-promoting factors such as HY5, BZS1, and NF-YCs have been proven to repress BR signal. 
  • 1.7K
  • 21 Dec 2021
Topic Review
Role of Lycopene in Benign Urologic Conditions
Benign prostatic hyperplasia (BPH) is a proliferative disorder of the prostate gland arising from its epithelial cells and smooth muscle within the transitional zone. Prostatitis is a common urologic condition that in 1999 was subdivided into four categories—acute bacterial prostatitis, chronic bacterial prostatitis, chronic non-bacterial prostatitis/chronic pelvic pain syndrome (CPPS), and asymptomatic inflammatory prostatitis. Urinary tract infection (UTI) is one of the most common bacterial infections affecting women. Benign prostatic hyperplasia, urolithiasis, recurrent urinary tract infections, and chronic prostatitis are diseases that are commonly diagnosed worldwide. Carotenoids, including lycopene, are widely available in fruits and vegetables, and it is postulated that they can be used in the prevention and treatment of benign urological conditions. 
  • 1.7K
  • 14 Mar 2022
Topic Review
Emerita (Genus)
Emerita is a small genus of decapod crustaceans, known as sand crabs, sand bugs, sand fleas, or mole crabs. These small animals burrow in the sand in the swash zone and use their antennae for filter feeding.
  • 1.7K
  • 31 Oct 2022
Topic Review
Spermatogonial Stem Cells in Fish
Spermatogenesis is a continuous and dynamic developmental process, in which a single diploid spermatogonial stem cell (SSC) proliferates and differentiates to form a mature spermatozoon. Herein, we summarize the accumulated knowledge of SSCs and their distribution in the testes of teleosts.
  • 1.7K
  • 10 Jun 2021
Topic Review
Satellite DNA
Repetitive DNA is a major organizational component of eukaryotic genomes, being intrinsically related with their architecture and evolution. Tandemly repeated satellite DNAs (satDNAs) can be found clustered in specific heterochromatin-rich chromosomal regions, building vital structures like functional centromeres and also dispersed within euchromatin. Interestingly, despite their association to critical chromosomal structures, satDNAs are widely variable among species due to their high turnover rates. This dynamic behavior has been associated with genome plasticity and chromosome rearrangements, leading to the reshaping of genomes.
  • 1.7K
  • 19 Jul 2021
Topic Review
Brown Macroalgae
Brown macroalgae (class Phaeophyceae) are a group of multicellular algae that usually occupy relatively deep waters preferentially from the sub-polar to equatorial regions and are characterized by the presence of fucoxanthin, a carotenoid pigment responsible for their brownish color, and laminarin, their main storage product. Phylogenetically, they are placed in the Kingdom Chromista and Phylum Ochrophyta, comprising aproximately 2000 documented species of which less than 5% grow in freshwater habitats. Morphologically, this class exhibit a great diversity, varying from groups of threadlike cells with few centimeters (Ectocarpus) to giant kelps such as Macrocystis, which are the largest seaweeds known, capable of growing for more than 100 m long, and are responsible for the formation of dense underwater communities known as kelp forests. Others such as Sargassum natans and Sargassum fluitans are pelagic species, i.e., free-floating species, that form a massive floating ecosystem known as the Sargasso Sea. As the original source of Iodine, discovered in 1811 by Bernard Courtois, brown macroalgae used to be an important feedstock for the exploitation of this mineral. Nowadays they still hold a great economical value as an important source of alginate, a hydrocolloid with gelling properties used for multiple industrial applications, particularly in foods as thikening and stabilizing agent. Several species are also considered edible and eaten as sea vegetables worldwide, with special focus in East Asia, and some are used as fertilizers and animal feed.
  • 1.7K
  • 24 Aug 2021
Topic Review
Glutathione System from Cyanobacteria to Higher Eukaryotes
From bacteria to plants and humans, the glutathione system plays a pleiotropic role in cell defense against metabolic, oxidative and metal stresses. Glutathione (GSH), the γ-L-glutamyl-L-cysteinyl-glycine nucleophile tri-peptide, is the central player of this system that acts in redox homeostasis, detoxification and iron metabolism in most living organisms. GSH directly scavenges diverse reactive oxygen species (ROS), such as singlet oxygen, superoxide anion, hydrogen peroxide, hydroxyl radical, nitric oxide and carbon radicals. It also serves as a cofactor for various enzymes, such as glutaredoxins (Grxs), glutathione peroxidases (Gpxs), glutathione reductase (GR) and glutathione-S-transferases (GSTs), which play crucial roles in cell detoxication.
  • 1.7K
  • 08 Jun 2023
Topic Review
Single-Molecule Localization Microscopy
Super-resolution microscopy (SRM) achieves sub-diffraction limited resolution by either deterministic or stochastic time-controlled emission of fluorescence from only a subset of fluorophores from the total fluorophore population in the specimen. Single-molecule localization microscopy (SMLM) allows for the visualization of individual fluorophores at the level of individual molecules based on the temporal separation of individual fluorescent molecules. This relatively simple principle allows for the detection at subsequent time intervals of a sparse subset of well-separated fluorophores and reconstruction of a final super-resolved image from the localization of the centers of the fluorophores.
  • 1.7K
  • 11 Jul 2021
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