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Topic Review
Links between Protein O-GlcNAcylation and Inflammatory Disease
Unresolved hyperglycaemia, a hallmark of type 2 diabetes mellitus (T2DM), is a well characterised manifestation of altered fuel homeostasis and our understanding of its role in the pathologic activation of the inflammatory system continues to grow. Metabolic disorders like T2DM trigger changes in the regulation of key cellular processes such as cell trafficking and proliferation, and manifest as chronic inflammatory disorders with severe long-term consequences. Activation of inflammatory pathways has recently emerged as a critical link between T2DM and inflammation. The hexosamine biosynthetic pathway(HBP), a unique nutrient-sensing metabolic pathway, produces the activated amino sugar UDP-GlcNAc which is a critical substrate for protein O-GlcNAcylation, a dynamic, reversible post-translational glycosylation of serine and threonine residues in target proteins. Protein O-GlcNAcylation impacts a range of cellular processes, including inflammation, metabolism, trafficking, and cytoskeletal organisation.
  • 1.0K
  • 11 Mar 2022
Topic Review
Alt a 1 Protein Family in Phylogenetic-Related Alternaria
Alternaria is a genus of worldwide fungi found in different habitats such as soil, the atmosphere, plants or indoor environments. Alternaria species are saprobic—largely involved in the decomposition of organic material—but they can also act as animal pathogens, causing disease in humans and animals, developing infections, toxicosis and allergic diseases. A. alternata is considered one of the most important sources of fungal allergens worldwide and it is associated with severe asthma and respiratory status. In fact,  Alt a 1, the main allergen of A. alternata, is an important marker for assessing the risk factor and severity of allergic respiratory disease. Another role of Alt a 1, from a evolutionary point of view, would be to define a family of proteins that would allow establishing taxonomic relationships between different fungal divisions. Finally, Alt a 1 has been shown to be a very useful marker for the identification of pathogenic molds contaminating plants and fruits.
  • 1.0K
  • 28 Apr 2022
Topic Review
Aeroterrestrial and Extremophilic Microalgae as Sources in Cosmetics
Microscopic prokaryotic and eukaryotic algae (microalgae), which can be effectively grown in mass cultures, are gaining increasing interest in cosmetics. Up to now, the main attention was on aquatic algae, while species from aeroterrestrial and extreme environments remained underestimated. In these habitats, algae accumulate high amounts of some chemical substances or develop specific compounds, which cause them to thrive in inimical conditions. Among such biologically active molecules is a large family of lipids, which are significant constituents in living organisms and valuable ingredients in cosmetic formulations. Therefore, natural sources of lipids are increasingly in demand in the modern cosmetic industry and its innovative technologies. Among novelties in skin care products is the use of lipid nanoparticles as carriers of dermatologically active ingredients, which enhance their penetration and release in the skin strata. 
  • 1.0K
  • 29 Mar 2022
Topic Review
Inhibition of the IL-4 Cytokine Pathway for Asthma
Allergies are a worldwide issue, with approximately 20% of the global population suffering from allergy-caused symptoms including rashes (atopic dermatitis), runny nose (allergic rhinitis), and life-threatening breathing problems (allergy-induced asthma).
  • 999
  • 11 Jan 2022
Topic Review
Paraoxonase-1 and Chemokine Ligand 2
Infectious and many non-infectious diseases share common molecular mechanisms. Among them, oxidative stress and the subsequent inflammatory reaction are of particular note. Metabolic disorders induced by external agents, be they bacterial or viral pathogens, excessive calorie intake, poor-quality nutrients, or environmental factors produce an imbalance between the production of free radicals and endogenous antioxidant systems; the consequence being the oxidation of lipids, proteins, and nucleic acids. Oxidation and inflammation are closely related, and whether oxidative stress and inflammation represent the causes or consequences of cellular pathology, both produce metabolic alterations that influence the pathogenesis of the disease. In this entry, authors highlight two key molecules in the regulation of these processes: Paraoxonase-1 (PON1) and chemokine (C-C motif) ligand 2 (CCL2). 
  • 994
  • 09 Jul 2021
Topic Review
Resistance and Cross-Resistance of Chlorhexidine
Chlorohexidine (CHX) is a widely used biocide in clinical and household settings. Studies have reported CHX resistance in different bacterial species, but at concentrations well below those used in the clinical setting. Synthesis of these findings is hampered by the inconsistent compliance with standard laboratory procedures for biocide susceptibility testing. Meanwhile, studies of in vitro CHX-adapted bacteria have reported cross-resistance between CHX and other antimicrobials. This could be related to common resistance mechanisms of CHX and other antimicrobials and/or the selective pressure driven by the intensive use of CHX. Importantly, CHX resistance and cross-resistance to antimicrobials should be investigated in clinical as well as environmental isolates to further understanding of the role of CHX in selection of multidrug resistance. Whilst clinical studies to support the hypothesis of CHX cross-resistance with antibiotics are currently lacking, researchers recommend raising the awareness of healthcare providers in a range of clinical disciplines regarding the potential adverse impact of the unfettered use of CHX on tackling antimicrobial resistance.
  • 994
  • 06 May 2023
Topic Review
Genetic and Epigenetic of Pediatric Acute Lymphoblastic Leukemia
Acute lymphoblastic leukemia is the most common malignancy in children and is characterized by numerous genetic and epigenetic abnormalities. Epigenetic mechanisms, including DNA methylations and histone modifications, result in the heritable silencing of genes without a change in their coding sequence. 
  • 989
  • 14 Jan 2022
Topic Review
Misdiagnosis of SARS-CoV-2
SARS-CoV-2 has been the biggest pandemic since the influenza outbreak of 1918-1919. One of the biggest differences during the COVID-19 pandemic, in comparison to 1918-1919, has been the ability to rapidly test and diagnose the presence of the virus within patients and the general public. As with every testing regime, there is always going to be false negatives and misdiagnoses. The aim of this critical review was to assess the factors contributing to misdiagnosis of COVID-19 by examining sample types, diagnostic methods and by looking at asymptomatic versus symptomatic patients. It was found that a combination of detection methods such as the additional use of a computer tomography scan may help in reducing the level of false negatives in both symptomatic and asymptomatic patients. It was concluded that sputum and oral throat-washing samples should take precedence over swabbing where possible, while sample pooling should be used for widespread screening within the general population. The novel Oxford antibody assay was found to have the highest sensitivity and specificity of all commercially available kits, but should only be used within a specific timeframe to avoid misdiagnosis. Similarly, sample collection time and test method can greatly affect the outcome of the diagnostic method being conducted.
  • 984
  • 24 Jun 2021
Topic Review
Molecular Diagnosis of Colorectal Cancer by Biomarkers
Colorectal cancer (CRC) is a serious disease that affects millions of people throughout the world, despite considerable advances in therapy. The formation of colorectal adenomas and invasive adenocarcinomas is the consequence of a succession of genetic and epigenetic changes in the normal colonic epithelium. Genetic and epigenetic processes associated with the onset, development, and metastasis of sporadic CRC have been studied in depth, resulting in identifying biomarkers that might be used to predict behaviour and prognosis beyond staging and influence therapeutic options. A novel biomarker, or a group of biomarkers, must be discovered in order to build an accurate and clinically useful test that may be used as an alternative to conventional methods for the early detection of CRC and to identify prospective new therapeutic intervention targets. To minimise the mortality burden of colorectal cancer, new screening methods with higher accuracy and nano-based diagnostic precision are needed. 
  • 982
  • 25 Jan 2022
Topic Review
Vascular Complications of Diabetes Mellitus
Diabetes mellitus is a comprehensive expression to identify a condition of chronic hyperglycemia whose causes derive from different metabolic disorders characterized by altered insulin secretion or faulty insulin effect on its targets or often both mechanisms . Atherosclerosis (ATS) is the most frequent cause of arterial vasculopathy and is undoubtedly an insidious condition: it is unlikely to be the trigger in coronary artery disease, ischemic stroke, and peripheral artery disease (PAD) on its own; instead, it acts together with other chronic degenerative diseases such as arterial hypertension and diabetes mellitus to constitute the physiopathological basis of cardio- and cerebrovascular accidents.
  • 978
  • 03 Mar 2022
Topic Review
Autophagy in Cisplatin Nephrotoxicity
Cisplatin is a potent chemotherapy drug used for the treatment of various types of tumors, but it has remarkable side effects or toxicity in normal tissues. The kidney is highly vulnerable to cisplatin toxicity due to the accumulation of cisplatin in renal tubule cells. Acute kidney injury occurs in 20–30% of patients and manifests as kidney cell death, tissue damage, rapid loss of renal function or renal failure, and even death.
  • 977
  • 24 Nov 2021
Topic Review
Lung Cancer Immunotherapy
Lung cancer is one of the most deadly of solid cancers. Advanced lung cancer is a prevalent disease with high mortality and low response to conventional cytotoxic therapies. Lung cancer is classified into different histological types, such as adenocarcinoma, squamous cell carcinoma, large cell carcinoma (commonly referred to as non-small cell lung cancer (NSCLC)), and small cell lung cancer (SCLC), and the treatment strategy varies depending on the histological type, as well as the degree of progression.
  • 969
  • 21 Oct 2021
Topic Review
Molecules Used to Prevent Nasal Polyp Recurrences
Chronic rhinosinusitis with nasal polyps (CRSwNP) is the most bothersome phenotype of chronic rhinosinusitis, which is typically characterized by a Type 2 inflammatory reaction, comorbidities and high rates of nasal polyp recurrence, causing severe impact on quality of life. Nasal polyp recurrence rates, defined as the number of patients undergoing revision endoscopic sinus surgery, are 20% within a 5 year period after surgery. The cornerstone of CRSwNP management consists of anti-inflammatory treatment with local corticosteroids. The therapeutic strategies used to prevent nasal polyp recurrence (NPR) after surgical treatment are discussed. 
  • 969
  • 22 May 2023
Topic Review
Thymic Stromal Lymphopoietin, Its Receptors and Molecular Interactions
Thymic stromal lymphopoietin (TSLP) is a pleiotropic cytokine that has emerged as a critical player in the development and progression of allergy and asthma. It is primarily produced by epithelial cells and functions as a potent immune system activator.
  • 964
  • 01 Sep 2023
Topic Review
Monoclonal Antibodies and JAK-Inhibitors for Type 2 Inflammation
Bronchial asthma and its frequent comorbidity chronic rhinosinusitis (CRS), are characterized by an inflammatory process at lower and upper respiratory tract, with a variability in terms of clinical presentations (phenotypes) and distinct underpin pathophysiological mechanisms (endotypes). Based on the characteristics of inflammation, bronchial asthma can be distinguished into type 2 (eosinophilic) or nontype 2 (noneosinophilic) endotypes. In type 2 asthma endotype, the pathogenic mechanism is sustained by an inflammatory process driven by Th2 cells, type 2 innate lymphoid cells (ILC2) and type 2 cytokines, which include interleukin (IL)-4, IL-5, IL-9 and IL-13.
  • 963
  • 15 Nov 2021
Topic Review
Pharmacogenetics to Avoid Adverse Reactions in Cardiology
Cardiovascular Diseases (CVs) are one of the main causes of mortality and disability around the world. Advances in drug treatment have greatly improved survival and quality of life in the past decades, but associated adverse events remain a relevant problem. Pharmacogenetics can help individualize cardiovascular treatment, reducing associated toxicities and improving outcomes. Several scientific societies and working groups periodically review available studies and provide consensus recommendations for those gene-drug pairs with a sufficient level of evidence. However, these recommendations are rarely mandatory, and the indications on how to adjust treatment can vary between different guidelines, which limits their clinical applicability. 
  • 961
  • 23 Nov 2021
Topic Review
Multi-Organ Histopathological Changes
Infection with SARS-CoV-2, the virus responsible for the global COVID-19 pandemic, causes a respiratory illness that can severely impact other organ systems and is possibly precipitated by cytokine storm, septic shock, thrombosis, and oxidative stress. SARS-CoV-2 infected individuals may be asymptomatic or may experience mild, moderate, or severe symptoms with or without pneumonia.
  • 959
  • 13 Sep 2021
Topic Review
Cognitive Behavioral Therapy for Migraine Headache
Migraine headaches are chronic neurological diseases that reduce the quality of life by causing severe headaches and autonomic nervous system dysfunction, such as facial flushing, nasal stuffiness, and sweating. Their major treatment methods include medication and cognitive behavioral therapy (CBT). CBT has been used for pain treatment and various psychogenic neurological diseases by reducing pain, disability, and emotional disorders caused by symptoms of mental illness and improving the understanding of mental health.
  • 959
  • 20 Jan 2022
Topic Review
Plasma Exchange in ANCA-Associated Vasculitis
Therapeutic plasma exchange (TPE) is an adjunctive intervention to immunosuppression for the treatment of severe renal involvement or lung hemorrhage in patients with ANCA-associated vasculitis (AAV). The potential pathogenicity of ANCA makes TPE a reasonable treatment approach for the life-threatening complications of AAV.  The largest clinical trial to date, PEXIVAS, failed to demonstrate a clear benefit for TPE in severe AAV. The role of TPE remains controversial across the medical vasculitis community.
  • 957
  • 19 Nov 2021
Topic Review
Invasive Infections and Probiotics Uses in Children
According to the revised definition of the International Scientific Association for Probiotics and Prebiotics (ISAPP), probiotics are “live microorganisms that when administered in adequate amounts, confer a health benefit on the host”. During the last two decades, interest in probiotic supplements that modify the microbiota to confer health benefits has been growing, leading to the widespread use of many different types of probiotics in both community and healthcare settings.
  • 956
  • 01 Nov 2021
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