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Topic Review
Pathophysiological Implications of Interstitial Cajal-like Cells in Uterus
The main function of interstitial cells of Cajal (ICCs) is to regulate gastrointestinal peristalsis by acting as a “pacemaker” cell by generating spontaneous slow electrical waves. In 2005, electron microscopy revealed a cell type similar to ICCs (ICC-like) outside the gastrointestinal tract, with contractile activity and c-Kit+ immunohistochemistry shared with ICCs. Among the locations where ICC-like cells have been observed, it is in the uterus where they have a significant functional and pathophysiological role. These cells are involved in obstetric phenomena of contractile action, such as ascending sperm transport, embryo implantation, pregnancy, delivery, and the expulsion of menstrual debris. 
  • 1.1K
  • 22 Sep 2023
Topic Review
Microglial Potassium Channels: From Homeostasis to Neurodegeneration
The growing interest in the role of microglia in the progression of many neurodegenerative diseases is developing in an ever-expedited manner, in part thanks to emergent new tools for studying the morphological and functional features of the CNS. The discovery of specific biomarkers of the microglia phenotype could find application in a wide range of human diseases, and creates opportunities for the discovery and development of tailored therapeutic interventions. 
  • 1.1K
  • 21 Dec 2021
Topic Review
Bioactive Factors in Human Breastmilk
Maternal milk, a complex fluid with several bioactive factors, is the best option for the newborn. Its dynamic composition is influenced by diverse factors such as maternal age, lactation period, and health status. 
  • 1.1K
  • 11 Aug 2022
Topic Review
Effects of Melatonin on Diabetic Neuropathy and Retinopathy
Diabetes mellitus (DM) leads to complications, including neuropathy. Redox imbalance and inflammation are important components of the pathophysiology of these complications. Many studies have investigated the therapeutic potential of melatonin (MEL), an anti-inflammatory and antioxidant agent, for the specific treatment of the neural complications. In the present entry, we review studies published over the past 21 years on the therapeutic efficacy of MEL in the treatment of DM-induced neural complications. Reports suggest that there is a real prospect of using MEL as an adjuvant treatment for hypoglycemic agents.
  • 1.1K
  • 19 Apr 2022
Topic Review
Involvement of Bcl-2 Family Proteins in Tetraploidization-Related Senescence
The B-cell lymphoma 2 (Bcl-2) family of proteins is the main regulator of apoptosis. However, multiple emerging evidence has revealed that Bcl-2 family proteins are also involved in cellular senescence. On the one hand, the different expression of these proteins determines the entry into senescence. On the other hand, entry into senescence modulates the expression of these proteins, generally conferring resistance to apoptosis. With some exceptions, senescent cells are characterized by the upregulation of antiapoptotic proteins and downregulation of proapoptotic proteins. Under physiological conditions, freshly formed tetraploid cells die by apoptosis due to the tetraploidy checkpoint. However, suppression of Bcl-2 associated x protein (Bax), as well as overexpression of Bcl-2, favors the appearance and survival of tetraploid cells.
  • 1.1K
  • 17 Apr 2023
Topic Review
Plasticity in Subcortical Visual Areas
Visual plasticity is classically considered to occur essentially in the primary and secondary cortical areas. Subcortical visual areas such as the dorsal lateral geniculate nucleus (dLGN) or the superior colliculus (SC) have long been held as basic structures responsible for a stable and defined function. In this model, the dLGN was considered as a relay of visual information travelling from the retina to cortical areas and the SC as a sensory integrator orienting body movements towards visual targets. However, recent findings suggest that both dLGN and SC neurons express functional plasticity, adding unexplored layers of complexity to their previously attributed functions. The existence of neuronal plasticity at the level of visual subcortical areas redefines our approach of the visual system.
  • 1.0K
  • 22 Nov 2021
Topic Review
Pancreatic Cancer Treatment by Nab-Paclitaxel with Gemcitabine Combination
Pancreatic cancer has one of the highest mortality rates among cancers, and a combination of nab-paclitaxel with gemcitabine remains the cornerstone of first-line therapy. Nab-paclitaxel with gemcitabine in combination with other therapeutic agents can be new treatment strategies in pancreatic cancer. Seven therapeutic agents (ibrutinib, necuparanib, tarextumab, apatorsen, cisplatin, enzalutamide, and momelotinib) are found. 
  • 1.0K
  • 01 Mar 2022
Topic Review
Ependymal Dysfunctions in the Pathogenesis of Neurodegenerative Diseases
The neuron loss caused by the progressive damage to the nervous system is proposed to be the main pathogenesis of neurodegenerative diseases. Ependyma is a layer of ciliated ependymal cells that participates in the formation of the brain-cerebrospinal fluid barrier (BCB). However, as the protective barrier lining the brain ventricles, the ependyma is extremely vulnerable to cytotoxic and cytolytic immune responses. When the ependyma is damaged, the integrity of BCB is destroyed, and the cerebrospinal fluid (CSF)flow and material exchange is affected, leading to brain microenvironment imbalance, which plays a vital role in the pathogenesis of neurodegenerative diseases.
  • 1.0K
  • 06 May 2023
Topic Review
Exercise as a Peripheral Circadian Clock Resynchronizer
Circadian rhythms involve biological rhythms that work by the interaction of several exogenous and endogenous factors, which together influence behavior, physiology, and metabolic processes in order to maintain homeostasis. The suprachiasmatic nucleus (SCN), together with other autonomous clocks, present in virtually all cells of the body, is responsible for controlling the central and peripheral circadian rhythm. However, the so-called synchronizers (also known as “zeitgebers”), such as external factors, can influence the functioning of these rhythms. The main synchronizer for SCN is the light–dark cycle that, through the retinohypothalamic tract, provides information to the SCN, which, by means of neurohumoral signaling and core body temperature oscillating, leads to the synchronization of peripheral clocks. However, there are also non-photic synchronizers such as food, physical activity, and stress.
  • 1.0K
  • 06 Jan 2022
Topic Review
Store-Operated Calcium Entry in Cancer Stem Cells
Store-Operated Calcium Entry (SOCE), a major mechanism for Ca2+influx from the extracellular medium into excitable and non-excitable cells, is physiologically triggered by the activation of phospholipase C (PLC) and the production of IP3, which subsequently leads to the release of Ca2+from intracellular stores, mainly the ER, resulting in the activation of store-operated calcium channels in the plasma membrane and a rapid increase in cytosolic Ca2+concentration. SOCE is an extremely complex biological mechanism, with high dependency on the pattern of expression of its components-STIMs, Orai, and TRPC proteins- and its modulators in each cell type. Since the last decades of the 20th century, several studies, both in vivo and in vitro, have reported that an altered expression pattern of the proteins that mediate SOCE leads to unbalanced Ca2+homeostasis, which might contribute to tumor development, poor prognosis, and chemotherapeutic drug resistance.
  • 1.0K
  • 29 Apr 2022
Topic Review
Inflammation and Platelets
Platelets are the second most abundant blood component after red blood cells and can participate in a variety of physiological and pathological functions. Beyond its traditional role in hemostasis and thrombosis, it also plays an indispensable role in inflammatory diseases.
  • 1.0K
  • 17 Jan 2023
Topic Review
CNPase
As an unconventional PDE, CNPase catalyzes 2′,3′-cyclic nucleotides as substrates [9], which are reported to impair mitochondrial integrity and accelerate the opening of the mitochondrial permeability transition pore (mPTP). As a mitochondrial protein, protein–protein interactions between the functional complexes I–V of the mitochondrial inner membrane and CNPase, leads to the assumption that CNPase might be involved in mitochondrial respiration and energy production.
  • 1.0K
  • 24 Nov 2021
Topic Review
Pathophysiology of Ventricular Tachycardia
The use of catheter-based irreversible electroporation in clinical cardiac laboratories, termed pulsed-field ablation (PFA), is gaining international momentum among cardiac electrophysiology proceduralists for the non-thermal management of both atrial and ventricular tachyrhythmogenic substrates. One area of potential application for PFA is in the mitigation of ventricular tachycardia (VT) risk in the setting of ischemia-mediated myocardial fibrosis, as evidenced by recently published clinical case reports. The efficacy of tissue electroporation has been documented in other branches of science and medicine.
  • 1.0K
  • 18 Jan 2024
Topic Review
Etiology of Peripheral Arterial Disease
Peripheral artery disease (PAD) affects more than 230 million people worldwide. PAD patients suffer from reduced quality of life and are at increased risk of vascular complications and all-cause mortality. Despite its prevalence, impact on quality of life and poor long-term clinical outcomes, PAD remains underdiagnosed and undertreated compared to myocardial infarction and stroke. PAD is due to a combination of macrovascular atherosclerosis and calcification, combined with microvascular rarefaction, leading to chronic peripheral ischemia. Novel therapies are needed to address the increasing incidence of PAD and its difficult long-term pharmacological and surgical management.
  • 996
  • 13 Jun 2023
Topic Review Video
Carbonic Anhydrases in Zebrafish
Zebrafish (Danio rerio) is most important model organism to study different physiological and biological roles of different genes that are relevant to human. The physiological roles performed by carbonic anhydrases (CAs) and carbonic anhydrase related proteins (CARPs) is not an exception to this. The best-known function of CAs is the regulation of acid–base balance. In addition, studies performed with zebrafish, among others, have revealed important roles for these proteins in many other physiological processes, some of which had not yet been predicted in the light of previous studies and suggestions and the roles include such as pigmentation and motor coordination.
  • 979
  • 20 Apr 2022
Topic Review
Membrane Lipids in Fatty Liver Disease
Obesity has reached global epidemic proportions and it affects the development of insulin resistance, type 2 diabetes, fatty liver disease and other metabolic diseases. Membrane lipids are important structural and signaling components of the cell membrane.
  • 978
  • 21 Apr 2022
Topic Review
Exercise Mitigates Pathological Liver Changes
Exercise attenuates pathological changes in the liver induced by high-fat diets. The underlying mechanisms might be related to Nuclear factor erythroid-2-related factor 2 (NRF2) and mediated by SIRT1/AMPK signaling. 
  • 976
  • 29 Mar 2022
Topic Review
Calcium Sources to Somatic Release of Serotonin
The soma, dendrites and axon of neurons may display calcium-dependent release of transmitters and peptides. Such release is named extrasynaptic for occurring in absence of synaptic structures. Emphasis is given to the somatic release of serotonin by the classical leech Retzius neuron, which has allowed detailed studies on the fine steps from excitation to exocytosis. Trains of action potentials induce transmembrane calcium entry through L-type channels. For action potential frequencies above 5 Hz, summation of calcium transients on individual action potentials activates the second calcium source: ryanodine receptors produce calcium-induced calcium release. The resulting calcium tsunami activates mitochondrial ATP synthesis to fuel transport of vesicles to the plasma membrane. Serotonin that is released maintains a large-scale exocytosis by activating the third calcium source: serotonin autoreceptors coupled to phospholipase C promote IP3 production. Activated IP3 receptors in peripheral endoplasmic reticulum release calcium that promotes vesicle fusion. The Swiss-clock workings of the machinery for somatic exocytosis has a striking disadvantage. The essential calcium-releasing endoplasmic reticulum near the plasma membrane hinders the vesicle transport, drastically reducing the thermodynamic efficiency of the ATP expenses and elevating the energy cost of release. 
  • 975
  • 09 Feb 2022
Topic Review
Subclinical Acute Kidney Injury in Patients with COVID-19
Since the outbreak of COVID-19 disease, a bidirectional interaction between kidney disease and the progression of COVID-19 has been demonstrated. Kidney disease is an independent risk factor for mortality of patients with COVID-19 as well as severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2) infection leading to the development of acute kidney injury (AKI) and chronic kidney disease (CKD) in patients with COVID-19. However, the detection of kidney damage in patients with COVID-19 may not occur until an advanced stage based on the current clinical blood and urinary examinations. Some studies have pointed out the development of subclinical acute kidney injury (subAKI) syndrome with COVID-19. This syndrome is characterized by significant tubule interstitial injury without changes in the estimated glomerular filtration rate. Despite the complexity of the mechanism(s) underlying the development of subAKI, the involvement of changes in the protein endocytosis machinery in proximal tubule (PT) epithelial cells (PTECs) has been proposed.
  • 970
  • 29 Nov 2022
Topic Review
Lipid Adaptations in Healthy Adult Human Brain
Lipids are a diverse and ubiquitous group of compounds with key roles in cell physiology. The multiplicity in lipid functions is achieved by the diversity in the structures of lipid molecules. At least six lipid adaptations against oxidative challenge in the healthy human brain can be discerned.
  • 969
  • 17 Jan 2023
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