Topic Review
Galectin-3 in Cardiovascular Diseases
Galectin-3 (Gal-3) belongs to a lectin family, acting as a galactoside-binding protein involved in many biological processes, such as controlling cell–cell and cell–matrix interactions, adhesion, proliferation, apoptosis, pre-mRNA splicing, immunity and inflammation.
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  • 22 Dec 2020
Topic Review
Advanced Hydrogels as Wound Dressings
Skin is the largest organ of the human body, protecting it against the external environment. Despite high self-regeneration potential, severe skin defects will not heal spontaneously and need to be covered by skin substitutes. Tremendous progress has been made in the field of skin tissue engineering, in recent years, to develop new skin substitutes. Among them, hydrogels are one of the candidates with most potential to mimic the native skin microenvironment, due to their porous and hydrated molecular structure. They can be applied as a permanent or temporary dressing for different wounds to support the regeneration and healing of the injured epidermis, dermis, or both. Based on the material used for their fabrication, hydrogels can be subdivided into two main groups—natural and synthetic. Moreover, hydrogels can be reinforced by incorporating nanoparticles to obtain “in situ” hybrid hydrogels, showing superior properties and tailored functionality. In addition, different sensors can be embedded in hydrogel wound dressings to provide real-time information about the wound environment. This review focuses on the most recent developments in the field of hydrogel-based skin substitutes for skin replacement. In particular, we discuss the synthesis, fabrication, and biomedical application of novel “smart” hydrogels.
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  • 31 Aug 2020
Topic Review
Mucopolysaccharidosis-Plus Syndrome
Mucopolysaccharidosis-plus syndrome (MPSPS) is a novel disease of impaired glycosaminoglycans (GAGs) metabolism without deficiency of known lysosomal enzymes. MPSPS, whose pathophysiology is not elucidated, is an autosomal recessive multisystem disorder caused by a specific mutation p.R498W in the VPS33A gene. Clinical features of MPSPS patients are similar to conventional mucopolysaccharidoses (MPS). In addition to typical symptoms for conventional MPS, MPSPS patients developed other features such as congenital heart defects, renal and hematopoietic disorders. Diagnosis generally requires evidence of clinical picture similar to MPS and molecular genetic testing. Disease is very severe, prognosis is unfavorable and most of patients died at age of 10–20 months. Currently there is no specific therapy for this disease and clinical management is limited to supportive and symptomatic treatment.
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  • 31 Jul 2020
Topic Review Peer Reviewed
Cultures of Spalting
Wood decayed and colored by fungi, colloquially known as ‘spalted wood’, has been a source of art and folklore across numerous cultures. From intarsia and marquetry in Italy and Germany to woodturning in the U.S. and carving and mythology in Chile, the uses of, and stories about, spalted wood are explored, as well as how those have shaped their surrounding cultures as well as modern science. 
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  • 26 Jul 2022
Topic Review
Spondylocostal Dysostosis (SCDO)
Spondylocostal dysostosis (SCDO) is a rare heritable congenital condition, characterized by multiple severe malformations of the vertebrae and ribs.
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  • 18 Mar 2021
Topic Review
Eye Diseases Associated with Oral Pathogens
Even before the advancement of sophisticated molecular biology techniques, eye diseases were regarded as manifestations of infections in the mouth. A few of the ancient studies interrelated the resolution of the given disease upon elimination of oral sepsis by extraction of the infected teeth. In this context, bacteria and or their toxic metabolites and reflex nervous irritation were considered to be the crucial factors. In successive years, the concept of “oral foci of infection” lost its attention. Nonetheless, there are many studies successively acknowledged periodontitis as a risk factor in the pathogenesis of assorted inflammatory eye diseases including scleritis, iritis, glaucoma, diabetic retinopathy (DR), uveitis, retinitis pigmentosa (RP), and Sjogren syndrome (SS).
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  • 27 Jun 2022
Topic Review
Cyanobacteria
Cyanobacteria (blue-green microalgae) are ubiquitous, Gram-negative photoautotrophic prokaryotes. They are considered as one of the most efficient sources of bioactive secondary metabolites.
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  • 15 Jan 2021
Topic Review
Wearable Optical Sensor
Miniaturization advances have led to several wearable sensors that are now being employed in a variety of biomedical applications. Some of these have been ingrained in people’s daily lives. Smart bands and smartwatches with pulse monitors, pulse oximeters, accelerometers, gyroscopes, and other sensors are one example.
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  • 28 Jan 2022
Topic Review
Colorado Potato Beetle Control
The Colorado potato beetle (CPB) is one of the most important potato pest worldwide. It is native to U.S. but during the 20th century it has dispersed through Europe, Asia and western China. It continues to expand in an east and southeast direction. Damages are caused by larvae and adults. Their feeding on potato plant leaves can cause complete defoliation and lead to a large yield loss. After the long period of using only chemical control measures, the emergence of resistance increased and some new and different methods come to the fore. The main focus of this entry is on new approaches to the old CPB control problem. We describe the use of Bacillus thuringiensis and RNA interference (RNAi) as possible solutions for the future in CPB management. RNAi has proven successful in controlling many pests and shows great potential for CPB control. Better understanding of the mechanisms that affect efficiency will enable the development of this technology and boost potential of RNAi to become part of integrated plant protection in the future. We described also the possibility of using single nucleotide polymorphisms (SNPs) as a way to go deeper into our understanding of resistance and how it influences genotypes.
  • 1.4K
  • 20 Sep 2020
Topic Review
Mitochondria
Mitochondria are energy-producing structures and the main site for aerobic respiration in cells, and are therefore called the “powerhouse of the cell”.
  • 1.4K
  • 14 Apr 2023
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