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Topic Review
Biography
Topic Review
The Role of Uric Acid in Human Health
Uric acid is the final product of purine metabolism and is converted to allantoin in most mammals via the uricase enzyme. The accumulation of loss of function mutations in the uricase gene rendered hominoids (apes and humans) to have higher urate concentrations compared to other mammals. The loss of human uricase activity may have allowed humans to survive environmental stressors, evolution bottlenecks, and life-threatening pathogens. While high urate levels may contribute to developing gout and cardiometabolic disorders such as hypertension and insulin resistance, low urate levels may increase the risk for neurodegenerative diseases. The double-edged sword effect of uric acid has resurrected a growing interest in urate’s antioxidant role and the uricase enzyme’s role in modulating the risk of obesity.
583
13 Oct 2023
Topic Review
The Role of the Complement System in HUS
Hemolytic uremic syndrome (HUS) is an acute disease and the most common cause of childhood acute renal failure. HUS is characterized by a triad of symptoms: microangiopathic hemolytic anemia, thrombocytopenia, and acute kidney injury. In most of the cases, HUS occurs as a result of infection caused by Shiga toxin-producing microbes: hemorrhagic Escherichia coli and Shigella dysenteriae type 1. They account for up to 90% of all cases of HUS. The remaining 10% of cases grouped under the general term atypical HUS represent a heterogeneous group of diseases with similar clinical signs. Emerging evidence suggests that in addition to E. coli and S. dysenteriae type 1, a variety of bacterial and viral infections can cause the development of HUS. In particular, infectious diseases act as the main cause of aHUS recurrence. The pathogenesis of most cases of atypical HUS is based on congenital or acquired defects of complement system.
166
22 Jan 2024
Topic Review
The Role of Sphingomyelin in Motor Neuron Diseases
Amyotrophic Lateral Sclerosis (ALS), Spinal Bulbar Muscular Atrophy (SBMA), and Spinal Muscular Atrophy (SMA) are motor neuron diseases (MNDs) characterised by progressive motor neuron degeneration, weakness and muscular atrophy. Lipid dysregulation is well recognised in each of these conditions and occurs prior to neurodegeneration. Several lipid markers have been shown to predict prognosis in ALS. Sphingolipids are complex lipids enriched in the central nervous system and are integral to key cellular functions including membrane stability and signalling pathways, as well as being mediators of neuroinflammation and neurodegeneration.
728
04 Oct 2022
Topic Review
The Role of Seaweed in Aquaculture Production
Seaweed, also known as macroalgae, represents a vast resource that can be categorized into three taxonomic groups: Rhodophyta (red), Chlorophyta (green), and Phaeophyceae (brown). They are a good source of essential nutrients such as proteins, minerals, vitamins, and omega-3 fatty acids. Seaweed also contains a wide range of functional metabolites, including polyphenols, polysaccharides, and pigments. The nutritional and functional properties of seaweed attest to their potential to be incorporated into aquafeed to safeguard fish growth and health as the global demand for fish and seafood products rapidly increases.
579
14 Dec 2023
Topic Review
The Role of Polysaccharide in Treating Neurodegenerative Disorders
The prevalence of neurodegenerative pathologies increases significantly with growing life expectancy. Neurodegenerative diseases including common diseases such as Alzheimer’s disease (AD) and Parkinson’s disease (PD) impose a global public health burden. In this context, natural products could play a leading role in the search for new drugs for the treatment of neurodegeneration. Of note, more than 80 percent of drugs are of natural origin. Natural polysaccharides (general formula of Cx(H2O)y; where x is number 200_2500) occurs naturally in living matter (on the contrary to polysaccharides combined artificially in the process of organic synthesis) and principally play structural and storage functions. Natural polysaccharides can be classified according to their origin, namely plants (e.g., starch, cellulose), algae (e.g., agar, alginates), animals (e.g., chitin, hyaluronic acid), bacteria (e.g., dextran, polylactosamine), and fungal (e.g., chitosan, elsinan). As one of the most widely distributed biomolecules in nature, natural polysaccharides have received considerable attention because of their diverse pharmacological activity as inhibitors of cellular processes, with their antioxidant, anticoagulant, antithrombotic and anticancer effects.
545
09 Feb 2022
Topic Review
The Role of Polyploidy in the Human Body
Somatic polyploidy was found in the tissues of all multicellular organisms (including algae, mosses, lichens, vascular plants, invertebrates, and vertebrates), which points to its adaptive value. In human and warm-blooded animals, polyploidy can be a part of normal postnatal morphogenetic programs and can be a manifestation of response to pathological stimuli and diseases.
1.2K
11 Apr 2022
Topic Review
The Role of Phytoplankton in Carbon Dioxide Fixation
Marine phytoplankton account for more than half of the carbon dioxide fixation of Earth. The export of carbon is highest at the photic zone of the ocean, which is dominated by phytoplankton. The term phytoplankton comes from the Greek words phyto (plants) and plankton (wanderers or drifters). Plankton can also be zooplanktons that feed on phytoplankton and release fecal pellets that are made of dissolved carbon particles.
2.1K
13 Apr 2022
Topic Review
The Role of Outer Membrane Vesicles against Bacteria
Gram-negative bacteria are resistant to many commercialized antibiotics. The outer membrane (OM) of Gram-negative bacteria prevents the entry of such antibiotics. Outer membrane vesicles (OMV) are naturally released from the OM of Gram-negative bacteria for a range of purposes, including competition with other bacteria. OMV may carry, as part of the membrane or lumen, molecules with antibacterial activity. Such OMV can be exposed to and can fuse with the cell surface of different bacterial species.
550
07 Feb 2023
Topic Review
The Role of Mitochondria in Extracellular Trap Formation
Granulocytes (neutrophils, eosinophils, and basophils) are the most abundant circulating cells in the innate immune system. Circulating granulocytes, primarily neutrophils, can cross the endothelial barrier and activate various effector mechanisms to combat invasive pathogens. Eosinophils and basophils also play an important role in allergic reactions and antiparasitic defense. Granulocytes also regulate the immune response, wound healing, and tissue repair by releasing of various cytokines and lipid mediators. The effector mechanisms of granulocytes include the production of reactive oxygen species (ROS), degranulation, phagocytosis, and the formation of DNA-containing extracellular traps.
394
09 Oct 2023
Topic Review
The Role of MicroRNAs in Ruminants
One of the most prosperous subspecies of terrestrial mammals is the ruminant family. They live in a wide range of diverse environments around the world and have a big impact on various ecosystems, industries including agriculture, leisure activities, and cultures. MicroRNAs perform essential functions in a variety of biological processes, including differentiation, cell proliferation, metabolism, development, and inflammation. Numerous studies have demonstrated a connection between circulating microRNAs and ruminant diseases such as mastitis, tuberculosis, foot-and-mouth disease, fasciolosis, and metabolic disorders.
322
20 Feb 2023
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