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Topic Review
Biography
Topic Review
Liquid–Liquid Phase Separation
Liquid–liquid phase separation (LLPS) is a thermodynamically-driven, reversible phenomenon consisting in de-mixing into two distinct liquid phases, with different solute concentrations.
18.7K
17 Sep 2023
Topic Review
Micro RNA in Osteoporosis
Osteoporosis is a major concern worldwide and can be attributed to an imbalance between osteoblastic bone formation and osteoclastic bone resorption due to the natural aging process. Heritable factors account for 60–80% of optimal bone mineralization; however, the finer details of pathogenesis remain to be elucidated. Micro RNA (miRNA) and long-non-coding RNA (lncRNA) are two targets that have recently come into the spotlight due to their ability to control gene expression at the post-transcriptional level and provide epigenetic modification. miRNAs are a class of non-coding RNAs that are approximately 18–25 nucleotides long. It is thought that up to 60% of human protein-coding genes may be regulated by miRNAs. They have been found to regulate gene expression that controls osteoblast-dependent bone formation and osteoclast-related bone remodeling. lncRNAs are highly structured RNA transcripts longer than 200 nucleotides that do not translate into proteins. They have very complex secondary and tertiary structures and the same degradation processes as messenger RNAs. The fact that they have a rapid turnover is due to their sponge function in binding the miRNAs that lead to a degradation of the lncRNA itself. They can act as signaling, decoy, and framework molecules, or as primers. Current evidence suggests that lncRNAs can act as chromatin and transcriptional as well as post-transcriptional regulators. With regards to osteoporosis, lncRNA is thought to be involved in the proliferation, apoptosis, and inflammatory response of the bone. This review, which is based on a systematic appraisal of the current literature, provides current molecular and genetic opinions on the roles of miRNAs and lncRNAs in osteoporosis. Further research into the epigenetic modification and the regulatory roles of these molecules will bring us closer to potential disease-modifying treatment for osteoporosis.
811
16 Sep 2023
Topic Review
Parkinson’s Disease
Parkinson's disease (PD) is the second most common neurodegenerative disease, affecting 1% of the population over 60 years of age. Clinically, PD is characterized mainly by the presence of motor symptoms, but a wide range of non-motor symptoms not only accompany the disease, but many of them even prevent the occurrence of motor symptoms. Despite many efforts, current medicine fails, not only in the treatment of PD, but in the early diagnosis of the disease. Current treatment is mainly based on symptomatic treatment or treatment with levodopa (L-DOPA) but does not focus on the pathogenesis of the disease itself. The presence of non-motor symptoms such as gastrointestinal dysfunction, which occurs up to 20 years before the onset of motor symptoms themselves, provides a sufficiently wide window of early diagnosis and thus potential early therapy for these patients. α-synuclein (α-Syn) is one of the candidates for a biomarker of PD. Mutations in its gene are associated with the familial form of PD as well as conformational changes in the protein and with its ability to oligomerize and fibrillate and form Lewy bodies (LB) and Lewy neurites (LN). It is LB and LN that are considered to be one of the most important pathological features of the disease, where α-Syn is the major component of these pathological structures. Its direct association with the pathogenesis of the disease together with the fact that in addition to brain structures, α-Syn is present in body fluids as well as in peripheral tissues such as gastrointestinal (GIT) tissues even enhances its potential use in early diagnosis of the disease. The diagnosis of the disease is also complicated by the similarity of clinical, cognitive, and neuropathological features of PD with other neurodegenerative diseases. In this context, various α-Syn strains have been identified based on the ability of α-Syn to form several types of fibrillar structures (strains) with different conformational, biological, and biochemical properties. And it is these differences that may be key to the correct early diagnosis of PD.
877
16 Sep 2023
Topic Review
Nuclear Magnetic Resonance Applications on Bovine Milk
Nuclear magnetic resonance (NMR) spectroscopy is emerging as a promising technique for the analysis of bovine milk, primarily due to its non-destructive nature, minimal sample preparation requirements, and comprehensive approach to untargeted milk analysis. These inherent strengths of NMR make it a formidable complementary tool to mass spectrometry-based techniques in milk metabolomic studies.
240
15 Sep 2023
Topic Review
Biosynthetic Pathways of Hormones in Plants
Phytohormones exhibit a wide range of chemical structures, though they primarily originate from three key metabolic precursors: amino acids, isoprenoids, and lipids. Specific amino acids, such as tryptophan, methionine, phenylalanine, and arginine, contribute to the production of various phytohormones, including auxins, melatonin, ethylene, salicylic acid, and polyamines. Isoprenoids are the foundation of five phytohormone categories: cytokinins, brassinosteroids, gibberellins, abscisic acid, and strigolactones. Furthermore, lipids, i.e., α-linolenic acid, function as a precursor for jasmonic acid. The biosynthesis routes of these different plant hormones are intricately complex. Understanding of these processes can greatly enhance our knowledge of how these hormones regulate plant growth, development, and physiology.
868
15 Sep 2023
Topic Review
Virulence Factors of UPEC-Associated Urinary Tract Infections
Urinary tract infections (UTIs) are among the most common bacterial infections, especially among women and older adults, leading to a significant global healthcare cost burden. Uropathogenic Escherichia coli (UPEC) are the most common cause and accounts for the majority of community-acquired UTIs. Infection by UPEC can cause discomfort, polyuria, and fever. More serious clinical consequences can result in urosepsis, kidney damage, and death. UPEC is a highly adaptive pathogen which presents significant treatment challenges rooted in a complex interplay of molecular factors that allow UPEC to evade host defences, persist within the urinary tract, and resist antibiotic therapy.
243
15 Sep 2023
Topic Review
IL-23 in Autoimmune Fibrotic Diseases
Interleukin (IL)-23 is a central pro-inflammatory cytokine with a broad range of effects on immune responses. IL-23 is pathologically linked to the induction of the production of the pro-inflammatory cytokines IL-17 and IL-22, which stimulate the differentiation and proliferation of T helper type 17 (Th17) cells. Discoveries suggest a potential pro-fibrotic role for IL-23 in the development of chronic inflammatory autoimmune diseases characterized by intense fibrosis.
215
15 Sep 2023
Topic Review
Organokines in Obesity and Type 2 Diabetes
Maintaining systemic homeostasis requires the coordination of different organs and tissues in the body. Our bodies rely on complex inter-organ communications to adapt to perturbations or changes in metabolic homeostasis. Consequently, the liver, muscle, and adipose tissues produce and secrete specific organokines such as hepatokines, myokines, and adipokines in response to nutritional and environmental stimuli. Emerging evidence suggests that dysregulation of the interplay of organokines between organs is associated with the pathophysiology of obesity and type 2 diabetes (T2D).
165
15 Sep 2023
Topic Review
Africa Vaccine Technology Transfer
The rampant spread of the COVID-19 infection poses a grave and formidable challenge to global healthcare, with particular concern to the inhabitants of the African continent. In response to these pressing concerns, different strategies have been employed to combat the emergence of this insidious disease, encompassing crucial measures such as physical distancing, the utilization of face masks, meticulous hand hygiene, and widespread vaccination campaigns.
898
15 Sep 2023
Topic Review
Nociceptor–Macrophage Interactions in Apical Periodontitis
Periradicular tissues have a rich supply of peripheral afferent neurons, also known as nociceptive neurons, originating from the trigeminal nerve. While their primary function is to relay pain signals to the brain, these are known to be involved in modulating innate and adaptive immunity by initiating neurogenic inflammation (NI).
235
15 Sep 2023
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