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Topic Review
Targeted Drug-Delivery Systems with Aptamers
The field of drug delivery has witnessed remarkable progress, driven by the quest for more effective and precise therapeutic interventions. Among the myriad strategies employed, the integration of aptamers as targeting moieties and stimuli-responsive systems has emerged as a promising avenue, particularly in the context of anticancer therapy. The conventional chemotherapy paradigm often suffers from systemic toxicity, as potent cytotoxic agents are indiscriminately delivered throughout the body, causing adverse effects on healthy tissues. To address this limitation, the integration of smart targeting mechanisms has gained prominence. Within this paradigm, aptamers, short nucleic acid sequences with a unique ability to bind specifically to target molecules, have emerged as valuable targeting ligands. Aptamers share similarities with antibodies as they exhibit a high affinity for specific targets, making them a focus of research in disease-targeted therapy owing to their remarkable selectivity. Regarded as promising therapeutic agents, aptamers possess attributes such as non-immunogenicity, high specificity, and stability.
  • 229
  • 24 Jan 2024
Topic Review
Protein Quality Control Systems in SARS-CoV-2 Infection
SARS-CoV-2’s structure and mechanism of infection have been well characterized. The virus comprises a lipid envelope studded with spike (S) proteins. These spikes facilitate viral entry into host cells by binding to angiotensin-converting enzyme 2 (ACE2) receptors on the cell surface. Following attachment, the virus enters the cell by endocytosis. Its genetic material consists of a single-stranded RNA molecule, which encodes structural proteins, non-structural proteins (NSP), and accessory proteins. Once inside, the viral RNA is translated into proteins, including those for replication and the formation of new virus particles.
  • 224
  • 24 Jan 2024
Topic Review
Seed Deterioration and Ageing
Seeds are classified as either: orthodox, seeds that tolerate dehydration; recalcitrant, seeds that are high in moisture content and cannot withstand intensive desiccation; or intermediate, seeds that survive dehydration but die during dry storage at low temperatures. Seed lifespan depends on the seed category and also varies from one species to another. The rate of loss of vigor and viability of orthodox seeds depends mainly on temperature and seed moisture content (MC); the lower the MC and storage temperature, the longer the longevity. Ultimately, storage in liquid nitrogen or seed ultra-drying by well-adapted processes should allow for long-term storage. 
  • 183
  • 24 Jan 2024
Topic Review
Impacts of COVID-19 on NENA Region Food Security
The COVID-19 pandemic affected agri-food systems worldwide, the Near East and North Africa (NENA) region was no exception. The pandemic affected food system activities and outcomes, with far-reaching and multidimensional implications regarding food security.
  • 218
  • 24 Jan 2024
Topic Review
The Multifaceted Functions of Prion Protein in Cancer
Despite its involvement in several human pathophysiological processes, the cellular prion protein (PrPC) remains enigmatic. During the last ten years, PrPC has also been reported to be implicated in several human cancers, the molecular mechanisms of which are under investigation. In some tumors, elevated expression of PrPC protein is associated with poor patient prognosis. At the cellular level, high PrPC expression in tumor cells is associated with the acquisition of stemness1-like characteristics, metastatic and invasive process, and resistance to chemotherapy.
  • 430
  • 24 Jan 2024
Topic Review
Role of SCAP/SREBP in Hepatic Steatosis
Metabolic dysfunction-associated steatotic liver disease (MASLD) is a unique, multi-factorial condition with several phases of progression including steatosis, steatohepatitis, fibrosis, cirrhosis, and hepatocellular carcinoma. Sterol element binding protein 1c (SREBP1c) is the main transcription factor involved in regulating hepatic de novo lipogenesis. This transcription factor is synthesized as an inactive precursor, and its proteolytic maturation is initiated in the membrane of the endoplasmic reticulum upon stimulation by insulin. SREBP cleavage activating protein (SCAP) is required as a chaperon protein to escort SREBP from the endoplasmic reticulum and to facilitate the proteolytic release of the N-terminal domain of SREBP into the Golgi. SCAP inhibition prevents activation of SREBP and inhibits the expression of genes involved in triglyceride and fatty acid synthesis, resulting in the inhibition of de novo lipogenesis.
  • 335
  • 24 Jan 2024
Topic Review
Methoxyfuranocoumarins of Natural Origin
Plant secondary metabolites, including furanocoumarins, have attracted attention for decades as active molecules with therapeutic potential, especially those occurring in a limited number of species as evolutionarily specific and chemotaxonomically important. The most famous methoxyfuranocoumarins (MFCs), bergapten, xanthotoxin, isopimpinellin, phellopterin, byakangelicol, byakangelicin, isobergapten, pimpinellin, sphondin, as well as rare ones such as peucedanin and 8-methoxypeucedanin, apaensin, cnidilin, moellendorffiline and dahuribiethrins, have been investigated for their various biological activities.
  • 318
  • 24 Jan 2024
Topic Review
Poultry Litter in Agricultural Areas
The poultry farming industry has assumed a pivotal role in meeting the global demand for affordable animal proteins. While poultry farming makes a substantial contribution to food security and nutrition, it also presents environmental and public health challenges. The use of poultry litter as fertilizer for agricultural soils raises concerns about the transfer of pathogens and drug-resistant microorganisms from poultry farms to crop production areas.
  • 201
  • 23 Jan 2024
Topic Review
Damage-Associated Molecular Patterns in Psoriasis
Psoriasis is a chronic skin disorder that involves both innate and adaptive immune responses in its pathogenesis. Local tissue damage is a hallmark feature of psoriasis and other autoimmune diseases. In psoriasis, damage-associated molecular patterns (DAMPs) released by damaged local tissue act as danger signals and trigger inflammatory responses by recruiting and activating immune cells. They also stimulate the release of pro-inflammatory cytokines and chemokines, which exacerbate the inflammatory response and contribute to disease progression. DAMPs have a dual function. On the one hand, they can regulate cell homeostasis and maintain cell function when present within cells. On the other hand, they can also act as endogenous molecules of cell death or injury and amplify the signal of inflammation through various cell receptors upon release. This leads to the activation of immune cells and the secretion of a large number of inflammatory factors. DAMPs not only play a pro-inflammatory role in acute inflammation, such as sepsis, acute liver injury, or acute pancreatitis, but they also mediate immunity in chronic immune diseases such as rheumatoid arthritis, multiple sclerosis, and inflammatory bowel disease.
  • 243
  • 23 Jan 2024
Topic Review
Pharmacological Effects of Flueggea virosa Extracts
The white berry bush, officially Flueggea virosa (Roxb. ex Willd.) Royle is a medicinal plant distributed throughout tropical areas and traditionally used in Africa, India and China. Root decoctions are used to treat abdominal pain, whereas extracts from the aerial parts serve to treat liver and urinary diseases, inflammatory pathologies and diabetes, among other pathologies. Plant extracts have revealed antiparasitic, antimicrobial, antiepilepsy, antidiabetic, anticancer and analgesic effects.
  • 275
  • 23 Jan 2024
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