Topic Review
Type 2 Cystatins in Human Immune and Cancer
Type 2 cystatins are a group of small secreted protease inhibitors that regulate cysteine protease cathepsins and legumain. These enzymes regulate important cellular processes that are linked to the immune response and tumor progression, playing important roles in both autoimmune diseases and various types of cancers. Cysteine cathepsins are associated with the development of autoimmune diseases, tumor progression, and metastasis. Cystatins are categorized into three subfamilies: type 1, type 2, and type 3. The type 2 cystatin subfamily is the largest, containing 10 members, and consists entirely of small secreted proteins. Although type 2 cystatins have many shared biological roles, each member differs in structure, post-translational modifications (e.g., glycosylation), and expression in different cell types. These distinctions allow the type 2 cystatins to have unique biological functions and properties.
  • 167
  • 01 Dec 2023
Topic Review
The Making of Surgical Guide for TADs
A temporary anchorage devices (TADs)  surgical guide is a guide that allows a dental surgeon to place TAD in a precise, pre-planned location to give the ideal depth, angulation, and screw size to fit the area for anchorage purposes. The purpose of anchorage in orthodontics is to move a tooth or teeth for dental and alveolar orthopedic purposes. The TAD number of the screw that can be placed using the surgical guide may range from one to multiple, depending on the purpose of the anchorage needed. The surgical guide is made from hard materials like acrylic or metal. The TAD surgical guide is positioned over the adjacent teeth to maintain stability during the maneuver. The surgical guide is created using CAD/CAM technology and a 3D printer.
  • 348
  • 01 Dec 2023
Topic Review
Radio-Sensitizing Nanoparticles in Soft Tissue Sarcomas
High-atomic-number (Z) nanoparticles produce a cascade of low-energy secondary electrons and characteristic X-rays when ionized by X-ray irradiation. These secondary particles deposit their energy in the vicinity of the nanoparticles and, provided that the latter are selectively accumulated within tumor cells, this results in increased DNA damage and tumor cell deaths. The utilization of high-Z nanoparticles in the treatment of soft tissue sarcomas (STS) are reviewed. Both in vitro and in vivo experiments demonstrated that the dose is enhanced by approximately 1.2 when polyethelyne glycol (PEG)-modified gold nanoparticles, and from 1.4 to 1.8 when hafnium oxide nanoparticles (NBTXR3, Nanobiotix SA, France) are introduced into tumor cells and activated by X-ray beams. In a phase 2/3 clinical trial investigating the therapeutic benefit of using nanoparticles in preoperative external beam radiotherapy for locally advanced STS, the proportion of patients with a pathological complete response in their resected tumor was doubled when NBTXR3 nanoparticles were used. Additionally, a higher percentage of patients with complete tumor resection was observed in the NBTXR3 plus radiotherapy group. Similar toxicity profiles were found for both the NBTXR3 plus radiotherapy and the radiotherapy alone patient groups. The incorporation of radio-sensitizing nanoparticles in the preoperative radiotherapy of STS could enhance treatment outcomes.
  • 213
  • 01 Dec 2023
Topic Review
Potential of Antimicrobials in Multiple Sclerosis Treatment
Multiple sclerosis (MS) is a chronic, autoimmune, demyelinating disease of the central nervous system (CNS). Microbes, including bacteria and certain viruses, particularly Epstein–Barr virus (EBV), have been linked to the pathogenesis of MS. While there is currently no cure for MS, antibiotics and antivirals have been studied as potential treatment options due to their immunomodulatory ability that results in the regulation of the immune process. 
  • 145
  • 01 Dec 2023
Topic Review
Mesoporous Silica Nanoparticles for Treatment of Alzheimer’s Disease
Globally, many individuals struggle with Alzheimer’s disease (AD), an unrelenting and incapacitating neurodegenerative condition. Despite notable research endeavors, effective remedies for AD remain constrained, prompting the exploration of innovative therapeutic avenues. Within this context, silica-based nanoplatforms have emerged with pronounced potential due to their unique attributes like expansive surface area, customizable pore dimensions, and compatibility with living systems. These nanoplatforms hold promise as prospective interventions for AD.
  • 455
  • 01 Dec 2023
Topic Review
Histological Healing in Inflammatory Bowel Disease
Inflammatory bowel disease (IBD) comprises two types of chronic intestinal disorders: Crohn’s disease and ulcerative colitis. In long-standing ulcerative colitis disease activity, histological persistent inflammation has been linked to an increased risk of relapse, and long-term corticosteroid use, even when endoscopic remission is reached. In Crohn’s disease, the discontinuous nature of lesions and transmural inflammation have limited the standardized histological assessment. The current evidence from research proposes that besides clinical and endoscopic healing, the achievement of histological healing constitutes an endpoint to assess disease activity and remission in IBD patients concerning better long-term disease outcomes. Histological alterations may persist even in the absence of endoscopic lesions. For these reasons, new advanced techniques promise to revolutionize the field of IBD by improving the endoscopic and histologic assessment, disease characterization, and ultimately patient care, with an established role in daily practice for objective assessment of lesions. 
  • 370
  • 01 Dec 2023
Topic Review
Pharmacokinetics of EF24
EF24, a synthetic monocarbonyl analog of curcumin, shows significant potential as an anticancer agent with both chemopreventive and chemotherapeutic properties. It exhibits rapid absorption, extensive tissue distribution, and efficient metabolism, ensuring optimal bioavailability and sustained exposure of the target tissues. The ability of EF24 to penetrate biological barriers and accumulate at tumor sites makes it advantageous for effective cancer treatment. Studies have demonstrated EF24’s remarkable efficacy against various cancers, including breast, lung, prostate, colon, and pancreatic cancer. The unique mechanism of action of EF24 involves modulation of the nuclear factor-kappa B (NF-κB) and nuclear factor erythroid 2-related factor 2 (Nrf2) signaling pathways, disrupting cancer-promoting inflammation and oxidative stress. EF24 inhibits tumor growth by inducing cell cycle arrest and apoptosis, mainly through inhibiting the NF-κB pathway and by regulating key genes by modulating microRNA (miRNA) expression or the proteasomal pathway.
  • 259
  • 01 Dec 2023
Topic Review
Cardiac-Targeting Peptide
Despite significant strides in prevention, diagnosis, and treatment, cardiovascular diseases remain the number one cause of mortality in the United States, with rates climbing at an alarming rate in the developing world. Targeted delivery of therapeutics to the heart has been a lofty goal to achieve with strategies ranging from direct intra-cardiac or intra-pericardial delivery, intra-coronary infusion, to adenoviral, lentiviral, and adeno-associated viral vectors which have preference, if not complete cardio-selectivity, for cardiac tissue. Cell-penetrating peptides (CPP) are 5–30-amino-acid-long peptides that are able to breach cell membrane barriers while carrying cargoes up to several times their size, in an intact functional form. Identified nearly three decades ago, the first of these CPPs came from the HIV coat protein transactivator of transcription. Although a highly efficient CPP, its clinical utility is limited by its robust ability to cross any cell membrane barrier, including crossing the blood–brain barrier and transducing neuronal tissue non-specifically.
  • 173
  • 01 Dec 2023
Topic Review
Prostaglandin E2 Signaling in Pulmonary Hypertension
Mild-to-moderate pulmonary hypertension (PH) is a common complication of chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD). As another well-known and extensively researched prostaglandins, prostaglandin E2 (PGE2) and its downstream signaling have been found to play an important role in various biological processes. Emerging evidence has revealed that PGE2 and its receptors (i.e., EP1–4) are involved in the regulation of pulmonary vascular homeostasis and remodeling. 
  • 240
  • 01 Dec 2023
Topic Review
Therapeutic Potential of Marine-Derived Cyclic Peptides in Malaria
Malaria is a severe infectious disease which is endemic in tropical and subtropical regions. It can be caused by four species of the intracellular protozoan parasite from the Plasmodium family, with P. falciparum being the disease’s most dangerous form, and it is transmitted by mosquito bites. Parasitic diseases still compromise human health. Some of the available therapeutic drugs have limitations considering their adverse effects, questionable efficacy, and long treatment, which have encouraged drug resistance. There is an urgent need to find new, safe, effective, and affordable antiparasitic drugs. Marine-derived cyclic peptides have been increasingly screened as candidates for developing new drugs.
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  • 30 Nov 2023
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