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Topic Review
Health Benefits of Cocoa
Cocoa is considered a functional food because it is a natural source of macro- and micronutrients. Cocoa is rich in vitamins, minerals, fiber, fatty acids, methylxanthines and flavonoids. In addition to favoring the metabolism of lipids and carbohydrates, the bioactive components of cocoa can have an antioxidant, anti-inflammatory and antimicrobial effect, providing numerous benefits for health. 
  • 289
  • 19 Sep 2023
Topic Review
Role of ER in Maintaining Neuron Cell Homeostasis
Efficient brain function requires as much as 20% of the total oxygen intake to support normal neuronal cell function. This level of oxygen usage, however, leads to the generation of free radicals, and thus can lead to oxidative stress and potentially to age-related cognitive decay and even neurodegenerative diseases. The regulation of this system requires a complex monitoring network to maintain proper oxygen homeostasis. Furthermore, the high content of mitochondria in the brain has elevated glucose demands, and thus requires a normal redox balance. Maintaining this is mediated by adaptive stress response pathways that permit cells to survive oxidative stress and to minimize cellular damage. These stress pathways rely on the proper function of the endoplasmic reticulum (ER) and the activation of the unfolded protein response (UPR), a cellular pathway responsible for normal ER function and cell survival.
  • 112
  • 19 Sep 2023
Topic Review
Exosomes in Breast Cancer Diagnosis
Liquid biopsies have been studied for the early diagnosis of cancer, the monitoring of tumor burden, tumor heterogeneity and the emergence of molecular resistance, along with the detection of minimal residual disease. Interestingly, liquid biopsy consents the analysis of circulating tumor cells, circulating tumor DNA and extracellular vesicles (EVs). In particular, EVs play a crucial role in cell communication, carrying transmembrane and nonmembrane proteins, as well as metabolites, lipids and nucleic acids. Of all EVs, exosomes mirror the biological fingerprints of the parental cells from which they originate, and therefore, are considered one of the most promising predictors of early cancer diagnosis and treatment response.
  • 257
  • 19 Sep 2023
Topic Review
Combination of Regulatory Pathways for Malignant Mesothelioma
Malignant mesotheliomas (MM) are hard to treat malignancies with poor prognosis and high mortality rates. This cancer is highly misdiagnosed in Sub-Saharan African countries. According to literature, the incidence of MM is likely to increase particularly in low-middle-income countries (LMICs). The burden of asbestos-induced diseases was estimated to be about 231,000 per annum. Lack of awareness and implementation of regulatory frameworks to control exposure to asbestos fibers contributes to the expected increase. Exposure to asbestos fibers can lead to cancer initiation by several mechanisms. Asbestos-induced epigenetic modifications of gene expression machinery and non-coding RNAs promote cancer initiation and progression. Furthermore, microbiome–epigenetic interactions control the innate and adaptive immunity causing exacerbation of cancer progression and therapeutic resistance.
  • 133
  • 18 Sep 2023
Topic Review
Molecular and Cellular Mechanisms of Bevacizumab Actions
Most ovarian cancer cases are diagnosed at an advanced stage (III or IV), in which a primary debulking surgery combined with adjuvant systemic chemotherapy is the standard management. Since targeted therapy is less toxic to human cells than systemic chemotherapy, it has drawn much attention and become more popular. Angiogenesis is a critical process during the proliferation of ovarian cancer cells. Currently, many studies have put emphases on anti-angiogenetic medication, such as bevacizumab, the first and most investigated angiogenesis inhibitor that can exert anti-neoplastic effects. Bevacizumab is a recombinant humanized monoclonal antibody that has been approved for first-line maintenance treatment of advanced ovarian cancer.
  • 251
  • 18 Sep 2023
Topic Review
PARP Inhibitors in Epithelial Ovarian Cancers
Ovarian cancer is the second most common gynecologic malignancy and the most common cause of gynecologic cancer death in the United States. The treatment and prognosis of ovarian cancer depend on the specific tumor histopathologic type. Among all types of ovarian cancers, epithelial ovarian cancers (EOC)s comprise the majority (about 95%); the remainders are malignant germ cell and sex cord-stromal cell tumors. The subtypes of EOCs include high-grade serous, low-grade serous, endometrioid, clear cell, and mucinous ovarian cancers, in which serous cancer is the most common subtype (75%). The majority of patients with advanced-stage ovarian cancers experience relapse and require additional treatment after initial therapy, including an optimal cytoreductive debulking surgery and platinum-based chemotherapy.
  • 206
  • 18 Sep 2023
Topic Review
PARP Inhibitor in Epithelial Ovarian Cancer
Ovarian cancer is one of the most common gynecologic cancers and has the highest mortality rate of any other cancer of the female reproductive system. Epithelial ovarian cancer (EOC) accounts for approximately 90% of all ovarian malignancies. The standard therapeutic strategy includes cytoreductive surgery accompanied by pre- or postoperative platinum-based chemotherapy. Nevertheless, up to 80% of the patients relapse within the following 12–18 months from the completion of the treatment and then receive first-line chemotherapy depending on platinum sensitivity. Mutations in BRCA1/2 genes are the most significant molecular aberrations in EOC and serve as prognostic and predictive biomarkers. Poly ADP-ribose polymerase (PARP) inhibitors exploit defects in the DNA repair pathway through synthetic lethality.
  • 182
  • 18 Sep 2023
Topic Review
Design Principles of Retinal Prothese
MEA-based electrical stimulation activates retinal ganglion cells (RGCs), producing phosphene-based artificial vision. However, the lack of spatial selectivity in MEA stimulation leads to coarse and unreliable phosphenes. To improve selectivity, return electrodes and stimulation parameter manipulation are proposed. Patient experiences with retinal prostheses differ, resembling a "light show" rather than natural vision. The shape and strength of the electric field impact visual perception, and lateral spreading reduces selectivity. Epiretinal devices face bundle activation challenges, while subretinal prostheses exhibit variable phosphene shapes. Enhancing spatial resolution requires reliable isolated points of light. Return electrodes and stimulation parameter control are employed to achieve selectivity. Bidirectional/closed-loop systems record cell responses and optimize stimulation, while computational models aid optimization and understanding of retinal activity. These advancements aim to enhance retinal prostheses, providing a more natural and reliable visual experience.
  • 207
  • 18 Sep 2023
Topic Review
Alternative Emerging Therapies to Retinal Prostheses
Retinal prostheses show promise in restoring vision, but ongoing clinical trials and high costs limit their adoption. To explore alternatives for treating retinal diseases, we present an overview of cell-based and gene-based therapies. This entry aims to determine if retinal prostheses are losing favor as a therapeutic option. Cell-based therapies, particularly using pluripotent stem cells like induced pluripotent stem cells (iPSCs) and retinal progenitor cells (RPCs), hold promise for treating retinal diseases. iPSC-derived retinal pigment epithelium (RPE) cells show potential in delaying disease progression and restoring vision loss when the RPE layer is damaged. Additionally, bone marrow stem cells (BMSCs) release beneficial factors and have the ability to migrate towards lesion sites, although full differentiation into photoreceptors is not confirmed. Gene therapy also shows promise for treating retinal diseases caused by genetic mutations. Different approaches are used depending on the type of mutation (recessive or dominant). For example. viral vectors like AAV are commonly employed due to their efficient targeting and low immunogenicity. Optogenetics is a novel approach for treating inherited retinal diseases (IRDs) by introducing photosensitive proteins (opsins) to the degenerated retina. Opsins restore function and photosensitivity to remaining retinal cells. Clinical trials are underway, but more research is needed to understand opsin properties.
  • 227
  • 18 Sep 2023
Topic Review
Recent Advancements in Retinal Prosthesis Technology
Significant progress has been made in retinal prostheses, including material science, visual field size, and integration of artificial intelligence. These advancements reflect innovation and provide insights into the future of retinal prostheses. Retinal prostheses utilize inorganic and organic electrodes. Smaller electrodes optimize electrical signaling, but current electrodes have physical limitations. Common metals used are iridium, gold, titanium, tin, and platinum due to their inertness, electrical properties, and biocompatibility. Recent advancements aim to improve the visual field of retinal prostheses. One such example, POLYRETINA, a foldable and photovoltaic epiretinal prosthetic, addresses the limited visual field in current technology since existing prosthetics have insufficient visual angle size (VAS) for mobility and object identification tasks. Additionally, a recent study developed a wireless photovoltaic retinal implant (PRIMA) to improve central vision in atrophic age-related macular degeneration patients without affecting peripheral vision. Retinal prostheses face challenges in effectiveness, surgical complexity, patient eligibility, long-term durability, and cost/accessibility, which is why advancements in technology, surgical techniques, and understanding of retinal physiology are needed.
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  • 18 Sep 2023
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