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Topic Review
Biography
Topic Review
Physiological Mechanisms of Incretins
Atherosclerosis is a multifactorial process characterized by forming fibrofatty lesions within the arterial wall and is considered the leading cause of death worldwide. Improvement in treatment and prevention is crucial, especially in patients with type 2 diabetes (T2D), a clinical syndrome expected to affect 783.2 million people by 2045. Therefore, the treatment guidelines for T2D patients recommend a patient-tailored approach based on lifestyle modifications and the choice of optimal therapeutic option. An ideal anti-diabetic drug should have the following characteristics: significant impact on weight and cardiovascular comorbidities, low risk of hypoglycemia and adverse events, and, last but not least, low costs. Even if no optimal medication exists, incretins represent one of the most attractive and promising options. The “incretin effect” indicates the amplification of pancreatic insulin secretion induced by these gastrointestinal tract-released hormones.
374
17 Jul 2023
Topic Review
Prejunctional 5-HT Receptors/Mechanisms and Modulation of Neurovascular Transmission
5-Hydroxytryptamine (5-HT), or serotonin, plays a crucial role as a neuromodulator and/or neurotransmitter of several nervous system functions. Its actions are complex, and depend on multiple factors, including the type of effector or receptor activated. Briefly, 5-HT can activate: (i) metabotropic (G-protein-coupled) receptors to promote inhibition (5-HT1, 5-HT5) or activation (5-HT4, 5-HT6, 5-HT7) of adenylate cyclase, as well as activation (5-HT2) of phospholipase C; and (ii) ionotropic receptor (5-HT3), a ligand-gated Na+/K+ channel. Regarding blood pressure regulation (and beyond the intricacy of central 5-HT effects), this monoamine also exerts direct postjunctional (on vascular smooth muscle and endothelium) or indirect prejunctional (on autonomic and sensory perivascular nerves) effects. At the prejunctional level, 5-HT can facilitate or preclude the release of autonomic (e.g., noradrenaline and acetylcholine) or sensory (e.g., calcitonin gene-related peptide) neurotransmitters facilitating hypertensive or hypotensive effects. Hence, we cannot formulate a specific impact of 5-HT on blood pressure level, since an increase or decrease in neurotransmitter release would be favoured, depending on the type of prejunctional receptor involved.
442
14 Jul 2023
Topic Review
SARS-CoV-2 Peptide Vaccines
Several times during the past two decades, epidemic viral diseases created global challenges. Although many solutions have been proposed to deal with this tight spot, it is still believed that public vaccination represents the most effective strategy to handle it. So far, various kinds of vaccines including protein subunits, virus-like particles, inactivated, live attenuated, viral vectors, RNA, and DNA vaccines have been used in the prevention of COVID-19. Among the various categories of vaccines, peptide vaccines have created a new hope for quick and trustworthy access due to the development of proteomics equipment.
352
14 Jul 2023
Topic Review
Potential Pharmacological Effects of Lucidenic Acids
Ganoderma lucidum has long been used as a multi-purpose plant and functional food. The pharmacological properties of G. lucidum are primarily attributed to its polysaccharides and triterpenoids. Ganoderic and lucidenic acids are the two major triterpenoids groups in G. lucidum. Despite the discovery of 22 types of lucidenic acids, research on lucidenic acids is significantly less extensive compared to that on ganoderic acid.
322
14 Jul 2023
Topic Review
Artificial Intelligence in Interstitial Lung Disease Diagnosis
Diffuse lung disorders (DLDs) and interstitial lung diseases (ILDs) are pathological conditions affecting the lung parenchyma and interstitial network. There are approximately 200 different entities within this category. Radiologists play an increasingly important role in diagnosing and monitoring ILDs, as they can provide non-invasive, rapid, and repeatable assessments using high-resolution computed tomography (HRCT). HRCT offers a detailed view of the lung parenchyma, resembling a low-magnification anatomical preparation from a histological perspective. The intrinsic contrast provided by air in HRCT enables the identification of even the subtlest morphological changes in the lung tissue. By interpreting the findings observed on HRCT, radiologists can make a differential diagnosis and provide a pattern diagnosis in collaboration with the clinical and functional data. The use of quantitative software and artificial intelligence (AI) further enhances the analysis of ILDs, providing an objective and comprehensive evaluation.
476
14 Jul 2023
Topic Review
Humanized Mice for Studies of HIV-1 Persistence
A major roadblock to achieving a cure for human immunodeficiency virus type one (HIV-1) is the persistence of latent viral infections in the cells and tissue compartments of an infected human host. Latent HIV-1 proviral DNA persists in resting memory CD4+ T cells and mononuclear phagocytes (MPs; macrophages, microglia, and dendritic cells). Tissue viral reservoirs of both cell types reside in the gut, lymph nodes, bone marrow, spleen, liver, kidney, skin, adipose tissue, reproductive organs, and brain.
270
14 Jul 2023
Topic Review
Biological Activities of Asteltoxins
Asteltoxins belong to a group of polyene pyrone mycotoxins that are known to be potent inhibitors of mitochondrial ATP synthesis and ATP hydrolysis. Asteltoxin A was first isolated from the toxic maize cultures of Aspergillus stellatus. Several attempts have been made to synthesize asteltoxin A, starting with the synthesis of a bis(tetrahydrofuran) moiety that has been demonstrated previously in biosynthetic studies.
477
14 Jul 2023
Topic Review
Obesity, Bariatric Surgery and Obstructive Sleep Apnea
Obesity is listed as one of the most important health issues. Complications of obesity, with obstructive sleep apnea (OSA) listed among them, are common problems in clinical practice. Obesity is a well-recognized risk factor for OSA, but OSA itself may contribute to worsening obesity. Bariatric surgery is a treatment of choice for severely obese patients, especially with present complications, and remains the only causative treatment for patients with OSA. Though improvement in OSA control in patients after bariatric surgery is well-established knowledge, the complete resolution of OSA is achieved in less than half of them. The determination of subpopulations of patients in whom bariatric surgery would be especially advantageous is an important issue of OSA management.
236
14 Jul 2023
Topic Review
Drugs Repurposed against SARS CoV-2 Drug Targets
Drug repurposing is a process to identify new roles for existing drugs and is generally considered an efficient and economical approach. Repurposing—also known as re-profiling, re-tasking, repositioning, and rescue of drugs—can help identify new therapies for diseases, at a lower cost and in a shorter time.
354
14 Jul 2023
Topic Review
Smart Delivery Systems Responsive to Cathepsin B Activity
Cathepsin B is a lysosomal cysteine protease, contributing to vital cellular homeostatic processes including protein turnover, macroautophagy of damaged organelles, antigen presentation, and in the extracellular space, it takes part in tissue remodeling, prohormone processing, and activation. However, aberrant overexpression of cathepsin B and its enzymatic activity is associated with different pathological conditions, including cancer. Cathepsin B overexpression in tumor tissues makes this enzyme an important target for smart delivery systems, responsive to the activity of this enzyme. The generation of technologies which therapeutic effect is activated as a result of cathepsin B cleavage provides an opportunity for tumor-targeted therapy and controlled drug release.
300
14 Jul 2023
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