Topic Review
A History of Myology
Myology is the science that studies muscles, their physical structure, type of fibers, specific function, and the connections with nerves and between different muscle groups. Interest in Myology includes also neuromuscular disorders. For most of the 20th century, Myology was considered a part of Neurology, while currently it is recognized as an autonomous discipline both at the research and the medical level. From a research point of view, we have witnessed the birth and flourishing of new scientific societies, such as the European Society for Muscle Research (1970), the Mediterranean Society of Myology (1993), the World Muscle Society (1995), the Institute of Myology (1996), the Italian Association of Myology (2000), the British Myology Society (2009), the French Society of Myology(2011), and numerous conferences concerning neuromuscular disorders, In particular, the annual meetings of the World Muscle Society and the Italian Association of Myology will have this year at their future meetings respectively in Charleston and Padova.
  • 833
  • 09 May 2023
Topic Review Peer Reviewed
A Journey to Hear: The Evolution of Cochlear Implants
Cochlear implants (CIs), a revolutionary breakthrough in auditory technology, have profoundly impacted the lives of individuals with severe hearing impairment. Surgically implanted behind the ear and within the delicate cochlea, these devices represent a direct pathway to restoring the sense of hearing. Implanting hope alongside innovation, their captivating history unfolds through pivotal dates and transformative milestones. From the first human implantation by Drs. William House and John Doyle in 1961 to FDA approval in 1984, each step in their evolution mirrors a triumph of human ingenuity. The 1990s witnessed significant miniaturization, enhancing accessibility, while the 21st century brought about improvements in speech processing and electrode technology. These strides have elevated CIs beyond functional devices to life-changing instruments, enriching both auditory experiences and communication skills. This entry delves into the captivating history of CIs, spotlighting key dates that paint a vivid picture of challenges overcome and remarkable progress achieved. It explores the people and moments that defined their development, ultimately shaping these implants into indispensable tools that continually redefine the landscape of hearing assistance.
  • 667
  • 12 Jan 2024
Topic Review
A Nanoparticle’s Journey to the Tumor
Nanomedicines represent the cutting edge of today’s cancer therapeutics. Seminal research decades ago has begun to pay dividends in the clinic, allowing for the delivery of cancer drugs with enhanced systemic circulation while also minimizing off-target toxicity. Despite the advantages of delivering cancer drugs using nanoparticles, micelles, or other nanostructures, only a small fraction of the injected dose reaches the tumor, creating a narrow therapeutic window for an otherwise potent drug. First-pass metabolism of nanoparticles by the reticuloendothelial system (RES) has been identified as a major culprit for the depletion of nanoparticles in circulation before they reach the tumor site. To overcome this, new strategies, materials, and functionalization with stealth polymers have been developed to improve nanoparticle circulation and uptake at the tumor site. 
  • 465
  • 14 Apr 2022
Topic Review
A New Paradigm to Indicate Antidepressant Treatments
This entry describes that a new paradigm must be applied in which the relative value of antidepressant treatment is specifically weighted in terms of enabling the natural resilience process. 
  • 403
  • 04 Jan 2022
Topic Review
A New Role of Acute Phase Proteins
The prevailing general view of acute-phase proteins (APPs) is that they are produced by the liver in response to the stress of the body as part of a systemic acute-phase response. A coordinated, local production of these proteins upon cell stress by the stressed cells has been demonstrated. The local, stress-induced APP production has been demonstrated in different tissues (kidney, breast cancer) and with different stressors (hypoxia, fibrosis and electromagnetic heat). Thus, this local acute-phase response (APR) seems to be a universal mechanism. APP production is an ancient defense mechanism observed in nematodes and fruit flies as well. Local APP production at the tissue level is also supported by sporadic literature data for single proteins.
  • 322
  • 01 Apr 2022
Topic Review
A Novel, Pan-PDE Inhibitor From the Group of 7,8-Disubstituted Purine-2,6-Dione Derivatives
Phosphodiesterases (PDEs) inhibitors are currently a widespread and extensively studied group of anti-inflammatory and anti-fibrotic compounds which may find use in the treatment of numerous lung diseases, including asthma and chronic obstructive pulmonary disease. Several PDE inhibitors are currently in clinical development, and some of them, e.g. roflumilast, are already recommended for clinical use. Due to numerous reports indicating that elevated intracellular adenosine 3’,5’-cyclic monophosphate (cAMP) levels may contribute to alleviation of inflammation and airway fibrosis, new and effective PDE inhibitors are constantly being sought. Recently, a group of 7,8-disubstituted purine-2,6-dione derivatives, representing novel and prominent pan-PDE inhibitors has been synthesized. Some of them were reported to modulate transient receptor potential ankyrin 1 (TRPA1) ion channels as well. Compound 145 (4-(8-butoxy-1,3-dimethyl-2,6-dioxo-1,2,3,6-tetrahydro-7H-purin-7-yl)-N-(5-(tert-butyl)-2-hydroxyphenyl)butanamide) – a pan-PDE inhibitor and a weak TRPA1 modulator inhibited fibroblast to myofibroblasts transition (FMT) as well as MRC-5 human lung fibroblasts proliferation, migration, and contraction. The effect of this compound appeared to depend mainly on its strong PDE inhibitory properties, and not on its effects on TRPA1 modulation. The strong anti-remodelling effects of 145 required activation of the cAMP/protein kinase A/CREB pathway leading to inhibition of transforming growth factor type β1 (TGF-β1) and Smad-dependent signalling in MRC-5 cells.
  • 648
  • 09 Sep 2021
Topic Review
A Pathophysiological Intersection of Diabetes and Alzheimer’s Disease
Diabetes is among the most prevalent diseases of the modern world and is strongly linked to an increased risk of numerous neurodegenerative disorders, although the exact pathophysiological mechanisms are not clear yet. Insulin resistance is a serious pathological condition, connecting type 2 diabetes, metabolic syndrome, and obesity. Insulin resistance has been proven to be connected also to cognitive decline and dementias, including the most prevalent form, Alzheimer’s disease. The relationship between diabetes and Alzheimer’s disease regarding pathophysiology is so significant that it has been proposed that some presentations of the condition could be termed type 3 diabetes.
  • 272
  • 18 Oct 2022
Topic Review
A Personalized Longitudinal Strategy in Low-Grade Glioma Patients
Diffuse low-grade glioma (LGG) is a rare cerebral cancer, mostly involving young adults with an active life at diagnosis. If left untreated, LGG widely invades the brain and becomes malignant, generating neurological worsening and ultimately death. Early and repeat treatments for this incurable tumor, including maximal connectome-based surgical resection(s) in awake patients, enable postponement of malignant transformation while preserving quality of life owing to constant neural network reconfiguration. Due to considerable interindividual variability in terms of LGG course and consecutive cerebral reorganization, a multistage longitudinal strategy should be tailored accordingly in each patient. It is crucial to predict how the glioma will progress (changes in growth rate and pattern of migration, genetic mutation, etc.) and how the brain will adapt (changes in patterns of spatiotemporal redistribution, possible functional consequences such as epilepsy or cognitive decline, etc.). The goal is to anticipate therapeutic management, remaining one step ahead in order to select the optimal (re-)treatment(s) (some of them possibly kept in reserve), at the appropriate time(s) in the evolution of this chronic disease, before malignization and clinical worsening.
  • 351
  • 13 Oct 2022
Topic Review
A PRoliferation-Inducing Ligand in IgA Nephropathy Pathogenesis
A PRoliferation-Inducing Ligand (APRIL), the thirteenth member of the tumor necrosis factor superfamily, plays a key role in the regulation of activated B cells, the survival of long-lived plasma cells, and immunoglobulin (Ig) isotype class switching. Several lines of evidence have implicated APRIL in the pathogenesis of IgA nephropathy (IgAN).
  • 171
  • 10 Nov 2023
Topic Review
A Regulatory Perspective on Biosimilar Medicines
By definition, biosimilar medicinal products are biological medicinal products that are similar to other biological medicinal products that are already on the market—the reference medicinal products.
  • 287
  • 05 Mar 2024
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