Encyclopedia
Scholarly Community
Encyclopedia
Entry
Video
Image
Journal
Book
News
About
Entry
Entry
Video
Image
Log in/Sign up
Submit
Entry
Video
Image
Subject:
All Disciplines
Arts & Humanities
Biology & Life Sciences
Business & Economics
Chemistry & Materials Science
Computer Science & Mathematics
Engineering
Environmental & Earth Sciences
Medicine & Pharmacology
Physical Sciences
Public Health & Healthcare
Social Sciences
Sort:
Hottest
Latest
Alphabetical (A-Z)
Alphabetical (Z-A)
Type:
All
Topic Review
Biography
Topic Review
MicroRNAs in Ulcerative Colitis
Ulcerative colitis (UC) is a major type of inflammatory bowel disease (IBD), characterized by chronic inflammation of the colon and rectum. Inflammation confined to the mucosa is distributed continuously from the rectum to the proximal colon in UC and causes bloody stools, diarrhea, and abdominal pain.
409
20 Dec 2021
Topic Review
Epigenetics in Inflammatory Bowel Disease
Inflammatory bowel diseases (IBD) are chronic inflammatory disorders of the gastrointestinal tract that encompass two main phenotypes, namely Crohn’s disease and ulcerative colitis. These conditions occur in genetically predisposed individuals in response to environmental factors. Epigenetics, acting by DNA methylation, post-translational histones modifications or by non-coding RNAs, could explain how the exposome (or all environmental influences over the life course, from conception to death) could influence the gene expression to contribute to intestinal inflammation.
409
25 Jul 2022
Topic Review
DAO Activity in the Monitoring of Diverse Diseases
The serum level of diamine oxidase (DAO) reflects the integrity and maturation of the small intestinal mucosa. This measure is important in diagnosing various diseases, including chronic urticaria tachyphylaxis, multiple organ dysfunction syndrome, preterm abortion, and migraine.
409
01 Feb 2023
Topic Review
Colonic Mucosal TNF-α Levels in Diverticular Disease
Diverticular disease (DD) is the most frequent condition in the Western world that affects the colon. Although chronic mild inflammatory processes have recently been proposed as a central factor in DD, limited information is currently available regarding the role of inflammatory cytokines, such as tumor necrosis factor-alpha (TNF-α).
409
07 Jul 2023
Topic Review
Therapeutic Options against Chronic HBV
Currently, Chronic Hepatitis B (CHB) is controlled but not cured by approved antivirals. For instance, transcriptionally active HBV DNA in the nucleus is not directly targeted. Except for interferon-α (IFN-α) and pegylated IFN-α, all other licensed drugs are nucleoside (Lamivudine, Clevudine, Entecavir, Telbivudine) and nucleotide analogues (Adefovir dipivoxil, Tenofovir disoproxil fumarate, Tenofovir alafenamide). All these drugs are potent at reducing viral loads and normalizing alanine transaminase levels in CHB patients. However, long-term treatment with many of these drugs leads to the development of multiple drug resistance mutations. In addition, while a limited reduction in cccDNA is achieved, long-term nucleos(t)ide analogue treatment does not reduce hepatitis B surface antigen (HBsAg) levels.
406
14 Jul 2021
Topic Review
Flavonoids’ Dual Benefits in Gastrointestinal Cancer and Diabetes
Diabetes and gastrointestinal cancers (GI) are global health conditions with a massive burden on patients’ lives worldwide. The development of both conditions is influenced by several factors, such as diet, genetics, environment, and infection, which shows a potential link between them. Flavonoids are naturally occurring phenolic compounds present in fruits and vegetables. Once ingested, unabsorbed flavonoids reaching the colon undergo enzymatic modification by the gut microbiome to facilitate absorption and produce ring fission products. The metabolized flavonoids exert antidiabetic and anti-GI cancer properties, targeting major impaired pathways such as apoptosis and cellular proliferation in both conditions, suggesting the potentially dual effects of flavonoids on diabetes and GI cancers. Herein, the knowledge on the impact of flavonoids on diabetes and GI cancers in four significant pathways is summarized. It also addresses the synergistic effects of selected flavonoids on both conditions. While this is an intriguing approach, more studies are required to better understand the mechanism of how flavonoids can influence the same impaired pathways with different outcomes depending on the disease.
406
19 Dec 2022
Topic Review
Regulation of NFR2 in Chronic Liver Diseases
Chronic liver disease (CLD) affects a significant portion of the global population, leading to a substantial number of deaths each year. Distinct forms like non-alcoholic fatty liver disease (NAFLD) and alcoholic fatty liver disease (ALD), though they have different etiologies, highlight shared pathologies rooted in oxidative stress. Central to liver metabolism, mitochondria are essential for ATP production, gluconeogenesis, fatty acid oxidation, and heme synthesis. However, in diseases like NAFLD, ALD, and liver fibrosis, mitochondrial function is compromised by inflammatory cytokines, hepatotoxins, and metabolic irregularities. This dysfunction, especially electron leakage, exacerbates the production of reactive oxygen species (ROS), augmenting liver damage. Amidst this, nuclear factor erythroid 2-related factor 2 (NRF2) emerges as a cellular protector. It not only counters oxidative stress by regulating antioxidant genes but also maintains mitochondrial health by overseeing autophagy and biogenesis.
405
13 Nov 2023
Topic Review
Artificial Intelligence in Colonoscopy
The early endoscopic identification, resection, and treatment of precancerous adenoma and early-stage cancer has been shown to reduce not only the prevalence of colorectal cancer but also its mortality rate. Recent advances in endoscopic devices and imaging technology have dramatically improved the ability to detect colorectal lesions and predict their pathological diagnosis. In addition to this, rapid advances in artificial intelligence (AI) technology mean that AI-related research and development is now progressing in the diagnostic imaging field, particularly colonoscopy, and AIs (i.e., devices that mimic cognitive abilities, such as learning and problem-solving) already approved as medical devices are now being introduced into everyday clinical practice. There is an increasing expectation that sophisticated AIs will be able to provide high-level diagnostic performance irrespective of the level of skill of the endoscopist.
405
10 Jun 2022
Topic Review
Apoptosis and Autophagy in Human Colorectal Cancer Development
Colorectal cancer (CRC) remains a major life-threatening malignancy. Apoptosis and autophagy are two processes that share common signaling pathways, are linked by functional relationships and have similar protein components. During the development of cancer, the two processes can trigger simultaneously in the same cell, causing, in some cases, an inhibition of autophagy by apoptosis or apoptosis by autophagy. Malignant cells that have accumulated genetic alterations can take advantage of any alterations in the apoptotic process and as a result, progress easily in the cancerous transformation. Autophagy often plays a suppressive role during the initial stages of carcinogenicity, while in the later stages of cancer development it can play a promoting role. It is extremely important to determine the regulation of this duality of autophagy in the development of CRC and to identify the molecules involved, as well as the signals and the mechanisms behind it. All the reported experimental results indicate that, while the antagonistic effects of autophagy and apoptosis occur in an adverse environment characterized by deprivation of oxygen and nutrients, leading to the formation and development of CRC, the effects of promotion and collaboration usually involve an auxiliary role of autophagy compared to apoptosis.
406
20 Jun 2023
Topic Review
Microbiota and Non-Alcoholic Steatohepatitis
Non-alcoholic fatty liver disease (NAFLD) is an increasing cause of chronic liver illness associated with obesity and metabolic disorders, such as hypertension, dyslipidemia, or type 2 diabetes mellitus. A more severe type of NAFLD, non-alcoholic steatohepatitis (NASH), is considered an ongoing global health threat and dramatically increases the risks of cirrhosis, liver failure, and hepatocellular carcinoma. Non-alcoholic fatty liver disease (NAFLD), which is characterized by an increase in fat accumulation in the form of micro and macro vacuoles of lipids into hepatocytes (named steatosis), is the most common liver disorder worldwide. Steatosis is classified as mild (5–33%), moderate (34–66%), or severe (more than 66%) depending on the fat number in vacuoles within the cytoplasm of hepatocytes. Additionally, other histopathological features should be taken into account in the presence of steatosis including inflammation, fibrosis, and ballooning degeneration.
404
06 Apr 2021
Page
of
66
Featured Entry Collections
>>
Featured Books
>>
Encyclopedia of Social Sciences
Chief Editor:
Michael McAleer
Encyclopedia of COVID-19
Chief Editor:
Stephen Bustin
Encyclopedia of Fungi
Chief Editor:
Luis V. Lopez-Llorca
Encyclopedia of Digital Society, Industry 5.0 and Smart City
Chief Editor:
Sandro Serpa
Entry
Video
Image
Journal
Book
News
About
Log in/Sign up
New Entry
New Video
New Images
About
Terms and Conditions
Privacy Policy
Advisory Board
Contact
Partner
Video Production Service
Feedback
Top
Feedback
×
Help Center
Browse our user manual, common Q&A, author guidelines, etc.
Rate your experience
Let us know your experience and what we could improve.
Report an error
Is something wrong? Please let us know!
Other feedback
Other feedback you would like to report.
×
Did you find what you were looking for?
Love
Like
Neutral
Dislike
Hate
0
/500
Email
Do you agree to share your valuable feedback publicly on
Encyclopedia
’s homepage?
Yes, I agree. Encyclopedia can post it.
No, I do not agree. I would not like to post my testimonial.
Webpage
Upload a screenshot
(Max file size 2MB)
Submit
Back
Close
×