Topic Review
Cardiac Fibrosis and Fibroblasts
Cardiac fibrosis is the excess deposition of extracellular matrix (ECM), such as collagen.
  • 583
  • 23 Jul 2021
Topic Review
Marine Drugs in Parkinson’s Disease
Terpenes, shikimates, polyketides, acetogenins, peptides, alkaloids, and many uncharacterized structures, extracted and purified from marine resources, showed various pharmacological activities as antioxidant, antibacterial, anticancer, antiviral, anti-inflammatory, antidiabetic, antihypertensive, and anticoagulant.
  • 583
  • 23 Feb 2021
Topic Review
Neuroprotective Agents from Syzygium from Alzheimer’s Perspective
Alzheimer’s disease (AD) is the most prevalent type of dementia worldwide, constituting 70–80% of cases, primarily among the elderly. This irreversible neurodegenerative disorder progressively impairs memory and other cognitive functions. The molecular mechanisms of Syzygium species in neuroprotection include the inhibition of acetylcholinesterase (AChE) to correct cholinergic transmission, suppression of pro-inflammatory mediators, oxidative stress markers, reactive immediate species (RIS) production, enhancement of antioxidant enzymes, the restoration of brain ions homeostasis, the inhibition of microglial invasion, the modulation of ß-cell insulin release, the enhancement of lipid accumulation, glucose uptake, and adiponectin secretion via the activation of the insulin signaling pathway. Additional efforts are warranted to explore less studied species, including the Australian and Western Syzygium species. The effectiveness of the Syzygium genus in neuroprotective responses is markedly established, but further compound isolation, in silico, and clinical studies are demanded. 
  • 581
  • 14 Jun 2022
Topic Review
GenisteinSupplementation, CardiacFunction in Postmenopausal-Women with MetabolicSyndrome: Results from Pilot-Strain-Echo Study
Genistein, a soy-derived isoflavone, may improve cardiovascular risk profile in postmenopausal women with metabolic syndrome (MetS), but few literature data on its cardiac effects in humans are available. The aim of this sub-study of a randomized double-blind case-control study was to analyze the effect on cardiac function of one-year genistein dietary supplementation in 22 post-menopausal patients with MetS. Participants received 54 mg/day of genistein (n = 11) or placebo (n = 11) in combination with a Mediterranean-style diet and regular exercise. Left ventricular (LV) systolic function was assessed as the primary endpoint, according to conventional and strain-echocardiography measurements. Also, left atrial (LA) morphofunctional indices were investigated at baseline and at the final visit. Results were expressed as median with interquartile range (IQ). A significant improvement of LV ejection fraction (20.3 (IQ 12.5) vs. -1.67 (IQ 24.8); p = 0.040)), and LA area fractional change (11.1 (IQ 22.6) vs. 2.8 (9.5); p = 0.034)) were observed in genistein patients compared to the controls, following 12 months of treatment. In addition, body surface area indexed LA systolic volume and peak LA longitudinal strain significantly changed from basal to the end of the study in genistein-treated patients. One-year supplementation with 54 mg/day of pure genistein improved both LV ejection fraction and LA remodeling and function in postmenopausal women with MetS.
  • 577
  • 01 Nov 2020
Topic Review
Mevalonate Kinase Deficiency and Squalene Synthase Inhibitor (TAK-475)
Mevalonate Kinase Deficiency (MKD) is a rare inborn disease belonging to the family of periodic fever syndromes. The MKD phenotype is characterized by systemic inflammation involving multiple organs, including the nervous system. Current anti-inflammatory approaches to MKD are only partially effective and do not act specifically on neural inflammation. According to the new emerging pharmacology trends, the repositioning of drugs from the indication for which they were originally intended to another one can make mechanistic-based medications easily available to treat rare diseases. According to this perspective, the squalene synthase inhibitor Lapaquistat (TAK-475), originally developed as a cholesterol-lowering drug, might find a new indication in MKD, by modulating the mevalonate cholesterol pathway, increasing the availability of anti-inflammatory isoprenoid intermediates.
  • 576
  • 19 Oct 2021
Topic Review
Extracellular Vesicles in Lung Disease
The use of MSC-derived EVs as a potential therapy for lung disease is a fairly young but rapidly growing field, with current research covering a wide variety of lung diseases. The majority of the current research evaluating the therapeutic potential of EVs has been performed in in vitro or pre-clinical animal model systems. This review will describe current published research using EVs as a potential therapy for acute lung injury/acute respiratory distress syndrome (ALI/ARDS), bronchopulmonary dysplasia (BPD), idiopathic pulmonary fibrosis (IPF), pulmonary arterial hypertension (PAH), asthma, and silicosis.
  • 575
  • 28 Oct 2020
Topic Review
Bacteriophage-Delivering Hydrogels
Hydrogels are non-toxic polymeric materials exhibiting three-dimensional networks along with their hydrophilic characteristics playing an essential role in containing large water content, which serves as a biocompatible environment suited for formulation and delivery of bacteriophages.
  • 570
  • 25 Feb 2021
Topic Review
NLR in Allergic Diseases
Our understanding on the immunological roles of pathogen recognition in innate immunity has vastly increased over the past 20 years. Nucleotide-binding oligomerization domain (NOD)-like receptors (NLR) are cytosolic pattern recognition receptors (PRR) that are responsible for sensing microbial motifs and endogenous damage signals in mammalian cytosol for immune surveillance and host defense.
  • 570
  • 26 Feb 2021
Topic Review
Oxidative Stress and Reproductive Function
       There are many factors that contribute to the decline of the male reproductive system. In particular, aging is associated with an increase production of reactive oxygen species (ROS) and a decrease in the antioxidant defense system, leading to oxidative stress, which can be harmful to male germ cells. Although sperm quality is thought to decrease with age, studies in humans have not found a definite negative correlation between aging and sperm quality. Further, advanced paternal age (APA), commonly defined as men over the age of 40 years, is associated with an increase in sperm DNA damage, male infertility and negative progeny outcomes. Although limited, studies have found that there may be benefits to antioxidant supplementation in order to reverse the effects of aging and oxidative stress in males. More studies need to be conducted. 
  • 570
  • 26 Oct 2020
Topic Review
FUBCs in gram negative bacteremia
Bloodstream infections still constitute an outstanding cause of in-hospital morbidity and mortality, especially among critically ill patients. Follow up blood cultures (FUBCs) are widely recommended for proper management of Staphylococcus aureus and Candida spp infections. On the other hand, their role is still a matter of controversy as far as Gram negative bacteremias are concerned. We revised, analyzed, and commented on the literature addressing this issue, to define the clinical settings in which the application of FUBCs could better reveal its value.
  • 570
  • 29 Dec 2020
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