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Topic Review
Neurotensin and Neurotensin Receptors
The tridecapeptide neurotensin (NT) was isolated from the bovine hypothalamus. It is involved in gut motility and belongs to a family of bioactive peptides, including contulakin, xenopsin, LANT-6, and neuromedin, showing similar amino acid sequences at the C-terminal region; this sequence is essential for the physiological effects mediated by these peptides. Neurotensin is relevant in brain reward mechanisms. Its role in substance abuse needs to be explored in depth to open new therapeutic strategies.
  • 566
  • 17 May 2023
Topic Review
Ethanol versus Adenosine on Emotional and Cognitive Disturbances
Binge drinking intake is the most common pattern of ethanol consumption by adolescents, which elicits emotional disturbances, mainly anxiety and depressive symptoms, as well as cognitive alterations. Ethanol exposure may act on the adenosine neuromodulation system by increasing adenosine levels, consequently increasing the activation of adenosine receptors in the brain. The adenosine modulation system is involved in the control of mood and memory behavior.
  • 564
  • 14 Nov 2022
Topic Review
Chronic Obstructive Pulmonary Disease (COPD)
Chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD) is a lung disease primarily characterized by the presence of airflow limitation and inflammation, due to elevated inflammatory cells, especially neutrophils, in the lungs.
  • 563
  • 26 May 2021
Topic Review
Targeting Gut in Obesity: Signals from Inner Surface
Obesity is caused by prolonged energy surplus. Current anti-obesity medications are mostly centralized around the energy input part of the energy balance equation by increasing satiety and reducing appetite. Our gastrointestinal tract is a key organ for regulation of food intake and supplies a tremendous number of circulating signals that modulate the activity of appetite-regulating areas of the brain by either direct interaction or through the vagus nerve. Intestinally derived messengers are manifold and include absorbed nutrients, microbial metabolites, gut hormones and other enterokines, collectively comprising a fine-tuned signalling system to the brain. After a meal, nutrients directly interact with appetite-inhibiting areas of the brain and induce satiety. However, overall feeding behaviour also depends on secretion of gut hormones produced by highly specialized and sensitive enteroendocrine cells. Moreover, circulating microbial metabolites and their interactions with enteroendocrine cells further contribute to the regulation of feeding patterns. Current therapies exploiting the appetite-regulating properties of the gut are based on chemically modified versions of the gut hormone, glucagon-like peptide-1 (GLP-1) or on inhibitors of the primary GLP-1 inactivating enzyme, dipeptidyl peptidase-4 (DPP-4). The effectiveness of these approaches shows that that the gut is a promising target for therapeutic interventions to achieve significant weigh loss. 
  • 562
  • 24 Jan 2022
Topic Review
Curcumin-Loaded Silica Nanoparticles
Curcumin has multiple properties that are used to cure different diseases such as cancer, infections, inflammatory, arthritic disease, etc. Despite having many effects, the inherent physicochemical properties—such as poor water solubility, chemical instability, low bioavailability, photodegradation, fast metabolism, and short half-life—of curcumin’s derivatives have limited its medical importance. Mesoporous silica nanoparticles (MSNs) are promising drug delivery systems for more effective and safer treatment of several diseases, such as infections, cancers, and osteoporosis. Achieving a high drug loading in MSNs is critical to the success of this type of treatment. Their notable inherent properties—such as adjustable size and porosity, high pore volume, large surface area, functionality of versatile surfaces, as well as biocompatibility—have prompted extraordinary research on MSNs as multi-purpose delivery platforms.
  • 563
  • 08 Sep 2022
Topic Review
Biomedical Applications of Modified Dextran
Native DEX (Dextran) exhibits low-cell-adhesive properties and in order to obtain hydrogels with controlled cell-scaffold interactions, specific molecules must be incorporated. Many research groups have chemically modified DEX by introducing functional groups into the molecule through cross-linking reactions, therefore improving mechanical strength and drug-loading ability and increasing the number of compound classes that can be obtained. Furthermore, DEX has been shown to have metal chelating activity and antioxidant properties, as well as antitumour activity by regulating apoptosis and autophagy.
  • 562
  • 10 Feb 2023
Topic Review
CCL-11 or Eotaxin-1
CCL-11 (eotaxin) is a chemokine with an important role in allergic conditions. Recent evidence indicates that CCL-11 plays a role in brain disorders as well. CCL-11 is rapidly transported from the blood to the brain through the blood-brain barrier. Age-related increases in CCL-11 are associated with cognitive impairments in executive functions and episodic and semantic memory, and therefore, this chemokine has been described as an “Endogenous Cognition Deteriorating Chemokine” (ECDC) or “Accelerated Brain-Aging Chemokine” (ABAC).
  • 560
  • 16 Apr 2021
Topic Review
Neurogliovascular Unit and Cerebral-microvascular Disease
The distinctive anatomical assemble and functionally discrete multicellular cerebrovasculature dynamics confer varying rheological and blood–brain barrier (BBB) permeabilities to preserve the integrity of cerebral white matter and its neural microenvironment. This homeostasis intricately involves the neurogliovascular unit (NGVU) and glymphatic system that manages the flow of cerebrospinal fluid (CSF), interstitial fluids (ISF), metabolic waste, and clearance through the venous circulation. NGVU refers to the integration of neuronal structures, glial cells (including the microglial), and vasculature (i.e., capillaries, arteries, and/or arterioles) governed by the astrocytes.
  • 560
  • 16 Aug 2021
Topic Review
Investigational Polymeric Microparticles for Parkinson’s Disease
Parkinson’s disease (PD) is a devastating neurodegenerative disease characterized by progressive destruction of dopaminergic tissue in the central nervous system (CNS). There is no cure for the disease, with pharmacological treatments aimed at controlling the symptoms. Therefore, there is an unmet need for new treatments for PD. In addition to new therapeutic options, there exists the need for improved efficiency of the existing ones, as many agents have difficulties in crossing the blood–brain barrier (BBB) to achieve therapeutic levels in the CNS or exhibit inappropriate pharmacokinetic profiles, thereby limiting their clinical benefits. To overcome these limitations, an interesting approach is the use of drug delivery systems, such as polymeric microparticles (MPs) that allow for the controlled release of the active ingredients targeting to the desired site of action, increasing the bioavailability and efficacy of treatments, as well as reducing the number of administrations and adverse effects.
  • 560
  • 09 Jan 2023
Topic Review
Opioid Analgesia and Opioid-Induced Adverse Effects
Opioids are broadly used as therapeutic agents against moderate to severe acute and chronic pain. Noticeably, these analgesics have many limitations as they induce analgesic tolerance, addiction, physical dependence, respiratory depression, and various other behavioural adverse effects that often result in patient non-compliance. In addition, the actual mechanisms of opioid-induced adverse reactions over long-term use are not entirely understood. 
  • 559
  • 08 Dec 2021
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