scholarly journals Perspectives on applications of nanomaterials from shelled plankton

2021 ◽  
Author(s):  
Marco Lo Presti ◽  
Danilo Vona ◽  
Roberta Ragni ◽  
Stefania R. Cicco ◽  
Gianluca Maria Farinola
Keyword(s):  
Energy Storage ◽  
Scientific Literature ◽  
Technological Impact ◽  
Shell Forming

Abstract Biomineralization ubiquitously occurs in plankton, featuring hierarchically nanostructured shells that display several properties that benefit their host survival. Nanostructures’ shapes and many of these properties are tunable through in vitro or in vivo modification of microorganisms, making their shells very appealing for applications in materials sciences. Despite the abundance of shell-forming species, research has focused mainly on diatoms and coccolithophores microalgae, with current scientific literature mostly targeting the development of photonic, biomedical and energy storage/conversion devices. This prospective article aims to critically overview potentialities of nanomaterials from biomineralizing plankton, possible outcomes and technological impact relevant to this technology. Graphic Abstract

scholarly journals Cardiovascular, carcinogenic and reproductive effects of nicotine exposure: A narrative review of the scientific literature

F1000Research ◽  
2020 ◽  
Vol 8 ◽  
pp. 1586
Author(s):  
Leonie R. Price ◽  
Javier Martinez
Keyword(s):  
Cardiovascular Risk ◽  
Cancer Progression ◽  
Animal Studies ◽  
Scientific Literature ◽  
Human Cancer ◽  
Narrative Review ◽  
Nicotine Exposure ◽  
Health Related

The emergence of new tobacco heating products and electronic nicotine delivery systems (ENDS) is changing the way humans are exposed to nicotine. The purpose of this narrative review is to provide a broad overview of published scientific literature with respect to the effects of nicotine on three key health-related areas: 1) cardiovascular risk, 2) carcinogenesis and 3) reproductive outcomes. These areas are known to be particularly vulnerable to the effects of cigarette smoke, and in addition, nicotine has been hypothesized to play a role in disease pathogenesis. Acute toxicity will also be discussed. The literature to February 2019 suggests that there is no increased cardiovascular risk of nicotine exposure in consumers who have no underlying cardiovascular pathology. There is scientific consensus that nicotine is not a direct or complete carcinogen, however, it remains to be established whether it plays some role in human cancer propagation and metastasis. These cancer progression pathways have been proposed in models in vitro and in transgenic rodent lines in vivo but have not been demonstrated in cases of human cancer. Further studies are needed to determine whether nicotine is linked to decreased fertility in humans. The results from animal studies indicate that nicotine has the potential to act across many mechanisms during fetal development. More studies are needed to address questions regarding nicotine exposure in humans, and this may lead to additional guidance concerning new ENDS entering the market.

scholarly journals In Vitro Screening for Drug Repositioning

2014 ◽  
Vol 20 (2) ◽  
pp. 167-179 ◽  
Author(s):  
Graeme F. Wilkinson ◽  
Kevin Pritchard
Keyword(s):  
Scientific Literature ◽  
Drug Repositioning ◽  
Short Review ◽  
In Vitro Screening ◽  
Compound Libraries ◽  
Starting Point ◽  
Viable Method ◽  
Large Compound

Drug repositioning or repurposing has received much coverage in the scientific literature in recent years and has been responsible for the generation of both new intellectual property and investigational new drug submissions. The literature indicates a significant trend toward the use of computational- or informatics-based methods for generating initial repositioning hypotheses, followed by focused assessment of biological activity in phenotypic assays. Another viable method for drug repositioning is in vitro screening of known drugs or drug-like molecules, initially in disease-relevant phenotypic assays, to identify and validate candidates for repositioning. This approach can use large compound libraries or can focus on subsets of known drugs or drug-like molecules. In this short review, we focus on ways to generate and validate repositioning candidates in disease-related in vitro and phenotypic assays, and we discuss specific examples of this approach as applied to a variety of disease areas. We propose that in vitro screens offer several advantages over biochemical or in vivo methods as a starting point for drug repositioning.

A review of the efficacy of mycotoxin detoxifying agents used in feed in light of changing global environment and legislation

2016 ◽  
Vol 9 (3) ◽  
pp. 419-433 ◽  
Author(s):  
E. Wielogórska ◽  
S. MacDonald ◽  
C.T. Elliott
Keyword(s):  
Agricultural Production ◽  
Production Efficiency ◽  
Scientific Literature ◽  
Animal Feed ◽  
Animal Health ◽  
Global Environment ◽  
Low Levels ◽  
Feed Samples

In the recent years, mycotoxins have undoubtedly gained a keen interest of the scientific community studying food safety. The main reason is their profound impact on both human and animal health. International surveys reveal a low percentage of feed samples being contaminated above permitted/guideline levels, developed to protect consumers of animal derived products. However, the deleterious impact of feed co-contaminated at low levels with numerous both known and regulated as well as novel mycotoxins on producing animals has been described. Associated effects on agro-economics world-wide include substantial pecuniary losses which are borne by the society as a whole. Even though good agronomic practice is thought to be the most effective way of preventing animal feed contamination, the EC have recognised the need to introduce an additional means of management of feed already contaminated with low-levels of mycotoxins to alleviate detrimental effects on agricultural production efficiency. This review discusses types of feed detoxifying agents described in scientific literature, their reported efficacy in both in vitro and in vivo systems, and comparison with available commercial formulations in the light of increasing knowledge regarding mycotoxin prevalence in the changing global environment.

Tungsten or Wolfram: Friend or Foe?

2018 ◽  
Vol 25 (1) ◽  
pp. 65-74 ◽  
Author(s):  
Maria A. Zoroddu ◽  
Serenella Medici ◽  
Massimiliano Peana ◽  
Valeria M. Nurchi ◽  
Joanna I. Lachowicz ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Melting Point ◽  
Adverse Effects ◽  
Scientific Literature ◽  
Mining Industry ◽  
Toxic Metal ◽  
Tungsten Alloys ◽  
In Vivo Experiments ◽  
Tungsten Metal

Tungsten or wolfram was regarded for many years as an enemy within the tin smelting and mining industry, because it conferred impurity or dirtiness in tin mining. However, later it was considered an amazing metal for its strength and flexibility, together with its diamond like hardness and its melting point which is the highest of any metal. It was first believed to be relatively inert and an only slightly toxic metal. Since early 2000, the risk exerted by tungsten alloys, its dusts and particulates to induce cancer and several other adverse effects in animals as well as humans has been highlighted from in vitro and in vivo experiments. Thus, it becomes necessary to take a careful look at all the most recent data reported in the scientific literature, covering the years 2001-2016. In fact, the findings indicate that much more attention should be devoted to thoroughly investigate the toxic effects of tungsten and the involved mechanisms of tungsten metal or tungsten metal ions.

scholarly journals Mechanistic Aspects of Apiaceae Family Spices in Ameliorating Alzheimer’s Disease

Antioxidants ◽  
2021 ◽  
Vol 10 (10) ◽  
pp. 1571
Author(s):  
Niti Sharma ◽  
Mario A. Tan ◽  
Seong Soo A. An
Keyword(s):  
Oxidative Stress ◽  
Alzheimer’S Disease ◽  
Alzheimer's Disease ◽  
Scientific Literature ◽  
Comprehensive Evaluation ◽  
Amyloid Plaque ◽  
Plaque Formation ◽  
New Strategies

Alzheimer’s disease (AD) is one of the most prevalent neurodegenerative diseases worldwide. In an effort to search for new strategies for treating AD, natural products have become candidates of choice. Plants are a rich source of bioactive and effective compounds used in treating numerous diseases. Various plant extracts are known to display neuroprotective activities by targeting different pathophysiological pathways in association with the diseases, such as inhibiting enzymes responsible for degrading neurotransmitters, reducing oxidative stress, neuroprotection, inhibiting amyloid plaque formation, and replenishing mitochondrial function. This review presented a comprehensive evaluation of the available scientific literature (in vivo, in vitro, and in silico) on the neuroprotective mechanisms displayed by the extracts/bioactive compounds from spices belonging to the Apiaceae family in ameliorating AD.

scholarly journals Role of Key Micronutrients from Nutrigenetic and Nutrigenomic Perspectives in Cancer Prevention

Medicina ◽  
2019 ◽  
Vol 55 (6) ◽  
pp. 283 ◽  
Author(s):  
Alexandra Irimie ◽  
Cornelia Braicu ◽  
Sergiu Pasca ◽  
Lorand Magdo ◽  
Diana Gulei ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Scientific Literature ◽  
Inhibitory Effect ◽  
General View ◽  
Molecular Alteration ◽  
Gene Level ◽  
Effective Doses ◽  
Cancer Inhibition

Regarding cancer as a genetic multi-factorial disease, a number of aspects need to be investigated and analyzed in terms of cancer’s predisposition, development and prognosis. One of these multi-dimensional factors, which has gained increased attention in the oncological field due to its unelucidated role in risk assessment for cancer, is diet. Moreover, as studies advance, a clearer connection between diet and the molecular alteration of patients is becoming identifiable and quantifiable, thereby replacing the old general view associating specific phenotypical changes with the differential intake of nutrients. Respectively, there are two major fields concentrated on the interrelation between genome and diet: nutrigenetics and nutrigenomics. Nutrigenetics studies the effects of nutrition at the gene level, whereas nutrigenomics studies the effect of nutrients on genome and transcriptome patterns. By precisely evaluating the interaction between the genomic profile of patients and their nutrient intake, it is possible to envision a concept of personalized medicine encompassing nutrition and health care. The list of nutrients that could have an inhibitory effect on cancer development is quite extensive, with evidence in the scientific literature. The administration of these nutrients showed significant results in vitro and in vivo regarding cancer inhibition, although more studies regarding administration in effective doses in actual patients need to be done.

scholarly journals Biological effects of nicotine exposure: A narrative review of the scientific literature

F1000Research ◽  
2019 ◽  
Vol 8 ◽  
pp. 1586
Author(s):  
Leonie R. Price ◽  
Javier Martinez
Keyword(s):  
Cardiovascular Risk ◽  
Cancer Progression ◽  
Animal Studies ◽  
Scientific Literature ◽  
Human Cancer ◽  
Biological Effects ◽  
Narrative Review ◽  
Nicotine Exposure

The emergence of new tobacco heating products and electronic nicotine delivery systems (ENDS) is changing the way humans are exposed to nicotine. The purpose of this narrative review is to provide a broad overview of published scientific literature with respect to the effects of nicotine on three key health-related areas: 1) cardiovascular risk, 2) carcinogenesis and 3) reproductive outcomes. These areas are known to be particularly vulnerable to the effects of cigarette smoke, and in addition, nicotine has been hypothesized to play a role in disease pathogenesis. Acute toxicity will also be discussed. The literature to February 2019 suggests that there is no increased cardiovascular risk of nicotine exposure in consumers who have no underlying cardiovascular pathology. There is scientific consensus that nicotine is not a direct or complete carcinogen, however, it remains to be established whether it plays some role in human cancer propagation and metastasis. These cancer progression pathways have been proposed in models in vitro and in transgenic rodent lines in vivo but have not been demonstrated in cases of human cancer. Further studies are needed to determine whether nicotine is linked to decreased fertility in humans. The results from animal studies indicate that nicotine has the potential to act across many mechanisms during fetal development. More studies are needed to address questions regarding nicotine exposure in humans, and this may lead to additional guidance concerning new ENDS entering the market.

scholarly journals Microbial Metabolites of Flavan-3-Ols and Their Biological Activity

Nutrients ◽  
2019 ◽  
Vol 11 (10) ◽  
pp. 2260 ◽  
Author(s):  
Campos ◽  
Stehle ◽  
Simon
Keyword(s):  
Biological Activity ◽  
Scientific Literature ◽  
Current Status ◽  
Microbial Metabolites ◽  
Potential Health ◽  
In Vivo Animal Models ◽  
Polyphenol Intake

Flavan-3-ols are the main contributors to polyphenol intake. Many varying beneficial health effects in humans have been attributed to them, including the prevention of cardiovascular disease and cancer. Nevertheless, the mechanisms by which these flavonoids could exert beneficial functions are not entirely known. Several in vitro studies and in vivo animal models have tried to elucidate the role of the specific colonic metabolites on the health properties that are attributed to the parent compounds since a larger number of ingested flavan-3-ols reach the colon and undergo there microbial metabolism. Many new studies about this topic have been performed over the last few years and, to the best of our knowledge, no scientific literature review regarding the bioactivity of all identified microbial metabolites of flavan-3-ols has been recently published. Therefore, the aim of this review is to present the current status of knowledge on the potential health benefits of flavan-3-ol microbial metabolites in humans while using the latest evidence on their biological activity.

scholarly journals Immunotoxic Effects Induced by Microcystins and Cylindrospermopsin: A Review

Toxins ◽  
2021 ◽  
Vol 13 (10) ◽  
pp. 711
Author(s):  
Leticia Diez-Quijada ◽  
Maria del Monte Benítez-González ◽  
María Puerto ◽  
Angeles Jos ◽  
Ana M. Cameán
Keyword(s):  
Immune System ◽  
Scientific Literature ◽  
Anthropogenic Activities ◽  
In Vivo Studies ◽  
Wide Range ◽  
Full Picture ◽  
Underlying Mechanisms ◽  
The Impact

Cyanotoxin occurrence is gaining importance due to anthropogenic activities, climate change and eutrophication. Among them, Microcystins (MCs) and Cylindrospermopsin (CYN) are the most frequently studied due to their ubiquity and toxicity. Although MCs are primary classified as hepatotoxins and CYN as a cytotoxin, they have been shown to induce deleterious effects in a wide range of organs. However, their effects on the immune system are as yet scarcely investigated. Thus, to know the impact of cyanotoxins on the immune system, due to its importance in organisms’ homeostasis, is considered of interest. A review of the scientific literature dealing with the immunotoxicity of MCs and CYN has been performed, and both in vitro and in vivo studies have been considered. Results have confirmed the scarcity of reports on the topic, particularly for CYN. Decreased cell viability, apoptosis or altered functions of immune cells, and changed levels and mRNA expression of cytokines are among the most common effects reported. Underlying mechanisms, however, are still not yet fully elucidated. Further research is needed in order to have a full picture of cyanotoxin immunotoxicity.

scholarly journals The complexity of lipoprotein (a) lowering by PCSK9 monoclonal antibodies

2017 ◽  
Vol 131 (4) ◽  
pp. 261-268 ◽  
Author(s):  
Gilles Lambert ◽  
Aurélie Thedrez ◽  
Mikaël Croyal ◽  
Stéphane Ramin-Mangata ◽  
David Couret ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Monoclonal Antibodies ◽  
Ldl Cholesterol ◽  
Scientific Literature ◽  
Low Density Lipoprotein ◽  
Ldl Receptor ◽  
Density Lipoprotein ◽  
Lipoprotein A ◽  
Pcsk9 Inhibition

Since 2012, clinical trials dedicated to proprotein convertase subtilisin kexin type 9 (PCSK9) inhibition with monoclonal antibodies (mAbs) have unambiguously demonstrated robust reductions not only in low-density lipoprotein (LDL) cholesterol (LDL-C) but also in lipoprotein (a) [Lp(a)] levels. The scientific literature published prior to those studies did not provide any evidence for a link between PCSK9 and Lp(a) metabolism. More recent investigations, either in vitro or in vivo, have attempted to unravel the mechanism(s) by which PCSK9 mAbs reduce circulating Lp(a) levels, with some showing a specific implication of the LDL receptor (LDLR) in Lp(a) clearance whereas others found no significant role for the LDLR in that process. This elusive pathway appears clearly distinct from that of the widely prescribed statins that also enhance LDLR function but do not lower circulating Lp (a) levels in humans. So how does PCSK9 inhibition with mAbs reduce Lp(a)? This still remains to be established.

Sign in / Sign up

Export Citation Format

Share Document