The potential use of flavonoids as venoactive drugs and the role of citrus fruits

Hypertrophic cardiomyopathy (HCM) is a global disease affecting people of various ethnic origins and both genders. HCM is a genetic disorder with a wide range of symptoms, including the catastrophic presentation of sudden cardiac death. Proper diagnosis and treatment of this disorder can relieve symptoms and prolong life. Non-invasive imaging is essential in diagnosing HCM. We present a review to deliberate the potential use of cardiac magnetic resonance (CMR) imaging in HCM assessment and also identify the risk factors entailed with risk stratification of HCM based on Magnetic Resonance Imaging (MRI).

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Imaging Familial and Sporadic Neurodegenerative Disorders Associated with Parkinsonism

Neurotherapeutics ◽

10.1007/s13311-020-00994-4 ◽

2021 ◽

Author(s):

David J. Brooks

Keyword(s):

Parkinson’S Disease ◽

Parkinson's Disease ◽

Neurodegenerative Disorders ◽

Lewy Body Dementia ◽

Imaging Biomarkers ◽

Imaging Findings ◽

Subclinical Disease ◽

Similarities And Differences ◽

Potential Use

AbstractIn this paper, the structural and functional imaging changes associated with sporadic and genetic Parkinson’s disease and atypical Parkinsonian variants are reviewed. The role of imaging for supporting diagnosis and detecting subclinical disease is discussed, and the potential use and drawbacks of using imaging biomarkers for monitoring disease progression is debated. Imaging changes associated with nonmotor complications of PD are presented. The similarities and differences in imaging findings in Lewy body dementia, Parkinson’s disease dementia, and Alzheimer’s disease are discussed.

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Antioxidants for the Treatment of Breast Cancer: Are We There Yet?

Antioxidants ◽

10.3390/antiox10020205 ◽

2021 ◽

Vol 10 (2) ◽

pp. 205

Author(s):

Carmen Griñan-Lison ◽

Jose L. Blaya-Cánovas ◽

Araceli López-Tejada ◽

Marta Ávalos-Moreno ◽

Alba Navarro-Ocón ◽

...

Keyword(s):

Breast Cancer ◽

Oxidative Stress ◽

Cancer Progression ◽

Redox Homeostasis ◽

Breast Carcinogenesis ◽

Breast Cancer Patients ◽

Chemopreventive Agents ◽

Low Degree ◽

Potential Use

Breast cancer is the most frequent cancer and the leading cause of cancer death in women. Oxidative stress and the generation of reactive oxygen species (ROS) have been related to cancer progression. Compared to their normal counterparts, tumor cells show higher ROS levels and tight regulation of REDOX homeostasis to maintain a low degree of oxidative stress. Traditionally antioxidants have been extensively investigated to counteract breast carcinogenesis and tumor progression as chemopreventive agents; however, there is growing evidence indicating their potential as adjuvants for the treatment of breast cancer. Aimed to elucidate whether antioxidants could be a reality in the management of breast cancer patients, this review focuses on the latest investigations regarding the ambivalent role of antioxidants in the development of breast cancer, with special attention to the results derived from clinical trials, as well as their potential use as plausible agents in combination therapy and their power to ameliorate the side effects attributed to standard therapeutics. Data retrieved herein suggest that antioxidants play an important role in breast cancer prevention and the improvement of therapeutic efficacy; nevertheless, appropriate patient stratification based on “redoxidomics” or tumor subtype is mandatory in order to define the dosage for future standardized and personalized treatments of patients.

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PD-L1/PD-1 Axis in Multiple Myeloma Microenvironment and a Possible Link with CD38-Mediated Immune-Suppression

Cancers ◽

10.3390/cancers13020164 ◽

2021 ◽

Vol 13 (2) ◽

pp. 164

Author(s):

Federica Costa ◽

Valentina Marchica ◽

Paola Storti ◽

Fabio Malavasi ◽

Nicola Giuliani

Keyword(s):

Multiple Myeloma ◽

Bone Marrow ◽

Cell Survival ◽

Immune Suppression ◽

Metabolic Pathways ◽

Therapeutic Strategy ◽

Myeloma Cell ◽

Immune Microenvironment ◽

Potential Use

The emerging role of the PD-1/PD-L1 axis in MM immune-microenvironment has been highlighted by several studies. However, discordant data have been reported on PD-1/PD-L1 distribution within the bone marrow (BM) microenvironment of patients with monoclonal gammopathies. In addition, the efficacy of PD-1/PD-L1 blockade as a therapeutic strategy to reverse myeloma immune suppression and inhibit myeloma cell survival still remains unknown. Recent data suggest that, among the potential mechanisms behind the lack of responsiveness or resistance to anti-PD-L1/PD-1 antibodies, the CD38 metabolic pathways involving the immune-suppressive factor, adenosine, could play an important role. This review summarizes the available data on PD-1/PD-L1 expression in patients with MM, reporting the main mechanisms of regulation of PD-1/PD-L1 axis. The possible link between the CD38 and PD-1/PD-L1 pathways is also reported, highlighting the rationale for the potential use of a combined therapeutic approach with CD38 blocking agents and anti-PD-1/PD-L1 antibodies in order to improve their anti-tumoral effect in MM patients.

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Associations between the thyroid panel and serum protein concentrations across pregnancy

Scientific Reports ◽

10.1038/s41598-021-94358-3 ◽

2021 ◽

Vol 11 (1) ◽

Author(s):

Barbara Lisowska-Myjak ◽

Agnieszka Strawa ◽

Hanna Zborowska ◽

Artur Jakimiuk ◽

Ewa Skarżyńska

Keyword(s):

Serum Proteins ◽

Thyroid Stimulating Hormone ◽

Second Trimester ◽

Serum Concentrations ◽

Metabolic Processes ◽

Serum Samples ◽

Serum Parameters ◽

Active Regulation ◽

Potential Use

AbstractEstablishing any characteristic associations between the serum parameters of thyroid function and serum proteins in pregnancy may aid in elucidating the role of the thyroid gland in the regulation of pregnancy-specific metabolic processes and in selecting candidate biomarkers for use in their clinical assessment. Concentrations of thyroid stimulating hormone (TSH), free tri-iodothyronine (fT3) and free thyroxine (fT4), six electrophoretically separated protein fractions (albumin, alpha-1-, alpha2-, beta-1-, beta-2- and gamma-globulins), representative proteins—albumin (ALB), transferrin (TRF), alpha-2-macroglobulin (AMG) and ceruloplasmin (CER) were measured in 136 serum samples from 65 women in their consecutive trimesters of pregnancy. The concentrations of TSH, fT4 and fT3 were significantly correlated (p < 0.05) with the concentrations of the albumin, alpha-2- and beta-1 globulin fractions. Significant correlations (p < 0.05) which were positive between fT4 and ALB and negative between fT4 and TRF were established throughout pregnancy. Significant negative correlations (p < 0.05) were demonstrated for fT3 with alpha-2-globulin, AMG and CER. Changes in the serum concentrations of thyroid hormones seen between the trimesters were found to correlate with the concentrations of high-abundance serum proteins. Opposite directions of correlations between fT4 and ALB and fT4 and TRF observed throughout pregnancy may indicate the shared biological role of these parameters in maintaining maternal homeostasis and they suggest their potential use in the clinic as a simple biomarker panel. A negative correlation of fT3 with CER in the second trimester possibly reflects their involvement in the active regulation of metabolic processes.

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Data Integration Reveals the Potential Biomarkers of Circulating MicroRNAs in Osteoarthritis

Diagnostics ◽

10.3390/diagnostics11030412 ◽

2021 ◽

Vol 11 (3) ◽

pp. 412

Author(s):

Thuan Duc Lao ◽

Thuy Ai Huyen Le

Keyword(s):

Target Genes ◽

Potential Implication ◽

Circulating Micrornas ◽

Abnormal Expression ◽

Online Databases ◽

Socioeconomic Burden ◽

Therapeutic Tools ◽

Potential Use ◽

Potential Biomarkers

The abnormal expression of circulating miRNAs (c-miRNAs) has become an emerging field in the development of miRNAs-based diagnostic and therapeutic tools for human diseases, including osteoarthritis (OA). OA is the most common form of arthritis leading to disability and a major socioeconomic burden. The abnormal expression of miRNAs plays important roles in the pathogenesis of OA. Unraveling the role of miRNAs in the pathogenesis of OA will throw light on the potential for the development of miRNAs-based diagnostic and therapeutic tools for OA. This article reviews and highlights recent advances in the study of miRNAs in OA, with specific demonstration of the functions of miRNA, especially c-miRNA, in OA pathogenesis as well as its potential implication in the treatment of OA. Based on a systematic literature search using online databases, we figured out the following main points: (1) the integrative systematic review of c-mRNAs and its target genes related to OA pathogenesis; (2) the potential use of c-miRNAs for OA diagnosis purposes as potential biomarkers; and (3) for therapeutic purposes, and we also highlight certain remedies that regulate microRNA expression based on its target genes.

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GC-TOF/MS-based metabolomics analysis to investigate the changes driven by N-Acetylcysteine in the plant-pathogen Xanthomonas citri subsp. citri

Scientific Reports ◽

10.1038/s41598-021-95113-4 ◽

2021 ◽

Vol 11 (1) ◽

Author(s):

Simone Cristina Picchi ◽

Mariana de Souza e Silva ◽

Luiz Leonardo Saldanha ◽

Henrique Ferreira ◽

Marco Aurélio Takita ◽

...

Keyword(s):

Amino Acids ◽

Cell Proliferation ◽

Plant Pathogen ◽

Model Organism ◽

Citrus Canker ◽

Bacterial Cells ◽

Xanthomonas Citri ◽

Canker Disease ◽

Potential Use

AbstractN-Acetylcysteine (NAC) is an antioxidant, anti-adhesive, and antimicrobial compound. Even though there is much information regarding the role of NAC as an antioxidant and anti-adhesive agent, little is known about its antimicrobial activity. In order to assess its mode of action in bacterial cells, we investigated the metabolic responses triggered by NAC at neutral pH. As a model organism, we chose the Gram-negative plant pathogen Xanthomonas citri subsp. citri (X. citri), the causal agent of citrus canker disease, due to the potential use of NAC as a sustainable molecule against phytopathogens dissemination in citrus cultivated areas. In presence of NAC, cell proliferation was affected after 4 h, but damages to the cell membrane were observed only after 24 h. Targeted metabolite profiling analysis using GC–MS/TOF unravelled that NAC seems to be metabolized by the cells affecting cysteine metabolism. Intriguingly, glutamine, a marker for nitrogen status, was not detected among the cells treated with NAC. The absence of glutamine was followed by a decrease in the levels of the majority of the proteinogenic amino acids, suggesting that the reduced availability of amino acids affect protein synthesis and consequently cell proliferation.

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An Overview on the Role of miR-451 in Lung Cancer: Diagnosis, Therapy, and Prognosis

MicroRNA ◽

10.2174/2211536610666210910130828 ◽

2021 ◽

Vol 10 ◽

Author(s):

Saiedeh Razi Soofiyani ◽

Kamram Hosseini ◽

Alireza Soleimanian ◽

Liela Abkhooei ◽

Akbar Mohammad Hoseini ◽

...

Keyword(s):

Lung Cancer ◽

Cancer Diagnosis ◽

Lung Tumor ◽

Expression Patterns ◽

Lung Cancer Diagnosis ◽

Physiological Processes ◽

Cell Proliferation Inhibition ◽

Diagnosis Therapy ◽

Potential Use

: MicroRNAs (miRNAs) are highly conserved non-coding RNAs involved in many physiological processes such as cell proliferation, inhibition, development of apoptosis, differentiation, suppresses tumorigenicity, and regulating cell growth. The description of the alterations of miRNA expression patterns in cancers will be helpful to recognize biomarkers for early detection and possible therapeutic intervention in the treatment of cancers. Recent studies have shown that miR-451 is broadly dysregulated in lung cancer and is a crucial agent in lung tumor progression. This review summarizes recent advances of the potential role of miR-451 in lung cancer diagnosis, prognosis, and treatment and provides an insight into the potential use of miR-451 for the development of advanced therapeutic methods in lung cancer.

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Hesperidin and SARS-CoV-2: New Light on the Healthy Functions of Citrus Fruit

10.20944/preprints202006.0321.v1 ◽

2020 ◽

Author(s):

Paolo Bellavite ◽

Alberto Donzelli

Keyword(s):

Immune System ◽

Citrus Sinensis ◽

Viral Infections ◽

Citrus Fruit ◽

Short Review ◽

Citrus Fruits ◽

Early Proteins ◽

Main Protease ◽

The Many

Among the many approaches to COVID-19 prevention, the possible role of diet has so far been somewhat marginal. Nutrition is very rich in substances with a potential beneficial effect on health and some of these could have an antiviral action or in any case be important in modulating the immune system and in defending cells from the oxidative stress associated with infection. This short review draws the attention on some components of Citrus fruits and especially of the orange (Citrus sinensis), well known for its vitamin content, but less for the function of its flavonoids. Among the latter, hesperidin has recently attracted the attention of researchers, because it binds to the key proteins of the SARS-CoV-2 virus. Several computational methods, independently applied by different researchers, showed that hesperidin has a low binding energy both with the coronavirus "spike" protein, and with the main protease that transforms the early proteins of the virus (pp1a and ppa1b) into the complex responsible for viral replication. The affinity of hesperidin for these proteins is comparable if not superior to that of common chemical antivirals. The preventive efficacy of vitamin C, at dosage attainable by diet, against viral infections is controversial, but recent reviews suggest that this substance may be useful in case of increased stress on the immune system. Finally, the reasons that suggest undertaking appropriate research on the Citrus fruits addition in the diet, as a complementary prevention and treatment of COVID-19, are discussed.

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