Gravity Threshold and Dose Response Relationships: Health Benefits Using a Short Arm Human Centrifuge.

Purpose: Increasing the level of gravity passively on a centrifuge, should be equal to or even more beneficial not only to astronauts living in a microgravity environment but also to patients confined to bed. Gravity therapy (GT) may have beneficial effects on numerous conditions, such as immobility due to neuromuscular disorders, balance disorders, stroke, sports injuries. However, the appropriate configuration for administering the Gz load remains to be determined.

Modified magnetic core-shell mesoporous silica nano-formulations with encapsulated quercetin exhibit anti-amyloid and antioxidant activity.

Targeted tissue drug delivery is a challenge in contemporary nanotechnologically driven therapeutic approaches, with the interplay interactions between nanohost and encapsulated drug shaping the ultimate properties of transport, release and efficacy of the drug at its destination. Prompted by the need to pursue the synthesis of such hybrid systems, a family of modified magnetic core-shell mesoporous silica nano-formulations was synthesized with encapsulated quercetin, a natural flavonoid with proven bioactivity. The new nanocarriers were produced via the sol-gel process, using tetraethoxysilane as a precursor and bearing a magnetic core of surface-modified monodispersed magnetite colloidal superparamagnetic nanoparticles, subsequently surface-modified with polyethylene glycol 3000 (PEG3k).

Neurophysiological changes in simulated microgravity: An animal model.

Microgravity (MG) is one of the main problems that astronauts have to cope with during space missions. Long-duration space travel can have detrimental effects on human neurophysiology. Despite scientific efforts, these effects are still insufficiently investigated.

Magnetic chrysin silica nanomaterials behavior in an amyloidogenic environment.

Alzheimer's disease (AD) is a progressive neurodegenerative disorder associated with brain damage induced by β-amyloid and tau accumulation. One of the hallmarks of amyloidogenesis, is the aggregation of amyloid proteins into a specific cross-β sheet structure, which alters their biological activity thereby affecting neuronal connectivity and function. Despite significant progress in the management of AD over the recent years, the early diagnostic and treatment options still remain limited.

Naringin nanoparticles against neurodegenerative processes: A preliminary work.

It is well established that during Alzheimer disease (AD), gradual loss of neuronal networks occurs in the brain, consequently, affecting cognition and memory tasks of the patients. Among other causative factors, oxidative stress induces changes that are eventually accompanied by an irreversible disruption of synaptic connectivity and death of neurons. Moreover, aging and oxidative stress cause alterations to the blood brain barrier, leading to increased permeability, which are thought to further aggravate the underlying pathology.

Shared pathological pathways of Alzheimer's disease with specific comorbidities: current perspectives and interventions.

Alzheimer's disease (AD) belongs to one of the most multifactorial, complex and heterogeneous morbidity-leading disorders. Despite the extensive research in the field, AD pathogenesis is still at some extend obscure. Mechanisms linking AD with certain comorbidities, namely diabetes mellitus, obesity and dyslipidemia, are increasingly gaining importance, mainly because of their potential role in promoting AD development and exacerbation.

Chitosan encapsulation of essential oil "cocktails" with well-defined binary Zn(II)-Schiff base species targeting antibacterial medicinal nanotechnology.

The advent of biodegradable nanomaterials with enhanced antibacterial activity stands as a challenge to the global research community. In an attempt to pursue the development of novel antibacterial medicinal nanotechnology, we herein a) synthesized ionic-gelated chitosan nanoparticles, b) compared and evaluated the antibacterial activity of essential oils extracted from nine different herbs (Greek origin) and their combinations with a well-defined antibacterial Zn(II)-Schiff base compound, and c) encapsulated the most effective hybrid combination of Zn(II)-essential oils inside the chitosan matrix, thereby targeting well-formulated nanoparticles of distinct biological impact. The empty and loaded chitosan nanoparticles were physicochemically characterized by FT-IR, Thermogravimetric Analysis (TGA), Scanning Electron Microscopy (SEM), with the entrapment and drug release studies being conducted through UV-Visible and atomic absorption techniques.

Quercetin encapsulation in modified silica nanoparticles: potential use against Cu(II)-induced oxidative stress in neurodegeneration.

Neurodegenerative diseases entail deeply complex processes, intimately associated with progressive brain damage reflecting cellular demise. Biochemical reactivity linked to such processes in Alzheimer's disease involves, among others, metal-induced oxidative stress contributing to neuronal cell death. Prominent among redox active metals inducing oxidative stress is Cu(II).

Mechanisms and applications of interleukins in cancer immunotherapy.

Over the past years, advances in cancer immunotherapy have resulted in innovative and novel approaches in molecular cancer diagnostics and cancer therapeutic procedures. However, due to tumor heterogeneity and inter-tumoral discrepancy in tumor immunity, the clinical benefits are quite restricted. The goal of this review is to evaluate the major cytokines-interleukins involved in cancer immunotherapy and project their basic biochemical and clinical applications.

In vitro neurotoxic Fe(III) and Fe(III)-chelator activities in rat hippocampal cultures. From neurotoxicity to neuroprotection prospects.

It is well known that iron dysregulation is involved in a number of processes involving genetic and non-genetic factors leading to neurodegeneration. Molecules bearing iron or influencing iron metabolism reflect directly into the levels of that redox active metal, present as Fe(II)/Fe(III), in the brain. In turn, iron level variations are associated with chemical reactivity disrupting iron homeostasis, generating variable neurotoxic iron forms and contributing to the vulnerability of cells toward oxidative stress and neuronal death in Alzheimer's disease (AD).

Aluminum does not enhance beta-amyloid toxicity in rat hippocampal cultures.

A number of environmental factors have been implicated in neurodegenerative disorders, including metallotoxins such as aluminum (Al). In the present study, the toxicity of Al-quinate (AlQ), a well-characterized Al complex, was investigated in primary rat hippocampal cultures in comparison to inorganic Al (Al-S). AlQ was significantly less toxic than Al-S during both short- (3h) and long-term (24h) incubations.

Aluminium interferes with hippocampal calcium signaling in a species-specific manner.

Aluminium (Al) has been implicated in a number of neurodegenerative disorders and the disruption of calcium homeostasis has been proposed as a possible mechanism. To investigate ligand- and structure-specific effects of Al species, calcium imaging was used to probe the influence of five Al complexes - in comparison to inorganic Al (Al-S) - on N-methyl d-aspartate receptor (NMDAR) and voltage-dependent calcium channel (VDCC) function in hippocampal neurontos. The Al complexes utilized comprised three Al-citrate species (AlCit1-3), Al-quinate (AlQ) and Al-N-phosphonomethyliminodiacetate (AlNTAP).