Modulatory Effects of Phytochemicals on Gut-Brain Axis: Therapeutic Implication.

This article explores the potential therapeutic implications of phytochemicals on the gut-brain axis (GBA), which serves as a communication network between the central nervous system and the enteric nervous system. Phytochemicals, which are compounds derived from plants, have been shown to interact with the gut microbiota, immune system, and neurotransmitter systems, thereby influencing brain function. Phytochemicals such as polyphenols, carotenoids, flavonoids, and terpenoids have been identified as having potential therapeutic implications for various neurological disorders.

Three dimensional (bio)printing of blood vessels: from vascularized tissues to functional arteries.

Tissue engineering has emerged as a strategy for producing functional tissues and organs to treat diseases and injuries. Many chronic conditions directly or indirectly affect normal blood vessel functioning, necessary for material exchange and transport through the body and within tissue-engineered constructs. The interest in vascular tissue engineering is due to two reasons: (1) functional grafts can be used to replace diseased blood vessels, and (2) engineering effective vasculature within other engineered tissues enables connection with the host's circulatory system, supporting their survival.

Recent advances and applications of peptide-agent conjugates for targeting tumor cells.

Background: Cancer, being a complex disease, presents a major challenge for the scientific and medical communities. Peptide therapeutics have played a significant role in different medical practices, including cancer treatment.

Method: This review provides an overview of the current situation and potential development prospects of anticancer peptides (ACPs), with a particular focus on peptide vaccines and peptide-drug conjugates for cancer treatment.

The Regulation, Functions, and Signaling of miR-153 in Neurological Disorders, and Its Potential as a Biomarker and Therapeutic Target.

Treatment of neurological disorders has always been one of the challenges facing scientists due to poor prognosis and symptom overlap, as well as the progress of the disease process. Neurological disorders such as Huntington's, Parkinson's, Alzheimer's diseases, and Amyotrophic Lateral Sclerosis are very debilitating. Therefore, finding a biomarker is essential for early diagnosis and treatment goals.

Ellagic acid effects on testis, sex hormones, oxidative stress, and apoptosis in the relative sterility rat model following busulfan administration.

Background: Busulfan is an antineoplastic medication that is broadly utilized for cancer treatment. It affects the testicular function and leads to sterility. The present study aimed to evaluate the effects of ellagic acid on testicular tissue changes, sexual hormones, antioxidant defense system, and caspase-9 and Bcl2 gene expression in the busulfan-induced relative sterile rat model.

The role of miR-153 and related upstream/downstream pathways in cancers: from a potential biomarker to treatment of tumor resistance and a therapeutic target.

MicroRNAs (miRNAs/miRs) are small non-coding RNAs that have a multifunction and play essential roles in gene regulation. Their dysregulation is associated with several human cancers. MiR-153 has a critical role in many biological processes, such as suppressing tumor growth (mostly), responses to treatment, and drug resistance.

New Insights into the Biosensing of Parkinson's Disease Biomarkers: A Concise Review.

Background: Parkinson's disease (PD) is a long-term, degenerative, and neurological disease in which a person loses control of certain body functions. The formulation of novel effective therapeutics for PD as a neurodegenerative disease requires accurate and efficient diagnosis at the early stages.

Objective: Analyzing data gathered by measurable signals converted from biological reactions allows for qualitative and quantitative evaluations.

Age-Specific Differences in the Severity of COVID-19 Between Children and Adults: Reality and Reasons.

In severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2) infections, children experience mild symptoms compared to adults. However, the precise explanations for this disparity are not clear. Thus, we attempted to identify rational explanations about age-related differences as reported in different studies.

Effects of transcranial direct current stimulation on cognitive dysfunction in multiple sclerosis.

Background: Around 40%-70% of patients with multiple sclerosis (MS) may experience cognitive impairments during the course of their disease with detrimental effects on social and occupational activities. Transcranial direct current stimulation (tDCS has been investigated in pain, fatigue, and mood disorders related to MS, but to date, few studies have examined effects of tDCS on cognitive performance in MS.

Objective: The current study aimed to investigate the effects of a multi-session tDCS protocol on cognitive performance and resting-state brain electrical activities in patients with MS.

Strategies to manage hepatitis C virus infection disease burden - volume 3.

The hepatitis C virus (HCV) epidemic was forecasted through 2030 for 15 countries in Europe, the Middle East and Asia, and the relative impact of two scenarios was considered: increased treatment efficacy while holding the annual number of treated patients constant and increased treatment efficacy and an increased annual number of treated patients. Increasing levels of diagnosis and treatment, in combination with improved treatment efficacy, were critical for achieving substantial reductions in disease burden. A 90% reduction in total HCV infections within 15 years is feasible in most countries studied, but it required a coordinated effort to introduce harm reduction programmes to reduce new infections, screening to identify those already infected and treatment with high cure rate therapies.

The present and future disease burden of hepatitis C virus infections with today's treatment paradigm - volume 3.

The total number, morbidity and mortality attributed to viraemic hepatitis C virus (HCV) infections change over time making it difficult to compare reported estimates from different years. Models were developed for 15 countries to quantify and characterize the viraemic population and forecast the changes in the infected population and the corresponding disease burden from 2014 to 2030. With the exception of Iceland, Iran, Latvia and Pakistan, the total number of viraemic HCV infections is expected to decline from 2014 to 2030, but the associated morbidity and mortality are expected to increase in all countries except for Japan and South Korea.

Historical epidemiology of hepatitis C virus (HCV) in select countries - volume 3.

Detailed, country-specific epidemiological data are needed to characterize the burden of chronic hepatitis C virus (HCV) infection around the world. With new treatment options available, policy makers and public health officials must reconsider national strategies for infection control. In this study of 15 countries, published and unpublished data on HCV prevalence, viraemia, genotype, age and gender distribution, liver transplants and diagnosis and treatment rates were gathered from the literature and validated by expert consensus in each country.