Publications by authors named "Joshua Madu"
Mechanistic dissection of diabetic retinopathy using the protein-metabolite interactome.
J Diabetes Metab Disord
December 2020
Article Synopsis
- The study investigates the molecular mechanisms behind diabetic retinopathy (DR) by examining the interactions of proteins and metabolites, aiming to identify novel biomarkers for the condition.
- Using proteomic techniques and bioinformatics, researchers discovered new biomarkers related to DR and mapped the protein and metabolite networks involved in the disease.
- The findings indicate that mitochondrial dysfunction plays a significant role in DR progression, affecting various biological processes and suggesting possible therapeutic targets for treatment.
Article Synopsis
- Intense light exposure leads to retinal degeneration by generating reactive oxygen species and nitric oxide, resulting in abnormal cell death through apoptosis in diseases like diabetic retinopathy and age-related macular degeneration.
- Erythropoietin (EPO) has been studied for its potential to protect retinal cells from damage and regulate angiogenesis (formation of new blood vessels) during oxidative stress conditions.
- The research indicates that EPO might offer a new therapeutic approach for retinal degeneration by balancing anti-apoptotic and pro-angiogenic signals at the molecular level.
Article Synopsis
- The study used a metabolomics approach to identify natural molecules involved in angiogenesis (the formation of new blood vessels) through experiments on chick embryos.
- By analyzing the chicks' chorioallantoic membrane (CAM) and using gas chromatography-mass spectrometry (GCMS), researchers found that certain fatty acids, particularly oleic, cholesterol, and linoleic acids, increased during the early stages of vessel formation.
- The research suggests that these lipids may start the angiogenesis process, paving the way for other proteins like vascular endothelial growth factor to participate later in blood vessel development.
Article Synopsis
- Bioethanol is a sustainable alternative to petroleum, and this study focused on how different chemical pretreatments (HO, HCl, NaOH, FeCl) affect its production from rice husks.
- The pretreatments were done using various chemicals at high temperatures, followed by either simultaneous saccharification and fermentation (SSF) or separate hydrolysis and fermentation (SHF).
- Results showed that pretreatments, especially with FeCl, led to higher ethanol yields in the SSF method, indicating that using FeCl on rice husk could enhance future bioethanol production.
Article Synopsis
- * The study explored whether natural compounds, particularly anthocyanins from African plants, can influence angiogenesis using a chick model to assess their effects on blood vessel formation.
- * Results showed that anthocyanin-rich extracts inhibited blood vessel growth in a time- and concentration-dependent manner, suggesting they could be potential treatments for diseases related to abnormal vessel formation.