Publications by authors named "M N Neagu"
Differential Biological Effects of Extracts-In Vitro Studies on Breast Cancer Models.
Antioxidants (Basel)
November 2024
The increasing popularity of herbal supplements emphasizes the need of scientific data regarding their health benefits and possible toxicological concerns. The complexity of botanical extracts, which include thousands of distinct compounds, contributes to the challenging nature of this endeavor. In this study, we explored the hormetic effects of two extracts on breast cell lines.
View Article and Find Full Text PDFHydrogels are interesting materials as delivery systems of various therapeutic agents, mainly due to the water-swollen network and the localized and sustained drug release. Herein, single-component starch-based hydrogels with enhanced degradation rates were produced by applying a facile synthesis and proposed for a novel delivery system of therapeutic molecules. Starch was oxidized with sodium periodate in water and mild conditions to generate aldehyde derivatives that, after a freeze-thaw procedure, were allowed to compact and stable hydrogels.
View Article and Find Full Text PDFArticle Synopsis
- The paper explores the integration of chemical reaction network theory and mathematical epidemiology, emphasizing their potential synergy to enhance understanding in related fields like ecology and virology.
- It proposes a new definition of mathematical epidemiology models and introduces the next generation matrix approach to help researchers analyze stability in complex systems.
- The authors aim to provide accessible learning resources, including a Mathematica package "bootcamp," to support newcomers to both mathematical epidemiology and chemical reaction networks.
Article Synopsis
- The COVID-19 pandemic has led to significant health issues and financial losses, with certain comorbidities, like diabetes and obesity, increasing the risk of severe illness and higher mortality rates.
- A study conducted on 143 non-diabetic patients who recovered from COVID-19 found that 30.7% developed long COVID-19 syndrome, and 75% of those patients were diagnosed with diabetes within a year.
- The research highlighted a notable correlation between long COVID and the development of insulin resistance, particularly among patients with a higher BMI, suggesting a major risk for altered metabolic health post-infection.
Glycosaminoglycans (GAGs) and proteoglycans (PGs) are essential components of the extracellular matrix (ECM) with pivotal roles in cellular mechanosensing pathways. GAGs, such as heparan sulfate (HS) and chondroitin sulfate (CS), interact with various cell surface receptors, including integrins and receptor tyrosine kinases, to modulate cellular responses to mechanical stimuli. PGs, comprising a core protein with covalently attached GAG chains, serve as dynamic regulators of tissue mechanics and cell behavior, thereby playing a crucial role in maintaining tissue homeostasis.
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