The interplay between lung galectins and pro-fibrotic markers in post-COVID-19 fibrogenesis: A pilot study.

Aims: COVID-19, caused by the SARS-CoV-2 virus, can lead to serious lung conditions, notably interstitial pulmonary fibrosis.

Main Methods: Our study tracked the progression of fibrosis markers in serial bronchoalveolar lavage (BAL) measurements collected from 16 COVID-19 patients at 1, 3, and 6 months post-infection. Additionally, BAL samples from 10 healthy control subjects were included.

Chrysin-loaded calixarene-cyclodextrin ternary drug delivery system inhibits TGF-β and galectin-1 mediated pathways in diabetic liver fibrosis.

This study investigated the efficacy of a new chrysin-loaded calixarene-cyclodextrin ternary drug delivery system (DDS) in reversing liver fibrosis in a mouse model of chronic diabetes. The system was designed to enhance the solubility and bioavailability of chrysin (CHR) and calixarene 0118 (OTX008). Adult male CD1 mice received streptozotocin (STZ) injections to induce diabetes.

Thyroid dysfunction in Hashimoto's thyroiditis: a pilot study on the putative role of miR-29a and TGFβ1.

Purpose: Hashimoto's thyroiditis (HT) is one of the most common causes of thyroid dysfunction in iodine sufficient worldwide areas, but its molecular mechanisms are not completely understood. To this regard, this study aimed to assess serum levels of miRNA-29a (miR-29a) and transforming growth factor beta 1 (TGFβ1) in HT patients with different patterns of thyroid function.

Methods: A total of 29 HT patients, with a median age of 52 years (21-68) were included.

Ocular pharmacological and biochemical profiles of 6-thioguanine: a drug repurposing study.

Introduction: The purine analog 6-thioguanine (6TG), an old drug approved in the 60s to treat acute myeloid leukemia (AML), was tested in the diabetic retinopathy (DR) experimental setting along with a molecular modeling approach.

Methods: A computational analysis was performed to investigate the interaction of 6TG with MC1R and MC5R. This was confirmed in human umbilical vein endothelial cells (HUVECs) exposed to high glucose (25 mM) for 24 h.

Melanocortin 3,5 receptors immunohistochemical expression in colonic mucosa of inflammatory bowel disease patients: A matter of disease activity?

Background: Melanocortin 3 and 5 receptors ( MCR and MCR) belong to the melanocortin family. However, data regarding their role in inflammatory bowel diseases (IBD) are currently unavailable.

Aim: This study aims to ascertain their expression profiles in the colonic mucosa of Crohn's disease (CD) and ulcerative colitis (UC), aligning them with IBD disease endoscopic and histologic activity.

Dynamic shifts in lung cytokine patterns in post-COVID-19 interstitial lung disease patients: a pilot study.

Introduction: The pathogenesis of post-COVID interstitial lung disease, marked by lung tissue scarring and functional decline, remains largely unknown.

Objectives: We aimed to elucidate the temporal cytokine/chemokine changes in bronchoalveolar lavage (BAL) from patients with post-COVID interstitial lung disease to uncover potential immune drivers of pulmonary complications.

Design: We evaluated 16 females diagnosed with post-COVID interstitial lung disease, originating from moderate to severe cases during the second epidemic wave in the Autumn of 2020, treated at the Pneumology Department of the Arad County Clinical Hospital, Romania.

Chrysin Directing an Enhanced Solubility through the Formation of a Supramolecular Cyclodextrin-Calixarene Drug Delivery System: A Potential Strategy in Antifibrotic Diabetes Therapeutics.

Calixarene 0118 (OTX008) and chrysin (CHR) are promising molecules for the treatment of fibrosis and diabetes complications but require an effective delivery system to overcome their low solubility and bioavailability. Sulfobutylated β-cyclodextrin (SBECD) was evaluated for its ability to increase the solubility of CHR by forming a ternary complex with OTX008. The resulting increase in solubility and the mechanisms of complex formation were identified through phase-solubility studies, while dynamic light-scattering assessed the molecular associations within the CHR-OTX008-SBECD system.

Changes in Circulating Acylated Ghrelin and Neutrophil Elastase in Diabetic Retinopathy.

: The role and the levels of ghrelin in diabetes-induced retinal damage have not yet been explored. The present study aimed to measure the serum levels of total ghrelin (TG), and its acylated (AG) and des-acylated (DAG) forms in patients with the two stages of diabetic retinopathy (DR), non-proliferative (NPDR) and proliferative (PDR). Moreover, the correlation between serum ghrelin and neutrophil elastase (NE) levels was investigated.

Effects of adipose-derived mesenchymal stem cell conditioned medium on human tenocytes exposed to high glucose.

Introduction: Diabetic tendinopathy is a common invalidating and challenging disease that may be treated using stem cells. However, the effects of adipose-derived mesenchymal stem cell conditioned medium (ASC-CM) in diabetic tendinopathy have never been explored.

Objectives: The present study evaluated the effects of ASC-CM on morphology, cell viability, structure, and scratch wound closure of human tenocytes (HTNC) exposed to high glucose (HG).

Chrysin-based supramolecular cyclodextrin-calixarene drug delivery system: a novel approach for attenuating cardiac fibrosis in chronic diabetes.

Cardiac fibrosis is strongly induced by diabetic conditions. Both chrysin (CHR) and calixarene OTX008, a specific inhibitor of galectin 1 (Gal-1), seem able to reduce transforming growth factor beta (TGF-β)/SMAD pro-fibrotic pathways, but their use is limited to their low solubility. Therefore, we formulated a dual-action supramolecular system, combining CHR with sulfobutylated β-cyclodextrin (SBECD) and OTX008 (SBECD + OTX + CHR).

Infliximab therapy decreases the expression of serum and faecal miR-126 and miR-20a in paediatric Crohn's disease: AÂ pilot study.

Aim: We aimed to evaluate the serum and faecal expression of miR-126 and miR-20a in children with Crohn's disease (CD) during infliximab (IFX) therapy.

Methods: In this prospective observational study, serum and faeces from CD patients were collected before IFX therapy (T0), after induction (T1) and after 6 months from IFX (T2). IFX levels were determined by Enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay at T1 and T2.

The Melanocortin System in Inflammatory Bowel Diseases: Insights into Its Mechanisms and Therapeutic Potentials.

The melanocortin system is a complex set of molecular mediators and receptors involved in many physiological and homeostatic processes. These include the regulation of melanogenesis, steroidogenesis, neuromodulation and the modulation of inflammatory processes. In the latter context, the system has assumed importance in conditions of chronic digestive inflammation, such as inflammatory bowel diseases (IBD), in which numerous experiences have been accumulated in mouse models of colitis.

Inhibition of Galectins and the P2X7 Purinergic Receptor as a Therapeutic Approach in the Neurovascular Inflammation of Diabetic Retinopathy.

Diabetic retinopathy (DR) is the most frequent microvascular retinal complication of diabetic patients, contributing to loss of vision. Recently, retinal neuroinflammation and neurodegeneration have emerged as key players in DR progression, and therefore, this review examines the neuroinflammatory molecular basis of DR. We focus on four important aspects of retinal neuroinflammation: (i) the exacerbation of endoplasmic reticulum (ER) stress; (ii) the activation of the NLRP3 inflammasome; (iii) the role of galectins; and (iv) the activation of purinergic 2X7 receptor (P2X7R).

SGLT2-inhibitors effects on the coronary fibrous cap thickness and MACEs in diabetic patients with inducible myocardial ischemia and multi vessels non-obstructive coronary artery stenosis.

Background: Sodium-glucose transporter 2 inhibitors (SGLT2-I) could modulate atherosclerotic plaque progression, via down-regulation of inflammatory burden, and lead to reduction of major adverse cardiovascular events (MACEs) in type 2 diabetes mellitus (T2DM) patients with ischemic heart disease (IHD). T2DM patients with multivessel non-obstructive coronary stenosis (Mv-NOCS) have over-inflammation and over-lipids' plaque accumulation. This could reduce fibrous cap thickness (FCT), favoring plaque rupture and MACEs.

Oral Administration of Vitamin D3 Prevents Corneal Damage in a Knock-Out Mouse Model of Sjögren's Syndrome.

Background: Vitamin D deficiency has been associated with dry eye development during Sjögren's syndrome (SS). Here, we investigated whether repeated oral vitamin D3 supplementation could prevent the corneal epithelium damage in an SS mouse model.

Methods: 30 female mouse knock-out for the thrombospondin 1 gene were randomized (six per group) in untreated mice euthanized at 6 weeks as negative control (C-) or at 12 weeks as the positive control for dry eye (C+).

Endothelial Dysfunction Drives CRTd Outcome at 1-Year Follow-Up: A Novel Role as Biomarker for miR-130a-5p.

Endothelial dysfunction (ED) causes worse prognoses in heart failure (HF) patients treated with cardiac resynchronization therapy (CRTd). ED triggers the downregulation of microRNA-130 (miR-130a-5p), which targets endothelin-1 (ET-1). Thus, we evaluated ED and the response to CRTd by assessing miR-130a-5p and ET-1 serum levels.

On the in situ 3D electrostatic directed assembly of CdSe/CdZnS colloidal quantum nanoplatelets towards display applications.

Hypothesis: Due to their unique quantum yield and photostability performances, quantum nanoplatelets are very promising building blocks for future generations of displays. The directed assembly of such colloidal nano-objects in the shape of micro-pixels is thus the next mandatory step to reach this goal. Selectively trapping them on electrostatically charged patterns by nanoxerography could be a versatile and appealing strategy but requires a full understanding of the assembly mechanisms in order to make the most of their integration.

Correction: Gold plasmonic enhanced luminescence of silica encapsulated semiconductor hetero-nanoplatelets.

[This corrects the article DOI: 10.1039/D1NA00273B.].

Systemic Beta-Hydroxybutyrate Affects BDNF and Autophagy into the Retina of Diabetic Mice.

Background: Diabetic retinopathy (DR) is a neurovascular disease, characterized by a deficiency of brain-derived neurotrophic factor (BDNF), a regulator of autophagy. Beta-hydroxybutyrate (BHB), previously reported as a protective agent in DR, has been associated with BDNF promotion. Here, we investigated whether systemic BHB affects the retinal levels of BDNF and local autophagy in diabetic mice with retinopathy; Methods: C57BL/6J mice were administered with intraperitoneal (i.

Glycated ACE2 reduces anti-remodeling effects of renin-angiotensin system inhibition in human diabetic hearts.

Background: High glycated-hemoglobin (HbA1c) levels correlated with an elevated risk of adverse cardiovascular outcomes despite renin-angiotensin system (RAS) inhibition in type-2 diabetic (T2DM) patients with reduced ejection fraction. Using the routine biopsies of non-T2DM heart transplanted (HTX) in T2DM recipients, we evaluated whether the diabetic milieu modulates glycosylated ACE2 (GlycACE2) levels in cardiomyocytes, known to be affected by non-enzymatic glycosylation, and the relationship with glycemic control.

Objectives: We investigated the possible effects of GlycACE2 on the anti-remodeling pathways of the RAS inhibitors by evaluating the levels of Angiotensin (Ang) 1-9, Ang 1-7, and Mas receptor (MasR), Nuclear-factor of activated T-cells (NFAT), and fibrosis in human hearts.

Effects of the Calix[4]arene Derivative Compound OTX008 on High Glucose-Stimulated ARPE-19 Cells: Focus on Galectin-1/TGF-β/EMT Pathway.

Diabetic retinopathy (DR) is a neurovascular disease characterized by the reduction of retina integrity and functionality, as a consequence of retinal pigment epithelial cell fibrosis. Although galectin-1 (a glycan-binding protein) has been associated with dysregulated retinal angiogenesis, no evidence has been reported about galectin-1 roles in DR-induced fibrosis. ARPE-19 cells were cultured in normal (5 mM) or high glucose (35 mM) for 3 days, then exposed to the selective galectin-1 inhibitor OTX008 (2.

Cellular and Molecular Mechanism of Pulmonary Fibrosis Post-COVID-19: Focus on Galectin-1, -3, -8, -9.

Pulmonary fibrosis is a consequence of the pathological accumulation of extracellular matrix (ECM), which finally leads to lung scarring. Although the pulmonary fibrogenesis is almost known, the last two years of the COVID-19 pandemic caused by severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2) and its post effects added new particularities which need to be explored. Many questions remain about how pulmonary fibrotic changes occur within the lungs of COVID-19 patients, and whether the changes will persist long term or are capable of resolving.

Why Use Adipose-Derived Mesenchymal Stem Cells in Tendinopathic Patients: A Systematic Review.

The aim of the present systematic review was to provide a clear overview of the clinical current research progress in the use of adipose-derived mesenchymal stem cells (ASCs) as an effective therapeutic option for the management of tendinopathies, pathologies clinically characterized by persistent mechanical pain and structural alteration of the tendons. The review was carried out using three databases (Scopus, ISI Web of Science and PubMed) and analyzed records from 2013 to 2021. Only English-language papers describing the isolation and manipulation of adipose tissue as source of ASCs and presenting ASCs as treatment for clinical tendinopathies were included.