Publications by authors named "Rana El Nahas"

Type 1 diabetes (T1D) is a chronic autoimmune disease characterized by the destruction of insulin-producing pancreatic β-cells by the immune system. Although conventional therapeutic modalities, such as insulin injection, remain a mainstay, recent years have witnessed the emergence of novel treatment approaches encompassing immunomodulatory therapies, such as stem cell and β-cell transplantation, along with revolutionary gene-editing techniques. Notably, recent research endeavors have enabled the reshaping of the T-cell repertoire, leading to the prevention of T1D development.

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The chain of events that leads to the sensitization of the immune system to environmental antigens, resulting in the onset of allergic disease, has been studied in great detail over the past 30 years. However, during this time, the rate of allergic diseases has increased exponentially, indicating the need to concentrate our studies on host-environmental factors that contribute to the onset of disease. Monocyte-derived dendritic cells (DCs) play a key role in driving localized and systemic immune responses.

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Allergic diseases constitute significant health and economic issues in both developed and developing nations, with epidemiological studies demonstrating a rapid increase in the global prevalence of food allergy among the pediatric population. Cow milk protein allergy (CMPA), one of the most common forms of food allergies observed in early childhood, affects between 2%-6% of infants and children under 3 years of age. CMPA can present as either an IgE-mediated atopic allergy or a non-IgE mediated allergic response.

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Article Synopsis
  • Sea cucumbers are recognized for their potential health benefits, and researchers have evaluated their anti-cancer and anti-inflammatory properties by examining their ethanolic extracts and aqueous fractions.* -
  • In experiments involving human breast cancer cells (MDA-MB-231), the sea cucumber extracts significantly reduced cell growth by over 50% without being toxic, particularly in both two-dimensional and three-dimensional cultures.* -
  • The study also found that these extracts inhibited the invasive characteristics of the cancer cells and diminished the secretion of inflammatory markers from certain activated immune cells, highlighting their potential therapeutic effects.*
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