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International Journal of Molecular... Sep 2023Osteoporosis is a major public health concern affecting millions of people worldwide and resulting in significant economic costs. The condition is characterized by... (Review)
Review
Osteoporosis is a major public health concern affecting millions of people worldwide and resulting in significant economic costs. The condition is characterized by changes in bone homeostasis, which lead to reduced bone mass, impaired bone quality, and an increased risk of fractures. The pathophysiology of osteoporosis is complex and multifactorial, involving imbalances in hormones, cytokines, and growth factors. Understanding the cellular and molecular mechanisms underlying osteoporosis is essential for appropriate diagnosis and management of the condition. This paper provides a comprehensive review of the normal cellular and molecular mechanisms of bone homeostasis, followed by an in-depth discussion of the proposed pathophysiology of osteoporosis through the osteoimmunological, gut microbiome, and cellular senescence models. Furthermore, the diagnostic tools used to assess osteoporosis, including bone mineral density measurements, biochemical markers of bone turnover, and diagnostic imaging modalities, are also discussed. Finally, both the current pharmacological and non-pharmacological treatment algorithms and management options for osteoporosis, including an exploration of the management of osteoporotic fragility fractures, are highlighted. This review reveals the need for further research to fully elucidate the molecular mechanisms underlying the condition and to develop more effective therapeutic strategies.
Topics: Humans; Pathology, Molecular; Osteoporosis; Osteoporotic Fractures; Bone Density; Bone and Bones
PubMed: 37834025
DOI: 10.3390/ijms241914583 -
BMJ (Clinical Research Ed.) Oct 2023Although the past two decades have produced exciting discoveries in the genetics and pathology of amyotrophic lateral sclerosis (ALS), progress in developing an... (Review)
Review
Although the past two decades have produced exciting discoveries in the genetics and pathology of amyotrophic lateral sclerosis (ALS), progress in developing an effective therapy remains slow. This review summarizes the critical discoveries and outlines the advances in disease characterization, diagnosis, imaging, and biomarkers, along with the current status of approaches to ALS care and treatment. Additional knowledge of the factors driving disease progression and heterogeneity will hopefully soon transform the care for patients with ALS into an individualized, multi-prong approach able to prevent disease progression sufficiently to allow for a dignified life with limited disability.
Topics: Humans; Amyotrophic Lateral Sclerosis; Pathology, Molecular; Disease Progression
PubMed: 37890889
DOI: 10.1136/bmj-2023-075037 -
Nature Sep 2023Abnormal assembly of tau, α-synuclein, TDP-43 and amyloid-β proteins into amyloid filaments defines most human neurodegenerative diseases. Genetics provides a direct... (Review)
Review
Abnormal assembly of tau, α-synuclein, TDP-43 and amyloid-β proteins into amyloid filaments defines most human neurodegenerative diseases. Genetics provides a direct link between filament formation and the causes of disease. Developments in cryo-electron microscopy (cryo-EM) have made it possible to determine the atomic structures of amyloids from postmortem human brains. Here we review the structures of brain-derived amyloid filaments that have been determined so far and discuss their impact on research into neurodegeneration. Whereas a given protein can adopt many different filament structures, specific amyloid folds define distinct diseases. Amyloid structures thus provide a description of neuropathology at the atomic level and a basis for studying disease. Future research should focus on model systems that replicate the structures observed in disease to better understand the molecular mechanisms of disease and develop improved diagnostics and therapies.
Topics: Humans; alpha-Synuclein; Amyloid; Amyloid beta-Peptides; Cryoelectron Microscopy; Neurodegenerative Diseases; Pathology, Molecular; Protein Folding
PubMed: 37758888
DOI: 10.1038/s41586-023-06437-2 -
Phytomedicine : International Journal... Sep 2023Ischemic stroke is caused by local lesions of the central nervous system and is a severe cerebrovascular disease. A traditional Chinese medicine, Yiqi Tongluo Granule...
Elucidation of the mechanism of Yiqi Tongluo Granule against cerebral ischemia/reperfusion injury based on a combined strategy of network pharmacology, multi-omics and molecular biology.
BACKGROUND
Ischemic stroke is caused by local lesions of the central nervous system and is a severe cerebrovascular disease. A traditional Chinese medicine, Yiqi Tongluo Granule (YQTL), shows valuable therapeutic effects. However, the substances and mechanisms remain unclear.
PURPOSE
We combined network pharmacology, multi-omics, and molecular biology to elucidate the mechanisms by which YQTL protects against CIRI.
STUDY DESIGN
We innovatively created a combined strategy of network pharmacology, transcriptomics, proteomics and molecular biology to study the active ingredients and mechanisms of YQTL. We performed a network pharmacology study of active ingredients absorbed by the brain to explore the targets, biological processes and pathways of YQTL against CIRI. We also conducted further mechanistic analyses at the gene and protein levels using transcriptomics, proteomics, and molecular biology techniques.
RESULTS
YQTL significantly decreased the infarction volume percentage and improved the neurological function of mice with CIRI, inhibited hippocampal neuronal death, and suppressed apoptosis. Fifteen active ingredients of YQTL were detected in the brains of rats. Network pharmacology combined with multi-omics revealed that the 15 ingredients regulated 19 pathways via 82 targets. Further analysis suggested that YQTL protected against CIRI via the PI3K-Akt signaling pathway, MAPK signaling pathway, and cAMP signaling pathway.
CONCLUSION
We confirmed that YQTL protected against CIRI by inhibiting nerve cell apoptosis enhanced by the PI3K-Akt signaling pathway.
Topics: Animals; Mice; Rats; Multiomics; Network Pharmacology; Phosphatidylinositol 3-Kinases; Proto-Oncogene Proteins c-akt; Molecular Biology; Reperfusion Injury; Brain Ischemia; Drugs, Chinese Herbal; Molecular Docking Simulation
PubMed: 37393828
DOI: 10.1016/j.phymed.2023.154934 -
Journal of Molecular Biology Jul 2023
Topics: Molecular Biology; Computational Biology
PubMed: 37244569
DOI: 10.1016/j.jmb.2023.168160 -
The 2024 Nucleic Acids Research database issue and the online molecular biology database collection.Nucleic Acids Research Jan 2024The 2024 Nucleic Acids Research database issue contains 180 papers from across biology and neighbouring disciplines. There are 90 papers reporting on new databases and...
The 2024 Nucleic Acids Research database issue contains 180 papers from across biology and neighbouring disciplines. There are 90 papers reporting on new databases and 83 updates from resources previously published in the Issue. Updates from databases most recently published elsewhere account for a further seven. Nucleic acid databases include the new NAKB for structural information and updates from Genbank, ENA, GEO, Tarbase and JASPAR. The Issue's Breakthrough Article concerns NMPFamsDB for novel prokaryotic protein families and the AlphaFold Protein Structure Database has an important update. Metabolism is covered by updates from Reactome, Wikipathways and Metabolights. Microbes are covered by RefSeq, UNITE, SPIRE and P10K; viruses by ViralZone and PhageScope. Medically-oriented databases include the familiar COSMIC, Drugbank and TTD. Genomics-related resources include Ensembl, UCSC Genome Browser and Monarch. New arrivals cover plant imaging (OPIA and PlantPAD) and crop plants (SoyMD, TCOD and CropGS-Hub). The entire Database Issue is freely available online on the Nucleic Acids Research website (https://academic.oup.com/nar). Over the last year the NAR online Molecular Biology Database Collection has been updated, reviewing 1060 entries, adding 97 new resources and eliminating 388 discontinued URLs bringing the current total to 1959 databases. It is available at http://www.oxfordjournals.org/nar/database/c/.
Topics: Computational Biology; Databases, Genetic; Databases, Nucleic Acid; Genomics; Internet; Molecular Biology
PubMed: 38035367
DOI: 10.1093/nar/gkad1173 -
The Journal of Molecular Diagnostics :... Sep 2023The goals of the Association for Molecular Pathology Clinical Practice Committee's Pharmacogenomics (PGx) Working Group are to define the key attributes of... (Review)
Review
CYP3A4 and CYP3A5 Genotyping Recommendations: A Joint Consensus Recommendation of the Association for Molecular Pathology, Clinical Pharmacogenetics Implementation Consortium, College of American Pathologists, Dutch Pharmacogenetics Working Group of the Royal Dutch Pharmacists Association, European...
The goals of the Association for Molecular Pathology Clinical Practice Committee's Pharmacogenomics (PGx) Working Group are to define the key attributes of pharmacogenetic alleles recommended for clinical testing and a minimum set of variants that should be included in clinical PGx genotyping assays. This document series provides recommendations for a minimum panel of variant alleles (tier 1) and an extended panel of variant alleles (tier 2) that will aid clinical laboratories when designing assays for PGx testing. The Association for Molecular Pathology PGx Working Group considered functional impact of the variant alleles, allele frequencies in multiethnic populations, the availability of reference materials, and other technical considerations for PGx testing when developing these recommendations. The goal of this Working Group is to promote standardization of PGx gene/allele testing across clinical laboratories. This document will focus on clinical CYP3A4 and CYP3A5 PGx testing that may be applied to all CYP3A4- and CYP3A5-related medications. These recommendations are not to be interpreted as prescriptive but to provide a reference guide.
Topics: Humans; Pharmacogenetics; Cytochrome P-450 CYP3A; Genotype; Consensus; Pathology, Molecular; Pharmacists; Pathologists
PubMed: 37419245
DOI: 10.1016/j.jmoldx.2023.06.008 -
Annals of Oncology : Official Journal... Mar 2024The European Society of Gynaecological Oncology, the European Society for Medical Oncology (ESMO) and the European Society of Pathology held a consensus conference (CC)...
The European Society of Gynaecological Oncology, the European Society for Medical Oncology (ESMO) and the European Society of Pathology held a consensus conference (CC) on ovarian cancer on 15-16 June 2022 in Valencia, Spain. The CC panel included 44 experts in the management of ovarian cancer and pathology, an ESMO scientific advisor and a methodologist. The aim was to discuss new or contentious topics and develop recommendations to improve and harmonise the management of patients with ovarian cancer. Eighteen questions were identified for discussion under four main topics: (i) pathology and molecular biology, (ii) early-stage disease and pelvic mass in pregnancy, (iii) advanced stage (including older/frail patients) and (iv) recurrent disease. The panel was divided into four working groups (WGs) to each address questions relating to one of the four topics outlined above, based on their expertise. Relevant scientific literature was reviewed in advance. Recommendations were developed by the WGs and then presented to the entire panel for further discussion and amendment before voting. This manuscript focuses on the recommendation statements that reached a consensus, their voting results and a summary of evidence supporting each recommendation.
Topics: Humans; Female; Medical Oncology; Societies, Medical; Spain; Ovarian Neoplasms; Molecular Biology
PubMed: 38307807
DOI: 10.1016/j.annonc.2023.11.015 -
Progress in Retinal and Eye Research May 2024Inherited retinal diseases (IRD) are a leading cause of blindness in the working age population and in children. The scope of this review is to familiarise clinicians... (Review)
Review
Phenotyping and genotyping inherited retinal diseases: Molecular genetics, clinical and imaging features, and therapeutics of macular dystrophies, cone and cone-rod dystrophies, rod-cone dystrophies, Leber congenital amaurosis, and cone dysfunction syndromes.
Inherited retinal diseases (IRD) are a leading cause of blindness in the working age population and in children. The scope of this review is to familiarise clinicians and scientists with the current landscape of molecular genetics, clinical phenotype, retinal imaging and therapeutic prospects/completed trials in IRD. Herein we present in a comprehensive and concise manner: (i) macular dystrophies (Stargardt disease (ABCA4), X-linked retinoschisis (RS1), Best disease (BEST1), PRPH2-associated pattern dystrophy, Sorsby fundus dystrophy (TIMP3), and autosomal dominant drusen (EFEMP1)), (ii) cone and cone-rod dystrophies (GUCA1A, PRPH2, ABCA4, KCNV2 and RPGR), (iii) predominant rod or rod-cone dystrophies (retinitis pigmentosa, enhanced S-Cone syndrome (NR2E3), Bietti crystalline corneoretinal dystrophy (CYP4V2)), (iv) Leber congenital amaurosis/early-onset severe retinal dystrophy (GUCY2D, CEP290, CRB1, RDH12, RPE65, TULP1, AIPL1 and NMNAT1), (v) cone dysfunction syndromes (achromatopsia (CNGA3, CNGB3, PDE6C, PDE6H, GNAT2, ATF6), X-linked cone dysfunction with myopia and dichromacy (Bornholm Eye disease; OPN1LW/OPN1MW array), oligocone trichromacy, and blue-cone monochromatism (OPN1LW/OPN1MW array)). Whilst we use the aforementioned classical phenotypic groupings, a key feature of IRD is that it is characterised by tremendous heterogeneity and variable expressivity, with several of the above genes associated with a range of phenotypes.
Topics: Humans; Cone-Rod Dystrophies; Eye Diseases, Hereditary; Genotype; Leber Congenital Amaurosis; Molecular Biology; Phenotype; Retinal Diseases
PubMed: 38278208
DOI: 10.1016/j.preteyeres.2024.101244 -
The FEBS Journal Oct 2023Lori Passmore is a Group Leader at the MRC Laboratory of Molecular Biology (MRC-LMB). She studied Biochemistry at the University of British Columbia in Vancouver...
Lori Passmore is a Group Leader at the MRC Laboratory of Molecular Biology (MRC-LMB). She studied Biochemistry at the University of British Columbia in Vancouver (Canada), before moving to the UK in 1999 for a PhD at the Institute of Cancer Research. After completing her PhD, Lori moved to Cambridge, where she became a Post-Doctoral Fellow at the MRC-LMB. In 2009, Lori started her own group at the MRC-LMB and was subsequently awarded an ERC Starting Grant (2011), an ERC Consolidator Grant (2017) and a Wellcome Discovery Award (2023). She was also elected into the EMBO Young Investigator Programme (2015) and EMBO Membership (2018). Lori's research focusses on the determination of the structures of protein complexes that regulate gene expression, using primarily cryo-electron microscopy and in vitro assays. Her work has contributed significantly to our understanding of the underlying molecular mechanisms of cellular processes, giving insights into human physiology and disease. In this interview, Lori provides an overview of her research and discusses current challenges in the field, recalls the key events and collaborations that have helped shape her successful research career and offers advice to early career scientists.
Topics: Female; Humans; Awards and Prizes; Cryoelectron Microscopy; Molecular Biology; Neoplasms; Research Personnel
PubMed: 37138518
DOI: 10.1111/febs.16782