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Neuroscience and Biobehavioral Reviews Mar 2011Humans likely evolved precautionary systems designed to minimize the threats to reproductive fitness posed by highly interdependent ultrasociality. A review of research... (Review)
Review
Humans likely evolved precautionary systems designed to minimize the threats to reproductive fitness posed by highly interdependent ultrasociality. A review of research on the self-protection and disease avoidance systems reveals that each system is functionally distinct and domain-specific: each is attuned to different cues; engages different emotions, inferences, and behavioral inclinations; and is rooted in somewhat different neurobiological substrates. These systems share important features, however. Each system is functionally coherent, in that perceptual, affective, cognitive, and behavioral processes work in concert to reduce fitness costs of potential threats. Each system is biased in a risk-averse manner, erring toward precautionary responses even when available cues only heuristically imply threat. And each system is functionally flexible, being highly sensitive to specific ecological and dispositional cues that signal greater vulnerability to the relevant threat. These features characterize a general template useful for understanding not only the self-protection and disease avoidance systems, but also a broader set of evolved, domain-specific precautionary systems.
Topics: Adaptation, Psychological; Agonistic Behavior; Disease; Humans; Risk Reduction Behavior; Social Perception
PubMed: 20833199
DOI: 10.1016/j.neubiorev.2010.08.011 -
Neurobiology of Aging 2002
Topics: Aged; Aging; Disease; Humans; Models, Neurological; Nervous System Physiological Phenomena
PubMed: 11755015
DOI: 10.1016/s0197-4580(01)00310-4 -
Small (Weinheim An Der Bergstrasse,... Feb 2016The extraordinary optical amplification and light-harvesting properties of conjugated polymers impart sensing systems with higher sensitivity, which meets the primary... (Review)
Review
The extraordinary optical amplification and light-harvesting properties of conjugated polymers impart sensing systems with higher sensitivity, which meets the primary demands of early cancer diagnosis. Recent advances in the detection of DNA methylation and mutation with polyfluorene derivatives based fluorescence resonance energy transfer (FRET) as a means to modulate fluorescent responses attest to the great promise of conjugated polymers as powerful tools for the clinical diagnosis of diseases. To facilitate the ever-changing needs of diagnosis, the development of detection approaches and FRET signal analysis are highlighted in this review. Due to their exceptional brightness, excellent photostability, and low or absent toxicity, conjugated polymers are verified as superior materials for in-vivo imaging, and provide feasibility for future clinical molecular-imaging applications. The integration of conjugated polymers with clinical research has shown profound effects on diagnosis for the early detection of disease-related biomarkers, as well as in-vivo imaging, which leads to a multidisciplinary scientific field with perspectives in both basic research and application issues.
Topics: Animals; Diagnostic Imaging; Disease; Humans; Polymers
PubMed: 26679834
DOI: 10.1002/smll.201501700 -
Transfusion and Apheresis Science :... Feb 2023The latest WHO report determined the increasing diversity within the CoV-2 omicron and its descendent lineages. Some heavily mutated offshoots of BA.5 and BA.2, such as... (Review)
Review
The latest WHO report determined the increasing diversity within the CoV-2 omicron and its descendent lineages. Some heavily mutated offshoots of BA.5 and BA.2, such as BA.4.6, BF.7, BQ.1.1, and BA.2.75, are responsible for about 20% of infections and are spreading rapidly in multiple countries. It is a sign that Omicron subvariants are now developing a capacity to be more immune escaping and may contribute to a new wave of COVID-19. Covid-19 infections often induce many alterations in human physiological defense and the natural control systems, with exacerbated activation of the inflammatory and homeostatic response, as for any infectious diseases. Severe activation of the early phase of hemostatic components, often occurs, leading to thrombotic complications and often contributing to a lethal outcome selectively in certain populations. Development of autoimmune complications increases the disease burden and lowers its prognosis. While the true mechanism still remains unclear, it is believed to mainly be related to the host autoimmune responses as demonstrated, only in some patients suffering from the presence of autoantibodies that worsens the disease evolution. In fact in some studies the development of autoantibodies to angiotensin converting enzyme 2 (ACE2) was identified, and in other studies autoantibodies, thought to be targeting interferon or binding to annexin A1, or autoantibodies to phospholipids were seen. Moreover, the occurrence of autoimmune heparin induced thrombocytopenia has also been described in infected patients treated with heparin for controlling thrombogenicity. This commentary focuses on the presence of various autoantibodies reported so far in Covid-19 diseases, exploring their association with the disease course and the durability of some related symptoms. Attempts are also made to further analyze the potential mechanism of actions and link the presence of antibodies with pathological complications.
Topics: Humans; COVID-19; Syndrome; Autoantibodies; Disease Progression; Hemostatics
PubMed: 36585276
DOI: 10.1016/j.transci.2022.103625 -
British Medical Journal Apr 1959
Topics: Disease; Humans; Taste; Thyroid Diseases; Thyroid Gland
PubMed: 13638633
DOI: 10.1136/bmj.1.5129.1069 -
The Veterinary Clinics of North... Nov 1999Zinc is important in a multitude of biological functions, including regulation of the immune response, modulation of keratogenesis and wound healing, maintenance of... (Review)
Review
Zinc is important in a multitude of biological functions, including regulation of the immune response, modulation of keratogenesis and wound healing, maintenance of normal reproductive function, and acuity of taste and smell. Zinc-responsive dermatosis is an uncommon disease of dogs resulting from either an absolute or relative deficiency in zinc. Dermatological lesions are characterized by erythema, alopecia, scales, and crusts that primarily affect the head. Two forms of the disease exist: a familial form affecting Alaskan Malamutes and Siberian Huskies and a form that affects growing puppies fed zinc-deficient or oversupplemented diets. The history, clinical signs, and skin biopsy results are typically diagnostic. Life-long zinc supplementation is usually necessary in the familial form of the disease, although dietary correction alone may be curative in the second form. Lethal acrodermatitis is a rare inherited disorder of Bull Terriers that does not respond to zinc supplementation and is invariably fatal.
Topics: Animals; Dog Diseases; Dogs; Nutritional Requirements; Skin Diseases; Syndrome; Zinc
PubMed: 10563006
DOI: 10.1016/s0195-5616(99)50133-2 -
Cell Communication and Signaling : CCS Nov 2018Tunnelling nanotubes (TNTs), also known as membrane nanochannels, are actin-based structures that facilitate cytoplasmic connections for rapid intercellular transfer of... (Review)
Review
Tunnelling nanotubes (TNTs), also known as membrane nanochannels, are actin-based structures that facilitate cytoplasmic connections for rapid intercellular transfer of signals, organelles and membrane components. These dynamic TNTs can form de novo in animal cells and establish complex intercellular networks between distant cells up to 150 μm apart. Within the last decade, TNTs have been discovered in different cell types including tumor cells, macrophages, monocytes, endothelial cells and T cells. It has also been further elucidated that these nanotubes play a vital role in diseased conditions such as cancer, where TNT formation occurs at a higher pace and is used for rapid intercellular modulation of chemo-resistance. Viruses such as HIV, HSV and prions also hijack the existing TNT connections between host cells for rapid transmission and evasion of the host immune responses. The following review aims to describe the heterogeneity of TNTs, their role in different tissues and disease conditions in order to enhance our understanding on how these nanotubes can be used as a target for therapies.
Topics: Animals; Biological Transport; Cell Communication; Cytoplasm; Disease; Endothelial Cells; Humans; Neoplasms
PubMed: 30409198
DOI: 10.1186/s12964-018-0281-7 -
BMB Reports May 2018Necroptosis is an emerging form of programmed cell death occurring via active and well-regulated necrosis, distinct from apoptosis morphologically, and biochemically.... (Review)
Review
Necroptosis is an emerging form of programmed cell death occurring via active and well-regulated necrosis, distinct from apoptosis morphologically, and biochemically. Necroptosis is mainly unmasked when apoptosis is compromised in response to tumor necrosis factor alpha. Unlike apoptotic cells, which are cleared by macrophages or neighboring cells, necrotic cells release danger signals, triggering inflammation, and exacerbating tissue damage. Evidence increasingly suggests that programmed necrosis is not only associated with pathophysiology of disease, but also induces innate immune response to viral infection. Therefore, necroptotic cell death plays both physiological and pathological roles. Physiologically, necroptosis induce an innate immune response as well as premature assembly of viral particles in cells infected with virus that abrogates host apoptotic machinery. On the other hand, necroptosis per se is detrimental, causing various diseases such as sepsis, neurodegenerative diseases and ischemic reperfusion injury. This review discusses the signaling pathways leading to necroptosis, associated necroptotic proteins with target-specific inhibitors and diseases involved. Several studies currently focus on protective approaches to inhibiting necroptotic cell death. In cancer biology, however, anticancer drug resistance severely hampers the efficacy of chemotherapy based on apoptosis. Pharmacological switch of cell death finds therapeutic application in drug- resistant cancers. Therefore, the possible clinical role of necroptosis in cancer control will be discussed in brief. [BMB Reports 2018; 51(5): 219-224].
Topics: Animals; Apoptosis; Disease; Humans; Models, Biological; Necrosis; Signal Transduction
PubMed: 29636122
DOI: 10.5483/bmbrep.2018.51.5.074 -
Philosophical Transactions of the Royal... Jan 2018Extracellular cell stress proteins are highly conserved phylogenetically and have been shown to act as powerful signalling agonists and receptors for selected ligands in... (Review)
Review
Extracellular cell stress proteins are highly conserved phylogenetically and have been shown to act as powerful signalling agonists and receptors for selected ligands in several different settings. They also act as immunostimulatory 'danger signals' for the innate and adaptive immune systems. Other studies have shown that cell stress proteins and the induction of immune reactivity to self-cell stress proteins can attenuate disease processes. Some proteins (e.g. Hsp60, Hsp70, gp96) exhibit both inflammatory and anti-inflammatory properties, depending on the context in which they encounter responding immune cells. The burgeoning literature reporting the presence of stress proteins in a range of biological fluids in healthy individuals/non-diseased settings, the association of extracellular stress protein levels with a plethora of clinical and pathological conditions and the selective expression of a membrane form of Hsp70 on cancer cells now supports the concept that extracellular cell stress proteins are involved in maintaining/regulating organismal homeostasis and in disease processes and phenotype. Cell stress proteins, therefore, form a biologically complex extracellular cell stress protein network having diverse biological, homeostatic and immunomodulatory properties, the understanding of which offers exciting opportunities for delivering novel approaches to predict, identify, diagnose, manage and treat disease.This article is part of the theme issue 'Heat shock proteins as modulators and therapeutic targets of chronic disease: an integrated perspective'.
Topics: Disease; Heat-Shock Proteins; Humans; Immunity; Immunity, Innate; Signal Transduction
PubMed: 29203707
DOI: 10.1098/rstb.2016.0522 -
FEBS Letters Nov 2014The interplay between the immune response and the gut microbiota is complex. Although it is well-established that the gut microbiota is essential for the proper... (Review)
Review
The interplay between the immune response and the gut microbiota is complex. Although it is well-established that the gut microbiota is essential for the proper development of the immune system, recent evidence indicates that the cells of the immune system also influence the composition of the gut microbiota. This interaction can have important consequences for the development of inflammatory diseases, including autoimmune diseases and allergy, and the specific mechanisms by which the gut commensals drive the development of different types of immune responses are beginning to be understood. Furthermore, sex hormones are now thought to play a novel role in this complex relationship, and collaborate with both the gut microbiota and immune system to influence the development of autoimmune disease. In this review, we will focus on recent studies that have transformed our understanding of the importance of the gut microbiota in inflammatory responses.
Topics: Animals; Disease; Gastrointestinal Tract; Humans; Immunity; Microbiota; T-Lymphocytes
PubMed: 24681103
DOI: 10.1016/j.febslet.2014.03.019