Reviews of Physiology, Biochemistry and Pharmacology

Description

Leading researchers are specially invited to provide a complete understanding of a key topic within the multidisciplinary fields of physiology, biochemistry and pharmacology. In a form immediately useful to scientists, this periodical aims to filter, highlight and review the latest developments in these rapidly advancing fields.​ Contents The Endocannabinoid System in Caenorhabditis elegans 1 Introduction 2 The Endocannabinoid System (ECS) 3 Caenorhabditis elegans General Characteristics 4 The Endocannabinoid System in C. elegans 4.1 C. elegans Phylogenetics 4.2 Role of Cannabinoids in the Establishment of Reproductive Development in C. elegans 4.3 Transforming Growth Factor Beta (TGF-β) Signaling Pathway 4.4 Role of Cannabinoids in Cholesterol Transport 4.5 Involvement of Endocannabinoids in Axon Regeneration 4.6 Involvement of Endocannabinoids in Behavior 4.7 Exogenous Cannabinoids Effects in C. elegans 4.8 Involvement of Endocannabinoids in Nociception 5 Conclusion and Perspectives References Inherited Ventricular Arrhythmia in Zebrafish: Genetic Models and Phenotyping Tools 1 Introduction 2 Methods 3 Results 3.1 The Current Status of Published Reports on Zebrafish Models of Inherited Arrhythmia 3.2 Technical Approaches for the Generation of Genetically Modified Zebrafish Disease Models 3.2.1 Forward Genetics 3.2.2 Reverse Genetics Transient Zebrafish Models Stable Models 3.2.3 Expression of Exogenous Genes 3.3 Electrophysiological Approaches in Zebrafish Phenotyping 3.3.1 Methods to Assess the Electrophysiological Properties of the Zebrafish Heart 3.3.2 Imaging Techniques 3.4 Genetic Zebrafish Models for Inherited Arrhythmias 3.4.1 Long QT Syndrome KCNH2/hERG KCNJ2 KCNQ1 and KCNE1 Other LQTS Genes 3.4.2 Short QT Syndrome KCNH2/hERG SLC4A3 3.4.3 Catecholaminergic Polymorphic Ventricular Tachycardia CALM1 3.4.4 Arrhythmogenic Right Ventricular Cardiomyopathy 3.4.5 Other Conditions and Relevant Genes CACNA1C SCN5A GSTM3 Nuclear Import Protein MOG1 KATP-Associated Genes Sodium-Calcium Exchanger (NCX) and Mitochondrial Calcium Uniporter (MCU) Transmembrane Protein 161b (tmem161b) 4 Conclusion References The Biochemistry and Physiology of A Disintegrin and Metalloproteinases (ADAMs and ADAM-TSs) in Human Pathologies 1 Introduction 2 Structure of ADAMs and ADAM-TSs Proteins 2.1 The Pro-Domain 2.2 The Metalloprotease Domain 2.3 The Disintegrin Domain 2.4 The Cysteine-Rich and EGF-Like Domain 2.5 The Transmembrane Domain, Cytoplasmic Tail and Ancillary Domain 3 Activation, Inhibition, and Regulation of ADAMs 3.1 Activation 3.2 Inhibition 3.3 Regulation 4 ADAM-TSs Regulation 4.1 Activation 4.2 Inhibition 4.3 Regulation 5 ADAMs and ADAM-TSs Role in Cardiovascular Diseases 6 ADAMs and ADAM-TSs Role in Colorectal Cancer 7 ADAMs and ADAM-TSs Role in Autoinflammatory Diseases (Sepsis/Rheumatoid Arthritis) 8 ADAMs and ADAM-TSs Role in Alzheimer´s Disease 9 ADAMs and ADAM-TSs Role in Proliferative Retinopathies 10 ADAMs Role in Infectious Diseases 11 Conclusion and Future Perspectives References A Review: Uses of Chitosan in Pharmaceutical Forms 1 Introduction 2 Synthesis of Chitosan 3 Chemical Structure 4 Physicochemical Properties of Chitosan 4.1 Degree of Deacetylation 4.2 Molecular Mass 4.3 Solubility 4.4 Mucoadhesion 4.5 Pseudoplastic Properties 5 Safety of the Chitosan Usage in Pharmaceutical Practice 6 Antimicrobial Activity 7 Uses of Chitosan in the Pharmaceutical Field 8 Methods Used to Obtain Particulate Systems Based on Chitosan 8.1 Chemical or Thermal (Crosslinking) Denaturing Method 8.2 Ionotropic Gelation Method 8.3 Methods Based on the Use of Solvents 8.3.1 Solvent Injection Method 8.3.2 Solvent Evaporation Method 8.4 Microencapsulation by Interfacial Polycondensation Reactions 8.5 Coacervation 8.6 Spray Method (Aerosolization) with Drying and Spray with Solidification 8.7 Extrusion and Spheronization 9 Conclusions References Cell-to-Cell Crosstalk: A New Insight into Pulmonary Hypertension 1 Introduction 2 Fundamental Pathogenesis in the Progression of PH 3 Pulmonary ECs Crosstalk with SMCs 3.1 EC Regulation of SMC Proliferation 3.2 SMC Regulation of EC Proliferation and Migration 4 Pulmonary ECs Crosstalk with Non-SMCs 4.1 Fibroblasts 4.2 Pericytes 4.3 Inflammatory Cells 5 Alveolar Epithelial Cells Crosstalk with SMCs 5.1 Alveolar Epithelial Cell Regulation of SMC Proliferation 5.2 SMC Regulation of AEC Proliferation 6 Alveolar Epithelial Cells Crosstalk with Non-SMCs 6.1 Fibroblast 6.2 Macrophages 7 Macrophages Crosstalk with SMCs 8 Fibroblasts Crosstalk with Macrophages 9 Concluding Remarks References