Search results for "Translational Medicine"
showing 10 items of 20 documents
Spanish Cell Therapy Network (TerCel): 15 years of successful collaborative translational research
2019
On behalf of TerCel
Effects of gaseous and solid constituents of air pollution on endothelial function
2018
Abstract Ambient air pollution is a leading cause of non-communicable disease globally. The largest proportion of deaths and morbidity due to air pollution is now known to be due to cardiovascular disorders. Several particulate and gaseous air pollutants can trigger acute events (e.g. myocardial infarction, stroke, heart failure). While the mechanisms by which air pollutants cause cardiovascular events is undergoing continual refinement, the preponderant evidence support rapid effects of a diversity of pollutants including all particulate pollutants (e.g. course, fine, ultrafine particles) and gaseous pollutants such as ozone, on vascular function. Indeed alterations in endothelial function…
Translation of Basic Research into Clinics: Killer Immunoglobulin-like Receptors Genes in Autoimmune and Infectious Diseases
2018
Killer immunoglobulin-like receptors (KIRs) regulate the activation of natural killer cells through their interaction with human leucocyte antigens (HLA). KIRs and HLA loci are highly polymorphic, and some of their combinations have been found to protect against viral infections or to predispose to autoimmune disorders. In particular, some activating KIRs profiles may be detrimental in autoimmune pathogenesis, and specific KIRs may be particularly aggressive in the clearance of different microorganisms, protecting individuals in the control of a given pathogen. So, considering that in the pathogenesis of many autoimmune disorders and infections innate immunity plays a key role, the recent …
2018
There are two important gaps of knowledge in depression treatment, namely the lack of biomarkers predicting response to antidepressants and the limited knowledge of the molecular mechanisms underlying clinical improvement. However, individually tailored treatment strategies and individualized prescription are greatly needed given the huge socio-economic burden of depression, the latency until clinical improvement can be observed and the response variability to a particular compound. Still, individual patient-level antidepressant treatment outcomes are highly unpredictable. In contrast to other therapeutic areas and despite tremendous efforts during the past years, the genomics era so far ha…
Improving the Translational Medicine Process: Moving Patients From "End-Users" to "Engaged Collaborators".
2019
Translational medicine works through the definition of unmet medical needs, their understanding and final resolution. In this complex and multi-disciplinary process patients have always been regarded as "end-users" or no more than "data provider." Considering that the translational practice is nowadays highly inefficient (i.e., large intellectual and economical resources are wasted with limited impact on people health) here we propose to reverse the process: start from patients, engage them, and keep them at the center. A new partnership needs to be formed between the patients and the health care professionals, as well as the treating physicians, to make the most out of the current "health …
From Regenerative Medicine to Endothelial Progenitor Cells as Potential Candidates
2017
A promising branch of translational medicine is Regenerative Medicine (RegMed). RegMed aims to improve health and quality of life by restoring, maintaining or enhancing tissues and functions of organs. In order to achieve this, RegMed utilizes several approaches. Among these, cell-based therapy represents the central focus of RegMed. Several cellular types have been considered for the investigation and application of regenerative cell therapy in disease organs. and bone marrow (BM)-derived endothelial progenitor cells (BM EPCs) are emerging as potential candidates. Here, particular emphasis is given to the description of their biological features, for understanding their relevance and poten…
Biofabrication of 3D tumor models in cancer research
2020
Abstract Tumors are complex tissues in which cancer cells are interwoven with fibroblasts, endothelial cells, pericytes, and inflammatory cells; these cells and the extracellular matrix constitute the tumor microenvironment (TME). The TME can modulate the behavior of tumor cells in terms of capacity to invade neighboring or distant tissues and drug resistance, by secreting tumor-promoting growth factors and cytokines. The poor efficacy of many anticancer drugs in clinical trials can be partly justified by the lack of predictive preclinical models. Prior to in vivo testing, biofabrication of tools for investigation in three-dimensional (3D) could be useful. Indeed, cells grown in 3D matrices…
Next-Generation Sequencing: Application in Liver Cancer—Past, Present and Future?
2012
Hepatocellular Carcinoma (HCC) is the third most deadly malignancy worldwide characterized by phenotypic and molecular heterogeneity. In the past two decades, advances in genomic analyses have formed a comprehensive understanding of different underlying pathobiological layers resulting in hepatocarcinogenesis. More recently, improvements of sophisticated next-generation sequencing (NGS) technologies have enabled complete and cost-efficient analyses of cancer genomes at a single nucleotide resolution and advanced into valuable tools in translational medicine. Although the use of NGS in human liver cancer is still in its infancy, great promise rests in the systematic integration of different …
Genotypic and phenotypic aspects of longevity: results from a Sicilian survey and implication for the prevention and the treatment of age-related dis…
2019
Background:It is well known that long living individuals are a model of successful ageing and that the identification of both genetic variants and environmental factors that predispose to a long and healthy life is of tremendous interest for translational medicine.Methods:We present the preliminary findings obtained from an ongoing study on longevity conducted on a sample of Sicilian long-lived individuals.Results:We review the characteristics of longevity in Sicily, taking into account lifestyle, environment, genetics, hematochemical values, body composition and immunophenotype. In addition, we discuss the possible implications of our data for the prevention and/or treatment of age-related…
Menstruation: science and society
2020
© 2020 The Authors Women's health concerns are generally underrepresented in basic and translational research, but reproductive health in particular has been hampered by a lack of understanding of basic uterine and menstrual physiology. Menstrual health is an integral part of overall health because between menarche and menopause, most women menstruate. Yet for tens of millions of women around the world, menstruation regularly and often catastrophically disrupts their physical, mental, and social well-being. Enhancing our understanding of the underlying phenomena involved in menstruation, abnormal uterine bleeding, and other menstruation-related disorders will move us closer to the goal of p…