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                    <title><![CDATA[Vascular Diseases]]></title>

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                    RSS Feed for Disease Wise Article | BenthamScience

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                    <pubDate>Tue, 09 Jun 2026 08:25:09 +0000</pubDate>

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                    <title><![CDATA[Vascular Diseases]]></title>

                    <url>https://www.benthamscience.com</url>

                    <link>https://www.benthamscience.com</link>

                    </image><item><title><![CDATA[<i>In Silico</i> Tools to Leverage Rational Drug Design and Development in LMICs]]></title><link>https://www.benthamscience.comchapter/23780</link><description><![CDATA[Drug discovery and development is a time-consuming, complex, and expensive process. Usually, it takes about 15 years in the best scenario since drug candidates have a high attrition rate. Therefore, drug development projects rarely take place in low and middle-income countries (LMICs). Traditionally, this process consists of four sequential stages: (1) target identification and early drug discovery, (2) preclinical studies, (3) clinical development, and (4) review, approval and monitoring by regulatory agencies.<br><br>During the last decades, computational tools have offered interesting opportunities for Research and Development (R &amp; D) in LMICs, since these techniques are affordable, reduce wet lab experiments in the first steps of the drug discovery process, reduce animal testing by aiding experiment design, and also provide key knowledge involving clinical data management as well as statistical analysis. <br><br>This book chapter aims to highlight different computational tools to enable early drug discovery and preclinical studies in LMICs for different pathologies, including cancer. Several strategies for drug target selection are discussed: identification, prioritization and validation of therapeutic targets; particularly focusing on high-throughput analysis of different “omics” approaches using publicly available data sets. Next, strategies to identify and optimize novel drug candidates as well as computational tools for costeffective drug repurposing are presented. In this stage, chemoinformatics is a key emerging technology. It is important to note that additional computational methods can be used to predict possible uses of identified human-aimed drugs for veterinary purposes. Application of computational tools is also possible for predicting pharmacokinetics and pharmacodynamics as well as drug-drug interactions. Drug safety is a key issue and it has a profound impact on drug discovery success. Finally, artificial intelligence (AI) has also served as a potential tool for drug design and discovery, expected to be a revolution for drug development in several diseases.<br><br>It is important to note that the development of drug discovery projects is feasible in LMICs and in silico tools are expected to potentiate novel therapeutic strategies in different diseases.<br><br>This book chapter aims to highlight different computational tools to enable early drug discovery and preclinical studies in LMICs for different pathologies, including cancer. Several strategies for drug target selection are discussed: identification, prioritization and validation of therapeutic targets; particularly focusing on high-throughput analysis of different “omics” approaches using publicly available data sets. Next, strategies to identify and optimize novel drug candidates as well as computational tools for costeffective drug repurposing are presented. In this stage, chemoinformatics is a key emerging technology. It is important to note that additional computational methods can be used to predict possible uses of identified human-aimed drugs for veterinary purposes.<br><br>Application of computational tools is also possible for predicting pharmacokinetics and pharmacodynamics as well as drug-drug interactions. Drug safety is a key issue and it has a profound impact on drug discovery success. <br><br>Finally, artificial intelligence (AI) has also served as a potential tool for drug design and discovery, expected to be a revolution for drug development in several diseases.Application of computational tools is also possible for predicting pharmacokinetics and pharmacodynamics as well as drug-drug interactions. Drug safety is a key issue and it has a profound impact on drug discovery success. Finally, artificial intelligence (AI) has also served as a potential tool for drug design and discovery, expected to be a revolution for drug development in several diseases.<br><br>&nbsp;]]></description> </item><item><title><![CDATA[Resiliency of Protein Dictates Human Health]]></title><link>https://www.benthamscience.comchapter/22444</link><description><![CDATA[<i></i>Proteins are functional in their three-dimensional form; any type of modification in the conformation of the protein affects its functions. Thus, the role of the proteins in the body depicts the functional ability and ensures health of an organism. Besides its presence in the body, proteins are consumed by the body in the form of dietary uptake. The free amino group of the protein in the body when interacting with the carbonyl group of the reducing sugar follows the Maillard reaction to produce hazardous by-products which is an advanced glycation end products (AGEs). The process of AGEs formation routes towards the aggregation process. Different studies have shown different aggregation pathways, some restricting the partial unfolding of the protein and the other oligomerization leading to fibril formation depending upon the conditions of the study. It is noteworthy that in <i>in-vivo</i> cases, glycation and aggregation are the two sides of the same coin because it is obvious that we have seen the diseased condition due to AGEs formation that also shows aggregation or <i>vice versa</i>. Hence, the two causative agents depend upon each other.<br>]]></description> </item><item><title><![CDATA[Benefits of Seaweeds in Cardiac Diseases]]></title><link>https://www.benthamscience.comchapter/22348</link><description><![CDATA[Cardiovascular diseases encompass a wide range of disorders that can be categorized into several groups depending on different criteria. The prevalence of cardiac disease is rapidly accelerating in the world. Cardiovascular disorders are responsible for roughly 17.9 million annual fatalities, or nearly 32% of the total mortality globally. The etiology of cardiovascular disease is complex, consisting of both modifiable and non-modifiable risk factors, including metabolic abnormalities, aberrant protein function, genetic mutations, and other contributing elements. Atherosclerosis continues to be the most significant risk factor since it primarily defines the pathogenic processes of cardiovascular diseases. Both pharmacotherapy and surgical interventions are currently in use to alleviate disease symptoms and reduce fatalities. Nevertheless, they have limitations. Therefore, there is an urgent need to develop a novel treatment for cardiovascular disease. Seaweeds are comprised of bioactive compounds with different biological and chemical properties. These can be classified into two groups: primary metabolites and secondary metabolites. Constituents such as phlorotannins, polysaccharides (ulvan, fucoidan, carrageenan), peptides, sterols, and carotenoids (fucoxanthin and astaxanthin) have depicted beneficial effects in preventing cardiovascular diseases. Therefore, this chapter mainly focuses on the bioactive constituents derived from seaweeds and their composition that may benefit in preventing and treating cardiovascular diseases.<br>]]></description> </item><item><title><![CDATA[Seaweed Metabolites as a Novel Source of Drugs to Treat Inflammatory Diseases]]></title><link>https://www.benthamscience.comchapter/22336</link><description><![CDATA[Inflammation is a complex adaptive response to harmful circumstances such as infection and tissue damage. While inflammation is curable in the acute stage, continuous inflammation can lead to chronic diseases such as diabetes, arthritis, neurodegenerative and cardiovascular diseases, inflammatory bowel disease, and metabolic diseases. The inhibition of inflammatory cell infiltration and excessive cytokine production is beneficial to reduce chronic inflammation. Seaweeds have significant medicinal value due to their bioactive compounds, including seaweed metabolites with anti-inflammatory properties such as sulfated polysaccharides, polyphenols, terpenes, and fatty acids. Marine algal compounds with anti-inflammatory characteristics have recently gained attention in medical research as natural therapeutics that provide a significant protective effect over synthetic drugs. Therefore, this review aims to summarize the current knowledge on the anti-inflammatory activity of seaweed metabolites, including their underlying mechanisms and impact on several chronic inflammatory diseases.<br>]]></description> </item><item><title><![CDATA[Anesthetic Considerations for Patients with Chronic Neurologic Disorders]]></title><link>https://www.benthamscience.comchapter/22209</link><description><![CDATA[Chronic neurological disorders encompass a broad range of challenges for the surgical and anesthesiology team in the perioperative setting. According to the World Population Prospects 2019, by 2050, 1 in 6 people will be over 65, from 1 in 11 in 2019 [1]. As our population continues to age, our understanding and ability to provide medical and surgical services must improve as well. Perioperative strokes are rare, but they can greatly impact a patient's recovery and function when they occur. Dementia strongly predicts postoperative complications, higher hospital costs, and 30- day mortality [2]. Patients with Parkinson’s disease are at a higher risk of perioperative medical and surgical complications not to mention specific medication regimens that need to be adjusted to avoid worsening symptomatology. Although rare, a patient presenting with Amyotrophic lateral sclerosis (ALS), can present with a broad range of neurologic symptoms, and cardiovascular and pulmonary dysfunction that can be daunting for any anesthesia provider. In this chapter, we will explore the comprehensive approach to managing chronic neurologic disorders, including multidisciplinary care, early identification of potential complications, specialized medication management, and intraoperative considerations.<br>]]></description> </item><item><title><![CDATA[Pulmonary Hypertension and Geriatric Patients]]></title><link>https://www.benthamscience.comchapter/22203</link><description><![CDATA[Pulmonary hypertension is a common and life-threatening condition, characterized by elevated blood pressure in the pulmonary artery, which supplies blood to the lungs. This condition is typically classified into five groups based on etiology. The etiology of pulmonary hypertension in the elderly is complex and multifactorial. Some of the common causes of pulmonary hypertension in this population include leftsided heart disease, chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD), interstitial lung disease (ILD), and pulmonary embolism. The initial evaluation determines the cause, which guides the appropriate treatment. The most common causes in the elderly arise from left heart disease and the sequela of COPD. Long-standing disease can result in pulmonary hypertension leading to right heart failure and potentially catastrophic consequences in a patient population with decreased physiologic reserve. Anesthesia and surgery in patients with pulmonary hypertension pose a significant risk of complications including death. Acute right ventricular decompensation can result from various physiological changes induced by anesthesia and sedation. Adequate risk assessment and individualized care are essential components of care. Efforts to avoid increases in pulmonary vascular resistance are keys to anesthetic management. However, despite the increase of pulmonary hypertension in the geriatric population, limited studies are dedicated to this group.<br>]]></description> </item><item><title><![CDATA[Anesthetic Considerations in Patients After Valve Replacements and Cardiac Stents, with Associated Anticoagulation Concerns]]></title><link>https://www.benthamscience.comchapter/22202</link><description><![CDATA[Geriatric patients are a significant proportion of the patients seen in the perioperative setting. Oftentimes, these patients are presenting for non-cardiac surgery after undergoing a cardiac procedure previously. Management of these patients starts with understanding the pathophysiology, surgical intervention, and anesthetic considerations. This management starts from risk assessment and perioperative management. In this chapter, risk assessment stemming from a patient’s co-morbid conditions is taken into account to form an overall risk profile. These conditions help the anesthesiologist establish a framework to model an anesthetic plan. Notably, a prior cardiac history, including a history of coronary artery disease (CAD), hypertension (HTN), and a history of valve disease and possible repair, is prudent. Also discussed is the need for appropriate intra-operative monitoring in specific situations as well as anticoagulation guidelines in the pre and post-operative settings.<br>]]></description> </item><item><title><![CDATA[Geriatric Patients with Congestive Heart Failure and Low Ejection Fraction; Non-Cardiac Surgery after CABG]]></title><link>https://www.benthamscience.comchapter/22201</link><description><![CDATA[In the perioperative care of geriatric patient, it is common to have patients with heart failure and who have had previous cardiac surgery. In order to safely and successfully care for these patients it is imperative to understand the pathology and progression of the disease. Additionally, it is necessary to be able to recognize the signs and symptoms of heart failure so that it may be recognized in patients who have yet to be diagnosed in order to determine if further testing or optimization is required. Furthermore, it is necessary to know the special considerations necessary for the management of patients with heart failure or previous CABG.&nbsp;<br>]]></description> </item><item><title><![CDATA[Modulatory Mechanism of NLRP3 Inflammasome in Heart Diseases: “An Enigma Wrapped in a Riddle”]]></title><link>https://www.benthamscience.comchapter/21912</link><description><![CDATA[Despite breakthroughs in therapy over the prior two decades, heart failure is considered the foremost cause of mortality globally. The inflammasome plays a pivotal role in the advancement of heart failure, abdominal aortic aneurysm, atherosclerosis, diabetic cardiomyopathy, hypertension, dilated cardiomyopathy, cardiac remodeling and calcific aortic valve disease. The NLRP3 inflammasome is a crucial multi-protein signaling platform that tightly regulates inflammatory responses. It regulates antimicrobial host defense, which causes pyroptosis through caspase-1 activation by the eventual production of pro-inflammatory cytokines. The investigation of the NLRP3 inflammasome in various cardiovascular diseases may reveal critical disease triggers and endogenous modulators, leading to the development of new therapeutic interventions in the future. The target of this chapter is to summarise the recent literature describing the activation mechanism of the NLRP3 inflammasome by implicating different inflammatory pathways in the pathophysiology of heart failure.<br>]]></description> </item><item><title><![CDATA[NLRP3 Inflammasome: A Novel Mediator in Pulmonary Hypertension]]></title><link>https://www.benthamscience.comchapter/21911</link><description><![CDATA[Pulmonary hypertension (PH) is marked by elevated mean pulmonary arterial pressure, unfavorable vascular remodeling and right ventricular failure. Current enormous amounts of clinical and preclinical data suggest the role of inflammation as a crucial factor for PH onset and development by modulating both innate and adaptive immune responses. In this context, NLRP3 inflammasome appears as a key step in the signaling cascade that negatively regulates various PH-associated conditions by inducing inflammatory outbursts. The activation of NLRP3 by pathogen-associated molecular pattern molecules/damage-associated molecular pattern molecules and caspase-1 mediated release of proinflammatory cytokines IL-1β and IL-18 are the key molecular events associated with NLRP3 inflammasomal pathway. Released IL-1β and IL-18 bring about adverse consequences on the pulmonary vasculature and the resulting onset of PH. Within this section, we will provide an in-depth understanding of present pulmonary hypertension (PH) treatments and their shortcomings. We will also discuss the contribution of NLRP3 inflammasomes in promoting inflammation within the context of PH pathobiology, as well as explore potential therapeutic approaches to target them.<br>]]></description> </item><item><title><![CDATA[Role of NLRP3 Inflammasome in Airway Inflammation and Fibrosis]]></title><link>https://www.benthamscience.comchapter/21910</link><description><![CDATA[The NLRP3 inflammasome is a critical component of the innate immune system that mediates caspase-1 activation and the secretion of proinflammatory cytokines IL-1β/IL-18 in response to microbial infection and cellular damage. Nucleotide-binding oligomerization domain (NOD)-like receptor family pyrin domain 3 (NLRP3), one of the members of the NLR family, consists of NLRP3, the adaptor molecule, apoptosis-associated speck-like protein containing a caspase and recruitment domain (ASC) and an inflammatory caspase-1 that causes excessive inflammasome activation in respiratory diseases like asthma and could exacerbate the progression of asthma by considerably contributing to ECM accumulation and airway remodeling. NLRP3 is closely associated with airway inflammation and asthma exacerbations as endotoxin (lipopolysaccharide, LPS) is one of its activators present in the environment. Asthma is a complex immunological and inflammatory disease characterized by the presence of airway inflammation, airway wall remodeling and bronchial hyperresponsiveness (BHR). Symptomatic attacks of asthma can be caused by a myriad of situations, including allergens, infections, and pollutants, which cause the rapid aggravation of respiratory problems. The presence of LPS in the environment is positively correlated with the incidence of asthma and allergic diseases. In this chapter, we summarize our current understanding of the mechanisms of NLRP3 inflammasome activation by multiple signaling events in asthmatic exacerbations and their regulation.<br>]]></description> </item><item><title><![CDATA[Pathogenesis of Atherosclerosis and Coronary Heart Disease: Epidemiology, Diagnostic Biomarkers and Prevention by Nutraceuticals, Functional Foods, and Plant-Derived Therapies]]></title><link>https://www.benthamscience.comchapter/21850</link><description><![CDATA[Atherosclerosis is characterized by hardening/narrowing of arteries and reduction of blood flow to vital organs. Animal models and human research show that endothelial dysfunction and plaque development precede the pathogenesis of atherosclerosis, and related coronary heart disease, neurological, and renal disorders. Cardiac CT-scans are used to detect atherosclerosis. Early diagnosis of atherosclerosis reduces mortality, morbidity, and healthcare expenditures. Biomarkers like C-reactive protein, IL-6, IL-8, phospholipase A2, cardiac troponin, MicroRNA, miR-21, and other endothelial inflammation biomarkers are novel targets for monitoring atherosclerosisrelated cardiovascular disorders. Anti-platelet and anti-cholesterol drugs are used in the treatment of atherogenesis and blood vessel clots. However, cholesterol-lowering drugs may cause serious adverse effects. Thus, safe and cost-effective non-pharmacological anti-atherogenic and anticoagulant therapies are urgently needed. Nutraceuticals, functional foods, plant-derived therapies, antioxidant/anti-inflammation, foods/fruits/vegetables, and lifestyle changes (e.g., physical activity, less alcohol, smoking cessation) reduce atherogenesis, diabetes mellitus, obesity, hypertension, LDL, and C-reactive protein in all age groups, especially younger people. Overwhelming evidence suggests that regular physical activity (30 min/day), cessation of cigarette smoking, and consumption of antioxidant nutraceuticals rich in flavonoids and retinoids, fresh vegetables and fruits, omega-3 PUFA, culinary spices, probiotics, Mediterranean-type diet, and “DASH DIET” lower the risk of atherogenesis and cardiovascular diseases. This review summarizes current advances in the diagnosis and management of atherosclerosis and related cardiovascular illnesses with plant-based and wholesome diets, including the Mediterranean diet, DASH DIET, and lifestyle changes. New preventative measures and alternative therapies, including dietary interventions and plant-based foods may be the most cost-effective ways to manage atherosclerosis and cardiovascular illnesses. <br>]]></description> </item><item><title><![CDATA[Food Color, Taste, Smell, Culinary Plate, Flavor, Locale, and their Impact on Nutrition: Present and Future Multisensory Food Augmentation and Noncommunicable Disease Prevention: An Overview]]></title><link>https://www.benthamscience.comchapter/21844</link><description><![CDATA[Cognizant that ‘the world is one family’, this overview describes chemosensory characteristics of food and related issues that may enable global inequalities in healthy food consumption to be improved with a reduction in noncommunicable diseases (NCDs), preventatively. Past and modern aspects of food tradition are briefly described followed by titular chemosensory characteristics and their potential application to improving health in nutrition in the sense intended, including the culinary plate. Human-computer interface and food augmentation reality and commensal dining, in association with chemosensory properties, including sound concerning oral food processing, are described. Future research on arresting trends in the prevalence of NCD is suggested based on the literature. Visual cues for in-store food choice are discussed that potentially allow the consumer, through psychological processes and behavior outcomes, to be more discerning. Advertisements and store architecture per se are not discussed. The relatively high prevalence of anosmia caused by COVID-19 infection relative to non-infected subjects may alter taste and flavor perception and lead to changed dietary habits and metabolism. Most global consumers can practice the ‘how’ and ‘when’ to beneficially eat but food insecurity poses a global problem.<br>]]></description> </item><item><title><![CDATA[Associated Diseases]]></title><link>https://www.benthamscience.comchapter/21777</link><description><![CDATA[]]></description> </item><item><title><![CDATA[Assessment of Disease Severity]]></title><link>https://www.benthamscience.comchapter/21776</link><description><![CDATA[]]></description> </item><item><title><![CDATA[Natural Products in Wound Regeneration]]></title><link>https://www.benthamscience.comchapter/21753</link><description><![CDATA[The skin is the largest organ in the body that provides protection. When a wound occurs, the skin structure and its function are damaged, and it can even compromise life. Damage repair can occur through two mechanisms: healing and regeneration. When a scar forms, fibrosis occurs in the area, and the skin appendages, which include the glands and hair follicles, are lost. In regeneration, the functionality of the skin is partially or totally recovered. Medicinal plants and their active principles favor the regeneration of skin wounds because they have direct effects on the different phases of the process. They favor hemostasis, and modulate inflammation, which allows the following stages of healing to occur in less time, such as proliferation and remodeling. They favor hemostasis, modulate inflammation, and that the following stages of healing to occur in less time (proliferation and remodeling). Natural products can also reduce the risk of wound infections by having antibacterial activity. However, the bioavailability of the extracts and their metabolites may be limited, and a solution to this problem is to integrate them into preparations such as hydrogels, nanoparticles, nanofibers, and nanoemulsions. Research on the therapeutic properties of various natural products and their integration into the formulations mentioned above for wound regeneration is described below according to their effect on epithelialization, regeneration of epidermal appendages, vascularization, and in some cases their mechanism of action.<br>]]></description> </item><item><title><![CDATA[Utilizing <i>in silico</i> Methods in New Drug Design]]></title><link>https://www.benthamscience.comchapter/21749</link><description><![CDATA[The current chapter offers a highly informative and enlightening overview of the practical implementation of molecular docking in the field of biotechnology, with a specific focus on drug discovery for a variety of ailments. Molecular docking, an incredibly powerful computational methodology, has increasingly been utilized as an essential instrument in the elucidation of drug-receptor interactions, providing invaluable insights into the process of designing drugs. This chapter delves into the fundamentals of molecular docking algorithms, offering a comprehensive understanding of their theoretical underpinnings, methodologies, and typical applications. Furthermore, this chapter elaborates on how this method is used to predict the binding affinity and orientation of potential small-molecule therapeutics to their protein targets, emphasizing the crucial role that molecular docking plays in the quest for new medications to treat various diseases. By presenting case studies across a range of diseases, this chapter effectively demonstrates the remarkable versatility of molecular docking in advancing our knowledge of disease pathogenesis and therapeutic interventions. In addition, specific diseases and their corresponding drugs are carefully examined, along with an in-depth review of molecular docking studies performed on these drugs. This detailed exploration serves as a robust foundation for researchers seeking to understand the utility of molecular docking in the development of more effective, targeted therapeutics. This chapter thus positions molecular docking as an indispensable tool in the field of biotechnology, propelling drug discovery into a new era of precision and efficiency. Overall, this chapter presents a comprehensive and informative overview of the diverse applications of molecular docking in biotechnology, providing an essential resource for researchers in the field.<br>]]></description> </item><item><title><![CDATA[Recent Drugs Tested in Clinical Trials for Alzheimer´s and Parkinson´s Diseases Treatment: Current Approaches in Tracking New Drugs]]></title><link>https://www.benthamscience.comchapter/21739</link><description><![CDATA[Affecting more than 50 million people worldwide and with high global costs annually, neurological disorders such as Alzheimer's disease (AD) and Parkinson’s disease (PD) are a growing challenge all over the world. Globally, only in 2018, AD costs reached an astonishing $ 1 trillion and, since the annual costs of AD are rapidly increasing, the projections estimate that these numbers will double by 2030. Considering the industrial perspective, the costs related to the development of new drugs are extremely high when compared to the expected financial return. One of the aggravating factors is the exorbitant values for the synthesis of chemical compounds, hindering the process of searching for new drug candidates. In the last 10-year period, an average of 20 to 40 new drugs were approved per year, representing a success rate of less than 6%. However, the number of referrals for new drug orders and/or applications remained at approximately 700 each year, reinforcing the difficulty in the process of identifying and developing novel drugs. Regarding neurodegenerative diseases, the FDA (USA) approved 53 new therapies in 2019, including 48 new molecules and, from these, three are medicines and two are vaccines. The main drugs recommended for the treatment of these disorders are included in the following classes: Dopamine supplement (Levodopa), Monoamine oxidase (MAO) inhibitor (Selegiline, Rasagiline), Dopamine agonist (Apomorphine, Pramipexole), and Acetylcholinesterase inhibitor (Donepezil, Rivastigmine, Galantamine). Additionally, the current pharmacological treatments are not able to cure these patients and considering the etiological complexity and the prevalence of neurological disorders, scientists have a great challenge in exploring new therapies and new molecules to find an adequate and viable treatment for these diseases. Clinical trials are essential in this process and thus, this chapter describes the most important drugs that were targets of phase III and IV clinical studies in the last five years, associated with the most common neurological disorders worldwide, AD and PD. Information about mechanisms of action, experimental studies in other diseases that support their use, and chemical structure of the drugs are included in this chapter. Additionally, nature as a source of valuable chemical entities for PD and AD therapeutics was also revised, as well as future advances in the field regarding tracking new drugs to get successful results and critical opinions in the research and clinical investigation.<br>]]></description> </item><item><title><![CDATA[Pre-process Methods for Cardio Vascular Diseases Diagnosis Using CT (Computed Tomography) Angiography Images]]></title><link>https://www.benthamscience.comchapter/21715</link><description><![CDATA[The discipline of artificial intelligence (AI), which trains computers to comprehend and analyse pictures using computer vision, is flourishing, particularly in the medical industry. The well-known non-invasive diagnostic procedure known as CCTA (Coronary Computerized Tomography Angiography) is used to diagnose cardiovascular disease (CD). Pre-processing CT Angiography pictures is a crucial step in computer vision-based medical diagnosis. Implementing image enhancement preprocess to reduce noise or blur pixels and weak edges in a picture marks the beginning of the research stages. Using Python and PyCharm(IDE) editor, we can build Edge detection routines, smoothing/filtering functions, and edge sharpening functions as a first step in the pre-processing of CCTA pictures.&nbsp;<br>]]></description> </item><item><title><![CDATA[Natural Biomaterials: An Essential Element for in vitro Disease Modeling]]></title><link>https://www.benthamscience.comchapter/21683</link><description><![CDATA[In-depth analysis of human diseases, specifically emergent noncommunicable ones, needs to be carried out to understand the molecular mechanism and develop sustainable therapeutics. Animals such as small rodents and canines are frequently used as models for clinical trials. However, recent evidence suggests the inappropriateness of such in vivo models for human diseases. A new class of humanrelevant platforms needs to be established to resolve the issues surrounding the failure of potential drug candidates over the last decades. The development of human-relevant in vitro models must abide by the 3R’s principles for biomedical research. Modeling diseased tissue requires appropriate matrices such as scaffold, hydrogel, electrospinning mats, and others to mimic the strength and mechanics of the tissue in question. Biodegradable biomaterials from natural sources such as plants and animals are already used widely for tissue engineering, and regenerative medicines can be repurposed to develop a human-relevant disease model. Here we will discuss the current status of such in vitro models for a few highly fatal non-communicable diseases like cardiomyopathy, cancer, neuropathy, and others.<br>]]></description> </item><item><title><![CDATA[Neural Stem Cells in Tissue Engineering]]></title><link>https://www.benthamscience.comchapter/21644</link><description><![CDATA[Neural stem cells (NSCs) are unique subsets of stem cells with self-renewal and multiple lineage differentiation potential, which are considered promising cell sources for neuron generation and complex cognitive and sensory functions, and the resultant NSC-based cryotherapy for regenerative purposes. Of them, distinguished from the small amount of activated subset, most of the NSCs are maintained in the quiescent state and reveal a low level of metabolic activity but a high sensitivity to the environment. The dynamic balance between quiescence and the activity of NSCs determines both the efficiency of neurogenesis and the long-term maintenance and self-renewal of the NSC pool as well as the neurogenic capacity of the brain. In this chapter, we mainly review the classification and biofunction of NSCs, and introduce the significant progress in the understanding of NSC-based applications and the underlying molecular mechanism for NSC quiescence, the dysfunction in neurogenesis, and the pathogenesis of neurological disorders. Collectively, these data will facilitate the development of NSC-based cytotherapy for a broad spectrum of refractory and recurrent diseases in the future.<br>]]></description> </item><item><title><![CDATA[Modulating the Gut Microbiome through Genome Editing for Alleviating Gut Dysbiosis]]></title><link>https://www.benthamscience.comchapter/21512</link><description><![CDATA[One of the components of the emerging lifestyle shows an exponential rise in the consumption of packaged or high-calorie food. This has caused an increase in the incidences of diseases which are considered to be a consequence of the changing lifestyle. It has been observed that these clinical conditions are linked with gut dysbiosis, and hence it has been proposed that by modulation of the composition of gut microbiota, the risk of such diseases can be lowered. Prebiotics and probiotics, in combination, possess tremendous potential for maintaining the homeostasis in individuals. In this chapter, a comparative assessment of CRISPR-mediated genome editing technique has been discussed with conventional omics tools and modelling approaches. These techniques substantially simplify the modification of target genome in complex microbial communities and could enhance their prebiotic and probiotic potential. The synthetic biology approach to microbiome therapies such as additive, subtractive, and modulatory therapies for curing gut dysbiosis are also discussed. The chapter is aimed at developing a better understanding about the role of CRISPR/Cas as a reliable technology that may be employed as a diagnostic tool for infectious disease diagnosis as well as its treatment. Although, the tool has already demonstrated its use in a wide range of genome editing and genetic engineering applications, additional study into its use in human genome editing and diagnostics is needed considering any potential side effects or ambiguities.&nbsp;<br>]]></description> </item><item><title><![CDATA[Atherosclerosis in Animals]]></title><link>https://www.benthamscience.comchapter/21467</link><description><![CDATA[This chapter on “Animal Models of Atherosclerosis” begins with the description of Atherosclerosis and the use of animal models. When lipids and fibrous tissue accumulate in the arterial wall, a condition known as atherosclerosis develops, which in turn causes the narrowing of the arteries and an increased likelihood of developing cardiovascular problems. Atherosclerosis animal models have been extensively utilized to investigate the disease's pathophysiology and evaluate potential treatments. This study's goal is to provide a brief overview of the analysis of the advantages and disadvantages of the most popular animal models of atherosclerosis, such as mice, rabbits, pigs, nonhuman primates, and dogs. Studies in animals mimicking atherosclerosis often use either high-fat diets or genetic manipulation to learn about the disease. A few of the characteristics of human disease, like lipid accumulation, vascular inflammation, and arterial remodeling, have been successfully reproduced in these models. However, the findings of animal research must be interpreted with caution due to species variations in atherosclerosis onset and progression. In sum, atherosclerosis animal models remain a vital resource for expanding our knowledge of the disease and discovering novel treatment approaches.<br>]]></description> </item><item><title><![CDATA[Animal Models of Asthma]]></title><link>https://www.benthamscience.comchapter/21466</link><description><![CDATA[Asthma is a significant heterogeneous disease with a high prevalence in children and adults. The main manifestations of asthma include wheezing, cough, dyspnea, chest tightness, mucus hypersecretion, and airway hyperresponsiveness to inhaled allergens with varying degrees of expiratory airflow limitation. Asthma is mainly considered as a state of dysregulated Th2 immune responses. However, clinical findings indicate that asthma is a heterogeneous disease with diverse phenotypes, endotypes and inflammatory cascades. Animal models are critical to advance insights into the pathophysiology underlying asthma development and to validate the safety and efficacy of novel therapeutics. Allergic asthma is mostly induced in murine models through sensitization of mice by one of the two main allergens: ovalbumin and house dust mite. Murine models were the most used model to investigate immune responses and genetic background of asthma as well as the basis of the heterogenous phenotypes/endotypes of the disease. Murine models have also been used to validate novel therapeutics. While murine models have offered a better understanding of certain pathways and reactants in the pathogenesis of asthma and airway remodeling, none of the current models entirely reflect the same features of human asthma. Therefore, great caution should be considered regarding the extrapolation of data derived from the murine asthma model to human asthma as they have many limitations and only partly reflect the pathology of human diseases.<br>]]></description> </item><item><title><![CDATA[Autoimmune Diseases in Animals]]></title><link>https://www.benthamscience.comchapter/21463</link><description><![CDATA[Autoimmune diseases, known as immune-mediated diseases, occur when the immune system targets and attacks its own cells. In the field of medicine, there is a wide range of autoimmune conditions, including insulin-dependent Type 1 Diabetes Mellitus T1DM, Type 2 Diabetes Mellitus T2DM, Rheumatoid Arthritis RA, and Thyroiditis. These diseases can either be primary, with no clearly defined cause, or secondary, triggered by factors such as medications, infections, or malignancies. Animal models have proven invaluable for gaining insights into the underlying pathologies, causes, and specific signaling pathways associated with human autoimmune diseases. This is because these animal models share physiological similarities with humans and have shorter lifespans, allowing researchers to observe the entire disease progression. To replicate the complexity of autoimmune diseases in experimental models, researchers utilize various animal species, including monkeys, rabbits, rats, and mice. These methods can be broadly categorized into three strategies: immunization with autoantigens, transfer of autoimmunity, and induction through environmental factors. Numerous studies have been conducted using animal models to investigate the immunological pathophysiology of RA and assess the effectiveness of anti-rheumatic medications. There are several mouse models designed to mimic RAlike disease, each focusing on specific aspects of the condition. While animal models come with limitations, such as incomplete disease manifestations and limited genetic similarity to humans due to human genetic diversity, they remain an essential tool for understanding the pathogenesis of autoimmune diseases. Among the various animal models used in research, mice and other rodents like rats and hamsters account for over 90% of the total number of animals employed in these studies.<br>]]></description> </item><item><title><![CDATA[Cells in Vascular Tissue Engineering Research]]></title><link>https://www.benthamscience.comchapter/21452</link><description><![CDATA[Fabrication of off-the-shelf small diameter vascular graft as an alternative to current autologous graft in clinical setting i.e., internal mammary artery and saphenous veins has yet to be perfected. With cardiovascular diseases (CVD) topping the list of the causes of death worldwide, alternative vascular graft is especially crucial in patients with a lack of autologous grafts. Successful re-vascularisation could substantially lower the progression of CVD and mortality rate. This chapter delves into cells that are vital in developing a tissue engineered vascular graft (TEVG), ranging from the native tissue on the vascular bed to the potential cells that could be utilized, compounds that possibly could improve the available grafts and stents and future TEVG design.<br>]]></description> </item><item><title><![CDATA[Diagnosis and Potential Strategies to Discover New Drugs for the Treatment of Alzheimer’s Disease (AD)]]></title><link>https://www.benthamscience.comchapter/21420</link><description><![CDATA[Alzheimer disease (AD) is most common cause of dementia, which is characterized by impaired cognitive and behavioural charateristics. Deposition of Aβ plaques and neurofibrillary tangs (NFTs) are the hallmark of AD. Generally it is a chronic disease where neurodegeneration, and loss of neuronal function arise earlier before it is diagnosed. Early detection of AD is important as it reduces the severity of the disease. In this regard, an effective tools/methods are available including CSF biomarkers, Magnetic Resonance imaging (MRI), Positron emission tomography (PET) but all these methods are painful and often cannot be afforded by the patients. <br><br>Therapy of AD includes inhibitors of choline esterases, and antagonists at NMDA receptors. From the studies it is shown that these drugs just offer relief from symptoms rather than alleviating the progression of disease. Multiple pathological processes contribute for AD, like oxidative stress, dysregulation of neurotransmitters, inflammation of neurons, aggregation β-amyloid, phosphorylation of tau protein. It is essential to target multiple causes for an effective outcome in the treatment of AD. Early diagnosis is also crucial as it reduces disease progression thereby cost involved in AD therapy. <br><br>This review focuses on non-invasive, patient affordable diagnosis methods and also potential targets to discover new drugs beyond conventional and available drugs.<br>]]></description> </item><item><title><![CDATA[Promising Nano-Carriers-Based Targeted Drug Delivery Approaches for the Effective Treatment of Alzheimer’s Disease]]></title><link>https://www.benthamscience.comchapter/21417</link><description><![CDATA[Alzheimer’s disease (AD) is an attained disorder of cognitive and behavioral impingement with progressive symptoms over time. It is mostly witnessed in elderly people, and as per the World Health Organization (WHO), it has affected more than 35 million people worldwide, and this figure is presumed to double by the year 2050. The most commonly believed cause of AD is the accumulation of beta-amyloid, which forms extracellular plaques. Presently conventional therapy for treating cognitive impairments in AD relies on a neurotransmitter or enzyme modulation strategy. Conventional approved drugs, such as acetylcholinesterase inhibitors (memantine, tacrine), are widely available for the treatment of mild to moderate AD, but due to their lower bioavailability, poor solubility, and ineffective capability to surpass the blood brain barrier (BBB), they often fail to produce the desired effect. The potency of conventional AD drugs is highly dependent on various physiological aspects such as BBB; blood-cerebrospinal fluid barrier and drug efflux by P-glycoprotein, which all hampers the capabilities of AD drugs to grasp the central nervous system (CNS). So, in order to conquer the hurdle and these existing limitations faced by CNS drugs to cross the BBB, innovative pathways in drug development have become the need of the hour. Various nanocarriers based approaches profitably meet this demand by improving the efficacy as well as facilitating the sustained release of the entrapped AD drug via targeted drug delivery. The blood-brain barrier offers protection to the central nervous system and also limits the entry of therapeutic molecules to the CNS. On the other hand, nanotechnology offers the possibility to deliver small molecules against CNS disorders across BBB due to their enormous properties, such as small surface area, controllable physicochemical properties, higher drug payload, and better drug circulation time. Plenty of nanocarriers and nanoparticle prodrugs have been reported to have inconsequential cytotoxicity in preclinical studies, and these advancements have proclaimed a new juncture for the development of new classes of nano carriers’ based potent drug formulations for the treatment of AD. A plethora of nanotechnology-based approaches such as polymers, emulsions, lipo-carriers, solid lipid carriers, carbon nanotubes, and metal-based carriers have been redefined over time, and they have been successfully focusing on both neuroprotective and neurogenerative techniques for treating AD. Many researchers also reported that nanotechnological-based techniques can improve the early diagnosis of AD and enhance the therapeutic efficacy and bioavailability of drugs.<br>]]></description> </item><item><title><![CDATA[Tubulin Modifying Enzymes as Target for the Treatment of Alzheimer's Disease: Old Perspective With A New Angle]]></title><link>https://www.benthamscience.comchapter/21413</link><description><![CDATA[Alzheimer's disease (AD) is a major cause of mental disability in the elderly, accounting for 50-60% of all dementia. While β-amyloid plaques as well as neurofibrillary tangles are neuropathological markers, inflammation plays a critical role in AD development. The aberrant detachment of microtubules (MTs) from axon MTs, cellular mislocalization, and hyperphosphorylation of tau are major factors in neurodegeneration death. Tau's ability to aggregate as well as form NFTs is assumed to be regulated by post-translational changes, which are regarded to be an essential regulatory mechanism. So far, drugs that target tau phosphorylation as well as aggregation have not shown therapeutic impact. It is now clear that tubulin PTMs cause tau dysfunction. High glutamylation and detyrosination levels in the neurons affect MT surface physicochemical characteristics. Further evidence for the relevance of such an enzymatic machinery in neurobiology comes from the recent discovery of harmful mutations in enzymes involved in surface MT modification. In this chapter, we discussed that targeting tubulin-modifying enzymes pharmacologically may be useful in treating neurodegenerative disorders.<br>]]></description> </item><item><title><![CDATA[Macular Perfusional Findings in Venous Obstructive Disease and Its Treatment: An OCT-A Evaluation]]></title><link>https://www.benthamscience.comchapter/21364</link><description><![CDATA[The human retina is supplied by an extensive network of capillaries, where healthy blood flow to various parts of the retina, particularly the macula, is vital for visual functions. Any obstruction in blood flow, known as retinal vein occlusion (RVO), can reduce venous blood return. RVO can occur either at a central location (called central retinal vein occlusion [CRVO]) or a peripheral location (branch vein occlusion [BRVO]). Various techniques have been used to investigate blood flow to the retina and analyze different factors that may impact retinal blood flow. Optical coherence tomographic angiography (OCT-A) has emerged as one of the best methods, with several studies demonstrating its use to investigate changes in blood perfusion status, hemorrhage from blood vessels, and the presence of edema. Some studies have demonstrated that OCT-A is superior to other techniques.<br>Macular edema secondary to RVO is the most common complication that may affect visual acuity and lead to vision loss if left untreated. Several qualitative and quantitative changes caused by RVO can be detected using OCT-A, including vascular blood perfusion and vascular density. Several treatment options have been used to treat macular edema secondary to RVO and other complications. Laser photocoagulation therapy has been used extensively in the past with mixed outcomes. Glucocorticoids, especially dexamethasone (Ozurdex®), have also been used to treat macular edema secondary to RVO. Currently, anti-vascular endothelial growth factor (VEGF) agents are the gold standard for treating RVO. Ranibizumab and aflibercept are approved for the treatment of macular edema secondary to RVO, with faricimab expected to soon be approved.<br>]]></description> </item><item><title><![CDATA[Branch and Central Retina Artery Occlusion and its treatment according to OCT-A Findings]]></title><link>https://www.benthamscience.comchapter/21362</link><description><![CDATA[The retina requires a large blood supply to cope with the metabolic demands of the tissue, so it is vulnerable to hypoxia when the arterial blood flow is obstructed. Retinal artery occlusions are not common, but they can cause severe vision loss and may be indicative of cardiovascular disorders, such as cerebral stroke and ischemic heart disease. The central retinal artery arises from the ophthalmic artery and its branches supply blood to the inner retina via the superficial capillary plexus. Central retinal artery occlusion (CRAO) is characterized by an obstruction to the central retinal artery that often presents with severe vision loss and a poor prognosis. Branch retinal artery occlusion (BRAO) is defined by a blockage of a branch of the central retinal artery, which typically has a good prognosis if visual acuity is 20/40 or better on presentation. Optical coherence tomography-angiography (OCT-A) is a rapid, highresolution imaging technique that can visualize the microvasculature of the retinal layers, including the superficial and deep capillary plexuses.<br>Therefore, it is possible to determine the microvascular changes that occur following retinal artery occlusions, and before and after potential therapies that are being actively researched. Therapies under investigation for the treatment of CRAO and BRAO include hyperbaric oxygen, fibrinolysis, and embolysis with laser therapy. In this chapter, the capabilities of OCT-A imaging to visualize and quantify retinal microvascular changes following CRAO and BRAO are assessed. Moreover, the use of OCT-A to understand the benefit of potential therapies is reviewed. <br><br>]]></description> </item><item><title><![CDATA[OCT-A Findings and Usefulness in Alzheimer's Disease, Parkinson's Disease, and Systemic Lupus Erythematosus]]></title><link>https://www.benthamscience.comchapter/21361</link><description><![CDATA[The eye is a window to the brain because of its inherent connection to the central nervous system (CNS). Several brain disorders manifest as ophthalmic abnormalities and can be detected through a detailed assessment of the eyes. In the last decade, extensive evaluation of retinal microvascular changes using optical coherence tomography angiography (OCT-A) has been performed for several diseases, such as Parkinson's disease, Alzheimer's disease, and systemic lupus erythematosus. Although the results from the available studies are conflicting (mainly due to heterogeneous study populations), they agree on the applicability of this technology for the early identification of these diseases. This chapter summarizes the OCT-A screening and monitoring uses for these diseases and hypotheses for the potential identification of disease characteristics.<br>]]></description> </item><item><title><![CDATA[The Current Role of OCTA in the Management of Pathological Choroidal Neovascularization with Anti-VEGF Therapy]]></title><link>https://www.benthamscience.comchapter/21354</link><description><![CDATA[Optical coherence tomography angiography (OCT-A) is an emerging technology that captures flow motion within the retinal vasculature to produce angiograms. Compared to dye-based angiography techniques, OCTA is a noninvasive and fast method that enables detailed visualization of the vasculature, which is not easily observable using previously available techniques. Over the past decade, OCT-A has been used to characterize the pathological features of choroidal neovascularization (CNV) associated with several retinal diseases, including neovascular age-related macular degeneration (AMD). In eyes at risk of developing CNV, OCT-A has demonstrated the capability to detect subclinical signs of neovascularization (NV) that may enable early treatment and better visual outcomes. Various CNV conditions are now routinely treated with intravitreal injections of anti-vascular endothelial growth factor (anti-VEGF). OCT-A was used to identify the characteristics of CNV at various stages, before and after anti-VEGF therapy. Although preliminary, OCT-A has demonstrated the potential to help guide treatment decisions in CNV cases that respond differently to anti-VEGF therapy.<br><br>Despite its multiple advantages and applications, the clinical use of OCT-A remains limited. OCT-A has several limitations, including visualization of a small area, the presence of artifacts, and results that are challenging to interpret. However, OCTA technology continues to advance as some of the early limitations have been resolved. Overall, OCT-A promises to be a significant step forward in our current ability to visualize pathological CNV, and has the potential to improve both the diagnosis and management of a variety of retinal diseases.<br><br><br>]]></description> </item><item><title><![CDATA[Polypoidal Choroidal Vasculopathy and Pachychoroid Neovasculopathy Represent Different Manifestations of the Same Disease]]></title><link>https://www.benthamscience.comchapter/21352</link><description><![CDATA[The pachychoroid spectrum has various clinical manifestations. There are three major characteristics, all of which have an unknown etiology and controversial pathogenesis: pachychoroid, presence of pachyvessels at the external choroid, and inner choroidal attenuation. This study describes a patient with clinical and multimodal manifestations in the pachychoroid spectrum, in which different clinical variants are presented in both eyes simultaneously. Specifically, the patient had an acute visual loss and massive hemorrhagic maculopathy in the right eye, and a chronic decrease in visual acuity and metamorphopsia in the left eye accompanied by pigmentary changes and subretinal fluid at the geometric center of the fovea. The patient underwent a complete ophthalmological examination and multimodal imaging and was diagnosed with polypoidal choroidal vasculopathy (PCV) and pachychoroid neovasculopathy (PNV); two different manifestations of the same disease spectrum occur simultaneously.<br><br>Owing to the active nature of the disease, the patient received three doses of intravitreal antiangiogenic agents in each eye. Many different degenerative etiologies have been considered, such as pathological choroidal neovascularization due to age-related macular degeneration (AMD) and pachychoroid spectrum. Evaluation of the choroid vasculature using swept-source optical coherent tomography (SS-OCT) and OCT angiography (OCT-A) revealed the origin of the disease to be idiopathic. PCV and PNV are considered to represent a single end-stage of the pachychoroid spectrum with different manifestations; the former presents with aneurysmatic characteristics, whereas the latter lacks this anomaly. <br>]]></description> </item><item><title><![CDATA[Optical Coherence Tomography Angiography Findings and Evaluation in Regional and Diffuse Retinal Infarction]]></title><link>https://www.benthamscience.comchapter/21349</link><description><![CDATA[Optical Coherence Tomography- Angiography (OCT-A) can separately detect the superficial vascular plexus and the deep vascular plexus. Paracentral acute middle maculopathy (PAMM) is an idiopathic or secondary entity to a local retinal vascular or systemic disease, characterized by capillary vascular occlusions. Some authors recognize it as a variant of acute macular neuroretinopathy (AMN). In general, the most frequent findings in the acute phase are a slight decrease in deep capillary plexus (DCP) perfusion, and hyperreflectivity of the middle layer; in the chronic phase, the findings are DCP hypoperfusion and hyporeflectivity of the middle layer.<br>]]></description> </item><item><title><![CDATA[Sequelae and Macular Perfusion Repercussions in Obstructive Venous Vascular Phenomena of the Retina]]></title><link>https://www.benthamscience.comchapter/21348</link><description><![CDATA[Venous drainage from the retina merges into the central retinal vein and can be obstructed in the branch veins that drain the retinal quadrants, or the central retinal vein itself, which are termed Branch Retinal Vein Occlusion (BRVO) and Central Retinal Vein Occlusion (CRVO), respectively. Obstruction of retinal venous drainage often leads to a sudden or progressive increase in distal venous and capillary pressure with loss of vision and visual field defects. The extent of visual impairment correlates with the location and severity of the venous occlusion and how it impacts perfusion in the retina. Macular edema or retinal ischemia secondary to retinal vein occlusion is responsible for vision loss in retinal vein occlusions, and the advent of anti-VEGF therapeutics has revolutionized the management of vascular disease in the retina.<br>In this chapter, we review our current understanding of retinal vein occlusions and how OCT-Angiography (OCT-A) is being used clinically in the diagnosis and management of obstructive venous vascular phenomena. The benefits of using OCT-A in the diagnosis and management of CRVO and BRVO over conventional approaches, such as Fundus Fluorescein Angiography (FFA), are discussed. The current limitations of OCT-A and recent advances in the technology are also covered here. Finally, we assess how OCT-A can play a role in the development of new therapeutics to tackle one of the major causes of vision loss worldwide.<br>]]></description> </item><item><title><![CDATA[Phyto-nanoformulations for the Treatment of Clinical Diseases]]></title><link>https://www.benthamscience.comchapter/21255</link><description><![CDATA[<div>Plant-derived drugs or formulations have always been explored because of</div><div>their lesser side effects and toxicities compared to synthetic drugs and they have been</div><div>widely used as traditional and complementary medicines for the management of many</div><div>diseases including cancer. The major challenges faced were the absorption of the plantderived</div><div>drugs, their stability, bioavailability, and transport to the intended sites inside</div><div>the body. Recent progress in nanotechnology has helped to minimize these limitations</div><div>and hence phyto-nanoformulations are slowly growing in preclinical trials as well as</div><div>clinical use. The use of various nanostructures such as nano-micelles, lipid</div><div>nanoparticles, carbon nanotubes, polymer nanoparticles, and nanoliposomes and</div><div>various types of drug delivery vehicles such as polybutylcyanoacrylate, polylactic-c-</div><div>-glycolic acid, and lactoferrin has immensely helped in increasing the effectiveness of</div><div>phytochemical drugs by increasing their stability, better pharmacokinetics and reducing</div><div>the toxicity and side effects. Phyto-nanoformulations having natural product</div><div>components such as curcumin, piperine, quercetin, berberine, scutellarin, baicalin,</div><div>stevioside, silybin, gymnemic acid, naringenin, capsicum oleoresin, emodin, and</div><div>resveratrol have been shown to improve the condition of patients diagnosed with</div><div>diseases such as neurodegenerative disorders, diabetes, infections, and cancer. Phyto</div><div>nanoformulations can also be used to treat disorders of the brain where the blood-brain</div><div>barrier is impervious to the drugs. These phyto-nanoformulations have been shown to</div><div>target several molecular cell-signaling and metabolic pathways. This chapter covers the</div><div>compositions of phyto-nanoformulations and how they have been used to control</div><div>several diseases.</div>]]></description> </item><item><title><![CDATA[Nomenclature and Current Indications of Optical Coherence Tomography Angiography in Diseases of the Choroid and Retina]]></title><link>https://www.benthamscience.comchapter/21247</link><description><![CDATA[One of the most significant developments in ocular imaging in the last century was optical coherence tomography (OCT). OCT angiography (OCT-A), an extension of OCT technology, offers depth-resolved images of the blood flow in the choroid-retina that are much more detailed than those produced by earlier imaging techniques such as fluorescein angiography (FA). Due to its requirements of novel tools and processing methods, the prevailing imaging constraints, the rapid improvements in imaging technology, and our knowledge of the imaging and relevant pathology of the retina and choroid, this novel modality has been challenging to implement in daily clinical practice. Even those familiar with dye-based ocular angiography will find that mastering OCT-A technology requires a steep learning curve due to these issues. Potential applications of OCT-A include almost all diseases of the choroid and retina, as well as anterior segment diseases. Currently, the most common indications are age-related macular degeneration and ischemic retinopathies, including diabetic retinopathy and retinal occlusive vascular disorders. Incorporating OCT-A into multimodal imaging for the comprehensive assessment of retinal pathology is a fast-growing area, and it has expanded our knowledge of these complex diseases in terms of diagnosis and treatment. This review describes the current main indications of OCT-A in retinal and choroidal diseases.<br>]]></description> </item><item><title><![CDATA[Optical Coherence Tomography vs Optical Coherence Tomography Angiography in the Differential Diagnosis of Choroidal and Vitreoretinal Diseases]]></title><link>https://www.benthamscience.comchapter/21246</link><description><![CDATA[Optical coherence tomography (OCT) is a practical and common imaging method for the study of diseases of the retina, choroid, and vitreoretinal interface. Software and technological advances have allowed us to observe changes in the retinal at resolutions less than 5 µm; the development of angiography with OCT (OCTA) allows us to three-dimensionally evaluate the existing perfusion in the analyzed retina and choroid non-invasively and without a specific dye, such as fluorescein or indocyanine green angiography. We can detect important clinical differences between OCT and OCTA, although these approaches are complementary. Diabetic retinopathy, vascular occlusions, and choroidal neo-vascularization secondary to age-related macular degeneration and other causes are among the conditions whose diagnosis, treatment, and follow-up benefit from applying these techniques. Leak quantification in cases of macular edema is a good candidate for future objective evaluation; currently, its existence is only demonstrable in structural OCT, although it can be indirectly inferred in OCTA by observing vascular displacements and deformity of the capillary walls. Using OCTA, it is possible to detect intravascular flow even in fibrous tissue, thereby allowing the evaluation of neo-vascular activity in vasoproliferative diseases.&nbsp;<br>]]></description> </item><item><title><![CDATA[Contributions of Optical Coherence Tomography Angiography to the Current Study and Treatment of Eye Diseases]]></title><link>https://www.benthamscience.comchapter/21245</link><description><![CDATA[Optical coherence tomography angiography (OCT-A) is an advanced noninvasive retinal blood flow imaging technique. It uses motion-contrast imaging to obtain high-resolution volumetric blood flow information to enhance the study of retinal and choroidal vascular pathologies. OCT-A can obtain detailed images of the radial peripapillary network, the deep capillary plexus (DCP), the superficial capillary plexus (SCP) and the choriocapillaris. In addition, compared to fluorescein angiography (FA), this technique does not require the use of injected dye. This chapter aims to present OCT-A technology and clarify its terminology and limitations. The discussion summarizes the potential application of the technology in different retinal and choroidal diseases.<br>]]></description> </item><item><title><![CDATA[Principles of Optical Coherence Tomography Angiography in Ophthalmology]]></title><link>https://www.benthamscience.comchapter/21244</link><description><![CDATA[&nbsp;Optical coherence tomography (OCT) has proven to be an effective diagnostic technique for evaluating ocular structures, particularly for studying retinal layers and other areas of the posterior segment of the eye. The incorporation of strategies and algorithms that allow the observation of the retinal microvasculature and the flow of red blood cells currently represents important advances in the diagnosis and treatment of inflammatory, neural, and vascular retinal diseases. The advantage is that OCT is a non-invasive method that does not require the use of contrast dyes. For this reason, OCT combined with angiography (OCTA) is one of the most important techniques for the study of vitreoretinal disorders. Its optical principle, which is based on the Doppler technique, allows us to understand how OCTA equipment acquires and processes images to facilitate visualization and interpretation through their two- and three-dimensional reconstructions. In addition, OCTA allows the identification of signal alterations that could appear as artifacts on each tomography or angiographic scan. This chapter aims to explore the characteristics and further applications of OCTA in addition to its relevance in ophthalmological clinical practice.<br>]]></description> </item><item><title><![CDATA[Nanoscience for Nucleotide Delivery in Diabetes]]></title><link>https://www.benthamscience.comchapter/21147</link><description><![CDATA[The convergence of nanoscience and nucleotide delivery holds tremendous promise in revolutionizing diabetes treatment. Nucleotide delivery emerged as a promising tool to modulate gene expression and cellular function in diabetes. Integration of nanoscience and nucleotide delivery in diabetes treatment opens avenues for efficient therapies. This approach has the potential to significantly improve glucose regulation and mitigate long-term complications associated with the disease. This chapter discussed DNA and RNA delivery approaches in diabetes treatment and the future and challenges of nucleotide delivery in diabetes.&nbsp;<br>]]></description> </item><item><title><![CDATA[The Story of Diabetes and its Causes]]></title><link>https://www.benthamscience.comchapter/21143</link><description><![CDATA[Diabetes mellitus (DM) is a complex metabolic disorder whose rising prevalence is terrible. A deeper knowledge of the pathophysiology of diabetes could assist in discovering possible therapeutic targets for treating diabetes and its associated problems. The common feature of diabetes, regardless of the specific pathology involved, is hyperglycemia brought on by the death or dysfunction of β-cell. As insulin deficiency gets worse over time, dysglycemia progresses in a continuum. This chapter has provided a brief review of the pathophysiology of diabetes. Also, the roles of genetics and environmental factors have been emphasized.&nbsp;<br>]]></description> </item><item><title><![CDATA[Application of Nanomaterials in the Medical Field: A Review]]></title><link>https://www.benthamscience.comchapter/20950</link><description><![CDATA[Nanomaterials are particles in sizes from 1-100 nm. Nanomaterials have a wide field of applications in aviation and aerospace, chemical industries, optics, solar hydrogen, fuel cell, batteries, sensors, power generation, aeronautic industry, buildingconstruction industry, automotive engineering, consumer electronics, thermoelectric devices, pharmaceuticals, paints, and cosmetics. Also, efforts are being made to develop friendly alternate energy sources using nanomaterials. In this chapter, the main focus will be on the application of nanomaterials in various aspects of the medical field. Nanomaterials are used in various medical devices. Some of the nanomaterials used in the area of optical imaging are quantum dots, and in MRI are superparamagnetic iron oxide nanoparticles. Also, nanomaterials are applied in ultrasound imaging and radionuclide imaging. Due to the small size of batteries (e.g., for pacemakers) or electronic circuits and sensors utilized in medical devices presently made using nanomaterials. New ceramics consisting of materials derived from sintered nanopowders (comparable to 3D-printing) or having a specially designed surface are made from so-called nanostructures for teeth filling or screws for dental implants. For bio-detection of pathogens, detection of proteins, and phagokinetic studies, nanomaterials are also used. For fluorescent biological labels, drug and gene delivery, probing of DNA structure, tissue engineering, tumour destruction via heating (hyperthermia), separation and purification of biological molecules and cells, MRI contrast enhancement, osteoporosis treatment, infection prevention, bone regeneration are some of the applications of nanomaterials used in medicines. Cancer therapy, neurodegenerative disease therapy, HIV/AIDS therapy, ocular disease therapy, respiratory disease therapy, sight-restoring therapy, and gene therapy are various therapies nanomaterials are used Nanomaterials used in various surgeries are surgical oncology, thoracic surgery, replacement of heart with an artificial heart, vascular surgery, neurosurgery, radiosurgery, ophthalmic surgery, plastic and reconstructive surgery, maxillofacial surgery, orthopedic surgery, intracellular surgery by nanorobots.&nbsp;Although all applications of nanomaterials have pros and cons, care should be taken so that the cons can be minimized.<br>]]></description> </item><item><title><![CDATA[Macrophomina Phaseolina: An Agriculturally Destructive Soil Microbe]]></title><link>https://www.benthamscience.comchapter/20930</link><description><![CDATA[Macrophomina phaseolina (Tassi) Goid. is a destructive fungal soil microbe, a cause of charcoal rot disease and causes heavy losses in agricultural production. It is non-specific and appears in moderate to severe form every year worldwide. Due to the seriousness and economic importance of the pathogen as well as disease, it requires multiple approaches like epidemiological study, induction of systemic resistance through non-conventional chemicals, host-pathogen resistance and chemical as well as phytoextract application for its management. Epidemiological studies reveal that the onset of charcoal rot varied in different varieties during different dates of sowing. Timely sowing of crops is an important tool for reducing disease incidence. The intensity of disease in a timely sown crop is less, with higher production and productivity. The non-conventional chemicals like salicylic acid, acetylsalicylic acid, indole acetic acid, indole butyric acid, riboflavin, and thiamine induce systemic acquired resistance (SAR) and effectively inhibit mycelial growth of the pathogen. These non-conventional chemicals showed a reduction of charcoal rot disease under field conditions. It also enhances the yield-attributing traits and yield. It induces total phenol content, peroxidase, polyphenol oxidase, phenylalanine ammonia lyase, and catalase activity by the treatment of these chemicals. These activities showed a differential reaction after inoculation of the pathogen on different varieties. However, resistant varieties showed higher induction of biochemical activities than susceptible ones. Different phytoextracts showed inhibition of mycelial growth and a reduction of disease incidence in different crops. Seed treatment with fungicides is an effective method for controlling the pathogen and ultimately enhances the production of the crop. Genotype evaluation for host resistance is an effective, economical, and continuous way of managing the pathogen and disease.&nbsp;<br>]]></description> </item><item><title><![CDATA[List of Contributors]]></title><link>https://www.benthamscience.comchapter/20886</link><description><![CDATA[]]></description> </item><item><title><![CDATA[Current Knowledge on Biotic Stresses affecting Legumes: Perspectives in Cowpea and Soybean]]></title><link>https://www.benthamscience.comchapter/20751</link><description><![CDATA[Legumes are economically important crops for the achievement of food security status in many countries in the tropical and subtropical regions of the world. Among various environmental stresses, biotic constraints to the production of grain legumes such as cowpea and soybean are becoming increasingly significant with the recurring change in climatic patterns and diverse environmental alterations. The economic impact of biotic factors such as disease-causing pathogens (fungi, bacteria, viruses and nematodes), insect pests and parasitic weeds has become overwhelming. These biotic stressors induce a wide range of damage symptoms which include stunting, wilting of stems, defoliation, root rots and premature death of plants. Yield losses due to the activities of biotic stress factors have been very significant. Hence, it is imperative to be informed of the various biotic stressors that affect the growth and yield potential of cowpeas and soybeans in various cropping systems. This review seeks to highlight existing pests and diseases in cowpea and soybean and evaluate their impact on the growth and productivity of these crops. It is hoped that the review will further spur scientific research into how these biotic factors can be managed or even manipulated to ensure agricultural sustainability, high economic returns, and global food security.&nbsp;<br>]]></description> </item><item><title><![CDATA[Wounds and Natural Remedies: A Long Way of Effective Treatment]]></title><link>https://www.benthamscience.comchapter/20547</link><description><![CDATA[Wound healing is quite a complicated process in the human body, consisting of the action of constricting injured blood vessels, activating the immune system, angiogenesis, remodeling, etc. Under intensive mechanical stress, a fibrotic scar, which is unfavorable with respect to the beauty of the skin, can be formed to patch the wound. Moreover, chronic wounds due to the disruption in wound healing are another clinical problem for patients with diabetes or vascular diseases. Of note is that natural remedies, especially natural products, are demonstrated to elicit certain positive effects on many aspects of wound healing. In this chapter, global mechanisms, the role of natural remedies and newly emerging therapeutic targets regarding wound healing are presented, and the remaining hurdle for the natural product-based treatment in wound healing is also introduced.<br>]]></description> </item><item><title><![CDATA[Medical and Social Outcomes in the Management of Cardiac Diseases in Children]]></title><link>https://www.benthamscience.comchapter/20534</link><description><![CDATA[Children with cardiovascular diseases, especially congenital heart diseases are exposed to socioeconomic burdens ranging from poverty, economic difficulties, and emotional breakdown to parental schism. There are various ways by which cardiac diseases affect children. These include the effect of the disease on the child, the family and the nation as a whole. Management of cardiovascular diseases in children comprises diagnosis, investigations, medical and surgical rehabilitation/ergonomics and follow-up. All these steps in management have both medical and social implications on the child. The effects of cardiovascular diseases are not limited to health, but can seep into social life, as well. Affected individuals tend to forgo a lot of things, including restrictions in their life, depression and even family structure disintegration, decrease life expectancy and family disharmony in some cultures. The socio-economic burden of pediatric cardiovascular diseases is quite huge both for the individual, household and society. The impact includes loss in financial resources, productivity, increased disability-adjusted life years, decreased quality of life, catastrophic expenditure and premature death. These burdens are more in the low and middle-income countries. This chapter aims at eliciting the various social and economic burdens that children with heart diseases encounter in the course of their illness.<br>]]></description> </item><item><title><![CDATA[Management of Children with Systemic Diseases]]></title><link>https://www.benthamscience.comchapter/20198</link><description><![CDATA[Significant oral problems are associated with many medical disorders. Close cooperation and consultation between the dentist and the child’s physician are essential to render optimum medical care. Prevention of oral disease is the primary consideration for these children. Medically compromised children can be challenging to treat and affect dental care [30]. To treat medically compromised patients safely, it is essential to Obtain a relevant and thorough medical history and understand the possible implications of the illness on dental treatment and the potential importance of the condition on treatment planning and the caries risk associated with the medical condition. With advances in medical treatment, significantly more children survive longer with more complex medical needs, and these children will present to the general dentist for dental treatment.<br>]]></description> </item><item><title><![CDATA[Hepatotoxicity]]></title><link>https://www.benthamscience.comchapter/20181</link><description><![CDATA[The largest organ in the human body is the liver which captures 2 to 3% of the human body weight, located on the right side of the anterior quadrant in the abdomen and below the anterior hemidiaphragm ribcage. It performs various important functions such as digestion of food, protein production, fluid production, detoxification of waste, etc. Liver injury known as liver trauma can be categorized into four types: hepatocellular, autoimmune, cholestatic and infiltrative. Drug-induced liver injury can match with any form of acute or chronic liver injury. Acute injury to the liver is mainly due to the action of cytochrome P450, which disintegrates drugs into electrophiles or free radicals; these reactive metabolites can covalently act on protein and unsaturated fatty acids for induction of lipid peroxidation which leads to calcium homeostasis or death. Toxicology of the liver is a complex concept that entails either concurrent as well as sequential events. These events determine the pathways, severity and effects of liver injury. Pharmacogenetics has made great progress in current years which indicates the creation of refined algorithms that take drug, host and environmental risk variables into account, allowing for the selection of better medicine based on accurate risk-benefit ratio calculations. In this chapter, we will discuss the anatomy, functions of the liver, types of liver injury, risk factors, and various treatment strategies for the treatment of liver diseases.<br>]]></description> </item><item><title><![CDATA[Barriers to Targeted Drug Delivery Strategies in Brain]]></title><link>https://www.benthamscience.comchapter/20162</link><description><![CDATA[Brain tumor is considered to be the most detrimental disease found in humans. Amongst the various brain tumors, glioblastoma has emerged as a highly invasive malignant disease that has contributed to significant mortality worldwide. Despite surgical and drug innovations, most of the patients suffering from brain tumours have shown poor prognosis, with a median life span. The presence of the blood-brain barrier (BBB) acts as a protective layer outside the brain for most of the conventional, diagnostic and therapeutic agents, which in turn leads to poor diagnosis and less efficacy in most clinical subjects. In recent years, multifunctional nanotechnology systems have been employed to deliver theranostic agents to the brain, showing promising outcomes in the treatment of various forms of cancer. The present chapter provides comprehensive information on the most recent developments in BBB-crossing nanotechnology, with a slight focus on the thoughtful design of multifunctional nanoplatforms for effective BBB penetration, accurate tumor imaging, and substantial brain tumor inhibition. Besides, various physiological barriers and transportation mechanisms, different drug delivery systems for brain tumors are also highlighted. Furthermore, major advancements in brain tumor theranostics pertaining to employing different nanosystems such as liposomes, polymeric nanoparticles, bio-nano particles, and inorganic-nanoparticles for effective nano-drug delivery for theranostics in brain tumors have also been discussed.&nbsp;<br>]]></description> </item><item><title><![CDATA[Animal Models used in Cancer Research: Role of Transgenic Animals]]></title><link>https://www.benthamscience.comchapter/20138</link><description><![CDATA[In spite of the existence of many chronic diseases, cancer is still one of the major distresses for public health and is also the second largest major concern of death. The data collected from the last 50 years of research showed that very few cancers are curable, and the fear factor related to this disease is still unaltered. Victorious bench-tobedside transformation of basic methodical findings about cancer into therapeutic involvements for patients relies on the appropriate selection of animal experimental models. Animal models play an important role in studying the genetics and biology of human cancers as well as the preclinical examination of various cancer therapeutics and cancer prevention. In this chapter, we will review the imperative animal models such as spontaneous tumour models, chemically induced tumour models, radiationinduced tumour models, etc., along with other animal models, such as porcine, canines, etc., used for immuno-oncological research. In addition, the role of transgenic animals in cancer research will also be discussed.<br>]]></description> </item><item><title><![CDATA[3D-bioprinting for Tissue Engineering and Regenerative Medicine: Hype to Hope]]></title><link>https://www.benthamscience.comchapter/19840</link><description><![CDATA[Tissue replacement using engrafting biomaterials or artificial organs to restore lost functions post-injury is one of the leading regenerative medicine practices. The last two decades witnessed the emergence of many promising biofabrication approaches such as bioprinting. However, bioprinting allows the placement of complex structures that are multi-layer (using hydrogel biomaterials), multicellular, vascularized, and multifunctional. Different bioprinting approaches are being developed and used to print hundreds of promising bioinks combinations into tissue-specific niches to grow living organs for translation, disease modelling, and drug delivery. This book chapter reviews the three primary bioprinting techniques with their advantages and limitations. Moreover, this chapter discusses the natural and synthetic biomaterials and the additives and crosslinking methods used to fabricate functional bioinks that boost cell growth, proliferation, migration, differentiation, and homeostasis.<br>]]></description> </item><item><title><![CDATA[The Utilisation of Animal By-products for the Production of Potential Biomaterial in Tissue Engineering and Regenerative Medicine]]></title><link>https://www.benthamscience.comchapter/19831</link><description><![CDATA[The development of biomaterials in tissue engineering has already started decades ago. A wide variety of biomaterials are being used as alternatives in clinical applications. Lately, animal by-products have increased in demand for natural substrates in various sectors. As in tissue engineering, animal-based biomaterials are from different resources or origins of animal species that are being studied and applied for disease treatments. In addition to this, novel biomaterials are being produced that could imitate the physiology of natural healing mechanisms or the regeneration of certain tissues. Thus, the efficiency in utilising animal by-products could alleviate the waste management cost and scarcity of materials, which could reduce environmental pollution. This book chapter discusses different classifications of animal byproducts, their unique characteristics, and the advantages of these products that could embark as new alternative approaches for treating diseases.&nbsp;<br>]]></description> </item><item><title><![CDATA[A Comprehensive Review on Anticancer and Antitumor Potentials of Indigenous Plants Found in North East India]]></title><link>https://www.benthamscience.comchapter/19825</link><description><![CDATA[Cancer is a malign disease that accounts for about 9.6 million deaths around the world and is the second largest leading cause of death after cardiovascular disease. Chemotherapeutic drugs administered to treat cancer show great potency but falter, causing many severe side effects. Hence, the paradigm of cancer drug research has shifted towards plant and plant-derived natural compounds as they are reported to deliver maximal effectiveness with lesser side effects. Indigenous plants and their derivatives have been an integral part of ethnomedicine in India. The traditional knowledge of utilizing medicinal plants has been used to treat numerous metabolic disorders and diseases since immemorial. Indigenous plants have also been shown to possess high potency in the treatment of cancer as well. The natural landscape of northeast India has some of the most diverse and unique plant species, which have been traditionally used in ethnomedicine and have been studied for their anticancer and antitumor potentials. The aim of the present review is to highlight some of the natural and indigenous plant species of Northeast India that have been reported to have anticancer and anti-tumor effects identified either in-vivo or in-vitro.<br>]]></description> </item><item><title><![CDATA[Ethnobotanical use of Ayurveda to Treat COVID-19-Induced Respiratory Disorders]]></title><link>https://www.benthamscience.comchapter/19822</link><description><![CDATA[Respiratory tract infections are a major health problem in the entire world, especially due to corona epidemic in late 2019. Coronavirus spread-out throughout the world, and it causes the death of millions of people due to the precipitation of severity in respiratory disorders like respiratory neuromuscular, pulmonary vascular, and lung parenchymal disorders. All are the characteristic features of COVID-19 infection. The aim of the present review work was to summarize all existing ethnobotanical data on ayurvedic medicinal plants used in the treatment or management of respiratory disorders. Many known plant species are traditionally used to treat respiratory disorders &amp; some plant species have been investigated for their therapeutic efficacy with positive results. This present study explored various offline &amp; online databases for the literature on ayurvedic medicinal plants used worldwide to treat &amp; manage respiratory disorders. A total number of 205 ayurvedic plant species used to treat &amp; manage respiratory disorders worldwide has been documented. Most of the plants belong to Solanaceae, Asteraceae, Amaryllidaceae, Lamiaceae &amp; Malvaceae.&nbsp;<br>]]></description> </item><item><title><![CDATA[Immunological Significance of Steroids and Implications for Immune Related Diseases]]></title><link>https://www.benthamscience.comchapter/19785</link><description><![CDATA[This book chapter compiles a general idea of steroids and their overall biological significance in immunity and immune-associated diseases. Steroids chemically comprise a group of cyclical organic compounds constituted by seventeen carbon atoms that consist of four fused rings called sterane, and cyclopentanoperhydrophenanthrene. The four-ringed structures are mainly synthesized by mitochondria and smooth endoplasmic reticulum through the cyclization of thirty-carbon chain squalene into lanosterol or cycloartenol. Steroid hormones differ only in number of oxygen and carbon atoms, but all are derived from cholesterol. The biological significance of steroids and their derivatives range from energy metabolism, and body growth to the control of reproductive activities. However, deficiency or malfunctioning of steroids can lead to direct effects on body salt/sugar levels, sexual differentiation and immunity. As far as immune responses are concerned, a lot of research works have emerged which show the importance of steroids in immune regulation, and in extreme cases, they are also known to result in immune-related diseases. Most of these effects are mediated by the influence of steroids on gene expression in cells and this could in turn prove to be novel drug targets as well. We have made an attempt in this chapter to update and highlight the role of steroids in immune regulation and immune-related diseases, which we hope would open up therapeutic options for diseases.<br>]]></description> </item><item><title><![CDATA[Oxidants and Antioxidants Interplay in the Modulation of Inflammation and Cardiovascular Disease]]></title><link>https://www.benthamscience.comchapter/19772</link><description><![CDATA[Oxidative stress and inflammation are parallel self-perpetuating mechanisms that when triggered, appear to be strongly linked with several complications of cardiovascular disease (CVD). Unchecked production of reactive oxygen species (ROS) and reactive nitrogen species (RNS) are largely the responsible factors that operate via the activation of several transcriptional messengers and a series of inflammatory pathways. Such messengers include Nuclear Factor-KappaB, known to contribute to a plethora of pathological complications such as endothelial dysfunction, the initiation and progression of atherosclerosis, irreversible ischemic reperfusion injury, and arrhythmias, particularly atrial fibrillation. Although much is known about the link between oxidative stress and CVD, the development of direct therapeutic interventions has remained elusive. In experimental animal models, the use of antioxidants in the form of dietary supplements has been shown to quench ROS/RNS or catalyse the break-up of free radical chains and has resulted in some measure of success. However, these findings have not been able to be replicated in human clinical trials for several different well-known agents, such as vitamin E and beta-carotene. Many potent naturally occurring antioxidants have been exploited by nature such as the oxygenated carotenoids (xanthophylls) and researchers have tested several of them in their natural form in clinical trials but sadly many of them have not translated into useful therapeutic tools. Questions, therefore, remain as to whether the reasons may be solely the inability to find the “right” compound(s) or delivery strategy, or the exact mechanisms of action of existing compounds have unknown targets or whether correct dosages are used. This chapter reviews existing evidence on the thesis that antioxidant/anti-inflammatory compounds may present an opportunity for the development of future therapeutic agents for both cardiovascular oxidative stress and inflammation.&nbsp;<br>]]></description> </item><item><title><![CDATA[The Emerging Role of Microbiome in Cardiovascular Diseases]]></title><link>https://www.benthamscience.comchapter/19771</link><description><![CDATA[Cardiovascular disease (CVD) has become one of the leading causes of poor lifelong health and well-being. Meanwhile, the microbiome has emerged as one of the key determinants of human cardiometabolic homeostasis and the risk of CVD. While the clustering of the microbiome into phylum ratios or enterotypes has been correlated to specific disease phenotypes and population characteristics, the composition of a typical ‘healthy human microbiome’ is yet to be defined. Several population-based studies have shown an association between certain microbial species with CVD, although the inconsistencies have made the interpretation of such associations very difficult as it is not possible to pinpoint microbial populations associated with CVD. However, here we discuss current evidence on the role of the microbiome and its metabolites on the risk of CVD. We further explore current clinical studies investigating prebiotics and probiotics as potential therapeutic targets to modulate the microbiome for the benefit of the host to prevent cardiometabolic diseases. We highlight that further work to understand the role of specific species/sub-species, strains and polymorphisms within those strains, as well as microbial gene expression profiles and their respective metabolites is required. Coupled with high-resolution metagenomics and metabolomics as well as a unified approach in characterising common gut microbial communities based on global population observations, this would provide better indicators of disease phenotype and a better framework for a divergence to dysbiosis. The challenges that will need to be overcome in order to define a healthy microbiome and advance the clinical use of prebiotics and probiotics as well as faecal microbiota transplantation will also be discussed.<br>]]></description> </item><item><title><![CDATA[Maternal Factors and the Placenta: A Programming Environment for Cardiovascular Disease]]></title><link>https://www.benthamscience.comchapter/19770</link><description><![CDATA[The risk of chronic diseases such as cardiovascular diseases (CVD) during postnatal life is not only determined by environmental factors in adulthood but also by intra-uterine and early life environment according to the Developmental Origins of Health and Disease (DOHaD) concept. Environmental insults including poor nutrition, oxygen availability, maternal stress, alcohol, smoking and drugs, can compromise the maternal uterine and lactational environment leading to short- and long-term adaptations in offspring physiology or programming. While short-term predictive adaptive responses may offer immediate survival value, they can lead to irreversible changes in embryonic/fetal tissues and organs mediated through changes in cellular signalling and metabolic pathways, as well as endocrine axes governing whole-body function. The capacity for developmental adaptation may also be determined by both genetic susceptibility and epigenetic mechanisms, as well as environmentally induced changes in maternal microbiome structure and composition. Basic mechanisms involved in the development of CVD have been described in previous chapters. Here we will focus on how mechanisms involved in developmental programming may contribute to CVD in adulthood.<br>]]></description> </item><item><title><![CDATA[Lipids, Oxidation, and Cardiovascular Disease]]></title><link>https://www.benthamscience.comchapter/19769</link><description><![CDATA[Cardiovascular disease (CVD) remains one of the leading causes of morbidity and mortality worldwide with altered lipid metabolism as an important risk factor. In the current chapter we discuss processes involved in lipid metabolism, the past and emerging roles of various lipoprotein cholesterol molecules in this process, free fatty-acid metabolism and the various mechanisms of lipid oxidation and their impact on vascular physiology in health and disease. We further describe the role of reverse cholesterol transport (RCT) in the elimination of lipids as bile acids, and finally discuss current clinical interventions based on emerging technologies against dyslipidemia, hypertriglyceridemia, and CVD<br>]]></description> </item><item><title><![CDATA[Oxidative Stress and Leukocytes Activation - The Two Keystones of Ischemia/Reperfusion Injury during Myocardial Infarction, Valve Disease, and Atrial Fibrillation]]></title><link>https://www.benthamscience.comchapter/19768</link><description><![CDATA[Oxidative stress is a major contributor to ischaemia reperfusion injurymediated myocardial infarction. Coronary ischemia deprives the heart muscles of nutrients and oxygen in the areas away from the site of arterial blockage, rendering cardiomyocytes unable to utilise aerobic metabolism to support their energy requirements. Homeostatic intracellular signalling systems, such as the hypoxiainducible factor (HIF) transcription factor cascade, sense the low oxygen environment. This in turn stimulates the upregulation of numerous compensatory mechanisms which are ultimately involved in elevating anaerobic glycolysis and promoting angiogenesis and vascularization. The increased anaerobic metabolism increases the production of lactic acid hence metabolic acidosis. This leads to myocyte death and the expansion of the size of the original area of the infarct. Under normal aerobic conditions, the myocardium generally metabolises relatively high levels of adenosine triphosphates (ATP). In contrast, during ischemia, the shift in energy production to glycolysis results in the inefficient production of ATP and constitutes a pathological feature, and if not reversed early, it may lead to complications such as heart failure and ischemia-induced atrial or ventricular fibrillation. Despite the widespread use of fibrinolytic agents and new types of angioplasty procedures for the treatment of myocardial infarction, often new sets of complications persist. These include the occurrence of extensive tissue injury caused by myocardial reperfusion through the reintroduction of oxygen to the previous ischemic tissues because of the excessive generation of reactive oxygen species (ROSs) and depletion of antioxidants. Widespread production of ROS damages the plasma membrane and stimulates the release of various proinflammatory agents. Several proteins become denatured for example receptors, ionic channels, transporters, or components of transduction pathways through oxidation by ROS. Altered protein structure inhibits their functions leading to the disruption of vital cellular processes. The onset of reperfusion injury is further exacerbated by the activation and infiltration of the infarcted area by polymorphonuclear leukocytes (PMNs). Several studies have identified the release of different leukocyte intracellular factors during PMN activation such as selectins and b2-integrins to be related to the magnitude of tissue damage. Some studies have shown that antagonists for leukocytes intracellular factors such as selectins abrogate PMN activation and reduce the infarct size.<br><br>More recent publications have shown that PMN activation is closely linked to the activation of other cells involved in the inflammatory response. For example, during myocardial ischemia–reperfusion injury, it has been shown that the activity of neutrophils is also modulated by lymphocytes and macrophages. This chapter summarises the interaction between oxidative stress, activation of different leukocytes and the release of factors involved in the generation of reperfusion injury.<br>]]></description> </item><item><title><![CDATA[Redox Signaling, Oxidative Stress in Cardiovascular Disease –basic Science and Clinical Aspects]]></title><link>https://www.benthamscience.comchapter/19767</link><description><![CDATA[The generation of certain species of biomolecules described as reactive oxidant species (ROS e.g., superoxide, O2 -; hydrogen peroxide, H2O2; hydroxyl radicals (OH.)) and reactive nitrogen species (RNS e.g., peroxynitrite, OONO-; nitric oxide, •NO) is a critical step in health and disease . These species play critical roles in cell defences in both animals, and plants. They also perform an important function in the regulation of key cellular signalling pathways such as cell differentiation, proliferation, migration, and apoptosis (commonly described as redox signalling pathways). The imbalance between the levels of ROS and RNS generated to that of antioxidant species may lead to oxidative stress and biomolecular damage, especially in situations where the latter are depleted. Redox biology and oxidative stress are particularly important in ischaemia-reperfusion associated diseases in particular the pathogenesis of cardiovascular disease (CVD). CVD is a major cause of mortality on a global scale, although the exact mechanisms underlying the pathological process are not fully understood. It is believed that ROS play a pivotal role in the progression of CVD. In particular, recent evidence suggests that the development of atherosclerosis is modulated by ROS and influenced by other factors such as inflammatory responses, disturbed blood flow, and arterial wall remodelling. This chapter provides an overview of the pathways of oxidative stress and redox-regulated signalling underlying the genesis and progression of cardiovascular disease.<br>]]></description> </item><item><title><![CDATA[Dental Pathology]]></title><link>https://www.benthamscience.comchapter/19728</link><description><![CDATA[The chapter focuses on the dental pathology. It covers the pathology related to teeth and epithelium. Congenital defects of the oral cavity and developmental defects of teeth are also elaborated. It explains inflammation in general with an emphasis on pulp and periapical inflammation and disease. Squamous cell carcinomas are also discussed along with their etiology.&nbsp;<br>]]></description> </item><item><title><![CDATA[Probiotics-based Anticancer Immunity in Thyroid Cancer]]></title><link>https://www.benthamscience.comchapter/19587</link><description><![CDATA[Cancer is one of the major diseases that seriously endanger human health worldwide. The risk of developing cancer depends on genetic factors and the body's immune system. The intestinal microbiome plays an essential role in maintaining homeostasis in the human body. After cardiovascular disease, the second-largest illness in terms of morbidity and mortality rate is cancer. Cancer has always been the focus of human attention worldwide, which makes it a research hotspot in the medical field. In recent years, the consumption of probiotics has been fetching in health-promoting foods for humans, therapeutic, prophylactic and growth supplements for animal production and human health. In medicine, various studies have demonstrated that probiotics can help in improving the immune system and intestinal health and the effect of probiotic therapy on antitumor treatment-related side effects; combined use of probiotic strains did have a positive protective effect for patients with specific immune function. Healthy gut microbiota has positive impacts not just on immune system activity but also on thyroid function. Dysbiosis has been detected in autoimmune thyroid diseases (AITD) and thyroid cancer, where many carcinogenic and inflammatory bacterial strains were found. The nature of the gut microbiome also influences the availability of important micronutrients for the thyroid gland. Iodine, iron, and copper are required for thyroid hormone synthesis, selenium and zinc are required for T4 to T3 conversion, and vitamin D aids in immune response regulation. These micronutrients are frequently lacking in AITDs, and lead to thyroid dysfunction. Thyroid-stimulating hormone (TSH) and T3 levels may fluctuate due to bariatric surgery, resulting in insufficient absorption of essential nutrients. Probiotic supplementation positively affected thyroid hormones and thyroid function in general. This chapter summarizes the role, mechanism of probiotics, clinical trials and effects of probiotics in thyroid cancer.<br>]]></description> </item><item><title><![CDATA[Activity Methods for Cardiovascular System Diseases]]></title><link>https://www.benthamscience.comchapter/19563</link><description><![CDATA[This chapter provides a collection of methods generally used in experimental pharmacology to test compounds with different activities in the cardiovascular system. There are many models in vitro and in vivo and we have highlighted those used in the field of natural compounds research. For the in vitro procedures, the focus was on the inhibition of enzymes, such as an angiotensin-converting enzyme or nitric oxide synthase, which plays a pivotal role in maintaining vascular control and overall blood pressure. Moreover, test procedures on isolated vessels were also considered for compounds whose activity is exerted on specific targets expressed in the vasculature. Regarding the in vivo methods, heart failure and hypertension models were highlighted for their high incidence of overall deaths cause. In particular, we have analyzed models of heart failure in rats and mice, animals generally used in preclinical studies. In addition, it also evaluated useful models of hypertension involving mainly rats; however, in many cases, the procedure could be translated to different animal species.<br>]]></description> </item><item><title><![CDATA[Activity Methods for Endometriosis]]></title><link>https://www.benthamscience.comchapter/19560</link><description><![CDATA[Endometriosis is an estrogen-dependent disease that causes pelvic pain and reduces fertility by developing inflammatory lesions outside the uterine. Although many studies have been performed to investigate the etiopathogenesis of endometriosis, there is still no direct evidence. Endometriosis, a common gynecological disease, often recurs even if treated. In vivo studies are used to investigate its etiopathogenesis and potential treatment methods. Hormonal therapy is generally used for endometriosis cases. This conventional therapy aims to lower estrogen levels in the body, however, it can be inadequate for the treatment and has numerous negative effects. The urgency of finding novel and cheap long-term safety therapies for endometriosis is highlighted by the need to manage it as a chronic disease. Medicinal plants and natural plant-derived compounds are interesting options for this purpose. Indeed, there is an increasing interest in using herbal therapy to treat endometriosis. Several studies have been conducted on natural products to find a drug candidate for the management of the mentioned problem. Many of these drugs have a pleiotropic action profile, meaning they block multiple processes involved in endometriosis pathogenesis, including proliferation, inflammation, reactive oxygen species (ROS) production, and angiogenesis. As a result, including them in multimodal treatment approaches may help to improve therapeutic efficiency and reduce adverse effects in future endometriosis treatments. Several methods have been described for the assessment of the potential effectiveness of the bioactive agents against endometriosis. In the present chapter, we aimed to give general information regarding endometriosis, the use of plant products in the treatment of this disease, and the methods that have been used for the activity investigation.<br>]]></description> </item><item><title><![CDATA[Molecular Imaging and Contrast Agents]]></title><link>https://www.benthamscience.comchapter/19501</link><description><![CDATA[As an emerging technology, molecular imaging combines advanced imaging technology with cellular and molecular biology to highlight physiological or pathological processes in living organisms at the cellular level. The main advantage of in vivo molecular imaging is its ability to characterize pathologies of diseased tissues without invasive biopsies or surgical procedures. Such technology provides great hope for personalized medicine and drug development, as it can potentially detect diseases in early stages (screening), identify the extent of a disease/anomaly, help to apply directed therapy, or measure the molecular-specific effects of a given treatment. Molecular imaging requires the combination of high-resolution/sensitive instruments with targeted imaging agents that correlate the signal with a given molecular event. In ongoing preclinical studies, new molecular targets, which are characteristic of given diseases, have been identified, and as a consequence, sophisticated multifunctional probes are in perpetual development. In this context, the discovery of new emerging chemical technologies and nanotechnology has stimulated the discovery of innovative compounds, such as multimodal molecular imaging probes, which are multiplex systems that combine targeting moieties with molecules detectable by different imaging modalities.&nbsp;<br>]]></description> </item><item><title><![CDATA[In silico Interactions of the Biomolecules of Edible Mushrooms Against Lifestyle Diseases]]></title><link>https://www.benthamscience.comchapter/19451</link><description><![CDATA[Mushrooms are fungi that are consumed all over the world and contain bioactive nutritive components with nutritional and therapeutic qualities. Protein, minerals, vitamins and antioxidants are all found in edible mushrooms. Selenium, vitamin C, and choline are antioxidants that help the human body remove free radicals. Antimicrobial, antiviral, anticancer, anti-allergic, immunomodulation, anti-inflammatory, anti-atherogenic, hypoglycemic, hepatoprotective, and antioxidant properties of mushrooms. Primary and secondary metabolites can be found in mushrooms. The primary metabolites are energy-producing, but the secondary metabolites have therapeutic qualities. As the bioactive molecule has a pharmacological effect, researchers have recently focused on extracting it. As a result, the mushroom has the potential to be a recipe for human health and play a key role in the battle against COVID-19 pandemics and other infectious illnesses. Mushrooms and their biomolecules have therapeutic properties in a variety of diseases, including cardiovascular, diabetes, reproductive problems, cancer, and neurological disorders. A computer method, or in silico technology, is promising early evidence for drug development. Molecular docking studies have discovered bioactive chemicals from natural items like mushrooms as possible inhibitors against various diseases.<br>]]></description> </item><item><title><![CDATA[Nanomedicine in Nephrology and Urinary Tract Infection]]></title><link>https://www.benthamscience.comchapter/19346</link><description><![CDATA[Nanomedicine is an evolving trend in the biomedical field that can be used for the diagnosis, molecular targeting, imaging, and therapy of a wide range of diseases. The kidneys are essential organs that regulate blood pressure, filtrate blood and remove metabolic waste, produce hormones, and balance electrolytes. The kidney has gained great attention in nanomedicine due to its roles in the clearance of the nanodrugs and affecting the pharmacokinetics of these drugs. Nanoparticles can be used for the diagnosis and treatment of kidney diseases including acute kidney injury (AKI), chronic kidney disease (CKD), and glomerular diseases. Different approved nanodurgs have been developed for the treatment of kidney diseases. In this chapter, we summarize the available nanodrugs for the treatment of kidney diseases and urinary tract infections.<br>]]></description> </item><item><title><![CDATA[Advances in Cardiovascular Nanopharmacology]]></title><link>https://www.benthamscience.comchapter/19344</link><description><![CDATA[Nanotechnology has caused the most noteworthy influence on oncology, recently. Many nano-based delivery systems for specific medicines and a diversity of other diseases are being advanced nowadays. Nanomedicine is preferably adapted to resolving the main issues of numerous diseases, as it offers the special opportunity to create specific nanoparticles as a carrier for the targeted and controlled transferal of several therapeutic agents to the targeted location. Moreover, ligand-targeting or receptor-mediated targeting methods relate to an extra degree of complexity that may be implemented in the nanoparticles-based product in cardiovascular diseases. Despite the noteworthy increase in studies on the use of nanoparticles in cardiovascular disease, some reports have shown that different types of nanoparticles have cytotoxic action. Future studies are desired to fully investigate toxicity, especially cytotoxicity and inflammatory responses for nanomaterials. The outline of new plans to reduce toxicity should be the aim of future studies. In the present chapter, we emphasize new developments in cardiovascular nanopharmacology and the assistant methods for scheming new nanomaterials for this field. The future lookouts have also been discussed.<br>]]></description> </item><item><title><![CDATA[Computational and Theoretical Techniques in Biomedicine]]></title><link>https://www.benthamscience.comchapter/19335</link><description><![CDATA[&nbsp;Biomedicine research has gained momentum for the development of various computational and theoretical techniques. Researchers working in biomedicine and bioinformatics depend on computational intelligence and its widespread applications. New algorithms have been described that enable computational simulations and mathematical modelling in coordination with analytical methods to comprehensively study biological systems. Many algorithms, such as Artificial Neural Networks (ANNs), Rough Sets (RS), Fuzzy Sets (FS), Particle Swarm Optimization (PSO), Evolutionary Algorithm (EA), etc., allow reliable and accurate analysis of vast data sets in biomedicine. Computational techniques analyse gene expression data obtained from microarray experiments, predict protein-protein interactions, model the human body in disease conditions, such as Alzheimer’s disease or cancer, follow the progression of the diseases, classify tumours, analyse which genotype responds to certain drugs, etc. Multiscale modelling of the human body in various disease conditions is a topic of interest in this context. Relevantly, the “Virtual Human” project has initiated the study of human organs and systems in disease conditions based on computational modelling. Therefore, many computational and theoretical techniques have been developed for intelligent information processing to lead an expansion in biomedicine research.&nbsp;<br>]]></description> </item><item><title><![CDATA[Immunomodulators: Chemistry and Analytical Techniques]]></title><link>https://www.benthamscience.comchapter/19252</link><description><![CDATA[Immunomodulators are substances that either enhance or suppress the immunity of the host. Immunomodulators have been used for ages in Ayurvedic Medicine and Traditional Chinese Medicine. In the surge of modern medicine, many chemically derived substances are used as immunomodulators. Historically, plants present a rich source of these therapeutic agents. Researchers have used these lead structures for exploring the underlying mechanisms of immunomodulation so that newer, safer agents can be designed and used clinically. Microbial sources have also been tried in search of immunomodulators. Chemically, these are a diverse group of substances that act on varied signaling pathways to cause immunomodulation. The involvement of the immune system in many diseases and disorders makes these agents essential in the treatment of these diseases, e.g., cancer. This chapter discusses the chemistry of a selected few commonly known plant-derived immunomodulators along with their biological evaluation methods and provides a broad overview of their therapeutic potential with particular emphasis on the mechanism of immunomodulation.<br>]]></description> </item><item><title><![CDATA[Natural Sources of Immunomodulators]]></title><link>https://www.benthamscience.comchapter/19250</link><description><![CDATA[Nature is replete with an arsenal of compounds that can be investigated for their therapeutic potential. The immune system involvement in severe chronic illnesses or emerging infectious diseases has provided clinical evidence. The prevention and treatment of these diseases targeted at the immune system with natural immunomodulators are gaining momentum, owing to their diverse array of activities. Treating acute illnesses with modern medicines has been successful; however, treating chronic illness treatment remains elusive and disappointing. Notably, this chapter reviews the natural resources of immunomodulators. Natural immunomodulators from plants, marine, and animals are of prime importance, and they possess many pharmacological activities. Similarly, microbiota modifiers - prebiotics, probiotics, and micronutrients- are imperative in restoring immune homeostasis. This chapter summarizes these natural immunomodulators and their power to boost immunity and human well-being.&nbsp;<br>]]></description> </item><item><title><![CDATA[Diseases and Disorders Associated with Immune System]]></title><link>https://www.benthamscience.comchapter/19249</link><description><![CDATA[The human immune system is one of the complex systems of the body, which works against both external and internal invasion. It has two parts: the innate and the acquired immune systems. We have been born with the innate system which gives a quick response for the invading pathogen non-specifically. To deal with the typical environmental antigens, immune system adapts to changes. The acquired (or adaptive) component develops over time and produces antibodies that “remember” invaders to fight them if they return. Failure of it could be due to genetic defect (weak natural immunity), inability to adapt to the change, hyper-responsiveness, or inability to distinguish self from foreign, leading to various diseases and disorders. Various genetic defects of the immune system are at the core of Primary Immune disorders (PIDs), while overactivity is responsible for allergic diseases. Autoimmune diseases are mostly due to malfunction of the adaptive immune system, while in Systemic Autoinflammatory Disorders (SAIDs), the innate immune system is affected. Advancements in technology and genetics have improved our understanding of the pathogenesis, diagnosis, and management of these diseases.<br>]]></description> </item><item><title><![CDATA[Introduction: Immune System & Modulation of Immune System]]></title><link>https://www.benthamscience.comchapter/19248</link><description><![CDATA[The immune system is a complex, intricate organ system with features like flexibility, recognition, discriminating potential between self from non-self, and memory to defeat notorious external and internal threats to human health functioning. Innate immunity is inborn, and acquired immunity develops through secondary education; they are interconnected, interdependent, and execute tasks with bidirectional communications. A deeper understanding of immune biology revealed a remarkable contribution of the immune system in several chronic illnesses, and has taken a central stage in pathophysiology. In essence, the weakened or overactivated immune system leads to these chronic illnesses. Modulation of the immune system is an efficient and valid approach to prevent the underlying pathophysiology of such diseases. A gamut of natural immunomodulators targeted at specific or non-specif immune cells has delineated their potential to achieve the equilibrated and balanced immune system. Preclinical and clinical studies demonstrated the implication of microbiota, nutrients, natural herbs, and micronutrients for immunostasis. The immune system's complexity, its close association with the endocrine and nervous system, target identification, and convenient, reliable tools to assess immune function and modulation are a few limitations that hampered the attainment of immunostasis. Despite these limitations, novel therapies targeted at immunomodulation in chronic diseases are promising and paving the future path to novel therapeutics.<br>]]></description> </item><item><title><![CDATA[Pathophysiology of Gastrointestinal Tract Cancers and Therapeutic Status]]></title><link>https://www.benthamscience.comchapter/19186</link><description><![CDATA[Cancers of the gastrointestinal tract (GIT) are the most common human malignancies. The prevalence of esophageal Cancer, pancreatic ductal adenocarcinoma, gastric Cancer, hepatocellular carcinoma, colorectal Cancer and gallbladder Cancer are on the rise now a days. Despite advances in cancer treatment, increasing reports are focusing on finding novel therapies with lower side effects and higher potency. From the mechanistic point of view, several dysregulated factors are behind the pathophysiology of GIT cancers. Multiple studies have shown molecular targeted therapies in various GIT cancers, including epidermal growth factor receptor pathway (EGFR), vascular endothelial growth factor pathway (VEGF), Wnt/β-catenin pathway, and insulin-like growth factor receptor (IGFR).The aforementioned mediators are the critical targets of the existence of monoclonal antibodies and small molecules in treating GIT cancers. Accordingly, providing the exact dysregulated mechanisms behind GIT cancers could pave the road in the treatment of cancers. This chapter reveals dysregulated signaling pathways and potential therapeutic agents in the treatment of GIT cancer.<br>]]></description> </item><item><title><![CDATA[Alzheimer’s Disease and Physical Activity, Will the Symptoms Improve?]]></title><link>https://www.benthamscience.comchapter/19181</link><description><![CDATA[Alzheimer’s disease is known to be the most common cause of dementia with increasing number of people suffering every year. In healthy adults, there are millions of neurons in the brain. Degeneration starts and extends in Alzheimer's disease many years before the initial symptoms show up. The neurons taking part in cognitive functions destroy gradually leading to functional disability and finally to death. β- amyloid plaques and tau protein are known as the most responsible causes of Alzheimer’s disease resulting in neurodegeneration. Inflammation, atrophy and dysfunction in glucose metabolism will follow. The three stages of the disease include mild, moderate and severe. The patient will have difficulty in cognitive functions, show changes in behavior and will need care for everyday needs, which increases by the disease progress. There are pharmacologic and non-pharmacologic approaches for treatment. The pharmacologic approaches comprise acetylcholinesterase (AChE) inhibitors such as donepezil or N-methyl-d-aspartate (NMDA) receptor blockers like memantine. None of them stops the disease but alleviate the symptoms. On the other hand, non-pharmacologic approaches are usually used to improve the patient’s quality of life or improve the behavioral aspects of the disease. Recently, involving physical activity as a non-pharmacologic method of treatment for Alzheimer’s disease has been the focus of many studies. This chapter will have a glance at the clinical trials that were conducted regarding the effect of physical exercise and its impact on Alzheimer’s disease.<br>]]></description> </item><item><title><![CDATA[Phytosome for Targeted Delivery of Natural Compounds: Improving Efficacy, Bioavailability, and Delivery across BBB for the Treatment of Alzheimer's Disease]]></title><link>https://www.benthamscience.comchapter/19180</link><description><![CDATA[Alzheimer’s disease (AD) is a progressive neurological disorder. Recent studies show that AD is the most common cause of dementia. There are several symptomatic treatments available to counterbalance the neurotransmitter disturbance. Currently, cholinesterase inhibitors are available for the treatment of mild to moderate AD. In addition to that, memantine (an N-methyl-D-aspartate receptor non-competitive antagonist) is also available for moderate to severe AD. Poor blood-brain barrier permeability is a limitation of existing drugs. These drugs may slow the disease progression, but there are chances of reoccurrence of the disease. Several medicinal plants such as Jasminum sambac, Rosmarinus officinalis, Eucalyptus globulus, Nigella sativa, and Acorus gramineus are reported to have neuroprotective effects. Salvia officinalis has cholinergic binding properties. Ginger root extract may prevent behavioral dysfunction in AD. Extensive research on these plants should be carried out. Drug delivery systems such as lipid nanoparticles, polymer nanoparticles, nanomicelles, nano-gels, liposomes, phytosomes, etc., could significantly improve the pharmacokinetics, stability, efficacy and reduce the side effects. Phytosomes have the advantage over other drug delivery systems to selectively target the drugs into the brain. In contrast to traditional approaches, polar phytoconstituents loaded phytosomes are more bioavailable on the site of brain tissue, as they can easily go for systemic circulation crossing the Blood-Brain Barrier (BBB). Phytosomes have a low hazard profile as toxicological outcomes are negligible and assure duration of action at a lowrisk profile due to upgraded absorption of the active constituents. In addition to this, the improved pharmacodynamic properties of phytosomes make them suitable for the treatment of neurological disorders.<br>]]></description> </item><item><title><![CDATA[Neuroprotective Activities of Cinnamic Acids and their Derivatives]]></title><link>https://www.benthamscience.comchapter/19179</link><description><![CDATA[&nbsp;Neurodegenerative disorders are considered major global health problems associated with nervous system dysfunction, progressive neuronal cell loss with aging, and several pathological and sporadic factors. Parkinson’s disease, Alzheimer’s disease, Prion disease, Huntington’s disease, and multiple sclerosis are the main neurodegenerative diseases that raise significant concern among health scientists. The etiology of different neurodegenerative diseases is different, and they majorly affect the nervous system, including the brain, spinal cord, and peripheral nervous system. Neurodegenerative diseases are linked with motor dysfunction, anxiety, memory loss, depression, cognitive impairments, etc. These diseases can be hereditary or caused by toxicity, metabolic disorders, or pathological changes in the brain. Therefore, interest has been growing in the development of different neuroprotective agents of natural origin that could work effectively against these diseases. In that aspect, phytochemicals have shown high potential with minimal side effects in various in vitro and in vivo studies. Cinnamic acids with phenylpropenoic moiety are abundant in many natural resources. These are available in many forms, such as ferulic acid, caffeic acid, etc. They also have a variety of pharmacological properties, including anti-inflammatory, anti-oxidant, anti-amyloid, and neuroprotective properties. This chapter summarizes the role of naturally occurring cinnamic acids and their derivatives to develop the mechanistic aspects of neuroprotective therapeutics in neurodegenerative diseases. Future challenges are also discussed to provide beneficial information and therapeutic strategies.<br>]]></description> </item><item><title><![CDATA[Multi-functional Ligands and Molecular Hybridization: Conceptual Aspects and Application in the Innovative Design of Drug Candidate Prototypes for Neurodegenerative Diseases]]></title><link>https://www.benthamscience.comchapter/19177</link><description><![CDATA[The rapid increase in the incidence of dementia has enormous socioeconomic impacts and costs for governmental health systems all over the world. Despite this, finding an effective treatment for the different types of neurodegenerative diseases (NDs) so far represents a challenge for science. The biggest obstacles related to NDs are their multifactorial complexity and the lack of knowledge of the different pathophysiological pathways involved in the development of each disorder. The latest advances in science, especially those related to the systems biology concepts, have given new insights for a better comprehension of such multifactorial networks related to the onset and progression of NDs, and how Medicinal Chemists could act in the search for novel disease-modifying drug candidates capable of addressing the multiple pathological factors involved in neurodegeneration. The multi-target directed ligands (MTDLs) concept has captivated and opened new windows for the creativity and rationality of researchers worldwide in seeking innovative drug candidates capable of modulating different molecular targets by a single multifunctional molecule. In fact, in the last two decades, thousands of research groups have dedicated their efforts to the use of molecular hybridization as the main tool for the rational design of novel molecular scaffolds capable of expressing multi-target biological activity. In this way, this chapter addresses the most recent pathophysiological hallmarks of the most highimpact NDs, represented by Alzheimer’s, Parkinson’s, Huntington’s diseases, and amyotrophic lateral sclerosis, as well as the state-of-art in the design of new MTDLs, inspired mostly by natural products with improved druggability properties.<br>]]></description> </item><item><title><![CDATA[Dengue Virus and Toll-Like Receptors]]></title><link>https://www.benthamscience.comchapter/19169</link><description><![CDATA[Dengue is one of the most important arboviral diseases recorded in the world. Dengue, a public health problem in tropical and subtropical countries, is spread by female Aedes mosquito bites. Among Aedes mosquitoes, Aedesaegypti is the primary vector and Aedesalbopictus is the less infective secondary vector [1]. Dengue hemorrhagic fever (DHF) is a severe form of the disease, that causes differential expression of the TLRs in dendritic cells (DCs). TLR3 and TLR9 in DCs of patients with early onset of dengue fever were unregulated, whereas in severe cases, poor expression of TLR3 and TLR9 is observed [2]. This kind of alteration in the TLR expression during dengue may alter the clinical manifestation of the disease. However, this can be considered for further research on therapeutics.<br>]]></description> </item><item><title><![CDATA[Malaria]]></title><link>https://www.benthamscience.comchapter/19166</link><description><![CDATA[The World Health Organization (WHO) defines cerebral malaria (CM) as an otherwise unexplained coma in a patient with asexual forms of malaria parasites on the peripheral blood smear. Malaria is a severe, devastating illness characterised by respiratory distress, severe anemia, and cerebral malaria (CM). Altered consciousness, convulsions, ataxia, hemiparesis, and other neurologic and psychiatric impairments are noted in cerebral malaria. Thus, cerebral malaria is defined as a condition in which a human has Plasmodium falciparum, a parasite in peripheral blood, followed by neurological complications of any degree. CM accounts for 300,000 deaths per year, and almost any survivors there display severe neurological manifestations. Coma is the outcome of CM, which is again due to brain hypoxia due to inflammation, edema, Brain swelling, and vascular blockage, are all due to the sequestration of pRBCs in brain microvasculature [1, 2]. In Ugandan children with CM infected with P.falciparum, severe cognitive impairment, behaviour problems such as hyperactivity, inattentiveness, aggressive behaviour, loss of speech, hearing loss, blindness, and epilepsy were noted (Irdo et al. , 2010). Heme offered protective responses to ECM, by dampening the activation of microglia, astrocytes, and expression of IP10, TNFa, and IFNg [3].<br>]]></description> </item><item><title><![CDATA[Repurposing Drugs: A New Paradigm and Hopes for Life-threatening Diseases]]></title><link>https://www.benthamscience.comchapter/19053</link><description><![CDATA[The process of repurposing drugs is an alternative to the conventional drug discovery process. It is a cost-effective and time-efficient process with high returns and low risk that utilizes mechanistic information of the existing drugs to investigate their novel applications against other disease conditions. The most significant benefit of drug repositioning is that it brings new life against novel/ orphan/ resistant diseases and pandemic outbreaks like COVID-19. As a result, widespread use of the drug repurposing strategy will not only aid in the more efficient fight against pandemics but will also combat life-threatening diseases. Therefore, repurposing drugs can provide a quick response to these unpredictable situations. In this chapter, we have tried to focus on various drug-repurposing strategies along with therapeutics for repurposing drugs against life-threatening diseases wherein little or no treatment is readily available.&nbsp;<br>]]></description> </item><item><title><![CDATA[Deep Learning Applications for IoT in Healthcare Using Effects of Mobile Computing]]></title><link>https://www.benthamscience.comchapter/19032</link><description><![CDATA[Diabetes is a chronic ailment characterized by abnormal blood glucose levels. Diabetes is caused by insufficient insulin synthesis or by cells' insensitivity to insulin activity. Glucose is essential to health since it is the primary source of energy for the cells that make up a person's muscles and tissues. On the condition that if a person has diabetes, his or her body either does not create enough insulin or cannot utilize the insulin that is produced. When there isn't enough insulin or cells stop responding to insulin, many dextroses accumulate in the person's vascular framework. As time passes, this could lead to diseases such as kidney disease, vision loss, and coronary disease. Although there is no cure for diabetes, losing weight, eating nutritious foods, being active, and closely monitoring the diabetes level can all assist. In this research, we used Artificial Neural Network to create a Deep Learning (DL) model for predicting Diabetes. Then it was validated using an accuracy of 92%. In addition, with the help of the MIT website, a mobile application was constructed. This project will now assist in predicting the effects of diabetes and deliver personalized warnings. Early detection of pre-diabetes can be extremely beneficial to patients since studies have shown that symptoms of early diabetic difficulties frequently exist at the time of diagnosis.<br>]]></description> </item><item><title><![CDATA[Taurine and the Cardiovascular System: Focus on Mitochondrial-related Pathologies]]></title><link>https://www.benthamscience.comchapter/18975</link><description><![CDATA[It is well-known that taurine (TAU) concentration in the excitable tissues, such as the myocardium is exceptionally high (up to 30 mM). TAU accumulation in the cardiomyocytes is a transporter-mediated process. Therefore, this amino acid should play a critical role in cardiac tissue. Several studies revealed that a decrease in cardiac TAU could lead to atrophic cardiomyopathy and impaired cardiac function. At subcellular levels, the effects of TAU on mitochondria and energy metabolism are an essential part of its function in the heart. Besides, it has been found that exogenous TAU supplementation significantly enhanced cardiac mitochondrial function and ATP levels. In the current chapter, the effects of TAU on cardiovascular diseases linked with mitochondrial impairment are highlighted, and the role of TAU as a cardioprotective agent is discussed. The data collected here could provide clues in managing a wide range of cardiovascular complications connected with the energy crisis and mitochondrial dysfunction.<br>]]></description> </item><item><title><![CDATA[Gingival and Periodontal Diseases in Children]]></title><link>https://www.benthamscience.comchapter/18937</link><description><![CDATA[Pediatric population experiences a wide array of gingival and periodontal diseases. Studies have shown that gingivitis is almost universally prevalent among pediatric patients. However, lesser attention is given to periodontitis in children owing to the shorter life span of primary dentition. Periodontal assessment must be incorporated into the routine oral examination of the child since prompt diagnosis plays a crucial role in successfully managing periodontal conditions. Severe periodontal disease may also occur among children with concomitant systemic conditions. Therefore, the presence of a destructive periodontal condition may serve as an early indicator of an underlying systemic condition, and the dentist may be the first to notice such a condition. Hence, a thorough medical evaluation should be performed for children exhibiting severe periodontitis, especially for cases that appear resistant to therapy, to determine the systemic causes of the condition. Although at present, there is increased awareness regarding periodontal health and treatment modalities, it is restricted to adults with a negligible focus on children. Intraoral assessment of children is cecentredroundan examination of hard tissues with minimal focus on the health of soft tissue. Hence, this chapter enlightens various gingival and periodontal conditions and the importance of overall health during childhood.&nbsp;<br>]]></description> </item><item><title><![CDATA[Swellings of Orofacial Structures in Children]]></title><link>https://www.benthamscience.comchapter/18928</link><description><![CDATA[Orofacial swelling is clinically a common problem found in pediatric dental patients. The causes of these swellings are mostly diverse, and the knowledge about specific clinical as well as imaging manifestations along with the most affected sites of these swelling is needed for the formulation of a differential diagnosis. Mid-facial nonprogressive swelling is usually suggestive of a congenital defect (like a cephalocele, nasal glioma, epidermoid cyst or nasal dermoid). Swelling that is slowly progressive, may be indicative of a neurofibroma, hemangioma, vascular malformation, lymph angioma, pseudocyst or fibrous dysplasia. In cases of facial swellings that are rapidly progressive and associated with cranial nerve deficits, rhabdomyosarcoma, Ewing sarcoma, Langerhans cell histiocytosis, metastatic neuroblastoma and osteogenic sarcoma should also be included in the differential diagnosis.&nbsp;<br>]]></description> </item><item><title><![CDATA[Diabesity and the Kidney]]></title><link>https://www.benthamscience.comchapter/18814</link><description><![CDATA[Diabetes Mellitus and obesity, now coined as “Diabesity”, is a worldwide epidemic that imposes a huge burden on healthcare and society. Diabesity has been associated with poor outcomes and increased morbidity and mortality. The kidneys are a vulnerable target of diabesity. In this chapter, we discuss the epidemiology, pathophysiology, and treatment of diabesity–induced kidney disease. We specifically focus on the therapeutic targets and pharmacological management of diabesity-related kidney diseases.&nbsp;<br>]]></description> </item><item><title><![CDATA[Neuroprotective Role of Medicinal Plants from North Eastern Region of India]]></title><link>https://www.benthamscience.comchapter/18774</link><description><![CDATA[The term neurodegenerative disease means the loss of neuronal cells in the brain, including Alzheimer's disease, Parkinson's disease, Multiple sclerosis, and Huntington's disease. It is one of the most common types of disease associated with elevated rates of mortality and morbidity worldwide. At the same time, modern allopathic medicines have a large number of synthetic chemicals for the symptomatic treatment and control of these diseases. These drugs have failed miserably due to clinical insufficiency and debilitating adverse effects. In the past decade, natural ingredients have gained notable interest in the prevention and treatment of neurodegeneration due to their powerful anti-inflammatory and anti-oxidant properties with minimal side effects. However, there is also an issue of safety and effectiveness due to the absence of an ample amount of research findings. The most common cellular mechanism for every neurodegenerative disorder is neuroinflammation and oxidative stress. Several preclinical and clinical studies conducted across the world have demonstrated that different bioactive compounds of herbal origin can potentially arrest these processes to prevent or treat neurodegeneration and can be developed into promising pharmaceutical formulations. This article discusses and analyses the various herbal compounds, such as Allium sativum, Camella sinensis, Centella asiatica, Coriandrum sativum, Crocus sativus, Glycyrrhiza glabra, and Morus alba used for phytotherapy of neurodegenerative diseases by combining recent in vitro and in vivo models.<br>]]></description> </item><item><title><![CDATA[Future Prospective and Challenges in the Treatment of Cancer]]></title><link>https://www.benthamscience.comchapter/18737</link><description><![CDATA[Cancer is responsible for millions of deaths worldwide yearly. Many miles have been crossed towards the treatment of this deadly disease, however, there are still many more to explore about the occurrence, consequences, and, specifically, the accurate therapy to win over this deadly disease. Complex areas like cancer initiation, pathogenesis and the progression of cancer in the human body should be explored with better understanding to discover specific treatments against it. Currently, cancer treatments include radiation therapy, targeted therapy, surgery, chemotherapy, radiation therapy, immunotherapy, and some existing symptomatic treatments. However, the specific treatments of cancer are still a big puzzle to solve. The challenges faced in the treatment of cancer are mainly the heterogenicity of some cancers, drug resistance, late diagnosis, few treatment advances for early-stage cancer, non-selectivity of drugs towards cancer cells leading to side effects, and many more, which are still in the dark. Exploring the solution to this challenge, we need to understand the disease in totality, and understand the existing lacunas of the existing treatments too. Thus, in this chapter, we have discussed the current challenges faced in cancer therapy, followed by the future perspectives in the treatment of a wide variety of cancer.<br>]]></description> </item><item><title><![CDATA[Sleep Medicine in Austria]]></title><link>https://www.benthamscience.comchapter/18707</link><description><![CDATA[Austria has had a long tradition of sleep and dream science since Sigmund Freund published his psychoanalytic theory of personality at the turn of the twentieth century. Sleep medicine today, however, is a multidisciplinary specialization and training in Austria lasts about 18 months. Exploring the impact of sleep on daily activity, Austrian scientists are especially interested in the role of sleep disorders as an independent risk factor for neurological, psychiatric, and vascular diseases and their therapeutic management.<br><br>When the Austrian Sleep Research Association (ASRA) was founded in 1991, CPAP therapy for sleep apnea had already celebrated its 10th birthday and had become a standard therapy covered by all public health insurance. Quite in contrast, in the field of insomnia, cognitive behavioral therapy for insomnia (CBT-I) has been established in international therapy guidelines, but for sleep-disturbed patients, affordable rapid access to this therapeutic option is still a challenge in our country.<br><br>Since 1998, the ASRA has been offering voluntary accreditation based on a quality check process to sleep centers. More recently, a sleep training plan was introduced to obtain a sleep physician diploma by the Austrian Medical Chamber.<br>]]></description> </item><item><title><![CDATA[Nanomedicine Technology Trends in Pharmacology]]></title><link>https://www.benthamscience.comchapter/18649</link><description><![CDATA[Nanotechnology deals with materials that are 1–100 nm in size. Nanomaterials are prepared in different ways such as physical, chemical, and biological methods. They exhibit fascinating features that allow them to perform numerous physiological tasks. They have higher surface area to volume ratios and show typical nanoscale quantum confinement characteristics. They play a critical role in biomedical research. They're quite versatile and used in a variety of medical applications. The demand for nanomedicine drugs with improved performance and reduced toxicity has been steadily increasing in recent years. Nanomedicine is the new area of nanoscience and nanotechnology. Pharmaceutical nanosystems are classified, synthesized, and characterized using procedures based on their size, shape, and functionality. This book chapter focuses on recent trends of nanomedicine technology in pharmacology, particularly on the application of nanomaterials in medicine. Antibacterial characteristics, multicolor medical imaging, disease diagnostics, medication administration, vaccines and biomolecules (peptides, proteins, and genes), therapies, cancer treatment, tissue engineering, and clinical aspects are discussed. Advancements in nanomedicine technology will not only aid in the early diagnosis of infectious and viral disorders, but also in the treatment of infections such as Alzheimer's disease, tuberculosis, and Parkinson's disease. The benefits and constraints of commercializing nanomedicine technology products for pharmacology applications, as well as the hazards and obstacles in developing nanomaterials for medical research are highlighted in this chapter.<br>]]></description> </item><item><title><![CDATA[Himalayan Herbs: A Promising Medication Source for Neurodegenerative Diseases]]></title><link>https://www.benthamscience.comchapter/18600</link><description><![CDATA[The Himalayas have been known for their plant diversity, as they are rich in nearly 8000 vascular plant species, which include approximately 1748 plants containing medicinal properties. Ayurveda, a branch of traditional medication focuses on substances of natural origin like plants, their parts, minerals, and animal parts either alone or in combination. With the advancement in Science and Technology, there has been an increase in the understanding of molecular mechanisms behind the origin of diseases. Recently, the roles of several bioactive molecules present in natural sources in blocking or treating diseases have also become increasingly clear. Since the Himalayas are rich herbal treasures; therefore the plant diversity, as well as their medicinal properties have been widely explored.<br><br>Progressive loss of nerve cells/neurons in terms of structure and function is termed neurodegeneration. Selective loss of neurons leads to nervous disorders referred to as Neurodegenerative disorders/diseases, such as Alzheimer’s disease, Parkinson’s disease, Huntington’s disease, etc., are some of the major health issues suffered by individuals in the current situation. Plant-derived bioactive molecules or phytomedicines have been in practice for many years and have been found to be effective in managing/treating these disorders.<br><br>This chapter aims at highlighting some of the Himalayan herbs, which exhibit a promising role in managing neurodegenerative diseases. For example, Acorus calamus is well known for its brain rejuvenating ability. It has been found that A. calamus possesses neuroprotective activity against stroke. Asparagus racemosus, known for its anti-aging activity, has been observed to protect the brain from oxidative damage, thereby preventing neurodegenerative diseases. Calotropis procera is ethnomedicinally used to treat mental disorders. Sida cordifolia, another perennial shrub found in the Himalayan region used for treating many ailments related to the respiratory system is also used for treating patients suffering from Parkinson’s disease. There are many more plants found in the Himalayan region, which have the potential for treating brainrelated disorders.<br><br>The rising cases of neurodegenerative disorders need a better understanding of plants rich in neuroprotective phytochemicals. Plants are one of the promising medication sources with the least side effects, which will help in providing an ethnopharmacological aspect and managing/treating neurodegenerative disorders. <br>]]></description> </item><item><title><![CDATA[Hepatoprotective Molecules from Himalayan Plants and their Role in Xenobiotic Mechanisms: A Tabulated Review]]></title><link>https://www.benthamscience.comchapter/18599</link><description><![CDATA[Liver is essential for the maintenance and functioning of the body. The liver is responsible for the majority of the metabolic and physiological performance of our body, as well as the detoxification of different drugs and xenobiotic agents. During the detoxification process, the reactive chemical intermediates damage the liver, resulting in liver toxicity. As a result, maintaining a healthy liver is critical to overall health. Hepatic damage is caused by several factors, including environmental pollutants, such as chemicals, consumption of certain medications, poor eating habits, excessive alcohol, and other hepatotoxins, as well as viruses. The liver is sensitive to a range of diseases, including hepatitis, hepatic steatosis, cirrhosis, and hepatocellular cancer, as a consequence of its multifunctionality and constant exposure to toxins. These diseases are substantial sources of mortality and morbidity. Long-term use of the current synthetic medicines to treat liver problems causes further liver damage. Herbal medicine is the major source of basic health care for around 75–80% of the world’s population, primarily in developing countries because of its better cultural acceptability, compatibility with the human body, and fewer side effects. Medicinal plants from the Himalayas are used in the Ayurvedic, Unani, and other traditional systems of medicine and plant-based pharmaceutical industries. The Tibetan system of medicine is also based on Himalayan plant species. Herbal medicines are extensively used in the treatment of liver diseases. In the absence of adequate liver hepatoprotective medications in modern medicine, a variety of medicinal plants and their phytochemicals are used to treat hepatic ailments in the traditional system of medicine in the Himalayan regions. The Himalayas are a rich source of medicinal plants and their phytoconstituents, which play a significant role in hepatoprotection. In the current chapter, an attempt was made to collect data on the Himalayan medicinal plants and their biomolecules traditionally used to treat hepatotoxicity.<br>]]></description> </item><item><title><![CDATA[Novel Implications of Prognostic Markers to Monitor the Disease: An Overview]]></title><link>https://www.benthamscience.comchapter/18461</link><description><![CDATA[Apart from the absence of targeted therapies, poor prognosis in TNBC has affected the clinical outcome of the disease and has led to cause high mortality rate amongst diseased individuals. The discovery of potential biomarkers to determine the prognostic and predictive value may play a vital role in the development of an effective therapeutic approach and may improve the OS, DFS, and DMFS. This chapter highlighted the role of histological subtyping, lymph node status, lymphovascular invasion, miRNA, Ki-67, TILs, and BRCAness as prognostic markers of diseases. Nevertheless, patient selection and choice of treatment strategy will greatly impact the clinical efficacy of these prognostic markers but will remain to be a matter of further exploration.<br>]]></description> </item><item><title><![CDATA[Gene Therapy: A New Avenue for the Management of Ophthalmic Diseases]]></title><link>https://www.benthamscience.comchapter/18365</link><description><![CDATA[Gene therapy aims at intercellular delivery of functional genetic material to the affected area to restore its function or block a dysfunctional gene using viral vectors (Adeno-associated virus) or non-viral vectors (liposomes, SLNs). Gene therapy for the management of ocular diseases is emerging with improved and encouraging results. The Eye has well-defined anatomy, tight ocular barriers, and immune-privileged. It is a perfect target for gene therapy. Recently, many clinical trials are underway or have been completed. The success of these clinical trials promotes the treatment of several ocular diseases (Age-related macular degeneration, glaucoma, retinitis pigmentosa, and choroideremia). Gene therapy should possess an efficient targeting capacity and longstanding gene expression. Viral vectors are mainly used for gene therapy, but due to the risk associated with immunogenicity and mutagenesis, non-viral vectors are widely utilized. This chapter summarizes the recent development of therapeutic gene delivery approaches for the effective management of ocular diseases and their use in ophthalmology.<br>]]></description> </item><item><title><![CDATA[An Overview on Nanoparticulate Drug Delivery System for its Specific and Targeted Effects in Various Diseases]]></title><link>https://www.benthamscience.comchapter/18354</link><description><![CDATA[In modern-day medicine, nanoparticles and nanocarriers are rapidly evolving fields in therapeutics and are the building blocks of nanomedicine, which emphasize the use of nanoscale particles that have a wide array of functions from working as a diagnostic tool to the screening, monitoring, and controlling of various diseases to the delivery of drugs at specific targets in a controlled manner. With the advancement in technologies, it is proven that nanoparticles have a greater potential in wide biomedical applications. Due to their ability to bind with both hydrophobic and lyophilic substances, lower particle size, higher carrier capacity, nanoparticles serve as a favorable platform for specific and targeted drug delivery in disease treatment. Nanoformulations can improve the safety, pharmacokinetic characteristics, and bioavailability of administered drugs, and can improve the therapeutic effect when compared with conventional therapies. Besides, nanoparticles may also be effective in delivering nucleotides, vaccines, and recombinant proteins. Several varieties of nanoparticles are available: different metal and polymeric nanoparticles like gold/silver nanoparticles and micelles, dendrimers. Carbon-derived nanoparticles like quantum dots, carbon tubes, and many other nano assemblies. Numerous nanocarriers, nanoparticle-based drug delivery systems, and drug targeting systems are either developed or under development. In this chapter, we will emphasize mainly the specific and targeted nanoparticles and the use of various nanocarriers for the targeted delivery of drugs in various diseases. The opportunities and challenges of using nanoparticles/nanocarriers in targeted delivery along with its clinical applications are also discussed here.<br>]]></description> </item><item><title><![CDATA[Systems Analysis Based Approach for Therapeutic Intervention in Mixed Vascular-Alzheimer Dementia (MVAD) Using Secondary Metabolites]]></title><link>https://www.benthamscience.comchapter/18329</link><description><![CDATA[Mixed dementia is a form of dementia where Alzheimer's dementia coexists with vascular dementia (VaD) in the same patient. Currently, the treatment available for mixed dementia is conventional Alzheimer's dementia therapy dispensing symptomatic relief. We aim to delineate the therapeutic possibility of some secondary metabolites, which can provide manageable intervention because of their multitargeting and multiple pathophysiological components of Alzheimer's dementia and VaD. We performed the acquisition of relevant information and data by accessing and analyzing Pubmed, Science Direct, Google Scholar, and Scopus sources, to assess the validity of therapeutic use of secondary metabolites against mixed dementia. For the initial acquisition of data (in vitro, in vivo, and clinical), the keywords that were used were “secondary metabolites,” “plant extract,” “mixed dementia,” “Alzheimer's disease,” and “vascular dementia.” All types of relevant research articles, review articles, and books were included. In our study, clinically, preclinical, in vivo, and in vitro studies of secondary metabolites are encompassed. Furthermore, we undertook the formulation of the mechanism of action of secondary metabolites in terms of systems biology-oriented analysis and signal transduction-based methodology. Firstly, the likely mechanisms through which mixed dementia can take place are identified and analyzed rigorously. Secondly, we demarcate the pharmacological actions of the secondary metabolites in treating mixed dementia by (i) Targeting acetylcholine levels, (ii) Reducing or dissociating amyloid-beta (Aβ) load, (iii) Modulating microglial activation, and (iii) Providing vasodilation concurrently with their various constituents of Alzheimer's dementia and VaD. Thirdly, we formulate how several preclinical and clinical studies furnish evidence that secondary metabolites may have efficacy in Alzheimer's patients with cerebrovascular disorders. <br><br>We formulate comprehensive evidence to substantiate the use of secondary metabolites from medicinal plants to enhance therapeutic intervention in mixed dementia.<br>]]></description> </item></channel></rss>