Circulating microRNAs in human obesity: a systematic review

Context: Differential expression profiles of microRNAs have been reported in human obesity suggesting a miRNAs role in the development of obesity and associated disorders.

Objective: To review circulating microRNAs (c-miRNAs) dysregulated in human obesity and to predict their possible target genes.

Methods: We performed a systematic review on PubMed database (PROSPERO, CRD42017077742) for original works on c-miRNAs and human obesity and recorded c-miRNAs with differential expression profiles. Potential target genes and metabolic pathways for dysregulated miRNAs with at least two independent reports were searched using bioinformatic tools.

Results: Twenty-two c-miRNAs are overexpressed, nine underexpressed and two c-miRNAs dysregulated in both directions in people with obesity compared to lean controls. Bioinformatic analyses suggest these c-miRNAs target on genes associated with fatty acid metabolism and PI3k/Akt pathway.

Conclusion: Literature records 33 c-miRNAs confirmedly dysregulated in human obesity. Their predicted target genes are involved in pathways that could explain the development of obesity and its comorbidities. Further research will clarify the role of these miRNAs on metabolic diseases and their usefulness for the prognosis, prevention and treatment of obesity.     

Biological detoxification of mycotoxins: a review

Mycotoxins are secondary fungal metabolites and are reported to be carcinogenic, genotoxic, teratogenic, dermato-, nephro- and hepatotoxic. Several studies have shown that economic losses due to mycotoxins occur at all levels of food and feed production, including crop and animal production, processing and distribution. Therefore, there is a great demand for a novel approach to prevent both the formation of mycotoxins in food and feed and the impact of existing mycotoxin contamination. Recently, investigators have reported that many microorganisms including bacteria, yeast, moulds, actinomycetes and algae are able to remove or degrade mycotoxins in food and feed. We have reviewed various strategies for the detoxification of mycotoxins using microorganisms such as bacteria, yeast and fungi.     

Biological control of snail-borne diseases: a review

The need for alternatives to chemical control of snail-borne diseases and the growing interest in biological control methods are noted. Two groups of natural enemies of snails reviewed as especially promising for biological control are competing and predatory snails, and predatory fly larvae. Potentially useful natural enemies of the intramolluscan stages of trematodes include microsporidian infections and antagonistic trematode larvae. More unusual methods of biological control include the use of a toxic plant product (endod) and genetic manipulation of snails to decrease their susceptibility to trematode infection. The disappointing progress in biological control of snail-borne diseases in the past is attributed largely to delay in recognizing the need for alternatives to chemical control and to lack of interdisciplinary communication.     

Biological bleaching of chemical pulps: a review

The pulp and paper industry is implementing changes in the bleaching process to minimize the use of chlorine in order to satisfy regulatory and market demands. Biotechnology has a potentially important role to play in providing alternatives to conventional chlorine bleaching of chemical pulps. The current developments in fungal, enzymatic and biomimetic bleaching are reviewed here within an engineering context.     

Biological degradation of plastics: a comprehensive review

Lack of degradability and the closing of landfill sites as well as growing water and land pollution problems have led to concern about plastics. With the excessive use of plastics and increasing pressure being placed on capacities available for plastic waste disposal, the need for biodegradable plastics and biodegradation of plastic wastes has assumed increasing importance in the last few years. Awareness of the waste problem and its impact on the environment has awakened new interest in the area of degradable polymers. The interest in environmental issues is growing and there are increasing demands to develop material which do not burden the environment significantly. Biodegradation is necessary for water-soluble or water-immiscible polymers because they eventually enter streams which can neither be recycled nor incinerated. It is important to consider the microbial degradation of natural and synthetic polymers in order to understand what is necessary for biodegradation and the mechanisms involved. This requires understanding of the interactions between materials and microorganisms and the biochemical changes involved. Widespread studies on the biodegradation of plastics have been carried out in order to overcome the environmental problems associated with synthetic plastic waste. This paper reviews the current research on the biodegradation of biodegradable and also the conventional synthetic plastics and also use of various techniques for the analysis of degradation in vitro.     

The mammalian tail: a review of functions

The mammalian tail, present in all mammalian species, has evolved as a surprisingly multi-purpose and important appendage. The major conservative feature appears to be retention of the tail as a single, unbranched appendage; otherwise, colour, shape, size and mobility vary greatly.
Not all of the adaptations discussed are common to all mammalian orders, and no single mammalian order has all the different adaptations occurring in it. These diverse functions may be useful in interpreting behavioural observations, and function as potential guideposts for further investigation.     

Essential functions of microRNAs in animal reproductive organs

The development of the reproductive organs and the gametogenesis in animals are complex and multistage processes that require the precise and efficient regulation. In this review, we summarized the recent findings about the essential functions of microRNAs (miRNAs) in the regulation of gene expression during the differentiation of germ cells in spermatogenesis and oogenesis. Most likely, main and common functions of the conserved and highly expressed miRNAs in the male and female reproductive organs of mammals are the control of differentiation and proliferation of cells. Also we discussed a possible involvement of germline-expressed miRNAs in the formation of reproductive barriers and speciation.     

Characteristics and functions of traditional homegardens: a review

Traditional agroecosystems play an important role in the conservation of biodiversity and in sustainable development. As a typical type of traditional agroecosystem, traditional homegardens have been receiving increasing attention from scientists, especially ethnobotanists. They are considered as germplasm banks for many crops and other economic plants. They are also a key site for domestication of wild plants. Current ethnobotanical studies on homegardens focus on their structures, floristic composition, and contributions to their owners. Traditional homegardens often show complicated structures, diverse floristic compositions, multiple functions, low input (including labor and money), and ecological and socioeconomic sustainability. The characteristics and functions of traditional homegardens are closely related to many factors, such as their geographic location and the cultural backgrounds and socioeconomic conditions of their owners. Many researches on homegardens are conducted in the tropics. There are few studies on the dynamics of traditional homegardens, especially those located in temperate, arid and semi-arid zones. The dynamics of homegardens and the factors affecting these processes will be a fruitful field for future research.     

Biological functions of allantoin

A historical review of allantoin research is presented. An increased allantoin level in the trophoblast and serum of pregnant women has been demonstrated. Allantoin concentration decreased in placental tissues and increased in the serum in developing placental insufficiency.     

星形胶质细胞的生物学功能

人类大脑由两类细胞组成:一类是神经元,另一类是神经胶质细胞。神经胶质细胞的数量约为神经元的10倍,但其作用长期以来一直被认为仅限于在神经元之间充当填充物,填满大脑中的剩余空间,同时为神经元提供营养。但近年来认识到神经胶质细胞的主要成员星形胶质细胞能够感知外界刺激,它的反应选择性甚至高于相邻神经元。神经元的反应活动很多都要经过星形胶质细胞的介导才能完成。本文介绍了星形胶质细胞在神经调制、突触调节和神经血管系统偶联方面的一些新进展,以期在不久的将来对星形胶质细胞的功能有更深入的了解,并能应用于临床实践。     

Biological functions of sphingomyelins

Sphingomyelin (SM) is a dominant sphingolipid in membranes of mammalian cells and this lipid class is specifically enriched in the plasma membrane, the endocytic recycling compartment, and the trans Golgi network. The distribution of SM and cholesterol among cellular compartments correlate. Sphingolipids have extensive hydrogen-bonding capabilities which together with their saturated nature facilitate the formation of sphingolipid and SM-enriched lateral domains in membranes. Cholesterol prefers to interact with SMs and this interaction has many important functional consequences. In this review, the synthesis, regulation, and intracellular distribution of SMs are discussed. The many direct roles played by membrane SM in various cellular functions and processes will also be discussed. These include involvement in the regulation of endocytosis and receptor-mediated ligand uptake, in ion channel and G-protein coupled receptor function, in protein sorting, and functioning as receptor molecules for various bacterial toxins, and for non-bacterial pore-forming toxins. SM is also an important constituent of the eye lens membrane, and is believed to participate in the regulation of various nuclear functions. SM is an independent risk factor in the development of cardiovascular disease, and new studies have shed light on possible mechanism behind its role in atherogenesis.     

Characteristics and functions of traditional homegardens:a review

Traditional agroecosystems play an important role in the conservation of biodiversity and in sustainable development.As a typical type of traditional agroecosystem,traditional homegardens have been receiving increasing attention from scientists,especially ethnobotanists.They are considered as germplasm banks for many crops and other economic plants.They are also a key site for domestication of wild plants.Current ethnobotanical studies on homegardens focus on their structures,floristic composition,and contributions to their owners.Traditional homegardens often show complicated structures,diverse floristic compositions,multiple functions,low input (including labor and money),and ecological and socioeconomic sustainability.The characteristics and functions of traditional homegardens are closely related to many factors,such as their geographic location and the cultural backgrounds and socioeconomic conditions of their owners.Many researches on homegardens are conducted in the tropics.There are few studies on the dynamics of traditional homegardens,especially those located in temperate,arid and semi-arid zones.The dynamics of homegardens and the factors affecting these processes will be a fruitful field for future research.     

Biological functions of maspin

Maspin (Mammary Serine Protease Inhibitor) was first reported in 1994 as a serpin with tumor suppressive properties. Maspin was initially isolated through subtractive hybridization and differential display analysis as a 42-kDa protein that is expressed in normal mammary epithelial cells but reduced or absent in breast carcinomas (Zou et al., 1994). Further research led to maspin's characterization as a class II tumor suppressor based on its ability to inhibit cell invasion, promote apoptosis, and inhibit angiogenesis (Sheng et al., 1996; Zhang et al., 2000b; Jiang et al., 2002). Since then, efforts have been made to characterize maspin's tumor suppressive mechanisms. In particular, researchers have studied maspin localization, the regulation of maspin expression, and more recently, maspin protein interactions. By elucidating these mechanisms, researchers are beginning to understand the complex, pleiotropic nature of maspin and the pathways through which maspin exerts its tumor suppressive properties. These new findings not only further enhance our understanding of cancer biology but also provide an avenue to develop maspin's potential as a diagnostic marker for cancer progression, and as a potentially powerful therapeutic agent in the fight against breast cancer.