53 research outputs found
Rethinking the territorial pact in the context of European territorial cohesion
The authors argue through this paper, the importance of rethinking the recently
abandoned tools that can be reactivated in times of crisis. EU 2020 Strategy and other EU
documents create a favorable frame in order to achieve the priorities set by reconsidering
the territorial pact concept. Recent documents define the partnership agreement concept,
which seems to be more rigid and less flexible than the territorial pact. Having as a starter
point Romaniaās specifics, there are individualized 10 thematic territorial pacts and 8 global
pacts. They must generate territorial synergies capable of ensuring the coherence between
regions, states and the European Union as a whole
The Involvement of Epigenetic Mechanisms in HPVāInduced Cervical Cancer
Highārisk human papillomavirus (HPV) genotypes infection associates with cervical dysplasia and carcinogenesis. hrāHPV transforming potential is based on E6 and E7 viral oncoproteins actions on cellular proteins. A persistent infection with hrāHPV leads to progression from precursor lesions to invasive cervical cancer inducing changes in host genome and epigenome. Pathogenesis and development of cancer associated with both genetic and epigenetic defects alter transcriptional program. An important role for malignant transformation in HPVāinduced cervical cancer is played by epigenetic changes that occur in both viral and host genome. Furthermore, there are observations demonstrating that oncogenic viruses, once they integrated into host genome, become susceptible to epigenetic alterations made by host machinery. Epigenetic regulation of viral gene expression is an important factor in HPVāassociated disease. Gene expression control is complex and involves epigenetic changes: DNA methylation, histone modification, and nonācoding RNAs activity. Persistent infection with hrāHPV can cause viral DNA integration into host genome attracting defense mechanisms such as methylation machinery. In this chapter, we aim to review HPV infection role in chromatin modification/remodeling and the impact of HPV infection on nonācoding RNAs in cervix oncogenesis. The reversible nature of epigenetic alterations provides new opportunities in the development of therapeutic agents targeting epigenetic modification in oncogenesis
ESTIMATING THE YIN-YANG NATURE OF WESTERN HERBS: A POTENTIAL TOOL BASED ON ANTIOXIDATION- OXIDATION THEORY
Background : One of the biggest obstacles to progress in traditional Chinese medicine (TCM) development in Western countries is the difficulty of applying the traditional concepts to the Western medicinal plants, which are not traditionally described in ancient literature. During recent years, new advances in the field of understanding Yin/Yang aspects from a modern bioscientific point of view have led to the conclusion that antioxidation-oxidation concepts might mirror a Yin-Yang relationship.
Methods: This study was intended to integrate the Yin-Yang theory of the traditional Chinese medicine with modern antioxidation-oxidation theory, and to propose a biochemical tool based on redox parameters (e.g. antioxidant capacity, chemiluminescence-CL signal inducing capacity), usable for the classification of Western medicinal plants from Yin/Yang perspective. Trolox equivalent antioxidant capacity (TEAC) of six vegetal aqueous extracts (Symphitum officinalae (radix)- SYM, Inula helenium (radix)- INU, Calendula officinalis (flores)- CAL, Angelica arhanghelica (folium)- ANG(F), Angelica arhanghelica (radix)- ANG(R), Ecbalium Elaterium (fruits)- ECB) and luminol-enhanced chemiluminescence of PMNL on addition of these vegetal extracts were measured. Percentages from the maximal or minimal values obtained were calculated for each extract (TEAC%, PMNL stimulation%, PMNL inhibition%, relative speed of action% (RSA%%)), specific Yin-Yang significance was assigned to each relative parameter. In the end, an integration of all the relative values was done, in order to find a global āYinā or a āYangā trait of each vegetal extract.
Results: TEAC decreased in the following order: SYM > INU > CAL >ANG(F) > ANG(R > ECB. Three vegetal extracts (SYM > INU > ECB) decreased the luminol-enhanced chemiluminescence of PMNL, two (ANG(R) > ANG(F)) increased it, while one (CAL) had a dual effect. After the integration of the percentages, CAL was found to have a global āYangā trait, while the rest of the plants had a global āYinā trait.
Conclusions: TEAC% and PMNL inhibition% appears to correlate with the Yin properties of herbs, while PMNL stimulation% and RSA% might correlate with Yang aspects within the formal TCM classification system, and may be useful criteria in describing the Western herbs from a TCM point of view
OSTEOPROTECTIVE MEDICINAL PLANTS - PART 1 (A HUMAN CLINICAL EVIDENCE-BASED REVIEW)
Background. Osteoporosis is a bone metabolic disease affecting a large percentage of aging population, which leads to an increased risk of fractures and has a negative impact on life quality. The available treatments for osteoporosis are effective, but are associated with several severe adverse reactions, hence the interest for alternative treatments devoid of such redoubtable side effects. Medicinal plants represent a viable resource for new therapeutic agents.
The purpose of this review is to provide an overview about the medicinal plants that have been reported to have anti-osteoporotic effects in human clinical studies.
Materials and Methods. Relevant studies found in PubMed database, pertaining to efficacy in humans, mechanism of action, osteoactive phytochemicals and safety, were selected. For the inquiry, keywords such as āmedicinal plantā, āosteoporosisā, āboneā, āfractureā, āosteoclastā and āosteoblastā were used in various combinations. The information extracted was integrated with the traditional knowledge on the correspondent medicinal plants. Results. Eight medicinal plants (Cimicifuga racemosa, Cissus quadrangularis, Eleutherococcus senticosus, Epimedium spp., Glycine max, Pueraria spp., Panax notoginseng, Salvia milthiorriza) were selected. Mechanisms involved include the activation of osteoblasts, inhibition of osteoclastogenesis, estrogen-like activity, anti-inflammatory activity, inhibition of collagen degradation by cathepsin K.
Conclusion. Several medicinal plants have been included in clinical studies successfully targeting osteoporosis, thus showing the potential to modulate bone resorption and bone formation
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