Perpustakaan Digital

Worldwide, liver fibrosis is a major cause of morbidity and mortality and is associated with a high medical and economic burden. It is the common consequence of chronic liver injury due to various etiologies. During fibrogenesis, there is a progressive substitution of the liver parenchyma by scar tissue. Recent advances in the understanding of the history of liver fibrosis have shown that the pathogenesis is driven by different cell types and a large variety of soluble mediators. At present, scientists working in this field aim to increase basic knowledge, improve diagnostics, and try to translate experimental findings into new treatment modalities. This book includes 12 selected contributions from the Special Issue “Cellular and Molecular Mechanisms Underlying the Pathogenesis of Hepatic Fibrosis” that was published in Cells. These articles summarize current perspectives and findings in hepatic fibrosis research showing how scientists try to use basic scientific research to create n

The active molecules or bioactives (i.e., polysaccharides, fatty acids, proteins, polyphenols, diterpenes, steroids and alkaloids) from algae (seaweed and microalgae) have been widely studied in recent years for multiple pharmaceutical and nutraceutical applications. Innovative and emerging technologies, including but not limited to ultrasounds, microwaves, electric fields, high-pressure supercritical fluids, ionic fluids and plasma, are currently being explored throughout multiple stages of the pre-treatment, extraction, isolation/purification and preservation of biomolecules from algae. This Special Issue will target research papers, reviews, short communications and perspectives on the use of novel technologies for the pre-treatment, extraction, isolation‒purification, characterization and preservation of marine compounds from algae. It will particularly focus on novel research related to algal bioactives with clear and demonstrated industrial applications and focuses. Related Bo

This Reprint brings together a collection of articles from the Special Issue “The Effect of the Mediterranean Diet on Metabolic Health”, offering an updated overview of the role of the Mediterranean dietary pattern in the prevention and management of metabolic and chronic disease related outcomes. The contributions examine the Mediterranean diet from complementary perspectives, ranging from its general impact on metabolic health to its application in populations at risk of type 2 diabetes, cardiovascular disease, chronic kidney disease, multiple sclerosis, and premenstrual syndrome. The Reprint also explores the relevance of diet quality, glycemic index, lifestyle counselling, genetic background, adherence assessment, and modified dietary approaches inspired by Mediterranean principles. Overall, the articles highlight the potential of this dietary model to support cardiometabolic health, modulate inflammation, improve nutritional quality, and guide personalized nutrition strategies. At the same time, they underline the need for well-designed studies able to clarify mechanisms, strengthen clinical evidence, and translate Mediterranean diet-based recommendations into practical approaches for different populations and health conditions.

The aim of this reprint is to introduce readers to the most recent innovations and developments in the area of microfluidics for biomedical applications. The advent of microfluidics has provided important insights into the fields of biomedical research and clinical diagnosis. Special attention is given to microfluidics for biosensing, sample preparation, cell culture, and drug discovery.

Foamy viruses, currently referred to as spumaretroviruses, are the most ancient retroviruses as evidenced by traces of viral sequences dispersed in all vertebrate classes from fish to mammals. Additionally, infectious foamy viruses circulate in a variety of mammalian species including simian, bovine, equine, caprine, and feline. Foamy viruses have many unique features which led to the division of the retrovirus family into two subfamilies, the Orthoretrovirinae and Spumaretrovirinae. In vitro, foamy viruses have a broad host range and in vivo, human infections have been described due to cross-species transmission from infected nonhuman primates. Thus far, there are no reports of virus-induced disease in humans or in the natural host species. These unique properties of foamy viruses have led researchers to develop foamy viruses as gene therapy vectors to study virus–virus and virus–host interactions for identifying factors involved in virus replication, transmission, and immune regula

Advances in technology have produced a range of on-body sensors and smartwatches that can be used to monitor a wearer’s health with the objective to keep the user healthy. However, the real potential of such devices not only lies in monitoring but also in interactive communication with expert-system-based cloud services to offer personalized and real-time healthcare advice that will enable the user to manage their health and, over time, to reduce expensive hospital admissions. To meet this goal, the research challenges for the next generation of wearable healthcare devices include the need to offer a wide range of sensing, computing, communication, and human–computer interaction methods, all within a tiny device with limited resources and electrical power. This Special Issue presents a collection of six papers on a wide range of research developments that highlight the specific challenges in creating the next generation of low-power wearable healthcare sensors. Related Books Biomedi

In recent years, the dental landscape has witnessed a dynamic transformation driven by digital technology and the rapid evolution of the dental industry. This transformation has given rise to the development and introduction of new materials across various dental disciplines, including prosthesis, restorative dentistry, endodontics, implantology, and orthodontics. Regrettably, this surge in productivity has not always been paralleled by robust scientific research, resulting in clinicians encountering materials that may not necessarily outperform their predecessors. Consequently, there is a pressing need for further studies to establish substantial evidence for the efficacy of recently introduced dental materials. Under this backdrop, this reprint includes high-quality research articles, clinical studies, review articles, and case reports that delve into the latest advances and prospects of dental materials, spanning all fields of dentistry.

The use of telemedicine and mobile devices is growing, and sensors might aid in creating creative solutions. Developing these solutions is crucial for monitoring senior citizens, lifestyles, and medical procedures. This Special Issue’s goal was to bring together academics and professionals in healthcare and medicine interested in using information and communication technologies (ICT) to serve people with special needs. The development of assistive technology for various users to follow sports and other activities is strongly tied to this study area. Data protection is crucial, and the development of these solutions for medical uses should be verified. The security and privacy of the information may be tied to other recognized research projects for their acceptability. ICT research has considerably improved quality of life and has fully assimilated all citizens into society through medical rehabilitation and assistive technology. The technologies and research fields that influence med

It is recognized that there are three major ways to manage excess body weight—physical activity, diet and bariatric surgery. This is of particular relevance since overweight significantly increases the risk of various diseases and metabolic disorders. The choice of one or a combination of these three approaches is greatly dependent on the patient’s individual profile. Numerous fundamental and clinical studies still continue to emphasize their benefits on metabolic parameters, body composition, and quality of life, sometimes with contradictions or controversies. In this Special Issue, we propose a translational point of view on this exciting research area, by establishing cross-communication between fundamental and clinical aspects covering the topic.

Therapeutic drug monitoring (TDM) has emerged as a useful tool for optimizing biological treatment in patients with inflammatory bowel disease (IBD) and other immune-mediated inflammatory diseases (IMID). Reactive TDM has rationalized the management of primary non-response and secondary loss of response to biologics, while cumulative evidence suggests that proactive TDM is efficacious for optimizing anti-tumour necrosis factor (anti-TNF) therapy in patients with IBD. Proactive TDM can be very useful for optimizing biological therapy in specific IBD populations, such as pregnant women as well as patients with perianal fistulizing Crohn’s disease and acute severe ulcerative colitis who are characterized by high drug clearance. Preliminary data suggest that proactive TDM may also have a role in de-escalating anti-TNF therapy in patients in clinical remission including stopping the immunomodulator when combined with anti-TNF therapy. However, several knowledge gaps and limitations hinder

In the urological sphere, the number of tumor malignancies caused by cancer is continuously growing in Western countries. Although this is mainly due to the contemporary increase in the life expectancy of people in these geographic areas, many other factors are also contributing to this growth. Urological cancer is a complex and varied disease which affects different organs and mainly affects the male population. In fact, in most statistics, kidney, prostate, and bladder cancer are regularly included in the top-ten list of the most frequent neoplasms in males. The female population, however, has also been increasingly affected by renal and bladder cancer in the last decade. From these facts, it is clear that urological cancer is a problem of major concern in developed societies. This Topic Issue of Cancers intends to shed some light on the complexity of this field and will consider all useful and appropriate contributions from scientists and clinicians in order to improve urological

The Special Issue "Anticancer Drugs 2021" of Pharmaceuticals is focused on recent significant advances in the design, synthesis, molecular mechanism of action and therapeutic applications of anticancer drugs. This collection of preclinical research papers and reviews includes designed chemotherapeutic agents, targeted therapies and biological agents. The rationalization for the biological activity of these drugs is presented, which helps to guide the design of more effective agents. Structure–activity relationships, together with the biological context in which targets are selected for oncology drug development, are also considered. Related Books Recent Advances of Novel Pharmaceutical Designs for Anti-cancer Therapies Biology & Life Sciences Anticancer Drugs Medicine & Pharmacology Anticancer Agents Medicine & Pharmacology Anticancer Drugs Activity and Underlying Mechanisms Biology & Life Sciences ... Strategies to Improve Antineoplastic Activity of Drugs in Cancer Progression Medi

Dear Colleagues,   In recent years, functional coating technology has attracted increased attention due to its effective potential for improved engineered materials. Growing demand for new materials with synergistic properties pushed research toward a new field to obtain innovative and smart coatings with functional capabilities that greatly differ from the conventional ones. In such a context, the expression of “functional coatings” has acquired specific relevance. This Special Issue will assess cutting-edge developments in this research area for the improvement and growth of actual performance, industrial scale-up, and marketability of functional coatings. This Special Issue is useful for researchers who are approaching this application context to improve their knowledge, with the aim of providing valuable scientific support for new research paths concerning functional surface engineering design and tailoring.   Prof. Luigi Calabrese, Prof. Edoardo Proverbio Guest Editors

Heteroatoms are increasingly appearing in drug structures, which is related to the progress being made in synthetic methodologies and the advantages of using heterocycles, as they can easily modify the pharmacokinetics and pharmacodynamics of bioactive agents. Thus, heterocycles have gained fundamental importance in drug design, and it is not surprising that a wide range of contributions based on heterocycles are published in this Reprint. Specifically, it includes 2 review articles and 17 original scientific articles.

Vitamin D (VD) is a lipo-soluble hormone that is well known for its effects on calcium homeostasis and bone metabolism. Recently, there has been growing interest in the extra-skeletal effects of VD. In particular, recent studies have highlighted how VD plays a fundamental role in immunomodulation processes in the context of both innate and adaptive immunity, with consequential anti-inflammatory and antioxidant effects in different immune-mediated pathologies, such as systemic sclerosis, psoriasis, atopic dermatitis and rheumatoid arthritis, as well as in various pro-inflammatory processes affecting the airways. Recent evidence has shown that VD is also closely related to other components such as the microbiome, with which it appears to be interconnected in the pathophysiology of many allergic diseases. In addition to the known immunomodulatory effects of VD, several studies have reported that it is also endowed with important anti-proliferative, anti-angiogenic and pro-differentiative effects in cancer thanks to its effects on the modulation of the expression of tumor miRNAs through its action at the VD receptor (VDR) level. In view of this, it is clear that VD supplementation represents a safe and valid therapeutic strategy that is capable of improving the clinical outcome of many diseases. In this Special Issue, the different functions and potential benefits of VD, some pathological manifestations related to VD deficiency, the therapeutic potential of VD supplementation, and the link between the effects of VD and the microbiome were discussed.

Rotaviruses are a major cause of acute gastroenteritis in infants and young children and in the young of various mammalian and avian hosts. Although rotavirus-associated morbidity and mortality have significantly decreased since the introduction of rotavirus vaccines into childhood immunization programs, the efficacy of these vaccines is suboptimal in developing countries where they are needed most. Our insight into the molecular epidemiology of rotaviruses has benefited greatly from the application of advanced sequencing and bioinformatic techniques. Combined with the recent development of plasmid-only-based reverse genetics systems, powerful new approaches are now available for the study of all aspects of rotavirus biology, including their replication strategy, the structure and function of their proteins, and their ability to suppress immune responses. Moreover, these technologies provide a possible path for the development of new generations of more effective rotavirus vaccines. This Special Issue of Viruses reviews and explores recent progress made in the analysis of rotavirus replication, viral diversity, genotype–phenotype assignment, correlates of protection, biotechnology, and the development of alternative candidate vaccines.

Biomedical sensors stand at the forefront of modern medical technologies, serving as indispensable components in diverse instruments and equipment. These sensors unravel the intricacies of biological processes and medical interventions. The recent surge in high-density sensor systems, characterized by arrangements in matrix arrays and other configurations, has ushered in a new era of functional evaluation. This spans electrophysiological activity, the metabolic responses of organs and tissues, and motor control analysis, all enriched with crucial spatial information. Functional mapping, a burgeoning approach in various biomedical techniques such as EEG, EMG, ECG, NIRS, and MEG, is proving to be transformative. Its integration enhances our comprehension of complex biological behaviors, where the precise spatial localization of sensing methodologies becomes paramount. The applications of functional mapping using biomedical sensors extend across multiple fields, including neuroscience,

Gastrointestinal (GI) cancers, including colorectal, pancreatic, and biliary tract cancers, account for nearly one in four cancer cases and one in three cancer deaths worldwide. This Special Issue explores advances in prevention, diagnosis, and treatment, focusing on immunotherapy, precision medicine, targeted therapies, and artificial intelligence. Despite advances in standard treatments, many patients still face aggressive or refractory disease, highlighting the need for innovative therapeutic strategies and predictive tools. The published contributions reflect the multidimensional evolution of GI oncology within the precision medicine paradigm. Pharmacological advances, such as the combination of regorafenib with 5-fluorouracil or bevacizumab with trifluridine–tipiracil, have demonstrated improved disease control in metastatic colorectal cancer. Molecular profiling and multi-omic analyses have identified prognostic biomarkers, including CLDN1, INHBA, and CXCL12, while studies on the Wnt/β-catenin pathway reveal early events in colorectal carcinogenesis. Patient-derived organoids have emerged as key preclinical models, faithfully recapitulating tumor biology and enabling personalized testing of chemotherapy and immunotherapy regimens. Overall, these advances illustrate a dynamic and integrated approach to GI oncology, combining pharmacology, molecular diagnostics, bioengineering, and microbiome science to improve precision, improve patient outcomes, and move toward a personalized and holistic model of cancer care.

This Reprint explores the multifaceted role of dietary fatty acids in metabolic health and disease through diverse research approaches. Fatty acids are fundamental to human physiology, acting as energy sources, structural components of cell membranes, and signaling molecules. The consequences of changes in fatty acid metabolism for metabolic syndrome and associated disorders—including obesity, insulin resistance, cardiovascular disease, and fatty liver disease—are substantial. The collection provides an overview of how high-fat diets influence gut microbiota composition and metabolic functions, with particular emphasis on their role in obesity and hepatic disorders. It also examines the impact of maternal high-fat diet exposure on offspring health and neurodevelopment. Moreover, the roles of saturated, trans, and polyunsaturated fatty acids in cardiovascular risk are analyzed, highlighting their potential to exert both detrimental and protective effects. In addition, the effects of dietary interventions—such as reducing saturated fat intake or improving adherence to healthy eating patterns—on lipid profiles and cardiometabolic risk are discussed. By integrating original research and reviews, this reprint offers valuable insights into the complex relationship between dietary fatty acids and metabolic health.

Cardiovascular disease is the leading cause of morbidity and mortality in patients undergoing chronic dialysis treatments. The persistently elevated mortality rates in this population reflect not only the complexity of cardiovascular disease pathogenesis in uremia but also the inadequacy of current preventive and therapeutic strategies. Beyond the clinical implications, this burden carries significant economic consequences for healthcare systems. These unique pathogenic mechanisms demand focused research efforts and tailored interventions to improve outcomes in this vulnerable population. “Cardiovascular Disease and Hemodialysis” brings together original clinical research that deepens our understanding of the multifaceted cardiovascular burden in this population. The selected studies provide important insights into risk stratification, predictive biomarkers, treatment outcomes, and the pathophysiology of CVD in HD patients.

Computational fluid dynamics (CFD), which uses numerical analysis to predict and model complex flow behaviors and transport processes, has become a mainstream tool in engineering process research and development. Complex chemical processes often involve coupling between dynamics at vastly different length and time scales, as well as coupling of different physical models. The multiscale and multiphysics nature of those problems calls for delicate modeling approaches. This book showcases recent contributions in this field, from the development of modeling methodology to its application in supporting the design, development, and optimization of engineering processes. Related Books CFD Modeling of Complex Chemical Processes: Multiscale and Multiphysics Challenges Engineering Computational Fluid Dynamics (CFD) of Chemical Processes Engineering Computational Fluid Dynamics 2020 Computer Science & Mathematics ... Industrial CFD and Fluid Modelling in Engineering Engineering CFD Application

Despite being described for the first time more than 110 years ago, Chagas disease (caused by the parasite Trypanosoma cruzi) persists as one of the most neglected tropical diseases. This persistent neglect of those affected by this disease is evidenced by the ongoing scientific evidence gaps, the difficulty of incorporating new diagnostic and treatment technologies into the market, and public health failures to ensure timely access to diagnosis and treatment associated with the development of consistent surveillance and control actions. As a result, there is a high burden of morbidity and mortality, and poor quality of life, poverty, stigma, and a fear of death persist for affected people, both in endemic areas in Latin America, and in non-endemic areas. This book spans a variety of disciplines and contributes significantly to reducing the gap in scientific knowledge on Chagas disease, towards achieving the Sustainable Development Goals by 2030. Related Books Chagas Disease Biology

Sleep and circadian rhythm disruptions are increasingly seen not just as secondary symptoms, but as active biological drivers and consequences of many physical and mental health conditions. This Special Issue consolidates current knowledge across sleep medicine, chronobiology, behavioral medicine, and clinical psychiatry to bridge theoretical gaps and map sleep dysregulation as a transdiagnostic mechanism. It synthesizes eight papers. A thorough description of the clinical profile of Long COVID insomnia was provided, demonstrating that this is a chronic, functionally significant condition that calls for proactive treatment rather than cautious waiting. The design of workplace mental health programs will be directly impacted by the discovery that occupational insomnia in healthcare workers is not just a result of workload but rather of a psychosocial cascade involving anger, cynicism, nightmare distress, burnout, and depression. Also, by taking into account both the intervention's content and its delivery context, we were able to advance our understanding of how digital CBT-I might be optimized, while the direct clinical discussion of thermoregulatory physiology and sleep disorders revealed a therapeutic dimension that is still largely unexplored in standard practice. The limited evidence supporting non-pharmacological treatment of narcolepsy was highlighted, while bruxism-related parasomnia was placed within a broader context related to sleep health. Furthermore, eating disorder susceptibility was added to the scope of circadian medicine, proving that chronotype has psychological effects that go far beyond mood and sleep.

Anti-cancer immunotherapies have generated spectacular outcomes in the clinical environment and changed treatment schemes for cancer patients. Adoptive cell therapies (ACTs), including using autologous tumor-infiltrating lymphocytes and chimeric antigen receptor (CAR) T cells, and checkpoint blockades have emerged as the most effective treatments for certain cancers. The current challenge for cancer immunotherapies is that although some patients have benefited from the treatments, a number of cancers are resistant. The purpose of this Special Issue is to understand anti-cancer immunotherapy treatment resistance mechanisms and explore new options to provide opportunities for effective treatments. Related Books Tumor Immunology and Immunotherapy Resistance Medicine & Pharmacology Cancer Immunology Biology & Life Sciences Emerging Antibody Engineering Strategies and Applications for Immunotherapy of Cancer Biology & Life Sciences Cell Therapy, Bispecific Antibodies and other Immunother