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"Epigenetic factors and environment"
Abstract
The term epigenetic means "above genetics" originally proposed by C. Waddington to describe the existence of heredity mechanisms. Epigenetic processes include mitotic and / or meiotic hereditary modifications to gene expression without altering the DNA sequence.In eukaryotes the epigenetic phenomena are related to the structure of chromatin and its configurations. DNA is organized into chromatin within the nucleus. Chromatin is a complex with DNA, histone proteins and no histone proteins, which have two functional states, heterochromatin and euchromatin. The nucleosome is the first level of chromatin organization that enables DNA packaging, regulating gene expression and making possible epigenetic phenomena. Chromatin allows different configurations of the same genome, causing various epigenomes and then different phenotypes.Histone modifications, DNA methylation and the activity of nonncRNA, are the major mechanism of epigenetic regulation in eukaryotes. Epigenome represents the connection between environment and genome. Environmental influences can affect the programming of the genome, activating specific pathways in cells that, through the mechanisms of epigenetic regulation, promote the stable remodeling of chromatin changing gene expression and phenotype. Some of these changes can be inherited to the progeny even when the environmental trigger is over. In humans, environmentally induced modification in the epigenome has also been linked to a variety of pathologies, nevertheless, DNA and chromatin alterations are reversible and the implementation of epigenetic therapies for the treatment of epigenetically based diseases is a field of ongoing research and shows amazing perspectives.
GALANI Maria
"Multiple sclerosis: Therapeutic approach with STEM cells"
Abstract
Multiple Sclerosis (MS) is a chronic disorder of the Central Nervous System (CNS). Genetic and environmental factors play a key role in the pathogenesis of MS by activating the immune response causing inflammation. The immune system destroys gradually its own axes of the bone marrow in the CNS, in cases lasting from a few months to several years. Possible demyelination and degeneration of the nervous system can cause severe and debilitating kinetic, aesthetic, balance and cognitive difficulties, disability, serious complications and negative effects to the quality of life. The available treatments today can slow the progress of the disease but not completely cure it. Available treatments include steroids against temporary disease manifestation, medications that modify the disease and medications targeting specific symptoms. While these can reduce the frequency of exacerbations and the slow progression of the disease, no medication can regenerate nerves or remyelination ability in order to repair the cumulative damage that already exists.
Many options of treatments have been studied to prevent patients with MS from recurrent relapse. The oldest and most common used medication for MS is the interferon beta either used standalone or as part of an adjunctive therapy together with other drugs. Injectable treatments consist of monoclonal antibodies and immunosuppressive drugs have also been studied. Recent research has shown that cell therapies have the potential to repair the CNS and may provide protection against inflammatory damage caused by injuries. Stem cells play an important role in demyelination and help in the prevention of axes demyelination. The basic idea behind this treatment consist of two parts. Firstly, the collection of blood cells of the patient, immunosuppression by chemotherapy and re-injection of stem cells in patients in order to regenerate the immune system. Secondly, the replacement of oligodendrocytes or myelin loss by transplantation of ancestral appears now to be able to be cured by stem cell therapy.
VERIKIOU Mathakoula
"The role of mesenchymal stem cells in the treatment of pelvic floor dysfunction in women"
Abstract
The term ‘’pelvic floor dysfunction’’ refers to all the disorders which are associated with the pelvic floor muscle system. The incidence of these diseases in women is constantly increasing during the last years and is leading to decreased quality of life. The current treatments can be categorized to non-invasive techniques -which often fail to provide a definitive solution- and invasive techniques -which may lead to postoperative complications. It is therefore clear that the development of innovative stem-cell based therapies can be a cornerstone in the treatment of the disease. Stem cells are undifferentiated cells characterized by two unique characteristics: self-renewal capacity and pluripotency and can be derived either from the embryo and fetal tissues or from the adult tissues. Depending on their potential for differentiation, they are classified into totipotent, pluripotent, multipotent, oligopotent and unipotent. The most investigated population of stem cells used for applications in regenerative medicine are mesenchymal stem cells, which are effective in treating many diseases thanks to their properties of migration, tissue repair, immunomodulation and cell death control. Specifically, in the present study, mesenchymal stem cells are the population studied for the treatment of pelvic floor dysfunction since they can act directly to the area of the lesion through migration or indirectly thanks to the paracrine signaling which leads to nutritional and immunomodulatory effects.
Up to date, a massive number of preclinical studies have been performed to investigate the treatment of pelvic floor dysfunction through tissue engineering or secretion products and the results demonstrate the strong ability of tissue regeneration and immune modifications possessed by mesenchymal stem cells. Of course, the small animal models used in preclinical trials only partially mimic the symptoms of the disease, which is why clinical trials are necessary for more valid conclusions. The use of human mesenchymal stem cells in clinical testing is possible thanks to their safe profile, the many sources that can be found and the ease of isolation. Although few, existing clinical trials are enhancing the effectiveness of cell therapy using mesenchymal stem cells for pelvic floor disorders and paving the way for even more studies in the future. The definitive treatment of the disease based on regenerative medicine will be an important achievement of science as it will improve the quality of life of a large number of patients, avoiding the after-surgery discomforts and complications.
LOUKOPOULOS Themistoklis
"Capturing the degree of reluctance of the Greek population towards childhood vaccination programs, especially in the period of the new corona virus (COVID 19) pandemic"
Abstract
"Applications of Flow Cytometry in Microbiology"
Abstract
Flow Cytometry is a technology that allows the counting and characterization of molecules and cells that are found in a suspension. It allows the analysis of multiple parameters at once and defines the physical and chemical characteristics of single cells that flow through an optical analysis and digital detection device.A great advantage of flow cytometry is the precise and rapid cell counting, which has ample use in Microbiology, especially when it is combined with other tests like fluorescent staining and immunocytometry, providing us with exact details about the number of living and/or dead microbes, their metabolism, their response to stress and more information about their cell cycle. The most important fact though is that it allows precise gauging of bacterial cell viability, which substantiate the answers on one of the greatest questions of Microbiology. There are applications that appertain to food safety, drinking water viability through online flow cytometry fingerprinting, sewage processing and general protection of the environment. Finally, it’s worth noting that with the use of flow virometry it is possible to identify viruses in the environment, so that in the event of future pandemics (such as the COVID-19 pandemic), it can be a useful tool.
RARRAS Nikolaos