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State-of-the-Art and Novel Approaches in Molecular and Translational Medicine in Europe

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A special issue of Biomedicines (ISSN 2227-9059). This special issue belongs to the section "Molecular and Translational Medicine".

Deadline for manuscript submissions: 31 July 2024 | Viewed by 11462

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Special Issue Editor

Dr. Vasileios Tzounakas

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Guest Editor

Department of Biochemistry, School of Medicine, University of Patras, Patras, Greece
Interests: erythrocyte physiology and metabolism; transfusion medicine; novel approaches in defining blood biomarkers; extracellular vesicles; biological networks

Special Issue Information

Dear Colleagues,

The rapid advancement of technology has led to the establishment of high throughput and state-of-the-art techniques that benefit biomedicine research. There is a growing interest in unraveling the mechanistic basis of pathophysiological backgrounds, identifying accurate and easy-to-detect biomarkers, and finding novel promising therapies through the use of omics technologies, bioinformatics analyses, and other technological breakthroughs. In this context, the panoply of data that arise from the combination of new and established techniques can pave the way for the reappraisal of several medical states through novel approaches for the identification or treatment of pathophysiological conditions.

In this Special Issue, European experts in the field of biomedicine are invited to present the progress of translational medicine in our continent through the use of novel or state-of-the-art approaches in the fields of molecular, cellular, and biochemical medicine. These approaches may include high throughput techniques, in vitro and in vivo models of disease/physiology, bioinformatic tools and novel therapeutics, as well as unique approaches for studying biomedical issues.

Dr. Vasileios Tzounakas
Guest Editor

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Keywords

translational medicine
biomarkers
high throughput techniques
bioinformatics
in vitro and in vivo models
novel therapies
research applications in pathophysiological backgrounds
molecular/biochemical disease characterization

Published Papers (6 papers)

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Research

15 pages, 1919 KiB

Open AccessArticle

Effect of Probiotic Therapy on Neuropsychiatric Manifestations in Children with Multiple Neurotransmitter Disorders: A Study

by Loredana Matiș, Bogdana Ariana Alexandru, Radu Fodor, Lucia Georgeta Daina, Timea Claudia Ghitea and Silviu Vlad

Biomedicines 2023, 11(10), 2643; https://doi.org/10.3390/biomedicines11102643 - 26 Sep 2023

Cited by 1 | Viewed by 919

Abstract

Probiotics, also known as psychobiotics, have been linked to cognitive functions, memory, learning, and behavior, in addition to their positive effects on the digestive tract. The purpose of this study is to examine the psychoemotional effects and cognitive functioning in children with gastrointestinal disorders who undergo psychobiotherapy. A total of 135 participants, aged 5–18 years, were divided into three groups based on the pediatrician’s diagnosis: Group I (Control) consisted of 37 patients (27.4%), Group II included 65 patients (48.1%) with psychoanxiety disorders, and Group III comprised 33 individuals (24.4%) with psychiatric disorders. The study monitored neurotransmitter levels such as serotonin, GABA, glutamate, cortisol, and DHEA, as well as neuropsychiatric symptoms including headaches, fatigue, mood swings, hyperactivity, aggressiveness, sleep disorders, and lack of concentration in patients who had gastrointestinal issues such as constipation, diarrhea, and other gastrointestinal problems. The results indicate that psychobiotics have a significant impact on reducing hyperactivity and aggression, and improving concentration. While further extensive studies are needed, these findings offer promising insights into the complexity of a child’s neuropsychic behavior and the potential for balancing certain behaviors through psychobiotics. Full article

(This article belongs to the Special Issue State-of-the-Art and Novel Approaches in Molecular and Translational Medicine in Europe)

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11 pages, 576 KiB

Open AccessArticle

Measuring Drug Therapy Effect on Osteoporotic Fracture Risk by Trabecular Bone Lacunarity: The LOTO Study

by Annamaria Zaia, Pierluigi Maponi, Manuela Sallei, Roberta Galeazzi and Pietro Scendoni

Biomedicines 2023, 11(3), 781; https://doi.org/10.3390/biomedicines11030781 - 4 Mar 2023

Viewed by 1284

Abstract

An MRI method providing one parameter (TBLβ: trabecular-bone-lacunarity-parameter-β) that is sensitive to trabecular bone architecture (TBA) changes with aging and osteoporosis is under study as a new tool in the early diagnosis of bone fragility fracture. A cross-sectional and prospective observational study (LOTO: Lacunarity Of Trabecular bone in Osteoporosis) on over-50s women, at risk for bone fragility fracture, was designed to validate the method. From the baseline data, we observed that in women with prevalent vertebral fractures (VF+), TBA was differently characterized by TBLβ when osteoporosis treatment is considered. Here we verify the potential of TBLβ as an index of osteoporosis treatment efficacy. Untreated (N = 156) and treated (N = 123) women were considered to assess differences in TBLβ related to osteoporosis treatment. Prevalent VFs were found in 31% of subjects, 63% of which were under osteoporosis medications. The results show that TBLβ discriminates between VF+ and VF− patients (p = 0.004). This result is mostly stressed in untreated subjects. Treatment, drug therapy in particular (89% Bisphosphonates), significantly counteracts the difference between VF+ and VF− within and between groups: TBLβ values in treated patients are comparable to untreated VF− and statistically higher than untreated VF+ (p = 0.014) ones. These results highlight the potential role of TBLβ as an index of treatment efficacy. Full article

(This article belongs to the Special Issue State-of-the-Art and Novel Approaches in Molecular and Translational Medicine in Europe)

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14 pages, 4886 KiB

Open AccessArticle

Multimodal Optical Monitoring of Auto- and Allografts of Skin on a Burn Wound

by Ilya Turchin, Vladimir Beschastnov, Petr Peretyagin, Valeriya Perekatova, Alexey Kostyuk, Anna Orlova, Nikita Koloshein, Aleksandr Khilov, Ekaterina Sergeeva, Mikhail Kirillin and Maksim Ryabkov

Biomedicines 2023, 11(2), 351; https://doi.org/10.3390/biomedicines11020351 - 26 Jan 2023

Cited by 1 | Viewed by 1234

Abstract

The aim of the study was to investigate the dynamics of the state of allo- and autografts of skin on a wound using optical modalities: diffuse reflectance spectroscopy (DRS), optical coherence tomography (OCT), and laser Doppler flowmetry (LDF). A deep thermal burn was simulated in 24 rats covering 20% of the body surface. On day 3 after the injury, a fascial necrectomy of two 500 mm² areas on the left and right sides of the midline of the animal body were excised. Allografts and autografts were placed in the centers of these areas. Optical measurements of grafts were performed on the 0, 3rd, 6th, 10th, and 13th days after transplantation. The allografts demonstrated a pronounced decrease in oxygenation, blood content, and perfusion compared to autografts on the 6th day; in the following days of observation, these values returned to the average values of autografts. Water content gradually decreased from the beginning to the end of observation. In conclusion, optical diagnostics revealed changes in the morphological microstructure, the rate of restoration of blood circulation, and oxygen exchange in the early stages, specific for the allo- and autograft. Full article

(This article belongs to the Special Issue State-of-the-Art and Novel Approaches in Molecular and Translational Medicine in Europe)

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19 pages, 841 KiB

Open AccessArticle

Space Biomedicine: A Unique Opportunity to Rethink the Relationships between Physics and Biology

by Mariano Bizzarri, Valeria Fedeli, Aurora Piombarolo and Antonio Angeloni

Biomedicines 2022, 10(10), 2633; https://doi.org/10.3390/biomedicines10102633 - 19 Oct 2022

Cited by 3 | Viewed by 2954

Abstract

Space biomedicine has provided significant technological breakthroughs by developing new medical devices, diagnostic tools, and health-supporting systems. Many of these products are currently in use onboard the International Space Station and have been successfully translated into clinical practice on Earth. However, biomedical research performed in space has disclosed exciting, new perspectives regarding the relationships between physics and medicine, thus fostering the rethinking of the theoretical basis of biology. In particular, these studies have stressed the critical role that biophysical forces play in shaping the function and pattern formation of living structures. The experimental models investigated under microgravity conditions allow us to appreciate the complexity of living organisms through a very different perspective. Indeed, biological entities should be conceived as a unique magnification of physical laws driven by local energy and order states overlaid by selection history and constraints, in which the source of the inheritance, variation, and process of selection has expanded from the classical Darwinian definition. The very specific nature of the field in which living organisms behave and evolve in a space environment can be exploited to decipher the underlying, basic processes and mechanisms that are not apparent on Earth. In turn, these findings can provide novel opportunities for testing pharmacological countermeasures that can be instrumental for managing a wide array of health problems and diseases on Earth. Full article

(This article belongs to the Special Issue State-of-the-Art and Novel Approaches in Molecular and Translational Medicine in Europe)

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18 pages, 1416 KiB

Open AccessArticle

Tracking Clonal Evolution of Multiple Myeloma Using Targeted Next-Generation DNA Sequencing

by Aleksander Salomon-Perzyński, Joanna Barankiewicz, Marcin Machnicki, Irena Misiewicz-Krzemińska, Michał Pawlak, Sylwia Radomska, Agnieszka Krzywdzińska, Aleksandra Bluszcz, Piotr Stawiński, Małgorzata Rydzanicz, Natalia Jakacka, Iwona Solarska, Katarzyna Borg, Zofia Spyra-Górny, Tomasz Szpila, Bartosz Puła, Sebastian Grosicki, Tomasz Stokłosa, Rafał Płoski, Ewa Lech-Marańda, Jana Jakubikova and Krzysztof Jamroziak Show full author list Hide full author list

Biomedicines 2022, 10(7), 1674; https://doi.org/10.3390/biomedicines10071674 - 12 Jul 2022

Cited by 3 | Viewed by 1923

Abstract

Clonal evolution drives treatment failure in multiple myeloma (MM). Here, we used a custom 372-gene panel to track genetic changes occurring during MM progression at different stages of the disease. A tumor-only targeted next-generation DNA sequencing was performed on 69 samples sequentially collected from 30 MM patients. The MAPK/ERK pathway was mostly affected with KRAS mutated in 47% of patients. Acquisition and loss of mutations were observed in 63% and 37% of patients, respectively. Four different patterns of mutation evolution were found: branching-, mutation acquisition-, mutation loss- and a stable mutational pathway. Better response to anti-myeloma therapy was more frequently observed in patients who followed the mutation loss—compared to the mutation acquisition pathway. More than two-thirds of patients had druggable genes mutated (including cases of heavily pre-treated disease). Only 7% of patients had a stable copy number variants profile. Consequently, a redistribution in stages according to R-ISS between the first and paired samples (R-ISS″) was seen. The higher the R-ISS″, the higher the risk of MM progression and death. We provided new insights into the genetics of MM evolution, especially in heavily pre-treated patients. Additionally, we confirmed that redefining R-ISS at MM relapse is of high clinical value. Full article

(This article belongs to the Special Issue State-of-the-Art and Novel Approaches in Molecular and Translational Medicine in Europe)

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22 pages, 3149 KiB

Open AccessArticle

Severe Hyperosmotic Stress Issues an ER Stress-Mediated “Death Sentence” in H9c2 Cells, with p38-MAPK and Autophagy “Coming to the Rescue”

by Konstantina-Eleni Bourouti, Christos Konstantaros, Catherine Gaitanaki and Ioanna-Katerina Aggeli

Biomedicines 2022, 10(6), 1421; https://doi.org/10.3390/biomedicines10061421 - 15 Jun 2022

Cited by 1 | Viewed by 2071

Abstract

With several cardiovascular pathologies associated with osmotic perturbations, researchers are in pursuit of identifying the signaling sensors, mediators and effectors involved, aiming at formulating novel diagnostic and therapeutic strategies. In the present study, H9c2 cells were treated with 0.5 M sorbitol to elicit hyperosmotic stress. Immunoblotting as well as cell viability analyses revealed the simultaneous but independent triggering of multiple signaling pathways. In particular, our findings demonstrated the phosphorylation of eukaryotic translation initiation factor 2 (eIF2α) and upregulation of the immunoglobulin heavy-chain-binding protein (BiP) expression, indicating the onset of the Integrated Stress Response (IRS) and endoplasmic reticulum stress (ERS), respectively. In addition, autophagy was also induced, evidenced by the enhancement of Beclin-1 protein expression and of AMP-dependent kinase (AMPK) and Raptor phosphorylation levels. The involvement of a Na⁺/H⁺ exchanger-1 (NHE-1) as well as NADPH oxidase (Nox) in 0.5 M sorbitol-induced eIF2α phosphorylation was also indicated. Of note, while inhibition of ERS partially alleviated the detrimental effect of 0.5 M sorbitol on H9c2 cellular viability, attenuation of p38-MAPK activity and late phase autophagy further mitigated it. Deciphering the mode of these pathways’ potential interactions and of their complications may contribute to the quest for effective clinical interventions against associated cardiovascular diseases. Full article

(This article belongs to the Special Issue State-of-the-Art and Novel Approaches in Molecular and Translational Medicine in Europe)

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