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Aleksandra Baska

Bio: Aleksandra Baska is an academic researcher from Nicolaus Copernicus University in Toruń. The author has contributed to research in topics: Beta (finance) & Hepatocyte nuclear factor 4 alpha. The author has an hindex of 2, co-authored 8 publications receiving 12 citations.

Papers
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Journal ArticleDOI
TL;DR: The research proves that berberine strongly impacts the carbohydrate metabolism and leads to a decrease in insulin resistance by macrophages polarization, lipolytic processes induction and energy expenditure enhancement (by reducing body mass and limiting insulin resistance caused by obesity).
Abstract: Berberine is an alkaloid found in plants. It has e.g. neuroprotective, anti-inflammatory and hypolipidemic activity. The research proves that it also strongly impacts the carbohydrate metabolism. The compound also protects pancreatic βcells and increases sensitivity to insulin in peripheral tissues via the induction of GLUT-1, GLUT-4 and insulin type 1 (Ins1) receptors activity. It also stimulates glycolysis and leads to a decrease in insulin resistance by macrophages polarization, lipolytic processes induction and energy expenditure enhancement (by reducing body mass and limiting insulin resistance caused by obesity). In liver berberine inhibits FOX01, SREBP1 and ChREBP pathways, and HNF-4α (hepatocyte nuclear factor 4 alpha) mRNA that hinder gluconeogenesis processes. In intestines it blocks α-glucosidase contributing to glucose absorption decrease. Its interference in intestinal flora reduces levels of monosaccharides and suppresses diabetes mellitus complications development.

9 citations

Journal ArticleDOI
TL;DR: Effects of use of schisandrins are very promising, however, there is still not enough of good evidences to use these substances without any doubts.

8 citations

Journal ArticleDOI
TL;DR: A review of the literature concerning epidemiology, mechanisms and research results of allergic reactions after Nuss bar implantation can be found in this article, where the most common symptoms include fever and skin lesions such as allergic dermatitis.
Abstract: Minimally invasive repair of pectus excavatum (MIRPE) technique (the Nuss procedure) is a minimally-invasive method that is commonly used in the treatment of pectus excavatum. An allergic reaction to the metal alloy bar that is implanted in the thorax during the procedure is a reported complication. We briefly review current literature concerning epidemiology, mechanisms and research results of allergic reactions after Nuss bar implantation. This allergic reaction occurs in approximately 2.7% of patients and is caused by metals used in the medical implant. The most common symptoms include fever and skin lesions such as allergic dermatitis. Elevated levels of C-reactive protein is a frequent finding in laboratory tests. In order to minimize the risk of such complications, taking a detailed allergy-based medical history and conducting allergy tests, i.e. patch test are required. Allergic reactions can be managed with conservative treatment such as general or topical glucocorticosteroid therapy and antihistamine agents. Severe allergic reactions can be addressed by implant revision, replacement of the steel bar with a titanium substitute or removal of the stabilization at all. Although the risk of an allergic reaction to titanium is smaller it still exists, the titanium substitute is not routinely used due to its higher cost and lesser plasticity which has a negative impact on matching a stabilizing bar during the surgery. Surgeons treating pectus excavatum should remember about the possible allergic reactions after implantation of the metal bar and be familiar with methods of diagnosis and treatment of those complications.

6 citations

Journal ArticleDOI
TL;DR: In this review, the known molecular mechanisms of polyphenol anti-tumor activity against neuroblastoma are presented and the studies confirming its effectiveness are discussed.
Abstract: Resveratrol, polyphenol naturally occurring in grapes or nuts, has anti-cancer properties in the treatment of neuroblastoma - the most common childhood solid tumor. It affects cancer cells by increasing apoptosis, inducing cell necrosis and reducing tumor mass. Mechanism of action - (1) converting procaspases, mainly procaspases three and nine into active forms - caspases, (2) blocking kinases, and also (3) leading the cell to the S-cell cycle, where it is most effective while increasing the concentration of cyclin E and lowering the concentration of p21 protein. In vitro, as well as, rodent animal models studies are available and show promising results. Therapeutic doses, currently within 10-100 μmol/L, are also being tested, as well as other forms of resveratrol, such as its trans-4,4'-dihydroxystilbene analog and polyphenol lipoconjugates. In our review, we presented the known molecular mechanisms of polyphenol anti-tumor activity against neuroblastoma and discussed the studies confirming its effectiveness.

4 citations

DOI
03 Mar 2019
TL;DR: Cardiac amyloidosis is a type of amyloidsosis in which one of the affected organs is the heart and the treatment is focused on the therapy with melphalan and stem cells transplant and chemotherapy with dexamethasone or cyclophosphamide.
Abstract: Cardiac amyloidosis is a type of amyloidosis in which one of the affected organs is the heart. The disease is characterized by the formation of protein aggregates between the cells of the organ, namely amyloid, which disables its function. The following types of amyloidosis can be distinguished: systemic senile amyloidosis (wild-type ATTR), light chain amyloidosis (AL) and hereditary transthyretin-related amyloidosis. The symptoms include, e.g., systolic dysfunction or arrhythmia. The treatment is focused on the therapy with melphalan and, additionally, stem cells transplant and chemotherapy with dexamethasone or cyclophosphamide. In the advanced stage of the disease, a heart transplant is necessary. The diagnosis is made on the basis of laboratory testing, electrocardiogram changes, and echocardiography.

3 citations


Cited by
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Journal ArticleDOI
TL;DR: Parkinson's disease (PD) is the second most common age-associated neurodegenerative disorder and is characterised by progressive loss of dopamine neurons in the substantia nigra as mentioned in this paper .

19 citations

Journal ArticleDOI
TL;DR: In this article, the effect of berberine combined with stachyose on glycolipid metabolism and gut microbiota and explore the underlying mechanisms in diabetic rats was evaluated and a quantitative polymerase chain reaction was used to verify the expression of differentially expressed miRNAs and genes.

5 citations

Journal ArticleDOI
TL;DR: Inclisiran as discussed by the authors is a small interfering RNA (siRNA) that inhibits the expression of PCSK9 by binding specifically to the mRNA precursor of the protein and causing its degradation.
Abstract: Dyslipidemia is listed among important cardiovascular disease risk factors. Treating lipid disorders is difficult, and achieving desirable levels of LDL-cholesterol (LDL-C) is essential in both the secondary and primary prevention of cardiovascular disease. For many years, statins became the basis of lipid-lowering therapy. Nevertheless, these drugs are often insufficient due to their side effects and restrictive criteria for achieving the recommended LDL-C values. Even the addition of other drugs, i.e., ezetimibe, does not help one achieve the target LDL-C. The discovery of proprotein convertase subtilisin/kexin type 9 (PCSK9) discovery has triggered intensive research on a new class of protein-based drugs. The protein PCSK9 is located mainly in hepatocytes and is involved in the metabolism of LDL-C. In the beginning, antibodies against the PCSK9 protein, such as evolocumab, were invented. The next step was inclisiran. Inclisiran is a small interfering RNA (siRNA) that inhibits the expression of PCSK9 by binding specifically to the mRNA precursor of PCSK9 protein and causing its degradation. It has been noticed in recent years that siRNA is a powerful tool for biomedical research and drug discovery. The purpose of this work is to summarize the molecular mechanisms, pharmacokinetics, pharmacodynamics of inclisiran and to review the latest research.

4 citations

Book ChapterDOI
03 Mar 2021
TL;DR: Fecal microbiota transplant (FMT) is a specific form of probiotics, which involves the administration of the entire microbial community from a healthy donor stool into the recipient's intestinal tract to normalize or modify intestinal microbiota composition and function.
Abstract: One of the major challenges facing modern medicine is how to apply the growing knowledge derived from microbiome research to prevent and treat diseases and increase health. Probiotics, including fecal transplantation, prebiotics, synbiotics, fecal transplantation, and phage therapy are all applied aspects of the hologenome concept. There is now considerable evidence that, under appropriate conditions, each of these four methods can prevent and treat certain diseases in plants, animals, and humans. Probiotics are live microorganisms, which confer a health benefit on the host. Probiotic technology involves the introduction of specific bacteria to improve the health of the host. Some of these may be novel microorganisms adding new genetic material to the hologenome. Prebiotics are dietary supplements that result in specific changes in the composition and/or activities of the natural gastrointestinal microbiota, thus conferring benefits upon host health. Synbiotics are a powerful tool because they combine probiotics and prebiotics in a synergistic manner. Fecal microbiota transplantation (FMT), a specific form of probiotics, involves the administration of the entire microbial community from a healthy donor stool into the recipient’s intestinal tract to normalize or modify intestinal microbiota composition and function. FMT has had excellent success in treating diarrhea caused by antibiotic-resistant Clostridium difficle. Phage therapy—the eradication of specific bacterial pathogens by lytic phages was shown to be successful in the treatment of certain diseases as early as the beginning of the twentieth century. It was abandoned in the West with the discovery and development of antibiotics. In recent years, there has been a resurgence of phage therapy research in the West, largely because of the development of antibiotic-resistant pathogens. The major advantage of phage therapy is its specificity; the selected phage attacks the pathogen but not beneficial bacteria.

3 citations

Journal ArticleDOI
TL;DR: In this paper , the most beneficial natural polyphenols along with their complex molecular pathways during diabesity were summarized along with the complex molecular pathway during diabetes and obesity. But, they did not discuss the effect of polyphenol-based drugs on diabetics.
Abstract: : Obesity-associated diabetes mellitus, a chronic metabolic affliction accounting for 90% of all diabetic patients, has been affecting humanity extremely badly and escalating the risk of developing other serious disorders. It is observed that 0.4 billion people globally have diabetes, whose major cause is obesity. Currently, innumerable synthetic drugs like alogliptin and rosiglitazone are being used to get through diabetes, but they have certain complications, restrictions with severe side effects, and toxicity issues. Recently, the frequency of plant-derived phytochemicals as advantageous substitutes against diabesity is increasing progressively due to their unparalleled benefit of producing less side effects and toxicity. Of these phytochemicals, dietary polyphenols have been accepted as potent agents against the dual sword "diabesity". These polyphenols target certain genes and molecular pathways through dual mechanisms such as adiponectin upregulation, cannabinoid receptor antagonism, free fatty acid oxidation, ghrelin antagonism, glucocorticoid inhibition, sodium-glucose cotransporter inhibition, oxidative stress and inflammation inhibition etc. which sequentially help to combat both diabetes and obesity. In this review, we have summarized the most beneficial natural polyphenols along with their complex molecular pathways during diabesity.

3 citations