Advances in Research on the Protective Mechanisms of Traditional Chinese Medicine (TCM) in Islet β Cells

Advances in the Design of Phenylboronic Acid-Based Glucose-Sensitive Hydrogels

Diabetes, characterized by an uncontrolled blood glucose level, is the main cause of blindness, heart attack, stroke, and lower limb amputation. Glucose-sensitive hydrogels able to release hypoglycemic drugs (such as insulin) as a response to the increase of the glucose level are of interest for researchers, considering the large number of diabetes patients in the world (537 million in 2021, reported by the International Diabetes Federation). Considering the current growth, it is estimated that, up to 2045, the number of people with diabetes will increase to 783 million. The present work reviews the recent developments on the hydrogels based on phenylboronic acid and its derivatives, with sensitivity to glucose, which can be suitable candidates for the design of insulin delivery systems. After a brief presentation of the dynamic covalent bonds, the design of glucose-responsive hydrogels, the mechanism by which the hypoglycemic drug release is achieved, and their self-healing capacity are presented and discussed. Finally, the conclusions and the main aspects that should be addressed in future research are shown.

Neuroinvasion and cognitive impairment in comorbid alcohol dependence and chronic viral infection: An initial investigation

Viruses that invade the central nervous system (CNS) can cause neuropsychiatric impairments. Similarly, chronic alcohol exposure can induce inflammatory responses that alter brain function. However, the effects of a chronic viral infection and comorbid alcohol use on neuroinflammation and behavior are not well-defined. We investigated the role of heavy alcohol intake in regulating inflammatory responses and behavioral signs of cognitive impairments in mice infected with lymphocytic choriomeningitis virus (LCMV) clone 13. LCMV-infected mice exposed to alcohol had increased peripheral inflammation and impaired cognitive function (as indicated by performance on the novel object recognition test). Initial findings suggest that brain region-specific dysregulation of microglial response to viral infection may contribute to cognitive impairments in the context of heavy alcohol use.