Serotonin (5-hydroxytryptamine) is an ubiquitary monoamine acting as one of the neurotransmitters at synapses of nerve cells. Serotonin acts through several receptor types and subtypes. The profusion of 5-HT receptors should eventually allow a better understanding of the different and complex processes in which serotonin is involved. Its role is expected in the etiology of several diseases, including depression, schizophrenia, anxiety and panic disorders, migraine, hypertension, pulmonary hypertension, eating disorders, vomiting and irritable bowel syndromes. In the past 20 years, seven distinct families of 5-HT receptors have been identified and various subpopulations have been described for several of them. Increasing number of 5-HT receptors has made it difficult to unravel the role of 5-HT receptor subpopulations due to the lack of suitable selective agents. The present review describes the different populations and nomenclature of recently discovered 5-HT receptors and their pharmacological relevance.

Obesity, overweight and central obesity and sedentary behaviour coexist with undernutrition, and have become a public health problem in all the five cities of India. The prevalence of obesity and sedentary behaviour was significantly greater in Trivandrum, Calcutta and Bombay compared to Moradabad and Nagpur. Sedentary behaviour was significantly associated with obesity compared to non-obese subjects in both sexes, which may be due to greater economic development in metro cities.

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Remodeling of extracellular matrix is crucial for many physiological (cell migration, proliferation, growth, and development) and pathological (remodeling of heart, carcinogenesis, metastasis, etc.) events. Thus, the interaction between cells and extracellular matrix plays a key role in normal development and differentiation of organism and many pathological states as well. Changes in extracellular matrix are regulated by a system of proteolytic enzymes that are responsible for proteolysis of huge quantity of extracellular matrix components. Matrix metalloproteinases (MMPs) represent the main group of regulating proteases in ECM. Ability of matrix metalloproteinases to modify the structural integrity of tissues is essential for certain aspects of normal physiology and pathology. The ability to process molecules such as growth factors, receptors, adhesion molecules, other proteinases, and proteinase inhibitors makes MMPs potent controllers of physiological and pathological events in the cell microenvironment. Overactivation of MMPs has been implicated in numerous disease states.

These findings indicate that treatment with ubiquinol + L-carnitine can cause a significant reduction in the pro-inflammatory cytokines that are neurohumoural precursors related to sympathetic and parasympathetic activity, which is impaired in patients with heart failure. There was no adverse effect on IL-10. There was a significant improvement in quality of life as well as decrease in NYHA-defined heart failure.

The extracellular matrix (ECM) provides a physical framework for the cells and functions as a gel medium. Remodeling of the ECM is crucial during physiological cell migration, proliferation, growth, and development. Thus, the interaction between cells and the ECM plays a key role in normal development and differentiation of organisms. However, remodeling of the ECM also occurs in many pathological states. Changes in the ECM are regulated by a system of proteolytic enzymes that are responsible for the proteolysis of a huge quantity of ECM components. Matrix metalloproteinases (MMPs) represent the main group of regulating proteases in the ECM. By regulating the composition and integrity of the ECM, this group of enzymes is essential for cell proliferation, differentiation, and processes of apoptosis. However, deregulation or activation of MMP expression is a feature of numerous pathologic conditions including tumorigenesis and metastasis. The aim of this article is to provide a brief overview of MMPs, their nomenclature and structure, and their role in the development of tumors and metastases.

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