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Chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD) has been recognized as one of the major causes of morbidity and mortality in the United States; it is the third leading cause of deaths in the United States, with approximately 15 million Americans affected with COPD. Although exposure to cigarette smoke has been shown to be the main, if not the only, risk factor for COPD, the mechanisms underlying this association remain unclear. Most smokers do not develop COPD, suggesting that a combination of exposure and susceptibility (genetic background) is required. Several mechanisms contribute to the pathogenesis of COPD, such as influx of inflammatory cells into the lung, imbalance between proteolytic and antiproteolytic molecules, disruption of the balance between apoptosis and replenishment of structural cells in the lung, and disruption of oxidant/antioxidant balance. The scavenger receptor BI (SRB1) plays an important role in mediating the uptake of high-density lipoprotein (HDL)-derived cholesterol and cholesteryl ester in tissues. In addition to its role as the HDL receptor, SRB1 is also involved in pathogen recognition, identification of apoptotic cells, tissue antioxidant uptake (tocopherol and carotenoids), and lung surfactant composition, all factors involved in COPD pathogenesis. Therefore, it is possible that lung SRB1 levels are involved in the development of COPD.

Living organisms are continuously exposed to environmental pollutants. Because of its critical location, the skin is a major interface between the body and the environment and provides a biological barrier against an array of chemical and physical environmental pollutants. The skin can be defined as our first defense against the environment because of its constant exposure to oxidants, including ultraviolet (UV) radiation and other environmental pollutants such as diesel fuel exhaust, cigarette smoke (CS), halogenated hydrocarbons, heavy metals, and ozone (O₃). The exposure to environmental pro-oxidant agents leads to the formation of reactive oxygen species (ROS) and the generation of bioactive molecules that can damage skin cells. This short review provides an overview of the effects and mechanisms of action of CS, O₃, and UV on cutanous tissues.

The intervention strategies in various types of skin wounds include several treatment programs that depend on the identified disease. Several factors such as aging, defective nutrition, traumatism, atherosclerosis, and diabetes may contribute to the formation of a wound that has no tendency to heal due to a defective and complicated repair process. The numerous advances in the understanding of the wound-healing process in both acute and chronic lesions have been recently described. The purpose of this paper is to describe relatively new approaches as viable alternatives to current wound-healing therapies. The future challenges for both the best targeting and optimization of these potential treatments are also described.

The scavenger receptor class B type I (SR-B1) plays an important role in meditating the uptake of HDL-derived cholesterol and cholesteryl ester in the liver and steroidogenic tissues. In addition to being ubiquitous, SR-B1 is a high-density lipoprotein (HDL) receptor in many tissues, though the mechanism by which SR-B1 does this is unclear. Other than its role as an HDL receptor, SR-B1 is also involved in pathogen recognition; its expression can be modulated by lipopolysaccharide and oxidative stress; and it plays a significant role in the uptake of lipid soluble vitamins, such as vitamin E and carotenoids. In this short review, we have summarized the biological aspects to which SR-B1 has been thus far associated.

The intervention strategies in various types of skin wounds include several treatment programs that depend on the identified disease. Several factors such as aging, defective nutrition, traumatism, atherosclerosis, and diabetes may contribute to the formation of a wound that has no tendency to heal due to a defective and complicated repair process. The numerous advances in the understanding of the wound-healing process in both acute and chronic lesions have been recently described. The purpose of this paper is to describe relatively new approaches as viable alternatives to current wound-healing therapies. The future challenges for both the best targeting and optimization of these potential treatments are also described.

The scavenger receptor class B type I (SR-B1) plays an important role in meditating the uptake of HDL-derived cholesterol and cholesteryl ester in the liver and steroidogenic tissues. In addition to being ubiquitous, SR-B1 is a high-density lipoprotein (HDL) receptor in many tissues, though the mechanism by which SR-B1 does this is unclear. Other than its role as an HDL receptor, SR-B1 is also involved in pathogen recognition; its expression can be modulated by lipopolysaccharide and oxidative stress; and it plays a significant role in the uptake of lipid soluble vitamins, such as vitamin E and carotenoids. In this short review, we have summarized the biological aspects to which SR-B1 has been thus far associated.