alexander manzano

Mr. alexander manzano

orcid

Research Focus & Metrics

Academic Career Length

7Years (2020-Present)

(Calculated once Scilit publication data is synced: current year − year of first publication + 1)

Representative Publications

View All Publications
Verified
Journal Article
Open access
PDF file
RCRaquel Cano
Raquel Cano
JPJose Perez
Jose Perez
LALissé Angarita
Lissé Angarita
AOAngel Ortega
Angel Ortega
YGYosselin Gómez
Yosselin Gómez
VBValmore Bermudez
Valmore Bermudez
Non-alcoholic fatty liver disease (NAFLD) is considered the most common liver disorder, affecting around 25% of the population worldwide. It is a complex disease spectrum, closely linked with other conditions such as obesity, insulin resistance, type 2 diabetes mellitus, and metabolic syndrome, which may increase liver-related mortality. In light of this, numerous efforts have been carried out in recent years in order to clarify its pathogenesis and create new prevention strategies. Currently, the essential role of environmental pollutants in NAFLD development is recognized. Particularly, endocrine-disrupting chemicals (EDCs) have a notable influence. EDCs can be classified as natural (phytoestrogens, genistein, and coumestrol) or synthetic, and the latter ones can be further subdivided into industrial (dioxins, polychlorinated biphenyls, and alkylphenols), agricultural (pesticides, insecticides, herbicides, and fungicides), residential (phthalates, polybrominated biphenyls, and bisphenol A), and pharmaceutical (parabens). Several experimental models have proposed a mechanism involving this group of substances with the disruption of hepatic metabolism, which promotes NAFLD. These include an imbalance between lipid influx/efflux in the liver, mitochondrial dysfunction, liver inflammation, and epigenetic reprogramming. It can be concluded that exposure to EDCs might play a crucial role in NAFLD initiation and evolution. However, further investigations supporting these effects in humans are required.

Verified
Journal Article
Open access
PDF file
MCMervin Chávez-Castillo
Mervin Chávez-Castillo
AOAngel Ortega
Angel Ortega
Lorena Cudris-TorresLorena Cudris-Torres
Lorena Cudris-Torres
PDPablo Duran
Pablo Duran
MRMilagros Rojas
Milagros Rojas
VBValmore Bermudez
Valmore Bermudez
Chronic pain (CP) is a severe clinical entity with devastating physical and emotional consequences for patients, which can occur in a myriad of diseases. Often, conventional treatment approaches appear to be insufficient for its management. Moreover, considering the adverse effects of traditional analgesic treatments, specialized pro-resolving lipid mediators (SPMs) have emerged as a promising alternative for CP. These include various bioactive molecules such as resolvins, maresins, and protectins, derived from ω-3 polyunsaturated fatty acids (PUFAs); and lipoxins, produced from ω-6 PUFAs. Indeed, SPMs have been demonstrated to play a central role in the regulation and resolution of the inflammation associated with CP. Furthermore, these molecules can modulate neuroinflammation and thus inhibit central and peripheral sensitizations, as well as long-term potentiation, via immunomodulation and regulation of nociceptor activity and neuronal pathways. In this context, preclinical and clinical studies have evidenced that the use of SPMs is beneficial in CP-related disorders, including rheumatic diseases, migraine, neuropathies, and others. This review integrates current preclinical and clinical knowledge on the role of SPMs as a potential therapeutic tool for the management of patients with CP.

Verified
Journal Article
Open access
PDF file
XLXavier Eugenio León-Aguilera
Xavier Eugenio León-Aguilera
AMalexander manzano
alexander manzano
DPDaniela Pirela
Daniela Pirela
VBValmore Bermudez
Valmore Bermudez
Obesity and its comorbidities are humans’ most prevalent cardio-metabolic diseases worldwide. Recent evidence has shown that chronic low-grade inflammation is a common feature in all highly prevalent chronic degenerative diseases. In this sense, the gut microbiota is a complete ecosystem involved in different processes like vitamin synthesis, metabolism regulation, and both appetite and immune system control. Thus, dysbiosis has been recognised as one of the many factors associated with obesity due to a predominance of Firmicutes, a decrease in Bifidobacterium in the gut, and a consequent short-chain fatty acids (SCFA) synthesis reduction leading to a reduction in incretins action and intestinal permeability increase. In this context, bacteria, bacterial endotoxins, and toxic bacterial by-products are translocated to the bloodstream, leading to systemic inflammation. This review focuses on gut microbiota composition and its role in obesity, as well as probiotics and prebiotics benefits in obesity.

Verified
Journal Article
Open access
PDF file
MMMaría Sofía Martínez
María Sofía Martínez
AMalexander manzano
alexander manzano
LOLuis Olivar
Luis Olivar
MNManuel Nava
Manuel Nava
JSJuan Salazar
Juan Salazar
LALissé Angarita
Lissé Angarita
Type 2 Diabetes Mellitus (T2DM) is one of the most prevalent chronic metabolic disorders, and insulin has been placed at the epicentre of its pathophysiological basis. However, the involvement of impaired alpha (α) cell function has been recognized as playing an essential role in several diseases, since hyperglucagonemia has been evidenced in both Type 1 and T2DM. This phenomenon has been attributed to intra-islet defects, like modifications in pancreatic α cell mass or dysfunction in glucagon’s secretion. Emerging evidence has shown that chronic hyperglycaemia provokes changes in the Langerhans’ islets cytoarchitecture, including α cell hyperplasia, pancreatic beta (β) cell dedifferentiation into glucagon-positive producing cells, and loss of paracrine and endocrine regulation due to β cell mass loss. Other abnormalities like α cell insulin resistance, sensor machinery dysfunction, or paradoxical ATP-sensitive potassium channels (KATP) opening have also been linked to glucagon hypersecretion. Recent clinical trials in phases 1 or 2 have shown new molecules with glucagon-antagonist properties with considerable effectiveness and acceptable safety profiles. Glucagon-like peptide-1 (GLP-1) agonists and Dipeptidyl Peptidase-4 inhibitors (DPP-4 inhibitors) have been shown to decrease glucagon secretion in T2DM, and their possible therapeutic role in T1DM means they are attractive as an insulin-adjuvant therapy.

19 May 2025 in Molecules
Verified
Journal Article
Open access
PDF file
AOAngel Ortega
Angel Ortega
PDPablo Duran
Pablo Duran
Bermary GarridoBermary Garrido
Bermary Garrido
AMalexander manzano
alexander manzano
CNCarolina Navarro
Carolina Navarro
VBValmore Bermudez
Valmore Bermudez
Inflammatory lung diseases (ILDs) represent a global public health crisis characterized by escalating prevalence, significant morbidity, and substantial mortality. In response to the complex immunopathogenic mechanisms driving these conditions, novel pharmacological strategies targeting resolution pathways have emerged throughout the discovery of specialized pro-resolving lipid mediator (SPM; resolvins, maresins, and protectins) dysregulation across the ILD spectra, positioning these endogenous molecules as promising therapeutic candidates for modulating maladaptive inflammation and promoting tissue repair. Over the past decade, this paradigm has catalyzed extensive translational research into SPM-based interventions as precision therapeutics for respiratory inflammation. In asthma, they reduce mucus hypersecretion, bronchial hyperreactivity, and airway inflammation, with prenatal SPM exposure potentially lowering offspring disease risk. In COPD, SPMs attenuate amyloid A-driven inflammation, normalizing cytokine/chemokine imbalances and oxidative stress and mitigating COVID-19-associated cytokine storm, enhancing survival. This review synthesizes SPMs’ pharmacotherapeutic mechanisms in ILDs and evaluates current preclinical and clinical evidence.

1 November 2020 in Gaceta Médica de Caracas
Verified
Journal Article
Closed access
EREdward Rojas
Edward Rojas
Ana Valeria Castro RomeroAna Valeria Castro Romero
Ana Valeria Castro Romero
AMalexander manzano
alexander manzano
MSMaria Karina Suarez
Maria Karina Suarez
VLVictor Lameda
Victor Lameda
VBValmore Bermudez
Valmore Bermudez