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Topic Review
Thermosensitive Liposomal Doxorubicin
Thermo-sensitive liposomes (TSLs) offer the most promising approach for more efficient doxorubicin (DOX) delivery to the tumor at mild hyperthermic temperatures (39-42 ̊C)
  • 1.5K
  • 24 Mar 2023
Topic Review
Mycotoxins
Mycotoxins are secondary metabolites produced by fungal species that commonly have a toxic effect on human and animal health. Different foodstuff can be contaminated and are considered the major source of human exposure to mycotoxins, but occupational and environmental exposure can also significantly contribute to this problem.
  • 1.5K
  • 19 Feb 2021
Topic Review
Mood Stabilizers of  First and Second Generation
Mood stabilizers can be classified into two generations based on the chronology of their introduction into the psychiatric armamentarium. First-generation mood stabilizers (FGMS) such as lithium, valproates and carbamazepine were introduced in the years 1960-1970s. Second-generation mood stabilizers (SGMS) started in 1995, with a discovery of the mood-stabilizing properties of clozapine. The SGMS include atypical antipsychotics such as clozapine, olanzapine, quetiapine, aripiprazole, and risperidone as well as a new anticonvulsant drug, lamotrigine. Recently as a candidate for SGMS, a novel antipsychotic, lurasidone, has been suggested. Several other atypical antipsychotics and anticonvulsants, as well as memantine showed some usefulness in the treatment and prophylaxis of bipolar disorder; however, they have not fully met the author’s criteria for mood stabilizers. 
  • 1.5K
  • 19 May 2023
Topic Review
Microbial Biosurfactants
Surface-active molecules also known as surfactants are chemicals that have key impacts on several aspects of our daily products and life. Most of these chemical surfactants originate from petrochemical of oleochemical sources and are ingredients of household laundry cleaning agents, cosmetics, pharmaceutical, environmental cleaning products, petroleum, and agro-food processing industry. Worldwide use of these compounds has been steadily increasing during the past few decades and will be further increasing in the future.  Most such chemical surfactants  however, have negative effects on the environment, a fact that led to the search for alternatives with less impact and the shift towards a more sustainable environmental friendly biological surfactants (biosurfactants) which was mainly driven by the sustainability agenda by many international players in the field. Most these biosurfactants are produced by microorganisms (bacteria and fungi) and the advantages they bring include much lower toxicity, relative stability at high temperature and in adverse environments in addition to being readily biodegradable when, discharged into the environment. Many chemical surfactants included in cosmetic and pharmaceutical compounds have been reported to have the potential to cause detrimental effects such as allergic reactions and skin irritations to the human skin which encouraged the search for a more suitable replacements  with less or no negative effects on skin health. As biosurfactants were known to exhibit skin compatibility, protection and surface moisturizing effects which are key components for an effective skincare routine in addition to lower toxicity. Interest therefore in biosurfactants that have antimicrobial, skin surface moisturizing and low toxicity properties which would make them suitable substitutes for chemical surfactants in current cosmetic and personal skincare and pharmaceutical formulations has been steadily increasing. 
  • 1.5K
  • 24 Mar 2023
Topic Review
β-Lactamase Inhibitors
The inhibitors of β-lactamases (BLI) have gained a prominent role in the safeguard of beta-lactams. In the last years, new β-lactam–BLI combinations have been registered or are still under clinical evaluation, demonstrating their effectiveness to treat complicated infections. It is also noteworthy that the pharmacokinetics of BLIs partly matches that of β-lactams companions, meaning that some clinical situations, as well as renal impairment and renal replacement therapies, may alter the disposition of both drugs. Common pharmacokinetic characteristics, linear pharmacokinetics across a wide range of doses, and known pharmacokinetic/pharmacodynamic parameters may guide modifications of dosing regimens for both β-lactams and BLIs. However, comorbidities (i.e., burns, diabetes, cancer) and severe changes in individual pathological conditions (i.e., acute renal impairment, sepsis) could make dose adaptation difficult, because the impact of those factors on BLI pharmacokinetics is partly known. Therapeutic drug monitoring protocols may overcome those issues and offer strategies to personalize drug doses in the intensive care setting. Further prospective clinical trials are warranted to improve the use of BLIs and their β-lactam companions in severe and complicated infections. 
  • 1.5K
  • 11 Jul 2021
Topic Review
Endometrial Hyperplasia
Endometrial hyperplasia without cytological atypia is commonly treated with progestins, but other treatments may be available with equivalent efficacy and reduced side effects. Here, we evaluate the effect of genistein aglycone on angiogenesis and apoptosis-related markers women with endometrial hyperplasia. Premenopausals (n=38) with nonatypical endometrial hyperplasia were administered either genistein aglycone (54 mg/day, n=19) or norethisterone acetate (10 mg/day, n=19) on days 16–25 of the menstrual cycle and evaluated for 6 months. Biopsies were taken during hysteroscopy at baseline and 6 months, and symptoms including excessive uterine bleeding were assessed at baseline and 3 and 6 months following recruitment. The expression of angiogenesis (Vegf), epithelial (Egf and Tgfb), and apoptosis-related (Bax, Bcl-2, and Casp-9) molecules, were assessed in uterine biopsies at baseline and after 6 months of therapy. Follicle-stimulating hormone, luteinizing hormone, estradiol, SHBG, and progesterone levels were also measured. After 6 months, 42% of genistein aglycone-administered patients had a significant improvement of symptoms compared to 47% of norethisterone acetate subjects. No significant differences were noted in hormone levels for any treatment. Gene expression revealed a significant reduction in Vegf, Egf, and Tgfb (P<0.05 versus baseline), and an increase in proapoptotic molecules (Bax and Casp-9), with a concomitant decrease in Bcl-2 values (P<0.05) in both groups. These results suggest that genistein aglycone might be useful for the management of endometrial hyperplasia without atypia in women who cannot or do not wish to be treated with progestin.
  • 1.5K
  • 01 Nov 2020
Topic Review
Cephalaria (Caprifoliaceae) Genus
The genus Cephalaria, belonging to the Caprifoliaceae family, is a rich source of interesting secondary metabolites, including mainly saponins which display a variety of biological activities, such as immunomodulatory, antimicrobial and hemolytic effects.
  • 1.5K
  • 02 Jul 2021
Topic Review
Aronia Melanocarpa Products
Due to factors such as cultivar, fertilization, maturation or climate conditions, as well as the date of their harvest, chokeberries (Aronia melanocarpa) differ in their content of minerals, vitamins, carbohydrates, amino acids, organic acids, fats, aroma compounds and especially polyphenols, substances exerting a beneficial impact on health. 
  • 1.5K
  • 12 Aug 2021
Topic Review
Natural Products from Actinomycetes of Marine Organisms
The actinomycetes have proven to be a rich source of bioactive secondary metabolites and play a critical role in the development of pharmaceutical researches. With interactions of host organisms and having special ecological status, the actinomycetes associated with marine animals, marine plants, macroalgae, cyanobacteria, and lichens have more potential to produce active metabolites acting as chemical defenses to protect the host from predators as well as microbial infection. This entry focuses on 536 secondary metabolites (SMs) from actinomycetes associated with these marine organisms covering the literature to mid-2021, which will highlight the taxonomic diversity of actinomycetes and the structural classes, biological activities of SMs. Among all the actinomycetes listed, members of Streptomyces (68%), Micromonospora (6%), and Nocardiopsis (3%) are dominant producers of secondary metabolites. Additionally, alkaloids (37%), polyketides (33%), and peptides (15%) comprise the largest proportion of natural products with mostly antimicrobial activity and cytotoxicity. Furthermore, the data analysis and clinical information of SMs have been summarized in this article, suggesting that some of these actinomycetes with multiple host organisms deserve more attention to their special ecological status and genetic factors.
  • 1.5K
  • 22 Nov 2021
Topic Review
Cryptocyanine Dye, NK-4
NK-4 plays a key role in the treatment of various diseases, such as in hay fever to expect anti-allergic effects, in bacterial infections and gum abscesses to expect anti-inflammatory effects, in scratches, cuts, and mouth sores from bites inside the mouth for enhanced wound healing, in herpes simplex virus (HSV)-1 infections for antiviral effects, and in peripheral nerve disease that causes tingling pain and numbness in hands and feet, while NK-4 is used also to expect antioxidative and neuroprotective effects.
  • 1.4K
  • 08 Mar 2023
Topic Review
Plant-Anticancer Compounds in Cancer Treatment
Nowadays, cancer is one of the deadliest diseases in the world, which has been estimated to cause 9.9 million deaths in 2020. Conventional treatments for cancer commonly involve mono-chemotherapy or a combination of radiotherapy and mono-chemotherapy. However, the negative side effects of these approaches have been extensively reported and have prompted the search of new therapeutic drugs. In this context, scientific community started to look for innova-tive sources of anticancer compounds in natural sources, including traditional plants. Currently, numerous studies have evaluated the anticancer properties of natural compounds derived from plants, both in vitro and in vivo. In pre-clinical stages, some promising compounds could be men-tioned, such as the sulforaphane or different phenolic compounds. On the other hand, some phy-tochemicals obtained positive results in clinical stages and were further approved for cancer treatment, such as vinca alkaloids or the paclitaxel.
  • 1.4K
  • 01 Mar 2021
Topic Review
Vortioxetine´s Effects on Sleep of Adolescent Major Depression
The relationship between depression and insomnia is bidirectional and both conditions need to be treated adequately, especially in a vulnerable neurodevelopmental stage of adolescence. Sleep disturbances in adolescents have been associated with a more severe clinical course of depression (i.e., suicidal behavior, worse psychosocial functioning, and risk of recurrence). Due to the rising incidence of both disorders, it is crucial to understand the underlying pathophysiology (e.g., disrupted neuroplasticity and neurotransmitter dysbalance), especially in the vulnerable adolescent age period characterized by developmental changes and sensitivity to endogenous and exogenous factors.
  • 1.4K
  • 20 Nov 2023
Topic Review
Intestinal Permeability
The intestinal epithelial barrier consists of multiple elements that contribute to its function as a physical, chemical, and immunological defense. While the mucus layer, intestinal epithelium, and the underlying immune cells in the lamina propria comprise a major component of the defense response, intestinal epithelial permeability is regulated by tight junctions.
  • 1.4K
  • 03 Sep 2021
Topic Review
In Situ Smart Hydrogels
With the advances in biomaterials and the understanding of the tumor microenvironment, in situ stimulus-responsive hydrogels, also called in situ smart hydrogels, have been extensively investigated for local anticancer therapy due to their injectability, compatibility and responsiveness to various stimuli (pH, enzyme, heat, light, magnetic fields, electric fields etc.).
  • 1.4K
  • 08 Oct 2022
Topic Review
New Discovered Molecules of COVID-19
New molecules/drugs are discovered by humans for the therapeutic management of new diseases or to address existing health challenges. New molecules/drugs require extensive clinical investigations, followed by approval from drug regulatory agencies for marketing.
  • 1.4K
  • 13 Feb 2023
Topic Review
Polysaccharide-Based Materials
Polysaccharide-based materials created by physical processes have received considerable attention for biomedical applications. 
  • 1.4K
  • 20 May 2021
Topic Review
Magnetic nanoparticles: coating and applications
Magnetic nanoparticles (MNPs) have great potential in material science, drug delivery, magnetic resonance imaging, and therapeutic applications. Indeed, a number of iron oxide nanoparticles have been withdrawn due to their poor clinical performance and/or toxicity issues. MNPs have successfully been converted into water-soluble, stable, bio-accessible systems using the proprietary various coating strategy. Herein, we summarize the data of applications and coating strategies of MNPs.
  • 1.4K
  • 11 Jan 2022
Topic Review
Potential Seaweed-Derived Bioactive Compounds for Pharmaceutical Applications
Seaweeds have been consumed as whole food since ancient times and used to treat several diseases. Nowadays, seaweeds are widely involved in biotechnological applications. Due to the variety of bioactive compounds in their composition, species of phylum Ochrophyta, class Phaeophyceae, phylum Rhodophyta and Chlorophyta are valuable for the food, cosmetic, pharmaceutical and nutraceutical industries. Research has demonstrated that those unique compounds express beneficial properties for human health. Each compound has peculiar properties (e.g., antioxidant, antimicrobial, antiviral activities, etc.) that can be exploited to enhance human health. Seaweed’s extracted polysaccharides are already involved in the pharmaceutical industry, with the aim of replacing synthetic compounds with components of natural origin. 
  • 1.4K
  • 28 Feb 2022
Topic Review
A2B Adenosine Receptors
Adenosine is a signalling molecule which, by activating specific membrane receptors, acts as an important player during brain insults such as ischemia. or demyelinating injuries. Here we review data in the literature describing A2B receptor-mediated effects in preclinical in vitro and in vivo models of cerebral ischemia and myelination that point to A2B receptor ligands as putative therapeutic targets for the still unmet treatment of stroke or demyelinating diseases.
  • 1.4K
  • 14 Apr 2021
Topic Review
Cannabidiol
Cannabidiol (CBD) is a phytocannabinoid discovered in cannabis plants and may account for up to 40% of the extracts. In 2018, CBD (Epidiolex) was approved by the United States Food and Drug Administration (FDA) for the treatment of two epilepsy disorders. Since then, CBD has gained popularity in the scientific community and its efficacy has been screened for a variety of medical and psychological conditions. The literature provides evidence supporting CBD’s therapeutic utility in the treatment of neuropathic pain, epilepsy, anxiety, depression, mania and other neuropsychiatric conditions, including substance use disorders.   
  • 1.4K
  • 13 Jan 2021
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