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Topic Review
Cyanobacterial Chemistry
Several cyanobacterial-derived compounds have been identified with noteworthy inhibitory activity against bacterial, fungal and protozoal growth, as well as viral replication. In addition to the potent cyanotoxins, cyanobacteria also produce a wealth of interesting compounds with therapeutic potential. Perhaps because of the well-established cytotoxicity of some cyanobacterial compounds, the greatest emphasis on cyanobacterial drug research to date has focused on compounds with anticancer activity. However, with the diversity of cyanobacterial compounds already identified, other therapeutic properties should not be neglected. In particular, cyanobacteria contain a wealth of peptides and lipopeptides (both linear and cyclic), as well as lectins, terpenoids and polyphenolic compounds.
  • 983
  • 25 Oct 2023
Topic Review
New Therapeutic Approaches in Treatment of Dyslipidaemia
Dyslipidaemia is a well-known risk factor for the development of cardiovascular disease. Traditional statin therapy remains the cornerstone therapeutic approach. Ezetimibe showed good but limited results when used in combination with statins. Bempedoic acid has been thoroughly studied in multiple clinical trials, with a reduction in LDL cholesterol by approximately 15%. The first approved monoclonal antibodies for the treatment of dyslipidaemia, PCSK9 inhibitors, are currently used as second-line treatment for patients with unregulated lipid levels on statin or statin combination therapy. A new siRNA molecule, inclisiran, demonstrates great potential, particularly concerning compliance, as it is administered twice yearly and pelacarsen, an antisense oligonucleotide that targets lipoprotein(a) and lowers its levels. Volanesorsen is the first drug that was designed to target chylomicrons and lower triglyceride levels, and olezarsen, the next in-line chylomicron lowering agent, is currently being researched. The newest possibilities for the treatment of dyslipidaemia are ANGPTL3 inhibitors with evinacumab, already approved by the FDA, and EMA for the treatment of familial hypercholesterolemia. 
  • 982
  • 12 Aug 2022
Topic Review
Non-Viral Gene Delivery Systems
Non-viral materials, such as polymers and lipids, have been developed to create ‘synthetic artificial viruses’ for the delivery of genes into cells in vitro and in vivo. Owing to their limitations in overcoming extra- and intracellular obstacles, these synthetic materials can exhibit poor delivery efficiency relative to viral vectors. However, considering their biocompatibility, high loading capacity, facile fabrication, and potential large-scale production, non-viral vectors have shown great progress in the delivery of gene cargos, especially small interfering RNA (siRNA) molecules.
  • 980
  • 26 Oct 2021
Topic Review
Melatonin Safety and Therapeutic Efficacy
Viral infections constitute a tectonic convulsion in the normophysiology of the hosts. The current coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) pandemic is not an exception, and therefore the severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2) infection, like any other invading microbe, enacts a generalized immune response once the virus contacts the body. Melatonin is a systemic dealer that does not overlook any homeostasis disturbance, which consequently brings into play its cooperative triad, antioxidant, anti-inflammatory, and immune-stimulant backbone, to stop the infective cycle of SARS-CoV-2 or any other endogenous or exogenous threat. In COVID-19, the corporal propagation of SARS-CoV-2 involves an exacerbated oxidative activity and terefore the overproduction of great amounts of reactive oxygen and nitrogen species (RONS). The endorsement of melatonin as a possible protective agent against the current pandemic is indirectly supported by its widely demonstrated beneficial role in preclinical and clinical studies of other respiratory diseases. 
  • 978
  • 03 Aug 2021
Topic Review
Ovarian Cancer Stem Cell Niche
Ovarian cancer is an aggressive gynaecological cancer with extremely poor prognosis, due to late diagnosis as well as the development of chemoresistance after first-line therapy.
  • 977
  • 05 May 2021
Topic Review
Hepatic CYP2E1 in Causal Toxicity and Treatment Options
Cytochrome P450 2E1 (CYP2E1), one of the major metabolizing enzymes in humans, is mainly expressed in the liver. Alcohol and several therapeutic drugs, including acetaminophen, are metabolized by CYP2E1 into toxic compounds. At low levels, these compounds are not detrimental, but higher sustained levels of these compounds can lead to life-long problems such as cytotoxicity, organ damage, and cancer. Furthermore, CYP2E1 can facilitate or enhance the effects of alcohol-drug and drug-drug interactions.
  • 977
  • 13 Sep 2022
Topic Review
Dopamine Levels and Metabolism in the Heart
Dopamine has effects on the mammalian heart. These effects can include an increase in the force of contraction, and an elevation of the beating rate and the constriction of coronary arteries. Depending on the species studied, positive inotropic effects were strong, very modest, or absent, or even negative inotropic effects occurred.
  • 977
  • 06 Sep 2023
Topic Review
Immunotherapy for Cutaneous Malignant Melanoma
Malignant melanoma (mM) is the leading cause of death among cutaneous malignancies. While its incidence is increasing, the most recent cancer statistics show a small but clear decrease in mortality rate. This trend reflects the introduction of novel and more effective therapeutic regimens, including the two cornerstones of melanoma therapy: immunotherapies and targeted therapies. Unlike chemotherapies or radiation, in which the therapy directly induces cancer cell death, immunotherapies stimulate the patient’s immune system to control and eliminate the tumor. Advantages of immunotherapies over traditional cancer treatments include increased durability for long-term control or even cure and more precisely targeted anti-tumor activity that spares healthy tissues, many times with comparable or even reduced overall toxicity. The high immunogenicity and somatic mutation burden of melanoma likely contribute to the success of immunotherapy. Treatments combining immunotherapies with targeted therapies, which disable the carcinogenic products of mutated cancer cells, have further increased treatment efficacy and durability. Toxicity and resistance, however, remain critical challenges to the field. There are three types of immunotherapies currently approved by the US Food and Drug Administration (FDA) for the treatment of advanced melanoma: (1) T-cell stimulating cytokines (i.e. interferon (IFN)-α2b and interleukin-2 (IL-2)); (2) T-cell exhaustion-mitigating immune checkpoint inhibitors (ICI); and (3) a dendritic cell (DC)-activating oncolytic virus (T-VEC). Still others, such as adoptive cell transfer (ACT), hold strong promise for the future.
  • 976
  • 20 Apr 2022
Topic Review
Clopidogrel Resistance (CR)
Clopidogrel is a widely-used antiplatelet drug. It is important for the treatment and prevention of coronary heart disease. Clopidogrel can effectively reduce platelet activity and therefore reduce stent thrombosis. However, some patients still have ischemic events despite taking the clopidogrel due to the alteration in clopidogrel metabolism attributable to various genetic and non-genetic factors. This review aims to summarise the mechanisms and causes of clopidogrel resistance (CR) and potential strategies to overcome it. 
  • 974
  • 08 May 2021
Topic Review
COVID-19, Respiratory Diseases & Drug-Drug Interactions
The absence of COVID-19-targeted treatments has led scientist to exploit available scientific evidence for potential efficient drugs that may block biological pathways of SARS-CoV-2 and several molecules have been emerged as promising pharmacological agents. Then again, due to the criticality of the disease, it is important for healthcare providers in COVID-19 clinics to recognize potential drug-drug interactions (DDIs) that may lead to adverse drug reactions (ADRs) and additional burdens in patients' health status from the administration of these agents.
  • 974
  • 17 Dec 2021
Topic Review
Antiepileptic Drugs
For drugs, such as antiepileptic drugs (AEDs), whose therapeutic or toxic effects are more closely related to blood levels than to a specific dose, monitoring of plasma levels plays a crucial role. Many drugs used in epilepsy therapy often cause acute poisonings (carbamazepine, oxcarbazepine, valproic acid, lamotrigine). AEDs do not have an ideal pharmacokinetic profile, which at the same time qualifies them to monitor both in the therapeutic and toxic aspects. Currently, a great benefit for patients using various AEDs is adjusting the dosage to their individual needs and monitoring sufficient blood concentrations. There is still a need to develop new, rapid methods that meet the validation criteria. This trend has been observed in the last few years in the bioanalysis of different type of biological samples, not only blood, serum or plasma, but also saliva and blood/serum/plasma dried spots technique.
  • 973
  • 01 Dec 2020
Topic Review
Oral subunit vaccine design
Many pathogens invade the host at the intestinal surface. To protect against these enteropatho-gens, the induction of intestinal secretory IgA (SIgA) responses is paramount. While systemic vaccination provides strong systemic immune responses, oral vaccination is the most efficient way to trigger protective SIgA responses. However, the development of oral vaccines, especially oral subunit vaccines, is challenging due to mechanisms inherent to the gut. Oral vaccines need to survive the harsh environment in the gastrointestinal tract, characterized by low pH and intestinal proteases and need to reach the gut-associated lymphoid tissues, which are protected by chemical and physical barriers that prevent efficient uptake. Furthermore, they need to surmount default tolerogenic responses present in the gut, resulting in suppression of immunity or tolerance. Several strategies have been developed to tackle these hurdles, such as delivery systems that protect vaccine antigens from degradation, strong mucosal adjuvants that induce robust immune responses and targeting approaches that aim to selectively deliver vaccine antigens towards specific immune cell populations.
  • 973
  • 12 Jan 2021
Topic Review
Symmetrical Compounds in Insulin-Sensitizing Treatments for Type 2 Diabetes
Type 2 diabetes is a complex disease that involves damage to multiple signaling pathways. Through various pathways, chronic high blood glucose generates or aggravates insulin resistance. The drugs most widely used to decrease insulin resistance without producing hypoglycemia are biguanides (e.g., metformin) and thiazolidinediones (TZDs, such as pioglitazone). Symmetrical molecules have been a focus of research due to their unique structural characteristics, including stability and internal balance. Some advantages and disadvantages of utilizing symmetrical and asymmetrical thiazolidinediones as insulin sensitizers (or even antioxidant molecules) are mentioned.
  • 972
  • 27 Jun 2022
Topic Review
Ulcerative Colitis
The worldwide epidemiology of inflammatory bowel disease (IBD), including Crohn’s disease (CD) and ulcerative colitis (UC), still shows an increasing trend in Asia and Iran. Despite an improvement in the treatment landscape focused on symptomatic control, long-term colectomies have not decreased over the last 10-year period. Thus, novel therapies are urgently needed in clinics to supplement the existing treatments. Mesenchymal stem cells (MSCs) are multipotent adult stem cells with immunosuppressive effects, targeting IBD as a new treatment strategy. They have recently received global attention for their use in cell transplantation due to their easy expansion and wide range of activities to be engrafted, and because they are home to the mucosa of the intestine. Moreover, MSCs are able to differentiate into epithelial and other cells that can directly promote repair in the mucosal damages in UC. It seems that there is a need to deepen our understanding to target MSCs as a promising treatment option for UC patients who are refractory to conventional therapies. Here, we overviewed the therapeutic effects of MSCs in UC and discussed the achievements and challenges in the cell transplantation of UC.
  • 970
  • 14 Dec 2020
Topic Review
Lycorine Ameliorates Thioacetamide-Induced Hepatic Fibrosis in Rats
Liver fibrosis is a foremost medical concern worldwide. Lycorine—a natural alkaloid—has antioxidant, anti-inflammatory, and antitumor activates. Lycorine hinders TAA-induced liver fibrosis in rats, due to—at least partly—its antioxidative and anti-inflammatory properties, along with its ability to inhibit Signal Transducer and Activator of Transcription factor (STAT3) signaling.
  • 970
  • 21 Mar 2022
Topic Review
Promising Lead Compounds for Drug-Resistant-Tuberculosis
The development of drug-resistant strains of mycobacterium tuberculosis illustrates the importance and demand for an early identification of drug-resistant strains, exploring new targets for drug sensitivity, customized treatment plans, and more effective medical interventions. Literature shows several studies, incorporating bioinformatics and proteomics approaches that clearly indicate the potential drug targets and an early diagnostic against drug-resistant strains. To tackle the alarming condition of antimicrobial resistance, pathogen-centric approach covering novel chemotherapeutics and novel diagnostic pathways, along with host targeted therapeutics (i.e., host immune system modulators to treat pathogenesis), must be appraised. The efficacy of novel chemotherapeutic agents (i.e., delamanid and bedaquiline), which currently have approval from USFDA, are now compromised by the successional pathogen tolerance strategies. Novel antitubercular repurposed drugs as combinational treatment solutions (new anti-TB drug schedules) and host-directed therapeutics may be measured to tackle the antibiotic resistance, which is a major problem to tuberculosis management. To combat the antibiotic resistance, the key problem in tuberculosis management, we have to identify the most promising lead compounds among new emerging antitubercular agents and conclude these compounds to clinical trials as potential antitubercular drug candidates, along with considering the host-targeted therapeutics.
  • 969
  • 10 Dec 2020
Topic Review
Structural Characteristics of Selaginella Biflavonoid
Despite the many strategies employed to slow the spread of cancer, the development of new anti-tumor drugs and the minimization of side effects have been major research hotspots in the anti-tumor field. Natural drugs are a huge treasure trove of drug development, and they have been widely used in the clinic as anti-tumor drugs. Selaginella species in the family Selaginellaceae are widely distributed worldwide, and they have been well-documented in clinical practice for the prevention and treatment of cancer. Biflavonoids are the main active ingredients in Selaginella, and they have good biological and anti-tumor activities, which warrant extensive research. The promise of biflavonoids from Selaginella (SFB) in the field of cancer therapy is being realized thanks to new research that offers insights into the multi-targeting therapeutic mechanisms and key signaling pathways.
  • 966
  • 08 May 2023
Topic Review
New Therapeutical Approaches for COVID-19
The pandemic of coronavirus disease (COVID-19) stimulated an unprecedented international collaborative effort for rapid diagnosis, epidemiologic surveillance, clinical management, prevention, and treatment. Since the beginning of the COVID-19 pandemic, treatment of the SARS-CoV-2 infection was a real challenge. An overview of the viral structure and life cycle of SARS-CoV-2 is given and future therapeutical options are discussed.
  • 965
  • 08 Jun 2022
Topic Review
Novel Coumarin-Based Inverse Agonists of GPR55
The G-protein coupled receptor 55 (GPR55) was first described in 1999 and is broadly expressed in different areas of the CNS, such as the frontal cortex or the hippocampus. The discovery of the bioactive lipid lysophosphtatidylinositol (LPI) as endogenous GPR55 agonist led to the receptor’s deorphanization . However, besides LPI, several commercially available as well as endogenous ligands show agonistic or antagonistic activity at the GPR55. Endocannabinoids, 2-arachidonoylglycerol, and delta-9-tetrahydrocannabinol (Δ9-THC) for instance, show strong affinities and activation of GPR55, heating up the discussion about GPR55 as potential third cannabinoid-receptor (CB). Commercially available GPR55 agonists, such as O-1602, and GPR55-antagonists like ML-193 are commonly used in GPR55 research, to evaluate GPR55-specific molecular pathways and effects. Besides these widely used GPR55 ligands, coumarin-derivates show antagonistic coupled to inverse agonistic activities on GPR55-dependent neuroinflammatory processes as reported recently.
  • 963
  • 28 Mar 2022
Topic Review
Multifaceted Potential of Sulforaphane
Sulforaphane (SFN) is a naturally occurring compound found in cruciferous vegetables such as broccoli and cauliflower. It has been widely studied for its potential as a neuroprotective and anticancer agent. SFN has been shown to exert neuroprotective effects through the activation of the Nrf2 pathway, the modulation of neuroinflammation, and epigenetic mechanisms. In cancer treatment, SFN has demonstrated the ability to selectively induce cell death in cancer cells, inhibit histone deacetylase, and sensitize cancer cells to chemotherapy. SFN has also shown chemoprotective properties through inhibiting phase I metabolizing enzymes, modulating phase II xenobiotic-metabolizing enzymes, and targeting cancer stem cells. 
  • 963
  • 18 Dec 2023
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