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Topic Review
Monoclonal Antibodies Targeting CGRP
Now more than ever is the time of monoclonal antibody use in neurology. In headaches, disease-specific and mechanism-based treatments existed only for symptomatic management of migraines (i.e., triptans), while the standard prophylactic anti-migraine treatments consist of non-specific and repurposed drugs that share limited safety profiles and high risk for interactions with other medications, resulting in rundown adherence rates. Recent advances in headache science have increased our understanding of the role of calcitonin gene relate peptide (CGRP) and pituitary adenylate cyclase-activating polypeptide (PACAP) pathways in cephalic pain neurotransmission and peripheral or central sensitization, leading to the development of monoclonal antibodies (mAbs) or small molecules targeting these neuropeptides or their receptors. Large scale randomized clinical trials confirmed that inhibition of the CGRP system attenuates migraine, while the PACAP mediated nociception is still under scientific and clinical investigation.
  • 925
  • 10 Aug 2021
Topic Review
The Pharmacological Therapies of Huntington’s Chorea
Huntington’s Disease (HD) is an autosomal, dominantly inherited neurodegenerative disorder caused by an expansion of the CAG repeat in the huntingtin (HTT) gene. The disease generally manifests during mid-life and is clinically characterized by involuntary movements (chorea), psychiatric and behavioral symptoms, and cognitive decline. To this date, no cure or disease-modifying therapy exists. However, a wide variety of pharmacological therapies are used to improve quality of life.
  • 923
  • 23 May 2022
Topic Review
Applications of Solid Lipid Nanoparticles in Cancer
Cancer is recognized as one of the world’s most deadly diseases in its different forms. In the field of nanotechnology, solid lipid nanoparticles (SLNs) play a vital role with a wide range of diverse applications, namely drug delivery, clinical medicine, and cancer therapeutics. SLNs establish a significant role owing to their ability to encapsulate hydrophilic and hydrophobic compounds, biocompatibility, ease of surface modification, scale-up feasibility, and possibilities of both active and passive targeting to various organs. In cancer therapy, SLNs have emerged as imminent nanocarriers for overcoming physiological barriers and multidrug resistance pathways.
  • 923
  • 03 Apr 2023
Topic Review
Marine-Derived Biologically Active Compounds
Rheumatoid arthritis (RA) is a chronic, systemic autoimmune disease with a prevalence rate of up to 1% and is significantly considered a common worldwide public health concern. Commercially, several traditional formulations are available to treat RA to some extent. However, these synthetic compounds exert toxicity and considerable side effects even at lower therapeutic concentrations. Considering the above-mentioned critiques, research is underway around the world in finding and exploiting potential alternatives. For instance, marine-derived biologically active compounds have gained much interest and are thus being extensively utilized to confront the confines of in practice counterparts, which have become ineffective for 21st-century medical settings. The utilization of naturally available bioactive compounds and their derivatives can minimize these synthetic compounds’ problems to treat RA. Several marine-derived compounds exhibit anti-inflammatory and antioxidant properties and can be effectively used for therapeutic purposes against RA. The results of several studies ensured that the extraction of biologically active compounds from marine sources could provide a new and safe source for drug development against RA.
  • 922
  • 22 Jan 2021
Topic Review
Postpartum Depression and Brexanolone
Brexanolone is being hailed as a ‘breakthrough’ medication for the treatment of PPD. As highlighted in this review, the positive outcomes with regard to the clinical use of the drug obtained from the three RCTs gave extensive evidence in favor of the safety, tolerability, and efficacy of brexanolone. Consequently, it prompted the FDA to give brexanolone a ‘priority review’ and ‘breakthrough therapy’ classification, which ultimately led to its approval.
  • 920
  • 22 Jul 2021
Topic Review
Mesoporous Silica Nanoparticle-Mediated Drug Delivery in Breast Cancer
Breast cancer (BC) currently occupies the second rank in cancer-related global female deaths. Although consistent awareness and improved diagnosis have reduced mortality, late diagnosis and resistant response still limit the therapeutic efficacy of chemotherapeutic drugs (CDs), leading to relapse with consequent invasion and metastasis. Treatment with CDs is indeed well-versed but it is badly curtailed with accompanying side effects and inadequacies of site-specific drug delivery. As a result, drug carriers ensuring stealth delivery and sustained drug release with improved pharmacokinetics and biodistribution are urgently needed. Core–shell mesoporous silica nanoparticles (MSNPs) have been a cornerstone in this context, attributed to their high surface area, low density, robust functionalization, high drug loading capacity, size–shape-controlled functioning, and homogeneous shell architecture, enabling stealth drug delivery.
  • 920
  • 02 Aug 2023
Topic Review
Small GTPase RhoA Signaling in Pathogenesis of Schizophrenia
Schizophrenia is one of the most serious psychiatric disorders and is characterized by reductions in both brain volume and spine density in the frontal cortex. RhoA belongs to the RAS homolog (Rho) family and plays critical roles in neuronal development and structural plasticity via Rho-kinase. RhoA activity is regulated by GTPase-activating proteins (GAPs) and guanine nucleotide exchange factors (GEFs). Several variants in GAPs and GEFs associated with RhoA have been reported to be significantly associated with schizophrenia.
  • 920
  • 31 Oct 2023
Topic Review
Nanoparticle-Mediated Delivery of STAT3 Inhibitors in Lung Cancer
Lung cancer is a common malignancy worldwide, with high morbidity and mortality. Signal transducer and activator of transcription 3 (STAT3) is an important transcription factor that not only regulates different hallmarks of cancer, such as tumorigenesis, cell proliferation, and metastasis but also regulates the occurrence and maintenance of cancer stem cells (CSCs). Abnormal STAT3 activity has been found in a variety of cancers, including lung cancer, and its phosphorylation level is associated with a poor prognosis of lung cancer. Therefore, the STAT3 pathway may represent a promising therapeutic target for the treatment of lung cancer. Various types of STAT3 inhibitors, including natural compounds, small molecules, and gene-based therapies, have been developed through direct and indirect strategies, although most of them are still in the preclinical or early clinical stages.
  • 920
  • 23 Dec 2022
Topic Review
Respiratory Manifestations in SLE
Systemic lupus erythematosus (SLE) is a chronic, systemic autoimmune disease with a relapsing–remitting course and characterized by the production of a wide range of autoantibodies. 
  • 919
  • 13 Apr 2021
Topic Review
Hypoxic Tumor Environments in Photodynamic Therapy
Photodynamic therapy (PDT) has become a promising method of cancer treatment due to its unique properties, such as noninvasiveness and low toxicity. The efficacy of PDT is significantly reduced by the hypoxia tumor environments, because PDT involves the generation of reactive oxygen species (ROS), which requires the great consumption of oxygen. Moreover, the consumption of oxygen caused by PDT would further exacerbate the hypoxia condition, which leads to angiogenesis, invasion of tumors to other parts, and metastasis.
  • 918
  • 06 Sep 2022
Topic Review
Cytochrome Inhibitors
Major cytochrome inhibitors may result in drug–drug interactions.
  • 918
  • 08 Jun 2021
Topic Review
Mechanism of Adjuvanticity
Vaccines have been extraordinary resources to prevent pathogen diffusion and cancer. Even if they can be formed by a single antigen, the addition of one or more adjuvants represents the key to enhance the response of the immune signal to the antigen, thus accelerating and increasing the duration and the potency of the protective effect. Their use is of particular importance for vulnerable populations, such as the elderly or immunocompromised people.
  • 918
  • 01 Jun 2023
Topic Review
Eysenhardtia genus
The participation of natural products in health care has been remarkable, and today they continue to play a key role in the discovery and development of new treatments. Phytochemical studies together with pharmacological tests have managed to integrate bioactive agents as an alternative solution to reduce or regulate the problems caused by diseases. The Eysenhardtia genus is a family of plants that are rich in secondary metabolites, which have shown potential activity in the control and mitigation of urinary disorders, diabetes, oxidative stress, protein glycosylation, microbial infections, inflammation, pain or discomfort, muscle contractions, cytotoxicity, or as a cellular or neuronal signaling modulator. These conditions generally appear in comorbid diseases, which motivated the bibliographic review associated with the plant. This document presents the beneficial actions produced by Eysenhardtia extracts and/or bioactives to inhibit, control, or reduce the complications or discomfort of degenerative diseases and thus generate new therapeutic alternatives.
  • 917
  • 08 Sep 2020
Topic Review
Advances in Aptamers-Based Applications in Breast Cancer
Aptamers are synthetic single-stranded oligonucleotides (such as RNA and DNA) evolved in vitro using Systematic Evolution of Ligands through Exponential enrichment (SELEX) techniques. Aptamers are evolved to have high affinity and specificity to targets; hence, they have a great potential for use in therapeutics as delivery agents and/or in treatment strategies. Aptamers can be chemically synthesized and modified in a cost-effective manner and are easy to hybridize to a variety of nano-particles and other agents which has paved a way for targeted therapy and diagnostics applications such as in breast tumors.
  • 917
  • 02 Dec 2022
Topic Review
Metabolic Approaches for Treatment of Dilated Cardiomyopathy
In dilated cardiomyopathy (DCM), where the heart muscle becomes stretched and thin, heart failure (HF) occurs, and the cardiomyocytes suffer from an energetic inefficiency caused by an abnormal cardiac metabolism. Although underappreciated as a potential therapeutic target, the optimal metabolic milieu of a failing heart is still largely unknown and subject to debate. Because glucose naturally has a lower P/O ratio (the ATP yield per oxygen atom), the previous studies using this strategy to increase glucose oxidation have produced some intriguing findings. In reality, the vast majority of small-scale pilot trials using trimetazidine, ranolazine, perhexiline, and etomoxir have demonstrated enhanced left ventricular (LV) function and, in some circumstances, myocardial energetics in chronic ischemic and non-ischemic HF with a reduced ejection fraction (EF).
  • 912
  • 26 Jul 2023
Topic Review
Endothelial-Mesenchymal Transition to Atherosclerosis
Atherosclerosis is a chronic inflammatory process that leads to the thickening of the intimal layer of large- and medium-sized arteries and results in the formation of plaques. It occurs due to an imbalance between lipid breakdown and the immune response, leading to a failure of inflammatory response resolution. The risk factors of atherosclerosis include hypertension, hyperglycemia, obesity, hyperlipidemia, and smoking.
  • 911
  • 12 Nov 2021
Topic Review
Effects of Icaritin on Osteoporosis
Icaritin (ICT) is not only an enzyme-hydrolyzed product of icariin but also an intestinal metabolite of eight major flavonoids of the traditional Chinese medicinal plant Epimedium with extensive pharmacological activities, such as strengthening the kidney and reinforcing the bone. ICT displays several therapeutic effects, including osteoporosis prevention, neuroprotection, antitumor, cardiovascular protection, anti-inflammation, and immune-protective effect. ICT inhibits bone resorption activity of osteoclasts and stimulates osteogenic differentiation and maturation of bone marrow stromal progenitor cells and osteoblasts.
  • 909
  • 29 Mar 2022
Topic Review
Role of Bacterial Extracellular Vesicles in Neurodegenerative Disease
Bacterial Extracellular Vesicles (BEVs) possess the capability of intracellular interactions with other cells, and, hence, can be utilized as an efficient cargo for worldwide delivery of therapeutic substances such as monoclonal antibodies, proteins, plasmids, siRNA, and small molecules for the treatment of neurodegenerative diseases (NDs). BEVs additionally possess a remarkable capacity for delivering these therapeutics across the blood–brain barrier to treat Alzheimer’s disease (AD).
  • 909
  • 26 Jul 2023
Topic Review
Endocytic Properties of vGPCRs
Endocytosis is a fundamental process involved in trafficking of various extracellular and transmembrane molecules from the cell surface to its interior. This enables cells to communicate and respond to external environments, maintain cellular homeostasis, and transduce signals. G protein-coupled receptors (GPCRs) constitute a family of receptors with seven transmembrane alpha-helical domains (7TM receptors) expressed at the cell surface, where they regulate physiological and pathological cellular processes. Several herpesviruses encode receptors (vGPCRs) which benefits the virus by avoiding host immune surveillance, supporting viral dissemination, and thereby establishing widespread and lifelong infection, processes where receptor signaling and/or endocytosis seem central. vGPCRs are rising as potential drug targets as exemplified by the cytomegalovirus-encoded receptor US28, where its constitutive internalization has been exploited for selective drug delivery in virus infected cells. Therefore, studying GPCR trafficking is of great importance.
  • 907
  • 30 Apr 2021
Topic Review
Selective Cytotoxicity of Ethiopian Plants
Few studies have reported the in vitro anticancer activities of medicinal plants that are collected from different agro‐ecological zones of Ethiopia. Hence, the main aim of this study was to screen the cytotoxic activities of 80% methanol extracts of 22 plants against human peripheral blood mononuclear cells (PBMCs), as well as human breast (MCF‐7), lung (A427), bladder (RT‐4), and cervical (SiSo) cancer cell lines. Active extracts were further screened against human large cell lung carcinoma (LCLC‐103H), pancreatic cancer (DAN‐G), ovarian cancer (A2780), and squamous cell carcinoma of the esophagus (KYSE‐70) by using the crystal violet cell proliferation assay, while the vitality of the acute myeloid leukemia (HL‐60) and histiocytic lymphoma (U‐937) cell lines was monitored in the 3‐(4,5‐dimethylthiazol‐2‐yl)‐2,5‐diphenyl‐2H‐tetrazolium bromide (MTT) microtiter assay. Euphorbia schimperiana, Acokanthera schimperi, Kniphofia foliosa, and Kalanchoe petitiana exhibited potent antiproliferative activity against A427, RT‐4, MCF‐7, and SiSo cell lines, with IC50 values ranging from 1.85 ± 0.44 to 17.8 ± 2.31μg/mL. Hence, further studies focusing on bio‐assay‐guided isolation and structural elucidation of active cytotoxic compounds from these plants are warranted.
  • 907
  • 25 Jun 2021
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