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Topic Review
Drug Delivery Hurdles in Skin Cancer Treatment
Chemotherapy of skin cancer can be either oral, parenteral, or topical. In the first case, only a limited amount of the drug reaches the target site, while the rest reaches other organs, tissues, and cells, and can cause harmful side effects. The case is quite similar in parenteral application together with its invasiveness. Therefore, the local application on different skin cancer forms can gain in therapeutic efficacy and safety. The various types of gel formulations applied topically in the treatment of skin cancer was discussed. The most common gelling agents, their concentration and mechanism of action is also provided. The possibility to combine nanotechnology for improvement of drug loading and delivery by incorporation of nanoparticles into hydrogels is also evaluated. The main methods for gel characterization in the light of topical delivery of chemotherapeutics were summarized.
  • 849
  • 05 May 2023
Topic Review
Treatment of Stimulant Use Disorder
The increasing prevalence of stimulant use disorder (StUD) involving methamphetamine and cocaine has been a growing healthcare concern in the United States. Cocaine usage is associated with atherosclerosis, systolic and diastolic dysfunction, and arrhythmias. 
  • 847
  • 10 Mar 2023
Topic Review
Intranasal Insulin in Ischemia, Brain Injuries and Diabetes
A decrease in the activity of the insulin signaling system of the brain leads to neurodegeneration and impaired regulation of appetite, metabolism, and endocrine functions. This is due to the neuroprotective properties of brain insulin, its leading role in maintaining glucose homeostasis in the brain, as well as in the regulation of the brain signaling network responsible for the functioning of the nervous, endocrine and other systems. One of the approaches to restore the brain insulin system is the use of intranasally administered insulin (INI). INI is being considered as a promising drug to treat Alzheimer's disease and mild cognitive impairment. Clinical application of INI is being developed for the treatment of other neurodegenerative diseases and improve cognitive abilities in stress, overwork, and depression. It has been shown that INI can be used for the treatment of cerebral ischemia, traumatic brain injuries, postoperative delirium, as well as diabetes mellitus and its complications, including dysfunctions in the gonadal and thyroid axes.
  • 846
  • 20 Apr 2023
Topic Review
Seaweed as a Marine Source for Anti-Inflammatory Activity
Inflammation is a defense mechanism of the body in response to harmful stimuli such as pathogens, damaged cells, toxic compounds or radiation. However, chronic inflammation plays an important role in the pathogenesis of a variety of diseases. Marine organisms produce a broad spectrum of bioactive compounds with anti-inflammatory activities. Several are considered as lead compounds for development into drugs. Anti-inflammatory compounds have been extracted from algae, corals, seaweeds and other marine organisms. Seaweed is a popular food source rich in bioactive compounds, polysaccharides, fatty acids, peptides, proteins and vitamins. Seaweeds have several potential therapeutic activities, including anti-bacterial, anti-viral, anti-cancer, antioxidant and anti-inflammatory.
  • 845
  • 18 Oct 2023
Topic Review
Definition and Characterization of Coronary Calcification
Coronary artery calcification is increasingly prevalent in our patient population. It significantly limits the procedural success of percutaneous coronary intervention and is associated with a higher risk of adverse cardiovascular events both in the short-term and long-term. 
  • 842
  • 03 Jan 2023
Topic Review
Synthetic Cathinones and Synthetic Cannabinoids
Novel psychoactive substances (NPS) are compounds of natural and synthetic origin, similar to traditional drugs of abuse. NPS are involved in a contemporary trend whose origin lies in a thinner balance between legitimate therapeutic drug research and legislative control. The contemporary NPS trend resulted from the replacement of MDMA by synthetic cathinones in ‘ecstasy’ during the 2000s. The most common NPS are synthetic cannabinoids and synthetic cathinones. Interestingly, during the last 50 years, these two classes of NPS have been the object of scientific research for a set of health conditions. 
  • 838
  • 06 May 2022
Topic Review
Clinical Studies in IGU
Iguratimod (IGU) is a conventional synthetic disease-modifying anti-rheumatic drug (csDMARD) routinely prescribed in Japan since 2012 to patients with rheumatoid arthritis (RA). Iguratimod acts directly on B cells by inhibiting the production of inflammatory cytokines (tumor necrosis factor-α, interleukin (IL)-1β, IL-6, IL-8, IL-17), thereby suppressing the production of immunoglobulin and inhibiting the activity of nuclear factor kappa-light chain enhancer of activated B cells. In Japan, it is one of the most used csDMARDs in daily practice, but it is not recommended as a treatment for RA due to the lack of large-scale evidence established overseas.
  • 837
  • 01 Jun 2021
Topic Review
Pharmacokinetics/Pharmacogenetics in Atypical LAI Antipsychotics
Over the last two decades, pharmacogenetics and pharmacokinetics have been increasingly used in clinical practice in Psychiatry due to the high variability regarding response and side effects of antipsychotic drugs. Specifically, long-acting injectable (LAI) antipsychotics have different pharmacokinetic profile than oral formulations due to their sustained release characteristics. In addition, most of these drugs are metabolized by CYP2D6, whose interindividual genetic variability results in different metabolizer status and, consequently, into different plasma concentrations of the drugs. In this context, there is consistent evidence which supports the use of therapeutic drug monitoring (TDM) along with pharmacogenetic tests to improve safety and efficacy of antipsychotic pharmacotherapy. 
  • 833
  • 07 Jul 2021
Topic Review
Lycopene Metabolism, Bioavailability and Immunomodulatory Effects
Lycopene is a carotenoid found commonly in fruits and vegetables such as tomatoes, pink grapefruit and watermelons with non-provitamin A activity. It is the compound responsible for the red coloration of the fruits. It shares the same molecular mass and chemical formula with beta-carotene, but lycopene is an open-polyene chain which lacks the β-ionone ring structure found in beta-carotene. 
  • 833
  • 13 Feb 2023
Topic Review
Therapeutic Potential of Fungal Terpenes and Terpenoids
Terpenes and their derivatives comprise a diverse group of natural compounds with versatile medicinal properties. This article elucidates the general characteristics of fungal terpenes and terpenoids, encompassing their structure and biogenesis. The focal point of this work involves a comprehensive overview of these compounds, highlighting their therapeutic properties, mechanisms of action, and potential applications in treating specific skin conditions. Numerous isolated terpenes and terpenoids have demonstrated noteworthy anti-inflammatory and anti-microbial effects, rivalling or surpassing the efficacy of currently employed treatments for inflammation or skin infections. Due to their well-documented antioxidant and anti-cancer attributes, these compounds exhibit promise in both preventing and treating skin cancer. Terpenes and terpenoids sourced from fungi display the capability to inhibit tyrosinase, suggesting potential applications in addressing skin pigmentation disorders and cancers linked to melanogenesis dysfunctions.
  • 832
  • 15 Apr 2024
Topic Review
Thiopurines’ Metabolites and Drug Toxicity
Thiopurines (comprising azathioprine (AZA), 6-mercaptopurine (6-MP), and 6-thioguanine) have been used for over 5 decades in the treatment of a myriad of disorders, including acute lymphoblastic leukemia (ALL), inflammatory bowel disease (IBD), auto-immune hepatitis (AIH), and also in the prophylaxis of rejection in organ transplant recipients. Many questions remain unanswered regarding therapeutic drug monitoring (TDM) utility with thiopurines. We performed a systematic review with inclusion of studies evaluating the relationship between thiopurines’ metabolites and drug toxicity. Meta-analysis of mean difference (MD), correlations and odds ratio (OR) was performed. We identified 21,240 records, 72 of which were eligible for meta-analysis. Levels of 6-thioguanine nucleotides (6-TGN) were higher in patients with leukopenia (MD 127.06 pmol/8 × 108 RBC) and gastrointestinal intolerance (MD 201.46 pmol/8 × 108 RBC), and lower in patients with hepatotoxicity (MD −40.6 pmol × 108 RBC). We established a significant correlation between 6-TGN and leukocytes (r = −0.21), neutrophils (r = −0.24) and alanine aminotransferase levels (r = −0.24). OR for leukopenia in patients with elevated 6-TGN was 4.63 (95%CI 2.24;9.57). An optimal cut-off of 135 pmol/8 × 108 RBC for leukopenia was calculated (sensitivity 75.4%; specificity 46.4%). 6-methylmercaptopurine ribonucleotides (6-MMPR) were significantly associated with hepatotoxicity (MD 3241.2 pmol/8 × 108 RBC; OR 4.28; 95%CI 3.20; 5.71). Levels of 6-MMPR measured in the first 8 weeks of treatment were associated with leukopenia. We conclude that TDM could be used to prevent thiopurines’ toxicity. As optimal metabolites level may vary according to indication, physicians may adapt posology to decrease toxicity without compromising efficacy.
  • 831
  • 16 Aug 2020
Topic Review
High-Grade Gliomas
High-grade glioma (HGG)'s treatment development is hampered by (1) the blood–brain barrier (BBB), (2) an infiltrative growth pattern, (3) rapid development of therapeutic resistance, and, in many cases, (4) dose-limiting toxicity due to systemic exposure. Convection-enhanced delivery (CED) has the potential to significantly limit systemic toxicity and increase therapeutic index by directly delivering homogenous drug concentrations to the site of disease.
  • 831
  • 05 May 2021
Topic Review
Pathophysiology of Takotsubo Syndrome
Takotsubo syndrome (TTS) is a transient dysfunction of the left and/or right ventricle, without the presence of ruptured atherosclerotic plaque, thrombus, dissection of the artery or other condition, which may cause the aforementioned symptoms. The term “tako-tsubo” was first used by Sato et al in 1990 because of the similarities between LV morphologic features and the shape of a ceramic fishing pot used since ancient times in Japan for trapping octopi.
  • 828
  • 07 Sep 2021
Topic Review
Advantages and Mechanisms of Bacteria for Cancer Therapy
Cancer is one of the major diseases that endanger human health. Bacteria is a novel drug delivery system that has shown great potential in cancer therapy because of its tumor-targeting, oncolytic, and immunomodulatory properties.
  • 828
  • 08 Sep 2023
Topic Review
TRPA1 Role in Inflammatory Disorders
The transient receptor potential ankyrin 1 (TRPA1), a member of the TRP superfamily of channels, is primarily localized in a subpopulation of primary sensory neurons of the trigeminal, vagal, and dorsal root ganglia, where its activation mediates neurogenic inflammatory responses. The TRPA1 pathway could be a protective mechanism to detect and respond to harmful agents in various pathological conditions, including several inflammatory diseases.
  • 828
  • 09 May 2022
Topic Review
Drug Delivery Systems for Age-Related Macular Degeneration
The number of patients with ocular disorders has increased due to contributing factors such as aging populations, environmental changes, smoking, genetic abnormalities, etc. Age-related macular degeneration (AMD) is one of the common ocular disorders which may advance to loss of vision in severe cases. The advanced form of AMD is classified into two types, dry (non-exudative) and wet (exudative) AMD.
  • 827
  • 15 Aug 2023
Topic Review
TG2 in Inflammation and Sepsis
Transglutaminase 2 (TG2) is a crosslinking enzyme that forms a covalent bond between lysine and glutamine. TG2 plays important roles in diverse cellular processes, including extracellular matrix stabilization, cytoskeletal function, cell motility, adhesion, signal transduction, apoptosis, and cell survival.
  • 820
  • 10 Mar 2021
Topic Review
Prebiotic Boron-Containing Compounds in Complex Regional Pain Syndrome
Studies have demonstrated that individuals with complex regional pain syndrome (CRPS) often exhibit dysbiosis, with imbalances in beneficial and pathogenic gut bacteria. Dysbiosis can lead to increased gut permeability and systemic inflammation, contributing to the chronic pain experienced in CRPS. B, an essential trace element, has shown promise in modulating the gut microbiome positively and exerting anti-inflammatory effects. Preclinical and clinical studies suggest that B supplementation may alleviate neuropathic pain and improve CRPS symptoms by restoring microbiota balance and reducing inflammation. 
  • 818
  • 21 Nov 2023
Topic Review
Enhancing Brain Drug Bioavailability in Depression and Anxiety
Depression and anxiety are high incidence and debilitating psychiatric disorders, usually treated by antidepressant or anxiolytic drug administration, respectively. Three main strategies have been used to improve brain drug targeting: the intranasal route of administration, which allows the drug to be directly transported to the brain by neuronal pathways, bypassing the blood–brain barrier and avoiding the hepatic and gastrointestinal metabolism; the use of nanosystems for drug encapsulation, including polymeric and lipidic nanoparticles, nanometric emulsions, and nanogels; and drug molecule functionalization by ligand attachment, such as peptides and polymers. Pharmacokinetic and pharmacodynamic in vivo studies’ results have shown that intranasal administration can be more efficient in brain targeting than other administration routes, and that the use of nanoformulations and drug functionalization can be quite advantageous in increasing brain–drug bioavailability. These strategies could be the key to future improved therapies for depressive and anxiety disorders.
  • 817
  • 31 Mar 2023
Topic Review
Natural Polymer Nanofibrous Scaffold
Nanofibrous scaffolds mimicking artificial extracellular matrices provide a natural environment for tissue regeneration owing to their large surface area, high porosity, and appreciable drug loading capacity. Electrospun nanofibrous scaffolds have demonstrated promising potential in bone tissue regeneration using a variety of nanomaterials. Natural and synthetic polymeric nanofibrous scaffolds are extensively inspected to regenerate bone tissue. Bone tissue engineering (BTE) procedures make usage of various scaffolds (e.g., composite scaffolds, nanofibrous scaffolds, porous scaffolds, hydrogel scaffolds) in conjunction with biological materials.
  • 813
  • 17 Oct 2022
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