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Topic Review
Nanodelivery Systems and Constituents Derived from Novel Foods
Novel Food is a new category of food, regulated by the European Union Directive No. 2015/2283. This latter norm defines a food as “Novel” if it was not used “for human consumption to a significant degree within the Union before the date of entry into force of that regulation, namely 15 May 1997”.  Due to their natural source, Novel Food can represent another new and not fully exploited reservoir of nutraceuticals. Indeed, Novel Food can also be considered an important source of raw matter to produce a nano-drug delivery system. The application of Novel Foods as new nanoceutical materials or bioactive compounds embedded into nanocarriers is a new research field, as these sources have been employed only in recent decades.
  • 509
  • 17 Nov 2023
Topic Review
LncRNAs HNF1α-AS1/HNF4α-AS1 in Drug Metabolism and Human Diseases
Long noncoding RNAs (lncRNAs) are RNAs with a length of over 200 nucleotides that do not have protein-coding abilities. Recent studies suggest that lncRNAs are highly involved in physiological functions and diseases. lncRNAs HNF1α-AS1 and HNF4α-AS1 are transcripts of lncRNA genes HNF1α-AS1 and HNF4α-AS1, which are antisense lncRNA genes located in the neighborhood regions of the transcription factor (TF) genes HNF1α and HNF4α, respectively. HNF1α-AS1 and HNF4α-AS1 have been reported to be involved in several important functions in human physiological activities and diseases. In the liver, HNF1α-AS1 and HNF4α-AS1 regulate the expression and function of several drug-metabolizing cytochrome P450 (P450) enzymes, which also further impact P450-mediated drug metabolism and drug toxicity. In addition, HNF1α-AS1 and HNF4α-AS1 also play important roles in the tumorigenesis, progression, invasion, and treatment outcome of several cancers. Through interacting with different molecules, including miRNAs and proteins, HNF1α-AS1 and HNF4α-AS1 can regulate their target genes in several different mechanisms including miRNA sponge, decoy, or scaffold.
  • 508
  • 18 Oct 2021
Topic Review
Opioid-Induced Constipation in Cancer Patients
Opioid-induced constipation (OIC) is a disabling symptom which 60–90 percent of cancer patients with chronic opioid use experience. Peripherally acting μ-opioid receptor antagonists (PAMORAs) are a class of medications aiming to reverse opioids’ adverse effects on the gut by interacting with opioid receptors in the gastrointestinal tract without significantly crossing the blood–brain barrier, and therefore they are not affecting the analgesic opioid effects in the central nervous system.
  • 506
  • 22 Mar 2024
Topic Review
Hemodialysis, Heavy Metal, Parathyroid Gland, PTH, Anemia, Pruritus
Worldwide, environmental pollution is a leading cause of illness and mortality. This includes heavy metals, air pollutants, agricultural pesticides, and polluted food and water. Various factors, such as impaired renal excretion, degree of renal impairment, medication use, dialysate contamination, quality of the dialysis water, and metabolic changes in those suffering with end-stage kidney disease, may lead to heavy metal accumulation in hemodialysis patients. The study aimed to assess heavy metal toxicity levels in adults on hemodialysis compared to a control group and to investigate the correlation between parathyroid hormone (PTH) and heavy metal levels, uremic pruritus, and anemia. Method: Cross-sectional research involving 60 adult patients was conducted on regular hemodialysis for at least three months. As a control group, there were 60 adult volunteers who matched in age and sex with the patient group. The Inductively Coupled Plasma Mass Spectrometry (ICP-MS) method was used to examine the concentrations of heavy metals in drinking water and dialysate water for both groups, including serum levels of aluminum (Al), lead (Pb), cadmium (Cd), chromium (Cr), and arsenic (As). Result: The hemodialysis group had greater levels of Al, Pb, Cd, Cr, and As than the control group. Serum lead levels and PTH and serum ferritin and chromium levels were significantly correlated negatively. There was no significant correlation between heavy metal levels with uremic pruritus and anemia. Heavy metals in dialysis and drinking water samples were within acceptable ranges, and they were below the detection limit according to WHO and Association for the Advancement of Medical Instrumentation/American National Standards Institute (AAMI/ANSI). Elevated heavy metal levels might not be primarily caused by drinking water or dialysis.
  • 501
  • 04 Feb 2025
Topic Review
Overexpression of Glutathione S-Transferases in Human Diseases
Glutathione S-transferases (GSTs) are a major class of phase II metabolic enzymes. Besides their essential role in detoxification, GSTs also exert diverse biological activities in the occurrence and development of various diseases. Much research interest has been paid to exploring the mechanisms of GST overexpression in tumor drug resistance. Correspondingly, many GST inhibitors have been developed and applied, solely or in combination with chemotherapeutic drugs, for the treatment of multi-drug resistant tumors. Moreover, novel roles of GSTs in other diseases, such as pulmonary fibrosis and neurodegenerative diseases, have been recognized, although the exact regulatory mechanisms remain to be elucidated.
  • 499
  • 27 Nov 2023
Topic Review
Biosimilar Agents
A biosimilar is a biological product highly similar to and interchangeable with an already approved reference product. Innovations in computer-aided discovery for biosimilar agents involve several key approaches. Structural bioinformatics and molecular docking techniques, including homology modeling and molecular dynamics simulations, aid in understanding the structure-function relationships. In silico screening and virtual high-throughput screening, powered by database mining and predictive modeling, expedite the identification of potential biosimilar candidates. Machine learning and artificial intelligence contribute by analyzing large datasets to predict success probabilities and integrating diverse data sources. Immunogenicity prediction tools assess potential immune responses, while network pharmacology and quantitative systems pharmacology provide a holistic understanding of biosimilar effects. Optimization algorithms play a role in formulating biosimilars for desired properties. This dynamic field continues to evolve, with regular updates reflecting the latest advancements in computational tools for biosimilar discovery.
  • 490
  • 13 Dec 2023
Topic Review
Cardioprotective Properties of Kaempferol
Cardiac diseases, such as myocardial infarction and heart failure, have become a major clinical problem globally. The accumulating data demonstrate that bioactive compounds with antioxidant and anti-inflammatory properties have favorable effects on clinical problems. Kaempferol is a flavonoid found in various plants; it has demonstrated cardioprotective properties in numerous cardiac injury models. 
  • 481
  • 11 Sep 2023
Topic Review
Cellular, Molecular, Pharmacological, and Nano-Formulation Aspects of Thymoquinone
The goal of an antiviral agent research is to find an antiviral drug that reduces viral growth without harming healthy cells. Transformations of the virus, new viral strain developments, the resistance of viral pathogens, and side effects are the current challenges in terms of discovering antiviral drugs. The time has come and it is now essential to discover a natural antiviral agent that has the potential to destroy viruses without causing resistance or other unintended side effects. The pharmacological potency of thymoquinone (TQ) against different communicable and non-communicable diseases has been proven by various studies, and TQ is considered to be a safe antiviral substitute. 
  • 481
  • 17 Oct 2023
Topic Review
From the Discovery of Targets to Delivery Systems
Metals are indispensable for the life of all organisms, and their dysregulation leads to various disorders due to the disruption of their homeostasis. Nowadays, various transition metals are used in pharmaceutical products as diagnostic and therapeutic agents because their electronic structure allows them to adjust the properties of molecules differently from organic molecules. Therefore, interest in the study of metal–drug complexes from different aspects has been aroused, and numerous approaches have been developed to characterize, activate, deliver, and clarify molecular mechanisms. The integration of these different approaches, ranging from chemoproteomics to nanoparticle systems and various activation strategies, enables the understanding of the cellular responses to metal drugs, which may form the basis for the development of new drugs and/or the modification of currently used drugs.
  • 473
  • 26 Jul 2023
Topic Review
Non-Dopaminergic Antipsychotic Mechanisms of Neuroleptic Drugs
In 1957, Arvid Carlsson discovered that dopamine, at the time believed to be nothing more than a norepinephrine precursor, was a brain neurotransmitter in and of itself. By 1963, postsynaptic dopamine blockade had become the cornerstone of psychiatric treatment as it appeared to have deciphered the “chlorpromazine enigma”, a 1950s term, denoting the action mechanism of antipsychotic drugs.
  • 473
  • 23 Jan 2024
Topic Review
Current Application of DNSPEs in Drug Delivery
A drug nanocrystal self-stabilized Pickering emulsion (DNSPE) is a novel Pickering emulsion with drug nanocrystals as the stabilizer. As a promising drug delivery system, DNSPEs have attracted increasing attention due to their high drug loading capacity and ability to reduce potential safety hazards posed by surfactants or specific solid particles.
  • 466
  • 28 Feb 2024
Topic Review
Multicomponent Mixtures and Single Compounds from Lentinula edodes
Apart from the isolation of single substances, complexly composed products, so-called multicomponent mixtures (more than one constituent substances, MOCSs), are obtained from the natural materials. A multicomponent mixture contains numerous individual constituents with different functionalities. By using the example of Lentinula edodes (Berk.) Pegler, shiitake, it is shown that this is the case not only for plants but also for medicinal mushrooms. Lentinan, a polysaccharide isolated from the mycelium, is used as a single compound as part of an integrated tumor therapy.
  • 461
  • 28 Feb 2024
Topic Review
Liposome-Derived Nanosystems  for Increased Brain Drug Bioavailability
Niosomes, transfersomes, and ethosomes are nanometric vesicular structures that allow drug encapsulation, protecting them from degradation, and increasing their solubility, permeability, brain targeting, and bioavailability.
  • 453
  • 16 Oct 2023
Topic Review
Second-Generation Lipophosphonoxins and Their Applications
Lipophosphonoxins (LPPOs) represent a new group of membrane-targeting antibiotics. Three generations of LPPOs have been described: First-generation LPPOs, second-generation LPPOs, and LEGO-LPPOs. All three generations have a similar mode of bactericidal action of targeting and disrupting the bacterial cytoplasmic membrane of prokaryotic cells, with limited effect on eukaryotic cells. Second-generation LPPOs broaden the antibiotic effect also against Gram-negative bacteria. However, both first- and second-generation LPPOs lose their antibacterial activity in the presence of serum albumin. Second-generation LPPOs have been studied as antimicrobial additives in bone cement and as nanofiber dressing components in the treatment of wound infections in mice. 
  • 443
  • 18 Oct 2023
Topic Review
RNA Combined with Nanoformulation to Advance Therapeutic Technologies
Nucleic acid-based therapies have the potential to address numerous diseases that pose significant challenges to more traditional methods. RNA-based therapies have emerged as a promising avenue, utilizing nanoformulation treatments to target a range of pathologies. Nanoformulation offers several advantages compared to other treatment modalities, including targeted delivery, low toxicity, and bioactivity suitable for drug loading. Various types of nanoformulations are available, such as liposomes, polymeric nanoparticles (NPs), magnetic NPs, nanoshells, and solid lipid nanoparticles (SLNs). RNA-based therapy utilizes intracellular gene nanoparticles with messenger RNA (mRNA) emerging prominently in cancer therapy and immunotechnology against infectious diseases. The approval of mRNA-based technology opens doors for future technological advancements, particularly self-amplifying replicon RNA (repRNA). RepRNA is a novel platform in gene therapy, comprising viral RNA with a unique molecular property that enables the amplification of all encoded genetic information countless times. As a result, repRNA-based therapies have achieved significant levels of gene expression.
  • 433
  • 19 Dec 2023
Topic Review
Suicidality Risk of Chronic Pain Medications
Chronic pain is one of the main leading causes of disability in the world at present. A variety in the symptomatology, intensity and duration of this phenomenon has led to an ever-increasing demand of pharmacological treatment and relief. This demand for medication, ranging from well-known groups, such as antidepressants and benzodiazepines, to more novel drugs, was followed by a rise in safety concerns of such treatment options. 
  • 432
  • 30 Oct 2023
Topic Review
Off-Label Prescribing in Pediatric Population
Off-label prescribing is widespread among pediatricians, and it is unlikely that this trend will soon be bound by a uniform legal framework. This is necessitated by the fact that there are four variables: the patient’s health condition, the physician’s experience and knowledge, the legislative measures (laws, directives, guidelines, and recommendations), and finally, the pharmaceutical industry. There is considerable concern worldwide about the use of off-label medicines in children. 
  • 430
  • 06 Dec 2023
Topic Review
Novel Pharmacological Targets of Post-Traumatic Stress Disorders
Post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD) is a psychopathological condition with a heterogeneous clinical picture that is complex and challenging to treat. Its multifaceted pathophysiology still remains an unresolved question and certainly contributes to this issue. The pharmacological treatment of PTSD is mainly empirical and centered on the serotonergic system. Since the therapeutic response to prescribed drugs targeting single symptoms is generally inconsistent, there is an urgent need for novel pathogenetic hypotheses, including different mediators and pathways.
  • 415
  • 11 Sep 2023
Topic Review
Discovering Amino Acid Transporter Inhibitors
Amino acid transporters are abundant amongst the solute carrier family and have an important role in facilitating the transfer of amino acids across cell membranes. Because of their impact on cell nutrient distribution, they also appear to have an important role in the growth and development of cancer. Naturally, this has made amino acid transporters a novel target of interest for the development of new anticancer drugs. 
  • 372
  • 05 Mar 2024
Topic Review
Polypharmacy in Older Patients with COVID-19
Polypharmacy is the use of multiple and potentially inappropriate medications (PIMs) that lack sufficient evidence of benefits and/or increase the risks of adverse drug reactions. It is an increasing problem among older adults. The global polypharmacy prevalence is 34.6% in patients with COVID-19, and polypharmacy in COVID-19 increases with age. 
  • 352
  • 14 Mar 2024
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