Topic Review
Roxadustat
Roxadustat is the first oral drug in the class of new erythropoiesis drugs and a potent HIF-PHD inhibitor, exerted to treat anemia in patients with CKD. In phase 1, 2 and 3 studies with CKD-affected patients, roxadustat was more effective to stimulate erythropoiesis for anemia correction than previously used drugs. Roxadustat can be orally given, unlike other erythropoiesis drugs with parenteral administration only, which grants roxadustat a considerable advantage.
  • 845
  • 16 Mar 2021
Topic Review
Nrf2-Keap1-ARE Signaling and IRI
Ischemia/reperfusion (I/R) injury is associated with substantial clinical implications, including a wide range of organs such as the brain, kidneys, lungs, heart, and many others. I/R injury (IRI) occurs due to the tissue injury following the reestablishment of blood supply to ischemic tissues, leading to enhanced aseptic inflammation and stimulation of oxidative stress via reactive oxygen and nitrogen species (ROS/RNS). Since ROS causes membrane lipids’ peroxidation, triggers loss of membrane integrity, denaturation of proteins, DNA damage, and cell death, oxidative stress plays a critical part in I/R pathogenesis. Therefore, ROS regulation could be a promising therapeutic strategy for IRI. In this context, Nrf2 (NF-E2-related factor 2) is a transcription factor that regulates the expression of several factors involved in the cellular defense against oxidative stress and inflammation, including heme oxygenase-1 (HO-1). 
  • 844
  • 01 Jun 2021
Topic Review
Stability and Activity of L-ASNases
L-asparaginases (EC 3.5.1.1) are a family of enzymes that catalyze the hydrolysis of L-asparagine to L-aspartic acid and ammonia. These proteins with different biochemical, physicochemical and pharmacological properties are found in many organisms, including bacteria, fungi, algae, plants and mammals. To date, asparaginases from E. coli and Dickeya dadantii (formerly known as Erwinia chrysanthemi) are widely used in hematology for the treatment of lymphoblastic leukemias. 
  • 839
  • 24 Mar 2022
Topic Review
Bacteriophages
Bacteriophages, viruses that infect bacteria, have emerged as a legitimate alternative antibacterial agent with a wide scope of applications which continue to be discovered and refined. However, the potential of some bacteriophages to aid in the acquisition, maintenance, and dissemination of negatively associated bacterial genes, including resistance and virulence genes, through transduction is of concern and requires deeper understanding in order to be properly addressed. In particular, their ability to interact with mobile genetic elements such as plasmids, genomic islands, and integrative conjugative elements (ICEs) enables bacteriophages to contribute greatly to bacterial evolution. Nonetheless, bacteriophages have the potential to be used as therapeutic and biocontrol agents within medical, agricultural, and food processing settings, against bacteria in both planktonic and biofilm environments. Additionally, bacteriophages have been deployed in developing rapid, sensitive, and specific biosensors for various bacterial targets. Intriguingly, their bioengineering capabilities show great promise in improving their adaptability and effectiveness as biocontrol and detection tools.
  • 835
  • 30 Mar 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.   
  • 835
  • 13 Jan 2021
Topic Review
Pathological Angiogenesis
Pathological angiogenesis, which is mainly induced through vascular endothelial growth factors (VEGF) and their receptors, is involved in many of these vision-impairing ocular disorders, such as age-related macular degeneration (AMD), diabetic retinopathy (DR), and corneal neovascularization. 
  • 834
  • 23 Feb 2021
Topic Review
The Coming of Age of Biosimilars: Perspective
The first biosimilar, Sandoz’s Omnitrope (human growth hormone), was approved in 2006 by both the FDA and EMA; it was approved by the FDA under the 505(b)(2) generic product legislation and by the EU as a biosimilar. Later, Sandoz received the first licensing of Zarzio/Zarxio (filgrastim) in 2015; this was the first biosimilar product approved under the 351(k) BLA legislation in the US Many firsts were to follow in the US: the first mAb (bevacizumab), the first pegylated cytokine (pegfilgrastim), the first ophthalmic biosimilar (ranibizumab), and the first two interchangeable biosimilars (insulin glargine and adalimumab). The US also approved the first biosimilars without clinical efficacy testing (filgrastim, pegfilgrastim, and erythropoietin alfa).
  • 833
  • 02 Jun 2022
Topic Review
The Mechanism-Based Inactivation of CYP3A4 by Ritonavir
Ritonavir is the most potent cytochrome P450 (CYP) 3A4 inhibitor in clinical use and is often applied as a booster for drugs with low oral bioavailability due to CYP3A4-mediated biotransformation, as in the treatment of HIV (e.g., lopinavir/ritonavir) and more recently COVID-19 (Paxlovid or nirmatrelvir/ritonavir). Ritonavir is clearly a potent mechanism-based inactivator, which irreversibly blocks CYP3A4. 
  • 832
  • 19 Sep 2022
Topic Review
Mitochondria-Targeted, Nanoparticle-Based Drug-Delivery Systems
Mitochondria play a key role in the production of metabolic energy in eukaryotic cells. However, apart from energy production, mitochondria also perform several other functions, namely, calcium signaling, cell proliferation, cell cycle regulation, and apoptosis. With growing interest in mitochondria, significant efforts are being made in mitochondria-targeting pharmaceutical interventions, resulting in ‘mitochondrial medicine’ as an emerging area of healthcare research. Mitochondria-targeting nanoparticles (NPs) are now a promising field of drug-delivery systems.
  • 832
  • 19 May 2022
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.
  • 826
  • 03 Sep 2021
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