Topic Review
Adverse Side Effects of Long-Term Lithium Therapy
Lithium remains the drug of first choice for prophylactic treatment of bipolar disorder, preventing the recurrences of manic and depressive episodes. The longitudinal experiences with lithium administration greatly exceed those with other mood stabilizers. Among the adverse side effects of lithium, renal, gastrointestinal, neurological, thyroid, metabolic, cognitive, dermatological, cardiologic, and sexual are listed. Probably, the most important negative effect of lithium, occurring mostly after 10–20 years of its administration, is interstitial nephropathy.
  • 466
  • 06 Feb 2023
Topic Review
Advice of Medicine Shortages in Europe
The following recommendations should be considered to handle the issue of drug shortages more effectively in Europe. Since drug shortages do not respect borders and cross-country collaboration would be beneficial for more effective shortage management, a unified European definition and reporting criteria of shortages would be necessary to assure internationally consistent monitoring, reporting, comparisons, responses, and solutions. National authorities across Europe should be aware of shortages through coordinated systems, increasing cross-country transparency, and facilitating solutions in every country. It was a significant step forward in the European Union that in July 2019, the EMA published the “Guidance on detection and notification of shortages of medicinal products for Marketing Authorisation Holders in the Union”. The document contains the effort to facilitate the more uniform reporting and communication of drug shortages and create a harmonization “drug shortage” definition. The document “Good practice guidance for communication to the public on medicines availability issues”contains communication guidelines for the national authorities and the EMA for patients and healthcare professionals.
  • 385
  • 06 Apr 2022
Topic Review
Aflatoxins in Dogs Fed
The Aflatoxins (AF) are difuranocoumarin compounds produced as secondary metabolites of fungi of the genus Aspergillus spp. following a polyketide path.
  • 483
  • 07 Feb 2021
Topic Review
Agrimonolide from Agrimonia pilosa Ledeb.
Agrimonolide (AM), which is a derivative of isocoumarins, is found mainly in the herb Agrimonia pilosa Ledeb. This compound is highly lipophilic and readily crosses the blood–brain barrier. Interest has grown in the use of AM as a multitarget natural treatment for various diseases, such as cancer, inflammation, hepatic injury, myocardial damage, and diabetes mellitus. The potential mechanisms of these pharmacological effects have been clarified at cellular and molecular levels. AM shows no cytotoxicity over a range of concentrations in different types of cells, providing evidence for its good safety profile in vitro. These findings indicate that AM is a promising medicinal agent.
  • 359
  • 15 Feb 2023
Topic Review
AhR, inflammation and breast cancer
AhR, an environmentally sensitive transcription factor, is one of the more evolutionary conserved molecules in living cells.
  • 1.0K
  • 21 Feb 2022
Topic Review
ALA against COVID-19-Induced Cardiovascular Diseases
Cardiovascular complications are rapidly emerging as a major peril in COVID-19 in addition to respiratory disease. The mechanisms underlying the excessive effect of severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2) infection on patients with cardiovascular comorbidities remain only partly understood. SARS-CoV-2 infection is caused by binding of the viral surface spike (S) protein to the human angiotensin-converting enzyme 2 (ACE2), followed by the activation of the S protein by transmembrane protease serine 2 (TMPRSS2). ACE2 is expressed in the lung (mainly in type II alveolar cells), heart, blood vessels, small intestine, etc., and appears to be the predominant portal to the cellular entry of the virus. Based on current information, most people infected with SARS-CoV-2 virus have a good prognosis, while a few patients reach critical condition, especially the elderly and those with chronic underlying diseases. The “cytokine storm” observed in patients with severe COVID-19 contributes to the destruction of the endothelium, leading to “acute respiratory distress syndrome” (ARDS), multiorgan failure, and death. At the origin of the general proinflammatory state may be the SARS-CoV-2-mediated redox status in endothelial cells via the upregulation of ACE/Ang II/AT1 receptors pathway or the increased mitochondrial reactive oxygen species (mtROS) production. Furthermore, this vicious circle between oxidative stress (OS) and inflammation induces endothelial dysfunction, endothelial senescence, high risk of thrombosis and coagulopathy. The microvascular dysfunction and the formation of microthrombi in a way differentiate the SARS-CoV-2 infection from the other respiratory diseases and bring it closer to cardiovascular diseases like myocardial infarction and stroke. Due the role played by OS in the evolution of viral infection and in the development of COVID-19 complications, the use of antioxidants as adjuvant therapy seems appropriate in this new pathology. Alpha-lipoic acid (ALA) could be a promising candidate that, through its wide tissue distribution and versatile antioxidant properties, interferes with several signaling pathways.
  • 806
  • 12 Aug 2021
Topic Review
Aldose Reductase (AR, ALR2)
Aldose reductase (AR, ALR2), the first enzyme of the polyol pathway, is implicated in the pathophysiology of diabetic complications. Aldose reductase inhibitors (ARIs) thus present a promising therapeutic approach to treat a wide array of diabetic complications. 
  • 1.0K
  • 26 May 2021
Topic Review
Algae and Fungi: use in Pre-Hispanic Mexico
The use of microorganisms in Mexico began before the Spanish conquest. Grains and fruit were fermented for thousands of years around the world, and Mexico was no exception. Many beverages are still prepared nowadays using an assortment of different microorganisms. These beverages use several yeasts, including Saccharomyces and non-Saccharomyces species. Although not conclusive, it has been suggested (and strong evidence points towards it) that pre-Hispanic cultures not only fermented beverages, but also distilled them.
  • 930
  • 13 Dec 2021
Topic Review
Algae-Derived Compounds against PM-induced Diseases
Air pollution has recently become a subject of increasing concern in many parts of the world. The World Health Organization (WHO) estimated that nearly 4.2 million early deaths are due to exposure to fine particles in polluted air, which causes multiple respiratory diseases. As a natural product, algae can be an alternative treatment due to potential biofunctional properties and advantages.
  • 903
  • 07 Jun 2021
Topic Review
ALK Inhibitors in NSCLCs
The discovery of the EML4-ALK fusion gene in a limited subset of patients affected by NSCLC and the subsequent clinical development of crizotinib in 2011 has been an impressive milestone in lung cancer research. Unfortunately, acquired resistances regularly develop, hence disease progression occurs. Afterward, modern tyrosine kinase inhibitors (TKIs), such as ceritinib, alectinib, brigatinib, and lorlatinib, have been approved by the Food and Drug Administration (FDA) for the management of anaplastic lymphoma kinase (ALK)-positive NSCLCs. Several compounds are currently under investigation to achieve the optimal strategy of therapy. 
  • 512
  • 13 Jan 2021
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