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Topic Review
Biography
Topic Review
MRNA Therapies
Currently, mRNA appears as a very promising and innovative therapeutic approach for diseases associated with functional loss of proteins, through the administration of a synthetic mRNA, which promotes the reestablishment of protein levels and restores its function. Moreover, mRNA can create new cellular functions, for example for passive immunization, allowing to stimulate the immune system, through the translation of antigenic mRNA for specific cell recognition (e.g., cancer cells) or antibody production. The fact that a relatively small amount of encoded antigen, from a synthetic mRNA, can be sufficient to obtain robust signs of efficacy, is one of the main advantages of using this biomolecule in immunotherapy. However, the global success of such mRNA-based treatments depends on a high number of these biomolecules and an effective in vivo delivery to target cells involved in a given disease. After proving that in vivo mRNA administration is possible and viable, the concept of using mRNA as a therapeutic basis was readily accepted and used in a variety of diseases, including diabetes, HIV infection, anemia, hemophilia, myocardial infarction, cancer, asthma, metabolic disorders, fibrosis, skeletal degeneration and neurological disorders, such as Friedreich’s ataxia and Alzheimer’s disease.
493
04 Jan 2022
Topic Review
Mood Stabilizers of First and Second Generation
Mood stabilizers can be classified into two generations based on the chronology of their introduction into the psychiatric armamentarium. First-generation mood stabilizers (FGMS) such as lithium, valproates and carbamazepine were introduced in the years 1960-1970s. Second-generation mood stabilizers (SGMS) started in 1995, with a discovery of the mood-stabilizing properties of clozapine. The SGMS include atypical antipsychotics such as clozapine, olanzapine, quetiapine, aripiprazole, and risperidone as well as a new anticonvulsant drug, lamotrigine. Recently as a candidate for SGMS, a novel antipsychotic, lurasidone, has been suggested. Several other atypical antipsychotics and anticonvulsants, as well as memantine showed some usefulness in the treatment and prophylaxis of bipolar disorder; however, they have not fully met the author’s criteria for mood stabilizers.
414
19 May 2023
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.
348
10 Aug 2021
Topic Review
Monoclonal Antibodies in Treating Inflammatory Bowel Disease
Monoclonal antibodies (MAbs) have revolutionized the treatment of many chronic inflammatory diseases, including inflammatory bowel disease (IBD). IBD is a term that comprises two quite similar, yet distinctive, disorders—Crohn’s disease (CD) and ulcerative colitis (UC). Two blockbuster MAbs, infliximab (IFX) and adalimumab (ADL), transformed the pharmacological approach of treating CD and UC. However, due to the complex interplay of pharmacology and immunology, MAbs face challenges related to their immunogenicity, effectiveness, and safety.
392
19 Sep 2022
Topic Review
Monoclonal Antibodies in the Management of Psoriasis
Psoriasis is a chronic autoimmune and inflammatory skin disease associated with physical and psychological burdens characterized by erythematic plaques with adherent shiny scales.
969
08 Apr 2022
Topic Review
Molluscivorous and Vermivorous Conus Species
It is generally believed that more than 700 Conus species have evolved during the last 50 million years. With the highest species abundance occurring in southeast Asia, most Conus can be found in the shallow waters of tropical and subtropical oceans. Conus is widely distributed in rocky shores, sandy beaches, coral reefs and intertidal waters, with depths reaching up to over 600 m. Nowadays, Conus species are generally overexploited, and some species are now endangered. Exploring these waters of potentially high species diversity could enrich our understanding of their population’s genetic structure and provide the missing pieces for clarifying Conus evolution. As the conotoxin compounds vary greatly throughout the growth stages and across geolocations within the same species, further investigation of these species-specific regional distribution differences may provide crucial insights for artificial breeding and harvesting specific bioactive compounds in the future.
815
18 Feb 2022
Topic Review
Molecules for Glioblastoma Therapy
Glioblastoma multiforme (GBM) is a highly malignant primary brain tumor. The current standard of care for GBM is the Stupp protocol which includes surgical resection, followed by radiotherapy concomitant with the DNA alkylator temozolomide; however, survival under this treatment regimen is an abysmal 12–18 months. New and emerging treatments include the application of a physical device, non-invasive ‘tumor treating fields’ (TTFs), including its concomitant use with standard of care; and varied vaccines and immunotherapeutics being trialed. Some of these approaches have extended life by a few months over standard of care, but in some cases are only available for a minority of GBM patients. Extensive activity is also underway to repurpose and reposition therapeutics for GBM, either alone or in combination with the standard of care.
362
19 Feb 2021
Topic Review
Molecular Mechanisms of Immunoregulatory Function of DPSCs
Dental pulp stem cells (DPSCs) are mesenchymal stem cells (MSCs) derived from dental pulp tissue, which have high self-renewal ability and multi-lineage differentiation potential. With the discovery of the immunoregulatory ability of stem cells, DPSCs have attracted much attention because they have similar or even better immunomodulatory effects than MSCs from other sources. DPSCs and their exosomes can exert an immunomodulatory ability by acting on target immune cells to regulate cytokines. DPSCs can also migrate to the lesion site to differentiate into target cells to repair the injured tissue, and play an important role in tissue regeneration.
272
05 May 2023
Topic Review
Molecular Mechanism of Drug Resistance in
Pseudomonas aeruginosa
Antibiotic resistance in Pseudomonas aeruginosa remains one of the most challenging phenomena of everyday medical science. The universal spread of high-risk clones of multidrug-resistant/extensively drug-resistant (MDR/XDR) clinical P. aeruginosa has become a public health threat. The P. aeruginosa bacteria exhibits remarkable genome plasticity that utilizes highly acquired and intrinsic resistance mechanisms to counter most antibiotic challenges. In addition, the adaptive antibiotic resistance of P. aeruginosa, including biofilm-mediated resistance and the formation of multidrug-tolerant persisted cells, are accountable for recalcitrance and relapse of infections.
196
06 Sep 2023
Topic Review
Modified Pectin Binding Galectin-3 in SARS-CoV-2
Modified pectin (MP) is a bioactive complex polysaccharide that is broken down into smaller fragments of units and used as an oral dietary supplement for cell proliferation. MP is safe and non-toxic with promising therapeutic properties with regard to targeting galectin-3 (GAL-3) toward the prevention and inhibition of viral infections through the modulation of the immune response and anti-inflammatory cytokine effects. This effect of MP as a GAL-3 antagonism, which has shown benefits in preclinical and clinical models, may be of relevance to the progression of the novel severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus-2 (SARS-CoV-2) in coronavirus disease 2019 patients. The outbreak of emerging infectious diseases continues to pose a threat to human health. Further to the circulation of multiple variants of SARS-CoV-2, an effective and alternative therapeutic approach to combat it has become pertinent. The use of MP as a GAL-3 inhibitor could serve as an antiviral agent blocking against the SARS-CoV-2-binding spike protein.
1.3K
14 Dec 2021
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