Topic Review
Miscellaneous Natural Products for COVID-19
Natural medicine has proven its effectiveness against various illnesses. Most of the pharmaceutical agents currently used can trace their origin to the natural products in one way, shape, or form. Using natural products, which is part of various traditional medical systems to prevent and/or treat diseases, dates back thousands of years in different parts of the world.
  • 453
  • 28 Oct 2022
Topic Review
Pharmacovigilance Systems in Three Arab Countries
Pharmacovigilance (PV) is defined by the World Health Organisation (WHO) as “the science and activities relating to the detection, assessment, understanding and prevention of adverse effects or any other drug-related problem" and represents an important element of a country’s public health policies’ portfolio. Like other developing countries, PV systems in Arab countries are at different stages of maturity, with many still in the early stages of development. Recently, however, the importance of having a strong PV system in place has gained increased attention.
  • 451
  • 07 Mar 2022
Topic Review
4D Printing Technology
4D printing (4DP) is an evolution of 3DP where additive manufacturing printing techniques are employed. In other words, adapting 3DP processes for 4DP of shape memory polymers (SMPs) or smart materials requires minor adjustments. In order to produce the desired shape-changing materials as per estimation or for optimal application, an air circulation system may be incorporated into 3DP’s traditional fused deposition method (FDM) technology. This would cool the SMP below its Tg and, after these small alterations, previous 3DP methods such as stereolithography apparatus (SLA), digital laser writing and inkjet printing can also be employed.
  • 451
  • 05 Jan 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. 
  • 450
  • 03 Jan 2023
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.
  • 449
  • 16 Aug 2020
Topic Review
Tirzepatide in Type 2 Diabetes Mellitus
Tirzepatide is a novel once-a-week dual glucose-dependent insulinotropic polypeptide and glucagon-like peptide-1 receptor agonist, currently under trial to assess glycemic efficacy and safety in people with type 2 diabetes.
  • 450
  • 11 Nov 2021
Topic Review
Proteomic Research on Antitumor Properties of Medicinal Mushrooms
Medicinal mushrooms are increasingly being recognized as an important therapeutic modality in complementary oncology. Until now, more than 800 mushroom species have been known to possess significant pharmacological properties, of which antitumor and immunomodulatory properties have been the most researched. Besides a number of medicinal mushroom preparations being used as dietary supplements and nutraceuticals, several isolates from mushrooms have been used as official antitumor drugs in clinical settings for several decades. Various proteomic approaches allow for the identification of a large number of differentially regulated proteins serendipitously, thereby providing an important platform for a discovery of new potential therapeutic targets and approaches as well as biomarkers of malignant disease. This entry is focused on the current state of proteomic research into antitumor mechanisms of some of the most researched medicinal mushroom species, including Phellinus linteus, Ganoderma lucidum, Auricularia auricula, Agrocybe aegerita, Grifola frondosa, and Lentinus edodes, as whole body extracts or various isolates, as well as of complex extract mixtures.
  • 448
  • 15 Nov 2021
Topic Review
The Genus Cetraria s. str.
The genus Cetraria s. str. (Parmeliaceae family, Cetrarioid clade) consists of 15 species of mostly erect brown or greenish yellow fruticose or subfoliose thallus. These Cetraria species have a cosmopolitan distribution, being primarily located in the Northern Hemisphere, in North America and in the Eurasia area. 
  • 448
  • 24 Aug 2022
Topic Review
Trientine in Hypertrophic Cardiomyopathy
Trientine, a copper-chelating drug used in the management of patients with Wilson’s disease, demonstrates beneficial effects in patients with hypertrophic cardiomyopathy.
  • 447
  • 10 Feb 2023
Topic Review
Respiratory Manifestations in SLE
Systemic lupus erythematosus (SLE) is a chronic, systemic autoimmune disease with a relapsing–remitting course and characterized by the production of a wide range of autoantibodies. 
  • 445
  • 13 Apr 2021
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