Article
Biochemistry & Molecular Biology
Clio Haering, Johannes Jungwirth, Josefine Schroeder, Bettina Loeffler, Beatrice Engert, Christina Ehrhardt
Summary: Procaine prodrugs ProcCluster (R) and procaine hydrochloride inhibit SARS-CoV-2 infection in vitro, limiting the progeny virus titres and reducing interferon and cytokine responses in a proportional manner. Procaine restricts the production of subgenomic RNA transcripts during the early stages of the SARS-CoV-2 replication cycle and later affects the replication of viral genomic RNA. Interestingly, procaine also has a significant effect on progeny virus release when added late during the replication cycle.
INTERNATIONAL JOURNAL OF MOLECULAR SCIENCES
(2023)
Article
Chemistry, Physical
Changjiang Liu, Paolo Elvati, Angela Violi
Summary: This study investigates the interactions between drugs and biological membranes, focusing on the entry of drugs into the viral envelope of coronavirus and cellular organelles. The results highlight important trends for drug design, such as the high permeability of the viral envelope and differences in permeability between organelles.
JOURNAL OF PHYSICAL CHEMISTRY LETTERS
(2021)
Review
Medicine, Research & Experimental
Alexander Simonis, Sebastian J. Theobald, Gerd Fatkenheuer, Jan Rybniker, Jakob J. Malin
Summary: The COVID-19 pandemic has highlighted the urgent need for effective antiviral drugs, and repurposing existing drugs and compounds has shown some progress in treatment strategies, including the effectiveness of drugs like remdesivir.
EMBO MOLECULAR MEDICINE
(2021)
Article
Biochemistry & Molecular Biology
Valter Bergant, Shintaro Yamada, Vincent Grass, Yuta Tsukamoto, Teresa Lavacca, Karsten Krey, Maria-Teresa Muhlhofer, Sabine Wittmann, Armin Ensser, Alexandra Herrmann, Anja Vom Hemdt, Yuriko Tomita, Shutoku Matsuyama, Takatsugu Hirokawa, Yiqi Huang, Antonio Piras, Constanze A. Jakwerth, Madlen Oelsner, Susanne Thieme, Alexander Graf, Stefan Krebs, Helmut Blum, Beate M. Kuemmerer, Alexey Stukalov, Carsten B. Schmidt-Weber, Manabu Igarashi, Thomas Gramberg, Andreas Pichlmair, Hiroki Kato
Summary: This study proposes a new approach to inhibit the replication of SARS-CoV-2 by interfering with the viral immune escape mechanism using pharmaceutical drugs. The researchers identify an inhibitor with anti-viral activity and demonstrate the role of host enzymes inhibitors in antiviral treatment.
Article
Pharmacology & Pharmacy
Yuanmei Zhu, Min Li, Nian Liu, Tong Wu, Xuelian Han, Guangyu Zhao, Yuxian He
Summary: Researchers have discovered a lipopeptide called LCB1v18 that exhibits potent inhibitory activity against SARS-CoV-2 and is effective against emerging variants. This lipopeptide enhances inhibitory activity by binding to viral and cellular membranes and has shown high preventive and therapeutic efficacy in transgenic mice.
ANTIVIRAL RESEARCH
(2023)
Article
Pharmacology & Pharmacy
Jordi Rodon, Jordana Munoz-Basagoiti, Daniel Perez-Zsolt, Marc Noguera-Julian, Roger Paredes, Lourdes Mateu, Carles Quinones, Carles Perez, Itziar Erkizia, Ignacio Blanco, Alfonso Valencia, Victor Guallar, Jorge Carrillo, Julia Blanco, Joaquim Segales, Bonaventura Clotet, Julia Vergara-Alert, Nuria Izquierdo-Useros
Summary: This study identified potential antiviral drugs for the treatment of COVID-19 by screening existing drugs approved for human use. Among the 72 antivirals tested, only 18% showed effective inhibition of viral replication, with Plitidepsin being the most promising candidate. Drug combinations showed no particular synergy, but did not reduce antiviral activity, potentially decreasing the emergence of resistant viruses.
FRONTIERS IN PHARMACOLOGY
(2021)
Article
Biochemistry & Molecular Biology
Minwoo Kim, Hee Cho, Dae-Gyun Ahn, Hae-Gwang Jung, Han Young Seo, Ji-Su Kim, Youn-Jung Lee, Jun Yong Choi, In Ho Park, Jeon-Soo Shin, Seong-Jun Kim, Jong-Won Oh
Summary: Xanthorrhizol (XNT), a natural compound, has shown potent antiviral efficacy against SCoV2 and related coronaviruses in vitro, including prevalent variants, while having minimal effect on hepatitis C virus and noroviruses. Its mechanism of action against CoVs remains unknown, but XNT shows promise as a broad-spectrum antiviral candidate.
Article
Virology
Erendira Villalobos-Sanchez, Daniel Garcia-Ruiz, Tanya A. Camacho-Villegas, Alejandro A. Canales-Aguirre, Abel Gutierrez-Ortega, Jose E. Munoz-Medina, Darwin E. Elizondo-Quiroga
Summary: This article evaluates the antiviral activity of NDGA against SARS-CoV-2 in vitro, showing that NDGA has a remarkable inhibitory effect on the virus and could be a promising therapeutic candidate for COVID-19.
Article
Medicine, General & Internal
Rana Abdelnabi, Caroline S. Foo, Suzanne J. F. Kaptein, Xin Zhang, Thuc Nguyen Dan Do, Lana Langendries, Laura Vangeel, Judith Breuer, Juanita Pang, Rachel Williams, Valentijn Vergote, Elisabeth Heylen, Pieter Leyssen, Kai Dallmeier, Lotte Coelmont, Arnab K. Chatterjee, Raf Mols, Patrick Augustijns, Steven De Jonghe, Dirk Jochmans, Birgit Weynand, Johan Neyts
Summary: The combination of Molnupiravir and Favipiravir demonstrated a significant antiviral effect in a Syrian hamster model infected with SARS-CoV-2, reducing infectious virus titers in the lungs and preventing transmission to co-housed untreated sentinels. Mutation frequency in the viral RNA recovered from the lungs of treated animals increased, with a higher frequency of C-to-T mutations observed in the combo treatment group, explaining the pronounced antiviral potency of the combination.
Review
Chemistry, Medicinal
Luana Vittoria Bauso, Chiara Imbesi, Gasparo Irene, Gabriella Cali, Alessandra Bitto
Summary: COVID-19 vaccines and monoclonal antibodies are being evaluated for their efficacy against new SARS-CoV-2 variants, with over 1000 clinical trials focusing on antiviral drugs' treatment effectiveness. Repurposed antiviral drugs for other viral infections may have the potential to be candidates for COVID-19 treatment.
Article
Virology
Nicolas G. Biteau, Sarah A. Amichai, Niloufar Azadi, Ramyani De, Jessica Downs-Bowen, Julia C. Lecher, Tamara MacBrayer, Raymond F. Schinazi, Franck Amblard
Summary: In recent decades, both 4'-modified nucleosides and carbocyclic nucleoside analogs have been studied extensively due to their potential anti-viral activity against HIV, HCV, RSV, and SARS-CoV-2. In this study, we designed compounds that combine both features and successfully synthesized a series of novel 4'-substituted carbocyclic uracil derivatives and their corresponding monophosphate prodrugs. These compounds were evaluated against a panel of RNA viruses including SARS-CoV-2, influenza A/B viruses, and norovirus.
Article
Chemistry, Medicinal
Sven Ullrich, Vishnu M. Sasi, Mithun C. Mahawaththa, Kasuni B. Ekanayake, Richard Morewood, Josemon George, Laura Shuttleworth, Xiaobai Zhang, Cassidy Whitefield, Gottfried Otting, Colin Jackson, Christoph Nitsche
Summary: This study highlights the challenges in identifying high-affinity short substrate-derived peptides and peptidomimetics without warheads for SARS-CoV-2 Mpro inhibition. Despite the development of inhibitors, only a long linear peptide displayed moderate inhibition, suggesting the need for further research in drug discovery targeting Mpro.
BIOORGANIC & MEDICINAL CHEMISTRY LETTERS
(2021)
Review
Chemistry, Medicinal
Yan Zhao, Shanshan Deng, Yujiao Bai, Jinlin Guo, Guoyin Kai, Xinhe Huang, Xu Jia
Summary: COVID-19, caused by SARS-COV-2, poses a severe threat to human health and continues to spread globally. Drug screening research has identified natural active products that can target critical proteins of the virus and display inhibitory effects. Some natural products also show immunomodulatory and anti-inflammatory properties in clinical trials. However, further evaluation and research are needed to confirm their effects on COVID-19.
PHYTOTHERAPY RESEARCH
(2022)
Article
Biochemistry & Molecular Biology
Kit-San Yuen, Zi-Wei Ye, Sin-Yee Fung, Pak-Hin Hinson Cheung, Chi-Ping Chan, Dong-Yan Jin
Summary: Highlighted top research questions on SARS-CoV-2 and COVID-19 including virus transmission, asymptomatic and presymptomatic virus shedding, diagnosis, treatment, vaccine development, origin of virus, and viral pathogenesis, to shed light on ending the pandemic.
CELL AND BIOSCIENCE
(2021)
Article
Biochemistry & Molecular Biology
Francesco Nappi, Adelaide Iervolino, Sanjeet Singh Avtaar Singh
Summary: The COVID-19 pandemic has brought about a complex clinical challenge, requiring the development of therapeutic agents for different disease severities and patient conditions. Some antiviral medications have been found to have an impact on the cardiovascular system. It is important to adhere to FDA guidelines and monitor the potential side effects of antivirals.
Article
Medicine, General & Internal
Mirjana Arsenijevic, Ivana Berisavac, Branka Mladenovic, Predrag Stanarcevic, Dejana Jovanovic, Dragana Lavrnic, Stojan Peric
Summary: This study found that GBS patients were divided into rapid, gradual, and slow progression groups according to the progression rate, with rapid-onset GBS patients more likely to have axonal variants. However, faster progression of GBS does not necessarily lead to a poorer short-term functional outcome of the disease.
IRISH JOURNAL OF MEDICAL SCIENCE
(2021)
Article
Clinical Neurology
Jovan Petrovic, Tamara Svabic, Jasna Zidverc-Trajkovic, Predrag Stanarcevic, Dejana Jovanovic, Milija Mijajlovic
Summary: Thrombosis of dural sinuses and/or cerebral veins (CVT) is an uncommon form of stroke that usually affects young individuals. The clinical presentation varies, with symptoms ranging from mild headaches to severe encephalopathy, coma, or seizures.
NEUROLOGICAL SCIENCES
(2022)
Article
Obstetrics & Gynecology
Mirjana Zdraljevic, Vanja Radisic, Stojan Peric, Aleksandra Kacar, Dejana Jovanovic, Ivana Berisavac
Summary: This study presented the long-term maternal and fetal outcomes of five pregnant patients with Guillain-Barre syndrome, highlighting the importance of early diagnosis and treatment for favorable outcomes in both patients and newborns.
JOURNAL OF OBSTETRICS AND GYNAECOLOGY RESEARCH
(2022)
Article
Neurosciences
Mirjana Zdraljevic, Tatjana Pekmezovic, Predrag Stanarcevic, Ivan Vukasinovic, Ivana Berisavac, Marko Ercegovac, Filip Vitosevic, Dragoslav Nestorovic, Vladimir Cvetic, Visnja Padjen, Maja Stefanovic-Budimkic, Tamara Svabic Medjedovic, Dejana R. Jovanovic
Summary: Thrombocytopenia does not affect the efficacy and the risk of SICH in patients with AIS caused by anterior circulation LVO treated with MT. However, the risk of mortality is higher in patients with thrombocytopenia, mainly due to malignant cerebral infarction.
JOURNAL OF STROKE & CEREBROVASCULAR DISEASES
(2022)
Article
Clinical Neurology
Valerian L. Altersberger, Lukas S. Enz, Gerli Sibolt, Christian Hametner, Stefania Nannoni, Mirjam R. Heldner, Jeffrey Stolp, Dejana R. Jovanovic, Andrea Zini, Alessandro Pezzini, Susanne Wegener, Carlo W. Cereda, George Ntaios, Silja Raety, Christoph Gumbinger, Miriam Heyse, Alexandros A. Polymeris, Annaelle Zietz, Anna Schaufelbuehl, Davide Strambo, Giovanna Padlina, Nedelina Slavova, Marjaana Tiainen, Kati Valkonen, Twan J. van Velzen, Guido Bigliardi, Predrag Stanarcevic, Mauro Magoni, Andreas Luft, Yannick Bejot, Laura Vandelli, Visnja Padjen, Paul J. Nederkoorn, Marcel Arnold, Patrik Michel, Peter A. Ringleb, Sami Curtze, Stefan T. Engelter, Henrik Gensicke
Summary: The study aims to investigate the prognostic value of white blood cell count (WBC) on functional outcome, mortality, and bleeding risk in stroke patients treated with intravenous thrombolysis (IVT). The results showed that leukocytosis independently predicted poor functional outcome and death, but was not associated with bleeding complications after IVT.
JOURNAL OF NEUROLOGY
(2022)
Article
Clinical Neurology
Christine Kremer, Zuzana Gdovinova, Yannick Bejot, Mirjam R. Heldner, Susanna Zuurbier, Silke Walter, Avtar Lal, Corina Epple, Svetlana Lorenzano, Marie-Luise Mono, Theodore Karapanayiotides, Kailash Krishnan, Dejana Jovanovic, Jesse Dawson, Valeria Caso
Summary: Pregnancy, postpartum, and menopause are considered periods when women are more susceptible to stroke. There is conflicting evidence regarding the use of hormone replacement therapy (HRT) during menopause and stroke risk. Treatment recommendations for acute stroke, including intravenous thrombolysis (IVT) and mechanical thrombectomy (MT), are needed for pregnant women. However, there is limited evidence to support these recommendations, highlighting the need for further research.
EUROPEAN STROKE JOURNAL
(2022)
Article
Neurosciences
Vanja Radisic, Mirjana Zdraljevic, Stojan Peric, Branka Mladenovic, Branislav Ralic, Dejana R. Jovanovic, Ivana Berisavac
Summary: The aim of this study was to compare the characteristics and outcomes of Guillain-Barre syndrome (GBS) patients triggered by COVID-19 with non-COVID-19 GBS patients. The results showed no difference in clinical and electrophysiological features, disease course, and outcome between the two groups.
EGYPTIAN JOURNAL OF NEUROLOGY PSYCHIATRY AND NEUROSURGERY
(2022)
Article
Neurosciences
Mirjana Zdraljevic, Tatjana Pekmezovic, Predrag Stanarcevic, Ivan Vukasinovic, Ivana Berisavac, Marko Ercegovac, Filip Vitosevic, Dragoslav Nestorovic, Vladimir Cvetic, Visnja Padjen, Maja Stefanovic-Budimkic, Tamara Svabic Medjedovic, Dejana R. Jovanovic
Summary: The aim of this study was to determine the influence of atrial fibrillation (AF) on the long-term outcome of patients with acute ischemic stroke (AIS) due to anterior circulation large vessel occlusion (LVO) treated with mechanical thrombectomy (MT). The results showed that AF was associated with a lower percentage of good functional outcome and a higher mortality rate after one year of follow-up.
JOURNAL OF STROKE & CEREBROVASCULAR DISEASES
(2022)
Article
Clinical Neurology
Mirjana Zdraljevic, Stojan Peric, Marta Jeremic, Dragana Lavrnic, Ivana Basta, Ljiljana Hajdukovic, Dejana R. Jovanovic, Ivana Berisavac
Summary: This study retrospectively analyzed patients with severe myasthenia gravis exacerbation treated in the neurology intensive care unit (NICU). The results showed that older age, mechanical ventilation, and a higher number of comorbidities were independent factors associated with poor outcomes and complications.
NEUROLOGICAL SCIENCES
(2022)
Article
Clinical Neurology
Valerian L. Altersberger, Norman Rusche, Nicolas Martinez-Majander, Christian Hametner, Jan F. Scheitz, Hilde Henon, Maria Luisa Dell'Acqua, Davide Strambo, Jeffrey Stolp, Mirjam R. Heldner, Ilaria Grisendi, Dejana R. Jovanovic, Yannick Bejot, Alessandro Pezzini, Ronen R. Leker, Georg Kagi, Susanne Wegener, Carlo W. Cereda, Erik Lindgren, George Ntaios, Ines Piot, Alexandros A. Polymeris, Philippe A. Lyrer, Silja Raty, Gerli Sibolt, Marjaana Tiainen, Miriam Heyse, Hebun Erdur, Olfa Kaaouana, Visnja Padjen, Marialuisa Zedde, Marcel Arnold, Paul J. Nederkoorn, Patrik Michel, Guido Bigliardi, Andrea Zini, Charlotte Cordonnier, Christian H. Nolte, Peter A. Ringleb, Sami Curtze, Stefan T. Engelter, Henrik Gensicke
Summary: Based on data from a large registry, this study found that the safety of intravenous thrombolysis in very elderly patients with acute ischemic stroke is similar to that in younger patients. However, the probability of death and poor functional outcome was higher in the very elderly group.
Review
Oncology
Dejana Jovanovic, Shen Yan, Martin Baumgartner
Summary: The finely tuned integration of intra- and extracellular cues by components of the MAPK signaling pathways controls uncontrolled growth and tumor cell dissemination. MAP4K4 plays a role as an upstream integrator of extracellular cues involved in proliferation and cell motility control. Its involvement in regulating cytoskeleton dynamics and cell motility is particularly relevant in understanding its role in cancer metastasis. However, it also acts as an activator of the Hippo tumor suppressor pathway, complicating its classification as an oncogenic driver kinase. Understanding the diverse functions of MAP4K4 and their implications in oncogenesis and tumor progression is important for developing potential therapeutic strategies.
FRONTIERS IN ONCOLOGY
(2022)
Article
Clinical Neurology
Valerian Altersberger, Gerli S. Sibolt, Lukas Enz, Christian F. Hametner, Jan Scheitz, Hilde Henon, Guido Bigliardi, Davide Strambo, Nicolas J. Martinez-Majander, Lotte R. Stolze, Mirjam Heldner, Ilaria R. Grisendi, Dejana Jovanovic, Yannick Bejot, Alessandro R. Pezzini, Ronen Leker, Georg Kaegi, Susanne W. Wegener, Carlo Cereda, Georges Ntaios, Gian Marco H. De Marchis, Leo Bonati, Marios Psychogios, Philippe Lyrer, Silja Raety, Marjaana Tiainen, Anke Wouters, Francois Caparros, Miriam Heyse, Hebun Erdur, Visnja Padjen, Marialuisa Zedde, Marcel J. Arnold, Paul Nederkoorn, Patrik Michel, Andrea Zini, Charlotte H. Cordonnier, Christian A. Nolte, Peter Ringleb, Sami T. Curtze, Stefan Engelter, Henrik Gensicke
Summary: This study investigated the safety and effectiveness of intravenous thrombolysis (IVT) >4.5-9 hours after stroke onset and the relevance of advanced neuroimaging for patient selection. The results showed no significant difference in symptomatic intracranial hemorrhage, poor outcome, and mortality between selected stroke patients treated with IVT between >4.5-9 hours and those treated within 4.5 hours. Advanced neuroimaging for patient selection was associated with lower mortality.
ANNALS OF NEUROLOGY
(2023)
Review
Surgery
Christine Kremer, Svetlana Lorenzano, Yannick Bejot, Avtar Lal, Corina Epple, Zuzana Gdovinova, Marie-Luise Mono, Theodore Karapanayiotides, Dejana Jovanovic, Jesse Dawson, Valeria Caso
Summary: Sex differences in the safety and efficacy of carotid revascularization for carotid artery stenosis have been explored. Limited conclusions can be drawn regarding the safety and efficacy of acute stroke treatments for women due to their underrepresentation in clinical trials. Larger prospective studies are needed to evaluate the sex-specific differences and to tailor carotid revascularization accordingly.
JOURNAL OF VASCULAR SURGERY
(2023)
Review
Neurosciences
Ivo Bozovic, Marta Jeremic, Aleksandra Pavlovic, Carna Jovanovic, Nikola Kresojevic, Nikola Vojvodic, Dejana Jovanovic, Dragoslav Sokic, Milija Mijajlovic
Summary: Cerebral amyloid angiopathy-related inflammation (CAA-rI) is a reversible subacute encephalopathy, which is a rare variant of cerebral amyloid angiopathy (CAA). Diagnosis of this inflammatory vasculopathy is generally clinico-pathologic, but can be established based on current clinico-radiological diagnostic criteria. However, it is still inadequately recognized and treated. This study presents three patients diagnosed with probable CAA-rI and summarizes the literature data on this underdiagnosed immune-mediated vasculopathy.
Article
Clinical Neurology
Marta Jeremic, Mirjana Arsenijevic, Dejana Jovanovic, Ivana Berisavac
Summary: Herpes simplex encephalitis (HSVE) presenting with non-convulsive status epilepticus (NCSE), normocellular CSF findings, and CT features of acute ischemic stroke is challenging to diagnose accurately. Comparison of multiple cases showed consistency in clinical manifestations, CSF, CT, and EEG results, highlighting the importance of understanding these factors for rapid diagnosis and successful treatment.
EPILEPTIC DISORDERS
(2021)
