Review
Pharmacology & Pharmacy
Boshi Huang, Yan Zhang
Summary: Given the high cost and low success rate of drug discovery and development, repositioning existing drugs for new diseases has become a popular research area. Natural products have shown potential in this field due to their long history of use in various medical purposes. This review discusses the repositioning of six typical natural products and their derivatives to discover new drug-disease associations, while also highlighting the opportunities and challenges in natural product-based drug repositioning for future reference.
DRUG DISCOVERY TODAY
(2022)
Review
Medicine, Research & Experimental
Junyi Ren, Bo Wang, Qifeng Wu, Guiling Wang
Summary: Niclosamide, besides treating parasitic infections, can also be used to treat cancer and other diseases. Studies have shown that combining it with chemotherapeutic drugs, targeted drugs, radiotherapy, and immunotherapy can enhance its anti-tumor effect.
BIOMEDICINE & PHARMACOTHERAPY
(2022)
Article
Endocrinology & Metabolism
Samuel M. Lockhart, Stephen O'Rahilly
Summary: Colchicine, an anti-inflammatory agent commonly used to treat gout, exerts its effects in mice by inducing the hormone GDF-15 in the liver, as demonstrated by Weng et al. in the latest issue of Nature Metabolism.
Article
Biochemistry & Molecular Biology
Hanane Lahnif, Tilmann Grus, Evangelia-Alexandra Salvanou, Elisavet Deligianni, Dimitris Stellas, Penelope Bouziotis, Frank Roesch
Summary: Targeting therapy, especially in oncology, is of significant importance due to the severe side effects of chemotherapy. This article evaluates a PSMA-targeting small molecule-drug conjugate, which shows moderate binding affinity and PSMA-specific cytotoxicity. In vivo studies demonstrate good tolerability and dose-dependent inhibition of tumor growth. Therefore, this developed conjugate should be considered a promising candidate for translational approach.
INTERNATIONAL JOURNAL OF MOLECULAR SCIENCES
(2023)
Article
Pharmacology & Pharmacy
Abdoh Taleb, Ya-Ping Zhou, Ling-Tong Meng, Ming-Yi Zhu, Qiao Zhang, Muhammad Naveed, Lian-Di Li, Peng Wang, Qi-Gang Zhou, Fan Meng, Feng Han
Summary: Proparacaine hydrochloride (PPC-HCl) exhibited acute antiepileptic effect and long-term seizure control without toxicities. Encapsulation in liposomes and incorporation into a hydrogel sustained release system was effective in reducing potential cardiotoxicity and could be a promising transdermal patch treatment for epilepsy.
PHARMACOLOGICAL RESEARCH
(2021)
Article
Oncology
Vijay P. Kale, Hasan Habib, Robert Chitren, Milan Patel, Kartick C. Pramanik, Subash C. Jonnalagadda, Kishore Challagundla, Manoj K. Pandey
Summary: The discovery and development of novel anti-cancer drugs is costly and time-consuming. Utilizing drugs developed for non-cancer indications for hematological malignancies can significantly reduce costs and development time, as they have already undergone preclinical and clinical development. Repurposing such drugs can be an efficient strategy for treating cancer.
SEMINARS IN CANCER BIOLOGY
(2021)
Article
Immunology
Majid Mokhtari, Minoo Mohraz, Mohammad Mehdi Gouya, Hengameh Namdari Tabar, Jafar-Sadegh Tabrizi, Katayoun Tayeri, Saeide Aghamohamadi, Zahra Rajabpoor, Manoochehr Karami, Alireza Raeisi, Hamid Rahmani, Hossein Khalili
Summary: The study suggests that early use of hydroxychloroquine (HCQ) may significantly reduce the odds of hospitalization or death in adults with mild COVID-19, regardless of age or comorbidities.
INTERNATIONAL IMMUNOPHARMACOLOGY
(2021)
Review
Pharmacology & Pharmacy
Mohammad Hajimolaali, Hosein Mohammadian, Ali Torabi, Amin Shirini, Mostafa Khalife Shal, Hami Barazandeh Nezhad, Sheida Iranpour, Reza Baradaran Eftekhari, Farid Dorkoosh
Summary: CQ is found to interfere with the natural process of endosomal maturation and enhance gene delivery efficiency through electrostatic interactions. Endosomal escape is considered the bottleneck of efficient gene delivery, and CQ as an effective endosomal escape enhancing agent warrants further studies.
EXPERT OPINION ON DRUG DELIVERY
(2021)
Review
Biochemistry & Molecular Biology
Marta Osrodek, Michal Wozniak
Summary: Despite recent advances in the treatment of cutaneous melanoma, challenges remain, including resistance to conventional chemotherapy and limited efficacy of immune checkpoint inhibitors in only a small subset of patients.
INTERNATIONAL JOURNAL OF MOLECULAR SCIENCES
(2021)
Article
Infectious Diseases
S. Ruiz, D. Concordet, T. Lanot, B. Georges, P. Goudy, S. Baklouti, C. Mane, E. Losha, H. Vinour, D. Rousset, M. Lavit, V Minville, J-M Conil, P. Gandia
Summary: The study evaluated hydroxychloroquine concentrations in the lung epithelial lining fluid in critically ill COVID-19 patients. Results showed that lung exposure may be higher than plasma concentrations, indicating that low plasma concentrations should not lead to increased drug dosage.
INTERNATIONAL JOURNAL OF ANTIMICROBIAL AGENTS
(2021)
Review
Pathology
Mehrdad Hashemi, Mehrnaz Razzazan, Maryam Bagheri, Saba Asadi, Behdokht Jamali, Maryam Khalafi, Abolfazl Azimi, Sepideh Rad, Mitra Behroozaghdam, Noushin Nabavi, Mohsen Rashidi, Farshid Dehkhoda, Afshin Taheriazam, Maliheh Entezari
Summary: This review discusses the regulatory mechanisms, functional roles, and therapeutic applications of AMPK signaling in osteosarcoma. It highlights the uncertain role of AMPK in tumorigenesis and its potential as a therapeutic target. The review also examines the therapeutic potential and molecular mechanisms of direct and indirect activators of AMPK in osteosarcoma treatment.
PATHOLOGY RESEARCH AND PRACTICE
(2023)
Review
Immunology
Daniel Charles Dos Santos Macedo, Iago Dillion Lima Cavalcanti, Sandrelli Meridiana de Fatima Ramos Dos Santos Medeiros, Jaqueline Barbosa de Souza, Mariane Cajuba de Britto Lira Nogueira, Isabella Macario Ferro Cavalcanti
Summary: Nanotechnology offers potential improvements in the treatment of tuberculosis, with nanoparticles and nanocarriers enhancing drug bioavailability and delivery. Studies on polymeric nanoparticles and solid lipid nanoparticles show promise, and liposomes have also demonstrated efficacy in reducing bacterial load.
Review
Immunology
Elif cakan, Gurcan Gunaydin
Summary: AID is a protein in the APOBEC family that induces point mutations, regulates somatic hypermutation and class switch recombination. It plays important roles in B cell development and dysregulation of AID can lead to increased mutation load, translocations, and lymphomagenesis.
FRONTIERS IN IMMUNOLOGY
(2022)
Review
Biochemistry & Molecular Biology
Cristina Miralpeix, Ana Cristina Reguera, Anna Fosch, Sebastian Zagmutt, Nuria Casals, Daniela Cota, Rosalia Rodriguez-Rodriguez
Summary: The hypothalamus plays a crucial role in the pathogenesis of obesity, with disrupted endocannabinoid system considered a landmark indicator. Recent research has expanded knowledge of the complex endocannabinoid system, focusing on CB receptors, ligands, non-CB receptors, and metabolizing enzymes, particularly in the hypothalamus. The insights gained have provided promising targets for tackling obesity and related diseases.
CELLULAR AND MOLECULAR LIFE SCIENCES
(2021)
Article
Multidisciplinary Sciences
Cathrine Axfors, Andreas M. Schmitt, Perrine Janiaud, Janneke van't Hooft, Sherief Abd-Elsalam, Ehab F. Abdo, Benjamin S. Abella, Javed Akram, Ravi K. Amaravadi, Derek C. Angus, Yaseen M. Arabi, Shehnoor Azhar, Lindsey R. Baden, Arthur W. Baker, Leila Belkhir, Thomas Benfield, Marvin A. H. Berrevoets, Cheng-Pin Chen, Tsung-Chia Chen, Shu-Hsing Cheng, Chien-Yu Cheng, Wei-Sheng Chung, Yehuda Z. Cohen, Lisa N. Cowan, Olav Dalgard, Fernando F. de Almeida e Val, Marcus V. G. de Lacerda, Gisely C. de Melo, Lennie Derde, Vincent Dubee, Anissa Elfakir, Anthony C. Gordon, Carmen M. Hernandez-Cardenas, Thomas Hills, Andy I. M. Hoepelman, Yi-Wen Huang, Bruno Igau, Ronghua Jin, Felipe Jurado-Camacho, Khalid S. Khan, Peter G. Kremsner, Benno Kreuels, Cheng-Yu Kuo, Thuy Le, Yi-Chun Lin, Wu-Pu Lin, Tse-Hung Lin, Magnus Nakrem Lyngbakken, Colin McArthur, Bryan J. McVerry, Patricia Meza-Meneses, Wuelton M. Monteiro, Susan C. Morpeth, Ahmad Mourad, Mark J. Mulligan, Srinivas Murthy, Susanna Naggie, Shanti Narayanasamy, Alistair Nichol, Lewis A. Novack, Sean M. O'Brien, Nwora Lance Okeke, Lena Perez, Rogelio Perez-Padilla, Laurent Perrin, Arantxa Remigio-Luna, Norma E. Rivera-Martinez, Frank W. Rockhold, Sebastian Rodriguez-Llamazares, Robert Rolfe, Rossana Rosa, Helge Rosjo, Vanderson S. Sampaio, Todd B. Seto, Muhammad Shehzad, Shaimaa Soliman, Jason E. Stout, Ireri Thirion-Romero, Andrea B. Troxel, Ting-Yu Tseng, Nicholas A. Turner, Robert J. Ulrich, Stephen R. Walsh, Steve A. Webb, Jesper M. Weehuizen, Maria Velinova, Hon-Lai Wong, Rebekah Wrenn, Fernando G. Zampieri, Wu Zhong, David Moher, Steven N. Goodman, John P. A. Ioannidis, Lars G. Hemkens
Summary: This study conducted a rapid meta-analysis on the effects of hydroxychloroquine and chloroquine on the survival of COVID-19 patients. It found that treatment with hydroxychloroquine was associated with increased mortality, while there was no benefit from chloroquine.
NATURE COMMUNICATIONS
(2021)
