Article
Immunology
Chunliang Xu, Maria Gulinello, Paul S. Frenette
Summary: Sensory nerves play a protective role in SCD, relieving the severity of VOE, and manipulating nociception may provide a promising approach for treating SCD.
JOURNAL OF EXPERIMENTAL MEDICINE
(2021)
Review
Biochemistry & Molecular Biology
Luisa A. DiPietro, Traci A. Wilgus, Timothy J. Koh
Summary: Macrophages play a prominent role in skin wound healing, with functions including host defense and support of new tissue growth. However, the exact role of macrophages in wound healing remains elusive, as some wounds can heal well even with limited or no functional macrophages. Recent advances in understanding macrophage phenotypes and cellular plasticity in wounds may provide new insights and paradigms on macrophage function in wounds.
INTERNATIONAL JOURNAL OF MOLECULAR SCIENCES
(2021)
Article
Plant Sciences
Amanda de Oliveira Marinho, Jessica de Santana Brito, Jainaldo Alves Da Costa, Abdenego Rodrigues Da Silva, Suellen Pedrosa Da Silva, Luciclaudio Cassimiro De Amorim, Maria Tereza dos Santos Correia, Patricia Maria Guedes Paiva, Alisson Macario De Oliveira, Leydianne Leite de Siqueira Patriota, Thiago Henrique Napolea
Summary: The study evaluated the antinociceptive activity of S. terebinthifolia leaf lectin (SteLL) and found that it has both peripheral and central analgesic effects, which are mediated through modulation of opioid receptors without affecting motor coordination in animals.
JOURNAL OF ETHNOPHARMACOLOGY
(2023)
Review
Medicine, Research & Experimental
Shahriar Sharifi, Mohammad Javad Hajipour, Lisa Gould, Morteza Mahmoudi
Summary: Chronic wounds pose challenges due to poor healing, bacterial infection, and inflammation imbalance. Current therapies have limitations, but nanomedicine offers promise by stimulating cellular and molecular mechanisms in the wound microenvironment. Incorporating nanomedicine into chronic wound management may provide opportunities for improved outcomes.
MOLECULAR PHARMACEUTICS
(2021)
Review
Immunology
Meirong Li, Qian Hou, Lingzhi Zhong, Yali Zhao, Xiaobing Fu
Summary: The review highlights the persistent hyper-inflammation as a distinguishing characteristic of chronic wounds, with macrophage malfunction identified as a major contributor. The study explores the origin, heterogeneity, and dysregulation of macrophages in wound healing, while also evaluating therapeutic approaches for restoring macrophage response. Multidimensional analysis using high-throughput technologies helps assess the diversity, activation states, and communication of macrophages in healing and non-healing wounds, providing promising interventions for chronic wounds.
FRONTIERS IN IMMUNOLOGY
(2021)
Article
Neurosciences
Michael J. Wedemeyer, Elaine M. Jennings, Hudson R. Smith, Teresa S. Chavera, Raehannah J. Jamshidi, Kelly A. Berg, William P. Clarke
Summary: The study identified that the scaffolding protein 14-3-3 gamma plays a crucial role in long-term inhibition of KOR in peripheral sensory neurons, and knocking down 14-3-3 gamma can eliminate this inhibitory effect, providing further evidence of its importance in analgesia.
Article
Immunology
Amro M. Soliman, Taekwan Yoon, Jiahui Wang, James L. Stafford, Daniel R. Barreda
Summary: The study investigates the kinetics of leukocyte recruitment in fish skin infections, demonstrating early upregulation of inflammatory cytokines and migration of neutrophils to the injury site. Resolution of inflammation is marked by reduction in reactive oxygen species and pro-inflammatory cytokines expression.
FRONTIERS IN IMMUNOLOGY
(2021)
Article
Multidisciplinary Sciences
Xiangli Zhang, Zhilong Wang, Hong Jiang, Huajing Zeng, Nan An, Bin Liu, Luyi Sun, Zengjie Fan
Summary: A self-powered enzyme-linked microneedle (MN) patch was designed and fabricated, consisting of glucose oxidase (GOx) and horseradish peroxidase (HRP) encapsulated in ZIF-8 nanoparticles within anode and cathode MN arrays. The enzymatic cascade reaction in the MN patch effectively reduced local hyperglycemia in diabetic wounds while generating stable microcurrents to promote rapid healing. Thus, the MN patch showed rapid, complete, and scar-preventative healing of diabetic wounds due to the synergistic actions of hypoglycemic, antibacterial, anti-inflammatory, and bioelectrical stimulation.
Article
Medicine, General & Internal
Terence Ong, Chiann Ni Thiam
Summary: Pain is a common issue among older people, but it is often underestimated and not properly treated. A comprehensive assessment is necessary to identify the cause, severity, impact, and treatment response of pain. Managing pain in older individuals requires a different approach due to frailty, multimorbidity, polypharmacy, sensory deficits, and cognitive impairment. This review provides a summary of a comprehensive approach to pain management in older people.
Article
Psychology, Biological
Michael M. Morgan, Tammy N. Hilgendorf, Ram Kandasamy
Summary: This study investigated the effects of fentanyl on hindpaw inflammation, administration, and withdrawal in rats. The results showed that the effects of fentanyl on activity levels varied depending on the dose and pain condition, and withdrawal from fentanyl resulted in opioid withdrawal symptoms.
PHYSIOLOGY & BEHAVIOR
(2023)
Article
Veterinary Sciences
Daphna Emanuel, Sabine B. R. Kaestner, Julien Delarocque, Anne J. Grob, Astrid Bienert-Zeit
Summary: The aim of this study was to compare the effects of butorphanol, buprenorphine, and levomethadone on sedation quality and postoperative analgesia in horses undergoing cheek tooth extraction. The results showed that levomethadone and buprenorphine had better analgesic effects, with buprenorphine also increasing locomotor activity. However, it is important to note that serum cortisol levels may be influenced by other factors.
VETERINARY SCIENCES
(2022)
Article
Surgery
Hira Shafeeq, Jody C. DiGiacomo, Kelley A. Sookraj, Noam Gerber, Alaa Bahr, Om N. Talreja, Swapna Munnangi, Sarah Cardozo-Stolberg, L. D. George Angus
Summary: The study demonstrates that implementing a multimodal pain management approach with IV APAP as the first-line therapy in older polytrauma patients can significantly reduce opioid use and is associated with a shorter hospital stay.
JOURNAL OF SURGICAL RESEARCH
(2022)
Review
Biochemistry & Molecular Biology
Vladyslav Vivcharenko, Marta Trzaskowska, Agata Przekora
Summary: Infections during wound healing are common complications in wound care that hinder the healing process and lead to non-healing wounds. Skin microbiota and the wound microenvironment contribute to the occurrence of skin infections, increasing morbidity and mortality rates. Effective treatment options, such as antimicrobial agents in wound dressings, have been found to reduce wound colonization and improve healing. This review paper discusses the impact of bacterial infections on wound healing phases and promising modifications of dressing materials, including antibiotics, nanoparticles, cationic organic agents, and plant-derived natural compounds, for antimicrobial wound dressings. The review article is based on scientific contributions from the PubMed database (supported with Google Scholar searching) over the past 5 years.
INTERNATIONAL JOURNAL OF MOLECULAR SCIENCES
(2023)
Review
Pharmacology & Pharmacy
Attila Gabor Szollosi, Attila Olah, Erika Lisztes, Zoltan Griger, Balazs Istvan Toth
Summary: Pruritus, or itch, is a common symptom associated with various skin and immune disorders. Despite significant progress in understanding the molecular mechanisms behind acute and chronic itch, there are still gaps in our knowledge, making the clinical management of pruritic conditions challenging. Recent research has highlighted the interactions between pruriceptive sensory neurons and different cutaneous cell types, particularly in inflammatory conditions, where these cells release mediators that excite the itch-sensing fibers. There is also bidirectional communication, with sensory neurons releasing mediators that maintain an inflamed and itchy tissue environment.
FRONTIERS IN PHARMACOLOGY
(2022)
Review
Oncology
Morena Shkodra, Augusto Caraceni
Summary: This review discusses treatment approaches for neuropathic cancer pain caused by nerve damage due to the tumor. Diagnosing and treating neuropathic cancer pain remains difficult and evidence for the best treatments is limited. This review summarizes current management options and provides insights on new promising treatments for neuropathic cancer pain.
Article
Pharmacology & Pharmacy
Luca Eibach, Simone Scheffel, Madeleine Cardebring, Marie Lettau, M. Ozgur Celik, Andreas Morguet, Robert Roehle, Christoph Stein
Summary: The study investigated the effectiveness of cannabidivarin (CBDV) for treating HIV-associated neuropathic pain and found that it did not significantly reduce pain intensity. The results suggest that CBDV has no impact on the amount of pain medication used, pain characteristics, or quality of life.
CLINICAL PHARMACOLOGY & THERAPEUTICS
(2021)
Review
Pharmacology & Pharmacy
Partho Protim Adhikary, Zheng Tan, Brent D. G. Page, Sarah Hedtrich
Summary: Atopic diseases such as atopic dermatitis, allergic rhinitis, and allergic asthma are common allergic inflammatory diseases. Thymic stromal lymphopoietin (TSLP) plays a key role in regulating tissue microenvironment and driving atopic diseases.
PHARMACOLOGY & THERAPEUTICS
(2021)
Review
Biotechnology & Applied Microbiology
Qurrat Ul Ain, Estefania V. R. Campos, Ariel Huynh, Dominik Witzigmann, Sarah Hedtrich
Summary: Gene therapies are powerful in treating diseases, but face challenges in skin disorders due to the unique barrier properties of human skin that limit the efficient delivery of nucleic acid payloads. Delivery strategies are identified as the major obstacle in fully utilizing the potential of gene therapies for various human diseases, not just skin disorders.
TRENDS IN BIOTECHNOLOGY
(2021)
Article
Gastroenterology & Hepatology
Nestor Nivardo Jimenez-Vargas, Yang Yu, Dane D. Jensen, Diana Daeun Bok, Matthew Wisdom, Rocco Latorre, Cintya Lopez, Josue O. Jaramillo-Polanco, Claudius Degro, Mabel Guzman-Rodriguez, Quentin Tsang, Zachary Snow, Brian L. Schmidt, David E. Reed, Alan Edward Lomax, Kara Gross Margolis, Christoph Stein, Nigel W. Bunnett, Stephen J. Vanner
Summary: The fentanyl analogue NFEPP demonstrated effectiveness in inhibiting pain response in mice with colitis in an acidic environment, without causing respiratory depression, constipation, or hyperactivity. In contrast, fentanyl inhibited pain responses in both groups of mice and had side effects such as respiratory depression and hyperactivity.
Article
Biochemistry & Molecular Biology
Alexandra Gruber, Aaroh Anand Joshi, Patrick Graff, Jose Luis Cuellar-Camacho, Sarah Hedtrich, Daniel Klinger
Summary: Polymeric nanogels are potential nonirritating nanocarriers for topical delivery. Amphiphilic nanogels containing hydrophilic networks with hydrophobic domains can overcome the limitations of conventional hydrophilic networks, improving encapsulation of hydrophobic therapeutics and tailored interactions with the skin barrier.
Article
Engineering, Biomedical
Samuel Babity, Frederic Couture, Estefania V. R. Campos, Sarah Hedtrich, Raphael Hagen, Daniel Fehr, Mathias Bonmarin, Davide Brambilla
Summary: This study proposes a minimally invasive alternative strategy of delivering fluorescent ratiometric sensors to the skin using dissolving polymeric microneedles for real-time monitoring of physiological and pathological parameters. The sensors are capable of detecting reactive oxygen species, and are coupled with a custom-built, multiwavelength portable fluorescence detection system.
ADVANCED HEALTHCARE MATERIALS
(2022)
Article
Medicine, Research & Experimental
Patrick Graff, Stefan Honzke, Aaroh Anand Joshi, Guy Yealland, Emanuel Fleige, Michael Unbehauen, Monika Schafer-Korting, Andreas Hocke, Rainer Haag, Sarah Hedtrich
Summary: Human skin equivalents are useful tools in preclinical dermatological research. In this study, researchers investigated the suitability of inflammatory skin equivalents for testing the anti-inflammatory effects of dexamethasone. The results showed that topical application of dexamethasone reduced the expression of proinflammatory cytokines, increased the expression of skin barrier proteins, and facilitated the translocation of glucocorticoid receptors. The study also found that dexamethasone inhibited the gene expression of extracellular matrix components.
MOLECULAR PHARMACEUTICS
(2022)
Article
Microbiology
Jeanett Holzknecht, Sandrine Dubrac, Sarah Hedtrich, Laszlo Galgoczy, Florentine Marx
Summary: Candida albicans is a common opportunistic fungal pathogen in humans, causing superficial skin and mucosal infections as well as life-threatening systemic infections. To combat emerging drug resistance, there is an urgent need to identify new antifungal compounds with novel mechanisms of action. In this study, small cationic antifungal proteins from filamentous fungi show promise as next-generation antifungals for topical application, demonstrating efficacy against cutaneous C. albicans infection in a 3D skin model.
MICROBIOLOGY SPECTRUM
(2022)
Editorial Material
Medicine, Research & Experimental
Shyh-Dar Li, Ellen Wasan, Marcel Bally, Sarah Hedtrich
MOLECULAR PHARMACEUTICS
(2022)
Article
Multidisciplinary Sciences
Melih Oe Celik, Roger Negrete, Riccardo Di Rosso, Halina Machelska, Christoph Stein
Summary: Opioid agonist NFEPP can activate peripheral opioid receptors in injured tissue under acidic conditions, reducing side effects. By studying its interaction with the commonly used NSAID diclofenac, we found that diclofenac reduced inflammation-induced nociceptive responses and tissue acidosis, and had a moderate effect on the antinociceptive efficacy of NFEPP.
SCIENTIFIC REPORTS
(2022)
Article
Multidisciplinary Sciences
Arne Thies, Vikram Sunkara, Sourav Ray, Hanna Wulkow, M. Oezguer Celik, Fatih Yergoez, Christof Schuette, Christoph Stein, Marcus Weber, Stefanie Winkelmann
Summary: We have successfully designed, synthesized, and tested the prototype opioid painkiller NFEPP, which does not have adverse side effects. The design process was based on mathematical modeling of interactions between G-protein coupled receptors (GPCRs) and ligands, considering the different functions of GPCRs under pathological and healthy conditions. Additionally, we have proposed a novel stochastic model of GPCR function that takes into account intracellular dissociation of G-protein subunits and modulation of plasma membrane calcium channels, which depend on the parameters of inflamed and healthy tissue (pH, radicals). The model has been validated using in vitro experimental data for NFEPP and fentanyl at different pH values and radical concentrations.
SCIENTIFIC REPORTS
(2023)
Article
Anesthesiology
Claudius E. Degro, Nestor Nivardo Jimenez-Vargas, Quentin Tsang, Yang Yu, Mabel Guzman-Rodriguez, Elahe Alizadeh, David Hurlbut, David E. Reed, Alan E. Lomax, Christoph Stein, Nigel W. Bunnett, Stephen J. Vanner
Summary: This study found that repeated dosing of N-(3-fluoro-1-phenethylpiperidine-4-yl)-N-phenyl propionamide can provide safe and effective analgesia for colitis by targeting the acidified layers of the inflamed colon. The drug is able to inhibit human colonic nociceptors and has minimal side effects.
Article
Chemistry, Multidisciplinary
Juliana Bolsoni, Danny Liu, Fatemeh Mohabatpour, Ronja Ebner, Gaurav Sadhnani, Belal Tafech, Jerry Leung, Selina Shanta, Kevin An, Tessa Morin, Yihang Chen, Alfonso Arguello, Keith Choate, Eric Jan, Colin J. D. Ross, Davide Brambilla, Dominik Witzigmann, Jayesh Kulkarni, Pieter R. Cullis, Sarah Hedtrich
Summary: Despite advances in gene editing, delivering genetic tools to extrahepatic tissues, especially the skin, remains challenging. This study compared the efficacy of Cas9 mRNA and RNP-loaded LNPs for gene editing in the epidermal layers of human skin. The results showed that RNPs had a longer presence in slow-cycling epithelial cells. While Cas9 RNP and mRNA achieved similar gene editing rates, mRNA-loaded LNPs were more cytotoxic.
Review
Biotechnology & Applied Microbiology
Belal Tafech, Fatemeh Mohabatpour, Sarah Hedtrich
Summary: Gene therapies have the potential to effectively treat various diseases, but there are limitations in gene delivery. Surface modification of lipid nanoparticles can improve targeting efficacy for extrahepatic tissues.
JOURNAL OF GENE MEDICINE
(2023)
Article
Biochemical Research Methods
James J. Feng, Sarah Hedtrich
Summary: Organ-on-chip devices (OoCs) provide a more detailed understanding of (patho)physiological processes than traditional tissue models. However, the current design approach lacks systematic scaling, limiting the predictive value. The proposed similarity scaling approach can significantly improve the design and operation of OoCs.
