Drug Repurposing of Metformin for the Treatment of Haloperidol-Related Behavior Disorders and Oxidative Stress: A Preliminary Study.

A particular attribute of the brain lies in the ability to learn, acquire information from the environment, and utilize the learned information. Previous research has noted that various factors (e.g., age, stress, anxiety, pathological issues), including antipsychotic medications, affect the brain and memory. The current study aimed to reveal the effects of chronic metformin treatment on the cognitive performance of rats and on commonly measured markers for oxidative stress. Wistar male rats (n = 40) were randomly divided into four groups: CTR (n = 10)-control group, METF (n = 10)-animals receiving metformin 500 mg/kg, HAL (n = 10)-animals receiving haloperidol 2 mg/kg, and HALMETF (n = 10)-animals receiving haloperidol 2 mg/kg and metformin 500 mg/kg. The medication was administered daily by oral gavage for 40 days. Memory and learning were assessed using the Morris Water Maze (MWM) test. At the end of the MWM, the rodents were decapitated under anesthesia, and the brain and blood samples were assayed by liquid chromatography for markers of oxidative stress (malondialdehyde, MDA, reduced/oxidized glutathione ratio, GSH/GSSG). The quantification of brain-derived neurotrophic factor (BDNF) was performed using the conventional sandwich ELISA technique. In the HALMETF group, metformin attenuated the negative effects of haloperidol. Brain and plasma MDA levels increased in the HAL group. Brain and plasma GSH/GSSG ratios and BDNF levels did not reveal any differences between groups. In conclusion, metformin treatment limits the deleterious cognitive effects of haloperidol. The effect on oxidative stress markers may also point toward an antioxidant-like effect of metformin, but this needs further tests for confirmation.

Stability of Oral Liquid Dosage Forms in Pediatric Cardiology: A Prerequisite for Patient's Safety-A Narrative Review.

The development of safe and effective pediatric formulations is essential, especially in therapeutic areas such as pediatric cardiology, where the treatment requires multiple dosing or outpatient care. Although liquid oral dosage forms are considered the formulation of choice given the dose flexibility and acceptability, the compounding practices are not endorsed by the health authorities, and achieving stability can be problematic. The purpose of this study is to provide a comprehensive overview of the stability of liquid oral dosage forms used in pediatric cardiology. An extensive review of the literature has been performed, with a particular focus on cardiovascular pharmacotherapy, by consulting the current studies indexed in PubMed, ScienceDirect, PLoS One, and Google Scholar databases. Regulations and guidelines have been considered against the studies found in the literature. Overall, the stability study is well-designed, and the critical quality attributes (CQAs) have been selected for testing. Several approaches have been identified as innovative in order to optimize stability, but opportunities to improve have been also identified, such as in-use studies and achieving dose standardization. Consequently, the information gathering and the results of the studies can be translated into clinical practice in order to achieve the desired stability of liquid oral dosage forms.

The Lack of Standardization and Pharmacological Effect Limits the Potential Clinical Usefulness of Phytosterols in Benign Prostatic Hyperplasia.

The prevalence of benign prostatic hyperplasia (BPH) markedly increases with age. Phytotherapeutic approaches have been developed over time owing to the adverse side effects of conventional medications such as 5-reductase inhibitors and α1-adrenergic receptor antagonists. Therefore, dietary supplements (DS) containing active compounds that benefit BPH are widely available. Phytosterols (PSs) are well recognized for their role in maintaining blood cholesterol levels; however, their potential in BPH treatment remains unexplored. This review aims to provide a general overview of the available data regarding the clinical evidence and a good understanding of the detailed pharmacological roles of PSs-induced activities at a molecular level in BPH. Furthermore, we will explore the authenticity of PSs content in DS used by patients with BPH compared to the current legislation and appropriate analytical methods for tracking DS containing PSs. The results showed that PSs might be a useful pharmacological treatment option for men with mild to moderate BPH, but the lack of standardized extracts linked with the regulation of DS containing PSs and experimental evidence to elucidate the mechanisms of action limit the use of PSs in BPH. Moreover, the results suggest multiple research directions in this field.