ABSTRACT
RESUMEN Para potenciar la inmunidad en personas con deterioro gradual del sistema inmune, causado por el envejecimiento o por padecer diferentes comorbilidades, el Grupo de las Industrias Biotecnológica y Farmacéutica de Cuba (BioCubaFarma) ha introducido el producto Biomodulina T. Este se ha utilizado, además, como parte del protocolo de prevención y para el tratamiento de pacientes positivos al SARS-CoV-2. La inmunidad dependiente del timo, incluida la inmunidad de células T y la producción de anticuerpos, disminuye con el tamaño del órgano en los adultos, lo que se conoce como "inmunosenescencia". La Biomodulina T es un extracto diafiltrado de timo de ternera; tiene una acción citorrestauradora e inmunomoduladora, que ha demostrado su eficacia en diferentes grupos de riesgo, dentro de los cuales los ancianos ocupan un lugar especial. En la actual situación epidemiológica nacional e internacional su inclusión en los protocolos de actuación es clave. El uso de este medicamento en un grupo vulnerable, como los ancianos, representa un horizonte esperanzador en tanto se avanza en la producción de vacunas nacionales que sean seguras y eficaces (AU).
ABSTRACT To boost immunity in people with gradual deterioration of the immune system, caused by aging or suffering from different comorbidities, the Group of the Biotechnology and Pharmaceutical Industries of Cuba (Biotechnology Farma) has introduced the product Biomodulin T. This has also been used as part of the prevention protocol and for the treatment of patients positive to SARS-CoV-2. Thymus-dependent immunity, including T-cell immunity and antibody production, decreases with organ size in adults, which is known as "immunosenescence." Biomodulin T is a diafiltered extract of veal thymus; it has a cytorestaurative and immunomodulatory action, which has demonstrated its effectiveness in different risk groups, within which elder people occupy a special place. In the current national and international epidemiological situation its inclusion in the protocols of action is significant. The use of this medication in a vulnerable group, such as elder people, represents a hopeful horizon as progress is made in the production of safe and effective national vaccines (AU).
Subject(s)
Humans , Male , Female , Coronavirus Infections/drug therapy , Drug Development/classification , Therapeutics/methods , Drug Therapy/trends , Drug Development/methods , Drug Development/organization & administration , Immunity/drug effectsABSTRACT
Resumen Las biopelículas son comunidades de microorganismos que crecen agregados y rodeados por una matriz extracelular que ellos mismos producen, la cual favorece la adhesión covalente sobre superficies inertes y vivas; además, les ayuda a desarrollar alta tolerancia a las moléculas con actividad antimicrobiana. Por otra parte, las biopelículas se asocian con infecciones crónicas y persistentes que impactan de manera negativa en distintas áreas médicas. Además, generan altos costos a los sistemas de salud y a los pacientes cada año, porque son difíciles de tratar con antimicrobianos convencionales; adicionalmente, generan altas tasas de morbilidad y mortalidad. El objetivo de esta revisión es presentar información extensa y actualizada sobre el origen, la biosíntesis y la fisiopatología de las biopelículas, así como sobre su relación con infecciones crónicas, el diagnóstico, los tratamientos antimicrobianos actuales con actividad antibiopelícula y las perspectivas sobre la búsqueda de nuevos tratamientos. Estos últimos aún representan una importante área de investigación.
Abstract Biofilms are communities of microorganisms that grow aggregated and surrounded by an extracellular matrix, which they produce and favors them to adhere covalently to inert and living surfaces; it also helps them to develop high tolerance to molecules with antimicrobial activity. Moreover, biofilms are associated with chronic and persistent infections, which negatively impact different medical areas since they generate high costs to health care systems and patients every year because they are difficult to treat with conventional antimicrobial drugs. Additionally, they generate high rates of morbidity and mortality. The objective of this review was to present extensive and up-to-date information on the origin, biosynthesis, and pathophysiology of biofilms. Also, its relationship with chronic infections, diagnosis, current antimicrobial treatments with antibiotic activity, and perspectives on the search for new treatments, since the latter still represent an important area of research.
Subject(s)
Humans , Biofilms/drug effects , Infections/drug therapy , Anti-Infective Agents/pharmacology , Chronic Disease , Health Care Costs , Biofilms/growth & development , Drug Development/methods , Infections/diagnosis , Infections/microbiologyABSTRACT
Cell cycle control genes are frequently mutated in cancer cells, which usually display higher rates of proliferation than normal cells. Dysregulated mitosis leads to genomic instability, which contributes to tumor progression and aggressiveness. Many drugs that disrupt mitosis have been studied because they induce cell cycle arrest and tumor cell death. These antitumor compounds are referred to as antimitotics. Vinca alkaloids and taxanes are natural products that target microtubules and inhibit mitosis, and their derivatives are among the most commonly used drugs in cancer therapy worldwide. However, severe adverse effects such as neuropathies are frequently observed during treatment with microtubule-targeting agents. Many efforts have been directed at developing improved antimitotics with increased specificity and decreased likelihood of inducing side effects. These new drugs generally target specific components of mitotic regulation that are mainly or exclusively expressed during cell division, such as kinases, motor proteins and multiprotein complexes. Such small molecules are now in preclinical studies and clinical trials, and many are products or derivatives from natural sources. In this review, we focused on the most promising targets for the development of antimitotics and discussed the advantages and disadvantages of these targets. We also highlighted the novel natural antimitotic agents under investigation by our research group, including combretastatins, withanolides and pterocarpans, which show the potential to circumvent the main issues in antimitotic therapy.
Subject(s)
Humans , Biological Products/chemistry , Antimitotic Agents/chemistry , Drug Development/methods , Antineoplastic Agents/chemistry , Biological Products/pharmacology , Antimitotic Agents/pharmacology , Mitosis/drug effects , Neoplasms/pathology , Neoplasms/drug therapy , Antineoplastic Agents/pharmacologyABSTRACT
This review will discuss the contributions of marine natural molecules, a source only recently found to have pharmaceutical prospects, to the development of anticancer drugs. Of the seven clinically utilized compounds with a marine origin, four are used for the treatment of cancer. The development of these drugs has afforded valuable knowledge and crucial insights to meet the most common challenges in this endeavor, such as toxicity and supply. In this context, the development of these compounds will be discussed herein to illustrate, with successful examples provided by cytarabine, trabectedin, eribulin and brentuximab vedotin, the steps involved in this process as well as the scientific advances and technological innovation potential associated with developing a new drug from marine resources.