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1.
Biomed Pharmacother ; 146: 112454, 2022 Feb.
Article in English | MEDLINE | ID: mdl-34894518

ABSTRACT

Pro-inflammatory signaling, cell death, and metalloproteinases activation are events in Plasmodium infection. However, it is not known if treatment with mefloquine (MF), and curcumin (CM) supplementation, will modulate these conditions. Malaria was induced in two different studies using susceptible (NK 65, study 1) and resistant (ANKA, study 2) strains of mouse malaria parasites (Plasmodium berghei) in thirty male Swiss mice (n = 5) in each study. Following confirmation of parasitemia, mice received 10 mL/kg distilled water (infected control), MF (10 mg/kg), MF and CM (25 mg/kg), MF and CM (50 mg/kg), CM (25 mg/kg) and CM (50 mg/kg). Five mice (not infected) were used as control. After treatment, the animals were sacrificed, serum obtained and liver mitochondria were isolated. Serum Tumour Necrosis Factor alpha (TNF-α), C-reactive protein (CRP), Interleukins-1 beta (IL-1ß) and Interleukins-6 (IL-6) as well as caspases-3, 9 (C3 and C9), p53, serum troponin I (TI) and creatine kinase (CK), were assayed using ELISA techniques. Mitochondrial membrane permeability transition (mPT) pore opening, mitochondrial F0F1 ATPase activity, and lipid peroxidation (mLPO) were determined spectrophotometrically. Matrix metalloproteinases 2 (MMP-2) and 9 (MMP-9) expressions were determined using electrophoresis. CM supplementation (25 mg/kg) significantly decreased serum p53, TNF-α, CRP and IL-6 compared with MF. In the resistant model, CM prevented mPT pore opening, significantly decreased F0F1 ATPase activity and mLPO. MF activated caspase-3 while supplementation with CM significantly decreased this effect. Furthermore, MMP-2 and MMP-9 were selectively expressed in the susceptible model. Malarial treatment with mefloquine elicits different cell death responses while supplementation with curcumin decreased TI level and CK activities.


Subject(s)
Antiprotozoal Agents/therapeutic use , Curcumin/therapeutic use , Malaria/drug therapy , Mefloquine/therapeutic use , Adenosine Triphosphatases/metabolism , Animals , Cell Death/drug effects , Chloroquine/therapeutic use , Curcumin/pharmacology , Cytokines/immunology , Drug Resistance/drug effects , Lipid Peroxidation/drug effects , Male , Matrix Metalloproteinases/metabolism , Mice , Mitochondria, Liver/drug effects , Mitochondrial Proteins/metabolism , Myocardium/metabolism , Plasmodium berghei
2.
Biomolecules ; 11(10)2021 10 04.
Article in English | MEDLINE | ID: mdl-34680090

ABSTRACT

Parasitic nematodes infect almost all forms of life. In the human context, parasites are one of the major causative factors for physical and intellectual growth retardation in the developing world. In the agricultural setting, parasites have a great economic impact through a reduction in livestock performance or control cost. The main method of controlling these devastating conditions is the use of anthelmintic drugs. Unfortunately, there are only a few anthelmintic drug classes available in the market and significant resistance has developed in most of the parasitic species of livestock. Therefore, development of new anthelmintics with different modes of action is critical for sustainable parasitic control in the future. The drug development pipeline is broadly limited to two types of molecules, namely synthetic compounds and natural plant products. Compared to synthetic compounds, natural products are highly diverse, and many have historically proven valuable in folk medicine to treat various gastrointestinal ailments. This review focus on the use of traditional knowledge-based plant extracts in the development of new therapeutic leads, the approaches used as screening techniques, and common bottlenecks and opportunities in plant-based anthelmintic drug discovery.


Subject(s)
Anthelmintics/therapeutic use , Anti-Infective Agents/therapeutic use , Biological Products/therapeutic use , Drug Discovery , Animals , Drug Resistance/drug effects , Drug Resistance/genetics , Humans
3.
Molecules ; 26(15)2021 Jul 27.
Article in English | MEDLINE | ID: mdl-34361693

ABSTRACT

Due to the rise of numerous legal restrictions as well as the increasing emergence of resistant populations, the number of available pesticides is decreasing significantly. One of the potential alternatives often described in the literature are essential oils (EOs). However, there is a lack of research addressing the potential emergence of resistance to this group of substances. In this paper, we investigated the multi-generational effects of sublethal concentrations of rosemary oil (Rosmarinus officinalis) on physiological and biochemical parameters of the cowpea weevil (Callosobruchus maculatus) such as egg laying, hatchability, oxygen consumption and acetylcholinesterase activity. Imago, which as larvae were exposed to EO at concentrations equivalent to LC25, showed significantly lower mortality. The results obtained indicate the potential development of resistance in insects exposed to EO in concentrations corresponding to LC25. In addition, in the case of the group treated with an EO concentration corresponding to LC3.12, a stimulation effect of the above-mentioned parameters was observed, which may indicate the occurrence of a hormesis effect. The obtained results may be an important reference for the development of future guidelines and EO-based insecticides.


Subject(s)
Drug Resistance/drug effects , Insecticides/pharmacology , Oils, Volatile/pharmacology , Weevils/drug effects , Acetylcholinesterase/metabolism , Animals , Female , Male , Oviposition/drug effects , Oxygen Consumption/drug effects , Signal Transduction/drug effects , Weevils/enzymology
4.
J Dermatol Sci ; 103(3): 135-142, 2021 Sep.
Article in English | MEDLINE | ID: mdl-34376340

ABSTRACT

BACKGROUND: The treatment of pemphigus is based on systemic corticosteroid use and adjuvant therapies, but some patients are resistant to conventional therapy. Tirabrutinib is a highly selective oral Bruton's tyrosine kinase inhibitor that may be clinically effective in treating pemphigus by suppressing B-cell signaling. OBJECTIVE: We investigated the efficacy and safety of tirabrutinib in patients with refractory pemphigus. METHODS: This was a multicenter, open-label, single-arm phase 2 study of Japanese patients with refractory pemphigus receiving appropriate treatment with an oral corticosteroid and adjuvant therapies. Patients received postprandial oral tirabrutinib 80 mg once daily for 52 weeks. After 16 weeks of tirabrutinib treatment, the corticosteroid dose was tapered to ≤10 mg/day of prednisolone equivalent. RESULTS: In total, 16 patients were evaluated (mean age, 52.5 years; 50 % male). The complete remission rate after 24 weeks of treatment (primary endpoint) was 18.8 % (3/16; 95 % confidence interval, 6.6 %-43.0 %). By Week 52, eight patients (50.0 %) achieved complete remission and 10 patients (62.5 %) achieved remission. Over 52 weeks of treatment, the mean prednisolone dose decreased from 17.03 to 7.65 mg/day. Incidences of adverse events (AEs) and adverse drug reactions were 87.5 % and 43.8 %, respectively. A relationship with tirabrutinib was ruled out for all serious AEs and Grade ≥3 AEs. CONCLUSION: Treatment with tirabrutinib enabled remission and reduced oral corticosteroid exposure over time and did not result in any major safety concerns in patients with refractory pemphigus. Thus, oral tirabrutinib may be a new treatment option for patients with refractory pemphigus.


Subject(s)
Agammaglobulinaemia Tyrosine Kinase/antagonists & inhibitors , Imidazoles/administration & dosage , Pemphigus/drug therapy , Prednisolone/administration & dosage , Protein Kinase Inhibitors/administration & dosage , Pyrimidines/administration & dosage , Administration, Oral , Adult , Dose-Response Relationship, Drug , Drug Resistance/drug effects , Drug Therapy, Combination , Female , Humans , Imidazoles/adverse effects , Male , Middle Aged , Pemphigus/diagnosis , Prednisolone/adverse effects , Protein Kinase Inhibitors/adverse effects , Pyrimidines/adverse effects , Treatment Outcome
5.
Molecules ; 26(14)2021 Jul 08.
Article in English | MEDLINE | ID: mdl-34299431

ABSTRACT

In the present study, we established a practical and cost-effective high throughput screening assay, which relies on the measurement of the motility of Caenorhabditis elegans by infrared light-interference. Using this assay, we screened 14,400 small molecules from the "HitFinder" library (Maybridge), achieving a hit rate of 0.3%. We identified small molecules that reproducibly inhibited the motility of C. elegans (young adults) and assessed dose relationships for a subset of compounds. Future work will critically evaluate the potential of some of these hits as candidates for subsequent optimisation or repurposing as nematocides or nematostats. This high throughput screening assay has the advantage over many previous assays in that it is cost- and time-effective to carry out and achieves a markedly higher throughput (~10,000 compounds per week); therefore, it is suited to the screening of libraries of tens to hundreds of thousands of compounds for subsequent evaluation and development. The present phenotypic whole-worm assay should be readily adaptable to a range of socioeconomically important parasitic nematodes of humans and animals, depending on their dimensions and motility characteristics in vitro, for the discovery of new anthelmintic candidates. This focus is particularly important, given the widespread problems associated with drug resistance in many parasitic worms of livestock animals globally.


Subject(s)
Anthelmintics/analysis , Drug Evaluation, Preclinical/methods , High-Throughput Screening Assays/methods , Animals , Anthelmintics/isolation & purification , Anthelmintics/pharmacology , Anti-Infective Agents/pharmacology , Antinematodal Agents/analysis , Antinematodal Agents/pharmacology , Caenorhabditis elegans/drug effects , Drug Resistance/drug effects , Larva/drug effects , Small Molecule Libraries/pharmacology
6.
Int J Mol Sci ; 22(9)2021 Apr 22.
Article in English | MEDLINE | ID: mdl-33922072

ABSTRACT

Thymic stromal lymphopoietin (TSLP) is an innate cytokine, belonging to the group of alarmins, which plays a key pathogenic role in asthma by acting as an upstream activator of cellular and molecular pathways leading to type 2 (T2-high) airway inflammation. Released from airway epithelial cells upon tissue damage induced by several noxious agents including allergens, viruses, bacteria, and airborne pollutants, TSLP activates dendritic cells and group 2 innate lymphoid cells involved in the pathobiology of T2-high asthma. Tezepelumab is a fully human monoclonal antibody that binds to TSLP, thereby preventing its interaction with the TSLP receptor complex. Preliminary results of randomized clinical trials suggest that tezepelumab is characterized by a good safety and efficacy profile in patients with severe, uncontrolled asthma.


Subject(s)
Antibodies, Monoclonal, Humanized/therapeutic use , Asthma/drug therapy , Biological Therapy/methods , Drug Resistance/drug effects , Animals , Humans
7.
Eur J Med Chem ; 219: 113416, 2021 Jul 05.
Article in English | MEDLINE | ID: mdl-33887682

ABSTRACT

Parasites of the Plasmodium genus are unable to produce purine nucleotides de novo and depend completely on the salvage pathway. This fact makes plasmodial hypoxanthine-guanine-(xanthine) phosphoribosyltransferase [HG(X)PRT] a valuable target for development of antimalarial agents. A series of nucleotide analogues was designed, synthesized and evaluated as potential inhibitors of Plasmodium falciparum HGXPRT, P. vivax HGPRT and human HGPRT. These novel nucleoside phosphonates have a pyrrolidine, piperidine or piperazine ring incorporated into the linker connecting the purine base to a phosphonate group(s) and exhibited a broad range of Ki values between 0.15 and 72 µM. The corresponding phosphoramidate prodrugs, able to cross cell membranes, have been synthesized and evaluated in a P. falciparum infected human erythrocyte assay. Of the eight prodrugs evaluated seven exhibited in vitro antimalarial activity with IC50 values within the range of 2.5-12.1 µM. The bis-phosphoramidate prodrug 13a with a mean (SD) IC50 of 2.5 ± 0.7 µM against the chloroquine-resistant P. falciparum W2 strain exhibited low cytotoxicity in the human hepatocellular liver carcinoma (HepG2) and normal human dermal fibroblasts (NHDF) cell lines at a concentration of 100 µM suggesting good selectivity for further structure-activity relationship investigations.


Subject(s)
Antimalarials/chemical synthesis , Enzyme Inhibitors/chemistry , Nucleotides/chemistry , Pentosyltransferases/antagonists & inhibitors , Protozoan Proteins/antagonists & inhibitors , Antimalarials/metabolism , Antimalarials/pharmacology , Cell Line , Cell Survival/drug effects , Drug Evaluation, Preclinical , Drug Resistance/drug effects , Enzyme Inhibitors/metabolism , Erythrocytes/cytology , Erythrocytes/metabolism , Erythrocytes/parasitology , Humans , Nucleotides/metabolism , Pentosyltransferases/metabolism , Piperazine/chemistry , Piperidines/chemistry , Plasmodium falciparum/drug effects , Plasmodium falciparum/enzymology , Plasmodium vivax/enzymology , Prodrugs/chemical synthesis , Prodrugs/chemistry , Prodrugs/metabolism , Prodrugs/pharmacology , Protozoan Proteins/metabolism , Pyrrolidines/chemistry , Structure-Activity Relationship
9.
Biomed Pharmacother ; 138: 111445, 2021 Jun.
Article in English | MEDLINE | ID: mdl-33711551

ABSTRACT

Whilst the popular use of herbal medicine globally, it poses challenges in managing potential drug-herb interaction. There are two folds of the drug-herb interaction, a beneficial interaction that may improve therapeutic outcome and minimise the toxicity of drug desirably; by contrast, negative interaction may evoke unwanted clinical consequences, especially with drugs of narrow therapeutic index. Scutellaria baicalensis Georgi is one of the most popular medicinal plants used in Asian countries. It has been widely used for treating various diseases and conditions such as cancer, diabetes, inflammation, and oxidative stress. Studies on its extract and bioactive compounds have shown pharmacodynamic and pharmacokinetic interactions with a wide range of pharmaceutical drugs as evidenced by plenty of in vitro, in vivo and clinical studies. Notably, S. baicalensis and its bioactives including baicalein, baicalin and wogonin exhibited synergistic interactions with many pharmaceutical drugs to enhance their efficacy, reduce toxicity or overcome drug resistance to combat complex diseases such as cancer, diabetes and infectious diseases. On the other hand, S. baicalensis and its bioactives also affected the pharmacokinetic profile of many drugs in absorption, distribution, metabolism and elimination via the regulatory actions of the efflux pumps and cytochrome P450 enzymes. This review provides comprehensive references of the observed pharmacodynamic and pharmacokinetic drug interactions of Scutellaria baicalensis and its bioactives. We have elucidated the interaction with detailed mechanistic actions, identified the knowledge gaps for future research and potential clinical implications. Such knowledge is important for the practice of both conventional and complementary medicines, and it is essential to ensure the safe use of related herbal medicines. The review may be of great interest to practitioners, consumers, clinicians who require comprehensive information on the possible drug interactions with S. baicalensis and its bioactives.


Subject(s)
Herb-Drug Interactions/physiology , Pharmaceutical Preparations/administration & dosage , Pharmaceutical Preparations/metabolism , Plant Extracts/metabolism , Plant Extracts/therapeutic use , Scutellaria baicalensis , Animals , Communicable Diseases/drug therapy , Communicable Diseases/metabolism , Diabetes Mellitus/drug therapy , Diabetes Mellitus/metabolism , Drug Resistance/drug effects , Drug Resistance/physiology , Drugs, Chinese Herbal/isolation & purification , Drugs, Chinese Herbal/metabolism , Drugs, Chinese Herbal/therapeutic use , Humans , Neoplasms/drug therapy , Neoplasms/metabolism , Plant Extracts/isolation & purification
10.
Nephrol Dial Transplant ; 36(3): 465-474, 2021 02 20.
Article in English | MEDLINE | ID: mdl-33547792

ABSTRACT

BACKGROUND: Iron sucrose (FeS) administration induces a state of renal preconditioning, protecting against selected forms of acute kidney injury (AKI). Recent evidence suggests that recombinant hepcidin also mitigates acute renal damage. Hence the goals of this study were to determine whether a new proprietary FeS formulation ('RBT-3') can acutely activate the hepcidin (HAMP1) gene in humans, raising plasma and renal hepcidin concentrations; assess whether the kidney participates in this posited RBT-3-hepcidin generation response; test whether RBT-3 can mitigate a clinically relevant AKI model (experimental cisplatin toxicity) and explore whether mechanisms in addition to hepcidin generation are operative in RBT-3's cytoprotective effects. METHODS: Healthy human volunteers (n = 9) and subjects with Stages 3-4 CKD (n = 9) received 120, 240 or 360 mg of RBT-3 (intravenously over 2 h). Plasma and urine samples were collected and assayed for hepcidin levels (0-72 h post-RBT-3 injection). In complementary mouse experiments, RBT-3 effects on hepatic versus renal hepcidin (HAMP1) messenger RNA (mRNA) and protein levels were compared. RBT-3's impact on the mouse Nrf2 pathway and on experimental cisplatin nephrotoxicity was assessed. Direct effects of exogenous hepcidin on in vivo and in vitro (HK-2 cells) cisplatin toxicity were also tested. RESULTS: RBT-3 induced rapid, dose-dependent and comparable plasma hepcidin increases in both healthy volunteers and chronic kidney disease subjects (∼15 times baseline within 24 h). Human kidney hepcidin exposure was confirmed by 4-fold urinary hepcidin increases. RBT-3 up-regulated mouse hepcidin mRNA, but much more so in kidney (>25 times) versus liver (∼2 times). RBT-3 also activated kidney Nrf2 [increased Nrf2 nuclear binding; increased Nrf2-responsive gene mRNAs: heme oxygenase-1, sulfiredoxin-1, glutamate-cysteine ligase catalytic subunit and NAD(P)H quinone dehydrogenase 1]. RBT-3 preconditioning (18 h time lapse) markedly attenuated experimental cisplatin nephrotoxicity (∼50% blood urea nitrogen/creatinine decrements), in part by reducing renal cisplatin uptake by 40%. Exogenous hepcidin (without RBT-3) treatment conferred protection against mild in vivo (but not in vitro) cisplatin toxicity. CONCLUSIONS: RBT-3 acutely and dramatically up-regulates cytoprotective hepcidin production, increasing renal hepcidin levels. However, additional cytoprotective mechanisms are activated by RBT-3 (e.g. Nrf2 activation; reduced cisplatin uptake). Thus RBT-3-induced preconditioning likely confers renal resistance to cisplatin via an interplay of multiple cytoprotective activities.


Subject(s)
Cisplatin/toxicity , Drug Resistance/drug effects , Ferric Oxide, Saccharated/pharmacology , Gene Expression Regulation/drug effects , Hepcidins/metabolism , Kidney/metabolism , Liver/metabolism , Renal Insufficiency, Chronic/metabolism , Aged , Animals , Antineoplastic Agents/toxicity , Case-Control Studies , Female , Hepcidins/genetics , Humans , Kidney/drug effects , Liver/drug effects , Male , Mice , Middle Aged , Renal Insufficiency, Chronic/drug therapy , Renal Insufficiency, Chronic/pathology
11.
Curr Drug Metab ; 22(2): 114-122, 2021.
Article in English | MEDLINE | ID: mdl-32445452

ABSTRACT

BACKGROUND: Microbial resistance to antibiotics is a global public health problem, which requires urgent attention. Platonia insignis is a native species from the eastern Brazilian Amazon, used in the treatment of burns and wounds. OBJECTIVES: To evaluate the antimicrobial activity of the hydroalcoholic extract of P. insignis (PIHA), the ethyl acetate fraction (PIAE), and its subfraction containing a mixture of biflavonoids (BF). Moreover, the effect of these natural products on the antibiotic activity against S. aureus strains overexpressing efflux pump genes was also evaluated. METHODS: Minimal inhibitory concentrations were determined against different species of microorganisms. To evaluate the modulatory effect on the Norfloxacin-resistance, the MIC of this antibiotic was determined in the absence and presence of the natural products at subinhibitory concentrations. Inhibition of the EtBr efflux assays were conducted in the absence or presence of natural products. RESULTS: PIHA showed a microbicidal effect against S. aureus and C. albicans, while PIAE was bacteriostatic for S. aureus. PIAE and BF at subinhibitory concentrations were able to reduce the MIC of Norfloxacin acting as modulating agents. BF was able to inhibit the efflux of EtBr efflux in S. aureus strains overexpressing specific efflux pump genes. CONCLUSION: P. inignisis, a source of efflux pump inhibitors, including volkensiflavone and morelloflavone, which were able to potentiate the Norfloxacin activity by NorA inhibition, being also able to inhibit QacA/B, TetK and MsrA. Volkensiflavone and morelloflavone could be used as an adjuvant in the antibiotic therapy of multidrug resistant S. aureus strains overexpressing efflux pumps.


Subject(s)
Anti-Bacterial Agents/pharmacology , Bacterial Proteins , Biflavonoids/pharmacology , Clusiaceae , Drug Resistance , Staphylococcus aureus , Bacterial Proteins/antagonists & inhibitors , Bacterial Proteins/metabolism , Drug Resistance/drug effects , Drug Resistance/physiology , Flowers , Microbial Sensitivity Tests , Plant Extracts/pharmacology , Staphylococcus aureus/drug effects , Staphylococcus aureus/metabolism
12.
Endocrinology ; 161(11)2020 11 01.
Article in English | MEDLINE | ID: mdl-32961558

ABSTRACT

Organophosphate flame retardants (OPFRs) are a class of chemicals that have become near ubiquitous in the modern environment. While OPFRs provide valuable protection against flammability of household items, they are increasingly implicated as an endocrine disrupting chemical (EDC). We previously reported that exposure to a mixture of OPFRs causes sex-dependent disruptions of energy homeostasis through alterations in ingestive behavior and activity in adult mice. Because feeding behavior and energy expenditure are largely coordinated by the hypothalamus, we hypothesized that OPFR disruption of energy homeostasis may occur through EDC action on melanocortin circuitry within the arcuate nucleus. To this end, we exposed male and female transgenic mice expressing green fluorescent protein in either neuropeptide Y (NPY) or proopiomelanocortin (POMC) neurons to a common mixture of OPFRs (triphenyl phosphate, tricresyl phosphate, and tris(1,3-dichloro-2-propyl)phosphate; each 1 mg/kg bodyweight/day) for 4 weeks. We then electrophysiologically examined neuronal properties using whole-cell patch clamp technique. OPFR exposure depolarized the resting membrane of NPY neurons and dampened a hyperpolarizing K+ current known as the M-current within the same neurons from female mice. These neurons were further demonstrated to have increased sensitivity to ghrelin excitation, which more potently reduced the M-current in OPFR-exposed females. POMC neurons from female mice exhibited elevated baseline excitability and are indicated in receiving greater excitatory synaptic input when exposed to OPFRs. Together, these data support a sex-selective effect of OPFRs to increase neuronal output from the melanocortin circuitry governing feeding behavior and energy expenditure, and give reason for further examination of OPFR impact on human health.


Subject(s)
Arcuate Nucleus of Hypothalamus/drug effects , Flame Retardants/pharmacology , Ghrelin/pharmacology , Melanocortins/metabolism , Nerve Net/drug effects , Neurons/drug effects , Animals , Arcuate Nucleus of Hypothalamus/metabolism , Drug Resistance/drug effects , Endocrine Disruptors/pharmacology , Female , Hypothalamus/metabolism , Male , Mice , Mice, Transgenic , Nerve Net/physiology , Neurons/metabolism , Neuropeptide Y/genetics , Neuropeptide Y/metabolism , Organophosphates/pharmacology , Pro-Opiomelanocortin/genetics , Pro-Opiomelanocortin/metabolism
13.
Aliment Pharmacol Ther ; 52(8): 1341-1352, 2020 10.
Article in English | MEDLINE | ID: mdl-32955122

ABSTRACT

BACKGROUND: Anti-tumour necrosis factor (TNF) agents are effective in Crohn's disease but some patients lose response and require alternative biologic therapy. There are few data on comparative effectiveness of vedolizumab and ustekinumab in this setting. AIM: To compare the effectiveness of ustekinumab and vedolizumab in anti-TNF-refractory Crohn's disease over 12 months. METHODS: Patients commencing ustekinumab or vedolizumab for anti-TNF-refractory Crohn's disease with minimum follow-up of 12 months were included. The primary outcome measure was the difference in steroid-free remission rates at end of induction (2 months) and at 12 months. We also assessed rates of clinical response and remission, treatment persistence, surgery and adverse events in both groups. We performed logistic regression analysis to assess factors associated with steroid-free remission and clinical response and remission. RESULTS: We included 85 patients commencing vedolizumab and 45 commencing ustekinumab. In an unadjusted model, rates of steroid-free and clinical remission were significantly higher among ustekinumab-treated patients. After adjusting for confounders, steroid-free remission was higher among ustekinumab-treated patients at 2 months (odds ratio, OR 2.79, 95% confidence interval, CI 1.06-7.39, P = 0.038) and 12 months (OR 2.01, 95% CI 0.89-4.56, P = 0.095). More patients treated with ustekinumab remained on therapy at the end of 12 months (84.4% vs 61.5%, P = 0.007). CONCLUSIONS: Ustekinumab appeared more effective in treating anti-TNF-refractory Crohn's disease and more patients persisted with therapy.


Subject(s)
Antibodies, Monoclonal, Humanized/therapeutic use , Crohn Disease/drug therapy , Ustekinumab/therapeutic use , Adult , Anti-Inflammatory Agents/therapeutic use , Biological Therapy , Comparative Effectiveness Research , Crohn Disease/epidemiology , Drug Resistance/drug effects , Female , Follow-Up Studies , Humans , Male , Middle Aged , Retrospective Studies , Treatment Failure , Treatment Outcome , Tumor Necrosis Factor-alpha/antagonists & inhibitors , Tumor Necrosis Factor-alpha/immunology , Young Adult
14.
J Infect Dev Ctries ; 14(8): 924-928, 2020 08 31.
Article in English | MEDLINE | ID: mdl-32903238

ABSTRACT

INTRODUCTION: The persistent increase of resistance to existing antimalarials underscores the needs for new drugs. Historically, most of the successful antimalarial are derived from plants. The leaves of the S. cymosum is one of the plant materials used by traditional healers in malaria-endemic areas in Bangladesh for treatment of malaria. Here, we investigated the crude extract and its fractions against chloroquine (CQ)-sensitive 3D7, CQ-resistant Dd2, and artemisinin (ART)-resistant IPC 4912 Mondulkiri strains of Plasmodium falciparum. METHODOLOGY: The antimalarial activities were tested using HRP II based in-vitro antimalarial drug sensitivity ELISA described by WWARN and half inhibitory concentrations (IC50) were calculated by non-linear regression analysis using GraphaPad Prism. The cytotoxicity of the crude methanolic extract was assessed using the MTT assay on Vero cell line. RESULTS: The methanolic crude extract revealed promising activity against 3D7 (IC50 6.28 µg/mL), Dd2 (IC50 13.42 µg/mL), and moderate activity against IPC 4912 Mondulkiri (IC50 17.47 µg/mL). Among the fractionated portions, the chloroform fraction revealed highest activity against IPC 4912 Mondulkiri (IC50 1.65 µg/mL) followed by Dd2 (1.73 µg/mL) and 3D7 (2.39 µg/mL). The crude methanolic extract also demonstrated good selectivity with the selectivity indices of > 15.92, > 7.45, and > 6.91 against 3D7, Dd2, and IPC 4912, respectively when tested against Vero cell line. CONCLUSIONS: This is the first report on S. cymosum for its putative antimalarial activity, and is imperative to go for further phytochemical analyses in order to investigate possible novel antimalarial drug compound(s).


Subject(s)
Antimalarials/pharmacology , Plant Extracts/pharmacology , Plants, Medicinal/chemistry , Plasmodium falciparum/drug effects , Syzygium/chemistry , Animals , Antimalarials/toxicity , Bangladesh , Cell Survival/drug effects , Chlorocebus aethiops , Drug Resistance/drug effects , Parasitic Sensitivity Tests , Plant Extracts/toxicity , Vero Cells
15.
J Clin Endocrinol Metab ; 105(9)2020 09 01.
Article in English | MEDLINE | ID: mdl-32614450

ABSTRACT

CONTEXT: It is well recognized that some hypothyroid patients on levothyroxine (LT4) remain symptomatic, but why patients are susceptible to this condition, why symptoms persist, and what is the role of combination therapy with LT4 and liothyronine (LT3), are questions that remain unclear. Here we explore evidence of abnormal thyroid hormone (TH) metabolism in LT4-treated patients, and offer a rationale for why some patients perceive LT4 therapy as a failure. EVIDENCE ACQUISITION: This review is based on a collection of primary and review literature gathered from a PubMed search of "hypothyroidism," "levothyroxine," "liothyronine," and "desiccated thyroid extract," among other keywords. PubMed searches were supplemented by Google Scholar and the authors' prior knowledge of the subject. EVIDENCE SYNTHESIS: In most LT4-treated patients, normalization of serum thyrotropin levels results in decreased serum T3/T4 ratio, with relatively lower serum T3 levels; in at least 15% of the cases, serum T3 levels are below normal. These changes can lead to a reduction in TH action, which would explain the slower rate of metabolism and elevated serum cholesterol levels. A small percentage of patients might also experience persistent symptoms of hypothyroidism, with impaired cognition and tiredness. We propose that such patients carry a key clinical factor, for example, specific genetic and/or immunologic makeup, that is well compensated while the thyroid function is normal but might become apparent when compounded with relatively lower serum T3 levels. CONCLUSIONS: After excluding other explanations, physicians should openly discuss and consider therapy with LT4 and LT3 with those hypothyroid patients who have persistent symptoms or metabolic abnormalities despite normalization of serum thyrotropin level. New clinical trials focused on symptomatic patients, genetic makeup, and comorbidities, with the statistical power to identify differences between monotherapy and combination therapy, are needed.


Subject(s)
Hormone Replacement Therapy , Hypothyroidism/drug therapy , Precision Medicine , Thyroxine/administration & dosage , Drug Resistance/drug effects , Drug Therapy, Combination , Hormone Replacement Therapy/methods , Hormone Replacement Therapy/standards , Humans , Hypothyroidism/blood , Hypothyroidism/epidemiology , Practice Patterns, Physicians'/standards , Practice Patterns, Physicians'/statistics & numerical data , Practice Patterns, Physicians'/trends , Precision Medicine/methods , Precision Medicine/trends , Thyroid Function Tests , Thyrotropin/blood , Treatment Failure , Triiodothyronine/administration & dosage
16.
Nutrients ; 12(6)2020 Jun 17.
Article in English | MEDLINE | ID: mdl-32560347

ABSTRACT

Increasing interest in studying the role of vitamin D in cancer has been provided by the scientific literature during the last years, although mixed results have been reported. Vitamin D deficiency has been largely associated with various types of solid and non-solid human cancers, and the almost ubiquitous expression of vitamin D receptor (VDR) has always led to suppose a crucial role of vitamin D in cancer. However, the association between vitamin D levels and the risk of solid cancers, such as colorectal, prostate and breast cancer, shows several conflicting results that raise questions about the use of vitamin D supplements in cancer patients. Moreover, studies on vitamin D supplementation do not always show improvements in tumor progression and mortality risk, particularly for prostate and breast cancer. Conversely, several molecular studies are in agreement about the role of vitamin D in inhibiting tumor cell proliferation, growth and invasiveness, cell cycle arrest and inflammatory signaling, through which vitamin D may also regulate cancer microenvironment through the activation of different molecular pathways. More recently, a role in the regulation of cancer stem cells proliferation and short non-coding microRNA (miRNAs) expression has emerged, conferring to vitamin D a more crucial role in cancer development and progression. Interestingly, it has been shown that vitamin D is able not only to potentiate the effects of traditional cancer therapy but can even contribute to overcome the molecular mechanisms of drug resistance-often triggering tumor-spreading. At this regard, vitamin D can act at various levels through the regulation of growth of cancer stem cells and the epithelial-mesenchymal transition (EMT), as well as through the modulation of miRNA gene expression. The current review reconsiders epidemiological and molecular literature concerning the role of vitamin D in cancer risk and tumor development and progression, as well as the action of vitamin D supplementation in potentiating the effects of drug therapy and overcoming the mechanisms of resistance often triggered during cancer therapies, by critically addressing strengths and weaknesses of available data from 2010 to 2020.


Subject(s)
Drug Resistance/drug effects , Neoplasms/drug therapy , Vitamin D/therapeutic use , Vitamins/therapeutic use , Drug Therapy, Combination/methods , Female , Humans , Male
17.
Med Res Rev ; 40(4): 1220-1275, 2020 07.
Article in English | MEDLINE | ID: mdl-31930540

ABSTRACT

According to WHO World Malaria Report (2018), nearly 219 million new cases of malaria occurred and a total no. of 435 000 people died in 2017 due to this infectious disease. This is due to the rapid spread of parasite-resistant strains. Artemisinin (ART), a sesquiterpene lactone endoperoxide isolated from traditional Chinese herb Artemisia annua, has been recognized as a novel class of antimalarial drugs. The 2015 "Nobel Prize in Physiology or Medicine" was given to Prof Dr Tu Youyou for the discovery of ART. Hence, ART is termed as "Nobel medicine." The present review article accommodates insights from the chronological advancements and direct statistics witnessed during the past 48 years (1971-2019) in the medicinal chemistry of ART-derived antimalarial endoperoxides, and their clinical utility in malaria chemotherapy and drug discovery.


Subject(s)
Antimalarials/therapeutic use , Artemisinins/therapeutic use , Peroxides/chemistry , Translational Research, Biomedical , Animals , Antimalarials/chemistry , Antimalarials/pharmacology , Artemisinins/chemical synthesis , Artemisinins/chemistry , Artemisinins/pharmacology , Drug Resistance/drug effects , Humans , Malaria/drug therapy
18.
Plant Cell Environ ; 43(2): 463-478, 2020 02.
Article in English | MEDLINE | ID: mdl-31713247

ABSTRACT

Transcriptional regulation is important for plants to respond to toxic effects of aluminium (Al). However, our current knowledge to these events is confined to a few transcription factors. Here, we functionally characterized a rice bean (Vigna umbellata) NAC-type transcription factor, VuNAR1, in terms of Al stress response. We demonstrated that rice bean VuNAR1 is a nuclear-localized transcriptional activator, whose expression was specifically upregulated by Al in roots but not in shoot. VuNAR1 overexpressing Arabidopsis plants exhibit improved Al resistance via Al exclusion. However, VuNAR1-mediated Al exclusion is independent of the function of known Al-resistant genes. Comparative transcriptomic analysis revealed that VuNAR1 specifically regulates the expression of genes associated with protein phosphorylation and cell wall modification in Arabidopsis. Transient expression assay demonstrated the direct transcriptional activation of cell wall-associated receptor kinase 1 (WAK1) by VuNAR1. Moreover, yeast one-hybrid assays and MEME motif searches identified a new VuNAR1-specific binding motif in the promoter of WAK1. Compared with wild-type Arabidopsis plants, VuNAR1 overexpressing plants have higher WAK1 expression and less pectin content. Taken together, our results suggest that VuNAR1 regulates Al resistance by regulating cell wall pectin metabolism via directly binding to the promoter of WAK1 and induce its expression.


Subject(s)
Aluminum/pharmacology , Cell Wall/metabolism , Drug Resistance/drug effects , Drug Resistance/physiology , Pectins/metabolism , Protein Kinases/metabolism , Transcription Factors/metabolism , Vigna/metabolism , Arabidopsis/genetics , Arabidopsis Proteins , Gene Expression Regulation, Plant/drug effects , Iron-Sulfur Proteins/genetics , Iron-Sulfur Proteins/metabolism , Membrane Proteins/genetics , Membrane Proteins/metabolism , Plant Proteins/genetics , Plant Proteins/metabolism , Plant Roots/drug effects , Plant Roots/metabolism , Plants, Genetically Modified , Protein Kinases/genetics , Up-Regulation/drug effects , Vigna/drug effects , Vigna/genetics
19.
Chemosphere ; 240: 124857, 2020 Feb.
Article in English | MEDLINE | ID: mdl-31726599

ABSTRACT

Colorado potato beetle, Leptinotarsa decemlineata Say (coleoptera: chrysomelidae), is the important pest of potato all over the world. This insect pest is resistant to more than 50 active compounds belonging to various chemical groups. Potential of RNA interference (RNAi) was explored to knock down transcript levels of imidacloprid resistant genes in Colorado potato beetle (CPB) under laboratory conditions. Three important genes belonging to cuticular protein (CP), cytochrome P450 monoxygenases (P450) and glutathione synthetase (GSS) families encoding imidacloprid resistance were targeted. Feeding bio-assays were conducted on various stages of imidacloprid resistant CPB lab population by applying HT115 expressing dsRNA on potato leaflets. Survival rate of insects exposed to CP-dsRNA decreased to 4.23%, 15.32% and 47.35% in 2nd, 3rd and 4th instar larvae respectively. Larval weight and pre-adult duration were also affected due to dsRNAs feeding. Synergism of RNAi with imidacloprid conducted on the 2nd instar larvae, exhibited 100% mortality of larvae when subjected to reduced doses of GSS and CP dsRNAs along with imidacloprid. Utilization of three different dsRNAs against imidacloprid resistant CPB population reveal that dsRNAs targeting CP, P450 and GSS enzymes could be useful tool in management of imidacloprid resistant CPB populations.


Subject(s)
Coleoptera/genetics , Drug Resistance/genetics , Genes, Insect , Insecticides/pharmacology , Larva/metabolism , Neonicotinoids/pharmacology , Nitro Compounds/pharmacology , Animals , Coleoptera/drug effects , Coleoptera/growth & development , Cytochrome P-450 Enzyme System/genetics , Down-Regulation , Drug Resistance/drug effects , Glutathione Synthase/genetics , Larva/drug effects , Larva/genetics , RNA Interference/drug effects , Solanum tuberosum/growth & development
20.
Biomed Res Int ; 2019: 5153482, 2019.
Article in English | MEDLINE | ID: mdl-31781619

ABSTRACT

Malaria is the eighth highest contributor to global disease burden with 212 million cases and 429,000 deaths reported in 2015. There is an urgent need to develop multiple target drug to curb growing resistance by Plasmodia due to use of single target drugs and lack of vaccines. Based on a previous study, 3-chloro-4-(4-chlorophenoxy) aniline (ANI) inhibits Plasmodia enoyl acyl carrier protein reductase. This study aimed at evaluating the antiplasmodial activity of ANI combinations with artesunate (AS) or chloroquine (CQ) against P. falciparum in vitro based on the semiautomated microdilution assay and P. berghei in vivo based on Peters' 4-day test. Data were analysed by linear regression using version 5.5 of Statistica, 2000. From the results, on the one hand, a combination of 1.1 ng/ml AS and 3.3 µg/ml of ANI inhibited 50% growth of W2, while a combination of 0.8 ng/ml of AS and 2.6 µg/ml of ANI inhibited 50% growth of 3D7. On the other hand, a combination of 22 ng/ml CQ and 3.7 µg/ml of ANI inhibited 50% growth of W2, while a combination of 4.6 ng/ml CQ and 3.1 µg/ml of ANI inhibited 50% growth of 3D7. In in vivo assays, a combination of ED50 concentrations of AS and ANI cleared all parasites, while 1/2 and 1/4 ED50 combinations inhibited 67.0% and 35.4% parasite growth, respectively. ED50 combinations of CQ and ANI inhibited 81.0% growth of parasites, while 1/2 and 1/4 ED50 combinations inhibited 27.3% and 10.2% parasite growth. Assuming a linear relationship between percentage chemosuppression and combination ratios, only 0.88 mg/kg of AS combined with 1.68 mg/kg of ANI or 1.78 mg/kg of CQ with 3.15 mg/kg of ANI inhibited 50% parasite growth in vivo. ANI combinations with AS or CQ are thus potential antimalarial drug combinations if their clinical efficacy and safety are ascertained.


Subject(s)
Aniline Compounds/pharmacology , Artesunate/pharmacology , Malaria, Falciparum/drug therapy , Animals , Antimalarials/pharmacology , Chloroquine/pharmacology , Disease Models, Animal , Drug Combinations , Drug Resistance/drug effects , Humans , Malaria, Falciparum/parasitology , Mice , Plant Extracts/chemistry , Plasmodium berghei/drug effects , Plasmodium berghei/pathogenicity , Plasmodium falciparum/drug effects , Plasmodium falciparum/pathogenicity
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