Evaluating phase II results of Baxdrostat, an aldosterone synthase inhibitor for hypertension.

INTRODUCTION: Hypertension, a global health concern, poses a significant risk for other cardiovascular diseases. While lifestyle modifications and interventions like the Dietary Approaches to Stop Hypertension (DASH) diet offer some respite, their maintenance can be challenging. Recently, the spotlight has turned toward the renin-angiotensin-aldosterone system, a crucial player in the pathophysiology of hypertension. Contrary to other drugs, Baxdrostat, an innovative aldosterone synthase inhibitor (ASI), targets aldosterone synthesis, mitigating negative systemic effects. AREAS COVERED: Baxdrostat showcases rapid absorption, high oral bioavailability, and significant selectivity for aldosterone synthase which presents a proactive approach to hypertension management by reducing aldosterone levels. Early trials have demonstrated its potential in lowering blood pressure in resistant hypertension cases. Current clinical trials are also exploring its application in primary aldosteronism and chronic kidney disease, with preliminary findings indicating its promise as a novel antihypertensive agent. This article encapsulates the current state of knowledge regarding Baxdrostat, encompassing its uses, ongoing clinical trials, and potential future clinical applications. EXPERT OPINION: Future research endeavors will play a pivotal role in unveiling the effectiveness and safety profile of this novel medication. Thus, positioning the baxdrostat as a valuable addition to the armamentarium of antihypertensive agents, especially for patients with complex, multifactorial hypertensive conditions.

Selection of suitable reference genes for gene expression studies in normal human ovarian tissues, borderline ovarian tumours and ovarian cancer.

The use of reference genes is the most common method of controlling the variation in mRNA expression during quantitative polymerase chain reaction, although the use of traditional reference genes, such as ß­actin, glyceraldehyde­3­phosphate dehydrogenase or 18S ribosomal RNA, without validation occasionally leads to unreliable results. Therefore, the present study aimed to evaluate a set of five commonly used reference genes to determine the most suitable for gene expression studies in normal ovarian tissues, borderline ovarian and ovarian cancer tissues. The expression stabilities of these genes were ranked using two gene stability algorithms, geNorm and NormFinder. Using geNorm, the two best reference genes in ovarian cancer were ß­glucuronidase and ß­actin. Hypoxanthine phosphoribosyltransferase­1 and ß­glucuronidase were the most stable in ovarian borderline tumours, and hypoxanthine phosphoribosyltransferase­1 and glyceraldehyde­3­phosphate dehydrogenase were the most stable in normal ovarian tissues. NormFinder ranked ß­actin the most stable in ovarian cancer, and the best combination of two genes was ß­glucuronidase and ß­actin. In borderline tumours, hypoxanthine phosphoribosyltransferase­1 was identified as the most stable, and the best combination was hypoxanthine phosphoribosyltransferase­1 and ß­glucuronidase. In normal ovarian tissues, ß­glucuronidase was recommended as the optimum reference gene, and the most optimum pair of reference genes was hypoxanthine phosphoribosyltransferase­1 and ß­actin. To the best of our knowledge, this is the first study to investigate the selection of a set of reference genes for normalisation in quantitative polymerase chain reactions in different ovarian tissues, and therefore it is recommended that ß­glucuronidase, ß­actin and hypoxanthine phosphoribosyltransferase­1 are the most suitable reference genes for such analyses.