Therapeutic potential of Bergenin in the management of neurological-based diseases and disorders.

Originally sourced from plants, Bergenin has been used as a medicinal compound in traditional medicine for centuries, and anecdotal reports suggest a wide range of therapeutic uses. Naturally-occurring and lab-synthesized Bergenin, as well as some of its related compounds, have been shown in in vivo and in vitro studies to alter activity of several enzymes and proteins critical in cellular functioning, including reelin, GSK-3ß, Lingo-1, Ten-4, GP-43, Aß 1-42, P-tau, SOD1,2, GPx, Glx1, NQO1, HO1, PPAR-É£, BDNF, VEGF, and STAT6. Additionally, Bergenin alters levels of several cytokines, such as IL-6, IL-1ß, TNF-α, and TGF-ß. Behavioral and cellular effects of Bergenin have been shown to involve PI3K/Akt, NF-κB, PKC, Nrf2, and Sirt1/FOXO3a pathways. These pathways, enzymes, and proteins have been shown to be important in normal neurological functioning, and/or dysfunctions in these pathways and proteins have been shown to be important in several neuro-based disorders or diseases, which suggests that Bergenin could be therapeutic in management of neuropsychiatric conditions or neurological disorders. In preclinical studies, Bergenin has been shown to be useful for the management of Alzheimer's disease, Parkinson's disease, anxiety, depression, addiction, epilepsy, insomnia, stroke, and potentially, state control. Our review aims to summarize current evidence supporting the conclusion that Bergenin could play a role in treating various neuro-based disorders and that future studies should be conducted to evaluate the mechanisms by which Bergenin could exert its therapeutic effects.

Unexplored power of CRISPR-Cas9 in neuroscience, a multi-OMICs review.

The neuroscience and neurobiology of gene editing to enhance learning and memory is of paramount interest to the scientific community. The advancements of CRISPR system have created avenues to treat neurological disorders by means of versatile modalities varying from expression to suppression of genes and proteins. Neurodegenerative disorders have also been attributed to non-canonical DNA secondary structures by affecting neuron activity through controlling gene expression, nucleosome shape, transcription, translation, replication, and recombination. Changing DNA regulatory elements which could contribute to the fate and function of neurons are thoroughly discussed in this review. This study presents the ability of CRISPR system to boost learning power and memory, treat or cure genetically-based neurological disorders, and alleviate psychiatric diseases by altering the activity and the irritability of the neurons at the synaptic cleft through DNA manipulation, and also, epigenetic modifications using Cas9. We explore and examine how each different OMIC techniques can come useful when altering DNA sequences. Such insight into the underlying relationship between OMICs and cellular behaviors leads us to better neurological and psychiatric therapeutics by intelligently designing and utilizing the CRISPR/Cas9 technology.

An overview of the history, current strategies, and potential future treatment approaches in erectile dysfunction: a comprehensive review.

INTRODUCTION: Erectile dysfunction (ED) is one of the most common urologic problems in men worldwide, with an approximately high incidence rate, significantly affecting patients' quality of life and their sexual partners. OBJECTIVES: Due to the association of this disorder with essential diseases such as cardiovascular disease and diabetes, its prevention and treatment are vital for overall human physiologic and psychological health. Along with reviewing the history of treatment and current methods, we seek new approaches to curb this issue in the future. METHODS: In this review, investigations were based on the focus of each section's content or conducted on an ad hoc basis. Searches were performed in Scopus and PubMed. RESULTS: In recent years, many treatments for ED have been reported besides oral administration of phosphodiesterase 5 inhibitors such as sildenafil and tadalafil (approved by the Food and Drug Administration). Common oral medications, intracavernous injections, herbal therapies (eg, herbal phosphodiesterase 5 inhibitors), and topical/transdermal medications are routine ED treatment approaches. Moreover, some novel medications are innovative candidates for completing ED's treatment protocols: stem cell injection, low-intensity extracorporeal shock wave therapy, platelet-rich plasma injection, gene therapy, amniotic fluid matrices, rho-kinase inhibitors, melanocortin receptor antagonists, maxi-K channel activators (ie, large-conductance calcium-activated potassium channels), guanylate cyclase activators, and nitric oxide donors. CONCLUSION: Due to the importance of this complicated problem in men's society, a faster course of treatment trends toward new methods is needed to increase efficiency. Combining the mentioned treatments and attentively examining their efficacy through programmed clinical trials can be a big step toward solving this global problem.

Erectile dysfunction from mechanisms to medicines with a focus on the application of topical Minoxidil.

INTRODUCTION: Erectile dysfunction (ED), for multifactorial reasons, is one of the biggest current quandaries among men worldwide and results in other complications such as reduced quality of life of the patient and his sexual partner, impotence, and psychiatric problems. OBJECTIVES: Understanding of disease etiology, penile anatomy, erectile physiology, therapeutic mechanisms, and effective molecular pathways all play key roles in determining a therapeutic approach. This project is based on the study of topical minoxidil's effectiveness in treating ED. METHODS: To perform a comprehensive overview of the subject, we performed a triple-keyword combination search to assess recent studies of ED. RESULTS: The most common formulation used in these studies was 2% minoxidil solution. Except for cases studied in paralytic patients, topical treatment with minoxidil appears to elicit a mild erectile response; however, this finding is insufficient to confirm the effectiveness of this topical treatment. CONCLUSIONS: Although evidence to confirm the therapeutic properties of minoxidil in ED is limited, combination therapy and the use of modern formulations of minoxidil are promising options for treating ED in the future.

Prostaglandins as a Topical Therapy for Erectile Dysfunction: A Comprehensive Review.

INTRODUCTION: Erectile dysfunction (ED) is a substantial cause of dissatisfaction among many men. This discontentment has led to the emergence of various drug treatment options for this problem. OBJECTIVES: Unfortunately, due to various interactions, contraindications, and side effects, systemic therapies such as phosphodiesterase-5 inhibitors (including sildenafil, tadalafil, vardenafil, avanafil, etc.) are not welcomed in many patients. These problems have led researchers to look for other ways to reduce these complications. METHODS: This article holistically reviews the efficacy of topical prostaglandins and their role in treating ED. We sought to provide a comprehensive overview of recent findings on the current topic by using the extensive literature search to identify the latest scientific reports on the topic. RESULTS: In this regard, topical and transdermal treatments can be suitable alternatives. In diverse studies, prostaglandins, remarkably PGE1 (also known as alprostadil), have been suggested to be an acceptable candidate for topical treatment. CONCLUSION: Numerous formulations of PGE1 have been used to treat patients so far. Still, in general, with the evolution of classical formulation methods toward modern techniques (such as using nanocarriers and skin permeability enhancers), the probability of treatment success also increases. Hamzehnejadi M, Tavakoli MR, Homayoun F et al. Prostaglandins as a Topical Therapy for Erectile Dysfunction: A Comprehensive Review. Sex Med Rev 2022;10:764-781.

Evidence for Rosa damascena efficacy in mental disorders in preclinical animal studies and clinical trials: A systematic review.

The aim of this systematic review was to identify animal preclinical studies and randomized controlled trials that looked at the effects of R. damascena in any form on different mental diseases. Up to September 2021, the online databases of PubMed, Scopus, Embase, Web of Science, and Cochrane trials, as well as SID and MagIran, were searched. This study included 10 animal studies. Except for one research, the rest of the studies confirmed the positive effects of the plant in treatment of mental disorders. A total of 38 studies met the criteria for inclusion. Individuals who have encountered various sorts of mental problems, such as anxiety, sleep disturbance, and depressive disorder, were studied. R. damascena essential oil (EO), essence, extract, and dried plant were used in aromatherapy and oral administration. A decrease in sympathetic nervous system activity, induction of neurotransmitters, induction of nerve growth factors by neurogenesis and synaptogenesis mechanisms, a decrease in prolactin and an increase in noradrenaline, estradiol, and progesterone secretion are some of the mechanisms of action. In general, R. damascena is an effective herb for the treatment of mental disorders. However, further research timing and duration of intervention are needed to extrapolate the findings.

A Review on Phosphodiesterase-5 Inhibitors as a Topical Therapy for Erectile Dysfunction.

INTRODUCTION: Due to the prevalence of erectile dysfunction and impotence among men in recent years, several pharmacotherapies have been considered for such problems. Systemic drug therapies in the treatment of erectile dysfunction have significant issues, including drug interactions and contraindications in a wide range of diseases, which makes researchers seek to design drugs and dosage forms with fewer side effects, interactions, and contraindications with maintained efficacy. OBJECTIVES: 5-Phosphodiesterase inhibitors (5-PDEIs or PDE5Is), previously used systemically to treat erectile malfunction, are now appropriate candidates for topical application with considerable potency and fewer complications. METHODS: We sought to investigate the recent findings on the current subject in order to provide a comprehensive overview of the issue using an extensive literature search to pinpoint the latest scientific reports on this subject. RESULTS: In the present review, the function of 5-Phosphodiesterase inhibitors as topical formulations was evaluated with details including formulation type, adsorption, and comparative efficacy in all recent studies as an acceptable alternative therapy to systemic drugs. CONCLUSIONS: Due to the fact that the influential factors in erectile dysfunction interact with many diseases and delinquent treatments, the use of topical therapeutic agents can be promising in mild to moderate cases. The utilization of 5-PDEIs through novel topical and transdermal drug delivery techniques plays a vital role in improving this effectiveness. Hamzehnejadi M, Tavakoli MR, Abiri A, et al. A Review on Phosphodiesterase-5 Inhibitors as a Topical Therapy for Erectile Dysfunction. Sex Med Rev 2022;10:369-384.

Prostaglandins as a Topical Therapy for Erectile Dysfunction: A Comprehensive Review.

INTRODUCTION: Erectile dysfunction (ED) is a substantial cause of dissatisfaction among many men. This discontentment has led to the emergence of various drug treatment options for this problem. OBJECTIVES: Unfortunately, due to various interactions, contraindications, and side effects, systemic therapies such as phosphodiesterase-5 inhibitors (including sildenafil, tadalafil, vardenafil, avanafil, etc.) are not welcomed in many patients. These problems have led researchers to look for other ways to reduce these complications. METHODS: This article holistically reviews the efficacy of topical prostaglandins and their role in treating ED. We sought to provide a comprehensive overview of recent findings on the current topic by using the extensive literature search to identify the latest scientific reports on the topic. RESULTS: In this regard, topical and transdermal treatments can be suitable alternatives. In diverse studies, prostaglandins, remarkably PGE1 (also known as alprostadil), have been suggested to be an acceptable candidate for topical treatment. CONCLUSION: Numerous formulations of PGE1 have been used to treat patients so far. Still, in general, with the evolution of classical formulation methods toward modern techniques (such as using nanocarriers and skin permeability enhancers), the probability of treatment success also increases.

A review on function and side effects of systemic corticosteroids used in high-grade COVID-19 to prevent cytokine storms.

In December 2019, a cluster of pneumonia caused by a novel coronavirus (2019-nCoV), officially known as severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2), emerged in Wuhan, Hubei province, China. Cytokine storm is an uncontrolled systemic inflammatory response resulting from the release of large amounts of pro-inflammatory cytokines and chemokines that occurs at phase 3 of viral infection. Such emergence led to the development of many clinical trials to discover efficient drugs and therapeutic protocols to fight with this single-stranded RNA virus. Corticosteroids suppress inflammation of the lungs during the cytokine storm, weaken immune responses, and inhibit the elimination of pathogen. For this reason, in COVID-19 corticosteroid therapy, systemic inhibition of inflammation is observed with a wide range of side effects. The present review discusses the effectiveness of the corticosteroid application in COVID-19 infection and the related side effects of these agents. In summary, a number of corticosteroids, including and especially methylprednisolone and dexamethasone, have demonstrated remarkable efficacy, particularly for COVID-19 patients who underwent mechanical ventilation.

Phlorotannins as HIV Vpu inhibitors, an in silico virtual screening study of marine natural products.

The importance of new effective treatment methodologies for human immunodeficiency virus (HIV) is undeniable for the medical society. Viral protein U (Vpu), one of the disparaged accessory proteins of HIV, is responsible for the dissemination of viral particles, and HIV mutants lacking Vpu protein have remarkably reduced pathogenicity. Here, we explored the marine natural products to find the leading structures which can potentially inhibit the activity of Vpu in silico. To fulfill this goal, we set up a virtual screening based on molecular docking to evaluate the binding capacity of different marine products to Vpu. For validation, we used molecular dynamics simulation and monitored the root mean square deviation value and binding interactions. The results were intriguing when we realized that the hit compounds (phlorotannins) had previously been identified as reverse transcriptase and HIV protease inhibitors. This research inaugurates a new road to combat HIV by multifaceted mode of action of these marine natural products without putting the normal cells in jeopardy (with their safe toxicological profile).