The Effectiveness of Topiramate in the Treatment of Amphetamine and Methamphetamine Use Disorder: A Randomized Controlled Trial.

Objective: Limited studies have yet evaluated the effectiveness of topiramate in the treatment of amphetamine and methamphetamine addiction. Therefore, the aim of this study was to investigate the effectiveness of topiramate in the treatment of patients with this disorder. Methods: In this randomized, double-blind, placebo-controlled clinical trial, 52 patients with amphetamine and methamphetamine use disorder, within the age range of 16-60 years, were randomly divided into an intervention group (n = 26) and a placebo group (n = 26). The intervention group was treated with topiramate tablets with a starting dose of 50 mg, which was gradually increased to the target dose of 200 mg. The control group was treated with placebo. The duration of drug intervention in this clinical trial was 12 weeks, and all participants were evaluated before the intervention and 2, 4, 6, 8, 10, and 12 weeks after beginning the intervention. The Beck Depression Inventory, drug use temptation questionnaire, urine test, and side effects questionnaire were used as outcome measures to assess the patients. The data were analyzed using chi-square, independent t-test, and analysis of variance with repeated measurements. Results: There was no significant difference between the intervention and placebo groups in depression at the beginning of the treatment and at the 4th, 8th, and 12th weeks after the intervention (P > 0.05). The urine test also showed no significant difference between the two groups at any of the evaluation stages (P > 0.05). Although there was no significant difference between the two groups in the drug use temptation results at the beginning and the 2nd, 4th and 6th weeks (P > 0.05), the level of drug temptation in the intervention group was significantly lower than the placebo group in the 8th, 10th, and 12th weeks (P < 0.05). Conclusion: Topiramate can be effective in reducing the desire to use amphetamine and methamphetamine. However, further studies are needed to confirm these results.

Nanoporous iron oxide nanoparticle: hydrothermal fabrication, human serum albumin interaction and potential antibacterial effects.

Nanoporous iron oxide (Fe3O4) nanoparticles (NIONPs) have been widely used as promising agents in biomedical applications. Herein, the NIONPs were synthesized by one-step hydrothermal method and well-characterized by FESEM and TEM investigations. Afterwards, their interaction with human serum albumin (HSA) was studied using a wide range of biophysical approaches, including intrinsic and extrinsic fluorescence, far and near UV-CD, and UV-Vis spectroscopic methods as well as molecular docking investigation. Furthermore, the antibacterial effect of NIONPs was examined on the standard strains of the following pathogenic bacteria, Staphylococcus aureus (ATCC 25923), Klebsiella penumoniae (ATCC 33883), Enterococcus faecalis (ATCC 29212) and Pseudomonas aeruginosa (ATCC 27853). The results showed the feasible fabrication of spherical-shaped NIONPs with an average diameter of around 100 nm. Intrinsic fluorescence spectroscopy data depicted that NIONPs formed a complex with HSA by a KSV value of 0.092 (µg/ml)-1. Extrinsic fluorescence, near UV-CD and UV-vis spectroscopic methods revealed that NIONPs induced some changes on the quaternary structure of HSA, whereas Tm measurement and far UV-CD spectroscopy showed some slight changes on the secondary structure of HSA even in the presence of high concentration of NIONPs. Molecular docking study disclosed that Fe3O4 nanoclusters with varying morphologies and dimensions could interact with different residues on the surface of HSA molecules. In addition, antibacterial assays exhibited a significant inhibition on both Gram-positive and Gram-negative pathogenic bacteria. In conclusion, these NPs can be used as promising antibacterial agents.Communicated by Ramaswamy H. Sarma.

A review on the cleavage priming of the spike protein on coronavirus by angiotensin-converting enzyme-2 and furin.

The widespread antigenic changes lead to the emergence of a new type of coronavirus (CoV) called as severe acute respiratory syndrome (SARS)-CoV-2 that is immunologically different from the previous circulating species. Angiotensin-converting enzyme-2 (ACE-2) is one of the most important receptors on the cell membrane of the host cells (HCs) which its interaction with spike protein (SP) with a furin-cleavage site results in the SARS-CoV-2 invasion. Hence, in this review, we presented an overview on the interaction of ACE-2 and furin with SP. As several kinds of CoVs, from various genera, have at their S1/S2 binding site a preserved site, we further surveyed the role of furin cleavage site (FCS) on the life cycle of the CoV. Furthermore, we discussed that the small molecular inhibitors can limit the interaction of ACE-2 and furin with SP and can be used as potential therapeutic platforms to combat the spreading CoV epidemic. Finally, some ongoing challenges and future prospects for the development of potential drugs to promote targeting specific activities of the CoV were reviewed. In conclusion, this review may pave the way for providing useful information about different compounds involved in improving the effectiveness of CoV vaccine or drugs with minimum toxicity against human health.Communicated by Ramaswamy H. Sarma.