Selected Aspects of the Analytical and Pharmaceutical Profiles of Nifurtimox

Nifurtimox is a nitroheterocyclic drug employed for treatment of trypanosomiases (Chagas disease and West African sleeping sickness); its use for certain cancers has also been assessed. Despite having been in the market for over 50 years, knowledge of nifurtimox is still fragmentary and incomplete. Relevant aspects of the chemistry and biology of nifurtimox are reviewed to summarize the current knowledge of this drug. These comprise its chemical synthesis and the preparation of some analogues, as well as its chemical degradation. Selected physical data and physicochemical properties are also listed, along with different approaches toward the analytical characterization of the drug, including electrochemical (polarography, cyclic voltammetry), spectroscopic (ultraviolet-visible, nuclear magnetic resonance, electron spin resonance), and single crystal X-ray diffractometry. The array of polarographic, ultraviolet-visible spectroscopic, and chromatographic methods available for the analytical determination of nifurtimox (in bulk drug, pharmaceutical formulations, and biological samples), are also presented and discussed, along with chiral chromatographic and electrophoretic alternatives for the separation of the enantiomers of the drug. Aspects of the drug likeliness of nifurtimox, its classification in the Biopharmaceutical Classification System, and available pharmaceutical formulations are detailed, whereas pharmacological, chemical, and biological aspects of its metabolism and disposition are discussed.     

Inverse correlation between the expression of AMPK/SIRT1 and NAMPT in psoriatic skin: A pilot study

PurposeEpidermal hyperplasia and the involvement of immune cells characterize the clinical picture of psoriasis. Among the several factors involved, attention has been focused on sirtuin 1 (SIRT1) - a deacetylase endowed with a variety of functions including the control of metabolic and inflammatory processes-, and on nicotinamide phosphoribosyltransferase (NAMPT), important for SIRT1 activation and involved in inflammatory events. The aim of the study was to analyze changes of SIRT1 and NAMPT expression in psoriatic skin.Patients and methodsSamples from healthy controls and psoriatic patients were subjected to immunohistochemical analysis.ResultsA strong downregulation of SIRT1 expression was observed in skin samples from psoriatic patients compared to healthy controls. This was accompanied by a parallel reduction of adenosine monophosphate-activated kinase (AMPK) expression and, more strikingly, by the disappearance of cells immunolabeled for its active, phosphorylated form (pAMPK). In both cases, analysis of the distribution of immunopositive cells revealed a shift towards reduced intensity of staining. In contrast, NAMPT expression was upregulated in psoriatic samples in line with its pro-inflammatory role. This was again more visible with an intensity-based distribution analysis that evidenced a shift towards more intensely immunostained cell populations.ConclusionsThe present data correlate in the same samples the expression of SIRT1, pAMPK/AMPK and NAMPT in psoriasis and open the way for novel pharmacological targets in the treatment of the disease.     

A high-pressure situation

An 8-year-old boy presented with acute visual loss in the right eye and nausea, vomiting, and diplopia. Imaging revealed a right orbital apex mass. Biopsy showed Langerhans cell histiocytosis (LCH), and the patient was diagnosed with isolated orbital LCH causing an orbital apex syndrome. A 12-month cytarabine chemotherapy course was begun, during which the patient developed bilateral optic disc edema. He was diagnosed with cytarabine-induced intracranial hypertension, which was successfully treated with acetazolamide. The cytarabine course was completed with complete resolution of the LCH lesion. The ophthalmologic relevance of this rare disorder is discussed.     

Effects of systemic drugs on the development and progression of age-related macular degeneration

Age-related macular degeneration (AMD) is the leading cause of severe loss of central vision among people over 50. The pathophysiology of the disease is multifactorial and can be attributed to genetics, aging, inflammation, environmental factors, and lifestyle factors including smoking, diet, obesity, and alcohol consumption. While there is no treatment for dry AMD, the current standard treatment for wet AMD is an intraocular injection of anti-vascular endothelial growth factor—an effective, yet expensive, therapy that requires ongoing treatment. As the aging population continues to grow, and AMD diagnoses continue to rise, new treatments should be explored to reduce vision complications and decrease treatment burdens. Many systemic conditions have progressive pathological changes that may affect AMD, particularly those affecting systemic vasculature like diabetes and cardiovascular status. Consequently, systemic drugs used to treat coexistent systemic diseases may influence some of the pathogenic mechanisms of AMD and lead its progression or delay. In this review we explore the current literature to summarize the findings of the reported effects of antihypertensive, immunosuppressants, cholesterol lowering agents, nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drugs, dopamine precursors, hypoglycemic agents, and anticoagulants on AMD.     

In Vivo Evaluation of Nanoemulsion Formulations for Metformin and Repaglinide Alone and Combination

Repaglinide and Metformin are used to treat Type 2 diabetes. Repaglinide with poor water solubility has relatively low oral bioavailability (56%) and undergoes hepatic first-pass metabolism. The oral bioavailability of metformin HCl is also low (about 50-60%). The purpose of this study was to prepare nanoemulsion formulations containing metformin HCl or repaglinide alone or in combination and characterize them in vitro and in vivo. Nanoemulsion formulations containing metformin HCl and/or repaglinide were successfully prepared and in vitro characterized. In addition, in vivo efficacy of nanoemulsion formulations was evaluated in a streptozotocin-nicotinamide-induced diabetic rat model. Biochemical, histopathological, and immunohistochemical evaluations were also performed. The mean droplet size and zeta potential values of nanoemulsion formulations were in the range of 110.15±2.64-120.23±2.16 nm and -21.95 – -24.33 mV, respectively. The percent entrapment efficiency values of nanoemulsion formulations were in the range of 93.600%-96.152%. All nanoemulsion formulations had a PDI of ≤0.223. A statistically significant decrease was observed in the blood glucose values of the diabetic rats treated with nanoemulsion formulations containing active substance/substances, compared to diabetic rats (control) (p<0.05). Nanoemulsion formulations (especially nanoemulsion containing metformin HCl and repaglinide combination) have a better antidiabetic activity and are more effective in reducing oxidative stress caused by diabetes.     

Retinal ischemic cascade: New insights into the pathophysiology and imaging findings

Retinal ischemia gives rise to a complex spectrum in which the cumulative profile of ischemia of the middle and inner retina can be highly variable. We reviewed the current knowledge on paracentral acute middle maculopathy (PAMM) pathophysiology and accompanying risk factors, the middle and inner retinal vasculature and blood flow, and the vulnerability of the middle retina in vaso-occlusive disorders. The inner nuclear layer (INL) is easily affected by slight degrees of retinal hypoperfusion and ischemia. INL infarction starts at perivenular sites, manifesting as skip PAMM lesions and a fern-like appearance in cross-sectional and en face views, respectively. With horizontal progression, INL infarction may develop into diffuse globular PAMM. If vertical progression occurs, the entire middle and inner portions of the retina can be affected. Transmural infarction of the middle and inner retina would be at the end of this spectrum. This gradient of ischemic progression resembles an ischemic cascade. We review the evidence supporting the term “retinal ischemic cascade,” which encompasses a broad continuum of manifestations with roots in middle retinal infarction. With this terminology, variations in spatial and temporal progression and resolution of ischemia can also be delivered; it further enables addressing the possible associations between the middle and inner retinal ischemic patterns.     

肺癌遗传易感差异表达miRNA的筛选及生物信息学分析

目的 肺癌是目前我国死亡率最高的恶性肿瘤,发病率和病死率持续升高,且预后较差,患者的5年生存率小于15％,严重威胁人们的健康。筛选肺癌遗传易感差异表达的miRNA,分析差异表达的miRNA的靶基因功能,可为进一步研究miRNA在肺癌发生发展过程中的作用提供实验基础。方法 采用高通量测序技术检测海南地区汉族肺癌患者和对照患者血清中差异表达的miRNA,通过生物信息学方法预测差异miRNAs的靶基因,并对靶基因进行GO功能富集分析、KEGG信号通路分析和蛋白相互作用分析。结果 肺癌患者和对照患者共筛选出3个显著差异表达的miRNA (P<0.05,|log2 (Fold Change)|≥1) ,且均呈下调状态。差异表达miRNAs所预测的靶基因显著参与癌症通路、 轴突导向通路、代谢通路,NUFIP2、PLAGL2、IGF1R基因编码的蛋白在互作网络中具有重要作用。结论 海南地区肺癌患者和对照患者间存在3个差异表达的miRNAs,这些miRNAs可能通过调控癌症、轴突导向、代谢等信号通路,调节下游靶蛋白参与肺癌的发生过程。     

神经浸润对胃癌患者生存预后的影响

  目的  探讨神经浸润（perineural invasion，PNI）对胃癌患者生存预后的影响。  方法  回顾性分析2011年1月至2012年12月天津医科大学肿瘤医院收治的1 007例胃癌患者的临床病理资料，根据术后病理标本中有无PNI将所有患者分为PNI阴性组和PNI阳性组，分析PNI与临床病理因素的关系及其对胃癌患者生存预后的影响。  结果  1 007例胃癌患者中PNI阳性120例，阳性率为11.9%。分化程度、浸润深度和脉管癌栓是PNI的独立危险因素。单因素分析显示，年龄、肿瘤部位、Borrmann分型、肿瘤大小、根治度、TNM分期、术式、癌结节、脉管癌栓、PNI、术前CA19-9及CEA水平与胃癌患者预后相关。PNI阴性和PNI阳性患者5年生存率分别为66.6%和38.3%，差异具有统计学意义（P < 0.001）。多因素分析显示年龄、BorrmannⅣ型、TNM分期、根治度、癌结节和PNI是胃癌患者的独立预后因素。分层分析显示，PNI仅对Ⅰ、Ⅱ和Ⅲa期胃癌预后影响具有统计学意义。  结论  PNI是胃癌患者独立预后因素，可作为Ⅰ、Ⅱ和Ⅲa期患者预后评价指标。