An overview of lefamulin for the treatment of community acquired bacterial pneumonia

ABSTRACT

Introduction

Lefamulin is a novel antibiotic that belongs to the pleuromutilin class with excellent activity against all microorganisms, including atypical pathogens, that cause community-acquired pneumonia (CAP).     

Euglycaemic diabetic ketoacidosis as a complication of SGLT-2 inhibitors: epidemiology,pathophysiology, and treatment

ABSTRACT

Introduction

Sodium-glucose co-transporters 2 (SGLT-2) inhibitors are a relatively novel class of oral medications for the treatment of Type 2 Diabetes Mellitus, which lower plasma glucose by inhibiting glucose reabsorption in the proximal renal tubule. Apart from their hypoglycemic action, recent data suggest these agents have additional major cardioprotective and nephroprotective properties.     

The effect of tramadol on blood glucose concentrations: a systematic review

ABSTRACT

Introduction

Studies comprehensively summarizing the impact of tramadol use on glucose homeostasis are very sparse. Thus, the present study was performed to collect and summarize the latest information about this issue in a systematic way.     

Prognostic factors of good response to DMARDs in psoriatic arthritis: a narrative review

ABSTRACT

Introduction

The management of Psoriatic arthritis (PsA) has evolved in the last decade with a significant increase in treatment options making the choice for clinicians difficult. Thus, the different factors of good prognosis for each treatment are presented in this review.     

Treatment options for glucocorticoid-induced osteoporosis

ABSTRACT

Introduction

Glucocorticoid (GC) induced osteoporosis (GIOP) is the most common form of secondary osteoporosis. It develops in a dose and time dependent manner, due to a rapid and transient increase in bone resorption, followed by the inhibition of bone formation.     

Pharmacotherapeutic options for kidney disease in HIV positive patients

ABSTRACT

Introduction

Since the developmentof combined antiretroviral therapy (cART), HIV-associated mortality and the incidence of HIV-associated end-stage kidney disease (ESKD) has decreased. However, in the United States, an increase in non-HIV-associated kidney diseases within the HIV-positive population is expected.     

Pharmacological management of atopic dermatitis in the elderly

ABSTRACT

Introduction

The prevalence of atopic dermatitis (AD) in geriatric populations of industrialized countries is currently estimated at 3-4% and continues to increase. AD is associated with significant morbidity, increased susceptibility to infection, and symptoms of pruritus and pain. Treatments may negatively affect elderly patients; thus, plans should be optimized for this population.     

The pharmacological management of chronic lower back pain

ABSTRACT

Introduction

Treating chronic low back pain (LBP) can be challenging, and the most effective pharmacological therapy is controversial. The present systematic review investigated the efficacy of various pharmacological compounds to achieve pain relief and improve disability in chronic LBP patients. The present study focused on acetaminophen, amoxicillin, flupirtine, baclofen, tryciclic antidepressants (TCAs), duloxetine, topiramate, gabapentinoids, non-steroid anti-inflammatory drugs (NSAIDs) and opioids.     

Risk assessment via genotoxicity,metabolism, apoptosis,and cell growth effects in a HepG2/C3A cell line upon treatment with Rubus rosifolius (Rosaceae) leaves extract

ABSTRACT

Rubus rosifolius

Sm. (Rosaceae) is a plant traditionally used in Brazil and some other countries to treat diarrhea, stomach diseases, and as an analgesic, antimicrobial, antihypertensive, and as well as other pharmacological properties. The aim of this study was to examine cytotoxic and genotoxic effects of R. rosifolius leaves extract on HepG2/C3A cells and correlate these findings with the expression of mRNA to underlying mechanisms of action. At concentrations between 0.01 and 100 µg/ml, cytotoxic effects were not detected by the MTT assay. This was confirmed by mRNA induction of the CYP3A4 gene (by RT-qPCR assay). However, genotoxic effects occurred at treatments from 1 µg/ml extract (comet and micronucleus test). An increase in the number of cells in S phase was observed at 100 µg/ml, and an elevation in apoptotic cell number was found for all tested concentrations (10, 20, or 100 µg/ml) (cell cycle and apoptosis analysis by flow cytometry). The genotoxicity induced by the extract was the main cause of the rise in the number of cells undergoing apoptosis, as indicated by rise in mRNA of CASP7 gene, and elevation of cells in the S phase of the cell cycle at the higher tested concentrations, as an attempt to repair genetic damage that occurred. These observations suggest that, despite its pharmacological potential, the use of R. rosifolius leaves extract may pose a risk to the integrity of the genetic material of human cells.     

Semaglutide injection for the treatment of adults with type 2 diabetes

ABSTRACT

Introduction

Current estimates suggest that approximately 10% of the global adult population have type 2 diabetes. In recent years there has been a significant increase in the therapeutic options available for its treatment. This article examines the use of injectable semaglutide in the treatment of type 2 diabetes.     

The limits and challenges of antiobesity pharmacotherapy

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Introduction

Pharmacotherapy is a useful adjunct when patients with obesity are unable to achieve adequate benefit from lifestyle interventions.     

Spontaneous reports of hypersensitivity adverse drug reactions in Portugal: a retrospective analysis

ABSTRACT

Background

Hypersensitivity adverse drug reactions (ADRs) are usually serious, unpredictable, and associated with high morbidity and mortality. This study describes cases of hypersensitivity ADRs spontaneously reported in Central Portugal.     

Pharmacotherapeutic strategies for castrate-resistant prostate cancer

ABSTRACT

Introduction

Metastatic castration-resistant prostate cancer (CRPC) is a potentially symptomatic disease with an eventual lethal outcome. Novel pharmaceutical agents are continuously studied with encouraging results in CRPC.     

Modeling drug transport within the viable skin - a review

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Introduction

In the past, mathematical modeling of the transport of transdermal drugs has been primarily focused on the stratum corneum. However, the development of pharmaceutical technologies, such as chemical enhancers, iontophoresis, and microneedles, has led to two outcomes; an increase in permeability in the stratum corneum or the ability to negate the layer entirely. As a result, these outcomes have made the transport of a solute in the viable skin far more critical when studying transdermal drug delivery.     

Cross-sectional study of patient satisfaction with oral analgesics in patients with chronic pain in Japan

ABSTRACT

Background

Chronic pain is often difficult to treat, and many patients are not satisfied with analgesic treatment. The authors assessed patient satisfaction with oral analgesics in patients with chronic pain in Japan.     

An evaluation of the efficacy and safety of erdafitinib for the treatment of bladder cancer

ABSTRACT

Introduction

Treatment of unresectable or metastatic urothelial carcinoma (UC) has historically relied upon platinum-based chemotherapy and, more recently, immune checkpoint inhibitors. When tumors progress despite those therapies, remaining effective options are limited.     

Integrating psychotherapy and psychopharmacology: psychedelic-assisted psychotherapy and other combined treatments

ABSTRACT

Introduction

Combinations of psychotherapy with antidepressants are gold-standard psychiatric treatments. They operate through complex and interactional mechanisms, not unlike the reemergent paradigm of psychedelic-assisted psychotherapy, which promising research suggests may also be highly effective in even challenging populations.     

Drug treatment strategies for osteoporosis in stroke patients

ABSTRACT

Introduction

Osteoporosis and subsequent fractures are well-recognized complications of stroke. However, drug treatment strategies for osteoporosis after stroke have been rarely discussed in the current guidelines for the management of stroke or osteoporosis.     

Functional network analysis reveals potential repurposing of β-blocker atenolol for pancreatic cancer therapy

BackgroundThe survival rate of patients with pancreatic cancer is low; therefore, continuous discovery and development of novel pancreatic cancer drugs are required. Functional network analysis is an integrated bioinformatics approach based on gene, target, and disease networks interaction, and it is extensively used in drug discovery and development.ObjectiveThis study aimed to identify if atenolol, a selective adrenergic inhibitor, can be repurposed for the treatment of pancreatic cancer using functional network analysis.MethodsDirect target proteins (DTPs) and indirect target proteins (ITPs) were obtained from STITCH and STRING databases, respectively. Atenolol-mediated proteins (AMPs) were collected from DTPs and ITPs and further analyzed for gene ontology, KEGG pathway enrichment, genetic alterations, overall survival, and molecular docking.ResultsWe obtained 176 AMPs that consisted of 10 DTPs and 166 ITPs. Among the AMPs involved in the pancreatic cancer pathways, several AMPs such as MAPK1, RELA, MAPK8, STAT1, and STAT3 were identified. Genetic alterations in seven AMPs were identified in 0.9%–16% of patients. Patients with high mRNA levels of MAPK1, RELA, STAT3, GNB1, and MMP9 had significantly worse overall survival rates compared with patients with low expression. Molecular docking studies showed that RELA and MMP9 are potential target candidates of atenolol in the treatment of patients with pancreatic cancer.ConclusionIn conclusion, atenolol can potentially be repurposed to target pancreatic cancer cells by modulating MMP9 and NF-κB signaling. The results of this study need to be further validated in vitro and in vivo.Graphical abstractElectronic supplementary materialThe online version of this article (10.1007/s40199-020-00375-4) contains supplementary material, which is available to authorized users.     

Pharmacotherapy for smoking cessation in schizophrenia: a systematic review

ABSTRACT

Introduction

Rates of tobacco smoking are high in people with schizophrenia with greater difficulty of quitting smoking compared to the general population, which also relate to the increased cardiovascular and cancer risks in this co-occurring disorder. Therefore, effective smoking cessation pharmacotherapies addressing tobacco co-morbidity are imperative.