Vol 31, No 11 (2024)
- Year: 2024
- Articles: 7
- URL: https://medjrf.com/0929-8673/issue/view/9994
Anti-Infectives and Infectious Diseases
Meet the Editorial Board Member
1297-1297
Sleep, Dietary Melatonin Supplementation, and COVID-19
Abstract
Background:During the COVID-19 pandemic, people suffered from major mental health problems. These include stress, anxiety, and confusion about the existing situation of home confinement. Melatonin is a popular anti-inflammatory and antioxidant molecule sold as an over-the-counter dietary supplement.
Objective:This review discusses the indications for using melatonin in the context of the COVID-19 pandemic, including treatment.
Methods:A comprehensive search of publications was conducted in electronic databases focusing on the administration of melatonin in COVID-19.
Results:Stress has a huge negative impact on sleep routines and the quality of life of individuals. Sleep is considered an important modulator of the immune response. Thus, a lack of sleep can weaken immunity, increasing organism susceptibility to infection. For instance, shorter sleep durations are associated with a rise in suffering from the common cold. The administration of melatonin protects against viral and other pathogens and speeds clinical recovery.
Conclusion:In patients admitted to intensive care units, melatonin decreases the risks of severe complications, such as thrombosis and sepsis, and mortality rates. In addition, it is efficacious in lowering vessel permeability, depression, and sedation, and improving the quality of sleep, which could also help COVID-19 patients achieve better clinical outcomes.
1298-1314
Melatonin as a Promising Agent for Cancer Treatment: Insights into its Effects on the Wnt/beta-catenin Signaling Pathway
Abstract
In recent years, substantial advances have been made in cancer treatment modalities. Yet, within the last three decades, neither cancer incidence nor the cancer-induced mortality rate has changed. Available anti-cancer chemotherapeutics possess remarkably restricted effectiveness and often have severe adverse effects. Hence, the identification of novel pharmaceutical agents that do not exhibit these major disadvantages is imperative. Melatonin, an important endogenous molecule synthesized and secreted by the pineal gland, is a promising chemical agent that has been comprehensively assessed over the last decades for its anti-inflammatory and anti-cancer properties. Melatonin is reportedly a significant inhibitor of cancer initiation, progression, and metastasis. The anti-- cancer potential of melatonin is principally mediated by reversing the up-regulated amounts of different transcription factors, growth factors, inflammatory cytokines, protein kinases, and other oncogenic agents. Also, melatonin often has signifcant inhibitory effects on cancer cell proliferation through either promoting apoptosis or inducing cell cycle arrest. The current review provides an insight into melatonin-induced effects against various human cancers with a particular focus on the regulation of Wnt/β-catenin signaling pathway.
1315-1331
Peptide Amphiphiles for Pharmaceutical Applications
Abstract
During the last few decades, several efforts have been made towards developing biocompatible materials. Among them, peptide amphiphiles (PAs) constitute a novel nanotechnological strategy used in the field of biomedicine since they can provide tissue- specific binding and localization. PAs possess several regions combining hydrophobic and hydrophilic areas that are able to self-assemble in aqueous media, forming different tertiary nanostructures able to interact with cellular membranes. Moreover, these molecules can be tuned by incorporating collagen, lipids, or fluorescent markers. In addition, they can also be used as carriers in order to encapsulate active compounds for drug delivery showing promising features in this area. In this review, the self-assembled structures of PAs as well as their pharmacological applications have been summarized. Furthermore, their use as drug delivery systems has been highlighted and the latest advances in this field have been reviewed.
1332-1347
The Effect of Statins on the Differentiation and Function of Central Nervous System Cells
Abstract
Statins (3-hydroxy-3-methylglutaryl-CoA reductase inhibitors) reduce plasma cholesterol and improve endothelium-dependent vasodilation, inflammation, and oxidative stress. The effect of statins on the central nervous system (CNS), particularly on cognition and neurological disorders such as cerebral ischemic stroke, multiple sclerosis (MS), and Alzheimers disease (AD), has received increasing attention in recent years, both within the scientific community and in the media. This review aims to provide an updated discussion on the effects of statins on the differentiation and function of various nervous system cells, including neurons and glial cells. Additionally, the mechanisms of action and how different types of statins enter the CNS will be discussed.
1348-1360
Structure-Activity Relationships and Therapeutic Potential of Purinergic P2X7 Receptor Antagonists
Abstract
The purinergic P2X7 receptor (P2X7R), an ATP-gated non-selective cation channel, has emerged as a gatekeeper of inflammation that controls the release of proinflammatory cytokines. As a key player in initiating the inflammatory signaling cascade, the P2X7 receptor is currently under intense scrutiny as a target for the treatment of different pathologies, including chronic inflammatory disorders (rheumatoid arthritis and osteoarthritis), chronic neuropathic pain, mood disorders (depression and anxiety), neurodegenerative diseases, ischemia, cancer (leukemia), and many others. For these reasons, pharmaceutical companies have invested in discovering compounds able to modulate the P2X7R and filed many patent applications. This review article presents an account of P2X7R structure, function, and tissue distribution, emphasizing its role in inflammation. Next, we illustrate the different chemical classes of non-competitive P2X7R antagonists reported by highlighting their properties and qualities as clinical candidates for treating inflammatory disorders and neurodegenerative diseases. We also discuss the efforts to develop effective Positron Emission Tomography (PET) radioligands to progress the understanding of the pathomechanisms of neurodegenerative disorders, to provide evidence of drug-target engagement, and to assist clinical dose selection for novel drug therapies.
1361-1403
New Insights into the Long Non-coding RNAs Dependent Modulation of Heart Failure and Cardiac Hypertrophy: From Molecular Function to Diagnosis and Treatment
Abstract
Heart failure (HF) is a public health issue that imposes high costs on healthcare systems. Despite the significant advances in therapies and prevention of HF, it remains a leading cause of morbidity and mortality worldwide. The current clinical diagnostic or prognostic biomarkers, as well as therapeutic strategies, have some limitations. Genetic and epigenetic factors have been identified to be central to the pathogenesis of HF. Therefore, they might provide promising novel diagnostic and therapeutic approaches for HF. Long non-coding RNAs (lncRNAs) belong to a group of RNAs that are produced by RNA polymerase II. These molecules play an important role in the functioning of different cell biological processes, such as transcription and regulation of gene expression. LncRNAs can affect different signaling pathways by targeting biological molecules or a variety of different cellular mechanisms. The alteration in their expression has been reported in different types of cardiovascular diseases, including HF, supporting the theory that they are important in the development and progression of heart diseases. Therefore, these molecules can be introduced as diagnostic, prognostic, and therapeutic biomarkers in HF. In this review, we summarize different lncRNAs as diagnostic, prognostic, and therapeutic biomarkers in HF. Moreover, we highlight various molecular mechanisms dysregulated by different lncRNAs in HF.
1404-1426