Current Drug Targets - Volume 14, Issue 8, 2013

Abnormal luteal function is a common issue in assisted reproduction techniques associated with ovarian stimulation probably due to low levels of LH in the middle and in the late luteal phase. This defect seems to be associated with supraphysiological steroid levels at the end of follicular phase. The luteal phase insufficiency has not got a diagnostic test which has proven reliable in a clinical setting. Luteal phase after ovarian stim Read More

Ovarian hyperstimulation syndrome (OHSS) is the most serious iatrogenic complication associated with ovarian stimulation. It is only in recent years that the understanding of OHSS has advanced sufficiently to develop treatment options aimed at reducing the incidence and effects of OHSS. Currently, there is no good test or method for identifying susceptible patients. Nevertheless, progress has been made in the prevention Read More

Data concerning the effects of increased body mass index (BMI) on ovarian and pregnancy outcome are rich, but the results are rather controversial. Regarding pharmacogenetics, gene polymorphisms of hormonal receptor genes, such as Estrogen Receptor alpha (ESR1), Estrogen Receptor beta (ESR2) and FSH receptor (FSHR) genes, are associated with ovarian stimulation and pregnancy outcome and may constit Read More

Systemic chemotherapy frequently causes primary ovarian insufficiency. In prepubertal girls, currently the only option to preserve ovarian function is ovarian tissue preservation. The use of gonadotropin-releasing hormone analogues given in combination with chemotherapy has been studied in reproductive age women. The exact mechanism is unknown, but some of the proposed protective mechanisms could theoretically prote Read More

With the development of modern assisted reproductive technology(ART), the treatment of infertility and the pregnant outcome by ART have been significantly improved. However, implantation failure, particularly the unexplained repeated implantation failure (RIF), is still the unsolved and principal problem to affect the outcome of ART. The completed embryo, the receptive uterus and a series of precisely controlled molecu Read More

Molecular medical research on aromatherapy has been steadily increasing for use as an adjuvant therapy in managing psychiatric disorders and to examine its therapeutic mechanisms. Most studies, as well as clinically applied experience, have indicated that various essential oils, such as lavender, lemon and bergamot can help to relieve stress, anxiety, depression and other mood disorders. Most notably, inhalation of ess Read More

Because of more and more accurate cardiovascular prevention programs and the increasing mean age of the general population, the use of antiplatelet treatments is progressively increasing in the last years. Moreover, the widespread use of bare-metal stents (BMS) and drug-eluting stents (DES) significantly increased the number of subjects with the need of a combined antiplatelet treatment: Aspirin (ASA) and Clopid Read More

Overexpression of the human epidermal growth factor receptor 2 (HER2) is identified in approximately 25- 30% of breast cancers and indicates a poor prognosis. Trastuzumab, the anti-HER2 monoclonal antibody (mAb), has shown significant clinical effects selectively in HER2-overexpressing metastatic breast cancer (MBC) with improved overall survival and reduced recurrent risk. However, there is an urgent need to develop Read More

Currently, schizophrenia, as a serious psychiatric disorder, continues affecting the quality of life in the psychotics. This disease is often debilitating and chronic, showing broad symptoms at one end by hallucinations, delusions, thought disorder and the other end by affective flattening, catatonia, social isolation. In order to combat this disease, many antipsychotic drugs have been developed and introduced into clinical practice in t Read More

Constant oxygen supply is essential for proper tissue development, homeostasis and function of all eukaryotic organisms. Cellular response to reduced oxygen levels is mediated by the transcriptional regulator hypoxia-inducible factor- 1 (HIF-1). It is a heterodimeric complex protein consisting of an oxygen dependent subunit (HIF-1α) and a constitutively expressed nuclear subunit (HIF-1β). In normoxic conditions, de n Read More