Current Drug Targets - Volume 15, Issue 9, 2014

microRNAs (miRNAs) are a class of small non-coding RNAs that are 18-25 nucleotides (nt) in length and negatively regulate gene expression post-transcriptionally. miRNAs are known to mediate myriad processes and pathways. While many miRNAs are expressed ubiquitously, some are expressed in a tissue specific manner. miR-133 is one of the most studied and best characterized miRNAs to date. Specifically expressed Read More

Melanoma is a life threatening disease with a growing incidence rate. It is estimated that 9840 patients will die from melanoma in 2014. Despite numerous attempts for treating metastatic melanoma, conventional therapies including systemic chemotherapy or immunotherapy, either as single agents or combined, have not been promising. The most cytotoxic agents have low molecular weight, which leads to rapid excreti Read More

During the last decade research is gradually repositioning the antimalarial drug chloroquine, and certain related quinoline derivatives, as anticancer agents. Chloroquine and hydroxychloroquine, in particular, have relatively wellcharacterized toxicity profiles due to several decades of use for treatment of malaria. Previously published review articles provide an excellent overview of the diversity of chloroquine effects on cancer Read More

Schistosomiasis sometimes referred to as bilharzia ranks high among the common neglected human tropical diseases. Parasitic trematode flatworm belonging to the genus Schistosoma is responsible for this acute and chronic disease. Its prevalence is rapidly increasing in the tropical regions worldwide; however, its economic and global health impact is grossly underestimated. There are five recognized species of schis Read More

Abdominal aortic aneurysm (AAA) is an important cause of mortality in older adults. Most AAAs are asymptomatic and screening programs have been introduced to identify AAAs at an early stage in some countries. There is currently no accepted therapy for early stage or small AAAs, which are frequently identified by such programs. In this review, we discuss work underway to identify targets for medical treatments to limit p Read More

NF-κB essential modulator (NEMO), the non-catalytic regulatory subunit of the IκB kinase (IKK) complex, is essential for the canonical NF-κB activation pathway. It has been identified as a molecular platform for assembling the IKK complex and recruiting upstream IKK activators. However, the exact mechanism for regulating IKK activity has still remained elusive. This review describes structural and functional characteristics Read More

As the most common form of arthritis, osteoarthritis (OA) is prevalent in the elderly, bringing patients pain and functional limitations of joints. Current medication treatments of OA mainly consist of oral and intra-articular administration. Despite the undeniable advantages over oral administration, the efficacy of intra-articular therapy is still limited by the rapid clearance of drugs. To guarantee the efficacy and avoid f Read More

International interest on the benefits of using the steroid hormone Dehydroepiandrosterone (DHEA) on various aspects of human health, including the regulation of mood, is increasing. This study aimed to review the scientific literature on the use of DHEA in the treatment of depression and depressive symptoms in other psychiatric and medical illnesses. PubMed, ISI Web of Knowledge and Virtual Health Library (VHL) databas Read More