Current Drug Targets - Volume 4, Issue 1, 2003

Adverse reactions to drugs are a major problem in pharmacotherapy. About 1 / 6 of all side-effects are thought to be drug-induced immune-mediated reactions. It is well established that T and B cells recognize a drug if it is bound as hapten to carrier molecules. However, the model does not explain many T cell-mediated reactions with chemically inert compounds. This review will first discuss the hapten-carrier concept of Read More

To provide an overview of the epidemiologic parameters of emerging adverse effects associated with antiretroviral therapy for human immunodeficiency virus (HIV) disease.All available antiretroviral agents are associated with significant adverse drug effects. Of particular interest are newly emerging suspected adverse drug effects which were not generally noted in pre-marketing trials nor captured under current s Read More

In this review we focus on the role of the membrane lipids in multidrug resistance and its modulation. Results of the research performed in recent years indicate the importance of lipid phase playing active role in many membrane processes. Along with the alterations of lipid membrane composition of cancer cells (with respect to the normal ones) the resulting changes of the biophysical membrane properties are discuss Read More

Multidrug resistance (MDR) to antitumor agents represents a significant challenge to effective chemotherapy. The use of MDR modulators is a promising approach to overcome the undesired MDR phenotype. The more effective MDR modulators are urgently needed for clinical use. This review focuses on literatures published in 1998-2001.

Cancer chemoprevention is a new approach in the management of cancer. Traditional cytotoxic chemotherapeutic approaches cannot cure most advanced solid malignancies. Chemoprevention can be defined as the use of non-cytotoxic drugs and natural agents to block the progression to invasive cancer. Chemoprevention can either prevent DNA damage that initiates the neoplastic transformation process or reverses the Read More

A group of oxytocinergic neurons originating in the paraventricular nucleus of the hypothalamus and projecting to extrahypothalamic brain areas (e.g. hippocampus, medulla oblongata and spinal cord) control penile erection. Activation of these neurons by dopamine and dopamine agonists, excitatory amino acids (N-methyl-D-aspartic acid) or oxytocin itself, or by electrical stimulation leads to penile erection, while their inhibi Read More

There is increasing evidence that steroid hormones derived from vitamin D act through classical nuclear receptors (nVDR), as well as specific binding sites on the plasma membrane of target cells that are coupled to signal transduction systems. These sites are referred to as M embrane A ssociated, R apid R esponse S teroid (MARRS) binding proteins or complexes. In the case of the seco-steroid 1,25-dihydroxyvitamin D3 [1 Read More

Phytoestrogens exert different estrogen receptor-dependent and -independent pharmacological actions. They share with estrogens several structural features and show greater affinity for the newly described estrogen receptor-beta. Many hope that phytoestrogens can exert the cardioprotective, anti-osteoporotic and other beneficial effects of the estrogens used in hormone replacement therapy in postmenopaus Read More