Current Medicinal Chemistry - Volume 16, Issue 7, 2009

The use of peptides as targeting tools has been validated in different applications. In particular radiolabelled peptides with adequate stability, receptor-binding properties and biokinetic behaviour have been investigated as an important class of radiopharmaceuticals for cancer pathology imaging and therapy. This review focuses on recent progress in design and synthetic modifications of small biologically active peptides u Read More

This review article gives an overview of a number of central neuro-transmitters, which are essential for integrating many functions in the central nervous system (CNS), such as learning, memory, sleep cycle, body movement, hormone regulation and many others. Neurons use neuro-transmitters to communicate, and a great variety of molecules are known to fit the criteria to be classified as such. A process shared by Read More

Seizures are the result of a sudden and temporary synchronization of neuronal activity, the reason for which is not clearly understood. Astrocytes participate in the control of neurotransmitter storage and neurotransmission efficacy. They provide fuel to neurons, which need a high level of energy to sustain normal and pathological neuronal activities, such as during epilepsy. Various genetic or induced animal models have b Read More

Stem cells build and maintain organisms. Accordingly, they are particularly well-protected from damage to DNA and other cellular components. This feature becomes a serious drawback when stem cells transform and develop cancer, because they resist to radiation and chemotherapy. Various mechanisms ensure protection of stem cells. In normal stem cells enhanced DNA repair is often one of them. Whether the same Read More

Respiratory diseases place a considerable burden on global health. Bronchial asthma describes many heterogeneous clinical phenotypes that result in chronic bronchial inflammation. Chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD) is one of the most common adult respiratory disorders characterized by chronic airflow limitation that is not fully reversible and is associated with an abnormal inflammatory response of the lu Read More

Active pharmaceutical ingredients (APIs), frequently delivered to the patient in the solid-state as part of an approved dosage form, can exist in such diverse solid forms as polymorphs, pseudopolymorphs, salts, co-crystals and amorphous solids. Various solid forms often display different mechanical, thermal, physical and chemical properties that can remarkably influence the bioavailability, hygroscopicity, stability and oth Read More

Even though various contraceptive methods are widely available, the number of unwanted pregnancies is still on the rise in developing countries, pressurizing the already resource limited nations. One of the major underlying reasons is the lack of effective, low cost, and safe contraceptives for couples. During the past decade, some studies were performed using animal models to decipher if the Sertoli-germ cell junction in the t Read More