Current Medicinal Chemistry - Volume 18, Issue 5, 2011

For the last twenty years, significant progress in Molecular and Cellular Biology has resulted in a better characterization and understanding of the biology and prognosis of acute myeloid leukemia (AML). These achievements have provided new opportunities for the development of innovative, more effective therapies. Novel agents potentially useful in the treatment of patients with AML include new formulations of established d Read More

CYP2C9 metabolizes more than 100 clinically used drugs including phenytoin, S-warfarin, tolbutamide, glipizide, diclofenac, and losartan with varying contributions. CYP2C9 is considered one of the most important CYPs, with substrate specificity typical of many new chemical entities (i.e. lipophilic bases). A large interindividual variation has been identified for the CYP2C9 activity and for the clinical response to the therapeu Read More

The aim of this paper is to review the latest data on the pharmacological modulation of asymmetric dimethylarginine in human disease. When the terminal nitrogens of the guanidine portion of an arginine become methylated through the action of N-methyl transferases, two chemically close, but physiologically different amino acids are synthesized: symmetric and asymmetric dimethylarginine. The vascular origin of asymmetri Read More

With the continuing epidemics of obesity and diabetes, nonalcoholic fatty liver disease (NAFLD) has received increased attention. Great efforts are being undertaken to improve the noninvasive diagnosis of NAFLD, with the ultimate goal of optimizing treatment options and clinical outcomes. Research suggests that blood-borne biochemical markers can be used to distinguish simple steatosis from nonalcoholic steatohepatitis ( Read More

During the past two decades, the incidence of invasive fungal infections has been increasing dramatically. Clinical available antifungal agents have several drawbacks such as limited potency and spectrum, drug related toxicity, non-optimal pharmacokinetics, and severe resistance. There is an emergent need to develop new antifungal drugs with novel chemical structures and novel mechanism of action. This review will focus o Read More

Neglected helminthic diseases cause many social, economic and health care challenges in developing countries. The high number of patients suffering from these parasitic infections and the lack of sufficient treatment options represent severe problems. Research on new drugs and therapies to meet this urgent requirement has to be intensified. This review focuses on infections caused by four helminthic parasites, w Read More