Current Medicinal Chemistry - Volume 21, Issue 32, 2014

In 2003 Wang described for the first time the properties of the H2S as a gasotransmitter. It is now well established that H2S exerts beneficial effect on the cardiovascular system including cardioprotection, regulation of the blood pressure and overall antioxidant effects on heart and vessels. In this issue Altaany reviews recent literature about H2S and endothelial dysfunction focusing on the interplay with nitric oxide, the most re Read More

Several metabolic diseases present a high cardiovascular mortality due to endothelial dysfunction consequences. In the last years of the past century, it has come to light that the endothelial cells, previously considered as inert in what regards an eventual secretion activity, play a pivotal role in regulating different aspects of the vascular function (endothelial function). It was clearly demonstrated that the endothelium acts Read More

Reactive oxygen species and reactive nitrogen species promote endothelial dysfunction in old ageand contribute to the development of cardiovascular diseases such as atherosclerosis, diabetes, and hypertension. α-lipoic acid was identified as a catalytic agent for oxidative decarboxylation of pyruvate and α-ketoglutarate in 1951, and it has been studied intensively by chemists, biologists, and clinicians who h Read More

The endothelium is a cellular monolayer that lines the inner surface of blood vessels and plays a central role in the maintenance of cardiovascular homeostasis by controlling platelet aggregation, vascular tone, blood fluidity and fibrinolysis, adhesion and transmigration of inflammatory cells, and angiogenesis. Endothelial dysfunctions are associated with various cardiovascular diseases, including atherosclerosis, hypertension, Read More

High level of homocysteine (hyperhomocysteinemia, HHcy) is associated with increased risk for vascular disease. Evidence for this emerges from epidemiological studies which show that HHcy is associated with premature peripheral, coronary artery and cerebrovascular disease independent of other risk factors. Possible mechanisms by which homocysteine causes vascular injury include endothelial injury, DNA dysfunction, pro Read More

Several classes of compounds that have no intrinsic activity on aminergic systems nonetheless enhance the potency of aminergic receptor ligands three-fold or more while significantly increasing their duration of activity, preventing tachyphylaxis and reversing fade. Enhancer compounds include ascorbic acid, ethylenediaminetetraacetic acid, corticosteroids, opioid peptides, opiates and opiate antagonists. This paper provi Read More

Differentiated thyroid cancer is a rare malignancy, but leaves numerous survivors for life-long follow-up. The cornerstone in current guidelines for follow-up is by measuring the thyroid specific tumour marker, thyroglobulin in serum. Most patients can be followed by this method, but some thyroid cancer patients have antithyroglobulin antibodies in serum, both at diagnosis and after treatment, where follow-up is commence Read More

The search for cheap, easy-to-use and effective spermicides and microbicides to help avoid unwanted pregnancies and the transmission of sexually transmitted diseases has been ongoing for many years. This review takes into account compounds designed to act both as microbicides and spermicides for multipurpose prevention, and focuses on the required methodological studies to evaluate their safety, especially cytotox Read More

Malignant melanoma is one of the most common causes of cancer and cancer deaths in young people. Until few years ago, scarce drugs have proven efficacy in metastatic setting. However, in the recent years, the treatment of metastatic malignant melanoma has undergone the incorporation of effective treatment such as immunotherapy, the use of tyrosine kinase inhibitors and the emergence of other cytostatic Read More

Due to an oversight on the part of the authors in Current Medicinal Chemistry, 2013, 20(1), 144-157 of article entitled “Increased Akt signaling resulting from the loss of androgen responsiveness in prostate cancer” by Dulinska-Litewka J, McCubrey JA and Laidler P, one slip-up was encountered. The project number assigned by the Commission to research UJCM was unfortunately not written completely. To close acc Read More