Current Medicinal Chemistry - Volume 21, Issue 4, 2014

Since the discovery of penicillin, natural and synthetic β-lactams have aroused great interest not only as sources of effective antibacterial agents but also as specific inhibitors of proteases responsible for various non-bacterial pathological processes. This interest was reflected in our review published in Current Medicinal Chemistry in 2003. The present article summarises new data published during the last decade dedicated t Read More

Phytoestrogens represent a diverse group of non-steroidal natural products, which seem to have some oestrogenic effects and are often marketed as food supplements. Population exposed to phytoestrogens is potentially increasing, in part because an unfavourable risk-benefit profile of Hormone Replacement Therapy (HRT) for prolonged treatments (e.g., osteoporosis prevention) highlighted by the publication of the Wo Read More

Psychiatric disorders like schizophrenia and neurodegenerative diseases like Parkinson’s disease are associated with poly-factorial pathogenic mechanisms, with several neurotransmitter systems closely involved. In addition to the cerebral dopaminergic (DA) system, the serotoninergic (5-HT) system also plays a crucial role in regulating psychoemotional, cognitive and motor functions in the central nervous system (CNS). A Read More

Malaria is one of the deadliest diseases on the planet affecting about 50% of the population worldwide. It is a leading cause of morbidity and mortality in the developing world. Plasmodium falciparum, a tiny parasite is the major cause of malaria and is possibly the most dangerous stow-away in history. Malaria has become a major economic concern to some of the tropical and sub-tropical countries. Though a number of Read More

Intrinsic or acquired resistance to the HER2-targeted therapy trastuzumab is a clinical concern in the treatment of patients with HER2-over-expressing metastatic breast cancers. We demonstrate here that multiple models of intrinsic and acquired resistance exhibit increased phosphorylation of p38 MAPK. Kinase inhibition of p38 rescued trastuzumab sensitivity in cells with acquired resistance. In addition, knoc Read More

Several medical conditions sharing similar signs and symptoms may be related to immune adjuvants. These conditions described as ASIA (Autoimmune/inflammatory Syndrome Induced by Adjuvants), include a condition characterized by macrophagic myofasciitis (MMF) assessing long-term persistence of vaccine derived-alum adjuvants into macrophages at sites of previous immunization. Despite increasing data descri Read More