Current Pharmaceutical Biotechnology - Volume 18, Issue 12, 2017

Background: Psoriasis is a chronic immune-mediated inflammatory disorder, with an estimated global prevalence of 2-3%. Psoriasis is associated with an impaired health-related quality of life and a substantial economic burden. Biologics, which target the pathways involved in the pathogenesis of psoriasis, represent an established therapeutic approach for moderate-to-severe plaque psoriasis, with remarkable efficacy and safet Read More

Background: Psoriasis is a chronic immune-mediated inflammatory skin disorder that is estimated to affect 2-3% of the general population. The IL-23/IL-17 axis is currently considered to be crucial in the pathogenesis of psoriasis. Methods: Biologics licensed for psoriasis include the TNFα inhibitors (infliximab, adalimumab, etanercept), the interleukin (IL)-12/23 monoclonal antibody (ustekinumab), and IL-17 inhibitor (secuki Read More

Background: Abstract: Up to 80% of Crohn's disease (CD) patients require at least one surgical intervention in their lifetime and up to 70% of these patients develop postoperative endoscopic recurrence within 1 year. Methods: The most important predictors of early postoperative recurrence are represented by smoking, prior intestinal surgery, penetrating disease and perianal location. Genetic factors, gut microbiota structure an Read More

Background: Biologic drugs, introduced in clinical practice almost twenty years ago, represent nowadays a prominent treatment option in patients with chronic inflammatory arthritis, such as Rheumatoid Arthritis, Psoriatic Arthritis and Spondyloarthritis, that include ankylosing spondylitis and non-radiographic axial spondyloarthritis. Methods: Several compounds targeting different pathways have been marketed and approved f Read More

Background: The use of biologic agents in systemic immune-mediated diseases has dramatically increased in recent years, replacing conventional immunosuppressive strategies that are characterized by unspecific mechanisms of action and burdened with serious adverse effects. Biologic drugs have selective action towards specific targets, with considerable steroid-sparing effect. They are used nowadays to induce remissi Read More

Background: Microgeographic studies of molecular markers could reveal the nature and dynamics of genetic diversity and the evolutionary driving forces shaping evolution. Methods: The microclimatic genetic divergence of wild emmer wheat associated with solar radiation was investigated, in the present study, using multiple types of molecular markers including allozyme, amplified polymorphic DNA (RAPD), simple sequence re Read More