Current Pharmaceutical Design - Volume 15, Issue 18, 2009

Inflammatory bowel disease (IBD) is a chronic relapsing disorder associated with uncontrolled inflammation within the gastrointestinal tract, which has been shown to predispose patients to the development of colorectal cancer later in life. The pathogenesis of IBD is complex, but the current model favors a dysregulated cytokine network that is triggered by intestinal microbiota in a genetically-susceptible host. Interestingly, a Read More

The human intestine is colonized by a complex microbial ecosystem, which could be considered as a separate organ within the human host, having a coding capacity which exceeds the liver by a factor 100. On the one hand, this extensive microbiome is closely involved in the first-pass metabolism and bioavailability of food and drug compounds. Understanding to which extent each individual’s gut microbiota affects the Read More

Inflammatory bowel diseases [IBD], ulcerative colitis [UC] and Crohn’s disease [CD], are chronic intestinal disorders of unknown etiology. UC and CD are heterogeneous diseases characterized by various genetic abnormalities that lead to overly aggressive T-cell responses to a subset of commensal enteric bacteria in genetically susceptible individuals. As one of critical factors involved in pathogenesis of IBD, relative imba Read More

It is well established that intestinal microbiota play an important role in the pathogenesis of inflammatory bowel disease (IBD), including ulcerative colitis and Crohn's disease. Various methods of altering the composition of intestinal microbiota have been examined. Recent evidence suggests that the administration of select prebiotics, probiotics and synbiotics may improve the clinical outcome of patients with IBD. In addition, I Read More

Inflammatory bowel disease (IBD) is a chronic relapsing-remitting condition that afflicts millions of people throughout the world and impairs their daily functions and quality of life. While the aetiology of IBD is not understood well, it appears to be driven by inflammatory cytokines such as tumor necrosis factor (TNF)-α. Hence, there is a strong interest in agents that can block the generation or actions of inflammatory cytokines. C Read More

The complex pathogenesis of inflammatory bowel disease (IBD) and inflammation induced colon cancer involves a wide range of mediators including cytokines. Recent investigations underline the fundamental role of interleukin- 6 (IL-6) signaling in the development and maintenance of IBD and for the progression of this inflammation to colon cancer. The molecular mechanisms of this pathway, the source of the cytokine Read More

An array of investigations has revealed that macrophage migration inhibitory factor (MIF) plays an important role in the exacerbation of a wide range of inflammatory diseases. For the past two decades, we have extensively studied MIF's pathophysiological roles in human diseases, and have accumulated evidence elucidating its molecular mechanisms in the pathogenesis of immune disorders and inflammatory diseases, such Read More

Inflammatory bowel disease (IBD) is frequently associated with the infiltration of a large number of leukocytes into the bowel mucosa. Therefore, the removal of circulating leukocytes may be an attractive approach for the treatment of IBD. Leukocytapheresis with Cellsorba, a column of polyethylenephtarate fibers that captures monocytes, granulocytes, and lymphocytes, has been used to treat IBD, particularly ulcerative Read More

Since the first case of acquired immunodeficiency syndrome (AIDS) was reported in 1981, AIDS has always been a global health threat and the leading cause of deaths due to the rapid emergence of drug-resistance and unwanted metabolic side effects. Every day in 2007 an estimated 6850 people were newly infected with human immunodeficiency virus (HIV). Over the past 28 years the rapid worldwide spread of AIDS has p Read More

This article reviews evidence that hyperpolarization-activated, cation nonselective (HCN) channels, the molecular basis of the Ih current, potentially represent valid targets for novel analgesic agents. Ih is a prominent current in many peripheral sensory nerves, with highest current density typically found in large diameter neurons. Recent data suggest that Ih may represent a valid target for the treatment of spontaneous pa Read More