Current Pharmaceutical Design - Volume 26, Issue 1, 2020

Advances in various fields were discussed in the reviews and original research articles published in 2019 in Current Pharmaceutical Design. Here, I review some of the major highlights for selected areas. A better understanding of disease mechanisms was a prominent recurrent theme and new therapeutic targets based on those mechanisms are highlighted here. Inflammation and oxidative stress are major features of many dis Read More

In the present review, associations between traditional vascular risk factors (VRFs) and carotid intimamedial thickness progression (C-IMTp) as well as the effects of therapies for VRFs control on C-IMTp were appraised to infer causality between each VRF and C-IMTp. Cohort studies indicate that smoking, binge drinking, fatness, diabetes, hypertension and hypercholesterolemia are associated with accelerated C-IMTp. An exceptio Read More

Background: Radix Stephaniae Tetrandrine (RST), known as FangJi (Pinyin name) in Chinese, is the dried root of Stephania tetrandra S.Moore, and has been prescribed in combination with other herbs to treat cardiovascular diseases and breast cancer in traditional Chinese medicine (TCM) clinical trials. Objective: The aim of the review is to provide a comprehensive evaluation about the application of RST in breast cancer m Read More

C-reactive Protein (CRP) is an acute phase reactant, belonging to the pentraxin family of proteins. Its level rises up to 1000-fold in response to acute inflammation. High sensitivity CRP level is utilized as an independent biomarker of inflammation and cardiovascular disease. The accumulating data suggests that CRP has two distinct forms. It is predominantly produced in the liver in a native pentameric form (nCRP Read More

The Citrus species from family Rutaceae has worldwide applications such as cardiovascular and gastrointestinal problems. Phytochemical investigations have shown that these plants have constituents including flavonoids, limonoids and carotenoids. There are many reports on a wide range of activities such as antiinflammatory, anti-oxidant, immunomodulatory, metabolic, cardiovascular and neuroprotective effects. In Read More

Regular physical activity significantly affects lipid status. In this literature review, the specific features of athletes blood lipid profiles were analysed. Professional athletes blood lipid status was found considerably preferable compared to sex- and age-matched sedentary population. Regardless of endurance or power type of sports activities, athletes perform lower levels of TC, LDL-C and TG and comparable or higher blood levels o Read More

Mitochondrial dysfunction underlies several human chronic pathologies, including cardiovascular disorders, cancers and neurodegenerative diseases. Impaired mitochondrial function associated with oxidative stress can be a result of both nuclear and mitochondrial DNA (mtDNA) mutations. Neurological disorders associated with mtDNA mutations include mitochondrial encephalomyopathy, chronic progressive ext Read More

Ethnopharmacological relevance: Borago L., (family Boraginaceae) is a small genus of annual or perennial herbs with branched flowers, which is commonly found in the Mediterranean region. Some species known as Gavzabân in Asian and some African countries are traditionally used instead of Borago. Aims of the review: The purpose of this study was to provide comprehensive scientific information on phytochemistry, traditio Read More

Background: Guidelines have previously suggested that atrial fibrillation (AF) is associated with an increased risk of arrhythmic death in Brugada syndrome (BrS) patients. However, only two articles consisting of 17 AF patients with BrS supported these views. The risk stratification of BrS patients with AF remains controversial. Thus, a meta-analysis is used to estimate the risk stratification of BrS patients with AF. Methods: Read More

Plants of the genus Vitex (Verbenaceae) are mainly distributed throughout tropical and temperate regions, and many Vitex plants have been traditionally used in folk medicine. Plants of this genus are a rich source of diterpenoids, which not only displayed versatile structural diversity with potential chemotaxonomical significance but also exhibited a wide range of biological activities, mainly including in vitro cytotoxic, antiin Read More

Scutellaria barbata has a long history of medical use in Traditional Chinese Medicine for removing heat and toxic material, promoting blood circulation and removing blood stasis, and inducing diuresis to reduce edema. Recent pharmacology investigations have provided evidence for its anti-cancer, bacteriostasis, anti-virus, anti-inflammation, anti-oxidation and immunity enhancement properties. The efficacy of activatin Read More

Heart attack, stroke, and deep vein thrombosis are among the conditions that alter blood coagulation and are modulated by antithrombogenic drugs. Natural products are an important source of antithrombogenic agents and have been considered remarkable alternatives with greater efficacy and usually with fewer side effects. However, the efficacy and toxicity of many of these plants that are used in traditional medici Read More