Current Pharmaceutical Design - Volume 30, Issue 13, 2024

In metabolic syndrome and diabetes, compromised mitochondrial function emerges as a critical driver of cardiovascular disease, fueling its development and persistence, culminating in cardiac remodeling and adverse events. In this context, angiotensin II - the main interlocutor of the renin-angiotensin-aldosterone system - promotes local and systemic oxidative inflammatory processes. To highlight, the low activity/expression of proteins called sirtuins negatively participates in these processes, allowing more significant oxidative imbalance, which impacts cellular and tissue responses, causing tissue damage, inflammation, and cardiac and vascular remodeling. The reduction in energy production of mitochondria has been widely described as a significant element in all types of metabolic disorders. Additionally, high sirtuin levels and AMPK signaling stimulate hypoxia-inducible factor 1 beta and promote ketonemia. Consequently, enhanced autophagy and mitophagy advance through cardiac cells, sweeping away debris and silencing the orchestra of oxidative stress and inflammation, ultimately protecting vulnerable tissue from damage. To highlight and of particular interest, SGLT2 inhibitors (SGLT2i) profoundly influence all these mechanisms. Randomized clinical trials have evidenced a compelling picture of SGLT2i emerging as game-changers, wielding their power to demonstrably improve cardiac function and slash the rates of cardiovascular and renal events. Furthermore, driven by recent evidence, SGLT2i emerge as cellular supermolecules, exerting their beneficial actions to increase mitochondrial efficiency, alleviate oxidative stress, and curb severe inflammation. Its actions strengthen tissues and create a resilient defense against disease. In conclusion, like a treasure chest brimming with untold riches, the influence of SGLT2i on mitochondrial function holds untold potential for cardiovascular health. Unlocking these secrets, like a map guiding adventurers to hidden riches, promises to pave the way for even more potent therapeutic strategies

Gynecological cancers (GCs), ovarian, cervical, and endometrial/uterine cancers, are often associated with poor outcomes. Despite the development of several therapeutic modalities against GCs, the effectiveness of the current therapeutic approaches is limited due to their side effects, low therapeutic index, short half-life, and resistance to therapy. To overcome these limitations, nano delivery-based approaches have been introduced with the potential of targeted delivery, reduced toxicity, controlled release, and improved bioavailability of various cargos. This review summarizes the application of different nanoplatforms, such as lipid-based, metal-based, and polymeric nanoparticles, to improve the chemo/radio treatments of GC. In the following work, the use of nanoformulated agents to fight GCs has been mentioned in various clinical trials. Although nanosystems have their own challenges, the knowledge highlighted in this article could provide deep insight into translations of NPs approaches to overcome GCs.

The average worldwide human life expectancy is 70 years, with a significantly higher value in Western societies. Many modern diseases are not associated with premature mortality but with a decreased quality of life in aged patients and an excessive accumulation of various toxic compounds in the human body during life. Today, scientists are especially interested in finding compounds that can help increase a healthy lifespan by detoxifying the body. Phytotherapy with specific approaches is used in alternative medicine to remove toxins from the body. Worldwide, research is conducted to identify medicinal plant-derived molecules that, with few or no side effects, may protect the liver and other organs. This review provides updated information about the detoxification process, the traditional and modern use of the most effective medicinal plants, their active metabolites as detoxifying agents, and the mechanisms and pathways involved in the detoxification process. Among medicinal plants with substantial detoxifying properties, a major part belongs to the Asteraceae family (Silybum marianum, Cynara scolymus, Arctium lappa, Helichrysum species, Inula helenium, and Taraxacum officinale). The most widely used hepatoprotective phytocomponent is silymarin, a standardized extract from the Silybum marianum seeds containing a mixture of flavonolignans. Many polysaccharides, polyphenols, and terpenoids have a detoxifying effect. Overall, scientific data on medicinal plants used in phytotherapeutic practice worldwide provides an understanding and awareness of their efficacy in detoxification.

The popular perennial creeping plant known as Bacopa monnieri (also known as Brahmi) is being utilized in the Indian Ayurvedic medicine practice. It has a variety of bioactive phytoconstituents that have been used therapeutically to treat a number of serious illnesses. Ancient Vedic scholars used this herb because of its pharmacological effects, particularly as a nerve booster and nootropic supporter. However, it is vital to comprehend the active phytochemical components of Bacopa monnieri extract (BME) and their molecular mechanisms in order to better grasp the effect of BME on neurological illnesses and diseases. Understanding its active phytochemical constituents and their molecular processes is essential. Numerous clinical investigations indicated that BME may have neuroprotective benefits, so it is worthwhile to re-evaluate this well-known plant. Here, we focused on neurological problems as we examined the pharmacological and phytochemical characteristics of BME. For their effective usage in neuroprotection and cognition, many clinical concerns and the synergistic potential of Bacopa extract have been investigated. Alzheimer’s disease is a neurological condition caused by the production of reactive oxygen species, which also causes amyloid-beta (Aβ) and tau protein aggregation and increases neuro-inflammation and neurotoxicity. Our review offers a more in-depth molecular understanding of the neuroprotective functions of BME, which can also be connected to its therapeutic management of neurological illnesses and cognitive-improving effects.

Vaccines are one of the most important medical advancements in human history. They have been successfully used to control and limit the spread of many of the lethal diseases that have plagued us, such as smallpox and polio. Previous vaccine design methodologies were based on the model of “isolate-inactivate-inject”, which amounts to giving the same vaccine dose to everyone susceptible to infection. In recent years, the importance of how the host genetic background alters vaccine response necessitated the introduction of vaccinomics, which is aimed at studying the variability of vaccine efficacy by associating genetic variability and immune response to vaccination. Despite the rapid developments in variant screening, data obtained from association studies is often inconclusive and cannot be used to guide the new generation of vaccines. This review aims to compile the polymorphisms in HLA and immune system genes and examine the link with their immune response to vaccination. The compiled data can be used to guide the development of new strategies for vaccination for vulnerable groups. Overall, the highly polymorphic HLA locus had the highest correlation with vaccine response variability for most of the studied vaccines, and it was linked to variation in multiple stages of the immune response to the vaccines for both humoral and cellular immunity. Designing new vaccine technologies and immunization regiments to accommodate for this variability is an important step for reaching a vaccinomics-based approach to vaccination.