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Infectious Disorders - Drug Targets (Formerly Current Drug Targets - Infectious Disorders) - Online First
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Significant Microbial Pathogenesis Perspective of Biliary Diseases
Available online: 29 October 2024More LessThis review explores various biliary tract diseases caused by different organisms, including cholelithiasis, hepatolithiasis, and choledocholithiasis. The biliary tract's primary functions include collecting, storing, concentrating, and delivering bile juice produced by the liver. Neurohormonal systems involving the vagus and splanchnic nerves, alongside cholecystokinin, regulate gallbladder movement during fasting and digestion. Under normal conditions, bile acids play a crucial role, with approximately 95% being reabsorbed by the intestinal epithelium and returned to the liver via the portal vein system. The liver, often hailed as a miracle worker, detoxifies, purifies, and regenerates, performing essential functions in the body. Recent research indicates that the gallbladder, akin to the intestine, harbors a diverse microbiota. Additionally, the biliary mucosa features chemical, mechanical, and immunological barriers that promote immunological tolerance. Hepatotoxicity remains a significant global health concern and a leading cause of mortality. Providing clear and accurate information on liver toxicity is critical, especially in the context of medication safety and public health. By refining these elements, this review can effectively convey the complexity and importance of biliary tract diseases and liver function in health and disease contexts.
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Acute Febrile Illness in India: An Epidemiological Retrospective Study
Available online: 28 October 2024More LessIntroductionAcute febrile illness (AFI) is a frequent occurrence in India, often complicated by a multitude of pathogenic and etiological factors. In this context, it is important to analyze the biochemical, hematological, and epidemiological clinical parameters of AFI patients in the North Indian population.
MethodsThis study included 1,819 patients of various ages who presented with new-onset acute febrile illness (AFI) between 2017 and 2021. Among these patients, 211, with a median age of 40 years (ranging from 2 to 85 years), were selected for further analysis. At enrollment, clinical examination involved collecting respiratory tract specimens, blood, and urine samples for biochemical analysis, with subsequent data analysis conducted using statistical methods.
Results and DiscussionThe following biochemical parameters were analyzed: C-reactive protein (CRP), alkaline phosphatase (ALP), serum glutamate-pyruvate transaminase (SGPT), serum glutamic oxaloacetic transaminase (SGOT), gamma-glutamyl transpeptidase (GGT), and total protein serum. The hematological parameters included total leukocyte count (TLC), lymphocyte count, monocyte count, eosinophil count, red blood cell count (RBCs), packed cell volume (PCV), erythrocyte sedimentation rate (ESR), hematocrit value, mean corpuscular volume (MCV), and mean corpuscular hemoglobin (MCH). Additionally, clinical parameters such as phosphorus, urea, calcium, sodium, uric acid, bilirubin, and potassium were measured. Specific values observed were: SGPT (~113 IU/L in 2018), SGOT (~81 U/L in 2019), GGT (~148 g/L in 2018), and total protein serum (~7 g/L in 2020). The hematological parameters (TLC, lymphocyte, monocyte, RBCs, PCV, ESR, MCV, and MCH). The regression analysis was conducted to explore the temperature recorded at the time of admission, the duration of hospital stays, and biochemical as well as hematological variables of patients suffering from AFI. Karl-Pearson's correlation coefficient and variance inflation factor for each variable mentioned above.
ConclusionBiochemical and hematological parameters were analyzed over different years of intake in patients with Acute Febrile Illness (AFI). Further investigation is required to explore the mechanistic pathways of infection, and preventive measures will be implemented using natural products and other therapeutic interventions. Our data will offer the first systematic assessment of the etiological factors, along with regression analysis and the Karl-Pearson correlation coefficient for each variable in AFI patients.
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Unveiling the Threat: Battling the Resurgence of Western Equine Encephalitis (WEE)
Authors: Balram Singh, Rajesh Gour and Akhlesh Kumar SinghaiAvailable online: 14 October 2024More Less
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The Relationship among SARS-CoV-2, Vaccine Spike Protein, Renin-Angiotensin System, and Epilepsy
Authors: Ziad Fajloun, Layla Tajer, Hervé Kovacic and Jean-Marc SabatierAvailable online: 22 September 2024More Less
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Design of RNA Polymerase Inhibitors as Therapeutics for Tuberculous Meningitis
Authors: Varalakshmi Vummidi and Sekhar TalluriAvailable online: 02 September 2024More LessBackgroundTuberculosis is an infectious disease caused by Mycobacterium tuberculosis. The current treatment protocols for pulmonary tuberculosis are quite effective, even though the treatment requires 3-6 months. The current treatment protocols for extrapulmonary tuberculosis are based on the same drugs that are used for pulmonary tuberculosis. However, the success rates are much lower for certain types of extrapulmonary tuberculosis, such as tuberculous meningitis. Tuberculous meningitis is one of the very few diseases attributable to bacteria that have a very high short-term mortality rate among diagnosed patients, even after treatment with antibiotics that are effective for pulmonary tuberculosis. For example, rifampicin is highly effective for the treatment of pulmonary tuberculosis, but its effectiveness for the treatment of tuberculous meningitis is much lower. The reason for the lower effectiveness of rifampicin against tuberculous meningitis is that it has low Blood-Brain Barrier (BBB) permeability, which results in lower concentrations of the drug at the required sites in the central nervous system.
MethodsIn this work, ligands having increased BBB permeability and pharmacokinetic and pharmacodynamic properties, either similar to or better than that of rifampicin, have been designed. The BBB permeability of the designed molecules was assessed by using pkCSM, a machine-learning model. Pharmacokinetic properties, drug-likeness, and synthesizability were assessed by using SWISS-MODEL. The binding affinity of the designed drugs was assessed by using AutoDock Vina. A customized scoring function, StWN score, was used for a quantitative weighted assessment of all the properties of interest to rank the designed molecules.
ResultsIn this study, drug-like ligands have been designed that have been predicted to have high BBB permeability as well as high affinity for RNA polymerase β of Mycobacterium tuberculosis.
ConclusionThe best ligands generated by the tools employed were selected as potential drugs to address the current need for better options for the treatment of tuberculous meningitis.
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