Mini Reviews in Medicinal Chemistry - Volume 5, Issue 3, 2005

Enzyme electrodes for biosensors are discussed. Different methods to increase electron transfer between enzymes and electrodes are described. Results of encasing the enzymes in conducting polymers as well as in hydrogels are presented. The environment of the enzyme in the biosensor is compared to the natural environment of enzymes.

Endotoxemia and endotoxin shock are common problems in the intensive care unit and carry a very high mortality rate. Endotoxemia increases production of endogenous cytokines, including tumor necrosis factor-alpha (TNF-alpha), interleukin-1 (IL-1), IL-6, and IL-8. Not only endotoxin but also cytokines have been implicated as important factors in the pathophysiology of endotoxic shock and the development of cardiovasc Read More

Drugs which release nitric oxide (NO) have great therapeutic potential. The organic nitrates and sodium nitroprusside have been used in cardiovascular therapeutics for many years, but several drawbacks limit their usefulness. In this review, we consider novel and potential future developments in NO-donor drugs, and the possible clinical usefulness of such compounds.

Bacterial strains isolated from clinical specimens have become more and more resistant to many antimicrobials. This is because we have consumed large amounts of strong antimicrobials over long periods of time and thus bacterial cells are able to survive by altering the target(s) of antimicrobial agents. A good example of this phenomenon is methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus (MRSA). One of the cell wallsyn Read More

Type 2 diabetes mellitus (NIDDM) is a complex metabolic disease that occurs when insulin secretion can no longer compensate insulin resistance in peripheral tissues. At the molecular level, insulin resistance correlates with impaired insulin signaling. This review provides new insights into the molecular mechanisms of insulin action and resistance in brown adipose tissue (BAT) and pinpoints the role of BAT in the control of gluc Read More

Transglutaminases (TGases), a family of enzymes that catalyze the formation of ε-(γ-glutamyl)lysine isopeptide linkage, play an important physiological role in hemostasis, wound healing, assembly and remodeling of the extracellular matrix, cell signaling and apoptosis. Although many members of this class of enzymes have been known for decades, their role in various physiological and pathological processes is still a s Read More

Albumin nanoparticles (NP) were proved to be effective and safe carriers for delivering anticytomegaloviral compounds in the vitreous. NP improved the antiviral activity of both ganciclovir and the phosphodiester oligonucleotide analog to formivirsen. NP appeared to be fusogenic carriers able to target the nucleus of cells. In addition, these drug carriers were well tolerated when administered by the intravitreal rout Read More

The interaction of taxol with DNA has major biological importance since it is shown the presence of higher concentration of taxol in the nucleus, than in the human lung tumor cell. Therefore, in this report we examine the interaction of taxol with calf-thymus DNA in aqueous solution at physiological pH, using constant DNA concentration (25 or 1.25 mM phosphate) and various taxol / DNA (phosphate) ratios 1 / 200 to 1 / Read More

Many tumors are not curable because current treatments primarily target the tumor cells. Intratumoral endothelial cells, on the other hand, proliferate rapidly and are sensitive to the cytotoxic effects of chemotherapeutic agents. This review summarizes the literature concerning the antiangiogenic effects of these agents when administered alone or in combination with other angiogenesis inhibitors.

Present review describes research on novel natural antitumor agents isolated from marine sponges. More than 90 novel cytotoxic antitumor compounds and their synthetic analogs have shown confirmed activity in vitro tumor cell lines bioassay and are of current interest to NCI for further in vivo evaluation. A great problem, to use directly the reservoir of marine organisms for therapy is the very low availability and t Read More