Exploring Drug Repositioning: Enhanced Co-Delivery of Disulfiram and Celecoxib by Nanostructured Lipid Carriers for Breast Cancer Cells.

Background: In the current era, the importance of pharmaceutical technology and research in innovating novel drugs and formulations is undeniable.

Objective: This study aimed to produce a nanoscale drug delivery system for the simultaneous delivery of repurposed disulfiram (DSF) and celecoxib (CXB).

Methods: The co-formulation was prepared utilizing the emulsification ultrasonication technique to enhance the anti-cancer activity through NLCs.

Cytotoxic activity of Ganoderma weberianum-sichuanese isolated from the Lower Volta River Basin of Ghana against human prostate carcinoma (PC-3), leukemic T cell (Jurkat), and plasmacytoid dendritic cell (pDC)-derived acute leukemia (PMDC05) cell lines.

Ganoderma is a genus of medically important fungus that contains at least 80 species, many of which have not been properly evaluated for their anticancer potential. This study was conducted to assess the cytotoxic activity of the mycelial biomass of Ganoderma weberianum-sichuanese isolated from the Lower Volta River Basin of Ghana. The nuclear ribosomal internal transcribed spacer (ITS) region was analyzed to determine the phylogenetic position of this native ganoderma isolate.

Discovery and engineering of the asiaticoside, madecassoside and asiaticoside B biosynthetic pathway.

Asiaticoside, madecassoside, and asiaticoside B are pentacyclic triterpenoid saponins derived from Centella asiatica, known to possess remarkable in wound-healing and skin-protective properties. However, the key biosynthetic steps for these bioactive compounds remain unclear, hampering the role of heterologous biosynthesis in ensuring a stable supply of these clinically important products. Here, we identified and characterized two missing enzymes (UGT94M2 and UGT94BE1) in the asiaticoside, madecassoside and asiaticoside B biosynthetic pathway, which sequentially added glucosyl moiety of UDP-Glucose and UDP-Rhamnose to the monoglucosides of asiatic acid (1), madecassic acid (5) and terminolic acid (9) in C.

Ceramides increase mitochondrial permeabilization to trigger mtDNA-dependent inflammation in astrocytes during brain ischemia.

The brain is rich in lipids, and disorders or abnormalities in lipid metabolism can induce neurotoxicity. Ceramides are the central intermediates of sphingolipid metabolism. This study was designed to investigate the potential lipotoxicity of ceramides in brain ischemia.

Identification of a central regulator of ginkgolide biosynthesis in that integrates jasmonate and light signaling.

Ginkgolides are secondary metabolites unique to with the potential to prevent and treat cardiovascular and cerebrovascular diseases. Although the biosynthetic pathways of ginkgolides have been partly uncovered, the mechanism regulating their biosynthesis is still largely unknown. Here, using multiomic and genetic analyses, we report the identification of a transcription factor, named ETHYLENE RESPONSE FACTOR ASSOCIATED WITH GINKGOLIDE BIOSYNTHESIS (GbEAG), as a critical regulator of ginkgolide biosynthesis.

Correction: Melatonin as an inducer of arecoline and their coordinated roles in anti-oxidative activity and immune responses.

Correction for 'Melatonin as an inducer of arecoline and their coordinated roles in anti-oxidative activity and immune responses' by Xiaojian Yin , , 2020, , 8788-8799, https://doi.org/10.1039/D0FO01841D.

The effect of problem-based learning on improving problem-solving, self-directed learning, and critical thinking ability for the pharmacy students: A randomized controlled trial and meta-analysis.

Objective: This study aimed to comprehensively evaluate the effect of PBL on problem-solving, self-directed learning, and critical thinking ability of pharmaceutical students through a randomized controlled trial (RCT) and meta-analysis of RCTs.

Methods: In 2021, 57 third-year pharmacy students from China Pharmaceutical University were randomly divided into a PBL group and a lecture-based learning (LBL) group. Mean scores were compared between the two groups for problem-solving, self-directed learning, communication skills, critical thinking, and final exam grades.

Gut Bacteroides ovatus ameliorates renal fibrosis by promoting the production of HDCA through upregulation of Clostridium scindens.

Renal fibrosis, inflammation, and gut dysbiosis are all linked to chronic kidney disease (CKD). Here we show that Bacteroides ovatus protects against renal fibrosis. Mechanistically, B.

GC-MS-based untargeted plasma metabolomics identifies a 2-biomarker panel for possible diagnosis of precancerous cervical intraepithelial neoplasia stages from cervical cancer.

Cervical cancer (CC) remains a major health concern globally, much of the brunt of which is experienced by the low- and middle-income countries where screening in terms of cytology and DNA genotyping for the high-risk oncogenic subtypes of the human papilloma virus (hr-HPV) is either inadequate or performed rather late. In this study, we aimed to determine biomarkers or panels of biomarkers that are capable of diagnosing the precancerous cervical intraepithelial neoplasia (CIN) stages from healthy and CC patients via untargeted gas chromatography-mass spectrometry-based metabolomics. Various cross-comparisons were conducted from which differential metabolites were identified.

Comparative plastomes of eight subgenus Chamaesyce plants and system authentication of Euphorbiae Humifusae Herba.

Euphorbiae Humifusae Herba (EHH) was provided with medicinal and edible uses, but frequently was adulterated with its closely related species. Hence, this study sought to identify EHH via an integrated approach comprising data from its morphological evaluation, HPLC analysis, comparative plastomes analysis and allele-specific PCR identification. First, the morphological characteristics of 8 subgenus Chamaesyce plants were summarized.

MDSC-targeted liposomal all-trans retinoic acid suppresses mMdscs and improves immunotherapy in HBV infection.

Background: Myeloid-derived suppressor cells (MDSCs) are evolving as a prominent determinant in cancer occurrence and development and are functionally found to suppress T cells in cancer. Not much research is done regarding its involvement in viral infections. This research was designed to investigate the role of MDSCs in hepatitis B virus (HBV) infection and how targeting these cells with our novel all-trans retinoic acid encapsulated liposomal formulation could improve immunotherapy in C57BL/6 mice.

Molecular Identification and Characterization of Five Species from the Lower Volta River Basin of Ghana Based on Nuclear Ribosomal DNA (nrDNA) Sequences.

is a genus of biomedical fungus that is used in the development of numerous health products throughout the world. The Lower Volta River Basin of Ghana is an undulating land surface covered by extensive vegetation and water bodies and is rich in polypore mushrooms resembling various members of the genus. Despite the extensive biopharmaceutical benefits of spp.

Comprehensive evaluation of time-varied outcomes for invasive and conservative strategies in patients with NSTE-ACS: a meta-analysis of randomized controlled trials.

Background: Results from randomized controlled trials (RCTs) and meta-analyses comparing invasive and conservative strategies in patients with non-ST-elevation acute coronary syndrome (NSTE-ACS) are highly debatable. We systematically evaluate the efficacy of invasive and conservative strategies in NSTE-ACS based on time-varied outcomes.

Methods: The RCTs for the invasive versus conservative strategies were identified by searching PubMed, Cochrane Central Register of Controlled Trials, Embase, and ClinicalTrials.

-kaurane diterpenoids from the Annonaceae family: a review of research progress and call for further research.

The Annonaceae is one of the plant families with members that are credited with numerous pharmacological functions. Among the group of compounds responsible for these bioactivities are the -kaurane diterpenoids. The -kauranes are a group of 20-Carbon, tetracyclic diterpenoids that are widely distributed in other plant families including the Annonaceae family.

Comparative genomics of the medicinal plants Lonicera macranthoides and L. japonica provides insight into genus genome evolution and hederagenin-based saponin biosynthesis.

Lonicera macranthoides (LM) and L. japonica (LJ) are medicinal plants widely used in treating viral diseases, such as COVID-19. Although the two species are morphologically similar, their secondary metabolite profiles are significantly different.

Forced Degradation Studies, Elucidation of Degradation Pathways and Degradation Kinetics of Xylopic Acid via LC and LC-MS/MS Analyses.

Stability studies of active pharmaceutical ingredients (APIs) remain an essential quality requirement of the pharmaceutical industry. Stability data of an API could guide in the choice of its processing technique, packaging method and storage conditions. Here, we sought to determine the stability or otherwise of xylopic acid (XA) under various stress conditions as stipulated by the International Conference on Harmonization (ICH).

Pharmacokinetics and in vitro liver microsomal enzyme metabolism of Xylopic acid.

Xylopic acid (XA) is a bioactive diterpene kaurene isolate of the Guinea pepper fruit, Xylopia aethiopica (Annonaceae) with numerous well-established biological effects. In this study, we aimed to fill certain scientific voids in terms of the scientific literature on XA, specifically, its pharmacokinetic (PK) parameters and in vitro liver microsomal enzyme metabolism. A new LC-MS/MS method was developed and validated for the determination of the plasma concentration-time profile of XA.

Study Destination Choice and Career Preferences of International Students at China Pharmaceutical University.

This study had two main thematic aims: first, to determine the factors that influenced the choice of international students at China Pharmaceutical University (CPU) to consider China as a study destination; second, to determine the career preferences of international students upon completion of their various programs of study. As a cross-sectional study, relevant data were collected from undergraduate pharmacy students and postgraduates using a self-administered questionnaire. On the whole, the five most important pull factors that influenced the choice of China as the study destination for the respondents were: (1) quality of education, (2) quality of academic staff, (3) security, (4) desire to obtain a certificate from a foreign country and (5) availability of scholarship opportunities.

The gut microbe Bacteroides fragilis ameliorates renal fibrosis in mice.

Renal fibrosis is an inevitable outcome of various manifestations of progressive chronic kidney diseases (CKD). The need for efficacious treatment regimen against renal fibrosis can therefore not be overemphasized. Here we show a novel protective role of Bacteroides fragilis (B.

Variability of body mass index and risks of prostate, lung, colon, and ovarian cancers.

Objective: We investigated the association between cancer incidence and body mass index (BMI) variability calculated from the recall of weight at decades of age by participants in the USA Prostate, Lung, Colorectal and Ovarian (PLCO) Cancer Screening Trial.

Methods: A total of 89,822 individuals' BMI were recorded as recalled the participant's aged 30, 40, 50, 60, 70 years, and baseline. BMI variability was assessed using four indices: SD, coefficient of variation (CV), variability independent of the mean (VIM), and average real variability (ARV).

Bioactive Compounds from the Zingiberaceae Family with Known Antioxidant Activities for Possible Therapeutic Uses.

The Zingiberaceae family is a rich source of diverse bioactive phytochemicals. It comprises about 52 genera and 1300 species of aromatic flowering perennial herbs with characteristic creeping horizontal or tuberous rhizomes. Notable members of this family include ginger ( Roscoe), turmeric ( L.

Comprehensive Proteomic Characterization of Articular Cartilage from Femoral Head Necrosis Patients.

Background: Avascular necrosis of the femoral head (AVNFH) is a progressive, multifactorial, and challenging clinical disease that causes hip pain and loss of hip joint function. Till now, the pathogenesis of AVNFH was not fully understood. In this study, we characterized cartilage protein profiles of patients with AVNFH and identified the potential proteins involved in the progress of AVNFH using proteomics technique.

Ginsenoside Rb1 inhibits astrocyte activation and promotes transfer of astrocytic mitochondria to neurons against ischemic stroke.

Astrocytes activation in response to stroke results in altered mitochondrial exchange with neurons. Ginsenoside Rb1is a major ginsenoside of Panax ginseng particularly known for its neuroprotective potential. This work aimed to investigate if Rb1 could rescue neurons from ischemic insult via astrocyte inactivation and mitochondrial transfer.

Functionalization of Nanoparticulate Drug Delivery Systems and Its Influence in Cancer Therapy.

Research into the application of nanocarriers in the delivery of cancer-fighting drugs has been a promising research area for decades. On the other hand, their cytotoxic effects on cells, low uptake efficiency, and therapeutic resistance have limited their therapeutic use. However, the urgency of pressing healthcare needs has resulted in the functionalization of nanoparticles' (NPs) physicochemical properties to improve clinical outcomes of new, old, and repurposed drugs.