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Pharmacological Research Jan 2023Cucurbitacin B (CuB, CHO), the most abundant and active member of cucurbitacins, which are highly oxidized tetracyclic triterpenoids. Cucurbitacins are widely... (Review)
Review
Cucurbitacin B (CuB, CHO), the most abundant and active member of cucurbitacins, which are highly oxidized tetracyclic triterpenoids. Cucurbitacins are widely distributed in a variety of plants and mainly isolated from plants in the Cucurbitaceae family. CuB is mostly obtained from the pedicel of Cucumis melo L. Modern pharmacological studies have confirmed that CuB has a broad range of pharmacological activities, with significant therapeutic effects on a variety of diseases including inflammatory diseases, neurodegenerative diseases, diabetes mellitus, and cancers. In this study the PubMed, Web of Science, Science Direct, and China National Knowledge Infrastructure (CNKI) databases were searched from 1986 to 2022. After inclusion and exclusion criteria were applied, 98 out of 2484 articles were selected for a systematic review to comprehensively summarize the pharmacological activity, toxicity, and pharmacokinetic properties of CuB. The results showed that CuB exhibits potent anti-inflammatory, antioxidant, antiviral, hypoglycemic, hepatoprotective, neuroprotective, and anti-cancer activities mainly via regulating various signaling pathways, such as the Janus kinase/signal transducer and activator of transcription-3 (JAK/STAT3), nuclear factor erythroid 2-related factor-2/antioxidant responsive element (Nrf2/ARE), nuclear factor (NF)-κB, AMP-activated protein kinase (AMPK), mitogen-activated protein kinase (MAPK), phosphoinositide 3-kinase (PI3K)/Akt, cancerous inhibitor of protein phosphatase-2A/protein phosphatase-2A (CIP2A/PP2A), Wnt, focal adhesion kinase (FAK), Notch, and Hippo-Yes-associated protein (YAP) pathways. Studies of its toxicity and pharmacokinetic properties showed that CuB has non-specific toxicity and low bioavailability. In addition, derivatives and clinical applications of CuB are discussed in this paper.
Topics: Cucurbitacins; Protein Phosphatase 2; Antioxidants; Phosphatidylinositol 3-Kinases; Triterpenes; NF-kappa B
PubMed: 36460279
DOI: 10.1016/j.phrs.2022.106587 -
American Journal of Human Biology : the... Nov 2022Bone is a dynamic organ under continual turnover influenced by life history stage, energy dynamics, diet, climate, and disease. Bone turnover data have enormous...
OBJECTIVES
Bone is a dynamic organ under continual turnover influenced by life history stage, energy dynamics, diet, climate, and disease. Bone turnover data have enormous potential in biological anthropology for testing evolutionary and biocultural hypotheses, yet few studies have integrated these biomarkers. In the present article we systematically review the current availability, future viability, and applicability of measuring bone turnover markers (BTMs) in dried blood spot (DBS) samples obtained from finger prick whole blood.
METHODS
Our review considers clinical and public health relevance, biomarker stability in DBS, assay availability, and cost. We consider biomarkers of bone formation such as osteocalcin (bone matrix protein), PINP (N-terminal propeptide of type I collagen), and alkaline phosphatase (osteoblast enzyme), as well as biomarkers of bone resorption such as CTX (marker of collagen breakdown) and TRACP5b (tartrate-resistant acid phosphatase 5b; osteoclast enzyme).
RESULTS
Two BTMs have been validated for DBS: osteocalcin (formation) and TRACP5b (resorption). Prime candidates for future development are CTX and PINP, the formation and resorption markers used for clinical monitoring of response to osteoporosis treatment.
CONCLUSION
BTMs are a field-friendly technique for longitudinal monitoring of skeletal biology during growth, reproduction and aging, combining minimized risk to study participants with maximized ease of sample storage and transport. This combination allows new insights into the effects of energy availability, disease, and physical activity level on bone, and questions about bone gain and loss across life history and in response to environmental factors; these issues are important in human biology, paleoanthropology, bioarchaeology, and forensic anthropology.
Topics: Humans; Osteocalcin; Tartrate-Resistant Acid Phosphatase; Bone Remodeling; Biomarkers; Anthropology
PubMed: 36214251
DOI: 10.1002/ajhb.23816 -
Human Fertility (Cambridge, England) Jul 2023Genetic association studies (GAS) may have the capability to probe the genetic susceptibility alleles in many disorders. This systemic review aimed to assess whether an... (Review)
Review
Genetic association studies (GAS) may have the capability to probe the genetic susceptibility alleles in many disorders. This systemic review aimed to assess whether an association exists between gene(s)/allelic variant(s), and varicocele-related male infertility (VRMI). This review included 19 GAS that investigated 26 genes in 1,826 men with varicocele compared to 2,070 healthy men, and 263 infertile men without varicocele. These studies focussed on candidate genes and relevant variants, with glutathione S-transferase gene being the most frequently studied ( = 5) followed by the nitric oxide synthase 3 (NOS3) gene ( = 3) and the phosphoprotein tyrosine phosphatase 1 gene ( = 2). In one study the genes for NAD(P)H quinone oxidoreductase 1, sperm protamine, human 8-oxoguanine DNA glycosylase 1, methylenetetrahydrofolate reductase, polymerase gamma, heat shock protein 90, mitochondrial DNA, superoxide dismutase 2, transition nuclear protein 1, and transition nuclear protein 2, were assessed. There is no clear indication that any of these polymorphisms are sturdily associated with VRMI. However, three studies established that the polymorphic genotype (GT + TT) for polymorphism of the gene is more frequent in varicocele patients. Further endeavours such as standardising reporting, exploring complementary designs, and the use of GWAS technology are justified to help replicate these early findings.
PubMed: 34587863
DOI: 10.1080/14647273.2021.1983214 -
Medicine Oct 2020The goal of this study was to review relevant randomized controlled trials or case-control studies to determine the clinical efficacy of minodronate in the treatment of... (Meta-Analysis)
Meta-Analysis
BACKGROUND
The goal of this study was to review relevant randomized controlled trials or case-control studies to determine the clinical efficacy of minodronate in the treatment of osteoporosis.
METHOD
The relevant studies were identified on PubMed, Cochrane, and Embase databases using appropriate keywords. Pertinent sources in the literature were also reviewed, and all articles published through October 2019 were considered for inclusion. For each study, we assessed odds ratios, mean difference, and 95% confidence interval (95% CI) to evaluate and synthesize outcomes.
RESULT
Thirteen studies comprising 3740 patients were included in this study. Compared with other drugs, minodronate significantly decreased N-telopeptide of type I collagen/creatinine (weighted mean difference [WMD]: -13.669, 95% confidence interval [CI]: -23.108 to -4.229), bone alkaline phosphatase (BAP) (WMD: -1.26, 95% CI: -2.04 to -0.47) and tartrate-resistant acid phosphatase 5b (WMD: -154.11, 95% CI: -277.85 to -30.37). Minodronate combined with other drugs would significantly decrease BAP (WMD: -3.10, 95% CI: -5.20 to -1.00) than minodronate. Minodronate-naïve would significantly decrease BAP (WMD: -3.00, 95% CI: -5.47 to 0.53) and tartrate-resistant acid phosphatase 5b (WMD: -128.20, 95% CI: -198.11 to -58.29) than minodronate-switch. The incidence of vertebral fracture was significantly decreased in the minodronate group than the other drugs (relative risk: 0.520, 95% CI: 0.363-0.744).
CONCLUSION
Minodronate has better clinical efficacy in the treatment of osteoporosis than other drugs (alendronate, risedronate, raloxifene, or eldecalcitol).
Topics: Aged; Aged, 80 and over; Alendronate; Alkaline Phosphatase; Bone Density Conservation Agents; Case-Control Studies; Collagen Type I; Creatinine; Diphosphonates; Drug Therapy, Combination; Female; Humans; Imidazoles; Male; Middle Aged; Osteoporosis; Raloxifene Hydrochloride; Randomized Controlled Trials as Topic; Risedronic Acid; Spinal Fractures; Tartrate-Resistant Acid Phosphatase; Treatment Outcome; Vitamin D
PubMed: 33019463
DOI: 10.1097/MD.0000000000022542 -
RMD Open Jul 2020To analyse the current evidence for the management of lupus nephritis (LN) informing the 2019 update of the EULAR/European Renal Association-European Dialysis and... (Meta-Analysis)
Meta-Analysis
Management of lupus nephritis: a systematic literature review informing the 2019 update of the joint EULAR and European Renal Association-European Dialysis and Transplant Association (EULAR/ERA-EDTA) recommendations.
OBJECTIVES
To analyse the current evidence for the management of lupus nephritis (LN) informing the 2019 update of the EULAR/European Renal Association-European Dialysis and Transplant Association recommendations.
METHODS
According to the EULAR standardised operating procedures, a PubMed systematic literature review was performed, from January 1, 2012 to December 31, 2018. Since this was an update of the 2012 recommendations, the final level of evidence (LoE) and grading of recommendations considered the total body of evidence, including literature prior to 2012.
RESULTS
We identified 387 relevant articles. High-quality randomised evidence supports the use of immunosuppressive treatment for class III and class IV LN (LoE 1a), and moderate-level evidence supports the use of immunosuppressive treatment for pure class V LN with nephrotic-range proteinuria (LoE 2b). Treatment should aim for at least 25% reduction in proteinuria at 3 months, 50% at 6 months and complete renal response (<500-700 mg/day) at 12 months (LoE 2a-2b). High-quality evidence supports the use of mycophenolate mofetil/mycophenolic acid (MMF/MPA) or low-dose intravenous cyclophosphamide (CY) as initial treatment of active class III/IV LN (LoE 1a). Combination of tacrolimus with MMF/MPA and high-dose CY are alternatives in specific circumstances (LoE 1a). There is low-quality level evidence to guide optimal duration of immunosuppression in LN (LoE 3). In end-stage kidney disease, all methods of kidney replacement treatment can be used, with transplantation having the most favourable outcomes (LoE 2b).
CONCLUSIONS
There is high-quality evidence to guide the initial and subsequent phases of class III/IV LN treatment, but low-to-moderate quality evidence to guide treatment of class V LN, monitoring and optimal duration of immunosuppression.
Topics: Biomarkers; Biopsy; Calcineurin; Clinical Decision-Making; Disease Management; Disease Susceptibility; Drug Resistance; Humans; Immunosuppressive Agents; Kidney; Kidney Failure, Chronic; Lupus Nephritis; Molecular Targeted Therapy; Practice Guidelines as Topic; Severity of Illness Index; Treatment Outcome
PubMed: 32699043
DOI: 10.1136/rmdopen-2020-001263 -
Biomedicine & Pharmacotherapy =... May 2020A greater understanding of factors causing cancer initiation, progression and evolution is of paramount importance. Among them, the serine/threonine phosphatase PPM1D,...
A greater understanding of factors causing cancer initiation, progression and evolution is of paramount importance. Among them, the serine/threonine phosphatase PPM1D, also referred to as wild-type p53-induced phosphatase 1 (Wip1) or protein phosphatase 2C delta (PP2Cδ), is emerging as an important oncoprotein due to its negative regulation on a number of crucial cancer suppressor pathways. Initially identified as a p53-regulated gene, PPM1D has been afterwards found amplified and more recently mutated in many human cancers such as breast cancer. The latest progress in this field further reveals that selective inhibition of PPM1D to delay tumor onset or reduce tumor burden represents a promising anti-cancer strategy. Here, we review the advances in the studies of the PPM1D activity and its relevance to various cancers, and recent progress in development of PPM1D inhibitors and discuss their potential application in cancer therapy. Consecutive research on PPM1D and its relationship with cancer is essential, as it ultimately contributes to the etiology and treatment of cancer.
Topics: Antineoplastic Agents; Gene Expression Regulation, Neoplastic; Molecular Structure; Neoplasms; Protein Phosphatase 2C
PubMed: 32006900
DOI: 10.1016/j.biopha.2020.109956 -
Orthodontics & Craniofacial Research Nov 2019To evaluate whether changes in the concentration of different biomarkers in the gingival crevicular fluid (GCF) can be used to detect the root resorption process in...
OBJECTIVES
To evaluate whether changes in the concentration of different biomarkers in the gingival crevicular fluid (GCF) can be used to detect the root resorption process in adult or adolescent patients undergoing treatment with a fixed appliance, in comparison with untreated subjects or treated patients not showing signs of root resorption.
MATERIAL AND METHODS
The following databases were analysed in the period between June 2017 and March 2018, without any language and initial date restrictions: PubMed, EMBASE, Scopus, Web of Science and Cochrane Library. A quality assessment instrument (QAI) was developed to establish the risk of bias.
RESULTS
A total of 1127 articles were analysed. Based on the inclusion and exclusion criteria, seven studies qualified for the final review. The QAI tool revealed that five articles were at a moderate risk of bias and two articles were at a low risk of bias.
CONCLUSION
Dentine phosphoprotein (DPP) may be considered a relatively useful marker for root resorption. Dentinal sialoprotein (DSP) could be a potential biomarker but is not highly helpful at detecting root shortening. Inflammatory cytokines (pro- and anti-resorption), osteopontin (OPN), osteoprotegerin (OPG), RANKL and alkaline phosphatase (ALP) are useful biomarkers to explain the biological mechanisms that occur during orthodontic movement but are not specific enough. Further studies are required to clarify the role of GM-CSF as a potential biomarker to distinguish subjects at a risk of severe root resorption in the early phase.
Topics: Adolescent; Adult; Biomarkers; Cytokines; Gingival Crevicular Fluid; Humans; Root Resorption; Tooth Movement Techniques
PubMed: 31207100
DOI: 10.1111/ocr.12329