Drug Discoveries & Therapeutics
Online ISSN : 1881-784X
Print ISSN : 1881-7831
ISSN-L : 1881-7831
Volume 6, Issue 3
Displaying 1-7 of 7 articles from this issue
Reviews
  • Jeremy Duncan, Shakevia Johnson, Xiao-Ming Ou
    2012 Volume 6 Issue 3 Pages 112-122
    Published: June 30, 2012
    Released on J-STAGE: June 13, 2014
    JOURNAL FREE ACCESS
    Monoamine oxidases play an integral role in brain function. Both monoamine oxidase A (MAO-A) and monoamine oxidase B (MAO-B) regulate neurochemistry by degrading monoamine neurotransmitters (serotonin, dopamine, and norepinephrine). Any alteration in MAO levels can have devastating effects on the brain and behavior by lowering or raising neurotransmitter levels and producing toxic reactive oxygen species. In this review article, MAO is examined in terms of function and genetic organization, with special focus on recent discoveries related to the transcriptional regulation of MAO. In recent studies, transcriptional regulation involves a repressor protein, R1, for MAO-A and an activator protein, KLF11 (a Krüppel-like factor; also referred to as transforming growth factor-beta early inducible gene 2, TIEG2), for both MAO-A and MAO-B, by binding to Sp/KLF sites in the core promoters of MAO and regulating MAO gene expression. Furthermore, KLF11 may influence MAO-B expression and augment glyceraldehyde-3 phosphate dehydrogenase (GAPDH) to upregulate MAO-B transcription upon exposure to ethanol. Finally, we review recent progress in MAO research and highlight the roles that MAOs play in several psychiatric conditions, including chronic stress, major depressive disorder and alcohol dependence. Further research in this area is needed to better understand MAOs, their transcription factors and signaling pathways in psychiatric illnesses in order to develop new strategies for pharmacological advancement.
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  • Nazrul Islam, Shafiqur Rahman
    2012 Volume 6 Issue 3 Pages 123-132
    Published: June 30, 2012
    Released on J-STAGE: June 13, 2014
    JOURNAL FREE ACCESS
    Nicotine addiction remains the leading cause of death and disease in developed and developing nations and a major cause of mortality around the world. Currently, nicotine replacement therapies (NRTs), bupropion, and varenicline are approved by the regulatory agencies as first-line treatments for nicotine addiction. Emerging evidence indicates that varenicline and bupropion have some therapeutic limitations for treating nicotine addiction with oral route of administration. Thus, continued investigation of innovative drug delivery for nicotine addiction remains a critical priority. This review will discuss some novel strategies and future directions for pulmonary drug delivery, an emerging route of administration for smoking cessation. It is anticipated that the advancement of knowledge on pulmonary drug delivery will provide better management for nicotine addiction and other addictive disorders.
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Brief Report
  • Peng Wang, Jianzhen Liu, Hualu Xing, Yang Liu, Wencheng Xie, Guisen Zh ...
    2012 Volume 6 Issue 3 Pages 133-139
    Published: June 30, 2012
    Released on J-STAGE: June 13, 2014
    JOURNAL FREE ACCESS
    A new series of 5-(indole-2-yl)-3- substituted 1,2,4-oxadiazoles were synthesized and evaluated for their anticancer activities. Structures of the compounds were confirmed by spectroscopic methods. Structural modifications were done to improve the antiproliferative activity of compound 1. The results indicated that a benzyloxyl substituent on the C-4 position was better than a methyl substituent on the C-6 position of the indole component. Compounds 10a, 10b, 10g, 10i, 10l, 10n, 10o, and 10p were found to be more active than lead compound 1 in the PC-3 cell line. These compounds may serve as lead candidates in the development of novel chemotherapeutics for cancer treatment.
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Original Articles
  • Ruth F. Guillermo, Chandeshwari Chilampalli, Xiaoying Zhang, David Zem ...
    2012 Volume 6 Issue 3 Pages 140-146
    Published: June 30, 2012
    Released on J-STAGE: June 13, 2014
    JOURNAL FREE ACCESS
    Honokiol has shown chemopreventive effects in chemically-induced and UVB-induced skin cancer in mice. In this investigation, we assessed the time-effects of a topical low dose of honokiol (30 μg), and then the effects of different honokiol doses (30, 45, and 60 μg) on a UVB-induced skin cancer model to find an optimal dose and time for desirable chemopreventive effects. UVB radiation (30 mJ/cm2, 5 days/week for 25 or 27 weeks) was used to induce skin carcinogenesis in SKH-1 mice. For the time-response experiment 30 μg honokiol in acetone was applied topically to the animals before the UVB exposure (30 min, 1 h, and 2 h) and after the UVB exposure (immediately, 30 min, and 1 h). Control groups were treated with acetone. For the dose-response study, animals were treated topically with acetone or honokiol (30, 45, and 60 μg) one hour before the UVB exposure. In the time-response experiment, honokiol inhibited skin tumor multiplicity by 49-58% while reducing tumor volumes by 70-89%. In the dose-response study, honokiol (30, 45, and 60 μg) significantly decreased skin tumor multiplicity by 36-78% in a dose-dependent manner, while tumor area was reduced by 76-94%. Honokiol (60 μg) significantly reduced tumor incidence by 40% as compared to control group. Honokiol applied in very low doses (30 μg) either before or after UVB radiation shows chemopreventive effects. Honokiol (30, 45, and 60 μg) prevents UVB-induced skin cancer in a dose-dependent manner. Honokiol can be an effective chemopreventive agent against skin cancer.
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  • Asmma Hussein, Amany A. E. Ahmed, Samia A. Shouman, Sabry Sharawy
    2012 Volume 6 Issue 3 Pages 147-156
    Published: June 30, 2012
    Released on J-STAGE: June 13, 2014
    JOURNAL FREE ACCESS
    Cisplatin is a potent chemotherapeutic agent with a wide range of activities. Nephrotoxicity and cardiotoxicity represent it's major complication upon clinical use. The present study was carried out to evaluate the possible protective effect of DL-α-lipoic acid (LA) against cisplatin-induced nephrotoxicity and cardiotoxicity. Different groups of rats (n = 10) were administered either saline (control), cisplatin (10 mg/kg, i.p.), LA (100 mg/kg, i.p.) or their combination (LA 30 min prior to cisplatin administration). Twenty-four hours later all animals were decapitated and sera were used for estimation of activities of urea (BUN), creatinine (Cr), lactate dehydrogenase (LDH), and creatine kinase (CK). Homogenates of the kidney and heart were used for estimation of oxidative stress markers (reduced glutathione (GSH), malondialdehyde (MDA), superoxide dismutase (SOD), and nitric oxide (NO)). Additionally, caspase-3 activities and DNA-fragmentation were investigated in renal tissues. The results showed that cisplatin produced significant elevation in serum activities of LDH, CK, BUN, and Cr and also induced significant elevation in the oxidative stress makers (MDA and NO) accompanied by significant reduction in GSH and SOD in both kidney and heart. The integrity of DNA was heavily damaged and caspase-3 was activated in renal tissues. The results emphasized nephrotoxicty and cardiotoxicity of cisplatin. On the other hand, prior administration of LA significantly attenuated the cisplatin-evoked disturbances in the above mentioned parameters and protected both kidney and heart tissues. The histopathological examination emphasized the obtained results. In conclusion, LA is suggested to be a potential candidate to ameliorate cisplatin-induced nephrotoxicity and cardiotoxicity without altering the antitumor efficacy of cisplatin.
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  • Takahiro Kubota
    2012 Volume 6 Issue 3 Pages 157-162
    Published: June 30, 2012
    Released on J-STAGE: June 13, 2014
    JOURNAL FREE ACCESS
    Skin roughness is a term commonly used in Japan to describe a poor skin condition related to a rough and dry skin surface that develops as a result of various damaging effects from the environment or skin inflammation. Recovery from skin roughness requires skin care for a long period, thus it is important to prevent development of such skin changes. PROTECT X2 contains agents used for a protective covering of the skin from frequent hand washing or use of alcohol-based disinfectants. These unique components are also thought to be effective to treat skin roughness of the dorsa of the hands and heels. In the present study, we evaluated the effectiveness of PROTECT X2 to increase skin surface hydration state, as well as enhance the barrier function of the stratum corneum of the dorsa of the hands and heels in elderly individuals. A total of 8 elderly subjects and their caretakers without any skin diseases participated in the study. They applied PROTECT X2 by themselves to the dorsum area of 1 hand and heel 3 to 5 times daily for 1 month, while the opposite sides were left untreated. We measured stratum corneum (SC) hydration and transepidermal water loss (TEWL) before beginning treatment, then 1 week and 1 month after the start of treatment to compare between the treated and untreated skin. SC hydration state after applications of PROTECT X2 was 1.5- to 3.0-fold higher than that of the untreated skin in the dorsa of both hands and heels, indicating that the moisturizing ingredients accompanied by water were replenished in those areas where the cream was applied. Also, TEWL in the dorsum of the hands was 17.0-27.9% lower on the treated side, indicating improvement in SC barrier function. On the basis of these findings,
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  • Pornthida Riangjanapatee, Siriporn Okonogi
    2012 Volume 6 Issue 3 Pages 163-168
    Published: June 30, 2012
    Released on J-STAGE: June 13, 2014
    JOURNAL FREE ACCESS
    Nanostructured lipid carriers (NLC) have gained high interest as enhancing drug delivery systems via topical application during the last few years. NLC can enhance stability of many active substances against environmental stress. The extremely small size of NLC plays an important role in skin penetration. The unchanged size of NLC upon storage indicates its physical stability. The aim of this work was to investigate the effect of surfactant type on physical properties and stability of lycopene-loaded NLC. The preparation of the NLC was achieved by means of high pressure homogenization. The results indicate that different types of surfactant yield NLC with different properties. We also explored the effect of contact angle on the size of the NLC. It was found that the small contact angle gave NLC with small size. Among two small contact angle surfactants, Plantacare 1200 gave lycopene-loaded NLC with smaller size, higher zeta potential and narrower size distribution. The particle size, size distribution, and zeta potential of lycopene-loaded NLC prepared with Plantacare 1200 was unchanged during 30 days of storage. It was concluded that Plantacare 1200 is the most suitable surfactant for lycopene-loaded NLC. The chemical stability of lycopene entrapped in the NLC was significantly enhanced.
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