Current Therapeutic Research, Clinical and Experimental

BACKGROUND: Sickle cell disease (SCD) is an inherited, chronic, multifaceted blood disorder. Patients with SCD develop anemia, which has been associated with end-organ damage (EOD). OBJECTIVES: This retrospective, observational, repeated-measures study systematically characterizes the relationship between hemoglobin (Hb) level and EOD in adolescent and adult patients with SCD . METHODS: The study population comprised patients with SCD aged ≥12 years with available Hb data from a US provider-centric health care database...

BACKGROUND: Glial tumors are the most common primary malignant central nervous system tumors. They are hard to treat, not only because of the deregulation in multiple pathways but also because they are not contained in a well-defined mass with clear borders. The use of a single therapeutic agent to target gliomas has yielded unsatisfactory results. OBJECTIVE: A combination of molecules targeting multiple pathways may prove to be a better alternative. METHODS: The effect of caffeic acid phenethyl ester and crocin on the proliferation and death of U87-MG cells over a concentration range was analyzed using 3-(4,5-dimethylthiazol-2-yl)-2,5-diphenyltetrazolium bromide and lactate dehydrogenase assays...

BACKGROUND: Opioid-induced constipation (OIC) may increase the risk of fecal impaction and mortality in patients with advanced illness. Methylnaltrexone (MNTX) is efficacious for OIC. OBJECTIVE: The purpose of this analysis was to evaluate cumulative rescue-free laxation response with repeat MNTX dosing in patients with advanced illness who were refractory to current laxative regimens and to assess the influence, if any, of poor functional status on response to MNTX treatment...

BACKGROUND: Endoscope tips are heated by their electrical and illuminating components. During the procedure, they might get in close or even direct contact with intestinal tissues. OBJECTIVE: To assess endoscope tip and tissue temperature as well as histopathologic changes of gastrointestinal (GI) tissues when exposed to the heated tip of GI endoscopes. METHODS: The endoscope tip temperatures of four GI endoscopes were measured for 30 minutes in a temperature-controlled chamber...

BACKGROUND: Esophageal cancer is a cancerous tumor that develops in the esophagus. It is the 10th most common cancer and has a low survival rate. Esophageal adenocarcinoma (EAC) is increasing in incidence globally. Those with EAC are affected by Barrett's esophagus metaplasia, which is attributed to genetic predisposition and is more common in men. Studies suggest that gastric acid suppressants, like proton pump inhibitors and histamine-2 receptor antagonists, have anticancer properties and reduce EAC...

BACKGROUND: Although controversial, experimental data suggest the use of propofol may be associated with neurotoxicity. The mechanisms responsible for propofol neurotoxicity in animals are not yet clear. OBJECTIVE: This study aimed to determine the effects of propofol on the proliferation of neural stem cells in rat hippocampus and the mechanisms underlying these effects. METHODS: Forty-five adult male Sprague-Dawley rats were randomly divided into 5 groups: Control (N group), intralipid (V group), 30 mg/kg propofol (Prop30 group), 60 mg/kg propofol (Prop60 group), and 120 mg/kg propofol (Prop120 group)...

BACKGROUND: A group of Italian experts in impetigo medical care sought to define 10 statements to describe the ideal characteristics of the best local antibiotic treatments, and to provide relevant information re- garding their appropriate use and prescription that should be considered in clinical practice for impetigo management. OBJECTIVE: A group of Italian experts in impetigo medical care sought to define 10 statements to describe the ideal characteristics of the best local antibiotic treatments, and to provide relevant information regarding their appropriate use and prescription that should be considered in clinical practice for impetigo management...

BACKGROUND: Rho kinase inhibitors, such as netarsudil, are a relatively new class of medications recently introduced into the market for the treatment of glaucoma, the leading cause of irreversible blindness in the world. Previous clinical trials have studied netarsudil's efficacy when used as a first- or second-line agent but limited studies have investigated its effectiveness in the real world where it is more commonly used as a third, fourth, or fifth agent in combination with other topical medications...

Purpose: In a phase III study, regdanvimab (CT-P59) reduced the risk of hospitalization or death versus placebo in patients with mild to moderate coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19). We performed a retrospective cohort study of patients with COVID-19 to examine the effect of regdanvimab versus standard of care (SoC) on oxygen saturation. Methods: We reviewed patients with mild to moderate COVID-19 confirmed by reverse transcription-polymerase chain reaction at a single hospital in the Republic of Korea...

Background: The ongoing Covid-19 pandemic is a worldwide public health threat. Millions of people are at risk and older adults are more susceptible to developing the most serious manifestations of the disease, in part because the ageing of the immune system. Biomodulina T® is an injectable immune modulator that has been licensed for use in Cuba for many years. An open-label, uncontrolled trial was conducted to investigate whether it might be useful to prevent or modulate the serious effects of SARS-CoV-2 infections in older Cuban adults prior to the availability of vaccinations...

[This corrects the article DOI: 10.1016/j.curtheres.2021.100647.].

BACKGROUND: A number of different medications are used in combination with intrathecal bupivacaine for cesarean section anesthesia, but their relative efficacy has not been well established. OBJECTIVE: To study the relative efficacy of adding either intrathecal fentanyl, intrathecal sufentanil, or intravenous acetaminophen-morphine-fentanyl to intrathecal bupivacaine spinal anesthesia for pain control in elective cesarean section operations. METHODS: In this randomized, double-blinded, controlled trial, 105 pregnant women eligible for cesarean section received 10 mg intrathecal bupivacaine (0...

BACKGROUND: Current guidelines for the therapeutic monitoring of vancomycin recommend dosing based on the area under the concentration-time curve (AUC) to achieve clinical efficacy while reducing nephrotoxicity. Although a wide range of nephrotoxicity thresholds have been reported, few studies have documented clinical outcomes based on AUC-guided vancomycin dosing in Korea. OBJECTIVE: The aim of the study was to evaluate whether a relationship exists between AUC and treatment outcomes in vancomycin treated patients in methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus bacteremia...

Background: Diarrheal disease is among the leading causes of morbidity and mortality among children younger than age 5 years in Bangladesh. Objective: The objective of this study is to assess the prevalence of diarrhea among children younger than age 5 years and its associated risk factors. Methods: Data were sourced from the Bangladesh Demographic and Health Survey, a nationally representative study conducted in 2014. We used multilevel logistic regression models to identify factors associated with diarrheal disease...

Background: Ulcerative colitis is an idiopathic inflammatory bowel disease characterized by tissue damage, diarrhea, anemia, and loss of body weight. Tissue damage occurs as a result of uncontrolled activation of the immune response and an increase in free radicals, which have a strong effect on the pathogenesis of inflammatory bowel disease. The incidence and prevalence of this inflammatory disease continue to increase worldwide. Maceration of Bixa orellana leaves in palm wine is used in traditional medicine to treat diarrhea, dysentery, and hemorrhoids in the Adamaoua region of Cameroon...

Background: Vitamin D deficiency is a common side effect of imatinib mesylate (IM) therapy. Transporter polypeptides involved in the disposition of IM may be required for maintenance of adequate vitamin D concentrations. Objective: The aim of the present work is to study the association between the plasma concentrations of IM and plasma 25-hydroxyvitamin (25[OH]) D3 with transporter genotypes in patients with chronic myelogenous leukemia. Methods: A total of 77 adult patients with chronic myelogenous leukemia treated with IM participated in this study...

Background: Endothelial inflammation triggered by oxidized LDL (ox-LDL) is a crucial mechanism involved in atherosclerosis. Triptolide (TP), a primary active ingredient of the traditional Chinese medicine Tripterygium wilfordii Hook F, possesses antioxidant and anti-inflammatory properties in vivo. However, limited information is available regarding these effects on endothelial inflammation occurring in atherosclerosis. Objectives: This study investigated the effects and possible mechanisms of action of TP on ox-LDL-induced inflammatory responses in human umbilical vein endothelial cells...

Background: Stenosis and scar formation after repair of laryngeal tissue defects are serious problems that can significantly influence a patient's quality of life. Objective: In this study, we evaluated the use of magnetic resonance imaging to assess the efficacy of adipose tissue-derived mesenchymal stem cells (ASCs) on cartilaginous regeneration in an experimental rabbit model. Methods: Ten male white Dutch rabbits each had a 5 mm cartilaginous defect created surgically in the right and left thyroid lamina...

Background: Portugal has among the highest rates of dependency among older adults in Europe. Older adults with aging-related comorbidities are prone to the use of potentially inappropriate medication (PIM). Objective: The aim of this study was to analyze PIM prescriptions in older Portuguese adults, as well as the change rate of PIM prescriptions over time, and assess the geographical variability between the different regions of mainland Portugal. Methods: Using a national database, PIM prescriptions were analyzed for older adults (aged 65 years and older) between 2019 and 2021 from 2 perspectives: PIM-defined daily dose (DDD) frequency (%) and DDD per 1000 inhabitants per day (DID)...

Background: During 2020, the Food and Drug Administration approved 53 novel drugs. Objective: Biomarkers, surrogate endpoints and dosing regimens used in early and pivotal clinical stages are evaluated. Methods: Information on various efficacy end points of 2020 Food and Drug Administration approved novel drugs was gathered from the Drug Approvals and Databases page of the Food and Drug Administration website. Endpoint data from efficacy end points for the 2019 approved novel drugs by Tong and Wang are used as a comparison...