Current Pharmaceutical Design - Volume 24, Issue 15, 2018

Background: Anticancer chemotherapeutics have a lot of problems via conventional Drug Delivery Systems (DDSs), including non-specificity, burst release, severe side-effects, and damage to normal cells. Owing to its potential to circumventing these problems, nanotechnology has gained increasing attention in targeted tumor therapy. Chemotherapeutic drugs or genes encapsulated in nanoparticles could be used to target Read More

Technetium (99mTc)-radiolabeled colloids are popular tracers used to map lymphatic vessels and regional lymph nodes (LNs). The regional LN status is a significant determinant of cancer stage and patient prognosis, and strongly influences treatment. Regional LN dissection has become a part of surgical treatment. However, not all patients with LN involvement benefit from extensive lymphadenectomy in terms of prolonge Read More

Background: The HERC family contains six members from HERC1 to HERC6 that are featured with the HECT domains that exerts ubiquitin ligase activity and the RCC1-like domains that are involved in cell cycle regulation. Although identified as early as 1990s, their biological functions are extensively studied in recent years. More and more researches have demonstrated that the HERC ubiquitin ligases are widely engaged i Read More

Introduction: Although a great many strategies have been proposed for tumor-targeted chemotherapy, current delivery methods of anticancer drugs present limited success with inevitable systemic toxicity. The aim of this study was to develop a new kind of theranostic carrier for targeted tumor therapy. Methods: Prior to prepare CHC-PFP-DOX, carboxymethyl-hexanoyl chitosan (CHC) was synthesized by acylation of carbox Read More

Background: In vitro tests allow establishing experimental variables. However, in vitro results cannot be extrapolated to in vivo tests. Considering that three-dimensional (3D) culture has been one of the best ways to portray the in vivo system of most cell types, it is possible to carry out assays with a great clinical relevance for the analysis of the screening, action and resistance of antitumor drugs. Objective: Thus, the objective Read More

Diabetes mellitus (DM) is the most commonly occurring cause of neuropathy around the world and is beginning to grow in countries where there is a risk of obesity. DM Type II, (T2DM) is a common age-related disease and is a major health concern, particularly in developed countries in Europe where the population is aging. T2DM is a chronic disease which is characterised by hyperglycemia, hyperinsulinemia and insulin resistan Read More

In addition to external factors, such as exercise, food and the environment, genetic predisposition makes great contribution to the development of metabolic disorders and cardiovascular disease. This review is aimed to examine the genetic basis of complex metabolic disorders conventionally described as "metabolic syndrome" (MetS), with the special focus on currently known mutations in the nuclear and mitochondrial genom Read More

Background: Genetic alterations cause Hereditary Diseases (HDs) with a wide range of incidences. Some, like cystic fibrosis, occur frequently (1/1,000 newborns), whilst others, such as Pompe disease and other metabolic disorders are very rare (1/100,000 newborns). They are well under the threshold of 1/3,000, denoted by the European Community as Rare Diseases (RDs). Genetic alterations are also associated with mult Read More

Glial cells (also known as glia or neuroglia) are structures which are found in large numbers throughout the nervous system, fulfilling multiple functions, such as regulating the synapses, providing structure, support and nutrition, contributing towards the immune response and tissue oxygenation. Knowledge regarding glial cells has increased during the last few years, since Virchow defined them as supporting connecti Read More