Current Pharmaceutical Design - Volume 31, Issue 39, 2025

Long non-coding RNAs (lncRNAs) are RNA molecules exceeding 200 nucleotides in length with minimal or no protein-coding potential. However, a large number of lncRNAs have been discovered as research has progressed, and the traditional view of these noncoding RNAs does not appear to be entirely correct. Recent research has also unveiled their significant roles in various biological processes, spotlighting lncRNAs' importance. The oncogenic lncRNA, Colorectal tumor Differentially Expressed (CRNDE), is prominently studied in cancer contexts. One study found that the modulation of CRNDE expression led to an improvement in the median survival of cancer patients, extending it from 19.2 months to 32.5 months. Nonetheless, CRNDE also exhibits deregulated expression in non-malignant diseases, influencing their pathologies and serving as a potential biomarker and therapeutic target. For example, in the context of COVID-19, with CRNDE serving as a diagnostic indicator, its diagnostic accuracy attains a value as high as 0.889. This review examines CRNDE's expression in specific human diseases, including non-cancerous and cancerous conditions, its impact on disease progression, the underlying mechanisms, and recent therapeutic approaches.

Cancer continues to pose a significant global health challenge, demanding innovative therapeutic approaches to overcome the limitations of conventional treatments like chemotherapy and radiotherapy. Nanoparticles (NPs) have emerged as promising tools for cancer therapy due to their unique physicochemical properties that enable targeted drug delivery, reduced systemic toxicity, and enhanced therapeutic efficacy. This comprehensive review delves into the mechanisms of NP-based drug delivery, highlighting both passive and active targeting strategies. It categorizes and discusses diverse NP types, including polymeric, lipid-based, and metallic nanoparticles, emphasizing their applications in enhancing the bioavailability and specificity of anticancer agents. This review also explores the integration of advanced technologies, such as theranostics and artificial intelligence, to optimize NP design and functionality for personalized medicine. However, challenges remain, including issues related to toxicity, drug resistance, and manufacturing scalability. Addressing these barriers requires interdisciplinary research focused on developing stimuli-responsive NPs, improving biocompatibility, and incorporating multimodal therapeutic platforms. Although substantial progress has been made, this review is limited by the paucity of clinical trials validating NP efficacy and safety in diverse patient populations. Future endeavors should prioritize translational research to bridge the gap between preclinical innovations and clinical applications, ensuring that these transformative technologies benefit a broader spectrum of cancer patients. The review underscores the immense potential of NPs in redefining cancer treatment while advocating for sustained research to address existing limitations and unlock their full therapeutic promise.

Sleep is the key factor influencing physical and psychological health. Several factors influence sleep, including lifespan, circadian entrainment, diet, stress, and occupation. Pharmacological (for example, histamine type 1 receptor blockers) and non-pharmacological (for example, cognitive-behavioral therapy) therapeutic approaches are used to alleviate sleep disorders. The gut microbiota has an important role in the pathogenesis of sleep-related disorders. Studies suggested that restoring the healthy gut microbiota could improve sleep quality. Hence, related randomized, blinded, controlled studies were reviewed to know the impact of probiotic supplementation on sleep quality. Altered Firmicutes/Bacteroidetes ratio and reduced α-diversity were associated with insomnia, sleep deprivation and rapid eye movement sleep behavior disorder. The literature survey revealed that probiotic supplementation improved healthy subjects' sleep quality and mood states. Probiotic supplementation could improve sleep quality by improving gut microbiota, intestinal integrity, blood-brain barrier function, brain functions and neurotransmitter regulation. The underlying mechanisms through which probiotic supplementation exerts its beneficial effects on sleep disorders remain unclear. Further research involving a variety of probiotic strains, along with long-term follow-up studies, is needed to validate the potential of probiotics as a complementary therapeutic approach for managing sleep disorders and enhancing sleep quality.