Immunology, Endocrine & Metabolic Agents in Medicinal Chemistry (Discontinued) - Volume 17, Issue 1, 2017

Background: Aspergillus spp. is ubiquitous, opportunistic fungi that invade and cause serious complication in man. Different species of Aspergillus causes various types of aspergillosis in man. Many predisposing factors have been attributed to the cause of the disease. Due to the nature of the disease, diagnosis is also difficult. Since this disease generally occurs in people who are immunocompromised, there is no effective immune response against this disease; therefore drugs are the only way to treat it. Depending on the state of the immune system, clinical symptoms can range from an excessive immune response to the formation of an aspergilloma in the immune-competent patients. Recognition and removal of the fungus by phagocytosis, production of antimicrobial peptides and recognition by pattern recognition receptors are the major components of the innate immune system involved in fighting the disease. Various classes of antifungal drugs are used to treat the disease but the fungus has its own machinery to overcome the effect and become resistant to the drugs. Conclusion: This review mainly focuses on the types of invasive aspergillosis and the immune response against the fungus by the host when it invades the host and the various classes of drugs that are employed to evade the infection.

Background: In recent decades the incidence of obesity has increased, namely in industrialized countries. Unhealthy eating behaviors and lack of physical exercise have been ascribed to the major causes of obesity. Nevertheless, compelling evidence have placed new pieces in the complex puzzle of obesity's etiology. Environmental factors, known as obesogens, are functionally defined as chemicals that enhance lipid accumulation and weight gain by altering lipid metabolism or the regulation of appetite and satiety. This is a matter of great concern since obesogens can be virtually everywhere and thus, men are permanently exposed to those contaminants. Some obesogens act as endocrine disruptors altering cellular processes and physiological systems. Male infertility is one of the "silent" problems that may result from exposure to obesogens. Indeed, the observed decline in male fertility has been concurrent with the global change of the environmental exposure, supporting in part the previous hypothesis. However, the etiology of this trend in male reproductive health has posed more questions than answers. Male reproduction is extremely sensitive to environmental contaminants, since they interfere with spermatogenesis limiting the normal sperm production, compromising sperm function and/or morphology, thus impairing male fertility. Most of the studies have been focused on the clinical aspects and not on the molecular mechanisms involved in sperm formation. During sperm passage throughout, the epididymal duct undergoes a series of molecular changes mediated by proteins that are secreted by epididymal cells. This is a crucial step since these molecular transformations have huge implications in sperm functionality and may define the success of post-ejaculatory events, such as fertilization, pregnancy or even the offspring's health. It is imperative to unveil the mechanisms by which obesogens may affect sperm maturation. Conclusion: This mini-review aims to present and discuss new insights concerning the effects of obesogens in sperm maturation. We will give special emphasis to the molecular mechanisms involved in sperm maturation and how they may be targeted by obesogens.

Background: The innate immune response is the first line of defense against predatory pathogens and the Toll-Like Receptors (TLR) which have been identified from Drosophila melanogaster, forming the crux of the innate immune system. Method: These pattern recognition receptors identify the Pathogen Associated Molecular Pattern (PAMP's) and elicit the specificity of the innate immune response towards the pathogen or the offending agent. The signaling cascade results in the production of proinflammatory cytokines and activation of the adaptive immune responses. Observations: Chronic Obstructive Pulmonary Disease (COPD) and periodontitis are chronic inflammatory disorders which have a significant prevalence in the global population. The inflammatory and exacerbated immune response form a common pathway in the pathogenesis of both the diseases. The TLR mediated inflammatory cascade is believed to be responsible for the destructive host responses in periodontitis and COPD. The TLR's have been targeted in the therapeutics for diseases like HIV, Hepatitis-B, asthma etc. Conclusion: This review intends to discuss the role of TLR's in the pathogenesis of COPD and periodontitis, as well as the therapeutic potential in both the chronic diseases.

Background: Sleep disorder is a common health problem in modern days. Establishment of safe, non-invasive, convenient and effective treatment is anticipated in the field of complementary and alternative medicine. Objective: We designed a protocol for a randomized controlled trial to investigate the effect of Electric Field (EF) exposure on sleep disorder. Methods: Nineteen college students with sleep disorder, defined as a score of 8 or higher on the Pitzburg Sleep Quality Index, were divided into two groups; EF intervention and sham treatment. EF exposure (50-Hz, 18 kV) was performed for 30 minutes a day for five consecutive days. Subjective parameters were obtained by an OSA sleep inventory MA version consisting of five factors, and objective parameters were measured using a sleep-scan. Results: Significant improvement in scores of three factors (sleepiness on rising, refreshing and sleep length) was observed after 5 days of EF exposure intervention, as compared to both before intervention and after 5 days of sham treatment. Moreover, improvement ratios for these three factors were significantly higher in the EF group than in the sham treatment group. Analysis of the sleep-scan demonstrated a high improvement ratio for duration of nocturnal awakening in the EF group. Conclusion: The beneficial effect of electric field therapy on sleep disorder in college students is considered to be beyond a placebo effect. This study raises the therapeutic possibility of electric field exposure.

Background: Since 2011, Minamisoma Municipal General Hospital, which is located 23 km north of the Fukushima Daiichi nuclear plant, acquired a whole-body counter (WBC) and began measuring the internal contamination levels of local residents. Objective: To examine whether or not the intake of apple pectin decreases the level of radioactive Cesium (Cs) in the body. Methods: Eighteen participants (sixteen males and two females aged 44–81 years), in whom more than a total of 20 Bq/kg of radioactive Cs-137 and Cs-134 were detected using the WBC, were screened. We measured internal radioactive Cs levels in the participants and compared the change in Cs levels between the observation and intervention periods with the intake of apple pectin. Initially, the participants received dietary education to avoid increasing levels of radioactive Cs through daily food consumption. After four weeks, the participants in whom more than 10 Bq/kg of radioactive Cs had been detected were instructed to eat a jelly with 3 grams of apple pectin, daily, for a period of four weeks. Results: Although the decrease in the radioactive Cs level in participants during the apple pectin intake period exceeded the decrease during the observation period (-9.6% and -11.7%, respectively), no significant difference in the decrease was observed between the two periods. Conclusion: This pilot study did not reveal any significant effects of apple pectin. This result may have been caused by low internal contamination levels of the participants and the distribution of food free from radioactive contamination in Fukushima.

Background: Plant-derived ceramides are functional natural products with various physiological effects that improve water retention and skin permeability functions. Objective: Herein, we isolated peach (Prunus persica)-derived glucosylceramide with high purity and evaluated its effects on moisture and permeability of skin. Methods: Three separate experiments were performed: evaluations of the effect of peachderived glucosylceramide application on the ceramide content in a three-dimensional human cultured skin model, water retention effect of the oral administration of the peach-derived glucosylceramide on human skin functionality, and safety of the long-term administration of the peach-derived glucosylceramide in human subjects. Results: Treatments of three-dimensional cultures of human skin with peach-derived glucosylceramide led to dose-dependent increases in human ceramide contents. Additionally, after oral administration of ceramide to humans, dose-dependent improvements in water retention functions of skin, suppression of trans-epidermal water loss and improvements in skin texture were observed. Furthermore, no significant changes in subjective/objective symptoms, physical characteristics, or laboratory test values were observed in human subjects following long term oral administration of ceramide at doses that were 4.5-9-times greater than recommended. Taken together, the present data indicate the positive effects of peach ceramide on skin function and no adverse effects. Conclusion: Ingestion of peach ceramide safely improved the state of the skin.