Frontiers in Pharmacology

The NOD-like receptor family pyrin domain-containing 3 (NLRP3) inflammasome has emerged as a critical mediator in cardiovascular diseases, connecting cholesterol crystals and metabolic danger signals to atherogenic inflammation, myocardial injury, and adverse remodeling. Using direct inhibitors that bind to NLRP3 has advantages over indirect strategies. These advantages include retaining the func…

Despite the presence of numerous efficacious bioactive compounds, the development of effective cancer therapies remains necessary. Thus, the exploitation of the medicinal potential of bioactive compounds in cancer management has become an urgent demand. Arctigenin (AG), a natural lignin derived from Arctium lappa , not only suppresses the proliferation of diverse cancerous cells, including those …

Inflammatory bowel disease (IBD) is a group of chronic conditions characterized by relapsing inflammation of gastrointestinal tract. Conventional treatments for IBD are confronted with various challenges including treatment failure, a therapeutic ceiling that restricts effectiveness and associated adverse effects. Present study employed Drosophila melanogaster as a model organism to investigate t…

Background Biktarvy, a second-generation integrase strand-transfer inhibitor, is approved for treating human immunodeficiency virus (HIV) in patients with no known resistance to its components. This study compared adverse events (AEs) associated with biktarvy based on data from the United States Food and Drug Administration Adverse Event Reporting System (FAERS) database and real-world evidence f…

Background Cardiovascular diseases remain an urgent global health concern addressed by multiple clinical guidelines. Atherothrombosis is characterised by thrombus formation following disruption of atherosclerotic plaque, leading to major adverse cardiovascular events, such as myocardial infarction and stroke. Platelet hyperactivity is a key driver of these outcomes, leading causes of morbidity an…

Background Chronic Hepatitis B (CHB) is a major global health concern. This study aimed to evaluate whether myxovirus resistance 2 (MX2) and sterile alpha motif domain containing 4A (SAMD4A) mRNA levels in peripheral blood mononuclear cells (PBMCs) can predict early treatment responses to pegylated interferon-alpha (Peg-IFN-α) in hepatitis B e antigen (HBeAg)-positive CHB patients. Methods This p…

Introduction Artificial cerebrospinal fluid (ACSF) is critical for maintaining neuronal function during surgical procedures, yet its specific neuroprotective advantages over commonly used irrigation solutions like physiological saline and phosphate-buffered saline (PBS) remain unclear. Methods This study compared the neuronal preservation properties of ACSF, saline, and PBS using HT22 mouse hippo…

Objectives To evaluate the safety and efficacy of high-dose dual therapy (HDDT) for Helicobacter pylori ( H. pylori) eradication in patients with varying degrees of metabolic associated fatty liver disease (MAFLD) Methods A total of 91 patients diagnosed with MAFLD complicated by H. pylori infection at the Department of Gastroenterology, Beijing Jishuitan Hospital, Capital Medical University, fro…

OCT1 is a hepatic membrane uptake transporter of clinical importance in drug metabolism and pharmacokinetics. OCT1 exhibits broad substrate specificity, mediating uptake of diverse compounds, including the neurotransmitter serotonin and the antidiabetic drug metformin. Numerous compounds have been reported as OCT1 substrates using in vitro model cell lines overexpressing the transporter and compu…

Background The natural compound morusin (Mor) acts as a potent tumor suppressor in non-small cell lung cancer (NSCLC), but its potential to sensitize DDP and its direct targets are less understood. This work aims to investigate the DDP-sensitizing effects of Mor and the underlying mechanisms. Methods Cell viability and drug synergy were assessed in NSCLC cells. Ferroptosis was evaluated by measur…

Alzheimer’s disease (AD) is the most common cause of dementia. Pleiotrophin (PTN) is a neurotrophic factor relevant for central nervous system repair, neuron differentiation and survival. It is upregulated in different neuroinflammatory conditions. PTN is an endogenous inhibitor of Receptor Protein Tyrosine Phosphatase (RPTP) β/ζ. In a previous study, we showed that a short treatment with the RPT…

Background/Objectives We have previously demonstrated that the natural alkaloid Cepharanthine (Ceph) reduces renal injury in streptozotocin (STZ)-induced insulin-deficient diabetic rats via antioxidant and anti-inflammatory mechanisms. However, the hypoglycemic mechanism of Ceph remains unclear. We hypothesize that Ceph reduces blood glucose in STZ-induced insulin-deficient diabetic rats via rest…

Introduction Among adults, there is a constant increase in the incidence of non-alcoholic fatty liver disease (NAFLD). The significant limitations of available pharmacological therapies for this condition have led to intensive research into natural bioactive compounds with hepatoprotective properties. Therefore, this study focused on evaluating the effects of astaxanthin and kokum supplementation…

Background Postoperative depression is a common complication following non-small cell lung cancer (NSCLC) resection, which adversely affects quality of life and may impede long-term survival. Modified Sini Powder (MSNP), a modified traditional Chinese medicine formula derived from classical Sini Powder, has been used in clinical practice to alleviate depressive symptoms. However, comprehensive ev…

Gastric cardia cancer is a biologically heterogeneous malignancy arising at the gastroesophageal junction that is, the upper opening of the stomach rather than the heart. It develops along an inflammation-metaplasia-dysplasia-carcinoma sequence and remains clinically challenging because early lesions are often occult and advanced disease is shaped by a treatment-resistant tumor microenvironment. …

Background Current clinical guidelines recommend either muscarinic receptor antagonists or β3-adrenoceptor agonists for overactive bladder (OAB) treatment. These recommendations, however, are primarily based on short-term (12-week) clinical trials, leaving a critical gap in evidence regarding their long-term (≥1 year) efficacy and safety. Moreover, the long-term evidence synthesized here is limit…

Background Metabolic bone diseases (MBDs) are a group of conditions characterized by imbalanced bone remodeling, including osteoporosis, osteomalacia, and rickets. In recent years, drug-induced secondary MBDs have emerged as a major clinical concern. However, systematic drug risk assessment studies based on large-scale real-world data remain scarce. Methods Based on the U.S. Food and Drug Adminis…

Objective To characterize the distribution of voriconazole (VRC) trough concentrations ( C trough ), identify factors associated with VRC exposure in HIV-infected patients complicated by invasive fungal disease (IFD), and determine the C trough threshold associated with an increased risk of adverse drug reactions (ADRs). Methods A retrospective study was conducted at the First Hospital of Changsh…

Metformin is a widely used drug with a relatively good efficacy in diabetes treatment, a good safety profile, and the potential for use in other indications. The variability in the individual responses to metformin therapy is partially determined by genetic factors. This narrative review aimed to summarize information on single nucleotide variant (SNVs) in genes for transporter proteins associate…

Introduction Italy represents one of major hubs for clinical research in Europe, nevertheless comprehensive long-term analyses of its clinical trial landscape under evolving regulatory frameworks remain limited. This study examines the trends of clinical trials submitted to the Italian Medicines Agency (AIFA) over a 10-year period, evaluating the impact of the COVID-19 pandemic, the transition to…