Frontiers in Pharmacology | New and Recent Articles

IntroductionEsketamine, the S-enantiomer of ketamine, is a rapid-acting antidepressant approved for treatment-resistant depression (TRD) when used in combination with an oral antidepressant. Identifying reliable clinical or genetic predictors of treatment response remains a critical unmet need. This study aimed to evaluate the impact of selected clinical and genetic variables on esketamine respon…

ObjectiveThis systematic review and meta-analysis synthesize preclinical evidence to evaluate the therapeutic efficacy of sinomenine in rodent models of rheumatoid arthritis, and integrate current understanding of its potential mechanisms. This study aims to provide preclinical evidence and mechanistic insights to guide the clinical development of sinomenine for rheumatoid arthritis.MethodsThroug…

IntroductionOrthopedic implant-associated infections, predominantly caused by S. aureus, pose significant challenges due to biofilm formation and antibiotic resistance. Bioactive Glass (BAG) S53P4 is a unique material with antimicrobial and bone regenerative properties. We aimed to characterize a novel BAG S53P4 cream, consisting of BAG powder and a binder, for its capacity to kill Staphylococcus…

BackgroundHypertrophic cardiomyopathy (HCM) is one of the most common genetic cardiovascular conditions, which may be linked to ion channel dysfunction. In decades, Genetic studies in HCM patients have shown that multiple gene mutations in potassium and calcium ion channels, which may contribute to HCM progression. The direct relationship between HCM and ion channels still needs to be clarified.M…

BackgroundThe ubiquitin–proteasome pathway is a critical therapeutic target in malignancies, particularly multiple myeloma. The development of proteasome inhibitors (PIs) has marked a milestone in multiple myeloma therapy and now constitutes the backbone of frontline treatment regimens. However, primary and acquired resistance remain a major challenge, underscoring the need to identify new PIs as…

Children with epilepsy frequently experience a range of significant comorbidities beyond seizures, such as motor dysfunction, cognitive impairment, and neurodevelopmental delays. In some cases, these comorbidities contribute more significantly to overall disease burden than the seizures themselves. To improve quality-of-life (QOL) for these children, treatment options should be selected that cont…

Liver and kidney, as the core metabolic detoxification organs of human body, rely on specific biofilm barrier and metabolic enzyme system to form metabolic barrier respectively. This metabolic barrier is the key defense line to resist the invasion of drugs and environmental poisons. There are significant differences in the structural function and toxic response mechanism of the metabolic barrier …

BackgroundValproic acid (VPA) is widely used in pediatric epilepsy, but its blood concentrations vary considerably among pediatric patients with epilepsy. This study aimed to investigate the factors influencing VPA blood concentrations in this population.MethodsThis study included patients with epilepsy aged 0–18 years who were treated with VPA. Clinical data collected included age, gender, daily…

IntroductionCyclin-dependent kinase 5 (Cdk5) plays a critical role in pain transmission by phosphorylating key nociceptive proteins. One of its recently identified substrates, the P2X2 subunit, is part of the P2X2/3 purinergic receptor (P2X2/3R), which is implicated in nociceptive signaling. However, the specific contribution of Cdk5 to purinergic receptor-mediated pain responses remains unclear.…

Silicosis is an occupational fibrotic lung disease representing a major public health crisis, and places a significant burden on patients and healthcare systems. There are no curative treatments for patients with silicosis, and available anti-fibrotic agents have not been shown to reduce disease progression. Enhanced understanding of the cellular mechanisms governing silicosis is required to esta…

BackgroundRheumatoid arthritis (RA) is an autoimmune disease characterized by chronic inflammation and joint damage. Despite available treatments, many patients fail to achieve adequate disease control, prompting interest in complementary approaches. In traditional Chinese medicine, multi-herbal formulations such as Formulation C (Qushi-Juanbi Granules) are used clinically to treat RA. Among its …

Preeclampsia represents an unmasking of underlying vascular and metabolic vulnerability during the physiologic stress of pregnancy. Current first-trimester screening relies heavily on body mass index which incompletely captures qualitative metabolic dysfunction, particularly in non-obese women. In this narrative perspective, we examine the atherogenic index of plasma (AIP; log10[TG/HDL-C]), which…

ObjectivesSince its inception in 2017, China’s National Drug Price Negotiation (NDPN) has served as a crucial mechanism for the strategic procurement of innovative medicines, with pediatric medicines representing a key and prioritized area. This study aims to systematically analyze the inclusion of pediatric medicines in the National Reimbursement Drug List (NRDL) through negotiation from 2017 to…

BackgroundOvarian cancer (OC) remains the most lethal gynecological malignancy, with platinum sensitivity being a key determinant of treatment outcomes. The KELIM model, derived from CA-125 kinetics, is a promising biomarker for predicting chemosensitivity. Thymidine kinase 1 (TK1), a proliferation marker, has shown relevance in various cancers but its role in chemotherapy response for OC is uncl…

BackgroundGlioblastoma (GBM) remains a lethal brain tumor with limited therapeutic options and near-universal recurrence. Drug repurposing offers a practical strategy, but pleiotropic compounds require systematic target triage to yield actionable and testable vulnerabilities.MethodsWe integrated GBM transcriptomic dysregulation with curated chlorpromazine (CPZ)-associated targets to define drug–d…

IntroductionLung cancer remains the leading cause of cancer-related mortality worldwide. Drug resistance is a major limitation of current therapies, prompting the search for new treatment strategies. Lung tumors frequently develop a hypoxic microenvironment associated with aggressive behavior and unfavorable clinical outcomes. Tumor-initiating cells (TICs), also known as cancer stem cells, and hy…

BackgroundPatients with rheumatoid arthritis (RA) and concomitant fibromyalgia (FM) frequently experience severe, refractory pain, elevated disease activity scores, and substantial psychological distress. Conventional treatments frequently fail to adequately address this complex pain syndrome, and evidence-based traditional Chinese medicine (TCM) interventions for this specific comorbidity remain…

BackgroundCerebral ischemic injury includes ischemic stroke in adults and hypoxic-ischemic encephalopathy (HIE) in newborns. Delphinidin-3-O-glucoside (Dp3G) is a bioactive anthocyanin abundant in vibrantly colored plant-based foods and known for its potent antioxidant properties. Previous studies have shown that Dp3G suppresses oxidative stress and inflammation in atherosclerosis, protects again…