Activator protein-1 (AP-1) is a transcription factor implicated in tumor progression but remains difficult to inhibit pharmacologically due to its extended protein–DNA interface. Structure-guided docking of a curated peptide library against the AP-1 complex (PDB: 1FOS) prioritized the soybean-derived decapeptide SKWQHQQDSC as the top-ranked candidate in the docking workflow...
The therapeutic potential of sulfurous mineral water (SMW) has been recognized since ancient times. Interest in SMW has grown in recent years, particularly regarding its contribution to human health as part of the daily diet. This study aimed to analyze and compare the anti-inflammatory potential of SMW, sulforaphane (SFN), alliin (ALL), and taurine (TAU) in an in vitro model of...
Sodium taurocholate, a major component of bile salts, plays an important role in pharmaceutical and biochemical applications. This study aimed to develop and validate a high-performance liquid chromatography (HPLC) method for accurately determining sodium taurocholate in bovine bile extracts. Chromatographic separation was carried out using a Shodex C18-4E column (250 mm × 4.6 mm...
Background: Nanotechnology has introduced several clinically validated drug-delivery platforms that have improved pharmacokinetic profiles and reduced selected toxicities in specific cancer indications. Materials and methods: This review was conducted by searching search engines such as Google Scholar, PubMed, and ScienceDirect using several keywords, such as “nanomedicine...
Objectives: Endometriosis is a multifactorial inflammatory disorder characterized by the coexistence of localized inflammatory activation and systemic immune dysregulation. Single biomarkers are unlikely to capture this biological complexity, underscoring the need for integrated immune profiling across different biological compartments. This pilot study evaluated IL-1β and IFN-γ...
High-flow nasal oxygenation (HFNO) may improve the safety of low-dose procedural sedation in high-risk patients, but data in anemia are limited. This prospective single-center study included 166 anemic adults undergoing elective gastrointestinal endoscopy under low-dose propofol-based intravenous anesthesia with HFNO. The mean age was 70.79 ± 11.92 years, the mean hemoglobin was...
Plasmids serve as antigen vector carriers in live bacterial vaccines but face stability issues that can undermine their effectiveness. This study aimed to evaluate the effect of temperature and incubation time on the stability of a plasmid-based bacterial vaccine expressing the SARS-CoV-2 spike protein antigen. Plasmid stability was assessed based on the number of colonies formed...
Clinical pharmacists enhance safe and high-quality patient care through effective interprofessional collaboration. This study aimed to evaluate pharmacotherapy counseling services provided by clinical pharmacists, assess physician acceptance of recommendations, and determine their impact on patients and the healthcare system. A retrospective observational study was conducted at...
Metoclopramide hydrochloride (Met.HCl) has a short biological half-life and low oral bioavailability, which may limit its therapeutic efficacy. To address this, a novel gastroretentive floatable drug delivery system was developed with the aim of increasing stomach residence time and enabling prolonged drug release. Various formulations were prepared by mixing Met.HCl with...
Electrospinning technology could be a promising approach for fabricating nanofibrous wound dressings that would facilitate the controlled delivery of biologically active agents. This study involved the preparation of quercetin-loaded poly(ε-caprolactone) (PCL)/chitosan (CH) electrospun nanofibers with different quercetin contents, namely 1–10 wt.% quercetin. Characterization of...
Chronic spontaneous urticaria (CSU) is a dermatological condition associated with substantial burden and impaired quality of life. This cross-sectional observational study evaluated disease severity and control among patients with CSU receiving different therapeutic regimens. A total of 101 patients were included, with a mean age of 31.9 years. Patients were allocated to...
Background: Mental disorders are a serious challenge to public health. In recent years, the epidemiological burden of anxiety disorders in a global and European context has increased significantly (WHO 2022). The aim of the study is to measure drug utilization and assess rational drug use in the treatment of patients with anxiety disorders in Bulgaria through quantitative and...
The role of pharmacists has evolved beyond traditional dispensing to encompass clinical and patient-centered activities, including medicine optimization, health promotion, and independent prescribing. Community pharmacists, often the first point of contact for healthcare advice, are well positioned to support healthcare systems through the development of prescribing roles. This...
This study investigates the synergistic potential of combining the repurposed autophagy inhibitor tioconazole with the HIF-1α inhibitor PX-478 or the proteasome inhibitor bortezomib in hypoxic MCF-7 cells. Hydralazine was used to induce cellular hypoxia chemically. An MTT assay was used to assess cell viability. Synergism was examined using the SynergyFinder web-based software...
The pharmacological therapy of neonates is extremely complicated due to the immature organ systems of the body, high water content, and low number of clinical studies in children of this age. Conventional dosing strategies, usually based on weight or age, are often inaccurate and may result in either underexposure or toxicity. A structured literature search was performed in...
Background: Recurrence after curative-intent surgery remains a major clinical challenge in non-small cell lung cancer (NSCLC). Conventional radiologic follow-up detects relapse only once macroscopic disease becomes evident, missing the minimal residual disease (MRD) window. Circulating tumor DNA (ctDNA), a tumor-derived fraction of total circulating cell-free DNA (cfDNA), has...
Justicidin B (JB) is a biologically active arylnaphthalene lignan with significant therapeutic potential. However, its clinical application is limited by poor solubility and stability. In this study, cinnamyl-functionalized polyglycidol–poly(ε-caprolactone) (PG–PCL) polymeric micelles are developed and evaluated as nanocarriers for JB delivery. Both modified and non-modified...
The aim of the present study was to evaluate the potential of Paenibacillus nuruki AASFL403 extract (PBE) to extend the lifespan of Saccharomyces cerevisiae (Sc). The chronological lifespan assay was performed on three Sc strains with different genetic characteristics. Continuous or acute (30 min) treatment with PBE was performed with concentrations in the range of 0.1–2 mg/mL...
A rapid analytical method based on ladder-shape melting temperature isothermal amplification (LMTIA) and proofreading enzyme-mediated probe cleavage (Proofman) was developed to simultaneously identify Dendrobium fimbriatum and Dendrobium chrysotoxum. Detection was achieved by the duplex Proofman-LMTIA method within 20 min at 64 °C using specific primers targeting their internal...
Isocitrate lyase (ICL), a key enzyme of the glyoxylate shunt in Mycobacterium tuberculosis, is considered a potential therapeutic target for drug-resistant and persistent tuberculosis. Conventional antitubercular drugs show limited activity against bacteria persisting within granulomas, highlighting the need for new treatment strategies. This review summarizes studies published...
Digitalization and eHealth literacy are closely interconnected, as digital transformation in healthcare changes the way people access, understand, evaluate, and use online health information. In recent years, a validated instrument has been widely used to assess and measure these changes: the eHealth Literacy Scale (eHEALS). The aim of this study was to culturally and...
This study aims to assess the ameliorative effects of thymoquinone on thermal nociception and diabetes-related cerebral cortex damage. Twenty-four adult rats were randomly assigned to four groups: control, untreated diabetic, and diabetic groups administered thymoquinone (TQ) at 25 mg/kg and 50 mg/kg daily for 6 weeks. Malondialdehyde (MDA) was quantified, and tail immersion and...
The effectiveness and therapeutic potency of most biologically active organic compounds (drugs), including peptides, are determined to some extent by their hydrolytic stability. The selection of a pharmacologically active structural motif is essential in the development of new therapeutics. It determines, to a large extent, both the hydrolytic stability of the new molecule and...
Neurodegenerative and neuropsychiatric disorders continue to pose significant public health challenges due to their progressive course, high prevalence, and substantial socioeconomic impact. Conventional therapies are often limited by pharmacoresistance, side effects, and suboptimal efficacy, emphasizing the need for complementary and integrative approaches. Emerging research...
Alzheimer’s disease (AD) represents the most prevalent form of dementia, with acetylcholinesterase (AChE) and butyrylcholinesterase (BChE) inhibitors constituting first-line symptomatic treatment. This study evaluates the inhibitory potential of ten naturally occurring flavonoids—apigenin, chrysin, fisetin, galangin, isorhamnetin, kaempferol, luteolin, myricetin, naringenin, and...