Current pharmaceutical design
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Polycystic ovary syndrome (PCOS) is the most common endocrine disease in women during the reproductive period. True PCOS phenotype is prone to develop metabolic consequences during life. Obese PCOS women with insulin resistance are carrying a risk for developing type 2 diabetes, and influencing liver function by generating liver steatosis and nonalcoholic fatty liver disease (NAFLD). ⋯ Metformin remains the drug of choice for reduction of insulin resistance and liver enzymes level. Liraglutide, glucagon-like peptide-1 receptor agonists, showed favorable effects on the reduction of liver fat content and visceral adipose tissue in overweight women with PCOS. Current review analyzes the impact of metabolic risk factors, diagnostic approach and management options on NAFLD in women with PCOS.
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Review Historical Article
Isolating Colchicine in 19th Century: An Old Drug Revisited.
Colchicine is a tricyclic alkaloid extracted from the herbaceous plant Colchicum autumnale. Known since antiquity for its therapeutic efficacy in the treatment of gout, colchicine was reintroduced in 19th century pharmacopeia, thanks to the work of the French chemists and pharmacists Pierre-Joseph Pelletier (1788-1842) and Joseph Bienaimé Caventou (1795-1877) who in 1819, isolated a peculiar substance in the roots of Colchicum autumnale. ⋯ In the last two centuries, colchicine's indications were furthermore expanded. From anti-gout drug during antiquity and a diuretic in 19th century, colchicine is currently administered in several affections such as Adamantiades-Behcet's disease, familial Mediterranean fever, pericarditis and atrial fibrillation.
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On a tide of big data, machine learning is coming to its day. Referring to huge amounts of epigenetic data coming from biological experiments and clinic, machine learning can help in detecting epigenetic features in genome, finding correlations between phenotypes and modifications in histone or genes, accelerating the screen of lead compounds targeting epigenetics diseases and many other aspects around the study on epigenetics, which consequently realizes the hope of precision medicine. ⋯ In order to make full use of machine learning algorithms, one should get familiar with the pros and cons of them, which will benefit from big data by choosing the most suitable method(s).
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Despite the proven efficacy of anti-thrombotic, lipid-lowering, anti-hypertensive therapies and lifestyle modification changes for secondary ischemic stroke prevention, the risk of recurrent stroke, coronary events and vascular death remains substantial even for patients treated with high rates of established secondary preventive medications. ⋯ Inflammatory pathways seem to be key mediators in the development of atherosclerotic process, atheromatous plaque destabilization and thromboembolism. Colchicine as a novel therapeutic agent could be a safe and effective inhibitor of the inflammation cascade in patients with extra- or intracranial atherosclerosis or arteriolosclerosis, resulting in reduced vascular events.
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Review
Cancer Therapeutics-Related Cardiovascular Complications. Mechanisms, Diagnosis and Treatment.
Chemotherapy regimens have improved prognosis and mortality of patients with malignant diseases. The development of therapies, however, has widened the cardiotoxic spectrum and the cardiacrelated effects of antineoplastic drugs. ⋯ Since the number of long-term survivors following the diagnosis and treatment of malignant disease will continue to increase, cardio-oncology will continue to evolve. Therefore, a better understanding of potential cardiovascular effects of chemotherapeutic regiments and the earlier identification and treatment of high-risk patients would be the focus of research in the future.