Medicine and Pharmacy Reports最新文献

COVID-19 pandemic has taught many lessons regarding drug discovery and development. This review covers these aspects of drug discovery and research for COVID-19 which might be used as a tool for future. It summarizes the positives such as progresses in antiviral drug discovery, drug repurposing, adaptations of clinical trial and its regulations, as well as the negative points such as the need to develop more collaboration among stakeholders and future directions. It also discusses the benefits and limitations of finding new indications for existing drugs, and the lessons learned regarding rigorous and robust clinical trials, pharmacokinetic/pharmacodynamic modelling, as well as combination therapy. The pandemic has also revealed some gaps regarding global collaboration and coordination, data sharing and transparency and equitable distribution. Finally, the review enumerates the future directions and implications of drug discovery and research for COVID-19 and other infectious diseases such as preparedness and resilience, interdisciplinary and integrative approaches, diversity and inclusion, and personalized and precision medicine.

Background and aims: Psychiatrists are often the first to be consulted in patients with anti-N-methyl-D-aspartate receptor (anti-NMDAR) encephalitis. Thus, they need to be aware of clinical features, differential diagnoses, and treatment options for this condition. In this study, we aimed to investigate the familiarity of Romanian psychiatrists with anti-NMDAR encephalitis.

Methods: We recruited psychiatrists from Romania and conducted a cross-sectional observational study by using a web-based survey.

Results: The survey was completed by 111 psychiatrists, of whom 47 (42.34%) were specialists, while 64 (57.66%) were trainees. The median length of training for specialists was ten years (interquartile range - IQR 9.5), while for trainees it was 2.5 years (IQR 3). In total, 31 (27.93%) psychiatrists encountered a case of anti-NMDAR encephalitis, with no significant difference between specialists and trainees. 31 (27.93%) psychiatrists were either unaware of the disorder or only knew its name, while 77 (69.37%) had knowledge of an outline of it. Only 3 (2.7%) psychiatrists had comprehensive knowledge of the disorder. Respondents with a higher awareness level had undergone significantly longer training (p=0.014). Unsurprisingly, having encountered a case significantly influenced awareness levels (p<0.001). There were no significant differences between specialists and trainees regarding specific knowledge about anti-NMDAR encephalitis. However, higher awareness levels and having encountered a case significantly influenced answer accuracy for questions regarding psychiatric presentation and epidemiological features.

Conclusions: Our study indicates that Romanian psychiatrists have suboptimal knowledge of anti-NMDAR encephalitis, highlighting the need for improved awareness of this disorder.

Background and aims: High fat diet (HFD) can lead to liver injury, through oxidative stress and inflammation. The use of natural compounds with antioxidant and anti-inflammatory properties can have a protective potential. We aimed to investigate the effects of Cornus mas (CM) and gold nanoparticles phytoreduced with CM (GNPsCM) on hepatic alterations induced by HFD in rats.

Methods: Female Sprague Dawley rats were randomly divided into four groups: control, HFD, HFD +CM and HFD + GNPsCM. The high fat diet was administered for 32 weeks and CM and GNPsCM were administered for 4 weeks after the HFD period. The high fat diet induced oxidative stress in liver, with lipid peroxidation and decreased antioxidant capacity, inflammation and minimal histological alterations.

Results: The administration of CM and GNPsCM reduced lipid peroxidation produced by HFD and increased antioxidant potential in liver homogenates, while increasing inflammatory markers. Histological alterations were slightly improved by the intervention of compounds, and hyaluronic acid content of the liver without statistical significance as compared to HFD group.

Conclusion: These findings support the potential of these treatments in addressing liver oxidative stress, mitigating liver damage induced by a high-fat diet. This investigation sheds light on the oxidative stress dynamics and histological alterations associated with high-fat diet-induced liver injury, contributing to our understanding of potential therapeutic interventions.

Introduction: Celiac disease (CD) is a chronic autoimmune disorder triggered by gluten ingestion in genetically predisposed individuals, presenting with a diverse range of symptoms that extend beyond the gastrointestinal tract. The condition's systemic nature is evidenced by its extra-digestive manifestations, which can affect various organs including the skin, joints, liver, and nervous system.

Methods: This descriptive, retrospective study was conducted at a tertiary care center, focusing on adult patients diagnosed with CD who exhibited extra-digestive symptoms. Data were extracted from medical records of patients admitted between January 1, 2010 and June 30, 2024. Variables included demographic information, primary diagnosis, and associated extra-digestive manifestations. Descriptive statistical methods were employed for data analysis.

Results: The sample included 108 patients with CD, the mean age was 43.21 years, with a predominance of females (76.85%). Iron deficiency anemia was the most common extra-digestive manifestation, affecting 20.37% of patients, followed by hypoproteinemia (18.52%) and Hashimoto's thyroiditis (14.81%). Co-occurrence analysis revealed frequent combinations of conditions, such as anemia with cardiovascular diseases and depressive disorders. Notable associations with neurological conditions like gluten ataxia and peripheral neuropathy were also observed.

Conclusion: This study highlights the extensive extra-digestive manifestations of celiac disease, underscoring its systemic impact. The high prevalence of autoimmune conditions such as Hashimoto's thyroiditis and rheumatoid polyarthritis among CD patients reflects the need for holistic management strategies. Discrepancies between our findings and existing literature, particularly regarding skin and neurological conditions, emphasize the need for further research to better understand these associations and the long-term effects of a gluten-free diet.

Background and aims: This study explores the impact of emotional health on cancer patients, acknowledging the controversies and lack of high-quality data in the field, particularly for rare cancers and younger patients. It highlights the significant prevalence of depression and anxiety among cancer patients, the inadequacies in addressing mental health during and after treatment, and the inconsistencies in prevalence rates due to varying study methodologies. This study unravels the importance of data regarding mental health status in a clinical dataset to accompany the biological sample to be included in a biobank.

Methods: The study utilized a questionnaire to evaluate the opinions of cancer patients, clinicians, and researchers regarding the inclusion of mental health data in clinical datasets accompanying biological samples in biobanks. The study involved 120 participants (40 from each group), and the data were analyzed using statistical methods.

Results: The study found significant differences in the perceived importance of including mental health information among the three groups. Patients showed a higher tendency (87.9%) to consider mental health questions relevant compared to researchers (72.08%) and clinicians (62.08%). The first four questions regarding emotional well-being received the highest positive responses, particularly from patients (94.3%). The findings underline the importance of addressing the mental health of cancer patients, which is often overlooked. The study emphasizes the necessity for integrating mental health data in biobanks and increasing psychological support for cancer patients.

Conclusions: There are clear differences in how patients, researchers, and clinicians value emotional and psychological aspects. The study underscores the need for better education on modern medical practices and the benefits of comprehensive patient care, including mental health considerations.

Background and aim: Infections caused by pathogenic bacteria increase patient morbidity and mortality and significantly raise treatment costs. The use of silver nanoparticles as an alternative treatment for S aureus, E coli, MRSA, E faecalis, K pneumoniae and P aeruginosa indicates their antibacterial effect and prompts medical research to consider the next generation of antibacterial drugs that could change antibiotic therapy. By combining silver nanoparticles with different classes of antibiotics, the antibacterial effect is evidenced by increased values of the inhibition zone compared to the values obtained for some antibiotics commonly used in the treatment of bacterial infections. This study focuses on comparing the antibacterial activity of antibiotics versus antibiotics combined with silver nanoparticles against various bacteria, by comparing inhibition zones obtained for both. We aim to prove that the size of the inhibition zone for antibiotics combined with silver nanoparticles is greater, thus confirming the improved antibacterial effect.

Metods: In this study we tested the antibacterial activity of solutions of silver nanoparticles alone or in combination with different antibiotics. We used standard bacterial strains, ATCC, both Gram positive bacteria Staphylococcus aureus ATCC 29213, Enterococcus faecalis ATCC 29212, as well as Gram negative bacteria Escherichia coli ATCC 25922, Pseudomonas aeruginosa ATCC 27853, but also on clinical isolates: a strain MRSA (Methicillin Resistant Staphylococcus aureus) and a PDR strain (pan drug resistant) of Klebsiella pneumoniae. Bacterial identification was performed using Vitek MS analyzer (bioMerieux). Antibiotic susceptibility determination was performed with VITEK2 COMPACT SYSTEM (bio Merieux, Inc Durham NC) with ready to use VITEK AST cards. The interpretation of the results was done in compliance with EUCAST 2023-2024 standards. Testing was performed for several classes of antibiotics, silver nanoparticle solutions in 2 concentrations (10 μg/mL and 100 μg/mL) and for combinations of antibiotics with silver nanoparticle solutions. The diameter of the inhibition zone (ZOI) for silver nanoparticles, antibiotics and silver nanoparticles combined with antibiotic against each bacterium was expressed in millimeters. The Kirby-Bauer disk-diffusion method, in accordance with current EUCAST standards, was used to analyze the antibacterial effect of antibiotics, silver nanoparticles, and antibiotics combined with silver nanoparticles at biocompatible doses of 10 and 100 μg/mL. The experiments were conducted in triplicate, and the results were almost identical.

Results: The results of this study show that the silver nanoparticles displayed antibacterial activity, proven by the appearance of the inhibition zone, in various sizes, for all bacteria studied. The antibiotic classes tested