scholarly journals Immunomodulation by helmintos: Possible use as therapy for autoimmune diseases

2021 ◽  
Vol 6 (2) ◽  
pp. 97-99
Author(s):  
Juan Farak Gomez
Keyword(s):  
Clinical Trials ◽  
Animal Models ◽  
Autoimmune Diseases ◽  
Parasite Load ◽  
Allergic Diseases ◽  
Developed Countries ◽  
Parasitic Infections ◽  
Therapeutic Effects ◽  
Beneficial Effects ◽  
Documentary Analysis

Context: The incidence of autoimmune diseases and allergies has increased markedly in the last half of the 20th century, especially in more developed countries, with an increase in urbanization and hygiene that has led to the elimination of many parasitic infections. Objective: To analyze through scientific bibliographic sources the effects of the parasite load, especially helminthiasis, on the appearance of autoimmune and allergic diseases. Methodology: The documentary analysis of different scientific sources that refer to the theory of immunomodulation by helminths was used. Results: They suggest that the treatment of autoimmune diseases with helminths or products derived from them can have protective and therapeutic effects in these patients. Conclusions: It could be concluded that the immunodulation mechanisms carried out by helminths prevent patients from eliminating the parasites, but have beneficial effects on the course of some autoimmune diseases. Although the causal relationship is not fully proven, studies in animal models and clinical trials carried out in patients with autoimmune diseases suggest that their treatment with helminths or products derived from them may have protective and therapeutic effects in these patients.

From mesenchymal stem cells and stromal cells - from bench to bedside

2019 ◽  
Vol 1 (1) ◽  
pp. 36-39
Author(s):  
Bernd Giebel ◽  
Verena Börger ◽  
Mario Gimona ◽  
Eva Rohde
Keyword(s):  
Stem Cells ◽  
Clinical Trials ◽  
Mesenchymal Stem Cells ◽  
Stromal Cells ◽  
Therapeutic Agent ◽  
Therapeutic Potential ◽  
Therapeutic Effects ◽  
Cell Replacement ◽  
Beneficial Effects ◽  
Promising Tool

Human mesenchymal stem/stromal cells (MSCs) represent a promising tool in regenerative medicine. Until now, almost one thousand NIH-registered clinical trials investigated their immunomodulatory and pro-regenerative therapeutic potential in various diseases. Despite controversial reports regarding the efficacy of MSC-treatments, MSCs appear to exert their beneficial effects in a paracrine manner rather than by cell replacement. In this context, extracellular vesicles (EVs), such as exosomes and microvesicles, seem to induce the MSCs’ therapeutic effects. Here, we briefly illustrate the potential of MSC-EVs as therapeutic agent of the future.

scholarly journals Trehalose for Ocular Surface Health

Biomolecules ◽  
2020 ◽  
Vol 10 (5) ◽  
pp. 809
Author(s):  
Jarmo Laihia ◽  
Kai Kaarniranta
Keyword(s):  
Oxidative Stress ◽  
Clinical Trials ◽  
Animal Models ◽  
Dry Eye ◽  
Ocular Surface ◽  
Stress Protein ◽  
Life Forms ◽  
Beneficial Effects ◽  
Protein Clearance ◽  
Ocular Surface Health

Trehalose is a natural disaccharide synthesized in various life forms, but not found in vertebrates. An increasing body of evidence demonstrates exceptional bioprotective characteristics of trehalose. This review discusses the scientific findings on potential functions of trehalose in oxidative stress, protein clearance, and inflammation, with an emphasis on animal models and clinical trials in ophthalmology. The main objective is to help understand the beneficial effects of trehalose in clinical trials and practice, especially in patients suffering from ocular surface disease. The discussion is supplemented with an overview of patents for the use of trehalose in dry eye and with prospects for the 2020s.

scholarly journals Clot-Derived Contaminants in Transplanted Bone Marrow Mononuclear Cells Impair the Therapeutic Effect in Stroke

Stroke ◽  
2019 ◽  
Vol 50 (10) ◽  
pp. 2883-2891 ◽  
Author(s):  
Yuka Okinaka ◽  
Akie Kikuchi-Taura ◽  
Yukiko Takeuchi ◽  
Yuko Ogawa ◽  
Johannes Boltze ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Bone Marrow ◽  
Clinical Trials ◽  
Mononuclear Cells ◽  
Blood Clot ◽  
Experimental Stroke ◽  
Bone Marrow Mononuclear Cell ◽  
Therapeutic Effects ◽  
Beneficial Effects ◽  
Preclinical And Clinical Studies ◽  
Possible Cause

Background and Purpose— The beneficial effects of bone marrow mononuclear cell (BM-MNC) transplantation in preclinical experimental stroke have been reliably demonstrated. However, only overall modest effects in clinical trials were observed. We have investigated and reported a cause of the discrepancy between the preclinical and clinical studies. Methods— To investigate the possible cause of low efficacy of BM-MNC transplantation in experimental stroke, we have focused on blood clot formation, which is not uncommon in human bone marrow aspirates. To evaluate the effects of clot-derived contaminants in transplanted BM-MNC on stroke outcome, a murine stroke model was used. Results— We show that BM-MNC separated by an automatic cell isolator (Sepax2), which does not have the ability to remove clots, did not attenuate brain atrophy after stroke. In contrast, manually isolated, clot-free BM-MNC exerted therapeutic effects. Clot-derived contaminants were also transplanted intravenously to poststroke mice. We found that the transplanted contaminants were trapped at the peristroke area, which were associated with microglial/macrophage activation. Conclusions— Clot-derived contaminants in transplanted BM-MNC nullify therapeutic effects in experimental stroke. This may explain neutral results in clinical trials, especially in those using automated stem cell separators that lack the ability to remove clot-derived contaminants. Visual Overview— An online visual overview is available for this article.

scholarly journals Rapamycin and Alzheimer’s disease: Time for a clinical trial?

2019 ◽  
Vol 11 (476) ◽  
pp. eaar4289 ◽  
Author(s):  
Matt Kaeberlein ◽  
Veronica Galvan
Keyword(s):  
Alzheimer’S Disease ◽  
Alzheimer's Disease ◽  
Clinical Trial ◽  
Clinical Trials ◽  
Animal Models ◽  
Mouse Models ◽  
Mtor Inhibitors ◽  
Beneficial Effects

The drug rapamycin has beneficial effects in a number of animal models of neurodegeneration and aging including mouse models of Alzheimer’s disease. Despite its compelling preclinical record, no clinical trials have tested rapamycin or other mTOR inhibitors in patients with Alzheimer’s disease. We argue that such clinical trials should be undertaken.

scholarly journals Oxidative Stress and Diabetic Retinopathy

2007 ◽  
Vol 2007 ◽  
pp. 1-12 ◽  
Author(s):  
Renu A. Kowluru ◽  
Pooi-See Chan
Keyword(s):  
Oxidative Stress ◽  
Clinical Trials ◽  
Animal Studies ◽  
Antioxidant Defense System ◽  
Oxygen Metabolism ◽  
Developed Countries ◽  
Causal Link ◽  
Diabetic Patients ◽  
Metabolic Abnormalities ◽  
Beneficial Effects

Oxygen metabolism is essential for sustaining aerobic life, and normal cellular homeostasis works on a fine balance between the formation and elimination of reactive oxygen species (ROS). Oxidative stress, a cytopathic consequence of excessive production of ROS and the suppression of ROS removal by antioxidant defense system, is implicated in the development of many diseases, including Alzheimer's disease, and diabetes and its complications. Retinopathy, a debilitating microvascular complication of diabetes, is the leading cause of acquired blindness in developed countries. Many diabetes-induced metabolic abnormalities are implicated in its development, and appear to be influenced by elevated oxidative stress; however the exact mechanism of its development remains elusive. Increased superoxide concentration is considered as a causal link between elevated glucose and the other metabolic abnormalities important in the pathogenesis of diabetic complications. Animal studies have shown that antioxidants have beneficial effects on the development of retinopathy, but the results from very limited clinical trials are somewhat ambiguous. Although antioxidants are being used for other chronic diseases, controlled clinical trials are warranted to investigate potential beneficial effects of antioxidants in the development of retinopathy in diabetic patients.

scholarly journals Effects of Propolis Extract and Propolis-Derived Compounds on Obesity and Diabetes: Knowledge from Cellular and Animal Models

Molecules ◽  
2019 ◽  
Vol 24 (23) ◽  
pp. 4394 ◽  
Author(s):  
Kitamura
Keyword(s):  
Animal Models ◽  
Metabolic Diseases ◽  
Living Environment ◽  
Therapeutic Effects ◽  
Alcoholic Fatty Liver ◽  
Propolis Extract ◽  
Beneficial Effects ◽  
Cellular Models ◽  
Molecular Events ◽  
Obesity And Diabetes

Propolis is a natural product resulting from the mixing of bee secretions with botanical exudates. Since propolis is rich in flavonoids and cinnamic acid derivatives, the application of propolis extracts has been tried in therapies against cancer, inflammation, and metabolic diseases. As metabolic diseases develop relatively slowly in patients, the therapeutic effects of propolis in humans should be evaluated over long periods of time. Moreover, several factors such as medical history, genetic inheritance, and living environment should be taken into consideration in human studies. Animal models, especially mice and rats, have some advantages, as genetic and microbiological variables can be controlled. On the other hand, cellular models allow the investigation of detailed molecular events evoked by propolis and derivative compounds. Taking advantage of animal and cellular models, accumulating evidence suggests that propolis extracts have therapeutic effects on obesity by controlling adipogenesis, adipokine secretion, food intake, and energy expenditure. Studies in animal and cellular models have also indicated that propolis modulates oxidative stress, the accumulation of advanced glycation end products (AGEs), and adipose tissue inflammation, all of which contribute to insulin resistance or defects in insulin secretion. Consequently, propolis treatment may mitigate diabetic complications such as nephropathy, retinopathy, foot ulcers, and non-alcoholic fatty liver disease. This review describes the beneficial effects of propolis on metabolic disorders.

scholarly journals Coronavirus Treatments: What Drugs Might Work Against COVID-19?

2020 ◽  
Vol 15 (7) ◽  
pp. 1934578X2094544
Author(s):  
Mohammed Bourhia ◽  
Fatima Ez-Zahra Amrati ◽  
Riaz Ullah ◽  
Ali S. Alqahtani ◽  
Dalila Bousta ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Clinical Trials ◽  
Deep Understanding ◽  
World Health ◽  
Published Data ◽  
Therapeutic Effects ◽  
Beneficial Effects ◽  
Naturally Occurring ◽  
The World ◽  
Containment Measures ◽  
Health Organization

The World Health Organization declared the severe acute respiratory syndrome (SARS)-coronavirus (CoV)-2 virus outbreak as a pandemic on May 27, 2020. Since then, more than 5 488 825 cases across the world have been recorded at the time of revising this article. Governments around the world have imposed serious containment measures, meanwhile, the healthcare system is overburdened due to large increases in COVID-19 cases. However, no specific anti-SARS-CoV-2 virus drugs or vaccines have yet been shown to be effective to fight this causative virus of acute infectious pneumonia. The current review was conducted to look for potential natural and synthesized drugs for the treatment of COVID-19 patients. Previously published data in journals, textbooks, periodicals, websites, and sources, including data about the treatment of human coronavirus with natural and synthesized drugs, were taken from the online bibliographical databases. The results showed that syndic drugs approved for other human diseases have been used to improve the symptoms of patients infected with SARS-CoV-2. Several clinical trials across the world evidenced beneficial effects of natural and synthesized drugs in the treatment of SARS-CoV-2 infections. On the other hand, many studies have provided a deep understanding of the therapeutic effects of conventional and traditional medicine in identifying naturally occurring drugs effective against the SARS-CoV-2 virus. Both natural and synthesized drugs should come together to fight the SARS-CoV-2 virus and other potential emerging dangerous viral diseases since they have shown promising findings in clinical trials conducted with COVID-19 patients.

Curcuminoids and Novel Opportunities for the Treatment of Alzheimer's Disease: Which Molecules are Actually Effective?

2019 ◽  
Vol 12 (1) ◽  
pp. 12-26 ◽  
Author(s):  
Alexander V. Zholos ◽  
Olesia F. Moroz ◽  
Maksim V. Storozhuk
Keyword(s):  
Alzheimer’S Disease ◽  
Alzheimer's Disease ◽  
Clinical Trials ◽  
Animal Models ◽  
Therapeutic Potential ◽  
Relevant Literature ◽  
Preclinical Studies ◽  
In Vitro Experiments ◽  
Beneficial Effects

Background:Millions of people worldwide are suffering from Alzheimer's disease (AD), and there are only symptomatic treatments available for this disease. Thus, there is a great need to identify drugs capable of arresting or reversing AD. Constituents of the spice turmeric, in particular, curcuminoids, seem to be very promising, as evident from in vitro experiments and tests using animal models of AD. However, most of the clinical trials did not reveal any beneficial effects of curcuminoids in the treatment of AD. These controversies, including conflicting results of clinical trials, are thought to be related to bioavailability of curcuminoids, which is low unless it is enhanced by developing a special formulation. However, there is growing evidence suggesting that other reasons may be of even greater importance, but these avenues are less explored.Objective:Review relevant literature, and analyze potential reasons for the controversial results.Methodology:Recent in vitro and preclinical studies; clinical trials (without a limiting period) were searched in PubMed and Google Scholar.Results:While recent in vitro and preclinical studies confirm the therapeutic potential of curcuminoids in the treatment of AD and cognitive dysfunctions, results of corresponding clinical trials remain rather controversial.Conclusion:The controversial results obtained in the clinical trials may be in part due to particularities of the curcuminoid formulations other than bioavailability. Namely, it seems likely that the various formulations differ in terms of their minor turmeric constituent(s). We hypothesize that these distinctions may be of key importance for efficacy of the particular formulation in clinical trials. A testable approach addressing this hypothesis is suggested.

scholarly journals The Curative Role of Bitumen in Traditional Persian Medicine

2018 ◽  
Vol 16 (2) ◽  
pp. 283-292
Author(s):  
Mahdi Shahriari ◽  
Majid Nimrouzi
Keyword(s):  
Wound Healing ◽  
Clinical Trials ◽  
Bone Pain ◽  
Therapeutic Effects ◽  
Beneficial Effects ◽  
Wide Range ◽  
Persian Medicine ◽  
Traditional Persian Medicine ◽  
Effective Remedy

Aim: Bitumen is a natural substance effusing from rocks’ notches in some highland areas; it has been known as an effective remedy for treating some illnesses. Considering pain relieving properties of bitumen in traditional Persian medicine (TPM) sources, this study aims to review the viewpoints of TPM sages regarding bitumen in the context of traditional Persian medicine. It also provides applicable information for interested researchers to conduct well-designed clinical trials and evaluate therapeutic effects of bitumen claimed in TPM sources. Material and method: Various databases including Embase, SID, IRANDOC, IranMedex, Scopus and PubMed were searched with keywords “bitumen” and “Shilajit”. Furthermore, main traditional Persian medicine sources including Avicenna’s “Canon of medicine”, “Continens Liber” by Razes, “The storehouse of medicaments” by Aghili, “Gift for the faithful” by Momen Tonekaboni and “Measure for medicine” written by Muhammad Akbar Shah Arzani were reviewed with Persian keywords “Moomiaii” and “Mumnaei” Results: According to TPM sources, bitumen was used by Iranian’s physicians to treat a wide range of diseases. It was known especially as an effective remedy to improve gastrointestinal digestive problems. Conclusion: Bitumen is cited in traditional Persian medicine sources as an effective remedy for treatment of a wide range of diseases, especially GI disorders and bone pain. Recent studies showed the beneficial effects of bitumen in treatment of wound healing, however using it in medical practice for other health dilemma should be confirmed by conducting well-designed clinical studies in the future.

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