scholarly journals Pharmacological treatment of COVID-19: an opinion paper

2021 ◽  
Author(s):  
Alberto García-Lledó ◽  
Javier Gómez-Pavón ◽  
Juan González del Castillo ◽  
Teresa Hernández-Sampelayo ◽  
Mari Cruz Martín-Delgado ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Immune Response ◽  
Pharmacological Treatment ◽  
Current Situation ◽  
Scientific Committee ◽  
New Drugs ◽  
Critical Approach ◽  
New Developments

The precocity and efficacy of the vaccines developed so far against COVID-19 has been the most significant and saving advance against the pandemic. The development of vaccines has not prevented, during the whole period of the pandemic, the constant search for therapeutic medicines, both among existing drugs with different indications and in the development of new drugs. The Scientific Committee of the COVID-19 of the Illustrious College of Physicians of Madrid wanted to offer an early, simplified and critical approach to these new drugs, to new developments in immunotherapy and to what has been learned from the immune response modulators already known and which have proven effective against the virus, in order to help understand the current situation.

scholarly journals ECTRIMS/EAN Guideline on the pharmacological treatment of people with multiple sclerosis

2018 ◽  
Vol 24 (2) ◽  
pp. 96-120 ◽  
Author(s):  
Xavier Montalban ◽  
Ralf Gold ◽  
Alan J Thompson ◽  
Susana Otero-Romero ◽  
Maria Pia Amato ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Multiple Sclerosis ◽  
Pharmacological Treatment ◽  
Complex Disease ◽  
Treatment Decisions ◽  
Current Data ◽  
New Drugs ◽  
Nominal Group ◽  
Disease Modifying Drugs ◽  
Quality Of Evidence

Background: Multiple sclerosis (MS) is a complex disease with new drugs becoming available in the past years. There is a need for a reference tool compiling current data to aid professionals in treatment decisions. Objectives: To develop an evidence-based clinical practice guideline for the pharmacological treatment of people with MS. Methods: This guideline has been developed using the Grading of Recommendations Assessment, Development and Evaluation (GRADE) methodology and following the updated EAN recommendations. Clinical questions were formulated in Patients–Intervention–Comparator–Outcome (PICO) format and outcomes were prioritized. The quality of evidence was rated into four categories according to the risk of bias. The recommendations with assigned strength (strong and weak) were formulated based on the quality of evidence and the risk-benefit balance. Consensus between the panelists was reached by use of the modified nominal group technique. Results: A total of 10 questions were agreed, encompassing treatment efficacy, response criteria, strategies to address suboptimal response and safety concerns and treatment strategies in MS and pregnancy. The guideline takes into account all disease-modifying drugs approved by the European Medicine Agency (EMA) at the time of publication. A total of 21 recommendations were agreed by the guideline working group after three rounds of consensus. Conclusion: The present guideline will enable homogeneity of treatment decisions across Europe.

Host defense in malnutrition

PEDIATRICS ◽  
1977 ◽  
Vol 59 (4) ◽  
pp. 490-495
Author(s):  
Michael Katz ◽  
E. Richard Stiehm
Keyword(s):  
Immune Response ◽  
Model Systems ◽  
Major Surgery ◽  
Nutrient Deficiencies ◽  
Industrialized Countries ◽  
Critical Approach ◽  
Value Judgment ◽  
Nutritional Interventions ◽  
A Value ◽  
Important Health

It has not been possible to relate a particular immune failure or deficiency to absence of a specific nutrient. All of these studies have viewed the totality of malnutrition and, yet, it would seem reasonable to expect that specific nutrient deficiencies would affect the response differently and that the almost infinite number of possible interactions among nutrients may have their particular effect. Furthermore, it has not been possible to evaluate any of these studies in terms of the influences that infections themselves have brought to bear. These considerations have led us to conclude that studies of man cannot be carried out with a precision required for the definitive answers. This is not a defeatist notion, but rather a value judgment that prompts us to recommend a more intensive series of investigations in animal model systems, the conclusions of which could then be applied selectively to clinical studies of man. The important question that must be considered is possible nutritional interventions in severely infected patients, such as those undergoing major surgery or immunosuppressive therapy. Potential dangers of using live attenuated viral vaccines in malnourished populations must be evaluated. It is necessary to assess the possibility that such vaccine viruses unchecked by normal immune response in malnourished individuals may lead to the establishment of states of latency and, ultimately, slow infections. The need for further studies has been given recognition by a workshop conference held in May 1975 under the title "Malnutrition and the Immune Response"; the proceedings are soon to be published in book form.57 The question of the influences of infection upon the state of nutrition has also been considered in a recent workshop, the proceedings of which will also be published.58 We believe that the current critical approach to this important health problem will generate answers long wanting. When these answers do become available, they will guide us into better care not only of the malnourished in the developing world, but also of those in the industrialized countries.

New developments in drugs enhancing the immune response: activation of lymphocytes and accessory cells by muramyl-dipeptides

1979 ◽  
pp. 133-160 ◽  
Author(s):  
R. H. Gisler ◽  
F. M. Dietrich ◽  
G. Baschang ◽  
A. Brownbill ◽  
G. Schumann ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Immune Response ◽  
New Developments ◽  
Accessory Cells ◽  
Response Activation

scholarly journals Genetics of Psoriasis and Pharmacogenetics of Biological Drugs

2013 ◽  
Vol 2013 ◽  
pp. 1-13 ◽  
Author(s):  
Rocío Prieto-Pérez ◽  
Teresa Cabaleiro ◽  
Esteban Daudén ◽  
Dolores Ochoa ◽  
Manuel Roman ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Immune Response ◽  
Genetic Factors ◽  
Current Knowledge ◽  
Twin Studies ◽  
Chronic Inflammatory Disease ◽  
New Drugs ◽  
Biological Drugs ◽  
The Many ◽  
Phase Ii And Iii ◽  
Efficacy Of Treatment

Psoriasis is a chronic inflammatory disease of the skin. The causes of psoriasis are unknown, although family and twin studies have shown genetic factors to play a key role in its development. The many genes associated with psoriasis and the immune response includeTNFα, IL23, andIL12. Advances in knowledge of the pathogenesis of psoriasis have enabled the development of new drugs that target cytokines (e.g., etanercept, adalimumab, and infliximab, which target TNFα, and ustekinumab, which targets the p40 subunit of IL23 and IL12). These drugs have improved the safety and efficacy of treatment in comparison with previous therapies. However, not all patients respond equally to treatment, possibly owing to interindividual genetic variability. In this review, we describe the genes associated with psoriasis and the immune response, the biological drugs used to treat chronic severe plaque psoriasis, new drugs in phase II and III trials, and current knowledge on the implications of pharmacogenomics in predicting response to these treatments.

scholarly journals Preparation, Characterization and Preliminary in vivo Testing of Liposomated Antiidiotypic Antibodies Against Morphine Derivatives

Biomeditsina ◽  
2021 ◽  
Vol 17 (4) ◽  
pp. 8-17
Author(s):  
V. N. Karkischenko ◽  
A. G. Berzina ◽  
T. A. Klimova ◽  
N. B. Gamaleya ◽  
R. A. Ageldinov ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Immune Response ◽  
New Drugs ◽  
High Efficacy ◽  
Artificial Membrane ◽  
Membrane Structures ◽  
Medicinal Substances ◽  
Low Toxicity ◽  
Antiidiotypic Antibodies ◽  
Immunogenic Properties

Artificial membrane structures containing medicinal substances are highly promising for the development of new drugs. Liposomal preparations are actively used in medical practice due to their high efficacy and relatively low toxicity. Our aim was to encapsulate anti-idiotypic antibodies into a liposomal composition with the purpose of improving their immunogenic properties. Following the preparation of a liposomal composition by the dehydration/rehydration method using ultrasonic treatment, the size, zeta potential, and loading efficiency of liposomes were investigated. Preliminary in vivo studies were conducted to evaluate the adjuvant properties of liposomes of varying size. Loaded liposomes of the smallest diameter (about 110 nm) showed the potential of enhancing the immune response similar to that obtained using Freund’s adjuvant. These results justify further research into the properties of liposomes loaded with antibodies.

scholarly journals Comparative Pathogenesis of Asian and African-Lineage Zika Virus in Indian Rhesus Macaque’s and Development of a Non-Human Primate Model Suitable for the Evaluation of New Drugs and Vaccines

2018 ◽  
Author(s):  
Jonathan O. Rayner ◽  
Raj Kalkeri ◽  
Scott Goebel ◽  
Zhaohui Cai ◽  
Brian Green ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Immune Response ◽  
Zika Virus ◽  
Rhesus Macaques ◽  
New Drugs ◽  
Primate Model ◽  
Robust Immune Response ◽  
African Lineage ◽  
Limit Of Quantitation ◽  
Asian Lineage ◽  
Human Primate

The establishment of a well characterized non-human primate model of Zika virus (ZIKV) infection is critical for the development of medical interventions. In this study, challenging Indian rhesus macaques (IRMs) with ZIKV strains of the Asian lineage resulted in dose dependent peak viral loads between days 2 and 5 post infection; and a robust immune response which protected the animals from homologous and heterologous re-challenge. In contrast, viremia in IRMs challenged with an African lineage strain was below the assays lower limit of quantitation and the immune response was insufficient to protect from re-challenge. These results corroborate previous observations but are contrary to reports using other African strains obviating the need for additional studies to elucidate the variables contributing to the disparities. Nonetheless, the utility of an Asian lineage ZIKV IRM model for countermeasures development was verified by vaccinating animals with a formalin inactivated reference vaccine and demonstrating sterilizing immunity against a subsequent subcutaneous challenge.

scholarly journals Anthelmintic Resistance in Equine Nematodes – A Review on the Current Situation, with Emphasis in Europe

2019 ◽  
Vol 76 (2) ◽  
pp. 132
Author(s):  
Pedro Afonso SILVA ◽  
Mihai CERNEA ◽  
Luís MADEIRA de CARVALHO
Keyword(s):  
Broad Spectrum ◽  
Preventive Measures ◽  
Anthelmintic Resistance ◽  
Current Situation ◽  
Diagnostic Methods ◽  
New Drugs ◽  
General Review ◽  
New Methods ◽  
Further Development ◽  
Horse Farm

Since the introduction of the last equine broad-spectrum anthelmintic group in the 1980’s, the investment in new drugs to control horse’s parasites did not result in new advancements. These drugs allowed a very effective and extensive control of equine nematodes through successful interval dosing programs, firstly introduced in the 1960’s. However, the widespread and indiscriminate use of anthelmintics in these intensive treatments have led to increasing resistance in the major equine nematodes. Reports of reduced effectiveness are virtually worldwide and repercussions in livestock production farms have already been seen.Based on recent questionnaires about horse farm practices, preventive measures and international recommendations, it is clear that most of them are still not being widely implemented. It is also clear that these recommendations are outdated and new approaches must be considered to correctly tackle this rapidly evolving issue in horse management, as more accurate diagnostic methods are currently available, such as Mini-FLOTAC. This article intends to do a general review of the history and current situation of anthelmintic resistance in horses, with emphasis in Europe, as well as, how to diagnose and delay or even prevent its further development, mentioning new methods of diagnostic and directions in which to develop research.

Methods of macrophages activation and their modulation for the prospection of new antileishmania drugs: a review

2021 ◽  
Vol 37 ◽  
pp. e37077
Author(s):  
Michel Muálem de Moraes Alves ◽  
Daniel Dias Rufino Arcanjo ◽  
Rita Cássia Viana de Carvalho ◽  
Layane Valéria Amorim ◽  
Ingredy Lopes dos Santos ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Immune Response ◽  
Neglected Tropical Diseases ◽  
New Drugs ◽  
Tropical Diseases ◽  
First Line ◽  
Phagocytic Capacity ◽  
Activity Increase ◽  
Parasitic Zoonoses ◽  
Infected Cells ◽  
Cellular Immune

Leishmaniasis are a group of parasitic zoonoses provoked by protozoa from Leishmania genus and belonging to the group of neglected tropical diseases. The search and development for new drugs is necessary not only to investigate the activity against only the parasite, but also to investigate the possible synergistic effect of new drugs with the immune response of the host. In the present review, macrophages are pointed out as potential targets of the investigation of new antileishmanial drugs, and some methodologies in order to assess their activation as response to Leishmania-infected cells are presented. Macrophages are an important role in the cellular immune response, since they are cells from mononuclear phagocytic system, the first line of defense of the host, against parasites from Leishmania genus. Phagocytic capacity, lysosomal activity, increase of nitric oxide and intracellular calcium levels are parameters regarding assessment of macrophages activation which allow them to be more hostile in order to solve the infection and lead the patient to cure. In this context, we bring 19 substances already investigated and that activate macrophages, what makes them promising in the antileishmanial treatment. Therefore, assessment of macrophages activation, are important tools for discovery of immunomodulatory compounds which have potential to act in synergism with host immune response. Such compounds might be promising as monotherapy in the treatment of leishmaniasis, as well as being used as adjuvants in vaccines and/or in combination with conventional drugs.

scholarly journals The Dialogue of the Host-Parasite Relationship:Leishmaniaspp. andTrypanosoma cruziInfection

2015 ◽  
Vol 2015 ◽  
pp. 1-19 ◽  
Author(s):  
Carlos Gustavo Vieira de Morais ◽  
Ana Karina Castro Lima ◽  
Rodrigo Terra ◽  
Rosiane Freire dos Santos ◽  
Silvia Amaral Gonçalves Da-Silva ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Immune Response ◽  
Trypanosoma Cruzi ◽  
Neglected Tropical Diseases ◽  
New Drugs ◽  
Host Cells ◽  
Protective Response ◽  
Limited Efficacy ◽  
Causative Agents ◽  
Host Parasite ◽  
Emergence Of Resistance

The intracellular protozoaLeishmaniaspp. andTrypanosoma cruziand the causative agents of Leishmaniasis and Chagas disease, respectively, belong to the Trypanosomatidae family. Together, these two neglected tropical diseases affect approximately 25 million people worldwide. Whether the host can control the infection or develops disease depends on the complex interaction between parasite and host. Parasite surface and secreted molecules are involved in triggering specific signaling pathways essential for parasite entry and intracellular survival. The recognition of the parasite antigens by host immune cells generates a specific immune response.Leishmaniaspp. andT. cruzihave a multifaceted repertoire of strategies to evade or subvert the immune system by interfering with a range of signal transduction pathways in host cells, which causes the inhibition of the protective response and contributes to their persistence in the host. The current therapeutic strategies in leishmaniasis and trypanosomiasis are very limited. Efficacy is variable, toxicity is high, and the emergence of resistance is increasingly common. In this review, we discuss the molecular basis of the host-parasite interaction ofLeishmaniaandTrypanosoma cruziinfection and their mechanisms of subverting the immune response and how this knowledge can be used as a tool for the development of new drugs.

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