A Computational Approach for Pathway-Based Systemic Drug Influence

Drug repositioning is a well-known method used to reduce the time, cost, and development risks involved in bringing a new drug to the market. The rapid expansion of high-throughput datasets has enabled computational research that can suggest new potential uses for existing drugs. Some computational methods allow the prediction of potential drug targets of a given disease from a systematic network. Despite numerous efforts, the path of many drugs’ efficacy in the human body remains unclear. Therefore, the present study attempted to understand drug efficacy by systematically focusing on functional gene sets. The purpose of this study was to carry out modeling to identify systemic gene networks (called drug paths) in drug-specific pathways. In our results, we found five different paths for five different drugs.

Choosing between cocaine and sucrose under the influence: testing the effect of cocaine tolerance

Cocaine use not only depends on the reinforcing properties of the drug, but also on its intoxicating effects on alternative nondrug activities. In animal models investigating choice between cocaine and alternative sweet rewards, the latter influence can have a dramatic impact on choice outcomes. When cocaine intoxication at the moment of choice is prevented by imposing sufficiently long intervals between choice trials, animals typically prefer the sweet reward. However, when choosing under the drug influence is permitted, animals shift their preference in favor of cocaine. We previously hypothesized that this preference shift is mainly due to a direct suppression of responding for sweet reward by cocaine intoxication. Here we tested this hypothesis by making rats tolerant to this drug-induced behavioral suppression. Contrary to our expectation, tolerance did not prevent rats from shifting their preference to cocaine when choosing under the influence. Thus, other mechanisms must be invoked to explain the influence of cocaine intoxication on choice outcomes.

The Causes of Kidnapping and its Implications on Nigeria

The incessant incidences of kidnapping in Nigeria have grown into a severe National threat to its society and is ravaging the country’s socioeconomic wellbeing. The study aims to explore the national security and socioeconomic implications of this menace. The study applied the functionalism theoretical assumptions and employed Qualitative Document Analysis (QDA) based on the previous studies review conducted on kidnapping such as current literature, media reports, and newspaper to figure out the gap and come up with new findings on the causes of this menace. The study found that the government's reluctance to address such challenges is the force igniting heinous crimes in the country. It is due to the negligence of the Nigerian government to address the root-causes of the phenomenon such as; youth unemployment, quick-money syndrome, hard-drug influence, and others. The study suggests some measures such as public awareness programs, a synergic approach between the security forces and community police, appropriate sanctions, phone sim-card registration, quit ransom payment, and job creation.

Analysis of TGCA data reveals genetic and epigenetic changes and biological function of MUC family genes in colorectal cancer

Aim: Few studies focused on functions and regulatory networks of MUC family members in colorectal cancer based on comprehensive analysis of online database. Materials & methods: Copy number variation, methylation, pathway analysis and drug influence on MUC expression were analyzed based on The Cancer Genome Atlas and GTEx database. Results: Copy number variation analysis showed MUC heterozygous amplification and heterozygous deletion predominate. Methylation of MUC17, MUC12 and MUC4 were found related to gene expression. Function of MUC family genes mainly affects pathways such as apoptosis, cell cycle, DNA damage and EMT pathways. PLX4720, dabrafenib, gefitinib, afatinib and austocystin D can alter the expression of MUC gene. Conclusion: The genetic and epigenetic changes of MUC are related to the level of MUC expression in colorectal cancer.

Esophageal Cancer: Should Gender Be Considered as an Influential Factor for Patient Safety in Drug Treatment?

Aim. Analyze the gender difference of esophageal cancer patients in response to drug treatment. Methods. All publications on clinical trials were collected from PubMed, Scopus, and PMC. Each publication was examined to determine whether the publication is a clinical trial and whether data on gender difference were reported. Results. Selected from a total of 191 publications, data from 7 trials with a total of 2041 patients were evaluated for gender differences. These clinical trials involve different drugs and disease phenotype. A significant difference was obtained between male and female groups from Student’s t-test. There is no conclusive result on age, ethnicity, tumor size, and drug influence. Conclusions. Gender difference in response to treatment potentially most likely exists in esophageal cancer patients, regardless of age, race, and drugs.

Usage of ursodeoxycholic acid in cardiology (literature review and own data)

Ursodeoxycholic acid (UDCA) influences bile formation and excretion. Apart from that, UDCA has some pleiotropic effects, which can be a basis for usage of this drug for treatment of cardiovascular diseases. We held a scientific literature review in РubМed database and domestic literature sources according to key words “ursodeoxуcholic acid”, “chenodeoxуcholic acid”, “enterohepatic circulation”, “bile acids”. It was revealed that UDCA has a wide spectrum of action because of its cytoprotective, anti-apoptotic, anti-inflammatory, anti-oxidative and immune-modulating effects, which are of particular importance in cardiology. Some authors propose to use UDCA in patients with ischemic heart disease, especially in case of comorbid metabolic syndrome and nonalcoholic steatohepatitis. We determined the level of leptin in the blood by immunoenzyme method in 43 patients with arterial hypertension before and after a month of outpatient treatment by atorvastatin or ursodeoxycholic. It was shown that both drugs led to significant decrease of blood serum atherogenic influence due to decrease of total cholesterol and cholesterol of low-density lipoproteins (more expressed in the statin group) and due to decrease of previously increased leptin level (more expressed in the UDCA group). Investigation of drug influence on adipocytokinessynthesis in patients with cardiovascular diseases is perspective in terms of its correction possibilities.

On the Correction of a Mental State in the Non-Drug Way at Multiple Sclerosis

In this work the generalized results of clinical psychological assessment of 56 patients with multiple sclerosis in dynamics of non-drug influence by technique of formation and activation the artificial stable functional connections of a brain presented. Positive effects from activation, gnostic, emotional and personal components of a mental state, and also feature of psychological reorganizations at patients with multiple sclerosis during 10 sessions of activation by photostimulation of the set frequency are revealed.

Evaluation of Drug Addicts Rate with Environmental Components Study in Terengganu, Malaysia

The evolution of drug addict’s rate is significantly increase in Malaysia and it's became a chronic problem among the society. The number of drug addiction cases in Malaysia is contributed by the number of drug addicts involving all the states including Terengganu. The aim of this study is to evaluation the rate of drug addicts according to several environmental components which affects the increment of drug addiction in Terengganu. In this study, the Descriptive Statistics Analysis using XLSTAT has been use to describe the result. The results indicate there are five factors that involve with drug influence including peer influence, curiosity, depression, fun and enduring pain or body defense and the major factors influencing the involvement of drug addicts into this problem is peer influence. Therefore, the stakeholder involved could put an effort to reduce the drug addicts’ rate through proving an effective plan. This study suggested all parties need to know the tremendous drug problem not only in Terengganu but also in Malaysia. This is so that the problem of drug can be reduced and make Malaysia a nation free from drug debris that can endanger everyone.