Archives of Pharmacy

Normal human microbiota and dysbiosis - implications for health and disease

2024-02-22T14:42:02+01:00

The normal human microbiota, formerly called the "microbial flora," consists of bacteria, fungi, viruses, and parasites that colonise the skin and mucous membranes of the respiratory, gastrointestinal, and genitourinary tracts. The number and diversity of microorganisms varies between different body niches and is greatest in the intestinal tract. The microbiota contributes to the homeostasis of the human organism by preventing colonisation by pathogenic microorganisms, participating in digestive processes and metabolism, and regulating immune functions. Various environmental and genetic factors can lead to an imbalance in the human microbiota, called dysbiosis, which can affect human health. Dysbiosis is usually the result of decreased microbial diversity and a lower number of saprophytic microorganisms, followed by an overgrowth of opportunistic species. The most common diseases directly related to intestinal dysbiosis are antibiotic-associated diarrhoea and pseudomembranous colitis, both of which are associated with the excessive growth of harmful bacteria and Clostridioides difficile following broad-spectrum antibiotic therapy. Dysbiosis is associated with various health conditions or diseases such as acne, psoriasis, eczema, chronic obstructive pulmonary disease, inflammatory bowel disease, obesity, metabolic syndrome, type 2 diabetes, autoimmune diseases and allergies, neurological diseases such as Parkinson's disease, Alzheimer's disease, epilepsy and stroke, depression, anxiety, infertility, preterm birth, and malignancies.

Association of catechol-O-methyltransferase gene polymorphisms with treatment response and levodopa-induced complications in Parkinson's disease: A summary of current knowledge

2024-02-22T14:42:02+01:00

Catechol-O-methyltransferase (COMT) is one of the cardinal enzymes in the degradation of catecholamines and levodopa. Genetic variants of the COMT gene may affect COMT enzyme activity. The most examined COMT gene polymorphism is the nonsynonymous single nucleotide polymorphism (SNP) in exon 4 (Val108/158Met; rs4680). This highly functional polymorphism is responsible for fourfold variations in enzyme activity and dopamine catabolism. Recent data suggested that even synonymous SNPs of the COMT gene can lead to changes in enzyme activity. Genetically determined COMT activity can affect an individual's response to levodopa therapy and carries the risk of complications from prolonged levodopa use in Parkinson's disease (PD) patients. Identifying at-risk individuals through genetic susceptibility markers could help to prevent the development of levodopa-induced complications in PD.

Role of lipoprotein lipase variants in metabolic disorders and cardiovascular diseases

2024-02-22T14:42:03+01:00

Lipoprotein lipase (LPL) is a glycoprotein that is produced and secreted into the interstitial space in various tissues, including the cardiac muscle, adipose tissue, macrophages, and skeletal muscle. LPL activity could be affected by genetic alterations which result in changes in lipid metabolism. This review article only focuses on reporting the recent studies which mainly explain the role of the LPL gene variants in metabolic syndrome and cardiovascular diseases. There are over 100 LPL gene variants, but this review article reported rs1801177, rs118204069, rs118204057, rs118204060, rs118204068, rs268, and rs328 as the most common in metabolic syndrome patients. In cardiovascular diseases, LPL variants rs1801177, rs268 and rs328 were the most prevalent. Therefore, it is suggested that further studies should be conducted to identify the LPL gene variants in other cardiovascular diseases, including cardiac arrhythmia. This review article concludes that LPL deficiency and dysfunction are associated with many diseases, such as obesity, insulin resistance, diabetes, chylomicronemia, atherosclerosis, myocardial infarction, coronary artery disease, and stroke.

Human papillomaviruses and cervical cancer from the perspective of the World Health Organisation initiative for cervical cancer elimination

2024-02-22T14:42:04+01:00

Human papillomaviruses (HPV) are the most common sexually transmitted pathogens worldwide, leading to infections with a wide range of clinical manifestations: from benign conditions to different types of cancer in women and men as well. Cervical cancer is highly correlated with persistent high-risk-HPV (HR-HPV) infection, which is the key factor in emergence of 99.99% of cervical cancer cases. The most effective way to prevent HPV-related cancers is vaccination. There are three available prophylactic HPV vaccines: bivalent, quadrivalent and nonavalent. The nonavalent vaccine is gradually replacing other HPV vaccines in most countries and can be given from year 9, but it is commonly routinely implemented at the age of 11 to 12. The World Health Organization has recognised cervical cancer as a global threat and has announced the so-called 90-70-90 strategy to reduce and even eliminate cervical cancer. This strategy implies that 90% of girls should be vaccinated by the age of 15, 70% of women should be screened for cervical cancer, and 90% of women diagnosed with cervical disease should receive adequate treatment. Although different treatment options are available: surgery, radiation therapy, chemotherapy, and advanced target therapy using monoclonal antibodies, great efforts are needed to achieve the goals set by the World Health Organization to eliminate cervical cancer.

The role of serum lipid profile in the pathogenesis of arterial hypertension

2024-02-22T14:42:04+01:00

Hypertension is a key contributor to the high global burden of cardiovascular morbidity and mortality, due to its increasing prevalence worldwide. In clinical practice, dyslipidemia and hypertension often coexist, possibly because they share similar underlying causes, such as endothelial dysfunction and obesity. Consequently, this review article presents the collective findings on the role of lipid profile parameters in arterial hypertension. Individuals with hypertension often have significantly higher mean serum levels of triglycerides (TG), total cholesterol (TC), and low-density lipoprotein cholesterol (LDL-C), while exhibiting lower mean serum levels of high-density lipoprotein cholesterol (HDL-C) compared to those without hypertension. TC and HDL-C play an important role in the pathogenesis of arterial hypertension. However, there is a lack of studies explaining the link between TG and LDL-C and arterial hypertension. Future studies are necessary to fully elucidate the exact mechanisms by which the mentioned lipid parameters contribute to arterial hypertension.

Comparative spectrophotometric determination of 3-hydroxyflavone based on zinc and aluminium complexes and their antioxidative profiles

2024-02-22T14:42:04+01:00

Flavonoids, as plant-derived compounds, were essential active components in traditional medicine for centuries. Their potential or confirmed effects include antiviral, antimutagenic, anti-inflammatory, antibacterial, vasodilatory, and anticancer properties. The promotion of a plant-based diet, along with the benefits of consuming flavonoids, has recently become increasingly attractive. 3-Hydroxyflavone (3HF) is the structural spine of flavonols, an important subgroup of flavonoids. Although 3HF itself does not exist in plants per se, it exerts many of its effects because of its characteristics that allow it to prevent free radical generation. This work is focused on the characterization of 3HF complexes with zinc(II) and aluminium(III) ions (Zn-3HF and Al-3HF, respectively). Besides this, a simple, fast, and low-priced spectrophotometric method for 3HF determination, with very low LOD and LOQ, based on Zn-3HF and Al-3HF formation, was established. A slight advantage is given to the modification with Al³⁺ ion on pH 4.91, due to very low LOD and LOQ values of 1.83×10^-7 molL^-1, and 5.50×10^-7 molL^-1, respectively, and a high correlation coefficient, R =0.99986. Furthermore, the antioxidant ability of Zn-3HF, Al-3HF, and parent 3HF was examined by the ABTS and DPPH tests. They brought the Zn-3HF complex to the fore as a potential antioxidative agent.