Potential Applications of New Drugs in the Management of Childhood Asthma

2005 ◽  
pp. 639-684
Author(s):  
Kumar M S

Snakes are fascinating creatures and were inhabitants of this world well before the earth was populated by ancient humans. Snakes with a lethal secretion known as venom were endowed by nature. Snake venom is a very poisonous mixture consisting of a number of molecules such as carbohydrates, nucleosides, amino acids, lipids, proteins and peptides, making it a cocktail of diversified molecules. Snake envenomation is responsible for the disruption in the envenomed victim’s fundamental physiological processes contributing to serious health problems. Millions of snakebites are recorded annually, and due to snake venom poisoning, a significant number of individuals are injured and die. However, through technical developments, many fatal snake venom toxins have found potential applications as diagnostic agents, medicinal agents, or drug leads. From the development of Captopril, the first drug derived from Bothrops jarararaca’s bradykinin potentiating peptide, to the disintegrins that have potent activity against some forms of cancers. Therefore, components of snake venom have shown tremendous potential for the development of lead compounds for new drugs. Complementary tools and techniques are currently being used to isolate and characterize peptides and to study their potential uses as molecular probes and templates for drug development and design investigation models.


2018 ◽  
Vol 6 (3) ◽  
pp. 101-107 ◽  
Author(s):  
Magdalena Kulus ◽  
Jakub Kulus ◽  
Maurycy Jankowski ◽  
Blanka Borowiec ◽  
Michal Jeseta ◽  
...  

Abstract Constant advances in medicine, both human and veterinary, lead to continuous discovery of new drugs and treatments. Recently, the aspect of stem cell use in regenerative medicine has been very popular. There are still too few clinical trials on animals that could precisely estimate the therapeutic efficacy of cell therapy. However, stem cells are a source of extraordinary potential for multiplication and differentiation which, if used properly, can prove to be an effective mean of treatment of numerous diseases that are currently considered untreatable. The purpose of review is the characterization and clinical use of stem cells in mostly occurring diseases. Particular attention has been given to the issue of mesenchymal stromal cells, which so far have been most widely used in clinical practice. Current research into stem cells has allowed scientists to discover many different types of these cells, describe their characteristics and divide them into groups, with the most important being embryonic stem cells and somatic (adult) stem cells. Adult stem cells, due to their availability and lack of ethical problems, are used in veterinary practice. Different types of mesenchymal stem cells are distinguished, based on their origin. Adipose tissue derived stem cells and stromal vascular fraction find the widest clinical application. In veterinary medicine, stem cells therapies are most commonly used in the case of horse orthopedic injuries and in diseases of various origin in dogs and cats. While further research is needed to confirm the effectiveness of cell therapies, they have much potential to find plenty of potential applications in future medicine.


Author(s):  
D. Loretto ◽  
J. M. Gibson ◽  
S. M. Yalisove ◽  
R. T. Tung

The cobalt disilicide/silicon system has potential applications as a metal-base and as a permeable-base transistor. Although thin, low defect density, films of CoSi2 on Si(111) have been successfully grown, there are reasons to believe that Si(100)/CoSi2 may be better suited to the transmission of electrons at the silicon/silicide interface than Si(111)/CoSi2. A TEM study of the formation of CoSi2 on Si(100) is therefore being conducted. We have previously reported TEM observations on Si(111)/CoSi2 grown both in situ, in an ultra high vacuum (UHV) TEM and ex situ, in a conventional Molecular Beam Epitaxy system.The procedures used for the MBE growth have been described elsewhere. In situ experiments were performed in a JEOL 200CX electron microscope, extensively modified to give a vacuum of better than 10-9 T in the specimen region and the capacity to do in situ sample heating and deposition. Cobalt was deposited onto clean Si(100) samples by thermal evaporation from cobalt-coated Ta filaments.


Author(s):  
D. L. Callahan ◽  
Z. Ball ◽  
H. M. Phillips ◽  
R. Sauerbrey

Ultraviolet laser-irradiation can be used to induce an insulator-to-conductor phase transition on the surface of Kapton polyimide. Such structures have potential applications as resistors or conductors for VLSI applications as well as general utility electrodes. Although the percolative nature of the phase transformation has been well-established, there has been little definitive work on the mechanism or extent of transformation. In particular, there has been considerable debate about whether or not the transition is primarily photothermal in nature, as we propose, or photochemical. In this study, cross-sectional optical microscopy and transmission electron microscopy are utilized to characterize the nature of microstructural changes associated with the laser-induced pyrolysis of polyimide.Laser-modified polyimide samples initially 12 μm thick were prepared in cross-section by standard ultramicrotomy. Resulting contraction in parallel to the film surface has led to distortions in apparent magnification. The scale bars shown are calibrated for the direction normal to the film surface only.


Author(s):  
Amanda K. Petford-Long ◽  
A. Cerezo ◽  
M.G. Hetherington

The fabrication of multilayer films (MLF) with layer thicknesses down to one monolayer has led to the development of materials with unique properties not found in bulk materials. The properties of interest depend critically on the structure and composition of the films, with the interfacial regions between the layers being of particular importance. There are a number of magnetic MLF systems based on Co, several of which have potential applications as perpendicular magnetic (e.g Co/Cr) or magneto-optic (e.g. Co/Pt) recording media. Of particular concern are the effects of parameters such as crystallographic texture and interface roughness, which are determined by the fabrication conditions, on magnetic properties and structure.In this study we have fabricated Co-based MLF by UHV thermal evaporation in the prechamber of an atom probe field-ion microscope (AP). The multilayers were deposited simultaneously onto cobalt field-ion specimens (for AP and position-sensitive atom probe (POSAP) microanalysis without exposure to atmosphere) and onto the flat (001) surface of oxidised silicon wafers (for subsequent study in cross-section using high-resolution electron microscopy (HREM) in a JEOL 4000EX. Deposi-tion was from W filaments loaded with material in the form of wire (Co, Fe, Ni, Pt and Au) or flakes (Cr). The base pressure in the chamber was around 8×10−8 torr during deposition with a typical deposition rate of 0.05 - 0.2nm/s.


2020 ◽  
Vol 13 (5) ◽  
pp. 1429-1461 ◽  
Author(s):  
Xiaona Li ◽  
Jianwen Liang ◽  
Xiaofei Yang ◽  
Keegan R. Adair ◽  
Changhong Wang ◽  
...  

This review focuses on fundamental understanding, various synthesis routes, chemical/electrochemical stability of halide-based lithium superionic conductors, and their potential applications in energy storage as well as related challenges.


2019 ◽  
Vol 10 (45) ◽  
pp. 6116-6121 ◽  
Author(s):  
Tan Ji ◽  
Lei Xia ◽  
Wei Zheng ◽  
Guang-Qiang Yin ◽  
Tao Yue ◽  
...  

We present a new family of porphyrin-functionalized coordination star polymers prepared through combination of coordination-driven self-assembly and post-assembly polymerization. Their self-assembly behaviour in water and potential for photodynamic therapy were demonstrated.


2019 ◽  
Vol 476 (24) ◽  
pp. 3687-3704 ◽  
Author(s):  
Aphrodite T. Choumessi ◽  
Manuel Johanns ◽  
Claire Beaufay ◽  
Marie-France Herent ◽  
Vincent Stroobant ◽  
...  

Root extracts of a Cameroon medicinal plant, Dorstenia psilurus, were purified by screening for AMP-activated protein kinase (AMPK) activation in incubated mouse embryo fibroblasts (MEFs). Two isoprenylated flavones that activated AMPK were isolated. Compound 1 was identified as artelasticin by high-resolution electrospray ionization mass spectrometry and 2D-NMR while its structural isomer, compound 2, was isolated for the first time and differed only by the position of one double bond on one isoprenyl substituent. Treatment of MEFs with purified compound 1 or compound 2 led to rapid and robust AMPK activation at low micromolar concentrations and increased the intracellular AMP:ATP ratio. In oxygen consumption experiments on isolated rat liver mitochondria, compound 1 and compound 2 inhibited complex II of the electron transport chain and in freeze–thawed mitochondria succinate dehydrogenase was inhibited. In incubated rat skeletal muscles, both compounds activated AMPK and stimulated glucose uptake. Moreover, these effects were lost in muscles pre-incubated with AMPK inhibitor SBI-0206965, suggesting AMPK dependency. Incubation of mouse hepatocytes with compound 1 or compound 2 led to AMPK activation, but glucose production was decreased in hepatocytes from both wild-type and AMPKβ1−/− mice, suggesting that this effect was not AMPK-dependent. However, when administered intraperitoneally to high-fat diet-induced insulin-resistant mice, compound 1 and compound 2 had blood glucose-lowering effects. In addition, compound 1 and compound 2 reduced the viability of several human cancer cells in culture. The flavonoids we have identified could be a starting point for the development of new drugs to treat type 2 diabetes.


2020 ◽  
Vol 48 (2) ◽  
pp. 399-409
Author(s):  
Baizhen Gao ◽  
Rushant Sabnis ◽  
Tommaso Costantini ◽  
Robert Jinkerson ◽  
Qing Sun

Microbial communities drive diverse processes that impact nearly everything on this planet, from global biogeochemical cycles to human health. Harnessing the power of these microorganisms could provide solutions to many of the challenges that face society. However, naturally occurring microbial communities are not optimized for anthropogenic use. An emerging area of research is focusing on engineering synthetic microbial communities to carry out predefined functions. Microbial community engineers are applying design principles like top-down and bottom-up approaches to create synthetic microbial communities having a myriad of real-life applications in health care, disease prevention, and environmental remediation. Multiple genetic engineering tools and delivery approaches can be used to ‘knock-in' new gene functions into microbial communities. A systematic study of the microbial interactions, community assembling principles, and engineering tools are necessary for us to understand the microbial community and to better utilize them. Continued analysis and effort are required to further the current and potential applications of synthetic microbial communities.


2020 ◽  
Vol 29 (3) ◽  
pp. 1226-1240
Author(s):  
Janet L. Patterson ◽  
Barbara L. Rodríguez ◽  
Philip S. Dale

Purpose Early identification is a key element for accessing appropriate services for preschool children with language impairment. However, there is a high risk of misidentifying typically developing dual language learners as having language impairment if inappropriate tools designed for monolingual children are used. In this study of children with bilingual exposure, we explored performance on brief dynamic assessment (DA) language tasks using graduated prompting because this approach has potential applications for screening. We asked if children's performance on DA language tasks earlier in the year was related to their performance on a year-end language achievement measure. Method Twenty 4-year-old children from Spanish-speaking homes attending Head Start preschools in the southwestern United States completed three DA graduated prompting language tasks 3–6 months prior to the Head Start preschools' year-end achievement testing. The DA tasks, Novel Adjective Learning, Similarities in Function, and Prediction, were administered in Spanish, but correct responses in English or Spanish were accepted. The year-end achievement measure, the Learning Accomplishment Profile–Third Edition (LAP3), was administered by the children's Head Start teachers, who also credited correct responses in either language. Results Children's performance on two of the three DA language tasks was significantly and positively related to year-end LAP3 language scores, and there was a moderate and significant relationship for one of the DA tasks, even when controlling for age and initial LAP3 scores. Conclusions Although the relationship of performance on DA with year-end performance varies across tasks, the findings indicate potential for using a graduated prompting approach to language screening with young dual language learners. Further research is needed to select the best tasks for administration in a graduated prompting framework and determine accuracy of identification of language impairment.


Sign in / Sign up

Export Citation Format

Share Document