Oleuropein, the main glycoside present in olives, has been reported to have cardioprotective effect, but the exact mechanism has not been clearly elucidated. This study attempted to clarify the cardioprotective effect of oleuropein against simulated ischemia/reperfusion- (SI/R-) induced cardiomyocyte injury in vitro and further explore the underlying mechanism. Here we confirmed that oleuropein...

Our objective is to study the relationship between the regulatory proteins Bcl-2/Bax and mitochondria-mediated apoptosis during the differentiation of adipose-derived stromal cells (ADSCs) into neurons. Immunocytochemistry and western blotting showed that the cells weakly expressed neuron-specific enolase (NSE) in the non-induced group and expressed NSE more strongly in the groups induced for 1...

The LMD of a systemic malignancy remains one of the greatest treatment challenges in cancer medicine (1). Few patients with this complication survive for more than a few months, and this outcome has not changed substantially over the past 20–30 years, despite the progress made in controlling cancer at most other sites in the body. Thus, any advance in the treatment of LMD, especially a modality...

A highly sensitive and specific assay is now available for measuring plasma and intracellular levels of oblimersen sodium (Genasense®, Genta) and target down-regulation of Bcl-2 messenger RNA (mRNA) expression in older patients with acute myeloid leukemia (AML). Investigators found that this new antisense agent, directed against Bcl-2 protein, produced robust intracellular levels of drug in tar...

The nanostructured drugs for cancer treatment that have so far reached the oncology market largely rely on passive targeting (p.e.: Abraxane, Doxil, Daunoxome, Oncaspar, DepoCyt), meaning that they are not empowered by specific mechanisms to recognize specific cell types or tissues. Preferential but still passive accumulation into tumor tissues is thus favored; in addition the increase in circu...

the list of drugs in short supply, perhaps because they are more likely to be subject to discontinuations resulting from violations of Good Manufacturing Practice (GMP) cited by the FDA. Halted production often results in plant closures. In 2010, manufacturing problems forced Hospira to recall AstraZeneca’s propofol (Diprivan). “Some of my colleagues were close to shutting down operating rooms,...

Conventional chemotherapy with small molecule drugs has been used for many types of cancer for decades. However, the therapeutic efficacy remains less successful, mostly because of poor tumor selectivity and severe adverse side effects which hampered the use of high drug doses. The development of tumor-targeted chemotherapy is thus critically important for more successful treatment. The enhance...