Propionyl-L-Carnitine Enhances Wound Healing and Counteracts Microvascular Endothelial Cell Dysfunction.

Background: Impaired wound healing represents a high cost for health care systems. Endothelial dysfunction characterizes dermal microangiopathy and contributes to delayed wound healing and chronic ulcers. Endothelial dysfunction impairs cutaneous microvascular blood flow by inducing an imbalance between vasorelaxation and vasoconstriction as a consequence of reduced nitric oxide (NO) production and the increase of oxidative stress and inflammation.

Thymosin α1 continues to show promise as an enhancer for vaccine response.

Thymosin α1 (Tα1) is an immune-modulating peptide that can be expected to improve response to vaccinations, as stimulated dendritic cells and T cells can act in concert to increase antibody production along with an improved cytotoxic response from the T cells themselves. Tα1 demonstrated efficacy in preclinical studies; subsequently, it was shown to enhance response to vaccinations in difficult-to-treat populations, including individuals immune suppressed due to age or hemodialysis, and leading to a decrease in later infections. During the 2009 pandemic outbreak of H1N1 influenza, mouse and ferret studies confirmed that the use of higher doses of Tα1 allowed for fewer injections than those used in the previous clinical studies.

Current adjuvants and new perspectives in vaccine formulation.

Given the important role of adjuvants in prophylactic vaccines, identification and development of new adjuvants with enhanced efficacy and safety is necessary. The use of adjuvants with immunopotentiating properties that can direct the immune responses to humoral or cell-mediated immunity and can induce T-cell responses has made it possible to design more protective vaccines. Although current regulations focus on traditional adjuvants, notably aluminum and calcium salts, advances have been made in regulatory considerations.

Studies of therapy with thymosin alpha1 in combination with pegylated interferon alpha2a and ribavirin in nonresponder patients with chronic hepatitis C.

Despite the use of combination therapy with pegylated interferon alpha2a (peg-IFN-alpha2a) + Ribavirin, a large proportion of patients with chronic hepatitis C (CHC) remain unresponsive to treatment. Thymosin alpha 1 (Talpha1) is an immunomodulator, which displays immunological and antiviral activities against hepatitis C virus (HCV) in preclinical clinical settings. The purpose of this study was to evaluate the efficacy and safety of a triple combination therapy with peg-IFN-alpha2a + Ribavirin + Talpha1 in CHC patients who were nonresponders to a previous course with peg-IFN-alpha2a + Ribavarin.

Thymosin beta-4 and venous ulcers: clinical remarks on a European prospective, randomized study on safety, tolerability, and enhancement on healing.

The objective of this double-blind, placebo-controlled, dose-escalation study is to evaluate safety, tolerability, and enhancement on healing of thymosin beta-4 (Tbeta-4) administered topically in patients with venous ulcers. Three groups of patients, coming from 10 sites, 5 from Italy and 5 from Poland, will be enrolled sequentially. Twenty-four patients within each group will be randomized to Tbeta-4 or placebo in a 3:1 ratio and will be treated with increasing doses of Tbeta-4.