COVID-19 Infections and Inflammatory Markers in Patients Hospitalized During the First Year of the Pandemic.

Background: The clinical presentations in patients with SARS-CoV-2 (COVID-19) infections range from asymptomatic upper respiratory infections to acute respiratory failure with bilateral pulmonary infiltrates requiring mechanical ventilation. Clinicians often measured inflammatory markers in hospitalized patients to characterize the severity of the infection. Multiple studies published in 2020 reported information on the frequency of elevated inflammatory markers in hospitalized patients in various categories of disease severity.

Inhibitory Effects of Cathepsin K Inhibitor (ODN-MK-0822) on the Paracrine Pro-Osteoclast Factors of Breast Cancer Cells.

Background: Breast cancer (BC) produces bone resorptive cytokines and growth factors that accelerate the development of osteoclasts (OCs), leading to osteolytic bone metastases. In the Long-term Odanacatib Fracture Trial (LOFT), the skeletal-metastasized breast cancer subjects who received odanacatib (ODN) had a delayed tumour progression and skeletal tumour burden as a result of anti-resorptive effects through inhibition of cathepsin K (CTSK). In this study, we explored the effect of ODN, a CTSK inhibitor, on the paracrine pro-osteoclast activity of breast cancer cells.

Inhibitory effect of cathepsin K inhibitor (ODN-MK-0822) on invasion, migration and adhesion of human breast cancer cells in vitro.

Approximately 90% of patients with advanced breast cancer develop bone metastases; an event that results in severe decrease of quality of life and a drastic deterioration in prognosis. Therefore, to increase the survival of breast cancer patients, the development of new therapeutic strategies to impair metastatic process and skeletal complications is critical. Previous studies on the role of cathepsin K (CTSK) in metastatic spreading led to several strategies for inhibition of this molecule such as MIV-711 (Medivir), balicatib and odanacatib (ODN) which were on trial in the past.

Role of Nrf2 dysfunction in the pathogenesis of diabetic nephropathy: Therapeutic prospect of epigallocatechin-3-gallate.

Diabetic nephropathy (DN), a progressive kidney disease afflicts more than 20 and up to 40% of the diabetic population and it is characterized by persistent microalbuminuria declined glomerular filtration rate. The interesting feature associated with DN is that, even though the progression of the disease correlates with oxidative stress, Nrf2, the master regulator of antioxidant defense system involved in counteracting oxidative stress is also upregulated in the diabetic kidneys of both human as well as experimental animals in early stages of DN. Despite the increased expression, the ability of this protein to get translocated into the nucleus is diminished signifying the functional impairment of Nrf2, implying redox imbalance.

The Citrus Flavanone Hesperetin Induces Apoptosis in CTCL Cells STAT3/Notch1/NFκB-Mediated Signaling Axis.

Background: Hesperetin is a natural compound known for its cholesterol-lowering effect and a wide range of pharmacological activities.

Objectives: Investigating the potential anticancer activities of Hesperetin in malignant hematolymphoid cell lines HuT78 and MJ, derived from patients with Cutaneous T-Cell Lymphomas (CTCL).

Methods: The cytotoxic effect of Hesperetin on two different CTCL cell lines, HuT78 and MJ, was assessed by MTS-based colorimetric assay.