Metformin efficacy and safety as an adjunctive treatment for irritability in children with autism spectrum disorder: A randomized, double-blind, placebo-controlled trial.

Background: Antidiabetic medications have shown efficacy in alleviating autism symptoms. However, there is a lack of clinical research on the impact of metformin on irritability associated with autism. This study aimed to assess the efficacy and safety of metformin as an adjuvant therapy with risperidone for managing irritability in children diagnosed with Autism Spectrum Disorder (ASD).

Predicting the Thermodynamic Solubility and Stability of Co-crystals and Eutectics of Febuxostat by using a Thermodynamic Model involving Flory Huggins Interaction Parameter.

A method is presented for determining the thermodynamic (equilibrium) solubility of a drug in coformer for the non-covalent derivative (NCD) systems i.e. eutectics/co-crystals.

Implementation of an Outpatient Clinical Pharmacy Service at an Adult Cystic Fibrosis Center.

Background: High treatment burden can adversely impact health outcomes in people with cystic fibrosis (PwCF). There is a continued need for medication adherence education and further research to evaluate impact of CF pharmacist interventions in an ambulatory care setting.

Objective(s): To evaluate whether pharmacist integration into an outpatient adult CF clinic can positively impact patient satisfaction and medication adherence through various pharmacist-based interventions.

Targeting KLF2 as a Novel Therapy for Glomerular Endothelial Cell Injury in Diabetic Kidney Disease.

Background: DKD is a microvascular disease, and glomerular endothelial cell injury is a key pathological event in DKD development. Through unbiased screening of glomerular transcriptomes, we previously identified KLF2 as a highly regulated gene in diabetic kidneys. KLF2 exhibits protective effects in endothelial cells by inhibiting inflammation, thrombotic activation, and angiogenesis, all of which are protective for cardiovascular disease.

Pharmacy Students' Self-Reported Cultural Competence in a Pharmacy Curriculum by Academic Year.

Objective: This study aims to explore the results of a Cultural Competency Assessment of Pharmacy Students (CCAPS) survey to identify areas where cultural competence content in one college of pharmacy curriculum can be improved.

Methods: The 39-item CCAPS survey was developed and administered to Doctor of Pharmacy (PharmD) students from July 2022 (after the end of the didactic curriculum and at the beginning of experiential rotations for fourth-year students) to October 2022 (at the beginning of the fall semester for first-year, second-year, and third-year students). Self-perception of cultural competency items were selected from the Cultural Competence Assessment Instrument and the Clinical Cultural Competency Questionnaire items.

Pharmacokinetic and Pharmacodynamic Interactions between Food or Herbal Products and Oral Anticoagulants: Evidence Review, Practical Recommendations, and Knowledge Gaps.

Interactions between food and oral anticoagulants (OACs), particularly vitamin K antagonists such as warfarin, are widely recognized and may also be clinically relevant for direct OACs. Pharmacokinetic and pharmacodynamic interactions with food or herbs can lead to anticoagulation potentiation, increased risk of bleeding, or reduced drug efficacy, all compromising patient safety. We conducted a systematic search for randomized controlled trials (RCTs) on PubMed for assessments of interactions between OACs and various ingestants.

Methionine aminopeptidases: Potential therapeutic target for microsporidia and other microbes.

Methionine aminopeptidases (MetAPs) have emerged as a target for medicinal chemists in the quest for novel therapeutic agents for treating cancer, obesity, and other disorders. Methionine aminopeptidase is a metalloenzyme with two structurally distinct forms in humans, MetAP-1 and MetAP-2. The MetAP2 inhibitor fumagillin, which was used as an amebicide in the 1950s, has been used for the successful treatment of microsporidiosis in humans; however, it is no longer commercially available.

Preclinical assessment of MAGMAS inhibitor as a potential therapy for pediatric medulloblastoma.

Unlabelled: Medulloblastoma, the most common pediatric brain malignancy, has Sonic Hedgehog (SHH) and non-SHH group3 subtypes. MAGMAS (Mitochondrial Associated Granulocyte Macrophage colony-stimulating factor Signaling molecules) encode for mitochondrial import inner membrane translocase subunit and is responsible for translocation of matrix proteins across the inner membrane. We previously reported that a small molecule MAGMAS inhibitor, BT9, decreases cell proliferation, migration, and oxidative phosphorylation in adult glioblastoma cell lines.

Flavonoids and fibrate modulate apoE4-induced processing of amyloid precursor protein in neuroblastoma cells.

Introduction: Apolipoprotein (apo) E4, being a major genetic risk factor for Alzheimer's disease (AD), is actively involved in the proteolytic processing of amyloid precursor protein (APP) to amyloid β (Aβ) peptide, the principle constituent of amyloid plaques in Alzheimer Disease (AD) patients. ApoE4 is believed to affect APP processing through intracellular cholesterol homeostasis, whereas lowering the cholesterol level by pharmacological agents has been suggested to reduce Aβ production. This study has investigated the effects of hypolipidemic agents fenofibrate, and the flavonoids-naringenin and diosmetin-on apoE4-induced APP processing in rat neuroblastoma cells stably transfected with human wild-type APP 695 (B103-hAPP695wt).

Proton Pump Inhibitors and Kidney Disease: An Intertwined Relationship.

Many patients with kidney disease are taking proton pump inhibitors (PPIs) for various gastrointestinal conditions. There are concerns about inappropriate usage of PPIs with unknown consequences, which include worsening kidney function. PPI use has been associated with kidney damage; however, a clear etiology of the association is uncertain.

miR-136-5p: A key player in human cancers with diagnostic, prognostic and therapeutic implications.

MiRNAs have emerged as crucial modulators of the expression of their target genes, attracting significant attention due to their engagement in various cellular processes, like cancer onset and development. Amidst the extensive repertoire of miRNAs implicated in cancer, miR-136-5p has emerged as an emerging miRNA with diverse roles. Dysregulation of miR-136-5p has been proved in human cancers.

AI & experimental-based discovery and preclinical IND-enabling studies of selective BMX inhibitors for development of cancer therapeutics.

The current work aims to design and provide a preliminary IND-enabling study of selective BMX inhibitors for cancer therapeutics development. BMX is an emerging target, more notably in oncological and immunological diseases. In this work, we have employed a predictive AI-based platform to design the selective inhibitors considering the novelty, IP prior protection, and drug-likeness properties.

HCK induces macrophage activation to promote renal inflammation and fibrosis via suppression of autophagy.

Renal inflammation and fibrosis are the common pathways leading to progressive chronic kidney disease (CKD). We previously identified hematopoietic cell kinase (HCK) as upregulated in human chronic allograft injury promoting kidney fibrosis; however, the cellular source and molecular mechanisms are unclear. Here, using immunostaining and single cell sequencing data, we show that HCK expression is highly enriched in pro-inflammatory macrophages in diseased kidneys.

Effects of retinoic acid receptor α modulators on developmental ethanol-induced neurodegeneration and neuroinflammation.

Ethanol exposure in neonatal mice induces acute neurodegeneration followed by long-lasting glial activation and GABAergic cell deficits along with behavioral abnormalities, providing a third trimester model of fetal alcohol spectrum disorders (FASD). Retinoic acid (RA), the active form of vitamin A, regulates transcription of RA-responsive genes and plays essential roles in the development of embryos and their CNS. Ethanol has been shown to disturb RA metabolism and signaling in the developing brain, which may be a cause of ethanol toxicity leading to FASD.

Identification of new hit to lead magmas inhibitors as potential therapeutics for glioblastoma.

In continuation of our previous efforts for the development of potent small molecules against brain cancer, herein we synthesized seventeen new compounds and tested their anti-gliomapotential against established glioblastoma cell lines, namely, D54MG, U251, and LN-229 as well as patient derived cell lines (DB70 and DB93). Among them, the carboxamide derivatives, BT-851 and BT-892 were found to be the most active leads in comparison to our established hit compound BT#9.The SAR studies of our hit BT#9 compound resulted in the development of two new lead compounds by hit to lead strategy.

The Role of Iron-Based Phosphate Binder in the Treatment of Hyperphosphatemia.

Hyperphosphatemia is a well-known complication of kidney disease. Phosphate binders are a mainstay treatment, but despite the existence of several phosphate binders, there is no one best approach to manage hyperphosphatemia. Phosphate binders are calcium-based, non-calcium- based, and others.

Tailoring Deep Eutectic Solvents to Provoke Solubility and Bioavailability of Naringin: Implications of a Computational Approach.

Recently, the applications of deep eutectic solvents (DESs) as green and sustainable solvents for the solubilization of functional foods and phytophenols have dramatically risen concerning global issues on the utilization of organic solvents. Nevertheless, developing a suitable DES system for phytocomponents to enhance its solubility and bioavailability is complex and requires a sound experimental setup. Herein, we have attempted to develop DES encompassing the choline chloride (ChCl) along with oxalic acid (OA), l-glutamine (l-Glu), urea (U), and glycerol (Gro) at different ratios to elicit the solubility and bioavailability of naringin (NAR).

Infections in Glucose-6-Phosphate Dehydrogenase G6PD-Deficient Patients; Predictors for Infection-Related Mortalities and Treatment Outcomes.

Disturbances in the count or maturity of blood cells weaken their microbial defensive capacity and render them more susceptible to infections. Glucose-6-phosphate deficient patients are affected by a genetic disease that affects cell integrity with increased liability to infections and death. We aimed to investigate the risk factors for infection mortality in this patient population.

Anti-inflammatory Action of BT75, a Novel RARα Agonist, in Cultured Microglia and in an Experimental Mouse Model of Alzheimer's Disease.

BT75, a boron-containing retinoid, is a novel retinoic acid receptor (RAR)α agonist synthesized by our group. Previous studies indicated that activation of retinoic acid (RA) signaling may attenuate progression of Alzheimer's disease (AD). Presently, we aimed to examine the anti-inflammatory effect of BT75 and explore the possible mechanism using cultured cells and an AD mouse model.

Stimuli-Responsive Boron-Based Materials in Drug Delivery.

Drug delivery systems, which use components at the nanoscale level as diagnostic tools or to release therapeutic drugs to particular target areas in a regulated manner, are a fast-evolving field of science. The active pharmaceutical substance can be released via the drug delivery system to produce the desired therapeutic effect. The poor bioavailability and irregular plasma drug levels of conventional drug delivery systems (tablets, capsules, syrups, etc.

Long-Term Evaluation of Changes in Kidney Function after Switching from Tenofovir Disoproxil Fumarate to Tenofovir Alafenamide in Patients Living with HIV.

Tenofovir is one of the most widely used medications for HIV treatment and is administered as either tenofovir disoproxil fumarate (TDF) or tenofovir alafenamide (TAF). Use of TAF is preferred as it is associated with fewer negative impacts on renal function; however, long-term follow-up beyond 96 weeks is limited. A retrospective chart review of patients ≥18 years who received TDF-containing anti-retroviral therapy (ART) for ≥6 months and then switched to a TAF-containing regimen between 1 December 2015 and 1 January 2020 is presented.

Coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19): Secondary bacterial infections and the impact on antimicrobial resistance during the COVID-19 pandemic.

Secondary bacterial infections and bacterial coinfections are an important complication of coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19), leading to antibiotic overuse and increased rates of antimicrobial resistance (AMR) during the COVID-19 pandemic. In this literature review, we summarize the reported rates of secondary bacterial infections and bacterial coinfections in patients with COVID-19, the impact on patient outcomes, the antibiotic treatment approaches employed, and the resistance patterns observed. The reported data suggest that although the incidence of secondary bacterial infections or bacterial coinfections is relatively low, they are associated with worse outcomes such as prolonged hospitalization, intensive care unit admission, mechanical ventilator use, and increased mortality.