Search results for "Drugs"

Central Serotonin2C Receptor: From Physiology to Pathology

2006

Since the 1950s, when serotonin (5-HT) was discovered in the mammalian central nervous system (CNS), an enormous amount of experimental evidence has revealed the pivotal role of this biogenic amine in a number of cognitive and behavioural functions. Although 5-HT is synthesized by a small group of neurons within the raphe nuclei of the brain stem, almost all parts of the CNS receive serotonergic projections. Furthermore, the importance of 5-HT modulation and the fine-tuning of its action is underlined by the large number of 5-HT binding sites found in the CNS. Hitherto, up to 15 different 5-HT receptors subtypes have been identified. This review was undertaken to summarize the work that has…

Nanosensor for Sensitive Detection of the New Psychedelic Drug 25I-NBOMe.

2020

[EN] This work reports the synthesis, characterization, and sensing behavior of a hybrid nanodevice for the detection of the potent abuse drug 25I-NBOMe. The system is based on mesoporous silica nanoparticles, loaded with a fluorescent dye, functionalized with a serotonin derivative and capped with the 5-HT2A receptor antibody. In the presence of 25I-NBOMe the capping antibody is displaced, leading to pore opening and rhodamine B release. This delivery was ascribed to 5-HT2A receptor antibody detachment from the surface due to its stronger coordination with 25I-NBOMe present in the solution. The prepared nanodevice allowed the sensitive (limit of detection of 0.6 mm) and selective recogniti…

Electrophysiological and behavioral studies to test attractants semiochemicals for Stegobium paniceum L. (Coleoptera: Anobiidae)

2017

Stegobium paniceum (L.) (Coleoptera: Anobiidae), the drugstore beetle, is one of the major pests for a wide variety of dry and durable stored agricultural products. Females of S. paniceum produce a sex pheromone, (2S,3R,1'R)-Stegobinone, that attracts males. Nevertheless, trapping experiments using the synthetic sex pheromone in many cases showed low levels of captures, perhaps because of isomerization of the pheromone compound in ambient conditions. To date, very few brands of commercially S. paniceum pheromone are available in the market. In this study, we evaluated in electrophysiological (EAG) and behavioral bioassays (two-choice olfactometer), the response of S. paniceum male and femal…

Design and synthesis of high affinity compounds for the Hsp60 expression control in carcinogenic processes

2013

First observed in cells exposed to high temperatures, Heat shock proteins (Hsps) are nowadays considered the most important cell “chaperone” complexes over-­expressed in response to a number of cell stress stimuli.1 The chaperone activity is the main function of the eukaryotic Heat shock protein 60 kDa (Hsp60), involved in the capture and refold of unfolded or misfolded proteins. Additional roles in signal transduction,2 senescence activation3 and apoptosis4 have been ascribed to cytosolic Hsp60. During the carcinogenIc process, in vivo studies demonstrated increased levels of human Hsp60 in several organs, such as uterine exocervix,5 large bowel,6 and prostate.6 In this context, our study …

Organotin(IV) and simple fatty acids: preliminary assessments

2012

Our group has a long researching tradition in the field of organotin(IV) complexes, usually proposed and tested as potential anti-tumor drugs. The leitmotif has usually been the modulation of the intrinsic toxicity/cytotoxicity of the organometallic moiety and a modulation of the toxic effect by means of biologically related molecules (synthetic or natural). Such a modulation is usually achieved by two (often overlapping) routes: dampen the damaging effects of the metal core, and serving as a carrier for specific tissue districts. Since a too tight binding on the organotin moiety is not always desirable – a too much stable complex could be a non-active one – carboxylates have always played …

A new dopamine amino-acid conjugate: preclinical in vitro studies and evaluation of behavioural effects in rats

2012

It is well established that alterations in the functionality of dopaminergic transmission are associated with neurodegenerative diseases such as Parkinson’s Disease. The purpose of this study was to investigate the activity of a new dopamine amino-acid conjugate: L-phenylalanine-β-(3,4-dihydroxyphenyl) etilamide(DA-Phe) in the central nervous system, by assessing its influence on different behavioural parameters in the rat. Preliminarily, we tested the in vitro stability in plasmatic environment following the disappearance of DA-Phen from human plasma and the concurrent appearance of dopamine. Using rat brain homogenate, we also evaluated the level of DA-Phen cleavage by cerebral enzymes an…

Potential dopamine prodrug-loaded liposomes: preparation, characterization and in vitro stability studies

2009

Principio del danno, antipaternalismo e proibizionismo delle droghe

2020

IN QUESTO ARTICOLO, DISCUTERÒ IL PRINCIPIO DEL DANNO E LA LEGALIZZAZIONE DELLE DROGHE IN THIS ARTICLE, i WILL DISCUSS THE HARM PRINCIPLE AND THE LEGALISATION OF DRUGS

[Access to hepatitis C treatment: a lesson for the future.]

2018

L’immissione in commercio dei farmaci antivirali ad azione diretta (DAA) di nuova generazione per la terapia dell’infezione cronica da virus dell’epatite C ha rivoluzionato lo scenario precedente e ha messo a dura prova le istituzioni, a causa del prezzo elevato delle terapie. Un’analisi di quanto accaduto negli ultimi tre anni, specialmente in Italia, ci aiuta a comprendere come è stata gestita la contrattazione dei prezzi e soprattutto con quali criteri si è scelto, in una prima fase, di consentire un accesso ristretto in base al bisogno di cura dei pazienti. Ciò consente di mettere a fuoco alcuni temi importanti e di individuare le sfide che ci attendono nel prossimo futuro. The new gene…

The role of polymorphisms of thiopurine methyltransferase in therapy with Azathioprine: preliminary study Journal of Biological Research

2018

Azathioprine is an immunosuppressant drug belonging to the class of thiopurines widely used in clinical therapy. Its immunosuppressive action is linked to the substantial action mechanism in the inhibition of the synthesis of nitrogenous bases purine carried out in T-lymphocyte. The level of such medication limit resides in side effects such as myelosuppression and the development of tumours. The occurrence of side effects is linked to the presence of genetic polymorphisms of Thiopurine methyltransferase (TPMT). To date, 40 allelic variants for TPMT have been detected. However, those responsible for the reduction of enzyme activity are three: *2, *3A, *3C. The presence of one of the three p…