Policosanol is a valuable compound with potential applications across multiple sectors. Within the pharmaceutical field, policosanol and its main components—triacontanol, octacosanol, and hexacosanol—have shown biological activity, particularly in conditions associated with inflammation and hypercholesterolaemia. Triacontanol, specifically, serves as a plant growth promoter and is widely applied in numerous economically significant crops and microalgae, either as a pure compound or as part of policosanol extracts. This review compiles key studies addressing the bioactivity of policosanol in both plant and animal cells, enabling comparison of the different mechanisms of action. A detailed evaluation of this information opens avenues for further research. Articles were sourced from PubMed and Redalyc using specific key terms: policosanol, inflammatory mechanisms, triacontanol, cellular absorption, photosynthesis, and photoinhibition. Policosanol has been found to interfere with inflammation-related pathways, notably the NF-κB and MAPK signaling cascades. Its cholesterol-lowering capacity results from the suppression of hepatic cholesterol synthesis through the indirect inhibition of HMG-CoA reductase. Triacontanol enhances plant growth and influences biochemical and physiological traits, especially under stress, mainly by improving photosynthetic efficiency. Notably, octacosanol can suppress the activity of triacontanol in plants—a phenomenon not observed in human cells—highlighting key distinctions in how these compounds function in plant versus animal systems, which warrants further investigation.
Gout disease is recognized as one of the most prevalent forms of arthritis worldwide, with an estimated prevalence of around 2.5%. Its pathophysiology is primarily linked to elevated levels of uric acid in the bloodstream, which may result from either increased production or reduced renal excretion. Clinically, it often presents as a swollen, erythematous, and painful joint. The definitive method for diagnosis remains synovial aspiration from the affected joint. While acute attacks typically require management in the emergency department, long-term care is generally provided in primary care settings.This literature review aims to explore gout disease in terms of its clinical features, diagnostic approaches, and treatment strategies, particularly focusing on the role of primary care. A comprehensive search was conducted on the PubMed database using the MeSH term “gout disease” to identify pertinent studies. Gout disease continues to be among the most widespread rheumatologic conditions globally, and unhealthy lifestyle choices, including alcohol intake and high consumption of red and white meats, may exacerbate its incidence. Diagnosis may involve blood tests, radiographic imaging, and joint aspiration. Maintenance therapy, often administered in primary care, includes the use of Allopurinol or other urate-lowering agents.
Digoxin, a cardiac glycoside, is commonly prescribed for the management of congestive heart failure, atrial fibrillation or flutter, and certain cardiac arrhythmias. However, its clinical use is limited by its narrow therapeutic index, which predisposes patients to toxicity. At elevated concentrations, digoxin toxicity can present with gastrointestinal disturbances, visual changes, and cardiac arrhythmias. This systematic review aims to summarize reported cases of digoxin toxicity, focusing on associated risk factors, drug-drug interactions, and clinical manifestations. A comprehensive literature search was conducted using PubMed and Ovid MEDLINE with the keywords “digoxin” and “toxicity.” Clinical and laboratory features of toxicity were extracted and analyzed. Of the 2,399 articles identified, only 10 met the inclusion criteria for final review. In 4 of the 10 cases, diuretics were implicated as interacting medications. Commonly reported symptoms included nausea, vomiting, visual disturbances, bradycardia, and elevated serum digoxin levels. Identified risk factors for toxicity included female sex, advanced age (60–91 years), renal impairment, and concomitant drug use. Notably, toxicity was observed even at therapeutic or low serum digoxin concentrations in the presence of these risk factors. The most frequent clinical manifestations were gastrointestinal symptoms, vision changes, and bradycardia.
Nerve agents are among the most potent and widely recognized chemical weapons. Recently, a new class of nerve agents, known as Novichok, has emerged as both a hazardous and frequently utilized tool in terrorist attacks. Medical professionals must gain a comprehensive understanding of the fundamental chemical and pharmacological properties of Novichok agents. This article provides a detailed review of the history, development, chemical structure, mechanism of action, toxicokinetics, and toxicology of these agents. Additionally, it discusses the latest diagnostic and treatment approaches for poisoning caused by Novichok agents. Contrary to earlier beliefs, Novichok poisoning shares similarities with other organophosphate toxins and can be effectively managed with timely and appropriate treatment. Given the global threat posed by terrorist incidents involving these agents, medical teams need to be well-versed in their characteristics to ensure optimal diagnosis and care for affected individuals.
Producing enantiomerically pure drugs from racemic mixtures has become a critical objective in modern pharmaceutical science. Racemic compounds typically consist of two or more enantiomers, of which only one may be therapeutically active, while the others may be biologically inactive or even toxic, including teratogenic effects. Hence, the ability to effectively isolate the desired enantiomer is essential for ensuring both the safety and effectiveness of pharmaceutical treatments. This mini-review provides an overview of recent innovations in chiral stationary phases (CSPs) employed for the resolution of racemic drugs and mixtures. It covers various classes of CSPs, including those based on Pirkle-type selectors, polysaccharides, polypeptides, inclusion complexes, ligand-exchange mechanisms, macrocyclic antibiotics, and other novel materials. The performance of these phases in a range of separation techniques—such as high-performance liquid chromatography (HPLC), gas chromatography (GC), capillary electrophoresis (CE), supercritical fluid chromatography (SFC), and simulated moving bed (SMB) chromatography—is examined. Emphasis is also placed on the types of molecular interactions between CSPs and target analytes that drive effective enantioseparation.
Eurasian Academy of Medicine and Dentistry