Trends in pharmacological sciences
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Trends Pharmacol. Sci. · Aug 2020
ReviewTargeting JAK-STAT Signaling to Control Cytokine Release Syndrome in COVID-19.
Recent advances in the pathophysiologic understanding of the severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2) infection has indicated that patients with severe coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) might experience cytokine release syndrome (CRS), characterized by increased interleukin (IL)-6, IL-2, IL-7, IL-10, etc. Therefore, the treatment of cytokine storm has been proposed as a critical part of rescuing severe COVID-19. ⋯ JAK inhibition, therefore, presents an attractive therapeutic strategy for CRS, which is a common cause of adverse clinical outcomes in COVID-19. Below, we review the possibilities and challenges of targeting the pathway in COVID-19.
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Stakeholders across the entire healthcare chain are looking to incorporate artificial intelligence (AI) into their decision-making process. From early-stage drug discovery to clinical decision support systems, we have seen examples of how AI can improve efficiency and decrease costs. ⋯ Additionally, we discuss the importance of integrating diverse types of data within any AI framework to limit bias, increase accuracy, and model the interdisciplinary nature of medicine. We believe that widespread adoption of these practices will help accelerate the continued integration of AI into our current healthcare framework.
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The calcitonin gene-related peptide (CGRP) receptor system has emerged as an important drug target for migraine. This is highlighted by the recent regulatory approval of the first drug targeting the CGRP signalling pathway, the CGRP receptor antibody erenumab. ⋯ G protein-coupled receptors (GPCRs) were thought to signal only at the cell surface, but it is now recognised that some GPCRs, including the CGRP receptor, undergo sustained signalling from endosomes, once internalised in response to ligand. What does this mean for drugs like erenumab? This review covers recent insights into the regulation of CGRP family receptors and examines what implications this may have on drug activity.
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The International Committee of Medical Journal Editors (ICMJE) has played a critical role in enhancing medical science reporting. Transparency in research is one of its most important objectives and the ICMJE has issued requirements for various stakeholders. However, ICMJE member journals have repeatedly failed to fully comply with a few transparency requirements.
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Trends Pharmacol. Sci. · Jul 2016
ReviewHeteromeric α7β2 Nicotinic Acetylcholine Receptors in the Brain.
The α7 nicotinic acetylcholine receptor (α7 nAChR) is highly expressed in the brain, where it maintains various neuronal functions including (but not limited to) learning and memory. In addition, the protein expression levels of α7 nAChRs are altered in various brain disorders. ⋯ Interestingly, the α7β2 nAChR exhibits distinctive function and pharmacology from traditional homomeric α7 nAChRs. We review recent advances in probing the distribution, function, pharmacology, pathophysiology, and stoichiometry of the heteromeric α7β2 nAChR, which have provided new insights into the understanding of a novel target of cholinergic signaling.