Peptide KED: molecular-genetic aspects of neurogenesis regulation in Alzheimer’s disease

Neuroprotective peptides are promising candidate molecules for the treatment of Alzheimer’s disease (AD). Oral application of KED (Lys-Glu-Asp) improved memory and attention in elderly individuals with functional CNS disorders. Peptide KED also restores synaptic plasticity in in vitro model of AD. This review is focused on the analysis of the influence of KED peptide on the expression of genes and synthesis of proteins regulating apoptosis, aging, neurogenesis, and involved in AD pathogenesi

Peptides: Prospects for use in the treatment of COVID-19

There is a vast practice of using antimalarial drugs, RAS inhibitors, serine protease inhibitors, inhibitors of the RNA-dependent RNA polymerase of the virus and immunosuppressants for the treatment of the severe form of COVID-19, which often occurs in patients with chronic diseases and older persons. Currently, the clinical efficacy of these drugs for COVID-19 has not been proven yet. Side effects of antimalarial drugs can worsen the condition of patients and increase the likelihood of death. Peptides, given their physiological mechanism of action, have virtually no side effect

Analysis of depression full-time students

Не только качество образования и профессиональная подготовка, но и здоровье студентов, причем как физическое, так и эмоциональное остается актуальной проблемой для российских университетов, что в свою очередь зависит и от учебного процессаNot only the quality of education and training, but also the health of students, both physical and emotional remains an urgent problem for Russian universities, which in turn depends on the learning proces

Sirtuins and chemokines as markers of replicative and induced senescence of human endotheliocytes

Background. One of the factors of the pathogenesis of atherosclerosis and other cardiovascular diseases is induced endothelial senescence. In this regard, the urgent task of molecular biology and medicine is the search for molecules that affect the process of vascular endotheliocytes senescence.The aim. To assess the expression of Sirt-1,3,6 and chemokines IL-4, CXCL11 in the replicative and induced senescence of human endotheliocytes.Materials and methods. The study was conducted on the primary culture of isolated human umbilical vein endothelial cells (HUVECs). HUVECs were cultured under conditions of replicative (natural) and lipopolysaccharide induced senescence.Results. The synthesis of Sirt-1,3,6, IL-4 and CXCL11 was evaluated using western blot analysis. We revealed a decrease in Sirt-1,3,6 synthesis by 1.6–1.8 times (р < 0.05) in the conditions of HUVEC replicative senescence. Induced senescence of endotheliocytes is characterized by a more pronounced decrease (1.7–3.4 times; р < 0.05) in the Sirt-1,3,6 synthesis. CXCL11 synthesis increases by 1.4 times (р < 0.05) in replicative and by 3.4 times (р < 0.05) in induced HUVEC senescence. IL-4 synthesis increases by 4.7 times in conditions of induced HUVEC senescence and doesn’t have changes in replicative senescence of endotheliocytes.Conclusion. These data obtained indicate that sirtuins and chemokines play an important role in the development of endothelial dysfunction observed in natural and induced senescence

Toxicity Associated with Immune Checkpoint Inhibitors: Analysis of Immune-Related Adverse Events with a Pembrolizumab Biosimilar (Pembroria)

In recent years, there has been a significant increase in the number of patients with malignancies treated with immune checkpoint inhibitors (ICIs), including the anti-programmed cell death protein 1 (anti–PD-1) agent pembrolizumab. One of the important aspects of conducting clinical trials with ICIs is the assessment of the risk of developing immune-related adverse events (irAEs).The aim of the study was to evaluate the safety of a pembrolizumab biosimilar (BCD-201, Pembroria) compared with a reference medicinal product using the results of a phase I clinical trial and the available medical literature.Materials and methods. A phase I double-blind, randomised, controlled clinical trial (BCD-201-1) has been conducted in patients with advanced melanoma and non-small-cell lung cancer (n=131). Patients were randomly allocated in a 1:1 ratio to receive either BCD-201 (Pembroria) or the reference medicinal product (Keytruda®), administered intravenously at a dose of 200 mg every 3 weeks for up to 24 weeks or until disease progression or unacceptable toxicity is observed. Since the trial results remain blinded at the time of this writing, treatment group data are masked.Results. The study demonstrated the equivalence of pharmacokinetics and comparable safety profiles of pembrolizumab biosimilar and reference medicinal products. Both medicinal products were well tolerated; the frequency of all-grade irAEs was comparable between treatment groups (21.2% in Group 1 vs 21.5% in Group 2). Most irAEs were mild to moderate, with the exception of a case of Grade 3 diarrhoea and immune-mediated enterocolitis in one study subject; there were no statistically significant differences in the median time to development of irAEs between treatment groups (Р=0.22, two-sided Wilcoxon test).Conclusions. The analysed period of the BCD-201-1 trial demonstrated comparable safety characteristics of Pembroria and Keytruda®, which is consistent with the published safety data on the latter. Information on the similarity of long-term safety profiles of the pembrolizumab biosimilar and the reference medicinal product will be obtained from ongoing clinical trials

Treatment of chronic hepatitis C by cepeginterferon alpha-2b in combination to ribavirin

Aim of investigation. Comparative study of efficacy and safety of Algeron in dozes of 1,5 and 2,0 mkg/kg and PegIntron in combination to ribavirin within combined mode of treatment of patients with chronic hepatitis C (CHC) with subsequent assessment of therapeutic doze of Algeron.Material and methods. In open randomized «noninferiority» clinical study of II–III phase 150 previously untreated by interferon adult CHC patients (genotypes 1, 2, 3) were randomized in three medical groups: Algeron 1,5 mkg/kg, Algeron 2,0 mkg/kg and active control group — PegIntron 1,5 mkg/kg. All patients received ribavirin 800-1400 mg/day for 24-48 wks in relation to genotype. Early virologic response (EVR) rate was used as a primary endpoint of efficacy. Intentto-treat the analysis was applied at rating of obtained results.Results. The comparative analysis has demonstrated, that EVR at the 12-th week in group of Algeron 1,5 mkg/kg was observed in 100 % of patients with genotypes 2/3 and in 88,5% of patients with genotype 1. In Algeron 2,0 mkg/kg group it was registered at 95,7 and 92,6 % of patients respectively, in control group – in 95,5 and 82,1% (р> 0,05 in comparison of all scores between groups). As no distinctions in Algeron efficacy were revealed, at more favorable safety profile of low doze, the therapeutic doze of 1,5 mkg /kg/wk has been chosen. After the first 12 wks of treatment all patients of the 1-st and 2-nd groups received Algeron in the chosen doze of 1,5 mkg/kg up to termination of the treatment course. Therefore the response at the end of treatment (direct virologic response, DVR) and sustained virologic response (SVR) were estimated for patients of the 1-st and 2-nd groups in common (n=100). Among patients with HCV 2/3 genotypes, receiving Algeron, DVR was observed in 93,6%, in control group – in 81,8%, in patients with the 1-st virus genotype — in 83 and 71,4 % of cases respectively (р>0,05 at comparison of all scores between groups). In patients with 2/3 genotypes HCV, at Algeron therapy, SVR was reached in 83 % of cases, in PegIntron group — in 81,8 %. In patients with the 1-st virus genotype it was observed in 67,9 and 57,1 % respectively (p> 0,05). The adverse events were registered during treatment by Algeron, in dose-dependent manner, however their frequency had did not exceed that in patients receiving standard PegIntron dozes.Conclusions. Study results prove high efficacy and safety of Algeron in suppression of hepatitis C virus replication and allow to recommend its application at previously untreated patients with CHC in a doze of 1,5 mkg/kg/wk for 24-48 wks in relation to genotype HCV

Efficacy of pegylated interferon alfa-2b «Algeron» in the treatment of chronic hepatitis C

Aim of the study. To compare efficacy and safety of Algeron 1.5 and 2.0 μg/kg with PegIntron in combination with ribavirin in the treatment of chronic hepatitis C and to determine therapeutic dose of Algeron.Materials and Methods. 150 adult treatment-naive patients with HCV (all genotypes)were randomized into 3 groups. In the two main groups the patients received Algeron in the dosage of 1.5 or 2.0 μg/kg/week, in the active control group – PegIntron 1.5 μg/kg/week in combination with ribavirin. Primary efficacy endpoints were rapid and early virologic response (RVR and EVR).Results. Comparative analysis of virologic response rate after 4th and 12th weeks of the therapy and biochemical response did not show any statistically significant differences between the groups. RVR was observed in 64% and 56% of patients receiving Algeron 1.5 and 2.0 μg/kg, respectively, in the PegIntron group – in 66% (mITTanalysis, p>0,05).The frequency of EVR in Algeron groups after 12 weeks of treatment (regardless of a dose – 1.5 or 2.0 μg/kg) was 94%, in the reference group (PegIntron) – 88% (p>0,05). RVR and EVR rate analysis according to HCV genotype also did not showed statistically significant differences between the groups. Safety profiles of Algeron and PegIntron were similar. The complex assessment of the efficacy and safety allowed to make the conclusion about the optimal therapeutic dose of Algeron, equal to 1.5 μg/kg/week.Conclusions. Results of the study provide evidence of the high efficacy and safety of Algeron for suppression of HCV replication and make it possible to recommend Algeron 1.5 μg/kg weekly in combination with ribavirin for the treatment of chronic hepatitis C in treatment-naÏve patients for 24–48 weeks depending on the HCV genotype

Levilimab clinical efficacy for interleukin-6 receptor inhibition in COVID-19 and its potential for treating cytokine release syndrome of other aetiologies

The COVID-19 mortality is associated with an increase in interleukin-6 (IL-6) levels. Levilimab is an anti–IL-6 receptor antibody with proven clinical efficacy in patients with severe COVID-19.The aim of the study was to assess the association of COVID-19 severity and levilimab effectiveness with IL-6 levels and to explore the potential for using levilimab in other conditions accompanied by cytokine release syndrome.Materials and methods: the subgroup analysis was based on the data of COVID patients with known baseline IL-6 levels from the CORONA clinical study. Subgroups were formed according to baseline IL-6 levels: ≤5 pg/mL (normal) and >5 pg/mL (elevated). The subgroup analysis included descriptive statistics of the patients and time courses of their clinical and laboratory findings (at screening, on the day of investigational product administration, and further until day 14). In order to compare the percentages of patients who had required rescue therapy, the authors used Fisher's exact test.Results: the subgroup analysis included 91 patients (47 from the levilimab group and 44 from the placebo group). At baseline, the authors observed elevated levels of IL-6 in 31/47 (66%) subjects in the levilimab group and 29/44 (48.4%) subjects in the placebo group. The subjects with elevated IL-6 demonstrated more pronounced clinical signs of pneumonia and abnormalities in inflammatory markers. Elevated baseline IL-6 levels were associated with the need for rescue therapy (OR=3.714; 95% CI: 1.317–9.747; p=0.0183); this association was stronger in the placebo group (OR=8.889; 95% CI: 2.098–33.31; p=0.0036). Also, the placebo group showed long-term abnormalities in the clinical and laboratory findings.Conclusions: IL-6 is one of the key elements in the pathogenesis of cytokine release syndrome related to COVID-19 and other conditions. Elevated IL-6 levels are associated with the severity of COVID-19. Inhibition of IL-6 receptors by levilimab leads to clinical improvement in patients with severe COVID-19, suggesting the effectiveness of levilimab in pathogenesis-oriented therapy for cytokine release syndrome of other aetiologies