Current understanding of the relationship between cervical manipulation and stroke: what does it mean for the chiropractic profession?

The understanding of the relationship between cervical manipulative therapy (CMT) and vertebral artery dissection and stroke (VADS) has evolved considerably over the years. In the beginning the relationship was seen as simple cause-effect, in which CMT was seen to cause VADS in certain susceptible individuals. This was perceived as extremely rare by chiropractic physicians, but as far more common by neurologists and others. Recent evidence has clarified the relationship considerably, and suggests that the relationship is not causal, but that patients with VADS often have initial symptoms which cause them to seek care from a chiropractic physician and have a stroke some time after, independent of the chiropractic visit

Road towards development of new antimalarial: organelle associated metabolic pathways in Plasmodium as drug targets and discovery of lead drug candidates

Malaria remains a global threat with millions of deaths annually. Emergence of parasite strains resistant to widely used antimalarials, including the artemisinin combination therapy (ACT), and the absence of an effective vaccine makes treatment of malaria difficult than ever before. The need of the hour is to re-evaluate the chemotherapeutic approach and to identify new drug targets and develop new pharmacophores against the parasite. An important approach for antimalarial drug discovery is to understand critical metabolic pathways in the parasite which may help us to identify critical targets in the parasites and design specific inhibitors for these targets. Here, we have discussed proteins and pathways in different parasite organelles, i.e. apicoplast, mitochondrial and food vacuole, which have been suggested as potential drug targets; these unique parasite proteins can be targeted to develop new and novel antimalarials. In addition, we have also discussed several antimalarial projects currently under different stages of drug development pipeline. These promising antimalarial compounds have the potential to overcome multidrug resistance. Ongoing global efforts to develop new antimalarials and to identify drug targets suggest a promising future on malaria elimination and eradication