Research Keyword: clinical trials

Fungal Drug Discovery for Chronic Disease: History, New Discoveries and New Approaches

This article examines how fungi have provided humanity with some of the most important medicines ever created, including penicillin, drugs that prevent organ rejection, and cholesterol-lowering statins. Many of these fungal compounds work as medicines because they target processes that are similar in both fungi and humans, helping them survive competition with other fungi while coincidentally treating human diseases. New researchers are now using modern genetic tools to discover additional fungal medicines, with several promising candidates currently being tested in clinical trials for cancer, depression, and other chronic diseases.

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A Review of the Food and Drug Administration Pipeline and Proposed California Legislation on Medicinal Psychedelics

Psychedelic compounds like psilocybin and ketamine show promise in treating serious mental health conditions including PTSD and depression. The FDA carefully evaluates these drugs through multi-phase clinical trials to ensure they are safe and effective. While California has proposed making psychedelics more widely available through legislation, the FDA’s thorough approval process provides important protections by identifying potential risks and ensuring proper medical oversight.

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Psychedelic-assisted psychotherapy: The need to monitor adverse events

While psychedelics show promise for treating depression and other mental health conditions, researchers need better systems to monitor and report any harmful effects they might cause. This paper calls for more careful, consistent tracking of both physical changes (like blood pressure) and psychological experiences during psychedelic therapy. The authors emphasize that safety monitoring should continue even after patients leave the clinic and that women may experience different side effects than men.

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Current Uses of Mushrooms in Cancer Treatment and Their Anticancer Mechanisms

This comprehensive review examines how medicinal mushrooms can help treat cancer. Certain mushroom species and their compounds, particularly polysaccharides, can boost the immune system to fight cancer cells, reduce chemotherapy side effects, and overcome drug resistance. Multiple mushrooms are currently in clinical trials showing promise in improving cancer patient outcomes when used alongside conventional treatments.

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Psilocybin as Transformative Fast-Acting Antidepressant: Pharmacological Properties and Molecular Mechanisms

Psilocybin, a compound from certain mushrooms, is being studied as a potential rapid-acting treatment for severe depression that doesn’t respond to standard antidepressants. Unlike conventional antidepressants that take weeks to work, psilocybin shows promise for producing mood improvements within days. The drug works by activating serotonin receptors in the brain and promoting the growth of new neural connections, though researchers are still working to fully understand how it achieves its antidepressant effects.

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The association between diverse psychological protocols and the efficacy of psilocybin-assisted therapy for clinical depressive symptoms: a Bayesian meta-analysis

This research examined how different types of psychological support during psilocybin treatment affect depression outcomes. Researchers analyzed 10 clinical trials involving 515 patients with depression. They found that whether therapists used structured manuals or flexible approaches, or whether therapy was directive or non-directive, the depression improvement from psilocybin treatment was similar across all approaches.

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Analysis of Psilocybin-Assisted Therapy in Medicine: A Narrative Review

This review examines how psilocybin, the active compound in magic mushrooms, may help treat difficult-to-treat conditions like smoking addiction, alcohol dependence, and depression. Clinical trials show psilocybin-assisted therapy achieves better smoking cessation rates (80%) than standard medications and reduces depression symptoms as effectively as common antidepressants. The treatment works differently than daily medications, requiring only a few supervised doses weeks apart, potentially offering a new option for millions of people.

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Reconsidering evidence for psychedelic-induced psychosis: An overview of reviews, a systematic review, and meta-analysis of human studies

This research review examined whether people with schizophrenia can safely participate in psychedelic-assisted therapy treatments. Researchers analyzed 131 studies and found that psychedelics rarely cause new psychosis in the general population (0.002%), though the risk is slightly higher in people with existing schizophrenia (3.8%). While the immediate risk appears manageable, about 13% of people who develop psychosis from psychedelics go on to develop schizophrenia, suggesting caution is still needed.

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Psychedelics: From Cave Art to 21st-Century Medicine for Addiction

This comprehensive review examines how psychedelic substances, from magic mushrooms to LSD, are being studied as treatments for addiction. After decades of restriction, researchers are rediscovering what indigenous cultures have known for thousands of years: these substances can help people overcome alcohol, drug, and tobacco addiction. The research shows promising results, particularly when combined with therapy, with abstinence rates significantly higher than traditional treatments.

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The value of microbial bioreactors to meet challenges in the circular bioeconomy

Scientists are using specially designed containers called bioreactors to grow helpful microorganisms and mushrooms that can solve environmental and health problems. These bioreactors can produce medicines like natural diabetes treatments from mushrooms, create eco-friendly plastics, clean up polluted water, and turn waste products into valuable materials. This approach is sustainable, safe, and scalable, supporting the United Nations’ goals for a healthier planet.

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