Sexually-transmitted disease agents

Natural high-molecular weight sulphated or sulphonated PS, such as cellulose sulphate and dextran sulphate, may be useful non-toxic microbicidal compounds that are active against a variety of sexually-transmitted disease agents, including bovine papillomavirus type 1 and human papilloma virus type 11 and type 40 [111],... 

More then a dozen representatives of the above ring systems were introduced into the human therapy. Actisomide (2) and trequinsin (3) are used as antiarrhytmic and antihypertensive agents, respectively. Sunepitron (4), a a 2-adrenoceptor antagonist, is under clinical trials for the treatment of anxiety and depression. Representatives of the third generation of antibacterial quinolone-3-carboxylic acids the blockbluster ofloxacin (5), its levorotatory enantiomer, levofloxacin (6), and rufloxacin (7) have gained wide acceptance for the treatment of bacterial infections of the respiratory and urinary tracts, skin, and soft tissues, as well as sexually transmitted diseases, and pazufloxacin (8) is under development. Praziquantel (9) is widely applied for the treatment of schistosomes- and cestode-caused infection in both veterinary and human therapies (Scheme 4). 

Human papillomavirus (HPV) is the causative agent of virtually all cases of cervical cancer and one of the most common of the sexually transmitted diseases. Cervical cancer remains a main cause of cancer-related death in many developing countries. Current vaccines are too expensive... 

Tea brewed from boiled leaves has been used to treat sexually transmitted diseases and intestinal cramps, and to stimulate urination. The leaves are soaked in water, producing an extract that is used as a bath for rheumatism and chickenpox. The dried powdered leaves may be used as a dusting powder for sores, and are mixed with badger oil to make an ointment used on bums to aid new skin formation. Today, chaparral is promoted as an anticancer agent. 

Spermicide-antiviral the polymer appears to be an effective delivery system for the spermicidal/antiviral agent nonoxynol-9. By its ability to adhere to vaginal tissue while retaining nonoxynol-9 in its gel structure, it is an excellent extended effect spermicide. As an antiviral, nonoxynol-9 can only kill free HIV and is not noticeably active when the virus is within a lymphocyte. In contrast, the bioadhesive gel containing nonoxynol-9 attaches to lymphocytes and maintains sufficient contact time to allow the nonoxynol-9 surfactant to disrupt the cell wall, thus eliminating the lymphocyte and killing the vims within. This suggests that the polymer may be useful in the prophylaxis of AIDS and the treatment of other sexually transmitted diseases. 

Trichomonas vaginalis, the causative agent of the most common nonviral sexually transmitted disease in human known as trichomoniasis, infects 250 to 350 million people worldwide. Trichomoniasis results in serious discomfort to women and is associated with adverse pregnancy... 

Clinical usage Primarily as an antibacterial agent for the treatment of respiratory tract infections and sexually transmitted diseases. 

Clinical usage Tetracylines are effective for sexually transmitted diseases caused by chlamydia and syphilis. They are also commonly used for the treatment of community-acquired pneumonia, Lyme disease, and Rocky Mountain spotted fever, and in combination with other agents for Helicobacter pylori. 

Other folk uses of kava have included treatment of headaches, colds, rheumatism, sexually transmitted diseases, and inflammation of the uterus (Anonymous, 1996). It has also been used as a sedative, aphrodisiac, urinary antiseptic (Heiligenstein and Guenther, 1998), wound healing agent, and a treatment for asthma (Anonymous, 1996). Several substances extracted from the roots were also used briefly in Europe as diuretics (Norton and Ruze, 1994). 

The history of the development of condoms precedes a review of the use of natural latex mbber condoms, with details of some of the problems encountered by users, and the subsequent development of a polyurethane condom by London International Group. The use of condoms for both pregnancy prevention and as a barrier to sexually transmitted diseases, including AIDS, is discussed, and the effectiveness of both latex and PU for this purpose. The use of polyurethane condoms as an alternative to latex by those experiencing latex sensitivity, either due to the protein in the rubber or vulcanising agents is proposed, since polyurethane has been shown to be non-allergenic. Test methods for condoms are examined, and results of in-use studies of the Avanti condom made from Duron brand PU are discussed. 3 refs. 

The antiviral properties of anionic polymers have recently received a lot of attention as agents to protect against infection with sexually transmitted diseases. Due to the cationic nature of most viruses, several anionic polymers are known to bind viruses. As early as the 1960s, researchers had studied the anti-viral properties of a variety of synthetic polymers [118]. However, not all anionic polymers inactivate viruses. Several classes of anionic polymers have been studied for their ability to inactivate the HIV virus. These polymers include poly(styrene-4-sulfonate), 2-naphthalenesulfonate-formaldehyde polymer, and acrylic acid-based polymers. Certain chemically modified natural polymers (i.e., semisynthetic) such as dextrin/dextran sulfates, cellulose sulfate, carrageenan sulfate, and cellulose acetate phthalate have also been investigated for this purpose. Of a number of such anionic polymers that have shown in-vitro and in vivo anti-HIV activity, a couple of polymeric drug candidates have proceeded to early stage human clinical trials for the evaluation of safety/tolerability [119]. While most of these have shown the desired tolerability and safety, further clinical trials are necessary to discern the therapeutic benefit and see if anionic polymers will be applicable as anti-HIV therapies. 

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