Urease is the enzyme that catalyzes the hydrolysis of urea, which is involved in serious infections caused by Helicobacter pylori in the gastric tract, as well as Proteus and related species in the urinary tract. The necessity to treat such infections has stimulated intensive studies on various groups of urease inhibitors. Patent literature on urease inhibitors with possible applications in medicine is reviewed in this paper. Hydroxamic acids, phosphoramidates, urea derivatives, quinones and heterocyclic compounds constitute the major classes of structures with such activity. Until now, only one compound, acetohydroxamic acid, has been clinically used for the treatment of urinary tract infections by urease inhibition. Unfortunately, it exhibits severe side effects. Thus, it seems that the full potential of urease inhibition has not yet been fully explored. Several Japanese patents related to the use of herbal extracts as sources of polyphenolic urease inhibitors have been considered as complementary or alternative therapy; however, their accessibility is quite possibly due to reduced restrictions for the introduction of natural products to the market.

Introduction: Antimicrobial peptides (AMPs) represent the large group of endogenous compounds widely distributed in nature. Due to their broad spectrum of antibiotic activity, as well as anti-inflammatory and immunomodulatory properties, AMPs became a model for the discovery of novel antimicrobial drugs that could answer the problem of the increasing antibiotic resistance of pathogenic microorganisms. Areas covered: The review represents a comprehensive analysis of patents and patent applications from the year 2003 to 2015 referring to the therapeutic use of AMPs. The article highlights the general trends in the design, potential mode of action, and methods of biological evaluation of AMPs. Expert opinion: The existing discord between the upcoming list of antimicrobial peptides claimed in the patents or related scientific articles as the potent drug candidates and the frequent failures of AMPs in clinical trials emphasize the need of a better understanding of their pleiotropic nature and mechanisms of host defense in general. Nevertheless, the encouraging examples of AMPs already introduced into the market, like Polymyxin or Fuzeon®, give some reason for optimism that development of AMPs as a novel class of antibiotics is still considered viable.

Wound healing is a complex process which depends on the presence of various types of cells, growth factors, cytokines and the elements of extracellular matrix. A wound is a portal of entry for numerous pathogens, therefore during the evolution wound healing process has formed very early, being critical for the survival of every individual. Stem cells, which give rise to their early descendants progenitor cells and subsequently differentiated cells, play a specific role in the process of wound healing. Among the most important cells which take part in wound healing the following cells need to be distinguished: epidermal stem cells, dermal precursor of fibroblasts, adipose-derived stem cells as well as bone marrow cells. The activity of these cells is strictly regulated by various growth factors, inter alia epidermal growth factor (EGF), fibroblast growth factor (FGF), platelet-derived growth factor (PDGF), transforming growth factor (TGF), vascular endothelial growth factor (VEGF). Any disorders in functioning of stem cells and biological activity of growth factors may lead to the defects in wound healing, for instance delayed wound healing or creation of hypertrophic scars. Therefore, knowledge concerning the mechanisms of wound healing is extremely essential from clinical point of view. In this review the current state of the knowledge of the role of stem cells and growth factors in the process of wound healing has been presented. Moreover, some clinical aspects of wound healing as well as the possibility of the therapy based on stem cells and growth factors have included.