Drug Week

Infectious Disease Therapy - Valacyclovir may have deleterious interaction with mycophenolate mofetil

Inflammatory Bowel Disease - Alicaforsen improves clinical symptoms of pouchitis patients

Inflammatory Bowel Disease - Antibodies show promise for IBD

Inflammatory Bowel Disease - Research: RDP58 reduces inflammation by targeting TRAFYK protein complex

Inflammatory Bowel Disease - Study Shows E. coli strain relieves IBD symptoms

Inflammatory Bowel Diseases - Afa/Dr diffusely adhering E. coli appear to play an active role in disease

Inflammatory Myopathy - The three major immune-mediated myopathies need more specific therapies

Influenza - New vaccine against flu, other diseases, developed at Hebrew University

Influenza - Novel flu vaccine shows promise in mice

Information Technology - Merz to automate its sales force using PDAs

Insomnia - Estorra phase III data presented at American Psychiatric Association meeting

Interferon Therapy - New company alliance will develop new interferon alpha and beta products

Irritable Bowel Syndrome - Additional data confirm Zelmac is effective, safe, well tolerated

Ischemic Stroke - Neurotrophic factor prevents delayed neuronal death after transient ischemia

Kidney Disease - Treatment to prevent kidney dialysis marketed to consumers

Laboratory Techniques - Effects of stirring on USP prednisone calibrator tablet dissolution studied

Lactose Intolerance - Kefir may bolster lactose tolerance in intolerant people

Legal Issues - Decision in Ciprofloxacin antitrust suits narrows focus of litigation

Legal Issues - Portion of award in Materna case sold

Legal Issues - U.S. court dismisses antitrust lawsuits

Leptin Studies - Repeated fasting/refeeding elevates leptin without increasing fat mass

Leukemia - (MAsO)-O-III should be considered in treating other hematologic malignancies

Leukemia - Campath-1H could be indicated to treat severe immune complications of CLL

Leukemia - PI3K/Akt pathway helps regulate the apoptotic response of human leukemia cells

Licensing - Genetics company grants license to University of Utah

Lipid Studies - 17-Beta-estradiol and an antiestrogen regulate lipoprotein lipase expression

Lipid Studies - Conjugated linoleic acid lowers body fat in humans

Liposome-Delivered Therapy - Hepatic targeting can be achieved by mannosylation and uptake rate by PEGylation

Listeria - New tool on tap for tracing outbreaks to their source

Listeriosis - Discovery that deadly infection occurs in clusters could help in finding sources

Liver Transplantation - Rituximab for post-transplant lymphoproliferative disorder led to remission

Lung Cancer - Apoptosis inhibitors cIAP1 and cIAP2 are overexpressed and may be oncogenes

Lung Cancer - Calculation of standardized uptake values with hybrid PET is feasible

Lung Cancer - EGFRvIII is a potential therapeutic target in non-small cell lung cancer

Lung Cancer - High expression of Skp2 and Cks1 may be involved in the pathogenesis of NSCLCs

Lung Cancer - Immediate smoking cessation is the only way to avoid increased mortality

Lung Cancer - Phase II trial initiated for Triapine and gemcitabine

Lung Cancer - Radiologic features of bronchioalveolar carcinomas may need to be redefined

Lyme Disease - Many Borrelia burgdorferi genes have temperature sensitive expression

Lymphangioleiomyomatosis - Lung pathology may be explained by higher SRF and MMP, and lower TIMP-3

Lymphoma - Lower relapse, higher toxicity associated with allogeneic vs. autologous stem cell grafts

Lymphoma - Stem cell transplantation curative for mycosis fungoides

Macrophage Activity - Immunomodulatory properties of Bojung-bangam-tang increase IFN-gamma production

Malaria - Combination vaccine fares well

Malaria Drug Resistance - Plasmodial pfcrt 76T allele predicts chloroquine resistance

Malaria Therapy - Ceramide suppresses Plasmodium falciparum growth

Malaria Therapy - Nitric oxide could be effective as treatment

Malaria Therapy - Permethrin-treated bed nets cost-effective in endemic areas

Malaria Therapy - Plasmodial DHFR-TS structures reveal therapeutic targets

Managed Care - National class action suit settled

Matrix Protein - Laminin alpha 1 and gamma 1 chains bear redundant angiogenic sites

Measles - More than 30 million children affected despite cheap vaccine

Melanization - Melanin appears to contribute to many microbial pathogenic repertoires

Melanoma - A change in phenotype can occur in long-term tumor cultures

Melanoma - Lymphangiogenesis is a major characteristic of metastatic skin cancer

Melanoma - SCH66336 has good in vitro antitumor activity in both human and mouse melanoma

Melanoma - Study offers hope for first new treatment in decades

Menopause - Episodic verbal memory tends to be retained during menopausal transition

Menopause - Labeling changes for estrogen/progestin may be indicated following new findings

Menopause - Phase II/III trial for estradiol topical gel completed

Mental Health - New studies help control symptoms of acute bipolar mania

Mental Illness - Survey: Stigma, insurance, and access are barriers to improved health for schizophrenics

Mental Retardation - A mutation in E1 alpha pyruvate dehydrogenase mRNA may produce lactic acidosis

Mergers and Acquisitions - Acquisition agreement for Elan's primary care business restructured

Mergers and Acquisitions - Canadian company to be acquired by gene company

Mergers and Acquisitions - Combined company to focus on immunotherapeutics

Mergers and Acquisitions - PowderJect shares purchased by U.S. biotech company

Microbiology - 'Bacteria-eating' viruses may spread some infectious diseases

Minority Health - Grant program targets HIV/AIDS among multicultural communities in the South

Minority Health - Possible link between rapid infant weight gain and obesity in African-Americans

Minority Health - Systematic review of culturally aware healthcare systems comes up short

Mitochondrial Control - Redox proteins that can produce mammalian cell death have been conserved

Molecular Diagnostics - Alliance focused on automating testing for infectious diseases

Monoclonal Antibodies - Recent advances in recombinant antibodies for cancer therapy reviewed

Monoclonal Antibody Therapy - European Union approves treatment for Crohn disease

Multiple Myeloma - Hepatocyte growth factor/Met pathway potential therapeutic target

Multiple Myeloma - New data demonstrate that bone complications lead to increased costs

Multiple Myeloma - Stem cell transplants offer long-term control of chemosensitive disease

Multiple Sclerosis - Alleles responsible for disease are narrowed to DRB1*15 subtypes *1503 and *1501

Multiple Sclerosis - FDA clears new label for MS treatment

Multiple Sclerosis - Final phase II results presented for synthetic peptide

Muscular Dystrophy - U7 small nuclear RNAs use exon skipping to induce dystrophin gene correction

Mycobacteria - DnaE2 polymerase linked to drug resistance

Mycobacteria - One-step method developed for M. tuberculosis EPSP synthase purification

Myelodysplasia - Clinical trials suggest strong response in patients using Trisenox

Myelodysplastic Syndromes - Revimid, now in trials, holds promise

Myocardial Infarction - Cardiologists develop new protocol to treat heart attack patients

Nanotechnology - Founding partner named for new institute at MIT

Neurodegenerative Disease - Metabolic impairment can lead to microglial activation and cell death

Neurodegenerative Diseases - Researchers identify protein that could offer protection

Neurodegenerative Disorders - Poly(ADP-ribose) polymerase-1 controls inflammatory actions of microglia

Neurology - Developmental regulation of VEGF is fundamental to fetal brain angiogenesis

Neurology - The vitreous humor offers a new route for central nervous system gene delivery

Nicotine Addiction - Use of nicotine inhalers could reduce rates of smoking-related illnesses

Non-Hodgkin Lymphoma - Confirm CD20 expression on the malignant B cells before rituximab therapy

Nosocomial Infection - Contaminated intravenous anesthetic ampoules led to hepatitis C transmissions

Nucleoside Transport - Equilibrative nucleoside transporters have defined resting, active localizations

Nutrigenomics - Research shows how nutrients affect genes

Obesity - Rapid infant weight gain linked to obesity in African American young adults

Obesity Surgery - Learning curve for laparoscopic gastric bypass can be accomplished safely

Obesity Therapy - Breath test used to monitor mitochondrial oxidation in dieting women

Obesity Therapy - What works and what doesn't work in obesity treatment

Obstetrics - Birth center prenatal care and delivery a safe alternative for low-risk moms

Obstetrics - Doctors miss chances to help pregnant women quit smoking

Obstetrics - Maternal lead exposure during pregnancy impacts infant intelligence

Obstetrics - Type 2 diabetes linked to prenatal diabetic environment?

Occupational Exposure - Gallium arsenide impairs antigen processing by B cell thiol cathepsins

Oncology - Angiogenesis inhibitors govern after tumors undergo the angiogenic switch

Oncology - Diphtheria toxin A-chain expression inhibits bladder cancer cell growth

Oncology - Print material content and design is unrelated to pamphlet effectiveness

Ophthalmology - ADAMTS metalloproteinases are implicated in inflammatory eye diseases

Ophthalmology - Diabetes, high blood pressure increase risk of serious eye disease among blacks

Opportunistic Infection - Novel DHFR inhibitors effective against several pathogens

Organ Rejection - Company expands immunosuppressive drug pipeline with TAFA93,

Osteoporosis - Bisphosphonate is effective treatment for osteoporosis

Osteoporosis - Increasing evidence that osteoporosis begins in the womb

Osteosarcoma - No detectable TMM may identify a favorable clinical subset of patients

Otorhinolaryngology - Transcription factor may regulate heparanase expression in head and neck cancer

Outcomes - When it comes to complex procedures, is a bigger facility better?

Ovarian Cancer - Transport system x(c)(-) has an important role in CDDP resistance in cell lines

Overactive Bladder - New drug submission accepted for Canadian review

Pain - New filing for first Darvon line extension

Pain Medicine - Drugs that treat back pain also improve productivity

Pain Medicine - Hydromorphone Hydrochloride Injection added to U.S. product line

Pain Medicine - Nature sights and sounds ease pain during common lung procedure

Pain Signalling - Tumor necrosis factor-alpha activates p38 MAPK in primary sensory neurons

Pain and Inflammation - European approval granted for new oral COX-2 inhibitor

Pancreatitis - New study shows secretin reduces post-ERCP pancreatitis

Parasitology - New models for the study of hookworm infection have been developed

Parkinson Disease - Acupuncture can prevent 6-hydroxydopamine-induced neuronal death

Parkinson Disease - Coenzyme should be taken with vitamin E

Patents - JNK intellectual property estate broadened with Tufts agreement

Patents - Medtox gets lateral flow test strip patent

Patents - New manufacturing patent issued for AIDS vaccine, cystic fibrosis and arthritis programs

Patents - New technology for regenerative medicine

Patient Services - New alliance provides patient screening services for clinical trials

Pediatric Gastroenterology - Trial finds capsule endoscopy safe and effective for pediatric use

Pediatrics - Interferon-alpha is effective therapy for children with chronic hepatitis C

Peptic Ulcer Disease - Routine testing and treatment for H. pylori may increase costs

Perforated Colon - Colonic perforation follows intraoperative temporary pacemaker implantation

Personnel - Clinical cardiovascular sciences team expanded

Personnel - Company strengthens core development team

Personnel - Dr. Prabhavathi Fernandes named to supervisory board

Personnel - German company names Dr. Bernd R. Seizinger to board

Personnel - Global Path announces appointments, changes name, and makes acquisition

Personnel - Management appointments announced by analgesics company

Personnel - Molecular diagnostics company announces senior management changes

Personnel - New board of directors appointed at pharma firm

Personnel - New president, chief operating officer named at orthopedics products company

Personnel - Scientific advisory board established at biopharmaceutical company

Personnel - Specialty company announces management changes

Personnel - Synthetic antibody manufacturer announces re-election of supervisory board members

Pharmaceutical Technology - Companies sign integrator partner agreement

Pharmacogenetics - Assay quantitates cytochrome P450 mRNA levels in human skin

Pharmacology - Uridine diphosphate glucuronosyltransferase plays role in drug detoxification

Phytotherapy - Flavones isolated from Artemisia argyi have anticancer properties

Plasma Membrane Interactions - Junctional protein MAGI-3 links RPTP beta to tyrosine-phosphorylated substrates

Pneumonia - Five-day treatment with KETEK equivalent to 10 days of common antibiotics

Polycystic Kidney Disease - PKHDL1 encodes fibrocystin L, upregulated in normal activated T lymphocytes

Port-Catheter Placement - A targeting guide wire can be used in puncture of the subclavian artery

Post-Traumatic Stress Disorder - New research calls for heightened awareness of PTSD following childbirth

Prenatal Medicine - Nicotine consumption before and during pregnancy increases Caesarean risk

Prion Disease - Transmissible spongiform encephalopathy variants are identifiable in sheep

Prion Pathogenesis - Toll-like receptors do not appear to be involved in prion entry and spread

Proinflammatory Cytokine - PP2C epsilon, a protein phosphatase, complexes TAK1 until IL-1 is present

Prostate Cancer - An invasive phenotype is induced by Casodex in hormone-sensitive prostate cancer

Prostate Cancer - Department of Defense awards grant to Fox Chase Cancer Center researcher

Prostate Cancer - Gene expression profiling reveals Fra-1 as an Akt-inducible gene

Prostate Cancer - PSA test shown to have normal fluctuation, should be repeated before biopsy

Prostate Cancer - Patients need specific information on hormonal manipulation therapy

Prostate Cancer - Physical rehabilitation and information are perceived as beneficial by patients

Prostate Cancer - Polyamines may serve as important biomarkers of prostatic malignancy

Prostate Cancer - Study: Zometa increased bone density in nonmetastatic prostate cancer patients

Prostate Cancer - Successful inspection of manufacturing facility completed by German agency

Prostate Cancer - Whey may lower risk

Protein Sorting - Endosomes may have a multivalent ubiquitin-binding complex of Hrs, Eps15, STAMs

Protein Synthesis - Baculovirus expression systems produce antiangiogenic prolactin fragments

Protein Therapy - Proteomics may improve drug development process

Proteomics - CDKN1A polymorphisms may be important during the pathogenesis of skin cancer

Proteomics - Molecular dynamics in a liquid flow environment varies depending on force

Pseudomonas Aeruginosa - Bacterial elastase degrades bronchoalveolar surfactant proteins A and D

Psychosocial Issues - Many couples avoiding sex after cancer

Public Health - Affordable family housing and income segregation reduction programs reviewed

Public Health - Practical guide to bar coding developed for patient medication safety

Pulmonary Diagnostics - PC card converts computer into spirometer

Pulmonary Disease - Studies of roflumilast presented at American Thoracic Society conference

Pulmonary Hypertension - U.S. distribution agreement for Remodulin reached

Pulmonary Hypertension - VEGF-B overexpression attenuates chronic hypoxic hypertension in the lungs

Pulmonary Medicine - Cyclic stretch augments gene transfer in alveolar epithelial cells

Pulmonary Medicine - Epstein-Barr vector prolongs gene expression in mouse lung endothelial cells

RNA Splicing - Isis enters collaboration to create antisense drugs

Radiation Therapy - Intensity-modulated radiation almost doubles the chance of second cancers

Radiation Therapy - Sodium iodide symporter gene is associated with low retention and absorption

Raloxifene - Long-term raloxifene reduces circulating levels of estradiol and estrone

Regenerative Therapy - Phase I trial of interferon enhancing therapy completed

Renal Disease - Gene instillation prevents renal injury caused by protein overload

Renal Disease - The podocytes of anti-Thy-1 glomerulonephritis express Cyr61 angiogenic protein

Renal Transplantation - Rituximab and rapamycin treats post-transplant lymphoproliferative disease

Research - Genomic-based prospective medicine collaboration announced

Research Funding - Grant will fund study of human genes as anti-HIV drug targets

Retinopathy - A gene synonymous with macular degeneration is common to skin and thymus cells

Rhabdoid Tumor - Malignant rhabdoid tumor is distinct from neuroblastoma

Rheumatoid Arthritis - European agency grants positive opinion for Humira

Rheumatoid Arthritis - Molecular differences exist in anticytokine therapies

Risk Factors - Dental caries related to plasma IgG and alpha(1)-acid glycoprotein

SARS - Biologist to apply lessons learned from HIV studies to new outbreak

SARS - Chest imaging studies play key role in SARS diagnosis

SARS - Clinical course and management of disease described

SARS - Detection software for SARS debuts at two U.S. hospitals

SARS - Glacial pace of vaccine development hits overdrive

SARS - Public health measures can contain outbreaks, two modeling studies suggest

SARS - Severe acute respiratory syndroms shows weakness in biosecurity

Safflower Immunomodulator - Cytokine inhibition isn't restricted to one N-(P-coumaroyl)serotonin derivative

Salmonella Enterica - Typhimurium infection induces cyclooxygenase 2, thus hypersecretory phenotype

Schistosomiasis -  S. haematobium induces a high amount of kidney and bladder pathology

Schizophrenia - Aripiprazole demonstrates better weight change profile

Schizophrenia - Survey: Psychiatrists concerned about complications of antipsychotic medications

Sepsis - Fructose-1,6-bisphosphate induces reduction in IL2 receptors in T-lymphocytes

Shareholder Meeting - Pharmaceutical company announces results of annual meeting

Sickle Cell Disease - New clinical study to focus on arginine supplementation for sickle cell

Skin Cancer - Angiogenic growth factor may be the villain in basal cell carcinoma progression

Skin Cancer - Evidence points toward a critical role of p53 mutation in photocarcinogenesis

Skin Tumors - Blue light inhibits the growth of skin tumors in the v-Ha-ras transgenic mouse

Sleep Disorders - New, early data available on sleep compound

Smallpox - Vaccine provides more protection than previously thought

Solid Organ Transplantation - Beta-herpesviruses may be responsible for putative CMV infections

Soy Side Effects - Genistein in the diet may affect blood pressure and fluid retention

Space Flight - Negative effects on immunity in mice may reflect problems in humans

Staphylococcal Infection - Transcriptional repressor MntR involved in S. aureus virulence

Stem Cell Research - 5-Azacytidine can reactivate erythroid potential of myeloid-restricted cells

Stem Cell Research - Adult myogenic precursors migrate through host muscle in chimeric mice

Stem Cell Research - Mesenchymal stem cells form cartilage in alginate beads

Stem Cell Research - Periventricular cells in rats are potential neural stem cells

Stem Cell Research - VEGF correlates with FAB categories in patients with acute myeloid leukemia

Stem Cell Transplantation - High-dose etoposide with melphalan effective conditioning

Stem Cell Transplantation - Molecular HLA typing prevents complications with unrelated grafts

Stem Cell Transplantation - Pre-emptive rituximab treatment prevents EBV-related LPD

Stem Cell Transplantation - Reduced antithymocyte globulin dose improves outcome in CMV-seropositive patients

Stock Market - Exchange to trade three new options

Stock Market - Lynx announces transfer to the NASDAQ SmallCap Market

Stock Market - Proposed delisting of common stock reported by vaccine company

Stockholder Meeting - Interpore holds annual stockholders meeting

Streptococcus Pneumoniae - Study: Telithromycin highly active against resistant strains

Stroke - Drug may work on secondary clots

Subarachnoid Hemorrhage - Bleeding strokes in young and middle-aged adults largely preventable

Sudden Cardiac Death - Fish oils in heart cells can block dangerous heart rhythms

Synovial Sarcoma - Computed tomographic scans showed well-defined masses without calcifications

Systemic Lupus Erythematosus - Kikuchi and lupus lymphadenitis are distinguishable histologically

Systemic Lupus Erythematosus - Phosphoserine-366 subset of anti-La (SS-B) autoantibodies is only nucleoplasmic

Systemic Salmonella - virK, somA, and rcsC are needed for cationic peptide resistance in macrophages

T Cell Activation - CD8+ T lymphocytes respond differently to antigen depending on exposure time

T-Cell Activation - Quantitative and qualitative aspects of CD28 influence the triggering threshold

T-Cell Deactivation - Negative feedback can occur with inhibitory adapters or costimulatory receptors

T-Cell Function - SOCS1 has many roles, including control over protein degradation

T-Cell Protein - SKAP-55 regulates T cell-APC conjugates and interaction with integrin

T-Cell Regulation - T-cell protein Sin appears to negatively regulate T cell function

Testicular Cancer - Radiotherapy with 16 Gy may fail to eradicate intraepithelial neoplasia

Therapy - Genteric to collaborate to deliver DNA into the salivary gland

Therapy - Studies examine a monotherapy for acute mania associated with bipolar disorder

Therapy - Study shows effective therapy for sleep apnea

Therapy - Study shows new treatment for pulmonary hypertension related to cirrhosis

Thromboembolism Prevention - Low intensity anticoagulation, as performed in a clinic, is effective and safe

Thyroid Cancer - Lower p130 expression may be linked to tumor aggressiveness

Transfusion Medicine - Hematopoietic stem cells aid renal tubule repair after ischemia in mice

Transient Ischemia - Poly(ADP-ribose) polymerase inhibitors may lower brain edema and cell death

Transplant Medicine - New guidelines call for better management of new-onset diabetes after transplant

Tuberculosis Drug Resistance - Low isoniazid affinity by mutant KatG plays key role

Tuberculosis Pathogenesis - Interleukin-10 not responsible for lack of efficacy in Th1 response

Tuberculosis Therapy - Fluoroquinolones, linezolid combine synergistically with standard drugs

Tuberculosis Therapy - Pantoyl adenylate analogs may inhibit pantothenate synthesis

Tuberculosis Vaccine - Candiate lipoprotein actually triggers counterproductive response

Tumor Cell Death - Morphine alone or with naloxone may reduce the growth of certain tumors

Type 2 Diabetes - GLP-1 gene transfer improves insulin secretion in rodent diabetes models

Type 2 Diabetes - Novel drugs in development

Type 2 Diabetes Therapy - Glyburide slows glucose production rates in impaired fasting glucose patients

Type I Diabetes - Data from Symlin dose-titration study released

Ubiquitin-like Protein - BMSC-UbP found in human bone marrow stromal cells may play a regulatory role

Ulcerative Colitis - Study: MLN02 produced significant improvement

Umbilical Cord Blood - Novel gas chromatography-mass spectrometry assay measures F-2-isoprostanes

Uterine Cancer - Black women face worse prognosis than white women

Vaccine Research - R&D collaboration with Antigen Express announced for SARS vaccine development

Vascular Disease - Approach to treating vascular disorders wins for Hebrew University researcher

Vector Development - Rapid onset diseases could be treated with vectors offering quick transfection

Vectors - Study highlights potential danger of gene therapy

Viral Genetics - The transmembrane domain of HCV E1 protein may promote viral pathogenesis

Virology - Adaptation causes hepatitis C diversification after liver transplantation

Virology - Replicating adenovirus codes for multiple genes using native promoters

Virus Infections - Lipid rafts are involved in virus assembly as well as pseudotype formation

Weight Gain - Chronic paroxetine infusion influences macronutrient selection in rats

West Nile Virus - FDA authorizes clinical trials for West Nile virus test

Women's Health - PR delta6/2 ASV mRNA was expressed more frequently in breast cancer tissues

Yersinia Enterocolitica - A type II secretion system may be related to higher pathogenicity

Zinc-Dependent Genes - Identification of T cell development related genes will permit individual study