Drug Week

Herpesvirus - Herpesvirus 8 infection linked to hepatitis B and HIV infections in Ugandans

Hippocampal - Poly(ADP-ribose) polymerase reduction occurs during stress-related cell death

Histamine Receptor Function - Histamine receptors can bind many molecules, resulting in diverse actions

Hypercholesterolemia - FDA approves new therapy

Hypertension Risk Factor - Activation of central baroreceptor pathway sustained in hypertension

Imaging - Researchers distinguish between kinds of dementia using brain imaging

Imaging Purchase - InSight completes purchase of mobile imaging assets in eastern U.S.

Immune Evasion -  Peptostreptococcus magnus protein L has immunoglobulin binding domains

Immunology - Chromatin antibodies associate with autoimmune hepatitis pathology

Immunology - Inactivated parapoxvirus ovis protects against hepatitis and herpes viruses

Immunology - Interleukin-21 gene therapy activates perforin-dependent tumor immunity

Immunology - Patent granted for ISA247, a calcineurin inhibitor

Immunology - Shark cartilage protein stimulates antitumor immunity in murine models

Immunosuppression - Bone marrow transplant has characteristic risks for pulmonary complications

Immunosuppression Risk - Embryonal rhabdomyosarcoma can occur following liver transplant

Infection Control - Company expands Ramoplanin program with launch of infection control study

Infection Control - E Med Future begins NeedleZap distribution in Uganda

Infection Susceptibility - Mannose-binding lectin quantity, thus infection resistance, may be genetic

Infectious Disease - Gilead inks nonexclusive HCV licensing agreement, initiate research programs

Infectious Disease - Integron-bearing but drug-susceptible E. coli strains found in Rio Grande

Infectious Disease - New patents granted on oral-dosed, broad-spectrum immune activators

Infectious Disease - The structure of a key enzyme solved

Infertility - Different techniques can manage ovarian hyperstimulation syndrome

Infertility - Sperm mobility and oocyte number predict multinucleate formation in human IVF

Inflammatory Immunoglobulin - Triggering receptor on myeloid cells can cause sepsis, acute inflammation

Inflammatory Responses - Sex differences in asthma and atopy may relate to hormones

Information Technology - Drug information available in handheld database

Inherited Disease - The cathepsin C gene now has 2 mutations linked to Papillon-Lefevre syndrome

Insect Sting Allergy - Insect sting anaphylaxis appears related to mastocytosis, urticaria pigmentosa

Interlukin Expression - IFN-alpha induces binding of IRF-1 and Stat3 to the IL-10 promoter

Interstitial Cystitis - Study finds limited benefit from two oral drugs

Intravenous Immunoglobulin - IVIG is immunomodulatory, anti-inflammatory, and provides passive immunization

Kidney Transplant - The use of IVIG in renal transplant may help suppress panel reactive antibodies

Left Ventricular Hypertrophy - New treatment for enlarged heart effective

Leishmaniasis -  Leishmania major chromosome 3 contains two gene clusters

Leptin Studies - Ins and outs of leptin receptor activation reviewed

Leukemia - Targeted approaches may lead to better treatment of chronic lymphocytic leukemia

Leukemia - Tumors with a high proliferation index have a poor prognosis

Leukemia Therapy - AML karyotype strongly influences benefits of pre-HSCT consolidation chemotherapy

Liver Failure - Hybrid artificial liver support systems can stem hepatic decline

Liver Transplantation - Monitoring blood samples may be a better way to optimize cyclosporine A dosage

Lung Cancer - ALG-2 may be a player in survival pathways in lung cancer

Lymphoma - Brief chemotherapy plus rituximab is an option for elderly patients with NHL

Lymphoma - The anti-CD20 monoclonal antibody rituximab is generally well tolerated

Lymphoma Therapy - R-HDS regimen with stem cell autografting effective against mantle cell lymphoma

Macular Degeneration - Cholesterol lowering drugs may prevent degenerative eye disease

Macular Degeneration - Clinical trial: Squalamine improves vision in wet AMD

Malaria - Exoerythrocytic stages of Plasmodium inui shortti shown in new world monkeys

Malaria Therapy - Amodiaquine with SP superior to chloroquine for first-line malaria treatment

Market Analysis - Coronary heart disease market to reach $23B in 2012

Medicare - CMS proposes new rules to pay appropriately for covered drugs

Medicare - Federal funding preserved for hospital pharmacy residencies

Memory T Cells - Killing is much more efficient than previously thought, upon virus re-exposure

Menopause - Grape components lower triglycerides and cholesterol levels in menopause models

Mental Health - APOE genotype joins fetal or neonatal malnutrition as a risk for schizophrenia

Mergers and Acquisitions - FTC clears Biogen merger

Mergers and Acquisitions - Gen-Probe announces acquisition

Mergers and Acquisitions - Genesis Bioventures announces merger

Mergers and Acquisitions - Pharmaceutical research company buys Clinical Pharmacology Associates

Mergers and Acquistions - InnaPhase finalizes acquisition of laboratory automation operations

Metastatic Cancer - Interferon-gamma suppresses S100A4 transcription

Microfluidics - Big pharma orders make for successful commercial launch for Dynaflow

Migraine Headache - Screener found highly reliable in undiagnosed patients

Multiple Myeloma - Myeloma cell contamination minimal in melphalan-mobilized stem cell grafts

Multiple Myeloma - Thalidomide has been found to be effective for relapsed or refractory myeloma

Mutagenesis - Baculovirus expression vector system allows mutant actin protein studies

Mutagenesis - Deletion in endocytic receptor gene Endo180 impairs collagen uptake

Mutagenesis - Suppressor mutations define Cbp1 protein regions important for mRNA stability

Neurological Activity - CART peptides can act as psychostimulants and reduce some cocaine effects

Neurology - Early endosomes carry nerve growth factor retrograde signals

Neuropsychiatric Drugs - Phase I clinical testing of ACP-103 complete

Neuroscience - Gli2 required for Shh signaling and oligodendrocyte maturity in spinal cord

Neuroscience - MCK-driven dystrophin ameliorates muscular dystrophy in murine fast muscles

Neuroscience - Phosphorylation of calsenilin at Ser63 regulates its cleavage by caspase-3

Neuroscience - RhoG activates Rac1 by interaction with Dock180-binding protein Elmo

Neuroscience - Serial analysis of gene expression provides insight into nervous system

Neurotransmission - The central portion of Bassoon is involved in synaptic targeting, CAZ anchoring

Non-Hodgkin Lymphoma - Delaying chemotherapy could be best treatment option

Obesity Risk Factor - Children just as likely to choose toys as candy on Halloween

Obesity Therapy - Exendin-4, a GLP-1 receptor agonist, suppresses food intake in rats

Obesity Therapy - Inverse agonism provides insight into obesity control

Obesity Therapy - Medicare and Medicaid pay half of costs for overweight and obesity

Obstetrics - Delaying treatment for an ectopic pregnancy is unethical

Obstetrics - Leptin and hCG modulate new vessel growth at the maternal/fetal interface

Obstetrics - Lifestyle changes aid pregnant women with nausea and vomiting

Obstetrics - Monoamine transporters are involved in several reproductive processes

Obstetrics - Taking painkillers during pregnancy increases risk of miscarriage

Oncogenesis - Collagen XVII expression is reduced, then increased en route to oral cancer

Oncogenesis - Host angiotensin II type 1 receptor signals foster tumor angiogenesis

Oncology - Assay sensitivity sways the results of gene distribution analysis

Oncology - COX-2 causes prostaglandin E2 to modulate pancreatic cancer angiogenesis

Ophthalmic Therapy - Company announces submission of second Vitrase NDA to the FDA

Oral Lichen Planus - Infiltrating CD8+ T cells express CCR5, CXCR3 and their chemokine ligands

Osteoporosis - Therapy that prevents bone loss also reverses cholesterol transport

Ovarian Cancer - Autoschizis is the principal form of cell death from in vitro vitamins

Ovarian Cancer - Transcriptional and transductional targeting improve gene delivery to ovaries

Pain Management - Well-designed trials are needed to determine management of opioid side effects

Pain Medicine - First Flexogan order delivered to Canadian retailer

Pancreatic Cancer - Novel targets for aberrant methylation in pancreatic carcinoma found

Pancreatic Islets - Islet volume increased while islet number remains unchanged in ob/ob mice

Pancreatitis - Mutation in SPINK1 gene linked to idiopathic pancreatitis in Italian patients

Parasitology - Trypanosomes lacking pre-mRNA, gRNA still form functional RNA-editing complexes

Parkinson Disease - New drug reduces advanced disease symptoms

Parkinson Disease - Some over-the-counter pain relievers may reduce risk

Patents - Patent pending for antibodies to treat solid organ, cell transplant rejection

Pediatric Radiology - Causes of lower-extremity bowing must be distinguished for proper management

Personnel - Anderson joins scientific advisory board at cancer drug firm

Personnel - Bernard Questier becomes chief business officer of drug discovery company

Personnel - Buccal drug delivery company hires GunnAllen Financial as advisor

Personnel - Daniel Levitt named VP, chief medical officer of biopharmaceutical company

Personnel - Dr. Farkad Ezzet joins science/IT consulting firm

Personnel - Durrant named president of pediatric drug firm

Personnel - Martone appointed head of medical affairs at pharmaceutical firm

Pharmaceutical Marketing - Physicians using online marketing content, spending less time with sales reps

Pharmaceutical Research - NIH awards grant to Florida A&M

Pharmacokinetics - FDA incentive program improves study of medications for children

Pharmacy - Web-based self-assessment tool helps pharmacy managers improve quality

Pharmacy Management - Kodak to provide service and support to Parata customers

Photodynamic Therapy - Sulfonamide derivatives of porphycene are candidates for treating nasal cancers

Plasmodium Falciparum - Study reveals genetic activity of key step in malaria parasite's cycle,

Pneumococcal Vaccine - 23-Valent polysaccharide pneumococcal vaccine not effective in Navajo adults

Prader-Willi Syndrome - Surgery successful in morbidly obese Prader-Willi syndrome patient

Pregnancy Complications - Hormone imbalance and anti-thyroid antibodies may cause postpartum depression

Pregnancy Complications - Placental villotrophoblastic pulmonary emboli can occur following abortion

Preventive Medicine - Macrophage migration inhibitory factor acts in septic shock, may be good target

Prion - Small interfering RNAs inhibit pathological prion protein accumulation

Prostate Cancer - Beta-catenin induces hyperplasias and squamous transdifferentiation

Prostate Cancer - Drug that mimics vitamin D hormone may boost effectiveness of treatment

Prostate Cancer - Osteoporosis needs to be managed in men with prostate cancer

Prostate Inflammation - Chronic pelvic pain syndrome could be produced by pressure, nerve aggravation

Proteomics -  late expression factor-8 gene necessary for optimal baculovirus function

Proteomics - Analysis of E. coli W3110 expressing heterologous sigma factor reported

Proteomics - Annexin I interaction "unmasked" from structure of apo-S100A11

Proteomics - Bax and Bak localize to endoplasmic reticulum to initiate apoptosis

Proteomics - FMRP interacting protein shows intracellular localization

Proteomics - Human protein TIN2 stimulates interactions between telomeric DNA tracts

Proteomics - Increase in NO production by bradykinin mediated by protein kinase A pathway

Proteomics - Oxidative stress induces 1-cys peroxiredoxin expression in lung cells

Proteomics - Phosphinic acid-based MMP-13 inhibitors spare MMP-1 and MMP-3

Proteomics - Proteasome-interacting motif found in ubiquitin-like domain of parkin

Proteomics - Researchers search for new cyclic AMP-binding proteins

Proteomics - Sum1 and Ndt80 proteins compete for binding to sporulation element sequences

Proteomics - The true bioactive conformation of anginex is the beta sheet

Proteomics - Up-regulation of elastin gene expression related to increase in transcription

Psoriasis - FDA gives green light to U.S. phase I clinical trials for Psoraxine

Psoriasis - Treatment passes Phase II clinical trials

Psoriasis Research - VitD₃ downregulates CXCR2, thus inhibiting keratinocyte proliferation

Public Offering - Biotech company announces common stock offering, second quarter results

Public Offering - MRI pharmaceutical company announces pricing of 4,300,000 shares of common stock

Pulmonary Tuberculosis - Adjunctive interleukin-2 does not improve anti-TB treatment efficacy

RNA Research - Reverse Hoogsteen base pair 54-58 important for tRNA function

RNA Research - Translational efficiency helps regulate expression of RNA binding protein

Rabies - Rabies reported among infrequently affected mammalian carnivores in U.S.

Radiotoxicity -  Aegle marmelos extract prevents radiation damage in blood cells

Receptor Signaling - Toll-like receptor 4 has MyD88-independent pathway for inducing interferons

Receptor Signaling - Toll-like receptor signaling is dependent on adapter proteins such as MyD88

Regulatory Issues - FDA pledging get-tough stance with drug over-promotion

Respiratory Disease - Nasal vaccine may increase protection

Respiratory Syncytial Virus - Respiratory syncytial virus fusion inhibitor escape mutants characterized

Restenosis - Happy Valley Medical strikes deal to evaluate Ceracor

Rheumatology - Propolis has stronger effects against IL-1 beta in cartilage than indomethacin

Sales - Genesis Technology launches drug registration program with U.S. sales force

Schizophrenia - A treatable form of the psychosis was found in Hashimoto thyroiditis patient

Schizophrenia - Illness could cause patients to forget their medication

Schizophrenia Therapy - Mood stabilizers do not affect GSK-3 beta protein levels or GSK-3 activity

Sepsis - NF-kappa B increases occur with organ failure; targeting it may reduce risk

Sleep Disorders - Report tells older Americans how to fight sleeplessness

Smallpox Vaccine - Encephalitis is complication of smallpox vaccination

Smallpox Vaccine - Many aspects of smallpox vaccination reviewed

Solid Tumors - Manipulation of the vasculature with TNF improves response

Staffing - Small hospitals struggling to recruit, retain pharmacists

Stem Cell Research - Bone marrow cells aid repair of necrotic renal tubules

Stem Cell Research - Bone marrow derived cells could heal organs through wound entry

Stem Cell Research - Diclofenac is toxic to neural stem cells

Stem Cell Transplantation - GVHD, glucocorticoid treatment impair IPC recovery in stem cell recipients

Stock Market - Biotech firm reports conditional continued listing on NASDAQ SmallCap

Stock Market - Infectious disease-focused company approved for AMEX

Stock Sale - Biopharmaceutical company raises $2.7 million in private placement financing

Streptococcus - Gene linked to Streptococcus pyogenes in asymptomatic carriers

Stroke - Penicillin may help prevent strokes in the elderly

Systemic Lupus Erythematosus - A wide variety of treatments being researched for lupus are more targeted

T Cell Function - CD30 is not only in lymphoma, it is an important regulator of T cell functions

T-Cell Activation - Rho kinase is involved in structural and related activation functions of T cells

Targeted Therapy - Complement inhibitor-CR fusion proteins inhibit complement activation better

Thrombin Inhibition - Ximelagatran is safe given twice daily in a fixed dose regimen

Thrombogenesis - Beta-2-glycoprotein I is higher in lupus, antiphospholipid syndrome macrophages

Thromboprophylaxis - Are patients with cancer receiving adequate thromboprophylaxis?

Thromboprophylaxis - Dalteparin reduces the risk of recurrent thrombosis in cancer patients

Thromboprophylaxis - Some cancer patients do not receive adequate treatment for thrombosis

Thromboprophylaxis - There is an expanding role for antithrombotic therapy in cancer patients

Thrombosis - Drug-coated red blood cells destroy blood clots from within

Thrombosis - Inhibitors of tissue factor VIIa complex designed as antithrombotic drugs

Thrombosis - Thrombosis risk is higher due to increased apoptosis during treatment

Tissue Engineering - Carnegie Mellon develops new process for growing bone

Total Joint Arthroplasty - Melagatran/ximelagatran effective in preventing VTE after orthopedic surgery

Transplant Medicine - Absolute lymphocyte count recovery at 30 d associated with CD34+ graft survival

Transplant Medicine - Complement C4d in graft capillaries may mean rejection; it may be controllable

Transplant Medicine - Homograft endocarditis can be caused by Rhodotorula mucilaginosa

Transplant Medicine - Optimized procedures improve suicide gene therapy in graft-versus-host disease

Transplant Risk - Intestinal transplant recipients can develop calicivirus enteritis

Trends - Devices and prescription drugs driving growth in U.S. pain management market

Trends - Early-stage pharmaceuticals: R&D spending doubles, NDAs plummet

Tuberculosis Therapy - Mangosteen-derived agents have potent anti-TB activity

Tuberculosis Vaccine - Recent progress in development of vaccines against tuberculosis reviewed

Type 2 Diabetes Therapy - Management of obese diabetic patient discussed

Type 2 Diabetes Therapy - Thiazolidinediones play increasing role in metabolic syndrome therapy

Upper Airways - Pain, itch, and perhaps other nociceptive nerve types exist in the upper airway

Ureaplasma -  Ureaplasma multiple banded proteins exhibit phase-shifting mechanism

Urinary Tract Infection - Crystallization, calculus formation depend on type of Proteus endotoxin

Urologic Symptoms - Prostatitis and interstitial cystitis may have similar symptoms

Urology - A new animal model will further the study of stress urinary incontinence

Urology - Female urethra perception threshold evaluations yield valuable data

Utilization - Aging boomers drive up doctor visits

Vaccine Adjuvant - Mixture of CpG oligodeoxynucleotides may be needed for effective vaccine

Vaccine Delivery -  Bacillus spores show promise for vaccine delivery

Vaccine Development - Effort to develop vaccines against helminth diseases reviewed

Vaccine Efficacy - HIV-1-infected children have impaired immunological memory

Vaccine Efficacy - Implications of genetic traits on vaccine efficacy outlined

Vascular Medicine - The matrix protein Del-1 initiates angiogenesis in ischemic tissues

Vector Development - Better gene expression can be attained with modified adeno-associated virus

Vector Development - Polyethylene glycol FGF2 conjugates retarget adenoviruses to select domains

Viral Genomics - Amino acid substitutions on the ISDR associate with hepatitis C viral load

Viral Hepatitis - GBV-B infections in marmosets closely resemble human hepatitis C virology

Virology - Canarypox virus is a safe vector for use in human p53 cancer vaccine

Virology - Combinatorial approaches enhance the selection of receptor-specific vectors

West Nile Virus - Clinical trial cleared for NeuGene against virus; financial results reported

Wound Care - Nutritional and pharmacological strategies can enhance wound healing

Wound Care - Ultrasound aids wound bed preparation of chronic wounds

Wound Repair - Duke investigators develop a clinical model of dermal wound angiogenesis