Drug Week articles from January 2009

Drug Week archives from January 2009

Discovery could improve the lives of premature babies.
January 2, 2009... Scientists funded by the Biotechnology and Biological Sciences Research Council (BBSRC) have identified a potential new avenue for altering lung development in the embryo which may help to improve the outcome for very premature babies. The...

Study shows how shift workers can improve job performance and implement a realistic sleep schedule.
January 2, 2009... A new study finds the use of light exposure therapy, dark sunglasses and a strict sleep schedule can help night-shift workers create a "compromise circadian phase position," which may result in increased performance and alertness during night...

University of Maryland researchers discover gene mutation that appears to help prevent heart disease.
January 2, 2009... Researchers at the University of Maryland School of Medicine in Baltimore have discovered a novel gene mutation among the Old Order Amish population that significantly reduces the level of triglycerides in the blood and appears to help prevent...

Researchers map new path to colon cancer therapy.
January 2, 2009... University of Texas Medical Branch at Galveston researchers have identified a promising new target in the battle against colorectal cancer u a biochemical pathway critical to the spread of tumors to new locations in the body. If this "survival...

Studies from University of California provide new data on acute bronchitis.
January 2, 2009... According to a study from the United States, "Antibiotic treatment is not recommended for acute bronchitis in immunocompetent patients in industrialised countries. Whether these recommendations are relevant to the developing world and to...

Research conducted at Anhui University has updated our knowledge about pharmaceuticals.
January 2, 2009... According to recent research from Hefei, People's Republic of China, "A novel norlignan derivative, crassifogenin C (1), and a known compound, curcapital (2), were isolated from the ethanolic extract of the rhizomes of Curculigo crassifolia....

New pharmacy research data have been reported by K.A. Mergenhagen and co-authors.
January 2, 2009... According to recent research from the United States, "A case of increased International Normalized Ratio (INR) values in a patient receiving warfarin who consumed a large amount of cranberry sauce is reported. A 75-year-old Caucasian man with...

Reports by L. Mahaney and co-researchers describe recent advances in pharmacy research.
January 2, 2009... "Nontraditional work schedules for pharmacists at three institutions are described. The demand for pharmacists and health care in general continues to increase, yet significant material changes are occurring in the pharmacy work force,"...

Studies from University of Alberta provide new data on pharmacy research.
January 2, 2009... According to recent research from Edmonton, Canada, "The evolution of prescribing by pharmacists in Alberta is described. The prescribing model for pharmacists registered with the Alberta College of Pharmacists is defined by three categories of...

New radiopharmaceuticals data have been reported by I. Koslowsky and co-authors.
January 2, 2009... According to recent research from Edmonton, Canada, "The potential for radiolabeled antisense oligonucleotides to image gene expression combined with the enhanced resolution of positron-emission tomography justifies the continued interest in...

Reports from International Atomic Energy Agency advance knowledge in radiopharmaceuticals.(Report)
January 2, 2009... "The International Atomic Energy Agency conducted a Coordinated Research Project on 'Labelling of Small Biomolecules Using Novel Technetium-99m Cores' during 2003-2006. Thirteen research groups from Asia, Europe, North and South America...

Research from Beijing Normal University yields new findings on radiopharmaceuticals.
January 2, 2009... According to recent research published in the Journal of Labelled Compounds & Radiopharmaceuticals, "This paper reports the synthesis of new potential 5-HT1A receptor ligand N-[3-[4-(2-methoxyphenyl)piperaziny-1-yl]propyl]cyclam (MPPC) and...

Studies from B. Kuhnast and co-researchers update current data on radiopharmaceuticals.
January 2, 2009... According to recent research from Orsay, France, "FPyKYNE (2-fluoro-3-pent-4-yn-1-yloxypyridine)is a novel fluoropyridine-based structure, designed for the fluorine-18 labelling of macromolecules using copper-catalysed Huisgen 1,3-dipolar...

New study shows that a cough medicine ingredient could effectively treat prostate cancer.
January 9, 2009... A study published in the December issue of the European medical journal Anticancer Research demonstrates that an ingredient used in a common cough suppressant may be useful in treating advanced prostate cancer. Researchers found that noscapine,...

UC Davis discovery offers hope for treating kidney cancer.
January 9, 2009... Kidney cancer is typically without symptoms until it has spread to other organs, when it is also the most difficult to treat. Newer chemotherapies show great promise for extending survival during later disease stages, but they can also be...

Genetic markers identified for alcohol response in UCSF Gallo study.
January 9, 2009... Researchers at the UCSF Ernest Gallo Clinic and Research Center have identified a region on the human genome that appears to determine how strongly drinkers feel the effects of alcohol and thus how prone they are to alcohol abuse (see also...

What is the clinical character of Fitz-Hugh-Curtis syndrome?
January 9, 2009... Fitz-Hugh-Curtis syndrome is characterized by inflammation in perihepatic capsules with concomitant pelvic inflammation. The pain in the right upper abdomen appeared as the main symptom. These cases have to be cautiously differentiated from...

What is the mechanism of the chronic radiation enteritis?
January 9, 2009... The use of radiation therapy to treat cancer inevitably involves exposure of normal tissues. Although the benefits of this treatment have been well established, a number of patients experience distressing complications as a result injury to...

Research from University of Athens in the area of antimicrobial chemotherapy described.
January 9, 2009... "To study the performance of the Becton-Dickinson Link 2 Strep A Rapid Test, a rapid antigen detection test (RADT) for diagnosing streptococcal pharyngitis in children presenting to private offices and to the Pediatric Outpatient Clinic of a...

Study findings on clinical pharmacology are outlined in reports from University of Barcelona.(Clinical report)
January 9, 2009... According to recent research published in the International Journal of Clinical Pharmacology and Therapeutics, "The purpose of this study was to determine if different methods for average bioequivalence in high variability drugs coincide or not...

Study results from Novartis provide new insights into clinical pharmacology.(Clinical report)
January 9, 2009... "Oxcarbazepine (Trileptal((R))) is an antiepileptic drug used as monotherapy or adjunctive therapy in the treatment of partial seizures in adults and children. The primary objective of this study was to asess the bioequivalence Trileptal((R))...

Study results from T. Mixcoatlzecuat and colleagues in the area of clinical pharmacology published.(Clinical report)
January 9, 2009... According to a study from Nuevo Leon, Mexico, "Anticonvulsants, including gabapentin and carbamazepine, have shown activity against several types of neuropathic pain: however, they have limiting side effects that may minimize their use. In this...

Investigators at University of Texas zero in on drug delivery science and technology.(Report)
January 9, 2009... According to a study from the United States, "The objective of this study was to investigate the influence of ethylcellulose (EC), a high glass transition temperature, non-enteric polymer, on the physical stability and drug release properties...

New drug delivery science and technology research reported from University of Trieste.
January 9, 2009... "The paper is devoted to the investigation of microwave irradiation (MW) for the preparation of solvent free solid dispersion (SD). Precisely, sustained release solid dispersions containing different drug-to-polymer ratios were developed by...

New drug delivery science and technology study findings have been reported from University of Trieste.(Report)
January 9, 2009... "In this study, the suitability as rapid release dosage forms for ibuprofen of cylindrically shaped extrudates based on GElucire 50/13 and Polyethylene glycol 4000 was investigated. Several drug to carrier weight ratios were processed in a...

New drug delivery science and technology study results reported from A. Mcmahon et al.
January 9, 2009... According to a study from Cork, Ireland, "Amphiphilic cyclodextrins (CDs) with various lipophilic chain lengths were used as vectors for transfection of Hep G2 hepatocytes in vitro." "Transgene expression increased with increasing chain...

Research from Assiut University in the area of drug delivery science and technology published.
January 9, 2009... "The technique of crystallization from different aqueous surfactant solutions has been employed in the present study for the purpose of enhancing the solubility and dissolution rate of mebendazole (MBZ), thereby: the limited systemic...

Research from University of Cagliari yields new data on drug delivery science and technology.
January 9, 2009... According to a study from Cagliari, Italy, "The influence of drug concentration and vesicel composition on the (trans)dermal delivery of tretinoin (TRA) was studied.To this purpose tretinoin was incorporated at different concentrations in...

Studies from S.K. Jain et al further understanding of drug delivery science and technology.
January 9, 2009... "The present study is aimed at developing hydrogel microspheres of chitosan grafted with vinyl polymers for the controlled release of 5-ASA to the colon in rodents. The graft copolymer of chitosan with acrylamide was synthesized and used to...

Studies from Sankyo Co., Ltd. have provided new information about drug delivery science and technology.
January 9, 2009... "The enhancing effects of d-limonene, 1-dodecyl azacycloheptan-2-one (Azone), capric acid, oleic acid, lauroyl sarcosine (LS), and N,N-dimethyldodecylamine N-oxide (LDAO) were evaluated at pH 5 and 10 on the permeation of ketotifen through...

Researchers at Haukeland University release new data on investigational drugs.
January 9, 2009... "All-trans retinoic acid (ATRA) is mandatory in the treatment of acute promyelocytic leukaemia (APL). Experimental studies suggest that ATRA can induce differentiation and apoptosis in leukaemia cells also for other acute myelogenous leukaemia...

Research from University of Concepcion provides new data about pharmaceutical research.
January 9, 2009... "Atistotelia chilensis (Mol.) Stuntz (A. chilensis), also known as maqui, is a plant of the Elaeocarpaceae family that grows in central and southern Chile as well as southwestern Argentina. Infusions of its leaves have long been used in the...

Research on pharmaceutical research discussed by scientists at Chinese University of Hong Kong.
January 9, 2009... "Equilibrium moisture sorptions of two dried aqueous herbal extracts and their mixtures with dextrans of various molecular weights were investigated as a function of relative humidity at ambient temperature, and the data were analyzed by both...

Recent studies by A. Degusseme and co-authors add new data to pharmaceutical sciences findings.
January 9, 2009... "In this article, we study the physical transformations of the forms III and IV of fananserine upon mechanical milling. The investigations have been performed through X-Ray powder diffraction and differential scanning calorimetry experiments,"...

Reports summarize pharmacology research from Washington University, Medical Department.(Report)
January 9, 2009... "Fipronil is the active ingredient in a number of widely used insecticides. Human exposure to fipronil leads to symptoms (headache, nausea and seizures) typically associated with the antagonism of GABA(A) receptors in the brain," researchers in...

Scientists at University of Sao Paulo publish research in pharmacology.
January 9, 2009... According to a study from Ribeirao Preto, Brazil, "Control of food intake is a complex behaviour which involves many interconnected brain structures. The present work assessed if the noradrenergic system in the lateral septum (LS) was involved...

Impaired energy metabolism linked with initiation of plaques in Alzheimer's brain.
January 16, 2009... Scientists have identified an initiating molecular mechanism in sporadic Alzheimer's disease (AD). The study, published by Cell Press in the December 26th issue of the journal Neuron, provides new information about generation of damaging...

UC Davis researchers find molecule that targets brain tumors.
January 16, 2009... UC Davis Cancer Center researchers report the discovery of a molecule that targets glioblastoma, a highly deadly form of cancer. The finding, which is published in the January 2009 issue of the European Journal of Nuclear Medicine and Molecular...

Cancer drug effectively treats transplant rejections.
January 16, 2009... University of Cincinnati (UC) researchers have discovered a new therapy for transplant patients, targeting the antibody-producing plasma cells that can cause organ rejection (see also University of Cincinnati). Results of the study are...

University of Maryland researchers identify common gene variant linked to high blood pressure.
January 16, 2009... Researchers at the University of Maryland School of Medicine have identified a common gene variant that appears to influence people's risk of developing high blood pressure, according to the results of a study being published online Dec. 29,...

Errors involving medications common in outpatient cancer treatment.
January 16, 2009... Seven percent of adults and 19 percent of children taking chemotherapy drugs in outpatient clinics or at home were given the wrong dose or experienced other mistakes involving their medications, according to a new study led by Kathleen E....

New findings in alimentary pharmacology described by P. Netzer and co-researchers.
January 16, 2009... "Constipation is a significant side effect of opioid therapy. We have previously demonstrated that naloxone-3-glucuronide (NX3G) antagonizes the motility-lowering-effect of morphine in the rat colon," investigators in Bern, Switzerland report...

Research reports on alimentary pharmacology from University Hospital provide new insights.
January 16, 2009... According to recent research published in the journal Alimentary Pharmacology & Therapeutics, "Previous studies have suggested involvement of 5HT(1) receptors in the control of gastric tone. To study the effect of buspirone, a 5HT(1A) agonist,...

Findings in alternative and complementary medicine reported from J.M. Griffith and co-researchers.(Report)
January 16, 2009... According to a study from the United States, "The aim of this study was to investigate the effectiveness of a qigong training program in reducing stress in hospital staff. Subjects were randomly assigned to a 6-week intervention of either...

New findings reported from Thames Valley University describe advances in alternative and complementary medicine.
January 16, 2009... "The aim of this 2-study research project was to measure the physiologic effect of the M technique (see Appendix for description) on the brain using single photon emission computed tomography (SPECT) and compare it to conventional massage...

Reports outline alternative and complementary medicine research from University of Tromso.(Report)
January 16, 2009... According to a study from Norway, "Self-reported use of complementary and alternative medicine (CAM) among patients varies widely between studies, possibly because the definition of a CAM user is not comparable. This makes it difficult to...

Research from B. Johansson et al has provided new information about alternative and complementary medicine.(Clinical report)
January 16, 2009... According to a study from Malmo, Sweden, "This study explores the effects of vortex-water transpired from indoor greenery to office air, in relation to heart rate and heart rate variability during exposure to an electromagnetic field (EMF) from...

Researchers from Kyung-Hee University report details of new studies and findings in the area of alternative and complementary medicine.(Report)
January 16, 2009... "The aims of this study are to collect acupuncture sensations reflecting real-life patients' experiences using qualitative methods and to test the content validity whether their sensations are proper candidates for de qi. The items for the...

Researchers from Toyama University publish new studies and findings in the area of alternative and complementary medicine.
January 16, 2009... "Ayurvedic oil-dripping treatment, Shirodhara, involves the use of medicated herbal sesame oils. In our previous reports, we found that Shirodhara with plain sesame oil induced anxiolysis and an altered state of consciousness (ASC) in healthy...

Researchers' work from University of Leeds focuses on alternative and complementary medicine.(Clinical report)
January 16, 2009... "The objective of this study was to explore client perceptions of the short-term and longer-term effects of shiatsu. The study design was a prospective, 6-month observational, pragmatic study," scientists in Leeds, the United Kingdom report...

Studies conducted at J. Liling et al on alternative and complementary medicine recently published.
January 16, 2009... According to recent research published in the Journal of Alternative and Complementary Medicine, "Striking similarity seems to exist between the Jing-Luo and Zang-Fu theories of Chinese Medicine (CM) and clinical features of many so-called...

Investigators at Queen's University release new data on clinical pharmacology.
January 16, 2009... "WHAT IS ALREADY KNOWN ABOUT THIS SUBJECT center dot The cytotoxic effects of 6-mercaptopurine (6-MP) were found to be due to drug-derived intracellular metabolites (mainly 6-thioguanine nucleotides and to some extent 6-methylmercaptopurine...

New clinical pharmacology research from University of York described.
January 16, 2009... "WHAT IS ALREADY KNOWN ABOUT THIS SUBJECT center dot Industry-funded studies tend to emphasize favourable beneficial effects of the sponsor's product, but we do not know if reports of adverse effects are downplayed. center dot Pharmaceutical...

New clinical pharmacology study findings recently were reported by researchers at University Hospital.(Clinical report)
January 16, 2009... According to recent research from Bern, Switzerland, "WHAT IS ALREADY KNOWN ABOUT THIS SUBJECT center dot Venosclerosis prevents many opioid addicts in heroin substitution programmes from injecting intravenously, which makes consideration of...

Reports outline clinical pharmacology research from Uppsala University.
January 16, 2009... "WHAT IS ALREADY KNOWN ABOUT THIS SUBJECT center dot Diclofenac is an effective oral analgesic for acute postoperative pain. In adults 25 mg is half as effective as 50 mg, but 50 mg and 100 mg are similarly effective (ceiling effect),"...

New complementary and alternative medicine study findings recently were published by A.P. Colbert and co-researchers.
January 16, 2009... "Skin impedance at acupuncture points (APs) has been used as a diagnostic/therapeutic aid for more than 50 years. Currently, researchers are evaluating the electrophysiologic properties of APs as a possible means of understanding acupunctures...

New complementary and alternative medicine study findings recently were reported by M. Hellner and co-researchers.(Report)
January 16, 2009... "This study aimed to investigate the practice of apitherapy - using bee products such as honey, pollen, propolis, royal jelly and bee venom to prevent or treat illness and promote healing - among German beekeepers and to evaluate their...

Reports summarize complementary and alternative medicine study results from Campinas State University.
January 16, 2009... According to a study from Campinas, Brazil, "Propolis contains resinous substances collected by honey bees from various plant sources and has been used as a traditional folk medicine since ca 300 BC. Nowadays, the use of evidence-based...

Research results from Toyama University update knowledge of complementary and alternative medicine.
January 16, 2009... According to recent research from Toyama, Japan, "Oketsu is a pathophysiologic concept in Japanese traditional (Kampo) medicine, primarily denoting blood stasis/stagnant syndrome. Here we have explored plasma protein biomarkers and/or...

Studies from Washington State University update current data on complementary and alternative medicine.(Report)
January 16, 2009... "Analyses of 2002 National Health Interview supplement on complementary and alternative medicine (NHIAM) indicate that approximately 38 million adults in the US (18.9 of the population) used natural herbs or supplements in the preceding 12...

Study data from H. Liao and colleagues update understanding of complementary and alternative medicine.(Report)
January 16, 2009... According to recent research published in the journal Evidence - Based Complementary and Alternative Medicine, "Here, 45 Chinese herbs that regulate blood circulation were analyzed for antioxidant activity using the oxygen radical absorbance...

New pharmacology study findings have been published by scientists at Fukui University.
January 16, 2009... According to a study from Fukui, Japan, "Alpha(1)-Adrenoceptors in the rabbit prostate have been studied because of their controversial pharmacological profiles in functional and radioligand binding studies. The purpose of the present study is...

Research reports from University of London provide new insights into pharmacology.
January 16, 2009... According to a study from London, the United Kingdom, "The endocannabinoid N-arachidonoylethanolamide (anandamide) is co-synthesized with other N-acylethanolamides, namely N-palmitoylethanolamide (PEA) and N-oleoylethanolamide (OEA), which have...

Study results from University of Calgary broaden understanding of pharmacology.(Report)
January 16, 2009... According to recent research from Calgary, Canada, "Acemetacin is a non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drug which is rapidly bioconverted to indomethacin, but produces significantly less gastric damage than indomethacin. This study was performed...

New pharmacology and experimental therapeutics data have been reported by researchers at University of Louisville, Medical Department.
January 16, 2009... "The involvement of glucose in fundamental metabolic pathways represents a core element of biology. Late in the 20th century, a unique glucose-derived signal was discovered, which appeared to be involved in a variety of cellular processes,...

Reports from Tufts University, Medical Department advance knowledge in pharmacology and experimental therapeutics.
January 16, 2009... "Niacin lowers serum cholesterol, low-density lipoprotein, and triglycerides, and it raises high-density lipoprotein. However, most patients experience cutaneous warmth and vasodilation (flush)," researchers in the United States report (see...

Research from Tohoku University in the area of pharmacology and experimental therapeutics described.
January 16, 2009... "Natriuretic substances are a group of molecules affecting sodium homeostasis in the body. Recently, two new molecules having natriuresis effects, xanthurenic acid 8-O-beta-D-glucoside and xanthurenic acid 8-O-sulfate (XA sulfate), have been...

Research from Vanderbilt University has provided new data on pharmacology and experimental therapeutics.
January 16, 2009... "Previous clinical and animal studies suggest that selective activators of M-1 and/or M-4 muscarinic acetylcholine receptors (mAChRs) have potential as novel therapeutic agents for treatment of schizophrenia and Alzheimer's disease. However,...

Research from West Virginia University in the area of pharmacology and experimental therapeutics described.
January 16, 2009... According to recent research from the United States, "Elimination of hydrogen sulfide from glutathione (GSH) converts a well known cellular nucleophile to an electrophilic species, gamma-glutamyldehydroalanylglycine (EdAG). We have found that a...

Research from Wyeth reveals new findings on pharmacology and experimental therapeutics.
January 16, 2009... According to recent research from the United States, "Positive allosteric modulators (PAMs) of metabotropic glutamate receptor subtype 5 (mGlu5) enhance N-methyl-D-aspartate receptor function and may represent a novel approach for the treatment...

Researchers from University of New Mexico describe findings in pharmacology and experimental therapeutics.
January 16, 2009... "Cerebellar Purkinje neurons (PNs) receive inhibitory GABAergic input from stellate and basket cells, which are located in the outer and inner portions of the molecular layer, respectively. Ethanol (EtOH) was recently shown to increase...

Researchers' work from NeuroSearch focuses on pharmacology and experimental therapeutics.
January 16, 2009... According to recent research from Ballerup, Denmark, "Spinal administration of GABA(A) receptor modulators, such as the benzodiazepine drug diazepam, partially alleviates neuropathic hypersensitivity that manifests as spontaneous pain,...

Scientists at University of Toledo, Medical Department release new data on pharmacology and experimental therapeutics.
January 16, 2009... "Signs of physical dependence as a consequence of long-term drug use and a moderate abuse liability limit benzodiazepine clinical usefulness. Growing evidence suggests a role for voltage-gated calcium channel (VGCC) regulation in mediating a...

Studies from R.M. Brodbeck and co-researchers update current data on pharmacology and experimental therapeutics.
January 16, 2009... According to a study from the United States, "The complement system represents an innate immune mechanism of host defense that has three effector arms, the C3a receptor, the C5a receptor (C5aR), and the membrane attack complex. Because of its...

Studies from R.S. Martin and co-authors have provided new information about pharmacology and experimental therapeutics.(Report)
January 16, 2009... According to recent research published in the Journal of Pharmacology and Experimental Therapeutics, "Several serotonin reuptake inhibitors are in clinical use for treatment of depression and anxiety disorders. However, to date, reported...

Studies from W.L. Imlach and co-researchers in the area of pharmacology and experimental therapeutics published.
January 16, 2009... According to a study from Palmerston North, New Zealand, "'Ryegrass staggers'' is a neurological condition of unknown mechanism that impairs motor function in livestock. It is caused by infection of perennial ryegrass pastures by an endophytic...

Findings from Ferris State University provide new insights into pharmacy research.(Clinical report)
January 16, 2009... "The ability of pharmacy students to improve the accuracy of patients' medication histories was studied. This prospective study was conducted between January and April 2007 at a 424-bed community teaching hospital," investigators in the United...

New findings in pharmacy research described by M. Forbes and co-researchers.
January 16, 2009... According to recent research from the United States, "Prevention of respiratory syncytial virus (RSV) infection-crucial for decreasing the burden associated with this disease-is discussed. Predictable outbreaks of RSV occur annually throughout...

Scientists at University of Florida publish research in pharmacy research.
January 16, 2009... According to a study from the United States, "Issues related to the validity and reliability of measurement instruments used in research are reviewed. Key indicators of the quality of a measuring instrument are the reliability and validity of...

Study findings from C.A. Pedersen et al broaden understanding of pharmacy research.(Survey)
January 16, 2009... "Results of the 2007 ASHP national survey on informatics are presented. All types and sizes of hospitals in the United States were included in the sample of 4112 pharmacy directors surveyed using an online data collection tool," scientists in...

Study results from P. Checchia et al provide new insights into pharmacy research.
January 16, 2009... According to recent research published in the American Journal of Health - System Pharmacy, "Identifying children at risk for severe respiratory syncytial virus (RSV) so that the most appropriate management strategies can be implemented,...

Toxicity mechanism identified for Parkinson's disease.
January 23, 2009... Neurologists have observed for decades that Lewy bodies, clumps of aggregated proteins inside cells, appear in the brains of patients with Parkinson's disease and other neurodegenerative diseases (see also Emory University). The presence...

Collagen VI may help protect the brain against Alzheimer's disease.(Report)
January 23, 2009... January 5, 2008 u Scientists from the Gladstone Institute of Neurological Disease (GIND), UCSF, and Stanford have discovered that a certain type of collagen, collagen VI, protects brain cells against amyloid-beta (A?) proteins, which are widely...

Deep brain stimulation treatment for advanced Parkinson's disease patients provides benefits.
January 23, 2009... Patients with advanced Parkinson disease (PD) who received deep brain stimulation treatment had more improvement in movement skills and quality of life after six months than patients who received other medical therapy, but also had a higher...