Drug Week articles from March 2009

Drug Week archives from March 2009

Early release news from Annals of Internal Medicine.(Report)
March 6, 2009... The National Comprehensive Cancer Network estimates that 50 u 75 percent of all uses of cancer therapy are off-label. Yet the Centers for Medicare and Medicaid services limit coverage of cancer drugs for off-label indications to those...

Kidney disease affects response to blood thinner.
March 6, 2009... Patients with reduced kidney function require lower doses of the anticoagulant drug warfarin, and may need closer monitoring to avoid serious bleeding complications, suggests a study in the April 2009 issue of the Journal of the American...

'Badly fragmented' forensic science system needs overhaul.(Report)
March 6, 2009... A congressionally mandated report from the National Research Council finds serious deficiencies in the nation's forensic science system and calls for major reforms and new research. Rigorous and mandatory certification programs for forensic...

Biomarker predicts disease recurrence in colorectal cancer.
March 6, 2009... Findings published in the Journal of the American Medical Association by researchers at Thomas Jefferson University show that the presence of a biomarker in regional lymph nodes is an independent predictor of disease recurrence in patients with...

Hope for preventative treatment for cystic fibrosis lung disease.
March 6, 2009... Heidelberg researchers have succeeded in preventing cystic fibrosis lung disease in an animal model by spraying amiloride into the lungs of young mice. This is the first therapy to successfully attack the root cause of the widespread hereditary...

Cracking the species code for plants.
March 6, 2009... Plants are essential to our survival and that of most other animals on earth. It is easy to overlook this fact because they have become discretely embedded into our everyday lives. Plants provide us with food, medicines, and raw materials used...

Research on anesthesia detailed by scientists at University of Pecs.
March 6, 2009... "The application of EMLA (R) cream is indicated for topical anesthesia of the skin in connection with IV cannulation. Recently, we described that EMLA cream has an antibacterial effect in vitro," scientists in Pecs, Hungary report (see also...

New research on anti-infectives from D.W. Mortara and co-authors summarized.
March 6, 2009... "Concern for drug-induced QT prolongation has caused significant investment in QT measurement to safety-test new compounds. Manual methods are expensive and time-consuming," scientists in the United States report (see also Anti-Infectives). ...

Research reports on anti-infectives from A.M. Ramsey and colleagues provide new insights.
March 6, 2009... According to recent research from the United States, "Although the incidence of hospitalizations with infection due to vancomycin-resistant pathogens in the United States remained stable during 2000-2003, it increased from 4.60 to 9.48...

Recent findings in antibiotics described by M. Kutlay and colleagues.(Report)
March 6, 2009... According to recent research from Istanbul, Turkey, "Kutlay M, Colak A., Simsek H, Yildiz S, Topuz K, Kaya S, Cetinkal A, Demircan M.Antibiotic and hyperbaric oxygen therapy in the management of post-operative discitis. Undersea Hyperb Med...

Reports summarize antibiotics study results from J. Adrian and co-researchers.
March 6, 2009... According to a study from Barcelona, Spain, "Immunoreagents appropriately produced to detect a wide range of sulfonamide antibiotic congeners have been used to develop a highly sensitive enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA). The...

Research from S.Y. Zhu and co-authors yields new data on antibiotics.
March 6, 2009... According to a study from Beijing, People's Republic of China, "Cathelicidins, a group of vertebrate-specific immune effector molecules, developed into a multigene family through gene duplication in the Cetartiodactyla lineage, in which...

Scientists at World Health Organization target antibiotics.
March 6, 2009... "To evaluate a community education program about treatment of acute respiratory infection (ARI). First, community case definitions for severe and mild ARI were developed," researchers in Geneva, Switzerland report (see also Antibiotics). ...

Reports summarize antifungals research from R.G. Vitale and co-authors.
March 6, 2009... According to recent research from Buenos Aires, Argentina, "The antifungal activity of six drugs was evaluated against 41 clinical and environmental isolates of Cladophialophora carrionii and its sister species C. yegresii. Drugs tested,...

Researchers from University of Texas publish new studies and findings in the area of antifungals.
March 6, 2009... "Frequently, diseases caused by black yeasts are chronic in nature with a high morbidity. In addition, these infections are often fatal and relapse is common, even after prolonged treatment," investigators in the United States report (see also...

Findings from Royal University broaden understanding of antimicrobials.
March 6, 2009... "is recognized as a major cause of antibiotic-associated diarrhoea and colitis," scientists in Saskatoon, Canada report (see also Antimicrobials). "Antimicrobial agents have been repeatedly recognized as a causative risk for C....

Investigators at University of Bern have published new data on antimicrobials.(Report)
March 6, 2009... "The skin is constantly exposed to commensal microflora and pathogenic microbes. The stratum corneum of the outermost skin layer employs distinct tools such as harsh growth conditions and numerous antimicrobial peptides (AMPs) to discriminate...

Reports by D.N. Schwartz and co-researchers describe recent advances in antimicrobials.
March 6, 2009... Researchers in the United States conducted a study "To describe and measure reliability of a computer-assisted method of case vignette assembly and expert review to assess the appropriateness of antimicrobial therapy for hospitalized adults....

Research from R. Galinier and co-authors yields new data on antimicrobials.
March 6, 2009... "We report here the screening of five marine invertebrate species from two taxa (tunicates and echinoderms) for the presence of cationic antimicrobial peptides (AMP) in defence cells (hemocytes). Antimicrobial activities were detected only in...

Reports from East Carolina University, Medical Department add new data to research in apoptosis.
March 6, 2009... "Interleukin-1 alpha (IL-1) is known to radioprotect the gastrointestinal tract, but the mechanism by which this protection occurs remains unclear. These studies were undertaken to investigate whether the radioprotective potential of IL-1 may...

Researchers from Wroclaw University report details of new studies and findings in the area of arteriosclerosis.
March 6, 2009... According to a study from Wroclaw, Poland, "The role of interleukin (IL)-6 and IL-18 in induction of the inflammatory reaction underlying arteriosclerosis, and protective effect of an anti-inflammatory cytokine IL-10 in this process, have been...

New arthritis research from U.S. Skjoldborg and co-researchers described.
March 6, 2009... "To investigate the issue of conjoint reliability over time. A discrete choice experiment was applied using scenarios that describe the effect of treating rheumatoid arthritis patients with TNF-alpha inhibitors, a novel class of highly...

Study data from N. Nagai and co-authors update knowledge of arthritis.(Report)
March 6, 2009... "It is well known that nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drugs (NSAIDs) have significant side effects, such as gastroenteropathy, and that rheumatoid arthritis patients taking NSAIDs are more susceptible to NSAIDs-induced gastric lesions as...

Researchers from University of Jena detail findings in atopic dermatitis.
March 6, 2009... "Atopic dermatitis has been shown to be associated with neurogenic and psychosocial factors. In related atopic diseases such as rhinitis or asthma, a shift in autonomic balance towards a parasympathetic modulation has been described,"...

Cardium's Exchange Listing Compliance Plan Accepted by NYSE Alternext US.
March 6, 2009... Cardium Therapeutics (NYSE Alternext US: CXM) reported that its exchange listing compliance plan submitted on January 23, 2009 has been accepted by the NYSE Alternext US LLC (formerly the American Stock Exchange) (see also Cardium...

Schema Therapy for Borderline Personality Disorder: a Treatment Model and an Array of Methods and Techniques for Treating BPD Clients.(Report)
March 6, 2009... Research and Markets (http://www.researchandmarkets.com/research/92ad89/schema_therapy_for) has announced the addition of John Wiley and Sons Ltd's new report "Schema Therapy for Borderline Personality Disorder" to their offering (see also...

Study results from University of Guelph update understanding of addiction medicine.
March 6, 2009... "Despite the growing literatures on cannabis dependence, and urgent declarations as to treatment need, there is a scarcity of data on cannabis problems as a primary reason for treatment. This article compares characteristics of cannabis...

New adipose tissue study findings recently were published by J. Nie and co-researchers.
March 6, 2009... According to recent research from the United States, "SPARC (secreted protein acidic and rich in cysteine) modulates interactions between cells and extracellular matrix and is enriched in white adipose tissue. We have reported that SPARC-null...

New adverse drug reactions study findings have been reported by researchers at Auckland Hospital.
March 6, 2009... "Dermatological surgery performed in an outpatient setting is common and generally perceived as safe, but the potential for serious adverse events does exist. Furthermore, there is a current lack of guidelines regarding preoperative and...

Research on adverse drug reactions discussed by scientists at GlaxoSmithKline.
March 6, 2009... According to a study from the United States, "Adverse drug reactions (ADRs) have a major impact on patients, physicians, health care providers, regulatory agencies and pharmaceutical companies. Identifying the genetic contributions to ADR risk...

New aging study findings have been reported by M. He and co-researchers.
March 6, 2009... According to a study from Shenyang, People's Republic of China, "The aim of the present study was to investigate the protective effects of (-)-epigallocatechin-3-gallate (EGCG), the main polyphenolic constituent of green tea, in aging mice...

Reports outline aging study findings from Brigham Young University.
March 6, 2009... According to recent research from the United States, "The present study examined therapists' training in aging issues, and their knowledge and attitudes about aging. One hundred and ninety-one clinicians completed a web-based questionnaire."...

Data from Columbia University advance knowledge in alcoholism.
March 6, 2009... According to recent research from the United States, "We sought to study the association between adverse events occurring in childhood and adolescence and lifetime alcohol dependence in a representative sample of American adults. With data from...

Research reports on alcoholism from Uppsala University provide new insights.(Report)
March 6, 2009... "In human alcoholics, the cell density is decreased in the prefrontal cortex (PFC) and other brain areas. This may be due to persistent activation of cell death pathways," scientists in Uppsala, Sweden report (see also Alcoholism). "To...

Scientists at University of Wurzburg release new data on alcoholism.
March 6, 2009... According to a study from Wurzburg, Germany, "In spite of the impact of biographical factors on alcoholism and on the therapy of alcoholics, there are few studies that statistically investigate the biographical data of alcoholics. This is the...

Study data from T.D. Fernandez et al provide new insights into allergic reactions.
March 6, 2009... According to a study from Malaga, Spain, "Skin test sensitivity in patients with immediate allergy to penicillins tends to decrease over time, but no information is available concerning in vitro tests. We analysed the negativization rates of...

Report summarizes allergies study findings from A. Lifrani and co-researchers.(Report)
March 6, 2009... "Food allergy can cause food-related anaphylaxis. Food allergen labeling is the principal means of protecting sensitized individuals," scientists writing in the Journal of Agricultural and Food Chemistry report (see also Allergies). "This...

Research from Semmelweis University, Medical Department has provided new data on allergies.
March 6, 2009... According to a study from Budapest, Hungary, "Periocular contact dermatitis may appear as contact conjunctivitis, contact allergic and/or irritative eyelid and periorbital dermatitis, or a combination of these symptoms. The clinical symptoms...

Research results from P.J. Bousquet and colleagues update understanding of allergies.
March 6, 2009... "Nonallergic hypersensitivity and allergic reactions are part of the many different types of adverse drug reactions (ADRs). Databases exist for the collection of ADRs," scientists writing in the journal Allergy report (see also Allergies). ...

Researchers from Ohio State University detail findings in allergies.
March 6, 2009... In this recent study, researchers in the United States conducted a study "To assess the comfort and efficacy of epinastine 0.05% ophthalmic solution in contact lens wearers with a history of allergic conjunctivitis and contact lens intolerance...

New Alzheimer disease research from N. Fukumitsu et al outlined.
March 6, 2009... "Adenosine is an endogenous modulator of synaptic functions in the central nervous system. The effects of adenosine are mediated by at least four adenosine receptor subtypes," scientists in Chiba, Japan report (see also Alzheimer Disease). ...

Research from University of Toronto yields new findings on ambulatory surgery.(Clinical report)
March 6, 2009... "Preoperative testing has been criticized as having little impact on perioperative outcomes. We conducted a randomized, single-blind, prospective, controlled pilot study to determine whether indicated preoperative testing can be eliminated...

Studies from University of Paris describe new findings in analgesics.
March 6, 2009... "Background and objective Administering various combinations of acetaminophen, ketoprofen, nefopam and ketamine, though sometimes discussed, is expected to provide superior pain relief and reduce opioid analgesic-related side effects. However,...

Data from N. Elhindy and colleagues advance knowledge in anesthesia.(Report)
March 6, 2009... " The primary aim of this study was to detail anaesthetic techniques and complications for cataract surgery in the UK. The Cataract National Dataset was extracted from 12 National Health Service Trusts that used the same electronic patient...

Findings from T. Nishiyama and co-authors provide new insights into anesthesia.(Report)
March 6, 2009... According to recent research published in the European Journal of Anaesthesiology, "Background and objective This study compared an anaesthetic-conserving device (AnaConDa) and a conventional vaporizer in terms of sevoflurane and emergence from...

Investigators at Fourth Military Medical University target anesthesia.
March 6, 2009... "Intracarotid propofol infusion was studied in canines as an experimental basis for application of propofol in the Wada test. First, efficacy and side-effects of propofol anaesthesia were studied in eight mongrel dogs that received intracarotid...

New anesthesia findings from Hirosaki University, Medical Department published.
March 6, 2009... "Orexins (OXs) regulate wakefulness, and a lack of OX Type-I receptors cause narcolepsy. OX selectively increases norepinephrine (NE) release from rat cerebral cortical slices, and brain noradrenergic neurons are involved in the...

New anesthesia research has been reported by T. Tanabe et al.(Report)
March 6, 2009... "Background and objective It is known that esmolol, a short-acting beta(1)-blocker, reduces anaesthetic requirement. In this study, we evaluated whether a low dose of landiolol, a new ultra-short-acting beta(1)-blocker, can reduce the...

New findings reported from F.S. Xue and co-authors describe advances in anesthesia.(Clinical report)
March 6, 2009... According to recent research from Beijing, People's Republic of China, "We designed this randomized, double-blind clinical study to compare the safety and efficacy of 2% and 4% lidocaine during airway topical anesthesia with a spray-as-you-go...

Report summarizes anesthesia study findings from S.A. Fernandez and co-researchers.(Clinical report)
March 6, 2009... According to recent research from Pontevedra, Spain, "This study compared the efficacy of topical anaesthesia with levobupivacaine 0.75% vs lidocaine 2% during cataract surgery by phacoemulsification. A prospective, randomized, double-blind...

Reports from Stanford University, Medical Department add new data to research in anesthesia.
March 6, 2009... "Anesthesia is produced by a depression of neuronal signaling in the central nervous system (CNS); however, the mechanism(s) of action underlying this depression remain unclear. Recent studies have indicated that anesthetics can enhance...

Reports outline anesthesia research from J. Sawyer and colleagues.(Clinical report)
March 6, 2009... According to recent research published in the British Journal of Anaesthesia, "We compared the lidocaine/tetracaine patch [Synera (TM) (USA), Rapydan (TM) (Europe)], a novel heat-aided patch using a eutectic mixture of lidocaine 70 mg and...

Research from University of Auckland yields new findings on anesthesia.(Report)
March 6, 2009... "Trained assistance for the anaesthetist appears likely to improve safety in anaesthesia. However, there are few objective data to support this assumption, and the requirement for a trained assistant is not universally enforced," scientists in...

Scientists at Charite University detail research in anesthesia.
March 6, 2009... According to a study from Berlin, Germany, "Prediction of movement responses to noxious stimuli during anaesthesia is of clinical importance. Susceptibility of a parameter of immobility to both hypnotic and analgesic influences could pose an...

Research from F. Luo et al broadens understanding of aneurysm.
March 6, 2009... According to recent research from Beijing, People's Republic of China, "We had previously reported that plasma concentrations of endothelin (ET) decreased significantly in the operating room during desflurane anesthesia. The purpose of the...

Scientists at University of Calgary discuss research in aneurysm.
March 6, 2009... According to recent research published in the journal Neurocritical Care, "Bilateral pulmonary infiltrates occur frequently following aneurysmal subarachnoid hemorrhage (SAH), and may be associated with worse outcomes. The etiology, natural...

Data from B.B. Frericks and colleagues advance knowledge in angiology.
March 6, 2009... According to recent research from Berlin, Germany, "Magnetic resonance (MR)-guided interventions have evolved from a pure research application to a preclinical method over the last decade. Among the device-tracking techniques, susceptibility...

Findings from Baylor University provide new insights into angiology.(Clinical report)
March 6, 2009... "A randomized prospective study comparing the treatment of superficial femoral artery occlusive disease percutaneously with an expanded polytetrafluoroethylene (ePTFE)/nitinol self-expanding stent graft (stent-graft) vs surgical femoral to...

New angiology data have been reported by researchers at University of Maryland.(Report)
March 6, 2009... "Blunt cerebrovascular injuries (BCVI) have become an increasingly recognized entity. Stroke as a result of these injuries can have devastating consequences," scientists in the United States report (see also Angiology). "Optimal screening...

New angiology research from T. Abe and co-researchers described.
March 6, 2009... According to recent research from the United States, "We investigated the preclinical characteristics of the neuroprotective effect of the prostaglandin E2 type 1 receptor (EP1) antagonist SC51089 in models of focal cerebral ischemia produced...

New angiology study findings have been reported by scientists at Harvard University.(Report)
March 6, 2009... "Cerebral vasoconstriction is associated with increased cytosolic Ca2+ concentration in vascular smooth muscle, presumably due to Ca2+ influx and Ca2+ release from intracellular stores. We tested the hypothesis that dantrolene (a blocker of...

Research from E. Weigang et al broadens understanding of angiology.
March 6, 2009... "Conventional surgical therapy of aortic arch aneurysms consists of aortic arch replacement requiring cardiopulmonary bypass and deep hypothermic circulatory arrest. This method is associated with significant morbidity and mortality, mainly due...

Research from Northwestern University yields new findings on angiology.
March 6, 2009... According to a study from the United States, "When performed properly, a transposition is the most efficient and most durable procedure for reconstructing the subclavian artery for proximal occlusive disease or to extend the landing zone in the...

Scientists at German Heart Center publish research in angiology.
March 6, 2009... "Machining of shape memory alloys based on Nitinol (NiTi) creates difficulties due to its ductility and severe strain hardening. In this experiment, different cutting edges and grinding parameters were tested to optimize cutting results on...

Study findings from Nara Medical University broaden understanding of angiology.
March 6, 2009... According to recent research from Nara, Japan, "The present study is designed to investigate the role of neuronal nitric oxide synthase (nNOS) in the regulation of vascular mitogen-activated protein kinase (MAPK) activity under basal and...

Reports from D.T. Baril and co-researchers add new data to research in angioplasty.
March 6, 2009... "Endovascular intervention is considered first-line therapy for most superficial femoral artery (SFA) occlusive disease. Duplex ultrasound (DU) criteria for SFA in-stent stenosis and correlation with angiographic data remain poorly defined,"...

Researchers at University of California have published new data on angioplasty.
March 6, 2009... "Posttraumatic vasospasm (PTV) is a relatively common event following traumatic brain injury (TBI) that has been strongly correlated with worse neurological outcome in many studies. However, vasospasm continues to be an under-recognized source...

Findings in angiotensins reported from G.Q. Zhang and co-researchers.
March 6, 2009... "In recent years, a handful of research investigations have shown that some antihypertensive drugs, i.e., angiotensin-converting enzyme inhibitor (ACEI), angiotensin receptor blocker (ARB), and calcium channel blocker (CCB), can inhibit...

New angiotensins findings from University of Virginia described.
March 6, 2009... According to recent research from the United States, "In Sprague-Dawley rats, renal angiotensin (Ang) type 2 receptors (AT(2)Rs) mediate natriuresis in response to renal interstitial (RI) D-1-like receptor stimulation or RI Ang III infusion....

New angiotensins study results reported from K. Krskovatybitanclova et al.
March 6, 2009... According to recent research from Bratislava, Slovakia, "Temporary defects in the plasma lipid and glucose homeostasis are frequent complication accompanying chronic treatment with 13-cis-retinoic acid (13cRA). White adipose tissue acts as an...

New angiotensins study results reported from O. Yamaguchi et al.
March 6, 2009... According to a study from Fukushima, Japan, "Yamaguchi O, Kaneshiro T, Saitoh S, Ishibashi T, Maruyama Y, Takeishi Y. Regulation of coronary vascular tone via redox modulation in the alpha(1)-adrenergic-angiotensin-endothelin axis of the...

Research from F. Helle and colleagues has provided new data on angiotensins.
March 6, 2009... "Helle F, Hultstrom M, Skogstrand T, Palm F, Iversen BM. Angiotensin II-induced contraction is attenuated by nitric oxide in afferent arterioles from the nonclipped kidney in 2K1C," investigators in Bergen, Norway report (see also...

Study data from Henry Ford Hospital provide new insights into angiotensins.
March 6, 2009... "NO produced by NO synthase type 3 (NOS3) in medullary thick ascending limbs (mTHALs) inhibits Cl- reabsorption. Acutely, angiotensin II stimulates thick ascending limb NO production," scientists in the United States report (see also...

Study data from Medical University of South Carolina update understanding of angiotensins.
March 6, 2009... According to recent research from the United States, "We compared the effects of the sulfhydryl-containing (thiol) antioxidant dithiothreitol (DTT), which disrupts disulfide bonds, on cell signaling through angiotensin II (Angll) Type 1...

Research by D.M. Livermore and colleagues in antimicrobial chemotherapy provides new insights.
March 6, 2009... According to recent research from London, the United Kingdom, "Resistance in Gram-negative pathogens is an increasing concern, with carbapenems often appearing as the only acceptable treatment option in serious infections. Reviving older...

Studies from Baylor College of Medicine, College of Medicine further understanding of aortic aneurysms.
March 6, 2009... According to recent research from the United States, "More effective adjuncts are needed to reduce the incidence of acute renal injury after thoracoabdominal aortic aneurysm (TAAA) repair. The purpose of this randomized trial was to determine...

Findings in aphasia reported from M. Kim and co-researchers.
March 6, 2009... According to recent research from the United States, "Although the notion of the language specificity of neural correlates has been widely accepted in the past (e.g., left-hemispheric dominance including Broca's and Wernike's area, N400 ERP...

Reports from M. Friedman et al highlight recent research in apnea-hypopnea syndrome.(Report)
March 6, 2009... In this recent report, researchers in the United States conducted a study "To investigate the effect of multilevel upper airway surgery (USA) on subsequent continuous positive airway pressure (CPAP) therapy in patients with obstructive sleep...

Investigators at Wonkwang University target apoptosis.(Report)
March 6, 2009... "Simvastatin presented neurodegenerative morphological changes and cell death via its specific inhibition of mevalonate pathway induced apoptosis in cultured cochlear neuronal cells. These findings might contribute to understanding the auditory...

New research on apoptosis from Jagiellonian University summarized.(Report)
March 6, 2009... "Ghrelin is a novel growth hormone-releasing peptide, originally identified in rat stomach as an endogenous ligand of the growth hormone secretagogue receptor. Ghrelin is an important regulator of growth hormone secretion, food intake, and...

Studies from Shenyang Pharmaceutical University yield new data on apoptosis.(Report)
March 6, 2009... According to a study from Shenyang, People's Republic of China, "Our previous studies showed that oridonin could induce both apoptosis and autophagy in HeLa cells, and this autophagy might be a protective mechanism against apoptosis. In this...

Studies from Yunnan University add new findings in the area of apoptosis.
March 6, 2009... According to recent research from Kunming, People's Republic of China, "Endoplasmic reticulum (ER) stress has been implicated in several neurodegenerative diseases. Although CCAAT/enhancer-binding protein homologous protein (CHOP) has been...

Researchers from Massey University detail new studies and findings in the area of arrhythmia.
March 6, 2009... According to recent research from Auckland, New Zealand, "Cardiac vagal withdrawal when moving from supine to an upright posture may be independent of respiratory sinus arrhythmia. Further, ventilatory efficiency of an upright lung may improve...

Research from Aarhus University reveals new findings on arthritis.
March 6, 2009... "Secretion of tumor necrosis factor-alpha (TNF-alpha) by macrophages plays a predominant role in the development and progression of rheumatoid arthritis. We demonstrate that knockdown of TNF-alpha expression in systemic macrophages by...