Drug Week articles from November 2008

Drug Week archives from November 2008

Landmark genomic study of lung cancer published in Nature.
November 7, 2008... Scientists announced the results of the largest genomic study to date of lung adenocarcinoma, the most common form of lung cancer. Led by researchers from the Broad Institute of Harvard and MIT, Dana-Farber Cancer Institute, and other research...

C. difficile infection not always associated with antibiotic use.
November 7, 2008... Community-acquired Clostridium difficile (C. difficile) infection occurred in a significant proportion of people with no recent exposure to antibiotics, with 53% having no exposure in the 45 days preceding hospitalization and 46% having no...

New TB test reveals patients at risk, says study.
November 7, 2008... A recently introduced blood test can reveal which patients may develop active tuberculosis (TB) much more precisely than the 100-year old TB skin test, according to a new study published in the journal Annals of Internal Medicine (see also...

Preventing colds: Washing your hands is more effective than taking vitamins.
November 7, 2008... This release is available in German (see also Institute for Quality and Efficiency in Health Care). The days are getting shorter, temperatures are dropping, and the cold and flu season is beginning. Many people have started taking vitamin...

Scientists unwrap the elements of life.
November 7, 2008... Researchers at Newcastle University have taken a step forward in our understanding of how the fundamental building blocks of life are put together (see also Newcastle University). In a paper published in Nature, the team led by Professor...

Data on molecular pharmacology discussed by researchers at University of Tennessee.
November 7, 2008... "ATP-sensitive K+ (K-ATP) channel openers are vasodilators that activate both plasma membrane and mitochondrial K-ATP channels. Here, we investigated the molecular mechanisms by which diazoxide and pinacidil induce vasodilation by studying...

New molecular pharmacology data have been reported by scientists at University of Texas.
November 7, 2008... According to a study from the United States, "Previous studies have demonstrated that treating cultured cells with cisplatin (CDDP) up-regulated the expression of glutathione (GSH) and its de novo rate-limiting enzyme glutamate-cysteine ligase...

New molecular pharmacology research from Cornell University, Medical Department outlined.(Report)
November 7, 2008... "Gabapentin is well established as an effective treatment for neuropathic pain; however, little is known about its mechanism of action. It binds with high affinity to Ca2+ channel alpha 2 delta subunits that are expressed in dorsal root...

New molecular pharmacology research reported from Purdue University.
November 7, 2008... "Adenosine A(2A) and dopamine D-2 receptors (A(2A) and D-2) associate in homo- and heteromeric complexes in the striatum, providing a structural basis for their mutual antagonism. At the cellular level, the portion of receptors engaging in...

New molecular pharmacology study results reported from L. Stanasila et al.
November 7, 2008... "The internalization properties of the alpha 1a- and alpha 1b-adrenergic receptors (ARs) subtypes transiently expressed in human embryonic kidney (HEK) 293 cells were compared using biotinylation experiments and confocal microscopy. Whereas the...

Report summarizes molecular pharmacology study findings from Washington University, Medical Department.(Report)
November 7, 2008... According to a study from the United States, "Neuroactive steroids are among the most efficacious modulators of the mammalian GABA-A receptor. Previous work has proposed that receptor potentiation is mediated by steroid interactions with a site...

Research from University of Toronto yields new data on molecular pharmacology.
November 7, 2008... "The M-2 muscarinic receptor has two topographically distinct sites: the orthosteric site and an allosteric site recognized by compounds such as gallamine. It also can exhibit cooperative effects in the binding of orthosteric ligands,...

Research on molecular pharmacology described by scientists at National Institutes of Health.
November 7, 2008... "Nuclear receptor coactivator 6 (NCOA6) also known as PRIP/RAP250/ASC-2 anchors a steady-state complex of cofactors and function as a transcriptional coactivator for certain nuclear receptors. This is the first study to identify NCOA6 as a...

Research results from University of Sherbrooke update knowledge of molecular pharmacology.(Report)
November 7, 2008... "Class A (rhodopsin-like) G protein-coupled receptors possess conserved residues and motifs that are important for their specific activity. In the present study, we examined the role of residue Asp97(2.50) as well as residues Glu147(3.49),...

Studies by X.A. Perez and co-authors describe new findings in molecular pharmacology.
November 7, 2008... "Nicotine treatment has long been associated with alterations in alpha 4 beta 2* nicotinic acetylcholine receptor (nAChR) expression that modify dopaminergic function. However, the influence of long-term nicotine treatment on the alpha 6 beta...

Studies from University of Tennessee provide new data on molecular pharmacology.
November 7, 2008... According to recent research from the United States, "Ethanol modulation of calcium- and voltage-gated potassium (slo1) channels alters neuronal excitability, cerebrovascular tone, brain function, and behavior, yet the mechanism of this...

Studies from Washington University, Medical Department describe new findings in molecular pharmacology.(Report)
November 7, 2008... According to recent research published in the journal Molecular Pharmacology, "The plant-derived acetylcholinesterase inhibitor physostigmine has previously been shown to act on the nicotinic acetylcholine receptor (nAChR) causing either direct...

Study data from I. Bar et al provide new insights into molecular pharmacology.
November 7, 2008... "P2Y receptors are G-protein-coupled receptors activated by extracellular nucleotides. The P2Y(6) receptor is selectively activated by UDP, and its transcript has been detected in numerous organs, including the spleen, thymus, intestine, blood...

Study results from University of Texas broaden understanding of molecular pharmacology.
November 7, 2008... "Copper is an essential metal nutrient, yet copper overload is toxic. Here, we report that human copper transporter (hCtr) 1 plays an important role in the maintenance of copper homeostasis by demonstrating that expression of hCtr1 mRNA was...

Tufts University reports research in molecular pharmacology.
November 7, 2008... According to a study from the United States, "UDP-glucuronosyltransferases (UGTs) are critical to the detoxification of numerous drugs, environmental pollutants, and endogenous molecules. However, as yet not all of the human UGTs have been...

Investigators at Beijing University of Chemical Technology target pharmaceutical research.
November 7, 2008... According to recent research from Beijing, People's Republic of China, "Ultrafine gemfibrozil (GEM) was prepared by reactive precipitation process in which methyl cellulose (MC) was employed to inhibit the growth and the agglomeration of...

Reports from University of Toronto describe recent advances in pharmaceutical research.
November 7, 2008... According to recent research from Toronto, Canada, "An injectable blend composed of a water soluble chitosan (WSC) derivative, egg phosphatidylcholine (ePC), and fatty acid chlorides (FACI) was explored for localized delivery of anticancer...

Data on pharmaceuticals detailed by K.H. Kim and co-authors.
November 7, 2008... "We isolated seven terpenes and five phenolic constituents from the aerial parts of Lactuca indica L. using column chromatographic separation of its MeOH extract," scientists in South Korea report (see also Pharmaceuticals). "Their...

New pharmaceuticals data have been reported by researchers at Nanjing University.
November 7, 2008... According to recent research from Nanjing, People's Republic of China, "A new prenylated dihydrobenzofuran derivative (1), was isolated from the rhizomes of Atractylodes lancea DC (Asteraccae), along with ten known Compounds, including...

Research from Y.S. Rhee and colleagues has provided new data on pharmaceuticals.
November 7, 2008... According to a study from South Korea, "A rapid, sensitive, and specific analytical method was developed and validated to quantify acamprosate calcium in beagle dog plasma. The method employs a single plasma protein precipitation, and the...

New pharmacology study findings have been reported from Hebei Medical University.
November 7, 2008... According to recent research from Shijiazhuang, People's Republic of China, "We investigated the pharmacological profile of the vasoconstrictive response to clonidine in the isolated rabbit ear vein, and compared the characteristics of...

New pharmacology study findings recently were reported by L. Bartho and co-researchers.
November 7, 2008... "Capsaicin-sensitive extrinsic afferent nerves have been demonstrated to release biologically active substances in the gastrointestinal (GI) tract. This fact may be useful for identifying sensory transmitter substances in isolated organ...

Research from Catholic University in the area of pharmacology described.
November 7, 2008... "Irritable bowel syndrome (IBS) is a complex disorder clinically characterized by abdominal pain and altered bowel habit. Its pathogenetic mechanisms are still incompletely known; genes, psychosocial factors, changes in gastrointestinal...

Research from Catholic University provides new data about pharmacology.
November 7, 2008... According to recent research from Rome, Italy, "The proximal third of the stomach (fundus plus oral corpus) relaxes during swallowing so that it can hold large amounts of food with limited increases in intraluminal pressure. This mechanism has...

Researchers from Technical University of Munich provide details of new studies and findings in the area of pharmacology.
November 7, 2008... "Gastric motility is controlled at various levels including the enteric nervous system (ENS). The gastric ENS is involved in the regulation of accommodation reflexes as well as of the peristaltic waves which are responsible for grinding and...

Data on pharmacology and experimental therapeutics published by researchers at University of Milan.
November 7, 2008... According to a study from Milan, Italy, "PST2744 [Istaroxime; (E, Z)-3-((2-aminoethoxy)imino) androstane-6,17- dione hydrochloride)] is a novel inotropic agent that enhances sarco(endo) plasmic reticulum Ca2+ ATPase (SERCA) 2 activity. We...

New pharmacology and experimental therapeutics findings from State University of New York published.
November 7, 2008... According to a study from the United States, "Pharmacological and behavioral studies suggest that spinal delta- and kappa-opioid antinociceptive systems are functionally associated with ovarian sex steroids. These interactions can be...

Research from University of Georgia in the area of pharmacology and experimental therapeutics published.
November 7, 2008... According to recent research published in the Journal of Pharmacology and Experimental Therapeutics, "We have shown that candesartan decreases the acute stroke-induced elevation of mean arterial blood pressure (MAP) in Wistar rats and improves...

Research on pharmacology and experimental therapeutics reported by scientists at Medical College of Georgia, Medical College.
November 7, 2008... According to a study from the United States, "Lipopolysaccharide (LPS) stimulates cytoplasmic accumulation of pro-interleukin (IL)-1 beta. Activation of P2X(7) receptors stimulates conversion of pro-IL-1 beta into mature IL-1 beta, which is...

Researchers from Thomas Jefferson University report details of new studies and findings in the area of pharmacology and experimental therapeutics.
November 7, 2008... "The ability of botulinum toxin to poison cholinergic nerve transmission is a dynamic phenomenon that involves not only the actions of the toxin on the body but also the actions of the body on the toxin. The former has been the subject of...

Researchers from University of Colorado, Medical Department detail findings in pharmacology and experimental therapeutics.
November 7, 2008... According to recent research from the United States, "Alcohol ''sensitivity'' has been proposed as a predictive factor for development of alcohol dependence (Schuckit et al., 2005). Most measures of alcohol sensitivity in humans and animals...

Scientists at University of Wisconsin, Medical Department target pharmacology and experimental therapeutics.(Report)
November 7, 2008... "L-Methionine (Met) has been implicated in parenteral nutrition-associated cholestasis in infants and, at high levels, it causes liver toxicity by mechanisms that are not clear. In this study, Met toxicity was characterized in freshly isolated...

Study findings from University of Regensburg provide new insights into pharmacology and experimental therapeutics.
November 7, 2008... According to recent research from Regensburg, Germany, "There are species differences between human histamine H-1 receptor (hH(1)R) and guinea pig (gp) histamine H-1 receptor (gpH(1)R) for phenylhistamines and histaprodifens. Several studies...

Studies from University of Oklahoma further understanding of pharmacy research.
November 7, 2008... "Strategies to improve the design, implementation, and evaluation of interventions in pharmacy practice-based research are discussed. Various issues inherent in the clinical research continuum explain the lack of research translation into...

Study results from University of Massachusetts provide new insights into pharmacy research.
November 7, 2008... "A new and convenient means of administering fluorouracil and lidocaine for the treatment of intraurethral condyloma acuminata is discussed. Condyloma acuminata are warts of the genital and perianal region caused by various types of human...

Purple tomatoes: the richness of antioxidants against tumors.
November 14, 2008... Researchers from the John Innes Centre in Norwich, Great Britain, in collaboration with other European centres participating to the FLORA project, have obtained genetically modified tomatoes rich in anthocyanins, a category of antioxidants...

Methamphetamine enters brain quickly and lingers.(Report)
November 14, 2008... Using positron emission tomography (PET) to track tracer doses of methamphetamine in humans' brains, scientists at the U.S. Department of Energy's (DOE) Brookhaven National Laboratory find that the addictive and long-lasting effects of this...

Rhode Island Hospital study finds local retail meat safe from antibiotic-resistant organisms.
November 14, 2008... Rhode Island Hospital researchers report that findings from a new study of retail meat in the Providence, RI area indicate little to no presence of antibiotic-resistant bacteria. The study, prompted by the identification of such organisms in...

Epilepsy drug may help Alzheimer's patients.
November 14, 2008... A popular epilepsy drug may also be beneficial in patients with Alzheimer's disease (AD), according to a new study to be published on October 27 in the Journal of Experimental Medicine. The anti-seizure drug valproic acid improved memory and...

Stanford researchers discover pervasive network driving protein production and placement in cells.
November 14, 2008... Stanford University School of Medicine researchers have uncovered what appears to be an extensive, but until now barely noticed, network of regulatory interactions that influence what proteins are made inside a cell, and when and where (see...

Reports from University of Berlin highlight recent research in ocular pharmacology and therapeutics.(Report)
November 14, 2008... In this recently published study, investigators in Berlin, Germany conducted a study "To prevent corneal-graft rejection, the topical application of an immunosuppressive drug is an alternative to the systemic application of immunosuppressive...

Research from Medical University of South Carolina reveals new findings on ocular pharmacology and therapeutics.
November 14, 2008... According to a study from the United States, "The topical application of prostaglandin F-2 alpha (FP)-receptor agonists has been shown to significantly lower intraocular pressure (TOP) in humans and is now considered the first-line treatment...

Data from Showa University advance knowledge in pharmaceutical research.(Report)
November 14, 2008... "We recently reported that docosahexaenoic acid (DHA) enhanced the bioavailability of cyclosporine A (CsA) in a conventional oil formulation by inhibiting CYP3A-mediated gut metabolism. The aim of this study was to evaluate the effect of ethyl...

Research from C. Becker and co-researchers in the area of pharmaceutical sciences described.
November 14, 2008... "Literature data relevant to the decision to allow a waiver of in vivo bioequivalence (BE) testing for the approval of immediate release (IR) solid oral dosage forms containing pyrazinamide as the only active pharmaceutical ingredient (API) are...

Research reports from B.N. Chorley and co-authors provide new insights into genetics & genomics.
November 14, 2008... "The most common form of genetic variation, single nucleotide polymorphisms or SNPs, can affect the way an individual responds to the environment and modify disease risk. Although most of the millions of SNPs have little or no effect on gene...

New data from Hokkaido University, Medical Department illuminate research in pharmacological sciences.(Report)
November 14, 2008... According to recent research from Sapporo, Japan, "This study examines the functional role of Na+/H+ exchanger (NHE) in Ca2+ influx mediated by human endothelin type A receptor (ETAR) expressed in Chinese hamster ovary (CHO) cells. Endothelin-1...

Scientists at University of Mississippi target pharmacology.
November 14, 2008... According to recent research from the United States, "Phentolamine is known to act as a competitive, non-subtype-selective alpha-adrenoceptor antagonist. In an attempt to improve alpha(2)- versus alpha(1)-adrenoceptor selectivity and...

New pharmacotherapy study findings recently were reported by J.D. Wong and co-researchers.
November 14, 2008... "Hospital discharge is an interface of care when patients are at a high risk of medication discrepancies as they transition from hospital to home. These discrepancies are important, as they may contribute to drug-related problems, medication...

New research on pharmacotherapy from A.M. Franks and co-authors summarized.
November 14, 2008... According to recent research from the United States, "The angiotensin-receptor blocker candesartan cilexetil is a well-tolerated antihypertensive agent with demonstrated benefits in adults with hypertension. However, there are few data...

Wait times for surgical repair of hernias among infants and young children.
November 21, 2008... Longer wait times for surgical repair of inguinal hernias in infants and young children under the age of 2 were associated with more emergency department visits and a greater risk of incarcerated hernia, found a study published in CMAJ...

New therapeutic target identified for rheumatoid arthritis.
November 21, 2008... Researchers at Hospital for Special Surgery have identified a potential new therapeutic target that could be used to treat inflammatory disorders, such as rheumatoid arthritis (see also Hospital for Special Surgery). The study, published...

Extended treatment with combination medication for opioid-addicted youths shows benefit.
November 21, 2008... Adolescents addicted to opioids who received continuing treatment with the combination medication buprenorphine-naloxone had lower rates of testing positive or reporting use of opioids compared to youths who went through a short-term...

Folic acid, B vitamins do not appear to affect cancer risk.
November 21, 2008... A daily supplementation combination that included folic acid and vitamin B6 and B12 had no significant effect on the overall risk of cancer, including breast cancer, among women at high risk of cardiovascular disease, according to a study in...

New evidence for homeopathy.
November 21, 2008... Two new studies conclude that a review which claimed that homeopathy is just a placebo, published in The Lancet, was seriously flawed (see also National Center for Homeopathy). George Lewith, Professor of Health Research at Southampton...

Studies from J.E. Mawdsley and co-researchers update current data on alimentary pharmacology.
November 21, 2008... " Most studies of enterocutaneous fistula report management and outcome. Few studies examine factors predicting healing and mortality," scientists writing in the journal Alimentary Pharmacology & Therapeutics report (see also Alimentary...

Research on neuroscience described by scientists at National Institutes of Health.
November 21, 2008... According to recent research published in the journal Molecular and Cellular Neuroscience, "SALMs are a family of five adhesion molecules whose expression is largely restricted to the CNS. Initial reports showed that SALM1 functions in neurite...

Research findings from J. Gupta et al update understanding of pharmacology.(Report)
November 21, 2008... "Oxytocin is believed to be involved in ejaculation by increasing sperm number and contracting ejaculatory tissues. However, oxytocin may mediate these effects via oxytocin or vasopressin (AVP) receptors," scientists in Sandwich, the United...

Research reports on pharmacology from University of Adelaide provide new insights.
November 21, 2008... According to recent research published in the British Journal of Pharmacology, "CNS 7056 is a new, rapidly metabolized benzodiazepine. The effects of escalating doses of CNS 7056 on sedation, and respiratory and cardiovascular function, were...

Scientists at Ajou University report research in pharmacology.(Report)
November 21, 2008... According to a study from South Korea, "We recently proposed the existence of neurotoxic interactions between the cannabinoid type 1 (CB1) receptor and transient receptor potential vanilloid 1 (TRPV1) channels in rat mesencephalic cultures....

Reports from Uppsala University add new data to research in therapeutic drug monitoring.
November 21, 2008... "Risperidone is metabolized to its active metabolite, 9-hydroxy risperidone, mainly by the cytochrome P450 enzymes CYP2D6 and 3A4. Its antipsychotic effect is assumed to be related to the active moiety, that is, the sum of risperidone and...

Reports outline therapeutic drug monitoring study findings from University Children's Hospital.
November 21, 2008... According to recent research published in the journal Therapeutic Drug Monitoring, "Data on exposure to mycophenolic acid (MPA), the active moiety of mycophenolate mofetil (MMF), in pediatric renal transplant recipients beyond the first year...

Survey finds wide public support for nationwide study of genes, environment and lifestyle.
November 28, 2008... Four in five Americans support the idea of a nationwide study to investigate the interactions of genes, environment and lifestyle, and three in five say they would be willing to take part in such a study, according to a survey released. The...

Montana State University researchers find gene that regulates mold's resistance to drugs.
November 28, 2008... Montana State University scientists concerned about lethal mold infections have found a gene that regulates the mold's resistance to drugs (see also Montana State University). The gene, called srbA, allows molds to thrive during infections...

SNPs affect folate metabolism in study of Puerto Rican adults.
November 28, 2008... Researchers at Tufts University have gained further understanding of the genomic basis for altered folate metabolism and the content of uracil in blood DNA. In a study published in October's American Journal of Clinical Nutrition, senior author...

UC Davis researchers discover Achilles' heel in pancreatic cancer.
November 28, 2008... UC Davis Cancer Center researchers have discovered a metabolic deficiency in pancreatic cancer cells that can be used to slow the progress of the deadliest of all cancers (see also University of California - Davis - Health System). ...

Data on molecular pharmacology described by researchers at University of South Australia, Medical Department.
November 28, 2008... "Interactions between the UGT2B7-catalyzed glucuronidation of zidovudine (AZT), 4-methylumbelliferone (4MU), and 1-naphthol (1NP) were analyzed using multisite and empirical kinetic models to explore the existence of multiple substrate and...

Recent findings in molecular pharmacology described by researchers from University of Michigan.
November 28, 2008... According to recent research from the United States, "Human P450 2B6 is a polymorphic enzyme involved in the oxidative metabolism of a number of clinically relevant substrates. The lysine 262-to-arginine mutant of cytochrome P450 2B6 (P450...

Research from F. Binda and co-authors provides new data about molecular pharmacology.
November 28, 2008... "The soluble N-ethylmaleimide-sensitive factor attachment protein receptor protein syntaxin 1A (SYN1A) interacts with and regulates the function of transmembrane proteins, including ion channels and neurotransmitter transporters. Here, we...

Research from McMaster University yields new data on molecular pharmacology.
November 28, 2008... "Local anesthetics (LAs) are known to bind Na+ channels in the closed, open, and inactivated states and reach their binding sites via extracellular and intracellular access pathways. Despite intensive studies, no atomic-scale theory is...

Research from Oregon Health & Science University reveals new findings on molecular pharmacology.(Report)
November 28, 2008... According to recent research from the United States, "The activation of G protein-coupled receptors results in a cascade of events that include acute signaling, desensitization, and internalization, and it is thought that not all agonists...

Research from University of Copenhagen provides new data on molecular pharmacology.
November 28, 2008... According to a study from Copenhagen, Denmark, "The Epstein-Barr induced receptor 2 (EBI2) is a lymphocyte-expressed orphan seven transmembrane-spanning (7TM) receptor that signals constitutively through G alpha(i), as shown, for instance by...

Research results from University of Liverpool update knowledge of molecular pharmacology.
November 28, 2008... "Kainate receptor responses to domoate are characterized by large steady-state currents and slow deactivation kinetics. To improve our understanding of these responses, we mutated residues at the mouth of the agonist binding pocket of GluR6...

Study data from J.J. Yin and colleagues update understanding of molecular pharmacology.(Report)
November 28, 2008... According to a study from Beijing, People's Republic of China, "Intraperitoneal injection of [Gd@C-82(OH)(22)](n) nanoparticles decreased activities of enzymes associated with the metabolism of reactive oxygen species (ROS) in the tumor-bearing...

New pharmacology and experimental therapeutics data have been reported by Y. Fujimori and co-authors.
November 28, 2008... According to a study from Hotaka, Japan, "The low-affinity sodium glucose cotransporter (SGLT2) plays an important role in renal glucose reabsorption and is a remarkable transporter as a molecular target for the treatment of diabetes. We have...

New pharmacology and experimental therapeutics study findings have been reported by scientists at Drexel University, Medical Department.
November 28, 2008... "MDMA (3,4-methylenedioxymethamphetamine, Ecstasy) is reported to enhance tactile sensory perception, an effect that is believed to contribute to its popularity as a recreational drug. To date, no literature exists that addresses the...

New pharmacology and experimental therapeutics study findings have been reported by scientists at Johns Hopkins University.(Report)
November 28, 2008... "The aim of this study was to determine the biodistribution and tumor targeting ability of C-14-labeled 3-bromopyruvate ([C-14]3-BrPA) after i.a. and i.v. delivery in the VX2 rabbit model. In addition, we evaluated the effects of [C-14]3-BrPA...

New pharmacology and experimental therapeutics study findings have been reported from University of Hong Kong.
November 28, 2008... According to recent research from Hong Kong, People's Republic of China, "Experiments were designed to determine the effect of gap junction inhibitors on endothelium-dependent contractions. Isolated aortic rings of spontaneously hypertensive...

Reports from C. Xiao and colleagues advance knowledge in pharmacology and experimental therapeutics.
November 28, 2008... According to a study from the United States, "The current study investigated whether ethanol alters ATP activation of purinergic type 2 receptors (P2Rs) in the ventral tegmental area (VTA). The VTA is a key region of the brain that has been...

Research from Chiba University reveals new findings on pharmacology and experimental therapeutics.
November 28, 2008... "The transmembrane and pore-forming regions of N-methyl-D-aspartate receptors containing the NR1 and NR2B subunits were studied by measuring the effects of various NR1 and NR2B mutants on stimulation and block by spermine. Block by spermine was...